Covering White Plains, Greenburgh and Harrison White ...theexaminernews.com/archives/whiteplains/2014/White...2 March 25 - March 31, 2014 The White Plains Examiner students from Greenburgh

1March 25 - March 31, 2014www.TheExaminerNews.com

Covering White Plains, Greenburgh and HarrisonFREEMarch 25- March 31, 2014 SMALL NEWS IS BIG NEWS Volume 4, Issue 135

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By Jon CraigA decade of major flooding problems

came one step closer to a permanent solution Thursday when the Harrison Town Board voted to create an easement near Puritan and Pilgrim roads.

Town officials complained they have encountered delays due to one neighbor not cooperating with a plan to run a 24-inch pipe through part of his property at 4 Puritan Road. The pipe requires a 20-foot wide by 230-foot long easement through the property of Richard Smithline.

Susan Benenson of 5 Pilgrim Road testified, “Literally, the water goes through

our home. There have been fish swimming down our driveway. A permanent solution is quite necessary.”

Hours before Thursday’s public hearing, Antoine and Rita Elojail closed on a home they bought at 4 Pilgrim Road. “We were aware of the problem, but not to this extent,’’ Mrs. Elojail said. “I’m afraid.”

Elojail said the couple has four children ages seven, five, four and two and does not want them to be placed in harm’s way. “Our kids love water, but not this much,’’ she said, sparking nervous laughter.

“Rita, welcome to Harrison,’’ Supervisor Ron Belmont said.

Flooding Relief In Sight for Harrison Hamlet

How Do You Spell Superstar? At Greenburgh Central Schools, it’s H-a-r-s-h-i-t-a

continued on page 2

By Jon CraigThere is only one student from

Westchester County destined for the nation’s capital to compete in the annual E.W. Scripps National Spelling Bee — and that student is from Greenburgh.

Harshita Shet, a fourth-grade student who also attends the Greenburgh Xposure afterschool program, placed first in the school district’s Bumble Bees competition on Thursday.

Harshita and other top spellers who outdistanced about 120 youngsters competing in the Greenburgh Central School District will be honored by

the Greenburgh Town Board during Wednesday’s regular meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner explained that when Ronald Ross first assumed office as Greenburgh’s Superintendent of Schools, he pledged to work hard to make Greenburgh the best school district around. “People laughed,” Feiner recalled. “The reason: Lots of people in town had given up on the district and send their children to private or parochial schools.”

Feiner said that Thursday night, after watching some of the nearly 120

continued on page 2

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On Saturday afternoon, March 22, at the Fire Station on the corner of Maple and Mamaroneck Avenues in White Plains, 94 unwanted guns were turned in within a three-hour time period. A total of $5,075 was given out by the Attorney General’s office for the guns. “This is the first time this program has been done in White Plains,” said Public Safety Commissioner David Chong. “Any unwanted gun is a tragedy waiting to happen. These guns have been removed from potentially getting onto the streets of our city and county and have made it safer for residents and law enforcement. I applaud Mayor Roach and the State Attorney General for bringing this program to White Plains.” White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong and Mayor Tom Roach are pictured in the center of the photo surrounded by members of the White Plains Police Force and other law enforcement.

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students from Greenburgh Central School district compete in the 2014 Spelling bee competition, “few were laughing. The school district may still not be the best in the county, state or nation but it is

definitely turning around and providing our youth with a terrific education. If there is a national competition for most improved school district in the nation, I’d like to have the chance to nominate

Greenburgh Central School district for the honor. If we all work hard — one day this school district can be one of the nation’s best!”

Nearly 250 sponsors from around the world will send their finalist to Washington, D.C. to compete nationally on May 25-31 in the national spelling bee. The finals will be televised live by ABC.

Thursday in Greenburgh, there were three competitions: A Honey Bees competition for kindergarten and first grade pupils; a Worker Bees competition for second and third graders; and a Bumble Bees competition for fourth through eighth graders.

All three top spellers are from Richard

J. Bailey Elementary School. Sixth grade students Katie Eng placed second and Shrudhii Kundu finished third.

“Those who attended the spelling bee contest were impressed with all the student participants,’’ Feiner said.

