August 25, 2017

THE

CityREVIEW NewRochelle August 25, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 23 | www.cityreviewnr.com

County to choose among 3 airport operators

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

Lights, camera, action!

In 2016, Westchester County brought in $30 million in film and TV production revenue. The county airport has been one of the popular filming locations for TV shows, including CBS’ “Madam Secretary.”

For story, see page 6.

Photo courtesy westchestergov.com

Astorino vetoes immigration bill; to nix current policy

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Citing threats to public safety, Republican Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino vetoed a bill to set forth a policy on immigration enforcement that had previously passed through the county Board of Legislators by a 10-5 vote earlier this month.

According to Astorino, the bill would have put Westchester at odds with federal law enforcement agencies, ultimately leaving both legal and undocumented residents unprotected under the new law. “Unfortunately, it became a very political bill that

jeopardizes public safety, and I don’t want to put people at risk,” he said.

Known as the Immigration Protection Act, the legislation piggybacked a current executive order by former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat, which Astorino has now pledged to repeal, too.

On Aug. 16, Astorino also said he will rescind the former county executive’s order relating to undocumented immigrants which has been in place since 2006. According to Astorino, after further research, it was discovered that the existing order also compromises the county’s relationship

with federal law enforcement agencies.

In Westchester government, the incumbent county executive can legally repeal any executive order made by one of his predecessors.

The latest immigration bill, which was sponsored in February by Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, an Ossining Democrat, came in response to Republican President Donald Trump’s nationwide initiative to deport undocumented immigrants, and would have prevented the county’s emergency services from aiding the federal government in investigations made on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation,

religion, ethnicity and national origin.

Borgia said the Democratic Caucus still plans to hold a vote to override Astorino’s veto, which came as a way to prevent Westchester from becoming a “sanctuary” county; one that limits its cooperation with the national government’s effort to enforce immigration law.

“While the veto today was expected, it is disappointing nonetheless,” she said. “The county executive’s words and actions, in line with his friend President Trump, will not stop our efforts.”

IMMIGRATION continued on page 7

A search for a new private manager of the Westchester County Airport will be finalized between three potential operators being reviewed after a request for proposals was wrapped up last week.

According to an announcement made by County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, on Aug. 10, the county will choose between three proposals submitted by the firms FerroStar Westchester Airport Partners, HPN Aviation Group LLC and MIC Airports LLC, with the goal of ironing out an agreement for a 40-year period.

Not included in the list of potential operators is the airport’s current manager, AvPORTS, which had previously stated that it would submit a bid.

“We’re pleased with the level of expertise, experience and professionalism that each of these respondents brings to the table,” Astorino said. “This is about smart government working to position a vital county asset for a strong future.”

The conclusion of a request for proposals, RFP, which was sent out in April, will mark the first steps toward a move to privatize the county’s airport announced earlier this year during the county’s budgeting process.

By processing the county’s plan through an FAA-run privatization program, county officials hope to utilize revenue from the airport for general fund budgeting purposes; a use not currently permitted under federal law without FAA approval.

A task force consisting of three county lawmakers and three administration officials will now review proposals from the

three firms, and make a recommendation to the Board of Legislators before the end of the year.

According to a statement from Astorino’s office, a lease agreement is expected to be drafted and voted on before the adoption of the county’s 2018 budget in December.

While lawmakers eye the repurposing of revenue from the county airport to help the county’s constrained budget and waning sales tax revenue, the proposal has not gone without its critics.

Last month, Legislator David Gelfarb, a Rye Brook Republican, denounced the plan citing concerns over the move’s potential to adversely affect surrounding neighborhoods as well as its lengthy timeline.

“I recognize the possibility of many unforeseeable events during that long a period of time, which can make it difficult to prepare a lease that will fully protect the county,” he said in a statement. “I intend to continue to fight to protect my constituents and all county residents to ensure the airport remains a viable asset to our community without potentially disastrous results.”

Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, also said last month that she would also oppose any move to privatize.

Passage of any potential lease would require a supermajority vote—12 of the 17 members— of the Board of Legislators.

Astorino has touted the move as a means to help balance the county’s budget, choosing to include $15 million in projected revenue within the first year of the deal in last year’s AIRPORT continued on page 5

2 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017

August 25, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 3

Lawmakers take stab at slashing prescription drugs

PROUD MEMBER of the

Westchester lawmakers eye prescription drugs as costs continue to soar while bearing down on the county’s elderly. Photo courtesy Flickr.com

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer As prescription drug prices continue to soar across the country, Westchester lawmakers will search for ways to mitigate those impacts on county residents, including lobbying Congress to expedite federal legislation mired in a bureaucratic stasis.

“Companies are here to make profit, but also to help people,” said county Legislator David Tubiolo, a Yonkers Republican.

“And if people can’t afford it, it’s not helping.”

Tubiolo, who sits on the Board of Legislators’ Seniors Committee, said that in the coming months he plans to bring a resolution to the county legislative floor urging federal lawmakers to act on legislation aimed at bringing greater transparency to erratic increases in drug costs.

Specifically, Tubiolo said, the resolution will focus on lobbying Congress to take action on the Fair Accountability and Innovative Research, FAIR, Drug Pricing Act; a measure introduced in part by U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, that would require pharmaceutical companies to submit a justification to the Department of Health and Human Services for raising drug prices.

That legislation has been stalled in committee since its introduction in May. “We’re asking the federal government to act faster,” Tubiolo said. “We’re looking into what we have the jurisdiction over and what we have the authority over.”

