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Harrison REVIEW THE

March 3, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 9 | www.harrisonreview.com

Supreme Court rules against Save Harrison in lawsuit

Helping hands

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

As part of the Harrison Emergency Lifesaving Program, a new community initiative designed to teach residents emergency lifesaving techniques, Harrison Emergency Medical Services provided free CPR and first aid training courses to community members. For story, see page 6. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Westchester lawmakers push to ban sale of synthetic weed By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With a new piece of legislation, Westchester lawmakers will look to piggyback on a recently passed New York City law blockading the spread of a synthetic marijuana known commonly as “spice.” The county legislation, introduced jointly by Republican legislators David Tubiolo and John Testa, would enact a countywide ban on the sale of the synthetic drugs—which are currently sold legally over-thecounter under state law—by amending portions of the county’s consumer protection code. “We’re doing what we can to make our county as safe as pos-

sible,” said Tubiolo, of Yonkers. “These are deadly toxins.” In New York state, both the sale and consumption of the drug have been under increasing scrutiny over the past year, spurred in part by 33 Brooklyn residents who overdosed this past summer on a popular brand of the product sold under the moniker “K2.” The side effects experienced by users of that strain of the drug included extreme disorientation, loss of motor control, and erratic behavior that required police intervention. According to Testa, of Peekskill, at times, the reach of drugs like K2 has hit close to home. Earlier this year, Testa explained, White Plains first

responders were called to intervene after multiple individuals began exhibiting what he described as “strange behavior.” Later, Testa said, it was determined that they had ingested synthetic marijuana which had been sold to them only a block away from the county government’s White Plains headquarters. “It was a wake-up call for us to pay attention to this and combat it in Westchester,” Testa said. This past summer, the drug also swept multiple Yonkers residents which resulted in police intervention according to Yonkers Police Sgt. Dean Politopolous. While regulators on both a state and federal level have

made attempts to quell the spread of synthetic marijuana—most notably through a 2012 congressional act that listed many of the compounds found in those drugs as Schedule I substances, the most serious class—the fight has often been a battle from behind. According to Tubiolo, while state and local governments have banned many of the compounds found in the commercially sold drugs, manufacturers have skirted embargos by altering their recipes by just a few molecules. “We were aware that people had been changing the chemicals,” Tubiolo said. “We’re trying BAN continued on page 9

Days before the Harrison Town Council may issue a final approval allowing a Brightview Senior Living Center on the site of the former Lake Street Quarry, the state Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the town’s 2016 decision to change that property’s zoning in anticipation of the development. But a resident group, which launched the initial lawsuit in June, may look to appeal the court’s decision. On Feb. 22, Judge Gretchen Walsh ruled in favor of Brightview and various Harrison agencies, including the Town Council and Planning Board in a suit filed by Save Harrison Inc., a group of West Harrison residents who claim that the proposed senior living center would adversely impact the surrounding area, which had been zoned for lowdensity residential properties. Save Harrison’s lawsuit aimed to dispute several steps in the process leading to Brightview’s pending approval, but was centered on a controversial zoning amendment passed by the Town Council last May, which allowed the construction of a senior living center on the potential Brightview property—600 Lake St.—as well as several other residentially zoned properties throughout Harrison. The lawsuit alleged that Harrison’s amendment to the zoning code at the request of Brightview was an instance of spot-zoning, an illegal zoning process in which a municipality rezones a small parcel of land to benefit a property owner that comes at the

detriment of neighboring owners. However, the court ruled against this claim, explaining in its ruling that the zoning amendment was in line with Harrison’s comprehensive plan and in the best interest of the community. “We are quite pleased that this important zoning amendment and the town’s meticulous review of the extensive record was upheld by the court as entirely lawful,” said David Steinmetz, an attorney representing the Brightview project. Now that the lawsuit has been resolved, Brightview must clear one last hurdle before it can begin construction of its 160unit, 165,000-square-foot senior facility. On March 2, after press time, the Town Council will continue a public hearing that began in midFebruary, and could vote on final approval for the senior living center after closing that hearing. Meanwhile, Save Harrison may look to extend the legal battle. According to Al Pirro, an attorney for Save Harrison, the resident group plans to appeal the judge’s ruling. “[My] clients have spoken to me and have advised me that they disagree with certain portions of the decision,” Pirro said. “I think certainly that there are some very significant portions of the judge’s decisions to be reviewed.” If approved, the senior center would be built on the site of the now-defunct Lake Street Quarry, which, according to town records, had been operating outside of the zoning code for decades. To settle land use violations cited by the town, LAWSUIT continued on page 9

2 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017

March 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday

National Women’s History Month PTA meeting 9:30 a.m., HHS

Daylight saving time starts

Holi

Superintendent’s Conference Day

National Pi Day

Theater Arts performance 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., HAS

Science/Technology Fair 6 p.m., LMK

NCAA Selection Sunday

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

FRIDAY

World Wildlife Day

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

Talent Show 3 p.m., LMK

International Women’s Day

World Kidney Day

PTA meeting 9:15 a.m., PUR

Jazz Night 7 p.m., HHS

Board of Education meeting 8:15 p.m., LMK

Zoning board meeting 8 p.m., Municipal building

Ides of March

Parent/Teacher Conferences 11:15 a.m., all elementary PTA staff luncheon 11:30 a.m., PRE

