Harrison REVIEW THE
January 13, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 2 | www.harrisonreview.com
Brightview residence to seek final approval By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer
A ban on gun shows held at county facilities was pushed forward by Westchester County lawmakers this week following a razor-thin 9-8 partisan vote, but County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, may have the final say, as a veto looms large. For story, see page 6. Photo/Aaron Kershaw
Proposed AvalonBay development making headway By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The town’s proposed transitoriented development, known as the AvalonBay Harrison, which would be built along the MetroNorth train station on Halstead Avenue, is making headway after the Planning Board elected to commence a period of public comment on Jan. 9 for a zoning change. The Planning Board is seeking to take the next step by recommending a change in the town’s zoning ordinance, which would pave the way for the remaining municipal approvals sought by AvalonBay. Currently, the proposed complex is locat-
ed in a central business district, which restricts the construction of a transit-oriented development. “This is definitely wonderful for the town,” said Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican. “This project has continuously been vetted and vetted, and hopefully this will be the start of a renaissance.” The proposed development calls for the construction of three, 4-story mixed-use buildings and two pedestrian plazas that will include 143 units of luxury apartments—76 one-bedrooms, 59 two-bedrooms, and eight three-bedrooms—in Harrison’s central business district. According to the proposal, the complex will include 136 mar-
ket-rental apartment units; seven will be reserved for affordable housing. Additionally, the multi-family residential complex, which has been virtually unopposed, according to Belmont, would include 27,000 square feet of commercial space for restaurants and coffee shops, structure parking in two of three buildings, and infrastructure improvements that will include an underground storm water management system. Mark Weingarten, an attorney representing AvalonBay Communities, the company proposing the complex, said he expects the development will draw interest from companies such as Starbucks to attract patrons. He
added that the housing development will appeal to “professionals, empty nesters, and people in transition.” According to the proposal, it is anticipated that the Harrison school district could see a potential increase in new schoolchildren—approximately four to 10 students—as a result of the project, which could cost the school district as much as $217,000. In return, the district would generate approximately $445,012 in property taxes, and would gain a net tax benefit of between approximately $220,000 and $358,000. The proposed structure, which AVALON continued on page 9
Eight months after the Town Council approved an amendment to the town zoning code at the request of a developer planning to build a senior living facility, Harrison officials have scheduled a public hearing before they possibly issue a final approval. The Harrison Town Council will hold a public hearing on Feb. 16, and could then vote to approve or deny the construction of the Brightview Senior Living Center, a proposal that has stirred the West Harrison community for more than a year. During a Dec. 20 meeting, the Planning Board issued site plan approval on the 160-unit senior living facility slated for a 7.3acre site in West Harrison. But, since a special exception for the development was first requested in 2015, residents have protested that the development would put excess strain on the town’s emergency services, could cause traffic congestion on Lake Street, and could create noise and odor pollution to the surrounding areas, including a ridge which overlooks the site. David Steinmetz, an attorney for the developer, pointed to several changes that have been made to the plans in the fall to mitigate those concerns, including lowering the building’s roof height, pushing the building back from the property line, and reducing the noise generated by the rooftop heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Steinmetz added that he expects the Town Council to approve the
development soon. “The town has already engaged in a very careful and thoughtful rezoning, environmental and planning process,” he said. In 2015, Brightview Senior Living Center and its parent company, The Shelter Group, petitioned the Town Council to adopt a zoning amendment allowing for assisted living facilities to be built on nine residentially zoned properties. One of those parcels was 600 Lake St., the site of the defunct Lake Street Quarry, on which Brightview said it planned to build a 165,000-square-foot development. In May, the council passed a stricter amendment, allowing assisted living on only six sites instead of nine, but that list still included the Lake Street property. The makeup of the Town Council has changed since that vote, however. Newly elected Councilman Richard Dionisio, a Republican, has spoken out publicly against the proposed development. During his campaign, he said he thought 600 Lake St. was not an appropriate location for a senior living development. Dionisio could not be reached for comment as of press time. “I think the town seems to be rubber-stamping this,” said Angela Damiano, a West Harrison resident who has spoken out against the development. She added that she thought a lawsuit, which is currently before the court intended to repeal the zoning amendment, would be more likely to stop the development than a public hearing. After the decision in May to BRIGHTVIEW continued on page 8
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January 13, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 3
Harrison swears in new councilman P U B LI S H ES
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Judge Denis Donovan, left, a former New York state Supreme Court justice, and new Harrison Councilman Richard Dionisio recite the oath of office, officially installing Dionisio to his Town Council seat. Photos/Corey Stockton
After a closely contested race to complete the final year on an unexpired town councilman term, newly elected Councilman Richard Dionisio—who won a special election in November— was sworn in before a Jan. 5 Town Council meeting. Dionisio was sworn in in front
of his family, Harrison residents and several town and Westchester County Republican leaders, including county Republican Committee Chairman Douglas Colety, Harrison Town Republican Committee Chairman Bob Amelio, former Harrison police chief and former mayoral candi-
Councilman Richard Dionisio, after being sworn in before the first Town Council meeting of 2017, smiles at his family, Harrison residents and town and Westchester County Republican officials who packed the Harrison municipal building to watch him take his oath.
