RyeCity REVIEW THE
August 25, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 34 | www.ryecityreview.com
6 interested in Rye Town Park restaurant operation By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer
DATING WITH DISABILITIES Andrew Kranichfeld, a Westchester native, is working on a dating app called Love is Blind, which he hopes will help alleviate some of the problems that disabled people face when trying to find love. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Pinterest.com
City takes next step in locking into Playland litigation By JAMES PERO Staff Writer The Rye City Council took another step forward on filing an appeal that will pit the city against Westchester County in a struggle for a greater say in the future of Playland. This week, councilmembers, in an Aug. 22 vote authorized a new law firm—Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.—to take on the council’s appeal which is quickly approaching an October deadline. While the authorization doesn’t yet solidify an appeal of a decision rendered by a state judge in March, Rye City Attor-
ney Kristen Wilson said she fully expects the council to file in October. The March ruling saw the city lose its legal standing in a bout to win control over the environmental review of upcoming capital improvements at the park “As far as I know, we’re moving forward,” she told the Review. An appeal will seek to overturn the county’s declaration of lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQR, last year and install the city as lead agent instead. Wilson said an appeal would also seek to regain the city’s legal standing in the matter which was stripped by the March decision.
Lack of standing, she said, could greatly harm the city’s future efforts if litigation were to resurface by setting a legal precedent that would prevent the city from suing over development matters at Playland Park in the future. Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein, a Democrat, who wasn’t in attendance for the Aug. 22 council meeting, said she would have “leaned towards yes.” Last month, the City Council voted 4-3 to draft the appeal that was approved earlier this week. Tagger-Epstein, who voted against having the appeal drafted by attorneys last month, said her change in attitude is the result of
increased confidence in the newest firm—which she said will be hired at a lower cost—as well as the prospect of potentially being able to regain legal standing in the matter. “I know that [Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.] have our best interest at heart and this is the only way forward to do what’s best for the future of the community,” she said. Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican, who stood as the only vote against the decision to hire a new firm, . said publicly that “I don’t think we should be PLAYLAND continued on page 8
The Rye Town Park Commission has sparked interest from at least six restaurateurs to run an operation at the park’s restaurant and beachside snack bar and beverage stand for the next decade. According to Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the park commission, after meeting with six companies during pre-proposal conferences, the park commission is expecting an equal amount of restaurateurs to submit offers to take over the park’s food operations for a period between 10 and 20 years. The deadline to respond to the official request for proposals, RFP, has been extended to Sept. 6. The RFP process comes as the park’s current deal with Homestyle Caterers, which operates the steak and seafood grill outlet known as the Ocean Grille, will expire in the coming months. Al Ciuffetelli, the owner of the restaurant company, agreed to terms with the park commission earlier this year to secure a one-year license agreement to run the grill outlet and operate a Nathan’s famous fast food chain at the north gate of the beach for the summer of 2017. Although not yet confirmed with the park commission, Ciuffetelli said he plans to continue his operation at the park for a longer term, granted the commission accepts his anticipated offer. As of press time, the park commission, which consists of members from the city and town of Rye, the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook, and the Rye Neck section of the village of Mamaroneck, will not release the names of the other parties interested in the restaurant space. Additionally, it remains unknown whether or not Angelo
Liberatore, an operating partner of the Fort Pond Bay Company— which owns Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry and Harvest on Hudson in Hastings-on-Hudson—will submit an offer. Last year, Liberatore told the Review he was still interested in operating a restaurant out of the park after withdrawing a previous offer. At the time, Liberatore was one of only two responders to a request that was issued toward the end of 2016 in preparation for the departure of the park’s longtime former restaurant, Seaside Johnnies. Liberatore withdrew his offer after determining there wasn’t enough time to prepare for the upcoming season, which led the park commission to discard the RFP entirely and agree on a short-term deal with Ciuffetelli. The current RFP process is being implemented by the commission’s Restaurant Steering Committee and Tracy Lawler from the JGL Food Service consultant company. JGL, which is being paid $19,000 to conduct the RFP process, also selected Homestyle Caterers earlier this year. The committee is comprised of two commissioners, Killian and Port Chester Mayor Fritz Falanka, a Democrat, and two residents— one from the town of Rye, Dan Tartaglia, and the other from the city of Rye, Russ Gold. The park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound, is located off of Forest Avenue in the city of Rye. The 62-acre green space and beachfront offers seasonal swimming and yearround use for passive and semi-active events. Liberatore and Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
