PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY

Vol. V No. XIIIVL Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly Thursday, December 8, 2011 $1.00

Are the Chinese Phishing in Your Computer? Page 8

The Bridge Nobody Wanted Political Page 12

Musical Crime Doesn’t Pay Psychology Page 15 Mercedes C-300 101 Page 17 Their Homes Were Castles Page 18

Holiday Session Expected Page 20

If I Am Not For Myself... Page 23 The Hezitorial Have You Ever by HEZI ARIS, Page 4 Witnessed a Miracle? Page 26

westchesterguardian.com Page 2 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 3

RADIO Of Significance

Westchester Guardian Radio Network Community Section...... 4 Hezitorial...... 4 NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Guardian Radio Network, WGRN, oper- Books...... 4 ated under the auspices of Hezi Aris’ Hezitorial Absurdity, Inc. continues to build its Business...... 6 programing day on the Blog TalkRadio platform. Herein is the schedule for the week Calendar...... 7 of December 5 – December 9, 2011. Cyber Security...... 8 Economic Development...... 9 Some of Richard Narog and Hezi Aris’ guests this coming week are: Wappingers Fundraising...... 10 Falls Mayor Matt Alexander, Mary Ann Esposito, host, creator, and author of the television program and Health...... 11 book, Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito, New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Mount History...... 12 Vernon City Council President Karen Watts, among many others. Law...... 13 Listen to our radio programs live by clicking onto the following hyperlinks: Music Review...... 13 Nuclear...... 14 Westchester on the Level -http://www.blogtalkradio.com/westchesteronthelevel; People...... 14 Each show may be heard live or on demand. Choose from an MP3 download option, or peruse our Spoof...... 15 audio archives. The hyperlink to each respective interview becomes active within a half-hour of the ending Eye On Theatre...... 15 of an interview so as to allow for on demand listening. Shifting Gears...... 17 Travel...... 18 Recognizing that we shamelessly solicit your participation, you are invited to participate by calling us Government Section...... 19 toll-free at 1-877-674-2436. All we ask is that you stay on topic with regard to your question and / or your Mayor Marvin’s Column...... 19 statement. Greg’s Corner...... 20 Labor...... 20 Albany Correspondent...... 20 Government...... 21 Mission Statement Conservative Torch...... 22 OpEd Section...... 22 The Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of Ed Koch Commentary...... 24 events and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or Weir Only Human...... 25 employed in, Westchester County. TheGuardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, Legal Notices...... 27 reliable information without favor or compromise. Our first duty will be to the PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation, no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of REEF DOM OF THE PRESS. Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily journals, we will instead seek to Guardian News Corp. provide the broader, more comprehensive, chronological P.O. Box 8 step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened with analysis, New Rochelle, New York 10801 where appropriate. Sam Zherka , Publisher & President From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, [email protected] when, where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We will use our more abundant time, and our Hezi Aris, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President resources, to get past the initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ [email protected] often characteristic of immediate news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will take our readers Advertising: (914) 562-0834 to a point of understanding and insight which cannot be News and Photos: (914) 562-0834 obtained elsewhere. Fax: (914) 633-0806 To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is Published online every Monday not necessarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be all things to all readers. We must carefully Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features and columns useful in Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We www.wattersonstudios.com must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed. westchesterguardian.com Page 4 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

C THE ommunityHEZITORIAL Section unaware that the fights we have want to find a bridge; we forgot that such a There is no rational perspective to change Political Psychology 101 fought have been pointless and mechanism existed. We were within our comfort the skeptic’s mindset, or that of the believer. have exhausted our will. In fighting zone when we could point a finger of admoni- Neither is certain of the foundation upon which By HEZI ARIS for control, engaged in a rut for tion and derision toward another, brandishing their beliefs are held. supremacy, we have lost the strength them the naysayer, the outcasts within our midst. The paradigm defined above describes all Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone to continue. Those whom we loath Believers and skeptics alike would “bitch Yonkersites, and those within other communi- must have taken a course have stepped before us, won the prize, and and bicker” among themselves. They no longer ties. We are alike in many ways; in our obtuse in Political Psychology 101. have lauded over us for well over a decade. We cared if the end game would come to pass; so recalcitrance and in our earnestness to explore. How else would he have got giddy when we were the ones to call others long as they could be in the game, they would be Shouting at each other, pointing fingers within become so adept at the finger- “naysayers,” even though we knew that they sufficiently sated. We loved kicking our adver- our midst will not do. pointing antics by which we have become were not necessarily so. That was the game. We saries in the shins. Laughed our heads off at the We are at another fork in the road; an familiar judging his temperament. He became would carry out the “ploy” with which we were pain it would exact their gait. We enjoyed the opportunity often before us, trampled by our not proficient at engaging others to do his bidding. entrusted to win favor among our “friends and ancillary aspects of the fight. We had long since knowing what to do. He was superb in nurturing strife over incon- family network” brethren. We were family. We forgotten why we were adversaries. If you believe, shout it out. Find the vehicle sequence. The superficiality of those engaged in were “right” in our thinking and in our vision. Even so, we hoped to proselytize anyone we to celebrate your knowledge. Reach out beyond those pointless adversarial chapters in Yonkers We never did learn the fights were point- could into the fold. It was a futile effort. Some the comfort of your friends. historical pages brought about no better under- less; even though forks in the road forced a time would gravitate to one side; others to the oppo- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone continues to standing over any of Yonkersites’ concerns. We out, here and there. We had a quick respite to site side. There was no proof by which to judge rape the City of Yonkers in broad daylight. There were simply caught in the treadmill-like exis- reassess. But we would not. We were now in fear who was right and who was wrong. has yet to be found, even one among us, who will tence we were astute in recognizing in other of the “friends and family network.” We knew We have been unable to raise logic beyond challenge him from the “burn and slash” depar- communities, among others, but not among all too well the retribution they could and would the ground floor where it is seemingly stuck. We ture he has chosen as his farewell. ourselves. If we did, we would not admit to it. exact. We were stuck in the plot of our choosing. are still bickering over our belief system. What I Media will not be able to stop his plunder. We were either on the side of those who perpe- We were no longer in control of our destiny. believe is superior to your belief system, or vice We can only bear witness for his lack of benevo- trated these irrelevant sideshows, or we found Still we endured; enjoying the momentary versa. It is as though your God is stronger and lence, his arrogance, his retribution, and the ourselves incapable of extracting ourselves from opportunity we had in blocking our adversaries wiser than mine; or vise versa. We have yet to get shame with which he has soiled the City of the mesmerizing hold it had over us. from moving forward on their vision of control beyond this superfluous issue. God is the ulti- Yonkers. We have become consumed by the game of us. We never did learn to get along. We didn’t mate no matter how you may address him/her. BOOKS

might lead.’ The Retired (Try To) Strike Back—Chapter 29 – The Vice President “But as I left with Nancy, I kept thinking: How true is our film’s conclusion about today’s By ALLAN LUKS seniors, in addition to all the other ways we can “I’m watching a TV paying attention to her words. “I know political one of the blue tarps. His work pants were terribly help, being potential leaders for the country? We interview last week with the leaders, having worked too many years for the wrinkled, and he wore a turtleneck sweater and can make sandwiches. But be actual leaders?” vice president,” says Steven, different commissioners of the motor vehicle two windbreaker jackets. His sign said, ‘Where “I’m thinking these thoughts as we walk “and the reporter asks him if department. They walk around making new rules Are TheE lders?’ out of the park—and then there’s this heavy slap he could consider running for in their heads. They’re not thinking of ways to “Nancy and I went over to him, and he told on my shoulder. I turn and it’s the guy we were president in the future since show sensitivity.” us he had slept every night of the protest in the talking to. He suddenly hugs me, and then turns next year he’ll be seventy. But the vice president “I was still annoyed, and asked Nancy to go park. ‘But there are only a few our age doing it,’ around and returns to where he stood with his stops her and says, ‘No, I’m only sixty-eight. Next with me to see he said. sign. year I’ll just be sixty-nine.” first-hand the protest on Wall Street about “He stopped speaking and watched me but “Nancy and I have kept discussing what his Steven shakes his head to his seven friends, the economy,” says Steven. “The group camping without any expression. As if waiting for my reply hug meant. I still feel his hug. Maybe it means as they eat breakfast in a local diner to discuss the out there is mostly young, and I wanted to see if about joining the protest. that even if the retired now aren’t sure about how marketing of their new dating-advice video, The any seniors were participating and how they were “I told him I’d been a social worker all my to express our vitality, we know, at least most of the Retired Person’s Dating Film. treated by the young organizers. career, working in very poor neighborhoods. I time, that we have it. And it’s because we can see “I like the vice president,” Steven continues. “We arrived and noticed all the blue plastic wouldn’t sleep on the ground now. Maybe I many of us pushing. Whatever the form. We’re “But his answer annoyed me. He reinforced the tarpaulins they’re sleeping under. The great would have forty years ago, but not now. But I still the rallying cry for ourselves. ridiculous belief that as you get older one year can majority appeared to be in their twenties. expect to contribute to society at my age. “I mean, I’d like to tell the vice president, and make a difference, you suddenly can be over the “We did see some older women and men, “I explained to him that I was part of a group other public leaders who are seniors and worry hill, and seventy is a big marker on that downhill fifties to maybe even eighties, holding small signs. that made a film to encourage single seniors to about their age because they think everyone else road. I’m a social worker, and I wanted to tell the I spoke with several, and they said they just came date, form new relationships. And to use their does, ‘Get a hug.’.” vice president that he doesn’t have sensitivity to his for the day. past experiences to even think of becoming public Allan Luks is a nationally recognized social works own age group. “A few of them walked with canes. One told leaders in some fashion. I asked what he had he leader and advocate for volunteerism. He is the former “We need leaders to tell the country that me how she and her husband brought two large done before the protest. He’d only say he owned head of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of New York and is seniors today are vital, and to use the help they canvas bags of turkey and cheese sandwiches, a small business but didn’t want to talk about it. currently a visiting professor at Fordham University, offer. That’s our film’s theme. But who’s going to which were immediately eaten. She said, ‘My “When I asked him if the younger people where he teaches several courses in nonprofit lead- keep emphasizing the message, if public leaders generation knew civil rights, the Vietnam war, running the protest considered his views, he said, ership. You can learn more about Allan Luks at dance around the age question?” urban demonstrations. I can still show how to ‘They might, except I don’t want to be a leader. http://allanluks.com. You can also write to him - “Steven’s naïve,” says Nancy, his wife, protest.’ They’re the leaders now. I believe the elders, like mailto:[email protected]. turning her head as she speaks, her large earrings “Then we saw a man, late sixties, standing me, should just be soldiers now. bouncing, as if emphasizing the importance of alone with a sign. He looked like he’d slept under “I argued, saying, ‘there can still be times we The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 5

BOOKS No Guarantees: One Man’s Road through the Darkness of Depression Chapter Fourteen – Doctor, Doctor – From Bad to Worse By BOB MARRONE As you might surmise from that I could solve my problem by “figuring it the previous chapter, Doctor out.” One of the books I bought was called Debrienza, who is, no doubt, “Beyond Success and Failure.” On the same day well into his eternal reward, is not on my list of that the Rangers were losing to the Islanders, favorite people. But to be fair his attitude toward I was trying solve what was wrong with me in emotional illness was quite common across prac- this little paper back scroll, when I reached a titioners thirty years ago. paragraph, just one sentence really, that stopped Things are better today, if still not perfect. me in my tracks. All it said was that “maybe you Finding that first doctor who can recognize the are somewhat childlike.” As soon as these words symptoms well enough to determine whether reached my brain I turned nauseous, still more you need more specialized help remains a key anxious and started to panic. This could not be, challenge, and even then you might leave their I thought. “I am not a child.” I said to myself, office worse than you went in. That’s because in “I am not a coward.” Yet the more I read it, the the treatment of mental/emotional illnesses, what more I was sure it was true. And the more I is said to the patient can inadvertently violate the thought it was true, the more I tried to figure out Hippocratic Oath of “first do no harm.” if that was not what it really meant. Maybe I was By the time I walked into the dark, wood reading it wrong? “I am not a coward, I am not paneled office of the highly regarded Firth a coward, I am not a child, I am not worthless, Avenue internist, referred to me by a friend, I I am somebody,” went the mantra in my head. was in a state of extreme agitation and anxiety. The internal dynamo inside me spooled up this I do not remember his name, nor do I have it in loop until hysteria took over and convinced me my files, but I remember him well. He was tall, that it was true. “I am a child,” went the refrain, “ about six one or two, youthful, maybe thirty-five I am a coward, a coward, a coward,” until I trem- or forty, with the lean, yet full frame of an athlete. bled with self hate and anxiety. Nothing I did, With the baring of a confident college instructor, nothing I thought, absolutely nothing stopped he sat down behind his desk and listened. it. It was as if my brain itself had lost the ability All I could do was go on and on about what to place boundaries on where my thoughts went was happening to me. I told him I thought I and how my mood responded. might be brain damaged, or perhaps was having I sat there on the floor in front of my night- a nervous breakdown. I went on about how stand, reading that same sentence in that book, horrible it was to know that the very thing I for four hours. With each read I was hoping that needed to help myself was now compromised… it would mean something different. It never did; my brain. I told him these things and more, and it was to be years before it meant nothing. I again, again and again. My mouth was dry, my rose from the floor, in tears, finally realizing that lips were chapped, my voice was shrill and I was I was very ill. sweating profusely. I felt like I was bursting out So, I was sitting there in the doctor’s office, of my skin. virtually continuing the same internal conversa- In the days between my visits to these two tion from Sunday, except now it was out loud. doctors my condition went downhill. It was The good doctor listened patiently and then, when I first learned that things can always get stopping me to deliver his diagnosis, said, “Mr. worse no matter how bad they already are. One Marrone, from what you are describing and particularly rough day was the Sunday between what I can observe, you appear to be suffering appointments. The New York Rangers hockey from manic depression and I am going to team was in the now famous playoff with the prescribe a drug called Mallorill.” then terrible New York Islanders. The Blue To say that I panicked would be an under- Shirts were getting beaten in a way that would statement. From my obsessive reading of become iconic for its drama. I could enjoy none self-help books and my inherent hypochondria, of it. I was unable to stop obsessing enough to I knew that such a diagnosis would mean I was concentrate, a skill that was to go away dramati- suffering from a psychotic illness and that my cally in the weeks ahead. I was also at a point at worst fears had come true. I was crazy, insane, which I could not read very much unless what I and could no longer trust what I thought. The was reading was associated with what I thought latter was by now the case anyway, but codifying was happening to me. One such item led me to a it in that way for me was the most horrifying point that also underscored how troubled I was. thing I have ever experienced. My mind, the very In my self-hating and discouraged state of Continued on page 6 mind, I reached out to self-help books thinking Page 6 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

