Finding My Wolf Tales Direction The Newsletter of At Gorton Gorton’s Class of ‘65

It is truly regrettable that Nikolai Gogol ‘Strength of the wolf is in the pack’ September 2020, No. 53 first appropriated the title Diary of a Madman, as it perfectly fits my journey at GHS over an 11-year stint.

Newly certified and having passed the City speech test (in those days, there were actually standards for teach- ers, one of which was speaking the Eng- lish language correctly and clearly), I checked the mailbox every day. Nothing!

Early in January 1963, my cousin, Marga- The sun glows red over Felton and is masked by heavy smoke caused by wildfires. ret Donelin, an assistant superintendent of schools in Yonkers, called and offered me a job substituting at Smoke on the Water, GHS. She, of course, knew me and knew Jim Cavanaugh. It Fires in the Sky would be a lock if I applied.

I had heard of Yon- By Bob kers. It was vaguely Foley north of the Bronx, what to a young guy without a car, seemed an interminable trek; but with the school Smoke billows over Waddell Creek south of the Santa Cruz-San Mateo line. year already in motion and no word from NYC, I had little choice. Evacuating the Inferno Off for the interview with James By Joe Mikulsky Boulder Creek, a town six miles north of Cavanaugh the next day. On my third bus us, was being evacuated for a wild fire connection, I missed the GHS stop and It started with a hurricane off the coast that had tripled in size overnight. We found myself staring at cows. (This was, of Mexico. soon learned that we were under an of course, Andrus Pavilion, but I didn’t evacuation warning. Concerned about know that; all I knew was that I didn’t As the storm moved north along the Pa- being able to evacuate safely, we decided really want to teach Shakespeare to cow- cific Coast, it lost power but headed to leave immediately. hands.) Nevertheless, I got off the bus straight for California’s Santa Cruz Coun- and walked back to Gorton, late for my ty. On Aug. 16 around 2:20 a.m., dry light- We gathered our "special" belongings first interview.) ning was flashing all around us, causing including, of course, our cat Rags and

real concern for lightning-caused wild- filled our car with what would fit. We The interview with the taciturn JC lasted fires. With bone dry forests after years of drove to our local Safeway parking lot no more than 10 minutes. “You’ll start drought, we were at Red Flag Fire Warn- that had already filled with evacuees. tomorrow. See my secretary for your pro- ing. Friends of ours had already said we could gram.” Had he asked if I wanted to start stay with them, a safe distance from the tomorrow, I might have declined; but this Three days later, while Annie and I were fire. We headed there. See FOLEY on Page 10 having our morning coffee, we found out See FIRES on Page 2 Wolf Tales, Page 2

FIRES (from Page One) After four days of monitoring the Cal Fire information updates, we decid- ed to leave their place and head for our house in Atascadero for two good reasons—a little room and we could visit with our son Nick, Makani and their new born son, our first grandson! 2 p.m. in Felton after the evacuation.

As we monitored the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire on various websites, we became more con- cerned as the fire grew to more than 85,000 acres with no containment.

However, with cooler weather and the return of the marine layer (fog), Cal Fire was able to set up a contain- A montage of thanks to the firefighters. Aftermath of the Fire Creek blaze. ment line around our town of Felton. The fire perimeter got within about My assistant, Ingrid, texted me to say she 1,000 yards of our house. As the days would not be in for a few days. She sent a went by, containment rose slowly photo (above) taken from her house. and after 11 days, we were allowed With the fire advancing at 30 mph, she to return home. stayed as long as she could to prevent looting but finally left. Fortunately, the fire crews got We were lucky. Our house was fine. air support and established a fire-retardant As of this writing, containment is at containment line. Her property survived. 83%; 86,509 acres burned; more than 1,490 structures burned, includ- Ingrid told me that every motel within 50 ing 940 single-family homes; and one miles of the fire opened their doors and fatality. offered free rooms to evacuees for as long as they were needed. They did this despite se- The fire will not be completely out vere economic loss caused by the pandemic. until the winter rains arrive. Mop-up activities will continue for months to Cal Fire is over-extended. We had burn areas come. Relying on bigger than four Rhode Islands and could not send personnel. Volunteers came from hun- "Normal" fire suppression tech- dreds of miles away to fight the infernos. niques don’t work in the Felton area. The Kindness Thick vegetation, giant redwood These are big-hearted people, putting in 18- trees and very steep walled canyons 20-hour days working in rugged terrain, in make firefighting extremely difficult. Of Strangers By Bob Mason C59 100-plus temperatures while carrying or Air attacks with fire retardants are wearing more than 100 pounds of equipment stymied by the thick canopy of the lassmates who stayed on the East Coast and protective gear. I couldn’t do it. redwood trees and the steep can- C probably don’t know what it is like living with yons prevent the use of bulldozers to After months of headlines about violent pro- cut fire breaks. a fire season every year. tests, looting and the spreading pandemic, I find it hopeful to see the U.S. at its best… And the worst time of year for fires The recent Vacaville wildfire jumped a 12- lane freeway…that’s a pretty big firebreak! ordinary people giving what they can to help isn’t upon us yet! other ordinary people.

[email protected] GORTON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS of 1965 Gorton High School Class of 1965 Drop Box Wolf Tales, Page 3

SUNSET ON THE HUDSON--Growing up in Yonkers we all marveled at the beautiful sunsets over the Hudson River and the Pali- sades. Steve Tuers recently recaptured those memories with this photo taken near St. John’s Riverside Hospital. “A few days ago, I witnessed that same sunset and those magnificent Palisades reminding me some things don’t change,” Steve writes.

The only thing back then of which we could be certain is that Gorton High Wall of Fame Inductee School would be in session in September. Alumni And that, my friends, is exactly what is happening now. News School Bells Ring Principal Will Shaggura reports Gorton is back in session, albeit virtual learning for the first 3-4 weeks.

