RyeCity REVIEW THE
May 20, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 21 | www.ryecityreview.com
Port Chester to continue United Hospital dialogue By aNGEla JoRDaN Staff Writer
SQUARE
ONE
The Rye City Council went back to an old meeting place, the Square House, for its special annual gathering of current and former city staff and elected officials. For more, see page 6. File photo
School budget, emergency bond easily make the grade By ChRistiaN FalCoNE Editor-in-Chief Tuesday, May 17 was a big night for the Rye City School District, as its 2016-2017 budget and an emergency $1.8 million bond referendum both passed the test. As of press time, unofficial results show that the school budget scored an overwhelming victory, with 1,165 votes cast in support and only 365 voters shooting the plan down. The 2016-2017 budget, which came in below the state-mandated tax cap, was finalized last month as
a $85 million document accompanied by a tax levy increase of 1 percent and a budget-to-budget increase of 2.63 percent. Board of Education President Katy Keohane Glassberg, who was re-elected to her third term on Tuesday with 1,206 votes in an uncontested race, said she was not necessarily surprised by the strong support from the community, but was, nonetheless, very pleased. “We were concerned about voter turnout because it wasn’t a controversial budget at all,” she said. “And we know the impact to individual taxpayers could be
very low.” As far as the budget, Keohane Glassberg, 48, said the budget really just maintains the programs as they are for the district with very minor personnel additions to address continued enrollment growth, an issue which the district has been battling for several years now. Voters of the school district also had a second decision to make on Tuesday, as the district put forward a $1.8 million bond referendum to replace a now defunct 1956 furnace in the Osborn Elementary School. The district will move forward on that front,
as the vote approving the bond passed with 1,224 in favor and 300 voting against, granting the district the authority to seek up to $1.8 million in funds. The referendum was considered an emergency as the furnace must be replaced this summer in order for the school to reopen in September. According to New York State Education Department rules, all school buildings are required to have working heat. Keohane Glassberg said once a bid is awarded to a contractor, BUDGEt continued on page 9
There will be another public hearing on Tuesday, May 24 about the adoption of the final environmental impact statement, FEIS, for the proposed development plan at the United Hospital site in the village of Port Chester. The 15-acre site, located at 99 High St. just off of Boston Post Road, was bought by a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm called Starwood Capital Group for $28 million in 2006, one year after United Hospital closed its doors. Starwood has proposed a mixed-use development that would include 730 residential units, 230 of which would be affordable housing units, 307,000 square feet of office and retail space, and a 138-room hotel in place of the now abandoned hospital. In addition to the preliminary FEIS, Starwood also submitted a proposal in late April for an amendment to Port Chester’s zoning code that would allow for a development almost twice the size of what is currently allotted—changing the density from just over 500,000 square feet to one that is over 900,000 square feet. The village Board of Trustees has not rendered a decision yet about the zoning amendment, either. Focusing at the moment on the FEIS, Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla, a Democrat, said
Starwood has included information in its impact statement that elaborates on aspects of the project that the public has questioned, and provides suggested mitigations for traffic, which was a concern of both Port Chester and city of Rye residents. In order to address their own concerns about the project, Rye hired a traffic consultant, Philip Grealy from Maser Consulting P.A., to review the documents provided by Starwood and determine what the impact would be on the roadways shared by both communities. “We’re looking through [the FEIS] now and we’re meeting with the Department of Transportation on [May 20] to go over what’s been submitted,” Grealy said. “We think there’s some shortcomings in what’s proposed.” He said that the city of Rye’s primary concern is the Exit 11 ramp from Interstate 287, which leads onto Boston Post Road, citing issues like the traffic volume at that intersection and the ability of trucks to turn off the ramp. Another area of concern Grealy mentioned is the exit ramp from Interstate 95 south to Boston Post Road, where he said the majority of local traffic passes through. “If there’s an issue at those intersections, drivers will divert to other local routes which is a problem too,” Grealy added. In regard to his own concerns about traffic mitigation, hospital continued on page 8
Follow us on Twitter @ryecityreview Like us on facebook.com/ryecityreview
2 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016
May 20, 2016 • thE RyE City REviEw • 3
HUD monitor recommends suing Harrison By CoREy stoCKtoN Staff Writer In his third biennial report, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development monitor James Johnson suggested that the U.S. Department of Justice take legal action against seven municipalities, including the town/village of Harrison. As a result of a 2009 settlement with HUD, Westchester County must develop 750 affordable housing units in 31 predominantly white communities, including Harrison, by the end of 2016. Johnson’s report, released on April 29, concluded that the county had reached all of its annual benchmarks and is in compliance with the settlement, but listed seven municipalities whose zonings were considered exclusionary.
Johnson reported that these municipalities had zoning restrictions, lack of development incentives and an overall lack of progress in meeting the region’s affordable housing needs. In turn, the monitor suggested that the Justice Department pursue litigation against these communities. Westchester County Legislator David Gelfarb, a Rye Brook Republican who represents Harrison, said the monitor’s recommendation to file charges against a municipality was without legal merit. “The settlement, in the first place, never contemplated the [Department of Justice] suing individual towns,” he said. “Harrison has no obligations under the settlement because Harrison never signed the settlement.” Gelfarb added that while the settlement mandates details such
as how many units may be considered rentals or may be designated for seniors by age restriction, it does not specify how many units must be developed in each of the 31 municipalities. However, since Harrison is yet to make any inroads on the affordable housing front, the county recently stepped in. In September 2015, the county purchased a two-bedroom condo unit on West Street in Harrison to convert into an affordable housing unit. The county bought the unit for $296,355, and is listing it for $175,000. Harrison officials contend that The Avalon development planned near the Harrison Metro-North station is expected to deem 20 percent of its 143 units as affordable housing upon completion of the project. CoNtaCt: corey@hometwn.com
James Johnson, monitor for the 2009 settlement between HUD and Westchester County, recommended that the Department of Justice consider suing Harrison and six other municipalities for discriminatory zoning. Westchester County recently purchased one unit at 70 West St. in Harrison, pictured, to repurpose it as an affordable housing unit. File photo
Rye police arrest suspect for class D felony
Edgardo Cortez
On Wednesday, May 4 at approximately 4:30 p.m., the city of Rye Police Department arrested Edgardo Cortez, 32, from Manhattan for attempted grand larceny in the second degree, a class D felony. It is alleged that Cortez did attempt to steal a 2016 Acura MDX in the vicinity of
Purdy Avenue and McCullough Place. The suspect was caught fleeing the scene by the Rye police in the vicinity of police headquarters. The suspect was arraigned in Rye City Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail on $25,000 bail. (Submitted)
4 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016
What’s going on... Rye Free Reading Room
Visit ryelibrary.org for more information on these and other events and programs.
