June 2014 - mv inquirer

Transcription

“Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper”
T H E MO U N T V ER NO N
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http://www.mvinquirer.com
Volume 8, Number 6
INQUIRER
“The People’s Newspaper”
Serving the news and information needs of Mount Vernon, NY – “A City That Believes”
FEATURES
June 2014
Mt. Vernon passes school budget
and three new trustees are added
to school board
Story by Joe Parisi
Many applaud trip to Korea
during City Hall ceremony
Page 3
Mount Vernon Chamber of
Commerce celebrates
Administrative Professionals Day
Page 32
M
ount Vernon school officials
and tax payers are jubilant
over the recent passing of
the school budget, along with
the addition of three new trustees to the
school board. School officials are especially rejoicing, since the budget approval is within the state-mandated cap.
Governor Cuomo, who is running for
reelection, has promised rebate checks
to homeowners if schools stay within
the tax cap, and Christmas has arrived
a little early, since he has also provided
more aid to school districts throughout
Westchester County.
Mount Vernon’s enormous $225.5 million budget has been officially passed
with 1178 “yes” votes against just 596
“no” votes.
The newcomers to the school board
are Darcy Miller, who generated 1,334
votes, followed by Omar McDowell’s
1,292 and Charmaine Fearon’s 1,154
votes. The top three leading vote getters
are scheduled to serve on the school
board for three long years.
Samuel Rivers made a strong showing
by coming in fourth with a respectable
891 votes, followed by Helena Edwards,
838 votes, Kathie Brewington, 651 votes
and Marc Stuckey, 583 votes.
The school district has publicized that
enrollment is down, and due to escalating mandates and employee benefit
costs, there is a possibility that 15 teachers may lose their jobs as a way to keep
from eliminating any core programs. Fortunately, some jobs may be saved when
the school district decides to offer retirement incentives to older teachers.
Many are grateful to the Citizen’s
Budget Advisory Committee, since they
worked diligently with school administration to develop a budget that satisfies
a challenging balance - one that keeps
the school district on track to adequately
Continued on page 32
Eagle Scout Court of Honor for
David Christopher Ford
Story by Joe Parisi
Mount Vernon High School’s
graduation rate has increased
impressively
Page 10
Linda Nigro honored as “Woman
of the Year” at Mount Vernon
Police Foundation Gala
Page 12
O
n April 26th, an Eagle Scout
Court of Honor was held at
Saint Ursula’s Church in honor
of David Christopher Ford attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle
Scout is the highest rank attainable in the
Boy Scout Program; less than 4% of Boy
Scouts go on to earn the rank of Eagle. To
earn the rank of Eagle Scout, a boy must
earn 21 merit badges; 13 of those must
be Eagle required. He must hold a position of leadership while in the rank of 1st
Class, Star, and Life Scout. While a Life
Scout, he must develop and execute a
service project that benefits his church,
school, or community.
For his Eagle Scout Project, David restored and refurbished interior and ex-
Local elected officials honoring David Christopher Ford
Continued on page 5
2 l June 2014
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3 l June 2014
Many applaud trip to Korea during City Hall ceremony
Terrence Horton and Mayor Davis displaying letter of support provided by the
City Council, while accompanied by elected officials and others
M
embers of the Korean delegation that traveled to Gwangju,
South Korea recently gathered
at City Hall on Thursday, May
15th, to commemorate the delegation’s
unprecedented and historical accomplishments during their overwhelmingly successful visit to that country.
Past visits to other countries by Mount
Vernon delegations have been well intended but resulted in absolutely no economic
benefits for the city of Mount Vernon. But
the Korean visit, led by Mayor Ernest D.
Davis, can only be viewed and described
as an enormous economic success for a
major Westchester County city that has
been struggling to stay afloat for the last
few years.
For the first time in many years, all of
Mount Vernon’s leaders, and beyond, are
on the same page with the signing and
execution of this significant and lucrative
North East Distribution, with the Advanced
Technology Agreement, that transpired in
Gwangju, South Korea. The overwhelming
support was unmistakably demonstrated
Terrence Horton during his presentation
during the recent City Hall ceremony since
all the city and area elected officials attended the ceremony. It included Mayor
Ernest D. Davis; Cynthia Miller from Congressman Eliot Engel’s office; Senator
Ruth Hassell-Thompson; Assemblyman J.
Gary Pretlow; Legislator Lyndon Williams;
Reginald LaFayette, Westchester County Chair for the Board of Elections who
commanded the podium in an eloquent
representation for Senator Kirsten Gellibrand’s office; former City Councilman
Steven Horton; Mount Vernon City Comp-
troller Maureen Walker; all the members of
the Mount Vernon City Council; Dwayne
Brown, president of the Mount Vernon
Chamber of Commerce; Loews Moore
accompanied by members of the Boys &
Girls Club; Senior Pastor Suffragan Bishop Errol O’Savio; Reverend Troy Decohen
representing religious institutions within
Mount Vernon; and Brenda Crump, Mount
Vernon School District trustee. It was truly
an unbelievable show of support.
The ceremony was hosted by Mount
Vernon based Sentinel Technology ServicContinued on page 33
4 l June 2014
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Mount Vernon remembers our fallen heroes on Memorial Day
Carmen Palmer, a Gold Star Mother who lost her son in Iraq, lighting
candles during a candlelight tribute to Gold Star Mothers everywhere
A
spectacular sunny and comfortable day made this year’s
Memorial Day parade and ceremonies a resounding success
in Mount Vernon.
The day commenced with an early morning wreath laying ceremony at Mount Vernon City Hall Plaza. Attending the yearly
ceremony was a long list of Mount Vernon
elected officials, led by Mayor Ernest D.
Davis, and Congressman Eliot Engel.
The absence of the late Will DuBose,
former Director of the Mount Vernon Veterans Service Agency, continues to create
a void every Memorial Day at the City Hall
ceremony, since the former highly decorated Viet Nam veteran was a fixture at the
event every year as the Master of Ceremonies. Alexandria DuBose, his wife, was in
attendance.
The Master of Ceremonies was Jonathan Logan, who replaced Dubose as Di-
rector of the Veterans Service Agency in
Mount Vernon after his death in 2012, and
has been doing a commendable job according to many.
Also in attendance was Carmen Palmer, a Gold Star Mother who lost her son
in Iraq. She participated in a candlelight
tribute to Gold Star Mothers everywhere.
After a firing squad fired a volley of
rounds and Taps was played by Captain
Roy Hastings of the Mount Vernon Police
Department, Mayor Davis and Congressman Engel placed wreaths at the monuments dedicated to veterans outside City
Hall.
At the conclusion of the wreath laying
ceremony, the Final Roll Call took place
and the late Anthony Frusciante’s name
was called.
Soon after, attendees walked over to the
parade staging area in preparation for the
march across the Mount Vernon downContinued on page 24
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INQUIRER
5 l June 2014
NY State receives “F” rating for charter school
funding inequality
T
he most comprehensive nationwide study comparing funding for
public charter school students to
traditional district schools shows
that New York state charter students receive nearly 25% less per pupil per year.
The gap grows to more than 30% when
weighted to compare charters to districts
with similar demographics.
University of Arkansas researchers
looked at 30 states and awarded letter
grades based on the disparity. As a state
with a disparity of least 25%, New York received a grade of “F”.
The authors conclude that the persistent
and growing inequities in charter funding
are the result of a structural problem in
state K-12 policy. In New York, charters in
private space do not receive building support - a major factor in why the funding
gap is so large.
Northeast Charter Schools Network
President Bill Phillips said:
“Today’s numbers confirm what we
have been saying for years – that charter
school students are treated as three-quarters of a person when it comes to funding. This inequity has lasted for 15 years
and continues today, largely because New
York’s charter schools, unlike all other
public schools, have not received funding
for facilities.
“The new state budget addressed this
issue for some charters. But only half
the students who attend charter schools
in New York State will get new building
support. For the other half, less money is
available for their education because their
schools have to divert their already lesser
resources to pay rent. It is fundamentally
unfair and needs to be remedied.
“The state needs to finish the deal and
grant charter school students access to
the same statewide building aid program
that students in district schools already
have.”
The University of Arkansas’ “Charter
Funding: Inequity Expands” study examined data from across New York State
and added a focus on three regions, Albany, Buffalo and New York City, which
comprise 85% of the state’s total charter
population.
Buffalo fares the worst, facing a staggering difference of $9,811 less spent on
a charter school student compared to a
district student each year – a 41.7% gap.
In Albany, charter school students receive
$5,379 less than their peers, and in New
York City charter students receive $7,623
less.
Charter school funding has been frozen
since the 2010-11 school year, and the
recently enacted budget provides only a
modest increase for the 2014-15 school
years. It also capped future funding increases which will only grow the gap more
over time.
thermore, the day was declared David
Christopher Ford Day in the state of New
York by Senator Klein, and in the County of
Westchester by County Legislator Lyndon
Williams. Congressman Engel presented
David with a proclamation, as well as a flag
that had been flown over the State Capital in Washington D.C. in his honor. David
also received letters of congratulations
from all of the living presidents; Vice Presidents Biden and Gore; Governor Cuomo;
Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gilibrand; Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson;
and Pope Francis - which were read during the ceremony.
David has been an active member of
Boy Scout Troop 40 in Mount Vernon
since 1st grade, and he has earned 29
Merit Badges (13 Eagle required) including
Camping, Swimming, Environmental Science, Emergency Preparedness, Scholarship, Forestry, Family Life and Citizenship
in the World, and Nation and Community.
He has held several positions in the Boy
Scouts including Assistant Patrol Leader,
Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, and As-
sistant Senior Patrol Leader. He currently
holds the position of Junior Assistant
Scoutmaster. He has been inducted into
the Order of the Arrow which is the Boy
Scouts of America’s Honor Society. In addition, he has earned and been awarded
the Ad Altare Dei Award for Catholics in
scouting, which was presented to him at
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
During his scouting career, David participated in the Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree that was held at Fort A.P.
Hill in Virginia in 2010. He also had the
opportunity to participate in Boy Scouts
of America Sea Base Adventure in 2011.
This program allows scouts to learn sailing
while living on a boat in the Florida Keys.
David is a lifelong resident of Mount
Vernon and is currently a senior at Sacred
Heart High School in Yonkers, N.Y. After
graduation, he plans to continue his education this fall at the University of Hartford where he plans to pursue a degree
in physical therapy. David in an only child
and is the son of Karen P. Ford and the
grandson of David A. Ford, Sr.