date David Hall, and Town Justice Pasquale Gizzo. Dionisio was sworn in by former New York state Supreme Court Justice Denis Donovan. During a brief speech following his inauguration, Dionisio thanked his supporters, adding that he would do his best to serve them and the town. Those in attendance were then treated to hors d’oeurves and a champagne toast. With Dionisio’s election, town Republicans gained unanimous control of the council for at least another year. Dionisio won the election against Chris Rodier, a Democrat, by a margin of 83 votes. In an earlier Democratic primary election, Rodier had handily beaten incumbent Councilman Joe Stout, who was appointed by the council to replace the late Joseph Cannella, a Republican who had been elected to town judge before his councilman term expired; Cannella died of a heart attack late last year. Dionisio’s term is only one year long, filling out the remainder of Cannella’s term; he would have to run again in November this year to be elected to his own four-year term. Also up for election this November are Councilwoman Marlane Amelio and Mayor Ron Belmont, both Republicans. Dionisio could not be reached for comment as press time. -Reporting by Corey Stockton
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4 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 13, 2017
What’s going on... Harrison Public Library
Visit harrisonpl.org for more information on programs and library hours. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 16, the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the West Harrison Branch will be closed.
Girls Who Code On Saturdays, from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. This is a program for girls in grades 7–12. Work with your club on a computer science impact project, where you’ll learn to use computer science to solve a problem relevant to your club and community. Participants must bring their own laptop. Registration is required online or by calling 835-0324.
to 3:30 p.m. Each session is on a first-come, firstserved basis; no registration required. Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program involves reading articles, watching videos, and meeting in a group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. The program is facilitated by Joan Katen, an adjunct professor of Political Science and Peace and Justice, with special guest speakers. Participants contribute to the 2017 FPA National Opinion Ballot which can be submitted online at fpa.org/ballots or in person. You do not need a briefing book to participate. Video and articles for discussion can be found online at fpa. org. A reference copy of the briefing booklet is also available at the library. The Great Decisions series is free and open to the public.
One-on-One e-Help On Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Need help with downloading e-books, audiobooks, apps, or using Google Drive, email, or searching the Internet with your tablet, phone or laptop? Bring your device and questions and get one-on-one assistance. Please register online, by phone at 8350324, or in person at the library.
Sing Along Sundays with Chloe
Crochet and Knitting
On Sundays from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Celebrate early childhood through music and movement. Children and parents are sure to love the captivating songs, live accordion music, and activities designed with specific cognitive milestones in mind. This class will feature a variety of child-sized instruments and props, and a wealth of both traditional and original songs to add to your singalong repertoire. Get ready for a fun, creative, and engaging experience.
On Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the West Harrison Branch. Want to learn how to knit or crochet a simple scarf? Join this class. Drop in anytime and bring hooks, needles and yarn or practice with the library’s. No registration required. Call 948-2092 for more information.
Great Decisions booklet and program Purchase the 2017 edition of the Great Decisions briefing booklet ahead of the program, starting Jan. 17. Stop by the library on Monday, Jan. 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m. to buy your personal copy. Cost: $20, cash only. The first topic will be “Brexit and the Future of Europe” on Jan. 17 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. The snow date will be Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 1:30 p.m.
Estate and Long-term Care Planning On Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the West Harrison Branch. An overview of basic estate planning documents, types of trusts, assets preservation techniques, long-term care, and incapacity planning and methods to avoid or minimize estate and gift taxes will be presented. Elder law attorney Salvatore DiCostanzo will be the guest speaker.
Pajama Party with Chloe On Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the West Harrison Branch. For children up to age 4; siblings are welcome. Participants can wear pajamas and sing with Chloe during this evening class with songs, music and more. No registration required.
She’s not crazy, her name just rhymes with it. Read Lenore Skenazy’s column every week in the Review. A past contributor to the Daily News and the New York Sun, Skenazy has also appeared on “The Daily Show,” been profiled in the New Yorker and even had her own reality TV show, “World’s Worst Mom.”
English for Japanese Speakers On Fridays from 9:14 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. This class is for Japanese speakers learning English. Practical everyday conversational English is taught, and always tailored to the students’ needs. This class is taught by Julie Jacobs. Class is held once a week on Friday mornings and follows the Harrison school district calendar.
Mommy and Me Yoga with Angela On Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Bring your own mat for a relaxing yoga class with the littlest ones. For non-walkers and their caregivers.
Chloe’s Sign & Play On Fridays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Give your child the gift of language. Sign & Play is a fun class where families can learn to communicate with their pre-verbal children using real signs from American Sign Language. Based on the 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.
Yoga with Angela On Fridays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Bring your own mat and water to this lovely, mind-and-bodyrelaxing yoga experience with Angela Brandt, a registered and certified yoga instructor. This is an opportunity to create self-esteem, physical coordination, breath relaxation and strength. For grades 2–5.
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.
