December 9, 2016

Harrison REVIEW THE

December 9, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 50 | www.harrisonreview.com

SUNY Purchase seeks $125K for substance abuse By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

On Dec. 4, children and parents from the town/village of Harrison gathered at Ma Riis Park for the second annual menorah and Christmas tree lighting. For coverage, see page 6. Photo/Corey Stockton

West Harrison library branch set to reopen its doors By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The West Harrison Branch of the Harrison Public Library will have a grand reopening event on Monday, Dec. 12, following a $250,000 renovation project which took nearly four months to complete. The library’s first operational day since mid-August entails a full schedule of events, beginning with a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Ron Belmont, followed by several activities geared toward children. At 4 p.m., the library staff will instruct a make-your-own paper house class, followed by a demonstration of the 3-D printer from the main library in down-

town Harrison. The West Harrison Branch, located at 2 Madison St. in West Harrison, has been under construction since Aug. 15 when crews began replacing carpeting and paint throughout the library. The crews also removed asbestos floor tiles that had been beneath the carpet, which had not originally been part of the plan in September, according to Robert Blake, president of the library’s board of trustees. The project was originally expected to be finished in midOctober; but the library had additional funds in its two-year capital improvements plan—a total of $250,000 which was appropriated for the West Harrison library renovations—so it

extended its plans to renovate another facet of the library, according to Galina Chernykh, the director of the Harrison library. “After we received bids, we had a little bit of funds left and we held meetings with the library board and the town board, and the decision was made that we would buy new furniture for the library,” Chernykh said. “So that was the delay.” The branch will also see a small addition to its technologies, as it has added new laptops, Apple desktop computers, and two new iPad tablets to its collection. The West Harrison library has undergone several phases of renovation over the last few years. Last year, the branch re-

ceived a $26,500 grant to replace its doors to increase energy efficiency and accessibility. The library also received two state grants in 2013: one for $15,000 to replace 20 windows for energy efficiency and another for $35,000 to upgrade its roof and air conditioning systems. Chernykh said she was excited about the new renovations. “It looks beautiful,” she said. “It’s bright and clean and spacious.” The branch will return to its normal hours after the reopening: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m on Mondays and Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

SUNY Purchase has applied for state funding to establish a program aimed at preventing underage drinking and substance abuse on campus, college officials said. According to Betsy Aldredge, a spokeswoman for the college, the Purchase-located school is seeking state funding administered through the New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to implement a potential abuse prevention program, as part of a recent plan announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, on Nov. 28. “In any way we can, we want to support students dealing with substance issues and, as a whole, support them academically and socially,” she said. As part of Cuomo’s $2.5 million initiative to fund SUNY and CUNY schools statewide, the state will award 20 colleges with $125,000 annually for five years to develop campus efforts to prevent drug and alcohol addiction. Further, the state is seeking to specifically grant the award to colleges aiming to curb prescription drug misuse and underage drinking. Cuomo’s initiative comes in wake of the tragic death of a 21-year-old Manhattanville College student. On Oct. 9, Robby Schartner was struck and killed by Emma Fox, of Rye, who was driving under the influence in the White Plains area. “Time after time, we have seen the reckless behavior, and bad decisions with often life-altering consequences that come with underage drinking,” Cuomo said. “This funding will build on our progress to prevent senseless tragedies and equip students with vital knowledge

to curb underage and binge drinking, and provide critical services to those at risk for addiction.” Aldredge told the Review that SUNY Purchase currently institutes an addiction help program through its wellness center, Wellness@Purchase. The program offers individual and group counseling for students seeking addiction recovery and help with stress management. The college also requires all first-year and transfer students to complete the interactive online AlcoholEdu and Haven programs, which assist schools in complying with the federal Department of Education General Administrative Regulations, a set of codes that establish administrative requirements for federal grants awarded to educational institutions. According to research conducted by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol is still the primary abused drug on college campuses across the country. The institution’s research estimates that more than 80 percent of college students drink alcohol nationwide. A recent study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that on an average day throughout the past year, 1.2 million of the 9 million full-time college students in the country drank alcohol, and 703,759 used marijuana. Further, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that one in four people ages 18 to 20 report using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. As of press time, the anticipated date for the announcement of the selected grant recipients is Feb. 22, 2017. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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December 9, 2016 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 3

State pushes new transparency law By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer A new law will make it more difficult for government agencies to hide information from the public. The law, which was proposed by state Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, in April, will limit the amount of

time which a government agency has to appeal a judge’s ruling on a Freedom of Information Law request, FOIL, to a higher court. Before the law was passed, an agency had up to nine months to appeal a judge’s ruling that records should be released, potentially delaying the appeals process in order to delay the release of information for as long as possible.

The new law, which passed unanimously in both legislative houses, cuts that deadline to 60 days to file appeal paperwork; it was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, on Nov. 28. “New Yorkers have the right to access information from state and local governments,” Buchwald said. “With this new

measure, we have empowered all New Yorkers in the name of government accountability and responsiveness.” In a released statement, Robert Freeman, executive director of the New York Committee on Open Government, said, “This measure will solve a problem involving the reality that access delayed is often access denied.” Freeman could not be reached for additional comment as of press time. This was not Buchwald’s first attempt to create a law that would expedite the FOIL process. He pushed for a similar bill in 2013 which passed through the state Assembly but did not even make it onto the state Senate floor; and he sponsored another similar bill last year which passed unanimously in both houses before being vetoed by the governor. In December 2015, Cuomo

struck down two laws related to the FOIL appeals process—including Buchwald’s law—and instead instituted an executive order directing state agencies to file appeals to judicial rulings on FOIL requests within 60 days. However, that order applied only to state agencies—not municipalities or local departments— and did not outline legal penalties for violating the order. State legislators, however, remain exempt from FOIL laws. The other law which Cuomo vetoed, proposed by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Scarsdale Democrat, would have mandated that government agencies reimburse attorneys’ fees to those who won FOIL-related lawsuits against the agency, an amendment to the current law which allows a judge to decide whether the agency is responsible for the filer’s legal fees. Buchwald told the Review

that he hopes the newest amendment to the state FOIL law will make it easier for lawmakers to push for transparency-related laws in the future. “One of my hopes is that by enacting this law it frees up opportunity for myself and others to continue working for improvements for the Freedom of Information Law,” he said. Buchwald said he has worked toward increasing government transparency since he first took office in 2013. “It takes a lot of persistence,” he said. “But that’s OK, because a lot of reporters and citizens have also shown a lot of persistence when trying to obtain public records.” According to the legislation, the law will take effect in early March 2017. Paulin could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Connect with us on Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a law that will substantially reduce the amount of time that a government agency has to appeal a judge’s ruling to disclose information via a Freedom of Information Law request. The law will apply beginning in March 2017. Photo courtesy Albany.edu

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What’s going on... Harrison Public Library

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

West Harrison Branch to reopen The West Harrison Branch of the Harrison Public Library will hold a reopening celebration on Monday, Dec. 12 at the newly renovated library, 2 Madison St. in West Harrison. Everyone is cordially invited to join in the festivities. The West Harrison Branch has been upgraded with new carpeting, fresh paint, and improved seating. Now it’s an even better place to learn, exchange ideas, and have fun. The renovation of the West Harrison Branch was made possible by a partnership between the town/village of Harrison and the Harrison Public Library.

Sing Along Sundays with Chloe On Sundays from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Richard Halperin Memorial Building, through Dec. 18. Come together as a community to celebrate early childhood through music and movement. In this class, participants 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 child-sized instruments and props, and a wealth of both traditional and original songs to add to your singalong repertoire. Get ready for a fun, creative and engaging experience. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Books as Art On Monday, Dec. 12 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. Join the library and take a look at how visual design and written text interplay in a range of settings from traditional book design to typography to fine art, and more. The work of artists creating book sculptures uses the books themselves as raw material to carve, sculpt, and shape. They reveal, contrast, and emphasize both meanings of the text as well as the very idea of the book itself. Participants will also look at a few artists working more traditionally in book and text design, layering visual imagery onto the textual content. The discussion will be facilitated by Michele Geller.

