Harrison REVIEW THE
June 17, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 25 | www.harrisonreview.com
Con Edison considers gas, electric increases After the passing of a nationwide FDA regulation classifying all vapor products as tobacco products, vape manufacturers, retailers and consumers of the growing industry may be forced to find an alternative to their alternative. For story, see page 6. Photo/Suzy Berkowitz
Harrison’s World War I Doughboy leaves its post By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer As the nation was remembering the sacrifices of the American heroes of World War II on the 72nd anniversary of D-Day, Harrison saw the loss of its Doughboy, a 76-yearold statue commemorating the World War I soldiers who were from the town. The 5-foot-tall cast zinc statue, which held a rifle in its left hand and hoisted a grenade above its head with its right, broke at its ankles and fell from its pedestal in Ma Riis Park on Monday, June 6, losing its right arm as it hit the pavers on the ground. Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont attributed the collapse to
the statue’s physical wear and tear and from strong winds that had recently circulated the area. According to Ben DeFonce, a veteran services officer for Harrison who served as a Marine in the Korean War, the town and its veterans are collaborating to raise funds to replace the statue; however, no price estimates have been made as of press time. Belmont told the Review he was doubtful that the statue is mendable, and speculated it would have to be replaced. He added that the town has contacted curators at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, District of Columbia, and other sculptors for help. Belmont referenced a replica of the Harrison statue in
Verona, Pennsylvania, which also separated at the ankles and fell in 2007, and has not yet been repaired or replaced. “I hope it doesn’t take that long to get this one repaired,” Belmont said. “But we are trying desperately to do what we have to do.” Harrison’s statue is one of more than 140 replicas across 39 states carved from “The Spirit of the American Doughboy,” a statue created by E.M. Viquesney, copyrighted in 1934. The statue had previously lost the bayonet on its rifle, a commonly damaged part of such statues. The marble pedestal on which the doughboy stood is still in place. However, the zinc
feet and tree stumps left standing when the statue fell have been removed. The inscribed plaques at the base of the statue have been left in place. The front-facing plaque is an inscription from the Harrison collection of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to the local men and women who served in World War I. Three back-facing plaques list a total of 300 names. April 6, 2017 will be the 100th anniversary of the entry of the U.S. into World War I. DeFonce says by then, he hopes the statue will return from its furlough. “It’s an important part of our history in Harrison,” he said. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The New York State Department of Public Service will hold two public hearings this month to consider allowing Con Edison to increase rates on gas and electric delivery. The proposed increases would raise the cost of gas services by an average of 8.4 percent and would increase the cost of electricity services by about 5.7 percent. Con Edison, an energy company, has requested a rate increase that would aim to bolster its annual delivery revenues on gas and electric by about $640 million from the approximately 3 million customers they serve across Westchester County and New York City. The state Public Service Commission would have to approve the power company’s request for the rate increase in order for it to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Bills issued by energy companies consist of charges for supply—the cost of electricity or gas—and charges for delivery—the cost to transport the supply through the company’s utility network. A company is not responsible for setting the supply rates, and must receive approval from the Department of Public Service, DPS, which ensures affordable, safe and reliable access to utilities, before altering delivery rates. The DPS has 11 months to review a rate case from when a company submits a request before they must approve or deny it. During that time, the commission organizes a team to analyze the company’s reasons for the proposed rate increase and negotiate a counteroffer. Con Edison representatives
said the company plans to use the increased revenue for several capital projects that would benefit its customers and increase employee safety. Con Edison President Craig Ivey said in a released statement, “We plan to implement a five-year smart meter modernization program that will reduce operating costs while significantly improving customer service and outage response.” These smart meters would be part of what the company is calling Advanced Metering Infrastructure, which would allow Con Edison to operate certain procedures—including assessing outages and turning on power for new customers— remotely. Last year, Con Edison applied to raise rates on electric delivery in 2016, but the DPS denied the request. Con Edison has not increased delivery rates since 2012. Con Edison estimates that the average residential consumer in Westchester uses about 450 kWh of electricity per month, a usage that would see a rate increase of $6.25. Residential gas usage, averaging about 100 therms per month in the county, would increase by nearly $11 monthly. The hearings are scheduled on Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 22 at 4:30 p.m. The first hearing will be held at the DPS office at 90 Church St. in Manhattan and the second will be held at the Yonkers Public Library at 1 Larkin Center. The Public Service Commission and Con Edison have arranged an initial meeting to begin settlement negotiations for the morning of June 23. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
2 • The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016
June 17, 2016 • ThE hARRISON REvIEw • 3
Save the Sound seeks participation for water testing By ANGELA JORDAN For the fourth consecutive year, Save the Sound is hosting its water quality monitoring training sessions again this summer. According to Tracey Brown, the director of Western Sound programs, the purpose of the program is to give citizens the opportunity to participate in sampling studies that are used to persuade elected officials to invest more in water infrastructure, while simultaneously informing residents of the true quality of their local waters. “This program really focuses on bacteria contamination and what we’re trying to do is figure out where updated structure investments need to be made, or where animal waste is,” Brown said, “because we want to make sure the shoreline is safe to swim in.” The Westchester municipalities where Save the Sound conducts samplings include New Rochelle, Pelham, Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Port Chester, Scarsdale, White
Plains and Mount Vernon. They have also extended their services out to Greenwich, Connecticut, and will begin testing at some sites on Long Island soon. In the summer of 2015, Save the Sound worked with 24 volunteers who collected roughly 400 water samples from 52 different sites in Westchester and Greenwich. They tested the water for Enterococcus, bacteria that indicates fecal contamination. After the results were collected, they then gave each site a “pass” or “fail” score based on safe swim criteria established by the states of New York and Connecticut. The 52 sites included rivers, embayments and shorelines. Of the three categories, rivers were the most contaminated waters, with a 79 percent fail rate, followed by shorelines, which had a 35 percent fail rate, and then embayments, which had a 34 percent fail rate. The sites with the highest levels of contamination were Mount Vernon, Pelham, Port Chester and White Plains, and the cleanest sites were in Larchmont and Green-
wich. Mamaroneck had sites ranging from the cleanest, the Mamaroneck Harbor, to one of the most contaminated, the Sheldrake River. Furthermore, according to Save the Sound, 51 of the testing sites indicated worsening water quality when compared to samples from 2014. Brown, however, said that there are usually specific causes for water contamination that can be remedied. Brown said that in Rye for example, some of the sanitary sewer lines are cracked, and therefore sewage overflows in manholes can cause water contamination, and that by pushing for state funding to update Rye’s sewer infrastructure, the city could significantly reduce the bacteria in bodies of water like Playland Lake and Beaver Swamp Brook. The first testing dates for water quality monitoring training sessions were in Mamaroneck on June 6 and June 7, but Brown said that there will likely be more available training session in a few weeks if there is a demand for it.
