Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
March 10, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 10 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Rosenblum considers county legislator run
buffalo bound!
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Tommy Spero makes a glove save during Mamaroneck’s 6-0 win over Monroe-Woodbury on March 4. Spero earned his 20th career shutout—a New York state record— to help Mamaroneck advance to the Division I state semifinals in Buffalo this weekend. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith
Westchester Sandbox Theatre plans to relocate By JAMES PERO Staff Writer After scrutiny from the village of Mamaroneck Building Department and the Board of Trustees, the Westchester Sandbox Theatre will move from its Boston Post Road location into a yet-to-be determined space. According to Village Manager Richard Slingerland, Dan Ferrante, the owner of the theater,
has already notified the village of his departure, which is slated for June. According to Slingerland, Ferrante did not specify whether or not he would be moving his business out of the village. The Sandbox, located at 931 E. Boston Post Road, has come under scrutiny after an inspection by the village Building Department in December determined that the business was both skirting the zoning district’s al-
lowable use and was also in violation of multiple building code regulations, including a state code citation for lack of sprinklers. As a result of the theater’s tentative decision to move, the village Board of Trustees voted last week to table a resolution that would have changed village code in C-1 districts to allow for the operation of dance, music and acting schools.
Despite the news, Trustee Leon Potok, a Democrat, said that a change to the code to allow a broader swath of educational businesses to C-1 districts will be discussed in the context of ongoing zoning code revamps. In the meantime, an assessment of the Building Department’s procedures and protocols will continue to move forward. SANDBOX continued on page 8
Norman Rosenblum, the often outspoken Republican mayor of the village of Mamaroneck, is mulling going toe-to-toe with Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker in what could be a hard-fought race along the Sound Shore, the Review has learned. According to Rosenblum— who has served as mayor in the village since 2010—he has been approached by county Republican Party officials multiple times, but has yet to make a final decision on whether to take the political leap. “There’s one basic principle that one decides on,” said Rosenblum, 74. “And that is what position can you best serve your community, and whether that is the village or the county remains to be seen.” Rosenblum told the Review that he plans on making a final decision on whether he will run for county office in the coming weeks. During his tenure as mayor, Rosenblum has fostered a loyal constituency in a primarily Democratic village, and has proven a stalwart in Mamaroneck where—despite consistent Democratic challenges—he has remained seated at the dais for four consecutive terms. At times, however, relations
with Democrats on the Board of Trustees has taken contentious turns, culminating this past year when Rosenblum unsuccessfully filed a lawsuit against board Democrats that sought to subdue a referendum against his powers of appointment. Toppling Parker, a Rye Democrat, on a county stage, however, would likely prove Rosenblum’s biggest political challenge to date. In 2015—Parker’s last reelection bid—the two-term legislator coasted to an easy victory over Susan Watson, of Rye; Parker won with a formidable 59 percent of the total vote. Before winning election to the county Board of Legislators, Parker also served on the Rye City Council from 2008 to 2013. This year, in addition to all 17 seats of the county Board of Legislators being up for reelection, County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, who has ROSENBLUM continued on page 10
2 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017
Rye Neck High students display artwork More than 50 talented Rye Neck High School students, in grades nine through 12, have their artworks on display at the Mamaroneck Public Library art exhibit through March 31. The exhibit showcases drawing and design pieces such as repetition, one- and two-point perspective, and still life draw-
ings of students in Jennifer Dallow’s and Karen Fontecchio’s art classes. Throughout the year, the students have been applying elements and principles of design in their work and have mastered concepts in perspective. They’re continuing their work on realism and will build on previously learned
skills for the rest of the school year. More of their artwork is currently on display at the high school library and hallways of the front lobby. In April, the Mamaroneck Public Library will host a K–12 art show to highlight Rye Neck school district students’ work. (Submitted)
More than 50 Rye Neck High School students have their artworks on display at the Mamaroneck Public Library through March 31. Photos courtesy Rye Neck school district
March 10, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 3
State, county lawmakers consider Uber laws By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer While New York state lawmakers reconsider a law that would allow mobile-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft throughout the state, Westchester County could precede that law, as lawmakers here consider their own law. Ride-hailing services have been operating in New York City since May 2011, picking up riders who request a ride via a mobile app which automatically charges customers through a debit or credit card. But riders and drivers have not been able to legally utilize popular ridebooking apps like Uber and Lyft anywhere outside of the five boroughs. However, Westchester, New York City’s closest neighboring county to the north, may soon look to become the exception to the statewide rule. County Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat who plans to run for county executive this fall, recently proposed legislation that would allow ride-hailing
services to legally operate in Westchester. Currently, drivers of such vehicles are only allowed to travel through Westchester if either the pickup or drop-off location is in New York City. The proposed county law, which was recommended to the county Public Safety and Social Services Committee on Feb. 13, would require drivers to submit to background checks and maintain at least $1 million in liability insurance, and for the app to display a photo of the driver’s face. “The main concerns are things that have to do with licensing,” Jenkins said. “But another fiscal consideration is the amount of money that goes to municipalities that have taxi and limousine commissions [TLCs] locally.” He said that the county is seeking to draft a law that would allow ride-booking services in its municipalities without negatively impacting the revenue that they make through taxi medallions and similar fees administered by TLCs. If ride-hailing becomes legal in the county, providers would still
have to receive individual approval from some municipalities which have TLCs, including White Plains and New Rochelle. Currently, luxury ride-booking services such as UberBLACK are allowed to operate in those cities as long as they are sanctioned by the city’s TLC. Drivers who do not have that permission could face hefty fines. According to Jenkins, the county can fine up to $2,500 to drivers who illegally pick up riders at the Westchester County Airport. But during a Feb. 13 county Board of Legislators meeting, Jenkins suggested that those fines aren’t issued as frequently as they should be. Jenkins sponsored a similar county bill last year, but the bill never made it out of committee. He said they tabled the discussion at the time because a similar law was being considered in the state Legislature that would legalize ride-hailing throughout New York. That bill never made it through the Legislature and onto the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. However, the governor is pushing to bring ride-hailing
A screenshot of an Uber map taken in the White Plains area on March 6 shows at least four Uber drivers within about 2 miles of the city’s Metro-North station. Photo courtesy Uber
across the state this year. In January, during his State of the State address, he proposed legislation that would expand the reach of ride-booking services outside of New York City. A version of that legislation passed in the state Senate 53-5 in February; but, as of press time, that bill has no counterpart in the state Assembly. A separate law in the state Assembly aims to impose a tax on ride-hailing services in New York City. State Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, said that bill is an attempt to ensure that taxi drivers and companies are not more heavily burdened than ride-hailing services and their drivers. “There’s no doubt that many people would utilize Uber and similar companies, Buchwald said. “But it’s also important to make sure that all the transportation providers are operating on a level playing field.” The assemblyman added that he supported expanding ridebooking across the state, but first wants to ensure that there would be adequate provisions for consumer safety. According to a Siena poll UBER continued on page 9
4 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017
What’s going on... Mamaroneck Public Library
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 in session. This program follows the Mamaroneck school district schedule.
