THE
CityREVIEW NewRochelle June 10, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 14 | www.cityreviewnr.com
Remember A member of the U.S. Marine Corps from Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, salutes fallen soldiers at the Memorial Monument in New Rochelle on Monday, May 30. The city held a memorial ceremony in the morning, followed by an event at Glen Island Park in the afternoon. For coverage, see page 6. Photo/Sibylla Chipaziwa
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June 10, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 3
County planning ParaTransit shuttle hike
Westchester residents with disabilities can reserve a Bee-Line ParaTransit bus to help them travel throughout the county, but their $4 one-way fare may soon increase by 25 percent. Photo/Corey Stockton
By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Westchester County held a public hearing at the County Center on Tuesday, May 31 to discuss a proposed increase in Bee-Line ParaTransit fare. ParaTransit, a reservationbased curb-to-curb transportation service program for riders with disabilities, currently charges riders $4 per one-way trip, but is projecting a 25 percent increase, which would raise the fare to $5 per trip. The maximum amount the county can charge under Federal Transportation Administration guidelines is $5.50. Evan Latainer, director for the Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities, said the county’s expenses have increased for the nonprofit ParaTransit shuttle program over the last seven years. In 2009, the service made a total of about 213,000 trips. Last year, the trip total was more than 268,000. The county covers most of the expenses of the program;
Latainer said a one-way trip costs the county about $40, totaling to approximately $10.8 million in 2015. Melvyn Tanzman, executive director of Westchester Disabled on the Move, spoke against the fare increase. He said that supplemental security income and Social Security have each increased by less than 25 percent since 2008, urging the county to consider that this is the predominant form of income for many of ParaTransit’s 6,500 unique riders. Other speakers testified that a more marginalized fare increase, such as a 25 cent or 50 cent hike, or a discount for buying 10-trip ticket books, would be appropriate. During a county meeting last month, County Legislator Bernice Spreckman, a Yonkers Republican and chairwoman of the Seniors and Constituencies Committee, stressed that the proposed $1 trip increase would be detrimental to those who use the service. “All of them live on a fixed income or social security or some other means,” she said.
“They cannot afford to pay a 25 percent increase.” She said she fears that ParaTransit riders will begin limiting their trips to doctors’ offices to maintain their budget. Spreckman said a rate increase is justifiable, as the last fare-hike was in January 2009, but that 25 percent would be absurd. The last rate increase was at a rate of 33 percent, from $3 to $4. Margaret Assante, a resident of Yonkers who spoke at the meeting, said ParaTransit gives her independence. She said she relies on the service to volunteer and to attend government meetings; but the potential rate increase threatens her lifestyle and livelihood. “I’m not going to give up doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I’ll cut out something else.” The fare is scheduled to increase on June 20, unless the county Department of Transportation and the county Office for People with Disabilities find reason to adjust the plan. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
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What’s going on... The New Rochelle Public Library
The New Rochelle Public Library has reopened the Memorial Highway entrance, but the Lawton Street entrance is scheduled to be closed for construction and is expected to be completed by fall 2016. While construction is underway, the only handicapped-accessible entrance will be the reopened Memorial Highway doors, which have a ramp leading down from street level. There will be additional handicapped-designated parking spaces on Memorial Highway. The only book drop at the main library will also be located by this doorway. Patrons may also return books by using the book drop at the Hugh Doyle Center located at 94 Davis Ave., or in front of the Huguenot Children’s Library, located on North Avenue in front of New Rochelle High School. Visit nrpl.org for information on these and other events and programs.
Summer hours at libraries The main New Rochelle Public Library will be closed on Sundays through Sept. 4. The Hugue-
not Children’s Library will be closed on Saturdays from June 25 through Sept. 4. The main library will be open on Saturdays, June 25 through Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both libraries will be closed for Independence Day weekend, Saturday, July 2 through Monday, July 4. Both libraries will be closed Saturday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day. Regular Saturday hours will resume at both libraries on Sept. 10. The main library will resume its regular Sunday hours, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Sept. 11. The Huguenot Children’s Library will remain closed on Sundays. Summer hours at the main library are: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June 25; Sundays: Closed. Summer hours at the children’s library are: Mondays and Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays: Closed from June 25; Sundays: Closed.
Library survey The New Rochelle Public Library board of trustees invites residents to take a few minutes of your time to provide some information about yourself and your use of the library. Please fill out the brief, 14-question survey, available in English and Spanish, through links on the library’s home page at nrpl.org. The closing date for submissions is Sunday, July 17.
Indian spices and cooking program A real-life approach to cooking seasonally and locally will be provided by cookbook author and teacher Rinku Bhattacharya on Saturday, June 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market at Library Green, and from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the main library. In these free interactive presentations and cooking demonstrations, Bhattacharya will discuss essential Indian spices and their health benefits. She will also reveal how to incorporate the Indian flavors in a practical and accessible manner, with an emphasis on seasonal eating and green living. Her book, “Spices & Seasons: Simple, Sustainable Indian Flavors,” will be available for purchase and signing. Registration for the demonstration in the library’s Meeting Room is recommended. Please call 813-3706.
