Westchester Guardian

www.westchesterguardian.com

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

PERMIT #3036WHITE PLAINS NY

Westchester’s Most Influential WeeklyVol. VI No. XXV Thursday, June 21, 2012 $1.00

It’s A Done Deal

By HEZI ARIS, Page 14

Republican Leaders Denounce Jim RussellBy NANcy KINg, Page 14

JOHN F. McMULLENWritingPage 4

ROBERT SCOTTThe Strange War of

1812Page 9

SHERIF AWADGenie in the House

Page 7

SHANNON AYALAMissing Link

Page 11

ABBY LUBYFine Dining

Page 5

EVAN S. LEVINE, MDSome Doctors Prey

on the ElderlyPage 10

RICH MONETTIPines Bridge

MonumentPage 8

JOHN SIMONLeporine Lunacy

Page 13

http://www.westchesterguardian.com

Page 2 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2012 Page 3THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 Page 3THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012THE WESTcHESTER GUARDiAn

Of Significance

Community Section ...............................................................................4Business ................................................................................................4Calendar ...............................................................................................4Charity ..................................................................................................5Contest ..................................................................................................6Creative Disruption ............................................................................6Education .............................................................................................7Fashion ..................................................................................................8Fitness....................................................................................................9Health ..................................................................................................10History ................................................................................................10Ed Koch Movie Review ...................................................................12Spoof ....................................................................................................13Sports Scene .......................................................................................13Najah’s Corner ...................................................................................13Writers Collection.............................................................................14Books ...................................................................................................16Transportation ...................................................................................17

Government Section ............................................................................17Albany Correspondent ....................................................................17Mayor Marvin’s Column .................................................................18Government .......................................................................................19

OpEd Section .........................................................................................23Ed Koch Commentary.....................................................................23Letters to the Editor ..........................................................................24Weir Only Human ............................................................................25

Legal Notices ..........................................................................................26

Mission StatementThe Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or employed in, Westchester County. The Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, reliable informa-

tion without favor or compromise. Our first duty will be to the PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation, no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of FREEDOM

OF THE PRESS.

The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than

focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily journals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more compre-

hensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened with analysis, where appropriate.

From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot be obtained elsewhere.

To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not neces-sarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be

all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed.

westchesterguard ian .com

Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly

Guardian News Corp. P.O. Box 8

New Rochelle, New York 10801

Sam Zherka , Publisher & President [email protected]

Hezi Aris, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President [email protected]

Advertising: (914) 562-0834 News and Photos: (914) 562-0834

Fax: (914) 633-0806

Published online every Monday

Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. www.wattersonstudios.com

RADIO

Westchester On the Level with Narog and ArisWestchester On the Level is heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Join the conversation by calling toll-free to 1-877-674-2436. Please stay on topic.Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are your co-hosts. In the week beginning February 20th and ending on February 24th, we have an exciting entourage of guests. Every Monday is special. On Monday, February 20th, Krystal Wade, a celebrated participant in http://www.TheWritersCollection.com is our guest. Krystal Wade is a mother of three who works fifty miles from home and writes in her “spare time.” “Wilde’s Fire,” her debut novel has been accepted for publication and should be available in 2012. Not far behind is her second novel, “Wilde’s Army.” How does she do it? Tune in and find out.Co-hosts Richard Narog and Hezi Aris will relish the dissection of all things politics on Tuesday, February 21st. Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick will share his perspective from the august inner sanctum of the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 22nd. Stephen Cerrato, Esq., will share his political insight on Thursday, February 23rd. Friday, February 24th has yet to be filled. It may be a propi-tious day to sum up what transpired throughout the week. A sort of BlogTalk Radio version of That Was The Week That Was (TWTWTW).For those who cannot join us live, consider listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or on demand. Within 15 minutes of a show’s ending, you can find the segment in our archive that you may link to using the hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph. The entire archive is available and maintained for your perusal. The easiest way to find a particular interview is to search Google, or any other search engine, for the subject matter or the name of the interviewee. For example, search Google, Yahoo, AOL Search for Westchester On the Level, Blog Talk Radio, or use the hyperlink above.

Page 3THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012THE WESTcHESTER GUARDiAn

Of Significance

Community Section ...............................................................................4Business ................................................................................................4Calendar ...............................................................................................4Charity ..................................................................................................5Contest ..................................................................................................6Creative Disruption ............................................................................6Education .............................................................................................7Fashion ..................................................................................................8Fitness....................................................................................................9Health ..................................................................................................10History ................................................................................................10Ed Koch Movie Review ...................................................................12Spoof ....................................................................................................13Sports Scene .......................................................................................13Najah’s Corner ...................................................................................13Writers Collection.............................................................................14Books ...................................................................................................16Transportation ...................................................................................17

Government Section ............................................................................17Albany Correspondent ....................................................................17Mayor Marvin’s Column .................................................................18Government .......................................................................................19

OpEd Section .........................................................................................23Ed Koch Commentary.....................................................................23Letters to the Editor ..........................................................................24Weir Only Human ............................................................................25

Legal Notices ..........................................................................................26

Mission StatementThe Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or employed in, Westchester County. The Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, reliable informa-

tion without favor or compromise. Our first duty will be to the PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation, no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of FREEDOM

OF THE PRESS.

The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than

focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily journals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more compre-

hensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened with analysis, where appropriate.

From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot be obtained elsewhere.

To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not neces-sarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be

all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed.

westchesterguard ian .com

Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly

Guardian News Corp. P.O. Box 8

New Rochelle, New York 10801

Sam Zherka , Publisher & President [email protected]

Hezi Aris, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President [email protected]

Advertising: (914) 562-0834 News and Photos: (914) 562-0834

Fax: (914) 633-0806

Published online every Monday

Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. www.wattersonstudios.com

RADIO

Westchester On the Level with Narog and ArisWestchester On the Level is heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Join the conversation by calling toll-free to 1-877-674-2436. Please stay on topic.Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are your co-hosts. In the week beginning February 20th and ending on February 24th, we have an exciting entourage of guests. Every Monday is special. On Monday, February 20th, Krystal Wade, a celebrated participant in http://www.TheWritersCollection.com is our guest. Krystal Wade is a mother of three who works fifty miles from home and writes in her “spare time.” “Wilde’s Fire,” her debut novel has been accepted for publication and should be available in 2012. Not far behind is her second novel, “Wilde’s Army.” How does she do it? Tune in and find out.Co-hosts Richard Narog and Hezi Aris will relish the dissection of all things politics on Tuesday, February 21st. Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick will share his perspective from the august inner sanctum of the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 22nd. Stephen Cerrato, Esq., will share his political insight on Thursday, February 23rd. Friday, February 24th has yet to be filled. It may be a propi-tious day to sum up what transpired throughout the week. A sort of BlogTalk Radio version of That Was The Week That Was (TWTWTW).For those who cannot join us live, consider listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or on demand. Within 15 minutes of a show’s ending, you can find the segment in our archive that you may link to using the hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph. The entire archive is available and maintained for your perusal. The easiest way to find a particular interview is to search Google, or any other search engine, for the subject matter or the name of the interviewee. For example, search Google, Yahoo, AOL Search for Westchester On the Level, Blog Talk Radio, or use the hyperlink above.

Of Significance

Community Section ...............................................................................4Business ................................................................................................4Calendar ...............................................................................................4Creative Disruption ............................................................................5Cultural Perspective ...........................................................................7Energy Issues .......................................................................................8In Memoriam ....................................................................................10Medicine .............................................................................................10Najah’s Corner ...................................................................................11Movie Review ....................................................................................12Music ...................................................................................................12Community ........................................................................................13Writers Collection.............................................................................14Books ...................................................................................................16People ..................................................................................................18Eye On Theatre ..................................................................................18Leaving on a Jet Plane ......................................................................19

Government Section ............................................................................20Campaign Trail ..................................................................................20Economic Development ..................................................................20Education ...........................................................................................21The Hezitorial ....................................................................................21Legal ....................................................................................................23People ..................................................................................................24Strategy ...............................................................................................24

OpEd Section .........................................................................................25Legal Notices ..........................................................................................27

RADIO

Westchester On the Level with Narog and ArisWestchester On the Level is usually heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Because of the importance of a Federal court case purporting corruption and bribery allegations, programming with be suspended for the days of March 26 to 29, 2012. Yon-kers Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor James Sadewhite is our scheduled guest Friday, March 30.

It is however anticipated that the jury will conclude its deliberation on either Mon-day or Tuesday, March 26 or 27. Should that be the case, we will resume our regular programming schedule and announce that fact on the Yonkers Tribune website.Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are co-hosts of the show.

Page 26 The WesTchesTer Guardian ThursdaY, FeBruarY 23, 2012

George WeinbaumATTORNEY AT LAW

175 MAIN ST., SUITE 711-7 • WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601

FREE CONSULTATION:

Before speaking to the police... call

Criminal, Medicaid, Medicare Fraud, White-Collar Crime &Health Care Prosecutions. T. 914.948.0044

F. 914.686.4873Professional Dominican

Hairstylists & Nail Technicians

Yudi’s Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle, NY 10801 914.633.7600

Hair Cuts • Styling • Wash & Set • PermingPedicure • Acrylic Nails • Fill Ins • Silk Wraps • Nail Art Designs

Highights • Coloring • Extensions • Manicure • Eyebrow Waxing

LEGAL NOTICESCLASSIFIED ADSOffice Space Available-

Prime Location, Yorktown Heights1,000 Sq. Ft.: $1800. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230

Prime Retail - Westchester CountyBest Location in Yorktown Heights

1100 Sq. Ft. Store $3100; 1266 Sq. Ft. store $2800 and 450 Sq. Ft. Store $1200.

Suitable for any type of business. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230

HELP WANTEDA non profit Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) Direc-tor of Development- FT-must have a background in development or expe-rience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and experi-ence working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a good knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties include overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of show lobby staffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with POS system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203) 438-5795 and ask for Julie or Allison

FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF WESTCHESTERIn the Matter of ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE SUMMONS AND INQUEST NOTICE

Chelsea Thomas (d.o.b. 7/14/94),

A Child Under 21 Years of Age Dkt Nos. NN-10514/15/16-10/12C

Adjudicated to be Neglected by NN-2695/96-10/12B FU No.: 22303

Tiffany Ray and Kenneth Thomas, Respondents. XNOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT 22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO TERMINATE YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, AND MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD.

UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETH-ER THE NON-RESPONSENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RESPONDENT; IF THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NON-RESPONDENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD; IF THE CHILD IS PLACED AND REMAINS IN FOSTER CARE FOR FIFTEEN OF THE MOST RECENT TWENTY-TWO MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE PARENT(s) WERE NOT NAMED AS RESPONDENTS IN THE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING.

A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CUS-TODY OF THE CHILD AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD.

BY ORDER OF THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT(S) WHO RESIDE(S) OR IS FOUND AT [specify address(es)]:

Last known addresses: TIFFANY RAY: 24 Garfield Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701

Last known addresses: KENNETH THOMAS: 24 Garfield Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701

An Order to Show Cause under Article 10 of the Family Court Act having been filed with this Court seeking to modify the placement for the above-named child.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at Yonkers Family Court located at 53 So. Broadway, Yonkers, New York, on the 28th day of March, 2012 at 2;15 pm in the afternoon of said day to answer the petition and to show cause why said child should not be adjudicated to be a neglected child and why you should not be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of the Family Court Act.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that you have the right to be represented by a law-yer, and if the Court finds you are unable to pay for a lawyer, you have the right to have a lawyer assigned by the Court.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that if you fail to appear at the time and place noted above, the Court will hear and determine the petition as provided by law.

