WESTCHESTER’S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPERS Vol 125 Number 26 www.RisingMediaGroup.com Friday, June 24, 2016 Teens Earn Scholarships Look Out, Westchester – To Travel to Israel Project Veritas is Here Yonkers Federation of Teachers President Pat Puleo, on video footage at union offces captured by ProjectVeritas. By Dan Murphy is printed at the end of this story and has been Project Veritas, a website aimed at investi- widely reported on by News 12.) Some of the 20 students heading to Israel this summer, thanks to the UJA-Federation of New gating and exposing corruption across the coun- O’Keefe now has another undercover video York and Singer Scholarship Awards. try, has recently relocated to Westchester, and has that he is about to release featuring another West- Twenty Westchester teens were recently seph Block, Ayelet Marder and Alyssa Schwartz two exposes coming out about the doings – or chester teachers union. The second tape under- awarded Singer Scholarship Awards for summer of White Plains; Joshua Bloom, Doreen Blum, wrongdoings – in the county. scores O’Keefe’s early interest in improper ac- programs in Israel by UJA-Federation of New Sara Butman, Hadas Krasner and Sophia Peister Two weeks ago Project Veritas founder tivities in the county. York. The merit awards, funded by Fran and Saul of New Rochelle; Emily Goldberg of Amawalk; James O’Keefe released an undercover video O’Keefe recently appeared on the blog radio Singer of White Plains, help offset the cost of Is- Sydney Goodman and David Rosenberg of Rye that was taped at the headquarters of the Yon- show for the Yonkers Tribune and explained he rael programs for high school teens. Brook; Jake Klaristenfeld of Scarsdale; kers Federation of Teachers where he posed as a was surprised that Yonkers offcials responded so The teens were nominated for these merit Also, Alexandra Lefkowitz of Mohegan Yonkers teacher who was involved in a physical forcefully against the video of the YFT’s com- awards by their synagogues or a UJA-Federation Lake; Sydney Penn of Chappaqua; Maya Pickar confrontation with a student. (That article story Continued on Page 8 network agency (such as a local Jewish commu- and Emma Weiner of Tarrytown; Jacob Roth and nity center) and were required to develop com- Zohra Shaukat of Croton-on-Hudson; Joseph munity service projects. Tenner of Rye; and Max Wattenmaker of Bed- Local scholarship recipients include: Jo- ford. ‘Tis is Why Good People Happy 104th Don’t Run for Ofce’ Birthday, Teresa! Political tracker Yougourthen Ayouni By Dan Murphy Add to the race the fact that Maloney has The race for Congress in northern Westches- $1.4 million in his campaign warchest, compared ter, pitting incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean to $35,000 for Oliva, and the fact that Oliva is a lit- Happy 104th birthday to Teresa Tautone-Tortora, pictured with her family. Patrick Maloney against frst-time Republican tle-know Republican, and it makes it even tougher candidate Phil Oliva, is a tough race for the GOP for the Republicans. Finally, Donald Trump at the to compete in and win. The 18th District, which top of the GOP ticket may work in other areas of By Tiziano Thomas Dossena of Yonkers – besides a four-year stint spent in runs from northern Westchester into Putnam, the country, but it’s a tough sell in New York – and Although delayed by the weather and other Brooklyn – and Teresa said she remembers Yon- Dutchess and Orange counties, has been held by Westchester. reasons, the 104th birthday of Teresa Tautone- kers as a very friendly town, where everyone Maloney and Democrats for eight of the last 10 Despite all of these advantages, someone Tortora has fnally been celebrated! greeted you and it was safe to walk even at night. years. Continued on Page 5 Teresa was born Jan. 25, 1912 in Yonkers She remembers how the the Cross Coun- to Eugene and Grace Mautone, who were both ty Shopping Center used to be a swamp upon born in Italy. She has been a lifelong resident Continued on Page 9 Aid in Dying Bill Overdeveloped Westchester? Fails to Pass in Albany Assemblywoman Paulin: ‘We New Yorkers deserve that choice’ By Dan Murphy As another state legislative session comes to a close in Albany, one of the many bills, and issues, that never made it to either the Assembly or Senate foor for a vote was the “Patient Self-Determination Act,” also known as the Aid in Dying Bill. The co-sponsor in the Assembly was Westchester Assemblywoman Amy Pau- lin, and the issue is a controversial one with many religious and conservative groups opposing the concept. Most of us have had to make a fam- ily