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Vol 109 Number 15
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‘The Blacklist’ Continues
Filming Boom in Yonkers
Friday, April 11, 2014
Mayor Spano Looks to the
Future in ‘State of the City’
“When the people of
Yonkers stand
together, we cannot
be beat…Never stop
believing that
Yonkers’ best days
are yet to come.”
Mayor Mike Spano
James Spader, star of the hit television show “The Blacklist,” has been on location filming
in Yonkers.
By Dan Murphy
Television and movie production crews and
location scouts are picking Yonkers to film their
features other productions in record numbers, including recent filming at several Yonkers locales
for the hit NBC show “The Blacklist.”
Starring James Spader, “The Blacklist” has
shot episodes in the lobby of Yonkers City Hall,
the old courtroom in City Hall, along the Saw Mill
River at Van der Donck Park, and at properties next
to the Yonkers Rising office on Warburton Avenue.
An old print shop office, owned by Rising
Development Yonkers LLC, the parent company
of Yonkers Rising, was used to shoot an episode of
“The Blacklist,” which will air soon. The cast and
crew also spent time in our Yonkers Rising office
during filming.
Continued on Page 10
YPD Gets New Crime Dog,
Thanks to Exchange Club
By Dan Murphy
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano delivered his
third State of the City address Wednesday to
a packed audience at the Riverfront Library,
focusing on the positive, as well as unifying
trends in the city and the success Yonkers has
achieved during his first three years in office.
Spano also addressed the financial errors at
the Board of Education, and the remedies tak-
en in the state budget to fix the errors.
Major portions of the mayor’s address
include:
“Our new sense of unity starts with city
government. We’ve moved beyond the political gridlock that was an obstacle in the past
and replaced it with bipartisanship and compromise that is the key to a better future.
Continued on Page 8
Stew Leonard’s Supports PAL
Exchange Club President Ann Muro and Frank Spotorno with a check for $2,200 from
Spotorno that was raised by the club for a new Yonkers Police Department K-9 dog.
It all started with a question.
Yonkers Police Benevolent Association President Keith Olson asked Yonkers’ National Exchange Club President Ann Muro if the club would
buy a dog for the police K-9 Unit, as it had done 15
years ago. At that time, the club purchased the dog
for $2,000 and named him Ex. He was assigned to
work with officer Robert Tauber.
Word had it that one of Ex’s first assignments
was cornering a burglar in a home in northeast
Yonkers. Needless to say, Ex made the Exchange
Club very proud.
Muro learned that the dogs now cost $7,200.
“Wow, talk about inflation…” she joked. While Olson said he understood if the Exchange Club could
not afford the dog, Muro told him the club would
come through for the department. “We’ll do it; I’ll
think of something,” she said.
This conversation took place in February, a
few days before the club’s annual Crime Prevention Dinner honoring the Yonkers Police Department Training Unit, and Olson said he would have
to definitely know if the club could swing it by the
end of that month.
It was on Thursday, Feb. 20 that the dinner
Continued on Page 10
Yonkers Native’s ‘Urbanlights’
On Display at Blue Door Gallery
Children at the Yonkers Police Athletic League recently received a donation from Stew Leonard’s, a longtime supporter of the Sgt. Mike D’Ambrosio PAL Poster Contest. Pictured are
Store Manager Larry Zimmerman, center, with PAL members, from left, Michael Petrellese,
2013 Poster Contest winner PJ Dorian, Tara Doran, 2013 Poster Contest winner Molly Doran,
Maggie Doran and Brenden Doran. This year’s contest is underway and the 2014 winners will
be announced May 5 at City Hall. Photo by Ed Whitman.
Yonkers Charter School to
Hold ‘Bits & Bytes’ Fundraiser
Charter School students hope to get laptop computers to study on. Photo by Donna Davis.
Yonkers artist Satish Joshi with one of his “Urbanlights” paintings. Photo by Michelle Jacobs.
Textured surfaces and the interpretation of
light and color have been the dominant artistic themes of artist Satish Joshi’s painting and
printmaking on canvas, shaped wood panels and
paper since the early 1970s, and his 2013-14
“Urbanlights” series will be exhibited April 24
to May 23 at the Blue Door Gallery in Yonkers
Always interested in the interplay and reflection of light, he began working with textured
two-dimensional surfaces on his canvases, and
later his metal sculptures, as a way of exploring
light, color and form.
“The human cosmos is infused with our
Continued on Page 6
By Dan Murphy
The Charter School of Educational Excellence invites the Yonkers community to its
“Bits & Bytes” technology fundraiser April 21
at 42 Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in
White Plains.
“Our long-term goal is to be able to provide each and every student with a laptop, complete with up-to-date software and educational
tools,” explained CSEE Trustee and founder
Sobeida Cruz. “Achieving this goal will require professional development, curriculum
adjustment and additional staff. Your support
will go a long way in changing the lives of our
students and enabling them to succeed.”
Chef and owner Anthony Goncalves of
42 Restaurant, a Yonkers native, is lending his
support to CSEE’s efforts.
“I know how important it is to provide
Continued on Page 9
PAGE 2 - Yonkers Rising - Friday, April 11, 2014
Yonkers On the Move’s
‘Walk 20’ Contest Steps Off
Pirates & Video Gaming
At Hudson River Museum
Cutting the ribbon for Yonkers on the Move’s Walk 20 challenge at City Hall.
The Yonkers on the Move walking season
kicked off April 7 with its first walk challenge
of the year, from City Hall through downtown
to the Yonkers Riverfront Library and back.
“Spring is finally here and what better way
to promote healthier living and exercise than to
get outside, enjoy the weather and walk with
your fellow residents and friends?” said Mayor
Mike Spano. “I applaud our community leaders
for initiating a campaign that encourages wellness among our residents, one step at a time.”
Yonkers on the Move is a citywide walking campaign promoting an active lifestyle for
residents. Last week’s celebration also served
as a kickoff to the Yonkers Walk 20 Challenge,
in which participants are encouraged to walk
20 miles by the end of May.
Participants of the Walk Challenge will receive a free YOM Mile Card to log their miles,
and those who record 20 miles between now
and May 31 will receive special recognition
and be eligible for a drawing of prizes. The
citywide goal for the Yonkers on the Move
2014 walk season is 2,000 miles.
The Yonkers on the Move Walk Challenge
is sponsored by 55Plus Yonkers Connections,
Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, Helen Andrus
Benedict Foundation, United Way, Communities for All Ages, and the City of Yonkers.
For details on how to participate in the
Yonkers Walk Challenge, visit www.walkyom.
org.
Emma and Robbie Donaldson make pirate-themed arts projects at the “School’s Out,
Stars Are In” program at the Hudson River Museum, which returns Friday, April 18.
Photo by Katie Henry.
Students on school break have fun activities and opportunities to discover waiting
for them at the Hudson River Museum. This
month, it’s Pirate Day at the museum, and all
activities are pirate themed.
“School’s Out, Stars Are In” will take
place Friday, April 18 from 1 to 4 p.m., when
students can join museum educators and junior
docents for demonstrations in the Riverama
Gallery and creative activities. Star shows are
at 12:30 and 2 p.m., and children can play video games in the Planetarium – projected on to
the dome – at 3:30 p.m.
Students must be accompanied by a caregiver.
To celebrate The Art of Video Games exhibition, the Hudson River Museum is launching
Friday evening discussions, dance parties, contests and games – extending its Fridays closing
hours from 5 to 8:30 p.m., or 10 p.m. depending on programming, through May 16.
On May 2 from at 7 p.m. will be a video
game discussion featuring video curator Frank
Lantz, director of NYU Games Center and a
game developer for more than 20 years. A dance
party will follow from 8 to 10 p.m. for ages 18
and older, hosted by Chiptune enthusiast DJ
Cutman, whose record label, GameChops, is
the first of its kind to license dance music remixes from major video game publishers like
Nintendo and Sega.
Friday Night Live will take place from 7
to 8:30 p.m. April 11, 18 and 25, and May 9
and 16, featuring planetarium shows and video
gaming.
April 11 will feature comic book artists
and contests, with signings and demonstrations
by Emilio Velez Jr., Michael Grassia, and “Virtual Ascendance” author Devin Griffiths. David
Depasquale will host a “Super Smash Brothers” and other combat-based gaming contests.
April 18 will feature a demonstration of
“Microsoft XBOX One” at 7 p.m.
All programs are free with museum admission, which is $6 for adults, $3 for youth ages
3 to 18, $4 for seniors age 62-plus or students
with proper identification. Admission to the
planetarium is $4 for adults, $2 for youth ages
3 to 18, and $3 for seniors and students.
The Hudson River Museum is located at
511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers. Hours are noon
to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. For more information, visit www.hrm.org or call 914-9634550.
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Friday, April 11, 2014 - Yonkers Rising - PAGE 3
This, Too, is Yonkers
And Our World
Spring is Here: Science
Barge to Open April 12
By Eric W. Schoen
curred here so that it doesn’t
“I love you, you love
happen again. If I were City
me. We’re a happy family!”
Council President Liam
Why not open this week with
McLaughlin, I would wait
a line from Barney?
for the report from the YonNothing I love more
kers inspector general, the
than hearing from readers of
U.S. attorney for the souththis column – whether it is
ern district, or other agencies
via email, on Facebook, at
investigating this mess.
Starbucks or at the library,
Many readers comyour comments on my musmented about “mayoral
ings “make my day.”
control” of Yonkers Public
Last week’s article on
Schools, which was not part
Target brought out strong
of the state budget approved
emotions pro and con. A
last week. Most agreed with
reader disagreed with my
me that the mayor does conEric W. Schoen
hypothesis that a company
trol the Yonkers schools
like Target will never set up shop in Getty Square through his appointments. Three years into the
because it is surrounded by low-income hous- term of a Yonkers mayor, he or she has appointed
ing. He pointed to various projects going up in a majority of the trustees of the Board of Educaand around the Riverdale section of the Bronx to tion; one would hope the mayor would appoint
show that retail could work in “the square.”
trustees in line with his or her philosophy.
Another reader said retailers like Target beSadly, because of the accounting errors, it
long in the shopping district along Central Av- is not only the mayor who will control Yonkers
enue.
