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Mamaroneck REVIEW THE

April 28, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 17 | www.mamaroneckreview.com

Mamaroneck community cleans up Hommocks By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter

PEDAL to the METAL After a six-year hiatus, the Tour de Larchmont returns on May 6, and cyclists of all ages are encouraged to come out and participate. For story, see page 3. Photo courtesy Flickr.com

Rye City files beginning stages of Playland appeal By JAMES PERO Staff Writer In an executive session late last week, the Rye City Council voted to file a notice of appeal that could mark the beginnings of another legal battle between Westchester County and the city of Rye over Playland. The notice of appeal, which was filed on April 21, comes as a result of a denial by a state judge in March who threw out an initial Article 78 filed by the city last year that sought lead agency sta-

tus on planned capital projects at the park, which sits adjacent to some of Rye’s residential neighborhoods. The notice serves as the first step toward filing an official appeal, and from that point the council will have approximately five months to finalize its decision to enter back into litigation with the county. Rye City Attorney Kristen Wilson said that while the city has been in consistent contact with the park’s new manager, Standard Amusements, including a

recent executive session meeting between the two parties in the hopes of coming to some type of agreement, there has been little contact with representatives from the county. This week, Dan Branda, a spokesman for County Executive Rob Astorino’s administration, reiterated the county executive’s hard stance against Rye’s litigation over Playland. “There’s no merit to the lawsuit, either then or now,” he told APPEAL continued on page 11

In celebration of Earth Day, volunteers entered the Hommocks Conservation Area in Mamaroneck wielding gloves and garbage bags, prepared to commit two hours of their Saturday morning to picking up trash. The town of Mamaroneck has been organizing such an event for the last six years. The cleanups seek to both spruce up and show off the conservation area, which is located just beyond the Hommocks Middle School soccer fields. “I think it’s so important to get people out to even see the Hommocks Conservation Area,” Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson told the Review. “Most people don’t know it’s there.” At 10 a.m., on April 22, volunteers were greeted with a breakfast of granola bars and bananas donated by Trader Joe’s, and water bottles provided by Walgreens. Seligson estimated more than 40 people signed up for the event, consisting of students from Mamaroneck High School and Iona College, as well as members of the Mamaroneck community. Most of the participants opted to walk, carpool and ride their bikes to the event in the spirit of being eco-friendly. Participants were handed bags for recycling and garbage, and told to walk through the conservation, and along the grass near Hommocks Road to collect debris. “This is a very fun way to make an immediate difference in an important environmental area,”

Seligson said. The supervisor said that the event was the first of the bi-annual cleanup initiatives planned by the town this year. The second event is held on International Coastal Cleanup Day, Sept. 16, and is a day dedicated to collecting and removing trash from the oceans and other bodies of water. Patrick Lynch, an Iona College senior representing his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, at the event. Lynch said that it was important for Pi Kappa Phi to reclaim the growing negative connotation associated with fraternities by participating in community-based events. Lynch said that Pi Kappa Phi attends both annual cleanups each year. Dennis Fluet, a Mamaroneck resident, says that he’s been participating in the Hommocks cleanups for years as well. Fluet and his daughter, Arden, helped clean up the conservation in a way that didn’t involve picking up garbage. Instead, the pair was tasked with cutting and removing vines from trees that can otherwise cause structural damage to the trees and possibly kill them. Sofia Andrews, an AP Environmental Science teacher at Mamaroneck High School, encouraged her students to participate, believing that it’s important for students taking classes that promote environmentalism to experience such events. “It’s just part of a greater theme of being active in the community HOMMOCKS continued on page 7

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Daniel Warren students celebrate Earth Day In honor of Earth Day, Daniel Warren Elementary School students, who have been learning about the importance of recycling, conserving electricity and caring for their environment, were treated to a special performance by Bash the Trash musicians on April 19. During the performance, three musicians showed the students how they built instruments from

reused and repurposed materials such as plastic bottles, coffee cans, cardboard tubes, pipes and Styrofoam. They also demonstrated what sounds different objects make, and got the students to feel the vibrations on the floor, clap along and snap their fingers to the beat. “The limit is your imagination,” said musician John Bertles, who asked the students to promise to help keep our planet clean and find creative ways to “bash the trash.” Founded by Bertles and his wife Carina Piaggio in 1988, Bash the Trash combines science, music and environmental awareness through musical performances and programs. The duo brings their creative messages to schools, concert

halls and other performing venues. The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Rye Neck PTSA. Celine Dujeux, a member of the PTSA and chairperson of the STEAM committee, said the program not only provided entertainment to the students, but it also allowed them to experience how trash can be turned into something useful. “Children really see the correlation between the trash and music,” Dujeux said. “They love music, so it was a fun way for them to learn about a subject through music. Earth Day is all about making people aware of the concepts of reuse, recycle and reduce. It’s something that we all believe in.” (Submitted)

The Daniel Warren Elementary School students are encouraged to join in on the concert by clapping along to the beat.

Bash the Trashworks with more than 30 artists to create fun, interactive and educational performances. Contributed photos

Bash the Trash musicians performed with instruments made from reused and repurposed materials.

April 28, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 3

Recreation committee revives Tour de Larchmont By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter The village of Larchmont Recreation Committee will kick off National Bike Month and the addition of bike lanes to Larchmont Avenue by dusting off the Tour de Larchmont. The event, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m., will consist of bicycle decorating,

riding and safety tips, followed by a 1.5-mile bike ride through Constitution Park. “It’s a great event, it gets people out on their bikes,” said Carolyn Lee, co-chair of the Recreation Committee. Lee said that the last Tour de Larchmont took place in 2011. Since then, the event has been on hiatus due to lack of interest and funding.

