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January 20, 2016 | Vol. 5, Number 3 | www.harrisonreview.com

Lawmakers ask ATF to audit Harrison gun store

Fresh and Fast Dig Inn, a popular Manhattan-based eatery, has touched down in Westchester. Located at the Rye Ridge Shopping Center in Rye Brook, the restaurant offers healthy, fast-casual bowls filled with grains, vegetables and protein, and more. For more, see page 6. Photo courtesy Dig Inn

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

Common Core still a concern amid new regulations By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer An imminent federal education regulation, which would strip Title I funding for public schools with excessive opt-out rates of standardized testing, is set to go into effect at the end of the month. Despite disapproval from lawmakers, parents and educators across the country, the U.S. Department of Education’s controversial amendment to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, ESSA, which was passed by Congress in December 2015, is set go into effect on Jan. 30. ESSA, which reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act, expands the federal government’s

role in funding public education. “The outcome of this type of legislation will be to punish large segments of students who are in need of federal dollars to support their education,” said Dr. Louis Wool, the superintendent of the Harrison Central School District. “We do not have the ability nor the right to mandate that people engage in a process that they find to be not in the best interests of their children.” The new amendment to ESSA could label Westchester public schools as “in need of improvement” for any school where 5 percent of students or more opt out of state Common Core testing. As a result, school districts above that threshold would lose its federal Title I

funding, which is distributed to schools and school districts with a high percentage of students from low-income families. The contended Common Core State Standards Initiative, which highlights what students should know in English language arts and mathematics at the end of each grade from kindergarten through 12th grade, is currently authorized and optional in New York state until 2022; the law was adopted in 2010. But in 2022, Common Core will be fully implemented without the option to opt out of standardized testing. The federal ESSA was drafted by U.S. Secretary of Education John King, the former New York state Education Department commissioner, and was

signed into law on the same day as the repeal of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, on Dec. 10, 2015. ESSA retains all the stipulations of the No Child Left Behind Act, but shifts the law’s federal accountability provisions to states. The No Child Left Behind Act previously required all public schools receiving Title I funding to administer statewide standardized testing with the stipulation that students make “adequate yearly progress.” For example, each year’s fourth-graders must score better than the previous year’s fourthgraders, or the federal government would step in and set mandatory improvement plans. CONCERN continued on page 8

A gun store in Harrison, which has drawn the attention of thousands of residents since it opened in November, now also has the attention of two Westchester County lawmakers. Legislators Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, and Ben Boykin, a White Plains Democrat, whose districts each entail a portion of Harrison, wrote a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF, in December requesting an audit of the license to sell firearms issued to Leesie & Lou Lou Inc., a corporation owned by Louis Zacchio, who owns the gun store on Halstead Avenue, L&L Sports. “We just asked them to make sure that they were looking at the application and making sure that everything was done properly,” Parker told the Review. The letter was sent to the ATF on Dec. 12, 2016. Boykin and Parker said they had not yet received a response from the agency as of press time. Some Harrison residents are likely to rejoice over news that county representatives have involved themselves in the saga. Those same residents have protested to the Harrison Town Council the location of L&L Sports since it announced it would be opening in November. Much of their concern is due to the shop’s proximity to an elementary school 500 feet away. As of press time, an online petition has garnered almost 3,500 signatures decrying the store’s location. In the letter from county

lawmakers, specific questions and concerns related to Zacchio’s license to sell firearms were raised, and whether some of his practices invalidate that license. The legislators referenced a license administered to Leesie & Lou Lou Inc., listing the premise of license as Zacchio’s home address on Orchard Place. The letter asks if Zacchio’s license had since been modified to allow him to operate at the Halstead Avenue storefront. The Review has submitted a Freedom of Information Law, FOIL, request to the ATF seeking a copy of Zacchio’s license to sell firearms; that request has not been fulfilled as of press time. Boykin and Parker have also questioned Zacchio’s compliance with a local law in Harrison which requires those who sell used goods—including guns— to obtain a permit to do so from the town. According to a response to a FOIL request submitted by the Review, the Harrison town clerk’s office has not issued any licenses to deal secondhand articles, nor had it received any applications for secondhand dealer licenses in 2016. Although he had not been licensed to deal used articles, Zacchio had listed on the store’s Facebook page that it sold used firearms. That claim has since been removed from the page. However, Zacchio’s lack of a license could be due partially to a lack of specificity in the town’s secondhand dealers law, which the town is attempting to amend. Earlier this month, the town GUN continued on page 10

2 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017

January 20, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 3

Rye Town Park: Millions needed in repairs By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer While the Rye Town Park Commission is overcoming the exit of Seaside Johnnies restaurant and although the park managed to accumulate a surplus in revenue two years in a row, its crumbling infrastructure is now emerging as a relevant matter. According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the park commission, there is currently no course of action laid out to address the desperate need for capital improvements at the park, which has been around since the early 1900s. “There are some things we know we have to do, but we really have to wait and see,” he said. Zuckerman said, although there is currently no estimate for the cost of the overall scope of necessary repairs, and while conversations about which repairs will be prioritized haven’t even begun, there are a number of “obvious” capital improvements that need to be addressed. Further, he told the Review that the commission will need to find a way to restore the park’s bathhouse and bathrooms, which need roof construction, as well as the outdoor shower facilities.

