Harrison REVIEW THE
April 1, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 14 | www.harrisonreview.com
Playland review deadline extended to late April By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Crosstown Traffic
Starwood Capital Group, the prospective developer of the former United Hospital site in the village of Port Chester, is preparing to present their traffic findings. The issue of traffic has been at the forefront of concern for the city of Rye, which shares a border with Port Chester. For story, see page 3. Contributed photo
Manhattanville wants to go solar, seeks town approval By ANGELA JORDAN Staff Writer In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Manhattanville College is hoping to install solar carports in its campus parking lots, which would provide the campus with approximately 20 percent of its overall electricity. Jon Strauss, Manhattanville College’s president, appeared before the Harrison Planning Board on March 22 to promote the project. “All in all, this is a good project that will encourage our students and others to be more conscious of our sustainability imperative, will assist the college and our region in minimizing carbon impact, and will be a source of pride to us all,” Strauss said.
The carports proposal is just the latest eco-friendly initiative that Manhattanville has put forth in the last few years. In 2009, the college joined the The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which is a national network of U.S. colleges that have pledged to drastically reduce their carbon footprint in an effort to address global warming. According to Greg Palmer, vice president of operations at Manhattanville, the college has managed to reduce its carbon footprint by 35 percent in the past seven years so far. This was achieved through means such as installing energy-efficient windows, switching to LED lighting, and replacing things like
boilers and heating systems with more energy-efficient ones. The school is partnered with Energy in the Bank, a company that finances, installs and operates solar carports for municipalities, nonprofits and businesses. If the carports are approved, the college will enter into a Power Purchasing Agreement with the company, which means that the company will own the ports, and the school will pay them for the electricity provided. Palmer said that in comparison with electricity rates from Con Edison, the carports are also financially beneficial to Manhattanville. He said that the solar panel-generated electricity will cost the school about 10.5 cents per kilowatt an hour, as opposed to 17.5 cents per kilowatt
an hour for conventionally generated electricity. The school estimates that this would add up to approximately $125,000 in savings per year on electricity after the switch. At the board meeting, Strauss addressed some concerns he thought the Planning Board might have about the logistics of installing the carports. In an effort to assuage any concerns about how the carports might affect the local community, Straus told the board that the solar panels are being positioned to have “minimal visual impact” on Purchase Street and Anderson Hill Road, and are designed to minimize glare. He also said that the school has communicated solar continued on page 7
An agreement between Westchester County and the management company Standard Amusements to transfer management of Rye Playland will spill over into late April as the Board of Legislators works to whittle down the deal’s $58 million in countyfunded capital projects. A newly proposed deal by members of the county Board of Legislators, according to board Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat, would suggest a new price tag of $30 million in county-funded infrastructure projects, cutting the former proposal by nearly half. As a part of an amended agreement struck between Standard and Republican County Executive Rob Astorino’s administration, which was reached in late February, Standard is also planning to invest $30 million of its own money into making necessary improvements to the park. Ned McCormack, spokesperson for Astorino’s administration, said that the new proposed dollar amount isn’t set in stone, but will be part of an ongoing conversation with the Board of Legislators and Standard. “The negotiations are between Standard and the board,” McCormack said. “If they come up with a number that’s less than $58 million then that’s between them.” According to Kaplowitz, the proposed $30 million in county-funded projects for the park represents a much more feasible split between the two partners. “We showed that a 30/30
[split] is the sweetest spot,” Kaplotwitz said in reference to both partners putting in $30 million. “It’s a significant investment but it reduces our financial cost quite a bit.” Kaplowitz added that through 2027, the deal with Standard will ensure that the county spends $4 million less than they would if there weren’t a deal agreed upon. Additionally, proposed legislation—which will be voted on by the Board of Legislators after press time—aims to extend the current agreement’s March 31 deadline until April 29, effectively prolonging Standard’s option to walk away from the deal. According to Kaplowitz, Standard has showed a willingness to negotiate with the county. “They’ve shown quite a bit of flexibility so far,” he said. The latest extension of the deadline comes after a string of alterations to an agreement originally struck between Standard and Astorino in June 2015 to transfer over management and operations of the park to the private company. While the initial agreement proposed only $22.5 million in county-funded capital projects to the ailing 88-year-old amusement park, an amended agreement introduced in February 2016 nearly tripled that amount. Since the newly amended agreement was introduced, backlash from members of the county board—who claim that the terms of the new agreement are too burdensome on taxpayPLAYLAND continued on page 8
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2 • The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
April 1, 2016 • The HARRISON review • 3
Traffic discussion underway for hospital site By ANGELA JORDAN Staff Writer The prospective developer of the long-defunct United Hospital site in Port Chester are ready to present the final chapter of their environmental impact statement to the village Board of Trustees. There will be a workshop on April 6 at the village of Port Chester Court, located at 350 North Main St., to discuss the traffic impact of the large-scale development project proposed by Starwood Capital Group. Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla, a Democrat, described the traffic impact section as the most complicated and “probably the most important” aspect of the environmental review of the project. In addition to Boston Post Road, which serves as a major artery for both Port Chester and Rye, portions of I-95 and I-287 would likely also be affected by the development that borders the city of Rye. “The traffic is really going to make or break what’s possible on that site,” Pilla told the Review.
“We have to take a hard look at everything.” To combat fears over the potential for excessive traffic, Rye hired Philip Grealy, of Maser Consulting P.A., to review the environmental impact statement submitted by Starwood. His 20-page review is available on the city’s website, and includes analyses of major areas of traffic-related concern, recommendations for Starwood, and potential ideas for traffic mitigation. Some key points made by Grealy include the developer’s underestimation of anticipated traffic on the northbound I-95, and that details lack in sections regarding the effect of potential accidents and unique traffic problems that would result during the construction process. Some recommendations for traffic mitigation and safety efforts in Rye include traffic-calming measures and ADA-compliant sidewalks at places like the intersection of Ridge, South and High streets where Starwood anticipates increased bus usage, and the recommendation to cre-
ate new ramp connections between Boston Post Road, I-287 and I-95 to help lessen the use of Rye streets like Peck Avenue to access the highways. Rye Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, said that the city’s traffic consultant is planning to attend the traffic workshop. The vacant structure, located at 99 High St. in Port Chester, just off of Boston Post Road, closed its doors as a hospital in 2005, and was then subsequently bought by Starwood, an investment firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2006 for $28 million with plans to repurpose the 15-acre site. The firm wants to create a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly complex with 730 residential units, 90,000 square feet of retail space, 217,000 square feet of office space and a 138-room hotel. The estimated cost of the project is $300 million. Starwood is currently seeking approval from Port Chester to allow for the amount of residential units proposed. Of the 730 residential spaces proposed, 500 apartments would cater to young
professionals in hopes of attracting them to the village, and 230 of them would be age-restricted housing reserved for people over the age of 55. However, Port Chester’s zoning code doesn’t allow for that many units within that space. Starwood submitted an application to the village in April 2014 for a zoning map change, but it hasn’t been approved yet. According to Pilla, the village Board of Trustees will first have to vote to accept Starwood’s final environmental impact statement before they are able to vote on a change in zoning. In the meantime, Pilla said that Port Chester has also been working closely with the New York State Department of Transportation on making accommodations for the affected portions of I-95 and I-287, which ultimately fall under the authority of the state agency. Rye City Councilwoman Emily Hurd, a Democrat, said that she is interested in hearing what the Starwood developers have prepared for the upcoming traffic mitigation workshop. She said that the developers have not adequately addressed concerns that Rye residents might have
The Port Chester Board of Trustees has scheduled a workshop for April 6 to discuss traffic mitigation in relation to the United Hospital redevelopment project. Traffic is the final chapter of the environmental impact statement to be completed for the project. File photo
about potential traffic issues in previous drafts of the traffic section, and added that pedestrian safety along Boston Post Road is also an issue. “We’re going to continue to push for more details, and for answers to our questions,” Hurd
said. “My goal is to stay on top of it, and continue raising the issues that affect the city of Rye. Since [the site] is bordering us, I feel strongly that our concerns should be heard and addressed.” CONTACT: angela@hometwn.com
4 • The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
What’s going on... Harrison Public Library
with construction-grade lumber, metal strapping and other common building materials to provide a contrasting structural environment.
