Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
June 17, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 25 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Full GOP slate to vie for village board majority After the passing of a nationwide FDA regulation classifying all vapor products as tobacco products, vape manufacturers, retailers and consumers of the growing industry may be forced to find an alternative to their alternative. For story, see page 6. Photo/Suzy Berkowitz
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Various factions move to ‘Raise the Age’ on convictions By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Statewide pleas to raise New York’s adult conviction age have begun to ruminate in Westchester County, attracting the voices of faith leaders, government officials and advocacy groups alike. And while the campaign— dubbed “Raise the Age,” which aims to increase the adult con-
viction age of New York state from 16 to 18 years old—has raised eyebrows, New York state still remains one of only two states in the U.S. with a 16-yearold threshold; the other being North Carolina. Though talks of reforming the age limitation may be somewhat new, the 16-year-old age threshold is anything but. As a part of the Family Court Act, authorized
in 1962 along with the creation of a New York state Family Court, children as young as 16 years old have been viewed as adults in the eyes of the state’s criminal justice system. But now, according to Allison Lake, the deputy director of the nonprofit Westchester Children’s Association, which joined the campaign to raise New York’s conviction age four
years ago, that 54-year statute is closer than ever to being overturned, and for youths statewide, the implications, she explained, could be significant. “The research shows us that young people who are involved in the adult criminal justice system are likely to reoffend,” Lake said. “They are also likely to AGE continued on page 8
With the imminent departure of two Democratic village trustees, Ilissa Miller and David Finch, Republicans will have a chance at three open seats this election cycle, and what the party hopes is its first board majority in five years. With board control hanging in the balance, the Mamaroneck Republican candidates—Joern Malte Stoeckhert, Dennis P. Cucinella and Maria DeRose—will be campaigning against one member on the Democratic slate with political experience and name recognition: Trustee Leon Potok. Joining Potok are political newcomers Keith Waitt and Victor Tafur to round out that party’s slate. Although the Republican ticket is largely new to politics—none of the candidates have held any elected office previously—all three hope to apply their experience gained through volunteering for the village’s volunteer committees. DeRose, 49, who is currently the chairwoman of Mamaroneck’s Ad Hoc Parking Committee and operations manager at Lorenz Sciences Group, a software engineering firm, said one of her focuses will be on ensuring the village’s fiscal responsibility. “I’d make sure that everyone’s tax dollars are spent in a respon-
sible way,” she told the Review. “And keep Mamaroneck a destination for everyone to enjoy.” Among the specific issues she hopes to tackle, DeRose said, are parking, flooding, and what she described as the “general wellbeing” of the village; issues reiterated by her fellow running mates. “I was born and raised in this village,” she said. “I want to keep the hometown feeling.” Although the candidates all agreed that both flooding and parking—issues that have plagued the village for decades—are high items of priority for their campaigns, for Stoeckhert, overregulation spurred by a cumbersome village code will be on his plate. “There are way too many rules and regulations in our village code,” Stoeckhert, 48, told the Review. “A lot of the rules are nonsense… I remember once when I had to replace a window in my house. I needed a permit for that.” Stoeckert is also the chairman of the village Board of Architectural Review and head of commercial real estate lending at NORD/LB, a prominent German bank. Cucinella, 69, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the village Board of Trustees as a Republican in 2012, said that among his major campaign issues will be GOP continued on page 3
2 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 17, 2016
June 17, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 3
Rye police consider using body cameras
This police officer, from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California, has a body camera on his chest. The Westchester County district attorney is preparing to allocate $12,000 to the city of Rye Police Department to purchase the technology. Photos courtesy Vievu
By FRANCO FINO Staff writer Over the past year, a growing number of police departments in Westchester County and beyond have started equipping their officers with body cameras. The Rye Police Department and the city’s elected officials are now considering becoming a part of the nationwide trend and implementing a body camera program of their own.
The city of Rye Police Department is considering using body cameras, following a growing trend in Westchester County and nationwide. Pictured is a model made by Vievu, the Vievu LE4.
According to Rye City Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran, the Westchester County district attorney is preparing to allocate $12,000 to the city Police Department for the purchase of the body camera technology. City officials have started seeking out the advice of neighboring areas such as the village of Rye Brook Police Department, which currently has such a program in place. Other municipalities in Westchester that have also started similar body camera programs for their police officers include the White Plains, Greenburgh and Peekskill police departments. “I think it’s very useful technology, not only in terms of promoting transparency in what police do every day, but also from an officer safety standpoint, [as it can] capture video of a crime occurring in progress,” Corcoran said. According to Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano, city officials have started researching how a policy of body cameras could impact the community. “There’s a lot of homework that has to be done before implementing that type [of] policy,” he said. Serrano indicated that some of this work would consist of researching data storage
requirements, which would not be covered in the county funding stream. “We are always welcome to new ideas,” Serrano said. “If it helps protect the public safety of the community, and is a benefit to everybody, of course we will go along with it, but we haven’t gotten to that point yet.” Corcoran mentioned that the Police Department will likely roll out a pilot program to test the body cameras, but will first assemble a committee of officers to organize the process. While police vehicles are already equipped with cameras, the police commissioner discussed how body cameras could be more useful. “You’re not limited in terms of a camera shot,” Corcoran said. “A vehicle camera only has one focus on one very specific area. A body camera captures an entire mobile video.” With a potential decision to purchase the devices approaching, one definitive opinion that Serrano and Corcoran share is that the viewpoint of the public matters a great deal. Francis Harrigan, a longtime city resident, said, “I think it’s a good idea. I think they can be useful, especially if people are going to allege that a policeman did something wrong.” CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
GOP from page 1
Dennis Cucinella
Maria DeRose
Joern Malte Stoeckhert
working on maintaining a reasonable level of taxes. Cucinella, who was a code enforcement officer in Scarsdale for nine years until his retirement in January 2013, said that the current Democratic majority of the board has failed to keep the interests of its citizens—and volunteer boards—in mind.