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Free talk to focus on African American Cemetery
David Thomas, founder of the Friends of the African American Cemetery. Contributed photo
On Sunday, Sept. 10, at 5:30 p.m., David Thomas, founder of the Friends of the African American Cemetery, will give a talk about the current state of the efforts to preserve this National Historic Register site. The event takes place at and is co-sponsored by the Jay Heritage Center, located at 210 Boston Post Road in Rye. It is free to the public. Seating is limited. The event will discuss how ongoing genealogical research is expanding an understanding of the families that are buried there and their place in the narrative of Westchester’s history. Follow a journey to trace and link the Purdy family of Harrison and Rye to two generations of an emancipated family at the Jay Estate. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. The cemetery is adjacent to the Greenwood Union Cemetery, located at 215 North St. in Rye. The one acre parcel was donated by the Halsted family 150
years ago with the condition that it “shall forever hereafter kept, held and used for the purpose of a cemetery or burial place for the colored inhabitants of the said town of Rye, and its vicinity free and clear of any charge therefor….” Over the years the importance of this special cemetery in the history of the community and nation has been recognized as it is listed on the National, New York State and Westchester County Registers of Historic Places. After years of neglect the cemetery had run into disrepair. Some of the stones had toppled over while others were simply worn away. In 2010, the Port Chester/Rye branch of the NAACP, Building Community Bridges, BCB, and the American Legion Post #93 formed an ad hoc committee to help raise awareness of the cemetery and restore the stones and clean away the overgrowth. In 2016, vandals stripped the cloth portion of the American flags
from the sticks supporting the flags that had been placed at the headstones of veterans. The community came together there for Memorial Day services that year in a show of support. No one was held accountable for committing the desecration. A Go Fund Me page has been established for anyone wishing to make a donation to the Friends of the African American Cemetery. Proceeds will be used to improve access to the cemetery, conduct research, clean headstones, and to essentially make the cemetery a place for learning and contemplation. Friends of the African American Cemetery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations may also be mailed to, Friends of the African American Cemetery, 420 Elm St., Port Chester, NY 10573. Make checks payable to Friends of the African American Cemetery. For more information call 6989275. (Submitted)
Rye City’s
Official Newspaper Rye Schools
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What’s going on... Rye Free Reading Room
Spin-A-Yarn On Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room. Open to the public. This is an informational needlework and fabric arts get-together. Bring your own project and supplies, and work and chat.
Family Summer Drive-In Classic Movie Series For more information on hours and programs, visit ryelibrary.org.
Family Storytime Yoga On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on the Village Green, weather permitting. Master storytime yoga teacher Elisha Simpson narrates international folktales and interprets them through yoga to give children a way to connect and discover their inner world of creativity, body and imagination.
Mother Goose Monday On Monday, Aug. 28. There are two sessions: 10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m., and 10:45 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. in the Meeting Room. Recommended for infants and toddlers. Nursery rhymes, songs, and finger-plays. “Granny Jean” Klein, well-versed in early childhood development, introduces babies and toddlers to playful rhymes, songs, and puppetry. Parents and caregivers participate with the children and are encouraged to continue the activities at home. Because the program is often a child’s first experience in an audience setting, it is important that adults strive to arrive on time and actively help children focus on the presentation. For more information, call the Children’s Reference Desk at 231-3162.
On Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 5:50 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Meeting Room. “The Parent Trap” (1961) will be screened. This is the finale of the library’s summer drive-in movie series. Kids will pick up the “box cars” they designed and created at the previous Family Fun Night and “drive-in” to the “Ryebrary Theatre” to watch the feature film. There will be fresh popped popcorn and juice boxes. Please be prepared to take your “box car” home with you. Rated G; running time: 128 minutes.
College Essay Writing Workshop On Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room. The college essay is the element of your application that provides insight into your character through your authentic voice. In this workshop, participants will explore the art of personal essay writing through discussion, analysis, and most of all, writing exercises. The instructor, Dana Stranges, teaches high school English and ESL at Tappan Zee High School in Rockland County. Registration is required online as space is limited.
