RyeCity REVIEW THE
June 9, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 23 | www.ryecityreview.com
Will the city purchase this stateowned land across from Rye Country Day School, and then relocate its DPW facility there? That seems to be the desire of the many residents to help reconfigure Disbrow Park to achieve additional field space. For story, see page 7. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
City GOP to run full slate, 2 incumbents By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A full Republican slate will feature two familiar faces and two newcomers, ready to go head-tohead against city Democrats with majority control of the City Council on the line. Complementing the top-of-theticket candidate, incumbent Mayor Joe Sack, will be current Councilman Terry McCartney—whose decision to run marks a reversal after publicly stating he would not be seeking re-election in a February interview—in addition to Elizabeth Parks and Susan Watson. The ticket was finalized at the city Republican Committee’s caucus on June 5 at the Damiano Center. McCartney, 54, told the Review
that his decision to change course on a re-election bid was driven by what he feels remains left to do in the city. “I decided there’s too much business to walk away from,” said McCartney, who is finishing up his first term in elected office. Among the items still left on McCartney’s to-do list, he said, are completing a master plan for Disbrow Park revitalization, the acquisition of a property next to Interstate 95, and seeing out a resolution to an ongoing legal battle with Crown Castle. McCartney, who is a practicing attorney, has also taken the lead on various legal issues surrounding the city, including litigation with Travelers, the insurance carrier covering the Rye Golf Club which paid out
$1.5 million to the city last year, and negotiations with Starwood Capital, the developers behind a revamp of Port Chester’s former United Hospital site. While McCartney originally cited the demand of his job—specifically the traveling that it entails—as GOP continued on page 8
Fire Department chief’s training called into question By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer A newly elected Rye fire chief does not qualify to hold the position, leading to concerns over his status as the department’s commanding officer during emergency situations. As part of a Freedom of Information Law, FOIL, request for training records that was submitted in April, the Review has confirmed that newly promoted volunteer Chief David Larr, who previously served as an assistant chief, does not have the requisite certification or qualifications to be in command of fire scenes. Larr was elected by the volunteers earlier this year alongside volunteer Capt. Dan Bochicchio, a member of the Milton Point Engine and Hose Company—one of Rye’s three fire companies—who was promoted to assistant chief. Larr’s records shows that he is not an interior firefighter, which is required to assume the position of chief, which has not yet been approved by the City Council and the public safety commissioner. The training records, which serve as a way to identify the qualifications of both paid and volunteer firefighters, also show evidence that Larr has a 19-year gap from 1996 to 2015 in which he was absent from the department and did not receive any training. Bochicchio’s records indicate that he has the training to be classified as an interior firefighter and has actively received training every year since 2012. Since joining the department in 1995, the volunteer has had a few absences in which he did not receive training, however.
John Castelhano, the president of the professional firefighters’ union, told the Review the news is a “big issue,” as Larr is currently in command during fire scenes despite never being officially approved as chief by the City Council and the city’s public safety commissioner. According to city Public Safety Commissioner Michael Corcoran, Larr has only been authorized to assist with commanding a fire scene while his training is under review by the state Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau, PESH. “He hasn’t been put in command by me,” he said. Corcoran added that after the state’s determination, Larr’s promotion is still subject to his own review. Originally, city officials had hoped the newly elected chief would qualify by state standards to be in command in order to finally rectify several violations that were ordered earlier this year by PESH, which provides policy guidance and conducts unannounced mandatory inspections for violations of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In January, PESH, which covers all state and local government workplaces, determined the Fire Department was in violation of 19 serious procedural policy and operational standards, including several infractions relating to the chief’s training requirements. The training violations were prompted by former fire Chief Mike Billington’s lack of training. The department was also handed one minor violation not relating to training. “We’re hoping [the new chiefs]
INSIDE New wine bar set to open Story on page 9.
FD continued on page 10
2 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017
June 9, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 3
Whitby restaurant loses tax-exempt status
The city of Rye’s assessor has placed the Lessing’s food and beverage operation at Rye Golf Club’s Whitby Castle on the city’s 2017 tentative assessment roll. File photo
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Lessing’s food and beverage operation at Whitby Castle has been stripped of its tax-exempt status, the Review has confirmed. Rye City Assessor Noreen Whitty told the Review she has revoked the operation’s tax-exempt status after completing a review of the enterprise that ended on June 1. The dining and catering operation is now responsible for paying up to $25,000 a year in property taxes. Prior to the determination, the city of Rye did not impose a real estate tax on Lessing’s, the Long Island-based company that took over food and beverage operations of Whitby Castle at the city-run Rye Golf Club in 2014. The restaurant, which is open to the public, offers casual dining and outdoor patio tables, as well as a bar area and catering services for wedding, club member-only events and private events. The assessor said that the Lessing’s operation is the only new tax-exempt company to be placed on the 2017 tentative assessment roll, excluding the Rye Golf Club Pro Shop, a municipal operation whose tax exempt status was recently called into question by resident Timothy Chittenden. Whitty added that unlike Lessing’s, which agreed to pay all taxes by governmental or administrative entities in its 10-year contract, the city pays the club’s golf pro to run the pro shop on its behalf. In addition to paying a real estate tax, the catering company will also be responsible for spending money on several other taxes and fees among what it already pays annu-
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ally through its profit sharing agreement with the city. As part of the agreement, Lessing’s pays the city approximately $300,000 on a yearly basis, of which $200,000 of that revenue comes from an annual rent payment. The news of Whitty’s tax determination comes with added significance, as the city recently settled an ongoing dispute with the town of Rye and the Rye Town Park Commission relating to a restaurant on the park grounds, which overlook Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound. Whitty previously told the Review that an outstanding dispute prevented the city from placing the Lessing’s operation on its assessment roll in the past. Last November, the 2nd Department of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division handed down a decision that confirmed the city of Rye’s ability to tax the restaurant situated at Rye Town Park, which is currently known as the Ocean Grille. While the park was originally created as a public area in 1907, the city assessor decided that it would be taxable in 2011, after existing on the land for 104 years exempt from taxation by the city’s governing body. The property, which housed Seaside Johnnies restaurant at the time, was placed on the city’s tax roll and Whitty’s decision was upheld by the city Board of Assessment Review. After several unsuccessful challenges in court made by the park commission and the town of Rye, the town has had to reimburse the city for $110,000 in property taxes dating back to 2011. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
JAMES PERO
james@hometwn.com
4 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017
What’s going on... Rye Free Reading Room
section, and the PTO of the Rye schools.
