November 10, 2017 by The Rye City Review

RyeCity REVIEW THE

November 10, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 45 | www.ryecityreview.com

Latimer upends Astorino, wins county executive race

Dems knock off Sack, win City Council majority By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

Photo/Andrew Dapolite

By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief Republicans in Westchester didn’t stand a chance on Tuesday night, as a Democratic voter surge culminated with the ushering in of state Sen. George Latimer to the highest elected office in the county. The failed re-election for incumbent County Executive Rob Astorino, a two-term Republican, was decisive and swift. As the results began to pour in shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 7, the numbers quickly shifted in Latimer’s favor, and what materialized into a double-digit margin early on never tightened. It was a sobering night at the

polls for Republicans throughout Westchester, who were left to regroup amid fears that the turnout was in direct response to President Donald Trump’s policies. Termed the “Trump effect,” it was too much to overcome even for Astorino, who had defied odds in his previous election victories despite a 2-to-1 voter registration disadvantage for Republicans. According to the unofficial county Board of Elections tallies, Latimer captured 116,767 votes, equating to 57 percent of the popular vote, compared to Astorino’s 89,463 votes, or 43 percent. The turnout shows a stark turnaround from when Astorino successfully won re-election in 2013. With his biggest win to date,

Latimer continues his unbeaten streak of 18 consecutive elections, which started off in 1987 in a run for the Rye City Council. He then successfully worked his way through the Westchester County Board of Legislators and into the New York state Legislature. Latimer has held some level of elected office for 30 years. Joined by a packed house of supporters at the Coliseum White Plains, Latimer offered victory remarks to raucous cheers from the audience. “We are going to run this county well,” he said. “We’re going to run it on progressive values; we’re going to keep your taxes in line, but it’s not going to be

just about taxes.” Latimer said his administration would be about jobs, housing, transportation, health care and also taxes. “We are going to show you in Westchester what we’re going to show you in the nation in three years,” he added, offering a prelude to the 2020 presidential race, “how to run America the right way.” The campaign was hard fought but also full of mudslinging from both sides. Astorino, with a significant war chest, outspent Latimer by a 3-to-1 margin. At the Crowne Plaza White Plains, Astorino awaited the results alongside his supporters. LATIMER continued on page 10

The political tide has turned in Rye. City Republicans were dealt a crushing blow on election night in a lopsided result that swung the balance of power on the City Council to Democrats. Also of note was the defeat of incumbent Republican Mayor Joe Sack, a longtime member of the City Council, who was seeking a second term. Democratic mayoral candidate Josh Cohn scored a resounding victory capturing 61 percent, or 2,724 votes; Sack garnered just 39 percent, or 1,750 votes. Alongside Cohn, Democratic council candidates Julie Souza, Sara Goddard and Ben Stacks also secured decisive wins at the polls. According to unofficial results from the Westchester County Board of Elections, Goddard captured 21 percent of the total votes cast, while Souza and Stacks both won 20 percent. On the Republican side, incumbent Councilman Terry McCartney finished with 13 percent, or 1,749 votes, followed by running mates Elizabeth Parks, who garnered 13 percent, or 1,692 votes, and Susan Watson with 12 percent, or 1,631 votes. The scene at Rosemary and Vine on Purchase Street, which served as the headquarters for the Democratic slate, was celebratory and festive as the polls closed and the final ballots were cast. Shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 7, volunteers and supporters of

the Democratic candidates gathered around Cohn, who thanked all in attendance as the numbers began to skew in his team’s favor. “There is a heartwarming reception [to us] from the people of Rye,” Cohn told the Review on election night. “I’m looking forward to serving and I think we should all thank Mayor Joe Sack for his service. In the meantime, we will start planning for January.” Such a celebration played out in most corners of Westchester as the Democratic turnout was exceedingly high. Many viewed the No. 1 reason for that was a repudiation of President Donald Trump and his agenda. Sack, who will leave office at the end of the year after one of the lengthiest political careers in city history, told the Review that he was proud of his service and the campaign his ticket ran. “We congratulate the mayor and council members-elect,” he said, “and offer our full support to ensure that the business of Rye continues for the benefit of all our residents.” The four Democrats will be inMAJORITY continued on page 7

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November 10, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3