Continued from page 1
terior portions of Sacred Heart Church in
Mount Vernon, N.Y. To complete the project, David solicited donations and organized volunteers to restore interior areas of
the church that had sustained severe water damage. Over thirty families, scouts,
and friends worked together over a two
day period, totaling over 300 man-hours.
Together they repaired, plastered, and
painted the interior hallways connecting
the rectory to the sanctuary and surrounding the Father Murray Room. In addition,
they weeded and landscaped the front of
the rectory and scrapped and re-painted
all of the wrought iron fencing surrounding
the church.
David’s Eagle Court of Honor event was
attended by over 100 friends, families,
scouts, and dignitaries including Senator
Jeffrey Klein, Congressman Eliot Engel,
Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, County
Legislator Lyndon Williams, Mayor Ernest
D. Davis, Councilwoman Roberta Apuzzo,
and City Comptroller Maureen Walker.
David was presented with proclamations
by all dignitaries mentioned above. Fur-
David Christopher Ford placing a pin on David A. Ford, Sr.’s lapel,
his grandfather
INQUIRER
Founded in 2004 by
JOSEPH A. PARISI
AND LUISA PARISI
Published by
The Mount Vernon Inquirer
P.O. Box 458
Mount Vernon, NY 10551-0458
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mvinquirer.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers are encouraged to send us
letters expressing their viewpoints
on any issue. Letters should not
contain inflammatory or provocative language and will be subject to
editorial review. Please keep your
letters brief and not to exceed 300
words. Your name and address must
be included, but will be withheld
upon request.
SUGGESTED NEWS ITEMS
We welcome all suggestions concerning news we should cover in our
newspaper. Please call the Editor
with suggestions at (914)665-7004.
Editor
Joe Parisi
Assistant Editor
Liz Olsson
News Reportes / Writers
Joe Parisi, Chief Reporter
James Fair
Debra Smith
Sales and Advertising
Darryl Walker, Director
Graphic Design
Ashley Covelli
Cheryl Parisi
Member
Senator Jeff Klein addressing the guests prior to honoring
David Christopher Ford
INQUIRER
6 l June 2014
www.mvinquirer.com
Mount Vernon Animal Shelter ‘Tag and Bake Sale’
a huge success
Megan Webster cuddling one of her dogs that was recently adopted
T
he weather cooperated and
the Third Annual Mount Vernon
Animal Shelter ‘Tag and Bake
Sale’ was held on a beautiful
warm, sunny day on Saturday, May 3rd.
The shelter’s annual tag sale has
grown dramatically since the very first
one was held three years ago, which
was dismally attended. This year’s tag
sale was a huge success, and resembled a carnival with shoppers singing
and clapping to the beat of an outstanding band that entertained them as
they browsed through the thousands of
items on display.
Many of the shoppers gladly purchased items since most understood
the importance of the tag sale. The
proceeds from all the donated items on
display that were sold will help support
a poorly funded animal shelter in dire
need of operating funds.
The Mount Vernon Animal Shelter,
founded in 1974, is a municipal shelter
that serves as a safe haven for thousands of domestic animals who are
lost, abandoned, neglected, and unwanted or in distress.
Although a small shelter, they have a
caring staff led by Megan Webster, who
functions as director.
On any given Saturday, the shelter
is busy with ongoing activity, thanks to
the many kind hearted volunteers who
turn out to walk dogs, answer phones,
and help greet both potential adopters, as well as the stream of dog-lovers
donating everything from dog treats to
blankets.
The shelter, which has just three
members on staff, is open 365 days a
year, and is always seeking to pair with
rescue groups.
You can help the Mount Vernon Animal Shelter care for a dog or cat in
need. Your contribution, large or small,
will help to underwrite veterinarian care
for a sick or injured animal in their care,
or a pet that brings affection and comfort to a lonely elderly person on a very
small income. In addition, your donation could help feed, medicate, and
neuter a dog or cat in their adoption
center.
Contact Information:
Mount Vernon Animal Shelter
600 Garden Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY
914-665-2444
You may send a check to:
Pet Rescue
Attn: Friends of Mount Vernon Animal
Shelter
P.O. Box 393
Larchmont, NY 10358
www.mvinquirer.com
INQUIRER
7 l June 2014
White Plains dethrones
Mount Vernon as Westchester’s
top-tasting water
In the photo are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place water districts from left to right
as follows – City of White Plains, City of Mount Vernon & Village of Scarsdale.
T
Mount Vernon Safe Haven Camp
Filling up Fast!
T
he Mount Vernon Youth Bureau
is pleased to announce that the
Safe Haven Summer Camp will
be offered to youth ages 7-12 beginning July 7-August 15, 2013 at Parker Elementary School. The camp is one
of the most affordable camps within the
community and has maintained its reputation for high quality programming for the
city’s youth. Youth who have attended the
camp have returned each year, and many
have become CIT’s (counselor in training)
and counselors.
Mayor Davis stated, “We want our children to be safe and engaged in fun, interactive activities, which is why the city
invests in affordable programs like Safe
Haven.”
This year’s lineup of activities include
hip-hop dance lessons; mural creation and
painting; STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) projects, which include
the building of amusement park rides out
of Legos and exciting experiments, as well
as the Girl Scouts. The camp offers two
field trips per week to exciting places such
as amusement parks. Each year campers
experience trips that include Lake Compounce and Quassey Park.
This program is made possible through
collaboration with the City of Mount Vernon, Westchester County and the school
district. “Parents have relied on the fact
that the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau programs are effective and affordable. Our
staff treats the children as if they were
he people’s choice for best-tasting water in Westchester goes
to the City of White Plains. The
Westchester County Department
of Health held its annual water tasting
contest today in White Plains, where 138
participants sampled water from 10 of the
county’s water suppliers and gave bragging rights to White Plains.
The blind taste test was held in recognition of National Drinking Water Week
outside the Michaelian Office Building, on
Martine Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The City of White Plains, labeled A in
the blind taste test, received 80 points.
The runner-up was the City of Mount Vernon, labeled D, with 72 points. Village of
Scarsdale, labeled C, came in third, with
64 points.
“We’re all winners because Westchester’s drinking water is excellent,” said
County Executive Robert P. Astorino.
“Thank you to the professionals who work
to assure the water not only tastes good,
but is good for you.”
The contest was held to promote the
excellent quality of Westchester tap water and to highlight the role of the County
Health Department in assuring drinking
water quality.
The experts say a good glass of water
should be clean, crisp, clear, and cool.
The county’s Health Department samples
the waters routinely, and they meet all
quality standards.
The 10 participating water suppliers
in this year’s competition were: Bedford
Consolidated Water District, Village of
Elmsford, Greenburgh Consolidated Water District #1, Village of Ossining, City
of Peekskill, Village of Scarsdale, United
Water New Rochelle, City of White Plains,
City of Yonkers, and the City of Mount Vernon.
The participants were labeled as follows
in the blind taste test today:
B - Bedford Consolidated Water District
G - Village of Elmsford
I - Greenburgh Consolidated Water District #1
D - City of Mount Vernon
H - Village of Ossining
F - City of Peekskill
C - Village of Scarsdale
E - United Water New Rochelle
A - City of White Plains
J - City of Yonkers
In past years, the winners were: 2013 –
Mount Vernon; 2012 – Cortlandt Consolidated; 2011 – United Water New Rochelle;
2010 - Ossining; 2009 – Yonkers; 2008 –
Croton on Hudson; 2007 – Yonkers; 2006
– Croton on Hudson; 2005 – United Water New Rochelle; 2004 – Yonkers; 2003
– Yonkers.
For more information about the contest
or other water quality initiatives, contact
the Westchester County Department of
Health at 914- 813-5000.
their own and ensures that all campers are
engaged in educational and recreational
activities throughout the summer, stated
DaMia Harris. ”
All applications are accessible via the
city’s website www.youth.cmvny.com and
the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau Office,
City Hall third-floor. For further informa-
tion, please contact the Mount Vernon
Youth Bureau at (914) 665-2344. You can
also follow the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau on Twitter @MVyouthbureau or Facebook.com/MVyouthbureau.
INQUIRER
8 l June 2014
letter to the EDITOR
Sue’s Rendezvous Van
T
Senator Jeff Klein Receives
2014 YMCA “Champion for
Healthy Living” Award
Sue’s Rendezvous Van shown parked on 3rd Street
his is not the first time that I have
written to the City of Mount Vernon without results about the
Sue’s Rendezvous van. The Sue’s
Rendezvous van, featuring scantily clad
women to advertise the strip club, is regularly parked on East Third Street and in the
surrounding neighborhood. None of our
neighboring communities have strip clubs
or other forms of adult entertainment advertised in front of homes, around impressionable children, and within blocks from
a school.
I love my home city of Mount Vernon,
NY, but I’m disappointed that there are
others, like the owner of Sue’s Rendezvous (a local strip club), and the driver of
the Sue’s Rendezvous van, that do not feel
the same way I do about Mount Vernon
and its residents by insisting on parking
the van on residential streets. More significantly, it is very telling that city administration has done nothing to keep this van off
the residential streets of Mount Vernon.
Moreover, besides threatening the property values, it’s another sign that city leaders, similar to the Don Sterlings and Jim
Coughlan of the world, think very little of
the mostly black and brown girls that live
in our neighborhoods. None of these girls
are born with the desire to become a stripper, and it is unconscionable that the owners of Sue’s Rendezvous and the City of
Mount Vernon allow the van to park on the
street in residential neighborhoods.
I hope that this letter finally spurs some
action from the office of the Mayor and the
Mount Vernon City Council.
Raquel M. Bennett
www.mvinquirer.com
S
enate Co-Leader Jeff Klein (DBronx/Westchester) recently addressed YMCA Healthy Kids Day,
an advocacy event dedicated to
raise awareness on the issue of childhood
obesity and to get more children physically active. The Alliance of New York State
YMCA’s which helped to organize the
event, also presented Senator Klein with
an award highlighting his successful efforts in passing health-related legislation
that promotes a healthy and active lifestyle and strengthens underserved communities that have high rates of obesity.
