PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY
Vol. V No. L
Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly
The Melancholic Tragedy of
Phil Amicone’s
Slash and Burn Exit Strategy
Thursday, December 15, 2011 $1.00
Building Bridges: Producer Ahmed Zahra Page 9
Solar Power Page 10
Christmas in America Page 12
Judgmental Assumptions And Hidden Pain? Page 13
The Road
Page 15
There Goes the Neighborhood Page 16
By HEZI ARIS, Page 4
Rye City Tax Records Reveal Mayor French Cheated on STAR By RAY TARTAGLIONE, Page 13 westchesterguardian.com
Judge Jed Rakoff – A Light Unto His Fellow Jurists Page 24
Without Faith, Life is Meaningless Page 26
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
The Westchester Guardian
RADIO
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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Of Significance
Westchester On the Level NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Guardian Radio Network, WGRN, operated under the auspices of Hezi Aris’ Hezitorial Absurdity, Inc. continues to build its programing day on the Blog TalkRadio platform. Herein is the schedule for the week of December 12 – 16, 2011. Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are your co-hosts. Listen to our radio programs live by clicking onto the following hyperlinks: Westchester on the Level -http://www.blogtalkradio.com/westchesteronthelevel; Each show may be heard live or on demand. Choose from an MP3 download option, or peruse our audio archives. The hyperlink to each respective interview becomes active within a half-hour of the ending of an interview so as to allow for on demand listening. Recognizing that we shamelessly solicit your participation, you are invited to participate by calling us toll-free at 1-877-674-2436. All we ask is that you stay on topic with regard to your question and / or your statement.
Mission Statement The Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or employed in, Westchester County. The Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, reliable information without favor or compromise. Our first duty will be to the PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation, no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily journals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more comprehensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened with analysis, where appropriate. From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot be obtained elsewhere. To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not necessarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed.
Community Section......................................................................4 Hezitorial....................................................................................4 Books..........................................................................................4 Business.......................................................................................6 Calendar......................................................................................7 Charity........................................................................................8 Cultural Perspective....................................................................9 Energy Matters.........................................................................10 Health.......................................................................................11 History......................................................................................12 Investigation..............................................................................13 Mental Health..........................................................................13 Music Review...........................................................................14 Najah”s Corner.........................................................................15 Spoof.........................................................................................15 Taxes.........................................................................................15 Eye On Theatre.........................................................................16 Government Section..................................................................17 Mayor Marvin’s Column..........................................................17 Budget.......................................................................................18 Legislation................................................................................20 Police.........................................................................................20 Transition..................................................................................20 OpEd Section..............................................................................21 Conservative Torch...................................................................21 Ed Koch Commentary.............................................................24 Weir Only Human...................................................................26 Legal Notices...............................................................................25
Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly
Guardian News Corp. P.O. Box 8 New Rochelle, New York 10801 Sam Zherka , Publisher & President publisher@westchesterguardian.com Hezi Aris, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President whyteditor@gmail.com Advertising: (914) 562-0834 News and Photos: (914) 562-0834 Fax: (914) 633-0806 Published online every Monday Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. www.wattersonstudios.com
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The Westchester Guardian
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
THE HEZITORIAL
The Melancholic Tragedy of Phil Amicone’s Slash and Burn Exit Strategy By HEZI ARIS
A foreboding and agitating discomfort and melancholy has reared its ugly head in the closing days of Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone. The benevolence expected from one raised within our midst to fa0ll short of the trust bequeathed upon him when he was afford the honor of serving Yonkersites from their most august office is a tragedy that has diminished him as it has soiled a city deserving greater respect from one of its own. Amicone may have suffered many demons in his life. Had he been plagued by any measure of adversity, by the time he reached his early fifties he was gifted a new lease on life. He was plucked from obscurity to serve in the capacity of Yonkers Deputy Mayor under Mayor John Spencer for eight years. It was during those eight years that Deputy Mayor Phil Amicone, under the aegis of Mayor Spencer’s vision, could learn to meet the demands of office; but he would not. He would come to recognize that he was not as talented as he imagined. He earned solace and comfort in self-denial. He would reveal his personal mediocrity after receiving permission from then Mayor Spencer to “go ahead” with a minor league baseball park stadium project he envisioned for Chicken Island. He believed his engineering degree had won him a home run concept. He never did learn his engineering craft. The word engineer is derived from the Latin roots ingeniare (to “contrive, devise”) and ingenium (“cleverness”). Fairness demands acknowledgment there was a kernel of ingenuity to his thought but it fell flat when he was to draw his first rendering. It showed plausibility but was not thought out well enough. Amicone would waste many more hours on his “project.” Permutations of the original lacked the “cleverness” demanded of his conceptualization and worse still, it was deficient in contriving a mechanism to bring about a hope for its reality; even so, hope is not a plan. Phil Amicone remains a mediocre engineer, attested by those with whom he worked in that capacity in White Plains, and has remained inept in bringing about an imprint to a vision that has long since evaporated into a mirage by his very ineptitude. The challenges before him became the catalysts of his myopia. As those revelations insinuated themselves into his consciousness his self-inflicted wounds would become the demons that would unhinge his sense of propriety. Despite being surrounded by allegedly supportive “friends and family” he become isolated to the false world of submission of
others to his mediocrity and debauched conduct borne from a growing rage of diminished self worth. He became the wounded animal cornered in and by his mind and snarling at everyone because he would not deal with that realization. The insidiousness of his diminished capacity would reveal itself in his finger pointing antics by which he would blame all others for his lack of knowledge and vision and his lacking an ethical compass. He was wounded and crying for support. He would incorporate the power of his office to exact retribution among all who would not kowtow to his maniacal excesses. In juxtaposition to his demeanor to shun people and kick them to the curb, Yonkersites could be heard quietly supporting him to compensate for the empathy he yearned to receive from his inner circle. Phil Amicone would direct his staff to engage in acts that went to compensate for his personal impotence. The judgment he lost in federal court for trashing the freedoms afforded a free press, as stipulated in written form by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, is testimony to his personal angst and self-loathing. The mantle of protection afforded the Mayor of Yonkers disintegrated when Phil Amicone was judged by a jury of his peers and stipulated to be personally liable to the tune of $393, 338.00. When Mayor Amicone chose to request the Yonkers City Council indemnify him of the personal burden designated to be his personal burden alone and not that of the City of Yonkers by the Honorable Cathy Seibel, the judge presiding over his case, the gall and temerity of Phil Amicone became ever more blatantly evident. Amicone’s contrivance to extort an indemnification of his personal responsibility while in the guise of the Mayor of Yonkers, the Executive Branch of government, by the Yonkers City Council, Legislative Branch of government, is one that is not legal and to which no precedent speaks. The Legislative Branch of government does not have the purview by which it may indemnify or exonerate the Executive Branch of government over that of the Judicial Branch of government, in this case, the Federal Courthouse. Even so, Mayor Amicone threatened to engage the Yonkers Corporation Counsel to challenge the Seibel ruling at costs that would likely exceed beyond $1 or $2 million. The Yonkers City Council capitulated in a vote of 5 to indemnify, and 2 opposed. Mayor Amicone’s extortion of the Yonkers City Council by omission, deceit, and threat has since relegated him to Yonkers’ Benedict Arnold. A week or so after that vote was cast, Mayor Amicone instructed Deputy Mayor
William Regan, in his capacity as Chairman of the Yonkers Parking Authority to contractually engage Lisa Mrijaj, Mayor Amicone’s present Chief of Staff, to that of executive director of the YPA to the tune of over $600,000.00 over 4 years. That position was unfilled for almost two years. The position she filled was not publicly noticed as required by law. The position she will accede to demands a Civil Service exam that she has not taken. Without prior approval by the Yonkers City Council, Mayor Amicone directed the city’s bond counsel to bond for an $800,000.00 eminent domain judgment he directed be taken of the Saw Mill River Road and Lockwood Avenue Parking Lot that was seized and thereafter folded into the Yonkers Parking Authority when Phil Amicone was Chairman of the YPA Board of Directors and Deputy Mayor of Yonkers. When Mayor Amicone learned that Lorraine Lopez’s daughter Tamia, born in March 1991, was suffering from Multiple Schlerosis (MS), and that her mother had not purchased any health insurance for her children, a plan to gain insurance coverage for the daughter was devised and the City of Yonkers has since paid for this insurance. There is no legal protocol by which a minor cmay be insured on the back of the public. This is another of Mayor Amicone’s backroom deals. It has also been learned that one of the Yonkers City Councilmembers, having fallen into arrears with regard to paying the rent engaged Mayor Amicone to ask the landlord to reduce that rental. It was. A vote to indemnify the
mayor in the $393,388.00 lawsuit was the agreed upon quid pro quo deemed appropriate to be exacted from the Yonkers City Councilmember. Mayor Amicone had demanded that two members of the Yonkers Board of Education Trustees resign. Three days later he reappointed Nydia Perez and one other board member to the board for an extended term. Had he not done so, their holding office would have expired in May of 2011. The purpose of this conduct was to deny incoming Mayor-elect Mike Spano the authority to change the demeanor of the BoE Board of Trustees. This conduct is part of the slash and burn mentality of the wounded lame duck Mayor Phil Amicone. Mayor Amicone has an impotent, do nothing, political appointment in Inspector General Dan Schorr who presides in that office at a cost of $500,000.00 per annum. I.G. Schorr is salaried to protect Mayor Amicone from being investigated for any wrong doings three years beyond Mayor Amicone’s exit from office. With Chairwoman Nydia Perez, nothing that was promulgated at the behest of Mayor Phil Amicone, legal or illegal, will be divulged. Yonkers will suffer the legacy of his failed tenure in office for over a generation. If you see something, say something. Phil Amicone’s behavior, trespasses, and excesses became the norm by our collective silence. We must find the strength to overcome our shame, or whatever it was that maintained our silence and our present circumstance. May we find that strength in each other and within our ethical compass.
BOOKS
The Retired (Try To) Strike Back— Chapter 30 – Double Whammy By ALLAN LUKS
“Roz and I need you to be quiet for a few minutes, and then we’ll return to our party,” says Kenny to the three other couples, long-time friends, in the small city apartment decorated with balloons and paper streamers. “When we called you to come here tonight,” he continues, “we said it was to celebrate our working together for more than three years to produce The Retired Person’s Dating Film. Encouraging lonely seniors to go out and meet someone deserves a little party. And the film is
gaining recognition, slowly, but it is—at least, we believe that. “But Roz and I mentioned there were other reasons for the party tonight, and I want to tell you about them. First, you know I had an audition for a new TV drama show. My first professional role after thirty years of amateur acting. When I first got the call, I told you, I began walking around and telling myself: ‘finally, finally.’ None of you have asked what happened. Not wanting, I know, to make me nervous if I Continued on page 5
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The Retired (Try To) Strike Back Continued from page 4 hadn’t heard or embarrass me if—Well, I didn’t get the part. That’s the first reason to celebrate. “You’re looking at me like I’m crazy. But let me tell you about the second reason: My liver condition. Which you also know about. At my latest medical examination, which was the day after my audition turn-down, the doctor told me to go on the list for a possible transplant. I’m obviously hoping I won’t need one, but— “Now you’re looking at me as if I’m crazier than crazy. But look at my smile—it’s not my actor’s smile, it’s a real smile. Roz, what do you want to add?” But his wife reaches for a small party napkin from the table with sandwiches and salads, and wipes at her eyes. Roz looks at her husband. “It took time for Kenny and me to talk about his double whammy, as Kenny calls it.” She pauses. “Kenny, you finish telling them.” Kenny touches his thick, long and neatlycombed gray hair, as if to remind the others, and himself, that he still looks good. He walks to the sandwich table, takes a sandwich and stands near Roz. “This cheese and tomato one is good.” His friends watch him as if they’re back seeing him in one of the many amateur productions he’s been in— “After a lot of conversation starts and stops, I’ll tell you how Roz and I reasoned about my double whammy,” says Kenny, pausing. “It goes like this: Since seniors have more health problems than say people half our age, we have a greater chance of being hit with two big-time problems at the same time. Now, the twentyand thirty-somethings give parties when they get a job or promotion or have a physical victory, like at a sports event. And if they hit success with both, then big parties. But it’s easy to party, Roz and I agreed, when things go well. So Roz and I decided that seniors should set the example to also party when we get whammed. If the retired show how we don’t get down when we have problems, then younger people will be much less likely to when they’re whammed. That’s the kind of optimistic leadership a healthy society needs—and the retired can spread it. So Roz and I tonight, feel like leaders.” Kenny offers a large smile—
Sudden clapping from Bob, then the other friends, and Bob, who directed the film, walks over and hugs Kenny, kisses Roz, and then all the friends are doing the same— “Oh, just one more thing in our evening of surprises,” adds Kenny. “Roz and I will likely be moving to California at some time. Our son, as you know, lives there with his wife and our two grandchildren. We’ve been gently urging them to return to New York, but no success. So California is where we’re going.” Roz, steps closer to Kenny. “Moving is mostly my husband’s idea.” Bob says, “Kenny, I’ve known friends who’ve moved to be close to their kids—without their kids really wanting it—and the results weren’t always so great. Kenny, at one time you were thinking of running for political office. We gave that wish to the character you played in our movie. That possibility has to still be in your mind. And maybe another entertainment agent will contact you about a TV audition. These are two big opportunities for you. You can’t leave them, and you can’t leave us.” Kenny stays quiet. “I don’t believe you’ll go,” repeats Bob. “At our age, if you think you have a big chance—and you have two—you’re not moving away until you’re sure all the doors are closed to you.” “You believe I can be a leader for society,” replies Kenny. “Yet you then say Roz and I don’t understand the right way to act toward our own, small family?” “But you’re a senior who wants to know he’s vital by showing he can still open doors,” answers Bob. “You can pull on the big doors of helping society or the small door of changing your own family. And my parents used to say a door in your own home isn’t opened as much and is more likely to stick shut than the one at the barber shop.” Allan Luks is a nationally recognized social works leader and advocate for volunteerism. He is the former head of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of New York and is currently a visiting professor at Fordham University, where he teaches several courses in nonprofit leadership. You can learn more about Allan Luks at http://allanluks.com. You can also write to him - mailto:allan@allanluks.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Please submit your Letter to the Editor electronically, that is by directing email to WHYTeditor@gmail.com Please confine your writing to between 350 and 500 words. Your name, address, and telephone contact is requested for verification purpose only. A Letter to the Editor will be accepted at the editor’s discretion when space permits. A maximum of one submission per month may be accepted.
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BOOKS
No Guarantees: One Man’s Road through the Darkness of Depression— Chapter Fifteen – Remembrances of Sleep Lost By BOB MARRONE “We are of such stuff as dreams are made of.” -- William Shakespeare
I was running away from it as fast as I could. But the four engine Boeing 707 airliner was screaming towards me on an angle and rate of decent that could not avoid killing me.There was no place to hide, so I continued in a straight line hoping to prolong my life for a few moments more. I was petrified. What made it worse was the heaviness in my legs. They felt as if they were buried in deep mud, or thick sand. Worse still, there seemed to be a strange disconnect between my mind and my body. The link, if you will, was only working at a fraction of its capability, a condition that made me feel all the more helpless and vulnerable. I was crawling now, dragging my leaden legs one at a time from behind me, waiting for the end. It never came. Instead, the aircraft banked to its right and crashed into a field parallel to the road I was trying to run on. The skidding plane exploded in a vivid fireball sending billows of black smoke upward and waves of heat sideways that felt like sunlight on my skin and neck. As the smoke and fire cleared, people began climbing out of the plane through the windows. Each and every window had someone coming out of it. They looked like worms coming out of an apple; except this was a long tubular airplane.
