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Harrison REVIEW THE

July 28, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 30 | www.harrisonreview.com

BOE vets objections in tax receiver race By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

Making a difference Charlotte Ference plays the ukulele with a boy in Fandani, the village in South Africa where she taught English for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Jack Parker

Helping Hands to hold annual backpack event By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter Helping Hands for the Homeless & Hungry is holding its 29th annual Mission Backpack, which will work to provide fully stocked student backpacks for the 20172018 school year. This year, Helping Hands, a nonprofit organization that helps residents in Westchester County with food, clothing and supplies donations, has a goal of raising $50,000 for supplies to fill 2,050 backpacks for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Susan Salice, co-president of Helping Hands and project leader of Mission Backpack, said that the nonprofit is able to create

each backpack for $26. “It’s going to cost $50,000 to run [Mission Backpack], so we continue to fundraise and apply for grants and supplement our fundraising from other projects,” Salice said. As of press time, Mission Backpack has raised more than $18,000. “Each backpack comes with 18 age-appropriate school supplies,” Salice told the Review. She explained that each backpack is chosen with the student in mind. One of the styles are backpacks for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Girls will receive bright colored backpacks, while boys will receive ones in grey and blue.

Students in sixth through 12th grade are given black and gray backpacks. “They’re as nondescript as possible,” said Brigitte Sarnoff, co-president of Helping Hands. For the younger students, Salice said that their backpacks will include arts and crafts supplies like paper, crayons and colored pencils. The older students receive supplies that include scientific calculators. Sarnoff said they want to emphasize “the importance of having the correct school supplies to start the year, and what a difference it makes in a student’s life.” Helping Hands works with 18 organizations in the county who

help distribute the backpacks. “We work through vendors and we buy basically [all] the same product,” Salice said. “That helps level the playing field so there isn’t comparisons when the backpacks are distributed.” The backpack event lasts for two days. Beginning on Aug. 14, trucks will come to deliver supplies which are unloaded for the event. The second day is when the backpacks are assembled. Salice reported that there are more than 250 volunteers who’ve already committed their weekend to lending a hand. “It’s a really heartwarming day,” Salice said. BACKPACK continued on page 9

Despite collecting enough petitions to spark a Republican primary for the receiver of taxes position, official objections might hinder Michael Giordano’s candidacy. According to the Westchester County Board of Elections, BOE, a Harrison resident has made three objections to Giordano’s candidacy for the receiver of taxes position. One objection contends that Giordano did not state which political party he filed his petitions under and that he is not a resident of the address he lists on the petitions—14 Woodside Ave. in West Harrison. The other objection argues that several petitioners improperly list their address under the town of West Harrison, which does not exist. West Harrison is a neighborhood located in the northwest section of the town/village of Harrison. Giordano, who currently works in the Harrison tax receiver’s office, obtained more than the required 285 signatures qualifying him to run in a Republican primary election against Rosa Mastrogiacomo-Luongo, the party’s candidate of choice. In total, Giordano gathered 377 signatures. The county BOE is yet to make its rendering on Giordano’s petitions, as of press time. And according to Dorothy DiPalo, the BOE Republican deputy commissioner, there is no timeline for when the decision will be made. Earlier this month, Giordano’s residency was brought into question after the Review discovered that he also owns a home on Blossom Lane in the village of

Brewster in Putnam County. On tax forms, he has indicated that his Brewster home is his primary residence. However, on multiple occasions, Giordano has said that he lives in West Harrison while his wife and children live in his Brewster residence. “The facts are the facts and that’s where I live,” he told the Review this week. “[Harrison] is where I spend most of my time during the year.” Giordano’s son recently graduated from Brewster High School in June. According to information obtained from the town of Patterson in response to a Freedom of Information Law request, Giordano has been receiving a School Tax Relief Exemption, known as the STAR exemption, since 2001. Multiple-property owners in the state must collect a STAR exemption only on the property they consider their primary residence, defined as the location where they spend the majority of their time, according to the New York state Department of Taxation and Finance. “One would think someone who works in the tax receiver’s office would know that you can’t file a STAR exemption at an address you claim to not live in,” RACE continued on page 8

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July 28, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 3

RTP estimates $750K cost for ADA improvements

The Rye Town Park Commission will apply for a grant from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to make two Oakland Beach entrances compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Photo courtesy Easton Architects