Once the City of Yonkers feels confident Going Strong that the students, teachers and admin- istration will be in a safe, virus-free envi- Despite It All ronment for all schools, doors will reopen sometime in October for on-site educa- tion. In some cases, a hybrid on-line/on- Greetings Alumni! Arthur D. Hellman, Class of 1959 site alternative may be offered based on Happy September to all! I hope everyone safety conditions. continues to be smart… safe…and strong The Class of 1959 valedictorian, Arthur as we plod through these crazy times. We are extremely proud of Gorton’s per- Hellman more than demonstrated an apti- formance during the spring 2020 semester tude for group and scholarly activities, Imagine when we were kids that people and feel confident it will once again meet such as three years on the Gorton News would be concerned with wild fires span- the challenges of the pandemic environ- staff including Editor-in-Chief; Stridarians ning a broad swath of the West Coast, ment. More to come in the October Wolf for three years; the Promenade staff in- Colorado snow flurries in September, Tales as the school year develops. cluding Copy Editor; two years in the Gor- tropical storms and hurricanes so numer- ton Players; National Honor Society; The ous that we had to use the Greek alphabet Our Victory Garden Press Club; U.N. Contest for two years; to name them all, a 100-degree day in We spoke at length with Principal Shag- and the Creative Writing Club. Russia’s Arctic Circle and, by the way, a gura and school alumni liaison Marilyn global pandemic. See ALUMS on Page 4 See ARTHUR on Page 4 Wolf Tales, Page 4

and the First Amendment. He became a ALUMS (from Page 3) (from Page 3) ARTHUR full professor in 1980 and was later rec- Rabadi about the Victory Garden project This was the foundation on which Arthur for the 2020-2021 school year. Discussions ognized as a Distinguished Faculty Schol- became a professor of law at the Univer- ar. He was also the inaugural holder of centered on the location of the garden, sity of Pittsburgh and one of the fore- hopefully adjacent to the Alumni Brick the Sally Semenko Endowed Chair until most, nationally recognized scholars on his retirement in 2017. commemoration due west of the main the Federal Court system. entry. We also hope to tie into the 75th Arthur is a nationally recognized expert Anniversary Commemoration of the Tomb After graduating from Gorton High of the Unknown Soldier. They will present on federal judicial ethics, the U.S. Court School, Arthur received a B.A. magna of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the the concept and plans to the city and cum laude from Harvard College in 1963. Board of Ed for review and approval. First Amendment. He has authored nu- While at Harvard, he was a member of merous books, papers and articles; pre- the Editorial Board of the Harvard Crim- Our goal is not just the establishment of a sented at leading universities in the U.S. son and was Editor-in-Chief of Comment and the United Kingdom; sat on various living tribute to grads who have served (a political magazine). Arthur their country with honor, but also to pro- committees and professional went on to Yale Law School, organizations and delivered mote a place of pride, kinship and owner- receiving his JD in 1966. There ship among the student body. We believe expert testimony before Con- he was the Business Manager gressional committees on a this is something students can “own and of the Yale Law Journal, Presi- maintain” and pass on to the next class. multiple of occasions. He dent of the Yale Law School helped draft legislation re- Film Society and founding Kevin Henry C65 spearheads the alumni lating to the federal courts president of the Yale Gilbert that are now part of the Judi- on military matters and has done yeo- and Sullivan Society. man’s work in reconstructing the history cial Code of the United States. of Gorton’s military contributions. He has Over the next several years, recaptured the information from past he taught at law schools in Arthur has composed several Wolf Tales as well as new info from mili- Minnesota, Illinois and Con- tary sources and periodicals. In upcoming small-scale musical works necticut. He also served two-year stints that have been performed in public. He issues, expect to see Kevin’s separate re- with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the ports on WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the enjoys travel both in the U.S. and Ninth Circuit as director of the central abroad. In the last few years he has visit- Middle East and Afghanistan. No Gorton legal staff and with the Commission on graduate who paid the ultimate sacrifice, ed Antarctica, Patagonia, and the Gala- Revision of the Federal Court Appellate pagos Islands and went on a safari in man or woman, will be forgotten. System (Hruska Commission) as deputy Botswana and South Africa. executive director. Kevin has also laid much of the ground- work for the Victory Garden with a cus- Arthur has two brothers. Jerry graduated In 1975, Arthur joined the faculty of the from Gorton High School in 1962 and tomized Gorton monument honoring the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law sacrifices of Gorton alumni. More on that now lives in Colorado; Walter graduated where he taught courses on the federal from Hastings High School in 1965 and to follow, but such a stone may come courts, constitutional law, civil procedure from a Gorton grad…with a lot more story now lives in Oregon. attached. Look for a full-fledged report from Kevin in the next issue of Wolf Tales. First, if you have any of these publications icals if you wish but help us get them dig- Gorton’s Going Digital and don’t plan to pass them on to others, itized so everyone can enjoy them. Our Gorton and the Alumni Association are why not donate then to the Alumni Asso- goal is to get everything online for our ready to launch our effort to digitize our ciation and/or Gorton High School? Sever- enjoyment and that of generations to literary antiquity…starting with every Gor- al alumni have donated their yearbooks— come. Please feel free to reach me at ton Promenade and followed by each edi- even those of their parents from the [email protected] or 469-534-5242. tion of the Gorton News, The Green Quill, 1930s and 1940s. The clock is ticking; we need to get this the Clarion (how about the Junior Jour- done before any more history is lost. nal?) and more. Gorton currently has the Second, if you, family or friends have ex- first 50 years of yearbooks in its posses- perience in the digitalization process, let The Never-Ending Gorton News continues. sion, starting with 1925. Simply amazing. us know. We need knowledge, experience Be smart, be safe, be strong…go Wolves. and best practices for a project of this We’re not asking for money (yet) but here magnitude. Bill Tolany is the president of the Charles is what we do want. E. Gorton High School Alumni Association You may keep your yearbooks and period- and a member of the Class of 1964. Wolf Tales, Page 5 Barry Gives ‘Em 22 For a Good Cause Barry Jacobs C65 recently took the 22 push -up challenge to honor and remember the 22 Veterans who commit suicide each day due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Barry’s neighbor, a well-decorated Veteran who was part of the toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad in 2003, for- warded the challenge and Barry was gung- ho about the awareness program.

Besides traditional push-ups, Barry also did one armed and alternating versions. He even did 22 while visiting the Muddy River Rum Distillery, the oldest in the Carolinas!

Barry’s neighbor added weights and did the last round of push-ups with his wife lying on his back holding on for dear life. But, he’s in his late 40's!

You can catch the videos of Barry taking on the challenge on his Facebook page.

—Obituary— Peter Cormano, C64; ‘King of Kinsley Courts’ Peter Cormano, a member of the Class of 1964, died April 6 from COVID-19 related causes.

He is survived by his sister Helen (Cormano) Schiliro C60, several nieces and a nephew.

Peter was a varsity letterman in tennis for Gorton and lived at the original family ad- dress directly across the street from Kinsley Park off Chase Avenue in Yonkers.

Peter remained a fixture there playing tennis from his early childhood until his passing. His friends at the tennis facility —Photo by Steve Tuers DANCE TO THE MUSES—The Isadora Duncan Dance Co., under the direction of Lori continue to honor him before every match Belilove, recently recreated the golden age of Untermyer with a return perfor- by raising their racquets toward the sky, mance in the Walled Garden amphitheater. The Isadorables first performed before touching at their apex, and dedicating Samuel and Minnie Untermyer in 1923 and later, after her death, in 1932. their play to him. Wolf Tales, Page 6

YVONNE SULLIVAN PRICE: Kid sister Aspen photo bombs Aiyla Cruz while her big sister Felicity, a high school senior, does her home-studies as well.

