January 27, 2017

Mamaroneck REVIEW THE

January 27, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 4 | www.mamaroneckreview.com

Single-space parking meters under scrutiny to a report issued by the village in October, single-space meters were frequently plagued by Ahead of an imminent recom- technical difficulties, which acmendation from the village of counted for a significant loss in Mamaroneck Ad Hoc Parking revenue.

Committee advocating the inSingle-space meters, Mary stallation of single-space meters Shifffer, a capital projects conon Mamaroneck Avenue, ques- sultant for the village, explained, tions over the veracity of data were frequently adorned with derived from a three-month long notes by patrons of the avenue, pilot program still linger. explaining that the respecMaria DeRose, chairwoman tive meter wasn’t functioning of the Ad Hoc Parking Commit- properly. tee—a citizen group created in What percentage of meters 2015 by Mayor Norman Rosen- were actually experiencing a blum, a Republican, to assess the malfunction, according to the avenue’s parking needs—claims village, remains unclear. that current revenue projections “In one instance, village staff on single-space counterparts observed that a test meter was lamay be incomplete. beled ‘broken’ but when the pa“There’s just no way,” DeR- per note was removed… it was ose said. “We think the numbers discovered that the meter was are inaccurate to say the least.” operating perfectly,” the report A report issued by the vil- stated. lage in September 2016 shows Village Manager Richard Slingmulti-space meters included in erland explained that in addition the village’s pilot run bringing to potentially fabricated notes, in about $763,000 annually as village police also made an aropposed to single-space meters’ rest this summer after one vil$445,000 annual projection; a lage resident was caught intennearly $200,000 differential. tionally jamming objects into According to village officials, single-space meters, purposely however, widespread technical causing a malfunction to skirt difficulties, lack of adequate en- parking payments. forcement, and tampering from Malfunctions, however, weren’t users may have contributed to the only recorded issues, accordprojected revenue disparity be- ing to Shiffer. tween meters.

Single-space meters, she said, Throughout the course of a also required significantly more three-month period from May to September 2016, according PARKING continued on page 10

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

Center of attention

A two-day gun show at the Westchester County Center was embroiled in further controversy after pictures of pro-Nazi books and Confederate flags surfaced. The Review was also denied access to the weekend event in White Plains. For story, see page 6.

File photo

Latimer bill would allow Westchester to tax state land

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

State Sen. George Latimer has introduced a bill that would authorize Westchester County to collect taxes from certain state lands in its region.

Latimer, a Rye Democrat, told the Review that he proposed the bill in hopes that the county would be granted the same au-

thority as Rockland and Putnam counties, for which the state has paid property taxes to for several years. “I think Westchester should have the same deal as Rockland and Putnam,” he said.

“It’s a matter of fairness.”

Rockland was granted the ability to tax state land in the mid-90s under former Gov. George Pataki, a Republican; Putnam’s ability to tax went into

effect in 2007.

The bill would ultimately amend the real property tax law and would grant Westchester the ability to tax state-held land.

However, it would not allow the county to tax buildings erected on state property.

According to Latimer, his proposed legislation came as a result of discovering the state’s unusual system of taxing its

public land, which is typically exempt from taxes in other states.

County Legislator David Gelfarb, a Rye Brook Republican, said the desirability of the bill, which Latimer submitted last November at the end of the 2016 legislative session and again this month for the 2017 session, is BILL continued on page 8

2 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

January 27, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 3

Common Core still a concern amid new regulations

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer An imminent federal education regulation, which would strip Title I funding for public schools with excessive opt-out rates of standardized testing, is set to go into effect at the end of the month.

Despite disapproval from lawmakers, parents and educators across the country, the U.S. Department of Education’s controversial amendment to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, ESSA, which was passed

by Congress in December 2015, is set go into effect on Jan. 30.

ESSA, which reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act, expands the federal government’s role in funding public education.

“The outcome of this type of legislation will be to punish large segments of students who are in need of federal dollars to support their education,” said Dr. Louis Wool, the superintendent of the Harrison Central School District. “We do not have the ability nor the right to mandate that people engage in a process that they find to be not in the best interests of their children.”

The new amendment to ESSA could label Westchester public schools as “in need of improvement” for any school where 5 percent of students or more opt out of state Common Core testing. As a result, school districts above that threshold would lose its federal Title I funding, which is distributed to schools and school districts with a high percentage of students from lowincome families.

The contended Common Core State Standards Initiative, which highlights what students should know in English language arts and mathematics at the end of each grade from kindergarten through 12th grade, is currently authorized and optional in New York state until 2022; the law was adopted in 2010. But in 2022, Common Core will be fully implemented without the option to opt out of standardized testing.

The federal ESSA was drafted by U.S. Secretary of Education John King, the former New York state Education Depart-

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Westchester County lawmakers and educators have come to disapprove a new federal education regulation that is on the horizon.

The new amendment to the controversial Common Core method of testing, which cuts funding to school districts with high opt-out rates, will go into effect on Jan. 30. Photo courtesy GreatSchools.org

ment commissioner, and was signed into law on the same day as the repeal of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, on Dec. 10, 2015. ESSA retains all the stipulations of the No Child Left Behind Act, but shifts the law’s federal accountability provisions to states.

The No Child Left Behind Act previously required all public schools receiving Title I funding to administer statewide standardized testing with the stipulation that students make “adequate yearly progress.”

For example, each year’s fourth-graders must score better than the previous year’s fourthgraders, or the federal government would step in and set mandatory improvement plans.

Local school administrators and lawmakers have contested the methods of the state’s Common Core testing, insisting that it negatively impacts students’ ability to learn as it sets unrealistic educational criteria for success due to the high rate of failure on standardized tests.

According to Dr. Brian Monahan, the interim superintendent of the Rye City School District, although each community in Westchester is different, standardized testing clearly impacts all school districts. “We’re concerned about the testing methods and evaluations that accompany those standards,” he said.

Monahan added the lack of Title I funding is not necessarily an issue because Rye receives very little of it. However, he said that what concerns parents more about Common Core is the reality that few questions and tests

are released afterwards.

According to Monahan, the state does not release standardized tests and questions for public viewing.

“Parents want to see what went right and what went wrong,” Monahan said. “We’re seeing that change slowly, but we’re still going to advocate for a more responsible approach to testing.”

According to state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat that has long been a vocal critic of the practice of standardized testing, while it’s impossible to calculate just how many ways the new regulations will impact communities, there’s hope that, under new President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Education will change the controversial practice for testing before it harbors any lasting impacts. “The impact of this is unpredictable, and we should always avoid the unpredictable,” Latimer said.