My first reaction was to rush over and help them. But I still could not move very well. I was almost frozen in fear, when the feeling changed to guilt. I knew that I had caused the crash, but I could not remember how or why. Soon, the guilt and fear changed to pure terror, as the faceless creatures exiting the plane headed straight for me. These people…things…became first shapeless, and then invisible, yet they were there nonetheless. This is the only way I can describe the presence of these malevolent, angry, evil entities that were attacking me with a righteousness I knew that I deserved. As they got closer I began screaming. When they crawled up the side of the bed, I asked them to leave me alone, begged them to forgive me. When I realized I was dreaming I shook myself awake, or so I thought, to a still more horrible state. My brain was awake, but my body was not. My terror increased exponentially, as I tried to move but couldn’t. I could not move my legs, my arms, open my eyes or even move my head. The harder I tried, the more petrified I became. Of all the awful symptoms I would be dealing with in the next few years, this was one of the worst, and one of the last to leave. The professionals call it sleep paralysis, which is exactly what it is. When it is happening, you are sure it will never end, but it always does, as it did that morning after the
“am a child” obsession episode. Certainly I had had several restless nights, even sleepless ones, in the days since the Saturday Night at the Races onset of all of this. But this was the first time that nightmares entered the picture, and the first time that I suffered sleep paralysis. Also on that morning, I dealt with another common, I am told, feature of depression, “early morning awakening.” Less acute and dramatic than nightmares, early morning awakening is chronic...until you are over your depression…debilitating, and saps your spirit. I hated it because it filed in the loop to ensure that I was endlessly agitated and in pain. Imagine a day in which you had no peace of mind; a day in which your bad feelings, agitation, anxiety, self hate and inability to concentrate or sit still, was punctuated with violent panic attacks and obsessions; a day after which you paced an cried and ruminated, only to retire to a bed of nightmares, sweat and more terror. And If you should achieve any measure of rest, you are jolted awake by an almost electric shock of dread, that no matter how early it is, forbids you to return to sleep, and ushers in another day of panic, obsessions and self loathing. If you have never suffered any of these phenomena, you might think I am, perhaps, over dramatizing them. I can only assure you that, as
a reread it now, the descriptions I have set forth are limited in their horror by my limited skills as a writer. I should add that all of this, the last few chapters, was only the beginning. I had not yet engaged the psychiatrist, who was to save my life. Nor had I experienced the worst of what was to be. I was getting by at work by claiming that my persistent sweating and appearance of being in pain, and constant walking to the men’s room were the result of colitis, a digestive system disease that has the outward symptoms I needed to mask what was really going on. To get through the days, I would leave work early, talk…obsess really…with my best friend, about whom you will learn much, in the chapters to come, leave work early to drive my car endlessly on the highway…one of the few tasks that relaxed me at all, and make calls to the doctor to see if he could speeded up my appointment with the psychiatrist. It was also during this period of waiting that I lost the ability to eat without experiencing debilitating anxiety. Leaving me, also, was the ability to follow a TV program or concentrate on the written word. And, so, after this horrible first month of the rest of my life, I set off on the B subway line to see a shrink for the first time in my life. For a male born and raised in Brooklyn in the fifties and sixties, a hockey player no less, it was as humiliating as it was intimidating to accept that I needed that kind of help. Listen to Bob Marrone every weekday from 6:008:30 am on the Good Morning Westchester with Bob Marrone on WVOX-1460 AM radio.
BUSINESS
Huntington Learning Center Opens Franchise Opportunities to New York Metro Market Offers Reduced Fees and Turnkey Start-up Program for Franchisees ORADELL, NJ—Huntington Learning Center, a leader in tutoring and supplemental learning services, recently announced it is making franchise opportunities available in the New York Metro market. Following the success of its 250 franchisee-run locations across the country, the company is giving individuals in this region the opportunity to own and operate Huntington Learning Centers. These potential franchisees will be joining the 30 corporate centers in the New York Metro market that have a long history of success and benefit from a high level of brand recognition. Adding to the appeal is the fact that Huntington Learning Center is significantly reducing franchise and other startup fees by approximately 30 percent. In addition, to make the start-up process even more user-friendly,
Huntington has introduced a Turnkey Program exclusive for the New York Metro market. Huntington will manage the start-up responsibilities, including hiring contractors, managing build out of the space, providing staff training and ordering curricula, furniture, computers and supplies. This program is designed to expedite the start-up process, allowing the new franchisees to focus on their training and marketing of the center. “We are broadening our franchise opportunities in response to the growing demand for tutoring services in this region,” said Dr. Ray Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. “We want to make it easy for individuals to join our family of Huntington Learning Center franchisees, so we’re offering lower fees and a new turnkey acceleration process
that will help them achieve positive business results in as short amount of time as possible.” Dr. Huntington adds that making the centers more affordable for potential business owners will significantly increase the number of locations and meet the growing demand for tutoring services in the New York Metro market. Founded in 1977, Huntington is a pioneer and leader in the franchise tutoring industry. Nationally, Huntington has provided quality instruction to hundreds of thousands of students through a network of franchised and companyowned centers. Huntington prides itself on being “Your Tutoring Solution” for students in all grades and subjects. It tutors in developmental subjects, such as reading, phonics, mathematics and study skills; and in advanced math and science subjects ranging from algebra through
calculus and general science through physics. It also prepares students for state and standardized entrance exams, such as high school entrance exams and the SAT and ACT.
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Baseball Camp at Concordia College
BRONXVILLE, NY -- Concordia College is hosting a six-week baseball camp starting January 15, 2012. Concordia Head Coach Craig Everett will direct the program in conjunction with U.S. Baseball Academy. Classes are available for players in grades 1-12 and are limited to six players per coach. Sessions are offered in
advanced hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and base running at a cost as low as $99 for six weeks. Space is limited. Registration is now under way and will continue until all spots are filled. For more information, visit www. USBaseballAcademy.com, or call toll-free 1-866-622-4487.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- MSG Varsity, Cablevision’s 24/7 HD network dedicated to all things high school, will televise the New Rochelle HS vs. Sleepy Hollow HS girls basketball game Monday, December 19, at 4:00 p.m. on Cablevision’s iO TV channel 14. In addition to the full game coverage, MSG Varsity’s Westchester edition of “High School SportsDesk” (7:00 p.m. nightly on MSG Varsity) is THE place to tune into for ALL the
latest highlights, interviews and scores from around Westchester. MSG Varsity is available exclusively to Cablevision’s iO TV subscribers on channel 14; once broadcast, all games are also available on-demand on iO channel 614. For more information on MSG Varsity’s high school sports coverage, visit www. msgvarsity.com.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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When was the last time you dealt with Lexington Capital Associates?
MSG Varsity to Broadcast New Rochelle vs. Sleepy Hollow Girls Basketball Game
December at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway Filled with Fun Festivities
YONKERS, NY -- December is a time for giving, and Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway patrons will have plenty of gifts throughout the month to celebrate the holiday season including the “Young At Heart” Oleg Cassini Christmas ornaments on Wednesdays and holiday shopping events for Elite Club Members on December 15-17. For those looking to share the spirit of the holidays, Empire City’s annual coat and toy drive will take place from December 11-17. Laughfests: If the winter cold has you singing the blues, some say laughter is the best medicine! Get your dosage of comedy on Wednesday on December 28 in the Good Time Room. Holiday laughs will be provided by Josh Filipowski, Johnny Loquasto, and Brian Scolaro on December 28. Empire Club Members pay $5 for admittance while non-members must pay $15. All attendees will also receive one free drink ticket. Doors open at 7 PM; show starts at 8 PM. Young at Heart Gifts and Music Combo: The always popular “Young at Heart” concert series returns in December each Wednesday for Empire Club Members 55 and over. This month’s gift pack includes $5 free play, 10% off food, half-price valet, and an Oleg Cassini Christmas ornament (candle, angel, star, and pear twist). Empire Club Members should
visit the Gotham Palace Promotion Booth to collect their gift pack. The 12:00 Noon and 2:00 pm concert lineups include: Twin Gold on December 14; The Guss Hayes Band on December 21; and the Peter Lawrence Orchestra on December 28. Play the slots and Holiday Shop ‘til You Drop: From Thursday, December 15 to Saturday the 17, Empire City Casino will have a Holiday Shopping Event in the Good Time Room from 2-9 PM. There will be lots of great gift options such as big screen TVs, diamond jewelry, Godiva chocolates, and more. Elite Members have an exclusive preview on the 15th. All other Empire Club Members can explore on the 16th and 17th. Empire Club Members can use their points to purchase merchandise. Coat and Toy Drive: Started Sunday, December 11 and running through the 17th, patrons can spread the holiday spirit by donating gently used or new toys or coats in the Charity Drive. Donations are accepted at the Gotham Palace promotions booth. Patrons are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys and/or new or gently used coats anytime during the week. The items will be delivered to Catholic Charities supported Continued on page 8
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
CALENDAR
December at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway Filled with Fun Festivities and a 10% food and beverage discount. In the Entertainment Lounge, ladies can get 2 for 1 drink specials from 5-9 PM and enjoy karaoke starting at 7:30 PM. Empire Club Members can earn double points on Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10, by playing the slots with their Empire Club
card inserted. New Year’s Eve: Ring in the New Year at Empire City with a wide variety of party packages available throughout the casino on Saturday night, December 24. The musical entertainment featured with include: FDR Drive, 9pm-1am – Good Time Room; The Guss Hayes Band,
7pm-12am-Entertainment Lounge; Peter Lawrence Orchestra, 7pm-12am-Nonno’s Trattoria; Teri Lamar, 3pm-7pm-Entertainment Lounge; and Head Over Heels, 10pm-2am, Entertainment Lounge. For information and reservations call 914-457-2457.
News & Notes from Northern Westchester
Club in Yorktown Heights, call 914-962-4094 for details. Don’t forget to check out the 26th annual Antique Stocking Stuffers Show/Sale on December 18th at the John Jay High School in Cross River. There will be 70 booths with proceeds benefiting the high school PTO. A candlelight Christmas concert featuring Mario Tacca, Mary Mancini and The Victor Lionti Quartet will be held at the Assumption Church in Peekskill on December 16th. Having a tree go through our house earlier this year, not sure we are ready for this, but I’m sure others will enjoy the “Bringing Nature Indoors” exhibit by the Westchester Photographic Society features the works of 78 photographers. So, stop by the Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt through January 4th to catch all the great pictures. Over at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, you can see the landscape paintings of GG Kopilak through January 2nd. If you have not had your tree up for two weeks like the Jeffers’… run down to the Bedford Hills Memorial Park on Haines Road and buy a fresh and fantastic tree from our friends of the Northern Westchester Rotary. Proceeds from the tree sales benefit Polio Plus, the Northern
Westchester Community Center, local scholarships and the Katonah Boy Scouts of America. Turning to sports: In boys’ high school hoop action, Kennedy beat Hackley 73-40 and on the girls’ side it was Croton Harmon 34-31 winner over Rye Neck. On the mats, in wrestling, it was Mahopac pinning John Jay 66 to 12. We would like to thank all the folks who came out to Grand Prix last week to support our two hour Christmas Spectacular on “The Clubhouse” sports show benefiting the Community Center of Northern Westchester. We brought in over 250 pounds of canned goods for the Center and really had a fun time… The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a moist winter, but temperatures a bit milder, so it will be more rain than snow. We’ll keep our shovels, but may go out and buy another umbrella or two… see you next week.
Continued from page 7 agencies for the Christmas Holidays. This is the fifth Christmas season that Empire City is having the toy and coat drive. On Tuesdays in December, female Empire Club Members can swipe their cards at any promotions kiosk to earn a $7 free play voucher
By MARK JEFFERS The festive folks up here in northern Westchester certainly do a great job decorating their houses for the upcoming holiday season. We are sure Con Edison and NYSEG are happy with all the voltage… another bright note this holiday season is this week’s “News and Notes…” Here is a great way to spend an evening that the whole family will enjoy as well as promote reading. Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame) will perform and read the Christmas Classic, “The Night Before Christmas” starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 15th at the Barnes and Noble at the City Center in White Plains. Post Road Elementary School will be hosting a story time and book fair. If you mention Post Road Elementary School at the checkout, you will be supporting our children. More holiday cheer through storytelling! Bring the kids to the Bedford Post Inn on Friday December 16th at 4:30 pm, as they gather
around the fire, sip hot chocolate and listen to holiday tales told by a Katonah Village librarian. The event will be held on Friday, December 16th from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per family, $10 of which will go toward the Katonah Village Library. Bedford Post Inn is located at 954 Old Post Road, in Bedford. NY. My secret Santa shopping wife tells me that a lot of good deals are being made at the Preppy Turtle Consignment store in Bedford Hills. Stop by and say hello to the warm staff and find that gift you need to finish up your shopping. If you looking for that perfect holiday wine (and aren’t we all), than stop by to see our friend Pete Costello at Hilltop Wines and Spirits in Chappaqua. He has a fine selection of spirits to choose from and I should know as I have personally tasted most of them. I try not to think of this, but after all the eating, drinking and merriment, it will be time to get back in shape. Here’s a good idea, bring in a new unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots and receive free enrollment to the Solaris Sports
Mark Jeffers successfully spearheaded the launch in 2008 of MAR$AR Sports & Entertainment LLC. As president he has seen rapid growth of the company with the signing of numerous clients. He currently resides in Bedford Hills with his wife Sarah and three girls, Kate, Amanda and Claire.
CHARITY
Katonah Teen Embarks On Holiday Shopping Spree YONKERS, NY -- Danielle Schoen, a senior at John Jay High School, raced excitedly through the aisles at National Wholesale Liquidators filling up the three carts provided by store manager, Rivander Singh, with toys, electronics, clothes, sports equipment and stuffed animals for ten young boys who reside at The Children’s Village, a foster care facility in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Ms. Schoen has been a school-based mentor for the boys in the Rose Cottage at The Children’s Village for a year and a half. She visits with the boys every Tuesday to read and play games with them. This year she decided that she was going to make their Christmas extra special. She reached out to retailers in the community with the hope of getting donations. Scott Rosen, CEO, of National Wholesale Liquidators was happy to assist and gave her three carts and the green light to make it happen. “These boys have been through
unimaginably difficult times, so having the opportunity to give them gifts and make this Christmas a special one is so wonderful,”says Ms. Schoen. “I am so grateful to National Wholesale Liquidators for donating all these gifts. Now I am sure they will have the Christmas that they deserve.” “We are happy to help Danielle with her mission,” says Rosen who has personally been involved in mentoring children in the foster care system. “The holiday season is about giving and I am thrilled to see Danielle’s compassion for these boys and be a part of making their Christmas memorable.” Schoen adds, “Being a school based mentor at The Children’s Village has been one of the best experiences that I’ve had in high school.Spending time with the boys every Tuesday brightens my week; seeing kids who have so little, but are so full of joy, really puts things in perspective for me. I love being able to bring some happiness
to their lives.”To get information on making a donation or becoming a mentor at The Children’s Village visit www. childrensvillage.org. National Wholesale Liquidators is stocked with more than 50,000 items in 50 categories, including housewares, hardware, health and beauty items, clothing, automotive, electronics, furniture, (L-R): Delbert Gumbs, clerk, Danielle Schoen and Ravinder Singh, books, toys, flooring, linens store manager. and much more. National County Shopping Center (Yonkers); Bay Wholesale Liquidator’s closeouts and deep Parkway (Brooklyn); Co-op City (The Bronx); discounts save customers real money every day Flushing and Long island City (Queens), West which can add up to thousands of dollars of Hempstead (Long Island), Lodi and Jersey City savings over a year. (New Jersey); Middletown, NY, and Dorchester, The family owned and operated company, MA. founded by Eva Rosen in 1984, operates ten Visit www.nationalwholesaleliquidators. stores in the New York metro area -- Cross com.