Zuckerman said construction for the park’s century-old administrative building could cost as much as $10 million. “For a long time, we’ve been talking about making the mid-beach ramp handicap accessible, too,” he said. The park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound—it’s located at 95 Dearborn Ave., off of Forest Avenue in the city of Rye—includes several pavilions, a duck pond, a restaurant and snack and concession stands, and a number of service facilities. Over the last two years, the park has accumulated a revenue surplus of nearly $430,000, which could potentially be used to fund some capital improvements. However, it’s likely the park will forego any surplus for 2017 without any viable candidate to replace Seaside Johnnies, which discontinued its restaurant operation at the park for the upcoming season. As a result, the commission will be forced to use its surplus to fund any potential operating deficit as a result of that vacancy. Zuckerman said while there is currently no plan to fund the needed capital improvements, the commission was recently selected for a nationally competitive program from New York

University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, the Capstone program, which will serve as consultants to the park. “We hope with Capstone, they gather enough information to help us determine what we want the park to be and what facilities need repairs first; then we will accomplish those goals,” Zuckerman said. “After that, we’ll come up with a complete plan.” The decision to get started with the program comes in wake of the commission mulling the idea of handing over park management to a private company; however, that idea fizzled last spring after communitywide disapproval. According to Rye City Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican and member of the park commission, an annual comprehensive approach is the solution to the looming capital improvements that need to be made. He added that the city of Rye produces a capital improvement plan each year that aims to analyze any potential capital project in the city. “The process, the staff, and the capital funding that we have in the city of Rye does not exist anywhere near the same degree with Rye Town Park,” he said. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

The Rye Town Park Commission currently has no plan to get started on a number of capital improvements that are needed to address some century-old infrastructure. Even following a positive year, it’s unlikely the park management can afford the repairs without outside funding. File photo

4 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017

What’s going on... Harrison Public Library

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

Girls Who Code On Saturdays through 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.

Origami Flowers On Sunday, Jan. 22 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. For adults. Explore the art of origami and learn how to make paper bouquets. Limited to 10 participants on a first-come, first served basis. Snow date is Sunday, Jan. 29.

The Hanamizuki Choir concert

Pajama Party with Chloe

On Sunday, Jan. 22 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. The Hanamizuki Choir will perform live music accompanied by piano. Songs include “Moon River,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Torna a Surriento,” and Japanese songs “Akatombo” and “Chiisai Aki.” Music-loving women from Japan residing in Westchester founded Hanamizuki in 1983. They named the group Hanamizuki, a dogwood tree in Japanese, as a symbol of New York’s beauty. The group rehearses in Greenville Community Church in Scarsdale under the guidance of Aya Shimada as the music director and conductor, and the pianist Keiko Hayashida. In order to enhance cultural relationships between U.S. and Japan, Hanamizuki has been performing in concerts at local schools, churches, and retirement homes in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Free and open to the public. Snow date is Sunday, Jan. 29.

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.

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.

Bilingual Storytime On Thursday, Jan. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the West Harrison Branch. For toddlers to 5-year-olds. Stories and songs in English and Spanish with Miss Bonnie and Miss Mariella. Jueves, enero 26 de 10:30 a.m. hasta 11 a.m. en West Harrison Branch. Desde infants hasta niños de 5 años. Es la hora del cuento en inglés y español. Diviértete leyendo y cantando con Señorita Bonnie y Señorita Mariella.

Taste of the Lunar New Year On Thursday, Jan. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a cooking demo and tasting. Learn how to make Chinese dumplings (jiao zi) and explore other prominent flavors and traditions of this joyful holiday celebrated by many Asian cultures around the world. Registration is required online or by calling the library at 835-0324.

Mommy and Me Yoga with Angela On Fridays 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.

Zentangle On Friday, Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. For adults. Explore the meditative drawing method of Zentangle, a calming way to start the new year. Certified Zentangle instructor Jill Greenbaum will help you to create tiles to take home, along with supplies to create more Zentangles. This class includes all the materials you will need: Italian paper tiles, pencil, Micron pen and tortillion. You will leave with your own works of art and a hunger to learn more. Registration is required online or by calling the library at 835-0324.

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 On Fridays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Bring your own mat and water to this lovely, mind-and-body-relaxing yoga experience with Angela Brandt, a registered and certified yoga instructor. This is an oppor-

tunity to create self-esteem, physical coordination, breath relaxation and strength. For grades 2–5.

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.

Nerf/Floor Hockey This is a free, four-week indoor program in Nerf/floor hockey. At the Sollazzo Center: for kindergarten starting Monday, Jan. 30 from 3:20 p.m. to 4:05 p.m., or 4:05 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.; for first and second grades starting Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 3:20 p.m. to 4:05 p.m., or 4:05 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.; for third, fourth and fifth grades starting Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. At the Leo Mintzer Center: for kindergarten and first grade starting Monday, Jan. 30 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.; for second and third grades starting Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.; for fourth and fifth grades from Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Volleyball Have fun while you learn the fundamentals of volleyball from the Harrison High School volleyball team. For girls in grades 4–8 from Friday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon at the LMK gym. Fee: $45 made payable to the Town/Village of Harrison.

Mini-Day Camp During the February school break. A fun-filled week of day camp including arts and crafts, sports, games, and special events. Camp will be held from Monday, Feb. 20 to Friday, Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children in grades 1–4 at the Sollazzo Center. Fee: $185 made payable to the Town/Village of Harrison; after Friday, Feb. 10, the late fee will be $200.

The Harrison Players Open auditions The Harrison Players Theatre Group presents open auditions for “Inherit the Wind,” written by Robert Edwin Lee and Jerome Lawrence, and directed by Anthony J. Valbiro. Auditions will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building, located at 210 Halstead Ave. in Harrison, on Sunday, Jan. 22 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Performances will take place on from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2. For questions, email harrisonplayers@ yahoo.com. For more information, visit harrisonplayers.org. 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.

January 20, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 5

New brewery may be coming to Mamaroneck By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Half Time Beverage, a beer distributor in Mamaroneck, is cooking up something new; or more accurately, brewing. The 20,000-square-foot beverage mart, located on Hoyt Avenue, is looking to repurpose part of its existing storefront to accommodate both a brew pub where patrons could have a drink as well as a micro-brewery where they would be able to brew their own beer, according to Village Manager Richard Slingerland. If the proposal receives the necessary approvals from the village, Half Time would join a growing wave of craft breweries—brewers that produce under a certain threshold of distribution—across the country; a trend that has exploded in volume in recent years. According to the Brewers Association, a nonprofit trade organization which consists of 3,500

brewers from throughout the U.S., the number of regional craft breweries rose from 97 to 178, a nearly 32 percent increase, between 2012 to 2015 alone. Further, breweries overall saw an uptick of 15 percent nationwide over the same time period. For Alan Daniels, co-owner of Half Time, which also operates a store in Poughkeepsie, the addition would mark a logical step for its successful Mamaroneck outlet. “Customers ask us all the time why don’t we brew our own beer,” he said. “The village of Mamaroneck deserves their own brewery.” Currently, Daniels added, though the current proposal wouldn’t feature food, the prospect of offering small bites to eat may also be in the store’s future. If seen to fruition, Half Time’s brewing venture wouldn’t be the village’s first taste of locally sourced craft alcohol, however. Last year, residents of the