Even though participation has varied in past years, Lee said that if the weather is nice, the committee is hoping for a turnout of 100 people. Jeff Shaffer, chief pedal officer at Westchester Bike Camp, and a certified instructor under the Adventure Cycling Association, will kick off the event by discussing bicycle safety techniques. “It’s all about having fun and

being safe,” Shaffer said. Shaffer explained that for the past four years he’s combined his interest in coaching and cycling into teaching children, teens and adults cycling at Westchester Bike Camp, which offers one-onone bike riding lessons as well as training for more long-term cycling rides. Shaffer is passionate about bike safety, and says that helmets should fit snuggly, with two fingers worth of space between a person’s eyebrows and the beginning

The Tour de Larchmont is a 1.5-mile bike ride through Constitution Park. Photo courtesy Flickr.com

of the helmet. “I see lots of people with helmets way back on their head,” he said. “People fall forwards, so you need to protect your forehead, that’s the strike zone.” The Tour de Larchmont will also coincide with the introduction of the Skull Patrol, a program sponsored by the village Recreation Committee and the Larchmont Chamber 10538 who have partnered with the Larchmont Police Department. There will be police officers on bikes throughout Larchmont that will be giving out tickets to children who are using their helmets properly. Those tickets can then be exchanged for a reward, including pizza, candy or a small toy. Lee explained that after a child exchanges a ticket, he or she will be entered in a raffle for a new bike; the winner will be chosen in September. Miller’s Bike Shop and Caldwell Banker Residential Brokerage have agreed to donate bikes for the raffle. Walter’s Hot Dog truck will be on hand selling food to participants of the Tour de Larchmont, and DJ Joe Tribuzio will provide music. There is no registration necessary and those interested are encouraged to just show up. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

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What’s going on... Mamaroneck Public Library

in session. This program follows the Mamaroneck school district schedule.

Cinco de Mayo celebration

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.

On Friday, May 5 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Join the library in the Children’s Room for an all ages special Cinco de Mayo celebration. Join in for stories, songs and a craft. Guacamole and tortilla chips will be served. No registration required. If your child has a food allergy, please let the library know. Viernes, 5 de mayo de 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Únase con nosotros en el Salón de Niños para una celebración especial para todas las edades para el Cinco de Mayo. Cuentos, canciones y una artesanía. ¡Guacamole y chips de tortilla se sirve! No se requiere registro. Si su hijo tiene una alergia a los alimentos, por favor avísenos.

Larchmont Public Library

Bilingual Storytime / Hora del cuento bilingüe On Mondays 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 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.

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

Stars of the Sea for Tots

English Conversation Group

On Monday, May 1 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Children’s Room. Naturalist Kyle Troy will visit the library with harbor animals for preschool children to see and touch. There will also be sea-themed songs and stories, and short puppet skits. Please call 630-5894 to register.

On Tuesdays, May 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Village Center. Online registration required. Intermediate speakers of English will improve their speaking and comprehension skills in this free series of interactive sessions with state certified ESL teacher, Janice Towers.

Math Help for Teens

Great Courses: Turning Points in American History

On Mondays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Teen Library. Math Help follows the Mamaroneck school district schedule. If the schools are closed, there will be no sessions. Call the Teen Library at 630-5875 for further details.

Teacher in the Library On Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Children’s Room. Free homework help for children in grades K–5 when school is

a brief discussion period. On May 4, the topics will be “1831: The Righteous Crusade – Abolition” and “1844: What’s New? The Communication Revolution.”

Stories & Crafts: Hocus Pocus On Thursday, May 4 from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For ages 5 to 7. Online registration required. Abracadabra! Today’s storytime is all about magic. Listen to some magical tales and then make your own disappearing rabbit craft.

Petite Concert with Chi Chi Bestmann On Friday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. For children up to age 5. Online registration required. Come enjoy a quality musician without having to worry about having Carnegie Hall manners. Your child will hear a classical music performance from a woman who has performed Mozart in Carnegie Hall and jammed with rapper Jay Z at Radio City Music Hall.

Battle of the Books open meeting

On Thursday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Village Center. No registration required. Turning Points in American History is your chance to relive the most powerful and groundbreaking moments in the fascinating story of the United States of America. These DVD lectures present a captivating and comprehensive tour of those particular moments in the story of America, after which the nation would never be the same again. After each lecture, there will be

She’s not crazy, her name just rhymes with it. Read Lenore Skenazy’s column every week in the Review. A past contributor to the Daily News and the New York Sun, Skenazy has also appeared on “The Daily Show,” been profiled in the New Yorker and even had her own reality TV show, “World’s Worst Mom.”

On Friday, May 5 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. For children entering grades 4–6 in September. Online registration required. Battle of the Books is a book-based trivia tournament for kids in Westchester County. This year, the Larchmont Public Library will again form a team for children in grades 4–6. If you are interested in being part of the team, come to the meeting to learn more. Being part of Battle of the Books takes commitment; parents are encouraged to attend as well.

Ryder’s Garden opening party On Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in Ryder’s Garden. For all ages. Online registration required. Come celebrate National Herb Day with the library with a garden party. There will be crafts, planting and an unveiling of the new water table.

Woman’s Club of Mamaroneck The next monthly meeting of the Woman’s Club of Mamaroneck will be held on Tuesday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the clubhouse, 504 Cortlandt Ave. in Mamaroneck. The speaker for the evening will be a psychotherapist who will present a program on mental health issues. New members are always welcome. If you are interested in joining the club, leave a message at 698-9749.

State Board of Elections news Campaign finance seminar The New York State Board of Elections, NYSBOE, will host a campaign finance seminar for Westchester County on Wednesday, May 3. The seminar will include a presentation on campaign financial disclosure requirements as defined in New York State Election Law. Conducted by NYSBOE’s

Compliance Unit, this seminar is designed to assist candidates and committees in understanding the law and the disclosure process. Members of the media and the public are welcome. Certified public accountants who pre-register and attend can receive three Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits. The seminar, which is free of charge, is held in partnership with the county board of elections. The information for the seminar is as follows: Wednesday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas St. in White Plains. Tel.: 995-5700. Those interested in attending the seminar may register on the NYSBOE website at elections.ny.gov.

Westchester County news Register for children’s summer camps Registration is open for Westchester County Parks’ popular summer camps for children and young people. Online registration is available at parks.westchestergov. com/activities/childrens-camps. For more information on any of the programs, visit the aforementioned website or call 231-4673, unless stated otherwise. Perfect Pitch and Swing Baseball Camp, for ages 8 to 12, at V.E. Macy Park in Ardsley. Slam Dunk Basketball Camp, for grades 3–9, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. Girls Volleyball Camp, for grades 6–12, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. Challenger Sports Soccer Camp, for grades 1–9, at V.E. Macy Park, Ardsley. For more information, call 714-8601 or visit challengersports.com. Hole-in-One Junior Golf Camp, for ages 10 to 17, at the county courses: Dunwoodie and Sprain Lake, Yonkers; Hudson Hills, Ossining; Maple Moor, White Plains; Mohansic, Yorktown Heights; and Saxon Woods, Scarsdale. Children’s Summer Ecology Program, for grades 1–9, at Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains; Marshlands Conservancy, Rye; and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River. Conservationists in Training, for grades 7–9, at Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains, and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River. Muscoot Wranglers, for ages 4 and 5, and Muscoot Young Farmers, for grades 1–8, at Muscoot Farm, Katonah. For more information, call 864-7282. Summer Music Center, for grades 3–12, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. 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.