Dr. Giudice Presents: Why Detoxify?
For more information on hours and programs, visit ryelibrary.org.
On Thursday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room. Learn about the benefits of taking care of your body and your diet. Why would someone do a cleanse? What are the benefits of detoxifying your body? It’s not just about losing weight. Presented by Dr. John Thomas Giudice of Greenwich Integrative Health Partners.
Registration for Health for Life Program
Gizmos & Gadgets Science Fun Club
On Tuesday, June 13 from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room. This is a registration and information session for a series of six free workshops, for older adults and their caregivers designed to help manage chronic health conditions. For more information, contact Marikay Capasso, coordinator of the Health for Life Program (HeLP, a chronic disease self-management program) at Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services, at mqcq@westchestergov.com or 813-6427.
On Friday, June 16 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Meeting Room. For grades 3–5. Gizmos & Gadgets Science Fun Club offers children a chance to engage in hands-on inquiry based experiments. In this one-hour science workshop, participants will focus on a different S.T.E.M. or S.T.E.A.M. activity each month with handouts to follow up at home. Through this program, children will begin to see that science, technology engineering, math, and the arts can be fun. The theme for June is: Do You Float or Do You Fly? Space is limited. Pre-registration is required online. Visit ryelibrary.org, go to “Programs & Events,” “Kids,” the event date, and then “Register.”
Teacher-in-the-Library On Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Children’s Room. Rye teachers offer after-school homework help to students attending local public and private elementary schools in the Rye area. This is a free program sponsored by the Auxiliary Board of the Rye Free Reading Room, Woman’s Club of Rye/Children’s Philanthropy
Rye Historical Society Mapping the History of Rye The public is invited to the Rye Historical Society’s Square House Museum on Sat-
urday, June 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a special exhibit collaboration between the society and Paul Hicks, author, local historian and frequent contributor to The Rye Record. Hicks will discuss the changing boundaries of Rye from the late 17th century to the early 20th century, and examine the reasons underlying the various changes. An exhibit of reproduction and original maps from the Rye Historical Society’s archives will accompany the presentation. To make reservations for this free program, please call the Rye Historical Society at 967-7588. The Square House Museum is located at 1 Purchase St. in Rye. Information about other programs and events can be found at ryehistory.org.
Rye Town Park Season permits The Rye Town Park Commission is encouraging residents to buy season permits and take full advantage of the beautiful park and Oakland Beach. It is offering “high tide” benefits for a “low tide” cost. And, they’ve held the line on prices—no increases for residents. Beach access is free for all permit holders. For a family of two adults and all children under age 18 a season permit is only $150. That’s good from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Individual adult permits are only $110. Parking for permit holders is deeply discounted, compared to those without permits. These discounts include the daytime beach season from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends, as well as the pre- and postseason periods. Senior permits (ages 62+) are $20 and include free parking. Platinum family ($300) permits also include free parking. Parking only permits are $150. Seniors who have passes dated on and before 2010 DO NOT have to renew their passes. Credit card payments will be accepted for season permits. The park accepts MasterCard, Visa and Discover. They also accept checks or money orders payable to Rye Town Park. People have two options in paying for their permits: mail the completed forms back, with payment by check or providing credit card information; or bring them to the park permit office, which will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. New permit holders will have to provide a proof of residence (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.). Note: Non-residents can also purchase discounted season permits: $60 for seniors; $250 for singles; and $350 for family rates. For further information and details, call the park starting 967-0965. More information is available at ryetownpark.org.
Rye Youth Soccer
be found on the website. Questions? Contact Patti Adimari, registrar, at pattirys@ optonline.net or 967-5273. Scholarships are available upon request. Please note: coaches should also register to coach in their online account.
Westchester County news Register for swim classes at county pools Online registration is now open for swimming and aquatic fitness classes at Saxon Woods pool in White Plains, Tibbetts Brook pool in Yonkers and Playland pool in Rye. For children and for adults just getting started with swimming, Learn-to-Swim lessons are offered for all ages and ability levels, from toddlers age 3 to senior citizens. Classes begin Wednesday, July 5, and run through Friday, Aug. 11. Lessons for adults ages 18 and older will be held only at Saxon Woods pool. The schedule for classes at Tibbetts Brook and Saxon Woods is as follows: Children ages 3–6: Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Children ages 7–10: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Children ages 11–17: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Adults (ages 18 and up): Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. (Saxon Woods only). Class schedule for Playland Pool is as follows: Children ages 3–6: Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Children ages 7–10: Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Children ages 11–17: Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Only online registration is accepted. The registration fee is $80, which includes pool admission fees for the participant. Adults and teens participating in the Learn-to-Swim program at Tibbetts Brook and Saxon Woods pools must present a valid Westchester County resident Park Pass on the first day of class; children under 12 registering for the lessons must be accompanied by a Park Pass-holding parent or adult guardian. A Park Pass is not required at Playland. For swimmers who want a high-power, cardiovascular fitness workout, a six-session Aqua Zumba class will also be offered this summer. Classes will be held on Friday nights from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Saxon Woods Pool from July 7 through July 26; and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Tibbetts Brook Pool from July 8 through July 27. Fee is $75. A Park Pass is not required but participants must be Westchester County residents. Only online registration is accepted. For more information or to register for the programs, visit parks.westchestergov.com/ activities/swimming.
