April 28, 2017 by The Rye City Review

RyeCity REVIEW THE

April 28, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 17 | www.ryecityreview.com

Council axes Crown Castle proposal, awaits litigation By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

The city of Rye will finally look to redraft its master plan, a guiding document that hasn’t been updated since 1985. One of the issues that Rye still faces today is flooding, as seen here on Elm Place. For story, see page 9. File photo

City files Playland notice of appeal against county By JAMES PERO Staff Writer In an executive session late last week, the Rye City Council voted to file a notice of appeal that could mark the beginnings of another legal battle between Westchester County and the city of Rye over Playland. The notice of appeal, which was filed on April 21, comes as a result of a denial by a state judge in March who threw out an ini-

tial Article 78 filed by the city last year that sought lead agency status on planned capital projects at the park, which sits adjacent to some of Rye’s residential neighborhoods. The notice serves as the first step toward filing an official appeal, and from that point the council will have approximately five months to finalize its decision to enter back into litigation with the county. Rye City Attorney Kristen Wilson said that while the city has been

in consistent contact with the park’s new manager, Standard Amusements, including a recent executive session meeting between the two parties in the hopes of coming to some type of agreement, there has been little contact with representatives from the county. This week, Dan Branda, a spokesman for County Executive Rob Astorino’s administration, reiterated the county executive’s hard stance against PLAYLAND continued on page 5

With the denial of an application from telecom contractor Crown Castle that seeks to install wireless equipment citywide, the city will move forward on a more stringent environmental review, likely facing litigation in the process. According to Rye City Attorney Kristen Wilson, from here the council will begin the process—initiated by a positive declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQR—of determining just how the installation of wireless infrastructure will affect Rye’s neighborhoods. Wilson said that both decisions from the council, which took place on April 22 following the annual joint meeting with the Rye City Board of Education, will likely lead to litigation by Crown Castle,

proposal, barring the introduction of a preliminary injunction from Crown Castle which she says could temporarily halt the city’s review process. The decision to reject the proposal, which aimed to install 72 nodes across the city, many adjacent to residential properties, comes after more than a year of deliberation by the council, hearings in front of the public—some of which grew contentious—and negotiations with Crown Castle. While Crown Castle seeks to bolster cell service in the Rye area, residents have protested the installation of nodes citing the potential for adverse effects on property value, and initially, concerns over the equipment’s impact on public health, which soon fell by the wayside. According to City Councilwoman Julie Killian, Republican, the

Crown Castle will sue, but “I think we don’t know when.”

– RYE CITY ATTORNEY KIRSTEN WILSON, after the City Council voted to reject the application who is being contracted by Verizon Wireless to install nodes—wireless signal-emitting equipment—across the city. “I think Crown Castle will sue, but we don’t know when,” Wilson said. Regardless of a lawsuit, Wilson said the council would continue its environmental review of the

City Council elected to reject the proposal in hopes of negotiating with Crown Castle to help minimize the plan’s impact on Rye neighborhoods. “The application as they presented to us was not good for Rye, so we turned them down,” she said, PROPOSAL continued on page 8

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FD aims for new volunteers with open house Ryecityreview.com scores design honors

The Rye Fire Department is hoping to recruit more volunteers at an upcoming open house, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 30 at Rye Fire Headquarters on Locust Avenue. File photo

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye Fire Department is continuing its efforts to bolster its volunteer force, using an annual open house this Sunday as a way to spark interest in the department. While the Fire Department has struggled to sustain an active group of volunteers in recent years, Councilman Richard Mecca, a Republican and member of the city Fire Advisory Committee, said it’s aiming to change that by encouraging new members to join its dwindling force. “Part of the open house is to show [residents] what we do,” he said. “The whole idea of this is to attract volunteers and build that component of the firehouse.” The event, which is part of the larger annual RecruitNY weekend, commissioned by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, FASNY, to help fire departments across the state recruit new volunteer participants, is scheduled to occur on April 30 at Rye Fire Headquarters, at 15 Locust Ave. The department’s Poningoe Hook and Ladder Company and Poningoe Engine and Hose Company are both stationed at that location. FASNY is a nonprofit organization that provides information, training and education to volunteer fire and emergency medical service departments statewide. The effort to use the open house mainly as a way to recruit new members comes largely in part to the declining volunteer base. There are as few as 12 active and 30 total volunteers, as of press time. Mecca, who is also a volunteer firefighter in Rye, said the department will specifically discuss the training related to volunteer members and what it takes to become an interior firefighter in order to better assist Rye’s paid firefighters, who have also struggled in recent years with their own staffing concerns. Although the industry standard requires 15 interior-trained personnel to respond to

an emergency, the city currently staffs just 17 professional firefighters. As a result, there are typically three or four paid firefighters on scene during emergency situations considering their work schedules, which leaves the department to depend on well-trained volunteers to show up. John Castelhano, the president of the local firefighters’ union, said that while he supports the recent initiative by the new Public Safety Commissioner Michael Corcoran to bolster the volunteer force, he’s skeptical how effective the open house will be in recruiting new members. “I think [the department has] tried in the past,” he said, explaining that it often loses more members than it gains. Last week, however, the Rye City Council approved the election of resident Kevin Ramsey to the Milton Point Engine and Hose Company to serve as a volunteer. With many issues surrounding the Fire Department in recent months, including a recharged discussion about the department’s lack of staffing and its struggle to resolve 19 serious state violations—the department is currently awaiting approval from the state on actions it made to resolve the violations— Corcoran began a review of the department in January. Corcoran, who had initially been hired by the city last year to serve as its police commissioner, was appointed as the public safety commissioner in January to consolidate oversight of the Police and Fire departments. The public safety commissioner recently told the Review that he was considering recommending to the City Council to add more professional firefighters upon completion of his review, which is expected to be concluded in the coming weeks at an unspecified date. Corcoran could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

The latest iteration of the ryecityreview.com was recognized for its design at a recent statewide contest. It marks the first such distinction for the Review’s digital component.

The new and improved ryecityreview.com website has made quite an impression since launching last year, as it took home third place in a recent statewide contest. The Rye site grabbed “Best Website Design” honors at the New York Press Association’s Spring Convention and Better Newspaper Contest Awards, an annual gathering of weekly news publications. The convention, which took place April 8 and 9 in Saratoga Springs, New York, brought together industry professionals from all across the state.

“We knew what we were creating had a lot of potential,” said Christian Falcone, Review editor-in-chief. “And with this award it now validates us as a player in the digital world of news.” The website, which launched in August 2016, was a collaborative effort between the Review and Digital Chair, a web development company based in White Plains, to take the newspaper’s digital presence to a new level with the goal of turning the website into a daily, functioning news source. -Review staff

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What’s going on... Rye Free Reading Room

May is: How Does your Garden Grow? Space is limited. Please note children must be able to participate without an accompanying adult. Pre-registration is required online. Visit ryelibray.org, go to “Programs & Events,” “Kids,” the event date, and then “Register.”

Get LinkedIn for Your Job Search For more information on hours and programs, visit ryelibrary.org.

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

Cannacurious On Thursday, May 4 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Holistic Moms hosts “Cannacurious? Come to the CBD Talk.” What is cannabidiol and why does it matter? CBD is the nonpsychotropic ingredient in cannabis and hemp, already indicated in more than 60 clinical studies on everything from autism to Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, cancer, Crohn’s and many more ailments of the body and mind. The guest speakers will be Shira Adler and Andy Kadison, CBD experts, educators and co-founders of T3CSynergy. The Holistic Moms Network is a nonprofit organization connecting parents who are interested in holistic health and green living.

