THE
CityREVIEW NewRochelle May 19 & 26, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 15 | www.cityreviewnr.com
Latimer takes county executive nomination By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer
REPORTING LIVE... Richard Giacovas, a graduate of Iona College, became a reporter for News 12 Westchester in March 2015. As a reporter, Giacovas writes, shoots and edits all of his own work. For story, see page 9. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
Voters approve $259.6M proposed school budget Residents approved the City School District of New Rochelle’s proposed budget for the 2017-2018 school year on Tuesday by a vote of 2,035 to 719, a 74 percent approval. Voters also elected Amy Moselhi and Paul Warhit to the Board of Education. They will serve five-year terms on the school board from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2022. The $259.6 million budget represents a 2.34 percent increase over the previous year’s budget, one of the lowest in years. The increase in the tax levy is 1.995 percent and complies with the state’s required tax levy cap. The total proposed taxes to be collected by the school district will be $204.4 million, or 78.75 percent of the budget. In addition, $43 million of revenue will
come from state aid and $12.1 million from other sources. “The Board of Education is grateful to the community for its support of the 2017-2018 budget,” said Board of Education President Rachel Relkin. “Moving ahead, we look forward to continuing our pursuit of providing a high quality and challenging education to all our students.” “I am truly grateful to this community for supporting this budget, which holds true to our commitment to provide the very best education for our students while remaining fiscally responsible,” added Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Osborne. “In addition to maintaining all academic programs, the budget adds positions
to accommodate for enrollment increases, maintains favorable class sizes and meets pressing student needs.” Those positions include a parttime Trinity psychologist, a fulltime Foundations life skills program counselor position at New Rochelle High School, a part-time Isaac E. Young Middle School English as a Second Language teacher, and a full-time Davis Elementary teacher. The budget also supports critical ongoing professional development of teachers and administrators. In addition, the budget includes funding to support vital instructional technology enhancements, BUDGET continued on page 8
After a delayed nominating process, the Westchester County Democratic Party announced today that state Sen. George Latimer has secured the party’s official backing in the county executive race this fall. Latimer, if the party’s leaders have their way, will now go on to challenge two-term, incumbent County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. Two days after county Democratic officials held a nearly sixhour-long convention on Wednesday, May 10, to nominate its slate of candidates for the November election, party leaders reconvened on Friday, May 12 at county Board of Elections headquarters in White Plains to count the votes between Latimer and county Legislator Ken Jenkins, of Yonkers. Latimer, 63, who announced his candidacy in April, received 71 percent of the convention vote of local committee district leaders to Jenkins 29 percent. After handily securing his party’s backing, Latimer reflected on previous campaign challenges, and honed in on uniting the Democratic Party, a message he also focused on during his convention speech. “Through all of those things, I’ve persevered; and I’m going to continue persevere and look forward to November,” Latimer told the Review after officially receiving the nomination. “Amongst Democrats, we’re all brothers even if we disagree.” But which Democrat will ultimately run against Astorino in November remains undecided at this point, as Jenkins confirmed that he plans to primary Latimer for the right to represent Democrats in the
general election. Jenkins, 55, has consistently called for the registered Democratic voters of Westchester to be have their say instead of party officials through the normal nominating process. Jenkins has said since he entered the race in August 2016 that he would take the nomination to a primary election if he did not get the party’s backing after the convention. “The convention is not at all a reflection of everyday Americans, of everyday voters,” he said in a statement before the votes were tallied. “And if we have learned anything from the Trump era, it’s that all Democrats should be involved— not less.” In keeping with that sentiment, Jenkins and his campaign did not attend the vote count on Friday afternoon. Instead, they were out talking to Democratic voters, who, he said, were disenfranchised by the nominating process. To cue a primary, Jenkins would have to collect 2,000 signatures of registered county Democrats and submit them to the county Board of Elections by July 13. He opted to forego that route in his previous bid for county executive in 2013, bowing out after he lost a close vote at the convention LATIMER continued on page 8
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2 • THE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017
May 19 & 26, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 3
County immigration proposal still faces hurdles Caucus, said that while the proposal is yet to garner any support from the county’s Republican lawmakThe Westchester County Leg- ers, Democrats are still pushing for islature’s Democratic Caucus’ it to become law by summer. goal for an early summer approv“We have heard positive things,” al of legislation to set forth a pol- he said about Republican support icy on immigration enforcement for the bill. “It’s been a process may be unlikely, with the propos- with countless stakeholders and adal still pending in three separate vocates so we have already covered committees. most of the questions that are going Joe Sgammato, the press secre- to be used to attack it.” tary representing the Democratic As of press time, eight Demo-
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer
crats on the county Board of Legislators have pledged their support for the pending legislation. But the proposal would require the vote of at least nine members of the full 17-member Legislature to be approved if it makes out of committee. In addition to lacking any official support from board Republicans, the proposal still has to make its way through the committees on Budget and Appropriations,
Even with the Westchester County Legislature’s Democratic Caucus’ immigration proposal lacking support from Republicans and held up in three committees, Democrats are aiming for the bill’s approval by early summer. File photo
Legislation, and Public Safety and Social Services. Matt Richter, the press secretary representing the Republican Caucus, said that while there isn’t an official “headcount” of how many Republicans on the board favor the idea, it’s likely that some will throw their support behind the proposal when the final document is presented. “There’s no particular language in the bill that we’re objecting to, but overall, the language of it is being discussed,” he said. Known as the Immigration Protection Act, it aims to prevent Westchester County emergency services from aiding the federal government in investigations made on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and national origin. The pending legislation was submitted to codify existing policies adopted under the administration of former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat, while also drawing from model ordinances put in place by the New York state attorney general’s office in order to alleviate concerns about the treatment of immigrants living in county. First introduced back in February, the proposal came out of uncertainty over Republican County Executive Rob Astorino’s stance on the existing executive order relating to confidential information and immigration status that was signed by
Spano in 2006. In Westchester County government, the incumbent county executive can legally repeal any executive order made by one his predecessors. Jerry McKinstry, a spokesman for the Astorino administration, declined to comment on the proposal since it is still being worked out in committee. However, he said, “Any proposal that jeopardizes public safety will be a non-starter.” On top of the Spano policy, the new proposal would also prohibit county police officers and officials from honoring requests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, and Customs and Border Protection, which do not give rise to probable cause, and protects Westchester from liability due to false arrests and imprisonments. The idea to set an immigration policy came in response to a nationwide effort led by Republican President Donald Trump to deport undocumented immigrants. ICE has made 21,362 arrests from Jan. 20 through March 13 of this year, according to new data from the federal agency, marking a 33 percent increase overall in arrests over the same time period last year. ICE arrested 16,104 people last year during the same window. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
4 • THE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017
What’s going on... New Rochelle Public Library
niques. The drop-in sessions do not require advanced registration. This program is made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Homework Help
Visit nrpl.org for information on these and other events and programs.