Coffee with the City Council Residents are invited to join members of the City Council to discuss any topic of interest on Saturday, May 21 at 11 a.m. in the Meeting Room. Mayor Joe Sack and Deputy Mayor Julie Killian will be in attendance and complimentary coffee and donuts will be provided.
Celebration of Science On Sunday, May 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the Village Green. Support your local library and all of its wonderful programming by attending this year’s Celebration of Science, a day of family fun. There will be more than 15 hands-on science experiments and activities for kids of all ages (appropriate for toddlers and up), performances by Mad Science, inflatables, raffles, snacks and more. Purchase your tickets today either online or from
a librarian. Tickets are $15 per child or $35 per family in advance, and $40 per family at the door.
The program is geared toward a general audience and is suitable for adults and students in fourth grade and up. As a special feature, Dingus Book chats will bring a few fossil specimens with him. The suggested donation is $5 per person at the On Saturday, May 28 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room, Ryebrary Readers in door. No advance reservations are available. The grades one and two will meet. From 4 p.m. to 5 Meeting House is located at 624 Milton Road in p.m., Rockin’ Readers in grades three and four will Rye. For more information, email birdhomstead. meetinghouse@gmail.com or call 967-0099. meet in the same room. Join the librarians for a once-a-month snack Park activities and chat about fun books that lend themselves to lively discussions. Every month, explore narrative Marshlands Conservancy and expository texts through picture books from The Marshlands Conservancy is located on several genres geared especially for school-aged Route 1 (Boston Post Road) in Rye. Call 835-4466 children. Sign up online at ryelibrary.org. Go to for more information. On Saturday, May 21, take part in a volunteer “Programs & Events,” choose the event date and click on the “Register” button. Then pick up work project from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Bring work your copy of that month’s book in the Chil- gloves and help maintain the overlook. Hand tools dren’s Room. The book chats meets every fourth will be provided. On Sunday, May 22, observe the spring warbler Saturday of the month. migration from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Rye Meeting House
Read Wildlife Sanctuary
‘Are Dinosaurs Really Extinct?’
The Read Wildlife Sanctuary is located within On Saturday, May 21 at 4 p.m., the Bird Home- Rye Playland, off Playland Parkway. Call 967stead nonprofit will present “Are Dinosaurs Re- 8720 for more information. On Saturday, May 21 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., ally Extinct?” by the paleontologist Lowell Dingus, Ph.D., of the American Museum of Natural discover some of the history of weeds, many of History. Dingus will discuss the relationships which were once popular and useful. between dinosaurs and the birds among us now. He will also review scientific explanations for the Rye YMCA extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.
nine, is designed for campers who like to be on the go. Campers travel to a different great summer destination every day, including water parks, campouts, amusement parks, baseball games and more. Teen Fitness Camp, for ages 11 to 14, is a fun way to get fit over the summer. Participants work indoors and out with certified personal trainers to achieve individual goals. Activities include swimming, sports, games, strength training, spinning, Pilates, agility training and more. C.I.T Program, for teens who have completed grades nine and 10, is designed to challenge participants to grow as leaders both at camp and within the community. For more information, or to register for any of the above camps, visit ryeycamp.org or call 967-6363. The Rye Y offers financial assistance for families who qualify.
Active Older Adults Month May is Active Older Adults Month and the Rye YMCA is offering a full schedule of activities to inspire older adults to get motivated. Throughout the month, the Y will celebrate healthy aging, with a focus on nutrition and meal planning, physical activity and social interaction. The Rye Y welcomes older adults to join our community and will waive the $100 Joiner’s Fee for adults age 62 and older through May 20. For more information, please contact Penny Cozza at 967-6363 ext. 201 or penny@ryeymca.org, or visit ryeymca.org. The Y is located at 21 Locust Ave. in Rye.
Youth summer camps
Rye Town Park
Rye Y camps, for youth ages 3 to 14, are led by a team of full-time professional directors and committed summer staff who serve as professional role models to campers. The camps are accredited by the American Camp Association with low counselor-to-camper ratios. Campers choose from a variety of camps and can attend from one week to eight weeks. Camps are held at the Rye Y and the Osborn School in Rye. Kinder Camp, for children ages 3 to 6, introduces young ones to the camp experience in a warm, supportive environment. Activities include swim lessons, crafts, music, sports and more. Half- or fullday options available. Discovery Camp, for ages 4 to 11, is a full-day camp packed with swim lessons, STEM, crafts, music, performing arts, sports, field trips and special guests to keep our campers engaged and excited every day. Campers gain new abilities, challenge themselves with the unexplored and learn to work with others as a team. Sports Camp, for ages 5 to 12, has both fulland half-day options and is designed for sports enthusiasts who want to develop both their individual and team skills. STEAM Camp, for children in grades two to five, is new this year. Campers will be challenged to question, explore, plan, discover, analyze and understand the world through the lenses of science, technology, engineering, art and math. Gymnastics Camp is for ages 6 to 14. Beginner and advanced gymnasts are welcome. Drills, games and teamwork are utilized to build gymnastics skills. Full- and half-day options available. Adventure Camp, for teens completing grades six to
Park season permits Discounted season permits are available for Rye City, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye Neck and Rye Town residents and non-residents alike. Season permits allow people to take full advantage of the beautiful Rye Town Park and Oakland Beach. Permit holders get “high tide” benefits for a “low tide” cost. The permits will be on sale Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Permit Office in the Administration Building, Rye Town Park, 95 Dearborn Ave. in Rye. Permits for residents: Senior: (62+) $20 and free parking; Individual: $110 and $4 parking; Family: $150 and $4 parking; Platinum family permits: $300 and free parking. Resident seniors who have permits dated on and before 2010 do not have to renew their permits. Permits for non-residents: Senior: $60 and $5 parking; Individual: $250 and $5 parking; Family: $350 and $5 parking. Parking-only permits are $150. Beach access is free for all permit holders. The more permit holders go to the beach, the more they save. Rye Town Park is a “stay-cation” bargain. MasterCard, Visa and Discover credit cards will be accepted for season permits. New resident permit holders will have to provide a proof of residence. For more information, call the park at 967-0965 or visit ryetownpark.org. 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.
