Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
August 11, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 32 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
MBYC takes step toward sewer upgrade By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
fit as a fiddle Sophia Gigante has battled through physical ailments, including multiple surgeries, at a young age to become a certified personal trainer. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/PTSophia
Ralph’s injunction dismissed by state judge By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A lawsuit stemming from the forced closure of Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream in Mamaroneck was thrown out by a judge on Aug. 9, after the court ruled the owner had no grounds for a suit. Owner Scott Rosenberg’s law-
suit, filed on Aug. 3, which sought an injunction on a zoning board decision to revoke his certificate of occupancy, and $75,000 in damages, was found meritless by a judge who deemed the request too “drastic” and lacking basis. When reached by phone on Tuesday, Rosenberg was unaware of the ruling and declined a re-
quest for comment. Last month Ralph’s, located on 946 E. Boston Post Road, was forced to close after the village of Mamaroneck’s zoning board determined the business was unsuited for the location and was the root of exacerbated traffic, safety, and noise conditions in the surrounding neighborhood.
The business was also found to be operating without a Westchester County Department of Health permit for several months and has yet to renew the documentation, which lapsed in April. Village Trustee Keith Waitt, a Democrat, lauded the court’s RALPH’S continued on page 9
With a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, submitted, a plan to transform the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club into a new hub for waterfront housing takes another step forward. The statement, which was submitted on July 12, comes more than a year after a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, and will allow the village of Mamaroneck Planning Board to move forward on reviewing the construction and renovation of a sewer line on the club’s property which abuts the Long Island Sound after a major sewer main break. The impetus for the sewer system upgrades sprung up in 2013 when a sewer main break caught the eye of village residents and land use boards. Subsequently, the club was forced to assess sewer systems in its immediate vicinity before pursuing its redevelopment project that plans to add 18 seasonal residences to the property. After the sewer main break, the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound, which is suing the village of Mamaroneck and 10 other municipalities in the county for violations of the EPA’s Clean Water Act, found fecal coliform levels 300 times higher than the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s water quality threshold.
Amidst progress on the sewer project, however, some local homeowners are unsatisfied with how the proposed renovations have unfolded. Dan Natchez, together with other members of the Shore Acres Property Owners Association, have adamantly opposed plans to build an entirely separate bridge that would reroute a sewer line and bypass Otter Creek, claiming it would have adverse impacts on the environment. That plan would replace an alternate suggestion to run the line through the preexisting South Barry Avenue bridge. Natchez said that despite urging from residents and the planning board, the club has yet to introduce a proposal that would see the line rerouted over the South Barry Avenue Bridge. In particular, Natchez said he worries that building an entirely separate bridge to reroute the sewer line would result in a greater impact on the environment, particularly the encompassing wetlands. Since the vision for expanding the club to include housing was first introduced in 2004, the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club, MBYC, has often battled with residents over the plan. In 2010, after the club brought a lawsuit against the village, the Westchester County Supreme Court ruled that MBYC had the right to construct housing units MBYC continued on page 11
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August 11, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 3
Immigration policy passes Legislature; Astorino to veto
County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, plans to veto a bill known as the Immigration Protection Act, which passed the county Legislature in a 10-5 vote on Aug. 7. The bill aims to set a countywide policy on immigration enforcement for law enforcement officials. Photo courtesy Jerry McKinstry
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Shortly after the Westchester County Legislature approved a bill to set forth a policy on immigration enforcement, the county executive pledged to veto the legislation with support from top public safety officials. The bill passed through the county Board of Legislators in a 10-5 vote on Aug. 7 after mounting political pressure from the county’s Democratic Caucus. Known as the Immigration Protection Act, it aims to prevent the county’s emergency services from aiding the federal government in investigations made on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and national origin. The act comes in response to Republican President Donald Trump’s effort to deport undocumented immigrants. Despite approval from two Republicans lawmakers, David Gelfarb, of Rye Brook, and Jim Maisano, of New Rochelle, the bill failed to capture a supermajority vote, which would have prevented the legislation from being vetoed by County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. “I’m opposed to this act because it puts public safety at risk,” the county executive said, explaining the legislation would put the county at odds with the federal government, and would ultimately dub Westchester as a “sanctuary” county for undocumented immigrant; one that limits its cooperation with the national government’s effort to enforce immigration law. Astorino said the policy would cost the county an estimated $13 million in federal funding. “It all adds up to be a dangerous idea,
