Westchester Guardian

PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY

Vol. V No. XI

Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly

Where Did They Get that Name?

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Village Features Page 8

Tattoo Angst Page 9

Exploring Westchester‘s Place Names

Big Fish Hooked Page 10

The Endless War Page 11

Hung Jury Page 12

Bruce Ratner The Teflon Don Page 12

Bully Watson Page 14

That Championship Season Page 17

westchesterguardian.com

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

The Westchester Guardian

Of Significance Feature Section............................................................................2 Cover Story...............................................................................2 Letters to the Editor.................................................................4

FeatureSection Where Did They Get that Name?

Exploring Westchester‘s Place Names

By Robert Scott

Government Section..................................................................5 Economic Development...........................................................6 OPED.....................................................................................10

Sports......................................................................................15

Every place name in Westchester County holds a fascinating story waiting to be told. For the benefit of newcomers --and perhaps a few old timers--here are the origins of some local place names.

The naming of places and natural features began well before the first Dutch traders arrived in the 17th century. As might be expected, many place names originated from names used by the American Indian tribes that once inhabited this area.

Theatre....................................................................................16

Names from American Indians

Eye On Theatre......................................................................17

Chappaqua. A descriptive local Indian name that translates to “the place where the reeds make a rustling sound when you walk through.”

Croton-on-Hudson takes its name from a local chief, Kenotin or Knoten.

Katonah was named for the Indian Sachem who sold the land in 1680.

The Sachem’s name was a shortened version of Ketatonah (“great mountain”).

Kensico was formerly known as Wright’s Mills.

The name was also applied to the dam built in 1885 by New York City’s Board of Water Supply. Derived from the name of a Siwanoy Indian chief, Cokenseko, the community was inundated by the reservoir in 1917.

Mamaroneck. The origin is obscure, but it may come from Merrimack, the Indian word for “sturgeon.”

Truth and Justice.....................................................................12 Analysis...................................................................................12 Community Section..................................................................13 Northern Westchester............................................................13 Merry Gardener......................................................................14 The Spoof...............................................................................14

Show Prep...............................................................................18 Legal Notices.............................................................................19

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) 632-2540 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. wattersonstudios.com

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Mohegan Lake. The name, also rendered as Mahican and Mohican, was given to an Indian confederacy of tribes that inhabited the Hudson Valley. James Fennimore Cooper’s 1826 novel, The Last of the Mohicans, perpetuated the name.

Mt. Kisco. Long called New Castle Corner, when the New York & Harlem Railroad reached here in 1847, and adopted New Castle as the station name, controversy erupted over the new name. A local farmer, Stephen Woods, suggested Mt. Kisco, and it was adopted. The name comes from “Cisqua,” meaning “muddy place,” the Indian name for the meadow north of the settlement.

Ossining. First named Hunter’s Landing, then Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Pleasant Landing, Sing Sing, the first village in Westchester to incorporate, adopted the name of the local Indian tribe in 1813. To dissociate itself from the infamous Sing Sing prison, the village changed its name to Ossining in 1901.

White Plains is merely a direct translation of the Indian name for the area: “Quaropas,” or “white marshes.”

Names from the Dutch Sleepy Hollow is an Anglicization of the Dutch term “Slaper Havn,” (“secondary harbor”) an early name used by Dutch sloop captains for the mouth of the Pocantico Continued on page 3

RADIO

On the Level with Narog and Aris New Rochelle, NY -- Richard Narog and Hezi Aris will host a few interesting guests this Tuesday, March 15th, from 10 - 11 a.m., on WVOX-1460 AM on your radio dial and worldwide on www.

WVOX.com. Are guets will include Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra James Sadewhite and MaryAnn McCarra-Fitzpatrick.

Bronxville Mayor Mary C. Marvin and Bronxville Village Manager Harold Porr III will be our guests later this month.

Listeners and readers are invited to send a question to WHYTeditor@gmail.com for possible use prior to any shows’ airing and even during the course of an interview.

For those who want more radio, consider listening to Hezi Aris every Wednesday mornings at 7:37 a.m. when he and Bob Marrone discuss issues on the Good Morning Westchester radio program hosted by Bob Marrone.

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

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from Catholic France who settled here after 1688. The name comes from La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast of France, from which many of the first settlers emigrated.

Port Chester. Originally called Sawpits, in 1837 it adopted the name of Port Hester, the Port of West Chester.

Rye. Named after Rye, England.

Scarborough owes its name to the Rev. Edward N. Mead. So impressed was he with the architectural beauty of St. Mary’s Church in Scarborough, England, that he had its plans copied for St. Mary’s Church on the Albany Post Road (Route 9).

Valhalla. Formerly named Kensico, its post office adopted the Valhalla name in 1861. Legend has it that the wife of the first postmaster was an avid lover of Wagnerian operas and chose the name Valhalla.

Yorktown. Formerly part of Somers and named Hanover for the British ruling family, in 1788, its name was changed to Yorktown to honor the French troops who had fought at Yorktown and returned to bivouac here.

Yorktown Heights. Formerly called Underhill, its name was changed to Yorktown Heights in 1899 because residents feared that the name Underhill gave the impression that the place was low and unhealthy.

FEATURE

Where Did They Get that Name?

Continued from page 2 River.. Until 1874, when it was incorporated as the village of North Tarrytown, it was called Beekmantown. North Tarrytown changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996, the same year the massive General Motors automobile assembly plant closed.

Tarrytown is a corruption of “tarwe dorp” (Dutch for “wheat town”) because wheat was grown, milled and shipped from there. Washington Irving insisted it was named by unhappy farm wives whose husbands tarried too long at the village tavern after taking their produce to the Philipse wharf.

Yonkers was initially known as Colendonck (“Donck’s Colony”). It got its present name because its founder, Adriaen van der Donck, had the honorific title of “Jonkheer” (pronounced “yonkheer”), and people began to refer to it as “the Jonkheer’s.”

Named after Persons Buchanan took its name from the oil cloth factory started in 1874 by Alexander F. Buchanan. It. was incorporated in 1928 to avoid being absorbed by Peekskill.

Cortlandt/Cortlandt Manor. In 1677, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, first nativeborn mayor of New York City, began buying land from the Indians.

Crugers. Named for German immigrant John Cruger, who arrived in 1700. His grandson, Col. John P. Cruger, married Elizabeth Dyckman, widowed owner of Boscobel.

Dobbs Ferry. Named for Jan Dobbs, who arrived in 1698 and whose family operated a ferry here until 1759, when it was taken over by the Sneden family in Rocklad County.

Harmon. Clifford B. Harmon bought a large tract of land between Maple Street and the Croton River and sold small lots, heavily promoted in New York City in 1907 and thereafter. He later developed Larchmont Gardens in Mamaroneck and Shore Acres in Rye. The community of Harmon was absorbed by Croton in 1933.

Harrison. John Harrison and four others bought land here from the Indians in 1695.

Hawthorne. Formerly called Hammond’s Mills, Neperan and Unionville, residents

named it Hawthorne to honor novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, father of Mother Alphonsa (Rose Hawthorne Lathrop), a convert to Catholicism, who headed the Rosary Hill Home, a hospital for incurable cancer patients.

Irvington until 1854 was named Dearman, after local farmer Justus Dearman. To honor their neighbor Washington Irving, residents changed the name to Irvington.

Jefferson Valley was named by Dr. James Fountain in 1850 to honor the third president of the United States.

Montrose. Centered near the intersection of Montrose Station Road and the Albany Post Road (Route 9A), it takes its name from John Montross, an early landowner.

Peekskill. Jan Peeck built a trading post along the brook that bears his name, Peekskill Hollow Brook. Its site is near the present Pumphouse and Dogwood roads. During the winter of 1680, Jan Peeck disappeared into the woods and was never seen again.

Pelham. In 1654, Thomas Pell bought a large tract from the Siwanoy Indians.

Verplanck. Johannes Van Cortlandt, son of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, inherited this sizable peninsula. He left it to his daughter Gertrude, who married Philip VerPlanck in 1718.

Names from Other Places Ardsley. First called Greenburgh, then Hall’s Corners, in the early 1860s, residents around Ashford Avenue and Saw Mill River Road decided to name their community Ashford. The birthplace of Capt. King, an early settler who operated a pickle factory here, Ashford’s name was next changed to Ardsley in 1883.

Mt. Vernon. In 1852, residents of the newly formed New York Industrial Home Association No. 1 development named their community Monticello after the home of Thomas Jefferson. The Post Office Department in Washington objected to the choice because of possible confusion with the county seat of Sullivan County. The residents then chose the name of the home of the first president, George Washington.

New Rochelle was the name given to it by the Protestant Huguenot refugees

Coined Names Briarcliff Manor. The post office and station of the New York & Northern Railroad here was named Whitson, from Charles H. Whitson, the first station agent. The station building would later house the Briarcliff Manor Public Library.

After Walter W. Law retired as head of W. & J. Sloane, he bought 232 acres here in 1890 and named it Briarcliff Farm.

Pleasantville. Formerly called Clark’s Corners, in 1828 postmaster Henry Romer selected the name Pleasantville.

Named by Developers Harmon. Developer Clifford B. Harmon purchased land from Van Cortlandt descendants and began selling lots here in 1907. One feature of the new community was that sidewalks and pipes of a water distribution system were already installed.

Harmon was annexed by Croton-onContinued on page 4

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The Westchester Guardian

FEATURE

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010 Where Did They Get that Name?

Continued from page 3 Hudson in 1933. By agreement with the former New York Central Railroad, Harmon’s name is perpetuated in the name of the railroad station, Croton-Harmon.

Indian Point. Developed as a recreational picnic area and a stop for Hudson River Day Line steamboats, this property in Buchanan was acquired by Con Ed for three atomic energy plants.

Associative Names Crotonville. The derivation is obvious.

It lies on the south bank of the Croton River.

Eastview was the name of the New York & Northern Railroad station here. A railroad brochure extolled the view toward the east as “grand.” The railroad was later incorporated into the New York Central’s Putnam Division.

Millwood is the name the New York Central applied in 1881 to its Putnam Division station on the Somerstown Turnpike (Route 133). The name referred to the Rockdale woolen mills to the south on the Pocantico River where Echo Lake is now.

Named for Trees and Shrubs Elmsford. After the community a few miles to the south was named Ashford, residents of Greenburgh, led by a descendant of Alexander Hamilton, decided to change their community’s name to Elmsford. A giant elm tree, later destroyed by lightning, stood in the center of town.

Shrub Oak was originally named Scrub Oak. The scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) is a small tree, a prolific producer of acorns, is also known as the deer oak and the turkey oak. Residents thought “Scrub Oak” was uncomplimentary, so they changed the name to Shrub Oak in 1829.

Over the years, names of places in Westchester have been changed, shortened, spelled differently, and even forgotten. Yet every name that surfaces in old documents or endures to this day offers clues to this area’s fascinating history.