BOOKS

No Guarantees: One Man’s Road through the Darkness of Depression like that Sunday, the mantra began: “I am child, I am a coward, I am a child, I am a coward,” went Continued from page 5 taught that the need for such medication was a drugs until I did. I went home to wait. I refused the refrain, until I turned it off and lay in my thing through which I related to the world sign of weakness and cowardice, another double to take the pills and never did, in retrospect, bed in the fetal position, once again with scapula and the instrument I needed to save myself, was whammy for me. probably a mistake. around my neck, now joined by a small silver no longer reliable or available to me. Further, I The doctor told me to calm down, that he That night I tired to ease my pain by cross, saying the Rosary, waiting for sleep. knew the drug he recommended, not unlike knew a doctor who could help me. I begged watching an episode of the Honeymooners. The the better known Thorazine, was for serious him to see the guy right away. He said it would fact that it was a comedy, and thus something Listen to Bob Marrone every weekday from 6:00- psychotic disorders. Worse still, I had been take about two weeks, and that I should take the fun and childlike, had the opposite effect.A gain, 8:30 am on the Good Morning Westchester with Bob Marrone on WVOX-1460 AM radio. during Carl’s test flight, the plane Thing” and rebuilds the VTOL aircraft. On his The Airplane explodes as it hovers in front maiden voyage, Bruce agrees to take Juli on a of his son, the military and the flight to disrupt a terrorist threat to bomb the A New Thriller by Karl Milde media. Was it a bad design or was West Point Military Academy while the U.S. it sabotage? President delivers an historic speech announcing WHITE PLAINS, NY -- Karl Milde was Juli Gables, a journalist and a scientific breakthrough that could end all war a young boy driving a tractor on his family’s investigative reporter, stars as the heroine in as we know it. farm in Litchfield, Connecticut, when he first Karl’s novels. Using her investigative skills Karl Milde, in addition to being an imagi- imagined an airplane that could lift straight up and sharp observations, she follows the native writer and inventor, is an intellectual instead of using a long runway. Today and 10 clues to unearth the cause of the accident. property attorney with Eckert Seamans Cherin patents later, Karl has perfected his design for his She soon learns that it was not a mechanical and Mellott, LLC in White Plains, NY. Karl vertical takeoff and landing or “VTOL” aircraft. malfunction that killed Carl, but someone holds bachelor degrees in physics and electrical Although he has not built one as yet, Karl’s wanted him dead. Juli puts herself in danger attended the test flight and becomes her prime engineering from MIT. He received his law VTOL aircraft saves the day in his new thriller, as her relentless investigation takes her from the suspect. The police have their own suspect. They degree from Georgetown University. “TheA irplane.” U.S. Army to the White House. arrest the corporate mogul who invested in the Karl has also written a screenplay and five chil- “The Airplane” is a sequel to “The The fast-paced thriller begins on Long VTOL and now stands trial as Carl’s murderer. dren’s books. Karl’s books can be previewed on his Commuter Train,” Karl’s first full-length novel, Island, NY where the tragic test flight takes Juli is in a race against time to prove one person’s websites,www.milde.com, www.gablesreport.com, and the second book in the soon to be trilogy. place. You travel with Juli to the U.S. Army’s innocence and find the real killer before another and are available to purchase in local bookstores and Carl Collingwood, Karl Milde’s alter ego, builds Aberdeen Proving Ground in Washington, D.C. tragedy occurs. on Amazon.com. Karl lives with his wife, Cheryl, in the VTOL aircraft in this latest novel. However, where she interrogates the army general who Carl’s son, Bruce, is committed to fulfill his father’s dream of developing the “Next Big Mahopac, NY. BUSINESS Archbishop Shevchuk “Rewards”. Texas de Brazil is Coming to Yonkers! Texas de Brazil at Ridge Hill will be open Installed Head of the for dinner Monday – Thursday from 5:00 p.m. Ukrainian Catholic Authentic Brazilian Churrascaria to Open in Ridge Hill Shopping Center – 10:00 p.m., Friday from 5:30 p.m. – to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 4:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. and Church YONKERS, NY—Texas de Brazil, the Sunday from 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 nation’s premier Brazilian steakhouse, p.m. The dining prices are $46.99 has announced the grand opening of its for Regular Dinner and $24.99 for 23rd restaurant at Westchester’s Ridge Light Dinner. Children under 2 Hill in late December 2011. Offering an are free, from ages 3-5 the price is extensive menu of acclaimed Southern $5.00, and children 6-12 dine for Brazilian cuisine with the generous spirit half price. of Texas, Texas de Brazil’s vibrant atmo- More information including sphere and extensive menu is sure to the official opening date and dazzle every guest. private dining will be available The dynamic menu at Texas de shortly, in the meantime, please Brazil will feature a gourmet salad area visit: www.texasdebrazil.com for containing more than 60 items, a fresh information. sushi bar, and a variety of grilled meats, Texas de Brazil is family all prepared in the traditional Brazilian owned and operated. Started in method, over an open flame, and carved cheeses, marinated Portobello mushrooms, and 1998, the company has quickly THE BRONX, NY -- Father Joseph tableside by the restaurant’s authentically artichoke hearts. Guests can conclude their grown into one of the country’s premier McShane, SJ, President of Fordham costumed Brazilian cowboys or “Gauchos”. dining experience with one of Texas de Brazil’s Churrascarias, currently operating 23 domestic University and His Beatitude Major Meat selections include Brazilian sausage, many dessert selections, relax with an after- locations and three international locations. The Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of dinner drink, or a steaming espresso. restaurant’s menu consists of 15 grilled meats; chicken breast wrapped in bacon, rack of lamb the Ukrainian Catholic Church and and the house specialty, picanha, to name a few. New York residents can sign up immedi- all prepared in the traditional Brazilian method ately for the Texas de Brazil eClub and be one of over an open flame and carved tableside by the Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan The cuts are slowly roasted over an open flame celebrate Archbishop Shevchuk receiving and accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes, the first to receive important opening announce- restaurant’s authentically costumed Gauchos, as Brazilian cheese bread, and sweet-fried bananas. ments, complimentary dinners for birthdays well as an elaborate salad area, wine list, dessert an honorary doctorate from Fordham Salad area items include but are surly not limited and anniversaries and special event invitations. menu, full liquor bar and private rooms available University of November 20, 2011. to, Brazilian black beans with pork, imported Log on at www.texasdebrazil.com and click on for special functions. For more information visit www.texasdebrazil.com The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 7

CALENDAR “Christmas Spirit” Toy and Coat Drive Hosted When was the last time by Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway you dealt with YONKERS, NY -- For the fifth straight year, Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway presi- Lexington Capital Associates? dent Timothy J. Rooney and Catholic Charities will again team up to make the holiday season happier for the less fortunate. Empire City will host a week-long “Christmas Spirit Coat and Toy Drive” from Sunday, December 11 through Saturday, December 17. Empire City will be accepting the donations at any time during that period. Patrons are asked to bring new, unwrapped Leading harness driver Jason Bartlett toys and/or new or gently used coats anytime assisting in the 2008 “Christmas Spirit” Toy during the week. The items will be delivered to and Coat Drive at Empire City Casino. Catholic Charities supported agencies for the Christmas Holidays. The toy and coat drive For Empire City information log onto has become a holiday tradition at Empire City www.yonkersraceway.com, direct email to info@ Casino. YonkersRaceway.com, or call 914 968-4200; for Empire City Casino is located at 810 Catholic Charities, contact Jacqueline Lofaro Yonkers Avenue (at Central Avenue) in Yonkers, at 212-371-1000, or direct email to Jacqueline. New York, Westchester County (I-87 to Exit 2). [email protected]. News & Notes from Northern Westchester By MARK JEFFERS

Well, the Jeffers family took Center will be giving gifts of NEW pajamas, their annual trip to the hills slippers, robes and socks to kids ages infant to 18 to cut down our Christmas years. They will need hundreds of items to reach tree, as always we searched their goal of giving this gift of warmth to every and searched to find the child in families served by the Center. Donations perfect tree, and once again our choice was the are now being accepted during the Center’s first tree we left a ribbon on…took us an another regular hours of operation: Tuesday through hour taking the ribbon off 20 trees. Here’s an Friday, 10 to 4; Saturday, 10 to 1. easy choice…have a look at this week’s “News The second Sunday Antiques Market in and Notes…” Scotts Corners will be held Sunday, December 11th. Want to hear some really great music then Dance for Joy, (that’s certainly why I dance), stop by the annual hand bell benefit concert on a ballet school in Mohegan Lake will present December 18th at the Emanuel Evangelical two performances of “Nutcracker for Kids” at Lutheran Church in Pleasantville call 914-769- the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill With over 50 years experience, Lexington Capital Associates 1559 for details. on December 18th. provides loans from $1m-$150m at some of the lowest Holiday shopping in the community for Love the name of this group, “The Guernsey the community gets a boost this season at two Literary and Potato Peel Society,” by Mary Ann interest rates available in the marketplace. local stores that will donate a portion of their Shaffer andA nnie Barrows will meet December proceeds of sales to the Community Center of 11th at the Mount Pleasant Public Library in • For cash flowing loans- NO PERSONAL GUARANTEE Northern Westchester. So please visit Acadia on Pleasantville. • 30 year payouts Main at 115 East Main Street in Mount Kisco, For all those art lovers out there, the three- an outdoor and lifestyle store, on Thursday, dimensional mixed-media photo collages by • Int. only loans available December 8th, from 6 to 8 pm. Fifteen percent Debra Schaffer will be on exhibit December of all sales during the event will be donated to 17th through January 28th at the Pound Ridge the Center. Or if you’re looking for one-of-a- Library Gallery. kind gifts, visit Suburban Groove, 33 Katonah Here’s something we all can use, afford- Ave. in Katonah. Suburban Groove will donate able housing in Somers…the Mews at Baldwin Lexington Capital Associates, LLC. a portion of sales through December 31st to the Place recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony 240 North Avenue Community Center. to open 72 affordable-housing apartments And even more Community Center for senior citizens, for more information call New Rochelle, NY 10801 news…Cold winter nights call for warm, cozy 914-332-4144. Phone (914) 632-1230 fax (914) 633-0806 jammies. Now through December 23rd, the Continued on page 8 Page 8 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

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News & Notes from Northern Westchester The Hudson Valley Chapter of Make a donate a little something to your favorite charity Wish is running their Wheels For Wishes to make their holiday season just a bit brighter. Continued from page 7 clothing in White Plains at Westchester Jewish campaign and are looking for car donations to Trust me, it will give you a warm feeling inside, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Community Services; call 914-761-0600 for help the less fortunate…Give them a ring at just like I feel after a rum egg nog...see you next New York Tri-State Area is accepting applica- more information. 855-407-9474 for more information. week. th Turning to sports: tions through January 27 for scholarships (and Good luck to Lou Nemnom as he has been Mark Jeffers successfully spearheaded the launch in How about some bowling action…both not just for clown school) for students in New elected by the board of directors of Westchester 2008 of MAR$AR Sports & Entertainment LLC. the girls and boys bowling teams from Valhalla York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Visiting Nurse Services Group, Inc. as its new pres- As president he has seen rapid growth of the company defeated Hamilton by the identical score of 7 to Don’t forget the annual Have-a-Heart (you ident and chief executive officer. The Westchester with the signing of numerous clients. He currently 0. On the ice, it was Byram Hills a winner over know the Grinch grew on!) for the Holidays Visiting Nurse Services Group is the largest inde- resides in Bedford Hills with his wife Sarah and th Lakeland 5 to 3 in hockey. gift drive now through December 15 . You pendent non-profit certified home health agency in three girls, Kate, Amanda and Claire. can drop off new unwrapped toys and new Westchester and Putnam Counties. In this season of giving, please don’t forget to

have gone on to become professional photogra- Four Seasons at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens phers, and several have won numerous awards in national and international competitions. A few members, such as Roger Busch, Mike and Sally Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens Harris, and Barbara O’Shea, will present Four Seasons at exhibit regularly at Greenwich Bartlett Arboretum, a photog- Arts to the Avenue and other raphy exhibit organized by the well-known, local art shows Photography Club of Lower and galleries. Dona Menton Fairfield County (PCLFC). and Shamik Ganguly exhibit The show is free and open to the in Rowayton. The club’s public from 10 am until 4 pm president, Sandy Gennrich, every day, including weekends, was recently highlighted in and will run from December Serendipity magazine as one 9 through January 31, 2012 in of several up-and-coming the Bartlett Arboretum’s new local artists. In April, 2011, Silver Educational Center, 151 the club held its first official Brookdale Avenue, in Stamford. exhibition at the Bendheim Non-member gate admission to Gallery, in Greenwich, CT. the Bartlett Arboretum is $6 for Autumn Splendor by David Henkel Winter Tree Bark by Shamik Ganguly The show was sponsored and adults, children under 12 free. juried by the Greenwich Arts Club members of the Council. For more information organization. All photographs are for imme- attracting members from southern Fairfield www.pclfc.com PCLFC spent twelve months photographing diate sale and photographers have arranged to County, CT, and Westchester County, NY. The about the club, visit . the seasonal changes at Bartlett Arboretum – donate a generous percentage of the photo sales club holds meetings twice a month and sched- For more information about the Bartlett the wide variety of plants and flowers, the pond to sustain the mission of the Bartlett Arboretum. ules monthly competitions that are divided into Arboretum & Gardens and opportunities to and creek areas, Potter’s Field, the greenhouse, The CP LFC (originally called the Stamford two levels: amateur and advanced. Photographs support the new Silver Educational Center or and more. The exhibit displays a range of photo- children’s and adults’ nature programs visit the Camera Club), was founded in 1945. The are critiqued and scored by three judges. Other www.bartlettarboretum.org graphic styles and individual interpretations of 55-member organization has grown to be a activities include fieldtrips and workshops. website or call the 91-acre nature reserve. The club’s goal, in leading photography organization in the area, Some past and current PCLFC members 203-322-6971. part, was to help promote one local, non-profit CYBER SECURITY MATTERS from individuals. As always the truth is much against anti-Chinese forces, like the United Are the Chinese Phishing in Your Computer? more complicated. States. Some of these hackers are even consid- Any company that does security monitoring ered heroes in China. These groups sell software, By ALAN HEYMAN sees a lot of hacking coming from China, but malware services and of course the data they they can’t prove it. It is possible the hackers are steal on the black market. When Internet hackers try whose email address book has been hijacked. Your from New York City and disguise themselves, The Chinese military has long had a to trick you into giving them Web browser is then hijacked so when you type in making it appear the hackers are coming from doctrine of using cyber warfare as a leapfrogging your personal information, it the address of a legitimate Web site, you are taken China. The majority of computer servers used in technology that will allow it to achieve military is called phishing. Legitimate to a fake copy of the web site without realizing it; theses cyber attacks are located in China, but this parity with the West without having to engage companies don’t ask you to usually this occurs at a bank’s sign in page. Any may just be a bounce from one computer server in an expensive missile for missile arms race like send sensitive data over the insecure Internet, personal data you enter at the phony site can be to another. Each transmission might involve the one that bankrupted the Soviet Union. The yet may people reply to emails, texts or pop-up stolen and fraudulently used. hundreds of bounces all over the world, very Chinese military has chosen to look the other messages that ask for their personal or financial Popular media sources state; these are coor- difficult to unravel and trace. way and probably is a major buyer of the fruits information. Don’t respond even if the requests dinated attempts by the Chinese government This is not to say that China does not of labor of these nationalistic hackers. It certainty seem to come from a company or organization to hack into US computers by the hundreds of have hackers. It does many thousands of them. learns from hackers and supports them in unof- you trust! thousands; stealing military and government I believe they are doing this for two reasons: ficial ways. What about pharming? This is when a virus secrets, trade secrets from companies, intellec- fame and glory, and an attempt to make a living. If anything, the fact that these unofficial or malicious program is secretly planted in your tual properties from law firms, financial data and The fame and glory comes from nationalistic groups are not run by the Chinese government computer; often they seem to come from a friend money from banks and financial information goals. They are upholding their county’s honor makes the problem worse. Some of these hackers The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 9