St. Patrick’s Day Storytime / Hora del cuento el día de San Patricio
Visit mamaronecklibrary.org for more information on library hours and programs.
All ages story and craft hour On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon in the Children’s Room. No registration required. There will be stories to appeal to all ages of kids and their caregivers, and a craft simple enough for the little kids and creative enough for the big kids.
Bilingual Storytime / Hora del cuento bilingüe On 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.
Teacher in the Library On Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on
On Friday, March 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Join the library for stories, songs and a craft to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This program is suitable for children of all ages. No registration required. Viernes, 17 de marzo de 10:30 a.m. hasta 11 a.m. Únase con la biblioteca para cuentos, canciones y una artesanía para celebrar el día de San Patricio. Este programa es adecuado para niños de todas las edades. No se requiere registro.
AARP income tax assistance On Fridays through April 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Community Room. AARP tax aide volunteers will offer free tax preparation and assistance at the Mamaroneck Public Library. Assistance is available on a drop-in basis for seniors and low- and moderate-income taxpayers.
Free SAT practice test On Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Community Room. For students in grades 7–12. This is your chance to register for an academic practice SAT exam. Upon registration, Adam Ratner, Brienza’s Academic Advantage advisor, will schedule a score report review at a
time convenient for you. During the session, he will breakdown your score to understand areas of strength and weakness and develop a custom preparation plan. To register, please email mamkteens2017@ gmail.com and include your name, parent/guardian name, telephone number, email address, school name and grade in school. Questions? Please call the Teen Library at 630-5875.
Larchmont Public Library Visit larchmontlibrary.org for more information on library hours and programs.
Annual Larchmont Spelling Bee Registration is open now through Thursday, March 23. The fifth annual Larchmont Spelling Bee has become a community tradition and is one you don’t want to miss. Team registration is now open and is available online at friendsoflarchmontlibrary.org/spellingbee. Entry forms are also available at the front desk of the Larchmont library. The spelling bee will be held on Sunday, April 2 at 4 p.m. in the Social Hall at Larchmont Temple, located at 75 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont.
Positive Discipline for Children & Teens On Monday, March 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For parents. Online registration required. Learn how to encourage appropriate behavior and a mutual respectful relationship through this non-punitive yet non-permissive approach presented by Floriane Prugnat, a certified positive discipline trainer.
How to Reduce Exposure to Toxic Chemicals On Thursday, March 15 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Village Center. No registration required. Even though the label says “safe,” “organic” or “natural,” many products still contain harmful chemicals. Join Jeanne Schumacher, Ed. D., and learn how to become your own ingredient detective. Participants will learn important facts about the toxins in everyday products that are very likely in your home right now, such as moisturizers, shampoo, laundry detergent, baby products, makeup, bug spray, and many more. Participants will also learn how to remove up to 200 chemicals from your life in just one day and become an educated consumer.
DIY Kids: Candy Sushi On Friday, March 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For grades 3–5. Online registration required. Learn how to make these tasty treats in their own origami boxes.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church Down to Earth Winter Farmers Market On Saturdays through April 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out local vendors offering food of the season and other goodies. St. Thomas Episcopal Church is located at 168 W. Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck. For more information, visit downtoearthmarkets.com.
The Center for Continuing Education In response to concerns regarding vacant storefronts in the Larchmont community, The Center
for Continuing Education is offering a lecture and discussion led by two experts on “Downtown Revitalization: The Art and Science of Placemaking” on Monday, March 13 at 7 p.m. in the library at Mamaroneck High School. Andrew M. Manshel and David Milder will share ideas on how to fill vacant stores and attract interesting retailers. They will also discuss how local brick-and-mortar businesses can compete with Internet retailers, and share techniques that turn shopping districts into active, social and vital spaces that people want to visit repeatedly. Tickets are $20. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit LMCCE.org or call 698-9126.
Christians Come Together for Lent The churches of Mamaroneck are gathering to observe the season of Lent by holding ecumenical services throughout Lent every Tuesday night at 7.30 p.m. at a different church. The schedule is: March 14 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 168 W. Boston Post Road; March 21 at First Baptist Church, 817 Howard Ave.; March 28 at United Methodist Church, 546 E. Boston Post Road; and April 4 at St. Vito’s - Most Holy Trinity, 816 Underhill Ave.
Furniture Sharehouse MHS annual furniture drive On Saturday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mamaroneck High School students will sponsor their annual furniture drive to benefit Furniture Sharehouse, Westchester’s furniture bank. They collect items, which Furniture Sharehouse redistributes free of charge to families in need. The drive takes place in the parking lot of Mamaroneck High School, at 1000 W. Boston Post Road, rain or shine. Only basic home furniture in good condition will be accepted, so before you load up your car, please visit furnituresharehouse.org to make sure your furniture meets the donation guidelines. Furniture Sharehouse helps you “recycle with a difference!” For more information, or donation questions, please contact Leslie Garwood at lgarwood10@gmail.com or 315-1982.