Robert Scott, a former book publisher, is a writer, editor and local historian.

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.

Cut... the...

Spending

This is an open letter to Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Hinchey and all the Congress. We have three words for you: Cut...the...Spending!

Repeat: Cut...the....Spending!

You can start by cutting the $800+ billion military and defense; and foreign aid spending. These sacred cows have to be gored! While you all concentrate on the entitlements: Social Security and Medicare that are based on taxpayer paid contributions, you have stolen these assets and mismanaged them leaving them actuarially unsound. You all have squandered America’s wealth leaving us bankrupt by engaging us in all these foreign wars and occupations. This is outrageous and must be stopped now. Both Republicans and Democrats have the opportunity to cut the mustard now by not increasing the debt limit and keeping the spending within the budget constraints.

We demand that you restore our monetary system to the its Constitutional foundation that it is supposed to be: based

on Gold and Silver, not “funny money” that the Federal Reserve has created out of nothing. We need to get our country back to basics and restore our industries that have been and are the creators of wealth for all Americans. You all have done irreparable damage to our nation by giving our jobs away to foreigners and bankrupting our nation. You have us on the brink of national extinction.

Oh! And lest we forget: Cut...the....

Spending!

We await your prompt and decisive determinations to restore the integrity of our nation.

Paul Henderson, Napanoch, NY

Regarding: Too Young or Too Old by Alisa Singer

I grew up in the South bronx from 1936 to 1953. In the warm weather many Jewish women would sit outdoors and do knitting and sewing. Many sweaters, scarves, blankets and crocheting were completed. Knitting and crocheting were a very Jewish woman’s activity. All along Fox Street they would be sitting outside knitting and crocheting.

Shelton Epstein Peekskill, New York

399 Huguenot St. New Rochelle, NY 10801

915-636-7235

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

GovernmentSection

On the Agenda at Rye Brook’s March 8th Village Board Meeting

By Bary Alyssa Johnson

The Rye Brook Board of Trustees kicked off their regular March 8th meeting with its first order of business – roll call. Trustees Michael S. Brown, Toby S. Marrow, Jeffrey B. Rednick, and Paul S. Rosenberg, along with Mayor Joan Feinstein and Chief Administrator Christopher Bradbury were all present and accounted for.

In tune with tradition, the entire room rose to pledge undying allegiance to the star spangled banner before the board commenced with the meat of the meeting.

First on the agenda, a public hearing was opened for a resolution considering a proposed amendment to Chapter 217 of the Village Code regarding Stormwater Management. The resolution was voted upon and passed unanimously, followed by the closing of the public hearing.

The resolution involved “just some technical amendments to our code,” Feinstein said.

The next resolution to be voted upon was in regards to adopting local adjustments for homestead and non-homestead based proportions.

“This resolution is for Section 1903 regarding homestead-based proportions,” Bradbury announced to the audience. “It will be used to create the 2011-2012 tax rates.”

Under consideration, the homestead (residential) proportion at approximately 74 percent and non-homestead (or, commercial) tax rate at 26 percent.

“The rate before the Board is the most favorable rate for residential home owners,” Bradbury informed. “It protects more residential property.”

The resolution, apparently an agreeable one, was passed unanimously by the board.

The third resolution up for debate during the evening concerned the approval of minutes for prior meetings.

The minutes for December 14, 2010, January 11, 2011 and January 25, 2011 were considered good to go and again the board was unanimous in passing these resolutions.

The next agenda item featured a rather lengthy Administrator’s Report conducted by Mr. Bradbury, with

complementary commentary by Mayor Feinstein.

Bradbury began with three minor issues, which were not noted on the official agenda. Among them: Appreciation for a job well-done by the Village Fire Department in assisting in extinguishing a large first on March 1st.

Secondly, a note to residents that the Village is doing its best to take care of the local pothole epidemic, focusing first on the main roads and then onto the roads less traveled. Lastly, the Village is expecting a high water table and saturated ground, conditions that are being closely monitored. The Village is also putting extensive effort into keeping the catch basin clean and keeping water flowing freely through the sewer system.

“To prepare, we’re working with the police and sending out e-mail reports,” Bradbury noted. “We expect flooding conditions, but we are trying to stay on top of it.”

Onto the scheduled aspects of the Administrator’s report – First issue up to bat was the 6-Year Capital Program.

The revised Program identifies capital projects, including building programs and infrastructure projects for buildings over $12,000.

“The program provides guidance for the budget and shows the Board’s reinvestment in infrastructure,” Bradbury said.

He went on to elaborate on the many projects listed, seeking input from the Board, including Members’ feelings on the projects, initiatives and years considered for funding.

Feinstein chimed in with a sample set of projects under consideration. She made note of the fact that the plan has budget implications, but is not directly tied to the budget itself. She went on to note that fifty percent of the $1 million Program will go directly to road resurfacing.

“We have million dollar homes, but not million dollar roads,” Feinstein said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

Other projects up for discussion include the Village Community Center, replacement of a worn supplemental

highway garage and the tennis courts in Harkness Park, which are currently unlit – an issue that may crop up in the community during the summer months.

“Any athletics plans or facilities need discussion as part of a comprehensive plan between the community and Board,” Feinstein stated in a no-nonsense manner.

‘We haven’t seen the budget yet, but we’ll see if there’s room for [these projects] in the comprehensive plan.”

The Administrator’s Report ended with details on a proposed project to bring MySenior Center up to date, technologically speaking.

After finalizing the official business matters, Feinstein opened up the floor to Village residents who had come to speak their piece before the meetings’ adjournment.

One couple who have resided in Rye Brook for the past year and a half lodged complaints that the Building Department was ordering them to tear down their carport, which has been on the property they own for over 60 years.

The couple was told that if they refused to tear down the structure, they would have to pay a fee of $850 per month in order for it to remain standing.

The Board of Trustees said that to legalize matters regarding this property would require that the homeowners meet with the Village Planning Board, or that the homeowner’s lawyer consult with the Village’s own legal counsel.

Mrs. Adolfo Paniagua did not mince her words when warning the Board that she and her husband would approach the TV and media if a solution

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could not be agreed upon. Accordingly, I was contacted via e-mail by Mr. Adolfo Paniagua later in the week with the facts of the situation, as summed up by him and his wife.

“Number 1: We applied for a permit to legalize our carport along with another open permit. Number 2: Their response was that we should tear it down even though it was erected close to 60 years ago. They referred to the recently enacted Scenic Overlay Law that would require us to go through thousands of dollars in expense in order to legalize it. We love our carport and do not want to tear it down before we can do everything in our power to make them desist from enforcing this rule on us.”

At the time that this article was published, legal matters on the sticky situation were still pending. Stay tuned for updates as this controversial land battle continues between the two parties.

Local resident Bary Alyssa Johnson covers Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye, and Rye Brook, as well as the evolving world of electronics and technology.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

The Westchester Guardian

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Trangucci Asserts Council Improperly Advised Over New Rochelle’s GreeNR Plan

By Peggy Godfrey

Councilman Lou Trangucci knows his constituents will question the $1,200.00 owed to ICLEI (International Council Local Environmental Initiatives) for the GreeNR plan. He is concerned because this expenditure was never presented for a vote before the council.

Councilman, Richard St. Paul expressed displeasure that the City Council is being asked to approve a GreeNR plan where amendments made by council are delineated separate from the original document.

With these and other major concerns, it came as a surprise to hear Mayor Noam Bramson call the City Council meeting’s discussion “off ” over the major noted issues.

Mayor Bramson justified the GreeNR initiative saying there were 600 ICLEI members including Westchester County.

Mayor Bramson said he “never expected to hear this discussion at a City Council meeting.” He felt this plan was a common sense approach to reduce energy use.

Mayor Bramson called on Sustainability Coordinator Deborah

Newborn to explain why the City had to be a member of ICLEI. Her reply included that the software they provide gave “a lot of value for the $1200 dues.” Bramson had stated that New Rochelle along with Newark and Miami were selected as pilot cities for this sustainability initiative. City Manager Chuck Strome, stated the City’s GreeNR plan were approved, the staff would develop the plan based on budget discussions, and the City Council could reject any item. Bramson also wanted the City council to approve the plan before the amendments requested by the City Council were incorporated into a final printed version.

A discussion about flat roof requirements in the GreeNR report came up and St. Paul was told this was one of the few “mandates” in the plan. Newborn said the roof improvements would “save on air conditioning.” But St. Paul preferred all items in the plan should be optional, Further discussion led to St. Paul requesting a word change from “mandate” to “support” for the GreeNR plan. Bramson agreed to go along with this change. St. Paul suggested a vote

to bring about those changes be delayed for a month’s time because a neighborhood association in his district had wanted more information on the amended GreeNR plan, . Bramson’s reswponse was to call for a vote. The vote to delay the vote was defeated along party lines: four Democrats approved; three Republicans disapproved.

The vote to delay was defeated.

That evening at the Citizens to be Heard Council meeting an especially large number of speakers, including committee members who supported the GreeNR plan, and a number of speakers who opposed it gave their perspective viewpoints. Jeff O”Mara said he was a 47 year resident of New Rochelle and proudly explained he had the first green cab company in New York State. Steve Mayo believes the council was putting the cart before the horse with the GreeNR plan and suggested an economic analysis should first be made. Joyce Furfero was opposed to the voting for a revised GreeNR plan without input from the residents. She urged the council to ;publish the updated plan and have another session of Citizens

to be Heard.

Trangucci later said the council was never informed a Sustainability Coordinator was required for New Rochelle to be considered joining ICLEI. It seems Sustainability Coordinator Newborn was hired prior to New Rochelle joining ICLEI and that her position was established before the City Council joined the Sustainability Plan with ICLEI. Trangucci also said the City Council only learned about this plan at the Mayor’s State of the City Address. Further, it was Mayor Bramson who presented the GreeNR Sustainability Plan to Council. The New Rochelle City Council had no input on the selection of members to the GreeNR plan.

That committee was selected by Strome.

Especially troubling to Trangucci was the part of the GreeNR report which says 95% of all new housing should be near the train station. Trangucci wondered, “Why is all the population growth in the City projected for our section of the city?”

We’ve continued to enjoy considerable success in our work on the Waterfront, the rejuvenation of the downtown. efforts on sustainability, the budget, Verizon, and more.

You can also access the report on the Village website at this link.

It is a privilege and honor to work on behalf of our fellow residents, in concert

with our dedicated Village staff. I hope that you do not hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns or ideas - or a helping hand if you would like to volunteer. We are always listening.

Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer, and a former educator.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Annual Report for 2010

By Peter Swiderski

Please find attached our Annual Report for 2010, describing the Board of Trustees’ projects

over the course of the last year. This is a report that we distribute every year as part of an effort to keep residents informed about the Board’s activities.