“I would like to recognize the winners and participants and thank them for making our town proud,” Feiner said. “It’s my hope that parents who live in the school district will watch the tape of the competition, which will be broadcast on local TV, and give the school district a chance. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

Flooding Relief In Sight for Harrison Hamlet

How Do You Spell Superstar? At Greenburgh Central Schools, it’s H-a-r-s-h-i-t-a

continued from page 1

continued from page 1

harshita Shet, a fourth grade student, will travel to Washington DC in May to compete in the national spelling bee.

A half dozen neighbors and two attorneys spoke during the public hearing in favor of condemning part of Smithline’s property to allow for the stormwater work to proceed.

Then Smithline got up to speak in his defense, saying town officials contacted him “in the last few weeks.” Smithline said he and his wife, Roberta, recently retained engineers to get a second-opinion on the town’s proposed drainage project. Among other issues, Smithline said he is concerned about damage to his landscape and mature trees, potentially reducing his home’s value.

“I want to make sure my property is not pillaged,” he said. Smithline said he previously asked the town for relief but public officials told him they could not get involved since his home is outside the drainage district. “I have sympathy for these people,” Smithline said, gesturing toward about 20 of his neighbors seated in the audience.

Town Engineer Michael Amodeo

assured Smithline and the Town Board that the new stormwater pipe would be buried underground, that the project would be networked with existing flood control systems and that town crews would work around established beech and willow trees and shrubs. Amodeo said the area’s property values would likely increase after the proposed drainage improvements.

Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini said patrol cars and emergency vehicles have had trouble reaching residents of the Pilgrim Road neighborhood during adverse weather. “This situation has to be addressed,” Marraccini told the Town Board. “It’s gone too long. We can’t get through with patrol cars.”

Two years ago, the town voted to borrow $100,000 over 15 years for work needed to expand the drainage district that included 18 homes at that time. An estimate of the cost of the proposed project was not immediately available.

Wendy Moskowitz of 11 Pilgrim Road said her husband, Dan’s, car got stuck this

winter due to the flooding. The emergency room physician had to call a taxi in order to report to work at a local hospital. “It’s putting the public at risk,” she said.

The Pilgrim Road Association installed pumps at a cost of $80,000 about five years ago, but they’ve had to be replaced. The pumps have been unable to keep up with the volume of water produced by major storms. In those cases, town DPW crews respond to pump water for up to 36 hours at a time so roads can be passable for fire trucks.

At one point, a four-foot wide tree fell across the home of Michael Benenson of 5 Pilgrim Road. “The problem has gotten worse and worse,’’ Benenson testified. “If an ambulance had to get through, it would not be able to. This is what we’ve been dealing with for 10 years.”

And Steven Hash of 17 Pilgrim Road, president of the Pilgrim Road Association, said, “The road is a disaster. There’s a huge, huge safety issue. Let’s address this now.”

Kevin Murray of 21 Pilgrim Road said,

“By all accounts, this can be resolved in months, not years, and I think it’s about time.”

A unanimous vote of the five-member Town Board — in favor of moving ahead with the drainage project, including condemnation of part of Smithline’s property if necessary — calls for work to begin within 90 days.

In other action Thursday, the Town Board held a public hearing and approved a special exemption use permit for Morgan Stanley to install a 250-kilowatt fuel cell outside its offices at 2000 Westchester Ave., Purchase. The vote was 3-0 with two board members abstaining due to business conflicts. The Harrison Planning Board approved the project on Feb. 25.

“I commend you for the alternate source of energy,” Supervisor Belmont told representatives of Morgan Stanley and Bloom Energy.

The next town/village board meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. on April 1, no fooling.

SMALL NEWS IS BIG NEWS


By Pat CaseyA press statement released by The

Gedney Association March 20 stated that the resident group, situated in Gedney Farms, has filed suit against the City of White Plains and its Common Council in State Supreme Court. The complaint and petition, filed for the association by their lawyer Dennis E. A. Lynch a partner in the Nyack-based law firm Feerick Lynch & McCartney, has been assigned to Judge Robert A. Neary and contests the Council’s decision to accept the final environmental findings pertaining to the French American School of New York’s (FASNY) proposal to build a regional school complex on the environmentally sensitive former Ridgeway Country Club property.

The suit asserts 12 claims of relief and alleges that the Council’s decision violated the requirements under New York State’s Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) as well as its own city land procedures.

