February 15, 2013 - Rising Media Group
Transcription
February 15, 2013 - Rising Media Group
WESTCHESTER’S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPERS PRESORT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID White Plains, NY Permit #7164 Vol 108 Number 7 www.RisingMediaGroup.com 9th Grader’s Letter on Education Makes It to Albany Friday, February 15, 2013 Yonkers Residents Hope to Save Trevor Park Photo by Donna Davis Citizens Committee to Save Trevor Park members (l to r) Roberta Robinson-Frazier, Barbara Smith, Lorry Skrobola, Magaret Santos, Mary Santos, Carol Atror, Lillie Galan and Denise Holden Photo by Bayan Baker Elieen Castillo (left) and Yonkers Middle/High School Principal Jane Wermuth By Dan Murphy When Yonkers Public Schools (YPS) Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio recently visited Albany to testify before Assembly and Senate members about state education funding for the YPS, he brought along a letter from Eileen Castillo, an 9th grade student at Yonkers Middle/High School. Here is Eileen’s letter, written when she was an 8th grader at Casimir Pulaski School, which outlines the challenges the YPS faces: “Hello, my name is Eileen Castillo. I am currently an 8th grade student at the Casimir Pulaski School. I have experienced all the sudden changes made to my educational environment. All these changes made because of the budget cuts haven’t only impacted me but those around me, my peers. “Due to the $39 million cut from Yonkers Public Schools, our school has no longer a school counselor. I, as well as my classmates, will be entering high school in September 2012. A school counselor is a big help when Continued on Page 8 By Dan Murphy A group of Yonkers residents who live near Trevor Park in northwest Yonkers are trying to get the word out about their efforts to save the park. Developers Glenwood POH have submitted two proposals to the Yonkers Planning Board to redevelop the Glenwood Power Station into a convention center and hotel. Included in their proposals are the construction of a 800 to 1,000 car parking garage to be built on Trevor Park. After hearing concerns from the public about saving the park, the developers have amended their proposal to include replacing the park with green space and a children’s area — see photo on Page 9. Remembering Mike Muro what’s inside Habitat Fundraiser at New Bonefish Grill Mayor vs YFD: Round 3 Yonkers’ Korean War Heroes Yonkers Hyperlocal This, Too, is Yonkers Seniors & Health Care Page 2 Page 3 Pages 4, 9 & 10 Page 3 Page 3 Residents still have concerns. “An athletic field is not a proper replacement for a park,” said Ravine Avenue resident and Citizens Committee to Save Trevor Park member Lilli Galan. “We will have no trees and no areas to walk. For those of us who live in a quiet residential neighborhood nearby, this plan will take away our backyard.” Trevor Park consists of 21 acres. Combined with the adjacent JFK Park and Marina, Trevor Parks makes a continual 28 acres of Hudson riverfront green space and parkland. The land was originally the estate of financier John Bond Trevor who built Glenview Mansion, which is now part of the Hudson River Continued on Page 9 Page 7 Mike Muro This, Sunday, February 17, it will be 25 years that all of us lost a loving, caring, generous and loyal friend. Mike Muro was the Yonkers City Assessor when he died of a heart attack at the age of 47. There will be a mass for Mike at the Annunciation Church in Crestwood at 5 p.m. on February 17, followed by a memorial dinner at Luciano’s at 6:30 p.m. Your donation will benefit the Exchange Club of Yonkers’ Child Abuse Prevention Programs or the American Heart Association Heart Fund. For more information on the dinner, call Luciano’s at 914-961-5550, ask for Patti Savone. The following appeared in a journal in 1990 when a scholarship dinner was held in Mike’s honor. “Michael Louris Muro was born July 22, 1940 at Yonkers General Hospital. Son of Maria Concetta Rolo Muro and Peter K. Muro, Sr., Mike grew up in the Nodine Hill section of Yonkers. He attended St. Casmir’s Grammar School Continued on Page 8 Yonkers Charter School Gets Five-Year Renewal from State By Dan Murphy As our state and country continues the debate and experiment over charter schools, one argument heard against charter schools is that it siphons away (or diverts) education dollars and resources away from the public schools. But what if that argument was challenged by statistics which show that charter schools are able to educate students at a significantly lower per pupil dollar amount and that test scores from charter schools are better than many public schools. We uncovered these facts while visiting the Yonkers Charter School of Educational Excellence (CSEE), located at 260 Warburton Ave. CSEE was Westchester and Yonkers’ first charter school (there is now a charter high school in Mt. Vernon). Opened in 2005, the school received its five-year charter extension from the New York State Board of Regents on February 11 of this year. CSEE now has 640 students in grades K to 8 and now has a waiting list of parents eager to have their children enroll. This is the greatest sign that the CSEE is succeeding; the demand is greater than the supply of seats. “Parents are seeing the achievements of our school and hear about the rigor and the positive atmosphere of learning and they want their children to attend,” said CSEE Founder and Board Chairman Eduardo LaGuerre. “We are financially able to meet our obligations, including the construction of a new building expansion. All of our teachers are certified and we are always looking to get better by tweaking our curriculum. “A lot of our students come from homes where education is not supported. Some are living in shelters. We offer them support and pay for their uniforms. Our fundraising has also been successful and helps up pay for a lot of supplemental programs. Our success is based on the belief that every parent deserves a sound education for their children.” Test scores for the CSEE from 2012 CSEE students with (l to r): parent and Community Affairs Coordinator Carmen Gomez-Goldberg, Principal Dr. Catalina Castillo, Assistant Principal and Yonkers native Cindy Lopez, Founder Eduardo LaGuerre and Council Minority Leader John Larkin showed that 82 percent of CSEE students passed the Math exam and more that 78 percent passed the English Language Arts (ELA) state tests. CSEE’s test scores were 30 points higher than the average scores for the Yon- kers Public Schools (YPS). CSEE 6th graders scored particularly well, with 92 percent passing math and 94.3 percent passing ELA. “Our school has outperformed every school in the YPS except for PEARLS and the results show that we can provide a better education with less. We are a public school made up of the children and students from Yonkers and any child can enroll,” said LaGuerre, Continued on Page 8 PAGE 2 - Yonkers RISING - Friday, February 15, 2013 Bonefish Grill at Ridge Hill Hosts Habitat Fundraiser Urban H2O Concert at Beczak: Joe Crookston and Peter Glanville Joe Crookston and Peter Glanville Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Executive Director Kim Killoran with volunteers painting a mural at community garden in Yonkers Habitat for Humanity of Westchester is partnering with The Bonefish Grill at Ridge Hill for a Charity Night Fundraiser designed to be a casually elegant evening. Guests will be seated family-night and treated to sampling of Bonefish Grill’s signature appetizers and entrees. The dinner is on February 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with all proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity Westchester’s efforts to provide Hurricane Sandy relief and on improving Westchester neighborhoods. “This event is a kick off of our 25th Anniversary,” said Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Executive Director Jim Killoran. “This year, we hope to help six Veterans families have homes in Westchester. And our Sandy relief program has helped hundreds of families. Everything we do is an expression of love and helping neighbors and getting people a home. “This is an chance to help us help your neighbors in Westchester, and to have it at Bonefish Grill at Ride Hill in Yonkers is a great kick off for Habitat.” Bonefish Grill specializes in fresh fish grilled over a wood-burning grill, which gives the fish a savory, even cook. A tantalizing array of sauces and featured pairings, ranging from fresh and light to rich and flavorful, are offered to enhance the favor of the fish, each in a different way. For more on the menu, visit BonefishGrill.com. Bonefish Grill at Ridge Hill will open to the public on February 18 and is hiring for various positions, including server, host, bartender and kitchen staff. Applications are available online or in-person at the restaurant. You can also visit the Web site and complete the online application. Interviews will be conducted with qualified candidates. Applications are being accepted until February 18. Tickets to the Charity Night Fundraiser benefitting Habitat for Humanity of Westchester are $35 per person and include two drinks. To make reservations for the special pre-opening party, call Killoran at 914-6368355 ext. 101, e-mail Jim@habitatwc.org or visit HabitatWC.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, space permitting. Ithaca’s Joe Crookston, one of New York’s finest performers and songwriters, will showcase a remarkable range of musical talent at Urban H2O on Saturday, February 16 at 7 p.m., presented by Tribes Hill. This rare opportunity to hear Crookston perform with his musical duo partner Peter Glanville is his second performance at Urban H2O. Touring throughout the US, Ireland and Canada, Crookston has a reputation as an ener- getic and engaging live performer, master songwriter and was among the artists voted “Most Wanted to Return” to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Hillsdale, NY. Urban H20 is hosted at Beczak Environmental Education Center, located on the Hudson River at 35 Alexander St. in Yonkers. Tickets are $10 at the door and includes free beer, provided by Westchester’s award-winning Captain Lawrence Brewing Company. For more information, visit UrbanH2O.org. YFD Donates to Children’s Hospital Yonkers firefighters representing the Local 628 union visited the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, located at 100 Woods Rd. in Valhalla, last week. The firefighters handed out ice cream sundaes with all the trimmings to the children, their families and the staff at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. They also brought with them a check for $5,000. The donated funds were raised by the Yonkers Fire Department over the course of the year at events like a chili cook off, a motorcycle rally and the Pass the Boot drive on Central Park Avenue. Join this lively presentation and discussion by noted author and senior moving specialist, Susan Phillips Bari AUTHOR OF “The Guide to Moving Mom ….or Dad, or Uncle Henry (or maybe yourself)” Wednesday, February 27, 2013 5:30 pm DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS AT Five Star Premier Residences of Yonkers 537 Riverdale Avenue • Yonkers, NY 10705 Learn from one of the best on how to: • Help a loved one transition to a new living arrangement • Develop a "Moving Mom" team • Organize each step of the process • Find helpful resources in your community • Work with attorneys, stagers,real estate agents, moving companies and other professionals A SIGNED COPY OF BARI’S BOOK WITH THE SAME TITLE WILL BE GIVEN TO ALL ATTENDEES! Space is limited. R.S.V.P. to Clary Batista, 914-709-1234 by February 20th. 537 Riverdale Avenue • Yonkers, NY 10705 914-709-1234 Pet Friendly Get Your Dance On! Thursday, February 28, 2013 Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can get your dance on! Across the United States and in your community— dance, learn simple ways to stay healthy, enjoy music and participate in health screenings Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Location: Lake Isle Country Club 660 White Plains Road Eastchester, NY 10709 Admission Fee: $5 or FREE for Spirit of Women members. To Register: Call (914) 787-5000 or 1-855-SO-WOMEN (1-855-769-6636). Pre-registration is required! Web: www.lawrencehealth.org www.FiveStarPremier-Yonkers.com ©2013 Five Star Quality Care, Inc. INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE Location. Innovation. Compassion. Friday, February 15, 2013 - Yonkers RISING - PAGE 3 Yonkers’ Korean War Heroes Marine Corps Sergeant Dennis A. Pryzgoda By Andrew Tobia be a sergeant. But he Dennis A. Pryzgot the job done. Dengoda, Junior, the third nis was as brave as he of three children, was was good