August 11, 2017

Harrison REVIEW THE

August 11, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 32 | www.harrisonreview.com

GOP primary nixed; Giordano knocked off ballot By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

fit as a fiddle Sophia Gigante has battled through physical ailments, including multiple surgeries, at a young age to become a certified personal trainer. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/PTSophia

Immigration policy passes Legislature; Astorino to veto By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Shortly after the Westchester County Legislature approved a bill to set forth a policy on immigration enforcement, the county executive pledged to veto the legislation with support from top public safety officials. The bill passed through the county Board of Legislators in a 10-5 vote on Aug. 7 after mounting political pressure from the county’s Democratic Caucus. Known as the Immigration Protection Act, it aims to prevent the county’s emergency services from aiding the federal government in investigations made on the basis of race, gender, sexu-

al orientation, religion, ethnicity and national origin. The act comes in response to Republican President Donald Trump’s effort to deport undocumented immigrants. Despite approval from two Republicans lawmakers, David Gelfarb, of Rye Brook, and Jim Maisano, of New Rochelle, the bill failed to capture a supermajority vote, which would have prevented the legislation from being vetoed by County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. “I’m opposed to this act because it puts public safety at risk,” the county executive said, explaining the legislation would put the county at odds with the federal government, and would

ultimately dub Westchester as a “sanctuary” county for undocumented immigrant; one that limits its cooperation with the national government’s effort to enforce immigration law. Astorino said the policy would cost the county an estimated $13 million in federal funding. “It all adds up to be a dangerous idea, and for those reasons I will veto this legislation,” he added. The Immigration Protection Act was first pitched by county Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, an Ossining Democrat, in February after uncertainty over whether or not Astorino would repeal an existing executive order relating to immigration status that was signed by former County Ex-

ecutive Andy Spano, a Democrat, in 2006. In Westchester government, the incumbent county executive can legally repeal any executive order made by one of his predecessors. The new legislation, in addition to piggybacking the current policy, would also prevent law enforcement officials from honoring requests made by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Customs and Border Protection, which do not give rise to probable cause. Additionally, it would protect Westchester from liability due to false arrests and imprisonments. IMMIGRATION continued on page 8

In a hotly contested receiver of taxes race in Harrison, the Westchester County Board of Elections has ruled that candidate Michael Giordano will not be able to force a Republican Party primary ballot in September after finding his petitions invalid. Giordano filed a challenge to the county Board of Elections’, BOE, determination in state Supreme Court, However, on Aug. 7, the court validated the BOE claims and rejected Giordano’s appeal, bringing his controversial candidacy to an end. Doug Colety, the Republican commissioner of the BOE, said the candidate was removed from the ballot after more than half of the objections that were filed by a Harrison resident were upheld; some of which included petition signatures that incorrectly listed the proper municipality and signatures from residents that are not registered in the Republican Party. The BOE sustained 200 objections of 377 petitions in total, leaving Giordano short of the required 285 signatures needed to trigger a primary against Rosa Mastrogiacomo-Luongo, the Republican Party’s endorsed candidate. Giordano, who currently works in the Harrison tax receiver’s office, collected only 177 valid petition signatures. “Everything about [Giordano] running for the position is inappropriate at this point, from collecting the STAR exemption in Brewster to pretending to live in West Harrison,” said Joe Angilletta, Mastrogiacomo-Luongo’s campaign manager and uncle. “This is not what a public servant should be. It’s a smack of dishonor at every level.” Earlier this month, Giordano’s candidacy was called into question after the Review discovered that he owns a home in the village of Brewster in Putnam County in addition to his home at 14 Wood-

