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January 15, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 3 | www.mamaroneckreview.com

Mamaroneck Reservoir Dam fate uncertain By James Pero Staff Writer

Stop!

A historic home on Ocean Avenue in the village of Larchmont has been the center of controversy due to a developer’s plan to tear the structure down; concerned residents have turned to village officials for answers. As a result, the Board of Trustees has passed a villagewide building moratorium while it decides what to do. For story, see page 6. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

Mamaroneck passes $9.3M school bond with 87% of vote As expected, on Jan. 12, Mamaroneck voters gave a thumbs up to a $9.3 million bond that will refurbish and renovate sports and reclaim physical education spaces for modern gym classes at the district’s seven schools. The final tally was not close, with 988 ‘yes’ votes and just 146 ‘no’ votes. Enthusiasm for the bond was likely encouraged by the low cost of its debt service. It is projected to cost homeowners with property valued at $1.1 million or higher $106 to $108 each year for 15 years. The district has $32 million coming

off the books this year and another $9 million to be paid off around the 2019-2020 school year. Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps expressed his gratitude to the community for their support. “I’m happy that the community showed that it believes in us,” he said. For Bari Suman, director of physical education, health and athletics, reconstruction to physical education spaces will be particularly sweet. Her department has waited a long time for bond funds to go toward renovations. Currently the boys’ and girls’

locker rooms at Mamaroneck High School are rundown and don’t have working showers. Space for gym classes at the elementary schools is crowded or even nonexistent, administrators said late last year in advance of the vote. They added that physical education teachers for the younger students have been foiled in their efforts to incorporate modern curricula, too. “It will be exciting for us not to be limited to big equipment [such as Nautilus machines],” Suman said. Current physical education is geared toward educating stu-

dents for a lifetime of fitness, she added. Dodgeball is out and yoga is in. The athletic director stressed that the modern gym curriculum that will be implemented has been created with the input of all of the instructors on her staff. Suman oversees a department with 25 health and physical education instructors and is one of only eight female athletic directors in the state. Unfortunately, the wait isn’t quite over. Construction work won’t begin until the spring of 2017, Suman said. -Reporting by Sarah Varney

As the Mamaroneck Reservoir Dam continues to deteriorate, the village Board of Trustees will grapple with a decision to either renovate the structure or see to its decommissioning. The dam is deemed Class CHigh Hazard, the same rating as the Kensico Dam, and was constructed around 1900 out of rock and timber in order to provide the village with a steady water supply. Since then, however, the dam, which was renovated in 1970 to control storm runoff, has fallen into disrepair. Now, the structure, which Village Manager Richard Slingerland explained could cost the village anywhere from $1.9 million to $2.8 million to repair, could be partially removed. This would not have a direct impact on village taxes, but could have an impact on water rates in the following years, the exact details of which Slingerland said is unclear considering how many variables go into setting water rates. According to Slingerland, although the dam has not yet been decommissioned because of concerns over its role in flood mitigation voiced by some residents, it currently provides only a small benefit to the community in regard to mitigating storm runoff, and for that reason, some village officials aren’t concerned with the dam’s effect on

flood mitigation. “The dam itself only provides a 3-to 5-meter storm protection,” said Slingerland in a recent work session. “And once the water goes over the top of the dam, it provides no further benefit.” Furthermore, he said, the cost-to-benefit ratio of fixing the ailing structure is tilted much more heavily in favor of cost. The money used to remediate the dam could instead be used for projects along both the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers, Slingerland added. In March 2015, as a result of an inspection by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the village of Mamaroneck was issued a notice of violation and must now determine whether to refurbish or decommission the dam. Among the deficiencies noted were clogged conduits for storm runoff, superficial cracking of the concrete and excessive vegetation surrounding its filter house. Although the dam is currently owned by Westchester Joint Water Works, an organization which provide water services to the town and village of Mamaroneck, and the town/ village of Harrison, the village is contractually responsible for maintaining it, so if it were kept in commission, the village would be mandated to pay for its improvement. DAM continued on page 11

2 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016

January 15, 2016 • The MAMARONECK review • 3

$1.2B biotech facility slated for development By James Pero Staff Writer A $1.2 billion project slated for development in Valhalla will, according to county officials, bring not just a state-ofthe-art biotech facility to Westchester County, but also thousands of jobs. The 80-acre, 3-millionsquare-foot facility dubbed Westchester BioScience & Technology Center—which is being developed by Fareri Associates—will encompass two massive research wings, a 100-room hotel as well as a 34,000-square-foot children’s center. According to county officials, the facility will succeed in not only establishing Westchester as a center for biotech research, but also supplying a healthy amount of jobs to the county. “[The] BioScience & Technology Center [will] create thousands of new construction and permanent jobs, while po-

sitioning Westchester County at the forefront of the region’s emerging new economies,” John Fareri, president of Fareri Associates, said in a statement. A statement from the county executive’s office indicates that the county can expect to add 8,000 permanent jobs, both entry-level and professional as a result. “This strategic investment positions Westchester to grow smartly in the future,” said Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, in a released statement. “It creates jobs that play to the strength of the county’s highly-skilled and educated workforce.” Once built, the county expects the facility to generate $9 million in annual real estate taxes and $7 million in annual rent. The rent will stem from the fact that Fareri Associates is leasing approximately 60 acres of land from the county located on the Grasslands Reservation. According to a statement by

county officials, this would be a long-term lease. Structurally, the facility will also feature large amounts of open space, with about 54 percent of the property being dedicated to open green space. The open space, however, won’t be the only green aspect of the facility. Much of the facility will also utilize sustainable technologies and energy sources, including solar panels, rain gardens, on-site wetlands and bioswales—landscaping designed to remove pollution from runoff water. While the funding for the facility is in place, the lease must still be sent to the county Board of Legislators for approval, and must also be approved by Mount Pleasant’s land use boards. Ned McCormack, communications director for the county executive’s office, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

