It’s genius. It’s fashionable. And it’s cheap.

Green Eileen in Yonkers is an Eileen Fisher store -that opened in March- stocked with professionally cleaned, gently worn Eileen Fisher clothing at, in many cases, below half the original retail prices.

Phillipa Climaco holds a dress that retailed for $278, and was never worn. It's selling for $70.

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from our friends at Westchester Eats:

YONKERS–On May 18 – exactly 30 days after the official opening of Havana Central Yonkers – the first 30 guests to dine at the restaurant after 11 a.m. will be awarded a year’s supply of free empanadas. In honor of the new location at Ridge Hill Shopping Center, winners will receive a punch card, redeemable for 365 free empanadas – while dining in or in carrying out – before May 17, 2013.

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Several Killed as Minivan Plunges Near the Bronx Zoo
Seven people were killed after a vehicle went over the Bronx River Parkway on Sunday afternoon.[NY Times]

150 stroll to fight child abuse at Playland
Past a roller coaster, slides and other rides, scores of people walked around Playland Amusement Park on Sunday to raise money for child-abuse prevention services. [LoHud]

Yonkers blaze rages for hours, displaces at least 13, kills pets
A fire that raged at a multifamily dwelling for more than three hours Sunday displaced at least 13 residents and killed several pets. Two firefighters responding to the blaze at 76 Crotty Ave. [LoHud]

Westchester Dining | Eastchester: A Review of Burrata, in Eastchester
Since it is the name of a fresh, creamy cow’s milk cheese currently in vogue, Burrata seemed like a perfect name for a wood-fired pizzeria. [NY Times]

Photo: Jacqueline Silberbush

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week

Larchmont’s Jeanne Muchnik writes in Westchester Magazine about “throwback eateries that make you feel like you’re 16 again.”

She includes Augie’s Restaurant & Pub (2417 Boston Post Rd, Larchmont 914-834-3800 augiesitalian.com);  Carlo’s Restaurant(668 Tuckahoe Rd, Yonkers 914-793-1458; carlosrestaurant.net); Francesco’s (600 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains 914-946-3359);  Giulio’s Restaurant (53 Park Hill Ave, Yonkers 914-375-1043);  Gus’s Franklin Park Restaurant (126 Halstead Ave, Harrison 914-835-9804; gusseafood.com);  Solano’s Lincoln Lounge (209 Stevens Ave, Mount Vernon 914-664-9747), (one of our favorites) and  Sherwood’s Restaurant and Bar-B-Q (2136 Boston Post Rd, Larchmont 914-833-3317; sherwoodsrestaurant.com)

It’s genius. It’s fashionable. And it’s cheap.

Green Eileen in Yonkers is an Eileen Fisher store -that opened in March- stocked with professionally cleaned, gently worn Eileen Fisher clothing at, in many cases, below half the original retail prices.

Phillipa Climaco holds a dress that retailed for $278, and was never worn. It's selling for $70.

(more…)

New 18th Congressional District. Sound Shore area was in the 17th

Congressional redistricting has claimed its first victim.

Mark Rosen, a Larchmont Republican who had announced his intention to seek the Congressional seat now held by Democrat Rep. Nita Lowey, dropped out Wednesday.

“Given the redistricting that was just announced, I regret that I can no longer run the effective race we envisioned with Congresswoman Nita Lowey. My kids go to Murray Avenue School. This is our home. And, we are not moving. The redistricting has me living outside of Ms. Lowey’s district, and I regret that I must leave the race.”

He lives in Larchmont, which like other areas of Westchester County,  moves into Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel’s district.

Lowey is getting all of Rockland County, which Engel had mostly represented, as well as the Bronx.

Rosen will endorse Joe Carvin, Rye Town Supervisor,  who dropped out of a run for U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand last week.

On the State Senate side, Democrat George Latimer, current State Legislator, announced a run, which he told us will also be harder–to Democrats– due to redistricting:

“More Republicans in communities like Bronxville, Eastchester and Yonkers and Democrats in New Rochelle and White Plains were artfully carved out,” he told theLoop.