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye Town Park Commission is aiming to secure state funding for handicap accessibility improvements to two of Oakland Beach’s entrances. According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the park commission, the commission is finalizing a grant application due on July 28, after press time, to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for upgrades required under the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. The improvements are estimated to cost as much as $750,000, as of press time. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the law requiring establishments to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled people with both mental and physical conditions. “The goal of the commission is to make our facilities as accessi-

ble as possible to all residents of the town and city [of Rye] and to others who use the park,” Zuckerman said. “We think we have a very good case [for a grant].” The town of Rye, which has a higher percentage of individuals with a disability than the county overall—16.4 percent of the town’s population is disabled compared to a countywide total of 8.9 percent—has at least 7,464 elderly and disabled residents. At least 29 percent of the town’s veteran population and its over-60 residents have at minimum one disability. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Rye’s population last year was estimated at 46,881. If awarded a grant from the state, the park would join several other Sound Shore beaches that have already made accessibility improvements, including New Rochelle’s Glen Island Park; Harbor Island Park, located off of Boston Post Road in the village of Mamaroneck; and Playland Beach, which is also located in Rye. The state grant would

cover half of the cost—roughly $300,000—for the park’s ADA improvements. Additionally, Zuckerman told the Review the park commission is expecting to discuss other accessibility improvements to the park in August, after receiving a recommendation from Easton Architects, which has been tasked with coming up with several proposals for construction of the park’s facilities. One recommendation will involve ADA improvements to the park’s bathrooms and administrative building. The park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound, is located off of Forest Avenue in the city of Rye. The 62-acre green space and beachfront offers seasonal swimming and year-round use for passive and semi-active events. Rye City Councilwoman Julia Killian, a Republican and member of the park commission, could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Town/Village of Harrison

Official Newspaper

4 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • July 28, 2017

What’s going on... Harrison Public Library

Summer Reading Challenge Read-In On Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Harrison Branch. Each Wednesday during the Summer Reading Challenge, children can come and read with a teen. Teens can read to a child, or a child can read to a teen. Kids choose. Use this time to practice reading out loud or to complete part of the library’s Summer Reading Challenge to win great prizes. Stop by to spend some time reading and enjoy a snack, too.

Middle School Summer Book Chat Visit harrisonpl.org for more information on programs and library hours.

Saturn & the Moon: Outdoor Viewing On Monday, July 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. With Larry Faltz, president of Westchester Amateur Astronomers. There will be four telescopes on the library lawn. Please note that this program continues after the library closes at 9 p.m. For ages 6 and up. The rain date is Wednesday, Aug. 2.

On Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Harrison Branch. For seventh-graders. Come ready as participants discuss “Stand Tall” by Joan Bauer. Copies of the book are available at the branch. Pizza and snacks will be served.

Get Growing with Aeroponics

On Monday, July 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. For ages 6 to 12. Join Yin Su of the Fashion Arts Studio of Westchester for an open class.

On Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. Join the library’s Maker-In-Residence Danielle Colavito to learn how vegetables grow in the Tower Garden, a vertical aeroponic growing system. Hands-on activities include checking pH balance, adding nutrient solutions, and planting seeds without soil to take home to grow. No registration required. Limited to 10 children, ages 8 and up—first come, first served.

Draw Like a Superhero

Pajama Party with Chloe

On Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. For ages 6 to 12. Artist and teacher Alex Conte will share his skill and passion for drawing graphic characters.

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

Fashion drawing class

songs, music and more. No registration required.

Lemonade Thursdays On Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. For ages 6 to 12. Cool off with some lemonade to talk about books and camp. Participants will complete some of the “Build a Better World” Summer Reading Challenge tasks together.

Japanese ESL Class Starting Friday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. This class is for Japanese speakers learning English. Practical everyday conversational English is taught, and always tailored to the student’s needs. This class is taught by Julie Jacobs. Stay tuned for the fall class schedule.

Discover Play On Fridays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. Join Miss Claudia and discover a cool sensory bin and other fun games at the library. For ages 2 and up. Sensory play engages the fives senses, stimulating cognitive development.

Jeffrey Friedberg On Friday, Aug. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the West Harrison Branch. Jeffrey Friedberg returns for a fun and funky musical experience. Songs, dancing and fun for the little ones. All children invited.

Chloe’s Sign & Play On Fridays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library 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 award-winning Baby Signing Time series, this class will give parents a window into the hearts and minds of their little ones. Through fun songs, stories and games, parents and children will learn many useful signs for everyday communication.

Yoga with Angela On Friday, Aug. 4 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. For ages 6 to 12. Bring your own mat, practice yoga and have fun over the summer.

Harrison Recreation Please be aware that parents must have a current 2017 ID card to register children for all programs. Visit harrison-ny.gov/recreation for more information on programs and the Recreation Department.

Summer employment opportunities The Harrison Recreation Department still has positions open for their summer camps. Please call Kristen Ciafone at 670-3068 if you are interested in working as a counselor this summer. Adults with experience preferred.

Summer Concert Series All concerts start at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Aug.

2, California Dreamin’ will perform at Ma Riis Park in downtown Harrison. Food from Pizza a Legna will be on sale on Aug. 2. On Thursday, Aug. 3, Patrick Perone and The Blue Suede Rockers Showband will perform at the West Harrison Village Green.

