August 5, 2016 by The City Review New Rochelle

THE

CityREVIEW NewRochelle August 5, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 20 | www.cityreviewnr.com

Opt-out proposal could punish school districts

THE

TRUMP

By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer

CARD?

Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for president at its national convention in Cleveland on July 21. The four-day gathering brought out some of the party’s biggest names and supporters. For more, see page 6. Photo/Charles McLaughlin

County legislator: Standard breached Playland contract By JAMES PERO Staff Writer According to one Westchester County lawmaker, less than three months into a 30-year deal transferring control of countyowned Rye Playland to management company Standard Amusements, the private group has already breached contract, failing to make its first payment to the county. “[Standard] missed their first contractual payment,” said county Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat. “We’re just giving away too much control.”

According to Jenkins, who opposed the contract that turned control of the amusement park over to Standard, the company’s first payment of $1.75 million—$250,000 of which was already paid to the county upon the contract’s approval in March—was due on June 15. Specifically why the rest of the payment wasn’t made, Jenkins said, is still unbeknownst to him and his fellow lawmakers. “There has been no information as to why they did not make the payment,” Jenkins said. “It’s possible that they didn’t know what we were going to do with

[Playland’s] pool.” On July 21—more than a month after the initial payment was due—a letter from Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett to Standard granted the company an extension for its first payment until Sept. 30; a date that coincides with the county Board of Legislators’ revised deadline for deciding the fate of the Playland pool, a decision that was initially supposed to be finalized by July 31. Matt Richter, communications director for the board, who described Jenkins’ characterization of a “missed payment” as

inaccurate, said that negotiations about the pool have played a central role in the decision to grant Standard an extension. “[Standard] was worried about the fate of the pool,” Richter said, adding that both parties had maintained communication over the issue prior to the June 15 payment deadline. “There was never any discrepancy; never an expectation that wasn’t met.” Richter said that both parties agreed that if a payment extension was imminent, wiring the $1.5 million to the county PLAYLAND continued on page 10

A proposed federal education regulation, which would strip Title I funding for public schools with excessive opt-out rates of standardized testing, has ignited opposition from parents, lawmakers and education professionals in Westchester County. Following an Aug. 1 deadline for public comments, the U.S. Department of Education began a final approval process to amend the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, ESSA, which was passed by Congress in December 2015. The Department of Education’s proposal to amend ESSA would label most Westchester public schools as “in need of improvement” and would cut federal funding for any school where 5 percent of students or more opt out of Common Core testing. The controversial Common Core State Standards Initiative, which highlights what students should know in English language arts and mathematics at the end of each grade from kindergarten through 12th grade, is currently authorized in New York state until 2022. “I find the regulations troubling,” said Dr. Brian Monahan, the interim superintendent of the Rye City School District. “Parents made individual decisions based on what was right for their children.” Despite the lack of notice for public comment, however, the

Rye City School District will not directly get involved with the proposed legislation, according to Monahan, but will keep a close watch on it. The federal act was drafted by U.S. Secretary of Education John King, the former New York state education commissioner, following the repeal of the No Child Left Behind Act on Dec. 10, 2015. The No Child Left Behind Act previously required all public schools receiving Title I funding to administer statewide standardized testing with the stipulation that students make “adequate yearly progress.” For example, each year’s fifth graders must score better than the previous year’s fifth graders, or the federal government would step in and set mandatory improvement plans. Parents and local school administrators have panned the Common Core testing, arguing that it takes the learning out of the classroom by setting unrealistic educational guidelines for success due to the high rate of failure on standardized tests. Linda Banta, a Larchmont resident with two children in public schools who joined a rally against the regulation on July 29 held by state Senate candidate Julie Killian and congressional candidate Phil Oliva, both Republicans, said, “It’s alarming that the federal government announced something in the SCHOOL continued on page 5

2 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016

August 2016

Planning ahead... SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Final Assessment Roll

WEDNESDAY

2016 Summer Sounds Concert Series 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hudson Park

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

BID Music on the Green 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Library Green

SATURDAY

Summer Olympics start

Downtown BID Grand Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Library Green Mobile Shredder Service 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., City Hall

Down to Earth Farmers Market 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Twin Lakes at NRHS

Senior Citizens Day

World Rowing Championships start

New Rochelle SOA first Golf Outing 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Rye Golf Club

2016 Summer Sounds Concert Series 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hudson Park

U.S. Open starts

Down to Earth Farmers Market 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Twin Lakes at NRHS

Women’s Equality Day

Down to Earth Farmers Market 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Twin Lakes at NRHS

Summer Olympics end

World Rowing Championships end

BID Music on the Green 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Library Green

Downtown BID Grand Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Library Green

August 5, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 3

Rye threatens lawsuit over Playland redevelopment By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A legal battle between Westchester County and Rye could be imminent after city officials threatened to sue for a say in the future of Playland. In a letter to County Attorney Robert Meehan dated July 18, Michael Gerrard, who was retained by the city of Rye, asserted that Rye, not Westchester County, should enjoy the status of lead agency for an upcoming round of capital projects at the amusement park. “Unfortunately, the county hasn’t followed the law,” said Rye Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican. “Months ago, apparently, the county had declared itself lead agency.” According to Sack, the county declared itself lead agency in May. Gerrard told the Review that if the county continues to ignore the city’s request for inclusion into the park’s process, litigation will be imminent. “I think [a lawsuit] would be a fair assumption,” he said.

“We would only file a lawsuit if we thought we had strong grounds.” The city set a July 28 deadline for the county to respond before filing an Article 78 proceeding. As of press time, the city is yet to file a lawsuit against the county. Gerrard contends that following an agreement transferring the management of Rye Playland struck between the management company Standard Amusements and Westchester County, the county has continuously skirted proper procedure. Among the concerns listed in Gerrard’s letter are several perceived SEQRA violations, as well as the county’s lack of communication on its intentions with Playland. Rye City Attorney Kristen Wilson told the Review that although the Article 78 has not been filed, the city could also ask for a temporary injunction on park projects, which would halt any work at the amusement park pending the outcome of the litigation. Wilson said that the city has not yet decided whether it will do that.

