Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
June 10, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 24 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
COUNTING DOWN
The village of Mamaroneck is piloting four different types of parking meters along Mamaroneck Avenue in an effort to find the right fit. The goal, according to village officials, is to select a meter by August. For more, see page 6. File photo
Lorenzen Park ready to play ball with 2 new fields By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A $1.6 million project to add two new baseball fields to the village of Larchmont’s Lorenzen Park will move forward after several years of planning and fundraising. According to the plans, both fields will be grass, and one will be sized for little league base-
ball while the other will be large enough for softball and minor leagues. Currently, the park features just one little league-sized baseball field with ample unused space abutting. The funds will also pay for the addition of new electronic scoreboards, benches, spectator seating and a concession stand. The project, which Village
Administrator Justin Datino said has been in the works for about five years, comes as a welcome addition to Larchmont’s Recreation Department, which, in the 1990s, lost several playable fields in the area due to the expansion of Hommocks Middle School and Mamaroneck Avenue School buildings. Most of the funding for the project—aside from $135,000
that the village used for planning and a $250,000 state grant secured by Assemblyman Steve Otis, a Rye Democrat—was raised by the organization Fields for Kids, which focuses on providing recreation fields for students in Larchmont and Mamaroneck. According to Jim Hanley, president of Fields for Kids, FIELDS continued on page 7
Village Dems to run full slate, 2 newcomers By COREY STOCKTON and SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Review Staff The Mamaroneck Village Democratic Committee announced a full slate—incumbent Trustee Leon Potok and two newcomers—for the three village trustee seats up for election in November. Keith Waitt and Victor Tafur will be joining Potok on the November ballot. Potok, who will be seeking his third term on the village Board of Trustees, told the Review that he feels he has earned respect from the volunteer board and committees in the village and has learned how to mobilize resources for the better of the community through his nearfour years in elected office. “Experience counts,” the trustee said. “You get to learn how the village works.” Potok said the village of Mamaroneck has a lengthy to-do list that will be his focus, if reelected, including the Department of Public Works facilities. “They have not been maintained and they should have,” he said, adding that he wants to ensure these facilities are safe for public works employees. Potok also said he hopes to build upon some of his previous successes in office, including helping save taxpayers money on water. “Without my active in-
volvement in the community, our water rates would be 30 percent higher than they are in the village,” he said. Other efforts the trustee pointed to was protecting the wildlife, particularly the geese at Harbor Island Park, and preserving the character of village neighborhoods with rezoning laws he has helped to pass. The three candidates were vetted by a nine-member nominating committee of the village Democrats. Potok said his status as an incumbent trustee did not guarantee him a spot on the slate. Standing on the village board clearly didn’t pay dividends for Trustee David Finch. “I was not asked to be considered,” Finch told the Review. “I’m a little saddened.” The one-term trustee said his time on the village board has been a wonderful experience. “I’ve lived here for… years and had no clue as to what makes this village tick,” he said. “I’ve had a fabulous opportunity to learn that; an opportunity of a lifetime.” Trustee Ilissa Miller will also forego a re-election campaign this year after two terms on the board. Miller could not be reached for comment as of press time. Hoping to take either of their DEMS continued on page 8
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June 10, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 3
County planning ParaTransit shuttle hike
Westchester residents with disabilities can reserve a Bee-Line ParaTransit bus to help them travel throughout the county, but their $4 one-way fare may soon increase by 25 percent. Photo/Corey Stockton
By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Westchester County held a public hearing at the County Center on Tuesday, May 31 to discuss the proposed increase in Bee-Line ParaTransit fare. ParaTransit, a reservationbased curb-to-curb transportation service program for riders with disabilities, currently charges riders $4 per one-way trip, but is projecting a 25 percent increase, which would raise the fare to $5 per trip. The maximum amount the county can charge under Federal Transportation Administration guidelines is $5.50. Evan Latainer, director for the Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities, said the county’s expenses have increased for the nonprofit ParaTransit shuttle program over the last seven years. In 2009, the service made a total of about 213,000 trips. Last year, the trip total was more than 268,000. The county covers most of the expenses of the program;
Latainer said a one-way trip costs the county about $40, totaling to approximately $10.8 million in 2015. Melvyn Tanzman, executive director of Westchester Disabled on the Move, spoke against the fare increase. He said that supplemental security income and Social Security have each increased by less than 25 percent since 2008, urging the county to consider that this is the predominant form of income for many of ParaTransit’s 6,500 unique riders. Other speakers testified that a more marginalized fare increase, such as a 25 cent or 50 cent hike, or a discount for buying 10-trip ticket books, would be appropriate. During a county meeting last month, County Legislator Bernice Spreckman, a Yonkers Republican and chairwoman of the Seniors and Constituencies Committee, stressed that the proposed $1 trip increase would be detrimental to those who use the service. “All of them live on a fixed income or social security or some other means,” she said.
