June 30, 2017

THE

CityREVIEW NewRochelle June 30, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 19 | www.cityreviewnr.com

It’s

over!

New Rochelle High School’s Class of 2017 throw their graduation caps into the air at the end of the 119th commencement ceremony.

For more, see page 8. Photo/Jen Parente

Tuckahoe High School and Eastchester High School held graduation ceremonies to say goodbye to the Class of 2017. For coverage, see pages 6 and 10.

Photos/Taylor Brown, Corey Stockton

2 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

June 30, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 3

County seeks lawsuit against Big Pharma

Westchester County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky has introduced a bill to authorize the county attorney to file a lawsuit against Big Pharma for deceptive marketing of opioid painkillers. Photo courtesy spine-health.com

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Westchester County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky has introduced a bill that would authorize the county attorney to file a lawsuit against large pharmaceutical companies for deceptive practices.

The effort comes as a way to stem the tide of rising costs for government and public safety from a growing drug epidemic in Westchester County, which has seen opioid-related deaths increase by 60 percent in the last year, according to county Legislator Ben Boykin, a White Plains Democrat.

According to the county Medical Examiner’s report, opioid and opiates, including heroin, were responsible for 83 percent of drug-related deaths in 2015. In that year alone, 107 Westchester residents died from overdoses.

Shimsky, a Hastings-on-Hudson Democrat who first introduced the plan on June 19, told the Review the legislation would be directed against a number of pharmaceutical companies that have used deceptive marketing of opioid painkillers, seeking punitive and compensatory damages for the costs already expended by Westchester County.

The bill would allow West-

chester to join several other counties that have already filed lawsuits or are investigating pharmaceutical companies for over prescribing prescription painkillers, including Dutchess, Rockland, Ulster, Nassau, Suffolk, Broome, Erie, Sullivan and Orange.

Prescription overdoses are now responsible for killing more Americans than cocaine and heroin combined, and have moved past traffic accidents as the leading cause of death nationwide, according to Shimsky.

“We are seeing an enormous rise in fatalities over the last few years as a result of opioid addiction,” she said, adding that there is currently no estimate for how much the county would be seeking in compensation. “Over-marketing of opioids has created a mess in our county and we really do need to make sure that we get compensated for what we have already tried to do to clean up the problem.”

And just this month, the federal Food and Drug Administration requested Endo Pharmaceuticals, an international pharmaceutical manufacturer, remove Opana ER—a semi-synthetic opioid painkiller—from the market after concluding the drug’s potential for abuse outweighed its therapeutic value.

As part of Shimsky’s bill,

which doesn’t take aim at any specific companies as of press time, Westchester would file its own lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies separate from those already filed by the other counties involved.

The proposal—it’s currently awaiting approval in committee—piggybacks other legislation pitched by Shimsky relating to opioid abuse in Westchester, namely the Prescription Drug Stewardship Program law, which would require pharmacy chains with more than three stores in Westchester County to become locations to dispose of unused medications; that idea was proposed in late May. Jerry McKinstry, a spokesman for the Republican administration of County Executive Rob Astorino, declined to comment on the new proposal since it is still being worked out in committee. However, he said that the Astorino administration is also making an effort to deal with the opioid crisis with the launch of WORTHY: Westchester Opioid Response Teams Helping You, a program aimed at integrating the response of several county agencies, local officials and community leaders in recognizing heroin as a growing problem across Westchester.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

4 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

What’s going on...

New Rochelle Public Library

Visit nrpl.org for information on these and other events and programs. The libraries will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

Summer library hours Main library hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except July 4 and Sept.

4); Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (through Sept. 2); Sundays: Closed (through Sept. 3).

Huguenot Children’s Library hours: Mondays and Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (except July 4 and Sept. 4); Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays: Closed (through Sept. 2).

Cooking for Tweens and Teens On Mondays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the first floor Meeting Room of the main library. With Chef Giovanni Green. For ages 10 to 18. First come, first served beginning at 3:45 p.m. Chef Green returns with more delicious, healthy recipes. Hands-on workshops will provide the basics, locally-grown produce and simple ingredients, and incredibly tasty

samples. Photographs may be taken of your child for purposes of library promotions only.

alized from book sales are used to underwrite the library’s extensive public programs.

Lunchtime Express Yoga

Summer reading games for all ages

On Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. Free sessions of easy yoga to help reduce stress and relieve tension continue to be offered during the lunch hour at the New Rochelle Public Library. Participants do not need to change out of work clothes, and mats will not be needed for these sessions of breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques. The drop-in sessions do not require advanced registration. This program is made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. Donations are gratefully accepted.

“Build a Better World” is the theme for the 2017 Summer Reading Game for grades pre-K to five, and the library has cooked up a terrific array of six-week programs to help children stay energized with related activities. Each child registered will receive materials to keep track of the books they read so that they can win prizes throughout the summer and receive an invitation to the End of Summer Reading Party.

This year, the library is offering adults the opportunity to also gain new perspectives while soaking up new titles, by playing a grown-up version of the Summer Reading Game. Adults and young adults ages 16 and up are invited to pick up or download a Summer Reading Bingo Card, and spend their summer reading great books for great prizes. The cards will be available at the library or on the library’s website.

To help the older readers get started, the librarians have created lists of books in various categories. The lists are posted on the website at nrpl. org/adults/srg, and hard copies are available in the library’s community relations office. For more information, please call the library’s community relations office at 632-8254.