Engineering for Kids From Monday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 18. All classes to be held at the Sollazzo Center. For second-graders, “Junior Chemical Engineering” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, and “LEGO WeDo Robot” will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For grades 3–8, “Minecraft: Traveling into the Future” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, and “LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Robogames” will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information and to register, call 2462606 or email westchester@engineeringforkids.net.

Basketball Camp From Monday, Aug. 21 through Friday, Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For boys and girls grades 3–8. Instruction in ball handling, shooting, dribbling, passing with demonstration on how to make yourself a better basketball player. Fee: $220, made payable to the Town/Village of Harrison.

Engineering Using LEGO From Monday, Aug. 21 through Friday, Aug. 25 at the Leo Mintzer Center and Monday, Aug. 28 through Friday, Sept. 1 at the Sollazzo Center. There are morning sessions from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 5 to 7, and afternoon sessions from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 8 to 12. For more information and to register, visit play-well.org.

Harrison school news The Feeley Fund The Eugene J. Feeley Harrison High School, Student Aid Fund Inc. has awarded grants to four Harrison High School 2017 graduates. Headed by Dr. Christopher Tyler, the Faculty Selection Committee chooses students who are accepted at accredited colleges and are financially eligible. The Feeley Fund, established in 1967, is a continuation of the Harrison High School Scholarship Fund begun in 1947. Since then, more than 1000 students have received more than $550,000 in financial aid. Lola Geiger, executive director of the Feeley Fund, ably assisted by Mary Riguzzi, thanks all Harrison residents, parents and faculty for providing the financial assistance for these worthy young people. Contributions may be sent to: The Feeley Fund, 255 Union Ave., Harrison, NY 10528. The Class of 2018 may obtain information about the Feeley Fund from the Guidance Department of the Harrison High School. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.

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July 28, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 5

Closure sparks wave of pro-Ralph’s protest By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Despite a brief protest, Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream has of-

ficially closed its doors amidst revelations that the business had been operating without a permit from the Westchester County Department of Health.

On Saturday, July 15—two days after the business was mandated to shut down by the village of Mamaroneck—Ralph’s, a popular Staten Island-based

chain, officially ceased its 946 E. Boston Post Road operations with the looming threat of fines from the county health department. According to village Trustee Keith Waitt, a Democrat, Ralph’s failed to renew its temporary certificate from the health depart-

The ripple effect of a decision to deny Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream a special permit to continue its operations in the village of Mamaroneck after a year of tumult is inciting a wave of pro-Ralph’s protesters. File photo

ment which expired in April and had remained in operation for more than two months after its expiration. Following the closure of Ralph’s—which was denied a special permit by the village Zoning Board of Appeals to operate earlier this month following a prolonged zoning review process—pro-Ralph’s protesters rallied outside the business and at public meetings. At a village Board of Trustees meeting on July 17, Paul Rosenberg, owner of the Ralph’s Mamaroneck franchise, decried the decision to shutter his business. “It’s funny that you start with the pledge of allegiance—you know, liberty and justice for all,” said Rosenberg, whose Mamaroneck franchise was the first Ralph’s location in Westchester. “[You say] we’re such a friendly village, but it’s been anything but friendly to me.” According to members of the zoning board, who were tasked with reviewing the business after an appeal launched by residents last year, Ralph’s exacerbated traffic and noise conditions and

as a result was determined to be unsuited for use in its encompassing C-1 zoning district. While many residents of the surrounding neighborhoods on both Keeler and Frank avenues— which sit adjacent to the formerly bustling business—decried unsafe conditions, noise and traffic spurred by Ralph’s, others have come to its defense following the rulings. In a Change.org petition that began to circulate last week, nearly 2,000 signed on in protest of the business’ closure. Last year, Ralph’s was found to have been misclassified as a retail establishment by Building Inspector Dan Gray, allowing the business to skirt a special permitting process, site plan reviews and public notice. Later, following the appeal and retroactive review from the zoning board, Ralph’s was processed as a fast food establishment and forced to undergo a controversial and more stringent special permitting process that was ultimately denied. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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Harrison REVIEW

THE

170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000

Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | Corey Stockton ext. 16, corey@hometwn.com Reporter | Franco Fino ext. 18, franco@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer James Pero

PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER discusses teaching in South Africa By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter

As her junior year of college came to a close, Charlotte Ference decided that after school, she wanted to do something to help give back to those in need, prompting her to join the Peace Corps. She explained that she first heard about the Peace Corps when she was 12 years old through a family friend, who described his time in the Peace Corps as when his life begun. “He was always really on board with when you are done with school, and when you need

to know what you’re going to do next, you should join the Peace Corps,” Ference told the Review. After she graduated in May 2015 from Iona College, where she majored in English and psychology and minored in religious studies, she decided to commit two years of her life to volunteering for the Peace Corps as an English teacher. Ference said that she had told herself, “I’m going to join the Peace Corps, [then] I’m going to go back, get a job, and have a career.” At the age of just 22, she left for Fandani, a village in South Africa.

Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Jen Parente Columnists Ron Belmont, Lenore Skenazy Letters The community’s opinion matters. If you have a view to express, write a letter to the editor by email to chris@hometwn.com. Please include a phone number and name for verification purposes. Community Events If you have an event you would like to share with the community, send it to news@hometwn.com. Delivery For home delivery or to subsribe, call (914) 653-1000 x27. Classifieds & Legals To post your notices or listings, call (914) 653-1000 x27. Postmaster Send address changes to: The Harrison Review c/o HomeTown Media Group, 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601

From left, Thomas Ference, Vho Mujaji, Charlotte Ference and Brendan Ference. Photo courtesy Brendan Ference

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Follow us on Twitter, @harrisonview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/harrisonreview The Harrison Review is published weekly by Home Town Media Group for an annual subscription of $45. Application to mail at the periodicals postage rate is approved at White Plains, N.Y., 10601. Periodicals postage paid at White Plains and additional mailing offices.

Charlotte Ference was assigned a host family, which included her host grandmother and two host sisters.

While in South Africa, Charlotte Ference taught English to elementary and middle school students. Photos courtesy Charlotte Ference

Charlotte Ference volunteered with Charlotte Ference takes a the Peace Corps for two years as hike with her three-year-old an English teacher. neighbor, Ontakula.

Ference said that by living in Fandani, she felt like she learned how to become an adult. “Iona gave me all the skills, but it’s such a sheltered community, you rarely need to do something alone,” she said. “Fandani taught me how to be confident in my independence.” During her time in Fandani, Ference lived in a rondeval, a round hut made of mud with a thatched roof that didn’t have access to running water, or reliable electricity and cell phone service. “Sometimes [my house] made me feel like ‘Oh, how exciting and exotic,’ and on a bad day I was like ‘My house is made of cow s---, of course this is going to go wrong,’” she said. During the first few months of her stay, Ference said, “My goal [was] to just meet people and hang out with these children that I have to teach.” Ference lived next to her host family, which included her two host sisters and host grandmother. Ference spoke fondly of her host grandmother, who helped show her the ropes and worked with her to understand the Tshivenda, the language of Venda, the providence of South Africa that Fandani is located in. “[My host grandmother] dealt with so much of my nonsense,” she said. Ference explained her technique for learning the language consisted of following around her host grandmother with a dictio-

Charlotte Ference was placed in Fandani, a village in South Africa, where she lived for nearly two years.

nary to help her translate. The knowledge of the local language helped Ference when the school year began in January 2016, where she taught English to elementary and middle school students. She explained that typically, schools with 100 children are only given three teachers. On top of this, schools located in more rural villages lacked enough textbooks and writing utensils, making it difficult for students to learn. “The teachers know how to teach, they know what to do, [and] they want to teach, and the resources aren’t there,” she said. “If you’re in a super rural area, your kids are going to fail no matter how much the teachers love teaching.” Eventually, the struggles Ference was facing with the school became too much, and she requested to leave her volunteer assignment just 22 months in. Although she was met with these obstacles, other volunteers she worked with agree that she made an impact during her time in Fandani. Michelle Dolinar, a Peace Corps volunteer in Masisi, a village in South Africa, said that her friendship with Ference was one of the best things that came out of her time volunteering. “Volunteers and Peace Corps staff could turn to [Ference] for advice and support, and know that her response was genuine,”

said Dolinar, who also worked as an English teacher. Although Ference was more than 7,000 miles from her home in Smallwood, New York, she was able to keep up with family, friends and professors. Dr. Kim Paffenroth, a professor of religious studies at Iona College, said it was important for him to keep up with Ference. “In her faraway land, it seemed right to go to some extra effort to buy cards and warm socks and send them along,” Paffenroth said. Just as she kept up with her loved ones in the U.S., Ference said the distance from her friends and host family back in Fandani hasn’t got in the way of continuing on with those relationships. “I talk to someone from Fandani at least every other day,” she said. Ference, now 24, said that reintegrating into American culture has been difficult and that she’s still trying to figure out who she is. “Every part of me fell in love with that village,” she said. Despite this, she already has plans to begin studying for her master’s in social work at Hunter College in August, and her master’s in health advocacy at Sarah Lawrence College in January. As for Fandani, Ference said she already has plans to visit again in 2019. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

July 28, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 7

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The new Purple Heart Town HARRISON HAPPENINGS