Already, Tubiolo said, he has

attempted to bring awareness to programs offered through the county, including a card available through Westchester’s partnership with ProAct Inc. that gives residents significant discounts on drugs not covered through their insurance.

While the initiative has been in place since 2012, Tubiolo said awareness of the card’s availability has been underwhelming due in part to lack of proper advertising.

For lawmakers across the spectrum, however, regulating drug prices is often a tall order.

Drug prices sold through the private sector are set by pharmaceutical companies, and as a result, are subject mainly to the myriad market forces.

Such a dynamic has been highlighted in recent high-profile price hikes like those associated with the lifesaving drug Epipen, which administers epinephrine through injection to patients experiencing a severe allergic reaction, or Daraprim, a medicine popular amongst patients with autoimmune disorders which rose from $13.50 per pill to more than $750 overnight.

According to a 2016 report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, drug prices are slated to keep rising over the next 10 years by an average of 6.3 percent annually. Between 2013 and 2016, the center recorded double digit drug price increases, including a 12 percent increase overall in 2015.

According to county Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hasting-on-Hudson Democrat, those increases can, and do, have ad-

verse effects on residents—especially seniors requiring medicine on fixed incomes—throughout the county.

“A lot of senior citizens, because of the cost of prescription drugs, are cutting doses on their own, which creates medical issues, or are not filling them at all,” Shimsky said. “A lot of people will say the private market is so efficient, and keeps cost down, but sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Tubiolo said that he’s spoken to some seniors who have gone as far as to cut costs in their diet, choosing to eat cat or dog food in order to help clear room in their budgets for medicine.

“Some people privately told me they have done that to pay for drugs,” he said. “No one should have to eat below standard to pay for drugs.”

On top of endangering people’s health, Shimsky said increased drug costs can also act as a drag on the local economy.

“In terms of the economy, if all the disposable income is being drained out by drug manufacturers, other sectors of the economy are going to get hurt,” she said. “If you can’t buy dinner, can’t go to the movies, can’t get out to drive, other people who rely on that business are going to suffer.”

Tubiolo said the introduction of the resolution will likely happen in the next several months, and Shimsky said while she’ll have to read the declaration first, she would be open to supporting the idea behind it.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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4 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017

What’s going on...

New Rochelle Public Library

market-inspired project to take home. BID Family Days are made possible by a partnership with the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) in conjunction with the library, New Rochelle City School District and the city Parks & Recreation Department.

Children’s Gardening Visit nrpl.org for information on these and other events and summer programs.

Summer library hours Main library hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except 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 Sept. 4); Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays: Closed (through Sept. 2).

TASC exam preparation On Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Handleman Business Opportunity Center on the second floor of the main library. Formerly known as the NYS GED exam. Trained volunteers help participants understand what’s on the test and provide oneon-one assistance to prepare for the test components such as math and writing. Drop-in. Free.

BID Family Market Crafts On Saturday, Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Ruby Dee Park at Library Green. Create a

On Saturday, Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the main library’s Children’s Room. For ages 5 to 12. Right off the Children’s Room of the library, the abundant garden is the location of hands-on activities involving fresh vegetables and herbs. Everyone is invited to stop by, plant some seeds, harvest some vegetables, and enjoy the foliage. Enter through the gate by the parking lot next to the library or through the Children’s Room. Open to New Rochelle residents only, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friends Book Store During the summer, the Friends Book Store will be open every Tuesday and Thursday 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.

On Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the public may select from a wide range of hardcover and paperback books, CDs, DVDs and more, when the Friends of NRPL conduct their monthly Big Book Sale.

The new Friends’ Book Store will be open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday throughout September from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The executive board of the Friends of the Library, a 501(c)3 nonprofit

organization, coordinates the book sales with the assistance of other Friends’ volunteers. Money realized from book sales are used to underwrite the library’s extensive public programs. The Friends welcome prospective volunteers.

Job Search Coach On Tuesdays from 4:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the Handleman Business Opportunity Center on the second floor of the main library. A trained job search coach assists individuals looking for a new or improved job by helping with writing resumes and cover letters, identifying suitable jobs, completing online job applications, searching for jobs on the Internet, networking, honing interview skills and completing follow-ups. Drop-in. Free.

Introduction to Microsoft Word On Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Computer Lab on the third floor of the main library. Learn how to create a simple document, edit and format text, correct spelling, adjust margins, save, print and open files in Microsoft Word.

Free, but registration is required. Please call 8133737 or stop by the Reference Desk on the second floor to register.

Summer Brown Bag Book Discussions On Wednesday, Sept. 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the main library’s Conference Room on the second floor. Bring your lunch and join in the librarian-led discussion of “The Handmaid’s Tale”

by Margaret Atwood.

Health Care Navigators On Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Handleman Business Opportunity Center on the second floor of the main library. Receive one-onone assistance with open enrollment to purchase, change or renew coverage in a qualified health plan; enroll or renew coverage in Medicaid and Child Health plus; and enroll in the new Essential Plan for lower-income New Yorkers from a health navigator from the Westchester County Department of Health.

Appointments are recommended. For an appointment, please call 995-6350.

Senior Benefits Information Center On Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Conference Room on the second floor of the main library. Trained counselors help those age 60 and older to understand and manage Medicare health insurance and access related services to which they are entitled, such as food stamps, weatherization and heating assistance, home repair, and caregiver support. Drop-in. Free.