Gizmos Science Fun Club On Friday, May 5 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Meeting Room. For children in grades K–2. Gizmos Science Fun Club offers children a chance to engage in hands-on, inquiry-based experiments. In this one-hour science workshop, participants will focus on a different STEM or STEAM activity each month with handouts to follow up at home. Through this program, children will begin to see that science, technology engineering, math, and the arts can be fun. The theme for

On Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room. This is a free presentation for job seekers and others using social media. Become informed about LinkedIn, a powerful job search tool; understand its value and features; and learn what to put in an online profile. Pre-registration is required online. Presented by WEBS Career and Educational Counseling Service, a program of the Westchester Library System.

Rye Recreation Summer camp information Summer camps in Rye will run from Tuesday, June 27 to Friday, Aug. 4. Registration is online only. Kiddy Camp registration is ongoing; call 967-2535 for availability. Lower and Upper camps and Camp 78 registration is ongoing. Kiddy Camp is specifically for children ages 3 to 5 (must be 3 by April 30, 2017, or 5 but not entering kindergarten). The camp is a six-week, half-day, classroom-based program. Every day, the children will participate in free play, story time, songs, outdoor play, art, sports, and much more. Special events and entertainment are held weekly to enhance the program. Lower Camp offers an active, supervised camp program for children enrolled in grades K–2 as of September 2017. Camp groups are co-ed by grade. Sports, group games, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, field trips and special theme days are just part of the fun planned for these campers. Upper Camp is specifically for children enrolled in grades 3–6 as of September 2017. Campers are grouped by gender and grade. This program gives campers the opportunity to participate in a variety of trips and programs, including sports, games, arts and crafts, indoor rec, a variety of special events and themed days. Camp 78 is for children entering seventh and eighth grade, and combines the best of sports, activities and cool trips. Have fun

She’s not crazy, her name just rhymes with it. Read Lenore Skenazy’s column every week in the Review. A past contributor to the Daily News and the New York Sun, Skenazy has also appeared on “The Daily Show,” been profiled in the New Yorker and even had her own reality TV show, “World’s Worst Mom.”

with old friends and make new ones while participating. Camp 78 starts on Monday, June 26. For specific camp information, fees, applications and other forms, visit ryeny.gov/ recreation.cfm.

Wainwright House

The Wainwright House is located at 260 Stuyvesant Ave. in Rye. For more information, call 967-6080 or visit wainwright.org.

Volunteer opportunities Wainwright House invites those interested in volunteering to join its volunteer enrichment program. Opportunities are available to train as docents, who would conduct tours of the beautiful mansion, and discuss the history of the house with visitors. Volunteers also help with special events throughout the year in various capacities. Wainwright House is a learning center situated on 5 acres of lawns and gardens, overlooking Milton Harbor on Long Island Sound at 260 Stuyvesant Ave. in Rye. For more information, call at 967-6080 or visit wainwright.org.

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 $400 for members, $450 for non-members by April 30; after April 30, $450 for members, $525 for non-members. Weekly sessions and rates are available with early bird weekly rate of $133 for members; $150 for non-members. After April 30, the weekly rate 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.

State Board of Elections news Campaign finance seminar The New York State Board of Elections,

NYSBOE, will host a campaign finance seminar for Westchester County on Wednesday, May 3. The seminar will include a presentation on campaign financial disclosure requirements as defined in New York State Election Law. Conducted by NYSBOE’s Compliance Unit, this seminar is designed to assist candidates and committees in understanding the law and the disclosure process. Members of the media and the public are welcome. Certified public accountants who pre-register and attend can receive three Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits. The seminar, which is free of charge, is held in partnership with the county board of elections. The information for the seminar is as follows: Wednesday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas St. in White Plains. Tel.: 995-5700. Those interested in attending the seminar may register on the NYSBOE website at elections.ny.gov.

Westchester County news Register for children’s summer camps Registration is open for Westchester County Parks’ popular summer camps for children and young people. Online registration is available at parks.westchestergov. com/activities/childrens-camps. For more information on any of the programs, visit the aforementioned website or call 231-4673, unless stated otherwise. Perfect Pitch and Swing Baseball Camp, for ages 8 to 12, at V.E. Macy Park in Ardsley. Slam Dunk Basketball Camp, for grades 3–9, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. Girls Volleyball Camp, for grades 6–12, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. Challenger Sports Soccer Camp, for grades 1–9, at V.E. Macy Park, Ardsley. For more information, call 714-8601 or visit challengersports.com. Hole-in-One Junior Golf Camp, for ages 10 to 17, at the county courses: Dunwoodie and Sprain Lake, Yonkers; Hudson Hills, Ossining; Maple Moor, White Plains; Mohansic, Yorktown Heights; and Saxon Woods, Scarsdale. Children’s Summer Ecology Program, for grades 1–9, at Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains; Marshlands Conservancy, Rye; and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River. Conservationists in Training, for grades 7–9, at Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains, and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River. Muscoot Wranglers, for ages 4 and 5, and Muscoot Young Farmers, for grades 1–8, at Muscoot Farm, Katonah. For more information, call 864-7282. Summer Music Center, for grades 3–12, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. 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.

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5 PLAYLAND from page 1

Rye’s litigation over Playland. “There’s no merit to the lawsuit, either then or now,” he told the Review. “The court’s decision was a decisive victory for the county and it’s not going to change. Westchester is continuing to move forward on Playland.” City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican, said that the city looks to change the dynamic between parties, giving the city a more active say in the park’s future. “We would like to be more involved going forward and have advanced notice of what’s going on at the park,” said Killian, who was the only councilmember not to back the notice of appeal after abstaining from the vote. “I feel confident that we’ll figure something out.” According to Killian, Rye is seeking to give itself more authority over an upcoming round of capital projects at the amusement park. Specifically, she said, the council will look to mitigate any impacts on traffic and ill effects on neighboring residences. “What happens with overflow parking?” Killian asked. “It makes sense that Rye would be involved with that and that our police commissioner would be more involved with that.” While construction of $60 million in capital projects—which

materialized as a result of a management agreement struck last year between the county and Standard Amusements, an investment firm—have yet to start, Rye could also seek to file an injunction to indefinitely halt any progress of that work. The decision to file an injunction, however, could only come after the construction on the projects is underway. Wilson said that an injunction is always on the table, but for the time being, the city will move to negotiate any concerns over Playland out of court. “Right now we’re just trying to resolve any future litigation,” she said. Looming litigation between Rye and the county over Playland harkens back to a failed deal to transfer the management of Playland to Sustainable Playland Inc. in 2014. Eventually, due to growing scrutiny of an 87,000-square-foot field house in the Playland parking lot, which sits adjacent to Rye’s Ryan Park neighborhood, Sustainable Playland walked away from the deal with the county. Despite posturing, the 2014 feud never reached actual litigation. A deal between Standard Amusements and the county will see the injection of $30 million from both parties and will last for 30 years. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

After the March rejection of an Article 78 over the environmental review of $60 million in capital projects at Rye Playland, the Rye City Council will position itself to file a future appeal against Westchester County. File photo

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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

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 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 | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer Corey Stockton Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Jen Parente Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Lenore Skenazy, Joe Murphy

Reverend’s daughter captures father’s legacy

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter Sarah Bowen, the daughter of a late reverend, is working to spread the teachings of her father through a collection of his sermons that have since become her book, “Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through My Father’s Old Sermons.” Bowen’s father, Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Murdoch, was a senior pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church for 10 years. During his time in Rye, Murdoch was involved with the Rye Youth Council, the Rye Nature Center and the Rye Interfaith Housing Corp. Dan Love, a co-pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church, worked alongside Murdoch from 1997 to 2004. “[Murdoch] was always looking for a way to reach out beyond the church, beyond the city of Rye to do good for people,” he said. After he died of cancer in 2004, Bowen was given her father’s sermons by the church. Bowen said

that she had boxes full of manila folders containing 1,500 of her father’s teachings from 1967 to 2004. When Bowen, 46, first received the sermons, she wasn’t sure what to do with them. “I was afraid that reading my father’s sermons might make me miss him more than I already did,” Bowen said. It would take her five years until she was ready. “I missed my dad,” she told the Review, “and I thought, well maybe I’ll read these, and I’ll see what happens.” While reading the sermons, Bowen said she felt as if she was having a conversation with him about his work. “Amazingly, it helped me feel connected to him and heal much of my pain,” she said. After finishing his works, Bowen felt the sermons needed to be transformed into a book. With the encouragement of her sister, she embarked on making that idea come to life. Bowen was 37 when she began working on her book.

