Speaking of why some towns get shopping and others do not, (and thanks for your comments on the Armonk supermarket story,) with Whole Foods’ announced move into Port Chester, and Ridge Hill opening in Yonkers, Talk of the Sound recently asked what
Best Buy
Whole Foods
Fairway
Target
Barnes and Noble
and Kohl’s
had in common?
They are “some of the retailers who recently took a pass on New Rochelle. The old adage in real estate is location, location, location. Well, for the purposes of future development in New Rochelle, it should be parking, parking, parking.”
How do you think New Rochelle can begin to attract the kinds of businesses it wants, if there are any left?
It’s always interesting to see what the rental market is doing, particularly in areas where most homes are owner occupied. Think this price covers the owner’s monthly nut?
The listing says this 7 BR 7 BA White Plains house is “renovated to perfection,” and has high ceilings, french doors and a stained glass window and walking distance to restaurants and schools. Check out all of the MLS listings in theLoop Real Estate Marketplace.
Cold turkey commute. Don’t even think about lighting up while waiting for your Metro-North train. Doing so could get you kicked off the platform, up to $50 in fines or a trip to jail.
The MTA‘s new ban on outdoor smoking starts today, following a months-long grace period the agency gave smokers to get used to the idea. The ban, which had a soft launch in November, prohibits smoking on Metro-North and Long Island Railroad outdoor platforms, as well as ticketing and boarding areas.
The ban does not apply to Metro-North stations in Connecticut.
Violators have gotten away with just warnings since November. But after several months of leafleting, signs, announcements and electronic alerts, the MTA now expects passengers to play by the rules.
And the tabs are making a lot of hay with his apparent move “up” to Westchester to rent Golden State Warrior David Lee’s apartment in White Plains that Amar’e Stoudemire is relinquishing; It’s close to the training camp in Greenburgh.
Just at the edge of the Downtown area, at 65 Mitchell Place, near Routes 119 and 287, an historic building stands on even more historic ground. This is where the Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time, and the first reference apparently made to a State of New York.
At the time, July 11, 1776, this was the site of the first courthouse. The courthouse was destroyed by fire during a Revolutionary battle. (There is a replica of it on Mitchell Place that is used as headquarters of the American Legion.)
The Armory was built here in 1909.
In 1982 the New York Times writes about the Armory, “The doors are so high that soldiers on horseback used to ride through without ducking. The floor is so strong that it has supported army tanks. The rafters are so high that circus acrobats have used them to practice on the trapeze.”
By 1977, with little use for it and utility bills topping $20,000 a year, the Federal Government stepped in. In 1982, 52 low income housing units opened with a first floor senior center, now known as Armory Plaza.
The school has promoted its plans, saying ” The site includes the existing clubhouse and the 18-hole golf course. Our vision for this 129.69 acre property is to create a low-density, park-like campus that will enable us to consolidate all of our school divisions over a period of several years.”
Development is opposed by the Gedney Association, which represents those who live in the adjacent Gedney Farms neighborhood. The Association has been vocal in opposition and White Plains Patch reports that over the weekend about 30 protest signs-”FAS-NO” were taken from residents’ lawns. Police say they don’t know who did it.
These two Large Bearded Dragons were snapped at the Westchester Reptile Expo earlier this month. The next reptile show in Westchester will be in April.
We’ll alternate daily between animals for adoption and your fun or interesting animal and pet photos. Just email editor@theloopny.com with ‘Pet Project’ in the subject and include the name of your pet and your town. Or upload your photos to the looppool on flickr .
Need just the right tahini? Marinated olives? Armenian spices? Yaranush Mediterranean Foods in White Plains has the best selection and quality of Mideast spices, dried fruits, nuts, baklava, grains, beans and ready to eat foods this side of Yerevan.
Have a look at what we made after shopping there, below:
At the White Plains end of Central Avenue and worth the trip.
Yaranush 322 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 914.682.8449. yaranush.com
U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, who represents most of Westchester and parts of Rockland Counties in Congress, made fast friends with a group of New Rochelle High School seniors during a classroom visit Monday, inviting them to meet again online Tuesday night during President Obama’s State of the Union address.
“I don’t want to talk at you,” Congresswoman Lowey, a Democrat who represents New York’s 18th District, said. ”I want to have a conversation.”
Lowey’s visit to teacher Darren Gurney’s AP macroeconomics class was a precursor to the virtual Facebook and Twitter chat with students she has planned for before and after the President’s speech. Students can participate by going to Lowey’s Facebook page or using the hashtag #LoweyChat on Twitter.