“They form a committee, and then the committee makes recommendations,” he said. “Then they discount the recommendations altogether.” According to village Trustee Lou Santoro, a Republican district leader and deputy mayor, this election represents an important moment for the vil-
lage Republican Party, given the fact that winning a majority is at stake. “We’re going to campaign with candidates very hard this year,” Santoro said. Village trustees are elected for two-year terms. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
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4 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 17, 2016
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.
Larchmont Public Library Visit mamaronecklibrary.org for more information on these and other events and programs.
All ages story and craft hour On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon in the Chil dren’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.
Ghost Hunting 101 Teens who have ever wanted to conduct their own paranormal investigation but didn’t know where to start are welcome to come to the library’s ghost hunting workshop on Saturday, June 18 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Community Room. This workshop is led by paranormal investigator Barry, who will share his stories and actual recordings of ghosts captured at haunted houses in and around Westchester County.
Information session: ‘Do You Need Health Insurance?’ Make an appointment for a one-on-one infor mation 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 essen tial plans, Medicaid, Child Health Plus and health coverage for business owners’ employees. Clients should be prepared with their Social Security num bers, documents for legal immigrants, birth dates, employer and income information and insurance policy numbers. For more information or to sched ule an appointment, call the Westchester County Department of Health at 813-5192. Appointments are available in English and in Spanish.
Although the main library is under renovation, the library is open and operating from the Larchmont 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.
Saturday Sahaja Meditation Adults are welcome to attend a Sahaja medita tion session on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon at the Village Center, located at 119 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont. Sahaja meditation is unique be cause it can help participants achieve self-aware ness and tranquility. This class is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
Open-play chess Every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Mi chael P. Coords Activity Room unless the library is closed. No instruction is provided and it is recom mended that you bring your own chess pieces. So, come join the fun and make some new friends, too.
ing this program, children will sing, dance and hear instruments being played. Children will sing with Karen Hamlin of Sounds Good Westchester. Parents and caregivers will get a chance to bond with their children through music. This program is free and open to the public. A free ticket is required to attend this program, and free tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis a half hour before each program begins.
Readers Advisory Online with Liam Heagarty
Lifetime’s Worth of Possessions,” is appropriate for anyone considering moving or downsizing. Kenner has a Master’s in Education from Columbia University and taught for 14 years before moving to administrative posts in business. She blends warmth, humor and knowledge into the strategies and resources learned from her varied work experiences and in helping clients in Westchester organize their homes. Kenner is an active member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization).
Reference Librarian Liam Heagarty will go over different online resources library consumers can use to find new and interesting books to read based on their interests and reading habits during this workshop on Wednesday, June 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and on Thursday, June 23 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Village Center. Sites such as Novelist and Goodreads will be discussed also, which will come in handy during this summer’s Adult Reading Game. This program is free and open to the public and registration is not required.
All players ages 18 to 70 are welcome to join the Larchmont Newcomers’ Club softball team for a community softball game every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Flint baseball field next to Hommocks Ice Rink. Participants should bring a baseball glove. For more information, email the organizer at rjhellman@verizon.net.
Stories for Mad Scientists: Blast Off
Mamaroneck Artists Guild
Children ages 5 to 7 are invited to the library on Thursday, June 23 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. for an explosive outdoor storytime about rockets. After the storytime, children will be able to witness the launch of the library’s own rocket. This program is free and open to the public. A free ticket is required to attend this program, and free tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis a half hour before the program begins.
Exhibitions: ‘Summertime I’ and ‘Summertime II’
Face Painting Children ages 4 and up are welcome to join the library’s drop-in face painting program on Friday, June 24 from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. This program, which is a kickoff to the Summer Reading Game, will be hosted by Parties by Lisa and Company. Children can register for the summer reading program during this event too. This program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
At Home on the Sound
Making Music with Karen Hamlin
Volunteers Needed
Newborns to children age 5 are welcome to this program on Monday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and again from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Dur-
At Home on the Sound is seeking additional summer volunteers to drive older neighbors in Mamaroneck and Larchmont to errands, shopping, or appointments. The local nonprofit supports adults who want to remain in their own homes as they age. Rides will be provided on weekdays, and volunteers can determine when and how often they drive. For more information or to become a volunteer, call 899-3150 or email athomeinfo@athomeonthesound.org.
Moving and downsizing workshop Professional Organizer Jocelyn Kenner will present a helpful workshop on Tuesday, June 28 at 4 p.m. at Russell Hall in Larchmont Avenue Church, located at 60 Forest Park Ave. in Larchmont. Refreshments will be served before the workshop beginning at 3:30 p.m. This workshop, called “Managing a
Larchmont Newcomers’ Club Community softball games
The Mamaroneck Artists Guild will be exhibiting work during two back-to-back shows that feature different types of media. The first exhibition, “Summertime I,” includes ceramics, jewelry, glass, photography and works on paper, and the second exhibition, “Summertime II,” uses wood, fiber, sculpture and works on canvas, board, or non-paper surfaces. “Summertime I” will run until July 9, with an opening reception on Saturday, June 25 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and “Summertime II” will run from July 13 through July 30 with an opening reception on Saturday, July 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery, which is located at 126 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont, will be open from Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public. The gallery will be closed for the month of August and will reopen on Sept. 1. For more information about the Mamaroneck Artists Guild, call 834-1117.
Village of Mamaroneck Summer Day Camps Visit vomsummercamps.com for more informa tion 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 Ni cole Higgins at NHiggins@vomny.org if you have any questions or to request a camp application or scholarship information. 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.