One-on-One e-Help On Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. Need help with downloading e-books, audiobooks, apps, or using Google Drive, email, or searching the Internet with your tablet, phone or laptop? Bring your device and questions and get one-on-one assistance. Please register online, by phone at 835-

0324, or in person at the library.

Homemade Holidays: Cookie Swap On Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. Prepare a batch of cookies (or another bite-sized dessert) at home and bring it in to exchange during the cookie swap. You’ll take home some new treats and recipes to try just in time for the holidays. Refreshments will be provided, compliments of the Friends of the Harrison Public Library. Sign up for a session during the day, evening or both online or by calling 835-0324, then bring in a batch and the recipe. Please follow the food safety guidelines for community meals; a copy is available at the Information Desk.

Mommy and Me Yoga On Friday, Dec. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Richard Halperin Memorial Building. Bring your own mat for a relaxing yoga class with the littlest ones. For non-walkers and their caregivers.

Chloe’s Sign & Play On Friday, Dec. 16 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 preverbal children using real signs from 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. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

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

Swim lessons Learn how to swim Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., from Dec. 10 through Feb. 4, 2017. There will be seven 50-minute sessions. Participants register according to their grade. During the first class, participants are tested and placed according to their ability. For kindergarten and first grade, from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.; for second and third grades, from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.; and for fourth and fifth grades, from noon to 12:50 p.m. Location: Louis M. Klein Middle School Pool. Fee: $100 made payable to Town/Village of Harrison. Enrollment is limited to 20 kids per age group. Registration will end once the maximum number is reached.

Letters to the North Pole Write a letter to the North Pole. Please include your name and home address. The letters should be addressed to the North Pole. Drop letters off at the Sollazzo Center, Leo Mintzer Center, or Harrison Recreation Department in Town Hall from Thursday, Dec. 1 through Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Computer Adventures This is a six-week enrichment program dedicat-

ed to providing children access to technology in a safe, fun educational and confidence-building environment. Courses provide technology programs for children in grades 1–8. Classes are scheduled to start the first week in January and will be held at the Leo Mintzer Center and the Harrison Community Center. For more information about the classes, times and to register, visit computeradventures. com/harrison or call 218-8175. The flier is also available on the Recreation website.

Neuberger Museum at Purchase College The museum is located at 735 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase. For more information, call 5216100 or visit neuberger.org.

Annual Holiday Reception On Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. This is a festive holiday party with a DJ, refreshments, and the opportunity to view the museum’s current exhibits: “Ray Spillenger: Rediscovery of a Black Mountain Painter”; “Post No Bills: Public Walls as Studio and Source”; “Destination: Latin America”; and “POP! Prints from the Permanent Collection.”

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

Holiday concert On Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m., the Manhattanville College Chorus, under the direction of John Cuk, will present its annual holiday concert in the O’Byrne Chapel on the college campus in Purchase. Admission is free and open to the public. The program will feature Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Parts I & III, for two pianos and percussion with soloists and seasonal music. Conducted by Cuk with Jeongeun Yom; Diane Guernsey, piano; Daniel Klein, bass; Douglas Chew and Scott Mesh, percussion. For further information, call the Music Office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 323-5260. 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.

December 9, 2016 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 5

Letters to the Editor

Killian on her run for state Senate To the Editor, It was an enormous privilege running for state Senate in New York’s 37th District this year. Thank you to the many readers whom I had the opportunity to meet along the trail. Your willingness to share concerns, ideas, and even disagreements, was invaluable. I did not prevail on Election Day—it was a tough year to run as a Republican in Westchester. I am enormously proud of my team’s campaign for a more responsive government in Albany. I congratulate Sen. George Latimer on another successful re-election effort. It is my hope that issues raised by my campaign—fair funding for Westchester schools; enacting term limits; repealing arcane rules that make is so expensive to do business in New York state and unfunded mandates that drive property taxes higher; targeted digital drug education; and changing state rules that hurt our developmentally disabled community—served in some small way to elevate the discourse in and about state government. Belief that it did makes every door knock, phone call, and chilly 6 a.m. train platform visit well worth it. Thank you again. Best wishes for a wonderful 2017. Julie Killian, Rye City councilwoman

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Councilwoman Marlane Amelio, left, and Toni Braiotta stand by the tree. According to Amelio, Braiotta was crucial in putting the tree and menorah lighting event together.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Harrison, after the town’s second annual menorah and Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Ma Riis Park on Sunday, Dec. 4 drew more than 100 residents together for seasonal festivities. Harrison residents gathered to watch the town’s religious leaders light the tree and menorah, write letters to Santa Claus, see a musical performance by the town’s elementary school students, and take photos with the jolly man in red. To kick off the season of giving, several Harrison shops and organizations distributed free treats to the hundreds in attendance. Nora’s Ovenworks passed out snowflake-shaped cookies; the Police Benevolent Association contributed hot chocolate and churros. Artuso Pastry Shop gave away cannoli. And the Harrison Husky Baseball Booster Club sold wreaths to raise money for the baseball team. Meanwhile, some of the town’s children demonstrated their talents to bring in the holiday season. The Harrison Avenue and Parsons Memorial schools choral group gathered on the town’s mobile stage to sing Christmas carols before the tree and meno- Harrison residents gather around the tree and menorah for the first lighting, performed by Rabbi Eytan Hammerman and Father Richard Guarnieri. rah were lit.

Children write letters to Santa at Ma Riis Park and then drop them in his mailbox. Photos/Corey Stockton

Rabbi Eytan Hammerman guides children through a game of dreidel, played for chocolate coins and Hershey’s Kisses.

At 5 p.m., Rabbi Eytan Hammerman and Father Richard Guarnieri joined to switch on the Christmas tree lights and the menorah. The ceremony was organized by Town Council members Marlane Amelio and Steve Malfitano; although Amelio also credited Harrison Avenue PTA President Toni Braiotta for her help in putting the event together. The West Harrison Neighborhood Association held a separate Christmas tree lighting in West Harrison on Friday, Dec. 2 at Taylor Square. -Reporting by Corey Stockton

December 9, 2016 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 7

County officials rally to ‘ban the barge’ By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Amidst allegations that the U.S. Coast Guard circumvented proper procedure in order to fasttrack approval of 43 additional commercial barge anchorages along the Hudson River, Westchester County officials and environmental watchdogs are calling for the agency to withdrawal its proposal. According to a statement by Pace University’s Environmental Policy Clinic, the proposal— which would speckle anchorages across the lower Hudson River shorelines, from Kingston to Yonkers—skirted procedure in order to avoid scrutiny of its environmental impact. “This is one of the most egregious violations of public transparency and public trust I have seen in four decades working on Hudson River issues,” said John Cronin, a fellow at the Dyson College Institute for Sustainability and the Environment at Pace. The clinic’s chief concerns, according to Cronin, are the Coast Guard’s failure to com-

plete any environmental surveys and failure to coordinate with mariners, environmental groups and residents of impacted areas, as per the Coast Guard’s own interagency requirements. “Any projects like this, whether it’s a pipeline, or anchorages, or a power plant, or a proposed development,” Cronin said, “the first thing you’re supposed to look at is the worst possible negative impact. All of this information is completely absent.” Among the Westchester ports that would be affected by the proposal are Montrose Point in Cortlandt Manor, as well as a port in Yonkers that would see the addition of 16 new anchorages alone. While the U.S. Coast Guard has offered its plan to add additional anchorages—the largest of which would be the Yonkers port, which would span more than 700 acres—as a means of increasing safety and thru traffic on the waterway, both county officials and environmental advocacy groups have cast doubt on the Coast Guard’s motives. “The point that’s being made

is that this is needed for safety,” said Leah Rae, a spokeswoman for the environmental advocacy group, Riverkeeper. “We don’t feel they’ve made any rationale for that claim.” In a letter to the U.S. Coast Guard sent by the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey in January, which urges the Coast Guard to move forward with the construction of additional anchorages, one particular passage has given Riverkeeper pause. “For several years the [U.S.] has developed as a major energy-producing nation and the great port of Albany as a leading export port for Jones Act trade of American Bakken Crude Oil and Ethanol,” the letter reads. “Trade will increase on the Hudson River significantly over the next few years… and federally designated anchorages are key to supporting trade.” According to Rae, it’s not just the letter that has drawn the attention of her organization, but also what Riverkeeper has characterized as the “reindustrialization” of the Hudson Valley.

