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Harrison REVIEW THE

January 6, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 1 | www.harrisonreview.com

Cuomo approves 8 new Westchester hotel taxes By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

Some Westchester County lawmakers voted to reinstate a ban on gun shows at county-owned facilities, which was lifted in 2010. However, County Executive Rob Astorino is likely to veto the ban ahead of a gun expo to be held at the Westchester County Center later this month. For story, see page 6. File photo

County meets housing deadline; still must submit AI By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Four days before a courtimposed deadline, Westchester County has met and exceeded the core obligations of its 2009 settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, county officials said. During a Dec. 27 press conference, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, announced that the county had financed and arranged building permits for more than 750 affordable housing units in its 31 of its predominately Caucasian communities, surpassing a benchmark set in a 2009 settlement with HUD. Astorino said that the county has fi-

nancing and permits in place for 790 units, with additional provisions in place to build at least 100 more units in 2017. In 2006, the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York, ADC, sued Westchester for collecting annual federal block grant money to promote fair housing, and not doing enough to respond to housing needs in its communities. According to the 2010 census, the county population is 15 percent African-American and 22 percent Hispanic; but several municipalities within the county had less than 2 percent of an African-American population and less than 5 percent Hispanic population. Facing a multimillion dollar lawsuit, the county—under the

direction of former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat—agreed to settle the case by promoting affordable housing in 31 of its communities, including building at least 750 units and analyzing zoning laws in a seven-year period. During his press conference, Astorino, who fought the settlement after defeating Spano and taking office in 2010, maintained his position that the population disparity was a result of economics and not discriminatory zoning practice. But Craig Gurian, executive director of the ADC, told the Review, “The county executive’s statement, as usual, is breathtakingly dishonest.” According to the ADC, some of the units that Westchester built do not comply

with the terms of the settlement, which mandates that the county prepare at least 630 units in municipalities with the lowest minority populations. According to the ADC, the county only prepared 283 units in those areas. “When you exclude the cheating units, the county is actually hundreds of units short,” Gurian added. “I couldn’t care less, really, what the ADC has to say at this point,” Astorino said in the county press office in White Plains. “I’m just concerned about making sure we finish the terms of the settlement and that we move on.” The county will still have to meet additional requirements HOUSING continued on page 9

Gov. Andrew Cuomo authorized eight municipalities in Westchester County to implement an occupancy tax on hotel and motel patrons, following strong recommendations from state and local officials throughout the Lower Hudson Valley region. On Dec. 31, the villages and towns of Harrison, Tuckahoe, North Castle, Mamaroneck, Port Chester, Dobbs Ferry, Greenburgh, and Hastings-OnHudson were given the authority to levy the 3 percent occupancy tax. Cuomo, a Democrat, approved the measures after vetoing the bills last year and expressing disinterest in granting towns and villages the ability to levy the tax. State Assemblyman David Buchwald, a Democrat, explained that the desirability of the tax for local governments is that it provides municipalities the ability to generate revenue outside of the need to increase property taxes on local residents, since most patrons of hotels are from outside the community. “Hopefully this will enable property taxpayers to get a bit of relief and ensure folks that stay in hotels that make use of a town’s services to chip in a bit, too.” Among those that already impose a hotel tax include the village of Rye Brook, the cities of New Rochelle, Yonkers, White Plains, and Rye—the first municipality in the county that was given the authority to levy the tax in 2006—and West-

chester County, which implements a 3 percent hotel tax of its own. Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, said the tax will likely generate as much as $600,000 for the town from stays at local hotels including the Renaissance Westchester Hotel, which is located at 80 West Red Oak Lane, the Hyatt House on Westchester Avenue, and the Westchester Country Club on North Street. Belmont added any amount of additional revenue could positively impact the town of Harrison, even $100,000. “Maybe we won’t have to be as stringent as we have in the past,” he said. As of press time, there are only two hotels located in the village of Mamaroneck, the Mamaroneck Motel at 1015 W. Boston Post Road, and Vincent and Sons, located at 1514 E. Boston Post Road. Several lodges and country clubs would be affected by the law as well, including the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, the Beach Point Club, the Orienta Beach Club, and the Hampshire Country Club. Mamaroneck Trustee Leon Potok, a Democrat, said, “The authorization to levy an occupancy tax on hotel and motel guests will allow the village to very slightly reduce its dependence on property taxes for funding expenses.” There are currently no hotels in the village of Tuckahoe; however, the village Planning Board recently approved the controversial development of a Marriott SpringHill Suites hotel HOTEL continued on page 8

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January 6, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 3

Cuomo proposes free tuition for SUNY students By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Gov. Andrew Cuomo, alongside U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, unveiled a proposal on Jan. 3 to provide free tuition for income-eligible residents statewide at SUNY colleges and universities. The plan, to be known as the Excelsior Scholarship, will cost approximately $163 million a year once the program is fully carried out over a three-year period, according to Cuomo’s office. Families and individuals earning up to $125,000 a year would qualify for free tuition at public universities in New York state. “A college education is not a luxury,” said Cuomo, a Democrat. “It is an absolute necessity for any chance at economic mobility. New York is making a major investment in our greatest asset—our people.” The scholarship would mandate participating students to be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY, two- or four-year college full time. The plan will not cover the cost of room and board. As of press time, tuition costs $6,470 at four-year SUNY schools; it was increased by the SUNY board of trustees by $300 a year through 2011 and 2015. Likewise, tuition costs $6,330 at four-year CUNY schools. According to Cuomo’s office, the plan will work hand-inhand by borrowing capital from

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is proposing to provide free tuition for SUNY and CUNY students statewide. There are two SUNY schools in Westchester County, including SUNY Purchase College in Harrison, and Westchester Community College in Valhalla. File photo

a number of tuition assistance programs the state already offers to low-income families, such as TAP, which provides nearly $1 billion in grants to college students statewide. The proposal comes in wake of Sanders championing free college tuition during his presidential campaign for the Democratic nomination last year. “Cuomo is proposing a revolutionary idea for higher education,” he said. “It’s an idea that’s going to reverberate not only throughout the state of New York, but throughout this country.” SUNY Purchase, located in the town/village of Harrison, and SUNY Westchester Community College, in the hamlet of Valhalla, are the only two New York state schools located in Westchester County. State Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, said while the initiative is a really interesting concept, how it will fit into the budget is questionable.