Book sales The Friends of the Library continues its mini book sales every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library’s lobby. Stock up on gently used hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction at the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library book sales in the library’s lobby. In addition to great adult and children’s books, the sale also offers DVDs, videos and other items—all available for purchase at very affordable prices.
Jules Bauer Award Show The 33rd annual Jules Bauer Award Show, sponsored by the New Rochelle Art Association, will be featured in the Lumen Winter Gallery of the New Rochelle Public Library through Thursday, June 23 during regular library hours. The show is open to all exhibiting members of the association, with a cash prize in Jules Bauer’s name to be awarded for best watercolor. Ribbons will also be awarded for outstanding entries in all media. A public reception will be held on Sunday, June 12 from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the library’s lobby. The New Rochelle Art Association, founded in 1912, has a long tradition of promoting and supporting artists and the visual arts. By promoting and broadening the awareness of the arts in the community, the New Rochelle Art Association continues its original goal to “set an educational standard in the fine arts and promote interest in art in the community.” Artists who would like to become members of the New Rochelle Art Association are invited to submit three pieces of recent work (not older than two years) for consideration for membership at the Jurying-In of New Members on Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the library. All types of original work will be considered, including paintings, graphics, sculpture, crafts, photography and computer graphics. Interested artists should bring work to the library’s Meeting Room on the first floor. Artists selected by the jury will become exhibiting members of the New Rochelle Art Association
Lunchtime Yoga Express On Monday, June 13 from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and Wednesday, June 15 from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the main library Ossie Davis Theater/ Meeting Room. Guided by yoga instructor Nora
LeMorin, these midday sessions designed to help relax and strengthen involve traditional and adapted poses that are practiced either standing or seated in chairs—no mats needed. Space is limited; first come, first served. This program is made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. Donations are gratefully accepted. Suitable for adults of all ages.
City news Parks and beach are open The beach season officially began during Memorial Day weekend, with the opening of Hudson Park Beach on Saturday, May 28. The beach is open weekends only in June and then every day, conditions permitting, from Monday, June 27 to Monday, Sept. 5. Beach hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hudson Park Beach includes a tented food court area, playground and picnic area. For the best value, frequent visitors are encouraged to purchase an Omnicard, New Rochelle’s Parks and Recreation’s identification card. As an added plus, the Omniplus plan or Family Pass covers all beach access fees. The Omnicard is also your pass to enter Five Islands Park, Davenport Park, Cameron Dock, Sharkey Park and Neptune Park. Omnicard fees: • Adult Resident (ages 14 to 61): $40. • Adult Resident Plus (Omincard + Hudson Park Beach pass): $75. • Non-resident: $65. • Non-resident Plus: $125. • Senior Resident (ages 62 and up) Lifetime card: $40. • Senior Resident Plus (Omnicard + Hudson Park Beach pass): $35/season. • Family – New Rochelle Residents only: $125. • Family – Non-residents: $250. Hudson Park Beach fees: • Adult Resident with Omnicard: $5. • Resident Guest: $5. • Resident Senior: $5. • Resident Senior Plus: Free. • Family Omnicard: Free. • Non-resident with Omnicard: $5. • Non-resident Guest: $10. • One-Day Pass: $10.
Weekend valet parking returns The city of New Rochelle reactivated valet parking services in the downtown area, beginning Memorial Day weekend. This white-glove valet service allows downtown restaurant patrons to drop off their cars at the New Rochelle Public Library’s south parking lot, between Lawton Avenue and Memorial Highway, and pay a flat $5 fee to park until midnight, eliminating the need to circle for a space or worry about expired meters. The city is working jointly with the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District to provide this service. Valet parking services will be overseen by LAZ Parking, and will be available from 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday, through Labor Day weekend. 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 10, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 5
CWA union workers return to Verizon jobs By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers unions called an end to their 45-day strike against Verizon last week, coming to a tentative agreement which, if approved, would last until August 2019. The multi-union strike was the country’s largest and longest since a two-week long strike against Verizon in August 2011. More than 36,000 Verizon employees on the East Coast, 800 of whom were from Westchester County, returned to work on Wednesday, June 1, awaiting the final approval of a new contract that would create 1,400 new jobs, provide a 10.5 percent pay raise over the life of the agreement, and renege cuts previously made to pension and benefits. The benefits portion of the four-year agreement would be retroactive, dating back to Verizon workers’ previous contract which ended in August 2015. However, the wage increases are not retroactive and will only go
into effect on Aug. 2 of this year. To try and combat the latest strike, Verizon employed thousands of contractors and employees on special assignment to fill in for union employees. As the picket line broke on May 27, Verizon employees donning red shirts and signs continued to waive at honking trucks driving down Main Street in White Plains, outside The Verizon building. Linda Campanelli, of New Rochelle, chief steward for Verizon employees in the CWA who has worked for the company for 34 years, said she was most concerned with protecting employee pensions and reducing work-mandated travel. Campanelli said the strike was not primarily aimed at gaining a pay raise. “Everything that we had, that’s what we wanted to keep,” she said. This included the hope that Verizon would agree not to transfer employees to different regions for up to two months at a time, an ability they sought during contract negotiations. The new health care plan in the tentative contract will save
the company money, according to a Verizon press release. As a result of the strike, Verizon had cancelled workers’ health care coverage on April 30. Shop steward Nick Tompkins, a Carmel resident, said another concern of the strikers was to protect the employees of the wireless department who had been working without a contract. “It took [the unions] a long time to organize any wireless employees, and it’s important to get them on board so that they’re on the same scale as us,” he said. As part of the agreement, about 165 Verizon Wireless employees will receive contracts, 65 of whom have not previously been under contract. The tentative agreement followed a meeting by both parties moderated by Thomas Perez, secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, and Allison Beck, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. In a press release, Verizon’s Chief Administrative Officer Marc Reed said, “The new contracts will help ensure that Verizon employees continue to re-
Members of CWA Local 1103 broke their picket line in front of the White Plains Verizon building on Friday, May 27 and returned to work on Wednesday, June 1, awaiting the final approval of a four-year deal. File photo
ceive solid wages and excellent health care and retirement benefits. They also include key changes sought by the company to bet-
ter position our wireline business for success in the digital world.” As of press time, the CWA has not voted to ratify the agree-
ment. The deadline for the ratification vote is Friday, June 17. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
6 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 10, 2016 THE
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Intimate ceremony honors
fallen, missing in action By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant
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Paul Kearns, commander of American Legion Post 8, opens New Rochelle’s Memorial Day ceremony at Memorial Plaza on Monday, May 30.