With the close of a public comment period for a U.S. Coast Guard proposal, that would see the addition of 43 anchorages located on the Hudson River from Kingston to Yonkers, both Westchester County officials and environmentalists are rallying to “ban the barge.” Photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/hudsonriverkeeper

Among the factors contributing to this perceived shift, Rae said, are plans to expand the capacity of a shipping port in Albany, and potentially ship oil extracted from Canadian tar sands—a bitumen-rich sediment

abundant in Alberta—on barges down the Hudson River to refineries in New Jersey. “The bigger picture is using the Hudson [River] as a corridor,” she said. Likewise, the county govern-

ment has shared similar concerns over the proposal that has managed to unite both Westchester lawmakers and the Republican administration of County BARGE continued on page 10

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Celebrating the holidays in Harrison HARRISON HAPPENINGS Mayor Ron Belmont

This year’s holiday celebration kickoffs were a big success. From candy canes to carolers and Santa’s arrival, both West Harrison and downtown Harrison celebrated in style. The hot chocolate flowed in West Harrison as Frosty the Snowman visited with residents, young and old. Choral groups entertained the crowds in downtown Harrison, culminating in the lighting of the Christmas tree and menorah. It was great to see so many new friends and familiar faces as these are the occasions that highlight the true meaning of the season. Both events did a wonderful job reflecting the charm and magic that the holidays should bring to us all. On a related note, Harrison is a wonderful place to do your holiday shopping. Locally owned shops and restaurants offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere and it’s a great spot to get together, with neighbors and friends, as you get ready for the season’s celebrations. While making your way through your shopping list, be sure to drop in

to local establishments and join in the festive mood. I am happy to report that were three recent promotions made within the Harrison Police Department. At the Dec. 1 swearing-in ceremony in Town Hall, Lt. Michael Olsey was promoted to police chief; Lt. Ed Detlefs was promoted to police captain; and Sgt. John Vasta was promoted to police lieutenant. I am completely confident that these gentlemen will carry out their new duties in a professional manner and will continue to be an asset to the town/village of Harrison. This past weekend marked the opening season for high school wrestling in Westchester County. Locally, Rye High School hosted the 2016 Bernie Miller Wrestling Tournament where eight championship teams competed. Led by coach Vincent Nicita, our powerful Huskies wrestlers took on the other schools, some twice our size in numbers, and brought home a first-place trophy. This victory certainly puts a spotlight on the team and adds to the feeling of hometown pride. Congratulations to coach Nicita, the team, and specifically to Tyler Joseph, who won an individual award for Best in Weight Class, and to Andrew Hollander, the

highest awarded student, who received a Best in Weight Class award and the Best High School Senior award. In closing, as we enjoy this holiday season and celebrate with family, friends and loved ones, it would be wonderful to find a way to give back to those in need. Volunteering at a local shelter or donating food and clothing are small acts of kindness that have a great impact in our community. State and local organizations will be increasing their efforts to assist food banks and soup kitchens. Stocking shelves and feeding those in need are meaningful ways to volunteer your time and celebrate the spirit of generosity. It’s an excellent opportunity to celebrate life’s good fortune and I urge all to take part. For more information on how you can get involved, please call our Community Services Department at 670-3025. The next Lunch with the Mayor is on Friday, Dec. 9 and I will be at Tredici North, located at 578 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.

Fox manslaughter case adjourned again Emma Fox’s Dec. 6 court date was adjourned, and the Rye resident is now due to reappear in White Plains City Court after the holidays, on Jan. 6. Fox, 24, is being charged in the death of a 21-year-old Manhattanville College student in October. She has been charged with an aggravated DWI and firstdegree vehicular manslaughter for striking and killing Robby Schartner on Oct. 9. Schartner was walking along Westchester Avenue during the early morning hours on his way back to the college after a night out on Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains when

Emma Fox was due to reappear in White Plains City Court on Dec. 6, but the case was adjourned to Jan. 6. Photo courtesy White Plains Police Department

he was killed. White Plains police reported that Fox had been intoxicated at the time of the incident, with a blood alcohol content of 0.21; the legal limit in New York state is 0.08. According to police, Fox had been travelling eastbound on Westchester Avenue at about 5 a.m. when she fatally struck Schartner with her car, a 2012 Nissan Sentra. Fox, who had been held at the Westchester County Jail on a $100,000 bail, was released on Nov. 10. Stephen Lewis, Fox’s attorney, could not be reached for comment, as of press time. -Reporting by Franco Fino

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Citizens march against fear, hate By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor

The back of JCA’s T-shirt draws attention to police brutality as he performs a song that features audio from the 911 call made by Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. the morning he was killed by White Plains police five years ago.

“No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” said a group of citizens as they practiced a right that is protected by the U.S. Constitution. At noon on Black Friday, Nov. 25, a few hundred people of all ages, races and religious denominations gathered at the fountain on Main Street in downtown White Plains, just feet from the Trump Tower at City Center. The diverse group convened, organized by the WESPAC Foundation, an organization working for peace and justice, to march and rally with a goal

Westchester County residents assemble by the fountain on Main Street in White Plains to rally against the possible ramifications of a Donald Trump presidency.

of making Westchester County a “sanctuary” for immigrants, Muslims, and other marginalized groups that could be negatively affected by the imminent Donald Trump presidency. Other organizations that participated were the Lower Hudson Valley Chapter of the NYCLU— which has threatened to take the president-elect to court if he

The rally gathers around the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in front of the county courthouse. On the statue’s base is a timeless message from King: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa

creates a registry for Muslims, something Trump mentioned during his campaign; the White Plains-Greenburgh Chapter of the NAACP; Westchester Coalition Against Islamophobia, WCAI; and the Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. Institute for Nonviolence. After a collective march from Main Street to the Westchester County Courthouse, chanting and eventually gathering in front of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr., some members of the aforementioned groups let their voices be heard. “We’ll continue to stand in opposition to any attempt to register and reduce anyone to noncitizen, non-human status,” said Lena Anderson, president of the local NAACP chapter, as Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up” played in the background. “Dr. King will say, ‘Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.’” Many have begun to compare Trump’s presidency to Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, where the oppression of Jews and other people was legal and ignored for too long by the rest of the world. The undoing of all the decades of fighting for civil rights and the rights of women and LGBTQ people is of real concern to many, especially with the president-elect making some questionable appointments to his cabinet, which includes Steven Bannon, former executive chair of the so-called “alt-right,” conservative Breitbart News, who has made comments on the “genetic superiority” of white people over other races. Many news organizations, including The New York Times and the Associated Press, say

“alt-right” is a deceptive term; it is a blend of racism, white nationalism, white supremacy, and populism, which rejects the American democratic ideal that all people are equal. “The people united will never be defeated” was another chant reiterated by speakers and those gathered. City of White Plains Mayor Tom Roach and Greenburgh Town Supervior Paul Feiner, both Democrats, were the elected officials present at the rally. “We are proud, in White Plains, of our diversity,” Roach said. “We need to stand up for the rights that some of us have taken for granted, and make sure that we keep them.” Feiner added to cheers and applause, “None of us should be afraid to speak out, no matter how much our new president tries to intimidate us.” There were two performances, a spoken word piece and a rap song, that focused on police brutality against black men. The song, “Abuse of Power,” performed by artist JCA, features the recording of the 911 call from Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. the morning he was killed by White Plains police in his home five years ago. The rally closed with a prayer from the Rev. Doris Dalton, the executive director of the Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. Institute for Nonviolence and member of the First Baptist Church of White Plains. “Your civic duties have to be part of your daily life,” she said, reminding people that all marches and rallies will be for naught if citizens do not act against bigotry and hate. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