Mayor Ron Belmont

I am happy to report that the town/village of Harrison has become a Purple Heart Town, recognizing those who were wounded or killed in combat for our country. It goes without saying that the residents of Harrison have great respect and sincere gratitude for all the men and women who have unselfishly served our country, and our community, in the armed forces. Many communities across the country have designated their municipality as a Purple Heart Town and I am glad that Harrison has joined the ranks. The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration and is one of the most prestigious awards given to those wounded or killed in combat. Members of the Harrison community have earned the Purple Heart medal as a result of

their sacrifice and service to our country, and we shall be forever grateful to those individuals who fought for us and our way of life. It is an honor and a privilege to remember and recognize our veterans who gave so much in order to protect our freedoms. Once again, Harrison’s Summer Concert Series has been a huge success. August events include musical entertainment by Patrick Perone, an Elvis tribute; Hey Baby, classic funk, rock and soul; Alive N Kickin’; and Hindenberg, a tribute to Led Zeppelin. Unless otherwise noted, all concerts begin at 7 p.m. Please visit harrison-ny.gov or call the Recreation Department Hotline at 670-3039 for event locations and additional information. It’s a great time and I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new residents. Hope to see you all there! The Harrison Recreation Department is currently taking applications for August camps and

tion begins. Giordano is one of four candidates seeking the elected position of receiver of taxes. Maria Mioli Pennella, a registered Republican, is running on the Democratic Party line, and Helen Pesce is looking to run in the general election as an independent candidate. The receiver of taxes, who is elected to a four-year term, earns an annual salary of $101,050.

RACE from page 1

said Joe Angilletta, Mastrogiacomo-Luongo’s campaign manager and uncle. “You can’t have it both ways. Giordano is committing tax fraud.” In a previous interview, Giordano said that a state election law only requires that a candidate for elected office have the means to establish a primary in the municipality in which they are seeking office when the term of that posi-

activities. Two separate Mad Science programs are offered this summer; Aug. 14–17 and Aug. 27 to Sept. 3. Swim Camp (grades 1–3) will be offered from Aug. 14–18 at the Ron Belmont Pool Complex. Both Engineering with Legos and Basketball Camp (grades 3–8) will be held at the Sollazzo Center from Aug. 14–18 and Aug. 21–25. Please be aware that parents must have a current 2017 Harrison ID card to register children for all programs. For additional information, visit harrison-ny.gov. In closing, Harrison is blessed with a splendid assortment of large, mature trees of abundant varieties. While this is an asset to our community, and we do our best to insure their longevity, trees can also be hazardous if not properly maintained. A fallen limb, of any size, can cause property damage or human injury. I would like to ask all residents to care for their trees in an effort to minimize undesirable mishaps.

Michael Giordano

Arts council presents ‘Pure Paper’ collage Harrison Council for the Arts presents the “Pure Paper” collage by Milai Liang at the Harrison Public Library, located in the Halperin Building, at 2 Bruce Ave., Harrison, on view July 31 to Aug. 25. There will be a Meet the Artist on Aug. 2, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. The inspiration is derived from traditional Chinese paper-cutting. Based on this technique, the artist integrates paper-cutting with traditional drawings. The paper is deliberately cut into geometric patterns. The negative and positive space compose pictorial shapes of monochrome; while being integrated with drawings and appearing at the same layer, the contrast of two different media creates an effect parallel to the tenebrism. It is the contrast of exquisite textures and bold colors. It depicts figurative representations, mostly portraits of children and women so that it addresses femininity and childhood memory. Milai Liang lives in New York, is currently studying in Italy, and originally from China; she creatively explores the harmonious effect using paper cutting with drawing to create collage. Her work exhibits the contrasts of colors and the play of textures, as well as emphasizing the aesthetic value that the visual representation renders. The whole pictorial form has a passion to show the

“Self Portrait” by artist Milai Liang. Contributed photo

feminine emotion and childhood memory. The exhibit may be viewed Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thurs-

days, Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to noon. For information, call the library at 835-0324 or see harrisonpl.org. (Submitted)

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Looking for the purrfect feline family member? Meet Dino! This beautiful 8-month-old marmalade orange tabby with tiger markings is a little shy but very loving. Dino bonds with people, but not so much with other pets. He loves being held, enjoys sitting on your windowsill, and sharing your lap. He will make a wonderful companion! Dino is neutered, in excellent health, microchipped and up to date with all vaccinations. The adoption donation is $100. To meet Dino, contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or 835-4133 or visit NY-Petrescue.org. (Submitted)

July 28, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 9

Astorino volunteers as a summer reading buddy

BACKPACK from page 1

Sarnoff said it’s important to help make a student’s first day of school as easy as possible, and with Mission Backpack, they’re able to do that. “One of the real missions of Helping Hands is we really stress the dignity of the person receiving our services,” Sarnoff said. Sarnoff explained that running Mission Backpack every year has been a learning process. She said they work with the agencies that receive the backpacks to find out what supplies the students need most, and each year change the contents in the

Mission Backpack’s goal is to fill more than 2,000 backpacks with school supplies for children in need. Photos courtesy Helpinghandsrye.org

backpack based on those needs. Sarnoff said that despite the efforts of Helping Hands, the need for these supplies continues to grow. “The way to make the biggest impact is to make a donation so

we can provide more supplies,” Salice said. For more information on how to donate or become a volunteer, visit helpinghandsrye.org. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

On Aug. 15, volunteers for Helping Hands for the Homeless & Hungry, a nonprofit that helps collect donations for families in need, will create assembly lines to fill backpacks for students.

