3 » Parking Fees Dispute 11 » Summer Camp Directory 15 » SH Girls on a Roll February 2014 Serving Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Irvington, Scarborough-on-Hudson and Ardsley-on-Hudson Vol. XI, No. 2 Tarrytown Worker Developers Prepared to Buy Thankful for Escaping Vacated GM Waterfront Site by Robert Kimmel proval of a site plan that is consistent with a Broken Ice Plunge special permit granted by Sleepy Hollow to Photo by Rick Pezzullo Rick Pezzullo Photo by GM in 2011. by Rick Pezzullo General Motors’ 96 acres of land along The special permit allows for the con- the Sleepy Hollow waterfront, dormant for struction of up to 1,177 residential units One minute, Tarrytown Recreation Department 17 years and the focus of past legal battles, along with retail shops, office space and the worker Eddie Greene was clearing the seemingly has moved a step forward to being built up possible inclusion of a 140-room hotel. The rock solid Tarrytown Lakes for ice skating for the as a mixed-use residential and commercial total structures would cover just more than first time in three years. The next minute, he was site. GM has agreed to sell the land it va- half of the site, with a small facility for vil- fighting to save himself from possibly drowning cated in 1996 to a partnership formed by lage services and open space possibly taking when the plow he was operating suddenly was swal- two development companies. up the remaining land. Any changes to that lowed up by the cracked ice. Sleepy Hollow Mayor Ken Wray disclosed permit, according to Wray, would require “It was like a trap door and the back of the ma- at a recent Village Board of Trustees meet- village approval. However, in regard to the chine went down,” Greene recalled about his work- ing that GM had reached an accord late last developers, the mayor said that, “We look place ordeal on the morning of January 23. “I was year with an alliance linking Diversity Real- forward to working with them very closely scared. I was caught off guard.” ty Developers, of New Jersey, and SunCal, a in the next few months. It’s been a long Greene, 45, has worked for the village full-time California developer. The financial arrange- 16/17 years.” Eddie Greene is grateful for ev- for 24 years, the last 14 in the Recreation Depart- eryone who came to his aid. ments have not been disclosed. With the special permit expiring in Sep- ment. He and other workers checked eight differ- A due diligence period during which the tember, it is expected that the developers ent locations on the lake to ensure the ice was thick partnership could step back from a sale will produce a site plan by the summer enough for skating. It measured six inches and more in all spots, well above the four-inch agreement ends this month. In addition, months. Optimism was expressed by some recommended depth. the prospective developers must appear village officials that familiarity of the site on “We can’t dig 50 holes to say you can skate here and you can skate there,” Village Admin- before the Village Planning Board for ap- Continued on page 6 istrator Michael Blau noted. “This is Mother Nature. I can’t control this and nobody else can either. Why was the ice not thick at that point? I’m trying to find if there is anyone with expertise out there who can help Pembroke Park Waiting to us with this. We’re very pleased that Eddie came out of PAID this very, very well.” Blossom in Spring PRSRT STD Photo by Westover Landscape Design Westover Photo by U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PERMIT NO. 971 PERMIT NO. Greene was in the center of the lake where the pri- WHITE PLAINS, NY WHITE PLAINS, mary ice skating area was set to be designated at about 10:30 a.m. when he said three-quarters of his machin- ery went under, and water quickly rushed into the cab where he was sitting. The 215-pound lifelong village resident soon found himself under water and holding his breath before he was able to grab on to the cab and engine and pull himself to a safe area. He was quickly met by a Good Samaritan with a blanket and fellow employees, along with village police officers and fire department personnel who helped him get out of his drenched clothing. “Everything was just survival mode, using basic in- stincts,” Greene said. “I never thought about dying. I just thought about getting out of the water. I thank God that I had Under Armor on underneath. Thank Pembroke Park, the newest landscaped der construction, Pembroke Park was God I’m alive but just imagine if we had 200 people amenity in Tarrytown’s waterfront devel- designed by Tarrytown resident Robert out there.” opment, Hudson Harbors, is waiting to Welsch, owner and chief landscape de- Greene was transported to Westchester Medical Cen- blossom this spring, giving residents a signer of Westover Landscape Design, in ter, where he was treated for hypothermia and released lush, green parkscape for quiet relaxation, collaboration with Rob Flynn of Flynn after about two-and-a-half hours. He had some time recreation and visual enjoyment. Nestled Stone, and planted by Welsch’s talented off with his girlfriend and two-month-old daughter be- in between the carriage houses now un- Continued on page 5 Continued on page 6 www.thehudsonindependent.com Five Incumbents Seek New Terms in Village Elections by Rick Pezzullo Basher, who has lived in the village for The Republican Party in Tarrytown didn’t Running for a second term is Jennifer Lo- 54 years, has been on the Board of Trust- publicly announce a slate by press time and bato-Church. A lifelong village resident, she Voters in the villages of Tarrytown and ees for 22 years. Hoyt, a 32-year volunteer Chairman Nick Morabito could not be served on the village’s Zoning Board before Sleepy Hollow will see some familiar names firefighter with Consolidated Engine Co. #1 reached for comment. joining the Board of Trustees in 2012. on the ballot when they go to the polls on and a senior manager with Regeneron Phar- Meanwhile, in Sleepy Hollow, the Demo- The third candidate on the ticket is Doro- March 18th, as five incumbent trustees are maceuticals, is a 51-year resident and has cratic Committee selected two incumbents thy Handelman, who has lived in the village seeking reelection. been a trustee for eight years. McGee, who and a political newcomer for three available for more than 20 years. Trustee Susan Mac- In Tarrytown, trustees Tom Basher, Robert served on the Board of Education for 12 seats during its caucus last month. Farlane, who founded the volunteer group Hoyt and Mary McGee were endorsed by years before being elected as a trustee eight Karin Wompa, a 19-year resident, was ‘Friends of Horan’s Landing and Sleepy Tarrytown United and the Democratic Party. years ago, is a 47-year resident. unanimously chosen to head the ticket as Hollow Riverfront Park’ and was elected to she vies for a fourth two-year term. Wompa the board two years ago, has decided not to chairs the Downtown Revitalization Com- seek another term. mittee and reestablished the Environmental No word if the Sleepy Hollow Democrats Advisory Council. She also serves on the will face any opposition in next month’s GM Committee. election. Photo by Sunny McLean Sunny Photo by Feiner Calls for New Bridge to be Named for Pete Seeger “I have been swamped with emails and phone calls from Pete Seeger fans who are excited about the possibility of naming the Tappan Zee Bridge for Pete Seeger,” Tarrytown trustees Robert Hoyt, Mary McGee and Tom Basher. Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said. Feiner has been leading an effort to have the new bridge named for the famous folk singer who died at age 94 late last month. Among the many social causes Seeger promoted was the cleanup of the Hudson River, and he was the driving force behind the building of the Clearwater Sloop, a symbol of his environmental pursuits. “If the Tappan Zee Bridge is named for Pete Seeger, we will honor a man who led the fight for a cleaner river,” the super- visor added. Feiner said he is “writing to the Governor and members of the New York State Legislature and will urge them to consider naming the new Tappan Zee Bridge in honor and in memory of Pete Seeger.” 35 North Broadway Tarrytown, NY 914 333 7778 www.bellasboutiquetarrytown.com Restaurant & Wine Bar Entertainment Calender: February 2014 No Cover Charge! Just Enjoy The Music With Your Dinner! Please go to our Website www.rinisristorante.com for more info about our great entertainers!!!! 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