Mad Science: Secret Agent Lab Step into the shoes of a detective and uncover the science involved in evidence gathering and analysis. You will probe the science of tracking as you stamp out scenarios and uncover codes in this program. Some of the weekly topics in this session include: Crime Lab, Cracking the Case, The Science of Security, Agent Undercover, Sleuths on the Scene, Funky Forensics, Spy Academy, Junior Detectives, Discover Detection, and Whodunit? The program starts on Friday, Jan. 20 for eight weeks, and will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building and the Leo Mintzer Center on Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for grades K–3. For more information and to register, visit register.madscience.org/westchester or call 888-623-3724. Tuition is $200.
The Harrison Players Open auditions The Harrison Players Theatre Group presents
open auditions for “Inherit the Wind,” written by Robert Edwin Lee and Jerome Lawrence, and directed by Anthony J. Valbiro. Auditions will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building, located at 210 Halstead Ave. in Harrison, on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday, Jan. 22 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Performances will take place on from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2. For questions, email harrisonplayers@yahoo.com. For more information, visit harrisonplayers.org.
Manhattanville College Jazz and wind ensembles auditions The Manhattanville College Community Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble announce auditions for their 2016–2017 season. All qualified musicians are welcome to audition for positions in the jazz ensemble and wind ensemble, which are composed of college students as well as residents of Westchester and Rockland counties, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and New York City. The Community Jazz Ensemble rehearses regularly on Tuesday evenings, and the Wind Ensemble rehearses regularly on Thursday evenings. Both groups meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Berman Center on the college’s campus at 2900 Purchase St. in Purchase. If you are interested in auditioning, please contact the director, Terry Reynolds, at Terry.Reynolds@mville.edu. For further information call the Music Office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 323-5260.
Jewish Community Center of Harrison Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, the Jewish Community Center of Harrison, JCCH, will welcome Rabbi Gerald L. Zelizer as a guest speaker at services on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 14. Zelizer will speak on “Reverend King and Rabbi Heschel: Their Message, My Memories.” King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel first met in 1963 at the National Conference on Race and Religion. The two marched arm in arm from Selma to Montgomery. Zelizer was present when Dr. King addressed the Rabbinical Assembly convention in March 1968, just weeks before he was assassinated. Zelizer served a number of Jewish communities, including Congregation Neve Shalom in Metuchen, New Jersey, from which he retired in 2015 after 45 years. He writes widely in regional and national publications on topics in religion and popular culture. Services on Jan. 14 will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by a Kiddush lunch. This program is free and open to the entire community. All are welcome. For more information, call the JCCH at 8352850 or visit jcch.org. The JCCH is located at 130 Union Ave. in Harrison. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.
January 13, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 5
County to hold hearing on Bee-Line fare hikes By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The cost to ride Westchester County’s Bee-Line bus service could increase in early 2017, following the outcome of a January public hearing. County officials have scheduled a public hearing for Monday, Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Westchester County Center, seeking input from residents on two MTA-proposed plans for MetroCard price increases, called Proposal 1 and Proposal 2. Westchester adopted the MetroCard system in 2007, tethering the Bee-Line prices to the prices for New York City buses and subways, but also allowing for a free transfer between the two systems. The MTA intends to increase its bus and subway fare this year as part of its long-term financial plan. Both Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 would increase the cost of the seven-day unlimited pass from $31 to $32 and would increase the 30-day unlimited pass from $116.50 to $121. Only Proposal 2 would increase
the single ride price, or base fare, from $2.75 to $3. That plan would also keep fares for senior citizens and riders with disabilities at half-price, while Proposal 1 would slightly reduce that rate. For those who purchase a 30day pass each month, the annual cost increase would be $54 per year for either of the two new plans. Student MetroCard costs would increase by $2 on either proposal. However, the bus fare would not increase for the WestchesterManhattan Express line; that fare costs $7.50 per ride. In July 2016, the county raised fares on its curb-to-curb Bee-Line service for those with disabilities, ParaTransit, from $4 per trip to $5. The Americans with Disabilities Act allows the county to charge twice the rate of normal bus fare for ParaTransit. According to Daniel Branda, a spokesman for the county administration, Westchester had the option to decline the MTA’s proposed fare hikes, but would have had to renegotiate its
agreement with MTA to use the MetroCard, which he said would have been impractical. According to the MTA’s 2016–2019 financial plan, the bus fare increase would take place on March 1, coinciding with rate increases across several of the MTA’s services, including the New York City subway system. The same financial plan suggests a similar fare increase in March 2019. The transit authority has planned rate increases every odd year since 2009, most recently in March 2015, when the price of a single ride increased by 25 cents to the current rate. During that price change, the seven-day and 30-day passes increased by $1 and $4.50, respectively. In addition to the public hearing, the county is also soliciting written comments through email at beeline@ westchester.gov or by mail to the county Department of Transportation, but will not accept written comments submitted after Jan. 25. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Westchester County’s Bee-Line bus service could increase its fares this year as part of the MTA’s financial plan through 2020, and may also make rate increase changes in 2019. Photo/Corey Stockton
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County lawmakers pass gun show ban
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer The tight passage of a bill banning gun shows at countyowned facilities by Westchester lawmakers this week may be all for naught as final approval is likely to be vetoed by the county executive. The bill, which was approved by a 9-8 partisan vote of the 17-member county Board of Legislators on Monday, Jan. 9, comes less than two weeks before a scheduled gun show at the County Center in White Plains; the occurrence of which was only made apparent late last month, according to some Democratic lawmakers. But according to County Attorney Robert Meehan, even if the bill were signed into law by County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, prior to the show, the county would be contractually obligated to let the expo go forward, or risk litigation. The show is poised to net $29,000, according to representative from the county Parks Department, and there are currently no other gun shows scheduled for this year. Following its approval, the bill will now go before Astorino where the county executive is
The Rev. Troy Decohen, of Mount Vernon Heights Congregation, spoke in support of the ban passed on Jan. 9. Just under two weeks ago, 13-year-old Shamoya McKenzie, a Mount Vernon resident, was killed by a stray bullet on New Year’s Eve.