Fall 2017 registration Online registration is open at ryeyouthsoccer.org for fall intramural soccer for boys and girls grades K–5. The season will begin Saturday, Sept. 16 and end Saturday, Nov. 4, with no games on Sept. 30. Complete details on dates and times of the program can
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.
June 9, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 5
Latimer grabs Independence Party endorsement By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The Independence Party has endorsed state Sen. George Latimer in his bid for county executive. Latimer, a Rye Democrat, is expecting to take on two-term incumbent Rob Astorino, a Republican, in November’s county executive race. And the support of the Independence Party has often been an indicator of electoral
success in Westchester. Latimer, who has also been endorsed by the Working Families Party, said he was pleased to have the support of the Independence Party. “I think it’s an indication of the strength of my campaign,” he told the Review. “The Independence Party could have chosen anyone… and they chose me.” Latimer had previously been endorsed by the party in his races for county legislator and state Assembly
between 1998 and 2010, but never received the party’s support during his time in the state Senate. Last November, in his most recent re-election to the state Senate, Latimer was passed over by the Independence Party line in favor of his opponent, Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican. The Independence Party also supported Latimer opponents Bob Cohen, a Scarsdale Republican, in 2012 and Joe Dillon, a
State Sen. George Latimer, who received the official nomination of the Westchester County Democratic Committee last month in his bid for county executive, now also has the support of the county’s Independence Party. Photo/Jen Parente
Yonkers Republican, in 2014. Latimer won all three of those contests, and in recent years the party’s credibility has been called into question. Astorino has also had his problems with the party. In 2009, after winning the county executive seat from then-County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat, in which Astorino was endorsed by the Independence Party, he accused party Chairman Giulio Cavallo of seeking patronage jobs for members of his party. In his bid for re-election in 2013, Astorino lost the party’s support but was still victorious in becoming the only Republican ever elected to the Westchester County executive’s office without carrying the Independence line, by cruising past his opponent, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, a Democrat. Bill O’Reilly, campaign manager for Astorino, said the county executive didn’t even seek the Independence Party’s backing this year. Even so, Astorino has been highly successful in a county where his voting bloc is at a decided disadvantage. According to voter registration numbers compiled by the county Board of Elections, Democrats outnumbered registered Republicans by more than 2-to-1, approximately 278,000 to 130,000. The Independence Party, which is the third largest political party
in the county, makes up about 4 percent of the total number of registered voters in Westchester with 21,555. And although Latimer has also received the official support of the Democratic Party, he will likely have to win that party’s primary election in order to appear on the November ballot. Following last month’s county Democratic nominating convention, Latimer won more than 70 percent of the vote against county Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat. But even in defeat, Jenkins has remained steadfast in his desire to challenge Latimer in a Democratic September primary for the right to carry the line in the general election. The Westchester County executive is elected to a four-year term and receives an annual salary of $160,144. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017
RyeCity REVIEW THE
170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000
Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Reporter | James Pero ext. 20, james@hometwn.com 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
By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor This year’s Westchester Magazine Food & Wine Festival kicked off with a new event: a wine tasting. The kickoff, which was held at the Westchester Italian Cultural Center in Tuckahoe on June 6, featured a tasting tour of Italian wine, antipasti and dessert from DeCicco & Sons, cooking demos from Tarry Lodge Chef Andy Nusser, and a special vintage tasting with wine expert Kevin Zraly. Barbara Begley, marketing and communications director at Westchester Magazine, said organizers were looking to add another event to celebrate the festival’s seventh year. “Everybody loves Italian
Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writer Corey Stockton Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Jen Parente Columnists John Carey, Rye City Council, Lenore Skenazy, 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.
Chef Andy Nusser of Tarry Lodge Port Chester holds two cooking demos, one of them featuring this peach crostata with lemon thyme ricotta.
wine,” she said. “[The cultural center] is a beautiful building, and the layout works for this kind of event. It’s an Italian night, and it’s a perfect fit.” Joe Armentano, a cultural center member and locally renowned oenophile, was the perfect host, given his 20-year-old passion for wine. Armentano is also a rare Italian-American with roots in four southern regions in Italy: Sicily, Campania, Calabria and Puglia. “It’s unusual to have all four grandparents come from different parts of Italy,” he told the Review. Westchester Magazine approached Armentano for the festival to not only sponsor the tasting, but also because of his hobby. “Wines are a big hobby of mine,” he said, adding that he has a cellar that can hold a few thousand bottles and a new tasting room in his Rye Brook home. “If I have an opportunity to marry my passion and hobby with a good cause, you can’t do any better than that, quite frankly.” On Tuesday evening, guests had two tasting rooms to explore more than a dozen wines from six Italian regions, from a light prosecco to full-bodied Super Tuscans. Bottles were available for purchase courtesy of Varmax Liquor Pantry, located in Port Chester. The cultural center also has a
A DeCicco & Sons employee pours some wine for a guest in one of the two tasting rooms.