County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, said she understands the Rye City Council’s perspective. “There has been very little in way of communication to Rye to make Rye feel like it can have a seat at the table during discussions,” she said. “I would characterize the lack of communication as a hallmark of the [Rob] Astorino administration.” In March, both the county and Standard Amusements agreed to a contract that would see both sides investing $30 million in capital improvements to rides, facilities and the park’s ailing infrastructure, and would eventually transfer the sole management of the park to Standard. However, Ned McCormack, communications director for Republican County Executive Rob Astorino, says that the county has the right to steer the future of Rye Playland, given its status as a county park. “The county is lead agency on reviews and all land use decisions,” he said. “And the logic for that is simple. If every county park is subject to municipal control, we wouldn’t have [a]

A legal dispute harkening to a previous disagreement in 2014 is brewing after the city of Rye retained attorney Michael Gerrard to address concern over the county’s declaration of lead agency at Playland Park. File photo

county park system.” A debate over which body has agency over a review process and procedures regarding projects at the park harkens back to 2014, when both the county and Rye battled over a controversial field house project that was eventually scrapped due to local opposition. The project, which was proposed by Sustainable Playland Inc., a prior management company that was selected by the county executive to manage the park, aimed to build an

82,000-square-foot field house on park grounds. As a result, Rye appealed to the DEC and both parties sought control over park projects’ official review. Eventually, after complications from the litigation as well as growing public opposition, Sustainable Playland withdrew its interest in the park. Despite both battles being similar in nature, Sack says there is one key difference. While a prior dispute between the city and the county pre-empted a

declaration of lead agency on Playland projects, the city is now working from behind. “At least the last time we became aware, therefore we were able to step in and protect our interests and preserve our rights,” the mayor said. “That’s what may necessitate the existence of the courts.” Representatives from Standard Amusements could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

4 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016

What’s going on... New Rochelle Public Library

Saturdays and Sundays: Closed.

Friends Mini Book Sale

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 Huguenot Children’s Library will be closed on Saturdays through Sept. 4. The main library will be open on Saturdays through Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both libraries will be closed Saturday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day weekend. 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.; 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.;

The Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library will be holding a mini book sale on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9 and Thursday, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library lobby. The book sale includes popular novels and mysteries in hardcover and paperback, nonfiction in hardcover and paperback, to children’s books, CDs, and DVDs. Proceeds from these sales allow the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library to provide funding for quality children and adult programming, and will help the library by contributing to various projects and improving service to the community.

High School Diploma Equivalency Orientation session Trained instructors will hold a workshop on Saturday, Aug 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Second Floor Conference Room, explaining the options available for adults looking to earn a high school diploma. Instructors will work oneon-one to help students and ensure they receive the individual help they need. This workshop is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.

Yoga Kids Children ages 4 to 6 are welcome to learn yoga on Monday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the second floor of the Huguenot Children’s Library from a certified yoga instructor from Budding Buddhas. This class will teach participants the basic poses of yoga, which will improve concentration and agility. This class is free and open to the public, and will operate on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Cooking for Teens with Chef Giovanni Green Chef D’Amour Giovanni Green will teach children of all ages delicious healthy recipes on Monday, Aug. 8 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the main library’s first floor Meeting Room. The activity will provide participants with basic cooking techniques with simple, locally grown produce, and participants will be able to taste samples of their work. The workshop is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.

Creative Writing for Adults Adults are welcome to join the library’s creative writing class on Tuesday, Aug. 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the second floor Meeting Room. Participants will be able to share stories, nonfiction essays or autobiographical sketches in a class taught by faculty from the new MFA program in creative writing at The College of New Rochelle. This class is free and open to the public, and registration is required. For more information or to register for this class, call 813-3706.

Introduction to Microsoft Word Adults who want to learn about Microsoft Word are welcome to join this class on Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Participants will be able to learn how to create a simple document, edit and format text, correct spelling, adjust margins, save, print and open files in Microsoft Word. This class is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.

Hands-On Technology Drop-In Adults are welcome to this drop-in technology help session on Wednesday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn how to search through the library’s collection of downloadable audio books and e-books, how to check out and download audio books and e-books to their device and how to transfer audiobooks to an MP3 player or iPod. Participants are welcome to bring their own devices to work on. This program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.

City news Community youth fishing trips The New Rochelle Police Department and the New Rochelle Police Foundation announce the 2016 Community Youth Fishing Program for boys and girls ages 10 to 15 on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Participants must arrive at the Fort Slocum Road Dock by 9 a.m. The boat returns at approximately 2 p.m. Lunch, soft drinks and equipment will be provided. The trip is open to New Rochelle residents only and pre-registration is required. Forms can be downloaded online at newrochelleny.com or are available at NRPD headquarters front desk, located at 475 North Ave. For more information, call Det. Fudge at 654-2080.

Weekend valet parking

She’s not crazy, her name just rhymes with it. Read Lenore Skenazy’s column every week in the Review. A past contributor to the Daily News and the New York Sun, Skenazy has also appeared on “The Daily Show,” been profiled in the New Yorker and even had her own reality TV show, “World’s Worst Mom.”

The city of New Rochelle reactivated valet

parking services in the downtown area. This whiteglove 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.

Parks and beach are open The beach season officially began during Memorial Day weekend. Hudson Park Beach is open every day, conditions permitting, through 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 per 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 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.