Free career and educational counseling The New Rochelle Public Library in conjunction with WEBS Career and Educational Counseling Service is once again offering a free eight-week career counseling seminar for adults this fall called “Managing Your Career in Changing Times.” The program is geared to those who are unemployed, changing careers, re-entering the work force or returning to school.

The 19-hour workshop consists of an orientation session on the evening of Sept. 19 or 26, as well as eight group sessions on Tuesday evenings, beginning Oct. 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and one individual session with a career counselor.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and is limited to 15 participants.

WEBS helps participants assess themselves, explore career options, obtain careers and education-

al information, find out about the latest trends in resumes and job search, and develop a career plan.

The New Rochelle Public Library is one of five public libraries in the county that is participating in the WEBS project. Sponsored by the Westchester Library System, WEBS has counseled more than 40,000 adults in the Westchester area.

Those who wish to attend the program must call WEBS at 674-3612 to register. Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Thomas Paine Cottage Museum Thomas Paine Cottage Museum is located at 20 Sicard Ave. in New Rochelle. For more information, call 633-1776 or visit thomaspainecottage.org.

Community Day 2017 On Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Thomas Paine Cottage Museum will be hosting a special Community Day event to open a new exhibit to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the First World War and its impact on the city of New Rochelle.

This new exhibit is a collaboration with Matthew Holderman, who is helping to design this new exhibit and the associated event as an Eagle Scout project, a requirement to attain the coveted status of Eagle, the highest rank in Boy Scouts.

The exhibit will display original articles of uniforms, photographs and letters of New Rochelle men who served in the war. It will also recognize the efforts put out by the men, women and children of New Rochelle to support the war and the men who served.

Also planned will be patriotic arts and crafts for children to make with the help of Boy Scouts; a recreated World War I soldier, known as a “Doughboy” to demonstrate aspects of a soldier’s life; and a special guest speaker who will talk about new Rochelle’s role during the “war to end all wars.”

It should be a great day of fun and learning while commemorating those who served. Light refreshments will be for sale.

Parks and Recreation news Park Passports There’s a new way to access some of New Rochelle’s most popular parks this season. The Department of Parks and Recreation has replaced Omnicards with Park Passports for parking entry into waterfront parks, including Hudson Park, Five Islands Park, Davenport Park and Neptune Park.

Park Passports can be obtained at the Parks and Recreation Office at 515 North Ave. Photo proof of identification must be shown, as well as two permanent documents or items that confirm name or address (driver’s license, vehicle registration, utility bill, lease, tax statement, or rent receipt).

Senior resident Omnicard passes will continue to be honored.

Passport fees are: adult resident (ages 14-61) – $40; senior resident (ages 62 and up) valid for five years – $40; non-resident – $80.

Special for this summer, enjoy free access to Hudson Park Beach. The beach will open Memorial Day weekend for weekends through June 25, and then open daily from June 26 through Labor Day. For non-passport holders, daily parking fees will apply: $5 for residents and $10 for non-residents.

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.

August 25, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 5

Soundlink tunnel being studied; details sparse

AIRPORT from page 1

approved operating budget.

A more extensive RFP process marks a departure from a previous effort by Astorino that would have given the investment firm, Oaktree Capital, sole rights to the airport’s management.

After backlash from lawmakers, that plan was abandoned for a more formal bidding process.

Oaktree Capital did not respond to the current RFP. Before any revenue is redirected from the airport, a deal must be approved by not only the county’s Legislature, but also the federal government and a majority of airlines operating from the county’s terminals.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

Despite confirmation that a study regarding a tunnel between Long Island and potentially Westchester County is underway, little detail regarding its completion has emerged. File photo

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Despite affirmation from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration that a study regarding the construction of a potential tunnel from Long Island to Westchester has begun, little has been offered in the way of detail.

Though $5 million was included in the 2017 state budget to carry out the study, state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, said he has yet to be informed on further details after a New York state Department of Transportation official confirmed that the study was underway last month.

“I assume what we’re seeing now is that they’re going to start doing the study they talked about,” Latimer said.

Despite little information on the tunnel proposal, which was revived in January 2016 by the governor and is being eyed to link either Connecticut, Westchester or the Bronx to Long Island, its prospect has generated a great deal of controversy.

Latimer, who is currently running in a Democratic primary for county executive against county Legislator Ken Jenkins, of Yonkers, said he still opposes any plan to link Westchester to Long Island.

“We as a [state] Legislature can’t stop them from studying the tunnel,” he said. “The only reasonable thing to do is to express that the tunnel is not a good idea.”

Likewise, Jenkins said he feels the project would be a foolish investment.

“We do have a plethora of other things to utilize infrastructure dollars on,” he said, “instead of trying to get people out to the Hampton’s faster.”

Worries over adverse impacts from a tunnel connecting the county to Long Island have been at the forefront of concern. Specifically, lawmakers have called attention to the potential for exacerbated traffic conditions on interstates 95 and 287.

Various iterations of a bridge connecting Long Island to Westchester have cropped up throughout the past half-century, including a now-infamous proposal conjoining Long Island’s Oyster Bay with the city of Rye. That plan—championed by then-Gov. Nelson Rockerfeller and famed builder Robert Moses—was eventually nixed due to local opposition and lack of funding.

And more recently, in 2007, a plan to build an underground tunnel spanning 16 miles and costing $10 billion was side-

lined following continued public and political backlash, and ramifications of the economic downturn.

Another strong opponent of the Cuomo plan has been County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican who is running for re-election this year and is also a political rival of the governor’s. Bill O’Reilly, Astorino’s campaign manager, derided the most recent proposal from Cuomo, calling it a “pie-in-the-sky scheme.”