Singalong Sundays with Chloe
Visit harrisonpl.org for more information on events and programs at the Halperin building and the West Harrison branch.
Oil painting exhibit The art gallery of the Harrison Public Library at the Halperin building will open a solo exhibition featuring artist Dr. Alan M. Jacobson, on view from Saturday, April 2 through Saturday, April 30. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The work includes depictions of imagined people and landscapes. Jacobson’s typical medium is oil paint and plywood sheets, wood planks and MDF board. Sometimes the ideas develop for paintings at a lumberyard where he chooses wood based on the images that can be seen in the grain. He applies paint thickly and quickly, pushing himself to get the paint out in a torrent to escape conscious oversight. He also drips, pours and applies pieces of encrusted paint and other substances to create depth and texture. Jacobson frames his paintings
On Sundays from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Halperin building. Join in and come together as a community to celebrate early childhood through music and movement. In this class you will sing, shake and move. 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 childsized instruments and props, and a wealth of both traditional and original songs to add to your singalong repertoire.
Drop-in computer help for seniors Accomplished high school students will be offering computer help to senior citizens on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Halperin building on a drop-in basis. Participants will be able to learn the basics, including the Internet, email, Microsoft Word and how to save photos. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. For more information, call 835-0324.
Great Decisions discussion: The Future of Kurdistan On Tuesday, April 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Halperin building. The topic for this month is the future of Kurdistan, a mountainous
Harrison Review to launch new, improved website
region made up of parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. It is home to one of the largest ethnic groups in West Asia: the Kurds. Now, most in the West know them for the small, oil-rich autonomous region in northern Iraq called Iraqi Kurdistan—one of the U.S.’ closest allies in the Middle East, and a bulwark against the expansion of the so-called Islamic State. What does the success of Iraqi Kurdistan mean for Kurds in the surrounding region? The moderator is Joan Katen, a leading expert on Middle East politics, a writer and a distinguished adjunct professor at Pace University. Attend the entire series of lectures or one. The library encourages participants to come to the entire series, but you are welcome for one or more sessions if you want to learn and talk about particular topics. The optional briefing book, “Great Decisions 2016,” will be available while supplies last. A copy will remain on reserve for participants to use at the library. Additional reading materials are available on the Foreign Association Policy website, fpa. org/great_decisions/?act=gd_topics. Please register for each lecture online or call 835-0324. The next discussion will be on international migration on May 10.
Chloe’s Sign & Play On Fridays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Halperin building. Give your child the gift of language. This is a fun class where families can learn to communicate with their pre-verbal children using American Sign Language. Based on the awardwinning 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.
Harrison Recreation
Harrison REVIEW
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The harrisonreview.com is under construction
For further information, call the Leo Mintzer Center at 9495265 or the Sollazzo Center at 670-3179. You may also call the Harrison Recreation Hotline at 670-3039. Most applications are available on harrison-ny.gov.
Springtacular On Saturday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; rain date: Sunday, April 10. Come out and enjoy a fun-filled day with rides and a fun hunt at the Ron Belmont Pool Complex in West Harrison. For ages 2 to 8 with separate hunts for each age group. Youngsters should bring a bag or bucket. Items will consist of chocolate, candy and mini toys.
Over 30 Men’s Soccer By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief If you haven’t already noticed, the website for The Harrison Review has been dormant for some time now. No, we haven’t given up on the web. Rather, it’s because the site is currently under construction and a new one is being created to provide viewers with an
enhanced digital version of our Harrison newspaper. This new website has been in the works for more than a month and is set to launch shortly, under the same domain name. The new harrisonreview.com promises to offer a fresh look, improved functionality, an array of features and a uniqueness that has long been missing from our online presence. Speaking on behalf of the com-
pany, we’re excited to put the old, archaic site to bed in favor of launching something visually appealing and worthy of complementing our traditional print product. And on a personal note, my hope and goal is to create a website that becomes more visible, timely and slowly forms its own distinct identity. All you have to do is stay tuned. I think, this time, we got it right.
There will be pick-up soccer games at West Harrison Park and Harrison High School from March through November on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 8 a.m. Please visit eteamz.com/harrisonnymensover30 for more information. A 2016 Harrison ID card is required. Instructor Ray Kraus can be reached at 225-7153.
Learn golf this spring Premier Junior Golf is offering professional instruction classes from April 14 through June 2 for grades K-3 from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and for
grades four to six from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Veterans Park on Crystal Street. All equipment will be provided with a low student-to-coach ratio. Advance through TGA’s—Teach, Grow, Achieve— five-level program. Fee is $200 for eight weeks. Make checks payable to TGA of Southern Westchester, or register online at PLAYTGA.com/ southernwestchester.
Spring swim lessons Children in grades K–5 can learn how to swim. On Mondays and Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., starting May 9 through May 24 at the Louis M. Klein Middle School in Harrison. Fee is $100 made payable to Town/Village of Harrison (for six, one-hour lessons). Applications will be accepted starting April 1. Class size is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will end once the maximum number for the program is reached.
Lifeguard training course Get certified as a lifeguard and make money this summer. The 24-hour course starts on May 31. Participants must be at least 15 years old, swim 12 laps continuously (100-yard front crawl, 100yard breast stroke and 100 mixed free style/breast stroke), swim to a depth of 7 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object, and tread water. Course dates are as follows: May 31, June 1, June7, June 8, June 14 and June 15 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Louis M. Klein Middle School. Final exam: Thursday, June 16 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the West Harrison Senior Annex. There is also a CPR/first aid class on Sunday June 12 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Participants must attend all the classes to get certified. The application is online, but will not be accepted until April 18. Class size is limited and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Neuberger Museum at Purchase College The Neuberger Museum is located at 735 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase. information on events, programs, exhibitions and opening hours, visit neuberger.org or call 251-6100.
Spring Family Day On Saturday, April 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Imagine if you could suddenly see everything from a bird’s-eye view, similar to artists in the exhibition “Landed: Surveying New Geographies.” What spaces would you explore? What would your house, neighborhood, and town look like? What would you see if you flew over your teacher’s backyard? How about the White House, or a volcano? Join Neuberger for an afternoon of experimental map-making and a presentation regarding unmanned aerial vehicles (better known as drones). Free for Household Circle Members and above. Non-members: $10 for ages 18 and under; adults are free. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.
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WVOX holds annual St. Pat’s broadcast
Howard Sturman, publisher of the Review newspapers, stopped by Dudley’s on the waterfront in New Rochelle for the annual WVOX St. Patrick’s Day live broadcast. Sturman also hosts his own radio show, “The Home Town Hour,” on the local radio station.
On Thursday, March 17, Dudley’s in New Rochelle played host to WVOX’s annual live St. Patrick’s Day broadcast. The event marks the festive gathering of some of the
elite in Westchester politics for a day of community celebration and camaraderie. This year, the broadcast honored Herman Geist, the former chairman of the West-
chester County Board of Legislators and director of Westchester Medical Center, and the late Sal Generoso, a New Rochelle elected official and business and civic leader.