The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
Building Bridges: Producer Ahmed Zahra By SHERIF AWAD
The Arab-American name of Ahmad Zahra has reached unexpected recognition and cachet among intercultural documentaries and features that have reflected important issues coming from the heart of the Arab and Muslim communities in the United States. Although he studied and thereafter practiced filmmaking in Hollywood, Zahra has not been smitten by celebrities walking the red carpet. His passion is focused on presenting stories that may inspire disparate worlds coming together. When he established his own company, Zahra Pictures, he chose for it the symbol of the opened hand, which exists in many cultures. Related to Fatima Al-Zahraa in Islam, which is similar to his family name, the hand symbol reflects his aim to provide a platform of celebrating cultural diversity through film. This has been his only focus. Since 2004, through the vehicle of Zahra Pictures, the opportunity to be the first Arab filmmaker to earn recognition through the breakthrough which included Egyptian Hesham Issawi in American East (2008), Palestinian Rolla Selback in Making Maya (2003) and recently in Three Veils (2011). The latter recently won Best Film Award at Portland International Women’s Film Festival, and San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival, among others. Ahmed Zahra was born in Damascus, Syria, where he first studied medicine and thereafter practiced it for two years. In 1996, he landed a two-year medical residency in the United Stated but decided to instead pursue his first love: cinema, and switched to filmmaking studies in UCLA. In the meanwhile, he also started to work in the distribution departments of several
Sayed Badreya and Tony Shalhoub in AmericanEast. Hollywood companies including 20th Century Fox. Among the producers he closely worked with was Alan Poul, whose films include Woman on Top starring Penelope Cruz. Upon earning experience and knowledge in film production and distribution, Zahra decided to become a freelance producer working closely with the Arab and Muslim communities where he was commissioned to realize documentaries for certain organizations and mosques in California. A few years later, the first breakthrough came along. “In 2004, I got the chance to produce, write and direct my first long documentary On Common Grounds. It was narrated by Jason Richards and focused on three groups: Jewish, Christian and Muslim, which attempted to overcome their differences by building a house together for a poor family in Mexico. Through my newly established company Zahra Pictures, I succeeded to sell the rights to Hallmark Television,” he beamed in speaking of it. Being of Arab/Muslim ancestry did not represent a difficulty for Zahra while he went about establishing his own company Continued on page 10
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
Building Bridges: Producer Ahmed Zahra Continued from page 9 and venturing into filmmaking. “The real difficulty was to present American films with Arab and Muslim themes and characters. And this is because of many reasons. First, there is no
Angela Zahra in Three Veils.
support coming from the Arab American community. And I am not only taking about financial support. Although there are seven million Muslims in the United States, they have no interest in seeing films tackling their own issues and challenges. They simply don’t consume media as much as other minority communities. Second, Hollywood doesn’t produce enough Arab/Muslim films targeting this large market because of the lack of box office appeal specifically to them. Third, the reaction of the community to controversial topics; I mean films like Three Veils or AmericanEast are so controversial for the Arab community, they are difficult to be made and to be sold. Three Veils is not against Islam. On the contrary, it praises it. But nobody will like to see it because the nature of the story and some of the characters. There is also the demographic status as most of the Arabs
are located here in Orange County where only one theater exists that shows independent film. Because of all these elements, I am considering to make a more commercial project next time; in order to make some money and then restart
independent screens in the US according to Arab demographics.” Although AmericanEast was acquired by MGM Home Video after its theatrical release, Zahra recognizes that it is tougher for ethnic films like his own to find a market. “Arabs and Muslims would be more interested in seeing a religious propaganda film
Mercedes Masohn and Sheetal Sheth in Three Veils.
again with my usual projects.” The word “producer” has a different connotation in American cinema production. While here in the Arab world it means putting the money to realize the film, a producer in the US is more involved with the development of projects with the filmmakers and for the seeking of investors or private financiers. “A new model of raising funds for independents films is called Crow Funding where you create a page for your film in a website like www.indiegogo.com for instance. Industry or studio money would be of course more available if I attract big names to sign on the dotted lines.” “I usually take my films in consecutive routes; First, the film festival’s circuits in order to create buzz or to get some awards. Then, I make use of my background in distribution to promote the film a go in limited releases across
like Al-Resala. I think if I decided to remake it, many would love to watch it all over again.” Three Veils is the latest film produced by Zahra. Written and directed by Rolla Selback, it tells the story of three Middle Eastern young women in Los Angeles. One of the characters Amira, played by Syrian actress Angela Zahra, feels repressed in hiding her homosexuality. In making to the decision to produce the movie, Zahra faced some protests during his fundraising events and knew in advance it would also be difficult to screen in Arab festivals in the Middle East when it would be completed. “I recently got a, “No!” from the Dubai Film Festival (Opening this December with the World Premiere of Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol) because my movie is too challenging for them. It has an intimate scene between two women, which is too explicit by Arab standards. Maybe Cairo or
ENERGY MATTERS
Solar Power : The Future is Now at ConEd Solutions By RICH MONETTI VALHALLA, NY -- The initiative involved in converting your home to a renewable energy source must belong only to those willing to weather the hassle, risk and costs before the future ushers the rest of us along. ConEd Solutions Director of Media Catherine Nevin of Valhalla, New York, can confidently say reality for 20,000 New York State customers shows that living the future now mostly leaves behind the misconceptions most of us presently hold. “Derived from upstate New York river flows and wind and solar farms throughout the country,” says Ms Nevin, “It’s electricity that
comes through the grid.” The infrastructure investment and involvement on the part of the residential customer then comes down to a phone call. “We can immediately turnover your account,” Ms Nevin says, “and all the same switches apply to the TV set, washing machine and the toaster oven.” And not to worry, the power supply cannot be equated to the problems satellite TV gets whenever the weather goes south. “It’s as reliable and available as electricity anywhere,” Ms Nevin continues. “Otherwise, costs do come with an adjustment. It is more expensive than standard power but not outrageously.” As such, she directs the cost conversation to
apartment dwellers in New York City to determine a baseline, since private homes vary much more in size and occupation. “It averages out to about $8.75 more per month,”Ms Nevin advises. Given that, ConEd Solutions can’t put a monthly price on how much more your bill will be, but if the expense accumulates beyond your means, getting locked in is not part of the agreement. “There are no fees or penalties if you switch back,” she advises reassuringly. Nonetheless, many customers enter into the change with an environmental consciousness that likely offsets the added expense. Ms. Nevin encapsulates the sentiment in the words of a current customer. “I learned to sort my garbage, I
Damascus festivals would have shown it. But because of the current political climate, both of them were cancelled this year,” he advised. Zahra hopes he can return to the Middle East to at least shoot a film. “I currently have a script but must wait until the political situation settles down. Because my company is run like
Ahmad Zahra on the set.
a one-man show, I cannot work on more than one project. I hope to partner with other Arab producers from the Middle East, but things operate there differently than here in the States. I think also we don’t have enough entities that finance films in the Middle East. If we look to the example of Imagenation Abu Dhabi, we find that it finances Hollywood projects like Fair Game and Furry Vengeance.” Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is a film/video critic and curator. He is the film editor of Egypt Today Magazine, and the artistic director for both the Alexandria Film Festival, in Egypt, and the Arab Rotterdam Festival, in The Netherlands. He also contributes to Variety, in the United States, and Variety Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
learned to be very responsible to what food and products I buy. Why wouldn’t I want to support a renewable source of energy that doesn’t harm the environment and lowers the impact of our life on the environment? And so for me, it was just a natural progression,” Ms Nevin relayed. Commercial businesses that sign onto the ConEd Solutions Solar Power program must proceed from the same idealistic premise - especially with respect to the solar power panels that are installed on the businesses’ roof. On the contrary, the adjusted costs actually put more black in a balance sheet’s bottom line. First off, the installation is completely seamless and requires nothing on the part of the client. At the same time, the integration becomes that of ConEd Solutions but the new energy relationship means the customer enters into a 20 year agreement. “This is for companies Continued on page 11
The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
ENERGY MATTERS
Solar Power : The Future is Now at ConEd Solutions
Continued from page 10 that are long term in their thinking,” says ConEd Solutions Solar Sales Executive, Ian Diamond. The lower cost comes mostly in accordance with what is known as “peak demand,” which usually coincides with sunny, hot weather. So when standard energy is slugging along and consuming the most expensive power of the day, solar energy is producing power and storing the excess in the grid. “As part of the solar power system,” says Diamond, “There will be a net meter that essentially runs both ways. So at times when the building is producing more energy than needed, your meter runs backwards.” Municipalities in the Northeast region have not been immune to the advantages businesses
are accruing in the free market either. New Bedford, Massachusetts’ switch is a source of pride for ConEd Solutions. The original American whaling city of the 19th Century, their logo is the “City of Light.” “They’ve chosen ConEd to develop solar power,” says Nevin. But there’s still a wide perception that solar power is a new technology not yet ready for prime time, practical reality. “This is a mature technology that’s been around for more that 30 years,” says Mr. Diamond, “with a history of gradual and steady improvement in efficiency; costs will continue to make it more and more attractive,” he added. Still, solar and wind farms and river flows are not as clearly in view as gas stations and oil
tracks so there must be a pretty low ceiling on the number of homes ConEd Solutions can signup. Right now, says Nevin, “We can easily supply ten-fold many times more customers.” “Covering the entire state may be another matter, but the convergence of a present and future that finally sees the light is inevitable,” Mr. Diamond said. “It’s not a question of will solar take hold, it just a question of how quickly,” he concludes. For more info : www.conedsolutions.com Rich Monetti lives in Somers. He’s been a freelance writer in Westchester since 2003 and works part time in the after school program at Mt. Kisco Childcare. You can find more of his stories at www. rmonetti.blogspot.com.
ENVIRONMENT
Page 11
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Fracking Discussion Held at the Katonah Library By RICH MONETTI KATONAH, NY -- Thursday, December 1st, The League of Women Voters and the Croton Watershed Clean Water Coalition hosted a community discussion at the Katonah Library on the issue of Hydrofracking. On the agenda was how Fracking could affect the water we drink, the air we breathe and the economies by which we live. That was enough to congregate about 50 residents for a ten-minute trailer of the Oscar nominated documentary, “Gasland,” which was followed by a Q&A with local experts. But the opportunity to be educated and engaged in activism was not limited to just constituents. “I drove back seven hours from Pennsylvania to make this meeting,” said New York State Senator Greg Ball. Appropriately, it was the issue at hand that had the senator away. “With competing interests in Albany making their case for and against,” he said, “I decided I had to go there and see for myself what impact Fracking has had in Pennsylvania.” Out of the mini underground earthquakes created by a mass infusion of water and almost a thousand chemicals, Mr. Ball witnessed family farms destroyed, polluted ponds and streams, and vastly diminished property values. He also discovered a subtlety that has broader implications for the rest of the environment and the human beings who occupy it. “Cows are dying from eating the grass on nearby farms,” Senator Ball advised. That said, he cautioned the audience not to view the politics through the narrow prism of Democrats and Republicans – especially after the trailer invoked the Halliburton Loophole and the name of Dick Cheney. “In Pennsylvania, the legislators have been bought off on both
sides,” said Senator Ball, “and created a red carpet treatment that has left the gas industry free of regulation.” Kevin Winn of the Bedford Department of Public Works then took the discussion both underground and above the water table. With Bedford intercepting New York City aqueducts for its water supply, he said, “The lack of regulations seen throughout the country will likely produce similar chemical leakage in our water.” “For instance,” said Winn, “New York City doesn’t want any drilling within seven miles of tunnels, but typical Fracking regulation only require a thousand feet of separation. At the same time, 70 year old tunnels at the mercy of seismic shifts could create massive infrastructure problems for the water system.” “That is among the economic arguments that the gas industry has left out of its calculations,” according to Pepacton Institute Senior Economist Dr. Jannette Barth. “They have not been truthful in their forecasts in terms of both costs and economic gain,” advised Dr. Barth. Dr. Barth divulged the discrepancy over reserve estimates in the Marcellus Shale region that straddles the States of Pennsylvania and New York. “The industry claims 410 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas exists, while the US Geological Survey estimates only 84 trillion,” she said. On the other side, industry studies do not take into account the potential negative impact on upstate tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, highway infrastructure, property valuations and health related illness. “A simple look at Pennsylvania can provide an applicable forecast,” suggested Dr. Barth. “Gas producing counties are not better off as unemployment and poverty have risen,” she noted. That may have a lot to do with the fact that
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Senator Ball at Fracking Discussion. Photo by and courtesy of Rich Monetti.
the oil and gas industry is much more capital intensive and not as effective in job creation. Contractual leases signed with individual families have also done little to protect private land owners from environmental liability that is so often ancillary to the process. “The goal of energy independence is a seemingly plausible myth until it is discovered to be otherwise in the paperwork. Foreign owned companies have applied and are getting many of the permits - thus paving the way for the export of the gas output,” Dr. Barth emphasized. “Of course, the most important quality of life issue is life itself,” noted children’s health advocate Dr. Larysa Dyrszka.“Given the distinct possibility of elevated cancer rates,” Dr. Dyrszka finds the omissions in 15,000 pages of industry study the most telling. “There’s no mention of the effects these chemicals will have on the human endocrine system,” says Dr. Dyrszka who frequently speaks on the issue of Fracking. No mention of children is of great concern to Dr. Dyrszka who advises she fear gas exploration companies will be able to bypass New York State’s SEQR laws, which force environmental impact studies prior to approval. New York has so far held off the industry for three years, but Continued on page 12
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
ENVIRONMENT
Fracking Discussion Held at the Katonah Library Continued from page 11 strong backing from Governor Cuomo may put that in jeopardy. Despite the power that can be wielded by
the governor and the leaders of both houses, Assemblyman Robert Castelli, upon taking the floor implored the audience to continue exercising democracy. “Write letters, make phone
HISTORY
Christmas in America: A Brief History By ROBERT SCOTT Christmas is almost upon us, bringing its customary observances. Millions of Americans will eagerly decorate trees, sing carols, shop for gifts, impatiently wait for the arrival of Santa Claus, and spend long hours in hot kitchens preparing festive meals. Some may even dash through snow-covered fields to the homes of relatives. Few will pause to reflect on the holiday’s history in our unusual culture of ethnic pluralism. Even fewer will assess its meaning for Christians and non-Christians. Or its role as the most important national holiday in a society that values religious freedom and separation of church and state. In America today, the Christmas season begins on the day after Thanksgiving and continues well past New Year’s Day. Christmas also brings with it the traditional complaints by editorial writers bemoaning the materialism of the Christmas season. Unhappiness with the way the holiday is observed is nothing new.Today’s peaceable celebration of Christmas is a far cry from the turbulent, dissent-driven attitudes of the first settlers of this continent. Instead of observing the holiday, Pilgrims under Governor William Bradford ignored Christmas and spent the first Christmas building houses. The Pilgrims’ more numerous and historically more significant Puritan neighbors in Boston and the Massachusetts Bay Colony were even stricter and more strait-laced. They saw Christmas as nothing more than a pagan festival adapted to Christian purposes, and would have nothing to do with it. Their attitudes were understandable.In ancient Rome, celebrations of the winter solstice were riotous festivals of gambling, the exchange of gifts, feasting and drinking. Social roles were reversed, and masters served slaves. Called Saturnalia, these pagan solar and agricultural observances honored the planet Saturn. In England, Christmas celebrations retained the air of carnival. Churchgoers attended in masks and sang bawdy songs, even rolling dice at the altar. A “Lord of Misrule” was selected. This concept survives in Philadelphia, where participants in the annual mummer’s parade select a Lord of Misrule. Authority was mocked by such “dangerous practices” as mumming and caroling. Mumming usually involved cross-dressing. Caroling was a “disgrace” because it was “generally done in the midst of Rioting, Chambering and Wantonness.” (“Chambering was a euphemism for sexual intercourse.)
