November 3, 2017

RyeCity REVIEW THE

November 3, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 44 | www.ryecityreview.com

HEAD of the CLASS

An overtime header from Spencer Goldberg

on Oct. 28 helped Rye Neck top Briarcliff in the Class B Section I finals at Lakeland High School. The finals win marked the first title for the Panthers since 2014. For story, see page 15.

Photos/Mike Smith

2 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017

November 3, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3

Rye Town Park brokering new restaurant deal

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye Town Park Commission is set to conclude contract negotiations with a new food services provider, after narrowing down a pool of six candidates to one finalist.

According to Debbie Reisner, the park commission secretary, the commission is expecting to finalize a deal in the coming weeks for a new restaurateur to run an operation at the park’s restaurant and beachside snack bar for possibly the next decade.

As of press time, there are currently no details about the finalist and there is no information about any stipulations of the deal.

However, Reisner told the Review that the park’s current licensee, Homestyle Caterers, which operates the steak and seafood outlet known as the Ocean Grille, was among the remaining three candidates in the running for the restaurant space after narrowing down the pool of candidates from six.

Homestyle Caterers’ current one-year deal is set to expire at

the end of the year. The food services provider pays $92,000 in rent to the park commission to operate a restaurant out of the space and manage a Nathan’s Famous fast food chain in the park’s concession areas.

Homestyle Caterers has been in business for more than 25 years in the food services industry. In addition to managing the Ocean Grille, the company operates food services in a number of golf courses throughout Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties, including the Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers, the Blue Hill Golf Course in Pearl River, and the Putnam National Golf Course in Mahopac.

“We need someone that’s going to put some money into the business and the location,” said Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a member of the park commission, who explained the restaurant still needs further developments in addition to the $58,000 in improvements made by Homestyle Caterers to the interior of the food space earlier this year. “The location can’t go on any longer without any capital improvements.”

The renovations were made as part of Homestyle’s oneyear agreement with the park commission.

The selection process was implemented by the park commission’s Restaurant Steering Committee and Tracy Lawler from the JGL Food Service consultant company. JGL selected Homestyle Caterers earlier this year.

The steering committee was comprised of two commissioners, Killian and Port Chester Mayor Fritz Falanka, a Democrat, and two residents—one from the town of Rye, Dan Tartaglia, and the other from the city of Rye, Russ Gold.

The park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound, is located off of Forest Avenue in the city of Rye. The 62-acre green space and beachfront offers seasonal swimming and year-round use for passive and semi-active events.

Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, the president of the park commission, could not be reached for comment, as of press time.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

The Rye Town Park Commission is expecting to finalize a long-term deal with a new restaurant operator in the coming weeks. The new restaurateur would succeed the park’s current operator, Homestyle Caterers, which owns the Ocean Grille. File photo

4 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017

What’s going on...

Rye Free Reading Room

For more information on hours and programs, visit ryelibrary.org. The library will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of Veterans Day.

Rye Library Writers On Saturday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Ogden Nash Room. Share work and brainstorm with fellow writers and be encouraged in a welcoming and supportive environment. Discuss works in progress, writing topics, the writing process and individual writing joys and challenges.

Open to novice and experienced writers.

Teacher-In-The-Library On Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Children’s Room. For grades K–5.

Drop by the library where Rye teachers offer homework help to students attending local public and private elementary schools in the Rye and close surrounding areas. 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.

er you are working on poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, or something else, join the company of other writers as you all take your work to the next level. In-class prompts, exercises and discussion will help you add more pages to something you’ve been working on or inspire you to create something new.

Participants will talk about developing characters, establishing setting, and more. If you have work in progress, bring it. Participants can make time to do in-class feedback sessions.

NaNoWriMo for Teens On Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. This is the second part of a two-session workshop that will be held at the Rye High School Media Center Reference Library. With Maureen Mancini Amaturo. Space is limited. To register, visit ryelibrary.org.

NaNoWriMo Part 2: Move Your Story (And Your Skill) Forward. Keep on writing... it’s NaNoWriMo. Whatever you’re working on, join the company of other writers as you all take our work to the next level. In-class discussion and feedback will help you add more pages (the goal is another 500 words) to something you’ve been working on or to inspire you to create something new. If you have a work in progress or the manuscript you began in NaNoWriMo Part 1, bring it.

Book Group: Heard in Rye - RyeACT

love of stories in children who are learning to talk.

Computer, Internet and Email Security On Thursday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Raho Technology Center. This session will present methods to reduce vulnerability to computer and Internet security problems by setting features in Microsoft’s Internet browser. It will also describe several programs to help protect against malicious software from being put on computers as well as a useful removal tool. Email security will also be discussed. The need and methods for backup will be presented. This workshop is taught by Mike Negrelli, a former executive for IBM. First come, first served. No reservations required.