CYBER SECURITY MATTERS are very good at what they do. Without a central say attacks have been more severe or more diffi- political coordination, they’re likely to take more cult to prevent over the past 12 to 18 months, risks, do idiotic things and generally ignore the while 78% say attacks are more frequent. The political repercussions of their actions. As a survey was sponsored by Juniper Networks. result, it is most probable the US government is Of the companies that did suffer cyber using the potential threat of Chinese hacking as attacks, 40% don’t know where the attacks came an impetus to get its own cyber security in order. from. While the top three causes of cyber secu- This entails requesting increased congressional rity attacks came from insider abuse, malicious budgets, increased Department of Defense software downloads and malware from a Web (DoD) budgets and all kinds of new regulations site. Employee laptops were the most common and laws, federal and state that will definitely (34%) source of cyber security breaches. The hamper our freedoms and modify our personnel survey further concluded that so many organiza- living habits and ease of using computers. tions were having multiple breaches that resulted Convenience in many areas may become a in a low opinion about their company’s security concept of the past because of the levels of secu- preparedness and a low level of confidence of rity that will be required, like changing your their company’s ability to prevent future attacks. passwords every three months, while having Let’s not forget the costs: 55% of the many different passwords to remember. breaches in the study cost between $250,000 This appears to be necessary as cyber attacks to $1,000,000 to remedy. Other studies show are on the rise from China and many other loca- that 64% of the companies that were breached tions based throughout the world. The Chinese by a Cyber-attack in 2009 had fewer than 100 government is already claiming that they also employees. have been victims of cyber attacks. It becomes Cyber security is becoming a serious issue more and more evident that many countries are that is impacting all levels of our country and engaging in this type of inexpensive espionage. has to be taken seriously by all, especially the US While the US is being hacked, it is very conceiv- government. able that the US is also conducting the hacking. There is a bigger question, and that is not Mr. Alan Heyman, [email protected] ; that United States is under attack, but rather that Managing Director of Cyber Security Auditors & our sensitive networks are so vulnerable to cyber Administrators LLC (CSA2) and the principal attacks. Our network systems are old or are so of Xanadu Security Services, LTD, (XS2) located poorly constructed that hackers can steal at will. at 436 Pleasantville Rd, Briarcliff, NY 10510. The question really becomes what the US is His resume is comprised of 25 years in the data doing to protect our infrastructure. The electrical communication world, having started one of the utility grid system is considered by many cyber first internet based Electronic Data Interchange security experts to be one of the most vulner- (EDI) companies in the late 80’s. CSA2 is focused able to a cyber-attack that could cripple the US on cyber security issues on a national scale, and the overnight. auditing compliance requirements in the healthcare Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent industry. Mr. Heyman’s expertize is a holistic/best and severe, and the vast majority of businesses practices approach to privacy needs, encompassing have suffered at least one data breach in the past legal compliance, IT Engineering, Software, Social year, states a survey from the Ponemon Institute Engineering with a special emphasis on computer- (a leading cyber security analytics study group). izing audit compliance issues. He is fully certified by According to the survey, 77% of the respondents the IBM Internet Security Solution’s Group in all phases of IT and cyber security.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT How Profitable is the Weyman Avenue Development in New Rochelle? By PEGGY GODFREY

Recently Charles Strome, the sales tax, property tax, and “amortized land New Rochelle City Manager sales proceedings” totaled $5.5 million while the Charles Strome recently divulged on radio debt service was $2.9 million, thereby creating that New Rochelle was making money on the an excess of $2.6 million in profits. Since it is Weyman Avenue site upon which sit Home well known that Home Depot had been given Depot and Costco. Upon hearing the asser- a tax certiorari reduction a few years ago, sales tax tion, inquiry for proof and substantiating figures figures were requested. It has since been were asked. The response given was that in 2010, Continued on page 10 Page 10 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

How Profitable is the Weyman Avenue Development in New Rochelle? rather than retail. The City in his view is paying for the mistakes of the past, despite the abate- Continued from page 9 from New Rochelle businesses such as Librett, now shopping in the area. Driving down Main ments which have since come to an end. The cost learned that in l998-1999 the Weyman Avenue Benders, various locksmiths, paint stores, among Street can take a long time. A fair comparison of the infrastructure, road paving and upkeep, is Development generated $4 million,; it was the other stores that had carried similar merchan- would be to factor in how much the Weyman not factored into these reports. Tocci believes the highest recorded amount through 2010, the dise to these newly proposed stores were made Avenue site has contributed to this scenario. developers must supply these services. According year for which $3.2 million was generated. The by citizen groups before the Weyman Avenue Is it any wonder we consistently hear that to Tocci, the Weyman Avenue development figures seem to have generated more questions project was approved. Those stores would the city should do away with IDA’s and tax “does not break down the sales tax by store. How than answers eventually close; the City had neither contem- abatements. Even New Roc City, which was can city officials tell whether Home Depot and According to Ferrandino and Associates, plated nor predicted such an outcome. It is supposed to be a retail center, has turned out to Costco are generating more money than what the original sales tax projections for a land parcel the loss of those businesses that exemplify the be mostly an entertainment complex with few the City puts into the area?” Therein is the issue for major stores, defined as appropriate toH ome need to reassess what has already transpired in sales tax generating businesses. to which many residents would like a substanti- Depot, Fantasy Land, and BJ’s, was projected at New Rochelle. The empty lot on the corner of We need to objectively assess the Weyman ated answer. $1.6 million. (Sales tax was 1.5% at that time.) Main Street and Weyman Avenue, for example, Avenue development. Without the extra 1% sales tax which was owned by the City used to be occupied by Former New York State Assemblyman Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer and a former granted shortly thereafter, New Rochelle would Caruso Lumber. Schaefer foods used to be a car Ron Tocci has stated his present disappoint- educator. only be generating $1.9 million in taxes instead wash, and Neptune Movers was part of eight ment with the city’s focus on building residential of the current $3.2 million it received in 2010. dislocated businesses which were tax generating Should the present sales tax of 2.5% be used for entities. Four of these tax generating entities were FUNDRAISING the original projections of $1.6 million, a valid removed from the tax rolls to create a parking lot. comparison could be made because the sales A list of 200 businesses that would be tax would have then been $2.6 million. Does harmed by Home Depot’s opening was articu- Breast Cancer: Progress and Promise a miscalculation difference of $800,000 ($3.2 lated and circulated before that project was million minus $2.6 million) seem equitable approved. It is not surprising to hear people 5th Anniversary of Westchester Hot Pink Luncheon when the inflation rate and increased consumer lament that downtown New Rochelle now has The Fifth Annual Westchester prices are considered? empty stores, is lacking parking facilities and a Hot Pink Luncheon was Projections for the loss of sales tax revenue change to the demographic of the consumer held on Tuesday, November 29 at Brae Burn Country Club. With over 200 guests in attendance, the event raised nearly $240,000, making it the most successful Westchester Luncheon yet. The event was co-chaired by Ellen Brown, Debra Ezratty, Sheryl Kaye, Kim Meyers and Linda Plattus. Shelly Kivell, who founded this annual luncheon in 2007, was honored for her role as a community leader and her commitment to raising aware- , (L-R): Debbie Ezratty, Ellen Brown, Linda Plattus, Shelly Mary Ann Esposito ness for breast cancer research. Kivell, Kim Meyers and Sheryl Kaye Shelly spoke about her dedica- host of the popular PBS show tion to breast cancer research, and spread of different cancers. Dr. Norton Ciao Italia, welcomes you and the achievement of the Westchester concluded that the aim is to develop new drugs community funding the first “Westchester effective against not just one, but several types into her family and shares Women’s” researcher, Lyndsay Harris, MD of cancer. more than two hundred from Yale University School of Medicine. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of her most treasured and Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) Scientific Director Larry Norton, is an independent not-for-profit organiza- time-honored recipes in this MD “interviewed” Dr. Harris on breast cancer tion committed to funding scientific research to achieve prevention and a cure for breast gorgeous and beautifully research efforts impacting “personalized” or individualized patient care. Several topics were cancer in our lifetime. In October 2011, BCRF designed cookbook. discussed, including research and technolog- awarded $36.5 million to 186 scientists across ical advances that have led cancer research to the United States, Canada, Latin America, • 200 RECIPES shift away from organ-specific studies. Until Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and China. • FULL-COLOR THROUGHOUT very recently, the central treatment option With over 90 cents of every dollar donated for cancer patients was surgery, and therefore currently being directed to breast cancer cancer research “silos” were organized into research and awareness programs, BCRF continues to remain fiscally responsible, while For more information and to preorder your copy today visit CiaoItalia.com breast, lung, colon, and such. However, tremen- dous advances in the understanding of cancer funding brilliant investigators at major medical institutions worldwide. For more information cell biology have led scientists to observe the www.bcrfcure.org commonalities in what promotes the growth about BCRF, visit .

ciaoItalia_ad.indd 1 9/29/11 10:11 AM The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 11

HEALTH Coins & Currency, approval in May 2011. Both drugs work by Babyboomers Most at Risk for Hepatitis C Virus blocking an enzyme that helps the virus repro- Gold & Silver duce. The drugs are intended to improve on standard treatments using the injected drug Wanted THE BRONX, NY and SCARSDALE, be asymptomic for decades and then present pegylated interferon alpha and the pill rivavrin. NY -- Baby boomers, adults born between itself when it has already severely damaged the “So far, the new drugs have shown promise Experienced collector and 1946-1964, are most at risk liver.” in clearing the virus from the body and almost part-time dealer will identify for Hepatitis C because they When symptoms do occur doubling the cure rate of the disease,” said your holdings, explain how to are more likely to have been after the disease has progressed, Allan Wolkoff, MD, Professor of Medicine determine value, and make exposed to dangerous risk they’re generally mild and flu- and of Anatomy and Structural Biology at factors decades ago, such as like and may include fatigue, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva you a strong offer or sell for sharing a drug needle, being fever, nausea or poor appetite, University you on consignment. tattooed or pierced with muscle and joint pain, bruising, and Chief of the Division of References available. unsterilized tools or receiving a abdominal pain, jaundice and Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at tainted blood transfusion. Two itching. At that point, chronic Montefiore andE instein. “Another key benefit thirds of people diagnosed with infection can lead to scarring is that they cut treatment time in half, thus the disease fall into this age of the liver (fibrosis) and then reducing the time the patient has to endure range. The disease often has no advanced scarring (cirrhosis). the severe side effects, which include anemia, symptoms and if untreated, can Scarring of the liver makes it depression and flu-like symptoms like fatigue, lead to chronic infection that difficult for the liver to function fever and headache. can scar the liver, cause liver Paul Gaglio, MD, FACP, properly and can be devas- If the liver disease progresses too far and [email protected] failure or cancer and potentially AGAF - Medical Director Liver tating to the rest of the body, the medications are not effective, then trans- lead to liver transplantation. Transplantation at Montefiore often causing liver failure or liver plantation is the last resort. However, more Hepatitis C virus (HCV Medical Center cancer. than 16,000 people in the United States are is the most common chronic People at risk can get a currently waiting for a liver donor, and in New blood borne infection in the United States, simple blood test to detect the virus before York State, there are 1,700 patients on the with 35,000 to 185,000 new cases diagnosed chronic infection leads to permanent liver waiting list. per year. Worldwide, 180 million people are damage. The Montefiore Medical Center Factors that have been reported to accel- 914-649-3317 chronically infected with Hepatitis C, with an Comprehensive Liver Disease Program offers erate the rate of HCV disease progression [email protected] estimated 3-4 million new cases reported each simple and effective screenings. It is recom- include age, gender (males have more rapid year. The disease particularly affects minorities, mended that individuals talk to their primary disease progression than females), alcohol Hispanics, Asian-Americans and African- care physician or contact 888-RX-LIVER consumption, HIV coinfection (approximately Americans. In fact, Hispanics are twice more (888-795-4837) for more information or to set 35% of patients) and fatty liver (the presence of likely to be infected than non-Hispanic whites. up an appointment for a screening. fat in liver cells caused by obesity). “This disease has grown to epidemic “This is a revolutionary time in the treat- Unlike Hepatitis B, there is no vaccine to proportions, with 350,000 people around the ment of the disease and there is more hope prevent this disease. While their symptoms world dying from Hepatitis C-related liver than ever before,” said Dr. Kinkhabwala. “The are similar, distinct differences exist between disease,” said Milan Kinkhabwala, MD, Chief, blood test is essential to detecting Hepatitis C, the two viruses. Hepatitis B is primarily trans- Division of Transplantation at the Montefiore because now there are ways to treat the condi- mitted through sexual intercourse and is less Einstein Center for Transplantation. “But it tion, and even reverse damage to the liver.” severe. is called the ‘silent killer’ because many people Two new anti-viral oral medications, For more information about Montefiore don’t even know they have it. This condition can boceprevir and teleprevir, received FDA visit: www.montefiore.org. HEALTH much of the back-office work, yet maintaining Bronxville Women’s Care Joins CWPW a light footprint at the practice. “Spending valu- able time on paperwork can get tedious,” Dr. Rubeo explains, and “with the partnership with BRONXVILLE, NY - Women Rubeo contacted CWPW at the CWPW I am able to alleviate much of that and expectant mothers in lower suggestion of another physician affili- tedium.” Westchester County have relied ated with the same institution. “They The affiliation with Bronxville Women’s on Thomas J. Rubeo, Jr., MD, at were very receptive,” Dr. Rubeo says. Care broadens CWPW’s horizons by bringing Bronxville Women’s Care for years. Leonard Newman, MD, President of the revitalizing the OB/GYN component into Now that Dr. Rubeo and his staff CWPW, visited Dr. Rubeo’s office, the organization. have recently formed an alliance with and “we started exploring the idea of “I’m very optimistic about the arrangement,” Children’s and Women’s Physicians of joining CWPW,” Dr. Rubeo says. Dr. Rubeo emphasized. “I feel that CWPW Westchester (CWPW), they have the An independent practice, Dr. really wanted to work with me. I think it’s a good added benefit of access to a range of Rubeo is a solo obstetrician / gyne- move for me and for this practice. I hope it more neonatologists and other subspecialists cologist. He has been practicing than works; I hope it flourishes.” available through CWPW’s growing independently for three years. Bronxville Women’s Care is located at One organization. The affiliation with CWPW allows Dr. Pondfield Road, #302, Bronxville, New York “I had been thinking about joining a group Rubeo to continue one-on-one OB/GYN 10708, telephone: 914-337-3715; direct email for some time,” Dr. Rubeo explains. Affiliated service, while freeing him up from some of to [email protected], or learn more by with Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, Dr. the administrative issues. CWPW takes over visiting www.cwpw.org. Page 12 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