natured. born on October 9, 1931 Serving as mato Dennis A. Sr., a Polchine gun section ish immigrant, and Rose leader in Company Pryzgoda. He, his sister D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Regina and his brother Regiment, 1st Marine Robert were raised in Division, Pryzgoda the southwest Yonkers was involved in comneighborhood now bat just north of Seoul, known as Nodine Hill. in an area known to Though not, strictMarines as “Nevada ly speaking, from a miliCities.” Nevada Cities tary family — his father was a cluster of three ran an insurance office Marine Corps Combat on Nepperhan Avenue, Outposts — outposts served as Justice of the Vegas, Reno and CarPeace and was Demoson — near the nowcratic Supervisor of abandoned village Yonkers’ Fifth Ward — Panmunjom, which Pryzgoda grew up with lies within the current Marine Corps Sergeant Dennis Pryzgoda various military influboundaries of the Koences. His father had close friends who served in rean Demilitarized Zone. the American Expeditionary Forces during World It was here, in the immediate vicinity of War I and his brother Robert (five years his elder) outposts Vegas and Carson, that Pryzgoda was was a World War II Navy Veteran. killed during fierce combat. The day was MonPryzgoda attended St. Casimir’s School and day, July 20, 1953 — a mere seven days before graduated from Gorton High School in 1949. the Armistice Agreement was signed, ceasing all During high school, he played on the football, open hostilities. basketball, track and golf teams. After college, Pryzgoda’s parents were notified of his Pryzgoda worked days at the John Buchanan rug death on in early August via telegram. On the cleaning service while putting himself through very same day, they received a letter from their night classes at Columbia University. He com- son, dated July 14, six days before his death. In pleted three semesters toward a degree in busi- the letter, among other things, he wrote that they ness administration before enlisting in the United were experiencing a lull in fighting. States Marine Corps in February, 1951. His body was returned to the United States Pryzgoda attended Marine Corps Boot from Korea on the USS Mankato, along with 233 Camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. After a other American soldiers who had lost their lives. 10-day leave at home in Yonkers, he underwent Along with him were two other Westchester naextended training at Camp Pendleton, California. tives, Private First Class Rocco Caridi of White He then shipped out to Korea as a Private First Plains and Alfred T. Sandford of Peekskill. Class. On the ground in Korea, he took part in Pryzgoda’s family received his body in early further extended training at a noncommissioned October. He was buried with full military honofficer school. By the time of his death, he had ors in the family plot at St. Joseph’s Cemetery risen to the rank of Sergeant, three higher than in Yonkers on what would have been his 22nd Private First Class. birthday, October 9, 1953. Lee Ballenger, a Marine Veteran who has He is the recipient of the Purple Heart, Comwritten extensively on the Korean War, served bat Infantryman’s Badge, Korean Service Medal, alongside Pryzgoda. In his most recent book, United Nations Korea Medal and National De“The Final Crucible: U.S. Marines in Korea, Vol. fense Service Medal. 2: 1953,” published in 2006 by Potomac Books To our knowledge, Pryzgoda has no living as part of its History of War series, Ballenger friends or relatives. This is also the case for some made a made a mention of Pryzgoda. The pas- of the other Yonkers Veterans who forfeit their sage is as follows: lives during the Korean War and who we will be “I was bunked next to Dennis Pryzgoda, profiling in future weeks. If you knew Pryzgoda a tall, blue-eyed Polish lad from Yonkers, New or any of Yonkers’ other Korean War Heroes, York, who loved country music. He had a smile please contact us at 914-965-4000 or RisingMe for everyone and was almost too good natured to diaGroup@gmail.com. Celebrate Black History Month with Youth Theatre Interactions Yonkers Riverfront Library is pleased to host Youth Theatre Interactions (YTI) in a celebration of Black History Month through song, dance and the spoken word. Join us in the Riverfront Auditorium on Wednesday, February 27 at 6 p.m. The program will feature “A Tribute to Langston Hughes” performed by the Intimate Realities Drama Company under the direction of Paul Kwame Johnson, and vocal solos, a performance by YTI’s Percussion Drummers and an African Dance finale. YTI provides professional instruction in the performing arts to Westchester County youth, with the support and participation of their parents, for the purpose of fostering in these young people discipline, confidence, critical thinking and pride in accomplishments, so that they can become positive contributors to the workplace and to society and proceed into the professional world of the arts if they so choose. YTI alters the future by empowering young lives today! Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, the Executive/Artistic Director of YTI, is a 20-year veteran of the Broadway stage. This free performance is co-sponsored by the City of Yonkers and Mayor Mike Spano. The Riverfront Library is located at 1 Larkin Center. For more information, call Branch Administrator Susan Thaler at 914-337-1500 ext. 432 or visit YPL.org. ‘True Light Revealed’ Documentary Series “Brick by Brick” The Important Values for Youth (IVY) Programs, in conjunction with the Yonkers Human Rights Commission and City Council Education Chair Michael Sabatino, will present a film and documentary series, “True Light Revealed,” in Celebration of Black History Month. These films, though perhaps controversial and often emotional, will be used to raise high school and college students’ awareness of histor- ical and sociological events that have taken place in America against Black America. Students will be asked to write a paper and/ or to participate in a discussion group after viewing the film for extra credit. Guest speakers may be available for discussions with the audience at the end of some of the documentaries. The third screening, showing the film “Brick by Brick,” will be held on Saturday, February 23 at 1:30 p.m. In education, “Brick by Brick” details how local public school divisions grew up around a neighborhood overwhelmed with 7,000 units of public housing, further entrenching the city’s color line. Along with the harsh reality of this situation, viewers see the community react to the conditions in their children’s schools, fighting back to force Yonkers to change its ways. “Brick by Brick” tracks the resulting Federal v. Yonkers litigation, which challenged neighborhood and educational discrimination. Coming back out of the courtroom into the community, the story describes the bitter local confrontation about race and the very concept of community that follows. From a first person perspective, characters weave a tale of years of work attempting to achieve justice, with a labyrinth of successes and setbacks that the struggle entails. “True Light Revealed,” free and open to the public, will be held weekly during February, Black History Month, at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, located at 1 Larkin Plaza. For more information, call 914-377-6931 or e-mail ivyreeves1@gmail.com. This, Too, is Yonkers By Eric W. Schoen to clarify that — City Watch out Yonkers! Hall employees, some Eric is on his soap box this earning $35,000 a year week. We will applaud the or less, have to pay good and scold the bad. for the “privilege” of As to the ridiculous, you parking in the garage. be the judge! Commissioners makGovernment Center ing $160,000 don’t. Garage & the Yonkers And they get a reserved Parking Authority space. Makes no sense. Have you visited the Getting back to Government Center Gayou, Mr. and Mrs. Yonrage next to City Hall latekers taxpayer, the Parkly? Let me rephrase that ing Authority. at their question. Have you, Mr. January 3 meeting. votor Mrs. Yonkers taxpayer, ed to increase fees for tried to park your car in the Buena Vista Parking Eric W. Schoen the Government Center Garage. According to Garage lately? Maybe the minutes of the meetto pay your taxes, get a permit, pay a parking ing, “rate increases would need to be applied ticket or try to view your government in action? to our other garages as we should not compete Don’t even think you are going to find a against ourselves.” What in heaven does that parking space if you enter the garage at 11 a.m., mean? as I did one weekday several weeks ago. That Buena Vista garage hourly fees are going is, of course, unless you have a reserved park- from $2 to $3 an hour. I tried to find out if this ing space. The top two floors of the garage, and meant that Government Center Garage fees many of the spaces on the floors beneath, are would rise similarly from $2 to $3 an hour. No reserved spaces. Reserved for city officials who response from Yonkers Parking Authority Exare not paying for the privilege of entering the ecutive Director Lisa Mrijaj. garage as you, Mr. or Mrs. Yonkers taxpayer, It is time for Mayor Mike Spano or some would have to do. other body of government to take control of Oops. When I say “city officials,” I have Continued on Page 8 PERB Declares Impasse Between City of Yonkers & YFD Local 628 The decision last week by the NYS Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) to declare an impasse between the City of Yonkers and the Yonkers Firefighters IAFF Union Local 628 on contract negotiations was declared “a major victory” by Mayor Mike Spano as part of his efforts to bring about budgetary reforms to Yonkers, which is facing a $86 million budget hole this year and $428 over the next three. “We have been saying for several months now that the Fire Union will not agree to meaningful discussions to reform costly and outdated contract provisions that drive up overtime, sick leave and reduce the effectiveness of the department,” said Spano. “Now PERB has agreed with the city that there is an impasse and has given us the ability to address the issues with the assistance of an outside mediator. The taxpayers deserve a realistic discussion of costly contract provisions that the people can no longer afford and which reduce productivity.” Local 628 President Barry McGoey said, “By declaring ‘victory,’ Mike Spano has finally come clean and admitted that he never intended to bargain in good faith in an attempt to try to reach an amicable agreement with the Yonkers Firefighters. Mike Spano’s ultimate goal has now been revealed to have been designed to bring about an impasse by refusing to be reasonable or realistic in his dealings with the Yonkers Firefighters. “Local 628 has acted in good faith and has put forth significant proposals which would have saved the city millions of dollars over the next several years. We now know that Mike Spano never wanted to resolve the contractual disputes between the Yonkers Firefighters and the city — he only wanted to ensure that we could never come to an agreement.” Yonkers Firefighters in Local 628 have been working without a contract for almost four years. But due to the Triborough Amendment, the prior contract’s provisions of salaries, benefits, longevity and check-in pay increases remain in effect. Spano, who has called the Yonkers Firefighters “the highest paid firefighters in the country” says the city can no longer afford to pay Yonkers’ Bravest at their current levels. A rookie firefighter’s starting salary, combined with check-in pay, overtime and other salary increases, totals close to $90,000 per year. McGoey and Local 628 have responded by saying that the Mayor has not used a Federal SAFER grant which could be used to hire additional firefighters at no cost to the city and reduce overtime. PERB’s declaration of an impasse means that a mediator will attempt to resolve the dispute. Should the mediator be unable to forge a consensus, the Mayor noted, the next step would be binding arbitration in which the city will have the opportunity to seek mandatory rulings from a state-appointed arbitrator. The PERB-supervised process will allow the city to put a wide range of issues on the table, including not only salary, but also minimum manning provisions of the Firefighters’ contract as well as whether the Fire Department should retain first responder status for all medical emergencies. Consequently, the city will hold off on any attempts to change minimum staffing and first responder status while the mediation process is underway. “Now, with the appointment of a mediator, the city will have a forum to put our issues on the table,” said Spano. “If mediation does not produce a