PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY Vol. X, No. V Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly Thursday, January 29, 2015 • $1.00 It’ll Never Be Time for on Term Limits Congress By Lee Hamilton, Page 5 WWW.WESTCHESTERGUARDIAN.COM Page 2 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Community/GovernmentSection GOVERNMENT Westchester to Albany; Analogous to Teen Living On Strict Allowance? By Stephen Mayo It has been said that watching the government budgeting process is a bit like sausage making. A fairly disagreeable system involving the intake of disorderly and noisy squealing porkers, their carefully orchestrated demise and reduction to a state of industrial-style foodstuff, final entombment in lengths of uniformlysized sheaths stuffed to the brim, neatly nipped at the ends and marched into the distance like newly minted recruits off to war. It has also been said (apologies to early 20th century radical novelist Upton Sinclair) that once exposed to the process, the average Homo sapiens would never again desire a steaming bratwurst or frankfurter again. Would that a system of governing millions were so neat and orderly or driven so purposefully and sensibly as that of a basic industry devoted to feeding millions. In our New York, the 62 counties serve as conduits of spending and service delivery for the state government. It is that simple. But it has not always been that way. When the state constitution was adopted in 1777, the chief form of community organization was the village or town form, a practice carried over from European antecedents. After 1683, 12 counties existed in somewhat primitive manner; a product of colonial rule in imitation of the mother country Great Britain’s main local political-organizational entity, the county, which sat above the village and town and below a national government based in London. In fact, prior to the incorporation of the state and counties, the areas of Westchester, Long Island and Staten Island were joined into a classic, English-type mega-county called Yorkshire. The creation of the county system, according to Nicholas Varga, writing in “Town and County, Essays on the Structure of Local Government in the American Colonies,” Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, Connecticut 1978, can be traced to the publication in England of the Magna Carta and the Petition of Right which laid the foundation for our system of limited powers of the sovereign government and individual rights for citizens. But instead of encouraging the empowerment of towns and villages whose puniness might be exploited through horse-trading between the limited number of local elected officials and officials appointed by the King’s representatives, the then-existing colonial New York Assembly insisted on the existence of counties. Wrote Varga, this was “To protect against “a gradual dispersion of governmental powers… to bolster the influence of the central administration.” Further, “What these New Yorkers wanted was the immediate establishment of large units located below the province (state) level.” After years of a generally loose and highly decentralized system of organization, demand grew for more structure and organization in the delivery of essential services to inhabitants “very remote from the set of justice, and consequently the executive of the laws is most impracticable.” (The Encyclopedia of New York State, Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, New York 2005). So counties grew in importance as seats of organization and safety from law breaking and “hostile natives,” terms of courts for resolving civil and criminal cases and controversies and collection of governmental revenues considered essential. To bring order and services to the less populated and less economically active areas of upstate, the Adirondacks, uncharted regions bounding the inimical British colony of Canada and the untamed, Wild Western reaches towards Buffalo, the state legislature in 1778 authorized taxation and other revenue-raising for counties “to defray their ‘public and necessary charges.’” For purposes of uniformity and practical necessity, the county concept was adopted throughout the state; even in more populous and financially vibrant downstate New York where area pacification was unneeded, this mid-level administrative model emerged. It might surprise present-day observers to learn that the five counties (boroughs) of New York City and the 57 counties outside of it were instituted to protect citizens and smaller units of government from the arbitrary acts of larger state and federal level administrations. It might surprise them further to realize that the county form was designed as a bulwark against the excesses of English “King and Crown” following the Glorious Revolution in England and local political skullduggery, perhaps presaging our own American Revolution between 1765 and 1781. Some 332 years after their creation as guarantors of efficient local administration and protection of individual liberty, county level government has evolved into the chief conduit of state spending on the community level for the purpose of sustaining and safeguarding the civil society in which we live and work. In particular, of Westchester County’s budget of $1,7 billion, nearly 90% is devoted to state-required programs or spending “mandated” by legislation. Under present conditions, there is no varying from the legislated programs or mandates. On its own, Westchester (and all of the other 61 counties) must spend what state law has required of it; only 10% of its budget can be raised or lowered depending on needs of citizens, ability of the local economy to support a tax levy (an amount of money sought to be collected by the county through property, sales taxes Continued on page 3 Mission Statement Table of Contents Government............................................................................2 Community.............................................................................4 Government............................................................................5 Nutrition..................................................................................6 Creative Disruption.................................................................7 Eye on Theatre.........................................................................8 Travel.......................................................................................9 Arts........................................................................................12 Legal Ads..............................................................................14 Calendar................................................................................14 Cultural Perspectives.............................................................15 Mary at the Movies...............................................................16 Sam Zherka, Publisher Mary Keon, Acting Editor /Advertising Publication is every Thursday Write to us in confidence at: The Westchester Guardian Post Office Box 8 New Rochelle, NY 10801 Send publicity 3 weeks in advance of your event. Ads due Tuesdays, one week prior to publication date. Letters to the Editor & Press Releases can only be submitted via Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Office Hours: 11A-5P M-F 914.216.1674 Cell • 914.576.1481 Office Read us online at: www.WestchesterGuardian.com The Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or employed in, Westchester County. The Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, 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 FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. 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 provide the broader, more comprehensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened with analysis, where appropriate. From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot be obtained elsewhere. To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not necessarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed. THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Page 3 Westchester to Albany; Analogous to Teen Living On Strict Allowance? Nassau County!” He added, “It may seem complicated, but it is certainly no exercise in futility! It has added to the integrity of the legislative mechanism and occasionally has saved us money and improved state support.” And what of the state legislators? One might query: if they cannot respond to the county’s pleas and affect legislation and budgets to the benefit of their constituents, what use are they? He offered, “A lot of them do their best and offer suggestions. And, yes, some just take the “messages” home and bury them.” The annual march to Albany in search of mandate relief is not just about mandates. It really is about effective public administration, government efficiency and overregulation in general. It is a serious quest and we must give our county legislators credit for trying to control complex proceedings that under even the best regimen can be prone to misdirection, misallocation and waste. But if the county population does not take an interest in the issue (and judging from the most recent figures on participation in Westchester County elections, it surely doesn’t; fewer than 34% of registered voters in one legislative district in 2013 even bothered to vote), things will continue in their languorous manner with little prospect for improvement. Westchester consumers regularly carp at their utility bills, mortgage rates and rents. Until recently, they complained about the price of gasoline. Health care costs have never undergone greater public scrutiny than in the past two years. But in the very same population, matters of cost and efficacy in local government are ignored. Many taxpaying residents don’t even bother to register to vote. Others simply don’t bother to vote in county elections, even though county spending can comprise nearly 20% of the average tax bill. Local school board elections and budget votes (school spending is often responsible for more than 50% of the total property levy) are attended in similarly pathetic numbers. Where is the concern for fiscal responsibility? Where is the acclaim for legislative oversight well done? The public, so pampered and so exalted by politicians of the left and the right alike, does not seem to care. And so they receive the quality of government they deserve What else is there to say? GOVERNMENT Continued from page 2 and other compulsory sources). That is it. That is the law of county government finance in New York State (in a slender “nutshell”). “The State has tremendous power to delegate to lower levels of government,” said a long-time veteran of local politics interviewed in his White Plains office. “For practical reasons, this is necessary just to get things done.” He continued, “The delegation can be to administrative offices of the state like the Department of Motor Vehicles, or other state subsidiaries led by elected officials in localities like counties, cities, towns and villages.” Speaking confidentially because of his public position, the civil servant claimed the process was cumbersome and loaded with delay and inefficiencies, but essentially sound. “It has proven to be the best way to get done the things the state needs to get done,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be streamlined and made more transparent.” Republican County Legislator Gordon Burrows, representing District 15 in Yonkers had a slightly different view: “We in the legislature recognize our role in administering state programs and distributing funds from Albany. But we also must be given some autonomy in implementation based on local needs and conditions.” The predominant tool of state control and indirect implementation of county