Dated: January 30, 2012 BY ORDER OF THE COURT CLERK OF THE COURT

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Of Significance

Community Section .....................................................................................3Books ...........................................................................................................3Calendar .....................................................................................................4Creative Disruption ..................................................................................4Cuisine ........................................................................................................6Cultural Perspective .................................................................................7Economic Development..........................................................................8History ........................................................................................................8Medicine ...................................................................................................10Movie Review ..........................................................................................11Recreation ................................................................................................11The Spoof .................................................................................................12Eye On Theatre ........................................................................................13

Government Section ..................................................................................14Campaign Trail .......................................................................................14Exclusive ...................................................................................................14Legislation ................................................................................................15

OpEd Section ...............................................................................................16Letter to the Editor .................................................................................16New York Civic .......................................................................................20

Legal Notices ................................................................................................18




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Westchester On the Level with Narog and ArisWestchester On the Level is heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Westchester OntheLevel. Join the conversation by calling 1-347-205-9201. Please stay on topic.

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Page 3THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2012

CommunitySectionBOOKS

By BOB MARRONEYou might have concluded by now that I put a fair amount of thought into the titles of these chapters. It serves a dual purpose: First, I try to capture the essence of what a chapter means as it

relates to my depression. Second, they serve a practical purpose for when the story is edited for publication in book form. This title, by far, was the hardest one to create.

This is a critical point in the book in terms of how my depression evolved, and I want to be as clear as possible as to where we are in time. I am in therapy in the months following the severe anxiety fixation meltdown at the night at the race on April 6th. 1975, and the night I contemplated suicide several weeks later. More importantly, we are in flashback mode working our way up to those two critical events.

This chapter deals with the birth of my daughter Christine, including the period after we were told that we were expecting. What follows ought not to be taken as a definitive cause of what happened. As I hope you have gleaned so far, depression has no simple, single cause, nor does it have any miraculous single cures or halle-luiah insights. To infer such would do a great disservice to the reader, or sufferer. Sure there are cases of chemically induced depressions, or similar illnesses caused by injury or defect, but those are not the focus of this book. The kind of depression I had and still do minor combat with, was a direct evolution of all that I was and experienced up until it fully expressed itself and sent my life on its difficult course. As well, how I reacted to it was and remains a function of all of my experiences and ways of thinking since. It might be fair to say that, dynamics aside, each case of depression is as unique as the individual and his or her life.

As my wedding approached and passed, I settled into married life as well as I could. I was not happy with myself for doing something I did not want to do. It recalled every other thing in my life I did that I did not want to do to make someone else happy, and gave me another reason to hate myself. Depression aside, my new responsibilities wore on me as they do with every new husband and breadwinner. Work, bills and so forth filled my day. And in fairness to my wife, I wrongly resented her for pushing me into the marriage. It was not easy for her either.

Meanwhile, at the same time, I felt guilty about going forward with it. All in all, I decided to try and make it work. What I did not want was a child. I was not ready. My wife was not ready. Morever, I did not want to be trapped if it did not work out.

Few people remember when they sired their child unless they had but one night of love. That was not my case. But because of my travel schedule and something we Catholics call the rhythm method, I am one of the exceptions. I still remember the Friday night in March, 1975. I had just come home from my very first road trip to branch offices out on Long Island and Connecticut. I was very happy with my new job. My wife and I celebrated my breaking open one of the bottles of bubbly we had left over from our wedding. Needless to say, you know what followed. It was not mindless, by the way. I just had the wrong date.

I walked into the kitchen feeling pretty proud of my performance when my eye caught the wall calendar. It was one of those cloth types that rolls down like a shade. I had had the wrong day in my head. We had just made love at the very height of ovulation. Instantly, I felt trapped and threatened. I did not want a child and I did not think my wife could handle it either. So I did what I always did. I pretended that everything was fine, that we would get lucky and escape the bullet. And as time passed and Kathy’s period did not come, I acted as if it would be fine. Meanwhile, I had begun to obsess the moment that my eyes caught the date on the calendar. As the days passed the obsessions grew more intense. My worry over being pregnant now combined with my concerns about my job, my manhood, my marriage, and all the other things that we have discussed, thus far. My life felt as if it was spinning out of control. I also started to obsess about my general anxiousness and the fact that I was not handling my life’s problems very well. I became the consummate hypochondriac believing that I was somehow brain damaged from my pot experiences. I fought to maintain my composure.

On a two-day trip to New Haven Connecticut I began to realize that something was not right. I went two straight days without sleeping. Yes, my obsession was on my marriage and the likely baby, but I had already been at the end of my rope from the other issues, losing

No Guarantees: One Man’s Road Through the Darkness of DepressionChapter Thirty-Nine – The Last Straw

Continued on page 4

Page 4 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2012

Marianne and ...well… the previous twenty-five years. I faced none of it. Instead, I began to obsess about the WAY I felt.

My worst fears were confirmed at the Brooklyn Heights offices of my wife’s OBGYN. When Kathy went back in for another test, I walked to the waterfront and tried to read the

newspaper. All I remember is that the New York Rangers pulled off their blockbuster trade of all time, trading Jean Ratelle and Brad Park to Boston for Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge.

The die was cast. I would be a father. I would also now be trapped. There would be no other life but the one I had now embarked upon. It was not the life I wanted. Worse, it was one more example of me just going with life’s flow defined by others. It is self-serving, but true: I felt bound by another imperative. After what I had

been through as a child; after what every cousin and member of my extended family had been through, courtesy of their irresponsible fathers, I was going to bring up my own child no matter what may come.

Christine Anne Marrone was born on November 19th. 1975. She was jaundiced and sick, by virtue of a hole in the left ventricle of her heart. Before we embark together, following that terrible spring of 1975, and into the years of my depression and how I overcame it, I want

to express one of the great paradoxes of my wonderful life. My daughter became my best friend and the most precious thing that has ever happened to me. I do not even try to reconcile that her conception may have helped throw me over the edge. But there can be no doubt that her presence in my life gave me an identity I would sorely need in the next few years. If I was nothing else, I was a father.

Bob Marrone is the host of a Monday to Friday local morning talk show.

BOOKS

No Guarantees: One Man’s Road Through the Darkness of DepressionContinued from page 3

CALENDAR

By MARK JEFFERSSo, apparently there is a black bear on the loose, spotted in Armonk and then Chappaqua; it seems to likely be heading north. I just heard the bear was recently spotted

at the Bedford Hills train station’s newsstand taking a look at this week’s, “News and Notes…”

Congratulations to our northern Westchester neighbor and Bedford resident Alan Menken who won his first Tony Award for the score of the Broadway show “Newsies”, way to go Alan.

Great work and good job goes out to Operation Cookie Drop and Girl Scout Troop 1739 in Ardsley as they and their families collected donated cookies to send to our soldiers serving overseas.

Yorktown Heights resident Denise Stefano has been appointed president of the Westchester Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, I guess you could say this story “adds up…”

School is out so join your neighbors in Katonah for S’Mores and a Sing-a-Long at the Katonah Memorial Park at the Shelter Thursday, June 21st, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Enjoy music from the band “The Differents” and “S’mores” kits will be for sale and all proceeds go toward the continued refurbishment of the Upper Shelter in the park. You probably don’t know that I am a professional marshmallow toaster…

Up in Yorktown, they have added a 59-acre

preserve, The Croft to Teatown Lake Reservation, sounds good to me.

On Friday, June 22nd, “follow the yellow brick road” in the modern version of “The Wizard of Oz.” “The Wiz” performed for the third time by the Theatre Arts Studio is sure to be an amazing performance from a very talented group of people. The curtain will rise at 7:30 pm at North Salem High School. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Please call the box office at 914-277-8960 for tickets.

If you are looking to broaden your artistic repertoire you cannot miss the opening night of Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. This masterful concerto will illustrate Shakespeare’s characters accompanied by read-ings of excerpts from the play. The magical night will take place on Saturday, June 23rd at 8:30 pm in the Venetian Theater at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah. The cost of tickets range from $15 to $85, but the opening night gala tickets include pre-concert cocktails, dinner, and prime seats at the concert and “After Dark Party,” these tickets begin at $600, for more information or to make a reservation call the Special Events office: 914-232-1492.

After exercising your mind, you should prob-ably work out your body a little so… on Sunday, June 24th there will be Tai Chi in the Sculpture Garden at the Katonah Museum of Art. Starting at 10:30 am these Tai Chi sessions will offer an introduction to the movement and philosophy of the ancient practice of martial arts. The sessions

will be led by Steve Hahn; no prior experience is necessary. Advanced registration is recommended by phone, 914-232-9555 and the cost is $10 per session. I’m getting a little sore just writing about it…

Well after all this mind and body work, it’s time to eat… The Seedswell Vegetable Farm in Mount Kisco is now open, this is a small owner-operated vegetable farm and farm stand for all natural vegetables. Not only does this farm have great produce, it is a unique opportunity to learn about sustainable soil growth and cultivation and to see where your food comes from.

You won’t want to miss the American Roots Music Festival featuring Hot Tuna Acoustic, the David Bromberg Quartet and much more at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah on June 30th.

Good luck to the owners of Massage Envy Spa as they recently held their grand opening at 737 Bedford Road in Bedford Hills, after writing this column I may need a massage…

My gossip reporter, also known as my wife reports Hollywood celebrities Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have bought a home up here in northern Westchester. The celebrity couple’s country Bedford home has a price tag of more than $2 million. The two starred together in “Green Lantern” in 2011.

Welcome to summer, enjoy the sun, the fun and your families… See you next week. Mark Jeffers resides in Bedford Hills, New York, with his wife Sarah, and three daughters, Kate, Amanda, and Claire.

News & Notes from Northern WestchesterCREATIVE DISRUPTION

WritingBy JOHN F. McMULLENI (and others) have written about the impact of technology upon the publishing industry -- the road from typesetting to e-books -- but I have seen little on the impact on writers and

the writing process. There have, however, been major changes in the last forty years in the tools, the process, the markets and the opportunities in a writer’s life.

A personal note -- I must be in the running for the worst typist in the world; yet I have written three books and over 1,500 articles, columns, and news stories over these forty years. Were it not for the appearance of personal computers and word processing software in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, I could not have done any of this.

My first book was keyed by me, printed, re-keyed by the publisher, John Wiley & Sons, re-edited, printed and sent to me to proof, re-edited, typeset, published and distrib-uted. The whole process took a little over a year, by which time the book, “Microcomputer Communications: A Window On The World,” had lost its relevance.

In contrast, my most recent book, “New and Collected Poems by johnmac the bard,” was keyed and completed, edited, converted to a “PDF,” uploaded to Amazon, a proof was received, accepted, and the book was available as a printed softcover within two weeks. In parallel, I produced a version in “Kindle” format and an “e-book” version of the book was available within the same two weeks.

The progress was similar with articles and columns. In the beginning, I would write and edit the piece, print it and mail or, in the case of a local magazine (such as “PC Magazine”), hand deliver it. I then moved to mailing or delivering a “floppy disk” with the material on it in “ASCII” plain text format -- any bolding, italics used, or font changes would be done by the editor; when Microsoft Word became the standard, I could do my own formatting and submit the material, once again, on a floppy disk. The next step got us to where we are today -- the ability to e-mail

Continued on page 5


By ABBY LUBYIt isn’t easy opening a new restaurant these days, especially the type that offers a special, high end dining experience. But the very new Haymount House

in Briarcliff Manor did just that about seven weeks ago to the accolades of both food critics and the public.

“People really seem to enjoy this place,” says David Breschel, who owns the restaurant with Joseph LaRosa, David Darmanovic and William Gray. The “place” as Breschel calls it, is a former mansion owned by William Fuller, a New York City financier and philanthropist who lived in the early 20th century. Fuller replicated the southern antebellum plantation house and

named it “Haymount” after the North Carolina town where he was born. The historic house was built it on a high hill overlooking the Hudson River and the views from table side are excep-tionally lovely.

After Fuller died, and the house was owned by various parties until the well known restaurant Maison Lafitte took moved in and became the longest running French restau-

rant in Westchester. Dining at Maison Lafitte as a young college student planted a seed for Breschel, who was invited there by his Fordham University teacher, a Jesuit priest, who had a yen for fine French food. The experience stayed with Breschel over the years and after learning that

OFFICIAL 2012 FEDERAL PRIMARY ELECTION NOTICE

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4-118 of the Election Law, notice is hereby given that the official

Federal Primary Election will be held on June 26, 2012 from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.

for enrolled voters of the Democratic and Republican Parties

in those political subdivisions of Westchester for the public office contested below:

PUBLIC OFFICE – DEMOCRATIC PARTYCongress – 16th Congressional DistrictCongress – 18th Congressional District

PUBLIC OFFICE – REPUBLICAN PARTYUnited States Senate

Congress – 17th Congressional District

CREATIVE DISRUPTION

“word documents” as attachments and have them go right into the printing process.