Former Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe with Gregorio Alvarez, host of the WVOX show “Momentos Latino.” Photos courtesy Kevin Elliott
6 • The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
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Mamaroneck’s farmers market springs into action
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On a recent Saturday morning at the Mamaroneck Winter Farmers Market, a little girl came to visit Allan Cohen at his Orwasher’s Bakery stand. She waited patiently while he talked to another customer. Her eyes lit up when he finally turned to her and said, “Good morning! Would you like your cinnamon roll?” “Yes,” she exclaimed with her arms outstretched. As she ran back to her mother, her words, “Thank you, Allan!” filled the
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Allan Cohen at the Orwasher’s Bakery stand at the Mamaroneck Winter Farmers Market.
air. Cohen turned to his customers in line and said, “I remember when her mother was pregnant with her. They come to the market every week, and now she’s 5 years old.” The Mamaroneck Winter Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, located at 168 W. Boston Post Road. It’s right off of Mount Pleasant Avenue, just two blocks away from downtown Mamaroneck Avenue. All the vendors are local farmers and food companies that travel to market and back in a day. They sell fresh fish, pastureraised meat, chicken, eggs, delicious local produce, artisanal cheese, hummus varieties, savory yogurt, breads, pickles, locally roasted coffee, baked goods, prepared foods to go and more. Farmers market shopping is also known as “direct marketing” or “relationship agriculture.” There are no middle distributors at the market. Customers buy directly from the producers. For Ed Trotta of Trotta Foods, he sells his family’s Italian specialties here because the experience goes back to his childhood when one knew the store owner. Today, he brings fresh and smoked mozzarella, a wide variety of pastas and sauces and more. He sources
his ingredients locally whenever possible and offers seasonal products, such as spring pea and goat cheese ravioli and arugula pesto. Trotta grew up in his family’s food business, but for the entrepreneur next to him, Sean Carmody of Taiim Shack Mobile, growing a small food company is a brand-new adventure. Carmody got his start as a line cook at a busy Middle Eastern restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island. When he moved back home to Westchester County, he discovered Taiim Falafel Shack in Hastings-on-Hudson. He worked for the owner, Zamir Iosepovici, until Iosepovici was ready to sell the business. Carmody was first in line to buy Taiim’s hummus line, and now he builds upon Taiim’s wellloved varieties. In discussing his plans for spring, Carmody looked across the market to the bountiful produce at Lani’s Farm stand. “I’m starting to see the sorrel come in over at Lani’s. I’m eager to see what I can create with it,” he said. Lani’s Farm is one of the most renowned farms in the region for their unique and incredible produce. Owned by farmer Steve Yoo, they currently bring 30 varieties of greens alone to Mamaroneck. They also have root vegetables, spring flowers,
Visit us online www.harrisonreview.com Follow us on Twitter, @harrisonview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/harrisonreview The Harrison Review (permit #106661) is published by Home Town Media Group weekly for an annual subscription of $32. Application to mail at the peridcals postage rate is approved at Port Chester, N.Y., 10573. Periodicals postage paid at Port Chester and additional mailing offices.
Fresh eggs are available at Stone and Thistle. Photos courtesy Nicole Reed
Fresh produce such as broccoli raab and red Russian kale on display at Lani’s Farm stand.
Spring pansies are in bloom at the indoor farmers market at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck.
dried bean varieties, frozen vegeta-bles and more. Yoo was inspired by his father to begin farming. “My father always loved to do anything related to the dirt,” he explained. Raised on a farm in Korea, his father immigrated to America as an adult in the late 1970s. While living in the Bronx, the elder Yoo would find abandoned lots to cultivate. “Wherever he found a place to grow, he’d go there, clean it up, and start planting,” he said. This is the first season Lani’s Farm has participated in the Mamaroneck Winter Farmers Market. They are known as a longstanding vendor at the Larchmont Farmers Market, and celebrated for their produce— and their sampling station. Another new addition in Mamaroneck is Go-Go Pops from Cold Spring, New York. They make delicious popsicles, as well as prepared salads and soups to eat on site or carry out. “Everything we make is all-natural. Any produce we can buy from local vendors, we do,” said
chef and owner Greg Miller. Not only are there several new vendors in Mamaroneck, the returning favorites keep introducing new products. Sohha Savory Yogurt just launched a drink made from yogurt and sea salt called aryan or doogh in the Middle East, depending on the region. They also started selling soap at the suggestion of one of their customers. Sohha co-founder, John Fout, explained that a regular customer said, “I’m going to eat half of this yogurt and put the other half on my face.” Fout was amazed, and it gave them the idea to make yogurt whey soap. “Now I have people telling me that they’ve stopped buying body creams because this soap is so regenerative,” Fout said. The Mamaroneck Winter Farmers Market runs through Saturday, April 16. The following Saturday, April 23, the Larchmont Farmers Market will open for the 2016 season in the Metro-North parking lot off of Chatsworth Avenue. Both farmers markets are managed by Down to Earth Markets.
April 1, 2016 • The HARRISON review • 7
New Purchase College EMS cuts response time Bob Marrone returns to WVOX on live morning show By WILLIAM GARRITY Contributor After only three months of operation, the only student-run Emergency Medical Service agency in Westchester—founded and led by veteran Eastchester EMT Stephen Schiff—has responded to more than 30 emergencies, getting to victims by as much as 15 minutes faster than last year. That’s because the fledgling Purchase College Emergency Medical Service unit, approved by the New York State Department of Health in December, is right where it’s needed: on campus. In years past, the 4,000-student school, one of 64 campuses in the state university system, had to rely solely on the town/ village of Harrison EMS, which needed 15 to 20 minutes to get to Purchase from its base 5 miles from campus, Schiff said. “We’re able to respond to campus emergencies in three to five minutes,” Schiff said. “Those few extra minutes can make a major difference in treating someone.” The Harrison EMS continues to back up the student-run unit, which has no ambulance. But, Schiff said, “We’re able to treat any medical emergency on campus.” Members of the Purchase College unit are certified Emergency Medical Technicians. They typically spend a full semester learning basic EMT skills needed to provide high quality emergency
Purchase College EMS founder Stephen Schiff, of Eastchester, teaching an EMT certification class. The college’s EMS unit has cut emergency response times on campus by as much as 15 minutes. Photo courtesy SUNY Purchase College
medical care. They are trained in advanced CPR techniques, patient assessment skills, trauma care and defibrillator usage, as well as incident command, a critical skill in maintaining order in medical emergencies. The 24/7 operation—which has the 90 student-members working in 12-hour shifts—is funded by the Purchase Student Government Association. The $10,000 budget paid for advanced bleeding-control equipment, EMS response bags, pediatric supplies, training materials and blue uniforms emblazoned with large white letters so that EMTs are “readily identifiable on scene,” Schiff said. The money also allows the agency to offer EMT certification classes, CPR training for students on campus and first aid classes—free of charge. So far this semester, Schiff has taught approximately 30 students.