A $1.2 billion biotech facility, which will include two massive research wings in addition to a 100-room hotel, is slated for development on county-owned land in Valhalla. Rendering courtesy Westchester County

New hotline tracks deer sightings in Rye

Homeowners of the city of Rye, who spot deer on their property, can now call a deer hotline at 481-8914 or send an email to ryedeercensus@gmail.com. According to Hank J. Birdsall, the Rye-based wildlife biologist now underway with his deer count, it’s difficult to count the four-legged animals when they’re on private property. Photo courtesy Hank J. Birdsall

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4 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016

What’s going on... Mamaroneck Public Library

Information session: ‘Do You Need Health Insurance?’ Make an appointment for a one-on-one information session with a Westchester County health department navigator, who will be in the library’s Tech Room on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Representatives will answer questions about health insurance-related topics, including essential plans, Medicaid, Child Health Plus and health coverage for business owners’ employees. Clients should be prepared with their Social Security numbers, documents for legal immigrants, birth dates, employer and income information, and insurance policy numbers. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Westchester County Department of Health at 813-5192. Appointments are available in English and in Spanish.

NAMI presentation The National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, will be hosting a presentation called “Ending the

Silence” on Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room on the lower level. This presentation is geared toward middle and high school-aged teens and is designed to give teens an opportunity to learn about mental illness through an informative Powerpoint presentation and short videos. Teens will learn the symptoms and indicators of mental illnesses, and will be given ideas about how to help themselves, friends or family members who may be in need of support. The program will include personal testimonies from young adults living with mental illnesses about their journey toward recovery. The presentation is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Larchmont Public Library The library will be closed for construction until the summer of 2016. Existing shelves will be moved to the Village Center and the Burchell Children’s Room will remain open. For more information about the library’s relocation, call the Reference Desk at 834-2281 ext. 3, email larchmontlibrary@hotmail.com or visit larchmontlibrary.org.

Reader’s Theater: The Story of Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La On Saturday, Jan. 16 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For ages 7 to 9. Online registration is required. Come listen to the Native American tale of how the persistent inch worm, a little creature, did what the other, larger animals could not do, and saved a mother bear and her cubs. Have fun picking

your favorite parts of the story, creating dialogue for the characters, and then acting out dialogues for each other.

Pre-calculus midterm review Students in grades seven through 12 are encouraged to come to the library on Sunday, Jan. 24 from noon to 2 p.m. for a pre-calculus midterm review with local parents and certified New York state math teachers. Topics reviewed will include matrices, polynomial functions and rational functions. This session does not cover honors precalculus topics. Students are encouraged to come with questions. Online registration for this program is required, as space is limited.

Mamaroneck Artists Guild ‘Social Media’ exhibit “Social Media” features artist members showing their own interpretation of this theme in an exhibition that began on Wednesday, Jan. 6 and will run until Saturday, Jan. 23. The exhibition features a variety of media including oil, watercolor, printmaking, fiber, photography, jewelry, mixed media and sculpture. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and is located at 126 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont. The gallery is free and open to the public. For more information, call 834-1117.

Emelin Theatre ‘Seussical’ On Saturday, Jan. 16 for two shows at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission is $15. “Oh the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’ best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper, in which the power of imagination and the most miraculous “think” ever save the day. Adapted from the Broadway hit, “Seussical” is a Theatreworks USA production. A musical for all the family to enjoy. For more information, visit emelin.org/event/family/seussical-1.

Jonatha Brooke concert On Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. Admission is $39. The soulful American singer-songwriter known for her folky pop performances sings songs about life, love, loss and coping, filled with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies. A prolific performer, writer and artist, Brooke has been writing songs, making records and touring since the ‘80s, has collaborated with Davy Knowles, Katy Perry and Chris Botti, and has been featured on film and television. For more information, visit emelin.org/event/music-folk-pop-rock-all-music/jonatha-brooke.

Winter Farmers Market The indoor Mamaroneck farmers market is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, located at 168 W. Boston Post Road. The market will run until April 16. Mamaroneck’s staple farmers market goods will return, including local produce, fresh fish, pastureraised meat, eggs, artisanal breads, baked goods, pickles, prepared foods to go and savory yogurt. Several new vendors will join in 2016 as well, including GoGo Pops, Natural Contents Kitchen and The Cheese Guy. In February, renowned Lani’s Farm will also begin selling their unique produce.

For more information or a full list of markets and vendors, visit DowntoEarthMarkets.com.

At Home on the Sound Talk on foot care Podiatric physician Dr. Michelle Castiello knows how to keep your feet healthy. In a talk on Tuesday, Jan. 26 titled “Heel to Toe,” sponsored by At Home on the Sound, she will discuss common foot conditions, the diabetic foot and tips on how to keep your feet comfortable. She offers a full range of podiatric services for patients of all ages and specializes in surgical and non-surgical treatments of all disorders of the foot and ankle. Dr. Castiello was a partner in Westchester Podiatry Associates for four years before joining the Scarsdale Medical Group and is currently on staff at Montefiore Medical Center and White Plains Hospital. She received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College and is a graduate of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. This program is open to the public without charge. It is at 4 p.m., preceded by refreshments at 3:30 p.m. at Larchmont Avenue Church, Russell Hall, 60 Forest Park Ave. in Larchmont.

