January 29, 2015 - WestchesterGuardian.com

Transcription

PRESORTED
STANDARD
PERMIT #3036
WHITE PLAINS NY
Vol. X, No. V
Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly
Thursday, January 29, 2015 • $1.00
It’ll Never Be Time for
on
Term Limits
Congress
By Lee Hamilton, Page 5
WWW.WESTCHESTERGUARDIAN.COM
Page 2
THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN
Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015
Community/GovernmentSection
GOVERNMENT
Westchester to Albany; Analogous to Teen Living On Strict Allowance?
By Stephen Mayo
It has been said that
watching the government
budgeting process is a bit
like sausage making. A
fairly disagreeable system
involving the intake of disorderly and
noisy squealing porkers, their carefully
orchestrated demise and reduction to a
state of industrial-style foodstuff, final
entombment in lengths of uniformlysized sheaths stuffed to the brim, neatly
nipped at the ends and marched into
the distance like newly minted recruits
off to war. It has also been said (apologies to early 20th century radical novelist
Upton Sinclair) that once exposed to
the process, the average Homo sapiens
would never again desire a steaming
bratwurst or frankfurter again.
Would that a system of governing millions were so neat and orderly
or driven so purposefully and sensibly
as that of a basic industry devoted to
feeding millions.
In our New York, the 62 counties
serve as conduits of spending and
service delivery for the state government. It is that simple. But it has not
always been that way. When the state
constitution was adopted in 1777, the
chief form of community organization was the village or town form, a
practice carried over from European
antecedents. After 1683, 12 counties
existed in somewhat primitive manner;
a product of colonial rule in imitation of
the mother country Great Britain’s main
local political-organizational entity, the
county, which sat above the village and
town and below a national government
based in London. In fact, prior to the
incorporation of the state and counties,
the areas of Westchester, Long Island
and Staten Island were joined into
a classic, English-type mega-county
called Yorkshire.
The creation of the county system,
according to Nicholas Varga, writing
in “Town and County, Essays on the
Structure of Local Government in
the American Colonies,” Wesleyan
University
Press,
Middletown,
Connecticut 1978, can be traced to the
publication in England of the Magna
Carta and the Petition of Right which
laid the foundation for our system of
limited powers of the sovereign government and individual rights for citizens.
But instead of encouraging the empowerment of towns and villages whose
puniness might be exploited through
horse-trading between the limited
number of local elected officials and
officials appointed by the King’s representatives, the then-existing colonial
New York Assembly insisted on the
existence of counties. Wrote Varga,
this was “To protect against “a gradual
dispersion of governmental powers…
to bolster the influence of the central
administration.” Further, “What these
New Yorkers wanted was the immediate establishment of large units located
below the province (state) level.”
After years of a generally loose and
highly decentralized system of organization, demand grew for more structure
and organization in the delivery of
essential services to inhabitants “very
remote from the set of justice, and consequently the executive of the laws is
most impracticable.” (The Encyclopedia
of New York State, Syracuse University
Press, Syracuse, New York 2005). So
counties grew in importance as seats
of organization and safety from law
breaking and “hostile natives,” terms of
courts for resolving civil and criminal
cases and controversies and collection
of governmental revenues considered
essential.
To bring order and services to the
less populated and less economically
active areas of upstate, the Adirondacks,
uncharted regions bounding the
inimical British colony of Canada and
the untamed, Wild Western reaches
towards Buffalo, the state legislature
in 1778 authorized taxation and other
revenue-raising for counties “to defray
their ‘public and necessary charges.’”
For purposes of uniformity and practical necessity, the county concept was
adopted throughout the state; even in
more populous and financially vibrant
downstate New York where area pacification was unneeded, this mid-level
administrative model emerged.
It might surprise present-day
observers to learn that the five counties
(boroughs) of New York City and the
57 counties outside of it were instituted to protect citizens and smaller
units of government from the arbitrary
acts of larger state and federal level
administrations. It might surprise them
further to realize that the county form
was designed as a bulwark against the
excesses of English “King and Crown”
following the Glorious Revolution in
England and local political skullduggery,
perhaps presaging our own American
Revolution between 1765 and 1781.
Some 332 years after their creation
as guarantors of efficient local administration and protection of individual
liberty, county level government has
evolved into the chief conduit of state
spending on the community level for
the purpose of sustaining and safeguarding the civil society in which we
live and work.
In particular, of Westchester
County’s budget of $1,7 billion, nearly
90% is devoted to state-required
programs or spending “mandated” by
legislation. Under present conditions,
there is no varying from the legislated
programs or mandates. On its own,
Westchester (and all of the other 61
counties) must spend what state law has
required of it; only 10% of its budget can
be raised or lowered depending on needs
of citizens, ability of the local economy
to support a tax levy (an amount of
money sought to be collected by the
county through property, sales taxes
Continued on page 3
Mission Statement
Table of Contents
Government............................................................................2
Community.............................................................................4
Government............................................................................5
Nutrition..................................................................................6
Creative Disruption.................................................................7
Eye on Theatre.........................................................................8
Travel.......................................................................................9
Arts........................................................................................12
Legal Ads..............................................................................14
Calendar................................................................................14
Cultural Perspectives.............................................................15
Mary at the Movies...............................................................16
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Page 3
Westchester to Albany; Analogous to Teen Living On Strict Allowance?
Nassau County!” He added, “It may
seem complicated, but it is certainly
no exercise in futility! It has added to
the integrity of the legislative mechanism and occasionally has saved us
money and improved state support.”
And what of the state legislators? One might query: if they cannot
respond to the county’s pleas and
affect legislation and budgets to the
benefit of their constituents, what use
are they? He offered, “A lot of them
do their best and offer suggestions.
And, yes, some just take the “messages”
home and bury them.”
The annual march to Albany in
search of mandate relief is not just
about mandates. It really is about
effective public administration,
government efficiency and overregulation in general. It is a serious
quest and we must give our county
legislators credit for trying to control
complex proceedings that under even
the best regimen can be prone to misdirection, misallocation and waste.
But if the county population does
not take an interest in the issue (and
judging from the most recent figures
on participation in Westchester
County elections, it surely doesn’t;
fewer than 34% of registered voters
in one legislative district in 2013 even
bothered to vote), things will continue
in their languorous manner with little
prospect for improvement.
Westchester consumers regularly
carp at their utility bills, mortgage
rates and rents. Until recently,
they complained about the price of
gasoline. Health care costs have never
undergone greater public scrutiny
than in the past two years. But in the
very same population, matters of cost
and efficacy in local government are
ignored. Many taxpaying residents
don’t even bother to register to vote.
Others simply don’t bother to vote in
county elections, even though county
spending can comprise nearly 20%
of the average tax bill. Local school
board elections and budget votes
(school spending is often responsible for more than 50% of the total
property levy) are attended in similarly
pathetic numbers.
Where is the concern for fiscal
responsibility? Where is the acclaim
for legislative oversight well done?
The public, so pampered and so
exalted by politicians of the left and
the right alike, does not seem to care.
And so they receive the quality of government they deserve
What else is there to say?
GOVERNMENT
Continued from page 2
and other compulsory sources). That
is it. That is the law of county government finance in New York State (in a
slender “nutshell”).
“The State has tremendous power
to delegate to lower levels of government,” said a long-time veteran of local
politics interviewed in his White Plains
office. “For practical reasons, this is
necessary just to get things done.” He
continued, “The delegation can be to
administrative offices of the state like
the Department of Motor Vehicles, or
other state subsidiaries led by elected
officials in localities like counties, cities,
towns and villages.”
Speaking confidentially because
of his public position, the civil servant
claimed the process was cumbersome
and loaded with delay and inefficiencies, but essentially sound. “It has
proven to be the best way to get done
the things the state needs to get done,”
he said. “But that doesn’t mean it
couldn’t be streamlined and made more
transparent.”
Republican County Legislator
Gordon
Burrows,
representing
District 15 in Yonkers had a slightly
different view: “We in the legislature
recognize our role in administering
state programs and distributing funds
from Albany. But we also must be given
some autonomy in implementation
based on local needs and conditions.”
The predominant tool of state
control and indirect implementation
of county affairs is the “mandate.”
This is nothing more than a law or
rule issued from Albany by legislation or otherwise requiring the county
to do something and or spend something. Unless the particular mandate is
accompanied by a source of aid sufficient to achieve the prescribed purpose,
the mandate is said to be “unfunded.”
According to Burrows and as echoed
by other officeholders, government
executives and bureaucrats “The state
government is simply overburdening
us with all these mandates, unfunded
and otherwise.” He added, “Ninety
percent of every dollar originating in
the state capital is already spent on
mandated programs before it reaches
White Plains” (Westchester’s county
seat).
The Assembly and State Senate of
New York State have acknowledged
this need with legislation and constitutional amendments providing
counties relief in the form of “home
rule powers.” Concessions in the past
enabled local selection of public officials (by appointment or election) and
the power to adopt local laws (1892).
The most significant step, was a 1938
constitutional amendment which
extended to counties for the first time
the capacity to enact laws affecting
their own “property affairs or government” in the same way that cities had
been so enabled years earlier.
This year (and nearly every year in
the recent memory of several public
servants consulted) Westchester
County and likely all other New York
state counties will send a customized
State Legislative Program Message
to the governor and legislature in
Albany, seeking modification of state
laws (especially mandates - funded
or unfunded) which might imperil
their governing objectives. Burrows
stated that the year 2015 “Program
Message” has been endorsed by the
entire county Board of Legislators (the
10 Democrats and 7 Republicans alike;
the board is controlled by a Democratled coalition of all the Republicans and
two Democrats acting independently)
and County Executive Rob Astorino
also joins in its message.