Parker bests Rosenblum in county race

Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, is all smiles in White Plains after scoring a huge win over GOP challenger Norman Rosenblum, adding to wholesale Democratic gains across the county. Photo/Andrew Dapolite

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, joined the wave of big Democratic gains across Westchester County this week, securing a substantial win over challenger Norman Rosenblum. Amongst other legislative races, Parker, a two-term legislator, won by one of the largest margins, securing a formidable 66 percent of the vote compared to 34 percent for Rosenblum, the current mayor of the village of Mamaroneck. Like other Democrats across the county, higher-than-usual voter turnout seemed to clearly work in re-electing Parker to represent the 7th legislative district. According to unofficial county Board of Elections figures, 15,162 people cast ballots in the race compared to just 9,509 during Parker’s last

re-election bid in 2015. Further, Parker alone managed to secure 10,000 votes—more than the total number of votes tallied in 2015, a non-presidential election year where she defeated Susan Watson, a Republican from Rye. Parker, while stationed at Bar’Lees Whiskey and Wine Bar on Mamaroneck Avenue, offered her remarks to constituents. “Thanks so much for re-electing me for a third term,” Parker said to an exuberant Mamaroneck crowd. “I also want to say thank you for recognizing that we are in this together.” Rosenblum, who had held his mayor’s seat since 2009, said he intends to make an exit from politics after opting to pursue higher office instead of running for re-election as village mayor this year. “As they say, the king is dead, long live the king,” he said. “It’s time for other people to step in.” Rosenblum said that while he has no gripes about his campaign, the so-called “Trump effect”—anti-Donald Trump sentiments influencing Democratic voters—was arguably the biggest factor facing Westchester Republicans. “The emphasis was that [Rob] Astorino is like [Donald] Trump, and in my own debate,

Rosenblum is like Astorino,” he told the Review. Indeed, countywide, hoards of Democratic voters poured into voting stations and buoyed candidates in their districts. Mirroring Parker’s race, local races in the village of Mamaroneck and the city of Rye— prominent voting blocks in Parker’s district—saw thousands more voters flock to the polls than in previous elections. Democratic success on election night also helped secure a greater Democratic majority—previously 9-8—in the county Legislature. After at least three Republican incumbents were defeated, with a fourth incumbent’s race— Legislator David Tubiolo, of Yonkers—still too close to call, as of press time, county Democrats will enjoy a super majority come January. Westchester’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. County legislators serve twoyear terms and earn an annual salary of $49,200. Parker could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

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What’s going on... Rye Free Reading Room

iPhonography Fun with Chris Wood On Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Meeting Room. The Little Garden Club of Rye presents Chris Wood, who will demonstrate how to take better pictures using the iPhone’s own capabilities as well as using inexpensive downloadable apps. Wood is an experienced amateur photographer and photography judge, and a member of The Garden Club of America.

For more information on hours and programs, visit ryelibrary.org. The library will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of Veterans Day.

Practice ACT test On Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Take a full-length practice exam under real test conditions. Test takers should bring water, a snack, pencils and a calculator. Detailed score reports highlighting personal strengths and weaknesses will be available at applerouth.com the Friday after the test. Both exams and reports are free. Call Jill Steinberg at 371-8000 for more information. Register at applerouth.com/signup.

Teacher-In-The-Library On Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Children’s Room. For grades K–5. Drop by the library where Rye teachers offer homework help to students attending local public and private elementary schools in the Rye and close surrounding areas. This is a free program sponsored by the Auxiliary Board of the Rye Free Reading Room, Woman’s Club of Rye/Children’s Philanthropy Section, and the PTO of the Rye Schools.

Book Group: Heard in Rye - RyeACT On Thursday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the Meeting Room. Rye Free Reading Room, in collaboration with Heard in Rye and RyeACT, invite you to join this book discussion on “Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices To Help Children, Teens and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience” by clinical psychologist Christopher Willard. “Growing Up Mindful” is an inspiring guidebook that introduces parents to more than 75 mindfulness exercises that promote balance, calm and resilience in their families. Mindfulness builds emotional intelligence, boosts happiness, increases curiosity and engagement, reduces anxiety and promotes flourishing. Please sign up at ryelibrary.org to join on Thursdays, Nov. 16, and Dec. 7. This group will be lead by Beth Gallos and Kim O’Connor. This group is limited to the first 20 people who sign up.