expected to veto its passage. At that point, the veto would be sent back to lawmakers who would then require a super majority vote to override the county executive’s veto. A super majority requires the vote of 12 members of the Board of Legislators. Majority Leader John Testa, a Republican, who spoke to the Review last week, said passage of the law—which would require an override of Astorino’s veto and three Republican votes—is unlikely. According to Joe Sgamatto, a spokesman for the Democratic Caucus, legislators will have up to a year to call for an override
in the event of a veto from Astorino. The bill, part of a Democratic initiative last discussed at a committee meeting in June 2016, looks to effectively reinstate a ban on gun shows originally imposed by former County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat, in 1999 which lapsed in 2010, the year Astorino first took office. More recently, public debate over the circulation of guns in Westchester reignited after a gun store opened in Harrison less than 1,000 feet from an elementary school late last year, spurring a torrent of backlash from residents, and an online petition garnering 3,500 signatures. Since then, at least one community, the village of Rye Brook, has begun drafting legislation regulating the operation of gun stores within a certain proximity to schools. The county proposal has already proven divisive in both the Legislature and amongst residents countywide who filled the legislative chambers in White Plains on Monday to show their support and objections to a potential ban. While Democratic lawmakers have characterized gun shows at the County Center as a liability and potential gateway for illeResidents from across the county gathered outside the Westchester County Office on Monday to hold a candlelight vigil for victims of gun violence in anticipation of a vote on gun show on county facilities. Photos/Aaron Kershaw
Westchester county residents on both sides of the debate came bearing signs showing support and opposition of the ban on gun shows held at county facilities.
gal “straw sales”—purchasers who pose as the actual owner of firearms—Republicans have called any such ban unconstitutional and ultimately ineffective in curbing illegal sales. Republicans have also introduced their own legislation regulating gun shows which would adopt a set of rules outlined by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman through proposed local laws. Among other items, the rules would codify procedures on proper signage regarding background checks as well as proper procedure for federally licensed firearm dealers. Which agency would be responsible for enforcement, according to Sgamatto, remains to be seen. The Rev. Troy Decohen of Mount Vernon Heights Congregation, who also took part in a candlelight vigil for victims of gun violence held outside the legislative chambers on Monday,
echoed Democratic sentiments. “They claim that [the guns] get into the hands of only good people; people that are trying to do right,” Decohen said on Monday. “If one gun gets out from the gun show, it’s one gun too much; if one gets into the hands of the wrong person, it’s one too much.” On the other side of the aisle, residents like Scott Sommavilla, president of the Westchester Gun Owners Association, feel the ban, and rhetoric surrounding it, paints an unfair picture of how gun purchases in the county, and statewide, work. “You can’t just come in buy a gun and go home with it,” Sommavilla said. Because of requirements, like those outlined by the New York State Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement, SAFE, Act, Sommavilla said straw sales would be highly unlikely. “No one goes out into the parking lot and sells a gun,” he said, referencing strict licensing and serial number requirements. “If that gun is used in a crime, it’s coming back to you.” George Longworth, commissioner of county Public Safety, said at a joint Board of Legislators committee meeting last week that there are no recorded illegal gun sales that have been directly attributed to the gun shows recorded. Public hearings on the proposed rules are set to be held at the Westchester County Center’s Little Theater on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. Speakers may sign up to give their input starting at 6:15 p.m. Ned McCormack, communications director for the county executive, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
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8 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 13, 2017
A new year in Harrison HARRISON HAPPENINGS Mayor Ron Belmont
I would like to take this time to extend warm wishes for a happy and healthy new year. I hope you and your loved ones had a festive holiday season. I want to thank each resident for their support during this past year. To date, the Town Council has met some impressive goals and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish in 2017. As we embark on the new year, I am pleased to report that Harrison continues to add to the success of the last several years while keeping tax increases under control, maintaining a healthy reserve, and managing all of our basic municipal services. In addition to our Aaa (Triple A) bond rating from Moody’s, Harrison’s 2017 budget was adopted and remains under Gov. Cuomo’s mandated tax cap. Continuing this positive trajectory is a priority. I am eager to meet new challenges and look forward to the opportunities ahead. Please be aware of the following sanitation notice: Christmas trees may be placed curbside, for pickup, through Tuesday, Jan. 31. Please do not place trees in
plastic bags. No holiday wreaths or roping will be collected. Prior to the Jan. 1 deadline, Cuomo signed a bill that will allow the town/village of Harrison to levy a hotel or room occupancy tax for stays at local hotels, specifically the Renaissance Westchester Hotel on West Red Oak Lane, the Hyatt House on Westchester Avenue, and the Westchester Country Club on North Street. The recent passage of the occupancy tax bill is wonderful news for Harrison, providing an alternative revenue source and property tax relief to our residents. The added proceeds will not only allow Harrison to make local, tourism-related infrastructure investments, it will also offset increased traffic and public safety needs. I would like to thank state Assemblyman David Buchwald and state Sen. George Latimer for their strong leadership and continued efforts in helping to pass this very important legislation. On Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m., join the school community for a wonderful fundraiser taking place in the Harrison High School gymnasium. Watch as the Harrison school faculty competes in a basketball game against the world-famous Harlem Wizards. All proceeds will benefit programs sponsored by