Wiggle, Giggle Time On Wednesday, Aug. 30. There are three sessions: 9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m. or 11 a.m. For toddlers
and preschoolers. Children will wiggle to music, giggle to funny rhymes and pretend to be wild and wonderful animals in this lively interactive program with “Dawny Dew” Halasz. Music is a natural connection tool. It brings people together and helps them interact with one another. Children are engaged with the use of puppets, felt board activities, nursery rhymes, and songs. Active participation by parents and other caregivers is encouraged. This 20-minute weekly musical program promotes early language skills and socialization. Since space is limited, you may attend only one session per day. Please note that doors close five minutes after the program begins to prevent interruptions and help focus audience attention on the presenter. Please be prepared to enjoy the Children’s Room while waiting for the next session to begin. For more information, call the Children’s Reference Desk at 231-3162.
Tales for Tots On Thursday, Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. in the Children’s Room. For infants and toddlers. Simple picture books, finger plays and songs encourage language development and instill a love of stories in children who are learning to talk.
welcoming and supportive environment. Discuss works in progress, writing topics, the writing process and individual writing joys and challenges. Open to novice and experienced writers.
Rye Arts Center The Rye Arts Center is located at 51 Milton Road in Rye. For more information or to register for a program, call 967-0700 or visit ryeartscenter.org.
Fall classes Fall classes begin Monday, Sept. 25. Registration is now open. View the catalog online at ryeartscenter.org. The Rye Arts Center offers a schedule of weeklong morning, afternoon, and late afternoon classes. You can fill your child’s entire summer with creativity and fun, or simply fill the gaps. Each week brings new opportunities. Activities include visual arts, performing arts and STEAM programs. In addition, private music lessons are available for all ages in a range of musical disciplines, and weekly art classes are available for teens and adults. All classes are led by professional teaching artists and musicians.
Rye Youth Soccer
Family Fun Night Grand Finale
Fall 2017 registration
On Thursday, Aug. 31 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Celebrate your summer reading achievements. Join the library to receive your Reading Certificate, to pick up an additional gift for being a “Super Summer Reader,” to cash in your coupons for a special prize (grades four and five only), and to enjoy making your own yummy ice cream sundae. Strike a pose in the photo booth and bring the photos home as a souvenir of a fantastic summer at the library. Space is limited for this event and pre-registration is required. Visit ryelibray.org, go to “Programs & Events,” “Kids,” the event date, and then “Register.”
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.
Rye Library Writers On Saturday, Sept. 2 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room. Share work and brainstorm with fellow writers and be encouraged in a
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.
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RyeCity REVIEW THE
170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000
New app hopes to make dating accessible for all
Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com
By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter
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 General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Nancy Kaplan ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Photographer Jen Parente Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Joe Murphy
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The Love is Blind app will provide extensive dating profiles, video clips and captions to make the dating app accessible to everyone. Photos courtesy Facebook.com/LoveisBlind
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Andrew Kranichfeld, creator of Love is Blind, was interested in creating the app after experiencing discrimination on other dating apps because he is blind. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
After experiencing discrimination for being blind while using online dating services, Andrew Kranichfeld decided to create his own dating app in hopes of making dating more accessible for disabled people. Kranichfeld’s brainchild is Love is Blind, LIB, a dating app with a goal of creating a safe space for disabled people to make meaningful connections. A Westchester native who lost his eyesight from cancer in 2010, Kranichfeld said that since going blind he’s found online dating to be Love is Blind is an app that wants difficult, between meeting his ideal match, and finding apps that are to help disabled people find their accessible for people who are blind. perfect match without worrying For an app to be accessible to people with disabilities, it must meet about being discriminated against. the standards set under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, a civil rights law that prevents discrimination of people with disabilities in public and private places. The ADA says that an app must follow the guidelines under the World Wide Web Consortium, W3C. The W3C is a community that works to create standards for the web to make it accessible for everyone. In 2008, the W3C released its updated version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which said that web developers should include alternatives to text by offering things like content in video form, video captions