Schiff, a 2007 SUNY Albany graduate, is taking courses at Purchase to become a physician’s assistant. He said it “took a long time” to get approval for the outfit, and, he added, “It was an exhausting process—we had to get so many things from so many different people.” But, he said, it’s been worth the effort. On its first night of operation in January, the agency responded to three calls from midnight to 4 a.m. “You never know what you’re going to get with emergency medicine,” Schiff said. “It’s always a different experience.” The Purchase College administration is very supportive of the efforts of the agency. “It’s a real benefit to the community to have our own EMS here on campus,” said Purchase President Thomas Schwartz. “I’m proud of the students who are involved.”
solar from page 1
with the Purchase Fire Department about the project in order to assure that emergency vehicles continue to have easy access to the campus. Palmer said he thinks the idea will be popular with the college’s student body as well. “I think [the students] will also like the fact that they can park under them, and keep their cars out of the rain and snow, so it’s win-win for the college and the students,” Palmer said. If the college’s proposal is approved by the town and the process goes smoothly, the carports should be up and running by early October, according to Palmer. CONTACT: angela@hometwn.com
Manhattanville College is currently seeking approval from the Harrison Planning Board to install solar carports on its campus. The carports are part of a series of changes the school has made in recent years to reduce its carbon footprint. File photo
In a move that makes sense for all kinds of reasons, Bob Marrone has returned to WVOX 1460 AM, where he first made a name for himself in morning drive radio. He takes over the “Good Morning Westchester” program, which airs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. “Mornings with Bob Marrone” is Westchester County’s local morning talk on WVOX 1460 AM with relevant news and interviews driven by listeners and callers. It is live, local and informative radio, so much more than just traffic and weather. The first show on Feb. 29 was a homecoming filled with old friends, new voices and lots of fun. Indeed, New Rochelle has always been Marrone’s home base in Westchester County, where he now resides and serves as the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, he broadcast “Mornings with Bob Marrone” at WFAS-AM until the station changed its format at the end of
January. There, he built upon his reputation as a knowledgeable, warm and at times irreverently funny morning host. The show on WVOX will continue to offer the broad variety of guests and topics that you expect. From Westchester to the White House, from Vietnam to New Rochelle, it will feature those who make the news and those who need their stories told. Of course, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties will be Marrone’s primary focus as the show deals with issues important to the communities such as flood mitigation, education and infrastructure. Marrone will continue to provide public service elements, such as traditional efforts to highlight and help organizations dedicated to mental illness and those associated with curing ALS and other diseases. Lastly, he will continue to welcome allcomers, whether they be callers or local bloggers. Marrone looks forward to bringing together the listen-
ers and callers of WVOX. The station is also planning ways to keep the conversation going as the news day proceeds. Most importantly, it will be nice for Marrone to come home to the “Americas Great Community Radio Station,” 1460 WVOX. Marrone’s achievements include two New York State Broadcaster Association awards: one for best news in New York state, the other for best public affairs program. He also was given the Habitat for Humanity’s media coverage award for his work on the 2007 floods, which devastated areas of Westchester. The YMCA recognized him with its 2009 Strong Communities award for his efforts to get out from behind his microphone and involve himself in the community. He also received a citation from the United States Army for his annual holiday troop calls events during which he conferencecalled soldiers deployed in war regions with their loved ones. (Submitted)
Legislator Parker to speak at LWV luncheon With government budgets under continuing stress, Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker from District 7 will discuss “Making Westchester’s Economic Development a Model of Sustainability in the 21st Century” at the League of Women Voters’ annual luncheon on Friday, April 8 at noon at the Orienta Beach Club in Mamaroneck. The luncheon is sponsored by local chapters of the League of Women Voters, including those of Larchmont-Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Rye, Rye Brook, Port Chester and Harrison. Legislator Parker has represented District 7 since 2013. She serves on the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Environment and Energy Committee as well as the committees
for Budget and Appropriations, Labor/Parks/Planning/Housing and Community Services. According to her legislative biography, during her years on the Rye City Council prior to being elected to the county Legislature, Parker “worked hard to pass responsible budgets that added to reserves and kept to the tax cap.” She considers herself an environmentalist. “With the support and partnership of environmental groups throughout the county, Parker believes the county will move forward on legislation that reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, cleans our water and air, and protects our communities from flooding,” according to Parker’s biography. Budgeting and environmental
issues are topics of central concern to the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization aimed at engaging citizens in improving government at all levels. Proceeds from the annual luncheon benefit the local chapters and allow them to continue such activities as moderating local candidates’ debates, developing voter guides, registering new voters and hosting panels on local questions. Tickets are $55 per person and may be purchased by mailing checks made out to “LWVNYSEF” to: LWV-LM, P.O. Box 811, Larchmont, NY 10538. $15 of the ticket price is tax deductible. For more information or to purchase tickets by credit card online, visit LWVLM.org. (Submitted)
8 • The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
Gun violence, the Feeley Fund and Springtacular place at the pool complex in West Harrison and is for children ages 2 through 8. Separate hunts HARRISON will take place for each age HAPPENINGS group and participants should Mayor Ron Belmont bring a bag or bucket. Items will Recently, I joined other may- consist of chocolate, candy and ors from across the country mini toys. The rain date is Sunwho have signed a letter from day, April 10. The New York State Departthe Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. This letter has ment of Transportation will be been sent to U.S. Attorney Gen- commencing a modification eral Loretta Lynch and calls on project at the Mobil gas station her to direct the Bureau of Al- and mini-market located on the cohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Hutchinson River Parkway in Explosives, ATF, to take more Harrison. Recently, I met with aggressive actions against “bad state representatives and will apple” gun dealers. The goal is be discussing project schedulto utilize local elected officials’ ing and specifications at the influence to prompt the attorney April 7 Town Council meeting. general to act. By establishing As the project moves forward, clear standards, tightening in- I will issue updates on the imvestigations into dealers’ busi- pact the project may have on our ness practices, conducting an- community. The annual appeal for the Eunual inspections and publishing and enforcing codes, the federal gene J. Feeley Harrison High government can work with local School Student Aid Fund is curleaders and take meaningful ac- rently being processed. For altion in an effort to safeguard our most 70 years, the Feeley Fund has enabled needy and worthy communities. On Saturday, April 9 from 11 Harrison High School graduates a.m. to 1 p.m., come and enjoy attend accredited colleges and/or this year’s Springtacular, offer- schools. Since 1947, more than ing rides and a candy/toy hunt. 1,000 students have received This fun-filled event will take loans or grants to pursue their
At a glance
PLAYLAND from page 1
ers—have put a pause on the deal’s finalization until it’s fully vetted. According to county administration and legislative officials, projects like a $20 million effort to restore the park’s colonnades will be at the forefront of the discussion. “Nothing is off the table right now,” Kaplowitz said. County legislators Catherine Parker and Ken Jenkins could not be reached for comment as of press time.
post-high school education and training. The Feeley Fund needs you to share our confidence in the future of our Harrison youth. Please respond to our request by sending your contribution to: The Feeley Fund, 255 Union Ave., Harrison, NY 10528. For more information, call Lola Geiger at 939-7066. The American Red Cross blood drive and New York organ donor registration will be held on Wednesday, April 6 at the Veterans Building from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Every April, this blood drive is dedicated to our late town clerk, Joseph Acocella Jr. I encourage all residents to support this extremely worthwhile event. Walk-ins are always welcome. The next “Lunch with the Mayor” is on Friday, April 1, and will be at Pizza 2000 located on Halstead Avenue in Downtown Harrison. On Friday, April 8, I will be at Halstead Avenue Taqueria located at 261 Halstead Ave. in downtown Harrison. I will be at these locations from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and look forward to meeting with residents and talking about issues facing our community.
A new proposal from the Westchester County Board of Legislators puts the county’s share of Playland capital projects at $30 million. According to board Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, the proposed deal will save the county millions of dollars over the next two decades. To negotiate terms of the proposed agreement, the county board will extend the previous deadline of March 31 to April 29, effectively prolonging Standard’s option to walk away.