“They cannot afford to pay a 25 percent increase.” She said she fears that ParaTransit riders will begin limiting their trips to doctors’ offices to maintain their budget. Spreckman said a rate increase is justifiable, as the last fare-hike was in January 2009, but that 25 percent would be absurd. The last rate increase was at a rate of 33 percent, from $3 to $4. Margaret Assante, a resident of Yonkers who spoke at the meeting, said ParaTransit gives her independence. She said she relies on the service to volunteer and to attend government meetings; but the potential rate increase threatens her lifestyle and livelihood. “I’m not going to give up doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I’ll cut out something else.” The fare is scheduled to increase on June 20, unless the county Department of Transportation and the county Office for People with Disabilities find reason to adjust the plan. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
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What’s going on... Mamaroneck Public Library
Free math study help On Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. through June 15 in the Teen Room. Arithmetic got you down? Need some help with homework or may be just a refresher ahead of finals? Former high school math teacher Lynne Prior will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about middle and high school math.
All ages story and craft hour On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon in the Children’s Room. No registration required. There will be stories will appeal to all ages of kids and their caregivers, and a craft simple enough for the little kids and creative enough for the big kids.
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.
Larchmont Public Library Although the main library is under renovation, the library is open and operating from the Larch
mont Village Center, located directly behind the main library building. For information about the library’s renovation, call 834-2281 ext. 3 or visit larchmontlibrary.org. The library will be closed on Sundays through Labor Day weekend.
chael P. Coords Activity Room unless the library is closed. No instruction is provided and it is recommended that you bring your own chess pieces. So, come join the fun and make some new friends, too.
Why Do Drugs Take So Long to Get to Your Pharmacy? On Monday, June 13 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the Michael P. Coords Activity Room. No registration required. With health care a hotly debated topic in the current presidential debates, this program could not be timelier. Join Harald Duell for this look at some of the reasons behind the high cost of developing new drugs, and for a brief history of the FDA and reasons for its existence. Duell will trace the history of a cancer treatment drug that has been available for a decade now, which began its long journey to become a drug in the early ‘80s, and will also focus on a new compound for chronic pain that has barely begun the process and the hopes for it to become a drug by 2021.
Saturday Sahaja Meditation
How to Cut Your Cable Cord
Adults are welcome to attend a Sahaja meditation session on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon at the Village Center, located at 119 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont. Sahaja meditation is unique because it can help participants achieve self-awareness and tranquility. This class is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
On Thursday, June 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Village Center. No registration required. Join Lance Pendleton for this program that will teach you the basics of how to enjoy hundreds of programs, local TV and additional entertainment options without having to purchase cable TV from your local provider. Understanding the different options, providers and costs associated with cutting the cable cord, you will be able to decide if eliminating cable is right for you. This program will also discuss how you can expand your entertainment options while keeping cable, but possibly downsizing your entertainment package to save money. There will be a question and answer session at the conclusion of Pendleton’s presentation.
Open-play chess Every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Mi-
Mamaroneck Historical Society 1816 School House Bicentennial Jubilee and exposition The village of Mamaroneck and the Mamaroneck Historical Society will be holding an 1816 School House Bicentennial Jubilee and historical exposition on Sunday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the 1816 School House, located in Harbor Island Park on Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck. The event will feature a guided tour of the School House, a tented exposition of old Mamaroneck, an antique fire truck, a World War II Jeep, souvenirs, entertainment and snacks. The first 200 visitors to the School House will receive a free souvenir booklet containing an account of education in early Mamaroneck and the story of the 1816 School House. Those interested in volunteering for or sponsoring the event are welcome to email Mike Tripicco, chairman of the Jubilee Committee, at mat521@optonline.net.
At Home on the Sound Arthritis talk At the invitation of At Home on the Sound, Dr. Joyce Reyes-Thomas will discuss the different types of arthritis on Tuesday, June 14. This program is free and open to the entire community in Russell Hall at Larchmont Avenue Church, 60 Forest Park Ave. Refreshments are served at 3:30 p.m., with the lecture beginning at 4 p.m. Reyes-Thomas’ talk will cover both inflam-
matory and mechanical arthritis with a focus on osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, her clinical interests include systemic and localized rheumatologic disorders. Reyes-Thomas earned her medical degree at the University of Rochester and completed her internal medicine residency at Brown University, followed by a fellowship in rheumatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief fellow. She is an active member of the American College of Physicians and a fellow of the American College of Rheumatology.
Village of Mamaroneck Summer Day Camps Visit vomsummercamps.com for more information and to register by Friday, June 17. Camps run from June 29 through Aug. 12 for ages 4 to 14. Trips and special events are also included, such as Carnival Night and bowling. There is a $25 fee to each camper registration. You can also call the Recreation Department at 777-7784 or email Nicole Higgins at NHiggins@vomny.org if you have any questions or to request a camp application or scholarship information.
Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce Sunset Cruise The Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce invites you on Friday, July 29 for the first Sunset Cruise aboard the Klondike IX. Participants will board at 6:30 p.m. at Harbor Island Park and enjoy five hours on the water listening to Sue & the Fun Ghouls play live. A delicious dinner by Andrea’s 25 North, wine, beer, soda and dessert are also included for $125 per person. The cruise is limited to 135 people. You must pay in advance online at mamaroneckchamberofcommerce.org or you can mail a check to the Mamaroneck Chamber office, 430 Center Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543. There is also the opportunity for your business to be a sponsor of this special evening. For only $400, your business name will be on the poster at Harbor Island Park as a generous sponsor and you will receive two tickets for the cruise, a $250 value. If you have any questions, please call 698-4400 or email chamber10543@optonline.net.
