Operation Santa Claus’ Downtown BID Embraces a Yonkers Tradition the Holiday Spirit
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WESTCHESTER’S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPERS PRESORT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID White Plains, NY Permit #7164 Vol 111 Number 49 www.RisingMediaGroup.com Friday, December 9, 2016 ‘Operation Santa Claus’ Downtown BID Embraces A Yonkers Tradition The Holiday Spirit From left are Mayor Mike Spano, Operation Santa Claus Honorary Chairman former Sen. Nick Santa and Mrs. Claus with a visitor to the tree lighting at Getty Square. Photo by Jennifer Sloan. Spano and Santa hugging a young visitor. Photo by Donna Davis. By Dan Murphy zations that serve persons with developmen- Downtown Yonkers kicked off the holidays eryone a merry Christmas in the Dutch tradition. One of the great Westchester holiday tra- tal disabilities, including Ferncliff Manor, last week with a tree-lighting and a visit from On Saturday, Dec. 10, the BID will host a Winter- ditions is the annual Operation Santa Claus Richmond Community Services, Westchester Santa and Mrs. Claus, who both helped open scape holiday concert at 1 Manor House Square holiday party brunch, which raises funds to School for Special Children and the Miracle Santa’s Chalet, so young boys and girls can pay a from 4 to 6 p.m. assist children and adults with developmental League of Westchester. visit and tell Santa what they want for Christmas. There will be live music, carolers, hot choco- disabilities. This year’s brunch was held Dec. The organizations will use the funds to Mayor Mike Spano helped light the tree, joined late, holiday giveaways, characters, toys, crafts, 4 at the Fairway’s at Dunwoodie. purchase equipment and enhance programs by many other elected officials and dignitaries. and a return visit from Santa. For more informa- The tradition of Operation Santa Claus that are not otherwise funded for their residents The festivities were sponsored by the Yon- tion, visit yonkersdowntown.com. has been handed down from former State Sens. and clients who have developmental disabili- kers Downtown Waterfront Business Improve- Former Rising Development partner and Ris- John “Chippy” Flynn, Roy Lesten, and Nick ties. ment District, who hosts the event every year in ing Media Group Publisher Nick Sprayregen was Spano – who continues to serve as honorary “Once again, because of the generosity Getty Square, where the tree stands next to San- honored by BID for his years on the board and his chairman of “Operation Santa Claus,” with of so many people in Westchester, Operation ta’s Chalet. belief in downtown Yonkers. Sprayregen passed Co-Chairs Tom Meier and Ann Neville. Santa Claus will be supporting essential pro- Santa will be available to hear wish lists ev- away in July. Tim Rutledge, director of finance Last week, Operation Santa Claus award- grams that provide services to people with dis- ery weekend until the big day, from noon to 5 p.m. and acquisitions for Tuck-it-Away Self Storage ed $17,500 in grants to several area organi- Continued on Page 10 Nearby, at Philipse Manor Hall, St. Nicholas and Rising Development, Co., and a member of paid a visit to visitors young and old to wish ev- BID, attended. Federal Judge Leonard Sand; He, too, was Yonkers Yonkers PAL Alum By Eric W. Schoen There are very few names that conjure up Shines at West Point strong emotions in the City of Yonkers. One of those names, whether it was 30 years ago or today, is United States Southern District Judge Leonard Sand. Let’s just say that if Judge Sand was run- ning for president of the United States against Hillary or Donald in Yonkers in the late 1980s or 2016, the election would be unanimous in favor of Clinton or Trump. Yes, despite folks’ strong dislike for Hillary or the Donald, I doubt Sand would get one vote in Yonkers. Sand, the federal judge that most folks in Yonkers despised or hated (to be honest, they really haven’t come up with a word in the Eng- lish language to describe Yonkersites’ feeling about him), passed away at the age of 88 earlier this week. If you speak to those who knew Judge Sand prior to his ascendancy to the bench Judge Leonard Sand and his years in private practice, they would and Harvard and the son of a textile manufac- West Point Cadet Ricardo Jiminez with Congressman Eliot Engel and Mr. and Mrs. Jiminez. Photo be shocked at the strong emotions residents turer, as soft spoken with a reputation for set- by Ed Whitman. had to this member of the Federal Judiciary. tling cases long before trial. However, on the Friends and colleagues described this boy from bench, he was the judge other judges went to Last week, Yonkers Rising highlighted the Jimenez, who is a cadet at the U.S. Military the Bronx, a