Public Schools, but also the State Education DeBottom line is that continuing to open holes partment. Let’s hope adding this cook will be the
in the ground (daylighting) in and around Getty recipe for success!
Square might look nice, but they don’t generate
Keep the letters coming! When I am wrong I
tax dollars. Opening day at Yankee Stadium took will be the first to admit it. And when I am right,
place Monday….I am still waiting for opening I will bask in the sunshine we all need after the
day at the stadium at Chicken Island.
terrible winter we went through!
I would love to see a Target on Central AvHot topics:
enue in Yonkers, but I don’t see a large enough
The folks attending the last performance at
plot of vacant land to accommodate Target. Folks Roseland featuring Lady Gaga probably didn’t
were against the Target when it was proposed realize the rich history of the institution. Roseland
for Tuckahoe Road years ago. While Yonkers is a multipurpose hall in a converted ice skating
fiddles, the pockets of neighboring communities rink with a glorious history as a dance hall. For
are burning up with tax revenue that belongs in many years, tuxedoed gentlemen danced with
Yonkers’ coffers.
ball gown-attired hostesses, and women paid per
Speaking of tax revenue, I hate to say “I told dance to glide on Roseland’s famed dance floor.
you so” but as several readers pointed out, the reExactly 7,100 defects have been found on
port issued by Moody’s last week just confirmed Metro-North train tracks over the last decade!
what I have been saying for weeks. Moody’s said The number boggles the mind. And if it wasn’t
the state’s bailout of the Yonkers school system for some major accidents including the loss of
is “credit positive,” but both the state and city’s life, we probably would have never known this.
school budget overseers share blame for an ac- Let’s hope the new management team at Metrocounting error that led to a major budget gap.
North focuses on safety versus on time perforThe Yonkers city and school budgets are the mance.
most reviewed budgets in Westchester – if not the
The closest thing to Johnny Carson is Dastate. Maybe the problem is too many cooks in vid Letterman. Even Letterman cannot make me
the kitchen? And no one is taking the blame for laugh like Carson could. Like many of you, I have
what happened!
never found a replacement for Carson’s over-theThe people of Yonkers deserve to know top humor. But we wish David Letterman all the
what happened to cause a $55 million gap in this best after three decades of making America laugh
year and last year’s school budget. The majority before they went to sleep.
of the City Council has expressed concern about
The discussion all over the press regarding
bonding the gaps in the budget. Before any bond- heroin frankly boggles my simple mind. I guess
ing takes place, taxpayers need to know what ocContinued on Page 7
The Science Barge will
again begin growing up
fresh produce April 12.
Cross the gangplank and shake those winter doldrums at the grand season opening of the
Science Barge on Saturday, April 12. This sustainable urban farm and environmental education center is celebrating its sixth year on the
waterfront in downtown Yonkers with an afternoon of revelry.
Festivities starting at noon include a “super-high kite-flying” with kite-expert and nationally-recognized boomeranger, Flyin’ Brian
Cavallaro, live music from the Nepperhan
Community Center Drum Corps and hunting
for glass eels. Also, there will be artsy crafts,
Continued on Page 5
April is National Child
Abuse Prevention Month
By Ann Muro
Spring is a beautiful time of year…a time
in which we all look forward to the warmer days
ahead and the beauty of the budding trees and colorful gardens. We see our children playing outdoors, enjoying all those activities that bring on
smiles and laughter.
But not all children are that fortunate. You
see, they are the victims of child abuse, a most
serious and growing problem in our country.
Each year, an estimated 3.2 million children
are reported as being abused or neglected, with
several thousands dying as a result – and many,
many cases go unreported. Child abuse is a tragedy that comes in a variety of forms, such as physical, sexual, emotional and neglect. Each time we
turn on the television or read the newspaper, we
learn of one horrific incident after another.
Child abuse prevention is the national project of the Exchange Clubs of America, a 90-yearold community service organization with almost
1,000 clubs and more than 29,000 members
throughout the United States.
As the president of the Exchange Club of
Yonkers, I am proud of all that Exchange has done
to help families break the cycle of child abuse. To
date, our National Exchange Club Foundation has
helped more than 225,000 children and 175,000
families break the cycle of abuse.
The foundation coordinates a nationwide
network of more than 100 Exchange Club Child
Abuse Prevention Centers throughout the U.S.
(the Westchester Child Abuse Prevention Center
is located in White Plains). Through the use of
parent aides, we work directly with families in
Continued on Page 7
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PAGE 4 - Yonkers rising - Friday, April 11, 2014
Mayor’s Satellite Office
Continues on April 11
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s Satellite Tax
Office was held Wednesday, April 9 at Grinton
I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Ave.; and
Thursday, April 10 at Coyne Park Community
Center, 777 McLean Ave.; and will continue
Friday, April 11 at Homefield House, 911 Saw
Mill River Road, to assist residents in paying
their county taxes.
The mayor’s Office of Constituent Services and the city’s Tax Department will be available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. to meet with Yonkers residents and accept county tax payments,
which are due April 14.
Spano held his first satellite office last year
at the Coyne Park Senior Center, then expanded
it to three locations and three days in October
and December 2013. He said hundreds of Yonkers residents have attended and paid their taxes
at the satellite office.
“Our satellite office has been a huge suc-
cess because it brings City Hall to you,” said
Spano. “For many residents, especially seniors,
it can be difficult to visit City Hall during the
day. I encourage Yonkers residents to take advantage of the services our satellite office provides.”
In addition to accepting tax payments, the
Office of Constituent Services will be on hand
to serve as a one-stop shop for residents and offer assistance with a wide range of issues. The
office works one-on-one with residents and
serves as a link between the public and government agencies at the city, state and federal
levels.
For more information, call the Office of
Constituent Services at 914-377-6010 during
regular business hours. Residents can also call
the mayor’s Help Line, 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, at 914-377-HELP (4357) for assistance.
Sen. Stewart-Cousins Holds
Mobile Constituent Service Hours
The Office of State Sen.
to help. I have an outstanding
Andrea Stewart-Cousins will
constituent services staff that
host
“Mobile
Constituent
has had great success over the
Service Hours” in locations
years in solving hundreds of
throughout her district starting
constituent cases. While we
this week. During these times,
may not be able to solve every
the senator’s staff will be availproblem, we are usually able to
able to take questions, address
at least direct people to a reliconcerns or intervene on behalf
able community resource.”
of constituents on a variety of
Mobile constituent serissues.
vices hours include:
These include topics sur* Thursday, April 24 from
rounding housing, health insur4 to 7 p.m. at White Plains
ance, the Department of Motor
Public Library, 100 Martine
State Sen.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Vehicles, Medicare and MedAve.
icaid, EPIC, the Department of Social Services,
* Wednesday, May 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at
unemployment benefits, Workers Compensation, Chema Community Center, 435 Riverdale Ave.
mortgage foreclosure/modifications, consumer Yonkers.
protection, business licensing, youth programs
* Thursday, May 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Midand more.
Westchester JCC, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale.
“Constituent service is one of the most imConstituent services are always provided
portant functions of my office,” said Stuart-Cous- by the senator’s staff Monday through Friday, 9
ins. “These mobile constituent service hours are a.m. to 5 p.m. by telephone at 914-423-4031, or
part of a proactive effort to reach out to my con- at the District Office, 28 Wells Ave., Building 3,
stituents and let them know that my office is here Yonkers.
Discuss ‘Objects & Memory’
At Philipse Manor Hall
In collaboration with the New York Council for the Humanities, Philipse Manor Hall
State Historic Site and Friends of Philipse Manor Hall will present “Objects and Memory” by
filmmaker Jonathan Fein, on Tuesday, April 22
at 7 p.m. at 29 Warburton Ave., Yonkers
This lecture, which is free and open to the
general public, is made possible through the
Speakers in the Humanities program with the
support of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
In this lecture, Fein asks: “What are the
things in our homes and museums that mean the
most to us? How do we preserve the past and
speak to the future?”
To answer these questions, he focuses on
objects and what they reveal about issues of
value, memory, contemporary history, museum
collecting, and more. Using excerpts from the
documentary film “Objects and Memory,” this
entertaining, stimulating lecture challenges the
audience to think about what is taken for granted and what we hold most dear.
Fein is a filmmaker and sculptor interested
in the interrelationships of the intangible and
the physical. His highly-acclaimed documentary premiered on PBS for the seventh anniversary of Sept. 11.
“Objects and Memory” is part of Philipse
Manor Hall’s series, “Preserving Our Past.”
Through May, Philipse Manor Hall will host
a series of lectures, movies and conversation
groups to engage the public in thinking about
historic preservation from every angle, including its role in communities, whom it serves, and
what it achieves. Since its launch in 1983, the council’s
Speakers in the Humanities program has
brought distinguished scholars on a wide range
of humanities topics to audiences across New
York State. Each year, hundreds of non-profit
organizations and community groups take advantage of this program, including community
centers, religious organizations, museums and
historical societies, and libraries. The program
is an easy, affordable way for organizations
to bring top humanities programming to their
community.
For more information about this event, call
Philipse Manor Hall’s public programs coordinator at 914-965-4027, ext. 102. For more information about the Speakers in the Humanities
program, visit www.nyhumanities.org/sih.
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site is
regularly open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to November, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November to March. For additional information
about Philipse Manor Hall, visit www.nysparks.
com/historic-sites.
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Police Issue IRS Fraud Alert
Residents in the local community have been
receiving phone calls from individuals claiming
to be members of the Internal Revenue Service,
during this busy-tax filing season. The plot involves callers claiming to represent the IRS and
demanding immediate payments with a pre-paid
debit card or wire transfer.
According to IRS officials, the perpetrators
often know the last four digits of the victims’ Social Security numbers and threaten arrest, deportation and removal of driver’s licenses – something the IRS is not authorized to do.
“If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to
be from the IRS and uses threatening language if
you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it
really isn’t the IRS calling,” warned one official.
The callers tend to use common names and
fake IRS badge numbers, in addition to manipulating their caller ID to appear more legitimate.
Some also follow up with false IRS e-mails and
phone calls in which they pretend to represent
the police or Department of Motor Vehicles officials.
The IRS generally contacts taxpayers first
by mail or with personal visits by field agents,
and the agency does not accept credit card information by phone.