Friends Book Store Terrific reads for the beach, vacation destination, or home—including bestselling fiction and nonfiction, biographies, classics, audio books, DVDs, gift books, and much more—will be available for purchase at rock-bottom prices at The Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library’s Super Summer Book Sale. The sale will take place in the library’s lobby on Thursday, July 6 and Friday, July 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During the summer, the Friends Book Store will be open every Tuesday and Thursday from from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Through Aug. 28, the Friends Book Store will be open from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It will resume its Saturday hours of from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9.

The executive board of The Friends of the Library coordinates the book sales and book store, with the assistance of other Friends’ volunteers. Money re-

Free children’s summer programs This year’s slate of free programs includes workshops in architecture, cooking, crafts, yoga and creative movement, puppet-making, creative writing Mexican dance, and many others. For details, visit nrpl.org.

The live shows begin with Nature’s Architects with Animal Embassy, which will take place on Wednesday, July 5 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants in elementary school will meet such animals as a tortoise, a parakeet, a tarantula, a ferret, a horned frog, and an African porcupine.

On Wednesday, July 19 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Pirate School with David Engel will be a madcap, swashbuckling solo variety show that is a mischievous blend of improvisational clown theater and a signature brand of boisterous full-audience participation.

On Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Science Tellers will present Tall Ships & Pirate Tales. The scientist will encourage children to sail on a thrilling action-packed adventure about a crew of quirky pirates marooned on a deserted island. Throughout the story, volunteers from the audience will help them explore the incredible science behind clouds, flash paper, air pressure, inertia, explosions and more.

On alternating weeks, these films will be shown: “Zootopia” (July 5), “Muppet Treasure Island” (July 26) and “Up” (Aug. 9).

Summer Fun on the Patio at the Huguenot Children’s Library will run Mondays through Fridays, through Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except July 4). Made possible by the Partnership for the Huguenot Children’s Library, this is a free drop-in program providing good old fashioned summertime fun—ping pong, arts and crafts, jump rope, games, kickball, and many more outside activities that are supervised by experienced, enthusiastic adults and teens. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This program does not take place in rainy weather.

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Free preschoolers’ summer programs Free summer library programs for children ages six months to 5 years are being offered at the main New Rochelle Public Library and the Huguenot Children’s Library, HCL, beginning Monday, July 3 through Friday, Aug. 11. All programs are on a drop-in basis, first come, first served.

Bouncing Babies, a Mother Goose program of songs, music, movement and a story for children 6 months to 24 months, will be held on Thursdays, July 6 through Aug. 10, from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Children’s Room of the main library and from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at HCL. Let’s Pretend, for children ages 3 to 5, introduces theater through games, songs, nursery rhymes, and an on-stage experience. Instructor Nora Maher leads the program on Thursdays, July 6 through Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the main library, and from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. at HCL. 3, 4 & 5s, for children ages 3 to 5, includes stories, songs, and a take-home craft, and takes place on Mondays, July 3 through Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the main library. Sessions will be held at HCL on Tuesdays, July 11 through Aug. 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Yoga Kids, for children ages 4 to 6, is led by a certified yoga instructor from Budding Buddhas. Using fun games and innovative movements, she’ll lead participants through yoga basics that help with relaxation, concentration and agility. The sessions will take place at HCL on Mondays, July 3 through Aug. 7, from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., or from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Preschool Fun & Fitness takes place on Mondays, July 3 through Aug. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon, in the main library Meeting Room. Children ages 2 to 5 and their parent, grandparent or caregiver are invited to join the health and fitness team from Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital’s Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Services for a fun-filled hour of movement, games and healthy eating and lifestyle tips.

Registration is required. Please call the WIC office at 637-1677.

Every Wednesday, at 10:30 a.m., Films from Picture Books, alternating with a live show, will be featured in the Ossie Davis Theater. The first films are “The Animal Train” and “The Gruffalo” on Wednesday, July 5. These are appropriate for children ages 2 to 5.

These free programs are made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library and the Partnership for the Huguenot Children’s Library.

New Rochelle Council on the Arts ‘All I See is Red’ exhibit From Saturday, July 1 through Saturday, July 28.

On display in the Ground Floor Coworking Gallery, located at 547 North Ave. in New Rochelle. This is a themed exhibit curated by Lisa Post. There will be a free reception on July 1 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with refreshments. A portion of any proceeds will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. For more information, email Post at dziner6339@aol.com.

Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.

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June 30, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 5

Astorino opens county pools for the season County Executive Robert Astorino kicked-off the county’s summer pool and beach season with a splash at Tibbets Brook Pool in Yonkers on Friday, June 23. Astorino was joined by Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor and Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, M.D., to share safety tips that help residents and their families make the most of this summer.

“We have a terrific team of lifeguards at all our pools and beaches,” Astorino said. “But parents and guardians are the first line of defense for swim safety.

Please watch your children when they are in or near the water, make sure they never swim alone and only swim a when a lifeguard is on duty.”

All county pools are now open and county beaches have been opened since May 27. Tibbetts Brook Park, Saxon Woods Park and Willson’s Waves pools are open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 4; Playland Pool and the beaches at Playland, Glen Island and Croton Point are open Wednesdays through Sundays and on Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4.

“One of the most joyful parts

of my job is seeing our residents and their guests enjoy a day in our pools and at our beaches,” O’Connor said. “I am pleased to join with the County Executive and the Health Department today to stress the importance of staying safe while you have fun in and near the water.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury or death among children ages one to four years old and the second leading cause among children ages five to nine years old, Amler added.