An unhappy 16th-century Bishop Hugh Latimer summarized the season, saying, “Men dishonour Christ more in the twelve days of Christmas than in all the twelve months besides.” According to Stephen Nissenbaum, emeritus professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, at Christmastime the rich were expected to offer charity to their poorer neighbors. For most of the year, the poor owed money, goods or labor, not to mention deference, to the rich. But when the tables were turned at Christmas,the poor-mostly gangs of young men and boys--claimed the right to enter the houses of the well-to-do and receive gifts of food, drink and money. In a custom called “wassailing,” roving bands of young men circulated through neighborhoods singing songs in exchange for gifts. In America, a nation of immigrants largely from the British Isles, these practices continued in the 18th and 19th centuries, causing much unhappiness among the middle and upper classes.
Dating the Holiday
Religious scholars point out that no biblical or historical basis exists for placing the birth of Jesus on December 25. Although the Gospel according to St. Luke describes how shepherds were living with their flocks, the weather in Judea in late December was simply too cold for such outdoor living. Not until the fourth century did the Church officially decree that Christmas should be observed on December 25. The date was not chosen for religious reasons, but because it was close to the winter solstice--an event celebrated in many cultures long before the coming of Christianity. When the Church set the date of Christmas Day, it took a calculated gamble, knowing that holdover boisterous pagan festivities around the time of the winter solstice were deeply ingrained in popular culture. Many cultures marked the dark days when daylight is the shortest with ceremonies involving light and greenery. One example is Chanukah, “the feast of lights.” Other examples are the Yule log, candles, holly, mistletoe, even the Christmas tree-pagan traditions all that have no connection to the birth of Jesus. In Europe during the three centuries between 1500 and 1800, Christmas was a time to let off steam and gorge oneself. In northern agricultural societies, December marked a critical point in the yearly cycle of farming. By then the tasks of gathering in the harvest and preparing for the bitter cold of winter had been completed. For rural dwellers, the period marked the
calls, get up and speak up; your voice is definitely heard,” he said. Go to http://www.amillionfrackingletters. com/ to petition Governor Cuomo.The Website will also hand deliver individual letters to the Governor Cuomo.
Rich Monetti lives in Somers. He’s been a freelance writer in Westchester since 2003 and works part time in the after school program at Mt. Kisco Childcare. You can find more of his work at www. happystories.info.
beginning of a season of inactivity and leisure when plenty of newly made beer and wine was available. Abundant supplies of meat from freshly slaughtered animals had to be eaten or be salted and preserved. It was truly a time for celebration and excess.
his fortune. But the introduction of the Christmas tree into the holiday was only one aspect of the conversion of Christmas into a home festival.
The Christmas Tree
To create the modern domestically-centered holiday, 19th-century America adopted new ways of celebrating Christmas borrowed from other traditions. The tree that now graces American homes has a long history. Ancient Romans trimmed their houses with evergreens to symbolize fertility and regeneration. Eventually, Christians appropriated evergreens for their Christmas celebrations and invented stories explaining the origins of the custom to excise any taint of paganism. By the first decade of the 19th century, German Protestants took the tree as an emblem of their faith, and the practice spread quickly throughout Europe. German immigrants brought the custom of Christmas trees with them to the United States. The trees quickly became objects of fascination for Americans. During the 1830s, evergreens began to appear in homes. Christmas trees next showed up in churches and the marketplace. To women fell the task of transforming this ancient pagan fertility symbol into an icon of domesticity. In the home, a place was found for it, usually in the front parlor. Early Christmas trees in homes were squat evergreens, no more than two or three feet tall, set on a table top.
Ornaments
Inevitably, the use of taller trees invited more ambitious trimming with strings of beads, gilt paper stars or shields and lace bags of candies. Early Christians had shunned wax candles because of their use in pagan ceremonies, but by the mid-19th century concerns about paganism and the ever-present danger of fire did not prevent Americans from dressing their Christmas trees with candles. In 1880, F.W. Woolworth bought from a Philadelphia importer his entire stock of German Christmas tree ornaments made of colored glass. Placed on a counter in his store in Lancaster, Pa., an area with a large Germanic population, they were gone in two days. “I woke up,”he said later about his discovery of their sales potential. Woolworth began making trips to Germany to buy directly from ornament makers. The manufacture of Christmas tree ornaments was a genuine cottage industry in the small towns of Thuringia.His initial order was for more than 200,000 ornaments. The craze for fragile glass ornaments had begun, and Woolworth was on his way to making
Gift-giving
Much of the charm of the Christmas tree was in the small gifts that could be tied to its branches with colored string or spread beneath it. Early Christians had refrained from giftgiving because the practice was associated with the Roman Saturnalia. The custom was revived during the 16th century. Women in England often received expensive pins or gloves--sometimes accompanied by gifts of money. This gave rise to the terms “pin money” and “glove money.” Soon gift-giving extended beyond the home. By the middle of the 17th century, even members of the clergy were accepting gifts at New Year’s. By the 19th century, gift-giving in America had become prevalent. Service workers began to remind employers or patrons that a tip was expected. For example, newspaper carriers presented subscribers with a short poem unsubtly signaling their desire for a gift. These expectations have continued to this day.
Commercializing Christmas
Public unhappiness with the growing accent on commercialism during the Christmas period reached a new peak in 2011 with the attempts made by retailers to steal a march on competitors by opening as early as 10 p.m. of Thanksgiving Day, encroaching on the holiday itself. Popularly called “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving is supposedly the point at which retailers will be “in the black” and begin to turn a profit for the year. Violent tussles and bodily mayhem over items of merchandise have become frequent occurrences, discouraging many would-be shoppers. Humorist Russell Baker echoed the frustrations of many in his 1976 article in The New York Times with a caustic assessment based on unhappy encounters with the commercial side of Christmas: “Christmas nowadays persists like an onset of shingles. You spend a month getting ready for it and two weeks getting over it. If Scrooge had started dreaming on November 25 and spent the next four weeks being subjected to desperate sales clerks and electronically amplified ‘Jingle Bells,’ he would probably have stopped at the Cratchits’ on that fateful evening only long enough to smash tiny Tim’s little crutch.” Robert Scott continues his exploration of Christmas in next week’s edition of The Westchester Guardian in his article entitled “The Spirit of Christmas in Song and Story.”
The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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INVESTIGATION
Rye City Tax Records Reveal Mayor Doug French Cheated on New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR) By RAY TARTAGLIONE RYE, NY -- New investigative efforts have uncovered official NYS tax records indicating that Rye City Mayor Douglas French has apparently been illegally claiming New York State Tax Relief program exemptions on his rental property at 13 Richard Place in Rye. The resulting tax reductions total over $10,000.00. According to The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s Website, one must own the home and it must be your “primary residence” in order to qualify for a STAR tax exemption. Mayor French’s multiyear property tax records on the Rye City Website indicate exemptions for the STAR relief program simultaneously on both his 13 Richard Place (pictured) rental property and his current home located at 46 Meadow Place. According to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) records and Mr. French’s own public statements divulging13 Richard Place property has been an income producing rental property since December of 1999.
For context, after a recent six-month investigation in a similar situation involving rental properties claiming STAR exemptions out in Long Island’s Suffolk County, 17 people were arrested and charged with felony for filing a false instrument and defrauding the state. Our ongoing investigation into Mayor French’s local property violations has already uncovered his multi-decade, local building and zoning compliance violations. Now we’ve found him apparently cheating the Rye City School District and the rest of Rye’s taxpayers out of thousands of tax dollars over multiple years. This pattern of conduct supports our thesis as to why Mr. French lied to us about finally cleaning up Hen Island. And here, given the improper benefits Mr. French apparently obtained in plain sight of the Rye City Assessor, we have to wonder if this long-running charade has cravenly emboldened his frequent public praise of that Rye City department as one of Westchester County’s very best. Our findings here, as always, are based
Photo by Luke Lavoie and courtesy of TheDailyRye.com.
squarely on Public Records and we believe they indicate a pattern of behavior contrary to the standards of public service, public officials and state law. This new disclosure, coupled with his apparent disregard of local building law and evasion of assessment laws, resulting in the loss
to Rye City of substantial “improved property” related taxes and fees, is shocking. Two decades of deceit - that’s quite simply outrageous. What say you, Mayor French? Ray Tartaglione is the executive director of HealTheHarbor.com.
MENTAL HEALTH
Judgmental Assumptions And Hidden Pain? By GLENN SLABY “Richard Cory”
Whenever Richard Cory went down town, We people on the pavement looked at him; He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said, “Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked. And he was rich-yes, richer than a kingAnd admirably schooled in every grace: In fine, we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869-1935)
Disturbing. Upsetting. This poem shocks us with its abrupt, unpredictable ending. It defines what we do not know, what we incorrectly
assume and judge in life. It touches on the human characteristics of the labeling of others based solely on image. It sublimely shows the inability of the suffering, being unable to express themselves and move beyond the pain, seek release and step outside class standing – and not trying to live up to a false adherence of culture. ‘Richard Cory’ shocks us with the truth of how much we do not know about the pain hidden deep inside our neighbors and how judgments and preconceptions can be totally misguided. Richard Cory disrupts our understanding of the values of wealth and happiness. There are countless Richard Cory’s, with or without wealth, in our midst – most suffering alone. The holiday season amplifies the pain. Beautiful songs exasperate the loneliness. Commercial medium focuses on what we should have and probably do not need and cannot afford, monetarily, emotionally & spiritually (for over indulgences of the material slowly takes away little pieces of our souls). So much healing can begin with simple actions of kindness and grace. (Those who suffer do not have to go it alone. One can call 211, of course 911 in emergencies, and inquire about of the multiple and variable sources of aid. Many are out there Continued on page 14
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
MENTAL HEALTH
Judgmental Assumptions And Hidden Pain? Continued from page 13 waiting to serve. Call and have their numbers available. Help and a friend are never far away.) Are we the ‘us’ in the poem, seeing and seeking only riches and status? Do we judge others too quickly? Do we evaluate their (in) abilities and (in) completeness, comparing them to preconceived standards? Do we concur our society’s position of image over substance? For who knows what lies deep in the hearth of another. We are a people that judge, (a human or cultural trait?), especially on superficial values, and outward appearances that so often give false signals of who we truly are – insecure adults, on a path towards a God whom we cannot see but refuse to explore deeply and continually return to the world of superficial pleasures that get us from one moment to the next.
Judging limits both the one who is being judged and those who judge. Judging restricts actions of assistance and inhibits the search for truthful answers. False judging is built upon images obtained from incorrect interpretations of what stands for ‘success’. Was Richard Cory’s image/status of wealth preventing others from truly ‘seeing’ the person behind the mask? Was the (inherited?) wealth of Richard Cory preventing him from seeing the spirituality of life, the meaning of work, sacrifice and struggle whose rewards should never be easily dismissed? Some of us with mental illness are judge by outward appearances and manifestations (sometimes caused by medications) with the beauty of every individual hidden, giving rise to unsubstantiated labeling. For me, my rapidness of speech and outward nervousness is a sign of anxiety
and not always part of my conscience thought patterns. Currently, I cannot stand outside the self, becoming an impartial spectator hoping to evaluate and correct the telltale actions. There is no ‘switch’ to turn off the tics (visible or invisible). For those whose manifestations of chronic illness are not visible to the untrained, there is the problem of false identification. Unseen pain, suffering from a non-visible physical illness at certain points in time leads to misinterpreting ones juncture in life. As I walk through the hallways of the hospital, many fellow patients appear calm and self–assured while my brain and mind are fighting a battle to get me through the week, the day or even the next hour. Only through group therapy can I “see” the real, very deep pain and believe that I am not alone – there’s companionship with God and with others. Why do so many hide their pain? What is it about our human nature that prevents us from sharing and
reaching out instead of living with overbearing pain? Mental illness does not take away desire to serve, our acts of kindness, and our spirituality. It only enhances them. Our illnesses do not reflect our intelligence, our sense of caring, our creativity. Judging and assumptions only harms and isolates us. Gives limits where none may be applicable. It tells us, implies, who we are or should be. We are very slowly rising above the racial stereotyping; it is time to stop all stereotyping. Let the individual decide and explore their limits. Glenn Slaby is married and has one son. A former account with an MBA, Glenn suffers from mental illness. He writes part-time and works at the New Rochelle Public Library and at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Harrison, New York, where he receives therapy.
MUSIC
THE SOUNDS Hubert Sumlin the Blues” OFBLUE “Living DVD Rounder/Vestapol By Bob Putignano Living The Blues reconstructs most of the career of Hubert Sumlin, who played with the Howlin’ Wolf Band for twenty-five years. Sumlin’s distinctive sound helped shape the Wolf ’s recordings almost as much as Wolf did. Also included are informal recordings of Sumlin with talking segments, and guest artists and interviews with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ronnie Earl, James Cotton, Howlin’ Wolf, and others. Even though the DVD states that there’s supposed to be “bonus material,” it’s all lumped together on the same track, with no special features. The “bonus material” consists of a previously released Homespun Tapes instructional video titled The Sound of Hubert Sumlin, with Jimmy Vivino; Mike Merritt; David Johansen, aka (as the back credits only read) Buster Poindexter, and Levon Helm. Also included is an article Sumlin wrote,
“My Years with Wolf,” but I could not find the liner-noted pdf file. The video starts with a youthful Sumlin (no dates are offered) playing acoustic where the video doesn’t often match the audio, but it’s a good performance. Onward Sumlin references the Wolf saying, “Wolf had a way to get the best out of his musicians, and there was no better man in the world.” And he opines “that the Blues is here to stay.” Stevie Ray Vaughan is interviewed and states “Hubert’s always had his head on his shoulders, and his heart in the right place, I love Hubert to death.” There’s also a short duo jam with Ronnie Earl who says “Hubert made the sound for the Wolf.” These are precious and appropriate quotes. Sumlin recalls his Chicago days with the Wolf and Muddy Waters, how wilder he was when he was younger and was
always looking for girls. Sumlin cites his 1964 trip to Europe with the Chicago All-stars as the highlight of his life, and why not, he was on tour with Chicago’s greatest bluesmen, he also got to play on German television and recorded his first solo album. Sumlin also played in Liverpool where he met the Beatles, and also was introduced to the Rolling Stones. A consistently more outspoken and animated Sumlin goes on to talk about his love for Wolf, “For me, Wolf still lives, the man ain’t dead to me, he’s probably looking down at me right now, and let me tell you that I’m gonna be around for a long time!” There’s a “Back To Mississippi” segment that is not recorded well where the audio and performances (some with Son Thomas and Eddie Taylor) are just so-so. The final portion is taken from the Homespun video, the previously
mentioned band performs “Killing Floor” and “Smokestack Lightning.” The picture-in-picture effect is interesting as the main portion shows Sumlin’s fretboard work, and the smaller picture focuses on Sumlin’s fingerpicking. By the way, and as per usual, Vivino’s supporting guitar playing is always a joy, but Johansen’s vocals were over the top. I wasn’t crazy about his harp work either. These passages offer the best audio and video on the entire disc. In summary: This DVD is well worth your time and dollars, it may not be as complete as I would have liked it to be, but it did offer some welcome surprises. Could it have been done better, yes, (especially if there were more detailed and specific liner notes,) but it’s all good and serves up the great Hubert Sumlin like I’ve never heard him speak before. Enjoy. Bob Putignano is a contributing editor at BluesWax and Blues Revue. He is also the heart and soul of www.SoundsofBlue.com.