Coffee and Conversation Have a cup of joe with county legislators on Saturday, June 18. Stop to meet with your elected officials state Sen. George Latimer, Assemblyman Steve Otis and County Legislator Catherine Parker to discuss state and county issues and concerns over a cup of coffee. They’ll be available at The Nautilus Diner, located at 1240 Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. No appointment needed. Free literature will also be available on state and county issues. And the coffee’s on Latimer, Otis and Parker. For more information, call 934-5250. 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.
June 10, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 5
CWA union workers return to Verizon jobs
Members of CWA Local 1103 broke their picket line in front of the White Plains Verizon building on Friday, May 27 and returned to work on Wednesday, June 1, awaiting the final approval of a four-year deal. File photo
By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers unions called an end to their 45-day strike against Verizon last week, coming to a tentative agreement which, if approved, would last until August 2019. The multi-union strike was the country’s largest and longest since a two-week long strike against Verizon in August 2011. More than 36,000 Verizon employees on the East Coast, 800 of whom were from Westchester County, returned to work on Wednesday, June 1, awaiting the final approval of a new contract that would create 1,400 new jobs, provide a 10.5 percent pay raise over the life of the agreement, and renege cuts previously made to pension and benefits. The benefits portion of the four-year agreement would be retroactive, dating back to Verizon workers’ previous contract which ended in August 2015. However, the wage increases are not retroactive and will only go into effect on Aug. 2 of this year. To try and combat the latest strike, Verizon employed thousands of contractors and em-
ployees on special assignment to fill in for union employees. As the picket line broke on May 27, Verizon employees donning red shirts and signs continued to waive at honking trucks driving down Main Street in White Plains, outside The Verizon building. Linda Campanelli, of New Rochelle, chief steward for Verizon employees in the CWA who has worked for the company for 34 years, said she was most concerned with protecting employee pensions and reducing work-mandated travel. Campanelli said the strike was not primarily aimed at gaining a pay raise. “Everything that we had, that’s what we wanted to keep,” she said. This included the hope that Verizon would agree not to transfer employees to different regions for up to two months at a time, an ability they sought during contract negotiations. The new health care plan in the tentative contract will save the company money, according to a Verizon press release. As a result of the strike, Verizon had cancelled workers’ health care coverage on April 30. Shop steward Nick Tompkins, a Carmel resident, said another concern of the strikers was
to protect the employees of the wireless department who had been working without a contract. “It took [the unions] a long time to organize any wireless employees, and it’s important to get them on board so that they’re on the same scale as us,” he said. As part of the agreement, about 165 Verizon Wireless employees will receive contracts, 65 of whom have not previously been under contract. The tentative agreement followed a meeting by both parties moderated by Thomas Perez, secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, and Allison Beck, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. In a press release, Verizon’s Chief Administrative Officer Marc Reed said, “The new contracts will help ensure that Verizon employees continue to receive solid wages and excellent health care and retirement benefits. They also include key changes sought by the company to better position our wireline business for success in the digital world.” As of press time, the CWA has not voted to ratify the agreement. The deadline for the ratification vote is Friday, June 17. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
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Mamaroneck THE
REVIEW
170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 1060 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000
Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com
A look at Mamaroneck Avenue’s meter options
Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Suzy Berkowitz ext. 30, suzy@hometwn.com Reporter | James Pero ext. 20, james@hometwn.com Education Reporter | Sarah Varney ext. 17, sarah@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer Corey Stockton Staff Photographers Bobby Begun, Andrew Dapolite Intern Justin Grant Columnist Lenore Skenazy
IPS single-space smart meters, pictured, are among the three varieties of single-space meters in the test. Single-space meters were among the most popular choices among village residents, according to a recent poll.
Mamaroneck Avenue is ready to bring its parking payments system into the 21st century, and with the temporary installment of multiple new meter styles, it’s going to let residents help shape the avenue’s future. As part of a test that will accrue data on different styles and brands of parking meters, the village has installed four varieties of meters on Mamaroneck Avenue as a part of a preliminary trial. The meters—three variations
of which are single-space meters and one multi-space—will stand on the avenue for a total of 90 days, in which time the village will collect data and feedback from residents on which meters fit best. Among the parameters that village officials will use to judge which meter fits best are usability and an ability to promote turnover. Two types of meter, the CivicSmart and IPS single-space meters, are equipped with a sensor
that will judge whether or not a car has pulled in and out of a space. This, according to Maria DeRose, chairwoman of Mamaroneck’s ad hoc Parking Committee, will promote turnover by allowing the meter to reset once a customer leaves a spot. According to Village Manager Richard Slingerland, the village hopes to come to a decision on which meters it will install by August. -Reporting by James Pero Cale’s multi-space meters will also be among the test subjects. These meters would correspond with a wider area of parking, but would also entail the implementation of automatic license plate reading technology for cops enforcing parking on Mamaroneck Avenue.