She also will meet with New Rochelle High AP government students in Washington later this week.
Lowey reiterated several times her commitment to staying non-partisan during the classroom discussion, which touched on her priorities: creating jobs, investing in education and tax relief.
She did, however, come right out and say how important she thinks it is for young people to get involved in their government as soon as they are old enough.
“It’s sad to me that in this great country of ours such a small percentage of people vote,” she said.
“Whatever you do with your life, I hope you will take some time for public service because it is very rewarding.”
LoHud reported that Tuesday would be an interesting day in the local judicial system:
A county judge will hand down sentences in two high-profile homicide cases, while the ex-White Plains mayor will be in a nearby courtroom to answer probation violation charges, at the same time as the Tappan Zee bridge dangler will appear in Greenburgh Town Court.
Already former Eastchester police officer James Pileggi has been sentenced to three to nine years for the death of Andre Everett in 2009. Everett, a New Rochelle real estate agent was standing outside his house talking to a group of friends inside Pileggi’s car. The off duty officer was playing with his gun, a Glock 9mm, with a laser sight affixed to it. The gun discharged accidently, killing Everett.
Francisco Acevedo will be sentenced in the murders of three women in south Yonkers over a seven-year period starting in 1989. years.
Ex- White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley will appear on charges that he violated a stay-away order by calling his estranged wife, Fumiko, late last year. Bradley swears he repeatedly “pocket dialed” her by accident.
Finally, disgruntled Rockland County resident Michael Davitt will be in Greenburgh Town Court on charges related to his November publicity stunt in which he dangled mid-span from the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Over in Greenburgh a judge is allowing the Manhattanville College dominatrix to go forward with her lawsuit against some local police officers.
If you don’t remember this story, Gina Pane of Rye Brook filed suit against the town of Greenburgh and its police department in U.S. District Court claiming she was harassed during a 2006 arrest at the Greenburgh Multiplex movie theatres.
She had been arrested on marijuana charges but claims that while she was detained, police made lewd comments after discovering sex toys in her car, and one officer exchanged sex for an offer to drop the charges. That cop was later fired after an internal investigation.
Shopping carts are rolling away. Cars are shaking. Hold onto your hats — and just about everything else. The strong winds that blew into Westchester this morning, prompting a National Weather Service Wind Advisory, are expected to stick around at least through midnight.
The gusts could reach up to 50 miles per hour, according to the Weather Service, meaning travel could be hazardous.
Flight delays at area airports were already growing long by early afternoon. Flights at La Guardia, for example, were running an hour and 40 minutes behind schedule at 1 p.m. The speed limit on area bridges, including the Tappan Zee, had reportedly been reduced.
Although the winds are expected to die down overnight, forecasters are calling for a weekend that feels like winter. The Weather Service forecast calls for sunny skies with a high of 37 on Saturday and just 29 on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to bounce back a bit on Monday, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, to a high of 39.
Vincent was born at home in Throggs Neck, the Bronx on Nov 16, 1927 to Rose (Mincieli) and Matteo Pueraro. He attended Stuyvesant High School where he was a member of the varsity swim team.
After graduating in 1945 he joined the U.S. Merchant Marines, where he also successfully competed with the U.S. Maritime Swim Team. In 1949 he enlisted in the Army and served with the 68th AAA Gun Battalion in Korea. In 1951 he graduated from Officers Candidate School. As a First Lieutenant he was named Commanding Officer of The Battery C 77th AAA Gun Battery. He was honorably discharged as a Reserve Commissioned Officer in 1959.
He married the love of his life Patrica Soucy in March of 1951. In 1954 he established Vin’s Beer and Soda, a retail distributor in a plaza he developed in Throggs Neck in the Bronx. Vincent moved his family to Scarsdale in 1965. In 1966 he purchased Charles Snyder Beverages, a wholesale beer distributorship in White Plains where he successfully operated the business with his children for 35 years. He served on the Board of Directors and as Tennis Chairman during his 46 years as a member of Orienta Beach Club in Mamaroneck. Vincent was a long time parishioner of St Pius X Church in Scarsdale, where he served on the Parish Council, Men’s Club and athletic associations. Vincent was a proud member of the American Legion Post 52 in Scarsdale, where he served many years on the Board of Directors. Vincent loved to share his wonderful and spontaneous sense of adventure with his family and friends. Vincent and his family traveled extensively and wintered in the Bahamas and Florida for many years. Vincent is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Patricia; four children Matthew (his wife Susan), Vincent, Rose and Mark; four grandchildren Elisa, Vincent, Elena and Luke; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday and Monday 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 pm with a Mass on Tuesday 10 am at St. Pius X Church. The interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association .
