RyeCity REVIEW THE
August 2, 2019 | Vol. 7, Number 30 | www.ryecityreview.com
County opens the ‘Dragonator’ at Playland
Mo! Recently inducted MLB Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera was honored in his hometown of New Rochelle with a parade and day of festivities on Saturday, July 27. For more, see page 6.
Fresh faces help feed Westchester Feeding Westchester does more than move food to 300 agency partners across Westchester County. Its dedicated team of volunteers and staff serve as advocates for the more than 200,000 Westchester residents who live food insecure every day. Feeding Westchester is the area’s primary resource in the fight against hunger and, as part of its mission, works to educate everyone that hunger is right here where they live, even in one of the wealthiest counties in America. To help further the organization’s strategy, mission and goals, the nonprofit has drawn a volunteer board of some of West-
chester’s brightest leaders, and it is pleased to announce two new members to its board, Dr. Ruben Barato and Dr. Raymond Sanchez. Both are highly accomplished educators in the county with a combined 50-plus years’ experience and will have an immediate impact on the organization and the people it serves. They join a dynamic team of 20 board members who come from a variety of backgrounds, but all share the same commitment to provide food for everyone in our community. Dr. Ruben Barato has been a leader in higher education for nearly 30 years. He current-
ly serves as the associate dean of Enrollment Management at Westchester Community College. Part of his job includes overseeing the Center for Academic Counseling and Student Success. Barato is also a member of the College’s Strategic Planning Committee. When asked why Barato wanted to join Feeding Westchester, he said, “I wanted to expand my work with food insufficiencies in Westchester County. At Westchester Community College, I worked a great deal in helping our student body address this issue by assisting in the establishment of the College’s Food Pantry.”
Dr. Raymond Sanchez also joined the board, bringing more than two decades of experience. Sanchez serves as the superintendent for the Ossining Union Free School District where he focuses on “raising the bar” and enhancing success for all students. He also serves on the Westchester Medical Food for Life council. “I firmly believe that no child should go hungry and have made it one of my top priorities for all families in Ossining to have access to healthy foods,” he said. “I am passionate about the mission of Feeding Westchester and excited to contribute to this organization.” (Submitted)
The “Dragonator,” Playland’s new ride, holds 24 riders and is designed with a back restraint which leaves both arms and legs free to move as riders are spun around and travel along a “U” shaped track. The ride is part roller coaster and part spinning ride.
As confetti cannons burst into the air with red, white and blue streaming down from the sky, Westchester County welcomed a new ride at Playland. County Executive George Latimer officially opened the “Dragonator” to the public. He was joined by numerous officials, “Coaster,” the park’s mascot and children from Briarcliff Manor, Putnam Valley, Mount Pleasant, Cortlandt and New Castle day camps. “I live on the other side of this park and I have watched it for a long time when it felt like people have given up on Playland,” Latimer said. “I have never given up on Playand, we have never given up on Playland, because many of us here remember when we were young and enjoyed this park. I have been given a fortunate opportunity to have the authority to do something with this park and now the people of Westchester are showing we can save Playland and move it forward.” “Dragonator” holds 24 riders and is designed with a back restraint which leaves both arms and legs free to move as riders are spun around and travel along a “U” shaped track. The ride is part roller coaster and part spinning ride.
“On behalf of myself, Park Commissioner Kathy O’Connor and the entire Parks Department—we are excited to welcome you all to the first new ride in many years,” Deputy Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia said. “We also could not do this without our wonderful staff here at the Park and they all deserve to be commended.” Zamperla, the ride manufacturer, describes the ride as “running on an approximately 92 m. long track reaching a maximum speed of 70Km/h and drawing different trajectories at any time. From a top height of 15mt., the vehicle starts its wild run along the track concave section at a variable speed of 30 to 70 Km/h. In less than a second, the vehicle reaches the top of the central hump at approximately 40 Km/h and gives passengers a strong ‘negative’ acceleration for an incredible weightless sensation.” “It is a great honor to be here, it is a super fun day to open up the first ride at Rye Playland in 11 years,” Central Amusement International President Alessandro Zamperla said. “We are a family owned business and there is nothing better than to be here to provide memories for all of the families here.” (Submitted)