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WESTCHESTER’S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPERS Vol 51 Number 37 www.RisingMediaGroup.com Friday, September 12, 2014 Grand Prix Offers Westchester a Can Astorino Repeat the Special Entertainment Experience Pataki Stunner of 1994? Former Gov. George Pataki County Executive Rob Astorino Katie and Jessie with Page Jackimo of Grand Prix New York. By Dan Murphy Republicans like New York City Mayor By Dan Murphy tomers of all ages the best in indoor kart racing, Twenty years ago, a little-know state sena- Rudy Giuliani were defecting to support Cuo- A recent visit to Grand Prix New York gave bowling, simulated racing and arcade games. tor from Westchester became the Republican mo, who also held a large edge in fundraising this reporter and his family the opportunity to Grand Prix’s facility, which includes the candidate for governor. Sen. George Pataki and campaign cash. After serving for 12 years as discover a premiere indoor entertainment center award-winning restaurant FUEL, is available for faced off against incumbent Democratic Gov. state governor, there was some Cuomo fatigue right here in Westchester. Located in Mt. Kisco, family activities and corporate events, featuring Mario Cuomo in 1994, with Cuomo holding a among New Yorkers in ’94, with Mario’s ap- Grand Prix New York features unmatched go- private meeting spaces with full catering and bar large – and apparently insurmountable lead – in proval rating around 40 percent. kart racing – and much more. services. the polls. Continued on Page 6 The combination of entertainment and din- Grand Prix’s quarter-mile-long go-kart ing makes Grand Prix a unique and ultimate tracks are welcoming, safe and thrilling for boys venue for all things entertainment, offering cus- Continued on Page 9 This, too, is Westchester as Harrison Mayor Greets Summer Draws to a Close President Barack Obama Rising columnist Eric Schoen with Joan Rivers. By Eric W. Schoen days later. Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont welcomes President Barack Obama to Westchester at the Get well, Joan Rivers Now, I am no medical doctor, but the first county airport recently. The other day a friend asked me if I ever thing I thought when I heard about Joan was: When President Barack Obama paid a visit to Purchase, at the home of Carol and Robert Wolf, had a colonoscopy. I told him I did, and he went Hey, the lady is 81 years old – why wasn’t the Westchester two weeks ago, Harrison Mayor Ron for a Democratic National Committee Labor Day on to tell me he was having one and that the doc- medical procedure done at a hospital? The hospi- Belmont thought that he would be one of many barbecue, where the president urged his fellow tor gave him a choice of being knocked out or tal would have necessary support if, God forbid, elected officials to greet the president when he Democrats to help their party hold onto the U.S. partially awake. something went wrong. If it was my 81-year-old landed at Westchester County Airport in Harrison. Senate this fall. I told him I was knocked out, as it’s not the relative I would feel more comfortable know- But when Air Force One touched down Fri- Obama also attended a wedding in Pocantico most pleasant procedure. I told him to ask the ing she was in a hospital environment no matter day Aug. 29 at 2 p.m., Belmont found himself Hills at the Stone Barns Center during his West- doctor what the disadvantage is to being com- how small or insignificant the procedure was. alone and greeting the president on the runway. chester visit. pletely knocked out. Why not be comfortable, I have had the pleasure to be in Joan Riv- He got what few Americans ever get – a minute or “I had the pleasure of meeting President right? ers’ company several times during my life, not two alone with the president. Obama as he landed at Westchester County Air- This conversation took place several days counting the times as a child I watched her en- Belmont welcomed the commander-in-chief port,” said Belmont. “It was an honor to represent after Joan Rivers was rushed to the hospital after tertain in the Catskill Mountains, aka Borscht and pitched Harrison as a future home for Mr. and the town/village of Harrison as I greeted our com- going into cardiac and respiratory arrest during Belt. Most recently, I was with Joan at a book- Mrs. Obama after they depart the White House in mander in chief and welcomed him to our com- an outpatient procedure on her vocal cords at a signing two months ago. 2017. President Obama, who said that he and his munity. Although our conversation was brief, private endoscopy clinic. She passed away a few Continued on Page 10 wife, Michelle, have many friends in Westches- interacting with a sitting U.S. president was a ter and in Harrison, held fundraisers in New Ro- privilege and an experience that will not be for- chelle, at the home of the Patrignani family, and in gotten.” Teen Science Academy at Professionals & Job-Seekers Teatown Captivates Students