May 29, 2014 - WestchesterGuardian.com
Transcription
May 29, 2014 - WestchesterGuardian.com
PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY Vol. VI, No. XXI Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly Thursday, May 29, 2014 • $1.00 SHERIF AWAD Opera During the Revolution Page 8 JOHN F. McMULLEN Creative Disruption Let’s See Now Page 13 JOHN SIMON A Dose of Losses Page 14 One More Obscene Circus in Washington By BOB K. BOGEN, Page 3 DEFINING MARRIAGE DANIEL PIPES Islamism with a Human Face? Page 16 LARRY M. ELKIN Chasing a Chinese Fire Truck Page 18 LAW The Making of History or the Unmaking of Our Society? By LUKE HAMILTON, Page 4 Brian Fanelli Indicted on Federal Child Porn Charges By NANCY KING, Page 4 WWW.WESTCHESTERGUARDIAN.COM rience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and experience working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a good knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties include overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of show lobby staffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with POS system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203) 438-5795 and ask for Julie or Allison Page 2 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THE WESTcHESTER GUARDiAn THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THE WESTcHESTER GUARDiAn RADIO RADIO RADIO Of Significance Of Significance Community Section ............................................................................... 4 Community Section ............................................................................... 44 Business ................................................................................................ Business ................................................................................................ Calendar ............................................................................................... 44 Calendar ............................................................................................... 45 Charity .................................................................................................. Creative Disruption ............................................................................ 56 Charity .................................................................................................. Contest Cultural Perspective ........................................................................... 766 Contest .................................................................................................. Creative Disruption ............................................................................ Energy Issues ....................................................................................... Creative Disruption ............................................................................ Education ............................................................................................. 867 In Memoriam ....................................................................................1078 Education ............................................................................................. Fashion .................................................................................................. Medicine .............................................................................................10 Fashion .................................................................................................. 89 Fitness.................................................................................................... Najah’s Corner ...................................................................................119 Fitness.................................................................................................... Health ..................................................................................................10 Movie ....................................................................................12 Health ..................................................................................................10 HistoryReview ................................................................................................10 Music ...................................................................................................12 History ................................................................................................10 Ed Koch Movie Review ...................................................................12 Community ........................................................................................13 Ed Koch Movie Review ...................................................................12 Spoof ....................................................................................................13 Writers Collection.............................................................................14 Spoof ....................................................................................................13 Sports Scene .......................................................................................13 Books Sports Scene .......................................................................................13 Najah’s...................................................................................................16 Corner ...................................................................................13 People ..................................................................................................18 Najah’s Corner ...................................................................................13 Writers Collection.............................................................................14 Eye On...................................................................................................16 Theatre ..................................................................................18 Writers Collection.............................................................................14 Books Leaving on a Jet Plane ......................................................................19 Books ...................................................................................................16 Transportation ...................................................................................17 Government Section ............................................................................20 Transportation ...................................................................................17 Government Section ............................................................................17 Campaign Trail ..................................................................................20 Government Section ............................................................................17 Albany Correspondent ....................................................................17 Economic Development....................................................................17 Albany Correspondent Mayor Marvin’s Column..................................................................20 .................................................................18 Education ...........................................................................................21 Mayor Marvin’s Column .................................................................18 Government .......................................................................................19 The Hezitorial ....................................................................................21 Government .......................................................................................19 OpEd Section .........................................................................................23 LegalSection ....................................................................................................23 OpEd .........................................................................................23 Ed Koch Commentary.....................................................................23 People ..................................................................................................24 Ed Koch Letters toCommentary.....................................................................23 the Editor ..........................................................................24 Strategyto...............................................................................................24 Letters Editor............................................................................25 ..........................................................................24 Weir Onlythe Human OpEd Section .........................................................................................25 Weir Only Human ............................................................................25 Legal Notices ..........................................................................................26 Legal Notices ..........................................................................................26 ..........................................................................................27 CLASSIFIED ADS YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, AND MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. Office Space Available- Prime Location, Yorktown Heights UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHSq. Ft.: $1800. Wilca: 914.632.1230 ER THE NON-RESPONSENT PARENT(s) SHOULD1,000 BE CONSIDERED ASContact A RESPONDENT; IF THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE NON-RESPONDENTCounty PrimeWHETHER RetailTHE - Westchester PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD; IF THE CHILD IS PLACEDHeights AND Thursday, MAY 29,Best 2014 Location in Yorktown REMAINS IN FOSTER CARE FOR FIFTEEN1100 OF THE RECENT TWENTY-TWO Sq.MOST Ft. Store $3100; 1266 Sq. MONTHS, Ft. store THE $2800 and 450 Sq. Ft. AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23,A 2012 Page 3 Store $1200. THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 Page THURSDAY, FEBRUARY Page 3 Suitable for anyNOT type of business. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230 PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF23, THE2012 PARENT(s) WERE NAMED AS RESPONDENTS IN THE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING. Of Significance HELP WANTED A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CUS- A non profit OF Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) DirecTODY OF THE CHILD AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD. tor of Development- FT-must have a background in development or expeBY ORDER OF THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK rience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and Feature Section.................................................................................................................................. 3 experience working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT(S) WHO RESIDE(S) OR IS FOUND AT [specifyManager- must have a Bogen Perspective........................................................................................................................ good knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties3 include address(es)]: overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staffing, day of show lobby Westchester On the Level is usually heard from Monday to Friday, from NY 1010701 a.m. to 12 Marriage......................................................................................................................................... 4 POS Last known addresses: TIFFANY RAY: 24staffing Garfieldsuch Street, Yonkers, as#3, Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203) Last known addresses: KENNETH THOMAS: 24 Garfield Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701 The Law.......................................................................................................................................... 4 Because of the importance of a Federal court case438-5795 purporting corruption bribery and ask for Julie orand Allison An Orderwith to Show Cause under Article 10 days of the of Family Court 26 Act to having been filed with this Court allegations, programming be suspended for the March 29, 2012. YonWestchester OnCommunity theseeking Levelto ismodify heard Monday to Friday, from Section......................................................................................................................... 6 the from placement for the above-named child. 10 a.m. to 12 Noon Westchester On On the the Level Level with with Narog Narog and Aris Westchester and Aris Aris and kersthe Philharmonic Orchestra Sadewhite is our scheduled Friday, Westchester On the Level is Conductor heard fromJames Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m.guest to 12 Noon on Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Join YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at Yonkers Family Court Calendar......................................................................................................................................... 6 March 30. on the Internet: by http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Join the conversation calling toll-free to 1-877-674-2436. Please stay on topic. located at 53 So. Broadway, Yonkers, New York, on the 28th day of March, 2012 at 2;15 It is howeverby anticipated that theto jury will conclude its Please deliberation ontopic. either Mon- pm in the the conversation calling toll-free 1-877-674-2436. stay on afternoon of saidare day your to answer the petition show cause why saidFebruary child should20th not be Cultural Perspectives................................................................................................................... 8 Richard Narog March and Hezi Aris co-hosts. In and thetowe week beginning day or Tuesday, 26 or will regular with theand ending on adjudicated to27. be aShould neglectedthat childbe andthe why case, you should not beresume dealt withour in accordance Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are your co-hosts. In the week beginning February 20th and ending February 24th, we have an exciting entourage of guests. programming schedule and of announce fact on theAct. Yonkers Tribune website. Economic Development............................................................................................................. 9on provisions Article 10 ofthat the Family Court February 24th, we have an exciting entourage of guests. Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are co-hosts of the show. Every Monday is Gre’s special. On Monday, February 20th, Wade, participant in http:// PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, thatKrystal you have the right toabecelebrated represented by a lawCorner. .................................................................................................................................. 9 Every Monday is special. Monday, 20th, celebrated participant in http:// yer, and ifOn the Court finds youFebruary are unableKrystal to pay forKrystal a lawyer, you haveathe right to havewho a lawyer www.TheWritersCollection.com is our guest. Wade isWade, a mother of three works fifty miles assigned by the Court. www.TheWritersCollection.com our guest. Krystal is a novel mother threeaccepted who works fifty miles People. .......................................................................................................................................... 10 from home and writes in .her “spare is time.” “Wilde’s Fire,”Wade her debut hasofbeen for publication from home and writes ininher “spare time.” “Wilde’s Fire,” debut has been publication PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, thather if you fail tonovel appear at the timeaccepted andHow placefor and should be available 2012. Not far behind is her second novel, “Wilde’s Army.” does she do Music. ............................................................................................................................................ 12 it? noted in above, the Court and determine the petition as provided by law.Army.” How does she do and available 2012. Notwill farhear behind is her second novel, “Wilde’s it? Tuneshould in andbefind out. Dated: January 30, 2012 BY ORDER OF THE COURT Reunion........................................................................................................................................ 