Relax with Reiki On Thursday, Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Join Reiki practitioner Andrea Deierlein for a conversation about Reiki, a natural healing practice that promotes relaxation and wellness.

Reiki is a natural healing practice that originated in Japan. Treatments stimulate the body’s self-healing response through the light touch of the practitioner’s hands. In addition to improving overall health and well-being, people turn to Reiki when coping with life’s stresses as well as for support during health and emotional challenges and medical treatments.

Making Math Magical

On Thursday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the Meeting Room. Rye Free Reading Room, in collaboration with Heard in Rye and RyeACT, invite you to join this book discussion on “Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices To Help Children, Teens and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience” by clinical psychologist Christopher Willard.

“Growing Up Mindful” is an inspiring guidebook that introduces parents to more than 75 mindfulness exercises that promote balance, calm and resilience in their families. Mindfulness builds emotional intelligence, boosts happiness, increases curiosity and engagement, reduces anxiety and promotes flourishing. Please sign up at ryelibrary.org to join on Thursdays, Nov. 9 and 16, and Dec. 7. This group will be lead by Beth Gallos and Kim O’Connor. This group is limited to the first 20 people who sign up.

On Thursday, Nov. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Meeting Room. This workshop, titled “Making Math Magical: How to End the Math Freakout and Raise a Math-Confident Daughter,” will provide you with groundbreaking tools to build and nurture your child’s math confidence, including: the difference between perfectionism and mastery; growth mindset; how to use “negative” emotions to achieve math success; flow state (how to use the sweet spot between boredom and overwhelm); mastery orientation; and more. You will discover how to support your child to achieve true mastery, rise to the top of their class, and even come to experience math as a source of joy and a type of self-expression. You’ll walk away with clear steps, case studies and tools that you can use immediately at home to ensure math confidence and success.

NaNoWriMo

Tales for Tots

Practice ACT test

On Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m in the Ogden Nash Room. NaNoWriMo Part 2: Move Your Story (And Your Skill) Forward. With Maureen Mancini Amaturo. Keep on writing. Wheth-

On Thursday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. in the Children’s Room. Recommended for infants and toddlers. Simple picture books, finger plays and songs encourage language development and instill a

On Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Take a full-length practice exam under real test conditions. Test takers should bring water, a snack, pencils and a calculator. De-

Kids Paint STARS OF HOPE On Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Meeting Room. For grades three and up. STARS OF HOPE is a unique disaster relief and community arts program that empowers children to transform communities impacted by natural and man-made disasters through colorful art and messages of hope and healing. Join in this workshop to help victims of the recent hurricanes. Kids will paint inspirational messages and designs on a 1-foot wooden star.

These finished stars will be sent to devastated communities after the workshop.

tailed score reports highlighting personal strengths and weaknesses will be available at applerouth.com the Friday after the test. Both exams and reports are free. Call Jill Steinberg at 371-8000 for more information. Register at applerouth.com/signup.

Rye Arts Center The Rye Arts Center is located at 51 Milton Road in Rye. For more information, call 967-0700 or visit ryeartscenter.org.

B.A.G. Improv (Bring a Grown Up) On Saturday, Nov. 4 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For ages 9 and up and their grown-up (parent, guardian, older sibling, or caregiver). With Em Harpp-Meulbroek. Looking for something fun to do together on the weekend? Try improv, a totally fun activity, but instead of getting dropped off, bring your grown-up to class with you. That’s right, try improv with the grown-up of your choice. The two of you will join a group of other adults and kids, and together will explore the exciting, hilarious and fast-paced world of improve. Improv is a fantastic opportunity to get seriously silly, express yourself, and learn together.

Improvisation is good for your brain: we are at our best when we live in the moment, and improv allows you to do just that. Play games, do exercises, and make scenes together intergenerationally, and see what fun it can be to make things up together, as you go along. No experience is necessary. Just come with an open mind, and a grown-up. Fee: $50; members receive discount. To register, visit ryeartscenter.org.

Play with Your Food On Monday, Nov. 13 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Play With Your Food attracts sold-out crowds in Westport, Greenwich, and Fairfield, Connecticut. Arrive at noon, enjoy a gourmet buffet lunch, and then settle in for a program of clever, provocative one-act plays by both classic and contemporary playwrights and read by terrific professional actors. After a short discussion with the actors, director, and often a playwright or two, everyone goes back to work or carries on with their day. Fee: $45. To register, visit ryeartscenter.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.

November 3, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5

6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017

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

Amazon County offers viable locations for

headquarters

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

Amazon’s current campus is home to 40,000 employees.

General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Nancy Kaplan ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Photographer Jen Parente Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Joe Murphy

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.