May 20, 2016 • thE RyE City REviEw • 5
New Mamaroneck site plan laws set for hearings By JaMEs pERo Staff Writer After a brief moratorium on residential development, town of Mamaroneck residents will soon get their chance to provide input on a new set of site plan laws. At a recent meeting, the Town Council announced that an official draft of the town’s revised site plan laws—meant to shift the parameters of allowable development in residential areas—will go to public hearing on May 18, after press time. Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson, a Democrat, said, “It’s been a good process in the sense that we learned a lot. Even when you think something is going to be fairly simple; when it comes to changing municipal law, it becomes more complicated.” The newly revised laws are a product of a three-month moratorium on townwide residential development passed in December 2015. According to Town Admin-
istrator Steve Altieri, the purpose of hitting the pause button was to steer the town’s site plan laws in a direction that fits the nature and volume of development. “There’s a new wave of larger homes being built,” he said. “There is probably now a need for a review of the larger construction projects.” The current draft of the site plan laws, according to Altieri, are meant to only hone in on those developments that the town board and residents feel are pushing the boundaries of Mamaroneck’s planning laws. A number of the draft laws’ provisions are meant to reel back what the town views as a recent acceleration of largescale developments. Among the provisions, Altieri explained, is a new Planning Board review process that would be triggered by certain variables of a project, including plans that require demolishing more than 70 percent of a home, homes being built on vacant lots, and site grading that exceeds 45 percent of the
property. Currently, the village of Larchmont is also in the midst of re-evaluating its zoning laws after passing a six-month villagewide moratorium on residential development in January. Similar to the Mamaroneck moratorium, Larchmont village officials continue to deliberate new zoning laws meant to scale back what residents and village board members view as a trend of unchecked development. Since the passage of the Larchmont moratorium, however, the village has faced the threat of multiple lawsuits after developers blocked by the moratorium were denied by the village board in an appeal. A particularly divisive project that aims to tear down an iconic home, located at Larchmont’s 40 Ocean Ave., has been at the center of this issue after a firm associated with the project filed the beginning stages of a formal lawsuit. CoNtaCt: james@hometwn.com
A revamped set of residential site plan laws for the town of Mamaroneck will make its way to public hearing after a three-month moratorium on residential development. File photo
like us on facebook facebook.com/ryecityreview
6 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016
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 Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Editor-in-Chief | Christian Falcone ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Suzy Berkowitz ext. 30, suzy@hometwn.com Reporter | James Pero ext. 20, james@hometwn.com Reporter | Angela Jordan ext. 18, angela@hometwn.com Education Reporter | Sarah Varney ext. 17, sarah@hometwn.com
Council honors current, former staff at Square House Huddled together in Rye’s historic Square House, City Councilmembers took a moment on the evening of Wednesday, May 11 to ruminate not on the city’s future, but on its past, acknowledging both current and former city officials and volunteers. Among those acknowledged during the night’s ceremony was former Mayor Ed Grainger, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2015. “Ed would always come to this meeting, and he was always in the front row,” said Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican. “Even when he was spending more time in Naples, Florida, I would speak with his daughter… about whether Ed would be at the meeting, and often, he was stepping right off a plane and he was
coming right here.” During Grainger’s tenure as mayor, he acted as a chief player in ensuring that a controversial project to build a bridge from Long Island to Rye never came to fruition. Currently, after a proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, Rye faces the prospect of a similar project that would construct a tunnel along the same route. While the Square House, located next to City Hall across the Village Green and the former home to Rye City Council meetings last century, smacks of history—the building is a pre-revolutionary war-era house, and the current location of Rye’s Historical Society—the past wasn’t the
only thing on attendees’ minds. Present for their first ever annual Square House meeting were City Manager Marcus Serrano and councilwomen Emily Hurd and Danielle Tagger-Epstein, both Democrats, as well as newly hired Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran. In homage to those who are currently part of the city staff, Serrano, who has been with the city for 10 months, offered his analogy for how good government works. “One of the ways I compare how the staff works is a pyramid,” said Serrano, “and the pyramid is only as good as its base, and the base is a lot of the people you don’t see.” -Reporting by James Pero
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 Writers Kiley Stevens, Corey Stockton Staff Photographers Bobby Begun, Andrew Dapolite Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Lenore Skenazy, Joe Murphy Letters
The community’s opinion matters. If you have a view to express, write a letter to the editor by email to chris@hometwn.com. Please include a phone number and name for verification purposes.
From left, Councilman Terry McCartney, Councilman Richard Mecca and Councilwoman Danielle TaggerEpstein. Mecca gives credit to the firefighters for their dedication. Photos/James Pero
Former Rye City Mayor Ted Dunn, a Republican, speaks about the continuity of good governance in Rye.
Community Events
If you have an event you would like to share with the community, send it to news@hometwn.com.
Delivery
For home delivery or to subsribe, call (914) 653-1000 x27.
Classifieds & Legals
To post your notices or listings, call (914) 653-1000 x27.
Postmaster
Send address changes to: The Rye City Review c/o HomeTown Media Group, 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601
Visit us online www.ryecityreview.com Follow us on Twitter, @ryecityreview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/ryecityreview The Rye City Review (permit #438660) is published by Home Town Media Group weekly for an annual subscription of $32. Application to mail at the peridcals postage rate is approved at Port Chester, N.Y., 10573. Periodicals postage paid at Port Chester and additional mailing offices.
State Sen. and former councilmember George Latimer, a Democrat, joins the attendees for the night’s ceremony. “Years go by fast,” he told the audience. “It’s been 25 years since I last sat at that table.”
Former councilmembers, volunteers and city staff cram into the quaint pre-revolutionary house to take turns giving current council members support, and sometimes a piece of their mind.