10 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • December 9, 2016 BARGE from page 7

Executive Rob Astorino in rallying against it. Astorino, after the plan’s initial introduction in June, criticized the project, calling it a “giant parking lot” for barges containing oil that, under the parameters of the proposal, could sit for months on end in county waterways. “In the language of the proposal, ‘long-term’ is defined as 30 or more days. That’s not stopping by, that’s moving in,” Astorino said. “It’s classic federal-government-vagueness: Today’s ‘30 or more’ could be tomorrow’s ‘in perpetuity.’” Likewise, county Legislator Catherine Borgia, a Peekskill Democrat, whose district would be directly affected by the proposal, has spoken out against the

new anchorages. “Placing what amounts to floating parking lots for oil-filled vessels is both economically and environmentally unsound,” she said. “These anchorage grounds would be placing our community at risk by allowing millions of gallons of oil to park in our backyard.” Online comments for the proposal located on the federal register website, which have been pouring in since August, have swelled to more than 8,200, as of press time, and have taken an overwhelmingly negative spin; according to Rae, unprecedentedly so. “We’ve seen that level of outcry for things like fracking,” Rae said. “The number of comments isn’t unprecedented, it’s the unanimity of people that live along the river; the bipar-

tisan nature of people against this plan.” With the public comment period closed as of Dec. 6, the U.S. Coast Guard will now pore over feedback and may or may not schedule a round of hearings based on the response. According to Cronin, though a hearing is warranted in both his opinion and his peers’, the Coast Guard is not required to do so by law. Furthermore, since navigational issues in the U.S. are handled strictly from a federal level, there is little recourse for state or county government to block execution of the project from a legislative standpoint. “I suspect that if they don’t have a hearing, there will be litigation,” Cronin said.

City law prohibits food truck option for Rye Town Park

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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Despite news that Walter’s Hot Dogs of Mamaroneck is interested in operating a food truck out of Rye Town Park next season, a citywide law stands in the way of that plan coming to fruition. File photo

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Despite interest from multiple food truck concessioners to fill the opening left by Seaside Johnnies’ exit, a citywide provision currently prohibits vehicular vendors from peddling out of Rye Town Park, according to the city manager. Even with the Rye Town Park Commission recently drawing interest from Westchester’s famed food stand, Walter’s Hot Dogs, which is located in the town of Mamaroneck, Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano told the Review that it’s currently not possible because the city’s current peddling and soliciting restrictions prevent any vendors from operating in public spaces throughout Rye. The commission’s desire for a food truck operation comes in wake of the owners of Seaside Johnnies, John Ambrose and Sam Chernin, formally declining the commission’s final offer to continue their operation next season. Seaside Johnnies, the

current tenant, has been operating out of the park since 2000. At the moment, the commission does not have a plan in place to offer any food or beverage for parkgoers or patrons of Oakland Beach for the 2017 season. Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the park commission, said the city of Rye would be willing to grant a temporary exemption to its peddling restrictions to permit a food truck campaign in the park. “If the park commission formally asks [the city of Rye] to consider modifying the provision, it’s something we would consider looking at,” she said. But, according to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the park commission, until the commission has a feasible and significant offer from a concessionaire, he does not plan to make a formal request to the city to alter its code. “If the commission desires to have a food truck instead of a restaurant for a year, that’s something

that can certainly be discussed; I’m open to everything,” he said. “But I’m not prepared to make an open-ended request without knowing who our possible operator will be.” Katharine Warrington Woodward, a representative of Walter’s, said there were preliminary discussions between the family-owned business and Zuckerman last week, but added there is currently no concrete offer on the table. Other than providing food and beverage options, a food truck alternative would also help minimize the financial loss of as much as an estimated $200,000 as a result of the absence of Seaside Johnnies. But with nothing worked out, as of press time, the clock continues to tick toward 2017. Rye City Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican and member of the park commission, said, “I would like to see Rye town’s officials and [their] staff approach the issue with a little more urgency.” CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Town/Village of Harrison’s

Official Newspaper

December 9, 2016 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 11

What’s headed for your plate RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

OK, I did it. I actually gave my head a pitying shake when a friend told me she’d just discovered a fantastic restaurant in Jackson Heights that sells the giant Indian crepes called dosas. “It’s so great!” she said. “It’s called–” “Dosa Delight,” I interrupted, as condescending as if she’d just discovered a great fast food restaurant called McDonald’s. But food pride goeth before a food fall. Just a day later, I found myself speaking with Katie Sutton, vice president of culinary innovation at the food trendwatching company (yes, there are such things) Food and Drink Resources. I’d read some of their predictions—egg pizza from Georgia (the country), Japanese cuisine by way of Peru, and even fried Brussels sprouts—in an industry newsletter called Restaurant Hospitality. Could these eats truly be coming our way? Turns out they’re already here… and I’m one of the last to know. But possibly, so are you. For instance, Sutton said, both coasts are currently obsessed by poke, and it’s not a virtual reality game on your phone. It’s a Hawaiian dish consisting of cubes of raw fish marinated in sauce and served in a bowl, sometimes with rice. There are already several poke (poh-kay) shops in the city, some so popular that long lines form at lunchtime. Having once been absolutely positive that sushi was going to prove a flash in the pan (or, more accurately, a flash in the non-pan, since it’s

raw), I feel reluctant to predict a quick demise for this new fad. But really, how many Hawaiian creations have made it to the big time and stayed there? Besides Obama, I mean. For now, though, poke is so ubiquitous that New York eateries are already cross-pollinating it with other popular foods, leading to items like the poke burrito. Meantime, the “phorrito” is another rising star. That’s a burrito filled with Vietnamese pho, a soup of braised meat, herbs and noodles. All of which leads me to my Food Theory No. 1: Wrap a burrito around anything that’s already delicious and it will be a hit. Theory No. 2 is: The gloppier the better, which is why we’re talking about eating a wrap filled with soup. But you can also see this trend with egg sandwiches. Sutton pointed to a West Coast restaurant called Eggslut, famous for the runniest eggs around. Another big trend she’s seeing is fruit soups. “It’s like taking a smoothie and dumping it into a bowl and putting chunks of fruit into it,” she said. So here’s my Food Theory No. 3: Anything chunked and put into a bowl is going to be a hit. One particular ingredient finding its way into these soups is dragon fruit, which I’ve seen at Asian fruit stands for years but have always been too unnerved to try. They’re pink and green and look straight out of Dr. Seuss. But to catch up with the trends, I finally got two in Flushing, sliced them open and: Total shock! One was white inside with poppy seed-like seeds, but the other was ruby red, same seeds. So gorgeous! And so incredibly bland!