result, then the city will have the right to put its case before an arbitrator whose decision will be binding. “The bottom line is that the Fire Union leadership’s tactics of delay are over. The city has won the right to put the people’s case before a mediator and, ultimately, an arbitrator, so that we can force a decision on these costly practices, whether the Union likes it or not.” McGoey said, “Instead of declaring victory, Mike Spano would better serve the citizens of Yonkers by rolling up his sleeves and sitting down with Local 628 and resolving the Yonkers Firefighter’s contract, which has been expired for almost four years. Now is not the time to pass the buck. Mike Spano was elected Mayor of Yonkers. It’s time for Mike Spano to be the Mayor and to resolve this dispute in Yonkers, by Yonkers people, for the people of Yonkers.” The two sides are, clearly, at an impasse. PAGE 4 - Yonkers RISING - Friday, February 15, 2013 New Blue Door Gallery Exhibit Blue Door Gallery is happy to present a new exhibition of its highly popular series, Show and Tell, in which a group of regional artists will exhibit their work and give demonstrations of their techniques on four successive Saturdays. A diverse selection of artists — including quilters, mixed media artists, doll makers and portrait artists — were chosen to show their work and illustrate their talent to the public on each Saturday during this special exhibition. Exhibiting artists are as follows: • Anne Bobroff-Hajal, painting and collage; • Benedicte Caneill, fiber art; • Alan Cohen, photography; • Lewis Cohen, sculpture; • Howard Eisman, vitreous glass; • Evelyn Eidelberg, doll making; • Randy Frost, fiber art; • Lizzie Gill, collage; • Mark Gilliland, photo montage; • Maralyn Matlick, painting; and • Susan Richman, photography. An opening reception for the series will be held on Friday, February 22 at 5 p.m. at Blue Door Gallery, located at 13 Riverdale Ave. Artist demonstrations will be held on Saturdays, February 23 and March 2, 9 and 16. The Blue Door Gallery is open Thursdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 914-375-5100, e-mail info@bluedoorgallery.org or visit Blue DoorGallery.org. Serving Our Country Army Specialist Francis G. Kamasah has returned to the U.S. after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners. Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. troops serve in South, Southwest and Central Asia, the Arabian peninsula, the Horn of Africa, islands in the Pacific and Europe. Kamasah is a combat medic assigned to the 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He is the son of Vivian Gbeglo of Yonkers. Yonkers Humane Society Participates in Adoption Event The Yonkers Humane Society will participate in a big, expanded adoption event from Friday, February 22 to Sunday, February 24. The event will be held at PetSmart, located at 2458 Central Park Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The Yonkers Humane Society will feature for adoption many fabulous, friendly, healthy, beautiful felines from the Yonkers Animal Shelter. Both adult cats and kittens will be available. Come visit our ever-popular cat room inside PetSmart and search for your new best feline friend forever! Admission to the event is free. For more information, call the Yonkers Humane Society at 914-439-2415. From the Desk of the DA: Animal Cruelty For many of us with cruelty cases that occur pets, a dog or cat is lovhere in our county. ingly treated as a member On my staff, I have of our family. For some, a specially trained Asan animal is seen as a tarsistant District Attorney get for maltreatment or who is responsible for physical abuse. the investigation and Abusive behavior prosecution of these castoward any animal is not es. This assistant collabonly cruel and disturbing orates with local police — it is illegal. As Disdepartments and the Sotrict Attorney and chief ciety for the Prevention law enforcement officer of Cruelty to Animals of in Westchester County, I Westchester (SPCA) to would like to share with maximize the effectiveyou the work my office is ness and impact of the doing in cases of animal work in this area. cruelty. Her expertise also Animal cruelty is deextends to police trainWestchester District Attorney fined in New York law as ing rooms, where she Janet DiFiore any act of violence or neteaches officers and vetglect that results in unjustifiable pain and suffer- erinary personnel throughout the region in idening of an animal. This not only includes denying tifying, investigating and collecting evidence, a companion animal or pet the basic necessities including DNA, in animal cruelty and animal such as food, water and shelter, but leaving a fighting cases. This Assistant District Attorney companion animal in a vehicle exposed to ex- also speaks to children in local classrooms about treme weather, hot or cold, without protection. animal cruelty and the cases we prosecute in this New York’s aggravated cruelty to animals area, with the ultimate goal of promoting kinder law makes it a felony when a person intention- treatment of animals and each other. ally kills or causes serious physical injury to a Recent cases that have resulted in conviccompanion animal with no justifiable purpose. tions and jail sentences show the importance of Engaging in animal fighting, which includes our work. In Rye, a concerned resident set up a training, breeding, selling, owning or possess- concealed security camera in his apartment and ing animals for the purpose of fighting, is also a recorded the building superintendent unlawfelony under New York law. And our New York fully enter the apartment and sexually abuse the State laws against sexual misconduct include resident’s dog. The superintendent was arrested, the sexual abuse of an animal. prosecuted and convicted of burglary and sexual As District Attorney, I pay close attention misconduct against the dog. The defendant was to cases of animal cruelty not only because the sentenced to six and a half years in state prison. behavior is inherently cruel and repulsive, but When a Yorktown man intentionally killed because these cases raise important public safety his girlfriend’s dog by yanking the dog’s collar concerns. Research tells us that a person’s mis- so hard that he snapped the dog’s head off its treatment of an animal is associated with a like- spine, the Yorktown Police and the SPCA inlihood of his or her committing further violence vestigated. DNA evidence was recovered and or criminal acts against humans. We also know linked the defendant to the crime. This man was from research that a child who abuses an ani- convicted of aggravated animal cruelty and senmal may have either witnessed or experienced tenced to 13 months in the Westchester County violence at home. For these reasons, I consider Jail. it extremely important to identify, thoroughly In another crime, what began as a drug ininvestigate and appropriately prosecute animal Continued on Page 8 NYPDC Events The North Yonkers Preservation & Development Corporation (NYPDC) is located at 219 Ridge Ave. in Yonkers. For more information on these and other events, or to register when required, call 914-423-9754 Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. NYPDC Fundraiser The NYPDC will be having a Giant Tag Sale — everything must go! — at the center. Gently used children and adult clothes, books, kitchen gadgets, toys, jewelry and much, much more will be on sale. The Giant Tag Sale will be held from February 16 to 19. On Saturday and Sunday, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; on Monday and Tuesday, it will be open from 12:30 to 3 p.m. NSC Defensive Driving Course NYPDC will sponsor a National Safety Council (NSC) defensive driving course beginning on Saturday, March 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the center. Those attending will be eligible for automobile insurance discounts for three years and driver’s license violation point reduction. You must attend both nights to receive certificate. The fee is $40 and participants must register in advance, as space is limited. Homework Help NYPDC will be offering a Homework Help Afterschool Program for children aged 5 to 12. The program will run Monday to Friday from 3 to 5:45 p.m. and will follow the Yonkers Public School Calendar. The Yonkers Public Schools will provide transportation to the program. Taj Mahal Casino Trip NYPDC will sponsor a trip to the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City on Wednesday, February 20. The bus will leave the center at 7:45 a.m. sharp, St. Casimirs Housing located at 289 Nepperhan Ave. at 7:55 a.m. sharp and St. Joseph’s Nursing Home located 127 South Broadway at 8 a.m. sharp. The cost is $30 per person and includes $30 in slot dollars. Participants must register in advance, as space is limited. Engel: Post Office Going Down Path to Oblivion Congressman Eliot Engel criticized the US Postal Service plan to end Saturday delivery service by August, calling the move part of a program of eventual elimination of service by the Post Office. In recent months, the Postal Service has closed, or threatened to close, scores of post offices and distribution centers, debated eliminating overnight service for First-Class Mail and wants to sell the Bronx General Post Office building. “It is a self-fulfilling prophecy — you provide inferior service, you drive away customers,” said Engel. “Once you remove one service, it becomes very easy to slash the next one and, all of a sudden, it’s a downward spiral to poorer service. “This is a path to oblivion for the Postal Service as they ride a business plan doomed for failure. I want the Post Office to succeed and for the American people to have ample access to facilities, but I need to see that the Post Office is serious about correcting their own flaws.” The Postal Service will stop Saturday deliveries, which it has been making since 1860, beginning on August 1, with delivery service continuing for packages and vital medicine deliveries. Post office facilities will remain open on Saturdays with reduced hours, enabling customers to drop off mail, buy stamps or use their post office boxes. “It is inevitable that the buildings will eventually be closed on Saturdays as well. This will lead to job losses and inferior services,” continued Engel. “It is especially problematic for seniors, working families and people living in rural areas. Republicans in Congress have long sought to stack the deck against the Postal Service, culminating in the Postal Act of 2006, which made it virtually impossible for the Postal Service to thrive. “That act, passed by a lame duck Republican Congress, required the Postal Service to pre-fund its future retiree health care benefits — a 75-year liability paid for in 10 years. This, coupled with decades of mismanagement, has put us in this position today. Congress needs to reform this act and aid the Postal Service in revamping its business plan, and enable it to pursue a path to solvency in the years to come. If not, we will soon be marking the end of the Postal Service altogether.” Former Yonkers Tax Clerk Levied his Own Fines Westchester County for $320; a fifth on November 28, 2012, for $220 District Attorney Janet Disurcharge in cash for late Fiore announced that Liofees on taxes; and a sixth nel Thomas, 35 of Yonkers, on November 29, 2012, for was recently arraigned on $360. a Felony Complaint chargAfter the victim ing him with one count of would pay the “fee” in Scheme to Defraud in the cash, Thomas would issue First Degree, a class “E” an official looking “reFelony. ceipt” for the money. The Between October 31 scheme unraveled when and November 29, 2012, one of the victims thought Thomas, a former emthe cash “fee” to be suspiployee of the City of Yoncious and called the Dekers Taxation and Finance partment of Taxation and Department, located at 40 Finance asking about the South Broadway in YonLionel Thomas policy. The investigation kers, engaged in a scheme by the Yonkers police dedefrauding a number of tax partment is continuing and further victims of this payers of the City of Yonkers. On six separate occasions, Thomas de- fraud are anticipated. “At a time when the City of Yonkers is cutmanded and received cash “fees” for processing legitimate tax payments from Yonkers’ residents. ting services to balance its budget, collecting The defendant did not have the authority to legitimate tax revenue matters now more than charge the “fees” and withheld the “fees” from ever,” said DiFiore. “Although no one enjoys paying taxes, citizens of Yonkers should feel the City of Yonkers. Specifically, on October 31, 2012, Thomas confident that their hard earned money is going fraudulently induced one taxpayer to pay him to finance their quality of life and services and a $380 surcharge in “late fees” on the victim’s not into the pocket of a city employee who estabtaxes, when in fact no such late fees were prop- lished his own taxing authority.” Thomas was released on his own recognierly chargeable. In similar fashion, Thomas fraudulently in- zance. His next court date is March 28.He faces duced another taxpayer, on November 15, 2012, a maximum sentence of four years in state pristo pay him a $250 surcharge in cash for late on. Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway, fees on taxes; a third taxpayer on November 27, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, is 2012, for $360; a fourth on November 28, 2012, prosecuting the case. NAACP Yonkers Symposium In celebration of Black History Month, the NAACP Yonkers Branch announced that a symposium, “Lincoln, Django & The Emancipation Proclamation — Myths & Realities,” will be presented on Wednesday, February 20 at7 p.m. at the Nepperhan Community Center, located at 342 Warburton Ave. The panelists for the event are Professor Komozi Woodard of Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) and Professor Jim Downs of Connecticut College. Woodard holds the Esther Raushenbush Chair of the SLC History Department. His special interests include African-American history, politics and culture, emphasizing the Black Freedom Movement. He is the author of” A Nation within a Nation: Amiri Baraka and Black Power Politics” and has served as an adviser to the PBS documentaries “Eyes on the Prize II” and “America’s War on Poverty.” An associate professor of history at Con- necticut College, Downs is a historian of the United States. His research examines the history of race and medicine in the 19th century. He recently published “Sick from Freedom: African-American Illness and Suffering during the Civil War and Reconstruction” that tells the largely unknown story of how many former slaves died at the moment of freedom. “This year marks the 150 anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation,” said NAACP Yonkers Acting President Andrea M. Brown. “The movies ‘Lincoln’ and ‘Djanago Unchained,’ based on fact and fiction, have sparked new interest about the freeing of slaves. The symposium provides a unique opportunity for the public to hear from two scholars about the myths and realities of a document that was a catalyst for freedom and may have in fact made the United States what it is today.” For more information, call 914-837-9580 or e-mail yonkersnaacp@gmail.com. Friday, February 15, 2013 - Yonkers RISING - PAGE 5 Mayor Spano Calls for Nominations for Woman of Distinction Award Mayor Mike Spano recently announced the city’ first-ever Woman of Distinction Award, to be presented during Women’s History Month in March. The City of Yonkers Unsung Heroes Woman of Distinction Award will recognize women of Yonkers whose distinct achievements have improved the lives of others in the community and whose impact has changed Yonkers for better. “I am honored to recognize the unsung heroes of Yonkers — the women leaders, activists, counselors and mentors — who give of themselves to our community each and every day,” said Spano. “The women of Yonkers have made such a positive impact on our city over the years and it is now time to give them the recognition they so deserve.” This year’s Women’s History Month marks the centennial celebration of the beginning of the suffrage movement that secured women’s voting rights. The historic women’s suffrage procession down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., took place on March 3, 1913, and signaled the pursuit of a new national strategy — a constitutional amendment to win voting rights and a desire for the national spotlight. In commemoration of the influences and change that have been brought about by Yonkers women, Spano encourages residents to nominate a Yonkers woman of distinction to receive this year’s inaugural award. The Woman of Distinction nomination form is available on the city’s Web site, YonkersNY.gov. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, February 20. “Women’s History Month recognizes the historic accomplishments of women, and now it is Yonkers’ turn to pay tribute to the local heroes and leaders who live among us each day,” said Spano. Spano will award the deserving award winner at a ceremony to be held on Monday, March 4. Westchester Begins Effort to Get Residents Tax Credits Once again, Westchester County and trained volunteers are teaming up to help lowand middle-income residents get the tax credits they may be entitled to, particularly the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC). County Executive Robert P. Astorino said that the free service will be available to qualified residents at locations in White Plains, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Valhalla, Ossining and Peekskill between February 4 and April 15. “Last year through this program, we helped 6,604 residents get income tax refunds of about $7.5 million, including $3.4 million in tax credits,” Astorino said. “Every dollar we get back for someone not only helps that taxpayer but returns money into our local economy.” The IRS estimates that thousands of eligible Westchester residents fail to apply for the EITC — either because they don’t know about it or are unable to fill out the appropriate forms. It is open to taxpayers with household incomes below $51,000. Eligible taxpayers can receive earned income tax credits of up to $7,953 on their 2012 tax return, based on their income, filing status and household size. This initiative is a collaboration of the following county departments and community organizations: Office of the County Executive; the departments of Social Services and Consumer Protection; SingeStop USA; Educational Opportunity Center of Westchester; Westchester Chapter of the AARP; Interfaith Council for Action; Westchester Community Action Program, Community Capital Resources; Westchester Community College; The Volunteer Center of United Way; United Way’s 2-1-1 Hudson Valley Region; the Business Council of Westchester; the Westchester County Library System; and the Child Care Council of Westchester. For more information, call 211, United Way’s Help Line, or visit WestchesterGov.com/ eitc. EITC Eligibility and Maximum Credits Household Size Max Eligible Income 3 or more $45,060 (single parent) $50,270 (married couple) 2 or more $41,952 (single) $47,162 (married) 1 child $36,920 (single) $42,130 (married) 0 children $13,980 (single) $19,190 (married) Max Refund $7,953 $7,069 $4,278 $641 ‘The Full Monty’ at WST The Westchester Sandbox Theatre (WST) will present “The Full Monty” this winter! What happens when six regular guys from Buffalo decide to take it all off in the hopes of raking it all in? This contemporary musical is both hilarious and touching and features one of the best new musical theatre scores to be written in the last 20 years. Performances run from February 22 to March 10 — Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. — at WST, located at 931c East Boston Post Rd. in Mamaroneck. Tickets are $28 for adults, $24 for students and seniors. For more information or tickets, call 914630-0804 or visit WSTShows.com. Note: “The Full Monty” is not appropriate for children under the age of 16. Zox Kitchen David Eyres Pancakes Chef Alan Zox By Alan Zox When it comes to culinary delights, some are more worthwhile to remember than others. Amanda Hesser, author of “The Essential New York Times Cookbook,” reminds us of the oven-baked David Eyres Pancake which, at more than 50 years old, is no less delicately appetizing than ever. Craig Claiborne first wrote about the pancake in his New York Times food column upon returning from a trip to Hawaii in 1966. Imagine the islands in those days: the coral reefs were still alive and Waikiki was considered the jewel of the Pacific. “[The pancake] was discovered some weeks ago at an informal Sunday brunch in the handsome, Japanese-style home of David Eyres in Honolulu,” wrote Claiborne. “With Diamond Head in the distance, a brilliant, palm-ringed sea below and this delicately flavored pancake before us, we seemed to have achieved paradise.” Not unlike a sweet yet tart Yorkshire pudding, or a popover, the pancake is sublimely simple yet surprisingly elegant. It includes simply a batter of flour, milk, eggs and nutmeg all mixed together, then poured into a hot pan filled with butter for baking. After 15 minutes, voila. You open the oven door to find a puffedup looking pancake, which soon collapses as confectioner’s sugar and lemon juice are sprinkled atop. The sweet-tart flavor is warm and delicious — nostalgia in the making. Slice and share with everyone nearby. I am reminded of the pancake every holiday season because it is such an ideally festive dish, perfect for a friends and family brunch on New Year’s Day, or as a tasty treat to savor after opening gifts on Christmas morning. I like it with smoked bacon on the side, freshly squeezed OJ, and coffee. It’s become a tradition worth its richly deserved place in our memory banks. History never tasted so good. David Eyres Pancake Serves 2 to 4 This recipe appeared in a New York Times article by Craig Claiborne in 1966. ½ cup of flour 2 eggs ½ cup milk Pinch of ground nutmeg 4 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar Juice of half a lemon Fig or blackberry jam, pear butter of any kind of marmalade, for serving. (Optional) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add the flour, milk and nutmeg and lightly beat until blended but still slightly lumpy. Melt the butter in a 12inch skillet with a heatproof handle over medium-high heat. When very hot but not brown, pour in the batter. Bake in the oven until the pancake expands on the edges and is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Working quickly, remove the pan from the oven and, using a fine-meshed sieve, sprinkle with the sugar. Return to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes more. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with jam, pear butter or marmalade. For more information and recipes, visit ZoxKitchen.com. WCC Offers Small Business Training for Mature Adults Westchester Community College’s (WCC) Mainstream Institute for Mature Adults is offering a 14-session Small Business training course for those 50 and older. The 35-hour program starts on February 21. As more older adults decide to start their own businesses, there is a need for the skills that are required for such a change. Mainstream’s program is designed for those who are either considering starting a small business and would like to know more about the process, or have one already and would like to expand upon this enterprise. The Valhalla campus course, which meets on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9 p.m. each nights, costs $413 plus the price of a textbook. The course will cover: How to develop and refine a plan for your business; Marketing, Operations, cash flow, tips on credit and access to capital; Computer training designed to help you plan for your business; Resources to help grow your business; and Special focus on issues that pertain to the mature business owner. For decades, WCC’s Mainstream Institute has provided affordable training for seniors interested in recareering. As Westchester County’s leader in training and education for mature adults, Mainstream has helped many individuals prepare for the workforce. For more information, call 914-606-6659 or e-mail mainstream@sunywcc.edu. 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COMPENSATION UP TO $1,375 R Call: 888-259-1522 or Visit: www.AcurianHealthStudies.com Send your letters and opinions to us at dmurphy@risingmediagroup.com PAGE 6 - Yonkers RISING - Friday, February 15, 2013 PAL Hosts NY Daily News Gold Gloves The Yonkers Police Athletic League (PAL) will once again host the NY Daily News Golden Gloves boxing tournament on Wednesday, February 20. The first bout will start at 8 p.m. Sponsored by the Amateur Boxing Association, this amateur boxing even has been held annually at the PAL building, located at 127 North Broadway. The event will have about 12 bouts, both Open and Novice division. The PAL’s own Ronnell McFadden will have a bout in the Heavy- weight Open Division. PAL is the first boxing club in Westchester to ever host the Golden Gloves. Over the years, 28 PAL Boxing Team boxers have been named Golden Gloves Champions. The finals will be held in the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn in March. Tickets are $25 and available at the door only. For more information, call the PAL at 914377-7381 or -7382. Classifieds Voice and Piano Lessons Beginners to advanced Voice Therapy Dr. David Fairchild Doctorate in Voice from Columbia University 914-3376405 Web site Dr David Fairchild.com ANTIQUES • ART • COLLECTIBLES Most cash paid for paintings, antiques, furniture, silver, sculpture, jewelry, books, cameras, records, instruments, coins, watches, gold, comics, sports cards, etc. Please call Aaron at 914-654-1683. BASEBALL / SPORT CARDS / AUTOGRAPHS WANTED Cash paid for Baseball, Football, basketball, Hockey cards, also sport autographs, silver dollars, gold coins/jewelry, old comics. Please call Jim at 914-310-5153 or call 914-835-1937 Take notice that in accordance with N.J.S.A 39:10 A-8 ET.Seq Application has been made to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Trenton, N.J. to receive title papers authorizing the sale of: 1969 Cadillac F9256461. 