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This single-space smart meter from CivicSmart is among the array of meters being tested by the village. According to Maria DeRose, chairwoman of the village’s ad hoc Parking Committee, the smart meters cost slightly more than the standard single-space meters. Photos/James Pero
The Cale single-space meter does not have the same smart technology that would allow a meter to reset once a car vacates a spot, but would cost less than those with such technology.
June 10, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 7 FIELDS from page 1
Lorenzen Park was identified due to its ample unused space. “There’s one existing little league ball field and an open space near the water,” he said. “We identified it as a underutilized piece of property in the village.… Every piece of property is precious.” Hanley said his organization, which solicits donations from community members in Larchmont, as well as the town and village of Mamaroneck, was formed as a response to the shrinking availability of recreation spaces for youth in the area. “We did an extensive survey of the recreation department in Larchmont Village and of Mamaroneck and Rye Neck,” he said. “And we found that there’s a great shortage of space for active recreation.” The study, Hanley said, showed that while student populations in the area are growing, the amount of available space for recreation hasn’t. “The student population is growing, but we’re eliminating places where they can enjoy active recreation,” he said.
After years of fundraising and planning, the upcoming additions to Lorenzen Park include new spectator seating and electronic scoreboards.
According to Datino, Fields for Kids—which started raising funds for the project in 2007— will pay for the construction costs of the fields and amenities, donating approximately $1.35 million. Recently, the village Board of Trustees awarded a contract for the construction of the fields to
the company Woodard & Curran for $75,000. Datino told the Review that the construction process for the fields should begin by June 20, and the fields are tentatively set to open by the fall of 2017. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
After several years, a $1.6 million project to create two new baseball fields in Lorenzen Park will begin construction this month. Photos/James Pero
8 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 10, 2016
Save the Sound seeks participation for water testing By ANGELA JORDAN For the fourth consecutive year, Save the Sound is hosting its water quality monitoring training sessions again this summer. According to Tracey Brown, the director of Western Sound programs, the purpose of the program is to give citizens the
opportunity to participate in sampling studies that are used to persuade elected officials to invest more in water infrastructure, while simultaneously informing residents of the true quality of their local waters. “This program really focuses on bacteria contamination and what we’re trying to do is figure out where updated struc-
Eamon Pearson, a volunteer at one of Save the Sound’s water quality monitoring training sessions in 2014, takes a water sample. Photos courtesy Save the Sound
ture investments need to be made, or where animal waste is,” Brown said, “because we want to make sure the shoreline is safe to swim in.” The Westchester municipalities where Save the Sound conducts samplings include New Rochelle, Pelham, Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Port Chester, Scarsdale, White Plains and Mount Vernon. They have also extended their services out to Greenwich, Connecticut, and will begin testing at some sites on Long Island soon. In the summer of 2015, Save the Sound worked with 24 volunteers who collected roughly 400 water samples from 52 different sites in Westchester and Greenwich. They tested the water for Enterococcus, bacteria that indicates fecal contamination. After the results were collected, they then gave each site a “pass” or “fail” score based on safe swim criteria established by the states of New York and Connecticut. The 52 sites included rivers,
This map indicates all of the sites tested by Save the Sound during the summer of 2015. Green indicates that the site passes safe swim criteria; orange is a failure; red is a failure by 10 times or more; and gray indicates that not enough data was collected to calculate an average.
embayments and shorelines. Of the three categories, rivers were the most contaminated waters, with a 79 percent fail rate, followed by shorelines, which had a 35 percent fail rate, and then embayments, which had a 34 percent fail rate. The sites with the highest levels of contamination were Mount Vernon, Pelham, Port Chester and White Plains, and the cleanest sites were in Larchmont and Greenwich. Mamaroneck had sites ranging from the cleanest, the Mamaroneck Harbor, to one of the most contaminated, the Sheldrake River. Furthermore, according to Save the Sound, 51 of the test-
ing sites indicated worsening water quality when compared to samples from 2014. Brown, however, said that there are usually specific causes for water contamination that can be remedied. Brown said that in Rye for example, some of the sanitary sewer lines are cracked, and therefore sewage overflows in manholes can cause water contamination, and that by pushing for state funding to update Rye’s sewer infrastructure, the city could significantly reduce the bacteria in bodies of water like Playland Lake and Beaver Swamp Brook. The first testing dates for
water quality monitoring training sessions were in Mamaroneck on June 6 and June 7, but Brown said that there will likely be more available training session in a few weeks if there is a demand for it. “We’re trying to drum up some new people to volunteer,” Brown said. “We’ll add more [training dates] depending on interest.” Save the Sound’s Westchester office is located at 545 Tompkins Ave. in Mamaroneck, and Brown said that locals who are interested in attending a training session should contact Peter Linderoth at plinderoth@ savethesound.org.