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Sarah Bowen explores her father’s sermons and her own religious journey in her book, “Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through My Father’s Old Sermons.” Photo courtesy Facebook.com/Voidifdetached

She compiled more than 50 of her father’s sermons that she felt people of all religious faiths could relate to. “These are the ones that will appeal to people regardless of whether they happen to be Baptist, Jewish or atheist,” she said. Since the book was released in December 2016, Bowen has become a gold medalist for the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards under the “religion” category. The book is available online from Barnes and Noble, Amazon and in stores at Arcade Booksellers in Rye. The book’s name was inspired by one of her father’s sermons. The sermon discusses how with the assistance of God’s power, people are able to accomplish great things. Murdoch tells the story of a doctor who believes that God didn’t give him his ability to heal the sick, but he does believe that God gave him the tools he would need to learn how to help them. When Bowen was 14 years old, she felt herself begin to detach from her religious upbringing. “I didn’t want to be thought of as the square preacher’s kid,” she said. When she was growing up, her father never told her that she had to believe in the things he would preach about. Bowen explained that she had “a lot of room for self-expression.” The religious journey she went on while writing the book, brought back fond memories. Bowen said that her father never really looked like a Christian preacher, so it confused people when they found out what his profession was. “He was just a really funny, social guy who would help anybody out and was just so caring,” she said. Murdoch received his B.A. in history with a minor in English at Furman University. His studies led him to become interested in the link between history and religion. Bowen said her father was interested in civil rights issues like the Fair Housing Movement and stopping segregation in neighborhoods. “My father worked all the time to try and make communities stronger,” she said. A prominent member of the Rye community, having served at Rye Presbyterian Church from 1994 to 2004, Murdoch was the recipient of the prestigious Rye Commission on Human Rights Award in 2004. He received the award because of his position as a pastor which led

Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Murdoch was a senior pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy Sarah Bowen

him to create a religious dialogue amongst people of different faiths. Murdoch also has an award in his name that was created after his death by members of the Rye Presbyterian Church. The Dick Murdoch Legacy Award is presented at the Rye Youth Council Scholarship Awards Breakfast along with a college scholarship every year to a high school senior. “We were looking for a way to honor his memory,” Love said about how the award came to be. The award is given to a student who is working to better oneself at whatever they’re pursuing. The student has to have a clear vision for their future by becoming accepting and open to new opportunities. Bowen, who lived in Rye for just under two years, travels back to the city from her current home in Rhinebeck, New York, every year to present the award. “Rye was a very welcoming community, and I still have strong ties,” she said. Since rediscovering her interest for religion, Bowen has begun focusing on animal chaplaincy, by providing grief counseling for those who have lost a pet, are able to perform animal blessings, and can speak at pet funerals. Bowen writes in a blog post that when she was growing up, she would bring home dead animals she found because she felt they needed a proper burial. “I want to have a bigger impact,” she said. Bowen, who now says her relationship is continuing to expand, is also working to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a reverend herself. “Focusing on the deep truths that are the foundation of all religions, rather than harping on our differences, is where I want to be,” she said. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7

Officials tout free tuition despite fiscal uncertainty By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer With the passing of a proposal to provide free tuition for income-eligible residents statewide at SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities, several elected and school administration officials are weighing the forthcoming fiscal impact of the plan. On April 8, state leaders approved the plan known as the Excelsior Scholarship, which will cost more than $160 million a year

once the program is fully phased in. The proposal’s approval is part of the $153.1 billion 2017-2018 state budget that was passed on the same day, a week after its deadline. The plan, proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, will be carried out over a three-year period. Families and individuals earning up to $125,000 a year would qualify for the free tuition at public universities and colleges across the state. Despite support from several elected and school administrative

officials in the Hudson Valley region for the plan that’s a first of its kind in the country, it’s currently uncertain just how it will impact the state economically. While the state estimates spending $163 million a year on the program, based on the number of students enrolled in public universities and colleges, the allure of the program could potentially draw interest from more students. “We’re supportive and excited about the governor’s initiative, which will increase access to higher educa-

Even with its uncertain economic impact, several elected and school administrative officials in the Hudson Valley region support Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recently approved plan to provide free tuition at public universities and colleges. File photo

tion, help with retention and graduation, and will relieve the burden of student debt,” said Thomas Schwarz, the president of Purchase College, one of two New York state schools located in Westchester County. “We believe the Excelsior Scholarship will have an impact on a very large segment of our student population, but the extent of the impact depends on how the program will be implemented.” The plan is expected to be implemented by borrowing capital from a number of tuition assistance programs the state already offers to low-income families, such as TAP, which provides nearly $1 billion in grants to college students statewide, according to Cuomo’s office. In the 2015-2016 fiscal year, more than 355,000 students were awarded more than $956 million in TAP funds with an average annual award of $3,302 per recipient. State Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, said the plan will work hand-in-hand with TAP, which saw a $19 million increase in the program. He added that TAP will now have an incentive for private colleges to provide additional aid to students. TAP will provide students with $3,000 in additional assistance with a match from private colleges. It would also require a freeze in student tuition for the duration of the award.

The idea for the proposal came just after being championed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, during his presidential primary for the Democratic nomination last year. State Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat running for county executive, said he also supports the plan but is also unsure of just how it will impact state taxpayers. “My approach is that it’s an effort to deal with the changing reality and is in some ways an experiment,” he said. “If it does provide people the opportunity it’s supposed to, then it’s a good thing. I think it’s an experiment worth trying.” Latimer explained that the program won’t work as a “handout,” as some might expect. Rather, there will be stringent requirements for students to perform at a high level in order to keep the scholarship. “We want to give everyone the opportunity to succeed, but we’re also not going to pay for you if you fail,” he said. The scholarship would also mandate participating students to be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY, two- or four-year college full time. It will however not cover the cost for room and board. Tuition, which does not include room and board, costs $6,470 at four-year SUNY schools and $6,330 at four-year CUNY schools. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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Public discourse, warts and all THE COUNCIL CORNER Mayor Joe Sack

One of the first projects I tackled as mayor was the selection of a new caterer for Whitby Castle. I pulled together a raft of stakeholders from the golf commission, the golf club community at large, and the City Council. One of my colleagues accurately observed that this was too big and unwieldy a group with which to attempt efficient and effective decision-making. He wisely counseled me to cut back the roster. But this was in the immediate aftermath of the RM staffing scandal at the club. The club manager had been ousted, and he eventually went to jail for his misconduct. Consequently, there was a palpable feeling of anger and distrust at the club. So I decided to add even more people to our merry band. My antidote to the atmosphere of suspicion was to bring an unlimited number of eyes and opinions to bear on our efforts. As my colleague predicted, this absolutely resulted in too many chefs in the kitchen. But after a long and hard process, the soup was not spoiled because everyone had a chance to have a say, and each added a necessary ingredient. Early in my term, the City Council was called upon to review and pass judgment on an application to construct affordable hous-

ing near the vicinity of Theodore Fremd Avenue and North Street, between an old gas station and the train tacks. This was coming on the heels of a plan that had been rolled out by the prior administration, with little to no advance warning or local input, to build a hotel in the same neighborhood. That hotel proposal had quickly gone down in flames, not just on the merits, but because the process was mishandled. As a result, the nearby residents were understandably dubious about this latest idea, to say the least. I vowed not to make the same mistakes. So instead of keeping the affordable housing proposal shrouded in secrecy, I decided to draw in as many interested parties as possible. I sent written notices to adjacent property owners, something that is not otherwise required by law for a zoning issue, and not usually done. And I called for an on-site tour open to the public. A large crowd accepted the invite, despite the fact that we were all standing ankle deep in a freshly deposited snow. The full council embraced this approach, and we retained an expert environmentalist to assist in the analysis of the contamination that had occurred at the parcel due to years of gasoline spills at the service station next door. We all became fairly proficient in reading technical reports. During our multiple public sessions, the council received lots of feedback from neighbors. Many had legitimate concerns