Cuomo’s plan would require state legislative approval as part of the budget for the fiscal year that starts April 1. The deadline to submit his proposal is Jan. 17, as of press time. “Right now, my initial reaction is that it’s a great concept, and I can see the general value in it because it will make higher education available to those who can’t afford it,” Latimer said. “But first, we’ll have to see how much money is being allocated for it.” Latimer added that the policy could cause an issue for those lingering around the borderline of a $125,000 yearly household income. “Drawing the line is a hard thing to worry about,” he said. “Some people might be above that threshold, and their income may seem high, but because of the cost of everyday living, they’re less able to afford college.” CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Rye’s Kelly to leave Fox News for NBC deal One of cable television’s most prominent news anchors, Megyn Kelly, announced her plans to end her time at Fox News Channel for a position with NBCUniversal News Group in the coming months. According to NBC News, Kelly, a resident of the city of Rye, will become the anchor of a new one-hour daytime program that will air Monday through Friday. Further, as part of the multiyear agreement, Kelly will also anchor a new Sunday evening news magazine show to cover breaking news and the network’s political and special events coverage. “While I will greatly miss my colleagues at Fox, I am delighted to be joining the NBC News family and taking on a new chal-

Megyn Kelly

lenge,” Kelly wrote on her public Facebook page. Since 2013, Kelly has anchored Fox News’ “The Kelly File,” which she helped create. She joined the conservative Fox News Channel in 2004 as a Washington-based correspondent. Before joining Fox, Kelly served as a general assignment

reporter for WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., where she covered national and local stories of interest, including the 2004 presidential race and the D.C. sniper case. Prior to her career in television news, Kelly practiced law as a corporate litigator at Jones Day for nine years and was an associate in the Chicago office of the law firm Bickel & Brewer LLP. “Megyn is an exceptional journalist and news anchor, who has had an extraordinary career,” said Andrew Lack, the chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group. “She’s demonstrated tremendous skill and poise, and we’re lucky to have her.” As of press time, there are no further details about Kelly’s news programs. -Reporting by Franco Fino

4 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 6, 2017

What’s going on... Harrison Public Library

English for Japanese Speakers Starting on Friday, Jan. 13 from 9:14 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. This class is for Japanese speakers learning English. Practical everyday conversational English is taught, and always tailored to the students’ needs. This class is taught by Julie Jacobs. Class is held once a week on Friday mornings and follows the Harrison school district calendar.

Visit harrisonpl.org for more information on programs and library hours.

Sing Along Sundays with Chloe On Sundays from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Celebrate early childhood through music and movement. Children and parents are sure to love the captivating songs, live accordion music, and activities designed with specific cognitive milestones in mind. This class will feature a variety of child-sized instruments and props, and a wealth of both traditional and original songs to add to your singalong repertoire. Get ready for a fun, creative, and engaging experience.

One-on-One e-Help On Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Need help with downloading e-books, audiobooks, apps, or using Google Drive, email, or searching the Internet with your tablet, phone or laptop? Bring your device and questions and get one-on-one assistance. Please register online, by phone at 8350324, or in person at the library.

Crochet and Knitting On Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the West Harrison Branch. Want to learn how to knit or crochet a simple scarf? Join this class. Drop in anytime and bring hooks, needles and yarn or practice with the library’s. No registration required. Call 948-2092 for more information.

Pajama Party with Chloe On Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the West Harrison Branch. For children up to age 4; siblings are welcome. Participants can wear pajamas and sing with Chloe during this evening class with songs, music and more. No registration required.

Mommy and Me Yoga with Angela Starting on Friday, Jan. 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Bring your own mat for a relaxing yoga class with the littlest ones. For non-walkers and their caregivers.

Chloe’s Sign & Play On Fridays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Give your child the gift of language. Sign & Play is a fun class where families can learn to communicate with their pre-verbal children using real signs from American Sign Language. Based on the award-winning Baby Signing Time series, this class will give parents a window into the hearts and minds of their little ones. Through fun songs, stories and games, parents and children will learn many useful signs for everyday communication.

Yoga with Angela Starting on Friday, Jan. 13 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Bring your own mat and water to this lovely, mindand-body-relaxing yoga experience with Angela Brandt, a registered and certified yoga instructor. This is an opportunity to create self-esteem, physical coordination, breath relaxation and strength. For grades 2-5.

Girls Who Code On Saturdays, from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. This is a program for girls in grades 7–12. Work with your club on a computer science impact project, where you’ll learn to use computer science to solve a problem relevant to your club and community. Participants must bring their own laptop. Registration is required online or by calling 835-0324.

Harrison Recreation Please be aware that parents must have a current 2016 ID card to register children for all programs. Please be prepared to show proof of residency with a current utility bill and driver’s license. A school report card or progress report is required for a child ID card. Visit harrison-ny.gov/ recreation for more information on programs and the Recreation Department.

Wrestling Come learn the fundamentals of wrestling. Participants need to wear sweatpants or shorts, sneakers and a T-shirt. The classes will run from Jan. 10 to Feb. 15 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For grades 1–6 at Louis M. Klein Middle School Gym B. Fee: $65 made payable to Town/Village of Harrison. Questions can be emailed to va21511@optonline.net.

Archery Basic beginning instructions in target archery including safety, shooting techniques, scoring, tackle care and maintenance. Ten one-hour sessions starting on Wednesday, Jan. 11 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. from third-graders through adults at the Sollazzo Center. Fee: $85 made payable to Town/ Village of Harrison.

Mad Science: Secret Agent Lab Step into the shoes of a detective and uncover the science involved in evidence gathering and analysis. You will probe the science of tracking as you stamp out scenarios and uncover codes in this program. Some of the weekly topics in this session include: Crime Lab, Cracking the Case, The Science of Security, Agent Undercover, Sleuths on the Scene, Funky Forensics, Spy Academy, Junior Detectives, Discover Detection, and Whodunit? The program starts on Friday, Jan. 20 for eight weeks, and will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building and the Leo Mintzer Center on Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for grades K–3. For more information and to register, visit register.madscience.org/westchester or call 888-623-3724. Tuition is $200.

Manhattanville College Jazz and wind ensembles auditions The Manhattanville College Community Jazz

Ensemble and Wind Ensemble announce auditions for their 2016–2017 season. All qualified musicians are welcome to audition for positions in the jazz ensemble and wind ensemble, which are composed of college students as well as residents of Westchester and Rockland counties, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and New York City. The Community Jazz Ensemble rehearses regularly on Tuesday evenings, and the Wind Ensemble rehearses regularly on Thursday evenings. Both groups meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Berman Center on the college’s campus at 2900 Purchase St. in Purchase. If you are interested in auditioning, please contact the director, Terry Reynolds, at Terry. Reynolds@mville.edu. For further information call the Music Office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 323-5260.