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legal notices NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING, ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND VOTE ON BUDGET OF HARRISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HARRISON, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing on the Budget of the qualified voters of the Harrison Central School District, Harrison, New York, will be held at the Louis M. Klein Middle School on May 4, 2016 at 7:15 P.M. for the purpose of presenting the Budget for the 2016-17 school year. FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the money which will be required for the ensuing school year for school purposes may be obtained by any taxpayer in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the Annual School District Meeting, May 17, 2016, except Saturday, Sunday or Holiday, at each of the following schoolhouses in which school is maintained during the hours designated, and at any public or free association library in the District, and on the District website. Harrison High School - 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Louis M. Klein Middle School - 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Elementary Schools - 9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.: Harrison Avenue School, Parsons Memorial School, Purchase School & Samuel J. Preston School Office of the District Clerk - 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Real Property Tax Exemption Report prepared in accordance with Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law will be annexed to any tentative/preliminary budget as well as the final adopted budget of which it will form a part, and shall be posted on District bulletin board(s) maintained for public notices, as well as on the District’s website. FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual School District Meeting of the inhabitants of the Harrison Central School District, Harrison, NY, qualified to vote at School District Meetings and/or Elections of said District will be held at the places hereafter set forth on May 17, 2016 between the hours of 7:00 A.M and 9:00 P.M., prevailing time, for the purpose of voting on voting machines for the appropriation of necessary funds to meet the necessary expenditures for the school year 2016-2017, on all propositions duly filed with the Board of Education, and to fill two (2) vacancies on the Board of Education. The qualified voters will fill the following vacancies: • The office of Rachel Estroff, a member of the Board of Education, which term expires on June 30, 2016, for a new term commencing July 1, 2016 and expiring on June 30, 2019. • The office of Abby Mendelsohn, a member of the Board of Education, which term expires on June 30, 2016, for a new term commencing July 1, 2016 and expiring on June 30, 2019. Each vacancy shall be considered a separate and specific office and a separate petition is required to nominate a candidate for each office. The petition shall be directed to the District Clerk, shall be signed by at least 36 qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence address of each signer, the name and residence address of the candidate, and shall describe the specific vacancy on the Board of Education for which the candidate is nominated which description shall include at least the length of the term of office and the name of the last incumbent, if any. Forms complying with these requirements may be obtained from the Office of the District Clerk, 50 Union Avenue, Harrison, NY between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M., prevailing time, Monday through Friday. Petitions are due not later than on April 18, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for Absentee Ballots may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk, 50 Union Avenue, Harrison, New York. Written requests for absentee ballots must be made at least 7 days and not more than 30 days prior to the Annual School District Meeting, May 17, 2016. If the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, the completed application must be received by the District Clerk no later than 3:45 P.M. (Prevailing Time) on May 10, 2016. If the Ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter, the completed application must be received by the District Clerk no later than 3:45 P.M. (Prevailing Time) on May 16, 2016. No absentee ballot shall be counted unless it shall have been received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. on May 17, 2016. A list of all persons to whom Absentee Ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District at the Office of the District Clerk, on each of the five days prior to the day of the election, except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. (Prevailing Time) and 3:30 P.M. (Prevailing Time). Any qualified voter may file a written challenge of the qualification of a voter whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for the challenge. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that for the purposes of voting, the School District has been divided into four (4) election districts and that an accurate description of the boundaries of these school election districts is on file and may be inspected at the Office of the District Clerk on weekdays when school is in session, during regular work hours, 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., at the Administrative Offices, 50 Union Avenue, Harrison, NY. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the 2016 School District Election and Budget Vote will be held at the following polling places in the School Election Districts hereinafter set forth: Election District A: At the Harrison Avenue School in Harrison, New York. Said Election District A comprises a portion of the area formerly constituting the area of Union Free School District No. 6 of the Town of Harrison, Westchester County, New York, which encompasses the area designated as the boundary line for attendance at Harrison Avenue School. Election District B - at the Samuel J. Preston School in West Harrison, New York. Said Election District B comprises the area formerly constituting the area of Union Free School District No. 7 of the Town of Harrison, Westchester County, New York, which encompasses the area designated as the boundary line for attendance at Samuel J. Preston School. Election District C - at the Purchase Elementary School on Purchase Street, in Purchase, New York. Said Election District C comprises the area formerly constituting the areas of Union Free School District No. 2 of the Town of Harrison and Rye, Westchester County, New York, and Common School District No. 5 of the Towns of Harrison and North Castle, Westchester County, New York, which encompasses the area designated as the boundary line for attendance at Purchase Elementary School. Election District D - at the Parsons Memorial School in Harrison, New York. Said Election District D comprises a portion of the area formerly constituting the area of Union Free School District No. 6 of the Town of Harrison, Westchester County, New York, which encompasses the area designated as the boundary line for attendance at the Parsons Memorial School. FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law, Section 2035, Subdivision 2, the Board of Education has adopted a rule with respect to the submission of questions or propositions to be voted upon by voting machines at school district meetings or elections requiring any petition or request from qualified voters for the submission of questions or propositions to be voted upon at any such meeting or election, and reserving to the Board of Education the right to edit such questions or propositions without changing the substance thereof for the purpose of preparing ballots for voting machines. FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that although voting machines will be used to record the votes on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, there will be no registration of voters in advance of said meeting. Accordingly, all persons shall be entitled to vote as aforesaid who present themselves at the polls, who are not challenged while in the polling place, and who execute a statement, to be provided by the Board of Education, indicating that they possess the following qualifications: 1. A citizen of the United States; 2. Eighteen years of age; and 3. A resident of the district for a period of 30 days next preceding May 17, 2016. Pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-c, all new persons offering to vote at any school district meeting or election for which registration is not required, shall provide one form of proof of residency. Acceptable proof of residency shall be a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. By order of the Board of Education, Harrison Central School District. Dated: April 1, 2016 Harrison, New York Christine Beitler, District Clerk
April 1, 2016 • The HARRISON review • 9
Purchase College hosts PrideWorks conference Mamaroneck passes unprecedented dog law On March 23, SUNY Purchase College welcomed more than 520 LGBTQ—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/ questioning—middle and high school students, educators and allies as co-sponsors of PrideWorks, a daylong conference devoted to educating, inspiring and supporting attendees. The event included more than 35 workshops and informational sessions about LGBTQ issues, teaching participants important leadership skills needed to advocate for themselves and their students. The keynote speaker was former NFL player Wade Davis, who gave a heartfelt speech about how he first publically identified as gay, nine years after his football career ended, and how it affected his relationships with his mother and with himself. He congratulated the students for being brave and urged them to fight for social justice for all people. In 2014, Davis became the NFL’s first diversity and inclusion consultant, focused on ensuring that all LGBTQ individuals in the league have a safe and affirming space. He currently