“It’s also critical to always stay within arm’s reach of infants and toddlers in the water and to always keep your eyes on children playing in or near the shore,” said Almer. “Pool floats, inner tubes, water wings and noodles are no substitute for close supervision.

Swimming and alcohol, just like boating and alcohol, don’t mix.”

Westchester County’s Learnto-Swim program is offered for both children and adults throughout the county at Tibbetts Brook Park, Playland Pool, and Saxon Woods Pool in White Plains. For more information and to register for the program, go to Parks.

westchestergov.com/learn-toswim. Swimming lessons are also offered at many local YMCAs and at municipal pools.

In or out of the water, the summer sun can cause health risks that can be easily prevented.

“Anyone spending time outdoors, whether for recreation or work, should always protect their skin from the effects of the summer sun,” Amler said. “Skin damage builds up and accelerates the aging of your skin and it also increases your risk for skin cancer. Wear a hat and sunglasses, avoid the midday sun and reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially after you swim or sweat, to avoid sunburn” UV rays can damage skin in as little as 15 minutes, and according to the CDC, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Amler recommends that residents buy sunscreens with broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, and while the CDC suggests using a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15, most dermatologists recommend an SPF of at least 30, which will block 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays.

To avoid heat exhaustion or

County Executive Rob Astorino marked the official opening of county pools at the Tibbets Brook Pool in Yonkers on June 23. Contributed photo

heat stroke, stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day and stay in the shade during the sun’s peak hours.

Heat stroke is a serious condition marked by hot red, dry skin, shallow breathing, a rapid, weak pulse, and confusion. Anyone who is suffering from heat

stroke needs immediate medical attention. Call 911 if you suspect heat stroke and immediately cool down the overheated person while waiting for help to arrive.

Heat exhaustion is less dangerous but still poses concerns. Its signs include headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and exhaus-

tion, as well as cool, moist, pale or flushed skin.

For more health and safety tips, visit Westchestergov.com/ health and Westchestergov.com; or visit the Westchester Health Department on Facebook and Twitter at @Wchealthdept.

(Submitted)

Water safety advice for parents and guardians: • Teach your children never to swim in pools, beaches or lakes that are closed.

• Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.

• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes, and other openings to avoid entrapments.

• Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards, and, if you don’t know, ask about safe drain covers.

• At the beach, never fight currents; swim parallel to shore and at an angle if you find yourself in a rip current.

6 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017 THE

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By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter In celebration of President John F. Kennedy’s centennial birthday, the Kennedy family was honored with a plaque commemorating the 12 years that they lived in Bronxville.

Until last month’s official unveiling, Bronxville had been the only place of residence for the Kennedys that didn’t have official public recognition.

Marilyn Hill, of the Bronxville Historical Conservancy, said the obscurity of the Kennedys time in Bronxville was because typically historical markers are placed in the home of the previous residents.

Yet, the Kennedy family’s 6-acre estate known as Crown-

lands was located on Pondfield Road, but in the 1950s, the land was torn down and subdivided into what is now known as Crown Circle.

The memorial plaque features a broad outline of activities that Kennedy, his siblings and par- President John F. Kennedy. ents took part in while living in the village from 1929 to 1941, according to Hill, who added that Kennedy’s 100th birthday marked “the perfect time for us to do a marker to commemorate [him].”

The project stemmed from the historians and residents of Bronxville wondering why there was nothing celebrating the Kennedys lives there, according to Hill.

As of a year ago, the conservancy began working with Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin to come up with the plaque idea.

“The decision was that we would recognize the years and residence of the entire [Kennedy] family as participators in the community, but with emphasis on John [F. President John F. Kennedy stands with Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Photos courtesy flickr.com Kennedy],” Hill said.

During the family’s time in Bronxville, Kennedy was away attending private school at Riverdale Country School and eventually Harvard University. However, he was still an active participant in the village. Kennedy was a member of Boy Scout Troop 2 and took lessons at Miss Covington’s School of Dance.

Although Kennedy wasn’t enrolled in the Bronxville school district, his six younger siblings attended both private and public schools there.

Walter Sedovic, a historic preservation architect from Bronxville, said he felt it was President John F. Kennedy rides in a motorcade with his wife Jacqueline important that he attended the Kennedy. Photo courtesy commons.wikimedia.org plaque’s May 29 unveiling.

“John F. Kennedy in my ment was Bronxville’s collaboBronxville resident Dawn earlier life represented all ration with neighboring Tucka- Tyrell said that her and her husthe ideals that I had as a hoe, who donated marble stone band wanted to come to the mechild,” Sedovic said. from a local marble quarry for the morial to support their son, who Mayor Marvin ex- plaque. is a part of Boy Scout Troop 2. plained that one of the She said they first learned that “I am so proud to share this best parts of the monu- commemoration,” she said. “As Kennedy was a member of Troop for me, President Kennedy will 2 when they were looking for a The President John always represent bold vision, a troop for their son to join. “It’s F. Kennedy plaque commitment to public service, a very exciting,” Tyrell said. “We commemorates the youthful energy, and in my mind, a love the plaque.”