“This will be a much tougher seat to win than under Suzi (Oppenheimer)”

map courtesy Mark Rosen for Congress

Irvington

A plethora of listings from our friends at RivertownsGuide.com

Thursday, March 22 from 6pm – 9pm
Best Practices: The Do’s & Don’ts of Social Media [link] | Westchester Burger Company Rye Brook
275 South Ridge Street, Rye Brook
Presented by Westchester Business Connection. Appetizers included, cash bar. Networkin, A Great Social Media Education(Nothing Technical!!!) for “All levels of expertise.”. The event highlights feature: A presentation from Keith S. Chan from The Froogle Institute for Social Media. www.keithschan.com/about/ and www.FroogleInstitute.com

Thursday, March 22 from 6:30 – 8pm and Thursday, March 29 from 6:30 – 8pm
Home Buyers’ Workshop: Two-Part Series | The Warner Library, Tarrytown
Thursday, March 22: Buying a Home:What You Need to Know
Thursday, March 29: Securing a Home Mortgage
Both workshops are FREE. Registration is requested. Please call Reference at 914-631-7734. The Westchester Housing Council will present tips and recommendations for first-time home buyers. Co-Sponsored by Housing Action Council and Key Bank

Friday, March 23, 10:30a.m. – 2:30 p.m
KAPLAN testing service will offer a KAPLAN PRACTICE SAT Test | Warner Library, Tarrytown
for all interested students. Call the library at 914-631-7734 for registration information, or register at 1-800-KAP-TEST. Use Event Code:SKXY2332

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Some upcoming Westchester events posted by Found in Yonkers:

“The Kid with a Bike” Screening Jacob Burns Film Center March 23-29 ~Pleasantville~
SOURCE: http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (Rosetta, L’Enfant) are acclaimed for their intense portrayals of people at the gritty fringes of society. They reveal a more hopeful face in this new drama about a sensitive but uncontrollable 11-year-old and a woman who believes in him. Winner of a raft of festival honors, including [...]

The LOFT Open Mic Nite March 24 ~White Plains~
SOURCE: http://www.loftgaycenter.org Time: 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Cost: $10.00 includes snacks, finger foods, and beverages Each person or group will have seven minutes to do a stand-up comedy act, a song sung, played, or karaoke, a poem or story, a song or dance, just about anything. Come share yourself and your talent at the [...]

REI FREE Bike Maintenance Workshop March 27 ~Yonkers~
SOURCE: http://www.rei.com This class is an informative presentation that will teach you how to lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bicycle. No experience necessary! REI is located at Ridge Hill, 49 Fitzgerald Street in Yonkers. For complete class details visit http://www.rei.com.

Dance Theater of Harlem Ensemble at Paramount Center for the Arts Band March 30 ~Peekskill~
SOURCE: http://www.paramountcenter.org Tickets: $25.00 to $45.00 Dance Theater of Harlem Ensemble will host a lively program that featured a variety of short ballet performances and excerpts, giving the audience a behind-the-scenes look at the making of an artist, from the barre to the stage, and exposing them to the company’s “unique yet classic” brand of [...]

Louie Anderson Tarrytown Music Hall March 30
SOURCE: http://tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org Tickets: $34.50 to $99.50 (Meet & Greet) Louie Anderson is one of the most versatile and successful comedians working in Hollywood today, loved by the television audiences who never missed his nightly hit series “Family Feud” or his appearances on late night chat shows. He is adored by standing-room-only crowds in Las Vegas [...]

Hand-to-Mouth Players Call for One Act Plays Deadline April 16
Manuscripts should be twenty-five minutes, minimal staging and sets, with casts of fiver or less. The winning five plays will be performed August 24-26 in Montrose, New York. For complete details visit http://www.htmplayers.com.

George Latimer at one of his "Coffee with George" meetings in Mamaroneck

Assemblyman George Latimer,  Rye Democrat, may not have voted for the re-configured State Senate districts, as he told us last week, but he’s going to run for the seat being vacated by longtime Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer.