Oppenheimer with daughter and granddaughter at last election party (photo:theLoop)
Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck) will not run for re-election and will retire at the end of her term after 28 years in the New York State Senate.
Oppenheimer, 77, writes on her website the decision came because she learned she will need extensive shoulder replacement surgery:
“It had always been my plan to seek re-election in November and continue to serve the people of this district. When considering my responsibilities as Senator, the extensive effort that will go into rehabilitation and physical therapy following my surgery, and the added work of the hard fought campaigns I always wage, it became clear to me that I could do only two of those three important tasks.”
Already there is speculation that the race for the seat, an important Democratic stronghold, will become a contest between Assesmblyman George Latimer, a Democrat from Rye, and Bob Cohen, a Republican who lost to Oppenheimer in 2010 by about 700 votes.
In honor of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. the Volunteer Center of United Way has organized a day of service projects at the organizations below on January 14. Interested? sign up here! Or call 914-948-4452 for more information.
Volunteers can choose from 29 service projects at Academic Pathways (New Rochelle), Charles Brieant Community Center (Ossining), Children’s Creative Response to Conflict (Nyack), Family Services of Westchester (Yonkers), Ferncliff Manor(Yonkers), FSW Sharing Shelf (Port Chester), Green Chimneys (Carmel), Groundwork Hudson Valley (Hastings), Institute of Applied Human Dynamics (Tarrytown), Mount Vernon YMCA, My Sister’s Place (Yonkers), Nepperhan Community Center (Yonkers), New Rochelle Public Library, Richmond Community Services (Yonkers), Rockland Country Day School (Valley Cottage) , Somers Manor, Therapeutic Equestrian Center (Cold Spring), Wartburg Adult Center (Mount Vernon), White Plains Youth Bureau, White Plains YMCA, White Plains Public Library, WJCS Kid’s Kloset (White Plains), and Yonkers Public Library – Will Branch.
Peggy (Margaret) Cohn, age 86, died January 10, 2012. Born and raised in New Rochelle to Edward Gordon and Ethel Branner Gordon. She graduated from Edgewood Park Junior College in 1943. She is predeceased by her husband, Maurice J. Cohn and her brothers, Gilbert and Donald. She is survived by her four children, Carol Cohn of Ossining, NY, Ellen Cohn of Manhattan, Jeanne Mirer of Brooklyn and Andrew Cohn of Newton, MA. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Franklin Mirer and daughter-in-law, Marcia Leavitt and her four grandchildren, Michael Mirer, Marisa Cohn, Elisabeth Mirer and David Cohn and by her great-grandson, Jonah Mirer, as well as her niece, Laura Georgakakos and her nephews, Toby Gordon, Richard Gordon and Thomas Gordon, her great-niece, Lydia Gordon, and her great-nephews, Conrad Gordon, Aaron Gordon, and Peter Georgakakos, as well as her friend of many years and sister-in-law, Joan Morse Gordon.
She put her family and friends first and everyone she met quickly became her friend. She loved reading, theatre, travel and bridge. She treasured and frequently visited her far flung family, including beloved cousins, knitting them together and sharing their stories with empathy and love. Her life was busy and full until her last year, including political involvement with the People’s Center for Peace & Justice in Ossining which she helped found and WestPAC in White Plains, NY.
Service 1:00 P.M. Thursday, January 12 at Riverside Memorial Chapel on 76th Street and Amsterdam Ave., NYC.
This tale is not for the faint of heart. In other words, anyone that commutes daily on Metro North:
It’s been a fairly eventful few days in the typically fairly uneventful world of commuting. I was on the 5:46 out of Gotham Tuesday eve on an extraordinarily packed train.
So jammed was it that one could not really even stand comfortably in the vestibule. I stood in the aisle, with my back to a door leading into another car, hovering over people in the last two rows of the car.
It was a pain in the ass spot, especially with a series of people coming through the door at my back in search of a place to stand.