August 5, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 5

HUD monitor resigns after 7 years By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer The court-appointed monitor overseeing Westchester County’s compliance with a 2009 affordable housing settlement will resign seven years after accepting the assignment. James E. Johnson sent a letter to Judge Denise Cote on July 18, announcing his impending resignation, which he said would be on or before Aug. 10, his seven-year anniversary as monitor. Johnson did not disclose his reasoning for stepping down, but did say that he also retired from his law firm, Debvoise & Plimpton, in March. Johnson said he is committed to working with his replacement, who will be appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice following consultation with the county and approval by Cote. As a result of a 2009 settlement with the federal government under the watch of former County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat, Westchester agreed to build 750 units of affordable housing in 31 of its wealthiest communities by the end of 2016. However, Johnson’s letter suggested that he expected the terms of the settlement to continue beyond that timeframe. “Accordingly, the new monitor should recognize that the assignment may extend for months, if not years, beyond the end of this year,” he wrote. The relationship between Johnson and County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, has been shaky throughout the settlement. During his State of the County address in April, Astorino accused Johnson and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, of making unfair demands of the county in order to provoke “a settlement that never ends.” Earlier in the year, Johnson had recommended that Cote hold the county in contempt of court and subject it to $60,000 fines. Ned McCormack, communications director for the county

James E. Johnson, the court-appointed monitor who has been overseeing Westchester County’s compliance to a 2009 affordable housing settlement, will step down seven years after he was appointed to the post. Photo courtesy Debevoise.com

executive, told the Review, “The county’s position from the start is that Westchester will fully comply with its obligations under the settlement, but that the federal government has no right to expand the terms or the length of the agreement.” McCormack added that all the Astorino administration asks of the new monitor is that he looks at the terms of the settlement “objectively and fairly.” County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, a Democrat and chairman of the county Board of Legislators, said he and the monitor have had a more cordial working relationship. He added that Johnson, while “far from perfect,” conducted his job professionally. “The monitor engaged in a very important study, the Huntington study, which has helped clear the way for a lot of communities to see that they do not have exclusionary zoning,” Kaplowitz said. In what turned out to be his final action as monitor, Johnson removed two communities from a list of seven which he recommended that HUD sue; Crotonon-Hudson, Harrison, Lewisboro,

Pelham Manor and Larchmont remain on the list. Both Kaplowitz and McCormack said that the county lawmakers and the administration, respectively, would work to meet but not exceed the terms of the settlement before the end of the year. But according to Cote, the county is currently in breach of the settlement. On July 8, Cote ruled that the county was violating two terms of the agreement. She claimed that the county failed to introduce and implement an affordable housing public education campaign, and that it failed to develop and submit an approved Analysis of Impediments, AI, a document which lists possible systemic roadblocks in creating affordable housing. The county has submitted eight AIs since the settlement, each of which has found no exclusionary zoning. HUD has rejected each of the county’s analyses. As a result of Cote’s ruling, the county was ordered to hire a consultant to help them complete the analysis. The county, however, has appealed the ruling. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

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SCHOOL from page 1

middle of summer that could so adversely affect our schools and economy.” If the proposal is approved, Killian, a member of the Rye City Council, said that Westchester residents would ultimately be punished for exercising their right to withhold their children from the Common Core tests. “This proposal could singlehandedly damage all that our students, teachers and families have worked for,” she said. While the final approval process for the proposed amendment began on Monday, Aug. 1, there is currently no set timetable for when a decision will be reached. According to Oliva, who currently serves as senior advisor to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, the Department of Education has kept the amendment in total secrecy. “I guarantee 99 percent of parents in Westchester County don’t know about this,” he said. “We only found out about it by luck.” Oliva also stressed that the proposal, which would go into effect at the beginning of the

On July 29, state Senate candidate Julie Killian, of Rye, and Phil Oliva, a candidate for Congress, urged Westchester parents to voice their opinions against a federal education regulation. Photo/Franco Fino

2017-18 school year, if approved, would also result in property depreciation. Meanwhile, state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, has long been a vocal critic of the practice of standardized testing. “The opt-out rights of parents to do what’s in the best interest for their child should absolutely not be manipulated by the federal government,” he said. Following the 2012 rollout of

Common Core, Latimer made an effort to explain his opposition to the initiative to King, the state education commissioner at the time, saying that he was “convinced we’re heading down the wrong path [for education].” Latimer is running for reelection to the state Senate this fall and facing off against Killian. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

6 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016 THE

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Trump accepts GOP nomination in Cleveland

Republicans from across the nation descended on the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, from July 18 to July 21, to take part in the official nomination of Donald Trump’s candidacy for president. In just 13 months, Trump went from announcing his candidacy, which came as a surprise to most political pundits, to presumptive

Editorial Assistant | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com Editorial Assistant | Suzy Berkowitz ext. 30, suzy@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lindsay Sturman ext. 14, lsturman@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Corey Stockton, Franco Fino Staff Photographers Bobby Begun, Andrew Dapolite Intern Josh Stabile Columnist Lenore Skenazy

Delegates of the GOP filter into the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Photos/Charles McLaughlin

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New York State Sen. Terrence Murphy, a Yorktown Republican, is all smiles at the Republican National Convention.

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Donald Trump gives the thumbs up sign to delegates as he accepts the Republican nomination for president.

Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the house, addresses the media during the Republican National Convention.

nominee to accepting the party’s nomination as the clear choice after knocking out 16 opponents in a lengthy GOP primary season. His ascension to the top of the Republican ticket proved to be one of the most historic rises in modern political history. Trump will now go on to face CONTINUED on next page

August 5, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 7 former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, in the general election. In receiving the nomination, which he concluded with a more than an hourlong speech on July 21, Trump’s appeal to voters was viewed as an anti-establishment candidate who is fed up with what he has termed a “rigged”

political system. Trump’s political run brought out the most Republican voters in the history of the party’s primaries. But his candidacy has not come without controversy due to his rhetoric, which has been viewed as divisive and hateful by several groups. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Calls to “Lock her up” were heard throughout the four-day convention as delegates set their sights on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Photos/Charles McLaughlin

-Reporting by Christian Falcone

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani, left, shakes hands with Douglas Colety, chairman of the Westchester County Republican Party, right, while Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino looks on.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz drew one of the biggest reactions of the convention when he was cascaded with a chorus of boos for refusing to endorse Donald Trump’s candidacy.

Donald Trump, right, talks with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, his vice presidential running mate.

Trump supporters rally for the nomination of Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s candidate for president on the convention floor.

8 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016

Westchester speaks out

on high-profile killings

Hundreds of protesters of all races and denominations rally in downtown White Plains at a justice march in the wake of two African-American civilian shootings by police last month. Photos/Bobby Begun

Justice marchers’ moods and messages are easy to observe during the rally in White Plains.

By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant Gun violence has always been a hot topic in the news, and lately, civilians and members of law enforcement have both been targeted in what some call a racist agenda, and what others call retaliation for how minorities are treated. On Thursday, July 14, local organizers held a rally calling for police reform in the wake of two civilian deaths of AfricanAmerican males at the hands of Republican Mayor Norman Rosenblum of the village of Mamaroneck law enforcement that sparked places a candle at a memorial during a vigil on held on July 15 in honor of the slain Dallas police officers. Photo/Chris Courtney outrage across the nation. Hundreds of participants of all ages chures demanding police reform neapolis, Minnesota, as well and races marched for justice on both county and state levels, as other civilians shot and through downtown White Plains. including establishing both in- killed by law enforceWESPAC, an organization based dependent oversight structures ment during the week in White Plains that focuses on and a special prosecutor to in- of the Fourth of July. In response to those peace and justice activism, led vestigate and discipline police misconduct. shootings, five Dalthe rally. The impetus of the White las police officers were The march, which began at 6 p.m., started at Calvary Bap- Plains rally were the murders of tist Church and ended at Court Alton Sterling on July 5, in BaCONTINUED on next page Street, where a stage was set up ton Rouge, Louisiana, and Phifor speakers to address racial- lando Castile on July 6, in Minized policing, police accountably, transparency, reform, and improving relations between communities and police. On hand were members of the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform, a subdivision of the Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. Institute for Nonviolence. The coalition handed out bro-

The Rev. Franklyn Richardson, of Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, addresses hundreds of supporters in downtown White Plains at the conclusion of a march for justice and police reform on July 14. Richardson offered suggestions to address racialized policing.

August 5, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 9 gunned down, and several others were injured by Micah Johnson, an Army Reserve veteran of the Afghan War. The shooting took place during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest for Sterling and Castile. That was recently followed by the shootings of three Baton Rogue police officers on July 17 by Gavin Long, a former Marine who served in Iraq. Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., a co-founder of the coalition, is no stranger to police shootings. He lost his father, Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., to bullets from White Plains police officers in November 2011. The shooting took place at 135 S. Lexington Ave., Chamberlain Sr.’s home, which marked the first stop on the march. Chamberlain Sr., an African-American and former U.S. Marine, was shot when police responded to a LifeAid alert. Chamberlain Sr. refused help when emergency personnel arrived at his residence, leading police to break down the door to his apartment. Police used a Taser to try and subdue Chamberlain Sr., who police said was wielding a butcher knife, and also shot him twice. He later died at White Plains Hospital. In 2012, a grand jury decided against indicting the police officers involved in the shooting. This year, 639 civilians have died at the hands of law enforcement, as of press time, and 66 police officers have been killed in the line of duty over that same timeframe. Now, as a country tries to unite behind a common cause, the importance of building relationships between police and the communities they watch over becomes a focal point.

Imam Ali, of Yonkers, addresses the gathering of supporters at the White Plains police reform rally. He shared his vision for an America that lives in unity and with respect for all walks of life. Photo/Bobby Begun

Many rally participants brought out their children, bearing signs and T-shirts with important messages to all. Photo/Andrew Courtney

and mingling with members of law enforcement in Dallas following the shootings played out more than 1,500 miles away. Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, feels that the recent events are a result of po-

litical correctness and “different groups representing their own agendas.” “I think there has to be honest and open dialogue among all parties,” he told the Review. “The first line of defense this country has is our uniformed personnel: your police, your fire, your EMS. And when you go after them, you’re going after everybody.”

A police officer looks on at a memorial adorned with candles in memory of the five Dallas police officers ambushed and killed on July 7 through July 8.

-with reporting by Andrew Dapolite

CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com

Residents of the village of Mamaroneck lay candles in front of the memorial at the village courtroom on July 15.

Appreciation and admiration for the work of local police was shown in a candlelight vigil held in the village of Mamaroneck on the evening of Friday, July 15, which honored the police officers killed in Dallas on July 7 through July 8. Participants gathered at the memorial in front of the Mamaroneck courtroom to light candles and show gratitude to the men and women in uniform who protect and serve their communities. Police officers from the area were present, and scenes reminiscent of civilians hugging

A police officer from the village of Mamaroneck speaks with a resident at the Dallas candlelight vigil. Emphasis on positive relations between law enforcement and communities is seen as one solution to the tensions felt nationwide. Photos/Chris Courtney