12 Tune in and find out. Co-hosts Richard Narog2 and Hezi Aris will relish the1 column dissection column CLERK OF THE COURTof all things politics on Tuesday, February Co-hosts Richard andPresident Hezi ArisChuck will relish the dissection of his all things politicsfrom on Tuesday, February 21st. Yonkers CityNarog Council Lesnick will share perspective the august inner Technology/Creative Disruption. ............................................................................................ 13 21st. Yonkers Lesnick will share 22nd. his perspective from the august sanctum of theCity CityCouncil CouncilPresident ChambersChuck on Wednesday, February Stephen Cerrato, Esq., will inner share EyeCouncil on Theatre. ............................................................................................................................ 14 sanctum of the City Chambers Wednesday, February 22nd. Esq.,be will share his political insight on Thursday, Februaryon 23rd. Friday, February 24th hasStephen yet to beCerrato, filled. It may a propihis political onwhat Thursday, February 23rd. Friday, February 24th has yet to be filled. It mayofbeThat a propiMiddle East Forum.................................................................................................................... 14 tious day toinsight sum up transpired throughout the week. A sort of BlogTalk Radio version Was tious day toThat sumWas up what transpired throughout the week. A sort of BlogTalk Radio version of That Was The Week (TWTWTW). Government. .................................................................................................................................... 17 The Week That Was (TWTWTW). For those who cannot join us live, consider listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or on Mayor Marvin............................................................................................................................. 18link For thoseWithin who cannot join us consider listening tofind the the show by wayinof MP3 that download, or on demand. 15 minutes of live, a show’s ending, you can segment ouranarchive you may demand. Within 15 minutes of a show’s ending, you can find the segment in our archive that you may link to using the hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph. Corrent Commentary............................................................................................................... 16 Legal Notices, to using the hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph. Advertise Today The entire archiveLegal is available maintained perusal. The easiest way to find a particular interview Notices,and Advertise Today for your Campaign Trail........................................................................................................................... 18 The is available and maintained forfor your perusal. easiest to findofa the particular interview is toentire searcharchive Google, or any other search engine, the subjectThe matter or way the name interviewee. For is to search Google, orNotices. any other searchSearch engine, the subject On matter the name theRadio, interviewee. Legal ................................................................................................................................... example, search Google, Yahoo, AOL forforWestchester theorLevel, Blog of Talk or use19For the example, Search for Westchester Before speaking to the police...On callthe Level, Blog Talk Radio, or use the hyperlinksearch above.Google, Yahoo, AOL hyperlink above. Advertising Sales Office: 914-576-1481 (10:00 AM–6:00 PM) 914-216-1674 (Cell) Get Noticed Get Noticed 914-562-0834 [email protected] (914) 562-0834 George Weinbaum Mission Statement Statement A L Mission FREE CONSULTATION: TTORNEY AT AW Westchester’s Professional Most Influential Weekly Dominican Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly Hairstylists & Nail Technicians Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly Hair Cuts • Styling • Wash & Set • Perming Pedicure • Acrylic Nails • Fill Ins • Silk Wraps • Nail Art Designs Highights • Coloring • Extensions • Manicure • Eyebrow Waxing Guardian NewsCorp. 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Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. www.wattersonstudios.com Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. www.wattersonstudios.com wattersonstudios.com westchesterguardian.com westchesterguardian.com The Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events The Westchester Guardian is aCriminal, weeklyMedicaid, newspaper devoted to the living unbiased reporting of events Medicare and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers in, and/or employed in, and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or employed in, Fraud, White-Collar & fairly, and objectively, reliable informaWestchester County. The Guardian will strive Crime to report 914.948.0044reliable informaWestchester County.tion The without Guardian will strive to report fairly, andT.duty objectively, Health Careor Prosecutions. favor compromise. Our first will be to the PEOPLE’S F. tion without favor or compromise. Our first duty will be fear to the RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth,914.686.4873 without orPEOPLE’S hesitation, RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation, no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of FREEDOM 175 MAINthe ST.,pursuit SUITE 711-7 • WHITE PLAINS, NYtradition 10601 of FREEDOM no matter where may lead, in the finest OF THE PRESS. OF THE PRESS. The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and The Guardian will cover news and eventsAs relevant to residents and businesses all over Westchester County. a weekly, rather than businesses Westchester County.more As aassociated weekly, rather than focusing on all theover immediacy of delivery with daily focusingwe onwill the instead immediacy more associated daily journals, seek of to delivery provide the broader, morewith comprejournals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more comprehensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened hensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened with analysis, where appropriate. with analysis, where appropriate. Professional Dominican From &amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, Hairstylists Nail Technicians From amongst journalism’ s classic key-words: who, what, when, Hair Cuts • Stylingwhy, • Washand & Set •how, Permingthe why and how will drive our pursuit. We where, Pedicure • Acrylic Nails • Fill Ins • Silkwhy, Wraps •and Nail Art Designs where, how, the why andand how drive our will use our •more time, ourwill resources, to pursuit. get past We the Highights • Coloring • Extensions • Manicure Eyebrowabundant Waxing will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate initial and often characteristic immediate Yudi’s Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle, NY ‘spin’ 10801 914.633.7600 news releases, to ‘damage reach thecontrol’ very heart of the matter: the of truth. We will news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. will take our readers to a point of understanding and insight whichWe cannot take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot be obtained elsewhere. be obtained elsewhere. To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not necesTo succeed, must recognize from theacknowledge outset that bigger is not necessarily better.we And, furthermore, we will that we cannot be sarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentationbe of all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed. county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed. FAM COU In th Chel A Ch Adju Tiffa NOT RIGH 22 M YOU CHIL PERI UPO ER T THE COU PAR REM AGE THE PUR THE A NO TOD BY O TO addr Last Last An O seek loca after adju prov yer, assig note Date Ge Legal THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 3 even producing an annual budget surplus. Of c o u r s e, Clinton could not foresee, or even imagine, the following decade of the war in Afghanistan, much less the obscenely dishonest Iraq War. In any event the following eight years of the Bush Administration made available some additional funds for the VA. These were totally inadequate to rebuild the VA system of hospitals, other facilities, staff, professional training and administration to meet the huge demands of enormous groups of new war veterans. Surely those Republicans who blocked Congressional action to meet this large growing demand are the villains. Stop the cheap shots at one of our most highly regarded and experienced military experts, and deal with the problem caused by Republican Congressional obstructions. Name the real villains and make them pay at the polls in November and for as long as they remain to blight our nation and our veterans. FeatureSection THE BOGEN PERSPECTIVE One More Obscene Circus in Washington By BOB K. BOGEN One more political diversion from critical issues is well underway. This one seems designed to take advantage of Memorial Day for another pathetic attempt to divert attention from a real and major problem… our failure to meet our obligation to care for our veterans of military service. Of course the purpose of the new circus is not simply to dishonor those who have chosen to serve our nation in military service at the risk of life and limb as well as substantial mental disability for any following civilian life. The clear intent of Congressional malefactors is to gain political advantage at any price and divert funds from veterans’ care to the pockets of those who control them by paying for their election campaigns. Let’s get real. Veterans’ care has been slashed from the 1990s, when the number of veterans of earlier wars from World War Two have almost all gone to their eternal reward, the number of Korean War vets has very largely been reduced, and even the number of Viet Nam vets has substantially faded during the presidential terms of men with no foreign war experience. Most recently even our Congress has lost the presence of war vets who can appreciate the related life and death experience and perspective. I, myself, have only limited military experience: several years including two in the Far East. Since then I have been a practicing member of the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers, and so have become less and less sympathetic with foreign wars. I have always doubted much of our nation’s sad military adventures, many of which were basically on behalf of related corporate interests, and although as a teenager I followed daily the “Good War after Pearl Harbor, including my older brother’s military service and that of other relatives and friends in the West Pacific and Europe. Nevertheless veterans’ service was undertaken on our behalf, under our elected federal government’s programs, and obligates all of us to take responsibility for their care. As one personal and, strong example, my wife devoted her career as a helping professional to decades in a Veterans Administration hospital, assisting veterans with Viet Nam disabilities often including Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, PTSD, from brain injuries caused by military explosives. Many hundreds of vets were given intensive retraining under her care, along with medical, psychological, and psychiatric therapy. Many went out to productive and satisfying lives after discharge. My wife still hears from some, decades later. But at the time of her retirement, massive cuts in such programs started, while many still needed such help. It is extremely irritating to hear the current blather in Congress and in the media concentrating attention on attacks against the head of the Veterans Administration, General Shinseki, the president, and anyone who is a member of the “blue” Democratic Party, but even some major Democrats. Some will recall that the Army Chief of Staff, Four Star General Shinseki was forced to leave military service, when top officials in the George Bush Administration dishonestly promoting the obscene war in Iraq objected to his, later validated, accurate RADIO Westchester On the Level with Narog and Aris Designated a “Featured” BlogTalk Radio program, has been operating for over two years via the Internet with Co-Hosts Richard Narog and Hezi Aris every weekday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon. Listen to the show live or on demand. Share your perspective by calling (347) 205-9201 or by clicking onto the following hyperlinks: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ westchesteronthelevel estimate to a Congressional hearing inquiry, that several hundred thousand US military would be required to manage Iraq after the proposed invasion. One of the first acts of President Barack Obama, in the first month after his 2008 election, was to bring Shinseki back into government as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Shinseki was highly decorated and a much regarded leader in military affairs, a wounded veteran of the Viet Nam War and largely effective head of the VA. Despite all the accusations and even the likely legitimate complaints about administration, the problem of the VA long delays in dealing with vets is more basic. Quite surely the true basic problem is the drastic cuts in VA appropriations in Congress. These cuts led to the closing of VA hospitals and related facilities, cuts in key programs, and related loss of highly trained, experienced staff. These budget cuts were originally justified by the decline in Viet Nam veterans’ needs, but also by Southern Democrat Bill Clinton’s stampede to balance the federal budget, without the obvious need to increase taxes on the very rich, as was done by President Eisenhower decades before. The budget was more than balanced by Clinton, BECOME Al BIOLOGYl TEACHER!l Earn a master’s degree in two years while continuing to work at your present job. This is an affordable, 10-course, 30-credit program with some courses offered online. Bob Bogen served as comprehensive long-range facilities planning director for the New York Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission; as planning director for the New England Regional Commission; as a major United Nations official in Pakistan; Board Chairman of the Communications Coordinating Committee for the United Nations; and Principal Representative of Architects / Designers / Planners for Social Responsibility to the United Nations. Benefit from a distinctive program in Biology Education, designed to help meet the increasing need for science teachers and geared toward individuals who work or live in Westchester. This exciting program, taught by Touro College Graduate School of Education faculty, includes select science courses that leverage the faculty, expertise, and resources of New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Dr. Stevan R. Peters, Interim Chair TOURO COLLEGE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Touro is an Equal Opportunity Institution Touro College Biology Education Program 212-463-0400 x5284 [email protected] www.touro.edu/edgrad Page 4 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 DEFINING MARRIAGE The Making of History or the Unmaking of Our Society? By LUKE HAMILTON It seems there isn’t a news cycle which goes by without someone “making history” these days. Everyone and everything is making history everywhere at all times, apparently. It’s hard to pinpoint when this trend started, but the “historic”election of Barack Obama certainly brought the fascination with history-creation into vogue. Now it seems that a story isn’t worth covering unless some history has been made. What is behind this trend? Why the fascination with making history? Does the predictive power of potential importance really imply worth and meaning? Just this week, history was apparently made during two significant events. The first was Oregon becoming the 18th state to recognize so-called gay marriage. This change was achieved by adherence to the same playbook which has brought so-called gay marriage advocates success