PROPOSAL from page 1

After more than a year of deliberation, a proposal by Crown Castle to install wireless infrastructure across Rye was shot down by the City Council last week, opening up the potential for a lawsuit against the city. File photo

adding that the city will likely be sued in federal court as a result. “[It] seemed to benefit them and not the residents of the city.” In addition to a more holistic environmental review, the City Council will also continue to mull a number of revisions to its telecommunications law as part of a process initiated in January. Council members hope the revised law will help give the city a greater say in where and when future equipment is deployed through retooling several provisions of Chapter 196 of the city code which governs local telecommunications. The new revisions will focus primarily on aesthetics. The adoption of those revisions was postponed at the council’s April 19 meeting;

it is expected to be included on the agenda of the May 17 meeting. Throughout the lengthy proposal process, both the city and concerned residents have enlisted the help of outside consultants to help wade through Crown Castle’s proposal and propose alternatives. A plan put forth by a group of residents that would have seen the installation of 10 much larger cell locations—in addition to proposals from the city—never gained a foothold with representatives of Crown Castle. In March, after nearly a year of negotiations, Crown Castle submitted a revised plan that included an equal number of nodes, leading to last week’s rejection. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

about the safety of building on the property, as well as the visual and traffic impact of the construction. After many months, we completed our due diligence, while making some important alterations to the plan. I cannot say that all neighbors were happy with the outcome. But I am confident that they would agree we conducted a thorough and fair process, and justified the decision. Last week, after a year-long public hearing, the City Council voted to deny the Crown Castle application to install additional cell antennae in the city’s right of way. In parallel discussions, we had tried our best to negotiable an acceptable solution with the applicant, but were unsuccessful. To be continued. An inordinate number of vocal residents attended our public hearings on the matter. They had pointed, strong and specific perspectives about the way things should go. That was their right. And regardless, as always, it was the council’s responsibility to consider all points of view, including those not expressed by folks motivated to be in attendance. It’s our mandate to consider the global ramifications of all courses of action, and not just particular agendas. For a long time, the council allowed the public input to come in unchecked, primarily because we were involved in necessarily privileged and confidential discussions with both Crown Castle and Verizon Wireless at the same time. But we pursued the same modus operandi with this matter as we had with any other matter. We hired a special outside counsel to advise us, who in turn brought on board an engineering consultant. We turned on the open microphone without ever giving anyone the hook. And we rolled up our sleeves on the intricacies of cell antennae deployment. Often during meetings with a full audience in attendance solely, it seemed, for the cellular facilities agenda item, I would have occasion to summarize the council’s efforts on a whole host of other issues we were working on with similar devotion. For example: the litigation over the county’s plans to develop Rye Playland; the public hearing in Port Chester regarding Starwood’s plans to develop the old United Hospital site; our process to select a new master plan consultant; and the suggestion by the landmarks committee to relocate the Ben Franklin mile markers. This is but a sampling.

I was hopeful that the attendees would pick up on our way of doing business, which is to handle issues on our plate in an equitable and workman-like manner. Just like we have done on rock chipping, and off-leash dogs at Rye Town Park, and the new public safety commissioner position, and prioritizing infrastructure investments. I could go on. There will always be disagreements on issues that are debated before our august body. I expect that. I even welcome it. It never bothers me. That’s why we need to build consensus, and make compromises, and fashion good results with as much buy-in as possible. Some may say that the worst thing about our public hearings is that we give everyone a chance to say whatever they want, as many times as they want; I say that is the greatest thing about our public hearings. But it does sometimes come at a price. The cat calls from the well of “you don’t have our back”—and often worse—were an unfortunate hallmark of many evenings at City Hall during the public hearings on this issue, unlike all others I have ever been part of, and were meant undoubtedly to kick council members where it hurts most. After all, the first and foremost job of the volunteers who sit on the dais is to represent the best interests of our community. After all, we live here, too. However, as I have observed before, absorbing angst from the public is also part of our job, as harsh as that may be. Council members must not stoke the embers of discord; rather, we must keep the discussion moving forward. Thinking about all the late nights we spent in chambers, on top of the endless offline study and discussion, I tried to estimate the time we have logged on the cell service issue. It’s in a different context, but that line from the musical “Rent” popped into my head—“525,600 minutes… how do you measure a year?” And after all this time and toil, perhaps the only comment that really surprised or disappointed me, was by the speaker who got up to the podium to rail against how the public had not been given a chance to be heard, and had been treated shabbily and unfairly by the council. But I only paused for just a half beat, before I regained the rhythm. And I just had to smile. Because that’s the beauty of our public discourse, warts and all. CONTACT: jsack@ryeny.gov

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9

City hires consultant to adjust outdated master plan By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye City Council has taken its first step in completing an overhaul of the city’s master plan by hiring a consultant to lay new groundwork for the dated document. The first step in updating the plan comes after Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, told the Review earlier this year that the City Council would prioritize its revision after leaving it untouched since its adoption in 1985. The master plan—a comprehensive document which provides a vision for the city’s goals on everything from historic preservation of architecture to flood mitigation—is supposed to be updated every 10 years, based on general municipal standards. After leaving the document unchanged for more than 30 years, the city hired BFJ Planning on April 19 to complete its comprehensive update for $150,000. The company will tackle the plan with two of its subconsultants, Urbanomics and Stantec, who have previously been contracted by the city on other projects. On revisiting the master plan, Councilwoman Emily Hurd, a Democrat, reflected on its impor-

At a glance The Rye City Council hired BFJ Planning to complete a comprehensive update of the city’s master plan for $150K Although it hasn’t been updated since its adoption in 1985, the plan generally requires a revision every 10 years The master plan sets a vision for tackling everything from flood mitigation and pedestrian safety to preserving historic architecture

tance. “You can probably march along without one, but once you have a master plan in place it sets a clear vision [for the city],” she said, also explaining that updating the document would allow residents to get better involved with city planning. While the plan has been virtually untouched since 1985, Hurd added that it would be a good opportuni-

ty to address some lingering issues within the community. The councilwoman explained it would be paramount to modernize areas of the plan involving development, pedestrian safety and flood mitigation. Historically, combatting flooding has been an uphill battle for the city, which needed assistance and resources for reconstruction after the devastating floods of 2007, tropical storms Irene and Lee in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Last May, the city accepted a $3 million state grant to modify its sluice gate, which is a movable barrier that controls how much upstream water can pass under the Bowman Avenue Dam, which is jointly owned by the city and village of Rye Brook. The gate, which was first proposed after the 2007 floods, was installed in 2013 to mitigate flooding from Blind Brook. Hurd told the Review it would also be necessary to formulate a plan to address parking in the city’s downtown area, which sees an abundance of daily traffic considering its close location to the interstates 95 and 287. Like other issues that have persisted over the years and will likely be incorporated into any new master plan, the city has long dealt with