Library hours The main New Rochelle Public Library will be closed on Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day observances. The Huguenot Children’s Library is normally closed on Sundays and will also be closed on Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day. Main library hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Huguenot Children’s Library hours: Mondays and Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays: Closed.
Law at the Library On Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the main library’s Ossie Davis Theater. The New Rochelle Bar Association and NRPL Foundation continue the “Law at the Library” series with a program to help homeowners buy and sell their property. Local attorneys and real estate experts will cover topics such as: evaluating a potential new home; preparing a house for a sale; selecting a realtor – or trying to sell on your own; essential components of contracts; and what to expect when closing the deal. Free.
Lunchtime Express Yoga On Mondays from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., and Wednesdays from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. Free sessions of easy yoga to help reduce stress and relieve tension continue to be offered during the lunch hour at the New Rochelle Public Library. Participants do not need to change out of work clothes, and mats will not be needed for these sessions of breathing, relaxation and meditation tech-
From Mondays to Thursdays from 3 p.m. until 10 minutes before closing time at the main library. College students and volunteers are on hand to offer homework help to assist elementary school students and middle school students up to grade eight in organizing homework needs, locating appropriate resources, and strengthening reading skills. The free Homework Help service is offered September through May, except during school vacation weeks. This program is s offered in conjunction with the Youth Bureau of the city of New Rochelle, Monroe College, and Westchester Library System.
Friends Book Store On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Friends Book Store in the main library lobby. The Friends of the NRPL Book Store is where you’ll find bargains from popular novels, mysteries and nonfiction in hardcover and paperback, to children’s books, CDs and DVDs. Proceeds from these sales allow the Friends to provide funding for quality children and adult programming, as well as assisting the library by contributing to various projects and improving service to the community.
Free programs for infants and preschoolers The New Rochelle Public Library and the Huguenot Children’s Library, HCL, are offering a great array of free programs for infants, toddlers and preschool children this winter-spring season. Participation is dropin, on a first-come, first-served basis. The free programs are made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library and the Partnership for the Huguenot Children’s Library. Most do not take place on days the New Rochelle public schools are closed for vacations. Nursery Rhyme Time, for children ages 6 months to 2 years old, is a joyful blend of stories, songs and finger plays. It is held at the main library on Fridays, through May 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:50 a.m., and at HCL
on Mondays, through May 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Toddler Time, for children aged 2, are lively sessions that engage children and their parent or caregiver in music and games. It is held at the main library on Fridays, through May 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and at HCL on Wednesdays, through May 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. 3, 4, 5’s - Stories & Crafts, for ages 3 to 5, are sessions of stories, songs, and a takehome craft inspired by seasons and picture book themes. A bilingual (English and Spanish) session takes place at the main library on Mondays, through May 22, from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Another session, in English, takes place on Thursdays, through May 25, from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Sessions at HCL take place on Tuesdays, through May 23, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., and on Thursdays, through May 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Preschool Fun & Fitness, a program for children ages 2 to 5 and their parent or grandparent, is a fun-filled hour of movement, games and healthy eating and lifestyle tips, conducted by the health and fitness team from Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital’s Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Services. Registration is required. Call Ruben at the WIC office at 637-1677. The sessions will be held in the main library’s Meeting Room and stage on Mondays through June 19.
‘Our Children, Our Artists’ exhibit The 36th annual “Our Children, Our Artists” exhibit will be on view in the Lumen Winter Gallery of the New Rochelle Public Library through May 24. The work of middle and high school students will be exhibited through May 24. The exhibit is curated by Erica Bogin, artist and art teacher.
Cantemus Concert: Songs of Love and Peace On Sunday, May 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Ossie Davis Theater in the main library. The talented chorale group, Cantemus, returns for a delightful performance of classics, pop tunes, opera and Broadway melodies—all woven together with an engaging and often humorous narrative. The ensemble of singers, under the direction of Jena Smith, is accompanied by pianist Marianne Salzman. Free with a suggested donation of $2 at the door. The concert is made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library.
3-D Printing Hands-on On Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to
11:30 a.m. in the Teen Area on the second floor of the main library. In this session, you will learn to use a 3-D printer and create parts using 3-D design software on MACs. Students get to take home a printed sample. Some experience with computers is necessary. All computer classes are free, but registration is required. Please call 813-3737 or stop by the Reference Desk on the second floor to register.
Westchester County news Register for children’s summer camps Registration is open for Westchester County Parks’ popular summer camps for children and young people. Online registration is available at parks.westchestergov. com/activities/childrens-camps. For more information on any of the programs, visit the aforementioned website or call 231-4673, unless stated otherwise. Perfect Pitch and Swing Baseball Camp, for ages 8 to 12, at V.E. Macy Park in Ardsley. Slam Dunk Basketball Camp, for grades 3–9, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. Girls Volleyball Camp, for grades 6–12, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. Challenger Sports Soccer Camp, for grades 1–9, at V.E. Macy Park, Ardsley. For more information, call 714-8601 or visit challengersports.com. Hole-in-One Junior Golf Camp, for ages 10 to 17, at the county courses: Dunwoodie and Sprain Lake, Yonkers; Hudson Hills, Ossining; Maple Moor, White Plains; Mohansic, Yorktown Heights; and Saxon Woods, Scarsdale. Children’s Summer Ecology Program, for grades 1–9, at Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains; Marshlands Conservancy, Rye; and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River. Conservationists in Training, for grades 7–9, at Cranberry Lake Preserve, North White Plains, and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River. Muscoot Wranglers, for ages 4 and 5, and Muscoot Young Farmers, for grades 1–8, at Muscoot Farm, Katonah. For more information, call 864-7282. Summer Music Center, for grades 3–12, at Westchester County Center, White Plains. 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.