10 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016

2 Republicans square off in county DA primary

PLAYLAND from page 1

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer Two Westchester County Republicans will run for their party’s nomination in a Sept. 13 primary before the winner goes on to face Democratic nominee Anthony Scarpino for the county’s district attorney seat. Bruce Bendish, 69, the candidate who is being backed by the county Republican Party, will face Mitch Benson, 56, in a primary as a result of Benson securing enough petition signatures for the county’s top prosecutor seat. According to information from the Westchester County Board of Elections, Benson earned approximately 2,700 signatures to trigger the primary. The minimum number of signatures required for a Republican candidate seeking a countywide position is 2,000. Bendish amassed more than 4,000 signatures of support. And during the Westchester County Republican Convention in April, Bendish received support from about 75 percent of the more than 1,000 Republican delegates. Bendish, a White Plains attorney who has served as assistant district attorney in Westchester for 14 years—which included a stint as the head of the homicide bureau—said the motto of his campaign is “experience matters.” Bendish said he has tried cases in each of the county’s courts, and hundreds of cases as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. His experience as a prosecutor included working with the county’s judges, making decisions about the viability of cases, requesting wire taps, and working with each of the county’s police departments. “I have familiarity with all of them,” Bendish said. “I’ve dealt with all of them and I will easily have a working relationship with all of them.” Benson, of New Rochelle, was a prosecutor for two decades

Mitch Benson, left, and Bruce Bendish will face off in a Sept. 13 primary to represent the Republican Party in the race for Westchester County district attorney, with the winner then going on to face Democratic nominee Anthony Scarpino on Election Day. File photos

in Brooklyn and then a prosecutor for another 10 years in Nassau County. Like Bendish, Benson also addressed his experience as a key to his success. “When the voters have a choice either in the primary or in the general election, they will realize the importance of having a career prosecutor in the office of the district attorney,” he said. However, unlike Bendish, who has served as a defense attorney for years, Benson has minimal experience as a defense attorney. Both candidates plan to focus their time in office, if elected, on the county’s growing heroin epidemic. “The most immediate and pressing concern is to ensure that we bring all of the most important resources to the heroin epidemic, which means bringing aggressive prosecution to dealers, making alternative sentencing available to appropriate candidates and then partnering with community groups such as schools to ensure that we educate the public,” Benson said. Bendish told the Review that his plan is to establish local drug courts, claiming that a drug court in each individual jurisdiction

would minimize recidivism, or the rate at which one relapses into criminal behavior. In addition to establishing drug courts across the county, Bendish said he wants to establish a veteran’s court in Westchester. There are 18 veteran’s courts across New York state, but none yet in Westchester, although one has been proposed in Yonkers. Harrison native James McCarty, a Republican, has occupied the county seat since January, when former District Attorney Janet DiFiore, a Democrat, was appointed as chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The elected district attorney will serve until 2017, filling out DiFiore’s unexpired term, but would have to run again in 2017 to earn a full four-year term. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

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An agreement transferring control of Rye Playland struck between Westchester County and Standard Amusements in March is facing some scrutiny after the management company was granted an extension of its first significant payment to the county. The reason for the extension, according to county officials, is a looming decison over the fate of the Playland pool, pictured. Photo/Chris Courtney

wouldn’t be necessary. Currently, the future of Playland’s pool is under scrutiny by the Board of Legislators, which will consider several bond acts to either renovate the pool— which continues to leak significant amounts of water daily—or to remove it completely. According to Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, a Yorktown Democrat who spoke about the pool last month during a committee meeting, Standard has little interest in keeping the pool. But for county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, the pool’s removal is a deal

breaker for her. “If that was [Standard’s] intention to demolish the pool, the Board of Legislators should have been told that upfront,” Parker said. “A decision like that could’ve cost support for the agreement.” Currently, according to a Standard Amusements representative, the company envisions the site of the pool as a spot for “light refreshments” and an “open veranda.” A contract between Standard and the county, however, leaves the future of the site open to interpretation by the company. Projections put the cost of filling and removing the pool at ap-

proximately $2.7 million, while estimates to rehabilitate the pool have come in at $9.5 million, according to a recent county Labor, Parks, Planning and Housing Committee meeting. Now, the Board of Legislators will have approximately 60 days to come to a decision over what it wants to do with Playland’s ailing pool, otherwise Standard has the option to exit the agreement as per the contract. Representatives for Standard Amusements could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

City to partner with Volunteer New York! The city of New Rochelle recently announced a new partnership with Volunteer New York! during a press event at City Hall. The collaboration, Volunteer New Rochelle!, will match local nonprofit organizations with willing helpers and equip volunteers to achieve a stronger community. Volunteer New Rochelle! employs the experience and savvy of Volunteer New York!, which for 66 years has encouraged volunteerism in the Lower Hudson Valley. A new website hosted by Volunteer New York! will showcase a special list of local opportunities, enabling volunteers to easily search, click and sign up for projects. Additionally, Volunteer New York! will work with the city on three upcoming events: the Lincoln Avenue Corridor cleanup later this month and the Street Fair in September, and the national 9/11

Day of Service. “This new stronger partnership will make it easier than ever before for volunteers to apply their energy and talent to the needs of our community,” said Mayor Noam Bramson. “I encourage all of our nonprofits and organizations to list their opportunities, and all residents to see where they can assist.” “Volunteer New York! is really thrilled to have this chance to directly focus our efforts and expertise in New Rochelle,” said Executive Director Alisa H. Kesten. “We view this partnership as an innovative way to bring an efficient and creative boost to deepen the capacity of wonderful nonprofits here in the city. ‘Volunteer New Rochelle!’ will encourage a wider pipeline of volunteers to share their time, talent and passion to make a difference.” “Our organizations are more

robust when community members contribute time and talents to help us achieve our missions,” noted New Rochelle Council of Community Services President Stephanie Tomei. “Volunteering builds connections that are vital to our community. NRCCS looks forward to a stronger New Rochelle under this partnership.” Volunteers and nonprofit organizations can access the website through the city’s website at newrochelleny.com/volunteernewro or through the Volunteer New York! site at volunteernewyork.org/newrochelle. Volunteers can create a free user account and search for dozens of opportunities that support the nonprofits of New Rochelle. New Rochelle volunteers are encouraged to use the hashtag, #VolunteerNewRo, for social media postings. For volunteer placement support by phone, call 9484452. (Submitted)