Terence Guerriere, President of the Gedney Association said: “We felt obligated to challenge the decision. The private regional school’s impact on the health, safety and welfare of area neighborhoods is our overriding concern.”

The ongoing debate and discussion about FASNY’s development proposal took a severe turn, moving from an emotional fight to a legal one for nearby

residents, when during the latter part of the SEQRA process a new entrance and roadway into the proposed complex was introduced into the final document. This was done “without requisite public review or input,” according to the petition.

The Council’s decision is the only time in recent memory that such a decision was made despite the overwhelming opposition by the vast majority of area residents, Guerriere said.

The Court documents list members of the White Plains Common Council in their elected roles on the Council and also individually including Mayor Thomas Roach, John Martin, Beth Smayda, John Kirkpatrick, Dennis Krolian and former Councilman Benjamin Boykin.

At this early stage in the suit, city hall has declined to comment.

Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona is not mentioned in the suit, as she is the one outstanding vote on the Council to not accept the FASY environmental findings. The newest member of the Council, Nadine Hunt-Robinson, appointed in February also was not mentioned.

In an interview on Sunday, Councilwoman Lecuona told The White Plains Examiner that her negative vote was based on her belief that all the environmental impacts were not addressed. “The SWPP (Storm Water Prevention Plan) and traffic in particular with three entrances had not been

addressed at the same level, which is a requirement,” she said.

“The completion of the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), is based on the findings, but the findings are not complete,” Lecuona continued. “For example, how can mandatory busing from the German School be used as a comparison when the busing was only just approved and the German School has a student population of 300 versus FASNY’s proposed 900. You can’t compare data in that capacity. The numbers don’t add up,” she said.

Despite their disagreement on this one issue, Lecuona said she did not foresee any problems in continuing to work together with the other Council members on other matters facing the city.

The court petition also mentions FASNY as an interested party.

Upon notice that a suit had been filed, FASNY released the following statement through its public relations firm Thompson & Bender:

The study and scope of the environmental review of our school’s planned campus on the defunct Ridgeway Country Club property was the most thorough ever conducted by the City of White Plains. This multi-year, multi-million dollar review constitutes thousands of pages and encompasses virtually every conceivable aspect of the plan and its potential impacts. The Findings Statement alone is 129 single-

spaced pages, involved more than two years of public review and environmental analysis and was adopted by a 6-1 vote.

The plan approved under SEQRA: significantly reduces traffic overall; shifts school traffic to a main arterial roadway (North Street); requires mandatory busing for eligible students; limits the total number of students; approves 75-plus acres for a permanent publicly accessible conservancy with pedestrian and open space linkages; extensively incorporates green technology and building practices; and incorporates a myriad of other positive features and designs minimizing the impact of the school.

While we are disturbed to see the personal attacks against individual Common Council members that are contained in the lawsuit, we are confident in the process that has been followed in the review of the plan. We are proceeding in advancing all of our applications and plans. The lawsuit will not delay the City’s review of the Site Plan or Special Permit. Few if any environmental reviews of this kind have ever been overturned by the courts.

As we respond to the lawsuit, we will continue to reach out and work with the many supporters of the school both in the Gedney neighborhood and across the city, and we look forward to joining the many high-quality educational entities that are privileged to call White Plains home.

City of White Plains Sued Over Decision to Accept FASNY Environmental Findings

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By Pat CaseyAt a press conference Friday,

sponsored by Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-White Plains/Westchester) and electric car maker Tesla at the Tesla showroom in The Westchester mall, White Plains, a gathering of local elected officials, business leaders and environmental advocates expressed their strong opposition to Bill A.7844-A, which would end the direct sale of Tesla’s electric cars in New York State.

In an attempt to protect automotive dealerships and franchises from potentially harmful and unfair business practices by the major automotive companies and franchisors, it seems local government representatives feel the bill steps on the toes of innovative and clean-energy technology and are trying to grow momentum to stop the bill from passing through the full assembly.

In an email exchange with The White Plains Examiner after the press conference, Buchwald explained: “The bill as currently crafted prohibits a car manufacturer from selling directly to consumers. It is section 2 of the bill that most specifically addresses this point, by preventing the Department of Motor Vehicles from licensing a manufacturer to sell cars. Tesla is the only car manufacturer that I’m aware of that indeed does sell directly to consumers.”