SATURDAY

Read Across America Day

Musical 7 p.m., HHS

PTA meeting 7 p.m., PRE

THURSDAY

Parent/Teacher Conferences 11:15 a.m., all elementary

Musical 1 p.m. & 7 p.m., HHS

Musical 7 p.m., HHS

Gr. 5 Science Fair 9:15 a.m., HAS PTA Rec Night 7 p.m., LMK

St. Patrick’s Day

SAT I & II test

Theater Arts performance 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., HAS Purim begins at sundown

Theater Arts performance 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., PRE

PTA staff luncheon 11:30 a.m., HAS String Extravaganza 7 p.m., HHS

ACT late registration deadline Gr. K–5 Movie Night 6 p.m., PUR

Theater Arts performance snow date 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., PRE

Spring Equinox

Math Night 6 p.m., PUR

World Poetry Day PTA meeting 7:30 p.m., LMK

PTA meeting 7 p.m., PAR

Theater Arts performance snow date 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., PAR

Diabetes Alert Day

Gr. 3–8 NYS ELA test begins Planning Board 7:30 p.m., Municipal building SEPTA meeting 7:30 p.m., HHS

Gr. 10 PSAT exam HHS

PTA meeting 9 a.m., HAS

Board of Education meeting 8:15 p.m., LMK

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

Gr. 3–8 NYS ELA test ends

Bingo Night 7 p.m., PRE

Musical 7:15 p.m., LMK

Buddy Day 10 a.m., LMK PTA Sock-Hop 6 p.m., HAS

Theater Arts performance 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., PAR Musical 7:15 p.m., LMK

March 3, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 3

County adds provisions to proposed immigration law By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Westchester County Legislature’s Democratic Caucus has added new provisions to its recently proposed Immigration Protection Act, which sets forth a policy on immigration enforcement, in an effort to strengthen the language in the bill. On Feb. 8, Democrats first introduced the proposed legislation, which aims to prevent Westchester County from aiding the federal government in investigations made on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and national origin. The legislation was submitted to codify existing policies while also drawing from model ordinances put in place by the New York state attorney general’s office to alleviate concerns about the treatment of immigrants living in county. The Democratic Caucus’ proposal comes in wake of President Donald Trump’s recent initiative to deport undocumented immigrants nationwide. “The intent of this act is to

alleviate fear and create protections for our county’s immigrant population without violating federal law,” said county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat. “All too often members of our community, documented and undocumented, are fearful of calling the police or utilizing county services.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, agents have arrested 41 people in the New York metropolitan area in February, according to the federal department. With a growing fear of many more immigration raids to come, on Feb. 24, county Democrats added four new conditions to the proposal, including language that prohibits county officers and officials from honoring requests made by ICE and Customs and Border Protection, CBP, that do not give rise to probable cause, and protects Westchester from liability due to false arrests and imprisonments. Additionally, county Democrats specified that municipal services should be made available to all who are eligible not-

RALLY continued on page 00

withstanding their immigration status, and that confidential information shared amongst county departments should remain safeguarded. According to Joe Sgammato, the press secretary representing the county Democratic Caucus, the new provisions are intended to fortify parts of an existing executive order previously made by former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat, in 2006, which relates to confidential information and immigration status. Sgammato added that with uncertainty about the opinion of current County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, the Democratic Caucus has proposed new provisions to the Immigration Protection Act to prepare for any potential plan in the future to repeal Spano’s executive order. In Westchester County, the current county executive can repeal any executive order made by someone who previously held the position. But, according to Ned McCormack, the communications director for the county executive’s

Westchester County Democrats have added more to their recently proposed Immigration Protection Act, which has garnered support from several state and county officials, including county Legislator Ken Jenkins, left, who plans to run for county executive this year. Photo/Franco Fino

office, Astorino has no intention of rescinding Spano’s order. “When County Executive Astorino came into office, he went through and rescinded a number of executive orders, but not this one because he thought it had merit,” McCormack told the Review. McCormack declined to comment on the proposed legislation

however, which he confirmed the county administration has not even read to this point. “We want to make sure the county and all its citizens are taken care of, but we first want to wait and see when the [bill] is final,” he said. The bill, which was referred to the committees on Budget and Appropriations, Legislation,

and Public Safety and Social Services on Feb. 13, is sponsored by eight Democrats on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. If passed in committee, the bill would then require the vote of nine members of the full 17-member Legislature for it to be approved. IMMIGRATION continued on page 8

4 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017

What’s going on... Harrison Public Library

ternet with your tablet, phone or laptop? Bring your device and questions and get one-on-one assistance. Please register online, by phone at 8350324, or in person at the library.

Crochet and Knitting On Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the West Harrison Branch. Want to learn how to knit or crochet a simple scarf? Join this class. Drop in anytime and bring hooks, needles and yarn or practice with the library’s. No registration required. Call 948-2092 for more information. Visit harrisonpl.org for more information on programs and library hours.

Sing Along Sundays with Chloe On Sundays from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Celebrate early childhood through music and movement. Children and parents are sure to love the captivating songs, live accordion music, and activities designed with specific cognitive milestones in mind. This class will feature a variety of child-sized instruments and props, and a wealth of both traditional and original songs to add to your singalong repertoire. Get ready for a fun, creative, and engaging experience.