August 5, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 11

12 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016

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Amazons, Prime RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Years ago, when Marcia Zug read a GQ magazine article about mail-order brides, she was revolted. A high-flying New York City photographer, fed up with all the demanding models he was dating, wanted to find a subservient woman to make him happy. So he ordered a pretty bride from a foreign country. When the bride got here, he found her annoying, too, so he sent her home—pregnant with his child—and went back to dating models. Zug never forgot that piece. And even after she left her hometown of Manhattan to become a professor of family and immigration law at the University of South Carolina, she felt she had to expose the evil men who get their brides by mail. She delved into her research and guess what? Now she’s married to a very different narrative. “I’m not suggesting that this is the marital path for everybody,” Zug said in a phone call. But in her new book, “Buying a Bride: An Engaging History of Mail-Order Matches,” she presents “the exact opposite idea” she went in with. Far from depressing and degrading, mailorder matrimony “can actually be a very good choice for certain people in certain situations.” Yes, even for the women. The book starts at the very dawn of mail-order love: Jamestown, Virginia, circa 1600. Unlike New England, which was settled by families, Jamestown was settled by men. Not only were conditions horrendous—one settler described it as “hell, a misery, a death”—there weren’t even any English-speaking women to

commiserate with. Some men high-tailed it home; others married Native American women and went to live in their villages. (Far comfier than Jamestown!) In desperation, the Virginia Company decided to try attracting Englishwomen. The incentive was to pay their dowries. For young women toiling as servants just to save up enough to marry, the offer was liberating, and about 140 came over. They got to choose their husbands and seem to have been treated quite well, thanks to the laws of supply and demand. In fact, real laws were written to keep them happy. They could, for instance, legally break an engagement—something they couldn’t do back in England. Fast-forward to the western frontier a couple hundred years later, when once again, American men were heading out, and women weren’t. As much as these men needed wives, some women back east needed husbands, including women appalled by the local prospects, like the gal who placed this ad in a Missouri paper in 1910: “Attractive women, not a day over 30, would be pleased to correspond with eligible man…. Would prefer one with property, but one with a good paying position would be satisfactory. The young lady is of medium height, has brown hair and gray eyes, not fat, although, most decidedly, she is not skinny. Her friends say she is a fine looking woman. Object matrimony. Reason for this advertisement, the young woman lives in a little dinky town, where the best catches are the boys behind the counters in the dry goods and clothing stores, and every one of ‘em is spoken for by the time he is out of his short pants.”

Gosh, I’d marry her—what spunk. Zug found little evidence of exploitation or mistreatment of these brides, and if you fastforward to the current day, the same still holds. Today, American men seeking brides can go on the computer and meet prospects as easily as online dating. Most of the women live in Asia or Eastern Europe. And while it seems like a terrible imbalance—seemingly any schlub with U.S. citizenship can attract a desperate catch from overseas—what’s really happening is a better marriage market for everyone. “The women come from countries where their prospects are not great,” says Zug. Some live where they’re not allowed to pursue a career. Some live where they are worthless if divorced, widowed, already have children, or are simply too old, at perhaps 25. These ladies look to America, and the path to get here is marriage. “The part that’s overlooked,” says Zug, “is that these men are often much more attractive to them than the men they see in their countries.” For their part, the men are not allowed to marry women sight unseen. Legally they must meet at least once before they marry, and the mail-order sites organize trips to meet the prospects. Once here, says Zug, the brides not only have far rosier prospects than back home, they often make the men shape up, too. As in, “I’m learning a whole new language. Go get your GED!” And unlike the GQ article, many of these couples live happily ever after—maybe even happier than most, since everyone likes to get a surprise in the mail.

Lionesses volunteer at Habitat ReStore

Cheerleaders from the Thornton-Donovan School in New Rochelle recently volunteered at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, helping organize and dispose of material.

The Thornton-Dononan School’s cheerleading squad, the T-D Lionesses, held their third community service activity at Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Main Street in New Rochelle on May 17. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that sells new and slightly used furniture and other household items to families who are rebuilding their futures. Jim Killoran, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, worked with Angela M. Tudisco, Thornton-Donovan School’s cheerleader advisor, to organize this activity with the squad.

The cheerleaders, made up of 10 girls and the T-D lion mascot, volunteered their time to help out in the store with reorganizing, cleaning and moving to clear a pathway for many new items that enter the store daily. Thornton-Donovan’s senior cheerleader, Ashni Seenarine, has previously volunteered with Habitat and was excited to return with the squad. “In the past year, I have volunteered multiple times at Habitat for Humanity but, sadly, because of college admissions I have not recently been able to volunteer. I was happy to go back to volunteer again, this

time with friends,” she said. The cheerleaders mingled with the store staff and customers as they entered and observed how helpful and welcoming the staff is to the community. The girls and the mascot organized items, from kitchen cabinets to paint cans, in every area of the store. They also took a liking to the store mascot as well, a cat named Foxy. Even though the academic school year is over, the ThorntonDonovan cheerleaders are planning other activities in the coming year, including a car wash, a spirit week to kick off the sports program, and other community activities. (Submitted)

CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

Senior cheerleader Ashni Seenarine has experience working with Habitat for Humanity and was excited to return with the squad. Photos/Hudson Ardizzone-West

SPORTS

14 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016

The glory of the trade deadline LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