“This is what we’re discussing while trains and subways derail and the funding and toll pricing remains unclear for the new Tappan Zee Bridge,” he said. “Only in New York.”

Cuomo has consistently touted the proposal as a means to cut down commute times and free up traffic for motorists taking the Long Island Expressway or Northern State Parkway.

“Don’t tell me [building a Soundlink bridge] is not economic; cars and trucks would save hours, literally, with that one modification,” Cuomo said last April. “It’s only 12 miles, it can be done.”

A call to a state Department of Transportation representative was not immediately returned.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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As a request for proposals process concludes, Westchester County will now choose between three potential managers for the county’s airport, a deal touted for its potential to add extra revenue for the county. File photo

CNR graduate student receives Fulbright Award Eunice Yu, a student in The College of New Rochelle, CNR, Graduate School, has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to South Korea in the English Teaching Assistant, ETA, Program from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 370,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.

Yu, who will complete a master’s degree in Art Therapy and Counseling at CNR in August, is one of more than 1,900 U.S. citizens who will conduct research, teach English, and provide expertise abroad for the 2017-2018 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. As part of teaching English, Yu, who also holds a bachelor of fine arts in photography from Temple University, will encourage intercultural awareness with the integration of photography and art. While in South Korea, she will also pursue a personal documentary photography project, capturing the essence and culture of adolescents in South Korea as a way to understand their

Eunice Yu, a student at The College of New Rochelle Graduate School, received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to work as an English teaching assistant in South Korea for the 2017-2018 school year.

Contributed photo

academic, mental and emotional development.

“As a U.S. born Korean-American, I only have a rudimentary understanding of the Korean culture, such as their education philosophy, customs, and traditions,” Yu said. “Most of what I know is assumed or researched, but not personally experienced. The ETA is an ideal opportunity to integrate into a Korean community, be a part of students’ academic and multi-cultural growth, and embrace their culture through firsthand experience.”

This year, Fulbright Korea includes 69 ETAs who will be placed throughout South Korea.

After a six-week orientation program, Yu will be assigned to a school in Changwon, the capital city of Gyeongsangnam-do on the southeast coast of South Korea.

When she returns to the U.S., Yu

plans to work as an art therapist with Asian-American or Asian immigrant children & adolescents in after-school settings.

“The selection of [Yu] for this prestigious award is reflective of the academic caliber of our students in the Art Therapy and Counseling program and across the graduate school. It also illustrates the passion, creativity, and professionalism our graduates bring to their chosen fields,” said Dr. David Donnelly, dean of the CNR Graduate School.

Upon completion of the program, Yu will join other Fulbright alumni, many of whom have achieved distinction in numerous fields, including 57 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 82 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

(Submitted)

6 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017 THE

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Westchester becomes popular home to

Hollywood films

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter

Over the last year, Westchester County has become the backdrop for popular television shows and films for networks like ABC, HBO and FX. But besides the Hollywood appeal, that influx has also helped create jobs and provide tax credits in the film industry, while driving traffic to local businesses in the county.

A recent economic impact study by the Westchester County Tourism & Film Office revealed that in 2016, Westchester generated $30 million in film and TV production revenue. This amount included filming permits, and money generated by local businesses, hotels and restaurants.

“The film industry [has] a great economic impact,” said Ernie Karpeles, a location and scout manager in Larchmont.

Natasha Caputo, director of Westchester County Tourism & Film, a division of county government that works with productions interested in filming in Westchester, called the revenue that film activity generates a “win-win” for the county.

Caputo explained that she expects to continue to see an upward trend in revenue obtained from productions in the county throughout 2017.

The financial incentive of filming in New York doesn’t stop at the local business level, however, as the film productions are also seeing a financial gain.

The New York State Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television offers a tax credit program that incentivizes productions to film in the state because they receive a tax credit on their qualifying expenses.

The eligibility and percent of tax credit received varies by type of production.

According to Madeline Belloff, a spokeswoman for Empire State Development, an economic development agency for New York state, there are 125 projects that have already applied for the film tax credit program this

A behind the scenes shot shows the filming of HISTORY channel’s “Hamilton: Building America,” being filmed at the Jay Heritage Center in Rye.

Actors Dominic West and Jennifer Esposito portray Noah and Nina in Showtime’s “The Affair” in Yonkers.

Photos courtesy Facebook.com/WestchesterCountyFilm

year. Those projects are projected to spend more than $2 billion with 138,102 hires across the state, she added.

What has made Westchester so popular for productions, Karpeles said, is that out of all of New York, Westchester is the easiest to get to.

He added that between Long Island and the five boroughs in New York City, the bridges and

traffic required to get around creates a lot of expenses and makes travel difficult for film crews.

Karpeles also said that another reason people are choosing Westchester is that it’s full of diverse scenery, which can be necessary for a production.

Belloff shared that sentiment adding, “Westchester County features a wide

variety of locations, from major cities like Yonkers and White Plains, to manicured suburban neighborhoods, [and] picturesque villages.”

Some of the most popular locations to shoot in Westchester have included Playland Park, the county airport and jail, and the Jay Heritage Center in Rye, according to Caputo.

In 2016 alone, productions like DreamWorks Pictures/Universal’s “The Girl on the Train,” USA Network’s “Mr. Robot,” and Showtime’s “The Affair,” filmed scenes in Westchester.

This influx of film production doesn’t come without some interference with residents in the community though.