the district’s Elementary Enrichment Committee. For more information, visit harlemwizards. com. Our local libraries continue to offer great programs. This month, at the Harrison Public Library, patrons can celebrate Chinese New Year with a cooking demo and tasting. Learn how to make Chinese dumplings (jiaozi) and explore other prominent flavors and traditions of this joyful holiday celebrated by many Asian cultures around the world. This program will take place on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 11:30 a.m. On Friday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m., explore the meditative drawing method of Zentangle, a calming way to start the new year. In closing, please make note of the following sanitation schedule change for the week of Monday, Jan. 16: Jan. 16 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and is a federal holiday. Town offices will be closed. Garbage and recycling normally collected on Monday will be collected on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Garbage and recycling normally collected on Tuesday will be collected on Wednesday, Jan. 18. There will be no bulk trash pickup on Wednesday. The normal collection schedule for household trash and recycling will resume on Thursday, Jan. 19.
Former HUD monitor to run for NJ governor The housing monitor who was appointed to oversee Westchester County’s compliance with a 2009 affordable housing settlement before resigning in August 2016 will run in New Jersey’s Democratic primary this year, seeking the nomination to run for governor in November. James Johnson, a former federal prosecutor who also served in the U.S. Department of the Treasury under former President Bill Clinton’s administration, announced his candidacy for governor of New Jersey in late 2016. The news came 15 weeks after Johnson sent a letter to U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Denise Cote, resigning from his position as monitor overseeing Westchester’s compliance with a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD. Johnson had served in that role for seven years. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, had battled Johnson as the HUD monitor since taking office in
James Johnson, the former federal court-appointed monitor who oversaw Westchester County’s adherence to a 2009 affordable housing settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will run for New Jersey’s Democratic nominee for governor in 2017. Photo courtesy jimjohnson4governor.com
2010, often accusing him of overreaching on behalf of the federal government. During a press conference on Dec. 27, while announcing that the county had met the terms of its settle-
ment with HUD to build 750 units of affordable housing before 2017, Astorino commented on Johnson’s plans to run for governor as a Democrat. “If that doesn’t tell you he was partisan from the very beginning, I don’t know what will,” he said. Johnson will challenge at least seven other candidates—including New Jersey state Assemblyman John Wisniewski—for the Democratic nominee in a statewide primary. There are currently three Republican candidates as well. Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who ran in the presidential primary in 2016, cannot run for governor again in 2017 due to the state’s two-term limit. Astorino, who is in the final year of his second term as county executive, has also hinted at another run of his own for governor of New York state in 2018. He ran in 2014, losing to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, by a 14 percent margin. In New York state, there is no term limit on the governor’s office. -Reporting by Corey Stockton
BRIGHTVIEW page 1
The Brightview Senior Living Center development, which mobilized West Harrison residents and was a focal point in the recent Town Council election, is scheduled for public hearing in February and could subsequently be up for final approval by the council. File photo
amend the zoning code, several Harrison residents organized a group called Save Harrison Inc., and filed the lawsuit against the town to try to overturn the decisions of the Planning Board and Town Council which led to the amendment. The lawsuit would
nullify all subsequent decisions made on the Brightview development, including the Planning Board’s site plan approval as well as the council’s pending final approval, if it is granted. As of press time, Save Harrison has collected more than
600 signatures in protest of the development and more than $61,000 to support its lawsuit. Albert Pirro, an attorney for Save Harrison, could be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
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January 13, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 9
Park nets $265K in surplus; restaurant still vacant
AVALON from page 1
Following a presentation of the final environmental impact statement from representatives for the proposed AvalonBay development on Jan. 9, the Harrison Planning Board commenced a 30-day public comment period with an overall consensus to recommend a zoning change in the near future. Rendering courtesy AvalonBay Communities
The Rye Town Park Commission has begun soliciting offers to operate the park’s food service facilities for 2017, but members of the commission will not reveal any potential candidates until the Jan. 12 deadline to submit a proposal. Photo/James Pero
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye Town Park Commission is currently soliciting short-term, stopgap offers from vendors to operate the park’s vacant restaurant, and snack and concession stands in wake of Seaside Johnnies’ exit, but members will not reveal any potential candidates until the submission deadline, according to the commission president. According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and the president of the park commission, while the commission has received an undisclosed amount of verbal inquiries and several restaurateurs have viewed the park premises, the commission has decided to keep negotiations confidential until Jan. 12, the deadline to submit a letter of interest. While the commission has endured pressure to make a deal once the former operators of the park’s restaurant, Seaside Johnnies, walked away, Zuckerman said the commission is no longer as worried about its current restaurant vacancy, following a positive financial year in 2016. He said the park commission pulled in a $265,000 surplus in revenue last year, which would cover any operating deficit for the upcoming season,