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Limited seasonal rentals Exeter, NH -55+ New homes from $69,900 -$129,000 2br/2ba Along Scenic Exeter River. 7 miles to ocean, 50 minutes to Boston! 603 -772 -5377 or email exeterriverlanding@comcast.net OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of affordable rentals. Full/partial weeks. Call for FREE brochure. Open daily. Holiday RealEstate. 1-800-638-2102. Online reservations: www. holidayoc.com $399 Cancun All Inclusive Special Stay 6 Days In A Luxury BeachFront Resort With Meals And Drinks For $399! http://www.cancun5star. com/ 888-481-9660 CASH for Coins! Buying ALL Gold & Silver. Also Stamps & Paper Money, Entire Collections, Estates. Travel to your home. Call Marc in NYC 1 -800 -959 -3419 Woodstock School of Art -CALL FOR ENTRIES for a juried exhibit, “Black and White.” $2,000 cash awards. Deadline: March 29. Download prospectus, www.woodstockschoolofart.org OR 845 -679 -2388. Legal Notices Notice of Sale Supreme Court: Westchester County T10 Funding v Gerald Depaul Individually and as Executor of the Estate of Mary Ann Depaul et al, Defts Index 52048/12 pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure filed January 15, 2013, I will sell at public auction at the Lobby of the Westchester County Courthouse 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd White Plains NY on February 22, 2013 at 11:00 AM premises known as Block 2014 Lot 74 in the City of Yonkers. Sold subject to the terms of sale and filed judgment of foreclosure. Daniel P. Romano Esq. Referee Legal Notices NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR FIVE-YEAR AGENCY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2013 -2017 AND ANNUAL PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 The Authority will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday March 27, 2013 to discuss and accept comments on its proposed Five Year Agency Plan for Fiscal Years 2013-2017 and the Annual Agency Plan for Fiscal Year 2013 and proposed revisions to the lease and proposed revisions to the Housing Choice Voucher Program’s Administrative Plan. A draft copy of the proposed submission will be available at the Office of The Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers, Augustine J. Shea Administration Building, 1511 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, New York beginning Monday February 11, 2013 from 8:30am until 4:30pm weekdays. The public hearing will be held at Curran Court – Building #4 at 2:00pm in the Community Room and 6:00pm at Ross F. Calcagno Homes (NY3-5), 10 Brook Street -Yonkers, NY in the Gymnasium. The public hearing is open to all interested parties. Residents are encouraged to select a spokesperson to present their comments at the public hearing. Participants in the public hearing should present their comments orally and in writing. Persons wishing to speak at the public hearing will be limited to five (5) minutes each. A sign up sheet for speakers will be available at the start of the public hearing. A summary of the issues brought up in the public hearing and the Authority’s response will be made available for review by interested parties at the Augustine J. Shea Administration Building, 1511 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, New York. The Municipal Housing Authority does not discriminate in admission to or access to or participation in its federally assisted programs and activities. Provisions will be made for persons who are handicapped so that they may fully participate if they so choose. Requests for sign language interpreter must be made to the Authority by 4:00 pm on Tuesday March 22, 2013. Request must be directed to Joseph Shuldiner Executive Director, The Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers, 1511 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10710, telephone number (914) 793-8400. THE MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY OF YONKERS JOSEPH SHULDINER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dated: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2013 #1169 2/15 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION of ATI-Alex LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/13/2012. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against it is: Knauf Shaw LLP, Attn: Linda R. Shaw, 1125 Crossroads Building, 2 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Dissolution date: 06/13/2111. LLC Purpose: to engage in real estate development. Street address of Principal Business location is: 159 Alexander St., Yonkers, NY 10701. NOTICE OF FORMATION of Ravine 33 LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/04/2012. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against it is: Knauf Shaw LLP, Attn: Linda R. Shaw, 1125 Crossroads Building, 2 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Dissolution date: 05/04/2111. LLC Purpose: to engage in real estate development. Street address of Principal Business location is: 159 Alexander St., Yonkers, NY 10701. NOTICE OF FORMATION of Glenwood POH LLC Article of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/20/2012. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against it is: Knauf Shaw LLP, Attn: Linda R. Shaw, 1125 Crossroads Building, 2 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Dissolution date: 3/20/2111. LLC Purpose: to engage in real estate development. Street address of Principal Business location is: 159 Alexander St., Yonkers, NY 10701. #6364 1/25 – 3/1 #6365 1/25 – 3/1 #6366 1/25 – 3/1 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE Notice of formation of Bluesky Capital Partners, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on October 1, 2012. Office location: Westchester County. The street address is: 40 Memorial Highway 20C, New Rochelle, NY 10801. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process served to: Won-Jae Lee, 40 Memorial Highway 20C, New Rochelle, NY 10801. Purpose: any lawful act. Notice of formation of Daphne Viders, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State on December 15, 2008. The street address is Weschester County, New York. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process served to: LLC c/o The Viders Law Group, PLLC, 368 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, New York 11725. Purpose: Any lawful act. Notice of formation of Hudson Valley Till LLC Arts. Of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on December 3, 2012. Office location: Westchester County. The street address is: 146 Ridgecrest Road, Ossining, NY. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process served to Hudson Valley Till, LLC; 146 Ridgecrest Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510. Purpose: any lawful act. #6369 2/1 – 3/8 #6370 2/1 – 3/8 #6368 1/25 – 3/1 #3055 1/25 – 2/15 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE Notice of formation of HORIZON BUILDERS NY, LLC Arts. Of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on JANUARY 17, 2013. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process served to: JOSEPH BOHM, 2131 ESPEY CT., STE3, CROFTON, MD 21114. Purpose: any lawful act. Notice of formation of B & D Motel LLC Arts. Of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on January 25, 2013. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process served to: 100 Prescott Ave. White Plains, NY 10605. Purpose: any lawful act. John J. Greco, Esq. Atty. for B&D Motel LLC Governor Clinton Building 1 Albany Avenue Kingston, NY 12401 Tel. No.: (845) 331 - 6073 Notice of formation of: CENTRAL WESTCHESTER HOME HEALTH SERVICES, LLC. Articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State of N.Y. (SSNY) on 1/29/13. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, c/o Segun Okunoye: 15 Nella Lane, Port Chester, NY 10573. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Notice of formation of JPF Consulting, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/21/12.. Office location: Westchester County. The street address is: 5 Tulip Tree Lane, Mamaroneck, NY 10543. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process served to: : United States Corporation Agents, Inc., 7014, 13th Avenue, Ste. 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: any lawful act. Notice of formation of HOFFNER PLLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/31/13. Office location: Westchester. The street address is: 72 Howell Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process served to: David Hoffner, 72 Howell Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538. Purpose: any lawful act. Notice of formation of Lucy Moore Design, LLC, a domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC), filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/18/2013. Office location: Westchester County. Principal office of LLC: 80 Melrose Drive, New Rochelle, NY 10804. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Lucy Moore, 80 Melrose Drive, New Rochelle, NY 10804, upon whom and at which process may be served. Purpose: Professional Home Designer. #6371 2/1 – 3/8 #6372 2/8 – 3/15 #6373 2/8 – 3/15 #6374 2/15 – 3/22 #6375 2/15 – 3/22 #6376 2/15 – 3/22 Friday, February 15, 2013 - Yonkers RISING - PAGE 7 Seniors and Health Care St. John’s Senior Computer Learning Center St. John’s Riverside Hospital is proud to announce that its senior learning center is sponsoring computer classes. The next class, “Introduction to Computer Applications,” will cover word processing, spread sheets, databases, e-mail, the internet and music and picture files. The cost for the classes is $15 for 16 hours of instruction, two hours a week for 8 weeks. The classes will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. each day they are held. They will take place in the Cochran School of Nursing Computer Lab at St. John’s Andrus Pavillion, located at 967 North Broadway in Yonkers. For more information or to register, call Cecilia Pugliese at 914-964-7525. Pilot Transportation Program for Seniors Launched L to r: WFR President Catherine Wynkoop, Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson, WFR Chairman Friedhilde Milburn, WESTMED Medical Director Dr. Barney Newman, WFR registrant Eleanor Mines, Assemblyman Steven Otis, Beverly Carter from the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services and At Home on the Sound President Lynn Reichgott WestFair Rides (WFR) and WESTMED Medical Group announce the launch of a groundbreaking, collaborative pilot program that will arrange rides to medical appointments at WESTMED Medical Group’s 1 Theall Rd. offices in Rye for older adults 60 and older who do not drive. An early participant in this collaborative effort is At Home on the Sound, an aging in place membership organization that serves older adult residents of Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Its members will continue to receive transportation services as before, plus they will enjoy enhanced scheduling options for WESTMED appointments. Other riders will be Westchester residents who are registered with WFR and who need assistance getting to their appointments at 1 Theall Rd. WESTMED schedulers at 1 Theall Rd. have been trained in the use of the WFR software platform. They will be able to request rides for registrants needing rides to or from their WESTMED appointments. “This is a good example of using staff and volunteer time efficiently to ease the burden of older patients having to fend for themselves to arrange and pay for trips to critical medical appointments,” said WFR Chairman Friedhilde Milburn. WESTMED President and CEO Dr. Simeon Schwartz said, “WESTMED is pleased to collaborate on this first-of-its-kind program that will give ready access to medical appointments at our Rye office for older adults and adults with vision disabilities.” WFR recruits volunteer drivers to help their older neighbors to remain mobile and connected to healthcare providers and community