affairs is the “mandate.” This is nothing more than a law or rule issued from Albany by legislation or otherwise requiring the county to do something and or spend something. Unless the particular mandate is accompanied by a source of aid sufficient to achieve the prescribed purpose, the mandate is said to be “unfunded.” According to Burrows and as echoed by other officeholders, government executives and bureaucrats “The state government is simply overburdening us with all these mandates, unfunded and otherwise.” He added, “Ninety percent of every dollar originating in the state capital is already spent on mandated programs before it reaches White Plains” (Westchester’s county seat). The Assembly and State Senate of New York State have acknowledged this need with legislation and constitutional amendments providing counties relief in the form of “home rule powers.” Concessions in the past enabled local selection of public officials (by appointment or election) and the power to adopt local laws (1892). The most significant step, was a 1938 constitutional amendment which extended to counties for the first time the capacity to enact laws affecting their own “property affairs or government” in the same way that cities had been so enabled years earlier. This year (and nearly every year in the recent memory of several public servants consulted) Westchester County and likely all other New York state counties will send a customized State Legislative Program Message to the governor and legislature in Albany, seeking modification of state laws (especially mandates - funded or unfunded) which might imperil their governing objectives. Burrows stated that the year 2015 “Program Message” has been endorsed by the entire county Board of Legislators (the 10 Democrats and 7 Republicans alike; the board is controlled by a Democratled coalition of all the Republicans and two Democrats acting independently) and County Executive Rob Astorino also joins in its message. Chief among the complaints: Medicaid mandates requiring the counties to raise $2 billion (nearly one-half of all county property tax revenue in 2014), early intervention educational programs for youth, the MTA Payroll Tax on government employees, required building maintance of state buildings within the county, and other budget expenses related to highways, local government consolidation drives, public assistance, and treatment and handling of certain incapacitated prison inmates. One might ask; is all this circuitous official action really necessary? If counties are essentially creatures of the state, then why encumber it with the 62 distinct but inarguably dependent subsidiaries known as counties? If we assume that the considerable New York land area (56,000 sq. miles; larger than the island nation of Cuba; though only 29th among the 50 states) requires its division into 62 or so manageably sized components presently known as counties (one county, St. Lawrence, larger than Delaware or Rhode Island), why not simply skip the rigmarole of the county apparatus? Why not just turn them into departments of the state (like the Department of Motor Vehicles) and administer them directly from Albany? If necessary, appoint (or have elected) local administrators and call them “Regional Governors.” The wizened bureaucrat quoted at the beginning of the article answered, “It really is not so simple.” He continued, “Yes the counties are only administrative outlets of the state. But they have been delegated functions determined by the legislature to be worthy and necessary and warranting proper implementation; especially income support and welfare and public sewers and sanitation. ‘Filtering’ programs and money through county legislatures and administrations has also limited corruption and wastefulness.” (Additional perspectives were sought from other Republican and Democratic observers and legislators but were unavailable at press time.) Will the legislature hear the counties’ complaints and act on them, I asked. “They (Assembly, Senate and Governor) do indeed listen. In recent years, our Joint legislative message has helped redirect transportation funds our way after having been hogged by Stephen I. Mayo is an attorney, owner of Mayo Linoleum Works, LLC and host of “The Steve Mayo Show” with Cornelia Mrose on WVOX radio, 1460 AM; Mondays from 6 to 7 PM. www.thestevemayoshow.com Commercial • Industrial & Residential Services Roll-Off Containers 1-30 Yards Home Cleanup Containers Turn-Key Demolition Services DEC Licensed Transfer Station www.citycarting.net City Carting of Westchester Somers Sanitation B & S Carting AAA Paper Recycling Bria Carting City Confidential Shredding DEP Licensed Rail Serve Transfer & Recyling Services Licensed Demolition Contractor Locally Owned & Operated Radio Dispatched Fully Insured - FREE Estimates 800.872.7405 • 203.324.4090 On-Site Document Destruction 8 Viaduct Road, Stamford, CT 06907 Same Day Roll Off Service Page 4 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 COMMUNITY New Rochelle Police Community Relations & Training Discussed At City Council Meeting By Peggy Godfrey Police training in New Rochelle was the subject of a City Council discussion at their meeting this month. While this was not a surprising topic, given protests against police actions throughout the country, it was a bit curious to have the well-respected New Rochelle Police Department targeted in a discussion. Mayor Noam Bramson placed police-community relations along with a discussion of what the police already do, on the council agenda, the day of the meeting, Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll focused on a specific area of training: Article 35 of the Penal Law which covers the “use of force in various situations. He added that the police are legally justified in using force, but the New Rochelle police officers are also trained to make the use of force “morally justified.” As an example, a problem may arise with an emotionally disturbed many who is “off his medications,” and therefor requires delicate handling. Equipment can be used to deal with force in a more humane way; in a traffic, stop verbal encounters are minimized. Carroll then asked for questions. City Manager Chuck Strome said that in the last 22 years the New Rochelle police have discharged their weapons twice and stated that the training is pretty good. But Council man Jared Rice, though noting that every police department is unique, none the less still wanted the “pros and cons” of the New Rochelle police discussed. Cameras are not a concern, and Commissioner Carroll added there have not been many civilian complaints in the last five years. Radio cars and buildings have cameras to record actions. Rice persisted in questioning both the mode of police training and the amount of training that was included in the budget. Carroll responded, stating there are groups in the community assisting the youth. He added “black” policemen and patrol officers used to go out to meetings, but can’t now, because there are fewer police officers and more police are needed. Strome added, 20 more were needed, but Carroll countered that that 39 more were needed. The extra cost is estimated at $3 to 4 million in the city budget. The last city budget, according to Rice, now allows for more overtime for the police. He suggested that the number of young males of color involved in police actions in New Rochelle was no different than the rest of the country and questioned both the need to take police officers off patrol to give them training and the cost involved to do so. Councilwoman Shari Rackman brought up the point that one of the two officers assigned to the younger population in Family Court “have a relationship” with them and she felt more officers were needed in this area. Rackman continued to ask about police procedures for handling civilian complaints. Carroll answered the police do not ask questions and the final dispositions are recorded as: substantiated, unsubstantiated, founded or unfounded. When Rackman asked about anti-terrorism, Carroll answered the city does have a task force, focusing on houses of worship, for example, on a Jewish holiday Councilman Lou Trangucci claimed that in West New Rochelle, the dedicated police officer comes on his own time, to hear what the people have to say. He asked how many more officers were needed to properly patrol the city, and was told, “twenty,” by Carroll. Councilman Ivar Hyden said he supported what Rice was saying, agreeing that a better relationship was needed between some of the youth in the community and the police. Hyden persisted by asking the ethnic balance on the police force. Carroll responded there minority officer retirements may have temporarily changed the statistics and summed up by saying his department looks at many ways to improve the police department. At the Citizens to be Heard portion of this City Council meeting, later that evening, a number of speakers said they supported the need for a youth-police initiative. In particular, Rev. Robert Gahler, President of the Interreligious Council of New Rochelle and the Pastor of Trinity-St Paul Church, said he was a member of New Rochelle against racism. He is troubled about race problems in many cities. A number of other speakers agreed with him, but other speakers voiced support for the New Rochelle police. Detective Christopher Greco, President of the Police Association of New Rochelle said the Police Association is committed to providing continued superior services throughout the city in more ways than simply enforcing laws and responding to calls. Despite the recent anti-police movement, “our members continue to serve all citizens of New Rochelle fairly, proudly and justly.” An example given was of a lost citizen suffering from dementia who was found in the snow an hour after the person was reported missing. One notable speaker clearly focused on the city’s police relations and said he was ‘not a apologist for the New Rochelle police and was perfectly willing to report stories of local police malfeasance. In his seven years as editor of New Rochelle Talk of the Sound, which has 10,000 readers per day, he has not had anyone contact him with reports of police misconduct. He had no reason to believe any of this is a problem and then challenged the audience, many of who had spoken against the New Rochelle police to let him know of any community-police problem. He had never seen any kind of police misconduct and concluded, “Put up or shut up,” and tell him specific complaints against the New Rochelle police. He said he would be in the back of the auditorium to take down specific names of police involved in misconduct. No names were reported to him. FLEETWOOD THE ROMA BUILDING RENOVATED APARTMENTS FOR RENT Prime Yorktown Location Beautiful, Newly Renovated Apartments COMMERICAL SPACE FOR RENT Great Visibility • Centrally Located STORE 950 Sq. Ft. Rent: $3250 /Month OFFICE SPACE: 470 Sq. Ft. Rent $850/Month • 1160 Sq. Ft. 