But the vantage point did provide me with one chuckle; when one of the guys seated in the last row took his wallet out to display his ticket, I noticed he had the classic Jules from Pulp Fiction “Bad Motherf*cker” wallet–you know, the one that Jules tells Tim Roth’s limey stickup artist to extricate from the schwag bag in the diner near the end (Or is it the beginning? They’re wearing shorts?!? Is Vincent Vega still alive?) of the movie.
Do you crave a ball python? Find that tetrapods are taking over your life? Or just like looking at lizards?
Actually, nothing dysfunctional here. These folks care for these animals the way a dog lover handles a puppy.
People matching all of these descriptions were on hand at the Westchester Reptile Expo Sunday at the Westchester County Center in White Plains where over 200 tables of vendors and breeders make this the largest such show in the Northeast.
Says organizer Bruce Lowder, “The vendors are a mix of hobbyist breeders of popular pet reptiles, reptile stores and dealers, and supply vendors who sell cages, terrarium supplies, and specialized heating and lighting equiptment for reptiles.
We also donate tables to several reptile rescue groups.”
The New York Times has an interesting piece on the Platinum Mile, reporting that,
“the Platinum Mile area — which takes in nearly four miles of I-287 in White Plains, Harrison and Rye — is struggling to find a new identity in a troubled economy and reduce its vacancy rate, now at 19 percent, up from 13 percent in 2002.
Just two days before seeing Westchester lawmakers override his County budget vetoes and restoring over $1 million, County Executive Rob Astorino told the Local Summit of Larchmont and Mamaroneck that county and other government expenses have far exceeded taxpayer ability to pay, which has made the definition of “essential services” critical.
As an example of this process, he mentioned Playland, which currently runs at a significant deficit, as a county offering that is nice, but not essential.
On Thursday, the Westchester County Board of Legislators overrode all 27 of County Executive Robert Astorino’s vetoes to the county’s 2012 budget.
The overrides restore funding for neighborhood health centers, child care subsidies, environmental education programs, youth services and support for the arts. Republican Astorino said he expected the overrides given the Democrats’ supermajority on the board. He believed the items that were restored will be “detrimental to both taxpayers and the effective management of county government.”
The county’s biggest issue is its cost of labor, Astorino said Tuesday in Larchmont, making the case that the salary and benefits of county employees have become so imbalanced compared to the county’s private sector workers that the people paying the tax tab can no longer afford it. According to his figures, the average county employee earns $71,000 per year, with fringe benefits bringing that value up to $110,000.
Although the county budget was the hot topic, Astorino also took some time to explain his position on the county’s settlement with HUD to create affordable housing units in designated communities where minorities were found to be underrepresented in the 2000 census. Astorino contends that the government is seeking to impose requirements that go outside the scope of the signed settlement agreement and that the demands of the government now are larger and intrusive. In particular, there are two new requirements he feels are outside the scope of the agreement. The first is the demand that the 31 impacted communities revamp their zoning codes, or be sued by the county. The second is the requirement that landlords with four or more rental units accept Section 8 housing, which goes beyond current federal and state law. The county is seeking a federal court ruling on these two issues. This is a case being watched nationally, as the precedent it sets for federal involvement in housing and community planning has consequences across the country.
Additional reporting by Heidi Sickles of the Larchmont Mamaroneck Summit. The Summit is an informal, non-partisan community council. The Summit’s public programs on issues of concern to the community take place at 7:45 a.m. the third Tuesday of every month, at the Nautilus Diner in Mamaroneck.
40 year old Sheldene Campbell was convicted of murder Monday in a brutal 2008 double hit and run in White Plains.
According to the Westchester DA, Roseanne Schiavone was walking her dog near her home at 205 Havilands Drive in White Plains when she heard the revving of a car engine behind her.
As she tried to get out of the way of the oncoming car, she was struck by the vehicle, which was traveling on the wrong side of the road. She later died.
The dog, which she was walking, also was injured, suffering a broken hind leg.
Then, at the intersection of Baylor Circle and Havilands Drive, Marie Bucci, who was also out for a walk, was struck and injured.
Campbell
Shortly thereafter, White Plains police located the defendant walking in the area of Bryant and South Lexington Avenues. Her vehicle, with obvious damage, was parked nearby.
“In a span of a few short moments, this defendant tore through a quiet suburban neighborhood, killed one person, created havoc, and left behind permanent physical reminders and emotional scars which have changed the lives of two families forever,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore after the jury rendered its verdict. ”Although Ms. Campbell has acknowledged mental issues, this jury found her criminally responsible for her actions that day and now she must be held accountable.”