Another big change has been in the options open in the method of publication. Forty years ago, the only option to most people was accep-tance by an established publisher. There were three basic ways that an author could receive a commitment from such a publisher - 1) the author could be an established expert in the field and solicited by the publisher to write a book (this would usually happen only in the area of fiction); 2) the author could have an agent who would solicit publishers for the author’s work; and 3) the author could submit work directly “over-the-transom” to the publisher (the chance of successful publication is directly related to the method of submission (1 above the most likely; 3 the least).

Another much less used method was “Vanity Publishing” in which an author, in order to “get the message out” or to “leave some-thing for posterity,” would incur the entire cost

of publishing (usually multi-hundreds or thou-sands of dollars) to print some number of copies. The author could then pay someone to publicize and promote the book or could attempt such work her/himself. Needless to say, this method was very unlikely to put a book on the “best-seller list.”

Recent technology gave us another method -- “Publishing by Demand” (“POD”). Using this methodology, the author completes a book, uploads it to a service (Amazon’s “CreateSpace,” “Lulu,” and “AuthorHouse” are among the best known), and pays an amount from under $10 to a few hundred dollars for a proof, and, once approved, places the book onto an on-line service (such as Amazon). The author may use the service to publicize the work (at a cost) or choose to do it her/himself. The services also usually will perform other functions, if desired (and paid for), such as editing, writing advice, and direct marketing. Once a customer orders the book, it is THEN printed and sent to the customer, with the author receiving an agreed upon royalty for the book.

While it may seem that the POD system will not provide anywhere near the support of a traditional publisher, that is generally not the

case -- traditional publishers have an advantage in that they can get copies of the books into established bookstores while the POD author can only direct potential customers to a site such as Amazon to order the book or maintain an inventory of books for sales at signings and events -- but, unless the author is established at the Stephen King, Phillip Roth, James Patterson level, do very little in the marketing / publicizing. Whichever method the first-time author chooses, he/she will encounter a hard road before real monetary success!

It would also seem that POD by Amazon and others would be the death knell of small bookstores (already under great attack by Barnes and Noble and e-books) but one company, “On Demand Books,” with its “Espresso Book Machine,” has helped independent book sellers strike back. In partnership with Xerox, the company installed the Local Print on Demand Machines in over 70 bookstores and libraries throughout the world. A recent New York Times article, “The Antidote to e-Books” (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/technology/12iht-ebooks12.html?_r=3&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120612), states that, since the installation of a machine in a popular Washington, DC

bookstore, “Politics and Prose,” in November 2011, the bookstore has produced almost 5,000 books, with some printing in less than 5 minutes.

The biggest disruptive influence, however, for writers (as well as publishers and bookstores) has been the emergence of electronic publishing, mainly blogs and e-books. These and other recent challenges will be the subject of the next column in this series.

Next – Publishing Goes Digital with blogs and e-books – and Other Challenges.

Creative Disruption is a continuing series examining the impact of constantly acceler-ating technology on the world around us. These changers normally happen under our personal radar until we find that the world as we knew it is no more.

John F.McMullen has been involved in technology for over 40 years and has written about it for major publications. He may be found on Facebook and his current non-technical writing, a novel, “The Inwood Book” and “New & Collected Poems by johnmac the bard” are available on Amazon. He is a professor at Purchase College and has previously taught at Monroe College, Marist College, and the New School for Social Research.

WritingContinued from page 4

Continued on page 6

WESFOODIE

Fine Dining at the New Haymount House

David Breschel, co-owner of Haymount House. Executive Chef Scott Riesenberger of Haymount House.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/technology/12iht-ebooks12.html?_r=3&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120612





WESFOODIE

Haymount was for sale over a year ago, Breschel didn’t skip a beat. The laborious and long renova-tions successfully melded tasteful contemporary design with the traditional lines of this spacious

southern belle mansion, creating a truly comfort-able but not too stuffy dining atmosphere.

At the head of Haymount’s cuisinary helm is Executive Chef Scott Riesenberger, who studied cooking with world renown chefs as Chef Marc Meneau at L’Esperance, and Chef Marc Veyrat at L’Auberge. Riesenberger has worked with top Manhattan chefs David Bouley at Bouley, Rocco Dispirito of Union Pacific and Alain Ducasse at The Essex House. Not only are Riesenberger’s regularly changing menus delightfully creative and unique, but he is a true localvore.

“Of course we change the menu seasonally,” says Riesenbeger. “I like to keep it interesting and fresh - I get board easily. But we also have to keep it consistent for our customers who like to see some of the same dishes on the menu.”

The dishes are nothing but innovative and the names include the local farms that supply Haymount. The current spring menu includes Asparagus Vichyssoise, Crème Fraiche, American Caviar & Rye Toast ($13), “Satur Farms” Baby Beet Salad, Pistachio, Figs and artisan “Eclipse” Goat Cheese ($15) - of which the exquisite combination of these foods graced this writer’s palate. Entrees include dishes like Wild Salmon, Fresh Chickpea, Ramps and Grapefruit-Red Pepper Butter ($28), “Hemlock Hills” Organic White Feather Poularde,

Morels and English Peas ($30), Dry-Aged Ribeye, Potato, Spinach and Dried Cherry-Onion Mustard ($44 - one of the more expensive dishes on the menu.

If you’re feeling less for formal dining in the 200 seat dining room, and more for a drink and light fare, there is the bar menu that offers Duck Confit Salad and Mustard Vinaigrette ($17), Grass-fed Angus Burger, Pickled Ramp Remoulade & Panceta ($16) and Hanger Steak Frites ($24). A special bar menu item is the Shade Lane Farm

Blue Hen Egg ($3). And while you’re at the bar, there are some

very tasty original drinks invented by bar tender Charles Conti, whose specialty drinks, a spin

off the Farm to Table movement, are known as “Farm to Glass.” Conti’s seductive “Hudson Sunset” ($14) uses Herradura Silver Tequilla, fresh lime, agave nectar, beet juice and orange bitters. The finishing touch is when the beet juice is dripped slowly onto a single ball of ice that chills the drink but doesn’t dilute it. “Fire and Ice” is a spicy brew made with single malt scotch, fresh lemon, basil, grapefruit juice, jala-peno pepper, jalapeno-poblano simple syrup and Tabasco sauce ($15). An extensive wine ranges from $40 to $1724 (1995 Chateau

Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac) and by the glass ($7 - $15). Since Breschel is a serious wine collector and connoisseur, he has donned the sommelier cap for the Haymount wine list.

“The list is not complete yet,” he says. “We’re continually working on getting much more.”

As for dessert, Riesenberger has a notable

penchant for ice creams and sorbets, and makes them in his kitchen. Aside from the very rich and creamy standard flavors, there are the more esoteric and surprisingly good Basil Ice Cream and a very subtle flavored creamy Mozzarella Ice Cream - both worth the try.

The appeal of Haymount House is all broad and there is something for everyone. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 offers half price on selected drinks. On Tuesdays it’s half price for appetizers and dessert; there’s Sunday brunche and live music on the weekends. Breschel also plans a high tea in the fall replete with scones and clotted cream.

“We want to give people a reason to venture outside,” he says, noting that the restaurant is in the middle of a residential area. A few weeks ago, Breschel invited his neighbors to sample a few dishes from the restaurant and check out the newly renovated mansion.

In the first few weeks of its opening, the Haymount House held its first wedding, utilizing the very elegant wedding suite for the bridal preparations. The suite is available for people holding events at Haymount, says Breschel.

Breschel, a New York City based attorney, says he often feels simpatico with the spirit of original owner William Fuller, also an attorney in the city. During the renovations, Breschel said

he was mildly aware of Fuller’s presence. “I hope we renovated the house to gratify Fuller. But when I look around, I’m pretty sure he would be happy the way the place turned out.”

Haymount House 25 Studio Hill RoadBriarcliff Manor, NY 10510914 502 0080http://haymount-house-hudson.com/

Home-Page.html

Photos by Abby Luby and courtesy of Abby Luby Photo.

Dining room at Haymount House.

Table at Haymount House overlooking the Hudson.

Haymount House.

Front of building Haymount House. Wedding Suite at Haymount House. Interior entryway at Haymount House.

Arugla and Beet Salad at Haymount House.Hudson Sunset specialty drink

at Haymount House.

Fine Dining at the New Haymount House

Continued from page 5

Haymount House at night.

http://haymount-house-hudson.com/


HOURS: MONDAY - SATURDAY 8:30AM TO 6:30PM2008 CROMPOND RD. , YORKTOWN HGTS. BACK ENTRANCE OF ROMA BLDG.

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

By SHERIF AWADThe supernatural genre isn’t new to Arab film-making. It was inspired by folklore and mythology. Back in the 1950s, during the golden era of Egyptian

cinema, comedian Ismael Yassin starred in an Egyptian comic version of The Wax Museum (1956). His son, Yassin Ismael Yassin, became a writer-director of the same genre and he directed The Devil Sings (1984), among others. Mohamed Shebl, was another writer-director who made a musical called Fangs (1981), which was loosely based on The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

When Abu-Dhabi based Imagenation considered whether to produce Djinn (Demon), the first Emirati supernatural horror thriller, after financing several American and non-American films, accomplishments such as My Name Is Khan (2010) and The Double (2012), were the film successes that were reflected upon by the Arab Sheikhs was the legendary Tobe Hooper, who was at the helm of the original Poltergeist (1982), the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and one of my favorites, Funhouse (1981).

Djinn is a story of a couple who move into a house only to discover that is, surprise, surprise, haunted by demons, which is a phenomenon broadly explored in films since the dawn of cinema. Remember Amityville, its sequels and remake? Not to mention the latest Paranormal Activity Trilogy? Wasn’t Poltergeist a story about a haunted house? Well, it is the same story, yet

taken from an Arab perspective that considers demons as another species, coming from a parallel reality. They have free will like humans but they obey different physical laws. It is part of the Muslim beliefs; if you believe in God, you must believe in Djinn because they were mentioned in the Quran.

It is Hooper’s first time shooting in the Arab world and directing Arab actors. Razane Jammal, the Lebanese actress who plays Salma, admits she knew little of the film’s background, even so, but that she freaked out when she first started filming, to such as extent, that she heard voices in her hotel room at night after shooting wraps every day. Her Saudi-British co-star Aiysha Hart, also remembers that her parents brought in an Imam to bless the house in Saudi Arabia because it was rumored it was haunted.

The film centers around Khalid and Salma, a couple that return home from studying in America to discover their new home is built on the site of a deserted fishing village. The storyline indicates that certain things should be left as a testament to history. While shooting and editing the film, Hooper tried to reflect the Arab environment and not to fall into the trap of presenting a Westernized vision of The Emirates like most Hollywood films often do. Last year, for instance, Tom Cruise shot crucial scenes on the top of Burj Khalifa in Dubai but there was no inkling that the scene was shot in an Arab country. That is why Hooper heavilty relied on Arab advisors, including rising Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja who was his assistant director and executive producer on the

project.Djinn was scheduled for a late 2011 release

during the Dubai Film Festival but it was inexplicably postponed. Rumor has it that a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal family has said the film was “unfit to provide an accurate image of the UAE (Unitd Arab Emirates).” and hence the studio would not be releasing the film at all.

The studio has instead advised the rumor was unfounded and Djinn is in active post-production for a 2012 release in theatres later this year.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad I a film / video critic and curator. He is the film editor of Egypt Today Magazine, and the artistic director for both the Alexandria Film Festival, in Egypt, and the Arab Rotterdam Festival, in The Netherlands. He also contributes to Variety, in the United States, and Variety Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Poltergeist.

Tobe Hooper (left) on the set of Djinn.

Assistant director Nayla Al Khaja.

Razane Jammal haunted by demons.

