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CityREVIEW NewRochelle Auugust 26, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 23 | www.cityreviewnr.com
Jenkins ‘committed’ to county executive run
MO, NEW RO ROLL
By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief
Former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is hung up on the basepaths as WFAN radio host Craig Carton tries to hold him to a double on Aug. 18. Rivera laced up his cleats to play alongside the New Rochelle allstars in a charity softball game against Carton’s team last week. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith
Finance commissioner report: City in ‘good fiscal shape’ By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant The city of New Rochelle is in “good fiscal shape as of Dec. 31, 2015,” according to acting Finance Commissioner Michael Lewis, who prepared the city’s 2015 comprehensive financial report that was released in June this year.
Some highlights of the report include city revenues exceeding projected amounts by $3.7 million, while expenditures came in under budget by roughly $3.6 million. The city’s unassigned fund balance grew to more than $13.7 million by the end of 2015, a 48 percent increase from 2014. According to the financial report,
an unassigned fund balance is not limited to use for specific purposes by “either an external party, the city itself, or an individual that has been delegated authority to assign resources for use for particular purposes by the City Council.” This money is part of the city’s general fund, the main operating fund for New Rochelle.
Lewis is the temporary successor of Howard Rattner, who retired earlier this year. PFK O’Connor Davies LLP, an accounting and advisory firm in Harrison, opined on the report on June 27 after conducting an audit of the city’s financial statements. Partners Nicholas DeSantis and FINANCE continued on page 11
When Ken Jenkins lost the Democratic nomination for Westchester County executive in 2013, it taught him a lot, he says. Three years later, Jenkins will try to use that experience to propel himself to the top office in the county. Jenkins, a Democrat from Yonkers who currently serves on the county Board of Legislators, formally announced his candidacy for county executive on Aug. 17, well in advance of the 2017 campaign. He wanted to get out early to avoid a situation similar to last time when, he said, some people realized he was running too late in the process. “We’re not going to have that scenario this time around,” he told the Review. Noam Bramson, the mayor of New Rochelle, went on to clinch the 2013 nomination besting Jenkins, but lost the general election to County Executive Rob Astorino, the Republican incumbent. At the convention, Jenkins, 55, made a commitment to party leaders not to challenge Bramson’s nomination by way of a primary, a decision he’s proud he stuck to. During this campaign, however, he is willing to fight to the end. “I’m committed to making the case to the people of Westchester both in a primary, if that’s necessary [this time], and certainly in a general election,” he said.
Primaries aren’t bad, Jenkins says. “It gets more people involved, more engaged, and the net result is a better product overall. Your person might not win, but you’re able to influence platform and policy,” he said, adding that the Democratic presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders helped reinforce that philosophy. Throughout the upcoming campaign, Jenkins says he plans to expose the financial missteps of the Astorino administration, as well as the “flat-out lies” to protect the county executive’s no tax increase mantra he’s touted since taking office in 2010. He criticized his political rival for using gimmicks, such as overestimating sales tax income to make the budget numbers work, and then borrowing to compensate for shortfalls in revenue. This year alone, Jenkins says, the county is $26 million over its budget projections. “Borrowing to pay for daily operating expenses is something we wouldn’t do as individuals. JENKINS continued on page 8
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August 26, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 3
Bike share program coming this fall By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant In a bid to make the city greener, New Rochelle will launch a bike share program this fall, the first of its kind in Westchester County. The program was announced by Mayor Noam Bramson and Pedro Cabassa, P3GM’s operations manager, on Bike to Work Day. The city is working with P3GM Inc., a smart city development company and a publicprivate partnership expert, and E3Think LLC, an urban developer. P3GM focuses on bike share programs. “We are very thankful to be partnering with a city that takes the community into account,” Cabassa said. “We are hopeful to be here for a long time.” According to Cabassa, 50 to 100 bikes will be provided at various stations around the city. A smartphone app will be available for payment and to track stations. The bikes will be outfitted with “Smart-Lock” technol-
ogy, leading to lower capital, replacement and operating costs, which are perfect for smaller cities like New Rochelle. The program was created to propel the city’s sustainability plan, EnvisionNR, which was adopted in 2011 to improve in areas of so-called “green” initiatives, such as energy, public health, conservation and smart growth. Bramson said one of the plan’s transportation goals was to provide residents and visitors with options to navigate the city, stressing walking and cycling to improve health, and to reduce traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. “If we want this city to be a community where our children and grandchildren want to live, we’ve got to make sure we can support the lifestyles of the next generation,” he said. The mayor added that the program incorporates both the Complete Streets and Sustainable Complete Streets policies adopted by the New Rochelle
City Council in 2012 to safely accommodate all users of roadways, including cyclists and pedestrians. A Bicycle Master Plan was developed “to make bicycling a viable transportation option in New Rochelle,” according to the New Rochelle Comprehensive Plan draft released in April of this year. In late July, a survey was launched by P3GM to receive feedback from New Rochelle residents on the stations’ locations and to cater to their needs. The survey gathered more than 160 responses in the first week of its launch, according to Cabassa. P3GM and New Rochelle are also looking for sponsors in the private sector to take advantage of the advertising opportunity. The bike share program is of no cost to taxpayers; “a true publicprivate partnership,” Bramson said. For more information on the bile share program and to take the survey, visit NewRochelle.bike. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
From left, city of New Rochelle Commissioner of Development Luiz Aragon, P3GM Operations Manager Pedro Cabassa and Mayor Noam Bramson pose with bikes made available to commuters on Bike to Work Day on May 20. On that day, the city announced a bike sharing program that would launch in the fall, and be the first of its kind in Westchester County. Photo courtesy city of New Rochelle
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What’s going on... 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 wheelchair-accessible entrance will be the reopened Memorial Highway doors, which have a ramp leading down from street level. There will be additional wheelchair-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 Both libraries will be closed Saturday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day weekend.
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. 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.; Saturdays and Sundays: Closed.
