June 2016 - mv inquirer

Transcription

“Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper”
T H E MO U N T V ER NO N
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http://www.mvinquirer.com
Volume 11, Number 6
INQUIRER
“The People’s Newspaper”
Serving the news and information needs of Mount Vernon, NY – “A City That Believes”
Nuttin’ but love at Myers
Foundation fundraiser
FEATURES
June 2016
Story by Tamara Stewart
Pictures by Bryan Allen
Reneging on LED
streetlight contract
has halted a true
Mt. Vernon renaissance
Page 4
Mt. Vernon School of Music
holds exciting “Spring Recital”
Page 10
N
ot even overcast skies and the
threat of rain could keep Mount
Vernonites from coming out to
show love for Mount Vernon’s
own Heavy D on Saturday, May 21st.
The occasion marked the first time the
Myers Foundation for Thrombosis and
the Arts held a fundraiser, just a few days
shy of what would have been Heavy D’s
49th birthday. The old school-style block
party was held adjacent to Heavy D & the
Boyz Park, located on Lorraine Avenue,
between Columbus Avenue and Esplanade.
“My son loved Mount Vernon, and he
believed in the importance of family and
education. It took three years of planning
to put this day together, but I finally felt
ready, and I know my son would have
wanted his family to help bring our community together,” said Eulahlee Myers,
Heavy D’s mom.
The family-friendly day included fun for
all ages. Children climbed, swung, and
ran joyfully in the playground, jumped
A mural painted by André Trenier and dedicated to Heavy D and the Boyz
around in the two bounce houses,
watched curiously as a clown created
balloon animals, and danced the Whip
and Nae Nae alongside their elders when
DJ Tri-State Jericko spun Silentó. Teens
and adults played ball on the park’s basketball courts, with a stunning mural of
Heavy D & the Boyz as the backdrop.
Elders talked, sang along to the music,
and even busted a few dance moves
alongside Heavy D’s dad, Clifford Myers, during the festivities. Free food,
drink and sweets were plentiful, and left
no one hungry. There were raffles and
giveaways, and quality entertainment fed
the spirit. Family, friends and neighbors
Continued on page 32
David A. Ford, Sr. has
street renamed after him
Story by Joe Parisi
O
Sweet “Dreamgirls”!
Page 7
Mt. Vernon City Council honors
distinguished citizens
Page 24
Ford, accompanied by his family, is shown holding a second street sign
that will be installed across the street from Democratic headquarters
n a sunny and picture prefect
Saturday afternoon, April 30,
a throng of people gathered
on the corner of Park Avenue,
between Elm Avenue and East Prospect
Avenue, for a ceremony involving the
unveiling of a street sign renamed after
David A. Ford, Sr. The street will now be
knownw as “David A. Ford, Sr. Way”.
It is rare for a living individual to have a
street renamed in his honor, but the City
of Mount Vernon made an exception in
Ford’s case, since his contributions to his
beloved Mount Vernon can only be described as legendary.
A community prospers and thrives on
the contributions of its citizens for the
common good. David A. Ford has been
active in all aspects of community life in
Mount Vernon all of his adult life serving
as longtime Commissioner of the Water
Continued on page 8
2 l June 2016
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EDITORIAL
Reneging on LED streetlight contract has halted a true Mt. Vernon
renaissance
MLK 4TH Avenue and 3rd Street –
“The Renaissance”
S
ince 2007, many have ridiculed
Terrence Horton, president of
Sentinel Technologies Service
International, about his vision to
transform the Third Street corridor into a
vibrant and bustling neighborhood comprised of new affordable housing units, office space, cultural space, an educational
facility, and Mount Vernon’s newest shopping destination. Many called his idea a
‘pipe dream’ – with no chance to succeed.
As many of you have read in the Inquirer, in 2015 Horton traveled to South
Korea with a small Mount Vernon delegation comprised of Mayor Ernest D. Davis,
Steven Horton, Marcus Griffith, and Joe
Parisi, publisher of the Mount Vernon Inquirer, in addition to a Soosung engineering contingent. The purpose of the long
journey was to sign an International Trade
Agreement with Soosung Electronics, a
leading manufacturer of LED lighting, and
a Friendship Agreement with the city of
Gwangju.
The trip was a total success and soon
thereafter Senteniel Technologies Service
International was selected, after much
scrutiny by the city, as the company that
would install high efficiency streetlights
throughout the city of Mount Vernon.
The two signed agreements were unlike all the previous ones signed by Mount
Vernon, since an intertwining partnership
between the city of Gwangju, the city of
Mount Vernon, Soosung Electronics, and
Sentinel Technology Services International, Inc. had been forged and brought
to fruition.
This historical trade agreement, which
was backed by the city of Gwangju, was to
establish a genuine northeast distribution
hub, an educational learning center for advanced green technologies, and develop
shared commerce between Gwangju,
South Korea, and the city of Mount Vernon. The historical alliance was also going
to generate the creation of badly needed
jobs for the city.
Some of the changes included the in-
MLK 3RD Avenue and 3rd Street –
“The Barack”
troduction of the Barack building, introduction of high standards of world trade,
cultural exchange, science and education,
influx of city sales tax, women entrepreneurial and inclusionary practices and
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!! A real renaissance
was in the making for the City of Mount
Vernon.
Horton and his team put in place a master plan known as the MLK 3rd and 3rd
Project, and quickly developed a concept
that was to encompass the following:
buildings were to be erected with approximately 500,000 square feet, and the street
level was to be used for retail space. The
retail space was destined to become the
hub of shopping and a cultural designation for the area.
On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors of their
development, representing approximately
50,000 square feet of space, they planned
to house their newly accredited 501(c)
(3) Sentinel Vocational Apprentice Training program (SVAT), as well as their small
business incubator for entrepreneurial development.