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Go to Facebook to express your views about Congress, civic education, and the citizen’s role in representative democracy. “Like” us on Facebook at “Center on Congress at Indiana University,” and share our postings with your friends. GOVERNMENT By Lee Hamilton It also weakens Congress. And that’s the other key issue. The most important point to remember in all this is that if you take power away from a senior legislator, that power does not evaporate.Instead,it flows to the bureaucracy and the President. Serving productively in Congress is a tough, exacting task. It demands a deep knowledge of the issues that confront the country; a keen eye — backed by years of experience — for the ways in which executive agencies can go off track and then seek to hide that fact; insight into the ways in which both allies and opponents on any given issue might be motivated to shift their positions; and the hard-earned wisdom to forge common ground among competing interests and ideologies. These traits come neither quickly nor easily. Kicking members of Congress out of their seats just as they’re gaining the ability to legislate effectively and oversee the government responsibly demotes Congress to the status of a minor agency. A politician elected to a limited term immediately begins looking for another job, which reduces his or her effectiveness and attention to the job at hand. Moreover, in government, information is power. Legislators constantly come up against executive branch expertise backed by thousands of employees and big budgets. Legislators without expertise are at a strong disadvantage. Term limits are not the solution Lee Hamilton is Director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. For information about our educational resources and programs, explore our Reprinted with written permission from: The Center on Congress, Source URL: http://congress.indiana.edu/ it%E2%80%99ll-never-be-time-termlimits-congress “The doctors understood how important it was to get me back to work in a week.” C M Ricky R., colon patient Y CM MY CY CMY K ©2014 Hudson Valley Surgical Group | All Rights Reserved. Term limits are a distraction from the hard work that needs to be done to fix Congress. It didn’t get much attention at the time, but the elections last November did more than give Republicans a majority in the U.S. Senate. Voters also added to the ranks of people on both sides of Capitol Hill who believe members of Congress should serve a limited number of terms. I know a lot of people to whom this is good news. I know them, because I hear from them every time I speak at a public event that allows for a give-andtake with the audience. Americans are frustrated with the federal government as a whole and with Congress in particular, and are searching for a simple solution. The notion that the bums could be thrown out automatically has great appeal. Yet as popular as the idea might be among the public at large, it has no traction on Capitol Hill. The fundamental problem is that any measures imposing limits will need the support of leaders who, almost by definition, have served a long time. They’re not going to put themselves out of a job they like. Small surprise that bills calling for term limits don’t even make it out of committee. Now, I should say right up front that you’re not going to hear a strong argument in favor of term limits from a guy who served 34 years in Congress. I’m biased. But I want to spell out the reasons for my bias, not because I think term limits are a burning issue in Washington — they’re not — but because I wish they were less of an issue for ordinary voters. Congress has a lot of problems right now, and the American people have a role to play in fixing them, but term limits are a distraction from the truly hard work that needs to be done. When you boil down all the debating points for and against term limits, there are two that bear the crux of the argument. The first has to do with the nature of our democracy. Supporters of the idea believe that bringing in fresh thinking and new leaders on a regular basis will make Congress more representative. However, stripping voters of the right to re-elect a representative whom they’ve supported in the past does not make for a more democratic system — rather, less. Representative government rests on the notion that voters get to choose their legislators. Telling them that this is true for all candidates but one — the incumbent — does not strengthen voters’ rights; it reduces their choices. The Advantages of Laparoscopic Colon Surgery Hudson Valley Surgical Group’s Minimally Invasive Center offers patients a better choice for colon surgery. Hudson Valley Surgical Group 4000+ laparoscopic surgeries performed providing patients the latest in Minimally Invasive Surgery while utilizing the most advanced technology. Robert Raniolo, MD & Har Chi Lau, MD Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors™ Hudson Valley Surgical Group MINIMALLY INVASIVE CENTER 777 N. Broadway, Suite 204, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 914.631.3660 | HudsonValleySurgeons.com Page 6 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 NUTRITION Eating Mindfully in 2015 By Author Rozsa Gaston Let’s look at getting more fiber in our diet this week. Psyllium flakes? Metamucil? Au contraire. Just add a few hiddengem supermarkets to your weekly food shopping itinerary in 2015. The travel time will be worth the effort, considering how well you will be feeding yourself and your family. Best benefit of all? No preparation time. All of the salads featured here are fully prepared, fresh, and ready for you to serve in the attractive, mindfully chosen serving bowl of your choice. Edamame salad from Garden Gourmet Market, Riverdale Edamame salad is a delicious accompaniment to a main course, especially when seasoned with dill, parsley, lemon juice, and onions. Garden Gourmet Market in Riverdale offers its homemade recipe in under-onepound take-out containers. If you don’t care to eat it alone as a salad, throw a few spoonfuls into your family’s tossed salad to accompany the evening meal. Edamame’s fiber content? Through the roof. (Pronounced eh-dah MAH-may, edamame is Japanese for green soy beans.) Trader Joe’s cranberry almond grain medley features barley, wheatberries, Cranberry almond grain medley from Trader Joe’s wild rice, and quinoa. That would be three too many whole grains for me if they weren’t mixed in with juicy dried cranberries and almonds. Result? Mouth watering. Even more importantly, if you eat a cranberry almond grain salad for lunch you won’t crave another thing until dinnertime. When you eat whole grain foods or high fiber salads, portion size is not a big concern.These kinds of foods are not like cookies or chips that you might find yourself eating one after another until the box or bag is empty. You will know when you’ve had enough cranberry almond grain medley or edamame salad. These foods satisfy the senses as well as the stomach and palate. What they don’t do is set off uncontrollable cravings to eat more. When you eat whole grains, you stop when you’ve had enough. But let’s say you don’t know when to stop or you’re still hanging onto old habits from 2014. Start off with a prepackaged, fully prepared whole grain salad for lunch and then, if you insist, go ahead and drop by the donut shop on your way back to work. See how many donuts you’ll feel like eating after your stomach is already busy digesting a whole grain, high fiber salad. Not many, I would guess. If the call to action doesn’t come through with an appeal to health, let’s drop the whole healthy eating angle and talk aesthetics. Have you ever seen any raisins as attractive as golden raisins? I personally have nothing against brunettes, but in the case of raisins, blondes win out. If you soak them in water overnight in the refrigerator, they are burstingly plump, juicy and ready to accessorize your morning oatmeal (high in fiber, warming in wintertime), or to be added to your cinnamon tapioca pudding after dinner. Tapioca? Made from the root of the cassava plant and mostly sourced from Brazil, tapioca pudding is a great source of dietary fiber, as well as vitamin B, iron manganese, calcium, copper, and selenium. The last is an anti-oxidant that will help you sleep at night as well as promote fertility. One container of tapioca pudding from six-packs sold in the dairy section of the supermarket typically contains 130 calories. Admire the translucent tapioca balls in the pudding as you indulge. They look like pearls and will make you feel like a woman worthy of wearing them. Or a man smart enough to gift pearls to someone special. Attention—Valentine’s Day is coming up. container. Short expiration dates on food are good. When you see one, you know live food is inside, ready to go bad soon if you don’t eat it. Long expiration dates on foods are more troubling and are best avoided. If a food stays fresh on the shelf for over a year, what has been put into it in order to preserve it? How will your body break down the preservatives used to keep that food fresh? Artificial substances in the body, including preservatives, glom onto fat cells.That means if you possess a certain number of fat cells in your body, you double the amount of real estate they’re taking up if you’re eating highly processed food made with additives. Who wants that extra five pounds to look like an extra ten? Instead of worrying about eating less, if you love to eat, like just about everyone, why not forget about eating less and simply be more mindful about what you do eat? Enjoy something gloriously colorful, with a short expiration date on it. Make sure it includes whole grains and fiber. Serve it to yourself in a gorgeous bowl that means something special to you when you’re dining at home. If you’re eating at your desk or in your car, give your whole grain, high fiber salad a mindful, appreciative look with each mouthful and feel great about putting something alive in your body. You will feel more alive as a result. Roasted corn organic red quinoa from Garden Gourmet, Riverdale Now for color: what could be more joyful than the reds, greens, and yellows of a roasted corn red quinoa salad? Even more happiness inducing is the fact that you didn’t have to make it; it’s already prepared and packaged for you at Garden Gourmet Market with a short expiration date stamped on the Israeli couscous butternut squash from Garden Gourmet Market, Riverdale A trip to Garden Gourmet Market on Broadway in Riverdale is like taking a tour of the United Nations. You will ADVERTISE YOUR DISPLAY HELP WANTED ADS IN THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN! Do you have jobs available at your business? The Westchester Guardian Ads due Wednesday one week prior to publication date. Publication every Thursday Call today to reserve Display Ad Space in our next issue: 914.216.1674 leave with a full grocery cart of exotic, fresh foods made by people who have not yet forgotten how central eating whole grains is to one’s diet. Whole grain breads from Polish and Ukrainian recipes, Israeli hummus, Greek cookies, Russian delicacies, juice smoothies, and rows of freshly made whole grain, high fiber salads are all on offer at the newly expanded Garden Gourmet Market. Think Riverdale is too far to travel for grocery shopping? Think again. Riverdale real estate agents position Riverdale as the most southwestern section of Westchester County. Why shouldn’t you? Thank you for journeying with me here. If you would like to share your discovery of a hidden-gem Westchesterarea food shop or how to definitively pronounce “quinoa,” please drop a line to [email protected]. Sourcing the best of Westchester and environs food shops: http://www.gardengourmetmarket. com 5665 Broadway, Riverdale, NY 10463 http://www.traderjoes.com 727 White Plains Rd., Scarsdale, NY 10583 http://www.freshmarket.com 725 White Plains Rd., Scarsdale, NY 10583 A word about tapioca: https:// www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/ other/tapioca.html About the Author—Rozsa Gaston is a Bronxville author who writes playful books on serious matters. Women getting what they want out of life is one of them. Her novel Running from Love was inspired by time spent running in Van Cortlandt Park, the Bronx and can be found on amazon.com in paperback, ebook or audio editions. Bronx mojo goes up against Gold Coast style when Farrah Foley from Van Cortlandt Track Club in the Bronx meets Jude Farnsworth of Greenwich Track Club. A tale of overcoming downhill running and relationship fears, Running from Love is suitable for ages 21 and