Latimer also told the Review that he hopes the state Legislature will consider his recent proposal to allow parents and school districts to opt children with an individualized education program, a learning document that was developed for public school children that need special education, out of Common Core standards and certain testing. “You have to give those children more flexibility,” he said.

As of press time, Latimer’s bill, which was submitted on Jan. 11, is awaiting approval of the state Senate Education Committee.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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4 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

What’s going on...

Mamaroneck Public Library

dren’s Room. Free homework help for children in grades K–5 when school is in session. This program follows the Mamaroneck school district schedule.

STEAM Party

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

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 to 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.

Bilingual Storytime / Hora del cuento bilingüe On Monday, Jan. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

A drop-in Spanish and English storytime for children ages 6 months to 7 years old with siblings and caregivers.

Lunes, enero 30 de 10:30 a.m. hasta 11 a.m.

Una hora del cuento en español y inglés para niños de los 6 meses a 7 años con hermanos y cuidadores/as.

Teacher in the Library On Mondays from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Chil-

On Thursday, Feb. 2 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Children’s Room. Investigate, create and experiment with different science, technology, engineering, art and math concepts. This program emphasizes discovery and fun. STEAM parties are held on the first Thursday of each month for children in grades K–3. Registration is required; please call 630-5894 to register.

AARP income tax assistance On Fridays, starting Feb. 3 through April 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Community Room. AARP tax aide volunteers will offer free tax preparation and assistance at the Mamaroneck Public Library. Assistance is available on a dropin basis for seniors and low- and moderate-income taxpayers.

Larchmont Public Library Visit larchmontlibrary.org for more information on library hours and programs.

The Power of Language in ‘Hamilton’ On Sunday, Jan. 29 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Village Center. No registration required. A reception will be held at 3:30 p.m. Join Wall Street

Taylor Brown

The Alexander Technique workshop On Monday, Jan. 30 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Michael P. Coords Activity Room. No registration required. Join Eve Silver for this introduction to the Alexander Technique, a unique, hands-on learning process for changing poor postural and movement habits that cause discomfort and limitation. Through gentle touch and simple verbal instruction, Silver will guide you as you perform everyday activities with more lightness, freedom and comfort.

Stories and Crafts: Travel Storytime On Thursday, Feb. 2 from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For ages 5 to 7. Online registration required. Pack your bags for stories about long journeys and short trips. Participants will be making mini-suitcases that tell their own travel stories.

SCI-FRI: MythBusters On Friday, Feb. 3 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For grades 3–5. Online registration required. Can one piece of paper support a stack of books? Does toast always fall butter side down? Does drying you tongue help you taste better? Become a MythBuster and find out.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

New to the Review Taylor Brown joined the Review earlier this month as a general assignment reporter. Brown graduated from Iona College in 2014, where she received her B.A. in Mass Communication with a concentration in journalism. While attending Iona, Brown served as the features editor of Iona College’s only student newspaper, The Ionian. Brown also worked as

Journal columnist, linguist, lexicographer and selfdescribed “word nut” Ben Zimmer for this engaging discussion about the power of language in the Broadway mega-hit “Hamilton.” Sponsored by the Friends of the Larchmont Public Library.

Down to Earth Winter Farmers Market a freelance writer for New Rochelle Patch, and as an intern and freelance writer for iConcept Media Group with a focus on fashion, beauty, technology and business.

Brown currently resides in Wharton, New Jersey, and has a dog, two cats and a ball python snake.

You can reach Brown at 653-1000 ext. 30 or taylor@ hometwn.com.

On Saturdays through April 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out local vendors offering food of the season and other goodies. St. Thomas Episcopal Church is located at 168 W. Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck. For more information, visit downtoearthmarkets.com.

Call for summer concert series bands The Village of Mamaroneck Arts Council is seeking bands to play in the Summer Nights on the Sound Concert Series, on Sundays, July 16, 23, and 30 in Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck. Please send an email to vomartscouncil@gmail.com with your interest, which dates you are available, and a sample of your music. Decisions are made in late February.

Larchmont-Mamaroneck Senior Center Painting classes Enrollment is now open for painting classes at the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Senior Center.

Classes take place every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the VFW Post, located at 1288 Boston Post Road. Students bring their own supplies. Oils, acrylics, color pencils, pastels and watercolors are taught by Patricia Miner-Sutherland. For more information, contact Cathy at 834-8840.

Woman’s Club of Mamaroneck Monthly meeting and Alzheimer’s talk The next monthly meeting of the Woman’s Club of Mamaroneck will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the clubhouse, located 504 Cortlandt Ave. in Mamaroneck. The guest speaker will be recreational therapist Cheryl Croce, who will discuss therapies that are helping in the fight against Alzheimer’s. New members are always welcome.

If you are interested in joining, leave a message at 698-9749.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester

At Home on the Sound Volunteers needed At Home on the Sound is seeking additional year-round 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.

Village of Mamaroneck news Winter Sleuth Walk with the Tree Committee On Saturday, Jan. 28, meeting at 1 p.m. at Modern Restaurant, located at 1 Station Plaza at the lower Metro-North parking lot. How can you know a tree’s identity if it has no leaves or flowers? Winter is a great time to see trees in a different way, and learn to identify them by the three Bs: buds, bark and branches. Participants will explore giant old trees at Columbus Park, in the heart of Mamaroneck Village, and get to know some newcomers as well.

Adult Fans of LEGO Night Adult fans of LEGO Night at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester: Have you wanted to visit LEGOLAND, but don’t have any little ones in your life? Is the little kid in you looking for a fun night out? Do you need a night away from the kids, but want something different to do? Check out Adult Fans of LEGO Night for games, prizes, fun and more, on Thursday, Feb. 2. Build and share ideas with the Master Model Builder, LUG members and other adult fans of LEGO. Experience the center’s rides, 4-D theater and endless amounts of LEGO bricks. Must be 18 years or over to attend. Cost: $15.

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; no entry after 8 p.m.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald St. in Yonkers. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 866-243-0770 or visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester.

Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.

January 27, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 5

11 companies interested in RTP food operation

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Despite the Rye Town Park Commission’s refusal to reveal any of the solicitors interested in managing some type of food operation at the park this year, the Review has acquired nine of the 11 proposals.

The respondents submitted offers to operate either one, some or all of the food facilities at the park, following the commission’s request for letters of intent, which was sent out by the commission in December.

According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the commission, he does not plan on releasing any details of the proposals any time soon. “At this time, I’m not sure we’re going to release them,” he said. “It could affect our contract negotiations.”