side Ave. in West Harrison. Despite claiming to live in West Harrison while his wife and children live in Brewster, Giordano indicated on tax forms that his primary home is his Blossom Lane property in Brewster. Under that residence, he has been receiving a School Tax Relief Exemption, known as the STAR exemption, since 2001. According to the New York state Department of Taxation and Finance, 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. Additionally, Giordano has only been registered to vote in Westchester with his West Harrison address since Aug. 16, 2016. Before that, he was registered to vote using his Brewster home address, according to the Putnam County Board of Elections. The focus will now shift to the general election where three candidates will battle for the elected position, which pays $101,050 annually. Rosa Mastrogiacomo-Luongo will face off against Maria Mioli Pennella, a registered Republican, who is running on the Democratic line, and Helen Pesce, who has launched a run for the seat as an independent candidate. Pesce’s petitions to run as an independent candidate do not need to be submitted to the BOE until Aug. 21. Giordano could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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Lawmakers take stab at slashing prescription drugs By JAMES PERO Staff Writer As prescription drug prices continue to soar across the country, Westchester lawmakers will search for ways to mitigate those impacts on county residents, including lobbying Congress to expedite federal legislation mired in a bureaucratic stasis. “Companies are here to make profit, but also to help people,” said county Legislator David Tubiolo, a Yonkers Republican. “And if people can’t afford it, it’s not helping.” Tubiolo, who sits on the Board of Legislators’ Seniors Committee, said that in the coming months he plans to bring a resolution to the county legislative floor urging federal lawmakers to act on legislation aimed at bringing greater transparency to erratic increases in drug costs. Specifically, Tubiolo said, the resolution will focus on lobbying Congress to take action on the Fair Accountability and Innovative Research, FAIR, Drug Pricing Act; a measure introduced in part by U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, that would require pharmaceutical

companies to submit a justification to the Department of Health and Human Services for raising drug prices. That legislation has been stalled in committee since its introduction in May. “We’re asking the federal government to act faster,” Tubiolo said. “We’re looking into what we have the jurisdiction over and what we have the authority over.” Already, Tubiolo said, he has attempted to bring awareness to programs offered through the county, including a card available through Westchester’s partnership with ProAct Inc. that gives residents significant discounts on drugs not covered through their insurance. While the initiative has been in place since 2012, Tubiolo said awareness of the card’s availability has been underwhelming due in part to lack of proper advertising. For lawmakers across the spectrum, however, regulating drug prices is often a tall order. Drug prices sold through the private sector are set by pharmaceutical companies, and as a result, are subject mainly to the myriad market forces.

Such a dynamic has been highlighted in recent high-profile price hikes like those associated with the lifesaving drug Epipen, which administers epinephrine through injection to patients experiencing a severe allergic reaction, or Daraprim, a medicine popular amongst patients with autoimmune disorders which rose from $13.50 per pill to more than $750 overnight. According to a 2016 report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, drug prices are slated to keep rising over the next 10 years by an average of 6.3 percent annually. Between 2013 and 2016, the center recorded double digit drug price increases, including a 12 percent increase overall in 2015. According to county Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hasting-on-Hudson Democrat, those increases can, and do, have adverse effects on residents—especially seniors requiring medicine on fixed incomes—throughout the county. “A lot of senior citizens, because of the cost of prescription drugs, are cutting doses on their own, which creates medical issues, or are not filling them at

Westchester lawmakers eye prescription drugs as costs continue to soar while bearing down on the county’s elderly. Photo courtesy Flickr.com

all,” Shimsky said. “A lot of people will say the private market is so efficient, and keeps cost down, but sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t.” Tubiolo said that he’s spoken to some seniors who have gone as far as to cut costs in their diet, choosing to eat cat or dog food in order to help clear room in their budgets for medicine. “Some people privately told me they have done that to pay for

drugs,” he said. “No one should have to eat below standard to pay for drugs.” On top of endangering people’s health, Shimsky said increased drug costs can also act as a drag on the local economy. “In terms of the economy, if all the disposable income is being drained out by drug manufacturers, other sectors of the economy are going to get hurt,” she said. “If you can’t buy din-

ner, can’t go to the movies, can’t get out to drive, other people who rely on that business are going to suffer.” Tubiolo said the introduction of the resolution will likely happen in the next several months, and Shimsky said while she’ll have to read the declaration first, she would be open to supporting the idea behind it. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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What’s going on... Canasta & Mexican Train Games On Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the West Harrison Branch. For adults. Experienced players only for Canasta; no experience necessary for Mexican Train (dominos). For more information, call the library at 948-2092.