if necessary. “The past year was a good year, and we’re still looking to be as successful this year,” Zuckerman told the Review. “Until we get a concrete proposal or consideration, it’s too premature to reveal anything.” The commission is seeking a one-year deal with vendors interested in taking over the facilities formerly occupied by John Ambrose and Sam Chernin’s Seaside Johnnies, who vacated the property at the end of last year after failing to reach an agreement for a short-term license extension. On Dec. 21, 2016, the commission began soliciting proposals to operate either one, some or all of the food facilities at the park. Rye Town Park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound, includes a beach side restaurant, a beach shop and snack bar, pavilions, and a bath house. Additionally, there is a second snack bar located at the north entrance of the park. “We’re not specifically anticipating anything,” Zuckerman said. “There may be proposals to take over just the restaurant and others for just the concessions stands.” According to Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the commission, the commission is also honing in on selecting a restau-
rant consultant to draft a new request for proposals, RFP, to solicit restaurateurs for a long-term deal for the period beginning in 2018. Last June, the park commission sent out an RFP and received two proposals, one from Ambrose and another from Angelo Liberatore, an operating partner of the Fort Pond Bay Company, which operates restaurants Half Moon and Harvest on Hudson in Westchester County. But in August, after Liberatore subsequently withdrew his proposal due to short notice in preparation for 2017, the commission decided to reject Ambrose’s 10-year proposal, which led to a communitywide consensus to start the RFP process over with a professional restaurant consultant. According to Killian, a committee consisting of herself and Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla, a Democrat and a member of the commission, and two residents—one from the town of Rye, Dan Tartaglia, and the other from the city of Rye, Russ Gold—will select the restaurant consultant. The committee met on Jan. 4 to discuss the selection of the consultant. As of press time, there is no clear candidate for the position. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
would replace a parking lot that currently holds 260 stalls, would contain a total of 751 parking spaces; 584 of those parking spaces would be located in the commuter parking garage, of which 475 of those 584 spaces would be reserved for MetroNorth commuters. As a result of the additional parking spaces, John Canning, a professional traffic engineer consulting AvalonBay, said the town could expect a 50 to 60 percent drop in traffic in the
surrounding area during peak hours. “There’s certainly going to be plenty of parking and we can’t wait,” Belmont said. According to Belmont, the development’s process dates back as far as the mid-90s, before it was written in the town’s master plan in 2013. In 2012, as part of an exclusionary agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA, which owns the property surrounding the Har-
rison train station, AvalonBay was selected to develop the site. While AvalonBay aims to secure a zoning change, the proposal still needs a slew of other approvals from the town, county and state. The development also needs approval from the MTA. The town Planning Board’s 30-day comment period will end on Feb. 8, followed by a meeting on Feb. 28, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
Volunteers needed for beach cleanup During the late fall through early spring days, various forms of litter and recyclables pile up on the beach at Rye Town Park. The daily cleaning and raking of the break by park staff is not carried out through the offseason. In order to keep the beach clean and safe, the park, the Friends of Rye Town Park, and the Rye
Town Park Alliance are joining forces to clean the 1,200-foot long beach on a monthly basis. Volunteers will work on the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., starting Jan. 14. Future dates are Feb. 11 and March 11. The program is geared toward high school and adult volunteers,
but younger people are welcome, as long as an adult accompanies them. If the dates and times are not convenient, people are welcome to come at other times. To sign up or for more information, contact Bill Lawyer at wglhillside@aol.com or Russ Gold at rsgold56@verizon.net. (Submitted)
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January 13, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 13
Attention, passengers RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
To celebrate the opening of the Second Avenue subway, we have commissioned the first New York Guide to Subway Jargon. Here it is—98 years in the making! Sick Passenger (noun): Patently lame excuse for lateness. e.g., “I meant to call you on your birthday, but there was a sick passenger on the train ahead of us.” Zizmor (noun): A blemish or disfiguration that causes the stomach to lurch. e.g., “When I finally pulled the leech off my nose it left an oozing Zizmor.” Hand Shame (verb): To accidentally grab the pole where someone else is already grabbing it. Kinky Pinky (verb): To deliberately grab the pole where someone else is already grabbing it. Hangry Birds (noun, plural): Hunger pangs activated by the smell of someone else’s fried chicken. See also: “Colonel Knowledge” (knowing that someone on the train is carrying KFC, but not being visually able to locate the source). Instant Grampification (noun): The shock one feels upon being offered a seat by someone you thought was your age. (fem: Grammafication) Doork (noun): Dork who blocks the door without realizing it. Joork (noun): Jerk who knows he’s blocking the door but keeps standing there, watching people