“I never like to sugarcoat it; the film industry can be disruptive,” Karpeles said.

He explained that the productions can be hard on the tenants when streets are blocked off and parking is taken up by crews.

While Karpeles acknowledged that film crews can get in the way, he said their “goal is to be invited back.”

One city that film crews have been seeking out is White Plains.

White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach said that the city government tries to alleviate the impact of filming on residents by working with the local police and keeping in close contact with the production crews.

Roach said that overall, they don’t receive many complaints and that most of the calls involving filming are people wanting to know what movie is being shot where, and what movie stars are in it.

Most recently, White Plains was home to Amazon’s “Sneaky Pete” created by Bryan Cranston and David Shore, and the Steven Spielberg film, “The Papers,” which is slated to be released in theaters this December.

“With all of the filming that’s happening this year, and all of the scouting requests we’re receiving, we expect 2017 to be a great year for film in Westchester County,” Caputo said.

CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

CBS’ “Madam Secretary” uses the Westchester County Airport as a replacement for the Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers, Algeria. Photo courtesy Westchestergov.com

August 25, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 7

Chamber of Commerce welcomes new members

IMMIGRATION from page 1

From left, Andrew Feigenbaum, Aaron Soury, Lou Iacopetta, Ibanessa Hogan, Bob Marrone, John Lanser, Rob Hayes, Sharon Schaefer, Vincent Fasano, Carol Barrella, Phyllis Shelton, Sean McLean, Alex Grantcharov, and Cooper Colwell. Contributed photos

On Aug. 16, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino vetoed a bill known as the Immigration Protection Act, which passed the county Legislature. Astorino also plans to repeal an existing executive order put in place by his predecessor Andy Spano, which inspired the recent proposal. Photo/Franco Fino

Astorino also came under fire from Board of Legislators Chairman Mike Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat, who called the veto “ill-advised, wrong and insensitive to the most vulnerable in our society.”

But in order to override Astorino’s veto, lawmakers will need a supermajority vote, which seems unlikely at the moment.

As of press time, two Republicans lawmakers, David Gelfarb, of

Rye Brook, and Jim Maisano, of New Rochelle, support the legislation, which would prohibit law enforcement officials from honoring requests made by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents, which do not give rise to reasonable grounds for detaining individuals.

Legislator Lyndon Williams, a Mount Vernon Democrat, was absent from the last vote.

According to Joe Sgammato, the press secretary for the Democratic Caucus, constituents in Republican districts are pressing their elected officials to change their minds on the bill; however, there is currently no indication from Republican leadership that there will be any further support for the bill, leaving the proposal one vote short of a supermajority.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

The New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce hosted their Annual Installation Ceremony on June 28, where the new members of the Chamber of Commerce were sworn in. It was held at The New Dawn Foundation’s breathtaking location at The Oaks on the Long Island Sound at 590 Davenport Ave. in New Rochelle.

For 95 years the Chamber of Commerce has aided in fostering the economic growth and prosperity of its members, and connecting them with entrepreneurs, leaders and executives of the board.

The executives of the board are members of the Chamber of Commerce that have helped to promote the members of the Chamber of Commerce’s businesses through referrals and who meet regularly. Both old and new members were in attendance where the Honorable Susan Kettner officiated and Deputy Mayor Liz Fried represented the City of New Rochelle at the ceremony.

The new executive board is as follows: President of the Board Rob Hayes, general manager and part-owner of The Beechmont Tavern; Vice President John Lanser III, commercial and residential real estate agent of Coldwell Banker; Treasurer Vincent Fasano, general manager of Riverside Memorial Chapel; Secretary Sharon Schaefer, accounting consultant and owner of Creative Bookkeeping Solutions; Vice President of Commerce Louis Iacopetta, president and owner of LJI Wealth Management; Vice President of Retail Alex

Grantcharov, financial planner at Edward Jones. The Immediate Past President Frank Miceli, owner of MinuteMan Press International Inc., will remain on the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors also includes Carol Barrella of the Town Planner, Ciro Chechile of Caly Services & Janitorial Sup-

Rob Hayes, executive board president for the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce.

ply, Cooper Colwell of H.E.Colwell & Sons, Andrew Feigenbaum of MassMutual, Bennie Giles, city clerk of the City of New Rochelle, Alex Grantcharov of Edward Jones, Ibanessa Hogan of Masterpiece Accounting, Bob Marrone, morning show host of “Good Morning Westchester” on WVOX and former executive director of the Cham-

ber of Commerce, Sean McLean of Renaissance Downtown, Aaron Soury of A Neumman Associates, Phyllis Shelton of iPower Global Solutions and Albert Tarantino, city councilman of the City of New Rochelle and Owner of Talner Jewelers.

At the ceremony, the Chamber of Commerce expressed gratitude to Miceli for his dedication, guidance and support during his tenure as president of the Chamber of Commerce and his steadfast assistance with the Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Chamber of Commerce also thanked its outgoing Board Members for their work and commitment. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce welcomed and encouraged their new board to help carry the City of New Rochelle through the upcoming economic development.

Jennifer Lanser, acting executive director said “The Chamber [of Commerce] is energized to have Rob Hayes as its new president because he brings a great deal of knowledge of the restaurant industry and, with the economic development, we are sure to be coaching and assisting many new restaurants through their start-up phase and helping existing restaurants with the transition.”