St. Augustine’s Church Irish Fleadh All are invited to the “Irish Fleadh,” an afternoon with family and friends to be held at St. Augustine’s Msgr. Walter F. Kenny Hall, located at 18 Larchmont Avenue/Cherry Avenue in Larchmont, on Sunday, March 19 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. There will be a performance by the Wild Irish Rovers, featuring Bernadette Fee (fiddle), Mike McGovern (vocal/accordion) and Dennis Kimak (guitar). This is a great opportunity to kick up your heels and participate in some Irish dancing. Refreshments, Irish coffee (non-alcoholic) and Irish cookies, cake, and more will be served. There will be arts and crafts tables for children. Open to everyone. Entrance fee: $7 per person, or $25 per family. For more information, please call Anne-Mieke Smeets at 834-0194 or the Rectory at 834-1220. 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.
March 10, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 5
Cuomo touts electric vehicles; unveils $4.8M plan By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer As part of a state initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the governor has announced a plan championing the use of electric vehicles. The plan, which will work hand-in-hand with several other projects already in progress, calls for a total commitment of $4.8 million that includes the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, incentives for employers to encourage employees to drive electric vehicles, and extensive public education and outreach. “With these actions, we are taking another step toward a cleaner, greener and more sustainable New York for all,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. “This multi-pronged campaign will help in this administration’s efforts to fight climate change, strengthen infrastructure to support the use of electric cars, and help reduce New York’s carbon footprint on our roadways.” The goal of the campaign,
which supports the governor’s already occurring ChargeNY initiative, is to help the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. Richard Kauffman, the chairman of Energy and Finance for New York, which governs the state’s Department of Public Service, Power Authority, and Energy Research and Development, said, “We can’t cut greenhouse gasses and reach our emissions reduction goals without also making inroads in the transportation sector.” The campaign will be overseen by the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority, which is responsible for finding and supporting innovative energy solutions for New York’s economy and environment. ChargeNY aims to install 3,000 plug-in electric vehicle, PEV, charging stations throughout the state and support an expected 30,000 to 40,000 PEVs on the road by 2018. Since the start of ChargeNY in 2013, New York state has installed nearly 500 charging
stations, bringing the state’s total to more than 1,100. With the new initiative, which was announced on March 6, the state intends to install 450 charging stations in Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Utica, and Albany. As of press time, there is no information about where the charging stations will be located within the county. State Assemblyman David Buchwald, a White Plains Democrat, said, “Having these charging stations in Westchester County makes sense because we have a very robust marketplace when it comes to electric vehicles.” Buchwald added that, while state officials are hopeful to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and although inroads have been made in making transportation greener, there’s still more work to be done. “We’ve already made significant progress as businesses are more efficient and are using less electricity than we have in the past,” Buchwald said. “But,
On March 6, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan to spend $4.8 million to support the use of and install 450 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state. Photo courtesy Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office
we’ll need to take more steps like this one if we ever want to achieve that goal.” In 2014, the state Legislature passed a bill to allow Tesla Motors, an American automaker, to continue directly selling their clean energy cars in New York. Buchwald said the passing of that bill was another small victory needed to promote electric cars. Prior to that, state lawmakers proposed to end Tesla’s direct sale to consumers with a 2013 bill that would have mandated
vehicles be sold exclusively through dealerships. The motor vehicle company, which has locations in White Plains and Mount Kisco, is the only car manufacturer company in New York that sells directly to customers in retail stores, which is similar to the sales model of Apple, the consumer electronics company known for its iPhone. Other motor vehicle companies sell cars through local businesses based on a dealership contract, in which salespeople sell their vehicles.
Last fall, Cuomo allocated $3 million for rebates through the Environmental Protection Fund for municipalities to purchase or lease zero-emission vehicles, such as battery electric and hydrogen vehicles, for their fleets, which would include police cars, fire engines and sanitation waste units. State Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
6 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017
Mamaroneck THE
REVIEW
170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 1060 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000
New Facebook project aims to improve journalism
Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com
By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter
Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com
Looking to address issues with inaccurate or “fake” news as well as problems with the highly popular social media website, Facebook has launched the Facebook Journalism Project. Sources close to the company say the project came about as Facebook began looking to see how it could better work with the news industry, and help give its readership the tools they need to have a more meaningful discussion about the news. In January, Fidji Simo, director of product for Facebook, announced on the social media site’s blog that the company was launching the project with three main goals: finding the best way to spread news, improving the skills of reporters, and stopping the spread of inaccurate news. The project, according to a source with knowledge of the endeavor, is intended to be an ongoing task for the site. And part of improving the spread of news will include developing the skills
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, Aaron Kershaw, Charlie McLaughlin Columnist Lenore Skenazy
of the people who write it, Facebook claims. In the announcement post, Simo says that there are online courses available for journalists to improve their skills. Yet, the online courses available are mostly centered on topics including building a media presence, managing ads and targeting your ideal audience. But in another blog post on Facebook written by Áine Kerr, manager of journalism partnerships for Facebook, she explained that the journalism project would be hosting “working groups” to discuss news literacy with a variety of people including writers, teachers and organizations. These groups will be hosted at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. While Facebook is claiming to want to improve journalists’ skills, the project has its skeptics. Dr. Mitchell Bard, assistant professor of mass communications at Iona College in New Rochelle, is not a believer in the project. “If journalists want to learn how to operate better on-
line, I don’t recommend Facebook,” he told the Review. Michelle Rea, executive director of the New York Press Association, an organization founded in 1853 that works to improve communication amongst smaller news publications, shares a similar sentiment. “I think it’s a giant PR stunt…,” she said. In all, the project has launched a larger discussion surrounding the involvement of social media in the dissemination of news and information. And the initiative also comes on the heels of Facebook coming under fire in recent months for contributing to the spread of fake news on its website. This increased when Facebook fired its Trending Topics team in August 2016. The team had worked to filter out headlines and stories for the trending topics section of the website. Without the team, Facebook began using an algorithm to determine what the trending topics were. Soon after the team was fired, however, the algorithm began taking fake news from untrusted
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Headlines like these can sometimes gain fake news stories thousands of views, and hundreds of comments from people who believe them. Photo courtesy cnn.com.de
Fake online news articles such as this one use clickbait to ensure that users, whether they agree or disagree with the headline, will click on it to find out more. Photo courtesy americannews.com
websites and displaying those in its trending section. Fake news became a popular topic again in November 2016 during the presidential campaign, when Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, addressed the concern that the false articles on the social media site may have had an effect on election results. Zuckerberg’s post inspired an open letter from the International Fact-Checking Network, IFCN. The letter, published on Poytner. org, encouraged the social media company to help its users more easily identify these hoaxes, and discuss ways to fight against them. Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the IFCN, said that fact-checkers have been at the forefront of the fake news issue before it became such a widespread problem on social media. Mantzarlis said that the IFCN had published the open letter because the company felt that it was a good time to step up and say the network would be happy to help combat the spread of fake news, especially since the IFCN had already been dealing with those types of things for years. Facebook has mentioned that they will now only be using factchecking organizations to identify fake articles, as long as they abide by IFCN’s code containing the five rules of fact-checking: fact-checking needs to be fair, honest about sources, transparent about organizations that provide them with funding, open about the fact-checking procedures, and stay honest about any corrections made. While fact-checking is an important part of preventing the spread of misinformation, Facebook is also trying to help its users spot fake news on their own.