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.

Stich me Knot

One-on-One e-Help

On Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. The Stich Me Knot knitting club is a weekly get-together for needle craft (knit, crochet, etc.) enthusiasts of all levels. Bring your own materials and projects to work on. Learn and share different patterns and techniques with other hobbyists.

On Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Need help with downloading e-books, audiobooks, apps, or using Google Drive, email, or searching the In-

On Thursday, March 9 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Build-

Create Your Own Games in Scratch

ing. For ages 8 and up. Learn how to create animation and games in the MIT-developed Scratch programming language, a simple and colorful system for computer users of all ages. Space is limited. Please sign up online, by phone at 835-0324, or in-person at the Reference Desk. Bring your own laptop or use the ones provided by the library.

English for Japanese Speakers On Fridays from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. This class is for Japanese speakers learning English. Practical everyday conversational English is taught, and always tailored to the students’ needs. This class is taught by Julie Jacobs. Class is held once a week on Friday mornings and follows the Harrison school district calendar.

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

Chloe’s Sign & Play On Fridays from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Give your child the gift of language. Sign & Play is a fun class where families can learn to communicate with their pre-verbal children using real signs from American Sign Language. Based on the awardwinning Baby Signing Time series, this class will give parents a window into the hearts and minds of their little ones. Through fun songs, stories and games, parents and children will learn many useful signs for everyday communication.

Yoga with Angela On Fridays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard E. Halperin Memorial Building. Bring your own mat and water to this lovely, mind-and-bodyrelaxing yoga experience with Angela Brandt, a registered and certified yoga instructor. This is an opportunity to create self-esteem, physical coordination, breath relaxation and strength. For grades 2–5.

Harrison Recreation Please be aware that parents must have a current 2017 ID card to register children for all programs. Please be prepared to show proof of residency with a current utility bill and driver’s license. A school report card or progress report is

required for a child ID card. 2017 resident IDs and pool passes are now available for purchase. Visit harrison-ny.gov/recreation for more information on programs and the Recreation Department.

Little League Little League registration is currently underway. Applications are available at all recreation centers and on the Harrison Recreation website, harrison-ny.gov/recreation.

Youth Flag Football League For children in grades K–6. This program is mostly focused on the fundamentals of the game. Players will learn the basics of football as well as practicing speed and agility drill. Teams will be formed and games begin during the third week of the program. The tentative spring season starts on April 3 and will run on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. at LMK or Feeley Fields. Please contact Joe Gallace with any questions at 924-8380 or harrisonyouthflagfootball@yahoo.com. Fee: $180; late fee will be $200 after March 11.

Westchester County news County golf courses scheduled to open The six Westchester County-owned golf courses are scheduled to open for the season on Wednesday, March 15, weather and conditions permitting. Tee time reservations may be made online at golf.westchestergov.com. Reservations may also be made by calling the individual courses. Walk-up reservations will also be accepted at the courses. The courses are: Mohansic in Yorktown Heights; Maple Moor in White Plains; Saxon Woods in Scarsdale; Hudson Hills in Ossining; and Dunwoodie and Sprain Lake, both in Yonkers. Any available E-Z Reserve spots will be sold at the courses. E-Z Reserve enables golfers with a Westchester County Park Pass to block out a regular Saturday or Sunday tee time for a period of 25 weeks. More information about Westchester County golf courses is available at golf.westchestergov. com. 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.

March 3, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 5

Save the Sound ‘frustrated’ with lack of progress By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With a federal lawsuit alleging EPA violations between the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound and Westchester County approaching the two-year mark, officials at the nonprofit are growing increasingly impatient with alleged inaction on the part of several communities. “Save the Sound is frustrated with the lack of progress,” said Tracy Brown, director of Save the Sound’s Western programs. “We need schedules with more meaningful deadlines than what [defendants] brought to the table.” A settlement conference was held earlier this month and allowed the 11 municipalities named in the suit to update both a state district judge and members of Save the Sound on where their respective communities stand. Brown, who attended the conference, said that while schedules outlining work have been drawn up for most of the

communities, some continue to lag behind. So far, aside from the village of Mamaroneck, which was under a 2014 consent order from the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, DEC, to conduct an evaluation of its sewers, Brown said other communities have floundered in taking significant steps toward doing the same. “We’re asking for—in the case of each of the communities in the Long Island Sound watershed—[communities] to do a Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study and then have a coordinated strategy for their repairs,” she said. A lawsuit filed in 2015 originally targeted the named communities’ adherence to the EPA’s Clean Water Act, alleging that deficient and neglected sewer infrastructure has led to untreated waste entering the Long Island Sound via sanitary sewer overflows. But Roger Reynolds, legal director for Save the Sound, said that federal suit has since been put “temporarily on hold.”