Trustee Quinlan trusteequinlan@hastingsgov.org

George Weinbaum ATTORNEY AT LAW

Trustee Walker trusteewalker@hastingsgov.org

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Peter Swiderski is the Mayor of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Direct email to Mayor Swiderski: mayor@hastingsgov.org,or call 914-755-0014

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

Page 7

GOVERNMENT

An Intimate Interview with Rye Brook Mayor Joan Feinstein

By Bary Alyssa Johnson

Wikipedia defines a mayor in this fine country of ours as a first among equals on the city council, analogous to a head of state for the city. Rye Brook’s Mayor Joan Feinstein is a superlative example of this ceremonial official, serving her upscale community with fairness and finesse.

Feinstein: “I’ve always been a community activist and I believe in community service. In the 1990’s I volunteered and was on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Village…I [also] served as trustee for four years and then I was appointed mayor.”

Bary: When are you next up for re-election? Do you plan to run again?

Feinstein: “I’m up in 2 years. This is a 3 year term…and it’s my 2nd term.

I strongly believe in term limits and everyone in the community knows that I will not run again for the position of Mayor.”

Bary: Have you made any noteworthy accomplishments in your position?

Rye Brook Mayor Joan Feinstein

On behalf of The Westchester Guardian, I conducted the following one-on-one interview with Mayor Feinstein on March 10, 2011. Here is your chance at a first-hand glance of the inner-workings of the mayor’s mind regarding mixed matters and on-thejob issues.

Bary: How would you describe your role as mayor?

Feinstein: “I would analogize it to being chairman of the board to a corporation. I’m the more prominent persona of the board [of trustees], I am the one who runs the meetings, and even though there’s equal vote for other board members...basically you could say I’m the point person on the board.

Bary: How long have you been the mayor?

Feinstein: “I’ve been mayor for 3 years.”

Bary: What made you decide on this career path?

Feinstein: “Oh, there are so many things! Well…I’m really very cognizant as a corporate attorney with a finance background, working during this hard economic time. My biggest accomplishment, I would say, is our hotel tax.

We’ve levied for years for the tax and last summer it became a reality. This is a new source of non-property revenue that we’ll be getting from the Hilton Hotel and Arrowwood Resort. We’re estimating $400,000-$500,000 per year in revenue for the Village.”

Bary: What would you describe as your strengths and weaknesses as Mayor?

Feinstein: “I think I’m a good listener…I really think hard and I assess the facts. I’m passionate about what I do and I work very hard at it.

My weakness is that sometimes I can be a little bit impatient.”

Bary: What are the current issues of importance to you within your community?

Feinstein: “Taxes, taxes, taxes, finances, finances, finances! All over!

The responsibility of an elected official is balance – the issue we’re dealing with now is how to balance an attempt to hold the line on taxes and at same time meet the expectations that the

residents have in terms of community programs.”

Bary: Would you say your community’s state of economy is emerging from a low point or descending down upon one?

Feinstein: “We’ve been at a low point for the past three years. I can’t say we’re emerging yet. As a nation…I still think that everyone is financially uncertain about the future.”

Bary: Do you donate to any charities?

Feinstein: “Yes. My husband and I make a lot of donations to charities.”

Bary: What is your relationship with the residents of Rye Brook?

Feinstein: “I’m very open and very accessible. I return all calls and emails…I try to appear at different events to let people know I am accessible.

Today I spoke at the local high school about a leadership class. I was the guest lecturer for the day.”

Bary: Are there any interesting facts that most people don’t know about you?

Feinstein: “Let me see…Well, basically when I was younger I was very timid and shy.

I think many people find that hard to believe. I was very reticent to speak publicly.”

Bary: Are there any last words you’d like to offer up as a way to reach out and speak to residents of Rye Brook

and the rest of Westchester County?

Feinstein: “I would ask for residents to become involved in our community and to give back. There are lots of opportunities to serve on committees and help out. I’ve always used the phrase that Marion Wright Edelman coined: ‘Serving is the rent we pay for living.’”

Local resident Bary Alyssa Johnson covers Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye, and Rye Brook, as well as the evolving world of electronics and technology.

Page 8

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

GOVERNMENT

County Executive Astorino and Ossining Supervisor Borgia Sign Police Services Contract Ossining, NY -- Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Ossining Supervisor Catherine Borgia formally signed a cost-saving contract on March 9, 2011, for the Department of Public Safety to provide police services to the Town.

At a ceremony held at the former Town of Ossining Police Department headquarters, Astorino and Borgia signed the Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA), which went into effect on Jan. 1. Under the agreement, the Westchester County police are providing patrol and investigative services to the Town of Ossining.

“The contract between Westchester County and the Town of Ossining is an example of how municipal governments can work together to provide the best available services to residents at the lowest possible cost,” Astorino said. “I applaud Supervisor Borgia and the members of the Town Board for looking for creative ways to reduce the tax burden in their community.”

With the county police providing communications and supervision from its existing resources, the agreement

enables the Town of Ossining to achieve substantial savings annually – estimated at $600,000 the first year and as much as $800,000 in subsequent years – as compared to maintaining its own police department.

“This historic and ground-breaking contract will provide the taxpayers of the Town of Ossining with significant, repeating cost savings, while maintaining the high level of police service Ossining residents deserve,” Borgia said. “It is an excellent example of how governments can work together to find new and effective ways of providing vital services to constituents at reduced costs. By working together, we created a mutually beneficial agreement for the Town of Ossining and the County. It was a pleasure to work with the County Executive, the County Board of Legislators and the Commissioner of Public Safety to craft this innovative arrangement.”

Under the IMA, the Department of Public Safety is providing two patrol officers on day and evening tours and one officer on the midnight tour; a School Resource Officer at the Anne M. Dorner

Middle School; and a detective to handle investigations in the town.

Astorino stressed that the contract requires the town to cover the full cost of the officers assigned to Ossining – including salaries, benefits and pension costs. “This contract is tax neutral to Westchester County taxpayers,” Astorino said. “The county is not subsidizing the Town of Ossining.”

Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth said that the transition in Ossining was a smooth one as a result of a phased-in approach to the consolidation of service: • Nov. 17, 2010: The county police took over all dispatching and communications functions from the Town of Ossining police. This allowed town police officers to participate in crosstraining with county police officers.

• Dec. 31, 2010-Jan. 1, 2011: 10 Town of Ossining Police Department (TOPD) members with the rank of police officer or detective were sworn in Dec. 31 as Westchester County police officers. At 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, the county police began patrolling the town.

• Jan. 31: Four TOPD supervisors – one lieutenant and three sergeants – were sworn in as members of the county police.

• March 2: TOPD Chief Mark Busche was sworn in as a captain in the county police.

“Each phase of the transition enabled Town of Ossining personnel to familiarize the county police with the community and enabled Ossining officers to learn the policies and procedures of the county police,” Longworth said. “This approach enabled us to make as seamless a transition as possible.”

Longworth praised the Town of Ossining Police Department for more than a century and a half of service to the community. He said the Westchester County Police Depatment were committed to maintaining the level of personal and professional police service the community has come to expect.

The $2.3 million contract runs for four years and is renewable at its conclusion.

The Department of Public Safety also patrols the Town of Cortlandt under a similar contract for police services.

Rochester and seemed most attuned to the issues facing local municipalities. The Lt. Governor properly cautioned us that throwing money at institutions/projects does not necessarily improve their performance. As an illustration, he noted that New York State ranks #1 in education spending yet ranks 34th nationally in performance. We also lead the country in Medicaid spending yet rank 22nd in tangible results and because of New York’s extremely high taxes and myriad of regulations, New York State ranks last in the nation as a “business friendly” state.

Lt. Governor Duffy believes that because of New York’s dire economic situation, (this year’s projected State budget shortfall is over $10 billion) New York taxpayers must hold their elected officials more accountable than ever and make their opinions known and voices heard. He challenged us to encourage our taxpayers, who he believes have become another silent majority, to call, e-mail

and/or write to State elected officials and ask where they stand on issues such as pension reform, tax caps, unfunded mandates and consolidation of services.

In essence, he was exhorting us all to take back our government. In that spirit, the following are the names and contact information for the individuals who represent the Village.

MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN GOVERNMENT

Natural Study of Village Features

By Mary C. Marvin This past week Village Administrator Harold Porr and I attended the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal

Officials Annual Winter Legislative Conference in Albany. Various State elected officials spoke to us, including the new Lt. Governor, Robert Duffy.

Duffy is a former mayor of the City of

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The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 The Honorable Robert J. Duffy Lt. Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 Senator Jeff Klein 3612 East Tremont Avenue Bronx, NY 10465 (800) 718-2039 jdklein@senate.state.ny.us Continued on page 9

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

Page 9

contributions back in the late 1990s, the Comptroller at that time also reduced employer contributions to inexplicably low levels causing a whip saw effect on annual local government rates. For example, just ten years ago, when the stock market was strong and the fund enjoyed a great return on investment, Bronxville’s obligation to the State pension fund was just $4,674. In our upcoming budget, it will be $753,255, clearly a number unsustainable going forward. There are now communities in the State that spend more on retiree benefits than they do municipal services for their residents.

The other critical issue discussed by the mayors at the conference is the proposed property tax cap on local governments and school districts. The theme of the conference was “You Can’t Cap What You Can’t Control”. Unfunded mandates on local governments make it impossible

to cap local taxes unless the mandates are removed. Some of the mandates imposed include: pension costs, health insurance rules, MTA payroll tax, the Wicks Law, the Taylor Law, Civil Service Regulations, the FOIL Law, and many others, all with related expenses.

As a result, capping property taxes at 2% without exempting and then reforming the staggering unfunded mandates such those listed above will only result in massive local layoffs and diminution of services and infrastructure repair.

Unfortunately, the Governor’s Mandate Relief Panel, whose report came out this week, offered nothing concrete, rather suggesting more review and more study despite the looming crisis.

prohibit the tattooing of minors, regardless of parental consent.

At the COW meeting Councilwoman Drew Claxton addressed the issue of under-aged tattoo clients in terms of allowing salons to be on the first floor or second floor. “If they [tattoo parlors] are on the second floor and we have young kids doing activities that are less than the on-and-up, you can’t see it. On the first floor, you can see it and regulate it more easily.”

But city manager Rick Finn said no matter what floor the tattoo parlor is on, enforcement means training one person what to look for. “That means training someone regularly, pulling a person from the police staff for ongoing enforcement over time – someone from an already small staff.”

Councilwoman Marybeth Mcgowan, who admitted to having a tattoo herself, asked if one of the regulations should require clients to make a consultation. “If the town requires clients to have consultations it will impede anyone, maybe some drunk kids, from tumbling into a tattoo

salon and [immediately] getting a tattoo.”

The committee also volleyed the often debated issues of where salons should be located, distances from school and churches and proximity to the downtown business and art districts.