Kenise Barnes Fine Art ‘The New New’ exhibition Kenise Barnes Fine Art will open the 2016 exhibition season with a showcase of new artwork called “The New New,” featuring the work of eight artists from around the country. The exhibition opens on Saturday, Jan. 9 and will run through Feb. 13. The exhibition includes both abstract and representational oil paintings, mandala-like paper collages, drawings tattooed with watercolor, and hand-cut paper sculptures that emerge from vintage, patterned wallpapered sheetrock. The exhibition’s opening reception will be on Jan. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The gallery and opening reception are both free and open to the public, located at 1947 Palmer Ave. in Larchmont. For more information, contact gallery director Kenise Barnes at Kenise@kbfa.com or call 834-8077.

Wainwirght House Jazz Brunches on the Sound Let the jazz ring through the air at musical brunches on special Sundays at Wainwright House, located at 260 Stuyvesant Ave. in Rye. The musical brunches will be held on Sundays, Jan. 17, 31, Feb. 28 and April 3 and will feature popular local jazz trios, a delicious brunch buffet, champagne and the chance to meet new people. It is a perfect opportunity for family, friends, clubs and alumni groups to get together and share a good time. The series features the Victor La Gamma Trio on Jan. 17 and the John Dentato Trio on Jan. 31, with more acts lined up. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for non-members. Walk-ins are welcome. For reservations, call 967-6080. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.

January 15, 2016 • The MAMARONECK review • 5

Letters to the Editor

Correcting the multi-space meter record To the Editor, There has been much confusion and misinformation regarding multi-space meters in the village of Mamaroneck. I am writing to correct the record. I serve as a liaison to the Parking Advisory Committee, a group of village residents and merchants created by the Board of Trustees to advise people on parking in the central business district. I am the only village trustee who has attended every committee meeting and am most familiar with its deliberations and decisions. This committee met on Nov. 19 and unanimously recommended the installation of multi-space meters in certain parking lots off Mamaroneck Avenue. All six committee members also favored trying a pilot installation of meters on Mamaroneck Avenue from two competing meter vendors, but did not agree on how to run the pilot. Three of the six members strongly favored the inclusion of multi-space meters, and two of the six strongly favored limiting the pilot installation to single-space meters. It has been alleged that the Board of Trustees overruled the committee’s “recommendation” for this pilot, when there was neither a recommendation nor a consensus, and there is no evidence that a consensus would have been reached at the committee’s next scheduled meeting in January. Thus, at its Dec. 21 meeting, acting on its judgment after considering the committee’s discussions, the Board of Trustees approved the installation of multi-space meters for certain parking lots off Mamaroneck Avenue and a pilot installation of both multi-space and single-space meters on Mamaroneck Avenue. It is important to note that the pilot installation will allow for the collection of hard data on revenues, operating costs, reliability and soft data (e.g. anecdotal) on user experience. If the Parking Advisory Committee and/or the board deem it helpful, the anecdotal feedback could be followed up with a more rigorous and reliable survey to collect and analyze consumer and merchant feedback based on actual field experience. The decision to proceed with the pilot installation was made by a majority of the board at a public meeting, preceded by a discussion by the board at a work session. There was nothing questionable about our process, only disagreement with the decisions. The minority of the board is free to disagree with the majority and publicize its disagreements, but it

shouldn’t mislead the public. Public discourse would be greatly enhanced if the minority of the board did not resort to such tactics in order to win over public support for its positions. Leon Potok, Trustee of the village of Mamaroneck

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6 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016

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40 Ocean Ave. plans spur moratorium By James Pero Staff Writer Plans from a developer to demolish an iconic house at 40 Ocean Ave. in Larchmont have jolted residents into action, sending droves of protesters to recent village meetings. In response, the village has now unanimously passed a six-month moratorium on villagewide residential development. “[The moratorium] is a timeout for us to examine the rules and regulations we have and see if they reflect the wishes of the board and the community,” said Larchmont Mayor Anne McAndrews, a Democrat. The moratorium was passed on Jan. 11, in the auditorium of St. Augustine’s Church in the village of Larchmont, when residents—more than 100 of them—had a chance to voice their concerns to the village Board of Trustees. During the night’s meeting, dozens of residents stepped up to the podium to explain the significance of 40 Ocean Ave., including what they believe to be a larger problem of Larchmont’s changing character.

According to Larchmont Mayor Anne McAndrews, the village’s land use boards will use a six-month moratorium to assess the rules and regulations surrounding the development of historic properties.

The potential demolition of the historic property at 40 Ocean Ave. has rallied residents in an attempt to save the house, resulting in a six-month moratorium on any residential demolitions in Larchmont. More than 100 residents attended a recent village held in St. Augustine Church to support saving the iconic home.

Sarah Bauer, a Larchmont resident involved with the group Preserve Larchmont, which is devoted to protecting the village’s historic character, explained the problem. “We’ve all watched over the

past several years as developers come into Larchmont and demolish homes, replacing them with two, three, or even four homes, on the same lot,” she explained to the audience and village board. “If allowed to con-

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Visit us online www.mamaroneckreview.com Follow us on Twitter, @mamaroneckview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/mamaroneckreview The Mamaroneck Review (permit #16661) is published by Home Town Media Group weekly for an annual subscription of $32. Application to mail at the peridcals postage rate is approved at Port Chester, N.Y., 10573. Periodicals postage paid at Port Chester and additional mailing offices.