and for those reasons I will veto this legislation,” he added. The Immigration Protection Act was first pitched by county Majority Leader Catherine Borgia, an Ossining Democrat, in February after uncertainty over whether or not Astorino would repeal an existing executive order relating to immigration status that was signed by former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat, in 2006. In Westchester government, the incumbent county executive can legally repeal any executive order made by one of his predecessors. The new legislation, in addition to piggybacking the current policy, would also prevent law enforcement officials from honoring requests made by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Customs and Border Protection, which do not give rise to probable cause. Additionally, it would protect Westchester from liability due to false arrests and imprisonments. Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, said Astorino’s comments are “full of falsehoods” and “fear mongering” meant to justify vetoing the legislation. “The purpose of the Immigration protection Act is to protect Westchester residents and keep us all safer,” she added. “We looked very closely at the U.S. Constitution when drafting this, and based on rights already in the Constitution, it abides by federal law.” The Democratic Caucus, which is made up of nine lawmakers, submitted the legislation to codify the existing policies adopted under Spano, not knowing the stance of the county executive and some top county public safe-
ty officials on the matter. In a statement, George Longworth, the commissioner of the county Public Safety Department, called it a “bad and reckless idea.” “This bill is being passed over the objections of the [county] law enforcement authorities,” he said. “It will make Westchester families and police officers less safe.” The bill was also denounced by Hector Lopez, the president of the Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association, the county’s largest law enforcement group representing Hispanic officers, and County Attorney Robert Meehan, who first raised concerns about the law establishing a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants living in the county. According to Joe Sgammato, the press secretary for the Democratic Caucus, the caucus plans to hold a vote to override a veto by the county executive. However, in order to override Astorino, the Board of Legislators will need a supermajority vote. And with the need for one more lawmaker to pledge his or her support for bill, that supermajority remains in the hands of the Republican Caucus. In a joint statement from the Republican Caucus, lawmakers echoed sentiments expressed by the county executive, saying the proposal is “well intentioned” but barely adds any “new protections” for the county’s immigrant community. “The immigrant community should know that law enforcement is there to serve them and protect them regardless of their immigration status,” the statement read. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
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What’s going on... Mamaroneck Public Library
life over the course of several lifetimes and owners. Rated PG for thematic elements and some peril; running time: 98 minutes.
Adult Summer Camp
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.
Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up On Saturday, Aug. 12 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Children’s Room. All Summer Reading Program participants who have completed their five hours of summer reading are invited to the ice cream social. Readers who completed the Category Challenge will receive a special prize.
On Mondays through Aug. 28. Summer is a time when kids look forward to going to camp where they can relax and engage in really fun (and educational) programs. For this summer, the library’s Adult Team has created a schedule of eight wonderful programs to engage those who are age 18 and beyond. On Aug. 14, make a wet clay pot with MADE. On Aug. 21, Bath Botanical “Bizarre” will take place. Because supplies are limited, Mamaroneck Public Library cardholders will be given priority. Please call 630-5888 to register for both programs, or stop by the Reference Desk.
Table Top Tuesdays All day Tuesday, Aug. 15 in the Teen Library. Drop in anytime for fun tabletop games.
Xbox Saturdays On Saturday, Aug. 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Teen Library. Drop in for Xbox One games on the big screen.
Larchmont Public Library
‘A Dog’s Purpose’
Visit larchmontlibrary.org for more information on library hours and programs.
On Monday, Aug. 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Teen Library. “A Dog’s Purpose” will be screened. A dog looks to discover his purpose in
The Culture of Dueling On Friday, Aug. 11 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
at the Village Center. Join National Parks Service Ranger Jennifer Ladd for this talk about the history of dueling and the role it played in 18th century American society. She will discuss the origins of dueling, why it became so prominent in the colonies, and what conditions may have caused two of our political heavyweights, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, to engage in their fatal errand. No registration required.
Saturday Afternoon Open Play Chess Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Michael P. Coords Activity Room, unless the library is closed. Join the library for a game of chess. No instruction is provided and it is recommended that you bring your own chess pieces. So, come join the fun and make some new friends, too.
Summer Mondays for Teens: Intro to Yoga On Monday, Aug. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Michael P. Coords Activity Room. Participants will learn flexibility, mindfulness and even a little about anatomy as they identify the muscles and bones they’re using. Online registration required.
Rhythm and Rhyme for Toddlers On Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For 18 months to 3 years old. The songs, rhymes, finger plays and fun in this four-week series create a strong foundation for learning and a love of reading. A parent or caregiver must attend. Online registration required.
