March 14, 2013 - WestchesterGuardian.com

PRESORTEDSTANDARDPERMIT #3036WHITE PLAINS NYVol. VI I No. XI Thursday, March 14, 2013 $1.00Westchester’s Most Influential WeeklyJOHN F. McMULLENSingularity?Page 3SHERIF AWADThe World Accordingto FilmPage 5RICH MONETTIMgr Carr DiscussesState of Somers S.D.Page 7EVAN S. LEVINE, M.D.ACLU and Häagen-DazsUnitePage 8Remembering YourFriendsBy NANCY KING, Page 16Dennis Robertson—The Double Dipping Flip FlopperBy SAM ZHERKA, Page 18LARRY M. ELKINLast Word onRetirement PlanningPage 9BARBARA BARTON SLOANEBeing ThereBonairePage 13Mayor MARY C. MARVINMassacre for PropertyTaxpayersPage 17HEZI ARISYonkers BoE Wags City HallRationale for P3 Concept!?Page 20

YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENTPrimeOFLocation,GUARDIANSHIPYorktownANDHeightsCUSTODY OF THEence working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, AND MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTHgood knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties include PERIOD.1,000 Sq. Ft.: $1800. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of show lobbyUPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY Prime ORDER Retail AN INVESTIGATION - Westchester TO DETERMINE CountyWHETH-staffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with POSER THE NON-RESPONSENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RESPONDENT; IFsystem and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203)Best Location in Yorktown HeightsTHE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE438-5795 and ask for Julie or AllisonCOURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION 1100 Sq. Ft. Store TO DETERMINE $3100; 1266 WHETHER Sq. Ft. store THE $2800 NON-RESPONDENTand 450 Sq. Ft.THE WESTcHESTER GUARDiAnTHURSDAY, PARENT(s) FEBRUARY SHOULD BE 23, SUITABLE 2012 CUSTODIANS FOR THE Store CHILD; $1200. IF THE CHILD IS PLACED AND Page 3Page 2 THE WESTcHESTER THE WESTCHESTER GUARDiAn GUARDIAN THURSDAY, THURSDAY, REMAINS FEBRUARY IN MARCH FOSTER MARCH 23, CARE 14, 2012 2013 Suitable FOR 29, FIFTEEN 2012 for any OF THE type MOST of business. RECENT TWENTY-TWO Contact Wilca: MONTHS, 914.632.1230 THEPage 3AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OFTHE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THEOf SignificanceRADIOPURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE PARENT(s)HELPWERE NOTWANTEDNAMED AS RESPONDENTS INOf SignificanceRADIOA non profit Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) Directorof Development- FT-must have a background in development or expe-Of SignificanceTHE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING.A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT rience HAS fundraising, THE RIGHT TO knowledge REQUEST of TEMPORARY what development OR PERMANENT entails and CUS- experienceTO SEEK working ENFORCEMENT with sponsors/donors; OF VISITATION 2) Operations RIGHTS WITH Manager- THE CHILD. must have aCommunity Business ................................................................................................4Section ...............................................................................4Westchester Community On the Section.............................................................................................. Level good knowledge of computers/software/ticketing Narog and systems, Aris dutiesCommunity Section ...............................................................................4TODY OF THE CHILD AND3BY ORDER OF THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKincludeBusiness Calendar ................................................................................................4...............................................................................................4 Westchester On the Level is Calendar.............................................................................................................. overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of showusually heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 123 lobbyTO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT(S) WHO RESIDE(S) OR IS FOUND AT [specifyCalendar Charity ..................................................................................................5...............................................................................................4Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel.Creative address(es)]: Disruption...........................................................................................staffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. 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Call (203)Charity Creative Contest ..................................................................................................5..................................................................................................6Disruption ............................................................................5Contest Creative ..................................................................................................6Disruption ............................................................................6and Because of Aris the importance Cultural of Last a known Federal Perspective.......................................................................................... addresses: court case TIFFANY 438-5795 purporting RAY: and 24 ask Garfield corruption for Julie Street, or and Allison #3, Yonkers, bribery NY 10701 5Cultural Perspective ...........................................................................7Westchester allegations, programming On the Level with is Economic Last heard be known suspended from addresses: Development.................................................................................. Monday for KENNETH the days to Friday, of THOMAS: March from 24 2610 Garfield to a.m. 29, Street, 2012. to 12 Yonkers#3, Noon Yonkers, NY 10701 6Creative Energy Education Issues Disruption .............................................................................................7.......................................................................................8............................................................................6 Westchester on thePhilharmonicInternet: On the http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel.Orchestra is Education............................................................................................................ Conductor heard from James Monday Sadewhite to Friday, is our from scheduled 10 a.m. guest to 12 Friday,An Order to Show Cause under Article 10 of the Family Court Act Noon having Join been filed with this Court 7Education In Fashion Memoriam ..................................................................................................8.............................................................................................7....................................................................................10 on theMarch the conversation30. Internet: by http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. calling toll-free seeking to modify 1-877-674-2436. the placement for Please the above-named stay on topic. child. 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Should Commentary....................................................................................... that be the case, we will resume our regular88YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at Yonkers Family CourtFebruary 20th and ending onNajah’s Fitness....................................................................................................9Health ..................................................................................................10Corner ...................................................................................11located at 53 So. Broadway, Yonkers, New York, on the 28th day of March, 2012 at 2;15 pm in theRichard February programming Narog 24th, schedule we and have Hezi and Aris exciting Music.................................................................................................................. announce afternoon are entourage your of that said co-hosts. fact day on to of answer the guests. In Yonkers the petition week Tribune beginning and website. to show February cause why 20th said child and should ending not 10beonHealth MovieHistoryReview ..................................................................................................10................................................................................................10....................................................................................12 FebruaryEvery Richard Monday Narog 24th, we and ishavespecial. Hezi an Aris Onexciting adjudicated are Monday, co-hosts entourage beFebruary of a neglected the of show. guests. child and why you should not be dealt with in accordance with theSecurity.............................................................................................................. 20th, Krystal Wade, a celebrated participant in http://History MusicEd Koch...................................................................................................12provisions of Article 10 of the Family Court Act.11................................................................................................10Movie Review ...................................................................12 Every www.TheWritersCollection.com Monday is special. On Eye Monday, Theatre.................................................................................................. is our February guest. Krystal 20th, Krystal Wade is Wade, a mother a celebrated of three who participant works fifty in http:// miles 11Ed CommunitySpoof Koch ....................................................................................................13Movie ........................................................................................13Review ...................................................................12PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that you have the right to be represented by a lawyer,and the Gears................................................................................................... Court finds you are unable to pay for a lawyer, you have the right to have a lawyer 12www.TheWritersCollection.com from home and writes in her “spare is time.” our guest. “Wilde’s Krystal Fire,” Wade her debut is a novel mother has of been three accepted who works for publication fifty milesSpoof WritersSports ....................................................................................................13SceneCollection.............................................................................14Shifting.......................................................................................13 from and should home and be available writes in in her 2012. assigned “spare Not by time.” far the Court. behind “Wilde’s is her Fire,” second her debut novel, novel “Wilde’s has been Army.” accepted How for does publication she do it?Books Sports Najah’s...................................................................................................16Travel.................................................................................................................. 13Scene Corner .......................................................................................13...................................................................................13 and Tune should in and be find available out. in 2012. Not far PLEASE behind TAKE is FURTHER her second NOTICE, novel, that “Wilde’s if you fail Army.” to appear How at the does time she and do place it?People Najah’s Corner ...................................................................................13 Tune in and find out.Writers..................................................................................................18Violence.............................................................................................................noted above, the Court will hear and determine the petition as provided by law.15Collection.............................................................................14 Co-hosts Richard Narog and Hezi Aris will relish the dissection of all things politics Tuesday, FebruaryEye Writers BooksOn...................................................................................................16Theatre Collection.............................................................................14..................................................................................18GovernmentCo-hosts 21st. Yonkers Richard City Narog Council and Dated:President Hezi JanuarySection...........................................................................................Aris Chuck30, will 2012 relish Lesnick the dissection willBY16shareORDER of his all OF THE things perspectiveCOURT politics from on Tuesday, the august February innerBooks LeavingTransportation ...................................................................................................16on a Jet...................................................................................17Plane ......................................................................19 21st. sanctum Yonkers of the City City Court...................................................................................................................... 2 columnCLERK 1 column OF THE COURTCouncil President Chambers Chuck on Wednesday, Lesnick will February share 22nd. his perspective Stephen Cerrato, from the Esq., august will inner 16shareGovernment Transportation ...................................................................................17 sanctum of the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, 22nd. Stephen Cerrato, Esq., will shareGovernmentSectionSection............................................................................20............................................................................17 his political insight on Thursday,Court..................................................................................................................February 23rd. Friday, February 24th has yet to be filled. It may be a propitiousday to sum up what transpired Mayor Marvin.................................................................................................. throughout the week. A sort Get of BlogTalk Radio version of That 17 Was16Government Campaign Section ............................................................................17 his political insight on Thursday, February 23rd. Friday, February 24th has yet to be filled. It may be a propitiousThe Week day to That sum Was up what GetAlbany CorrespondentTrail ..................................................................................20....................................................................17Albany Economic Correspondent Development ....................................................................17..................................................................20(TWTWTW). transpired CampaignNoticedthroughout Trail................................................................................................ the week. A Noticedsort of BlogTalk Radio version of That 18 WasAdvertising Mayor Marvin’s Sales Column .................................................................18 The Week That Was (TWTWTW).Mayor EducationGovernment Marvin’s ...........................................................................................21.......................................................................................19Column .................................................................18 For those who cannot join The us live, Albany consider Correspondent........................................................................... listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or 19onGovernment The Hezitorial .......................................................................................19....................................................................................21 For those who cannot join us live, consider listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or onOpEd Section .........................................................................................23 demand. Within 15 minutes Education..........................................................................................................914-562-0834of a show’s ending, you can find the segment in our archive that you may 20 linkOffice:OpEd Legal Section ....................................................................................................23914-576-1481 (10:00 AM–6:00 PM).........................................................................................23 demand. to using the Within hyperlink 15 minutes provided State of a in of show’s the opening City................................................................................................ ending, paragraph. you can find the segment in our archive that you may 20 linkKoch Commentary.....................................................................23WHYTeditor@gmail.comto using the hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph.Ed PeopleLetters Koch ..................................................................................................24to Commentary.....................................................................23the Editor ..........................................................................24 The entire archive is available Legal................................................................................................................... and maintained for your perusal. 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AOL Search for Westchester On the Level, Blog Talk Radio, or use 23theLegal Glenn Notices Weissman:..........................................................................................26..........................................................................................27347-353-6128example, hyperlink search above. Google, Yahoo, AOL Search for Westchester (914) On the Level, 562-0834Blog Talk Radio, or use theLegal Ads............................................................................................................... 23hyperlink above.Before speaking to the police... callWestchester’s Most Influential WeeklyWestchester’s Most Professional Influential DominicanWeeklyHairstylists & Nail TechniciansHair Cuts • Styling • Wash & Set • PermingPedicure • Acrylic Nails Guardian • Fill Ins • Silk News Wraps • Corp. Nail Art DesignsHighights • Coloring Guardian • Extensions • Manicure News • Eyebrow Corp. WaxingP.O. Box 8P.O. 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Our first duty will be T. to 914.948.0044 the PEOPLE’Stion RIGHT without TO favor KNOW, or compromise. by the exposure Our of first truth, duty without will be F. fear to 914.686.4873 the or PEOPLE’S hesitation,RIGHT no matter TO where KNOW, the pursuit by the may exposure lead, in of the truth, finest without tradition fear of or FREEDOM hesitation,no matter OF THE where PRESS. the 175 pursuit MAIN ST., may SUITE lead, in 711-7 the finest • WHITE tradition PLAINS, of NY FREEDOM 10601OF THE PRESS.The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents andbusinesses The Guardian all over will cover Westchester news and County. events As relevant a weekly, to residents rather than andfocusing businesses on all the over immediacy Westchester of delivery County. more As associated weekly, rather with daily thanjournals, focusing we on will the instead immediacy seek of to delivery provide the more broader, associated more with comprehensive,dailyjournals, wechronologicalwill insteadstep-by-stepseek to provideaccountingthe broader,of events,moreenlightenedcomprehensive,with analysis,chronologicalwhere appropriate.step-by-step accounting of events, enlightenedwith analysis, where appropriate.Professional DominicanHairstylists From & amongst Nail Technicians journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when,From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when,Hair Cuts where, • Styling why, • Wash and & Set • how, Permingthe why and how will drive our pursuit. 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By JOHN F. McMULLENTHE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013CommunitySectionCALENDARNews & Notes from Northern WestchesterBy MARK JEFFERSI guess there are now threethings that are inevitable in ourlives: death, taxes and MetroNorth raising their rates fortunately,our column is writtenfrom the home office, so please enjoy thisweek’s commute free edition of News andNotes.Hop on over to the Make-A-Wish EasterEgg hunt On Saturday, March 16 th at theRobert E. Bell Middle School in Chappaquaon the front field. There will be one Easter egghunt at 12 noon and another at 1:00 PM. Thisevent includes Easter eggs, pictures with theEaster bunny, baked goods, fun games and araffle. Kids of all ages are welcome and a donationof $10 per child goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hudson Valley.Its Book Bruch time at the White PlainsLibrary on March 25th and 28th, I am assumingwe are not actually eating the books, formore information call 914-422-1476.Well the snow of last weekend served onepurpose it gives all of us a second chance tosign up for a spring field trip join the BedfordAudubon Society for Birding at Jamaica Baywith Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson.The trip, which was rescheduled from March9 th , will take place on Saturday, March 23 rdfrom 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Enjoy this latewinter excursion to see an array of waterfowl,CREATIVE DISRUPTIONSingularity?raptors, and birds like towhees and sparrowshiding in thickets.The newly renovated Schoolhouse Theaterin Croton Falls will re-open with a productionof Ten Unknowns, written by Tony-nominatedplaywright jon Robin Baitz with performancesthrough March 30 th .This sounds like a sticky event to learn moreabout maple tree sugaring and enjoy a pancakebreakfast at the Teatown Pancake Breakfast onMarch 16 th , pass the syrup and I’ll see you there.With all this crazy weather we have beenexperiencing lately, what’s better than curlingup with a blanket and a good book. The BedfordHills Free Library can help out with thebooks as they are holding an on-going booksale, call 914-666-6472 for details.I like the title of this art exhibit at thePound Ridge Library, When Work is Done:The Artwork of Three Men with Men withJobs, it runs through April 23 rd .Does your teenager love to doodle ordraw…the Chappaqua Library is offering anafternoon of Cartooning and Caricature forTeens grades 7 through 12 with Laura Craigthe director of Irrelevant Elephant Fine ArtStudio in Mount Kisco. On Friday afternoon,March 22nd at 3:30 pm you can learn how tocreate and develop your own characters andheroes, super or not and this program is freeof charge.The Rockefeller State Preserve in MountPleasant presents SNAP: Love that Park;Views of the Preserve, curated by Audrey Leedsthrough March 24 th .I am not embarrassed to say that I singalong with all these Disney favorites that willbe appearing in Disney Live! Mickey’s MusicFestival at the Westchester County Center inWhite Plains, April 4-7.Now that the weather is finally improving,I want you all to do me a favor. Shop local!Many of our small businesses and stores arestruggling in this economy and are finding itdifficult to compete with the big chain storesand the online shopping. Our local shopsdefine our villages; they are owned by ourneighbors; they employ our friends and ourindustrious high school students; they sponsorour local little leagues and soccer clubs; theydonate endlessly to our PTAs and support ourneighborhood organizations. An ad here anda donation for an auction there all adds up, butthey give anyway. So shop locally and supportthe stores that support our towns. Looking forthe best bargains will not be the best deal inthe long run.I’ve gained 10 pounds so far during theHudson Valley Restaurant Week, which endsMarch 24 th ; I sure hope exercise week startssoon. See you next week.Mark Jeffers resides in Bedford Hills, New York,with his wife Sarah, and three daughters, Kate,Amanda, and Claire.“The Singularity” -- we mayhave seen this term in articles-- or in book titles -- or on televisionshows but it’s confusing-- what is it? The answer may,at least initially, be more confusing than thewords. It is “the next great step in human evolution”-- or -- “a science fiction concept” -- or -- “thebeginning of superhuman intelligence” -- or -- toVernor Vinge (to whom we attribute the originof “Technological Singularity”), it representsthe time when “Shortly after, the human erawill be ended” (http://mindstalk.net/vinge/vinge-sing.html) -- or -- to Wikipedia, “Thetechnological singularity is the theoreticalemergence of superintelligence through technologicalmeans” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity) -- and there areother descriptions or definitions but these areconfusing enough.Vinge, a professor of Mathematics andComputer Science as well as a respected sciencefiction writer, coined the term in a 1993lecture given at the “VISION-21 Symposium”sponsored by NASA Lewis Research Centerand the Ohio Aerospace Institute. WhileVinge’s whole paper should be read to bothappreciate the complexities of his thoughtand to note that he points to five possiblescenarios for the development of this singularity,the key conclusion (and the jumpingoff for all the further writing on the subject)is that there will be a merger of human andmachine intelligences into a new entity -- amerger of the two into one -- hence “the singularity.”In attempting do determine whenthis coming together could happen, Vingesaid “I’ll be surprised if this event occurs before2005 or after 2030.”Continued on page 4JOIN NOW ANDSAVE BIG !GUARANTEED FOR LIFE!New Members Only. Must Present Ad.See RetroFitness For DetailsGROUPFITNESS CLASSES!OVER13,000 SQ. FT.OF FITNESS!It’s time for you to join themost affordable gym ever !Page 3STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITYOver 13,00 Sq. Ft. of Fitness-Tons of Cardio With 17” LCD ScreensOne-on-One Personal TrainingLarge Free Weight AreaEnjoy Your Favorite Movies inOur Huge Retro TheaterTotally Awesome Retro Blends*Smoothie Bar • Childcare AvailableSo Much EntertainmentYou’ll Never Have To Wait Again!Full Access To Over90 RetroFitness Locations!Classes Free w. Membership:Zumba® , Kickboxing, Spinning®and More!GYM HOURSMon. - Fri. 4AM-MidnightSat. & Sun: 6AM-8PMRADIOWestchester On the Level with Narog and ArisWestchester On the Level is heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterontheLevel.Join the conversation by calling 1-347-205-9201.914.235.3300RetroFitness.net(NEXT TO CITIBANK)236 NORTH AVE.,NEW ROCHELLE