Kennedy family’s time spent vigor that signals America will alin Bronxville from 1929 to 1941. Photo/Taylor Brown ways have even better days ahead.” CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

June 30, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 7

County approves $10M Playland Pool rehab

Westchester County lawmakers voted overwhelmingly this week to renovate Playland’s swimming pool, authorizing a bond for nearly $10 million in repairs. File photo

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Advocates for retaining and renovating Playland’s historic swimming pool scored a major victory this week after Westchester County lawmakers, in a 15-2 vote, decided to inject nearly $10 million in capital improvements to bring the structure back up to par.

The decision comes after more than a year of deliberations over the ailing pool’s fate, and for the time being, sinks a prospective plan to build a new seasonal dining area that proponents of pool renovations say would have exacerbated noise and aesthetics in surrounding Rye neighborhoods.

Playland is owned by the county but is located within the city of Rye. “The reason we’ve been advocating so strongly is that the local community spoke out in favor of keeping the swimming pool as opposed to the other uses that were discussed with Standard [Amusements],” said county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat.

The decision by the county Board of Legislators marks a reversal from an initial plan sent down by County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, that would have removed the pool completely, giving the amusement park’s co-managers of Playland, Standard Amusements, license to utilize the space as they

saw fit. Standard Amusements, an investment firm headed by Harrison native Nick Singer, who also formerly co-managed the hedge fund Standard General, was selected to operate the amusement park in a management agreement struck in May 2016.

County Legislator Jim Maisano, a New Rochelle Republican and vocal critic of the plan to remove the pool, said, “I’m especially happy that those kids whose families can’t afford a membership at a club with a pool or for trips to the shore will have an easily accessible and affordable option to escape the brutal summer heat and humidity that we often have in the lower Hudson Valley.”

Not all lawmakers were on board with saving the pool by injecting a hefty dose of capital, however. Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat, and Republican Minority Leader John Testa, of Peekskill, accounted for the only opposition votes.

At a June 20 meeting of the full legislative board, Kaplowitz said that he voted no due to his support of an alternate plan that would have installed a retractable platform over the pool that would have doubled as a dining area.

As per a management agreement, Playland is set to be solely operated by Standard Amusements, after the county expends 50 percent of the money ear-

marked for capital improvements.

The deal will see both parties pour $30 million each into various renovations, rides, and concessions over the course of 30 years.

An initial payment of $1.5 million that Standard was expected to make to the county has been delayed and tied to a decision on the pool. Also holding up that payment has been ongoing litigation between the county and the city of Rye over jurisdictional authority on capital projects planned by Standard for the park.

According to Dan Branda, a spokesman for the Astorino administration, the $1.5 million payment will not be received by the county until 60 days after a decision of the Rye lawsuit.

Though Rye’s lawsuit was thrown out by a judge in March, the city has since launched the beginning stages of an appeal which will have to be fully submitted before August.

Rye will also mull over filing an injunction on upcoming projects at the park that would immediately halt millions of dollars of improvements to park rides and infrastructure.

According to county Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hastings-on-Hudson Democrat, from here, the design phase of the pool’s renovation will take up to 18 months, with the construction taking an additional 16 months.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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8 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

Class of 2017 ready to blaze new trails

Photos/Jen Parente

The New Rochelle High School Class of 2017 graduated on June 22 in a ceremony filled with pride, praise and eyes turned to the future.

In the school’s 119th commencement ceremony, 642 students received their diplomas.

Dressed in purple robes with white sashes, they walked across William H. McKenna Field and into a new phase of their lives.

“Honor things that make sense, but don’t be afraid to create new traditions and blaze new trails,” high school Principal Reginald Richardson told them. “Each and every one of you has unlimited potential to contribute positively to our society.”

Graduation will take the members of the class of 2017 in many directions.

“Our dreams for the future vary widely,” salutatorian Melanie Anaya said in her address to the class. “Some of us want to become politicians, others doctors or mechanics or anything under the blue sky.”

Several of the graduates, sharing hugs and snapping photos with friends and relatives after the ceremony, showed a vari-

ety of goals and dreams. Nicolette Mejia will study culinary arts at Westchester Community College. Jaren Smith will attend Berklee College of Music in Boston to study music production and engineering. An aspiring songwriter, he credited his time in the high school chorus CONTINUED on next page

June 30, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 9 and teacher Derrick James with bringing out his singing ability.

“He helped me to become a master of my craft,” Smith said.

Nicholas Romandelli said NRHS, with its many Advanced Placement courses, prepared him well to study economics at Lehigh University. He took eight of them. “You really get a good perspective of what college is like,” he said.

Albert Forero will study mechanical engineering at the New York City College of Technology. “New Rochelle, because it’s a big, diverse school, prepares you for anything in life,” he said.

During the ceremony, valedictorian Wendy Yu told her fellow students she was eager to see the success of her classmates.

“I can’t wait to see where the power of your minds takes you all,” she said. “And I only hope that together we will carry forth with an open mindset as we disperse across the world.”

Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne challenged the students to take their place in the world fearlessly.

“I urge you to ask the hardest questions, tackle the thorniest problems,” he said. “Confront injustice. Create and innovate. The world is in your hands. Make the most of it.” (Submitted)

Photos/Jen Parente

10 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

Uber, Lyft become legal in Westchester County

Uber Policy Director Josh Gold discusses bringing the company’s services to Westchester County.

Photos/Corey Stockton

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Westchester County won’t be able to regulate ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft beyond the state law, which goes into effect this week. But that won’t stop county lawmakers from trying.

The county has decided not to opt-out of the New York state law regulating ride-hailing companies outside of New York City.