up. www.rozsagaston.com THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Page 7 replete with all the electronic safeguards and database controls impressed me no end – particularly when I remembered what had gone on before. The pictures of the inside of my knee and the pre-op MRI images (as well as all the optical imaging machines for my eyes) were different from the technology available when Dr. Small had his operation. Moreover, these technology breakthroughs did not seem to be at the expense of jobs but seem merely to enhance the performance of existing jobs and procedures. I discussed the impact that technology has had on medicine with Dr. Small on the show and the only problem areas that he saw were cost (a big one) and the fact that he has his back to an office patient when bringing up the patient’s history, while previously he had a folder in his hand while maintaining eye contact – “but,” he said, “we’ll get that right.” From my experience, they already got a lot right! Creative Disruption Pleasantly Disruptive! By John F. McMullen Many of my columns have not only focused on the positive impact of technology innovation but also on the attendant loss of jobs related to the innovation. In the last two weeks, I have had two separate surgeries at Hudson Valley Medical Center (“HVMC”) in Peekskill, NY and have found extensive use of technology with little, if any, negative aspects. First, some background – when I moved to the Town of Yorktown over thirty years ago, the predecessor to HVMC, Peekskill Community Hospital, was the closest thing to a “snake pit” that I could imagine. Coming from New York City where my prime exposure to hospitals was Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (now “New York Presbyterian” as a result of its merger with New York Cornell), I expected all hospitals to be as patient-friendly as that one. I was shocked when I first had occasion to go to Peekskill’s Emergency Room and find the authoritarian nastiness on the part of the admittance staff (my wife had cracked the windshield of our car with her forehead in a driveway accident and was in pain – my concern for the delay was met with a gruff “Please sit over there until you are called.”). Now 35 years later, the facility is modern, the patient interface is super friendly, and the use of technology is impressive. On January 6th, I had cataract replacement on my right eye, performed by Dr. Kayvan Keyhani (who had last July performed a similar operation on my left eye). When I arrived at the hospital, the reception desk at the entrance of the Surgical Center had a list of the surgical patients expected, checked me off, and attached a wristband with my identification (name, date of birth, age, & gender), a bar code, and a camera-image code to my wrist. I was then directed a short distance to a small waiting room across from registration. After a very short time, I was called to the registration desk where my patient history in the system was verified and I signed permission forms. I was then given a folder with copies of the forms and directed to a specific private room on the next floor (the only other one in the Surgical Center) where a nurse was waiting for me. I gave the nurse the folder who verified the data on my wristband, and once verified, scanned the wristband – and my record in the hospital database was automatically updated. She then gave me instructions to change into a gown and booties and gave me plastic bags in which to put my clothes and shoes. Once I had changed, she took my vital signs, asked me which eye was to be worked on and verified that my understanding agreed with the records. She scanned the wristband again to indicate that the operation had been verified – and then began the medication – multiple drops for the eye. After setting up each drop, she scanned both the medicine bottle and my wristband to indicate that I was about to get it (she also showed me what would happen if she set up the same medication twice; an error message halted the process). At the conclusion of the medication, she set up the IV for the anesthesiologist, who then came in and went through the entire verification procedure again. Dr. Keyhani also came in and, after asking me what eye was being operated on to verify that we were on the same page, marked the right side of my face to indicate where the operation was to be performed. I later learned that the doctors call this “signing.” The next thing I knew I was awake and the surgery was over! The July procedure had not gone so smoothly -- I have very soft whites of the eyes and I knew that the cataract surgery would require Dr. Keyhani to insert some kind of device to stabilize the white portion of my eye. Before that happened, I would have a local anesthetic and have my arms wrapped so I wouldn’t “help the physician” and my head would be stabilized – the whole thing was to take about an hour. When I woke up, I was told that everything had gone very well but, as I was being wheeled back to my room, I saw from a clock on the wall that I had been gone for 2 ½ hours! What had happened? It turned out that I had had “restless leg syndrome” on the table, causing my leg (and body) to twitch – an emphatic “no-no” during eye surgery! I was asked if I wanted to stop the procedure or undergo a general anesthetic. I mumbled “Keep going” (I didn’t remember the question – but they tape record the conversations in the OR). Once it was obvious that the operation was going to take much longer than originally estimated, Dr. Keyhani went out to where my wife, Barbara, was waiting to tell her what was going on – the old Peekskill Hospital would have left her waiting until she began to consider “who would be the pall bearers.” For the second cataract operation, the records had been updated concerning the restless leg syndrome and the anesthesiologist was all ready for me. In both cases, when I got back to the room, the nurse instructed me on the use of prescription drops for next few weeks, gave me a “goody bag” with drops and heavy sunglasses to deal with effects of glare because of the dilation of the eye. The removal of the cataracts increased my vision dramatically. (My radio interview with Dr. Keyhani shortly after the first surgery may be listened to at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/johmac13/2014/08/03/ the-weekly-johnmac-radio-show). A week-and-a-half later, on January 15th, I was back at the hospital to have Dr. Steven Small perform orthoscopic surgery on my right knee for a torn meniscus. Once again, it was the same entry and registration process, the same taking of vital signs and verification for procedures and medications by the nurse, anesthesiologist, and doctor, and the same smooth surgery. This time, instead of getting sunglasses and drops to take with me, I received pain pills, a cane, and pictures of the inside of my knee taken during the surgery. With only two small incisions with stiches, the knee was “dressed” and wrapped tight – and would remain so for twenty-four hours – and the nurse gave me excellent instructions for walking up and down stairs. I only needed the pain pills for less than a day and, once the bandages came off, was driving the next day – another job well done by my doctors at Hudson Valley Medical Center! I had Dr. Small on the radio show three days after the surgery (https:// s3.amazonaws.com/btr.shows/ show/7/204/show_7204571.mp3) and he mentioned that he decided to be an orthopedist over 40 years ago when he also had a torn meniscus and had surgery – but that was before current technology and his knee was cut deeply into to, leaving him with a scar and the need for rehabilitation. The whole surgical experiences, Sleep-Away Camp Comments on this column to johnmac13@ gmail.com Creative Disruption is a continuing series examining the impact of constantly accelerating technology on the world around us. These changes normally happen under our personal radar until we find that the world as we knew it is no more. John F. McMullen is a writer, poet, college professor and radio host. Links to other writings, Podcasts, & Radio Broadcasts at www.johnmac13.com, his books are available on Amazon, and he blogs at http://open.salon.com/blog/johnmac13. © 2014 John F. McMullen Page 8 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Arts & EntertainmentSection EYE ON THEATRE Silly and Sillier By JOHN SIMON “Honeymoon in Vegas” was, as I recall, a silly movie, and the current musical based on it is at least as silly. To be sure, “silly” in this context is not derogatory-think of Disney’s Silly Symphonies, for example, which were the most cunning cartoons of fondly recalled more innocent days. It may indeed be something to flaunt if it turns into a big commercial success, which this devilmay-care show promises to become. It is the story of Jack Singer and Betsy Nolan, who have been dating for five years, after which it seems a wedding is indicated. But Jack had an (unspecified) Jewish mother, whose one dying wish was that he never marry— even dead, it seems, Mother could not share her darling son with another woman. Just why Jack thinks that the famous divorce capital would guarantee connubial bliss is not explained, but off he goes to Las Vegas with Betsy and a promise. Arrived there, he is still somewhat hesitant, and then, worse luck, Betsy catches the eyes of the widowed gaming gangster, Tommy Korman, Tony Danza as ‘Tommy Korman’ and Brynn O’Malley as ‘Betsey Nolan’ in Honeymoon in Vegas at the Nederlander Theatre. whose late spouse, Donna, she appar- a card game with Tommy, who with ently closely resembles. That already his sidekick, Johnny, accosted him, and, supplies a sufficient quotient of hilari- sure enough, suckers him into losing ous absurdity, but there are oodles more $58,000. Since he has no such money, to come. he is—hold on to your hat--conEven before seeking out the nearest strained to offer Tommy a weekend wedding chapel at Betsy’s nudging, with Betsy instead. The understandthe suddenly reluctant Jack gets into ing is that it is to be in Hawaii, and (by David Josefberg as ‘Roy Bacon’ and the ensemble in Honeymoon in Vegas at The Nederlander Theatre. way of crowning absurdity) platonic. Not all that reluctantly—Tommy having deployed his impressive stock of charm—Betsy agrees. And, boy, does this contrivance by Andrew Bergman, who also wrote the original screenplay, depend on smart dialogue, apt acting, lush production values and suspension of disbelief. Well, all of that the musical does get, though such things as the reproachful ghost of the dead mother popping up from a garbage can predicates the genius of a Sam Beckett, not quite forthcoming here. What we do get, however, is enjoyable music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, not one of my favorites by far, but successful enough with such shows as “Parade,” “The Last Five Years,” and “The Bridges of Madison County.” This time round his score suits the rambunctious story to a T, though it may raise questions about why Brown needed three further orchestrators on top of himself. Anna Louizos is a designer of outstanding sets, to which she now adds winning projections. Brian Hemesath’s satirical costumes, like Howell Binkley’s sassy lighting, further enhance Gary Griffin’s efficient direction. Rob McClure’s dependably bungling Jack, Brynn O’Malley’s sorely frustrated Betsy, Nancy Opel’s formidable Mother, Catherine Ricafort’s Hawaian temptress, Matthew Saldivar’s criminal henchman Johnny Sandwich (formerly Foccacia) and David Josefsberg in the dual role of a smarmy Vegas M.C and the leader of a passel of flying Elvis impersonators, are all lavishly up to snuff. But the chief acting honors go to the Tommy of Tony Danza, who delightfully blends charm with insolence, danger with delicacy, and ingratiating song with insouciant