Concerns over parking in the downtown, pictured, have plagued city of Rye officials for decades. Talk of additional parking lots or parking structures date back to the last master plan which was crafted in 1985. File photo

trying to find a solution for its lack of parking in the downtown area. When the master plan was first adopted, the City Council was considering the creation of a parking lot on Locust Avenue to add 90 additional spaces; that plan never took off though, and subsequent discussions through the years on other parking structures have also repeatedly stalled. Hurd added that the comprehensive document would also have to include an update relating to environmental sustainability and a plan addressing many of the city’s aging

residential homes, some of which are pushing past 100 years. Sack declined to comment on Hurd’s suggestions, but said, “We now have an excellent consultant in place, and I am looking forward to a robust public engagement process.” There is currently no information on when the process is expected to be complete. Councilman Terry McCartney, a Republican, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • April 28, 2017

Rye & Harrison Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com

4 Mohawk Street, Rye $1,700,000 Sale Date: 1/9/17

2 Theresa Lane, Harrison $750,000 Sale Date: 11/15/16

3 Ellen Court, Rye $1,375,000 Sale Date: 2/7/17

3 Rockridge Road, Rye $2,335,000 Sale Date: 2/3/17

4 Peter Jay Place, Rye $1,699,000 Sale Date: 2/15/17

7 Cedar Lane, Purchase $3,875,000 Sale Date: 2/3/17

8 Holly Lane, Rye $1,290,000 Sale Date: 12/16/16

10 Reymont Avenue, Rye $2,560,000 Sale Date: 1/4/17

10 Sunny Hill Drive, Harrison $705,000 Sale Date: 2/10/2017

11 Captains Lane, Rye $3,750,000 Sale Date: 2/2/17

12 Sunset Lane, Harrison $750,000 Sale Date: 1/26/2017

14 Philips Lane, Rye $5,700,000 Sale Date: 1/6/17

14 Shelley Lane, West Harrison $1,641,500 Sale Date: 2/6/2017

15 Ridgewood Drive, Rye $2,365,000 Sale Date: 2/3/17

16 Lasalle Avenue, Rye $2,160,000 Sale Date: 12/19/16

10 Dinsmore Place, Harrison $845,000 Sale Date: 1/25/2017

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11

Rye & Harrison Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com

17 Douglas Circle, Rye $1,850,000 Sale Date: 1/9/17

22 Ramapo Trail, Rye $999,000 Sale Date: 1/31/2017

27 Yarmouth Road, Purchase $853,000 Sale Date: 11/15/16

30 Newberry Place, Rye $2,550,000 Sale Date: 12/27/16

31 Centre Street, Rye $4,261,000 Sale Date: 1/25/17

31 Delevan Lane, Harrison $1,400,000 Sale Date: 2/14/2017

56 Bradford Street, Harrison $400,000 Sale Date: 1/27/2017

59 Central Avenue, Rye $3,900,000 Sale Date: 1/27/17

105 Bradford Street, Harrison $615,000 Sale Date: 2/10/2017

112 Nelson Avenue, Harrison $400,000 Sale Date: 2/24/2017

126 Woodside Avenue, West Harrison $500,000 Sale Date: 2/10/2017

131 Apawamis Avenue, Rye $4,050,000 Sale Date: 12/28/16

265 Milton Road, Rye $4,000,000 Sale Date: 1/23/17

316 Milton Road, Rye $1,018,980 Sale Date: 2/13/17

622 Forest Avenue, Rye $3,550,000 Sale Date: 12/27/16

10 Highland Park Place, Rye $1,560,000 Sale Date: 1/23/2017

12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • April 28, 2017

Astorino vows no tax hikes in address By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer In his annual State of the County Address, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino renewed his promise not to raise county taxes, instead pointing to three private partnerships. “Government is limited to the amount of capital and expertise it has on hand,” Astorino, a Republican, said in his address on April 20. “So we have looked to entrepreneurs to join us in public-private partnerships, and there is significant progress to report.” Astorino vowed in his eighth address as county executive that for as long as he holds the county’s top political position, he would maintain his seven-year trend of not raising taxes, adding that in order to keep that promise, the county has had to be imaginative. “You also need to grow revenues,” he said. “And if it’s not going to be taxes—and it’s not—you have to look somewhere else.” Over the last several years, that governing philosophy has led the county to look at longterm property leases with private companies as a source of that revenue. Earlier this month, Astorino and the Democrat-led Board of Legislators unanimously agreed to sign 60 acres of county property—known as the North 60—to Fareri Associates for 99 years. Fareri plans to convert that property into a $1.2 billion biotech center, amounting to the largest public-private partnership in Westchester history. In his address, the county executive reiterated the anticipated benefits of the project: $9 million

in new real estate taxes, $7 million per year in rent, and 12,000 full-time and temporary jobs. And he repeated a statement from last year’s address: that the North 60 development would help position Westchester alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Silicon Valley as a leader in innovation. But other Astorino plans to lease county property have faced significant opposition from county lawmakers. In November, the county executive announced plans to lease Westchester Airport to a private company for 40 years through a program run by the Federal Aviation Administration. Astorino said that participating in the program would allow the county to sidestep a federal law which requires that all revenue generated at the airport gets reinvested back into the airport; and he estimated that Westchester could generate at least $140 million in revenue from the airport deal that could be used for other areas of the county. Discussing the potential lease during his address, Astorino said, “The idea is to create a long-term revenue stream so that money is coming into the county’s budget for decades to come.” But lawmakers scrutinized Astorino for trying to forego a bidding process when initially presenting the plan to lease the airport property to Oaktree Capital Management, an investment management firm. “There was no way that the Board of Legislators would approve a deal of that scope and duration without first requesting bids from other operators,” said Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a moder-

“Since no good deed goes unpunished, some people say it’s now time to raise taxes,” said Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in his annual address. “I say no.” Astorino is pictured embracing his mother prior to giving his State of the County address on April 20. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

ate Democrat from Yorktown, in his response to Astorino’s address. Democratic Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, of Ossining, further criticized the county executive in the Democratic response to Astorino’s State of the County address, calling the initial airport deal a shortsighted solution to “his own fiscal mismanagement.” She also criticized the Astorino administration for embracing the values of President Donald Trump, a common theme amongst Westchester Democrats and likely to be a focal point of this year’s county executive race. As a result of the lawmakers’ push, the county is now accepting bids; and it is expected to make a final approval in the fall. The partnership that seems to be the furthest along is the leasing out of the county-owned Rye Playland amusement park, an agreement Astorino touted as an example of successful corporate partnerships. He said the plan to lease and renovate the park, initiated in 2014, is nearing fruition. “Shovels are in the ground; and while the work is going on, Playland will be up and running on May 13 for its 89th season,” he said. As part of the 30-year lease with Standard Amusements signed in May 2016, Westchester and Standard will invest a total of $60 million into the park for capital improvements. The county will collect an increasing portion of Standard’s profits over the lease’s period. Westchester recently cleared a final hurdle in the deal, winning a court decision against the city of Rye, which sued the county

for cutting the city out of the decision. Meanwhile, the county executive has his own lawsuit in the works. He repeated his criticism of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to close the Indian Point Energy Center by 2021. Cuomo, a Democrat, announced the upcoming closure in February; and earlier this month, Astorino asked the Board of Legislators to back him in a lawsuit against Cuomo for not conducting a review of the environmental and economic consequences of the shutdown. In his address, Astorino reiterated his call for the board’s approval; specifically, that of the board’s Democrats. “There is no excuse not to support it,” he said. “This isn’t about whether Indian Point closes; it’s about how it closes.” Kaplowitz previously said that the board would not back the suit, calling it “dead on arrival.” For board approval, the lawsuit would need to acquire at least one Democratic vote, as Democrats hold a one-seat majority on the Board of Legislators. Early in his address, Astorino made a plea for bipartisanship in the county in a time of increasingly hostile political dialogue. “No single individual, group or party has a monopoly on the best ideas and the right way to run things,” he said after referencing the contentious 2016 presidential election which has started to bleed into Westchester politics. “Westchester works best when we work together.” CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Rye City’s

Official Newspaper

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13

In debate, county executive candidates rally Democrats

State Sen. George Latimer said in his 30-year political career he has never seen so many people come out in April to show interest for a November election. The pews at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church were filled on April 23, as potential voters watched the two Democratic candidates. Photos/Andrew Dapolite

County Legislator Ken Jenkins called incumbent County Executive Rob Astorino, “Trump-light,” a message echoed by Bruce Campbell, moderator and member of the Up & Up Action Initiative, one of eight grassroots community activist groups which put together the forum.