and sign language interpretations. Yet, most of the dating sites out there offer any of the above. “A lot of [dating apps] out there are not fully accessible for blind people,” Kranichfeld said.. “There are certain things that aren’t labeled correctly for screen reader [software].” He noted Bumble specifically, saying, “I couldn’t use it at all.” The other issue that he found with apps like Tinder was even though he put that he was blind in his profile, he would still receive negative reactions from matches. Kranichfeld said that when his disability would come up over private messages, he would get “all kinds of reactions from anger to confusion.” These reactions are something that people with disabilities often face when participating in online dating. “Disability and sexuality [are] still so taboo,” said Andrew Gurza, a Canadian-based disability awareness consultant and a wheelchair user living with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects motor functions. “It’s still so taboo that nobody wants to talk about it.” Gurza explained that he attributes the negative reactions he receives while using dating apps to people being scared of disability. “The things [disabled people] face online is just blatant ableism,” he said. “[Users who’re] behind a keyboard, or behind a screen, feel a lot more comfortable to say inappropriate things.” Gurza discusses some of these issues on his weekly podcast “Disability After Dark.” In the episode “Gimps on Grindr,” Gurza opens up about his experiences with being gay and disabled on Grindr, a social networking app for LGBTQ men, where he found users would immediately turn him down because of their own assumptions on how he was able to perform sexually while being wheelchair-bound. “When people say [hurtful] stuff to me and type those things online, when I’m simply trying to connect with somebody, it’s one of the most painful things I’ve experienced,” he told the Review. With LIB, Kranichfeld intends for disabled and nondisabled to be open about their dating preferences without judgment. “I want [users] to pre-select who [they’re] willing to date,” he said. “Then [they] wouldn’t match with anyone outside of those subcategories of people.” Kranichfeld plans to go beyond these specifications, by requiring users to make more detailed profiles that include things like video clips and photo captions. “I’m trying to get a lot of feedback from the disabled community,” he said. Working with Kranichfeld on the dating app is Jaime Urteaga, founder and CEO of Digital Chair, a marketing, web design and video production company based in White Plains. “There’s a definite need, a definite problem to solve. [Kranichfeld’s] experienced it, I think a lot of other people have experienced it, too,” Urteaga said. “The more people hear about it, the more they become aware this is an issue.” Urteaga said that the app is only in its first phase, which has involved creating a landing page at LoveisBlindapp. com, and encouraging people to sign up for the app’s newsletter. The app doesn’t have a set release date, but Kranichfeld hopes to launch it by April 2018. For more information and updates on the app, visit LoveisBlindapp.com. CONTACT: taylor@homtewn.com
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Honoring Rye’s biggest heart A RYE OLDTIMER Judge John Carey
This column was written with Douglas Carey, Judge John Carey’s son. The proverbial “big heart” has been used in American English to describe someone who is generous, compassionate, helpful and genuinely unselfish and sincere. There are few people in this world that come close to that mark. Yet, here in Rye, since 1968, we have a resident named Ralph Vellone, whose own heart pumps righteousness, care, altruism, and love for our community. Ralph, whose involvement with the popular cerebral palsy telethons of Westchester County, brought hundreds of volunteers of all ages to help with the cause, demonstrated that the late great Jerry Lewis wasn’t the only person who could motivate residents to give of their free time and “do good” for others. Mr. Vellone, a longtime community leader and volunteer, served as the vice chairman of the telethon for 10 years. Yet at the same time, Ralph continued to help in other ways as well. Ralph served 11 years on the Rye Recreation Commission, helping to raise money for various organizations and families who needed a hand. Ralph is legendary for helping others despite never having met them. When the Lions Club of Croton-on-the-Hudson had all of their trees stolen from their annual Christmas Tree Sale, Ralph was there to replace them. The list goes on: the Blythedale School for Children, Tomorrow’s Children Fund, Gilda’s Club, the Port Chester-Rye Ambulance Corps, the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Anthony Faust Memorial Fund and Baseball Tournament, and volunteering to cut the hair of all of the children of Cerebral Palsy of Westchester each year. Ralph currently serves on the Board of the Friends of Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary. Every community should be as lucky as Rye, to have a person who carries the torch and fills a need during an emergency, all without being asked. He lobbied for safety measures for pedestrians along Playland Parkway when most residents believed getting the county to do anything was next to impossible. Many Rye residents might not