Invited to Business Summit County Executive Rob Astorino urges small business owners and job-seekers to attend Westchester’s first annual “Connections for Suc- cess: A Small Business and Job-Seeker Sum- mit,” where they will meet Lowell Hawthorne, an inspirational “rags to riches” business leader who immigrated to America with nothing and built the Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill, now a $100 million empire. The summit will take place Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains. Business owners will learn how to gain ac- cess to the “3 Cs” that can make their business a success – customers, capital and contracts. Job- Students from Teatown’s TESA program collaborate on science research projects. seekers will gain the inside track on available opportunities within the county. Teatown hosted 11 students from eight servation science, and Hillary Seiner, assistant The day-long program will include panel Westchester high schools at the second offering conservation scientist, mentored the students discussions and breakout sessions with leading of the Teatown Environmental Science Acad- who each selected a topic for their research proj- business experts; networking opportunities with emy, which provides high school students with ect. The students conducted independent work in Continued on Page 4 meaningful hands-on experiences with the theo- the field, using Teatown’s 1,000-acre preserve, Lowell Hawthorne ries, tools and techniques scientists use to study along with a variety of laboratory analyses. They today’s pressing environmental issues. The four- then summarized their research findings for a week intensive program included students from formal presentation at a symposium in front of Briarcliff, Hastings, Ossining, Scarsdale, Sleepy parents, teachers and friends July 31. Hollow, White Plains and Yorktown high schools. The students selected an impressive array Primary Results on Page 4 Dr. Mike Rubbo, Teatown’s director of con- Continued on Page 6 PAGE 2 - WESTCHESTER’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPERS - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 Tim Allen & Eric Esterlis CO-PRESIDENTS Mindspark Interactive Yonkers, NY Yonkers is a great fit for our business. Great location, great convenience, a great environment with an urban feel. For the bright minds of Mindspark, moving to Yonkers was a no-brainer. In what was once an old factory building, Mindspark is now designing today’s latest digital applications for online audiences. Mindspark’s beautifully designed oce space with its spectacular Hudson River views is the ideal environment for creative thinkers. So if you’re thinking of moving your business, think Yonkers. Office of Economic Development | 87 Nepperhan Ave., Suite 307, Yonkers, NY 10701 | 914-377-6150 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 - WESTCHESTER’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPERS - PAGE 3 Astorino Continues Eff ort to Lowey Meets With Westchester Combat Absenteeism at School Cadets at West Point Academy With the new school year now under way, attendance or high grades. County Executive Robert Astorino has em- Several school districts in Westchester phasized the importance of the county’s “At- – such as Ossining, Yonkers, Peekskill and tendance Matters” campaign, which launched White Plains – have been innovators in ad- last year as part of his “Safer Communities” dressing the causes of absenteeism. These initiative. Safer Communities is a ground- districts have partnered with the Westchester breaking collaboration of school districts, County Department of Community Mental police departments and community mental Health, Westchester County Youth Bureau, health experts he brought together in response Student Advocacy and local community orga- to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting trag- nizations to review attendance data, policies edy. and establish incentive programs. “My goal as county executive is to en- Rochambeau Alternative High School in courage every student in Westchester County White Plains, participating in the “Attendance to attend school regularly and on time,” said Matters” effort, improved average daily atten- Astorino. “With the help of county depart- dance from 78 percent in 2011-12 to 83 per- ments, community partners and, of course, cent in 2012-13. Many of these districts will parents and guardians, we can work together be kicking off the new school year with their to ensure that students understand why atten- own “Attendance Matters” campaigns. dance is so important for success in school Reducing chronic absence is a commu- and in life.” nity affair, which means involving parents, Chronic absenteeism is when students government agencies, faith leaders, business- miss more than two weeks of school, which es and community not-for-profi ts to help build could be for a variety of reasons, including a culture of attendance and offer incentives is illness, fear of bullying, a sick parent, domes- crucial, according to Astorino.