The Westchester Guardian
NAJAH’S CORNER
The Road, By NAJAH MUHAMMAD
The smooth pavement ran in front of her as she rolled her eyes upward Walking now she is facing upright towards the road Her posture speaks of pride Shoulders erect, hands by her side And as far as she knows she is walking toward nothing Though every step she takes reaks of purpose With every thrust of her leg she gains some intimation as to what is at the end of the road It’s long And few make it Seldom does it offer promise This she knows Admiration is due, she could’ve sat down.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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THE SPOOF
Santa Claus May Have Cheated on the Missus By GAIL FARRELLY The rumors of holiday hanky panky are flying faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. Several tabloids are reportedly ready to publish motel records from all over the world that would show Santa to be an unfaithful spouse. Some say the rumors have even taken all the joy and innocence out of that old Christmas favorite, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” Ebenezer Scrooge was quoted as saying, “Bah, humbug! I believe Santa gets a lot more than milk and cookies in many of the houses he visits on Christmas Eve.” Another critic pointed out, “Sure, everyone gets attention from Santa. But he does have his favorites. He has that line: And to ALL a good night. But I’ve noticed that when he says it, he’s always winking at the
most gorgeous young ladies in the crowd.” Santa does have his defenders though. Chief Reindeer Rudolph claims he’s never witnessed any inappropriate behavior on the part of his boss. “Well, what did you expect him to say?” claimed one of the other reindeer. “In this job market, and with that red nose, where would he find another job?” Frosty the Snowman also said that he had complete confidence in Santa’s fidelity to his wife. But then, as one critic pointed out, Frosty, for fear of melting, stays away from situations that may be hot, hot, hot! So far, at least in public, Mrs. Claus is standing by her man. “It’s just a bunch of rumors,” she has said. On the other hand, Mrs. Claus has reportedly told friends: “If I find out Santa is into sexting, I’m outta here.”
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TAXES
Use Standard End-of-Year Tips to Decrease 2011 Tax Bill
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY -- Compared to this time last year, discussion about immediate changes for individual income taxes is pretty quiet. No uproar this year over the Bush tax cuts ending makes end-of-year tax planning a little easier. H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), just as it has for the past 55-plus years, is advising taxpayers how to lower their tax liability as the year comes to an end. “Managing financial health is like so many other things; it’s not where you start, but where you finish,” said Rosemarie Klotz, a tax professional with H&R
Block in Westchester. “The end of the year is right around the corner, but there are ways for taxpayers to take actions now that will help reduce their taxable income and tax liability.” As taxpayers are left to wonder if the 2-percent payroll tax holiday will expire Dec. 31 or whether Congress will make any tax law changes as part of a plan to reduce the federal deficit, taxpayers can make the following money-saving moves now to potentially decrease their 2011 tax bill. Continued on page 16
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
TAXES
Use Standard End-of-Year Tips to Decrease 2011 Tax Bill Continued from page 15
Make Charitable Donations:
Charitable functions and gift giving take center stage this time of year. It’s important for taxpayers to remember for charitable donations to be tax-deductible, they must be made to qualified, tax-exempt organizations (IRS-approved nonprofit religious, educational or charitable groups), and claimed as itemized deductions on tax returns. The Salvation Army donation guide or H&R Block’s DeductionPro can be used to estimate the value of non-cash items.
Offset Capital Gains with Capital Losses
After the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a 30-month high Jan. 1, it was a roller coaster ride with investments losing and gaining again and again throughout the rest of the year. Even with those market fluctuations, there is some good news: · Those with a large net capital gain in 2011 could reduce their tax liability by selling stock before Dec. 31 if it would generate a loss. · Capital losses don’t just offset capital gains. If capital losses exceed capital gains, up to $3,000
of capital losses can be used to offset ordinary income, such as wages.
Look to the future and maximize retirement plan contributions
Taxpayers who have not contributed the maximum to their 401(k) may consider increasing contributions for the remainder of the year; contributions are made pre-tax, which reduces taxable income and potentially the overall tax bill. Also, taxpayers eligible to deduct IRA contributions can make traditional IRA contributions to decrease 2011 income until April 17, 2012, and thus reduce tax liability on 2011 tax returns.
Pay It Forward:
Those who haven’t taken full advantage of the American Opportunity Credit should consider paying spring college tuition before Dec. 31 to benefit from the tax break on their 2011 returns. Also, taxpayers could pre-pay their December mortgage payment due in early January or make an additional student loan payment to claim the highest possible interest deduction (up to $2,500) on the 2011 tax return.
Go Green at Home and On the Road:
Home energy-efficiency improvements are eligible for a tax credit of 10 percent of the cost, with a $500 lifetime maximum. This includes windows and doors, insulation, roofing, HVAC and non-solar water heaters meeting specific energy guidelines. The maximum lifetime credit for external windows is $200. Taxpayers can claim a credit for the purchase of a neighborhood vehicle (e.g., low-speed fourwheel vehicle), a conversion kit, or a plug-in electric drive vehicle, such as the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf.
Claim Casualty Losses from Disaster:
Taxpayers in a federal disaster area who sustained disaster-related casualty losses (e.g., damaged or lost property) can claim their losses on a tax return for the year the disaster occurred or on the prior year’s return. H&R Block can help you determine which year would result in the greatest tax savings.
Get Early Access to W-2s:
Use H&R Block’s free W-2 Early Access service to get access to W-2s before the Feb. 1 distribution deadline. Approximately 90 million taxpayers whose employers are among the
200,000 companies participating can file their tax returns sooner and get refunds up to three weeks faster using this service. The new e-mail notification feature, available now, notifies the clients or tax professionals (if the client selects to have information sent directly to an H&R Block tax office) when W-2s are ready to download. For more information about last-minute ways to improve tax outlook, contact a local H&R Block tax professional. To find the nearest yearround H&R Block office, visit www.hrblock.com or call 800-HRBLOCK. H&R Block At Home™, a suite of easyto-use, do-it-yourself tax preparation tools, now has faster set-up and easier navigation, giving taxpayers step-by-step guidance in plain English. These tax solutions can be downloaded from H&R Block’s redesigned website or purchased at Staples, Office Max and Office Depot. H&R Block provides guaranteed, income tax return preparation services through its companyowned and franchise offices, and the H&R Block At Home online and desktop solutions. For an online tutorial, join H&R Block’s Get It Right Community tax forum, and visit its Twitter and Facebook pages. SOURCE: H & R Block
EYE ON THEATRE
There Goes the Neighborhood
Christians, which, as Hilda states a bit smugly in the opening monologue, “requires very much more than lip service.” Awkward and uneasy By John Simon at first, she warms to what is the opening of a park in memory of her hero worshiped brother. Alan Ayckbourn is the funniest many of which I know, none seems to be without Neither has married, and they have always lived playwright in the English interest; some of them nothing short of superb. together. language today, but his humor At the center of “Neighborhood Watch” are Presently, we are in the Bluebell Hill can also be quite dark. Even his Hilda Massie, 50, and her somewhat younger Development, a middle-class housing enclave, productivity must be admired: brother, Martin, whom she helped bring up, and whose Neighborhood Watch Scheme Martin at age 72, he has just given us his fine 75th play, whom she idolizes.Their mother dies young, and founded. Its embourgeoisement would be cause “Neighborhood Watch.” And of his previous 74, their strict father turned them into committed for only mild mockery, were it not for, at the foot of the hill, of a public housing development, the TICKET PRICES INCLUDE Councillor Mountjoy Estate, that Rod, a former A COMPLETE MEAL & SHOW military man, describes as “a cesspit; all the local scum gathered down there. Drugs, violence . . . incest.” ��������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� Rod is the first guest at the scantily attended ������������������������������������� housewarming party of the Massies, who points ��������������������������������� out the need for a ditch and tall fence as at least partial protection from the Mountjoyers’ depredations. He is soon�������������������������������� seconded by Dorothy, a gossipy neighbor, like Rod, in her sixties. When Terence Booth in Neighborhood Watch, part of ���������������� Martin wants to call in the��������������������� police, Rod recites ���������������������������������� Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters. ���������������� ������������ HOME FOR ����������������������� except at controlling his nymphomaniacal wife, ��������������������������������� ����������������������� his favorite lament over a stolen hedge cutter, ��������� THE HOLIDAYS Amy. She serially cuckolds him with Bluebell funnier with each retelling. It ended up confis����������������� ON STAGE THRU DEC. 23 ����������������� ����������� men, and shows up late as always. Sexy and �������������� cated by the laggardly police, presumably for �������������� �������������� MY FAIR LADY cynical, she has just dropped the Massies’ nexttheir own use. “Don’t you ever get me started on �������������������������� RETURNS DEC. 28 ������������������������ ��������� door neighbor, the brutal Luther, and is on the the police,” he warns, just before starting indig��������������������������� ��������� prowl again. ��������������������� nantly on them. ���������������������� ���������� ���������������� Also arrived is Magda, Luther’s mousy, The Massies’ party also brings Gareth ��������������������� ������������ ��������������������������������������������������� masochistic, music-teacher wife, the butt of Janner, an envious little nerd skilled at making ��������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������� some musical jokes such as Hilda’s observation medieval torture instruments and������� much else,
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
The Westchester Guardian
Page 17
EYE ON THEATRE
There Goes the Neighborhood
golden satire. As usual, the author has also adroitly directed his play, with actors brought over from the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, which By John Simon he ran until recently. I have nothing but praise for that she cares little for the overrated Mozart and not divulge and strongly urge you to find out for Matthew Cottle, as the do-gooder turning into prefers Percy Grainger. Magda also provides yourselves. bureaucratic tyrant, Alexandra Mathie as the some clarinet music we hear through the ceiling Ayckbourn also comes up with some piously hypocritical Hilda, Frances Gray as the flippantly seductive Amy, Terence Booth as the grandly stalwart Rod, Eileen Battie as the nosy Dorothy modestly acquiescing in the title journalist for having been in charge of a paper’s small ads, Richard Derrington as the unhappily wived but turned vindictive Gareth; Phil Cheadle as the ominous Luther, and Amy Laughton as his longsuffering little wife. How can you not love a play that makes such sobering fun of middle-class delusions, lower-class havoc, the parliamentary method, the worse than merely useless police, preposterous laws, religious (L-R): Alexandra Mathie as Hilda and Frances Grey as Matthew Cottle as Martin and Frances Grey as Amy zealotry, and latent or flagrant Amy in Neighborhood Watch. in Neighborhood Watch. lesbianism? All this while merrily endorsing honesty, healthy sex, and (don’t ask me to explain) for comically serene wonderful twists toward the end, where the the clarinet. contrast to the escalating violence. comedy grows truly black, without however Photos by Karl Andre; courtesy of Karl Andre Martin organizes and heads up the Bluebell losing its tragicomic grip. That is what makes Photography. Hill Neighborhood Watch Committee, Ayckbourn tower over most comedy writers embroiled in a comic-dramatic war with the today. His humor is not based on mere one-liners John Simon has written for over 50 years on theatre, Mountjoyers, who, besides stealing, wreak and clever repartee, but on sympathetic insight film, literature, music and fine arts for the Hudson serious damage, including that to his beloved into human foibles, as well as a shrewd sense of Review, New Leader, New Criterion, National garden gnome, Monty. This warfare proves the absurdities of daily existence. Through his Review,New York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly riotous (in both senses), details of which I must special alchemy, quotidian incongruity turns into Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg News.
GovernmentSection MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN
He reviews books for the New York Times Book Review andWashington Post. He has written profiles for Vogue, Town and Country, Departures and Connoisseur and produced 17 books of collected writings. Mr. Simon holds a PhD from Harvard University in Comparative Literature and has taught at MIT, Harvard University, Bard College and Marymount Manhattan College. To learn more, visit the JohnSimon-Uncensored. com website.
GOVERNMENT
Santa’s Surprise Visit to the Village of Bronxville By MARY C. MARVIN
On Saturday, Santa made a surprise visit to the Village arriving in a police car no less. The faces of all the believers, myself included, were something I shall long remember. Some little ones ran right to Santa while others danced around him like a moth near a flame. And, you can rest assure, every youngster said they had been more than good all year. This wonderful afternoon was courtesy of our Village Chamber of Commerce, orchestrated by our very talented Executive Director Peggy Conway, Chamber member Tim McGrath who turns out to be “very close” to
Matthew Cottle (center) as Martin in Neighborhood Watch.