Chief among the complaints:
Medicaid mandates requiring the
counties to raise $2 billion (nearly
one-half of all county property tax
revenue in 2014), early intervention
educational programs for youth, the
MTA Payroll Tax on government
employees, required building maintance of state buildings within the
county, and other budget expenses
related to highways, local government
consolidation drives, public assistance,
and treatment and handling of certain
incapacitated prison inmates.
One might ask; is all this circuitous official action really necessary?
If counties are essentially creatures of
the state, then why encumber it with
the 62 distinct but inarguably dependent subsidiaries known as counties? If
we assume that the considerable New
York land area (56,000 sq. miles; larger
than the island nation of Cuba; though
only 29th among the 50 states) requires
its division into 62 or so manageably
sized components presently known as
counties (one county, St. Lawrence,
larger than Delaware or Rhode
Island), why not simply skip the rigmarole of the county apparatus? Why
not just turn them into departments
of the state (like the Department of
Motor Vehicles) and administer them
directly from Albany? If necessary,
appoint (or have elected) local administrators and call them “Regional
Governors.”
The wizened bureaucrat quoted at
the beginning of the article answered,
“It really is not so simple.” He continued, “Yes the counties are only
administrative outlets of the state.
But they have been delegated functions determined by the legislature to
be worthy and necessary and warranting proper implementation; especially
income support and welfare and public
sewers and sanitation. ‘Filtering’
programs and money through county
legislatures and administrations has
also limited corruption and wastefulness.” (Additional perspectives were
sought from other Republican and
Democratic observers and legislators
but were unavailable at press time.)
Will the legislature hear the
counties’ complaints and act on them,
I asked. “They (Assembly, Senate and
Governor) do indeed listen. In recent
years, our Joint legislative message has
helped redirect transportation funds
our way after having been hogged by
Stephen I. Mayo is an attorney, owner of
Mayo Linoleum Works, LLC and host of
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Mrose on WVOX radio, 1460 AM;
Mondays from 6 to 7 PM. www.thestevemayoshow.com
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Page 4
COMMUNITY
New Rochelle Police Community Relations & Training Discussed At City Council Meeting
By Peggy Godfrey
Police training in
New Rochelle was the
subject of a City Council
discussion at their
meeting this month.
While this was not a surprising topic,
given protests against police actions
throughout the country, it was a bit
curious to have the well-respected New
Rochelle Police Department targeted
in a discussion. Mayor Noam Bramson
placed police-community relations
along with a discussion of what the
police already do, on the council
agenda, the day of the meeting,
Police Commissioner Patrick
Carroll focused on a specific area
of training: Article 35 of the Penal
Law which covers the “use of force in
various situations. He added that the
police are legally justified in using force,
but the New Rochelle police officers
are also trained to make the use of force
“morally justified.” As an example, a
problem may arise with an emotionally
disturbed many who is “off his medications,” and therefor requires delicate
handling.
Equipment can be used to deal
with force in a more humane way; in
a traffic, stop verbal encounters are
minimized. Carroll then asked for
questions.
City Manager Chuck Strome
said that in the last 22 years the New
Rochelle police have discharged their
weapons twice and stated that the
training is pretty good. But Council
man Jared Rice, though noting that
every police department is unique,
none the less still wanted the “pros
and cons” of the New Rochelle police
discussed.
Cameras are not a concern, and
Commissioner Carroll added there
have not been many civilian complaints in the last five years. Radio cars
and buildings have cameras to record
actions. Rice persisted in questioning both the mode of police training
and the amount of training that
was included in the budget. Carroll
responded, stating there are groups in
the community assisting the youth. He
added “black” policemen and patrol
officers used to go out to meetings,
but can’t now, because there are fewer
police officers and more police are
needed. Strome added, 20 more were
needed, but Carroll countered that
that 39 more were needed. The extra
cost is estimated at $3 to 4 million in
the city budget. The last city budget,
according to Rice, now allows for more
overtime for the police. He suggested
that the number of young males of
color involved in police actions in New
Rochelle was no different than the rest
of the country and questioned both the
need to take police officers off patrol
to give them training and the cost
involved to do so.
Councilwoman Shari Rackman
brought up the point that one of the
two officers assigned to the younger
population in Family Court “have
a relationship” with them and she
felt more officers were needed in this
area. Rackman continued to ask about
police procedures for handling civilian
complaints. Carroll answered the
police do not ask questions and the
final dispositions are recorded as: substantiated, unsubstantiated, founded
or unfounded. When Rackman asked
about anti-terrorism, Carroll answered
the city does have a task force, focusing
on houses of worship, for example, on a
Jewish holiday
Councilman Lou Trangucci
claimed that in West New Rochelle,
the dedicated police officer comes on
his own time, to hear what the people
have to say. He asked how many more
officers were needed to properly patrol
the city, and was told, “twenty,” by
Carroll.
Councilman Ivar Hyden said
he supported what Rice was saying,
agreeing that a better relationship was
needed between some of the youth in
the community and the police. Hyden
persisted by asking the ethnic balance
on the police force. Carroll responded
there minority officer retirements may
have temporarily changed the statistics
and summed up by saying his department looks at many ways to improve
the police department.
At the Citizens to be Heard
portion of this City Council meeting,
later that evening, a number of
speakers said they supported the need
for a youth-police initiative. In particular, Rev. Robert Gahler, President
of the Interreligious Council of New
Rochelle and the Pastor of Trinity-St
Paul Church, said he was a member
of New Rochelle against racism. He is
troubled about race problems in many
cities. A number of other speakers
agreed with him, but other speakers
voiced support for the New Rochelle
police.
Detective Christopher Greco,
President of the Police Association
of New Rochelle said the Police
Association is committed to providing
continued superior services throughout the city in more ways than simply
enforcing laws and responding to
calls. Despite the recent anti-police
movement, “our members continue to
serve all citizens of New Rochelle fairly,
proudly and justly.” An example given
was of a lost citizen suffering from
dementia who was found in the snow
an hour after the person was reported
missing.
One notable speaker clearly
focused on the city’s police relations
and said he was ‘not a apologist for
the New Rochelle police and was perfectly willing to report stories of local
police malfeasance. In his seven years as
editor of New Rochelle Talk of the Sound,
which has 10,000 readers per day, he has
not had anyone contact him with reports
of police misconduct. He had no reason to
believe any of this is a problem and then
challenged the audience, many of who had
spoken against the New Rochelle police to
let him know of any community-police
problem. He had never seen any kind of
police misconduct and concluded, “Put up
or shut up,” and tell him specific complaints
against the New Rochelle police. He said
he would be in the back of the auditorium to take down specific names of police
involved in misconduct. No names were
reported to him.
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Page 5
It’ll Never Be Time for Term Limits on Congress
to the real dysfunction that besets
Washington. They reduce the choices of
voters and accelerate the accumulation
of power in the executive branch. They
move representative democracy in the
wrong direction.
website at www.centeroncongress.org. Go
to Facebook to express your views about
Congress, civic education, and the citizen’s
role in representative democracy. “Like” us on
Facebook at “Center on Congress at Indiana
University,” and share our postings with
your friends.
GOVERNMENT
By Lee Hamilton
It also weakens Congress. And
that’s the other key issue.
The most important point to
remember in all this is that if you take
power away from a senior legislator, that
power does not evaporate.Instead,it flows
to the bureaucracy and the President.
Serving productively in Congress is a
tough, exacting task. It demands a deep
knowledge of the issues that confront
the country; a keen eye — backed by
years of experience — for the ways in
which executive agencies can go off track
and then seek to hide that fact; insight
into the ways in which both allies and
opponents on any given issue might be
motivated to shift their positions; and the
hard-earned wisdom to forge common
ground among competing interests and
ideologies.
These traits come neither quickly nor
easily. Kicking members of Congress out
of their seats just as they’re gaining the
ability to legislate effectively and oversee
the government responsibly demotes
Congress to the status of a minor agency.
A politician elected to a limited term
immediately begins looking for another
job, which reduces his or her effectiveness
and attention to the job at hand.
Moreover, in government, information is power. Legislators constantly come
up against executive branch expertise
backed by thousands of employees and
big budgets. Legislators without expertise
are at a strong disadvantage.
Term limits are not the solution
Lee Hamilton is Director of the Center on
Congress at Indiana University. He was a
member of the U.S. House of Representatives
for 34 years.
For information about our educational
resources and programs, explore our
Reprinted with written permission from:
The Center on Congress, Source URL: http://congress.indiana.edu/
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Term limits are a
distraction from the hard
work that needs to be
done to fix Congress.
It didn’t get much attention at the
time, but the elections last November
did more than give Republicans a
majority in the U.S. Senate. Voters
also added to the ranks of people on
both sides of Capitol Hill who believe
members of Congress should serve a
limited number of terms.
I know a lot of people to whom this
is good news. I know them, because I
hear from them every time I speak at a
public event that allows for a give-andtake with the audience. Americans are
frustrated with the federal government
as a whole and with Congress in particular, and are searching for a simple
solution. The notion that the bums
could be thrown out automatically has
great appeal.
Yet as popular as the idea might
be among the public at large, it has no
traction on Capitol Hill. The fundamental problem is that any measures
imposing limits will need the support
of leaders who, almost by definition,
have served a long time. They’re not
going to put themselves out of a job they
like. Small surprise that bills calling for
term limits don’t even make it out of
committee.
Now, I should say right up front
that you’re not going to hear a strong
argument in favor of term limits from
a guy who served 34 years in Congress.
I’m biased. But I want to spell out the
reasons for my bias, not because I
think term limits are a burning issue
in Washington — they’re not — but
because I wish they were less of an issue
for ordinary voters.
Congress has a lot of problems right
now, and the American people have
a role to play in fixing them, but term
limits are a distraction from the truly
hard work that needs to be done.