Tunes for Tots On Thursday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Children’s Room. Recommended for infants and toddlers. Nurture your child’s love of books through music, movement and instruments while helping to develop their language, motor and so-

cial skills. Join Miss Deborah as she incorporates stories, music, dancing, rhythm activities, puppets and more at this special music program. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate.

Understanding your Social Security Options On Thursday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room. Paul Tramontozzi, a Rye resident and certified financial planner professional, will give a presentation on “Understanding your Social Security Options.” In this session, he will discuss information and insight into the kinds of decisions that a retiree will need to make in the interest of maximizing their potential Social Security benefits, given the fact that everyone’s situation is unique.

Picture, Data and File Handling On Thursday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Raho Technology Center. This session will show how to set up folders and files and also the use of flash drives and DVDs in handling all types of data. Using Cut–Copy–Paste to facilitate data transfer will also be covered. This session will also present how to transfer pictures from cameras and other media to the computer. This workshop is taught by Mike Negrelli, a former executive for IBM. First come, first served. No registration required.

All About Naturopathic Medicine On Thursday, Nov. 16 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Presented by Holistic Moms, Dr. Kurt Beil will discuss this integrative approach, and how the blending of modern medical science and ancient healing techniques such as herbalism, nutrition, and acupuncture help to promote health and resolve difficult cases of chronic disease.

Graham Clarke’s Musical Fridays On Friday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room. Recommended for toddlers and preschoolers. Families are always welcome. Rock out at the Rye Free Reading Room on Friday mornings when popular children’s musician Graham Clarke performs. Kids love Graham’s silly humor and fun songs and will enjoy moving and grooving to the beat with this energetic performer. Please arrive early to find parking; doors will be closed 10 minutes after show begins or when room is at “Fire Code” capacity, and no one will be admitted after that. Weather permitting, Graham’s performance will be outside on the Village Green where a larger audience can be accommodated.

Gizmos Science Fun Club On Friday, Nov. 17 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Gizmos Science Fun Club offers children in grades 3–5 a chance to engage in handson, inquiry-based experiments. In this one-hour science club, participants will focus on a different STEAM activity each month with handouts to follow up at home. Through this program, children will begin to see that science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts can be fun. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Visit ryelibrary.org, click on “Programs & Events,” “Kids,” the event date, and then “Register.”

create scenes, move the plot ahead, and think about satisfying story endings. Not necessary to have a work in progress. Participants will do in-class writing exercises for fun and share comments with anyone who would like feedback on their own work. The goal is to establish a writing routine that allows you to achieve 500 words a day. Join in and see how easy that goal can be.

Rye Arts Center The Rye Arts Center is located at 51 Milton Road in Rye. For more information, call 967-0700 or visit ryeartscenter.org.

Play with Your Food On Monday, Nov. 13 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Play With Your Food attracts sold-out crowds in Westport, Greenwich, and Fairfield, Connecticut. Arrive at noon, enjoy a gourmet buffet lunch, and then settle in for a program of clever, provocative one-act plays by both classic and contemporary playwrights and read by terrific professional actors. After a short discussion with the actors, director, and often a playwright or two, everyone goes back to work or carries on with their day. Fee: $45. To register, visit ryeartscenter.org.

Thanksgiving Workshop: Polymer Clay On Saturday, Nov. 18 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for ages 6 to 8, and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 9 to 12. Come celebrate fall at The Rye Art Center and get ready for Thanksgiving by creating a cute polymer clay turkey sculpture to decorate your holiday table. Terry Taylor shows students how to use “Magic Color Clay” to create beautiful multi-color coils for the turkey’s tail. Participants will learn how to transform simple balls and coils of clay into a one-of-a-kind turkey sculpture. Includes all supplies. Fee: $15; members receive a discount. To register, visit ryeartscenter.org.