Latimer announced the run in a letter that went out to district leaders this week, which, according to LoHud, reads:

“The changes we need – the changes I have fought for all my life – involve sacrifice from everybody, not just from ‘the other guy’,” Latimer wrote. “Property taxes are too high, and I have worked hard to address that major worry many of us face; it always comes up as the #1 local issue homeowners are concerned about.”

At least two Republicans have announced their intention to run for the seat: Bob Cohen, a New Rochelle businessman who was narrowly defeated by Oppenheimer in 2010; and Diane DiDonato-Roth, a North Castle councilwoman.

Cohen spokesman Bill O’Reilly responded:

“We welcome Mr. Latimer into this race, but find it head-scratching, frankly, that he would bring up property taxes in his announcement. Westchester families pay the highest property taxes in America because of what George Latimer did as a county legislator and as an assemblyman. He and the other career politicians are directly responsible for the staggering property taxes Westchester families pay today. On top of that, Mr. Latimer voted against last year’s historic property tax cap vote and he went MIA for Governor Cuomo’s pension reform vote last week that will ease costs on local governments. We look forward to discussing all these issues at length throughout this campaign.”

Latimer spokesman Brian Hegt:

Bill O’Reilly is a mouthpiece for the Senate Majority who has once again proven that the misrepresentation of facts is the only way they can hold onto their gerrymandered majority. Here’s the truth: George Latimer worked with the Governor to establish the lowest individual income tax rates in decades and repeal the MTA Payroll Tax for Small Businesses. In 2009, he voted against the State budget, which included a series of taxes and he also opposed the soda tax and entertainment tax. As Chairman of the County Board of Legislators, property taxes decreased for 3 years consecutively while George was in that position. We thank Mr. O’Reilly for his warm reception into this race and look forward to debating the FACTS, with Mr. Cohen, Ms. Roth or Mr. Terenzi, whoever the Republicans choose to nominate.

Sound Shore Medical Center, New Rochelle

Consumer Reports Magazine is reporting that you may not want four Westchester Hospitals to be your first choice for care.

Four Westchester County hospitals receive an “F” for safety in the CR rankings, based on hospital-acquired infections, how well hospital staff communicate with patients about medications, readmissions, and discharge planning.

The Westchester hospitals cited as “lowest performing” were

• St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers,
• St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers,
• Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville
• Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center was listed as the fourth worst in its study, ranking 62 percent lower than the national average. Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville was the seventh worst, according to the report, with a score of 57 percent below the national average.

Consumer reports listing follows:

If you noticed that I’d been a bit remiss in posting this afternoon, this is because while working at my computer today, my 3 year old rescue Standard Poodle, Charcoal, made it known that something was terribly wrong.  By the time I caught on, he was practically driving me to the Veterinarian himself.

Abandoning a well-planned afternoon, I raced to Stamen Animal Hospital, where he was stabilized by Dr. Maria Violi, pronounced to be in shock and X-Rayed to reveal a twisted stomach, gastric dilation volvulus, or bloat.

I gathered my children, returned to the vet, and we were warned to expect the worst.  Because surgery was required and 24 hour monitoring was best, we got him to the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, one of the best animal emergency surgical facilities anywhere.

Please put their phone number in your address book, PDA or iPhone and on the fridge.

Charcoal remains there tonight. He’ll be there for several days. And what I learned is the dogs most at risk for developing this are Standard Poodles, Wolfhounds, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Labrador Retrievers, Irish Setters, Saint Bernards, Malamutes, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, and Akitas. Generally, any dog that is of a large breed and has a deep chest has an increased risk of developing bloat.

Write down the number and hug your dog for me.

Animal Specialty Center 9 Odell Plaza  Yonkers, NY (914) 457-4000  Off Executive Blvd. exit on the Saw Mill.

If you spend any time following #westchester on twitter, you may know the chatty girls at the Chat Shop. We think of it as a virtual talk-fest where no one yells and you can come and go as you please.

Readers have come up with a Westchester “bucket list,” each making a list of some of the local treats they’d like to experience before they well, you know.

Have a peek.

photo: Jacqueline Silberbush

Ridge Hill, Yonkers

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?