Genie in the House


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

By NANCY KINGWHITE PLAINS, NY -- The French American School of New York (FASNY) held an Open House on the grounds of the former Ridgeway Country Club on

Saturday, June 9th. This Open House, hosted by the project engineers and parent volunteers from FASNY was intended to quell the concerns of the residents of the Ridgeway section of White Plains. Although the school sent out over 3,500 invitations to the event, no more than 150 people attended the open house. Those who did attend were treated to a computer-generated program depicting the impact of traffic to the area and glossy posters of the planned school buildings. Residents from the Ridgeway area have been worried about traffic since the school took ownership of the property. Visitors were also encouraged to take a tour of the 130-acre

property by golf cart with a FASNY parent volunteer. Presumably once you set foot into a golf cart you would be fed a propaganda stew that would make you fall in love with the school while diverting your eyes from the disrepair that has the property.

In addition to, and perhaps more impor-tantly than traffic worries of the surrounding areas are those environmental worries. The prop-erty contains marshlands and two underground streams that flow directly into the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers in the Village of Mamaroneck. Construction of massive school buildings and dormitories on top of an already fragile ecosystem could leave the residents of Mamaroneck literally under water. Earlier in the site study, FASNY presented the City of White Plains a DEIS plan that was supposed to include the necessary environmental precautions and would have preserved 84 acres of the 130-acre property as open ornamental and protected

green space. After viewing the DEIS plan on the City

of White Plains website, it is clear why the Common Council did not approve the plan. Describing it as aspirational, it was to include, ornamental gardens, a floating dock, commu-nity gardens and marshland conservancy. This kind of site mitigation is extraordinarily expen-sive even if FASNY bought the property at the bargain price of $8.5 million. In response to White Plains voting down their plan, FASNY issued a statement that the property was never a true open space because it was a private country club. Ridgeway Country Club was originally a part of the historic Gedney Farms section of White Plains. As the parcels of the revolutionary farm were sold off in the early 1920’s, the land, which became the country club, remained green, and no large buildings were ever built on the property.

So the residents of White Plains are now about to be stuck with a 1,200 student school that will create a traffic nightmare in an already congested area and can look forward to having

their already fragile ecosystem damaged beyond repair. It sort of makes you wonder if the White Plains Common Council who allowed this to happen rather than looking at former Mayor Adam Bradley’s plan to turn it into a commu-nity recreation facility modeled after the Lake Isle facility in Eastchester, New York, is having buyer’s remorse. At the time of Bradley’s sugges-tion, he was mired in legal problems of his own and the Common Council just wanted to be rid of him. So, they got their wish, they did get rid of Bradley, but in the true spirit of Dr. Faustus, look at what they got in return.

The residents in the south end of White Plains may not have wanted a recreational facility that would have brought ALL of the residents of White Plains to their neighborhood, but they’ve been outwitted by their own foolish Not In My Backyard (NIMBYism) . They made their deal with FASNY and sooner or later, one must honor that deal.

Nancy King is a freelance investigative reporter; a resident of White Plains, New York.

Few Attend FASNY Open House

HISTORY

By RICH MONETTI Picture a monument of a white American officer flanked in battle by an African American enlistee and a Native American Sharpshooter, and you really

must limit the commemoration to no earlier than the Korean War. Only a revisionist form of history driven by the demands of excessive political correctness could place the scene before that time. Then, for someone to actually put up the statue would have to be seen as taking the rewrite to a whole other level. That said, Michael Kahn of Yorktown Heights, New York, has set such an initiative in motion and hopes to have the very Revolutionary War Monument in place in 2015 at Downing Park. Nonetheless, he feels very secure in the historical accuracy and its intent to remember all who served in the Revolution - especially in this area.

“We have a popularly inaccurate perception that it was white guys in red coats versus white guys in blue coats, but the reality was a lot more diverse,” the Yorktown Police Officer Kahn said.

The Pines Bridge Monument will commemorate the stand, the integrated forces of the Rhode Island Regiment made in defense of Pines Bridge on the Croton River on May 14, 1781. “It was a surprise attack by an all American, British sided force, known as the refugees or the cowboys,” advised Kahn.

As innocuous as that may sound in the grand scheme of Revolutionary War heroics, the

passageway definitely played a crucial role in the colonists overall strategy. Maintaining control of the Hudson and Croton Rivers enabled the rebellion to keep communication and supply lines open between the North and South.

Given that New York City and its surrounding areas were more prone to support of the British, Pines Bridge was always in a precarious position. As a result, Kahn continued, “If the British could capture it, they could have gone on to divide and conquer.”

Instead, George Washington was able to employ a strategy that centered on holding off the British long enough; until they tired of the cause, and eventually forced them to make their final exit at the other Yorktown.

But war weariness, brought on by many casualties, was not just problems the British faced. At the same time, shifting sentiments of the all-volunteer American force always had Washington struggling to maintain numbers, and troop decimation eventually reached critical mass.

As a result, initiatives to recruit among people of mixed heritage emerged. “This was not a popular thing back then – especially in the South, but they went and did it anyway,” Kahn emphasized.

The battle in question began when Colonel John DeLancey of the loyalist forces crossed the Pines Bridge and attacked the Davenport House, where Colonel Christopher Green headquartered the defense of the area. Depicted

in the statue to be, Green was captured and killed, but the patriot forces were still able to draw back the cowboys.

The victory aside, the monument is meant to also mark the early emergence of something our nation continues to strive for. “Everybody served and fought and died equally as Americans – despite any racial disparities at the time,” said Kahn. “That’s something we want to highlight.”

The same goes for all the citizen soldiers who did not have the chance to make their own mark on history in the new nation as a result of the supreme level of sacrifice given. “We tend to forget the 30,000 who died paying attention to the thousands who went on to survive and live out their lives as politicians and statesmen,” Kahn continued.

Encompassing all this with the focal point our area had on the outcome, he realized when

he was taking a college course on historical pres-ervation that Yorktown had nothing concrete to point to in this regard. At the same time, he says, “I was kind of inspired by the Sybil Ludington statue in Carmel, New York, where I grew up, and how everyone had a strong sense of their town’s place in history.”

Writing the proposal in 2009 and gaining support of the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce, the town and the planning depart-ment, he hopes this statue comes to mean the same here. The design was recently selected, and accumulating the necessary $300,000 is the last hurdle to be overcome.

Well on their way, he knows the dollars signs will eventually fall in favor of something much more valuable. “It’s a testament to our heritage and we want generations down the road to remember what people sacrificed and gave before our time,” expressed Kahn with emotion.

A little longer to wait, he will gladly concede the short shelf life of any words for actually having the sentiment set in stone for all to see and touch.

You can purchase a brick forming the base at www.bricksrus.com/order/pinesbridge/index.php or make a contribution payable to The Yorktown Historical Society (PBM) PO Box 355, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

Rich Monetti lives in Somers. He’s been a freelance writer covering Westchester County since 2003. Peruse his work at www.monetti.blogspot.com.

The Pines Bridge Monument. Artist: Jay Warren from Rogue River, Oregon.

Revolutionary War Monument Remembers the Diversity of All Who Sacrificed in Crucial Local Battle

http://www.bricksrus.com/order/pinesbridge/index.php

http://www.bricksrus.com/order/pinesbridge/index.php

http://www.monetti.blogspot.com


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HISTORY

By ROBERT SCOTTMonday, June 18, marked the 200th anniversary of the start of America’s least- remembered war, the War of 1812. Its roots go back much earlier.

One evening toward the end of April in 1806, the 60-gun British frigate HMS Leander spotted the American schooner Richard off Sandy Hook bound for New York.

The Leander was searching for deserters from the Royal Navy and fired a shot across the schooner’s bow as a signal for it to prepare for boarding. Although the Richard complied promptly, a second and third shot tore into the American schooner’s stern, decapitating the helmsman, John Pierce.

When Pierce’s headless corpse was displayed at the Tontine Coffeehouse at the corner of the Wall and Water streets, the mood in the city turned ugly. The British consul feared his house would be burned by a mob and he would be taken hostage.

New York City Mayor De Witt Clinton convinced the Common Council to have Pierce buried at public expense and ordered all ships in the harbor to fly their flags at half-mast.

American hostility to Britain increased in

June of 1807 when HMS Leopard fired on the 38-gun heavy frigate Chesapeake off Norfolk, Virginia, killing three sailors.

The British response to American protests was that it intended to pursue deserters where are they were found. In New York the following September, an angry crowd of dockworkers and American sailors prevented six escaping British seamen from being returned to their ship, stiff-ening British resolve.

American President Thomas Jefferson was convinced that another war with Great Britain was not only necessary but inevitable. In December of 1807, he asked Congress for a total embargo on vessels leaving American ports. Jefferson explained that this was not to bring economic pressure on France and England, locked in a bitter struggle in Europe, but to get American seamen and ships “out of harm’s way” and to give the country time to prepare for war.

‘O Grab Me’The Embargo Act of 1807 was a colossal

disaster. It caused no harm to Britain’s economy, but it gave the Emperor Napoleon the chance to grab $10 million dollars’ worth of American shipping. He claimed that by their very presence in European waters the American ships had obviously violated the Embargo Act.

John Lambert, an English traveler in New York in 1807, was moved by its “gloomy and forlorn” appearance. By the spring of 1808, 120 firms had gone under. The sheriff held 1,200 debtors in custody, 300 of whom owed less than $10. Unemployment gripped the city’s workers who spoke without humor about “O Grab Me,” the word “embargo” spelled backwards.

Despite the unpopular Embargo Act, which did not make the belligerent nations change their ways but did cause a depression in the United States, James Madison was elected President in 1808. Before he took office the Embargo Act was repealed.

A second war of independence fought with the former mother country was a popular concept in many parts of the country but not in New York, still damaged commercially by the embargo.

A Chain of FortsRemembering the ease with which the

British had landed troops and captured New York in 1776, the city constructed a group of imposing forts designed to repel any naval attack.

Designed by the Army’s chief engineer, Col.

Jonathan Williams, first superintendent of West Point, the circular West Battery was erected on an artificial island 200 feet off the lower tip of Manhattan to which it was later connected. Its eight-foot-thick walls were pierced with

The restored West Battery, later known as Castle Clinton, as it appears today. The lower tip of Manhattan is still called “The Battery.”

Castle Williams on Governors Island is three stories tall and had hundreds of guns. It is part of the Governors Island National Monument and is a National Registered Historic Place.

For 45 years the Aquarium in Castle Garden enchanted visitors with its collection of fish and aquatic mammals, including a rare Beluga (white) Whale.

Col. Jonathan Williams, designer of the fortress system to protect New York City

from naval attack in the War of 1812.

The Strange War of 1812

Continued on page 10


HISTORY

embrasures for 28 cannons that enabled it to sweep the mouth of the Hudson River and the Upper Bay. The West Battery was named Castle Clinton in 1815 to honor Mayor De Witt Clinton.

At the northwest point of Governors Island was Castle Williams, also designed by Colonel Williams. Towering three stories high, the fort and its 100 heavy guns were part of a defensive system for the inner harbor that included Fort Columbus (later renamed Fort Jay) and the South Battery on Governors Island, Castle Clinton at the tip of Manhattan, Fort Wood on Liberty Island, and Fort Gibson on Ellis Island.

Other batteries included the North Battery, on the Hudson shore at the foot of Hubert Street. Its walls of reddish brown sandstone earned it the alternate name of the Red Fort. Fort Gansevoort, located farther up the Hudson at the foot of Gansevoort Street, was also called the White Fort because its sandstone walls had been covered with a coating of whitewash.

These imposing fortifications could train some 300 guns on any enemy foolish enough to penetrate the Narrows and enter the Upper Bay and lower Hudson.

British naval forces massed off Sandy Hook, and New York braced itself for another British invasion. It became known that the British intended to strike down from Canada through Lake Champlain. Citizens rallied to construct additional defensive works in upper Manhattan. The blockhouse at the northern end of Central Park is a remnant of these landlocked fortifications.

An aged Marinus Willett, savior of Peekskill, gave an impassioned speech in which he recalled popular resistance to British tyranny 40 years earlier. A Committee of Defense was

formed with representatives from each of the City’s wards.