Town/Village of Harrison

Official Newspaper

County Executive Rob Astorino reads to a group of pre-kindergarten students as part of his participation in JCY-Westchester Community Partners’ summer reading program. Contributed photo

County Executive Rob Astorino volunteered Wednesday for JCY-Westchester Community Partners’ Summer Reading Buddies at Yonkers’ Riverfront Library. He worked one-on-one with a first grade student on a summer reading assignment and also read to an audience of pre-kindergarten students. Summer Reading Buddies is a six week program that helps Westchester’s children combat the “summer reading slide,” when literacy skills that are learned over the school year are lost over the summer. The summer reading slide is one of the

most significant causes of the achievement gap between youth from lower income and higher income families, according to JCY. The program is funded in part by the Westchester County Youth Bureau. At the program, volunteers are paired with children inpreschool through sixth grade to read oneon-one or in small groups, build literacy skills and complete their summer reading assignments. Resources are provided to parents to foster literacy in the home. In 2016, more than 1,000 students and 385 volunteers participated.

Summer Reading Buddies is run by JCY-Westchester Community Partners, a division of the Family Service Society of Yonkers, in partnership with the Yonkers Public Library, the City of Yonkers, Westchester County and Con Edison. The program is available at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, the Mount Vernon Public Library and the Ossining Public Library. For more information about Summer Reading Buddies or to volunteer, please contact Madeline Finesmith at mfinesmith@jcy-wcp. com or call 423-5009. (Submitted)

10 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • July 28, 2017

WCC tuition won’t increase under proposed budget Rye moves forward on county, Playland appeal

Members of the Rye City Council took another step toward filing an appeal seeking to overturn a state court’s decision regarding environmental reviews of Playland Park. File photo

For the fifth consecutive year, tuition for nearly 13,000 students at Westchester Community College, WCC, will not increase under a proposed budget that was submitted by County Executive Rob Astorino to the Board of Legislators on Friday, July 14. “Working closely with the college’s leadership, we are able to propose a budget that keeps tuition flat for the fifth year in a row,” Astorino said. “WCC is where so many students go for a quality and affordable education so that they can make a better life for themselves and their families. We must find ways to keep public education affordable and a tuition increase would hurt far too many

of WCC’s students.” The $122 million operating budget for the 2017-2018 school year includes a $29.9 million sponsor contribution from the county, an increase of $67,000 over last year and $500,000 from the year before. “We propose a budget that prioritizes an affordable and high quality education for Westchester Community College’s students and families,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, president of Westchester Community College. “No tuition increases for five years is notable within New York State and a testament to our collaborative partnership with Westchester County leadership.”

Westchester Community College’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the college’s budget amid its deliberations about national trends in college affordability and financial challenges facing students. Additionally, WCC’s capital budget includes $2.16 million for four projects, which include technology upgrades at several locations on-and-off-campus along with site improvements throughout campus and a proposal to assess planning and infrastructure needs going forward. The Board of Legislators is scheduled to vote on the budget on Aug. 7. The college’s fiscal year begins on Sept. 1. (Submitted)

After a tight vote of the Rye City Council, an appeal seeking to overturn a court’s decision granting Westchester County more authority over renovations at Playland could be imminent. The 4-3 vote, which came on July 12, will prompt the city attorney to draw up an official appeal. The drafting of a resolution will mark the first step toward locking into another legal spat with the county. Council members voted to file a notice of appeal in April; granting the city six months to solidify an official appeal. The city will now have approximately two months to officially file the appeal before a statute of limitations runs out. According to Rye City Councilman Rich Mecca, a Republican, barring a change in the way negotiations between the county and Rye have been conducted— members of the City Council

have repeatedly stated that they were not given a seat at the table when it comes to negotiations with Playland on capital projects and infrastructure work—an Article 78 challenging a state court’s decision rendered in April is likely. In May 2016, county lawmakers voted to strike a deal with the investment firm Standard Amusements—spearheaded by Harrison native Nick Singer—to transfer management of the park and inject $60 million of capital into improvements and new rides. Of that total investment, $30 million is slated to come from county funds. In August of that year, the city filed a lawsuit against the county claiming the county incorrectly declared itself lead agency on an upcoming round of capital projects at the park. That lawsuit was thrown out by a state judge in March of this year, prompting the city to consider filing an appeal.