Chair Yoga with Vincenza Madonia
attend for the entire hour. For the older kids, build a better community by helping others to learn and grow. Meet with children’s librarian Linnea Moosmann, and learn about how you can help with the day’s Garden Buddies program for younger children. Then, pair up with a garden buddy and join in the fun by helping them read, play and create. For the younger kids, learn about the jungle of plants and animals that grow in Ryder’s Garden along with the garden helpers. Online registration required for both programs.
Summer Camp Afternoon Games On Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Village Center. Spend an air-conditioned afternoon with friends and play classic games like mahjong, chess or Scrabble. Or you can enjoy some adult coloring. Ice cream will be served at 3 p.m. No registration required.
Create Your Own Moisture Lotions On Thursday, Aug. 17 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Village Center. Join library staff member Yvette Gayles, and spend an afternoon learning about and creating moisture lotions. The lotions are intended for general use, hypoallergenic and no washing gels are a part of the program. Online registration required.
DIY Kids: Pocket Mazes On Thursday, Aug. 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For ages 8 to 11. Make your own mini game: a great boredom buster or an excellent gift. Online registration required.
On Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Village Center. Join certified yoga instructor Vincenza Madonia for these sessions of chair yoga. Chair yoga consists of arm, leg and head movements, as well as twisting your torso, that are done while seated in a chair. There are also standing movements that use a chair for support. Chair yoga is a terrific way to maintain fitness of your body and mind through very low-impact exercises. No registration required.
On Monday, Aug. 21 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Michael P. Coords Activity Room. Learn to illustrate your fashion designs using a step-by-step method to draw a figure, layer on clothing ideas, and draw out details. The instructor, Ying Su, has a degree from Parsons and professional experience with Gap and J. Crew. Online registration required.
Rhythm and Rhyme for Babies
At Home on the Sound
On Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. For ages 6 months to 17 months old. Join the library for this early literacy enhanced storytime with books, music, rhymes, cuddles and fun. Online registration is required and is limited to Larchmont Library cardholders.
Volunteers needed
Build a Construction Site On Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. For ages 3 and 4. Beep beep on over to the library for some techie stories, and turn yourself into a robot by creating your own paper outfit. No registration required.
Summer Mondays for Teens: Intro to Yoga
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.
Garden Helpers: Veggies On Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. for ages 8 to 11, and from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for ages 5 to 7. Participating children must
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.
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August 11, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 5
Westchester holds annual Jewish music/arts festival The 43rd annual Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival will be held on Sunday, Aug. 20, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. The festival is presented by the Westchester Jewish Council and the Westchester Klezmer Program in cooperation with Westchester County Parks. The event is a celebration for the whole family and will feature a wide variety of musical performances including headlin-
er Golem, a Klezmer rock band based in New York City. Golem is known for its virtuosic musicianship, theatricality, humor and fearless wild energy, combined with a boundless love of tradition. Golem is clearly “not your grandparents’ klezmer.” Also performing will be Rockmitzvah, a full service live musical ensemble of real rock and roll musicians. They will play a mix of child and adult friendly tunes. Israeli singer and composer San-
Face painting, juggling performances and sing-a-longs are just a few of the activities the 43rd annual Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival has to offer. Contributed photos
dy Shmuely will lead a singa-long. His high spirits and incredible energy invites audience participation. In addition, Israeli dancing with Camp Zeke for all ages will take place throughout the day. Face painting by Maria, as well as juggler Ned Gelfars, whose show is full of juggling, magic, and an incredible amount of hilarious, good-natured audience participation, will also be on hand to provide additional family activities and fun throughout the day. The event is free, including parking, and is open to the public, and will be held rain or shine. Attendees are welcome to bring chairs, blankets, and picnics. Food, including ice cream and ices trucks and snacks (pizza, and more) will be available for purchase. A vendor exhibition area including Jewish Art/ Judaica, jewelry and more will be open throughout the festival. “There is something for everyone, from children to adults, at this festival. We have lined up amazing musical performers, as well as fun activities for kids. We hope all members of the community, regardless of faith, will join us for this very festive day”, said
The 43rd annual Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival is headlined by Golem, a Klezmer rock band from New York City.