But the Review has learned that short-term restaurant proposals, which were due by Jan. 12, were submitted by the owners of Longford’s Ice Cream, of Rye; Walter’s Hot Dogs, in Mamaroneck; The Barley House, of

Thornwood; Anthony’s NY Hot Dogs & More, of New Rochelle; the LI Sound Restaurant Group, which owns Trevi in the town/ village of Harrison; and the owners and operators of Sunset Grille and Valentino’s Cucina of Norwalk, Connecticut.

Additionally, the Spillane’s Restaurant Group—which owns venues throughout Westchester County and New York City, including Molly Spillane’s in Mamaroneck and Mickey Spillane’s in Eastchester—in partnership with COFFEED Corporation, has offered to operate a traditional American restaurant called The Landing. COFFEED is a New York-based group that specializes in artisan coffee that owns 12 venues throughout the metropolitan area and one in Seoul, South Korea.

Homestyle Caterers Inc., which began with Morley’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant in Yonkers, has also submitted a proposal to operate the park’s restaurant. The group manages a number of establishments, including the food services at Yonkers’ Dunwoodie Golf

Course, the Putnam National Golf Course in Mahopac, and the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Further, the group manages the food services at the Blue Hill Golf Course in Pearl River, in Rockland County, and owns two Nathan’s fast food franchises.

And there is also a submission from Westchester Food Service and International Snack Bar Company, which operates a handful of municipal venues throughout the county, to serve traditional New Englandstyle food, consisting of salads, wraps, burgers, fish tacos; there’s also an option to operate the restaurant’s beach bar.

As of press time, there are two additional proposals that have been received by the commission, but whose identities have not been confirmed.

The interest in running food services out of Rye Town Park for this season comes in wake of the departure of Seaside Johnnies, the park’s beachfront restaurant overlooking the Long Island Sound which shut down at the end of 2016 after the owners failed to

The Rye Town Park Commission, which saw the departure of Seaside Johnnies beachfront restaurant, pictured, at the end of 2016, has received 11 proposals in total interested in managing the food services at the park. File photo

reach a short-term deal with the park commission. Seaside Johnnies had operated seasonally out of the park since 2000.

According to Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a member of the commission, the park commission still has to decide whether the park is better served with a full-time restaurant or a concession-type service for 2017.

“The overriding question is what is the best interim direction for the park and what sets us up best for the long term good of the park and the citizens who enjoy it,” she said.

To aid in finding a short-term solution, the commission announced at its Jan. 17 meeting that it had hired Tracy Lawler from JGL Food Service Con-

sultants at a cost not to exceed $6,000.

Lawler has also been commissioned to plan an extensive search for a long-term licensee beginning in 2018. That search is expected to begin once the commission releases a formal request for proposals.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

6 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

Mamaroneck THE

REVIEW

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By JAMES PERO Staff Writer In the wake of County Executive Rob Astorino’s veto of legislation banning gun shows held at county-owned facilities, the Board of Legislators’ Democratic contingent will continue to work toward swaying Republican votes necessary for an override.

While Democrats’ criticism of the show had previously centered on the expo’s potential to facilitate potentially illicit sales of guns—a claim which has not been supported by the county’s commissioner of public safety—recent concerns have gravitated around vendors’ distribution of books pertaining to Adolf Hitler and Nazism in World War II. According to a statement released by the Democratic Caucus earlier this week, which included pictures allegedly taken at the show, copies of “Mein Kampf”—the autobiographical book by Hitler—and Confederate flags were among the items distributed by vendors.

“These symbols are symbols of hate and have no place in our county, let alone for sale in our facilities,” said Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat, who helped pen the legislation banning gun shows. Jenkins has already announced that he plans to seek the Democratic

nomination for county executive later this year.

The Review requested press credentials and authorization to take its own photos at the show but was denied by a representative from Westchester Collectors, the organization which hosts the event.

The impetus behind Democrats’ push to ban gun shows has centered primarily on the gun show held at the Westchester County Center on Jan. 21 and 22.

The show—which would have taken place regardless of a passed ban, due to contractual

Among those railing against Astorino’s veto at the hearing, which was held at the County Center, was White Plains resident Valerie Daniele, who has, throughout the last several months, galvanized hundreds of residents under the moniker Westchester Women of Conscience to speak in favor of the gun show ban.

“We reject the notion that there are no facts that support a continued ban and remind the county executive that the very facts that motivated him to cancel gun shows in the wake of

Despite a veto blocking a ban on gun shows held at county-owned facilities, Democratic lawmakers are working to shore up votes for an override. File photo

The latest gun show at the convention center marks the first time such an event has taken place there since 2010.

A gun show scheduled to take place in 2012 was cancelled following shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Photo courtesy pixabay.com

obligations—featured vendors from across the state selling and displaying a range of pistols, rifles and various styles of knives, and marked the first time that such a show has taken place at the convention center since 2010.

Echoing Democratic sentiments, dozens of Westchester County residents came out on Jan. 24 to voice concerns over the rejection of a gun ban during a public hearing in White Plains on a separate piece of Republican legislation regarding the topic.

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Democratic lawmakers have criticized the latest gun show, held at the County Center on Jan. 21 and 22, for distributing literature pertaining to Nazism as well as Confederate flags. Photo courtesy Democratic Caucus

Sandy Hook exist today, four years and zero lawsuits later,” Daniele said.

On the other side of the aisle, Scott Sommavilla, president of the Westchester Firearms Association, who also attended the public hearing, said that cracking down on the distribution of items like Confederate flags could lead the county down an undesirable path.

“Would we rather [Nazi books] not be there? Yeah,” Sommavilla said. “But it is a First Amendment right. It’s a slippery slope; where does it stop and where does it start?”

The veto of the proposed gun show ban, which came a little more than a week after the legislation’s passage by all nine Democratic lawmakers, was an expected move by Astorino, a Republican, who, in tandem with Republican lawmakers, has condemned the law from its inception.

In response, according to Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat, Democrats will keep

the prospect of overriding Astorino’s veto an open item.

“I will leave the option of overriding the county executive’s veto on the table for the remainder of the legislative term in hopes that a sufficient number of my colleagues will choose to join the majority who voted to ban the gun shows,” Kaplowitz said.

As it stands, Democrats— nine of which voted in favor of passing the ban earlier this month—would need to win over three Republican votes for a supermajority of 12 legislators in order to override the county executive’s veto. Board Democrats have a year to vote on an override, according to a spokesperson for the board’s Democratic Caucus.

A previously scheduled gun

show was cancelled in 2012 after the school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, killed 26 people, 20 of them children.

The ratification of a ban on gun shows held at countyowned facilities would have revived a previous embargo that lapsed in 2010 when Astorino took the helm as county executive, ending a ban instituted by his predecessor, Andrew Spano, a Democrat, after the Columbine High School shootings.