LEGOLAND Westchester LEGO Star Wars Days From Friday, Nov. 17 through Sunday, Nov. 19. May the Force be with you as Jedi Knights, Droids and Clone Troopers invade LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester during the LEGO Star Wars Days. The weekend features fun-filled activities for all ages including a themed mosaic build in the Master Builder Academy, a Star Wars MINILAND scavenger hunt, and photo opportunities with LEGO Star Wars creations built by the center’s Master Model Builder. Star Wars fans are encouraged to dress as their favorite character while exploring the ultimate LEGO Star Wars galaxy of fun. Costumed fan groups will also make appearances to meet and greet fans of all ages. Annual Pass holders are encouraged to attend the LEGO Star Wars Days kickoff at 4 p.m. on Nov. 17. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald St., Yonkers. Tickets start at $15.95; children under 2 are free. Opening hours: Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 866-243-0770 or visit legolanddiscoverycenter. com/westchester.

NaNoWriMo On Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room. NaNoWriMo Part 3: The Plot Thickens. With Maureen Mancini Amaturo. Don’t stop now. You’ve been writing and inventing and imagining, so what’s next for your story and your writing life? Participants will discuss how to

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.

November 10, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5

County announces drug takeback program As part of National Prescription Take Back Day, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has made it easier for residents to safely dispose of their old and excess drugs and medications. On Nov. 4, Westchester County opened its Household Material Recovery Facility, H-MRF at 15 Woods Road in Valhalla for the

second Saturday in a row. The goal of Prescription Take Back Day is to provide safe, convenient, and responsible ways of disposing potentially lethal and addictive prescription drugs, while simultaneously educating the public about the potential for abuse and medications.

“People often ask, ‘what can I do in this opioid crisis?’” Astorino said. “The best way to keep these prescriptions drugs out of reach is to get rid of them and to properly dispose of them. All too often, addiction starts with the medicine cabinet and ends in tragedy.” For people who missed gthe

Saturday drop-offs, the facility will be open on Nov. 14 and the first Tuesday of every month thereafter. The added drop-off days coincide with a national movement highlighting the dangers of prescription drugs and opioids. Additionally, residents can drop off medications at select local police departments at any time, or at two pharmacies that currently have lockboxes: CircleRx Pharmacy on Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon and Walgreens Pharmacy on Nepperhan Avenue in Yonkers. “I provide this service as a way of helping people,” said Mark Rauchwerger, president and pharmacist at CircleRx Pharmacy. “It’s quick, easy and safe. If I can prevent even one person from overdosing on opioids, it’s

well worth the effort.” Sherlita Amler, commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Health, noted that it’s important that people properly dispose of their mixed medications, and that medications should never be thrown in the trash, flushed down the toilet or washed down the sink because they could taint ground and surface waters and harm those ecosystems. “We must attack this national health crisis from every front,” Amler said, “and opening up the county’s recovery facility is a safe, easy and inexpensive way to properly dispose of unused and expired medications.” When it began in 2008, Westchester’s medication take back program was the first of its kind

in New York State. It has since grown, and been replicated, and continues to be available at the Household Material Recovery Facility, by appointment and select days. When delivering medications to the H-MRF, keep all items in the original container or, if unavailable, put them in a sealable plastic bag. Liquid medications should be in their containers in sealable plastic bags. County staff will be on hand to accept expired and unused medications for disposal. For more information or to learn how to drop off medications at your local police department, refer to the Safe Medication Disposal brochure or call the Recycling HelpLine at 813-5425. (Submitted)

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The Household Material Recovery facility will be open Nov. 4, and the first Tuesday of every month beginning Nov. 14. Photo courtesy Westchestergov.com

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6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 10, 2017

RyeCity REVIEW THE

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SeniorU gives elderly chance at college degree

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 Reporter | Franco Fino ext. 18, franco@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Nancy Kaplan ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Photographer Jen Parente Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Joe Murphy

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.

By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter Beginning January 2018, residents over the age of 65 at Wartburg, a senior living, health care, and rehabilitation center in Mount Vernon, will be able to acquire a college degree through the facility’s SeniorU program. Wartburg has partnered with Concordia College, a Christian institute in Bronxville, to create SeniorU, a program that gives residents the opportunity to receive either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, a liberal arts degree that allows students to focus on a wide range of interests. “In our pursuit to become even more collaborative with the community, this gave us a location in Mount Vernon that fit the profile of senior youth,” said Jim Bunn, special assistant to the president at Concordia College. “It was natural to be partners with Wartburg.” David Gentner, CEO and president of Wartburg, said the collaboration intends to “benefit both of our organizations in a way that serves the community in a new and unique way that’s not happening now.” According to the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau, which provides information on topics including the amount of education obtained by U.S. citizens, 17.4 percent of