May 19 & 26, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 5
Empire City jackpot surpasses $1.6M Empire City Casino, one of New York’s most successful casinos launched a new ad campaign entitled “Real Winners, Real Money, Real Deal.” Who better to enlist as advertising pitch-man for Empire City Casino than its biggest jackpot winner? Howard Gershowitz of Suffolk County, Long Island is back in the “slot-”light in the Yonkers casino’s new campaign after scoring Empire City’s record-breaking jackpot worth $1.47 million on Oct. 25, 2015. Gershowitz ‘s lucky roll was the only million-dollar plus jackpot in the history of not only Empire City Casino but all New York state racetrack casinos. Gershowitz hit on the Wheel of Fortune Triple Star slot machine—one of the most popular slot machines in the world. There have been many television show-themed slots that have attempted to bring the action from the screen to the slot world, but none have succeeded in the dazzling style of Wheel of Fortune, which has captivated gamblers for years with high jackpots and spinning money wheels. When this latest jackpot is hit, it will give Wheel of Fortune “bragging rights” to the three highest jackpots in the history of the Yonkers casino and six of the top 10 highest jackpots. Three Bally slot machines—Hot Shots, Blazing 7’s, and Stars & Bars—can also boast major scores ranging from nearly $250,000 to $571,000, all ranking in the top 10 jackpots at Empire City Casino.
This past November, Linda H. of Thornwood, New York, took home a $961,411.81 jackpot also from a Wheel of Fortune slot machine—the second largest in the 10-year history of Empire City. Linda H.’s hit eclipsed the $571,049 score won by former runner-up Manuel Esteche in February of 2015 on the Blazing 7’s. Empire City recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and ranks as the sixth largest casino floor in the country, including Las Vegas and Indian casinos nationwide. More than 8 million visitors a year try their luck at Empire City Casino, hoping to hit one of the many six-figure jackpots on the behemoth gaming floor. As of press time, six-figure jackpots at Empire City range from just over $100,000 to more than $1.6 million on slots with minimum bets from 1 cent to $10. To be eligible to win the top jackpot, a player must make the maximum bet on the machine. (Submitted)
Howard Gershowitz hit for nearly $1.5 million at Empire City in 2015. Photo courtesy Empire City Casino
CURRENT JACKPOTS AVAILABLE AT EMPIRE CITY Jackpot
Game Theme
Minimum Bet*
Maximum Bet
$1,616,841.18
Wheel of Fortune
$10.00
$20.00
$382,781
Betty Boop
$0.01
$5.00
$326,363
Wheel of Fortune
$5.00
$10.00
$310,108
Hot Shots
$0.01
$3.00
$305,835
Hot Shots
$0.01
$2.50
$193,786 Fireball
$0.01 $2.00
$171,667 Titanic
$0.01 $4.00
$171,504
Michael Jackso
$0.05
$3.00
$137,543
Wheel of Fortune
$5.00
$10.00
$124,966
Wheel of Fortune
$1.0
$6.00
$107,996 Nascar
$0.01 $3.20
6 • THE RYE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017 THE
CityREVIEW NewRochelle 170 Hamilton Ave., Suite 203 White Plains, N.Y. 10601 Tel: (914) 653-1000 Fax: (914) 653-5000
Publisher | Howard Sturman ext. 21, publisher@hometwn.com Christian Falcone Associate Publisher | Editor-in-Chief ext. 19, chris@hometwn.com Sports Editor | Mike Smith ext. 22, sports@hometwn.com Assistant Editor | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 25, sibylla@hometwn.com General Assignment | Taylor Brown ext. 30, taylor@hometwn.com Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin Graphic Designer | Jim Grasso Advertising | Lynne Starr ext. 29, lynne@hometwn.com Advertising Coordinator | Sibylla Chipaziwa ext. 27, ads@hometwn.com Staff Writers James Pero, Corey Stockton, Franco Fino Staff Photographers Andrew Dapolite, Jen Parente Columnist Lenore Skenazy
Reverend’s daughter captures father’s legacy
By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter Sarah Bowen, the daughter of a late reverend, is working to spread the teachings of her father through a collection of his sermons that have since become her book, “Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through My Father’s Old Sermons.” Bowen’s father, Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Murdoch, was a senior pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church for 10 years. During his time in Rye, Murdoch was involved with the Rye Youth Council, the Rye Nature Center and the Rye Interfaith Housing Corp. Dan Love, a co-pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church, worked alongside Murdoch from 1997 to 2004. “[Murdoch] was always looking for a way to reach out beyond the church, beyond the city of Rye to do good for people,” he said. After he died of cancer in 2004, Bowen was given her father’s sermons by the church. Bowen said
that she had boxes full of manila folders containing 1,500 of her father’s teachings from 1967 to 2004. When Bowen, 46, first received the sermons, she wasn’t sure what to do with them. “I was afraid that reading my father’s sermons might make me miss him more than I already did,” Bowen said. It would take her five years until she was ready. “I missed my dad,” she told the Review, “and I thought, well maybe I’ll read these, and I’ll see what happens.” While reading the sermons, Bowen said she felt as if she was having a conversation with him about his work. “Amazingly, it helped me feel connected to him and heal much of my pain,” she said. After finishing his works, Bowen felt the sermons needed to be transformed into a book. With the encouragement of her sister, she embarked on making that idea come to life. Bowen was 37 when she began working on her book.