Jewish Community Center of Harrison Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, the Jewish Community Center of Harrison, JCCH, will welcome Rabbi Gerald L. Zelizer as a guest speaker at services on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 14. Zelizer will speak on “Reverend King and Rabbi Heschel: Their Message, My Memories.” King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel first met in 1963 at the National Conference on Race and Religion. The two marched arm in arm from Selma to Montgomery. Zelizer was present when Dr. King addressed the Rabbinical Assembly convention in March 1968, just weeks before he was assassinated. Zelizer served a number of Jewish communities, including Congregation Neve Shalom in Metuchen, New Jersey, from which he retired in 2015 after 45 years. He writes widely in regional and national publications on topics in religion and popular culture. Services on Jan. 14 will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by a Kiddush lunch. This program is free and open to the entire community. All are welcome. For more information, call the JCCH at 835-2850 or visit jcch.org. The JCCH is located at 130 Union Ave. in Harrison. 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.

She’s not crazy, her name just rhymes with it. Read Lenore Skenazy’s column every week in the Review. A past contributor to the Daily News and the New York Sun, Skenazy has also appeared on “The Daily Show,” been profiled in the New Yorker and even had her own reality TV show, “World’s Worst Mom.”

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Alzheimer’s Association offers educational programs Purchase named a 2017 ‘Best College Value’ The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will offer two educational programs in Westchester in January. “Healthy living for your brain and body: Tips from the latest research” will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont. This program looks at the latest research in diet, nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement to help participants form a plan for healthy aging. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-2723900 or the library to register at 834-2281. “Know the 10 signs: Early detection matters” will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday,

Jan. 20 at Bronxville Public Library, 201 Pondfield Road in Bronxville. This program looks at the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Early detection is important because it allows more time to begin drug therapy, enroll in clinical studies, and plan for the future. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-2723900 or the library to register at 337-7680. These programs are supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary

health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org/hudsonvalley to learn more or call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900. Caregivers in need of assistance and support can also call this number for a 24-hour helpline. (Submitted)

Purchase College, State University of New York, SUNY, is listed as a 2017 Best College Value by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. Introduced in 1998, the rankings highlight public schools, private universities, and private liberal arts colleges that combine outstanding academics with affordable cost. Purchase College is listed in the top 100 best values among public colleges. Thomas J. Schwarz, president of Purchase College, said, “We remain dedicated to providing the highest quality education in the liberal arts, sciences, and performing and visual arts. We are proud to provide an affordable and accessible experience, while nurturing the creative process and open-minded engagement that are the hallmarks of a Purchase education.” Kiplinger assesses value by

measurable standards of academic quality and affordability. Quality measures include admission rate, percentage of students who return for sophomore year, student-faculty ratio, and four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker price, financial aid, and average debt at graduation. Many schools have appeared on the list multiple years in a row, including Purchase College, which is a testament to the consistent value it provides. “There’s no way around it: College is expensive, and it’s going to stay that way for a long time. So, with our rankings— which weigh affordability alongside academic quality—our goal is to help students and their parents understand what’s really worth the price,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “While

some may have ranked higher than others, all 300 schools on the list are of extraordinary value, being chosen out of a universe of 1,200.” The complete rankings are now available online at kiplinger.com/links/colleges and will appear in print in the February 2017 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. In addition to the Kiplinger’s recognition, Purchase College has recently been included on other significant college ranking lists. The Princeton Review named Purchase College in its Best 381 Colleges, 2017 Edition, which praised Purchase’s engaged faculty and “unique, passionate, intelligent,” student body; while U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guide ranked Purchase among the best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2017. (Submitted)

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Harrison REVIEW

THE

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Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com

County gun show ban

moves forward; faces likely veto

Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com

Among the firearms available and on display at the upcoming gun expo, run by Westchester Collectors, will be various styles of pistols, rifles and knives. Photo courtesy Pinterest

Reporter | Franco Fino ext. 18, franco@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer James Pero Staff Photographers Bobby Begun, Andrew Dapolite Columnists Ron Belmont, Lenore Skenazy Letters

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Community Events

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A joint committee meeting regarding a ban on Westchester County-sanctioned gun shows was propelled forward to the legislative floor this Tuesday amidst broad support from legislators’ Democratic caucus. Photo courtesy Board of Legislators’ Democratic Caucus

Delivery

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

Classifieds & Legals

A longstanding debate over the reinstatement of a ban on gun shows at county-owned facilities boiled back to the surface this week after legislation from the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Democratic caucus lurched forward. The legislation, which passed a joint vote held by the Board of Legislators’ committees on Public Safety, Legislation and Parks held this Tuesday would mark a return to a ban previously enacted by former County Executive Andrew Spano in 1999 following infamous shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Tuesday’s discussion over the proposed legislation, which will

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be debated by the full 17-member board on Jan. 9, was prompted by an upcoming gun show scheduled at the Westchester County Center for Jan. 20-22; the occurrence of which, according to Democratic lawmakers, was only made apparent to them in the days preceding the new year. Even with support of the full nine members of the board’s Democratic caucus, County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, is expected to veto the legislation if passed by the Board of Legislators. In that event, according to Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, the ban would require a super majority vote of 12 lawmakers—three of those Republican—before it’s signed into law. However, according to John

Testa, a Peekskill Republican, there seems to be little political will amongst his fellow Republican lawmakers to give any legislation banning shows at county facilities the requisite push. “We will not be supporting an outright ban on gun shows and will not override the county executive if he vetoes the legislation to ban gun shows altogether,” Testa said. Behind the potential ban, according to Legislator Ben Boykin, a White Plains Democrat, are concerns that gun shows—which were reinstated by Astorino in 2010—could promote the deregulated sale of firearms. “Bottom line, we as a county do not want to open ourselves up to more exposure to these dangerous weapons than we already

are,” Boykin said. In their condemnation of county-sanctioned gun shows— which act as a hub for those looking to buy, sell or browse various long- and short-barrel firearms—Democrats have cited the risk of potential “straw man” purchases and illicit “gray market” sales that may skirt background check laws imposed by New York’s Secure Ammunition and Firearms, SAFE, Act. Parker, a longtime supporter of the ban, expressed concern that the sheer breadth of the show, coupled with a lack of enforcement, could possibly lead to illicit gun sales slipping through the cracks. “We have about eight officers for 2,200 people,” Parker said referring to the show’s typical daily attendance. “That, to me, seems woefully inadequate.” According to George Longworth, the county commissioner of Public Safety who answered questions from lawmakers on the subject of a ban this week, there have been no direct recorded instances of such illegal purchases as a result of the show to date. Board Democrats have already faced staunch opposition on the ban from lawmakers across the aisle who feel the initiative not only impinges on residents’ civil rights, but lacks any factual basis. Jim Maisano, a New Rochelle Republican, who also serves on the board’s Legislation Committee, has been among the most vocal critics of a potential ban. “[Democrats] didn’t introduce a single piece of evidence to sup-