Although owned by the county, Playland sits within the city of Rye and adjacent to residential neighborhoods. So far, the prospect of an appeal pitting the city against the administration of County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, has drawn mixed sentiments from the council, however. From the council dais, Rye City Councilwoman Killian, a Republican, voted against the move, stating during roll call “absolutely not.” “In an appeals case we can win the battle, but lose the war,” she told the Review. “It’s highly unlikely that we’ll win the battle and win the war.” Further, Killian said the downside to appealing the March ruling could far outweigh the benefits. “It’s going to make the relationship with the county worse, and our relationship with Standard Amusements worse,” she said. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

P U B LI S H ES

Mamaroneck THE

REVIEW Eastchester REVIEW THE

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CityREVIEW NewRochelle

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Dr. Belinda S. Miles, president of Westchester Community College, and County Executive Rob Astorino. Contributed photo

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

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July 28, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 11

August 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY

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TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Immunization Awareness Month National Health Center Week

Summer Concert Series: California Dreamin’ 7 p.m., Ma Riis Park

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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Summer Concert Series: Patrick Perone & The Blue Suede Rockers Showband 7 p.m., West Harrison Village Green

World Breastfeeding Week begins

National Kids Day

Architectural Review Board 7:30 p.m., Municipal building

National Book Lovers Day Summer Concert Series: Day Camp Show 7 p.m., Ma Riis Park

Summer Concert Series: Day Camp Show, Frank Trapani & Friends 6 p.m., West Harrison Village Green

School board meeting 8:15 p.m., LMK

Zoning board meeting 8 p.m., Municipal building

Summer Concert Series: Hey Baby 7 p.m., Halstead Ave. & Purdy St.

Summer Concert Series: Hindenberg 7 p.m., West Harrison Village Green

Town/village board meeting 7 p.m., Municipal building

Senior Citizens Day

Gr. 11 IB Diploma orientation 11 a.m., HHS

Grs. 7 & 8 new student orientation 9 a.m., LMK

Gr. 11 IB Diploma orientation 11 a.m., HHS

Gr. 6 Browse & Brunch 9 a.m., LMK

Summer Concert Series: Reunion 7 p.m., Halstead & Thatcher aves.

Summer Concert Series: Alive N’ Kickin’ 7 p.m., West Harrison Village Green

School board meeting 8:15 p.m., LMK

Gr. 9 orientation & barbecue 10 a.m., HHS August graduation 5:30 p.m., HHS

Grs. 10–12 new student orientation 10 a.m., HHS

Superintendent’s Conference Day

12 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • July 28, 2017

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SPORTS

14 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • July 28, 2017

Hugh earns a deep Freeze LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

If elite college coaches aren’t going to be paragons of virtue— and more often than not, personal piety rightfully takes a backseat to wins and losses in that world— the very least they can do is be honest about who they are. Last week, Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze resigned his post on the heels of reported NCAA violations and the discovery of a call made from his university phone to an escort service. The phone call was embarrassing, sure. The numerous violations were commonplace, especially in the world of big-time collegiate athletics. But the real kicker of the whole ordeal is that Freeze, like so many coaches who get caught with their hand in the cookie jar, had long carried himself as the sort of man who was as interested in teaching his players right from wrong as he was in teaching them the X’s and

O’s of football. When Freeze, whose public persona was built upon his outspoken evangelical Christian beliefs, took over the Ole Miss program in 2012, he was quick to distance himself from the transgressions of previous coach Houston Nutt, telling anyone who would listen that the recruiting violations that happened in Nutt’s tenure would have no place in his program. Now, it looks like those are exactly the kind of violations that happened under his watch. Go figure. I get it; if you’re running a high-profile Division I program, there’s more likely than not a certain amount of shadiness that goes on. It’s kind of the nature of the beast. But when guys like Nutt—and to a greater extent coaching icons like Joe Paterno— create these false images of themselves as being above the fray, that’s when I start to lose faith in humanity. These sorts of coaches present themselves as modern day saints, through manipulation of their ra-

bid fan bases and journalists eager for access. And when they inevitably get fingered for wrongdoing, it is always as if the public can’t believe that someone of such high moral fiber could have been brought so low. But that’s the thing; despite what they say, these coaches aren’t hired to shape the minds of young men or be pillars of the community. They’re here to win ballgames. I have a certain respect for the coaches who acknowledge this fact. University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, who builds perennial contenders filled with players who treat their college coursework as a minor nuisance, readily admits that putting together winning basketball teams is his only goal. University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban has such a single-minded obsession with preparing his team for its next game that many wonder if he even realizes that there is, in fact, a world outside of SEC football. In today’s NCAA landscape, I find the ability to resist the temp-

Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze resigned his position on July 20 after allegations of wrongdoing hit the program. Freeze is just the latest arbiter of morality to be outed as a big-time hypocrite. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

tation of insincere piety to be downright refreshing. That isn’t to say that big-time coaches can’t be good people, can’t do good things in the community and can’t impart important life lessons to their charges.