When you boil down all the
debating points for and against term
limits, there are two that bear the crux
of the argument. The first has to do with
the nature of our democracy. Supporters
of the idea believe that bringing in fresh
thinking and new leaders on a regular
basis will make Congress more representative. However, stripping voters
of the right to re-elect a representative
whom they’ve supported in the past
does not make for a more democratic
system — rather, less.
Representative government rests on
the notion that voters get to choose their
legislators. Telling them that this is true
for all candidates but one — the incumbent — does not strengthen voters’
rights; it reduces their choices.
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Page 6
NUTRITION
Eating Mindfully in 2015
By Author Rozsa Gaston
Let’s look at getting
more fiber in our diet this
week. Psyllium flakes?
Metamucil?
Au contraire. Just add a few hiddengem supermarkets to your weekly food
shopping itinerary in 2015. The
travel time will be worth the effort, considering how well you will be feeding
yourself and your family. Best benefit
of all? No preparation time. All of the
salads featured here are fully prepared,
fresh, and ready for you to serve in the
attractive, mindfully chosen serving
bowl of your choice.
Edamame salad from Garden Gourmet
Market, Riverdale
Edamame salad is a delicious
accompaniment to a main course,
especially when seasoned with dill,
parsley, lemon juice, and onions. Garden
Gourmet Market in Riverdale offers
its homemade recipe in under-onepound take-out containers. If you don’t
care to eat it alone as a salad, throw a
few spoonfuls into your family’s tossed
salad to accompany the evening meal.
Edamame’s fiber content? Through the
roof. (Pronounced eh-dah MAH-may,
edamame is Japanese for green soy
beans.)
Trader Joe’s cranberry almond grain
medley features barley, wheatberries,
Cranberry almond grain medley from
Trader Joe’s
wild rice, and quinoa. That would be
three too many whole grains for me
if they weren’t mixed in with juicy
dried cranberries and almonds. Result?
Mouth watering. Even more importantly, if you eat a cranberry almond
grain salad for lunch you won’t crave
another thing until dinnertime.
When you eat whole grain foods
or high fiber salads, portion size is not a
big concern.These kinds of foods are not
like cookies or chips that you might find
yourself eating one after another until
the box or bag is empty. You will know
when you’ve had enough cranberry
almond grain medley or edamame salad.
These foods satisfy the senses as well as
the stomach and palate. What they don’t
do is set off uncontrollable cravings to
eat more. When you eat whole grains,
you stop when you’ve had enough.
But let’s say you don’t know when
to stop or you’re still hanging onto old
habits from 2014. Start off with a prepackaged, fully prepared whole grain
salad for lunch and then, if you insist, go
ahead and drop by the donut shop on
your way back to work. See how many
donuts you’ll feel like eating after your
stomach is already busy digesting a
whole grain, high fiber salad. Not many,
I would guess.
If the call to action doesn’t come
through with an appeal to health, let’s
drop the whole healthy eating angle and
talk aesthetics.
Have you ever seen any raisins as
attractive as golden raisins? I personally have nothing against brunettes, but
in the case of raisins, blondes win out.
If you soak them in water overnight
in the refrigerator, they are burstingly
plump, juicy and ready to accessorize
your morning oatmeal (high in fiber,
warming in wintertime), or to be added
to your cinnamon tapioca pudding after
dinner.
Tapioca? Made from the root of
the cassava plant and mostly sourced
from Brazil, tapioca pudding is a great
source of dietary fiber, as well as vitamin
B, iron manganese, calcium, copper, and
selenium. The last is an anti-oxidant
that will help you sleep at night as well
as promote fertility. One container of
tapioca pudding from six-packs sold in
the dairy section of the supermarket typically contains 130 calories. Admire the
translucent tapioca balls in the pudding
as you indulge. They look like pearls
and will make you feel like a woman
worthy of wearing them. Or a man
smart enough to gift pearls to someone
special. Attention—Valentine’s Day is
coming up.
container.
Short expiration dates on food are
good. When you see one, you know live
food is inside, ready to go bad soon if
you don’t eat it. Long expiration dates
on foods are more troubling and are
best avoided. If a food stays fresh on the
shelf for over a year, what has been put
into it in order to preserve it? How will
your body break down the preservatives
used to keep that food fresh? Artificial
substances in the body, including preservatives, glom onto fat cells.That means if
you possess a certain number of fat cells
in your body, you double the amount
of real estate they’re taking up if you’re
eating highly processed food made with
additives. Who wants that extra five
pounds to look like an extra ten?
Instead of worrying about eating
less, if you love to eat, like just about
everyone, why not forget about eating
less and simply be more mindful about
what you do eat? Enjoy something gloriously colorful, with a short expiration
date on it. Make sure it includes whole
grains and fiber. Serve it to yourself in
a gorgeous bowl that means something
special to you when you’re dining at
home. If you’re eating at your desk or
in your car, give your whole grain, high
fiber salad a mindful, appreciative look
with each mouthful and feel great about
putting something alive in your body.
You will feel more alive as a result.
Roasted corn organic red quinoa from
Garden Gourmet, Riverdale
Now for color: what could be more
joyful than the reds, greens, and yellows
of a roasted corn red quinoa salad?
Even more happiness inducing is the
fact that you didn’t have to make it; it’s
already prepared and packaged for you
at Garden Gourmet Market with a
short expiration date stamped on the
Israeli couscous butternut squash from
Garden Gourmet Market, Riverdale
A trip to Garden Gourmet Market
on Broadway in Riverdale is like taking
a tour of the United Nations. You will
ADVERTISE YOUR DISPLAY HELP WANTED ADS IN THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN!
Do you have jobs available at your business?
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Ads due Wednesday one week prior to publication date. Publication every Thursday
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leave with a full grocery cart of exotic,
fresh foods made by people who have
not yet forgotten how central eating
whole grains is to one’s diet. Whole
grain breads from Polish and Ukrainian
recipes, Israeli hummus, Greek cookies,
Russian delicacies, juice smoothies, and
rows of freshly made whole grain, high
fiber salads are all on offer at the newly
expanded Garden Gourmet Market.
Think Riverdale is too far to travel
for grocery shopping? Think again.
Riverdale real estate agents position
Riverdale as the most southwestern
section of Westchester County. Why
shouldn’t you?
Thank you for journeying with me
here. If you would like to share your
discovery of a hidden-gem Westchesterarea food shop or how to definitively
pronounce “quinoa,” please drop a line
to rgaston@optonline.net.
Sourcing the best of Westchester
and environs food shops:
http://www.gardengourmetmarket.
com 5665 Broadway, Riverdale, NY
10463
http://www.traderjoes.com 727
White Plains Rd., Scarsdale, NY 10583
http://www.freshmarket.com 725
White Plains Rd., Scarsdale, NY 10583
A word about tapioca: https://
www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/
other/tapioca.html
About the Author—Rozsa Gaston is a
Bronxville author who writes playful books
on serious matters. Women getting what
they want out of life is one of them. Her
novel Running from Love was inspired
by time spent running in Van Cortlandt
Park, the Bronx and can be found on
amazon.com in paperback, ebook or audio
editions. Bronx mojo goes up against Gold
Coast style when Farrah Foley from Van
Cortlandt Track Club in the Bronx meets
Jude Farnsworth of Greenwich Track
Club. A tale of overcoming downhill
running and relationship fears, Running
from Love is suitable for ages 21 and up.
www.rozsagaston.com
Page 7
replete with all the electronic safeguards
and database controls impressed me no
end – particularly when I remembered
what had gone on before. The pictures
of the inside of my knee and the pre-op
MRI images (as well as all the optical
imaging machines for my eyes) were different from the technology available when
Dr. Small had his operation. Moreover,
these technology breakthroughs did
not seem to be at the expense of jobs
but seem merely to enhance the performance of existing jobs and procedures.
I discussed the impact that technology has had on medicine with Dr. Small
on the show and the only problem areas
that he saw were cost (a big one) and
the fact that he has his back to an office
patient when bringing up the patient’s
history, while previously he had a folder
in his hand while maintaining eye
contact – “but,” he said, “we’ll get that
right.”
From my experience, they already
got a lot right!
Creative Disruption
Pleasantly Disruptive!
By John F. McMullen
Many
of
my
columns have not only
focused on the positive
impact of technology
innovation but also on
the attendant loss of jobs related to the
innovation. In the last two weeks, I have
had two separate surgeries at Hudson
Valley Medical Center (“HVMC”) in
Peekskill, NY and have found extensive use of technology with little, if any,
negative aspects.
First, some background – when
I moved to the Town of Yorktown
over thirty years ago, the predecessor
to HVMC, Peekskill Community
Hospital, was the closest thing to a
“snake pit” that I could imagine. Coming
from New York City where my prime
exposure to hospitals was Columbia
Presbyterian Hospital (now “New York
Presbyterian” as a result of its merger with
New York Cornell), I expected all hospitals to be as patient-friendly as that one.
I was shocked when I first had occasion
to go to Peekskill’s Emergency Room
and find the authoritarian nastiness on
the part of the admittance staff (my wife
had cracked the windshield of our car with
her forehead in a driveway accident and
was in pain – my concern for the delay was
met with a gruff “Please sit over there until
you are called.”). Now 35 years later, the
facility is modern, the patient interface is
super friendly, and the use of technology
is impressive.
On January 6th, I had cataract
replacement on my right eye, performed
by Dr. Kayvan Keyhani (who had last
July performed a similar operation on my
left eye). When I arrived at the hospital,
the reception desk at the entrance of
the Surgical Center had a list of the
surgical patients expected, checked me
off, and attached a wristband with my
identification (name, date of birth, age, &
gender), a bar code, and a camera-image
code to my wrist. I was then directed a
short distance to a small waiting room
across from registration. After a very
short time, I was called to the registration desk where my patient history in
the system was verified and I signed permission forms. I was then given a folder
with copies of the forms and directed to
a specific private room on the next floor
(the only other one in the Surgical Center)
where a nurse was waiting for me. I
gave the nurse the folder who verified
the data on my wristband, and once
verified, scanned the wristband – and
my record in the hospital database was
automatically updated. She then gave
me instructions to change into a gown
and booties and gave me plastic bags in
which to put my clothes and shoes.