Yecch. They tasted like giant kiwis, minus all the flavor. And the fact that they cost about $5 each just makes me wonder how popular this fruit can ever be. But I’m the gal who bet against sushi, so let’s move on. Another counter-intuitive trend is dark food on dark plates. After what feels like a century of ever lighter cuisine, Sutton says the trend has gone 180. Charring, once known as “overdone,” “burnt” or “ruined” in my family, is now one of the two hippest methods for preparing vegetables. (The other is deep frying.) She says she has started charring her salad greens on the grill, which I could understand if they got kind of pleasantly caramelized. But I tried charred broccoli recently, and simply cannot understand why my own, equally unhip method of broccoli prep—steaming till it is bendably soft and slightly gray—lost out. Douse really soft broccoli in melted butter and I say yum. Of course, I say that when you douse almost anything in melted butter. (I’m convinced that why lobster made it big: The shameless butter-dipping it made chic.) And speaking of dipping, the last food trend we’ve got time for today is deconstructed ramen called tsukemen. The noodles are separate from the broth. You dip them in and slurp them down. Slurping, glopping, chunking and wrapping are clearly the order of the day, so here’s Food Theory No. 4: Any obscure cuisine that we haven’t discovered yet will burst onto the scene in 2018. And in 2019, it will be wrapped in a burrito. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

‘Sister Act’ comes to White Plains White Plains Performing Arts Center is proud to present “Sister Act,” playing through the holiday season from Friday, Dec. 16 to Sunday, Jan. 8. “Sister Act” is the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film that had audiences jumping to their feet. Featuring original music by Tony and eight-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken (“Newsies,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Little Shop of Horrors”), this uplifting musical was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be a found: a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly

found sisterhood. Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, “Sister Act” will leave you breathless. Experience this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship; “Sister Act” is reason to rejoice. The cast features the talents of Shaunice Alexander; Susan Cohen DeStefano; Joanna Connolly; David Thomas Cronin; Najee Gabay-Knight; Kerri George; Deanna Giulietti; Tamar Greene; Andrew Hendrick; Gerard Lanzerotti; Katelyn Lauria; Steven Liberto; Andrea McCullough; Mary Mondlock; Dick Nagle; Triona O’Callaghan; Daniella Painton; Isaac Saunders; Corinne Scott; Rebecca Skowron; Shawn William Smith; Christina Tompkins; Cartreze Tucker; and Arianna Valdes; with Paulette Oliva as Moth-

er Superior, and Lindsay Roberts as Deloris Van Cartier. The creative team features direction by Frank Portanova; music direction by Stephen Ferri; choreography and musical staging by Lexie Fennell Frare; scenic design by Gabriel Firestone; lighting design by Ross Graham; wardrobe supervision by Emily Grace Mays; and sound design by Scott Tunkel. “Sister Act” will play the White Plains Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Dec. 16, Dec. 17, Dec. 23, Dec. 27, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Jan. 6, Jan. 7.; and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 18, Dec. 22, Dec. 28, Jan. 7 and Jan. 8. White Plains Performing Arts Center is located on the third level of City Center off Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street in downtown White Plains, minutes from the White Plains Metro-North station. Tickets start at $22. For tickets, visit the theatre box office Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; purchase the tickets online at wppac.com; or call 328-1600. For group sales, email boxoffice@wppac.com. (Submitted)

12 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • December 9, 2016

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SPORTS

December 9, 2016 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 13

Missing the ePoint LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

At the risk of sounding like an old, out-of-touch curmudgeon, I have to admit; I do not understand the world of eSports. In late October, as all four major American professional sports were in full swing, Madison Square Garden played host to a competition of a different sort, something called the League of Legends World Championship semifinals. The event pitted four of the best professional video gaming teams from around the globe against each other as they battled for the chance to compete for something called the “Summoner’s Cup”—presumably by hurling digital fireballs at one another— in front of a full house at MSG, a historic venue that once hosted phenomenal bouts of actual athletic competition, including the first fight between Muhammad

Ali and Joe Frazier. Now, I don’t begrudge anyone their particular areas of fandom—lord knows that I have my fair share of interests that stray from the beaten path—but seeing the throngs of excited cosplayers streaming into the world’s most famous arena to watch eAthletes eCompete on the Jumbotron, I couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, popular culture is starting to pass me by. I may not consider myself a “gamer,” but I’ve played my fair share of video games through the years. Nintendo—and all of its subsequent successors—played a big part in my childhood, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ll still fire up the Xbox once in a while for a quick game of FIFA against my buddies. But spending my hard-earned money to watch teams of strangers manage squads of digital sprites in virtual combat? For me, that’s just a bridge too far. I enjoy watching sports, be-

cause I can appreciate the inherent drama in seeing the human body overcome its very real limitations; until I see Eli Manning cast a real-life Chaos Bolt at the Philadelphia Eagles, please forgive me if I don’t find the feats of these professional gamers impressive. But, I appear to be on the wrong side of this one. Over the last decade or so, eSports—the name given to professional, competitive video gaming—has become a big business. Arenas all over the world—especially in Asia—sell out for events; well-known companies toss money at the world’s top gamers in an attempt to woo free agents; and the best teams in the world are often embroiled in controversies about illegal tactics, espionage and tampering. Heck, some colleges here in the United States have even begun establishing scholarships for promising eHighSchoolers. My nephew, who is 10, spends less time playing video

Fans pile in to the Key Arena in Seattle to watch professional video gamers square off in a Dota 2 tournament. Sports Editor Mike Smith may not understand competitive gaming, but that doesn’t mean that the sport isn’t growing. Photo courtesy Wikipedia

games and more time watching the YouTube videos of Internet celebrities who make millions of dollars by posting their Grand Theft Auto play-throughs online.

Imagine that; people making money by playing a child’s game. It’s a pretty preposterous proposition. You can keep your eSports,

thank you every much. I think the Knicks are playing tonight.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A

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

SPORTS

14 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • December 9, 2016

Huskies win Miller Invitational By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Saturday, Dec. 3, the Harrison Huskies kicked off the wrestling season on a strong note, earning a first-place finish at the Bernie Miller Invitational Tournament at Rye High School. With five wins at the event, the Huskies are coming into this week’s Section I dual meet with a head full of steam—and high hopes for the upcoming season. At the Miller tournament, the Huskies rolled through the competition, topping the host Garnets, as well as Lakeland/Panas, Scarsdale, Beacon, Hastings and Irvington to capture the tourney crown. “I think it’s great for the kids to start the season going 5-0 and winning the tournament,” Huskies head coach Vin Nicita said. “I think it’s going to propel them into the season.” Especially encouraging was Harrison’s performance at the heavier weight class, the head coach said. Coming into the season, only Rob Donohue, who wrestles at 195 pounds and 220 pounds and placed sixth in the section last year, had significant varsity experience. But the Huskies got strong contributions from Zach Finn (170 pounds), Mike Rozell (182) and Max Fujita (195) in the opening event of the year. Fujita shined in particular, going a perfect 5-0 on the afternoon. In total, Harrison’s heavyweight wrestlers combined to go 20-3 at the tournament. “We knew we’d be

Rye’s Chase Bekkerus works against a Beacon opponent on Dec. 3.

Zach Finn locks up an opponent for a pinfall win. Harrison went 5-0 on the day.

strong from about 126 to 160, but there were some question marks coming in with the upper weights,” Nicita said. “But those guys stepped into the starting lineup really well on Saturday.” Nicita was also impressed with his team’s 48-29 win over Beacon in the last match of the day. Coming into the tournament, Nicita believed that the Bulldogs would be a good test for the Huskies, who scored more lopsided wins against the other teams at the event. “It’s opening weekend, it’s a long day and it’s really the first time the kids are wrestling live,” he said. “We already had four

section. “It was a good start, but we don’t want to get overconfident,” he said. “In wrestling, it just takes one or two matches and things can go the other way, and even though we won [on Saturday], we definitely saw things that we can improve on.”

matches under our belts; [co-captain] Daniel Choe [132 pounds] was banged up so he didn’t wrestle in the final match, and even without him, we just told the rest of the guys they had to suck it up and raise their games.” The Huskies will see Scarsdale again on Dec. 7, after press time, when they compete in their first Section I dual meet of the season against the Raiders, as well as Yonkers and Mount Vernon. Nicita is hoping that his squad will be able to continue their success as they try to make some noise within the

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Mike Rozell works from the bottom at the Bernie Miller Invitational. Photos/Mike Smith

Harrison’s Zach Finn tangles with a Hastings opponent on Dec. 3 at Rye High School. Finn and the rest of Harrison’s heavier wrestlers fared well at the Bernie Miller Invitational.