Board Republicans have shown no signs of obliging Democrats in their push to institute a ban, but have instead introduced alternative legislation that would adopt various rules outlined in New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s Model Gun Show legislation.

Many of the laws would pertain to proper signage and diligence on background checks, many of which are already mandated through the New York state Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013.

Some Democrats, including Kaplowitz, have already expressed that they may vote in favor of those guidelines when the law makes its way to the legislative floor.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

January 27, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 7

8 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

Court renovations to displace boards, committees

BILL from page 1

its potential to provide an additional revenue stream for the county and local municipalities that contain state-held land. “If this is allowed in other counties, there’s certainly no reason to treat Westchester unfairly,” Gelfarb said. “We need that revenue source to provide basic municipal services for residents and taxpayers.”

While there is currently no estimate for any number of projected revenue Westchester could gain as a result of a change in the law, according to Latimer, research is being conducted by the several municipalities, including the assessor’s office in the town of Bedford, which is among the communities in the county where there is state land.

The Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, a state-owned prison, is located in Bedford, and is encompassed in the 7,000 acres of state-held land in the county. Other notable state-held properties include the Franklin D. Roosevelt State

A recent bill introduced by state Sen. George Latimer would authorize Westchester County the ability to tax certain state-held lands, such as the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, pictured, located in the town of Bedford. Photo courtesy jaildata.com

Park and the Donald J. Trump State Park in the town of Yorktown, and the Rockefeller State Preserve in the town of Mount Pleasant.

While he is optimistic about the support for the bill, Latimer said there is still the issue of the other 59 counties in the state that might seek to receive the same “fair treatment.” He added that he hopes his proposal will spark a conversation about granting

other counties the ability to tax state land as well; however, at the very least, he hopes Westchester will be authorized.

The bill is currently awaiting approval by a state Senate committee, as of press time.

County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, could not be reached for comment, as of press time.

CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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With the help of state grants, the village of Mamaroneck’s courtroom will undergo needed safety improvements.

Construction, however, may cast out boards and committee meetings into different venues. File photo

With the help of New York state grants, the village of Mamaroneck’s courtroom is awaiting major renovations to its dais; improvements which will temporarily displace many of the village’s regular board and committee meetings.

According to Village Manager Richard Slingerland, the grants, which were awarded to the village in early 2016, will go to several specific projects at the Mount Pleasant Avenue courtroom, including renovations to the bench and repairs on concrete steps which Slingerland described as a “tripping hazard.”

While the courtroom undergoes a construction and demoli-

tion process, meetings—including public meetings for the zoning and planning boards as well as the Board of Trustees—will be held in both the public library as well as the Emelin Theatre, according to Slingerland. Courts will likely be held in the Emelin Theatre, according to Assistant Village Manager Dan Sarnoff.

“We determined that the Emelin Theatre would make the most sense for the courts and the library community room would make sense for evening meetings for land use boards,” Slingerland said.

According to Sarnoff, the Emelin Theatre and the library will be reimbursed by the village for its usage of the space.

The latest renovations to the village’s courtroom will mark the first time the room has gone under construction since more than a decade according to Sarnoff. The bulk of the renovations, Slingerland said, will take place between mid- to late March.

Overall, Slingerland said the project will cost approximately $30,000. Of that total, $18,000 will be coming from state grants, with the rest of the cost to be covered by the village.

Slingerland said that as a result of the displacement, meetings that are typically broadcasted live will be taped and then aired after the fact.

-Reporting by James Pero

Lawmakers ask ATF to audit Harrison gun store A gun store in Harrison, which has drawn the attention of thousands of residents since it opened in November, now also has the attention of two Westchester County lawmakers.

Legislators Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, and Ben Boykin, a White Plains Democrat, whose districts each entail a portion of Harrison, wrote a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, ATF, in December requesting an audit of the license to sell firearms issued to Leesie & Lou Lou Inc., a corporation owned by Louis Zacchio, who owns the gun store on Halstead Avenue, L&L Sports.

“We just asked them to make sure that they were looking at the application and making sure that

everything was done properly,” Parker told the Review.

The letter was sent to the ATF on Dec. 12, 2016. Boykin and Parker said they had not yet received a response from the agency as of press time.

Some Harrison residents are likely to rejoice over news that county representatives have involved themselves in the saga.

Those same residents have protested to the Harrison Town Council the location of L&L Sports since it announced it would be opening in November.

Much of their concern is due to the shop’s proximity to an elementary school 500 feet away.

As of press time, an online petition has garnered almost 3,500 signatures decrying the store’s location.

In the letter from county lawmakers, specific questions and concerns related to Zacchio’s license to sell firearms were raised, and whether some of his practices invalidate that license.

The legislators referenced a license administered to Leesie & Lou Lou Inc., listing the premise of license as Zacchio’s home address on Orchard Place. The letter asks if Zacchio’s license had since been modified to allow him to operate at the Halstead Avenue storefront.

Boykin and Parker have also questioned Zacchio’s compliance with a local law in Harrison which requires those who sell used goods—including guns— to obtain a permit to do so from the town.

-Reporting by Corey Stockton

January 27, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 9

State funding helps Hillside Ave. Bridge replacement

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A multimillion-dollar round of New York state grants will help both the town and village of Mamaroneck, as well as the town of Rye, fund an extensive project to fully replace the Hillside Avenue Bridge.

The bridge replacement funding will come from a $21.8 million pot of grant money via the state Department of Transportation provided to mid-Hudson regions through the BridgeNY initiative announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, last July. Of that total, $2.8 million will go to Hillside Avenue Bridge.

Village Manager Richard Slingerland said that while the full cost of the bridge replacement has yet to be determined, since the project hasn’t been put out to bid yet, the state funding will likely not cover the full cost.

Any remaining balance would then be split between the three municipalities.

Slingerland said the replacement of the 80-year-old bridge will not only provide critical

safety improvements, but also aim to mitigate flooding in the surrounding area. Specifically, the village manager said, the newly designed Hillside bridge would help reduce the risk of flooding by allowing for a greater capacity of water to flow through its culvert.

Slingerland said the replacement of the bridge will help with a prospective $80 million flood mitigation plan designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the village of Mamaroneck that looks to widen and deepen large swaths of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers.

In addition to widening and deepening the two rivers, the flood mitigation plan would also see the construction of 1.75 miles of concrete retaining walls and would require some residents to cede portions of their land through easements.

New York state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat who helped the municipalities procure the state grant, said the bridge project is an important step toward helping quell a constant battle with the adverse ef-

fects of flooding.

“Flooding is a major concern in our part of Westchester and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future,” Latimer said. This is a sound project and a very good use of taxpayer monies.”