@ mamaroneckview

April 28, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 5

Savor Westchester rebrands luxury mall

Savor Westchester, slated to open this month, will offer shoppers at The Westchester mall a much-needed food court upgrade. Rendering courtesy Simon Property Group

By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor The food court at The Westchester mall has finally been upgraded, with Savor Westchester set to open by the end of the month. The new and improved fourth floor of the luxury mall will feature six trendy eateries, all the first locations of their kinds in Westchester County. Paula Kelliher, director of marketing at The Westchester, owned by the Simon Property Group, said that the new food court was part of a multi-million dollar renovation of the mall. “What we realistically tried to do was make Level 4 more of an experience for our guests,” she said, referring to the old dining options as “a food court of the ‘80s.” The Westchester is a considered a luxury destination, therefore it was

fitting to have the food court reflect that, according to Kelliher. “We felt that we owed it to our guests to really enhance and provide a new dining destination,” she said. There will be six new eateries, most of them from Manhattan with one coming from Connecticut. They were chosen through numerous visits to New York City to places that were considered “glamorous dining destinations,” Kelliher said, which were not in Westchester County. Bluestone Lane Coffee hops onto the trend of Australian-style coffee and café fare. Juice Generation will offer shoppers fresh and cold-pressed juices, smoothies and vegan food. Tomato & Co. is located in Milford, Connecticut, and will offer Neapolitan-style pizza. Mighty Quinn’s BBQ prides itself on being familiar

yet unique at the same time. Whitman’s offers burgers and seasonal fare that is locally sourced. And, coming this summer, Westchester County will have its first sushi burrito location with the opening of Hai Street Kitchen & Co. Savor Westchester will seat 350 patrons and will also feature an outdoor dining patio with a fireplace, which overlooks Tibbits Park that runs along North Broadway and Westchester Avenue in downtown White Plains. “It’s probably the first time that a consumer would actually see part of [the downtown] in a way they’ve never seen it before,” Kelliher said. Savor Westchester started this process by evaluating the whole property, with renovations beginning in February 2016. “While [the mall’s] structure looked amazing, investing in the property was a winwin for our retailers and our consumers,” Kelliher said. The goal was for The Westchester as a whole to be an experience. The eateries will also share the fourth floor with the new CONNECT lounge, which offers nine flat-screen TVs showing sports, news and entertainment along with complimentary iPads and charging stations; and the 2,300-squarefoot, interactive, educational PLAY area that incorporates STEAM

principles. Both amenities opened last December. “You always want to be trendiest and the most up-to-the-moment in what you present to the public,” Kelliher said. One shopper, Susan Esposito, mentioned that the old food court didn’t have anything new or current. “It didn’t have many options and became a haunted floor,” she said. “I don’t really go there, but maybe with healthier options, it will draw more people to it.” Another shopper, Kerween Gutman, felt the same way about the “outdated” Level 4. “I’m so happy, I have two kids and sometimes they want to go to the food court and at least they could pick something,” she said about Savor Westchester. “I’m really going to go and check it out.” Kelliher pointed out the residential development taking place in White Plains, especially on Bank Street and Maple Avenue, as a catalyst for The Westchester’s recent renovations. “You want to capture all these residents by providing them with a great place to shop,” she said. “White Plains has invested quite a lot into this redevelopment [of the city].” The Westchester already has three restaurants on its premises: Café Nordstrom, Mariposa and P.F. Chang’s, with Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Godiva and Starbucks stores. For more information on Savor

At a glance Beginning this month, Savor Westchester will offer six new dining options Bluestone Lane Coffee offers Australian-style coffee and café fare Juice Generation offers vegan food, juices and smoothies Tomato & Co. is a Neapolitan-style pizzeria Whitman’s offers burgers and locally sourced, seasonal ingredients Mighty Quinn’s BBQ offers fast-casual food Hai Street Kitchen & Co. will open this summer, offering the county’s first sushi burrito location

Westchester and the mall, visit simon.com/mall/the-westchester. -With reporting by Courtney Raguso

CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

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Mamaroneck THE

REVIEW

170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000

Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com

Christian Falcone

Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | James Pero ext. 20, james@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lynne Starr ext. 29, lynne@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers Corey Stockton, Franco Fino Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Jen Parente

Reverend’s daughter captures father’s legacy

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter Sarah Bowen, the daughter of a late reverend, is working to spread the teachings of her father through a collection of his sermons that have since become her book, “Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through My Father’s Old Sermons.” Bowen’s father, Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Murdoch, was a senior pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church for 10 years. During his time in Rye, Murdoch was involved with the Rye Youth Council, the Rye Nature Center and the Rye Interfaith Housing Corp. Dan Love, a co-pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church, worked alongside Murdoch from 1997 to 2004. “[Murdoch] was always looking for a way to reach out beyond the church, beyond the city of Rye to do good for people,” he said. After he died of cancer in 2004, Bowen was given her father’s sermons by the church. Bowen said

that she had boxes full of manila folders containing 1,500 of her father’s teachings from 1967 to 2004. When Bowen, 46, first received the sermons, she wasn’t sure what to do with them. “I was afraid that reading my father’s sermons might make me miss him more than I already did,” Bowen said. It would take her five years until she was ready. “I missed my dad,” she told the Review, “and I thought, well maybe I’ll read these, and I’ll see what happens.” While reading the sermons, Bowen said she felt as if she was having a conversation with him about his work. “Amazingly, it helped me feel connected to him and heal much of my pain,” she said. After finishing his works, Bowen felt the sermons needed to be transformed into a book. With the encouragement of her sister, she embarked on making that idea come to life. Bowen was 37 when she began working on her book.