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Delivery For home delivery or to subsribe, call (914) 653-1000 x27.

Amazon’s Seattle location has a 33-building campus. Photos courtesy Amazon

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter With Amazon’s final decision on a second corporate headquarters a few months away, West-

chester County has put forward a proposal highlighting several potential locations.

Since the submission deadline closed on Oct. 19, Amazon has announced that it received 238

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

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Application to mail at the periodicals postage rate is approved at White Plains, N.Y., 10601.

Periodicals postage paid at White Plains and additional mailing offices.

Westchester County has offered the old IBM campus in Somers, pictured, as a potential location for Amazon’s second headquarters.

Photo courtesy Wikipedia.com

proposed locations from across North America.

Several of the proposals came from within New York state.

“It will mean a lot depending on the site that’s selected,” said George Oros, chief of staff for the administration of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. “It would mean a lot to that local municipality.”

In early September, Amazon first announced it was opening submission proposals from areas interested in becoming the home to the retailer’s second headquarters.

In a press release, Amazon said the new headquarters would “be a full equal to our current campus in Seattle.”

Amazon’s Seattle location is 8.1 million square feet, and employs more than 40,000 people.

“It would be a tremendous economic growth factor for the county,” Oros told the Review.

Amazon announced that the second location would eventually employ 50,000 people, and that the company would invest more than $5 billion in construction.

“Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, said in the announcement. “We’re excited to find a second home.”

However, the company has yet to explain why it has an interest in opening a second headquarters.­­ According to Oros, some of the proposed locations are the former PepsiCo headquarters and the former IBM headquarters in Somers, which both met the minimum requirements that Amazon has for its new location. These requirements include being a maximum of 45 minutes from an airport, no more than 2 miles from a major highway, and at-site access to mass transit.

Other locations offered by Westchester County consist of sites in the cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and White Plains.

Oros explained that the county’s own airport, mass transit system, including the Bee-Line, and affordable office spaces make Westchester a strong contender.

New Rochelle, in a separate proposal, offered Davids Island, an uninhabited 120-acre island on the Long Island Sound, and the downtown area as part of its own package to Amazon.

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, a Democrat, said the city’s main focus is on the downtown area, but that Davids Island was included because “it’s a unique asset.” Bramson site’s the city’s combination of “livability and affordability” as one of the reasons New Rochelle should be considered a force to be reckoned with. “[There are a] number of specific sites that the development

team of RDRXR have the ability to build upon, we envision all of those as in play for Amazon,” Bramson said, referencing the city’s master development company which is overseeing all projects in the city.

Along with the submitted proposals, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has offered Amazon the state’s Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit incentives that would come along with choosing New York State as the new headquarters location.

The tax credit is part of the Excelsior Jobs Program, which incentivizes companies to move their business to New York by offering jobs, investment, research and development, and real property tax credits.

A release from Cuomo’s press office states that these incentives will apply to any of the proposed areas in the state.

John Ravitz, executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Business Council of Westchester, a business membership organization, said that if Amazon would move to Westchester it would be a “win-win.”

“Westchester makes so much sense for Amazon, for so many reasons,” Ravitz said. “What we’re presenting to Amazon is that Westchester County is the intellectual capital of the state.”

As for local businesses, Ravitz said that, “Thousands of employees [would be] there on a daily bases, [and] are going to be able to see and participate in all the exciting businesses we have in Westchester County.”

Amazon is currently in negotiations with the proposed sites, and intends to make an announcement on its decision in 2018.

CONTACT: taylor@homtewn.com

November 3, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7

YoFiFest celebrates fifth year They are rolling out the red carpet on Nov. 3 for the fifth annual YoFiFest, dubbed “Yo5Fest”

by Patty Schumann, festival director and co-founder, who added, “This year we had more submissions than ever before, so we were able to curate our strongest line-up of films yet.”

Dave Steck, the festival’s co-founder and executive director said, “With the support of the city of Yonkers, the festival has grown from its humble beginnings as a local weekend event at a public

library to an international festival that this year will screen over a hundred films over nine days.”

The festival will once again screen films from all over the world including Ireland, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg, Japan, Iran, India, Finland, Canada, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and The United Kingdom. It will also feature filmmakers from right in our own backyard, including a “Done In Yonkers” showcase on the evening of Nov. 6.

The festival’s “mini film school” workshops are back, featuring topics such as screenwriting, producing for film and TV, audio production and marketing, taught by accomplished industry professionals. There will also be networking events, receptions and nightly parties where audiences and filmmakers will get the chance to connect and converse.