Slingerland said that work on the project will start once the engineering and design is complete—which he said may take about 18 months—and will hopefully be totally completed in two to three years. The bridge is currently safe for vehicle passage, but has been closed to pedestrians.

As for the federal Army Corps project, which was given the go ahead by the New York state Department of State in September, Slingerland said that the village has recently provided additional information to the state agency and is awaiting the next phase.

In either February or March, the project will be discussed by senior leaders of the Army Corps at a Civil Works Review Board meeting in Washington, D.C. Ultimately, the project will need congressional approval for it to

With the help of $2.8 million in state grants, Hillside Avenue Bridge—which is owned by the town and village of Mamaroneck, as well as the town of Rye—will be completely replaced. Photo/James Pero

move forward.

A current cost breakdown of the plan would see approximately $45 million in funding

come from the federal government; about $24 million from state and county sources; and approximately $10 million of

that total would be required to come from the village.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

10 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

STEM Alliance gets $5K grant for programs

PARKING from page 1

Single-space meters may undergo additional study after being plagued by a host of issues related to enforcement, tampering and user-friendliness. File photo

maintenance due to their frequent need for coins to be emptied.

Though the meters also accepted card payments, Shiffer said that patrons would often post “broken” notes if a meter displayed a “full” sign, which indicates the meter has reached its coin carrying capacity.

“This raises a new enforcement question to address; is a single-space smart meter ‘broken’ if the coin slot is unable to accept coin payment but it can still accept credit card payment?” the report asks.

As a result of complications, Shiffer said the village has since increased its enforcement from one to two full-time meter attendants, and is currently contemplating undergoing additional study on single-space meters.

Just what that additional study would look like, Shiffer said, remains to be seen.

Regardless of data showing

significant revenue disparity, an upcoming recommendation from the village parking committee will look to both recommend single-space meters, as well as roll back previously expanded metered hours.

The committee, DeRose said, will recommend that metered hours which were previously extended to 8 p.m. be scaled back to their original 6 p.m. timeslot because of widespread ticketing, which she contributes in part to a lack of signage and alleged negative effects on Mamaroneck Avenue businesses.

DeRose said the committee will deliver its recommendation to the Board of Trustees on Feb. 13, and still intends to recommend single-space meters.

Modernizing parking meters on Mamaroneck Avenue, a proposal dating back to 2014, has become a yearslong process after an original proposal to install multispace meters became the subject

of vehement public backlash.

Multi-space meters—18 of which were purchased by the village in 2014 for $115,000— were temporarily sidelined after residents spoke out against their need for automatic license platereading technology, which scans and stores residents’ license plate information.

Many of those multi-space meters were eventually installed in parking lots adjacent to Mamaroneck Avenue.

According to Shiffer, current versions of the multi-space meters installed on the avenue would forego the use of license plate-reading technology for a simpler pay-by-space format.

Despite recommendations from the committee, which type of meter is eventually installed on Mamaroneck Avenue will be subject to a decision from the village Board of Trustees.

CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

Correcting the record In the Jan. 20, 2017 issue of the Mamaroneck Review, an article titled “Guns rights activists threaten to sue ahead of town gun ban” incorrectly stated that a prospective Rye Brook law would ban gun stores in outlet malls. The law instead would dictate that future gun stores may only be placed in outlet malls.

Village of Mamaroneck’s

Official Newspaper

The STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck recently received a $5,000 grant from The Black & Veatch Foundation to fund competitive and non-competitive robotics programs starting as early as fourth grade, as well as to expand the Girls in STEM program development.

The STEM Alliance has prioritized robotics education based upon the FIRST robotics league developed by renowned Segway inventor Dean Kamen. Robotics not only teaches coding and engineering, but also gives equal weight to the importance of team work, public speaking and community service. Students use these skills to develop innovative solutions to modern day problems.

“Robotics and coding are just the vehicle through which FIRST teaches students their core values: team work, studentcentered problem solving, mutual respect in the form of ‘gracious professionalism,’ and having fun,” said Margaret Käufer,

president of the STEM Alliance of Larchmont-Mamaroneck.

“Black & Veatch’s support of the STEM Alliance’s robotics initiatives provides for direct technology education while simultaneously demanding that students learn how to creatively apply interdisciplinary STEM knowledge to solve problems.”

This grant deepens the STEM Alliance’s current middle school team by providing additional equipment as well as extending the team program into the elementary level. It also creates a pipeline of interested students who can follow a districtwide robotics program all the way up to the high school level team.

With this funding, the alliance can engage more coaches in leading teams, workshops and clubs. Vacation workshops, such as the alliance’s all-girls robotics intensive and Snap n’ Chat Robot Make-Overs, are critical to the growth and diversification of robotics in the Mamaroneck

school district.

The STEM Alliance is a grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing K–12 STEM education and enrichment initiatives to benefit students, parents and educators in local schools and the community. The STEM Alliance’s vision is to serve as a network that connects communities to STEM skills as a means of solving problems and fostering innovation. For more information, visit lmstemalliance.org.

The Black & Veatch Foundation coordinates its professionals’ charitable involvement in, and donations to, organizations and programs worldwide. The foundation focuses its efforts on improving access to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education through their Grow STEM Initiative. Additional efforts focus on humanitarian aid and signature programs.

For more information, visit bv.com. (Submitted)

Bellows students craft authentic fictional stories

F.E. Bellows Elementary School students worked with Jenna Gavigan, a writer and an accomplished Broadway and television actress, to create authentic fictional stories. Photo courtesy Rye Neck school district

F.E. Bellows Elementary School students, who are learning how to craft fictional stories and develop characters as part of their English language arts classes, were treated to a special visit from Jenna Gavigan, a writer and an accomplished Broadway and television actress.

During the interactive workshops, Gavigan assisted the students in creating an authentic story by developing a list of character traits, settings and plots, which required their characters to resolve a conflict or ac-

complish a goal. Using examples from books they’ve read on their own and in class, the students learned about the important elements of storytelling and character development as they worked together toward a common goal.

“Understanding how stories are constructed and why characters act the way they do in a story is important for students to understand as they learn to write these stories themselves,” said William McKeon, the library media specialist at the school.

“Jenna used her life experiences

and career accomplishments as a tool to help our students understand the importance of character development in creating a story.”

As a conclusion to the lesson, Gavigan, who graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, will provide the students with a book that contains the story they created together and ask them to illustrate it, which will further enhance their creativity and critical thinking skills.

(Submitted)

11 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

Business Briefs Irwin joins Larchmont Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realtor Timothy Irwin has joined the Larchmont office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Westchester Properties. The announcement was made

by Mark Nadler, office leader.