There are no known cases in Yonkers of victims who actually made payments, but residents
are warned to use caution and forward the details
of this scam to friends and family – particularly
the elderly who may be even more susceptible
to this type of fraud; elderly residents should be
advised to speak with a friend or family member
before acting on any such calls.
Residents can call the Yonkers Police Department’s Detective Division Fraud Unit at
914-377-7732 for more information.
Irish Sportsman to Lead
Discussion on Depression
Aisling Irish Community Center, in conjunction with New York Gaelic Athletic Association, will host an information session on
mental well-being Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. at
the center.
Conor Cusack, well known Cork senior
hurler and respected spokesperson on depression and other psychological issues, will travel
from Ireland to participate on the panel. Cusack
has appeared on Ireland RTE’s “The Late Late
Show” and “Prime Time,” as well as several
other television and radio programs over the
past six months to talk about his battle with depression and mental well-being, in general.
Other guest speakers on the panel include
Dr. Deborah Roche Counseling and Sport Psychology Services,; Danielle Owen, a licensed
alcohol and drug counselor from the Irish International Immigration Center in Boston; and
Stephen Naughton, LCSW. The panelists are
professionals who deal with sport psychology,
bereavement, substance abuse, depression and
suicide.
The objective of this event is to open the
door to a broad and honest conversation about
depression, suicide and other issues. Everyone
is welcome to attend.
It is widely accepted that being an emigrant and living so far away from family and
friends can intensify feelings of loneliness and
hopelessness. Despite the stigma attached to
mental illness being banished slowly but surely,
people are still somewhat reluctant to reach out
and ask for help or even to talk it out with a
close friend or family member. Likewise, family members and friends are sometimes too
afraid to approach the subject when in fact they
are only showing they care.
The panel discussion will be preceded by
an opportunity to become a certified Question,
Persuade and Refer community gatekeeper, offered for free by QPR suicide prevention trainer
Danielle Owen of the Irish International Immigrant Center in Boston.
No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to learn how to save a life. Prior registration is necessary to receive certification, so
e-mail info@aislingcenter.org if you would like
to attend.
Founded in 1996, the Aisling Irish Community Center offers a range of classes, programs and services including confidential counseling for a myriad of psychosocial, family and
other issues that affect the rational mind. In
2005, the center launched “Mind Yourself,” a
successful preventive mental health campaign.
For more information, call 914-237-5121
or visit www.aislingcenter.org.
Spring Into Action at Ridge
Hill’s Family Fitness Day
Ridge Hill will celebrate spring on Saturday, April 26 with an afternoon of fun activities and workshops dedicated to fitness and nutrition. From kids’ yoga, to agility training, to
cheerleading, gymnastics and kayaking demonstrations, Family Fitness Day promises to enlighten and invigorate one and all.
Local leader in high-level sports training
and competition, House of Sports will conduct
agility training sessions at Ridge Hill, and introduce its new “Athletic Republic” training
systems, designed to create a broad-based athleticism beyond the specifics of any one sport.
Westchester Gymnastics will also be on-hand to
demonstrate cheerleading and gymnastics programs.
In addition, there will be a wide variety
of programs, including kids’ yoga instruction
sponsored by Satva Organic Clothing, complimentary fitness assessments by LA Fitness,
kayaking presentations by L.L. Bean, stationary
bike demonstrations by REI, fitness training by
Dick’s Sporting Goods, fly fishing lessons by
Orvis, sports massages from Oasis Day Spa,
and waterproof make-up demonstrations by
Sephora.
Whole Foods Market in Yonkers will provide fresh popcorn and refreshments, Frannie’s
Goodie Shop and Smoothie King will offer
samples of frozen yogurt, and a WESTMED
nutritionist will offer healthy living tips. Music
and giveaways will be provided by the WHUD
radio station.
“Ridge Hill is a destination for engaging in
a wide range of family experiences from shopping and entertainment to dining,” said Kathryn
Welch, executive vice president and director
of retail development for the Forest City Ratner Corporation, owner and developer of Ridge
Hill. “We are an outdoor center, so promoting
physical activity comes naturally to us – and
we’re all ready for spring. Whether you are
an outdoor enthusiast interested in demonstrations from L.L. Bean, REI or Dick’s Sporting
Goods, or need waterproof make-up tips from
Sephora, or want to introduce your children to
yoga, cheerleading, agility training or gymnastics, Family Fitness Day offers something for
the entire family.”
Local elected officials are touting the day
as beneficial to families in the region.
“Ridge Hill’s Family Fitness Day is a great
way to usher in the new spring season in Yonkers,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “I applaud our
friends at Ridge Hill for coordinating the day of
events, which will engage visitors in a variety of
fun and educational activities while getting our
families moving and living healthier lifestyles.”
Yonkers City Council President Liam
McLaughlin added: “Eating right and exercising helps people young and old prevent issues
from childhood obesity to diabetes. Family
Fitness Day at Westchester’s Ridge Hill will
showcase how an active, healthy lifestyle can
be a year-round activity – and bring families
together.”
All activities will be conducted in a series
of workshops in tents in Town Square between
Brio Tuscan Grille and The Cheesecake Factory
on Second Street. Short, ongoing sessions will
run from noon to 3 pm.
For more information about Family Fitness
Day and Westchester’s Ridge Hill, visit www.
westchestersridgehill.com.
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Friday, April 11, 2014 - Yonkers Rising- PAGE 5
Sheep-to-Shawl Fest features
Additions to Spring Classic
A youngster visits the sheep at Philipsburg Manor. Photo by Brian Haeffele.
From fiber to fashion, Philipsburg Manor’s
Sheep-to-Shawl festival celebrates all things
wooly sheep, Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and
13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This classic spring event features several
new elements this year, including “Wearable
Wealth: The Value of Cloth and Clothing in the
18th Century.” Through activities and hands-on
displays in the site’s manor house, this interactive
exhibit will help visitors understand just how precious fabric goods were for colonial Americans.
In fact, colonists were the ultimate recyclers!
Textiles of all kinds were expensive treasures that
were used, re-used, and re-purposed again.
Other new elements include a photo opportunity for kids, who can try on reproduction 18th
century clothing. A fashion show will take place
featuring these outfits – both high-end style and
working-class – complete with critiques from a
tough judge, Historic Hudson Valley’s own expert
costume designer.
Food trucks from Rockland Roots (farm-totable fare) and Rachel’s Gourmet (comfort food
with a twist) will serve hungry visitors, and the
Blue Pig of Croton will dish up locally-sourced,
homemade ice cream.
Outside on the grounds, agile Scottish border collies will demonstrate not only their sheep
herding savvy, but their ability to corral ducks.
And of course, sheep ready to lose their winter
coats will be shorn by hand just like they were
Spring is
Continued from Page 1
Inventors’ Club wizardry, Science Club missiles, a seedling sale and energy bike challenge.
Free walk-on tours will take place from 2
to 6 p.m. and there will be light refreshments
throughout the day.
Each year the Science Barge grows an
abundance of fresh produce for local food pantries, using solar, wind energy and biofuels, and
rainwater irrigation. The only fully-functioning
demonstration of renewable-energy-support-
in the 18th century, while costumed interpreters
demonstrate wool dyeing, spinning and weaving,
and lead special hands-on activities for children.
Sheep-to-Shawl visitors can see the entire
process of making woolen cloth and participate
in many stages of the process, from picking and
carding the wool, to spinning and dyeing the yarn,
and weaving it into cloth. Interpreters, wearing
costumes of the 18th century, also demonstrate
the labor-intensive process of making linen from
the flax plant.
Storyteller Jonathan Kruk will be on-hand to
share lively tales, as well.
In 1750, Philipsburg Manor, which includes
a working water-powered gristmill and new world
Dutch barn, was home to 23 enslaved individuals
known to have lived and labored there. It is the
country’s only living history museum that focuses
on the history of northern slavery.
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors,
and $8 for children ages 3 to 17. Members of Historic Hudson Valley and children younger than 3
attend for free. Tickets can be purchased online at
www.hudsonvalley.org.
Information on available tours, which vary
by site, can be found at www.hudsonvalley.org or
by calling 914-631-8200.
Philipsburg Manor, owned and operated
by Historic Hudson Valley, is located at 381 N.
Broadway (Route 9), Sleepy Hollow, two miles
north of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
ed food production in New York, the Science
Barge provides educational programs for young
people of all ages and hosts more than 8,000
visitors annually.
The Science Barge is funded by grants from
the City of Yonkers, ConEdison, Domino Sugar, the Round River Foundation, the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation, Whole Foods, the Hudson River Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Science Barge, a project of Groundwork Hudson Valley, is located at 99 Dock St.,
Yonkers. For more information, visit www.
groundworkhv.org.
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Robotics Teams Compete
At US FIRST Competition
Aspiring engineers from four area high
schools sent their robots into battle at the New
York City regional event of the national US
FIRST Robotics Competition, from April 4 to 6
at the Jacob Javits Center.
This year, veteran teams from Early College, Riverside and Saunders Trades and Technical high schools welcomed the rookie team
from Yonkers Middle/High School on the journey to victory.
FIRST, embodies “For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology,” by
challenging the teams to build a robot using a
common set of parts, rules and deadlines. The
completed robots are sent into competition, vying for the top rank among international rivals.
“I can’t think of a more exciting way to engage our students in the study of science, technology, engineering and math than this kind of
competition,” said Interim Superintendent of
Schools Dr. Michael Yazurlo. “From the months
of planning to the day of the challenge, there
is an exhilaration shared among the teams that
comes in the collective design, construction and
operation of the robots.”
“US FIRST provides a firsthand experience that ignites curiosity, creativity and problem solving within our students, and we are so
thankful to each school’s sponsors, coaches and
administration for making our students’ participation in this competition possible,” added
Board of Education President Dr. Nader J.
Sayegh.
Since its inception in 1992, the FIRST Robotics Competition has grown to include 68,000
students representing more than 2,700 teams
from 17 countries. During this year’s game,
Aerial Assist, two competing alliances of three
teams each vied to score as many balls in select
goals as possible within a two-minute period.
Team “drivers” operated the robots and team
mechanics were ready to address operational
glitches, should they occur.
“It is exciting to witness the actions of our
students emulating the US FIRST slogan, ‘gracious professionalism,’ through their commitment, cooperation and teamwork,” said Riverside Principal Steven Murphy.