know that there was a time when there were not any sidewalks along the Playland Parkway, no lights, along with a 40-milesper-hour speed limit. All of those improvements were started because Ralph was persistent. If one door closed, he opened another. If someone said no, that just motivated Ralph more in his quest for justice, especially for our youth. Moreover, Ralph involved hundreds of volunteers over a 25-year period when he began the Rye Invitational Baseball Tournament, later renamed the Rye Pepsi Invitational Tournament. There was no larger showcase for young ballplayers in the metro area who wanted to continue playing in college or to get a chance to be seen by a pro scout. It wasn’t just about baseball though; all of the players, teams and coaches had to comport themselves like gentlemen and play with honor. He personally recruited George Foster, former star of the world champion Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets, to become involved, leading to a long collaboration. George fielded a Connecticut All Star team to be in the tournament each year. Scouts from the Dodgers, the Red Sox, the Royals, the Mariners and the Yankees set up their chairs to find the treasures of tomorrow at Disbrow Park in Rye, New York. Some of the youngsters went on to the big leagues: Mo Vaughn, Walt Weis, Manny Ramirez, Rich and BJ Surhoff;
however, I believe that the tournament, in which so many others such as Mr. Little, Mr. Zadlo and Ralph volunteered hundreds of hours each year to ensure its success, influenced others who played in the invitational to give back as adults. Many volunteer in their communities of choice today; Mark Surhoff, Pat Romano, Rocky Pasquale, Alex Smith and Jimmy Thurston all have and continue to make their mark by giving back to young adults, teaching those same irreplaceable core values of honest hard work and playing as a team, that Ralph has always tried to pass on to others. Ralph will be recognized as the Summerfest 2017 honoree. It is a pleasure and truly an honor to invite all residents to our annual field day and especially to attend this year’s John Carey Jr. Memorial (Bipartisan) Big Band Music program. The Reddy Valentino Orchestra will be playing swing dance music from the 1930s to the 1950s and more in the Damiano Community Center at 281 Midland Ave. from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3. During the intermission, we will take the time to properly honor Rye’s Ralph Vellone for his unselfish and caring contributions to others. We encourage everyone to say hello to Ralph and thank him for his leadership. I know that we will do so. See you on Sept. 3 at the Summerfest Field Day. CONTACT: j_pcarey@verizon.net
John Carey, left, with Summerfest 2017 honoree Ralph Vellone. Photo/Douglas Carey
PLAYLAND from page 1
The city will move forward on filing an official appeal regarding a decision by a state judge earlier this year that stripped Rye of its legal standing to sue over Rye Playland. File photo
[appealing] at all.” In July, Killian said she believes an appeal will only worsen relations with Rye and the county and that it may only serve to solidify the city’s loss of standing permanently if a judge denies the appeal. As per an agreement struck in May 2016 between the county and the management company Standard Amusements— the new operators of the nearly 100-year-old amusement park— the park is set to undergo $60 million in capital improvements, the cost of which will be split between the two parties. Under the terms of the deal, Standard will manage the park for 30 years and also pay the coun-
ty a fee that rises annually by 2 percent. The agreement punctuated years of failed negotiations between Republican Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino’s administration and prospective organizations or companies interested in managing the amusement park; most notably a previous deal brokered between Astorino and local nonprofit Sustainable Playland Inc., which dissolved in the wake of potential litigation from Rye and growing public outcry over the size and scope of the plans, particularly a sports bubble that was slated for Playland’s main parking lot. Now similar fears of litigation
have halted some aspects of the latest deal, including a contractual payment by Standard Amusements to the county which administration officials have said is being withheld while the threat of a legal battle looms. Part of that $1.75 million payment—initially due to the county last year—was also tied to a decision on the Playland pool, which county lawmakers voted to renovate in June with a $10 million bond. Councilwoman Emily Hurd, a Democrat, and Killian could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
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Rye lawmakers stand against Virginia melee
Leaders of Tomorrow and the Rye Recreation Department
Present
SUMMERFEST 2017 Sunday September 3rd 2017 Rye Recreation Park
The Jack Curran Memorial Bare-Handed Ball Game at 3:00 PM Races and Booths Begin at 3:30 PM • Bean Bag Toss • Face Painting • Golf Challenge • Potato-Sack Races
• 30-yard Dash • Peanut Scramble • Ice cream-Eating Contests • Water Balloon Challenge
Hot Dogs from Kelly’s and The Post Road Market and … Rye lawmakers and the city Human Rights Commission have taken a stand against a white nationalist rally that occurred on Aug. 12 in the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, pictured. Photo courtesy Bob Mical
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Rye lawmakers have taken a stand against a white nationalist rally that occurred in the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, two weeks ago. In a joint statement with the city Human Rights Commission released last week, Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, said it was “hard not to notice” and condemned the rally that occurred on Aug. 12 which left a 32-year-old woman, Heather Heyer, dead and several others injured. “We stand united with those who oppose intolerance and racism,” the statement read. “We call on all elected officials to be clear and fearless in standing up for the values and humanity inscribed in the Declaration of Independence.” That Saturday, self-proclaimed white nationalists and a group of counter protestors clashed in what turned out to be a bloody afternoon over Charlottesville’s de-