We just need to remember at the end of the day, college athletics is a business, even if the players themselves aren’t being paid. And when push comes to shove, wins—and expediency—are always going to take a

backseat to morality. And as long as we are on the same page, we can just sit back and enjoy the show.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

Lindsay earns All-American honors Throughout her career on the water, local rower Lily Lindsay has put together an impressive list of accomplishments, competing locally as well as internationally. This past spring, the rising

Yale senior added to her resume, earning first-team All American honors from the Pocock Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association. On June 13, Lindsay, a 2014 Harri-

Lily Lindsay rows for Yale in 2017. This season, Lindsay earned All American first-team.

son High School graduate, was one of 22 NCAA Division I rowers to earn firstteam All-American Honors, a tribute to her strong performance in the 2016-17 collegiate season. Lindsay, the only Bulldog to be awarded the exclusive honor, had a stellar spring rowing season, stroking Yale’s Varsity Eight to a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships on May 28 to help Yale place seventh at nationals— the highest finish for the program since 2010. In addition, Lindsay was part of the Varsity 8+ boat that captured a collegiate title at the prestigious Head of the Charles event last October. In order to receive first-team All American consideration, the local rower’s accomplishments in the water and a recommendation from her coaching staff were taken into consideration. As a high school student, Lindsay made her mark on the rowing scene, both locally and internationally. Competing primarily out of the Pelham Community Rowing Association, she qualified for the USRowing Youth Nationals four times, winning silver and bronze medals in the quadruple sculls. She was also selected to the USRowing Youth National team twice, winning a bronze medal in 2014 rowing pair in Hamburg, Germany,

Lily Lindsay, right, rows with a teammate during the 2016-17 collegiate season. Contributed photos

and participating in the Junior National Eight the previous year in Trakai, Lithuania, helping the USA boat place sixth. As she prepares for her senior campaign, Lindsay is spending the summer

in Washington, D.C., interning at the Office of National Environment Policy Act and training with the High Performance Program at the Potomac Boat Club. -Reporting by Mike Smith

SPORTS

July 28, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 15

Divers hit water at Lake Isle By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor After a second-place finish at the 2016 Westchester County Diving Championships, Pelham’s Jennifer Bell took top honors at Lake Isle Country Club this year, turning in a dominant performance on July 25 to win the 14-17 girls division at the 92nd annual iteration of the Counties. Although Bell fell just short of breaking an event scoring record that was set just last year, her performance was the highlight of the two-day diving competition that signaled the start of the biggest summer competition for local swim clubs. Bell, who competes for the Pelham Country Club, came away with a score of 231.65 on Tuesday afternoon, putting her ahead of Scarsdale Town Pool’s Maddie Setzer (215.85) and Rye Golf Club’s Katie Laverty (211.5) by a healthy margin. The score was fewer than five points behind last year’s champ, Chloe Best, who set a new county mark by posting a score of 236.65. “I had no idea I was that close, at some meets you can look up and see your scores and know exactly where you

Pelham Country Club’s Jennifer Bell soars through the air at Lake Isle Country Club on July 25. Bell won the 14-17 girls division at the 92nd annual Westchester County Dive Championships with a score of 231.65.

Lenin Hibler from the Pound Ridge Swim Team hits the board. Hibler won the 14-17 boys division. Photos/Mike Smith

Michael Ackert from the Rye Golf Club begins a dive on July 25.

are,” Bell said afterward. “Some people like to know, others just like to put their headphones in and not pay attention.” Coming into this year’s meet, Bell felt fairly confident in her ability to come away with a first-place finish. But after finishing just two points off the top spot last year, she believed it would take a tremendous effort to lead a crowded field of 19 of the area’s top divers. “I knew that I had a chance to win,” Bell said. “But there are so many really good divers here, I knew it was going to be tough.” Although Bell’s performance will count toward Pelham Country Club’s point totals as teams look forward to four days of swim events that will ultimately decide the 2017 county champs next week, it was a pair of divers from the Pound Ridge Swim Team that made the biggest impact at Lake Isle.

Brothers Lenin and August Hibler won the 14-17 and 10-13 boys divisions, posting scores of 246.55 and 205.45, respectively. Greenburgh’s Meera Katsuri won the 10-13 girls division with a solid score of 185.15. The swimming portion of the Counties will be held from July 31 to Aug. 3 at Rye Playland, and will pit the top swim clubs in the area against each other for the top prize that was won last year by the Lake Isle Swim Club. But beyond the competition, Bell said that the event serves as a great bonding experience for local competitors. “It’s definitely a lot of fun,” Bell said. “I know a lot of [the athletes] from competing year round, and it’s a good chance to see everyone.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Rye’s Katie Laverty performs a dive at Lake Isle Country Club. Laverty finished in second place on Tuesday.

16 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • July 28, 2017