HAVE A NEWS TIP? CONTACT JAMES PERO james@hometwn.com
June 17, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 5
HUD administrator talks life after settlement By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer As Westchester County nears the end of its seven-year commitment to identify and construct affordable housing, two representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s regional office are already working toward building a relationship for the future. The county is amid the final six months of a controversial legal settlement with HUD, in which the county agreed to create 750 units of affordable housing in 31 of its more affluent and Caucasian communities and meet specific guidelines that restrict how many of those buildings can be rental or senior-living, and where they can be built. But in a meeting with some members of the Board of Legislators on Monday, June 6, HUD Regional Administrator Holly Leicht focused on building a relationship between HUD and the county after the settlement requirements are completed.
“If we get to the end of the settlement and 750 units have been built but everybody’s saying ‘I never want to deal with the federal government or the federal government’s money or affordable housing again,’ we have not really met our goal here,” Leicht told county lawmakers. Leicht and Valerie Daniele, special assistant to the regional administrator, said their focus is on building a future with the individual municipalities after the settlement. Leicht said she hopes her department can help Westchester communities set ordinances to require developers to build specific numbers of affordable units per overall unit built. She added that, moving forward, much of the department’s aim would be education and outreach, with the goal of informing the public about the benefits of affordable housing. Leicht’s strategy would keep a dialogue open between county communities and HUD, even if Westchester decides to sever ties with the department after the terms of the settlement
have been fulfilled. But several of the legislators were fixed on HUD’s requirement for an analysis of impediments, AI, a report submitted by the county and its municipalities determining the laws, zonings and restrictions that deter the fair building of affordable housing units. Legislator David Gelfarb, a Rye Brook Republican, said what troubled him most about the county’s settlement with HUD was the reading of the analysis of impediments, which he called “Kafkaesque.” As part of the settlement, the county must submit an AI that HUD finds acceptable before the end of this year. The administration of County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, has filed at least eight separate AIs since 2010, but HUD has disagreed with each submission’s finding that zoning laws in the county were not exclusionary. “Everyone sort of agreed what the data was,” Leicht said, “But the county’s understanding that there were no impediments, we don’t necessar-
HUD regional administrator Holly Leicht told Westchester County legislators she plans on working with individual municipalities to promote affordable housing development during and after the final six months of the county’s settlement with HUD. Photo courtesy aafe.org
ily agree with.” The HUD administrator stressed that an impediment does not only result from intentional discrimination or negligence; sometimes municipal or state codes can stifle efforts to create affordable housing. Legislator John Testa, a Peekskill Republican, said of the analyses, “Maybe the results are what they are and maybe HUD needs to accept what they are.” Daniele said that although
the AI has been a point of contention between HUD and the county in the past, the intention of the AI was to help the county to recognize potential weaknesses and move forward in creating affordable housing opportunities. Leicht added, “It’s really meant to be kind of a starting point for a discussion where a town has data to be able to think about ‘what are our goals.’” Gelfarb told the Review
he was troubled with the way the HUD representatives addressed his concerns about the AI. “It didn’t really provide much of a roadmap for an ending of litigation,” he said. He said he is not entirely averse to the idea of working with HUD in the future but added, “We’re skeptical of our relations with HUD for obvious reasons and we want to bring an end to this.” CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
6 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 17, 2016
Mamaroneck THE
REVIEW
FDA ban puts vape shops in danger
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As part of the FDA’s new regulation, each e-liquid sold at White Plains Vapors on Mamaroneck Avenue would need to be registered for federal approval, costing retailers a steep fee for each product. Photos/Suzy Berkowitz
By SUZY BERKOWITZ Editorial Assistant A federal regulation published by the FDA on May 10 classifying all vapor products as tobacco products may soon have a large impact on so-called vape shops acrossthe country. The regulation, which is now included in the FDA’s Federal Register, deems all tobacco products—which now include vapor products—subject to the Tobacco Control Act, a law that gives the FDA the authority to regulate these products as it sees fit. All components of a vaporizer or e-cigarette—including eliquids, atomizers, batteries, cartridges, accessories, digital settings, tank systems, flavoring and programmable software—will be classified as tobacco products, subjecting them to individual regulation. The regulation also classifies hookah products and cigars as tobacco products, and subjects them to the Tobacco Control Act as well. The regulation goes into effect on Aug. 8, 2016, and will require all components of tobacco products manufactured after Feb. 15, 2007 to be registered on an individual basis for federal approval within two years. According to Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, the application process—which requires the submission of all product ingredients, product listings and manufacturing establishments—would cost an estimated $1 million per application. According to Cheryl Richter, owner of the CV Vape Den by Cherry Vape in Port Chester, the new FDA regulation puts her business, among many others, in danger of closing.