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer CROTON-ON-HUDSON—Two Democrats vying for the office of Westchester County executive addressed a church full of potential voters on Sunday, discussing their plans to unseat Republican incumbent Rob Astorino and urging them to participate in November’s election. County Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat, and state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, took aim at Astorino—who has held the county’s top office since 2010—hoping to invigorate a Democratic Party still reeling from the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. And even though Democrats in Westchester outnumber Republican voters by 2-1, Astorino has already prevailed twice at the polls. His two potential challengers have already begun debating the issues in various communities ahead of a May 10 Democratic nominating convention to pick the party’s candidate. Both Democrats challenged the county executive’s reputation for passing seven consecutive budgets in which taxes have been cut or remained flat, calling his budget practices shortsighted and irresponsible, and often comparing him to President Donald Trump.

“Rob Astorino wants to run on taxes, taxes and taxes,” Jenkins, 55, said, adding that social services and long-term budgeting practices suffer as a result of flat tax rates. Jenkins said the only time the county truly cut taxes was when he was chairman of the Board of Legislators, from 2010 to 2013. Latimer added that seven years of no tax increases would likely set Westchester up for future financial hardship. “What we’re seeing now is an ideological approach that says, ‘We are going to do anything in order to put forth no tax increase,’” the senator said. Both candidates also chastised Astorino for the way his administration has operated the county Human Rights Commission. Latimer, who during his lengthy political career was chairman of the Board of Legislators when the commission was first instituted in the 1990s, said that it was created to allow residents to report instances of discrimination without going through the state system. “The [Republican] party’s moved so far to the right, they can’t even accept anti-discrimination efforts in the Human Rights Commission,” Latimer, 63, said, adding that as county executive he would fire everyone currently on the commission and employ a new team. Meanwhile, Jenkins said he was

responsible for saving the commission from being disbanded. Jenkins added that while he has been on the Board of Legislators, the board has overridden 260 of 267 vetoes made by Astorino. One of those overrides stopped the county executive from eliminating the commission altogether. But Jenkins lamented that the commission, now full of Astorino political appointees, is not acting proactively as it was intended to, lacks a full-time executive director and added that he would work to re-establish advocacy offices for minority groups, which, he said, have also been marginalized under the Astorino administration. “We will reimplement the offices of advocacy and make sure that we stand up for the people’s rights in Westchester County,” he said to a packed house. Although the two candidates agreed on most issues, pitting themselves against the Republican incumbent, the biggest difference in philosophy between the two centered on the results of the party’s nominating convention at the County Center. Latimer, now serving in his third term as senator, renewed his intention to honor the results of the nominating convention, saying that if he does not receive the nomination, he will throw his support behind the nominee. “If Ken is the nominee,

I’m going to put the same energy into retail on his behalf as I would on my own behalf,” he said. The senator added that he thought it would be harmful to the party’s unity and fundraising to force a September primary, and suggested that the Republican Party could manipulate the primary process to damage the Democrats. “The cause is more important than the career,” Latimer said. Conversely, Jenkins, who bowed out of the 2013 race for county executive after losing the nomination to New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson—who was soundly defeated by Astorino in the general election—said that he will petition for a primary if the party does not back him this time around. He added that he wants his nomination to come from the people he would represent as the county executive, not necessarily the district leaders responsible for choosing a nominee. “If I am not the winner of that primary that came from the people—from the voters—we will be locked hand in hand,” he said, referencing his support for Latimer in such a scenario. Whichever candidate ultimately takes on Astorino in the general election will be shorthanded in a financial race against the county executive, who reported a $2.5 million campaign fund balance in January. Latimer, who estimated that

his Republican opponent could raise as much as $4 million by November, said he has had experience winning against financially superior campaigns. In 2012, in his first race for Senate, Latimer ran against Bob Cohen, of New Rochelle, who spent approximately $4 million during the campaign. The organizers had originally planned to also host state Assemblyman Thomas Abananti, a Greenburgh Democrat who had considered running. According to Bruce Campbell, the debate moderator, Abananti pulled out of the event after withdrawing from the race. David Spano, the son of former County Executive Andy Spano, has also announced plans to seek the Democratic nomination. Spano, however, was not invited to participate. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • April 28, 2017

May 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY

MONDAY National Cancer Research Month

TUESDAY

National Teacher Day World Asthma Day

May Day

WEDNESDAY

Rye school board 8 p.m., RMS Multipurpose Room

Board of Architectural Review 7:30 p.m., City Hall

National Teacher Appreciation Day

Sustainability Committee 9 a.m., City Hall Planning Commission 7 p.m., City Hall

Mother’s Day

RHS Vocal/Percussion Concert 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center

Boat Basin Commission 7 p.m., Damiano Center

Rye Free Reading Room Vehicle Fair 11 a.m. Village Green

RMS Vocal Concert 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center

Rye & Rye Neck school budget votes Conservation Commission 7 p.m., City Hall

Rye school board 8 p.m., RMS Multipurpose Room

Planning Commission 7 p.m., City Hall

THURSDAY

World Press Freedom Day

World Lupus Day

Rye Curriculum Council

RMS Orchestra Night 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center

Rye Neck Grs. K–5 Art Show 6 p.m., Bellows Auditorium

Recreation Commission 6:30 p.m., Damiano Center

Osborn School Spring Concert 7 p.m., Osborn Auditorium

Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee 7:30 p.m., City Hall

Rye Golf Club Commission 7 p.m., Whitby Castle

Senior Advocacy Committee 8:30 a.m., City Hall

RHS Vocal/Percussion Concert 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center

Midland School Spring Concert 6 p.m.

City Council meeting 7:30 p.m., City Hall

Rye Neck school board 7 p.m., RNMS/HS Library

Gr. 5 Band & Orchestra Concert 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center

I Love My Park Day 9 a.m., Jay Heritage Center Kentucky Derby

RMS Spring Musical Revue Performing Arts Center

F. E. Bellows Book Fair 8:30 a.m., F.E. Bellows

Midland School Fair

Armed Forces Day

Milton School Gr. 5 Musical 7 p.m.

Zoning Board of Appeals 7 p.m., City Hall

Rye Neck High School Awards Ceremony 8:45 a.m.

Rye Neck Junior/Senior Prom 7 p.m.

