RyeCity REVIEW THE
November 12, 2021 | Vol. 9, Number 43 | www.ryecityreview.com
Hochul signs gun safety protection bill
Comeback kids! Aidan Cunningham celebrates a touchdown against Mahopac on Nov. 5, 2021. The Garnets rallied from a 14-point deficit to top the Indians in the Class A semifinals. For story, see page 16.
Photo/ Mike Smith
County announces 39th annual Senior Hall of Fame Westchester County Executive George Latimer will join in honoring the achievements of 44 senior citizens from throughout the county at the 39th annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards on Friday, Dec. 3 at 11:30 a.m. This year’s program names Judy Fink of Purchase and Lloyd Cort of Greenburgh with top honors. This will be the second year that this event will be livestreamed virtually via the Westchester Public Private Partnership for Aging Services website.
“It is my honor to commend this active group of Westchester County residents, and induct them into our Senior Citizens Hall of Fame for their dedication and commitment to our communities,” Latimer said. “This longstanding tradition is a simple way for us to say thank you, and recognize top honorees like Mr. Cort and Ms. Fink for their time, energy and promise to enhancing the quality of life of those around them.” Forty-four county residents
ages 60 and older will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday during the virtual awards presentation. The Class of 2021 includes 18 nominees over the age of 80, and four over the age of 90. Our oldest nominee this year is 93. DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said the achievements of the Hall of Fame honorees show the importance of people giving back to their communities and to each other. “The honorees show that age is never a deter-
rent to being a vital member of our society,” Carpenter said. “In fact, it’s an advantage because of the life experiences they bring with them. Their generous contributions have helped to make Westchester County one of the most senior-friendly places in the world.”The Senior Hall of Fame began as part the 300th Anniversary of Westchester County’s founding. Its purpose was to showcase how seniors have SENIOR continued on page 5
New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law critical, life-saving legislation sponsored by state Assemblymember Amy Paulin and Sen. Pete Harckham that requires mental health facilities to provide information about New York’s Red Flag Law and obtaining extreme risk protection orders for patients upon their discharge or conditional release. Now enacted, the legislation (A.1005A / S.5434A) is effective immediately. “Gun violence and their ensuing tragedies cannot continue to be par for the course in this country. New York’s Red Flag Law was a necessary action to allow courts to order the temporary seizure of firearms from people believed to pose a danger to themselves or others,” Paulin said. “Now that Governor Hochul has signed this bill into law, patients and their representatives will automatically receive materials informing them of New York’s Red Flag Law prior to their discharge from a mental health facility. This logical requirement will help minimize risks and ensure the safety of our loved ones and neighbors.” Enacted two years ago in New York State, the Red Flag Law, also known as the Extreme Risk Protection Order law, prevents individuals who
show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm. This law was put into effect with the hope of preventing mass shootings, domestic incidents, suicides and other tragedies, all of which continue to afflict our country. Right after the Red Flag Law was put in place, a Westchester woman, Treva Foss Thoms, voluntarily checked herself into a mental health facility, and after being discharged purchased a gun and committed suicide. After her death, Treva’s husband contacted Westchester County Legislator Ruth Walter, unable to understand why his wife was able to purchase a firearm in the first place, being that she’d been recently hospitalized. Sadly, Treva’s family had no previous knowledge of the Red Flag Law. Her husband, Dr. Jason Thoms, said, “I assumed that there was no way that my wife, given that she had just been released from a mental services facility where she resided for several months, would have the ability to purchase a gun. If I had known about the existence of the Red Flag Law and the ability to obtain an extreme risk protection order, I would have secured one for my wife, and she might still be here with us today.” (Submitted)