BACK TO SCHOOL

GINNY RADZEVILA PARETTI: Katie gets ready for her first day of prekindergar- ten in Greenwich, CT, while Maxwell & Parker start their school year at home WITH in Natick, MA. OUR GRANDKIDS

JANET GUYON HANFORD: Year-long remote learning for Will, Taylor (Zooming) and Ryan. Wolf Tales, Page 7

JOAN LAWLESS KENNEDY: From left, Jackson, Caraline, Callie and Caitlyn; Lane and Liv; and the youngest, Henry with his computer.

BACK TO SCHOOL

WITH OUR GRANDKIDS

CAMILLE GIGLIOTTI MORRONE: Clock- wise from top left, Fiona and Sloane on their first day of school; Halston in her uniform for her first day of re- mote kindergarten and with her sister Ryan and dad as they prepare for remote learning. Ryan was ex- cused from her uniform for her first JO HARTER IRISH: 4th Grader Preston day. will be home learning this year. Wolf Tales, Page 8 Columbus Day BACK TO Zoom Fest SCHOOL It’s almost time for another fun GHS Zoom -Room Chat so get out your calendars, folks, and mark the date and time—Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.

If you don’t know how this works, ask your kids or grandkids. Try a practice run with someone who knows what to do. It’s really not that hard. We all needed a little help to get started. Once you’ve figured it out, it’s like riding a bike. You never forget!

Since classmates who have previously WITH OUR GRANDKIDS joined our Zoom sessions felt they could talk even longer than the allotted free time of 40 minutes, we’re going to try some- thing different. I’m going to set up a chat for 8 p.m. and another for 8:45 p.m. This way, after we end the first session we can start a new session five minutes later. That gives everyone time to refill their glasses or take a potty break.

Contact Janet Guyon Hanford at [email protected] if you’re interested. It’s a great way to keep in touch. Hope to see you soon. DOTTY COLELLO McFARLANE: 4-year- old Mia waiting to be picked up after her first day of Pre-K.

CANDY CORSAGES—Joe Harter Irish C65 sent in this photo of a corsage she made for her cousin who’ll soon turn 13. “I'm wondering if anyone else remembers these corsages,” Jo writes. “They were in vogue from the 1950s to the 1970s. I remember having friends give these to me in school.” As Jo tells it, at age 13, the KATHLEEN MORRONE HANOLD: From candy would be bubble gum; at age 14, top, Sawyer, Sawyer with her brother dog biscuits showing puppy love; Life Peter and twin girls Izzy and Penny. Savers would be for age 15; 16 was sugar The younger ones are in classrooms MALCOLM BROWN: Oliver and Millie cubes; 17 lemon drops; and 18 candy while 2nd Grader Sawyer is attending are ready for school but Henry will cigarettes or beer bottle caps. hrbrid sessions. have to wait. Wolf Tales, Page 9 The Art of the Steel From the Below is a sampling of artwork and sculptures that can be Editor seen along the Tappan Zee Bridge as it spans the Hudson.

No TV? A Sign Of theTimes

When I wrote op-ed columns for The Her- The "Tappan Zee" sculpture by Ilan Averbuch of ald Statesman, they were “riffed from to- Queens consists of 7 abstracted figures carrying day’s headlines.” Politicians and high muck- a canoe in a metaphorical shared journey. ety-mucks provided an endless source of fodder. To misquote Groucho, I took the fodder further. The mural "The Flux of Being" by artist Chris Soria of Nyack So, understandably, I welcomed the chance near the Rockland landing. to throw darts at Gov. Andrew Cuomo for renaming the Tappan Zee and utilities for hiding from a lumbering storm that caught them by surprise, leaving hundreds of thou- sands without power or TV. "Approach," by Brooklyn artist Fitzhugh Karol,

uses steel from the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo and And just when I got TV back, possibly the the Tappan Zee bridges. It anchors the Rock- one thing that helped me keep sane and land landing. informed during pandemic, the New York Times announced that it was canceling its TV listings. The listings have been around for 81 years—almost as long as it takes the Times to get to the point in many of its arti- cles.

The decision to unplug was accompanied by Sculptor Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong the usual corporate-speak. The bold-faces of Manhattan with her artwork are mine. "Current" at the Westchester landing in Tarrytown. The piece “We (as in the royal ‘We’) know that this will A young child enjoys sculptor Thomas Lendvai’s consists of 12 illuminated steel be a loss for many of you. But growing num- artwork "Untitled, For Imre Lendvai" near the arches and celebrates transfor- bers of readers (millennials) are already us- Westchester landing. mation. ing their own TVs (or their parents’) or other digital resources (Wi-Fi hotspots in Star- bucks) to inform them of daily schedules “Leaping Sturgeon” by (print is dead). By discontinuing these TV Brooklyn artist Wendy Klem- features (we just fired people), we gain vital perer is made from rebar printing and staffing efficiencies that help and other salvaged steel. support our journalism (and our bottom The 14-foot sculpture cele- line).” brates the sturgeon’s histor- ic ties to the Hudson and I take little comfort when the Times says efforts to save the endan- See EDITOR on Page 10 gered species. Wolf Tales, Page 10

machine copying suitable naturalistic ma- EDITOR (from Page 9) (from Page One) FOLEY terials for my “delinquents.” that “We (the royal We) appreciate your being James Cavanaugh, I sheepishly understanding.” Hey Times spin-master, agreed. “You’ll be covering for Eleanor June came. I had survived, but was out of understanding has left my arena. I’m just Foster who is on leave and not expected a job as there was still no word from NYC. trying to get through the rest of this lousy to return for some time. Here’s her pro- But as luck (mine; not hers!) would have year and now I don’t know what’s on TV— gram.” it, that summer Gertrude Lynch, English including sports. Department Chair, had a stroke and sub-