cision to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee, a general who commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. When tensions boiled over, the rally turned into racial taunting, shoving and brawling, ultimately leading to the governor of the state of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, to declare a state of emergency and send in the National Guard to end the violence. However, before the skirmish ended, a driver, 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., of Ohio, plowed into a crowd of counter protestors, which resulted in Heyer’s death and 19 injured. As of press time, Fields has been charged with second-degree murder, five counts of malicious wounding and failing to stop at the scene of a crash. Additionally, the driver has been charged with three counts of aggravated malicious wounding. “I feel like it’s our responsibility to say something,” said Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein,
a Democrat and chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission. “It’s also critical that [the committee] was resurrected in an unfortunate time like this one.” At the beginning of the year, Sack re-established the commission, which had been non-existent for more than a decade. Since reviving the committee, members have been involved in helping to draft citywide legislation to establish a policy on immigration enforcement for the Rye Police Department and planning several education-based initiatives set to begin next month. “You want to make sure that people know you’re there and that you’re a voice for them,” Tagger-Epstein said. “But, you don’t want to be just a mouthpiece. We want to make sure [our] words are followed up with action.” Prior to its re-establishment, the committee’s last meeting was in 2004. Its next meeting will occur on Aug. 24, after press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
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The Jack Curran Memorial Bare-Handed Ball Game
3:00 PM .
The Jack Nye Memorial Ice Tea Family Tennis Tournament
3:30 PM .
All Booths, Races and Contests
3:30 PM .
Finishing with Our Annual Honoree Ceremony, Senior Raffle and The John Carey Jr. Memorial Music Program Featuring Live Music 5:00 PM . For more information please call 914-996-5082 or 914-967-2535
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Rye Fire Department offers free CPR course Empire Casino celebrates Labor Day weekend
The Rye Professional Firefighters Local 2029 and the Rye Fire Department will hold a free CPR class on Saturday, Sept. 9. Photo courtesy Local2029.com
The Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance has taken place every Sept. 11, since 2002. This effort first established the inspiring tradition of engaging in charitable service on Sept. 11, as an annual and forward-looking tribute to the 9/11 victims and survivors. For the third year, the Rye Professional Firefighters Local 2029 and the Rye Fire Department will hold a free CPR class for members of the public who have never received CPR education before. What better way to give back to your community than to learn a skill that could one day save someone’s life? The course is called American
Red Cross, Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED. The class incorporates the latest science and teaches students how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies to help victims of any age. The class is free, and is paid for by the Rye Professional Firefighters Local 2029 with space provided by the Rye Fire Department. Registration is required, as space is limited. Please visit Local2029. com/cpr-sign-up/ for more information and to sign up. The CPR class will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., subject to change. If you would like to know more
about the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance visit this website: Serve.gov. In order to sign-up you must meet the following criteria: 1. Have not taken a CPR class in the last five years. 2. You are not a member of an emergency services department (fire, police, or EMS). 3. Must be at least 12 years old. 4. Physically able to perform CPR. If you meet the criteria, go to Local2029.com and click on the CPR Sign-Up tab. If you have any questions, email Iaff2029@gmail.com. (Submitted)
Looking for action over the Labor Day weekend while bidding adieu to the summer? Look no further than Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway! The raceway’s two signature stakes races for 3-year-old trotters and pacers—the Yonkers Tro and Messenger Stakes—will be contested on Saturday night, Sept. 2. A pair of promotions center around those Triple Crown events, the t-shirt giveaway and a free wager on the Yonkers Trot, which includes two-horse exacta box. Since there’s still plenty of barbecuing to do, the casino is giving away a nifty, three-piece BBQ set with the Empire City logo on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4. While at the casino, attendees can take a chance on the record-breaking $2 million jackpot currently available only at Empire City Casino on the IGT Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars slot machine in the Gotham Palace. The Yonkers Trot/Messenger Stakes t-shirt give away will be on Saturday, Sept. 2. The first 3,000 Empire Club Members to visit the promotions booth beginning at 4 p.m. will receive a free Yonkers Trot/Messengers Stakes t-Shirt, while supplies last.