Over the course of an average Major League Baseball season, I generally watch a lot of baseball. More baseball than is probably healthy, if I really had to think about it. If there’s nothing else airing on a given night, I’ll probably flip back and forth between the Mets and the Yankees on my TV while also tuning in to watch my Red Sox on the MLB.TV package on my laptop. After those games wrap up, I’ll generally click on some West Coast game and fall asleep, at least for a few more months, with the soothing voice of Vin Scully emanating from my MacBook. But of the thousands of innings I watch each year, there is rarely a time when I’m following baseball with the same intensity as I do when the trade

deadline looms. As fun as following in-game action can be, following the frenzied action as teams struggle to get the final piece for a playoff run can be positively exhilarating. In the “old” days, it was a lot tougher. Without Twitter providing constant updates about potential moves, possible hang-ups due to medical issues, and stories—sometimes apocryphal—about players on the block storming out on the current teams, fans were beholden to major media outlets for the news. In 2004, I was working at a baseball training center in White Plains, and on deadline day, I was on our old dialup computer, frantically clicking refresh on ESPN.com to find out if the Red Sox were, in fact, going to trade my favorite player, Nomar Garciaparra. When the deadline hit, there was no news yet, and I went to give a lesson, only to come back an hour later to find

that Nomar had indeed been shipped off to the Cubs. Of course, the fast-paced world of Twitter has its drawbacks. Last year, as the deadline loomed, a Mets beat writer announced that infielder Wilmer Flores, who had spent the entirety of his professional career with the organization, had been traded in the middle of a game. Word reached Flores, and fans were left with the unforgettable shot of him crying on the field while being showered with applause from the Amazin’s faithful. The trade, however, fell through, and Flores still plays in Flushing today, but moments like that highlight the emotional impact that the trade deadline can have on the players we all watch. This year, while there were a few blockbuster moves—Texas made out like bandits, nabbing catcher Jonathan Lucroy, outfielder Carlos Beltran and reliever Jeremy Jeffers without

At 4 p.m. on Aug. 1, the MLB trade deadline passed, finding one New York team as buyers, and the other as sellers. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks the days leading up to the annual deadline are among the most exciting of the entire season. Photos courtesy Wikipedia.com

giving up any of their highlytouted young players—the moves made by our local clubs weren’t quite as splashy. The Yankees traded off a good number of players from this year’s team, including Carlos Beltran, to come away with a haul of prospects that provide a much-needed youth infusion in their farm system. The Mets, after an initial deal for Reds’ slugger Jay Bruce fell through, were able to rework the offer to bring the power-hitting lefty to Citi

Field in a move that addresses the offensive woes the club has suffered through all season long. I doubt he’ll have the same kind of impact that Yoenis Cespedes had when he came over from Detroit last year, but the Mets need to start scoring runs, so this one was a no-brainer. But that’s the wonderful thing about the trade deadline; we just don’t know. Will these new Yankee prospects ever make their mark in the MLB? Will Bruce’s numbers suffer now that he’s

left the bandbox in Cincinnati? Only time will tell. But at least for one day, the teams that managed to bolster their roster for one last playoff push and the teams, like the Yankees, who are resigned to build for the future, are both feeling optimistic. It’s a long season, filled with ups and downs. So occasionally, fans need a touch of optimism.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

Frampton dazzles at Barclays By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Saturday, July 30, Carl Frampton, a 29-year-old professional boxer from Northern Ireland, won the WBA featherweight title with an impressive showing against Leo Santa Cruz at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. And even though Frampton might not yet be a household name among American fight fans, he is gathering a devoted following in Westchester, where he chose to train for the title fight. Frampton (23-0) spent the last month preparing for the bout at Champs Boxing Club in New Rochelle, which helped him to forge inroads with area boxing fans. His arrival was noted by elected officials, as Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino made a proclamation to celebrate the fighter on July 12, and the Westchester County Board of Legislators followed suit, recognizing July 30 as “Carl

‘The Jackal’ Frampton Day.” Last Saturday night, in front of a supportive New York crowd, he was able to outpoint the previously undefeated Santa Cruz in a majority decision, 116-112, 117-111, 114-114, laying claim to his first world title in the featherweight division. Frampton began his assault in the second round, rocking Santa Cruz with a flurry of hard punches to send the champion into the ropes and take control of the fight. Ryan O’Leary, the owner of Champs Boxing Club, was on hand to witness Frampton’s upset win. “He was the underdog, he wasn’t supposed to do that, but he fought a masterful fight,” O’Leary said. “He was standing and trading, he wasn’t running, and it worked.” According to O’Leary, Frampton’s stay at the gym meant that he—and the rest of the Champs organization—were pulling hard for the Irish fighter. “We had about 60 members

there at the fight,” he said. “And he got hit with a few good shots, and I have to say my heart kind of stopped.” O’Leary, who trains both amateur and professional fighters out of his Division Street gym, acknowledged that having an international star like Frampton train there was a blessing. “You can’t put it into perspective, you don’t realize how big this guy is, he’s massive in Europe,” O’Leary said. “But we didn’t even realize it, he was so fan-friendly, and you don’t think of it at the time.” Frampton’s presence, he added, had a profound impact on several of the local fighters. “Everybody raised their game, even I was training people differently,” O’Leary said. “Just seeing the way a guy like him trained, seeing the hard work that he put in, seeing a guy at the highest level, it was really overwhelming.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

From left, Carl Frampton poses for a picture with Champs Boxing Club owner Ryan O’Leary and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in New Rochelle on July 12. Frampton trained at the New Rochelle gym in preparation for his July 30 fight against Leo Santa Cruz, in which the Irish fighter won the WBA featherweight title. Photo/Bobby Begun

SPORTS

Records fall at Counties By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On July 25, the Westchester County Swimming Association kicked off its 91st annual

County Championships at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester. Over the next two weeks, swim and dive teams from all across the area will vie for a county championship, but in the