activities. WFR is building collaborative relationships with aging in place and other organizations to achieve its mission. “We are starting with rides to Theall Road but, over time, our service area and community partners will grow,” said WFR President Catherine Wynkoop. For more information, call at WFR at 914764-3533, At Home on the Sound at 914-8993150 or WESTMED at 914-681-5282. The Bristal Hosts Reception for AHA Heart Walk Award Winners The Bristal at White Plains, a new assisted living community that offers memory care support as well as enhanced levels of care, recently hosted a reception for the American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Walk Awards. Located at 305 North St. in White Plains, The Bristal at White Plains is a new assisted living community which offers the look and feel of a luxury hotel while offering enhanced assisted living. The Bristal features 148 residences, including 32 apart- ments dedicated for residents who require memory support. For more information on The Bristal visit www.thebristal.com or call 914.681.1800. Pictured above at the event, held on January 22, are (l to r) The Bristal Director of Business Development Susan Yubas, AHA Regional Director Jennifer Gelick, Heart Walk Award recipient Dora Campoli of Ardsley and AHA Executive Director Gregory Plage. Campoli was the Heart Walk’s top fundraiser. Advertise on our Seniors and Health Care Page! Call today: 914-965-4000 Hot Topics in Health Care By Michael LaMagna, Esq. an individual policy, not very In somewhat unexpected many people would qualify for news, there appears to be a sethe subsidy and the employers rious crack in the health care are not responsible to make up law, one which may “price the difference. out” millions of families from The numbers certainly are health care coverage altogethstaggering. There are as many er. as four million households, The issue recently came including 500,000 children, to light when confusing lanaffected by this glitch. Using guage in the new law appears 2011 figures, a family makto carve out lower income ing more than $9,700 per year families who do not qualify would be ineligible for a subfor Medicaid, requiring them sidy, while the cost of that plan to either pay more for their for a family is actually more Michael LaMagna employee-sponsored health than $4,000 per year, far more insurance or go without insurthan most families can afford ance. without some assistance from the employer or The problem arises because the law rede- the government. fined what employers are responsible to pay This article is intended to be used for infor insurance. Under the law, an employer will formational purposes; nothing in this article face a penalty if the premiums are so expensive should be construed as legal advice or be relied that a worker would qualify for a subsidy. Sub- upon as such. Michael LaMagna is a partner at sidies are available for unaffordable coverage, Timins & LaMagna who specializes in health deemed as 9.5 percent of a workers household care, regulatory, social security, Medicaid, disincome. ability benefits, probate, trusts and estates, and The problem is that the benchmark used more. He was recently appointed to the ACO is cost of an individual policy, not a family Task force of the American Health Lawyers policy. Anyone who pays for health insurance Association. For more information, call him knows that it is often three to four times more at 914-819-0663, e-mail him at mlamagna@tl expensive for a family policy then an indi- lawoffices.com, visit NyandCTLaw.com or find vidual one, so if you base the calculation on him on Twitter @michaellamagna1. Social Security Column: Electronic Payments: The Best (and Soon Only) Way to Get Your Benefits By Susan Sobel, Social Security District Manager in Yonkers Chances are if you receive Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or any federal payment, you receive it electronically. More than 90 percent of people getting monthly Social Security benefits already receive electronic payments. If you don’t yet, that’s about to change. There is a U.S. Department of Treasury rule that does away with paper checks for most federal benefit and non-tax payments by March 1. With a few exceptions, this mandate includes Social Security, SSI, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management benefits and other non-tax payments. People required to switch have the option of direct deposit to a bank or credit union account, or they can have their monthly payment directed into a Direct Express debit card account (the Treasury’s debit card program). Visit GoDirect.org to learn more. So, why the push for electronic payments instead of paper checks received in the mail? There’s a list of reasons an electronic payment is better than an old-fashioned paper check: • It’s safer — no risk of checks being lost or stolen; • It’s easy and reliable — no need to wait for the mail or go to the bank to cash a check; • It saves taxpayers money — no cost for postage and paper and printing (the Treasury estimates this will save taxpayers $1 billion over 10 years); and • It’s good for the environment — it saves paper and eliminates the need for physical transportation. If you still get your check in the mail, don’t wait for the new rule to go into effect next month — sign up for electronic payments now. Visit GoDirect.org today and begin getting your Social Security and SSI payments the safe, easy, reliable way — electronically. PAGE 8 - Yonkers RISING - Friday, February 15, 2013 Obituary Notice Stanley Alexander Stanley Frederick Alexander, 75, passed away on January 27. Born in New York City in 1937, Stan attended James Monroe High School and was a lifeguard at Orchard Beach, where he met and married Betty Greenberger. The couple moved to Yonkers in 1967, where Stan was a much-loved member of the community, teaching swimming lessons to children and volunteering as the Swimming Coach at the Jewish Community Center. Stan worked for the City of Yonkers as the Director for Consumer Protection and Weights and Measures. He was active in local politics, Remembering Mike Continued from Page 1 and Sacred Heart High School. “While at ‘the Heart,’ Mike was nicknamed ‘Mur the Mayor.’ He did well scholastically and gave a great deal of his time to various school clubs and activities. Yet, he learned early on that athletics played a vital part in the development of the whole man. Mike player center for the basketball team, ran track and played softball. He managed to find time after school to play hard ball for the PAL League while also starting the Holy Eucharist basketball team for the CYO. (All this while holding down after school jobs.) Mike later played in one of the first slow pitch leagues in Yonkers (at Trevor Park). “By the time Mike arrived at Iona College, he had already developed a love of history and chose history and political science as his major. Dinner table discussions at home centered around politics, as both parents had always been politically active, his mother as district leader and his father as district and co-ward leader of the old Fifth Ward (later to become the 7th Ward). Mike worked on numerous campaigns and dreamed of the day that ‘Mur the Mayor’ would become the Mayor of Yonkers. “While in college, Mike met Ann Villane and the two were wed on October 10, 1965 at the Annunciation Church in Crestwood. They lived in the Northeast section of Yonkers or the ‘new Fifth Ward.’ Their son Michael was born in 1972. “Mike became active in various civic, political and social organizations. He was a district leader for the Democratic Party of 22 years. Twice elected president of the Fifth Ward Democratic Club, he later became the Fifth Ward co-leader. Mike was a charter member of the Century Club, a charter member and Fourth Degree Knight of the Lancer Lodge #849 Knights of Pythias, a Third Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Exchange Club of Yonkers. “Active in a number of youth development activities, Mike most enjoyed coaching baseball and soccer for the Hillcrest Lakers Organization and coaching the basketball team at Our Lady of Fatima where he was a member of the Father’s Club. In his ‘spare’ time, Mike would help young people who had difficulty with math. “In 1969, Mike ran for the Yonkers City Council against current County Executive Andrew P. O’Rourke, and lost by the slim margin of 87 votes. “Prior to his position as Yonkers City Assessor, Mike served for nine years as the Assessor for the Town of Cortlandt. An accomplished Real Estate Appraiser and Ad Valorm Consultant, Mike was a State Certified Assessor, Advanced by the New York State Division of Equalization and Assessment; a Certified Appraiser-Consultant, by the American Association of Certified Appraiser; a Certified Real Estate Appraiser, by the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers; an International Certified Appraiser, Senior Member by the International Organization of Real Estate Appraiser; a Certified Manufacturing Housing Appraiser, by the International Organization of Real Estate Appraisers, and a Certified Review Appraiser, 9th Grader’s Letter Continued from Page 1 it comes to picking which high school will be ideal for us. Since we do not have school counselors, I found myself searching for help. My family and I had to do our own research. If we had a school counselor, I do believe the stress of looking for high schools would have been a lot lighter. “Another extra curriculum I grew up with was art. We no longer have that and it saddens me that my little brother won’t grow up with the capability of expressing his artistic side. For many, drawing is a tool used to express who they are, but how will they be able to do that if schools don’t provide it? Without art, I truly believe many students won’t be able to explore the creative side of life. “Our school contains a gymnasium, but it’s too bad we only get to use it every sixth day. When I was younger, I faintly remember having gym every other day. I look at the effects it could have on students. Young children should have gym so that they can do some physical activity since most of the week all they are doing is sitting in a chair. The closest thing the middle school does to exercise is walk up stairs here and there. With the increase in obesity and illnesses, I think one of the major things students should be exposed to is physical activity. “Music is an element we hear in our everyday lives. Four years ago, our school had The Royal Hanneford Circus is Searching for Grandma and served as the Republican Co-Ward Leader of the 10th ward in Yonkers and as President of the 10th Ward Republican Club. Stan is survived by his wife Betty, brother Charles, and daughters Lisa E. Alexander and Andrea H. Alexander. He is predeceased by his sister Florence Mirin. He was extremely generous, loyal and loved to laugh. Services were held at Weinstein Memorial Chapel with Interment at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations to Westchester Jewish Community Services are accepted at WJCS.com. by the National Association of Review Appraisers and Mortgage Underwriters. “In addition, Mike was a member of the New York State Assessor’s Association, the Northeast Regional Assessor’s Association, the International Association of Assessing Officers, the American Association of Certified Appraisers, the International Organization of Real Estate Appraisers and Mortgage Underwriters, and the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers. “Mike’s Biographical Record appears in WHO’S WHO IN REAL ESTATE and WHO’S WHO IN THE EAST. In 1978, he was a member of the Special Advisory Committee on Formulating Country Housing Policy, Westchester County, New York.” Here is the poem “A Real Man,” written read by Angelo Martinelli at Mike’s funeral. A Real Man Men are of two kinds, and he Was of the kind I’d like to be. Some preach their virtues, and a few Express their lives by what they do. That sort was he. No flowerly phrase Or glibly spoken words of praise Won friends for him. He wasn’t cheap Or shallow, but his course ran deep, And it was pure. You know the kind. Not many in a life you find Whose deeds outrun their words so far That more than what they seem they are. There are two kinds of lies as well: The kind you live, the ones you tell. Back through his years from age to youth He never acted one untruth. Out in the open light he fought And didn’t care what others though Nor what they said about his fight If he believed that he was right. The only deeds he ever hid Were acts of kindness that he did. What speech he had was plain and blunt. His was an unattractive front. Yet children loved him; babe and boy Played with the strength he could employ, Without one fear, and