On Saturday, Sept. 2, the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway will be giving away Yonkers trot raceway tickets for the first 500 Empire Club members. Contributed photo
The Yonkers Trot free exacta wager will be on Saturday, Sept 2. The first 500 Empire Club Members to visit the promotions booth beginning at 4 p.m. will receive one two-horse exacta box for the Yonkers Trot. This is limited to the first 500 Empire Club Members, and one race ticket per Empire Club Member, while supplies last. The Labor Day BBQ set give-
away is on Monday, Sept. 4. The first 3,000 Empire Club Members to visit the promotions booth beginning at 10 a.m. will receive a free gift, a three-piece BBQ Tool Set with the Empire City logo on each handle, while supplies last. For more information contact John Cirillo at 260-7436, or email JohnnyCigarpr@aol.com. (Submitted)
es h s i l b u P
Eastchester REVIEW THE
Harrison REVIEW THE
Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
THE
CityREVIEW NewRochelle
RyeCity REVIEW THE
INSIDE
Poor Christian was hit by a car over a year ago. We took him in, he received oral surgery and has healed amazingly well and will live a full life. This sweet tabby was adopted by a wonderful family with children who loved him dearly, but unfortunately, a loss of a job cost the family their home and they had to return him to Pet Rescue in late July 2017. He is a big, strong cat who relates well with easy going cats, and we believe may also do well with cat-friendly dogs. To meet Christian is to fall in love with this sociable and engaging cat. He deserves another forever home where he can live a full life. Christian is neutered, up to date with all vaccinations, in good health and microchipped. The adoption donation for Christian is $100. To meet him, contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
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12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017
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LTM BOOKS, LLC d/b/a LTM BOOKS, whose whereabouts is unknown, must answer Deborah Ford Rogers’ and GRITS, Inc.’s complaint for declaratory action within thirty (30) calendar days of July 21, 2017 to hold null and void the agreement signed by and between the parties on or about July 2015 in Case Number: 44-CV-16-900404.00, Circuit Court of Limestone County, Alabama.
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August 25, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13
14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017
SPORTS
Adding insult to injury LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
You would figure, that with the team standing 20.5 games behind the Nationals in the NL East, we simply wouldn’t have to talk about the Mets anymore. But for some reason, the Amazin’s seem determined to generate headlines—albeit not the ones they’d hope for. On Monday night, the Mets announced that struggling starting pitcher Steven Matz would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a damaged nerve in his arm. The news, on the surface, is fairly commonplace. Pitchers— especially those who don the blue and orange—routinely suffer debilitating injuries that can cut a season short. But in true Mets’ fashion, there was more to the story. Just hours before the announcement, manager Terry Collins announced that the team was shutting Matz down indefinitely despite the fact that he
wasn’t injured. Then came the reports from organizational higher-ups about the hurler’s irritated ulnar nerve. Again, this seems pretty standard, especially for the Mets. Managers have some leeway in revealing the ailments suffered by their players and maybe some signals got crossed prior to Collins’ press conference. But then, sources within the team confided that Matz had been injured all year long, his pitching arm, at times swelling up to the size of a grapefruit, and that Mets’ staffers had been giving him game-day pain-killing injections to keep him in the lineup. Their reasoning? They wanted to help the young southpaw get over the “mental hurdle” of pitching with pain. Even for a team like the Mets, this is a new low. Pitching—especially young pitching—is the most important commodity in the major leagues today. And at every turn, the Mets have done everything within their power to mishandle its promising staff.