DEMS from page 1
proach to managing and developing our village now and for the future.” Waitt also pointed to village finances as an area where the village can be more cost effective. Tafur, who had served in many governmental capacities in Colombia before moving to the village of Mamaroneck in 2004, is a resident of the Orienta section of the village. He practices environmental law and is currently co-director of the United Nations Environmental Diplomacy Program at Pace University School of Law and a visiting professor at Bard College’s Center for Environmental Policy. “I believe that in order to make our community thrive for
the next generation, we need to protect it as well as find common sense ways to advance our flood mitigation plans, the redevelopment of the industrial area, and maintain a diverse and thriving community,” Tafur said. Tafur added that one reason he and his family moved to the village of Mamaroneck was its location on the Long Island Sound. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Village Republicans have yet to announce a ticket. Members of the village Board of Trustees are elected to serve two-year terms.
seats on the dais, Waitt is currently a member of the village Industrial Advisory Committee and chairman of the Budget Committee. He resides in the Shore Acres neighborhood and works in financial services in both New York and London. In 2007, Waitt established his own learning services, Consultancy Matters LLC, to train and advise in financial risk management and compliance. “The village of Mamaroneck is a great place to live and work, but we can do much better to improve the quality of live for all of us,” Waitt said. “We need to be far more strategic in our ap-
CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com; sibylla@hometwn.com
June 10, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 9
Opinion-Editorial
The 35th anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands By CLIFFORD JACKSON May 5, 2016 was the 35th anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands, who was a member of the Irish Republican Army. He, along with nine other members, including close friend Patrick O’Hara, died of a hunger strike. I remember this well because I was a junior at the University of Buffalo when this happened. Since the very beginning of his childhood, Sands faced sectarian hatred and violence from Protestants toward Irish Catholics in Belfast where he was raised. He lived in area called Rathcoole that by the early 1970s Irish Catholics had been expurgated because of sectarian violence inspired by British Protestants. This led him to join the provisional Irish Republican Army in 1973. Great Britain and Protestant rule goes back to its initial colonialist domination in the 16th century. Sands and the Irish Re-
publican Army were fighting that history of discrimination and brutality that Protestants had exerted on them and much of Africa and Latin America. This history of brutality in Northern Ireland has had many supporters, including Pedro Campos, the famous Puerto Rican nationalist who fought against American colonialism in Puerto Rico. Che Guevara was also a supporter of Irish Catholic independence in Northern Ireland. This was a history that Bobby Sands drew strength from in fighting the Ulster Loyalist Protestant gang. Sands was able to become a member of the British Parliament after the death of Frank McGuire, the independent Republican MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. However, because of his incarceration, the British under Margaret Thatcher passed the Representation of the People Act of 1981 that prevented people who have been in prison for longer than one year in the U.K.
and Northern Ireland from serving in Parliament. Sands had initiated his hunger strike in prison to demand to be treated as a human being, which the British Protestants certainly were not doing. He started what became a 66-day hunger strike that ended with his death on May 5, 1981. Thatcher condemned Sands after his death saying, “It was his choice to die like that.” Nelson Mandela said that Sands’ death inspired his hunger strike on Robben Island. Bobby Sands, along with many other members of the IRA, are true heroes that should be lauded for their fight against the racism and brutality of Anglo Saxon Protestants, something that I as a black person in America can appreciate. Clifford Jackson is a resident of Larchmont. The views expressed are his own.
At Home honors Soriano for philanthropy, community
At its May 12 Spring Gala, At Home on the Sound honored Frank Soriano, left, for his philanthropy and positive impact in the community. Soriano, pictured with New York state Sen. George Latimer, is the owner of House of Flowers in Mamaroneck. At Home on the Sound provides programs and services which enable older adults in the Larchmont Mamaroneck community to remain in their own homes as they age. Photo courtesy Jilana Van Meter
10 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 10, 2016
U.S. Marines
INVADE
Members of the Harrison Fire Department look up at the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion as it hovers over Playland Lake.
Playland Throughout Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Marines conducted air and ground demonstrations for the public in New York City and the surrounding areas, including Westchester County, as part of Fleet Week 2016. Fleet Week is a U.S. Navy, Marine and Coast Guard tradition during which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. On Sunday, May 29, one of those demonstrations took place on the beach located behind Playland Amusement Park in Rye. This year’s event at Playland included a ceremony in honor of Memorial Day, followed by a demonstration on behalf of the U.S. Military Corps Aviation/ Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Military aircrafts performed overhead sweeps around the crowded park before landing
near an open field next to the Edith Reade Sanctuary. After landing, dozens of Marines disembarked and performed a live raid, securing a fictional landing zone and setting up a perimeter as they would during actual combat. Once the demonstration concluded, soldiers were greeted by the crowd that had gathered for the event. Those on hand were also allowed to tour the inside of the choppers, which included a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, a joint service multirole combat aircraft that can cruise at nearly 290 mph. The aircrafts used in the demonstration were stationed on an open field next to the Reade Sanctuary. The city of Rye, town/village of Harrison and village of Mamaroneck fire departments provided standby support for the landing. -Reporting by Andrew Dapolite
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Battle, left, who also serves as the amusement park’s operations superintendent, with Frank Carrieri, the park’s assistant general superintendent. Photo courtesy Friends of Playland
A Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion takes off from a field behind Playland Amusement Park in Rye.