She faces a maximum of twenty five years to life in state prison.
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The Westchester Board of Legislators (BOL) restored funds in the 2012 county budget to keep six nature centers open as well as the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester. (See our previous coverage.)
According to the Board, after a day and night of negotiations with members of the BOL’s Republican caucus and with County Executive Astorino, the BOL’s 2012 County Budget was passed by a vote of 16-1.
In addition to restoring funds for the nature centers, the BOL also saved other community environmental programs including capital project funding for bridge repairs and flood mitigation, restoring funding for the Greenburgh Nature Center, and the County’s deer management program.
This budget now goes to the County Executive who may veto any additions to the budget or the entire thing, and has 5 days to decide. A final budget must be accepted by Dec. 27.
Coming up at the Marshlands:
Birdfeeders Made Easy-- how to make them and which ones attract interesting birds. Sunday Dec. 11 at 2 PM.
Survival in the Woods!– A naturalist will show you what to do if you get stuck in the woods! Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 PM.
At some point someone will turn to you this holiday season and ask, “What are you getting?”
They will ask because they will see you selflessly driving from store to store, raggedly arriving at holiday parties with nary a moment to yourself, resulting in a sad sack attitude of why you even bother at all.
End this vicious cycle. Forget the martyr girl auto response when people ask you what you’re getting and you answer, “I haven’t even thought about it.” Don’t fall victim to the “I don’t need anything” line that only results in a measly collection of gifts that guess what, you don’t need.
For starts, always embrace the one for you, one for me rule. Start early, and employ the rule often as possible, as though not invoking it will result in a penalty, like only drinking when you’re with other grown-ups.
Now consider who is on your list.
There is a fine line where giving people what they really need is concerned.
Take that friend with the assorted sunspots. How about a ‘coupon’ for sunspot removal at that place in Rye Brook? While you’re there, you could have your own sunspots removed by a hot burning device that leaves your skin charcoaled until it peels off, revealing slightly baby soft skin. The invention of this sun damage reversal device is not unlike the invention of Confession in my Catholic early-years education that allowed a certain amount of sinning without worry, knowing that with one or two confessional ‘applications’, poof! All gone.
You may not be able to afford to send your sister to one of the best plastic surgeons around over in Rye for that droopy breast problem you noticed she has, since approximately $8,000.00 may not be in your budget and temporarily having her current breasts removed, if only for a moment, is not in her plans, you can march right into the Main Hosiery Shop on Mamaroneck Avenue and ask for Mary the owner who will tell you to unzip your coat, poke around appropriately and send you into the dressing room.
Moments later you will emerge 10 years younger below your neck area. You can do all of this for your sister, friend and yourself since if you buy two bras right now for around $34.00, you get a third one free!
Naturally it’s to everyone’s advantage to be in a best shape possible heading into this gluttonous season and then the self-recriminating New Year.
Give and get your gift early over at a gym having a 2- for 1 personal training session. Of course you need to be a member to take advantage of these offers, but what better excuse to join a gym then to have a new body plan gift beckoning your guilty not-so-fit conscience?
Let’s not forget to celebrate the season with real down time. My latest e-mails from Red Door Spas announce, Kim, Meaningful and Memorable Gifts!
They know who I am because my husband bought me a day at the Red Door last year which included everything from the hot stone massage to the Elizabeth Arden Essential Facial. Over at The Westchester Mall, you can be sure your gift recipient will lose herself in the dimly lit halls, where you shuffle about in a robe and slippers, eating alone in the dark while strangers whisper to you as though you were mad. Of course you can be specific about the service you purchase for someone, like Lactic Acid Peel for face/neck and décolleté posted under Face add-ons, but nobody likes gifts that are too suggestive.
I mean what woman was ever really thrilled with the brand new washer and dryer for Christmas? My husband would have found himself taking a spin in the quick dry cycle but clearly husbands are not as dumb as they used to be.
I also like a Spa in Larchmont for that 60 minute detoxifying scrub and wrap, ($110.00) or if facial fillers like Juvederm at $500.00 to $600.00 a tube are out of your budget for that collapsing cheekbone problem, consider the Oxygen Therapy, 75 minutes, series of 6 for $1,100.00 for a temporary pumped up look.
Being selective and thoughtful about each recipient is the key to the perfect present.