Friends Mini Book Sale The Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library will be holding a mini book sale on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the main library lobby. The book sales include popular novels, mysteries and 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.
Job Search Coaching Those who are searching for a job but don’t know where to start are welcome to drop in to see the job coach on Tuesdays anytime from 3p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Handleman Business Opportunity Center on the second floor. The job coach will help people achieve their goals, one step at a time. Those dropping in to see the job coach should arrive with a pen, calendar, notebook and both a hard and digital copy of their resume. This program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
Fundamentals of Microsoft Excel On Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon in the third floor Computer Lab. This is a four-session, hands-on class; participants must attend all sessions. An understanding of Windows and keyboard and mouse use is required. Adults will learn how to create, edit and format a simple spreadsheet, perform calculations, save, print and open files in Microsoft Excel. Space is limited. For more information or to register for this free workshop, call 632-7878 ext. 3737 or stop by the Reference Desk on the second floor.
Health Care Navigation Health care navigators will be able to meet with clients by appointment only on Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the second floor Conference Room. Sessions will provide clients with information and assistance with the New York State Department of Health. These sessions are free and open to the public, and an appointment is necessary to be seen. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 813-5192.
Email Basics On Thursday, Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the third floor Computer Lab. Adults will be able to learn the basics of navigating email accounts during this free workshop. Learn how to open an email account, read and send messages, and attach and download documents using Gmail. Attendees should have basic computer knowledge before attending this class. This workshop is free and open to the public, and registration is required. For more information or to register for this workshop, call 632-7878 ext. 3737 or stop by the Reference Desk on the second floor.
Internet for Beginners On Friday, Sept. 2 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the third floor Computer Lab. Adults will learn about the Internet, how to navigate a web browser, and then apply their new skills by exploring the library’s website. Space is limited. For more information or to register for this free workshop, call 632-7878 ext. 3737 or stop by the Reference Desk on the second floor.
New Rochelle Art Association Juried exhibition submissions The New Rochelle Art Association’s 101st annual Open Juried Exhibition is coming soon. Works in oil/acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, graphics, pastel, photography, sculpture and fine crafts are eligible for submission. There will be $2,500 in cash and awards for winners. This year’s judge is David Boyajian. The online submission deadline is Friday, Sept.
2. Exhibitors will receive notification on Saturday, Sept. 10. Work will be dropped at the main location of the New Rochelle Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. The exhibit will run through Sunday, Oct. 23, when work will be removed. A reception will be held at the library on Sunday, Sept. 25. For more information, visit nraaonline.org.
City news Weekend valet parking 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 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. For more information, visit newrochelleny.com.
Glen Island Park Westchester County Car Show Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino invites classic car buffs to the Westchester County Car Show on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle. Registration for exhibitors on that day is from 8 a.m. to noon. Admission is free for spectators. There is a parking fee of $5 per car. In case of rain, the event will be cancelled. The show will feature displays of a wide variety of classic and collectible cars, street rods and motorcycles, all carefully restored to mint condition or modified for performance. The Westchester Street Rod Association will present more than 100 trophies to the best vehicles, classified by decades up to modified 2016. For information on entering a car or bike, call 260-9274, 666-2057, 844-8240 or 203-536-0747. For information about being a vendor at the event, call Beth Bricker at 231-4645. The car show is sponsored by Westchester County Parks, the Westchester Street Rod Association and Sassone Bros. Auto Body Repairs. 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 26, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 5
NRPD, community celebrate National Night Out
Residents board a New Rochelle police patrol boat for a ride in Hudson Park during the city’s National Night Out open house on Aug. 2. Photo courtesy city of New Rochelle
In celebration of National Night Out, the New Rochelle Police Department, NRPD, held a community open house on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at its headquarters. Patrol boat rides were also provided at the harbor patrol unit in Hudson Park. Hundreds of locals attended the event, which featured facility tours, equipment and K-9 demonstrations, fingerprinting, face painting, magic shows, bounce castles, food and so much more. The National Night Out/ NRPD Open House was presented in partnership with the New Rochelle Police Foundation, New Rochelle PBA, Youth Bureau, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Police Association, MBK New Ro, New Rochelle FOCUS and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
“National Night Out is a great way to highlight our community partnerships, and strengthen our neighborhood connections,” said Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll. The fun evening was sponsored by Dave’s Cast of Characters, The Lambardi, T.F. Andrew Dream Floors, Green Team Taxi, Shop Rite, Sabrett, Iona College, Metro Pizza & Pasta, Century 21 Marciano, Platzner International Group and Cake’D out Creations, which customized the NRPD cake. The following agencies were also on site, handing out informative materials: New Rochelle Youth Bureau and Office for The Aging; The Guidance Center of Westchester; WestFair Rides; Choice; Adult Protective Services; Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and
Services; Westchester County for Women; United Community Center of Westchester; Children of Hope; Office of the Attorney General; Pace Women’s Justice Center; My Sister’s Place; Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health; Elder Abuse Prevention Program; Westchester Mediation Center of Cluster; HOPE; Westchester Community Opportunity Victims Assistance; Westchester County Transportation Community Relations; Poet’s Corner; and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The National Night Out program is an annual communitybuilding campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, better places to live. To learn more, visit natw.org. (Submitted)
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6 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 26, 2016 THE
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World’s oldest yoga teacher
still full of life
Executive Vice President | Ira Ellenthal ext. 31, irathal@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com 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
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As part of At Home on the Sound’s Remarkable Women Over 90 conversation series, Tao Porchon-Lynch, 98, talks to attendees in Russell Hall of the Larchmont Avenue Church. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant Having just turned 98 years young on Aug. 13, Tao PorchonLynch, the world’s oldest yoga teacher seems to have done it all—but, by her own admission, she’s not done yet. In 2013, Porchon-Lynch, then 93, was declared the world’s oldest yoga teacher by Guinness World Records. Having had an eventful life, she has clearly stuck by one of her mantras: “There is nothing you cannot do.” Porchon-Lynch, a White Plains resident who has ballroom danced competitively around the world, currently teaches eight yoga classes a week in Scarsdale and Hartsdale, and took time out of her busy week to talk to At Home on the Sound members on Aug. 9 on her life and how yoga has changed it. From discovering yoga at her hometown of Pondicherry,
India as an 8-year-old in 1926 when the practice was considered strictly for males; helping Jews escape the Nazis across the English Channel during World War II as a French resistance fighter; performing in London cabarets during the Blitz; becoming a couture model and movie actress in the ‘50s and ‘60s; and co-founding the American Wine Society, Porchon-Lynch’s life makes for a fascinating story—one she captured in an autobiography, “Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master.” “Every aspect of Tao’s life was historical,” co-author Teresa KayAba Kennedy said. The book has won five awards and took four years to write. “[Tao] has always said that we can breathe together, we can be together; a very simple, yet very powerful statement,” Kennedy added.