Having been manufacturing e-cigarettes and vaporizers for the past eight years, Richter has approximately 75 separate e-liquids on the market, a registration process that would cost her an estimated $9 billion in total. “A lot of these vape shops were created by entrepreneurs who became businesspeople, so this regulation would really be wiping out the entire market,” she said. Vapors, which gained their first patent in China in 2004 and were introduced to the United States in 2007, have since brought in $1.7 billion in revenue nationwide, according to the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, with approximately 7,000 stores dedicated to the smoking alternative industry throughout the country. According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2014, nearly 9 million adults across the country use e-cigarettes as an alternative to traditional smoking. Because e-cigarettes and vapor products are available in varying amounts of nicotine, including none at all, users are able to customize and regulate their nicotine intake, which helps them wean off of it. Spike Babaian, another veteran of the business, opened New York City’s first vape store, Vape NY, in 2011, and currently maintains three locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. A former smoker, Babaian told the Review she turned to e-cigarettes in 2008 as a healthier alternative. Founder of the annual convention Vapefest and the National Vapers Club, a consumer-based organization about the vaping industry, Babaian said the stipulations of the FDA’s new regulation make it impossible for small business owners, who can’t afford to register each in-
dividual product for approval, to comply. She said even if vapor manufacturers and retailers could pay the registration fee, they are not guaranteed approval by the FDA. “This ban would hand over the market to big tobacco companies because they’re the only ones that can afford to register their products,” Babaian said. The regulation has been eliciting feedback from outside the industry as well. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf on
products,” Johnson asks. While Johnson criticizes the regulation, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, applauds it, saying that nicotine and tobacco exposure is a threat to public health. “An estimated 2 million American high school students have now used e-cigarettes,” Lowey said in a released statement. “Children should not have access to these dangerous products, and adults should be aware of health risks associated with their use via new warning labels.” Although the national age to legally purchase a vapor product is 18, some lawmakers across the country have already tried to steer youth away
[This] was obviously an effort to “ wipe us out completely, and now we’re in the fight of our lives. They would basically be putting e-liquid manufacturers in the position of committing a federal offense within the next two years.
”
– CHERYL RICHTER, owner of CV Vape Den behalf of the Committee of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs questioning the reasoning behind the FDA’s decision to implement a screening process on e-liquids. Johnson mentioned the negative affect that the regulation will have on small businesses, and the reliance on traditional cigarettes that the regulation may force vapor users to return to. “Has the FDA considered the unintended consequences if decreased access to e-cigarettes leads to increased consumption of traditional cigarette and tobacco
from traditional cigarettes by raising the age limit. In 2013, former New York City Mayor Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican, passed legislation banning the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21; in 2016, California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, did the same. With concern over the growing popularity of vapor products among young people, Richter and Babaian agree teenagers aren’t their target audience. They also suspect there to be ulterior motives behind the FDA’s decision to
enact this regulation, considering its financial favorability toward big tobacco companies. Since the formation of the Master Settlement Agreement in November 1998—a deal struck between the five largest tobacco companies and 46 state attorney generals—the tobacco industry has been required to pay the participating states an annual sum of $10 billion indefinitely. According to Richter and Babaian, the rising popularity of vapor products has negatively impacted the revenue of big tobacco companies, putting states’ annual payout in jeopardy. “[This] was obviously an effort to wipe us out completely, and now we’re in the fight of our lives,” Richter said. “They would basically be putting e-liquid manufacturers in the position of committing a federal offense within the next two years. We’re not calling it a regulation; we’re calling it a de facto ban.” With the regulation in place, a growing community of vapers may be forced to find an alternative to their alternative. Richter said vapor products are so successful because they work effectively. She said e-cigarettes’ ability to mimic the physical and psychological habits of traditional smoking and allow the user to regulate their nicotine intake eventually helps them kick the habit completely. “I was a smoker for 32 years and I tried the patch, the gum and giving it up cold turkey,” Richter said, “and this was the only thing that worked. We’ve had so many stories of people who had been smokers for 50 years and quit because they started vaping. It’s life-changing.” CONTACT: suzy@hometwn.com
Vaporizers and e-cigarettes have become one of the most popular alternatives to traditional smoking because it mimics the physical and psychological habits of smoking. Vape retailers say their target audience consist of longtime smokers who want to quit but don’t know how.
June 17, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 7
Sarah Neuman Center announces appointments The Sarah Neuman Center, the Westchester campus of The New Jewish Home, has named Sandra Mundy to its top post, that of administrator. She replaces Rita Morgan, who is retiring after 27 years of service, most recently as interim administrator at Sarah Neuman. Olivia Babol-Ibe and Christina Giarratano have been named director of Nursing and director of Social Work, respectively. Mundy and Babol-Ibe come to Sarah Neuman from The New Jewish Home’s Bronx campus, where they were associate administrator and director of Nursing, respectively. Giarratano comes to her new position from the Methodist Home for Nursing and Rehabilitation in The Bronx. Before joining Methodist, she worked at The New Jewish Home. As administrator of the Sarah Neuman Center, Mundy will hold the senior-most position on Jewish Home’s Westchester campus. She will oversee a 300bed facility, whose 450-person staff cares for 1,000 elders each year through short-term rehabilitation, long-term nursing and a
day center. Mundy will also be responsible for Sarah Neuman’s various special programs, including Westchester’s first overnight respite program for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of severe dementia, and first elder residences, known as the Small Houses, based on the groundbreaking Green House Project model of long-term care. Before joining Jewish Home in 2014, Mundy spent 11 years as assistant administrator for Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement at the Newark Extended Care Facility in New Jersey. She earned both an MSW from New York University and a BA from the State University of New York at Albany. Director of Nursing BabolIbe brings with her more than 30 years of experience that includes senior positions at the Schervier Nursing Care Center, part of the Bon Secours New York Health System; the Hebrew Home at Riverdale; and New Rochelle’s Dumont Masonic Home. BabolIbe is chairperson of the LeadingAge New York Downstate Council of Nursing Directors