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village saw the introduction of Good Shepherd distillery—run by Vincent and Carly Miata, a local husband and wife team— which offers a selection of small-batch brandy, vodka, and soon, whiskey. According to Andrew Spatz, chairman of the village Industrial Area Committee, which is tasked with revitalizing a defunct manufacturing district adjacent to Mamaroneck’s Washingtonville neighborhood, Half Time’s plan would act as another puzzle piece in transforming the village economy for the future. “I welcome something of this nature to the industrial area, and the peripheral areas,” said Spatz, regarding the potential brewery, which would fall just outside the geographic scope of the industrial area. “It only opens the door to further possibilities for economic longevity.” CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

Half Time Beverage distributors, located in the village of Mamaroneck, will look to expand its operations to include a micro-brewery and its own brew pub where patrons can sample the store’s wide variety of beers. Photo courtesy Half Time Beverage

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Dig Inn

6 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017

Harrison REVIEW

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170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000

Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com Reporter | Franco Fino ext. 18, franco@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@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

burrows By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor

Looking for a finer, healthier alternative to fast-casual dining? Dig Inn, a popular Manhattanbased eatery, has opened its largest and first suburban location in Rye Brook. With 12 locations in Manhattan and another in Boston, Dig

into Westchester

Inn focuses on seasonal vegetables that are “mindfully sourced,” according to Matt Weingarten, the franchise’s culinary director. The menu features bowls for breakfast, lunch and dinner, filled with grains, fruits and/or vegetables— a trend that has exploded onto the food scene over the last year. The restaurant also features “the Melting Broth,” made with no waste

ingredients and kombu seaweed. According to Adam Eskin, founder and CEO of Dig Inn, unique to the new Rye Brook location, which officially opened its doors on Jan. 12, is a kids’ menu, a “chef’s table” menu featuring a cheese board and a vegetable charcuterie, a deli and open seating space. The kitchen area takes up most of the restaurant, and

Staff Writer James Pero Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Aaron Kershaw, Charlie McLaughlin Columnists Ron Belmont, Lenore Skenazy

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Dig Inn CEO and founder Adam Eskin, left, lends a helping hand in preparing bite-sized samples from the chef’s table menu. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa

Popular Manhattan eatery Dig Inn has arrived in Westchester, opening its 14th location in the Rye Ridge Shopping Center in Rye Brook. Pictured is the location’s 10-seat bar with a selection of beer, wine and cider. Photo courtesy Dig Inn

includes a barista station and an intimate, 10-seat bar with a selection of beer, cider and wine. Weingarten said Dig Inn’s philosophy is the pleasure of food, and sharing it with loved ones. It is provides for six core menu changes over the course of the year. While this more nutritional cuisine is vegetable-based, there are options for meat lovers as well, such as charred or herb-roasted chicken, wild Sockeye salmon and herb-grilled steak. The menu also clearly indicates which dishes are vegan and whether they contain soy, dairy, gluten or nuts. There is an array of drink options as well, with espresso drinks, including a seasonal rosemary latte; the beans are courtesy of well-known Counter Culture Coffee. A lighter, refreshing option that may also catch your eye is the iced matcha from MatchaBar, another New York City favorite. Eskin said he wanted to open a suburban location for some time, as he has friends who are Manhattan transplants that still work in the city but have moved to

Westchester County to raise their families; hence the kids’ menu and a family meal option that serves four to six people. The question Eskin had in mind with the Rye Brook location was, “What is it we can do to have leverage in the area?” And the answer appears to be fresh, locally sourced food for all ages, at any time of the day. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

The iced matcha, from MatchaBar, is a featured beverage on the restaurant’s menu and is also served hot.

Dig Inn

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112 S. Ridge St., Rye Ridge Shopping Center, Rye Brook

The Harrison Review is published weekly by Home Town Media Group for an annual subscription of $45. Application to mail at the periodicals postage rate is approved at White Plains, N.Y., 10601. Periodicals postage paid at White Plains and additional mailing offices.

305-8463 Dig Inn features bowls with an array of vegetables, grains and protein. From left, the Harvest bowl, a breakfast offering; a Marketbowl with herb-roasted chicken, and another with grilled organic tofu.

diginn.com

January 20, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 7

Cuomo pins inflated taxes on local lawmakers By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With a pit stop at SUNY Purchase College this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, completed another leg of his unorthodox statewide State of the State tour, criticizing Westchester lawmakers for cumbersome taxes. On Tuesday, at the college’s Performing Arts Center, Cuomo addressed Westchester County constituents and lawmakers on both the current standing of the state as well as his vision for New York’s future, foregoing a usual singular address to the state’s Legislature for six smaller ones. Cuomo touted the state’s success in passing marriage equality legislation and paid family leave, and the passage of a bill raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Reflection on the state’s significant spending cuts, however, took a front seat in his 45-minute address. “New York state was spending more money than the people in the state were earning,” said Cuomo, standing in front of a projection showing previous governors’ rates of spending. “Let me say that again; the spending increase in New York was higher than the increase in the wages of the people of the state of New York.” According to the governor’s office, state spending has fallen to a generational low rate of 1.4 percent of inflation, compared to previous administrations—including that of Cuomo’s father, Mario Cuomo, a Democrat, and Republican George Pataki— which hovered around 6.5 per-