Elliot Forchheimer, Executive Director of The Westchester Jewish Council. Pre-registration is requested at WJCouncil.org. All registrants will be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card. The winner will be contacted via email the Tuesday following the festival. This event is sponsored in part by the Morris & Sylvia Trachten Family
Foundation. For more information about the event, including information on becoming a vendor, visit WJCouncil.org or contact Westchester Jewish Council Assistant Executive Director Pam Goldstein at Pam@wjcouncil.org or call 328-7001. The Westchester Jewish Council connects Westchester’s Jewish communities and strengthens
relationships among Jewish organizations and other ethnic and faith based groups, elected officials, Israel and the community at large. The Westchester Jewish Council is a proud Core partner of UJA-Federation of New York. For more information about the Westchester Jewish Council, visit us online at WJCouncil.org. (Submitted)
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Mamaroneck THE
REVIEW
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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 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
Follow us on Twitter, @mamaroneckview Like us on Facebook, facebook.com/mamaroneckreview The Mamaroneck Review (permit #16661) is published weekly by Home Town Media Group for an annual subscription of $45. Application to mail at the periodicals postage rate is approved at White Plains, N.Y., 10601. Periodicals postage paid at White Plains and additional mailing offices.
Personal trainer
lifts clients’ spirits through inspiring journey By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter After years of going through physical therapy and numerous surgeries, Sophia Gigante, 19, has managed to overcome her own physical limitations and wants to help others do the same. Gigante, a personal trainer from the Fleetwood section of Mount Vernon, received her National Council on Strength and Fitness certification in April 2017. Up until five years ago, when she began going to the gym, Gigante didn’t realize the things her body was capable of doing. She was born with hypotonia, or low muscle tone, which affected her strength and endurance, and required leg braces to help her walk. This, coupled with an additional diagnosis of hydrocephalus, a condition that makes fluid collect in the brain and can cause seizures, made physical activity extremely difficult. Gigante explained that growing up with such a diagnosis, she had to have four surgeries to help relieve pressure the excess fluid was causing on her brain. “That was a big part of my life, and the reason I couldn’t do a lot of things,” Gigante told the Review. “It just slowed me down.” After the seizures had finally subsided during her freshman year of high school, Gigante started exercising and visiting the gym as an overall means of improving her health. “I just [wanted] to go to the gym like any other freshman in high school,” she said. “I just wanted to go on the treadmill [and] lose some weight.” Gigante said that she initially didn’t think working out was going to be something she liked. But once she started, she was hooked, and saw herself growing stronger as she continued to exercise. “I started building up all this strength I didn’t know I had,” she said. Gigante explained that for her, it’s not just about getting a “good body,” but since she was once
Sophia Gigante, a personal trainer from the Fleetwood section of Mount Vernon, holds training classes at the Tuckahoe Community Center and at her gym in Yonkers. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/PTSophia Sophia Gigante teaches a boot camp class at the Tuckahoe Community Center. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/PTSophia
physically incapable of working out, now, she doesn’t want to stop. As she continued to exercise, she became the person other people at the gym would go to for advice. “I was always helping people,” she said. Gigante now works as a personal trainer at her gym in Yonkers and at the Tuckahoe Community Center. The NCSF certificate also qualified her to teach boot camp classes, which she holds both at her gym and in Tuckahoe. “I like teaching because I was once somebody that didn’t know what to do [at the gym],” she said. Her boot camp classes involve 45-second circuits of different activities based on each person’s physical abilities. “[Sophia is] just an unbelievable trainer,” said Irene Gizzo, of Fleetwood. “I wouldn’t go anywhere else.” Gigante talks about expanding her business, and eventually wants to open up her own gym,
and also obtain a degree in physical therapy. “I’ve been starting to work with people with special needs and I really like it because I feel like I can sympathize with them,” she said. Gigante hopes to be able to help people realize that while the gym can be intimidating, it’s also quite rewarding. Karen Degouveia, of Fleetwood, explained that before she started going to Gigante’s boot camp classes in Tuckahoe, she had never worked out before. “[Sophia] is aware of individual limitations and works with [them],” she said. “She’s amazing.” While teaching is a big part of her life, Gigante is also in her sophomore year at Manhattan College where she studies biological and allied health sciences. “I just want to show people that no matter what, you can work out,” she said. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com
Sophia Gigante teaches a boot camp class at the Tuckahoe Community Center. Photos/Taylor Brown
Sophia Gigante demonstrates a workout for one of her students during her boot camp class.
Students at Sophia Gigante’s boot camp class work together to complete a 45-second circuit workout.