This map indicates all of the sites tested by Save the Sound during the summer of 2015. Green indicates that the site passes safe swim criteria; orange is a failure; red is a failure by 10 times or more; and gray indicates that not enough data was collected to calculate an average.
“We’re trying to drum up some new people to volunteer,” Brown said. “We’ll add more [training dates] depending on interest.”
Save the Sound’s Westchester office is located at 545 Tompkins Ave. in Mamaroneck, and Brown said that locals who are
interested in attending a training session should contact Peter Linderoth at plinderoth@ savethesound.org.
4 • The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016
What’s going on... Harrison Public Library
Visit harrisonpl.org for more information on events and programs at the Halperin building and the West Harrison branch.
Art exhibit: Musart Joan Lengel’s art exhibition “Musart” is open in the in the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. Lengel uses music as an inspiration for her mixedmedia artwork, and many of her pieces pay homage to great artists of the past. Her work will be on display through June 30. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, call 8350324 or visit harrisonpl.org.
Tech Ed: Android Phones Learn the basics and beyond about Android phones during this tech workshop on Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. Participants are welcome to bring their devices and instructor Edwin Cheung will answer questions, review settings go over other options of the device. This workshop
is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more information or to register for this workshop, call 835-0324.
niques of meditation, and will give useful direction to advanced meditators. This program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
Adult Coloring
Great Decisions Discussion: Climate geopolitics
Adults ages 18 and older who are having a stressful week are welcome to come to the West Harrison branch on Saturday, June 18 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to unwind with some coloring books, colored pencils and relaxing music. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Sharp Again Naturally: Preserving Memory, Restoring Minds This lecture, given on Monday, June 20 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the West Harrison branch, will discuss dementia and its symptoms. Research has indicated that nine out of 10 patients who suffer from dementia have had their symptoms reversed, and this lecture will discuss how this was possible. Attending this lecture will help adults earn 10,000 bonus “steps” toward their 500K goal for the Adult Summer Reading Program. This lecture is free and open to the public, and registration is not required. For more information or to register for the lecture, call 948-2092.
Meditation: Deepening your Practice Join Renate Lanotte on Monday, June 20 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Richard Halperin Memorial Building for a guided meditation class that will demonstrate the most natural and effective tech-
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children using 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.
The library will host a discussion about foreign affairs and current events concerning climate geopolitics on Tuesday, June 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.at the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. The talk will be moderated by Joan Katen, a leading expert on Middle Eastern politics, a writer, and a distinguished adjunct professor at Pace University. The discussion series will end on July 12 with a talk on Cuba and the U.S. Participants are welcome to attend one or all of the sessions in the series. The book “Great Decisions 2016” will be available for participants to use before the discussion, with additional reading materials available at fpa.org/great_decisions/?act=gd_topics. This discussion is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more information or to register for this discussion, call 835-0324.
The E. J. Feeley Harrison High School Student Aid Fund awards monies to those graduates who are accepted in accredited colleges. The Feeley Fund is short of its goal to meet the financial needs of their eligible youth. The Feeley Fund, established in 1967, is a continuation of the Harrison High School Scholarship Fund begun in 1947. Since then, more than 1,000 students have received over $550,000 in financial aid. Checks made payable to the Feeley Fund and sent to Feeley Fund, Harrison High School, 255 Union Ave., Harrison, NY 10528 will “Make the Difference.” For more information, call Lola Geiger at 939-7066.
Scrabble Club
Harrison Democratic Committee
The library’s new Scrabble club will meet on Tuesday, June 21 from noon to 2 p.m. at the West Harrison branch. Adults are welcome to join the club, which is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more information or to register to join the club, call 948-2092.
Workouts at Fenom Fitness This workout, sponsored by the Richard Halperin Memorial Building, will be held on Wednesday, June 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Fenom Fitness, located at 67 Grant Ave. in Harrison. The workout will consist of cardio, core and strength exercises to help adults registered for the Summer Reading Step Challenge hit their goal and improve their overall fitness. Each workout is tailored to target personal goals in fitness and performance. For more information or to sign up for the workout event, call 835-0324.
Pretend play and dress up time On Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the West Harrison branch. For ages 1 to 6. This free dress up playtime allows children to run wild with their imagination and fun costumes to be anywhere and anyone: a cowboy, a princess, a superhero, or all three.
The Feeley Fund Make the Difference
Call for councilmembers The Harrison Democratic Committee is now interviewing anyone interested in running for councilmember of the Harrison Town Council. For more information, email huskydems@gmail. com with your name and contact information and someone will get in touch to set up an appointment.
Harrison Recreation For further information, call the Leo Mintzer Center at 949-5265 or the Sollazzo Center at 6703179. You may also call the Harrison Recreation hotline at 670-3039. Most applications are available on harrison-ny.gov, unless stated otherwise, where you can also view the summer recreation brochure.
TGA Golf Camp Come out after the Harrison Recreation Day Comps and learn how to play golf with Coach Paul over the summer. All equipment is provided. Program is on Thursdays starting July 7 through Aug. 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Park, located at 182 Crystal St. in Harrison. Price is $329. Registration is done online at playtga.com/southernwestchester. For questions, call Sean at 917-685-1961.
Adult Summer Reading Walk
Football Position Clinics
This year’s Adult Summer Reading program’s theme is “Exercise Your Mind and Body,” and adults in the program will be taking their weekly walk on Wednesday, June 22 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. starting and ending at the West Harrison branch. Adults can earn up to 2,000 steps toward their step goal by attending this walk. Adult are welcome to bring audiobooks to listen to during the walk. This program is free and open to the public, and registration is required. For more information or to register for the event, call 948-2092.