“In reality tattoo parlors are not art studios, they are a business,” said Claxton.

“A business has to have a solid business plan.” Councilman Joseph Schuder said as businesses, tattoo parlors “should have space that is adequate for their business.”

Both Finn and Ruggiero said they would bring back answers on how other areas, including New York City, regulate the tattoo business. The next Committee of the Whole and Town Council meetings are on Monday, March 14th at 6:30 and 7:30 respectively. The Committee on the Whole will meet again on the following Monday, March 21.

MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN GOVERNMENT

Natural Study of Village Features Continued from page 8 Assemblywoman Amy Paulin 700 White Plains Road, Suite 252 Scarsdale, NY 10582 (914) 723-1115 paulina@assembly.state.ny.us In the roundtable discussions, clearly the most pressing topics among mayors across New York State are the onerous pension and healthcare obligations that are crippling local budgets and threatening to curtail expenditures for necessary local services. The sense was that employees were being made the scapegoats for unsustainable benefits, when in fact the blame should rest with the politicians who negotiated some of these sweetheart deals. Some elected officials made deals due to pressure from special interests with an eye towards re-election. The end result

was that the only constituency not represented at the bargaining table was the taxpayer. The most incredible example of personal ambition trumping fiscal responsibility was former State Comptroller Carl McCall’s decision to eliminate the 3% employee pension contribution to court the favor of unions to aid in his candidacy for governor. This one decision, abetted by the State Legislature, literally has cost taxpayers billions.

To put the alarming escalation of pension costs in perspective, we need to look no further than the Village’s own obligation. By State Constitution, the pension fund has a single trustee, the State Comptroller. Over the years the pension trustee, or State Comptroller, has not managed the fund well. For instance, along with the elimination of employee

More Angst Over Tattoo Parlors

By Abby Luby

Peekskill officials are still in a quandary over how to regulate tattoo parlors, if and when they are permitted to operate in the city.

Months after public hearings and recommendations, unresolved questions about rules and enforcement have stymied the town council, slowing the move forward to reverse its long time ban on the skinart businesses.

Since the New York State Department of Health is currently working on new regulations for tattoo and body piercing salons, the state has deferred towns and cities to their county health code for guidance. For Peekskill, this is a problem.

“The county health department does not regulate tattoo parlors,” said Westchester County Director of Public Health Information Caren Halbfinger, who added they were waiting on the state for new regulations. Until then, laws would have to be created by specific localities.

Last week, at Peekskill’s Committee of the Whole meeting, council members discussed what specific regulations the city would require of tattoo businesses.

“We still have some work to do,” said

Anthony Ruggiero, Peekskill’s director of Planning. Ruggiero is researching the tattoo parlor regulations of Pleasantville and New York City as possible guidelines to create a Peekskill law.

State DOH holds that the Commissioner of Health has the power to “develop regulations establishing operating standards, fees, fines and penalties for failure to abide by the regulations and that operators and tattoo artists be required to obtain a permit to operate a tattoo business.” Beyond that, individual towns and cities have to come up with their own rules.

Councilman Don Peters said he was particularly concerned about health issues.

“What about the health code? There’s not a whole lot of language about that.”

High on the list of risks associated with tattooing are infection and bloodborne disease transmission such as HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In New York City about 1900 tattoo artists were required to take an infection control course and pass an exam. Their licenses are valid for two years. Most laws

Mary C. Marvin is the Mayor of the Village of Bronxville, New York.

Abby Luby is a Westchester based, freelance journalist who writes about current, local news, environmental issues, art entertainment and food..

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.

Page 10

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

THE FEINER REPORT

Greenburgh Town Board Meeting

By Paul Feiner

Summit on Real Estate on March 23, 2011 At the March 23rd meeting of the Greenburgh Town Board we will have a discussion on the state of real estate in the town. The meeting will commence at 7:30 PM. Realtors from around the town will provide residents with a comparison of sales: 2011 vs 2010. Are prices up or down? How long is it taking to sell the typical property? What should the town be doing to help make Greenburgh a more desirable place to move to --for businesses and homeowners. Our meetings are streamed live on the web: www. greenburghny.com

Community Outreach Meeting March 21, 2011 - Edgemont High School. The Town Board and I hold frequent community outreach meetings around town. Our next big outreach meeting is on March 21st at 7:30 PM. The goal: to encourage residents to partner with their elected officials on important decisions. We will discuss the budget, anticipated budget cuts, whether or not we should reassess properties, neighborhood police issues (approaches we’re taking to keep residents safe) and other issues.

Greenburgh town government also makes house calls. If you would like me (or other officials) to stop by at your house to discuss any issue - please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. We come to you. You’re our boss!

County Executive’s Decision to Close WestHelp will have Unintended Consequences Sometimes, in government, elected officials make decisions and don’t realize that there will be unintended consequences to their decisions. When County Executive Rob Astorino announced last year that he would close down WestHelp/Greenburgh, a 108 unit homeless shelter, he was looking to save taxpayer dollars. His decision, if it is not reversed, will have an unintended consequence: the county (because of the NYS Constitutional requirement to house the homeless in shelters) will probably have to place the homeless in hotels all over Westchester--including some luxury hotels like the Rye Hilton, Arrowwood, Ritz Carlton, Marriott.

In the 1980s, when I was a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, I objected to Westchester County’s policy of housing the homeless in hotels. Every hotel in Westchester - including the Rye Town & Tarrytown Hiltons was used as a homeless shelter on a daily basis.I recall speaking out during one meeting of the Legislature objecting to the fact that we had spent over $200 a night to house a homeless family in the Rye Hilton.

Nineteen years ago that approach stopped. The county started placing the homeless in transitional housing. One of the sites: WestHelp Greenburgh. Not only does this facility provide housing, it also provides supportive services to homeless families. Over 2,400 families have been

placed into permanent housing and close to 300 homeless clients have been placed into unsubsidized employment in the last decade.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announced plans to close WestHelp Greenburgh- effective September, 2011. I believe this is a costly mistake. I have concerns that the county in the future- will be forced to house the homeless back in hotels. The reason: the NYS constitution requires the county to find shelter to house the homeless. Once WestHelp closes it will be difficult to persuade any other neighborhood to agree to house the homeless in their community.

WestHelp is also more cost effective than housing the homeless in an expensive luxury hotel. The shelter’s daily rate is $92.27 per unit per day (108 units). Most of the other shelters around the county cost the county about $120 a day per unit.

The town of Greenburgh has received $1.2 million a year for rent under an agreement between the county and town.

I cannot understand why the county is closing a facility that is efficient, and cost effective when all signs indicate the number of homeless adults and families will increase in the near future. Important indicators include: DSS has acknowledged a significant increase in applications for Food Stamps.

The total number of Food Stamp applications taken in January was 1,679. As of today the total number of Food Stamp cases in Westchester County are 37,266 and the total number of individuals receiving food stamps are 68,098. The number of requests for the food pantries and soup kitchens has also increased.

Historically, increased demand for these

safety net services is indicative of a pending increase in homelessness.

Foreclosures and evictions continue to increase.

Unemployment rate it Westchester is about 6.5% Since 2009, the County has used Federal stimulus funding (HPRP money) to provide families at-risk of homelessness with rental assistance payments that have kept them out of the homeless system. This funding has now ended and the County no longer has a way to keep these families from losing their housing and falling into homelessness. $2.37 million dollars was a one-time award issued in 2009.

If WestHelp/Greenburgh closes, there will also be a ripple effect on the economy and the provider community. These partnerships with local service providers allow the County to leverage State and Federal resources that are not otherwise available. For example, West COP Day Care operates a quality child care program for homeless children at West HELP Greenburgh which contributes more than $600,000 of Federal funds to the County’s continuum of homeless services. If West HELP Greenburgh is closed, the result will be a further reduction in any financial resources that the County may use to offset services.

The shelter contract contributes $1.2 million annually to the Town of Greenburgh. This critical revenue stream will be lost if the WestHelp/Greenburgh contract is terminated. A loss of $1.2 million in revenue translates into a significant tax hike in our town-wide budget.

casino conspiracy of 2010, although well publicized, has not yet led to indictments.

Since the plot was foiled, there may be insufficient grounds to send the plotters upstate. If they should be incarcerated, however, they will be counted as residents of their home districts downstate, thanks to their Democratic colleagues in the legislature who wanted to minimize Republican districts upstate.

The daily press gave substantial and well-merited attention to the arrests, which we do not need to retreat. We will, however, provide links which will inform you of the accusations, and articles about the case: First is the 53-page criminal

complaint, obtained by Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, a position formerly held by Robert Morgenthau and Rudy Giuliani. Note the intercepted telephone conversations (p22 et seq.) between the alleged conspirators, including an Assemblymember who died in prison.

Among the other published accounts of the defendants’ activities, both criminal and extra-curricular, are: Gay Pol’s $1 Mil “Bribe” Out-Rage

by Bruce Golding, Rich Calder and Dan Mangan (Post) Henry J. Stern writes as StarQuest. Direct email to him at StarQuest@NYCivic.org.

Peruse Mr. Stern’s writing at New York Civic.

Paul Feiner is Greenburgh town Supervisor.

NEW YORK CIVIC GOVERNMENT

Big Fish is Hooked

By Henry J. Stern

The forces of good scored a major victory in the indictment of State Senator Carl Kruger, Assemblyman William Boyland and six accomplices in a bribery ring that goes back five years.

Until now, corrupt legislators had been picked off by the authorities one at a time, and their venality, although felonious, was relatively limited in its scope.

This time a big fish has been nabbed,

Out of the Closet and Into the Cooler along with his bottom feeder associates.

The investigation was helped over the years by co-operating public officials seeking lighter sentences. Brian McLaughlin was the first to go; he gave up the late Anthony Seminerio, who was taped in expletive-laced conversations with Kruger’s confederates.

We wonder how many more legislators, particularly from Brooklyn and Queens, are shivering at the prospect of future undesired contact with law enforcement agencies. The Aqueduct

The Westchester Guardian

ED KOCH

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

Page 11

COMMENTARY

Afghanistan: The Endless War

By Ed Koch

There are generals and Secretaries of Defense who love war and those who don’t. Eisenhower, both general and President, in his farewell speech in 1961 as he left the presidency warned the American public about the military industrial complex. In the ensuing years, his warning has gone basically unheeded. In 2010, the U.S. military budget was $533.8 billion, more than that of the next 14 largest countries combined.

We are now spending the astronomical sum of $2 billion a week on the war in Afghanistan. More importantly, in the ten years since that war began, we have suffered over 11,000 military casualties: 1,493 dead soldiers and 9,971 injured.

Those injuries in many cases are far worse than in prior wars because our medical facilities are so much better now and capable of saving lives that could not be saved in earlier wars.