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Former Yankees player heads to Empire Casino
Larchmont looks into new parking system
The village of Larchmont will look into new parking systems for its downtown commercial and residential areas, which Village Administrator Justin Datino says would help bolster revenue and business. File photo
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Tino Martinez, a former New York Yankees first baseman, will attend Empire City Casino on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Contributed photo
Empire City Casino continues to bring New York baseball’s most popular players to the largest entertainment destination in the northeast. Former New York Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez, a key player on four “Bronx Bombers” World Series championship teams, will appear at Dan Rooney’s Sports Bar at the casino on Wednesday, Aug. 16, when the Yankees play their crosstown rival Mets in a “Subway Series” game at Citi Field. Martinez will meet and greet fans to sign autographs and take photographs beginning at 6:10 p.m. The first 75 attendees will receive an exclusive Empire City Casino baseball for Martinez to sign. Martinez will watch the game
with baseball devotees inside Dan Rooney’s, a sports pub featuring over 40 large screen TVs and upscale pub food and cold brews available for purchase. Hungry visitors can enjoy the signature half rotisserie chicken with roasted potatoes, or dive into a mouthwatering award-winning Dan Rooney’s burger topped with brie cheese, marinated onions, and honey mustard. During his 16-year career with the Yankees, Mariners, Cardinals, and Devil Rays, Martinez drove in 1,271 runs as a two-time AllStar. He enjoyed six seasons with 100 or more RBI, while slugging 339 home runs. A first-round draft pick out of the University of Tampa, his clutch hitting
helped to lead the Yankees to world championships in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He was also an Olympic gold medalist in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Attendees can come early and take a chance on the record-breaking $2 million jackpot currently available only at Empire City Casino on the IGT Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars slot machine. Or check out Empire City’s newest games, including Titanic-Heart of the Ocean and Wan Shi Ru Progressive. Empire Club members 55 and over who earn at least 10 Empire Points on Wednesdays in August can receive $10 free play & free valet. Visit Empirecitycasino.com for details. (Submitted)
Larchmont officials will commission a holistic study meant to update parking across the village and potentially introduce a new electronic metered parking system to its popular commercial districts. According to Village Administrator Justin Datino, the study— which is currently seeking consultants through a request for proposals, RFP, process—will eye the potential installation of pay-by-plate, multi-space devices that requires users to enter plate numbers into kiosks before validating parking. Such systems—which he said are nearly ubiquitous throughout Westchester County—will help create turnover by tightening the amount of time one can park in a spot in Larchmont’s commercial hubs and also act as a boon for the village’s waning revenues. “The village has struggled to find non-property tax sources of revenue to supplement our financial needs,” Datino said. “Metered, on-street parking is a very significant revenue source being
realized by every municipality around us, and we see the advantages it brings.” Currently, the village has free, on-street parking in its business districts. According to the RFP, which was sent out earlier this month, the study will focus on the Palmer Avenue commercial district, the Boston Post Road commercial district and their accompanying parking lots, in addition to areas that consist of both commuter and residential parking. Coordinating with village staff, the yet-to-be-hired consultant will also be tasked with taking inventory of villagewide parking, as well as regulations, most notably permits and fees, surrounding the various types of parking, including residential and commuter. On a broader level, according to the RFP, the study will also touch on zoning regulations and how they may affect parking, especially in regard to areas with multi-family homes and commercial districts that see a greater density of parked cars. The comprehensive study will build upon prior studies done by
the village regarding its parking, which include a study conducted by RAM Associates Metered Concepts in 2007 which established a blueprint of Larchmont’s current parking stock and layout. The study will also take into account stakeholder issues, including restrictions on overnight parking and effects on local business. Datino said the introduction of a new parking system would likely help merchants’ businesses by creating greater turnover on abutting streets. “We want to make sure businesses thrive and residents have parking in the evenings,” he said. “In doing that you also look at ways that metered parking helps those demands and moves those users to their proper destinations.” According to the RFP, the deadline for consultants to apply to the village for the contract will be Aug. 23 and the village will look to have the study underway by September. Mayor Lorraine Walsh declined to comment.
CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
August 11, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 9
Astorino volunteers as a summer reading buddy Lawmakers take stab at slashing prescription drugs
County Executive Rob Astorino reads to a group of pre-kindergarten students as part of his participation in JCY-Westchester Community Partners’ summer reading program. Contributed photo
County Executive Rob Astorino volunteered Wednesday for JCY-Westchester Community Partners’ Summer Reading Buddies at Yonkers’ Riverfront Library. He worked one-on-one with a first grade student on a summer reading assignment and also read to an audience of pre-kindergarten students. Summer Reading Buddies is a six week program that helps Westchester’s children combat the “summer reading slide,” when literacy skills that are learned over the school year are lost over the summer. The summer reading slide is one of the
most significant causes of the achievement gap between youth from lower income and higher income families, according to JCY. The program is funded in part by the Westchester County Youth Bureau. At the program, volunteers are paired with children in preschool through sixth grade to read oneon-one or in small groups, build literacy skills and complete their summer reading assignments. Resources are provided to parents to foster literacy in the home. In 2016, more than 1,000 students and 385 volunteers participated.