Shavuot begins

City Council meeting 7:30 p.m., City Hall

Human Rights Commission 7:30 p.m., City Hall

Memorial Day, all schools and government offices closed

Cinco de Mayo

SATURDAY

RMS Spring Musical Revue Performing Arts Center

Rye Neck school board 9 a.m., RNMS/HS Community Room

Board of Architectural Review 7:30 p.m., City Hall

FRIDAY

Ramadan begins

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15

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16 â&#x20AC;˘ THE RYE CITY REVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ April 28, 2017

LEGAL NOTICES CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RYE, NEW YORK RECOMMENDATION: BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION PROCEDURES-REVISED The proposed resolution relative to the 2017 Budget Vote and Election Procedures reads as follows: WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2604 of the Education Law, as amended, the City School District of Rye, New York was declared to be a single school election district by resolution of the Board of Education of said district adopted on March 21, 1952, and as provided by said Section 2604 the School Election District thus formed will continue in existence until modified by resolution of the Board of Education; and WHEREAS, other provisions for conducting the Annual School Election for the City School District of Rye, New York in May, 2017 should be the subject of further resolutions of the Board of Education; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That, as provided by Section 2602 of the Education Law, as amended, the Annual School Budget Vote and Election, for the City School District of Rye, New York, be held on May 16, 2017 and the polls shall be open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and be it further RESOLVED: That the District Clerk of the City School District of Rye, New York, cause to be published in a newspaper of record the weeks of March 29, 2017, April 10, 2017, April 24, 2017 and May 8, 2017 a notice of the Annual School Budget Vote and Election to be held on May 16, 2017 in accordance with the requirements of Section 2605 of the Education Law, as amended, which shall state the day of the budget vote and election, the hours, and that an accurate description of the boundaries of the school election district comprising said City School District of Rye, New York is on file and may be inspected in the office of the Board of Education, 411 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Rye, New York, and the Rye Middle School where the election is to be held; and which shall include a Notice Of Registration and that such notice shall state that at a place and hour designated above for that purpose the Board of Registration shall meet to prepare the school election register, and that any person who did not register for said preceding general election or register thereafter, may, in order to be entitled to vote, present himself personally for registration on April 18, 2017 but no later than May 2, 2017; and which shall further state when the School Election District Register has been filed and the place at which it is on file and the hours during which it will be open for inspection on each school day up to May 16, 2017; and which shall include that all referenda to be petitioned for the ballot must be submitted, in the form and manner as required by Election Law, to the District Clerk of the City School District of Rye, New York, on behalf of the Board of Education of said District, no later than April 17, 2017; Recommendation: Election Procedure and be it further RESOLVED: That pursuant to Section 2607 of the Education Law, as amended, there be appointed at least two qualified voters per voting machine used residing in the school election district constituting the City School District of Rye, New York to act as Inspectors of Election in such School Election District, with compensation not to exceed the basic compensation paid at the preceding General Election per hour to each such inspector, and that the District Clerk be authorized and directed to arrange for the employment of such Inspectors of Election; and be it further RESOLVED: That the Board of Registration be and it hereby is directed to meet at the Administration Office, 411 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Suite 100S, Rye, NY on April 18, 2017 between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. for the purpose of adding registers for the City of Rye, New York, as prepared by the Board of Registration of said City for the November general election, as furnished by the Board of Elections, White Plains, New York, the names of such additional qualified voters who shall present themselves personally for registration for the Annual School Election to be held on May 16, 2017; and a) That said Board of Registration is directed to prepare for the City School District of Rye, New York Election District a register for said annual budget vote and election to be held May 16, 2017 which shall so far as is practicable be in the same form as registers of voters in an election district for a general election in a city or village having 5,000 inhabitants or more under the election law and shall be arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the surname, with a statement of the place of residence by street and number; there shall be used as the basis of such City School Election District Register, copies of the registers of the City of Rye, New York for the November, 2016 general election, as supplied by the Board of Elections, which copies of the registers shall be placed in the custody of the Board of Education of the City School District, and to which copies of said Board shall add the names, addresses and such other data as required by law of all other qualified voters who may present themselves personally for registration as provided in this resolution; it being provided, however, that only those whose names do not appear on copies of the register for the aforementioned, November, 2016 general election registers, shall be required to personally present themselves for registration in order to qualify for voting at said May 16, 2017 City School District of Rye, New York election. b) That the school election district register, prepared as provided above, shall immediately upon completion and not later than May 3, 2017, be filed in the office of the District Clerk, and thereafter, on Mondays through Fridays until May 16, 2017, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., school holidays excepted, shall be open to inspection by any qualified voter of the school district; and upon the filing of such register; Recommendation: Election Procedures and c) That any person who is duly qualified to vote and who registered for said preceding general election and whose name was by mistake, error or neglect of the Board of Registration omitted from the school election district register, may at any time, either before or during election day, request the District Clerk to place the name of such voter on the school election district register and the District Clerk shall then proceed as provided in Subdivision 7 of Section 2606 of the Education Law, as amended; and d) That challenges of voters prior to the day of election shall be made and dealt with as provided in Subdivision 8 and 9 of Section 2606 of the Education Law; and e) That the District Clerk is directed to cause the school election district registers to be delivered on May 16, 2017, before the opening of the polls to the Inspectors of Election; and f) That no person shall be entitled to vote whose name does not appear upon said school election district register; and that all persons whose names appear upon the register prepared for such elections as residing in such school election district shall be permitted to vote in such election. and be it further RESOLVED: That the manner of making nominations of candidates for election as members of the Board of Education at the annual school budget vote and election to be held May 16, 2017 for the purpose of preparing ballots for voting machines be as follows: Nominations of candidates for election of two (2) members of the Board of Education of the City School District of Rye, New York for a term of three years beginning July 1, 2017 shall be made in accordance with Section 2608 of the Education Law, as amended, by Petition directed to the Board of Education and signed by at least 100 persons qualified to vote at school elections in said City School District of Rye, New York. Each such petition shall contain the name and residence of the candidate to be so nominated, who shall be a qualified voter of the City School District of Rye, New York, and who has been a resident of said school district for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of the budget vote/election. Each such petition shall be filed with the District Clerk of the City School District of Rye, New York on or before April 26, 2017 and shall be available for inspection at all reasonable hours. Recommendation: Election Procedures If a candidate, after a petition in his/her behalf shall have been duly filed with the District Clerk, and prior to May 16, 2017, shall decline to accept the nomination, die, remove from the District, accept a City office, or become otherwise disqualified for such City School District office, a further petition may be filed with the District Clerk, nominating another candidate in his place and stead, which petition shall in all respects comply with the above requirements for petitions except that it may be filed at any time up to and including May 9, 2017. Prior to the day of said election, sample ballots shall be available containing the budget resolution and the names of all candidates nominated as above provided, and arranged in the order as determined by the drawing by lot, as will appear on voting machines together with suitable instructions. Voting machines shall be used for the recording of votes at the annual school budget vote and election to be held May 16, 2017 in the City School District of Rye, New York and the form of ballot for said voting machines shall be prepared, with the position of candidates on the ballot to be determined by lot with suitable instructions relating to the number of candidates for which a voter is permitted to vote, etc.; voting for candidates who have not been nominated as above provided; and be it further RESOLVED: That the Board of Education of the School District of the City of Rye, under the authority given to it in Section 2613 of the Education Law of the State of New York (added by Chapter 219, Laws of 1978) elects to provide for absentee ballots for the election of candidates to the Board of Education in accordance with the provisions of Section 2018-a of the Education Law, and it be it further RESOLVED: That the Clerk of the School District is directed to have ballots printed and made available for use in the budget vote/election of Board Members; and be it further RESOLVED: That the District Clerk be and she hereby is authorized and directed to make all necessary arrangements for the conduct of the May 16, 2017 Annual School Budget Vote and Election in the City School District of Rye, New York.