Buchwald further explained: “When

New Jersey established a similar rule a few weeks ago, Tesla announced that New Jersey customers would now need to go to Pennsylvania or New York to find a Tesla showroom that sells cars. I expect that residents of northern New Jersey will be able to easily come over the Tappan Zee

Bridge to make their purchases in White Plains -- unless of course New York State closes the door to this environmentally innovative, job-producing company,” he said.

The bill mandates that vehicles in New York be sold exclusively through dealerships, outlawing automobile sales directly to the public. Tesla is the only car manufacturer in New York that sells directly to consumers through its retail stores.

The bill passed the New York Assembly Codes Committee on Wednesday with a bi-partisan vote of 21 to one, but still must be voted on by the full State Assembly before it becomes law.

Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant), a co-sponsor of Bill A.7844-A, in an interview Monday explained that the thrust of the bill is to protect the thousands of local small businesses – the dealerships – from the big manufacturing companies like General Motors and keep control of the industry out of the hands of the big guys. “One little piece of this bill affects Tesla,” Abinanti said, which he claims found a loophole to sell its expensive vehicles directly from the manufacturer.

“This is an upgrade and modernization of a statute that went into effect in 1983 and has been updated periodically. This new bill is an attempt to clarify the 2008 update that allows for reasonable compensation of local people. Tesla is attempting to make this look anti-environment, but what about the other electric vehicles out there that are sold through dealerships, like the Ford Focus and Nissan Leaf?” Abinanti asked.

In a recent article by the Associated Press it seems the state of Arizona has been faced with the same question.

Arizona has a bill pending that would allow manufacturers to sell directly in the state if they solely sell electric vehicles and have at least one service center in the state. The article suggests that this bill: “Obviously written specifically for Tesla, indicates Arizona is vying for Tesla’s gigafactory, which Tesla says it plans to begin construction on this year.”

At the White Plains press conference Tesla representatives talked about expansion of its Supercharger network across the State of New York to enable free long distance travel for Model S customers.

Tesla is building in additional electrical capacity and reserving extra real estate to co-locate non-Tesla charging points at Supercharger locations. The company announced that it welcomes businesses interested in installing EV-compatible charge points for non-Tesla vehicles to inquire about permitting and construction at Supercharger locations in New York State. Tesla intends to install more than five Supercharger stations in the State, with two already having been installed at the JFK Airport and in Syosset, Long Island. According to Tesla, the company currently uses eight New York suppliers in the development and production of its vehicles amounting to over $9.5 million in purchase orders for New York goods and services. Each of Tesla’s service and sales centers add between $7 to 10 million in direct economic activity.

“I have three Tesla facilities in my Assembly District alone, supporting 35 jobs,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “This bill presents an immediate threat to these men and women who are contributing to the economic growth of Westchester County and the environmental innovation of New York State. We need to be encouraging – not discouraging – innovative ideas to improve our economy and environment. After what occurred in New Jersey, there should be no doubt that passage of this bill would shut down Tesla’s sales ability in New York, just as it is making strides towards giving Americans an alternative to gasoline-based transportation.”

In addition to the showroom at The Westchester Mall, Tesla recently opened a service center and showroom in Mount Kisco.

After participating at the Friday press event, County Legislator Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers), who owns an electric car, said he planned to introduce two new bills to the Board of Legislators this week. One is a local law that would require at least 20 percent of the parking spaces be readied for EV charging in new or upgraded parking lots around Westchester. The second is the closing of loopholes in a law that presently governs the purchase of county vehicles, guaranteeing that they will be high-mileage, electric, hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles.

Electric Car Manufacturer Challenges State Motor Vehicle Dealership Law

Assemblyman buchwald is joined at the podium by Tesla Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Associate General Counsel James Chen, White Plains Mayor Tom Roach and Mount Kisco Mayor Michael Cindrich, ny league of Conservation Voters Westchester Chapter Chair nanette bourne, natural Resources Defense Council Director of Vehicles and Fuels luke Tonachel, environmental entrepreneurs ny Metro Chapter Co-Director Chris Arndt, lower hudson Sierra Club Representative ed berry, bedford 2020 Senior Vice President Olivia Farr, econeighbors Co-Founder Marie McCann, Sustainable north Castle Co-Chair eileen Joy, Westchester County legislator Peter harckham (D-north Salem), Members of the White Plains Common Council - John Kirkpatrick, Milagros lecuona, John M. Martin and beth Smayda, and other environmental and business advocates from across Westchester County and new york State.