Art with Lauren

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

Wearable Electronics From Monday, Aug. 14 through Thursday, Aug. 17 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. For children ages 10 and up. Have you ever wanted to create your own clothing? Did you ever imagine that it could light up at night? It can. In this workshop, you will learn some basics of circuitry and electricity by making bracelets, watches, masks or hairpins. All workshop supplies are provided. Registration is required online or by calling the library at 835-0324.

Hadassah Film Festival On Monday, Aug. 14 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. “7 Days” will be screened. Old sibling rivalries come to the fore during the traditional 7-day Shiva period after the sudden passing of Viviane’s brother. In Hebrew, French and Arabic with subtitles. Running time: 103 minutes.

On Wednesday, Aug. 16 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building. Impressionism? Dadaism? Explore art and try your hand at some with Lauren Eames who has a master’s degree in art history. Suggested for ages 6 to 12. No registration required. On Aug. 16 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Eames will hold another art session for ages 6 and up. No registration required.

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.

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.

Chloe’s Sign & Play On Fridays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Rich-

ard 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.

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 Concert Series All concerts start at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Aug. 16, Hey Baby will perform at Halstead Avenue and Purdy Street in downtown Harrison. On Thursday, Aug. 17, Hindenberg will perform at the West Harrison Village Green.

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.

Manhattanville College Summer Sizzle Speed Networking

the East Library, Reid Castle on the college campus, located at 2900 Purchase St. in Purchase. Keep your sizzle going over the summer and continue to build your circle of influence. Bring your business cards and join Manhattanville for an evening of fun, speed networking, and refreshments. For ladies and gentlemen. Fee: $20. For questions, please contact Kathy Meany, director of the Women’s Leadership Institute at Manhattanville College School of Business, at 323-1482 or kathryn.meany@mville.edu. To register and for more information, visit mville. edu/business/wli.

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.

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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 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 Visit us online www.harrisonreview.com

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Personal trainer

lifts clients’ spirits through inspiring journey By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter After years of going through physical therapy and numerous surgeries, Sophia Gigante, 19, has managed to overcome her own physical limitations and wants to help others do the same. Gigante, a personal trainer from the Fleetwood section of Mount Vernon, received her National Council on Strength and Fitness certification in April 2017. Up until five years ago, when she began going to the gym, Gigante didn’t realize the things her body was capable of doing. She was born with hypotonia, or low muscle tone, which affected her strength and endurance, and required leg braces to help her walk. This, coupled with an additional diagnosis of hydrocephalus, a condition that makes fluid collect in the brain and can cause seizures, made physical activity extremely difficult. Gigante explained that growing up with such a diagnosis, she had to have four surgeries to help relieve pressure the excess fluid was causing on her brain. “That was a big part of my life, and the reason I couldn’t do a lot of things,” Gigante told the Review. “It just slowed me down.” After the seizures had finally subsided during her freshman year of high school, Gigante started exercising and visiting the gym as an overall means of improving her health. “I just [wanted] to go to the gym like any other freshman in high school,” she said. “I just wanted to go on the treadmill [and] lose some weight.” Gigante said that she initially didn’t think working out was going to be something she liked. But once she started, she was hooked, and saw herself growing stronger as she continued to exercise. “I started building up all this strength I didn’t know I had,” she said. Gigante explained that for her, it’s not just about getting a “good body,” but since she was once