For grades three to eight. These clinics will present the non-contact skills and drills for future Husky football players. Drills will be led by the Harrison football coaching staff and modeled by the varsity football team. The focus of each drill will be movement and technique that will become the foundation of football development within the youth program. Clinics will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays on July 12, 14, 19 and 21 and Aug. 2, 4 and 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Harrison High School field.
Chloe’s Sign & Play
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.
On Fridays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. Give your child the gift of language. This is a fun class where families can learn to communicate with their pre-verbal
June 17, 2016 • ThE hARRISON REvIEw • 5
Rye police to consider using body cameras By FRANCO FINO Staff writer Over the past year, a growing number of police departments in Westchester County and beyond have started equipping their officers with body cameras. The Rye Police Department and the city’s elected officials are now considering becoming a part of the nationwide trend and implementing a body camera program of their own. According to Rye City Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran, the Westchester County district attorney is preparing to allocate $12,000 to the city Police Department for the purchase of the body camera technology. City officials have started seeking out the advice of neighboring areas such as the village of Rye Brook Police Department, which currently has such a program in place. Other municipalities in Westchester that have also started similar body camera programs for their police offi-
cers include the White Plains, Greenburgh and Peekskill police departments. “I think it’s very useful technology, not only in terms of promoting transparency in what police do every day, but also from an officer safety standpoint, [as it can] capture video of a crime occurring in progress,” Corcoran said.
The city of Rye Police Department is considering using body cameras, following a growing trend in Westchester County and nationwide. Pictured is a model made by Vievu, the Vievu LE4.
According to Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano, city officials have started researching how a policy of body cameras could impact the community. “There’s a lot of homework that has to be done before implementing that type [of] policy,” he said. Serrano indicated that some of this work would consist of researching data storage requirements, which would not be covered in the county funding stream. “We are always welcome to new ideas,” Serrano said. “If it helps protect the public safety of the community, and is a benefit to everybody, of course we will go along with it, but we haven’t gotten to that point yet.” Corcoran mentioned that the Police Department will likely roll out a pilot program to test the body cameras, but will first assemble a committee of officers to organize the process. While police vehicles are already equipped with cameras, the police commissioner discussed how body cameras
This police officer, from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California, has a body camera on his chest. The Westchester County district attorney is preparing to allocate $12,000 to the city of Rye Police Department to purchase the technology. Photos courtesy Vievu
could be more useful. “You’re not limited in terms of a camera shot,” Corcoran said. “A vehicle camera only has one focus on one very specific area. A body camera captures an entire mobile video.”
With a potential decision to purchase the devices approaching, one definitive opinion that Serrano and Corcoran share is that the viewpoint of the public matters a great deal. Francis Harrigan, a longtime
city resident, said, “I think it’s a good idea. I think they can be useful, especially if people are going to allege that a policeman did something wrong.” CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
6 • The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016
Harrison REVIEW
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FDA ban puts vape shops in danger
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 Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Suzy Berkowitz ext. 30, suzy@hometwn.com
As part of the FDA’s new regulation, each e-liquid sold at White Plains Vapors on Mamaroneck Avenue would need to be registered for federal approval, costing retailers a steep fee for each product. Photos/Suzy Berkowitz
Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com
By SUZY BERKOwITZ Editorial Assistant
Education Reporter | Sarah Varney ext. 17, sarah@hometwn.com
A federal regulation published by the FDA on May 10 classifying all vapor products as tobacco products may soon have a large impact on so-called vape shops acrossthe country. The regulation, which is now included in the FDA’s Federal Register, deems all tobacco products—which now include vapor products—subject to the Tobacco Control Act, a law that gives the FDA the authority to regulate these products as it sees fit. All components of a vaporizer or e-cigarette—including eliquids, atomizers, batteries, cartridges, accessories, digital settings, tank systems, flavoring and programmable software—will be classified as tobacco products, subjecting them to individual regulation. The regulation also classifies hookah products and cigars as tobacco products, and subjects them to the Tobacco Control Act as well. The regulation goes into effect on Aug. 8, 2016, and will require all components of tobacco products manufactured after Feb. 15, 2007 to be registered on an individual basis for federal approval within two years. According to Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, the application process—which requires the submission of all product ingredients, product listings and manufacturing establishments—would cost an estimated $1 million per application. According to Cheryl Richter, owner of the CV Vape Den by Cherry Vape in Port Chester, the new FDA regulation puts her business, among many others, in danger of closing.
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Having been manufacturing e-cigarettes and vaporizers for the past eight years, Richter has approximately 75 separate e-liquids on the market, a registration process that would cost her an estimated $9 billion in total. “A lot of these vape shops were created by entrepreneurs who became businesspeople, so this regulation would really be wiping out the entire market,” she said. Vapors, which gained their first patent in China in 2004 and were introduced to the United States in 2007, have since brought in $1.7 billion in revenue nationwide, according to the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, with approximately 7,000 stores dedicated to the smoking alternative industry throughout the country. According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2014, nearly 9 million adults across the country use e-cigarettes as an alternative to traditional smoking. Because e-cigarettes and vapor products are available in varying amounts of nicotine, including none at all, users are able to customize and regulate their nicotine intake, which helps them wean off of it. Spike Babaian, another veteran of the business, opened New York City’s first vape store, Vape NY, in 2011, and currently maintains three locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. A former smoker, Babaian told the Review she turned to e-cigarettes in 2008 as a healthier alternative. Founder of the annual convention Vapefest and the National Vapers Club, a consumerbased organization about the vaping industry, Babaian said the stipulations of the FDA’s new regulation make it impossible for small business owners, who can’t afford to register each
individual product for approval, to comply. She said even if vapor manufacturers and retailers could pay the registration fee, they are not guaranteed approval by the FDA. “This ban would hand over the market to big tobacco companies because they’re the only ones that can afford to register their products,” Babaian said. The regulation has been eliciting feedback from outside the industry as well. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf on
products,” Johnson asks. While Johnson criticizes the regulation, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, applauds it, saying that nicotine and tobacco exposure is a threat to public health. “An estimated 2 million American high school students have now used e-cigarettes,” Lowey said in a released statement. “Children should not have access to these dangerous products, and adults should be aware of health risks associated with their use via new warning labels.” Although the national age to legally purchase a vapor product is 18, some lawmakers across the country have already tried to steer youth away
[This] was obviously an effort to “ wipe us out completely, and now we’re in the fight of our lives. They would basically be putting e-liquid manufacturers in the position of committing a federal offense within the next two years.