Klein said, “I am honored to be the recipient of the 2014 YMCA “Champion for
Healthy Living Award. We know that noth-
ing poses a greater risk to the health and
wellness of our children than obesity. Last
year, several of my bills to combat obesity
were signed into law giving our youngest
New Yorkers increased access to healthy,
wholesome foods, and educational programs that promote healthy living. I applaud the YMCA’s continued commitment
to the well-being of the children of our
state and look forward to continuing our
great work together to ensure that our
youngsters are able to live full, healthy
and happy lives.”
Last year, at the behest of Senator
Klein, the senate Independent Democratic Conference launched a public Teen
Health Awareness Campaign that sought
to reduce the spiking trends in adolescent
obesity, among other issues. After conducting its own statewide survey that solicited responses from teenagers in junior
high and high schools, the data confirmed
that students lack a fundamental understanding of what constitutes obesity,
proper dietary nutrition, symptoms and
factors that lead to poor weight management, and a lack of exercise availability.
As a result of these findings, Senator
Klein was able to include in last year’s final
budget package the Healthy Teen Awareness and Education Fund, a designation
on all future state income tax forms that
will appear as a “check-off box” that will
enable New Yorkers to make voluntary
donations to fund programs geared at
combating obesity, endometriosis, and
long-term alcohol and substance abuse.
Underage drinking awareness
T
hroughout the month of April
and May, the Mount Vernon
Youth Bureau’s WWDay participants and the Mayor’s Youth
Empowerment Council, in partnership
with the S.T.O.P. Act Project (Sobering
Truth On Preventing underage drinking),
educated their peers and law enforcement about the deleterious effects of
underage alcohol use. This took place
at morning announcements and daily roll
calls at the Mount Vernon Police Department. They talked about the importance
of enforcing underage drinking laws.
“Our Youth Bureau is very involved
with eradicating underage drinking,”
said Mayor Ernest D. Davis. “Our young
people need to learn that they can have
a good time without the consumption of
alcohol.”
Since 1987, the National Council on
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
(NCADD) has declared April as Alcohol
Awareness Month. The aim is to increase
public awareness and understanding,
to reduce stigma, and encourage local
communities to focus on alcoholism and
alcohol-related issues. This past April,
NCADD highlighted the important public health issue of underage drinking,
a problem with devastating individual,
family, and community consequences.
According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), alcohol use by persons under
age 21 years is a major public health
problem, and is responsible for more
than 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth.
“Every year approximately 5,000 people, under the age of 21, die as a result of
underage drinking. It is crucial that young
people understand the many dangers.
Raising awareness on this issue for both
teens and parents is important, particularly now during prom season. This information could save a life,” stated Dena
Williams, deputy director.
The STOP (Sobering Truth on Preventing underage alcohol use) Act Project
is a federally funded initiative that was
created to strengthen and support the
community’s environmental strategies
of reducing underage drinking, alcohol
outlet related crime, violence, and alcohol related youth issues. Environmental
approaches to the dilemma of underage
drinking require collaboration between
federal, state, and local governments
and community members.
For more information please contact
Ms. Makeda James, S.T.O.P. Act coordinator at the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau
at 914- 665-2344.
www.mvinquirer.com
INQUIRER
9 l June 2014
9th Annual Youth Town Hall Meeting Held at the Armory
Officials in a group picture with two of the youth that attended the meeting
M
ore than 100 students from
local elementary, middle, and
high schools attended the
Mount Vernon Community
That Cares Coalition’s (MVCTC) 9th annual Youth Town Hall meeting at the Mount
Vernon Armory on Tuesday, May 6th.
“The Town Hall meeting is one of the
many MVCTC activities that are made
possible through the City of Mount Vernon
Youth Bureau’s Drug Free Communities
Grant,” said Mayor Ernest D. Davis. “If we
really want to address concerns facing our
youth, we first have to listen to them to
hear what it is that concerns them.”
Motivational speaker and founder of
DreamSong, Shuan Derik, captivated students and delivered a powerful message
through entertaining and amusing anecdotes from his most troublesome years
in grade school. He took the audience
on a journey to help them recognize the
importance of internal dialogue and positive thinking, and to learn how to quiet the
noise of outside negative influences and
gain strategies on how to reinforce the
positive voice on the inside.
Mayor Ernest D. Davis, Councilman
Richard Thomas, Board of Education rep-
resentative Joanne Smith, Faith Community representative Pastor Bejoy Samuels,
and Community Activist Bert Littlejohn
all joined in on a panel discussion that
encouraged youth to communicate with
community leaders. Local youth, Jahajah Shaw, Ajahla Burgess, Jonel Williams,
and Jahnovia Wheatley brought collective
concerns from their peers and a great dialogue on many topics ranging from school
safety to recreational activities. Mayor Davis encouraged the youth to form committees to meet with community leaders to
pursue resolution of their concerns.
“We were honored that Mr. Derik agreed
to return to Mount Vernon. The Youth Bureau takes great pride in offering programs
that encourage and motivate our young
people to dream big and set both long and
short term goals for themselves,” stated
Dena Williams, deputy director.
For the past nine years, coalition members and the Federal Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) have worked collectively
to develop programming to support the
coalition’s efforts to reduce risk factors.
The group has addressed underage drinking, drug use, violence, and unemploy-
Motivational Speaker and Founder of DreamSong, Shuan Derik
A capacity crowd attended the meeting
ment.
For further information, please contact Claudette Coote, project coordinator
through the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau
at 914- 665-2344, or visit the Youth Bureau at www.youth.cmvny.com. Follow
the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau on Twitter
@MVyouthbureau or facebook.com/MVyouthbureau.
Applications sought for Ruth Taylor Scholarships
W
estchester County graduate
students pursuing careers in
social work or public health
are invited to apply for schol-
arship assistance through the Ruth Taylor
Award Fund.
The fund was established in tribute to
Ruth Taylor upon her retirement as the
county’s Commissioner of Public Welfare
and in recognition of her nearly four decades of outstanding service. The annual
awards are sponsored by United Way of
Westchester and Putnam, Westchester County government, and the Urban
League of Westchester County.
Applicants must be residents of Westchester County and enrolled in graduate
studies in Social Work or Public Health
on a full-time basis. For the 2014-2015
academic year, awards will range between
$1,000 and $5,000 for tuition or maintenance, or both.
The submission deadline is Monday,
July 14th, by which time the application
and all supporting documents must be received.
Financial need, public service, and
scholastic capacity are part of the evalu-
ation criteria. Recipients must maintain
the minimum cumulative GPA required by
his/her university for the duration of the
award. Awards are issued annually, and
students are eligible to apply if they have
not previously received the scholarship. A
change in major or enrollment status (to
part-time) will result in loss of the scholarship award.
Inquiries can be directed to: United
Way of Westchester and Putnam, Karen
Bonaparte, vice president for Strategic
Initiatives, via e-mail at kbonapar@uwwp.
org, or download application and cover
letter at http://www.uwwp.org/ruth-taylor.
shtml.
10 l June 2014
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Mount Vernon High School’s graduation rate has increased
impressively
Principal Ronald Gonzalez addressing the teachers during his presentation
O
n Wednesday, May 7th, teachers gathered at the Mount Vernon High School’s cafeteria,
along with the school’s Principal Ronald Gonzalez, to celebrate Teacher
Recognition Day.
Soon after much chatter and a hearty
lunch, Superintendent Judith Johnson
was introduced by Gonzalez, and she addressed the large gathering of teachers.
After countless accolades by Johnson,
Gonzalez made a surprising and enlightening slide presentation on the school’s
academic progress which has resulted
in a very positive increase in graduation
numbers.
On May 29, 2012, the United States Department of Education (USDE) approved
New York’s Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA) waiver. This waiver
provides New York with increased flexibility to help close the achievement gap
and assist students in becoming college
and career ready. New York’s waiver introduced a system of identifying districts
and/or schools as Reward, Focus, or Priority, based on performance in English
language arts (ELA), mathematics, and
science at the elementary/middle level
and in ELA, mathematics, and graduation
rate at the secondary level.
Data in The New York State Accountability Report are those used to determine
Performance Indices (PIs) and make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) determinations which, in turn, are used to assist in
identifying districts and schools as Reward, Focus, and Priority.
The New York State standard for graduation rate is 80%. Schools are also given
a Progress Target when they struggle to
meet the 80% standard. The Progress Target set forth on the 2012 – 2013 Report
Card was 61%, and Mount Vernon High
Faculty members wearing tee-shirts indicative of their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) accomplishments
Superintendent Judith Johnson
School graduated 71% of the total cohort
of students.
Impressively, the achievement of 71%
graduation rate not only means that Mount
Vernon High School’s Progress Target was
more than eclipsed, it also represents the
highest graduation percentage Mount
Vernon High School has had in the last
decade. In retrospect, a look back over
the last 10 years indicates that it is also
the first time Mount Vernon High School
reached into the 70’s percentage-wise.
In addition, schools are accountable for
students within a subgroup. A subgroup
is identified when there are more than 40
students in that cohort group. Mount Vernon High School meets that criteria for the
following student subgroups:
· Black or African American
· Hispanic or Latino
· Students with Disabilities
· Economically Disadvantaged
“We are pleased that we met our Progress Targets for ALL of these subgroups.
That is another feat that has not been met
in recent years. It is personally rewarding
when our professional scholastic goals
are met with such high standard,” said
Gonzalez.
“In the past, many people commented
that Mount Vernon High School would
never get to this point. Mount Vernon
High School, along with the Mount Vernon
School District, is fixable. The folks in this
room today are living proof of that; the kids
in our school are living proof of that. We
need to make sure that we meet our AYP
target for two consecutive years. If we do,
we will get off the State Education’s list,”
added Gonzalez before the faculty gathering came to an end.
Marcia Lalloo-Roldan, MVHS PTA President, providing her final report as
president
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INQUIRER
New NBA Development
League team will be known
as Westchester Knicks
County Executive Robert P. Astorino
(second from left) pictured with
NY Knicks officials
T
he Madison Square Garden
Company and the New York
Knickerbockers announced that
the company’s new NBA Development League team will be named the
Westchester Knicks, and unveiled the new
team’s logo at a special event at Westchester County Center. The Westchester
Knicks, which serves as the exclusive affiliate of the New York Knicks, will debut
in the 2014-15 season playing its home
games at the County Center in White
Plains, New York. Following the initial announcement on March 10th regarding the
new franchise, the Knicks invited fans
to help choose the name for the new D-
11 l June 2014
League team by submitting suggestions
online. The Westchester Knicks was the
popular choice among fans.