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 5CULTURAL PERSPECTIVESThe World According to Film, Part 1SHERIF AWADFor more than a hundred years, cinemahas inspired many viewers andfilmmakers alike. Film became theobject of affection for some and theobsession of others. It also helpedsome to rise up from a tormenting fall. Take thestory of the American-Ecuadorian Ricardo “Rick”Segreda, a great film critic and a wonderful humanbeing I met in Quito a few weeks ago. Funny,down-to-earth, and knowledgeable in film, Rickgrew up loving cinema and the arts, which eventuallydrove him to study film in the USA. But hislack of confidence in competing with others of hisgeneration made him step away for too many yearsfrom his first love. Eventually Rick underwent acatharsis supported by those close to him and furtherbolstered by his strong will to reach the goalshe set for himself. His personal transformation ledto his success in establishing himself in Ecuador asa critic for the newspaper, La Hora, and acceding tomarketing manager at the Institute of Visual Artsin Quito, Ecuador (IAVQ).Rick Segreda (1st row from above) in Miss Taylor’s4th Grade Class at Mayflower.master of stop-motion animation who used realisticminiature models in classic films like The 7th Voyageof Sinbad, and Jason and the Argonauts that featureda famous sword fight against seven skeleton warriors.I remember that my father brought me twothings that fortified that love; a magazine whereHarryhausen was explaining the secrets of his craftand a super 8mm camera that I used to realize myown films featuring battles of clay dinosaur”, he remembers.Rick Segreda in Quito, Ecuador today.Rick Segreda’s journey is marked by his keennessto understand the world through the mediumof film. His Costa Rican father, who became anAmerican citizen, worked for the US State Departmentafter serving in WWII, where he met Rick’smother while working in the US Embassy in Quito,Ecuador. The family then relocated to Washington,D.C. where Rick was born. “After my father quithis job, we came to Westchester and settled in NewRochelle. I grew up in a house right behind NewRochelle High School, which I eventually attendedafter going to Mayflower Elementary School thatdoes not exist anymore. But of course, some of TheWestchester Guardian’s readers will remember it”, hesays.Like many filmmakers, Rick’s interest in cinemastarted early when he was a child. “Initiallywhen I was nine-years-old, I wanted to be a specialeffects master. My hero was Ray Harryhausen, theCitizen Kane changed Rick Segreda’s views aboutcinema.However, when he became an adolescent, histaste changed once he saw a public library screeningof Orson Wells’ classic Citizen Kane. “It had agreat impact on me especially at that time, when Iwas questioning many things: like our values andnorms. My father had just died from cancer and Iwas like, what’s life all about? I was lucky because,in a metropolitan city like New York, channels likeWNET-Channel 13, and many revival housesacross the city were screening films as they shouldbe seen: on a big screen and in their original format.I was exposed to non-American classics like JeanCocteau’s Beauty and the Beast, Federico Fellini’sLa Strada, Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal,and most of all François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows,which was about an adolescent who comes acrossthe hard truths about his mother and his surround-Continued on page 6

Page 6 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013CULTURAL PERSPECTIVESThe World According to Film, Part 1Continued from page 5ings. I was so surprised by the artistryof those films, to the point that theyeventually became for me, a means toexplore life during that transitional period.I remember becoming the onlyadolescent in my high school whocared about Ernst Lubitsch, director ofthe Greta Garbo’s classic, Ninotchka”,said Rick who started to pull out booksthat spoke about cinema as a serious artform.“There was particular writer aboveall that captured my attention: AndrewSarris, the American film critic forNew York’s weekly newspaper, VillageVoice, and the Film Professor at ColombiaUniversity. Sarris brought manyauteurs’ theories, especially from Truffaut’swritings about studying films notonly for stories but also for their miseen-scèneand their visual aspects. He alsofascinated me by his own writings andhow he did not separate art from entertainmentwhile reviewing a film likeThe Birds by director Alfred Hitchcock.I discovered how Hitchcock, like manyother American filmmakers of classicWesterns for instance, had lot of thingsto say while providing thrilling stories.For instance, in the book Hitchcock/Truffaut in which Truffaut interviewedHitchcock, The Master of Suspenserevealed how he was influenced by theRussian Fyodor Dostoyevsky who exploredthe human shadow and the thinline between guilt and innocence”.Segreda went on to receive a degreein Radio and TV production ata two-year community college, thenjoined Manhattan College to studyEnglish literature, but switched to Religionbecause he was going through apersonal crisis. “I wanted to understandthe meaning of life and I thought religionwould provide more answers. Thisgave me some historical insights aboutRay Harryhausen (now 92) is Rick Segreda’s original hero.the theology that shaped Western cultureand the difference between theintellectual grasp of life and the experientialgrasp of life”, he explained.After graduating in 1988, Rick didnot want to stay in New York and decidedto see more of the world. “So Istarted by the West Coast. I had semiintentionsto continue major film studiesin one of California’s universities butonce I arrived there, I fell in love withthe beach and decided to forget aboutthe stress I went through during mycollege years in my quest for answersto life”.Rick did not even try to pursuea career in film because he developedthis fear of failing in the presence ofcompetitive rivals. “The way my oldNew York classmates who venturedin TV or cinema talked about theirachievement made me feel very small.For years, I worked in secondary jobs:social services, hotel, and housing forpeople with psychiatric disabilities, doinganything but that related to film inorder to pay my bills. I was fired fromjobs because of my lack of focus and mypersonal unhappiness. The people whofinally hired me were owners of fishfactories in the State of Washington. Ifound myself alongside mostly illegalimmigrants tearing the intestines ofhundreds of dead fish, day by day forminimal wage”, he recalled.Read Part 2 in the next edition.Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is afilm / video critic and curator. He is thefilm editor of Egypt Today MagazineECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTGovernor Cuomo Announces $1.5 Billion TIFIA Federal Loan for Tappan Zee ProjectALBANY, NY -- Governor AndrewM. Cuomo announced on March 8,2013, that a $1.5 billion TIFIA loanfor the bridge project to replace theTappan Zee will move to next stage ofthe U.S. Department of Transportationloan process. This financing will lowertolls on the bridge below all prior projections,though the state continues toseek additional financial support for theproject.“This is another important stepforward for the new NY bridge project,one that will help keep tolls affordablefor motorists,” said Governor AndrewCuomo. “Today’s action is also amplifiedby the fact that under design buildthe selected bridge plan came in $1 billionunder the expected price, maximizingthe impact of this major financialsupport.”In addition to the potential fundingfrom this TIFIA loan, New YorkState continues to seek additional financialsupport to reduce costs fromfederal, state and local sources and willbe using the Toll Task Force to identifyalternative financing sources and keeptolls low.U.S. DOT will conduct a creditreview of the project prior to finalizingthe TIFIA loan. As part of the nextstep of the TIFIA process, New YorkState is required by U.S. DOT to pay$100,000 for financial advisors to reviewthe project.The Governor previously directedthe State Thruway Authority to forma Toll Task Force to find alternatives,revenue generators and cost reductionsthat reduce the potential toll increases.The Task Force will examine aNew York Governor Andrew Cuomo (R), with advisor Brian Conybeare, standingin front of a model of the new design. (Image courtesy of @NYGovCuomo)series of options to keep tolls low oncethe final financing on the project hasbeen established including expandingdiscount programs, seeking financialmechanism that lower the cost of creditand borrowing,Before speaking to the police... callGeorge WeinbaumATTORNEY AT LAWFREE CONSULTATION:Criminal, Medicaid, MedicareFraud, White-Collar Crime &Health Care Prosecutions. T. 914.948.0044F. 914.686.4873175 MAIN ST., SUITE 711-7 • WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601and ensuring that any increase in tollson the bridge goes solely to the bridgeand regional transportation.The new New York Bridge projectis the largest transportation designbuildproject to date in the UnitedStates and one of the largest constructioncontracts in New York State history.Under the design-build process,engineering and construction firms joinforces to compete for a single contractthat covers both design and construction,and bids are selected based on thebest value offered. Through this process,the final selected proposal from theTappan Zee Constructers offered thelowest cost and the shortest constructiontimeline to complete the new NewYork Bridge project.Over the last decade, there were430 public meetings, 150 conceptsand $88 million spent on figuring outhow to replace the Tappan Zee Bridgewithout any substantial progress madeon building a new bridge. In just thelast year under Governor Cuomo, thebridge project received federal approvalof the environmental impact statement,reached a project labor agreement, andreviewed and selected a contractor forthe new bridge. Construction on thebridge is now expected to begin in thenext few months.The new New York Bridge toreplace the Tappan Zee will includeeight general traffic lanes plus emergencylanes and extra-wide shouldersfor immediate express bus servicewhen opened and will be transit-readyfor all modes including bus rapid transit,light rail or commuter rail.