over the past year: they brought a case against the state, challenging the constitutionality of a so-called gay marriage ban, and found themselves arguing the case in front of a highly-sympathetic federal judge. Much like the judge who ruled on Proposition 8 in California, Judge Michael McShane found himself in a situation where he could grant a ruling from which he stood to reap the benefits. Judge McShane is himself in a same-sex relationship and could not resist the opportunity to make history by overturning the will of the people, as it had been expressed via the legislative process. In 2004, Oregonians had voted overwhelmingly to define marriage as being solely between a man and a woman. This had never been rescinded by subsequent legislation, despite claims that a majority of the state now supports so-called gay marriage. For some reason, the judge was not forced to recuse himself in this case, despite his own subjective position on the matter. Would a self-professing Christian judge be allowed to overturn a ban on teaching intelligent design in the public school classrooms? One can almost hear liberal pinheads popping in angst over the thought of such history in the making. was called by one reporter—wait for it—an “historic victory”. Why this fascination with making history? It’s clear that progressives and social do-gooders get a tangible thrill up the leg from being a part of history in the making. So much so that they look for opportunities to recreate the feeling by forcing radical change rewarding a slur-ridden, incoherent screed with the National Debate Championship?!? Because it will be HISTORIC! Duh…” And let’s not neglect to highlight a favorite nuance of progressives here. By putting these unnatural abrogations of the rule of law in the context of history-beingmade, they are subliminally implying that The second significant history-making event this week was the crowning of Towson University’s debate team during the 2014 Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship. The topic was the War Powers Resolution, which Towson’s team used as an opportunity to launch into a jarring cacophony littered with racist slurs and college-speak. (Just the mention of “otherness” provokes the desire to stop by the student union for a pick-up drum circle. (Am I right?) The debate performance was unpalatable and awful, yet the Towson team walked away with the trophy in what on the rest of us in increasingly drastic ways; much the same way a junkie isn’t born overnight but moves from an occasional joint to popping pills to quivering in line at the methadone clinic, always moving in search of a higher high. They got such a buzz from foisting the first Marxist President on the rest of us that they’ve had to look for more drastic means to “make history”. “Override the political wishes of the citizenry, while bypassing the legislative reform process? HECK YEAH! Roll out those rainbow limos, it’s so-called wedding time!!!” “What do you mean, why are we this is a one-way street. History cannot be un-made and so if they are truly making history by forcing the acceptance of their worldview, they are planting the theme of inevitability and immutable change in our minds. To quote network television, they hope that this is now “the new normal”. Progressives have been using this technique for ages, attempting to draw us into knocking down one social foundation after another, always in the name of progress and history. This has been readily apparent in the admonitions surrounding the global warming debate. If the “science is settled” and the “debate is over” then we should get straight to the business of buying government Yugo’s and tugging a forelock in Al Gore’s general direction. What Oregonian matrimony and Towson U’s championship demonstrate is that for leftists, feeling good is better than doing good. It feels good to give someone something they don’t deserve. But the very act of bestowing undeserved favor on the unworthy necessarily creates injustice. God is able to bestow salvation on the unworthy because He placed the resultant injustice of the act upon His Son, Who carried it willingly. The difference being that when man does it, he usually seeks to ignore the injustice or define it away. Towson University wins the championship despite turning in a terrible performance. This is unjust and unless the adjudicating body acknowledges the injustice and atones for it, the injustice is allowed to thrive and grow, until the criteria of merit is so unbalanced and unrecognizable that the very definitions of “good” and “bad” in debate performances are meaningless. None of this is lost on those who are making it so. It is, in fact, their goal. They seek to strip our cultural institutions of all meaning so that we are left rudderless and vulnerable to their reprogramming. Sadly, the feel-good sheeple are more than willing to carry the water to their own drowning. Luke Hamilton is classically-trained, Shakespearean actor from Eugene, Oregon who happens to be a liberty-loving, right- wing, Christian constitutionalist. When not penning columns for ClashDaily.com, Hamilton spends his time astride the Illinois-Wisconsin border, leading bands of liberty-starved citizens from the progressive gulags of Illinois to [relative] freedom. Hamilton is the creative mind/voice behind Pillar & Cloud Productions, a budding production company which resides at http:// www.PillarCloudProductions.com.He owes all to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose strength is perfected in his weakness. LAW Brian Fanelli Indicted on Federal Child Porn Charges By NANCY KING Former Mount Pleasant Police Chief Brian Fanelli pled not guilty to Federal charges of distributing and sharing child pornography over the Internet this past week. Fanelli, 52, had just three months prior to his arrest in January, been promoted to chief of the Mount Pleasant Police Department upon the retirement of Lou Alagno. As if these charges themselves were not shocking enough, Fanelli was also the first high ranking officer on the scene at the October 2010 shooting death of DJ Henry in the parking lot of a strip mall in Thornwood, NY. At the time of Henry’s death, Chief Alagno was out of town and Fanelli took over as the commanding officer of the scene. Henry was shot to death by Pleasantville Police Officer Aaron Hess. It is being alleged by the family of DJ Henry that Fanelli manipulated the written reports of what actually transpired that night. Simply put, Fanelli lied to keep the thin Blue line intact. After multiple police units were cleared of all wrong doing in that case by Westchester County District Attorney Janet DeFiore, a Federal Civil Suit was filed by the family and after nearly two years, depositions by witnesses have only just concluded. Every bar patron at Finnegan’s was deposed, every student and every police officer as well. The patron’s and the students account of the events of that night were quite different from the account of the police reports; reports that had then Lt. Brian Fanelli’s signature on them. The lone police officer who corroborated the testimony of those private citizens about the events of that night was former Police Officer Ron Beckley. Under oath, Beckley testified that that Pleasantville Police Officer Aaron Hess was indeed the aggressor who lunged onto the hood of Henry’s car and shot him. The knee injury that Hess claimed was from Henry mowing him down with his car camera was instead from a bullet wound from Beckley’s department issued firearm. What makes this case so confusing and unbelievable is not so much whether Fanelli is guilty of viewing and distributing child Continued on page 5 lead on this issue at a minimum underscores the inadequacy of the federal minimum that is still $7.25. But it also demonstrates that cities are prepared to consider policies that are specifically suitable to their own needs, most notably their respective communities’ higher costs of living. This is clearly the case with both San Francisco and San Diego in a state that just raised its statewide minimum to $9.00 an hour. LAW It also demonstrates that localities are willing to take the lead and adopt bold measures at a time similar measures stall in the halls of the U.S. Congress. For decades, the issue of the minimum wage has been Continued from page 4 where each side of mired in partisan politics pornography but the question as to whether there was always a flaw in his character. Was he known to lie and manipulate facts? The final burning question as to whether there were those in the office within the Town of Mt. Pleasant who may have seen some sort of flaw in this guy and chose to look away. Was this an upstanding citizen of a community or was he really nothing more than a master manipulator? Had he manipulated other cases as well? If those who worked side by side with him for 30 years noticed something just slightly “off ” with Fanelli, why was he allowed to move up the ranks? Sure he’s been touted as a technology whiz who maintained the Police Department’s website and saved them the cost of hiring an IT guru, but there had to have been something more that went undetected all these years. One has to wonder if this is a case of see nothing, say nothing. Though Fanelli pled not guilty and pre-trial conferences are being scheduled, more has come to light about this strange and twisted case. Fanelli was part of a ring of 71 child porn viewers and distributors that were all tied together in a sting known as Operation Caireen, a sting that was initiated after Fanelli’s initial arrest in January. Included in this take down was a Boy Scout leader, a youth sports coach, a Rabbi, an NYPD sergeant, EMS workers and a nurse from the Westchester Medical Center. All of these people appeared to be respected members of the community… just like Fanelli. You can’t help wonder if this indictment and the indictment of so many others will change the game in the wrongful death suit brought by the family of DJ Henry. Will it be proven that through a strange psychological disorder that Fanelli was compelled to fabricate the actual evidence of that night’s events? Did he do it to gain favor from the District Attorney’s office to ensure that his promotion to chief would go as planned? Or was he always the type of person to manipulate an event or situation to satisfy his own need to dominate his environment? The indictment and subsequent chain of events this week has a creep factor of a bazillion degrees. One can’t even imagine what the Henry family is feeling at this juncture. While they always had a sneaking suspicion that Fanelli had altered the recorded events of the night of their son’s murder, they are probably wondering how many other cases Fanelli had the wage might represent a tipping point — the point at which any minimum above would start to bite — it is probably safe to infer that a minimum wage at $15.00 an hour is still going to be below a market clearing wage, and all the more so with a $13.00 an hour wage. THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN And yet, the benefits to local communities could be enormous. The recent report of the Congressional Budget Office made it clear that at least sixteen million American workers would get a pay raise. When we consider that those earning in wage intervals above the statutory minimum will also get a raise, it isn’t hard to see how the benefits will trickle up the Local communities taking the lead on this issue only brings back to life Brandeis’s famous expression of states as laboratories of democracy. This idea certainly applied to localities, where the Framers of the Constitution believed democracy would have its fullest expression. That there have been no adverse effects in localities where borders are porous, suggests that the minimum wage is a viable policy at the national level. Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 5 Oren Levin-Waldman is professor of public policy in the School for Public Affairs at Metropolitan College of New York ([email protected] ) and author of several to books on wage include proclivity alter. If he policy. decidesThey to take a plea in order to lessen the federal pornography charges being levied against him, they might just get the truthful answer they were looking for all along. It won’t change the events of that night and it won’t bring their son back from the dead, but at the end of the day justice will be served. I have a friend who loves to say that justice delayed will always be justice denied. I tend to disagree with that statement, sometimes justice just has to be delayed long enough for Karma to kick in. Brian Fanelli Indicted on Federal Child Porn Charges Nancy King is a freelance who resides in Westchester County. ITALIAN CUISINE Zagat Rated “Excellent” Voted “Best Italian Restaurant” Westchester Magazine, 2006 OPEN 7 DAYS FLYING ONTO THE WBT STAGE The Enchanting Supercalifragilistic Hit Mon.-Thurs. Noon - 10PM • Fri. Sat. & Sun. Noon -11PM RESERVE NOW FOR PARTIES • 2 ROOMS AVAILABLE SEATING 75 & 100 914.779.4646 www.ciaoeastchester.com Ciao • 5-7 JOHN ALBANESE PLACE, EASTCHESTER, NY 10709 LIVE ON STAGE THRU JULY 27 Introduce Your Children to the Magic of Live Theatre with THE WBT DINNER &THEATRE Family Pack Enjoy Dinner & A Show with Even More Value with Our Family Pack! Family Pack consists of 2 Adult Tickets and 2 Children’s Tickets (age 17 and under) REGULAR PRICE FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR: $274.00 plus tax. Special Family Pack Price Is Just $226.00 plus tax. 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Sunday June 1, 2014 White Plains Presbyterian Church 39 North Broadway White Plains, NY · 3:00pm For tickets, order online at www.taconicopera.org or call (855) 88-OPERA This production is made possible, in part by the New York State Council on the Arts and Arts Westchester with funds from Westchester County, government, corporations, and individuals. Page 6 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 CommunitySection CALENDAR Experience a Variety of Cultures at Kensico Dam Plaza Albanian Festival Kicks Off Annual Series of Heritage Festivals in County Parks WHITE PLAINS, NY -- The culture of Albania will come alive through music, dance and activities for all ages during the Albanian-American Heritage Celebration at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla on Sunday, June 1, 2014, 12 Noon to 7 p.m., the first in the annual series of cultural heritage festivals in county parks. Enjoy live music and sports activities including soccer and volleyball. Traditional arts and crafts items will be available for purchase, and there will be delicious Albanian foods and beverages for sale. The festival will be held rain or shine. Seating is informal; bring blankets or folding chairs for seating on the lawn. The other heritage festivals in the series are as follows: · Asian-American, June 14, noon to 6 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla · African-American, June 22, noon to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla · Irish-American, June 29, noon to 6 p.m., Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale · Polish, July13, noon to 6 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla · Hispanic, July 20, noon to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla · Italian, July 27, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla · Indian, August 3, 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla · Jewish Music Festival, August 17, noon to 6 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla All festivals are sponsored by Westchester County Parks. Please be advised that on June 1 and 22 the Bronx River Parkway will be closed for Bicycle Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. between Scarsdale Road in Yonkers and the Westchester County Center in White Plains. The park can be accessed via Route 22, from the north or south. For more information and directions to the parks, call (914) 864-PARK or go to www.parks.westchestergov.com . Yorktown Library Host Author Patrick Raftery’s June 12th Discussion of African American Cemeteries in Westchester By RICH MONETTI You cannot travel very far in Westchester without coming across a burial site that dates back well beyond our current century. Each stone contains hidden