heads the You Can Play Project, which is dedicated to ending discrimination, sexism and homophobia in sports. Stephanie McCaine, the director of admissions at Purchase College, said, “We were happy to partner with PrideWorks on this important event. Purchase prides itself on its inclusive environment and we hope the students know that they are valued here and always welcome.” David Diamond, who has organized the event for PrideWorks, said, “We were thrilled to be at Purchase this year for our annual conference. Purchase is the perfect place for our attendees who describe their experience at PrideWorks as life-changing.” Attendees chose from topics geared for students such as choosing the right college for them, and programs for advisors and parents such as how to help teens navigate their relationships. Workshops on LGBTQ history and culture and self-care were available for all attendees. Drawing from the lower Hudson Valley, the tri-state area and beyond, the PrideWorks conference serves students from more
than 70 middle and high schools and 10 colleges and universities. Approximately 70 percent of attendees are students and 30 percent are adults. About 20 percent of the students identify as LGBTQ. Adults include teachers, psychologists, social workers, Gay-Straight Alliance, GSA, advisors, youth care workers, parents or guardians of LGBTQ youth, among others. About 40 percent of adults identify as part of the LGBTQ community. PrideWorks Inc. was organized in 2013 and grew out of a conference begun in 1999. The organization produces this conference, as well as sponsors other events, such as Gay Prom, in partnership with other area agencies. PrideWorks’ mission is to inform communities about the realities of growing up gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, and to inspire them to respect and support LGBTQ people and to advocate for positive change. For more information, visit prideworksforyouth.org. For more information about Purchase College, visit purchase.edu. (Submitted)
Fordham to offer real estate certificate programs Fordham University’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies, in conjunction with the New York Real Estate Institute, will be offering a pair of certificate programs on its Westchester campus. The Standard Real Estate Principles, SREP, certificate is designed for people employed in the real estate industry or for those seeking entry-level employment in areas such as office administration, basic bookkeeping, budgeting, computer software utilization, leasing, tenantpublic relations and debt service. The total cost for the certificate program is $350. The following courses, totaling 26.25 credit hours, make up the SREP certificate: • April 9: Property Management and Managing Risk • April 16: New York Landlord Tenant Relationships, parts one and two • April 23: Zoning Compliance and Urban Development • May 14: Fair Housing The Fundamentals of Construction Administration, FOCA, certificate is designed for people
By KILEY STEVENS Staff Writer The village of Mamaroneck is the first municipality in the state of New York to ban the sale of commercially bred animals in local pet stores. This unprecedented law was passed by a 4-0 vote, with one trustee abstaining, at a raucous Board of Trustees meeting last month after weeks of discussion and public hearings. Trustee Leon Potok, a Democrat, abstained from the vote out of fear of a potential lawsuit. The law, dubbed “Public Local Law D-2016” was proposed by Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, and passed with the help of Susan Chana Lask, an attorney based in Manhattan. Lask said she became involved with the local legislation when a village resident emailed her asking for help. Although Lask is a litigator, she speaks to towns nationwide about animal protection. “I do that out of passion, pro bono,” she said. Though Lask and Rosenblum faced opposition from some members of the village board citing concerns over the constitutionality of the mayor’s proposal, Lask told the Review that she has worked on at least four federal cases that would upheld the legality of the law. “You’re not prohibiting the sale of all animals, you’re just regulating the source,” she said. The law, as written, states that pet stores within the village may only sell animals that come from animal shelters or humane
Last month, the village of Mamaroneck passed a law that prohibits the sale of commercially bred animals in pet stores, the first of its kind in New York state. It is unclear how the law will affect National Breeders, pictured, in Mamaroneck, since the pet store does not currently source its collections of dogs for sale from shelters. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
societies within New York state. Under the law, no animal that comes from a breeder or puppy mill is permissible to be sold in the village of Mamaroneck. The push for legislation began in August 2015 when residents began protesting a local pet store on Mamaroneck Avenue, then named Best Breeds Puppies and Kittens. The owner of the store at the time, Richard Doyle, of Mahopac, New York, has been in trouble with the law multiple times. He has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, and one count of selling a diseased animal. One of his store fronts, located in Wappingers Falls,
Photo courtesy Fordham.edu
employed in the construction industry or those seeking entry-level employment in areas such as general contracting, construction administration, support quality control assistance and project scheduling. The total cost for this certificate program is $575. The following courses, totaling 33.75 credit hours, make up the FOCA certificate: • June 11: Zoning Compliance and Urban Development
• June 12, 19 and 26: Construction Project Management • June 18: Fair Housing All courses have been approved by the New York Department of State for real estate continuing education credits. Individual courses may be taken without completing the certificate. For more information or to register for the certificate programs, visit pcs.fordham.edu/ realestate. (Submitted)
Mayor Norman Rosenblum with Susan Chana Lask, who defended the passing of the law to ban the sale of commercially bred animals in local pet stores. Photo courtesy Susan Chana Lask
New York, has since closed. In December 2015, he was arrested at one of his other store fronts in Mohegan Lake on two felony counts of witness tampering. The storefront in Mamaroneck was sold to a new owner in December, Kevin Casiraghi, who renamed the store National Breeders. However, Lask investigated the license number posted on a dog cage in the store, which was connected to a breeder in the Midwest who, according to Lask, was laden with violations. Some of the violations included shivering animals, the use of unapproved medications and animals who had not been examined by veterinarians. When reached by phone, an employee at National Breeders declined to comment. Part of the problem with regulating the source of animals, according to Lask, is the 120 U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors that inspect breeders nationwide “do not have the resources to police these puppy mills.” She told the Review that their job is to simply give breeders in violation a notice—not to fine them or shut them down. As for Rosenblum, the vote proved to be a victory he was eager to celebrate. “I could not be prouder to be part of any community, anywhere in the United States,” the mayor said. CONTACT: kiley@hometwn.com
10 • The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
April 1, 2016 • The HARRISON review • 11
‘Man of La Mancha’ takes the WBT stage By MICHELLE JACOBY Contributor “Man Of La Mancha” was inspired by a 1615 masterpiece, “The Adventure of Don Quixote,” written by Miquel de Cervantes. Dale Wasserman originally wrote “Man Of La Mancha” as a non-musical teleplay when he decided to blend the two main characters together to create a play within a play. The combination of Wasserman and director Albert Marre turned it into a stage musical, eventually winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The tax collector, Cervantes, played by Paul Schoeffler and his squire, Sancho Panza, played by Gary Marachek, are thrown into prison. The stage is set with a dark, descending staircase that leads into the evil dungeon of the prison with unruly characters awaiting their sentencing. The tone is set as the non-musical part of the production. When Sir Knight
Paul Schoeffler as Don Quixote and Michelle Dawson as Aldonza star in “Man of La Mancha.”
Cervantes arrives as a true believer in goodness and chivalry with his cherubic sidekick, the prisoners have a
true distain for them. The trial begins and Cervantes decides to take out his traveling trunk of costumes and tall tales, and the story
of Don Quixote, fighter of giants, with happy-go-lucky Sancho Panza, begins. Schoeffler very talentedly blends his two characters as a true professional—a nervous Cervantes on trial, and brave Don Quixote willing to take on anyone who insults his true love, Aldonza/ Dulcinea, played brilliantly by Michelle Dawson. Fighting her fate as a wench, she doesn’t know how to deal with Don Quixote. Strong-willed and powerful on stage, she holds her own with Anselmo, played by Alan Gillespie, and his Muleteers Joseph Torello, Jose’Antonio, Eric Briarley, Alan Gillespie, John Paul LaPorte, Diego Rios and Dougie Robbins. Powerful singing and acting keeps this classic tale alive. Songs of romance, including “What Does He Want of Me?” “Little Bird, Little Bird,” and the idealistic “The Impossible Dream,” continue to be showstoppers. Set and costume design by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case bring audience members back to the Spanish Inquisition days. The fight scenes, directed by fight director James
Gary Marachek as Sancho, left, Michelle Dawson as Aldonza and Paul Schoeffler as Don Quixote star in the musical set during the Spanish Inquisition. Photos by John Vecchiolla
The company of “Man Of La Mancha” during a musical number.
Jelkin, lead us into the jousting world and Don Quixote’s defeat. Sound design by Jonathan E. Hatton; techinical direction by Steve Loftus; production by Lisa Tiso; and lighting design by Andrew Gmoser. “Man Of La Mancha” is a true comedy in which the sanest characters can’t see the real truth of life, and only the lunatics are truly wise. Come and experience the unconventional tales of Don Quixote. This Bob Funking and Bill Stutler production of “Man Of La Mancha” is playing at the Westchester Broadway Theatre now through May 1. For further information, call 592-2222 or visit broadwaytheatre.com. Paul Schoeffler as Don Quixote, left, and Gary Marachek as Sancho in the Westchester Broadway Theatre’s production of “Man of La Mancha.”