Intern Justin Grant Columnist Lenore Skenazy
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William Moye, an Army veteran and chaplain emeritus of the United Veterans Memorial & Patriotic Association of New Rochelle, delivers the invocation at the start of the Memorial Day ceremony.
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Ronald Tocci delivers his remarks at New Rochelle’s Memorial Day ceremony. His speech focused on the importance of respecting veterans in need who came home. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa
Although early morning showers cancelled many of the parades across Westchester County, New Rochelle still held its solemn ceremony on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, at Memorial Plaza around 10 a.m. Held by the United Veterans Memorial & Patriotic Association of the city of New Rochelle, the memorial began with William “Bill” Moye, the chaplain emeritus of the association, giving the invocation. Having just turned 101 years old a few days earlier, the intimate crowd gave Moye a round of applause as he approached the podium across from the Memorial Monument that honors fallen soldiers, those still missing in action and prisoners of war. The monument pays homage to veterans of various wars including World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan. Present at the ceremony were the city’s Police and Fire departments in their blues. As it was Fleet Week, members of the U.S. Marine Corps from Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, also took part in the ceremony. American Legion Post 8 Cmdr. Paul Kearns welcomed and thanked all in attendance. “We honor those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country,” he said. Kearns mentioned that the post had a visit from current servicemen and women, Marines and sailors earlier that morning, and commended them for their manners and how sharp they looked in uniform. “One comment that would be repeated over and over was how young they looked,” he said. “They look young because they are. These young men and women protect us and people around the globe…. Our youth have always carried the burden of fighting our nation’s conflicts.” Kearns said people should
New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson addresses the crowd, emphasizing the need to show gratitude to veterans and the fallen by being good neighbors to one another.
One of the displays at the “Supreme Sacrifice” exhibit honoring New Rochelle residents who died in active duty during World War II.
Visiting members of the U.S. Marine Corps from Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, stand at attention alongside New Rochelle’s Fire Department and emergency personnel.
also honor those who never returned, as well as those affected by the mental and physical consequences of war. “It is our duty to fight for them and give the best medical attention and care they can be given,” he added, speaking to recent revelations of the hardship many veterans have been facing upon returning
home from combat. Ronald Tocci, a city resident and former state veterans’ administrator, said that Memorial Day, which is often confused with Veterans Day, is the most solemn day of all military holidays. CONTINUED on next page
June 10, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 7
Ronald Tocci, left, and Cmdr. Paul Kearns carry a wreath to be placed by the Memorial Monument before the ceremony’s moment of silence and salute to the fallen.