people 55 years and older have a bachelor’s degree, compared to 25.4 percent of people ages 25 to 34 years old. “We have a built in senior care and service organization and that includes seniors that are independent, and active… and in many cases underserved.” Gentner said. Bunn said program intends to exercise and expand the minds of the older residents. “Try to imagine how cool it is to be able to help someone get a college degree, who for a variety of reasons, may have never had the opportunity,” Gentner said. Bunn explained that the classes won’t be like “your typical classroom,” and that they will be specifically geared toward senior learning. “It’s experiential,” he said. Bunn gave the example of a computer class, which would involve teaching seniors how to use social media to communicate with their families. “Now’s the time the seniors can really put their good life experiences to work, by getting people to think and talk,” he said. “Expanding one’s mind is what the seniors are really excited about.” Holly Magnani, director of marketing and web master at Concordia, said that the classes will be held at Wartburg in Mount Vernon, and for now will only be available to residents at Wartburg.

In fall 2018, Magnani said that they plan to open the classes up seniors 65 and older from the surrounding communities. The classes will be taught by faculty from Concordia. Bunn explained that the professors will be in a similar age range of 65 years old and up. “By seniors, for seniors; that’s our goal,” Bunn said. The partnership is still in the beginning stages, and Bunn explained that they are working on having informational sessions and focus groups to gage community interest in the program. “We’re on a good trajectory,” Bunn said. Enrollment for SeniorU’s January 2018 semester is open, and more information on how to sign up can be found at Concordia-NY.edu. “Like all people, [seniors] deserve the opportunity to live their best life,” Gentner said. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com

One of the classes offered under SeniorU will teach seniors social media literacy. Photo courtesy CARP.ca

Residents of Wartburg over the age of 65 will be able to get either their associates or bachelor’s degree through SeniorU, in collaboration with Concordia College. Photo courtesy SeniorCitizensInc.org

From left, David Gentner, president and CEO at Wartburg; Joan Parks, a Wartburg resident; Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas; and the Rev. Dr. John Nunes, president at Concordia College. Photo courtesy Wartburg.org

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Wartburg, a senior living facility, is in the city of Mount Vernon. Photo courtesy LecesseConstruction.com

November 10, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7 MAJORITY from page 1

Rye Democrats won all four seats in this year’s election for City Council, which included a mayoral position and three council seats. From left, Ben Stacks, Sara Goddard, Josh Cohn and Julie Souza celebrate on election night at Rosemary and Vine. Photo/Franco Fino

augurated in early January and will then join a seven-member council that will seat six Democrats and a lone Republican, Councilman Richard Mecca. The mayoral and council campaign was hard fought, with candidates debating issues concerning the recent Crown Castle controversy and the New York State Thruway Authority property, which amassed a great deal of attention when Sack wrote a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, urg-

ing him to disallow the Rye Country Day School to buy the property. The vacant 4.7-acre land parcel is parallel to the school and has been the center of attention in Rye since the city became re-interested in purchasing the property in the summer. Both political parties are split on purchasing the property, which has led to heated City Council meetings and finger pointing. Despite that, Stacks said his ticket never lost sight of what’s

“most important,” the residents of Rye. “This is a fantastic victory and we’re really looking forward to doing the right thing for the people of Rye,” he said. This election also marks the first time since 2009 that Democrats in Rye will hold the majority on the City Council. Council members, including the mayor, serve four-year terms and are not compensated for their service. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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Rye Neck fifth-graders take tower challenge

Rye Neck students stand up to cyberbullying

Rye Neck Middle School students partner with representatives from the Anti-Defamation League for a workshop on cyberbullying. Photo courtesy Rye Neck school district

F.E. Bellows Elementary School fifth-graders test their design and engineering skills by building marshmallowtopped towers. Photo courtesy Rye Neck school district