To help celebrate their fifth year, for the first time they are giving out an award called The Golden YO, a “Best of

“Peer Review” by Courtney Ulrich. Photos courtesy Facebook.com/YoFiFest

“The Bake Sale” by Susan Skoog.

the Fest” award for one film in each of the following five categories: Best Narrative Feature Film, Best Documentary Feature Film, Best Narrative Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film and Best Student Work, as selected by a panel of judges.

“We think our filmmakers are all winners just for getting their films made and into the festival (it’s harder than you think!), but they told us they wanted a prize and we listened.” Steck said, “Each of

these beautiful, one-of-a-kind, all metal sculptures were created by local Yonkers artist Robert Pfitzenmeier using 16mm film spools and cans.” The award ceremony is on the night of Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. after the last screening of the day and right before that night’s after-party.

Honored as one of FilmFreeways “Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals” and voted “Best of Westchester” in Westchester Magazine’s annual 2014 poll and

named one of the “Top 10 Things To Do In Yonkers” in 2015 by The Journal News/LoHud, YoFi Fest is curated by award-winning film and television professionals and designed to encourage audiences and filmmakers to watch and talk about movies together.

The festival takes place in Downtown Yonkers from Nov. 3 to Nov. 11 at 66 Main St., in Yonkers. For more information, schedules and tickets visit YoFiFest.com. (Submitted)

8 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017

s e h s i l b u P Eastchester REVIEW THE

Harrison REVIEW THE

Mamaroneck REVIEW THE

THE

CityREVIEW NewRochelle

RyeCity REVIEW INSIDE

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INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains N.Y. 10601 (914) 653-1000

www.hometwn.com

November 3, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9

Rushy Rush Skincare Labs coming to city Skintritionist Sheryl “Rushy” Stroud, L.E., CNC, a native of Rye, has taken a beautifully delicious approach to her skincare clinic’s offerings by providing her clients with nutritional guidance as part of her 360 approach to skin health.

A New York state licensed esthetician and instructor, Stroud believes you can slow down and even reverse the signs of aging and clear acne issues with a combination of non-invasive, holistic skin health treatments and nutrition. Rushy Rush Skincare Labs in conjunction with the newly opened Laser & MedSpa of Westchester located at 1031 Boston Post Road in Rye, will provide clients with a full array of services directed toward beauty, wellness and nutrition. Serving the Westchester and Fairfield areas.

“Addressing the four main culprits that cause most skin conditions: skincare routine, environmental damage, inflammation, as well as, diet and exercise, we help our clients achieve results in how their skin looks and feels. From the inside out, we address these factors that contribute to acne, aging and sensitivities,” says Stroud.

What can you look forward to in the services offered at Rushy Rush Skincare Labs? Acne specialists, clinical massage therapists, master estheticians, even a holistic nail technician and of course nutritional evaluations provide by Stroud.

They all use advanced methodologies, therapies and modalities to address your most pressing skin concerns. Stroud is also partnering with Chef Mike O’Neil to create organic, nutritional, grab and go meals and

Astorino seeks proposals for fathering conference

eventually subscriptions services for busy people who want to eat right, look good and feel better - yet don’t have the time to cook at home.

For more information visit their website at RushyRushSkincare.com, call for an appointment 888-688-2911 or stop by the the office for a complimentary consultation, sip some anti-aging silver white tip tea or one of Rushy’s Beauty Elixirs.

(Submitted)

Holiday season events: Skincare Lecture Series, Thursdays 7 to 8:30 p.m.

• Nov. 2: Acne: Cause, Effect and Management • Nov. 9: How Does Menopasue Effect the Skin?

• Nov. 16: Neglecting Your Skin is a Sin! • Nov. 30: Sleep Deprivation and Skin • Dec. 7: Comforting Winter Skincare Tips

Holiday Hair Glamour, Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Frederic Fekkai’s stylist—Amber Velez & Friends.

Visit us for hoilday hair styles, makeup lessons and glamour shots for the hoildays.

Starting Nov. 12 through Dec. 17.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has announced he is seeking workshop proposals for the 2018 New York Fathering Conference. Photo courtesy Westchestergov.com

The fourth annual New York Fathering Conference is now accepting workshop proposals for its summit at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on April 3, 2018, County Executive Rob Astorino announced.

The theme is “Learn Everywhere Every Day.” “It is firmly my belief that stronger communities begin with stronger families,” Astorino said.

“The New York Fathering Conference continues to be one of the most popular and important summits of the year, bringing together over 400 fathers, young men and service providers to focus on improving outcomes for families.”

To submit a workshop proposal, please visit Westchestergov. com/dadbethere and email the completed form to Jkenner@ westchestergov.com by Nov. 22.