Between the enormous expenditures and 94,000 U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and the 50,000 still in Iraq, our military is apparently so thinly stretched that we cannot eliminate the pirates off the coast of Somalia who have currently taken hostage and are holding for ransom more than 660 civilians and 30 ships from all over the world. The pirates have collected millions of dollars primarily from oil companies willing to pay to recover their oil cargo and freighters. More recently, the pirates have murdered some of the civilians they have taken hostage.

The press doesn’t seem to challenge our government on this issue, nor does Congress. In earlier days when pirates operated in the Mediterranean from the Barbary shores referred to in the Marine anthem as the shores of Tripoli, it was President Thomas Jefferson who sent in the Marines and ended their ability to extort ransom from passing ships.

Why hasn’t President Obama ordered the wholesale destructions of those pirate centers on Somalia’s coast where some residents have become millionaires on what has now become a regular business? Those millions, some journalists have written, have been and are being used to equip pirates and terrorists with the most advanced weapons. I suspect

the President is reluctant to take on those pirates with our superior forces for fear of being charged with the use of disproportionate force and injuring women and children in wholesale bombing of pirate villages.

We have been cowed by the barrage of criticism that comes from Pakistan and Afghanistan when we seek to kill terrorists with our drones, and there is what used to be referred to as “collateral damage.” Terrorists surround themselves with civilians, including their own families and the families of others. Should that use of civilians, who in all probability know and approve of their being used in that way, prevent us from taking measures to kill terrorists who if left alive will seek every possible way to blow up Americans and indeed will blow up other Muslims when it suits their purpose?

The New York Times of March 7th reports that Afghan President Karzai denounced NATO troops for mistakenly killing nine Afghan children believing they had fired on NATO troops. The Times pointed out that according to the most recent United Nations report, “more than three-quarters of civilian casualties are now caused by the insurgents.”

Where is the outrage of President Karzai who wants to bring the Taliban into his government?

What we need in Congress is a brave member who every day will stand up at 12 noon and in the hour set aside for speeches by members on any subject do the equivalent of what Cato the Elder did every day in the Roman Senate, stating “Carthage must be destroyed.” Today’s Congress member or Senator should say “The Somali pirates must be destroyed.”

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates served in the George W. Bush administration, left, and then was called back after Rumsfeld was sacked. Before that, his service included Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 to 1993 and Deputy National Security Advisor from 1989 to 1991.

Gates is now near the end of his service, having announced he is leaving the government at the end of this year.

His statement given recently at West Point was a warning to the U.S. He said

army” in the first place, what is the logic to an audience of West Point cadets on of having our army stay there? Why are February 25th, “In my opinion, any future we currently in Afghanistan? defense secretary who advises the presiWe are allowing our young soldiers dent to again send a big American land to spill their blood to support a corrupt army into Asia or into the Middle East or regime, whose President Karzai has told Africa should ‘have his head examined,’ as us he wants to bring into his government General MacArthur so delicately put it.” members of the Taliban – the governI don’t know what advice Gates gave ment that protected and gave sanctuary President Obama when the President to al-Qaeda. The latter according to was deciding what to do with respect to CIA director Leon Panetta has perhaps continuing the Afghan war. The President 50 operatives remaining in that country. decided to authorize sending another President Obama and others in the 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan, indelPentagon talk about our winning the ibly attaching his name to that war, when war in Afghanistan. What does winning he could have ordered that our involvemean? Does it mean the Taliban joins the ment wind down and our troops start Karzai government? exiting. The President’s involvement While we wait for that victory our has further deepened by his moving an young soldiers continue to die and suffer earlier-declared exit date of 2011 to at grievous injuries. We spend $2 billion a least 2014 and beyond. week while our 50 states have to lay off Irrespective of Gates’ advice to the cops, firefighters and teachers to balance President on that issue, he revealed their budgets. another strongly-held position concerning Why are Americans not out in the the responsibilities of the Afghan governstreets marching against Washington ment and people to defend themselves until this war is ended? Simple. We have and not depend on U.S. soldiers to do a volunteer army and a very small number what they should be doing. of American families are directly affected.

In an interview Gates gave on There was a time when all of America was February 22nd to Bill Kristol of the concerned with the deaths of our young Weekly Standard and others, he reportedly soldiers. That was when there was a draft. said with respect to Afghanistan, that the To be unconcerned today, as is apparently July 2011 deadline was “the piece of the the situation, is unconscionable. strategy that frankly I had the hardest Let Mayor Koch know your thoughts time with during the debate.” It was also by directing email to eikoch@bryancave. reported that “Gates had opposed any com. timelines or deadlines in Iraq, but was ultimately convinced that going public The Honorable Edward Irving Koch served with a date for the start of a withdrawal New York City as its 105th Mayor from could be a tool in Afghanistan. ‘What 1978 to 1989. finally tipped me was I couldn’t think of another way to grab Karzai by the lapels and say: You have to take ownership of this. This is your war. Your APARtMeNtS 47 RiveRdale ave., YonkeRs, nY young men have to sign up.

We will be here, we will be your partner forever, but we are not going to keep tens of thousands of American and other foreign troops 1 & 2 BR apaRtments at a GReat pRice!

1 BR staRtinG at $1075 • 2 BRs staRtinG at $1300 here forever. So as a way of 914.798.9410 grabbing his attention and • High-Rise Building and Views of the Hudson and Historical Yonkers getting a sense of urgency, I • Nearby Public Transportation, Shopping/Restaurants, the Hudson River and only 15 min. away from NYC TTY # 800.662.1200 felt it was – I finally agreed • Fitness Center On-Site Riverview Court • 24 Hours Access Control Patrol Does Not to it.’”

Discriminate • Large State of the Art Laundry Room On The Basis • 24 Hr. Maintenance Let me ask, if we Of Disability.

• On-Site Management shouldn’t according to Gates • Reasonably-Priced Indoor Parking On-Site, with Controlled Access • Resident Lounge 15 min. have gone into Afghanistan • Business Center FRom nYc • Beautiful Courtyard in the center of the complex via with “a big American land with well-appointed landscape areas

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metRo noRth!

Page 12

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

TRUTH AND JUSTICE

Selwyn Days Round 3 - Week 5

By Jeff Deskovic On Thursday March 10, 2011, Supreme Court Judge Barry Warhit declared a mistrial in the Selwyn Days’ double homicide murder trial.

In closing arguments, lead defense attorney Roberto Finzi argued that the confession was false and only came after seven hours of questioning-merely one hour of which was video-taped; there was a lack of physical evidence tying Days to the crime; and that his client was actually in Goldsboro North Carolina 533 miles away from the crime scene between Nov. 18th to Nov. 21, 1996 when the bodies were discovered.

Assistant District Attorney Christine O’Connor argued that the confession was not coerced, and that while Days’ DNA was not found at the crime scene, his version of events matched what the police found at the crime scene. She further argued that Stella Days, Selwyn’s mother, orchestrated the alibi witness’ testimony, even attempting to bribe a woman who was in financial trouble, and, that several of them had close personal ties to her.

The jury sent out several notes asking for read-backs, requesting to re-hear Days’ confession. They also asked for the definition of “reasonable doubt.” They further asked to see a calendar from 1996, and to hear the testimony of Mark Moore, who testified that one of his employees saw Days in New York at the time of the murders.

On the second day of deliberations, the jury asked to hear testimony from a former Mount Vernon Police Captain who took the anonymous call in 2001 that suggested Days was responsible.

On Wednesday, the jury sent out two notes stating that they could not come to a unanimous verdict. Nevertheless they were prodded by Judge Warhit to keep deliberating. The second note had stated, “We are a hung jury. Tempers are flaring. Further deliberations would be futile.”

On Thursday, having once again attempted to reach a unanimous verdict, shortly before 5PM, they sent out a third note, again indicating would not be able to produce a unanimous verdict. At that point, Warhit had no choice but to declare a mistrial.

It was later disclosed that the jury was stuck 9-3 in favor of acquittal. Despite

A Hung Jury that fact, Lucien Chalfim, spokesperson for Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore, stated that Days would be tried a fourth time.

Analysis The outcome was disappointing in view of the fact that the defense had presented ample evidence of innocence; from a multitude of alibi witnesses, to forensics which didn’t match Days. Also, it was obvious that a man with his mental incapacity would not be able to commit such a crime without leaving a trace.

Furthermore, many aspects of the “confession” were proven false.

Confession evidence is very difficult to overcome, because the idea that someone would falsely confess is counter-intuitive, as demonstrated by the 80% conviction rate in cases which feature confession evidence. Yet, false confessions, having been the cause of wrongful convictions in 25% of the now 267 DNA proven wrongful convictions, are an established fact. Given these realities, it was all the more appropriate for Judge Warhit to have allowed false confession expert testimony into evidence, thus providing a greater working knowledge and context for the jurors when considering whether or not the confession was false. However, he did not. Doubtlessly, if he would have, this case would have almost certainly ended in an acquittal. The Westchester Guardian learned that had jurors had the opportunity to hear from or speak to a false confession expert the information they could have learned would have become relevant to their deliberations. When Warhit denied this motion, he deprived the defendant of a fair trial in the purest sense.

He had previously denied the defendant a fair trial when, prior to trial, he refused to permit defense attorneys the opportunity to compare DNA samples from the crime scene with state and federal DNA database, in an effort to identify the actual perpetrator. As it was, the partial comparisons that were made narrowed the DNA to about people. By his ruling, Warhit very well may have prevented the actual perpetrator from ever being identified. Warhit, who is well aware of wrongful convictions, having represented both Steven Cunningham, the actual perpetrator in my wrongful conviction, and Michael Dillon in the Richard

DiGuglielmo case, should have known better and should have given Selwyn Days every opportunity to prove his innocence.

What did Judge Warhit have to lose?

After all, if the actual perpetrator was finally identified, he or she could have been brought to justice, while simultaneously preventing still another wrongful conviction.

Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore, who is a co-chair of Court Of Appeals Chief Judge Lippman’s Wrongful Conviction Panel, should be ashamed of herself for preventing the defense in this case from utilizing the DNA Database.

Having allowed me that opportunity which resulted in my exoneration, and thereafter touting herself as a reformer interested

only in convicting the guilt while exonerating the innocent, she now reverts back to her true form as a prosecutor merely interested in winning. Clearly, she should be removed from the panel.

Then again, as I have repeatedly stated, unless and until the Court Of Appeals changes it’s ways of frequently declining to entertain even meritorious appeals, and takes serious action toward reforming the system, that panel is a facade that is all about false appearances, rather than a serious tool in the struggle against wrongful convictions.

Jeffrey M. Deskovic is a Criminal Justice Advocate and Exoneree. To learn more, wist his website: www.JeffreyDeskovicSpeaks.org.