sting. If you groove on the mix of wholesome vulgarity and hoary but hearty jocularity, this may well be the Everest of excess you’ve been dreaming of. Post Script: If you still haven’t seen the best play of the times, “Disgraced,” you have until March 1 to do so. Otherwise, become the season’s sorriest loser. John Simon has written for over 50 year on theatre, film, literature, music and fine arts for the Hudson Review, New Leader, New Criterion, National Review, New York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg News. He reviews books for the New York Times Book Review and for The Washington Post. To learn more, visit his website: www.JohnSimon-unsensored. com Honeymoon in Vegas photos by Joan Marcus C. 2014 Picture L-R Matthew Saldivar as ‘Johnny Sandwich,’ Tony Danza as ‘Tommy Korman,’ David Josephfberg as ‘Buddy Rocky’. In Honeymoon in Vegas at the Nederlander Theatre. Community/Gover COMMUNITY THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN The Walled City of Lucca Italy’s Medieval Masterpiece. Lucca, Italy’s most magnificent medieval, completely walled city is just an hour away from Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Yet amazingly, though millions of travelers from all over the world visit Florence every year, very few ever go to Lucca. When they do, it’s usually just for a “day-trip” as recommended by a travel guidebook. They should be ashamed of themselves because Lucca is one of the most captivating cities you’ll ever visit, anywhere. In fact, after spending a very memorable week in Lucca last year, my girlfriend and I seriously talked about packing up Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 By NANCY KING TRAVEL By Richard Levy Westchester Community College Unde and moving to Lucca; it’s that special. Great peaceful vibes, stress free: once inside the womb of Lucca, you’ve left civilization outside. Spending just one day in Lucca is like going back in a time machine, yet at the same time, Lucca has all the modern amenities you’d ever want, making it the perfect place to escape and maybe never leave. Just imagine how safe you’d feel safely hidden away in a beautiful medieval city protected by a 40” tall wall while feasting upon world-famous Tuscan food and wine. The wall was built during the 14th and 15th centuries and since 1480, it has protected Lucca from aggressive neighbors and invading armies. Westchester Community College is the latest public institution to come under scrutiny of the New York State Inspector General when it was revealed that a former assistant basketball coach falsified academic transcripts and forged an administrator’s signature. As a result, the community college has canceled its 2014-2015 Basketball season. However the story doesn’t stop there, because many student athletes use Westchester Community College as a springboard to play at NCAA four-year colleges; the scandal has now spanned several states and several teams. Former Mt. Vernon High School star, Jamell Walker was a star player for WCC and was at the school on a full basketball Page 9 scholarship. He played on the award winning team and was granted, upon completion of what was thought to be a two-year stint with WCC, a full scholarship to play ball with nationally ranked Florida A&M University. Not long after his arrival at Florida A&M, an anonymous tipster informed the college and the NCAA that Walker’s scholarship at WCC had been stripped a year prior, after it was revealed he only taken one class at the college. In order to maintain a scholarship at the college, a student must be matriculated for a full credit load. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that there are several other former WCC students who are also playing basketball for Division 1 schools and that they too might be at a new school under less than transparent circumstances. St John’s University, famous for their Red Storm team, has opened an investigation into the COMMEMORATION Community Marks 3 Years Since of the White Plains Department of By NANCY KING National Tourist Orrido di Botri Lucca Photo Courtesy of Italian Board Public Safety to commemorate the a frigid right downstairs and to October. Whether performed by One of the very first things you to outdoor restaurant On third anniversary of the shooting death away is the historic do in Lucca after exploring the twisting just one blockNovember evening,Sana a few local opera singers or a group of of Kenneth Chamberlain 68 offering hour local musicians, the concertsSr. areThe always and winding narrow streets of this Giovanni Church, vigil was heldone in front year old former marine was shot to quaint, medieval city is to take a slow, “Puccini Concerts” every night, April Continued on page 10 lovely walk around the “ramparts” or top of the wall which has been turned into a lovely park with fabulous vistas of the entire Tuscan countryside around Lucca. The distance around the wall is two and half miles. It’s also very mindcleansing to cycle or take a morning jog around the ramparts of this massive medieval wall. Lucca was the first Italian city to accept Christianity, thus it’s 99 churches; one more amazing than the next. The two most historic and beautiful sights of Lucca are San Michelle Church with it’s medieval façade and the San Martino Cathedral which is next to the very impressive 13th Century bell tower, the Casa dell’ Opera del Duomo, built where the original Roman Forum once stood. My favorite hotel in Lucca is ITALIAN CUISINE the classic, charming and affordZagat Rated “Excellent” able Universo Hotel, even though Voted “Best Italian Restaurant ” Westchester Magazine, 2006 “Rick Steves” says it’s “old, tired and worn”; that’s what makes it so special! Open 7 Days : Mon.-Thurs. Noon - 10PM • Fri. Sat. & Sun. Noon -11PM The Universo is a lot like The Grand RESERVE NOW FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES 2 PARTY ROOMS AVAIL. SEATING 75 & 100 Budapest Hotel, with a grand lobby, lovely large rooms, delicious breakfasts 914.779.4646 included, great service and it is located www.ciaoeastchester.com in a beautiful square; a short walk everywhere in Lucca. There’s a fabulous Ciao • 5-7 JOHN ALBANESE PLACE, EASTCHESTER, NY 10709 Reserve Now for Holiday Parties! Church of San Frediano Photo Courtesy of Italian National Tourist Board eligibilit WCC Connec scripts o who als College and SU all of th to thei attendin At assistan Last m provide an adm so. Odd anythin thought Nearly athlete script fr death the ear 19, 201 went o mornin that h he wan should check officers elderly the el more a Chamb killed b alleged Sh Attorn Grand and of the dea justifia that th him w in per officer inciden Hart. H out the In Chamb Chamb Page 10 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 TRAVEL The Walled City of Lucca Continued from page 9 wonderful as Puccini is Italy’s foremost composer and he was also known to be quite a dashing ladies man. Concerts are only 20 Euros, so try to see a few of them. Other places to consider staying in Lucca are the pricey San Luca Palace Hotel and the L’Antiga Bifore charming B&B; there many other places to choose from, as well. The delicious food of Lucca has been heavily influenced by the ancient Etruscans who favored cooking with an abundance of fresh herbs like Rosemary, Sage and Thyme, as in the famous by the Simon & Garfunkel song. Meat is favored more often than fish in Tuscany. Their “Bistecca Florentina”, a thick T-Bone steak is legendary; as is their wild boar or “Cinghiale” – a deliciously, rich Ragu. Roast kid or “Capretto” with herbs and rabbit stew with olives are other traditional dishes. There’ a very popular long, thick spaghetti called “Pici you must try and don’t miss the popular local dish: meat filled ravioli served in a meat sauce” - usually a recipe passed down from grandma. The best restaurant in Lucca is he colorful Buca di Sant’ San Antonio, turning out authentic, delicious Tuscan fare ever since 1782. My other favorite restaurants are Il Giglio and Trottoria Do Leo. Lucca has many unique shops and fashionable boutiques, with prices lower than you’ll find in Florence and without all those annoying “tourists”. Search out Lucca Porta San Gervase Photo Courtesy of Italian National Tourist Board Carnivale Via Reggio Photo Courtesy of Italian National Tourist Board Diana O’Neill Holistic Health Services Gelateria Veneta and try their “fresh frozen fruit filled with a creamy filling”. Stop into a bakery and pick up Lucca’s famous “Buccellati” cake, a large wreath shaped cake filled with raisins and laced with anise: “Molto delizioso.” You’ll be sure to keep noshing this cake as you wander all through this small and very captivating city. Stop at a café in one of Lucca’s many historic squares or piazzas and enjoy a special Lucca cappuccino. (And keep nibbling on your cake.) Visit the house Puccini lived in, which is now a museum. Have lunch in the square nearby which is filled with outdoor restaurants. Right at the end of the square there’s a small handbag store (don’t remember the name) with Lucca’s best selection and prices of high quality leather handbags and wallets. Then check out the Guinigi Tower, with trees growing on top, overlooking all of Lucca. The largest square is Piazza Napoleon, named after his sister who lived there during the French occupation. Of course, you can’t leave Italy without seeing the famous “Leaning Tower of Pisa” only a fifteen-minute train ride away. Yes, it is spectacular and worth seeing. You can walk to the top and enjoy the panorama below. Have lunch in the outdoor restaurant across from the tower; the view is so memorable you won’t remember what you ate. (Take a “Selfie” while you are leaning at the same angle as the tower.) Viareggio is another charming town worth venturing to, from Lucca, just a 10-minute train ride away and located on the Italian Riviera. Surprisingly, the Guide books never mention Viareggio. Stroll along Viareggio’s promenade that runs along the beach filled with shops, cafes and restaurants. My favorite restaurant was Da Giorgio: order their amazing mixed seafood appetizers and Frito Misto -- a huge platter of super-fresh, lightly fried local fish and shellfish; plenty for two people. Walk along the long lovely beach and visit the home of the famous poet Shelly who, sadly, drowned nearby in 1892. Or just hang out in a café taking in the all the vibes of this Tuscan seaside town. Now let’s get back to Lucca. If you’re into cycling, take the “Bicycle Tour of Wine County” from Lucca: about 10 miles each way. But don’t worry, you’ll be stopping off to taste fantastic Tuscan wines along the way, so on your way back you’ll be much more “relaxed. Tickets for the bike tour are available at the Bike store in Lucca. If you’re a wine nut like me, you will enjoy the one-day “Guided Tasting Tour of Chianti “; information is available the tourist office in Lucca, not far from the bus station. Bike rentals in Lucca by the day are 12 Euros and 2.50 Euros an hour; a great way to see Lucca and the neighboring countryside. Now that I’ve hopefully enticed you to make Lucca your next vacation destination, let me advise you about the best way to get there. I suggest flying from NY to Rome, because there are many flights and it’s less expensive than flying into Florence. Stay overnight, perhaps at Fellini Hotel; my favorite boutique hotel located just two blocks from the old historic section and the Fontana de Trevi. Have breakfast on their rooftop garden overlooking the rooftops of Rome. Early the next day, take a taxi to Continued on page 11 I will journey with you during challenging times such as grieving the loss of a loved one or recovering from a negative relationship. Counseling • Energy Healing • Hypnotism • Spiritual & Psychic Healing By appointment, only • Free consultation given on