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Local Tourism Experts Share Mostly Good NewsVisits to New York are Rising, Social Media is KeyBy Jon Craig

State and county officials shared statistics and tips last week on how to keep tourism dollars flowing.

With consumers and foreign visitors relying on cellphones — more than computers — for travel and destination details more than ever, panelists at a special event at Westchester County Airport’s Travelers Club Restaurant in Purchase shared advice on how to attract and boost their web site traffic.

Good storytelling, everyone agreed. Content still is the number one reason readers are attracted to web sites, and why they come back.

If a museum, park or public agency’s web site is not easily accessible from a cellphone in a few swipes of a thumb, they’ll be shoved aside by a competing entity, several of the experts said.

Visitors spent nearly $1.7 billion on travel and tourism in Westchester in 2012, up from $1.4 billion in 2009, according to Natasha Caputo, director of Westchester County Tourism & Film. Hotel visits in the county increased by 24 percent over the same time frame, Caputo said.

Speaking to more than 100

representatives from travel, hospitality, tourism and communications sectors, Gavin Landry, executive director of tourism for New York State, said, “This is spring fever at its finest.”

Landry said that Gov. Andrew Cuomo increased the annual state tourism budget from $11 million three years ago to $60 million this year, “which was

really the most in decades.”Landry said other parts of the country

are largely unaware of New York’s treasures including the Adirondacks, Erie Canal, ski resorts and Upstate wine

industry, which he called the “Napa Valley of the East.”

Social media has had a huge impact on tourism gains since the recession began, panelists said. For example, Damian Bazadona, president of Situation Interactive, said the latest Super Bowl’s web site traffic increased by 70 percent over last year. Bazadona said many managers wrongly assume social media — including use of Facebook and Twitter — is a low-budget promotional medium. But in real labor hours, it can actually cost more than expected. “What percentage of time are (employees) actually spending on it?” he asked.

Cristyne Nicholas, chairwoman of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council, said the social media element of promotion “doesn’t have to be expensive. You have to be creative. What is going to set (your hotel or your restaurant) apart from others?”

And Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, a partner with Thompson & Bender public relations firm, summed up what everyone agreed was the most important factor: good storytelling.

Effective promotion must include outdoor advertising, social media,

public relations, television, digital, print and direct mail, she said. “Establish what that brand criteria is and keep it consistent across” all media platforms, she said. “You have to have a good story. You have to make it compelling. Content is key. Keep it fresh.”

Platforms like Facebook and Twitter will come and go, the panelists agreed. Content is key. You can’t be everything to everyone. Don’t focus on everything. Focus on what makes you great.

“Learn how to be a great storyteller and don’t be boring. Being boring is being lazy,” Bracken-Thompson said. “What always made a newspaper great was storytelling.”

Local officials were told they should emphasize what is interesting in their regions of the state. That’s because some foreign tourists prefer Upstate over New York City. For example, Germans rank in the top 10 of foreign tourists coming to New York, experts said, with 610,000 visitors last year. But about 10 percent of German tourists also planned a visit to places in Upstate New York.

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SMALL NEWS IS BIG NEWS


Kids Fair Comes to Westchester County Center

The City of White Plains is challenging residents to clean out their closets and donate their gently used shoes to a City-wide shoe recycling effort as part of the City’s celebration of Earth Day.

This is the second year the City will undertake a shoe collection and recycling

drive. Last year, local businesses, religious organizations, neighborhood associations and schools collected over 4,000 pairs of shoes that were diverted from the waste stream and went on to find a new life where they are greatly needed. The City

has once again partnered with Soles for Souls (www.soles4souls.org) on this recycling initiative.

When announcing this year’s initiative Mayor Tom Roach said: “I love this project because it affords everyone an easy opportunity to get involved, be green, and make a positive impact on the fight against global poverty.”

Soles for Souls CEO Buddy Teaster said, he enjoyed working with White Plains. When I had the chance to speak there last year during the shoe drive kick-off the community’s passion and commitment were obvious. I’m sure that this year will be an even bigger success. It’s only through the hard work and generosity of the people of White Plains that we can continue to improve the lives of those in need.”