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 7EDUCATIONSpecial Message from theArdsley School DistrictARSDLEY, NY -- A reminder thatthe Ardsley Board of Education ishosting two more community budgetworkshop meetings on Tuesday eveningMarch 12th at 7:00 p.m. at theArdsley Middle School auditoriumand on Tuesday evening March 19th at7:00 p.m. at the Ardsley High Schoolauditorium. The Board encourages allcommunity members to come to theseworkshops to engage in discussionsabout the 2013-2014 school budget.The Board is looking for your feedbackand input.Somers Student Services Manager Matthew Carr Discussesthe State of the Somers School DistrictBy RICH MONETTIState testing in Somershas its student bodyconsistently in “goodstanding” and on parwith other school districtsof equal size and demographics.Of course, that doesn’t exempt thedistrict from all the excessive resourcesand angst devoted to this mandate.Nonetheless, Somers is doing morethan simply standing by and makingthe best of the much maligned system,according to Matt Carr, Human ResourcesStudent Services Manager ofthe Somers School District .The Somers School District hasresolved to be extremely discerning inselecting and evaluating the most relevantdata to student success. Devotinga great deal of time and resources topinpointing the appropriate data, MrCarr advised, “We hope to then put allour efforts in the right place so we candeliver instruction in the best possiblemanner for students.”Additionally, the process has beenStudent Services Manager MatthewCarr.preempted by a good deal of pre-assessmentto distill a baseline level of data tofurther improve the desired outcomes.“What good is testing if you don’t haveanything to compare it to,” noted Carr.That said, Somers is saddled with ateacher retirement system that has seenan increase in expenditure of 37% thisyear, while the tax cap has created a newchallenge of its own. In the midst of thebudget process, Mr Carr said, “We’remaking adjustments and making surewe’re complying with the governor’smandated tax limit.”Encompassed within that paradigm,are the mandates required withregard to special education. “We makedecisions on special ed that are bothfiscally sound and are a right fit so studentswill succeed in the environmentthat’s chosen,” said Carr.Somers has also taken great stridesin making sure the opportunities areavailable for students who wish toextend beyond the New York Staterequirements. Disciplines in science,technology, engineering and math initiativesstands out most prominently.Somers is at the cusp of incorporatingrobotics and electronics into their curriculum.Mr Carr said, “Students willgain college credits through RochesterInstitute of Technology.”But Somers aims to keep the 21stContinued on page 8www.citycarting.netCommercial • Industrial& Residential ServicesRoll-Off Containers 1-30 YardsHome Clean-up ContainersTurn-key Demolition ServicesDEC Licensed Transfer StationDEP Licensed Rail ServeTransfer & Recycling ServicesLicensed Demolition ContractorLocally Owned & OperatedRadio DispatchedFully Insured - Free EstimatesOn Site Document DestructionSame Day Roll Off ServiceIf You Call By NoonCity Carting of Westchester • Somers SanitationB & S Carting • AAA Paper Recycling • Bria Carting • CRP Sanitation800.872.7405 • 8 VIADUCT RD., STAMFORD, CT • 203.324.4090ONE FREE ADULT ADMISSION WITH THIS ADPRESENTS THE 31 ST ANNUAL SPRINGWESTCHESTER COUNTYWESTCHESTER COUNTY CENTER198 Central Ave, White Plains, New YorkOVER 150 EXHIBITS FOR ALL YOURHOME IMPROVEMENT & LIFESTYLE NEEDSPARTICIPATING SPONSORS:TICKETS: Adults $10, Seniors $8, 12 & Under FREE!NOT TO BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. NO COPIES. NOT FOR RESALE. LIMITED TO ONE PER PARTYMARCH TH THSPECIAL HOT TUB & SPA SECTIONFEATURING SPECIAL PRICING ON:Guardian

Page 8 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013EDUCATIONSomers Student Services Manager Matthew Carr Discusses the State of the Somers School DistrictContinued from page 7Century within the school day, too. Thedistrict hopes to put professional learningdevices like iPads and Notebooks inthe hands all students and already hasa pilot program doing just that with anumber of middle schoolers. “We arelooking to infuse technology into thecurriculum as much as possible,” sharedCarr.Of course, today can easily havekids a step ahead in that regard, and it’sBy LARRY M. ELKINThe Washington Postrecently announcedit will replace its ombudsmanposition withthat of a “reader representative.”I liked thingsbetter when the ombudsman was thereader’s representative.What sounds like just a change intitle, substituting a more readily recognizedjob description for an obscure bitof jargon, is really something more. Itis a mark of how the commitment ofAmerican newsrooms to impartial reportingis fading.The rise of the news ombudsmencoincided with the golden age ofAmerican newspaper journalism in the1970s. The very first American newspaperombudsman appeared in the late‘60s, and subsequently gained tractionin newspapers nationwide. While thethe teachers who need to keep up. Eitherway, Mr Carr noted, “Our teachersare the consummate professionals. Theyare always looking for professional developmentand ways in which to utilizeall these devices.”Somers science teacher BrianHujick exemplifies this technologicaldevotion in writing the grant thatbrought solar panel technology to thehigh school. “His students do use thereal life example with direct access tothe onsite equipment,” stressed Carr.WHAT YOUR DOCTOR WON’T (OR CAN’T) TELL YOUACLU and Häagen-Dazs UniteBy EVAN S. LEVINE, MDStarting March 16,2013, consumers inNew York City willbe unable to purchasesugar-saturated drinksweighing more than 16 ounces. Theidea for this law, as Mayor Bloombergsuggests, was considered after he noticedthe significant increase in obesity,not only in New York City, but in theentire country. And to me it makessense, especially since we cannot controlthe runaway cost of healthcare thatseems partially fueled by all the illnessesattributed to obesity.But I have been suggesting foryears, if we wish to reduce deaths andmorbidity related to obesity, we mustrestrict what our poor population eat,since they seem to be eating the mostunhealthful of foods. I recently stoodbehind a woman, who likely weighedmore than 300 pounds, and watched asshe paid for her ice cream, regular milk,whipped cream, and bacon with foodstamps; actually, with an ElectronicBenefit Transfer (EBT) card. And atthat time I realized that unlike othercountries around the world, where peoplewho live in poverty are thin, or lackreasonable amount of calories in theirmeals, the poor in the United Statesseem to be more often fat. My review ofsome data from the 2010 census notesnumber of newspapers in major citiesdropped during this period, in mostcases down to only one, we did not yethave 24-hour news coverage or the Internet.Evening news on television waslimited to 30 minutes (more like 22once commercial breaks were factoredin). Thus, newspapers were the primarynews source for Americans.At the same time, newspaperswere under rhetorical attack – notablyfrom President Richard Nixon and hisvice president, Spiro Agnew. Agnewled the charge in accusing the mediaof bias, both generally and specificallyin the case of the Vietnam War. In theface of these accusations, and in thenewly restructured landscape of newspapercoverage, journalists committedthemselves to fairness and lack of demonstrablebias. When large cities hadmultiple newspapers, their respectiveslants had tended to cancel one anotherFinally, school security has movedto the forefront of every district’sagenda and Somers is obviously amongthem. The district will employ one unarmedschool resource officer to eachof their two campuses. Mr Carr said,“We’re hoping for each officer to reallybecome a part of the communitywithin the schools and their roles willexpand as time progresses.”The Somers School District iscognizant that some students maynot feel comfortable disclosing threatsthat people who live in poverty in theUnited States are 145% more likely tobe obese than those who do not.While I agree we should not allowanyone in our country to go hungry Iwonder why we allow the hungry topurchase lard, or bacon, or any food thatis full of fat or fructose and bad for theirhealth with Food Stamps. If MayorBloomberg can ban big sodas in restaurantsto paying customers, why can’twe allow the poor to use their FoodStamps to purchase only quality foodproducts? Why can’t we create a systemwhere someone purchasing productswith Food Stamps can only do so fornutritious foods? If someone wishes topurchase some lard or ice cream thenthey can buy it with their own money,not the taxpayers.What many don’t realize is thatCURRENT COMMENTARYA Vanishing Emblem of Newspapers’ Golden Ageout; when a city relied on one newspaper,the papers had greater motivationto promise independence, objectivityand accuracy in order to broaden theirreadership.The Washington Post was one ofthe early pioneers of the idea of a newsombudsman as a way to give readersan independent advocate in the newsroom.In general terms, an ombudsmanis an independent agent who receivesand investigates complaints, generallyfrom the members of the public againsta government agency or private organization.For journalists, the ombudsmanbecame a crucial liaison betweena newspaper’s staff and its readers. Anombudsman did not aspire to becomethe paper’s editor-in-chief. He (or latershe) was unlikely to one day becomethe boss of the reporters whose work hecritiqued. The ombudsman could speakup if he felt the newspaper failed to livethere is another side to this story. Hospitalsare making billions performingweight loss surgery, known as bariatricsurgery, on the poor who got obesefrom eating foods purchased with FoodStamps. In other words we are fatteningup our poor, making them ill, andthen putting them through a surgicalprocedure, also paid with our taxpayerdollars, to make them thin again.Sure there might be ways to cheatthe system but the goal would be toreduce purchases of unhealthful foodsto an acceptable level. And the terribleconsequence for this would be the declinein obesity and all its associateddiseases that include diabetes, heart disease,and early death. The horrible resultwould be to save billions of dollars inhealthcare costs and millions of lives.With our current technology, andup to its own standards without fear ofprofessional repercussion.The concept of the news ombudsmanbecame especially popular inmetropolitan environments like Washington,D.C. and New York City, butit eventually spread widely throughoutthe country. Today, enough individualshold the position to merit an organization.But today’s journalism is quitedifferent from that of the ‘70s. Accuracyis still important. Most newsorganizations are forthright about publishingcorrections for demonstrablyfalse statements in news columns, evenwhen the errors are insignificant orharmless. Online copy is regularly corrected,and reputable organizations flagthe corrections to draw readers’ attention.The ombudsman as a fact-checkerhas been made, to an extent, redundantby technological advances and industrywithout some veil of anonymity; theywill have access to a hotline servicewhere potential threats can be conveyedconfidentially. Once expressed,the school resource officer will proceedwith an investigation.The district is engaged in monitoringthe myriad social media siteson the Internet in order to learn of theexasperation expressed, and to respondwith facts that may go to mitigate theconcerns expressed. One such problematicdiscussion emerged at the beginningof this school year. It was withregard to threat expressed by a formerstudent. “The state police interveneddirectly and the individual was in custodybefore the next school day evenstarted,” Mr Carr said.Somers is in good standing in itspursuit of delivering education excellenceand opportunity to its studentpopulation. Mr Carr expresses SomersSchool Districts’ initiatives, measuresand counter measures that are the byproductof their due diligent focus.Rich Monetti has been a freelance writersince 2003 and lives in Westchester.the mandatory participation of the foodindustry, each food outside of fresh produce,could be assigned a label, in muchthe way we label things today as organic,or kosher or dairy, that would allowthe consumer to see if it is approved forpurchase with food stamps. A simplebar code, when scanned, would allow,or not allow, the patron’s EBT card tobe debited that amount.I know that some will considerthis a big brother, big government, interventionand that this could createsome odd alliance between the ACLU(American Civil Liberties Union) andthe makers of Häagen-Dazs, but that isthe risk we should be willing to accept.Dr. Evan S. Levine is a cardiologist. Heis also the author of the book “What YourDoctor Won’t (or can’t) Tell You”. He livesin Connecticut with his wife and children.practice.But what about the ombudsmanas an arbiter of fairness? Increasingly,readers turn to news outlets that reinforcetheir own biases and preferences,in both the topics they cover and theways they cover them. An ombudsmantoday who wants to take on the topic offairness would have to challenge someof the basic philosophies of his or herown news organization, getting at corequestions such as “What is news?” and“How do you report a story?”Take, for example, The WashingtonPost’s coverage of Mitt Romney’shigh school pranks, including theforced haircut he and his friends gaveto classmate who, The Washington Postreported, recalled being “terrified” bythe incident. The paper’s ombudsmanlargely endorsed the reporter’s approachto the story, which ran at roughlythe same time that President Obamapublicly endorsed gay marriage. In thestory, the classmate in question, whohad long, bleached blond hair, was de-Continued on page 9