Luck for a new teacher? Partly. Three sec- sequently died. JC was on the phone and And speaking of sports, the NBA and its tions of 11R classes. Regents classes! Not offering me her program as a permanent Players Association struck a deal that will every newbie is so fortunate, but 12T’s— position. convert arenas into voting locations. This two of them—what were they? means that Madison Square Garden (MSG) “Yes, of course,” said I. (Remember, it was will be an early voting and Election Day On my first day teaching, I walked into the Mr. Cavanaugh.) Tangentially, how many poll site for the 2020 Presidential General “T” class, now knowing that they were readers know that Miss Lynch was the Election. designated as “terminal,” hardly a politi- prototype for the frazzled Mrs. Murdock

cally correct terminology but somewhat in Grease? Democracy is in trouble. fitting. Soon after I began my introductory

lesson, the class “bully” leapt from his The first semester passed with success MSG is the home of the Knicks and the seat and snatched up a wooden chair and no further chair incidents; but in the Rangers. The Rangers haven’t won the which he spring, Sandy Stanley Cup since in 1994; the Knicks last proceeded to Siegelstein ap- won an NBA championship when Nixon brandish proached me. was barely president. MSG’s owner, James over my We had become Dolan, was born on third and thinks he hit head. Un- friends in the a triple (his family owned Cablevision.) It’s scathed, I faculty room and a perfect storm of mediocrity. took it from shared a love of

him and music and the Dolan has a band called JD & The Straight crashed it theatre. Shot. A reviewer described him as a down over “karaoke-grade singer [whose] musical his head. “Bob, we’re do- talents are unlikely to endanger his day Discipline ing Annie Get job." One album sold 100 copies in four restored! No Your Gun this months, most likely purchased by his min- further prob- spring, and I ions in fear of losing their jobs. lems. need someone to

do the lighting. I’d like to believe that Dolan won’t charge The next Mr. Cavanaugh suggested you.” voters an admission price, but I can’t. He afternoon, the ever-helpful Mary Galda makes fans endure his opening set before arrived at my desk with a book cabinet Gulp! I didn’t know a Fresnel from a flash- the MSG headliners. key in hand. “This is the curriculum for light and thought a border light was

the terminal students,” she said, unlock- something strung up between the U.S. I’d like to believe he won’t ban voters for ing the cabinet with all the ceremony of and Canada, but the name Cavanaugh had life if they don’t vote his way, but I can’t. Howard Carter opening King Tut’s tomb. cast its spell. “OK, “I said. “I’ll do it.” He once tossed a former Knicks star and There, in neat piles, were Jane Eyre, Ten- issued a lifetime ban on a guy practicing nyson’s Idylls of the King and Ethan Turned out not to be a difficult job. It en- freedom of speech by yelling "Sell the Frome. tailed holding Gorton’s single spotlight on team!" the person singing. Rehearsals seemed to

“But, Mrs. Galda,” I protested. “Will be going pretty well from my vantage Alex Poletsky (C65) is a retired journalist hoodlums find these books exciting? I point in the gallery; but then, one day and managing editor of Wolf Tales. mean, the climax of Ethan Frome occurs toward the end of the rehearsal period,

when the cat knocks the pickle dish off an explosion occurred onstage.

the cupboard.” The late Bill Bastianson, whom I had ob- —Correction— “It’s what we have,” she said, somewhat Tom McCormack’s graduating class was served as being an in-control, quiet, nice icily, and turned over the key. guy, had what appeared to be a nervous incorrectly stated in last month’s issue. Tom graduated in 1964. breakdown. His voice must have stunned There followed many hours at the mimeo See FOLEY on Page 11 Wolf Tales, Page 11

—Drone photo by John Meore and Peter Carr/ CITY’S NEWEST MURAL—Yonkers unveiled the Black Lives Matter mural on South Broadway facing City Hall, which spans the length of Prospect and Hudson streets. The mural was created and designed by the Yonkers Arts Council, which enlisted the help of residents and politicians for its finishing touches. Yonkers activist Hector Santiago said the mural is becoming an open platform for dialogue where he’s seen teens talking to city officials and critics of the movement speaking with supporters.

With targets not much bigger/Than a pin- and the fact that no one was being sent to (from Page 10) FOLEY point /I’m number one,” that wasn’t very his office from my room. the cast as it rocked the entire auditorium difficult at all: “trigger”/grab your holster, and ended with a tearful announcement “target”/point, “pinpoint”/make a little As a matter of record, JC only approached of quitting as director. Today, I think we circle with your fingers, “one”/, well, you me once about what was happening on would call it a meltdown. His tirade ended get the idea. Besides Jan Cornell and Judy the GHS stage. with him stalking from the stage and vow- Giniger were miles ahead of me in the ing never to return. delivery department. In 1970, I directed Čapek’s forgotten play, The Insect Comedy. (All the characters My memory is a bit fuzzy here, but I do What I learned from the experience was were insects.) Poor Chloe Yates wound up believe he quit his job as a science teacher that I basically loved directing but hated fashioning hundreds of ant costumes out and never set foot in GHS again. musicals. Great to see one, but living with of garbage bags. “Bob,” said Sandy, as he placed a hand on spoon/June lyrics for two months could my shoulder. “You’ve watched the show a rapidly become torture. To be sure, there Two characters played beetles and were dozen times from the gallery. We need a were some great, seminal shows which I supposed to enter rolling on top of a huge director!” enjoyed: Oliver, West Side Story (Eat your pile of manure. A difficult prop, yes. I heart out, Ivo van Hove; I used multi- wound up contacting the U.S. Air Force Gulp! Gulp! But!!! Gulp! Please don’t say media slides and films as background in and acquiring a giant weather balloon that it...” 1973.) Ed Ossowski painted to look like the dung- hill it represented. The balloon was to be “I spoke with Mr. Cavanaugh and he I was a radical and sometimes got into blown up each night by a vacuum cleaner, said….” trouble with more conservative col- which we kept back stage. Great idea! leagues, most notably for an anti-war as- Then, during one afternoon rehearsal, the “OK, I’ll do it.” (I was non-tenured at the sembly that had graphic pictures and films vacuum broke. time so declining was not an option.) of soldiers killing Vietnamese civilians. A student who, to this day hasn’t con- The rest is history. I directed my first That brought in The Herald Statesman, the fessed, dragged the bloody thing up to the show. Not difficult, really. All I had to do superintendent of schools and the Ameri- second floor and out of stupidity, mali- was make certain soloists were on the can Legion, but I flourished. Jim ciousness or creativity, blew it up with a mike and making appropriate gestures to Cavanaugh, to his credit, never raised an jet from the science lab. You can imagine accompany the lyrics. eyebrow. When all was said and done, I was being judged by Regents performance See FOLEY on Page 12 With lyrics like “I’m quick on the trigger/ Wolf Tales, Page 12