historical value, advised author Patrick Raftery of the Westchester Historical Society. Raftery has written three volumes on the subject and will be presenting a discussion at Yorktown’s John C. Hart Memorial Library on African American Cemeteries in Westchester County. “I think through burial practices, you learn a lot about people and the situations they faced,” noted Raftery, author of The Cemeteries of Westchester County. Easily forgotten, most New Yorkers don’t associate Westchester County with slavery and segregation. The institution of slavery was not abolished until 1827; equal consideration thereafter was far from the norm. “Both of them definitely did exist,” says Raftery, and cemeteries provide the most concrete proof. A resting place for slaves finally untied the dead from the land after abolition, but a place beneath land worked by slaves was only reserved if the owner set aside burial plots. “Generally, slaves were buried in a potter’s field environment,” Raftery advised, and those have largely been lost by their anonymity. After abolition, death still carried indignity for African Americans and conformed to the demeanor and attitudes of the times. “It’s interesting to see how these burial processes evolved. First, there were slave burial sites; quickly followed by cemeteries becoming segregated,” noted Raftery. The documentation clearly bears this out. “Cemetery deeds specified that black people couldn’t be buried at specific cemeteries, and so it is realized why these segregated burial grounds were established,” Raftery emphasized. In the case of St Paul’s Church in Mt. Vernon, among other locations, a section was reserved for African Americans, but Westchester certainly had people who realized that their home wasn’t living up to the ideals of our society. “There are however two cemeteries that were donated – one in New Rochelle and the other in Rye,” Raftery shared. The New Rochelle cemetery established by a Quaker evokes the Quaker tradition that’s calls for a very basic remembrance. “For the most part, the sites are marked by simple rocks,” Raftery pointed out. That obviously upped the ante in terms of identifying those particular families, but it was a process no matter where he looked. “I had to get a good deal of information to figure out who those families were, what their background was, and so that involved going through volumes of census and genealogy records,” said Raftery. The Quakers also played a part in remembering African Americans in death by giving them the gift of life. Many freeing their slaves in the late 1700s, Quakers set up families in an isolated section of Harrison to give them cover from the prejudice that Continued on page 7 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 CALENDAR PELZ_Westchester_14_Layout 1 5/19/2014 6:03 PM Page 1 Yorktown Library Host Discussion of African American Cemeteries in Westchester Continued from page 6 was in the area about them. “They had a church and the Stone Hill Cemetery still stands,” noted Raftery. Other than that, there is only one African American family plot Raftery knows of. It is located in New Castle. By the time of the 20th Century cemeteries would be made available to all. “The idea of segregated cemeteries faded away, and so did the idea of taking care of them,” Said Raiftery. There has been a concerted effort in recent years to resurrect those old cemeteries; their secrets uncovered in the process. “They went from being symbols of segregation to symbols of people’s ancestors, and Centennial Golf Club Rich Monetti has been a freelance writer since 2003. He lives in Westchester County. Nice weather must be fast approaching as I have moved our outdoor cushions to the front porch, cleaned my grill and washed the patio furniture; exhausted, but still found enough energy to write this week’s “summer coming soon” edition of “News & Notes.” Congratulations to two Bedford locals who will be honored at the Friends of Karen Charity Gala in June. Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer and former president of The Junior League of Northern Westchester Becki Fleischer will receive the Sheila W. Petersen Award. Named in honor of Friends of Karen’s founder, this award is given to people who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to Friends of Karen’s mission and children. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the hundreds of children battling cancer or another life-threatening illness in the tri-state area whose families turn to Friends of Karen for help every day. Since 1978 over 13,000 children and families have been touched by this giving organization. Our friends at the Community Center of Northern Westchester in Katonah have secured 35 spots for children of families who visit the community center, to attend sleepaway camp in New England this summer. These kids will need camp gear. If you would like to donate gently-used sleeping bags, rain gear (boots and jackets) or sunscreen and bug spray… please drop them off during center hours. Put this sweet event on your calendar…The 77th Annual Strawberry Festival in Chappaqua takes place on Saturday, June 7th, from 11am to 4pm, at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Kids from toddler age to teens can enjoy a day of games & prizes, bounce castles, music, BBQ and, of course, the Festival’s traditional strawberry shortcake and smoothies. The featured musical act is the long-adored Annie and the Natural Wonder Band, which will perform on the great lawn from 12-12:40pm, and again from 2-2:40pm. For adults, the event also features a wide variety of craft vendors, attic treasures, raffles, a bake sale and other musical acts throughout the day. Proceeds benefit the parish’s outreach fund that supports a number of local philanthropic organizations. Students of the Katonah Art Center will display their best work to family friends and the community at the Katonah Village Library from May 31st to June 29th. This is the 17th annual event and kicks off with a grand opening reception on Saturday, May 31st from 2 to 4pm. The Vietnam Veterans of America is looking for your reusable clothing and household items; they will have a local northern Westchester pickup on May 29th. Call 800-775-8397. Summer campers at Muscoot Farm can now have the best of both worlds: learning how children in days past spent their leisure time both in the world CHIP CLOSER • SINK MORE PUTTS • IMPROVE WEDGE & SAND PLAY 1-DAY CLINICS 2- and 3-DAY SCHOOLS their perseverance through tough times,” Raftery suggested. Raftery believes that the value of his talks are worthy of being heard. It is often erroneously thought that the African American experience began with the great migrations after the Civil War, yet Raftery counters, “There definitely was an African American presence going back to the earliest times of settlement in Westchester.” Raftery’s presentation may sincerely be considered worthy of remembrance because they invoke historical fact. June 2 - July 12 - Sign Up Today! News & Notes from Northern Westchester By MARK JEFFERS Page 7 of nature and in creative play, during Muscoot’s Outdoor Theater Camp and the new Naturalist Apprenticeship Program. Both are being offered this summer at the farm in Somers. Congratulations to Claire Furio of Armonk for her art piece: “Tiger Eyes,” which was the grand prize winner of the 2014 Congressional Art Competition. A “Warbler Walk” to hear and see these small, beautiful birds as they travel through the Pound Ridge Reservation on their way back for spring will take place on Saturday, June 7th, at 8am. This is the last weekend of LIGHTSCAPES at Van Cortland Manor in Croton-on-Hudson and it is a “must see” event. Ideal for all ages, LIGHTSCAPES illuminates the night with a walk-through, land-art experience where visitors enter through a rainbow and emerge from a bubbly haze into a dreamland of curiosities spread throughout a historic landscape. LIGHTSCAPES takes place, rain or shine, and admission is by timed ticket only, with the first slot at 8:30 pm. Time slots and dates will sell out, so Historic Hudson Valley strongly recommends buying in advance online or by phone 914-366-6900. Congratulations and good luck to all the area college graduates. Welcome to the real world; it really isn’t so bad… see you next week. Mark Jeffers resides in Bedford Hills, New York, with his wife Sarah, and three daughters, Kate, Amanda, and Claire. 512-263-7668 pelzgolf.com Specialized Diagnostic Medical Sonography Career Training at Center for Ultrasound Research & Education Classes start soon ULTRASOUND CAREERS BEGIN HERE CLASSES START JUNE 9th! • 12-24 Month Certificate Programs • Day and Evening Classes • Job Placement Assistance • 0% Interest Financial Assistance Available • Licensed by NYSED / BPSS; Accredited by ABHES • Growing, In Demand Profession www.cure.edu CALL 1-855-THE CURE • 1-855-843-2873 271 NORTH AVE., NEW ROCHELLE, NY Page 8 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Opera During the Revolution By SHERIF AWAD Many foreigners fell in love with Egyptian culture and the Arabic language, so much so, that Egypt became their second home. Italian-born singer and actress Sarita Marchesi was among those who lived in Egypt during the most recent three troubled years, experiencing and sharing Sarita Marchesi. all the good and bad with the people about her. Born and raised in the Italian City of Florence, the Renaissance’s source in European history, Sarita Marchesi’s Dutch mother was an art collector; her Italian father was a renowned Italian classic guitar player of South American music. Marchesi’s father named “Sarita” which means “Little Sara” in Latino countries. The artistic family used to organize art exhibitions inside their Tuscany house where Sarita was growing up in an aesthetic environment varying between paintings and sculptures. This drove her to devote herself to arts and music in her teen years until she ultimately studied art history in Leiden University and classical music and opera in Theater Academy Amsterdam. Although she worked with renowned theater directors like Peter Sellars at Amsterdam Opera House, Marchesi considers the internationally renowned Dutch star Rutger Hauer to be her true tutor and real mentor in acting and performing arts. Hauer, who was famous for his roles in films like Blade Runner and The Hitcher, started Film Factory, an Amsterdambased workshop in acting and directing, where Marchesi was enrolled in 2006 only to become assistant Hauer in his masterclasses. Later, an accidental meeting with Iraqi-born, Amsterdam based film critic Intishal al-Tamimi at the Rotterdam International Film Festival introduced Sarita Marchesi to Arab film and culture. “Intishal invited me to join him as one of the co-organizers of the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival”, she remembered. “There is a lot of tension and prejudice between the Dutch people and the Arab community across The Netherlands. The Arab Film Festival in Rotterdam helped to create this intercultural dialogue through cinema in order to bring them together”. The exposure to Arab films and the acquaintance of their filmmakers during the annual editions of the Arab Film Festival in Rotterdam affected Sarita so profoundly; to the extent that she decided to come to Egypt in 2010 in order to learn Arabic and to discover Egyptian arts, ancient and contemporary. Arriving Sarita teaching Bedouin children how to brush their teeth. in Alexandria, Sarita was introduced to baritone Dr. Gaber El-Betlagy who cast her to sing a repertoire of Arie Antiche at the Alexandria Bibliotheca (Library). Her performance drew the attention of AUC Voice Teacher Neveen Allouba, who invited her for additional training at the Cairo Opera. Then suddenly, the revolution intervened in 2011. “I was at the Lotus Hotel near Tahrir Square Sarita Marchesi, Bedouin’s Style. Egypt. It was like a new world opening in front of my eyes, a treasure I never knew it existed and a piece of Italy that reminded me of our grandparents”. During the days of the revolution the Italian Consulate asked the Italian community to evacuate Alexandria and offered free tickets and transportation back to Italy. However, Sarita was inquisitively intrigued, so much so, she decided to stay Rutger Hauer, Sarita Marchesi’s acting mentor. when two of my friends told me to leave Cairo because something big was going to happen”, Sarita remembered. “So at six o’clock on the morning of the 25th of January, I went back to Alexandria where I stayed at La Casa di Riposo Vittorio Emanuele III, a building designed in 1927 by the Italian architect E. Verrucchi. In the past, it was a meeting place for Italian families living in Alexandria, thereafter it became the Hospice of Italian Old People who never left Alexandria. I was familiar with that place which is next to Alexandria University because I first visited it back in the summer of 2010 when I first arrived in and started to shoot her own documentary about the revolution. “While I was in the hospice, Franco Greco, an old Italian man who has been in Alexandria his entire life, asked me to sing opera for the old people to comfort them and prevent them from hearing the gunshots outside. Soon all the people about me became my second family in Egypt. My old audience was the best I could ever have hoped for: funny old ladies with great spirit presenting a portrait of Italian women that do not exist nowadays in my own country. Fiorina always wore black because of the death of her husband many years ago. Gennaro remembered his youth during the British occupation of Egypt. When Mubarak stepped down, I took the first train and went celebrating in Tahrir Square with millions of Egyptians. The Egyptian revolution ran in my blood, carrying it for the rest of my life. Cairo and Alexandria Cairo was a blessing. Young people were cleaning the streets and metro stations featured graffiti about the new Egypt that everybody dreamt of. I was walking along many streets, smoking shisha and talking for hours and hours. I learned so much from the Egyptian people.” After the high adrenaline experienced in the revolution, Sarita decided to take a break in South Sinai far from the madding crowd. “I spent four months in Nuweibaa where I volunteered in the “Habiba” Learning Center that tries to overcome the lack of children’s education in this amazing area of Egypt where thousands of stars shine at night”, she said. “In “Habiba, we tried to teach children another language accompanied by some music while also showing them some hygienic disciplines like bathing and brushing their teeth. It was hilarious when I started to sing opera for them and their families. Children in these remote areas are neglected due to the nomadic lifestyles of their Bedouin parents who move from one place to the other in accord with various seasons throughout the year. Another factor is the geographical aspect that separate South Sinai from the rest of Egypt and the lack of investment in this area”. Gaining the trust of the Bedouin tribes that are very suspicious by nature, “Habiba” was already fully-packed with kids coming to learn even before the full Continued on page 9 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 9 how Egyptian TV drama approaches historical events and real-life figures, which is quite different from European productions”. Sarita continues to reside in Cairo, Italy, and Amsterdam. Egypt, and the Arab Rotterdam Festival, in The Netherlands. He also contributes to Variety, in the United States, and is the film critic of Variety Arabia ( http://varietyarabia. com/ ), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Al-Masry Al-Youm Website ( http:// www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/198132 ) and The Westchester Guardian (www. WestchesterGuardian.com ). CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES Opera During the Revolution Continued from page 8 project was complete. “Some days, we did not have paper to teach children where to draw, so we started to use stone to draw on the sands,” Sarita said. “The results were amazing and the kids were very happy. So from that day, we decided to create our own tools from recycled materials like plastic bottles, boxes, shells, bamboo and even camel skeleton”. When she returned to Cairo, Sarita worked another year as