12 • The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
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April 1, 2016 • The HARRISON review • 13
Let’s not be elder-hostile RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
Why do grandparents and their grandchildren get along so well? They share a common enemy. Okay. Old joke. But the truth is, they share another common enemy that is not a relative. It’s risk. When it comes to kids and seniors alike, society’s goal seems to be creating a zero-risk existence. This is as pointless and insulting for the older generation as it is for the younger. “Surplus safety” is what Bill Thomas calls the cosseting that goes beyond being helpful and actually dampens the joy of human existence. Thomas is a Harvard-trained doctor who has always been shocked by the way we treat elders (a term he much prefers to “seniors.”) He’s the guy behind the Eden Alternative, which, among deeper changes, also brings plants and animals into nursing homes so there’s something for folks to care for that grows and changes. He’s also the author of “What Are Old People For? How Elders Will Save the World.” And he founded the Green House Project, a kind of confusing name since it has nothing to do with greenhouses. First piloted in Tupelo, Mississippi, but now coming to Manhattan, the project replaces nursing homes with comfy, shared houses instead. The residents all live on one floor, with a big, country kitchen in the center. Days revolve around making dinner, with everyone pitching in any way they can, and then eat-
ing the meal together, staff and residents. Everyone has a purpose, and the days have meaning. It’s so simple. It makes me ill to think of elders being wheeled into institutional cafeterias with no one asking anything of them, because they’re not people anymore; they’re more like packages. Which brings us back to surplus safety—the kind that treats old people like antiques to be preserved in climate-controlled comfort where nothing ever changes. Maybe that does lengthen one’s days on earth, but old people are still humans, and humans crave novelty, even if it involves a little risk. “Risk is just the probability that things will turn out differently than expected,” Thomas explained over breakfast near Grand Central one day, when he was down from his home in Ithaca. “Now we use it mainly to mean downside risk—your car might burst into flames.” But the upside of risk is that even when something bad happens, you are now faced with something new to adjust to. For instance, if you got lost, you have to find your way home. To do this, you may have to steel yourself to ask a stranger for directions. Once you do, you realize, “Hey, that wasn’t so hard!” For kids as well as elders, Thomas says, “You need to be exposed to risk to grow. You have to be put in a situation where things can turn out differently than you expect. When we make a fetish of the downside of risk, we also get rid of the upside of risk.” Helicopter parents try to remove all risk from their kids’ lives
because the question of “What if?” is looming: “What if my child gets abducted on the two-block walk to school?” Less recognized is the way we do the same thing to our elders, denying them the joy still left in life, because what if? “Don’t go to Europe, dad. What if you get sick and you’re away from your doctor?” It’s not that we deliberately want to stunt our elders. It’s that we don’t realize how vital novelty is to the soul at any age. “From a neurological point of view, the nervous system craves novelty,” Thomas said. “It needs novelty. Without novelty, the nervous system can’t make new connections.” So how can we give novelty back to our elders, if only to make sure that when we grow old no one is saving us from new experiences? The answer is simple: We have to start believing in our elders, the same way helicopter parents have to start believing in their kids. We have to trust our loved ones to roll with some punches. These days, Thomas travels around the country hosting a multimedia presentation called The Age of Disruption Tour. On stage singing (a skill he only mastered a few years ago) and playing guitar (ditto), and sometimes striding on stilts (major ditto), Thomas asks audiences to see growing into elderhood as just another stage of life, not that different from when they grew into adulthood from adolescence. It can be a time of growth, but it’s not without risk. Or at least, it shouldn’t be. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Introducing our new restroom critic: Robert Barrows “Newspapers and magazines have all kinds of critics: movie critics, restaurant critics, theatre critics, book critics, art critics... and as a public service, they should probably have restroom critics, too,” says Robert Barrows, an advertising executive and restroom critic in San Mateo, California. “As to qualifications, I have a slightly enlarged prostate, so believe you me, I know a thing or two about restrooms.” Now, there are all kinds of restrooms. First, there are public restrooms: restrooms in trains, planes, buses; restrooms in ballparks, restrooms in gas stations, pay toilets on the street, and many more places to go when you gotta go. Next, there are the higher quality restrooms: restrooms in restaurants, restrooms in stores, in fancy hotels, and if you must, restrooms in private houses, if they’ll let you in. There are also restrooms anyplace you can get away with it: in the bushes, in an alley, behind a tree, and when you gotta go, you gotta go... just watch out for any surveillance cameras and you might want to put a hood over your face just in case someone is out there with a camera phone,
too. You never know when someone’s taking a picture and you could wind up all over the Internet and also on tonight’s news. So, what kinds of things might a restroom critic say? (“What a dump!” would be way too easy a thing to say and besides, it’s already been used…) Here are some thoughts about restroom criticism: If it’s an awful restroom, you could say things like: 1) Just pee there, don’t poop there. 2) Better hold your nose. 3) Be sure to watch where you step. 4) Get out of there as fast as you can. 5) Better bring your own toilet paper. 6) You expect me to sit on that thing? 7) Even my dog wouldn’t pee there. 8) Or just plain “Yuck.” If it’s a nice restroom, you could say things like: 1) Take your time and relax. 2) Enjoy a good book. 3) I’ll be sure to go there again. And, if it’s a really nice restroom, you could give it a “royal flush.” Now, along the lines of going and looking for a good place to go when you’re on the go, Bar-
rows has also developed a concept for a board game called “Robert’s Restroom Game.” (His wife drew a layout of it and if you would like, he can email you a PDF of the layout.) And, you could also compile a book that would make great “bathroom reading,” and you could probably get some big toilet paper company to sponsor it and give away a year’s supply of toilet paper (which will vary with every person, but I’m sure that the toilet paper companies already have the statistics on how many rolls most people use). By this time into the article, I’ve got to go, too... so please give me a call if you would like any additional information and have a comment or two. And oh, here are some words of advice from a very frequent restroom user: 1) Whenever you have to go to the bathroom, be sure to put the answering machine on, and... 2) Never force it. Happy trails! Robert Barrows, Restroom Critic Tel: 650-344-4405 Email: barrows@barrows.com Website: barrows.com
SPORTS
14 • The The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
Orange you glad it’s March? LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
The funny thing about sports fandom is that, sometimes, it makes for strange bedfellows. As an avowed supporter of the Boston Red Sox, I’d rather chew off my right arm than root for the hated Yankees. But come August, if the Yanks find themselves out of playoff contention while the Blue Jays and Sox are battling for the division lead, you’d better believe that I’ll pull for the Pinstripes to take 2-outof-3 in a road series up in Toronto. I’m not proud of it, but I’m a practical man. But to be perfectly honest, I sometimes find myself rooting for the enemy even when my own teams don’t stand to benefit from the outcome. Sometimes you just have to support great storylines. On Sunday night, No. 10 Syracuse knocked off top-seeded
Virgina to claim a spot in this year’s Final Four. Being a lifelong fan of the Villanova Wildcats, I spent most of my life hating the Orange, one of their chief rivals in the old Big East Conference, so it came as quite a shock to some of my friends that I went nuts about Cuse’s big comeback win over the Cavaliers. One friend even asked me if I’d hit my head. But really, I was just rooting for the storyline. I mean, how many times does something like this happen? Not often. With their 68-62 win over UVA, the Orange become the first No. 10 seed in history to make it this far in the tourney. Only LSU and George Mason— two No. 11s— have made the Final Four as lower seeds. But it wasn’t just the fact that Syracuse—who many believed should not have even made the tournament—won that had me pumped. It was the manner in which they erased a 16-point deficit with nine minutes to go, putting forth the kind of effort
that defensive-minded basketball coaches will use as a teachable moment for years to come. With the season on the line, Syracuse unleashed a ferocious full-court press, forcing turnovers and generally unsettling the methodical Cavaliers as they made their way back into the ballgame. The last 10 minutes of that ballgame served as a testament to unselfishness; five men on the floor, buying fully into a gameplan and leaving every last bit of themselves on the court. Even if they fell short in the comeback bid, what Syracuse did in the second half would have been talked about for years by the Orange faithful. But as it stands now, Syracuse is just two wins away from cutting down the nets and celebrating a national title that even the most ardent fan would have believed impossible just two weeks ago. So yeah, I still hate Syracuse, but I’ll be rooting for them on April 2 when they try to take down North Carolina, who happens to
legal notices Notice of Formation of Fletcher Thompson Building Group LLC. Arts of Org. filed with DE Secretary of State (SSDE) on 1/11/16. Office location: Westchester County. SSDE is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSDE or SSNY shall mail process to: C/O DelBello, Donnellan, Weingarten, Wise & Wiederkehr, One North Lexington Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601. Purpose: any lawful activity. FP Werke, LLC FP Werke LLC filed with the SSNY on 02/12/16. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 679 Ely Avenue Pelham Manor, NY 10803. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Harrison Central School District hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for the following: RFB #15/16-28 Food Service Equipment Bids shall be submitted in sealed envelopes marked “RFB #15/16-28: Food Service Equipment” on the outside. Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m, Monday, April 18, 2016 by the Purchasing Agent (or his duly designated representative), Harrison Central School District, Business Office, 50 Union Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528; (914) 630-3011; Fax: (914) 835-2715, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained at www.empirestatebidsystem.com or from the district Business Office beginning Friday, April 1, 2016. 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: April 1, 2016
Harrison Central School District’s
Official Newspaper
For most of his life, Sports Editor Mike Smith has rooted passionately against the Syracuse basketball team. On March 27, however, Smith couldn’t help but cheer on the Orange. Photo courtesy Wikipedia
be the last No. 1 seed still standing. It’s a heck of a story; the kind of plucky underdog narrative that sports fans are drawn to regardless of personal rooting interest. If they end up playing Villa-
nova in the finals, however, I’ll be singing a different tune. Inspiring sports tales are great and all, but I’ve been waiting a pretty long time to see my Wildcats get back to the promised land.