In the blog post, Simo wrote that Facebook will be working with the News Literacy Project, a nonprofit program that works with educators to teach middle and high school children how to look at real and fake news critically. Rea, who also brought up what the work of the News Literacy Project does, believes that “we need to take news literacy to a higher level.” Facebook and the News Literacy Project are currently working together to create a series of public service ads that will encourage users to look at news carefully, and help remind people to not believe everything they read. “We just want to help consumers,” said Peter Adams, senior vice president for educational programs at the News Literacy Project. Adams explained that the nonprofit has had conversations about how everybody on the social media platform is engaging with fake news, and they want to help people not be manipulated by these false news stories. These ads, which will be launching in the spring of this year, want to act as reminders to Facebook users that there is a lot of misinformation spread around, and provide users with tips to not fall victim to the headlines. Bard explained, however, that fake news is one of the things that gets people more engaged on Facebook and that by trying to combat the spread of it, the website is going against its goal of getting as many people active there as possible. “I don’t think we really know what the real goal [of the project] is,” he said. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com
March 10, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 7
New Rochelle officials talk with Local Summit By LINNET TSE Contributor Although downtown development is not a new priority for New Rochelle, the city’s current downtown revitalization plan— launched one year ago—is the most ambitious plan in the history of the city, according to New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, speaking at the LarchmontMamaroneck Local Summit’s breakfast program on Feb. 14. New Rochelle Commissioner of Development Luiz Aragon explained that preparation for the current comprehensive plan began soon after he assumed his post four years ago. The city began asking “what New Rochelle could be, who we are, and how we relate to surrounding neighborhoods.” The redevelopment plan aims to preserve the 90 to 95 percent lower-density residential portion of the city that residents love and to focus on the downtown area in order to create a vibrant, pedestrianfriendly downtown hub that surveys show is desired by the local population.
Innovative redevelopment plan facilitates process for developers After decades of flirting with economic development plans, which brought some successes and some setbacks, what is different this time around? According to Aragon, it’s because they have “eliminated the political angle.” Aragon explained that in December 2015, a year after city officials approved a master development agreement with RDRXR, a joint venture between Renaissance Downtowns and RXR Reality, the City Council passed a master zoning plan that created a downtown overlay zone, DOZ. The DOZ encompasses 279 acres of land around New Rochelle’s downtown area and train station, and consists of six zones with varying densities. In total, this mixed-use, form-based zoning plan allows for more than 12 million square feet of new construction, including 6,400 new residential units, approximately 1 million square feet of new retail space, and more than 2 million square feet
of new office space. At the same time, the city also completed the lengthy and often cumbersome State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQRA, requirements for the entire redevelopment area, essentially making the DOZ “shovel-ready” for developers. Aragon shared that the city has taken it a step further by guaranteeing site plan approval by the Planning Board within 90 days for projects in the DOZ envelope; no City Council approval is needed prior to getting building permits. A key piece of the development plan, especially for resi- New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, right, speaks of the city’s ambitious transformation plans with New dents concerned about the im- Rochelle Commissioner of Development Luiz Aragon on Feb. 14. Photo/John Gitlitz pact of development on the One key project that is just works, including two mixed-use tax base and on services, is the are a reality of development, creation of a Fair Share Mitiga- Bramson assured the audience underway is RXR’s $120 mil- buildings on Huguenot Street tion Fund. Aragon noted that that the fund will ensure that lion, 28-story mixed-use build- and the newly completed resiall DOZ projects are required New Rochelle taxpayers will not ing at 587 Main St., on the for- dential building, The Lombardi, mer site of Loews Theater. It will on the corner of Park Place and to contribute to the fund, which bear the cost of development. Key downtown projects house 280 luxury rental apart- North Avenue. Already nearly will cover public costs associunderway ment units, with commercial 90 percent occupied, The Lomated with the redevelopment, inAragon reported that there space on the ground floor and bardi is changing the face of that cluding an estimated $6 million of improvements required by the has already been a flurry of in- a 10,000-square-foot black box neighborhood, and has been so New Rochelle public schools terest from developers. The city performance theater which will successful that the developer is considering another project in to accommodate additional stu- has already approved develop- be managed by the city. Aragon described several dents resulting from the develop- ment plans for about 1,000 new SUMMIT continued on page 10 other nearby projects in the ment. Although tax abatements housing units.