a full time English teacher in Maadi Narmer School. While there, she was cast in bit roles in two Ramadan series and one TV commercial for Mienta House Appliances. “I played a British secretary visiting Dr. Aly Mostapha Mesharafa in the 2011 series Ragol Lehaza al-Zaman that focused on the life of this great Egyptian scientist. The following year, I was cast as a French doctor as part of Napoleon’s Egyptian Expedition in the historical series Napoleon Wee al-Mahroussa”, she said. “It was interesting to see Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is a film / video critic and curator. He is the film editor of Egypt Today Magazine ( www. EgyptToday.com ), and the artistic director for both the Alexandria Film Festival, in ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IDA Assists 150 Room Hotel Project on Tuckahoe Road The Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (YIDA) today approved assistance to facilitate a 150-room hotel on Tuckahoe Road, adding to the City’s growing roster of nationally-branded hotel chains. “With two other hotels already in various stages of development within the past year alone, this is a strong indicator of the City’s growing attraction as a destination for business and leisure travel,” said Mayor Michael Spano who chairs the YIDA. “It’s the business community casting a vote of confidence in the City’s favor.” The five story, 188,000 square foot hotel will be built on vacant land located at 555 Tuckahoe Road, adjacent to the POP Displays building. It will be developed by an affiliate of Al Weissman Real Estate, which owns the land. The hotel will provide an estimated 50 permanent positions ranging in pay from $22,000 to $100,000, as well as 200 temporary construction jobs. The developers expect to spend $12 million in construction costs, plus another $3 million in fit-out costs. “As a vacant lot, this property is contributing virtually nothing to the City’s economy,” noted YIDA President Ken exemption on sales taxes for construction materials, plus a temporary property tax incentive that is still to be negotiated. The property is located in a CM zone, Jenkins, adding, “In future it will provide jobs, as well as expand the tax base by paying income, sales, property and occupancy taxes.” According to today’s YIDA authorization, the project will receive incentives including an estimated $270,000 mortgage tax exemption, an estimated $653,250 GREG’S CORNER Senator Ball Honors Yorktown Vietnam Veteran and Former CEO of HBO at NYS Veterans’ Hall Of Fame ALBANY, NY -- Senator Greg Ball (R, C, I –Patterson), Chairman of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, honored Vietnam Veteran Bill Nelson from Yorktown at the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame Monday afternoon. The New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame was created to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life. Senator’s from each district across New York State recognized veterans from their district during Monday’s ceremony. Bill Nelson previously served as the CEO of HBO, a position he held since May 2007, until his retirement in the beginning of 2013. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of Eleven Bravo Continued on page 10 Sleep-Away Camp (L-R): Bill Nelson with NYS Senator Greg Ball. which the City Council recently amended to include hotels as a special permit use. The project will still require approval by the Yonkers Planning Board. The Weissman organization said the hotel will be a first class nationally branded hotel. Page 10 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 GREG’S CORNER Senator Ball Honors Yorktown Vietnam Veteran and Former CEO of HBO at NYS Veterans’ Hall Of Fame Continued from page 9 Enterprises, a consulting firm he founded in 2013. Mr. Nelson has received numerous awards and recognition for his work on behalf of our veterans, including the Veterans Advantage TOPVET Award and the Vietnam Veterans of America’s Excellence In The Arts Award, as well as their highest award, The Commendation Medal for Exemplary Service to Veterans and the Community. In 2013, Mr. Nelson received the U.S. Army’s inaugural Soldier’s Patriot Award. “I am extremely proud to have had the opportunity to honor Bill Nelson at this year’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He has demonstrated an immense dedication to serving his country, and his patriotism should not go unrecognized,” said Senator Greg Ball. “Recently, Mr. Nelson has joined our efforts and has been a driving force behind the 6% service-connected disabled veteran state set aside that was just signed by Governor Cuomo.” “It is extremely humbling for me to be chosen by Senator Greg Ball to join the NYS Senate’s Veterans Hall of Fame and stand alongside my very distinguished and dedicated fellow veterans also named to the Hall of Fame. We all share a deep commitment to bring honor, respect and support to those who went into harm’s way, especially our post-9/11 veterans, to preserve America’s freedom and now need assistance,” said Bill Nelson of Yorktown. “We are motivated to do so not for recognition, but because it is simply the right thing to do. This is a great privilege for me and I thank Senator Ball and his fellow senators for recognizing the veterans of this great State.” Bill Nelson is a Vietnam combat veteran, having served with the U.S. Army’s 2/502nd “Strike Force” Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Valorous Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Award and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Award. PEOPLE Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Inducts William F. Moye of New Rochelle into Veterans Hall of Fame ALBANY, NY - Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/I/ WF – 35th District) inducted William F. Moye of New Rochelle into the 2014 New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame to represent the 35th District. The 99 year old is a World War II veteran who served in Africa and Europe. He is currently the Chaplain Emeritus for the American Legion Post 8 and the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association of New Rochelle. New York State Veteran’s Hall of Fame inductees are chosen annually by each Senate member from each Senate district. The inductees are distinguished veterans who continue to give back to their community after their military service has ended. This year, the ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 20th at the Legislative Office Building in Albany. Senator Stewart-Cousins said, “Mr. Moye’s service did not end when WWII came to a close. Since his honorable discharge, he has worked with the veterans of his community and the State and continued to live a life of giving. I am honored to nominate this patriot for the Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. I thank him for his service to his nation, to our state’s veterans, and to the city of New Rochelle.” Mr. Moye began his military career as a bugler, playing the trumpet by ear for USO’s and Officers’ Clubs. In early 1943, Mr. Moye’s outfit sailed on the Cristobal for “Destination Unknown.” They were eventually stationed in Oran, Algeria for four and a half months. Moye served as an interior/exterior guard and continued to play his music at dances. He served on numerous campaigns including Tunisia, Sicily, Rome-Arno, Po Valley, North Apennine, and European- AmericanMiddle Eastern and earned the rank of Private First Class. After his honorable discharge, Mr. Moye became an active Veterans’ activist and joined VFW post 2882. He continued to serve as a bugler and served as Commander of the post from 1969 until 1975 when he became County Commander in Westchester. Mr. Moye continues to be a loved member of his community by buying groceries for homebound neighbors, sharing his stories and sharing his music. Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins presenting New York State Veteran’s Hall of Fame inductee William F. Moye newest inductee with official recognition. THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 11 people Former Step Up! Program Participant Comes Home to Mount Vernon as Navy Seal MOUNT VERNON, NY – Before going to A.B. Davis Middle School to speak with students, former Step Up! Participant, First Class Navy Officer Anthony Burgess, home on leave for two weeks, took time to speak to two young men at the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau earlier this week. He discussed with them how making smart choices now would affect their lives in the future. “Our Step Up! Program offers our time. The students were pleasantly surprised and impressed with how candid Officer Burgess was. During the Q&A period, participants asked questions ranging from his daily schedule and how early he has to wake up, how it felt to fire his first weapon to if he has seen combat. When asked if Officer Burgess could shoot another person, he responded by telling the students that the Navy REAL ESTATE AUCTION EXECUTOR SAYS SELL! Online Auction Ending Wednesday, June 4 @ 1:01PM 46 West Lake Drive, Valhalla. Minutes to NYC trains & Taconic Pkwy. Colonial style home with 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths and hardwood floors. Many updates including furnace, water heater, oil tank, electrical service panel and more. Tax ID # 553489-112.20-2-53 Buy at your price! Showing by appointment. Contact Agent Jennifer Mensler 845-204-8252 AARauction.com We Can SELL Yours! 800-243-0061 THRIFTY KITCHENS & BATHS First Class Navy Officer Anthony Burgess. young people another alternative to life after high school,” said Mayor Ernest D. Davis. “In the case of this young man, he entered the Navy and hopefully, he will choose it as a career option that offers good pay, chance for advancement, educational opportunity and retirement benefits.” At A.B. Davis, Officer Burgess spoke with a group of young men regarding character development, academics and the importance of a good education. The students also spoke about their future aspirations and life in the military. “It’s more than shooting a gun” Burgess explained. “It requires a tremendous amount of studying handbooks and manuals with rules and regulations on handling various types of machinery and military protocol.” He also explained to the group that many enlisted men and women go to college during their free teaches them to “only fire when under fire.” He admitted that he is still uneasy firing his weapon, even on the practice range, but that the military is an excellent option for young men and women that feel that college may not right for them immediately after high school graduation. The Mount Vernon Youth Bureau Step Up! Program meets every Wednesday during 8th period with the group of 17-25 young men in partnership with the A.B. Davis Guidance Counselors. The program provides academic support, character building strategies and job readiness skills to participants at this and four other schools. For more information regarding this program call Wayne Woodbury at (914) 665-2344. SOURCE: Shari Harris, Special Assistant to Mayor Ernest Davis. Add Beauty and Value to Your Home With... A Beautiful New Kitchen or Bath Now More Affordable Than Ever! Now’s the time to improve the look, feel and function of your kitchen or bath. We’ll professionally design, install & complete your project in as few as two weeks and At a price to meet your budget. Don’t Put It Off Any Longer! We’ll Provide Everything You’ll Need: Cabinets, Countertops, Flooring, Sinks, Faucets, Vanities, Tubs, Plumbing & Electrical Services Plus Professional Installation Call Now for a FREE No-Obligation Design Consultation Your “One-Stop” Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Specialist QUALITY - VALUE - SATISFACTION -GUARANTEED- Call Mike: 914.523.2983 Fully Licensed & Insured • WC # 24843-H 12 FREE In-Home Consultation Page 12 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 MUSIC Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks 19” 10/19/73 SOUNDS www.RealGoneMusic.com THE OFBLUE By Bob Putignano Here we go again making our way onto the way-back machine. Set your controls to 10/19/73, destination the Fairgrounds Arena in Oklahoma City. This CD set includes three discs - all from the same show. The sound quality and the band’s performance are initially shaky, but as recording engineer Bill Candelario improves the mix, the band kicks in too. That being said you can probably disregard most of disc one except for (when things change for the better) on an upbeat cover of “They Love Each Other.” Disc two opens with a mind blowing “Playing In the Band” (18:23) that lifts off quickly from the vocal intros to a wild but solid spaced-out jam. Garcia and Lesh are telepathically joined by each-others brains and create fascinating scenarios on the fly, eventually they find their way back to the main theme at full throttle, and conclude their first set. The second set opens with “China Cat Sunflower” and again they quickly turn away from the vocal microphones and start the instrumental jam, during the bridge segment it’s obvious that the entire band is dead-on creating stories within songs until they make their way to a rousing “I Know You Rider.” Other second set standouts include a pretty hot “Big River,” but the heavy portions occur on a gorgeous and somewhat long (15:45) “Dark Star” that melds into (what couldn’t be more appropriately named) “Mind Left Body Jam” for almost eleven minutes. Finding their minds the band segues to “Morning Dew” it’s a very pretty and gorgeous reality, during this tune there’s also explosive soloing that’s also giftedly sweet, and Garcia’s vocals are clearly emotive. I’d expected that this was the set closer, and it did end the set, but the band returned to encore with a swirling “Eyes of the World” (14:31) with a superb Lesh bass solo then the band abruptly shifted to “Stella Blue.” Don’t leave your seats yet, as they rock and roll us home with “Johnny B. Goode.” Good night everyone, you got your money’s worth with over three hours of music, the majority coming from the second set. This show represents that in 1973 the Dead were rapidly evolving as musicians, demonstrating an advanced state of instinctive concepts. They were also fueling their passions to expand without limitations, generating flexible forms of cohesive expressions with remarkable segues that flowed with elasticity from a beginning tune sculpture, to highly sophisticated instrumental jams, that (eventually) were woven into the next tune. This was a rare and powerful commodity, the likes of which I had never heard prior, or since. Unfortunately the band soon could not (with any regularity) contain and capture their unique and intuitive abilities to connect these miraculous dots/songs, as most of their powers increasingly eroded and eventually evaporated- poof! That being said; enjoy this nineteenth edition of Dick’s Picks, it’s mystically special. The rear cover of Dick’s Picks 19 carries the following: Caveat Emptor: “Despite a rather skeevy ouverture, the sound quality of this release quickly settles into a nice, warm groove. Listen closely, however, for you may just find that your mind will be blown by the music contained herein.” For fifteen years Bob Putignano has been pivotal at WFDU with his Sounds of Blue radio show: http://www.SoundsofBlue. com; Previously a senior contributing editor at Blues Revue, Blueswax, and Goldmine magazines, and Music Editor for the Yonkers Tribune and The Westchester Guardian. Putignano can be contacted at: bob8003@ yahoo.com REUNION College of Mount Saint Vincent Welcomes Alumnae/i for 2014 Reunion Weekend RIVERDALE, NY -- The College of Mount Saint Vincent will celebrate its annual Reunion Weekend Friday, June 6 through Saturday, June 7, 2014. Attending this years event are the classes ending in 4 and 9 (from 1934 to 2009), with special tribute to the Class of 1964 celebrating their 50th Anniversary and the Class of 1989 celebrating their 25th Anniversary. Events planned throughout the weekend include a Champagne Reception, Reunion Celebration Dinner, the Mass of Remembrance, and a Red Monkey Theater Group performance of Crimes of the Heart. College faculty will give lectures on their area of expertise and Sr. Joy Pellegrino will offer a MiniRetreat on personal transformation. Alumnae/i will also have the opportunity to visit a nursing simulation lab and the Sisters of Charity archives and take part in a historic ghost tour in the evening. There will also be plenty of time for alumnae/i to relax and catch up with old friends and classmates. Over 300 attendees are expected to attend this years Reunion. All alumnae/i are welcome and encouraged to attend Reunion Weekend. For more information, please contact the Office of Alumnae/i Relations at (718) 405-3334. Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the College of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century. THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 13 with our lives. Certainly we do not want anyone stealing our money or masquerading as us – but we too easily banish the surveillance concerns from our attention. When was the last time you heard anyone talk about the Snowden revelations or ask whether there have been any changes in the FBI’s response to criticism of its use of Zero Day bugs. The President said that we would “fix” the NSA surveillance so it must have been done – right? Psst – the implementation of it was illegal – but we have other things to do. The world has changed – and is continuing to change. If we don’t try to direct the changes, we may be the poorer for them! TECHNOLOGY / CREATIVE DISRUPTION Let’s See Now By JOHN F. McMULLEN It’s ok for our government (The United States) to monitor the phone calls of German Chancellor Merkel ... but it’s not ok for the Chinese Government to hack into the systems of US companies and unions ... but it’s ok for our government to compile data on all of us from our phone records and e-mails. Confusing? The whole new cyberworld of web searches, e-mail, on-line purchases, etc. would be confusing to most of us – if we ever bothered to think about it – but most of us don’t – and maybe it’s a good thing that we don’t; if we did, we might unplug everything and go back to face-to-face communication only. The basic fact that many forget or choose to forget is that everything we do online – every e-mail we send or receive, every web search we do, every Facebook posting, every Amazon purchase, every tweet we send – is recorded somewhere. Once it is recorded it may be used as a trigger to cause ads to be sent to us – or sold to a collector of such data to develop a profile of us – or searched by prospective employers or college admission officers. In short, we give up privacy to reap the benefits of this wondrous global communications network. There are, however, some on-line activities that are beyond the pale. We read constantly of “identity theft” where criminals break into databases containing credit card numbers and other identifying information to assume the identity of others, usually to use credit cards to purchase merchandise (the information can also be used by terrorists to assume other identities to purchase airline tickets, open bank accounts, obtain driver licenses, etc. – anything to hide illegal activities from law enforcement). Another type of cybercrime, not as much in the public eye, is the holding of companies hostage through threat of damage to their web sites or corporate databases unless a ransom is paid. A recent USA cover story by Donna Leinwand Leger, “Hackers holding computers hostage” (http://www.usatoday. com/story/news/nation/2014/05/14/ ransom-ware-computer-dark-webcriminal/8843633/), details the use of “CryptoLocker, computer malware that freezes access to every file, including photos, documents and programs with a secret pass key known only to the hacker” and states that there is no known solution to undo the malware. The same article gives the reader an insight into the magnitude of the use of this software, referred to as “Ransomware” – “Computer-threat researchers at Dell SecureWorks, who along with other security companies first identified the CryptoLocker attacks in September, estimate that the virus struck 250,000 computers in its first 100 days last fall. An Italian researcher who traced ransoms paid by victims in the anonymous digital currency bitcoin discovered that the hackers had set up more than 2,000 online “wallets” to accept ransoms. In three months, the researcher traced 771 ransom payments, eventually worth $1.1 million as bitcoin rose in value. Those ransoms, the researcher found, were transferred to a central online wallet on Nov. 23 that contained bitcoins worth $6 million.” and “Computer security company Symantec said a CryptoLocker imitator, CryptoDefense, struck computers at least 11,000 times in March alone, extorting more than $34,000 from the owners.” Ransomware is only one of the Internet-related stories that have surprised many of us in the last year. By far the biggest were the revelations by Edward Snowden about the massive electronic surveillance that the National Security Agency (“NSA”) had instituted on all of us – US citizens and foreigners (including Angela Merkel) in clear violation of the guidelines imposed years before by Congress (Glenn Greenwald, the ex-Salon and UK Guardian columnist to whom Snowden revealed the surveillance details his part in the John le Carre-like story of the release of the data in his new book, “No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State”). Then we had the stories concerning the break-in to the retailer Target’s customer database putting its clients’ credit card information at risk. Then, not as well noticed as the Snowden revelations, was the story that the FBI is exploiting “Day Zero Bugs” (software errors in operating systems, web browsers and other commonly used programs) as ways to infiltrate the computers of “persons of interest.” While the use of Zero Day Bugs provides the ability to gather evidence against suspected terrorists, criminals, and pedophiles, it also, by not telling the software provider about the bug, leaves the rest of us vulnerable to identity thieves, Chinese hackers, and other criminals. The mention of “Chinese hackers” brings us back full circle to the beginning of this column. Earlier this week, the US Justice Department indicted five Chinese military officers for allegedly breaking into the computer systems of five US companies and a labor union (Westinghouse, SolarWorld, Allegheny Technologies, Alcoa, United States Steel, and the United Steelworkers Union). China immediately denied the allegations with Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang referring to the charges as “extremely absurd” and releasing a statement “This move seriously violates the basic norms of international relations and damages Sino-U.S cooperation and mutual trust. The Chinese government, military and associated personnel have never engaged in online theft of trade secrets.” In an interview with USA Today, FBI Director James Comey strongly took exception with the denial, referring to Chinese hackers, when he said “There are two kinds of big companies who are victims. Those who have been hacked and those who haven’t discovered it yet.” (USA Today has an excellent graphic with its initial story on the allegations, depicting how the alleged intrusions work -- http://www.usatoday. com/story/news/nation/2014/05/19/ us-accuses-china-of-cyber-espionage/9273019/). Speaking of the purported Chinese attacks, FBI Executive Assistant Director Robert Anderson said “This is the new normal” and then went on to comment on the specifics of the case. The term, “the new normal,” however, may have referred to any of the items referred to in this column – The NSA surveillance, the Target breakins, the “Day Zero Bug,” etc., as well as the Chinese hacking. We are in a new world – one that gives us many, many benefits but it is also fraught with some dangers. We tend to forget about the dangers as they fade from memory and we get on Creative Disruption is a continuing series examining the impact of constantly accelerating technology on the world around us. These changers normally happen under our personal radar until we find that the world as we knew it is no more. John F. McMullen is a writer, poet, college professor and radio host. Links to other writings, Podcasts, and BlogTalkRadio broadcasts at www.johnmac13.comhttp:// www.johnmac13.com/. 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Helen is well portrayed by Deborah Hedwall as a blend of selflessness and selfrighteousness, reasonableness somehow freezing out maternal love. Kenny is no less well embodied by handsome Ben Kahre, who conveys both the character’s frustration and mild rebelliousness admirably. But Jean Lichty, the essentially central character, is, alas, a disaster, which, obviously, does not preclude highly flattering reviews from most of my colleagues. All right. Lila is a neurotic, histrionic presumably poor actress and occasional, probably deliberately unsuccessful suicide, even so meant to be likable. Ms. Lichty, however, is neither particularly attractive nor especially talented, and is, above all, horribly actorish. Sadly lacking in charm, she thrusts herself into choppy movements accompanied by staccato line deliveries. Even in her quieter moments, she suffers from a certain emotional frumpiness, ungraceful even in affability. I am not saying that she ruins a play that manages to be fairly ruinous even without her contribution, but I am saying that what chances “A Loss of Roses” has of somehow squeezing by are effectively squelched by the Lichty persona and performance. This said, it should be noted that the worthy Peccadillo Theater Company has, “in association with La Femme Theatre [note the different spelling] Productions”—of which Ms, Lichty is a co-founder—mounted a generally apt evening, decently directed by Peccadillo’s Artistic Director, Dan Wackerman, with a satisfying indoor and outdoor set by Harry Feiner, who has also provided good lighting and projections. I particularly enjoyed his painted backdrop of a pastel-colored townscape, topped by wellbehaved clouds and nicely distributed stars. I am not at all sure what the title’s roses refer to, but the losses are evident enough. The production claims to be a restoration of the author’s original text, apparently manhandled in the Broadway premiere. But restoration is hardly good enough where restitution to the audience is called for. And one other thing. In the bios, we get for William Inge a word-for-word, lengthy reproduction of the entire Wikipedia biographical entry, a rather shabby display of lack of imagination. Venue Details: Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036 Islam: ‘Appalling and Abhorrent’ in the Eyes of a Blind World? and profound; it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief (emphasis added). If, as Amnesty International declares, flogging and executing a person, in this case a pregnant woman, because of her “religious choice” and marrying a man of a “different religion” are “appalling and abhorrent”; if they are a “flagrant breach of international human rights law”—what do we make of the fact that Muslim converts to Christianity are punished and sometimes killed all across the Islamic world? Consider the following anecdotes, a few examples, most from 2013 alone (culled from my monthly “Muslim Persecution of Christians” series and listed in country alphabetical order): Afghanistan: A member of Afghanistan’s Parliament said that all Afghans who convert to Christianity should be executed. His exact words: “Afghani citizens continue to convert to Christianity in India. Numerous Afghanis have become Christians in India. This is an offense to By JOHN SIMON Despite considerable success as a playwright and screenwriter, William Inge was an unhappy man. A timid, closeted homosexual in unenlightened times, who also had some depression-provoking artistic failures, he was even driven to drink and Alcoholics Anonymous. But worst for him was the unfavorable comparison of his plays to those of his friend, mentor and chief influence, Tennessee Williams, which they resembled but for one significant difference. Williams, with similar proclivities, had something the playwright Inge largely lacked: poetry. There was in Williams’s language (to quote an O’Neill title) a touch of the poet.The characters might be as unhappy as Inge’s, but they could suffer more lyrically. They were, to be sure, also more original and more interesting. When Inge had one of his fiascos, as so many good playwrights have, his preceding successes were to him no consolation. The problem, too, was that the very nice Inge was also very shy, indeed timid, as I discovered when, a member of the Bard College faculty, I invited him to give a lecture at Bard. In spite of his having taught at several colleges and universities, he very politely declined, intimating that such a thing was well beyond his competence. Anyway, several of his plays are likely to live on in revivals: “Come Back, Little Sheba,” “Picnic,” Bus Stop” and perhaps one or two others; the movie he wrote that Elia Kazan directed, “Splendor in the Grass,” is a classic. Not so the now revived “A Loss of Roses” (1959), whose failed premiere (after a mere three weeks) is chiefly remembered as Warren Beatty’s only appearance on Broadway. This is the Depression era story of Helen and Kenny Baird in “a small town outside Kansas City,” which raises questions about small towns inside KC. Helen is a church-going widow and hospital nurse; 21-year-old Kenny works at a filling station and enjoys barroom beer binges and occasional wenching. They are typical smalltown Midwesterners, such as Inge, born in Independence, Missouri, knew all too well. Along comes Lila Green, an old friend of Helen’s and, way back then, babysitter for Kenny. Now a small-time actress, a tent show in which she appeared has just closed nearby, and she hopes to recuperate in Helen’s house and affection. Unemployment during the Depression was serious business. Kenny at first resents Lila’s coming, necessitating his giving up his room and having to sleep on the living-room couch, but, in the course of a month, he warms up to the much older Lila, professes love with even marriage a prospect. He seduces her and, like so many other men before, dumps her. Hurt, she bids farewell to the sympathetic Helen, and goes off with a callous former boyfriend to what promises to be a humiliating job but the only resort. Such is the drab gist of it, but the entire play is hardly better, involving a bunch of stock minor characters as well as the three rather stock principals. The Bairds reek of so John Simon has written for over 50 years on theatre, film, literature, music and fine arts for the Hudson Review, New Leader, New Criterion, National Review, New York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg News. He reviews books for the New York Times Book Review and Washington Post. To learn more, visit the www.JohnSimonUncensored.com website. MIDDLE EAST FORUM By RAYMOND IBRAHIM A few days ago in Sudan, an eight-month pregnant wife and mother was sentenced to death by hanging for refusing to renounce Christ and embrace Islam. According to the Los Angeles Times: The court also ordered Ibrahim to be flogged for having sexual relations with her husband, since her marriage is not recognized by officials. Ibrahim refused a court order Sunday giving her several days to renounce her Christian faith, which resulted in the sentencing Thursday…. Ibrahim, currently jailed with her son, will be allowed to give birth and raise her second child until the age of 2 years but then faces execution. Sudanese authorities refuse to allow Ibrahim’s son to reside with her husband because the husband is Christian. Tragic as this story is,it is also immensely commonplace in Islamic countries. Why? Because Islamic law does in fact punish the apostate from Islam—including with death—in accordance with the commands of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. Indeed, many Muslim clerics believe that “If the [death] penalty for apostasy was ignored, there would not be an Islam today; Islam would have ended on the death of the prophet,” as top Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi once declared on live television. Of more significance is the Amnesty International statement concerning Meriam Ibrahim’s plight. While its criticism is aimed at Sudan’s legal system, the statement unwittingly provides a glimpse of how the international community would view Islam if it could actually understand that these human rights abuses are not products of this or that government or regime, but of Islam itself. According to the Amnesty International statement: The fact that a woman has been sentenced to death for her religious choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion is appalling and abhorrent. Adultery and apostasy are acts which should not be considered crimes at all. It is flagrant breach of international human rights law. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which includes the freedom to hold beliefs, is far-reaching Continued on page 15 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 15 being severely beaten by local Muslims. In his words: “No one was willing to let me live the life I wanted [as a Christian]—they say Islam is not a religion of compulsion, but no one has been able to tell me why Muslims who don’t find satisfaction in the religion [such as myself] become liable to be killed.” Saudi Arabia: After a woman was exposed as having converted to Christianity, she was sentenced to six years in prison and 300 lashes. Although she managed to flee the nation and went into hiding, the Christian Lebanese man accused of introducing her to Christianity received six years in prison and 300 lashes. Somalia: The Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabaab (“The Youth”), which has vowed to cleanse the Horn of Africa of all Christian presence, has slaughtered countless Muslim converts to Christianity—men, women, and children—in the last few years. Most recently, Al Shabaab shot to death 42-yearold Fartun Omar, a widow and mother of five, for converting to Christianity. Months earlier, they had killed her husband for the same “crime,” and had been hunting for the wife. In a separate incident, Al Shabaab publicly executed a 28-year-old man after determining that he had in fact become a Christian. Al Shabaab Muslims also seized Hassan Gulled, 25, for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity, and imprisoned him, and tortured him. According to local sources, “Al Shabaab have been torturing him to see whether he would deny his Christian faith. Since last week, no information has surfaced concerning Gulled. There is a possibility that he could have been killed.” Tanzania: At the time pregnant and with three children, Lukia Khalid explained how when she told her Muslim husband that she had converted to Christianity, “He threatened to kill me if I was to stay with him. I then decided to escape that night with my three children to a neighbor’s house…. We left only with the clothes that we were wearing. The command was so urgent that MIDDLE EAST FORUM Islam: ‘Appalling and Abhorrent’ in the Eyes of a Blind World? Continued from page 14 Islamic Laws and according to the Quran they need to be executed.” As one of many live examples, Said Musa, an amputee and father of six young children, was once charged with apostasy and pressured to renounce Christianity, but he refused. So he was imprisoned, suffering “sexual abuse, beatings, mockery, and sleep deprivation because of his faith in Jesus.” Algeria: The wife of Ali Touahir, a 52-year-old Muslim convert to Christianity, left him, taking their seven-year-old daughter, and is divorcing him in court. One of his wife’s brothers openly threatened to kill apostate. The wife’s lawyer asserted: “It is not possible that my client [the Muslim wife] still remain under the same roof with a man who has renounced his religion, as he became apostate; and we are not ignorant of the punishment that is due an apostate under sharia [death].” Cameroon: Two Muslim converts to Christianity were shot dead and two others wounded, in the Christian-majority African nation where Muslims make approximately 20 percent of the population. One of them was previously threatened by the Nigerian Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram to return to Islam or “face Allah’s wrath.” Egypt: A court sentenced an entire family—Nadia Mohamed Ali and her seven children—to fifteen years in prison for converting to Christianity. A born Christian, Nadia had earlier converted to Islam and married a Muslim man; reconverting back to Christianity after the death of her husband, - she attempted to reflect this change formally on her identity card and her children’s, which created suspicions among security, who arrested the family. Separately and days ago in Egypt, after a former Muslim woman on live television announced her apostasy and lack of faith in Muhammad as the “Messenger of Allah,”she was insulted, ridiculed, and thrown off the set by the host. Iran: Imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini was reported as “facing physical and psychological torture at the hands of captors demanding he renounce his beliefs.” The 32-year-old married father of two, who left his home in Boise, Idaho, to help start an orphanage in his former country, once detailed “horrific pressures” and “death threats” in a letter to family members: “My eyes get blurry, my body does not have the strength to walk, and my steps become very weak and shaky… They are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ. But they will never get this from me.” The imprisonment and torture of Muslim converts to Christianity in Iran is quite common (recall the plight of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani). According to Adnkronos News, “renouncing the Muslim faith is punishable with the death penalty [in Iran]. Over 300 Iranian converts to Christianity have been arrested over the past two years, according to opposition websites.” Kyrgyz: After a young Muslim girl converted to Christianity, her parents “wanted her to recant and renounce her faith in Christ, so they began to beat her systematically till she lost consciousness… It was winter when all of this happened, so her parents put her into a cold room and kept her there for several days. Still they were unable to break her spirit. They then started pulling her hair and put her face against the stove, burning her face. In spite of this, she remained faithful.” Morocco: A fatwa, or Islamic decree, by the government’s top religious authority, calls for the execution of those Muslims who leave Islam, causing many Christian converts to live in fear. Lamented one Christian: “The fatwa showed us that our country is still living in the old centuries—no freedom, no democracy. Unfortunately, we feel that we aren’t protected. We can be arrested or now even killed any time and everywhere. The majority of the Christian Moroccan leaders have the same feeling. We are more followed now by the secret police than before. Only the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ gives us courage and peace.” Pakistan: A 16-year-old Muslim boy who converted to Christianity was abducted in Peshawar by Taliban-linked Islamic militants “and his fate may already be marked, as he is considered ‘guilty of apostasy.’” As one Pakistani pastor explained, “If a young Muslim converts to Christianity in Pakistan, he is forced to live in hiding. Every Muslim might feel compelled to kill him. The change of religion is not punished by the civil law, it is punishable by Islamic law. For this reason cases of Muslim conversion to Christianity are very rare and some convert in secret.” Muhammad Kamran, a Muslim convert to Christianity, exemplifies the pastor’s words. After he told his wife of his conversion, she abused and exposed him, resulting in his Continued on page 16 THE ROMA BUILDING COMMERICAL SPACE FOR RENT FLEETWOOD RENOVATED APARTMENTS FOR RENT Prime Yorktown Location Great Visibility • Centrally Located OFFICE SPACE: 470 Sq. Ft. Rent $850/Month 1160 Sq. Ft. Rent $1650/ Month Beautiful, Newly Renovated, Spacious 1 Bedroom Apartment $1350/month Brand New Kitchens, Living Rooms & Bathrooms • Granite Counter Tops New Cabinets, Stoves & Refrigerators, Credit Check Required Elevator Building • 1 Block from MetroNorth Fleetwood Station • Monthly Parking Nearby Available Immediately Call Management Office for details: 914.632.1230 80 West Grand Street, Fleetwood STOREFRONT: 950 Sq. Ft. Rent $3250 /Month 1200 Sq. Ft. Rent $2950/ Month Call for Details: 914.632.1230 2022 SAW MILL RIVER RD., YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY Page 16 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 MIDDLE EAST FORUM Islam: ‘Appalling and Abhorrent’ in the Eyes of a Blind World? Continued from page 15 Islam, some questions and observations are in order: Are all the other anecdotes listed above not equally “appalling and abhorrent”—to use Amnesty International’s words describing Meriam’s specific plight? Are they not all a “flagrant breach of international human rights law”? If so, and if the international community is actually serious about putting a stop to them, should it not try to ascertain the true source behind them? After all, considering that Muslim converts to Christianity are being attacked all throughout the Islamic world—including in nations as diverse as Algeria, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, and Kyrgyz—surely the source is not something as simple as “Sudan’s legal system.” The fact is, Muslim converts to Christianity are even under attack in Europe. In Norway alone, for example, two Iranian converts out for a walk were stabbed with knives by masked men shouting “infidels!” One of the men stabbed had converted in Iran, was threatened there, and immigrated to Norway, thinking he could escape Islam’s apostasy penalty. Earlier, an Afghan convert to Christianity was scalded with boiling water Islamism with a Human Face? asked about her thoughts on elementary schoolgirls wearing hijabs, replied that “A girl cannot decide on her own to wear the headscarf at such a young age. She should decide for herself when she is old enough.” With Gül in charge, could Turkey’s AK Party actually become the socially conservative movement of teetotalers, modestly dressed women, Ottoman sentimentalists, and capitalists it now only pretends to be? Or would he become as aggressive as Erdoğan? In Iran, Hassan Rouhani’s promise of a less rigorous Islamism touched a chord in an electorate longing for normality. Symptomatic of this, hijabs in Iran have evolved away from the stark and frumpy coveralls of yesteryear. Led by designer Farnaz Abdoli and her Poosh line of clothing, Iranian women now enjoy fashion choices inconceivable a generation ago. we could not wait any longer. We had to leave immediately.” Last heard, they were living in destitute conditions. One can go on and on with examples (see Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians, pages 96-135, for a more thorough expose, including on the doctrine and history of apostasy in Islam, and dozens of more recent examples). Returning to Meriam Ibrahim, the pregnant Sudanese mother set to be executed for refusing to recant Christ and embrace By DANIEL PIPES Until now, Islamist rule has implied violence and dictatorship; can it evolve into something decent? Put differently: if the brutality of Ruhollah Khomeini and Osama bin Laden marked them as yesterday’s men, and the autocracy of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mohamed Morsi make them today’s men; can tomorrow’s Islamists – Muslims seeking a consistent and global application of Islamic law under the rule of a caliph – become democratic and humane? Islamism has significantly evolved over the past 13 years. As recently as 2001, its adherents were synonymous with criminals, terrorists, and revolutionaries. In this spirit, I wrote three days after 9/11 that many Islamists “are peaceable in appearance, but they all must be considered potential killers.” These words ring archaic now, at a time when Islamists find the ballot box a more effective means to power than the gun. Terrorism and coercion remain widely in use, to be sure, implemented by barbaric groups like ISIS and Boko Haram. Yet, some reforms of Islam are already underway. The cutting edge issue now concerns form of government: Can Islamists transit not just from terrorism to politics but also progress from dictatorship to democracy? Can they eliminate their own seemingly inherent supremacism, bellicosity, immorality, misogyny, and antisemitism? Examples suggesting changes include: In Turkey, a few key Islamists – notably Fethullah Gülen, leader of the country’s most influential Islamist organization, and President Abdullah Gül – seem to be evolving away from aggressive dictatorship. For example, Gülen criticized the Turkish government’s role in the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident against Israel. Gül’s willingness to treat the Gezi Park protests sympathetically contrasted with Prime Minister Erdoğan’s ferocious response. Gül’s wife Hayrünnisa (who covers her head) visited London in 2010 and when and acid at a Norwegian refugee processing center: “If you do not return to Islam, we will kill you,” his attackers told him. Of course, the true source for all these attacks on Muslim converts to Christianity— in nations that do not share race, language, culture, politics, or economics—is Islam itself. Anyone with common sense, anyone with the ability to be honest with oneself, must concede as much. There is no other reasonable way to explain such identical patterns of abuse in such a wide array of nations. But so long as the international community and human rights organizations fail to employ some common sense and honesty— fail to call a spade a spade—so will they ensure Alexander Dubček tried to create “socialism with a human face” but Soviet troops intervened. Hayrünnisa Gül, wife of the Turkish president. Left: A chador-clad Iranian woman from the time when the Islamic Republic got started in 1979. Right: Fashion magazines for covered women, such as Âlâ, Aquila Style, and modestyle, symbolize the changes within Islamism and the attempts to make it less austerely doctrinaire. In Jordan, the Zamzam Initiative has broken away from the Muslim Brotherhood, arguing against its “monopoly on Islamic discourse” and calling for Islam to be “a cultural framework that encompasses the nation while emphasizing religious, sectarian, political and racial pluralism.” In Egypt, many younger activists repudiate Morsi’s power grab. Spokesman Hamza Zoba’a accused the Muslim Brotherhood of having “committed errors” and of falling “into the trap of ruling alone.” Ali Khafagy, a leader in Giza, held that “The that countless more innocent humans like Meriam Ibrahim continue to suffer “appalling and abhorrent” treatment, simply for trying to exercise their “right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion” under Islam. First published in Human Events on May 21, 2014. http://www.meforum.org/3829/ islam-apostasy-christians Raymond Ibrahim, author of Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians (Regnery, April, 2013) is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center and an Associate Fellow at the Middle East Forum. time will come to hold our leaders accountable and demand change. And there must be changes. We need people who are more open, more willing to work with everyone.” One observer, Tarek Osman, sees the brotherhood succeeding by tamping its dictatorial urges and evolving “almost beyond recognition.” In Tunisia, as the ruling Ennahda party faces crises, Vice President Abdelfattah Mourou has shown an uncharacteristic openness to compromise with non-Islamists while the party itself works with its leftist rival, Nidaa Tounes. I have argued for decades that Islamism, like fascism and communism, is by nature dictatorial, for all three share a radical utopian mentality, a glorification of the state, and a drive for global hegemony. I disdainfully compared a moderate Islamist to moderate Nazi, noting that while Erdoğan and Osama bin Laden deploy different tactics, they both aspire to apply the same medieval law code. Communism suggests two possible paths of evolution. In the Prague Spring of 1968, Alexander Dubček sought to build “socialism with a human face,” meaning a communist order with multiparty politics, abundant consumer goods, and freedoms of speech and movement. The Communist Party of China has overseen a radically unMarxist capitalist boom. The deeply anti-modern and authoritarian nature of Islamism leaves me highly