cellar in its basement, where the wine expert, Zraly, drew crowds into the small, dark space to taste two of the most expensive wines being featured. One wine, a lush Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany, was already delicious with a 2010 vintage. “Wait until you taste it 10 years from now,” he said. Chef Nusser also held two cooking demos in the basement’s kitchen, preparing a mortadella and rabiola panini, and a peach crostata topped with lemon thyme ricotta—“Like peach pie without the hassle,” Nusser said. Both
dishes will be available at Tarry Lodge’s Port Chester location. The wine tasting was the first of a week of events highlighting what Westchester has to offer when it comes to food and wine, on through Sunday, June 11. In its seventh year, the festival, which runs through Sunday, June 11, added two other events to its offerings, including a food and fashion event at Savor Westchester and a junior chef experience for children ages 3 to 12. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
Italian market DeCicco & Sons served platters of food at the wine tasting.
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Joe Armentano, who hosted the kickoff event to Westchester Magazine’s Food & Wine Festival, speaks to guests during the wine tastings. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa
June 9, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 7
City mulls relocating DPW in Disbrow Park expansion By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer With overwhelming support from Rye residents, the city is laying the groundwork for a plan to expand field space and remove all Department of Public Works facil-
ities from Disbrow Park. Councilman Terry McCartney, a Republican and liaison to the city Recreation Department, said the city is moving closer to laying out one of the plans discussed at the most recent community meeting about improvements needed at the
park, which is home to four baseball fields, a soccer field, a tennis court and a recycling drop-off area. The councilman, who is running for re-election, told the Review a “majority” of people that attended the meeting at the Damiano Recreation Center on May 31 are in favor
Rye residents are pushing for a proposal to expand field space at Disbrow Park while also removing all of its Department of Public Works facilities. Photo courtesy Stantec Consulting Services
of one of three concepts to revamp the park, known as the “Park Expansion” concept, which includes expanding the recreational areas of the park and relocating DPW buildings to another location in the city. “It’s never been a good-working operation to have both the DPW facilities and recreation areas at the park,” McCartney said. “We have a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to fix something that definitely needs fixing.” The plan, formulated by Stantec Consulting Services, calls for relocating Grainger and Founders fields within the park and adding new seating and spectator viewing spots throughout the public place. The preliminary proposal also involves creating better access and scenic views to the 47-acre park’s wetland areas, several vehicle and pedestrian improvements, and an overhaul of Sterling Field. Additionally, the plan leaves room for installing artificial turf at Sterling Field, which has been recently suggested to the Review by Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican who is running for re-election this year. As of press time, there is currently no cost estimate for any of the proposals suggested by Stantec, some of which also involve keeping the public works buildings at Disbrow. However, there’s still one major hurdle in the way of any plan that includes relocating DPW facilities
even despite the progressive discussions on the potential package of improvements to the park. City Manager Marcus Serrano said that in order to move the city’s public works buildings out of the park, which is also home to a police shooting range, the city needs a location with a large enough property size to house DPW facilities such as the salt shed. He added that, at the moment, the only spot in the city potentially suitable for DPW is property the city doesn’t even own; the vacant land along Boston Post Road and across from Rye Country Day School, which the city missed out on a unique opportunity to purchase the property from the state Thruway Authority last year. The Thruway Authority has recently decided that it would pursue selling the four-acre land parcel. Last year, the City Council considered purchasing the property to create more field space for the community; but the property is currently estimated to cost as much as $8 million dollars, according to McCartney. “The citizens want to see this get done,” Serrano told the Review regarding the relocation of DPW, “but we will still have to weigh our options.” Sack could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
8 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity THE COUNCIL CORNER Councilman Terry McCartney
Councilwoman Kirstin Bucci also helped write this column There is very little undeveloped land in the city of Rye. The reason for that, of course, is that our town was first established in 1660 and has been gradually settled and developed for more than 350 years. So, common sense dictates that what little open land exists in Rye is very valuable and should be used in the best possible way to benefit the most possible citizens of Rye. Right? There is one particular open parcel of land in Rye that could make a huge difference in the lives of our residents for generations to come. That 9.3-acre parcel is located on the east side of the Boston Post Road across from the Rye Country Day School and is currently owned by the New York State Thruway Authority. It is situated within the access roads that make up the I-95 and I-287 “cloverleaf” intersection. With some political obstacles to navigate, that land is for sale. Over the years, that parcel has been the site of several private homes, the Sussex Gardens Apartment building and a private school known as the Ferncliff School. The Thruway Authority acquired the land sometime prior to 1990. There have been numerous ideas for the use of the Thruway property over the past 25 years ranging from highway-related uses to playing fields, none of which could gain political traction. You don’t have to be an expert to see that the sharply sloping land is
not ideally suited for field space. Perhaps that property has a use that can indirectly benefit our kids with field space nonetheless. Hold that thought. The city is currently studying ways to improve one of the primary locations of field space in the city: Disbrow Park. With the help of the experienced planning and consulting firm Stantec, we have held two public meetings and completed an online survey with additional work underway. At the May 31 public meeting, based upon the public input from the first meeting and the survey, several different park improvement proposals were presented and vetted by the public. There was a clear favorite and with good reason. That proposal, being called the “Park Expansion” plan for now, would make Disbrow Park an incredible park space for Rye citizens of all ages. That plan would add field and court space, improve spectator viewing at the baseball fields, add bathrooms, add green spaces and a playground, add walking trails, add a dog run, improve the safety of park users by improving the roadways and removing heavy truck traffic and add much-needed parking. The proposals are on the city website at ryeny.gov. Please check them out and see what you think (and complete the second survey). Of course, nothing is ever easy in city government so there is a very big kicker. We need to move the DPW facilities somewhere else to make room for the Park Expansion proposal. That is where the Thruway property comes into play. We think it is ideal for that use and will explain why in more detail in the next column. Stay tuned.