ANALYSIS

Bruce Ratner—The Teflon Don

By Hezi Aris

“Real Estate Developer No. 1” May Have Hog-Tied Brooklyn, Yonkers, and New Rochelle Carlos Gonzalez, The Albany Correspondent, for The Westchester Guardian / Yonkers Tribune on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, reported: Breaking News: Albany Correspondent - Another Corruption Charge for Another Senate Democrat By Carlos Gonzalez.

The Westchester Guardian / Yonkers Tribune where on top of the story before it even began to unravel. And unravel it did.

It was a repeat performance for “Real Estate Developer No. 1,” better known to most in Yonkers as Forest City Ratner (FCR). Forest City Ratner is the developer behind the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, New York, the Ridge Hill Development project in Yonkers, New York, and the Echo Bay project in New Rochelle, New York.

This is the second time in less than two years that Forest City Ratner has been a protagonist in a corruption case. Similar to the relationship between a “john” and a “prostitute,” FCR has not been charged; escaping further scrutiny as is so often the case with a “john.”.

The corruption charges accusing Carl Kruger, a Brooklyn Democrat, alleges he was the recipient of over $1 million in bribes in exchange for influencing state matters. Mr Kruger is also said to have received money from Forest City Ratner’s Bruce R. Bender, vice-president of governmental affairs and public relations,” and FCR’s lobbyist Richard Lipsky, among other clients.

FCR spokesman Joe DePlasco divulged Forest City Ratner had ended its relationship with Mr. Lipsky, the lobbyist, on Wednesday, March 9, 2011,when word of the case was being revealed The Westchester Guardian / Yonkers Tribune’s Carlos Gonzalez, among a few others, because of the “serious nature of the charges.”

Mr DePlasco did not explain how Forest City Ratner was privy to the unsealed corruption case one day prior to its being made public by United States Attorney, Southern District of New York. Preet Bharara’s announcement on Thursday, March 10, 2011.

“I find it sad that politicians are expendable, but rich developers are not,” said Candace Carponter, the legal director of the group Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) who have challenged FCR in the courts over the Atlantic Yards project.

Ms Carponter suggests the Kruger case evokes similarities to the Ridge Hill project in Yonkers, New York where onetime Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi, long opposed to the project changed her vote in which final approval to begin the project came to pass. Ms Annabi was indicted for retreating from her opposition to that project and one other. Ms Annabi is scheduled to appear before the court on June 20, 2011.

It seems Forest City Ratner president Bruce Ratner IS the new “Godfather.”

At issue now is whether the Godfather is the” whore” or the “john.” Either way, they are using/spending taxpayer money, your money.

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

Page 13

ttTHTHE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

In Response to County Legislator Lyndon Williams

By Karen Watts

A sports facility without visitors seating, restrooms or lights anywhere is not a ‘state of the art’ facility!!! The Council does not need a petition to understand this.

An interesting picture is being painted for the public with the most recent letter written by our County Legislator.

Included is an accusation that I in some way have criticized the Legacy Program.

I not only support the Legacy Grants, I initiated the use of this very grant for Memorial Field in 2006 with then County Legislator Clinton I. Young!!!

Legislator Lyndon Williams went all over town in the early part of 2010, telling

all who would listen that the Memorial Field project was in danger because the Council had not put the bonds in place.

As the majority of the Council was newly elected in 2010, we wanted to review as much as possible to be certain that the tax dollars of our residents were not squandered on unnecessary interest payments or funding projects that were no longer needed. After we met with commissioners and department heads, we put the requests in order of importance and job readiness.

Of course Memorial Field was at the top of the list. I do not know why the 2009 City Council failed to request the correct amount of money for the project. This fact that was not revealed until later, as Legislator Lyndon Williams is aware of,

since it was he who informed us!

Quite honestly, from the perspective of the Council, it simply doesn’t matter who or when or what led to the present issue. Our only interest now is to resolve it. We could spend years arguing how this came to be. But at the end of the day, what would that accomplish? The Council does not wish to spend any more time rehashing the past. We would like to move forward and get this field started!

As Stated by our Legislator, ‘this is the job of the City Officials.’

After a call from me, the Mayor re-appointed the Capital Projects Board.

He did this on February 24th, 2011.

While we were waiting for this, I, and other members of the Council, spoke with

several department heads including the Planning and Recreation Commissioners, to work on changing the current bond requests so that more money could be put towards Memorial Field. We are still waiting for some of these numbers.

I, for one, am of the opinion that what could have, should have or would have happened, ceases to be an issue in light of the work that has to be done now.

Mount Vernon residents deserve a state of the art facility. As elected officials, we are charged with the responsibility of achieving this goal. This is the aim of the Council.

Finally, I will once again repeat the last line in my initial letter to our Legislator - ‘It is my hope that you will assist us by working with us to accelerate the process so that we can get this work done correctly - the first time!’

Karen Watts is Mount Vernon City Council President.

CommunitySection News & Notes from Northern Westchester

By Mark Jeffers

Welcome to another edition of “News & Notes from Northern Westchester,” where we take a look at the happenings up here in the northern part of the county…

Let’s start off with some good old High School Theater…John Jay has “Footloose” running April 7 – 9 and Fox Lane High has “The Boyfriend playing March 18 through the 20th. Check out those soon to be Tony Award winners.

So, did you see the Academy Awards show, I thought host Anne Hathaway was pretty entertaining, while her co-host James Franco was about as exciting as watching paint dry…actually paint has a tad more life. A couple of Westchester connected folks took home Oscars, including Aaron Sorkin from Scarsdale for best Adapted Screenplay for “The Social Network, “ and who could forget Melissa Leo’s f-bomb acceptance speech for best Supporting Actress in “The Fighter,” Leo spent some time studying at Purchase College.

It looks like a decision on the Chappaqua Crossing development or as it

is better known the old “Reader’s Digest” property may come down soon. However, there is no truth to the rumor that Charlie Sheen is buying the property for a new place to party with his “live – in goddesses”.

Everyone else is mentioning Sheen’s crazy behavior, I just couldn’t resist.

So, I’m driving back up north after a great meeting with our editor-in-chief and see a gas sign on the Hutch at $3.99 per gallon, I practically drove off the road, can $4.00 be far behind…

You know, I’ve heard worse proposals than Governor Cuomo’s sliding salary cap on school superintendent’s idea. The proposal would cap salaries at $125,000 to $175,000. Still enough to buy milk at the local Hess station, and as we all know the salaries up here in the north are quite high, so a little capping could help ease the tax burden, just thought I would toss in my two cents.

Congratulations and good luck to the Purchase Panthers, the top seed in the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region college basketball championships. The Skyline Champions hope to make a final

four appearance in Salem, VA later this 12:45pm. month.

And did you know…Northern More sports congrats go out to Fox Westchester Hospital conducts monthly Lane senior Steven Rodrigues and Somer’s health screenings at the Community junior Brian Realbuto as they won state Center on Saturdays. wrestling titles up in Albany.

It is that time of year again…look Here’s a great event to add to your for your local Girl Scout Troopers to get calendars, the 34th annual Guiding Eyes your annual fix of Do-si-does, Samoas and for the Blind Golf Classic to be held June Trefoil cookies. While you are ordering, 12 and 13 at the Whippoorwill Club in remember to get extra Thin Mints and Armonk and the Mount Kisco Country Tagalongs to stick in your freezer. You Club. NY Giants star QB Eli Manning is will be quite happy when you remember returning to host and I will say he does a them a month or two from now! Support great job and the event is a lot of fun for a your Local Girl Scouts of America…eat wonderful cause. cookies!

I would like to take this opportunity to Katonah resident and my good friend wish all our readers a very happy and safe Ken Sweeney has been elected to the Saint Patrick’s Day… Burke Rehabilitation Hospital’s Board of That will wrap it up for this edition of Directors, way to go Ken… “News & Notes.”

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Page 14

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

THE MERRY GARDENER

Bird Song and the Equinox

By Marilyn Elie

Have you noticed?

The birds have started to call and the days are longer. On this cloudy Sunday afternoon the official time for sunset is 5:44pm. Sunrise will follow 12 hours and 24 minutes later at 6:32am. We are gaining about two minutes of light each day and on a cosmic scale it all adds up to a mad rush to March 20. That’s the day for the Vernal Equinox when the sun crosses the equator or, for us in the northern hemisphere, the first day of spring. On that date both day and night will be about equal, 12 hours each. It varies slightly depending on where on earth you are. After that, daylight triumphs and we move on to the long lazy days of summer.

It can’t happen soon enough! For a great site with all of the astronomical details visit www.timeanddate.com.

It’s amazing how birds have this planetary calendar wired right into their brain.

The flock around the feeder has thinned out; they still come back to eat but instead of hanging out all day by the feeder and conserving their energy they are out establishing nesting territory. That’s also why you are beginning to hear bird song.

It’s the males defining their space and trying to attract the attention of females of the species. While some birds learn their songs from what they hear, bird calls are mostly instinctive which is why a good birder can identify birds that he or she can hear, even if the bird can’t be seen.

One really handy gadget to help learn the birds by their song is the Bird IdentiFlyer. I’ve had one for years and have a good time using it by myself or with children.

The player is small and fits in your pocket like a field guide, so it is easy enough to take outside. However, I’ve had better luck listening to it inside, learning particular bird calls and then going out for a walk to watch and listen. The one exception is the “calling card” which mimics a bird in distress and will arouse the curiosity of many different birds causing them to come around to see what’s going on. Be careful not to over use this card or any others outside. Nesting and raising young is stressful enough for birds without causing them to spend time and energy investigating what they perceive as potential danger in the home territory.

The IdentiFlyer comes with several cards of different kinds of birds. The card for backyard birds is my favorite and I’ve learned most of them by now. There are cards for water birds, woodland birds, raptors, owls with other groups of birds

Purple Finch

continually being added. There is even a card for frogs. One nice feature is that you can purchase cards separately as your interest grows. The newest item on their web site (www.identiflyer.com) is a fancy new bird wand that can be used either inside or out. It is expensive, $99.00, but it has bar codes for 120 birds and you can use it as is or add bar codes to your favorite birding book. I have not tried it but would love to hear from readers who have.

Take a close look at the birds around you over the next several weeks and notice how their plumage is changing as part of the spring ritual. The purple finches look almost raspberry colored now. The tips of their brown feathers have worn away revealing a small bird dressed up to go to a prom. Even starlings have gotten a lot fancier in the last several weeks. Plain black feathers gleam iridescent in the

sunshine and the base of the bill on males is starting to show bright yellow.

Most birds pair up for the season but a few like swans or hawks mate for longer.