HISTORY The Bridge Nobody Wanted By ROBERT SCOTT

The Bear Mountain Bridge what is about to happen near one of the most officially opened 87 years admirable manifestation of natural beauty in the ago--on Nov. 27, 1924, to be vicinity of this city, and in this part of the country, exact. It wrought great changes for that matter--the erection of a bridge across in travel patterns over a wide area. Until that the Hudson that will be an offense to the eye as date, the only way a motorist or trucker could long as it stands.” cross the formidable barrier of the Hudson River Construction Begins anywhere south of Albany was on a ferry. But ferry service was woefully inadequate. Despite the widespread howls of disap- Ferries were agonizingly slow. They took time proval from environmentalists, construction of to load and unload. And they were subject to the Bear Mountain Bridge began on March 24, frequent delays. When ice choked the river in 1923. Built by the firm of Terry and Trench, with winter, ferry service ground to a halt Wilson Fitch Smith as chief engineer, it opened on November 27, 1924, only 20 months and The Bear Mountain Bridge spans The Hudson River. Photo by and courtesy of Fran Trudeau, of Long waits at ferry slips were common on Wappingers Falls, New York. weekends and holidays. “Even the hotels in the four days later. river towns cannot take care of the stranded ones Completing the 2.5-mile access road to the when there is a glut of traffic. People have been bridge required excavating and moving 21,000 Croton Reservoir. ferry rates—and remained high even during the known to sleep out in their cars all night,” The cubic yards of soil and rock, and the construction Built by the Mount Vernon Bridge years of the Great Depression. New York Times reported. of 11,000 cubic yards of masonry retaining wall. Company for the Westchester County Park Once the novelty wore off, however, bridge Early in February of 1922, the Legislature To add to the complexity of the road Commission, Baird’s bridge employs an inge- traffic declined. From opening day in 1924 to at Albany passed and Governor Nathan Lewis building, the New York Central Railroad tracks nious three-hinged design. By 1970, increased 1940, the Bear Mountain Bridge lost money in signed a bill chartering a private corporation to lay directly below a mile-long section of the use of the Taconic required the construction of thirteen of its sixteen years of operation. construct a toll bridge across the Hudson River highway. Safety of the rail line imposed extraor- an adjoining bridge—an unexciting traditional New York State Takes Over “near the village of Peekskill.” dinary precautions. deck-truss design that carries southbound traffic. In a February 1940 letter to Governor Incorporated with a capitalization of $5 TheC arey Construction Company built the Opening Day Herbert H. Lehman, Robert Moses, then million and headed by E. Roland Harriman, the road in the surprising time of seven months. To The first informal automobile crossing of the Chairman of the State Council of Parks, pointed newly formed Bear Mountain Hudson River this day, the road offers breathtaking vistas and Bear Mountain Bridge, on September 10, 1924, out the importance of the Bear Mountain Bridge Company had three years to build the sheer drops of 400 feet. was by M. Balkan, a bridge construction engi- Bridge: “It is unnecessary to emphasize the bridge and its access road on land owned by the John A. Roebling’s Sons Company of neer whose first name has been lost to history. interest of the State Park Council in this bridge, state, and 30 years to operate it before it would Trenton, N.J., manufactured the cables for the Former New York Governor Benjamin Odell which is one of the main approaches to Bear become the property of the state. During that bridge in place at the site. The two main cables symbolically drove the last rivet on October 9, Mountain Park and to the entire Palisades period, New York reserved the right to buy the are each 18 inches in diameter, made up of 7,252 1924. Interstate Park system.” bridge. individual wires in 37 strands. Official opening ceremonies took place on In April of 1940, the Legislature passed a bill Opposition Surfaces The Roebling Company was the most experienced bridge builder in the nation, having November 26th. Led by the band from the U.S. authorizing the purchase of the Bear Mountain From the start, the 1922 bridge faced produced cables for the 1883 Brooklyn Bridge Military Academy at West Point, four hundred Bridge for “not more than $2,300,000.” The hostility. Veterans of successful battles for the and other bridges, including the Williamsburg automobiles assembled in Peekskill and drove actual purchase price was $2,275,000. The New preservation of the Palisades and the Highlands and Manhattan bridges in New York City. slowly along the highway that had been blasted York State Bridge Authority took over the were loud in their condemnation of the proposed A World Record into the steep sides of Manitou Mountain and bridge at midnight on September 25, 1940. design. Writing in the influential magazine The Anthony’s Nose, and then across the bridge. The first change made by the new owner Outlook, Lawrence F. Abbott scorned the bridge. Spinning the bridge support cables took a At the western end, a bronze tablet was was the immediate reduction of motor vehicle “With all due respect, it looks, in its wonderful record-breaking 13 weeks. With the addition unveiled by Mary A. Harriman, generous donor tolls to a flat 50 cents regardless of the number of setting of mountains and river, like a piece of tin of bridge girders and a concrete deck, 1,632- of much of Harriman State Park. It acknowl- occupants. This was later reduced to 35 cents in frumpery.” foot Bear Mountain Bridge became the longest edged the efforts of “all who with thought, labor 1942 and 25 cents in 1945. In 1970, the Bridge The influential New York Times entered suspension bridge in the world, exceeding by and loyalty have contributed to the construction Authority doubled tolls and imposed them only the fray with an editorial titled, “An Infliction 32 feet New York City’s Williamsburg Bridge, of this bridge and highway.” in the eastbound direction. The toll today is one of Ugliness on the Hudson.” It denounced which had held the record for 21 years. The total The following day, Thanksgiving Day, the dollar. the bridge company for proposing “a bridge so length of the bridge between abutments is 2,257 Bear Mountain Bridge was formally opened to a Over the years, the starkly beautiful Bear wholly out of accord with the scenery around feet. Its height above mean high water 153 feet. public that could only have been dismayed at the Mountain Bridge, like the Eiffel Tower, has it and indicative of the desire on the part of the It would hold that record only for two years comparatively high tolls. Some 5,000 automo- gained grudging acceptance from former builders to make it as cheaply as they can.” before being surpassed in 1926 by the Benjamin biles crossed the bridge on that first day. critics. In its striking mountainous setting, it has The anonymous editorial writer went on: Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River linking Fares wee collected at the western end of become a favorite of artists and photographers “Ugly bridges, indeed, have been built in ancient Philadelphia and Camden, N.J. the bridge and at a toll house on the access road. for its understated yet elegant design, its totally and modern times, but they are so few that Although the Bear Mountain Bridge’s Passenger cars and drivers paid 80 cents. Cars appropriate scale and extraordinary integration apparently it is easier to make them beautiful history is replete with engineering details, we with wheelbases longer than 100 inches were into its dramatic location. know comparatively little about its designer, charged one dollar. Each additional passenger than ugly and that to attain ugliness no small Robert Scott, a semi-retired book publisher and local Howard C. Baird. He designed another cost ten cents. Pedestrians paid ten cents to walk amount of ingenuity and determination must be historian, lives in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. misapplied.” bridge in Westchester in 1931: the graceful across. The New York Times editorial concluded: 750-foot steel arch bridge that now carries the These rates, the result of unrealistic “There is no excuse at all, consequently, for northbound Taconic State Parkway across the monopoly pricing, were high in comparison with The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 13

LAW A.G. Schneiderman Announces Legal Victory in Prison Gerrymandering Lawsuit ALBANY, NY -- Attorney General Eric representation. The court affirmed the legality of easier for counties to do the same by providing T. Schneiderman announced a legal victory counting incarcerated individuals in their home them with an accurate data set.” upholding the state’s law that counts inmates in communities for the purposes of redrawing Until 2010, New York drew legislative their home communities on Friday, December district lines, rather than the districts where districts around prisons and counted the people 2, 2011, rather than the districts where they are they are in prison,” said Attorney General confined there as residents of the prison, allowing incarcerated, for the purpose of drawing legisla- Schneiderman. “As a lawmaker, I fought to end the non-voting prison population to award tive district lines. As a lawmaker, Schneiderman the practice of prison-based gerrymandering greater legislative representation to districts that was the leading proponent of the legislation, that distorted the democratic process and under- contain prisons at the expense of the prisoners’ which passed in 2010. mined the principle of ‘one person, one vote.’ This home communities. “Yesterday’s decision by Judge Devine is decision affirms and applies a fair standard to the a victory for fundamental fairness and equal drawing of state legislative districts and makes it

MUSIC

finds them rocking like they did back in the day. It’s refreshing to hear Simmonds THE SOUNDS Savoy Brown— play some his best guitar since I don’t know when. Kudos to producers Greg Spencer, Simmonds, and to Ruf Records who have OFBLUE RVoodooocking Like The Moon Old Days. BestS avoy really reloaded and reenergized Savoy By Bob Putignano Brown; it’s been a long time coming, and Brown Album in a Long, Long Time. definitely worth the wait. “Meet the Blues Head On,” is perhaps the To commemorate their forty-fifth anni- Simmonds’ overdubbed guitars are magical, Bob Putignano is a contributing editor at versary, Savoy Brown has recently released and Whiting’s vocals are really starting to weakest song, but, hey, it’s well sequenced as the closing tune on “Voodoo Moon.” BluesWax and Blues Revue. He is also the heart a new record on Ruf Records titled Voodoo grow on me. We have to wait until track of www.SoundsofBlue.com Moon. Since 1966 original guitarist/vocalist five, “Look At the Sun,” to hear Simmonds Having witnessed Savoy Brown play Kim Simmonds has been using the Savoy vocals, and he sounds great, Whiting is all night into the wee hours at the Fillmore Brown moniker where there have been not lost in the shuffle as his rhythmic sax East, this new edition of Savoy Brown multiple personnel changes, this new band ensemble compares favorably to their earliest configurations. All in all there are nine original tunes that were either authored or co-authored by Simmonds, two co-authored by the bands vocalist Joe Whiting, who also plays sax. There’s one instrumental, Whiting sings on all others except two tracks where Simmonds holds down the vocal chores. This is a very solid effort, every track is well executed, well mixed, and dynamic, Whiting’s addition really rounds out the band and gives it a phrasing adds much drama, even though solid edge. (at times) it’s a bit repetitive. “24/7” storms The disc opens with S “ hockwaves,” sans vocals; it is high-powered instrumental which has a “Smokestack Lightning” vibe; blues-rock at its near best and where there “Natural Man” offers tasty guitar lead are more effective sax phrasings from and riffs from Simmonds. “Too Much Whiting. The title track finds Simmonds Money” adds Andy Rudy’s keyboard that (once again) in the pocket, his guitar nicely rounds out the sound of the band, distinctly steps out and wails. The finale, Page 14 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

NUCLEAR ISSUES

a reactor accident or radiation exposure from a insufficient sirens, and a minor explosion in Is Nuclear Power Right for New York? U.S. nuclear power plant. (Even the well-known a transformer. However, Entergy, the current Three MileR iver incident failed to produce any operator, has repeatedly received top safety By FRANK V. VERNUCCIO, JR. significant radiation problems.) Internationally, ratings from the federal government. the Chernobyl incident resulted from an Opposition to the Indian Point Plant is For Westchester residents, the problems. Supplying plants utilizing those inherently faulty design; another example of based largely on concerns over the storage of question nuclear energy isn’t an two sources require constant and large-scale the blatant disregard for worker and environ- radioactive waste on site, the need for evacuation abstract issue. It’s an everyday delivery efforts. By contrast, in nuclear plants, mental safety that characterizes Communist if the need ever arises, and the threat of terrorism. reality, but the facts are often a single uranium pellet can deliver the equiva- nations. The harm done to Japan’s Fukushima Plant officials respond by pointing to lost in emotional and partisan lent of 1,780 lbs. of coals, or 149 gallons of oil. nuclear plant—Japan depends on nuclear plants the high safety of their waste storage facility, debates. It’s time to take a dispassionate view of Because of this, nuclear plants are not subject to for about 30% of its power-- resulted from a and significant improvements in sirens. They the issue. significant supply problems. The source is home level of poor planning not characteristic of the emphasize the high level of on-site security, and The 400 nuclear plants throughout the grown, freeing Americans from the whims of American experience, questionable plant siting, the presence of a National Guard base within world account for 20% of the world’s electricity. unfriendly foreign governments. The various an unprecedented combination of extreme a mile as a strong deterrent to terrorists. They France garners 75% of all its electricity from factors that interrupt deliveries to other types of natural disasters, and the failure of conventional have noted that the very structure of American nuclear power. There are one hundred nuclear plants don’t affect nuclear facilities. power to allow safety mechanisms to work. nuclear plants, with extremely strong encase- plants throughout the USA. Since 1962, six Operationally, nuclear plants are envi- For residents of the lower Hudson ment buildings and redundant safety features, nuclear plants, beginning with the Oswego ronmentally friendly. James Hansen, who Valley, the focal point of nuclear power is the renders these facilities among the most terrorist- facility in 1962, have been built in New York. introduced the concept of global warming in Indian Point plant in the Westchester town of resistant in the world. They account for about 13% of the state’s electric 1988, advocated the use of nuclear power as a Buchanan. Consolidated Edison built the facility New York’s need for abundant, homegrown, generating capacity, 26% of its power supply, and means to combat the issue. Unlike hydroelectric and initially utilized it in 1962, but experienced affordable, nonpolluting energy renders nuclear 11% of total consumption. plants, there is no need to dam rivers or disrupt rocky financial and operating issues. The New power a viable option, providing that safety and They were developed largely due to the fact the surrounding environment York Power Authority subsequently took over. security remains a top priority for plant operators. that they produce power far more economi- Radioactivity is one of the most frequently By 2001 the Entergy Corporation had acquired Frank V. Vernuccio, Jr. can be reached at nycom- cally than other sources. Overall production cited concerns in discussions on the use of nuclear the entire plant. [email protected]. Visit the COMACTA costs are approximately 1.76 cents per kilowatt- power plants. Oddly enough, old fashioned coal- During Indian Point’s existence, there have website at comactainc.com. Vernuccio is the president hour. Coal is the next cheapest, at 2.21 cents, fired plants actually emit more radiation into been several relatively minor incidents involving of the Community Action Civic Association, Inc. and natural gas costs about 7.61 cents. Unlike the air than nuclear facilities. No American has heated or mildly radioactive water temporarily oil and coal, there is little in the way of supply ever been killed or seriously injured because of moving into the Hudson, an opened vent, PEOPLE