maneuver around him. Bunwich (noun): The very tight space between two other commuters. Snudge (noun): A real nudge pretending to be inadvertent. Train Traffic Ahead (noun): Colloquial for, “Brace yourself for bad news.” e.g., “The boss called a special meeting for 3 o’clock today. Could be train traffic ahead.” Nod Squad (noun, plural): Two or more passengers napping on the same bench. Warm Shoulder (noun): The shoulder a stranger has fallen asleep on. Sniff & Run (noun): An extremely under-populated car surrounded by extremely overcrowded cars. Grudge Budge (noun): The grimace made by a person who must move over an inch to make room for you. Grudge Buddies (noun, plural): The bonding emotion felt by former grudge budger and grudgee when they must make room for someone else. BBB (adj.): Short for “Baby Bump Blindness.” To not notice an eight-months’ pregnant woman holding onto the strap in front of you while you sit playing Candy Crush. Blobstacle (noun): Escalator rider who stands on the left side, not moving. ROTFL (noun): Anything “Rolling on the Floor Loudly,” e.g., an empty Snapple bottle. Point and Shoo (verb): To indicate a wet or sticky spot on the seat before someone sits down. New Natives (noun, plural): People who got on just one stop
before you, but act as if they own the seat. L-and-Back (noun): A hipster. Literally, someone who takes the L back and forth to their coding job. Tooth Squad (noun, plural): Individuals dedicated to blacking out the teeth of smiling news teams on subway ads. Bubbleheads (noun, plural): Individuals who add word and thought bubbles to posters, usually referencing the president, police or private parts. NJ Devils (noun, plural): Young people from New Jersey who drink in Greenwich Village then add devil horns to PATH train posters before vomiting and heading home. Box Shock (adj.): To be suddenly awakened by a boom box and someone’s sneakers near your nose. Family Dollar (verb): To give a single dollar to a subway performer or performers on behalf of all the members of your family. Post-a-Boo (verb): To sneak a peek at your neighbor’s Post. Peek-a-News (verb): To sneak a peek at your neighbor’s Daily News. A.M. Mayhem (noun): Being offered an A.M. New York by three or more people on your way into the train. Suspicious Package (noun): Male standing too close. Second Avenue (verb): To take longer than anyone thought possible. e.g., “I ordered my burger at 4 and they Second Avenued it at 11!”
#WestchesterSmart mobile app bowl returns Have an idea for a mobile app? Learn from the best, turn your idea into a reality and compete against the region’s top young techies at the third annual #WestchesterSmart Mobile App Development Bowl. Register your high school or college team today to guarantee a spot in the contest. Registration required no later than Monday, Jan. 30. There is no entry fee to compete. To learn more about the contest, sponsorship opportunities or how to be a judge, send an email to MobileAppContest@pace.edu. “The #WestchesterSmart Mobile App Development Bowl is a fun way to foster the talents of our students and push the boundaries of their potential,” said County Executive Rob Astorino. “At the same time, the contest is focused on creating apps that improve life for senior citizens, adding an intergenerational component. I want to thank Pace University for its continued partnership in making this competition possible.” The contest is a joint initiative of Astorino’s Office of Economic Development and Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. The purpose is to challenge students to put themselves on the “MAAP” by creating “Mobile Apps for Aging Populations.” Specifically, apps are being sought that improve an aspect of daily life for people
ages 65 and older. Cash prizes, paid internships and tech gear are all up for grabs for the winning teams. Last year, more than 250 students from the tri-state region participated in the contest. “We’re proud to again cosponsor and host the annual #WestchesterSmart Mobile App Development Bowl,” said Dr. Jonathan Hill, dean of the Seidenberg School. “This contest helps motivate students to develop an interest in STEM and provides the tri-state area’s most ambitious high school and college students an opportunity to learn how Pace University can help shape them into the next generation of coders, innovators, and technology leaders.” Students must compete in teams (two-person minimum). More than one team from the same school is permitted. Students may form and register independent teams without school affiliation. Students can also register as individuals, and Pace will assist them in forming a team. Students and team coaches will work to develop mobile apps that will be judged on creativity, functionality and usability. Free technical support will be offered to all participants via an online system, so no question will go unanswered for more than 24 to 48 hours. Teams will be invited to several contest workshops and celebrations—including a kickoff
pep rally, design and development workshops, and the judging and awards ceremony. In April, a panel of expert judges will score and determine the top mobile apps. Winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded during an event at Pace University’s Pleasantville Campus. Important dates: Kickoff Pep Rally and Workshops, Feb. 3, 2017, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. This celebratory pep rally will officially announce the commencement of the #WestchesterSmart Mobile App Development Bowl and will introduce student teams. Design and development workshops will follow. Mobile App Testing and Assessment Workshop, March 3, 2017, at Pace University, Pleasantville. Student teams will present their apps to evaluators to determine the app’s effectiveness and viability. These evaluators will include content and technical experts from academia, and private and public industry. Mobile App Judging and Awards Ceremony, April 28, 2017, at Pace University, Pleasantville. This celebratory event will recognize the contributions and efforts of all involved. It will also serve as a platform whereby judging takes place and prizes for the top teams will be announced. (Submitted)
CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Rocky is a gorgeous boy, about 2 years old. He is special needs because he has a heart condition which requires daily meds, which he easily takes. He is a love and just as sweet as can be, and is lively and fun! Rocky’s health is good and his heart condition under control with his medication. He is neutered, up-to-date with all vaccinations and microchipped. The adoption donation for Rocky is $100. To meet this handsome, distinctive boy, please call Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or 835-4133, or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
14 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 13, 2017
SPORTS
Championship glory LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
When I came into the office on Monday morning, I was all set to vent about the New York Giants. The frustration of watching Big Blue—and its boat-partying wide receiving corps—struggle at Lambeau Field, coupled with the fact that I would undoubtedly have to suffer through a few snide remarks from my Cowboyfan editor, meant that I didn’t want to think too much about football outside of devoting my column space to the overwhelming space of sports anguish. It’s a good thing I procrastinated, however, because Monday night made me forget all about Odell Beckham Jr. If you’ve read my column, you have probably gleaned that I’m not a huge college football fan. There are too many teams to follow, too many players to keep track of, and, coming from New
York, there isn’t one dominant program that automatically demands my allegiance. But watching Clemson stun Alabama in the final seconds of the National Championship Game on Jan. 9, none of that mattered at all. Now, I’m all for being a fan. My undying allegiance, say, to the Boston Red Sox, makes it possible for me to spend three hours in May watching an interleague game against the Padres. But sometimes, the best sporting events are the ones that don’t even require you to have a rooting interest. In truth I was rooting against Alabama, but not because of some innate hatred I have of the program, but because, all things being equal, how can you not root for the underdog against a program as dominant as Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide? So watching the Tigers move down the field, trailing by three points as time ticked off the clock on Monday night, I found myself filled with the same emotions
that I didn’t get to feel on Sunday. I clapped my hands with delight each time Deshaun Watson escaped pressure to deliver a strike to a receiver downfield. I audibly questioned Clemson’s clock management—showing you how ill-equipped I am to be a head coach—and when Watson finally hit former walk-on Hunter Renfrow for the winning score, I burst up off my couch, did a fist pump and felt, for a second, as though I was a Clemson lifer. And that’s what sports can do. If you strip away all the fandom, all the built-in rivalries and the circus surrounding the whole deal, you’re left with two teams, locked in an athletic struggle, that has the power—if only for a minute—to provide some kind of escape for the viewer. And that’s a beautiful thing. And it never hurts to watch Saban sulk, either. That’s really just the icing on the cake.
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On Jan. 9, the Clemson Tigers topped Alabama 35-31 to win the NCAA College Football National Playoff. That game helped Sports Editor Mike Smith forget about the weekend’s big Giants loss. Photo courtesy NCAA.com
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SPORTS
January 13, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 15
Popp, Garnets top Huskies girls basketball
league
RYE 55 HARRISON 37 HARRISON HS
1/10/17
Game Notes: • Rye’s Katie Popp led all scorers with 29 • Teams traded first-half runs before Rye pulled away in the third • Rye has won three in a row By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor After a disappointing start to the season, the Rye girls’ basketball team has begun to pick up the pace in January, reeling off three straight wins to start the new year. The Garnets’ latest victory came at the expense of league rival Harrison on Jan. 10, as Rye topped the Huskies 55-37 on the road.
Ellie Dailey fights for a rebound. Dailey scored 13 points and anchored Rye’s defense in the win.
Katie Popp rises for a shot against Harrison on Jan. 10. Popp had 29 points in Rye’s 55-37 win.
Rye traded big runs with Harrison early on and headed into halftime with just a 18-16 lead. The Garnets were able to pull away in the third quarter, however, after outscoring their hosts 21-9. Garnet point guard Katie Popp, who led all scorers with 29 points, said Rye’s secondhalf offensive surge was simply a function of raising the intensity level to match the defense. “Our defense was consistently great the whole game, but we needed to pick it up on offense,” Popp said. “That’s what we focused on at halftime; just keep playing strong and finish our shots, and that’s really what we did.” Ellie Dailey, who finished with 13 points for Rye, said that the Garnets came into the matchup aiming to slow down Harrison’s top scoring option, standout guard Avery LaBarbera. With LaBarbera being the focus of the Rye defense, teammate Lindsay McConway led the Huskies with 10 points. “We were trying to stop the drive off the screen, that was our main goal, and we really tried to stop [LaBarbera],” Dailey said. “We definitely planned for her; we know that she’s a great
Lindsay McConway goes up for a layup against the Garnets. McConway had 10 points.
shooter and that Harrison is a great team.” Tuesday’s matchup marked the first meeting between the Huskies and Garnets this season, and the two teams will face off again on Jan. 28 at Rye High School. Harrison will look to bounce back from the league loss with a win over Byram Hills on Jan. 12, after press time. The Garnets hope to keep their winning streak intact when they host Eastchester on Thursday. According to Popp, the Garnets are beginning to come into their own because of their struggles early on, not in spite of them. With a slew of league games still on the docket, a league title could still be in the cards for the reigning Section I champs. “I think in the beginning of the season we weren’t playing bad, we were just playing top ranked teams,” Popp said. “I think that was good because we know what a good team looks like, we’ve gotten better playing against good teams, and we’ve been putting those skills into play as we head into league games.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
Harrison’s Avery LaBarbera leads the fast break. Photos/Mike Smith
16 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • January 13, 2017