first visit Holistic Health Services • 240 North Ave. Suite 204 A, New Rochelle, NY 10801 • 914.630.1928 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Page 11 TRAVEL The Walled City of Lucca Continued from page 10 the main train station and catch an express train to Florence; a two-hour scenic trip. In Florence, stay at the old world, charming Pendini Hotel located in the historic Piazza Della Repubblica. This beautiful hotel is located on the top floors of a 17th century spectacular historical building. You’ll want a room “facing the square” for the great view of street musicians and lovely cafes all around the square; cost is about 175 -200 Euros with breakfast and worth every Lira, I mean Euro. ([email protected]) The hotel is centrally located and you can walk just about everywhere. When you come out of the hotel, make a left onto the Piazza Della Repubblica and just down the street check out the street market of stalls overflowing with fabulous, authentic Italian leather goods at super-affordable prices. In fact, a gorgeous leather handbag is roughly half of what you’d pay in most Florence leather shops. They might not be brand name, crème de la crème handbags, but they are still beautifully crafted from Italian leather at very affordable prices. But be sure to bargain for the price you want: the vendors expect it. The Pendini Hotel is two blocks from the magnificent “Duomo” Cathedral, the breathtaking and most famous medieval building in Florence. Wait on line and when you walk around inside, you will wonder how they could have built this huge dome when they did. Be sure to light a candle and say a short prayer, no matter your faith; it’s good luck. Treat your self to a hot waffle smothered in fresh strawberries and whipped crème at the tiny store across the street. Have lunch in one of the out door restaurants across from the Duomo and you’ll be hypnotized by its beauty. Walk over to the outdoor market a few blocks away for all sorts of leather bargains and stop into the huge food market. Have lunch nearby at Trottoria Za Za. If you have just one full day in Florence you must see Michelangelo’s statue of “David” at the Accademia and you will be awed by this magnificent work of art.Then, head over to the Uffizi Gallery, housing the world’s largest collection of Italian renaissance art. Once inside, ask the guard to direct you to the Botticelli painting of the “Birth of Venus”. Prepare to be mesmerized by just how beautiful and radiant Venus looks with her long hair flowing down her naked body as she ascends a huge clamshell. Check out the other paintings on the floor. If you are not rushed for time, get lost in the Uffizi for about an hour. Be sure to make reservations in advance for your Accademia and Uffizi Gallery admission tickets, as this allows you to go to “the front of the line”. (Folks waiting on line will glare at you.) Decide what date and time you’d like to go and call 011-39-055-294-883; or make reservations online. Stroll over the famous 14th Century Ponte Vecchio for super views of the Arno River. For dinner you must eat at the Golden View Open Bar Restaurant for the fabulous view of the Ponte Vecchio and Arno River from your table. For Florence’s most fashionable leather jackets and handbags the place to go, is Casini Firenzi,They’re expensive but worth it, because of the high quality leather and third generation craftsmanship of their factory. (casinifirenzi.it). After one or two days in Florence it’s time to start your fabulous vacation in Lucca. Take an early train it’s only an hour’s ride. Then a short walk or taxi to Lucca, which is not far from the station. The Universo Hotel is not far from Lucca’s wall entrance. Then after your very unforgettable week in Lucca buy a ticket for an early train to Florence with a connecting express train to Rome, it takes about 5 hours. After checking into your hotel in Rome, drop your luggage and take a taxi to “Trastevere” the historic and colorful “Old Jewish section” established by the Romans in 1555, terrorized by the Nazis in 1944 and now a very trendy Roman neighborhood; not to be missed. Have a delicious dinner. Be sure to order the local specialty of fried smashed baby artichokes and sautéed cheese stuffed zucchini blossoms. Ask the hotel reserve a taxi to the airport for you in the morning (30 Euros) to catch your AM flight back to New York. You’ll need 10 days, but 12-14 days is much better, especially if you’d like another day in Florence or Rome, or one more day in Lucca for “doing absolutely nothing”. Yes, in Lucca, even doing nothing is special and very memorable. Buon viaggio!!! Editors Note: Photos of Lake Worth Beach, Lakeworth Downtown Art, Lake Worth Shops and Lake Worth Downton Street Art in our Jan. 22, 2015 story about Lake Worth are courtesy of the The Tourism Marketing Corporation for Palm Beach County. We regret this omission from last week’s issue. For further information about Lake Worth visit: www. PalmBeachFl.Com Yonkers Philarmonic Orchestra Concert Sunday February 1, 2015 at 3PM Saunders High School, Yonkers Admission is FREE On Sunday, February 1, 2015 The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra will present a free concert at Saunders High School, 183 Palmer Ave. in Yonkers. The concert begins at 3PM. Guest Conductor Ariel Rudiakov will lead the orchestra in a program of Slavic Music, including Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Op. 92., Bulgarian Rhapsody Vardar by Pantcho Vladigerov for violin solo and orchestra and ending with Tchaikovsky Symphony #2 ( the little Russian). The program includes Joana Genova, solo violinist. Open 10AM - 8PM Mon-Sat. Juice Bar • Smoothies • Salads Paninis • Rice Bowls Dine In -Take-Out • Dobbs Ferry Delivery 914.479.5555 MIXONMAINNY.com 63 MAIN ST., DOBBS FERRY, NY Page 12 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Artist Profile: Luis Mallo By Lee Daniels, with additional reporting by Marguerite Daniels Cuba’s unique cultural heritage—a hidden treasure for the past half-century—portends a reemergence of the island-nation’s rich artistic talent on a global scale. “It’s an evolution that has taken a long time to happen,” remarked Cuban-born author Hermes Mallea, at a presentation last week for the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. As did many denizens of Cuba during the past half-century, Mallea moved to the U.S. as a child, then went on to a successful career as an architect in New York. Another Cuban-born cultural icon, who as an eight-year-old moved with his family to Spain for four years, then to Queens, to later establish himself as a pre-eminent photographer in New York’s kaleidoscopic and fast-moving artistic community, is Luis Mallo. Luis Mallo When we met at the opening of his latest project, Interruptions, earlier this month in Chelsea’s prestigious Praxis Gallery, Mallo, surrounded by admirers of his work, stepped aside to greet this writer, who felt slightly out of place in T-shirt and jeans, in a setting where black everything was quite obviously de rigueur. Refreshingly demure, unassuming and soft-spoken, Mallo deftly shifted the topic of questions about themes in his work to the process. “I’ve been working on the series for the last 20 years. Finding the “window” in moments that define the way I look at things is a really important part of the process. “Interruptions is more of a concept than anything; the concept here is that every time something distracts me, I take a photo of what I see, and these are my ‘interruptions,’” he said. I was especially enamored by Mallo’s image “Interruptions No. 17” (2003, chromogenic digital print), depicting the massive Pepsi-Cola billboard in Long Island City, an icon to Queens-Manhattan commuters and waterfront strollers for the past 80 years. The image is arresting—first, as it is seen from an obscure angle; the viewer sees not the vibrant, red Pepsi logo familiar to so many, but a view of the sign from the rear, in which the letters are reversed. Second, it is backlit—and outshined—by the luminous haze overhanging the Manhattan skyline. The third feature that lends the image a mysterious, contrarian pulse, is that the sign is framed through a hole torn in a chainlink fence and set above a patina of rubble in a barren construction area, which has the added effect of making the sign diminutive rather than iconic. How does the photographer identify and then isolate these very unique perspectives on what many regard—or disregard—as mundane backdrops to what appear to be more relevant, important, and obvious settings, I wanted to know. “Interruptions is about the story behind the scenes. I was looking for things that were concealed. I didn’t have the intention of showing these photos all together—that is the beauty of it; they are not all continuous or together, but random. Here, I am going back to defining reality by transforming it, bringing out certain aspects of it that are mesmerizing,” he explained. Mallo’s gift of mesmerizing viewers of his work is not without precedent. His previous projects, which have been exhibited at galleries around the U.S., as well as in venues in Canada, Spain, France, and Brazil, include his Open Secrets, In Camera, Laminas, Reliquarium, and most recently, Passengers. Realized in the mid-1990s, the project featured a series of candid, “Here, I am going back to defining reality by transforming it, bringing out certain aspects of it that are mesmerizing.” Luis Mallo, on his Interruptions project. black-and-white close-ups of the hands of various travelers on New York’s subways. “Passengers is still one of my favorite works. Someone wrote that the photos had a “timeless quality,” giving them resonance,” he elucidated. In a world of constantly changing landscapes, finding resonance—and crystallizing it from a physical through the use of film to create a derivative suggestion, allusion, or allegory, is part of the magic that Mallo evokes when he aims his camera at an otherwise dull, everyday image. “I find some of the most interesting images when I’m not really looking, and this also helps me define myself as an artist, as a photographer, he said.” In the end, Mallo’s images in Interruptions helps remind us that we tend to see what we choose to, or are conditioned to, as we navigate a cityscape—and through life. And, if we take a moment to remove the filters or blinders that shape our view of everyday objects, and try to look beneath the surface, a whole, new world opens up to us, with endless possibilities for heightened perception. Q.