Olivia Newton-John “Live” in Westchester She expressed the great fun she naughty character. I was fortunate had in filming “Grease,” dancing enough to view the trailer, it looks By MARK JEFFERS with Gene Kelly in “Xanadu,” and hilarious... imagine “Bridesmaids” so many other moments she prom- meets “The Hangover” - with Grammy Award winner, was very warm then and still is today. We remi- ised to save for our next chat. Olivia as the Mother of the Bride. movie star, cancer activist and nisced about “SNL” and then I congratulated She told me she still stays During this U.S. tour, Olivia all around great gal, Olivia her on celebrating forty years in music. I asked in touch with “Grease” co-stars: who is a breast cancer “thriver” Newton John sat down with Olivia what some of her fondest memories John Travolta (Danny Zuko), Didi (diagnosed in 1992) and cancer me for a few questions as she were during those fabulous years, and she talked Cohn (Frenchy), and is still sadden free for almost 20 years is offering prepared for her concert at the Music Hall in about the excitement of singing her country’s by the death earlier this year of Jeff a VIP meeting after the show Tarrytown. national anthem at the 2000 Olympic Games in Conway (Kenickie). where all proceeds go towards We had met way back in 1982, when she Australia. Adding to this Olympic experience is Speaking of films, Olivia has her Olivia Newton John Cancer hosted “Saturday Night Live,” and I was working what Olivia feels is one of her most memorable a new film coming out in 2012 and Wellness Centre. The Centre as an NBC Page, we chatted at the wild season moments - the honor of carrying the Olympic entitled “A Few Good Men,” she describes it as a is scheduled to open its doors in June 2012 in ending cast party at Radio City Music Hall, she Torch during the Olympic Torch Relay. romp and a hoot…for a change, she gets to play a Melbourne, Australia. Finally, Olivia and I talked about the release in the U.S, of a very special album to her, “Portraits: A Tribute to the Great Women of Song,” featuring songs/artists that inspired Olivia, from Doris Day, Dionne Warwick to her friend the late Karen Carpenter. Olivia looks great and is quite happy in her new U.S. home in Jupiter, Florida, we wish her well in all her upcoming activities. Mark Jeffers successfully spearheaded the launch in 2008 of MAR$AR Sports & Entertainment LLC. As president he has seen rapid growth of the company with the signing of numerous clients. He currently resides in Bedford Hills with his wife Sarah and three girls, Kate, Amanda and Claire. The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 15 THE SPOOF Yorktown EconoWash Encore, Encore! President Obama Pardons Your Full Service Laundromat Since 1966 Second Set of Turkeys Wash & Fold Service • Dry Cleaning & Pressing By GAIL FARRELLY Dry Clean By The Bulk • Shirts Laundered Oh, you thought it was just the president pointed out, “He makes my life miserable Leather & Suedes Cleaned / Treated “gobble, gobble” kind? Think on an ongoing basis with his political views. But again! After he completed the traditional White more important, I’m sick of his crying. Can’t he put House pardoning of two turkeys of the animal a sock in it?” variety this week, President Obama confided to Then there’s the Presidential barber. Obama friends that he was forcing himself to pardon some indicated, “He routinely gives me a scalping. turkeys of the human variety as well. Gimme a break. Doesn’t he know I may end up First up, Vice-President Joe Biden. According running against Mitt ‘The Hair’ Romney. How to Obama, “Joe suffers from foot-in-mouth disease, can I compete?” Finally, Secretary of State and but overall he’s one of the good guys.” Then there’s former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also first lady Michelle. Her husband whined, “I know warranted a presidential pardon, although Obama she’s concerned about my health. But still -- I’m complained: “She greets me with a smile whenever annoyed. I’m the leader of the free world and I I see her. But I have the feeling she’s silently singing have to sneak off to get myself a Big Mac? Not very those Irving Berlin lyrics, Anything You Can Do, I presidential.” Can Do Better.” Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Yes, he’s into forgiving. But, at the same time, Emanuel was also pardoned, even though his Obama reminded his listeners of what Frank former boss complained, “The little weasel had the McKinney “Kin” Hubbard once said: Nobody forgets 914.962.5539 nerve to leave the White house to become mayor where he buried the hatchet. of Chicago.” Republican John Boehner, Speaker Learn more about The Farrelly Sisters - Authorsonline. 2018 Crompond Rd. (Rear) Yorktown Hts. of the House, made the pardoned list too. As the Routes 35 & 202 -Crompond EYE ON THEATRE Musical Crime Doesn’t Pay By John Simon It was a fine 1967 Arthur Penn movie, with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway a terrific Bonnie and Clyde. The splendid supporting cast included Estellle Parsons (Academy Award winner), Gene Hackman, Michael C. Pollard, and Gene Wilder among others. The good screenplay by David Newman and Robert Benton was further polished by the legendary Robert Towne, and Burnett Guffey contributed prize-winning cinematography. The eminent Charles Strouse composed a distin- guished score. So what need of “Bonnie & Clyde,” a second-rate Broadway musical by the dependably second-rate but unstoppable Frank Wildhorn? Wildhorn is an interesting case: an expert at hype and self-promotion, but consistently jour- THE ROMA BUILDING neyman composer. He did have a hit with his first 2022 Saw Mill River Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY musical, “Jekyll & Hyde” (with which the title “Bonnie & Clyde” bears a visual and sonorous Office & Store Space for Rent parallel), but that, too, was a dubious commodity. hyperactive mill? And as the new musical proves, He has turned out tons of stuff for screen and he can write songs. But there are two catches: they Prime Yorktown Location stage, none of it memorable and much of it a flop. sound either like everything else or like nothing Office Space 965 sq ft.: Rent $ 1650/mo. Wealthy, he can do some of his own financing, much. For “Bonnie & Clyde,” he does get--with the Store Karl Ehmers: 1100 sq ft- $3100/mo. furthered by his genius for marketing. help of his orchestrator/arranger, John McDaniel— Store in back: 1300 sq ft. $2650/mo. You’ve got to hand it to him: he keeps coming the right period feel, and all is adequate including up with new ideas for shows and movie music: the every genre from jazz to gospel. But do we need 914.632.1230 Scarlet Pimpernel, the Count of Monte Cristo, adequate? Dracula,, the Civil War—what isn’t grist for his Continued on page 16 RP Weschester Guard_Layout 1 11/25/11 3:44 PM Page 1 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 16 The Westchester Guardian THE RIDGEFIELD PL AEYEYH ONOU STHEATREE THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE Musical Crime Doesn’t Pay FRI, DEC 2 @ 8

Dave Matthews Lead Guitarist and Collaborator! SUN, DEC 4 @ 6:30 The Ridgefield Playhouse Film Society Presents PRINCE OF THE CITY Q&A with Actor TREAT WILLIAMS WED, DEC 7 @ 8 Jeremy Jordan as Clyde Barrow and Laura Osness as Bonnie Parker in Melissa Van Der Schyff as Blanche Barrow, Claybourner Elder as Buck 5-Time Grammy Award Winner Bonnie & Clyde. Barrow, Jeremy Jordan as Clyde Barrow and Laura Osnes as Bonnie Parker ROBERT CRAY Hits include Smoking Gun, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark and more! Great Holiday Shows for the FRI, DEC 9 @ 8 Entire Family! A Rockapella Holiday A Cappella Holiday Music at its Best!

SUN, DEC 11 @ 5:30 SHOW / 7PM FEAST A Christmas Carol A lively reading Melissa Van Der Schyffas Blanche Barrow, Claybourne Elder as Buck Laura Osnes as Bonnie Parker and Jeremy Jordan as Clyde Barrow in of the classic Dickens’ tale. Barrow, Jeremy Jordan as Clyde Barrow and cast in Bonnie & Clyde. Bonnie & Clyde. Join the actors for a festive feast Continued from page 15 fantasizing of turning into it all mapped out/ If I can pull just three jobs in the lobby after the show! The book by Ivan Menchell tries hard to Billy the Kid or Al Capone. They meet cute, and a year/ I’ll be rich, I’ll have wealth and fame. / TUES, DEC 13 @ 7:30 make a traditional love story out of the material. pretty soon have cute sex, cute lovers’ squabbles, Everyone will know my name.” Or take Bonnie’s, There is Bonnie Parker, first daydreaming child and cute heists. “It must be great to be called ‘The It Girl’/ That Holiday Cooking with then ambitious waitress, dreaming of becoming Don Black has written fair lyrics in the past, isn’t what they’re calling me/But one day soon I Chef Jehan deNoüe another Clara Bow; there is young Clyde Barrow, but comes up pretty lame here. Take Clyde’s, “I bet you they will.” And so on and on, with sparse Live cooking demo on the gun-toting child and already jailed youth, don’t intend to waste my life ‘round here/ I got rhyming, which wouldn’t matter if it unfettered Playhouse stage! the imagination. Wine tastings with each course! Instead, there is this, from brother Buck From delicate cheeses to decadent desserts. (after his and Clyde’s jailbreak) to his wife, Blanche, “Ain’t been free for more than a Gift Cards FRI, DEC 16 @ 8 Make Great minute/Ain’t have time to change my shirt/ I’ve Holiday been dreaming of a hot meal/ With you as my Presents! Debbie Gravitte dessert/Bring your face close to mine and just All-Star Broadway Holiday Show let me inhale.” To which she says, “Buck you are Join this Tony Award winner going back to jail.” When it does come, rhyme along with Harvey Fierstein and isn’t much help either. Other Broadway pals for a great There is interesting scenic design from night of Holiday music! Tobin Ost, using projections of the real Bonnie THURS, JAN 19 @ 8 and Clyde and a sort of tripartite unit set with V i n c e N e i l nice versatility. There is also lively direction and Tattoos & Tequila Tour minimal but apt choreography by Jeff Calhoun, Legendary Frontman of but the stage cannot duplicate the wild, orgiastic Motley Crüe Singing Crüe hits rides in stolen cars that the movie’s Barrow gang “Home Sweet Home,” luxuriated in. “Wild Side,” “Looks That Kill,” and new solo album songs! Instead, we get a lot about the Great Depression and bread lines, to justify criminality; 80 East Ridge • Ridgefield, CT about family feeling to humanize criminals and 203.438.5795 Continued on page 17 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 17

EYE ON THEATRE

Musical Crime Doesn’t Pay too-good-to-be-true Bonnie. But the their final fatal ride, happily singing, A“ short and He reviews books for the New York Times Book supporting parts don’t provide much origi- lovin’ life/ A short and lovin’ life/ That ain’t so bad.” Review andWashington Post. He has written nality for the deserving Blanche (Melissa Perhaps not. But a two-hours-plus musical of profiles for Vogue, Town and Country, Departures Continued from page 16 Van Der Schyff} and Buck C( laybourne Elder), stunning mediocrity is. and Connoisseur and produced 17 books of collected a very obtrusive preacher singing banal sermons. and Louis Hobson is even saddled with the facti- writings. Mr. Simon holds a PhD from Harvard Also beauty parlor comedy, with wives of jailbirds Photos by and courtesy of Bruce Glikas. tious fictional role of a lawman in unrequited love University in Comparative Literature and has extolling the joys of not having to cook for impris- with Bonnie. John Simon has written for over 50 years on theatre, taught at MIT, Harvard University, Bard College oned husbands. and Marymount Manhattan College. And what of the cheating? The death of the film, literature, music and fine arts for the Hudson Threa are, to be sure, decent performances. lovers constitutes a machine gun-noisy opening Review, New Leader, New Criterion, National To learn more, visit the JohnSimon-Uncensored.com Jeremy Jordan is a cunningly slippery Clyde, Review,New York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly tableau of their death. This allows the show to website. and the adorable Laura Osnes a perhaps Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg News. end on their happily embarking on what will be SHIFTING GEARS

information, audio, and easy to use Bluetooth. Mercedes C-300: The All-Purpose Luxury Car There is a 7-inch pop-up color screen for the navigation and entertainment systems. By ROGER WITHERSPOON For music there is a 6-disc CD player, as well as connections for USB drives, iPods, and The snow was no and then easily cruised around him and MP3 players, as well as a six gigabyte hard drive problem. continued on my way. There is a lot to be said to carry 1,500 or so of your personal favor- It was only about for having four-wheel drive, traction control ites. The music emanates from eight speakers, two inches deep and, at that level, most cars and appropriate tires. producing a smooth surround-sound blanket would ignore it. But the temperature kept skip- The new Mercedes Benz C-300 is a which could lull you to sleep – except there is ping just above freezing, producing cold rain, four-door sports sedan whose long, sleek, low an alarm which goes off if the car drifts into and then heading back south, turning the white silhouette is intended to turn heads. But its another lane or onto the shoulder. stuff into a two inch glaze. It was the kind of exterior design, for all its eye-catching details, is and stability as primary features. In addition to the relatively standard traction and stability Whether one is driving through snowy, road conditions made primarily for snow plows, always second to its primary function-providing seasonal Nor’easters or watching the speed- tow trucks, and Jeeps and if I didn’t have to take safe, sure, extremely comfortable transport in all controls, Mercedes’ engineers have added capa- bilities, such as cross wind sensors which actually ometer hit triple digits while rolling past a low riding, sleek, Mercedes sports sedan out conditions. In that regard, the Mercedes C-300 mountaintop windmills in the Berkshire during the middle of this mess I wouldn’t have. is a petty package on a really efficient, versatile, shift the angle of the car’s chassis to slightly tilt into the wind. The effect of the innovation is Mountains in Massachusetts, the C-300 Not that it mattered. With some cars, icy sports sedan that offers a lot for about $48,000. provides quite a ride. conditions are problematic and the only way to Under the hood is a relatively small power particularly noticeable on mountain curves, move is by disconnecting the electronic traction plant for a sports model, producing just 228 where you can hear the wind howling down the Roger Witherspoon writes Shifting Gears at www.RogerWitherspoon.com control because the continuous, unpredict- horsepower. But it is mated to a seven speed, side of the mountain towards you, only to flow harmlessly over the changed silhouette. 2012 Mercedes Benz C300 MSRP: $47,850 EPA Mileage: 17 MPG City; 24 MPG Highway Performance / Safety: 3.0-Liter DOHC V-6 engine producing 228 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque; 7-speed automatic transmission with electronic manual mode; 4-matic all able, uneven skidding among the tires crashes automatic transmission that seamlessly gets This Mercedes has side radar alerting the wheel drive; 3-link independent front sus- the wheels’ computer system. That was not a the most torque out of each gear and effort- pension; multi-link independent rear sus- problem here. While the five-spoke, 18-inch lessly shifts among them. The quality of the driver to the presence of cars on either side when changing lanes – a feature that is becoming pension; 18-inch, 5-spoke alloy wheels; aluminum wheels and all-weather radials transmission is particularly evident when used 4-wheel disc brakes; electronic stability common in upscale cars. But Mercedes has looked good on the four-wheel drive Benz, in electronic manual mode on an open road. It program; dual 2-stage front airbags; side they were also quite functional and treated the is not a car for drag racing – the top speed is changed it from a passive system noting objects airbags; head protection curtains; dual ice as just another hard surface. just 130 miles per hour, and it accelerates from in the area, to an active safety system calcu- front pelvic airbags. lating how fast the distance between the cars That was helpful on the Taconic Parkway 0 – 60 in just over seven seconds. But except Interior / Comfort: rolling through the Franklin D. Roosevelt State for Saturday night drag racing on certain urban is closing. The system can do two things: alert the drive to a possible pending collision and, if AM/FM/Sirius satellite radio ; voice con- Park behind a fast moving Jeep Cherokee. We streets, you really don’t use maximum accelera- trolled 7-inch retractable color display; entered a slight curve in the highway and the tion unless you are already on the road and need a crash is imminent, apply safety features such as tightening safety belts, reducing speed, and 6-disc CD/DVD player with 6 GB hard rear of the SUV began to sashay back and forth. to pass something in a hurry or get out of the drive; iPod, USB, and MP3 connections; The driver, panicking, hit the accelerator in an way. And when it matters, the C-300’s power readying airbags. Inside the sedan is what you would expect Bluetooth phone and music connection; effort to bull his way through the ice – which plant can deliver. 8 speakers; tilt and telescope steering was precisely the wrong thing to do. The Jeep The ability to maneuver on icy terrain to find in a luxury car: a powered sunroof and wheel with fingertip cruise, phone and did a slow 360 across the three-lane highway is part of a package of road condition safety rear window sunscreen; soft, powered, leather entertainment controls; voice activated and ended up on the shoulder. features Mercedes hopes will steer buyers to seats which are heated in front and can fold navigation; power sunroof; heated front I eased up on the C-300’s accelerator to its showrooms the same way Volvo cars have in the rear; and a host of electronic gear. The seats; split, fold flat rear seats; powered give the Jeep space to dance across the lanes, traditionally drawn those who view safety leather-wrapped steering wheel tilts and tele- rear sunshade. scopes, and has fingertip controls for cruise, Page 18 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