Pale Male, the celebrity red tailed hawk that lives on Fifth Avenue arrived at his Central Park address in 1991. He has seen a succession of partners as females in his life have been killed by cars, poisoned or just disappeared. The great controversy of 2004 surrounding the removal of his nest has been settled and he and Lola moved back to the roof of the same fancy building. Unfortunately, Lola disappeared in December of 2010. A new partner named Ginger, for the dark feathers on her neck and chin, appeared in January 2011. Ginger is young, you can tell by her markings, and she will be nesting for the first time this year. Eggs will be laid around the end of March and will hatch a month later if all goes well. Books have been written about Pale Male and his partners; one of the most note worthy is Redtails in Love. Numerous YouTube videos and current pictures of Pale Male appear on several sites. Google Pale Male for the complete list.

The same thing will be happening in our back yards and parks of Westchester with much less fanfare as hawks and bids of all species lay their eggs and raise their young. Keep a sharp eye and a good ear out for what is going on around you. You will be amazed at all of the non human activity!

Marilyn Elie, the Merry Gardener welcomes your questions and comments at themerrygardener@gmail.com.

THE SPOOF

IBM Computer Watson Turns into a Bully after “Jeopardy” Win

By Gail Farrelly

Watson may be a genius, but even geniuses don’t always know how to behave.

Reports are that Watson, after besting two champions on the game show “Jeopardy,” has turned out to be an obnoxious bully.

At one of the celebratory parties a week after the match, his behavior was particularly atrocious. Not only did he knock several folks over to be the first one

at the buffet table (“he just has to be first in everything,” one onlooker commented).

But in addition, he constantly reminded all attendees that HE was the guest of honor.

He was wearing an “I’m a winner” badge and was a complete showoff during the entire party. If that weren’t bad enough, he even tried -- thankfully without success -- to get each of the defeated champs to wear an “I’m a loser” badge. When they refused to do so, Watson just referred to them as Dopey 1 and Dopey 2.

IBM scientists were quite embarrassed, admitting that they had successfully programmed Watson with knowledge and the ability to constantly increase his knowledge, but had forgotten the “good behavior” part of the programming. “We blew it,” said one dejected scientist, who quoted Albert Einstein: “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”

Uh, you think?

C.P. Snow once said, “Technology... is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other.”

Ain’t that the truth!

Gail Farrelly (www.FarrellySistersOnline. com) writes mystery novels and short stories as well as Op-Eds. She also publishes satire pieces (Gail Farrelly’s satire and parody stories) on TheSpoof.com, a British website.

Her latest mystery novel is Creamed at Commencement: A Graduation Mystery.

The first chapter is available on her website.

Gail is working on a fourth mystery, The Virtual Heiress.

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

Page 15

ROBOTS

Da Vinci Robots on Display at the Westchester Medical Center

By Nancy King

The Westchester Medical Center displayed two models of their da Vinci surgical robots last week. Da Vinci is a robotic computer assisted platform which I used for minimally invasive surgery.

By using these robotic devices, surgeons are now able to make a one centimeter keyhole incision and perform complex surgeries that would ordinarily include large incision areas.

The Westchester Medical Center has two of these devices that cost upward of one million dollars a piece. While they may seem like an expensive investment, in reality they save money. By allowing surgeons to make smaller incisions, it cuts down on the length of recovery time that an individual may have to spend in the hospital, thus cutting down on unnecessary bills.

On the down side, it takes a very long time to become proficient in operating a da Vinci. For the four dedicated surgeons who use the device, they must complete a four year fellowship, six years of doing standard un-assisted surgeries and the train under the auspices of another surgeon, using the machine. At this time the Westchester Medical Center owns two of these devices and they are both used two to three times a week.

The platforms on display in the lobby

were a big hit with the staff and with this reporter. Using two different simulators, we were able to practice removing objects from one field and in another simulation; you were able to practice internal suturing. Technology is changing medicine at a rapid pace and observing these

robots gives one a better appreciation why a visit to the hospital may be so expensive.

However when you marvel at how far we’ve come in developing life saving technology and techniques, it is well worth the cost

an NHL lockout, the union can choose to pay the benefits.

eventually may mean revenue losses for the owners if the players get hurt.

Another concern is that retirement benefits and ALS medical payouts for former players with dementia; this contract is called “88”, which gives former players up to $88,000 per year for institutional care, up to $50,000 for home custodial care plus costs for certain physician services.

The plan also reimburses eligible players for up to the $5,250 towards the cost of joint replacement surgery.

A bargaining chip that the union may be attempting is to decertify ( by taking away the unions power (certification) to represent the NFL players union, whereby the NFLPA would renounce bargaining rights with letters to the NFL, its 32 teams and U.S. District Court Judge David Doty before the CBA (collective bargaining agreements) expire.

The players could then fight legally with antitrust Hopefully negotiations will move onward.

SPORTS

NFL Players vs Owners

By Albert Caamano

The National Football League (NFL) earned $9 billion in revenue despite economic difficulties throughout last year. Sharing its revenue with all those who want a bigger share of the pie has culminated in the fight we are presently witnessing.

Given a week to try to delay the proposed lockout.

Decisions were stalled while negotiations had been conducted and strategies were being formed. Owners changed their initial positions claiming judicial ruling had tried to block any compensation from TV revenues. This scenario could come about should the contentiousness prove to be a stalemate and the decision for a lockout comes to pass.

Minnesota Judge David Doty’ sided with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Thursday by ruling the NFL violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement with its current television deals. Judge Doty also ordered another hearing to decide the course of action which may block payments. The

two parties have been meeting during the week under the aegis of Richard Cohen from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a U.S. government agency with hope of having some progress.

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA lawyers Jeff Kessler and Richard Berthelsen with Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Charlie Batch and former players Pete Kendall and Sean Morey were some of the people included in the meetings.

The NFL owners argue that player costs are outpacing team revenues. They want to add two more games to the sixteen game schedules and remove two pre-season games.

If there is a lockout, an opt out of medical benefit payouts may allow the players’ union to use funds under a COBRA stipulation. Under COBRA, players can continue to receive their medical benefits but would have to contribute themselves, or as in the case of

Other bargaining chips on table: Rookie pay scale, salaries and contracts will be determined by draft order.

Owners would like $1 billion more in revenues from the season overall on top of what they are already earning before players’ revenue is calculated Requiring players to test for HGH (Human Growth Hormones).

Players unions want: Better Health benefits and more coverage after retirement.

Disclosure of all revenue from throughout the season.

Independent appeals process for commissioner discipline.

A higher percentage of overall season revenue going towards players from owners Players union also have concerns based on the concussions players have been recently suffering. At issue is whether the season has been extended for too long and has thereby pushed the athletes beyond human capacity to avoid injury which

Albert Caamano has coached ice hockey for 15 plus years to include recruiting young players in preparation for college, prep schools and tournaments, and also worked Goalie camps and clinics with former Olympic coaches and college players. Direct email to him at sportswriter.caamano@gmail.com.

Page 16

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

THEATRE

Pelham Picture House Rolls Out the Red Carpet

By Abby Luby

You can almost hear the residual echo of fans laughing wildly as Charlie Chaplin eats a black leather shoe in the great 1925 silent film “The Gold Rush” or when Laurel and Hardy lose their grip on a piano as it bangs and clangs down a long staircase in the 1931 film “The Music Box.” It’s the theater where handkerchiefs soaked up tears as Clark Gable said his final goodbye to Vivien Leigh in “Gone With the Wind” (1939).

The theater, now revived and energized to reopen its doors is the Pelham Picture House on Wolf Lane in Pelham.

This 1920’s, old style main street movie theater has survived for almost a century.

The Picture House has been a portal of film evolution from opening round tins of 16 millimeter film to be projected to the expanded to giant cans holding the wider, 35 millimeter film and then to the grander cinemascope; where silents changed to talkies and folks scoffed down popcorn – the quintessential pairing to total filmic immersion.

The Pelham Picture House is 2 column embracing America’s love affair with film, not commercially packaged films with

Picture House Executive Director Jennifer Christman

scripted equations geared for box office profits, but independent movies that tell real stories about real people.

“This is an authentic space, not a multiplex,” says Jennifer Christman,

Get Noticed

Executive Director of the Pelham Picture House for five years.

“We will provide an alternative to the Hollywood product.

Here you will see independent films.”

Christman says the old picture house was slated to be demolished, a prospect that saw a groundswell to save the old theater. In 2001 the non-profit Pelham Picture House Preservation Inc. was formed. After years of fundraising and $1.15 million later, the theater was purchased. Renovations began last year and today, 250 cushy, Walter Reade rocker seats grace the hall to view films on a new silver screen. The theater also boasts new lighting and sound, new ADA compliant restrooms and an expanded lobby and concession area.

The renovations uncovered architectural treasures that for decades were 1 column covered over.

Large paned windows and the wooden truss ceiling were unearthed; the vaulted entryway was recently discovered and plans to rebuild the front foyer and expose the older paned archway are on the drawing board. The theater recently received an “in-kind” gift of cabinetry for the concession from PGS Millwork in Hudson, NY. Film education classes will be offered in new classrooms and two smaller theaters. “Film education includes a myriad of disciplines, and there’s a lot to learn,” says Christman. “There will be classes in music, set design, sound design, screen writing, directing. It’s the legacy of the Picture House.”

Get Noticed

Picture House in Pelham

The overall appeal is to the film buffs (and who isn’t one?) and film professionals “who can’t get enough,” says Christman.

“We’ll explore the ‘who, what, how’ - all the stuff that goes into film.”

Programs parallel the appeal of the old theater. Old silver screen favorites made between 1930 and 1980 will be featured in the “Reel Insider” series; the Westchester Italian Film Festival will show new Italian films; “Family Flicks” promises the classics for all ages and begins next month.

“An Evening With…..” is the theater’s newest series that allows intimate conversations with known film artists and has so far included Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Gabriel Byrne, and Charles Grodin.

Ribbon cutting is scheduled for March 25 at 11 am and the 90th Birthday Gala will be held on April 9th.

The Picture House is located at 175 Wolfs Lane. For more information, call 914-738-3161, or go to www.thepicturehouse.org.

Abby Luby is a Westchester based, freelance journalist who writes about current, local news, environmental issues, art entertainment and food.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Legal Notices, Advertise Today 914-576-1481

Please submit your Letter to the Editor electronically, that is by Legal Notices, directing email to WHYTeditor@gmail.com Please confine your writing to between 350 and 500 words. Your name, address, and telephone Advertise Today 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.

The Westchester Guardian

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

Page 17

EYE ON THEATRE

That Championship Season

By John Simon

Jason Miller’s That Championship Season is a play about nothing less than life itself. In a microcosm under microspocic scrutiny, basketball becomes the shabby, crooked, treacherous struggle for survival, and Scranton, Pennsylvania, the author’s hometown, becomes America and, ultimately, the world. It is old-fashioned theater, if you will, but it compelligly stinks of the cold sweat of crass compromise, failure, and glossed-over despair. It is an essential work that cannot date, now in a shockingly on-target revival.

When the play opened in 1972 for

a long run, winning both the Drama Critics’ Circle and Pulitzer Prizes, I wrote a closely-packed ten-and-a-half-page review (now reprinted in my book Uneasy Stages), from which I quote the following.