and holds a BSN from Velez College, Philippines, and an MSN from Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines. Director of Social Work Giarratano holds an MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work and a BA from Hunter College. Mamaroneck’s Sarah Neuman Center, part of The New Jewish Home (formerly, Jewish Home Lifecare), one of the country’s largest and most diversified geriatric health and rehabilitation systems, plays an important role in caring for the most frail and vulnerable elders in Larchmont, Mamaroneck and the surrounding area. The staff of health care professionals provides gentle, thoughtful, expert care for 1,100 elders each year. They include 300 adults who live at the 5.5-acre campus full time who are undergoing short-term post-surgery rehabilitation or are recovering from a serious illness. The center, which is known for its expertise in caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, also offers a day center and the popular Home
Sandra Mundy
Olivia Babol-Ibe
Christina Giarratano
Away from Home respite program for older caregivers in need of a break from the 24/7 stress of caring for a loved one with severe physical and/or psychological challenges. For more information, visit sarahneuman.org. Serving New Yorkers of all faiths and ethnicities for 168 years, The New Jewish Home is transforming eldercare. One
of the nation’s largest and most diversified nonprofit geriatric health and rehabilitation systems, Jewish Home serves 12,000 older adults each year, in their homes and on three campuses, through short-term rehabilitation, long-term skilled nursing, low-income housing, and a wide range of home health programs. Jewish Home be-
lieves that high quality care and personal dignity are everyone’s right, regardless of background or economic circumstances. Technology, innovation, applied research and new models of care put The New Jewish Home at the vanguard of eldercare providers across the country. For more information, visit jewishhome.org. (Submitted)
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8 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 17, 2016 AGE from page 1
commit another crime, and at a higher level.” In fact, data from the National Juvenile Justice Network— which consists of juvenile justice reform organizations in 41 states nationwide—suggests that a young offender admitted into an adult correctional facility is 34 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime following their initial incident, compared to their peers who are put through a juvenile facility. This statistic, according to Lake, bears an even greater significance for the county and state’s African-American youth population, whose arrests more frequently result in jail time compared to their Caucasian counterparts. “All young people get in trouble, regardless of race,” Lake said. “But those that go through the public system are usually browner, blacker.” According to a 2013 study by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service’s Office of Justice Research and Performance, while 33.2 percent of Caucasian arrests in New York state resulted in incarceration, that number jumped to about 52 percent for African-Americans, despite the latter constituting a lower portion of overall arrests. Lake said that despite strong supporting evidence that an em-
phasis on alternative rehabilitative programs outside of the traditional adult correctional facilities usually leads to lower rates of recidivism and crime, chief opposition among state senators has prevented the law from being reformed. “As advocates, we show [government officials] the research that [raising the age] is better for community safety,” Lake said. “It doesn’t seem to resonate with the conservative members of the Senate.” Last year, despite the allocation of funds in Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget for legislation changing the conviction age and bolstering the family court system, the move was eventually taken out of the final budget after a tepid response from Republican leadership in the Senate. Although the 2016-2017 fiscal year budget allocates $110 million for the legislation, no law is currently in place. As a result of the lack of political will, various religious leaders across Westchester have now joined the cause. “I’ve spent 16 years working with adolescents in youth groups,” said Pastor John Geary of White Plains Presbyterian Church. “[Raise the age] is an opportunity; a brighter future to chart a different course; one that wouldn’t be determined by incarceration.”
Recently Geary—who is involved in various issues pertaining to criminal justice reform—was one of 35 clergy members representing various sects, who petitioned the governor’s office to pass legislation in their upcoming budget, which must be adopted before June 16; the end of the legislative session. Additionally, Julie Killian, city of Rye councilwoman and Republican candidate for state Senate, has shown her support for a form of legislation raising the conviction age. “Sixteen-year-old kids should not be in adult prisons, period,” she said, acknowledging that there are details of the currently proposed legislation that still need to be worked out. “I am confident that progress can be made on this issue.” Already, Cuomo promised to pardon thousands of youth offenders who were cycled into the correctional system for misdemeanors in December 2015, which was heralded by reformers as a significant step forward. Lake, however, maintains some skepticism when postulating about the future. “There’s a lot of work to do,” she said, adding that the conversation surrounding the subject has increased. “But it puts us in a great position for next year.” CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
Factions across Westchester County and the state are campaigning to raise New York’s conviction age from 16 to 18 years old. Currently, New York is one of only two states in the entire country with such a low threshold. Allison Lake, deputy director of Westchester’s Children’s Association, said the consequences for entering our youth into the correctional system can be dire. Map courtesy raisetheageny.gov
County, state officials push for Esplanade bill
The Esplanade senior living facility on Lyon Place in White Plains recently forced its residents out to make room for a new luxury hotel, a move which drew the attention of state legislators who drafted a bill to prevent other assisted living centers from similar moves. Photo/Corey Stockton
By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Westchester County legislators are leaning state representatives to approve a bill drafted in March that would establish restrictions on landlords of mostly senior tenants. The so-called Esplanade bill, named for the White Plains senior living facility which forced out its residents last November to convert the property into a luxury apartment complex, was sponsored in March by state Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, and state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Yonkers Democrat. The Assembly version of the bill has 25 co-sponsors; StewartCousins is the sole sponsor of the draft in the Senate. The current draft of the bill proposes to outlaw the termination or non-renewal of leases for tenants who are disabled or older than 65 without court approval. The bill also regulates the rate and frequency at which a landlord may increase rent. The law would further require that land-