cent. The governor’s most pointed comments, however, were aimed at local and county-elected officials, who he criticized for levying burdensome property tax rates, which he stated are “killing this state.” To mend the growing strain the state’s property tax—the highest in the country, with Westchester County being the epicenter—has put on residents, Cuomo said it’s incumbent, not on the Legislature, but regional governments, to work together to bring costs down. “You pay high taxes, don’t be mad at me. I’m only the little yellow bar,” Cuomo said pointing to a bar showing the disparity between the median state income tax and local property taxes; $1,800 to $4,700, respectively. To reel in costs, Cuomo announced an initiative that would require every county outside of New York City to prepare a plan to help “streamline” government and cut waste. That plan, according to the governor’s synopsis, would be prepared by each county’s chief executive and would then be subject to public hearings, critiques from the county’s legislative body and local lawmakers, and ultimately a ballot vote by public referendum that would sign the plan into action. According to a statement from Cuomo’s office, the plan would need to “demonstrate real, recurring savings in costs and not simply shift burdens to other taxpayers.” “These 425 local governments in [Westchester] county very rarely come together, sit

together, plan together, cooperate together, and find out how to save money,” Cuomo said, prefacing his initiative. Though Cuomo has positioned the plan as a way of bringing voters and lawmakers together to cut costs, not all elected officials in attendance agreed with his characterization of their legislative processes. Town of Mamaroneck Supervisor Nancy Seligson, a Democrat, who attended Cuomo’s address, said Cuomo’s portrayal of fractious or withdrawn government operations was inaccurate. Seligson said local and county officials already hold a large number of events that aim to bring lawmakers together, including a monthly dinner organized by the Westchester Municipal Officials Association— which consists of 45 towns, villages, and cities countywide— where members discuss areas of mutual concern. Likewise, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat who was also in attendance for Cuomo’s address, said the address to local lawmakers was “unproductive.” “The state creates many of the problems we face,” Kaplowitz told the Review. “A huge percentage of our budget is mandated, we don’t have the opportunity to control those costs.” Currently, 75 percent of the county’s budget comes from mandates from both the federal and state governments, the most substantial of which is the county’s contributions to Medicaid costs. Already, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a

After announcing a new marquee initiative that would see the construction of the country’s largest multi-use trail, spanning 750 miles from Buffalo to New York City, Cuomo addressed burdensome property taxes, pinning the responsibility on regional and local governments. Photo courtesy Governor’s Office

In an unorthodox tour that will not feature a direct address to the state Legislature, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, continued his, six-event, statewide tour, at Purchase College this week. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Republican, who stated that he did not receive an invitation to the governor’s address, has criticized Cuomo’s claim that county officials are responsible for ballooning property tax rates. “Mr. Cuomo blatantly suggested that my administration is responsible for state-driven property tax hikes,” said Asto-

rino in a statement following the speech. “I would remind the governor that I have never once raised the county tax levy—not for seven straight years—while Mr. Cuomo’s state mandates have ravaged county, municipal and school budgets.” In 2014, Astorino ran against Cuomo in a bid for governor but lost by a substantial mar-

gin. Pundits believe Astorino is again mulling another gubernatorial run in 2018. After press time, Cuomo will complete the final leg of his six-event statewide tour, making stops in Long Island, Syracuse, and a penultimate address in Albany. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

8 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017

Great starts to the new year

CONCERN from page 1

Local school administrators and lawmakers have contested the methods of the state’s Common Core testing, insisting that it negatively impacts students’ ability to learn as it sets unrealistic educational criteria for success due to the high rate of failure on standardized tests. According to Dr. Brian Monahan, the interim superintendent of the Rye City School District, although each community in Westchester is different, standardized testing clearly impacts all school districts. “We’re concerned about the testing methods and evaluations that accompany those standards,” he said. Monahan added the lack of Title I funding is not necessarily an issue because Rye receives very little of it. However, he said that what concerns parents more about Common Core is the reality that few questions and tests are released afterwards. According to Monahan, the state does not release standardized tests and questions for public viewing. “Parents want to see what went right and what went wrong,” Monahan said. “We’re

HARRISON HAPPENINGS Mayor Ron Belmont Westchester County lawmakers and educators have come to disapprove a new federal education regulation that is on the horizon. The new amendment to the controversial Common Core method of testing, which cuts funding to school districts with high opt-out rates, will go into effect on Jan. 30. Photo courtesy GreatSchools.org

seeing that change slowly, but we’re still going to advocate for a more responsible approach to testing.” According to state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat that has long been a vocal critic of the practice of standardized testing, while it’s impossible to calculate just how many ways the new regulations will impact communities, there’s hope that, under new President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Education will change the controversial practice for testing before it harbors any lasting impacts. “The impact of this is unpredictable, and we should always avoid the unpredictable,” Latimer said.

Latimer also told the Review that he hopes the state Legislature will consider his recent proposal to allow parents and school districts to opt children with an individualized education program, a learning document that was developed for public school children that need special education, out of Common Core standards and certain testing. “You have to give those children more flexibility,” he said. As of press time, Latimer’s bill, which was submitted on Jan. 11, is awaiting approval of the state Senate Education Committee. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Westchester County Association’s annual breakfast, where County Executive Rob Astorino delivered his State of the County address. In discussing his vision for 2017, he highlighted several economic developments for the year ahead. A range of public and private projects include expenditures for Kensico Dam Plaza, Westchester County Airport, and a $300 million investment for improving county parks, roadways, bridges, buildings and technology. Astorino also included that the county will benefit from the expansion of regional supermarket Wegmans, which is slated to be developed in Harrison in the near future. It was a highly informative event, giving local officials an opportunity to hear about what’s in store for the upcoming year. It was an honor to be at the recent installation of new officers for the Harrison Fire Department. Congratulations to the following newly elected department representatives: Chief John

