January 5, 2018 by The Mamaroneck Review

Mamaroneck REVIEW THE

January 5, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 1 | www.mamaroneckreview.com

County Exec. Latimer bans gun shows on county property

Diner Brew Co., a cidery based in Mount Vernon, was founded by New Rochelle native Chris Sheldon with the intent to offer customers a unique twist on traditional hard ciders. For story, see page 6. Photo/Taylor Brown

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer

Larchmont and Mamaroneck libraries add Kanopy streaming service The popular on-demand film streaming service Kanopy is now available for free at the Larchmont and Mamaroneck public libraries. Library cardholders can access Kanopy and sign up to start streaming films on instantly by visiting their library’s website. Films can be streamed from any computer, Internet-capable television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku. Offering what the New York Times calls “a garden of cinematic delights,” Kanopy showcases more than 30,000 of the world’s best films, including award-winning documentaries,

rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and world cinema with collections from Kino Lorber, Music Box Films, Samuel Goldwyn, The Orchard, The Great Courses, PBS and thousands of independent filmmakers. Kanopy is also compatible for the hearing impaired (with captions and transcripts) and the visually impaired (compatible with technologies such as JAWS). With the motto of “thoughtful entertainment,” Kanopy provides local library patrons with access to films of unique social and cultural value; films that are often difficult or impossible to access elsewhere, and programming that features diversity, with a wide ar-

ray of foreign language films and films on race, and current affairs. The Kanopy collection includes indie hits like “Hunt For the Wilderpeople” and “2 Days in Paris,” classic masterpieces like “Aguirre, the Wrath of God” and “Seven Samurai,” and award-winning documentaries like the 2017 Oscar-nominated “I Am Not Your Negro” and Sundance Film Festival winner “Mother of George.” The libraries are also offering an additional two new digital services. RB Digital gives library patrons access to an ever-expanding catalog of Audiobooks. RB Digital audiobooks work with any desktop or laptop computer, iOS or Android device, and Kindle

Fire. The title selection includes fiction and non-fiction, classic, biographies, Pimsleur Language Courses, and juvenile titles. Mergent Business and Financial eResources offers an extensive database of information full of Consumer Lifestyle Data and First Industry Research Reports on virtually any industry and company. For more information or to get started using these services, call or visit your local library. Or you can simply visit your local library’s website. Each library’s digital services including Kanopy, RB Digital, Mergent, and much more, are made possible by Westchester Library System. (Submitted)

An executive order signed by new County Executive George Latimer, a Democrat, will forbid controversial firearm and knife shows on county-owned property—a move that a new Democratic majority hopes to eventually codify into law. “This venue was created decades ago,” said Latimer at a Jan. 2 press conference, as he gestured around the Westchester County Center. “It is a tremendous showplace for Westchester County; it is a showplace for family entertainment.” The executive order will effectively reinstate a ban that was struck down by former County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, upon taking office in 2010. A ban had existed prior to Astorino’s election and was initially signed by former County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat, in the wake of the Columbine shootings in Colorado. Latimer’s executive order— which will not impact the legality of shows on private property— marks a culmination of controversy over the past year which saw Democrats and Republicans, as well as an invigorated electorate, debate whether or not to continue hosting shows. Earlier this year, a piece of legislation banning the shows was passed by the county Legislature’s Democratic majority but was never signed into law by Astorino who instead vetoed the measure.

While county Democrats contend that the shows would increase the likelihood of illegal gun sales as well as work to promote “gun culture” in Westchester, Republicans maintained that disallowing the shows infringed on residents’ constitutional rights. One gun show last year turned particularly controversial after a Democratic legislative aide snapped pictures of Confederate and Nazi memorabilia and books being sold and displayed inside the show, giving rise to Democratic calls for its removal. Last year’s show marked the first in nearly two decades after several were cancelled due to mass shootings in Columbine High School and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The debate over guns in Westchester has also made its way into local conversations, particularly in the town/village of Harrison, the village of Rye Brook, and the town of Mamaroneck, the latter of which briefly attempted to ban carrying weapons on its public property—an initiative that was quickly dropped after vehement public backlash. Rye Brook, however, successfully passed a local law restricting where gun stores can set up shop last year after a gun store in Harrison began operating in proximity to an elementary school, spurring public outcry. That store continues to operate. According to Latimer, Democratic lawmakers will work to BAN continued on page 3