Summer Reading Buddies is run by JCY-Westchester Community Partners, a division of the Family Service Society of Yonkers, in partnership with the Yonkers Public Library, the City of Yonkers, Westchester County and Con Edison. The program is available at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, the Mount Vernon Public Library and the Ossining Public Library. For more information about Summer Reading Buddies or to volunteer, please contact Madeline Finesmith at Mfinesmith@ jcy-wcp.com or call 423-5009. (Submitted)
RALPH’S from page 1
decision and said it should be the impetus for Rosenberg to start looking for a base of operations elsewhere. “Contrary to what has been said, the village welcomes Ralph’s,” he said. “But now, maybe it’s time for them to consider where they should be located.” Waitt added that it’s likely Rosenberg will now sue the village for damages. A decision to revoke Ralph’s certificate of occupancy last month punctuated more than a year of tumult as well as a zoning appeal which discovered the business had been misclassified by the village Building Department as a retail establishment, allowing it to skirt the confines of its encompassing zoning district and requirements for public notice. After being forced to undergo a special permitting process, Ralph’s was unanimously determined to be unsuited for its East Boston Post Road location and was forced to close.
A lawsuit filed by Scott Rosenberg, owner of the now-shuttered Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice Cream in Mamaroneck, was thrown out this week after a judge ruled that the disgruntled owner had no grounds for a suit. File photo
A brief period of protest in which Ralph’s remained open in defiance of the zoning board’s decision for little more than a day was finally put to rest after the threat of fines from the county Department of Health who discovered it had been operating without a health permit. Rosenberg has repeatedly stated that he feels the village’s decision to shutter his business was
out of personal animus. “They say the village is friendly but it’s not so friendly,” he told the Review last month. “The mayor welcomed us and this is how they treated us; like criminals.” Rosenberg continues to operate another Ralph’s location in North White Plains. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
Westchester lawmakers eye prescription drugs as costs continue to soar while bearing down on the county’s elderly. Photo courtesy Flickr.com
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer As prescription drug prices continue to soar across the country, Westchester lawmakers will search for ways to mitigate those impacts on county residents, including lobbying Congress to expedite federal legislation mired in a bureaucratic stasis. “Companies are here to make profit, but also to help people,” said county Legislator David Tubiolo, a Yonkers Republican. “And if people can’t afford it, it’s not helping.” Tubiolo, who sits on the Board of Legislators’ Seniors Committee, said that in the coming months he plans to bring a resolution to the county legislative floor urging federal lawmakers to act on legislation aimed at bringing greater transparency to erratic increases in drug costs. Specifically, Tubiolo said, the resolution will focus on lobbying Congress to take action on the Fair Accountability and Innovative Research, FAIR, Drug Pricing Act; a measure introduced in part by U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, that would require pharmaceutical companies to submit a justification to the Department of Health and Human Services for raising drug prices. That legislation has been stalled in committee since its introduction in May. “We’re asking the federal government to act faster,” Tubiolo said. “We’re looking into what we have the jurisdiction over and what we have the authority over.” Already, Tubiolo said, he has
attempted to bring awareness to programs offered through the county, including a card available through Westchester’s partnership with ProAct Inc. that gives residents significant discounts on drugs not covered through their insurance. While the initiative has been in place since 2012, Tubiolo said awareness of the card’s availability has been underwhelming due in part to lack of proper advertising. For lawmakers across the spectrum, however, regulating drug prices is often a tall order. Drug prices sold through the private sector are set by pharmaceutical companies, and as a result, are subject mainly to the myriad market forces. Such a dynamic has been highlighted in recent high-profile price hikes like those associated with the lifesaving drug Epipen, which administers epinephrine through injection to patients experiencing a severe allergic reaction, or Daraprim, a medicine popular amongst patients with autoimmune disorders which rose from $13.50 per pill to more than $750 overnight. According to a 2016 report from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, drug prices are slated to keep rising over the next 10 years by an average of 6.3 percent annually. Between 2013 and 2016, the center recorded double digit drug price increases, including a 12 percent increase overall in 2015. According to county Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hasting-on-Hudson Democrat, those increases can, and do, have ad-