Fifth-grade students at F.E. Bellows Elementary School tested their design and engineering skills on Oct. 30 as they built the tallest marshmallow-topped towers they could out of spaghetti, tape and a string. The challenge – which was part of the school’s Seekers and Solvers Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics, STEAM, workshops – was designed to foster creativity and collaboration among the students. Each group of students was given 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string,

five marshmallows and 18 minutes to complete the challenge. “The students used math skills to measure and convert yards to inches, and used logical thinking to decide how to best complete the activity,” said Susan Combs, a fifth-grade teacher and team leader. “The students were very surprised that there were no questions allowed and they could interpret the directions any way they chose.” Combs said the students began to share ideas with each other and became very engaged and excited about their structures. Each stu-

dent demonstrated different skills as leaders, builders, inventors and mathematicians while they were completing the challenge. Once completed, they reflected on the experience and the lessons they learned. “We put one marshmallow as a base and put two spaghetti sticks sticking out,”said fifth-grader Fiona Fox. “This was a great way to start. Each member had a specific job. We learned about teamwork and that it doesn’t matter if there is a bad idea, we can learn from each others’ mistakes.” (Submitted)

A group of Rye Neck Middle School, RNMS, students in sixth through eighth grade, who had demonstrated leadership skills as members of the school community, partnered with representatives from the Anti-Defamation League for a workshop on Oct. 24. As part of a worldwide movement, the students engaged in an important conversation about how cyberbullying affects their community and how they can prevent it. Empowered to become allies and stand up for what’s right, they participated in

a variety of activities and action planning to discover how they can make a positive difference in their school and community. “We want to stress that Rye Neck Middle School is a place of acceptance where all students are welcomed and accepted for who they are, and that there really is no place for hate here,” said Meegan Lawlor, a guidance counselor at RNMS. Lawlor said that while technology provides students with a wide range of opportunities, it is important to teach them how to use it safely and think before

they post anything online. Throughout the school year, the core group of students will help spread the message of acceptance to the entire school and continue to participate in activities that promote unity and respect among their peers. For the fifth consecutive year, RNMS is participating in the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program, which is designed to create an inclusive and tolerant school community by empowering students to reduce bullying. (Submitted)

November 10, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9

10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 10, 2017

PROUD MEMBER of the

LATIMER from page 1

County Executive Rob Astorino concedes the race to state Sen. George Latimer on Nov. 7. “I am truly blessed in life. In this room and throughout Westchester, I can never thank you enough,” he said. Photo/Jen Parente

He held out for most of the night hoping the numbers would eventually swing in his favor. But it wasn’t meant to be. At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Astorino called Latimer to concede the race and

offer his congratulations. “George and I have been friends for quite a long time and served together as well,” he said. “And in the heat of an election… we’re glad we’re at this point so we can go back to being friends…. I look forward to working with him and his team to ensure a very smooth transition in January.” The county executive then addressed his friends, family and supporters. “We’ve come up short and that’s OK,” said Astorino, who was seeking a final third term in office. “We are blessed to live in a democracy and we respect the will of the delegates. Serving the

people of Westchester County has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.” But this loss may close the book on his political career as any future ambitions such as a 2018 run for governor now seem over. When Latimer is sworn into office in January, he will have a supermajority of support from the county’s 17-member legislative branch after Democrats captured additional seats this election. The county executive is elected to a four-year term with an annual salary of approximately $160,000. CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com

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November 10, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11

County outlines terrorism preparedness plan In the aftermath of the deadly domestic terrorist attack in lower Manhattan, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino outlined a series of anti-terrorism initiatives in place to ensure the public’s safety and said that police patrols have been increased at parkways, parks and other popular gathering places. Joined by George N. Longworth, commissioner of Westchester County’s Department of Public Safety, and members of law enforcement, Astorino discussed Westchester’s preparedness, which includes measures already in place to safeguard against any potential copycat crimes, lone-wolf attacks or terrorist activities that could potentially prey on innocent civilians. “We are always assessing real-world threats, and working closely with our partners on the federal, state and local levels,” Astorino said. “In these times we live in, we must always be vigilant. The public can be rest-assured that we are as prepared as we can be for an attack like the horrific and cowardly one that occurred yesterday. Our intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism efforts and stepped-up patrols are in place to protect residents,