8 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017
The importance of the absorption rate on home value By PEGGY JACKSON The absorption rate is a key indicator of the “temperature” of a particular real estate market. The question is whether the market is favoring the seller or the buyer. The absorption rate shows the amount of inventory currently on the market, and is the barometer of a buyer’s or seller’s market. When the absorption rate is above six month’s supply, it is considered a buyer’s market; when it is below six month’s supply, it is considered a seller’s market. Interestingly, all bank loans secured by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are required by federal law, to calculate the absorption rate into their bank appraiser’s valuations. The higher the absorption rate, the lower the valuation of a home in that area will be. The lower the absorption rate, the higher the valuation will be. Let’s dig a little deeper. Based on the active listings,
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN MAMARONECK SCHOOL DISTRICT
SOLD UNITS
119
HOMES SOLD/MONTH
19.8
ACTIVE UNITS
58
ABSORPTION RATE
2.929
and the number of homes sold in the last six months, I have put together an easy and interesting chart to show you how the absorption rate is calculated. Let’s use the Mamaroneck school district as an example. Based on figures taken from the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service, HGMLS, on Feb. 6, 119 homes were sold in this area in the last six months. Divide 119 by six and you come up with an average of 19.8 homes sold per month in that period. Again, as of Feb. 6, there are 58 homes on the market; 58 divided by 19.8 equals 2.929 months of
inventory. So, what does this mean for you as a seller? In the Mamaroneck school district, this is very good news indeed. Inventory levels are extremely low, that means prices should be going up—assuming that your home is accurately priced. Sellers should be aware of the current climate when considering where to position their homes, and this is a key factor realtors will use. Peggy Jackson is a real estate salesperson at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
SANDBOX from page 1
The Westchester Sandbox Theatre will move its operations elsewhere after receiving multiple building code violations while continuing to operate in conflict with village zoning code. Photo courtesy Westchester Sandbox Theatre
The goal of the analysis is to more tightly define the processes of the department in order to increase its efficacy and streamline its work, according to Trustee Keith Waitt, a Democrat. “If we can tighten up the policies and not guess what the right decision is, that’s great,” he said. Among the recent issues contributing to the increased oversight is also an ongoing dispute over Ralph’s Italian Ices & Ice
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Cream—a business adjacent to the Sandbox Theatre—which was misclassified as a retail establishment this past summer. Just how the village board will approach the analysis of the Building Department procedures remains to be seen, however. According to Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, while Democrats may seek to hire an outside consultant to evaluate processes, he plans to vote
against hiring any outside firm. “I believe it’s premature,” he said. “Let’s look inside first where your expertise is.” According to Potok, the village board will be addressing which path to take with the Building Department’s assessment at an upcoming meeting. Ferrante did not respond to a request for comment. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
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March 10, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 9
Sedona Taphouse supports scholarship fund
Sedona Taphouse owners Ron Duckstein and Bill Jablonski show their support for the Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo courtesy Michael Murphy
Every Monday in March, Sedona Taphouse will be offering its delicious $6 steak special to all their customers, with $1 from each dinner purchased being donated to the Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade Scholarship Fund. The annual parade has awarded a total of $17,500 in scholarships to local high school students, a tradition that began five years ago with the first Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “Our aim is to organize a
great parade event for the Sound Shore communities and to celebrate Irish-American culture,” said parade committee member Chris Regan. “It also provides for scholarships for deserving students who have dedicated part of their lives to preserving Irish culture and heritage in our communities.” The Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a community event and a celebration of Irish heritage, as well as a testimony to the nation of immigrants
who built our great country, representing the entire Sound Shore from Port Chester to Pelham. The sixth annual parade is scheduled for Sunday, March 19 at 1:30 p.m. For information on how you can march, volunteer or sponsor the Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit soundshoreparade.com. The Sedona Taphouse is located at 640 E. Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck. For more information, visit sedonataphouse.com. (Submitted)
UBER from page 3
response to the poll statistics, Uber tri-state general manager Josh Mohrer said, “New Yorkers are tired of telling pollsters, elected officials and community leaders they want ride-sharing in their communities.” Meanwhile, nationwide demand for access to ride-hailing is being recognized. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie,
a Republican, recently signed a similar ride-hailing bill into law, becoming the 36th governor in the country to do so. According to a draft of the Westchester law, a statewide ride-booking law in New York would pre-empt the county’s proposed legislation.
released on Feb. 27, allowing ride-hailing services to operate throughout the state is supported by a bipartisan majority of New Yorkers. Of those polled, 76 percent were in favor of legislation allowing ride-booking throughout the state, while 16 percent were opposed. In
CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
Village of Mamaroneck’s
Official Newspaper
10 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017
Metro-North OKs $7.8M security camera contract
Last month, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board approved a $7.8 million project to equip 334 of Metro-North’s trains with on-board cameras to improve safety and security. File photo
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA, board has given the nod of approval on a $7.8 million project to outfit trains on the Metro-North Hudson and Harlem lines with onboard cameras to improve security and safety. The on-board cameras will monitor the engineer’s control area, the track and wayside areas, and passenger areas to aid in investigations and deter crime, according to MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan. On Feb. 23, the contract was awarded to Bombardier Transportation Inc., a Canadian company, to outfit 334 of MTA’s M-7 railcars. The Metro-North has a total of 1,256 pieces of rolling stock, engines and passenger cars, which need the security cameras.