Noah Syndergaard spent the offseason bulking up—against the recommendation of the team’s trainers—and then refused the organization’s “suggestion” that he get an MRI. He made a grand total of five starts this year. Matt Harvey, once the shining star of the staff, hasn’t pitched since June. Zack Wheeler? He’s part of the walking wounded, too, which isn’t really a surprise considering he hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2015. Sure, some of it is dumb luck, but how much does the Mets’ general ineptitude factor into the team’s inability to keep its player’s healthy? This had the potential to be a big year for the Mets. Coming off two straight trips to the postseason, with a wealth of young stars on the mound, the team seemed poised to wrest control of the city’s attention from the big-brother Yanks. Instead, Mets fans were treated to a season filled with heartbreak, confusion and anger.
New York Mets’ lefthander Steven Matz will miss the rest of the season after undergoing elbow surgery this week. The team’s mishandling of the young hurler is just one of many missteps this year. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org
And with a front office seemingly incapable of doing the right thing by its players, there sure doesn’t seem like an easy fix.
But even if there was one, I sure wouldn’t trust the Mets to make the repairs. They’d probably amputate
the wrong arm anyway.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
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SPORTS
Young Panthers ready for season
Pierre Klur battles with a Harrison defender last year. Klur is one of several graduated seniors who helped elevate Rye Neck’s standing within the Section I soccer landscape.
By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Over the last three seasons, few soccer teams in Section I have had as much success as Rye Neck. Since 2014, the Panthers have reached three straight sectional title games, winning once, as they established themselves as perennial contenders for the crown. But after an offseason that saw them graduate many of the players responsible for their recent success, the Panthers are hoping to rebuild this year around a small, yet talented, group of upperclassmen who played big roles on the Rye Neck’s finals-bound squads. “The seniors returning this year, for the most part, have been on the team for the last two years and they expect to be successful,” head coach Bryan Iacovelli said. “They know what it takes to be successful, they know the importance of having a strong work ethic, and that hasn’t changed.” Iacovelli is looking to players like standouts Donovan Dunning and Jack Sheldon as well as goalkeeper Tom Bermingham to lead the way this year in the absence of 13 graduated seniors that helped oversee the Panthers’ dominant stretch. “These guys did a really good job this summer; from July 4, they were working out at least one night a week together,” Iacovelli said. “The older guys have kept everyone focused on getting ready for the season.” The head coach credits the leadership of his upperclassmen stemming from the example set by graduated All-State player Luis Galeano, who was an integral part of the Panthers’ dominant stretch. Although the team will miss his play this year, Iacovelli is confident that his presence will still be felt. “As talented as [Galeano] was, he was an even better teammate,” he said. “He put himself second to everyone else on the team, and these guys coming back respected him and his desire to win.” As he begins to get a handle on exactly what his team will look like this year, Iacovelli hopes that his underclassmen can forge the same kind of bond that helped carry his last three teams to new heights. “We’re starting to see it now, but with so many younger guys, it’s going to take a while,” he said. “But we think this has a chance to be another close-knit group.”
Donovan Dunning goes up for a header in 2016. Dunning will be one of the Panthers’ top returning players this season. Photos/Mike Smith
The Panthers will officially kick off the season on Sept. 6, when they host Westlake High School, and with so many youngsters primed to play big roles this year, Iacovelli said that he knows there might be a learning curve, especially given the difficulty of the team’s schedule. “It’s going to be tough, our league is one of the best in the section,” he said. “We have Bronxville twice, Blind Brook and now Edgemont, and those are all very good teams.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
Luis Galeano puts a shot on net during Rye Neck’s 2016 Section I title game. Galeano’s graduation will hit the Panthers hard, but head coach Bryan Iacovelli is confident that the former All-State player instilled leadership qualities among his returning players.
August 25, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15
16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017