Firefighters from the city of Rye, town/village of Harrison and village of Mamaroneck provide standby support for the landing. Photos courtesy Rye Fire Department
June 10, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 11
First Relay for Life event raises more than $40K By JACOB COLON Contributor More than 200 people gathered in Harbor Island Park on Saturday, May 21 to celebrate Larchmont and Mamaroneck’s first Relay for Life event. Started in 1986 by the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life is an overnight fundraiser that honors cancer survivors, caregivers and those who have lost their battle to cancer through a multitude of activities and ceremonies. It has been held in more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries, raising upwards of $5 billion for cancer research, advocacy and patient programs. “Once I’m here, I’m in it,” said Randi Spatz, of Mamaroneck, as she set up informational pamphlets and consulted volunteers in the early evening. A main organizer of the event, she previously participated in cancer fundraisers like Cycle for Survival. Fellow organizers Harry Shontz and Elise Sjostedt described Spatz as “a force to be reckoned with” for her efforts. Shontz and Sjostedt tried bringing the relay to Mamaroneck for the past two years, and although American Cancer Society coordinators were on board, they kept hitting roadblocks with the village of Mamaroneck’s Recreation Department regarding space, noise ordinances and scheduling conflicts. “Ever since we reached back out again, we hit the ground running as hard as we could,” Sjostedt said. The night’s opening ceremony saw speeches by Dr. Daphna
Supporters shoot bubbles as cancer survivors walk a lap dedicated to them.
A cancer survivor gets her hair done by volunteers.
Gelblum from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Center, Mayor Norman Rosenblum of the village of Mamaroneck and New York state Sen. George Latimer. The ceremony also gave Mamaroneck resident Melissa Tocman-Star the opportunity to share her grueling battle with breast cancer, from the first moment she felt a lump on her chest in 2013 to her subsequent bilateral mastectomy and aggressive chemotherapy treatment stretching into 2015. “I cried a lot for a long time, but I had to accept God’s decision,” Tocman-Star said. Though while in the hospital, she added, “I never said I was sick. I always remained positive and definitely full of faith.”
New York state Sen. George Latimer speaks during the event’s opening ceremonies. Photos/Jacob Colon
Following the ceremony, the first lap around the track— which was outlined by yet-tobe-lit luminaria bags in memory of those lost to cancer—celebrated the cancer survivors present at the event. In Relay for Life tradition, each team had to strive to keep at least one member on the track for the duration of the event, to symbolize cancer’s perpetual cycle. For the next several hours, participants mingled and sold baked goods to benefit the night’s fundraising. Tocman-Star sold her hand-knitted scarves. “Based on the vendors, speakers and performers, it’s really taken on what we want a relay to do, which is to be representative of their community,” said Kaitlin Chieco, a Relay for Life senior community manager. While the Mamaroneck School of Rock played songs by musicians lost to cancer, including David Bowie and Glenn Frey, Carmela DiZenzo from Everything’s Hair in Larchmont sold purple ponytails for $10. In the opposite corner, staff from MADE art studio in Mamaroneck let people throw darts at paint-filled balloons to make their own artworks for $20. Community members raised money during the year leading up to the event in various ways. Jeff Carpenter, whose team was a top fundraiser, bringing in more than $3,000, teamed up with Sportime NY to garner do-
nations from USTA tennis players through Facebook. After having his stomach removed due to esophageal cancer, he has been cancer-free for seven years. Linda Latona, captain of the team “Monkey’s Tale,” put sample luminarias in the Mamaroneck Public Library and applied a boots-on-the-ground strategy, gaining more than 150 luminaria donations.
“Everybody has people who have been affected by this,” said Latona, whose mother died from a rare muscle cancer in August 2015. The hundreds of luminaria bags were lit with glowsticks following a ceremony, during which Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman of Larchmont Temple honored his wife whom he lost to cancer in 2015.
“Circles of light radiate out tonight, for we know the lovelight of those fighting the battle right now against cancer,” he stated to attentive listeners. The next seven and a half hours of the event featured a pageant, Zumba, karaoke, hula hooping and yoga that culminated in a final lap around the track and upwards of $40,000 raised for the fight against cancer.