Masciola Jr.; first assistant Chief Nick Bareto; second assistant Chief Vincent Straface; Capt. John Masciola Sr.; first Lt. Justin Renda; President Vito Faja Jr.; Secretary Ralph Straface; Treasurer John Szolnoki; Financial Secretary Jerry Terranova; and Board of Wardens Joe Hinchey, Henry Mohr, Mark Scocchera, Dave Cox and Matt Russo. Congratulations to the Harrison Central School District’s Elementary Enrichment Committee for their recent fundraiser. It was wonderful to see the entire community turn out as the district’s faculty/staff played basketball against the Harlem Wizards. It was a sold-out event and all proceeds will benefit enrichment programs for the entire district. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Highway Department for doing a wonderful job clearing our streets of leaf piles and brush. The highway crews have cleared the majority of our municipal roadways in record time, and I would like to commend them for their hard work. They are currently in the final phase and our roads should be completely cleared before long. Now that winter is upon us, I would like to remind residents that as snowstorms approach,

please remember to put cars into driveways to help with street plowing efforts. Although we have not issued a snow emergency yet, 6 inches or more will allow for a snow emergency to be issued. Any snow emergency status will be listed on our town website, harrison-ny.gov, where you can also sign up for e-alerts. In addition, please be mindful that when clearing driveways and walkways, shovelers must refrain from depositing snow into the streets. In closing, please make note of the following public health reminder: In an effort to be courteous, dog walkers should carry disposable waste bags and clean up after their pets. Used dog waste bags should not be left in neighbors’ trash cans or recycling bins, and should not be thrown into the storm drains on our streets and roadways. Proper disposal of dog waste is a must, and every dog owner should participate. The next Lunch with the Mayor is on Friday, Jan. 27. I will be at 273 Kitchen, located at 273 Halstead Ave. in downtown Harrison. I will be at this location from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and look forward to meeting with residents and talking about issues facing our community.

Town/Village of Harrison’s

Official Newspaper Fox manslaughter case adjourned again Emma Fox, of Rye, who has been charged with an aggravated DWI and first-degree vehicular manslaughter for the death of 21-year-old Manhattanville College student Robby Schartner, is due to reappear in White Plains City Court on Jan. 27 after her Jan. 6 court date was adjourned. On Oct. 9, Fox, 24, struck and killed Schartner, of Fishkill, while he was walking along Westchester Avenue in White Plains during the early morning hours on his way back to college. Police reported that Fox had been intoxicated at the time of the incident when she struck and

Emma Fox

killed Schartner, who was returning from a night out on Ma-

maroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains. Fox was measured with a blood alcohol content of 0.21; the legal limit in New York state is 0.08. Initially, White Plains police reported Fox had been travelling eastbound on Westchester at about 5 a.m. when she fatally struck Schartner with her car, a 2012 Nissan Sentra. However, her whereabouts at the time of the incident are still unclear. White Plains police Lt. Eric Fischer could not be reached for comment, as of press time. -Reporting by Franco Fino

January 20, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 9

Mamaroneck supports Green Light driving initiative By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor Following in the footsteps of the villages of Ossining and Port Chester, and with a robust Hispanic population, the village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees unanimously voted to support undocumented immigrants’ ability to obtain driver’s licenses. The initiative, referred to as the Green Light NY initiative, aims to gain equal access to New York state driver’s licenses regardless of one’s immigration status. The proposal, which was approved by the village board on Jan. 9, was first brought before the board in December by representatives of the local Community Resource Center, CRC, which was founded to help integrate immigrants into the community. New York state currently prohibits hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants from obtaining driver’s licenses. The common denominator amongst the three communities in Westchester County that have adopted the initiative is a large Hispanic contingent. According to 2010 U.S. Census data, Hispanics made up 41.4 percent of Ossining’s population; and in Port Chester, they comprise 59.4 percent. Both villages adopted the Green Light initiative in December 2016. Meanwhile, in the village of Mamaroneck, just under a quarter of its population is Hispanic. Being prohibited from obtaining driver’s licenses puts undocumented immigrants in a

bind, as they cannot purchase or register a vehicle, or obtain car insurance, which affects one’s quality of life, including having difficulty getting to work and/ or school, a hospital or a place of worship. There are concerns of high costs from accidents, safety on the roads from people driving without being licensed, and immigrants’ fears of being pulled over and ticketed for driving illegally. Tainya Flores, a village of Mamaroneck resident of 18 years, said Green Light NY caught her interest due to the number of immigrants in the local community without a reliable form of transport. “So many people are afraid to even drive in the town of Mamaroneck,” she said. The New York Immigration Coalition, a nonprofit organization with the aim to “unite immigrants, members and allies so all New Yorkers can thrive,” launched the Green Light NY: Driving Together campaign in 2016 to help undocumented immigrants outside of New York City. A similar initiative was launched in 2006; and in 2007, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, signed an executive order allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, only to wilt under political pressure. Currently, there are 12 states, including Connecticut and Vermont, which allow undocumented immigrants access to a driver’s license. Following the vote, there were applause and smiles abound in the village of Mamaroneck

At a glance Hispanic residents make up just under 25% of the village of Mamaroneck’s population The Green Light NY initiative aims to give all drivers access to a license, regardless of immigration status Undocumented immigrants’ quality of life, including getting to work, school or a hospital, can be adversely affected by not having a reliable source of transport

Courtroom. “We are completely relieved,” said Jirandy Martinez, a co-executive director of the CRC, “and so excited that the village of Mamaroneck stands with immigrants and understands our plight.” Gail Vidales, another coexecutive director of the CRC, said she hopes the approval by Mamaroneck will have a “trickling down effect” on other area municipalities. “There’s still a lot of work to be done,” she added. “[We need to] encourage other municipalities and educate them about the importance of safety. That’s what it comes down to.” CONTACT: sibylla@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.”