graduate of New York University Continued on Page 7 75th anniversary of the Yonkers Police Athletic Academy at West Point as a result of his hard League, which has touched the lives of many work and study, but also based on the life lessons Yonkers children who have grown up to become learned at the PAL. active members of the community. Jimenez was the featured speaker at the re- The best example of the positive role the cent PAL dinner, where he thanked the organiza- Lotz Leads 4 from Yonkers PAL plays in the lives of so many is Ricardo Continued on Page 8 Into Senior Hall of Fame Realizing Why Trump Won Beyond the ‘Blue Wall’ County Executive Robert Astorino with Senior Citizen Hall of Fame honoree Jack Lotz. Fifty-eight super senior citizens from West- stunt driver in many films, and has been a referee chester were recognized at the 34th annual Senior in professional wrestling and boxing. Citizens Hall of Fame awards luncheon Dec. 2, As a volunteer, Lotz has supported and had Bringourjobshome.com founder Frank Spotorno and this year’s top honoree was Yonkers resident leading roles with the Yonkers Central Com- and Veteran Jack Lotz. mittee of Veterans Organizations, the Korean By Dan Murphy and 8 million manufacturing jobs have been out- A lifelong Yonkers resident, Lotz is an ac- War Veterans and the New York State Korean Yonkers resident Frank Spotorno has been sourced to China and Mexico. tor and member of the Screen Actors Guild since War Veterans. Over the past four years, he has trying to get Americans to focus on the fact that Spotorno, the founder of Bringourjobshome. 1978, whose roles have included roles in “Rag- organized events for the Veterans State Nursing 25 years after the creation of the North American com, a website that highlights the issue of out- ing Bull” and “The Sopranos.” His latest role was Home and the Federal Nursing Home Building Free Trade Agreement, and other so-called “free sourcing jobs, ran for Congress this fall in the trade” agreements, 50,000 American factories Ruben in “The Hurricane Carter.” He was also a Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 9 PAGE 2 - YONKERS RISING - FRIday, DECEMBER 9, 2016 Holiday Happenings at Annual Gingerbread House Hudson River Museum Competition is Dec. 10 The Glenview Mansion dressed up for the holidays. Create a gingerbread house at Philipse Manor. The Hudson River Museum will host a years. He and his wife, artist Lysiane Luong number of programs this month. Grooms, will tell visitors how the work began, Children can decorate gingerbread houses Improvement District and the Friends of Philipse A special holiday program is scheduled why it fascinates them, and its relevance to and cookies as the third annual Yonkers Down- Manor Hall. for Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 and 4 p.m., when our memories of history. town Gingerbread House Spectacular on Satur- In addition to viewing houses made by chil- Spring Training Productions will perform The Sunday Scholar Series continues Dec. day, Dec. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. inside the Philipse dren from the YMCA and YWCA, local business- a live radio theater reading of Charles Dick- 18 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. with “The Civil War Manor Hall. Admission is free, but patrons are es will be submitting their own creations, and a ens’ “A Christmas Carol” in the Great Hall of and the American Spirit.” This will be an en- limited to one house per child, while supplies last. competition to judge the best gingerbread house Glenview, the museum’s historic house, which tertaining and illuminating hour that features Children must be accompanied by an adult in Yonkers will be conducted, in which all are al- has six period rooms decorated with holiday passages from Lincoln’s inauguration and his and children younger than 5 are encouraged to lowed to vote. splendor through Dec. 31. Curmudgeons are speeches from tours through Peekskill, Alba- decorate gingerbread cookies. The program is Winners will be announced at the end of the redeemed and goodwill restored in this retell- ny, western New York and at New York City’s presented by the Yonkers Downtown Business program. ing by four actors, a fiddler and human-pow- Cooper Union, with commentary by Harold ered sound effects. The performance lasts 55 Holzer, one of the country’s leading authori- children into custody. minutes. ties on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War On This Day Dec. 18, 1914: Socialist August Claessens As part of the “Sunday Civil War Series,” era; and award-winning actor Stephen Lang. Continued from Page 5 gave a lecture on “An Analysis of Race Prejudice” on Dec. 11 at 1 and 3 p.m., visitors can see Continuing every Wednesday through in Wiggins Hall at 24 N. Broadway.