port their claims,” said Maisano, who was in attendance for Tuesday’s joint committees’ meeting. “It’s just politics; they’re making it a political issue.” Maisano, whose own constituents in Pelham and New Rochelle have offered the legislator mixed feelings on the potential ban, said any embargo could also potentially fly in the face of federal law. “They want to do a show of a legal product, a product that the Supreme Court says we have a constitutional right to use,” Maisano said. “[Use of the center] should be open and fair.” Even in the event that a ban passes before the center’s scheduled show, County Attorney Robert Meehan has indicated that given a pre-existing contract between the county and event operators, Westchester Collectors, the expo would still take place, otherwise the county may risk legal action. The upcoming show—which county Parks Department officials said is expected to net the county $29,000—would mark the first of such exhibitions since 2012. A show in 2013 was canceled by Astorino following a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A separate piece of legislation put forth by Republican lawmakers that would codify the New York Attorney General’s Model New York Gun Show Procedure was tabled at Tuesday’s committee meeting, but will be heard in early February. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

January 6, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 7

Harrison mourns former councilman, judge By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Joe Cannella, a Harrison judge and former longtime councilman, died on Dec. 22 of a heart attack. He was 66 years old. “He was a compassionate, selfless man that loved his family and community very much,” said Nancy Cannella, his wife of 44 years. Although Cannella was about to begin just the second year of his first term as a town justice, he had been a public servant of Harrison for more than two decades. Cannella served on the Planning Board from 1991 to 1999, including five years as chairman of that board. In 2001, he was elected to the Town Council and held the seat until the beginning of 2016, when he stepped down after being elected as a town judge. He was deputy mayor for four years while on the board, serving under both former Mayor Joan Walsh, a Democrat, and current Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican. “He was definitely an asset to

the town wherever he served,” Belmont told the Review. “As a little league coach or a Planning Board member or as a councilman, he was very astute in whatever he was doing.” Cannella was a partner at the Manhattan-based law firm Eaton & Van Winkle, where he spent more than 35 years as an attorney. He moved to Harrison in 1982. He grew up in Queens, New York, where he received degrees in law and finance from St. John’s University. He also earned a degree in tax law from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Before moving to Harrison, Cannella had also worked as an attorney for the IRS. Belmont also accredited Cannella for crafting the deal which led to the pending AvalonBay transit oriented development project on the Metro-North parking lot off of Halstead Avenue, and said he also helped the town survive financial difficulties. After announcing his candidacy for judge in 2015, Cannella told the Review he had always

intended to run for town justice, but that he delayed his candidacy to help the town recover from the Great Recession. “When the town was going broke back in 2008, he was on the Town Council and he was the artist behind the [labor givebacks] deal … that bailed the town out,” Belmont said. Cannella was also an awardwinning volunteer coach in the town’s Little League, Babe Ruth League and youth soccer program, where colleagues said he was as diligent and dedicated as in his political service. “Joe was a dear friend and a consummate professional,” said Councilwoman Marlane Amelio, a Republican who served on the town board alongside Cannella for six years. “His legacy of commitment, respect and love for the residents of Harrison will be remembered for a long time.” Cannella is survived by his wife, Nancy; his son, Jonathan; and his two daughters, Ashley and Kimberly. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Joe Cannella, who had been serving as one of Harrison’s town justices since January 2016 and had spent the previous 14 years as a town councilman, died on Dec. 22 at the age of 66. File photo

8 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 6, 2017

HHS Model Congress earns 9 awards

HOTEL from page 1

On Dec. 31, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, approved a 3 percent occupancy tax for eight Westchester municipalities, impacting hotels and motels including the Hyatt House, pictured, which is located in Harrison. Last year, Cuomo vetoed similar bills citing disinterest in granting the tax for towns and villages. Photo courtesy Hyatt.com

on Marbledale Road. According to Buchwald, each municipality will generate a different amount of revenue from the tax, depending on how many hotels there are in each community. Further, Buchwald said there is no projected revenue estimates for any

community at this moment. “This is a victory,” said state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat who sponsored the Harrison and North Castle bills. “The state Legislature and our local governments came together, [and] I am pleased that these bills have

been signed into law by Gov. Cuomo.” According to state law, the hotel tax has a three-year sunset clause attached to it, meaning that it must be renewed by the state after its expiration. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

The Harrison High School Model Congress Team had an outstanding showing at the annual Princeton Model Congress Conference in Washington, D.C., in November—earning four Best Speaker in Committee Gavel awards and five Honorable Mentions. “A combination of big personalities and differing opinions made up our team this conference; and despite political differences and spirited debate, they ultimately become a close knit group of students who supported and encouraged their teammates the entire weekend,” said the HHS Model Congress Club Secretary Samara Lipman. “The trip was not only an amazing experience, but also one of our most successful conferences yet.” Those earning recognition are listed below. Best Speaker in Committee (Gavel): Spencer Korek: Red House, Government Reform; Samara Lipman: White Senate, Environment and Public Works; Matthew Schwartz: Orange Senate, Appropriations; Keon Azar: Blue House, Judiciary. Honorable Mentions: Jessica

The Harrison High School Model Congress Team won nine awards at the annual Princeton Model Congress Conference in Washington, D.C., last year. Photo courtesy Harrison school district

Hart: White House, Education and Workforce; Ethan Evans: Orange House, Science and Technology; Matthew Griff: Blue Senate, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Mark Rossi: Orange Senate, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Leslie An: Blue Senate, Full Session. Of the nine individuals who received awards, four of them were on their first ever Model Congress trip: Keon Azar, Ethan Evans, Matthew Griff, and Mark Rossi.