“Today is a day for remembrance; it’s a day we should all reflect upon,” said Tocci, who was inducted into the state Senate Veterans Hall of Fame in 2010. “The only thing we can do for those who are not with us is to say a prayer, and hope their souls… and families are at peace.” Tocci also touched upon the plight of Vietnam veterans in particular, who feel that they were mistreated upon returning home. “It was almost like throwing out the baby with the bathwater,” he said, adding that antiwar protests may have evolved into anti-veteran sentiments, and it has taken decades for many people to feel gratitude toward veterans now. “There’s a lot more work to be done…. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to take care of [veterans] if they have a problem when they return,” Tocci said. New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said that honoring veterans and fallen members of the armed forces with parades and ceremonies is just one way of showing gratitude. “To give purpose and meaning of the deeds of the fallen, we must do much
more,” Bramson said. “We must uphold, every day, the virtues and freedoms for which so many young Americans gave their all.” Tocci and Kearns then placed a wreath by the Memorial Monument, where attendees shared a moment of silence before the salute to the fallen soldiers. The New Rochelle High School symphonic band was on hand to play patriotic songs, with Mark Poggiolli playing taps before three members of American Legion Post 8 carried out the firing detail: three shots fired in unison. Shortly after the ceremony concluded, participants were invited to view the “Supreme Sacrifice” exhibit at the New Rochelle Public Library, which was on display from May 27 through June 3. The exhibit was put together by Eugene Longhi, American Legion Post 8’s historian, who worked with city historian Barbara Davis, library staff and volunteers. The exhibit featured New Rochelle residents who died in active duty starting from the Civil War, with photos gathered from newspaper clippings and New Rochelle High School yearbooks. As the good weather held up,
Members of the New Rochelle Police Department salute the war dead, prisoners of war and those missing in action as taps is played. Photos/Sibylla Chipaziwa
New Rochelle continued commemorating Memorial Day with an event at Glen Island Park from noon to 6 p.m., with a U.S. Marine Corps aircraft landing, more speeches, food and entertainment for all ages. There was also a water service for person-
nel lost at sea, followed by another ceremony. A wreath was cast into the Long Island Sound by veterans of VFW Post 439 and the American Legion Post 8. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
8 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 10, 2016
Rye court looks to drug education for minors
A new educational program being developed in Rye aims to give minors convicted of a marijuana or alcoholrelated offense a second chance at avoiding a criminal record. File photo
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With the formation of a new educational program, Rye City Court, the Police Department and anti-drug coalitions will look to deescalate a growing drug problem through professional intervention. In tandem with Rye Action for Children and Teens, RyeACT, the police and court system have already kick started a trial run of a rehabilitative program meant to curb teens’ usage of marijuana and alcohol, which launched in mid-February. The program, according to Rye Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran, who has helped spearhead the initiative, could provide a second chance to Rye teens who are convicted of a marijuana or alcohol-related offense. For teens taken into custody on a drug or alcohol-related charge, Corcoran said the course would offer them a conditional discharge, contingent upon its completion. Since 2011, at least five former Rye High School students have died of drug-related causes, leading to the issue of drug intervention to rise to the surface. Aside from the educational benefits, the police commissioner added, the program would be a way to keep juveniles in the city from incurring a criminal record. “You wouldn’t have a record if you bring back satisfactory course completion,” Corcoran
said. “There’s not an easy answer to the drug problem, and enforcement is just a small part of the equation.” Currently, according to Rye City Court Judge Joe Latwin, minors who are convicted of a marijuana or alcohol-related offense are able to leave court without any mandatory rehabilitation or having to alert their parents. Since it’s not a crime, many of Rye’s minors can afford to pay the fines on their own and their parents never know, according to Latwin. “It’s a problem of [Rye’s] affluence,” he said. According to Lilly Neuman, the community outreach and education coordinator for St. Vincent’s Hospital in Harrison, who has been responsible for conducting and spearheading the counseling assigned by Rye City Court, the initiative could help galvanize the community against drugs. According to Neuman, the counseling process not only incorporates her and the teens involved, but their parents and the officers who handled their enforcement. “I want to get us all on the same page,” said Neuman, who has worked with chemical dependency for more than 20 years. In the wake of several drugrelated overdoses among young adults in Rye over the past five years, the city has begun to coalesce around drug prevention to help save its youth. Councilwoman Julie Killian,
a Republican and co-founder of Rye-ACT—which is mostly made up of members of the Rye community—characterized the initiative as an important step forward in Rye’s fight against drugs. “It’s all about education and teaching the kids and the parents what are the dangers,” Killian said. “They don’t necessarily understand how dangerous this stuff can be.” Neuman, who said she will continue to help develop the program and take on additional juveniles assigned to her by the courts, explained that her job is to give Rye’s youth the tools necessary to make an informed decision. “I can’t stop [them] from using,” she said. “But I can give you information so when someone passes you a joint or gives you alcohol you can say, ‘Not today.’” CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
At a glance A new educational program being developed in Rye aims to give minors convicted of a marijuana or alcohol-related offense a second chance at avoiding a criminal record Instead of a misdemeanor, minors would be required to complete an educational course
June 10, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 9
Save the Sound seeks participation for water testing
This map indicates all of the sites tested by Save the Sound during the summer of 2015. Green indicates that the site passes safe swim criteria; orange is a failure; red is a failure by 10 times or more; and gray indicates that not enough data was collected to calculate an average.