Once I had changed, she took my
vital signs, asked me which eye was
to be worked on and verified that my
understanding agreed with the records.
She scanned the wristband again to
indicate that the operation had been
verified – and then began the medication – multiple drops for the eye. After
setting up each drop, she scanned both
the medicine bottle and my wristband
to indicate that I was about to get it (she
also showed me what would happen if she
set up the same medication twice; an error
message halted the process). At the conclusion of the medication, she set up the IV
for the anesthesiologist, who then came
in and went through the entire verification procedure again.
Dr. Keyhani also came in and, after
asking me what eye was being operated
on to verify that we were on the same
page, marked the right side of my face
to indicate where the operation was to
be performed. I later learned that the
doctors call this “signing.”
The next thing I knew I was awake
and the surgery was over!
The July procedure had not gone
so smoothly -- I have very soft whites
of the eyes and I knew that the cataract
surgery would require Dr. Keyhani to
insert some kind of device to stabilize
the white portion of my eye. Before that
happened, I would have a local anesthetic and have my arms wrapped so
I wouldn’t “help the physician” and my
head would be stabilized – the whole
thing was to take about an hour. When
I woke up, I was told that everything
had gone very well but, as I was being
wheeled back to my room, I saw from
a clock on the wall that I had been gone
for 2 ½ hours! What had happened?
It turned out that I had had “restless
leg syndrome” on the table, causing my
leg (and body) to twitch – an emphatic
“no-no” during eye surgery! I was
asked if I wanted to stop the procedure or undergo a general anesthetic. I
mumbled “Keep going” (I didn’t remember
the question – but they tape record the
conversations in the OR). Once it was
obvious that the operation was going to
take much longer than originally estimated, Dr. Keyhani went out to where
my wife, Barbara, was waiting to tell her
what was going on – the old Peekskill
Hospital would have left her waiting
until she began to consider “who would
be the pall bearers.”
For the second cataract operation,
the records had been updated concerning the restless leg syndrome and the
anesthesiologist was all ready for me.
In both cases, when I got back to
the room, the nurse instructed me on
the use of prescription drops for next
few weeks, gave me a “goody bag” with
drops and heavy sunglasses to deal with
effects of glare because of the dilation
of the eye. The removal of the cataracts increased my vision dramatically.
(My radio interview with Dr. Keyhani
shortly after the first surgery may be
listened to at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/johmac13/2014/08/03/
the-weekly-johnmac-radio-show).
A week-and-a-half later, on January
15th, I was back at the hospital to have
Dr. Steven Small perform orthoscopic
surgery on my right knee for a torn
meniscus. Once again, it was the same
entry and registration process, the same
taking of vital signs and verification
for procedures and medications by the
nurse, anesthesiologist, and doctor, and
the same smooth surgery. This time,
instead of getting sunglasses and drops
to take with me, I received pain pills, a
cane, and pictures of the inside of my
knee taken during the surgery. With
only two small incisions with stiches, the
knee was “dressed” and wrapped tight
– and would remain so for twenty-four
hours – and the nurse gave me excellent
instructions for walking up and down
stairs. I only needed the pain pills for less
than a day and, once the bandages came
off, was driving the next day – another
job well done by my doctors at Hudson
Valley Medical Center!
I had Dr. Small on the radio show
three days after the surgery (https://
s3.amazonaws.com/btr.shows/
show/7/204/show_7204571.mp3)
and he mentioned that he decided to be
an orthopedist over 40 years ago when
he also had a torn meniscus and had
surgery – but that was before current
technology and his knee was cut deeply
into to, leaving him with a scar and the
need for rehabilitation.
The whole surgical experiences,
Sleep-Away
Camp
Comments on this column to johnmac13@
gmail.com
Creative Disruption is a continuing series
examining the impact of constantly accelerating technology on the world around us.
These changes normally happen under our
personal radar until we find that the world
as we knew it is no more.
John F. McMullen is a writer, poet, college
professor and radio host. Links to other
writings, Podcasts, & Radio Broadcasts
at www.johnmac13.com, his books are
available on Amazon, and he blogs at
http://open.salon.com/blog/johnmac13.
© 2014 John F. McMullen
Page 8
Arts & EntertainmentSection
EYE ON THEATRE
Silly and Sillier
By JOHN SIMON
“Honeymoon
in
Vegas” was, as I recall,
a silly movie, and the
current musical based
on it is at least as silly. To be sure,
“silly” in this context is not derogatory-think of Disney’s Silly Symphonies,
for example, which were the most
cunning cartoons of fondly recalled
more innocent days. It may indeed be
something to flaunt if it turns into a big
commercial success, which this devilmay-care show promises to become.
It is the story of Jack Singer and
Betsy Nolan, who have been dating
for five years, after which it seems a
wedding is indicated. But Jack had an
(unspecified) Jewish mother, whose one
dying wish was that he never marry—
even dead, it seems, Mother could not
share her darling son with another
woman. Just why Jack thinks that the
famous divorce capital would guarantee connubial bliss is not explained, but
off he goes to Las Vegas with Betsy and
a promise.
Arrived there, he is still somewhat
hesitant, and then, worse luck, Betsy
catches the eyes of the widowed
gaming gangster, Tommy Korman,
Tony Danza as ‘Tommy Korman’ and Brynn O’Malley as ‘Betsey Nolan’ in
Honeymoon in Vegas at the Nederlander Theatre.
whose late spouse, Donna, she appar- a card game with Tommy, who with
ently closely resembles. That already his sidekick, Johnny, accosted him, and,
supplies a sufficient quotient of hilari- sure enough, suckers him into losing
ous absurdity, but there are oodles more $58,000. Since he has no such money,
to come.
he is—hold on to your hat--conEven before seeking out the nearest strained to offer Tommy a weekend
wedding chapel at Betsy’s nudging, with Betsy instead. The understandthe suddenly reluctant Jack gets into ing is that it is to be in Hawaii, and (by
David Josefberg as ‘Roy Bacon’ and the ensemble in Honeymoon in Vegas at The Nederlander Theatre.
way of crowning absurdity) platonic.
Not all that reluctantly—Tommy
having deployed his impressive stock of
charm—Betsy agrees.
And, boy, does this contrivance by
Andrew Bergman, who also wrote the
original screenplay, depend on smart
dialogue, apt acting, lush production
values and suspension of disbelief. Well,
all of that the musical does get, though
such things as the reproachful ghost
of the dead mother popping up from
a garbage can predicates the genius of
a Sam Beckett, not quite forthcoming
here.
What we do get, however, is enjoyable music and lyrics by Jason Robert
Brown, not one of my favorites by far,
but successful enough with such shows
as “Parade,” “The Last Five Years,” and
“The Bridges of Madison County.”
This time round his score suits the
rambunctious story to a T, though it
may raise questions about why Brown
needed three further orchestrators on
top of himself.
Anna Louizos is a designer of outstanding sets, to which she now adds
winning projections. Brian Hemesath’s
satirical costumes, like Howell Binkley’s
sassy lighting, further enhance Gary
Griffin’s efficient direction. Rob
McClure’s dependably bungling
Jack, Brynn O’Malley’s sorely frustrated Betsy, Nancy Opel’s formidable
Mother, Catherine Ricafort’s Hawaian
temptress, Matthew Saldivar’s criminal
henchman Johnny Sandwich (formerly
Foccacia) and David Josefsberg in the
dual role of a smarmy Vegas M.C
and the leader of a passel of flying
Elvis impersonators, are all lavishly up
to snuff. But the chief acting honors
go to the Tommy of Tony Danza,
who delightfully blends charm with
insolence, danger with delicacy, and
ingratiating song with insouciant sting.
If you groove on the mix of wholesome vulgarity and hoary but hearty
jocularity, this may well be the Everest
of excess you’ve been dreaming of.
Post Script: If you still haven’t seen
the best play of the times, “Disgraced,”
you have until March 1 to do so.
Otherwise, become the season’s sorriest
loser.
John Simon has written for over 50 year
on theatre, film, literature, music and fine
arts for the Hudson Review, New Leader,
New Criterion, National Review, New
York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly
Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg
News. He reviews books for the New
York Times Book Review and for The
Washington Post. To learn more, visit his
website: www.JohnSimon-unsensored.
com
Honeymoon in Vegas photos by Joan
Marcus C. 2014
Picture L-R Matthew Saldivar as ‘Johnny Sandwich,’ Tony Danza as ‘Tommy Korman,’ David
Josephfberg as ‘Buddy Rocky’. In Honeymoon in Vegas at the Nederlander Theatre.
Community/Gover
COMMUNITY
The Walled City of Lucca
Italy’s Medieval Masterpiece.
Lucca, Italy’s most
magnificent medieval,
completely walled city is
just an hour away from
Florence, the birthplace
of the Renaissance. Yet amazingly,
though millions of travelers from all
over the world visit Florence every
year, very few ever go to Lucca. When
they do, it’s usually just for a “day-trip”
as recommended by a travel guidebook.
They should be ashamed of themselves
because Lucca is one of the most captivating cities you’ll ever visit, anywhere.
In fact, after spending a very memorable
week in Lucca last year, my girlfriend
and I seriously talked about packing up
By NANCY KING
TRAVEL
By Richard Levy
Westchester Community College Unde
and moving to Lucca; it’s that special.
Great peaceful vibes, stress free: once
inside the womb of Lucca, you’ve left
civilization outside.