Sophia Gigante, a personal trainer from the Fleetwood section of Mount Vernon, holds training classes at the Tuckahoe Community Center and at her gym in Yonkers. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/PTSophia Students at Sophia Gigante’s boot camp class work together to complete a 45-second circuit workout. Photos/Taylor Brown

physically incapable of working out, now, she doesn’t want to stop. As she continued to exercise, she became the person other people at the gym would go to for advice. “I was always helping people,” she said. Gigante now works as a personal trainer at her gym in Yonkers and at the Tuckahoe Community Center. The NCSF certificate also qualified her to teach boot camp classes, which she holds both at her gym and in Tuckahoe. “I like teaching because I was once somebody that didn’t know what to do [at the gym],” she said. Her boot camp classes involve 45-second circuits of different activities based on each person’s physical abilities. “[Sophia is] just an unbelievable trainer,” said Irene Gizzo, of Fleetwood. “I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” Gigante talks about expanding her business, and eventually wants to open up her own gym,

and also obtain a degree in physical therapy. “I’ve been starting to work with people with special needs and I really like it because I feel like I can sympathize with them,” she said. Gigante hopes to be able to help people realize that while the gym can be intimidating, it’s also quite rewarding. Karen Degouveia, of Fleetwood, explained that before she started going to Gigante’s boot camp classes in Tuckahoe, she had never worked out before. “[Sophia] is aware of individual limitations and works with [them],” she said. “She’s amazing.” While teaching is a big part of her life, Gigante is also in her sophomore year at Manhattan College where she studies biological and allied health sciences. “I just want to show people that no matter what, you can work out,” she said. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

Sophia Gigante teaches a boot camp class at the Tuckahoe Community Center.

Sophia Gigante demonstrates a workout for one of her students during her boot camp class.

Sophia Gigante has been working out for five years, and in April 2017 became a certified personal trainer. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/PTSophia

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Helping needy residents and Harrison’s charm HARRISON HAPPENINGS

Mayor Ron Belmont

Harrison’s Community Services Department has continued to serve our residents in a variety of ways. In June, the department was awarded Part 1 of a grant from the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, in the amount of $1,642.50 to be used toward the purchase of food through the Food Bank for Westchester. This money will help serve the growing needs of the senior community in Harrison who face rising food prices but remain on a fixed income. In addition to food pantry services, the Community Services Department is also dedicated to helping seniors who need to schedule medical transportation on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and to schedule trips to the supermarket on Wednesdays. The department’s Senior Safety Check program, in collaboration with the Harrison Police Department, has also continued to ensure the wellbeing of our seniors who live alone and need to maintain a connection to

the community. As the school year approaches, the Community Services Department is also working with the Harrison Association of Teachers to supply backpacks and school supplies to underprivileged children in Harrison. For additional information on services provided, please call the department at 6703026/3028. During the summer season, you may have noticed an increase in the number of home improvements and new construction in Harrison. It’s my feeling that this highlights the appeal of our community to newcomers and to established residents. I also believe that it reflects the view that Harrison is progressive, yet also underscores the importance of retaining our distinctive charm and natural surroundings. In an effort to respect the views of all residents, town officials have worked closely with Harrison’s land use boards and have been able to effectively balance the two approaches which ensure that all interests are properly recognized. The Harrison Public Library continues to provide our community with a meeting place that offers exceptional, informational

and educational opportunities. On Sunday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the library will host a Play-2-Learn Festival in Ma Riis Park. The event was named “Best New Children’s Festival” for 2017 in Westchester Magazine’s “Best of Westchester” edition. Our community’s young children and their families can participate in this wonderful program that includes eight different play zones, more than 25 hands-on activities, obstacles courses, STEM projects, music, raffles, and arts and crafts activities. I encourage all families to attend this very worthwhile event. In closing, our region had recently been under a heat advisory and I would like to remind residents of several ways to remain safe as temperatures soar. If possible, remain indoors and drink plenty of water. Keep blinds closed and shades drawn. If you do go outside, wear loose, lightweight clothing. It is very important that you do not leave anyone, including pets, in a parked car, even for a short period of time. I encourage all Harrison residents to check on elderly neighbors, relatives and friends to make sure that they are safe and comfortable.