Page 10 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013CURRENT COMMENTARYThe Last Word On Retirement PlanningContinued from page 9withdrawals begin. Because the distributionsare based on the portfolio’s precrashvalue, the first withdrawals takeout more money than the portfolio canlater recover.The Journal’s article offered threealternative approaches. I dislike all ofthem, in varying degrees.The first, buying an annuity, is theworst. Annuities, sold by insurancecompanies, are usually expensive to buyand expensive to hold because of variouslayers of fees. They substitute theinsurer’s investment results for yours,which may or may not be a good trade.If the insurer promises more than itslong-term investment results can deliver,you have to count on the companyto make up the difference from its ownassets – for you and many other customers.Buying an annuity today alsomeans, in many cases, locking in today’srecord-low interest rates for the rest ofyour life. I don’t see why anyone wouldwant to do that.Insurers have developed all sortsof spin to try to counter these basicfacts. I am not buying any of it,and I’m not buying annuities, either.The second idea is to vary your annualportfolio withdrawals according tochanges in your investments’ value, andaccording to your remaining life expectancyas set out in tables publishedby the Internal Revenue Service. Thisidea will work pretty well for people intheir 60s and 70s, who have a decadeor two of remaining life expectancy andwhose annual withdrawals, in percentageterms, will be modest. It will workmuch less well for people in their late80s and 90s, when life expectancy dropsinto the single digits and the withdrawalrate, in turn, would rise to the doubledigits.The third approach is a stockanalyst’s technique of pegging yourwithdrawal rate to the stock market’sreported price-to-earnings ratio. Onlyan investment analyst would even thinkof trying to implement this approach,so I am not going to address it further,except to say that it seems to pay moreattention to the theory of what yourstocks ought to be worth than to thereality of what they actually are worth.All of these strategies are supposedto guarantee that you will not outliveyour money.That’s a useless guarantee – andto prove it, I am going to promise thatif you follow the simple strategy I amabout to give you, you will never outliveyour money. But you still may not behappy with the results.Here is my strategy: At the startof every year, take out 4 percent of yourportfolio for that year’s spending. Ortake 5 percent. Or 6 percent. Or 10percent, if you want.The next year, when you take outthe same percentage, your portfolio willhave either shrunk or grown, so yourwithdrawal will either shrink or grow,too. Obviously, the higher the percentageyou take out, the more likely it becomesthat your portfolio will shrinkrather than grow, so your annual distributionswill tend to shrink over time.But because you are only taking out afixed percentage every year, your portfoliocannot fall all the way to zero.If you choose a small percentage,your portfolio might gain value overtime, allowing your annual distributionsto increase. This is the way to go ifyou like to have a big financial cushionor if you are simply into deferred gratification.On the other hand, if you wantto have your cake right now and don’tworry about facing a bare cupboardlater, take a big percentage. It’s yourchoice.A lot of people will dismiss mymethod immediately. It does not guarantee– or promise – that the amountyou can spend every year will keepup with inflation. It does not promisethat your withdrawals will be enoughto support you in reasonable comfortforever. It does not promise that if youneed extensive care in your later years,you will have the money to pay for it.I do not promise these things becauseI don’t like to promise things Icannot necessarily deliver.If you are entering retirement,there are only a few things you cancontrol. You can control how much youspend; you can control how much youearn (if you are healthy enough to workduring your “retirement”); and you cancontrol how you invest your savings.If you put all your savings in the bankat today’s near-zero interest rates, youwon’t suffer any losses if the stock marketturns downward, but you will haveno chance whatsoever to grow your investmentsand keep up with inflation.If you put everything in the stock market,you will have growth opportunitiesover the long term, but you will see alot of short-term fluctuations in value(and thus in your annual distributions).You had best be prepared to stay in thestock market through any downturns,or you will suffer the fate of your neighborswho cashed in their 401(k) plansduring the crash a few years ago, whichlocked in their losses and preventedthem from subsequently recoveringalong with the market.You cannot control what the stockmarket will do in the future. You cannotcontrol inflation. You cannot controlhow long you will live. You cannotcontrol how much medical or custodialcare you will need. There is no financialstrategy or product that can give youcontrol over these things, which nobodyelse can control either.Our best chance of having a financiallysecure and comfortable retirementis to keep spending under control(downsize sooner rather than later)and to invest with an eye toward longtermgrowth. If you have a reasonablystrong stomach for withstanding stockmarket fluctuations, I think the logicalapproach is to have anywhere from 50percent or 80 percent of retirement assetsin stocks. This is as true for someoneat age 80 as at 60.We all want our old-age securityguaranteed, but life does not offerguarantees. It only offers promises, andpromises are not always worth much.Larry M. Elkin, CPA, CFP ® , has providedpersonal financial and tax counselingto a sophisticated client base since1986. After six years with Arthur Andersen,where he was a senior manager forpersonal financial planning and familywealth planning, he founded his own firmin Hastings on Hudson, N.Y., in 1992.That firm grew steadily and became thePalisades Hudson organization, whichmoved to Scarsdale, N.Y., in 2002. Thefirm expanded to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,in 2005 and to Atlanta in 2008.MUSICTHE SOUNDSOFBLUEBy Bob PutignanoOtis Redding “Lonely & Blue”“A new twist concept release from the great Otis Redding” Rating: 7“Lonely & Blue: The Deepest Soul ofOtis Redding” is a brand new compilationof Redding’s recordings that have neverappeared on a single album prior. It’s avery hip conceptual project that focuseson (as the title implies) that are mostlyballads. Well known hits like “I’ve BennLoving You Too Long,” and “These Armsof Mine,” appear, but this CD also offersbelow the radar titles. The story goes thatcompilation producer David Gormanwanted to bring together titles that wereintended for late-night listening, and notto create yet another batch of Reddinghits. There’s even an alternate rendition of“I’ve Got Dreams To Remember” where(Rougher Dreams are added to the title.)According to Gorman; “the lyrics aredarker and tell a more personal story thanthe better-known hit version.”Otis’ voice and sparkling guitar lick(sounds like Cropper,) jumps out on thebeginning notes of “(I Love You) MoreThan You Can Say,” is mildly overproducedwith strings, but when the Staxhorns kick-in you’ll forget the violins,and focus more on the deep and soulfulrenderings of Redding. But ballad afterballad ensures, “Gone Again,” “Free Me,”“Open the Door,” and “A Waste of Time,”sound too similar in succession, and woreon me. The mood changes (a bit) on classicslike “These Arms of Mine,” and thestop – stuttering and gorgeous “I’ve BeenLoving You Too Long,” remain foreverbreathtaking. There’s also an interestingRedding-Cropper tune “Little Ol’ Me”it’s sweet and displays some slick bluesyguitar licks too.The aforementioned “I’ve GotDreams to Remember (RougherDreams,)” definitely adds new lyrics,the B3 is clearer here and more emotiveadding additional drama; it’s also mildlyrearranged from the original. “Send MeSome Lovin’” is also another welcomeballad that I don’t recall from any previousRedding recordings. The closing “MyLover’s Prayer” (by Redding) fittinglyconcludes “Lonely & Blue” on anothersomber note, yet the familiar Stax soundsand horns make this a delight. Needlessto say Redding delivers his vocals movinglyand memorably.Add to the mix that the packagingwas intentionally designed byContinued on page 11

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 11MUSICTHE SOUNDS OF BLUEContinued from page 10Gorman to look as if Redding actuallydid put this album out sometime ago. It includes the yellow Voltlabel (inclusive with the lightningVolt logo) on the disc, and the cardboardcover looks like it’s been sittingaround on your LP shelf for over fortyyears. Even the outer liners (thereare no interior liners,) were supposedlywritten in present-tense and arecredited to a fictitious DJ; go figure?But from an audiophile prospective;this disc sounds great, and believe itBy JOHN SIMONThere are two thingswrong with the currentmusical version of Cinderella.One goes backfar, and concerns therenowned glass slipper, which is nonsense.Even in a fairy tale, no one couldor not, there’s no snap, crackle, andpops (just having fun here.) Unfortunatelyno musician credits arelisted, but songwriting credits andtrack times are!Note: This album will be releasedboth on CD, and on a bluevinyl LP on Stax Records (or is itVolt Records?) via the Concord MusicGroup.The Redding legacy proudlycontinues on, enjoy!Bob Putignano www.SoundsofBlue.comEYE ON THEATREStumbles and TumblesSantino Fontana and Laura Osnes.traipse around in glass slippers withoutserious damage to both foot and footwear.What Charles Perrault wrote inhis famous fairy story is “une paire depantoufles de vair.” Now vair, in bothFrench and English, is the squirrel furused to embellish medieval garmentsand accessories. But the hapless originaltranslator into English had no ideaSECURITYNYS Senate Homeland Security Committee ChairChallenges TSA Rule ChangeBrewster, NY -- “The sad reality is that19 thugs with box cutters killed 3000innocent souls. While I understand theneed to pinpoint security efforts, if theTSA wants to reorganize their policiesin a way that will streamline proceduresand enhance efficiency maybe they cancease patting down 6 year olds and 90year old grandmothers in wheelchairs,and instead use Israel based securityprocedures to surgically zero in onprobable threats. It is absolutely absurdthat the TSA would allow passengerswhat vair was, and mistook it for verre,French for glass. And this howler stuckand remains.So we have now, in Douglas CarterBeane’s dreadful libretto, Venetian glassslippers. But we also have a whole lotof other rubbish with which this untalentedpurveyor of camp (worsethan squirrel fur) has bedizened thesweet Rodgers and Hammerstein TVmusical of 1957. He has concocted aridiculous subplot about Jean-Michel,a liberal agitator hoping to get PrinceTopher (as Prince Charming is herecalled) to turn his kingdom into a democracy,rather than the heartless oligarchythe prince’s evil aide de camp,Sebastian, is turning it into, deprivingthe poor even of their little bit of land.This Jean-Michel is also theswain of the nicer of Cinderella’s twostepsisters, Gabrielle, making for asub-subplot. It is all perfectly silly andsupererogatory, and is, like the entireBeane book, full of campy gags thatgenerally fizzle, Beane deluding himselfabout being the wit into whombenighted reviewers have parlayed him.He may even fancy hat his addled ad-Harriet Harris, Ann Harada, MarlaMindelle and Laura Osnes.denda are good adult stuff to please theparents of the tiara-crowned little girlsat whom what’s left of the original isto carry similarly dangerous items, asthose used on 9-11. Simply stated, thisrule change will put flight attendants,pilots and innocent Americans in immediatedanger, and is as asinine a decisionas can be made,” said Senator GregBall (R,C,I - Patterson) Chairman ofthe Senate Committee on Veterans,Homeland Security, and Military Affairs.aimed.The score, let’s face it, is not topnotchRodgers and Hammerstein II,not even as augmented by numberscut from other R & H shows, seeminglynot without good reason. There is,however, elaborate Arthur Rackhamishscenery by the gifted Anna Louizos, althoughso much money was spent on amighty forest and on the stepmother’shouse both outside and inside, thatfunds must have run out for the palace,for which a stairway, a clock and a fewrandom bits were all that was afforded.To be sure the prince himself, asContinued on page 12Kendal Hartse, Shonica Gooden, Linda Mugleston, StephanieGibson, Ann Harada, Jill Abramovitz, Kirstin Tucker, KristineBendul and Laura Irion.Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana and cast.