I just love these women- the Suburbia Roller Derby, “Westchester County’s premiere roller derby league,” will host the first bout of its 2012 season on Saturday, February 25 at 7pm at the Yonkers Police Athletic League, 127 North Broadway.

Suburbia’s all-star travel team, the Suburban Brawl, hosts upstate New York’s Hellions of Troy for “an evening of hard-hitting derby.” Doors open at 6pm.
General admission is $10; $20 for VIP seating. Military discount $2 per ticket at the door with military ID. Group discounts are available online. Tickets are available at the door or purchase in advance.

For additional bout dates and more information, please visit the website.

And don’t mess with them.

photos: Suburbia Roller Derby, used with permission

If you’re sticking around, there’s plenty to do. Here are some suggestions from the Journal News to do with kids, and as always, watch our Coming Up column.

If you’re leaving for the break, listen up:  In light of a marked increase in local break-ins, police say prep the house to make it look like you’re not away.

Speaking at a crime prevention workshop last week, Town of Mamaroneck police urged residents to create a “vacation plan” that includes steps like putting house lights on timers and stopping mail and newspapers. Alerting neighbors to your departure is another wise move, they said.

In addition, the Town also has a “dark house” program that under which residents can notify police that their house is going to be vacant so they can keep a closer eye on it. Residents in other municipalities can request police drive-bys as well.

Holidays, vacations times and summer breaks are burglars’ biggest opportunities, police said.

photo courtesy audobon center on flickr

Yonkers Main Public Library

The Westchester County DA today announced a guilty plea by a woman in one of the stranger, and frankly, sadder, non-violent crimes in a long time around here.

Margo Reed, a former employee of the Yonkers Public Library at 1 Larkin Center, is accused of pocketing overdue book fines from library patrons to the tune of $163,582 from 2004-2007.

That’s a lot of change.

Margo Reed

Said District Attorney Janet DiFiore, “With the limited resources and tight budgets that exist today throughout government, this kind of crime directly impacts children, students, the elderly and anyone who looks to the public library system as a place of knowledge and enjoyment.”

Sentencing will be May 3rd, 2012.

Top photo: Wikimedia commons; bottom photo: Westchester District Attorney’s Office

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.

Each Tuesday, we will feature photos of one of the towns that help define us. Submit your photos to our looppool on Flickr!

photos: Jacqueline Silberbush

The Nathan’s Famous in Yonkers is so tacky it’s near perfect.

The third oldest Nathan’s around, the 1965-built time piece falls somewhere between the Nathan’s we see in shopping mall food courts and the original 95-year-old Coney Island outlet that started it all.

With a full-fledged arcade attached, this Nathan’s is worthy of a mini-road trip, if that’s what you’re into.

Nathan’s Famous, 2290 Central Park Ave., Yonkers. Nathansfamous.com

Yonkers police indicated they have no evidence that bullying fueled the Tuesday suicide of a freshman at the Ursuline School in New Rochelle, according to a story in LoHud‘s Sound Shore blog.

Reports that 14-year-old Eira Fatima Maghuyop was distraught over bullying before taking her own life in her Yonkers home by hanging, sparked an outpouring of sympathy and anti-bullying sentiment, particularly on social networking websites and blogs like this  on Tumblr.

The Ursuline School issued a statement yesterday: “Today we have visited our student’s family and offered comfort. We have held special assemblies for all of our students, who are in mourning. We have made available extra counselors to the students and staff.”

By Thursday night, more than 14,200 users joined in an anti-bullying Facebook page established in Eira’s name.

Police are asking anyone with information that can help in the investigation to call (914) 377-7724.

Photo: Facebook

Below is a page from  storify with social media reaction to the suicide Tuesday of a 14 year old student at the Ursuline School in New Rochelle.

According to The Talk of the Sound,  Eira Fatima Maghuyop killed herself in her Yonkers home Tuesday night after reportedly becoming despondent over bullying.

Friends have established an anti-bullying Facebook page in Eira’s name.

Ursuline, a private all-girls school, released a statement saying the school offered students grief counselors and “is deeply saddened by the loss of a fine young member of our school community.”