“We are working toward a resolution where the [municipalities] would create a regional solution,” Reynolds said. “But if that doesn’t happen, then the litigation process—which is not ideal—would be the way to go.” Specifically, Reynolds said, instead of litigation, the group will push to see greater cooperation between communities who manage common infrastructure and are situated in a mutual network of waterways, and ideally a more clearly defined assessment of the problem itself. “It’s not about any specific town or community, it’s the entire problem,” Reynolds said. “It’s one big system that flows in and out of each other.” Reynolds said similar cooperative solutions have shown some efficacy in the past, some of which are taking place in New York state. Reynolds points to a similar effort launched in Albany, New York, in 2015 that leveraged a DEC consent order to bring multiple cities, villages and towns together to rectify pollution spurred by deficient sewer

As a lawsuit alleging EPA violations in many of Westchester’s Sound Shore communities drags on, members of the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound, which sued the county in 2015, are growing increasingly impatient. File photo

infrastructure under mandated deadlines. Among the initiatives to stem from a consent order in Albany, are various intermunicipal sewer agreements that also add clear deadlines and definitions to communities’ pollution problems. According to Reynolds, a settlement with the Westchester communities named in the lawsuit may be nearing. He estimated a decision may be coming in the next two months. “We just really want to see

the problem get solved,” he said. Due to ongoing litigation, Mamaroneck Village Manager Richard Slingerland declined to comment. Rye City Attorney

Kristen Wilson could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITIES NAMED IN FEDERAL LAWSUIT • Harrison • Larchmont • Mamaroneck town and village • New Rochelle • Pelham Manor

• Port Chester • Rye City • Rye Brook • Scarsdale • White Plains

6 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017

Harrison REVIEW

THE

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Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com

Harrison EMS kick-starts lifesaving program

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

Each year, as many as 350,000 cardiac arrests occur throughout the nation. To combat that, EMS is certifying residents in CPR after taking part in a training course administered through HELP.

Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer James Pero Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Aaron Kershaw, Charlie McLaughlin Columnists Ron Belmont, Lenore Skenazy

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The next HELP meeting will take place at the Purchase Community House at 3095 Purchase St. on March 14. Harrison EMS officials are hopeful that the community gets involved with the program.

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer In an effort to help residents in lifesaving situations, Harrison’s EMS has launched a free program to train individuals seeking to take courses in medical training. The program, known as the Harrison Emergency Lifesaving Program, HELP, kicked off at the Jewish Community Center of Harrison, located at 130 Union Ave., on Feb. 28. “Far too often we hear about a tragedy that could have been prevented,” said Ron Benson, the public information officer for the EMS. “It’s extremely important to protect our young, and we’re attempting to get everyone prepared for emergency situations.” The program is offered free to all residents of Harrison, and aims to prepare new parents and caretakers for the potential of being faced with a life-threatening emergency situation. As part of the program, residents are given the opportunity to take courses for a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR. The course, which is not limited

to people with medical experience, offers instructional-based classes for adult and child CPR. CPR is used as a tool to prevent cardiac arrest, which is a leading cause of death nationwide. Each year, as many as 350,000 cardiac arrests occur throughout the nation, according to the Harrison EMS. While 70 percent of cardiac arrests happen in homes, Benson said the program aims to aid those in early detection to take immediate action before professional help arrives. At the Tuesday kickoff event, the Harrison EMS certified 24 residents for CPR. The program is also designed to teach individuals how to properly use a defibrillator, which delivers an electric current, often called a countershock, to the heart for lifesaving purposes. Benson said the program, which is suitable for individuals as young as age 9, came out of brainstorming ways in which the EMS team could improve the community. HELP, which is being spear-

headed by Vinny Straface, a member of the board of directors that oversees the Harrison EMS, is being planned for a regular basis. The next meeting will occur at the Purchase Community House at 3095 Purchase St. on March 14, as of press time. Benson, who told the Review that there is no official goal for

the amount of people the EMS plans to train, said that around 15 people are expected to be at the next meeting. “We realistically want to train as many people as we possibly can,” he said. Straface could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

On Feb. 28, Harrison’s EMS started a program known as HELP to certify residents in CPR training. Pictured is Ron Benson, a member and press information officer for the EMS, guiding a resident on proper CPR techniques on an infant. Photos/Andrew Dapolite

March 3, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 7

Great Decisions discusses global affairs By JERRY NOLAN Watching the news recently has me feeling helpless. The current political climate has left my friends and I, with a lot of opinions about what is going on, searching for a positive outlet to express our views. Social media has become a popular way to share thoughts, but maybe not the best outlet, a larger amount of posts leading to virtual arguments. I wanted to find a more official and productive outlet for my friends and I to share our opinions, an outlet where our voices would be heard and have an impact, which is why I am glad I found Great Decisions. Great Decisions is the largest global affairs discussion program in America. Each year when the program runs, eight topics are chosen, which transfer into eight discussion meetings. The program involves reading articles, watching videos and meeting in local groups to discuss the most critical global issues. After meetings, participants contribute to the 2017 For-

eign Policy Association’s National Opinion Ballot, which is distributed to Congress. Meetings have been taking place at Harrison Public Library, and will continue until June. The program is being facilitated by Joan Katen, a distinguished professor, author, moderator and Middle East expert. Katen has been an adjunct professor at Pace University for 15 years, co-designing a new minor in Peace and Justice Studies as well as designing new courses at the university. She is the author of “Love at the Edge,” a novel based in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. She received the prestigious National Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Service for her book and her efforts at building peace. Katen is a consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Economic Development, and the former vice president of the Westchester branch of the United Nations Association of the U.S. Katen urges people to join Great Decisions. “If a person

wants to learn about current topics, be able to have the facts to form well-based opinions, and have his or her opinions sent to government leaders, then he or she should join our group at the Harrison library,” she said. The next Great Decision dates and topics are: • March 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Prospects for Afghanistan & Pakistan • April 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Saudi Arabia in Transition • April 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Geopolitics: Climate Change & Petroleum • May 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Latin America’s Political Pendulum • May 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: The South China Sea Conflict • June 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Nuclear Security For more information on the Great Decisions series and to register, visit harrisonpl.org. Jerry Nolan is an intern at the Harrison Public Library.