The program committee for the New York Fathering Con-

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ference will select professionals who work directly with fathers, who write about fathers, or who influence policies. Workshop proposals this year should focus on areas related to education, literacy and other related community initiatives that are available to families. Examples of potential workshops could include, but are not limited to: • Engaging dads in child development • Fostering dads’ participation with schools • Developing strategies for dads and kids to learn together • Creating reading programs that work • Participating in everyday activities that promote literacy • Teaching dads and kids to read • Promoting literacy at work and moving beyond the GED.

Each workshop will be approximately 90 minutes and should give service providers and/or dads information, interaction and tools that they can bring back their practices and communities.

For more information, please contact Joseph D. Kenner, deputy commissioner of the department of social services, at Jkenner@ westchestergov.com.

The New York Fathering Conference is part of Astorino’s ongoing #DadBeThere fatherhood initiative, which targets the full spectrum of fathers, from those who are present in the home to those who are not.

Programs range from career counseling and job placement assistance to simply creating more opportunities for dads and families to spend time together. Learn more at Westchestergov.com/ dadbethere. (Submitted)

10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017

November 3, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11

The Birch Collective brings Quebec flair to Westchester

By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor It seems like most restaurants that have opened this year are on the “new American, farmto-table” path. But The Birch Collective has brought a certain je ne sais quoi to downtown White Plains.

The two-story eatery offers comfort food with a French-Canadian flair. So, of course, there’s poutine; the two chefs are from Montreal, and I, honestly, was taken back to long weekends in that city. There is something for everyone on the menu, which features some American classics and dishes with interesting names, like the Wings Beneath My Wind (no typo here). Also, all sauces, marinades and drink purees are made in-house, including a savory caramel drizzle served over tempura cauliflower bits.

Perhaps the biggest draw to The Birch Collective is the

drink menu, with cocktails as big as you could imagine and creative names and recipes to boot. If you are an Instagram foodie, you may have seen Finding Nemo: a neon blue cocktail that tastes like bubblegum and gin, served with shark-shaped candy floating around in a sturdy plastic bag.

Add to all of this décor that calls to mind a home by the lake with lots of wood, hits from the 1980s and beyond playing through the speakers, and a great staff led by owners Matthew Gagnon Guastaferri, 33, and Pierluc Dupont, whom you’ll see greeting patrons often.

“It’s really important to connect,” Gagnon Guastaferri said.

“We want to create an experience, not a transaction.”

Gagnon Guastaferri has spent half of his life in the hospitality industry, boasting experience in about 25 restaurants and bars across the spec-

One of the many “Birchtails”: the Birchberry Mojito made with a raspberry and rhubarb purée, littered with fresh blueberries.

trum, in all positions. He has French-Canadian blood, grew up in New Hampshire, and has spent about nine years in New York City. He also happens to be a singer-songwriter.

Upon visiting Montreal for the first time, Gagnon Guastaferri remembered how much attention the Quebecois pay to food, especially to sauces and marinades. “I was blown away by the food,” he said. “They don’t put up with any crap.”

Unless you’ve been to the province of Quebec, you may not have been exposed to its cuisine.

The Birch Collective was a year and a half in the making, with the goal of bringing something unique to the White Plains dining and bar scene. Gagnon Guastaferri and Dupont, who also hails from Montreal, clicked upon meeting each other, and practically agreed on everything concerning the restaurant’s concept.

They sampled food from various restaurants nationwide, and looked in Brooklyn and even New Jersey for the space. “We said, ‘Let’s go somewhere they need us; let’s be a big fish in a small pond,’” Gagnon Guastaferri said on selecting White Plains as the restaurant’s home.

“I know that people expect a great culinary and mixology experience in cities.”

All of the restaurant’s elements have a story.

According to Gagnon Guastaferri, the yellow birch is the official tree of Quebec, and symbolizes new beginnings.

Every table is made from wood from birch trees, and communal tables are a part of the mix.

The space is very welcoming; hence the restaurant’s name.

To add a personal touch, on the way up to the mezzanine space, childhood photos of staff line the wall of the stairs.

Gagnon Guastaferri and Dupont plan on expanding The Birch Collective as a brand, with more locations in the future and even putting their housemade sauces on sale.

“We were thinking bigger than just a restaurant,” Gagnon Guastaferri said. “Here, we’re growing.”

CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

As it gets darker outside, The Birch Collective remains warm and inviting.

A cross section of the Birch Burger: bacon jam, cheddar, lettuce, confit tomato, onion and the housemade big Birch sauce served on a brioche bun. The burger is also served with a fried pickle, not pictured.

Poutine Québécois: french fries, cheese curds and brown gravy, topped with smoked meat from the popular Mile End Delicatessen in Brooklyn. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa

The Birch Collective 91 Mamaroneck Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 437-9065 thebirchcollective.com

12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017

The Classifieds • Advertising that gets results OUR RATES:

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Classifieds ads appear in all five of our publications.