Porchon-Lynch said she was raised by her uncle; her Indian mother died during childbirth and her French father had no idea what to do with a newborn. She calls her uncle the greatest influence in her life; during her time in India, he helped her meet Mahatma Gandhi and other Indian spiritual and yoga leaders. She also travelled the world with her uncle, an experience that taught her “truth and oneness with the whole world.” Absorbing yogic philosophy from masters including B.K.S. Iyengar and Indra Devi, Porchon-Lynch ignored the adage of yoga being a discipline only for men, and with her interest and perseverance, swayed one of the most renowned masters to teach her. Porchon-Lynch’s talk was a part of At Home on the Sound’s Remarkable Women Over 90 series, which features nonagenarian women still making waves in the community and surrounding areas. Porchon-Lynch had all eyes on her when she entered Russell Hall of the Larchmont Avenue Church. Wearing a pink and purple ensemble, complete with bright pink stilettos, she was completely at ease while addressing the crowd during the event that had been two years
Tao Porchon-Lynch in Hollywood, California, when she was an MGM actress in the 1950s. Photo courtesy Tao Porchon-Lynch
in the making, according to an organizer for At Home on the Sound. Porchon-Lynch talked about her life experience and future goals to a room full of eager attendees. Having taken up competitive ballroom dance at 87, she holds more than 700 firstplace awards in the activity. “It’s not that I’m good; I have a lot of fun,” she said. A lifelong peace activist, Porchon-Lynch has met the Dalai Lama and was recently a speaker at the United Nations International Day of Yoga in June. In her 72 years of teaching yoga, she has certified hundreds of yoga instructors and has taught
countless classes, including one at the Pentagon to 90 members of the Department of Defense. At the conversation series, Porchon-Lynch told those in attendance to take things one day at a time, to always start each day with a positive attitude, and to never procrastinate. “Know that within you is the power to do everything. Don’t waste time on things you don’t like,” the proclaimed modern mystic said. “I have so much more I want to do in life,” she added. “People may think I’m crazy, but this is how I am. Nothing is impossible.” CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
Tao Porchon-Lynch, left, and Arlene Towers doing an extended hand-to-toe pose, or Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana, at Tower’s Scarsdale home in 1999. Towers teaches a yoga class at At Home on the Sound. Photo courtesy Arlene Towers
August 26, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 7
Monroe College to open Barnes & Noble store, café
Monroe College, a national leader in educating urban and international students, announced recently that it has partnered with Barnes & Noble College to open an expanded bookstore in downtown New Rochelle that will feature a new café that serves Starbucks coffee, outside public seating, a community events area and other amenities. The new 9,000-square-foot bookstore, which is expected to open in New Roc City this fall, will replace Monroe’s existing student bookstore at 456 Main St. In addition to selling textbooks and Monroe Collegebranded apparel and school supplies, the new store will serve as a traditional bookstore for the general public, and feature a new café serving Starbucks coffee with early-hour access to accommodate morning rush-hour commuters. Bistro tables and chairs will be added to the outside courtyard area for visitors’ convenience and enjoyment. “Once completed, our expanded new bookstore will be a vibrant community space that, in addition to serving our students’ textbook needs, will offer local residents a place to pick up a bestseller, meet over coffee,
and even occasionally enjoy the talents of local artists and performers,” said Marc Jerome, executive vice president of Monroe College. “We think it will be a great complement to the city’s downtown revitalization efforts, and look forward to the store’s grand opening.” Monroe expects the new bookstore to open in the fall. Students may continue to purchase books, supplies, and apparel at the current Main Street location in the interim. “I am delighted to welcome Barnes & Noble College to downtown New Rochelle,” said Mayor Noam Bramson. “The new bookstore and café will bring fresh vitality to the heart of our city and boost our ambitious economic development efforts. Book lovers and coffee drinkers alike can join in applauding Monroe College’s outstanding leadership in making this achievement possible.” Barnes & Noble College currently manages the day-today operations of Monroe’s bookstores on its campuses in New Rochelle and the Bronx. The retailer serves more than 5 million students and faculty members across 751 campus
stores nationwide. Founded in 1933, New Yorkbased Monroe College is a nationally ranked private institution of higher learning with a real-world learning approach that prioritizes hands-on academic experiences, practical and relevant academic programs, flexible learning schedules, best-inclass instructional technologies, and committed and engaged faculty to ensure that students are well-positioned for career success upon graduation. Monroe is among the leading higher education institutions in the country for graduating minority students. Monroe College offers certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs. It has campuses in the Bronx, New Rochelle and in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia, with programs offered through its schools of Criminal Justice, Information Technology, Nursing, Education, Business & Accounting, Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts, and Allied Health, as well as through its liberal arts and continuing education programs, and its King Graduate School. For more information, visit monroecollege. edu. (Submitted)
City of New Rochelle’s
Official Newspaper
8 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 26, 2016 JENKINS from page 1
You’re shopping with your credit card to put food on your table [and] you’re paying interest on your basic daily needs,” he said. “You can’t talk of a zero percent tax levy and continue to borrow money.” Jenkins says he has delivered tax cuts, maintained programs, and balanced budgets as chairman of the legislative chamber; he chaired the county Board of Legislators from 2010 to 2014. If elected, Jenkins says he would do away with patronage jobs, invest in ailing infrastructure, work to restore the county’s damaged relationship with the federal government and advocate for a countywide revaluation. To get out from under the stigma of being the highest-taxed county in the country, the lawmaker says Westchester has to first provide property tax fairness before it can offer property tax relief. One of his platforms is to call for a full-scale revaluation proposal. Jenkins contends that the county currently refunds approximately $10 million a year in tax certiorari claims, or assessment reviews filed in court by property owners. “We don’t get that money back,” he said. “If you are underpaying you’ve been getting over, and if you have been overpaying you’re taking on too much.” In 2011, the Westchester Collaborative Assessment Commission recommended reforming the property tax assessment system with a loose goal of later conducting a full revaluation. However, that plan never gained any traction with the Astorino administration, likely because any reassessment of properties would increase taxes for at least a portion of property owners, causing reassessments to develop the moniker of the political third rail. “Real leaders don’t tell you what you want to hear,” Jenkins said of Astorino, “they tell you what you need to hear.”