12 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 10, 2016
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June 10, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 13
Goodbye to my neighbor RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
When your grandmother dies, everyone knows what to do. Send a note, or at least express condolences. But when a neighbor in your apartment building dies, there isn’t really any protocol, maybe because there are so many different kinds of neighbors: The ones who live to clomp, the ones who put their garbage in the recycling, the “Hi, how are you?” buddies who chat for the length of an elevator ride. But as I walk past the door of my neighbor who died last week, my heart does a weird little plop, and my eyes sting. She was 95, so you couldn’t call it an untimely death. But with her went a piece of joy wrapped in our neighborly obligations. Lolita Llora Walters was born in 1921 to immigrants from Spain. I can tell you her whole life story because every other day or so, I would try to stop by her home, in part for fun and in part because the thought of her sitting there watching TV by herself made me queasy. Most of the times when I’d knock on the door, I was greeted by a cheery but exasperated “Where have you been?” Into the armchair next to hers I’d sink, in an apartment decorated in Old Lady Classics: China plates in the breakfront, a cuckoo clock on the wall, figurines of birds, dogs and saints sat on the shelves under seascapes and city scenes. These shared the wall with a few animal paintings by a
family friend named Mr. Levine, long dead, who used to be an illustrator for the World Wildlife Fund. Many days, Lolita would point to a Levine of meticulously rendered antelopes grazing against a stark white background and explain, “Mr. Levine did not like to paint sky.” For my part, especially as Lolita grew more and more housebound, I’d try to give a taste of the outside world. “Work was insane today,” I’d say. Or, “I’ve just been making soup,” and I’d give her a little overview of the shopping I’d done in the neighborhood. Then we’d share everything from gossip to history. Here’s a bit of the latter: When Lolita was 7—that’s 1928—her older cousins were being taken by their parents to study at a convent in Quebec. Lolita joined them for the journey, but when they got there, the cousins hated it. Not Lolita! She begged to stay. Although she was an only child and the cousins were heading home, her parents acquiesced. Thus, Lolita was educated by French-speaking nuns until she was 17. Summers and holidays, she’d come back home to Queens, and so she remembers going to the movies with her parents. She saw “On the Good Ship, Lollipop” when it was a brand new hit, and so was its star, Shirley Temple. She attended the opening of Radio City Music Hall. When my family watched old movies on Netflix, Lolita would sometimes join us, because for her, Charlie Chaplin wasn’t film history. He was the guy she grew
up watching. “They don’t make movies like that anymore,” she’d say, and she was right. Now the movies talk. When Lolita graduated high school, she moved out to California and quickly got married. By age 20, she had her daughter, Linda—a little girl so pretty that Lolita’s friend told her, “You should put her in the movies.” That friend was Betty White. Everything changed when Lolita’s husband, a pilot, died in a car crash when Lolita was about 22. She moved back to Queens to be near family and raised her daughter here. I heard a lot about the daughter, including the fact, revealed to me very early on after we moved into the building in 2010, that she had died from rheumatoid arthritis about 20 years ago. That meant Lolita had no immediate family, which made being able to tell stories about Linda in her high school years (bullied) or Linda at college (brilliant) or Linda’s nursing career (a true calling, she worked with kids with cancer) even more urgent. Other moms could talk about what their kids or grandkids were up to. Lolita didn’t have that luxury. I couldn’t take the place of her beloved daughter. I wasn’t related. I wasn’t always around. I didn’t stay that long, most visits. But my mom is gone, and so was her child. A neighbor dies and it’s not like losing a grandmother, but sometimes, it sort of is. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Phoebe is a 1-year old Miniature Pinscher “Min Pin” mix who weighs only 7 pounds, but don’t let her size fool you; she has the energy and stamina of any big dog! She loves to go on walks and dreams of a fenced-in backyard or someplace safe where she can run around. Phoebe is a little lovebug who is super affectionate and a champion cuddler. She can be a little shy when she first meets you, but give her five minutes to be your best friend. Phoebe gets along great with her furry foster siblings, but she’s still learning to accept dogs she meets on her walks. She recently had hip surgery and needs to start using her leg more now that she is healing. With lots of exercise and TLC, she should make a full recovery. Phoebe would love a home with older children and an experienced owner. Phoebe is spayed, vaccinated, dewormed, heartworm-tested and microchipped. Why not donate $300 to Larchmont Pet Rescue and make Phoebe part of your home? To learn more, call 834-6955 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
Westchester honored with CIO 100 award Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino recently announced that the Department of Information Technology will be among the 100 organizations honored by CIO Magazine for the development of the TeleCorrections Inmate Kiosk and Video Visitation System. “Our technology team does a terrific job of expanding services, maximizing efficiencies and saving taxpayer money,” Astorino said. “I am proud that Westchester County’s IT has received national recognition for its efforts.” The county’s IT department is responsible for a variety of services that range from maintaining the Westchester Telecom Network to enhancing public safety. Specifically, the department was cited for its custombuilt TeleCorrections Inmate Kiosk and Video Visitation System, which allows inmates to
securely communicate face-toface with people outside the jail, such as a family member or probation officer. The system also provides inmates with controlled access to their commissary balances, court dates, bail amount and visitation schedule. The system was deployed at the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla in November 2011. The Department of Correction estimates that the TeleCorrections system saved the county $400,000 in 2015 by reducing travel and time for probation officers, as well as the wait for bail expediters to meet with inmates, thus reducing the cost of incarceration. By expanding the program across all housing units and allowing visitor access from mobile and tablet devices, usage grew from 1,000 visits in the first year of the program to 1,100 visits each month. Westchester was one of four