In a statement Nadler said, “By making an industry leap to real estate from working at Gertex for nine years, Irwin sold his first home within five days of it being on the market. When looking to buy or sell a home in Westchester County, he will bring you as much experience, knowledge, and accountability there is.”

As a licensed realtor in Westchester County, Irwin provides strategic marketing and transaction management services to his clients. His business is built on dedication, communication, determination, and trust, while embodying the ability to cater and adapt to all of his client’s real estate needs.

A Larchmont native when he was younger, who went through the Mamaroneck school system, is now living with his wife just a block over from where he grew up with four sisters and a brother. Irwin enjoys the summers boating and fishing on the Long Island Sound, and he enjoys playing platform tennis in the Westchester league during the winter months.

Contact Irwin today for all of your buying and selling needs. Call 414-588-3510 or email TimothyIrvin@bhhswestchester.com.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England and Westchester Properties is a leading real estate brokerage firm with more than 1,800 realtors in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Westchester County. Selectively chosen by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and HomeServices of America, the global reach, financial strength and fresh brand make Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England and Westchester Properties the premiere real estate firm in the Northeast. Whether it be residential, commercial, corporate relocation, equestrian or waterfront living, the company and its realtors are local market experts committed to providing exceptional service to our clients. For more information, visit bhhsNEproperties.com.

Weichert, Realtors’ Larchmont office, associate win regional awards Nicholas Germak, regional vice president of Weichert, Realtors, announced that the Larchmont office was recognized for outstanding performance in November. The office led its Weichert sales region, which is comprised of offices throughout Orange, Dutchess, Westchester and Rockland counties in New York, and Fairfield County in Connecticut, for resale dollar volume.

In addition, sales associate Geubert Oliveira was individually recognized for his success during the month. As a top producer, Oliveira led the region for resale listings. Invite this talented neighborhood specialist in to learn about the real estate services that Weichert, Realtors has to offer. Oliveira can be reached at Weichert’s Larchmont office located at 2090 Boston Post Road, or call 833-0800 for more information.

Since 1969, Weichert, Realtors has grown from a single office into one of the nation’s leading providers of homeownership services by putting its customers first. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps

customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance. Weichert leverages its customer website, weichert.com, one of the most visited real estate websites in the nation, to help families and individuals realize the dream of homeownership through quick and easy access to listing information and the services of its real estate professionals nationwide. For more information, Weichert’s customer service center can be reached at 1-800-USA-SOLD (872-7653).

Food Bank for Westchester names new CEO, president; elects new board member Food Bank for Westchester, the leading organization providing programs for the 200,000 county residents who are food insecure, recently announced the appointment of Leslie B. Gordon as its new president and CEO effective Jan. 17.

Gordon, who has extensive experience at City Harvest developing initiatives to serve the hungry in New York City, succeeds Ellen Lynch who announced in September that she was stepping down.

“Leslie Gordon brings to Food Bank for Westchester a wealth of leadership experience and expertise to help us in our ongoing efforts to eradicate hunger in the county. Leslie has a proven record of success at City Harvest where she developed and implemented innovative programs to help feed people who face hunger. We are thrilled to have her on board as our new president and CEO,” said Maria Bronzi, board chair of Food Bank for Westchester.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead one of the region’s most admired organizations fighting hunger. I look forward to working with everyone on the Food Bank team—from our outstanding board and dedicated staff and volunteers, to our community agencies and donors—to continue the mission of creating a hunger-free environment in Westchester,” Gordon said.

As senior director of Program Strategy & Operations for City Harvest, Gordon served as a key executive leading its “Healthy Neighborhoods” plan to improve food access and nutritional behaviors for a 500,000 low-income residents and pioneering a new strategy that doubled the food distributed annually from 30 to 60 million pounds in five years. City Harvest collects nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it free of charge to soup kitchens, food pantries and other community food programs across the five boroughs.

Prior to joining City Harvest in 2007, Gordon was under Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the state director of Best Buddies Pennsylvania, an organization that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prior to that, she served as founding director of Made in Hudson Valley, which promoted products manufactured in the Hudson Valley, and served under Gen. Colin Powell as national director of America’s Promise-The Alliance for Youth, a foundation dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth from all socioeconomic sectors.

A lifetime Westchester and fourth-generation resident of Tarrytown, Gordon is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz where she majored in sociology. She is a frequent guest speaker at various

organizations addressing issues of hunger, including the National Conference on Emergency Feeding and the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine on Seniors & Hunger. She is also a guest lecturer of Fordham University’s Non-Profit Leadership Graduate Program.

Food Bank for Westchester has also announced the election of Michael Cassidy to its board of directors. Cassidy is currently a partner at Team JMC, a firm recently launched to develop new businesses and acquire established companies.

Cassidy has significant experience in corporate branding, positioning and sales team development.

He believes in the importance of implementing a cohesive corporate culture and organized employee communications, always setting them as a top priority in his leadership roles.

“We are pleased to welcome Michael to our board and know he will be an asset in helping us achieve our goals for the Food Bank for Westchester,” board chair of Food Bank for Westchester. “His skills and insight will add great expertise to our already diverse committee of leaders.”

Prior to JMC, Cassidy founded and served as CEO and chairman of Undertone, a digital advertising technology company. Under his leadership, Undertone grew to more than $150 million in revenue and more than 300 employees before being acquired by Perion (PERI) in 2015. During his time there, the company was recognized numerous times as one of the Best Companies to Sell For. Cassidy was the recipient of the 2011 Ernest & Young NY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

He currently serves as board vice president for Friends of Karen, a Westchester-based nonprofit supporting children and families with life-threatening illness.

A native of Mahopac, Cassidy received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Oswego State University, where he is a former member of the alumni board. He then became a resident of Manhattan for 10 years before moving to his current home in Rye with his wife, Jennifer, and three children.

For more than 27 years, the Food Bank for Westchester, FB4W, has led the fight against hunger in Westchester County, serving 330 frontline programs that provide food directly to the 200,000 county residents who are hungry or food insecure.

FB4W supplies 95 percent of all food distributed annually across the region’s food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and day care and residential programs—delivering more than 8.4 million pounds of food and 7 million meals to people. FB4W’s collaboration with major retailers and corporations, and its expertise in food procurement, storage, and distribution, turns every monetary donation into fresh food provided for communities.

For more information about the Food Bank for Westchester, visit fb4w.org.

The next Business Briefs section will run in February. Please send any submission for our February edition to news@hometwn.com, with “Business” in the subject line of your email.

Each submission may include one picture.

If you have any questions, email us at news@hometwn.com.

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12 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

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January 27, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 13

Where have all the singers gone?

The shower is where America does it—in private, with no one judging, just because it feels good.