Although Uber and Lyft drivers have frequently taken fares within Westchester over the last few years, they have done so illegally, as neither state nor county law has permitted it. That is set to change on Thursday, June 29, after press time, when a new state law overseeing ride-hailing becomes official.

But some, including County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, have criticized the state law for not having the same safety

regulations as are required by the law which has allowed ride-hailing in New York City since 2011.

“When the new state regulations came out a few weeks ago under the Department of Motor Vehicles, that failed to give Westchester County residents the same protections as New York City, we had to take action to try to fix this kind of problem,” Astorino said at a press conference with Uber and Lyft representatives on Tuesday.

Ride-hailing in New York City is overseen by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, TLC, which requires all drivers to be fingerprinted. But the law in the rest of New York state puts those regulations in the hands of the state DMV, which will not require drivers to be fingerprinted.

“But in Westchester, because we border New York City… we of course wanted to go a step further and create a system that included fingerprinting for drivers in Westchester County,” Astorino said.

With that in mind, county and ride-hailing officials created “Thumbs Up,” a voluntary program in which interested drivers would get fingerprinted by the county and then be added to a pool of approved drivers for ride-hailing, taxi or limousine services. Drivers whose fingerprints are clean would also be awarded a decal from the county, verifying that those drivers have been vetted by Westchester. The process would cost $90 to drivers and, according to the county

executive, would be completed in three days or less.

Astorino asked the ride-hailing companies to integrate the Thumbs Up program into their apps, allowing users to see beforehand whether their driver has been fingerprinted before ordering the car. Neither company committed to that policy in the short term, adding that the deal was new and they were considering their options.

In the meantime, Astorino said, users will have to decide when their car arrives whether they feel safe entering a car based on the presence of a Thumbs Up decal or lack thereof.

But those companies will have to address the question of cancellation fees, which are normally charged to users who solicit a ride through the app and then turn a driver away. When asked if Uber would charge a cancellation fee to those who turned down a ride because a driver did not have a Thumbs Up decal, Josh Gold, Uber policy director, said, “That’s something we’ve already started looking into and that’s something we’d probably not want to happen.”

Astorino said that the Thumbs Up program is the first in the nation, and that he hoped the county would set an example for the state, influencing a rewrite of the new ride-hailing law. “We also hope that this will spark a conversation around the state, and ultimately will lead to the state amending the law again that

Westchester County’s Thumbs Up program will give decals to drivers who choose to get fingerprinted and enter them into a pool of approved drivers for ride-hailing, taxi or limousine companies.

would permit and require fingerprinting across the state,” he said.

In the meantime, county Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat and chairman of the Board of Legislators, lambasted the state for forcing the county to either opt out or participate under the state’s rules. “Because of New York state, we are now in a shotgun marriage,” he said.

“And I’m disappointed in Uber and Lyft for not wanting to start off this marriage in a better place, but I’m hoping in fact that we can make the best of a situation that is potentially starting out with difficulty.” He added that he would not hesitate to initiate an opt-out process if ride-hailing companies did not continue to work to promote safety in the county.

Ride-hailing companies were legalized across the state as part of New York state’s 2017 budget, which was passed in early April.

As part of that law, municipalities with 100,000 residents or more had the option to participate in the state’s program or to opt out of it, but not to draft a separate law regulating those companies. The state DMV released its regulations on June 6, which did not include a fingerprinting requirement.

CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

June 30, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 11

3 bros. revive

CENTURY-OLD FAMILY BUSINESS

By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor If you are looking for sustainable meats, or for one of the largest collections of bourbon and whiskey in Westchester, consider a visit to Siegel Bros.

The joint food and alcohol venture, Siegel Bros. Marketplace and Wine & Spirits, opened last fall in two neighboring locations in downtown Mount Kisco, and promises quality products with great customer service.

Three brothers—Doug, Jeremy and Chef David Nevins—have revived a 105-year-old business that their great-grandfather, Abram Siegel, started in 1912 with a kosher butcher shop in Woodbine, New Jersey, after immigrating from Russia.

“We’ve all been in some facet of the [food and wine] industry for all of our careers,” said Jere-

my Nevins, who works out of the wine and spirits shop with Doug Nevins. Jeremy Nevins gained an interest in wine through their father, who once owned a popular wine shop out of Grand Central Terminal. Doug Nevins has dabbled in both wine and food; while Chef David Nevins is renowned in Boston, having worked closely with celebrity Chef Todd English for many years.

“We all grew up in the [butcher shop], and it’s something we’ve always wanted to get back to,” Jeremy Nevins said.

The brothers’ uncle closed the original Siegel Bros. in the 1980s.

Yet, the trio has always wanted to connect the family’s experience in food and wine under one roof.

The Nevinses wanted to find a location in northern Westchester that would accommodate their goal. Mount Kisco seemed right, given its accessibility and being

surrounded by the kind of clientele Siegel aims to please.

The wine and spirits shop can accommodate any budget and sells more than 175 varieties of bourbons and whiskeys, in a section known as “Browntown.”

There is a tasting room in the back, and enough square footage to host any kind of private event.

All employees have tasted everything on sale, so that each one can help any customer, if needed.

“We carry products that we stand by,” said Jeremy Nevins, “mostly small, family-owned wineries throughout the world. We’re not in bed with any wholesalers.”

Perhaps the coolest thing about the shop is the Cruvinet; a temperature-controlled dispensing system that keeps wine fresh for up to 45 days. It is usually found in high-end restaurants to serve wine by the glass. “It’s a huge tool for us and the customer to be able to taste at least eight different wines at any time of the day,” Jeremy Nevins said.