On May 11, 1812, British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons. It took his successor, Robert Jenkinson, Second Earl of Liverpool, until June 16 to repeal the restrictions on neutral trade offensive to the United States. By then, President Madison had already asked Congress for a formal declaration of war and Congress had obliged him. Madison signed it on June 18, 1812. Neither side was aware of these overlap-ping events.The War Begins

As part of the City’s contribution to the war effort, New York shipwrights Henry Beckford, Christian Bergh, and Noah Brown brought gangs of experienced workers to the shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario to build the brigs and gunboats with which Captains Isaac Chauncey and Oliver Hazard Perry defended the Niagara frontier.

After Perry defeated a British squadron in the Battle of Lake Erie in September of 1813, the grateful city gave him a hero’s welcome and named a street in Greenwich Village to honor him.

In 1814 the same shipbuilders built the world’s first steam-driven warship named the Fulton, designed by Robert Fulton.

British warships blocked maritime traffic through the Narrows, but Long Island Sound remained open for American privateers to prey on British ships. In the first year of the war, 125 privateers operated out of New York to harass British commerce.

Commanders of American land forces committed many blunders. They allowed the British to capture Detroit and to burn Buffalo. Two American attacks on Montréal were repulsed. Napoleon’s abdication in April of 1814 enabled the British to shift 14,000 veterans of European battles across the Atlantic.

By-passing New York, the British attacked the Chesapeake Bay region, capturing and burning Washington but failing to take Baltimore.

The British eventually put out peace feelers. Peace was achieved in time for Christmas of 1814. It was a war of 31 months’ duration, a war nobody really wanted.Castle Clinton Today

Never used in active defense of the city, some of the military’s 1812 war installations were to have more interesting civil uses.

The Army stopped using Castle Clinton in 1821 and leased it to New York City as a place of public entertainment. It opened as Castle Garden in 1824, a name by which it has been popularly known to the present time.

It has served in turn as a promenade, beer garden/restaurant, exhibition hall, opera house, and theater. Designed as an open-air structure it was eventually roofed over to better accommo-date these uses.

As a theater, in 1850 the castle was the site of two extraordinarily successful concerts by the “Swedish Nightingale,” soprano Jenny Lind, under the auspices of P. T. Barnum. The following year, European dancer Lola Montez performed her notorious “tarantula dance” there.

From 1855 to 1892, the castle served as the Emigrant Landing Depot and processed immigrants arriving in New York City until the larger and more isolated Ellis Island facility was opened for that purpose in 1892.

Castle Garden became the site of the New York City Aquarium in 1896. For 45 years it was the city’s most popular attraction, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

In 1941, Robert Moses, head of the Triborough Bridge Authority, proposed to dismantle the castle and replace it with another bridge to Brooklyn. The public outcry at the destruction of a historic landmark defeated the

Moses plan. Nevertheless, the aquarium was closed and not replaced until a new facility was opened on Coney Island in 1957.

Castle Garden now serves as the gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.Fruits of the War

The War of 1812 was the strangest war in American history. It was a war within a war, the byproduct of a larger struggle in which Napoleonic France was pitted for almost a decade against most of Europe. President James Madison remarked after the fact that had he known Napoleon would be defeated, this country would have stayed out of it.

The War of 1812 was like Alice’s famous Caucus Race in which everybody seems to have won something although there were no prizes.

The land war was fought almost entirely in Canada, where the British successfully repelled American attacks.

The Americans burned the public buildings of York (Toronto) in Canada, an act for which the British retaliated by burning the public buildings of Washington, D.C.

The resistance of Fort McHenry in Baltimore to British bombardment inspired our national anthem, a song virtually impossible to sing.

Americans won the last battle of the war in New Orleans the first week of 1815--a victory diminished by the fact that peace had already been negotiated 15 days before with the Treaty of Ghent.

The British could boast that they had “won” the war because the treaty said nothing about the points at issue and merely maintained the status quo. The War of 1812 was indeed the strangest war America has ever fought.Robert Scott is a semi-retired book publisher and local historian. He lives in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.


The Strange War of 1812

MEDICINE

By EVAN S. LEVINE, MDA few years ago, while I was covering for a doctor who was on vacation, I was called to see a patient that an internist had referred to him. The patient was a very demented and sick man

who was admitted to the hospital about two weeks before. What I saw gave me the impetus to write this week’s column: Some Doctors Prey on the Elderly.

Rather than being cared for by a savvy and caring internist, who would treat the patient with compassion, this unfortunate soul was admitted by a most duplicitous doctor. My suspicion is that a good general doctor or geriatrician (doctor that specializes in the caring of the elderly) would

have done their best to make him comfortable and treated him with appropriate aggressiveness; that wasn’t the case here. I counted ten doctors that were called on the case: The internist (he’s the one in charge); the infectious disease doctor (the patient had a fever); the hematologist (the patient was anemic); the surgeon (to put in a central intravenous line), the pulmonologist (the patient was short of breath), the kidney doctor ( kidney function wasn’t normal); the gastroenter-ologist (some stomach problem), the neurologist (the patient was unresponsive), the endocrinolo-gist (the patient’s sugars were elevated), and lastly, the cardiologist (called because the patient’s heart rate was elevated).

After I examined the patient, I called over the nurses to show them how many

consultations were called on this poor man and then I wrote my brief consultation (I could not refuse to see him since I was covering for another doctor) and signed off the case saying, “I do not find his rapid heart rate to be of great signifi-cance in this otherwise very unfortunate, very ill, and demented patient.” I did not return to see the patient again but I am sure most of the ten other doctors did –to collect their daily blood as much as a vulture preys on carrion.

I hope this is a wake- up to all of you who have elderly parents or friends that may not be able to make a decision about the care they may or may not require. While most doctors who treat the elderly are genuine and honest care-givers I must remind all of you to make sure that nothing is ever done to mom or dad (even a simple consultation) without your knowledge and permission. I would make sure that everyone has a living will and healthcare proxy. These legal documents help guide the treatment for an inca-pacitated patient and can help prevent someone

from preying on your loved one. I would also contact the admitting physician and make sure that he understands that nothing is to be done to your beloved without your prior knowledge. And finally, if your parent is in a Nursing Home, make sure to meet the nursing home doctor, place your cell and telephone number in the chart, and demand that you be called if they are sick or need to be transferred to a hospital.

Shortly after publishing this article I dissolved my affiliation with the covering doctor. I believe he and his cronies continue to “Prey on the Elderly”.

Evan S. Levine, MD FACC is the author of “What Your Doctor Won’t (or Can’t) Tell You” and a practicing cardiologist in Westchester and The Bronx. He is a clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Levine can be reached at 914-237-1332 or by directing email to: [email protected].

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR WON’T (OR CAN’T) TELL YOU

Some Doctors Prey on the Elderly

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By SHANNON AYALAEvery day at the Fleetwood Metro North station about 2,350 people wait for the New York bound trains, likely staring at The Bronx River, where it snakes modestly

between a thin buffer of trees and The Bronx River Parkway. For lack of signage, the name of the parkway is the only indication in this area that the water body is a river, not some tributary or stream, and there is no indication of historical, social or ecological significance, or any mark of human interest.

Yet along most of the 23-mile fresh water river there is greenway where people can walk right up to it, bike along its periphery, volunteer to maintain it and its banks, and in some parts absorb landmark features or even canoe in it. The entire stretch from the Kensico Dam (just below the springs) in the middle of Westchester to the South Bronx is buffered by recreational park space, all except for three sections in

Westchester. The combined lower two (with a one-mile loop-trail within it) separates the bike trail between Westchester and The Bronx by 3.8 miles. (The other gap is about one mile long between Scarsdale and Hartsdale train stations; there has been community dialogue in recent years of closing it).


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Movie Review: “Peace, Love & Misunderstanding” (+)

This film starring Jane Fonda is not great, but it is entertaining.

Ms. Fonda will forever be referred to by me, Vietnam War veterans and their supporters as Hanoi Jane. I recently saw her being interviewed on a television show during which time she said that she had made a mistake. She conveyed that she did not believe she would ever be forgiven for her comments about the United States during that war when she was in Hanoi or for

the photograph taken of her sitting on a North Vietnamese aircraft, gun in hand, and laughing.

Putting all that aside Ms. Fonda, who is 74, is a wonderful actress and extraordinarily beau-tiful. (She has admitted to having some minor plastic surgery and looks to be about 54.)

In this movie she plays the role of Grace, a woman who attended the Woodstock Festival over 40 years ago and never left the area. She continues to live as a flower child with an occasional lover and exotic-looking barnyard chickens who roam freely through her home.

Visiting from New York City is her estranged daughter, Diane (Catherine Keener), who has just learned that her husband, Mark (Kyle

MacLachlan), wants a divorce. With Catherine are her two children whom Grace has never met: Zoe (Elizabeth Olsen) and Jake (Nat Wolff).

Everyone encounters love and the outcomes are interesting. Diane meets Jude (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a local carpenter. Zoe, a vegetarian, meets Cole (Chance Crawford) the local butcher, and Jake meets a coffee shop waitress in the area. One shocking fact is revealed which I won’t disclose.

All in all, “Peace, Love & Misunderstanding” is a pretty good ride for the audience but also one they will soon forget.

Movie Review: “The Dictator” (-)

Roger Ebert gave this film three stars and the Daily News awarded it four. I agree with A. O. Scott of The New York Times that the movie is not humorous. In my opinion, it is simply awful.

General Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen), a despot from the North African nation of Wadiya, resembles Libya’s deceased ruler Muammar Gaddafi. He is summoned to the

United Nations General Assembly in New York to defend the murderous activities in his country. Ben Kingsley plays the role of the general’s advisor, Tahir, who plots to have him assassi-nated. I don’t understand why such a fine actor like Kingsley would accept a role in a film with such a bad script.

Comedy is the most difficult script of all to write and, I believe, the most difficult to perform. Cohen’s approach to comedy has been coarse, as

in the case of “Borat,” which I saw and liked. This film is a stinker, and I would only send someone to see it as a form of punishment. Visit the Mayor at the Moview to ;earn more: http://www.mayorkoch.com/. The Honorable Edward Irving Koch served as a member of Congress from New York State from 1969 through 1977, and New York City as its 105th Mayor from 1978 to 1989.

MOVIE REVIEW

Ed Koch Movie ReviewsBY EDWARD I. KOCH

RECREATION

The Bronx River Greenway’s “Missing Link”

Route End sign in Hartsdale.

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The City of Yonkers is expected to hold at least one meeting over the summer – date and time not yet known - to inform and gauge the response of the community concerning a proposal to close the lower “missing links,” as they are known. Though it is also a county-initia-tive-at-large, potential community concerns raised by the Yonkers City Council are local, including changes made on the roads, hypothet-ical interference with parking in some parts and pedestrian-safety on Bronx River Road.

One could point to various origins of the proposal because even the original 1923 Bronx River Parkway was built with the intention of having a scenic and protective greenway along

The Bronx River, which on the upper parts became Westchester’s first park. The initial 2001 application, was specifically submitted to the NYSDOT (Department of Transportation) by the County and Yonkers. In 2002 the federal government awarded the County and Yonkers a grant ($1,051,140), which couldn’t be utilized until the local twenty percent of the total funding was met. In the original application, the split was $66,663 from Westchester and $196,124 from Yonkers.

Since then, after close examination of the scope of the project, the Yonkers share had risen to about $300,000 by 2009. (In a May City Council meeting in Yonkers, City Council President Chuck Lesnick resolved that the specific new amounts be determined; Planning Commissioner Williams said, and now main-tains, that the County’s commitment would need to be reestablished).

Because the expansion of the Parkway in the 1950s had sacrificed some of the green space, the pathway in this particular proposal would still leave the river’s banks. Nevertheless it would still fulfill the County’s early goal of offering a more complete bike trail along the East Coast Greenway, a bike route that is used, though not yet complete, from the Florida Keys to Maine. (Only 26% of that greenway is on “firm-surface, traffic-free trails,” according to www.Greenway.org.)