lords notify applicable tenants of this law in print on the rental application. However, the bill does not protect seniors from eviction due to justifiable causes including non-payment of rent. “If there’s a legitimate reason to remove a tenant, that’s allowed,” Buchwald told the Review. Buchwald said many of the seniors who lived in the Esplanade expected that facility to be their last home, and they were displaced and burdened by the necessity to move when they were ousted. The Westchester County Seniors and Constituencies Committee met with representatives for three state legislators last month to discuss the status of the bill. During that meeting, Westchester County Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hastings-onHudson Democrat, said that oftentimes seniors and people who are disabled have the most difficulty in relocating, either due to physical or psychological issues, or a combination of both. Former county Legislator Bernice Spreckman, a Yonkers Re-
publican who chaired the committee, urged state legislators to move the bill onto the voting floor quickly, claiming that the Esplanade bill could help draw attention to other senior issues. “We need a start, not only so that doesn’t happen—what happened [at the Esplanade]—but also other things that I see going on in independent living that have to be watched carefully,” Spreckman said. Rachel Estroff, chief of staff for Assemblywoman Shelly Mayer, a Yonkers Democrat, said the bill has not moved forward yet in either state house because state legislators want to protect landlords and tenants from unintended consequences. One such consequence Buchwald said he hopes to prevent is discouraging developers from building senior housing for fear of legal restrictions. “It’s a slightly heightened level of responsibility when you’re renting out your building all to seniors because you know that they’re a slightly more vulnerable population,” he added. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
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Tech. Sgt. Lemm honored at Kensico Dam By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Police officers, veterans and servicemen joined Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and the family of Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm on Monday, June 6 beside the 9/11 Rising memorial at the Kensico Dam in Valhalla to honor the fallen “superman.” Astorino accompanied Lemm’s family, including his wife, Christine, his stepdaughter, Brooke Chaco, and his son, Ryan, down the Westchester Fallen Heroes Memorial Walkway to the tune of “God Bless America,” performed by The Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester, to Lemm’s newly unveiled plaque which lies between an American flag and a U.S. Air Force flag. The county executive called Lemm, a 15-year veteran of the NYPD and sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, selfless, brave and courageous, a family man, a hero and Superman. Moreover, Astorino said
Lemm was a throwback to the heroic soldiers who, exactly 72 years ago, were storming the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. “Not only was Joseph Lemm a throwback to the greatest generation,” the county executive said, “he was the greatest of our generation today.” Lemm, a West Harrison resident, was killed in action on Dec. 21, 2015 in Afghanistan when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive near Lemm’s team outside Bagram Air Field. Lemm sacrificed his life to shield his team from the blast, which killed the sergeant and five other Americans. The Lemm family remained solemn during Father Chris Monturo’s closing prayer and the nine-shot rifle salute, which was followed by a bugle performance of taps. Astorino shook hands with 5-year-old Ryan Lemm, who was wearing dog tags etched with his father’s face, before departing from the family. Lemm is one of 18 heroes recognized in the walkway at
Kensico Dam and the first to represent the Air Force. His plaque is directly across the walkway from the only other Harrison honoree, Sgt. Anthony Kallideen of Purchase, a veteran of both the Army and the Marine Corps. Lemm was also honored in May during Harrison’s Memorial Day parade on May 30, when his stepdaughter Brooke, 17, sang the national anthem and “God Bless America” for the opening and closing ceremonies. Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, who attended the ceremony in Valhalla, told the Review that a service to recognize Lemm’s addition to the Honor Roll Memorial in Ma Riis Park is pending. Belmont noted that the weather and the energy of the Lemm commemoration were reminiscent of the annual 9/11 ceremony beside the Rising memorial. Just like the men and women recognized by the towering steel memorial, Lemm will be remembered in Kensico Dam West Harrison resident Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm of the U.S. Air Force is honored with a plaque and wreath at the Kensico Dam in Valhalla.
for decades to come. “Seventy-two years from now, when many of us are long gone, people will come here and read about a great
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, third from right, joins the family of fallen Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm in honoring the “real-life superman” at the Westchester Fallen Heroes Memorial Walkway.
man of courage and character, who fought for us as a soldier and served us as a police officer,” Astorino said, “but above all else, to those
who loved him most, was a wonderful son, a husband and father to his family.” CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, second from right, accompanies the family of fallen Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm. Photos/Bobby Begun
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June 17, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 13
My brother from another planet RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
Solomon Feuerwerker grew up as an alien. Not “alien” as in “illegal immigrant.” Alien as in from another planet. That planet was Williamsburg, Brooklyn. While many people in Williamsburg lead lives most of us can relate to, Solomon was the youngest of 11 children in an ultra-orthodox Jewish family. The religious sect he grew up in, a group called the Satmar Hasidim, believes in large families and distrusts the modern world. Members wear distinctive clothing—the men are in black suits, white shirts and side curls—and speak the traditional hybrid German/Hebrew/Slavic language of Yiddish. They do not mingle with outsiders. They do not watch any media. Boys like Solomon go to sex-segregated schools and are forbidden to study almost anything other than religion. No algebra. No biology. No non-Jewish studies beyond what a fourth- or fifth-grader would get at public school. Which is why it’s all the more remarkable that about a week ago, Solomon stood up in front of a crowd of 300 and announced that he had been accepted to medical school. The crowd went wild. This was the annual downtown gala sponsored by Footsteps, the organization that helped Solomon and hundreds of others find their way out of ultra-orthodoxy to lead lives of their choosing. Footsteps is not anti-religion, it is pro-freedom. Its slogan is “Your life, your journey, your choice.” “Our core value is choice,” says Lani Santo, the executive