GOP from page 1
a reason for not running again, he said that he feels ready to meet the obligation to both his professional and civic duty. “My job requires me to miss meetings on occasion,” he said. “The voters are going to have to decide if that’s okay with them.” For Watson, 65, an upcoming City Council bid will mark her second attempt at seeking elected office, and a chance to help shift council focus back to the basics. “I want to see city government focus on the things that are the duties of the city government,” she said. “While it’s important to pay attention to national issues, it’s the duty of a councilperson to work for Rye.” According to Watson, her priorities will focus on local infrastructure, including sidewalks, parking and roads, particularly how they pertain to pedestrian safety. Driving Watson—who was soundly defeated in a county race by incumbent Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, in 2015—aren’t specific policy issues, but rather, timing. “I got a taste of politics two year ago, but now I have the time,” said Watson, who recently retired from her career in finance communications. “I can be committed, reliable and available.” Considered the political newcomer of the ticket, Parks, 46, said her motivation to run came from an urge to give back.
“Rye is obviously a very special place,” she said. “My children and my family have benefitted from being a part of the community. I am inspired to run just from the aspect of being able to work collaboratively, and from a giving back standpoint.” If elected, Park’s said priorities will include maintaining Rye Town Park and ensuring it receives the needed capital improvements as well as making sure that Rye’s interests are represented in ongoing renovations at Playland Park. Currently, Parks, who is the executive director of sales for Fortune’s Live Media division, serves on the auxiliary board for the Rye Free Reading Room and also volunteers her time at Rye Presbyterian Church. “We’re all looking to maintain a great sense of collaboration on the council,” she said. Sack, who announced his decision to seek another term as mayor last month, told the Review this week, “Our success has always been the result of great teamwork; so, I am very happy about the prospect of adding two new great teammates to the council in Elizabeth and Susan. Getting the full council pulling in the same direction again will make us even more effective going forward.” Members of the City Council, including the mayor, are elected to serve four-year terms with no compensation or benefits. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
CONTACT: tmccartney@ryeny.gov; kbucci@ryeny.gov
Rye City’s
Official Newspaper Rye Schools
Athena and Apollo are just two of many adorable kittens looking for loving homes! A huge variety of kittens will be available for adoption at Pet Rescue’s Kitten Palooza this Sunday, June 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Pet Rescue, 7 Harrison Ave. in Harrison. The adoption donation for a kitten is $100 plus a refundable $60 spay/neuter deposit. To learn more about these lovely kittens, call 835-3332 or 835-4133, or visit NYPetRescue.org. (Submitted)
June 9, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 9
Wine at Five to move, open new bar
RTP presents Vital FunkShun
Vital FunkShun’s six-piece band combines rock, pop, jazz and soul to create their unique sound. Contributed photo
The current Wine at Five store is open and bright, as owner Cai Palmer wants to cater to women, especially those who drop by with strollers. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa
By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor When you’ve quit Wall Street, and you feel restless, what do you do? Cai Palmer, the owner of Wine at Five in Rye, decided to follow his passion by opening a wine shop. And now he’s expanding on that by opening a wine bar. This summer Wine at Five will relocate to the former TD’s Smoke Shop at the corner of Purchase Street and Elm Place, and open new wine bar. What will separate this bar from others in the area is that it will be, like his wine shop, geared toward women. Palmer, 56, moved to the U.S. in the early ‘90s from England, and in 2006 opened Wine at Five, which features small and independent wine producers. With the store, Palmer wanted to create something he himself would be excited to visit; he had grown bored of other stores’ inventory. About 30 percent of the wine sold in his store is rotated every three months; which is about 90 percent in a calendar year, Palmer states. “It’s what keeps people interested,” he said. “There is so much wine out there. Taste it.” Every bottle sold at Wine at Five has been tasted by Palmer and his associates, who are just as passionate and knowledgeable as he is. “We taste almost 200 bottles a week,” he said. Palmer’s love affair with wine began when he was 17, attending the University of Perpignan in the south of France near the Mediterranean coast. “You didn’t drink the wine,” he said, as the wine was cheaper than even soda there. “It really was rank.” With tourism in that region at bay at the time, Palmer and his friends would take an hourlong drive to restaurants serving tapas and much better wine in Spain. “It was so good,” he whispered. “My first love is Spanish wine. That is where it started.” On the weekends, a young Palmer would shuttle cases of Spanish wine back to Perpignan. He also learned how to cook to save money. “I found inspiration in the kitchen that was just pure relaxation,” he said. He soon started to build a wine collection
Cai Palmer, owner of Wine at Five, tastes some spirits with Marine Adam, who has worked with Palmer since the store opened in 2006.