Still creating buzz in Westchester County, the 2016 Arts & Craft Beer Fest continues to offer local residents and visitors a calendar of unique events that provide just the right mix of excitement for arts enthusiasts and craft beer lovers. Organized by ArtsWestchester in partnership with Half Time, Taste NY and Westchester County Tourism, the festival provides visual art, music and New York state craft beers at select events, including the Harbor Island International Beer Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24. “It’s not your typical beer fest,” said Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester. “Combining Ken Jenkins, a Westchester County lawmaker since 2007, has decided to run arts and craft beer offerings crefor county executive. Jenkins is the first county executive candidate from any ates a unique synergy for people political party to make his intentions known. Photo/Andrew Dapolite looking for fun things to do this He has also been critical of outspoken against the U.S. De- summer and fall. This innovative the way the county executive partment of Housing and Urban business partnership provides a has handled the county-owned Development, HUD, claiming great way to bridge our respecamusement park, Rye Playland, the agency has sought to extend tive followings and diversify and the implementation of a the parameters of the agreement and grow our audiences. We are federally mandated affordable and attempted to strong arm the thrilled to continue this series housing settlement, which dates county into enforcing, by even through November and hope to back to 2009. litigation, zoning regulations on expand the initiative throughout the Hudson Valley region in The deal Astorino struck with its own municipalities. the private management comDue to the standoff, HUD years to come.” The partnership between the pany, Standard Amusements, to has denied grant funding to the operate the amusement park for county retroactive to 2013. “The cultural industry and the craft the next 30 years was a mistake, federal government’s position is beer industry kicked off in May Jenkins says, once the county we’re giving [the grant money] to at ArtsWestchester’s annual had to commit $30 million of someone else,” Jenkins said. “Be- spring event, ArtsBash, and contaxpayers’ money toward capi- cause of the recalcitrance of this tinues through November. At tal investments into the park. He administration we have lost at each arts and craft beer event, says he would have scrapped the least $25 million in federal funds. New York state craft breweries deal and gone back out into the “Penny-wise and pound-fool- are paired with select events at market place to seek additional ish is a short synopsis of this ad- Westchester’s renowned cultural operators. “Right now, all the ministration. I think it’s beyond institutions to offer arts and beer power is in the vendor’s hands,” being shortsighted, the decisions enthusiasts unique entertainhe said. “The fact is, this deal is being made. There is no look at ment experiences. The initiative bridges these two creative indusa bad deal.” the future,” he added. Astorino’s handling of the Jenkins was the former chair- tries in order to boost the local affordable housing settlement, man of the Yonkers Democratic economy and build tourism. The ArtsWestchester events which has pitted the county Party and a past president of the are supported by a $50,000 Craft executive against the federal Yonkers chapter of the NAACP. government, has also drawn If he wins, Jenkins would be the Beverage Marketing and PromoJenkins’ criticism. The agree- first African-American county tion grant. The grant supports ment stipulates that Westches- executive elected in New York the promotion of eight county art events related to craft beer. ter build 750 units of housing in state. The grant program launched in designated communities by the 2014 as a result of Gov. Andrew end of 2016. Astorino has been CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com Cuomo’s second Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider Summit and was created to increase the profile, awareness and sales of New York state-produced wine, beer, having served as vice president experience is well suited to New spirits and hard cider. Funding of finance and chief financial Rochelle and will be an asset to is provided by Empire State Deofficer of the Queens Borough our Department of Finance.” velopment in coordination with Public Library and prior to that, Yogman received her under- New York State Department of as comptroller for the town of graduate degree from Queens Agriculture and Markets. Huntington. College. She succeeds longtime “We are continuously looking “I am pleased to welcome Ms. finance commissioner Howard for ways to support New York Yogman to our city and our staff,” Rattner, who retired in June. state’s booming craft beverage Strome said. “Her public sector (Submitted) industry, and by bringing togeth-
New finance commissioner appointed New Rochelle City Manager Charles B. Strome III has selected Tracy Yogman as the city’s new Commissioner of Finance. Yogman will assume the position on Sept. 12. A certified public accountant, Yogman brings extensive municipal experience to the position,
Arts & Craft Beer Fest offers unique events
The 2016 Arts & Beer Fest is back to offer visual art, music and craft beers made in New York state. One such event is the Harbor Island Beer Festival, returning for a third year. Contributed photo
er the creativity and innovation found in both the arts and craft beverage sectors, we are able to entice even more visitors to experience everything the Hudson Valley region has to offer,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “I encourage both locals and visitors to support our local businesses and attend one of the events hosted by ArtsWestchester this year.” Among the lineup of unique events, the Harbor Island International Beer Festival will take place at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck on Sept. 24. During the event, guests will be able to experience an interactive paint event produced by ArtsWestchester while enjoying nearly 200 domestic and international renowned breweries from around the world, creative food servers and top chefs from Westchester County and New York City. The festival will also provide great music and wonderful views of the harbor and the magnificent Long Island Sound. For more information and tickets, visit harborislandbeerfestival.com. “The collaboration between the arts and craft beer industries has helped ArtsWestchester attract young professionals to Westchester arts events,” Langsam added. “Both the brewmasters and artists are brought together, adding creative and entertainment value to the consumers’ experience.” Half Time has been supplying craft beer and cider enthusiasts with an elaborate selection of beer and cider for more than a decade and employs some of the most knowledgeable beer