Joan Katen, a distinguished professor, author, moderator and Middle East expert, has been facilitating the Harrison Public Library’s Great Decisions discussion program. Contributed photo

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPORTER

FRANCO FINO

franco@hometwn.com

8 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017

Tax exemption and Youth Art Month HARRISON HAPPENINGS Mayor Ron Belmont

I would like to bring your attention to an issue that may affect many residents: tax exemption status. It is that time of year again; time for exemption renewals to be sent out. The Assessor’s Office is sending out renewal applications to all enhanced STAR applicants from prior years, as well as applicants of the RPTL 467 senior exemptions. These applications are being sent out with instruction information and all required dates. Applications are due on or before May 1, 2017. Additionally, May 1 is what is known as the Taxable Status Date, which requires all exemption applications to be submitted, as well as any demolitions of real estate to be completed to valuation changes. The Assessor’s Office asks that all renewals are carefully reviewed and that all required documents be submitted in a timely manner to avoid a loss of eligibility. Exemptions offer modest to significant relief from real estate taxes. Enhanced STAR and Ba-

sic STAR offer relief on school taxes, whereas a veterans exemption offers relief from general town and county taxes and in some cases, school taxes. The Senior 467 Exemption is the most comprehensive and can offer a sliding scale reduction based on income of up to 50 percent from all forms of real estate taxes. As with all applications for exemption from taxes, there are rules. All senior exemptions require proof of age, and an income component, with amounts varying based on the application provided. The Enhanced STAR income total is $86,000 based on 2015 federal income tax returns. The Senior 467 exemption is $37,399 based on 2016 income data. This exemption is based on gross income from all sources and not net income; i.e., social security income counts. New homeowners, or those seeking STAR for the first time, must now apply to the state at tax.ny.gov/star or call 518-4572036. The Harrison Assessor’s Office is available for questions Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office can be reached by calling 670-3060. No appli-

cations will be accepted unless complete, as audits by the state of New York have become commonplace. This year’s Youth Art Month kicks off with a reception in Town Hall on Sunday, March 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This is a wonderful annual event and I encourage all residents to visit our municipal building throughout the month of March, and view the extraordinary talent from our youngest residents. In closing, Thursday, March 2 is the opening night for the Harrison High School Footlight Players presentation of “The Addams Family.” Performances run through Sunday, March 5 at Harrison’s Performing Arts Center in the high school. I encourage everyone to attend what I’m sure will be a very exciting show. The next Lunch with the Mayor is on Friday, March 3. I will be at Emilio’s Ristorante, located at 1 Colonial Place in Harrison. I will be at this location from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and look forward to meeting with residents and talking about issues facing our community.

IMMIGRATION from page 3

On Feb. 20, residents and elected officials gathered in downtown White Plains to protest President Donald Trump’s recent federal initiative to deport undocumented immigrants. Photo/Franco Fino

County Legislator David Gelfarb, a Rye Brook Republican, said he could not support the legislation without hearing from the Westchester County Department of Public Safety first. “I think we should do everything we can to promote legal immigration and protect hardworking immigrants that contribute to our county,” he said. “However, we need to hear from [the Department of Public Safety] on how it might impact them.” On Feb. 27, a number of

Democratic elected officials held a rally in support of the proposed law in White Plains, including state Sen. George Latimer, of Rye; state Assemblyman David Buchwald, of White Plains; county Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, of Ossining; and county Legislator Ken Jenkins, of Yonkers, who recently announced his bid for county executive this year. “In the days since the Immigrant Protection Act was written and introduced, we have seen

a huge swell in grassroots support,” Borgia said. “At a time in our nation when divisions run deep, it is encouraging to see so many of my neighbors ban together to say we must pass this bill to help our immigrant brothers and sisters.” George Longworth, the commissioner of the county Public Safety Department, could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

Fox DWI, manslaughter case adjourned again Plains at the time of the incident. The case, which has been adjourned six times since the incident, was postponed once again for “further proceedings,” according to the White Plains Court Clerk’s office. In October, police reported that Fox, 24, had been intoxicated when she struck and killed Schartner, 21, of Fishkill, who was returning to Manhattanville from a

night out on Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains. According to White Plains police, Fox was travelling eastbound on Westchester Avenue at around 5 a.m. when she struck the Manhattanville student with her car, a 2012 Nissan Sentra. Stephen Lewis, an attorney representing Fox, did not respond to a request for comment.