municipalities to be honored among the CIO 100, including the city of Long Beach, MiamiDade County and Michigan. In addition to the CIO award, Westchester has been named one of the top 10 digital counties in the United States for the past three years, and 10 times since 2005. CIO Magazine’s 29th annual award ceremony will be held on Aug. 16 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Recipients of this year’s CIO 100 Award were selected through a threestep process. First, companies filled out an online application form detailing their innovative IT and business initiatives. Next, a team of external judges (many of them former CIOs) reviewed the applications in depth, looking for leading-edge IT practices and measurable results. Finally, CIO editors reviewed the judges’ evaluations and selected the final 100. (Submitted)
14 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 10, 2016
SPORTS
Remembering the Greatest LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
Since the news of Muhammad Ali’s death broke on Friday, June 3, it’s been implied that it is unlikely we’ll ever see another sports star quite like the former heavyweight champ. But while sports journalists are often prone to hyperbole and quick to anoint people, teams and eras as “The Greatest,” when it comes to Ali, I think they’re pretty much on point. Ali’s legacy is not a simple one to unpack. In the ring, it’s probably easiest: he was brilliant. Whether it’s the younger version of Ali, who moved like a middleweight, or the older, postsuspension Ali, who was able to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment to dish out straight right hands, he was, if not the best fighter ever, certainly on the shortlist of most accomplished boxers to ever lace
up the gloves. Outside the ring, things get more complicated. Ali’s brash persona, the prefight predictions, the post-bout proclamations; these seem almost commonplace to us now. At the time, however, they were revolutionary. There had been trash talkers before, of course, but Ali’s verbal dexterity and razor sharp tongue were an art form. Sometimes, he could be cruel; just ask Joe Frazier who resented Ali for most of his life following their trilogy of fights. But he was never boring. “The Lousiville Lip” fired off insults with the same grace he fired off jabs, and that was part of what made him such a captivating sports figure. Like most things with Ali, his gift of the gab was often imitated and very rarely duplicated. No subsequent sports star’s press conferences have resonated so deeply with the American public. It’s not that people don’t talk trash anymore; it’s simply that
nobody has ever done it as well as Ali. Ali brought speech, particularly in the political sphere, to the table, something that is largely absent from the sports world today. Ali’s conversion to Islam, his outspoken views on racial injustice both in our country and abroad, his unwillingness to fight in the Vietnam War, and subsequent battle with the U.S. government made him a polarizing figure. His views alienated some, uplifted others, but ultimately made him the most transcendent figure in sports history. These days, you won’t find too many athletes willing to take principled stands, especially not with millions of dollars and advertising revenue hanging in the balance. Michael Jordan, who is maybe the only American sports figure to challenge Ali’s level of celebrity for his athletic performance, once declined to support a candidate in his native North Carolina, famously quipping, “Republicans buy sneakers, too.”
On June 3, Muhammad Ali died at the age of 74. Today, it’s important to remember Ali as both an unparalleled fighter and warrior for social justice. Photo courtesy of mitos-del-deporte.wikispaces.com
Regardless of where you stand—or stood—on Ali’s politics, his impact on the world cannot—and should
not—be denied. There will only be one Muhammad Ali. But hopefully, his memory will inspire others to
continue to fight.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
SPORTS
June 10, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 15
Returning Panthers eye 2017
Samantha Yannuzzi swings the bat for the Panthers. Yanuzzi’s leadership behind the plate was critical to Rye Neck’s success this year.
By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor It’s not easy to defend a section title, as the Rye Neck softball team learned this year. But although the Panthers fell short of winning back-to-back Class B titles, they have an awful lot to be proud of, according to head coach Joan Spedafino. On May 20, Rye Neck bowed out in the first round of the Class B sectionals after being upset by No. 15 seed Albertus Magnus, 8-6. That loss, however, was just one of a handful this spring for the Panthers, who finished the season with a 15-5 record. Considering how many unknowns the team had coming into the year, Spedafino said, the Panthers showed up to play in 2016. “We went 15-5 and we won our league, which was huge,” the head coach said. “Last year, we graduated six senior starters, had a whole new infield, so even if this year didn’t end the way we wanted, I think the girls did a great job.” Despite all the new faces, the Panthers started the season
strong, winning their first five games before losing a one-sided game to Ardsley on April 18. It was the way Rye Neck bounced back from that loss, Spedafino said, which proved her team was for real. “After that Ardsley loss, they came back and did a nice job and they communicated well the whole season,” Spedafino said. “After that, I knew we had something special.” The Panthers also found something special this year in hurler Olivia Dunne, who emerged as a top-flight Section I ace. Dunne amassed more than 200 strikeouts this year to continue the tradition
of dominant Rye Neck hurlers. “Olivia didn’t get to pitch a lot [in 2015] but she stepped into that role and really impressed me,” Spedafino said. Dunne and her battery mate, catcher Samantha Yannuzzi, both earned all-section honors as sophomores this year, and will continue to play big roles for the Panthers down the road. “Sam has been so important for us,” Spedafino said. “As a catcher, she has to see the whole field and be a leader out there.” Next year, the Panthers will be bringing back six starters as they look to once again vie for the Class B crown.
Alicia Rodriguez waits for a throw. Photos/Bobby Begun
“It’s always great to have that year of experience, especially for all of our sophomores,” the head coach said. “And I do think that the way that last game went, it’s going to linger with them for a while and motivate them for next year.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
A Panther fielder prepares for a play at second base.
Olivia Dunne throws a pitch during a game early in the season at Rye Neck High School. Dunne tallied more than 200 strikeouts this season.
16 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 10, 2016