May 20, 2016 • thE RyE City REviEw • 7
8 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016
Commercial hands off Rye parkland A RYE OLDTIMER Judge John Carey
I went with our son Douglas to the Rye Town Park Commission discussion last Saturday, May 14. I could not help but feel the presence of two towering town park leaders from the 1970s, Chappie Posillipo and Red Zaccagnino. They welcomed me as a member of the commission during my eight years as mayor of the city of Rye in the 1970s. The stated purpose of the meeting was for the public to be heard about allowing commercial interests to operate in the
park to generate funds to restore the park’s two-towered building. Members of the commission assured the crowd that nothing had yet been decided on. Yet the recent handing off of Playland to a commercial company was surely on everyone’s mind. Could the same fate await the Rye Town Park? No one referred to the legal question whether a handing off of Rye Town Park would be legal. Nor did anyone refer to whether the handing off of Playland was legal. I for one would like to see any legal opinion from the county attorney approving the handing off of Playland. And before the Rye Town
hospital from page 1
Park Commission goes any further in the direction of handing off the park, they should have a clear written opinion from qualified legal counsel approving such a move, and the opinion must be published so that interested parties, including experienced lawyers, can study the matter before it goes any further. The problem is that New York state law forbids alienation of dedicated parkland without explicit permission from the state Legislature. I have not seen this issue even mentioned, let alone somehow dealt with. CoNtaCt: j_pcarey@verizon.net
Seinfeld comes to Wainwright House On May 24 at 7 p.m., there will be a public hearing in the Port Chester Village Court on the final environmental impact statement for the United Hospital development proposal. The FEIS includes the developer’s plans to mitigate traffic issues and other concerns held by Port Chester and Rye residents about the project. File photo
Pilla said that he “won’t be satisfied unless our experts are satisfied,” buthe remains optimistic about the proposal. “The proposal is consistent with our master plan, which is a product of the residents of Port Chester, so I think [the Starwood project] is a step in the right direction,” Pilla said. Pilla also said that while there William Guyre, right, president of the board of trustees, welcomes Jerry Seinfeld to Wainwright House. The actor filmed a segment of his hit online show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Seinfeld spent the day at Wainwright House filming in a 1959 vintage Triumph TR3. The program will air in June. Photo/Mary de Barros
Charlie is a gorgeous 2 1/2-year-old male tabby. He is great with other cats and would be happiest in a home with a young cat like himself who loves to play. He would also do best with school-aged children. He is neutered, up to date with all vaccinations, microchipped and ready to join your household. The adoption donation for Charlie is $80. To meet him, contact Larchmont Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or visit the Harrison Kitty Cottage during an open house and see his posting on NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
is technically no obligation to hold a public hearing about the adoption of the FEIS, he feels that it is very important to exceed the minimal legal requirements and get ample public input on this $300 million project before the Port Chester Board of Trustees accepts the document. “We’re making a 100-year decision, so it’s important that this
decision is not made in a vacuum,” Pilla said. “I consider this a recurring theme for how I’d like to operate [the village of Port Chester].” The May 24 public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. in the Port Chester Village Court, located at 350 Main St. CoNtaCt: angela@hometwn.com
Rye to honor its war dead on Memorial Day Once again, the city of Rye will carry on its tradition of honoring its deceased veterans on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. Rye American Legion Post 128 and the Auxiliary will sponsor a parade, beginning at the Rye Metro-North train station at 9:30 a.m. and proceeding along Purchase Street to the Village Green for ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to enjoy the exciting and historic horsedrawn Wells Fargo stagecoach from Wells Fargo Bank, the Larchmont Historical Society’s 1928 antique firetruck, the Jay Heritage Center’s horse-drawn hay wagon, marching bands and participating organizations, scouts and schools. The Rye Historical Society will provide horses and riders. Unique antique cars will also travel the parade route. At 10:30 a.m., American Legion Post 128 Commander Fred
de Barros will begin the formal ceremony on the Village Green. Fr. Joe Lim from the Church of the Resurrection will offer the opening prayer in remembrance of all deceased soldiers. City Councilmember Terence McCartney will greet guests, and the keynote speaker will be Rabbi Dr. Robert Rothman, former spiritual leader of the Rye Community Synagogue. Other speakers include state Sen. George Latimer and Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker. Members of Rye’s City Council and Board of Education will also be in attendance. The annual Americanism Award will be presented to Lauren Dempsey, president of the Rye High School Adopt a US Soldier Club, and Marie Carlucci, adviser for the program. The ceremony features the traditional reading of the Gettysburg Address and the reading of the
names of those from Rye who fought and perished in the wars of the 20th century. The John M. Kingery Memorial Day Essay Contest Award will be presented to Rye High School student Adam Chen and runners-up Julia Laber and James Cronin. The program also includes the recognition of Eagle Scouts David Schindler and Casimir Harshbarger. Robin Latimer, president of the American Legion Auxiliary, will sing the national anthem and “God Bless America.” Prior to the parade, members of the Rye Fire Department will conduct a brief ceremony and lay flowers at the monument in the circle at Milton Road and Grace Church Street at 8:15 a.m. The monument honors Rye firefighters who served their nation. The public is invited to attend the parade and all ceremonies. (Submitted)
May 20, 2016 • thE RyE City REviEw • 9
PepsiCo completes ‘Project Renew’ after 3-plus years
BUDGEt from page 1
the plan is to begin executing the work immediately; as soon as the Osborn students are done with school this academic year. Keohane Glassberg will officially start her third term on July 1 at the board’s reorganization meeting. At that meeting, the board will also decide if it wishes to have her continue serving in the role of president. “It will be my privilege to continue to work to deliver, in a fiscally responsible manner, the excellent educational program our community values,” she said. Jennifer Boyle, 44, was also elected to the Board of Education for the first time. Boyle captured 1,270 votes and also ran uncontested. “I am honored to have been elected to the Board of Education,” Boyle told the Review. “I was thrilled with the voter turnout to support our schools and [I] look forward to contrib-
By aNGEla JoRDaN Staff Writer
The furnace at Osborn School, pictured, will be replaced this summer after an emergency bond referendum was passed on Tuesday, May 17. The referendum now allows the school district to bond for up to $1.8 million toward the purchase of a new furnace. Photo/Sam Cader
uting to the community engagement efforts focused on the evolving needs of our schools.”
-with reporting by Sarah Varney
CoNtaCt: chris@hometwn.com
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.”
More than three years after a public announcement that PepsiCo would be renovating its Purchase headquarters, a representative with the company told the Review that “virtually all of the renovation is complete.” In October 2012, PepsiCo announced that it was going to spend $240 million renovating its headquarters, and said that the plan, titled “Project Renew,” would preserve 1,100 local PepsiCo jobs in Purchase in addition to creating 1,250 construction jobs in order to complete the task. Construction began in early 2013. Robert Fitzsimmons, Harrison’s building and plumbing inspector, described the renovation as significant and said that PepsiCo stripped its 450,000-square-foot corporate campus “back to steel, and then built [it] from the ground up.”