Students are also pleased with the program.
“FIRST has changed my life more so than
I can express in words,” said Yonkers Middle/
High School student Theodore Kim. “I’ve made
friends that I know I will keep for a long time
and learned things I know will stay with me for
a lifetime.”
Meet the US FIRST Robotics Teams from
Yonkers Public Schools:
Saunders Trades and Technical High
School – The district’s most veteran team, Saunders Droid Factory Team 2344, competes under
the mantra, “student run, student done.” In 2008,
the team entered its first season and at regional
competitions earned the Rookie Inspiration
Award and Rookie All-Star Award. In 2009, the
team won the New Jersey regional competition
and was presented the Chairman’s Award at the
New York City regionals. The team is coached
by teachers Jose Nunes, Xiomara Nunes and
Oscar Letona and is sponsored by Con Edison,
Dott Communications and the Andrew and Judith Economos Foundation.
Riverside High School – The Envirobotics
Team 3059 began competing in the US FIRST
Robotics Competition in 2009, earning the
Rookie All-Star Award and a coveted spot at nationals. Since then, the team has been honored
with the Team Spirit Award (2012), the Imagery
Award (2012) and teammate Ikechukwa Chima
was named a 2012 FIRST Dean’s List Finalist.
Envirobotics Team 3059 is coached by teachers
Preeti De and Liliana Singh and mentors Firooz
Mirbaha from Con Edison and John Paulose, Al
Santilli and Paul Duggins from the Nepperhan
Community Center. Team sponsors include the
Andrew and Judith Economos Foundation, Con
Edison and the Nepperhan Community Center.
This year, Riverside added a new team,
Rambots 6761, which competes in the US
FIRST Tech Challenge, which is an offshoot of
the robotics competition that uses a smaller kit
of parts at a lower cost.
Early College High School – eSharks Team
4684 evolved from the former Roosevelt High
School robotics team, which originated in 2008.
The ECHS eSharks made its first US FIRST
appearance during last year’s competition. The
team’s coaches are teacher Nick Ricciardi and
Marc Roennau. Sponsors include NASA, Con
Edison, Bridge Auto Parts and On A Roll Deli.
Yonkers Middle/High School – Mechadogs
Team 5123 made its US FIRST robotics debut
at the New York City regional competition last
weekend. The team is coached by Adam Thiessen and sponsored by NASA, Con Edison, the
Andrew and Judith Economos Foundation and
MBF Clearing Corp.
IDA Helps Bring Marriott to
South Westchester Executive Park
Another major hotel will be coming to Yonkers under the terms of an assistance package
approved last week by the Yonkers Industrial
Development Agency. The True North Hotel
Group will construct a more-than-150-room
Courtyard by Marriott in northwest Yonkers.
“This will be the third hotel at the South
Westchester Executive Park, and further enhances Yonkers as a destination for business and
leisure travel,” said Mayor Mike Spano, who
chairs the Yonkers IDA. “This means more jobs
for local residents, and more revenues to fund
essential services.”
The new hotel will be located on an empty
parcel directly across from the existing Residence Inn at 7 Executive Blvd. The project is
expected to get underway within the next several months and be completed by mid-2015.
“This new hotel will provide approximately 50 permanent jobs and add to our tax base,
while adding little or no additional demand for
local services,” said YIDA President Ken Jenkins. “It’s a clear boost for the city’s economy.”
The YIDA gave initial approval to $670,000
in sales tax exemptions on materials used in
construction, plus a $324,000 mortgage tax exemption. The YIDA also authorized negotiation
of a temporary property tax abatement.
The True North Group estimates annual
revenues will exceed $6 million within a year,
thus contributing substantial sales and payroll
taxes to the City of Yonkers on an ongoing basis. The total cost of the project is estimated to
be $24.5 million. In addition to the permanent
jobs, the project will also create approximately
250 construction jobs during a 15-month period.
The new Marriott hotel will total 84,000
square feet, have 110 king suites, 40 double
rooms, and accessible units for people with disabilities. It will sit on a 2.9-acre undeveloped
site. It will also have more than 3,000 square
feet of meeting spaces, plus restaurant facilities.
Mayor Calls For National
Search for New School Super.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano called on Yonkers Board of Education trustees last week to
conduct a nationwide search for a permanent
superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools, while
supporting Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael
Yazurlo for consideration in the selection process.
“As the fourth-largest school district in
New York State, it is important that the Board of
Education provide every opportunity for the nation’s best and brightest to lead a new direction
for quality education in our schools,” said Spano.
“Our students deserve no less.”
The selection of a new permanent superintendent follows the recent departure of former
Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio, who retired
in the wake of revealing a $55 million overstatement of funds over two years. Spano has expressed that Yazurlo should be considered – only
after a comprehensive search had been conducted.
“As Yonkers Public Schools transition toward new leadership, Interim Superintendent
Yazurlo has performed admirably during this
difficult, yet short period, but a decision on a
permanent superintendent should not be made
until a thorough search has been conducted,” said
Spano. “That’s in the best interest of our students
and taxpayers.”
PAGE 6 - YoNkERs RisiNG - FRidAY, APRil 11, 2014
Legal Notices
Classifieds
Coins • Currency • Jewelry at Hudson
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Notice of Formation of Tsavo
International LLC filed with
the Secretary of State of
NY (SSNY) on February 7,
2014. Office Location: Westchester County. The street
address is: 355 Main Street,
Suite 103, Armonk New York,
10504. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC
upon whom process against
it may be served. SSNY
shall mail process served
to: Tsavo International, LLC,
355 Main Street, Suite 103,
Armonk New York, 10504.
Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of Formation of The
Art of Sports filed with the
Secretary of State of NY
(SSNY) on February 11,
2014. Office Location: Westchester County. The street
address is: 159 Sparks Avenue, Pelham, NY, 10803.
SSNY has been designated
as agent of the LLC upon
whom process against it may
be served. SSNY shall mail
process served to: The Art
of Sports, LLC, 159 Sparks
Avenue, Pelham, NY, 10803.
Purpose: Any lawful act.
# 6504 03/07 - 04/11
Notice of formation of Ad
Summum Consulting LLC
Arts. Of Org. filed with the
Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY)
on 01/09/2014. Office location: Westchester. The street
address is: 2042 Palmer Avenue, Larchmont, Ny 10538.
Address. SSNY has been
designated as agent of the
LLC upon whom process
against it may be served.
SSNY shall mail process
served to: United States
Corporation Agents, Inc.,
7014 13th Avenue, Suite
202, Brooklyn, Ny 1122 .
Purpose: any lawful act.
# 6505 03/14 - 04/18
Notice of formation of D &
G Realty Assets, LLC, a
domestic Limited Liability
Company (LLC), filed with
the Secretary of State of
NY (SSNY) on 01/31/2014.
Office location: Westchester County. Principal office
of LLC: 409 Fourth Ave,
Pelham NY 10803. SSNY
designated as agent of LLC
upon whom process against
it may be served. SSNY shall
mail process to Gloria Riccio
at 409 Fourth Ave Pelham
NY 10803, upon whom and
at which process may be
served. Purpose: Real estate investments.
Notice of formation of John’s
Hot Tub Service, LLC, a
domestic Limited Liability
Company (LLC), filed with
the Secretary of State of NY
(SSNY) on 01/04/2013. Office location: Westchester
County. Principal office of
LLC: 41 Chase Ave, Yonkers, NY 10703 SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon
whom process against it may
be served. SSNY shall mail
process to John Carpenter 41 Chase Ave, Yonkers,
NY 10703 upon whom and
at which process may be
served. Purpose: Hot Tub
Service.
#6507
#6508
03/14 - 04/18
#6506
03/14 - 04/18
Notice of formation of Zested, Dessert Consultants,
LLC Arts. Of Org. filed with
the Sect’y of State of NY
(SSNY) on 12/27/2013. Office location: Westchester
County. The street address
is: 6 Cole Drive, Armonk, NY,
10504. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC
upon whom process against
it may be served. SSNY shall
mail process served to: Zested, Dessert Consultants,
LLC, 6 Cole Drive, Armonk,
NY 10504. Purpose: any
lawful act.
#6509
3/21/14 – 4/25/14
03/14 -04/18
Notice of formation of Yonkers Peace Pottery Studio
LLC, a domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC), filed
with the Secretary of State of
NY (SSNY) on 03/10/2014.
Office location: Westchester
County. Principal office of
LLC: 379 McLean Avenue,
Yonkers, NY 10705. SSNY
designated as agent of LLC
upon whom process against
it may be served. SSNY shall
mail process to Cori Morenberg, 127 Linn Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10705, upon whom
and at which process may be
served. Purpose: Arts and
Crafts Instruction and Sale.
Notice of formation of Styles
by Romeo LLC, a domestic
Limited Liability Company
(LLC), filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY)
on 03/28/2014. Office Location: Westchester County.
Principal Office of LLC: Suite
442, 941 McLean Avenue,
Yonkers, New York 10704.
SSNY designated as agent
of LLC upon whom process
against it may be served.
SSNY shall mail process to
Vashti Romeo, Suite 442,
941 McLean Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10704, upon
whom at which process may
be served. Purpose: Shoes
and Apparel
#6518
#6519
04/04 – 05/16
04/11/14 – 05/23/14
CORPORATION NOTICE
CITY OF YONKERS-NEW YORK
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to law, that the Mayor of the City of Yonkers, New York
will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, April 23, 2014 at 5:00pm, in the Mayor’s Reception Room, 40 South Broadway, Yonkers, New York on the following Local law, to wit:
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to law, that the City Council of the City of Yo n kers, New York will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 8:00 P.M. in the
City Council Chambers, 40 South Broadway, Yonkers, New York on the following resolution, to wit:
LOCAL LAW NO. 4-2014
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING SECTION C6-4 OF ARTICLE VI OF THE CHARTER OF
THE CITY OF YONKERS IN RELATION TO DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER
MIKE SPANO
Mayor
Wireless Telecommunications Facility - Collocation
1200 Midland Avenue, Yonkers, New York
Proposed Resolution
A Proposed Resolution To Honorarily Rename 50 Gateway Road, Between North Broadway And Ends At De Haven Drive As “ Cpl. Seymour Lehman Way”
VINCENT SPANO
City Clerk
#1251
04/11/2014
PUBLIC NOTICE: Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) is proposing to collocate wireless telecommunications
antennas and supporting equipment on the existing building at 1200 Midland Avenue,
Yonkers, New York, 10708.