By ANGELA JORDAN For the fourth consecutive year, Save the Sound is hosting its water quality monitoring training sessions again this summer. According to Tracey Brown, the director of Western Sound programs, the purpose of the program is to give citizens the opportunity to participate in sampling studies that are used to persuade elected officials to invest more in water infrastructure, while simultaneously informing residents of the true quality of their local waters. “This program really focuses on bacteria contamination and what we’re trying to do is figure out where updated structure investments need to be made, or where animal waste is,” Brown said, “because we want to make sure the shoreline is safe to swim in.” The Westchester municipalities where Save the Sound conducts samplings include New Rochelle, Pelham, Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Port Chester, Scarsdale, White Plains and Mount Vernon. They have also extended their services out to Greenwich, Connecticut, and will begin testing at some sites on Long
Island soon. In the summer of 2015, Save the Sound worked with 24 volunteers who collected roughly 400 water samples from 52 different sites in Westchester and Greenwich. They tested the water for Enterococcus, bacteria that indicates fecal contamination. After the results were collected, they then gave each site a “pass” or “fail” score based on safe swim criteria established by the states of New York and Connecticut. The 52 sites included rivers, embayments and shorelines. Of the three categories, rivers were the most contaminated waters, with a 79 percent fail rate, followed by shorelines, which had a 35 percent fail rate, and then embayments, which had a 34 percent fail rate. The sites with the highest levels of contamination were Mount Vernon, Pelham, Port Chester and White Plains, and the cleanest sites were in Larchmont and Greenwich. Mamaroneck had sites ranging from the cleanest, the Mamaroneck Harbor, to one of the most contaminated, the Sheldrake River. Furthermore, according to Save the Sound, 51 of the testing sites indicated worsening water quality when compared
to samples from 2014. Brown, however, said that there are usually specific causes for water contamination that can be remedied. Brown said that in Rye for example, some of the sanitary sewer lines are cracked, and therefore sewage overflows in manholes can cause water contamination, and that by pushing for state funding to update Rye’s sewer infrastructure, the city could significantly reduce the bacteria in bodies of water like Playland Lake and Beaver Swamp Brook. The first testing dates for water quality monitoring training sessions were in Mamaroneck on June 6 and June 7, but Brown said that there will likely be more available training session in a few weeks if there is a demand for it. “We’re trying to drum up some new people to volunteer,” Brown said. “We’ll add more [training dates] depending on interest.” Save the Sound’s Westchester office is located at 545 Tompkins Ave. in Mamaroneck, and Brown said that locals who are interested in attending a training session should contact Peter Linderoth at plinderoth@ savethesound.org.
Eamon Pearson, a volunteer at one of Save the Sound’s water quality monitoring training sessions in 2014, takes a water sample. Photos courtesy Save the Sound
10 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 10, 2016
U.S. Marines
INVADE
Members of the Harrison Fire Department look up at the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion as it hovers over Playland Lake.
Playland Throughout Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Marines conducted air and ground demonstrations for the public in New York City and the surrounding areas, including Westchester County, as part of Fleet Week 2016. Fleet Week is a U.S. Navy, Marine and Coast Guard tradition during which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. On Sunday, May 29, one of those demonstrations took place on the beach located behind Playland Amusement Park in Rye. This year’s event at Playland included a ceremony in honor of Memorial Day, followed by a demonstration on behalf of the U.S. Military Corps Aviation/ Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Military aircrafts performed overhead sweeps around the crowded park before landing
near an open field next to the Edith Reade Sanctuary. After landing, dozens of Marines disembarked and performed a live raid, securing a fictional landing zone and setting up a perimeter as they would during actual combat. Once the demonstration concluded, soldiers were greeted by the crowd that had gathered for the event. Those on hand were also allowed to tour the inside of the choppers, which included a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, a joint service multirole combat aircraft that can cruise at nearly 290 mph. The aircrafts used in the demonstration were stationed on an open field next to the Reade Sanctuary. The city of Rye, town/village of Harrison and village of Mamaroneck fire departments provided standby support for the landing. -Reporting by Andrew Dapolite
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Battle, left, who also serves as the amusement park’s operations superintendent, with Frank Carrieri, the park’s assistant general superintendent. Photo courtesy Friends of Playland
A Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion takes off from a field behind Playland Amusement Park in Rye.
Firefighters from the city of Rye, town/village of Harrison and village of Mamaroneck provide standby support for the landing. Photos courtesy Rye Fire Department
June 10, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 11
Talking Business: With
Lenny Balidemaj By IRA ELLENTHAL Executive Vice President It was early, before the dinner rush, on a recent rainy evening when I sat down to interview Lenny Balidemaj, a 42-yearold Albanian from Montenegro, who came to the U.S. in 1994 and, after prepping in other restaurants, set out to dramatically improve the fine dining landscape of lower Westchester County by opening Il Castello, a Mamaroneck institution featuring fine northern Italian cuisine. “Check out its reviews on the Internet and you’ll see how highly patrons rank us,” Lenny said with justifiable pride. “Better still, come in and taste for yourself just how special we are.” In 2002, The New York Times provided a big boost for Il Castello with a highly favorable review and, to hear Lenny tell it, things have only gotten better since. The venue for our interview was Lenny’s, which features ocean-fresh seafood, including mouthwatering, buttery lobster, combined with classic Italian fare and the finest USDA prime steak. Its owner likes describing
it as “a steakhouse with an Italian flair,” which, after extensive renovations, opened last August at the former home of La Scala on Boston Post Road in Larchmont. Wisely, Lenny didn’t rush into expansion, a fatal mistake of so many entrepreneurs in the high-mortality restaurant field. “I was confident that I’d know when the right opportunity presented itself,” he said in typical understated fashion. “And, I think I’ll be able to spot the next winner, whenever and wherever that might be.” An Il Castello loyalist and pasta lover agreed with this estimate and added, “Lenny knows what he’s doing at all times and he prides himself on creating wonderful sauces for his wide selection of pasta dishes. I eat there regularly and I love the cozy atmosphere.” Another fan, this one a transplanted Brooklynite, paid Lenny’s the ultimate compliment when he said, “I’ve been there twice since it opened and I love the steaks, which were the equal of Peter Luger’s.