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Sarah Bowen explores her father’s sermons and her own religious journey in her book, “Void if Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality through My Father’s Old Sermons.” Photo courtesy Facebook.com/Voidifdetached
She compiled more than 50 of her father’s sermons that she felt people of all religious faiths could relate to. “These are the ones that will appeal to people regardless of whether they happen to be Baptist, Jewish or atheist,” she said. Since the book was released in December 2016, Bowen has become a gold medalist for the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards under the “religion” category. The book is available online from Barnes and Noble, Amazon and in stores at Arcade Booksellers in Rye. The book’s name was inspired by one of her father’s sermons. The sermon discusses how with the assistance of God’s power, people are able to accomplish great things. Murdoch tells the story of a doctor who believes that God didn’t give him his ability to heal the sick, but he does believe that God gave him the tools he would need to learn how to help them. When Bowen was 14 years old, she felt herself begin to detach from her religious upbringing. “I didn’t want to be thought of as the square preacher’s kid,” she said. When she was growing up, her father never told her that she had to believe in the things he would preach about. Bowen explained that she had “a lot of room for self-expression.” The religious journey she went on while writing the book, brought back fond memories. Bowen said that her father never really looked like a Christian preacher, so it confused people when they found out what his profession was. “He was just a really funny, social guy who would help anybody out and was just so caring,” she said. Murdoch received his B.A. in history with a minor in English at Furman University. His studies led him to become interested in the link between history and religion. Bowen said her father was interested in civil rights issues like the Fair Housing Movement and stopping segregation in neighborhoods. “My father worked all the time to try and make communities stronger,” she said. A prominent member of the Rye community, having served at Rye Presbyterian Church from 1994 to 2004, Murdoch was the recipient of the prestigious Rye Commission on Human Rights Award in 2004. He received the award because of his position as a pastor which led
Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Murdoch was a senior pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy Sarah Bowen
him to create a religious dialogue amongst people of different faiths. Murdoch also has an award in his name that was created after his death by members of the Rye Presbyterian Church. The Dick Murdoch Legacy Award is presented at the Rye Youth Council Scholarship Awards Breakfast along with a college scholarship every year to a high school senior. “We were looking for a way to honor his memory,” Love said about how the award came to be. The award is given to a student who is working to better oneself at whatever they’re pursuing. The student has to have a clear vision for their future by becoming accepting and open to new opportunities. Bowen, who lived in Rye for just under two years, travels back to the city from her current home in Rhinebeck, New York, every year to present the award. “Rye was a very welcoming community, and I still have strong ties,” she said. Since rediscovering her interest for religion, Bowen has begun focusing on animal chaplaincy, by providing grief counseling for those who have lost a pet, are able to perform animal blessings, and can speak at pet funerals. Bowen writes in a blog post that when she was growing up, she would bring home dead animals she found because she felt they needed a proper burial. “I want to have a bigger impact,” she said. Bowen, who now says her relationship is continuing to expand, is also working to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a reverend herself. “Focusing on the deep truths that are the foundation of all religions, rather than harping on our differences, is where I want to be,” she said. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com
May 19 & 26, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 7
Youth football program celebrates 60 years New Rochelle Youth Tackle League, NRYTL, a member of the National Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc., celebrated its 60th anniversary on May 12 with a dinner at Davenport Mansion in New Rochelle. All YTL alumni were invited to join in the evening. Joseph F. Fosina, YTL president and volunteer for more than 47 years, honored former players, volunteers and coaches. Approximately 150 to 200 alumni attended from all over the country to catch up with old friends and reminisce about some of their
Contributed photo
favorite times. Fosina said, “On any given Sunday in the fall, you can come down to the field and see YTL alumni stop by to catch a game and meet with old friends.” Two former players were presented YTL Legacy Awards: Timothy Idoni, former New Rochelle mayor and current Westchester County clerk; and Albert Tarantino, New Rochelle councilman. Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to four individuals who have volunteered for more than 30 years in the program: Larry
Alston, Patricia Eaton, James Hollis and Jeffrey Anthony. Started in 1957, NRYTL has had more than 8,300 youth football and cheerleader participants. The program has developed many successful athletes, including four who played in the NFL and one Olympian. Other program alumni have played professional sports in Europe and Canada; several hundred have played at the collegiate level in multiple sports; and a couple thousand have participated in high school sports and cheerleading. The first cheerleading team started in the early 1970s, and the first female played for the football program in the early 1980s. NRYTL has won a Pop Warner Super Bowl and several New York state championships. It has a record of winning that is recognized throughout the northeast region of the country. Over the years, YTL has participated in more than 25 bowl games in many different regions of the country including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. YTL has always put academics and youth safety first. Volunteers, coaches and parents all work together to ensure the success of the children in school and on the field. YTL requires all participants to submit their school report cards to ensure academic standards are met to participate in the program. The long-term stability of coaches has ensured proper blocking and tackling techniques are taught and adhered to. Each year, YTL holds coaching clinics with several of the local high school coaches to ensure safety. Pop Warner
ensures safety through teaching proper techniques and ensuring all of the players are the same age and weight class. According to Fosina, “The safety of our children is of paramount importance. We work hard to ensure we have involvement of parents, coaches and the kids. We are proud of our record of success over the past 60 years.” He continued, “The city of New Rochelle has been fortunate that 60 years ago several prominent community leaders volunteered their time to develop a youth football organization that has sustained the test of time and has helped boys and girls develop into mature, community-minded, successful adults. Program alumni go on to careers including elected officials, presidents of corporations, CPAs, CFOs, investment bankers, FBI agents, teachers, police and firefighters, professional athletes, Olympians, and many more. We thank some of our early volunteers such as Lou Toglia, Vinny Dunn, Joe Choflet, Fran Spagnola, William “Brud” Flowers and Judge John Pollard who developed a strong foundation of giving back to our youth.” The program is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt program that is fully funded by philanthropy and the generosity of local businesses and residents. Contributions to support NRYTL can be sent to PO Box 1243, New Rochelle, NY 10801. For more information about the NRYTL program or how to enroll a child, contact Fosina at 224-3079. (Submitted)
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8 • THE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017
Westchester signs on to STAR rebate reform bill
LATIMER from page 1
to New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, who was easily defeated by Astorino. Both Jenkins and Latimer have acknowledged that a venture to unseat Astorino would be an uphill battle. Although Westchester’s registered Democrats is more than double its Republican counterparts, Astorino has been able to keep a firm grasp on his office since he winning election to it in 2009. During the convention, both candidates tried to rally Democratic voters to get engaged in the electoral process, challenging Astorino on his feud with the federal government over affordable housing and drawing connections between the county executive and President Donald Trump. And each candidate emphasized that the party would have to unite and mobilize to beat the well-financed Astorino, who had raised more than $2.5 million in his campaign finances as of January. The next campaign disclosure filing is not required until July. Bill O’Reilly, campaign manager for Astorino, said, “We wish George and Ken well in their primary, and look forward to debating the winner in the fall.” BUDGET from page 1
including the ability to provide wireless Internet access to more than 95 percent of district instructional spaces. The district’s Chromebook program will also be expanded, providing more than 2,500 new mobile devices to students. Other instructional and infrastructure improvements will position the district to continue to provide 21st century learning opportunities for students.