verse effects on residents—especially seniors requiring medicine on fixed incomes—throughout the county. “A lot of senior citizens, because of the cost of prescription drugs, are cutting doses on their own, which creates medical issues, or are not filling them at all,” Shimsky said. “A lot of people will say the private market is so efficient, and keeps cost down, but sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t.” Tubiolo said that he’s spoken to some seniors who have gone as far as to cut costs in their diet, choosing to eat cat or dog food in order to help clear room in their budgets for medicine. “Some people privately told me they have done that to pay for drugs,” he said. “No one should have to eat below standard to pay for drugs.” On top of endangering people’s health, Shimsky said increased drug costs can also act as a drag on the local economy. “In terms of the economy, if all the disposable income is being drained out by drug manufacturers, other sectors of the economy are going to get hurt,” she said. “If you can’t buy dinner, can’t go to the movies, can’t get out to drive, other people who rely on that business are going to suffer.” Tubiolo said the introduction of the resolution will likely happen in the next several months, and Shimsky said while she’ll have to read the declaration first, she would be open to supporting the idea behind it. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
10 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • August 11, 2017
August 11, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 11
WCC tuition won’t increase under proposed budget
MBYC from page 1
Dr. Belinda S. Miles, president of Westchester Community College, and County Executive Robert P. Astorino. Contributed photo
Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club will lurch forward with its proposal to construct a new sewer system and eventually add additional housing units to its picturesque waterfront property. File photo
on the property. By 2015, the village Zoning Board of Appeals had already rejected 28 separate appeals from residents who insisted that the club is not zoning compliant, and
MBYC has fended off lawsuits challenging the club’s impact on the environment. The Planning Board will now continue to review the FSEIS and may send back the document for
further revisions. Lisa Rosenshein, the president of MBYC, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
For the fifth consecutive year, tuition for nearly 13,000 students at Westchester Community College, WCC, will not increase under a proposed budget that was submitted by County Executive Robert P. Astorino to the Board of Legislators on Friday, July 14. “Working closely with the college’s leadership, we are able to propose a budget that keeps tuition flat for the fifth year in a row,” Astorino said. “WCC is where so many students go for a quality and affordable education so that they can make a better life for themselves and their families. We must find ways to keep public education affordable and a tuition increase would hurt far too
many of WCC’s students.” The $122 million operating budget for the 2017-2018 school year includes a $29.9 million sponsor contribution from the county, an increase of $67,000 over last year and $500,000 from the year before. “We propose a budget that prioritizes an affordable and high quality education for Westchester Community College’s students and families,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, president of Westchester Community College. “No tuition increases for five years is notable within New York State and a testament to our collaborative partnership with Westchester County leadership.”
Westchester Community College’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the college’s budget amid its deliberations about national trends in college affordability and financial challenges facing students. Additionally, WCC’s capital budget includes $2.16 million for four projects, which include technology upgrades at several locations on-and-off-campus along with site improvements throughout campus and a proposal to assess planning and infrastructure needs going forward. The Board of Legislators is scheduled to vote on the budget on Aug. 7. The college’s fiscal year begins on Sept. 1. (Submitted)
12 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • August 11, 2017
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14 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • August 11, 2017
Head games LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
As much as I loved playing football, I’m starting to wonder; if I could do it all over again, would I still suit up? On July 25, a study released by Boston University revealed that of 202 donated brains from deceased former football players across all levels of the sport, 177—or 87 percent—tested positive for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE, a degenerative brain disease that has been tied to repeated blows to the head. The numbers are alarming, sure, but they don’t exactly tell the whole story, especially when it comes to youth football. Of those 202 brains, 111 came from former NFL players—people who played football at the highest level for years. Furthermore, even the brains of those who never made it to the NFL were donated by families who had an inkling that something wasn’t right. So yes, the results of the study paint a dark picture of football’s effects on the brain, but it’s a selective grouping, and not something that really speaks to the general experience of someone deciding to play high school football. And really, that’s the problem facing youth football now; there’s so much uncertainty about the long-term effects of playing the sport, it’s enough to give parents—and potential athletes— pause.