Spending just one day in Lucca is
like going back in a time machine, yet at
the same time, Lucca has all the modern
amenities you’d ever want, making it
the perfect place to escape and maybe
never leave. Just imagine how safe you’d
feel safely hidden away in a beautiful medieval city protected by a 40” tall
wall while feasting upon world-famous
Tuscan food and wine. The wall was
built during the 14th and 15th centuries
and since 1480, it has protected Lucca
from aggressive neighbors and invading
armies.
Westchester
Community College is the
latest public institution to
come under scrutiny of the
New York State Inspector
General when it was revealed that a former
assistant basketball coach falsified academic
transcripts and forged an administrator’s
signature. As a result, the community college
has canceled its 2014-2015 Basketball
season. However the story doesn’t stop
there, because many student athletes use
Westchester Community College as a
springboard to play at NCAA four-year
colleges; the scandal has now spanned several
states and several teams.
Former Mt. Vernon High School star,
Jamell Walker was a star player for WCC
and was at the school on a full basketball
Page 9
scholarship. He played on the award winning
team and was granted, upon completion of
what was thought to be a two-year stint with
WCC, a full scholarship to play ball with
nationally ranked Florida A&M University.
Not long after his arrival at Florida A&M,
an anonymous tipster informed the college
and the NCAA that Walker’s scholarship at
WCC had been stripped a year prior, after it
was revealed he only taken one class at the
college. In order to maintain a scholarship at
the college, a student must be matriculated
for a full credit load.
Upon further investigation, it was
revealed that there are several other former
WCC students who are also playing basketball for Division 1 schools and that they
too might be at a new school under less
than transparent circumstances. St John’s
University, famous for their Red Storm
team, has opened an investigation into the
COMMEMORATION
Community Marks 3 Years Since
of the
White Plains Department of
By NANCY
KING National Tourist
Orrido di Botri Lucca Photo Courtesy
of Italian
Board
Public Safety to commemorate the
a
frigid
right downstairs
and to October. Whether performed by
One of the very first things you to outdoor restaurant On
third anniversary of the shooting death
away is the historic
do in Lucca after exploring the twisting just one blockNovember
evening,Sana a few local opera singers or a group of
of Kenneth
Chamberlain
68
offering
hour local
musicians,
the concertsSr.
areThe
always
and winding narrow streets of this Giovanni Church,
vigil was
heldone
in front
year
old
former
marine
was
shot
to
quaint, medieval city is to take a slow, “Puccini Concerts” every night, April
Continued on page 10
lovely walk around the “ramparts” or
top of the wall which has been turned
into a lovely park with fabulous vistas of
the entire Tuscan countryside around
Lucca. The distance around the wall is
two and half miles. It’s also very mindcleansing to cycle or take a morning
jog around the ramparts of this massive
medieval wall.
Lucca was the first Italian city to
accept Christianity, thus it’s 99 churches;
one more amazing than the next. The
two most historic and beautiful sights
of Lucca are San Michelle Church
with it’s medieval façade and the San
Martino Cathedral which is next to the
very impressive 13th Century bell tower,
the Casa dell’ Opera del Duomo, built
where the original Roman Forum once
stood.
My favorite hotel in Lucca is
ITALIAN CUISINE
the classic, charming and affordZagat Rated “Excellent”
able Universo Hotel, even though
Voted “Best Italian Restaurant ” Westchester Magazine, 2006
“Rick Steves” says it’s “old, tired and
worn”; that’s what makes it so special!
Open 7 Days : Mon.-Thurs. Noon - 10PM • Fri. Sat. & Sun. Noon -11PM
The Universo is a lot like The Grand
RESERVE NOW FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES 2 PARTY ROOMS AVAIL. SEATING 75 & 100
Budapest Hotel, with a grand lobby,
lovely large rooms, delicious breakfasts
914.779.4646
included, great service and it is located
www.ciaoeastchester.com
in a beautiful square; a short walk
everywhere in Lucca. There’s a fabulous
Ciao • 5-7 JOHN ALBANESE PLACE, EASTCHESTER, NY 10709
Reserve Now for Holiday Parties!
Church of San Frediano Photo Courtesy of Italian National Tourist Board
eligibilit
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Page 10
TRAVEL
wonderful as Puccini is Italy’s foremost
composer and he was also known to be
quite a dashing ladies man. Concerts
are only 20 Euros, so try to see a few of
them.
Other places to consider staying
in Lucca are the pricey San Luca
Palace Hotel and the L’Antiga Bifore
charming B&B; there many other places
to choose from, as well. The delicious
food of Lucca has been heavily influenced by the ancient Etruscans who
favored cooking with an abundance of
fresh herbs like Rosemary, Sage and
Thyme, as in the famous by the Simon
& Garfunkel song. Meat is favored
more often than fish in Tuscany. Their
“Bistecca Florentina”, a thick T-Bone
steak is legendary; as is their wild boar
or “Cinghiale” – a deliciously, rich Ragu.
Roast kid or “Capretto” with herbs and
rabbit stew with olives are other traditional dishes. There’ a very popular long,
thick spaghetti called “Pici you must try
and don’t miss the popular local dish:
meat filled ravioli served in a meat sauce”
- usually a recipe passed down from
grandma. The best restaurant in Lucca
is he colorful Buca di Sant’ San Antonio,
turning out authentic, delicious Tuscan
fare ever since 1782. My other favorite
restaurants are Il Giglio and Trottoria
Do Leo.
Lucca has many unique shops and
fashionable boutiques, with prices lower
than you’ll find in Florence and without
all those annoying “tourists”. Search out
Lucca Porta San Gervase Photo Courtesy of Italian National Tourist Board
Carnivale Via Reggio Photo Courtesy of Italian National Tourist Board
Diana O’Neill
Holistic Health
Services
Gelateria Veneta and try their “fresh
frozen fruit filled with a creamy filling”.
Stop into a bakery and pick up Lucca’s
famous “Buccellati” cake, a large wreath
shaped cake filled with raisins and laced
with anise: “Molto delizioso.” You’ll be
sure to keep noshing this cake as you
wander all through this small and very
captivating city. Stop at a café in one of
Lucca’s many historic squares or piazzas
and enjoy a special Lucca cappuccino.
(And keep nibbling on your cake.)
Visit the house Puccini lived in,
which is now a museum. Have lunch
in the square nearby which is filled with
outdoor restaurants. Right at the end of
the square there’s a small handbag store
(don’t remember the name) with Lucca’s
best selection and prices of high quality
leather handbags and wallets. Then
check out the Guinigi Tower, with trees
growing on top, overlooking all of Lucca.
The largest square is Piazza Napoleon,
named after his sister who lived there
during the French occupation.
Of course, you can’t leave Italy
without seeing the famous “Leaning
Tower of Pisa” only a fifteen-minute
train ride away. Yes, it is spectacular and
worth seeing. You can walk to the top
and enjoy the panorama below. Have
lunch in the outdoor restaurant across
from the tower; the view is so memorable you won’t remember what you ate.
(Take a “Selfie” while you are leaning at
the same angle as the tower.)
Viareggio is another charming town
worth venturing to, from Lucca, just a
10-minute train ride away and located
on the Italian Riviera. Surprisingly, the
Guide books never mention Viareggio.
Stroll along Viareggio’s promenade that
runs along the beach filled with shops,
cafes and restaurants. My favorite restaurant was Da Giorgio: order their
amazing mixed seafood appetizers
and Frito Misto -- a huge platter of
super-fresh, lightly fried local fish and
shellfish; plenty for two people. Walk
along the long lovely beach and visit the
home of the famous poet Shelly who,
sadly, drowned nearby in 1892. Or just
hang out in a café taking in the all the
vibes of this Tuscan seaside town.
Now let’s get back to Lucca. If you’re
into cycling, take the “Bicycle Tour of
Wine County” from Lucca: about 10
miles each way. But don’t worry, you’ll
be stopping off to taste fantastic Tuscan
wines along the way, so on your way back
you’ll be much more “relaxed. Tickets
for the bike tour are available at the Bike
store in Lucca. If you’re a wine nut like
me, you will enjoy the one-day “Guided
Tasting Tour of Chianti “; information is
available the tourist office in Lucca, not
far from the bus station. Bike rentals in
Lucca by the day are 12 Euros and 2.50
Euros an hour; a great way to see Lucca
and the neighboring countryside.
Now that I’ve hopefully enticed you
to make Lucca your next vacation destination, let me advise you about the best
way to get there. I suggest flying from
NY to Rome, because there are many
flights and it’s less expensive than flying
into Florence. Stay overnight, perhaps
at Fellini Hotel; my favorite boutique
hotel located just two blocks from the
old historic section and the Fontana de
Trevi. Have breakfast on their rooftop
garden overlooking the rooftops of
Rome.
Early the next day, take a taxi to
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Page 11
TRAVEL
the main train station and catch an
express train to Florence; a two-hour
scenic trip. In Florence, stay at the old
world, charming Pendini Hotel located
in the historic Piazza Della Repubblica.
This beautiful hotel is located on the
top floors of a 17th century spectacular
historical building. You’ll want a room
“facing the square” for the great view
of street musicians and lovely cafes all
around the square; cost is about 175
-200 Euros with breakfast and worth
every Lira, I mean Euro. (info@pendinihotel.it) The hotel is centrally located
and you can walk just about everywhere.
When you come out of the hotel, make
a left onto the Piazza Della Repubblica
and just down the street check out the
street market of stalls overflowing with
fabulous, authentic Italian leather goods
at super-affordable prices. In fact, a
gorgeous leather handbag is roughly
half of what you’d pay in most Florence
leather shops. They might not be brand
name, crème de la crème handbags, but
they are still beautifully crafted from
Italian leather at very affordable prices.