We’re still in the thick of winter, so you have about 8,000 good excuses to dig into the hearty sandwiches and seafood at Louie & Johnnie’s in Eastchester.  Then again, you’ll undoubtedly come up with just as many convincing reasons come Bathing Suit Season.

It’s that good.

Newly dressed in basic food bar style – complete with a black-and-white floor and red counter stools – the 4-month-old home of super-yummy cheese steaks and raw bar favorites is the second venture of John Greco and Michael Mannarino, owners of Louie & Johnnie’s Italian restaurant in Yonkers.

With its steak shaved paper-thin and shellfish so fresh you could just as easily be beachside, the shop already has garnered its regulars, Greco says.

“People seem to like it,” Greco says.

That’s no surprise. What isn’t there to like?

Louie & Johnnie’s Cheese Steaks & Clam Bar is located at 33 Mill Road in Eastchester. cheesesteaksclambar.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.”

Photo courtesy of Paul Costiglio

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.

Thanks to Irvington resident DeLauné Michel Westchester has its only literary salon. Known as Spoken Interludes, it’s considered one of the best in the country.

Michel is author of two novels published by HarperCollins: Aftermath of Dreaming and The Safety of Secrets. She is an actor (Southern Gothic and NYPD Blue) and mother of two,  and created Spoken Interludes to fulfill her fantasy of the “perfect dinner party.”

Michel comes from a family of writers: her uncle was author Andre Dubus, and she is first cousins with his son, Andre Dubus III (House of Sand and Fog, Townie: A Memoir) and mystery writer James Lee Burke.   Spoken Interludes is a true gem that began in 1996 in Los Angeles, where Michel was living at the time.  It provides a relaxing atmosphere that combines fining dining with readings from best-selling authors.

The salon is held at Riverview in Hastings-on-Hudson and is catered by Chutney Masala.  The evening begins with the guests arriving from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for a delicious buffet dinner. The readings follow from 7:30 until 8:30 p.m.  Writers have included John Burnham Schwartz, Mona Simpson, David Denby, Arthur Phillips, Michael Korda, Marisa Silver, Arianna Huffington, Michael Connelly, Jay McInerney, Jennifer Egan, Jerry Stahl, Kathryn Harrison and Charles Bock. The evening winds down with book signing and chatting with the authors.

I met Michel for coffee in Irvington, where we talked about the inspiration behind Spoken Interludes, as well as its outreach writing program for at-risk children.

(For a listing of upcoming shows, visit Spoken Interludes)

Melina Maresca: Tell me about the conception of Spoken Interludes.

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The Saw Mill River, hidden under the City of Yonkers since the 1920′s, is emerging into the daylight.

Hiding the River in the 1920's. Courtesy: Saw Mill River Coalition

The Saw Mill River Coalition describes the $19 million “daylighting” project in Yonkers on its website:

“In December of 2010, the City of Yonkers broke ground on an imaginative and exciting project—bringing the Saw Mill River back to daylight in the downtown after having buried it in the early 1920’s for flood mitigation and sanitation management…  Just before the Saw Mill River reaches the Hudson River … it flows in a concrete flume under a parking lot known as Larkin Plaza.  For this project, the base flow of the Saw Mill River will be diverted from the current underground flume into a new natural river bed and into the daylight.  The Saw Mill River Daylighting project is one of the most significant habitat restorations in the country in terms of its ecological, economic and cultural impacts.”

The New York Times wrote about this incredible project in August.

See more plans at DaylightYonkers.

Color photos taken January 14 by mockba1_1999

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.

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.

photo: flickr

Olurotimi Ishola Bajulaiye, 56, of New Rochelle, NY, passed away on December 20, 2011.