”
– ChERYL RIChTER, owner of Cv vape Den behalf of the Committee of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs questioning the reasoning behind the FDA’s decision to implement a screening process on e-liquids. Johnson mentioned the negative affect that the regulation will have on small businesses, and the reliance on traditional cigarettes that the regulation may force vapor users to return to. “Has the FDA considered the unintended consequences if decreased access to e-cigarettes leads to increased consumption of traditional cigarette and tobacco
from traditional cigarettes by raising the age limit. In 2013, former New York City Mayor Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican, passed legislation banning the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21; in 2016, California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, did the same. With concern over the growing popularity of vapor products among young people, Richter and Babaian agree teenagers aren’t their target audience. They also suspect there to be ulterior motives behind the FDA’s decision to
enact this regulation, considering its financial favorability toward big tobacco companies. Since the formation of the Master Settlement Agreement in November 1998—a deal struck between the five largest tobacco companies and 46 state attorney generals—the tobacco industry has been required to pay the participating states an annual sum of $10 billion indefinitely. According to Richter and Babaian, the rising popularity of vapor products has negatively impacted the revenue of big tobacco companies, putting states’ annual payout in jeopardy. “[This] was obviously an effort to wipe us out completely, and now we’re in the fight of our lives,” Richter said. “They would basically be putting e-liquid manufacturers in the position of committing a federal offense within the next two years. We’re not calling it a regulation; we’re calling it a de facto ban.” With the regulation in place, a growing community of vapers may be forced to find an alternative to their alternative. Richter said vapor products are so successful because they work effectively. She said e-cigarettes’ ability to mimic the physical and psychological habits of traditional smoking and allow the user to regulate their nicotine intake eventually helps them kick the habit completely. “I was a smoker for 32 years and I tried the patch, the gum and giving it up cold turkey,” Richter said, “and this was the only thing that worked. We’ve had so many stories of people who had been smokers for 50 years and quit because they started vaping. It’s life-changing.” CONTACT: suzy@hometwn.com
Vaporizers and e-cigarettes have become one of the most popular alternatives to traditional smoking because it mimics the physical and psychological habits of smoking. Vape retailers say their target audience consist of longtime smokers who want to quit but don’t know how.
June 17, 2016 • ThE hARRISON REvIEw • 7
County labor union rallies for new deal A local chapter of the Civil Service Employees Association Inc. held two rallies in front of the Westchester County government’s Edwin G. Michaelian Office Building, located at 148 Martine Ave. in White Plains, on June 7. The union, which represents more than 3,000 employees across multiple county departments, was protesting the lack of
a new labor contract for nearly five years, the longest the union has ever gone without a new agreement in place. The last time the union and the county met to negotiate toward a new contract was in 2014, when CSEA 9200 walked away from the bargaining table following a fact-finder’s recommendations that, if accepted,
CSEA 9200 President Kwabena Manu addresses union members at a rally held outside the Westchester County government building on June 7. The union, representing county employees, has been without a contract for more than 1,600 days.
would lead union members to contribute toward their health care, along with accepting a twoyear wage freeze. “We walked away from the last contract because if we had taken it, it means we’d be taking money out of the pockets of our members,” said Kwabena Manu, president of CSEA 9200. Currently, the union continues to operate under the parameters of the previous contract, which expired on Dec. 31, 2011. The first rally took place from noon to 2 p.m., and another took place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. At the noon gathering, Manu spoke to around 200 union members gathering with custom T-shirts and placards. “We are not here to insult anyone in the county [government],” Manu said. “We are just demanding what we deserve…. Just come to the table with a fair and equitable contract.” However, Manu told members present at the rally that the time has come for the union to pay into their health benefits. “The county is not going to give us any raises if we don’t pay
CSEA 9200 union members shout, “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!” during a rally on Martine Avenue in White Plains. The last time the union held negotiations with county officials was in 2014. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa
into [them],” he said. “But I can promise you that by the end of this year, we will have a contract. If we don’t, vote me out.” Tracey Gamble, a Connecticut resident that has worked in
the county Department of Environmental Facilities for 30 years, said the cost of living is always going up, and that five years without a contract is too long.
“I have three kids in college…. We’re not getting nothing,” he said. “When we speak on it, they [the county government] get mad. It’s crazy.” -Reporting by Sibylla Chipaziwa
8 • The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016
Replacing the doughboy and summer events Scarsdale Medical Group offers weight loss help HARRISON HAPPENINGS Mayor Ron Belmont
As many of you may be aware, Harrison’s military statue of the World War I doughboy soldier fell from its concrete base in Ma Riis Park and broke into numerous fragments. Cracks and physical wear and tear plagued the 5-foottall sculpture and strong winds recently contributed to its collapse. The town/village of Harrison is currently in the process of determining the best way to replace the fallen doughboy. Sculptors, and related specialists in the field of military monuments, are being consulted. Upon completion, the newly replaced statue of the doughboy will be unveiled in a rededication ceremony in Ma Riis Park. The day and time of the ceremony is to be determined. With summer right around the corner, you may want to make plans for visiting our town pools. The 2016 pool schedule is as follows: Both the West Harrison
Pool Complex (located at 9 Casarella Way, phone: 358-4333) and the Bernie Guanini Brentwood Pool and Park (located on Adelphi Avenue, phone: 751-8222) are currently open on the weekends from noon to 6 p.m. During the week of June 20, the pools will be open daily from noon to 6 p.m. From June 27 to Aug. 21, the weekday hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekend hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests may accompany ID card holders. For fee schedules and additional information, visit harrison-ny.gov or call your neighborhood pool. Magic Box Productions and Harrison Public Library are presenting two exciting summer programs, starting with a trip through Harrison’s history. During this Community Documentary mini-camp (for ages 12 and up), students will explore Harrison’s unique past and present as they create their own original documentary videos. The workshop will be held from Monday, July 18 to Thursday, July 21 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be a culminating
event on July 21 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., when participants will share their videos with invited friends and family. Magic Box Productions and Harrison Public Library will also present the Book Trailer mini-camp. Students ages 10 and up will have the opportunity to choose among three fiction books from their summer reading list and learn how to make fun videos of their favorite stories. This workshop will be held on Monday, Aug. 22 to Thursday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be a culminating event on Aug. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., when participants will share their videos with invited friends and family. To register, contact the library at 835-0324 or visit harrisonpl. org for more information. The next Lunch with the Mayor is on Friday, June 17, and I will be at The Cobblestone, located at 620 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase. 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.