The Chamber of Commerce is pleased to roll out many new initiatives and to partner with the City of New Rochelle on the upcoming Street Fair, Restaurant week, the Thanksgiving Parade and more. To become a member of the Chamber of Commerce visit NewRochelleChamber.org/ membership-application/ or call 632-5700. (Submitted)

8 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017

Sponsored by

The Review in collaboration with ArtsWestchester offers a rundown of art-related events throughout Westchester County. Find our Arts in the Area page featured once a month.

Schoolhouse Theater remembers Mathiesen with exhibit When Danish painter, printmaker and ceramicist Gert Mathiesen unexpectedly passed away four years ago, what remained in his wake are more than 1,000 works from his life as an artist. Twenty-five of these works have been travelling, much as Mathiesen did in life, as his wife and fellow artist Pamela Smilow organized a touring exhibition. After being exhibited at the Museum of Danish America in Iowa and Nordia House in Oregon, the pieces return to their rightful home at the Schoolhouse Theater, where the artist met Smilow, had an art studio and created a great deal of his pieces. Prints, paintings, woodcut pieces and more now line the walls of the theater’s gallery throughout the summer. His use of linoleum as a canvas, as opposed to a means by which to transfer work onto a separate surface, leads as an example of the innovative approaches that Mathiesen took in the creation of his work. Bursting with vibrant colors and bold, expressionistic shapes, many of these works reflect Mathiesen’s life story, referencing his Danish heritage and Viking roots, but also incorporating other cultures into the mix.

Schoolhouse Theater is devoted to presenting professional theater to its community in a space where new work is explored. Additionally, it exhibits the work of local artists in an art gallery that is housed in its Croton Falls location. Matheisen’s work is on display Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and by calling 2778477 for an appointment. For more information, visit schoolhousetheater.org.

- Mary Alice Franklin

Hudson River Museum presents Zakanitch’s gardens

Through Sept. 17, “Garden of Ornament” will adorn the Hudson River Museum with whimsical

painted gardens, carefully inhabited by creatures that weave in and out of its floral arrangements. This solo exhibition will feature the large-scale paintings of Robert Zakanitch, one of the founders of the Pattern and Decoration (P&D) movement of the mid-20th century, which was inspired by patterns of home furnishings. The vibrant works on display highlight the artist’s stylistic expansion, from his work with abstract patternmaking to his focus on nature.

In the 1970s, Zakanitch began to experiment with pattern and ornamentation, which directly challenged dominant art movements of the time, including Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism.

Zakanitch explained: “I started doing paintings that were influenced by the linoleum floors we had as kids—these big roses, mostly flowers, and all these curlicues. I wanted to go in just the opposite direction of ‘less is more.’”

“Garden of Ornament” will display Zakanitch’s recent monumental 8-foot gouache paintings. In these extravagant works, Zakanitch breaks the rhythm of floral patterns with delicate birds, butterflies and hummingbirds for the viewer to contemplate. In “Tureens,” his 2007 series of oil paintings, Zakanitch demonstrates his desire to convey compassion through the decoration of objects that are associated with the home. For more information, visit hrm.org.

- Rocio de la Roca

Artwork by mental health community at ArtsWestchester

and established headliners, has recently opened in Tarrytown. Jazz Forum is a community-based performance and exhibition space that will present the programs of Jazz Forum Arts. The robust summer lineup includes headlining artists on Friday and Saturday nights, like trumpeter Marvin Stamm (Aug. 18 and 19), pictured above, and Brazilian Music Sundays, like the don’t-miss Brazilian beats of Joyce Moreno (Aug. 27). Once monthly, on Saturday afternoons, Jazz Forum offers workshops for music lovers of all ages that explore various forms of jazz.

In addition to musical performances, the club has a full bar and light fare cuisine, as well as a rotating exhibit of artworks by local and regional artists. For more information, visit jazzforumarts.org.

- Mary Alice Franklin

Beginning Sept. 7, Westchester County’s DeArts Alive Grants available partment of Community Mental Health, Rockland for local artists, groups Psychiatric Center and ArtsWestchester will present “Visions 2017: Art Odyssey,” an exhibition that feaArtsWestchester is accepting applications from tures more than 125 original artworks by more than nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists 60 artists who are recipients of mental health ser- in Westchester for 2018 Arts Alive Grants. These vices in Westchester County.

“The exhibition, which coincides with ‘Recovery Month,’ demonstrates that recipients of mental health services have embraced the concept of hope and are willing to share their view of recovery,” says Dr. Mark Herceg, commissioner of Community Mental Health.

“Visions 2017: Art Odyssey” is free and open to the public, and will be held in ArtsWestchester’s gallery at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in downtown White Plains. The exhibit will be on view from Sept.

8–14. Gallery hours: Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. An opening reception will take place on Sept.

7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, please call 428-4220 or visit artswestchester.org.

New jazz club opens in Tarrytown A new jazz club, featuring emerging jazz artists

grants are designed to help make arts and cultural activities easily accessible to a wide community audience, especially in areas where access is limited. Funds are available in three categories: Project Grants provide financial support for projects that demonstrate a strong community benefit; Artist Grants provide direct support for the creation of new work related to the community; and Education Grants support in-school and afterschool learning projects.

The application deadline is Oct. 4, and applications are currently live. Several pre-application workshops will take place leading up to the deadline. Upcoming workshops include: Aug. 29 at Clay Art Center in Port Chester at 6 p.m.; Aug. 30 at ArtsWestchester in White Plains at 5:30 p.m.; Sept. 5 at New Rochelle Public Library at 5:30 p.m.; Sept. 6 at Ossining Public Library at 5:30 p.m.; Sept. 7 at Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill at 6 p.m.); Sept. 11 at Tarrytown Music Hall at 6 p.m.; and Sept. 12 at PC4 Purchase College Center for Community and Culture in Yonkers at 5:30 p.m. For guidelines and workshop details, visit artsw.org/artsalive.