Columnist Lenore Skenazy

Letters The community’s opinion matters. If you have a view to express, write a letter to the editor by email to chris@hometwn.com. Please include a phone number and name for verification purposes. Community Events If you have an event you would like to share with the community, send it to news@hometwn.com. Delivery For home delivery or to subsribe, call (914) 653-1000 x27. Classifieds & Legals To post your notices or listings, call (914) 653-1000 x27. Postmaster Send address changes to: The Mamaroneck Review c/o HomeTown Media Group, 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Visit us online www.mamaroneckreview.com

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Sarah Bowen explores her father’s sermons and her own religious journey in her book, “Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through My Father’s Old Sermons.” Photo courtesy Facebook.com/Voidifdetached

She compiled more than 50 of her father’s sermons that she felt people of all religious faiths could relate to. “These are the ones that will appeal to people regardless of whether they happen to be Baptist, Jewish or atheist,” she said. Since the book was released in December 2016, Bowen has become a gold medalist for the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards under the “religion” category. The book is available online from Barnes and Noble, Amazon and in stores at Arcade Booksellers in Rye. The book’s name was inspired by one of her father’s sermons. The sermon discusses how with the assistance of God’s power, people are able to accomplish great things. Murdoch tells the story of a doctor who believes that God didn’t give him his ability to heal the sick, but he does believe that God gave him the tools he would need to learn how to help them. When Bowen was 14 years old, she felt herself begin to detach from her religious upbringing. “I didn’t want to be thought of as the square preacher’s kid,” she said. When she was growing up, her father never told her that she had to believe in the things he would preach about. Bowen explained that she had “a lot of room for self-expression.” The religious journey she went on while writing the book, brought back fond memories. Bowen said that her father never really looked like a Christian preacher, so it confused people when they found out what his profession was. “He was just a really funny, social guy who would help anybody out and was just so caring,” she said. Murdoch received his B.A. in history with a minor in English at Furman University. His studies led him to become interested in the link between history and religion. Bowen said her father was interested in civil rights issues like the Fair Housing Movement and stopping segregation in neighborhoods. “My father worked all the time to try and make communities stronger,” she said. A prominent member of the Rye community, having served at Rye Presbyterian Church from 1994 to 2004, Murdoch was the recipient of the prestigious Rye Commission on Human Rights Award in 2004. He received the award because of his position as a pastor which led

Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Murdoch was a senior pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy Sarah Bowen

him to create a religious dialogue amongst people of different faiths. Murdoch also has an award in his name that was created after his death by members of the Rye Presbyterian Church. The Dick Murdoch Legacy Award is presented at the Rye Youth Council Scholarship Awards Breakfast along with a college scholarship every year to a high school senior. “We were looking for a way to honor his memory,” Love said about how the award came to be. The award is given to a student who is working to better oneself at whatever they’re pursuing. The student has to have a clear vision for their future by becoming accepting and open to new opportunities. Bowen, who lived in Rye for just under two years, travels back to the city from her current home in Rhinebeck, New York, every year to present the award. “Rye was a very welcoming community, and I still have strong ties,” she said. Since rediscovering her interest for religion, Bowen has begun focusing on animal chaplaincy, by providing grief counseling for those who have lost a pet, are able to perform animal blessings, and can speak at pet funerals. Bowen writes in a blog post that when she was growing up, she would bring home dead animals she found because she felt they needed a proper burial. “I want to have a bigger impact,” she said. Bowen, who now says her relationship is continuing to expand, is also working to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a reverend herself. “Focusing on the deep truths that are the foundation of all religions, rather than harping on our differences, is where I want to be,” she said. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

April 28, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 7 HOMMOCKS from page 1

From left, Connor Menzel and Emilio Fernandez, freshmen at Mamaroneck High School, collect cans from throughout the Hommocks Conservation Area on April 22. Photo/Taylor Brown

and to know your back yard,” she said. The items collected were picked up by the town’s Sanitation Department and brought to the

waste facility on Maxwell Avenue. Sue Odierna, sustainability coordinator for the town of Mamaroneck, said that the town collected

approximately 300 pounds of trash and recyclables. The cleanup was the first of two that day. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

Review honored for moratorium reporting The Review’s James Pero took home an honorable mention for his reporting on the residential development concerns in the village of Larchmont and town of Mamaroneck that arose last year. Pero grabbed “In-Depth Reporting” honors at the New York Press Association’s Spring Convention and Better Newspaper Contest Awards, an annual gathering of weekly news publications. The convention, which took place April 8 and 9 in Saratoga Springs, New York, brought togetherindustry professionals from all across the state. In covering the storyline, Pero authored 10 stories focusing on growing opposition to residential development, which started in Larchmont and quickly bleed into Mamaroneck. Ultimately, such opposition led to lengthy moratoriums on residential building in both communities, and reworking of zoning laws in an effort to better maintain each community’s character while also attempting to preserve its history. “In-Depth Reporting” is often one of the most competitive categories awarded. In selecting Pero’s work, the judge said, “Good solid reporting throughout. The March story comparing the issue in two cities, along with coverage of draft legislation, helped rescue it from meeting coverage.” -Review staff

Consistent coverage, like this Jan. 15, 2016 issue, of the residential development concerns in the village of Larchmont and town of Mamaroneck received recognition at the New York Press Association’s annual awards contest earlier this month.

8 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • April 28, 2017

In debate, county executive candidates rally Democrats

State Sen. George Latimer said in his 30-year political career he has never seen so many people come out in April to show interest for a November election. The pews at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church were filled on April 23, as potential voters watched the two Democratic candidates. Photos/Andrew Dapolite

County Legislator Ken Jenkins called incumbent County Executive Rob Astorino, “Trump-light,” a message echoed by Bruce Campbell, moderator and member of the Up & Up Action Initiative, one of eight grassroots community activist groups which put together the forum.

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer CROTON-ON-HUDSON— Two Democrats vying for the office of Westchester County executive addressed a church full of potential voters on Sunday, discussing their plans to unseat Republican incumbent Rob Astorino and urging them to participate in November’s election. County Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat, and state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, took aim at Astorino—who has held the county’s top office since 2010—hoping to invigorate a Democratic Party still reeling from the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. And even though Democrats in Westchester outnumber Republican voters by 2-1, Astorino has already prevailed twice at the polls. His two potential challengers have already begun debating the issues in various communities ahead of a May 10 Democratic nominating convention to pick the party’s candidate. Both Democrats challenged the county executive’s reputation for passing seven consecutive budgets in which taxes have been cut or remained flat, calling his budget practices shortsighted and irresponsible, and often comparing him to President Donald Trump.