decision involving an end-of-life mat- ter that must be made for a member of our family. And while the vast majority of res- idents want to live until their last breath, others would like to make the decision themselves, or have their family make a A rendering of RDRXR’s proposed downtown New Rochelle development plan. decision to end their lives – for a variety of reasons. By Dan Murphy popped up in Dobbs Ferry, Yorktown and all over Paulin has attempted, with success, As interested investors and developers con- the county. to have that conversation with the pub- tinue to line up with proposed development proj- Most of these projects are a combination of lic in Westchester, and on a broader level ects throughout Westchester, the question raised retail and residential development. The one ques- with residents of New York State. by a few that we hear is: “Is Westchester overde- tion that pops up is: In the day of Amazon and She authored A.5261-B/S.5814, a veloped?” the Internet consumer that seems to be cutting bill that allows a terminally ill, mentally While Westchester’s big cities (Yonkers, Mt. deeply into the profts of brick-and-mortar retail- competent adult to request life-ending Vernon and New Rochelle) get the most atten- ers, how many more anchor stores are out there to medication should he choose to end his four New York voters support access to aid in dy- tion, interest and development proposals, ideas go along with the development projects that need own life in a dignifed manner. A recent poll by ing for terminally ill adults. and projects that have broken from crowd have Continued on Page 4 EaglePoint Strategies reported that three out of Continued on Page 8 PAGE 2 - EASTCHESTER RISING - FRIdAy, JuNE 24, 2016 Davis School’s Donation to Art, Teater, Film & More Help Garden Grow in Rye At Hudson River Museum Jimmy Kuehnle and his super punch bubbles. Davis Elementary School ffth-graders present their donation to the Jay Center. About 150 ffth-graders from the George M. the students caught JHC and the actresses off Davis Elementary School in New Rochelle vis- guard with their own rehearsed postscript and ited the childhood home of John Jay in Rye on dramatic recitation. June 3 with a big surprise in hand. To celebrate their 12th anniversary trip and Their trip was part of a longstanding tradi- directly inspired by a scene in the play in which tion of visits launched by educator Carol Kelly the two central characters describe the sweet and fellow teachers in 2005 to give students the taste of candied violets made in the Jay’s family opportunity to explore a national historic land- kitchen, the teachers and students of the Davis mark just a short bus ride from their school. Each School surprised JHC with a donation of $400 spring the children have come to the Jay Heri- toward replanting violets in a dedicated space tage Center where they see the ongoing transfor- called “Mary’s Garden.” The stone-walled area mation of the buildings and grounds to better tell next to the Jay Mansion is one of three garden the stories of all the American families who lived rooms currently undergoing restoration; the frst at the Jay Estate – free and enslaved. garden is a tribute to the many Marys who cul- Like the 11 classes before them, these well- tivated the land from the 18th to 20th century. prepared ffth-graders saw the Jay Center’s inter- The children and their parents raised the active educational play “Striving for Freedom,” monies at a school fundraiser as a way to say which presents the nuances and contradictions of “thank you for all you (JHC) do to educate and John Jay’s ownership of slaves and simultaneous preserve history.” founding of the New York Manumission Soci- The public is invited to learn about Mary See a new take on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival ety and abolition of slavery in his native state. and Clarinda and the story of the violets at a free will be presented on Saturday, June 18 at 8 p.m. at the Hudson River Museum amphitheater. Children are invited on to the stage to recreate performance of “Striving for Freedom” on Satur- Photo by Ashley Garrett. true events – the separation, emancipation and day, June 18 at 11 a.m. The play is one of many fnal reunion of two enslaved sisters, Mary and events scheduled for New York State’s “Path The Hudson River Museum will host a This program is for age 14 and older. Clarinda, who were likely born in Rye on the Jay Through History Weekend.” number of exhibitions, programs, events, plan- Learn four fundamental breaking moves Estate. For more information, email jayheritage- etarium shows and more this month.