40 Ocean Ave., pictured, is indicative of a much larger problem of overdevelopment, an occurrence which some concerned residents fear is changing the character of their neighborhood. Photos/Andrew Dapolite

tinue, these subdivisions will hurt our shared environment.” According to Preserve Larchmont, the house in question, known to residents as “the orchard,” dates back 120 years and holds a piece of history through both its sheer age and its brush with fame; screenwriter, cartoonist, and film producer Paul Terry, who created the iconic cartoon character Mighty Mouse, once owned the house. As a response to the reaction by village residents—900 of whom have currently signed a petition to stop the demolition of 40 Ocean Ave.—the village board will mull over its role in the preservation of Larchmont’s historic sites. According to McAndrews, the village board should not step on the toes of other land-use boards, like planning and zoning, but can take a hard look at what rules and regulations surround development. “The only way we can really change anything is by changing the actual statutes themselves,” McAndrews said. While 40 Ocean Ave. may be the subject of the latest controversy involving the preservation of historic architecture in Larchmont, according to Susan Emery, chairwoman of the Century Homes Club, an organization sponsored by the Larchmont Historical Society, the iconic home is just another on a list of endangered historic landmarks. “There has been—probably in the past five years—this trend towards tearing down older houses and building newer, much, much larger houses, or in some cases multiple houses on a lot,” she said. “I’ve been disturbed by this and I was worried that other people in the commu-

nity weren’t bothered.” According to her, the response to the potential loss of 40 Ocean Ave. has assuaged her concerns that residents are indifferent to the issue of retaining Larchmont’s historic architecture. “It’s heartening to see that people are bothered,” she said. “I think [40 Ocean Ave.] is a tipping point.” Among the historic properties that the village has seen demolished over the years is Vanderburgh Avenue, a historic house slated to be replaced by four new homes. Like the property on Vanderburgh, the group KOS Building Group, owned by Bobby Ben-Simon, has proposed the construction of four new homes in place of the classic Dutch Colonialstyle mansion on 40 Ocean Ave. Although the moratorium— which is slated to end in July— puts a pause on the demolition of the iconic house, a legal representative for KOS Building Group told village trustees at the public hearing on Jan. 11, that Ben-Simon is considering taking legal action. According to the village Planning Department, the KOS group had only submitted a preliminary application and was in the beginning stages of attaining the proper land use approvals for the project. For Emery, the loss of historic homes isn’t just about losing a piece of beloved architecture; it’s about losing a piece of Larchmont itself. “I think that many residents of Larchmont were drawn to this town because of the diversity of architecture,” she said. “That’s the community we know and love.” CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

January 15, 2016 • The MAMARONECK review • 7

Astorino presents county report to Local Summit By JANET O’CONNELL Contributor Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino returned for a lively fourth visit to the LarchmontMamaroneck Local Summit to present his State of the County report on Dec. 8. Astorino recently proposed a $1.8 billion county budget—the same as last year’s— which he considers “tough but fair.” Westchester is the highesttaxed county in the country, and Astorino said it is important to hold the line on tax increases, as high taxes are detrimental to our economy and our county. According to Astorino, a million and a half people have left the state in the last 14 years, mostly to Florida. “We must balance between what we love, what we expect, what we need and want. We must continue to balance to find ways to do things better and more efficiently,” he said. The county’s workforce is down by 18 percent since Astorino entered office, mostly through attrition. He noted that the average salary is $130,000, which includes free health care, pensions and annual longevity bonuses. Astorino’s comments raised the question of whether many New Yorkers are leaving because they want to spend their retirement in warmer states, rather than just fleeing high tax rates. Regarding Playland, Astorino said that after a lengthy negotiation period, the county signed an agreement with a private company to take over the park’s refurbishing, maintenance and operations. The company will spend about $25 million in capital improvements over a seven-year period to improve safety and add new rides. The county will initially receive $2.5 million from the company, $300,000 a year, and 7.5 percent of any profits after seven years. In response to a question about whether keeping taxes level will eventually result in a decline in services, he said state and federal government aid has declined while the county and the local municipalities are still required to pay for unfunded mandates— almost $1.4 billion or 75 percent of the county’s budget. In response to a question about budget cuts for nonprofits, Astorino said that by taking corrective measures, he stabilized and strengthened the county’s

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino speaks at a Local Summit breakfast forum on Dec. 8. He presented his “State of the County” report. Photo/John Gitlitz

day care programs. He added they were hopeful that private organizations would fill some of the gaps. Regarding the Save the Sound litigation, which mandated that local municipalities maintain aging sewers and water lines, Astorino advocated for capital expenditures for infrastructure, which he feels is what governments should be doing. However, he said that all repairs would not be made at the same time. Everyone benefits when we have good roads, water and sewage systems, he argued, while the benefits from art programs are less broadly distributed. Astorino was asked about the county’s approval for Spectra Energy to expand the width of a natural gas pipeline in Blue Mountain Park, and it was noted that Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor, rather than Astorino, signed the agreement with Spectra Energy, suggesting that Astorino didn’t sign the agreement because he had previously received campaign support from the gas and oil industry. Astorino pointed out that the pipeline affects 5 acres in a 1,500-acre park and has been in the park since 1952. The federal government approved the change sought by the company to which the pipeline belongs. He said that Spectra Energy wants to improve its aging property to prevent leaks, and will both restore the parkland and pay the county $2 million to compensate for any damage. Astorino said he took no campaign funds from the oil and gas industry or Spectra Energy. Holding a sign that read “In a Blast Zone,” a woman asserted that the proposed pipeline was so close to the county’s nuclear plant that she was concerned for