The great actress Catherine Deneuve once said, “You either take it in your face or your ass,” pardon the French, but as the once Face of France, she knew whereof she spoke. The translation from the French as I understand it is, if your rear end has a life of its own, chances are your face won’t yet be a tambourine.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with the sending of food or wine particularly if you will be there when the ‘gift’ arrives.
On GiltTaste.com/holiday, you can mend any bad cook’s ways by ordering up the D’Artagnan, Charcuterie selection of dry-cured Spanish Mangalica and classic pates. Don’t forget the French cheeses! And a standing rib roast from New York’s star butcher, Pat La Frieda. Prices may vary as will availability unless you know just when this offer actually is.
Lastly, what home is complete without a Zagat Wine selection, 15 bottles for $69.99, worth $219.99?
Land yourself at this party on the late side. In the event you haven’t taken the time to partake in all the generous offerings you have purchased for others, chances are no one will notice.
Kim Berns is a writer and interior designer living in Rye.
Just before the high profile ejection of Hollywood star Alec Baldwin off an American Airlines flight bound for New York, three women were kicked off an Air Tran flight to Westchester Airport in White Plains, according to the Associated Press.
The report says, “…the first woman was escorted off the flight after complaining to a flight attendant about how he handled her overhead baggage. The second one said she was removed after asking for help with a broken seat. And the third said she was shown the door after complaining about the removal of the first two.”
Here’s the breathless local “exclusive” from a TV Station in West Palm:
Of 531 Members of Congress, including all U.S. Senators and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) ranks #20 in personal wealth, with an average net worth of $41,210,018 , according to data prepared by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Lowey represents New York’s 18th District, which includes Lower Westchester and part of Rockland Counties.
The New York Daily News recently reported Lowey has the “highest privately funded travel tab of any New York rep.”
Times are good for the 12 term Congresswoman.
Lowey’s husband, Stephen, is a partner in a White Plains law firm.
Polls will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
For a list of polling locations near you, please enter your address information on the Vote411 website here
Below is a rundown of who is running for what:
We also thought we’d share a little known fact that may help you prep before you head to the polls: Registered voters in the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck are eligible to vote in Town of Mamaroneck elections, too, because they receive Town services. In fact, the lone candidate for Town Supervisor, Nancy Seligson, is a Larchmont resident.
Here is a look at the candidates:
Westchester County Legislator—District 7:
Incumbent Judy Myers (Democratic, Independent, Working Families: Majority Whip. 7th District’s County Legislator since February 2005. Previously served 6 years on the Mamaroneck Town Council
Suzanna Keith (Republican, Conservative): Rye City Council: 2010-2014; Deputy Mayor ’10
Village of Mamaroneck Mayor:
Norman Rosenblum (Republican, Conservative, Independent): Rosenblum is the incumbent Mayor
Toni Pergola Ryan (Democratic): Ryan is currently an elected member of the Board of Trustees
Mamaroneck Village Trustee:
Louis Santoro (Republican, Independent, Conservative): Santoro currently serves as a Village Trustee
Scott Dufault (Democratic): Dufault is challenging the incumbent
Mamaroneck Town Council—Two open seats:
Incumbent Phyllis Wittner (Democratic): Served Four terms on the Mamaroneck Town Council; chair of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Coastal Zone Management Commission, founder and former chair of Long Island Sound Watershed Inter-municipal Council. Worked in marketing and merchandising. Wrote financial planning book titled “Home Learner Financial Records.” 80 years old, has lived in Town 48 years.
Abby Katz (Democratic): Worked for a division of Young & Rubicam for four years, then implemented financial/accounting software for software development companies for 14 years. Treasurer of Murray Avenue PTA, on Hunger Talk Force.
Seth Marcus (Republican): Full member of Zoning Board of Appeals in the Town of Mamaroneck. Attorney, principal and co-founder of Leffler Marcus & McCaffrey,
Town of Mamaroneck Supervisor
Nancy Seligson (Democratic): Uncontested. Elected councilwoman in the Town of Mamaroneck since 2000. She is a member of the Westchester County Board of Health. She is currently the New York Co-Chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee of the Long Island Sound Study. Ms. Seligson is the past president and board member of Save the Sound. She chaired the Westchester County Committee on Nonpoint Source Pollution of Long Island Sound and the County Environmental Management Council.
Town of Mamaroneck Justice
Jean Marie Brescia(Democratic): Uncontested
Town of Mamaroneck Clerk:
Delores A. Battalia (Democratic):Uncontested
A previous article looked at the Democratic slate in Rye.