As of press time, the MTA has not yet approved spending for the rest of Metro-North’s fleet. The project’s approval was made by the MTA to help Metro-North comply with recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, which were made following a deadly derailment in the Bronx that left four dead and 61 injured. In 2013, William Rockefeller, the engineer of the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line passenger train, fell asleep while controlling the vehicle. The Hudson Line passenger train derailed near the Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx, causing $9 million in damages. It was the first accident in Metro-North history with passenger fatalities. The Metro-North began test-
ing the security cameras on some of its Harlem and Hudson line trains last year, after announcing its plans to install the cameras in February 2014, just months after the deadly derailment in New York City. In 2014, the NTSB released a final report that concluded that the incident could have been prevented, and was caused primarily by Rockefeller’s negligence. The engineer, who is currently receiving a $3,200-a-month disability pension, was later diagnosed with a sleep disorder. The Spuyten Duyvil train crash was followed by an even deadlier Metro-North crash in Valhalla. In 2015, six individuals were killed as a result of the Harlem Line train’s collision with an SUV. -Reporting by Franco Fino
ROSENBLUM from page 1
held his post since 2010, is also expected to seek re-election. Westchester County’s 7th District encompasses the city of Rye, the town and village of Mamaroneck, the village of Larchmont, and portions of the city of New Rochelle and the town/village of Harrison. When reached by phone this week, Parker declined to comment. County legislators are elected to serve two-year terms with an annual compensation of $49,200. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, will consider a bid for Westchester County legislator, and the seat currently occupied by Rye Democrat, Catherine Parker. File photo
developer Twining Properties to transform Echo Bay to a “South that area, according to Aragon. Street Seaport type of experiNear the Montefiore New ence.” The plan calls for four Rochelle Hospital, on Burling city blocks to be created with Lane, a developer has bought 450 residential units, 200 hotel all the properties except one, in beds and 100,000 square feet for a plan that calls for a total of sev- retail space. en luxury rental buildings. Two Further opportunities have been completed and plans and challenges for a third—the Millenia—was The New Rochelle Transit approved by the Planning Board Center and train station, home in July; it includes plans for a to Metro-North, Amtrak and the tropical forest atrium running BeeLine bus service, could bethe height of the building. come an even bigger draw by the At the northern end of the early 2020s. Referring to MetroDOZ, in a depressed stretch of North’s plans to complete a link North Avenue between New Ro- from New Rochelle to the west chelle City Hall and Iona Col- side of Manhattan and to Penn lege, a developer has purchased Station, Aragon described the property on both sides of the New Rochelle train station as a street. Mixed-use residential and future “Grand Central North.” commercial spaces are planned Anticipating the need for for both buildings, with 114 more high-quality retail as new units for the building on the east residential units are completed, side of North Avenue, and 74 the city has just retained Buxunits planned for the building on ton Consumer Analytics to help the west side. identify retailers that meet curOther approved projects men- rent and future needs. tioned by Aragon include a 300Regarding the potential imbed dormitory for Monroe Col- pact on residents of lower-ecolege students on Locust Avenue, nomic means, Bramson pointed on the site of a parking lot, and out that social equity issues were a 200-unit apartment building at a huge part of the conversation 10 Commerce St. as plans were formulated. He Waterfront development emphasized that New Rochelle’s plans diversity is a quality that this In addition to the downtown plan strives to preserve, and that redevelopment plans, New Ro- ensuring a robust supply of afchelle has just completed its fordable housing is key. The city Local Waterfront Revitaliza- requires 10 percent of new houstion Plan and is awaiting state ing units be affordable housing; approval. Although much of in addition, developers can get the New Rochelle waterfront is bonus points for an additional private, the plan seeks to create 10 percent. While the proportion more public access, potentially of higher-income housing may using the New Rochelle marina increase, in absolute numbers, and Echo Bay as gateways. there will be an increase in afWith regards to Echo Bay, the fordable housing units. City Council recently approved Responding to a question relocation of its Department about lower-income residents of Public Works main facility, potentially being displaced by clearing the way for develop- the development, Aragon exment of that area. Aragon shared plained that most of the new that the Planning Board is cur- construction will replace parkrently reviewing a proposal that ing lots and commercial strucCity Council just approved with tures, not residential facilities. SUMMIT from page 7
Any displaced residents will be given priority for the affordable housing units. With the downtown development projects potentially creating thousands of jobs over the next decade, the city will be creating a First Source Referral Center, which should also benefit lower-income residents. The center, which will be managed by WESTHAB, a regional nonprofit, and funded by developers, will work with the construction trades, labor unions, and developers. According to Bramson, the center will offer a job-training, job-placement program that will help New Rochelle residents take advantage of short-term job opportunities while acquiring long-term career skills. Responding to a question about flood mitigation issues, Mayor Bramson noted that most of the building is on land that are already hardscaped. In addition, projects must submit plans showing that there is no additional water runoff. Finally, Bramson and Aragon confirmed a rumored change in New Rochelle traffic patterns. As part of the redevelopment plan, Main and Huguenot streets will both become two-way streets. Although the mayor initially was skeptical, he was persuaded by discussions with retailers and with the results of computer modeling, which showed that by enabling people to reach their destinations more directly, traffic would also be reduced. Looking beyond the immediate impact to New Rochelle, Bramson spoke of more farreaching benefits to its neighboring communities, such as Larchmont, as well as the entire county. The mayor hopes the redevelopment plan will enable New Rochelle to attract millennial and empty nesters from the larger New York metropolitan area and compete with cities like White Plains and Stamford.
March 10, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 11
Kensico project faces opposition from lawmakers By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Some lawmakers are standing firm in their opposition to fund Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino’s $25 million plan to transform Kensico Dam after further review crystalized its potential cost to taxpayers. County Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hastings-on-Hudson Democrat who chairs the Board of Legislators’ Infrastructure Committee, was among lawmakers to rail against the project which she characterized as fiscally irresponsible. “It’s an awful lot of money for us to spend in the current state of our finances,” Shimsky told the Review. “I don’t see how we can afford this given all the other priorities.” According to a consultant report from Dan Biederman, who was hired by Astorino, a Republican, to review the proposed project last year, according to Shimsky, the project—which would be funded through 15- to 25-year bonds—would face approximately $400,000 in annual
operating losses. The administration’s sweeping renovations at Kensico Dam—located in Valhalla next to the Bronx River Parkway—were unveiled in October 2016 and would repurpose a 92,000-square-foot reflecting pool that has sat barren since 2007, for two brand new skating rinks. In October, the Astorino administration cited historically low interest rates among the incentives in funding the project now. However, in a speech just last month, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen indicated interest rates on debt could see an increase this month, making any bonds issued by the county in the coming months potentially more expensive. Whatever political will exists amongst the Board of Legislators to fund a series of bond acts remains unclear, however. According to Shimsky, none of the 10 Democrats on the board have given their full support to the plan, to this point. Across the aisle, concerns are less adamant.
“Of course there’s all these financial constraints that are important to manage,” said David Gelfarb, a Rye Brook Republican. “These are long-term projects that pay out over the long term; they’re not things you have to pay for—so to speak—upfront.” While lawmakers review four bond acts introduced in January to fund the project, Shimsky said legislators will also juggle a myriad other fiscal complications that portend lower than expected revenues for the county in 2017. Specifically, Shimsky said her board colleagues will have to contend with lower than projected sales tax revenue as well as $15 million in tentative revenue budgeted for a prospective deal to privatize the county-owned airport. In addition to the rink—which would be divided into one regulation-size hockey rink and one elliptical skating rink—current designs for an enhanced Kensico Dam would also feature a fountain and new concessions. As a means to offset the cost
A $25 million project to transform Kensico Dam is facing stark opposition from Westchester’s Democratic lawmakers who categorize the plan as fiscally irresponsible. File photo
of the project and its operating costs, the Astorino administration has cited potential advertising sponsorship deals at the rink, similar to a business model in Bryant Park in New York City. That model, however, drew
skepticism from Democratic lawmakers who cited the dam’s lower levels of foot traffic compared to Bryant Park, which would affect incentives—and therefore payment rates—for potential advertisers.