“Rob Astorino wants to run on taxes, taxes and taxes,” Jenkins, 55, said, adding that social services and long-term budgeting practices suffer as a result of flat tax rates. Jenkins said the only time the county truly cut taxes was when he was chairman of the Board of Legislators, from 2010 to 2013. Latimer added that seven years of no tax increases would likely set Westchester up for future financial hardship. “What we’re seeing now is an ideological approach that says, ‘We are going to do anything in order to put forth no tax increase,’” the senator said. Both candidates also chastised Astorino for the way his administration has operated the county Human Rights Commission. Latimer, who during his lengthy political career was chairman of the Board of Legislators when the commission was first instituted in the 1990s, said that it was created to allow residents to report instances of discrimination without going through the state system. “The [Republican] party’s moved so far to the right, they can’t even accept anti-discrimination efforts in the Human Rights Commission,” Latimer, 63, said, adding that as county executive he would fire everyone currently on the commission and employ a new team. Meanwhile, Jenkins said he was

responsible for saving the commission from being disbanded. Jenkins added that while he has been on the Board of Legislators, the board has overridden 260 of 267 vetoes made by Astorino. One of those overrides stopped the county executive from eliminating the commission altogether. But Jenkins lamented that the commission, now full of Astorino political appointees, is not acting proactively as it was intended to, lacks a full-time executive director and added that he would work to re-establish advocacy offices for minority groups, which, he said, have also been marginalized under the Astorino administration. “We will reimplement the offices of advocacy and make sure that we stand up for the people’s rights in Westchester County,” he said to a packed house. Although the two candidates agreed on most issues, pitting themselves against the Republican incumbent, the biggest difference in philosophy between the two centered on the results of the party’s nominating convention at the County Center. Latimer, now serving in his third term as senator, renewed his intention to honor the results of the nominating convention, saying that if he does not receive the nomination, he will throw his support behind the nominee. “If Ken is the

nominee, I’m going to put the same energy into retail on his behalf as I would on my own behalf,” he said. The senator added that he thought it would be harmful to the party’s unity and fundraising to force a September primary, and suggested that the Republican Party could manipulate the primary process to damage the Democrats. “The cause is more important than the career,” Latimer said. Conversely, Jenkins, who bowed out of the 2013 race for county executive after losing the nomination to New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson—who was soundly defeated by Astorino in the general election—said that he will petition for a primary if the party does not back him this time around. He added that he wants his nomination to come from the people he would represent as the county executive, not necessarily the district leaders responsible for choosing a nominee. “If I am not the winner of that primary that came from the people— from the voters—we will be locked hand in hand,” he said, referencing his support for Latimer in such a scenario. Whichever candidate ultimately takes on Astorino in the general election will be shorthanded in a financial race against the county executive, who reported a $2.5 million campaign fund balance in January. Latimer, who

estimated that his Republican opponent could raise as much as $4 million by November, said he has had experience winning against financially superior campaigns. In 2012, in his first race for Senate, Latimer ran against Bob Cohen, of New Rochelle, who spent approximately $4 million during the campaign. The organizers had originally planned to also host state Assemblyman Thomas Abananti, a Greenburgh Democrat who had considered running. According to Bruce Campbell, the debate moderator, Abananti pulled out of the event after withdrawing from the race. David Spano, the son of former County Executive Andy Spano, has also announced plans to seek the Democratic nomination. Spano, however, was not invited to participate. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

April 28, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 9

Astorino vows no tax hikes in address By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer In his annual State of the County Address, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino renewed his promise not to raise county taxes, instead pointing to three private partnerships. “Government is limited to the amount of capital and expertise it has on hand,” Astorino, a Republican, said in his address on April 20. “So we have looked to entrepreneurs to join us in public-private partnerships, and there is significant progress to report.” Astorino vowed in his eighth address as county executive that for as long as he holds the county’s top political position, he would maintain his seven-year trend of not raising taxes, adding that in order to keep that promise, the county has had to be imaginative. “You also need to grow revenues,” he said. “And if it’s not going to be taxes—and it’s not—you have to look somewhere else.” Over the last several years, that governing philosophy has led the county to look at longterm property leases with private companies as a source of that revenue. Earlier this month, Astorino and the Democrat-led Board of Legislators unanimously agreed to sign 60 acres of county property—known as the North 60—to Fareri Associates for 99 years. Fareri plans to convert that property into a $1.2 billion biotech center, amounting to the largest public-private partnership in Westchester history. In his address, the county executive reiterated the anticipated benefits of the project: $9 million

in new real estate taxes, $7 million per year in rent, and 12,000 full-time and temporary jobs. And he repeated a statement from last year’s address: that the North 60 development would help position Westchester alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Silicon Valley as a leader in innovation. But other Astorino plans to lease county property have faced significant opposition from county lawmakers. In November, the county executive announced plans to lease Westchester Airport to a private company for 40 years through a program run by the Federal Aviation Administration. Astorino said that participating in the program would allow the county to sidestep a federal law which requires that all revenue generated at the airport gets reinvested back into the airport; and he estimated that Westchester could generate at least $140 million in revenue from the airport deal that could be used for other areas of the county. Discussing the potential lease during his address, Astorino said, “The idea is to create a long-term revenue stream so that money is coming into the county’s budget for decades to come.” But lawmakers scrutinized Astorino for trying to forego a bidding process when initially presenting the plan to lease the airport property to Oaktree Capital Management, an investment management firm. “There was no way that the Board of Legislators would approve a deal of that scope and duration without first requesting bids from other operators,” said Board of Legisla-

Key Speakers ──── Parenting & Drug Expert Mike Nerney, former Director of the National Drug Research Institute

YOU CAN’T STOP WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW Your Child, Drugs and Our Community This evening will enlighten, educate and armor you with 21st century solutions and skills, to help you navigate the potentially deadly world of drugs. Please join us on

Tuesday, May 9 at 7:30pm PACE Auditorium, Mamaroneck High School

──── First hand Parent Account from “A Drug Crisis in Our Backyard” ──── Q&A ──── Learn About Local Resources in our Community