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Loving family from Europe, looking to adopt a baby into home filled with happiness, security, unconditional love. We whole-heartedly welcome a child of any race/ethnicity.

Please contact Chantal, Geoffrey and big brother Noah, through our NY adoption agency! 1-914-939-1180adopt@foreverfamilie throughadoption.org

Notice of Formation of DIXIE RIDGE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/7/2017. Office: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Dixie Ridge LLC, 11 Park Drive South, Rye, NY 10580. Purpose: any lawful business, purpose or activity.

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Placement, correction or cancellation of an ad may be phoned in any time before noon on Monday for publication

AUCTIONS TAX FORECLOSURE AUCTIONS, SULLIVAN COUNTY. Homes, Land & Seasonal Properties.

Online Only Ending November 8 @ 10AM at NYSAuctions.com. 800-243-0061 AAR, Inc. & HAR, Inc. Free info: www.NYSauctions.com

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November 3, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13

LEGAL NOTICES

REGINALD A. LAFAYETTE Commissioner Fax 914-995-7753 JEANNIE L. PALAZOLA Deputy Commissioner

DOUGLAS A. COLETY Commissioner Fax 914-995-3190

DOROTHY L. DIPALO Deputy Commissioner

25 Quarropas Street | White Plains, NY 10601 914-995-5700 | www.westchestergov.com/boe

OFFICIAL 2017 GENERAL ELECTION NOTICE Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4-120 of the Election Law, notice is hereby given that the official General Election will be held on November 7, 2017 from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. for registered voters in the County of Westchester for the public offices listed below: PUBLIC OFFICE Supreme Court Justice County Executive County Clerk County Court Judge Family Court Judge County Legislator - CLD 1 County Legislator - CLD 2 County Legislator - CLD 3 County Legislator - CLD 4 County Legislator - CLD 5 County Legislator - CLD 6 County Legislator - CLD 7 County Legislator - CLD 8 County Legislator - CLD 9 County Legislator - CLD 10 County Legislator - CLD 11 County Legislator - CLD 12 County Legislator - CLD 13 County Legislator - CLD 14 County Legislator - CLD 15 County Legislator - CLD 16 County Legislator - CLD 17 Town of Bedford - Supervisor Town of Bedford – Councilmember Town of Bedford – Town Clerk Town of Bedford – Town Justice Town of Cortlandt - Supervisor Town of Cortlandt – Councilmember Town of Cortlandt – Town Clerk Town of Cortlandt – Town Justice Town of Cortlandt – Receiver of Taxes Village of Croton-on-Hudson – Mayor Village of Croton-on-Hudson – Village Trustee Town of Eastchester - Supervisor Town of Eastchester – Councilmember Town of Greenburgh - Supervisor Town of Greenburgh - Councilmember Town of Greenburgh - Town Clerk Town of Greenburgh – Town Justice Town of Greenburgh – Receiver of Taxes

Village of Ardsley – Mayor Village of Ardsley – Village Trustee Village of Ardsley – Village Trustee (Unexp.)

Village of Dobbs Ferry – Mayor Village of Dobbs Ferry – Village Trustee Village of Dobbs Ferry – Village Justice Village of Irvington – Mayor Village of Irvington – Village Trustee Town of Harrison - Supervisor/Mayor Town of Harrison - Councilman/Trustee Town of Harrison - Town/Village Clerk Town of Harrison – Town/Village Justice Town of Harrison – Receiver of Taxes Town of Lewisboro - Supervisor Town of Lewisboro – Councilmember Town of Lewisboro – Town Justice Town of Lewisboro – Receiver of Taxes Town of Mamaroneck - Supervisor Town of Mamaroneck – Councilmember Town of Mamaroneck - Town Justice Village of Mamaroneck - Mayor Village of Mamaroneck – Village Trustee Town/Village of Mount Kisco - Mayor Town/Village of Mount Kisco – Trustee Town/Village of Mount Kisco – Town Justice Town/Village of Mount Kisco - Library Trustee Town of Mt. Pleasant - Supervisor Town of Mt. Pleasant - Councilmember Town of Mt. Pleasant - Town Clerk Town of Mt. Pleasant – Receiver of Taxes Town of Mt. Pleasant - Superintendent of Highways Town of New Castle - Supervisor Town of New Castle – Councilmember Town of New Castle – Town Justice Town of North Castle - Supervisor Town of North Castle - Councilmember Town of North Castle – Town Justice Town of North Salem- Supervisor Town of North Salem - Councilmember Town of North Salem – Receiver of Taxes