Scarsdale Medical Group is pleased to announce that its summer weight loss program and education sessions will begin on Monday, July 11. Facilitated by the nutritionists of Scarsdale’s Nutrition Center, the team of experts will provide guidance during each participant’s weight loss journey. The 10-week program will offer participants weekly weighins, food and activity tracking logs, assistance in setting attainable goals and a series of educational topics that include plateau busting techniques; strategies while on vacation; mindless eating; exercise tips; strategic snacking tips; dining out without disaster; emotional eating; savvy supermarket shopping and the essentials of an effective weight loss plan. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
more than 34.9 percent of U.S. adults are obese. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. “The goal of our weight loss education program is achievement of weight loss through modification of diet, exercise and eating behaviors in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Scarsdale Medical Group Nutritionist Elizabeth DeRobertis said. “Whether you need to lose 50 pounds or those stubborn last five pounds, the healthcare professionals at the Nutrition Center will help you achieve your weight loss goals.” The cost of the program is $250 and online pre-registration is required. Spaces are limited and registration is required. For more information or to register for the class, visit scarsdalemedical.com/ nutrition. (Submitted)
SCHOOL NEWS?
ContaCt oUR EDUCatIon REpoRtER
Weight loss program and education session schedule: Evening Group (new members and alumni group) First session: Monday, July 11 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. 600 Mamaroneck Ave., third floor, Harrison Daytime Group (new members and alumni group) First session: Thursday, July 14 11 a.m. to noon (alumni group) noon to 1 p.m. (new members) 600 Mamaroneck Ave., third floor, Harrison Weekend group First session: Sunday, July 17 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. (alumni group) 10 a.m to 11 a.m. (new members) 600 Mamaroneck Ave, third floor, Harrison (enter through the side entrance)
sarah varney
sarah@hometwn.com
Purchase receives grant for STEM students SUNY Purchase College is pleased to announce the formation of the Purchase College MARC U-STAR Honors Program, a new initiative made possible by a five-year grant of more than $1.3 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIGMS, part of the National Institutes of Health. Under the direction of Dr. Karen Singer-Freeman and Dr. Linda Bastone, the MARC USTAR program will develop the academic, social and economic capital of underrepresented STEM students interested in pursuing careers in the biomedical sciences. Purchase College joins 53 other universities across the country, including four in New York, that currently have MARC U-STAR programs. “The MARC U-STAR program aims to improve the participation of underrepresented
groups in biomedical sciences,” said Dr. Alison Gammie, director of the NIGMS Division of Training, Workforce Development and Diversity. “This undergraduate program promotes increased research training and mentoring opportunities, supports students in their pursuit of the Ph.D. and helps build the next generation of biomedical science leaders.” The Purchase MARC USTAR Honors Program will prepare students for success by providing research opportunities, scholarships and professional development. The program will improve STEM education for all students by providing faculty with training in culturally sensitive pedagogy and supporting curriculum development. Dr. Bastone, the chair of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, said, “We look for-
ward to finding new talent and encouraging a diverse group of students to benefit from our excellent science programs.” Dr. Singer-Freeman, an associate professor of psychology, said, “The program will maximize student-faculty interaction, minimize the presentation of science as impersonal and competitive, and provide the rigor necessary to prepare students for graduate study.” Purchase College President Thomas J. Schwarz said, “We’re grateful to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for its support. In addition to helping students gain admission to and thrive in STEM doctorial programs, the grant will provide faculty members with pedagogical training, thereby improving STEM education at Purchase for years to come.” (Submitted)
BURGER BLAST
June 17, 2016 • ThE hARRISON REvIEw • 9
Pow Burger, on Main Street in New Rochelle, serves up a Mexican BLT burger with tomatoes, mayonnaise, a Mexican-style chimichurri and agaveglazed bacon. Photo/Suzy Berkowitz
More than meats the eye By SUZY BERKOwITZ Editorial Assistant Attendees at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla ate and drank until the cows came home. On Thursday, June 9, Westchester Magazine’s fifth annual Burger and Beer Blast event, which was part of the monthly magazine’s sixth annual weeklong Wine and Food Festival, brought out a record number of almost 3,000 visitors to sample slider-sized patties from vendors across the county and cast their vote for Westchester’s best burger. After a warm welcoming from Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who referred to the
event as the reason why “Westchester has become a destination for foodies,” 32 participating restaurants, four food trucks and two bakeries served the masses, all hoping to boost their clientele, gain exposure and place in this year’s competition. “This is a great event, and some restaurants have been coming back year after year,” said Jennifer D’Ambrosio, Westchester Magazine’s director of marketing. “My favorite part is the friendly competition.” Barbara Glus, manager of Piper’s Kilt on White Plains Road in Eastchester, said the restaurant has been participating in the event for the past four years. She
Attendees at the blast gamble at the Empire City Yonkers Raceway tent, which offered games of blackjack and Russian roulette. This was Empire City’s first year at the event.