“Since no good deed goes unpunished, some people say it’s now time to raise taxes,” said Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in his annual address. “I say no.” Astorino is pictured embracing his mother prior to giving his State of the County address on April 20. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

tors Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a moderate Democrat from Yorktown, in his response to Astorino’s address. Democratic Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, of Ossining, further criticized the county executive in the Democratic response to Astorino’s State of the County address, calling the initial airport deal a shortsighted solution to “his own fiscal mismanagement.” She also criticized the Astorino administration for embracing the values of President Donald Trump, a common theme amongst Westchester Democrats and likely to be a focal point of this year’s county executive race. As a result of the lawmakers’ push, the county is now accepting bids; and it is expected to make a final approval in the fall. The partnership that seems to be the furthest along is the leasing out of the county-owned Rye Playland amusement park, an agreement Astorino touted as an example of successful corporate partnerships. He said the plan to lease and renovate the park, initiated in 2014, is nearing fruition. “Shovels are in the ground; and while the work is going on, Playland will be up and running on May 13 for its 89th season,” he said. As part of the 30-year lease with Standard Amusements signed in May 2016, Westchester and Standard will invest a total of $60 million into the park for capital improvements. The county will collect an increasing portion of Standard’s profits over the lease’s period. Westchester recently cleared a final hurdle in the deal, winning a court decision against the city of Rye, which sued the coun-

ty for cutting the city out of the decision. Meanwhile, the county executive has his own lawsuit in the works. He repeated his criticism of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to close the Indian Point Energy Center by 2021. Cuomo, a Democrat, announced the upcoming closure in February; and earlier this month, Astorino asked the Board of Legislators to back him in a lawsuit against Cuomo for not conducting a review of the environmental and economic consequences of the shutdown. In his address, Astorino reiterated his call for the board’s approval; specifically, that of the board’s Democrats. “There is no excuse not to support it,” he said. “This isn’t about whether Indian Point closes; it’s about how it closes.” Kaplowitz previously said that the board would not back the suit, calling it “dead on arrival.” For board approval, the lawsuit would need to acquire at least one Democratic vote, as Democrats hold a one-seat majority on the Board of Legislators. Early in his address, Astorino made a plea for bipartisanship in the county in a time of increasingly hostile political dialogue. “No single individual, group or party has a monopoly on the best ideas and the right way to run things,” he said after referencing the contentious 2016 presidential election which has started to bleed into Westchester politics. “Westchester works best when we work together.” CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

PRESENTED BY L-M RADAR Mayor Rosenblum’s Drug Committee The Local Summit & The L/M League of Women Voters And The Mamaroneck Schools

Web Address Dates and Times

Connect with us on @linkedin.com/company/hometown-media

10 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • April 28, 2017

May 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

May Day National Cancer Research Month AP exams start

Larchmont Planning Board 8 p.m., Village Center

WEDNESDAY

Grs. 3–8 math tests start Marine Edu. Center Committee 6:15 p.m., Regatta Conf. Room

Mamaroneck school board 7 p.m., MHS VOM architecture board 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

VOM trustee work session 5:30 p.m., Courtroom

Larchmont trustee work session 6:30 p.m., Village Hall VOM trustee meeting 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

National Teacher Appreciation Day

VOM Ethics Board 7:30 p.m., Regatta Conf. Room Your Child, Drugs and Our Community 7:30 p.m., MHS Larchmont Traffic Commission 8 p.m., Village Hall

Mother’s Day

Mamaroneck & Rye Neck schools budget votes

VOM Tree Committee 7:30 p.m., Regatta Conf. Room Larchmont trustee meeting 7:30 p.m., Village Hall

MHS science research symposium 7 p.m.

VOM trustee work session 5:30 p.m., Courtroom

Rye Neck school board 9 a.m., RNMS/HS Comm. Room TOM board meeting 8 p.m., Town Center Orienta Point Association 8 p.m., Courtroom Larchmont zoning board 8:15 p.m., Village Hall

World Lupus Day

Rye Neck Grs. K–5 Art Show 6 p.m., Bellows Auditorium VOM Planning Board 7 p.m., Courtroom

Padres Unidos meeting 7 p.m., HOM

Memorial Day, all schools and government offices closed

Tour de Larchmont 2 p.m., Constitution Park

HOM Gr. 7 parents meeting 11:35 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. VOM traffic board 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

HOM to MHS transition for parents in Spanish 6:30 p.m., MHS

TOM board meeting 8 p.m., Town Center

VOM architecture board 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

Rye Neck school board 7 p.m., RNMS/HS Library

Rye Neck High School Awards Ceremony 8:45 a.m. Rye Neck Junior/Senior Prom 7 p.m.

Shavuot begins

AP exams end

MAS Mother’s Day Plant Sale

VOM annual Clean Up Day rain date 9 a.m., Harbor Island Park MUR Spring Fair 11 a.m.

F. E. Bellows Book Fair 8:30 a.m., F.E. Bellows MHS Talks

Armed Forces Day

Westchester County mobile shredder 10 a.m., Maxwell Avenue

MHS Awards Assembly 7:30 p.m.

VOM environment committee 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

Kentucky Derby

VOM zoning board 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

VOM Budget committee 7:30 p.m., Regatta Conf. Room

VOM flood mitigation 7:30 p.m., Regatta

SAT exams

HOM Gr. 6 parents meeting 11:35 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.

VOM parks commission 7:30 p.m., Harbor Island Park

VOM annual Clean Up Day 9 a.m., Harbor Island Park

Mamaroneck school board 7 p.m., MHS

HOM Gr. 5 parents meeting 11:35 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Cinco de Mayo

SATURDAY

Larchmont environment committee 9 a.m., Village Hall

Harbor & Coastal Zone Management Commission 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

VOM trustee meeting 7:30 p.m., Courtroom

Grs. 3–8 math tests end

FRIDAY

VOM arts council 7 p.m., Regatta Conf. Room

Larchmont trustee work session 6:30 p.m., Village Hall

School House Open & Demonstration 1 p.m., Harbor Island Park

THURSDAY

MHS Senior Seminar Day 8:30 a.m. VOM Planning Board 7 p.m., Courtroom

PACE Performing Arts Festival 7 p.m. Larchmont architecture board 8 p.m., Village Center

Ramadan begins

April 28, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 11 APPEAL from page 1

the Review. “The court’s decision was a decisive victory for the county and it’s not going to change. Westchesteris continuing to move forward on Playland.” City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican, said that the city looks to change the dynamic between parties, giving the city a more active say in the park’s future. “We would like to be more involved going forward and have advanced notice of what’s going on at the park,” said Killian, who was the only councilmember not to back the notice of appeal after abstaining from the vote. “I feel confident that we’ll figure something out.” According to Killian, Rye is seeking to give itself more authority over an upcoming round of capital projects at the amusement park. Specifically, she said, the council will look to mitigate any impacts on traffic and ill effects on neighboring residences. “What happens with overflow parking?” Killian asked. “It makes sense that Rye would be involved with that and that our police commissioner would be more involved with that.” While construction of $60 million in capital projects—which materialized as a result of a management agreement struck last year between the county and Stan-

dard Amusements, an investment firm—have yet to start, Rye could also seek to file an injunction to indefinitely halt any progress of that work. The decision to file an injunction, however, could only come after the construction on the projects is underway. Wilson said that an injunction is always on the table, but for the time being, the city will move to negotiate any concerns over Playland out of court. “Right now we’re just trying to resolve any future litigation,” she said. Looming litigation between Rye and the county over Playland harkens back to a failed deal to transfer the management of Playland to Sustainable Playland Inc. in 2014. Eventually, due to growing scrutiny of an 87,000-squarefoot field house in the Playland parking lot, which sits adjacent to Rye’s Ryan Park neighborhood, Sustainable Playland walked away from the deal with the county. Despite posturing, the 2014 feud never reached actual litigation. A deal between Standard Amusements and the county will see the injection of $30 million from both parties and will last for 30 years. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