“We are excited for the Westchester
Knicks to bring NBA-caliber basketball
and affordable, family-friendly entertainment to Westchester County Center this
fall,” said Dave Howard, president of
MSG Sports. “Thank you to all the fans
who went online to submit team name
suggestions. We are proud to be extending the Knicks brand to Westchester.”
“We are proud to be the home of the
Westchester Knicks,” said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino.
“With the winning combination of the
NBA, the Knicks organization, Madison
Square Garden, and Westchester County
behind it, the team is already off to a great
start.”
The new Westchester Knicks logo is
a modern interpretation of the New York
Knicks original primary logo, used from
the inaugural 1946-47 season through
1963-64, which featured a smiling Father
Knickerbocker dribbling a basketball, the
brainchild of famed sports cartoonist Willard Mullin of the New York World-Telegram.
The team name and logo were unveiled
during an open house seat selection
event at Westchester County Center for
fans and businesses interested in purchasing season tickets for the 2014-15
season. The fun, free evening included a
youth basketball clinic, performances by
the Knicks City Dancers, music, contests
and giveaways for attendees.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets
can visit www.WestchesterKnicks.com.
Legislators pledge to support
New Work wineries
I
t’s a simple but powerful statement
making the rounds from the Statehouse
through the New York Senate and Assembly that, when wine is served at official public functions, there will be wine
from New York.
“For every dollar spent on buying a wine
made in New York, more than 10 dollars
returns to hire local people to buy goods
and services provided by other New York
businesses, and pay taxes to provide services for New Yorkers,” said New York
Wine Industry Association (NYWIA) President Scott Osborn.
“It’s a show of faith to New York taxpayers that our lawmakers are supporting New York products,” said Suzy Hayes,
co-owner of Miles Wine Cellars and vice
president of NYWIA.
If you want to support the New York
wine economy and have a say in how
your tax dollars are spent, go to the nywineindustryassociation.com website “action center” and click on “issues.” Follow
the instructions to email your legislators.
Or, you can contact your state assembly
member and senator directly by phone,
email, or mail.
There are more than 360 wineries in New
York producing more than 6,000 red, rosé
and white wines; bubbly and still, from dry
to sweet, from Montauk through the Hudson Valley, north to the Thousand Islands,
across the Finger Lakes to Niagara. The
wine business contributes $4.8 billion to
state and local economies.
Permalink:
http://readme.readmedia.
com/LEGISLATORS-PLEDGE-TO-SUPPORT-NEW-YORK-WINERIES/8592873
NY State jobless rate falls to lowest level in more
than 5 years
N
ew York State’s unemployment rate fell by 0.2% to
6.7%, its lowest level since
December 2008, according
to preliminary figures released today
by the New York State Department
of Labor. In addition, the state’s private sector job count grew by 2,500 in
April 2014. This was New York State’s
17th consecutive monthly gain in private sector jobs, which has raised the
state’s overall private sector job count
to 7,543,000, an all-time high. The
17-month streak is the longest since at
least 1990, as far as records go back.
Since the beginning of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, the
New York State economy has added
440,400 private sector jobs and experienced employment growth in 35 of the
past 40 months. New York remains one
of only 17 states to have regained all of
the private sector jobs lost during the
recession.
The drop in the state’s unemployment
rate was accompanied by a decline in
the number of unemployed New Yorkers. Between March and April 2014, the
total number of unemployed state residents fell by 20,100 to 642,800, its lowest level since November 2008.
The state’s private sector job count
is based on a payroll survey of 18,000
New York employers conducted by the
U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and
subject to revision as more information
becomes available the following month.
The federal government calculates
New York’s unemployment rate partly
based upon the results of a monthly
telephone survey of 3,100 households
in the state.
“New York State’s economy continued to grow in April 2014 as it added
2,500 private sector jobs. This marked
the 17th consecutive month of private
sector employment gains. In addition,
the state’s jobless rate and the number
of unemployed state residents in April
reached their lowest levels since late
2008,” said Bohdan M. Wynnyk, deputy director of the Division of Research
and Statistics.
12 l June 2014
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Linda Nigro honored as “Woman of the Year” at Mount Vernon
Police Foundation Gala
Linda Nigro being honored by Mayor Ernest D. Davis, police officials and
others during the gala
T
he Mount Vernon Police Foundation’s 14th Annual Awards Gala
held on Tuesday, May 13th, was
a resounding success since a record crowd attended this year’s popular
gala held at the luxurious Westchester
Manor, located in Hastings-on-Hudson.
The gala had an exciting theme since
it was called “Champagne Gala”, and all
the guests were provided with bottles of
champagne at their beautifully decorated
tables.
In attendance, this year, as in previous
years, were many high profile dignitaries
which is a true indication that the organization continues to be recognized in a
big way for its many positive accomplishments.
The goal of the widely supported non-
highly trained bartenders who served top
shelf liquor throughout the entire evening.
The Master of Ceremonies was Frank
Fraley, former longtime president of the
Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce,
whose non-stop humor kept the huge
crowd in a relaxed mood throughout the
evening.
Musical entertainment was provided by
the popular Gil Chimes Band which routinely plays at the event every year.
The ceremony began with a Police Color Guard marching in with the colors and
the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance,
which was then followed by the Invocation.
Prior to the presentation of awards,
several individuals spoke who included
August M. Nigro, president of the Police
profit foundation is to enhance the effectiveness of the Mount Vernon Police
Department by providing resources that
are not covered in the city budget, which
allows police officers to be more effective
in doing their job.
The gala began with an impressive cocktail hour in which servers continually provided an assortment of sumptuous hors
d’oeuvres to the delight of the impressed
guests. The open bar was manned by
Foundation; Mount Vernon City Comptroller Maureen Walker; Mayor Ernest D.
Davis; Police Commissioner Terrance
Raynor; and several others.
The first to be honored was Linda Nigro,
executive director of the Police Foundation, and former president of the Mount
Vernon Board of Education. Linda has
given generously of her time, talent, and
enthusiasm to many organizations and
projects in Mount Vernon throughout the
This year the “Police Officers of the Year” award went to (l to r) Police Officer
David DiBenedetto and Police Officer Allison Allen, and the ”Detective of the
Year” award was presented to Detective Wendell Griffin.
years, and has been honored by countless
organizations.
“I am honored to have been chosen as
an honoree tonight. The true honorees are
the members of the Mount Vernon police
Department – every single one of them.
Please be assured that I will continue to
do the best I can to support the Mount
Vernon Police Foundation,” said Linda.
This year, the “Police Officers of the
Year” award went to Police Officer David
DiBenedetto, and Police Officer Allison Allen.
The “Detective of the Year” award was
presented to Detective Wendell Griffin.
August Nigro stated, “I wish to thank
Mount Vernon Police Commissioner
Raynor for continuing to work closely with
the Mount Vernon Police Foundation to
strategize the distribution of donations.”
At the end of the awards presentation,
the highly anticipated “Live Auction” got
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INQUIRER
13 l June 2014
Mt. Vernonites visit White House to attend 60th anniversary
of Brown v. Board of Education decision
O
n May 16, 2014, Celestine Parson Lloyd and her
daughter, Valerie Lloyd,
both residents of Mount
Vernon, were invited guests at the
White House to commemorate the
60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme
Court landmark decision in Brown v.
Board of Education.
On May 17, 1954, the court unanimously decided that racial segregation, enforced by law, in public
education was unconstitutional.
Obama said in a statement that the
decision, issued on May 17, 1954, was
“the first major step in dismantling
the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that
justified Jim Crow,” the racial segregation laws that were in place at the
state and local level across the South.
Celestine’s parents, Bennie and
Plummie Parson, were plaintiffs in,
Briggs, et. al. v. Elliott, the earliest of
five cases which led to the Brown decision in 1954.
(l to r) Celestine Lloyd, Eric Holder;
U.S. Attorney General, and
Valerie Lloyd
under way with Frank Fraley acting as
auctioneer. The auction items were impressive and Fraley did an outstanding job
in motivating the crowd to bid.
The event was a total success and en-
joyed tremendously by the record crowd
that attended. According to Foundation
officials, plans are already in place for the
2015 gala.
President Obama speaking to
families involved in the fives cases
that led to the Brown decision
(l to r) Valerie Lloyd and Sherrilyn A.
Ifill; President and Director-Counsel,
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
INQUIRER
14 l June 2014
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Mount Vernon Historical Photos Are Back!
A doll show at the Grimes School playground (7/18/40)
A watermelon eating contest at Memorial Field (8/16/56)
The Boys Club of Mount Vernon - East side of South 7th (1959)
Students displaying their volcano projects at Grimes School (5/10/61)
City Hall Plaza Open Air Square Dance (7/15/58)
A centennial block party on Gramatan Avenue (9/5/53)
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15 l June 2014
Founder and CEO of Karp Enterprises, LLC, 16, speaks at
Boys & Girls Club
Teenagers listening closely to what Robert Karp had to say about
his business
R
obert Karp is not your average
teenager, since at the tender age
of 16 he is the founder and CEO
of Karp Enterprises, LLC, a thriving travel consulting company, recognized
by the likes of the Ritz-Carlton STARS program, and even Fortune Magazine.
Karp, who is finishing up his junior year
at Briarcliff High School, has had to balance being a high school student and running a successful travel business from his
home.
On Thursday evening, May 22, Karp
was a guest speaker at the Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club, seeking to share
his success story with kids his age, and to
act as a young mentor for Mount Vernon
kids thinking of starting a business of their
own.
As the room began to fill with teenage
kids, many were noticeably curious as to
what was about to transpire, since a teenage white kid was waiting to speak to
them about how they could start their own
business. This is not something they are
accustomed to at the Boys & Girls Club,
and some acted a little shy and uncomfortable as they sat down at a large table
to hear what Karp had to say.
Karp, who had never addressed kids
his age about his successful business before, seemed a little nervous initially, but it
did not take him very long to relax. As he
began to talk to the young crowd, some
eyebrows were being raised in disbelief,
since Karp spoke like a professional mature adult in a kid’s body. He spoke with
the kind of calmness and knowledge that
made all the kids in the room feel instantly
relaxed.
“I encountered some difficult challenges
at the beginning, since some of my friends
Robert Karp emphasizing a point during his speech
and family members were not too sure
that I was up to the task for many reasons.
I kind of had to prove myself through a lot
of research and hard work, and it was truly
a slow process before my business started to blossom,” said Karp.