businesses and critical infrastructure in Westchester from potential terrorist activity.” Astorino also offered condolences to the victims of the attack and their families. “The people of Westchester share the sorrow and anger being felt by those most impacted by this awful event,” Astorino said. “We have also offered our assistance to New York City and stand ready to help in any way that we can.” Both Astorino and Longworth noted that county police detectives are assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force – made up of federal, state and local law enforcement to ensure proper coordination – and were on scene in lower Manhattan immediately following yesterday’s attack, gathering information in real-time to assess any further threats from the incident, including the potential in Westchester. Members of the Westchester County Police are also regularly engaged in a wide variety of counter-terrorism efforts every day, Astorino said. Among safeguards in place and actions taken include: Increased police patrols along county parkways, parks and other

popular gathering places. All patrol officers carry radiation detection pagers that enable law enforcement to identify and interdict a dirty bomb if it passed through Westchester. The county’s Aviation Unit helicopter and Marine Unit patrol boats regularly conduct patrols around critical infrastructure locations, including the Tappan Zee Bridge and Indian Point power plant, to name just a few. The members of the county Bomb Squad have the sophisticated training needed to respond to any incident involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The squad is capable of dealing with incidents involving chemical, biological or radiological devices. County police have a canine unit with dogs that specialize in identifying bombs and electronic devices used in cyber-crime. The county police are part of the Westchester Intelligence Center, located in White Plains, which includes investigators from Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Public Safety and multiple local law enforcement agencies, along with civilian crime analysts. (Submitted)

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has announced that the county is stepping up patrols and that anti-terrorism units have been put in place. Contributed photo

12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 10, 2017

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14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 10, 2017

Goodbye, Doc On Tuesday afternoon, I was mulling possible column topics for the week, when I heard the news about Roy Halladay. The retired MLB great, just 40 years old, had died in a single-casualty plane crash off the coast of Florida. The news hit me like a ton of bricks. Baseball has lost its fair share of stars over the last few years, guys like Oscar Taveras, Yordano Ventura and Jose Fernande—all players whose best years were ahead of them before their lives were tragically cut short—but it was undoubtedly the loss of Halladay, and what he meant to my formative baseball years, that impacted me the most. Although he never reached the heights of fame like some of his contemporaries, like Randy Johnson or Pedro Martinez, Halladay undoubtedly holds a special place in the hearts of die-hard baseball fans. He was never the flashiest guy

on the field, but he was a consummate professional, a throwback, guy who went out every five days and gave his team a chance to win and would have been just as at home pitching in the 1960s as he was pitching in the juiced-ball era of the early-aughts. There was just so much to admire about his game; he wasn’t a flame-thrower, with his two-seamer sitting most days at around 92 miles per hour, but he didn’t need to be, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy command that pitch better. He worked faster than most, too, once combining with Mark Buehrle to throw dueling complete games in a contest between the Blue Jays and White Sox that took less than two hours to complete. But if his attitude and prowess made him a favorite among the baseball cognoscenti, his reputation among his fellow players was even greater. That was certainly evident in the outpouring of support for his family on Tuesday night. Former teammates, opponents, even guys who never shared the field with him all took

The women’s tennis team from the Rye Racquet Club, representing the USTA Eastern Section, finished second at the USTA League Adult 40 & Over 3.5 National Championships held at the Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Oct. 29. Rye Racquet Club lost 3-2 to a squad from Puerto Rico in the championship match. Earlier in the day, the local squad defeated a team from Bloomfield Hills,

Michigan, 3-2 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight?]] on Friday and Saturday. The team is captained by Paula Lapkin and Young Kim and features Alexandra Nicklas, Barbra Tankel, Christine Rizk, Gail Willis, Hilary Ward, Judith Leake, June Scharf, Katrina Froman, Lizzie Bommer, Sally Masucci and Valerie Felshman. Established in 1980, the USTA

LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

SPORTS

the time to share their own memories of “Doc”. By all accounts, Halladay seemed to be one of the good ones—a fierce competitor on the field who understood the importance of serving as a mentor to younger players and giving back to the community. He had two Cy Youngs to his name, sure. But he also earned his colleagues’ respect through his work with disadvantaged children and animal rescue programs. He didn’t get a lot of media attention for his charity work, though, because that simply wasn’t Doc’s way. Nobody put it better than Dodgers’ right-hander Brandon McCarthy, who simply said “Roy Halladay was your favorite player’s favorite player.” Over the next few weeks, as Halladay’s life and career are reviewed, many will wonder if he will someday be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s going to be an interesting debate; Halladay only won 203 games in his 16-year career, never raised the World Series trophy,