10 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017

Opinion/Editorial

GUN from page 1

The gun store must be closed By ERICA L. GOLLUB I am a professor of public health and epidemiology at Pace University. I urge closure of the gun store recently opened in downtown Harrison. Available data support the contention that the location of a gun store is not neutral with respect to health risks and the risk of homicide. Indeed, location of gun stores in a community is associated with increased risk to the community, based on the convergence of a number of lines of recent evidence. First, a quick review of what is known generally about gun violence on a larger scale from published data. The United States ranks first by far in gunrelated homicides compared to other developed countries. We have about five to six times the rate of homicides overall. In our country, nearly 110,000 people are shot every year, leading to more than 33,000 deaths. More than 17,000 of shooting victims are children and more than 2,600 of them die from their wounds. A majority of homicides in the U.S. are due to guns, which is not the case in other Anglophone countries (U.K., Australia, Canada). However, non-gun homicides in the U.S. are only slightly higher than those in other countries, suggesting strongly that the excess in deaths is related to the much higher U.S. gun prevalence. Gun ownership at the home level has been shown in numerous studies to raise the risk of gun homicides and suicides by between 40 and 170 percent. On a statewide level, the rate of gun ownership is associated with region. The northeast states tend to have lower gun ownership than other regions, particularly compared with the South. In New York

state, about 10 percent of residents have guns; in the South, most states have two to three times that ratio of gun owners. States in the Northeast also have some of the strictest regulations on gun sales—in purchasing, background checks, and waiting periods, among other restrictions. The result of lower gun ownership and more regulation is that the northeast states have far fewer gun-related deaths than the other regions of the U.S. where gun ownership is higher. For example, in New York state, 4.2 deaths per 100,000 persons are gunrelated, whereas the equivalent measure in Louisiana is 19.3 deaths, a fivefold difference in risk. The critical message here is that increasing regulations on gun availability—that is, on gun sales—in a community results in fewer deaths from guns. We still have plenty of preventable gun deaths in New York state, but we have reduced them with greater restrictions on sales and fewer guns circulating and owned. With regard to carrying guns, a large study conducted by University of Pennsylvania researchers showed that carrying a gun resulted in a much higher risk of being shot in an assault. Those who carried guns were between four and five times more likely to be shot in an assault than those not carrying guns. This is another important result for communities: increasing rates of gun carrying in a community will by extension bring about more gun-related assaults. Based on this large study, bringing a gun store into a community will be directly associated with greater risk of gun-related assaults. Furthermore—and this is widely documented—data have indicated how legally purchased guns get diverted

to illegal uses. Firearms initially enter the consumer market through gun dealers, the critical link between manufacturers or distributors and the general public. Thus, gun store presence in a community has far-reaching implications. The presence of a gun shop will not only increase legal sales, but also increase the illegal circulation and prevalence of guns in that community. Public health is concerned with reducing risks to a community and keeping that community healthy. We have required seatbelts for cars, made cellphone use illegal while driving, and have limited the freedom of smokers to reduce harm to the non-smoking public via no smoking zones and limits on advertising, for example. Free speech in this country is free, so long as it is not hate speech, which is illegal. Several lines of scientific evidence over the years make it clear that the presence of guns in a community raises the risk of violent assaults and gun deaths. Evidence shows that increased regulations to limit carrying guns and strictly regulate gun sales protect a community from gun assaults and gun deaths. In Harrison, this means not allowing gun sales in or near the downtown area, which serves as the epicenter of our community with its schools, businesses, places of worship and residential neighborhoods. The scientific and public health evidence weighs strongly against permitting the gun shop to continue its business in downtown Harrison. It is a hazard to our community’s health.

Note: The views described herein are not to be construed as officially representing Pace University.

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Two Westchester County lawmakers have sent a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, asking the agency to audit the license to sell firearms issued to L&L Sports, a Harrison gun store which has drawn the attention of thousands of residents since it opened in November. File photo

scheduled a public hearing to amend the secondhand dealers law created in 1986. In its current form, the law requires sellers of used goods to obtain a license, but does not specify a means of doing so. According to Jackie Greer, the town clerk, no such licenses have been issued. The current law does not specify who would issue a license, but the amendment would make it the town clerk’s responsibility. The proposed amendment would add a detailed application and issuance process which had not previously existed, and set all secondhand dealers’ licenses to expire at the end of the year in

which they would be obtained. If the amendment is approved, second hand dealers’ licenses would have to be renewed annually, meaning if Zacchio were to be issued a license in 2017, he would have to apply for renewal in 2018. The lawmakers have also raised questions related to a zoning law, piggybacking on a formal appeal submitted by a Harrison resident on Dec. 2. Frank Acocella, who owns a house close to the storefront, has lodged a complaint with the town Zoning Board of Appeals asking it to nullify the certificate of occupancy and business per-

mit issued to L&L Sports, claiming that Zacchio did not properly notify the property owners within 500 feet, as is required by Harrison’s zoning code. The zoning board is expected to discuss the issue at its Feb. 9 meeting. Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, confirmed that he had received a copy of the county lawmakers’ letter, but declined to comment on it. Zacchio also declined to comment. Frank Allegretti and Jonathan Kraut, attorneys for the town, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

January 20, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 11

12 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017

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January 20, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 13

When in rage, blame the mom RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Remember the bad old days when a rape victim would show up in court and the defense attorney would say, “Why was her skirt so short?” As if the woman caused her own rape. Only gradually did it dawn on us what was really going on: We were “blaming the victim.” Basically, we’re all so afraid that something awful like this could happen to us or a loved one that we automatically come up with a way to reassure ourselves it never will. We tell ourselves, “We’re totally different, so we’ll be safe.” Once we recognized how cruel and clueless it to believe that only bad people get hurt, we became a more empathetic society. Except when it comes to moms. “Blaming Mothers: American Law and the Risks to Children’s Health” is a new book by Pace University law professor Linda C. Fentiman that looks at the way we have kept moms in the crosshairs of our condemnation. From pre-birth through adolescence, when something goes wrong with kids, often it is considered morally, and even legally, mama’s fault. For instance, when a woman in Utah elected not to have a cesarean section and one of her twins was a stillbirth, she was charged with murder. The fact that stillbirths are fairly common didn’t matter. Nor did the fact that she had no intention of killing her child. All that mattered was the fact that, conveniently, there was someone to blame. A South Carolina mom, Regina McKnight, was also