I’m talking about singing, of course, that once universal pastime that uplifts the soul, reboots the body, and doesn’t demand a monthly fee. So why aren’t we singing all the time?

In “La La Land,” the hit movie that may sweep the Oscars, everyone on screen bursts into song. Yes, that’s what a musical is: an embarrassing admission that we’re all a-tingle with music, just waiting for the chance to explode. But aside from Disney, most moviemakers have not been pumping out songand-dance movies for, oh, about half a century. There’s a reason more Americans knew Carrie Fisher than her mom, Debbie Reynolds, star of “Singin’ in the Rain.” Musicals were once the most American of movies. Now, action movies are. But with the success of “La La Land,” that may be about to change—and maybe we’ll change, too.

Singing is so basic to human happiness, some scientists believe it might have evolved even before language. It was the way stories were passed down before writing, because it’s a lot easier to remember a song than a paragraph. And that’s why kids still sing their ABCs—our brains are built to embed music.

What’s more, when actual language eludes us—for instance, after a stroke—sometimes mu-

are in eighth grade, only a third are getting music. What’s more, there doesn’t seem to be much agreement on which songs to teach. So even though my kids went to public school, K–12, they don’t know “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” or even “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” You can argue that we have a wider world now, but sharing at least a few songs is an easy way for people to connect.

2. Stop trying to sing like Mariah. Nowadays when we sing, we think we have to sound like the professionals. (See: Karaoke.) But that’s like saying that anyone who wants to play basketball shouldn’t bother unless he’s got the word “Jordan” in his name. Singing is actually a skill that almost everyone gets better at the more they do it. (Not GREAT at. Just BETTER.) 3. Around the country, people are starting informal groups where people get together and sing. This sounds so fun that I’m thinking of starting one myself... provided everyone sings better than I do.

4. Meantime, find a place— church, community center, synagogue—where people are already singing and join in. In turn, whoever’s in charge should remember to promote the kind of songs the average person likes to sing—not too complex, not too soprano. There’s a reason folk songs lasted through the centuries. They’re written for the folks, not opera stars.

5. Start singing! Do it while waiting for the bus. And if I happen to be standing next to you, I just may join in.

We all know that the biggest star at the “Big Game” football party is the food. The American Heart Association, AHA, doesn’t want you to sack everyone’s healthy New Year’s resolutions with a party spread filled with fried, fattening, salty or sugary foods. Keep plenty of heart-healthy options in the starting lineup to give everyone healthy options while celebrating the big game.

“Offering healthy food choices can help people maintain a healthy weight, even at big parties. You can easily swap out unhealthy ingredients for healthier ones and adding more fruits and vegetables is a big game strategy that’s sure to score a touchdown for health,” said Carolyn Torella, AHA spokeswoman. “February is American Heart Month, and this is a great opportunity to kick off the month with healthier meals.”

First Half Strategy – First down: Start the game with salad and veggies. Fill up on the healthier foods first, then add in a few treats on your plate. Go with healthier appetizers like cut veggies and hummus, fat-free yogurt dips or guacamole made with avocados. According to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, eating one avocado a day as part of a heart-healthy, cholesterol-lowering, moderate-fat diet can help improve bad cholesterol levels in overweight and obese individuals. Use baked, not fried and whole grain versions of your favorite chips and crackers. Try low-fat cheeses with whole grain crackers or toasts, and choose

assorted low-sodium or unsalted nuts, which are high in good fats and protein.

Halftime Rally – When planning your halftime buffet, throw the penalty flag on the worst party foods like fried Buffalo wings (up to 35 grams of fat per serving), takeout personal pepperoni pan pizza (more than 60 percent of sodium daily allowance), and nachos with cheese (30 percent of your daily fat). Opt for baked, not fried Buffalo tenders, whole wheat pizza with veggies, and chicken or beans and low-fat cheese burritos in a whole wheat wrap. With healthy foods, you’ll still have energy for that halftime touch football game. Try turkey or chicken and bean chili with lots of veggies cooked in, and low-fat cheese and low-fat sour cream on the side.

Second Half Plan – Offer seltzer and no sugar-added fruit juice beverages as “mockcocktail” alternatives to alcohol-based drinks. Alcohol can raise blood pressure and is full of empty calories. Make portion control part of your game plan.

Smaller plates and calorie counting apps can help you keep track of the foods you are consuming so you don’t go overboard.

Know your portions. For example, a serving of chicken breast (3 ounces) is about the size of a deck of cards, and an ounce of cheese is about the size of your index finger. A cup of pasta is the size of a fist, and half a cup of rice is a cupcake wrapper-full.

For more portion tips, check out heart.org/PortionDistortion.

The American Heart Association recommends a diet rich

in fruits, vegetables, wholegrain, high-fiber foods, and fatfree and low-fat dairy products.

Keep total fat intake between 25 and 35 percent of calories, with most fats coming from sources of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as fish, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils most often. Use naturally occurring, un-hydrogenated vegetable oils such as canola, safflower, sunflower or olive oil most often.

Why offer healthier options?

More than 149 million Americans, or 67 percent of adults age 20 and older, are overweight or obese. By 2015, experts projected that 75 percent of adults will be overweight, with 41 percent being obese. Nearly one-third of U.S. children and adolescents are overweight or obese and at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Making small changes to diet and lifestyle can help prevent heart disease and stroke, the No. 1 and No. 5 killers nationwide.

The American Heart Association has partnered with the Walmart Foundation to offer Simple Cooking with Heart, a nationwide program aimed at changing the way people think about food. Try these healthy variations of classic party recipes and get more cooking tips and instructional videos from the American Heart Association at heart.org/simplecooking, including game day favorites chicken and ham jambalaya, baked flautas with mango salsa, spicy Asian salad cups, barbeque-glazed chicken tenders and oven fries, and tailgate chili.

(Submitted)

CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

P U B LI S H ES

Mamaroneck THE

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CityREVIEW NewRochelle T Eastchester REVIEW HE

REVIEW Harrison REVIEW

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INSIDE

RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

sic doesn’t, since it is processed in another area of the brain. After my mom had lost almost all her memory, I could sing a few songs from her childhood and she could, out of the fog, join in.

The power of music is mysterious. One study of cancer patients found that an hour of singing boosted their immune proteins. It also lowers blood pressure. Even people with lung disease feel better when singing.

And of course, it’s bonding.

Sing with a group and you are one—a fact understood by anyone who has ever been in a choir, or the military, or the bus to summer camp.

But Americans (heck, humans) have been singing less and less ever since technology started to do it for us. While in the pre-Edison era most middle class families had a piano around with which to sing, the record player and radio made it easy to hear music anytime. The smartphone made it even easier.