He was born on July 17, 1955 in Nigeria to Christopher and Iyabo Bajulaiye. Timi attended the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, where he was a member of the renowned Zee club and completed his medical degree. From there, he received his Masters Degree in Public Health from Yale University. Timi completed his Psychiatry Residency at the Columbia University’s Program in Harlem Hospital followed by a Fellowship training in Neuropsychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Bajulaiye was a Medical Practitioner with a distinguished career in his practice of Psychiatry and Public Health in Westchester County and the New York Metropolitan area. In recognition of his professionalism, Dr. Bajulaiye received many awards including a Certificate of Merit from Senator Nicholas Spano, the Yonkers City President’s Certificate of Appreciation, the Mayor of Yonkers Certificate of Recognition, the Office of the City Council of Yonkers, Certificate of Recognition and the New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit. He was a member of Trinity St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in New Rochelle. In his leisure time Timi enjoyed Golf, Track and singing Hymnals. Survivors include his parents, his wife Adesuwa Bajulaiye and his children Akinyemi and Temitope Bajulaiye. Visitation will be at Trinity St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Friday, January 6, 2012 from 7-10pm. The Funeral Service will be at the church on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 10am. Interment will follow at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye, NY. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 311 Huguenot St. New Rochelle, NY

Yonkers (and the lower County) accelerates its retail real estate play with Ridge Hill, a shopping, dining, strolling destination with a “Village Green”.. And a Whole Foods, LL Bean, H&M…

It’s a 1.25-million-square-foot retail and entertainment complex developed by Forest City Ratner Cos.

Anyone been there? Please report back!

photos: Jaqueline Silberbush

Marshlands Conservancy, Rye

The Parks will stay!

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.

Photo credit: Don Sutherland

Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Rye

Six nature centers, including Rye’s Marshlands Conservancy (173 acres) and the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary (179 acres) will close under a plan in the County’s 2012 budget.

Both preserves are important bird sanctuaries and migratory flyways that also protect diverse habitats and species.

In addition, the budget eliminates funding for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester (saving $990,000), which provides local horticulture, gardening, and ecological and conservation information to the public, as well as youth programs.

Judith A. Myers, a member of the the Environment and Energy Committee and Majority Whip of the Westchester County Board of Legislators is livid.

“I totally disagree with the proposal by the county executive (Executive Rob Astorino-R) to cut the funding for the six nature centers,” says Myers. “To remove the naturalists and curators, as proposed, is irresponsible and short-sighted. They provide the eyes and ears to prevent vandalism and destruction of sensitive environmental areas, as well as education to all residents.”

The four additional nature centers slated for closing are:  Cranberry Lake Preserve in West Harrison, Croton Point Nature Center, Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers, and Trailside Nature Museum inside Ward Pound Ridge preserve in Cross River.

Overall, the proposed budget calls for a 5 percent reduction in spending for Parks and Recreation, bringing expenses down to $48 million from $51 million in 2011. Parks has 26 layoffs or 9 percent of the department.

There have been two public comment sessions on the proposed 2012 budget to date. On Tuesday December 6, the third and final public hearing on the 2012 budget will be held at the Board of Legislature Chambers, 8th Floor Michaelian Office Building, White Plains at 7 PM.

Photo: Mockba1

photo: HRC Facebook page

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.

photo: US House of Representatives

Police have discovered ATM card skimmers and hidden cameras at bank machines in four Westchester communities, sparking Loop-area police to urge residents to be on guard.

The most recent incident occurred in Bronxville, where police on Sunday discovered the devices installed at HSBC Bank on Pondfield Road. Similar illegal set-ups have been found at banks in Pelham, Yonkers and Poughkeepsie as well.

On Friday, Rye police issued a warning, urging residents to take precautions when using an ATM machine. It says:

“Four communities in Westchester County have reported incidents of bank card skimmers and secret cameras being installed on automated teller machines (ATMs). The skimmers record information from a user’s ATM card, and the cameras record the user’s PIN (personal identification number) as it is punched in on the ATM keypad.

“Although these incidents have not affected our community, it is always wise to take basic precautions when using ATMs here or in your travels:

– Before inserting your card into the slot of an ATM, wiggle the slot. Normal ATM slots should not wiggle, but a skimmer installed on the slot may seem loose.
– Cover the keypad with your free hand while keying in your PIN, so if a hidden camera is installed it will not be able to record the number.
– Always be aware of your surroundings when making an ATM transaction, and be alert for suspicious activity or people loitering nearby.”

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.
• Start growing seeds. Some helpful tips here.
• 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.