TRAVEL Their Homes Were Castles By BARBARA BARTON SLOANE The wordcastle usually conjures houses. After dinner I up an image of a stately pile couldn’t resist another rising to the heavens with visit to Sanssouci Park grand banquet halls and room in early evening, always after room of lovely tapestries an enchanted time. My and furniture. However, one might also have twilight tour did not an image of dripping stone walls, locked inner disappoint. The scene rooms and secret dungeons, footsteps creaking I experienced earlier Schwerin Castle, Schwerin, Germany Cecillienhof Palace, Potsdam, Germany on staircases and fingers tapping at casements. in bright sunlight - one You can almost hear shrieking, groaning and fairytale castle standing “Neuschwanstein of the North.” It is the town’s museums, a world-class concert hall, and a the clanking of chains and feel swirling mists next to the other, strong trees with character most famous landmark surrounded by glittering vibrant art scene, Hamburg is a multi-faceted and sudden winds. Maybe there’s even a raving flanked by enchanted lakes – now all bathed in a golden spires and perched on a most outstanding metropolis. It is also a virtual Greenland. Tree- lunatic lurking about. serene purple and mauve glow. site, smack in the middle of an island in Lake lined streets, parks and gardens abound, so many Happily, on a recent trip to Germany to The next day we visitedC ecillienhof Palace, Schwerin. For centuries the castle was home to that it was named the European Green Capital explore some of its countless castles – no luna- another UNESCO Heritage site and the resi- the grand dukes of Mecklenburg and it currently for 2011. tics. The experience was a grand and glorious dence of Crown Prince William of Prussia and serves as the seat of the state parliament. The In the heart of the city lies Alster Lake, a one with nary a madman in sight. Our tour his wife Cecilie. It was here, in the summer of castle was built from 1845-57 in the neo-renais- paradise for yachtsmen and paddlers, but also focused on East Germany where one can find a 1945, that the Potsdam Conference was held sance style and architecturally is one of the most for me. Because the lake is surrounded with wealth of princely castles and parks, all of which by the victorious allied powers of the Second important buildings in Europe. Castle Schwerin picturesque paths, I trekked through some of have long been unreachable because of the Iron World War: the United States, Great Britain is what one images a castle should look like, at the prettiest, greenest areas, including the region Curtain. Today, many are renovated and restored and the Soviet Union. It was spine-tingling once monumental yet delicate – and quite the called Winterhude with waterways lined with to their former glory. to walk through rooms that were the site of fitting home for royalty. centuries-old trees, baroque villas and lanes Palaces, Parks and Pleasures so much significant history, and knowing that In this same region, we had a late after- thronged with people just relaxing and enjoying these rooms were furnished to match the taste noon visit to Castle Wedendorf, former home of Continued on page 19 Our first stop was Potsdam, the capital of of the participants, Winston Churchill, Clement Prince von Buelow and von Bernstorff. It nestles Brandenburg, a place with stunning parks and Attlee, Joseph Stalin and Harry S. Truman. In in a wondrous l7 acre wooded location replete magnificent palaces. In fact, this city contains To Know If You Go: seventeen palaces and palatial buildings, defining www.germanytravel.com the features of this city which encompass both www.potsdam-tourism.com the baroque as well as the modern. In 1990 www.hamburg-tourismus.de Potsdam enjoyed the distinction of having Sanssouci Palace and the Babelsberg and Hotels Alexandrowka districts designated UNESCO Steigenberger Hotel Sanssouci, Potsdam World Heritage sites. www.steigenberger.com Shortly after arriving, we wasted no time in Radisson Blu Resort, Fleesensee walking to the large and very imposing Sanssouci www.radissonblu.com/resort- Park which contains more than 800 acres of fleesensee topiary and 3,000 fruit trees, lending dappled Hotel Speicher am Ziegelsee, Schwerin shade over stately winding paths. Frederick the www.speicher-hotel.de Great made Sanssouci Palace his summer home Hamburg, Germany Schlossgut Gross Schwansee, and was instrumental in creating these remark- Schwansee able gardens. The New Palace, the largest 18th www.schwansee.de/en/hideaway- the Great Hall, front and center, was an impres- baltic-sea century structure in the park, contains no less sive round table where they all met and where than 200 palatial rooms of which 60 can be Churchill and Truman issued the Potsdam Nippon Hotel, Hamburg viewed - among them Grotto Hall, the Marble Declaration defining the terms for Japanese www.nipponhotel.de Gallery and the guest apartments. surrender. In May, 2007, the palace was used Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany Potsdam is not a big city so traveling by bike for the G8 foreign ministers summit. Today, Restaurants: or on foot is an ideal way to explore. And explore I Cecilienhof is a museum as well as a hotel. with ancient trees and boggy meadows over- Zum Fliegenden Hollander, Potsdam did. Meandering along the newly restored canals Potsdam is a lively center of culture and looking Lake Wedendorf and is one of the most www.zum-fliegenden-hollander.de and then strolling through Old Market Square, learning. In summer 2012 the city will welcome beautiful classicist palaces in the country. Today, Seehof Rheinsberg, Rheinsberg I came upon the most dominant building here, the International Festival for Dance and called Schloss Wedendorf, this beautiful castle is www.seehof-rheinsberg.de the Church of Saint Nicholas. Reconstruction of Performance in May, a Classical Music Festival a 4-star hotel, comfortable and offering pleasing Weinrestaurant Uhle the church started in 1830, but this has been holy in June, Potsdam Night of the Palaces in August, amenities. www.weinrestaurant-uhle.de ground for a lot longer than that. For the last 700 and the Bach Festival in September. Gateway to the World years the only constant about this church has LaFayette, Hamburg Digs Fit For A Duke – And For www.la-fayette-hamburg.de been change, but on my visit, I’m happy to report Our final stop and Germany’s second- it was finally finished! My walk took me ulti- Dreaming largest city – Hamburg. It was this city’s port mately to the Russian village of Alexandrowka Our palatial adventures next took us to that earned it the reputation of being Germany’s where I found a treasure trove of appealing Mecklenburg and the monumental, dream- “gateway to the world.” Home to three state shops, pretty, small cafes, and ancient wooden like fairytale Castle Schwerin, known as the theatres, forty private theatres and as many The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 19

TRAVEL

Their Homes Were Castles Hamburg Port Festival, five days of celebrating ten days along the historic waterways between Nothing but outstanding, glorious buildings on the anniversary of the 800-year-old harbor. The the Elbe River and the Alster Lake in the city the outside and within, at the very heart, sheer Continued from page 18 Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival takes place center, including artistic, cultural and culinary splendor! mid-May, commemorating the first commercial happenings. life. That appears to be a key pastime here for Travel Editor, Barbara Barton Sloane is constantly links between Hamburg and Japan. Festivities Clare Boothe Luce once said “A man’s home residents and visitors alike, and this visitor globe-hopping to share her unique experiences include the election of a Cherry Blossom Queen may seem to be his castle on the outside; inside, quickly adapted to the mood. with our readers; from the exotic to the sublime. As and fireworks on the shoreline of Alster Lake. it is more often his nursery.” On my spectacular Spring and summer usher in some lovely Fashion Ms Sloane keeps us informed on the capri- The Fleetinsel Festival is held every July over German castle journey, I spied no nurseries. events: In the first half of May, there’s the cious and engaging fashion and beauty scene.

Government MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN GOVERNMENTSection comparison with current health care contribu- that we all had a voice and exercised it. Legislative Priority Meeting tion rates in the private sector. If you agree with some of the above reforms, By MARY C. MARVIN And probably most critical, long term, the I urge you to contact our local legislators, Senator group would endorse legislation that restricts the Klein and Assemblywoman Paulin and voice your support. This past week Village contribute 0% to their pensions per State law. imposition of additional unfunded mandates on • Raise the minimum retirement age from 62 local governments by the State until such time Administrator Harry Porr III Mary C. Marvin is the mayor of the Village of to 65. This only makes common sense as the as those mandates are fully funded by the State. represented the Village at the Bronxville, New York. If you have suggestions or average life expectancy has increased signifi- It is heartening that this group has coalesced New York State Conference comments, consider directing your perspective by cantly over the years, yet the retirement age because in recent years the taxpayer seems to of Mayors and Municipal email to [email protected]. Officials legislative priority meeting inA lbany. was never adjusted to keep pace. have lost his voice to special interest groups. Most of the initiatives supported by • Exclude overtime from pension calcula- The average citizen does not lobby in Albany, NYCOM echoed those in my letter to Governor tions. This would ensure that the abuses we donate huge amounts to political campaigns, set Cuomo in last week’s column. read about – Yonkers policemen retiring with up phone banks for candidates that share their Taking a page from organized labor’s pensions close to $200,000 – would never agenda nor bus voters to polls. But, in the final very successful playbook, the Mayors and happen again. outcome, they end up paying the bill. It is time Administrators have joined with many other The consortium of organizations would also constituent groups throughout the State to redefine certain provisions of the Taylor Law present a united and strong voice to lobby for that address collective bargaining. legislative changes. Without these changes Currently, in exchange for accepting a enacted, the current mandate ridden budgets of provision that forbids firemen or police to every municipality will prove unsustainable in strike, members of these unions are entitled to the not too distant future. compulsory arbitration after an impasse has The impressive coalition of organizations been reached. Three judges are then impaneled include The New York State Business Council, to decide the terms of the contract despite the The Council of School Superintendents, the fact that these arbiters have no connection to the Associated General Contractors of New York community and will not pay any of the associ- State, the National Federation of Independent ated tax increases. One particularly egregious gap Business, the Voice of Small Business, New in the Taylor Law is the lack of a “definition of York State School Boards Association, the the ability to pay” by a community when these Westchester County Association, the Farm judges award a pay increase. Bureau of New York, the New York State Our group would endorse legislation that Association of Realtors, the PAC called would require an arbitration panel to accord Unshackle New York and the Lawsuit Reform substantial weight to a community’s “ability to Alliance of New York. The hope is that together pay” - defined as the ability of a public employer we will finally be heard before it is too late. to pay all economic costs to be imposed by the Top on the agenda is and must be reform of arbitration award without requiring a reduction the New York State Pension System. of municipal services or an increase in the level Going forward, this group urges the State to of real property taxes for the duration of the offer two retirement options for new employees contract. – either a reduced defined benefit plan or a new In the area of health care coverage, which defined contribution plan that is controlled by has truly become unsustainable even in the short the employees and could move with them to term for municipalities, the consortium would different jobs. establish minimum health insurance contribu- Some major components of change in the tion levels for employees and retirees. Going current defined benefits system include: forward, employers would cover no more than • Raising the employee contribution rate to 6%. 85% of a single healthcare premium or 75% This benefit would not be realized for 20 plus for family or retiree premiums. These provi- years as most current municipal employees sions would prove still to be quite generous in Page 20 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

GREG’S CORNER

and immediate effect if this trigger super wealthy benefit from loopholes and the Tea Party or Occupy: This Government Is Failing comes to pass. 40% on the lower spectrum pay nothing at all. I am particularly worried with If you are a regular, hard working American By GREG BALL the inability of our federal govern- with a net worth somewhere beneath a ‘gazil- ment to provide real relief to the lionaire’ this government is failing you. New taxes Working with Governor Cuomo, The most recent failure of the Super millions of working families and small in this broken system will not solve the problem. and across party lines, in New Committee to reach any agreement at all is business owners not only in our state but across We need a complete and immediate overhaul of York, we have balanced the beyond disturbing and may force an auto- the country. Every iota of effort seems focused our national tax policy that will make the system budget, made tough spending cuts and avoided matic trigger for a series of spending cuts. on the next political maneuver and the next itself fair while encouraging, not hindering, real any new tax increases. We need immediate and The proposed cuts, starting in 2013, will total election. As a state legislature, and in coordina- job creation. tion with the Governor, we must fight for real, similar leadership in Washington, D.C. to right $1.2 trillion and are divided equally between New York State Senator Greg Ball represents the lasting tax reform because it is painfully obvious the tax code and make the tough decisions domestic and defense expenditures. Our state 40th Senate District. necessary to right size this budget. and local governments will feel a heavy impact that middle America is paying the bills while the labor Alexander Assails Hayworth for “Political Cowardice” on Newburgh Postal Layoffs

Montgomery, NY - Joining with outraged citi- shameless act of political cowardice, When pressed on this issue of nearly 400 jobs at Taylor Biomass in Montgomery. zens in protest of pending postal job cuts in and one that by now we’ve come to postal worker cuts in a recent radio This latest slap in the face merely continues her Newburgh, New York, Wappingers Falls Mayor expect.” interview on WPDH, Hayworth trend of being tone deaf to the dire employment Matt Alexander lashed out at Congresswoman Earlier this week, it was announced repeatedly evaded making any needs of her constituents. Nan Hayworth for not only failing to fight for that the U.S. Postal Service plansto commitment to advocate for these “It’s easy for Nan to go to Washington and these workers’ jobs, but for failing to even take a close the Postal Service Mid-Hudson soon-to-be-unemployed postal rail against the federal government, but she keeps position on this issue critical to hundreds of fami- Processing and Distribution Center in employees. forgetting that back home in her district, her lies’ livelihoods. Newburgh, putting the 385 workers Yet Hayworth’s disregard for slash-and-burn tactics are taking a devastating “Our federal representative refuses to take a there in line for layoffs. A protest in this mass layoff isn’t her first insult to toll on the lives of working men and women,” stand when the jobs of federal workers she repre- opposition to these cuts was held Orange County workers. Earlier this Alexander added. sents are on the chopping block,” said Alexander. Thursday evening, December 1, 2001, year, she openly called for slashing “Nan’s indifference to these workers’ plight is a at the Montgomery Senior Center. federal energy investments that would create THE ALBANY CORRESPONDENT

In order to make the plan would be flood relief for parts of upstate, Holiday Session Expected! acceptable for Senate Republicans, it and changes to the livery cab medallion bill. is likely the tax cut would be a large, An initially livery cab bill was approved by By CARLOS GONZALEZ as a compromise is sought on making lawmakers but has subsequently lost support a rate change on the wealthy. because of a lack of provisions for the disabled. Members of the Assembly and Support appears to be building Communicating Lowey-style! Senate were given a heads up for some sort of change to the tax structure, Thursday morning that a tenta- which Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this week he Rep. Nita Lowey is still in the lead as tive three-day special session is considering. the New York Congressional delegation’s in Albany next week is possible, highly placed Any plan would have to gain approval from “Communication Queen,” sending out nearly 2 Democratic sources said from both houses. multiple Senate Republicans and several have million emails, voicemails, brochures and letters The potential session would be held Tuesday, said they would conditionally support certain tax to constituents so far this year. Wednesday and Thursday of this week. plans. The Westchester representative sent As of print deadline, it’s still unclear what will Cuomo has said he would not want to call 1,945,986 messages to constituents in her be voted on since a plan to reshape the state’s tax lawmakers back to Albany for a special session 18th CD in the first nine months of this year, code remains very much up in the air, but specific without a firm plan in place for the Legislature congressional tallies showed. numbers are on the negotiating table and discus- to vote on. That’s 43% of the more than 4.5 million sions will continue throughout the weekend. Other potential matters to be voted on emails and mass mails new York City-area Congressmembers sent so far this year, according to records. Continued on page 21

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ALBANY CORRESPONDENT

Holiday Session Expected! expand casino gambling in New York State.” Hevesi Stays Put sentence for his involvement in a pay-to-play Aides for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Former Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s attempt kickback scheme. Continued from page 20 (D-Manhattan) said their boss will also support to get out of jail on parole was denied this week, Hevesi, 71, will have to wait until November “TheC ongresswoman takes outreach to her the legalization of casinos. with the state Parole Board offering a harsh 2012 to go before the parole board again. district very seriously,” said Lowey’s spokesman, In the Assembly case, having the the full assessment of Hevesi and writing “your explana- “It is the determination that your release at Matthew Dennis. house agree on a plan may ultimately depend on tion of your culpability was shallow.” this time would so depreciate the seriousness of Dicing Casinos where the casinos would be located, say several Hevesi was sentenced in April to one to the instant offense as to undermine respect for sources. four years in state prison, and serving his time in the law,” the Parole Board report. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader If the Legislature decides to move forward, the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Oneida Share your thoughts with The Albany Correspondent, Dean Skelos said the Nassau GOPer “is the soonest the public would have a say on a refer- County. Carlos Gonzalez, by directing email to carlgonz1@ supportive of a constitutional amendment endum is 2013. Cuomo is not expected to say Hevesi, the Democratic comptroller from gmail.com. that will let the people decide whether to where he thinks the casinos should be located. 2003 through 2006, was hit with the maximum GOVERNMENT Proposal for Raise for Mount Vernon City Council Rescinded By KAREN WATTS This being said, we are in agreement with In recent days there has been diligently to build a working budget. in the bottom line of the budget we had in 2011. the people we serve. It would be unconscionable a great deal of interest in the This budget is then presented to the Board In retrospect, this was a bad idea. of us to petition for a raise at this time. Mount Vernon 2012 budget. of Estimate and Contract, which is supposed to The Mount Vernon City Council has I, on behalf of the City Council, encourage Every year, each depart- review the document and determine a date for always prided itself with being the voice and our residents to carefully review the proposed ment in city government is its public hearing. This year, same as last year, the conscience of the people. We, as are so many of budget. I urge you to come out on December 9th requested to submit to the budget was delayed. As a result, there was not the employees of the city, deserving of appro- at 7pm to voice your concerns. We look forward Office of the Mayor, a financial proposal for enough time to review and adjust the document priate financial compensation. We work hard to seeing you. the upcoming year. These submissions are done before setting the date for the public hearing. and care deeply about the people and their independently and usually without information In the budget proposal that addresses the neighborhoods. Though the position we hold Karen Watts is Mount Vernon City Council from other departments or agencies. The Mayor expenses of the City Council, money was moved can present with tremendous difficulties, we President. and his staff, with the support of financial docu- from professional services and placed into the respect and highly regard the opportunity we ments from the Office of theC omptroller, work salary line. This adjustment created no changes have been given by the voters, to serve. Page 22 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