the safety of her children. When Astorino replied, “You can move,” she declared that she was unable to sell her home. Astorino also spoke about the litigation brought forth by the federal government against Westchester County, in which the county has argued that it has built a sufficient number of affordable housing units. Astorino said that the federal government started making new demands and changed the rules. The Chappaqua housing project allowed the county to satisfy the federal demands for affordable units, Astorino said, and he noted that a magistrate had ruled that Westchester fulfilled its obligations. There has been no finding of intentional discrimination in Westchester, and the county will not be penalized, Astorino said. He added that the county will not accept federal funds for housing projects in the future. Another participant asked about the specific costs related to gun violence in Westchester. Astorino does not advocate for stronger gun control, but said that the county has been proactive with an initiative called Safer Communities that was developed after the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. The Safer Community program works with mental health professionals to identify and work with children who might become violent and harm other students. The county is also coordinating training programs for law enforcement agents in the event of a hostage situation. As the meeting was ending, a group of demonstrators stood up and raised banners protesting Astorino’s handling of the pipeline issue. They chanted slogans indicating that the decision to approve the pipeline was not impartial. This breakfast forum was hosted by The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit, an informal community council that seeks to make life better for all in the tri-municipal area. The summit meets at the Nautilus Diner in Mamaroneck at 7:45 a.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. The next breakfast meeting will take place on Jan. 19 and will feature Milan Bhatt, the newly-appointed executive director of the Community Resource Center, formerly the Hispanic Resource Center.

8 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016

Oscar-winning director speaks at Mamaroneck High Hollywood came to Mamaroneck on Thursday, Jan. 7 when two-time Oscar-winning director Ang Lee joined instructor Dr. Michael DiGennaro at The Center for Continuing Education’s Notable Neighbor event at Mamaroneck High School. The evening began with a montage of scenes from Lee’s movies, including “Life of

Pi,” “Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon” and “The Ice Storm.” According to DiGennaro, the theme of “the outsider” can be found throughout Lee’s work. Lee, a native of Taiwan, reflected on his own life as an outsider, first as a son of immigrants who fled to Taiwan after the war, then as a student more interested in the imaginary world than that of the

Two-time Oscar-winning director Ang Lee at Mamaroneck High School as part of The Center for Continuing Education’s Notable Neighbor event.

classroom, and then as a nonnative English speaker at college in the United States. He also explained that his directing technique relies less on language and more on gestures and calling upon his own experience as an actor. Lee spoke about his landmark film “Brokeback Mountain.” He had read the short story and it haunted him for three years. He envisioned the movie as a love story, not just a story about gay cowboys. He said he had no idea the impact the movie would have and how popular it would become. Blythe Hamer, the center’s executive director, said, “We are so grateful to Ang Lee, one of the country’s most renowned film directors, for sharing his time and unique perspective with the community. We are delighted that more than 600 people attended this event.” As a follow-up to the event featuring Lee, the center will be offering a series of events called “Independent Film Matinee: Rediscover Three Films by Ang Lee” with DiGennaro that began on Wednesday, Jan.

Ang Lee, left, with members of The Center Continuing Education in Mamaroneck. Contributed photos

13. The films to be viewed are “The Wedding Banquet,” “The

Ice Storm” and “Lust, Caution.” For more information, visit

LMCCE.org or call 698-9126. (Submitted)

January 15, 2016 • The MAMARONECK review • 9

County legislators pass climate change resolution

By replacing its traditional street lights with LEDs, the city of Yonkers is expected to save more than $18 million in energy costs over the next 10 years. Photo courtesy city of Yonkers

BY KILEY STEVENS Staff Writer The Westchester County Board of Legislators passed a resolution last month, making the county the latest municipality to become a New York Climate Smart Community. The resolution, originally introduced to the board by county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, will add Westchester to a network of communities throughout the state who have begun to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take steps to adapt to climate change. The pledge, which is comprised of 10 key elements, was written by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Climate Change. Of all of the counties in New York state, Westchester has the most municipalities who have signed the resolution, with 29 out of the 43 towns, cities and villages already committed to taking the pledge. Parker said she decided to introduce the pledge to Westchester after attending a meeting about climate resilience with FEMA and the DEC. “By becoming a climate smart community, we would be tackling some of the issues related to climate change,” Parker said. She added that the county would also become eligible for funding to-

ward flood mitigation and storm hardening, two problems Westchester faced following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The vote for the resolution passed 16-1, with the only dissenting vote coming from Legislator Michael Smith, a North Castle Republican, who told the Review that the resolution was never properly examined. “[The resolution] was rushed to be accomplished by year-end and it was not done in a proper manner.” Smith, no longer on the board, didn’t seek re-election last year after taking over as president of Berkeley College. Several municipalities in the county have already begun taking steps to become more environmentally conscious and to save money on energy costs. In 2014, the city of Yonkers replaced all 11,300 of their street lights with LEDs. According to the city’s website, the project is expected to save taxpayers $18 million in energy costs over 10 years, and reduce Yonkers’ carbon footprint by 3,000 tons each year. George Oros, chief of staff to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, said that because there are many factors that contribute to climate change and many reasons for its cause, the Astorino administration will not involve itself in that

political “debate.” “But we are going to implement things that are environmentally friendly and save the taxpayers money,” he added. Astorino’s administration has already made strides to improve environmentally-conscious programs, including recycling plastics of all numbers, a decision made in 2011, before which the county had only recycled plastics labeled with numbers one and two, according to Oros. Each plastic has a specific number, one through seven, identifying which type of resins it is made with. Other efforts to improve the environment are also already in place. The organization Sustainable Westchester, a union of Westchester local governments that promotes effective sustainability initiatives, was formed in 2014 when the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium, NWEAC, and the Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium, SWEAC, merged. The village of Tuckahoe, a member of Sustainable Westchester, is one of 14 Westchester communities yet to sign the New York Climate Smart Community pledge. “Back in 2013, the village was looking to adopt a modified version of the 10-point Climate Smart pledge,” said Tuckahoe Mayor