But be sure to bargain for the price you
want: the vendors expect it.
The Pendini Hotel is two blocks
from the magnificent “Duomo”
Cathedral, the breathtaking and most
famous medieval building in Florence.
Wait on line and when you walk around
inside, you will wonder how they could
have built this huge dome when they
did. Be sure to light a candle and say a
short prayer, no matter your faith; it’s
good luck.
Treat your self to a hot waffle
smothered in fresh strawberries and
whipped crème at the tiny store across
the street. Have lunch in one of the
out door restaurants across from the
Duomo and you’ll be hypnotized by its
beauty. Walk over to the outdoor market
a few blocks away for all sorts of leather
bargains and stop into the huge food
market. Have lunch nearby at Trottoria
Za Za.
If you have just one full day in
Florence you must see Michelangelo’s
statue of “David” at the Accademia and
you will be awed by this magnificent
work of art.Then, head over to the Uffizi
Gallery, housing the world’s largest collection of Italian renaissance art. Once
inside, ask the guard to direct you to
the Botticelli painting of the “Birth of
Venus”. Prepare to be mesmerized by
just how beautiful and radiant Venus
looks with her long hair flowing down
her naked body as she ascends a huge
clamshell. Check out the other paintings on the floor. If you are not rushed
for time, get lost in the Uffizi for about
an hour. Be sure to make reservations in
advance for your Accademia and Uffizi
Gallery admission tickets, as this allows
you to go to “the front of the line”. (Folks
waiting on line will glare at you.) Decide
what date and time you’d like to go and
call 011-39-055-294-883; or make reservations online.
Stroll over the famous 14th Century
Ponte Vecchio for super views of the
Arno River. For dinner you must eat at
the Golden View Open Bar Restaurant
for the fabulous view of the Ponte
Vecchio and Arno River from your
table.
For Florence’s most fashionable
leather jackets and handbags the place
to go, is Casini Firenzi,They’re expensive
but worth it, because of the high quality
leather and third generation craftsmanship of their factory. (casinifirenzi.it).
After one or two days in Florence
it’s time to start your fabulous vacation
in Lucca. Take an early train it’s only an
hour’s ride. Then a short walk or taxi to
Lucca, which is not far from the station.
The Universo Hotel is not far from
Lucca’s wall entrance. Then after your
very unforgettable week in Lucca buy a
ticket for an early train to Florence with
a connecting express train to Rome, it
takes about 5 hours.
After checking into your hotel in
Rome, drop your luggage and take a taxi
to “Trastevere” the historic and colorful
“Old Jewish section” established by the
Romans in 1555, terrorized by the Nazis
in 1944 and now a very trendy Roman
neighborhood; not to be missed. Have
a delicious dinner. Be sure to order the
local specialty of fried smashed baby
artichokes and sautéed cheese stuffed
zucchini blossoms. Ask the hotel
reserve a taxi to the airport for you in
the morning (30 Euros) to catch your
AM flight back to New York. You’ll
need 10 days, but 12-14 days is much
better, especially if you’d like another day
in Florence or Rome, or one more day
in Lucca for “doing absolutely nothing”.
Yes, in Lucca, even doing nothing is
special and very memorable. Buon
viaggio!!!
Editors Note:
Photos of Lake Worth Beach, Lakeworth
Downtown Art, Lake Worth Shops
and Lake Worth Downton Street Art
in our Jan. 22, 2015 story about Lake
Worth are courtesy of the The Tourism
Marketing Corporation for Palm Beach
County. We regret this omission from
last week’s issue. For further information about Lake Worth visit: www.
PalmBeachFl.Com
Yonkers Philarmonic Orchestra Concert
Sunday February 1, 2015 at 3PM
Saunders High School, Yonkers
Admission is FREE
On Sunday, February 1,
2015 The Yonkers Philharmonic
Orchestra will present a free concert
at Saunders High School, 183
Palmer Ave. in Yonkers. The concert
begins at 3PM.
Guest
Conductor
Ariel
Rudiakov will lead the orchestra in
a program of Slavic Music, including Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Op.
92., Bulgarian Rhapsody Vardar
by Pantcho Vladigerov for violin
solo and orchestra and ending with
Tchaikovsky Symphony #2 ( the
little Russian). The program includes
Joana Genova, solo violinist.
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Page 12
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Artist Profile: Luis Mallo
By Lee Daniels, with
additional reporting by
Marguerite Daniels
Cuba’s
unique
cultural
heritage—a
hidden treasure for the
past half-century—portends a reemergence of the island-nation’s rich
artistic talent on a global scale.
“It’s an evolution that has taken
a long time to happen,” remarked
Cuban-born author Hermes Mallea,
at a presentation last week for the
Preservation Foundation of Palm
Beach.
As did many denizens of Cuba
during the past half-century, Mallea
moved to the U.S. as a child, then
went on to a successful career as an
architect in New York.
Another Cuban-born cultural
icon, who as an eight-year-old moved
with his family to Spain for four years,
then to Queens, to later establish
himself as a pre-eminent photographer in New York’s kaleidoscopic and
fast-moving artistic community, is
Luis Mallo.
Luis Mallo
When we met at the opening of
his latest project, Interruptions, earlier
this month in Chelsea’s prestigious
Praxis Gallery, Mallo, surrounded by
admirers of his work, stepped aside
to greet this writer, who felt slightly
out of place in T-shirt and jeans, in
a setting where black everything was
quite obviously de rigueur.
Refreshingly demure, unassuming
and soft-spoken, Mallo deftly shifted
the topic of questions about themes in
his work to the process.
“I’ve been working on the series
for the last 20 years. Finding the
“window” in moments that define
the way I look at things is a really
important part of the process.
“Interruptions is more of a concept
than anything; the concept here is that
every time something distracts me, I
take a photo of what I see, and these
are my ‘interruptions,’” he said.
I was especially enamored by
Mallo’s image “Interruptions No. 17”
(2003, chromogenic digital print),
depicting the massive Pepsi-Cola billboard in Long Island City, an icon to
Queens-Manhattan commuters and
waterfront strollers for the past 80
years.
The image is arresting—first, as
it is seen from an obscure angle; the
viewer sees not the vibrant, red Pepsi
logo familiar to so many, but a view
of the sign from the rear, in which
the letters are reversed. Second, it
is backlit—and outshined—by the
luminous haze overhanging the
Manhattan skyline. The third feature
that lends the image a mysterious,
contrarian pulse, is that the sign is
framed through a hole torn in a chainlink fence and set above a patina of
rubble in a barren construction area,
which has the added effect of making
the sign diminutive rather than iconic.
How does the photographer
identify and then isolate these very
unique perspectives on what many
regard—or disregard—as mundane
backdrops to what appear to be more
relevant, important, and obvious
settings, I wanted to know.
“Interruptions is about the story
behind the scenes. I was looking for
things that were concealed. I didn’t
have the intention of showing these
photos all together—that is the
beauty of it; they are not all continuous or together, but random. Here, I
am going back to defining reality by
transforming it, bringing out certain
aspects of it that are mesmerizing,” he
explained.
Mallo’s gift of mesmerizing
viewers of his work is not without
precedent. His previous projects,
which have been exhibited at galleries
around the U.S., as well as in venues
in Canada, Spain, France, and Brazil,
include his Open Secrets, In Camera,
Laminas, Reliquarium, and most
recently, Passengers.
Realized in the mid-1990s, the
project featured a series of candid,
“Here, I am going back to defining reality by transforming it, bringing
out certain aspects of it that are mesmerizing.”
Luis Mallo, on his Interruptions project.
black-and-white close-ups of the
hands of various travelers on New
York’s subways.
“Passengers is still one of my
favorite works. Someone wrote that
the photos had a “timeless quality,”
giving them resonance,” he elucidated.
In a world of constantly changing
landscapes, finding resonance—and
crystallizing it from a physical through
the use of film to create a derivative
suggestion, allusion, or allegory, is part
of the magic that Mallo evokes when
he aims his camera at an otherwise
dull, everyday image.
“I find some of the most interesting images when I’m not really
looking, and this also helps me define
myself as an artist, as a photographer,
he said.”
In the end, Mallo’s images in
Interruptions helps remind us that
we tend to see what we choose to,
or are conditioned to, as we navigate
a cityscape—and through life. And,
if we take a moment to remove the
filters or blinders that shape our view
of everyday objects, and try to look
beneath the surface, a whole, new
world opens up to us, with endless
possibilities for heightened perception.
Q.& A. with Luis Mallo
Q.: When did you decide you wanted
to pursue photography as a medium
professionally?
A.: I first became interested in the
medium while attending college in
NYC. I took a photography class
and fell in love with it immediately. I
started learning how to use a camera
and developing and printing my own
images. Shortly thereafter I was given
used camera and I started taking photographs incessantly.
Q.: What was your first camera?
A.: My first camera was an Olympus
model from the late 70s that my stepmother lent to me in 1984.
Q.: You went to FIT, to study
Advertising. Can you talk a little
about this experience?
A.: I decided to attend FIT because
it was affordable, and it offered an
Advertising and Design program that
I thought would give me a chance to
be creative. I had been drawing since
I was a kid, and so my family and I
thought that something creative
might be appropriate. I visited the
school and saw that the program
offered life drawing classes and electives like Photography and Sculpture.
I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn something applicable as a
Luis Mallo, Interruptions No. 17 (2003), chromogenic digital print, edition of 5, 17 x 21 3/8 inches.
Page 13
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Artist Profile: Luis Mallo
career, and at the same time do things
that I considered creative and fun,
really.
Q,: Was the New York City cityscape
influential in your artistic formation
as a photographer? Who were some
of your early artistic influences?