Page 12 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013EYE ON THEATREStumbles and TumblesContinued from page 11played by the talented Santino Fontana,is more of a lovable goofball thana handsome charmer, which is all right,especially as his Cinderella makes upfor this and everything else. LauraOsnes is one of our loveliest actresses,whose acting, singing and looks areall you could ask for and then some.Whether in her humble Cinderellagetup, or in a couple of ravishing costumesWilliam Ivey Long has designedfor her, you cannot take youreyes off, or your heart away from, thischarmer.For the other costumes, the designerhas produced some suitablyswirling, multicolored ball gowns, withno danger of eclipsing Cinderella’sbeauties. Rather routine too is much ofJosh Rhodes’s choreography, except inits rousingly acrobatic passages. As thestepmother, Harriet Harris is droll inher usual overcooked way, and VictoriaClark is lovable as both the flying fairygodmother and in her disguise as thecrazy, raggedy Marie. This, incidentally,may be the production’s triumph: thesudden, spectacular costume changesfrom rags to riches or vice versa, occurringin full view in almost magicaltransmutations.A nod must also go to DannyTroob’s orchestrations and DavidChase’s arrangements, as well as toMark Brokaw’s generally amiable direction.There is one major false step:even for the nasty stepsister, Charlotte,Ann Harada is too repellent, althoughshe is saddled with some of Beane’smore desperate gags. Peter Bartlett’soleaginous Sebastian and Greg Hildreth’stubby Jean-Michel are nocharmers either, but Harada has thembeaten by a country mile.Cinderella photos by and courtesy of CarolRosegg.The Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadwayat 53 rd Street. T: (212) 239.6200.There are, alas, such creatures ascritics’ darlings, whose appeal leavesme appalled. Such a one is the playwrightAmy Herzog, whose worksrange from expendable to execrable.Firmly ensconced in the latter categoryis her current Belleville. Little of thismakes an iota of sense, starting withsituating it in the Paris working-classneighborhood of Belleville, where theAmerican bourgeois couple of Zackand Abby would be unlikely to set footmuch less settle.If I tried to list for you everythingabout this debacle that is ludicrous,preposterous, foolishly contrived, andultimately melodramatic, I would needten times the space I have, and wouldtake up far more of your time that youcould spend more profitably gazing atyour navel.I have no idea what Herzog mighthave been gazing at, perhaps the movieThe Triplets of Belleville, a cartoonfeature, but lots more real than thiswoefully excogitated contraption. Forstarters, can you swallow the notionthat Zack, who unbeknown to Abbyflunked out of medical school, cango off every day pretending to workfor Doctors Without Borders, withoutAbby, even crazy mess that she is,catching on to the fakery? And howdoes the dimwit Abby get to teachyoga (unsuccessfully to be sure) in acountry where much more qualifiedforeigners have difficulties getting acarte de travail?And what is this about needing avisa for France, and forfeiting a reentryMaria Dizzia and Greg Kellerif you return to the U. S. for the birthof your sister’s baby? Also would anylandlord, even a Senegalese one, put upwith nonpayment of rent month aftermonth? And on what does this couplelive on, and how have they paid for allthe furniture, bought not rented, whichwe gather from the seemingly endlessclosing scene wherein the owner couplelaboriously rid themselves of everybelonging of the Americans.I suspect that Herzog wanted toshow off her grasp of French, in whichmuch is spoken, rather too well in thecase of Zack. But there are far greaterimprobabilities here that anyone capableof a little more thought than thegushing reviewers woulddisgustedly see through. The actingis not half bad, but not even supremehistrionic geniuses could makethese goings-on credible.The program, which ostentatiouslybut unsolicitedly records the entire productionhistory of this epochal work,informs us that a new ending picked byHerzog and her director, Anne Kauffman,involved “drastically changing theend of the play, cutting a stage effect oneof the actors has been rehearsing for sixweeks.” Sounds terrific, and makes mewonder: couldn’t that spectacular effecthave been preserved, and the rest of theplay cut instead?Belleville photo by and courtesy of CarolRosegg.New York Theatre Workshop, 79 East4th Street, between Second Avenue andthe Bowery in the East Village of Manhattan,New York, NY 10003. T: (212)780.9037.John Simon has written for over 50 yearson theatre, film, literature, music and finearts for the Hudson Review, New Leader,New Criterion, National Review, NewYork Magazine, Opera News, WeeklyStandard, Broadway.com and BloombergNews. Mr. Simon holds a PhDfrom Harvard University in ComparativeLiterature and has taught at MIT,Harvard University, Bard College andMarymount Manhattan College.To learn more, visit the JohnSimon-Uncensored.comSHIFTING GEARSThe Ambitious Crossover from Korea—Hyundai Santa FeBy RogerWitherspoonThose of us whogrew up during thedawn of the spaceage heard a common aphorism fromparents, teachers and radio disc jockeys:“Always shoot for the moon, ‘cause evenif you miss, you’ll be among the stars.”It’s a phrase that hadn’t come tomind in decades, until I got behind thewheel of the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.When the Korean car manufacturersfirst ventured to America, its rickety,low powered cars were the regularbutt of jokes on late night television.But instead of feeling cowed and leaving,Hyundai decided to shoot for themoon. They took aim at the most popularcars made by Toyota and Lexus,and then decided to compete in termsof style, quality, and price.Their Sonata sedan, while notsignificantly denting the sales of theToyota Camry or Honda Accord, wasso stylistically stunning that a year-oldSonata was worth more than a newone. Its sporty Genesis Coup takes offfaster than a Porsche Panamera and itsluxury liner, the Equus, comes prettyclose to a fully stocked Mercedes BenzE-class. It is unlikely that folks who cancasually afford a new Porsche or Benzwill take a test drive in a Hyundai –even if it does mean saving $20,000.But the quality, performance, and mostimportantly, the price differential areimportant to many buyers looking tomove up from the entry level, compactcar class.Which brings us back to theSanta Fe. It is definitely not a LexusRX, which is essentially a sports car inan SUV shell. But if you aren’t in themarket for an SUV you can take to thedrag races, then the Santa Fe is likely toearn high marks for style, comfort, andprice. At $33,000, the Santa Fe costs abit less than fully loaded sedans like theContinued on page 13

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 13SHIFTING GEARSThe Ambitious Crossover—Hyundai Santa FeContinued from page 12Camry, Accord or Ford Fusion.This is a five-passenger, mid-sizedSUV intended to haul adults in comfortor a sizeable amount of cargo.Outside, the Santa Fe has the sleek,teardrop shape associated with upscaleSUVs. Its contours are broken by thesoft, wavy lines that have come to beassociated with Hyundai styling – ablend of delicate Asian tracery andthe wavy lines in Southern Californiabeach sand. Under its long, slopinghood is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder,turbocharged engine producing 264horsepower and 269 pound-feet oftorque. The surprisingly powerful littleengine won’t take you to races, but it ismore than enough to keep the SantaFe near the front of the commutingpack.Hyundai put a lot of thought intothe interior design of the Santa Fe.That’s not surprising since first theytook aim at the Lexus RX series andthen sought to replicate the experienceat a lower price. The dash in the SantaFe is designed in the shape of a reflexbow, with distinct, curved compartmentsfor each front occupant and aprotruding information cluster in themiddle. The passenger side is wide andclean, as if it was the observation chairon a boat. The driver’s side has large,bulging instrument clusters that areeasy on the eyes.The center section has the CDplayer, satellite radio, climate andBluetooth connections. The test carhad a four-inch screen which servedthe backup camera. There was nonavigation system, but Hyundai’s satellite-basedBlueLink system allowsyou to download turn-by-turn directionswhich are dictated through thecar’s sound system as you travel. It issimilar to the OnStar direction systemin General Motors cars. But for thosewho like a larger screen and a real map,a more traditional navigation system isavailable for about $1,200.Underneath the dash is a smallstorage bin which can hold a pocketbookand also houses two poweroutlets the USB, iPod, and MP3ports. The Santa Fe also comes withan Apple iPhone which you can payto fully activate, or have it for limiteduse of the company’s BlueLink. Thephone’s Hyundai app lets you startyour car, turn on the lights, heat, andradio remotely.In this SUV, both the front andrear seats can be heated and are mobile.The front seats are powered withadjustable lumbar supports. The rearseats are manually operated, but canslide forward or back to modify the legroom or the cargo area. These can layback for a fairly comfortable nap, andare in a three part split.For those who do not want aminivan, Hyundai has a modified versionof the Santa Fe with three rows ofseating. That last row is located in thecargo area, which is a standard configurationfor seven-passenger SUVs. Itprovides the ability to haul more peoplein a vehicle which handles like acar rather than a truck. With a stretchSUV you sacrifice storage capability –you can carry a lot of people, or a lot ofstuff, but not both.Hyundai’s Santa Fe Sport, on theother hand, is a competitive and welllaid out, crossover SUV. It is not reallygoing to threaten Lexus in the marketplace,but it will give a lot of crossoversa run for their money.--Roger Witherspoon writes ShiftingGears at www.RogerWitherspoon.com2013 Hyundai Sante FeSportMSRP: $33,025EPA Mileage:24 MPG HighwayTowing Capacity:19 MPG City3,500 PoundsPerformance /Safety:2.0-Liter turbocharged, DOHC,4-cylinder, aluminum engine producing264 horsepower and 269 poundfeetof torque; 6-speed automatictransmission with electronic manualmode; All Wheel Drive; 19-inch alloywheels; MacPherson strut, twin-tubegas damper front suspension; multilinkrear suspension with stabilizerbar; ventilated front disc brakes; solidsingle piston rear disc brakes; tractionand stability control; fog lights; backupcamera; downhill brake control; front,driver’s knee, side impact and curtainairbags.Interior / Comfort:AM/FM/Sirius satellite radio; CDplayer; iPod, MP3, USB ports; Bluetooth;Hyundai BlueLink; rearviewcamera with 4.2-inch screen; powered,heated, leather front and rear seats; foldflat rear seats with 40/20/40 split;LEAVING ON A JET PLANEBeing There - BonaireBy BARBARA BARTONSLOANECalm, peaceful, laidback.In the movie “BeingThere”, Chance, thelead character, embodies all of thesetraits. There, in Bonaire, a sense of calm,peace and easy-living exists, as well.This Caribbean island is 50 miles northof Venezuela and 80 miles east of Aruba.Along with Aruba and Curacao, itforms the ABC islands of the DutchAntilles. Bonaire’s earliest known inhabitantswere the Caquetio Indianswho came by canoe from Venezuela inabout AD 1000. They were apparentlya very tall people because the Spanishname for the island was “las islas de losgigantes,” island of the giants.On a recent visit, no giants, only awarm and hospitable people who embodythe spirit of their land – relaxedBonaire Harbor.and easy-going. Bonaire is known forits pristine tropical vegetation, beachesContinued on page 14

Page 14 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013LEAVING ON A JET PLANEBeing There - BonaireContinued from page 13of white-powder sand, stunning coralreefs, and it is consistently recognizedas the top diving destination in the Caribbean.Harbour Village Beach Club.Dive Right InI was told that diving in Bonairewill spoil me for all other dive experiences.So, what’s a newbie diver supposedto do but give it a try. At GreatAdventures Bonaire, a 5-star diveoperation, I met Mark, an instructorof many years experience, who gave mea one-on-one lesson. Before we dove,he explained the use of the regulator(for breathing), the vest (for buoyancycontrol to descend and ascend) and calculator(gauging time underwater). Hethen strapped a 40-lb. air cylinder tomy back and fitted me with a wetsuit,mask and a pair of fins. Mark explainedthat SCUBA stands for “self-contained,underwater, breathing apparatus.” Whoknew? Now I was good to go.We descended to just about 20feet and immediately I was transportedinto another world. All trepidationdisappeared as I lost myself in this underwaterfantasy of the most amazing,weird, gorgeous creatures ever to beseen. There were fat Blue Parrotfish,adorable Angelfish, yellow and blackRock Beauties and, yikes! a SpottedMoray Eel, not to mention exquisitecoral of all shapes, sizes and colors. Becauseof Mark’s calm and confident demeanor,my initial foray into the deepwas all good, start to the finish - about90 minutes later.It Takes a VillageThe lovely village of which I speakis, of course, Harbour Village BeachClub, the exclusive beach-front enclaveand the island’s most luxurious resort.The property consists of clusters ofDutch Caribbean-style one and twobedroomsuites set amid lush tropicalgardens and bordered by a white sandbeach and picturesque marina. On siteis a world-class spa with pamperingfacials, wraps and massages –particularlywelcome after a day of diving orwindsurfing. Entering my room, I wasdelighted to find it decorated in typicalColonial Plantation style: dark teakwoodfurniture, tiled floor and romanticnetting enclosing the bed. A doorHarbour Village Beach Club.led to an expansive patio, perfect for doing,well, nothing. Ok, so I dragged myKindle to my lounge chair a few timesbut truth be told, languorously lying supinewas my favored pastime. HarbourVillage was made for this!Star Light, Star BrightOne night, a very special treat - thestaff set up a table for two on the sandfacing the sea. Tiki torches and candleswere our only light, save for a brilliantstarry sky. The sound: just murmuredconversation and waves gently lappingthe shore. I’m told that this is a favoreddining spot for the just-marriedand honeymooners. I fit into neithercategory but dining sur la plage suitedme to a “T.” It was also terrific to experienceinspired cuisine at the resort’sopen air La Balandra Restaurant. Ourcompanion most days was a large greeniguana who stared intently at us until hewas thrown a crumb or two. An AmuseBouche, to be sure.The most fun way to see the islandis from a “tuk tuk”, an open air electricalvehicle. The Bon Tuk company isoperated by Bas van den Hee and hispartner. Bas drove us around in thiscute cart, stopping frequently so wecould take pictures while he explainedwhat we were seeing. We visited theFlamingo Sanctuary, one of the fewnesting places for Caribbean flamingoswhose population in spring swells to5,000 pretty-in-pink birds. Bas took usto the island’s southern tip to see tinyhut shelters built in the 1800s for Africanslaves that were brought over by theDutch West Indies Company to workthe salt flats.Color it PinkPicture a body of water thatmorphs from sky blue to navy to emeraldgreen. In Bonaire, yes. But, can youbelieve that here you’ll also find waterthat is pink? In the distance on thesalt flats… perfectly pink ponds. Basexplained that the brine in this waterencourages the growth of a bacteriumthat turns the ponds a vivid pink color– and the small crustaceans that live inthe brine turn pink as well. As we gazedat this sight, trying to believe our eyes, alayer of salty foam several inches thickformed on the pond and then blewacross the road, as if from some giantwashing machine run amuck.Wild donkeys grazing by the roadside,pink aviary ambling through theWindsurfing at Jibe City.flats, Disney-colored tropical fish …and back at my dream retreat, a hammockgently swaying in the breeze, justwaiting for me to slip in…Oh yeah, it’seasy to catch this peaceful, laid-backvibe that is Bonaire. Fingers crossed, itwill last long after I’m back home.Images by Michael Sloane, courtesy of MichaelSloane Travel Photography.If You Go:Bonaire Tourist Boardwww.tourismbonaire.comHarbour Villagewww.HarbourVillage.com1-800-424-0004; 1-305-567-9509Great Adventures BonaireE: reservations@harbourvillage.comBon Tukwww.bontuk.comTravel Editor Barbara Barton Sloaneis constantly globe hopping to share herunique experiences with our readers; fromthe exotic to the sublime. As Beauty / FashionEditor she keeps us informed on the capriciousand engaging fashion and beautyscene.Slave Huts. Pink Pond. Luncheon guest.