In Legislation, Harrison’s team had 22 out of 23 bills were passed in committee, and two bills were recommended to full session. In addition to participating in the conference, HHS Model Congress members took trips to Georgetown University, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and the National Mall, including The National World War II Veterans Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. (Submitted)

School district welcomes new athletics director The Harrison Central School District welcomed Chris Galano to the leadership team as the director of Physical Education, Health & Athletics, effective Dec. 1, 2016. For the past three years, Galano has served as the athletic director at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, one of the most distinguished and academically successful high schools in the nation. In this role, he has provided leadership and coordination for 42 athletic teams, supporting 1,200 student-athletes in a high school with 3,400 students. In his time as athletic director, he has promoted increased student participation in athletics, while overseeing student eligibility, coaching recruitment and development, facilities utilization, and the budget process. In addition to his experience as an athletic director, Galano taught physical education at

Chris Gallano is the Harrison Central School District’s new director of Physical Education, Health & Athletics. Photo courtesy Harrison school district

Stuyvesant and coordinated the intramural sports program. His prior experience includes serving as a physical education and health teacher at Long Island

City High School, and as an elementary physical education teacher and adaptive physical education teacher for students with disabilities at the William Wordsworth School in Queens. Galano’s experience in athletics includes serving as the varsity lacrosse coach and assistant varsity football coach at Long Island City High School, as well as the assistant varsity basketball coach and assistant varsity football coach at North Shore High School on Long Island. Galano earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a concentration in adaptive physical education from SUNY Cortland. He also holds a master’s degree in coaching athletics from Stony Brook University, and he completed graduate coursework in leadership toward administrative certification at the College of Saint Rose. (Submitted)

January 6, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 9 HOUSING from page 1

outlined in the settlement before concluding the decadelong saga with HUD. The county must get approval from HUD on its efforts to advertise the affordable housing market; it says it has spent more than $1 million on advertising and outreach, more than double what was required in the settlement. Westchester will also need HUD to sign off on an analysis of impediments, AI, to fair housing. The county has already submitted eight AIs, each of which had found that Westchester’s zoning was not racially exclusionary. HUD rejected all eight of the AIs, claiming they were inadequate. In July 2016, U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Denise Cote, who has been overseeing the case, ruled that Westchester would need to hire a consultant to oversee the ninth AI. According to Astorino, that AI is being reviewed by a consultant and will be released in mid-January. “We scrubbed everyone’s zoning code, even the communities that were not part of the settlement,” Astorino said.

“And we found that everyone, in their various ways, permitted multi-family housing—permitted affordable housing.” Astorino, locked in a contentious battle over housing for years, reiterated his criticism of the federal government, which has often suggested that Westchester should sue individual municipalities which were not doing enough to promote affordable housing or had exclusionary zoning. “We have shown that Westchester is… a county that can successfully and firmly stand up to an overzealous and overaggressive federal government on behalf of our cities, towns and villages,” he said. Last May, a HUD-appointed monitor overseeing the county’s adherence to the settlement recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice should take legal action against seven of the 31 municipalities which he felt were not complying with the settlement. That monitor, James Johnson, resigned in August. The housing department has not appointed Johnson’s replacement; and Astorino said he has asked the Department of Justice to forego appointing one. “Given the county’s

progress, the county has told the U.S. attorney that we do not think a new monitor is necessary at this point,” he said. “And, so, we feel very strongly that if a new monitor is appointed—and we see no reason why one should be—that that choice should be that of the incoming secretary of HUD, Dr. Ben Carson, and not Julian Castro, who is on his way out.” Astorino said that he plans to speak with Carson, a fellow Republican, once he is officially appointed as HUD administrator this month, and that the two had already discussed the settlement in June before Carson was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican. He added that he also spoke to Trump about the settlement in June. “It’s time for a conclusion,” Astorino said. “As the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said, ‘At some point in time this litigation has to be ended.’ That time should be near.” Alexander Roberts, cofounder of the Westchester Workforce Housing Coalition, told the Review that the county can continue to do more to promote zoning for affordable

Community leaders, municipal supervisors and mayors, reporters and several Republican Westchester lawmakers joined County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, for a press conference on Dec. 27 during which he announced that the county had surpassed the threshold set in a 2009 settlement to prepare to build 750 units of affordable housing before 2017. According to Astorino, the county has arranged for 790 and plans to build at least 100 more. File photo

and multi-family housing. “I would like to see [the county] continue the interest in getting the affordable and fair housing

that we need in this county to continue to grow,” Roberts said. “It’s not just a racial issue or equity issue. It’s an issue of

failure to allow the free market in housing to operate.” CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

10 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 6, 2017

Harrison & Rye Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com

1 Azalea Circle, Purchase $3,350,000 Sale Date: 10/28/16

2 Ironwood Lane, Rye $1,350,000 Sale Date: 9/28/16

2 Keane Court, Rye $2,170,000 Sale Date: 10/4/16

2 Theresa Lane, Harrison $750,000 Sale Date: 11/15/16

3 Stuyvesant Avenue, Rye $2,180,000 Sale Date: 9/9/16

4 Philips Lane, Rye $3,500,000 Sale Date: 10/13/16

4 Fox Run, Purchase $2,700,000 Sale Date: 9/29/16

5 Ralston Street, Rye $1,952,500 Sale Date: 9/28/16

10 Morris Court, Rye $2,246,250 Sale Date: 10/5/16

11 Sylvanleigh Road, Purchase $2,550,000 Sale Date: 9/27/16

12 Taylor Avenue, West Harrison $515,000 Sale Date: 11/4/16

16 Jean Street, Rye $3,273,040 Sale Date: 10/11/16

17 Harrows Lane, Purchase $1,310,000 Sale Date: 9/22/16

19 Elmwood Avenue, Rye $2,115,000 Sale Date: 8/15/16

22 Lawrence Lane, Harrison $2,550,000 Sale Date: 10/31/16

23 Locust Lane, Rye $2,821,500 Sale Date: 10/25/16

January 6, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 11

Harrison & Rye Home Sales Listings provided by the office of Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni Photos courtesy Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Hotpads.com, Spotproperty.com & Maps.google.com

24 The Crossing, Purchase $1,575,000 Sale Date: 11/1/16

26 Davis Avenue, Rye $1,427,000 Sale Date: 9/20/16

27 Hughes Avenue, Rye $2,195,000 Sale Date: 10/13/16

27 Yarmouth Road, Purchase $853,000 Sale Date: 11/15/16

28 Brae Burn Drive, Purchase $1,620,000 Sale Date: 10/26/16

31 Harrows Lane, Purchase $1,350,000 Sale Date: 9/30/16

34 Griswold Road, Rye $4,166,600 Sale Date: 10/27/16

38 The Crossing, Purchase $1,550,000 Sale Date: 9/15/16

41 The Crossing, Purchase $845,000 Sale Date: 11/10/16

44 Greenhaven Road, Rye $3,200,000 Sale Date: 10/21/16

45 Oakwood Avenue, Rye $1,427,500 Sale Date: 9/29/16

50 Oakwood Avenue, Rye $1,900,000 Sale Date: 10/21/16

71 Bradford Street, Harrison $850,000 Sale Date: 11/2/16

144 Macri Avenue, West Harrison $525,000 Sale Date: 10/28/16

149 Lakeview Avenue, West Harrison Sale Date: $716,200 11/22/16

1593 Old Orchard Street, West Harrison $1,275,000 Sale Date: 10/6/16

12 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 6, 2017

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Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Call 315-400-0797 Today!