said they continue to return to the blast in an effort to reach a consumer base they wouldn’t otherwise have. Showcasing a classic cheeseburger with sauteed onions, Piper’s Kilt snagged third place in this year’s best burger competition, an honor Glus said the 37-year-old restaurant is used to receiving. Having placed within the top three since they started participating in the event, Piper’s Kilt was also awarded Westchester Magazine’s Best of Westchester burger recognition in 2015, an online readers’ choice contest created by the magazine. Another contender at this year’s blast was the Rye Roadhouse on High Street in Rye, which has been participating in the event since its inception. No stranger to acknowledgement,
More than 30 chefs and restaurateurs from across Westchester gather at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla to show off their skills and broaden their client base.
this New Orleans-influenced eatery was also recognized in Westchester Magazine’s 2015 Best of Westchester contest for their fried chicken. Giving customers a taste of their blackened beignet burger topped with smoked Gouda cheese and a Creole rémoulade, Kevin Campbell, co-owner and manager, said he made sure to keep the sliders simple to appeal to the masses. “The event was excellent; it was by far the largest crowd we’ve ever seen,” he said. “We go to build our business and bring in new customers. We got some good feedback.” Campbell said the weekends following the event often bring in new diners who sampled a bite at the festival and are interested in trying the rest of the menu. Although the Rye Roadhouse didn’t place within the top three in this year’s burger competition, they’re confident they did well. Also trying to take home a piece of the pie was Polpettina, an Italian eatery with locations on Larchmont Avenue in Larchmont and Fisher Avenue in Eastchester. Although Polpettina is known for their pizza, co-owner Kyle Inserra said the restaurant participates in the event to show clients that they don’t have any beef with the idea of cooking burgers. Grilling up a classic patty topped with cheddar cheese and
house-made tomato jam on a potato bun, Inserra said although the restaurant has been open for the past six years, gaining more exposure and expanding a client base is always helpful. He also said the event gives restaurateurs the chance to get to know each other. “There are so many of these events in the city, but they’re so rare in Westchester,” he said. “I love spending time with other chefs and getting to taste their food.” Inserra said Polpettina has only attended the blast twice, taking a break in between their last showing, and returning this year to find the event’s consumer base exponentially larger than before. D’Ambrosio said the blast has grown so quickly because Westchester Magazine makes sure to keep the event new and exciting
year after year. This year, Empire City Yonkers Raceway attended for the first time, occupying a tent full of blackjack and Russian rourou lette tables for guests to enjoy. From gambling to the grill, there was something for everyone at this year’s blast. Taking home the crown for best burger was renowned chef Peter Kelly’s rib-eye-brisket patty, topped with a melted pepper jack and cheddar sauce, spicy cherry peppers and lardoons on a delicate pretzel bun. Kelly, of X20 Xavier’s on the Hudson in Yonkers, has won the competition four out of five years. Coming in second was a burger made by Coals Pizza, which has one location in Port Chester and one in Bronxville. D’Ambrosio said although there was a competitive tone to the day’s events, she hopes the blast was just that for customers and restaurateurs alike. CONTACT: suzy@hometwn.com
Chef Peter Kelly, of X20 Xavier’s on the Hudson in Yonkers, serves customers at Westchester Magazine’s Beer and Burger Blast. Kelly’s burger has been voted best at the blast four out of the last five years. Photos courtesy Facebook
10 • The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016
June 17, 2016 • ThE hARRISON REvIEw • 11
My brother from another planet RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
Solomon Feuerwerker grew up as an alien. Not “alien” as in “illegal immigrant.” Alien as in from another planet. That planet was Williamsburg, Brooklyn. While many people in Williamsburg lead lives most of us can relate to, Solomon was the youngest of 11 children in an ultra-orthodox Jewish family. The religious sect he grew up in, a group called the Satmar Hasidim, believes in large families and distrusts the modern world. Members wear distinctive clothing—the men are in black suits, white shirts and side curls—and speak the traditional hybrid German/Hebrew/Slavic language of Yiddish. They do not mingle with outsiders. They do not watch any media. Boys like Solomon go to sex-segregated schools and are forbidden to study almost anything other than religion. No algebra. No biology. No non-Jewish studies beyond what a fourth- or fifth-grader would get at public school. Which is why it’s all the more remarkable that about a week ago, Solomon stood up in front of a crowd of 300 and announced that he had been accepted to medical school. The crowd went wild. This was the annual downtown gala sponsored by Footsteps, the organization that helped Solomon and hundreds of others find their way out of ultra-orthodoxy to lead lives of their choosing. Footsteps is not anti-religion, it is pro-freedom. Its slogan is “Your life, your journey, your choice.” “Our core value is choice,” says Lani Santo, the executive
director. “We really help people think through the consequences of their various decisions.” Because people leaving ultra-orthodoxy are often shunned by the community they left behind, including their own families, Footsteps provides counseling, practical help and a home base for those who have lost their entire support system. The gala was organized to celebrate the milestones in the lives of Footsteps participants, since few had family members to cheer them on. Instead, the audience of Footsteps supporters whooped for a member who just got her first tech job, and another who just became an Uber driver. Several members had become engaged, provoking joyous applause. Then Solomon took the stage as the evening’s keynote speaker, and the audience sat in stunned silence as he told his story. “You need to understand just how insane it is for me to be here,” the 26-year-old began. “I grew up in a typically sized family in Williamsburg: I have 10 siblings. Exposure to the mainstream world is almost nonexistent. Some people say I’m an immigrant in my own country, but I prefer ‘alien.’ An immigrant might know about science and history and politics—an alien doesn’t. An immigrant has read books and watched TV—an alien hasn’t. An immigrant has spoken to people of the opposite sex without feeling like the world is about to end. An immigrant might be culturally unaware, but at the same time be an informed citizen of the world. An alien is just an alien and let me tell you, if an alien is going to successfully transition to immigrant, they need Footsteps.” Solomon heard about Footsteps through the grapevine as a teen. By then, he’d already been