and cider experts in the state. Alan Daniels, the owner of the two Half Time stores in New York, featuring 5,000 beers and hundreds of ciders, believes that showcasing the art of the brew master at ArtsWestchester’s event is a perfect fit. “In addition to partnering on the events, Half Time is extremely excited to collaborate on a special commemorative growler with ArtsWestcester,” said Jason Daniels, chief operating officer for Half Time. “With the goals of promoting the relationship of art and craft beer, as well as a new partnership to develop an arts presence at Harbor Island International Beer Festival, growlers are an integral part of our business, and an important facet of providing the freshest beers to our consumers. We found it imperative to spice up our artwork on our growlers, and who better than ArtsWestchester to design our newest drinking vessels.” Jason Daniels added that the Harbor Island International Beer Festival is the largest of its kind on the East Coast, and it’s expecting 7,000 to 10,000 patrons this year. There will be more than 450 beers from more than 200 breweries from six different states offered, along with around 30 food venders from the New York metropolitan area and up and coming artists and a daylong DJ performing. Taking public transport, particularly the MetroNorth Railroad New Haven line to Mamaroneck, is encouraged to prevent drinking and driving. For more information on the other events featured at the Arts & Craft Beer Fest, visit artswestchester.org/the-arts-craft-beerfest. (Submitted)
August 26, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 9
County chooses Playland engineer By JAMES PERO Staff Writer The selection of a consortium of engineering firms responsible for overseeing a slew of capital projects at Rye Playland marks
a major step forward in actualizing renovations at the outdated amusement park. Earlier this month, following a brief request for proposals, RFP, process, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Re-
publican, announced that a consortium of engineering firms led by LiRo Engineers Inc. has been selected to take on various park renovations. “Hiring this consortium is the next step towards making the
new Playland a reality,” Astorino said. “The consultants will ensure this series of capital projects is streamlined and executed efficiently.” Among the major renovations in the pipeline for the park—which hasn’t seen any significant work since the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy necessitated ma-
jor repairs to Playland’s boardwalk and Ice Casino—are various improvements to rides and infrastructure, as well as the potential redevelopment of the Playland pool. A deal struck between the management company Standard Amusements and the county in May will see the investment of $32 million from the county and
Renovations to Rye Playland take a step forward after a consortium of engineering firms was chosen by the county to lead the redevelopment process. File photo
$27.5 million from the company, and will run for 30 years. Nick Singer, co-founder of Standard Amusements, lauded the county’s expediency in the RFP process, which was launched in July. “The speed with which Westchester County completed the RFP process and selected LiRo is impressive by any measure,” Singer said. According to a statement by the county, a construction schedule for projects at the park will be finalized by the end of September. Currently, one major project already being mulled over by the county Board of Legislators would decide the future of Playland’s historic pool. Legislators must decide whether to replace the pool— which continues to suffer from significant leakage—or foot the bill for costly renovations, estimated at nearly $10 million. So far, Standard has expressed its desire to have the pool removed and to repurpose the existing site for a veranda serving light refreshments. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
10 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 26, 2016
August 26, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 11 FINANCE from page 1 Domenick Consolo presented the firm’s audit at a City Council session on July 12. In a recent blog entry, Mayor Noam Bramson, a Democrat, called the report “the most upbeat we’ve received since the onset of the Great Recession,” and encouraged the city to invest in its infrastructure and long-term capital assets. Bramson added that many services and important investments are still underfunded and “taxpayers are strained to the limit.” The mayor also said that the $13.7 million unassigned fund balance was “a significant financial cushion that will help stabilize [New Rochelle’s] fiscal health going forward.” New Rochelle has a population of more than 79,000 and a median household income of $68,270, according to a 2015 U.S. Census Bureau estimate. The city spent a total of $180.8 million in capital asset investments, a decrease of $3.1 million from 2014 numbers. Capital assets include land, building and other improvements, infrastructure, machinery, equipment and construction. Governmental activities—including public safety, transportation, culture and recreation, and community services—are mainly supported by taxes, service charges, operating grants
and contributions. Those activities brought in $136.5 million in 2015, up by about $5.8 million from 2014. Property and sales taxes in 2015 were the largest sources of revenue, at 41 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The report noted that the 2015 sales tax revenues increased to the greatest single-year total in New Rochelle’s history at $904,000, 3 percent higher than 2014. Other large sources of revenue for the city in 2015 included $14 million in federal grants, including Section 8 Housing Assistance allocations; $11.3 million in New York state and Westchester County aid; $14.7 million in fees and charges, including licenses, building and street opening permits; and $3.4 million in non-property taxes, including the 3 percent hotel occupancy tax. Reasons for the city’s increase in revenue include the more than $1 million FEMA reimbursement to New Rochelle for repairing damage from Hurricane Sandy; a $1.15 million property tax increase as a result of the 0.82 percent tax levy increase in 2015; and a $2.1 million service charge increase from the city’s Fire and Police departments. More than half—57 percent— of city expenses benefitted public safety, including traffic and ambulance services. Because of these increases, the city’s ex-
penses amounted to $3.6 million less than the 2015 city budget anticipated. The financial report found that vacancies in both the Fire and Police departments, and a lower pension rate, helped the city save in part- and full-time salaries in 2015. The city government has been the city’s third largest employer for several years, after the city school district and Sound Shore Medical Center, respectively. While the financial report may look promising, ripples from the 2009 recession are still felt both citywide and nationally. The trend of municipal expenses rising and revenues decreasing adds a toll to maintaining finances. According to the report, some challenges the city could face down the road include lessening the taxpayer burden and preserving core services, while creating a financial plan that ensures New Rochelle’s future fiscal viability. Goals of the 2016 fiscal year budget include maintaining New Rochelle’s Aa1 credit rating, maintaining the city’s workforce at 2015 levels, keeping the capital projects budget of $5.9 million, and sticking to the requirements of the 2011 “Tax Cap” law. Tracy Yogman was officially appointed the new commissioner of finance effective Sept. 12, officially succeeding Rattner. CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