Santa and Chamber merchant Haagen Dazs who underwrote the event. Saturday’s festivities were just another example of what makes our business district so special. Our merchants are the kindest, most generous and most helpful anywhere – whether it is Gary at Gourmet to Go helping the Hospice, Florence Kooluris cooking for our police officers, the fellows at Lange’s feeding folks down on their luck, Continental giving over the entire salon to help the Bereavement Center, J. McLaughlin hosting nights for any charity that asks for their help and Claudio at Park Place Bagels who is generous beyond measure. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Every merchant goes the extra
mile, whether it be a donation, a personal delivery, a special order or most importantly a sincere greeting inquiring about – and knowing your family. This is the time of year when these folks now need your support more than ever. Anywhere from 30% to 50% of a merchant’s sales are made in the next few weeks. It is not an easy climate for a small merchant. They cannot buy in bulk like the “big box” stores and reap the volume discounts. They are not overcharging in any way, rather their final price points reflect the cost of rent, personnel and to a great degree, their share of Village taxes. Our shopkeepers pay the second highest taxes per square foot of the 45 municipalities in the County, much of this money going directly to help fund our terrific school. Even if our merchants own their building, or in many cases, the condo in which they do business, they
will never be able to use our schools because one must domicile in the structure, not simply be a property owning taxpayer of the Village. A vital business district also has a direct relationship to home values. Empty stores often beget more empty stores and a barren business district would permanently change the character of our Village and with it our property values. Also, prolonged empty buildings would force a lowering of their assessed value. So when you purchase something in the Village, you are not only buying a unique product but also supporting someone who has donated to our local charities and directly contributes to the financial health of our school and Village, as well as to the value of your home. Compare this to what Amazon.com or Home Depot does for our community…. As a further endorsement of our special, walkable business district, one of our second Continued on page 18
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The Westchester Guardian
MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN
GOVERNMENT
Santa’s Surprise Visit to the Village of Bronxville Continued from page 17 grade classes did a class project to recommend to me and the landowners ideas for stores that are most needed in the Village. The children wanted to be able to buy everything they needed in the Village because they all agreed that one of their least favorite parts of a day is driving around in the car doing errands! The Village is trying to do its part to
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
stimulate local business as well. On Saturday, December 17th and 24th, parking will be free in both the Kraft Avenue and Garden Avenue lots all day as well as on Pondfield Road starting at noon. The policy of all day free parking on Pondfield Road has been changed. We found over the years that folks saw the free parking and left cars all day on Pondfield as they headed into the city for a show or a visit, thus defeating the
desired result of a constant turnover of spaces for potential store customers. Please try to do your part because with every purchase you make in town, you are in many ways helping yourself and the Village even more than the merchant. I do not ever want to see the scene from “You’ve Got Mail” replayed in our Village. In the movie, actress Meg Ryan is forced to close her business due to lack of local support. But everyone comes out for the sale of the deeply
discounted items and gives her their condolences and wax nostalgia about the loss of small town business. But where had they been before? As you can see I am a bit passionate about our business district because I am privy to the quiet, wonderful things our merchants do for Bronxville every day. I ask you to return the favor.
accept less services, suggesting, for example, she could sweep her street. The City Council should “think outside the box” and bring in businesses to generate a growing tax base rather than residential development that is slow to generate tax funds. Much applause was noted as James O’Toole, a frequent speaker at public hearings said, “Every year the Fire Department is threatened with a loss of jobs.” He divulged it had become tiresome hearing the City Council’s continuing harangue of vital services being threatened to a diminishing ability to pay for Fire Fighters and Crossing Guards. He suggested reducing the City Council’s and the Mayor’s salaries to their previous levels to generate additional revenue to fill the city coffers. He further suggested the budget should be presented in October, rather than November, “so we know what you’ve done in the last four years,” before the election of 2012. The question that then could be asked he said is, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” emphasizing more Police and Firemen are needed. As an example, he said when he walked home one night recently he had a knife “put to
his gut.” When a million dollar loan to the City was brought up in connection with the GreeNR program, and its being a potential catalyst to raise future taxes, Mayor Noam Bramson advised the inference was not correct. At the end of the hearing Councilman Richard St. Paul clarified that a million dollar grant to winterize the City Hall was obtained through Congresswoman Nita Lowey, but the City was required to match the grant that they did by borrowing the million dollars. Bramson suggested the winterizing project would achieve six figure savings for the taxpayers. After the meeting, Councilman Lou Trangucci, who had been reassessing what had just transpired said the money is part of the GreeNR program. “If the savings don’t amount to how much they say it is going to benefit the city, the money would have to be made up by the taxpayers.” The Council may vote on the budget on December 13.
Mary C. Marvin is the mayor of the Village of Bronxville, New York. If you have suggestions or comments, consider directing your perspective by email to mayor@vobny.com.
BUDGET
Cutting New Rochelle’s City Budget By PEGGY GODFREY Many suggestions were made at the recent public hearing over how to cut the New Rochelle City budget. It was specifically because projected health insurance costs were lowered by New York State that the New Rochelle City Council was able to avert layoffs of firemen, crossing guards, and a recreation supervisor at the Doyle Senior Center. Vincent Dunn thanked the City Council for restoring the Senior Center position. Robert McCaffrey mad many suggestions that would help to lower the City’s tax rate. He advised since he purchased his house, his taxes have doubled and are now more than his mortgage payments. It is his view New Rochelle should create an incentive such as a complimentary dinner at a local restaurant to recognize City employees who think of ways to save the
City from spending increasing rates of taxpayer funds. Further, since he only generates one bag of garbage, his collection schedule could be changed to once a week. Street cleaning in many neighborhoods could generally be changed to a once-a-week schedule. He also suggested a panel of citizens could be appointed to make more tax saving suggestions to the City Council. Diana Mason expressed her outrage over the increase in the refuse fee. This fee is presently $66 and the budget proposal raises it to $223, an increase of over 338%. She wants the fee eliminated, adding that all the crossing guards are not necessary, especially for Isaac E. Young Middle School students who can cross the street on their own. She and her husband live in a two-family zoned house so must pay a double refuse fee. Tenants in commercial property they own will have to be given a surcharge for this fee and may move out. As a compromise she is willing to
Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer and a former educator.
BUDGET
Westchester Legislators Deliver Zero Percent Tax Increase and Protect Jobs in 2012 Budget WHITE PLAINS, NY -- The Democratic majority of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (WCBoL) presented its 2012 County Budget yesterday, delivering a promised 0% increase in the County Tax Levy and restoring 187 jobs to the County workforce that had been cut in the County Executive’s proposed budget. After a day and night of negotiations with members of the WCBoL’s Republican caucus and with County Executive Astorino, the WCBoL’s 2012 County Budget was passed in a special meeting early this morning by a vote of 16-1. It now goes to the County Executive for consideration. “After listening to several hundred residents in our three public budget hearings and then bringing their ideas and concerns into a careful analysis of the numbers, we have been able to create a budget for 2012 that is right for
Westchester,” said WCBoL back 187 County jobs to the 2012 Chairman Ken Jenkins budget was to offset expenditures and (D-Yonkers). “This budget find the funding within the confines preserves essential investments of the existing budgeted numbers,” in our infrastructure and said BOL Majority Leader Peter prioritizes the maintenance Harckham (D-Katonah), who of important programs that noted that additional revenue in protect public safety, public the WCBoL budget includes addihealth and the environment.” tional revenue projected at nearly The WCBoL’s 2012 $8.5 million ($4.8 million from the County Budget contains a Department of Social Services), $1.698 billion spending plan, over $1 million in reimbursewhich is a decrease of more WCBoL Chairman Ken ments generated from health center than $91 million from the funding and over $8 million in health Jenkins 2011 County Budget. Also, care savings. “Bottom line is we have the WCBoL’s spending and revenue plans are put $8.48 million of additions into our 2012 balanced without using fund balance, which will budget by creating $8.48 million in deletions,” help protect Westchester County’s AAA Bond said Harckham. rating. The strong degree of fiscal responsibility “The only way we could justify bringing in the WCBoL’s 2012 proposed budget is also
“right for Westchester,” noted Jenkins. “We adopted a budget with a 0% increase in County Tax Levy, and there will be no use of fund balance,” said Jenkins. “It is our intention to protect County’s AAA Bond Rating, and the Board’s actions and financial decisions in 2011 are projected to return $15.8 million to fund balance, and I’m sure this will be viewed positively by the financial community as well.” The community-minded investments that the WCBoL deems to be “Right for Westchester” include capital project funding for bridge repairs and flood mitigation, plus maintaining the six County Nature Centers and restoring funding for the Greenburgh Nature Center, the County’s deer management program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. In addition, the WCBoL’s proposed 2012 County Budget reduces the parent share for lowContinued on page 19
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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BUDGET Board of Legislators doubled the County Executive’s proposed decrease in the County Tax Levy and cut $30 million in spending, their budget was tagged as an “historic” achievement. The 2012 County Budget of the Westchester County Board of Legislators is, simply, heroic. It provides 0% increase in the County Tax Levy while retaining 187 County positions, including 71 in Social Services, protects County Parks and Nature Centers, funds community health care centers, keeps probation officers on the job—all without use of the fund balance! It’s a budget that is “Right for Westchester.”
Westchester Legislators Deliver Zero Percent Tax Increase and Protect Jobs in 2012 Budget
Continued from page 18 income daycare from the County Executive’s proposed 35% to 20%. Funding is restored for ArtsWestchester, Youth in Education, and Community Capital Resources, a not-for-profit organization that provides small business loans to Westchester residents. A number of investments that Westchester County makes in public safety, public health and the environment actually save money for county taxpayers, which makes them “Right for Westchester” as well. “The $5 we spend in the Probation Department to monitor defendants each month saves Westchester County taxpayers over $300 it
costs to incarcerate individuals in our corrections system,” Harckham pointed out. “Similar savings are found in eviction prevention programs that keep people in their homes instead of the County’s homeless shelters. Community health center funding is cheaper than giving primary care treatment in hospital emergency rooms. Child care support allows people to get off unemployment insurance and on to payrolls. And the many programs we fund for children and young adults have all been shown to decrease delinquency and improve academic success.” Added Jenkins, “These investments are such proven money savers for taxpayers, it’s hard to understand why they were even cut in the first
place.” After reviewing the County Executive’s 2012 proposed Capital spending plan and identifying approximately 123 projects awaiting bonding authorization, it was decided to retain County engineers and Planning Department staffers slated for layoffs so the projects could be handled by experienced staff without contracting for outside professional help. “It’s always prudent to retain institutional knowledge when possible,” said Harckham, “and keeping current County engineers involved will move these projects forward in an expeditious manner.” Last year, when the Westchester County
LEGISLATION
Klein-Backed Tax Reform Plan Puts More $ in Middle Class Pockets
Reform Package to Spur Job Creation; Includes Klein Initiative to Help Parochial Schools ALBANY, NY – New York State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, (D-Bronx/ Westchester), l voted to bring a more fair and progressive tax system to New York that will cut taxes for middle class taxpayers and have the wealthy pay their fair share. “This plan puts more money in the pockets of hard-working middle class New Yorkers and creates a common-sense tax structure where a billionaire will no longer get taxed at the same rate as his butler,” Senator Klein said. “The other members of the Independent Democratic Conference and I are proud to have worked with our partners in government to place progress over partisanship and help put New York back on the right track.” The new tax structure – which is similar to a plan Senator Klein developed in 2009 – was part of a larger reform package aimed at getting New York’s economy moving again. Part of this initiative includes Senator Klein’s legislation to put parochial schools on equal footing with public schools by holding them harmless them from the MTA payroll tax. The tax plan includes a tax break for some 4.4 million middle class taxpayers. A breakdown is below: The accelerated state funding will leverage $10 billion in direct capital investment to create thousands of direct jobs by rebuilding roads
and bridges; parks, dams and flood control projects; upgrading water systems and educational facilities; and investing in energy efficient improvements to commercial and residential buildings. The plan will focus on projects that support regional Economic Development Plans in the transportation, energy, environment and public facilities sectors. The accelerated infrastructure fund investment is within the state’s debt ceiling. • Enacting an Inner City Youth Employment Program and Tax Credit The Governor and the legislative leaders agreed to create an inner-city youth employment program and a $25 million tax credit for employers who hire unemployed youth between 16 and 24 years of age over the first six months of 2012. The program and credit would be available to employers in businesses such as clean energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and conservation. Eligible employers would receive up to $3,000 for a six month training period and an additional $1,000 if they retained their workers for an additional six months. Nearly $37 million in funding will be provided to critical jobs programs for inner city youth. This includes $12 million in support grants to youth providers for work readiness training, occupational training, placement or job matching,
workplace mentoring and follow up services to increase retention. Participating youths will be provided with up to three monthly stipends of $300 each to cover costs associated with transitioning into the workplace. An additional $25 million will be appropriated for workforce skills training and support programs including digital literacy, basic education and occupational training, summer
youth employment, job search and placement, and facilitated child care enrollment. • Reducing the MTA Payroll Tax The payroll tax would be eliminated or reduced for 294,900 taxpayers overall. The tax would also be eliminated from an additional 415,000 taxpayers by raising the self-employment income exemption. In addition, private elementary and secondary schools, as well as parochial schools, would be exempt from the tax. The State would compensate the MTA for the $250 million in lost revenue. Commercial • Industrial & Residential Services Roll-Off Containers 1-30 Yards Home Clean-up Containers Turn-key Demolition Services
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
LEGISLATION
Latimer Sponsor of Legislation Affording Small Businesses MTA Payroll Tax Relief ALBANY, NY -- Assemblymember George Latimer (D-Westchester, 91st A.D.) announced Assembly passage of legislation permanently eliminating payroll taxes for qualifying small businesses with annual payrolls of $1.25 million or less per year (A.40002). Other small businesses will see a significant decrease in their MTA payroll taxes as well. “This legislation is great news for small businesses. Lifting this onerous financial burden will enable us to create a more business-friendly
climate in the Sound Shore, and everywhere else in Westchester,” Latimer said. The legislation, passed by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Cuomo, eliminates MTA payroll taxes for those who are self-employed and earn less than $50,000 per year. In addition, it exempts schools, public, parochial and
private, from having to pay the tax. And many small businesses will see a considerable decrease in the tax, including those companies with payrolls up to $1.75 million. “This is a positive step toward a better economic future in our community,” said Latimer. “This will relieve small businesses from this damaging
tax and help hiring. We must keep working to ensure small businesses have the freedom to innovate and create the good-paying jobs we depend on.” Latimer is the Assembly sponsor of a bill for full repeal of the MTA payroll tax (www. assembly.state.ny.us – Quick Bill Search A.5616), and welcomed the move as an important step toward that end.
POLICE
Yonkers Mayor-elect Mike Spano Appoints First Deputy Chief Gardner to Police Commissioner By HEZI ARIS YONKERS, NY -- The august chambers of the Yonkers City Council was chosen to be the venue within which Yonkers Mayor-elect Mike Spano would make public his appointment of First Deputy Chief Charles Gardner to that of Police Commissioner. Spano said, Chuck Gardner will be an outstanding Police Commissioner for the City of Yonkers (CoY).
He started as a Police Officer and worked his way through the ranks to the number two position. He has the right mix of experience and vision to move the police department forward to meet the future needs of the City.” Mayor-elect Spano advised that he had asked Gardner to refocus the department on community policing, on matching its resources to combat current crime trends, and keeping the department updated with current technology. Spano stressed that,
“Our goal is to provide every Yonkers resident with the assurance that they are safe in their homes and on the streets, and to send the message that Yonkers is a great place to live, work, or run a business.” With his wife, daughter, and son, a fellow Police Officer by his side, all beaming with pride, said, “I want to thank Mayor-elect Spano for the confidence he has placed in me. We truly have the greatest police department in the State of New York, and I look forward to working with
the dedicated men and women who serve this city to provide the best possible quality of life for those who live and work here.” First Deputy Chief Gardner will accede to his appointed office as Yonkers Police Commissioner on January 1, 2012. With CLSA President Tom Phelan, and PBA President Keith Olson, among other Police Officers, family, friends, associates, and dignitaries, the fact that lame-duck Mayor Phil Amicone refused to permit the proceedings to be televised on Channel 78 did not dampen the welcome appointment. Congratulations Charles Gardner!