“I’m grateful for the Democratic leaders who came together from every corner of the county to voice their thoughts on how to lead this party forward and build a better, stronger, future for the whole county,” said state Sen. George Latimer after receiving his party’s nomination to run for county executive in November. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
The primary election is set for Sept. 12, with the winner taking on Astorino on Election Day, Nov. 7. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com
The budget includes an investment for much needed playground replacement and improvements at Trinity, Webster and Columbus elementary schools. The district will also replace the roof of a district-owned maintenance facility on Grove Avenue. A new transformational facility management team will be in place for 2017-2018. All results remain unofficial as of press time. (Submitted)
The members of Westchester County’s Democratic state delegation have co-sponsored legislation in both the Senate and the Assembly (A5969/S4733) that would sunset changes made in 2016 to the School Tax Relief Program, STAR, rebate exemption process, and restore the program to the way it functioned in earlier years. The previous version of the STAR Exemption Program immediately reduced a property owner’s tax liability by providing relief for a property owner’s tax burden upfront. In the current iteration of the program, the state instead sends a reimbursement check to property owners after they have already paid their school tax bills. Many taxpayers have considered this process burdensome—particularly people with lower incomes, who have encountered difficulty paying their full school tax bills and have had to wait, often for months, for reimbursements checks to arrive. The STAR program was modified last year to shift the responsibility of providing tax relief from local governments to the State Department of Taxation and Finance. This reform has put a burden on many taxpayers, since the system has been riddled with significant glitches that have delayed the delivery of reimbursement checks, often for many months, and, in some instances, for over a year. These glitches have also caused errors that produce checks made out to the wrong people or sent to the wrong addresses. This new bill would repeal the controversial changes made to the STAR Program and facilitate the timely adoption of the earlier version of the program, which provided eligible taxpayers with an immediate property tax exemption, rather than a reimbursement check. Households that earn an annual income under $500,000 are eligible for the basic STAR program and receive exemptions from the first $30,000 of the complete value of their homes from school taxes. Property owners 65 years and older with an income of $86,000 or less are also eligible for Enhanced STAR, which grants them a greater degree of tax relief. “The STAR Program provides significant tax relief for working families, and it should work in a way that helps taxpayers,” said Andrea Stewart-Cousins, state senator and Senate Democratic leader. “The new system inconveniences too many people, and everyone would be better served if it were restored to its previous, functional form.” “It is imperative that we do everything we can to effectively reduce high property taxes,” said state Sen. George Latimer. “The STAR Program has been very effective, and unfortunately, the implementation of the changes to it have weakened its ability to properly serve people across the state. We need to fix it and make it work again for our property taxpayers.”
“The changes to the STAR program have been a failure,” said state Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, who authored the Assembly version of the bill. “We had concerns about distributing checks for the STAR amount when the idea was first presented. My office has received call after call asking where the checks are and why they did not arrive when they were expected, leading to people having to put forward the money for this year’s taxes before receiving the credit from last year. This puts an undue burden on taxpayers, and is unacceptable. Without reverting back to our previous system, there is no promise that the same situation will not play out again in the coming year as more property owners are included.” “I’m pleased to have co-sponsored this bill which will, when passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, address some of the unnecessary complications to the STAR program for new homeowners,” said Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer. “We need to make the STAR program work effectively, as it did in the past, so that new buyers who are eligible for this tax benefit can receive it directly as a reduction of tax liability, rather than waiting for a refund check.” “From its onset, the STAR Program has always been a critical asset to hard working homeowners and we must do all that we can to ensure that the process remains simplified and therefore keep more of our taxpayers money in their pockets,” said state Assemblyman Gary Pretlow. “The STAR Program once provided reliable and meaningful property tax relief for New York homeowners—and it needs to do so again,” said state Assemblyman David Buchwald. “The changes to STAR have eroded its effectiveness for hard working families. I stand with my fellow legislators in pushing for the STAR Program to be returned to functionality.” “I have been opposed to the changes to the STAR Program from the onset,” said state Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said. “The changes made last year have caused financial chaos for my constituents who have been waiting months to be reimbursed by the state for property tax relief which they are entitled to by law. Taxpayers have an obligation to pay their taxes on time or be penalized. The state has not lived up to its obligation to get them their checks before they have had to pay their school taxes. This will only get worse as more people are added to the rolls.” “The STAR Program should be fairly administered and reduce the homeowner’s tax liability before the homeowner needs to pay the school tax bill,” said state Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti. “This bill will reinstate the former way of administering the process, which worked well before the Governor required unwise changes last year.” (Submitted)
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May 19 & 26, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 9
Iona alumnus lands dream reporting job By TAYLOR BROWN General Assignment Reporter From a young age, Richard Giacovas knew that broadcast journalism was his passion. Now 25 years old, he’s living out his dream while covering local stories for News 12 Westchester. Giacovas began working for News 12 Westchester in September 2013 as a freelance associate producer. He was hired a few months after graduating from Iona College where he received his B.A. in mass communication with a concentration in broadcast journalism. From there, he was promoted to a part-time position on the weekends as a producer. “I basically did everything I could to get on camera,” Giacovas told the Review. In March 2015, his hard work paid off and Giacovas was able to do his first on-air special about Dr. Susan Blum, founder and director at Blum Center for Health in Rye Brook. “It was my first time trying to learn to take an interview and
make it compelling,” he said. Giacovas’ current position as a reporter includes writing, shooting and editing all of his stories. “I’m actually really enjoying it,” he said. These new responsibilities came after Altice, a media company based in the Netherlands, completed its acquisition of Cablevision, which included News 12, in May 2016, for an estimated cost of $17.7 billion. After the acquisition, News 12 Westchester began filming out of Long Island.
said, adding that he also cherishes the opportunity to tell people’s stories, especially ones local to the Rye community. That type of reporting is what helped him win a spot on The Business Council of Westchester’s 40 under 40 “Rising Star” list of 2015. This yearly award recognizes 40 young, talented individuals in Westchester who are excelling in their field of work. But the seeds of his local stardom were sown well before he reached his 20’s. “From a little boy, I always knew that I wanted to be on TV in some capacity,” Giacovas said. Giacovas, who has lived in Rye for more than a decade, said he was 8 years old when he started putting on his own mock news broadcasts in his living room.
Richard Giacovas interviews Sheryl Devefta of Greenburgh about the drug charges against a Virginia Road Elementary School teacher.