Locals shine in Florida

The Women’s 55 & Over team placed fourth at the national meet. Contributed photos

League has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to more than 915,000 players today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league. USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program levels, ranging from 2.5, entry, to 5.0, advanced. USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older. The 2017 USTA League season will be the fifth season with the updated structure and format which offers four age categories: Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over, Adult 55 & Over and Mixed 18 & Over. The Mixed 40 & Over division also celebrated its fourth anniversary. The restructuring guarantees more frequency of play opportunities at more appropriate age groups. (Submitted)

Former MLB pitcher Roy Halladay died in a plane crash on Nov. 7. Sports Editor Mike Smith remembers the righty as one of the all-time greats. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

and only played on a handful of contending teams during his time in the Bigs. At the end of the day, I don’t

know if he’s going to Cooperstown; but I know that I’m lucky enough to have seen him pitched. And baseball was lucky for hav-

ing him out there on the mound.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

The Rye Racquet club finished second in the Adult 40 & Over 3.5 division at the USTA National Championships on Oct. 29 in Florida.

SPORTS

November 10, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15

THE ROUNDUP VOLLEYBALL CLASS C

FINALS

BOYS SOCCER CLASS B

REGIONAL SEMIS

Haldane 3 Rye Neck 1

Rye Neck 2 Rhinebeck 1

AT PACE UNIVERSITY

AT LAKELAND HS

11/5/17

Despite taking the first set of Sunday’s championship matchup 25-22, the Panthers eventually fell to the Blue Devils as Haldane managed to claim its 14th sectional title in the last 16 years. Rye Neck, which was playing in its first finals since 2011, beat the Blue Devils in a matchup earlier this season, but saw the wheels come off from the second set on, as Haldane won 25-20, 2516, 25-19 to take home top honors. The Panthers held a 10-7 lead in the third set before Haldane called a timeout and roared back with an 18-6 rally to put the game away. The Panthers finished the season with a 13-7 record, while the Blue Devils took on Tioga in the Class C regional semifinal on Nov. 6 at Croton-Harmon High School. Tioga swept Haldane 2520, 25-13, 25-15 to advance to the regional finals, which will be held on Nov. 11 at SUNY New Paltz.

(2 OT)

11/1/17

For the second straight game, Rye Neck used overtime to its advantage, as the Panthers down Section IX champion Rhinebeck last Wednesday. Del DaSilva found the game-winner on a header in the 97th minute, helping the Panthers to erase a 1-0 first half deficit and move on to the regional finals. Jack Sheldon knotted the score at 1-1 with a goal in the 60th minute to set up DaSilva’s late-game heroics. With the win, Rye Neck moved on to the next round of the state tournament, where they lost to Center Moriches, which came into the game as the top-ranked team in the state. On Nov. 4, Moriches topped the Panthers 1-0 to advance to the state semifinals.

FIELD HOCKEY CLASS B

FINALS

Lakeland 4 Rye 0 AT PACE UNIVERSITY

11/1/17

Taking on a Lakeland team that came into Wednesday’s game having won eight straight Section I titles is daunting enough; spotting them two early goals only made things tougher for the Garnets. Last Wednesday, the Hornets scored twice in the first 12 minutes of the game and went on to dominate the time of possession, drawing 17 corners to Rye’s 1 as they cruised to a 4-0 finals win. Jenna McCrudden, Kelsey McCrudden, Julianna Cappello and Caroline Cahill all scored for Lakeland, which would have tallied even more goals if not for the inspired play of Garnets goalie Maggie Devlin, who finished the day with 18 saves. After a Nov. 4 win in regionals, the Hornets are still in the hunt for another state title, and will play Section II Burnt-Hills Ballston Lake in the semifinals on Nov. 10 at Maine-Endwell High School.

Jessica Gottlieb prepares to serve the ball against Haldane on Nov. 5. Rye Neck fell to the Blue Devils 3-1.

-Reporting by Mike Smith

Players battle for possession during Rye’s Nov. 1 game against Lakeland. Photos/Mike Smith

Olivia Beach, left, and Elizabeth Moli attempt to block a shot at the net at Pace University.

A Rye player chases the ball against Lakeland on Nov. 1. The Hornets topped the Garnets 4-0 in the Class B finals.

16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • November 10, 2017

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