What’s more, the service was warm and friendly.” One of 10 children, Lenny came to the States without speaking a word of English, but the language barrier was offset by an all-out determination to become successful. “I can’t say I’m surprised by our success because we’ve worked our butts off and we’ll continue to do so,” he said, his words sounding more like a promise than a statement. Somehow, some way, he manages to find time for his family, including his wife and three sons, ages 16, 15 and 12. “I love spending time with them, getting away as a family whenever possible, mostly for two or three days at time.” Going where? “Especially to historic spots like Williamsburg, Virginia,” Lenny said. “Museums are also a favorite venue, as are places like Bear Mountain and the Jersey Shore. And this summer, we’re going back to Montenegro, which will be exciting for all of us.” He attributes his ability to escape from a grueling work schedule for more than a few days to Marcello Rugova, his
Friends since childhood, Lenny Balidemaj, left, owner of Lenny’s, and Marcello Rugova, his manager, enjoy working together. Photos/Bobby Begun
childhood friend in Montenegro who came to the U.S. a year after Lenny and, like his pal, went into the restaurant business. A great, big bear of a man who manages the new restaurant wearing a perpetual smile, Marcello prides himself on getting to know every patron on a first-name basis. As for Lenny, Marcello said this: “He makes it a pleasure to come to work and, believe it or not, we’ve actually gotten closer since I joined him in his business,” a statement he capped off with these words: “I trust him with my life.” A sense of good will seems to envelop the wait staff, in part because they are well paid, respected by management, and valued for their input on how to run the businesses more effectively. “We meet weekly to talk about what went wrong during the previous week and how we’re going to fix it,” Lenny says. A case in point: making sure every patron has been fed in a timely manner, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when all of the tables in both restau-
rants are filled. Noting that the pressure is enormous, Lenny asserts, “I don’t want anyone going away hungry and I won’t serve food that isn’t cooked properly, so we do our very best to do the impossible.” And as he made this assertion,
I looked around, an hour after we began the interview, and noticed that every table in Lenny’s, the less-than-a-year-old restaurant, was full. And it wasn’t even the weekend. CONTACT: irathal@hometwn.com
After extensive renovations to the former home of LaScala on Boston Post Road in Larchmont, Lenny’s opened amid much fanfare last August.
12 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 10, 2016
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June 10, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 13
Getting ready for summer to-do list: RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
• Get new bathing suit. Come on, who am I kidding? Get out old bathing suit, and ignore the fact that it predates the Bush era. (The W. Bush era, that is. It’s not like I never get a new bathing suit. It would just be nice if someday they invented an elastic that stayed elastic instead of getting crunchy after a decade or two. Also, if someone made bathing suits that don’t go out of style every two seconds.) • Quit obsessing about age of bathing suit! • Quit obsessing about age! You are only as old as you feel. Or are you only as young as you feel? • Positive affirmation: I feel younger than springtime! (Of course, springtime has been with us for a while. Ever since the Earth started spinning on its axis, right? Or at least since the evolution of plants? I do feel younger than that, just not in my bathing suit.) • Anyway: Buy sunscreen, and choose between the white glop
no one in the family ever will use because it’s like slathering on blue cheese dressing or the clear spray-on stuff that costs more per ounce than Chanel No. 5? • Buy both. The mere presence of the gloppy white stuff in the medicine cabinet will protect the family from skin cancer by appeasing the angry Coppertone god, and it can stay there for years—in fact, it has. • Ignore the entire article you read yesterday that said a responsible family would go through a whole bottle of sunscreen in a day at the beach if they reapply after each swim. I suppose this is the same family that cleans the coils behind their refrigerator on a monthly basis, as the manufacturer suggests, to “boost cooling efficiency,” as if it is so easy to move a fridge every month—or ever, which could explain our electricity bills. • Quit thinking about things you didn’t do in the middle of writing a “to do” list! • To do: Get son’s health form. • Also to do: Stay on hold for 45 minutes, waiting for the pediatrician’s office to remember
you are alive, on the phone, and had cheerfully responded, “Sure!” to “Can you please hold?” hoping that your chipper sympathy for their “crazy day!” would get you better service. So much for that. You want a crazy day? Try calling the doctor and, after the first 10 minutes on hold, realizing you really have to go to the bathroom. • Quit drifting off topic! Summer! Coming! Soon! Start exercising! • Start exercising your Godgiven right to enjoy life without jogging, stretching, crunching. If I want crunch, I’ve got the elastic in my bathing suit. • Get ready for guests: paper plates, napkins, tablecloths. • Feel guilty about using too much paper. • Feel guilty about not inviting people who are not invited. (But at least you’ll be using less paper.) • Make guest list for festive (if small) barbecue and swim party! • Swim? (In what?) • Buy bathing suit. Or not. Happy summer! CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Abandoned by his human, Joey was lucky to have found a colony that one of our volunteers feeds daily. Not being able to trust humans, he kept his distance from the feeder for more than a year. Recently while trapping an injured cat, Joey’s foster mom noticed he was flirting and blinking at her and decided to give him a chance. She discovered quickly that Joey is a lover boy! Craving human contact and attention, he climbs up on his foster mom, places his paws on her shoulders and gives lots of hugs. This loving, gentle-natured boy also loves kittens. He’s an amazing beautiful soul and deserves to find a home where he’ll be king of the castle. Joey is neutered, up to date with all vaccinations and in good health. Why not donate $80 to Larchmont Pet Rescue and make Joey part of your home? To meet Joey, call 835-3332 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
Sprain Brook Academy welcomes students after jail
Photo courtesy Westchester County
The Westchester County Jail in Valhalla recently opened its doors to parents, school officials and others for a rare open house highlighting the high school education program operated there by Southern Westchester BOCES. Some 18 or so students of the Sprain Brook Academy were joined by family members for the event, which featured presentations by teachers and outside agencies that offer transition assistance to students after their release. Speakers included past and prospective graduates, as well as officials with the Westchester County Department of Correction and Southern Westchester BOCES. Westhab, OneStop and the Strive Program presented information to families about available services. Michael Lopez, an academy graduate and the keynote speaker, encouraged students not to give up on themselves. Lopez manages an automobile repair shop and said he counts correction officers he knew from his time in Valhalla among his customers. “Just because you messed up doesn’t mean you can’t stand up and keep going,” he said. “Just do it for yourself. Nobody can do it for you.” Assistant Warden Randy Watkins said an open house inside a jail is a new idea. He said that it shows families that their loved ones can receive the education they need. “We can only offer it,” he said. “They have to come.”