THE CONSERVATIVE TORCH

G.O.P. candidates. Perhaps leader; which is something often sought after in will accept flaws as every human has them but Why A Romney Alternative? Romney’s 2012 could be a Republican candidate for any office. Romney people grow suspicious and skeptical of those Reagan’s 1980? There is a comes across as to polished and professional who appear to be “perfect.” I have always stated By CARMINE TORCHETTI, JR. long way to go to make that and almost like a “slick used car-salesman.” His on the show that Mitt Romney is not my first theory a reality. demeanor is one of clean cut, wholesome perfec- choice for president. My opinion has a lot to do In 2008, the G.O.P. presi- However, since Romney tion. However as we all know, no one is perfect with the reasons stated here. However, as of now, dential field was filled with announced he was running for president, he has and if someone attempts to portray themselves he is the only one polling near the president in national match-ups. If he is the nominee, my candidates that some thought stayed at the top of the polls; he hasn’t dropped as such, they appear fictitious. vote will clearly go in his column. I still main- had the capability to reassure many points since he made his 2012 presidential Next and perhaps the greatest flaw of Mitt tain much faith for Herman Cain even though the American people of the Republican resolve aspirations official. While not dropping, he also Romney is his health care law in Massachusetts. his poll numbers are falling and I still would not after the unpopular presidency of George W. hasn’t risen. A true frontrunner wouldn’t have This, by many right wingers and left wingers, has count out Newt Gingrich. However, if Romney Bush. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt various challengers at various times as Romney been deemed as a variation of Obama’s health- turns out to be the G.O.P.’s only hope against Romney were some of the top level candidates has had. Pawlenty, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, and care law. Liberals and even the president himself Obama, he must face the challenges and make that many believed could keep the Executive now Gingrich have all nearly tied Romney in have cited Romney’s health care Massachusetts the adjustments I have outlined here or else his Branch in G.O.P. hands. As we all know, this various polls during this nomination process. law as the “blueprint” for Obamacare. Although candidacy will not endure a national match-up wasn’t the case as the rising prominence of Romney comes out virtually unscathed from Romney has done everything he possibly could against the president. Until next week my fellow Barack Obama proved to be too much for any every debate, despite attack after attack. But why to distance his law from the president’s, that label patriots, Be Safe and Be Well. G.O.P. candidate to defeat. Once the 2008 the attacks? From the candidate’s perspective, it stays with him. This coupled with his previous is simply because he is the permanent leader of pro-choice stance make him very unfavorable to race was completed, Mitt Romney was labeled Carmine J. Torchetti, Jr. is the host of The the pack and will remain the candidate to chase Conservatives and his suaveness acts as a repel- as a 2012 presidential candidate. I have often Conservative Torch Radio Program on WGRN, in this process. From the voter’s perspective, it is a lent to the average voter. compared him to Ronald Reagan in terms of the the Westchester Guardian Radio Network. Although different story. In the 1990’s,R omney came out as What Mitt must do is to become more road to the White House. In 1976, Reagan put very successful thus far, Carmine seeks to take his being pro-choice, hindering his relationship with connectable to the average American. He must forth a strong campaign that took him all the way conservative message national in the future, in the social conservatives. He has since changed that be more determined in his debate performance, to the Republican National Convention. Four hopes of aiding the cause of implementing common position to pro-life but this has just made him he must show he can “get tough,” he must prove years later in 1980, Reagan not only took the sense, “right” solutions to solve the problems of the the target of various “flip-flopping” accusations. that he is committed to Conservative ideals and nomination, but the White House. Although nation. For more information on the radio program In debates, interviews, and speeches, Romney he must portray himself as a human with flaws not as close as 1976, Romney did remain in and on Carmine, please visit www.theconser- often appears as too pleasant and many believe and not as a man of perfection. Only this will contention in 2008 by going further than most vativetorch.com. he doesn’t have the tenacity to be a strong, touch make him seem relatable to the people. People

OpCURRENTE COMMENTARYdSection believe it should be, Rakoff’s duties as a sitting thinks that a punishment should be propor- A Legal Scholar Overreaches from The Bench judge require him to accept the division of liti- tionate to the wealth of the offender, rather than gious labor as it actually exists. Congress charged proportionate to the offense. By LARRY M. ELKIN the SEC, not Rakoff and other judges, with “If the allegations of the Complaint are true, balancing Citigroup’s alleged offenses among the this is a very good deal for Citigroup; and, even Overworked judges across in Rakoff’s courtroom? Bank of America and SEC’s many other enforcement responsibilities. if they are untrue, it is a mild and modest cost America try to clear their dockets Citigroup, two banking organizations that are Rakoff, whose field of view is limited to of doing business,” Rakoff wrote. Regardless by encouraging plea bargains in regulated by, and not long ago required financial the case that is before him, may think the SEC of entity size, I would find – and I think many criminal cases and settlements in assistance from, that same superpower. and its attorneys have nothing more pressing to people would find – an unwarranted $285 civil disputes. It’s unavoidable in Rakoff rejected a proposed settlement do next July than to present their case against million penalty to be neither mild nor modest. a society that loves to litigate, and one that often between the SEC and Citigroup earlier this Citigroup to him so he can know “the truth” Most of us, after all, can afford a $100 speeding prosecutes newly defined, or undefined, crimes. week. He declared in his decision that the that he found lacking in the settlement. But the ticket. But if a patrolman ticketed you for Some thoughtful observers, such as proposed agreement was “neither fair, nor SEC is not an arm of Rakoff’s court. For good speeding when you actually were driving at the Northern Illinois University’s Jeffrey Parness and reasonable, nor adequate, nor in the public or ill, it decided that a $285 million check to the legal limit, would you just consider this a mild Yale Law School’s Owen Fiss, have criticized the interest.” Rakoff scheduled a trial, over which government would be adequate recompense for and modest cost of using the public highways? practice. They note, among other faults in this he would preside, for next July. Rakoff rejected Citigroup’s ostensible offenses in the run-up to Rakoff’s rejection of this settlement was, system, that when parties have greatly unequal a similar settlement with Bank of America the 2008 credit crisis. That check, after all, would simply, a gross overreach. He may disagree with resources, as is often the case with people accused in 2009, later approving a revised agreement come without the burden to the SEC of having the SEC’s settlement policies, but if he wanted of street crimes, pressures on the weaker party to that was re-drafted to try to penalize the bank to prove that Citigroup broke the law, or even to do something about them, he should have settle can lead to unjust results. without hurting its shareholders. that a law was broken, which is a statement that asked President Bill Clinton to appoint him to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff seems to be Like some of the other settlement skep- would be very much in dispute at a trial. the SEC (a job that has a five-year term) rather persuaded. At least twice now, he has rejected tics, Rakoff has first-rate academic credentials, For its part, Citigroup concluded that it was than accept the limited policymaking powers settlements that he believed did not adequately including degrees from Swarthmore and worth $285 million to make the case go away, that come with a lifetime appointment to the serve the interests of the weaker party in the Oxford, and a J.D. from Harvard Law. He has provided the payment is not accompanied by an federal bench. dispute. But in both cases, the weaker party was lectured at Columbia since 1988, and he has admission of guilt that can end up costing the There is a good chance that, as in the Bank the United States of America, as represented by served as a federal judge in New York for 15 bank far more when other prospective plaintiffs of America case, the SEC and Citigroup will the Securities and Exchange Commission. years. step forward to use that admission against it. try to re-craft their settlement to satisfy Rakoff So who were the parties that threatened But unlike full-time academics, who are at Rakoff called the $285 million “pocket change.” without exposing Citigroup to additional to fleece the globe’s last remaining superpower liberty to contemplate the legal world as they He must have some very big pockets, or else he Continued on page 23 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 23

CURRENT COMMENTARY A Legal Scholar Overreaches from The Bench Continued from page 22 attorneys seek to represent other parties who liability to third-party plaintiffs.R akoff’s desires are not present in the courtroom. Those absent notwithstanding, neither side is eager to go to parties rely on a judge’s finding for redress, and trial in this case. it is only right for a judge to consider their needs. But the SEC could also decide to settle with There are also certain cases where a judge Citigroup privately. The SEC would withdraw will appropriately find that something is “against its suit, and Citigroup would pay the agreed public policy.” For example, even if two parties penalty. The main difference would be that agree privately to speculate on the length of some- without a court injunction, the SEC could not one’s life, the court will not enforce that wager. claim to have reformed Citigroup’s practices on This is not such a case. Congress has pain of contempt; the monetary penalty would charged the SEC with enforcing the country’s have to suffice. IfR akoff cannot be satisfied, or if securities laws. Citigroup, like all of us, is charged other federal judges follow his lead in other cases, with obeying those laws. It is the SEC’s job, not I would expect this avenue to become the settle- Rakoff’s, to evaluate the magnitude ofC itgroup’s ment vehicle of choice. alleged offenses and the SEC’s preparedness to And if the Citigroup case goes to trial, should prove those offenses in court. Rakoff be the presiding judge? His rejection of the settlement leaves the impression that he has already concluded that Citigroup is guilty of something; he sees the trial’s purpose as providing Larry M. Elkin, CPA, CFP®, president of the specifics. I would expectC itigroup to move to Palisades Hudson Financial Group a fee-only finan- have Rakoff recuse himself, and I would further cial planning firm headquartered in Scarsdale, NY. expect Rakoff to refuse to do so. Not only would The firm offers estate planning, insurance consulting, Citigroup face an unwanted trial before a hostile trust planning, cross-border planning, business judge, but the SEC would face that equally valuation, family office and business management, unwanted trial in front of a judge whose decisions executive financial planning, and tax services. Its might well be reversed on appeal. sister firm, Palisades Hudson Asset Management, There are times when it is appropriate for is an independent investment advisor with about a judge to consider the greater public interest. $950 million under management. Branch offices are This is typically the case in class actions, in in Atlanta and Ft. Lauderdale. Website:www.pali- which a self-selected group of plaintiffs and their sadeshudson.com. ED KOCH COMMENTARY If I Am Not For Myself, Then Who Will Be For Me? By EDWARD I. KOCH

“Americans For Peace people. From the point of view of supporters Now” is currently involved of Israel, of which I am one, President Obama in a fundraising campaign. was clearly conveying that from his point of Surprisingly, that organiza- view the culprit in preventing peace negotia- tion’s latest pitch is devoted tions from proceeding between Israel and the to assailing me for having said that over the Palestinian Authority was Israel. You might last few years President Obama has, in various recall the orchestrated attacks upon Israel by ways, thrown Israel under the bus. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of President Obama, you will recall, invited State Hillary Clinton. Apparently the Obama Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, administration thought it can bully and to the White House and then insulted him. intimidate Israel into taking actions that Israel President Obama banned the usual picture- believes are dangerous to its survival. taking protocol and then left to have dinner In the U.S. congressional special elec- with his family without inviting the Prime tions of September 2011, there were only two Minister, making clear his hostility to both contests, one in New York City (the 9th C.D. Netanyahu and Israel. The President has formerly held by Anthony Weiner who had visited Egypt but, as President, has never resigned his office) and another in Nevada. visited Israel. He has publicly demanded that I announced that the 9th C.D. race was Israel accept the pre-1967 boundaries, subject an opportunity for the supporters of Israel in to agreed upon land swaps, and cease all the U.S. to send the President a message that building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Jewish-Americans, who in 2008 had given even in Jewish neighborhoods. He has not presidential candidate Obama 78 percent of publicly demanded concessions from the their entire vote, the highest number for any Palestinian Authority, for example, that it stop group other than African-Americans, were its incitement against Israel and the Jewish Continued on page 24 Page 24 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

ED KOCH COMMENTARY

If I Am Not For Myself, Then Who Will Be For Me? Palestinian Authority. significant sector of Jews find it so difficult to I do not believe Israel should be asked to stand up and defend Israel from unfair attacks. negotiate with Hamas until it does exactly that. They forget Rabbi Hillel’s statement of 200 Continued from page 23 City on September 21st and, of course, I was th Hamas believes Tel Aviv is part of the Arab years ago, “If I am not for myself, then who not to be taken for granted. The 9 C.D. in delighted to accept the invitation. Without state; that there cannot be two states in the will be for me?” Brooklyn-Queens had the largest congres- revealing too much of the conversation, I area and that the Jews who entered Palestine I remain a proud Jew. I have fought the sional Jewish constituency of any congressional will only say I complimented him on his after 1917 must be expelled. That is in their good fight for many causes, and I will not turn district and had sent a Democrat to Congress speech at the U.N. in support of Israel that basic charter. My question to Americans For away from fighting the good fight for Israel. for close to 90 years. The Jewish constituency very morning. He asked for my support. I th Peace Now is when and where (cite your Like America, Israel is a sanctuary. It is the of the 9 C.D. was about 30 percent. always hope to support Democrats, but have language) have you criticized Hamas? Have only Jewish state in the world and it deserves The Republican candidate, Bob Turner, crossed party lines on a number of occasions, you ever blamed Hamas for their refusal to to be protected from the many who every day a Catholic and a strong supporter of Israel, including supporting President George W. give up their charter demands upon Israel – in seek to destroy it. TheS yrian army has shown was critical of President Obama on a range of Bush in 2004 for reelection. In response to effect to disappear? Have you ever demanded us what atrocities it is capable of against its issues, especially the President’s handling of the President’s request for my support, I said that the Palestinian Authority cease inciting own people. Imagine a defenseless Israel Israel. All election outcomes revolve primarily I would support him, based, in effect, on his its population against Israel and Jews, which with Syrian troops in Tel Aviv and what they around the candidate, but I think it fair to say change in recognizing the importance of Israel it regularly does in its speeches, newspapers, would be doing to the Jews, were they given that my support for Bob Turner, who won an as an ally. I told the President while I disagreed school textbooks and other propaganda? the opportunity. extraordinary 8 percent margin of victory in with him on his call for acceptance by Israel of Has “Americans For Peace Now” ever I am for a two-state solution. Regrettably, the solidly Democratic district, had a posi- the 1967 lines, I would not have denounced publicly noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu I believe the Palestinian leaders are not; other- tive impact. The New York Times in an article that position even though I disagreed with has said that he will negotiate with Abu Abbas wise, they would now be sitting at a peace discussing Mr. Turner’s extraordinary win it, if he had at the same time demanded at any time without preconditions and that it table instead of boycotting the peace talks. commented on my role by quoting a political that Hamas – now an equal partner with is Abbas who continues to impose precondi- “Americans For Peace Now” apparently does observer, Hank Sheinkopf, as saying in refer- Fatah in the Palestinian Authority – accept tions and to take unilateral actions such as not understand this. ring to me and my role, “A guy who’s been the demand of the Quartet, made up of the seeking U.N. recognition of Palestinian state- The Honorable Edward Irving Koch served as a out of office 22 years and is 86 years old – it’s U.S., European Union, Russia and the U.N., hood without negotiating peace with Israel? member of Congress from New York State from amazing.” that it give up the use of violence, accept the The major supporters and leaders of 1969 through 1977, and New York City as its As a result of Mr. Turner’s election, the legitimacy of the State of Israel and recognize “Americans For Peace Now” are Jewish. 105th Mayor from 1978 to 1989. President asked to see me here in New York all prior agreements between Israel and the And for me it’s always been a mystery why a ED KOCH COMMENTARY