“There remains considerable faith in the solid backbone of America, the good and simple folk back in the small towns, the country that the two Walts, Whitman and Disney, could hear singing, the unspoiled, sweet salt of the earth. And it is these people that Miller reveals to be weak, cowardly, prejudiced, corrupt and sustained, if at all, by self-delusion. What makes the indictment stick is, first, that it is made from an evident position of intimate knowledge and understanding of the people portrayed, and, second, that the judgment is made regretfully, without rancor, almost with love.”

The setting is the annual reunion of four players at their former coach’s house,

celebrating in 1972 Fillmore High’s 1952 Interstate High-School-Basketball Championship. The scorer of the lastminute winning basket, Martin, never shows up at these gatherings, for the good (and damaging) reason revealed near play’s end.

Coach—as he is solely known—is a fanatical bruiser, ardent fan of Teddy Roosevelt, JFK, and Joe McCarthy, for whom this victory, however ill-won, was and still is, everything. Yet the players— now 38 and arch conservatives—are all, in their various ways, losers. There is George Sikowski, the inept and insecure but boastful current mayor, up for re-elec-

tion which he may very likely lose to the Jewish liberal Sharmen, whom he tries to smear with a defunct communist relative.

Then there is James Daley, his campaign manager, the politically frustrated and bitter junior-high principal, father, among other children, of a contemptuous son.

Having joylessly sacrificed himself to others all his life, he now feels even the future slipping away from him.

Phil Romano, known since their schooldays as the “dumb Dago,” is in fact their financier, now threatening to jump ship to Sharmen. He is a strip-mining, hard-drinking, womanizing, adulterous, blithely Cadillac-smashing blowhard, now secretly carrying on with George’s wife, but consumed with his sense of fundamental inadequacy. Finally, there is Tom Dailey, James’s brother. A cynical drunk, footloose and loose of tongue, whom James had to repeatedly rescue

after collapses in sundry towns, he excels at destructive wit, making morbid fun of all of them, himself included.

The play records the interaction of the five, ranging from jocularity to violence, from absurd reliance on a decades-old victory that itself turns out a sham, to their nevertheless concluding in blissfully conspiratorial camaraderie.

That the proudly displayed silver trophy engraved with their names turns out to be the receptacle for the vomit of one of them is symbolic of fiasco; but just as the cup can be washed clean, moral squalor can be whitewashed as the men recommit to their dishonorable fight for George’s re-election.

On an authentically cluttered, backward-harking living-room set by Michael Yeargan, in provincially respectable costumes by Jane Greenwood, and under Gregory Mosher’s electrically unsparing direction, the cast proves as histrionically impeccable as ethically crumbling. Jim Gaffigan’s George is grotesquely arresting in both bluster and deflation; Kiefer Sutherland’s James is a perfect worm turning forward and back with equal unease. Chris Noth’s Phil radiates phony assurance only to lapse into frightening self-recognition.

Jason Patric, the playwright’s son, manages to meld incisive sassiness with the sourness of the boozy bubble-buster, right down to movements that turn bibulous unsteadiness into a cocky dance. As for Coach, the superb English actor Brian Cox could not be more authentically Scranton, a benevolently ball-busting tyrant, no less funny in his ignorance as fearsome in his unthinking fervor.

That Championship Season scrupulously encompasses every low trait—racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, hypocrisy, mendacity, mud-slinging,

reciprocal adultery and (lots of ) whatnot.

And yet it manages, as noted, to engage our shamefaced empathy. It even conjures up vividly three unseen spouses, succinctly evoking the range of problematic wifeliness. In one tragicomic piece, Jason Miller says at least as much as Arthur of that name in almost his entire oeuvre.

Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre 242 West 45th Street (212) 239-6200 www.telecharge.com

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Page 18

The Westchester Guardian

SHOW PREP

Schmucks and Crooks

By Bob Marrone

“Please don’t write about Harrison, it’s so embarrassing.”

Those words from a radio colleague saved me from missing this week’s deadline. Thank you Tonni Guido, I needed that. But to be fair, this piece only starts in Harrison; it ends with all of us. Ms. Guido’s embarrassment stemmed from the recent arrest of six Harrison municipal employees for stealing from their food pantry. One of those charged was a 91 year old woman who was once the town’s Citizen of The Year. As the investigation continues, there are rumors that more people may be involved.

My first reaction was like that of most people, anger and disgust. But it was only a few days later that I learned from reliable sources that this kind of thing is common in food pantries and soup kitchens everywhere. This revelation set me to thinking: I should have known better. As much fun as it was to rant about a sweet little old lady who well might be a stealing from the most vulnerable among us...it made for a great news story…it really wasn’t a tale about Harrison at all.

So relax Tonni. This is a story about the erosion of American values.

Our country has gotten most of its strength and innovation from the self interest of the individual. Somehow, though, that principle and the behavior itself have become corrupted over time.

Salaries and bonuses, education and sports were originally established to reward individual effort. Instead, they have evolved into a toxic amoral creed of winning at all costs, accompanied, indeed reinforced, by the negative emotion that you are a quisling little schmuck if you don’t take advantage of every opportunity to screw the next guy.

Too many people in our society look at an injury as chance to make money. This is reinforced again and again by the opportunist law firms that have set themselves up to specialize in whatever illness or disease may have generated a special fund for victims. “Just sue them, they’ll settle anyway, and you can make a few bucks,” goes the cry from your lawyer. Worse still, lawyers look you in the eye after you have been truly wronged and want nothing to

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

LEGAL NOTICES do with you, nor do they care about your case, unless the defendant has insurance.

Wall Street traders willingly authorize layoffs of needed staff if it will add a few thousand dollars to their bonuses.

Financial giants, like Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers, have gone under because their bonus structure rewarded individual goals over the goals of the firm.

So vile was and is this practice that those at the top who should worry about such things are happy enough to take their piece and let the next guy worry about the long term health of the company. No one wants to be a schmuck.

Most of the young people I meet today admit to cheating on tests.

Landlords chop up their homes for illegal rentals. Ball players do steroids, the politicians who criticize them gerrymander their districts, and any employee worth their salt in today’s workplace left their integrity at the door when they signed up.

No one wants to be a schmuck.

We admire John Wayne and Clint Eastwood characters for breaking the rules to get stuff done. They were never schmucks. We believed so much that we spit on two hundred years of honor and looked the other way while our country tortured people. No one wants to be schmuck.

The problem is not Harrison, the problem is us. I will always remember the last interview I had on Wall Street while I was seeking a promotion. I was asked why I wanted the job. I told her that I thought I was perfect for it and could accomplished great things. This highly respected senior executive looked at me like I had three heads and said, “Schmuck, no one wants a job for those reasons, give me the real reason.” So I replied to appease her, “well I would make more money and if you move up I move up.” She nodded and said “that’s better.” I later had occasion to sue this woman. Guess which line she used as an example of my selfishness. She was no schmuck.

Like the great singer “Pink” says in one of her songs. “It’s not how you play the game, it’s whether you win or lose.”

Now pass the stolen pretzels.

After all they’re free and nobody will miss them Listen to Good Morning Westchester with Bob Marrone from 6-9 a.m., from Monday through Friday. Direct email to Bob Marrone at Bob@WVOX.com, and visiting the BobMarrone.com website.

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Index No.: 4189-10 Date of Filing: July 13, 2010 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF Westchester Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee under Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 1, 2003 Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2003-WMC1, Plaintiff, -againstEILEEN MYERS A/K/A EILEEN MEYERS A/K/A EILEEN LIERMAN; CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.; DELIA LOPEZ, if living, or if either or all be dead, their wives, husbands, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said DELIA LOPEZ, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and the respective husbands, wives, widow or widowers of them, if any, all of whose names are unknown to plaintiff; ERIC M. FAYER; JEMAB FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP A/K/A JEMAE FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; LEHRMAN, KRONIC AND LEHRMAN, LLP; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; PETERBUILT ELECTRIC, INC.; SAIDEL AND SAIDEL, P.C. C/O TRAUB LIEBERMAN, STRAUSS AND SHREWSBERR; TONY FELICIO; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorney(s) within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable Orazio R. Bellantoni of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed on January 25, 2011, and filed with supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Westchester, State of New York.

The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by EILEEN MYERS A/K/A EILEEN MEYERS A/K/A EILEEN LIERMAN to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as Nominee for WMC Mortgage Corporation in the principal amount of $138,400.00, which mortgage was recorded in Westchester County, State of New York, on December 26, 2002, as Control No. 423430737. Said mortgage was thereafter assigned to the Plaintiff by assignment of mortgage recorded October 8, 2009 as Control No. 49266057.

Said premises being known as and by 1430 MAIN ST, PEEKSKILL, NY 10566.

Date: April 22, 2010 Batavia, New York Laura Strauss, Esq. ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys for Plaintiff Batavia Office 26 Harvester Avenue Batavia, NY 14020 585.815.0288

Westchester Guardian Reports Online Video Broadcasts www.westchesterguardian.com

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LEGAL NOTICES Underhill Capital Advisors LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/3/2008. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to P.O. Box 785 Armonk, NY 10504. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Mcbride Business Venture, LLC Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/29/10. Office location: Westchester Co. LLC formed in Wyoming (WY) on 10/19/10. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Teton Agents, Inc. 575 S. Willow St, P.O. Box 1226 Jackson, WY 83001. WY address of LLC: 575 S. Willow St, P.O. Box 1226 Jackson, WY 83001. Arts. Of Org. filed with WY Secy. of State, 200 W 24th St Cheyenne, WY 82002. Purpose: any lawful activity.

2HB Holdings LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/29/2010. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 59 Calton Rd. New Rochelle, NY, 10804. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Get Noticed R Patisserie LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 01/27/2011. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 52 Webster Avenue #17 New Rochelle, NY 10801. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Phyllis A. Patrick & Associates, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/30/2010. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design.

Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 1717 Purchase Street Purchase, NY 10577. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Common Area Maintenance Solutions LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/14/2011.

Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to C/O United States Corporation Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave Ste 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Registered Agent: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave Ste 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228

Westchester Jewelers & Pawnbrokers, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/6/2006.

Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Barbara Buoninfante 685 Esplanade Pelham Manor, NY 10803. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Treat Dog Hotels, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 1/19/2011. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served.

SSNY shall mail copy of process to Melissa Horowitz C/O: ESCC 84 Business Park Dr Ste 115 Armonk, NY 10504. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Glowspa LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/2/2010.

Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 38 B Parker Ave. Stamford, CT 06906.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

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Icartridge LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/7/2011.

Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC P.O. Box 333 Hartsdale, NY 10530. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Phyllis A. Patrick & Associates, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/30/2010. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design.

Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 1717 Purchase Street Purchase, NY 10577. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

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