sneaking off to the DVD store in the Puerto Rican part of his neighborhood and voraciously renting action flicks. These taught him colloquial English, and gave him direction: He wanted to be a cop, just like the guys in the movies. But then he went on a tour of Hunter College sponsored by Footsteps and his life changed. Classes in art and sociology! Laboratories! Students of every stripe talking, studying, laughing together. Footsteps was founded by a Hunter student, Malkie Schwartz, who’d made her way out of ultra-orthodoxy and wanted to help others who chose that path. Solomon enrolled and immediately floundered. “I had never tackled the concept of the atom, or seen a periodic table of the elements,” he later recalled. “I did not even know that all living things were made up of cells.” He had to make up for lost time, and at first, he couldn’t. He was in danger of failing, but reached out for help. And by the next year, he rose to the top of his class in chemistry. He continued to climb, getting A’s in his coursework while working part time, and becoming a mentor to others following in his, well, footsteps. He began volunteering at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and doing genetics research. And last year, he did it. He graduated with a degree in sociology. He put off applying to med school, however, to stay on for a year at Hunter, teaching organic chemistry. Now Solomon is heading to Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Yes, he will be an immigrant from New York, but not an alien. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Town/Village of Harrison
Official Newspaper Harrison Schools
Women in Innovation panel to be held Women in Innovation, WIN, a networking group for women working in innovative careers across any industry, will hold its inaugural event, a panel discussion on Women in Emerging Digital Leadership, at MasterCard, located at 2000 Purchase St. in Purchase on Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m. The event, co-sponsored by the MasterCard Women’s Leadership Network, will tap into leading digital media executives for insights on career path planning and how to leverage existing networks to uncover and activate new opportunities. Panelists for the one-hour session include: • Tina Exarhos, chief marketing officer of Now This is Media, ad-
visor at Lerer Hippeau Ventures and former chief marketing officer of MTV Networks • Fran Hauser, a digital and venture capitalist partner at Rothenberg Ventures and former president of Time Inc. Digital • Tiffany Pham, founder and chief executive officer of Mogul • Johanna Zeilstra, entrepreneur and founder of Womensdebate.org • Elisa Romm, executive vice president of B2B marketing at MasterCard Co-founded by Grace Fedele and Suzanna Keith, Women in Innovation is a community focused organization dedicated to elevating women in Westchester and Fairfield counties who are pushing the boundaries of
innovation and accelerating the pace of change across a range of industries. In hopes of empowering women in innovation and educating women with the latest innovation and technology trends, WIN will host events that feature top speakers and great networking opportunities. Participants will be able to expand their innovative boundaries and stay at the forefront of change by attending the Women in Innovation’s panel discussion. For more information or to register to attend the discussion, contact Keith at skconcepts@ hotmail.com or 925-0753, or contact Jenn Howland at jennhowland13@gmail.com or 9607521. (Submitted)
Clarissa is a beautiful torbie with plush fur. She loves being pet but isn’t the biggest fan of being held. Her meows tell you when she wants attention. Clarissa is the Mother Goose among her foster siblings. She also is a fierce hunter of catnip mice—she attacks them then runs around the house making this funny noise as if to say, “Hey, look what I found!” Clarissa needs to go to a home with an experienced cat owner and with another young cat in the household. She is microchipped, spayed, in excellent health and up to date with all vaccinations. Her adoption donation is $80. To meet Clarissa, contact Larchmont Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or 8354133 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
12 • The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016
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Notice of formation of Zephyr Video Productions LLC. Arts of Org filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 06/03/2016. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 70 West Street, Apt. A8, Harrison, NY 10528. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Harrison Central School District hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for the following: RFB #16/17-15 Landscaping Supplies Bids shall be submitted in sealed envelopes marked “R FB #16/17-15: Landscaping Supplies” on the outside. Bids will be received until 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, 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) 8352715, 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 Monday, June 13, 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: June 13, 2016
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EDuCATION Onteora Central School District is seeking the following positions: Various Coaching positions, Network Support Specialist, Director of Athletics, PE, Health and Dean of Students Go to www.onteora.k12.ny.us/positions to see more information and to apply.
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NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Harrison Central School District hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for the following: RFB #16/17-13 Fencing – New and Repairs Bids shall be submitted in sealed envelopes marked “RFB #16/17-13: Fencing – New and Repairs” on the outside. Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, 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) 8352715, 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 Monday, June 13, 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: June 13, 2016 NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Harrison Central School District hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for the following: RFB #16/17-14 Roofing Services Bids shall be submitted in sealed envelopes marked “RFB #16/17-14: Roofing Services” on the outside. Bids will be received until 2:15 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, 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 Monday, June 13, 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: June 13, 2016
NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Harrison Central School District hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for the following: RFB #16/17-16 Masonry Supplies Bids shall be submitted in sealed envelopes marked “RFB #16/17-16: Masonry Supplies” on the outside. Bids will be received until 2:45 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, 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 Monday, June 13, 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: June 13, 2016
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June 17, 2016 • ThE hARRISON REvIEw • 13
The fun in NBA conspiracies lIVE MIKE Mike Smith
I don’t mind saying it: I love conspiracy theories. Chemtrails, CIA mind control, the Illuminati “relocating” recently deceased celebrities to private, tropical islands. It’s not that I necessarily believe the tin-foil hat folks, I just love hearing their takes. But somewhere mixed in with the crowd that vigilantly dissected the Zapruder film to “prove” that the JFK assassination was actually perpetrated by a nefarious cabal of black hole-worshipping space men, is the group that turned their trained eye toward Left Shark’s freemason symbolism during Katy Perry’s Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance. Of course, I’m talking about sports-truthers. On Sunday, prior to Game 5 of the NBA Finals, it was announced that Golden State
Warriors’ forward Draymond Green would serve a one-game suspension after being retroactively assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for attempting a low-blow on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James in the waning moments of Game 4. Without Green in the lineup on Monday, the Cavaliers avoided elimination with a decisive 112-97 win, sending the series back to Cleveland for a Game 6. To the untrained observer, it seemed like the NBA had made an objective, fair and rational decision. Green is a well-documented agitator on the court, and over the course of the playoffs, has demonstrated a propensity for targeting opponents’ groins, either with his fists or his feet. But to those who are really in the know, what had happened was clear: the NBA was just looking for a way to extend the series. The avalanche of takes started soon after Green’s suspension was announced on Sunday. “The NBA is just looking for