Richard [Giacovas] was a senior, “When everybody, even the other kids knew that he was it.” – MICHAEL LIMONE, a Rye High School video journalism teacher
For Giacovas, covering a variety of topics, including weather, natural disasters and interesting people in Westchester, is his favorite part of the job. “Every day is different and it’s so cool to have that,” he
Richard Giacovas reports outside Virginia Road Elementary School in Valhalla after an elementary teacher at the school was arrested on drug charges. Photos/Andrew Dapolite
While attending Rye High School, Giacovas took two video journalism classes his junior and senior year which enabled him to further work on becoming an on-air reporter. Vincent Baione, one of the teachers who ran the video journalism classes, said, “[Richard] was born with a natural ability to be warm and sincere in front of the camera.” By Giacovas’ senior year, his class was producing the morning announcement newscasts, which played for five minutes during homeroom, with Giacovas as the on-air anchor. “When Richard was a senior, everybody, even the other kids, knew that he was it,” said Michael Limone, an English teacher at Rye High School who also taught video journalism. “He had to do it, because he was so strong.” Limone said that there were upwards of 20 students in the class. He explained that at first the students rotated who performed as the news anchor, but eventually the class agreed that Giacovas should exclusively do the broadcast because of his natural talent. “He was so good that when people saw these [broadcasts] they thought he was a real newscaster,” Baione said. Giacovas went on to attend Iona College where he was a member of three of the school’s media clubs. This included ICTV, the school’s student-run TV network, where he was a lead anchor; WICR, Iona’s radio station on which Giacovas co-hosted a show; and The Ionian, Iona’s student-run newspaper, for which he was a staff writer. Michael Damergis, Sports Communication & Media graduate
Richard Giacovas stands with a White Plains Hospital gift shop volunteer at her surprise party thrown. Photo courtesy Twitter.com/RichardGNews12
coordinator at Iona College, worked with Giacovas and his cohost Ali Mudano on their radio show, “The Lunch Hour,” and said there was no doubt that broadcast was Giacovas’ passion. Mudano, who now works as a health and fitness coach, said that she and Giacovas both had the same type of humor, a great connection on air and also shared big dreams of becoming reporters. “It’s been really cool to see his rise through News 12,” she said. While at Iona, Giacovas landed an exclusive interview with legendary singer Barry Manilow at the Mohegan Sun Arena. A longtime Manilow fan, he says that he’s seen the artist perform 20 times. Giacovas has since scored more
high profile interviews since working at News 12 Westchester including Carol Burnett, John Stamos and The Beach Boys. Nonetheless, Giacovas says that he still has big goals left to achieve. One of those includes wanting to do an interview with Howard Stern. “I listen to him every day, and I think [he’s] probably one of the greatest interviewers of all time,” he said. Giacovas also mentioned that he would love to one day have his own talk show. “I never thought I would be on TV, so you never know,” he said. Giacovas can be found on News 12 Westchester on Monday through Friday at 4:30 p.m. CONTACT: taylor@hometwn.com
10 • THE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017
The Review in collaboration with ArtsWestchester offers a rundown of art-related events throughout Westchester. Find our Arts in the Area page once a month.
Gordon Parks Foundation exhibits works by scholarships recipients Through June 3, The Gordon Parks Foundation, GPF, presents “Voices in the Mirror,” a showcase of five past student recipients of scholarships awarded by the foundation. GPF’s scholarship program began in 2009, in partnership with arts education institutions, and is given to arts students who demonstrate financial need. Gordon Parks, who was an acclaimed photographer, documented race relations and American life from early 1940s until his death in 2006, in a way that not only told a story, but imparted empathy. These students were invited to submit works that also convey empathy. Rebecca Arthur provides a glimpse into her changing relationships with her family members while they grieve for the loss of their mother. Chiara Marianai, a photograph of hers pictured above, showcases photographs that convey universal feelings, such as loneliness and isolation. Maria Wirries explores her roots through photographs of Haitian women working. Rebecca Iasillo asks viewers to investigate seemingly mundane scenes of public life. Vera Tineo uses her quilt to broaden the understanding of the Black Lives Matter movement. These works will be on display in GPF’s Pleasantville gallery, alongside the popular and lesser-known works of Parks. For more information, visit gordonparksfoundation.org. -Rocío De La Roca
Neuberger Museum of Art surveys the work of Fred Wilson Neuberger Museum of Art presents the work of MacArthur “Genius” grantee Fred
Wilson with a survey of his work, from 1995 to the present, as well as a site-specific installation. A graduate of Purchase College, with which the Neuberger is associated, Wilson returns to his alma mater with his site-specific installation after extensively researching the museum and college’s collections and archives for several months. Wilson is best known for reorganizing and re-contextualizing works that are in the permanent collections of the museums in which he is exhibiting. These new arrangements are meant to reveal new meanings and perspectives otherwise unseen. The artist explains: “Objects have various lives and these lives are formed by the context that they’re in. Where they’re moved to can change their meaning…. My goal is to tease out other ways of looking at and viewing the objects, and see what that elicits.” The survey of Wilson’s works from 1995 reassesses social and historical narratives. Along with three new works, this collection features 76 studio works, including: “Old Salem: A Family of Strangers” (1995), which consists of 20 portrait photographs of a collection of dolls found in storage, but not exhibited, at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, N.C.; “Snuff” (2003), which examines the historical role of Africans in Venice, as inspired by 15th-19th century Venetian paintings; and “No Way But This” (2013), a series of chandeliers that are composed of Murano glass that is black instead of the traditional pastel, thereby conjuring a history of race relations in Venice. Wilson will be on view through July 30. For more information, visit neuberger.org.