After the March rejection of an Article 78 over the environmental review of $60 million in capital projects at Rye Playland, the Rye City Council will position itself to file a future appeal against Westchester County. File photo

12 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • April 28, 2017

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April 28, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 13

Is bottled water really safer? RHYMES WITH CRAZY

Lenore Skenazy

Charming, handsome and homeless, the 25-year-old we’ll call Bruce and I were eating dinner at the small downtown shelter where I volunteer once a month. We were both enjoying the pasta provided by another volunteer, but only one of us was drinking a $3 bottle of water. “WHAT?” I exclaimed when Bruce told me how much he’d paid for the bottle he’d bought earlier that day. “How can you possibly spend that much on water? How can anyone? Tap water is FREE!” Bruce just started an $11 an hour job in Brooklyn. He’s got to save up for a room, and taking out $3 chunks for a liquid that flows freely just doesn’t make sense... to me. But to him? It’s vital. “This water is safe,” he said, picking up his bottle. “So is water from the sink,” said I. His friend, a young woman who is also in the workforce and also homeless (never assume that homeless = not working) stood up for him. “The water from the tap has all sorts of chemicals in it.” “The water in bottles IS tap water!” an older shelter guest chimed in, laughing heartily. Bruce just shrugged. “I got to stay healthy.” So allow me, as a public service, to ask the questions that need answers, beginning with: Is bottled water really better for us than tap? “In general, the municipal water supply of any given area has more rigorous environmental standards and controls than the water supplies used by private bottlers,” said Richard Murdocco, a local columnist who writes on urban planning issues and has worked with environmental and housing groups. What’s more, the water Bruce was dissing—New York City’s—is not just ANY hometown’s H2O. It’s a roaring, rushing paragon of purity, said Murdocco. “The water supply is so pure that it went unfiltered for decades until federal law mandated New York City filter the water, a move city officials thought was unnecessary.” So why are people afraid of it? For starters, because bad news always gets more attention than—yawwwwwwn—anything that’s fine. “Headlines [are] about bad tap water, especially in locations like Flint, Michigan,” said Jacob Hatch, author of the Hydration

Anywhere blog. People remember fuzzy factoids about plastics and pipes and toxins and leaching, but, “In general, water quality is something people know little about,” Hatch said. With so much quasi-info floating around, we THINK we heard something terrible about something, not quite sure what, and we not only believe it’s true, we believe it’s going to kill us all right here, right now. In point of fact, Hatch continued, studies show that “bottled water is not, on average, any cleaner or safer to drink than tap water.” Where bottled and tap are NOT equal is when it comes to polluting. Producing a bottle of water actually uses about six times more water than is contained in the bottle itself. And THEN there’s the energy used to make the bottle, label the bottle, fill the bottle, transport the bottle (sometimes across entire oceans) and shelve the bottle. Then there’s the energy WE burn driving to and from the store to schlep the bottles home. What’s more, 80 percent of the 50 BILLION plastic water bottles purchased in the U.S. every year do not end up recycled. Off they go to landfill. (More schlepping.) “So if you need the convenience of a water bottle,” I said to Bruce, “or if you love that particular bottle, at least reuse it. Just fill it with more water tomorrow.” Oh no, no, no, no, came the reply. “Refill it and the plastic breaks down and gets into your blood.” “That’s patently untrue,” says Michael Cervin, author of “Our World of Water: The Good, the Bad & and the Ugly of Earth’s Most Critical Resource,” and blogger at This World of Water. If you are using the same bottle for years and years, Cervin said, then yes, it can start wearing out, the way Tupperware gets tired after 10 or 15 years. But refilling it for weeks on end is no threat to anyone’s health, so long as you wash the bottle out with soap and water from time to time. Remember, Cervin added, we’re not EATING the bottle, “we’re merely using it as a vessel to consume a beverage.” I didn’t have all this info at my fingertips at the shelter, but I did have some sheets of paper, so I taught Bruce and his friend how to make an origami cup the next time they’re thirsty and don’t want to spend $3. They we filled the cups with tap water, toasted to better times and drank deep. Somehow, all three of us survived.

Forks, Corks & Cocktails is back Björn & Company will kick off the summer season with the fourth annual Forks, Corks & Cocktails—a food, wine and cocktails event serving the LGBTQ community of Westchester and Lower Hudson Valley—taking place on Friday, May 5 from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Westchester, located at 3 Renaissance Square in White Plains. Voted The Best LGBTQ Initiative by Westchester Magazine, the lineup is set and the talented chefs are eager to #GetForkd. Returning to Forks, Corks & Cocktails 2017 are Polpettina, Cedar Street Grill, The Dessertist, Roc-n-Ramen, Coriander Modern Indian, Mason Sandwich Co., and more. Björn & Company is also excited to welcome BLT Steak, DeCicco & Sons, Simply Hailee, and the Food Network show “Cooks vs. Cons” contender Chef Jessica Woodford to the family of chefs and vendors, among many more. Seasonal wines sponsored by Via OneHope Wine and Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, and cocktails are sponsored by the award winning Anestasia Vodka and beverage partner Voss Water. The range of talent and cuisine is very exciting for event founder and creative director of Björn & Company. “This is our fourth year and the level of support has been overwhelming. This truly is a community event,” he said. With just a week until the big night, Björn VW promises more announcements to be made. “We are working with sponsors to create an amazing experience for everyone, especially some extra treats for those choosing a VIP experience.” All guests will be treated to a walkaround tasting, highlighting local restaurants with food from more than a dozen chefs, seasonal cocktails, and wines, all while mingling and dancing to some great DJ-powered music. This evening is one

for the food enthusiasts of New York. All are welcome to attend. Attendees must be ages 21 and up, and be dressed to impress. Sponsorship opportunities are still available and more announcements are on their way in the coming days. Björn & Company promises a full sensory experience and perfect night for the LGBTQ community to eat, drink, and party. Look for #GetForkd on social media to stay upto-date. General admission tickets are $75 and VIP tickets are $125. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit getforkdny.com or call Björn & Company at 646524-6342. (Submitted)