After being further vetted in committee, the project will go forward to the legislative floor where lawmakers must vote on the bond acts. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
12 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017
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March 10, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 13
Crime and ineffective punishment RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
It’s no secret that America loves to send people to prison. We have 5 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of its prisoners—which is odd for a “land of liberty.” Lately it has become common to attribute our mass incarceration to the war on drugs. The conversation goes like this: “Why don’t we just release the non-violent drug offenders? That makes so much sense!” And it does. But it will not make that big a dent in the number of people sitting in cells, says John Pfaff, a professor of law at Fordham University and author of the new book, “Locked In: the True Causes of Mass Incarceration – and How to Achieve Real Reform.” (Book titles keep getting longer, don’t they?) Surprisingly, people arrested for drug crimes constitute only about 16 percent of the people in prison. Most of the rest are there for violent crimes. So for Pfaff the question is: Should we start releasing the violent criminals, too? At first blush, this sounds crazy. We need to keep violent offenders off the street. But one point that Pfaff makes is that “violent offender” is a misleading term. It makes it sound as if there’s a class of people who are wired wrong and incorrigible. This is wrong on two counts. First of all, some crimes are labeled “violent” that aren’t—like breaking into a house. But beyond that, some people are labeled “violent” who committed their crime only in the context of one particular situ-
ation. “You’re in a bad mood, you have a beer, you get in a fight with your friend at the bar and break his jaw,” says Pfaff. “If we’re trying to minimize future harm, some sort of anger management class might be more effective than prison.” But prison has become our knee-jerk response to all violence, even though often this isn’t addressing the real problem. Which is…? Well, says Pfaff, “Whenever you have young men who are denied upward social mobility and the state doesn’t do a good job of preventing violent crime, these young men will engage in violence against each other. It’s as true in 19thcentury Czarist Russia as it is in 20th-century Los Angeles. What is necessary is a change of circumstance.” That might sound like a verse from the “West Side Story” song—“Officer Krupke, you’re really a slob, this boy don’t need a doctor just a good honest job”—but Pfaff cites a current theory that looks at violence as an epidemic: A shoots B, B’s friends shoot C, C’s brother shoots D, and so forth. “One study tied 400 shootings back to one initial shooting,” Pfaff said. If we could just stop that chain at the start, so many lives would be saved—and so many fewer people would wind up in a cage. One method shown to work is a program in Boston called Project Ceasefire. It works like this: The cops determine which gangs are responsible for the majority of the gun violence. “Then they sit down and meet with those people and kind of give them two choices: ‘If you persist in this violence, we will crack down on you as a group, aggressively,’” Pfaff said. But
the cops also bring in an array of social workers to help with housing, food, employment, and health care. “And they say, ‘If you’re willing to put this violence behind you, we will help you build a more stable life.’ It’s called ‘focused deterrence.’ It’s carrot and stick.” A program like this called Cure Violence was introduced in Chicago. “And when the state cut the funding a couple of years ago, that’s exactly when the violence in Chicago began its sharp increase,” Pfaff says. Somehow, one solitary neighborhood managed to keep its funding. And there, says Pfaff, the crime rate continues to go down. This doesn’t definitively prove the program works. “But it’s worth a lot more study.” It certainly is. And so is a look at the prison guard unions. While many people are concerned about the advent of private prisons—after all, these make money on “heads in beds,” so they support more incarceration—the role of the public prison guard unions should not be ignored. Here in New York state, says Pfaff, our prison population is down 25 percent, and yet our correctional budget keeps going up. The more guards that are on the payroll, the more potential votes for laws that are tough on crime—perhaps excessively. After all, jobs depend on it. But lives depend on something else: preventing violence, not punishing it. Putting people behind bars ignores the cost to their families, and to taxpayers. If we want to make our cities safer, locking up violent offenders may not be the key. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Change your clocks, check your batteries As New Yorkers prepare to set their clocks forward one hour on Sunday, March 12, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, FASNY, urges all New Yorkers to check their smoke and carbon monoxide, CO, alarms to ensure their homes are properly protected. If alarms have removable batteries, those batteries should be replaced. Alarms equipped with sealed-in batteries should be tested to ensure they are in proper working condition. At the end of 2015, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law that will require all smoke alarms sold in New York state to be equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries that last for at least 10 years. The new law will take effect in 2019 and marks an important step in improving New York’s fire safety. According to research from the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, three out of every five home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms, and the vast majority of smoke alarm failures are due to dead or missing batteries. Ten-year smoke alarms
require little maintenance, and unlike alarms with removable batteries, they are nearly impossible to deactivate. Regardless of the type of alarm in one’s home, FASNY recommends cleaning all alarms to remove any debris that might impede their function, and to test the batteries, changing them if necessary. “Installing and maintaining smoke alarms in your house is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself from fire,” said FASNY President Ken Pienkowski. “This simple but vital maintenance includes ensuring that all alarms are equipped with working batteries. We strongly encourage New Yorkers to install 10-year smoke alarms, which cannot be easily deactivated. Equally important is installing and maintaining carbon monoxide alarms. These appliances are critical in preventing future tragedies.” FASNY smoke and CO alarm tips: • Test alarms at least once a month by using the test button. • If you have an alarm with a removable battery, be sure to check the batteries every six
months, and change the batteries every year. If a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you. Do NOT disable the unit. • Vacuum or blow out any dust that might have accumulated in the unit. • NEVER borrow a battery from an alarm to use somewhere else. • NEVER paint a smoke or CO alarm. • Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement, and in or near each sleeping area. • Smoke alarms should not be installed near a window because drafts could interfere with their operation. • Families should also develop and practice a home fire escape plan. • Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for testing smoke alarms and replacing the batteries. For more information on smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and other information on fire safety and prevention, visit fasny.com and nfpa.org. (Submitted)
Felix is an adorable Jack Russell terrier mix, about 3 years old and 14 pounds. This little guy is a love to those that know him, but he is shy when he first meets you. He is fine with some dogs, but prefers to be your one and only. He needs a loving and nurturing home that will have the time and patience to help him come out of his shell and be the amazing boy he was meant to be! Could that be you? Felix is neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped. Make him part of your family for an adoption donation of $300 to Pet Rescue. To meet Felix, call 834-6955 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
14 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017
A Classic pastime LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
Donald Trump is right. America doesn’t win anymore, and it hasn’t in a long time. But I’m not
talking about defeats in trade, wars or border security; I’m talking about the very essence of America itself. I’m talking about baseball. This week marked the beginning of the fourth installment of the World Baseball Classic,
SPORTS
WBC, an international tournament featuring teams from around the globe duking it out in what was once considered the most American of pursuits. And if past results are any indication, it won’t be the good old USA on the gold medal stand when all
the dust finally settles. Don’t get me wrong, the past three winners of the WBC have their own proud baseball traditions. Japan won the first two, in 2006 and 2009, and the last title belongs to the Dominican Republic, a nation that supplies its fair share of stars to the major leagues. But why has America, the nation in which the sport was birthed, lagged so far behind?