INSIDE

December 9, 2016 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 15

Lifestyles of Westchester County/DECEMBER 2016 VOL. 5 NO.9

INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Holiday

GIFT GUIDE 2 Decorate for the year, not just the holidays 2 Shop for the holidays at Lester’s 2 Take care of yourself at Addison Street Spa 2 Fine gifts from Talner’s storefront

16 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • December 9, 2016

GIFT IDEAS

for last-minute shoppers

Avoid theft during the season of giving

Early bird shoppers may purchase and even wrap gifts before December, but eleventh-hour shoppers may need some help come the holiday season. For those last-minute folks, there still are plenty of ways to ensure your shopping list is checked off. The following gifts are quick to purchase and can still make for thoughtful presents. Liquor or wine basket: Prepackaged spirits often come with decorative glasses and other accoutrements for entertaining. What’s more, they’re convenient to purchase if you’re on a time crunch. Fueling station gift card: Drivers will appreciate a gift card to their favorite fueling station. Such cards suit anyone who has a car and frequently travels or commutes. Food basket: A visit to the supermarket or a convenience center can yield many tasty finds that can be packaged together into a gift basket. Pair foods with a gift card to that retailer. Streaming service: Offer to treat a loved one to a month or two of their favorite streaming television or movie service. If they already have streaming subscriptions, offer to cover the cost of the subscription for a few months. Premade gifts: Don’t overlook your local pharmacy as a place to find convenient gifts. Look for unique items in the seasonal aisle, where you might be able to find stocking-stuffer toiletries or cosmetic gifts that suit several people on your shopping list.

The holiday season is a special time of year to give thanks and spend time with loved ones. While the holidays are an inherently happy time, that joyful mood can be marred by the crooks who like to take advantage of people’s generosity, as well as their propensity to pay less attention to their surroundings as they do during less hectic times of year. Instances of certain crimes, particularly theft and identity theft, increase around the holiday season. Allstate Insurance advises that breakins in residential areas may increase during the holiday season as well. That’s because thieves know that many homes are empty or cars are full of high-priced presents. To put the focus back on good cheer, delicious food, celebrations and gifting, individuals can heed the following tips to protect themselves and their property this holiday season. Park in well-lit areas while shopping. Aim for a spot under a street lamp or as close to the front door of the store as possible. Routinely put packages in the car so they do not become too cumbersome and bog you down. Some thieves prey on people who cannot defend themselves because their hands are full of packages. Place gifts in the trunk of the car. Make sure they are covered up and out of sight if you do not have a trunk. Take your packages straight home after each shopping trip. Do not carry excess cash or credit cards you don’t plan to use. Leave the full wallet at

home so it does not fall into the wrong hands or end up being stolen. Keep important credit card numbers in a safe place at home. Exercise caution around strangers. While you want to be friendly this time of year, this is a time when thieves may use various tactics to distract or disarm potential targets. Always leave lights on at home and do not forget to lock doors and windows when leaving the house. Empty houses are prime targets for burglars. Always give the impression that someone is home. Don’t advertise purchases. Keep mum about that big-screen TV or gaming system you purchased. Do not leave packages or boxes lying around outside your home. Instead, discard them only on the morning of garbage pickup. Keep an inventory of purchases and belongings. This will prove handy if you are a victim of theft and have to file an insurance claim. Use encrypted shopping sites. Many online retailers employ encrypted websites so customers can securely make purchases. Patronize only these retailers when shopping online. Be aware of credit card skimmers. Thieves may put skimming devices on ATM machines and credit card machines to steal card information. If a machine does not look right, do not use it. Avoid being victimized by crooks this holiday season by prioritizing safety at home and when shopping for gifts.

December 9, 2016 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 17

Select educational gifts for children When shopping for holiday gifts for children, shoppers can easily be overwhelmed by the many toys, electronics, apparel and other items available for kids. Those who may not be up-to-date on the latest trends may even find shopping for kids a bit like solving a difficult puzzle. While some shoppers may want to get kids the flashiest toy, others may prefer gifts that are both fun and mentally stimulating. Developmental toys and educational games for kids make for popular gifts. Toy and game manufacturers continue to develop products that integrate logic, reasoning, language stimulation, and motor skill development. Shoppers looking for fun, educational toys and games for the kids on their shopping lists have a host of items to choose from. Building blocks: Blocks that enable children to design and construct are popular among youngsters of various ages. Blocks come in many different forms, from early education wooden blocks that fill nursery floors to the more intricate, interlocking building sets that are coveted by older children. STEM toys: Some of the latest trends in children’s toys veer away from regular video games and apps and cater to the rising interest in STEM. STEM is an acronym for science, technology and math. Early introduction to STEM-related skills can pay dividends later in life, considering students who have an emphasis on STEM knowledge are highly coveted among employers. STEM toys

may include robot-building kits, toys that help young learners test the boundaries of physics, apps that help kids learn computer programing, and even scientific experiment kits that illustrate cause and effect. Sensory toys: Young children can benefit from toys that stimulate the senses. Items to consider include water toys, sands (including the newer kinetic varieties), playdoughs, musical instruments, and bubbles. Even food-related toys, such as those that encourage baking or cooking, will appeal to various senses and can help kids learn valuable skills. Imaginative play toys: Imaginative play is an effective way to stimulate creative thinking and may help children become better learners. The Creativity Institute, specializing in toys for creative play, says playing is important to children and the way they practice growing up. According to an article by Dr. Scott Kaufman that appeared in Psychology Today, “Systematic research has increasingly demonstrated a series of clear benefits of children’s engagement in pretend games from the ages of about two and one half through ages six or seven.” Dress-up toys, puppets, dolls, action figures, and toys that mimic real-life activities are all examples of products that promote imaginative play. Educational toys can be included on holiday gifting lists. Not only will they encourage children to play and have fun, but they’ll serve as building blocks to a lifetime of learning as well.

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Decorate for the year, not just the holidays We all know the hustle and bustle that goes along with the holidays. We shop, plan our menus, and adorn our homes with festive décor, all in anticipation of opening our homes and sharing our traditions with loved ones. But take a step back and ask yourself, why do we wait until for the holidays to arrive to make our homes a reflection of our best, brightest dreams? Our homes should be where we are truly most comfortable and surrounded by

our favorite things every day of the year. Our homes should be a furnished to mirror our taste and lifestyle. This is easier said than done for many people. One way to bring your yearround style to life is engaging with an interior decorator. If you’re like most of the clients Decorating Den works with, you want a beautifully custom designed look, but truly don’t know how to make that vision a reality. You might not be

sure of how to put it all together. You may have sentimental items that you do not want to remove. You might fear that if you call a professional decorator, your home will end up featuring that decorator’s taste—not yours. And last, but certainly not least, you might not be even sure you can afford the services of a professional decorator. Fortunately, a new Decorating Den Interiors has opened in your area to bring design and style to everyone. From design concept to completion, designers can help save you valuable time and money by guiding your decisionmaking process through a myriad of functional and decorative ideas. When they come to your home, you’ll be shown samples of custom window treatments, bedding ensembles, floor covering, wall covering, accessories, lighting, upholstered furniture and case-goods. Clients enjoy the collaborative design process used by designers from Decorating Den as we work together to fulfill your vision. This process gives homes a unique look, different from what we always see in the big retailers or

neighborhood stores. Designing around how you live in your home can help you make it not just comfortable, but a place you will be proud to show to friends and family not just during the holidays, but 365 days a year. Decorating Den Interiors serves the Westchester County area, including Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye, Harrison, Bronxville and New Rochelle. For more information, contact owner and interior decorator Marni Sugerman at 829-5100, or visit marni.decoratingden.com. (Submitted)

technology and online marketing workshops for communities in Westchester in order to help our local businesses thrive. We are also available to provide private consultations for companies looking to succeed online. This holiday season, give the gift of a 2

hour in-person, one-on-one online marketing & brand strategy session at our office in White Plains for $150 (usually $450) available now through Dec 31st. For more information, contact Jaime Urteaga, the owner of Digital Chair, Inc., at jaime@digitalchair.com.