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 15VIOLENCEAnti-gang and Gun Violence Program Widely Successful in YonkersYONKERS, NY – State and localleaders in the City of Yonkers arefighting to keep a successful gunand gang violence prevention programcalled SNUG fully funded.At the Friday, March 8, 2013,press conference, Senate DemocraticConference Leader AndreaStewart-Cousins, Senator GeorgeLatimer, Assemblymembers ShelleyMayer and Gary Pretlow werejoined by members of the YonkersCity Council, Yonkers Police CommissionerCharles Gardner, SNUGviolence interrupters, local activistsand members of the clergy to callon the State to provide steady fundingfor the SNUG Program.SNUG has successfully helpedreduce shootings and quell violencein Yonkers and in many citiesthroughout New York State.The press conference was originallyscheduled to take place at thecorner of Elm Street and Oak Streetwhich is the heart of Nodine Hill,one of SNUG’s target areas, but wasmoved to the Yonkers YMCA dueto weather. SNUG has been highlysuccessful in Nodine Hill. In 2010 -the first year of SNUG - there were8 shootings in Nodine Hill, but by2012, that number dropped to 2.Citywide, the statistics are alsodramatic. In 2010, there were 34shootings in the City of Yonkers.In 2011, the number dropped to21, and by 2012, there were only8 shootings in the City. This wasa 76% drop from 2010-2012. TheYonkers Police Department saysSNUG has been key to reducingcitywide shootings.Democratic ConferenceLeader Andrea Stewart-Cousins,who initially brought the SNUGProgram to Yonkers, commented,“SNUG has been enormously successfulat reducing shootings inYonkers and many other communitiesthroughout New York. Butyear after year, the future of thisprogram is uncertain due to fundingconcerns. The SNUG Programhas saved lives and helped youngpeople understand that violenceis not the answer. It has been andwill continue to be a great investmentin our communities. SNUGwas created by the State, and it hasproduced real results, so the Stateshould keep it running.”Senator George Latimer said,“The Yonkers Police Departmentdoes an incredible job keeping thepeople of this City safe. Any opportunitythat we have as Legislatorsand representatives of State Governmentto assist them in doingthat job is a top priority.”Assemblywoman ShelleyMayer said, “I am pleased to standwith my colleagues in calling forfull state funding for SNUG. It hasbeen a tremendously successful programin Yonkers, helping to reducegun and gang violence. It representsthe types of investments that helpus reduce costs over the long term.”“Due to the hard work of ourYonkers Police Department andcommunity leaders, Yonkers hasseen a double-digit decrease incrime in the last year,” said MayorMike Spano. “The highly successfulSNUG program, working with ourpolice department, has contributedto a multi-faceted approach in thisreduction in gun and gang violence.Let’s keep up the momentum – Iurge our State leaders to recognizethe value of SNUG and the manyyoung lives it has saved and can savein the future by continuing theirsupport of the program.”Yonkers City Council PresidentChuck Lesnick remarked, “Iapplaud our state delegation forfighting for further aid to properlyfund SNUG. Quite simply, SNUGworks and has proven results thatthe program solves crimes, reducesgang violence and curbs shootings.While we have come a long wayin crime reduction, Yonkers needsSNUG along with our Police Department,to continue to make ourstreets safer.”Councilman Wilson Terrerocommented, “On behalf of the SecondCouncil District, I would liketo thank Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her efforts in fightingfor additional funding necessary tomaintain and continue the operationof the SNUG program here inYonkers. As you know, the City ofYonkers, Mayor Michael Spano,the Yonkers Police Department,local elected officials and I, are determinedto mitigate all types ofviolence and protect the safety andsecurity of this city’s many diversecommunities. Gang violence, andviolence in general, is not a problemthat we address alone; we must worktogether with the City’s residents,businesses, and community andfaith based leaders to ensure that alltype of violent behaviors are eliminatedas an acceptable social norm.This program, and our partnershipwith this program, supplements thefine work of our Police Departmentand Mayor Spano in implementingsuccessful efforts that have reducedcrime and violence---and thus hasmade Yonkers a safer place for everyone.It is imperative that thisprogram continue.”Councilman ChristopherJohnson commented, “SNUG hasplayed a vital role in the decrease inviolent crime in Yonkers. Thanks toAndrea Stewart-Cousins, DemocraticConference Leader, and hercolleagues this effective programwas brought to our community.Now we are asking for that samesupport to be continued, so thetrend of non-violence becomes thenorm.”Councilman Michael Sabatinosaid, “I urge the NY State Senateand Assembly to approve fundstowards this successful worthwhileprogram. Yonkers is the 113th largestcity in the country and one ofthe top ten safest cities. Programslike this help our city to maintainthat high level of safety to our residentsby working with our youth toprevent gun violence.”Police Commissioner CharlesGardner commented, “We supportthe SNUG program whichhas been an important componentof our department’s very successful& multi-faceted strategy to addressthe program.Since then, despite the program’ssuccess, the future of SNUGhas been a yearly concern due tolack of funding. In 2011, whenSNUG funds had run dry and theprogram was in danger of shuttingdown, the State Division of CriminalJustice Services came throughwith a $150,000 grant to keep theprogram running for the remainderof the year. Recently, the Yonkersgun related violence in Yonkers.”City Council and Mayor Spano allocated$100,000 to keep SNUGDr. Jim Bostic said, “Yonkershas made great strides in reducingrunning until June of this year.gang violence, and this has beenState and local officials on Fridaya direct result of the work of thesaid this uncertainty is not necessary.Yonkers Police Department and thestaff of project SNUG. They haveModeled after the Ceasefirebeen the arms and the legs of theProgram in Chicago, SNUG is aCity of Yonkers’ Violence and Gangfrontline violence prevention initiativewhich directly reaches outprevention coalition on the street.”Page 26 John Thompson, Yonkers The WesTchesTer to at-risk youth. Guardian SNUG violenceSNUG Program Manager said,interrupters are on call every night“One of the best things to happento respondin Yonkers is that it learned how to CLASSIFIEDto and intervene in situationsthat could result in violenceADShandle many of the challenges ofor escalate. The Office SNUG Space workers Available- inthe streets. One of these answersPrime Location, Yorktown HeightsYonkerswas project SNUG,”1,000 are Sq. Ft.: mostly $1800. Contact ex-offenders Wilca: 914.632.12who have turned their lives aroundThe SNUG Program – which isPrime Retail - Westchester Countafter serving“guns” spelled backwards – was createdby the New York State SenateStore $1200.Best time. Location in Yorktown Heights1100 SNUG Sq. Ft. Store programs $3100; 1266 utilize Sq. Ft. store grassrootsneighborhood outreach,$2800 andin 2009 with a $4 million allocation Suitable for any type of business. Contact Wilca: 91public awareness campaigns andin the State Budget. The fundingcommunity mobilization HELP WANTED to engagewas distributed to targeted cities A non profit Performing Arts Center is seeking two job posiyouth. tor of Development- It’s a hands-on, FT-must have a background street-level in develothroughout the State, and Senatorapproachrience fundraising,toknowledgepreventof whatviolencedevelopmentbyentaStewart-Cousins was able to secure ence working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manageshifting good knowledge attitudes, of computers/software/ticketing changing ways systems of$250,000 to bring the program tothinkingoverseeing allandbox office,interruptingconcessions, moviedisputesstaffing, daythe City of Yonkers. After a competitiveprocess, the Yonkers Familystaffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be fambefore system and they willing spiral to organize out concessions. of control. Full time plus h438-5795 and ask for Julie or AllisonYMCA was chosen to administerAdvertising SalesOffice: 914-576-1481(10:00 AM–6:00 PM)914-216-1674 (Cell)Glenn Weissman: 347-353-6128

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 17courtNY Supreme Court Nixes New Rochelle’s Motion to Dismiss “Refuse Fee”Continued from page 16Proponents of efficacious andefficient government will likelycite as the chief problem and startingpoint of analysis; the gifting bysuccessive Democratic city administrationsof excessive tax breaks todevelopers of rental apartments inour beleaguered downtown core -past recipients including the Avalongroup and Cappelli Enterprises- possible future recipients includingForest City Ratner, which atthe present moment is seeking anew 20-year deal. As advocates offiscal restraint see it, Westchesterseems to be the home of desperatemunicipal taxing/revenue generationmeasures, and New Rochelleis its ground zero. Reports of newoutbreaks of “service fee fever” havelately been overheard in nearbyPort Chester.Conservatives have been outspokenon such issues for a while.Maybe it is time that we heardfrom those across the ideologicalspectrum: left-leaning and liberaladvocates of strong schools and propitiousliving standards for all, regardlessof income level. They can’tbe content with the constrainedschool funding and slapdash infrastructuremaintenance, which thedepletion of New Rochelle’s assessabletax base by some $32 million inonly nine years has caused.On the strictly political plane,Mayor Noam Bramson is seekingthe Democratic nomination to runfor the County Executive seat heldby Republican Rob Astorino. TheArticle 78 proceeding may shedlight on Bramson’s claim that hisdevelopment planning and practiceshave halted the city’s slide frompreeminence as a leading suburb.The hearings could also take stockof his administration’s devotion toan open and democratic exercise ofrepublican local government; essentially,assaying the relative transparencyor opacity of city hall in itssupport of the extension of generous,extra-market concessions andtax abatements to favored developers,some of whom have contributedto campaign funds of numerousNew Rochelle politicians, includinghimself.Stephen I. Mayo is an attorney andmanufacturer based in New Rochelle.MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMNBy Mayor MARY C.MARVINOn February 14, theNew York Conferenceof Mayors andMunicipal Officialssent municipalities a doomsdaymissive entitled, “Another Valentine’sDay Massacre for PropertyTaxpayers,” “Local GovernmentsGOVERNMENTAnother Valentine’s Day Massacre for Property TaxpayersMandated to Pay a $385 MillionIncrease in Pension Bills.”To translate, the property taxpayerspension contribution inevery New York municipality willnowbe 25.8 percent of payroll forpolice and firefighters, an increaseof 19 percent compared to the 2012rates and a71 percent increase injust three years.For non-uniformed employees,18.9 percent of payroll mustbe dedicated to pensions reflectinga 16 percentincrease over the 2012rates and a whopping 155 percentincrease from 2010 rates. The aboveincreasesequate to budget increasesfor every community well above the2 percent tax cap.As these numbers increase, localrevenues in the form of salesand mortgage tax and interest incomeareflat or declining.That poses the question, whereis any/every community going tofind the funds to cover yet anotherunsustainableincrease?Facing this new mandate inan atmosphere of already heavilyburdened property taxpayers,manycommunities are looking tobring tax-exempt organizationsinto the mix. The question as towhoshould pay for services renderedand how much has become the issuedu jour at governmentconferencesand symposiums.In his State of the City address,the Mayor of Providence announcedthat, “Every city worker,everybusiness, every taxpayer andevery organization – including taxexemptinstitutions – must sharepartof the burden of saving ourcity.”Private colleges, hospitals,Continued on page 18Diana O’NeillHolistic Health Services