The company’s goals, outlined in 2012, included the replacement of outdated technology and infrastructure, reducing energy usage by 22 percent, reducing water usage by 52 percent, providing better access within the buildings to daylight, and “[increasing] the capability of the facility by up to 15 percent.” The renovation of the now 45-year-old building, which is currently open for business, also included a 15-month-long process of asbestos abatement, according to Fitzsimmons. “They brought the building into the 21st century and made it totally code complaint,” Fitzsimmons said. “It’s very modern inside now.” In 1970, PepsiCo moved its headquarters from a 13-story building at 500 Park Ave. in Manhattan to its current location at 700 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase. The corporate campus, which consists of seven 3-story buildings, was designed
by Edward Durell Stone, who was also the architect behind Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art. Project Renew was the complex’s first and only major renovation, and was meant to coincide with PepsiCo’s 50th anniversary in 2015. Although these renovations are nearly complete, the company might not be finished overhauling its headquarters just yet. Fitzsimmons said that PepsiCo has additional construction plans for the facility, with fiveand 10-year timetables, respectively. “One was to build a new visitor’s center for the public and conference structure that are separate from the seven-building campus, where [the public] could access the grounds and walking paths,” Fitzsimmons said. “Other anticipated phases were for additional buildings to be constructed.” CoNtaCt: angela@hometwn.com
10 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016
The road to addiction may start with a beer ThE cOuncIL cORnER Councilman Terry McCartney
I had my first beer in the mid70s when I was 13. It was an icecold Iron City beer in my Uncle Frank’s basement in Jeanette, Pennsylvania, on a family trip. My dad and my uncles were drinkers and I thought it was a rite of passage to be included, and readily and proudly accepted that beer when it was offered. I continued to drink alcohol occasionally through my teenage years and high school. Most of my friends drank, too. It was totally normal to us. We eventually graduated from beer to liquor. Even though my step from beer to hard liquor should have been accompanied by an acknowledgement by me that my drinking had become more serious, it all seemed normal and I truly didn’t think anything of it. That’s how young, immature minds think: “It’s all good, why not try it?” Fortunately for me, I never took the possible next step to drugs. Alcohol was good enough, and in truth, I was afraid of not knowing what was in a pill or powder and I hated the idea of using a needle. Perhaps most importantly to me, no one in my circle of friends did drugs, so there was no peer pressure on me. For me, using drugs was a bright line I decided I would never cross, but I knew other teenagers from my town that did. They saw no line; they thought, “It’s all good, why not try it?” Some of them died, which made my line even brighter. I went off to college and, whenever the opportunity presented itself, I drank. Once again, fortunately for me, I went to a military school and played sports so there weren’t that many regular drinking opportunities and I was able to mature a little as time passed. At that point, I was probably on the road to a drinking problem, but my circumstances prevented me from going too far down the road. Blind luck, really. The real turning point for me was when my dad went into a rehab program for his alcoholism during my junior year in college. Part of his rehab was to write out a diary of his path
to alcohol addiction. When we went for a family visit, his counselors asked my siblings and me to read what our father had written. I was surprised to see that his addiction started somewhat innocently many years before with an occasional beer, then slowly progressed to happy hour after work on Fridays once or twice a month, then to social drinking on a weekly basis, then a “nightcap” a few nights a week at home, then to one every night and finally to drinking every single day of the week and it eventually taking over his life. Ever so slowly, over many years, he progressed down the road to addiction and he felt and appeared to be totally normal along the way. So I found myself at a crossroads at the age of 20: my dad, who was a great guy when sober, was addicted and I was scared to death I would be, too. I could literally see where I was on the road map my dad had written out and it made an impact on me. I decided then that my personal line not to be crossed was not only no drugs but also to constantly think about my drinking and to stay off of the road my dad had gone down. I do still drink, but not to excess and always with a little paranoia. I will never allow myself to slip onto the road to addiction. I was and am mature enough to draw my lines. My point here is that teenagers are simply not mature enough to the draw bright lines that they should with alcohol and drugs. The reason I am writing about this publicly now is that we have a serious problem in Rye. Our young people are becoming addicted and dying and we have to stop it. I have heard and read that many drug treatment experts say that alcohol and even marijuana are not “gateways” to hard drugs, but based on my life experiences, I just don’t believe that in my heart. I think alcohol starts you down the road to addiction and then, if the circumstances are right—peer pressure, a safe place to go, free time away from adults, available money—you can just keep on sliding down that road. I think that some kids—maybe not all, but some—get comfortable or even bored with alcohol, so then they try the next thing, which is
marijuana, then the next thing, which is prescription drugs. Before long, it’s really not that big a step to try harder drugs like meth or heroin and then they are on the superhighway to serious and life-threatening addiction. I think there is a very thin line between alcohol and the next thing, especially to a young person trying to be accepted socially by their peers. Here in Rye, where the peer pressure, place, time and money circumstances exist to the extreme, that line is easy to cross. Some kids can draw a bright line at alcohol like I did, and some can’t. The truth is that kids get comfortable with alcohol too easily in our community because we let them. I admit that I did it with my son and I know that many of you do it, too. The danger is that you cannot be sure that your son or daughter will stop with alcohol. You hope they will, but you don’t know. I am fairly sure that the kids from our community who have died so tragically over the past few years all started on their road to addiction with a beer at a Rye house party. I respectfully suggest changing the way we think about underage drinking here in Rye. Our kids’ lives are literally at risk if they start down the road. The end of the road nowadays is often heroin. It is no longer a drug used only by hardcore needle-using drug addicts. Heroin is now the cheap, readily accessible pill they try right after they got bored with the pills they tried after they got bored with the beer in the basement where they started. Unfortunately, the new heroin is also very addictive, so by the time they say, “It’s all good, why not try it?” they are too far down the road to turn back. Don’t let your kids start down the road to addiction before they are old enough to make smart decisions for themselves. Teach them that the reason that the legal drinking age is 21 is because alcohol is addictive and dangerous, and you really need to make good decisions about it and the other addictive substances that can follow closely behind it. Make a difference in the lives of your kids by talking to them about the dangers of starting down the road: “It’s not all good.”
Taste of Harrison puts downtown businesses on display By aNGEla JoRDaN Staff Writer The streets of downtown Harrison were lined with red and white balloons on Sunday, May 15, identifying the dozens of local businesses that participated in A Taste of Harrison, an annual fundraiser for the Harrison Public Library. According to Dave Donelson, who serves on the library board of trustees and is president of the Harrison library foundation, the fundraiser, which was being thrown for its fourth time in the past five years, has been consistently successful at raising money. “It’s an important fundraiser because libraries always need extra money, especially the Harrison library,” Donelson said. “We’re fully funded by the town, but for extra programs, extra hours and things like that, we need extra funds, which is what the public helps us do.”
Donelson said local residents have been very generous to the library in the past; a recent $4 million renovation of the Harrison Public Library received 50 percent of its funding from 500 private donors living within the town. In addition to the proceeds the library collects from the fundraiser, the event also gives local businesses the opportunity to showcase standout dishes to prospective customers. One such location, 273 Kitchen on Halstead Avenue, gave out samples of its fare outside the restaurant. The food is Mediterranean made with local ingredients, served in small dishes but bigger than tapas, according to general manager Christopher Creedon. “Business has been really great, because people have been really open to the concept,” he said. Another participating business was Retro Café, also located on Halstead Avenue, which replaced the Harrison Donut Shop about a year ago. The restaurant was allowing participants to sample a few items from its new menu. Retro Café owner Hossain Ahmed said the restaurant’s orange chicken in particular had received a lot of positive feedback. Although 273 Kitchen and Retro Café are new to the area, other participating businesses
A Taste of Harrison fills the streets on Sunday, May 15. Trattoria Vivolo is a big part of this effort to support the Harrison Public Library.
were already well-established staples of the town, like T-n-T Lunchonette, located on Harrison Avenue, which has been owned by Theresa Spagnuolo for the past 24 years, and Emilio Ristorante, a family business on Colonial Place, which was established in 1979. Sergio Brasesco, the owner of Emilio, said his mother makes the restaurant’s pasta dishes herself, which were served at the fundraiser. Participants over 21 were able to sample some drinks to wash their food down with, courtesy of The Harrison Wine Vault and The Craftsman Alehouse, both located on Harrison Avenue. The Harrison Wine Vault sampled several types of wine, while The Craftsman Alehouse sampled
beer from their taps. All of the Craftsman’s beers are American, and most are locally brewed. In fact, Jack Abbey, one of the beers on tap, brewed in Framingham, Massachusetts, was created by three alumni of Harrison High School. Because more than 30 businesses in downtown Harrison participated in the event, many of which do so on a consistent basis, Donelson said he was grateful toward the Harrison business community, and said A Taste of Harrison’s success comes from the library’s commitment to giving back to the town through events and programs, which has created a mutually beneficial relationship. “The Harrison community is very supportive of us,” Donelson said. “And it’s very gratifying for us to see because it shows that the town’s support for the library runs deep and extends throughout the population of the town.”