– Photos of recent debate by Jacqueline Silberbush
County Police report a dramatic chase this morning ended with the help of a canine (Bloodhound) hero:
The incident began about 1 a.m. when Police Officer Michael Ritell attempted to stop a vehicle with Virginia plates for a traffic violation on Mamaroneck Road in the vicinity of the Saxon Woods golf course and the Hutchinson River Parkway. The driver refused to stop and eventually drove into the parking lot of the Scarsdale pool, jumped out of the car while it was still moving at a slow rate of speed, and fled across Mamaroneck Road into Crossways Park.
Ritell pursued the suspect, and multiple Westchester County Police units responded to assist in the search, including Officer Brian Tierney and tracking canine Saratoga. Saratoga tracked the suspect’s scent to a nearby soccer field, through an adjacent field and down to a baseball field. Saratoga continued the track down a steep grade and located a red-and-green plaid jacket that had been worn and discarded by the suspect. She then went back up the hill and down another embankment and located the suspect, who was curled up in leaves in an effort to hide himself. The area is proximate to the back yards of homes along Rural Drive.
Demitri Gordon, 18, of Crary Avenue, Mount Vernon, was taken into custody. A computer check revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen in New York City on Oct. 30.
Gordon was subsequently charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 3rd Degree and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle 1st Degree, felonies, and Resisting Arrest, a misdemeanor. He was also issued several summonses, including Failure to Comply With a Police Officer and Driving Without a License.
He was arraigned this morning in Scarsdale Village Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla.
What better material than clay, a substance drawn directly from the ground, for artists to create works that explore pressing environmental issues?
From October 6through November 23, ArtsWestchester and the Clay Art Center will present eARTh, an exhibition of contemporary ceramic sculpture that addresses the complex realm of nature and the environment.
These works investigate issues concerning sustainability, as well as how we as a community can collectively affect positive change. eARTh will be on view at ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5 pm.
Artist: Kathy Ruttenberg
An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, October 5, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. eARTh is sponsored by Swiss Re, TD Bank, Starwood Hotels, Entergy, and Con Edison. For more information, call (914) 428-4220 x 306 or visit www.artsw.org/earth.
Auto parts store in Mamaroneck references dates of last two major floods
The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, located at the Westchester County Center in White Plains will be closing early next week due to decreasing demand for its services. The final days and hours of operation are :
· Thursday, September 22nd- Monday, September 26th: 8am – 8pm
(Closed Sunday)
Residents can still apply for help from Hurricane Irene online and by phone . The first step is to register: by calling FEMA’s registration number 1-800-621-3362; or online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
Less than two weeks after the Westchester County Board of Legislators OK’d a plan for a long-awaited Children’s Museum to set up shop in space at Playland, County Executive Rob Astorino today vetoed the deal.
Astorino says his decision was based on financial concerns and his belief that the lease agreement between the Children’s Museum and the county is premature, since a process to determine the future of Playland, which is county owned, is under way.
Artist's rendering of WCM exhibit
Astorino’s veto, however, will likely be overridden, as legislators unanimously approved the agreement on Aug. 8.
Legislator Judy Myers, who represents much of the Loop-area, blasted Astorino’s veto, saying that Astorino’s move would kill the creation of new jobs and museum-generated revenue for the county.
“I am shocked and disappointed by the County Executive’s veto, especially after the lease legislation received unanimous, bi-partisan approval,” said Myers (D-Larchmont), who sponsored the lease bill in the BOL Budget & Appropriations Committee.
Under the proposal, the Westchester Children’s Museum – which volunteers have tried to establish for years – would be allowed to rent a historic Playland bathhouse from the county for just $1 per year in exchange for $6.4 million in repairs to the building.
The museum would have a 10-year lease to the building, which has been vacant for about 40 years. The non-profit museum has already raised more than $8 million for the project according to county leaders.
The building would return to the county if the museum does not open within a year of signing the lease.
Calling it “the perfect example of a public private partnership,” Westchester County Legislator (Judy Myers, D-Mamaroneck) hailed the unanimous approval Monday of the long-awaited, volunteer-driven, twisted and turned deal for a Childrens Museum on the boardwalk at Playland in Rye.
The County Board of Legislators okayed a $1-a-year lease over 10 years in exchange for millions in renovations in the historic North Bathhouse, which has been vacant about 40 years.
The Westchester Children’s Museum will lease (for $1.00) about 21,000 square feet and do up to $6.44 million in renovations and repairs.