Steven Ecklond, a Republican. “At the time, it was brought to our attention that [the DEC’s Office of Climate Change] required, required that the entire pledge be adopted as is with no changes.” Ecklond and Tuckahoe decided to continue solely as members of Sustainable Westchester. Tuckahoe recently received multiple awards from the Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District, along with the New York State Society of Professional Engineers (Westchester-Putnam) for “a model of green infrastructure” for their reconstruction project of the Fisher Avenue parking lot in Tuckahoe, in which the village installed an oil, contaminants and water separator, an electric car charging station, and pervious pavement which allows rainwater to be naturally filtered through the soil rather than ultimately ending up in the Bronx River. The mayor added that plans for adopting the Climate Smart pledge will be reviewed at a later date. Parker hopes the municipalities that have not yet signed the pledge will be encouraged to do so once the new energy conservation

and sustainability director for Westchester County officially takes his position sometime this year. In April, the Board of Legislators passed legislation creating that position, and in August, Timothy Carey, former president of the New York Power Authority, was appointed to the position by the Astorino administration. Although appointed, Carey has not yet been officially approved by the board, according to the administration. According to Parker, one of the director’s responsibilities will be to educate municipalities on how to reduce greenhouse gases and

their dependency on fossil fuels. In addition to the environmental impact of adapting to climate change, Parker said this resolution will be an economic victory for the county. “I think that when you can make the case that these [changes] are good going forward for something like climate change, that doesn’t necessarily speak to all residents,” she said. “But when you tell them it can save them money, it speaks to those who are less moved by the climate change movement.” CONTACT: kiley@hometwn.com

Climate Smart community pledge qPledge q to be a Climate Smart Community rSet r goals, inventory emissions, plan for climate action sDecrease s community energy use tIncrease t community renewable energy use uRealize u benefits of recycling and other climate-smart, solid waste management practices

vReduce v greenhouse gas emissions through use of climate-smart land use tools wEnhance w community resilience and prepare for the effects of climate change xSupport x development of a green innovation economy yInform y and inspire the public zCommit z to an evolving process of climate action

10 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016

January 15, 2016 • The MAMARONECK review • 11 DAM from page 1

The Mamaroneck Reservoir Dam—built in the early 1900s—has seen better days. Now, the village Board of Trustees will be tasked with whether to take the dam out of commission or provide costly renovations. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

According to Assistant Village Manager Daniel Sarnoff, however, if the village decides to maintain the dam, there will be more associate costs down the line, including operational costs that Slingerland said could cost the village $30,000 to $60,000 annually. The decision would ultimately be left to the village Board of

Trustees, and currently, according to Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, they are leaning toward decommissioning the dam. “I would believe that there was a general consensus on what to do with it,” he said. “It needs to be tackled sooner rather than later.” Village Trustee Ilissa Miller, a Democrat, however, says the village board doesn’t yet have the

requisite information to make a decision. “This is something we need to coordinate very closely with the [U.S.] Army Corps of Engineers, and it’s been challenging to get feedback,” she said. “I can’t weigh in until we hear from [them].” CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

Rocky is a gorgeous, happy boy, approximately 2 years old. He has a heart condition and requires daily medication which he easily takes. Rocky recently had an echocardiogram and the results were very good. This doesn’t seem to bother him, as he is a friendly, frisky, happy guy. Rocky is neutered, up to date with all vaccinations and in good health. The adoption donation for Rocky is $80. To meet this happy-go-lucky kitty, contact Larchmont Pet Rescue at 740-4072/834-6955 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)

12 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016

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January 15, 2016 • The MAMARONECK review • 13

A Jew walks up to St. Peter... RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

You’d think this would be good news to a Jew like me: The Vatican has declared that my tribe can get into heaven. In a statement just released in honor of the 50th anniversary of the “Nostra Aetate”—itself a high point in Jewish-Christian relations, in that it stated Jews should not be considered “accursed by God” (yay!)—the Vatican has gone one step further. The new document states that “it does not in any way follow that the Jews are excluded from God’s salvation because they do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel and the Son of God.” In other words, Jews are now heaven-eligible—which has me very worried. (How Jewish is that?) You see, until now, I was already a little obsessed by what qualifies a person for a post-life thumbs up or down. And by “a little obsessed” I mean, I worried that if I ate a piece of bacon, it would make me a bad Jew, which then might damn me to hell, even though we don’t really have hell, so maybe even framing the question that way was a sin, meaning I was headed to some sort of miserable afterlife that supposedly doesn’t exist, with or without a devil/pitchfork/lake that burns without