IMMIGRATION from page 1

County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, plans to veto a bill known as the Immigration Protection Act, which passed the county Legislature in a 10-5 vote on Aug. 7. The bill aims to set a countywide policy on immigration enforcement for law enforcement officials. Photo courtesy Jerry McKinstry

Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, said Astorino’s comments are “full of falsehoods” and “fear mongering” meant to justify vetoing the legislation. “The purpose of the Immigration protection Act is to protect Westchester residents and keep us all safer,” she added. “We looked very closely at the U.S. Constitution when drafting this, and based on rights already in the Constitution, it abides by federal law.” The Democratic Caucus, which is made up of nine lawmakers, submitted the legislation to codify the existing policies adopted under Spano, not knowing the stance of the county executive and some top county public safety officials on the matter. In a statement, George Longworth, the commissioner of the

county Public Safety Department, called it a “bad and reckless idea.” “This bill is being passed over the objections of the [county] law enforcement authorities,” he said. “It will make Westchester families and police officers less safe.” The bill was also denounced by Hector Lopez, the president of the Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association, the county’s largest law enforcement group representing Hispanic officers, and County Attorney Robert Meehan, who first raised concerns about the law establishing a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants living in the county. According to Joe Sgammato, the press secretary for the Democratic Caucus, the caucus plans to hold a vote to override a veto by the county executive.

However, in order to override Astorino, the Board of Legislators will need a supermajority vote. And with the need for one more lawmaker to pledge his or her support for bill, that supermajority remains in the hands of the Republican Caucus. In a joint statement from the Republican Caucus, lawmakers echoed sentiments expressed by the county executive, saying the proposal is “well intentioned” but barely adds any “new protections” for the county’s immigrant community. “The immigrant community should know that law enforcement is there to serve them and protect them regardless of their immigration status,” the statement read. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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Jewish Community Center announces new cantor The Jewish Community Center of Harrison, JCCH, has announced that Marcos Askenazi will join the synagogue as the new Cantor. “We are delighted to welcome Marcos who is one of the most sought after cantors in America. During our search process we spoke to dozens of people whose lives he has touched, and he received rave reviews,” said Keith Satter, JCCH president. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, “Cantor Marcos,” as he is known, spent the past five years as Cantor for Ritual and Youth at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in Aventura, Florida. Prior to that, he served as Cantor at the East 55th Street Conservative Synagogue in New York City. “For me, serving as Cantor is not just a job; it is a lifestyle, pas-

sion, and life philosophy. I am excited and humbled to be joining the JCCH family and working with Rabbi Hammerman, the professional team, and the lay leadership,” Askenazi said. “I know we will work together to strengthen our community.” “Life can seem so overwhelming at times; we all have so many stresses that filter into our daily lives. When we come together as a synagogue community, the experience should be of absolute comfort. When we enter through the doors, assume our seats, and open our prayer books we are transported to another place, removed from our routine. We close our eyes and let the familiar melodies enter our hearts. I am grateful for the privilege and honor of helping people find that place,” Askenazi said.

“I am particularly excited for Cantor Marcos to help all of us connect more closely to Judaism through music and the arts. His infectious personality will surely elevate our worship and our community,” added Eytan Hammerman, a Rabbi at JCCH. Askenazi’s first official Shabbat at JCCH will be Friday, Aug. 25, and Saturday, Aug. 26. Friday evening services will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday morning services start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday services are followed by Kiddush lunch. All are welcome to join in services and at Kiddush. For more information about the JCCH, visit Jcch.org or call the synagogue office at 718543-8400. The JCCH is located at 130 Union Ave., in Harrison. (Submitted)

Obituary

Prior village resident dies at 90 Sabine Gabriele Schipper, 90, passed away on July 17, in Medford, New Jersey. Schipper was born on Jan. 7, 1927, in Breslau, Germany, now Wroclaw, Poland, and her life was an extraordinary odyssey of resilience. Her parents, Georg Fröhlich, a corporate lawyer, and his wife, Edith, evacuated Schipper via the Kindertransport along with her only sibling, Andreas, to England after Kristallnacht in 1938. Although her parents raised them as Catholics, Schipper and her brother were deemed Jewish by Nazi laws because her grandparents were Jewish. In the summer of 1939, Schipper and her brother joined their parents in then neutral Holland, awaiting visas to join their relatives in the U.S. The family became trapped in the Netherlands when the Nazis invaded that country in May 1940. In June 1941, the Nazis and their Dutch collaborators rounded up