The academy serves students ages 16 to 21. Entitled to a high school education, they receive a curriculum centered on transition and transformation in their lives. The curriculum is aligned with state standards and Regents requirements and extends to English language literacy for nonreaders, high school academics, Equivalency Exam preparation, life skills and career development. Transition assistance upon release is also provided in relation to housing, employment, training and higher education. Durrell Glover, of Mount Vernon, has seen his sister, T., a prospective graduate, transformed during her time in the academy. He watched with their grandmother as T. stood at a podium and addressed the crowd of 60 or so students, family members and school and correction officials and staff. “I learned a lot in here about myself and not to give up,” T. said. “I learned that every day is the first day of the rest of your life.” “It just goes to show you,” her brother observed, “if that person wants to change they have to go out and get it.” The open house offered families a rare visit to the jail in an educational rather than strictly correctional setting. Westhab’s Strive Program provides job and life skills and other assistance to students after their release from the jail. “It’s not like they’re just cut
loose,” said Strive case manager Kyle James. “We provide a stable environment.” One mother in attendance said she was gratified to see that her son, B., would be able to continue his education and earn his high school diploma while here. “It makes me feel good,” she said. “He’s going to take this as a learning experience, and he’s looking forward. Life isn’t over for him.” Students have been working on their writing under the direction of English teachers Joe Perez and Joan Edwards Acuña. For the occasion, each student received a bound volume of their collective essays, reflections, poems and short stories. The open house is a good opportunity to “remember why we do what we do,” Perez said. He and Edwards Acuña, along with science teacher Keith Mattos and counselor Kevin McAllister, chatted with students and parents throughout the evening. Also on hand were Southern Westchester BOCES District Superintendent Harold Coles, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services James Gratto and BOCES board members Catherine Draper and Lynn Frazer-McBride. “This is a celebration of student achievement,” said Claudia Murphy, director of Adult and Community Services at Southern Westchester BOCES. “You are not defined by where you are but by the choices you make while you are here.” (Submitted)
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SPORTS
14 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 10, 2016
Remembering the Greatest LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
Since the news of Muhammad Ali’s death broke on Friday, June 3, it’s been implied that it is unlikely we’ll ever see another sports star quite like the former heavyweight champ. But while sports journalists are often prone to hyperbole and quick to anoint people, teams and eras as “The Greatest,” when it comes to Ali, I think they’re pretty much on point. Ali’s legacy is not a simple one to unpack. In the ring, it’s probably easiest: he was brilliant. Whether it’s the younger version of Ali, who moved like a middleweight, or the older, postsuspension Ali, who was able to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment to dish out straight right hands, he was, if not the best fighter ever, certainly on the shortlist of most accomplished boxers to ever lace
up the gloves. Outside the ring, things get more complicated. Ali’s brash persona, the prefight predictions, the post-bout proclamations; these seem almost commonplace to us now. At the time, however, they were revolutionary. There had been trash talkers before, of course, but Ali’s verbal dexterity and razor sharp tongue were an art form. Sometimes, he could be cruel; just ask Joe Frazier who resented Ali for most of his life following their trilogy of fights. But he was never boring. “The Lousiville Lip” fired off insults with the same grace he fired off jabs, and that was part of what made him such a captivating sports figure. Like most things with Ali, his gift of the gab was often imitated and very rarely duplicated. No subsequent sports star’s press conferences have resonated so deeply with the American public. It’s not that people don’t talk trash anymore; it’s simply that
nobody has ever done it as well as Ali. Ali brought speech, particularly in the political sphere, to the table, something that is largely absent from the sports world today. Ali’s conversion to Islam, his outspoken views on racial injustice both in our country and abroad, his unwillingness to fight in the Vietnam War, and subsequent battle with the U.S. government made him a polarizing figure. His views alienated some, uplifted others, but ultimately made him the most transcendent figure in sports history. These days, you won’t find too many athletes willing to take principled stands, especially not with millions of dollars and advertising revenue hanging in the balance. Michael Jordan, who is maybe the only American sports figure to challenge Ali’s level of celebrity for his athletic performance, once declined to support a candidate in his native North Carolina, famously quipping, “Republicans buy sneakers, too.”