upon moving back to England in the early ‘80s. When he retired from Wall Street after 25 years, Palmer knew he wanted to do something with wine, and the idea for a store soon came to mind. In Rye, he knew he had to cater to a certain demographic due to the attractive schools. “I always had this concept in my mind that we would be a destination for women to buy wine,” he said, calling attention to the double doors for strollers and the bright décor, and the fact that his clientele is primarily women. The idea to open a bar was always in the back of his mind, as Palmer calls it an extension of Wine at Five. When 53 Purchase St. became available with the closing of the historic smoke shop, Palmer knew he had to take it. He realized that a strict wine bar is lacking in the area, and wants to draw customers from as far away as Stamford, Connecticut. The wine bar, which has yet to be given a name, will have a communal and European feel, and there will be small plates of food, platters of high-end cheeses and meats, and not a single TV in sight. There will also be a small selection of local craft beers, and more than 100 small-batch spirits. “Instead of taking the bottle home, drink it with me,” Palmer said. “I’ll serve you some food as well.” CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
Vital FunkShun will be performing a concert at Rye Town Park as part of the park’s Twilight Concert Series. Well known local drummer Tommy Giorgi serves as the Vital FunkShun heartbeat. The six-piece band serves up a combination of great rock, pop and light jazz standards with a generous helping of classic soul. This concert will feature a tribute to the musical genius of Prince. In addition to Giorgi, band members include: Bob Lammers, on lead guitar and lead vocals, Bud Maltin on sax, keyboard, and vocals, Lily White on sax; Tim Downey on Bass, and vocals; and Sue Downey on rhythm guitar and vocals. The concert will be held on Tuesday, June 20, at the park’s south pavilion, located by the beach near the Dearborn Avenue entrance to the park. The concert will start at 7:30
p.m. and end at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Call for parking rates. Nearby residents are encouraged to walk. Space in the pavilion will be set aside for dancing, which is highly recommended for people of all ages. All concerts will be held rain or shine, except in case of thunderstorms. Picnicking is welcome. Some seating will be available, but people are encouraged to bring blankets or beach chairs. Dining and takeout is available at the nearby the Ocean Grille Restaurant. This is the first of seven free concerts that will be held in July and August. Major support for the concert series comes from TD Bank. Additional support comes from Rye Beach Pharmacy. For further information phone Rye Town Park at 967-0965 or visit the park’s web site at ryetownpark.org. (Submitted)
10 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017
Preventing heart disease in women
FD from page 1
The Review has learned that new Rye fire Chief David Larr does not qualify to be in charge during emergency situations and is currently commanding the Fire Department without orders from Public Safety Commissioner Michael Corcoran. File photo
clear the hurdle,” said Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano, who explained it would be the final step in resolving its issues with the state bureau. Despite that optimism, however, Corcoran said the confusion within the department reinforces the need for a modification of the chiefs’ structure, saying that he plans to enact a policy in the coming weeks that is consistent with the City Charter. According to the charter, the professional firefighters are supposed to be in command of the Fire Department unless another individual, such as a well-trained and active chief, is authorized by the public safety commissioner to be in charge.
The charter, which was changed last November as a result of a referendum establishing the public safety commissioner position, has always mandated the career firefighters to be in command, Corcoran said. “I’m grateful for the volunteers, but we need the best possible trained firefighters in command at all times in case of major incidents,” Corcoran told the Review. “The new policy will increase standards across the board for all volunteer firefighters.” Larr could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
From left, Christine Wayne, of Stamford, Connecticut, Kim Salveggi, of Yorktown, and Cheryl Slaughter, of Croton, were honored at the West-Fair Go Red For Women Luncheon on June 2 at the Hilton Westchester. Contributed photo
Heart disease in women can occur in the young and old, in seemingly healthy women as well as those with risk factors. The Westchester-Fairfield American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Luncheon on June 2 put a face on women’s heart disease by sharing local survivors’ stories throughout the event. The luncheon drew a crowd of more than 300, mostly women, dressed in the signature women and heart disease campaign color—red. Guests heard inspiring survivor stories, and were educated about heart disease, risk factors and news of medical research and treatments to fight heart disease, all while raising funds to support the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign to fight women’s number one killer—heart disease. Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease. The American Heart Association is seeking to change that with prevention and awareness through their Go Red For Women Luncheon, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Hilton Westchester in Rye. Donations are still being accepted online at Westfairgoredluncheon.heart.org. Kim Salveggi, 43, from Yorktown, and Christine Wayne, 37, of Stamford, Connecticut, were featured in a short film at the luncheon. Salveggi, a married mother of two teenage girls, suffered a coronary artery dissection in March 2015. She was previously diagnosed with depression and hypochondria when symptoms of extreme exhaustion began in September 2014. When more classic heart attack symptoms of chest, jaw and arm pain set in, she feared that nobody would believe what she knew all along—something was seriously wrong. At the emergency room, doctors believed her, and she survived after a stent was inserted during emergency cardiac catheterization. She recently returned to work. Wayne survived sudden cardiac arrest in December 2016. She felt tired all day and while in the shower, she began to cough and was overcome with exhaustion and nausea. She said did not want to call 911, as is rec-
ommended. What if someone saw her? Why incur the cost when someone could just come pick her up? When she began to have trouble breathing, she finally called her mother, who said to call 911. Another moment’s delay and she might not have made it. On route in the ambulance, her heart stopped four times. She awoke to people counting and shouting “CLEAR!” At the hospital, two stents were put in, and she was released after a week in the hospital. She is now back to her daily routine. Both are advocates for Go Red For Women’s lifesaving messages to learn about, prevent and know the symptoms of heart attack in women. In the video, Salveggi implores women to get a second opinion and never stop advocating for their health. Wayne wants women to know the symptoms of heart attack and not be embarrassed to call the ambulance—minutes count. The Go Red For Women Luncheon included a morning health and wellness exhibition featuring local health professionals, networking, and a keynote address by Mara Schiavocampo, an ABC News correspondent and author based in New York. Schiavocampo is a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, and best-selling author of, “THINspired,” her personal journey of losing 90 pounds after the birth of her daughter. She said at the event that prior to her lifestyle changes, including a diet overhaul; she used to eat almost exclusively prepared, pre-packaged food, which is typically high in calories, sodium and sugar. “My definition of health at that time was the absence of illness,” she said. Now, after her journey of health, she eats almost all fresh, home-cooked meals, including a variety of fruits, vegetables and healthy fish, and doesn’t feel deprived. An estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases, and 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke. The good news is 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. Small, incremental changes to lifestyle can go a long way in preventing these leading killers. Quitting smoking, exercising at least 30 minutes per day, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating more fruits and vegetables can help prevent heart disease and stroke. More information is available at goredforwomen.org. (Submitted)
June 9, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 11
Kitchen cooking up success
Barnes & Noble Kitchen serves three types of salads, including chicken Caesar, kale and chopped vegetable.