Andreas with about 300 other young men of Jewish ancestry in Amsterdam in retaliation for a Dutch act of sabotage. Andreas perished in Mauthausen, a concentration camp in Austria, in October 1941, two weeks after his 20th birthday. With help from the friends of Andreas, Schipper and her family went into hiding in the countryside of North Holland where Schipper eventually met Cornelis Schipper, a leading member of the Dutch Resistance who helped her family find hiding places and arranged for food rations. Sabine Schipper married Cornelis Schipper after the war and they immigrated to the United States in 1947. Her parents returned to Germany where Georg helped rebuild the German legal system at the request of the British occupying forces, eventually rising to become a judge on the German high court for

constitutional matters. While Cornelis Schipper built up a flower bulb import business now known as Colorblends Flowerbulbs, Sabine Schipper raised five children in Harrison, New York. She became active in the League of Women Voters and did volunteer work for the elderly. B’nai Brith gave her an award for her advocacy for housing and services for senior citizens. After moving to Haddonfield, New Jersey, Sabine Schipper volunteered at a Camden nonprofit agency that provided legal assistance to the elderly. A lover of the arts, she held season tickets to ballet, theater and orchestra performances. Sabine Schipper is survived by Cornelis Schipper, her husband of 70 years; five children, Agnes, Andreas, Christopher and Timothy Schipper, and Dorothea Schipper Fenwick; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. (Submitted)

Looking for a happy, friendly, outgoing and beautiful dog? Look no further—Serena is the one for you! This beautiful hound/Lab mix is about a year old and 37 pounds. She is spayed, vaccinated, dewormed and microchipped. Make her part of your family for an adoption donation of $300. Come meet Serena! Call 834-6955 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

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REAL ESTATE A U C T I O N R E A L P R O P E R T Y TA X FORECLOSURES ESSEX COUNTY. Selling properties August 30 @ 11AM. Held at Best Western Plus, Ticonderoga Inn & Suites, Ticonderoga. 800-243-0061 AAR, Inc. Free brochure: www.NYSAuctions.com Land Bargains SCHENECTADY COUNTY TOWN O F D UAN ES B U R G 14.7 acres views $41,000. 7.1 acres views $29,000. 2.9 acres views $24,000. Owner Financing www.helderbergrealty.com (518) 861-6541 or (518) 256-6344 GREENE COUNTY LAND SALE! AUG 12TH! 7 ac- $39,900 10 ac-$49,900 34 ac-$79,900 8 wooded homesites, 20 mins So of Albany. Stonewalls, private setting. Twn rd, utils! Terms avail. Call 888-905-8847 to register.

VACATION RENTALS OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday Resort Services. 1-800-638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com. 5% base rent discount. Use code NYPS17-2. Ends Oct-01-2017

WANTED TO BUY Buying Diamonds, gold, silver, antique and modern jewelry, better furs, U.S. and foreign coins, paintings, bronzes, complete estates. Highest prices paid. Call 914-260-8783 for appointment

SOONER OR LATER... SOMEONE’S GOING TO BLAB IT ON

Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless is proposing to collocate antennas on an 88-foot building at 3 Calvert Street, Harrison, Westchester County, NY 10528. Public comments regarding the potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30-days from the date of this publication to: Laura Mancuso – CBRE, 4 West Red Oak Lane, White Plains, New York 10604, laura.mancuso@CBRE.com, or 914-597-6991.