Across the square on Moger Avenue from the wine shop is the marketplace, the domain of Chef David Nevins.

“We’re trying to have some-

The wine and spirits shop boasts a collection of more than 175 bourbons and whiskeys, known as “Browntown.”

Photos courtesy Sandro Art & Photography

Head butcher Don Meyers is a 25-year veteran, and practices whole-animal butchery on the premises.

thing for everybody; something healthy and affordable,” he said about his operation.

David Nevins prepares all the cooked food on the premises, offering catering as well as simple grab-and-go items. The marketplace also sells sustainable, topof-the-catch seafood, which is the chef’s specialty.

Whole-animal butchery is also carried out on the premises, “a lost art” according to Jeremy Nevins. All meat and seafood can be cleaned and prepared to be cooked at home, including being seasoned by staff. The space also

includes a vast cheese counter and charcuterie.

Seasonal produce is always highlighted in the marketplace’s offerings. “I’m trying to pair things that will go well with grilling,” Chef Nevins added. “I’m really looking forward to using all the local farms’ ingredients.”

Customer service is important to the Nevinses, who make sure patrons see at least one of them during a visit, creating an atmosphere that people want to return to. “We’re very big on making the customer not just welcome, but comfortable,” Jeremy Nevins said.

Siegel Bros. has held various events in its wine shop, including weekly wine tastings, mixology classes and a clam bake.

“As we do more events, all we hear is, ‘You guys are the talk of the town,’” Jeremy Nevins said.

“So many people know and have heard about us; it’s just a matter of getting them to come in.”

CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

Siegel Bros. Marketplace and Wine & Spirits 39 & 41 S. Moger Ave., Mount Kisco, NY 10549 siegelbrosmarketplace.com siegelbroswineandspirits.com

Siegel Bros. Marketplace has a large selection of cheese and other bites that would pair well with offerings across the square at the wine and spirits shop in downtown Mount Kisco.

One draw to Siegel Bros. Wine & Spirits has to be the Cruvinet, a system that keeps opened wine fresh for up to 45 days.

Photo/Sibylla Chipaziwa

12 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

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13 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

Business Briefs Sotheby’s International Realty releases first quarter 2017 market report

A report detailing market results for the first quarter of 2017, including Westchester County, New York, has just been released by William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, the company recently announced.

The report found that most markets posted increases in both sales volume and unit sales compared to the same period last year. Westchester County saw quarter over quarter increases of 13 percent in dollar volume and 7 percent in units, with the southern region up by 10 percent in volume and 4 percent in units, and the northern region by 22 percent and 14 percent in volume and units, respectively.

Similarly, sales in Fairfield County were higher countywide than they were at this time last year, with dollar volume rising quarter over quarter by 7 percent and unit sales by 9 percent. Up on the Connecticut shoreline, comprising New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties, sales were very steady versus the first quarter of 2016, with dollar volume standing 1 percent higher than this time last year and unit sales 1 percent lower.

In the Berkshires, Massachusetts, sales results were very much on par with the exceptionally robust first quarter of last year, with volume 1 percent above that period and units 10 percent higher. The first quarter of 2016 had seen enormous gains over the same time the previous year. Lastly, Litchfield County exhibited a strong performance this quarter with significant closings in the high end driving a 29 percent increase in dollar volume over the first quarter last year, and unit sales demonstrating a 9 percent increase.

The report commented that buyers have been entering the marketplace in droves, prompted by the Federal Reserve’s recent rate hikes and projected further increases for this year. The changes have caused mortgage rates to tick upward and motivate real estate intenders to act before they get much higher. Additional factors supporting a strong real estate market include the first quarter rally on Wall Street, the U.S. unemployment rate falling to a ten-year low in early April, and the consumer confidence level climbing to its highest peak since December 2000 at 125.6 (1985=100), as reported by the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index.

The report also found that most markets are reporting increases in properties going into contract com-

pared to this time last year, pointing to further gains in the second quarter.

“If consumer confidence is traditionally the leading indicator in real estate, then we can confidently state we are well positioned for another great year,” said Paul Breunich, president and chief executive officer of William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty. “With the markets so active, pending sales increasing year over year and the prime real estate season just around the corner, we have every reason to believe the momentum will persist throughout the second quarter and the remainder of the year.”

The 2017 first quarter market watch is available for download on the firm’s website, williampitt.com.

Founded in 1949, William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty manages a $3.9-billion portfolio with more than 1,000 sales associates in 24 brokerages spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Westchester County, New York. William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty is the largest Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate globally and the 28th-largest real estate company by sales volume in the United States. A full-service real estate firm headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty provides ancillary services including commercial services through its affiliation with Building and Land Technology, a second-generation development company based in Stamford, Connecticut; William Pitt Insurance Services; and an award-winning global relocation division. Sotheby’s International Realty’s worldwide network includes approximately 19,000 sales associates located in approximately 850 offices throughout 65 countries and territories.

For more information, visit williampitt.com.

Berman joins Westchester Parks Foundation board Westchester Parks Foundation, which engages the public to advocate for and invest in the preservation, conservation and use and enjoyment of Westchester County parks, just announced a new member to its board of directors: Marc J. Berman, a local expert in the finance sector.