cultural identities of immigrants. The 12 exhibited works each present a figure who is taking the role of a job that is traditionally held by an immigrant; however, the identity of the figure is visually represented by mythological and spiritual icons from the figure’s perceived culture. Ganesha, the elephant god of India, is a cashier at a convenience store while a man in an African mask drives a New York City cab. Viewing these sacred narratives as they take human form urges the observer to reconsider common cultural biases of the people who occupy these jobs, and to instead celebrate cultural diversity. The Rutsch Award was created to honor the memory and artistic achievement of Alexander Rutsch, an artist who actively supported the center for more than 25 years. Its winner receives a cash prize and the only solo exhibition at the center each year. Chong, a fine arts professor at Boston College, was chosen from approximately 400 applicants. “The Twelve,” a title that refers to both the number of works in the exhibition and a symbolic number in most religions, is on view through June 17. In conjunction with the exhibition, a collection of Rutsch’s paintings will be on view in the center’s front gallery. For more information, visit pelhamartcenter.org. -Mary Alice Franklin
-Mary Alice Franklin
Performances bring ArtsWestchester’s urban art exhibit to life
Chong explores immigrant workers at Pelham Art Center Pelham Art Center has announced Massachusetts resident Sammy Chong as the winner of its 2017 Alexander Rutsch Award and Solo Exhibition. The mixed-media and printed-canvas artist is the ninth winner of this juried award. Chong’s “The Twelve” asks its viewers to question their preconceived notions of the social, economic, political and
Behind the global art phenomenon that is graffiti today, lies an expansive history— from young vandals trying to find their voice in the 1970s to urban art that graces gallery walls as masterpieces. ArtsWestchester will take audiences back to these beginnings of hip hop culture and through the evolution of graffiti with a series of community programs related to its current exhibition, “From the Streets.” The exhibition chronicles the rise of the urban artist from vandal and outlaw to cultural trendsetter. Works on display are comprised of large-scale graffiti murals, photography, sculptures and installations that were created by legendary and internationally recognized artists. The upcoming gallery events will demonstrate the transformation of this art form and will provide a broader cultural context to the
exhibiting artworks. “Public programming helps people get a well-rounded understanding,” says folklorist Elena Martinez, who organized three of the community programs as part of the organization’s Folk Arts program. Graffiti began as a youth subculture in the Bronx, rose to prominence in the 1980s and has since entered the mainstream art world. Before long, the art form transcended its borders and hip hop MCs and break-dancers were incorporated into the urban art experience, creating a new burgeoning lifestyle all its own. Martinez added, “The unique programs that coincide with [this exhibition] provide a way for people to learn about the transformation of street art and its musical form, hip hop, in more ways than one.” These “From the Streets” programs include a variety of documentary screenings, panel discussions and performances. A lively panel discussion with artists and museum professionals will explore the place of graffiti in the global market during the “Vandalism vs. Capitalism: What is a Dirtier Word?” event on June 12. An evening of “Stories and Sounds From Back in the Day” will feature legendary hip hop rapper Curtis “Grandmaster Caz” Brown and Grand Wizzard Theodore, the DJ credited with the “scratching” technique, on June 16. Female hip hop performers and b-girls will discuss how women broke the boundaries of their “male-dominated” art form with dance performances and DJ music on June 17. A documentary screening of “Saving Bansky” tells of a misguided art collector’s attempts to save a Banksy painting from destruction on July 14. All events will take place in ArtsWestchester’s gallery, immersing audiences into the historical trajectory of the captivating artworks that surround them. “From the Streets” will remain on view through July 15. For more information, visit artsw.org/fromthestreets. -Rocío De La Roca
These articles first appeared in the May 2017 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy of the full issue is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
May 19 & 26, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 11
12 • THE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017
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May 19 & 26, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 13
The unicorn frappucino generation tox and generally failed within several long minutes of not checking my email, all I can RHYMES WITH CRAZY do is wish them luck. Lenore Skenazy When not worrying about how their life looks to the world—or whether they’re havDo you know what a finsta is? ing some kind of breakdown—Millennials Neither did I, because I am not between are completely obsessed with food and drink. the ages of 13 and 34. Anyone 13 to 18 is Even though I was the last to hear about the “Gen Z,” and those aged 18 to 34 are the Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino (currently bemuch-discussed millennials. Dan Coates ing sued by Brooklyn’s End Cafe for being a studies them both. His company, yPulse, is rip-off of ITS Unicorn Latte), the drink is still a marketing research firm based in Manhat- being shared on social media, in part because tan, and lately some of its research has been it is a gorgeous swirl of colors and sprinkles. on finstas. But also, like the Cronut before it, this is a Finstas are fake Instagram accounts that novelty food that confers status on whoever are actually more real than a person’s so- gets one. Snap! called “real” Instagram account. On a finA much lovelier trait the millennials seem sta account, Coates explains, “Teens only to share is their inclusivity. The generations accept their closest friends and post funny before them, says Coates, were far more cruor embarrassing photos for the enjoyment of el. “One false move and you were exiled. their few followers.” You got a nickname and everything went In other words, it’s a window into their downhill from there.” But today’s young imperfect life. But on their “real” Instagram people have lots of friends, including some account—that is, a social media account who’d have been outcasts in an earlier era. where people can share pictures and cap- When Coates and his team interview miltions—they post perfection. In fact, Coates lennials, “We’ll say, ‘We totally get all your said, Instagram users take an average of friends—except Phil.’ They say, ‘Yeah, we eight photos for every one that they post, get it, there’s a lot going on with Phil. But which means that their friends/followers if you ever need advice on the Android operare seeing a highly selective, cropped and ating system....’ It’s like they’re stockpiling filtered version of their lives. Instagram pic- tools and resources.” tures are to real life what Vogue’s fall fashIt’s also like they’re just not into excludion spread is to the average person wearing ing people, perhaps because they were raised average clothes. by the generation that brought us flower chilNaturally, if you’re taking eight pictures dren and the peace movement. Coates theofor every one you post, that’s a lot of snap- rizes that “after going through the ‘60s and ping. Young folks “feel like there’s always trying to change the system, I think an entire some sort of camera on,” says Coates. “So generation of boomer moms decided, ‘Okay. THEY’RE always ‘on.’” They are also Mixed results. We haven’t changed society, worried about which moments should and but I’m going to start with my own family.’” should not be recorded. It’s like sitting at the It may be no coincidence that the millennicontrol panel and editing a movie of your als’ concerns are the same as their parents’— life. Constantly. race relations, gender equality, tolerance— This new pressure—and the pressure of just taken a step further. Says Coates, “My seeing all your other friends looking their kids were proud to be part of the gay/straight best, happiest and skinniest all the time— alliance the whole time they were in high may explain why this generation of young school.” people is so anxious. “More than half say, ‘I Like their parents, young people also exoften feel overwhelmed.’ Sixty percent say, pect to save the world, although sometimes ‘Social situations make me feel anxious.’ they do this with a credit card. “I used to just More than 50 percent say, ‘I constantly feel buy shoes. But now when you buy shoes you stressed,’” Coates said. That is an unprece- somehow must be shoeing people on the othdented level of worry. er side of the planet,” Coates says. “Your evThe worry manifests itself in a couple ery act as a consumer somehow has to create ways. On campus there’s been a “huge in- a positive net effect.” crease” in students seeking personal counThat’s a worthy goal, even if a multi-colseling. But another trend Coates has noted is ored frappucino may be a particularly sweatthe “Fear of Burning Out,” in which young free, status-boosting, camera-ready way to people recognize that this media obsession as achieve it. Snap! too consuming, and deliberately take a break. As a gal who has tried her own digital de- CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