FOLEY (from Page 11) Mr. Cavanaugh’s surprise and horror We Brought the Band when he circled a corner and was confronted by a corridor-bisecting ball of manure filled with explosives. Back Together Again Although innocent, I did hear about that. Students recall Sandy Siegelstein By Walter Capp C65 We didn’t have Enter the Coal Bunker Theatre. much time to Sanford J. Siegelstein was my favorite Gor- talk, but Mr. S Built long before my tenure by Mil- ton teacher. We first met when I was in the confirmed that dred Streeter, this 100-seat in-the- 5th grade in PS 24 and Mr. S was the ro- it was he on the round gem was right up my alley. tating band director. In those days, the spe- recording. He When I learned of its dusty presence, cialized Arts teachers rotated among several remembered down I went with the Gorton Players grammar schools. those touring to resurrect it. And there I settled days fondly. with the players for years, producing It was that year that I took up the trumpet then radical works of Albee, Beckett, and Mr. Siegelstein was the person cursed Several decades Ionesco and all manner of controver- with teaching me the trumpet. later, I was at a sial material. Few people realized Sousaphonist friend’s house Walter Capp what was going on, but I’m certain When I got to Gorton for my sophomore and he was that I turned out any number of radi- year, I was delighted to see that he was the playing the CD cal disciples. band director. He was supportive of my bad with the Boplicity cut. Seeing that Mr. S was trumpet playing but was ecstatic when I on the recording, I had to buy the CD. The The Coal Bunker was finally shut switched to sousaphone in my Junior year. I liner notes describing the staffing of the down by Principal Louis Benzell who became a vastly better sousaphone player Miles Davis Nonet read as follows: needed a place to store school sup- than trumpet player and was able to partici- plies. I imagine his decision was retali- pate in the different musical ensembles that “A number were drawn from the ranks of atory toward me, but I did manage he put together. While in these different the Thornhill Orchestra, at least when it the last laugh and word with my final ensembles we learned that Mr. S had a wasn’t touring – alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, production at GHS. broader career than teaching grammar and clarinetist Danny Polo, French horn player secondary-level children. Sandy Siegelstein, bassist Joe Shulman…” Frustrated and about to follow my colleagues to Lincoln, I staged Marat/ Back in the 1970s I I believe (but do not Sade. With no Coal Bunker, my crew borrowed the Smith- know) that Mr. moved all of the stage risers into the sonian Collection of Siegelstein continued boys’ shower room, a perfect setting from the library. in the broader New for a madhouse. Marat/Sade remains One of the cuts I re- York music scene. He a radical interpretation of French Rev- ally liked was Boplici- must have played in olutionary history. It ended with a ty by Miles Davis. the pit orchestras of dummy of Benzell being burned in Looking at the album Broadway shows. He effigy. Flames were doused when the liner notes was very comfortable showers were turned on, drowning (remember those?), I as the music director cast and audience. saw that S. Siegel- for the Gorton perfor- stein was listed as mances of Annie Get Incidentally, in 1966, NYC caught up the horn player. I Your Gun and South with me and sent a letter of qualifica- remembered that Pacific. I got the im- tion and a job offer. But I was already Mr. S’s instrument pression that Mr. S long hooked on GHS. Those were the was the French horn also directed the pit golden years. and made the connection. orchestras for Summer Stock shows during his teaching days. Robert Foley taught English and In 1979, my wife, Kathy, and I were in Yon- drama at Gorton beginning in 1963 kers for Thanksgiving so we went to the Tur- There was also a rumor that he was instru- before ending his teaching career in key game at Gorton. There I saw Mr. mental in setting up the N.Y. Jets (it may 1997 at Lincoln. He is the author of Siegelstein and asked him about Boplicity. See SANDY on Page 13 three novels. Wolf Tales, Page 13

A One-Horse Town

—Photos by Joe Mikulsky While waiting out the fire evacuation order to return to Felton, CA, Joe Mikulsky and Ann Chandler took a trip to Pozo, a gold- rush ghost town that once had general stores, blacksmith shops, two hotels and three saloons. But after the gold rush, the town was picked up and carried away during the Depression. All that remains is a working saloon that’s opened on weekends (masks required). But they found their way with town’s only street sign—Yvonne Way.

during the test. As a result, I managed to I can't say that I was very good at it but he (from Page 12) SANDY get a 90! always encouraged and supported me in have been for the Titans) band during the my musical endeavors. team’s early struggling days. I agonized all weekend over that decision to cheat—the first and only time I ever did He did assign me to the cymbals for A Bundle of Energy anything like that. marching, however. I never knew if that Whatta guy! A bundle of energy but end- was to protect my mouth or to guide me lessly patient…a great teacher. On Monday morning, I went to my home- toward another part of the orchestra! room teacher, Muriel King Taylor, and told —Michel Nussbaum C65 Sandy Siegelstein brought out some really her what happened. She walked me to the beautiful music from a lot of mediocre band room where I repeated my story to talent. Fortunately, he attracted and kept Sandy. Needless to say, he was very un- A Learning Experience some of our classmates who were very derstanding and asked me why I didn't When I started 7th grade at Gorton in talented and formed the core. talk to him before the test. 1961, I joined the band as a flute player. One of the pieces we played that year was After teaching all day he would go into He said he would've given me an alternate Mozart's French Horn Concerto No. 1. It's NYC and play in a theater orchestra. I test which, in fact, he did a few days later. no piece of cake even in the flute part, but don’t know how he did it all. Because I got a 100 on that (the much we had a really good horn player that year —Bob Mason C59 harder test), he decided that the fair thing (Steve Berg, if my memory is correct.) was to average the two grades! —Ernie Levinson C65 This taught me two things. One, if I want- A Life’s Lesson Learned ed to play in this band, I'd better step up Seeing the GHS Wall of Fame nominee, my game. And two, this Mr. Siegelstein Sandy Siegelstein, brought back memories Always on the Upbeat wasn't afraid of a challenge, and wasn't of an incident I had with him in 8th or 9th Sandy Siegelstein touched the lives of about to let talent go to waste. grade. many of us throughout our time at Gor- ton—especially since we often spent a Some years later, as a junior, I learned He gave us a test on a Friday morning and, number of years with him. lesson three: he wouldn't let a little thing for whatever reason, I failed to study the like my lack of talent keep us from playing night before. Knowing that I wouldn't do He was always upbeat, kindly and helpful. good music. We had no piccolo player, so well, I prepared a "crib sheet" and used it He managed to find places for three Nuss- See SANDY on Page 14 baums to play the bassoon over the years. Wolf Tales, Page 14

Sam’s recent streamers: From top left to right: Black Ghost, Royal Coachman and- Doctor Oatman. Below, a wet fly called a Montreal.