Berman currently serves as a senior advisor with Macquarie Group and has more than 25 years of experience in financial services focused on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and providing strategic and financial advice primarily to insurance industry clients. Most recently, he founded the U.S. Insurance Investment Banking Group for RBC Capital Markets, which he built and led for six and a half years.

Prior, he was a managing director and spent 14 years at J.P. Morgan and also worked for Goldman Sachs. Berman started his career as an insurance broker with Marsh & McLennan.

“Marc brings a wealth of experience to our board and we are so glad to have him on our team as we continue to advocate for our county parks,” said Joanne Fernandez, board chairperson for Westchester Parks Foundation. “He will bring great insight to our organization that will help us continue to keep our parks thriving.”

Berman, who currently resides in West Harrison, graduated with an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

He also serves on the executive committee of Temple Israel Center, White Plains.

As the leading organization advocating for the county park system, it is the mission of Westchester Parks Foundation, formerly known as Friends of Westchester County Parks, to encourage continued investment in Westchester County’s parks, trails and open spaces. Since its inception in 1977, the nonprofit organization has held close to the notion that it is critical to provide ongoing support for maintenance, civic improvement and access to nature.

Westchester Parks Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, philanthropic organization which provides private support to preserve the county’s park system and improve the quality of life in our communities. Westchester Parks Foundation’s mission is to engage the public to advocate for and invest in the preservation, conservation, use, and enjoyment of the 18,000 acres of parks, trails, and open spaces within the Westchester County Parks system.

For more information about Westchester Parks Foundation, visit thewpf.org or follow it on Facebook.com/WestchesterParksFoundation, Twitter @ FriendsofParks and Instagram.com/thewpf.

Hospice of Westchester announces new officer, board members

Hospice of Westchester, HOW, has voted in a new officer and five new members for its 2017-2018 board of directors.

George Whitehead, of Hopewell Junction, has been named treasurer after joining the board in 2016. He joins current board officers Susan Yubas, chair; Kathleen McArdle, vice chair; and Joanne Ciaramella, secretary. William F. Flooks, Jr., Mary Gadomski, Barbara Gaughan, Michele Geller, and Michael Vitale have been named the newest board members.

Gadomski is the director of Business Development and Community Relations at Westchester Visiting Nurse Services Group Inc., in White Plains, a position she’s held since 2012. An experienced home health care executive, Gadomski brings with her a background in clinical program development, clinical operations, community relations, strategic

planning, and revenue growth. She has been involved with numerous organizations in the county, including Westchester County Public Private Partnership, Westchester County Domestic Violence Council, and Livable Communities of Central Westchester.

Gaughan most recently served as administrator and vice president for Operations at St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, a position she held for more than 12 years. Gaughan has also previously worked at numerous medical facilities, including Kateri Residence in New York City, Jansen Memorial Hospice in Tuckahoe, and Kings Harbor Care Center in the Bronx. Gaughan is a licensed nursing home administrator and registered nurse.

Vitale serves as senior managing director and senior vice president of Sterling National Bank in White Plains, providing commercial lending services to middle market clients, with focus on commercial real estate, nonprofit, and medical practice sectors. Previously, Vitale worked at The Westchester Bank and JPMorgan Chase. He was both coach and treasurer for Knights Basketball of Westchester from 2008 to 2015, and was previously an assistant coach for St. Augustine’s CYO basketball in Ossining and Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains.

Flooks and Geller return to the HOW board, having served in previous years. Flooks has been involved with HOW since 2004, and is a former board chair. He is the owner and proprietor of Beecher Flooks Funeral Home Inc. in Pleasantville.

Geller has been involved with HOW for more than 22 years, initially volunteering as a patient visitor.

Currently, she is a trustee and board member for the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation. Flooks and Geller both currently serve as members of HOW’s Leadership and Development Council and Board Development Committee.

Hospice of Westchester is located at 1025 Westchester Avenue, Suite 200, White Plains, NY. For additional information, visit hospiceofwestchester. com or call 682-1484.

The next Business Briefs section will run in July. Please send any submission for our July edition to news@hometwn.com, with “Business” in the subject line of your email.

Each submission may include one picture.

If you have any questions, email us at news@hometwn.com.

SPORTS

14 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

And Zen there were none LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

On Wednesday morning, New York basketball fans awoke to the news that the Knicks were parting ways with team president Phil Jackson, putting an end to the Zen Master’s tumultuous tenure in the Big Apple.

But even if we admit Jackson’s three-year stint in New York was an unmitigated disaster, I have to give him this; at least it was entertaining.

I may have had high hopes when the Knicks announced their partnership with the basketball guru back in 2014. I, like many Knicks fans, thought that bringing in a proven winner like Jackson—even if he wouldn’t be handling the day-to-day coaching responsibilities—would be a boon for a franchise that really couldn’t claim too many victories over the last 20-some-odd years.

At the very least, I figured, the man with 11 NBA championship rings would bring a little bit of professionalism to the Garden.

Boy, was I wrong.

Two solid draft picks (Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez) aside, there wasn’t a whole lot that Jackson got right. But at least his mistakes were anything but boring. And when you have a team such as the Knicks, who wouldn’t have sniffed a conference title even if everything had broken their way, if you’re not going to be good, you might as well be interesting.

I’m not talking about Phil handing out bad contracts to injury-prone veterans like Joakim Noah. That’s just garden-variety mismanagement. Where Phil really made his mark on the back pages of New York papers was with his stubbornness to let go of the triangle offense and a seemingly endless string of beefs with everyone from the best player in the NBA to the Knicks’ own stars.