they are fleet To sense injustice and deceit. No back door gossip linked his name With any shady tale of shame. He did not have to compromise With evil-doers, shrewd and wise, And let them ply their vicious trade Because of some past escapade. Men are of two kinds, and he Was of the kind I’d like to be. No door at which he ever knocked Against his manly form was locked. If ever man on earth was free And independent, it was he. No broken pledge lost him respect, He met all men with head erect, And when he passed, I think there went A soul to yonder firmament So white, so splendid and so fine It came almost to God’s design. “Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” Aristotle a band, where we performed in concert. My two brothers and I were involved in the school band. I played the clarinet. There was one point when we even performed in the Yonkers City Hall. My brother was a saxophone player but now his instrument, as well as everyone else’s, is in the closet collecting dust. Music and art is used as an outlet to express emotions. If schools provide these activities, many students will be our potential artist and musicians. “Many questions circulate my head when I think about this subject, especially, without the proper education, what future is expected from us? I am concerned about the consequence it will have on the development of young children, like me. If children are provided a better education, they will turn out to be great citizens in a successful society. “School is a place where we learn, create memories, make new friends and grow as human beings. It’s too bad that all we have lately experienced is our extra curriculum activity and gym class being taken away from us. When the budget is cut, it puts a limit on our capability of exploring what our strengths and weaknesses are. I hope that, with the support of the government, we will soon have our art, gym, music and counselors back. I am optimistic; we can soon change for the better. We are the future of our Community…our City… our Country.” Best regards, Eileen Castillo Grandma the Clown The Royal Hanneford Circus, making its 39th consecutive appearance at The Westchester County Center, is searching for Grandma! The Circus has always been for “kids of all ages,” but it is more so this year! To cel- Yonkers Charter School Continued from Page 1 who pointed out that per pupil expenditures at CSEE are $14,000, compared with $19,000 in the YPS. Students are selected to attend CSEE from a lottery and, once enrolled in the school, can attend through 8th grade. After 8th grade, most CSEE students attend a YPS high school. This year’s lottery will have 100 students applying for 40 slots. CSEE Principal Catalina Castillo said the school’s successes are “because of the passion that our teachers and leaders take in educating our children. We love what we do and our test scores are fabulous. “At first, families were waiting to see what we could do. Now our successes are known, we have become a distinguished school drawing parents and students from every part of the city. We do more with less.” Castillo said that, while some students come from outside Yonkers (New Rochelle, Greenburgh and the Bronx), “We want Yonkers students first. We want to take kids from our community. Castillo urged us to help her clear up a few misconceptions about CSEE. “We are a free public school, there is no tuition,” said Castillo. She also noted that “We Desk of the DA Continued from Page 4 vestigation by Yonkers Police resulted in the discovery of a dog fighting ring run by a Yonkers man. Sixteen dogs, some emaciated and some severely injured, were found in a garage behind his home. In the end, three of these dogs had to be euthanized and 13 were taken to shelters. This, Too, is Yonkers Continued from Page 3 the Yonkers Parking Authority, install qualified managers and tame this wild beast. The Government Center Garage is an embarrassment. Two floors of reserved spaces with insufficient parking for the general public is a disgrace. Walking in the stairwells to reach City Hall at the top of the garage with water dripping on your clothes is a disgrace. And forcing the good men and women on the bottom of the salary totem pole who work at City Hall to pay to park, while the higher ups don’t, is just not right. A reader of this column took me to task for my comments several weeks ago where I observed two or three Yonkers Parking Authority employees working as a team collecting money from on street meters. He claimed that the machines the workers use to collect the quarters from the meters is quite heavy. It’s 2013 — maybe the Parking Authority needs to find a lighter machine or better way to collect the quarters from meters! Yonkers Snow Removal Congratulations to the Department of Public Works for a job well done in dealing with the snowstorm last weekend. Trucks were out salting roads during the day on Friday in advance of the snow. As the snow started to come down in buckets, crews kept on top of it, keeping the roads as clear as possible. People wonder why snow removal in Yonkers is so difficult. Granted the hills of Yonkers don’t help the situation but, as I have stated in this column many times before and tell those who complain about Yonkers snow removal, the city, unlike many communities in Westchester, allows cars to park on the street. The ebrate the guest star appearance of “Grandma the Clown,” The Royal Hanneford Circus Clowns will do a Grandma search and select one Grandma in the audience from each of the nine Shows. Each lucky Grandma will be honored by “Grandma the Clown” and Ringmaster Billy Martin in the Center Ring and will also receive free admission for four to a 2014 Royal Hanneford Circus Performance. So bring your Grandma to this year’s Royal Hanneford Circus at The Westchester County Center. Enjoy three rings of international Circus stars, plus ferocious tigers, entertaining Bears and the famous Hanneford elephants! The Royal Hanneford Circus will perform nine shows over President’s Day Weekend, February 16 to 18, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. Tickets, on sale now at the Westchester County Box Office and online at TicketMaster.com, are $23.50 for regular seats, $29.50 for premium seats. don’t take students based on ability and there is no testing involved to get into the school. We serve students of all challenges, with special needs. Admission is based on a lottery.” What has been the CSEE’s greatest challenge? “The early years when we were just beginning,” Castillo said. “Now we are established and have the support of the community with great teachers.” LaGuerre said that while he has an interest in a charter high school in Yonkers, the cost of $25 million to buy a two-acre property and build a new high school, “requires a partnership with the city, Mayor and the Yonkers Public Schools.” “I would love to have a charter high school and build it in southwest Yonkers where the need is greatest and where there isn’t a high school,” he said. “There has never been a high school built south of City Hall and that whole community, with a large and growing Hispanic community, those students have to get bused to high school. I know there is a need.” On our visit to CSEE, we met Council Minority Leader John Larkin, who was also visiting. He said, “This was my first visit to the school and I was very impressed with the energy, enthusiasm and dedication from the teachers and the students. It’s a wonderful learning environment.” This defendant was prosecuted and convicted on drug and animal fighting charges and was sentenced to five to nine years in state prison. Our work in the area of animal cruelty is an important priority for us. If you see an animal being mistreated or you are aware of a case involving animal cruelty, please help by contacting your local police department. For more information, visit WestchesterDA.net snow plow comes down the street and plows snow on to the parked cars. The owners of the parked cars want to get out and throw the snow back into the street. If Yonkers outlawed parking on the street, snow removal would be phenomenal. Unfortunately, the leaders of our great city over the years allowed overbuilding without sufficient off-street parking, so this is not going to happen. One car families are now two and three car families. When city employees do a good job, they should receive praise. Congratulations to the Department of Public Works employees for keeping Yonkers moving in spite of a major snowstorm. Chickens and Bees Four hundred million dollars in budget deficit projected through 2016. Expired labor contracts. Aging infrastructure using bandaids to mend. Development plans for downtown Yonkers (i.e. ballpark) up in the air. In our schools, half day prekindergarten versus full day. Minimal music and art education. Increasing enrollments. And the hot topic before the City Council is whether or not to allow residents to raise chickens and bees? Something is seriously wrong with this picture. Our elected officials should be spending their time coming up with ways to generate revenue, reduce expenses and deal with the real problems facing Yonkers. As for me, I am fine going to the A&P to buy my honey and chickens. Or visiting one of three Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Yonkers if I need a quick chicken fix! This, too, is Yonkers! Reach Eric W. Schoen at thistooisyon kers@aol.com. Send your letters and opinions to us at dmurphy@risingmediagroup.com Friday, February 15, 2013 - Yonkers RISING - PAGE 9 Yonkers Child Enjoys Day of Theater and 3D Mask Making Photo by Donna Davis The abandoned Glenwood Power Station The New Victory Theater member helps Ernesto Martinez create a 3D mask Last month, The New Victory Theater in midtown Manhattan donated 30 tickets to seriously ill children and their families to experience their celebrated show, “Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo.” New Victory also provided an interactive mask making workshop directly following, where children were able explore their creative sides and try their hand at making their own 3D masks. This event was the jumping off point for an ongoing partnership in which The New Victory Theater will contribute tickets and workshop experiences to Starlight children. One of the lucky children invited to attend this fun-filled, educational day was 9-year-old Ernesto Martinez from Yonkers. Ernesto suffers from Acute Leukemia Lymphoma and is part of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which helps children experience the simple joys of being a child while they battle a serious illness or disability. The experience is part of Starlight’s Great Escapes program, which provides sick children with an opportunity to connect with other children undergoing similar challenges and helps them break away from the cycle of isolation, depression and loneliness that often accompanies an illness. Outings and special trips are offered to bring seriously ill children out in the world and help them have normal childhood experiences. Siblings and parents are also a part of Great Escapes, as they have their own needs for socialization and relief from the day to day pressures of caring for a sick child. For more information on the Starlight Children’s Foundation, visit Starlight-NewYork.org. Judge Janet Malone to Run for Supreme Court Judge Janet Malone Judge Janet Malone has declared herself a candidate for New York State Supreme Court Justice in the Ninth Judicial District, comprised of Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess and Putnam counties. Malone’s diverse 23-year legal career — Proudly serving the City of Yonkers Nick Sprayregen, Publisher nsprayregen@risingmediagroup.com Daniel J. Murphy, Editor-in-Chief dmurphy@risingmediagroup.com Andrew Tobia, Copy Editor/Staff Writer atobia@risingmediagroup.com Paul Gerken, Advertising Sales pgerken@risingmediagroup.com Gregory Baldwin, Administrative Asst. gbaldwin@risingmediagroup.com Member of the New York Press Association 914-965-4000 Fax 914-965-2892 25 Warburton Ave, Yonkers, NY 10701 www.risingmediagroup.com Yonkers Rising - USPS Permit #7164 is published weekly by Rising Media Group, LLC 25 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, N.Y. 10701 Periodicals Postage Paid • Yonkers, N.Y. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Rising Media Group, LLC, 25 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, N.Y. 10701 Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, private practitioner, consultant to the New York City Transit Authority, Support Magistrate, Westchester County Family Court Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice — makes her experienced and prepared to be a Supreme Court Justice. Malone has served the Westchester Family Court since 2003, first as a Support Magistrate and then, in 2007, as an elected Westchester Family Court Judge. In addition to presiding over approximately 2,500 cases each year — involving child neglect and abuse, juvenile delinquency, persons in need of supervision (PINS), domestic violence, child custody and visitation and aspects of paternity and support — Malone presides over uncontested divorces assigned to her from the Matrimonial Part of the Supreme Court in Westchester. Malone holds admissions to the United States Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the Second Judicial Department of the State of New York, and has received numerous awards for her community service and professional achievements, including the Community Service Award of the Bethany African Methodist Church, the Finer Womanhood Award of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the Business and Professional Award of the F. Willa Davis Women’s Club of New Rochelle. The Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus honored her as a Cheerleader for Social Change. Malone serves on the International Child Abduction Committee of the National Association of Women Judges, the Committee on Children and the Law of the New York State Bar Association, and the Committee on Families, Children and the Courts of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. In 2011, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman honored her with the invitation to testify at the Public Hearing on Civil Legal Services for low-income families and individuals. Malone is an Officer and Director of the Westchester Black Bar Association, and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Mercy College Legal Studies Program and the Lois Bronz Children’s Center. She is a member of the New York State Family Court Judges Association, the Westchester County Bar Association, the Westchester Women’s Bar Association, the Yonkers Lawyers Association and New Rochelle Bar Association, where she served on the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2008. She is a Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a long-standing member of the All Islands Association and Sister to Sister International. For several years, Malone has participated in the Her Honor mentoring program for high school senior girls established by Judge Judith Scheindlin. To learn more about Malone, donate to her campaign or volunteer for Team Malone 2013, visit ElectJudgeMalone2013.com. A rendering of Glenwood POH’s revised proposal to build a parking lot at Trevor Park with green space on top Trevor Park Continued from Page 1 Museum, and much of the land in the estate became Trevor Park. “This is Trevor Park,” said Denise Holden, who also lives on Ravine. “People want to see the grass growing when they visit. We hope that someone stands up for the residents in the existing neighborhood and doesn’t let the developers do as the want. The impacts need to be considered.” The Citizens Committee to Save Trevor Park has met with Ron Shemesh, a principal in Glenwood POH, and exchanged ideas. “Our committee has offered Mr. Shamesh several proposals and we have walked the park with him,” said Galan. “We didn’t come to an agreement and we are still negotiating. We don’t want the most important part of the park used as a parking structure.” At a planning board meeting last month, attorney for Glenwood POH Linda Shaw stressed that the developers were listening to the community to try and come up with a suitable compromise. “We understand it’s early in the process, but if we wait too long there will be no chance of changing the plan,” said Galan. “This will have a terrible socioeconomic impact out the community. This is a city park, a people’s park, and nobody asked us if it was OK to give it to a private entity.” The plans are currently before the Yonkers Planning Board, which has neither taken a position nor made a recommendation yet. Eventually, the plan will come before the City Coun- cil with a recommendation from the Planning Board. A majority council vote is needed for approval and the state must approve the giving up of parkland — replacement parkland acres could be required of the developer by the state. The process is lengthy and could take up to one year before it lands before the Council. Councilman Christopher Johnson, whose district includes Trevor Park and surrounding neighborhoods, said, “It is my duty and responsibility to keep the process as open and transparent as possible and to make sure that everyone’s opinions are heard and all questions are answered.” Galan said, “We are not opposed to development. The power station is a beautiful building. But we are opposed to using our park for a parking structure. It’s not right.” The Citizens Committee to Save Trevor Park has created a petition drive urging the Mayor and City Council to Save Trevor Park. The online petition, located at Change.org, has only 110 signatures as of press time. “Ron Shemesh brought two proposals after he realized the opposition to the first plan,” said Yonkers Committee for Smart Development President and Yonkers resident Terry Joshi. “Plan B move the garage off site but still has a road through the park. This is the absolute beginning of a long process, which will include a more thorough study of alternative plans. “I support the notion that residents are getting involved, but I would urge them not to expend too much energy until the process is more complete. I think that Ron [Shemesh] will come up with something in the end that doesn’t take the park away.” ALC Honors Archbishop Dolan Archbishop Timothy Dolan The Adult Learning Center of New Rochelle (ALC), a mission of Ursuline Social Outreach, will honor His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, at their annual benefit gala on March 7. The ALC is a non-profit organization created to increase the economic and social empowerment of persons with low to moderate income through literacy education, citizen preparation and the facilitation of social services available in the community. Their programs teach recent immigrants basic skills in written and spoken English, as well as preparation for US citizenship. “We are grateful that His Eminence has acknowledged the wonderful work of The Adult Learning Center and all of us involved with organizing the event are delighted to honor him with The Spirit of Angela Award,” said ALC Board President Sharon Parente. The award, inspired by a painting of St. Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline Order, acknowledges the importance the Cardinal’s role in the Church’s service to those in need. The 16th annual gala fundraising dinner will be held at the Fountainhead in New Rochelle. Emmy award-winning Broadcaster Jane Hanson will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies. In addition to the wonderful program, the event will include entertainment, dancing, a silent auction and raffles. Funds raised at the event will help to achieve ALC’s mission to empower, improve and transform the lives of an underserved segment of lower Westchester’s population. For more information or tickets, call 914633-7298, e-mail events@aldultlearningcen ternr.org or visit AdultLearningCenterNR.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available. PAGE 10 - YoNkERs RIsING - FRIdAY, FEbRuARY 15, 2013 Yonkers DWBID Kicks Off International Restaurant Week The Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Business Improvement District (DWBID) and board members were joined by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, other local dignitaries and local restaurant owners and chefs to officially kick-off the second annual Yonkers International Restaurant Week. Diners will enjoy special discounts and delicious international cuisines for lunch and dinner from February 3 to 10. Pictured above are: (back, l to r) DWBID Board Members Roger Ayuso and Bruce Goldman, Yonkers Chamber of Commerce (YCC) President Kevin Cacace, Councilman Christopher Johnson, DWBID Interim Executive Director Greg Arcaro, DWBID Board Chairman Ken Dearden and Council President Chuck Lesnick; and (front, l to r) Khangri’s Kenny Zhanc, YCC’s Jeanne Martinelli, Peter Kelly of X2O Xaviars on the Hudson, Mayor Mike Spano, La Bella Havana co-owner Frankie Goris, Councilmen Michael Sabatino and Wilson Terrero and La Bella Havana co-owner Jason Adolphus. Veterans Serving Veterans: AMVETS Raises Money for Sandy Victims Dr. Jim Bostic Holds Book Signing Dr. Jim Bostic signing a copy of his new book In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, AMVETS National Headquarters sent a $5,000 check to the NYS Service Foundation for the benefit of AMVET members. This move prompted other AMVETS and soon had a fund totaling $33,800 contributed by individuals and posts across Long Island and from as far away as Buffalo and Massachusetts. Eighteen AMVETS members from five posts applied for relief and funds were distributed according to need. AMVETS also donated clothing and other supplies. Pictured above at the ceremony where checks were presented to the Sandy victims are (l to r) Past Department Commander John Gaeta, NYS AMVETS Public Relations and Post 40 Commander Sam Riti, Past Department Commander Joe Bishop, NYS Service Foundation Treasurer Ed Kelly and NYS Service Foundation President and Past Department Commander Frank DeMarco. School’s Out, Stars Are In: Winter Break at HRM Students on break from school can still learn and have a good time doing it at the Hudson River Museum (HRM) during February Vacation, February 18 to 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. daily. Led by Junior Docents, star shows, creative activities and arts and crafts make for entertaining and informational afternoons at HRM. The schedule is as follows: Monday — Learn about the tide and flow of the River; Tuesday — What’s a marsh? Find out when you make a marsh diorama; Wednesday — Get to know muskrats and sculpt your own muskrat model; Thursday — See the different plants on the Hudson and make your own cattail; and Friday — Make your own marsh bird within a landscape. In addition, Planetarium shows will be held daily at 2 and 3:30 p.m. In “The Sky Tonight,” take a live tour of the heavens from our area — but without the city lights! In “Ocean of Air, Ocean of Space,” explore the “invisible miracle” of the air we breathe and the remarkable planet whose life it sustains. HRM is located at 511 Warburton Ave. in Yonkers. All programs, excluding Planetarium shows, are free with HRM admission, which is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and kids and free for those under 5. Child must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 914-963-4550 or visit HRM.org. L to r: Bostic, Reverend Dr. Calvin Sampson and Reverend James Hassell Bostic and his wife, Pearlie Photo by Donna Davis Car Wash l Oil Change l Detailing 999 Saw Mill River Road Yonkers, NY 10710 (914) 963-8787 www.starautospa.com Fleet Discounts On Friday, February 1, Dr. Jim Bostic held the first signing to support his newly published book, “Daily Words of Encouragement to Live By.” Several dozen friends and community residents spent the evening listening to remarks from the gathered clergy and Bostic’s wife, Pearlie Bostic. Volunteers and staff manned the welcome table and served appetizers and punch afterwards. Dr. Calvin G. Sampson of Shiloh Baptist Church gave opening remarks followed by Reverend Willa Mae King of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, who gave the prayer. Reverend James Hassell of the Kingdon Christian Cultural Center and Mrs. Bostic gave their thoughts on watching Bostic go through the process of putting the book together and providing support and encouragement. Bostic then read a few pages aloud and spoke about how God guided his hands during the writing of the book. A lifetime of observing others and personal tragedy gave him a wealth of inspiration. “I wanted it to be a blessing to people going through — those who are hurting and looking for answers,” said Bostic. Much of the writing was done late into the night after a full day at the Nepperhan Community Center, while on vacation and during goodwill trips to Haiti. Along the way, Bostic learned the lesson of backing up data when he accidentally deleted a good portion of the book. He described that the themes and chapters are laid out so that anyone from a 12-year-old to a highly educated person will hopefully gain something from it. There were lots of hugs, smiles and congratulations on this accomplishment as the guests lined up to have their books autographed. Many had purchased two or more copies to share with family and friends. For more information, visit JimBostic.com.