The fourth World Baseball Classic kicked off this week, but Sports Editor Mike Smith believes we can do more to make the games matter here in America. Photo courtesy mlb.com
It’s certainly not for lack of talent. This year’s iteration of Team USA, while lacking a few big names like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, certainly has enough bats—and arms—to compete. Buster Posey, Daniel Murphy, Nolan Arenado and other perennial All-Stars are all aboard, which puts the Americans squarely ahead of teams like Israel, which features a few MLB re-treads like Ike Davis and Jason Marquis among a slew of minor league talent. But Israel has gotten off to a hot start, beating both South Korea and Chinese Taipei in pool play and it’s certainly not due to its abundance of star power. For teams like Israel, and even clubs with established MLB talent like the Dominican Republic, the WBC just seems to mean more. Minor leaguers jump at the opportunity to play on the big stage, and the sluggers from the Dominican Republic—players like Robinson Cano, Adrian Beltre and Hanley Ramirez—speak time and again about the honor of representing their home
countries in the classic. On the other hand, Noah Syndergaard, the Mets’ flamethrower who would probably be the best starting pitcher on Team USA’s roster, declined an invitation, saying, in no uncertain terms, that the WBC was simply not as important as getting prepared for the MLB season. And I can’t say I necessarily blame him. Playing in the major leagues is a full time job, and I can’t begrudge someone for opting to save himself for Opening Day at the expense of what happens to be an exhibition tournament. I don’t know how this gets fixed, whether it is by moving the dates of the WBC or increasing pressure from the MLB Players Association to get our best and brightest on the field, but one thing is clear. Until we, as a nation, decide that the WBC matters, we are never going to make America— or at least our American team— great again.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
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SPORTS
March 10, 2017 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • 15
Tigers club Crusaders ICE HOCKEY
division i
REGIONAL FINALS
MAMARONECK 6 MONROE WOODBURY 0 ICE TIME
3/4/17
Game Notes: • Harrison Schreiber and Henry Alimanestianu both scored twice • Tommy Spero made 11 saves to notch his 20th career shutout • The Tigers will play Williamsville North on March 11 at the HarborCenter in Buffalo By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Mamaroneck had a lot riding on its March 4 regional game against Monroe-Woodbury; a return trip to the state semifinals was up in the air, and with it the Tigers’ hopes of repeating as state champs. The only
Harrison Schreiber skates with the puck against Monroe-Woodbury on March 4. Schreiber had two goals in Mamaroneck’s 6-0 win.
thing standing in their way was a Crusaders team who most fans didn’t believe stood much of a chance against the top-ranked Division I team in the state. Mamaroneck coach Mike Chiapparelli knew that as long as his team didn’t overlook the Section IX skaters. It was ap-
parent from the opening faceoff, however, that overconfidence would not be a problem for the Tigers as they put together a dominant performance to top the Crusaders 6-0 and book their return trip to Buffalo this weekend. “I thought during the week
Tommy Spero makes a stop during the March 4 contest. Spero had 11 saves to post his 20th career shutout and set a New York State record in the process.
James Torre celebrates a first period goal against Monroe-Woodbury.
that we weren’t taking this seriously,” the Tiger coach said. “But we had to rip them a few times, and I think we got it; and we came out fast.” Mamaroneck peppered Monroe goalie Dan Dorney from the outset, tallying 50 shots on goal. Although Dorney was solid, the sheer volume of offensive output simply proved too much for the Crusaders. The Tigers had a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission and exploded for three more goals in the second period. Both Harrison Schreiber and Henry Alimanestianu had two goals for Mamaroneck, while James Torre and Michael Carducci rounded out the Tiger scoring. “[Dorney] was good; he is a very big, lanky kid, and he made 44 saves,” Chiapparelli said. “But we were getting chances early, I knew their second line wasn’t as strong and we were just able to wear them down.” Tiger netminder Tommy Spero made 11 saves to earn his 20th career shutout, setting a New York state record with the win. “You have a feeling any time he’s in net that you have a chance to win the game,” Chiapparelli
Jack Dente controls the puck against the Crusaders. Photos/Mike Smith
said of Spero. “We always have the best goalie, no matter who we play.” Mamaroneck will head to Buffalo to play the state semifinal round on March 11 against Section IV champ Williamsville North, which enters into the game as the No. 3 ranked team in the state. As they look to defend their title, the Tigers are hoping that both their veterans, who went through the state tournament last year, and the new-
comers, who are getting their first taste of state competition, will all be on the same page this weekend. “I think early in the year we were relying on the seniors, but there’s no difference between the first- and second-year players now,” Chiapparelli said. “You don’t see that separation anymore; we are just playing like a team.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
16 • THE MAMARONECK REVIEW • March 10, 2017