NOTICE TO BIDDERS HARRISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

COLLECTABLES TO P C A S H PA I D I N S TA N T LY F O R COLLECTIBLES! -WE BUY Baseball Cards, Autographs, Records, Silver Coins, Golf Items, Art, Jewelry, Comics Etc., Call Jim Today @ 914-310-5153 CA$H BUYER, Old Comic Books 10c to 35c covers, also Guns, Gold Coins. I travel to you and Buy EVERYTHING YOU have! Call Brian 1-800-617-3551

FOR SALE Selling (8) grave plot Kensico Cemetery in Vahalla, N.Y. Prestige Sharon Garden location. Owner relocated to another state. Call for details: 240-630-8814

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LAND WANTED LAND WANTED: Cash buyer seeks large acreage 200+ acres in the Central/Finger Lakes and Catskills Regions of NY State. Brokers welcome. For immediate confidential response, call 607-353-8068 or email info@NewYorkLandandLakes.com

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WANTED TO BUY Original illustration art done for magazine, book, pulp, paperback and comic covers and interiors, ads, calendars, posters, pinups, sci-fi, westerns, etc. Also antique paper: maps, posters collections of photos, postcards, autographs, etc. Finder’s fees paid. Contact Matthew at Mwi0729@aol.com or 914-588-9359.

Notice is hereby given that SEALE D PROPOSALS, from bidders interested in PURCHASING Pre-owned Wireless Network Devices, for: RFB # 16/17-25 FOR SALE: Wireless Network Devices will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at the Business Office of the Harrison Central School District, located at 50 Union Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528; (914) 630-3011. All bids will be publicly opened and read at said time and place. In the event that on Thursday, January 19, 2017 the Harrison Central School District is closed or has an early dismissal due to weather or any other emergency, bids will be due at 2:00 p.m. on the next day that school is in session. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained at www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york or from the district Business Office beginning Friday, January 6, 2017. All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered bid holders and posted to www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york. Bids shall be submitted in sealed envelopes bearing the name and address of the bidder on the outside, addressed to: PURCHASING AGENT, HARRISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT and clearly marked on the outside with the bid opening date and “ RFB # 16/17-25: FOR SALE: Wireless Network Devices”. The Harrison Central School District is not responsible for bids opened prior to the bid opening if bid number and opening date do not appear on the envelope. Bids opened prior to the date and time indicated are invalid. The bidder assumes the risk of any delay in the mail, or in the handling of the mail by employees of the Harrison Central School District, as well as improper hand delivery. The Harrison Central School District reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, or to reject all bids, or to accept any bid which in the opinion of the Board will be to their best interest. By order of the Board of Education Gene George, Purchasing Agent Dated: January 6, 2017

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January 6, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 13

A breakthrough about breakthroughs RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Oh, to be a scientist 50 or 60 years ago, warning people about the stuff they really needed to know: Stop smoking! Don’t take Thalidomide if you’re pregnant! For God’s sake, ditch the Corvair unless you WANT to get impaled on your gear shift! Your findings would make headlines and the people reading about them would end up safer and healthier. Score. But today, the safest time in human history, a time in which Americans are living a full six years longer than even in 1990, you can’t turn on your media device without hearing about another new thing you supposedly must stop doing/eating/ touching/breathing IMMEDIATELY—or else. Coffee! Lack of coffee! Plastic bottles, cellphones, GMOs. Non-organic cantaloupe! My gosh, the Environmental Working Group can’t STOP warning us about lipstick: “Millions of women get a little bit of toxic lead on their lips each day with every swipe of their lipstick,” reads a press release. Okay, that sounds scary, but are they dropping dead? See earlier paragraph: We are living longer than ever today, and that doesn’t seem to be because women have stopped wearing lipstick. It is precisely that disconnect that drove Dr. Geoffrey Kabat to write his new book, “Getting Risk Right: Understanding the Science of Elusive Health Risks.” Kabat is a cancer epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. He has published 140 scientific papers on the factors that

play a role in causing cancer and other diseases. And he is sick of watching the rest of us wake up and get warned that if we do X (it’s always changing), we will regret it till the day we die. Which will be next Thursday. “You need to make distinctions,” the doctor told me in a phone interview. There’s a difference between large-scale, longterm, replicated studies, and the fly-by-night “breakthroughs” that the media loves to report on. Kabat is quick to remind us of the big, proven health risks we can actually get a handle on: Don’t overdrink. Quit smoking. Lose weight and get some exercise. Go for effective screenings, have your kids vaccinated, and if somehow you can avoid poverty and depression, more power to you: those are real risks, too. And yet, that “boring” list takes a back seat to the danger du jour: Drinking hot tea, or using nail polish. What gives? “There is a crisis in the field of biomedicine,” he writes, the crisis of “hyper-competitiveness.” We civilians tend to think of researchers sitting in their labs, conducting experiments with only humanity’s welfare in mind. But the truth is, scientists also have to make a living. That means, “they may feel the need to overstate the importance of their work in order to attract attention and obtain funding,” Kabat writes. And increasingly, they are publishing results that cannot be replicated, either because the studies they did were too small to really measure a phenomenon, or were simply shoddy. What’s more, there is a herd mentality in science as in any field. So if some research area becomes a hot topic, many scientists will pile on, in part because that’s where the money is, and in

part because if your findings go against the grain, you will be on the outs. Remember all the research in the ‘90s showing that a low-fat diet is good for you? But it’s not, if you substitute sugar for fat, as many food companies proceeded to do. “The large-scale and dramatic change—sometimes referred to as the ‘SnackWell phenomenon’—has been credited with making a substantial contribution to increasing rates of obesity,” Kabat says. Another problem plaguing modern science—or those of us trying to make sense of it—is the fact that with ever more sensitive instruments, scientists can measure ever smaller stuff. So when, for instance, we hear that there are trace elements of a toxin in our blood, we tend to think, “Yikes!” Not, “I wonder how important one drop in a trillion is?” (Answer: It’s not. It’s like one drop of poison in 20 Olympic pools.) The result of a flood of studies, shoddy research, scientific groupthink and the media’s mania for scaring us means that “a high percentage of [Americans] worry about risks for which there is little persuasive support,” writes Kabat. “The latter include pesticide residues on produce, food additives, genetically modified foods, stress, and hormones in beef.” Holy modified mangoes! Those aren’t about to kill us? See above again: Longest lifespans in history. So how can we know which headlines to trust and which to ignore? Here is Kabat’s rule of thumb, one that I am going to adopt: “The more dramatic the result, the less likely it is to be true.” CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