more advertising dollars,” some fans screamed. “A LeBron win is better for the league’s brand!” others opined. Even if the conspiracy theorists can’t agree on exactly why the NBA chose to suspend Green, it’s clear that there is some sort of pro-Cavaliers agenda being passed down from the league office. Of course, when it comes to sports conspiracies, the NBA has always been fertile ground. There is the famed “frozen draft lottery envelope” theory that posits the league maneuvered to ensure that Patrick Ewing ended up on the Knicks in 1985. There are those who believe that Michael Jordan’s first retirement and subsequent baseball career was the result of him being caught by the league for betting on games. Heck, any time a team loses a hard-fought playoff series, there are countless fans who point to unbalanced officiating as part
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LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow Mike Smith @harrisonreview for Mike’s live, in-game action updates
On Sunday, June 13, the NBA suspended Golden State Warriors’ star Draymond Green for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Unsurprisingly, the announcement gave rise to more NBA conspiracy theories. File photo
of a league mandate to help one team advance for some reason or another. Now, the Warriors-Cavs series is a little bit closer at 3-2, at press time, but just because Cleveland gets to head back to its home court doesn’t mean that
when everything is settled, the long-suffering city of Cleveland is going to be celebrating its first major sports title since 1946. More than likely, the Green suspension and the Warriors’ Game 5 loss is just a small speed bump on the road to a second-straight
championship for Golden State. But let’s face it: when you’ve had a series as devoid of drama as this one, maybe a little controversy is what’s best for business.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
14 • ThE The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016
Huskies eye 2017 By MIKE SMITh Sports Editor Harrison’s baseball season may have come to an end with a hardfought Class A semifinal loss to the eventual Section I champions from John Jay on May 25, but Huskies’ coach Marco DiRuocco said that what his team was able to accomplish this spring should set the tone for future members of the school’s program. Although the team will graduate several standouts, who were instrumental in this year’s run to the playoffs, DiRuocco believes that his returning players will come into 2017 eager to reach the same heights as this year’s squad. Harrison may have seemed like an unlikely playoff contender early in the season. After winning its first three contests of the year, the squad went through a mid-April swoon, dropping four straight games to fall below .500. But the Huskies rallied, winning eight of its last 11 regular season games and powering through to the Class A semifinal round. According to DiRuocco, those early growing pains set the stage for Harrison’s dogged run.
“It was unbelievable, it’s really what sports are all about,” the head coach said. “They went through a difficult stretch, and these young men could have packed it in, but they decided to step up as a team instead.” Prior to Harrison’s late-season winning streak, DiRuocco said, he knew the team had the on-field ability to compete for a section title, but he was still impressed with the way his team battled through adversity. “I knew the talent... was there; I knew we were capable of playing better baseball,” he said. “And when they started clicking, they just took the program and ran with it.” Much of Harrison’s success this year stemmed from the performance of Steven Pesce and Dean McCarthy, who gave Harrison two reliable front-of-therotation pitchers. With Pesce and McCarthy on top of their games, DiRuocco said the Huskies knew they had a chance to win every time out. “Coming into the season, we knew that we had those two solid arms, and both Steven and Dean did extremely well for us,” he
Steven Pesce delivers a strike against Yonkers during the first round of the Class A playoffs. Pesce and Dean McCarthy gave the Huskies a formidable starting rotation this year. Photo/Bobby Begun
SPORTS
said. “It always helps the rest of the team knowing that you have two guys who can go out and get it done.” That, combined with junior Daniel Klein’s return to the leadoff spot in the second half of the season, helped transform the Huskies into bona fide contenders. “We were a different lineup with him at the top,” DiRuocco said. “And we really started to get some timely hitting from a lot of different guys.” Although the Huskies will graduate seven seniors, including both Pesce and McCarthy, DiRuocco is confident that his returning players, including Klein, catcher Chris Gaeta, Scotty Lobel and Mike Hendler, have amassed enough experience this year to lead the Huskies next season. “It helps a lot for them to have that experience, for them to go through that tough schedule and battle every game,” the head coach said. “Hopefully, these guys are going to continue to work hard and carry this over into the future.”
Christos Siapanides chases down a Garnet baserunner. Photo/Mike Smith
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Dean McCarthy throws a pitch during an early-season game against Rye. McCarthy’s performance on the mound helped Harrison advance to the Class A semifinals last month. Photo/Mike Smith
Chris Gaeta connects with a pitch in the first round of the Class A tournament. The junior catcher should serve as one of Harrison’s veteran leaders in 2017. Photo/Bobby Begun
SPORTS
June 17, 2016 • ThE hARRISON REvIEw • 15
Hall of Fame inducts new class
From left, Seth Morris, Karen Trolio, Art Trolio Jr., and Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont. Photos/James Pero
Harrison alumni catch up while waiting for dinner and the presentation of awards.
On Friday, June 3, the Harrison Football Hall of Fame Committee held its annual induction dinner. The event, which took place at the Larchmont Shore Club, marked the eighth gathering of the group and several new entries into the high school’s Hall of Fame. This year, seven new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of ex-Huskies to 38, along with nine championship teams from the 87-year history of the Harrison High School football program. This year also marked the establishment of the “Troilo Family Scholarship Fund” awarded annually to a most deserving senior student/athlete in honor of the Troilo family, a name long synonymous with Huskies football. The 2016 recipient of the $4,000 scholarship was Jack Witte. As a senior, Witte, best exemplified a high level of character and success on the football field, in the classroom and community to recognize what Art Troilo Sr. and Art Troilo Jr. brought to the program over their 65 years of involvement, according to committee officials. A special recognition was also given to Al Muzzullo for supporting the Huskies’ program over the last 35-plus years.
Bill Crenson—alumni of 1950—receives a special distinction during the night’s ceremony.
-Review staff
2016
HARRISON HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Alumni Benjy Seckler, his wife Tracey, and their children.
The Coviello family wait for the night’s induction ceremonies to start.
Art Castelli (posthumously) Bill Crenson Jim Pauline Joe Cotroneo Benjy Seckler Gerald Coviello Andrew Weininger
1935 1950 1960 1964 1987 1991 2002
Guests socialize in front of a setting sun at the picturesque Larchmont Shore Club.
The newest generation of Harrison’s high school football stars also join the fun.
16 • The hARRISON RevIew • June 17, 2016