Public comments regarding potential effects from the site on historic properties may be
submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Marianne Walsh, E2PM,
87 Hibernia Avenue, Rockaway, NJ 07866 or by electronic mail to: marianne.walsh@
e2pm.com, and please refer to E2PM Tracking Number P-14-02-01.
#1250
04/11/2014
Yonkers Native’s
Continued from Page 1
own ‘Urbanlights’ – textures and forms resonate around us in brick, steel, mortar and glass,”
Joshi told Yonkers Rising. “We view our cosmos
with the lights radiating from within as windows
illuminate; external light pours down from the
true cosmos and changes shapes, shadows, dimensions. In my ‘Urbanlights’ series paintings
I have tried to create a cityscape geometric
framework, which is superimposed on the skyscape, to give the viewer a different vision of the
combined composed and cosmic worlds. These
paintings encompass changing seasons – day or
night – and angles of view through which I can
explore the natural and manmade sparkle that
surrounds us, to watch it all interact.”
Professional commentary on Joshi’s paintings includes that of noted arts journalist Barrymore Laurence Scherer, who said of the Urbanlights series: “Flashes of early Braque and
of Mondrian punctuate the artist’s signature
aureoles of gemlike hues and impasto textures.”
And Richard Madigan, former director of
the Norton Museum of Art, said of his 2005
series: “Satish is a highly subjective artist and
these paintings are not meant for simple casual
examination…Satish’s work may be character-
Yonkers Historical Society
invites you to attend our
2014 Annual Meeting
ized by a vital pulsating background at play
against a predominant simplified shape…it is
what the artist does with this background and
how it plays off the predominant shape that
gives each work its unique direction and transformation.”
Joshi exhibited his “Susan’s Pond Series”
at Blue Door Gallery in 2011.
A Yonkers resident since 1986, he immigrated to New York from his native India
in 1969 and embarked on an artistic career as
painter, printmaker and sculptor. A rich mixture
of artistic ideas, techniques and philosophies infuse his work in all his media.
Joshi concluded a legendary 37-year teaching career at Riverdale Country Day School
in 2011, where he was head of the Visual Arts
Department for 22 years, as well as director of
community arts and artist-in-residence, and was
a beloved mentor to generations of art students.
He is currently artist-in-residence at School
of the Holy Child in Rye.
Joshi will be at the Blue Door Gallery to
greet visitors and talk about his work during an
opening reception Saturday, May 3 from 2 to 5
p.m. (which is also Yonkers Arts Day). Additional exhibit hours are Thursday, April 24 from
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 2 from 5 to 8
p.m.; Saturday, May 10 from 2 to 5 p.m.; and
Friday, May 23 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 th
1:00 p.m.
in the
Flynn Room at
Grinton Will Library
1500 Central Park Avenue ! Yonkers NY 10710
★Annual Meeting at 1 PM
★ Special Guest Speaker at 2 PM
Mina Crasson
Presenting
Oakland Cemetery:
Part of the Rural Cemetery Movement
and Resting Place of So Many of Yonkers'
Finest Citizens
Friday, April 11, 2014 - Yonkers Rising - PAGE 7
Seniors and Health Care
Happy Henni Needs a Home
Come visit Henni at Yonkers Animal Shelter.
The Yonkers Animal Shelter has plenty of
cats and dogs available for adoption.
Henni is a sweet young dog who was surrendered because her owner simply didn’t want
her anymore. She is a petite 1-year-old who has
nice manners both on and off leash. She is about
38 to 40 pounds, has the most expressive face,
and is just happy to be with people who show
her some affection and spend time with her.
She will make a wonderful companion for a
family with kids as she loves to play, but is very
gentle; you can take a toy or ball from her with
no problem at all.
Visit Henni at the Yonkers Animal Shelter,
1000 Ridge Hill Blvd., between 11 a.m. and 4
p.m. weekdays or noon and 4 p.m. weekends.
For more information, call 914-377-6730 during business hours or 201-981-3215 at any time.
Emails may be sent to lesliem147@gmail.comLeslie.
Hot Topics in Health Care:
What to do If You Didn’t Enroll
By Michael LaMagna, Esq.
Readers, this article is for those of you who
are procrastinators and who figured they would
“get around” to enrolling in health insurance –
while the March 31 deadline has come and gone.
I am sure you had every intention of signing up,
but maybe you are like the other 15.9 percent of
Americans who either tried to enroll and the website crashed, couldn’t afford the offered plans, or
any of a million other reasons.
March 31 was the formal deadline to sign up
for health insurance on the marketplace or face
a penalty, unless you were already “in-line” for
enrollment; however, people who are uninsured,
who missed the cutoff or couldn’t buy insurance
have options to obtain health care services – but
doing so may not be simple or assured.
Were you “in line” to purchase insurance
on the marketplace website and couldn’t get
through? The president recently carved out this
exception and even if your dog ate your insurance
policy, I would log onto the marketplace and immediately give them the “in line” defense.
Seek health care services at 9,300 community health centers; last year, 22 million people obtained primary care services as well as dental and
behavioral health and – its affordable. People with
incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty
level ($23,340 for an individual in 2014) pay for
services based on a sliding scale. Above that level,
patients pay the full cost, including doctor visits,
lab work, imaging and pharmacy costs.
Apply for entitlements, such as Medicaid,
which has stringent income and asset guidelines
during the Affordable Care Act special enrollment period. This exception allows people to
sign up for or change coverage on the marketplace when their life circumstances change. In
the marketplace, you can qualify for a special
enrollment period of 60 days following certain
life events that involve a change in family status (for example, marriage or birth of a child) or
loss of other health coverage. If you don’t have
a special enrollment period, you can’t buy insurance through the marketplace until the next open
enrollment period.
You can also wait for the next open enrollment period, which starts Nov. 15 and ends Feb.
15, 2015.
This article is provided for informational
purposes only. Nothing in this article shall be construed as legal advice or should be relied upon as
such. Michael LaMagna is a partner at Helwig,
Henderson, Ryan, LaMagna &and Spinola, LLP,
practicing elder law/probate/disability/wills, trusts
and estates, health care regulatory, Medicare appeals, Social Security and general legal practice
in both New York and Connecticut. Email him at
Mlamagna@hhrls.com, call 914-437-5955 or visit
www.hhrls.com for more information.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed
Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate
Virgin, assist me in my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me and show me
herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary,
Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my
heart to succor me in my necessity
(make request).
There are none that can withstand your power.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us
who have recourse to thee (3 times).
Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands
(3 times).
Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days.
Call 914-965-4000 to advertise on our
Seniors & Health Care page!
Schuster Appointed Administrator
Of Meadowview Assisted Living
John Schuster, an 11continue to be at a premier
year veteran of senior services
level,” said David Gentner,
president and CEO of Wartprovider Wartburg, has been
burg. “His background will
promoted to administrator of
enable even more collaboraMeadowview Assisted Living,
tion with our in-patient media 103-resident facility on Wartcal programs, our hospital
burg’s 34-acre campus.
partners and Wartburg’s home
Schuster has steadily
and community-based proworked his way up from admisgrams.”
sions coordinator, to manager,
“We are excited about
to administrator in-training,
having such a seasoned Wartand to his current position.
burg colleague become adHe has a bachelor’s and
ministrator of Meadowview,”
master’s degree in public adadded Janet Palazzolo, vice
ministration from Pace UniverJohn Schuster
president of residential sersity, and earned his New York
State Nursing Home Administrator’s license in vices. “He has been a key person in the growth
2012. He lives with his wife and son in Danbury. of Wartburg for over a decade. I look forward to
“We are proud of John’s work in our nurs- John bringing to Meadowview his knowledge of
ing facility and we are confident that he will en- administration and expertise in providing care to
sure the care and services at Meadowview will seniors.”
Defensive Driving Course
St. John’s Riverside Hospital will sponsor
a two-day driver’s license point- and insurancereduction class Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Room 111 at
967 N. Broadway, Yonkers.
April is
Continued from Page 3
their homes to demonstrate proper parenting skills,
suggest alternate coping methods, discipline techniques, and become much needed friends.
It is that supportive relationship that develops between the family and the parent aide that
helps break the cycle of abuse, and our aides go
through intensive training in a variety of areas.
April is national Child Abuse Prevention
Month and, in keeping with this message, it is important for citizens to know that everyone can do
something to help prevent child abuse. Know the
warning signs and how to report a suspected case
of child abuse and/or neglect. And one should al-
This, Too
Continued from Page 3
it can be snorted as well as injected. I have a hard
enough time when the lab technician draws blood
from my arm, and I panic when the doctor has to
give me a needle. The thought of injecting heroin
scares me. Glad to see cops will be equipped with
an antidote to treat heroin victims. But will an
antidote for heroin lead to an antidote for those
who drink too much or take other drugs? At some
point we, as a society, need to take responsibility
for our actions.
A 10-cent deposit on plastic bags? Am I the
only person who recycles the plastic bags I bring
my groceries home in as garbage bags? If I don’t
use the grocery bags for my garbage I will have
to go out and buy plastic bags for my garbage.
Makes no sense.
The amount of unpaid tolls on the Henry
Hudson Parkway skyrocketed when the toll
booths went to cashless tolls. More than onethird of tolls at cashless toll booths go unpaid;
it’s time for our legislators in Albany to deal with
this issue. I can’t believe the legislation that allowed for cashless tolls did not include penalties
The cost is $35 and participants must attend
both sessions to receive certification.
For more information or to register, contact
Frank Laudato at 914-964-4559 or flaudato@
riversidehealth.org.
ways contribute his or her time to organizations,
such as Exchange, that are committed to fighting
child abuse.
Another way of getting our message out is
through our Blue Ribbon Campaign. This was
started by a grandmother whose grandson was
the victim of fatal abuse… the blue representing
the color of his bruises. As art of this campaign,
we are asking others in the county – children,
parents, schools, businesses, and those in political and community service – to wear something
blue April 15. Blue ribbons and pins, which may
be worn all year long, are available through the
Exchange Club.