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Make-A-Wish® Hudson Valley

WheelsForWishes.org Call: (914) 468-4999

NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION The Harrison Central School District, Harrison, NY will hold an on-line Public Auction of excess furniture beginning on Friday, August 11, 2017 and ending on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. The auction will be held at www.auctionsinternational.com and managed by Auctions International, Inc. The terms and conditions of the auction and final sales are available at the aforementioned web site. Questions may be addressed to the Purchasing Office, Harrison Central School District, 50 Union Ave, Harrison, NY 10528; 914-630-3011. By order of the Board of Education Gene George Purchasing Agent Dated: August 11, 2017

NOTICE TO BIDDERS HARRISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that SEALED PROPOSALS for: RFB # 17/18-17: ASSET RECOVERY will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at the Business Office of the Harrison Central School District, located at 50 Union Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528; (914) 630-3011. All bids will be publicly opened and read at said time and place. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained at www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york or from the district Business Office beginning July 28, 2017. All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered bid holders and posted to www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york. Bids shall be submitted in sealed envelopes bearing the name and address of the bidder on the outside, addressed to: PURCHASING AGENT, HARRISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT and clearly marked on the outside with the bid opening date and “RFB #17/18-17: Asset Recovery”. The Harrison Central School District is not responsible for bids opened prior to the bid opening if bid number and opening date do not appear on the envelope. Bids opened prior to the date and time indicated are invalid. The bidder assumes the risk of any delay in the mail, or in the handling of the mail by employees of the Harrison Central School District, as well as improper hand delivery. The Harrison Central School District reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, or to reject all bids, or to accept any bid which in the opinion of the Board will be to their best interest. By order of the Board of Education Gene George, Purchasing Agent Dated: July 28, 2017

*Free Vehicle/Boat Pickup ANYWHERE *We Accept All Vehicles Running or Not *Fully Tax Deductible

* Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. To learn more about our programs or financial information, visit www.wheelsforwishes.org.

Donate A Boat or Car Today! “2-Night Free Vacation!”

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STOP CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN

August 11, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 13

14 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • August 11, 2017

Head games LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

As much as I loved playing football, I’m starting to wonder; if I could do it all over again, would I still suit up? On July 25, a study released by Boston University revealed that of 202 donated brains from deceased former football players across all levels of the sport, 177—or 87 percent—tested positive for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE, a degenerative brain disease that has been tied to repeated blows to the head. The numbers are alarming, sure, but they don’t exactly tell the whole story, especially when it comes to youth football. Of those 202 brains, 111 came from former NFL players—people who played football at the highest level for years. Furthermore, even the brains of those who never made it to the NFL were donated by families who had an inkling that something wasn’t right. So yes, the results of the study paint a dark picture of football’s effects on the brain, but it’s a selective grouping, and not something that really speaks to the general experience of someone deciding to play high school football. And really, that’s the problem facing youth football now; there’s so much uncertainty about the long-term effects of playing the sport, it’s enough to give parents— and potential athletes—pause. I’m getting older now, but

I’m not so old that I played the sport before people realized that concussions were a growing problem. In my senior year, all the way back in 2001, I suffered the only concussion of my varsity career. In our second game of the season, up at Suffern, I was coming on a weakside blitz as the opposing QB rolled out to his left. Our defensive end got off his blocker and was going to wrap him up low; a step too late, I decided to dive high in an attempt to swat the ball away. Unfortunately, the quarterback curled up and went down as soon as he felt the pressure. As I flew over him, my legs clipped him in the back and I drove myself headfirst into the turf at an awkward angle. The play, which was immortalized on our end of the year highlight tape—though not for my efforts—shows the back judge visibly concerned as I landed, then peeled myself off the turf and unsteadily attempted to make my way to the wrong sideline. I was still in a fog when I made my way over to the bench, where our athletic trainer—the kind of guy who generally adhered to the old school “play through it” mentality—told me that I was done for the game. I nodded in agreement, waited till he walked down to check out a cramping teammate, cleared the cobwebs out of my head and promptly inserted myself back into the game. I knew back then that it wasn’t the smartest move, but when you are 17 years old and football is