May 20, 2016 • thE RyE City REviEw • 11
Another participant was 273 Kitchen at Harrison’s downtown food event last Sunday afternoon.
Various merchants and restaurants supply samples of food to taste.
CoNtaCt: angela@hometwn.com
Each participant gives their contribution and receives a wristband to begin their tastings.
Uncle Henry’s in downtown Harrison serves a taste of hot chowder during the event to support the Friends of the Harrison Public Library. Photos/Bobby Begun
12 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016
The Classifieds • Advertising that gets results OUR RATES:
UP TO 4 LINES $42.50 for 2 weeks minimum. Each Additional Line $2.00
HOW TO REACH US:
(914) 653-1000 x27 Fax: 653-5000 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203, White Plains N.Y. 10601
AucTIOns
VAcATIOn REnTALs
ONTARIO COUNTY TAX FORECLOSED REAL ESTATE AUCTION, Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Registration: 6PM, Auction: 7PM, Location: Ontario County Safety Training Facility, 2914 County Road 48, Canandaigua, Call 1-800536-1401, visit: auctionsinternational.com
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/ partial weeks. Call for F R E E brochure. Open daily. Holiday Resort Services. 1-800-638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com
SULLIVAN COUNTY REAL PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE AUCTION. 400+/ Properties June 8+9 @ 10AM. ìRamada Rock Hill, Route 17, Exit 109. 800-243-0061 AAR, Inc. & HAR, Inc. Brochure: www.NYSAuctions.com ONTARIO COUNTY TAX FORECLOSED R EAL ESTATE AUCTION, Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Registration: 6PM, Auction: 7PM, Location: Ontario County Safety Training Facility, 2914 County Road 48, Canandaigua, Call 1-8 00-53 6-14 01, visit: auctionsinternational.com
AuTO DOnATIOns Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Call 315-400-0797 Today! Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Call 914-468-4999 Today!
hELp WAnTED AIRLINE CAREERS Start Here—Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM for free information 866-296-7093
hunTIng Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 1-866-309-1507 www. BaseCampLeasing.com
LAnD FOR sALE Land Bargains RT. 20 SCHOHARIE CO., 95.7 acres, $139,000. RT. 7 RENSSELAER CO., 26.4 acres, $79,000. RT. 205 OTSEGO CO., 2.7 ACRES, $22,000. Owner Financing www. helderbergrealty.com (518) 861-6541
LOTs & AcREAgE FOR ECLOSE D LAN D DEALS! 8 to 39 acre Tracts from $12,900 Catskill Mtns/ Cooperstown Lakes Region. Beautiful land, fully Gíteed! EZ terms! Call 888-905-8847. NewYorkLandandLakes.com
MIsc FOR sALE K I LL B E D B U G S & T H E I R E G G S — Buy Harris Bed Bug Killers/KIT Complete Treatment System. Available: Hardware Stores. The Home Depot, homedepot.com
MIscELLAnEOus SAWMILLS from only $4397.00—MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill—Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship! FREE Info/DVD:† www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N
Follow us on Twitter
@ryecityreview
WAnTED TO BuY CAS H FO R D IAB ETI C TEST STR I PS Up to $35/ Box! Sealed & Unexpired. Payment Made SAME DAY. Highest Prices Paid!! Call Juley Today! 800-413-3479 www.CashForYourTestStrips.com
LEgAL nOTIcEs Notice of formation of Cape Eland LLC. Articles of Organization filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/8/2016. Office Location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 760 King Street, Rye Brook, NY 10573. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of LOUD, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 02/16/2016. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 255 Washington St. 2nd Fl., Mount Vernon, NY, 10553. Purpose: any lawful activity.
DEADLINE:
Placement, correction or cancellation of an ad may be phoned in any time before noon on Monday for publication
May 20, 2016 • thE RyE City REviEw • 13
Sitting down with the swami next door RhYMEs YMEs WITh cRAZY RAZY Lenore Skenazy
When he was 19, Richard Slavin, a nice Jewish boy from the suburbs of Chicago, went backpacking in Europe for two months. “Hey,” I told him. “I have a son about to do the same thing.” “But,” Slavin added with a twinkle, “I never came back!” With that, he gave a hearty laugh, as jolly a sound as the ice cream man’s bell. Pure joy. He could laugh now—he was laughing now, in a conference room in Midtown for a book tour, because at 60-something and bald, he is no longer the wandering hippie he was in 1970. In fact, he is no longer even Richard Slavin. Today he is Radhanhath Swami, leader of the Hare Krishnas. The swami was dressed in coral-colored robes and a coral sweatshirt that he took off in the warm corporate office. His assistant jumped up to fold it for him, but the swami—spiritual leader to millions—nonchalantly did it himself. This is not a guy who lives a Kardashian life. He’s a monk. He sleeps on the floor. He rises at 4 every morning for chanting and meditation, and breakfast isn’t until 9! So how does a suburban American kid end up living in India, leading a congregation that feeds 300,000 impoverished kids a day, along with running a hospital, an orphanage, a handful of eco-villages and about a dozen schools for the very poor? The swami smiled and raised his eyebrows as I asked. He looked as surprised as me.
And by the way, in between all these India duties, the swami travels the world to lecture everywhere from Google to Harvard on things like spirituality and stress. “I have to admit to them that swamis have as much stress as them,” he chuckled. “It’s just a matter of how you deal with it.” The journey from footloose teen to spiritual leader is what his first book, “The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami,” was about. It was a bestseller. His latest book, “The Journey Within: Exploring the Path of Bhakti,” is about the spiritual lessons learned along the way. The lessons did not come easily. After he landed in Europe, Slavin hitchhiked across the continent in search of truth. “I was going to cathedrals and synagogues to study, because I really believed in the unity of all religions,” he recalls. He studied Islam in Turkey and Iran. By the time he got to India to study the religions there, he “became a very serious ascetic. I would never sleep inside any building, because I considered that too luxurious. So I slept under trees, or in caves.” Now, readers, here I must confess something: This man grew up one suburb way from me. He went to my rival high school and is just about 10 years older. When we discussed our favorite childhood haunts, he gleefully recalled the local pancake house and summers on Lake Michigan, though, “As a swami, I can’t tell you what we used to do when we’d sneak onto the beach.” Another laugh. The point is, he comes from a background very familiar to me.