& A. with Luis Mallo Q.: When did you decide you wanted to pursue photography as a medium professionally? A.: I first became interested in the medium while attending college in NYC. I took a photography class and fell in love with it immediately. I started learning how to use a camera and developing and printing my own images. Shortly thereafter I was given used camera and I started taking photographs incessantly. Q.: What was your first camera? A.: My first camera was an Olympus model from the late 70s that my stepmother lent to me in 1984. Q.: You went to FIT, to study Advertising. Can you talk a little about this experience? A.: I decided to attend FIT because it was affordable, and it offered an Advertising and Design program that I thought would give me a chance to be creative. I had been drawing since I was a kid, and so my family and I thought that something creative might be appropriate. I visited the school and saw that the program offered life drawing classes and electives like Photography and Sculpture. I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn something applicable as a Continued on page 13 Luis Mallo, Interruptions No. 17 (2003), chromogenic digital print, edition of 5, 17 x 21 3/8 inches. THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Page 13 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Artist Profile: Luis Mallo Continued from page 12 career, and at the same time do things that I considered creative and fun, really. Q,: Was the New York City cityscape influential in your artistic formation as a photographer? Who were some of your early artistic influences? A.: The NYC setting was impressionable, and it offered me the proximity to the art world in Soho and the museums all over the city. I took art history classes and began to see many gallery art exhibits and museum shows that started to awaken an interest in the visual arts. When I began to develop an interest in photography, I would search out photography shows and books that I could look at for reference and inspiration. One show that was a turning point for me was the Henri Cartier-Bresson show at the MOMA entitled, “Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Early Work.” It really blew me away and showed me the real power of the photograph. Q.: What are some of your other hobbies? Favorite foods? A.: My hobbies are soccer, films, and cooking. I like all kinds of food and enjoy spending time in the kitchen experimenting and preparing meals for my family. Q.: What is your typical day or week like in Brooklyn? A.: typical day in Brooklyn is very relaxed, really. What I enjoy about the neighborhood is the sense of community that you feel present all around you as you meet and speak to residents and neighbors. I spend a lot of time in Manhattan as well, but the time I spend in Brooklyn is when I really feel a sense of belonging and connection with the physical environment. That’s probably why most of the images that are represented in the exhibit were taken in Brooklyn and Queens, I suppose. Luis Mallo’s Interruptions, at the Praxis Gallery, 541 W. 25th St., New York,, NY 10001, until Feb. 21. For more information on the exhibit, visit www. praxis-art.com/en, or call 212-7729478. For more information on the artist, visit: http://www.luismallo.com Lee Daniels, a former reporter for the Lower Hudson Journal News and Reuters, is Arts & Leisure writer for the Westchester Guardian. His work has appeared in the Danbury News-Times, Litchfield County Times, and Orlando Sentinel. He is the winner of the first-place prize in Non-Fiction in the 2013 Porter Fleming Literary Competition. Luis Mallo, Interruptions No. 34 (2005), chromogenic digital print, edition of 5, 17 x 21 3/8 inches. Robert Olsson Exhibit: Oxide Punishment Feb 2015 On Display At The Black Cow in Croton-on-Hudson Robert Olsson is a graphic designer/photographer living in Croton-on-Hudson. He received a BS in Visual Arts from SUNY New Paltz, with subsequent studies at the Sorbonne, SVA, Cooper Union, and Center for the Digital Arts at WCC. This presentation is of recent work, a discovery of subtle and vibrant nonrepresentational content found within deteriorated mechanical objects, capturing diverse and current states of disrepair. Many years work in professional design studios and in big corporation publishing have honed his robust color, textural and compositional values and have jaded his observational skills, yielding a critical and cynical perspective of the ordinary. His photographs search for a refreshing aesthetic relevance and micro-abstract realism in a world structuralized by electronic alienation and ‘thumbs-up’ consumption. A realization that an amazing myriad of material is widely perceptible and is a function of ubiquity. For the month of February, 2015, his show OXIDE PUNISHMENT will be on display at The Black Cow in Croton. For further information, contact [email protected] Image entitled: ‘Pleasant Silence’, a 33” x 22” digital photograph by Robert Olsson Page 14 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 CALENDAR News and Notes from Northern Westchester By Mark Jeffers Believe it or not this is our 200th column, I just want to thank all of our terrific readers, you are the best and here’s to you and this week’s “Happy, Humbled and Honored for 200” edition of “News and Notes.” My wife tells me that bathing suit days are just around the corner. I think it is either wishful thinking or she is dropping hints for a warm weather vacation…either way, I think I will get off of the coach and head over to the Westmoreland Sanctuary for a little outdoor activity. On Saturday February 7th at noon, they invite you to come out Open 7 Days A Week NYC’s #1 TOPlESS SPORTS BAR • Gentlemen’s Club • sushi RestauRant • Fine DininG NYC’s oNlY BoDY SUSHI 252 West 43rd St. 212-819-9300 (Between 7th & 8th Ave.) www.mycheetahsnyc.com FREE ADMISSION WITH THIS PASS The New Don’t Don’t Waste Waste Your Your Time Time Anywhere Anywhere Else Else Club Club New York New York NEW YORK’S NEW YORK’S PREMIER PREMIER GENTLEMEN’S GENTLEMEN’S CABARET CABARET Escape Reality… Escape The VIP Club! Escape to Reality… First Class Adult Entertainment, Sushi Bar and Lounge. HAPPY HOUR @ Entertainment, THE VIP! First Class Adult 2-For-1BarDrinks Sushi and Lounge. Mon – Sat Before 9PM Escape to The VIP Club! HAPPY HOUR @ THE VIP! COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION 2-For-1 FOR TWODrinks WITH THIS PASS Mon – Sat Before 9PM 20 W. 20th ST. (btwn 5th & 6th) COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION 212-633-1199 FOR TWO WITH THIS PASSs thevipclubnyc.com and discover what is going on in the winter woods with a guided brisk hike for all ages. While I am being outdoorsy…The Greenburgh Nature Center and Teatown Lake Reservation are partnering with other environmental organizations for a daylong program that celebrates the Bald Eagles’ return to the Hudson Valley’s waterways. Events include birds of prey shows, children’s activities and environmental exhibits. Activities take place at Croton Point Park and shuttle buses travel to eagle viewing sites along the river. Bring binoculars. 9am-4pm. On February 7th. Maybe if I do one of these outdoorsy events my wife will let me go the Big Brew New York Beer Festival at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on February 7th. Craft Beer enthusiasts will enjoy over 250 Craft Beers and all things beer related. Congratulations and three cheers to class of 1985 Mamaroneck High School graduates Dan Futterman and Bennett Miller for both receiving Academy Award nominations for their work on the film “Foxcatcher.” Futterman was nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Miller was tapped for Best Director. Futterman’s screenplay nod is shared with co-writer E. Max Frye. The film chronicles the tragic events surrounding John E. du Pont’s funding of a team of wrestlers training for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. LE G A L N O T I C E S HASTINGS ELECTRIC & MECHANICAL SERVICES, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/17/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 618 Warburton Ave Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 10706. Purpose: Any lawful activity 35176 253RD AVENUE LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/12/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Maggie J. Segrich 116 Main St Irvington, NY 10533. Purpose: Any lawful activity. THE CAFE AT 178TH, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/17/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 686 Bronx River Rd #5G Yonkers, NY 10704. Purpose: Any lawful activity. MNG 178TH, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 7/16/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 139 Hart Ave Yonkers, NY 10704. Purpose: Any lawful activity. SYNERGY MEDICAL ARTS, PLLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 11/14/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of PLLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The PLLC 103 S Bedford Rd Ste. 205 Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Purpose: Any lawful activity. RON RET REALTY, LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/4/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 374 McLean Ave Yonkers, NY 10705. Purpose: Any lawful activity. TOTAL WELLNESS MICRONUTRIENT PHARMACEUTICAL CONSULTING PLLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/15/14. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of PLLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The PLLC 51 Livingston Rd Scarsdale, NY 10583. Purpose: Any lawful activity. FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER In the Matter of a Proceeding Under Article 10 of the Family Court Act QUAYVAUN ALLEN (d.o.b.9/11/11), Docket No.: NN- 00277-14 FU No. 139941 A Child Under Eighteen Years of Age Alleged to be Neglected by SUMMONS and INQUEST NOTICE LAQUANAYA WARD, (Child Neglect Case) Respondent. NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD(REN) IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD(REN). IF YOUR CHILD(REN) STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT 22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION(S) TO TERMINATE YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD(REN) TO THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. IN SOME CASES, THE AGENCY MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. IF SEVERE OR REPEATED CHILD ABUSE IS PROVEN BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE, THIS FINDING MAY CONSTITUTE THE BASIS TO TERMINATE YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD(REN) TO THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NON-RESPONDENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RESPONDENT; IF THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD(REN) SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NON-RESPONDENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD(REN); IF THE CHILD(REN) IS PLACED AND REMAINS IN FOSTER CARE FOR FIFTEEN OF THE MOST RECENT TWENTY-TWO MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION(S) FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD(REN) FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE PARENT(s) WERE NOT NAMED AS RESPONDENTS IN THE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING. A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CUSTODY OF THE CHILD(REN) AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD(REN). A Petition under Article 10 of the Family Court Act having been filed with this Court, and annexed hereto YOU AND EACH OF YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., 3rd Floor Annex, White Plains, New York 10601, on MARCH 4, 2015, at 9:15 o’clock in the x morning of that day to answer the petition and to be dealt with in accordance with Article 10 of the Family Court Act. Upon your failure to appear as herein directed a warrant may be issued for your arrest and/or the Court may proceed to Inquest and hear and determine the petition as provided by law. Dated: 1/20 /15. _______/S/___________ Clerk of Court I can hear the bagpipes already…as the Northern Westchester/Putnam 39th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off Sunday, March 8th at 2pm on Route 6 in Croton Falls. An Environmental Summit and Solar Action Day will be held on Saturday, January 31st, at Fox Lane High School in Bedford. The summit will mark the official launch of Solarize Bedford-Mount Kisco, a 19-week campaign promoting widespread adoption of solar in both the residential and business sectors. Residents, students and businesses will be provided with a wide array of actionable, real world solutions to help make the community clean, healthy and sustainable. The summit will be a full day event including lectures and workshops led by national and local experts on the topics of energy, water, waste, food and health. The event also will include an Environmental Expo of interactive demonstrations, green products and information from more than 70 participating organizations and businesses. The Field Library