convicted of homicide in the stillbirth of her baby, because she admitted to using cocaine when pregnant. I think we all agree it’s tragic that people get addicted to drugs. But the idea that cocaine causes stillbirth is not medically supported. Moreover, as a friend of the court briefing noted, “nicotine use, poor nutrition, lack of prenatal care, or other conditions commonly associated with the urban poor” are all sub-optimal. Does that mean we should prosecute any pregnant woman who’s not upper-middle-class “perfect”? McKnight’s 20-year sentence was reversed seven years later by the state’s Supreme Court. Fentiman also looks at the issue of child abuse. Often when a child is hurt or killed by a dad or the mother’s boyfriend, it is the mom who is prosecuted, for not stopping it. The completely unrealistic idea is that the moment a mother realizes her child is being abused, she must move out of the house and report the abuser to the police. Otherwise, she can be considered guilty for failing to act. “The legal system is not taking into account all the structural barriers that impede women from leaving their husbands,” Fentiman said in a phone interview. For instance, sometimes the woman has no money to leave, or no place to go. Sometimes she is afraid that if she calls the cops, the abuser will become even more violent. But the law seems to believe a good mom should be a perfect mom, no matter what the obstacles. How did we get so harsh? Fentiman lists several unconscious biases at work: 1. Hindsight Bias: Once a tragedy has occurred, it’s impossible to look back and truly see

things the way we saw them before the bad event. Now that we know the sad truth, it feels like it must have been obvious. Why didn’t the mom predict and prevent it? 2. The Fundamental Attribution Error: This is the unconscious belief about karma—that bad things only happen to bad people. Naturally, if something bad happens to US, we understand all the variables that led to it—all the things beyond our control. But when something bad happens to someone ELSE, we think they could have stopped it but didn’t. Shame (and blame) on them. 3. The Reasonable Man Theory: In the olden days, negligence was determined by whether someone did what “the reasonable man” would have done in the situation, like not leaving a 4-year-old home alone for a weekend. But now that we think about “the reasonable woman,” the bar is higher. “A reasonable mother is supposed to be superhuman and always do anything to minimize the risk to her children and to selflessly never do anything for herself,” says Fentiman. So if something bad happens to a child while the mom was, say, napping, she can be blamed for daring to shut her eyes. 4. Causation: The American legal system holds the primitive notion that there’s only one cause of any problem. So the child who is beaten to death is not a victim of some toxic combination of poverty, an abusive dad, and a broken CPS system. The tragedy is simply the fault of a mom who didn’t save the child. It’s easy and satisfying to blame the mom. Someday, we’ll also realize that it’s wrong. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Westchester’s newest family fun, camp event

Two kids try their hand at lacrosse with the help of Topside Lacrosse employees. Photo courtesy Davler Media Group

Westchester Parents Day is a full afternoon of fun and activities and classes for kids and information for parents on relevant local businesses and camps, where kids will be entertained and parents enriched—for one family admission. Featuring more than 50 exhibitors, Westchester Parents Day has expanded, from the former Westchester Camp Fair, to include a wide variety of exhibitors and amusement. It is produced by Westchester Parent, the authority that delivers superior choices about how to spend time and money to more than 1 million area parents each month, through its seven award-winning parenting magazines including Westchester Parent and its website, NYmetroparents.com. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Westchester Children’s Museum. Westchester Parents Day will

take place Sunday, Feb. 5 from noon to 3 p.m. at Crowne Plaza, located at 66 Hale Ave. in White Plains. Westchester Parents Day will offer many activities and classes to entertain children of all ages. Classes booked so far include: a live animal encounter with Animal Embassy; music and movement with Bach to Rock; a museums without walls activity from Westchester Children’s Museum; a lacrosse clinic with Topside Lacrosse; and a crafts project and a soccer clinic with Mount Tom Day Camp. In addition to many of the exhibitors and camps having activities at their booth space, painting, a photo fun booth, kids DJ dance party, a chocolate dipping fountain by Chocolate Works, costume characters, free cotton candy, a gaga pit, and more will also be offered. Every family gets a free gift bag, courtesy of

Westchester Parent and the exhibitors. While the children play and learn, parents will be able to explore offerings from more than 50 camps, exhibitors and experts. They can meet providers for health care, after-school programs, nursery schools, birthday party places and many, many more. Tickets to the event are $15 per family (two adults and up to four children) at the door, and there is an opportunity for free advance registration at westchesterparentsday.com with the coupon code “RELEASE.” Free tickets can also be found at the many places that Westchester Parent is distributed throughout the county—at play and activity centers, toy stores, pediatricians’ offices, etc. For tickets and the latest news, visit westchesterparentsday.com. (Submitted)

14 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017

Brick the Knicks LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

With the Giants and Jets off for the winter and the Rangers marching slowly but steadily toward another appearance in the NHL playoffs, one might think that the back pages of local papers would be hurting for salacious sports stories. Fortunately for us drama enthusiasts, however, we still have the Knicks. It’s hard to say exactly where this season went wrong for the Knicks. After all, this was a team that, just a few weeks ago, looked like it might be one of the five best teams in the Eastern Conference. With Kristaps Porzingis emerging as the team’s franchise player, Derrick Rose offering some rare glimpses of his MVP days, and role-players like Kyle O’Quinn or Mindaugus Kuzminskas providing the occasional spark off the

SPORTS

bench, the Knicks may not have been contenders for the Larry O’Brien trophy, but they were at least fun to watch. Since the end of December, however, the Knicks have been fun to watch for a different reason. Starting with a Christmas Day loss to the Celtics, the Knicks have undergone a mid-winter swoon, dropping 11 of their last 13 games. As one might expect, the drought has been marked by some pitiful basketball; lackluster defensive efforts, an inability to close games out late—all marks of a bad team. But it has been the Knicks’ off-court issues that have really made this latest stretch feel “special.” You have Knicks’ president Phil Jackson—who has shied away from the public eye since his early-season comments about LeBron James that were tinged with racial insensitivity—sniping at Carmelo Anthony through team-friendly

reporters. You have Anthony— whom I have defended in the past—openly musing about waiving his no-trade clause and clearly going out of his way to get ejected from games the Knicks needed to win. Rose went AWOL for a game, flying back to Chicago to visit his family with nary a headsup to the organization. I’ll say this about the Knicks: if they’re going to go down in flames, they are going to do it in the biggest way possible. This is New York, after all. And honestly, if they’re not going to turn their play around, I don’t mind the dysfunction. While I feel bad for head coach Jeff Hornacek, who, at this point, must certainly be rethinking his decision to come to New York, if the Knicks are going to be bad, they had better be entertainingly bad. If I had my druthers, Carmelo would park himself on the offensive end and refuse to pass half-court until the Knicks fi-

Nyack put the game away in the final stanza, as the Indians rode an 8-1 run to a 10-point win. The Huskies will look to bounce back from their recent string of defeats when they travel to Pelham to take on the Pelicans on Jan. 20.

squads in Section I. On Friday, they will play host to Pelham.