Only a few weeks ago, County Executive Rob Astorino postponed approval of any contract until the County decides the fate of the 1928 landmark.
Asked how she feels, Myers replied, “Ecstatic! This is the right place at the right time. Full speed ahead. She said that 870,000 children under 11 years of age live within a 15-mile driving radius of the future museum site.
According to the Board of legislators, the Children’s Museum has raised over $8 million for the project. Tracy Kay from the Children’s Museum expects to have 198,000 visitors per year and 50,000 cars over the course of a year.
If the museum is not open a year after signing the lease, the property reverts back to the County.
NTSB senior chief investigator Ralph Hicks Senior on Armonk plane crash. Photo by Ricky Flores/The Journal News
The latest from LoHud indicates another pilot may have seen problems in the plane that crashed.
A National Transportation Safety Board investigator says the wreckage of a small plane that crashed Saturday after leaving Westchester County Airport, killing a family of three and a friend, gave no immediate clues as the cause of the crash, according to LoHud.
The plane, carrying two adults and two 14-year-old New York City residents, crashed into into the woods in the New York City watershed in Armonk and burst into flames just after 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The occupants were heading to Montauk on Long Island for the afternoon.
For those of us who can’t wait for Spring (uh…everyone…?), we’ve compiled a garden checklist to help combat winter blues, indoors and out.
Plan ahead Now’s a great time to assess your garden. Perhaps you want to add some plantings or move things around. Some people keep a notebook or take photos during the growing season. These are really helpful when staring out at your snowy white canvas.
Order seed starting kits, vegetable and flower seeds from catalogs, if you like starting from scratch.
Peruse magazines for gardens that you like, See how you can incorporate some of the ideas into your own property.
Heavy snow can break the branches of evergreens. Give plants a dusting off after a heavy snowfall.
Maintenance You may be tiring of the snow cover that’s been hanging around since Christmas, but the snow is actually a protective, frosty blanket, insulating the plants below. During winter’s home stretch, we may get days that swing between warm(ish) and arctic. That will be the time to check on your newer plantings, making sure the warming and re-freezing has not heaved them above the soil line. If you see that’s starting to happen, try to push them back in and cover root zone with extra mulch.
Prune away storm-damaged branches, which can tear the bark off shrubs and trees.
After a heavy snow, take a broom and brush off the shrubs and tree branches that are bent under the snow’s weight.
Take cuttings of forsythia, pussy willows, cherries for forcing indoors. Late February, early March is the time to prune most shrubs and trees, before they start to leaf out.
Indoors Sun-loving houseplants are probably looking a little sad right now. Shorter days=sadder plants (and people!). Make sure they are in a southern-facing window.
Houseplants grow more slowly during winter, so increase the time between waterings. The single biggest killer of houseplants is overwatering.
Clean the large, smooth-leaved houseplants with a damp, soft cloth. Or give them a shower. They are probably a bit dusty by now, which interferes with photosynthesis.
Inspect for insect pests. Browning leaves are a good indication you have spider mites. Look for fine spider webbing between the leaves or between the stem and leaves. The mites are easily killed by spraying them with a homemade soap solution. Simply add a teaspoon of dish liquid detergent to a 12 or 16 ounce spray bottle filled with water. Shake, then spray. The soap smothers their soft bodies. You may have to apply two or three times, whenever you see the webbing again.
It’s a good time to repot plants, especially if it’s been more than a few years since the last transplating. Plants do best in terra-cotta pots because the clay is porous, which allows for water and air exchange. If your old clay pots have a white, powdery mineral deposit on the outside, you can clean them by soaking the pots overnight in a solution of 1 gallon of water, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup bleach. Or, remove as much as you can with a wire brush and then apply linseed oil. This will make the mineral deposits invisible.
Go over your gardening contracts carefully. Many companies apply pesticides and herbicides. They are required to supply you with a materials data safety sheet for each product they apply. One note from this organic gardener: data sheets only cover the labeled, “active” ingredients. Ninety percent of most products are “inert” ingredients. The composition of inert ingredients are considered “proprietary information” and do not have to be disclosed. Many of these “inerts” are more dangerous than the labeled ingredients. Of course, you can always hire a landscape company that practices organic controls. Keeping your property in a natural balance is the best way to ensure a healthy environment.
Catherine Wachs is a Larchmont-based landscape designer. Her company, The Lazy Gardener, creates low-maintenance, high-style designs for residential and commercial properties.
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