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 19THE ALBANY CORRESPONDENTNo More STAR for Double-dippingSenator Cathy YoungBy CARLOS GONZALEZTenants in Westchester Countyshould get to know Sen. CathyYoung, a fierce GOP defendernow in charge of the Senate’sHousing Committee.A Livingston County native, Sen. Youngresides with her husband and three children inOlean, NY. She also owns a condominiumin Greenbush, NY, asher own – for travel to Albany.Young has been illegally receivinga homestead exemption onboth properties, say housing advocates.Young attributes the exposeddiscrepancy to a clerical error.After being chastised for thedouble-dip, Rensselaer Countyofficials now say Young never appliedfor the condo exemption,but she will repay $4,214.42.Rensselaer County is the former county ofconvicted ex-Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno.“Republican loyalty in the county is embeddedinto the soil in the county,” said a local politico.“They’ll do what they have to do to coverthings up. Even Democrats in the county have amess going on and bypass on certain corruptions.”The Young tax matter has a stench so farreaching, a special prosecutor should investigatethe matter, say advocates.Sen. Cathy Young purchased the condo nearHudson Valley Community College in 2001. Aftera review of records, North Greenbush TownAssessor John Harkin said the Basic Star exemptionfor the property carried over from the previousowner, and that the senator and her husband.Richard Young, never proactively sought the savings,Harkin said, but he also never actively notifiedtown officials that the condo was not thefamily’s “primary” residence.Mark Burton, deputy director of the RensselaerCounty Bureau of Tax Services, said theimproper exemptions totaled $2,277.18 over thelast dozen years. He said the Young family are alsosubject to a one-percent-per-month late paymentpenalty and a $500 re-filing fee. The total bill is$4,214.42.Young chairs the Senate Housing Committee.Westchester County housing advocate JasonWalters called Young’s actions “pathetic and consistentwith legislators who take a perk here andthere and try to get away with things.”Walters is calling for more transparency oflegislators taxes, and an investigation not connectedto partisan relationships Young has in thecounty.According to other advocates, if a similar dualclaim involving a rent-regulated apartment weredone, consequences would be more severe.“Being in charge of influential committeeslike Housing, it keeps people scared of you. Whatdoes she know about housing anyway? Sh’e livednear farms her entire life. We are on the verge oflosing our apartments, and Young, now the CharlieRangel of Albany, gets away with a slap on thewrist,” said Walters.Gov. Cuomo now pushing to legalize mixedmartial arts in New York:“It’s making progress, and it’s somethingwe’re looking at as a possible source of revenue,”Cuomo told reporters at a WestchesterCounty appearanceThursday.Cuomo had shown little enthusiasmfor legalizing the sport.The sport was banned in1997.However, sources close tothe negotiations indicated thatCuomo’s reversal is a tradeoff. It’san item embraced by many SenateRepulicans who have been therecipient of major campaign contributions fromthe industry.“Give in on a minimum wage increase, andyou need to get a few items in return,” said thehigh ranking Cuomo aide. “That’s how things getdone here.”Cuomo has received $127,800 in contributionssince 2009 from supporters of MMA, recordssay.The Hanky Panky:Hank Morris, the imprisoned former politicaladvisor to ex-Comptroller Alan Hevesi, issuing the state Parole Board for denying an earlyrelease, claiming officials did not follow properprocedure or taken into account his model behavioras a prisoner.In the suit, Morris’s lawyers insist that heposes no recidivism risk and that parole officialsdid not take into consideration new proceduresfor hearings that took effect in October 2011.“This is the most humorous lawsuit showinghow delusional those convicted of raiding taxpayersare,” said Sandy Compton, an attorney andfiscal accountability advocate. “The state shouldn’tbudge or give any special treatment to people whoscheme their way through the system.Morris, 57, was denied parole in November2012, with the board citing at the time his “inability”to understand his state of mind at the time hetook part in a massive pay-to-play pension fundscandal.Morris, an inmate at Hudson CorrectionalFacility in Columbia County, began his four-yearprison term in March 2011. Investigators accusedhim of taking more than $19 million.Hevesi, who resigned in 2006 from the comptrollerpost over an unrelated scandal, was releasedDec. 12 from Mid-House Correctional Facility.Carlos Gonzalez pens The Albany Correspondentcolumn. Direct comments and inquiry to carlgonz1@gmail.com.Renovated Apartments For RentBeautiful, Newly Renovated Spacious1 Bedroom Apartments: $1350/Month2 Bedroom Apartments $1600/MonthBrand New Kitchens, Living Rooms & Bathrooms.Granite Counter Tops / New Cabinets, Stoves & Refrigerators.Credit Check Required: $25 Non-refundable feeAvailable Immediately • No Programs AcceptedCall Management Office for more information:914.632.123080 West Grand Street, FleetwoodTHE ROMA BUILDING2022 Saw Mill River Rd., Yorktown Heights, NYOffice & Store Space for RentPrime Yorktown LocationOffice Space 965 sq ft.: Rent $ 1650/mo.Store Karl Ehmers: 1100 sq ft- $3100/mo.Store in back: 1300 sq ft. $2650/mo.914.632.1230

Page 20 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013EDUCATIONMayor Spano Requests Commission of Inquiry Into the Finances of The City Of Yonkers (CoY) toConduct Independent Review of Yonkers Public Schools (YPS) Proposal to Rebuild SchoolsBy HEZI ARISYONKERS, NY –Mayor Mike Spanotoday (March 8,2013) announced hisrequest of the Commissionof Inquiry into the Financesof the City of Yonkers to conductan independent fiscal review of theYonkers Public Schools’ recentlyreleased study on infrastructure improvementsto city schools, entitledYonkers PRIDE: PerformancebasedRapid Infrastructure Development.Editor’s Note: The study has notbeen released to the public or to themedia.“This is an ambitious proposaland I’ve been looking forward toreviewing the alternative optionsto update our schools. While I recognizethe critical importance ofdevising innovative and expeditedsolutions for the extraordinary capitalneeds of our schools, the City’sneed to frame solutions which promotefiscal stability is paramount,”said Mayor Spano. “It is incumbentupon me as Mayor to do my duediligence and vet this proposal tosee what is best for both our publicschool system and our taxpayers aswe navigate our city back onto theSTATE OF THE CITYNew Rochelle Mayor Bramson’s State of the City Address Imbalanced Albeit EloquentBy PEGGY GODFREYWith so many promisesand possibilitiesabout so many initiativesit was hard todecipher the true stateof the City of New Rochelle. MayorNoam Bramson, on February 28,2013, at the Davenport Club, rightfullypraised the many accomplishmentsof New Rochelle residents,particularly the youth. 95% of thehigh school graduates went onto“post secondary” education, and theschools sent “more grads to the IvyLeague than any other district inWestchester.” Ray Rice, a graduate,went to Super bowl fame. TheHigh School football team this yearwon the state championship, androad of fiscal stability.”Under current law, the Mayorand the City Council are responsibleto taxpayers for decisions oflarge scale borrowing for schoolsystems. The Yonkers PRIDE proposalchanges that system.Editor’s Note: It turns everythingupside down. The YPS is wagging theCity of Yonkers. The YPS District is aseparate entity and is not under thedirection of CoY. The only connectionbetween the mayor and the YonkersBoard of Education is that the it is themayor who appoints Trustees to theYonkers Board of Education Board ofTrustees. The Public Private partnershiphas been studied for years prior toMayor Mike Spano acceding to office,that is, under the former administration,that of former Mayor Phil Amicone.The majority of appointees to theYonkers BoE Trustees Board of Directorswere appointed by former MayorPhil Amicone. By requesting the Commissioner’sreview of the proposal, theMayor is seeking a better understandingof the fiscal implications of thatchange for the Yonkers taxpayers andthe City’s school children.Editor’s Note: The Yonkers taxpayerwill become encumbered, that is liable,by action taken by an entity overthe cheerleading squad won the nationalchampionship. Yes, there is alot to be proud of in New Rochelleand Mayor Bramson outlined hiscourse of action for the future whilethe New Rochelle Police Departmentofficers who have not had acontract for four years demonstratedoutside this Chamber of Commercesponsored dinner.The first priority was the needto improve the financial conditionof the City. Blaming the recessionand state mandated costs, he statedthe City administrators and CityCouncil made efforts to cut “expendituresand improve efficiency.”Referring to reducing energy costsand refinancing debt, he claimedNew Rochelle had saved “millions.”This allowed New Rochelle to have“the lowest tax rate in the region.”Further, his plans include collaborationwith municipalities “to reduceunit costs.”While Bramson praised GovernorAndrew Cuomo’s leadership oncontrolling costs, he suggested thestate “distribute” costs “more fairly”to give relief to taxpayers. His optimisticfuture plans stressed thedevelopment of Echo Bay, whichhe stated will provide “housing andshops... consistent with the characterand scale of their surroundings.”Referring to the Sun Belt as the“population engine of our country,”he predicted the northeast is nowbuilt for growth “because we havewater, mass transit and human andcultural energy.” A few monthsago Forbes said New York was thenumber one state to lose population.Curiously, Bramson said hewas taking the lead on “land use,development preservation and climateadjustment.” This was amplifiedwith comments about theComprehensive Plan, which willbe aided by the same people whoworked on the Davids Island plan.It should be noted here that federalfunds were used to clean up DavidsIsland, and when Bramson was amember of the City Council theyvoted (with no public input) to allowthe government to demolishevery building on the Island.The housing option Bramsonis promoting includes “acceleratingefforts to encourage growth inour transit district.” This is alsocontrary to reports of new censusMayor Mike Spanowhich the taxpayer has no sway.Mayor Spano added, “The commission’searlier work in clarifyingthe size of Yonkers’ structural imbalanceswas invaluable. We believethey can make similar contributionswhen reviewing the YPS proposal.”The Yonkers Public Schoolsthis week submitted the proposal toMayor Spano for consideration ofthe administration. The 144-pagereport outlines various options for aproposed Phase I capital infrastructureimprovement project, whichwould address substandard conditionsin six YPS schools at a cost upto $1 billion.Editor’s Note: When YBoESuperintendent Bernard Pierora-Superintendent Bernard Pieroraziozio first presented the Public PrivatePartnership, he has already engagedthe Yonkers Public School District inexploration of a solution whose costshave yet to be revealed.In 2012, Mayor Spano convenedthe Commission of Inquiryon the City of Yonkers Finances,led by former Lieutenant GovernorRichard Ravitch, former New YorkState Assemblyman Richard Brodsky,Jay Bryant and Taurrus Richardsonand several experts in localand state finances in order to obtaina more in depth look at the City’sfinances.The City of Yonkers currentlyestimates an $86 million budgetshortfall for 2013-2014, and a fouryearbudget gap of approximately$500 million by 2016. Yonkers’budget for the current fiscal yearis $955 million while the YonkersPublic School budget is $490 million.Editor’s Note: The Yonkers BoEbudget deficit is $48 million for thisfiscal year. Add $86 million more withrespect to the city side of the equation,an additional $8 million of infrastructuredestroyed by HurricaneSandy, $5 million in overtime costsdue to the delayed hiring of a new classof Yonkers Firefighters, and the total is$147 million, which I will refer to asa $150 million deficit.Editor’s Note: Yonkers Tribune / TheWestchester Guardian has made an officialrequest of Yonkers City Hall, andof Corporation Counsel, and givennotice of our conduct by cc’ing InspectorGeneral Kitley Covill, as well ashaving made inquiry of Senator GregBall’s Office and also of Senate DemocraticLeader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.Assemblymember Shelley Mayerhas advised she has now informationover the P3 project because she is notengaged in the YPS District’s CapitalImprovement Plan.estimates released March 5 showingpeople are working closer totheir homes. Commuting fromWestchester to Manhattan or TheBronx increased a small amountsince 2000. But commuters fromDutchess to Manhattan increasedas did reverse commuting from TheBronx and Queens.Bramson did not mention thelawsuit filed by Steve Mayo againstthe garbage fee. A judge the daybefore this address had refused todismiss the lawsuit and asked NewRochelle to justify this refuse feewhich brings in more money thanis needed to collect the garbage.Similarly the Echo Bay developmentproposal will enact a heavytoll on New Rochelle’s finances:Continued on page 21

THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 21STATE OF THE CITYMayor’s State of the City Address Imbalanced Albeit EloquentContinued from page 20first because $25 million must be borrowed tomove the City Yard, and second, because ForestCity Residential’s Draft Environmental ImpactStatement (DEIS) currently under review lists significanttax breaks for the developer. The DemocraticCity Councilmembers, including Bramson,had several months ago given Good Profit the designationto develop the Armory, but the company,after many months, did not produce the needed$50,000 deposit.Downtown high-rise buildings, whichLEGALExecutive Lawbreaker Rob AstorinoStrikes Out in CourtBy BARY ALYSSA JOHNSONNew York State Supreme CourtActing Justice Barry E. Warhit releasedhis decision on Thursday,March 7, 2013, in a lawsuit filed byleaders of the Board of Legislators(BOL) against County Executive Robert Astorinoregarding the County Board of Acquisitionand Contract (A&C).The A&C Board is responsible for awardingon behalf of the county all contracts for capitalprojects. It is made up of three members, whichinclude the County Executive, BOL ChairmanKen Jenkins (D-Yonkers) and, until today’s courtruling, the Commissioner of the Department ofPublic Works and Transportation (DPWT), JayPisco.The lawsuit was filed by Jenkins, BOL ViceChair Lyndon Williams (D-Mount Vernon) andBOL Majority Leader Peter Harckham (D-Katonah).It stems from a decision made by the BOLin December 2011. This decision was to changethe composition of the A&C Board by replacingPisco with County Budget Director LawrenceSoule. This decision was made in order to bringon board a member who would benefit the Boardwith his full view of county finances.Astorino vetoed the decision and the BOLwent on to override that veto. The decision becamelaw, a law which was subsequently filed with NewYork State. However, Astorino continued to directPisco to attend A&C meetings and vote on thefacilitation of contracts, according to a BOL representative.“When the BOL duly enacts a law it’s theCounty Executive’s job to administer that law,period,” BOL spokesman Tom Staudter told TheWestchester Guardian in an interview. “It’s not hisjob to question the law, it’s not his job to pretendthe law doesn’t exist and it’s not his job to breakBramson voted for have not resulted in increasedsales tax revenue for New Rochelle. Rather, thesebuildings have created the need for additional cityservices in the downtown. The New Rochelle PoliceDepartment has many fewer officers than inprevious years. Bramson delivered his State of theCity address with eloquence and pride, but residentswould appreciate a more balanced picture oftheir City.Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer and a former educator.the law, but all three of these things Astorino hasdone.”As such, in March 2012 the aforementionedlawsuit was filed to determine whether Astorinowas obligated to follow the duly enacted law. Thesuit was brought before New York State SupremeCourt Acting Justice Barry E. Warhit. Warhit’s finaldecision, released on March 7, 2013, ruled infavor of the BOL leaders.Warhit’s decision touched on a number ofinterrelated issues. It orders that the County Executivemust “implement and enforce” the Resolutions,Acts and Local Laws adopted by the BOL.As a result of this decision, Warhit ruled that Piscois no longer allowed to serve on the A&C Board.Warhit also ruled that as a result of Astorino’sfailure to enforce the provisions of a local law, hehas violated his statutory duty as written as law inthe Westchester County Charter.“Our democracy is based on the separation ofpowers, checks and balances, not one individualmaking unilateral decisions and telling the BOLthat their votes, approvals and decisions on behalfof their constituents don’t mean crap,” Staudtersaid. “The major part of this…it’s about protectingthe integrity of county governance.”Astorino failed to respond to repeated requestsfor comment on this legal situation. NedMcCormack, Communications Director and SeniorAdvisor to Astorino, however, issued a publicstatement in response to Warhit’s ruling.In this statement McCormack said that theCounty Executive “strongly disagrees with JudgeWarhit,” charging that the BOL cannot “takeaway the rights of the people” or “change the fundamentalstructure of county government.”“The law and court record are clear that anychange in the powers of the County Executiverequire a referendum of the people,” McCormackContinued on page 22

Page 22 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013LEGALExecutive Lawbreaker Rob Astorino Strikes Out in CourtContinued from page 21said in the statement. “There is nodispute that there was never a referendum,so the Board never had theauthority to make the change.”As it turns out, McCormack’sstatement regarding the referendum(or lack thereof ) is false. Arepresentative for the BOL insiststhat a public referendum was indeedheld “to appease the CountyExecutive.”McCormack went on to state“our position is that the rules of theCounty Charter must be followed;otherwise there are no laws at all.”However, according to theBOL representative there is nothingin the County Charter that saysthe County Executive can challengelaw, that the County Chartersays specifically Astorino must followthe laws set forth by the BOL.“The A&C law reminds theCounty Executive that when theBOL enacts legislation, his job isto administer that legislation. Notto question it, not to stall it, notto legally oppose it, his job is toadminister it,” Staudter said. “Thegood news is that the judge agreed.He said that’s the law, it’s based oneverything in the County Charter.”OP EDSectionOP-EDGun Control Efforts Fall ApartBy BOB K. BOGENNot even three monthsafter the ‘game-changing’insane massacre ofvery young childrenand their teachers inNOTICE OF FORMATION of Sand BoxTree, LLC. Article of Organization filedwith the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY)on 02/04/13. Office location: WestchesterCounty. SSNY has been designatedas agent upon whom process against itmay be served. SSNY shall mail processto the LLC, 1 Sadore Ln 6P, Yonkers, NY10710. Purpose: Any lawful activity.ME HAMPTON ASSOCIATES, LLC Articlesof Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY)1/25/13. Office in Westchester Co. SSNYdesign. Agent of LLC upon whom processmay be served. SSNY shall mail copy ofprocess to The LLC 46 Hampton PlaceScarsdale, NY 10583. Purpose: Any lawfulactivity.Notice of Formation of Wibblerz, LLC.Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 12/18/12.Office location: Westchester County.SSNY designated as agent of LLC uponwhom process may be served. SSNYshall mail process to 56 Sagamore #4D,Bronxville, NY, 10708 Purpose: any lawfulact or activity.MEYZEN FAMILY REALTY ASSOCIATES,LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State(SSNY) 12/18/02. Office in WestchesterCo. SSNY design. Agent of LLC uponwhom process may be served. SSNYshall mail copy of process to The LLC 46Bedford-Banksville Road Bedford, NY10506. Purpose: Any lawful activity.BASATNE INTERNATIONAL LLC Articlesof Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY)12/2/11. Office in Westchester Co. SSNYdesign. Agent of LLC upon whom processmay be served. SSNY shall mail copy ofprocess to C/O Business Filings Incorporated187 Wolf RD, STE 101 Albany, NY12205. Purpose: Any lawful activity. RegisteredAgent: Business Filings Incorporated187 Wolf RD STE 101 Albany, NY 12205.LEGAL ADSConnecticut, a New York Timeseditorial page article side-bar announces‘Gun Control Falls Apart’!Horror around the nation and evenaround the world has apparentlyalready lost to the national andworldwide prevalence of humanJE HAMPTON ASSOCIATES, LLC Articlesof Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY)1/25/13. Office in Westchester Co. SSNYdesign. Agent of LLC upon whom processmay be served. SSNY shall mail copy ofprocess to The LLC 46 Hampton PlaceScarsdale, NY 10583. Purpose: Any lawfulactivity.69 HUDSON WATCH, LLC Articles of Org.filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 1/15/13.Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design.Agent of LLC upon whom process maybe served. SSNY shall mail copy of processto The LLC 69 Hudson Watch DriveOssining, NY 10562. Purpose: Any lawfulactivity.Notice of Formation of LLC: Name:THRIFTY MEASURES LLC. Article of Org.filed with NY Sec. of State 02/14/2013. Officelocation: Westchester County. TheNew York Secretary of State shall bedesignated as agent of LLC upon whomprocess against it may be served. Sec. ofState shall mail a copy of process to theregistered agent, United States CorporationAgents Inc., 7014 13 th Avenue, Suite202, Brooklyn, NY 11228 Purpose: Anylawful activity.NINJA BEAM LLC Authority filed withSecy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/25/13.Office location: Westchester Co. LLCformed in Delaware (DE) on 2/21/13 SSNYdesignated as agent of LLC upon whomprocess against it may be served. SSNYshall mail process to The LLC Attn: MichaelTener 166 Pearsall DR 5A MT Vernon,NY 10552. DE address of LLC: 3500S DuPont Hwy Dover, DE 19901. Arts. OfOrg. filed with DE Secy. of State, PO Box898 Dover, DE 19903. Purpose: any lawfulactivity.violence in attitudes and killings.Doesn’t everyone wonder whythere is so much anger and murder?There may be ‘good wars’ somewhere,when one nation or groupis violently attacked and survivaldoes seem to require violent opposition.I remember World War IIas a child. It was waged in responseto the madman Hitler and his Nazisas well as Tojo in Japan and inall the lands they ripped out of thelives of so many. But there are somany wrong wars and so much hateas well as other miserable actionsthat cannot be explained with anyrational cause or justification.We are tempted to throw upour hands, say life is often mad andmerely tend to our own lives as bestwe can. The result is our currentCLASSIFIED ADSOffice Space Available-Prime Location, YorktownHeights1,000 Sq. Ft.: $1800. ContactWilca: 914.632.1230Prime Retail - WestchesterCountyBest Location in YorktownHeights1100 Sq. Ft. Store $3100;1266 Sq. Ft. store $2800 and450 Sq. Ft. Store $1200.social chaos in our own land andelsewhere.We try to respond to all theappeals to help for drought, floods,wildfires earthquakes, tsunamis,starvation, disease, global warming[and related storms that are beginningto force people off their lowislands and traditional shore lands]as well as all the other human deprivationsand threats that haunt uson television, the radio, telephone,the mail, the Internet, our own doorsteps, and our other associations.But we know our efforts willnot change the world. Like Atlas,we can only try to carry the worldon our shoulders, easing our conscience,and hoping enough otherswill also respond to ‘make a difference.’The result, not even AbrahamLincoln’s simple formula is applied:together in government we can dowhat we cannot do individually orin other associations.A well-meaning president ishobbled and bedeviled by the thinlyveiled racial hate and corporategreed of an opposition party. Thisis a party, which repeatedly corruptsscience and logic to justify their ignoranceand destruction of neededactions. Public understanding isgenerally blinded by the variety ofcorporate media led by short-termgreed on behalf of their owners.But recent polls have offeredsome hope that the public is nolonger confused by the corporatedelusions. Even on gun control,polls in many parts of the nationshow 80% to 90% refuse to acceptthe insane dictates of the gunindustry and their National RifleAssociation, with their thoughtlessRepublican representatives, toblock effective background checksand related matters concerning gunsales. Perhaps next year, in the 2014national elections, the voters will finallyeliminate the insanities of theRepublican Party.Still the underlying questionremains, aside from such corporategreed, how can we understand thepervasive self-destructive views thatfacilitate the dozens of recent massmurders and thousands of otherrecent gun murders in our countrythat destroys so much of our AmericanWay of Life as well decent lifearound the world?In a recent column I touchedupon the answer offered by a Britishpsychiatrist. Dr. Spencer Pattersondescribed his wild theoryto me over a half-century ago. Heoutlined his explanation of the universalKill Drive.He quickly added the compensating,contrasting existence of theuniversal Love Drive. We do wantthe warmth, cooperation, and assistanceof others: to be unified, associatedclosely with others: a spouse,family, and even many others. Butcertainly Darwin understood thatin all stages and forms of evolutionall life forms first seek survival includingelimination of threats andeven success in the challenges ofcompetition, called Survival of theFittest.Patterson pointed out that allelse in life, or at least all others can,or even should, be considered tosome degree or other, nominal orimmediately threatening, a challengeor threat to us. I recall theaccount, years ago, of an extraordinaryNew York subway murderin which an apparently inoffensiveContinued on page 23

ience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and experienceworking with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have agood knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties includeoverseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of show lobbystaffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with POSsystem and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203)438-5795 and ask for Julie or AllisonTHE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013Page 23OP-EDGun Control Efforts Fall ApartContinued from page 22rider turned to the rider next to him,went berserk and thrust a knife throughhis neighbor’s head.Dr. Patterson would explain that ifthe Love Drive is ‘disconnected,’ the survivalKill Drive would cause us to fear,hate, and even kill all, all of the time.Perhaps such an extreme notion wouldcall on us to recognize the crucial needto guard against even the most minimalpresence of the destructive survival KillDrive, and nurture our constructive, cooperativeinclination to unify society withthe so-called Love Drive.All humans, in our communities andaround the world, we all struggle withconflicting notions, perhaps as SpencerPatterson named them. We are blessedwith positive inclinations, but also bedeviled,cursed with sometimes more or lessdestructive tendencies. Patterson’s Driveswould seem to explain the pathetic, largelyunconscious drives that cause much of theirrational hates and violence that plagueshuman contact.How else can we account for thepeculiar behavior of so many, even nations,that accumulate all manor of deadlyweapons not relevant for social order,hunting, or private protection? Surely fewof the self-styled militia men and othermilitary-assault-type gun owners plan towage a revolutionary war with our electedgovernment without all the various weaponsof our most heavily armed military inthe world.We can understand historic battle reenactorsand other hobbyists. But do theyplan to acquire bazookas, stinger surfaceto-airmissiles, tanks, planes, et cetera, etcetera? Perhaps some such individualsshould relocate to some nation withoutusually democratic elections and a basicallyfunctional democratic constitutionin the Middle East or Africa.Bob K. Bogen served as comprehensivelong-range facilities planning directorfor the New York Metropolitan RegionalPlanning Commission; as a major UnitedNations official in Pakistan; and PrincipalRepresentative of Architects/ Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility to theUnited Nations.Advertising SalesOffice: 914-576-1481 (10:00 AM–6:00 PM)914-216-1674 (Cell)Glenn Weissman: 347-353-6128Professional DominicanHairstylists & Nail TechniciansHair Cuts • Styling • Wash & Set • PermingPedicure • Acrylic Nails • Fill Ins • Silk Wraps • Nail Art DesignsHighights • Coloring • Extensions • Manicure • Eyebrow WaxingYudi’s Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle, NY 10801 914.633.7600

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