ArtsWestchester honors 5 ‘Wonder Women’

From left, 2016 ArtsWestchester gala honoree Maria Ferreira; ArtsWestchester board president Bob Roth; gala honoree Emily Grant; ArtsWestchester dinner chair Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson; gala honoree Mary Calvi; gala honoree New York state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins; ArtsWestchester dinner chair Geoff Thompson; and gala honoree Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel. Contributed photo

ArtsWestchester honored five “Wonder Women” during its annual gala on Nov. 19 at The RitzCarlton Westchester in White Plains. The honorees were: Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, chair of the New York State Council on the Arts; Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York state senator and Democratic Conference leader; Maria Ferreira, area president for Wells Fargo; Emily Grant, lifetime arts patron; and Mary Calvi, award-winning CBS 2 news anchor. Diamonstein-Spielvogel is a national arts advocate, producer, preservationist, curator, civic activist and author of 23 books. Dedicated to preserving and enriching cultural life across the nation, her career of cultural leadership includes serving on the boards of countless major arts institutions and on city, state and federal councils and cultural commissions. In 1966, as the first director of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Diamonstein-Spielvogel initiated the first public performance in Central Park of the Metropolitan Opera, and first exhibition of outdoor sculpture, with the work of Tony Smith in Bryant Park. She was appointed by President Reagan to the U.S. Holocaust Museum Board in 1987 and President Clinton appointed her to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in 1992, where she became the first woman elected vice chair in the Commission’s 100-year history. In 2008, President Obama appointed her to the American Battle Monuments Commission, where she has was recently elected chair of the Memorials Committee. She is founder/chair of the NYC Landmarks 50+ Alliance; and on the boards of the Fresh Air Fund, Friends of the High Line, and Trust for the National Mall.

Stewart-Cousins is a longtime supporter of ArtsWestchester’s mission to keep the arts accessible and thriving in Westchester. A Yonkers resident, she is a vocal advocate for the value of the arts and quality education in our communities. Since the very beginning of her tenure in government, Stewart-Cousins has espoused the values of empathy, empowerment and civic engagement. These values, along with her strong belief in advocating for the underserved and championing the needs of working families, has distinguished her as a trailblazer in local and state government. Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the state Senate in 2006 and in 2009, Stewart-Cousins made New York State history as the first African-American woman to preside over the Senate. StewartCousins also served for a decade as a Westchester County legislator where she authored and passed landmark legislation including Westchester County’s first human rights laws. A Yonkers native, Ferreira is the suburban New York and Connecticut community banking area president for Wells Fargo. Her duties span six counties from New York’s northern Hudson Valley to Connecticut’s Fairfield County. In her role at Wells Fargo, she provides executive leadership for retail and business banking operations covering 50 retail banking stores and 398 employees. Wells Fargo is a corporate leader when it comes to the arts, supporting the arts-in-education programs of ArtsWestchester in some of the most impoverished communities in the county. A passionate community leader, Ferreira has been a dedicated member of the ArtsWestchester board of trustees since 2014. She currently serves on the Grants Committee where

her professional experience and leadership skills have made her one of its most valuable members. A lifetime arts patron, Grant has been a driving force in the cultural community since moving to Westchester in 1955. In the ensuing years, she and her husband, Eugene, have positively impacted almost every cultural organization in the county—Purchase College Foundation, ArtsWestchester, the Emelin Theatre, the Westchester Holocaust Commission, Caramoor, the Westchester Philharmonic, Manhattanville College, and the Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges. A little-known fact is that she served as an occupational therapist for soldiers in World War II in her native Canada, where, even then, she utilized the healing power of the arts on the wounded. She is truly a woman ahead of her time who manages to keep hearth, home, family and community a priority. Calvi is an award-winning journalist, currently an anchor for CBS 2 News This Morning and CBS 2 News at Noon. She has provided live breaking news reports on a wide range of stories across the tri-state area for over two decades and has won six Emmy awards, including one for an in-depth series on sexual pedophiles, “Predator Next Door.” Her credits include the New York Festival’s World Media Awards, a National ACE Award for Excellence in Journalism, a Clarion Award for Excellence in Reporting, and the ACIM Award for Excellence in Community Service. As the first lady of Yonkers, Calvi and her husband, Mayor Michael Spano, have supported the positive economic impact of the arts throughout the city of Yonkers as well as the power of the arts to inspire children in the Yonkers public schools. (Submitted)

14 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 6, 2017

Tweet storm

SPORTS

LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

In my 32 years on this planet, I’ve certainly racked up my fair share of regrets. From never learning how to control my temper on the baseball field until after I graduated from college to using lyrics from the Goo Goo Dolls in my high school yearbook quote, there is a litany of things in my life that I look back on with shame; wondering what the heck I was thinking at the time. And over the last year or so, I’ve come to add my lionization of former major league pitcher Curt Schilling to the list. And man, did I love Schilling. As a big-game pitcher, at least in the last 15 years, nobody was better. The playoff wins, the bloody sock—and the way he tortured the Yankees with both the Diamondbacks and the Red Sox—for a Boston fan like me, you couldn’t help but love the guy.