The message is simple: Nurture a child, be
an advocate, reach out to your neighbors, and always, always report signs of abuse and neglect.
for those who don’t pay up.
It’s bad enough they closed Charlie Brown’s
several years ago, but last week we observed the
knocking down of the old restaurant building,
which like everything else will probably become
a bank. A little part of Yonkers history is gone.
CNN is milking the Malaysian plane for all
they can, with breaking news alerts over nothing.
Even FOX News has gotten into the act. Let’s
pray we can find out what happened with the
plane so that it doesn’t happen again.
Please, government powers that be, fix the
potholes on Central Avenue heading south between Andrus field and Cross County Shopping
Center!
A word we need to retire from our vocabulary? Selfies!
Something we need not see in our bakeries
or grocery stores? Rodents and street birds.
On a more serious note, if you have benefited from Obamacare, drop me a note. I would love
to hear a positive Obamacare story!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@
aol.com or follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers.
Catch the Westchester Rising Radio Show featuring Dan Murphy and Eric Schoen on Thursdays
at 10 a.m. on WVOX 1460 on the A.M. dial.
PAGE 8 - Yonkers RIsing - Friday, April 11, 2014
Mayor Spano
Continued from Page 1
“The last two city budgets have been
passed unanimously by the City Council, and
last year was the first on-time, unanimous budget in 25 years,” he continued. “That doesn’t
mean there weren’t disagreements along the
way, or that there weren’t changes or compromises to be made. When all was said and done
we were unanimous in agreeing that we all did
the best we could for the people of Yonkers.
“This year as we welcome our new City
Council President Liam McLaughlin and
Councilwoman Corazon Pineda, I ask our
partners on the City Council to again pass an
honest, balanced, on-time budget. Let’s keep
moving forward and demonstrate how government can work for the people of this great
city.
“Two years ago most development projects were stalled and unemployment stood at
9.1 percent. The economy of the nation was
changing, new jobs were being created in
emerging industries – but those jobs weren’t
coming to Yonkers. Now Yonkers is a destination for new-economy companies, longstalled development projects are moving forward, and unemployment is down to about 7
percent – its lowest level in five years.
“We recently welcomed Mindspark, one
of the nation’s leading technology companies,
which brought 160 new technology jobs to
Downtown Yonkers. The company wanted
an environment to inspire creativity and they
found it here, investing millions to reinvent
an old industrial factory as a modern headquarters overlooking the Hudson River and
Palisades. Mindspark is just one of a new
generation of businesses and people who see
Yonkers as the place to be.
“Innovation is also coming from lifelong Yonkers residents, such as John Rubbo
and Nick Califano. They’re putting Yonkers
on the map in the growing world of craft beer,
with Yonkers Brewing Company. They will
soon brew their award-winning beer at the
former Yonkers Trolley Barn, which is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places as
the last remaining trolley barn in Westchester
County.
“Yonkers has become the Hudson Valley’s center for creative thinkers in the tech
industry who wish to trade ideas and innovative techniques. A few months ago a group of
regional business leaders, including several
from Yonkers, asked the city to help sponsor
YONY, a way to highlight the new businesses
coming to the city. They now have a monthly
tech meet-up, right here in the library, bringing together hundreds of business leaders,
financial lenders, creative thinkers and entrepreneurs to discuss the latest in innovation
and creativity.
“Several years ago the city created Y-Enterprise – a shared-space business incubator
in the former Otis elevator factory that would
provide startups with a place to begin their
business at a reduced rent.
“But there was a problem: No one was
sharing the space. In fact it was completely
empty. So we set out to fill it, and we succeeded, so well that now private industry has
decided to come here and follow our model.
“That’s why Watercooler, a company that
builds, manages and rents shared work space
to entrepreneurs and start-ups, is coming to
Yonkers and expanding its business, joining
the new generation of innovators here in our
city.
“We’re excited by this new generation
joining our city’s economy. We call it Generation Yonkers, and it will be the core of a
new promotional campaign that will soon
take place throughout the tri-state region and
attract more businesses and jobs to come to
Yonkers.
Proudly serving the City of Yonkers
Nick Sprayregen, Publisher
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risingmediagroup@gmail.com
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pgerken@risingmediagroup.com
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gbaldwin@risingmediagroup.com
Member of the New York
Press Association
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“Innovation cannot stop with the private
sector. That’s why city government, too, is
looking at new ways of doing things. There’s
no better example than the old city jail. People
had been talking about moving that jail on the
waterfront for years. It just made no sense to
use prime real estate to house prisoners. Last
year I promised to turn that talk into action –
and we did.
“We moved the prisoners into an unused
jail that already existed at the Cacace Justice
Center. That move is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Then we sold the old
waterfront jail for $1 million to two of the
most accomplished members of the art world
– art collector Daniel Wolf, and Maya Lin, a
world-renowned artist and architect whose
work includes the Vietnam War Memorial in
Washington, D.C.
“Instead of housing prisoners, the (old)
waterfront jail will now house art collections,
include loft space for artists, and attract visitors from around the nation. Now others in the
art world want to join the transformation taking place in Yonkers.
“Last summer we announced plans to
develop a South Yonkers Greenway along
the Putnam Trail, extending from Lawrence
permanent jobs in Yonkers.
“Meanwhile in North Yonkers, another hotel, by Marriott, will soon be breaking
ground at the South Westchester Executive
Park, again thanks to assistance and incentives provided by the city and the IDA. This
new hotel will bring 50 new permanent jobs
to our city.
“And just down Odell Avenue, the new
River Club project is now set to break ground
this week, with the construction of two residential towers, offering 330 market-rate apartments along Warburton Avenue. The $107
million project has been talked about for years
and at one point seemed to be dead, but we
brought it back to life, along with 120 construction jobs the project will create.
“We’re also paying attention to our city’s
unused assets. I promised to address the hundreds of vacant or blighted properties whose
owners had simply stopped paying taxes on
them years ago. We have now taken over and
resold some of these vacant properties for
more than $1 million, and collected more than
another $1 million by demanding other tax
delinquents pay up or risk losing their properties. These properties are now tax-payers once
again, rather than tax-deadbeats.
“The new state budget also contains $28
million in additional aid to help plug the
gap, and will give the city the ability to
finance the remainder of the shortfall so
that we can replace it gradually over
future years...There should be no mistaking
that the assistance provided to the Board of
Education still falls short of a complete
solution to the massive deficit...the board
still has tough decisions to make, but the result will not be the disaster we once feared.”
Mayor Mike Spano
Street to the New York City border at Van
Cortlandt Park. It will provide park and recreation space, and a bike path for commuting
and exercise.
“Tonight we are excited to announce that
world-renowned artist David Hammons has
purchased a property on Lawrence Street,
at the footsteps of the future Greenway, and
plans to open a new art gallery in the neighborhood. (His) work is part of the permanent
collection at the Museum of Modern Art in
New York City. But soon you won’t have to
go to Manhattan to see Mr. Hammons’ work
– you’ll be able to see it right here in Yonkers.
“Our revitalization of the film office continues, with shows such as ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ ‘The Blacklist,’ ‘Law and Order,’ ‘The
Following’ and ‘Person of Interest’ filming
here. We’ve also hosted filming for movies
featuring Cameron Diaz, Kate Upton, Kristin
Stewart and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
“Since we launched the Mayor’s Office
of Film and Photography and FilmYonkers.
com, Yonkers has seen more than 200 productions shoot in our city, up from only a dozen or
so in previous years. This increase is bringing
new revenue to the city and local businesses.
It resulted in the first Yonkers Film Festival
last year – YOFI – which was a great success
and will take place once again this October.
“Another big change over the years has
been Yonkers Raceway, which these days is
better known as Empire City. It remains the
city’s largest private employer and attracts
more than 8 million visitors a year, generating
more than $1.8 billion for New York’s schools
since 2006 and $20 million annually for our
schools here in Yonkers.
“Yet just a decade ago there was discussion about tearing the track down. At the time
I had put forward a proposal as an assemblyman to bring Video Lottery Terminals to Yonkers Raceway in order to save it. I remember
reading an editorial with headline along the
lines of, “Michael Spano’s Video Lottery Terminals: Just Let a Bad Idea Die.” When we
talk about 8 million people a year now coming
to Yonkers to visit Empire City, I think it’s fair
to say that we’re glad it lived.
“Yet just as the Raceway’s future has
been in doubt before, it could be in doubt
again if we are not careful. With full casino
gaming now having been legalized in additional locations upstate, it is a mistake to deny
that right to Yonkers. The state needs to allow
full casino gaming at Empire City in Yonkers.
“I want to make another proposal, one
that may face some odds at the moment, just
as the original proposal for gaming did – but
we all know how that first proposal worked
out. Hopefully this second one will have the
same success: It is time to bring a professional
sports franchise to Empire City.
“It would be a game changer for our city,
not only as a result of more visitors and revenue for our city through gaming, but also
through sparking the development of additional entertainment venues. If New Jersey
can host two New York football teams alongside a swamp, we can certainly host a professional soccer team along Interstate-87.
“Not far from Empire City, the CrossCounty Shopping Center continues to expand
with the city’s assistance. Thanks to the help
of the Industrial Development Agency, led by
CEO Ken Jenkins, a 155-room Hyatt Place
Hotel is now under construction. Combined
with two new restaurants also being built
there, this will result in more than 100 new
“We have also resolved the long-stalled
downtown redevelopment plan that was supposed to include a baseball stadium at Chicken Island and new high-rise developments
nearby. The high-rise developments made
sense; the baseball stadium did not. Now we
have separated them.
“In the very near future Fidelco will
begin construction of Palisade Point, a new
$100 million residential building along the
waterfront. Importantly, they have already
constructed a beautiful new public waterfront
promenade that is part of the plan.
“At the same time we are releasing a new
request for proposals for Chicken Island. We
will be asking for plans that are practical, will
improve the downtown experience, and that
have sufficient financial backing. It’s time for
bricks and mortar on the ground, not pie in
the sky.
“We continue to improve the natural assets of Yonkers. A year and a half ago we
completed the initial daylighting of the Saw
Mill River and opened Van der Donck Park.
What was a parking lot is now one of the most
recognized urban revitalization projects in the
country and has received international recognition.