Exhibitors wanted for annual street fair
File photo
Calling all restaurants, vendors, artists and crafters. The fifth annual New Rochelle Street Fair returns to downtown on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is presented by the city of New Rochelle in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, BID, and Council on the Arts. The New Rochelle Street Fair Committee is offering an early bird special with 2016 rates to all vendors, out of town and New Rochelle-based. The deadline for early bird pricing is Friday, June 16, and Tuesday, Aug. 1 for regular registration. Interested exhibitors must register early since the 12-by-10 booths are on a first acceptance basis. “This fair is a day of fun for all ages, right in the heart of downtown New Rochelle,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Bill
Zimmermann. “Also, it’s the perfect venue for vendors and businesses throughout the metropolitan area to showcase their goods and services to thousands of residents and visitors.” Since it’s inception in 2013, the New Rochelle Street Fair has grown to one of the largest downtown events in the Lower Hudson Valley, transforming Main Street into a fun-filled festival with artists, crafters, entertainment and an international assortment of food. To register for the fair, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at info@newrochelleny.com or download and mail in an application by visiting newrochelleny.com/ streetfair. For more information, visit facebook.com/ NewRochelleStreetFair. (Submitted)
SPORTS
14 • THE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017
The daft lottery LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
Despite the fact the Knicks have had about one winning season in the past two decades—or perhaps because of it—I have to admit; when it comes to the NBA Draft Lottery, I can’t seem to muster much enthusiasm. That might seem odd, coming from a fan of a perennial bottom-dweller who routinely finds itself positioned to be a part of the draft-position sweepstakes—yet, is almost never a part of due to bad trades—but it makes sense to me; I know that the Knicks are so bad, from the inside out, that a ping pong ball bouncing in their favor is never going to be enough to change the fortunes of the franchise. Of course, it being the Knicks, it’s pretty rare that the ball even bounces our way to begin with. On May 16, the NBA held its annual lottery to determine this year’s draft order. The Knicks, who even managed to bungle the seemingly simple task of tanking by winning a few meaningless games at the
end of the season, came into the night with a 5.3 percent chance of nabbing the first overall pick and an 18.3 percent chance of picking within the top three. Instead, they came away with the eighth overall pick—one draft slot worse than they would have received were the order chosen by record alone. But really, this is par for the course for the Knicks. According to computations by the statistics-based website FiveThirtyEight. com, no team in the NBA has fared worse over the last 16 years when comparing average draft position to the team’s regular season records. The reason for that is twofold. First up is the general incompetence of the Knicks’ front office, which, over the last 16 years has seemed hell-bent on trading away draft picks for over-the-hill players that ended up being poor fits for New York—or the NBA in general. Contrast that to the acumen of the Celtics’ decision-makers, who turned their own aging stars into what became the first pick of the 2017 draft—giving the top-seeded squad in the Eastern Conference the best shot at picking a game-chang-
ing college player in a few weeks. For a Knicks fan, that’s absolutely maddening. And in the few instances the Knicks did hang on to a top 10 pick, who have they spent it on? Overweight, undersized forwards like Mike Sweetney in 2003 or decent NBA players like Danilo Gallinari, David Lee and Channing Frye, who ultimately got shipped away before reaching their full potential. The second? It’s either bad luck or karma, depending on who you believe. In 1985, the Knicks won the sweepstakes to select Georgetown center Patrick Ewing in a lottery that conspiracy-minded NBA fans have long hypothesized was fixed. Whether it was frozen or creased envelopes, the tinfoil brigade has maintained that the NBA wanted to get the all-world big man to Madison Square Garden to revive a slumping organization. And it worked, to some extent. But even with Ewing on the court, the Knicks were never able to raise another banner in the world’s most famous arena. Knick haters might say that the last 30 years have been payback for
On May 16, the New York Knicks once again dashed fans’ hopes by another bad bounce at the NBA Draft Lottery. Sports Editor Mike Smith, however, never had any hopes to begin with. Photo courtesy Knicks.com
a rigged lottery win, but I have to ask; what did we really win? So on Tuesday night, I kept an eye on the ESPN lottery show just long enough to see the Knicks do what they do best; fail. I spared myself the gnashing of teeth and the rending of garments that seemed to propagate
on the social media accounts of other Knicks fans that I know. After all, I knew it was coming. The Knicks might be bad, but at least they’re consistent.
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SPORTS
May 19 & 26, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 15
Huguenots headed to playoffs By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor After a terrific regular season that saw them finish 14-5, the New Rochelle Huguenots’ first opponent in the Class AA playoffs will be a familiar one; league rival Scarsdale. With the Huguenots seeded No. 6 and the Raiders at No. 11, the stage is set for the third meeting of the year between the longtime foes on Saturday, May 20. The Huguenots swept the Raiders in a two-game season series. The two squads last met on May 15, when New Rochelle topped Scarsdale 7-5 to lay claim to a league title. For New Rochelle, winning a league crown was an achievement in itself, but head coach Pete Annunziata was quick to point out that the celebration was short-lived. “That has kind of been the way this year has been with all the rainouts and all the quick turnarounds; after a big win it has been about getting ready for the next game,” Annunziata said. “So we had some ice cream, we celebrated, and then we set our sights on the next test.” But in Scarsdale, the Huguenots have drawn an opponent that will not go down easily. In Monday’s contest, the Raiders gave the Huguenots a late scare, battling back from a 6-0 deficit to hang five runs on New Rochelle. “They are a tough, scrappy team and they have, if not the best, then one of the best hitters in the section in Tyler Mandel,” Annunziata said. “So there is a comfort level there,
John Rodopolous throws a strike against Mamaroneck. The Huguenots will need their pitchers to come up big if they hope for a deep playoff run.
Jake Armiento makes a throw across the infield. The Huguenots have relied on strong defense up the middle all season.
having played them, but we also know that it is very tough to beat a team three times in a year.” In addition to the Raiders’ late run on Monday, the Huguenots also surrendered a lead in their May 16 season finale, losing an 8-5 heartbreaker to Eastchester despite jumping out to a five-run lead in
our pitchers about aggressively attacking the strike zone with a lead, and for the defense, in terms of wanting the ball.” As New Rochelle prepares for its first-round game, however, they will be without ace Mason Newman, who has been sidelined by a nasty bout of pneumonia and will miss the remainder of the year. According to Annunziata, losing the star hurler will be a blow for the
the second inning. “I think every high school coach worries about holding leads; in big games for 16 year olds, in the league or in the playoffs, pressure is definitely a factor, whether we like to admit it or not,” Annunziata said. “But hopefully [this week] can be a teaching point, both for
Matt Almonte gets ready for the pitch during a game against Mount Vernon on April 10. Photos/Mike Smith
Huguenots, but the club is eager to show their support for the teammate by executing a deep postseason run. “It’s a really disappointing thing,” the head coach said. “He’s been such a huge part of the team, both as a player and as a leader. So we’re just trying to rally around him right now.” CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com
Peter Gregory steals home plate against Mamaroneck.
16 • THE CITY REVIEW • May 19 & 26, 2017