On Jan. 18, the Baseball Writers Association of America will announce the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees. Sports Editor Mike Smith doesn’t expect Curt Schilling, pictured, to be on the list. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

But since his retirement, it’s become increasingly clear that “Big Schill” is nothing but a selfdeluded, loud-mouthed jerk. And it’s probably going to keep him out of the Hall of Fame. Now, I’ll do my best to keep politics out of a sports article, even though Schilling himself has brought about his downfall in part by becoming a prolific purveyor of borderline racist “alt-right” memes. But let’s just say that when you preface a tweet about gun violence stats in Chicago with the disclaimer that you “in no way meant to trivialize a War Zone,” chances are that “trivialization” is exactly what you’re going for. The gatekeepers of the Hall of Fame—members of the Baseball Writers Association of America—are a notoriously vindictive bunch. It has been welldocumented that players who are popular with baseball writers are often given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to enshrinement, while others, like Jim Rice, who enjoyed frostier relationships with the scribes, are forced to wait and watch other less-deserving players get

the call before them. Over the last few years, Schilling hasn’t made a whole lot of fans among baseball writers. Doubling down on the antiMuslim tweets that got him fired by ESPN, Schilling has spent the last year becoming something of a social media surrogate for President-elect Donald Trump while echoing the sentiments of some Trump supporters who called for the lynching of journalists, and making public, inappropriate japes about ogling underaged girls. Recently, he even announced his intention to run for a senate seat in Rhode Island— which, coincidentally, is the same state that gave Schilling’s start-up video game company, 38 Studios, a $75 million loan. The company declared bankruptcy after just six years, leaving Rhode Island taxpayers to foot a $28.2 million bill. As baseball writers—including Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy who was once a vocal supporter of Schilling—began to rethink his Hall of Fame candidacy, Schilling kept talking, calling out the writers for treating him unfairly because of his beliefs, while also maintaining that inclu-

sion into the Hall of Fame didn’t really mean that much to him. But the thing about Schilling— and one of the main reasons that I loved him as a player—is that he has long been obsessed with the history of the game. Even his Twitter handle, @Gehrig38, is a testament to that. So if you don’t think this is killing him, I think you’d be wrong. Unfortunately for Schilling, however, his ego just won’t allow him to admit that maybe he’s made a few missteps since his retirement. There are unquestionably worse people in the Hall of Fame than Curt Schilling, people who have done far worse than support a particular candidate and send out a few bad tweets. There are some—and will be more in the next few years—that have actually cheated the sport itself. But Schilling is not going to get in because apparently nobody told him that “Cowboy Up” doesn’t involve getting on a high horse. And the fact that he can’t see that makes me sorry that I ever rooted for the guy in the first place.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A

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

SPORTS

January 6, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 15

Tigers reach Slam Dunk finals boys basketball non-league

IONA PREP 64 MAMARONECK 41 COUNTY CENTER

12/29/16

Game Notes: • Iona’s Josh Alexander scored a game-high 21 points • Mamaroneck advanced to the finals with a win over Uniondale on Dec. 28 • The Tigers are currently 5-2 and undefeated at home By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor The Mamaroneck basketball team may have run into a stiff test on Dec. 29, but a year-ending 64-41 loss to CHSAA powerhouse Iona Prep in the finals of the Slam Dunk Tournament at Westchester County Center did little to dampen head coach Tyrone Carver’s optimism for 2017. Over the first few weeks of the season, Carver’s Tigers have far exceeded preseason expectations and seem poised for more success in January. Against the Gaels, Mamaroneck had no answer for 6-foot8 forward Josh Alexander, who torched the Tigers both in the paint and from beyond the arc, scoring a game-high 21 points on the evening. Alexander’s frontcourt mate, Souleymane Koureissi, also drained three 3-pointers as the Gaels finished 13-23 from downtown. “Iona is a matchup nightmare,” Carver said. “They already have the size, but on top of that, to be able to shoot it so well, that’s tough for anyone.” Despite the loss, Carver said he was impressed, however, with his team’s ability to hang with a program that has long been considered one of the strongest in Westchester. “I felt like we competed pretty well, even if it didn’t really reflect that in the score,” he said. “We gave it our all, and that’s the kind of effort we need to give each game.” The night before, the Tigers picked up what may have been

Will Tuck goes up for a layup against Iona Prep at the Westchester County Center. Iona Prep topped the Tigers 64-41.

their biggest win of the season in a 60-56 semifinal win over a previously unbeaten Uniondale squad. Isiah Thomas led the way for Mamaroneck in the school’s County Center debut, scoring a team high 20 points. “I was very impressed with

our poise and very impressed with our ability to stay tuned in to what we were doing,” Carver said. “Our kids did a great job, especially considering the environment.” At 5-2 on the season, the Tigers are hoping to make a return Isiah Thomas splits the defense for a layup on Dec. 29. Thomas and the Tigers are off to a 5-2 start.

to the County Center at the end of the year, but Carver and his charges know that January will bring some tough league games. Over the next few weeks, Mamaroneck will tangle with Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Scarsdale, as they look to make their case as one of the top contenders in Class AA. “It’s important moving forward that we want to be one of the last four teams remaining, and our competition is going to step up and get better,” he said. “But we’ve got six of our eight games in January at home where we are undefeated, so we just have to get better each and every day.” Ethan Renner makes a move at the Westchester County Center. Photos/Mike Smith

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

James Manetta looks for a lane against the Gaels.

16 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 6, 2017

January 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY New Year’s Day

MONDAY

TUESDAY

New Year’s Day observed, schools and government offices closed

All schools reopen

WEDNESDAY

SAT late registration deadline Theater Arts casting 3:15 p.m., PUR

PTA meeting 9:30 a.m., LMK

PTA meeting 9:30 a.m., HHS Theater Arts casting snow date PUR

Architectural Review Board 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Town board meeting 7 p.m., Municipal building

Planning orientation for junior parents 7 p.m., HHS

PT Council meeting 9:30 a.m., PRE

SATURDAY

PTA New Year’s Staff Breakfast 8:15 a.m., HAS

ACT registration deadline

Zoning board meeting 8 p.m. PTA meeting 7 p.m., PRE

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, schools and government offices closed

PTA meeting 7 p.m., PAR

PTA meeting 9:15 a.m., PUR

Board of Education meeting 8:15 p.m., LMK

PTA meeting 9 a.m., HAS

Grs. 3-5 Fun Night 6 p.m., PUR

ACT late registration deadline

SAT I & II test

Gr. 4 Colonial Day HAS HAS Gr. 5 spaghetti dinner 7 p.m., HHS

NYS Regents Exams

Theater Arts rehearsal starts 3:15 p.m., PUR

Planning Board 7:30 p.m.

Gr. 5 parent orientation 7:15 p.m., LMK

Multicultural Night 6 p.m., PRE

Theater Arts rehearsal ends 3:15 p.m., PUR

Google Classroom LMK & HHS parent orientation 6:30 p.m.

NYS Regents Exams

SEPTA meeting 7:30 p.m., LMK

Town board meeting 7 p.m., Municipal building

HAS Gr. 5 spaghetti dinner snow date 7 p.m., HHS

Chinese New Year