“We are now moving forward with phase
two of the Saw Mill River Daylighting, uncovering another stretch of the river and creating new pedestrian space in what will become
Mill Street Courtyard. The project will spark
development at the adjacent buildings, offering new living and commercial space, and
will be another catalyst for growth.
“Shortly we will begin phase three of
the Daylighting, which will take place on the
other end of New Main Street just across from
Chicken Island. Together, these three phases
will link our revitalized downtown with a
beautiful riverwalk park.
“I want to thank Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo
and our state delegation for their continued
support of this project, and their dedication to
the continued growth of Yonkers. Thank you,
Sen. (Andrea) Stewart Cousins, Sen. (George)
Latimer, Assemblywoman (Shelley) Mayer
and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow.
“Government has certain basic responsibilities, among them keeping the people safe.
We are among the safest cities of its size in the
country. That’s something we are proud of,
and remain committed to preserving. Thanks
to the men and women of the Yonkers Police
Department, major crime in our city is down
more than 20 percent since I took office in
January 2012. That downward trend is continuing in 2014, as year-to-date major crimes
are down 21 percent.
“We are also committed to seeing that
our police department and fire department
reflect the diversity of the people they serve.
Last year we saw an increase in minority applicants for the police exam, and we graduated the most diverse class of firefighters in
our city’s history. I want to take a moment
to commend Yonkers Police Commissioner
Charles Gardner and Yonkers Fire Commissioner Robert Sweeney on the outstanding job
they are doing not only keeping our city safe,
but achieving great success in our recruitment
efforts.
“In addition to a safe city, we owe the
generation of the future a quality education.
Yet two months ago our schools were confronted with the biggest challenge we have
seen in recent memory. The former school superintendent told me the Yonkers City School
District, which we knew was already facing
financial hardship, had overstated $55 million
in state education aid. In other words, they
overdrew their checkbook by $55 million,
and we would have to make up for it or face
devastating cuts to the schools.
“I can still feel the emotion of that Tuesday. At a time when our city finances were
improving and we were reversing previous
years’ cuts to education, we were suddenly
told we had to plug a $55 million hole just to
stay even. It was a surprise to us in city government, to say the least, because under state
law once the city allocates funds to the school
district each year, the city has no further control over how it is spent, or even access to the
books.
“On the day the former superintendent informed me of the shortfall, I feared the worst.
I had visions of teacher layoffs and cuts in the
programs, support services and sports that we
had only recently restored.
“Our schools needed a solution that accomplished three things: First, we had to plug
the gap. Second, we needed City Hall oversight to prevent this from ever happening
again. Third, we needed to consolidate overlapping functions that were causing the system to spend too much money on bureaucracy
and not enough in the classroom – where it
counts.
“Under the new state law that we requested, and obtained, we are now authorized to
consolidate the Board of Education’s administrative departments, like finance, law, human
resources and maintenance, with the city. This
reduces duplication and improves accountability, so it’s a double advantage.
“The new state budget also contains $28
million in additional aid to help plug the gap,
and will give the city the ability to finance the
remainder of the shortfall so that we can replace it gradually over future years. I thank
Gov. Cuomo and our state delegation for passing a budget that helps address Yonkers City
School District’s needs and giving the city the
authority to institute much-needed accountability going forward.
“There should be no mistaking that the
assistance provided to the Board of Education still falls short of a complete solution to
the massive deficit. In order to balance the
budget, the board still has tough decisions to
make, but the result will not be the disaster
we once feared. I would like to recognize the
efforts of the members of the Board of Education, led by President Nader Sayegh, as well
as (Interim) Superintendent Michael Yazurlo
who stepped up big time for our schools.
“We have talked tonight about our progress and our agenda for the future. Yet there
is one issue that affects all the others – that
is the financial strength of the city. You can’t
do anything if your finances are not in order.
Fortunately we are doing far better than could
have expected two years ago.
“At the time I came into office, Yonkers
had experienced yet another downgrade in its
bond rating. The city was just a few notches
above junk status. Now, thanks to our new fiscal discipline, we are headed in the other direction. A few months ago Standard & Poor’s
upgraded Yonkers’ bond rating to A-plus – the
highest rating this city has had in more than
30 years.
“Over the last several years, as gas prices
have been on the rise, more and more people
are turning to fuel-efficient and fuel-alternative vehicles to keep their gas costs down.
Yonkers needs to do the same, so we are announcing the new Yonkers Green City Smart
Car Fleet. As you walked in this evening you
may have noticed one of five new smart cars
that are part of our phase-in of fuel-efficient
vehicles, which will replace some of the city’s
old gas guzzlers.
“We are also converting 20 city vehicles
from gasoline altogether. They will now run
on cleaner and cheaper propane gas – the
same stuff you use to power your grill. It’s
smart, it saves, and it’s another way to live
within our means. “I began tonight by saying that the State
of the City is the State of the People. I also
said when the people of Yonkers stand together, we cannot be beat. As we go home tonight,
let us be thankful for the people of Yonkers –
our neighbors, our friends, our city.
“Be thankful for the recent immigrant,
maybe from South America or Asia, who is
still struggling a bit with English but who
knows hard work and grit will take him farther than he could ever go in his former home,
and who is determined to build his piece of
the American dream here in our city and who
is grateful for that opportunity.
“Be thankful for that business owner or
entrepreneur who senses the new spirit of
commerce in our city, who sees old empty factories being transformed into the next wave
of the new economy, and has decided that the
place for his or her startup is not Brooklyn or
Hoboken, or the Silicon Valley in California,
but right here in Yonkers.
“Be thankful for that police officer or firefighter who answers every call never knowing
when his or her life will be put in danger, or
the city worker who drove a plow hours at a
time, for many days and nights to clear our
streets in the harshest winter we have had in
years.
“Be thankful that you are one of nearly
200,000 of the most interesting, most hardworking, most dedicated, most diverse and
just plain determined people that you will find
anywhere. I know I am thankful for each and
every one of you, thankful you have given me
the privilege to serve as your mayor.
“As you leave here this evening, never
stop believing that Yonkers’ best days are yet
to come.”
Friday, April 11, 2014 - Yonkers Rising - PAGE 9
Broadway Comes to Yonkers To Support Youth Theater
Performers during a curtain call at Youth Theater Interactions’ “Broadway Comes to Yonkers.”
Photos by Donna Davis
Members of YTI board.
From left are Council Minority Leader Michael Sabatino, CSEE Assistant Principal Cindy
Lopez, Mayor Mike Spano, ShopRite Dietician Fernanda Almeida, CSEE Trustee and founder
Sobeida Cruz, CSEE Principal Dr. Catalina Castillo, City Councilman Christopher Johnson,
and CSEE parent and Community Affairs Coordinator Carmen Gomez-Goldberg.
Master of Ceremonies Alex de Castro
YTI’s new Executive Director Donise Lyons
Youth Theatre Interactions presented their
11th annual Broadway Comes to Yonkers benefit last week at the Yonkers Riverfront Library. A cast of artists from Broadway entertained the crowd with song and dance, led by
host 18-year-old Alex de Castro, who played
Young Nala in “The Lion King” on Broadway
was the emcee for the event and the first performer.
Longtime veterans of the stage and new local talent provided a varied and rousing show,
which was closed out by the always energetic
Bokandeye African American Dance Theater.
Zuppa’s Restaurant was once again the place to
be afterward for great food and conversation.
Local City Council officials Christopher
Johnson and Michael Sabatino were on hand,
with Symra Brandon representing State Sen.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
This year’s YTI Broadway event was a
passing of the torch to the next generation of
YIT alumni and performers. Founder and longtime Executive and Artistic Director Mamie
Duncan-Gibbs retired, and new Artistic/Executive Director Donise Lyons (a YTI student
and alum, 1996-2004) began her tenure back
in September and put on another great show.
In December, a broken boiler and pipes
saw YTI booted from its longtime home at
the old PS 12 on Asburton Avenue, and since
then, Donise has been running the day-to-day
operations out of her home with the assistance
of committee and board members.
The YWCA has given YTI space to continue the Intimate Realities drama program,
and Susan Thaler has made the auditorium at
the Yonkers Riverfront Library available for
monthly workshops for dance and music.
n,
CSEE students and staff learn about fruits and vegetables from ShopRite.
Join us for
Bits and Bytes
Technology Fundraiser to benefit
Charter School of Educational Excellence
Monday, April 21, 2014
Yonkers Charter
6 pm to 9 pm
Continued from Page 1
Hosted by
42 the Restaurant
Ritz Carlton, White Plains, NY
p
Cocktails
Kindly RSVP by April 16, 2014
H
j
Hors d’oeuvres
Music
Councilman Christopher Johnson talks to students about healthy eating.
_
Silent Auction
For Info: events@cappacrucy.com or 914-747-0519
students with a quality education that includes
technology,” he said. This fundraiser will help
CSEE continue to provide its students with the
tools, and technology, to succeed.”
CSEE Technology Trailblazer sponsors
include Goya, Entergy, Yankee Foundation and
Bronx Lebanon Hospital.
“We employ 1,100 individuals and technology is an integral part of our business,” said
Joanne Fernandez of Entergy. “Entergy is partnering with CSEE to make sure students have
the technology experience and knowledge they
need.”
In addition to cocktails and hors
d’oeuvres, guests will learn about the Charter
School’s technology initiatives with opportunities to purchase items on a growing wish list. A
number of local businesses have donated items
to be raffled, with 100 percent of the proceeds
going toward the Charter School’s technology
campaign.
The Charter School of Educational Excellence, Westchester’s first charter school, is a
kindergarten through grade eight public school
that has nationally acclaimed teachers and
has received accolades for literacy and reading. The school was awarded the International
Reading Association’s 2010 Exemplary Reading Program Award for the state of New York
and is a “validated school for best practices in
literacy” by the New York State Department of
Education.
CSEE recently welcomed Mayor Mike
Spano and Councilmen Christopher Johnson
and Michael Sabatino to the school, during a
fruit and vegetable workshop by ShopRite and
Dietician Fernanda Almeida.
For more on sponsorship and ticket information for the fundraiser, contact Rose Cappa
at 914-747-0519 or events@cappacurcy.com.
For more information on CSEE, visit charterschoolofeducationalexcellence.org.