Not one to cast aspersions, Sam lets fly in to lure in a rainbow trout. Just Fly Me a River By Sam Fried C65 thing about trout fishing (a “Hudson River Trout” was a used condom on the banks of our es- When we were in high school and the Hudson teemed river) or trout flies. But I was curious, doubled as a river and an open sewer, I was al- which is so often the initial ingredient of a recipe ready fishing crazy. for passion and obsession, to which I was much prone. I used to lay out an array of hula hoops on the Croton Aqueduct across Shonnard Terrace from I found bird feathers and brought them home. I my house, haul an assortment of rods and gear surreptitiously pulled feathers from fancy chick- over there and practice casting until I became en cages at the Danbury Fair. I began to clumsily proficient at hitting all the targets. attach these lightweight marvels to some hooks ‘Dinner? I’m in the middle designed for worms to see what I could come up of something. I’ll clear the A strange childhood, you may ask? No worries, with. Then I got a kit and an instruction book and table in a minute or so.’ mates—it just got weirder. I didn’t know any- See SAM on Page 15

Fran Cohen played the piano accompani- SANDY (from Page 13) A Senior Moment I think Sandy arrived in my senior year. I ment for me when I auditioned for Juil- he had us flute players learn piccolo. We liard. had no oboe player, so he persuaded me remember visiting him at GHS sometime after I graduated. I recall him telling me to take up oboe. Then he conned me into Fran, if you’re out there, thanks again. believing English horn was just like a big about his time playing French horn on tour with one of the famous big bands of the —AJ Daitch C59 oboe. time. He was really a nice guy. I wish he I was never very good on any of these in- had come to GHS earlier. Dance to the Music struments, but with Mr, S's good humor Mr. Siegelstein was such a talented, nice and encouragement, I learned to accept We also had an Oompah” band. We were man. He taught music theory (I still recall that a little embarrassment and being just quite a hit. We even played on an Educa- the basics of how to listen to a symphony), adequate was a small price to pay for ex- tion Channel TV show. Bob (trombone), conducted the school orchestra, directed panding our repertoire. Charlie (clarinet), Willie Urban (baritone AND choreographed school plays. and tuba), and others whom I sadly can’t Come to think of it, maybe that's how we now recall. Perhaps John Fisher (trumpet) My fondest memory of Mr. Siegelstein is got all of our more unusual instruments. was also in the group. A little known fact: being in Once Upon A Mattress and learn- What kid grows up wanting to play contra- it was John who talked me into playing the ing the fun dance number "Spanish Panic." bassoon, or glockenspiel, or bass clarinet?) trumpet and joining the band. George —Bob Wolven C67 McKettrick was the music teacher at the The audience loved it and so did we! time. —Barbara Reiner McEntyre C67 Wolf Tales, Page 15

SAM (from Page 14) I was off to the races of tying real trout flies.

I didn’t have a fly rod or reel or the special line you need to actually fish with these complex and diminutive imitations of insects. I didn’t care.

I was rapt with creating these marvelous minia- tures on hooks sometimes so tiny I needed a strong magnifying glass to see what my fat fingers were doing. I sat for hours on end in my room, listening to Top 40 radio, staring at a special vise for holding these fine hooks, surrounded by color- ful bundles of feathers, fur, tinsel, chenille, yarn and many other delicate materials.

I actually got so good at it that I was selling flies at a fishing store and even doing cus- My Walk in the tom orders as they came in. I made feathered earrings for the ladies, long before it became a Tuers fad. Park (Tibbetts) De Force Then life happened. Over the years, I occasionally I think my days of exploring and ap- hauled out my big box of fly-tying stuff, but most- preciating nature began when Yvonne ly, the box just traveled around the country with Sullivan’s mom and dad would include me, the contents rarely seeing the light of day. me on some of their Sunday excur- sions to distant parks. end and a 5-foot area on the side. In Fast forward to 2020! COVID-19 hits with a fury between was shallow and with two or and we are all trapped in our little worlds. Noth- It was an eye opener—so different three cooling fountains in the middle. I ing to do. Boredom prevails. From deep in the from the streets of Woodworth Ave- learned how to swim there. closet, I noticed a familiar old friend hiding up on nue. a shelf. Out came “The Box.” The pool has been replaced by a wave In my early days I would take the No. 1 pool that has something for everyone. And the rest is coronavirus history. bus to Getty Square and transfer to There’s a spray playground, an in-pool the No. 7 to the Tibbetts Brook Park basketball and volleyball area, lap stop. Then I would walk across a large lanes for a workout and the lazy river field to the still-standing Georgian where one can relax and ride a tube Colonial-style bathhouse where we around the pool. Parry’s could get a locker or basket to put our street clothes. It also has a nice-sized water slide Ponderings where I still can get a thrill. There is a The pool seemed very large to me food station and plenty of benches in then with a 9-foot diving area on one See TUERS on Page 16 Signs of the Times When driving around town I see many political signs. Some show support for Trump-Pence, while others show support for Biden-Harris. I've also seen signs for Coldwell-Banker but I don't know who they are. Some third party candidates I suppose.

Don Parry (C65) was awarded Westchester’s Safest Teenage Driver Award and is a Vietnam War veteran. Wolf Tales, Page 16

TUERS (from Page 15) the shade to enjoy the views. The park has added three state-of-the-art soccer Did You fields with lights where very competitive games take place. There are four tennis courts in the park and two beautiful lakes. Know?

I remember taking row boats out on one of the lakes. In the winter, when it froze over, I would ice skate and play hockey with the locals. The fall foliage around the From Mansion lakes can be breathtaking and the Hudson River Audubon Society schedules free bird walks then. I’m still enjoying the 161-acre To a Museum park and all that has to offer. In 1849, John Bond Trevor of Philadelph- The only difference is now I don’t have to ia moved to . In 1850, he take two buses and walk across a great became a member of the New York Stock field to get there! Exchange and formed the brokerage with the firm of Carpenter, Van Dyke and Tre- hired architect Charles Clinton to design Look Who Dropped In vor. Two years later that firm was dis- solved and Trevor formed a partnership and build a house for he and his bride. On my way to pay my respects to my un- The house, deemed a “showplace” for cle at Woodlawn Cemetery, I met an ex- with James Colgate. Trevor stayed with this firm until his death in 1890. Yonkers, drew a lot of newspaper atten- tremely interesting and amazing profes- tion. In 1886, it was selected for engraved sional sky diver, Amy Chemelecki. After his marriage in 1861, illustrations in Thomas Scharf’s History of Westchester County, Amy is a member Trevor moved to Yonkers. At that time Yonkers was becom- which has since become a of the Highlight standard reference work for Pro Team, which ing attractive as a residence for wealthy financiers who wanted historians. consists of four females. They had to live on large estates but still be within commuting distance The house was built of locally parachuted into quarried Greystone with Ohio Woodlawn Ceme- to their jobs in New York City. sandstone ornamentation. The tery to celebrate 2½-story rectangular building the 100th anniver- Trevor became active in the community, serving as a Re- features a tower, 10 dormer sary of the ratifica- windows and several small brick tion of the 19th publican elector and chairing meetings of the local Republican Party. chimneys. Inside there are sten- Amendment, ciled ceilings, tiled floors, elaborate which gave wom- The Trevors settled on the corner of Glen- wood and Ravine. In 1867, after the wooden door frames, china figure groups en the right to and Italian marble statues. vote. death of his wife, Trevor remarried, pur- chased 23 acres along the Hudson and See TREVOR on Page 17 Amy, 36, is the only woman on the pres- tigious Red Bull Air Force. Amy holds 15 world records, 11 National Titles and five world titles.