If I need my David and Goliath fix, I can always stream “Hoosiers” on Netflix.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
SPORTS
April 1, 2016 • The HARRISON review • 15
Huskies shine in opening meet By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor
Kerby Jean-Charles takes to the air in the long jump event at Harrison High School.
Sinead Rynne competes in the long jump. Photos/Mike Smith
Local runners officially kicked off the spring track season, as Harrison hosted Pelham and Eastchester in a non-scoring meet on Tuesday, March 29. The meet, which is the first of six events the Huskies will host this year, was a chance for Harrison’s athletes to get their first taste of outdoor competition as they prepare for another strong campaign. Harrison is coming off a winter season in which both the boys’ and girls’ teams claimed league titles. With all of his top indoor athletes returning and the addition of a few key competitors, head coach Dominic Zanot said he expects Harrison to be in contention for the league crown again. The Huskies qualified two boys, pole-vaulter Loucas Glover and sprinter Matt Konigsberg, for the New York state meet last month, and both are back for the spring season, along with a few new faces in sprinter and jumper Robert Blue, hurdler and polevaulter Jon Crozier and the versatile Zach Evans. On the girls’ side, Emily Dugoff returns after a season in which she broke and tied the school’s high jump and long jump marks, respectively. The girls’ team also welcomes back senior Gia Mancini, who has not competed since the modified level, but has shown promise in a variety of events so far this spring. According to Zanot, it will take some time to determine the right events for the multisport standout, but Mancini has the athletic ability to be a difference maker this spring. “Maybe it’s the fact that it’s the spring of her senior year and she only has a few months to put on the Huskies’ uniform,” Zanot said. “But we are so pleased that she’s participating.” As the Huskies prepare for the season ahead, Zanot said Tuesday’s meet was a strong showing for the squad. Blue won both the 100-meter sprint and the long jump events, Ciara Gogherty placed first in the 400-meter, and Raja Gopal won the 1600-meter distance event with a time close to his personal best.
Robert Blue competes in the 100-meter dash at Harrison High School on March 29. Blue placed first in the 100-meter and long jump events.
“To see [Raja] perform so well in his first meet [of the spring] is pretty exciting,” Zanot said. Given all the success the Huskies have experienced over the last few years, Zanot believes that this spring has the ability to be an important one for the program, both on the track and in a larger sense. “We expect both the boys’ and the girls’ teams to be competitive, like always,” the head coach said. “Especially for the younger competitors, we have so many models, so all the newcomers have to do is look at the more experienced competitors to see what they should be doing in terms of the right warm-ups, the right pace and the appropriate techniques.” For the first time, the Huskies will host three large-scale events: the annual Fulton Invitational on April 13, the Twilight Relays on April 15, and a postseason qualifier on May 6. According to the head coach, these three events should help raise the track program’s exposure within the Harrison community. “The more track and field events we bring to Harrison High School, the more exposure
Ciara Gogherty crosses the finish line in the 400-meter race on March 29. Gogherty placed first in a March 29 field that included runners from Harrison, Pelham and Eastchester High School.
it gets our kids,” Zanot said. “It’s great for our kids because they have the chance to have their parents and classmates come and
watch and we think our venue is really great for these events.” Contact: sports@hometwn.com
16 • The HARRISON review • April 1, 2016
April 2016
Planning ahead... Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
Autism Awareness Month
2
NCAA Final Four
April Fools’ Day Grade 5 Science Fair 9 a.m., PRE Parent/Child Dance 6 p.m., PUR
3
4
PTA meeting 9:30 a.m., HHS NCAA Championship
5
NYS ELA Test PTA meeting 7 p.m., PAR
6
NYS ELA Test PTA meeting 9:15 a.m., PUR
World Health Day
7
NYS ELA Test
Board of Education meeting 8:15 p.m., LMK
The Masters begins PT Council 9:30 a.m., HHS
8
ACT Test
SAT I and II registration deadline
Make A Difference Day senior citizens breakfast 9 a.m., PUR
PTA meeting 9 a.m., HAS
Springtacular 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ron Belmont Pool Complex
Town/village board meeting 7:30 p.m., Municipal building
Springtacular rain date
10
11
12
NYS ELA Test makeup
NYS ELA Test makeup
NYS Math Test
Theater Arts casting 3:15 p.m., PUR
NYSESLAT Speaking Test begins
PTA meeting 7 p.m., PRE
13
Zoning Board meeting 8 p.m., Municipal building
Architectural Review Board meeting 7:30 p.m., Municipal building
18
20
NYS Math Test makeup
NYS Math Test makeup
NYS Math Test makeup
Boston Marathon
PTA meeting 9:30 a.m., LMK
Field of Honor opening ceremony 12:30 p.m., HHS
Incoming freshman parent athletic orientation 7 p.m., LMK
24
19
25
Arts College Planning Night 7 p.m., HHS
26
Theater Arts rehearsals begin 3:15 p.m., PUR
Kindergarten Screening begins PAR
Science Symposium 7 p.m., HHS
SAT I and II late registration deadline HHS/LMK Percussion Showcase 7 p.m., HHS Planning Board meeting 7:30 p.m., Municipal building
14
Foreign Language Honor Society 7 p.m., HHS
String Extravaganza 7 p.m., HHS
17
NYS Math Test
Grade 2 Play 9:45 a.m., HAS
21
National Honor Society 7 p.m., HHS
Board of Education meeting 8:15 p.m., LMK
Parent Tour 9:30 a.m., LMK Parent Tour 12:30 p.m., HHS SEPTA meeting 7:15 p.m., LMK
27
9
NYS ELA Test makeup
Tax Day
15
NYS Math Test
16
Mother/Son event Noon, PRE
3rd quarter marking period ends HHS, LMK One Act Festival 7 p.m., HHS
Earth Day
22
23
HHS dismissal: 1 p.m. LMK dismissal: 1:20 p.m. Elem. schools dismissal: 2 p.m. Passover begins
28
Multicultural Night 6:30 p.m., PRE/PUR
Town/village board meeting 7:30 p.m., Municipal building
Kindergarten Screening ends PAR
29
Buddy Day 10 a.m., LMK NYSSMA Solo Festival 4 p.m., HHS
Passover ends
30