Buy for your business this holiday season

As another New York winter creeps in with its cold and westwardly breeze, it’s easy for the streets of Westchester to misplace their hustle and bustle of foot traffic and community energy. Worse yet, the allure of local stores and restaurants fall victim to the stay-at-home giants of couch-side shopping, Amazon and Seamless. The holiday season peaks as the biggest retail-spending season of the year, with more and more business being done online now more than ever. What most local companies don’t realize is that they don’t have to go to the mattresses to leverage some technology to their advantage and “get in the game” so to speak. It’s nearly 2017 and technology is becoming cheaper and more available than ever. Websites, for better or worse, can be made by anyone with some technological savvy and a few hours at their disposal. Social media accounts can be

used to communicate offers and drive brand reach locally, yet their untapped power is often overlooked and underestimated. By mixing some business and technology know-how, one can change the competitive field around them and leverage certain tools to drive a far-reaching and conversion-centered marketing campaign that helps attract people to you or your business. For the sake of brevity, I’ll focus on Google, the low-hanging fruit for local businesses. If you look up a local business (food, legal, home, fun), statistically, you’re most likely to look them up on Google’s search engine. Google has a free business listing that takes under an hour of time to set up. All you have to do is fill out a form, verify your business information (they send you a postcard with a code and call you), and then you’re done. From there you can start benefiting from the positive reviews your clients leave you and how they affect the choice of the eager consumer searching for a local service in their town. You can upload pictures that show your products, staff and the service providers. This simple tool and can distinguish you from your competition when it comes time for a consumer to decide where to spend their money. Keep in mind, your competitor may be Amazon, or another global internet giant, so a loss of a client could be a loss for the local community. At Digital Chair, we’re putting together some

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How to find great gifts for the family handyman For those people who don’t know a box cutter from a box saw, shopping for men and women who like to get their hands dirty around the house can be a difficult task. Home improvement projects are complex undertakings that often involve the use of complex tools, and novices may be lost in the proverbial woods as they look for gifts for their loved ones who can’t wait to swing hammers around the house. Though there’s always an element of risk when shopping for gifts for loved ones, the following hints might help shoppers with no knowledge of home improvement projects find gifts that will please their favorite handyman. Take inventory of his or her existing tools. When shopping for the DIY enthusiast in your family, try to take inventory of his or her tool chest before beginning your search. Make note of any tools that look new, checking those off your shopping list, and any that look like they need replacing. Use your phone to photograph any unfamiliar tools that you might want to replace so you know what to look for when visiting the hardware store. Think of what your relative likes to do most. The family handyman may have a particular area of home improvement expertise or something he or she is especially passionate about. Does your loved one prefer to work in the garden? Is he into woodworking and making decorative items for

the house? Think of what he or she likes to do most and then look for something that will make that hobby more enjoyable. While multipurpose tools might make for welcome gifts, something more specific to his or her particular passion may make an even better gift. Think outside the (tool)box. While new tools might make a handyman’s day, they are not the only items that make great DIY gifts. Consider enrolling your loved one in an advanced class so he or she can learn more about a favorite hobby. Or gift a magazine subscription so he or she can stay abreast of the latest DIY trends and topics. Such gifts are great options for shoppers hesitant to purchase potentially costly tools that may or may not be hits with their relatives. Speak with a professional. If you can’t access your loved one’s workshop or simply don’t know what he or she might want, ask a local contractor for gift recommendations. For example, a carpenter might know just what will elicit a smile from woodworking enthusiasts, while landscapers might be able to suggest items for gardening or lawn care enthusiasts. Advancements are always being made in the home improvement industry, and those people who make their living in that industry might be great resources as you try to find the go-to gift for your loved one. Finding a gift for the family handyman might be difficult for shoppers with no DIY experience

of their own. But a little forethought and perhaps some professional assistance can be just what

shoppers need to find gifts their loved ones will cherish for years to come.

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Shop for the holidays at Lester’s

The holidays are better at Lester’s, where you’ll find the biggest selection of uniquely chic gifts from wow-factor brands that do cool best. Beyond the most wanted clothing and footwear, some of the season’s bestselling musthave items include S’well Bottles, fur slides and other cold weather accessories, stylish tech toys, statement jewelry, fun pillows, whimsical snow tubes, patched up clothing, cozy blanket sacks, sports team logo and player gifts and more. Every gift, perfectly wrapped and ready for giving. Don’t miss a great selection of grab bag and teachers’ gifts, too—perfectly priced at $30 and under. Set your sights on sun, sand and Lester’s for the best collection of cruise essentials for your winter getaway. Bold beachwear, breezy coverups, night out styles, gorgeous sandals, and chic totes for women, men, kids and baby.

How to organize office gift exchanges

Happy shopping, happy holidays and happy travels! Lester’s is located at 18 Rye Ridge Plaza in Rye Brook. For more information, visit lesters.com. (Submitted)

Close-knit groups of employees commonly exchange gifts with one another come the holiday season. Friendly coworkers enjoy bringing smiles to the faces of their friends and fellow employees, and these informal gift exchanges can benefit company morale and establish a familial atmosphere at the office. In spite of the good-natured reasons to exchange gifts with coworkers, some people are nervous about the prospect of gifting fellow employees. Questions regarding what makes for an appropriate gift or how much to spend may arise, turning office gift exchanges into potentially puzzling situations. Those ready to participate in office gifting can follow certain etiquette guidelines to take the anxiety out of office gifting. Determine if there is an office policy governing gift exchanges. Some businesses may have a specific policy in place that establishes guidelines on what makes acceptable, appropriate gifts for coworkers. The larger the company, the more specific the policy is likely to be. Consider the overall office climate. Is yours a relaxed working environment, or is it ultraformal? Allow the corporate culture to play a part in your gifting decisions. A gift that may be appropriate for a smaller, casual company may not be fitting for a large, rules-heavy corporation. Always let common sense prevail. Establish a spending limit. Spending limits let

everyone know just how much to spend. Resist the urge to go above and beyond. While you may just want to be generous, others may view an expensive gift as a way to show off or an attempt to flatter a coworker oreven a boss. Think of life outside the office. When shopping, start thinking about what your coworkers like to do when they are not at work. For example, golf enthusiasts may enjoy a box of balls or a gift certificate to play at an area course. Stick to generic gifts if you are unsure of what your coworkers do when they are not working. Personalized holiday mementos, gadgets for entertaining, items that can be used around the office or foodrelated gift baskets make great holiday gifts. Remember to take into account others’ religions and traditions when shopping. Avoid gifts that are overly personal. Steer clear of giving fragrances or cosmetic products because you do not know what the other person will like. Scented products also may send the wrong message, indicating you think someone needs to cover up with an aroma. Clothing is another gift to avoid, as certain items may be seen as suggestive and you may not be in tune with the recipient’s personal style. Consider personal or handmade gifts as well. Engraved picture frames, hand-picked gift baskets filled with homemade treats or gift certificates to favorite coffee shops or lunch spots in the vicinity of the office make ideal office gifts.