Karp added: “I started by helping my
dad, who is a frequent business flyer,
make the most of his points by using them
to fly first class rather than economy. Then
I did the same for my father’s friends, and
I slowly developed a domino effect. Currently, I generate all my business through
referrals and I do not feel obligated to
spend money on advertising.”
Shortly, the kids that were listening intently, but in a shy way, opened up and
started to amazingly ask Karp non-stop
questions about many subjects. It was
obvious that Karp was relieved, since he
had a smile on his face as he answered
many of the relevant questions he was being bombarded with.
“I have become an all-in-one travel consultant for many clients. At the beginning
I focused specifically on frequent-flyer
points, but my on-the-job training taught
me that I was losing money, so I started
booking hotel rooms as well. Today, I am
offering my clients a one-stop solution for
their travel needs. I specialize in not only
maximizing my client’s rewards points, but
I also build trips for them,” explained Karp.
At the end of his speech, Karp gave every kid in attendance his business card
and asked them to visit his website at karpenterprises.com. He also encouraged
them to call him with any questions they
had about starting a business.
New child care funding to help working class
families applauded
N
ew York State Senate
Co-Leader Jeffrey D.
Klein
(D-Bronx/Westchester), State Senator
Diane Savino (D-Staten Island/
Brooklyn), and Public Advocate
Letitia James, prominent labor
unions and child advocates announced that thousands of New
York toddlers will now be eligible
to participate in high-quality child
care programs across the state.
In making child care one of the
top priorities in this year’s state
budget, Senator Klein was instrumental in securing an increase of
$55 million in child care subsi-
(l to r): Senator Diane Savino, Senator Jeff Klein, and New York City
Public Advocate Letitia James announce new funding for child care
subsidies throughout the state
dies -- $34 million more than proposed in the Executive Budget.
As a result, this will enable an additional 5,000 children of low-tomiddle income families to enroll
in these programs.
Senate Co-Leader Klein said:
“Working families across New
York deserve high-quality, affordable child care. This year’s budget ensures that those struggling
to make ends meet will continue
to have access to reliable child
care programs and parents don’t
have to choose between their
peace of mind and a paycheck.”
16 l June 2014
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22 l June 2014
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Capacity crowd attends Maureen Walker’s 6th Inaugural Ball
N
Maureen Walker and her husband, Robert
early 400 of Maureen Walker’s
loyal supporters attended her record setting 6th Annual Inaugural Ball at the luxurious Beckwith
Pointe Country Club in New Rochelle on
Five lovely ladies, part of the many that attended the gala
Friday, May 16th.
As the guests entered the banquet hall
for the cocktail hour, all dressed impeccably, they were awed by the memorable
and panoramic views of the Long Island
Evan Leroy Ambrose (c) received a thunderous applause after being honored
Anthony Guarino (c) was one of six honorees honored during the gala
Suffragan Bishop Errol O’Savio (c) being recognized with multiple awards
Sound.
Two open bars catered to the capacity
crowd, while servers continually walked
around with large trays of delicacies to
satisfy the appetites of the highly spirited
crowd.
The guests consisted of a long list of
dignitaries, elected officials, friends, and
family members of Maureen Walker, along
with many of Walker’s supportive Mount
Vernon constituents. The most notable
elected official in attendance, aside from
Mayor Ernest D. Davis, was Congressman
Eliot Engel who stayed until the very end.
After the cocktail hour, the Mistress of
Ceremonies, Rosemarie Cornacchio, who
is a longtime city of Mount Vernon employee and Lieutenant Governor of twelve
Kiwanis Clubs, commenced the long ceremony.
Prior to six honorees being recognized,
Cornacchio introduced Walker so she
could provide her 6th Inaugural Speech.
Walker always injects a joke or two into
her speeches but, as she commenced
reading one of her jokes, she started to
laugh non-stop since she realized she had
to cut her joke short due to the fact that
half of her joke was missing from her printed sheet. Her mishap worked in her favor
since the crowd started to laugh non-stop
with her as well.
“As I celebrate my 20th year as Mount
Vernon City Comptroller, I look forward
to your continued support and I promise
to continue the work I began in 1993 to
ensure that our city remains financially
stable, safe, and affordable to both our
residents and businesses,” said Walker.
In 1993, Maureen was elected Comptroller of the City of Mount Vernon, New
York. She became the first woman, the
first African-American, and the first person of Caribbean descent to hold such
a position. During her tenure, Comptroller Walker has achieved her objective of
maintaining the City of Mount Vernon as
a financially stable and viable municipality. This financial stability has resulted in
on-going budget surpluses which have
enabled the city to keep city property tax
increases to a minimum level. Under her
leadership, the Department of Finance, on
behalf of the City of Mount Vernon, has
been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
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23 l June 2014
of the United Black clergy of Westchester; appointed by Mayor of Mount
Vernon to serve on the Committee for
Youth and as a member of board of directors for Congregations Concerned
with the City of Mount Vernon, a shelter for battered women.
·M
arie K. Williams – The daughter of
a share cropper, Marie is a longtime
community activist in Mount Vernon.
She has been a tireless advocate for
youth and families ever since her children were young. Recently, Marie
demonstrated unprecedented courage in breaking the silence of her era
by sharing painful childhood memories
for the purpose of encouraging other
assault victims to speak their truth so
that they can heal their mind and spirit.
Her daughters started the Marie K. Williams Scholarship fund to benefit students throughout New York State.
At the conclusion of the awards ceremony and dinner, the guests danced to
the tunes of an excellent live DJ up until
the end of the gala.
(l to r) Congressman Eliot Engle, Maureen Walker and Terrence Horton
for many years.
After Walker’s speech, Cornacchio
commenced to introduce the following six
distinguished honorees:
· Evan Leroy Ambrose – Actively involved
in charitable organizations serving the
interest of natives of Guyana living in
the United States and Guyana. He is
an active member of Guyanese Nurses Association, currently serving as
a trustee; trustee on the board of the
Mount Vernon Clarke Memorial Scholarship Fund for engineering students;
and has also received many awards for
community work.
· Glenston Clarke – For the past 18
years, Glenston has worked for the
Mount Vernon Board of Education as a
head custodian. As a longtime Mount
Vernon advocate, he has worked in
many democratic campaigns, including campaigning for the historic election of the first black mayor of New
York State in 1985 – Ronald Blackwood. He also assisted in the effort to
help Maureen Walker become the first
black woman to rise to the office of
Comptroller.
· Alfonso Grimes – Alfonso has a
rich history and has received endless awards throughout his adult life.
He was previously employed by the
Mount Vernon School District for 35
years. He is currently affiliated with
countless organizations, including the
NAACP; the Peace Keepers; the Kappa Psi Fraternity; Board of Directors of
the Vernon Heights Day Care Program;
and member of the Mt. Vernon Heights
Congregational Church, where he is
Chairperson of the Usher Board.
· Anthony J Guarino – A licensed Funeral Director and president and owner of Yannantuono Burr Davis Sharpe
Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. In
2000, Anthony received a Community
Service Award from Congressman Eliot Engel. He is currently president
of Mayor’s Senior Citizen Advisory
Board; a former board member of the
Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon;
past president of the Mount Vernon
Kiwanis Club; a Lieutenant Governor
of the Bronx/Westchester division of
Kiwanis; and currently serves on the
board of the Petrillo Building, a middle
income residence in Mount Vernon.
· Suffragan Bishop Errol O’Savio –
Serves as Senior Pastor of the Mount
Olivet Apostolic Faith Church in Mount
Vernon. Bishop Errol O’Savio has
served as vice chairman and chaplain
Marie K. Williams (c), accompanied by her daughter, Terrie, being honored
Alfonso Grimes being honored (red shirt)
Glenston Clarke (r) after receiving his award
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24 l June 2014
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town business district.
Thanks to a spectacular picture perfect
day, legions of people lined the parade
route, in some places 2 and 3 rows deep.
Mount Vernon citizens watching the parade exhibited a sense of patriotism not
seen in a long time in Mount Vernon. Many
wore American flag pins; others had small
American flags they waved continuously
during the course of the parade. There
was a sense of pride on the faces of all
who trekked to the parade route to watch
this year’s parade.
Parade participants consisted of city,
state and national representatives. Also
marching this year were veteran’s groups;
fraternal and civic organizations; Trustees
of the Mount Vernon Board of Education;
the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon;
Mount Vernon public schools; drum and
bugle corps; and members of the Mount
Vernon Police and Fire Departments.
At the conclusion of the parade, many
gathered at Hartley Park to attend a Memorial Day ceremony in honor of all who
promote, protect and preserve democracy, along with our many fallen war heroes.
The ceremony took place at the gazebo,
and was attended by over 100 hundred
people.
Acting as the Master of Ceremonies was
Jonathan Logan, Director of Veterans Affairs.
The keynote speaker was former Marine Corps Sergeant, Andrea Molina, the
Administrative Coordinator for family Services of Westchester’s Veterans Outreach.
Her duties include placing veterans in
adequate paid internships, helping find
counseling, housing and benefit.
Saint Anthony of Padua holy relic to be on display at
St. Ursula Church
T
Saint Anthony of Padua, in the form of a holy relic
his June, in honor of the Feast
of Saint Anthony of Padua, three
Friars from the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua,
Padua, Italy, will bring three distinct relics
to three different corners of the Englishspeaking world. Father Paolo Floretta will
be in New York and Long Island, Father
Mario Conte will be in Australia and Singapore, and Father Riccardo Giacon will visit
our northern neighbor of Canada.
Saint Anthony of Padua, in the form of a
holy relic, will be on display at St. Ursula
Church, Mount Vernon, on Wednesday,
June 11th, during the week of the Saint’s
Feast Day. At 5:00 PM there will be Veneration, followed by a Mass at 7 PM. St.
Ursula Church is located at 214 East Lincoln Avenue.
Last year, the relics awed and inspired
so many Catholics during the 750th anniversary of the saint’s incorrupt tongue by
Saint Bonaventure. Devotion to Saint Anthony is an accepted part of life for many
New Yorkers, but an encounter with the
relic moves it to the forefront. So many
people describe it as a confirmation of
their Catholic faith. Father Mario Conte,
Executive Editor of The Messenger of
Saint Anthony, in Padua, Italy, reflected
that the first Jesuit pope was deeply inspired by Saint Anthony and Saint Francis’ love, care and concern for the poor
and marginalized. Pope Francis once said
“Relics are parts of the body of a saint
which was the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Through this body, the saints practiced
heroic values recognized by the church.”