SPORTS

your life, it seemed like the only option. The next few days were the first time I really experienced the aftereffects of a concussion. I was in a general daze, couldn’t concentrate in my classes, and even passed out a time or two, once in the middle of a conversation I was having with my father in the kitchen. I sat out a few practices, sure. But the next Saturday we played Spring Valley, so you can be sure I was back out there on the field. It was a dumb move by a dumb kid, but back then, we—or at least I—just didn’t understand the repercussions of my actions. Football, even more than most sports, is the kind of endeavor that celebrates an individual’s ability to play through injuries. But over the last decade or more, we’ve learned enough about head injuries to know that playing through them simply isn’t an option. During my tenure at the Review, I have had discussions with coaches, players and administrators alike that makes me realize that, these days, concussion pro- Players from Rye and Beacon collide in a 2016 football game. Sports Editor Mike Smith believes that increased tocol is as important a facet of the research about head injuries can help today’s players protect themselves better, on and off the field. File photo game as the X’s and O’s. There’s still a risk for concussions, sure, but everyone, at least, is armed with knowledge that trying to play through one can have a disastrous outcome, both in the immediate and distant future. So yeah, I would probably still play. I’d probably just learn to use my head. Or not.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A

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

SPORTS

August 11, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 15

Lake Isle claims county title By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Over the last decade, the Lake Isle Swim and Dive team has established itself as the premier powerhouse in the area, turning in a host of winning performances at the annual Westchester County Swim Association Championships. On Aug. 2, the Eastchester-based club added even more hardware to the trophy case, winning its fourth-straight combined team title at Rye Playland to cap off another successful summer season. Thanks to some dominant performances by their female competitors, Lake Isle was able to capture gold at the 92nd annual WCSA championships, scoring 307.5 points overall to edge second-place Wykagyl, which finished with 279 points. The final tally was much closer than last year, when Lake Isle topped Wykagyl by 84 points. “We knew it was going to be tough this year; every year is different with kids who go away or become the youngest in their age group,” Lake Isle coach Kevin Lavelle said. “And we knew Wykagyl was a very strong team this year, so we expected it to be close.” Lavelle, who has coached the Lake Isle squad to eight titles in the last 10 years, said that while oftentimes, the team is reliant on its male competitors to create distance from the opposition, this year, the standout performances were mostly on the girls end. Lake Isle’s girls outscored second-place Rye Golf Club by 101 points, while the boys placed fourth behind Wykagyl, Willowbrook and the Greenburgh Swim Team. Ten-year-old Claire Weinstein was the high-point champion on the girls’ side, picking up 34 points in both individual and relay events, while a number of her teammates, including Lauren Maierle, 10, Daniella Condon, 12, and Emily Gjertsen, 15, all garnered top-five finishes in their respective age divisions. Ten-year-old Noah Barrett finished second in the boys’ 10U age group with 24 total points during the event. Only three WCSA records fell during this year’s event, but Lake Isle got in on the action, as Maierle, Weinstein, Gianna Martorello and Lucianna Guitierrez were able to set a new mark of

2.22:79 in the girls 10U 200meter medley relay. “We knew heading into that final day, it was going to be close, but we had built up enough of a lead,” Lavelle said. “Our relay teams, in particular, did a really great job for us.” With another title in the books, Lavelle said that his team will enjoy the moment, and will turn their attention to repeating as champions when the 2018 season kicks off next July. “We’ve been very fortunate but you never know what is going to happen in the future,” he said. “You might have kids who decide to swim with their club teams or sit out a summer season, so you really don’t know what the team is going to look like from year to year.”

Area swimmers kick off to start the backstroke leg of the medley relay at Rye Playland.

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Jason Amato from the Wykagyl Country Club swims on Aug. 2. Wykagyl won the boys’ title and placed second in combined team scores.

Lake Isle’s Caroline Coughlin performs the breaststroke on Aug. 2 at Rye Playland. Lake Isle’s girls 200-meter medley relay team finished second.

Steven Kwon from Harrison Recreation gets off the block on Aug. 2. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • August 11, 2017