Lauren DeLucia from the Lewisboro Town Swim Team soars through the air on July 25. Photos/Mike Smith

first two days of the competition, girls’ diving records in both the 10 to 13 and 14 to 17 age divisions fell, thanks to a number of terrific performances on the boards. Devon Ott, 13, diving for the Shenorock Shore Club, scored an impressive 214.30 on July 25, which was enough for a firstplace finish in the 13U division and shattered the previous record of 205.25, which was set by Westchester Country Club’s Carolina Sculti in 2012. The Shenorock diver has been competing at Counties for the past three years. “I’m really happy, I expected to make it, but I didn’t expect to get first,” Ott said. “I felt like I had a good chance, but I wasn’t quite sure.” According to the 13U champ, it was especially important to execute correctly on Monday because of the stiff competition. Ott’s Shenorock teammate Riley Vincent took fourth place with a score of 150.80, Yasmin Hill from the Briarcliff Country Club placed third with a score 153.20, and Scarsdale’s Madelyn Seltzer took Ott right to the limit, scoring 212.60. “Maddy and I both dive at the Greenwich YMCA and we’ve

Chloe Best glides into the water on July 26 at the Westchester County Championships at Lake Isle Country Club. Best took first place in the 14 to 17 age group with a record-breaking score of 236.35.

both been diving competitively for three years now,” Ott said. “We’re close friends too, and we’ve been so supportive of each other, so it’s been really fun.” The following day, during the 14 to 17 competition, three divers, led by first-place finisher Chloe Best from the Larchmont Yacht Club, also shattered a 9-year-old record of 218.85, that was set by Kelly McCauley, who also dove for the Larchmont club, in 2007. Best, 15, finished with a score of 236.25, edging Pelham Country Club’s Jennifer Bell (233.20) and Rye’s Katie Laverty (229.40) to win the County Championship. “I think I dove pretty well,” Best said. “But so did Jen and Katie, which was great to see.” In a field of 18 divers, Best drew the first lineup spot; something she believes helped her, especially late in the tight competition. According to the rising sophomore at the Ursuline School, the ability to set the tone for a round can be a bonus in meets such as this one. “I kind of like to be first because you don’t have to see anyone else in the competition and you’re just focusing on yourself,” she said. “I kind of like that, and I feel like it’s less pressure.” Laverty, 14, who dove right after Best, admits that her mindset is a little different than her opponent’s. Especially in hotly contested events, the Rye native prefers to ignore scores all together and simply focus on her next dive. “I didn’t know (how close it was), because I have this superstition where I can’t look at my scores until after the last dive,” Laverty said. “Otherwise, I feel like if I’m doing well, I’m going to mess up.” According to both Laverty and Best, the trio, who compete both alongside and against each other in the wintertime, all relished the opportunity to square off at the 91st annual County Championships this year. “They’re great to dive with,” Laverty said. “We are on a bunch of teams and dive against each other a lot in the winter.” “I think it makes it more [exciting] to see each other in the offseason,” Best added. “We just went out and had a really good time.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

August 5, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 15

Devon Ott from the Shenorock Shore Club prepares to dive at Lake Isle Country Club on July 25. Ott broke the county record in the 13U competition, scoring a 214.30.

Rye’s Katie Laverty spins through the air on July 26. Laverty placed third, but also broke a 9-year-old county record on July 26.

16 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 5, 2016

SPORTS

Huguenots host camp

By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor

An Eagle defender does his best to stop a Lancer ball carrier.

A New Rochelle quarterback sheds a tackle in a scrimmage against Mount Vernon on July 27. From July 25 to July 28, the Huguenots hosted local teams at its annual Champions Camp.

Although the 2016 high school football season doesn’t officially kick off until two-adays begin on Aug. 15, most Section I teams have spent the summer months preparing for the upcoming campaign. From July 25 to July 28, several local squads took part in one of the longest-running summer camps in the area, as the New Rochelle Champions Camp gave coaches one last chance to work with their players before the preseason begins in two weeks. This year, teams at New Rochelle High School included the Huguenots, Mount Vernon, Lincoln and Eastchester. Eastchester coach Fred DiCarlo, whose Eagles have attended the camp since its inception more than a decade ago, welcomed the chance to see his players out on the field last week. According to the head coach, Champions Camp allows coaching staffs the opportunity to make sure the playbook is fresh in the minds of the players before two-a-days begin. “We’ve been coming to this camp for probably the last 13 years,” DiCarlo said. “And for us, it’s not so much about installing plays and formations, it’s about getting reps in so that we’re ready to go in August.” Unlike last year, which saw the Eagles come into the season with a host of returning starters, Eastchester will sport many new faces this year, having graduated 23 seniors. Especially for a young team, DiCarlo said, Champions Camp scrimmages against AA schools like New Rochelle and Mount Vernon can be extremely helpful at this point in the year. Host New Rochelle, coming off a season that saw them capture a Class AA title, may have been the most heralded team at the camp, but the competition was strong throughout. “Last week, we thought a little more about evaluation than we did a year ago,” DiCarlo said. “Coming in, we know that even the seniors don’t have a ton of experience, so they’ve got to get used to being out there on the field.” Eastchester, like most teams,

A Huguenot running back bursts through a hole on July 27. Photos/Mike Smith

has spent the last two months getting mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming campaign. In addition to running strength and speed training sessions three times a week—in workouts that are open to athletes from other sports as well— Eastchester also held weekly practices and participated in the Valhalla Camp in late June. It’s this kind of work in the summertime, DiCarlo hopes, that will help transform a young ballclub into a contender this fall. “We’ve got a tough schedule, and we know that without a lot of experience, there’s going to be bumps in the road,” he said. “But we’re hoping to get that experience, and figure out that learning curve so that as the season goes on, we continue to get better.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

Eastchester runs the ball up the middle against Lincoln at New Rochelle High School.