But most of us did not go off and sleep in caves. How on earth did his parents react? When he finally returned to America for the first time, he says, “It was a culture shock for me and a culture shock for them. My father and brother came to meet me at the airport. The only luggage I had was a begging bowl. They didn’t know what to think. But we adjusted to each other in a very sweet and wonderful way.” That’s probably because the swami was not the caricature that many of us had or even still have of the Hare Krishnas—lost souls in loose robes chanting in the streets and offering flowers, cult members. “In every religion, there’s wacky people,” the swami said matter-of-factly. Because the Hare Krishna religion was first established in America in 1966, right around the time of the counter-culture, the two got entwined in the public mind. Lost souls did join. So what? Hare Krishna is not an American fad. It’s an ancient Indian religion that says we are all one— humans, animals, all of us who seek sustenance here on earth. And when we chant the name of Krisha—God—we get closer and closer to realizing that connectedness. That doesn’t sound any dippier than going to church or temple. And if it makes people ready to build schools, respect nature and provide for the very poor, more power to it—and the former Richard Slavin. (But if my son is reading this, please note: Do not stay away for 40 years!) CoNtaCt: lskenazy@yahoo.com
P U B LI S H ES
Harrison REVIEW REVIEW Mamaroneck THE
Eastchester CityREVIEW NewRochelle REVIEW THE
THE
INSIDE
THE
INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY
www.hometwn.com | 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203, White Plains N.Y. 10601 | (914) 653-1000
Faith leaders address youth sentencings Dear Gov. Cuomo, Majority Leader Flanagan and Speaker Heastie, As faith leaders from many two states where youth as young backgrounds, traditions and be- as 16 automatically end up in liefs, we write to you united by adult courts, jails and prisons. our great concern for the future Passing the raise of the age proof children in our communities. posal will enhance public safety Too many are being swept up and offer youth age-appropriate into the adult criminal justice interventions (including, when system and getting trapped in a necessary, incarceration). cycle of poverty and crime. In 2013, nearly 34,000 16We all know children who and 17-year olds were arrested have faced down difficult circum- and faced prosecution in the stances and rebuilt their lives. But adult system—the vast majorthe lack of age-appropriate inter- ity for non-violent crimes.We ventions for 16- and 17-year olds should be better than that. in the adult system, as well as the Adult prisons do not focus on heightened exposure they face to rehabilitation, and are not deviolence and abuse, is making it signed to meet the needs of childifficult and in many cases im- dren. National studies show that possible for even the most intelli- young people confined in adult gent and capable teens to become facilities are much more likely productive and successful mem- to face traumatic physical and bers of our communities. sexual violence than those in juAs a state, New York is failing venile facilities. these children. Today, we humThis lack of age-appropriate bly ask you to raise the age at intervention and increased exwhich children are automatically posure to violence also leads to charged as adults. higher rates of recidivism and, Currently, New York is one of as a result, higher costs for the Respectfully, J. Bruce Baker, pastor, All Souls Parish/Presbyterian Church, Port Chester; Bob Berson, Ethical Culture Society of Northern Westchester; Rabbi Jonathan Blake, Westchester Reform Temple, Scarsdale; Rabbi Jeff Brown, Scarsdale Synagogue; Rabbi Aaron Brusso, Bet Torah, Mount Kisco; J. Cooper Conway, priest in charge, St Paul’s on the Hill Episcopal Church & Trinity Episcopal Church, Ossining; The Rev. Doris K. Dalton, Memorial United Methodist Church of White Plains; The Rev. Noelle Damico, Member United Church of Christ Metro Association; The Rev. Dr. Susan G. De George, Stated Clerk Hudson River Presbytery; The Rev. Dr. Gawain de Leeuw, OA, Rector St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, White Plains; The Rev Joyce Dugger, Protestant chaplain, Hofstra University; Wayne Francis, lead pastor, Authentic Church, White Plains; The Rev. Dr. Steven Meredith Garmon, Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation, White Plains; The Rev. Jeffrey A. Geary, White Plains Presbyterian Church; Rabbi David Greenberg, Temple Sharaay Tefila, Bedford; The Rev. Susan C. Harriss, Christ’s (Episcopal) Church, Rye ; The Rev. Sarah E. Henkel, White Plains Presbyterian Church; Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan, Pleasantville Community Synagogue; The Rev. Dr. David R. Holder, founder and senior pastor; Ministers Gregory Adegbola, Dierdra Clark,
justice system as a whole. Our current law sets young people up to become re-offenders: research has shown that young people who go through the adult system are much more likely to reoffend than those in the juvenile system. From a public safety perspective, raising the age is about being both smart on crime and tough on crime—an approach that numerous law enforcement officials from around the state have endorsed. By creating a path to more positive outcomes for more children, raising the age would lead to crime reductions and help foster safer, more livable streets throughout the state. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. We are ready to stand by you and move forward with this important policy change. It goes without saying that all New Yorkers will be better off under this approach.
Gregory Millings, Marlon Simpkins, Alex Smith, Sherin Swift, John Udochi, New York Covenant Church, New Rochelle; Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, Chappaqua; Jone Johnson Lewis, clergy leader, Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture and Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture; Rabbi Chaim Marder, Hebrew Institute of White Plains; Rabbi Shira Milgrom, Congregation Kol Ami, White Plains; The Rev. Darren M. Morton, Ed. D., Macedonia Baptist Church, Mount Vernon; The Rev. Dorothy Muller, Hudson River Presbytery; Pastor Jim O’Hanlon, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Rye Brook; The Rev. Dr. Lillian F. Reynolds, minister for Community Based Programs, Grace Baptist Church, Mount Vernon; The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Rosborough, Briarcliff Congregational Church Apostle A.S. Rose Upon this Rock Ministries Inc., Mount Vernon; The Rev. Erwin Lee Trollinger Jr., Baptist Church, White Plains; The Rev. Dr. Verlin D. Williams, Union Baptist Church, White Plains; Dr. Edward O. Williamson, pastor-teacher, Bethel Baptist Church, White Plains; The Rev. Claire Woodley, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Mohegan Lake; Perry Wootten, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Ossining; Bart Worden, clergy leader, Ethical Culture Society of Westchester; The Rev. Dr. Robert E. Young, Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Peekskill. (Submitted)
SPORTS
14 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016
A day at the old ballpark LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
At 31 years old, I’ve come to the realization that I’m not a spring chicken anymore. That being said, I wouldn’t call myself “old,” unless I was comparing myself to the crowd at Governor’s Ball. On Sunday, however, I felt every bit the geriatric ward resident at the place I was most afraid of it happening: the baseball field. For the last 10 years, my buddies and I have spent most of our weekends in the spring and summer lacing up our cleats to compete in one of New York City’s adult baseball leagues. In that time, I’ve seen us grow from a team filled with young, post-college upstarts into a ballclub stacked with wizened vets who get by on guile more than athleticism. But Sunday, man, did we look old.