TRANSITION
Mount Vernon Mayor-elect Ernie Davis Forms Transition Team MOUNT VERNON, NY – Mount Vernon Mayor-elect Ernie Davis has announced the formation of an advisory team to help guide him through a smooth transition in January when he takes office. “My goal,” Davis said, “is to make the transition as seamless as possible.” Named to head the effort is Vince Ferrandino, Mount Vernon resident and former
Commissioner of Planning and Community Development under Mayors Thomas E. Sharpe and Ronald Blackwood before forming his own planning consulting firm, Ferrandino & Associates Inc., based in Elmsford, New York. Prior to serving in Mount Vernon, Mr Ferrandino was director of planning for several Continued on page 21
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
Page 21
for reappointment to the Davis administration. Davis, along with his Transition Team, will tthereafter decide whom to retain and whom to let go. Mayor-elect Davis explained it is standard procedure, when a new Administration takes office, that the mayor-elect wants to have the flexibility to select his own cabinet but also retain those who are qualified and share his vision for the City under the current administration. The Transition Team had its inaugural meeting on November 30 and efforts are now underway to establish a Transition Team web site. Email may be directed to transitionteam@re-electmayordavis.com. This is also the email address to which prospective
candidates from within and without Mount Vernon may submit their resumes for consideration. Ads are also being placed in the media seeking out professional candidates for various technical and management positions. Davis has advised his goal is to have some key positions filled when he takes office on January 1, 2012, while other positions are being recruited. “Mount Vernon requires the best professionals to assist me in moving the City ahead and that is our goal moving forward. I am confident, given the state of the job market, and the challenges ahead in revitalizing our city, that we will succeed in attracting excellent candidates,” concluded Mayor-elect Davis.
for the G.O.P. nomination. Why is this? To start, his national name recognition has been a great aid for the former House Speaker. It is often forgotten that Newt was seriously considering a run for the White House in the 2008 election season. However, for various reasons, decided against it. Now, as a candidate for the most prestigious public office in our nation, Newt has re-identified himself with the American people
as someone who can fix this country. Often I have stated on my radio program and written in this column that I was a supporter of Herman Cain and that he had my vote for the nomination. It is disheartening to learn, not that a scandal exists but that the American society is such that any unfounded, potentially baseless accusation can chase a man away from pursuing Continued on page 22
TRANSITION
Mount Vernon Mayor-elect Ernie Davis Forms Transition Team Continued from page 20 other New York State communities and, according to Mayor Davis, “brings a wealth of experience in municipal planning and administration to the table. I am glad Vince agreed to help with my transition, as he is very knowledgeable about how government works and is extremely familiar with the tri-state region and Mount Vernon in particular.” The Transition Team, a 12 person group comprised of a variety of people who live or have their business in Mount Vernon, has been charged with advising the Mayor-elect Davis on new policies and initiatives when he takes office,
as well as helping to recruit, screen and recommend experienced and qualified candidates for the many appointed positions that may become available. Serving as vice chairs of the Transition Team are Reverend Darren Morton, Mount Vernon resident, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church and St. John’s University educator; Linda Rose, President of Fleetwood Realty; and Marie Walker, Mount Vernon resident and owner of a White Plains-based consulting firm. Letters from the Transition Team are being sent to all department and agency heads, among other appointees, requesting submission of their resumes if they desire to be considered
OpEdSection THE CONSER VATIVE TORCH
Newt: The Good and The Bad By CARMINE TORCHETTI I must use this week’s column as a chance to discuss the potential of a Gingrich presidency, given his very
prominent surge in the polls recently. Recent polls over the past several weeks have former Speaker of the House and current presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich, as the front-runner
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
THE CONSER VATIVE TORCH pundit finding fault in various aspects of his record. Secondly, the fact that he did serve as Speaker of the House, makes him a “Washington Insider,” as they have come to be called. Recently, many voters have felt the desire to elect a candidate who is separate from Washington and more connected to the people. Thirdly, many on the left have attacked his personal activities with three marriages. However, let’s not forget that the great Ronald Reagan was married more than once and he is revered as one of the greatest presidents in our history. The point is that we shouldn’t judge one’s leadership ability on their spousal choice. In 2008, I never felt that the multiple marriages of Rudy Giuliani would affect his leadership capability. I find it ironic how the liberals in this country will connect Gingrich’s three marriages to his ability to lead but when Bill Clinton was guilty of extramarital activities in the White House, the liberals said that his personally life and his professional life have no correlation. However, when combining his positive attributes to his “negative” attributes, it is clear that Newt Gingrich is the most logical choice of the candidates who are left in this race. He is surging at the right time with less than four weeks until the first ballots are cast in this primary season. His surge has the potential to last far beyond that of the surges of his candidate colleagues in this race. Gingrich would be the best candidate from those that are still running but what if he won the nomination and then the presidency? A president is often marked by the strength of his cabinet and advisors. Who is the ideal team to fix this country? Next week will tell. Be Safe and Be Well.
Newt: The Good and The Bad Continued from page 21 public office. Cain had the ideas, potential, charisma, character, and fortitude to become our next Commander-In-Chief. However, a series of unfounded accusations wrongfully forced him out of the race. Like so many of Cain’s supporters, I am now putting my support behind Newt Gingrich. These two individuals are most closely related in terms of policy ideas and Conservative principles. Ironically, the fall and dropout of Cain will inevitably help Newt, as Cain’s supporters seem to now gravitate towards Gingrich. What are the good points for Gingrich? First, as stated, he is well known in not only the Republican electorate but the national electorate as well. His resume reads like a checklist for presidential qualifications: elected official, well-known, problem-solver, likeable, and historian. His experience as Speaker of the House has lead to him to garnish a reputation for balancing budgets and keeping a decreased unemployment rate (under 5% during his time as Speaker.) He balanced the budget consecutively by compromising with then-Democratic president Bill Clinton. He has his roots with Ronald Reagan, which attracts him to the more traditional Conservative voter. His debate capabilities are impeccable, as he can disarm virtually any verbal attack, by either the moderator or fellow candidates. He has done so several times already during this campaign; during the NBC/ Politico debate at the Reagan library and during the CNBC debate. The fact that he is a historian allows him to incorporate relevant examples from the past and compare them to current issues. His ability to recall historical facts allows him to subscribe to the old adage that states “if we don’t understand the mistakes of history, we are doomed to repeat them.” Also, his historical ability aids his reputation of being the smartest man on the debate stage. His experience coupled with his knowledge makes him an attractive candidate. With regards to the negatives, his national prominence has lead to virtually every Liberal
Carmine Torchetti is the host of The Conservative Torch Radio Program on WGRN, the Westchester Guardian Radio Network. Future aspirations include taking his conservative message national so as to demonstrate the importance of implementing Conservative ideals for the betterment of the nation. For more information on Carmine or the radio program, please visit www.theconservativetorch. com.
OPED
Fiscal State of Affairs—New York’s SelfImposed Crisis By FRANK V. VERNUCCIO, JR.
New Yorkers are enduring a time of almost unprecedented crisis. Both the state government and the people it represents are struggling to turn the corner on the worst economy since the Great Depression. While some of the dilemma is part of the larger national downturn, much of it is self-inflicted, a result of what the state government has done and what it has failed to do. In fact, particularly for
portions of the state excluding New York City, the crisis was evident long before the national recession hit. Albany must contend with a current midyear gap of $350 million, along with a projected gap of up to $3.5 billion next year, according to the State Budget Division. A recent report by the Fiscal Policy Institute Continued on page 23
The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
Page 23
continues to plan for spending increases; a 2% hike is projected for the coming year. It also has failed to acknowledge the impact its onerous tax burden has placed on its citizens. Despite earlier opposition, Governor Cuomo is now considering personal income tax hikes. At the same time, he appears to be abandoning the push for mandate reform, which will seriously harm county governments. The impact on counties of the crisis economy has been devastating. Rockland is considering cuts to law enforcement—the sheriff ’s office in particular—that have been called “catastrophic.” The Westchester County Executive’s proposed 2012 budget seeks to slice $100 million in spending, including a 7.5% workforce reduction. New York’s dire economy is not only the result of what Albany has done. It is also a result
of what the state government has prevented from happening. Two examples: The vast wealth and job creating potential of our natural resources have remained untapped, thanks to political interference. Tourism dollars continue to be lost to neighboring states due to opposition to casinos. New York has the ability to once again become a prosperous state. That will not occur, however, as long as Albany continues to roadblock the return to a competitive economy.
OPED Continued from page 22 notes that New York families are generally enduring the challenge of smaller incomes and fewer opportunities. The Institute states that over a half-million jobs have been lost since the recession began, costing $31 billion in lost earnings. Over 400,000 of the losses are wage and salary positions, and a startling 96,000 are lost business opportunities. Those fortunate enough to have kept their positions have seen median wages fallen by 3.4%, causing median household income to fall by 3.2%. Particularly hard hit are middle and high wage jobs in areas such as manufacturing, construction, government and finance. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s November report notes that new manufacturing orders have edged downwards, a further sign
that hard times are continuing for a key sector of the state economy. A glance at several key nationwide comparisons from the Empire State Center reveal how Albany has not provided a climate allowing our economy to thrive. The state ranks dead last in economic and fiscal freedom, discouraging businesses from staying in or moving to New York. The state is also the most expensive place to do business throughout the entire continental United States. By any objective standard, Albany has been more a part of the problem than the solution. Despite spending more per capita than every other state except Wyoming (which has vast mining wealth to toss around) there is little to show for it. Rather than use this time of crisis to adopt more rational fiscal policies, Albany
Frank V. Vernuccio is president of the Community Action Civic Association. Direct email to him at nycommunityaction@gmail.com. Visit the COMACTA website at comactainc.com.
OPED
Message to the Westchester County Business Association, County Executive Rob Astorino, and County Union Leaders By DAMON K. JONES
When our County Executive was only a candidate looking for support for his Herculean battle against incumbent County Executive Andy Spano, there were many county workers who gave their support to his candidacy. Many county workers assisted in his campaign, believing that he would have brought about a positive change in our county government, fairly settle contract disputes, and improve our working conditions. Unfortunately, in true political form County Executive Astorino has forgotten his promises on the campaign trail, at least to those who are in the working class who voted for him and fell into the usual Republican political rhetoric; lower taxes on the backs on the working class that makes this county government function. Every county worker understands that we are living in hard economic times and we must tighten our economic spending belts. Instead of fair dealing, he has used the media to support his constant barrage of the assumptions that dedicated civil service workers are the cause of the county’s financial woes. County employees have continued to work hard although some 2 to 4 years has elapsed without a raise. This is money that we will never get back and for the younger employees, they will never catch up to the rising cost of living. The Astorino administration should remember their historical landslide victory. It didn’t occur with only Republicans. It was the majority of county workers, Westchester’s middle class, those who were
Democrats, Independents, their families and friends who stepped up on voting day and elected him in office with hope for a change for the better. It is incumbent upon Mr. Astorino to create a substantial wage and benefits package that reflects the ability to have a middle-class lifestyle in Westchester County. If this is not done, his first 4 years will mostly likely be his last as County Executive. It’s no wonder that the Westchester County Business Association has offered to assist in the negotiations between the County and its labor unions. For Mr. Mooney to imply that unions such as the Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA) are to make a modest contribution to healthcare without any knowledge of what we do on a daily basis is unreasonable. This is not only insulting to hard working correction officers and other union members; it shows the arrogance of the Westchester Business Association towards public sector employees, especially employees of Westchester County. We haven’t forgotten that you are the same organization that called on Astorino to review our salaries so that the business tax base could be lowered in 2010. I say to you Mr. Mooney, you are not qualified to sit with my union to discuss my rights, benefits and workplace safety. While you and your cronies are sitting in air- conditioned offices with wood-trimmed furniture, hard working correction officers are keeping secure, the murderers, rapists, criminal gang members and other criminals that you don’t want walking in your back yard, on your street and in your community. The Westchester County jail moves over
10,000 inmates per year through its doors. At any given day, these dedicated correction officers are at risk of being assaulted with saliva, urine, feces, blood, vomit, and semen. Even with health and safety precautions, correction officers are faced with exposure to diseases such as AIDS, Staphylococcus infection and others such as MRSA, H1N1 and Hepatitis. Heart disease attacks our men and women in blue at significantly higher rates than the general public. The life expectancy for a correction officer is 18 months after retirement. If Mr. Mooney or any one of his cronies faced these conditions, would they stand by and give away their rights and benefits that they fought hard for in the past? I challenge Mr. Mooney to trade places with a correction officer and work in the jail, in July with minors for 7 1/2 hours or watch a man write on the wall all day with his feces and allow that correction officer to work in your well air-conditioned wood trimmed, well furnished office. Maybe then you will understand why we are unwilling to compromise our rights and benefits. I like many members are tired of the same rhetoric or lack thereof from our union leaders. As a paid union member, I want the public to know why we shouldn’t pay for healthcare. I want the facts to presented fairly so that the taxpayer can make an informed decision. I want the public to know why we should get a raise and preserve our contractual rights and benefits. I also want the public to know that I’m not just a union member, and that I am a taxpayer, their neighbor, a member of the working and middle class in Westchester County and the job that I
do keeps the community safe. Because of your failure or your refusal to “Educate” the public on what our job actually entails, hard working correction officers and other union members are losing the benefit of positive public opinion. Westchester Union leaders failed to step up and support the non-union members of the county when they proposed changes in their healthcare plan and the number of employee sick leave buy outs. However, many union leaders and officials have told its members that the change for the non-union members would never affect union employees. Legislator Ken Jenkins has stated that the changes in the nonunion healthcare will be the blueprint for our County Executive for future contractual negotiations. To our detriment, county union leaders were sadly mistaken and now the chickens have come home to roost in our contract negotiations. If labor union presidents don’t step out of the box, and truly address labor issues and hold elected officials accountable and Educate the public; they will have failed its members and the greater public and the working middle class. Therefore, there will be no need for a union if you work for Westchester County! Damon K. Jones is executive director of Westchester Blacks in Law Enforcement.