director. “We really help people think through the consequences of their various decisions.” Because people leaving ultra-orthodoxy are often shunned by the community they left behind, including their own families, Footsteps provides counseling, practical help and a home base for those who have lost their entire support system. The gala was organized to celebrate the milestones in the lives of Footsteps participants, since few had family members to cheer them on. Instead, the audience of Footsteps supporters whooped for a member who just got her first tech job, and another who just became an Uber driver. Several members had become engaged, provoking joyous applause. Then Solomon took the stage as the evening’s keynote speaker, and the audience sat in stunned silence as he told his story. “You need to understand just how insane it is for me to be here,” the 26-year-old began. “I grew up in a typically sized family in Williamsburg: I have 10 siblings. Exposure to the mainstream world is almost nonexistent. Some people say I’m an immigrant in my own country, but I prefer ‘alien.’ An immigrant might know about science and history and politics—an alien doesn’t. An immigrant has read books and watched TV—an alien hasn’t. An immigrant has spoken to people of the opposite sex without feeling like the world is about to end. An immigrant might be culturally unaware, but at the same time be an informed citizen of the world. An alien is just an alien and let me tell you, if an alien is going to successfully transition to immigrant, they need Footsteps.” Solomon heard about Footsteps through the grapevine as a teen. By then, he’d already been
sneaking off to the DVD store in the Puerto Rican part of his neighborhood and voraciously renting action flicks. These taught him colloquial English, and gave him direction: He wanted to be a cop, just like the guys in the movies. But then he went on a tour of Hunter College sponsored by Footsteps and his life changed. Classes in art and sociology! Laboratories! Students of every stripe talking, studying, laughing together. Footsteps was founded by a Hunter student, Malkie Schwartz, who’d made her way out of ultra-orthodoxy and wanted to help others who chose that path. Solomon enrolled and immediately floundered. “I had never tackled the concept of the atom, or seen a periodic table of the elements,” he later recalled. “I did not even know that all living things were made up of cells.” He had to make up for lost time, and at first, he couldn’t. He was in danger of failing, but reached out for help. And by the next year, he rose to the top of his class in chemistry. He continued to climb, getting A’s in his coursework while working part time, and becoming a mentor to others following in his, well, footsteps. He began volunteering at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and doing genetics research. And last year, he did it. He graduated with a degree in sociology. He put off applying to med school, however, to stay on for a year at Hunter, teaching organic chemistry. Now Solomon is heading to Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Yes, he will be an immigrant from New York, but not an alien. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Mamaroneck Union Free School District’s
Official Newspaper
Women in Innovation panel to be held Women in Innovation, WIN, a networking group for women working in innovative careers across any industry, will hold its inaugural event, a panel discussion on Women in Emerging Digital Leadership, at MasterCard, located at 2000 Purchase St. in Purchase on Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m. The event, co-sponsored by the MasterCard Women’s Leadership Network, will tap into leading digital media executives for insights on career path planning and how to leverage existing networks to uncover and activate new opportunities. Panelists for the one-hour session include: • Tina Exarhos, chief marketing officer of Now This is Media, ad-
visor at Lerer Hippeau Ventures and former chief marketing officer of MTV Networks • Fran Hauser, a digital and venture capitalist partner at Rothenberg Ventures and former president of Time Inc. Digital • Tiffany Pham, founder and chief executive officer of Mogul • Johanna Zeilstra, entrepreneur and founder of Womensdebate.org • Elisa Romm, executive vice president of B2B marketing at MasterCard Co-founded by Grace Fedele and Suzanna Keith, Women in Innovation is a community focused organization dedicated to elevating women in Westchester and Fairfield counties who are pushing the boundaries of
innovation and accelerating the pace of change across a range of industries. In hopes of empowering women in innovation and educating women with the latest innovation and technology trends, WIN will host events that feature top speakers and great networking opportunities. Participants will be able to expand their innovative boundaries and stay at the forefront of change by attending the Women in Innovation’s panel discussion. For more information or to register to attend the discussion, contact Keith at skconcepts@ hotmail.com or 925-0753, or contact Jenn Howland at jennhowland13@gmail.com or 9607521. (Submitted)
Clarissa is a beautiful torbie with plush fur. She loves being pet but isn’t the biggest fan of being held. Her meows tell you when she wants attention. Clarissa is the Mother Goose among her foster siblings. She also is a fierce hunter of catnip mice—she attacks them then runs around the house making this funny noise as if to say, “Hey, look what I found!” Clarissa needs to go to a home with an experienced cat owner and with another young cat in the household. She is microchipped, spayed, in excellent health and up to date with all vaccinations. Her adoption donation is $80. To meet Clarissa, contact Larchmont Pet Rescue at 835-3332 or 8354133 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
SPORTS
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The fun in NBA conspiracies LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
I don’t mind saying it: I love conspiracy theories. Chemtrails, CIA mind control, the Illuminati “relocating” recently deceased celebrities to private, tropical islands. It’s not that I necessarily believe the tin-foil hat folks, I just love hearing their takes. But somewhere mixed in with the crowd that vigilantly dissected the Zapruder film to “prove” that the JFK assassination was actually perpetrated by a nefarious cabal of black hole-worshipping space men, is the group that turned their trained eye toward Left Shark’s freemason symbolism during Katy Perry’s Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance. Of course, I’m talking about sports-truthers. On Sunday, prior to Game 5 of the NBA Finals, it was announced that Golden State
Warriors’ forward Draymond Green would serve a one-game suspension after being retroactively assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for attempting a low-blow on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James in the waning moments of Game 4. Without Green in the lineup on Monday, the Cavaliers avoided elimination with a decisive 112-97 win, sending the series back to Cleveland for a Game 6. To the untrained observer, it seemed like the NBA had made an objective, fair and rational decision. Green is a well-documented agitator on the court, and over the course of the playoffs, has demonstrated a propensity for targeting opponents’ groins, either with his fists or his feet. But to those who are really in the know, what had happened was clear: the NBA was just looking for a way to extend the series. The avalanche of takes started soon after Green’s suspension was announced on Sunday. “The NBA is just looking for