Donating your shoes couldn’t be easier. Collection boxes are now located in these city buildings for drop off during regular business hours: •City Hall: 255 Main Street•Library: 100 Martine Avenue•Youth Bureau: 11 Amherst Place•Gillie Recreation Center: 11 Gedney Way•Ebersole Skating Rink: 110 Lake Street

In addition, the White Plains School District is again partnering with the City to aid in recycling efforts. Families with children in the public schools will also be able to drop off shoes at the Soles for Souls drop boxes located in each school building.

Shoes will be sorted over the weekend of April 26 – 27 at Ebersole Ice Rink. Shoes will continue to be collected at Ebersole until they are counted and shipped.

The children who came to the first WHUD Kids Fair 19 years ago are now adults and have even returned to the WHUD Kids Fair with children of their own. Over the past 19 years this event has become a staple in the community educating and entertaining children and families from all over Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

This year, the 19th Annual Kids Fair will take place Saturday, March 29th from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. With over 3,500 people expected to attend, this year will continue the tradition of providing a day of education and fun for kids and their families.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the H.O.P.E. for Youth Foundation and children’s charities in the Hudson Valley. Once inside all activities and demonstrations are free.

The Westchester County Center will be filled with activities for kids of all ages; including a magic show, costumed characters, farm animals, face painting, child identification, the

New York Rangers skating area, hands on science experiments and so much more. And not to be missed is the live entertainment from Christopher McGinnis the 16 year old “Piano Man, “singer and songwriter and 14 year old singer and actress Gabrielle Sansone performing songs from the world of movies and pop, under the musical direction of Michelle DeAngelis. Plus Miss New York Amanda Mason will be stopping by to talk about dreams, goals and making healthy choices as well as performing opera in three different languages.

The 19th Annual Kids Fair is presented by the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and is supported by Westchester County Parks, Frannie’s Goodie Shop, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Con Edison, Westchester Subaru, Greenburgh Police, Westchester County Police, Westchester Family and Westchester Parent Magazine.

For more information on the 19th Annual Kid’s Fair including activities, photos and videos from last year’s Kid’s Fair, visit www.WHUD.com.

Soles for Souls in Costa Rica 2013.

Shoe Recycling Initiative Begins in White Plains White Plains Students Shine at Science Awards

Seven students in the White Plains high School Science Research Program, won awards last week at the Westchester Science and engineering Fair (WeSeF). Almost 400 high school students competed at this year’s fair representing 30 schools in Westchester and Putnam Counties. White Plains high School brought home 11 awards. Students (left to right) were Tanveen Dhallu, Ayan Waite, Max Golden, Arielle hazi, David lumelsky and Ty Ingram. Another winner, Diana Medina¸ is not pictured. The Science Research Program is taught by Kimberly Fleming. Science Coordinator for the school district is Margaret Doty.

Operation Prom Dress Giveaway Draws Near

Teenage girls looking for an inexpensive way to get a high-fashion dress for their prom are encouraged to sign up for the 10th annual Operation Prom giveaway taking place April 17-19 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Boys should also submit an application for a free tuxedo waiver from the Men’s Wearhouse.

Since its founding, Operation Prom has helped thousands of area teens by collecting and distributing gently used dresses – and now in many cases brand new dresses donated by companies and designers – as well as arranging for free tuxedo rentals.

Noel D’Allacco, founder of the program, said Operation Prom has given out 5,000 dresses and hundreds of tuxedos since its inception – and this year they have an ambitious goal. “We are hoping to give out 2,000 dresses in the Hudson Valley alone this year,” said D’Allacco, of Eastchester. “No one should miss out on their prom because they can’t afford a dress or tuxedo. It’s one of the best times in a person’s life, and Operation Prom is ready to help make it even more special.”

This will be the second year of paperless applications. Interested teens should fill out an application as

soon as possible. To do so, go to www.OperationProm.org or contact Noel D’Allacco with any questions at [email protected] or 914-672-3070.

Operation Prom is geared toward helping teens from low-income households and those who live in shelters or group homes. The Department of Social Services plays a vital role by connecting young women and men in their care with Operation Prom. Girls can pick out a dress on one of the three days at the County Center.

Dress Giveaway - Students must complete the application form to attend: Thursday, April 17, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (high school seniors only); Friday, April 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (high school seniors only); Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (high school students only) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. the event will be open to the public for a $1 dress sale, cash & carry, based on availability.