A.: The NYC setting was impressionable, and it offered me the
proximity to the art world in Soho
and the museums all over the city. I
took art history classes and began to
see many gallery art exhibits and
museum shows that started to
awaken an interest in the visual
arts. When I began to develop an
interest in photography, I would
search out photography shows and
books that I could look at for reference and inspiration. One show
that was a turning point for me was
the Henri Cartier-Bresson show
at the MOMA entitled, “Henri
Cartier-Bresson: The Early Work.”
It really blew me away and showed
me the real power of the photograph.
Q.: What are some of your other
hobbies? Favorite foods?
A.: My hobbies are soccer, films, and
cooking. I like all kinds of food and
enjoy spending time in the kitchen
experimenting and preparing meals
for my family.
Q.: What is your typical day or week
like in Brooklyn?
A.: typical day in Brooklyn is very
relaxed, really. What I enjoy about
the neighborhood is the sense of
community that you feel present all
around you as you meet and speak
to residents and neighbors. I spend
a lot of time in Manhattan as well,
but the time I spend in Brooklyn is
when I really feel a sense of belonging and connection with the physical
environment. That’s probably why
most of the images that are represented
in the exhibit were taken in Brooklyn
and Queens, I suppose.
Luis Mallo’s Interruptions, at the Praxis
Gallery, 541 W. 25th St., New York,,
NY 10001, until Feb. 21. For more
information on the exhibit, visit www.
praxis-art.com/en, or call 212-7729478. For more information on the artist,
visit: http://www.luismallo.com
Lee Daniels, a former reporter for the
Lower Hudson Journal News and
Reuters, is Arts & Leisure writer for
the Westchester Guardian. His work has
appeared in the Danbury News-Times,
Litchfield County Times, and Orlando
Sentinel. He is the winner of the first-place
prize in Non-Fiction in the 2013 Porter
Fleming Literary Competition.
Luis Mallo, Interruptions No. 34 (2005), chromogenic digital print, edition of 5, 17 x 21 3/8 inches.
Robert Olsson
Exhibit:
Oxide
Punishment
Feb 2015
On Display At The Black
Cow in Croton-on-Hudson
Robert Olsson is a graphic
designer/photographer living in
Croton-on-Hudson. He received a
BS in Visual Arts from SUNY New
Paltz, with subsequent studies at the
Sorbonne, SVA, Cooper Union, and
Center for the Digital Arts at WCC.
This presentation is of recent work, a
discovery of subtle and vibrant nonrepresentational content found within
deteriorated mechanical objects, capturing diverse and current states of
disrepair. Many years work in professional design studios and in big
corporation publishing have honed his
robust color, textural and compositional
values and have jaded his observational
skills, yielding a critical and cynical
perspective of the ordinary. His photographs search for a refreshing aesthetic
relevance and micro-abstract realism
in a world structuralized by electronic
alienation and ‘thumbs-up’ consumption. A realization that an amazing
myriad of material is widely perceptible
and is a function of ubiquity.
For the month of February, 2015,
his show OXIDE PUNISHMENT
will be on display at The Black Cow
in Croton. For further information,
contact rob39x17@gmail.com
Image entitled: ‘Pleasant Silence’, a
33” x 22” digital photograph by Robert
Olsson
Page 14
CALENDAR
News and Notes from Northern Westchester
By Mark Jeffers
Believe it or not this
is our 200th column, I just
want to thank all of our
terrific readers, you are
the best and here’s to you
and this week’s “Happy, Humbled and
Honored for 200” edition of “News and
Notes.”
My wife tells me that bathing suit
days are just around the corner. I think
it is either wishful thinking or she is
dropping hints for a warm weather
vacation…either way, I think I will get
off of the coach and head over to the
Westmoreland Sanctuary for a little
outdoor activity. On Saturday February
7th at noon, they invite you to come out
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and discover what is going on in the
winter woods with a guided brisk hike
for all ages.
While I am being outdoorsy…The
Greenburgh Nature Center and Teatown
Lake Reservation are partnering with
other environmental organizations for a
daylong program that celebrates the Bald
Eagles’ return to the Hudson Valley’s
waterways. Events include birds of prey
shows, children’s activities and environmental exhibits. Activities take place at
Croton Point Park and shuttle buses
travel to eagle viewing sites along the
river. Bring binoculars. 9am-4pm. On
February 7th.
Maybe if I do one of these outdoorsy events my wife will let me go the
Big Brew New York Beer Festival at the
Westchester County Center in White
Plains on February 7th. Craft Beer enthusiasts will enjoy over 250 Craft Beers and
all things beer related.
Congratulations and three cheers to
class of 1985 Mamaroneck High School
graduates Dan Futterman and Bennett
Miller for both receiving Academy
Award nominations for their work on
the film “Foxcatcher.”
Futterman was nominated for Best
Original Screenplay and Miller was
tapped for Best Director. Futterman’s
screenplay nod is shared with co-writer
E. Max Frye. The film chronicles the
tragic events surrounding John E. du
Pont’s funding of a team of wrestlers
training for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
LE G A L N O T I C E S
HASTINGS ELECTRIC & MECHANICAL SERVICES,
LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY)
9/17/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design.
Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served.
SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 618
Warburton Ave Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 10706.
Purpose: Any lawful activity
35176 253RD AVENUE LLC Articles of Org. filed NY
Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/12/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom
process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of
process to Maggie J. Segrich 116 Main St Irvington,
NY 10533. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
THE CAFE AT 178TH, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY
Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/17/14. Office in Westchester
Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process
may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to
The LLC 686 Bronx River Rd #5G Yonkers, NY 10704.
Purpose: Any lawful activity.
MNG 178TH, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of
State (SSNY) 7/16/14. Office in Westchester Co.
SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process
The LLC 139 Hart Ave Yonkers, NY 10704. Purpose:
Any lawful activity.
SYNERGY MEDICAL ARTS, PLLC Articles of Org.
filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/14/14. Office in
Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of PLLC upon
whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail
copy of process to The PLLC 103 S Bedford Rd Ste.
205 Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Purpose: Any lawful
activity.
RON RET REALTY, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec.
of State (SSNY) 12/4/14. Office in Westchester Co.
SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process
The LLC 374 McLean Ave Yonkers, NY 10705. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
TOTAL WELLNESS MICRONUTRIENT PHARMACEUTICAL CONSULTING PLLC Articles of Org.
filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/15/14. Office in
Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of PLLC
upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall
mail copy of process to The PLLC 51 Livingston Rd
Scarsdale, NY 10583. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER
In the Matter of a Proceeding Under
Article 10 of the Family Court Act
QUAYVAUN ALLEN (d.o.b.9/11/11),
Docket No.: NN- 00277-14
FU No. 139941
A Child Under Eighteen Years of Age
Alleged to be Neglected by
SUMMONS and INQUEST NOTICE
LAQUANAYA WARD,
(Child Neglect Case)
Respondent.
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD(REN) IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR
RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD(REN). IF YOUR CHILD(REN) STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST
RECENT 22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION(S) TO TERMINATE
YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD(REN) TO
THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. IN SOME CASES, THE AGENCY MAY FILE BEFORE
THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. IF SEVERE OR REPEATED CHILD ABUSE IS PROVEN BY CLEAR
AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE, THIS FINDING MAY CONSTITUTE THE BASIS TO TERMINATE YOUR
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD(REN) TO THE
AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION.
UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE
NON-RESPONDENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RESPONDENT; IF THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD(REN) SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN
INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NON-RESPONDENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE
CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD(REN); IF THE CHILD(REN) IS PLACED AND REMAINS IN FOSTER CARE
FOR FIFTEEN OF THE MOST RECENT TWENTY-TWO MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE
A PETITION(S) FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF
GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD(REN) FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE
PARENT(s) WERE NOT NAMED AS RESPONDENTS IN THE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING.
A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CUSTODY OF
THE CHILD(REN) AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD(REN).
A Petition under Article 10 of the Family Court Act having been filed with this Court, and annexed hereto
YOU AND EACH OF YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at 111 Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Blvd., 3rd Floor Annex, White Plains, New York 10601, on MARCH 4, 2015, at 9:15 o’clock in the x
morning of that day to answer the petition and to be dealt with in accordance with Article 10 of the Family
Court Act.
Upon your failure to appear as herein directed a warrant may be issued for your arrest and/or the Court
may proceed to Inquest and hear and determine the petition as provided by law.
Dated: 1/20 /15.
_______/S/___________
Clerk of Court
I can hear the bagpipes already…as
the Northern Westchester/Putnam 39th
Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade kicks
off Sunday, March 8th at 2pm on Route
6 in Croton Falls.
An Environmental Summit and
Solar Action Day will be held on
Saturday, January 31st, at Fox Lane
High School in Bedford. The summit
will mark the official launch of Solarize
Bedford-Mount Kisco, a 19-week
campaign promoting widespread
adoption of solar in both the residential
and business sectors. Residents, students
and businesses will be provided with a
wide array of actionable, real world solutions to help make the community clean,
healthy and sustainable. The summit
will be a full day event including lectures
and workshops led by national and local
experts on the topics of energy, water,
waste, food and health. The event also
will include an Environmental Expo
of interactive demonstrations, green
products and information from more
than 70 participating organizations and
businesses.
The Field Library in Peekskill
invites families to its annual “Take Your
Child to the Library” Day on February
7th. The festivities begin with a special
craft at 11 am. At 2 pm, the library will
present Evan Gottfried’s Family Music
Extravaganza. Come along with Evan
on his high-energy musical adventure, where everyone gets to be a kid.
Get ready to shine like a rainbow and
“bubble” over with excitement. Evan’s
interactive show keeps kids engaged
from start to finish.