Westchester and Fairfield counties. It brings together women who are accelerating the pace of change across industries including technology, digital media, advertising, marketing, IT, venture capital, entrepreneurship, engineering and science, biotech and pharmaceuticals. Its goal is to empower women in innovation by hosting events that feature top speakers and great

Mamaroneck THE

REVIEW

-Reporting by Franco Fino

Women in STEAM leadership panel On Wednesday, March 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Women in Innovation and The Rye Arts Center will celebrate International Women’s Day with their second annual panel discussion on Women in STEAM leadership. Women in Innovation is a community focused on elevating women who are pushing the boundaries of innovation in

P U B LI S H ES

networking opportunities. It also strives to educate women with the latest innovation and technology trends so they can stay at the forefront of change in their fields. The panel discussion will be followed by networking. Daughters are welcome to attend. The fee is $5 per person to be paid online at ryeartscenter.org. The Rye Arts Center is located at 51 Milton Road in Rye. (Submitted)

CityREVIEW T Harrison NewRochelle REVIEW THE

Eastchester REVIEW THE

INSIDE

Emma Fox, who has been charged for the death of one of Manhattanville College’s students, is due to reappear in White Plains City Court on March 16 after her Feb. 23 court date was adjourned. Fox has been charged with an aggravated DWI and first-degree manslaughter for striking and killing Robby Schartner on Oct. 9. Schartner was walking along Westchester Avenue in White

INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

www.hometwn.com | 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203, White Plains N.Y. 10601 | (914) 653-1000

March 3, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 9 BAN from page 1

Westchester lawmakers will work to block the sale of legally sold synthetic marijuana that have swept the state for the past several years. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

to be pre-emptive.” The county law currently before the Westchester Board of Legislators hopes to combat what lawmakers have described as a “cat-and-mouse game” of altering chemical cocktails by providing a broader definition of the banned substances that might catch more products in its net. Now, Tubiolo said, lawmakers will move forward in hashing out details of just how the ban will be enforced, whether through

the county Department of Health, consumer safety, law enforcement or all three. Testa said a law could potentially be introduced as soon as

this summer, but not before legislators receive additional input from relevant agencies as well as the public. “Hopefully it’s [introduced] sooner, rather than later,” Tubiolo said. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

LAWSUIT from page 1

The Brightview Senior Living Facility, proposed on the 7.3-acre 600 Lake St. property, has cleared a legal hurdle, and now only awaits final approval from the Town Council before development can begin. File photo

Lawrence Barrego, the owner of the property, arranged a settlement in 2014, which included selling the property to a developer to build a senior living facility

on the 7.3-acre site. The settlement also required Barrego to sell all heavy machinery left on the property and to stop excavation. In return, Harrison waived

charges of violations which could have been worth more than $800,000. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

Harrison Central School District’s

Official Newspaper

Muffin is a charming, pastel dilute calico mix, about 7 months old and kittenish as can be. Grayish with a wonderful contrasting ginger face, she is very playful and gets along well with her foster’s other cats and kids. She will be wonderful as a family cat. Muffin is spayed, up-todate with all vaccinations and microchipped. The donation for Muffin is $100. To meet this lovely girl, please contact Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or 835-4133, or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

10 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017

March 3, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 11

12 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017

The Classifieds • Advertising that gets results OUR RATES:

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PUBLIC NOTICE Private/Parochial School Transportation The Harrison Central School District is accepting applications for Private & Parochial School Transportation for the 2017-2018 school year from all eligible residents. Applications may be obtained at the Transportation Office, Harrison Central School District, 50 Union Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528, or may be downloaded at: http://www.harrisoncsd.org/docs/general/reqfortransp1718.pdf. Completed applications, with all necessary documentation, must be received at the Transportation Office, no later than April 3, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Gene George Purchasing/Transportation Agent Dated: Wednesday, February 22, 2015

NOTICE TO BIDDERS HARRISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that SEALED PROPOSALS, from bidders interested in PURCHASING Pre-owned Wireless Network Devices, for: RFB # 16/17-27 Chromebooks will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 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. In the event that on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 the Harrison Central School District is closed or has an early dismissal due to weather or any other emergency, bids will be due at 2:00 p.m. on the next day that school is in session. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained at: www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york or from the district Business Office beginning Tuesday, February 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 # 16/17-27: Chromebooks”. 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: February 28, 2017

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March 3, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 13

Danny and the dinosaur(s) RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

If anyone could lay claim to the excuse “I’m not fat—I’m big boned,” it’s the titanosaur on view at the American Museum of Natural History. This creature has a thigh bone 8 feet tall. Taller than Shaq! That’s not just a big bone; it’s the biggest bone in the biggest dinosaur ever discovered. And yet, the titanosaur began life in an egg the size of a “large grapefruit,” said Danny Barta, a Ph.D. candidate in the museum’s Richard Gilder Graduate School. Barta is studying dinosaur growth—how do you go from the size of a piece of fruit to something 120 feet long, especially when you’re a vegetarian? “They must have spent most of their day eating,” Barta said. It just goes to show that anyone hoping an all-kale diet will do the trick may end up sorely disappointed. (And extinct.) The titanosaur is so big, you see it burst into a grin, Holy moly! It doesn’t even fit in one of the museum’s cavernous rooms. Instead, its giant skull sticks out into the hallway, like a dog who can’t wait to go for a walk. And, for the record, what’s on display is not the actual skeleton. It’s a 3-D scanned cast of the bones, which is in some ways even more amazing: Something 100 million years old has been recreated by a technology that didn’t come into its own until the 2000s. But if you’re hankering for “real” relics, all you have to do is turn around. There, on display for the first time, are about 30