dubious that something civilized and worthy can emerge from this ideology; most likely, recent positive developments are merely tactical and temporary. But I no longer can reject with certainty the possibility of Islamism evolving and somewhat improving First published in The Washington Times on May 20, 2014. http://www.danielpipes.org/14362/ islamism-human-face Mr. Pipes (DanielPipes.org) is president of the Middle East Forum. THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 17 read the contents of the lawn products you purchase and/or inquire with your lawn care service exactly what is being placed on your property. Water is the ultimate shared resource and a small change in lawn care habits and landscape expectations will have long term healthy implications. GovernmentSection MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN GOVERNMENT Water: The Shared Element By Mayor Mary C. Marvin At the most recent Westchester County Mayors’ meeting, the featured speaker was Diane Lewis, MD, an internist, nephrologist and author of “The Great Healthy Yard Project”. This project is national in scope and piloted locally by our neighbors in Bedford. Its goal is to educate citizens on the relationship between the synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and weed killers we put on our lawns and the quality of our drinking water. We place 80 million tons of fertilizer on 30 million acres of lawns equating to 10 times the amount farmers use on the same acreage. There is a direct relationship between this pesticide exposure and diseases including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease and lung cancer. Some of our lawn chemicals rub off directly on children and pets but most are washed with rainwater into streams and rivers or are absorbed as ground water. Fifteen years ago, a study by the U.S. Geological Survey found at least one pesticide in every stream and fish sampled. The amounts of these chemicals that we often use unknowingly on our lawns cause long term health problems in ways only recently understood. What were thought to be acceptable amounts of chemicals, scientists now know have a cumulative effect, most notably of disrupting the endocrine system. The Endocrine Society, a group of doctors, researches and educators, released a study linking lawn chemicals and resulting endocrine disruption to increased risk for prostate, breast and thyroid cancers, infertility and diabetes. Just last year, an EPA test found fertilizer in more than half of our water nationwide and up to 71% in East Coast water. Simply put, what we put on our lawn ends in in our drinking water and is not removed by water treatment. Bottled water is not the answer because it comes from the same sources and thus susceptible to the same contaminants. How did we as a nation become so enamored with the perfect lawn? Early colonists had no use for a lawn – something they saw as time consuming and useless, rather they grew gardens with edible and medicinal plants. However in the mid-1800’s, literate Americans were exposed to magazines and books touting a lawn as an essential ingredient to a beautiful home. It was also a time when emulating the British upper crust reached great popularity. A lawn said one had the staff to cultivate a place that was used only for leisure making it a status symbol in the U.S. as well as in England. In 1870, the push mower came on the scene, thus making a lawn affordable to many more homeowners. Lawns were equated with an improved lifestyle and the Department of Agriculture joined forces with the Garden Clubs of America and the U.S. Golf Association promoting the gospel of grass. “Best lawn” contests were held and neighborhood uniformity encouraged. A lawn become a moral imperative. Post World War II, gas powered mowers were in widespread use and all the chemical companies that had warehouses full of potent chemicals left over from the war effort repurposed them into chemicals and pesticides for the lawn. This new industry came at the perfect time for the post war boom generation when everyone seemed to want to be a suburbanite. Scientific study simply did not keep pace with manufacturing production so there is no reason to believe that just because something is on the store shelf, it is safe. Given what we are now learning from scientific research, the perfect lawn should not be a source of envy but a sign of potential harm. The Great Healthy Yard Project asks residents voluntarily to refrain from using chemicals on their lawn so as to improve the quality of the drinking water in their area. In Bedford alone, owners of 3,831 acres have pledged to take care of their property free of chemicals. I think it is an effort worthy of emulation. As a start, I would encourage you to Mary C. Marvin is the mayor of the Village of Bronxville, New York. If you have a suggestion or comment, direct your perspective by e-mail to: [email protected] . A Cause For Paws Pet Adoptions Siggy is an 8 yr. old, neutered male orange tabby. He is very calm and easy going, and is good with dogs, cats & kids. Solo is a friendly and energetic 2 yr. old neutered male pit mix. He loves to play and go for runs. He is good with dogs, cats & kids. Whiskey is a very friendy cat who is looking for a loving home. He is good with dogs, cats & kids. Whiskey is a neutered male and is 2 yrs old. To submit an adoption application or to inquire about other cats and dogs looking for homes, please contact [email protected] Page 18 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 CURRENT COMMENTARY Chasing A Chinese Fire Truck By LARRY M. ELKIN My favorite example of pointless activity is the dog that chases the fire truck. He has no idea what to do with a fire truck if he should catch one, and he may get hurt during the chase, so why does he bother? Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision this week to announce the indictment of five Chinese Army officials for hacking the computers of U.S. companies and labor unions reminds me of that dog, desperately barking at the fire truck. I tried to think of some purpose, some benefit to America, in making this display of prosecutorial paperwork against a sovereign power. I could not come up with anything, beyond the Obama administration’s proclivity for “sending a message” against something of which it disapproves without actually taking concrete measures to change anything. The five accused spies are highly unlikely to ever see the inside of a U.S. courtroom. China has no extradition treaty with us, and even if it did, it would not extradite its own spooks any more than we would hand over the staff of the Beijing desk at the CIA. In fact, unsealing the indictment merely ensured that the five men whose photos now appear on “Wanted” posters will never make the mistake of traveling to the United States for business or pleasure, thus unwittingly exposing themselves to arrest. Holder’s announcement does nothing to bring the alleged offenders to justice; it just warns them to stay away. This self-destructing prosecution makes even less sense as a matter of foreign policy than it does as a law enforcement effort. As law enforcement, the indictment is merely a bust. But as foreign policy, it actually stands to hurt us in many places while benefitting us nowhere. Start with China itself. I am no admirer of the Beijing government, and I have no reason to doubt that it systematically engages in cyber-misconduct to hurt its enemies and benefit itself. Beijing’s bosses do this, more or less openly, to their own citizens. Why would they not do it abroad? They will spy on rivals and try to silence critics wherever and whenever they believe they can get away with it, which for now appears to be most of the time in most places, because neither the U.S. nor other nations – even those facing Chinese bullying in the oceans east of Asia – want to push confrontation too far. Despite this apparent impunity, the Chinese government reacted with rage at the indictment, which is not surprising. The indictment brands five underlings as criminals for activities aimed at maintaining their bosses’ power. If the underlings are criminals, what of the bosses? Bringing public charges against members of the People’s Liberation Army for following their orders is tantamount to declaring the PLA, and maybe the government Photo via the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on Flickr itself, a criminal enterprise. That’s a very American companies gain commercial advantages. To China, this is a meaningsensitive subject for a regime that holds power through a combination of force, less distinction. Many of China’s largest companies are arms of the state; comintimidation and economic bribery of its mercial interests and state interests are population. On top of this, the Chinese identical. Also, China’s leadership understands, even if the Obama administration deeply resent American intelligence activities aimed at them. This is not a does not, that economic strength is the post-Snowden development. Chinese cornerstone of military and diplomatic military aircraft have harassed American advantage. China’s prominence as a world power over the past 35 years has risen surveillance planes for years, which led to a midair collision that killed a Chinese in lock step with its financial clout. A strong economy does not ensure national pilot and forced an emergency landing by a U.S. spy plane on Hainan in 2001. The security, but it makes it possible. Besides, Edward Snowden’s disclosures have American crew was held for 11 days until demonstrated that we, too, have used the Bush administration said it was “very sorry” for the pilot’s death. The Chinese espionage to help in trade negotiations. The timing of Holder’s press conferheld the American spy plane for nearly ence was also bizarre, coming just as the three months before releasing it – in pieces, dismantled by Beijing’s intelli- administration needed Chinese support to isolate Russia diplomatically over its gence services. interference in Ukraine. China had been China’s leaders surely will not be impressed with the distinction drawn by mostly on the fence, refraining from American officials who claim that our endorsing Russia’s seizure of Crimea and its support of militants in eastern Ukraine, espionage is strictly for national defense but not joining in Western efforts to and security purposes, and not to help push Russian President Vladimir Putin to step back. Putin, as it happened, was on his way to China on Monday for a trade conference. Two days later – after Holder’s announcement – the Chinese gave him a big boost, announcing a longterm deal for Siberian gas exports that had been held up for a decade. This will help immunize Putin against the threat of reduced European purchases, giving him a freer hand to continue meddling in what he sees as his country’s post-Soviet sphere of influence. Holder’s announcement won’t help bring the spies to justice; it won’t stop or slow Chinese spying; and it will hurt U.S. efforts to get China’s cooperation on everything from Russia to Iran, which also supplies gas to Beijing. What did Holder gain by chasing the Chinese fire truck? All I can see is that it gave him another chance to bark. Larry M. Elkin, CPA, CFP®, has provided personal financial and tax counseling to a sophisticated client base since 1986. After six years with Arthur Andersen, where he was a senior manager for personal financial planning and family wealth planning, he founded his own firm in Hastings on Hudson, N.Y., in 1992. That firm grew steadily and became the Palisades Hudson organization, which moved to Scarsdale, N.Y., in 2002. The firm expanded to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2005 and to Atlanta in 2008. CAMPAIGN TRAIL State Senator Gustavo Rivera Endorses Oliver Koppell THE BRONX, NY—State Senator Gustavo Rivera announced his support for former Attorney General Oliver Koppell for State Senate over Republican-enabling Jeff Klein on Thursday, May 22, 2014. “Primaries are about protecting the values and the integrity of our party. Oliver Koppell is a man of principle who stands strong for those values, which is why I am proud to support him in this critical race. Electing Oliver means that we can finally achieve progress on so many issues blocked by the Republican led coalition that are important to New Yorkers and the constituents that I represent, including the Dream Act, the Women’s Equality Act, real campaign NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera. NYS Senate Candidate Oliver Koppell. finance reform and a true minimum wage hike,” asserted Senator Rivera. “Jeff Klein first ran for Senate against another turncoat Democrat, but he has become the exact thing he once railed against. He has blocked our Democratic agenda, and even gone so far as to recruit anti-choice, anti-equality, conservative former-Republican Fernando Cabrera to run in my district. We need change in this seat, and we need it now.” “Nobody has fought harder to improve the Senate Democratic conference than Gustavo Rivera, and I’m proud to receive his endorsement for State Senate as I seek to restore Democratic integrity to this seat. Together, we will make our State Senate the voice of progressive leadership that the people of New York deserve,” stated Oliver Koppell. Oliver Koppell has served the voters of New York as a State Assemblyman, New York City Councilmember and as State Attorney General. Prior to serving as the 61st Attorney General for the State of New York, Mr. Koppell represented the residents of The Bronx in the State Assembly where he was the Chair of the Judiciary Committee. Following his service in the State Assembly, Oliver Koppell was elected to the New York City Council where he served from 2002 to 2013. For more information on Oliver Koppell’s campaign, please visit: www.Oliverkoppell.com THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN Before speaking to the police...call George Weinbaum ATTORNEY AT LAW FREE CONSULTATION: Criminal, Medicaid/Medicare Fraud Matters White-Collar Crime & Healthcare Prosecutions T. 914.948.0044 F.914.686.4873 175 MAIN ST., SUITE 711-7 • WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601 BRONX APARTMENTS FOR RENT Newly renovated Bronx Apartments for Rent Near public transportation & shopping. Rent includes heat & hot water. $25 non-refundable credit check. 1 BR Starting at $1150/Month 3Br. Starting at $1600/Month No Broker Fee • 24Hr on-site Super Call Maria: 914.632.1230 Thursday, MAY 29, 2014 Page 19 LE G A L N O T I C E S SPUD HOLDINGS LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 3/31/14 Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 27 Country Club LN S Scarborough, NY 10510. Purpose: Any lawful activity. 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Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to C/O Donald Giannattasio Seligson & Giannattasio, LLP 723 North Broadway White Plains, NY 10603. Purpose: Any lawful activity. CYPRESS CORLISS LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/7/14 Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 18-20 Cypress Street Yonkers, NY 10704. Purpose: Any lawful activity. CASSIDY & SONS PROPERTIES LLC Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 5/16/14 Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The LLC 771 Nepperhan Ave Yonkers, NY 10703. Purpose: Any lawful activity Notice of Formation of Atikin Entertainment LLC. Art. of Org. filed Sec’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 01/22/14. Principal Office: Westchester County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The name and address of the registered agent, upon which process may be served and which will receive copies of service from the SSNY, is: United States Corporation of Agents Inc., 7014 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Purpose of LLC: any lawful activity. WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN LEGAL ADVERTISING: Send us your Legal Notices! 914.576.1480 10:30AM-5PM Diana O’Neill Holistic Health Services I will journey with you during challenging times and help you find the psychic energy to cope with whatever arises. Counseling • Energy Healing • Hypnotism Spiritual & Psychic Healing By Appointment, Only. 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