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25 l June 2014
Mayor’s Senior Citizen Advisory Board celebrates
68th anniversary at the Armory
(l to r) Geraldine Christiana, Robert Mages, Gregg M. Febbraio and Anthony
Guarino, during the presentation of the Dr. S. Febbraio Award
T
he Mount Vernon Armory overflowed with senior citizens on
Monday, May 19th, as they gathered for a luncheon to celebrate
the 68th anniversary of the Mayor’s Advisory Board for Senior Citizens – a yearly
event treasured by Mount Vernon seniors.
Acting as Mistress of Ceremonies, once
again, was Geraldine Christiana, longtime
director of the Office for the Aging for the
city of Mount Vernon.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, singing of
the National Anthem, and the Invocation
by Reverend Darren Morton, Christiana
introduced Anthony Guarino, chair of the
Mayor’s Senior Citizen Advisory Board.
After opening comments, Guarino introduced Roberta Apuzzo, president of the
City Council, who filled in for Mayor Davis
who was out of town.
“It is truly an honor to be here with you
today to celebrate the 68th anniversary of
the Mayor’s Senior Citizen Advisory Board.
I especially wish to congratulate the long
list of seniors on the 90 plus list who are
gathered here today. May God grant you
continued health and longevity, and I look
forward to seeing you all here again next
year,” said Apuzzo.
After recognizing the dignitaries in attendance, especially a large group of
medical students from Montefiore Mount
Vernon Hospital, Christiana introduced the
guest speaker, David Gentner, president
and CEO of the Wartburg.
Gentner, who is an excellent public
speaker, is well liked by seniors who enjoy listening to him when the opportunity
arises.
He said, “There’s always something happening at Wartburg since we’re an innovator in senior care services and an active
member of the Mount Vernon community.
The Wartburg was founded in 1865, by Lutheran congregations in and around New
York City, as a home for orphans. Today
the Wartburg finds itself caring for seniors
and those at the end of life — and hoping
for more involvement with congregations.
Our large campus is home to more than
500 seniors from varied faith traditions.”
He added, “I’m very pleased to announce that in 2010 the New York State
Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law gave Wartburg nearly $27 million
in grants and funding to build, expand,
Mayor’s Senior Citizen Advisory Board celebrates 68th anniversary
at the Armory
(l to r) Anthony Guarino, Geraldine Christiana, David Gentner and
Roberta Apuzzo
Seniors anxiously awaiting lunch to be served, which was superb
and renovate our facilities, especially to
add affordable housing. Using the grant,
Wartburg built the Friedrichs Residence, a
Three well dressed seniors enjoying the luncheon
four-story building with 61 affordable studio and one-bedroom apartments for seniors on a budget. The grant also helped
26 l June 2014
INQUIRER
Mount Vernon Youth Bureau
starts pilot program in Event
Planning at MVHS
A group photo of the many students enrolled in the event planning
program at MVHS
T
he Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, in
conjunction with its S.T.R.O.N.G.
program, has initiated a pilot program in event planning at Mount
Vernon High School. The program is run
by Dwayne Brown, president of the Mount
Vernon Chamber of Commerce, a longtime Mount Vernon resident who has been
in the event planning field for many years.
The program started with 15 students,
and has grown in leaps and bounds with
nearly 30 students currently enrolled in the
exciting afterschool program.
“I graduated from Mount Vernon High
School exactly 20 years ago, and I have
always wanted to give back to my community since I have been blessed in so
many ways. Throughout the years, many
people have done things for me and I feel
it’s my turn to reciprocate,” said Brown.
“Up until now the kids have proven that
they love the program. It gives the kids
the opportunity to work on their prom; it
affords them hands-on skills; and creates
awareness about endless possibilities in
the event planning field. Many different
doors can open up for these kids by participating in this program.”
Joe Parisi, editor of the Mount Vernon
Inquirer, joined Brown at one of his classes
recently, and the atmosphere in the classroom was simply incredible. The students
were all very attentive, jovial, and eager to
learn, knowing that there will be many opportunities for them to work in the industry
after school and on weekends once they
learn the business.
Parisi interviewed some of the kids
and their feedback was very positive.
Nancy Santiago, a 10th grader, stated, “I
love photography, and the times I have
ventured out with Dyane have been very
rewarding since I was able to use my camera in a productive way. I am really enjoying being part of this terrific afterschool
program.”
Kellan McNeish, an 11th grader, stated,
“I had heard about event planning, seen it
in the movies, but I had no clue what being an event and meeting planner is really
all about. Thanks to this program, I have
learned a lot about event planning, and
may even consider pursuing it after I am
through with school.”
Sadik Coates, a 10th grader, stated, “I
enrolled in the program because I want to
learn everything I can about event planning. I have always had a great interest in
this field.”
Danah Jarvis, a senior, stated, “I joined
because the program seemed very interesting, and I want to experience what the
field has to offer. The hands-on experience I have been a part of here is going to
help me plan my own prom.”
Mount Vernon students interested in
joining the program can reached, at the
Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, by calling
them at 914-665-2344.
Students displaying the cameras they are learning to use as event planners
while enrolled in the program at MVHS
www.mvinquirer.com
www.mvinquirer.com
INQUIRER
27 l June 2014
fund the Rehabilitation and Adult Day Services Center which is equipped with all
the high-tech equipment of a first-class
medical facility. The center treats seniors
and patients of all ages who are recovering from injury or illness. Seniors who have
memory issues, or who seek daily social
activities, also can attend one of two dayprograms.”
Toward the end of the ceremony, Christiana introduced Gregg M. Febbraio, who
presented the Dr. Salvatore Febbraio
Award, named after his deceased father,
to Robert Mages. Mages was recognized
for the impact he has had through his volunteerism in the area of assisting other seniors at the Armory Center.
Also recognized, were twenty-two seniors who have attained the age of 90 and
beyond. Two seniors recognized have already reached the age of 100.
At the end of the ceremony, several
lucky seniors won gift baskets during the
raffles contest.
EDUCATION COLUMN
By Diane Fulves, M.A., M.Ed.,
Director, EMPOWERING OUR PARENTS
Email: [email protected]
Attention Deficit Disorder,
Learning Disability,
Not So Fast!
S
Medical students from Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital that will be
examining seniors at the Armory on a weekly basis
ince I entered public education, there seems to be a
huge increase in the number
of children referred to Committees on Special Education and receiving special education services.
When children experience some difficulty in learning, they are referred to
the committee. Educational testing
may indicate specific deficits and the
children are classified with a disability
and assigned special education services. For nineteen years I saw many
of these children in my resource room.
When I look back on my own years
in elementary school, oh, about 100
years ago, there were no special education classes. Teachers taught all
their students. There were even separate reading groups to help children on
their particular reading level. Imagine
that! I don’t mean to brag, but Jacqueline and I were in the top group
and our reading material was specific
for our needs. Miss Moon thought
enough of her students that she prepared separate lessons for each
group. I remember Sammy and John
had some difficulty, but they learned.
Way back then!
During my twenty-eight years in
public schools, I have observed something quite different. There was one
reading group for the entire class with
the same workbooks and the same
assignments for every student. Inevitably, those students who could not
keep up became frustrated and fell
far behind. Thus, they were referred
to the committee for evaluation. This
makes no sense. It is like making an
appointment with a surgeon for a cut
on the arm. Before taking the last step,
we must assess the problems, evaluate how we are meeting the needs of
children who are struggling, and create new ways of helping them succeed. This is responsible teaching.
I have worked with many of these
children in my resource room. Most of
them were quite intelligent and quick to
grasp concepts when they were taught
the way they learn. Children who were
classified with a learning disability or
attention deficit disorder sat quietly,
attending to their assignments once
they were explained. Then they could
process the information and complete
the task accurately. Many times I remember saying to myself, “These chil-
dren aren’t disabled. They just need to
be taught differently.”
It is interesting to note that when
my students returned to their classes
with assignments completed correctly,
some of their teachers would say to
me, “Of course, they got it. You’re
teaching one on one.”
The fact is that my resource classes could include up to five students.
Each one was working on a different
lesson and I had to meet all their needs
within a thirty-five minute period. But
they learned. They attended to task
because their assignments were clarified in a way they could understand.
Thus, they succeeded. Where were
the attention and learning problems?
Two years ago I found the magnificent book, Special Education Law
written by Peter and Pamela Wright.
I was amazed to read the following
statement on page 26.
“Many experts in the field of learning
disabilities believe that a majority of
children identified with specific learning disabilities are ‘victims of poor
teaching.’
Almost all children can
learn to read if taught appropriately,
but many do not get appropriate instruction because teachers are not
adequately prepared.”
Unfortunately, this is the sad and,
indeed, shocking truth. But there is
another aspect to this issue. Many
teachers and principals are resistant
to learning and adapting new ways
of teaching. As a result, children are
underachieving. Too many are pushed
aside and told that they are lazy and
not trying hard enough. I call this “The
Blame the Child Syndrome.”
Before we decide that students may
have a learning disability or an attention issue, we must offer alternate
ways of teaching them. There is a long
list of modifications and accommodations that are offered to children who
have an I.E.P., an Individual Education Plan. However, these strategies
are simply good teaching techniques
which should be part of every teacher’s educational program. Once we
begin to adapt our teaching style to the
needs of our students, we will begin to
see an improvement in our students’
attention, achievement, and behavior.
Who knows, we may even put special
education out of business. Well, not
quite, but almost.
INQUIRER
28 l June 2014
www.mvinquirer.com
jaFa’s Poets Corner
Jim and Annie’s
Natural Food Column
Direct from the sunny island of
Vieques, PR
Foods that lower
blood pressure
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
an estimated 67 million Americans -- approximately one in
three adults -- suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure. In
2009 alone, high blood pressure
was the primary or contributing
cause of almost 350,000 deaths
in the United States, which averages at 1,000 deaths per day.
The disorder is, in essence, an
epidemic in the Western world.
Though high blood pressure
can be triggered by stress and
other external factors, a poor diet
remains its single greatest cause.
Therefore, consuming foods that
are proven to produce significant
cardiovascular benefits is a great
way to prevent and treat the disorder naturally. The best of these
foods are listed below.