Town of North Salem – Superintendent of Highways Town of Ossining - Supervisor Town of Ossining - Councilmember Town of Ossining - Town Justice Town of Ossining – Receiver of Taxes Town of Ossining - Superintendent of Highways Village of Ossining – Village Trustee Town of Pelham - Supervisor Town of Pelham - Councilmember Town of Pelham - Town Clerk Town of Pelham – Receiver of Taxes Town of Pound Ridge - Supervisor Town of Pound Ridge - Councilmember Town of Pound Ridge – Town Justice Town of Pound Ridge – Receiver of Taxes Town of Rye - Councilmember Town of Rye – Town Clerk Town of Rye - Town Justice Town of Somers - Supervisor Town of Somers - Councilmember Town of Somers – Receiver of Taxes Town of Yorktown - Supervisor Town of Yorktown - Councilmember Town of Yorktown - Town Justice Town of Yorktown – Superintendent of Highways City of Mount Vernon – Comptroller City of Mount Vernon – Councilmember City of Peekskill - Mayor City of Peekskill – Councilmember City of Rye - Mayor City of Rye – Councilmember City of White Plains - Mayor City of White Plains – Councilmember City of Yonkers – Council President City of Yonkers – City Court Judge City of Yonkers – 2nd Council District City of Yonkers – 4th Council District City of Yonkers – 6th Council District

SPORTS

14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017

The start of something good?

LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

It may be too early in the year to pose this question, but, given the state of the organization, who knows if we’ll get another chance to ask, “Are the Knicks… good?”

After three predictably terrible performances to start the 20172018 NBA season, the Knicks having seemingly turned things around over the last week, ripping off three straight wins—including a one-sided trouncing of the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers—which is starting to give New York fans something that’s been in short supply recently; namely, hope.

Now, I’ll come right out and answer my own question. The Knicks are not, in fact, good.

They’re not going to win their division, they’re not going to make the playoffs; heck, they probably won’t even win 25 games. But it’s amazing to see local fans, heartened by a small three-game surge, once again begin to buy into bas-

ketball at Madison Square Garden.

Conventional wisdom states that when all things are going well in the Big Apple, New York, more than anything else, is a basketball town. But in the last 20 years, there’s been awfully little for Knickerbocker fans to get excited about. Sure, there was the bout of early onset Linsanity back in 2012, and the good vibes engendered by Amar’e Stoudemire’s first few months with the Blue and Orange back in 2010. But those were the exceptions, rather than the rule.

Last season, in which the Knicks went out and spent liberally to bring in the likes of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, was supposed to be a return to playoff contention for the ballclub. Instead, a 31-51 campaign marked the nadir of Phil Jackson’s troubled tenure as team president, ultimately leading to the Zen Master’s long overdue dismissal last June.

So you can’t blame Knick fans—especially after the team jettisoned star forward Carmelo Anthony in the offseason to expe-

dite a rebuild—to be resigned to yet another year of abject failure. When the Knicks started 0-3, it simply seemed to be business as usual.

But over the last few games, we’ve seen something else happening. Kristaps Porzingis is finally emerging as the kind of bona fide star he’s shown glimpses of becoming in his first two seasons, averaging 29 points a game and dropping 39 on the Nuggets on Monday night. Enes Kanter, who came over in the Anthony deal, is averaging a double-double and doing great work on the glass. Even Jarrett Jack—who, frankly, I’d forgotten was still in the league before he signed as a free agent—is chipping in, providing the Knicks with a true pass-first point guard that they’ve lacked since Chauncey Billups was on the squad.

More than anything, this team has been fun to watch over the last week or so, which is a lot more than you can say about recent iterations of the Knicks.

I’m not saying it’s going to last. The roster is full of retreads and players who wouldn’t ever see the floor on teams like the

After six games this season, the New York Knicks are a surprising 3-3. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks it’s too early to jump on the bandwagon, but he isn’t going to stop watching. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.orglivemikebball.jpg

Spurs or the Warriors.

But with a dearth of other options to cheer for—the Rangers have been absolutely brutal thus far—what’s the harm in dipping

our toes in the water of Knicks’ ed them to this year, so maybe that is cause for celebration. fandom?

Sure, the Knicks are only 3-3. But they’ve already won Follow Mike on Twitter more games than I expect@LiveMike_Sports

THE ROUNDUP FOOTBALL

CLASS A

SEMIS

Yorktown 23 Rye 19 AT YORKTOWN HS

10/27/17

For the second year in a row, Rye’s road to the Section I finals hit a speed bump at Yorktown as the Huskers once again downed the Garnets in the semis, this time needing a late touchdown to escape with a 23-19 win.

It was all Yorktown early on, as the Huskers went into halftime holding onto a 9-0 lead, but Rye surged back in the second, thanks in large part to a gutsy performance by sophomore Garnet quarterback Declan Lavelle.