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
ED KOCH COMMENTARY
Judge Jed Rakoff – A Light Unto His Fellow Jurists By EDward I. KOCH After the 1929 stock market crash, Wall Street was perceived as being inadequately regulated. As a result of that perception, the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt created the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.). Its purpose was to protect Wall Street investors from the firms that handled their money. The S.E.C. was created as an independent agency to be free from political control, but that is never entirely the case when Congress controls an agency’s budget. The fear of increasing political control of the agency was the subject of an op-ed article by Arthur Levitt, Jr. in The New York Times on August 7, 2011. Levitt, chairman of the S.E.C. from 1993 to 2001, pointed out there are bills pending that would micromanage the S.E.C. and that “we are witnessing a pattern of Congress grabbing the steering wheel of an independent agency.” The S.E.C. has been given huge new powers of regulation under landmark legislation passed in July 2010 known as Dodd-Frank, the result of the debacle on Wall Street involving banks and other financial institutions, which caused losses in the trillions of dollars to investors. The era will always be joined at the hip with the phrase referring to many of those institutions as “too big to fail.” I have done my best to add an additional phrase to the description, “too big to jail.” The New York Times and other media have covered the excesses of the financial institutions involved and the S.E.C.’s efforts to carry out its statutory obligation to pursue those institutions that have culpability generally as a result of fraud committed on investors. The S.E.C.’s authority is limited to civil fraud cases; if criminal fraud is alleged, the S.E.C. must turn the matter over to the Department of Justice for prosecution. Many critics of the S.E.C. and the Department of Justice have pointed out that no CEO or CFO or members of a board of
directors have been charged with criminal fraud for having abused the trust of their investors in the Great Recession. According to Edward Wyatt in The Times of November 30, 2011, when the S.E.C. has pursued a financial institution for civil fraud, as a matter of practice it allows the financial institution to “neither admit nor deny the commission’s charges in return for a multimillion dollar fine and a promise not to do it again.” The description was that of Judge Jed Rakoff, to whom a settlement entered into with Citigroup requiring a payment by the latter of $285 million was submitted, which he rejected. The charge against Citigroup reported by Wyatt on November 29, 2011, was “According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Citigroup stuffed a $1 billion mortgage fund that it sold to investors in 2007 with securities that it believed would fail so that it could bet against its customers and profit when values declined. The fraud the agency said was in Citigroup’s falsely telling investors that an independent party was choosing the portfolio’s investments. Citigroup made $160 million from the deal and investors lost $700 million.” Some observers will ask why no restitution was required of Citigroup to protect the investors. The S.E.C. has no power to require restitution, so each investor must sue on his own to recover losses. Further, the S.E.C. is generally limited in its fining authority to the profit made by the securities firm, plus an additional amount for punitive damages. All these fines go into the U.S. Treasury. The S.E.C. defended its decision to proceed this way – an agreed settlement – stating, “S.E.C. officials say they allow these kinds of settlements because it is far less costly than taking deeppocketed Wall Street firms to court and risking the case,” a reference by the S.E.C. to its lack of funding. James B. Stewart of The Times reported on July 15th how the Congress, “the Republicancontrolled Appropriations Committee” which
“cut the Securities and Exchange Commission’s fiscal 2012 budget request by $222.5 million to $1.19 billion (the same as this year’s) even though the S.E.C.’s responsibilities were vastly expanded under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.” Stewart went on to point out the Congressional committee’s comments on reducing the taxpayers’ burden were a charade. The S.E.C.’s entire budget is funded totally by assessing the Wall Street firms. Stewart reported, “cutting the S.E.C.’s budget will have no effect on the budget deficit, won’t save taxpayers a dime and could cost the Treasury millions in lost fees and penalties. That’s because the S.E.C. isn’t financed by tax revenue, but rather by fees levied on those it regulates, which include all the big securities firms.” Now to the ruling of Judge Rakoff which has caused consternation on Wall Street. A New York Times editorial of November 29 summed it up: “Judge Jed Rakoff is furious. He should be. We all should be. On Monday, the Federal District Court judge rightly rejected a plan by the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle a securities fraud case against Citigroup, saying that the $285 million deal was ‘neither fair, nor reasonable, nor adequate, nor in the public interest.’ It’s not only that the money was not enough, though it certainly seems puny compared with the damage done. The S.E.C. charged that Citigroup had not adequately disclosed to investors its role and interest in creating and selling — and betting against — a mortgage-backed investment that was intended to fail. When the investment did, indeed, tank, the bank made $160 million, according to the S.E.C., while investors lost $700 million.” The editorial continued, “It’s not even that the S.E.C. only accused Citigroup of negligence, when Judge Rakoff said that his understanding of the matter indicates that a tougher charge of knowing or intentional fraud was probably warranted. Serious as all that is, Judge Rakoff ’s fundamental concern is that the S.E.C. did
not provide any facts for the court to use to vet the settlement. Like most S.E.C. settlements with Wall Street firms, Citigroup was being allowed to settle without admitting or denying wrongdoing.” The S.E.C. and Citigroup will now have to decide whether to appeal or try the case. If another submission for settlement is made to the Judge, it is clear that Citigroup will have to admit guilt. If it admits guilt, it is possible – I have not seen this discussed elsewhere – that officers and others with direct responsibility for the alleged fraud could be personally pursued with respect to revoking their licenses to conduct business and perhaps even more. The culprits here are not only the securities firms that committed fraud, civil or criminal, but the Congress that seeks to protect the industry from appropriate scrutiny by refusing to provide an adequate budget for the S.E.C. which would allow it to properly monitor the industry and sue violators. The Congress—by its protection of the industry – is losing fines that would go into the U.S. Treasury if those who brought the U.S. and its citizens to their knees economically by engaging in activities that violated the law were pursued by the S.E.C. Judge Rakoff is a light unto his fellow jurists. Let’s hope they follow his lead. The Chairman of the S.E.C., Mary L. Schapiro, wrote a letter on November 28th to Senator Jack Reed, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment, requesting changes in the law providing the S.E.C. with authority to impose greater monetary penalties for serious violations and for recidivists. Hopefully, her requests will be granted. Based on past performance, I doubt it. The House and Senate have been handmaidens for the Wall Street securities industry, seeking to protect them from any responsibility for the damages they have caused.
Change” sadly, has misled the Obama supporters and not brought the rest of us together as promised. We got lots of change and little hope of improving our future. So now we face greater divisiveness, class warfare, economic collapse from within and significant global competition and terrorism from without. We are clearly not better off. How did we get here, what are the moving parts and why? Failed, partisan, and corrupt leadership has resulted in a significantly increased misery index (inflation + unemployment, the worst since 1983). This happens, in part, when ideologically biased policies are enacted against
the will of the majority. Obamacare passed at the urging of a Pelosi plea, “need to pass it … find out what is in there”. The “all Democratic” team said the majority will have to deal with it: proving that absolute power, corrupts absolutely. The proposed savings of covering the extra lives is greatly exaggerated given that the economics of the CLASS provision, just removed, was only inserted to assure that the Congressional Budget Office would ascribe a passing score. Obamacare promotes a business hiring inertia. The corruption extends to the 1,400 waivers issued to Obama friendly entities and serve as pay backs; Continued on page 25
The Honorable Edward Irving Koch served as a member of Congress from New York State from 1969 through 1977, and New York City as its 105th Mayor from 1978 to 1989.
A SIGN OF THE TIMES
Bend Over, This Will Only “Hurt A Little” By WK PFISTERER Cut this out and give a copy to every 18-30yr. old you know. They are the ones who will be most affected by the content of this article. Why? America is falling apart at an alarming speed. We are at a tipping point and at the eve of the most important election of our lives. Every household in America must have this conversation. The
principles of our 235 year old experiment are being tested. If you are reading this, chances are you are a member of the productive class and only the productive class can fix our broken system. Poor people can’t fix it because they don’t hire anyone. This is not a Democratic or Republican issue it is an American system issue. “Transformative and Fundamental Hope and
The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
Page 25
crisis go to waste. The OWS crisis represents mostly individuals who transitioned into adulthood unprepared and remain dependent on society and complain that their lives are difficult and unfulfilled. So they demand more from the prepared and the successful. They do not represent 99% of the people, but likely represent 100% of the non- tax paying (51%). I don’t believe that OWS is merely a retaliatory response to the Tea Party (TP) movement, but I fear they will be used as pawns in the class struggle by Obama to promote a socialist agenda. There are significant differences between the OWS mob and the TP agenda. Besides the obvious appearance, hygiene, and protest style differences, the TP seeks to improve capitalism, but the OWS mob seeks to destroy capitalism. The critical issue is whether OWS will be co-opted by the extreme left radicals supported by Soros money, SEIU (and other union groups), and foreign money. Saul Alinsky’s 1971 Rules for Radicals and the socialist plan by Columbia professors Cloward and Piven are likely being adopted. Glenn Beck has been warning against this for several years. We must be aware of the bottom up, top down, inside out paradigm: when disenfranchised masses create chaos, government is asked to control them by evoking draconian
anti-capitalist laws that transitions our capitalist system into a socialist system. In order for this to happen, severe burdens (extreme entitlement spending, etc) must first bankrupt our system. All these things are mostly in place. In 2012, we must elect an administration willing to reverse the present policies; one that favors pro-growth tax reduction and is dedicated to reducing wasteful government spending. Hiring by businesses will increase greatly as a result. An informed consumer is the best voter. Educate and engage anyone who will listen, our country depends on us. If you love this country, you must exert every effort in voting Obama out. So go ahead, cut this out make several copies and urge everyone you know, but especially the 18-30 yr. olds to learn the facts and vote in their best interest so the economic future for all, including the OWS protestors, is ensured.
A SIGN OF THE TIMES make it possible for everyone to own their own home (an unrealistic utopia?). George W. Bush and Obama bailouts continued to expand government spending. We will never see justice on these issues; it’ll take years to repair. We must learn from it and believe that bigger government is not better government. We must insist on balancing the national budget and cap spending. Florida representative Connie Mack has offered a 1% cut in government spending plan per year for the next 6yrs, capping spending at 18% of GDP and balancing the budget by 2020. GDP government spending is projected to rise from the current 24% to 27% if Obama prevails. Class warfare and redistribution incited by Obama is a political tool of the most pernicious kind that must not be allowed to be his “effective last resort” policy. He calls for votes on inadequate policies (a jobs policy even democrats have rejected) forcing no votes by republicans. We must educate everyone against Obama’s plan to overthrow capitalism. His self-serving approval of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) mob is conveniently disguised and supported as an expression of the 1st Amendment. Rahm Emanuel advised Obama to never let a
Bend Over, This Will Only “Hurt A Little” Continued from page 24 non- supporters are excluded from the waivers. The massive two year effort for our apparently non-viable healthcare reform took up valuable time instead of solving our jobs problem. Many egregious policies in various stages of completion (Cap and Trade, FCC Net Neutrality, Union Card Check, NLRB/Boeing S.C., Unionization of TSA, Dream Act “light” and making Puerto Rico a 51st state) will generate more votes for democrats. Whenever congressional legislation is unfruitful, Obama simply resorts to an executive order that subverts constitutional checks and balances. Our economic crisis is not just Wall Street’s fault: FDR’s & Johnson’s social entitlements, Carter’s 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), Clinton’s endorsement of CRA together with Greenspan’s easy money policy, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Frank and Dodd all played major roles. Corrupt purveyors of leveraged derivatives, mortgage backed securities, credit default obligations and credit default swaps all together conspired to bring down our real estate market and resulted in significant collateral damage. The banking system, coerced both by mortgage profits and government regulations was forced to
What’s for Dessert? CB LLC Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY 11/14/2011. Off. Loc.: Westchester Cnty. SSNY designated as agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 12 Greenfield Ave., Bronxville, NY 10708. Purpose: all lawful activities. QUICK CASH OF WESTCHESTER AVE. LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/18/2009. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall
mail copy of process to The LLC 2712 East Tremont Ave Bronx, NY 10461 Purpose: Any lawful activity. ACTIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY PLLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/30/2011. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of PLLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process The PLLC 35 Sheldrake Ave. Larchmont, NY 10538. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Werner K. Pfisterer, MD, MSEd retired from Mt. Sinai Hospital in 2006 as an Anesthesiologist and is currently a concerned citizen dedicated to the political education of our citizenry.
LEGAL NOTICES
ZYGGE HANDYMAN, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/20/2011. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process Corporation Service Company 80 State St. Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Registered Agent: Corporation Service Company 80 State St. Albany, NY 12207
SAGES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/19/2011. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process The LLC 152 Mildred Pkwy. New Rochelle, NY 10804. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
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The Westchester Guardian
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
WEIR ONLY HUMAN
Without Faith, Life is Meaningless By BOB WEIR The year was about 30 A.D. when an obscure Jewish carpenter named Jesus of Nazareth began to speak publicly in the Roman province of Palestine. He preached about something that no one had heard before: the emergence of a “Kingdom of God.” For many years prior to Jesus’ teachings, Jews had proclaimed their belief in a “Messiah,” and they awaited his arrival.To Jews, the Messiah would restore their ancient dignity, and free their sacred homeland from evil and strife. To many people, Jesus seemed to be this Messiah; hence, he began to attract a large following among the common people of Galilee and Judea. But, as is often the case with those who gain power, Jesus incurred the wrath of many others who saw him as a threat. Soon, a governing body of Jewish priests and Pharisees conspired to have him killed. Working secretly with Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ most trusted confidants, the Council of Jews had him arrested for treason and turned over to the Roman authorities. Pontius Pilate, the agent for the Roman emperor, gave the order for Jesus to be crucified as a criminal who was plotting against the interests of the empire. And there, in a nutshell, is the story of what happened over 2000 years ago. Whether you believe that Jesus Christ was a messiah, or that he was simply a brilliant leader of a religious revolution, one thing is certain; he was a charismatic iconoclast whose brief span of life has impacted the world like no other life has before, or since. You need only to look at your calendar to realize that the year is based on the birth date of Jesus. When we study history, the recorded dates of significant events are followed by BC (before Christ), or AD (Anno Domini), which is the Latin translation for “in the year of our Lord.” The Gregorian Calendar, based on the recognized date of the birth of Jesus, is the internationally accepted register of days, months and years of recorded history.There are those who say
to it. What I learned from it was that some bad people had committed a very violent and sadistic act against another human being. My Christian training taught me the difference between right and wrong, and the meaning of a conscience. However, I never learned to resent or hate any other religion. I learned that any person or group, in order to have moral legitimacy, must be willing to stand up for the rights of all who are being victimized. Even if you have been raised an atheist, you have been affected by, and governed by, laws and moral precepts that have their foundation in religion. You can argue that religion has done more harm than good, but how do you know what the world would be like without it? The concept of faith, upon which all religion is based, gives us hope for a hereafter; a spiritual place that will reward or punish us for our mortal
deeds. Without faith, our lives would appear to be meaningless; just a brief span of time in which to exist and then die. Having faith means being willing to light a candle, rather than curse the darkness.
religion has often been the cause of strife in the Bob Weir is a veteran of 20 years with the New York world, and there is some truth to that. History Police Dept. (NYPD), ten of which were performed is replete with conflict borne out of one belief in plainclothes undercover assign- ments. Bob began system challenging another. a writing career about 12 years ago and had his first Holy wars have taken millions of lives book published in 1999. Bob went on to write and and have devastated many countries. The publish a total of seven novels, “Murder in Black Crusades, a series of religiously sanctioned and White,” “City to Die For,” “Powers that Be,” military campaigns waged by Roman Catholic “Ruthie’s Kids,” “Deadly to Love,” “Short Stories of Europe, sought to restore Christian control of Life and Death,” and “Out of Sight.” He also became what was considered the “Holy Land,” a relia syndicated columnist under the title “Weir Only giously significant geographical territory which Human.” roughly comprises what is known today as Israel, Palestine and parts of Jordan and Lebanon. These bloody battles lasted for two hundred years, with far-reaching political, economic and social ramifications that continue today. In addition, the “holy city” of Jerusalem has Islamic significance because it is believed to be the site of the ascension into heaven of the prophet Muhammad, whom Muslims believe to be the foremost prophet of Allah, the Arabic word for God. What does all of this mean to the average person going about their day to day lives, working, raising families, and searching for contentment in a contentious world? I suppose it depends on Kid-powered, Nature-inspired,� � � � � � � � � � � Parent-engaged & Always-fun! how one was raised by parents, educated by teachers and ministered to by preachers. The person we are today is based on the environment that molded us. Whether Join us in the new Silver Educational Center at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens or not we want to admit it, we as we showcase our new Children's Indoor Classroom and its outdoor complement, have been profoundly influenced the Nature’s Explore Classroom in the Woods. by religion. I was baptized and ADMISSION IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. raised a Catholic, and I remember learning about the crown of thorns Fundraising partners include Pure Play Kids with its offering of battery-free, natural and creative toys. and Jesus’ long, painful struggle to Plus special appearances from the favorite Children’s Musician, Dre Towey and Magical Stories with Fairy Deb! carry the cross before being nailed We’ll have eco/nature door prizes, holiday shopping, tours of the new interactive indoor and outdoor facilities, Winter Stories, Meditation 101 for Moms, Live Music and More! A percentage of all proceeds from the event will benefit the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens to enhance their outdoor nature and children's education programs.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
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