1. Garlic -- This aromatic and
pungent herb, which has been
used for over 5,000 years as a
medicine, is well known for lowering blood pressure. A pilot study
published in Pharmacotherapy
in 1993, for instance, found that
patients who consumed a garlic
preparation that consisted of 1.3
percent allicin (the sulfur compound responsible for so many
of garlic’s benefits) experienced
a reduction in sitting blood pressure 5 hours after the dose, and
a significant increase in diastolic
blood pressure between 5 and 14
hours after the dose. Moreover,
a 2009 study in the Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry
found that garlic’s cardioprotective properties were stronger in
freshly crushed garlic than in processed garlic.
2.) Hot chilies -- Hot chilies are
packed with capsaicin, an odorless compound that gives them
their trademark heat. Capsaicin
also happens to be a vasodilator,
meaning that it can expand blood
vessels and improve blood flow,
and it is proven to treat countless
cardiovascular issues -- including high blood pressure. For example, a 2010 study published in
Cell Metabolism found that longterm consumption of capsaicin
could lower blood pressure in
rats suffering from genetic hypertension.
Generally speaking, the hotter the chili, the more capsaicin
it contains. Cayenne pepper is
an excellent choice of chili for
lowering blood pressure since its
capsaicin levels are high enough
to be effective in this regard, but
not so high that it is unpleasant to
consume.
3.) Cacao -- This Central and
South
American
superfood,
which is usually consumed in
powdered or nib form, is one of
the most antioxidant-rich foods
in the world, and contains more
than 300 phytochemicals. Given
this nutritional power, it shouldn’t
surprise anyone that the indigenous tribes of America considered cacao to be a medicine first,
and a food second.
Cacao’s cardiovascular benefits, which are often attributed to
its high concentrations of flavanols and magnesium, have been
extensively studied. One 2011
study featured in Acta Medica
Indonesiana showed that dark
chocolate (of which cacao is the
main ingredient) could decrease
blood pressure in prehypertensive subjects after 15 days
of consumption. Another 2011
study, published in Food and
Function, found that cacao polyphenol extracts had a beneficial
effect on arterial blood pressure
among hypertensive rats.
4.) Turmeric -- Turmeric is a
warm and peppery spice that is
rich in curcumin. Like the capsaicin found in chilies, curcumin
is a potent anti-inflammatory
and vasodilator, and is great for
treating cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure.
For example, a study featured in
Nutrients in March 2014 discovered that curcumin could prevent
elevated blood pressure and vascular dysfunction among mice
suffering from cadmium-induced
hypertension. According to a review in the International Journal
of Cardiology, curcumin can also
“ameliorate the development of
cardiac hypertrophy and heart
failure in animal models”.
2007 - PRESENT
Poems Submitted by Our Readers
Edited by jaFa (James Fair)
JAFA’S POETS CORNER –
7th Year Anniversary
ON HEARING OF MJ’s DEATH
(Revisited 4 years later)
Author: james “jAFa” Fair
Mount Vernon resident
The lady told her friend, over her cell,
“We’ve lost another legend.
Yes, Michael”. I interrupted her and asked
“Who?”
“Michael Jackson. He just died.”
As I walked back one block to my apartment “Billy Jean” was blasting from a
store front.
A car radio played “I Want to Rock With
You.”
New travels fast.
Love for a legend was being shared.
Back at home, TV channels rushed to
broadcast the news.
Even MTV, which didn’t broadcast Black
music until MJ,
was on the broadcast bandwagon celebrating MJ.
MJ once again took over the airwaves.
In life he was the King of Pop.
In death he became a phenomenon.
What do you say when a phenomenon
dies.
Hum some of his lyrics: “You Are Not
Alone”,
“Heal The World”, “They Don’t Care
About Us”, “Billy Jean”.
My email inbox began filling up with MJ’s
music and videos.
I downloaded those I didn’t have.
I re-visited MJ’s works.
re-discovered the phenomenon
re-discovered the Legend
BLACK BUTTERFLY
Author: John Robertson, Jr.
Mount Vernon resident
`
Black butterfly, more than the eye can see
“Up you mighty race be all that you can
be”
Sing it loud like Ella, say it proud like
Martin,
Malcolm and Mandela.
stay out in front like Rosa Parks,
read the writings of Dr. John Henrik
Clarke.
Doors were broken down, many pathways were blazed.
Picket lines, color lines, and finish lines
were crossed.
Jesse Owens, Arthur Ashe, and Wilma
Rudolph.
Jackie Robinson changed the game.
Cassius Clay revolutionized his name.
Melodic tones often set the tone with
smooth styles from miles.
Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne,
Cab Calloway.
Freedom fighters, Pyramid builders,
Hieroglyphic writers.
Nat Turner, Black Panther party, Stokely
Carmichael, Angela Davis,
Denmark Vessey true freedom is never
easy.
Elijah Muhammad built a nation, Dr. King
taught the world civilization.
Whipped and chained from trees we
hung, picking that cotton we still
hummed and sung.
Great spirit of the ancestors on your backs
we ride,
so spread your wings BLACK BUTTERFLY.
GONE TOO SOON.
TO OUR READERS & SUPPORTERS
From the editor (jAFa)
This year JAFa’s Poets Corner celebrates its 7th year.
We are still the longest, continuously running, poetry column
in any local area monthly publication. We have reached
this milestone because of you, the community, who have so
generously supported us. THANK YOU!
Please email your poems to [email protected] or
mail a (typed copy please) to
James Fair, 153 South 5th Ave., Apt 6B, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
29 l June 2014
‘Ask the Pharmacist’
Anthony
T. Fava
American
Legion
Post 1768
seeks new
members
Mark Rauchwerger
Circle Rx Pharmacy
120 Gramatan Ave, Mt Vernon
914-665-5555
Is it OK to drink alcohol when
you are taking an antibiotic?
Since alcohol is itself a drug, alcohol consumption should be
avoided entirely when taking any
medications, including antibiotics.
You should avoid alcohol whether
the prescription you’re taking is prescription or over the counter.
Certain antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs can interact with alcohol
and make you very sick. It therefore
is recommended to avoid alcohol
consumption while on antibiotic
therapy.
To be on the safe side, however,
always check with your doctor or
pharmacist regarding specific drug
interaction concerns.
Should I get a colonoscopy
and how often do I need one?
If you are over the age of 50, you
should get a colonoscopy. If you
have a family history of colon cancer, your physician may recommend
colonoscopies at an earlier age.
Both colon and rectal cancer can
start from polyps in the colon in the
colon or rectum. Polyps, or growths
that are abnormal and don’t belong
in your body, can develop into cancers.
What is a colonscopy?
Your doctor will insert a small,
lighted tube through your rectum
M
and colon during a colonoscopy.
During the procedure, your doctor
will check for polyps or cancer inside
your colon and rectum and can even
remove some polyps and cancers
during this procedure. A procedure
similar to a colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy, only checks the rectum and
lower third of the colon. If the results
of this procedure are normal, you
should get colonoscopies every 10
years or sigmoidoscopies every 5
years.
A Post 1768 member
selling flowers during
their annual
“Poppy Drive”
Tax information for students who take
a summer job
any students take a job in the
summer after school lets out.
If it’s your first job it gives you
a chance to learn about the
working world. That includes taxes we
pay to support the place where we live,
our state and our nation. Here are eight
things that students who take a summer
job should know about taxes:
· Don’t be surprised when your employer
withholds taxes from your paychecks.
That’s how you pay your taxes when
you’re an employee. If you’re self-employed, you may have to pay estimated taxes directly to the IRS on certain
dates during the year. This is how our
pay-as-you-go tax system works.
· As a new employee, you’ll need to fill
out a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Your employer will use it to figure how much
federal income tax to withhold from
your pay. The IRS Withholding Calculator tool on IRS.gov can help you fill
out the form.
· Keep in mind that all tip income is taxable. If you get tips, you must keep a
daily log so you can report them. You
must report $20 or more in cash tips in
any one month to your employer. And
you must report all of your yearly tips
on your tax return.
· Money you earn doing work for others is taxable. Some work you do
may count as self-employment. This
can include jobs like baby-sitting and
lawn mowing. Keep good records of
expenses related to your work. You
may be able to deduct (subtract) those
costs from your income on your tax return. A deduction may help lower your
taxes.
· If you’re in ROTC, your active duty pay,
such as pay you get for summer camp,
is taxable. A subsistence allowance
you get while in advanced training isn’t
taxable.
· You may not earn enough from your
summer job to owe income tax. But
your employer usually must withhold
Social Security and Medicare taxes
from your pay. If you’re self-employed,
you may have to pay them yourself.
They count toward your coverage under the Social Security system.
· If you’re a newspaper carrier or distributor, special rules apply. If you meet
certain conditions, you’re considered
self-employed. If you don’t meet those
conditions and are under age 18, you
are usually exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes.
·Y
ou may not earn enough money from
your summer job to be required to file a
tax return. Even if that’s true, you may
still want to file. For example, if your
employer withheld income tax from
your pay, you’ll have to file a return to
get your taxes refunded. You can prepare and e-file your tax return for free
using IRS Free File. It’s available exclusively on IRS.gov.
Visit IRS.gov for more about the tax
rules for students.
T
he Anthony T. Fava
post, named for Mount
Vernon native, Anthony
T Fava, who gave his life
in WWII, is celebrating 65 years
of existence in Mount Vernon this
year.
Down from peak membership
of 350 in their years, the Post still
has a core group of dedicated
members who attend meetings
and work diligently in the community continuing the mission
of the community. They humbly
go through their annual activities
without seeking any recognition.
The Post is currently seeking
new members interested in being involved in the community to
fill critical positions, allowing for
the opportunity to play a key role
within the Post.
Anyone interested in being a
member of the Fava Post or Ladies Auxiliary, please call John
Fava at
914-403-5656.
INQUIRER
30 l June 2014
www.mvinquirer.com
“Police Memorial Day” held in Mount Vernon
on May 14th
Mayor Davis saluting an officer after he honored him with an award
I
n 1962, President John F. Kennedy
signed Public Law 87-726 that set
aside May 15th as National Peace
Officers’ Memorial Day, and the
week in which May 15th falls as Na-
The Police Emerald Society of Westchester County band arriving at
City Hall for the ceremony
tional Police Week. This year, National
Police Week runs from Sunday, May
11th through Saturday, May 17th.