From Palmer Road in Bronxville to McLean/Nereid Avenues there would be areas of new pavement and areas of Share the Roadway signs. Some parking areas would actually be repaved. The Oak Street Loop, the isolated one-mile trail in Mt Vernon wouldn’t be accessed from the top as part of the new trail but it would be connected at the bottom. There would be an enhanced rest facility. There would be areas with

new plaques, and a restored stone wall in Scotti Park, conveying the history of The Bronx River Parkway Reservation.

Shannon Ayala is a Class of 2013 student at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He also writes New York environmental news for www.Examiner.com. His work can be found at www.SEArchives.wordpress.com.

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RECREATION

The Bronx River Greenway’s “Missing Link”

The stone wall, to be restored.

Three fish at the Oak Street Loop in Mt Vernon.


By GAIL FARRELLYAn American research study on childbirth shows that, on average, labor takes longer now in comparison to 50 years ago.

A reporter, seeking to understand what’s behind these findings, interviewed a sample of new moms and newborns (you guessed it, the reporter under-stands baby talk!) in a Westchester hospital.

One new mom summarized it best. “Easy

to explain,” she said. “These days the birthing suite -- with a flat-screen TV, a computer, a stereo system, gourmet meal service, and a mini fridge stocked with goodies -- is pretty cool.” She said she takes her time giving birth, because once you pop the kid out, the clock starts ticking, and they get ready to evict you as soon as possible. She added, “I have three kids and a demanding hubby at home. Only a fool would do anything to rush the homecoming.”

And, according to newborns in the

hospital nursery, there are multiple reasons for postponing entrance into the world. First of all, their dads are like paparazzi, ready to roll the cameras right in their little faces. “I mean, c’mon, gimme a break, who needs a photo shoot at a time like that,” said one baby with disgust. Another pointed out, “Then there are these tight little hats they stick on your head right away.” His neighbor in the next crib was equally indignant, complaining, “Who wears a hat in bed anyway? Maybe Santa Claus, who knows? But not the rest of the world, that’s for sure.”

“What I hate most,” added a hefty baby, “is feeling like we’re in a sideshow or

something. It’s such an invasion of privacy.” The others agreed, pointing to the big picture window in the front of the nursery, at which folks were standing, waving, and blowing kisses. One baby remarked, “Look at those eejits. Now do you get it? The time in the womb is so nice and peaceful compared to this. Why not extend it as long as possible?”

So there you have it. Out of the mouths of babes . . .

Learn more about The Farrelly Sisters – Authors. Visit http://www.farrellysistersonline.com/ on the internet.

THE SPOOF

Why Babies Now Take Longer To Be Born

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Leporine LunacyBy JOHN SIMONThere was a time when several plays and movies argued that, in a world where the opposite was held to be true, loonies were really saner than the so-called normal. Although

segregated, the officially insane were really better, happier, healthier than the ones who were locking them up.

Notorious for these tendentious preach-ments were “King of Hearts” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” among lesser others. Even in a world where heterodoxy rampages, this much should have been indisputable: however constricted by conventions, sanity is still preferable to madness.

But one can see why this bit of illogic would have some currency. Most people have some irrational or subaltern aspect or other, allowing other individuals, probably scarcely superior, to lord it over them. Hence a book, film or play that permits the underdog to feel smug is bound to have its adherents. Here’s a chance to get even with your parents, teachers, bosses, or social and intellectual superiors as they get taken down a notch.

Such a smartass piece was especially welcome in 1944, when Mary Chase’s comedy “Harvey” beat out a vastly superior play, Tennessee Williams’s “The Glass Menagerie,” for the Pulitzer Prize. In The Daily News, John Chapman called it “the most delightful, droll, endearing, funny and touching piece of stage whimsy I ever saw.” Revivals have been frequent.

In that war-darkened year, a bit of flagrant, flippant, escapist nonsense was particularly welcome. Here was likable Elwood P. Dowd (note the jovially dowdy name), an amiably gregarious drunkard who converses fraternally with his to others invisible companion, a six-foot two-and-a-half inch rabbit he calls Harvey. And by golly, he finally convinces his hyper respect-able sister Veta Louise Simmons, and the head psychiatrist Dr. William R, Chumley, plus sundry others, of being right, and making them respectfully acknowledge his “pooka.” (Pooka,

by the way, is a Celtic term for a spirit in animal shape.)

When the play was back on Broadway in the 1969/70 season with James Stewart and Helen Hayes in the leads, I called it appealing to “the sentimental nostalgia of the middle-aged, middle-class middlebrows” yearning for their happy childhood.

I also wrote that “even in Denver, the locale of Mrs. Chase’s somnolent whimsy, time does not stand entirely still,” and wondered about “the play’s ‘real world,’ in which ‘Nuts!’ is the strongest expletive, having become as unreal as Elwood’s fantasy world, robbing ‘Harvey’ of its minimal conflict.”

In 2012, the play seems downright Paleolithic. Works of true art do not age, but boulevard comedies start growing a beard in their infancy. They may be briefly rescued by a magisterial revival, which the current one almost but not quite manages to be. Frank Fey, the original Elwood, had something slightly louche about him to good effect. The 69/70 revival’s James Stewart, who also starred in the movie version, had a somewhat melancholy undertone, which also worked well.

Now we have Jim Parsons, the pleasant TV personality from “The Big Bang Theory,” who also has some stage and screen work to his credit. His Elwood is a trifle too boyish, almost baby-faced, whom in his ingenuousness we don’t expect to be even moderately cracked. Still, his buoyant interpretation—if it is an interpretation at all and not what comes to him naturally—is not unacceptable, and is certainly lapped up by a star-struck audience.

As Veta Louise, Jessica Hecht, until recently specializing in Jewish ingénues, does pass-ably enough, even if the generally dependable

director, Scott Ellis, may have over directed her in a few climactic moments. Charles Kimbrough certainly overdoes Dr. Chumley’s goofiness, albeit in a crowd-pleasing way, but, as his wife, Carol Kane, with her ludicrously affected diction, is the cast’s one blatant minus. Larry Bryggman is solid as pompous Judge Gaffney, and, as Veta Mae’s unattractive daughter, Myrtle Mae, Tracee Chino is nearly too appropriate.

The others are all apt, and David Rockwell’s set has the right look of bourgeois opulence. If only the play weren’t so thoroughly dated, driving even a good director to a soupcon of overcompensation.

Gina Gionfriddo’s “Rapture, Blister, Burn”—a not exactly alluring title—is a reason-ably harmless, but ultimately less than necessary play. It concerns Gwen and Catherine, who were college roommates, and who, over the years, were both involved with Don. Finally, Don married the homebody Gwen, while Catherine, who became a successful writer, never quite got over him.

Years later, Gwen and Don have growing children, whereas Catherine merely looks after a supposedly dying mother, Alice, although there is scant evidence of her impending demise. The former roommates have resumed their friend-ship, as Don, an academic turned slacker, still fluctuates between them.

It would help if Lee Tergerson, as Don, projected the slenderest reason why one, let alone two women, should evince serious interest in him. Even then, the decent but uncompelling writing would fail to fully earn its 140-minute duration.

For added interest, there is Avery, a swinging young babysitter who becomes involved with all, and old mother Alice to provide intermittently tart remarks. Nevertheless, this summer in a New England college town remains basically

Jim Parsons, Angela Paton, Jessica Hecht and Tracee Chimo.

Jim Parsons.

Carol Kane and Jim Parsons.

EYE ON THEATRE

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By HEZI ARISIt began like this. Yonkers City Council Majority Leader Wilson Terrero, as majority leader has purview over the Yonkers City Clerk’s budget. It was he who signed off on

the hiring of Erica DelBenne to the Yonkers City Clerk’s Office. Ms DelBenne is 2nd Deputy Clerk Vincent Spano’s girlfriend. Months later, it seems Mr Wilson, having learned José Alvarado’s recent patronage inspired hire at the Yonkers Office of Constituent Services, in defer-ence to the Westchester County Democratic Majority was perceived to have soured by Mr

Alvarado’s allegedly demeaning attitude toward women, his all too often perceived arriving at work with what has ben described as alcohol on his breath, and his tardy arrival and early departure from work, brought Mr Terrero to his defense and aid.

Majority Leader Terrero worked out a deal, if not at the behest of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, certainly with his knowledge and acquiescence, in which Yonkers City Council Minority Leader John Larkin (R-6th District), Councilmen Dennis Shepherd (R-4th District), and Michael Breen (R-5th District) agreed to support Mr Alvarado’s name for Yonkers City

uneventful. Its chief justification, such as it is, lies in a somewhat unlikely college course in the history of feminism, which Catherine teaches to only two students, Gwen and Avery.

I am left wondering about just where, although there is some ephemeral rapture. Blister and burn come in. Also about why the author, who has written at least as much for television as for the stage, chose to destine this work that clamors for the former, unconvincingly for the latter. Under Peter DuBois’s direction, all four actresses—Amy Brennerman, Kelly Overbey, Virginia Kull and Beth Dixon—perform valiantly on Alexander Dodge’s versatile scenery.

I can see how some theatergoers may groove on such anodyne fare; I myself, sharing the audacity of Dickens’s Oliver Twist, ask for more.

Photos by and courtesy of Joan Marcus.

John Simon has written for over 50 years on theatre, film, literature, music and fine arts for the Hudson Review, New Leader, New Criterion, National Review, New York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg News. Mr. Simon holds a PhD from Harvard University in Comparative Literature and has taught at MIT, Harvard University, Bard College and Marymount Manhattan College.

To learn more, visit the JohnSimon-Uncensored.com

EYE ON THEATRE

Leporine LunacyContinued from page 13




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By NANCY KINGRepublican leaders from Westchester and Rockland Counties met Thursday, June 14, 2012, at Westchester County

Republican Headquarters to denounce peren-nial Congressional candidate Jim Russell of Hawthorne, New York. Russell, who has run for Congress five previous times, had been endorsed by the Republican Party back in 2010 until a sixteen page article written in 2001, and published in the Occidental Quarterly was made public. In his writings, Russell waxes about the evils of interracial marriage and clearly takes an anti-Semitic position against Jews in America. By the time these writings came to light in 2010, it was indeed too late to remove Russell from the ballot, and though Westchester Republicans denounced him and replaced him with a write in candidate, Russell managed to garner 38% of the vote against longtime Democratic incum-bent Nita Lowey.

Fast forward to 2012 and Russell is running again. This time he faces a newly re-drawn 17th Congressional District that encompasses all of Rockland County and a good chunk of lower Westchester. He also faces a formidable oppo-nent in Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin. Carvin who has been endorsed by Republican chairs in both Westchester and Rockland Counties, might be the best candidate for office that has emerged on either political side in a very long time. A fiscal conservative, he has cut spending and the size of government as Rye Town Supervisor during his tenure. And if his plan is executed accordingly, he will abolish his own

position by consolidating his town with Rye Brook. He has seeded his campaign with $1 million of his own money and to Jim Russell’s horror, he is married to an African-American woman and has two small bi-racial children. In other words, Carvin is everything that Russell is not; he’s rich, he’s smart, and he gets the whole concept of diversity.

During the press conference Carvin read excerpts from what journalists and papers including The Westchester Guardian had written about Russell and his writings. Carvin asked, “Is that what Republican voters really want in their representative Congress?” Westchester Republican Chair Doug Colety however wasn’t quite as kind with his comment. Colety took his statement one step further and called Russell a racist. Colety stated, “Jim Russell was found to have writings that were anti-Semitic and these writings were racist. In my opinion, people who do these writings should not be running for public office and not ever be running on the Republican line”.

Forcing a primary in June might be the smartest thing that Russell ever orchestrated. Late June has voters thinking about school graduations, finding summer care for their chil-dren, or if they are well off financially, they’ll be planning a vacation; rest assured Mr. and Mrs. Voter are not thinking about a primary. Low numbers may well help Russell who will have other like-minded extremists get out the vote. Russell realizes that little numbers make a big impact on a primary such as this. Carvin said should Russell win this primary he will throw his support behind Nita Lowey, citing that they’re both in the political mainstream, even though they have differing philosophies. Both agree that

there is no room for a bigot in the race or in Congress.