Mamaroneck wine trail returns

CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

It is, once again, time to raise your glass on Sunday, May 7 in the village of Mamaroneck as the Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual A Taste of Mamaroneck… Wine Trail. Back by popular demand, this much anticipated event invites you to climb aboard the trolley and ride along to the many village restaurants for a taste of wine and a sample of their most delectable foods. Mamaroneck offers a variety of cuisines from around the world and for only $50 in advance, or $60 at registration, you can enjoy the tastes of many cultures with your fami-

ly, friends and neighbors. On May 7, registration for the event will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Harbor Island Park and the trolley will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. As there are no “tickets,” to have your name added to the paid guest list in advance, visit mamaroneckchamberofcommerce.org to pay with a credit card; mail your check to: Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce, 430 Center Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543; call the chamber at 698-4400; or email chamber10543@optonline.net. (Submitted)

14 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • April 28, 2017

SPORTS

Rain, go away LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

If you happened to get a look at a high school coach’s wish list, I bet there would be certain things you would expect to find; a talented, devoted group of players, a supportive administration, and parents who get involved—but not so much so that they start to overstay their welcome. But while I was covering a varsity softball game on Monday afternoon, a local coach let me in on one more request that more than a handful of teams find themselves hoping for this year: a dome. Even though springtime sports in the Northeast are always sort of touch-and-go for the first few weeks, this year—it has to be said—has been worse than most. Just this week alone, Tuesday and Wednesday were washouts, almost across the board. The final weekend in April has hardly been an outlier; every week since the start of the season in late March has had at least one day that resulted in a slate of games being

wiped off the schedule. The weather has impacted every sport, from track to golf and even lacrosse, which is usually fairly immune to weather-related cancelations. But few sports have been hit as hard as baseball and softball. Five weeks into the baseball season, a quick glance at teams’ overall records shows just how much chaos the spring rains have caused. A few squads have played as many as 11 games, while others have only played six. With the schedule coming to an end around May 15, barring an extra day or so being tacked onto the regular season, that gives some teams just over two weeks to make up 13 or 14 games; a daunting task, even for professionals. Now, I know there is nothing that Section I officials can do about the weather. I mean, that’s outside of the purview of even the most powerful governing body in area athletics. But there are some things that should at least be considered. Perhaps the Section I preseason could start a little bit earlier in 2018. This year, area teams started a week after the rest of

the state, forcing teams to play condensed schedules, even in the best of weather. Starting a week earlier may be able to mitigate some of the concerns about rainouts. Other ideas, like shortening the regular season, may seem doable, but will ultimately rob student-athletes of valuable experience, so they probably won’t get much consideration. One last idea, which—given my baseball-purist leanings—seems like a necessary evil is this: have school districts invest in turf fields over the next decade or so. We’ve seen schools construct new turf fields to replace grass ones already, but mostly the all-purpose ones used for endeavors like field hockey, football, soccer and lacrosse. However, baseball and softball fields have lagged far behind in that department. The result is that heavy rains on a Thursday can often mean no baseball on a Friday, which is a shame. Trust me, I haven’t run the numbers, but I know it will be costly for districts. I also know that it’s unwise to overreact to one year of bad weather and spend boatloads

Mamaroneck’s Gianna Magrino throws a pitch against New Rochelle at City Park on April 18. Sports Editor Mike Smith wonders if this season’s inclement weather will force schools to look at the option of more turf fields, like City Park. Photo/Mike Smith

of cash that can go to other areas. And to be honest, I hate the idea of kids growing up without memories of the smell of a freshlycut grass ball field.

But it’s better than not getting on the field at all.

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April 28, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 15

Panthers win on walk-off blast SOFTBALL

non-league

RYE NECK 1 RYE 0 RYE NECK HS

4/24/17

Game Notes: • Sam Yannuzzi hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the seventh • Olivia Dunn allowed just two hits in seven innings • The Panthers are 5-1 By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Rye Neck may have only had three hits on Monday, but it picked up its biggest—and last—off the bat of Sam Yannuzzi in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the senior catcher blasted a walk-off home run to send the Panthers home happy with a 1-0 victory over the visiting Rye Garnets. For the Panthers, the win was the team’s fifth of the season, but it also proved that games can often come down to just one swing of the bat. Coming into the decisive at-bat, Yannuzzi had already collected one of the Panthers’ two hits, but sought some measure of redemption for her last plate appearance against Garnet starter Kara Brown. “In her previous at bat, [Yannuzzi] swung at the first pitch and

Olivia Dunn throws a pitch against the Garnets at Rye Neck High School. Dunne struck out 12 batters in seven innings of work to pick up the win.

popped up,” Panthers coach Joan Spedafino said. “But this time, she set herself up, went through her mechanics and you could see she was ready to go.” Brown was solid up until facing

Rye’s Kara Brown throws a pitch on April 24. Photos/Mike Smith

Yannuzzi in the seventh, limiting Rye Neck’s chances while notching just four strikeouts. “She mixes her pitches up nicely and her defense really backed her up well,” Spedafino said. “We weren’t striking out but we were popping up a lot, but I think we’ve really improved with making contact.” Brown’s counterpart, Rye Neck’s Olivia Dunn, was similarly impressive, tossing seven scoreless innings in which she allowed just two hits while fanning 12 batters. “Her changeup was working nicely,” Spedafino said of Dunn. “In the first inning, the first two girls got on with little blooper frustrating hits, but she kept her composure.” At 5-1 on the season, the Panthers seem poised for a deep playoff run this year, but will be tested over the next few weeks as they begin the bulk of their league schedule. On Monday, May 1, Rye Neck will travel to Blind Brook for a game against the Trojans, which will kick off a week that also sees them play Keio and Edgemont before taking part in a tournament at Pelham starting May 6. Spedafino hopes that the thrilling win over the Garnets will serve as a catalyst for big things to come. “Softball is a long game; it shows how if you stay in it, if your defense

Sam Yannuzzi connects with a pitch against Rye. Yannuzzi had two hits, including a walk-off home run.

A Panther player makes a play at third base against the Garnets.

keeps you in the game, you can win it with one swing of the bat,” she said. “It was a great win, but it’s the

little things that will help you win.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

16 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • April 28, 2017