We’ve gotten off to a good start this year. We came into the weekend 9-2, fresh from beating a couple of hurlers who spent the last few years pitching in the minor leagues. But this weekend, we squared off against the kryptonite of just about anyone over 25 years old: teenagers. I knew we were in trouble as soon as we got to the field. We straggled into the park about 45 minutes before game time, which is about as much time as we normally need to stretch and cajole our aching joints into something resembling baseball shape. But our opponents, average age 18, had been there for over an hour, playing a pickup game before we were set to play a double header. They spryly bounced around the turf, chattering loudly, whipping the ball around the infield. It was way too much energy for someone my age to see that early in the morning. The game played out pretty predictably: they just never let up.
Every time they got on base, they’d take another, forcing our catcher—who’s squatted behind the plate for 95 percent of the 2,100 innings we’ve played in the last decade—to throw over and over again with a labrum he hasn’t had since 2012. Even when we took the lead, nothing could dampen their enthusiasm. They simply put together good at-bat after good atbat, tiring out our aged pitching staff, myself included, until they ended up coming out on top in both games. But our humiliation on the field was nothing compared to the way we felt afterward. On Monday, I was too sore to tie my shoes. Our catcher said he was typing left-handed at work, as the pain in his shoulder had his throwing arm dangling uselessly at his desk. Our first baseman, whose balky hamstrings once again became an issue during a rundown play, worked from home, as he was unwilling—or unable—to get off his
To CoVER loCal spoRTs, you nEEd a
LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow Mike Smith @ryecityreview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates
On Sunday, Sports Editor Mike Smith’s baseball team lost a tough double header to a bunch of teenagers. This week, Smith is really feeling his age. Photo courtesy Mike Smith
couch in the morning. We’d been beaten by better teams, but never by teams who simply “out-youthed” us. It was a sobering moment, indeed. But the great thing about playing once a week is that old
guys like us have plenty of time to recover. The next time we play these whippersnappers will be in June. We’ll know their tendencies, remember what they did last weekend and hopefully use our minds to strike a winning blow
for all the geezers out there. Or maybe we’ll just get lucky and they’ll all be at Randall’s Island, grooving to Kanye.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
Rye Athlete of the Week Katherine Brown By liaM BRENNaN Contributor The latest Athlete of the Week is Katherine Brown, a junior pitcher and third baseman on the girls’ varsity softball team. Brown and her team have recently qualified for the playoffs this season, and are hoping to make a deep run. Coach Alex Tejera praised Brown for her leadership this season. He believes that her experience starting for the team since freshman year has led her to this point. “The younger players look to her for leadership and Katherine is always
willing to lend a helping hand,” Tejera said. “If we are going to have any success in the post season, we are going to need her to continue playing well.” Teammate Molly Herbold believes Brown’s off-field attitude is what makes her a great leader on the team. “Katherine is an amazing player and friend,” Herbold said. “She’s so supportive on and off the field.” When Brown is not playing softball, she spends her free time volunteering and studying hard. She volunteers at Northwind Kennels and Questover Equestrian where she cares for two
rescued horses. She also volunteers for Rye Girls Softball, where she coaches sixth- to eighth-graders. At school, Brown is a member of the High Honor Roll.
sponsor: www.piazzapizzaRye.com We Deliver
Piazza Pizzeria 921-4444
SPORTS
May 20, 2016 • thE RyE City REviEw • 15
Panthers fall in outbracket game LACROSSE
LOURDES RYE NECK RYE NECK HS
CLASS C
10 8 5/17/16
Game Notes: • Rye Neck goalie April Zhang made nine stops against Lourdes • The Panthers held a two-goal lead for much of the first half • This was Rye Neck’s second straight appearance in the sectional tournament By MiKE sMith Sports Editor On Tuesday, May 17, Rye Neck’s lacrosse season came to an end with a hard-fought 10-8 loss to Lourdes in the Class C outbracket round. Although the Panthers’ defeat brings with it a sense of change in the program, head coach Amanda Heyde believes that Rye Neck’s stock will continue to rise.
Jasmine Reyes gets tripped up by a Lourdes defender.
Coming into Tuesday’s game, Heyde knew the No. 15 Panthers would face a stiff challenge from their visitors. Although Lourdes came into the showdown with few wins to its name, the Warriors’ difficult regular season campaign meant that the No. 16 seed would be prepared for the game. “Lourdes had a really challenging schedule, they had good games with some strong schools
Kayla Casas looks for an open teammate against the Warriors. Despite a strong first half, Rye Neck fell in the Class C outbracket game 10-8.
and our league was a bit weaker,” Heyde said. “But our girls came out to play today.” Heyde’s club got off to a quick start, holding onto a slim lead for much of the first half. The head coach credits the Panthers’ athleticism and transition game for carrying Rye Neck Jessica Gottlieb barrels towards the net on May 17 against Lourdes. Gottlieb had a goal and an assist in Rye through the opening minutes. Neck’s 10-8 loss. But when the Warriors began to “This senior class is special; two sectional games, we’re going control the time of possession Although Rye Neck will graduand rally, it was up to the Pan- ate a senior class that was instru- they started the program and es- to have a few big additions from ther defense—and goalie April mental in building the Panthers’ tablished a great foundation and the JV level, and hopefully the Zhang, who made nine saves program from the ground up set the bar high for everyone to girls will remember this game on the day—to keep them in the three years ago, Heyde remains follow,” the head coach said. and use that in the future.” confident that the lacrosse team “But we’ve got girls now who game. have the experience of playing in CoNtaCt: sports@hometwn.com “We were winning the draw is in good hands. and able to fast break down to the goal,” Heyde said. “But when they started to win draws, it was the defense that really held us together.” It looked as though Lourdes would head into halftime 6-5 before a last second penalty gave the Warriors one last shot with no time remaining. Lourdes converted to build a two-goal lead, but Heyde was pleased with the way her team didn’t let the goal dash its hopes. “In any other game, maybe that would have happened,” she said. “But they came out and played for the entire 50 minutes, they never got down.” While they came out strong in the second half, however, Rye Neck simply couldn’t close the gap. Kathleen DaSilva finished with three goals, and Kayla Casas had two goals in the loss. While the Warriors advanced to take on top-seeded Albertus Magnus on Wednesday, May 18, after press time, the loss gave Heyde and the Panthers time to take stock of the season. Anne Masciopinto plays defense near midfield. Photos/Mike Smith
16 • the rye city review • May 20, 2016