- Mary Alice Franklin

Magic Box Productions brings digital literacy to NYC schools

Magic Box Productions, a Pleasantville-based nonprofit that helps students to develop visual and digital literacy, will support media arts residencies in 25 schools within New York City. Teaching artists will work with 3,000 students from low-income communities throughout the five boroughs, who will participate in hands-on workshops in photography, video documentary and animation, and audio production. This program also enables teachers in these schools to supplement and enhance their teaching with media projects. The program is made possible with funds from an “Art Works” grant from National Endowment for the Arts. Student projects will be shared at community screenings and exhibits.

These articles appear in the August 2017 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy of the full issue is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.

August 25, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 9

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10 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017

‘Annie’: A review

By MICHELLE JACOBY Contributor Westchester Broadway Theatre proudly presents its 201st production with “Annie”; what a celebration!

Opening night started with the Bob Fitzsimmons Scholarship awarded to Nicolas Tabio, a senior from Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains. The scholarship was awarded to the valedictorian who is a member of the National Honor Society.

Well-deserved by this student, he has been involved with the dramatic arts as an actor, director and co-founder of Crusader Productions, an independent student-run theatre company.

The scholarship is given annually to a Stepinac High School senior that has excelled in the theater arts programs. Fitzsimmons was a graduate of the high school who died suddenly at the age of 37 in March 1992. He was the public relations director of

the Westchester Broadway Theatre, WBT, as well as a performer, producer, writer and director.

The celebration continued with the announcement of a special guest in the audience; Margaret Hosier, who played Annie in the first production of the show in 1983 at WBT. Most people know of the American classic comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” that debuted in 1924, the true inspiration for “Annie.” Sometimes the story behind the scenes is just as exciting as the tale on stage.

Martin Charnin bought a coffee table book based on the comic strip and fell in love with the character. He shared his idea

Michael DeVries as Oliver Warbucks, and Kaylin Hedges as Annie perform “Together At Last.” Photos/John Vecchiolla

with Charles Strouse, a composer, and Thomas Meehan, a writer, both successful in their own right. It took some convincing but all came together to create the musical.

The musical was set in New York during the FDR presidency and set the stage in the Great Depression. New York City was facing a financial crisis, and the writers wanted to create a musical that is based on love and family. Annie’s quest to find her missing father and mother during these hard times seemed like the perfect setting to create a story of hope, promise and optimism, especially coming from a child.

Peyton Ella plays spunky Annie with the acting chops and voice that leads you to truly believe the sun will come out tomorrow! Her ray of sunshine is Daddy Warbucks, played by Michael DeVries. Grace Farrell is the beautiful soul in the triangle of hope, played by Celeste Hudson.

A story always needs a good villain, and no one does it better than Susann Fletcher as Miss Hannigan, the head of the orphanage. She’s loud and mean, drinks a lot, slurs her words and attempts to be nice when the right people come around. Her accomplices Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s brother, and his partner, Lily St. Regis, are played effortlessly by Adam Roberts and Aubrey Sinn.

The smooth talking Roberts has a

Meet the Orphans of “Annie”: from left, Ruby Griffin as July; Anika Bobra as Tessie; Peyton Ella as Annie; Gabriella Uhl as Kate; Nora Kennedy as Pepper; and Maureen Henshaw as Duffy. In basket, Haylie Shea Christiano as Molly.

comical, animated way of moving on stage as he tries to con his way into a big reward. The chemistry between the three is devilishly fun to watch!

John-Charles Kelly as Franklin D. Roosevelt is as presidential as you get. He handles worldly issue, his cabinet and still has time to sing with Annie.

Let’s not forget the other feisty orphans that come equipped with dirty knees, messy hair and big attitudes: Anika Bobra, Haylie Shea Christiano, Tahilia Ellie, Ruby Griffin, Maureen Henshaw, Nora Kennedy, Molly Lyons, Sasha Murray, Lucy Neureuther, Ella Stanley, Lauren Sun, Gabriella Uhl, and alternating as Annie is Kaylin Hedges. Sandy, Annie’s dog, is smartly played by Sunny, a terrier mix. Sunny was rescued in 2012 and trained by Bill Berloni. Sunny stayed with the show on Broadway until 2014 and has been out with the national tour ever since.

It takes a big cast to create a show with personality and heart, other talents include: Robert Abdoo as associate director/choreographer; Kelly Black; Laura Cable; Joseph Cullinane; Jesse Lynn Harte; Carl Hulden; Ryan Alexander Jacobs; Kelsey Self; Rochelle Smith; Roger Preston

Smith; and Billy Clark Taylor.

Director/choreographer by Mary Jane Houdina; musical director

by William Stanley; set design

by Andrew Gmoser; and sound design by Mark Zuckerman.

An idea that started from a comic strip about a red-headed girl lead to a Broadway musical, winning seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, and eventually became a motion picture in

1982, “Annie” has stood the test of time. The story of hope, promise, optimism, and of course, the sun, “Annie” is a show for everyone!

This Bill Stutler and Bob Funking production of “Annie” is playing now through Sept. 10 at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. For additional information, please call 592-2222 or visit broadwaytheatre.com.