giving off any light, etc.? See? So Jewish. And then, when I did something actually unkind—and by “unkind” I mean screaming at a cabbie who totally deserved it, because he made a right-hand turn while I was in the crosswalk, but still, those guys have a hard life and are barely surviving, thanks to Uber—I’d worry, well, was that one little blow-up actually going to tip the scales? I’ll be standing before St. Peter as he looks at a list of everything I did and asks, “Why did you yell at the poor cabbie? They’re barely surviving, thanks to Uber,” and he shakes his head like, “Sorry, you blew it,” and then he pushes the little button that opens a trapdoor in the floor. All this while I’m still in the crosswalk, shaking my fist. “Don’t worry about hell!” my husband has told me, over and over. (Am I dishonoring him by writing this?) “We don’t believe in it!” But now, sheesh. All bets are off. I mean on! That whole Pascal’s wager thing is now in our court: Bet that there is a God and if we’re right, infinite rewards await us if we can just keep it in our pants (metaphorically speaking). But bet that there is no God (or heaven), go rip-roaring wild, and we could be in for a world of pain (and jackals gnawing our intestines) later. That was a wager we Jews didn’t have to worry about. Until now.

So how good do we have to be to go upstairs? What is the fine print? Is one “Godd*mn it!” all it takes to rip up our VIP pass? Or do I have to be Bernie Madoff before I worry? Or, to put it a bit more proactively, how can I prove my heaven-worthiness? Jews were already told to live righteously, give generously, dress warmly (well, most of us were). We already know we’re not supposed to murder, steal or commit adultery. The real trip wire on that list is, “Thou shalt not covet.” But even if we did covet—come on, who doesn’t— it wasn’t like we were immediately disqualified from anything great. Coveting a fantastic house, less jiggly thighs or a job that pays more than freelance journalism, did not mean kissing goodbye to eternal life and harps that, because they are in heaven, must not sound as horrible as I imagine 10 billion amateur harpists must sound. We Jews just knew we were supposed to try to not covet so much. No wonder the goyim drink. (I’m kidding! I’m kidding! St. Peter, it was just one dumb, slightly un-P.C. joke. Come on!) Now I’m a Jew faced with all the worries of a Christian without even Christmas to ease the pain. Because a Jew celebrating Christmas? I’d hate to think where they’d end up. But I probably will. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Celebrate MLK Day with Volunteer New York!

Volunteers celebrate after participating in last year’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. Photo courtesy Volunteer New York!

Volunteer New York! is offering more than 25 service opportunities in honor of the 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service on Jan. 18. The volunteer opportunities on Saturday, Jan. 16 will impact and support local causes, such as Disaster & Emergency Services, Family Services, Hunger & Homelessness, Civic & Community, Children & Youth Education, Health & Wellness and Senior Services. “MLK Day is a day we can choose to come together as volunteers, inspired by a message of hope and equality, and enact positive change by addressing local needs. We welcome all volunteers to share this dream with us and carry on the vision of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” says Volunteer New York! Executive Director Alisa H. Kesten. Families or individuals can sign up at volunteernewyork.org/ MLK. Many of this year’s MLK Day volunteer opportunities are family-friendly. Volunteering with your kids is a great way to introduce the value of service to youth. Here is a list of some MLK Day service projects taking place on Jan. 16: • Painting at The Carver Center in Port Chester from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family-friendly for ages 16 and up. • 2-1-1 disaster volunteer preparedness with United Way of Westchester and Putnam in White Plains from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Minimum age: 18. • Clothing sorting for children in need with Family Services of

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Westchester (FSW’s The Sharing Shelf) in Port Chester from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family-friendly for ages 10 and up. • Clothing sorting, coordinating and packing with WJCS– Kid’s Kloset in White Plains from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Familyfriendly for ages 12 and up. • Create craft bags for children in shelters with My Sisters’ Place in White Plains from 10 a.m. to noon. Family-friendly for ages 5 and up. • Updating and sorting magazines with New Rochelle Public Library in New Rochelle from 10 a.m to noon. Family-friendly for ages 5 and up. Other MLK Day events: • College application assistance for Latino community with Latino U College Access Inc. in White Plains on Sunday, Jan. 17 from noon to 2 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For the full list and descriptions of more than 25 active projects, which will take place throughout Westchester and Rockland counties, visit volunteernewyork.org/MLK. In remembering the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is also important to remember his prolific role as a mentor in his community and to his followers. “We can’t forget that January is also National Mentoring Month and what that means in relation to Dr. King, who set such a strong example, and what we can learn from that. We need more mentors and tutors in our community in order to ensure the next

generation of great leaders,” Kesten said. The core mission of Volunteer New York! is to inspire, mobilize, and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support nonprofits and improve the quality of life in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. For the past 65 years, the organization has encouraged adults to serve, youth to build character, families to bond, young professionals to lead, mature adults to share their wisdom and businesses to engage through volunteerism. More than 270,000 hours of service were devoted last year to 500 nonprofits at a value of more than $7.3 million. Companies that strongly support the mission of Volunteer New York! are Scent 2 Market, Bunge Limited, New York Life, PepsiCo, Robison Corporation, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Con Edison, Entergy, Keystone Property Group, M&T Bank, MasterCard, Morgan Stanley, Reader’s Digest, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., TD Bank, Xylem Inc., The Dannon Company, The Rollins Agency Inc., Enterprise, IBM, MAG Real Estate Advisors Inc., O’Connor Davies, LLP, Pentegra Retirement Services, Reckson– Division of SL Green Realty Corp, and RPW Group. Ongoing support is provided by Westchester County, the Corporation for National and Community Service and the New York State Commission on National and Community Service. (Submitted)

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14 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016