Our northern Westchester neighbor
Michael Bloomberg, who owns a home
in North Salem,was listed as the “Richest
Person in New York” in a story on
Marketwatch.com. The story mentions
that Bloomberg has a net worth of $33.7
billion. Not sure the Jeffers gang made
the top ten, maybe next year…
Congratulations to Fox Lane’s
Andrew Workman as he has signed
a National Letter of Intent to attend
Quinnipiac University this fall for
baseball.
This week’s column is dedicated to
my wonderful father, who passed away
this week, his strength, courage and
sense of humor will live with me and my
family forever, thanks Dad.
20 W. 20th ST. (btwn 5th & 6th)
212-633-1199
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WESTCHESTER
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Page 15
Latinos, Arabs and Asians
here and there”, explained
Ibrahim. “It is something
the students set because
they think it is the correct
way to fight for their
rights”.
In addition to real-life
ethnic student union, the
film also depicts dramatized events and characters
inspired by news headlines
that recently shocked the
American people. In 2010,
there really was a San
Diego party where some
teens where dressed up to
mock African Americans.
In the same year, a young
Africa-American
man
was kidnapped and hung,
(Frederick
Jermaine
Carter, Mississippi – the
family disputes the original
ME report of suicide and
his case remains unsolved).
“We fictionalized all these
accounts in different times
and locations so we can use them in our
film”, said Ibrahim.
In addition to the young actors
appearing in the film, Ashmawey
Brothers also managed to cast veteran
character-actors like Oscar-winner
Louis Gossett Jr., (An Officer and a
Gentleman, 1982) and Emmy-winner
Keith David, (Unforgivable Blackness,
2004) who both play the investigators.
M. Emmet Walsh appears as a school
official, John Heard plays Valerie’s father
and Egyptian-American actor Sayed
Badreya appears briefly as Hazem’s
father. “Hollywood’s big names like
these can come on board and agree to
cut down their salaries if they believe
in the just cause of the production”
says Omar. “They also feel they have
more room to give better performances.
Gossett Jr. signed up immediately with
us since he also established his Eracism
Foundation in the States”.
The financing of Boiling Pot was,
however, not that easy. “We started an
online campaign like most indies do
nowadays, but it was not that successful”,
remembers Ibrahim who spent more
than a year raising funds for his film.
“With such lack of financial support, we
decided to do it on our own by obtaining a loan to secure the first portion of
the budget”. After doing so, they two
directors managed to finish 75% of the
film, a feat that impressed several film
investors to put up enough money to
finish it completely.
After screening the film in several
Orange County, California and Harlem,
New York, events, Boiling Pot obtained
a US distributor last month. “We hope
to try to screen the film in Egypt and
the Middle East later, after its US
release”, says Omar. “We got very good
feedback from the private screenings.
Some people did not believe the stories
we were telling until they saw the film to
the very last frame”.
CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES
Boiling Pot
By Sherif Awad
Boiling Pot, soon to
be released in American
theaters, explores racism
in American universities.
The film was written,
directed and financed by EgyptianAmerican directors Omar and Ibrahim
Ashmawey, who were motivated to
create the film by the extensive media
coverage of racial tensions in America.
Set during the 2008 presidential election, Boiling Pot opens with
four university students dragging a
bruised young black man through the
woods to an oak tree, where they hang
a noose and lynch him. As Detective
Havem, (Louis Gossett Jr.) and FBA
Agent Long (Keith David) investigate
the murder, the story unfolds through
student interrogations with a series of
flashbacks that depict the events that led
up to the lynching.
The plot follows the parallel stories
of characters dealing with racial frictions
throughout university life. Danielle
Fishel plays a girl naïve to racial tensions,
who struggles to have her conservative
white father, played by John Heard,
accept her new Egyptian-America
fiancé Haven, played by Ibrahim
Ashmawey. Davetta Sherwood (The
Young and the Restless) plays a Black
Student Union College activist, tenuously trying to encourage the passive
dean of her school, played by Emmet
Walsh (Blade Runner, Blood Simple), to
battle campus racism during the heated
election. The plot simmers and campus
fury comes to a head when a noose is
hung on campus; a racist party rages
at a frat house, and news P R E S S K I T
of a rape spreads. Boiling
Pot delves into the depths
of racism in modern-day
society by allowing the
story to unfold through
different narratives intertwined, in a dramatic
thriller. There is neither an
apparent vile character nor
a supposed hero; rather,
every character, if pushed
far enough, will reflect
prejudice.
Omar and Ibrahim
Ashmawey were both
born in Maryland to
two Egyptian parents
who immigrated to the
States but were committed to teaching the Arab
language and Egyptian
customs to their two
sons, returning to Egypt
from time to time. The
Ashmaweys eventually
relocated from Maryland
to Michigan and finally
settled in California where the brothers
finished high school. Omar went on
to study economics in college while
Ibrahim majored in engineering.
However, while growing up in the
States, the Ashmawey brothers often
felt offended by the stereotypical portrayal of Arab-Americans and Muslims
in the US media: “We were sure that in
order to change this depiction, it must
be from within the entertainment
industry as well”, said Omar, and The
Boiling Pot is their feature debut “We
did not want to make an Egyptian film
for the Egyptian market but our aim
was to address the American people”, he
w w w. b o i l i n g p o t m o v i e . c o m
©AshmaweyFilms. All rights reserved.
Ibrahim Ashmawey and Danielle Fishel
explained. The two brothers spent considerable time on background research,
and also met with many U.S. university
students in an effort to reflect a realistic
image of daily life on Campus. Prior to
filming Boiling Pot, Ibrahim and Omar
created their own production company,
Ashmawey Films through which they
made early shorts like Naomi’s Song and
Why I Killed My Brother.
The first thing that will likely
catch the attention of foreign viewers
of Boiling Pot is the existence of Black
Student Unions in certain universities,
which inadvertently can pave the way
to racial segregation between people an
early age. “Actually, unions also exist for
Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is a
film/video critic and curator. He is the film
editor of Egypt Today Magazine (www.
EgyptToday.com) and the Artistic
Director for both the Alexandria film
Festival , and the Arab Rotterdam Festival
in The Netherlands. He also contributes
to Variety, in the United States and is the
Film Critic of Variety, Arabia (http://
amalmasryalyoum.com/ennode189132
and The Westchester Guardian: www.
WestchesterGuardian.com
Ibrahim Ashmawey Sayed Badreya Omar Ashmawey
Page 16
Mary At The Movies
Blackhat
Movie Review by Mary Keon
Blackhat is a high-tech cybercrime thriller that will hold your
attention until the very last frame. Chris
Hemsworth plays Nicholas Hathaway,
hacker extraordinaire: doin pushups
diligently in his small prison cell, as we
meet him; local hero to his friends on
the block, as he has just electronically
loaded their prison spending accounts
with extra funds and is now headed for
solitary confinement to contemplate the
wisdom of this little caper.
Wang Leehom plays Chen Dawai,
a captain in the Chinese army from a
distinguished family, tasked to identify
the hacker who has caused a Fukushima
style meltdown in a Chinese nuclear
plant by shutting down the cooling
pumps for the fuel rods. In the U.S.
someone has hacked the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange causing a run
Chris Hemsworth and Tang Wei
Chen Lien (Tang Wei) is recruited by her brother, Chen Dawai (Leehom Wang)
up in commodities. Both the Chinese
and the U.S. suspect a RAT (a Remote
Access Tool) has enabled the hacker
to gain access to their computers. A
graduate of MIT, Dawai is also a gifted
programmer and quickly recognizes the
origin of the rogue code that has been
planted in the reactor. He persuades his
superiors to send him to the U.S. to find
Viola Davis as FBI Special Agent Carol Barrett in Legendary’s “Blackhat”,
Chris Hemsworth as Nicholas Hathaway in Blackhat
the one person he knows has the skills
to help him identify and apprehend the
hacker.
Tang Wei plays Dawai’s little sister,
Chen Lien, a network programmer who
accompanies her brother to the states,
supplying critical skills to the team and
quickly falls for Hathaway. Viola Davis
(Analise Keaton in How To Get Away
With Murder) and John Ortiz (Erin’s
boss and wannabe boyfriend on Blue
Bloods) are FBI agents who persuade
the Feds to spring Hathaway to help
them out.
The three programmers read
computer code like the rest of us read
the telephone book. They quickly trace
their suspect back to China and we are
soon hopscotching from Kowloon to
Malaysia. Hathaway is headed back to
prison if he can’t identify and apprehend the elusive hacker, so he is more
than willing to chase this guy to the
ends of the earth. The hacker has made
no political statement in causing the
reactor shutdown nor does he demand a
ransom; seemingly he hacks just because
he can. So who is he, what does he want
and what is the next target?
While the dialogue can fall a little
flat at times, (listen, these are computer
programmers not lit
majors!), the
action never stops and the plot causes
one to consider how many disasters are
actually triggered –deliberately created
to short markets and generate windfall
profits for those who are pre-positioned
to profit. And you thought computer
programming was boring!
Running time: 133 Minutes.
Directed by Michael Mann for
Legendary Pictures. Script written by
Morgan David Foehl and Micheal
Man. MPAA Rating R for Violence
and some language.
Photo Credit: All Photos Frank Connor/
Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures
Copyright: © 2015 Legendary Pictures
and Universal Pictures. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED.
“Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot,
for one brief shining moment that was
known as Camelot.”
Lerner and
Loewe’s
beloved
masterpiece
captivates
in a new
and intimate
production
CAMELOT
FEATURING ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL MELODIES!
“If Ever I Would Leave You” • “What Do the Simple Folk Do?”
“How To Handle A Woman” • “I Loved You Once In Silence”
This is the Camelot you must see!
ON STAGE THRU APRIL 5
Valentine’sDay
CELEBRATION
Neil Diamond Tribute Concert
Starring BRIAN LA BLANC
GOLD STAR EVENT SAT., FEBRUARY 14
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January 29, 2015 - WestchesterGuardian.com

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