Harrison REVIEW THE
May 12, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 19 | www.harrisonreview.com
West Harrison resident kills in-law, commits suicide By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer
FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
Ken Jenkins, left, and George Latimer pause for a moment during the Westchester County Democratic Committee Convention on May 10. The two candidates are vying for the party’s nomination for county executive. For story, see page 9. Photo/Jen Parente
Standard delays Playland payment again By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With an appeal of a lawsuit over slated renovations at Playland Park looming large, new park manager Standard Amusements says it will again wait to issue its first contractual payment to Westchester County until litigation with the city of Rye is resolved. The extension, which was announced by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino’s administration last week, will prolong the transfer of a $750,000 payment from Standard—half of a contractual $1.5 million payment initially due in June—until a “final determination is made with regards to litigation with the city of Rye.” Last month a lawsuit filed by the city, which sought to declare itself lead agency on environmental review of capital projects at the park, was thrown out by a judge, and Rye has since filed a notice of appeal—the precursor to an official
appeal—of the court’s decision. The city will have approximately five months to finalize an official appeal. Another $750,000 payment, according to a statement from the Astorino administration, will be made to the county following a Board of Legislators decision on $10 million in improvements for Playland’s pool, which has remained in limbo since last year. A contractual deadline on the pool’s fate is Dec. 31. But this week, tensions over Playland’s pool escalated after representatives from Standard floated a plan to build a removable deck that would support a café or restaurant area over the rehabbed pool site; an option that drew concern from Democrats. “I don’t think anyone would have a problem with a more of a passive use,” said Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, of Playland’s pool location. “Unfortunately, something like a coffee shop or restaurant would create a lot of
noise and trash.” In addition to Parker, Rye elected officials have also spoken out against the idea of adding a dining space, citing the potential to exacerbate noise and traffic conditions for abutting Rye neighborhoods. Last year, the Board of Legislators voted to include $10 million in a 2017 list of capital projects that would go toward renovating an ailing Playland Pool. Playland pool, according to a 2007 report from the county’s parks department was, at one point, leaking as much as 35,000 gallons of water per day. Though both Standard and the administration had pushed for the complete removal of Playland’s pool last year, backlash from lawmakers and county residents, of which nearly 2,000 signed a petition last year in support of keeping the structure, temporarily prevented the pool’s demise. In the past, Standard’s payment PLAYLAND continued on page 11
A murder investigation that began in the Putnam County hamlet of Mahopac ended in West Harrison, where, several days later, the alleged suspect was found dead in a parking lot from a self-inflicted gunshot. Harrison police found Filippo Buffone, 69, dead in the parking lot of Silver Lake Mutual Society near his house on Park Avenue on May 2. The Carmel Police Department, which conducted the murder investigation in Mahopac, believe Buffone was responsible for the shooting of his son’s mother-in-law, Perla Gatchalian. Carmel police Chief Michael Cazzari said in a press conference after Buffone’s death that Gatchalian, 75, lived with her daughter and son-in-law and their children in their home in Mahopac where her body was found in the afternoon of April 27; he connected the homicide to a financial dispute between the in-laws. “It is believed that the motive is rooted in anger over financial issues,” Cazzari said. Police had been investigating and searching for evidence in West Harrison several days after the murder before Buffone’s death. They had towed away a car from Park Avenue, and searched through garbage cans, a clothing donation bin and a storm drain on Lake Street. Ultimately, police found the weapon in a wooded area off of Route 6 in Yorktown on Tuesday, May 2, the day Buffone took his own life. “Unfortunately, although we had identified him as a suspect within 24 hours of this crime, Filippo Buffone shot and killed himself in the parking lot off Park Avenue near his residence in Harrison, New York,” Cazzari said. “While the investigation is still continuing, there is no indication at this
time that anyone else is involved in Mrs. Gatchalian’s death.” Harrison police had blocked off the scene of Buffone’s suicide around noon, and removed the body soon after. According to state police, family members reported him missing earlier that morning. Buffone had been a Harrison resident since at least 1970, according to Westchester County land records. He also owned a barbershop in the village of Elmsford and had been a barber for nearly 40 years. The Carmel Police Department collaborated with Harrison and Yorktown police, as well as the New York state Police Department and the Putnam County sheriff’s office in their investigation, which is still ongoing as of press time. Carmel Police Lt. John Dearman could not be reached for additional comment as of press time. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
TIMELINE OF EVENTS April 27, 3:18 p.m. Perla Gatchalian found dead in her Mahopac home April 29 Police block off Park Ave. in W. Harrison, investigate the area and tow away a car May 1 Police continue search for evidence in W. Harrison, check garbage cans, a clothing donation bin and a Lake Street sewer grate May 2, 4:30 a.m. Family members of Filippo Buffone report him missing May 2 Police locate the suspected murder weapon in a wooded area near Route 6 in Yorktown May 2 Police find Filippo Buffone dead from a gunshot in a parking lot near his house May 3, 10 a.m. Carmel police hold pressconference, suspect Buffone to be Gatchalian’s killer
INSIDE Wegmans proposal moves forward Story on page 3.