in Peekskill invites families to its annual “Take Your Child to the Library” Day on February 7th. The festivities begin with a special craft at 11 am. At 2 pm, the library will present Evan Gottfried’s Family Music Extravaganza. Come along with Evan on his high-energy musical adventure, where everyone gets to be a kid. Get ready to shine like a rainbow and “bubble” over with excitement. Evan’s interactive show keeps kids engaged from start to finish. Our northern Westchester neighbor Michael Bloomberg, who owns a home in North Salem,was listed as the “Richest Person in New York” in a story on Marketwatch.com. The story mentions that Bloomberg has a net worth of $33.7 billion. Not sure the Jeffers gang made the top ten, maybe next year… Congratulations to Fox Lane’s Andrew Workman as he has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Quinnipiac University this fall for baseball. This week’s column is dedicated to my wonderful father, who passed away this week, his strength, courage and sense of humor will live with me and my family forever, thanks Dad. 20 W. 20th ST. (btwn 5th & 6th) 212-633-1199 s thevipclubnyc.com WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN LEGAL ADVERTISING [email protected] PUBLICATION EVERY THURSDAY: 914.216.1674 M-F 11A- 5P SUBMIT ADS TUESDAY, 10 DAYS PRIOR TO RUN DATE THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Page 15 Latinos, Arabs and Asians here and there”, explained Ibrahim. “It is something the students set because they think it is the correct way to fight for their rights”. In addition to real-life ethnic student union, the film also depicts dramatized events and characters inspired by news headlines that recently shocked the American people. In 2010, there really was a San Diego party where some teens where dressed up to mock African Americans. In the same year, a young Africa-American man was kidnapped and hung, (Frederick Jermaine Carter, Mississippi – the family disputes the original ME report of suicide and his case remains unsolved). “We fictionalized all these accounts in different times and locations so we can use them in our film”, said Ibrahim. In addition to the young actors appearing in the film, Ashmawey Brothers also managed to cast veteran character-actors like Oscar-winner Louis Gossett Jr., (An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982) and Emmy-winner Keith David, (Unforgivable Blackness, 2004) who both play the investigators. M. Emmet Walsh appears as a school official, John Heard plays Valerie’s father and Egyptian-American actor Sayed Badreya appears briefly as Hazem’s father. “Hollywood’s big names like these can come on board and agree to cut down their salaries if they believe in the just cause of the production” says Omar. “They also feel they have more room to give better performances. Gossett Jr. signed up immediately with us since he also established his Eracism Foundation in the States”. The financing of Boiling Pot was, however, not that easy. “We started an online campaign like most indies do nowadays, but it was not that successful”, remembers Ibrahim who spent more than a year raising funds for his film. “With such lack of financial support, we decided to do it on our own by obtaining a loan to secure the first portion of the budget”. After doing so, they two directors managed to finish 75% of the film, a feat that impressed several film investors to put up enough money to finish it completely. After screening the film in several Orange County, California and Harlem, New York, events, Boiling Pot obtained a US distributor last month. “We hope to try to screen the film in Egypt and the Middle East later, after its US release”, says Omar. “We got very good feedback from the private screenings. Some people did not believe the stories we were telling until they saw the film to the very last frame”. CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Boiling Pot By Sherif Awad Boiling Pot, soon to be released in American theaters, explores racism in American universities. The film was written, directed and financed by EgyptianAmerican directors Omar and Ibrahim Ashmawey, who were motivated to create the film by the extensive media coverage of racial tensions in America. Set during the 2008 presidential election, Boiling Pot opens with four university students dragging a bruised young black man through the woods to an oak tree, where they hang a noose and lynch him. As Detective Havem, (Louis Gossett Jr.) and FBA Agent Long (Keith David) investigate the murder, the story unfolds through student interrogations with a series of flashbacks that depict the events that led up to the lynching. The plot follows the parallel stories of characters dealing with racial frictions throughout university life. Danielle Fishel plays a girl naïve to racial tensions, who struggles to have her conservative white father, played by John Heard, accept her new Egyptian-America fiancé Haven, played by Ibrahim Ashmawey. Davetta Sherwood (The Young and the Restless) plays a Black Student Union College activist, tenuously trying to encourage the passive dean of her school, played by Emmet Walsh (Blade Runner, Blood Simple), to battle campus racism during the heated election. The plot simmers and campus fury comes to a head when a noose is hung on campus; a racist party rages at a frat house, and news P R E S S K I T of a rape spreads. Boiling Pot delves into the depths of racism in modern-day society by allowing the story to unfold through different narratives intertwined, in a dramatic thriller. There is neither an apparent vile character nor a supposed hero; rather, every character, if pushed far enough, will reflect prejudice. Omar and Ibrahim Ashmawey were both born in Maryland to two Egyptian parents who immigrated to the States but were committed to teaching the Arab language and Egyptian customs to their two sons, returning to Egypt from time to time. The Ashmaweys eventually relocated from Maryland to Michigan and finally settled in California where the brothers finished high school. Omar went on to study economics in college while Ibrahim majored in engineering. However, while growing up in the States, the Ashmawey brothers often felt offended by the stereotypical portrayal of Arab-Americans and Muslims in the US media: “We were sure that in order to change this depiction, it must be from within the entertainment industry as well”, said Omar, and The Boiling Pot is their feature debut “We did not want to make an Egyptian film for the Egyptian market but our aim was to address the American people”, he w w w. b o i l i n g p o t m o v i e . c o m ©AshmaweyFilms. All rights reserved. Ibrahim Ashmawey and Danielle Fishel explained. The two brothers spent considerable time on background research, and also met with many U.S. university students in an effort to reflect a realistic image of daily life on Campus. Prior to filming Boiling Pot, Ibrahim and Omar created their own production company, Ashmawey Films through which they made early shorts like Naomi’s Song and Why I Killed My Brother. The first thing that will likely catch the attention of foreign viewers of Boiling Pot is the existence of Black Student Unions in certain universities, which inadvertently can pave the way to racial segregation between people an early age. “Actually, unions also exist for Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is a film/video critic and curator. He is the film editor of Egypt Today Magazine (www. EgyptToday.com) and the Artistic Director for both the Alexandria film Festival , and the Arab Rotterdam Festival in The Netherlands. He also contributes to Variety, in the United States and is the Film Critic of Variety, Arabia (http:// amalmasryalyoum.com/ennode189132 and The Westchester Guardian: www. WestchesterGuardian.com Ibrahim Ashmawey Sayed Badreya Omar Ashmawey Page 16 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, JANUARY 29, 2015 Mary At The Movies Blackhat Movie Review by Mary Keon Blackhat is a high-tech cybercrime thriller that will hold your attention until the very last frame. Chris Hemsworth plays Nicholas Hathaway, hacker extraordinaire: doin pushups diligently in his small prison cell, as we meet him; local hero to his friends on the block, as he has just electronically loaded their prison spending accounts with extra funds and is now headed for solitary confinement to contemplate the wisdom of this little caper. Wang Leehom plays Chen Dawai, a captain in the Chinese army from a distinguished family, tasked to identify the hacker who has caused a Fukushima style meltdown in a Chinese nuclear plant by shutting down the cooling pumps for the fuel rods. In the U.S. someone has hacked the Chicago Mercantile Exchange causing a run Chris Hemsworth and Tang Wei Chen Lien (Tang Wei) is recruited by her brother, Chen Dawai (Leehom Wang) up in commodities. Both the Chinese and the U.S. suspect a RAT (a Remote Access Tool) has enabled the hacker to gain access to their computers. A graduate of MIT, Dawai is also a gifted programmer and quickly recognizes the origin of the rogue code that has been planted in the reactor. He persuades his superiors to send him to the U.S. to find Viola Davis as FBI Special Agent Carol Barrett in Legendary’s “Blackhat”, Chris Hemsworth as Nicholas Hathaway in Blackhat the one person he knows has the skills to help him identify and apprehend the hacker. Tang Wei plays Dawai’s little sister, Chen Lien, a network programmer who accompanies her brother to the states, supplying critical skills to the team and quickly falls for Hathaway. Viola Davis (Analise Keaton in How To Get Away With Murder) and John Ortiz (Erin’s boss and wannabe boyfriend on Blue Bloods) are FBI agents who persuade the Feds to spring Hathaway to help them out. The three programmers read computer code like the rest of us read the telephone book. They quickly trace their suspect back to China and we are soon hopscotching from Kowloon to Malaysia. Hathaway is headed back to prison if he can’t identify and apprehend the elusive hacker, so he is more than willing to chase this guy to the ends of the earth. The hacker has made no political statement in causing the reactor shutdown nor does he demand a ransom; seemingly he hacks just because he can. So who is he, what does he want and what is the next target? While the dialogue can fall a little flat at times, (listen, these are computer programmers not lit majors!), the action never stops and the plot causes one to consider how many disasters are actually triggered –deliberately created to short markets and generate windfall profits for those who are pre-positioned to profit. And you thought computer programming was boring! Running time: 133 Minutes. Directed by Michael Mann for Legendary Pictures. Script written by Morgan David Foehl and Micheal Man. MPAA Rating R for Violence and some language. Photo Credit: All Photos Frank Connor/ Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures Copyright: © 2015 Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot.” Lerner and Loewe’s beloved masterpiece captivates in a new and intimate production CAMELOT FEATURING ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL MELODIES! “If Ever I Would Leave You” • “What Do the Simple Folk Do?” “How To Handle A Woman” • “I Loved You Once In Silence” This is the Camelot you must see! ON STAGE THRU APRIL 5 Valentine’sDay CELEBRATION Neil Diamond Tribute Concert Starring BRIAN LA BLANC GOLD STAR EVENT SAT., FEBRUARY 14 Dinner & Concert - $85 per person plus tax BOX OFFICE (914) 592-2222 GROUP SALES (914) 592-2225 LUXURY BOXES (914) 592--8730 The management reserves the right to make schedule or program changes if required. All sales final. No cash or credit card refunds. WWW.WESTCHESTERGUARDIAN.COM
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