PAGE 10 - Yonkers RISING - Friday, April 11, 2014
AT&T Makes Contribution
To Support Latino Students
“The Blacklist” co-star Megan Boone, filming in the old courthouse at Yonkers City Hall.
Edward Bergenstrasser of AT&T presents a check for $15,000 to Yonkers Partners in Education Executive Director Wendy Nadel, second right, and all of YPIE.
Hisham Tawfiq, right, with Rising photographer Donna Davis and a cast member during
filming in downtown Yonkers. The Rising newspaper office was used for crew and movie staff.
‘Blacklist’ the
Continued from Page 1
Why are “The Blacklist” and other TV
shows, including “The Following” (Kevin Bacon),
“Boardwalk Empire” and another NBC hit show
“Believe,” choosing Yonkers?
I – The close proximity to New York City,
and the fact that Yonkers is within a 25-mile radius
from midtown Manhattan, enables studios that
film in Yonkers to receive production incentives
from the state.
II – The great locations within Yonkers are
appealing to film crews and location scouts. A
wide array of city-owned properties and parks,
combined with private locations from mansions to
industrial properties, make the city a good fit for
almost any movie or TV show.
III – The city and Mayor Mike Spano relaunched the Yonkers Office of Film, and have
streamlined the permit process to make it easier
for studios to film in Yonkers.
“Since launching the mayor’s Office of Film
and Photography and FilmYonkers.com in 2012,
Yonkers has seen more than 200 productions shoot
in our city,” said Spano. “The increase in film
production has brought hundreds of thousands of
dollars in revenue to the city and investment in
local businesses. It’s this positive impact on Yonkers that – along with the positive exposure to our
parks, prime waterfront real estate and shops – that
has helped spread the word that Yonkers is open
for film business.”
Movie production in Yonkers is also on the
rise. One of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last
movies, “God’s Pocket,” yet to be released, was
shot in Yonkers on Lockwood Avenue.
Usually production crews are reluctant to
publicize their filming for fear of the paparazzi harassing their actors and actresses. Our interactions
with the cast and crew of “The Blacklist” found
them friendly and actor Hisham Tawfiq was happy
to take a picture with Yonkers Rising photographer
Donna Davis. Tawfiq served in the U.S. Marines
during Desert Storm and plays the role of Dembe,
the bodyguard of James Spader’s character Red
Reddington, in “The Blacklist”, which is the number one DVR’d show on TV.
For more information, visit the mayor’s Office of Film and Photography at www.flimyonkers.
com.
AT&T presented its contribution of $15,000
to Yonkers Partners in Education, a private, notfor-profit organization providing college and career access services to the students in the Yonkers
Public Schools, on March 20 at Yonkers Riverfront
Library.
AT&T’s contribution will go directly to support YPIE’s “El Camino Al Exito” (The Road to
Success), a comprehensive Spanish language program that serves Latino families at YPS.
Fifty-four percent of students at YPS are Latino, and 15 percent come from homes where English is not the spoken language.
The program includes monthly family workshops, one-on-one college advising, and summer
mentoring for students and their families. El Camino Al Exito addresses the language, cultural and
access barriers that often make it challenging for
Latino students to enroll and persist in college.
“AT&T is proud to support Yonkers Partner in
Education’s El Camino Al Exito program in its important mission to provide the skills and resources
needed to help students and families in the Latino
community prepare for secondary education and
their future careers,” said Marissa Shorenstein,
New York president of AT&T. “AT&T is committed through its Aspire initiative to partnering with
innovative organizations like YPIE that help deliver the additional educational support our students
need to succeed in a global economy.”
AT&T’s presentation was made even more
meaningful Thursday evening as the library was
filled with Latino students and families who had
gathered for one of YPIE’s workshops on accessing college scholarships.
“AT&T’s support underscores the company’s
commitment to the community, advancing educational access and providing opportunity for lowincome students to reach their personal potential,”
said YPIE Executive Director Wendy Nadel.
Ellen Cutler Levy, YPIE’s director of programs, added: “This funding will go a long way
toward insuring that Latino students and families
in YPS receive the information and resources they
need to pursue higher education.”
Yonkers Partners in Education is a 501(c)(3)
privately funded not-for-profit that has been working for seven years to improve college and career
access for the more than 26,000 students that attend Yonkers Public Schools.
Public Learns of One Man’s
‘400 Miles to Freedom’
Sheila Lesnick, left, who came to the film screening with her son, former Yonkers City
Council President Chuck Lesnick, center, and family, asks questions of Avishai Mekonen, codirector of the film “400 Miles to Freedom.” Photo © Robert Kalfua.
Ann Muro with Yonkers Police Officer Robert Tauber and K-9 dog Ex, who was purchased
with help from the Exchange Club 15 years ago.
YPD Gets
Continued from Page 1
was held at Luciano’s Restaurant on Central Avenue. It was well attended by members of the Exchange Club, YPD, the Yonkers Fire Department,
politicians, and friends and supporters of the Exchange Club, including the Blue Knights.
While at the microphone, Muro stated that the
YPD needed another dog for the K-9 Unit, joking
that she would buy it herself if she won the lotto
that night. Hearing that, Exchange Club member
Frank Spotorno raised his hand and said he would
donate $2,200 for the dog if Muro could raise the
rest that night.
Well suddenly, the room took on what sounded like an auction at Sotheby’s. Other members
of the club raised their hands and donated various
amounts of money, along with Luciano, Republican Party Chairman Justin Tubiolo, Mayor Mike
Spano, the Blue Knights and others. Local 628
Yonkers firefighters joked that they would donate
if the dog were a Dalmatian and not a German
Shepard. Muro replied: “No Dalmatian, but we’ll
take your money anyhow!”
The Yonkers PBS, as well as the Captains,
Lieutenants, Sergeants Association, added to the
donor’s list. Before long, Muro had raised almost
the entire amount needed for the dog, falling only
$50 short.
A few days later, retired YPD Detective Anthony Amodeo wrote a check for the balance.
“It was a fun night,” said Muro, who has met
Officer Velez, who will be the new Ex’s “partner,”
and has seen photos of the K-9 Unit’s new addi-
YPD Officer Mark Wissner with K-9 dog Doc,
who recently retired.
tion. A formal introduction is in the works.
The YPD’s most recent K-9 dog, Doc, retired
when his partner, Officer Mark Wissner, was promoted.
Doc, who appeared on the PAL Poster, is enjoying his retirement.
By Robert Kalfus
In 1984 at the age of 10, Avishai Mekonen
began his flight to freedom. Moving by night and
hiding by day, his family and the people of his village walked 400 miles through the desert to flee
the brutal dictatorship in Ethiopia. Once they were
able to cross the border into Sudan, these members
of the Beta Israel, a community of observant Jews
secluded for 2,500 years in the northern Ethiopian
mountains, were interned in Sudanese camps until
their rescue months later by an Israeli airlift.
Years later, still searching for religious freedom, Mekonen found the Lincoln Park Jewish
Center in Yonkers, which became the venue for a
screening of his award-winning film, “400 Miles to
Freedom” last Sunday afternoon.
With the Westchester premiere of his film,
Mekonen, now a member of the Lincoln Park Jewish Center’s extended family, has at last lifted the
curtain on the difficult events of his childhood. In
this film he breaks his 20-year silence about his
brutal kidnapping into slavery in Sudan during his
community’s exodus. This life-defining event led
him to launch an inquiry into his identity and compelled him to co-produce this film about his life,
leading him to African, Asian and Latino Jews in
Israel and the U.S.
In Hebrew (with English subtitles), “400
Miles to Freedom” narrates the experience of the
Beta Israel’s flight from Ethiopia into Sudan, and
their redemption in Israel. The Beta Israel immigrants – elders, teachers, leaders, rabbis, women
and children – learned to adjust from their agrarian
ways to a modern technological society. Women
now working outside of the home, a great change
from their previous jobs of full-time care of the
household and the children, working only at home,
was noted in the film.
Learning how to fit into Israeli society, Mekonen searched and found the wide diversity of
Jews living in the country. Jews from all lands had
settled there, yet some – usually the eastern European “white” Jews – viewed the Beta Israel with
skepticism, wondering whether they were “truly
Jewish.”
Interviewed in his film, the Israeli Chief
Ashkenazic Rabbi explained to Mekonen that the
Ethiopian Jews, having been isolated for more than
25 centuries, had different traditions and were different from other Jews. He wanted members of the
Beta Israel to undergo an “affirmation” ceremony
to “strengthen their Jewishness” – which was refused. Since they had remained Jews, faithful to
the Torah, observing the mitzvoth (commandments) for 25 centuries, the Beta Israel felt no need
have their Jewish identify validated by others.
Mekonen’s search for the nature of religious
identity led him to Rabbi Rigoberto Emmanuel Viñas and the Lincoln Park Jewish Center, a place
where the unity of the Jewish people is noted, emphasized and celebrated.
Introducing Mekonen to those assembled to
view the movie, Viñas explained: “Jews are not
defined by ethnicity, nor by skin color, nor by nationality. We are one people whose belief is the
centrality of the Torah; worship of the One God is
what unites us as Jews.”
In the question-and-answer period following
the movie, Yonkers resident Warren Lubin noted
that his high school biology teacher taught that less
than one ounce of melanin is responsible for the
differences in people’s skin colorings. “How just
one ounce of anything could be so important as to
divide people and cause them to hate one another
is beyond me,” he said.
This film resonated with members of the audience, who in less than two weeks will celebrate
the Passover holiday, remembering their ancestors’
experience of almost 400 years of slavery in Egypt,
walking through the desert, experiencing the splitting of the Red Sea and after 40 years of wandering, finally crossing to freedom in the Promised
Land of Israel.
Passover this year begins at sundown Monday
evening, April 14, with a Seder at people’s homes
or a communal Seder, which is offered at the Lincoln Park Jewish Center. The liturgy of the Passover Seder welcomes “all who are hungry” and a
reservation for the synagogue Seder can be made
by calling 914-965-7119.
Following the movie, the audience enjoyed
pizza, knishes, soda and a free wine tasting, along
with the opportunity to speak with Mekonen.
Additional information and a movie trailer
are available at www.7thart.com/films/400-Milesto-Freedom.