more advertising dollars,” some fans screamed. “A LeBron win is better for the league’s brand!” others opined. Even if the conspiracy theorists can’t agree on exactly why the NBA chose to suspend Green, it’s clear that there is some sort of pro-Cavaliers agenda being passed down from the league office. Of course, when it comes to sports conspiracies, the NBA has always been fertile ground. There is the famed “frozen draft lottery envelope” theory that posits the league maneuvered to ensure that Patrick Ewing ended up on the Knicks in 1985. There are those who believe that Michael Jordan’s first retirement and subsequent baseball career was the result of him being caught by the league for betting on games. Heck, any time a team loses a hard-fought playoff series, there are countless fans who point to unbalanced officiating as part
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On Sunday, June 13, the NBA suspended Golden State Warriors’ star Draymond Green for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Unsurprisingly, the announcement gave rise to more NBA conspiracy theories. File photo
of a league mandate to help one team advance for some reason or another. Now, the Warriors-Cavs series is a little bit closer at 3-2, at press time, but just because Cleveland gets to head back to its home court doesn’t mean that
when everything is settled, the long-suffering city of Cleveland is going to be celebrating its first major sports title since 1946. More than likely, the Green suspension and the Warriors’ Game 5 loss is just a small speed bump on the road to a second-straight
championship for Golden State. But let’s face it: when you’ve had a series as devoid of drama as this one, maybe a little controversy is what’s best for business.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
SPORTS
June 17, 2016 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 15
Tigers claim state title By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Saturday, June 11, a Mamaroneck foursome added yet another state championship to the Tigers’ trophy case, as Lauren Chapey, Shari Rauls, Lauren Shpiz and Katie DeVore topped New York’s best teams in the 4 x 800 relay at Cicero North High School in Syracuse. While the Tigers’ relay team is no stranger to success beyond the sectional level—having won a state and national title in the winter season—Saturday’s win was especially sweet, given that it came at the hands of Shenendehowa High School, which handed the Tigers a loss earlier this season at the Penn Relays. Given his team’s success during the Indoor Track season, Mamaroneck coach Robert Morrisey was confident that his squad would contend for the state title this spring, but Saturday’s performance proved somewhat surprising for the head coach, as the girls posted a
time of 8:54.33, which was good enough to best second-place Shenendehowa by two seconds, and proved to be the second fastest time in the country this year. “Truthfully, I knew what their potential was, and I knew what they could do,” Morrisey said. “But it all came down to having all four girls run up to their potential on one day.” Chapey kicked things off on the right foot for the Tigers, running the lead leg of the race in a personal-best 2:15.734 and the rest of the team followed suit, before Rauls, who drew anchor duties, closed things out with a tremendous 2:10.428 split. Third-place Bronxville finished 12 seconds behind the Mamaroneck team. “I knew right off the bat it was going to be special, when Lauren ran that first leg brilliantly,” Morrisey said. “We use Katie and Shari both as anchor legs, but Katie had run the day before, so we ran her third instead.” With such an experienced, accomplished foursome running
together, Morrisey said, the biggest key to the season was ensuring that the Tigers’ relay squad didn’t peak too early in the year. Although Shenendehowa edged his girls at the Penn Relays, he added, the Tigers always had their sights set on the state championships. “If you peak at Penn, you’re not going to do well in June,” he said. “So we went back to distance and endurance work, building up gradually all through April, and then we built up the intervals and the speed work.” Although Rauls, Chapey and DeVore—all seniors—will graduate this month, Shpiz will return next year as one of Morrisey’s top runners. But as a special class of seniors gets set to depart Mamaroneck High School, the track and field coach said it’s difficult not to reflect on the last two years, which have seen the Tigers bring home nine state titles across a variety of different sports. “It makes us so proud at Mamaroneck, we have great support from the community, from
From left, Lauren Chapey, Lauren Shpiz, coach Robert Morrisey, Katie DeVore and Shari Rauls celebrate winning another state title on June 11. The 4 x 800 relay team’s time of 8:54.33 was second in the nation this year. Contributed photo
the athletic department and from the athletic director, Bari Suman,” he said. “But we also
have a lot of talented, hardworking boys and girls who are willing to put in the long hours it
takes to be successful.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
Newman helps set world record By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor A local swimmer continued to make waves on Saturday, June 11, as Mamaroneck resident Steve Newman helped break a Masters’ swimming world record at the annual Bumpy Jones Classic in Sarasota, Florida. Along with three other members of the Sarasota Sharks swim team, Newman, 54, helped set a new benchmark in the 400-meter long-course medley relay event, as the Sharks finished with a time of 4:44.34, which bested the previous world record by 0.24 seconds. Newman, a math teacher at New Rochelle High School, led off the record-breaking race with a blistering backstroke split that was roughly a half-second faster than his time a year ago, which helped to spur the Sharks to a historic win. “I knew that if I swam a good race, we would have a chance,”
Newman said. “And I think that the fact that I swam as fast as I did gave [my teammates] a little more incentive, and help boost their adrenaline a bit.” Two of Newman’s teammates on Saturday, Rick Walker and Jack Groselle, were part of the Sharks’ team that broke the Masters’ world record in the 800-meter short-course freestyle race last November, and Newman said it didn’t take long for the group to set their sights on another recordbreaking run this spring. “Just looking at everyone’s performances over the last year or so, we thought we had a shot to break the record,” Newman said. “But it just depended on each individual performing well.” Because the Sharks are based in Florida, Newman had to prepare for last weekend’s race on his own, training at the YMCA in Rye. According to Newman, a combination of dry-land and in-pool workouts helped him to shave precious time off the
backstroke heading into the Bumpy Jones Classic. “I really upped my training,” he said. “I generally spent about three days a week doing dry-land training and got in the pool at least five times a week. “The support that I got from my wife and the guys that I trained with at the Rye Y really helped me to get in condition for this.” With the long-course meter season over, Newman and the Sharks will look ahead to the fall, where they hope to take another shot at the 800-meter short-course freestyle world record. “Unfortunately, I’m not traveling to Oregon this summer for the long-course nationals so we are going to set our sights on the fall,” he said. “We are going to try to recapture that world record, so that’s we’re looking forward to.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
From left, Steve Newman, Rick Walker, Bill Brenner and Jack Groselle pose at the Bumpy Jones Classic in Sarasota, Florida, on June 11. The foursome set a Masters’ world record in the 400-meter long-course medley relay. Contributed photo
16 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • June 17, 2016