Barnes & Noble’s outdoor dining area opened in late April, providing customers the opportunity to enjoy the weather along with their meal.
everal months into the opening of Barnes & Noble Kitchen, the bookstore’s rebranding, the Eastchester location has already built up a loyal customer base. Included in the 22,000-squarefoot bookstore, the third of its kind, is a 2,600-square-foot kitchen. The new store provides one convenient location for shoppers to enjoy a new book along with their breakfast, lunch or dinner. “The reception [for the kitchen] has been exceptional,” said Amy Gautreau, community relations business development manager for Barnes & Noble. “Once [customers have] tried it, they come
back again and again.” The latest Barnes & Noble Kitchen launched in November 2016 in the Vernon Hills Shopping Center. The bookstore’s sit-down restaurant serves breakfast until noon, and lunch, dinner and dessert all day. On the menu are dishes including lemon-ricotta pancakes, chicken Caesar salad and brick-cooked chicken. There are also gluten free options like the guacamole without chips, hummus and plancha-cooked salmon. The restaurant also offers the “Kids’ Kitchen” menu with entrees and drinks available for children. The menu was put together by Sheamus Feeley, executive chef consultant and operating partner at The Bransetter Group, a hospitality consulting business that has partnered with Barnes & Noble. Feeley has worked in the restaurant business for more than 20 years. Along with food, the restaurant also serves 23 types of wine, champagne, and six types of draft beer. Each Barnes Take your pick from three types of desserts, & Noble Kitchens’ beer including freshly baked cookies.
Barnes & Noble Kitchen serves white and red wine, as well as champagne and draft beer.
selection is local to the restaurant’s location. The restaurant can hold more than 80 people and provides indoor seating, a coffee bar, and an outdoor dining patio which opened at the end of April. Gautreau explain-ed that there are plans to open more Barnes & Noble concept stores, “which will always include Barnes & Noble Kitchens.” -Reporting by Taylor Brown
Sheamus Feeley, executive chef consultant and operating partner at The Bransetter Group. Photos/Jen Parente
12 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017
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June 9, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 13
Maryland resident hits casino jackpot
James E. Dobson, of Maryland, won the $143,723 jackpot at Empire City Casino on May 27. Photo courtesy Facebook.com/empirecitycasino
James E. Dobson and his good friend Donzella Parker Bert made a four-hour bus trip from Stevensville, Maryland, to New York to visit Thelma Sligh, Bert’s aunt, to celebrate her 89th birthday over Memorial Day weekend. There was even greater merriment than anticipated when Dobson hit a $143,723 jackpot at Empire City Casino in Yonkers on May 27. “We hadn’t seen Aunt Thelma [Sligh] in three or four years, so we took the bus to New York, not wanting to deal with the holiday traffic,” Dobson explained. He said Sligh lives in Harlem and, “She wanted to go to the casino.” She and Bert share the same birthday, May 28. “It only took two spins,” said Bert, an avid casino-goer, who visits Delaware Park, the Horseshoe in Baltimore, and Dover Downs casinos. “I usually play the slots, for $5 to $10 spins, but this was the biggest jackpot I [have] ever hit.” As is customary, Dobson made a $10 wager on a $5 denomination machine, this time on the wildly popular Wheel of Fortune slot in the Gotham Palace for the big payday at 8 p.m. on Saturday. “We’ll be back,” he vows. Dobson, 76, is a retired welder, having spent 45 years at Grumman. He said that he was “Alone when I hit the jackpot. When they got back, they were so happy to see me win.” He reports that he gave them “A birthday present,” sharing part of the winnings, which he plans to invest. “I have scheduled a meeting with my broker.”