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How to navigate return policies

The holiday season is rife with merriment and gift-giving. Shoppers flock to stores in an effort to find the ideal gifts for everyone on their lists. While shoppers hope the presents they select will be well-liked, many know that not every gift will be the perfect fit. It’s in shoppers’ best interests to familiarize themselves with store return policies to avoid being stuck with unwanted purchases or losing money on exchanges. Knowledge of store policies also is useful information to pass on to gift recipients, so that they will be able to realize the full benefit of their gifts should something need to be replaced. Shoppers who anticipate a loved one returning their gift would be wise to always include a gift receipt with gifts. Some stores offer only store credit to people who return gifts without receipts, while others may not allow non-receipt returns at all. In addition, some retailers only offer non-receipt refunds that are equivalent to the lowest recent sale price. Consumers can arm themselves with this information and take a proactive approach to holiday shopping. Visit the customer service desk and ask for the complete return and exchange policy. Study the policy to understand how exchanges or

refunds are handled. Think about purchases before making them, which may cut down on the number of exchanges or returns necessary. Keep all receipts in a safe place. Opt for emailed receipts whenever possible, as such receipts may be easier to catalog and less likely to go missing. Ask for gift receipts if you are uncertain if the gift recipient will like the gift or you aren’t sure on sizing or fit. Attach this receipt to a tag so it does not get lost during wrapping. Visit the return desk during off-peak hours, such as dinnertime or early in the morning, when employees will be less harried and better able to work with you on facilitating exchanges. Make purchases on store credit cards or other credit cards. Doing so may make the purchases easier to track if the receipt goes missing. Shop at retailers with notoriously good return policies. Money magazine and GOBankingRates say that Nordstrom; L.L. Bean; Bed, Bath & Beyond; JC Penney; and Costco have the most generous return policies. Returns and exchanges are a part of holiday giving. Consumers who educate themselves on stores’ return policies can make the holiday season easier for themselves and their loved ones.

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Take care of yourself at Addison Street Spa

At Addison Street Spa, “It’s about wellness.” Since 1999, that has been our motto. Our mission is to provide a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. Addison Street Spa is a getaway conveniently located in the quaint village of Larchmont in lower Westchester. We are easy to access by personal or public transportation and welcome anyone seeking to look and feel their very best. We offer exceptional therapeutic, energetic and specialized bodywork treatments, including favorites like Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, pregnancy massage and Reiki. We offer personalized facials for all skin types and treatments to address your skin care issues. Our product line, Dermalogica, is highly recognized and provides effective skin care solutions for in-spa services and home care. For the finishing touches, waxing and other beauty enhancement services are available. Our talented staff of aesthetic and bodywork

professionals has many years of experience and a wide knowledge of therapeutic bodywork techniques and skin care treatments. Awarded “The Best Deep Tissue Massage’” in Westchester in 2015, we are well-known for the amazing hands, caring hearts and skill of our practitioners. We welcome you to come and experience our cozy space where our friendly service coordinators are excited to recommend the perfect services for your needs and ensure you have an enjoyable experience. Men, women and teens ages 13 and up are sure to find services to please. It’s the perfect time and the perfect season to share a pampering experience. To make it easy and affordable, we are happy to offer special prices on our highly acclaimed, client-recommended service packages. Gift certificates are now on sale for these service combinations: • Age Smart facial and Trilogy hot stone massage: $260

• Swedish massage and 30-minute foot massage: $140 • Swedish massage and European facial (two hours): $190 • 45-minute massage and 45-minute facial: $160 • Series of six Swedish massages or European facials: $570 Instant gift certificates can be printed from our website at addisonstreetspa.com. You can also

call us at 833-3223, or come and see us at 9 Addison St. in Larchmont. Don’t forget to pamper yourself in this demanding, high stress time of year. We look forward to serving you this holiday season and continuing to be a part of your wellness journey in the coming new year. Happy Holidays from all of us at Addison Street Spa! (Submitted)

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Last-minute holiday shopping tips

Fine gifts from Talner’s New Rochelle storefront Leonard Italiano would be amazed by the vast and prestigious selection of jewelry, crystal, china and other fine gifts that fill the Main Street store at the corner of Centre Avenue. Italiano was one of New Rochelle’s premier jewelers, first working door to door and then in an upstairs store on Mechanic Street as early as 1924. Despite his birth name, Italiano was not of Italian descent; he was one of New Rochelle’s early Jewish shopkeepers. By the time he opened a small Main Street store near Centre Avenue in 1928, he had changed his name to Leonard Talner. His brother, Joseph, joined the business and took over its management when Leonard died in 1941. Like his brother, Joseph also died in his early 50s, just seven years later. Leonard’s widow and her cousin, Arnold Heaps, ensured the continued operations and high standards of the store. Leonard’s son, Robert, joined the family business after serving in the Korean War. In 1960, he and Heaps purchased the store from the other Talner family members and began expansions. By 1962, they enlarged the store by purchasing the adjacent hat store, dress shop and Fannie Farmer Candies. Seventeen years later, when Robert Talner died, Heaps became the sole owner. Talner Fine Jewelry and Roadside China

Holiday shopping season typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and extends all the way to Christmas Eve. While that’s a considerable amount of time for shoppers to find gifts for everyone on their shopping list, many people will still find themselves putting holiday shopping off until the last minute. In certain ways, last-minute holiday shopping is easier than ever. Thanks to online retailers who can ship products overnight, men and women who delay their holiday shopping have more options at their disposal than they did before the arrival of the Internet. And unlike the days of yore when the best deals were largely exclusive to Black Friday, some shoppers find that competition between online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar stores is so great that deals can be found regardless of when they begin shopping. But while waiting until the last minute to begin holiday shopping may not be as risky as it used to be, shoppers may still benefit by sticking to certain strategies so they can find the perfect gifts without breaking the bank. Stay within your budget. Even last-minute shoppers have holiday shopping budgets. But it can be harder for last-minute shoppers to stick to their budgets because they have less time to comparison shop and hunt for deals. As the holiday shopping season winds down, resist the temptation to go over budget. If a gift you had in mind is available but more than you can spend, look for something else. Overspending on holiday shopping in December is a recipe for debt in January, and no shopper wants to begin the new year weighed down by consumer debt.

Shop local. National chains and big box retailers are renowned for rolling out great deals during the holiday season, but such stores may have very limited or unimpressive inventory left by the time last-minute shoppers begin shopping. Local retailers are often incapable of slashing prices as significantly as their larger competitors, and that may mean they have more extensive inventories available throughout the holiday shopping season. In addition, shoppers who stick with local retailers won’t have to pay shipping costs to ensure items arrive on time. Shop during off-peak hours. Shopping during off-peak hours can help last-minute shoppers make efficient use of the limited time they have to buy gifts for their loved ones. Visit stores early in the morning or late at night, or schedule a midweek afternoon shopping trip so you aren’t spending what little time you have left waiting on lines or hunting for parking. Give something less traditional. Holiday gifts need not come from stores. Rather than spending their time shopping for gifts for loved ones who seemingly have it all, last-minute shoppers can give the gift of a donation in their loved one’s name. Last-minute shoppers who want to give something more tangible can create a homemade gift that’s both unique and heartfelt. If your DIY skills are lacking, give a loved one the gift of a night out on the town at your expense. Shoppers who wait until the end of the holiday shopping season to begin their searches for holiday gifts can still find great gifts without going broke.

draws customers from throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties who want quality merchandise and superior service. The shop carries a select line of fine jewelry, including many set with diamonds or gemstones, watches and estate jewelry. In addition, Talner is renowned for expert watch and jewelry repairs, serving generations of loyal satisfied customers, even those who have moved away from the region but still return to purchase that special engagement ring or gift. Talner holds a special place in the hearts of many. Talner also offers the largest selection of tabletops in Westchester County, with a full line of elegant china and beautifully crafted crystal from prestigious companies such as Lalique, Lenox, Baccarat, Waterford, and Herend. It is the place to shop for gifts of distinction and the perfect place for bridal registries. The shop’s distinctive gift boxes are recognized and welcome everywhere. Over the years, Talner’s gracious and accommodating service, and distinctive and top-quality jewelry has attracted the likes of Tommy Manville, Theresa Brewer, Dennis James, Peter Lind Hayes, and other celebrities who made their home in New Rochelle. Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of the Talner store’s first customers are now buying engagement rings here. (Submitted)

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