I’m getting older now, but I’m not so old that I played the sport before people realized that concussions were a growing problem. In my senior year, all the way back in 2001, I suffered the only concussion of my varsity career. In our second game of the season, up at Suffern, I was coming on a weak-side blitz as the opposing QB rolled out to his left. Our defensive end got off his blocker and was going to wrap him up low; a step too late, I decided to dive high in an attempt to swat the ball away. Unfortunately, the quarterback curled up and went down as soon as he felt the pressure. As I flew over him, my legs clipped him in the back and I drove myself headfirst into the turf at an awkward angle. The play, which was immortalized on our end of the year highlight tape—though not for my efforts—shows the back judge visibly concerned as I landed, then peeled myself off the turf and unsteadily attempted to make my way to the wrong sideline. I was still in a fog when I made my way over to the bench, where our athletic trainer—the kind of guy who generally adhered to the old school “play through it” mentality—told me that I was done for the game. I nodded in agreement, waited till he walked down to check out a cramping teammate, cleared the cobwebs out of my head and promptly inserted myself back into the game. I knew back then that it wasn’t the smartest move, but when you are 17 years old and football is your
SPORTS
life, it seemed like the only option. The next few days were the first time I really experienced the aftereffects of a concussion. I was in a general daze, couldn’t concentrate in my classes, and even passed out a time or two, once in the middle of a conversation I was having with my father in the kitchen. I sat out a few practices, sure. But the next Saturday we played Spring Valley, so you can be sure I was back out there on the field. It was a dumb move by a dumb kid, but back then, we—or at least I—just didn’t understand the repercussions of my actions. Football, even more than most sports, is the kind of endeavor that celebrates an individual’s ability to play through injuries. But over the last decade or more, we’ve learned enough about head injuries to know that playing through them simply isn’t an option. During my tenure at the Review, I have had discussions with coaches, players and administrators alike that makes me realize that, these days, concussion protocol is as important a facet of the game as the X’s and O’s. There’s still a risk for concussions, sure, but everyone, at least, is armed with knowledge that trying to play through one can have a disastrous outcome, both in the immediate and distant future. So yeah, I would probably still play. I’d probably just learn to use my head. Or not.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
Players from Rye and Beacon collide in a 2016 football game. Sports Editor Mike Smith believes that increased research about head injuries can help today’s players protect themselves better, on and off the field. File photo
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SPORTS
August 11, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 15
Lake Isle claims county title By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Over the last decade, the Lake Isle Swim and Dive team has established itself as the premier powerhouse in the area, turning in a host of winning performances at the annual Westchester County Swim Association Championships. On Aug. 2, the Eastchester-based club added even more hardware to the trophy case, winning its fourth-straight combined team title at Rye Playland to cap off another successful summer season. Thanks to some dominant performances by their female competitors, Lake Isle was able to capture gold at the 92nd annual WCSA championships, scoring 307.5 points overall to edge second-place Wykagyl, which finished with 279 points. The final tally was much closer than last year, when Lake Isle topped Wykagyl by 84 points. “We knew it was going to be tough this year; every year is different with kids who go away or become the youngest in their age group,” Lake Isle coach Kevin Lavelle said. “And we knew Wykagyl was a very strong team this year, so we expected it to be close.” Lavelle, who has coached the Lake Isle squad to eight titles in the last 10 years, said that while oftentimes, the team is reliant on its male competitors to create distance from the opposition, this year, the standout performances were mostly on the girls end. Lake Isle’s girls outscored second-place Rye Golf Club by 101 points, while the boys placed fourth behind Wykagyl, Willowbrook and the Greenburgh Swim Team. Ten-year-old Claire Weinstein was the high-point champion on the girls’ side, picking up 34 points in both individual and relay events, while a number of her teammates, including Lauren Maierle, 10, Daniella Condon, 12, and Emily Gjertsen, 15, all garnered top-five finishes in their respective age divisions. Ten-year-old Noah Barrett finished second in the boys’ 10U age group with 24 total points during the event. Only three WCSA records fell during this year’s event, but Lake Isle got in on the action, as Maierle, Weinstein, Gianna Martorello and Lucianna Guitierrez were able to set a new mark of
2.22:79 in the girls 10U 200meter medley relay. “We knew heading into that final day, it was going to be close, but we had built up enough of a lead,” Lavelle said. “Our relay teams, in particular, did a really great job for us.” With another title in the books, Lavelle said that his team will enjoy the moment, and will turn their attention to repeating as champions when the 2018 season kicks off next July. “We’ve been very fortunate but you never know what is going to happen in the future,” he said. “You might have kids who decide to swim with their club teams or sit out a summer season, so you really don’t know what the team is going to look like from year to year.”
Area swimmers kick off to start the backstroke leg of the medley relay at Rye Playland.
CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
Jason Amato from the Wykagyl Country Club swims on Aug. 2. Wykagyl won the boys’ title and placed second in combined team scores.
Lake Isle’s Caroline Coughlin performs the breaststroke on Aug. 2 at Rye Playland. Lake Isle’s girls 200-meter medley relay team finished second.
Steven Kwon from Harrison Recreation gets off the block on Aug. 2. Photos/Mike Smith
16 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • August 11, 2017