fossilized bones from the museum’s “Big Bone Room”—a room Barta compares to a library’s “oversize book section.” These bones include a leg bone the size of a 7-year-old North American Studentis (that is, a third-grader), and vertebrae that look like snow tires. They’re all part of a longnecked plant-eating diplodocus dug up by the museum’s dinosaur hunter Barnum Brown (yes, named for the circus meister himself), with Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1897. Ironically the men had gone to Wyoming seeking fossil evidence of ancient mammals, the bones of which do not make for amazing crowdpleasers. Instead, they found this giant beast, which launched the museum’s dinosaur collection. Barnum would go on to discover the first tyrannosaurus rex. Barta actually hails from Wyoming himself, and when he went on trips to the local museum, he fell in love with the dinosaurs. Now he spends his time studying the specimens at the museum and heading out to find more. He spent last summer in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, which sounds like a dream come true. “You wake up, you have breakfast—we’re in a tent—and then you walk around and look to see if there are any bones or eggshells sticking out of the ground. And probably every few minutes you’re seeing something. Oftentimes, it’s just some fragments, but sometimes it can be part of a skeleton,” he said. Sign me up! “We had really nice weather—it barely topped 100,” Barta added. “And we experienced one sandstorm.” Okay, maybe he doesn’t re-

ally need my help. Once someone discovers what looks like a decent set of bones, the team carefully covers these with the tools of the trade: tin foil, paper towels or toilet paper. “Fossil collecting has hardly changed at all since Barnum Brown’s day,” Barta said. With the bones protected, the team digs a trench around the skeleton and covers the whole thing with a plaster of Paris “jacket.” Then they dig it up, and ship it to the museum, where three “preparers” excavate the bones, using brushes, dental picks and a whole lot of patience. But what excites Barta is that the Gobi site has yielded dozens of specimens of one of the dinosaurs he is studying most intently, the “Haya griva” (named for the Hindu god Hayagriva). Adults of this species are about the size of a beagle, the littlest ones are the size of crows. What he has now are a series of skeletons, affording him a sort of time-lapse look at how they grow. “Each is a snapshot from a stage of life,” Barta explains. Imagine if the only skeleton left of humans 100 million years from now was that of a 5-year-old. Future earthlings would assume Homo sapiens generally grew to the height of a Great Dane. So how do you get a full picture of the life cycle of an animal that’s extinct? “Any living animal, we could watch,” Barta points out. But with dinosaurs, you need skeletons of all different ages. That’s what he has in front of him now. And if he or anyone else ever needs a different dino to study, the museum has tons more—literally. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

It’s a mouthwatering March in Westchester There are plenty of tasty opportunities for visitors in Westchester County this March. “With more than 100 Westchester restaurants participating, Hudson Valley Restaurant Week offers diners every cuisine imaginable,” said County Executive Rob Astorino. “The county is also thrilled to be participating in New York’s Maple Festival this spring. Bring the whole family for a pancake breakfast and discover how maple syrup is made right here in Westchester.” Fit for Foodies The most popular foodie event is back. Spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, HVRW, takes place from Monday, March 6 through Sunday, March 19. More than 100 Westchester County restaurants will be participating in HVRW from classic favorites to brand new spots. Participating restaurants offer a threecourse, prix fixe dinner menu for $32.95 per person (plus tax, beverage and gratuity) and may offer a three-course lunch menu for $22.95 per person (plus tax, beverage and gratuity). For more information on Spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, visit valleytable.com/hvrw.

A Sweet Spring Celebrate New York’s Maple Festival on Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19 and, and Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26. Visit White Oak Farm, the only commercial producer in Westchester County and the closest sugar house to New York City offering visitors tours of the beautiful sugar house and the opportunity to learn how maple syrup is made. No registration necessary for tours. Complete your sweet experience by enjoying a delicious pancake breakfast at Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center, which is just up the road from White Oak Farm. Advanced registration is required for the pancake breakfast. Visit brownpapertickets.com/profile/128237 to purchase pancake tickets. Stay and Play At The Ritz-Carlton New York in White Plains, luxury hotel packages allow visitors to experience everything that makes the hotel unique. The Ritz Carlton has several special offers this spring, including the Reconnect Package and the Discover With You Package. Visit ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ new-york/westchester/offers for

more information. The Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown is offering many opportunities for rest and relaxation. Visit its spa or enjoy delicious dining at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Find out more information at marriott.com/ hotels/hotel-deals/nycwe-westchester-marriott. For the latest events and happenings in Westchester, log onto visitwestchesterny.com, like on Facebook at facebook.com/westchestercountytourism, follow on Twitter @westchestertour or call 1-800-833-9282. View the new travel guide by visiting instagram.com/visitwestchesterny. To view the Westchester County Destination Guide, please visit bit.ly/2cCFErf. Tourism & Film is Westchester County’s official destination marketing organization. Its mission is to generate economic benefits by enhancing the image and promoting Westchester County as a premier business and leisure destination in the Hudson Valley region. The Tourism & Film office in Westchester County is a division within Astorino’s Office of Economic Development. (Submitted)