Russell maintains that his writings have been taken out of context and that he’s no racist. This time around he wants to focus on the economy, jobs, illegal immigration and why HUD is a bad thing for Westchester County. What Russell isn’t talking about is just who is supporting his campaign both financially and with boots on the ground. Having been outed by a journalist who happened to see Russell at a Klu Klux Klan (KKK) White Supremacist picnic handing out his campaign literature last time around, one must naturally wonder if they’re the group who is supporting him still. For obvious reasons, they aren’t speaking… they tend to do their work on the “down low”. Even the staunchest “tea partiers” aren’t coming out to publicly support Russell. They may hate blacks, Jews, and anyone else that they feel may be a bit too liberal to be a true patriot, but surer than you know what, they won’t come out and support him. This leaves a small but committed group of über-conservatives, most of which are from Mt. Pleasant where Mr. Russell (and County Executive Rob Astorino) live. They have already filed their petitions with the Westchester County Board of Elections and are good to go.

In the meantime, candidate Carvin is left to hope that the voters aren’t asleep at the wheel next week. Perhaps the Federal Monitor overseeing the HUD housing project was on to something when he made those veiled accusa-tions that Westchester was a county with racist leanings. It only takes one racist to emerge and the rest of the shadowy figures will follow.

Nancy King is a freelance investigative reporter; a resident of White Plains, New York.

Republican Leaders Denounce Jim Russell

EXCLUSIVE

Everyone’s Getting Paid – It’s A Done Deal


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EXCLUSIVE

Clerk. A resolution to that affect was submitted to the Yonkers City Clerk’s office this late after-noon. In exchange for supporting Mr Alvarado to the position of Yonkers City Clerk, Mssrs. Larkin and Breen demanded John Jacono, Yonkers Republican City Committee Chair, employed by lobbyist Nick Spano’s Empire Strategic Planning operation, and licensed Real Estate Salesperson under Paul Adler, Senior Managing Director of Prudential Rand Commercial Services and understood to be a partner to Nick Spano in the real estate busi-ness, was demanded to fill the remaining term of Yonkers Board of Education (YBoE) Trustee

Board Director Michael E. Carey who recently stepped down from his posting at the urging of the Span Administration. The ramification of the Yonkers Republican City Committee Chair working for Democrat Mayor Mike Spano, serving lobbyist Nick Spano, a registered Republican still, is a conflict of interest specific to the Republican Party in Yonkers. Can Mr Jacono promote a credible Republican chal-lenger to a Democrat endorsed candidate whose boss is the same one he has accepted a position and stipend from, that is, Mayor Mike Spano, a registered Democrat? Is Mr Jacono planning to eventually step down as Chair of the Yonkers Republican City Committee? If not; he should do.

Unrelated to al the above, Yonkers Tribune / The Westchester Guardian has learned Dr. Nader Sayegh, Esq., attorney at law, adjunct professor at a local college, School Superintendent at a private school, Principal at various Yonkers Public Schools, teacher, one-time chairman of the Yonkers Charter Revision Commission, Yonkers Parking Authority Board Treasurer, Yonkers General Hospital Board Treasurer, and so much more, is expected to accept a 5-year appointment when designated by Mayor Mike Spano early this week.

Besides the resolution by the Yonkers City Council requesting Mr Alvarado be consid-ered for the Yonkers City Clerk position is the ancillary aspect of the resolution that stipulated present 2nd Yonkers City Clerk Vincent Spano be move up to Yonkers City Deputy Clerk.

Vincent Spano is a Conservative Party member.A Republican position had been offered

to Geri Esposito but was rebuffed by her lack of interest. John Rubbo has been offered the position of 2nd Yonkers City Clerk Deputy. Mr Rubbo is engaged in opening a micro-brewery in Yonkers. One must wonder where he will find the time to apply his efforts; his new business venture or the Office of the Yonkers City Clerk?

The non-aggression pact is thriving in Yonkers once again. Everyone is getting paid.

Best of all, when Mr Alvarado takes office as Yonkers City Clerk, an opening in Yonkers Office of Constituent Services will have earned Mayor Mike Spano to fill that position with another patronage job. Only “Friends and Family” may apply.

Everyone’s Getting Paid – It’s A Done Deal Continued from page 14



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LEGISLATION

ALBANY, NY -- Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge) on June 15, 2012, announced he has authored a resolu-tion, cosponsored by 33 of his colleagues (15 Republicans, 18 Democrats) that calls upon the United States Congress to immediately act to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling in July. The resolution is cosponsored by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education.

“This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue,” Castelli said. “The resolution we passed today calls on Congress to do the right thing and fix this problem. In 2007, a Democratic Congress and a Republican President came together to pass the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Now it is incumbent upon this Republican Congress and Democratic President to put politics aside, and reauthorize this impor-tant legislation.”

Castelli, a former college professor whose 89th Assembly District includes SUNY Purchase, Berkeley College, the Pace University Graduate Campus and Law School, the College of Westchester, and Manhattanville College, held a press conference last week with a dozen students, professors and financial aide profes-sionals calling on New York’s Congressional delegation to help wade through the partisan gridlock in Washington and pass the bill.

Castelli’s resolution calls upon the Congress to cap student-loan interest at the current rate of 3.4, and further asks that Congress vote in favor of legislation to cap total student-loan debt, as well as work on a comprehensive strategy to ease

this massive debt burden that is drowning a new generation of Americans and “severely eroding our nation’s quality of life.”

“The student debt issue is a topic of great concern to us,” said President of Purchase College, SUNY, Thomas J. Schwarz. “We as educators have a responsibility to identify ways to help our students reduce their debt load. We support the work of our legislators who are committed to solving this problem.”

“Doubling the interest rate on student loans

will deter many needy students from going to college, significantly add to the anxiety of building a life after graduation, and will make it harder for graduates to pursue jobs or careers that don’t provide a fat paycheck right off the bat,” said Kathleen Jordan, Brooklyn College student and chairperson of NYPIRG’s Board of Directors.

“It is time to put politics aside,” Castelli said. “In the past two years, Albany has managed to overcome its reputation for dysfunction by working across the aisle in a bipartisan fashion to pass two on-time budgets with no new taxes, borrowing, fees, or layoffs, a middle class tax cut that which included a fairer, more progressive tax structure, a long over due property tax cap, ethics reform, and a partial repeal of the MTA payroll tax. Congress must now act, put the elec-tion year gimmickry aside, and give our students and families the piece of mind they deserve by reauthorizing this important legislation.”

The expiration of the federal College Cost Reduction and Access Act would return interest rates on student loans for the 2012-13 school year to the 2006 level of 6.8 percent.

The bipartisan coalition of Assembly members cosponsoring Castelli’s resolution include Peter Abbate, Jeffrion Aubry, Didi Barrett, Anthony Brindisi, Dan Burling, Marc Butler, Nancy Calhoun, Cliff Crouch, Michael DenDekker, Joe Giglio, Deborah Glick, Philip Goldfeder, Minority Leader Brian Kolb, Peter Lopez, Nicole Malliotakis, Shelley Mayer, David McDonough, Jack McEneny, Donald Miller, Michael Miller, Mike Montesano, Dean Murray, Phil Palmesano, Gary Pretlow, Annie Rabbitt, Bill Reilich, Annette Robinson, Addie Russell, Mike Simanowitz, Aravella Simotas, Frank Skartados, Bob Sweeney, and Helene Weinstein.

Castelli Authors Resolution Demanding Congress Act to Cap Student-Loan Interest Rates


OP EDSection


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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A Bulletin for Nancy KingIn response to No Summer Fun if You’re Poor in Westchester, I have a bulletin for Nancy King:

It is not the responsibility of government to provide children -any children- with summer “fun.”

It is not the role of government to keep anyone’s kids amused, especially out of fear that otherwise they may start to commit crimes. It is not the role of government to afford “an enhanced quality of life,” whatever that means to liberals, to anyone. By the way, who decides how much “enhancement” is enough, Ms. King? Would

anything ever be enough for you? Government is not your daddy and it is not your mommy, as much as the left would like to make it so. Rather, it is the sole responsibility of the parents to nurture, guide and educate their children.

Ms. King is described as being an “investiga-tive reporter.” Fine. Here are a few things for her to investigate and report on:

1. Why does the Federal government have a $16 trillion national debt and borrow 40% of every dollar it spends?

2. Why does the State of New York have a huge, unsustainable debt, fueled by the largest,

most bloated and most corrupt Medicaid and food stamp programs in the country?

3. Why does Westchester County have a huge debt, a lowered credit rating and the highest property taxes in the nation? Any guesses, Ms. King? Couldn’t be too many enhancements, could it?

When you’ve finished your investigations, please write another column and let us know what you’ve found.

Respectfully submitted,John J. TimmelBedford, NY

OP-ED

By MATT BARBERWhen you’re on the wrong side of Planned Parenthood, you’re on the right side of history.

The left’s disingenuous and intellectually lazy “war on

women” talking points have blown up in its face. Most polls show Mitt Romney fast gaining on President Obama with female voters. Some polls even show him pulling ahead.

Still, it’s the multi-billion dollar abortion industry that may just give Romney the boost he needs to take a permanent lead. Just days after pro-life investigative group Live Action released devastating evidence that Planned Parenthood systemically engages in the grisly practice of sex-selection abortion – a charge to which it now admits – the cash-flush abortion Goliath has done Obama an ironic disservice by endorsing his re-election bid. The group has additionally

launched a $1.4 million advertising campaign to smear Mitt Romney.

Let’s put aside for a moment the scandalous disclosure that while Planned Parenthood receives over 350 million per annum in your taxpayer dollars, it nonetheless spends millions engaging in partisan politicking for the DNC. Troubling as that may be, utterly horrific is the revelation that this extremist organization – which absurdly presumes to defend “women’s rights” – has been caught red-handed torturing little girls to death in mamma’s womb, simply because mamma wanted a boy.

This discovery – eerily reminiscent of Communist China’s forced one-child sex-selec-tion policy – has shocked the conscience of an entire nation. So disturbing are the facts that on Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act (PRENDA), H.R. 354, introduced by

Republicans in Congress. Unbelievably, because the bill required a two-thirds majority for passage, Democrats were able to narrowly abort the measure by a vote of 246-168.

The legislation, which would have outlawed sex-selection abortions altogether, was also opposed by President Obama. This comes as little surprise when you consider that, while a state senator, Obama repeatedly fought Illinois’ Born Alive Infant Protection Act. This law simply required that when a baby survives a botched abortion – when she is “born alive” – further attempts to kill her must immediately cease, and steps must be taken to save her life.

But according to our president – leader of the “civilized” world – a law preventing the abor-tionist from finishing her off is “really designed simply to burden the original decision of the woman and the physician to induce labor and perform an abortion.”

This, coupled with Democratic support for sex-selection abortion (now on record), repre-sents the true “war on women.” This is misogyny

at its deadly worst. Take note, America: Obama and Democrats have officially endorsed the Mengelian practice of explicitly targeting little girls – over boys – for live dismemberment.

Still, there is good news here. This entire saga has placed in the national spotlight the irreconcilable incongruities central to our nation’s ongoing policy of legalized abortion on demand.

Consider, for instance, that under current federal and state law, if an off-duty abortionist – if any man, for that matter – physically assaults a woman and her unborn daughter dies, that man has committed murder. Yet if mom walks into Planned Parenthood and authorizes that same man to rip her baby girl limb-from-limb, it’s her “choice.” First case: murder. Second case: “choice.” Both cases: dead baby girl.

Furthermore, consider that – as established by a 2006 Zogby International poll of over 30,000 Americans in 48 states – 86 percent support a law banning sex-selection abortion. Doesn’t it stand to reason, then, that since the vast majority recognize the objectively reprehensible nature of

Equal Rights for Unborn Feminists!


OP-ED

sex-selection abortion, they, too, might recog-nize that it’s equally reprehensible for mom to have baby killed for no reason at all? This is what current law allows, without restriction, through

the ninth month.Indeed, incongruities abound. Still, it is the

indefensible nature of empty “pro-choice” rhet-oric that, I believe, will ultimately end legalized abortion in America. Truth, even when buried for decades, eventually has a way of rising to the surface.