Buster is one very cool dude. Laid-back, sweet and gentle-natured, he loves affection from humans and gets along well with other cats and dogs. He has the cutest little “meow” and is the ultimate companion. Buster is approximately 3 years old, neutered, fully vetted and in excellent health. His adoption donation is $80. To meet Buster, call Larchmont Pet Rescue at 835-3332/4133 or visit NY-PetRescue.org. (Submitted)
Soofa charging stations come to city parks
New Rochelle has installed Soofa charging stations and benches in parks throughout the city. The stations use solar power to charge electronic devices via USB ports. The Soofa pictured is in Ruby Dee Park at Library Green. Photo courtesy city of New Rochelle
The city of New Rochelle is excited to announce the arrival this summer of the whimsically named “Soofa” charging stations and benches at four locations throughout New Rochelle. Far from your run-of-the-mill park bench, these modern outdoor charging stations and benches use solar power to charge small electronic devices via USB— including cellphones—so users will never run out of power while conducting life on the go. “This is one part of our broader effort to position New Rochelle as a forward-looking city, ready to compete successfully for the residents and businesses of the future,” said Mayor Noam Bramson. The city acquired two Soofa charging stations with benches,
and two charging stations to locate next to existing city benches. Soofas have been installed in high-pedestrian areas to best provide services and invite community engagement. “These colorful benches combine both form and function as gathering spots that offer a fun and sustainable way to utilize free, ‘smart technology,’” said New Rochelle City Councilman Ivar Hyden. Folks will be able to relax and “recharge” by enjoying the outdoors while powering up their mobile devices at the following locations: Huguenot Park near the Huguenot Children’s Library, Ruby Dee Park at Library Green, and Flowers (City) Park. Ralph Dibart, New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District, BID, executive
director, said, “By offering free Wi-Fi and other cool features, the Soofas are a perfect complement to the BID’s efforts to spur activity and business in our downtown.” The fourth location, which will have a charging station and bench, is the new park to be created at the entrance to the pedestrian bridge at North Avenue and Burling Lane. The benches were funded in part by the city of New Rochelle’s Local Development Corporation. “Upgrading our urban tech infrastructure is a critical piece in improving our overall municipal infrastructure and promoting economic development growth,” said Bernard J. Michael, chair of the New Rochelle Corporation for Local Development. (Submitted)
12 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 26, 2016
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August 26, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 13
Is the walk to school really so terrifying? RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
Can we please stop telling parents that it is normal to be terrified for even the shortest periods of time when kids are doing the most mundane activities: Walking to or from school? Because here’s what NBC’s Alyssa Newcomb reported recently in a piece called “Backto-School Safety Tech That Helps Keep Kids Safe” (The title alone reinforcing the idea that kids are NOT safe without us taking new, tech-assisted precautions): “No matter how mature and responsible a child is, those few blocks without adult supervision are enough to make most parents worry.” Since when? Since crime is back to the level it was in 1963? Since we are living in the safest times in human history, according to Harvard’s Stephen Pinker? Since even child deaths at the hand of a kidnapper—already extremely rare—are now one-fifth of what they were just 20 years ago? “Most parents worry” about a few-block walk, in these particularly safe times, even if they know their kids are mature and responsible? That seems like some kind of illness. Yes, it’s normal to worry if the neighborhood is truly crime-ridden. And naturally, it can be worrying if a child is late getting home, or if it’s the first week of school and the child is just getting used to the walk. But for parents to worry no matter how mature their kid, how short the walk and how safe the neigh-
borhood does not make sense. Igniting the fuse of fear makes sense for only two groups of people: The media, who depend on fear to keep us engaged, and the makers of tech tracking devices, who depend on our dollars to stay in business. After all, if they can convince us that it is normal to fret any time we take our eyes off our kids, they can sell us products that keep our eyes upon them. And so reporter Newcomb goes on to list four products that track kids and apprise the parents of their location. The PocketFinder is one. It goes into the child’s backpack and “updates a parent’s smartphone with their location every two minutes.” Obsessed much? It also alerts parents the second their child veers off the proscribed path. What a joy that makes walking home: Follow that squirrel for a block and mom calls 911. Then there’s Life360, which is free and sounds like Harry Potter’s Marauder’s Map, showing every family member’s location. But if you pay a premium (aha!), you can get “expanded history data and a live adviser for urgent situations.” Just suggesting “urgent situations” makes the walk sound dire. The Canary, also profiled, is part of a $199 home security system, allowing you “to see live video and hear audio from their home. Parents can even replay the video clip from when their child walked in the door, ensuring that they were with only authorized house guests.” Maybe it should really be called the Stool Pigeon. It seems less like a normal household de-
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Register for ‘9/11 Day Serve + Remember’
vice and more like the CCTV In honor of those whose lives above the door at a 7-Eleven. were lost or forever changed by And finally there’s the August the tragic events of Sept. 11, Smart Lock which lets you “see 2001, County Executive Rob and speak to whoever is at your Astorino will join with Volunteer door, even if you’re not home.” It New York! and Robison Oil to also locks and unlocks your door host the “9/11 Day Serve + Relong distance, “making it ideal if member” volunteer opportuniyour kid forgets their key,” ac- ties from Friday, Sept. 9 through cording to Newcomb. At $400, Sunday, Sept. 11. Service projit might be more ideal to make ects will kick off from 2 p.m. to your kid a few extra keys, or 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Couneven hide one someplace clever. ty Center in White Plains, and So now I too have some ad- will run throughout the weekend vice on how to keep your kid at locations across Westchester safe on the way home from and the surrounding area. school—advice that the TV reWestchester County’s forport, in its haste to hail techno- mal 9/11 memorial ceremony at logical solutions to nearly non- The Rising at Kensico Dam in existent dangers, forgot. Teach Valhalla will begin at 7 p.m. on your children to: Sept. 