Men’s Wearhouse Locations - Students must complete the application form to know what location to visit and when to go for a fitting. There are a limited number of tuxedo waivers available; 360 Tarrytown Rd., White Plains, NY 10607, 914-328-0581; 731 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale, NY 10583, 914-725-7964.


An Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony was held on Sunday, March 9, at Our Lady of Sorrow School during which Troop 73 White Plains presented the rank of Eagle, the highest honor within the Boy Scouts of America, to Anthony Daniel Dapice, Eric James Terminello and Paul Joseph Terminello.

Achieving the rank of Eagle requires the scout to earn 21 merit badges and demonstrate character, fitness, leadership and citizenship in every facet of their scouting life.

The signature requirement of earning the Eagle rank is the service project in which the scout plans, develops, and provides leadership to others in a mission that is helpful to a religious institution, school or the scout’s community.

Anthony Dapice was recognized for the successful completion of a service project for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in White Plains. Anthony solicited thirty gallons of paint and supplies from Wallauer’s paint store and led a team of Boy Scouts, troop leaders, parents, family and friends to paint the seven CCD classrooms. These classrooms were in dire need of a fresh coat of paint and the cost of such a project was beyond the Church’s budget. Anthony, a senior at White Plains High School, will attend Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut, after graduation.

“The Boys Scout Program taught me how to be prepared and how to lead others,” said Dapice when he received the Eagle rank.

Eric Terminello was recognized for his project of transforming an under-utilized storage shed into a bird observatory at the Rye Nature Center. Eric successfully led a team of scouts, troop leaders, family, and friends through the design, planning, and construction of the observatory. The project was completed in three separate phases: preparing the storage shed by relocating and disposing its contents, the design and construction of three separate windows for viewing, and decorating the shed with information and pictures

about different bird species. Eric, a senior at Archbishop Stepinac High School, has received an appointment to the US Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Maryland, following graduation.

“Becoming an Eagle Scout has taught me a range of skills from learning basic survival techniques, to leading a group, to becoming more aware of issues in my community. It is these experiences that have lead me to seek an appointment to the United States Naval Academy,” Eric Terminello

said at the ceremony.Paul Terminello was recognized for

successfully assisting the March of Dimes in their efforts to provide relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy by collecting and distributing infant diapers and baby wipes for displaced families. Working closely with the Northern Metro Division of the March of Dimes in Tarrytown, Paul led a team of scouts and troop leaders to design collection bins and place them in local stores and one hospital. After four weeks, the donated items were collected and distributed to needy families. Paul also received a plaque of recognition and appreciation from David Rose of the

March of Dimes. Paul is a sophomore at Archbishop Stepinac High School.

“My journey to becoming an Eagle Scout has provided me with a heightened awareness of how community service can make a difference in the lives of others. I will continue to use and build upon the leadership skills I have learned to assist others in achieving their goals as well as my own,” Paul Terminello said.

In addition to family, friends and scouts and leaders of Troop 73, many elected officials and representatives of the community were in attendance to recognize the achievements of these three scouts: White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, White Plains Council President Beth Smayda, Westchester County Legislator Ben Boykin, State Senator George Latimer, State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, David Rose of The March of Dimes and Patrick Coviello the Executive of Westchester-Putnam Council, Boy Scouts of America.

It is the ongoing mission of White Plains Boy Scout Troop 73 to provide opportunities for Scouts to learn and develop leadership skills through a full and varied Scouting program featuring extensive outdoor activities and hands-on instruction in numerous life-skills. Formed in 1955, Troop 73 meets weekly at Highlands Middle School.

For more information please visit the troop’s website at www.troop73bsa.com.

Troop 73-White Plains Presents Rank of Eagle to Three Scouts

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Anthony’s New York Hotdogs & More, HarrisonWherefore Art Thou, Romeo? In Harrison, of Course; Lunch Truck Has Hot Business at Either End of Town

By Jon CraigThe return of songbirds is music to

Anthony Romeo’s ears. The owner of two hot trucks operated in the Town of Harrison was all smiles last week. The first rays of spring sunshine popped out along Route 120 in Purchase as well as along Westchester Avenue near Rye Brook. And at both locations, customers flocked to Romeo’s food franchise like migrant geese.

Romeo, 44, began selling

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