SPORTS

The agony of defeat LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

If you hail from Minnesota or Cincinnati, or root for the football teams in those areas, I want to offer my condolences. I don’t know how you got out of bed on Monday. Over the weekend, the Vikings and Bengals suffered absolutely brutal losses in the NFL Wild Card round, and while any defeat in the playoffs is painful, the way these teams lost—and the continued futility of the franchises in question—ensures that the unpleasant memories of this weekend will stick with these fan bases for a while. I mean, these losses were painful. On Saturday, the Bengals had Pittsburgh dead-to-rights. Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sidelined with a shoulder injury, and the Bengals

had the ball—and the lead—with 1:30 left to play. But then, as they say, the Bengals bengaled. A Jeremy Hill fumble gave the Steelers one last shot, Big Ben came back into the game, and the Cincy defense lost its cool, leading to 30 yards of knuckleheaded penalties from Vontaze Burfict and Pacman Jones to set up a game-winning Pittsburgh field goal. As good as Marvin Lewis’ Bengals have been in the regular season over the last 13 years, the head coach is now a dismal 0-7 in the postseason. The Vikings, who have been similarly unlucky in the playoffs—neither they nor Cincinnati have a Super Bowl win to their names—also wrote another chapter in their tortured history the next day. With time running out at home against the Seahawks, Minnesota’s kicker Blair Walsh—who had previously accounted for all nine of the Vikes’ points on the day— lined up for a 27-yard game-

winning field goal, which should have been a chip shot for Walsh, but, this being the Vikings, he shanked it wide left to lose the game. Two devastating losses, sure, but coming from a Red Sox fan, these are losses the fans should have seen coming. When you root for a team that consistently rips your heart out in the postseason, it begins to wear on you. I can remember Aaron Boone’s home run to end the 2003 ALCS like it was yesterday. It wasn’t a shock to me then; it wasn’t surprising at all. After all, the Red Sox were perennial losers; it wasn’t a question of if they were going to lose to the Yankees, it was a question of how. Keep in mind, I was too young On Jan. 10, Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh shanked a 27-yard field goal to cost the Vikings a win in the NFC Wild Card game. Walsh’s miss will go down alongside Gary Anderson’s in the annals of Minnesota’s to remember the Buckner game tortured football history. Photo/Jeffrey Beall in 1986 or the Bucky Dent homer in 1978, but those losses become title the following year, and game with at least a glimmer hang in there, this drought can’t possibly last 86 years. part of the collective memory of since 2004, I’ve witnessed of optimism. For Vikings and Bengals a fan base, feeding into a sort of two more Red Sox championships. Because of that, I can fans, however, that optimism Follow Mike on Twitter perpetual negativity. Now, the Sox shed their “cursed” watch even the tightest playoff still needs to be earned. But @LiveMike_Sports

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SPORTS

January 15, 2016 • The MAMARONECK review • 15

Broncos rally past Panthers By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Jan. 11, two young teams took the court as Rye Neck traveled to Bronxville to tangle with the Broncos. In the end, Bronxville’s slight edge in experience—and the return of junior point guard Matt Toal—proved to be the difference-maker, as the Broncos overcame a sixpoint halftime deficit to top the Panthers 53-35. Toal, who finished with 11 points, all of which came in the second half, finally returned to the lineup after missing the majority of the season because of a back injury. His presence played a key role in Monday’s win, as the three-year starter helped spark the Broncos’ 34-10 second-half run. “We came out slow in the first half,” Toal said. “But once I started to shoot a little better, I think other people started to feed off that.” Alston Tarry, 19 points, and Jack Reilly, 17, also got into a rhythm in the second half, something that head coach Brian Senior attributes, at least in part, to the effect that Toal’s return has had on the squad. “We’re a young ball team, so having a point guard that has game experience is a calming influence,” Senior said. “It allows everyone to play within themselves and not try to do too much.”

Alston Tarry goes for a layup against Rye Neck on Jan. 11. Tarry led Bronxville with 19 points in the Broncos’ 53-35 win over the Panthers.

Bronxville also stepped up its defensive intensity in the second half, harassing the Panther guards near half court and disrupting Rye Neck’s offensive flow. Rye Neck was only able to score one basket in the first five minutes of the half, something Senior said reflected the commitment to the game plan. “We just had to make a couple of adjustments, we were leaving the middle wide open in the first half,” he said. “In the second half, we were able to shut it off.” Containing Rye Neck sophomore Kol Lewis, who scored nine points in the first half and finished with 14, was among the Broncos’ goals in the second half. “[Lewis] was definitely our

Rye Neck’s John Luiso and Bronxville’s Matt Bettino battle for a rebound.

main focus, as well as not giving up open perimeter shots,” Toal said. “We didn’t bail them out, we didn’t let them get to the line and we rebounded much better.” Rye Neck will look to bounce back from the loss on Jan. 12, after press time, when they host Hastings. The Broncos will travel to Ardsley on Jan. 12 before gearing up for a showdown with a strong Woodlands team on Jan. 15, and hope that the return of Toal will continue to pay dividends. “It was tough watching, especially when we went on a bit of a losing streak,” Toal said. “I felt like I should be helping the team, but now I’m feeling pretty good.”

Noah Caplan makes a cut against Bronxville. Photos/Mike Smith

Contact: sports@hometwn.com

Matt Toal looks for an open man on Jan. 11. Toal, who has missed the majority of the season with a back injury, scored 11 points in the second half of Monday’s game.

16 • The MAMARONECK review • January 15, 2016