Because of the virus, the event was not publicized in order to keep the crowds away. However, you can view the jump on the Highlight Pro Skydiving Team Face- book page.

Steve Tuers was a member of Gorton’s championship basketball team and is a lifelong resident of Yonkers. Wolf Tales, Page 17

TREVOR (from Page 16) Guests to the house included Samuel Tilden, Priceless former governor of New York and Democratic candidate for the controversial 1876 election, Memories the Shonnard family, and Civil War general WilliamTecumseh Sherman.

After John Trevor’s death, his widow contin- ued to live in the house but by the time of her death the neighborhood had changed. My New Way Large lots had been divided into smaller ones for smaller homes and Yonkers was trans- To Get a Buzz forming into a more modern city. The Trevor family decided to sell the house because He arrived out of the blue, literally, none of them wanted to live there anymore. this uninvited guest, this interloper in his flashy, yellow-striped suit. The city purchased the house and grounds with the intent of using the land as a public It was obvious that he belied bounda- park. The house lay vacant for six years until ries and lacked basic social niceties. He it was opened as the Museum of Science and settled on the edge of my beer mug, Art, which later became the Hudson River sampling my first-ever O'Sullivan's Irish Museum in 1948. Gold, before I'd even tasted it myself. During those years the exterior of the house As he roamed freely round the rim of was altered. The front door’s transom was my iced pint, my resentment turned to taken out in order to stuff in a stuffed ele- admiration. That had to be a slippery phant (much loved by the students of School slope he was traversing, in more ways 25) from Barnum & Bailey Circus. The rooms than one. were used as exhibit halls and the interior was sadly neglected. Watching him enjoy what was now OUR beverage, I realized that his season had In 1967, the museum decided it needed more arrived. These last weeks of summer space and commissioned a $1.5 million addi- and beginning of fall are the times that tion with a planetarium. It was designed in he and his cohorts find themselves as the “brutalist style,” which was popular at the busy as bees, not surprisingly, since tic shock if stung. time but was in stark contrast to the mansion. that is exactly what he was, more or less. This was a reasonable worry, so I usual- During the construction of the addition, the ly employed the expertise of our friend- rooms in the mansion were restored to focus My thirsty beer buddy was a yellow ly janitor, who would take care of the on the house’s history and how the Trevors jacket, a wasp, the very kind that used situation after school, with his own per- lived. to cause me such trouble at the start of sonal Swat Wasp Squad. It consisted of every school year. a large broom and two flailing arms. It Today, the museum is home to the Andrus Each September, when the students wasn't the most effective approach, but Planetarium, the only public planetarium in would be enjoying the playground, my at least it spared the environment from Westchester County. The museum boasts an teachers would inform me that the all kinds of potential poisonous vapors extensive collection of works from the Hud- wasps were creating a beehive of activi- and provided us with cheap entertain- son River school of painting, as well as exhib- ty, buzzing around everywhere. ment. its on history, science and the heritage of the region. My instincts were to use this as a Meanwhile, back at my beer, my drink- teachable moment, allowing the kids to ing buddy suddenly lifted off and made It is the largest museum in Westchester. observe these little critters, learn about a not so direct bee line to the next free their habits, appreciate their work. My drink opportunity up the road. Joan Lawless Kennedy (C65) is a member of staff felt differently of course, afraid See PRICELESS on Page 18 the Yonkers Historical Society. that someone could go into anaphylac- Wolf Tales, Page 18

PRICELESS (from Page 17) As so often happens to me, the next day the morning newspaper featured a piece enti- tled, “What to do—and not do—about yel- low jackets.” (Somebody dubbed these oc- Ask Janet currences "Braslow moments.")

Following the same tack as my previous en- dangered species writings, I will not go into all the fascinating facts contained therein about these insects. You might get hives if I Apps the Way did.

I will just encourage you to try and learn to I Like It, Uh-Huh live with them, because they do a lot of good Dear Janet, stuff, like killing flies, horseflies and bad cat- I recently bought a smart phone. Do you erpillars. They also clean up all the dead Yellow foxtail have any suggestions for good, free apps? critters in the woods. That's right, they feed Alexander G. Bell on carrion, so it's not just those crows in the Dear Alexander, road that do the dirty work for us. Back in the day, before the age of Not surprisingly, it's the female wasps who smartphones, when someone said apps, run their complex, organized social system. we thought of cocktail-hours and appetiz- The drones (males) mate with the queen and ers. Today, apps also refer to software ap- then die. I know, I know ladies, 'nuff said. plications for mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. I worry that some of you may harbor some hard feelings for yellow jackets. You probably Some are free, others have to be pur- remember your first sting. Mine happened chased. I prefer the former. I will suggest when I was about 7 in my uncle Harold three that I found particularly interesting. Sullivan's yard, running barefoot. I saw it just a moment too late. It hurt, but I still felt sad While I was taking one of my daily walks for that little yellow guy for a long time. this summer, I often stopped to admire or examine more closely plants that I other- Yes, their stings do hurt. That's because there wise passed by unnoticed. I recognized are no barbs on their stingers, they go some, but more often than not I didn’t. In straight in and out and that allows them to my insatiable quest for knowledge, I found sting more than once. Remember though, an app called Picture This that, with a quick they are only trying to protect themselves click of the camera, identifies plants and and it's never personal. Home-grown raisins (or not) trees by their leaves or blossoms. It also gives biological names and interesting tid- Maybe some of you have had to have wasps bits, such as its description, locations, tox- removed from your property. Maybe some icity to humans and animals, etc. are considering it. Be aware there are ways to do it without using harmful pesticides. I I’ve used it many times for myself and encourage you to go to friends. It’s free but a popup offering for a www.yellowjacketexpert.com to learn more. more advanced app with fees shows up. I just hit the “X” and move on. You'd be doing something good for the envi- ronment and who knows, you could end up The other night, as I walked along the road like me, with a good bee buddy, sharing a and the crickets and katydids were at a brew. near-deafening pitch, my thoughts drifted back to my childhood and the end of sum- Yvonne Sullivan Price was queen of the ‘65 mer sounds. While in that nostalgic reverie, senior prom and is a retired school adminis- I noticed the long-leggy weeds along the trator. A common American ‘bush’ See ASK JANET on Page 19 Wolf Tales, Page 19 Yonkers Schools Win Reprieve From Aid Cuts City School’sYonkers schools opened on time with remote learning and got a tem- porary reprieve from state aid cuts sched- uled for the end of September.