Of course, there were his comments about LeBron James’ “posse,” which led to swift rebukes from those accusing the Knicks president of using racially coded language. There was Jackson, publicly sniping at his two biggest stars in Carmelo Anthony and Porzingis, leading to

the latter completely skipping his end-of-the-year exit meeting with the front office. There were reports of Jackson hijacking head coach Jeff Hornacek’s practices to teach the tenets of his outdated offensive system. Heck, the guy even fell asleep during a pre-draft workout for a top NBA prospect!

In a way, I think it’s exactly what Knicks fans needed. Sure, the franchise has been bad over the last 20 years, but they haven’t been bad in the same manner as the Nets, who are just a run-of-the-mill bad basketball team. It’s these constant crises, initiated by Jackson and, before him, Isiah Thomas, that have kept the Knicks relevant through their on-court mediocrity—albeit for all the wrong reasons.

I don’t know where the Knicks go from here, but it would be tough to see how it could possibly get any worse.

But then again, if the Knicks have taught me anything during my 32 years on this earth, it’s that it can always get worse.

And it probably will.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A

LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow @cityreviewnr for Mike’s live, in-game action updates

On June 28, the New York Knicks fired team president Phil Jackson, right. Even if the Zen Master’s stay in the Big Apple wasn’t a success, at least it was entertaining. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

SPORTS

June 30, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 15

Local sailors reach Bermuda

Eli Lapkin and father Drew, center, stand with Eli’s grandfather Barry Feldman, second from left, after finishing the 2017 Marion-Bermuda Race on June 14. The boat, Scarlet, finished the course in four days, 17 hours, eight minutes and 31 seconds.

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor A local sailor got his first taste of open-water competition last week, as Harrison resident Eli Lapkin completed the biannual Marion-Bermuda Race aboard a 47-foot yacht named Scarlet.

The five-day journey, which saw Lapkin chart a course from Massachusetts to Bermuda, was a true family affair, as the rising Harrison High School junior sailed alongside his father, Drew Lapkin, and

maternal grandfather Barry Feldman in what he believes will be the start of a long life on the high seas.

Scarlet set out from Marion, Massachusetts, on June 9 and docked in St. David’s Head, Bermuda five days later, earning the local seamen a third-place finish in the 40th iteration of the famed yachting race. But for Eli Lapkin, the finish wasn’t nearly as important as the journey itself.

Eli Lapkin, who began his love affair with boating at an early age, said that he

Scarlet, second from right, begins the Marion-Bermuda Race on June 9.

had set his sights on competing in the Marion-Bermuda Race for quite some time.

“I’ve been interested in this for a while, my grandfather has had a boat for as long as I have been alive,” he said. “He had done the race six or seven times, my uncle did it, my father had done three or four races, so it was something I wanted to do.”

Although his own experience was limited, in large part, to sailing on smaller boats closer to shore, Eli Lapkin’s

Scarlet navigates the water following the start of the Marion-Bermuda Race. The boat was crewed by three generations of local sailors. Contributed photos

enthusiasm for this undertaking was apparent from the outset, according to his father, Drew Lapkin.

In the lead-up to the race, which was marked by hours of sailing courses and safety preparation, Drew Lapkin noted that his 15-year-old son seemed to grasp the importance of the pre-race preparation, assuaging any fears he might have had about undertaking the grueling course.

“I think he understood the seriousness of it,” Drew Lapkin said. “In the safety-at-sea courses, [Eli] was putting as much energy and attention into that as he would into his schoolwork, so I knew he would be ready.”

But despite all of his preparation, Eli Lapkin admits that he was a bit awestruck when the race kicked off and he found his boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with no land in sight.

“Once we couldn’t see any other boats, with no land on the horizon, it’s different,” he said. “It really feels like you are all alone, in the middle of nowhere, just going across the ocean.”

With a crew of six working in shifts around the clock, Scarlet finished the race in four days, 17 hours, eight minutes and 31 seconds, covering a distance of more than 740 miles. But the trip was an eventful one, as bad weather at the start of the race, a faulty rudder and some calm seas toward the finish line made for a complicated voyage.

“It was definitely a tale of two races; the first 2 1/2 days we had big swells, rough seas and about three of our six crewmembers got seasick,” Drew Lapkin said. “We were making great time,

but it was exhausting, and Eli did quite well in those conditions.”

The winds quieted down the homestretch, leading some on the boat to wonder if they would be able to reach their destination without turning on the boat’s motor and risking a disqualification. But on the fifth day, the finish line came into sight.

“It was so exciting, the wind picked up a bit in the morning and we could see Bermuda on the horizon,” Eli Lapkin said. “It was so close and we almost thought we weren’t going to make it.”

“It’s a great feeling,” Drew Lapkin added. “You can think back to what the early explorers went through as you are crossing that finish line; you know that your hard work and cooperation is what got you there because ocean sailing is all about adapting to any crises that are thrown your way.”

As for the quieter moments, Drew Lapkin said, it gave him, his son and his father-in-law a great chance to bond.

“It was special, especially considering the fact that it was three generations,” he said. “You’re completely detached from the real world, your cellphones aren’t working, and it just gives you a chance to get away from the dayto-day of life and have meaningful conversations.”

“Some people say that the longer you are on a boat, the smaller it gets,” Eli Lapkin said. “And I think I definitely grew closer to my dad and grandpa; it was so much fun to be able to do it with them.”

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

16 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 30, 2017

SPORTS