It’s inevitable. Roe v. Wade will, in time, be tossed, alongside the slavery-justifying Dred Scott decision, exactly where both shameful scars on Lady Liberty belong: in the trash heap of historical inhumanity.

Just as those who excused slavery are reviled by history, so, too, will be those who called

themselves “pro-choice.”Matt Barber (@jmattbarber on Twitter) is an attorney concentrating in constitutional law. He serves as Vice President of Liberty Counsel Action. (This information is provided for identification purposes only.)

Continued from page 16Equal Rights for Unborn Feminists!

By FRANK V. VERNUCCIO, JR. The tradition of free speech on the internet is in deep jeopardy due to next December’s sched-uled United Nations World Conference on International Telecommunications. Russia,

China, North Korea and Iran are expected to strenuously push for the legal ability to control the internet beyond their own borders. As this article goes to press, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are introducing a resolution at the U.N. to establish an internet “governance” concept that would establish a form of censor-ship into cyberspace.

Top U.N. officials have made statements praising the internet’s freedom of the press, and giving that medium credit for the “Arab Spring.” However, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has also echoed those who believe in censorship by stating that, “considering the immediate impact of information in the digital world, journalists

must be much more responsible in their work to ensure accuracy, balance and fairness, and not use the media to disseminate hatred or conflict, or incite violence.” The fact that the definitions of “accuracy, balance, fairness and inciting” would be left to the same rulers who internet journalists may be opposing does not inspire confidence.

In 2011, a push began to develop a U.N. agency to manage internet policy, at about the same time that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin emphasized that “international control over the internet” was an important goal.

Former U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), who once served as chairman of the House’s Subcommittee on Communications, tech-nology and the Internet, and co-founded the Congressional Internet Caucus, believes that once the Pandora’s Box of regulation is opened, the censorship impulse will continue to grow stronger.

The U.S. attitude towards greater interna-tionalizing of internet control began to change

in 2010. Critics maintain that under Secretary Clinton, the State Department hasn’t displayed a great deal of enthusiasm in fighting internet censorship, and that by signing the controver-sial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or “ACTA,” The White House has altered long-standing American revulsion for limitations on free speech.

The general intent of the treaty is, on the surface, laudable: to establish global standards and an international legal framework to enforce intellectual property rights, copyright laws, etc. However, both the means it uses to do so, and the manner in which the President imposed its provisions, has caused raised eyebrows in Congress and among journalists.

To accomplish its goals, the treaty allows foreign entities to force internet service providers to remove web content within the United States. This establishes a precedent for international governments to claim that censoring speech beyond their borders is conceptually consistent with prior agreements.

Washington “ratified” the measure in a rather unconventional manner. The White

House, perhaps seeking to avoid a fight with Congress and the uncomfortable publicity that it would bring, claimed the treaty was an “executive agreement” that didn’t require Senate approval.

Legitimate concerns such as copyright protection can be addressed in ways that do not threaten free speech on the internet, using inter-nationally recognized laws already established.

It should be noted that threats to free speech on the internet are not limited to inter-national treaties or Washington politics. Here in New York, State Senator Thomas O’Mara (R-Elmira) has introduced the “Internet Protection Act.” Again, the stated purpose of the legislation, to prevent anonymous cyber bullying, is laudable. However, it establishes an overbroad ability that could be applied to any statement (including political criticism) that chills 1st Amendment rights.

It’s time that our elected officials were given a remedial course in the meaning of the 1st Amendment. Contact Frank Vernuccio by directing email to: [email protected].

Internet Freedom at Risk



L E G A L N O T I C ESUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Index No.: 56465/2011Date of Filing: June 8, 2012SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF WestchesterJAMES B. NUTTER AND COMPANY, Plaintiff,-against-

ANTHONY CATO AS POSSIBLE HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF NED DORSEY CATO, if living, or if either or all be dead, their wives, husbands, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said ANTHONY CATO AS POSSIBLE HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF NED DORSEY CATO, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and the respective husbands, wives, widow or widowers of them, if any, all of whose names are unknown to plaintiff; THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF NED DORSEY CATO DECEASED AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID DEFENDANTS WHO MAY BE DECEASED AND THE RE-SPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AS-SIGNEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE AFORESAID CLASSES OF PERSONS, IF THEY OR ANY OF THEM BE DEAD, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO THE PLAINTIFF, if living, or if either or all be dead, their wives, husbands, heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, assignees, lienors and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF NED DORSEY CATO DECEASED AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID DEFENDANTS WHO MAY BE DECEASED AND THE RESPEC-TIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AS-SIGNEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE AFORESAID CLASSES OF PERSONS, IF THEY OR ANY OF THEM BE DEAD, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO THE PLAINTIFF; by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and the respective husbands, wives, widow or widowers of them, if any, all of whose names are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXA-TION AND FINANCE; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorney(s) within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the sum-mons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OB-TAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Honorable Orazio R. Bellantoni of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed on May 10, 2012, and filed with supporting papers in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Westchester, State of New York.

The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by NED DORSEY CATO to SOMERSET INVESTORS CORP on October 3, 2008, in the principal amount of $382,500.00, which mortgage was recorded in Westchester County, State of New York, on March 17, 2009, in Control # 490700267. Said mortgage was as-signed to Plaintiff, JAMES B. NUTTER & COMPANY, by assignment of mortgage dated October 3, 2008 and recorded on January 8, 2010, in Control #493510212.

Said premises being known as and by 1735 PARK STEEET, PEEKSKILL, NY 10566.

Date: April 13, 2012Batavia, New York Virginia C Grapensteter, Esq.ROSICKI, ROSICKI & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

Attorneys for PlaintiffBatavia Office 26 Harvester AvenueBatavia, NY 14020585.815.0288Help For Homeowners In Foreclosure

New York State Law requires that we send you this notice about the foreclosure process. Please read it carefully. Mortgage foreclosure is a complex process. Some people may approach you about “saving” your home. You should be extremely careful about any such promises. The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. There are government agencies, legal aid entities and other non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about foreclosure while you are working with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department at 1-877-BANKNYS (1-877-226-5697) or visit the Department’s website at www.banking.state.ny.us. The State does not guarantee the advice of these agencies.

http://www.banking.state.ny.us


OFFICE SNIPER LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 3/13/12. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of ALAN LOUGHLIN 325 MAIN ST. APT 3H WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Bridge Builders Translators, LLC Articles of Org. filed with the NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/7/12. Of-fice in Westchester County. SSNY design. agent of LLC upon whom service of process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of The LLC 2072, Baldwin Road, Yorktown heights, New York 10598. Purpose: Translation Services.

A.P.E. FITNESS, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 10/27/11. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy THE LLC ATTN: LORI SCHNEIDER 23 WOOD-LAND DR RYE BROOK, NY 10573. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

MADISON-DAVIS LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/7/12. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy The LLC 303 S. Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591 Purpose: Any lawful activity.

THE TRENDY VEGAN, LLC Arti-cles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 4/20/12. Office in West-chester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy THE LLC 56 QUARRY LN BEDFORD, NY 10506. Registered Agent: YONNI MICHELLE WATTENMAKER 56 QUARRY LN BEDFORD, NY 10506. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

QUICK CASH OF BROADWAY LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/4/12. Office in West-chester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy The LLC 1150 Broadway New York, NY 11221 Purpose: Any lawful activity.

ENDRIM HOUSE LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 4/24/12. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy THE LLC 191 BEECH ST. EASTCHESTER, NY 10709. Registered Agent: PHILIP DENNING 191 BEECH ST. EAST-CHESTER, NY 10709 Purpose: Any lawful activity.

EMPIRE CITY MOVING LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 3/14/12. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy The LLC 754 Palisades Ave Yonkers, NY 10703. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of ZANICK Four, LLC a domestic Limited Li-ability Company (LLC). Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY on 05/10/2012. NY office location: WESTCHESTER County. Secy of State is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. Secy of State shall mail a copy of any pro-cess against the LLC served upon him/her to DACK Consulting Solu-tions, 2 William street suite 202 White Plains, NY 10601. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or ac-tivity

CLOVER11, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 4/23/12. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy C/O United States Corpo-ration Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave Ste 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228. Reg-istered Agent: C/O United States Corporation Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave Ste 202 Brooklyn, NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

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W W W . W E S T C H E S T E R G U A R D I A N . C O M

By HENRY J. STERNElections are the best way to decide public issues in a democracy. The word democracy means ‘rule by the people’, which is a fair and reason-able way to determine which

policies a government should follow, and who should be selected to lead that government. A basic principle of democracy is one man, one vote, a rule the courts have frequently invoked to determine questions brought before judges.

One man, one vote (now more properly one person one vote) is meant to support the concept that each citizen’s influence should be equal. In reality, however, some people’s influence is always greater than others’, no matter what system of reckoning is used.

The most obvious barometer of influence is money. A man who can give a million dollars to a candidate is much more likely to be listened to than a contributor of $1. It would be impos-sible to write a law under which every citizen’s views would receive equal attention and respect. But it remains a legitimate goal of reformers

to minimize the disparity in resources between candidates.

The major distinction between citizens and interest groups lies in their access to candidates. A substantial amount of public business is trans-acted at fund-raising events for the benefit of individual candidates. Clearly, these events provide contributors with an opportunity to meet with the candidates they support and to try to influence them.

The press reports only the most egregious instances of the heady mix of contributors and lobbyists who seek to influence government. To some extent, lobbying is constitutionally protected free speech, based on the people’s right to petition their government for the redress of grievances. To draw the line between free speech and speech which is anything but free because it is bought and paid for by unions and corporations (now that they are given the status of ‘people’) is a difficult challenge, because we are on the slipperiest of slopes.

The courts are likely to go back and forth on these issues, with the differentiation of their views based on social and economic concerns on

which the judges may differ. There are no abso-lutes here, and the basic attitudes of nine judges, appointed by a number of different Presidents over the course of a quarter century or more, are more than likely to vary with the political atti-tudes of the times and the backgrounds of the people who are involved with making decisions.

The practice of requiring donations to political campaigns or related causes as a condi-tion of obtaining access to public officials is called “pay to play”. It is fundamentally wrong because it violates the principle of government on the merits if decisions are made on the basis of financial contributions by people seeking jobs or contracts with the state.

It is very difficult to prove the wrongful intent of a particular donor when the candi-date has made a general appeal to the public for financial support and has received thousands of donations, some of which are undoubtedly moti-vated, to a greater or lesser extent, by self interest. If a law makes every transaction suspect, it is not likely to be that effective in sifting out the bad gifts from the good ones. And the fact that donors, good and bad, are likely to be represented

by learned counsel is a further disincentive to an agency taking the initiative on policing this area.

There is also the problem of mixed motives, which is sometimes the case for a donation. How one regulates transactions regarding gambling as a revenue measure for the state raises questions if only because of their enor-mity. The secret manner in which these measures were agreed upon at a private location upstate also suggests the need for close evaluation of the merits of the plan. The proposal by Genting and the Governor is likely to receive intense scrutiny from both friends and enemies.

The extremely large size of the commitment to the Committee to Save New York raises again the issue of state spending. Justified as it is likely to be, state spending proposals invite public scrutiny by a variety of agencies (including law enforcement).

To be fair, the unions are free to spend whatever they can raise to present their point of view, and contributions from private sources are practically unlimited, so the merits are not overwhelming for either side. A great deal will depend on how the program is administered, and in that area one’s track record is outstanding.

Henry J. Stern is the founder and president of New York Civic.

One Person, One Vote - Or One Dollar One Vote? Supreme Court Will Decide, But Has It Made Up Its Mind?

NEW YORK CIVIC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_man%2C_one_vote

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_man%2C_one_vote

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_influence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundraising

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_petition

http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2012/01/new-york-civic-truth-is-the-first-casualty-in-redistricting-as-in-war-by-henry-j-stern.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_spending

http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2012/06/NYCivic.org

http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2012/06/NYCivic.org

Westchester Guardian

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john simonleporine lunacypage

koch movie review

republican leaders

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robert scottthe strange