14 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017

SPORTS

A shot at greatness LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

The last time I took in a showdown between New Rochelle and Mount Vernon at the Westchester County Center, the result was undoubtedly the best game that I’ve had the privilege of covering during my tenure at the Review. In the 2013 Class AA finals, a game in which the Knights were heavily favored over the Huguenots, the finish—New Rochelle standout Khalil Edney’s half-court, game-winning, buzzer-beating heave— remained atop ESPN highlights for weeks. The aftermath of what became known as “The Shot,” however—the fans storming the court, the conference by the officials and the wild Huguenot celebration— may have been more memorable than the play itself. Between the confusion and the

euphoria in the building, it reminded me a lot of the Best Picture announcement at the Academy Awards last Sunday. It would have been a wild scene no matter where it took place; Mount Vernon High School, New Rochelle’s O’Brien Gymnasium, or a blacktop court at a random playground. But the fact that it took place at the County Center just made it feel more important, and now there’s a chance for a repeat performance when the two teams square off in the Class AA quarterfinals on Friday night. Every year, athletes, sports writers and basketball fans alike look forward to Championship Week. From Monday to Sunday, there’s a full slate of games at Westchester’s most famous arena featuring the best teams from all around Section I going at it for the ultimate prize in local basketball. It’s not that the games seem to matter more at this time of year; it’s that they actually

do. Every team comes into this week just two wins away from hoisting the gold ball, and you can invariably see that in the pace of the games. Each possession, each shot, each defensive stop is its own mini drama in a four-quarter game that is already chock full of narrative arcs. It’s impossible to not get caught up in all the hoopla, regardless of if you have a dog in the fight or not. Now, I have no way of knowing if this year’s teams are going to reach the promised land. The Review has three teams still alive as of press time, and the Tuckahoe boys, the top seed in Class C, will kick things off on Wednesday afternoon, after press time. But regardless of how it turns out for Tuckahoe, New Rochelle or Eastchester’s girls, one thing is for certain; each of these ballclubs has a unique opportunity ahead of them. It’s unlikely that any of these teams will, like those 2013

New Rochelle senior Jarett Haines grins after the Huguenots’ Class AA quarterfinal win against Fox Lane on Feb. 24. With the win, the Huguenots earned the right to play at the Westchester County Center this week. Photo/Mike Smith

Huguenots, find themselves as the darlings of the national sports media, but you don’t need

a “shot” to make this a worthwhile experience. All you need is a chance.

Follow Mike Smith 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

March 3, 2017 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • 15

THE ROUNDUP BOYS BASKETBALL CLASS A

QUARTERFINALS

Byram Hills 56 Harrison 35 AT BRYAM HILLS HS

2/23/17

Taking on top-seeded Byram Hills would have been a daunting enough task for the No. 24 Huskies last Thursday, but the Bobcats didn’t make matters any easier by scoring the first 15 points of the game as they cruised to a quarterfinal win over the upstart Harrison squad. Harrison was able to climb back into the game in the first half, but the Bobcats’ size and athleticism up front proved too much, as the No. 1 seed improved to 21-1 on the season and earned another trip back to the Class A semifinals and the Westchester County Center. Byram Hills center Matt Groll was a force in the paint, finishing with 14 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks, while 6-foot-4 swingman Willy Samsen added 13 points and eight boards in the Bobcats’ win. Harrison was led by point

Luke McCarthy directs the offense during Harrison’s Class A quarterfinal game against Byram Hills on Feb. 23. McCarthy had nine points and five assists in Harrison’s loss.

guard Luke McCarthy, who paced the team with nine points and five assists on the afternoon. Zef Djurasevic provided a lift off the bench, tallying seven points and seven rebounds. With the win, the Bobcats advanced to the Class A semifinals, where they will take on No. 5 seed Lourdes in a rematch of last year’s semifinals on March 1, after press time. Byram Hills won that matchup 47-39 and enter Championship Week as the presumptive favorite to nab the Class A crown.

GIRLS BASKETBALL CLASS A

QUARTERFINALS

Walter Panas 71 Harrison 65 AT WALTER PANAS HS

Zef Djurasevic grabs a rebound against Byram Hills on Feb. 23. Djurasevic had seven points and seven rebounds off the bench.

2/23/17

Harrison’s girls battled valiantly against the No. 1 seed on Thursday, but fell just short of a County Center berth as they fell to the Panthers 71-65 despite a furious comeback. Trailing 68-53 with just over a minute to play, No. 8 Harrison capitalized on huge 3-pointers

Luke McCarthy goes up for a shot in the Class A quarterfinals.

from Kendall Lefkowitz and Ashley Stagg to climb back to within five points with 24 seconds to play. Unfortunately for Harrison, that was as close as they would get as the Panthers held off a late charge to earn their first trip to the County Center since 2013. Panas employed a balanced attack against the Huskies and had five players score in double figures. Danielle Merante had 17 points to lead the Panthers, while Harrison got another terrific performance from Avery LaBarbera, who scored a game-high 24 points. The Panthers’ semifinal opponent will be Harrison’s league foe Eastchester, who advanced to the semis on the strength of a 70-56 win over Lakeland. The two teams will tip-off on March 2, after press time. -Reporting by Mike Smith

Will Marriot drives to the hoop against the Bobcats. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE HARRISON REVIEW • March 3, 2017