11. As always, the public is Look left, look right, look invited to attend. left again when crossing the “On the 15th anniversary street. of the terrorist attacks of Sept. Make sure that anyone turn- 11, 2001, we as a community ing sees them in the crosswalk. continue to come together in Ask strangers for help if they remembrance and unity, provneed it. Teaching “stranger dan- ing that love and service will ger” removes all the people who always prevail,” Astorino said. could help them in an emer- “Last year, we had 1,200 volungency. (Remember that Utah teers put 1,670 hours of service Boy Scout who was lost for back into the community as part three days because every time of 9/11 Day. This year offers so he heard a search party member many great ways to volunteer, calling his name, he scampered whether it’s giving blood, feedoff to hide from the “stranger?”) ing the hungry, educating our However, also teach your kids children or thanking our veterthat they while they can TALK ans. I hope you’ll all join us in to anyone, they cannot go OFF remembrance.” with anyone. The theme of this year’s 9/11 And they should not get into Day is “Service. Empathy. Unisomeone’s car. ty.” Many volunteer opportuniThose are tips that make a lot ties are family-friendly and all of sense and, by golly, they are will help support one of 40 lofree! Of course, for a premium, I cal nonprofits and causes. Regwill add a new and pointless tip ister online at volunteernewyork. every month. Sign up now! org/service or call 948-4452 for more information. CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com Westchester County will also host its annual employee blood drive in partnership with the New York Blood Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the
County Center. To sign up or learn more, please contact Janet Lokay at jel1@westchestergov. com or 995-2127. “Join us as we remember the unity and compassion that was shared by the many first responders, blood donors and volunteers who came together after 9/11, and help us shine our light on the service and empathy that carries us forward,” said Alisa H. Kesten, executive director of Volunteer New York! “We encourage families, individuals and business groups to register today to honor the lives of those lost through these individual acts of service.” David Singer, president of Robison Oil, the presenting sponsor, said, “Our company was built on service—service to our customers and our community. That is why Robison is honored to be able to support this important day for families and individuals of all backgrounds to join together and volunteer. This is an important day in our community to serve and take action.” For a complete list of the 40 local 9/11 Day service projects, locations and their descriptions, which are scheduled from Sept. 9 through Sept. 11, visit volunteernewyork.org/service. 2016 9/11 Day participating nonprofits and causes include: Afya Foundation; A-HOME; Atria Senior Living - Briarcliff Manor; Community Service Associates; the #DadBeThere Fatherhood Initiative; Dominican College Project; Family Services of
Westchester: The Sharing Shelf; Girl Scouts; Graham Windham; Hillside Food Outreach; Humane Society of Westchester; Junior League of Central Westchester; Leake & Watts; Life Progressive Services; LiveOn New York; Meals on Wheels; Mercy College, Montrose Veterans Hospital; My Brother’s Keeper; My Second Home; New York Blood Center; One Sandwich at a Time; Open Door Family Medical Center; Operation Gratitude; Ossining School District; Our New Way Garden & Acorn Organics; Pace University Project; Project Linus; Ronald McDonald House of GHV; Rye Nature Center; Schaffer Extended Care Center; Teatown Lake Reservation; United for the Troops; Volunteer New York! Hunger Relief Corps; Westchester County Department of Health; WJCS Kids’ Closet; Westchester Parks Foundation; WestCOP; and Worldwide Community First Responder Inc. The core mission of Volunteer New York! is to inspire, mobilize and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support nonprofits and improve the quality of life in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. For more than 66 years, the organization has encouraged adults to serve, youth to build character, families to bond, young professionals to lead, mature adults to share their wisdom, and businesses to engage through volunteerism. Volunteer New York! helped coordinate more than 270,000 hours of service, which were devoted last year to more 500 nonprofits at a value of more than $7.3 million. For more information, follow @volunteerNYnow on Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest volunteering news in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam, or visit volunteernewyork.org. (Submitted)
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14 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 26, 2016
Fantasy overload LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
If there’s one piece of advice for all of you fantasy football enthusiasts out there, it’s this: Nobody, and I mean nobody, cares about your fantasy football team. Over the last 10 years or so, fantasy football has become an unavoidable facet of American sports culture. With fantasybased programing across both television and online platforms generating around $5 billion of advertising revenue annually, it’s pretty clear that Americans’ love affair with pretending to be NFL general managers isn’t ending any time soon. And man, it’s really starting to become a drag. It’s becoming tough to escape fantasy football talk, especially around this time of year, when legions of fans are gearing up for their annual
drafts. Hours upon hours of draft preview podcasts, spanning radio and television chatter, and “fantasy football experts” expounding upon their Top 10 practice squad tight ends? It’s a bit overwhelming. Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve been playing fantasy football for at least half my life. It’s a fun way to spend the season, a great way to connect with friends, and it helps me stay plugged into what’s happening around the league after my New York Giants get off to an inevitable 1-5 start. But I’ll tell you something: I don’t feel the need to talk about my team, “The Tupa Mario Bros,” every time somebody brings up football. Fantasy football’s growth is quickly transforming the way we talk about NFL around the watercooler. In the old days, if Larry Fitzgerald hauled in a gamewinning catch on Monday
SPORTS
Night Football, the next day’s chatter would be about the acrobatic grab or the drama of a prime time NFL game. Nowadays, any conversation about said catch is centered on how that reception won/lost the game for your buddy and how great/awful points-perreception scoring is, and what moves you suggest he make if he hopes to secure a berth into his nerd league playoffs. Years ago, our fantasy football drafts were a fun way to spend an afternoon, talk some smack, eat way too much and engage in a little banter about the upcoming season. Last August, my buddy Jones showed up to the draft with a computer program that he wrote to optimize his draft order based on projected scoring numbers for the first 10 weeks of the regular season. I think we’re starting to take this a little too far. So yeah, by all means, enjoy your fantasy football season.