On Wednesday, May 14th, during a
sunny morning, many gathered at a
A police officer being congratulated by city officials after receiving
his award
Members of Mount Vernon’s Bravest soon after arriving at City Hall to
receive their awards
Master of Ceremonies for the event was Captain Michael Goldman
City Hall Plaza ceremony to commemorate Police Officer’s Memorial Day in
Mount Vernon. This year’s event attracted a bigger crowd than in previous
years, and included a long list of dignitaries, along with many friends and
family members of police officers that
were honored.
Acting as the Master of Ceremonies
for the event, was Captain Michael
Goldman who stated, “As part of this
observance, Mayor Davis created a
Proclamation declaring today, May 14,
2014, Police Memorial Day in the City
of Mount Vernon. This is the day that
we remember those members of the
Mount Vernon Police Department who
gave their lives serving the citizens of
our city.” He further added, “As we
pause to commemorate our fallen officers, we are also assembled here today
to pay tribute to those who walk among
us – those officers who have exemplified themselves in acts of bravery and
intelligence over the past year.” A total
of 41 officers received awards.
The ceremony began with a Mount
Vernon Police Department Honor
Guard marching in from the street with
the colors, followed by the impressive
Police Emerald Society of Westchester
County band playing the National Anthem.
The speakers included Mayor Ernest
D. Davis, City Council President Roberta Apuzzo, PBA President Gregory
Addison, and Police Commissioner
Terrance Raynor.
The “Memorial Service” was followed by the “Awards Presentation”
part of the ceremony, in which numerous members of the Police Department
were honored for their outstanding performance.
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
Mount Vernon says YES
to its library
By Tamara Stewart
Citizens anxiously awaiting to cast their votes at the Mount Vernon
Public Library
T
uesday, May 6th was the kind of
warm, sunny spring day that signals the end of a harsh winter and
hints at good things to come. It
was the perfect day for the Mt. Vernon
Public Library’s first-ever public funding
and trustee vote.
In a festive atmosphere that resembled
a combination of reunion and block party,
a steady stream of Mount Vernonites entered the library’s brand new doors and
were directed to the Grace Greene Baker
Community Room to cast their ballots.
Tables were arranged alphabetically in the
Community Room, and members of the
library’s Friends group helped direct the
steady stream of foot traffic. Across the
hall in the Virginia McClellan Moskowitz
Local History Room, attendees congregated to reminisce, chat, and enjoy coffee
and light refreshments.
Even before all of the ballots were tallied
late Tuesday night, it was apparent the library vote had been a huge success. One
person after another commented on the
positive energy and enthusiasm that surrounded the event. Many attendees lingered long after they had cast their ballots,
happily greeting family and neighbors, and
excitedly catching up with old friends.
By a margin of more than 3 to 1, voters overwhelmingly passed the proposed
$4.35 million funding Proposition #1, with
2025 YES to 586 NO votes. The results
of the balloting for the four open trustee
seats are as follows:
Oscar Davis - 1435
Darren Morton - 1304
Brian G. Johnson - 1199
Linda Bryant - 942
Dawn Cancellieri - 786
Chanese Valerie Coleman - 755
David Ockene - 686
Sidney Cooper - 465
Jamie Pessin - 429
Judith Furnari - 27
Oscar Davis, Darren Morton, and Brian
Johnson will each serve a four-year term
until 2018, and Linda Bryant will serve a
one-year term until 2015. Na’im Tyson’s
term began in 2012 and will end in 2017.
Wednesday, May 21st marked the beginning of a new chapter in the Mt. Vernon
Public Library’s story. In front of a large
group of library supporters, the results of
the library’s historic public vote were certified, and the four new trustees were sworn
in by Peekskill’s Judge Reginald Johnson.
Not to be left out, Dr. Na’im Tyson asked
to be sworn in also, and Judge Johnson
was happy to comply with the request.
President Tyson presided over the first
part of the library board meeting, navigating a full agenda in front of a largerthan-usual audience. Notable moments
included City Council President Roberta
Apuzzo delivering greetings and congratulations from Mayor Davis, who was outof-town, and Dr. Tyson thanking outgoing
board members and presenting each of
them with flowers. After the new trustees
had been sworn in, the new board’s first
order of business was to hold officer elections. These elections resulted in Brian
Johnson becoming the new President,
Oscar Davis becoming the new Vice President, and Linda Bryant becoming the new
Secretary. Trustees then selected their
committee assignments, and continued
conducting the remainder of the library’s
business.
There are still a number of challenges
facing the Mount Vernon Public Library,
including filing a lengthy application to
attempt to regain Central Library status,
negotiating a new union contract, and
formulating a new strategic plan. Fortunately, the library is finally able to meet
its challenges with stable funding, committed leadership, and strong community
support.
31 l June 2014
INQUIRER
32 l June 2014
www.mvinquirer.com
Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce celebrates
Administrative Professionals Day
Dwayne Brown (c) organized his first Secretaries Day as the new president
of the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce
T
his year, National Administrative Professionals Day was celebrated on April 23rd. This annual
holiday, also known as Secretaries Day, or Admin Day, is observed on the
Wednesday of the last full week in April of
each year. It is a special day to recognize
the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals.
Due to a shortage of skilled office workers, Mary Barrett, president of the National
Secretaries Association (now called IAAP
- International Association of Administrative Professionals), along with C. King
Woodbrige, president of Dictaphone Corporation, had the idea for a National Secretaries Week.
Proclaimed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer, the official first
“National Secretaries Week” was held
June 1-7, 1952. June 4, 1952 was designated National Secretaries Day.
Due to the expanding responsibilities
and wide-ranging job titles of administrative support staff, in 2000, the name
was changed to Administrative Professionals Week. The IAAP had two objectives in mind: to recognize “the secretary,
upon whose skills, loyalty, and efficiency
the functions of business and government offices depend”, and to call attention “through favorable publicity, to the
tremendous potential of the secretarial
career”.
National Administrative Professionals
Day is often celebrated with gifts to one’s
assistant such as flowers, gift certificates,
gift baskets, candy, lunch, etc.
In Mount Vernon, the Chamber of Commerce hosted a lovely Administrative Pro-
fessionals Day Luncheon at the Bronxville
Field Club, located in Bronxville, NY, to
honor the city’s dedicated women viewed
by many as the ‘heart and soul’ of most
businesses.
This year, Dwayne Brown, president
of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, attended the luncheon and addressed the lively crowd of impeccably
dressed women.
The event featured surprise activities,
raffles, gifts, and even games – to the delight of all who attended.
provide effective student learning practices, while taking into account the
legitimate concerns of taxpayers in a
state with the highest property taxes in
the country.
With the passing of the budget, the
school district’s goals remain strong
and can now proceed with the following:
·S
upport and sustain a high-performing, talented workforce
·A
ctively engage parents and the
community like never before
·W
ork on creating safe, disciplined
state-of-the-art environments
· Promote innovative and fiscally responsible management
The Mount Vernon school district
may be turning the corner in terms of
the following achievements:
· Graduation rates continue to rise
(now 71% for Mount Vernon High
School)
· 2,698 new computers and 21st century digital learning tools installed
(88 interactive white boards)
· Growth in literacy skills for K-2 children with the acceleration support
by early literacy specialists
· Successful implementation of the
Common Core in Math and Early
Language Arts (ELA)
· 50% decrease in school suspensions as a result of Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS)
The additional programs to be maintained in the budget include a comprehensive literacy acceleration program,
enhanced digital learning investments,
including a “texts-to-tablets” roll-out
(beginning replacement of textbooks
with tablets), and the long-term plan to
restructure schools and implement a
K-8 grade configuration model districtwide.
The first phase of this multi-year plan
includes the roll out of a K-8 model
at Graham and Pennington and a K-8
campus at the two Longfellow schools.
With the pending hire of a new superintendent of schools, the school district
is anxiously anticipating a long-term
strategic plan to be in place to effectively turnaround the school system
and ensure students are provided with
an education that prepares all students
for success in school and in life.
www.mvinquirer.com
INQUIRER
33 l June 2014
es, led by its founder, Terrence Horton,
and consisted of a photographic slide
presentation on the successful trip
along with a display of specially selected and enlarged key photographs
that depicted a larger than life shared
historical experience.
Mayor Davis, who initially balked at
going on the trip, stated, “Thanks to
my good friend, Joe Parisi, who urged
me to go on the trip, I elected to go
and I am totally grateful that I did. I
consider the trip a total success, and
I am looking forward to the many economic benefits that will be derived
from our historic visit to Gwangju,
South Korea.”
Aside from Mayor Davis, each of
the elected officials who spoke to the
many who packed the Council Chambers for the ceremony, praised the effort put together by Terrence Horton
and his company - Sentinel Technology Services International. His company is poised to bring jobs, economic
prosperity, as well as an educational
component that will help to augment
the perpetuation of this revenue generating mind-set that must be allowed
to flourish within the city of Mount Vernon.
Near the end of the ceremony, City
Council President Roberta Apuzzo
presented Horton with a letter signed
by all the members of the City Council
along with letters of support from the
other elected officials in attendance.
Councilman Marcus Griffith surprised his fellow Council members
by presenting each and every one of
them with a gift-wrapped memento
from South Korea.
At the end of the ceremony, there
was an informal Q&A session with attendees asking questions about the
trip and the promised benefits expected to result from the trip.
The following is an excerpt from the
historical letter written and signed by
members of the City Council:
“As a result of the visit to Korea,
Mount Vernon is now poised to potentially be the epicenter of green research, technology, and science in the
state of New York. In addition, Mount
Vernon is proud to be the host city for
the potential mass distribution of lowcost, green, energy-efficient lighting
throughout the entire Northeast region
– NY, NJ, CT, PA, DE, DC, MD, VA and
MA.”
The entire letter provided by the City
Council can be read by visiting the
Mount Vernon Inquirer’s website at
www.mvinquirer.com. Major sponsor
and supporter has been Tom DeCaro,
Benchmark Title Company.
Terrence Horton (r) shown with members of Sentinel Technology
Services International
Lowes Moore (r), director of the Boy & Girls Club, accompanied by
young members of the club
City Council President, Roberta Apuzzo, presenting a letter of support
to Terrence Horton
(l to r) Terrence Horton, Joan Horton, Mayor Davis and Steven Horton
34 l June 2014
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
www.mvinquirer.com
INQUIRER
35 l June 2014
36 l June 2014
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com

June 2014 - mv inquirer

Transcription

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