"We are glad that the governor (Andrew —Photo by Joe Mikulsky Cuomo) has heeded our call and decided SAY CHEESE—For those who enjoy seeing Lucy the Giant Elephant in Margate City, to not withhold the September payments NJ or the 3,700-pound statue of Paul Bunyan in Bangor, ME, you should be happy to for our schools," Senate Majority Leader know that Templeton Historical Museum off Highway 101 in California has got Andrea Stewart-Cousins and state Sen. milk—a 12-foot replica that’s 80 years old. The promotional milk bottle was built by Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate educa- the Rossi Brothers of Crescent Dairy. tion committee, said in a joint statement. "These 20% cuts would have been devas- monitors have been furloughed; eight The Journal News that this is not the time tating.” universal pre-kindergarten classes have for reduced aid because hybrid instruction been closed; and more than 40 teachers will need more teachers, monitors, pro- If the legislature approves cuts to educa- have been laid off. tective gear and nursing staff, not less. tion in October and beyond, it could result in the loss of 700 jobs. The city plans to move to hybrid learning Meanwhile about a dozen school person- sessions on Oct. 5. nel out of 4,000 tested positive in the first To date, state has withheld $1.8 million in two weeks of school, including Saunders, aid due to economic losses caused by the Yonkers Federation of Teachers (YFT) Roosevelt and School 9. Gorton had no pandemic. So far, more than 400 bus President Samantha Rosado-Ciriello told reported outbreaks.

sins, I found it was way off (see Page xx.). (from Page 18) ASK JANET There’s another app called Picture Insect sidewalk that have the “feathery-hairy” that I found to be good when it works but tops, for lack of a more scientific name for it’s not as accurate. I took a picture of a them (see previous page). bee and it identified it as a red imported fire ant. With the stink bugs about to re- I took a picture and the app identified turn from the great outdoors, I’d like to try them in a variety of names: yellow foxtail, to capture them on “film” as well as in a yellow bristle-grass, cattail grass, pale pi- cup. The jury is out on this app for now. geon grass or pigeon grass. Setaria helvo- la. Who knew? We used to pick those There’s a fun one that my kids and grand- “weapons.”, wrap the stem around itself, kids use called Snapchat. It turns a normal tighten the “noose” and slide it toward the picture or video into something hysterical- top to pop the projectile off the stem to ly funny. I haven’t tried it myself but ask hit our mark…our friends. Oh, how that someone from another generation for fun could go on for minutes before we help with this one. I’m sure they’ll know moved onto something more exciting! what you’re talking about. It’s good for laughs in these trying times. Now before you stop reading this and run to install the app on your phone, let me That’s all for now. It’s time to put together tell you that it might not always be accu- an old fashioned “app” to go with my gin rate. As part of my “Thoreauvian life- and tonic. It’s 5 p.m. somewhere! style” (See Wolf Tales #52), I tried to grow My son Mike from a Snapchat video raisins from grapes. What else? Janet Guyon Hanford is a former cheer- It identified them as pepper vine or buck- leader and was voted Most Versatile by I was curious to see if the app recognized vine or cow itch! Holy cow. Other than her ’65 senior class. them as shriveled grapes and no, it didn’t. itching to have some fresh grapes or rai- Wolf Tales, Page 20 “I am very proud of the reforms we’ve Last Call Empire City made together over the last eight years,” Spano said in a press release. “We wel- For Alcohol Reopens Casino come the opportunity to continue trans- The Blue Bar and Grill on North Broadway The Empire City Casino, the city’s largest parent conversations with our residents to near Getty Square has lost its liquor li- private employer, reopened its doors fol- ensure Yonkers moves forward in a posi- cense after reportedly exceeding occupan- lowing a six-month closure due to the pan- tive direction.” cy limits set by COVID-19 restrictions as demic. well as food service requirements, lack of Gorton alumnus and Wall of Fame recipi- crowd control and other violations. The casino will operate at 25% capacity. ent Dr. Jim Bostic Th.D., executive director Masks are required and guests will com- of the Nepperhan Community Center, is a But Will it Pass plete a screening and temperature check member of the panel. when entering the facility. Numerous ma- The Smell Test? chines have been disabled to ensure six It has a million-dollar view of the Hudson feet of space between each unit and Housing Units Eyed but there’s an air of doubt that it will be- chairs have been removed. For Ravine Avenue come Westchester’s newest park. A proposed 146-unit, three-building site Dining facilities will be open but Empire’s on Ravine Avenue and Point Street may The problem? The proposed site is next to bars will be closed and beverage service become home for seniors and working the Yonkers wastewater treatment plant on the casino floor will not be permitted. families. on Ludlow Street. County Legislator Jose All food and beverages must be consumed Alvarado, D-Yonkers, wants to include $10 in the dining establishments. Live racing The plan includes a mid-rise building with million in next year’s capital budget to will take place without spectators and on- 120 units and 26 townhome-style units. build the public park. property wagering is prohibited. The construction is planned for next year Alvarado told The Journal News that re- More City Layoffs at a cost of $45 million. cent odor-control systems now make the park, long a dream of area residents, a And Cutbacks Loom possibility. The pandemic is hitting Yonkers in the Here’s the Pitch, wallet and the $21 million budget gap may Now Soccer to Me! Up the River lead to layoffs and city services. Yonkers residents will finally get their kicks with the city’s partnership with the U.S. With a Paddle “The rubber finally has met the road when Soccer Foundation and Target to create a It’s clear sailing ahead for Yonkers teens it comes to the lack of aid to local munici- mini-pitch (soccer field). who joined the Yonkers Paddling and Row- palities,” Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano told ing Club program that is teaching them The Journal News. “The effects from The program’s goal is to transform un- about the environment and kayaking. Washington’s political jockeying and the derutilized areas, like vacant lots and emp- lack of stimulus packages from the federal ty schoolyards, into state-of-the-art pitch- The club’s origins date back to the Yonkers government and the state now have hit es to play the game. Yonkers’ mini-pitch Canoe Club, founded in the late 1880s, us. Big cities across the state, including (84’ x 50’) will be located at Stefanik Park whose first members were local boys and Yonkers, have no recourse but to make on Nepperhan Avenue. older members of the city's professional severe expenditure cuts.” community.

The city is considering reductions of pro- Small Businesses Receive Today, the nonprofit is encouraging diver- grams and cutting an estimated 220 va- $500G in Grants & Loans sity, along with participation in rowing and cant and filled positions. About 75% of the The city has awarded $500,000 in grants paddling sports. city’s budget is based on wages. and loans to local small businesses through its Yonkers Business Assistance Latest COVID Count City Establishes Program. More than 30 businesses trying to overcome the pandemic’s impact on For Westchester, Yonkers Police Reform Panel business have received financial aid. Since the pandemic began in New Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced Rochelle six months ago, there have been the creation of a police reform committee Recipients have included local restaurants, 37,903 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s call for all auto dealerships, travel agencies, con- county and 1,455 deaths. local jurisdictions to rebuild police- tracting, plumbing and electrical compa- community relations to address the spe- nies. Additional funding is still available. Yonkers has had 7,895 cases. cific needs of their communities.