Elaine M. Cuglietto Rye City school District, District Clerk

SPORTS

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 17

Rain, go away LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

If you happened to get a look at a high school coach’s wish list, I bet there would be certain things you would expect to find; a talented, devoted group of players, a supportive administration, and parents who get involved—but not so much so that they start to overstay their welcome. But while I was covering a varsity softball game on Monday afternoon, a local coach let me in on one more request that more than a handful of teams find themselves hoping for this year: a dome. Even though springtime sports in the Northeast are always sort of touch-and-go for the first few weeks, this year—it has to be said—has been worse than most. Just this week alone, Tuesday and Wednesday were washouts, almost across the board. The final weekend in April has hardly been an outlier; every week since the start of the season in late March has had at least one day that resulted in a slate of games being wiped

off the schedule. The weather has impacted every sport, from track to golf and even lacrosse, which is usually fairly immune to weather-related cancelations. But few sports have been hit as hard as baseball and softball. Five weeks into the baseball season, a quick glance at teams’ overall records shows just how much chaos the spring rains have caused. A few squads have played as many as 11 games, while others have only played six. With the schedule coming to an end around May 15, barring an extra day or so being tacked onto the regular season, that gives some teams just over two weeks to make up 13 or 14 games; a daunting task, even for professionals. Now, I know there is nothing that Section I officials can do about the weather. I mean, that’s outside of the purview of even the most powerful governing body in area athletics. But there are some things that should at least be considered. Perhaps the Section I preseason could start a little bit earlier in 2018. This year, area teams started a week after the rest of

the state, forcing teams to play condensed schedules, even in the best of weather. Starting a week earlier may be able to mitigate some of the concerns about rainouts. Other ideas, like shortening the regular season, may seem doable, but will ultimately rob student-athletes of valuable experience, so they probably won’t get much consideration. One last idea, which—given my baseball-purist leanings—seems like a necessary evil is this: have school districts invest in turf fields over the next decade or so. We’ve seen schools construct new turf fields to replace grass ones already, but mostly the all-purpose ones used for endeavors like field hockey, football, soccer and lacrosse. However, baseball and softball fields have lagged far behind in that department. The result is that heavy rains on a Thursday can often mean no baseball on a Friday, which is a shame. Trust me, I haven’t run the numbers, but I know it will be costly for districts. I also know that it’s unwise to overreact to one year of bad weather and spend boatloads

Mamaroneck’s Gianna Magrino throws a pitch against New Rochelle at City Park on April 18. Sports Editor Mike Smith wonders if this season’s inclement weather will force schools to look at the option of more turf fields, like City Park. Photo/Mike Smith

of cash that can go to other areas. And to be honest, I hate the idea of kids growing up without memories of the smell of a freshly-cut grass ball field.

But it’s better than not getting on the field at all.

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

18 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • April 28, 2017

Panthers win on walk-off blast SOFTBALL

non-league

RYE NECK 1 RYE 0 RYE NECK HS

4/24/17

Game Notes: • Sam Yannuzzi hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the seventh • Olivia Dunn allowed just two hits in seven innings • The Panthers are 5-1 By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Rye Neck may have only had three hits on Monday, but it picked up its biggest—and last—off the bat of Sam Yannuzzi in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the senior catcher blasted a walk-off home run to send the Panthers home happy with a 1-0 victory over the visiting Rye Garnets. For the Panthers, the win was the team’s fifth of the season, but it also proved that games can often come down to just one swing of the bat. Coming into the decisive at-bat, Yannuzzi had already collected one of the Panthers’ two hits, but sought some measure of redemption for her last plate appearance against Garnet starter Kara Brown. “In her previous at bat, [Yannuzzi] swung at the first pitch and

Olivia Dunn throws a pitch against the Garnets at Rye Neck High School. Dunne struck out 12 batters in seven innings of work to pick up the win.

popped up,” Panthers coach Joan Spedafino said. “But this time, she set herself up, went through her mechanics and you could see she was ready to go.” Brown was solid up until facing

Rye’s Kara Brown throws a pitch on April 24. Photos/Mike Smith

Yannuzzi in the seventh, limiting Rye Neck’s chances while notching just four strikeouts. “She mixes her pitches up nicely and her defense really backed her up well,” Spedafino said. “We weren’t striking out but we were popping up a lot, but I think we’ve really improved with making contact.” Brown’s counterpart, Rye Neck’s Olivia Dunn, was similarly impressive, tossing seven scoreless innings in which she allowed just two hits while fanning 12 batters. “Her changeup was working nicely,” Spedafino said of Dunn. “In the first inning, the first two girls got on with little blooper frustrating hits, but she kept her composure.” At 5-1 on the season, the Panthers seem poised for a deep playoff run this year, but will be tested over the next few weeks as they begin the bulk of their league schedule. On Monday, May 1, Rye Neck will travel to Blind Brook for a game against the Trojans, which will kick off a week that also sees them play Keio and Edgemont before taking part in a tournament at Pelham starting May 6. Spedafino hopes that the thrilling win over the Garnets will serve as a catalyst for big things to come. “Softball is a long game; it shows how if you stay in it, if your defense

Sam Yannuzzi connects with a pitch against Rye. Yannuzzi had two hits, including a walk-off home run.

A Panther player makes a play at third base against the Garnets.

keeps you in the game, you can win it with one swing of the bat,” she said. “It was a great win, but it’s the

little things that will help you win.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

SPORTS

April 28, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 19

Rye controls memorial game BASEBALL

league

RYE 7 HARRISON 1 SILVER LAKE PARK

4/22/17

Game Notes: • Rye’s Myles Burbank allowed just two hits in 6.2 innings of work • The loss was Harrison’s first of the 2017 season • The game was played in honor of former Husky Andrew Gurgitano

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Saturday, April 22, baseball teams from Rye and Harrison squared off in the third annual Andrew Gurgitano Memorial Game, which pits the traditional rivals against one another while also serving as a celebration of the life of Gurgitano, a Harrison pitcher who died in 2014. Although the two teams came into the contest with just one loss between them, it was Rye who came out on top, topping Harrison 7-1 and handing the Huskies their first defeat of the season.

“It’s definitely an emotional game, probably more so for the Harrison kids, but it’s also a rivalry game,” Rye head coach Mike Bruno said. “So our kids definitely came in prepared, we got some breaks early on and that really put the momentum on our side.” Rye got a stellar outing from Myles Burbank, who fired 6.2 innings of two-hit balls, and manage to make the most of a few Harrison miscues in order to top Huskies’ starter Mike Hendler, who came into the game at 3-0 on the year. Finn Westerink had two RBIs and Andy Bach went 2-for-3 for the Garnets.

Harrison starter Mike Hendler throws a pitch against the Garnets on April 22. Hendler was effective, but the Garnets managed to hand him his first loss of the year. Photos/Mike Smith

Coaches Marco DiRuocco, right, and Mike Bruno share a moment on the field prior to the contest.

Members of Harrison’s modified baseball team line the field during a pregame ceremony in honor of Andrew Gurgitano, who died in 2014. This is the third-straight year that the Huskies and Garnets have squared off in the Andrew Gurgitano Memorial Game.

“He’s a good pitcher and we knew he had good off-speed stuff, so we just tried to be aggressive and look for fastballs early in the count,” Bruno said. “We didn’t really hit him hard, we had some bloop hits, he walked some people and there was a big error, but it was enough.” At 5-1 on the season, the Garnets have shined early in the 2017 campaign, buoyed by a deep, young pitching staff and good defense. According to Bruno, Rye, which graduated 13 players from last year’s team, came into the season with some question marks, but have answered the bell thus far. “I wasn’t really sure before the season; you always hope you can get off to a good start, but it’s more important to finish strong,” he said. “And luckily, we had four

seniors [Burbank, Mat Bruno, Dusty Mion, and James Laverty] who really stepped up as players for the younger guys to lean on.” With inclement weather wreaking havoc on the schedule in April, both the Huskies and Garnets will be forced to play plenty of back-to-backs in the coming weeks. Harrison had four games scheduled this week, while the Garnets only have one off day on April 27, after press time. Despite the slew of games, Bruno said, the Garnets should be up to the test. “We have enough pitchers, we have the depth,” he said. “Our pitchers just have to throw strikes, and everyone is going to have to step up, everyone is going to have to contribute.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

From left, Mat Bruno, Mike Bruno, Eric Bratberg and Marco DiRuocco stand behind the mound. Mat Bruno and Bratberg were the recipients of the Andrew Gurgitano Scholarship Award.

20 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • April 28, 2017