THE ROUNDUP BOYS BASKETBALL

Ardsley 52 Harrison 42 At Harrison HS

1/14/17

After a tightly played first quarter, Ardsley’s ability to hit from the perimeter dashed the Huskies’ hopes on Saturday, as the Panthers came away with a 10-point road win over Harrison. Julian McGarvey led the way for Ardsley, as the 6-foot-2 junior posted 19 points and 10 rebounds in a winning effort. Harrison was paced by Max Scoli, who scored a team-high 12 points in the loss.

Nyack 55 Harrison 45 At Harrison HS

1/17/17

The Huskies hung tough with the Indians throughout much of Tuesday’s game and cut into an eight-point halftime deficit to head into the fourth quarter trailing 39-34, but a late run by

Harrison 68 Byram Hills 49 At Byram Hills HS

1/12/17

Tremendous efforts from both Avery LaBarbera and Kendall Lefkowitz propelled the Huskies to a one-sided win over the Bobcats, as Harrison stomped Byram Hills 68-49. LaBarbera and Lefkowitz both scored 24 points as the duo simply proved too much for the Bobcats to handle. Jen Mui led Byram Hills with 13 points. The Huskies will face a stiff league test on Jan. 18, after press time, when they travel to Eastchester to take on an Eagles team that is ranked among the top

nally ship him off to Cleveland; Rose would post random Instagram shots from Las Vegas as the Knicks battle the Pacers in Indiana; and Porzingis would continue to nurse his Achilles in-

jury until someone in the Knicks organization figures out what the heck is going on with this team. If the Knicks are going to be a laughingstock, they might as well embrace it.

This way, we’ll have something to talk about until the hockey playoffs start in April.

Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports

WRESTLING

Harrison 57 Irvington 30 At LMK

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Over the last month, the New York Knicks have become the joke of the NBA. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks that they might as well embrace their status. Photo courtesy Knicks.com

1/14/17

With four pinfall wins, Harrison topped Irvington in a dual-meet on Saturday, outpointing the Bulldogs by 27 points. Jay Martins, Tyler Joseph, Rob Donohue and Zach Finn all pinned their opponents to lead the Huskies to victory.

Harrison 75 Eastchester 3 At LMK

1/14/17

Harrison nearly scored a shutout win over the Eagles on Saturday, losing just one match to the visitors in a 75-3 win. Steve Bilali was the only Eagle wrestler to pick up a victory on the afternoon, while Harrison scored six wins by way of pinfall. -Reporting by Mike Smith

Robert Blue jumps out to defend a shot during a Jan. 14 game against Ardsley. Despite a competitive start to the game, the Huskies fell 52-42 to the visiting Panthers. Photo/Mike Smith

SPORTS

January 20, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 15

Titans sweep Sabres ice hockey

league

RTH TITANS SNS SABRES RYE PLAYLAND

5 4 1/16/17

Game Notes: • Jackson Schultz had a hat trick • The Titans are 8-3 on the season • On Jan. 21, the Titans will host White Plains in the first-ever Mayor’s Cup Hockey Fundraiser By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor The first time Rye Town/Harrison met Somers/North Salem on the ice this year, the result was a lopsided one; the Titans came away with a 10-1 win as they outskated—and outshot— the Sabres from start to finish. On Jan. 16, the two teams squared off again, and although Somers showed a marked improvement, the Titans pulled out another victory, edging Somers 5-4 at Rye Playland. According to Titans coach Jason Head, Somers’ defensive efforts paid off in the second goaround as the Sabres were able

Jackson Schultz fires a shot for his first goal of the night against Somers/North Salem. Schultz had a hat trick and is currently the Section I points leader.

to cut the Titans’ previous goal total in half. “First of all, their goalie was playing better, and I think as a whole, they just adjusted to our style,” Head said. “They trapped us better in the defensive zone, and that was effective against some of the systems we were

running out there.” Jackson Schultz led the way offensively for the Titans, netting a hat trick and adding to his section-leading point total. Coming into the week, Schultz had 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) and has been adept at both finding the net and creating scor-

Jack Shapiro battles for the puck behind the net on Jan. 16. Photos/Mike Smith

Max Chalfin uses his skates along the boards against the Sabres.

ing chances for his teammates. “[Schultz] has stepped up huge and he’s seeing the ice really well this year,” Head said. “When you have a hot player like that, one who is a team player; he makes everybody around him better.” At 8-3, the Titans have won five games by at least four goals this year, but Head believes that contests like Monday’s game against Somers will ultimately be more beneficial to the team as the playoffs approach. “You find out a lot more about your team in a game like this,” he said. “I wasn’t happy with the way we played in the first two periods, but I was very happy with the way we played in the third; I think games like this prove very valuable.” The Titans have a full week ahead, with four games in six days starting with a Jan. 20 showdown with Brewster. On Saturday, the Titans will host White Plains in the inaugural Mayor’s Cup Hockey Fundraiser on a twin bill that will also feature a contest between the New York Rangers Sled Hockey Team and the Connecticut Wolfpack. Proceeds from the games

Jack Shapiro winds up for a shot against Somers/North Salem. Shapiro had one goal in the Titans’ 5-4 win.

will go to the Wheelchair Sports Foundation, which provides opportunity for people with physical disabilities to compete in adaptive sports. “This is a huge week coming up with some really big games,” Head said. “We are

going to have to see how we make in-game adjustments because we’re not going to have a lot of practice time, so if we can do that, just see what’s in front of us, we will be successful.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

16 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 20, 2017