From left, Aubrey Sinn as Lily St. Regis, Adam Roberts as Rooster, and Susann Fletcher as Miss Hannigan perform “Easy Street” in the Westchester Broadway Theatre’s production of “Annie.”

SPORTS

August 25, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 11

Adding insult to injury LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

You would figure, that with the team standing 20.5 games behind the Nationals in the NL East, we simply wouldn’t have to talk about the Mets anymore.

But for some reason, the Amazin’s seem determined to generate headlines—albeit not the ones they’d hope for.

On Monday night, the Mets announced that struggling starting pitcher Steven Matz would undergo season-ending surgery to repair a damaged nerve in his arm. The news, on the surface, is fairly commonplace. Pitchers— especially those who don the blue and orange—routinely suffer debilitating injuries that can cut a season short.

But in true Mets’ fashion, there was more to the story.

Just hours before the announcement, manager Terry Collins announced that the team was shutting Matz down indefinitely despite the fact that he

wasn’t injured. Then came the reports from organizational higher-ups about the hurler’s irritated ulnar nerve.

Again, this seems pretty standard, especially for the Mets.

Managers have some leeway in revealing the ailments suffered by their players and maybe some signals got crossed prior to Collins’ press conference.

But then, sources within the team confided that Matz had been injured all year long, his pitching arm, at times swelling up to the size of a grapefruit, and that Mets’ staffers had been giving him game-day pain-killing injections to keep him in the lineup.

Their reasoning? They wanted to help the young southpaw get over the “mental hurdle” of pitching with pain.

Even for a team like the Mets, this is a new low.

Pitching—especially young pitching—is the most important commodity in the major leagues today. And at every turn, the Mets have done everything within their power to mishandle its promising staff.

Noah Syndergaard spent the offseason bulking up—against the recommendation of the team’s trainers—and then refused the organization’s “suggestion” that he get an MRI. He made a grand total of five starts this year.

Matt Harvey, once the shining star of the staff, hasn’t pitched since June.

Zack Wheeler? He’s part of the walking wounded, too, which isn’t really a surprise considering he hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2015.

Sure, some of it is dumb luck, but how much does the Mets’ general ineptitude factor into the team’s inability to keep its player’s healthy?

This had the potential to be a big year for the Mets. Coming off two straight trips to the postseason, with a wealth of young stars on the mound, the team seemed poised to wrest control of the city’s attention from the big-brother Yanks. Instead, Mets fans were treated to a season filled with heartbreak, confusion and anger.

New York Mets’ lefthander Steven Matz will miss the rest of the season after undergoing elbow surgery this week. The team’s mishandling of the young hurler is just one of many missteps this year.

Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

And with a front office seemingly incapable of doing the right thing by its players, there sure doesn’t seem like an easy fix.

But even if there was one, I sure wouldn’t trust the Mets to make the repairs.

They’d probably amputate

the wrong arm anyway.

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

SPORTS

12 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 25, 2017

New Ro eyes title defense

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor As the reigning Class AA state champions, it stands to reason that the New Rochelle soccer team will come into the 2017 season with a sizeable target on its back. But for fourth-year head coach Jarohan Garcia and the rest of the Huguenots, outside expectations haven’t been a focal point for the club.

With a strong group of returning players, Garcia is confident that his squad will be able to block out the noise and continue to do what they’ve done for the last four years; work every day to improve.

The Huguenots bring back eight players from last season’s title team, including standouts like Felipe Tobon, Javier Amezcua and Omar Espinoza. According to Garcia, his seniors’ play down the stretch last year should be a great benefit as they hope to impart their wisdom on an upand-coming class of players looking to write their own chapter in New Rochelle history.

“I think it was so valuable that those guys went through that process last year,” he said. “I think they will help keep everyone accountable with their leadership because they know that the entire season is a process.”

Amezcua and Tobon will anchor a strong defensive unit that also features returning starter Andrew Sirota. Garcia expects the trio to fare well in front of keeper David Lopez, who saw time upfront last year. Espinoza will be key to generating the attack from his position in the midfield, where he will be paired with two talented players in Moises Reyes and Justin Sirota.

The head coach said that several open spots will be filled by players who excelled on the ju-

nior varsity level, as well as Haitian transfer student Guy Delva, who could make an immediate impact.

“I think the younger guys see what our players did last year as juniors,” Garcia said. “And they are trying to come in right away and contribute.”

The Huguenots will be tested right off the bat, as they play in the deepest league in Section I, and will have to play two games apiece against powerhouse teams like White Plains, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale and Mount Vernon.

“These eight games, those are games that have a sectional atmosphere,” he said. “They have tremendous programs, they are tremendous schools; it’s a very tough league and I don’t see any reason that would change this year.”

At the end of the day, however,

Garcia said that his goal is to oversee his players’ improvement on the field and in the classroom; and over the past four years, there has been an amazing transformation in the program.

“If you look at our returning seniors, every single player is taking at least two AP classes and that’s a big difference from three years ago,” he said. “And it shows them that you can have a top player who can also be a top student.”

Javier Amezcua hugs a teammate after the Huguenots won the Class AA sectional title. Amezcua will help anchor the defense in 2017.

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Omar Espinoza controls the ball during last year’s state title game. Espinoza is one of several returning players for the Huguenots.

Felipe Tobon celebrates a goal in the 2016 Class AA state championship game. Tobon will again serve as one of the Huguenot captains this year. Photos/Mike Smith

Omar Espinoza controls the ball during last year’s state title game.

Espinoza is one of several returning players for the Huguenots.