And since the people singing on tape, TV and iTunes (but not necessarily YouTube) sing better than the rest of us, we started to believe that this is a task, like neurosurgery, best left to the professionals. So, barring the occasional “Jingle Bells,” or “Happy Birthday,” most of us sing only to ourselves if we sing at all. This is a loss of such gargantuan proportions; it’s as if we stopped walking, or dancing.

Which, come to think of it, we sort of have. Even the clergy report that congregants are singing less. What would it take for us to bring singing back into our everyday lives?

1. Make singing a regular part of school. By the time kids

Healthy snacks for the ‘Big Game’

INSIDE WESTCHESTER COUNTY

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14 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017

SPORTS

Home court advantage after the junior varsity game and a Huguenot player was punched LIVE MIKE on his way back to the buses. AfMike Smith ter some deliberation between the two schools, the Huguenots There were a few moments in took steps to ensure the safety of Saturday’s showdown between the players in the two teams’ secNew Rochelle and Mount Ver- ond meeting, moving the game non that should have absolutely from Friday to Saturday and barbrought the roof down. Most of ring spectators aside from famithem came when the Knights’ ly members, team personnel and 6-foot-9 big man Greg Calixte members of the media. got the ball in the low post, then The move, of course, was the rose above the Huguenots’ de- right one. When it comes to stufense to throw down a thunder- dent safety, it’s always best to err ous, rim-rocking jam. on the side of caution.

These were the types of plays It’s just unfortunate that the that—in an ordinary game be- actions of a few knuckleheads tween the two bitter rivals— made the actions taken by the would have whipped the crowd schools necessary at all. into a frenzy.

Policing the actions of fans is Last weekend, however, the a tricky thing. After postgame two teams squared off at New violence marred a Harrison/Rye Rochelle High School in a football game a few years ago, closed gym in front of a decid- the two teams began playing edly muted crowd, and that’s a their games at 11 a.m., in order real shame. to curb pregame tailgating. In When the two schools 2014, the Tappan Zee athletic squared off three weeks ago at director kicked his own student Mount Vernon, violence erupted section out of the County Center

after they launched into a chorus of vulgar chants directed at the Dutchmen’s opponent.

In terms of Section I basketball, New Rochelle versus Mount Vernon is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the winter season.

Even if the games aren’t always close—and this one wasn’t, as Mount Vernon stormed out to a 71-46 win—the atmosphere can’t be replicated. I’ve seen loads of games between the two powers, including Mount Vernon wins, New Rochelle upsets, and the biggest of all, the Huguenots’ buzzer-beater victory at the Westchester County Center in 2013, and each time I walk away from those games wondering if any other high school sporting event could possibly match the level of intensity from both fans and players.

On Saturday, the crowd, while subdued, was still larger than many other schools draw, but, even so, there was no real electricity in the gym.

New Rochelle’s basketball team huddles up before their Jan. 21 game against Mount Vernon. Although meetings between the two teams usually lead to packed gyms, postgame violence three weeks ago led the Huguenots to close the gym and turn fans away. Photo/Mike Smith

Ultimately, the actions of a few misguided fans robbed players from both schools of the opportunity to take the court in a one-of-a-kind environment, and that’s unfortunate.

I’m all for fans getting loud, getting rowdy, and turning their home court into a place where visitors don’t want to play. But at the end of the day, even a showdown with your bitterest rivals

is still just a game. If fans can keep that in mind, we’ll all be better off.

Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports

SPORTS

January 27, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 15

Locals shine at counties

New Rochelle’s Aidan Lilly locks up an opponent at the Westchester County Championships on Jan. 21.

New Rochelle placed seventh with 95 points.

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Saturday, Jan. 21, some of the top wrestlers in the area hit the mat at Yonkers High School to compete in the annual Westchester County Championships.

Perennial powerhouse John Jay won handily, outpointing second-place Horace Greeley by 117 points; but a number of local teams, including New Rochelle and Harrison, fared well, as the Huguenots and Huskies both secured top-10 finishes on the day.

New Rochelle tallied 93.5 points, good enough for seventh place on the day, and was led by another terrific outing from senior standout Jordan Wallace. Wallace stormed through the 170-pound bracket, pinning Ossining’s Charles Rios in the

semifinals before topping Jacob Ferriera from Horace Greeley with a 9-3 decision in the finals.

Wallace’s win in the finals was his 155th career victory, moving him into first-place alltime for the Huguenots.

The Huguenots also had two other wrestlers reach the semifinals, as Jhavon Canto lost a 6-3 decision to eventual 113-pound champ Brandon DiDomenico from Lakeland/Panas, and Eddie Maffia, wrestling at 152 pounds, lost to John Jay’s Connor Melbourne.

Harrison also fared well, as the team ended up with 73 points and a ninth-place finish. The showing was especially encouraging for head coach Vin Nicita, as the Huskies have been beset by injuries and illness and headed into the tournament missing

three of their top upperclassmen.

Both Daniel Choe and Andrew Hollander are currently battling mononucleosis, while Fujita was hurt during the team’s winter trip to Disney World.

“To face the loss of those three guys and still come in ninth place out of 28 teams, that’s not bad,” Nicita said. “I think we had a pretty good showing.”

Rob Donohue, wrestling at 195 pounds, reached the finals, where he was pinned by Mount Vernon’s Jasmir Black after nearly scoring a pinfall of his own in the bout’s opening minute.

“He had him on his back, he was just a little high on him,” Nicita said. “I know he was disappointed, but I think this was probably the best tournament [Donohue] has wrestled all year.”

Rye’s Chase Bekkerus works from behind at Yonkers High School. The Garnets tallied 24 points on the day.

A Harrison wrestler gets lifted by a Greeley opponent. Horace Greeley finished second behind John Jay.

Donohue’s teammates, Jay Martins and Tyler Joseph, both bowed out in the semifinals at 175 and 103 pounds, respectively.

Other local schools were in action as well, as Mamaroneck, led by a semifinal appearance from Crew Fullerton at 132 pounds, came in 13th place with 43 points. Eastchester, which

scored 28 points, came in 24th, narrowly edging Rye, which finished just behind them with 24 points. Eastchester’s Steven Bilali advanced to the semifinals of the 152-pound bracket, where he was defeated by eventual champ Aaron Wolk from Horace Greeley.

Teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming divisional

meets, which will be held on Feb. 4 at various locations.

“Our regular season schedule is over and I kind of like it,” Nicita said. “Because now we get a chance to get our bodies healed up and really focus on some individual stuff during our practices.”

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Competitors from Harrison and New Rochelle square off in the early rounds. Photos/Mike Smith

16 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • January 27, 2017