On June 3, Muhammad Ali died at the age of 74. Today, it’s important to remember Ali as both an unparalleled fighter and warrior for social justice. Photo courtesy of mitos-del-deporte.wikispaces.com
Regardless of where you stand—or stood—on Ali’s politics, his impact on the world cannot—and should
not—be denied. There will only be one Muhammad Ali. But hopefully, his memory will inspire others to
continue to fight.
Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports
SPORTS
June 10, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 15
Loal hero continues to ‘fight’ By JUSTIN GRANT Intern Local martial artists will be fighting cancer and other childhood illnesses this weekend, when the Asian Fighting Arts School, run by New Rochelle veteran Dusty Rhodes, will host its annual fundraiser for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In addition to raising money for a good cause, Rhodes hopes that the charity event will help to instill a sense of community awareness in his students. Under Rhodes, the Union Avenue-based dojo has been running annual events to support the St. Jude Children’s Research Fund for the last six years, and has raised roughly $39,000 for the hospital. The hospital, which is located in Atlanta, is dedicated to treating children who suffer from cancer and other lifethreatening diseases. According to the martial arts instructor, St. Jude’s track record in dispersing
funds to those in need, as well as its dedication to raising awareness about certain diseases, has made his charity efforts worthwhile. By helping raise awareness for certain diseases, Rhodes said, St. Jude’s is helping to increase dialogue throughout the world. “For example, if a person is in a hospital in Honduras and somebody else is sick, and both of them somehow cross paths, they are going to share that knowledge to other people,” said Rhodes, 48. “[Our ties] are growing stronger.” On June 11, Rhodes and his students will host an afternoon of activities at the dojo that will include Zumba and fitness classes, dodgeball and a bake sale. In addition, his students are encouraged to reach out to others in the community who may want to donate to St. Jude’s. A supplementary event is scheduled for Friday, June 17 at Dudley’s Parkview Restaurant,
that will include food, drink specials and live music. Proceeds from that event will also go toward the Children’s Research Fund. According to Rhodes, working with the charity has profoundly changed his life and he is hoping that his students will also be inspired to continue to give back to the community. “It kind of makes you a better person and makes you appreciate the childhood that I had,” he said. “[I had] a great childhood.” Rhodes also believes that civic-mindedness is intertwined with the lessons he gives daily at his dojo, and that self-discipline and community activism go hand-in-hand in terms of building well-rounded individuals. “Mixed martial arts is proven [to help children pay attention to] school and homework; I instill this [discipline] and the parents have to instill it, too,” he said, “just like it takes one tribe to raise an Indian.”
The Asian Fighting Arts School in New Rochelle, run by Dusty Rhodes, pictured, is hosting a fundraising event on Saturday, June 11 to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Fund. Over the last six years, the New Rochelle-based school has raised nearly $40,000 for a good cause. Contributed photo
Clips named to All-Region teams
The Golf Coaches Association of America, GCAA, has announced the 2016 NCAA Division II PING All-Region Teams. Concordia College junior Juan Roa was named to the All-East Team to earn one of the 12 spots. In all, there were four golfers from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, CACC, making it to the All-East Team. Roa helped lead the Clippers to their first NCAA Division II National Championship this past season and was also a CACC Men’s Golf All-Tournament Team selection with a 74-79 (+11) for a T-5 finish and a CACC All-Conference Team selection. Roa earned a CACC Player of the Week selection on April 13 after claiming the first place medal at Le Moyne College’s Mike Bello Spring Invitational at the Timber Banks Golf Club to lead Concordia to the team win out of a field of 15 programs. Roa placed T-6 at the NCAA Division II Super Regionals with a 74-76-72 (+5) in the three-round tournament, con-
cluding the season with a T-99 finish in the NCAA Division II National Championship with a 79-80-74 (+17). Roa wasn’t the only Concordia athlete to be named to the All-Region team, as those honors also went to baseball player Brian Billelo as well. On May 25, Billelo added to his post season award recognition with an American Baseball Coaches Association, ABCA/ Rawlings All-East Region Second Team selection. Bilello was named to the team as a utility player for the Clippers this past season, as he was also recently named the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association, D2CCA, and National Col-
legiate Baseball Writers Association, NCBWA, All-East Second Teams. Bilello was named to the All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, CACC, First Team at the end of the season as he was fifth in the CACC this season with a .358 batting average on 48 hits in 134 at-bats to lead Concordia. On the season, he also had 23 RBIs, 18 runs, 14 doubles, five triples, a home run, and a stolen base. Bilello had the second best on-base percentage in the CACC at .466, while his double and triple totals were third best in the league. Bilello split his time in between both catcher and first base. He had 227 put outs for 11th best in the CACC and held a fielding percentage of .996 for 12th overall in the league. Overall in NCAA Division II, Bilello was 47th in triples. He was an All-CACC Second Team selection and a Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) All-East Region Second Team selection last year. (Submitted)
Concordia junior Juan Roa lines up a putt. Roa was named to the CACC All-Region Team last week. Contributed photo
16 • THE CITY REVIEW • June 10, 2016