Regrettably, the people don’t exercise that Power to The People: They Have It Now but Haven’t Used It power often enough. Citizens around the world are seeking to By EDWARD I. KOCH remove from positions of power dictators and military juntas who repress them, denying the Thanksgiving is a wonderful New York ahead of Boston and Philadelphia the world. Most Americans, I believe, deplore rights we here in the U.S. take for granted. We holiday. Its very name, and making it America’s busiest port. New the huge wealth differences and lifestyles of on the other hand, while subject to societal “Thanks Giving,” a day to York is the city which beckoned the adven- the few at the top of the food chain compared corruption and debasement through the use give thanks, makes it unique. turous around the globe and those in need of with the many. We don’t object to success and of money in our political process, already have For 364 days a year, we take for granted how sanctuary to come here, to compete, and to rise the accumulation of wealth. We do object the power to eliminate the corrupters, oppres- lucky we are to live in this special land we call as high as their aspirations and talents would to the gross disparities that have intensified sors, and those we have elected who have America, a country of amazing energy and take them. A double stroke of luck for those in recent years. We know these huge differ- failed in their obligations. variety. When Thanksgiving arrives – which living in the United States was to be residing ences and inequities are wrong and must be In 2012, we will once again have the we usually celebrate as a five-day holiday and working in New York City. the subject of major changes, while we keep opportunity to choose members of state legis- weekend, taking off the day before and three Most economies of the world are now a capitalist economy that permits people to latures, members of congress, one-third of the days following - we generally spend it with suffering. We here in the U.S. with our 14 work hard and achieve the rewards resulting U.S. Senate, governors, the president and the family and friends. million unemployed, 9.1 percent of our from their efforts. vice president. Hopefully, we will remember When I went to bed after a Thanksgiving working population, are still living with the America works because we constantly their successes and failures when we go to the dinner (better at home than in a restaurant), I pain of a recession that technically ended correct unfairness and continually seek to polls and treat them justly. thought about how lucky I am to have been in 2009. Our suffering, great as it is, is less improve our political system through our We must use the people’s power to effect born in this wonderful country. I was given an than that currently experienced elsewhere democratic elections which are absent in so fundamental changes in our government opportunity to compete facing long odds and in the world: Europe and Japan specifically. many parts of the world. We have a lot to seeking to level the playing field for every numerous obstacles and achieve my wildest Naysayers and pessimists here do not want correct, notwithstanding the great positive American so as to allow them, based on their dream of serving for 12 years as mayor of New to see the rays of sunshine trying to break changes over the years including the elimi- talents and hard work, to rise to the highest York City, the greatest, most diverse city in the through the darkest clouds which, on occa- nation of slavery, the greatest moral blight level of accomplishment they are capable of world. We are not the most beautiful. That is sion, reduce our ebullience and appreciation of on our civilization, and securing the right to achieving. Paris. We are not the most interesting. That our position in the world in terms of lifestyles. vote for every citizen, a right once denied to A little luck, of course, is always helpful. is London. But we are the most electric and Americans, of course, like everyone else many based on race, gender or financial status. The Honorable Edward Irving Koch served as a exciting. suffer the unfairnesses of life. Some U.S. citi- We hold regular elections for various offices. member of Congress from New York State from New York City, founded by the Dutch in zens are obscenely privileged compared to Protesters in the streets often shout the slogan, 1969 through 1977, and 1978 to 1989. 1624, ultimately became the center of world our middle class and our poor. Yet our poor, “Power to the People.” The people already commerce, helped by the construction of the in terms of safety-net benefits received, are have the power to change and improve our Erie Canal that opened the Hudson River to perceived by deprived people around the globe society by removing from office those elected goods from the west and north, catapulting to be leading lifestyles unattainable by most of officials who have failed in their obligations. The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011 Page 25

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

privilege volunteering at this event. The expe- of New Yorkers 18 and over are on the donor access to them in time to save their lives. rience was overwhelmingly emotional and lists, as compared to 42% on average nationwide. Sincerely, rewarding to have our Veterans recognized for Fighting myths regarding donations and publi- Sandy Galef their service in such a special way. They were so cizing the positive effects of donating organs are Ossining, NY 10562 gracious, thankful, and “surprised” at such an two key steps to bringing organ donation into The author is the member of the New York State outpouring of gratitude because many told us it the mainstream, and improving New York’s Assembly, serving the communities comprising the was the first time anyone has done something statistics. th 90 A.D. like this and they felt very much appreciated. There are many false assumptions people Veterans’ Thanksgiving Needless to say, they made me cry. It is sad to make about organ donation limitations by age, Buddy Poppies see that the veterans have sacrificed so much and race, or health conditions. In fact, the medical Dinner appreciate so little. field has made rapid progress with transplants in I am writing this letter as a special and heart- We are looking forward to next year! recent years so that more organs can be utilized, To the Editor of The felt “Thank You” to our area Veterans, including Sincerely, with a wider range of possible matches at a the VA Hospital in Montrose, as well as all of Kathy Belizze larger number of hospitals, and a vastly increased Westchester Guardian those who were unable to attend the Veterans’ Town of North Salem expectation of how long organ transplants will Thanks to all the generous people who last Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday, November last. Astonishingly, one donor can donate up to month donated for buddy poppies. Appreciation 12, 2011, held at the Mahopac Fire House. This Gift Giving – Organ eight organs and save twenty-two lives. is also given to the ShopRite supermarket, first dinner was hosted by NYS Senator Greg It is heart wrenching to hear from family Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers, for permission to be Ball and his staff with the assistance of volun- Donation members who have lost loved ones due to the outside their store, to my VFW post for their teers, as well as local restaurants and businesses To the Editor: lack of a donor, and a very moving experience to encouragement and especially to my family for who donated time, food, goods, and their facili- hear real-life stories from organ transplant recip- their great help. The poppy honors every one of ties. It was an attempt to show our gratitude and As we approach the holiday season, we are all ients. These stories bring home how gratifying it our fallen war heroes. I am a veteran of WWII appreciation to all the Veterans by honoring considering what gifts to give. One of the most can be to become a donor. All you need to do having served in Europe as an 18-year-old artil- them for their service, dedication, and sacrifices. significant gifts you can give is to sign up to is put your name on a donor list when applying lery man who vividly remembers his experiences, Even though the team (led by Erica save lives by registering to become an organ and for a driver’s license. Or you can sign up on the especially VE day. All proceeds are for veterans Massimi of Senator Ball’s staff) faced many tissue donor. I am a strong supporter of organ internet by going to www.donatelifeny.org. It is assistance programs. God Bless America. obstacles during the last week, all of the hard transplants. With over 111,000 people currently important to tell your doctor and family of your Ed Feeley work, planning, coordination, professionalism, waiting for organs nationally, and only 6,000 willingness to donate as well. Life Member determination and constant optimism produced people donating annually, too many people are I look forward to having continued conver- VFW Post 375 a fantastic event. left without a lifeline. The New York statistics sations with you about the best way we, as a state, Yonkers, NY On a personal level, it was an honor and are among the worst in the nation. Only 17% can help protect those in need of organs get Bronxville, NY 10708 NEW YORK CIVIC

NYPIRG, the League of Women Voters Unorthodox Redistricting Simcha Felder Seeks Senate Seat; and Common Cause, have called for a nonpartisan commission; no one publicly By HENRY J. STERN Either Party Will Do opposes the idea. Governor Cuomo has promised to veto any redistricting plan For the past year, we have been where they could prevail, and to divide will be raised in campaigns. In general, he deems unfair. It is however not easy to watching closely the redis- districts in which the opposition party incumbents draw lines to favor other decide, precisely what is fair and, moreover, tricting process in New York might have a majority. incumbents, so that the public seeking just how fair a plan must be. State. As you know, the United States These techniques have been rudely change is frustrated at how few opportu- Today’s article in the Daily News Constitution requires the states to redraw but rhythmically described as “stacking, nities there are to have a realistic chance by Reuven Blau, referring to a proposed legislative and congressional districts every cracking, hacking and packing”. They to elect new candidates to open seats. redistricting deal in Brooklyn involving a ten years, on the basis of the decennial are intended to frustrate the will of the Although the trappings of democracy are state Senate seat, describes these machi- census. voters by creating safe seats for incum- maintained, legislative power is held by a nations at their gruesome worst, in terms The Constitution does not, however, bents, which would minimize the effect self-perpetuating oligarchy. This hypocrisy of frustrating the people’s will. Its thesis specify how the states should do this, of the voters’ choice between candidates lessens people’s confidence in government is necessarily speculative, because it is except to require that the populations of in competitive elections. When public for good reason: it is not their govern- doubtful that such a flagrantly self-serving the various districts should be approxi- officials are frequently chosen in party ment but an array of cliques and regimes party-switching scheme can be pulled off mately equal. Recent court decisions primaries, rather than general elections, which remain in power through adroit successfully. The embattled, ethically chal- require the protection of racial minorities. political bosses and party contributors use of incumbency, patronage and gerry- lenged Councilman John Liu is not at the Beyond that, almost anything goes. generally have more influence. In cases mandering; the legislators who draw the moment the political comet he appeared The historic practice of tailoring where the general elections are decisive, playing field have little inclination to keep to be when Simcha Felder resigned from districts for partisan advantage is called the people, including those who choose it level. the City Council seat to which he had just gerrymandering, after Massachusetts not to join political parties, have a greater This year there has been substan- been re-elected in order to attach himself Governor Elbridge Gerry (1744- voice. tial public interest in districting reform, to Liu’s tail as his first deputy. 1814), whose surname was incidentally The blight of the gerrymander extends particularly in the demand for profes- Felder had attained modest recogni- pronounced with a hard ‘g’. It describes beyond unfairly drawing lines which favor sional, nonpolitical panels to draw lines tion primarily for his labors, as chair of the a scheme involving convoluted district one group over another. It influences the according to objective standards. Mayor Council’s Committee on Governmental boundaries, structured to concentrate choice of candidates by each party, the Koch, Citizens Union and good govern- Operations, in pushing through the mayor’s voters of one political party in a district tenor of public debate, and the issues that ment groups across the state, including primary political priority in 2008, repeal of Continued on page 26 Page 26 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

NEW YORK CIVIC

Unorthodox Redistricting had passed for placing referenda on the a rule of the Committee on Governmental outcome of the hearing which was pre- ballot, thus denying the public the right to Operations, that no one could testify who ordained by an authority several steps Continued from page 25 vote as to whether their decision should be arrived later than 10 minutes after the above Mr. Felder. The incident is recounted the term limits provision twice approved reversed. hearing was scheduled to begin. When here simply to illustrate Mr. Felder’s style by the public in referendum. This enabled One example of Felder’s talent in the asked by the witness and committee staff of conducting public hearings and attitude Bloomberg, and Speaker Christine Quinn, chair came when this journalist appeared where the “10 minute rule” could be found to witnesses. to testify before the Committee on among the rules and regulations of The to run for re-election in 2009 to the offices Henry J. Stern writes as StarQuest. Direct Governmental Operations. The meeting City Council, Mr. Felder admitted that the they then held. The issue could have been email to him at mailto:StarQuest@ had been called for 10:00am and the rule had never been reduced to writing, but sent to another referendum, as was done in NYCivic.org. Peruse Mr. Stern’s writing at witness arrived at 10:15am. Several people it was a rule that he had invoked at will. 1996, but Bloomberg did not propose his New York Civic. bill until several weeks after the deadline were waiting to be heard. Whether or not I could speak, would Mr. Felder told those present that it is not have made any difference in the WEIR ONLY HUMAN

apart. Her lower abdomen was distended later, I encountered something that would Have You Ever Witnessed a Miracle? and I could see movement just below it. change me forever, because I saw what can I suppose I said something like, “Oh my only be described as a natural phenom- By BOB WEIR God” as I realized I was about to view the enon, divinely inspired. The sight of that miracle of birth. tiny human being, coming into the world I had been working radio The dispatcher said there were “calls for A female neighbor was kneeling beside from its mother’s womb, with the umbil- motor patrol in Brooklyn’s help” at an apartment in our sector, so, we the distraught woman, trying to console ical feeding cord attached, is as close to a Bedford-Stuyvesant area shoved the remainder of our meal into a her. Evidently, the dispatcher hadn’t miracle as anything I’ve ever imagined. Yes, for about a year and had bag and headed toward the address. When obtained the proper info on this call, so my I know there are countless births every day come across what I thought was every we climbed the 4 flights of stairs, we were partner ran downstairs to the car radio to in this world, but to see it happen up close conceivable challenge a cop could imagine. met by a few people standing outside the summon an ambulance. He wasn’t gone 30 is to know there is a God. First, the head Homicides, rapes, robberies, burglaries apartment door. “She’s in there and she seconds before the woman began to exhibit emerged and some of her pain subsided. and an assortment of other acts of human needs a doctor,” one of them yelled excit- some of those excruciating pains that Then, after a few more contractions, a child malevolence were a daily occurrence in edly. Thinking an assault had occurred, I accompany labor. “Just hold on ma’am,” I was born. I don’t know how she knew it the high-crime section of the New York headed toward the door while asking the said through trembling lips, “we’ll get you was a girl, but she was right. By the way, City borough. In addition, I had handled obviously agitated woman who did it and to a hospital right away.” No, noooo, there’s I take no credit for the delivery; only the myriad family disputes that culminated was the person inside. She looked at me no time,” she growled, her teeth clenched woman, with special assistance from God, in violence, and vehicle accidents that quizzically and said: “Well, I guess her to ward off the agony. “She’s coming! You… can do that. have to… help me,” she said between gasps left body parts strewn across highways. It boyfriend did it, but he left a long time Bob Weir is a veteran of 20 years with the of air. Now it really got scary. I remember doesn’t take long to become a veteran when ago.” New York Police Dept. (NYPD), ten of which thinking that they had taught me a lot of faced with a workload of that magnitude. Feeling a bit confused by that response, were performed in plainclothes undercover things in the Police Academy, but, if this Add to that the fact that I had several good I nevertheless pushed open the slightly assign- ments. Bob began a writing career was one of the lessons, I must have missed arrests under my belt and it’s easy to see ajar portal and my partner and I entered a about 12 years ago and had his first book it. After looking around the room like that at the ripe old age of 22, I felt like I narrow passageway that led to a bedroom published in 1999. Bob went on to write and a helpless dolt, I took a deep breath and could do anything. Well, Superman was about 10 feet away. We could hear publish a total of seven novels, “Murder in decided it was time to grow up. about to be put to the test. moaning sounds from the room, so we Black and White,” “City to Die For,” “Powers Suddenly, I recalled the doctor shows One summer evening, while my took a quick peek before entering. “Is that that Be,” “Ruthie’s Kids,” “Deadly to Love,” on television and I took my cues from partner and I were chowing down on a the police?” the bedridden woman said. “Short Stories of Life and Death,” and “Out of them. “Get some towels and hot water!” I greasy burger or some other fast food that “Please help me; I need an ambulance!” Sight.” He also became a syndicated columnist said to the neighbor, trying to sound like could be gobbled quickly while sitting in What I saw when I turned the corner was under the title “Weir Only Human.” the car and waiting for another assign- more frightening than facing a man with a I knew what I was doing. “Okay, Ma’am, ment, a call came over the radio that would gun. The supine figure was nude from the just be calm and push slowly,” I muttered, add another dimension to my experience. waist down and her legs were spread wide putting the towels next to her body as I began to talk her through it. A moment

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THIS IS THE FACE OF A PERSON AFFECTED BY Whether the stroke is your own or that of a friend, parent, child, spouse or loved one, your life is STROKE. affected. So learn the warning signs and call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone else experiences them.

Call 1-800-4STROKE or visit www.strokeassociation.org Page 28 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

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