Lavelle, who completed 12 of 30 passes for 205 yards and a score and also rushed for a touchdown in the loss, led a Rye comeback that saw the Garnets take the lead 16-13 with 8:25 left to play. Unfortunately for the visitors, however, Yorktown marched down the field on the ensuing possession and was successful on the two-point conversion to put Rye in a hole from which

they couldn’t rebound.

The Huskers were led by a terrific performance by Maryland-bound running back Brett Makar, who rushed for 189 yards and a score on 33 carries, and remains undefeated heading into a Class A title game rematch with Somers, who beat them to win the section last year.

GIRLS SOCCER CLASS A

FINALS

Pearl River 1 (4 OT) Rye 0 AT ARLINGTON HS

10/29/17

It took all of regulation—and four periods of rain-soaked overtime—to finally crown a Class A champion on Sunday, but when the final whistle sounded, the top-seeded Garnets found themselves on the outside looking in.

Pearl River’s Kate McNally buried the game-winner on a corner kick by Cate Feerick to score the game’s only—and final—goal at Arlington High School, giving the Pirates their second-straight Class A title win.

The loss was Rye’s second of

the year, and the Garnets finish the season with an overall record of 17-2-1.

VOLLEYBALL CLASS A

QUARTERFINALS

Rye 3 Pelham 2 AT PELHAM HS

10/31/17

The Garnets got the best of league rival Pelham in the season rubber-match between the two squads, downing Pelham in five sets on Oct. 31 to keep their season alive and move on to the Class A semifinals.

Despite dropping the first set, Rye came away with a 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20 win to pick up a road win against the Pelicans, their second over Pelham on the year. Jade Iadarola and Cayla Brown led the way for Rye, which advanced to the Class A semifinals, where they will take on defending state champion Walter Panas.

The Garnets will travel to take on the Panthers on Nov. 2, after press time.

-Reporting by Mike Smith

Cayla Brown goes up for a spike during Rye’s first-round game against Pearl River on Oct. 27. On Oct. 31, Brown led the Garnets to a quarterfinal round win over rival Pelham. Photo/Mike Smith

SPORTS

November 3, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15

Panthers win Class B title

BOYS SOCCER

class b

FINALS

RYE NECK 1 (OT) BRIARCLIFF 0 10/28/17

LAKELAND HS

Game Notes: • The Panthers scored the game-winner off a header

by Spencer Goldberg just a minute into OT • Rye Neck has not allowed a goal in four postseason contests • The Panthers will play Section IX Rhinebeck on Nov. 1, after press time

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor After two straight years of falling one game short of a sectional title, the Rye Neck boys soccer team finally broke through on Oct. 28. Taking on a game Briarcliff squad at Lakeland High School, the Panthers used every minute of regulation—and 1:15 minutes of overtime—to come away with a thrilling 1-0 victory and hoist the Class B championship for the first time since 2014.

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first overtime period, when Spencer Goldberg headed a Jon Casas corner kick off the Bears’ crossbar.

The ball bounced back, hit Bears’ goalie Andrew Kanovsky and bounced into the net, sealing the win for Rye Neck.

“It’s unbelievable, we practice set pieces so much and have really improved upon them this year, and I think [in this game] having had a few chances early helped us out,” Goldberg said. “It was just kind of right place, right time, I got a head on it, it took a lucky bounce and we’re section champions.”

A few months ago, that Rye Neck (13-4-3) would be standing atop Class B at the end of the year might have seemed like a long shot—at least to those outside the program. After graduating most of the starters from its last two section finals’ squads last spring, the Panthers came into the season with a host of new faces on the roster and seemed to be overlooked by the rest of the teams in the Class B landscape.

But senior captain Jack Sheldon, one of the few players who saw significant minutes last season, said that the team’s internal goals never changed.

“On the last day of the preseason, we had a meeting, and the first thing written on the board

was ‘Win a Section Title,’” he said. “But I don’t think the rest of the section really thought that was going to happen, we were at the bottom of every [preseason] poll, so we just used that as extra motivation.”

The Panthers’ motivation was evident on the defense end, especially in the postseason. In four playoff games, Rye Neck did not allow a single goal and outscored opponents 7-0 in that time. Goalkeeper Guillermo Pons—who oversaw Saturday’s shutout—said that the Panthers’ defensive success is predicated primarily on its attention to detail.

“I attribute it to all the hard work that we put in every day,” Pons said. “We take pride in the little things, and overtime, those little things accumulate and we end up on this stage, the pinnacle.”

The Panthers will have a few days to enjoy the win before traveling back up to Lakeland on Nov. 1, after press time, to take on Section IX champion Rhinebeck in the state regional semifinals. Last Thursday, the Hawks beat Dover 2-0 to win its first sectional title since 2014, when they went on to capture the state title.

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

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16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 3, 2017