Over the last decade, fantasy football has become a big-money industry that has become tough to avoid if you happen to use the Internet. Sports Editor Mike Smith thinks it’s all become a bit too much. Photo courtesy Yahoo.com
Pick your teams, root for your guys, and send passive-aggressive emails out to the other people in your league if you think they’re abusing their vetoes whenever trades pop up.
Just keep all that stuff to yourself, because I don’t care. But while I have your attention, I just wanted to ask your opinion. Do you think it’s worth taking Ezekiel Elliott
in the first round? I’m kind of on the fence, and right now, I could use all the help I can get.
Follow Mike on Twitter @livemike_sports
Thornton-Donovan 2017: An Andean adventure When Thornton-Donovan School in New Rochelle opens its doors for year No. 116, seven of its upperschool students will be in three different countries and three other high schools. T-D has a vast network of sister schools sprinkled around the world and quite regularly sends its own to them, and receives international student visitors from them. T-D has been pioneering in international education for decades and its student ambassadors use the school’s exchange program as ways to sharpen their diplomatic skills. With Liam Gorbutt in Japan, Janine Peroune in Germany, and Nikki D’Annunzio, Ben Rufa, Gavin Tomlinson, Diale Takona and Rayaan Ba in Italy, T-D will begin the 2016-17 school year on Sept. 8. T-D is an independent and international day school with grades K–12. It boasts of its small size and small classes. It has 170 students from 40 different countries. T-D’s grades 9–12 will open at near capacity. In February 2017, T-D will begin its Andean adventure and travel to Peru in February and
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continue the undertaking by “Flying with the Condors” in Ecuador in April 2017. T-D’s 2016-17 academic theme will focus on Machu Picchu and Galapagos. As is the tradition, T-D’s graduates get accepted to many of America’s most elite colleges and universities as well as the world’s most prestigious institutions. Some of them are: DePaul, UConn, Haverford, Elon, UNC, Notre Dame, Dartmouth, Fordham, Case Western Reserve, American, George Washington University, St. Andrews,
University of Nottingham, Nanzan University (Japan), N.Y.U., University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, and McGill. T-D teaches numerous foreign languages: French, Spanish, Russian, German, Italian, Greek and Latin. Japanese is also offered in the early spring, as T-D continues to visit Hiroshima in July of each year. Admission information can be procured by contacting Director of Admissions Steven Schlitten at sschlitten@td.edu or visiting the school’s website at td.edu. (Submitted)
LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow @cityreviewnr for Mike’s live, in-game action updates
SPORTS
WFAN holds charity softball game By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor On Thursday, Aug. 18, sports radio personality and New Rochelle native Craig Carton returned home, leading a celebrity-laden team against all-stars from the city in an annual charity softball game at City Park. The game, now in its fifth year, gave area fans a chance to see local softballers square off against a host of former professional athletes, and helped raise money for the New Rochelle Parks and Recreation Gift Fund. Carton, who co-hosts the popular “Boomer & Carton” radio show on WFAN alongside retired NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1987 and has returned to his hometown for the last five years for the annual charity softball game, tabbing his former teacher and New Rochelle football coach Harold Crocker to manage the city team while he and Esiason captained the WFAN All-Stars. This year, the celebrity team included NHL player Matt Martin, former NFL player Chris Simms, local NFL product Ray Rice and a number of other onair personalities from the radio station. Former New York
Craig Carton, left, poses for a photo with New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson and Boomer Esiason prior to the fifth annual Boomer and Carton All-Star Softball game in New Rochelle on Aug. 18. Carton and Bramson were classmates at New Rochelle High School.
Yankees great Mariano Rivera, who lives in Rye, also took the field, but opted to play for the New Rochelle squad, manning first base for much of the game before coming on, naturally, to close out a 7-6 New Rochelle win. “I always talk about New Rochelle fondly, and the fact that we get to come out here, support the Parks and Rec and shine a light on New Rochelle, that means the world to me,” Carton
WFAN radio host Craig Carton takes a cut at the annual WFAN Charity Softball game on Aug. 18 at City Park in New Rochelle. Carton, a New Rochelle native, has come back to his hometown for the softball game for the past five years.
said. “And for the people coming out to support us, people coming out here for the first time, that’s what New Rochelle is really all about.” Crocker, who currently serves as the director of Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation at Ramapo College, said that he is not surprised at all by his former student’s success in the radio world, where he as emerged as one of the most influential radio hosts in the area, or by his desire to give back to the community. “Even back then, you knew that [Carton] was a character, but he was someone that had a lot of character,” Crocker said. “He always had this go-get-it attitude, he’s a great guy, a great family man, and great for the city of New Rochelle.” Carton’s popularity in his hometown was certainly on display last Thursday, with the hundreds of fans in attendance, although the former Huguenot is quick to shift the reason for the turnout onto the other notable figures on the field, including Rivera and Rice. “You can forget about me, you have Ray and Mo, who is the greatest closer of all time,” he said. “But it shows that these guys care about giving back, they have pride in what they do and where they come from, and it really changes the dynamic of what we’re trying to do out here.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
Former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason swings the bat on Aug. 18.
Ray Rice tries to tag a runner out at second base. Photos/Mike Smith
August 26, 2016 • THE CITY REVIEW • 15
16 • THE CITY REVIEW • August 26, 2016