When not playing the slots or visiting Slight, Dobson is an avid fisherman, “I live on Chesapeake bay,” he says. He also enjoys hunting and bowling, but the slots have now become his most lucrative hobby. The Wheel of Fortune has been more than good to Empire City players from near and far. Just six days earlier, on May 21, James M. made a shorter trip from the Bronx to Yonkers, where he hit the jackpot of $149,931 at Empire City. The six-figure score was also made in the Gotham Palace on the Wheel of Fortune, just yards away from the slot machine where a New York State racetrack casino record $1,713,985 jackpot, as of May 30, is still waiting to be hit. James M. made a $6 wager on a $1 denomination machine to score at 4:23 p.m. The Empire City life-changer continues to soar. On May 9, it eclipsed $1.6 million for the first time in history. This record-breaker is ripe again for winning and is only available on two Wheel of Fortune slots at Empire City Casino. Who will be the next Howard G.? (Submitted)
SPORTS
14 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017
Softball not a hard sell LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
The best baseball game I watched all year wasn’t a major
league contest. It wasn’t a Section I playoff tilt, either. In fact, it wasn’t even technically “baseball.” On Monday night, softball teams from Oklahoma and Florida played the first game in a bestof-three College World Series fi-
nals. Seventeen innings and 5 1/2 hours later, Oklahoma came away with a thrilling 7-5 victory to put them just one win away from a second-straight national title. The game had it all; lead changes, fantastic pitching, momentum
Rye Neck’s Olivia Dunn throws a pitch during the Section I finals on May 27. After watching the 17-inning College Softball World Series game between Oklahoma and Florida on Monday night, Sports Editor Mike Smith is convinced that more people need to pay attention to softball. Photo/Mike Smith
shifts, sharp defense, and extra-inning heroics—about 10 innings worth of them—everything that makes baseball my favorite sport, just a little bit different. But taking in the last 11 innings of this classic showdown, I couldn’t help but wonder; was anyone else watching? I know my friends—inveterate baseball junkies—were. We had a text chain going from about the eighth inning on, dissecting the same minutiae we would be discussing if this were the Yankees and Red Sox squaring off in the ALCS. As a fan of our national pastime, it was absolutely impossible not to get sucked into a game that, as of 9 p.m., I didn’t even know was happening. But then I started thinking; when it comes to my coverage during the spring season, which would I rather spend two hours covering; baseball—a sport I played through college (and still do today)—or softball? And it’s softball, 100 percent. There’s something about softball, especially when both teams involved have a talented pitcher in the circle, that positively oozes the same sense of immediacy that old-school National League-type fans miss in baseball. Low scoring games, situational hitting, bunting and defense—capped off by the occasional home-run
blast—that’s why we love the game, isn’t it? And thinking back to this year’s Section I playoffs, we saw those kinds of games time and again, as evidenced by Eastchester, Mamaroneck and Rye Neck’s thrilling postseason runs. So why doesn’t college softball get more love from fans? Now, of course, the MLB is always going to be king when it comes to bat-and-ball sports in America. Recognizable stars and franchises, the longstanding tradition in our culture; I’m not expecting professional softball to leapfrog the majors in the national conversation. But as far as televised college athletics go, softball is imminently more watchable than its male-dominated counterpart, so I’d urge you to give it a chance. By the time you’re reading this article, the College Softball World Series will have already wrapped up, so it may be too late for this year. But next spring, if you’re looking for a good ballgame, don’t forget to check your local listings for a softball game. At the very least, it has to be better than watching the Mets.
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SPORTS
June 9, 2017 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • 15
Rye falls in double-OT thriller GIRLS LACROSSE
class c
REGIONAL FINALS
BH-BL RYE SUFFERN MS
10 9 (2 OT) 6/3/17
Game Notes: • BH-BL’s Taylor Safford scored the game-winner with just 1:36 left in the second OT • Amanda Hartzell had six goals for Rye • The Garnets finish the season with a 10-10 record By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor Rye’s hopes for a run to a state title were dashed on June 3, when the Garnets dropped a double-overtime heartbreaker to Section II’s Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Although an ill-timed turnover led to the goal that ended Rye’s season, head coach Dennis Hurlie remains confident that the Garnets’ relative youth means that his squad should be in the Class C mix for the foreseeable future. With 2:04 left in the second overtime period, an errant Rye pass rolled out of bounds, giving the Spartans the decisive posses-
Leah Kenny looks for an open teammate against the Spartans.
handful of possessions late in the game, we gave the ball away and that is frustrating.” Despite Rye’s lead, the game was a back-and-forth affair, with the score tied 5-5 at the half. The Spartans jumped out to a two-goal lead early in the second half, which precipitated a four-goal explosion from the Garnets and another late surge by Burnt Hills to tie the game up with 3:26 left to play in regulation. Senior standout Amanda Hartzell scored a game-high six goals for the Garnets in the loss, a fitting end to the tenure of one of the program’s most prolific scorers. “[Hartzell] went out like a champ; both with her scoring and her play defensively, it was probably the best game of a terrific career,” Hurlie said. “Obviously, it hurt to see her go out on a finish like that, but she played great.” Defensively, the Garnets came up with a few big stops late in the game, including a brilliant save by freshman goalie Amelia Cunningham early in the first overtime that kept the Garnets’ season alive. “She has been outstanding; I think early in the game, there were a couple of shots she’d like back, but that first shot in overtime, against their best offensive player, was huge,” Hurlie said. “For her not to get rattled in that situation, that says a lot about her.” Although the Garnets will lose some key contributors like Hartzell and defensive standout Haley Nemsick to graduation, they will return the bulk of the team in 2018. As players like Margaret Mitchell, Amelia Cunningham makes an overtime save against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Jordan Basso, Shannon Lavelle and Paige Drago continue to improve, Cunningham impressed in her freshman season. sion on which they would find the game-winner less than 30 seconds later on a shot by Taylor Safford. The final miscue was the backbreaker in a game that saw the Garnets’ early 3-0 lead evaporate due to a string of turnovers. “Unfortunately, a lot of our turnovers on Saturday were of the unforced variety,” Hurlie said. “We turned them over a bit, but in a
Paige Drago runs toward the net on June 3. Photos/Mike Smith
Amanda Hartzell is hit by two Spartan players on June 3 at Suffern Middle School. Hartzell had six goals in the Garnets’ 10-9 loss.
Hurlie believes that the Garnets will have a solid base to build upon. But the head coach cautioned that his team can’t rest on its laurels and will need to come into next season ready to defend its sectional crown. “We have talked about how young the team is, but we wanted
them to know that there’s no guarantee that it’s going to be ‘their turn,’” he said. “There are plenty of young teams in Class C, so we’ve got to get better and move forward with that understanding.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
16 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • June 9, 2017