Sentinel generated preliminary commitments from well-established developers
eager to employ well-trained and skilled
individuals.
In addition, Westchester
County Executive Astorino and Jim Coleman, director of the county IDA, are incredible advocates of Mount Vernon’s Go
Green Workforce Initiative, and they rolled
up their sleeves and were ready to help in
any way possible.
Soosung Electronics had agreed to
bring their state-of-the-art Photovoltaic
and LED lighting solutions to the Mount
Vernon community, providing residents
the opportunity to participate in the fastest growing industry of our time - Green
Technologies. The promise of inclusion
and individual empowerment for all the
young and not so young people of Mount
Vernon was to become a reality.
The Sentinel development plans were
simply awesome and promising - prompting several Fortune 500 companies to
Representatives from multimillion dollar companies vowed to support
Horton and his business endeavors
William J. Kane, streetlight management system technician, with
Terrance Horton
The mayor of Asuncion (c) signing a proclamation while accompanied
by Mt. Vernon officials and members of his delegation
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Youth participate in “Job Shadow Day”
at City Hall
O
Justin Bozier was selected to
shadow the mayor for the day
n Thursday, April 28,
youth from Grace Baptist Church participated
in Job Shadow Day with
youth of Grace Baptist Church who
got a behind- the-scenes look inside
what it takes to run a city.
Justin Bozier was selected to
shadow the mayor for a day that
was full of informative, exciting, and
fast-paced activities. Justin met with
students from Holmes School who
read their essays for career day, sat
in on meetings about future plans
for the city and helped coordinate
the “My Brother’s Keeper” kickoff by
reading the city’s commitment to the
program in front of a crowd on the
steps of City Hall.
Mayor Thomas said, “Justin is a
phenomenal young man who is on
the track to success. I look forward
to providing him and our youth with
the resources needed to grow. Once
again, I want to thank Grace Baptist
Church for giving the youth of Mount
Vernon an opportunity to learn and
follow their dreams.”
Justin Bozier said, “Shadowing
Mayor Richard Thomas of Mount
Vernon, NY today is something I
will remember forever. The amount
of work he and his staff do and how
engaged they are in helping rebuild
the community of Mount Vernon is
really remarkable and inspiring. This
is something I am really thankful for
in being able to see the “behindthe-scenes” action first-hand. I am
grateful to the Mayor and his staff
for welcoming me with open arms
and making this experience very
memorable.”
Congressman Engel meets with MVHS
students on steps of the Capitol
O
n April 29, a group
of Mount Vernon
High School students traveled to
Washington, DC to meet with
Congressman Eliot Engel, who
represents Mount Vernon.
Upon arriving, the students
gathered on the steps of the
Capitol with the congressman
where he discussed his work
in Congress on behalf of the
Mount Vernon community.
It was a memorable experience for the students, since
many of them had never visited
the Capitol or seen the White
House up close.
5 l June 2016
INQUIRER
Founded in 2004 by
JOSEPH A. PARISI
AND LUISA PARISI
Published by
The Mount Vernon Inquirer
P.O. Box 458
Mount Vernon, NY 10551-0458
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mvinquirer.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers are encouraged to send us
letters expressing their viewpoints
on any issue. Letters should not
contain inflammatory or provocative language and will be subject to
editorial review. Please keep your
letters brief and not to exceed 300
words. Your name and address must
be included, but will be withheld
upon request.
SUGGESTED NEWS ITEMS
We welcome all suggestions concerning news we should cover in our
newspaper. Please call the Editor
with suggestions at 914-584-6386.
Editor
Joe Parisi
Assistant Editors
Leslie Alpert
Cheryl Parisi
News Reporters / Writers
Joe Parisi, Chief Reporter
James Fair
Tamara Stewart
Sales and Advertising
Darryl Walker, Director
Paul Stewart
Graphic Design
Ashley Covelli
Cheryl Parisi
Member
Mount Vernon named “Best of the Bunch” for millennials
A
panel of young professionals from a leading Westchester publication has named
Mount Vernon, NY, as the
best place for millennials to live in
Westchester County.
Mount Vernon stood out from the
other entrants for several reasons including its sense of community, diversity, and access to three major highways,
three Metro-North stations, and the
New York City subway system. No oth-
er city or town in Westchester County
has the location benefits of Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon also topped the list
in affordability with the lowest median
rental price for a one-bedroom apartment.
Mayor Richard Thomas said, “I
am encouraged that the panel recognizes the renaissance taking place in
our city. As a councilman, I advocated
for new development because I knew
the economic benefits that come with
smart growth. As Mayor, I am prioritizing zoning changes, safe streets, and
beautification projects that are making Mount Vernon into a destination for
jobs, homes, and an impressive quality
of life.”
“We have made significant changes in the way Mount Vernon runs and
the results speak for themselves. The
city is on the rise with billions in new
development taking hold. Investors
have heard the message that it’s a
new day in Mount Vernon. At the same
time, we have continued to celebrate
its culture and diversity. From CityFest,
to Summer Breeze concerts, to youth
camps and churches on every corner,
Mount Vernon is a place full of life and
spirit.”
“We from Mount Vernon are always quick to brag about our city because we know what a special place
it is. We are more than a city, we are
family.”
6 l June 2016
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President Obama’s “My Brother’s
Keeper Challenge”
Art show benefiting “Esther’s
Aid” held in Fleetwood
A
Pictures from the kickoff of “My Brother’s Keeper” in Mount Vernon
O
n Thursday, April 28, the City
of Mount Vernon accepted the
“My Brother’s Keeper” challenge from the White House.
Mayor Richard Thomas and the City of
Mount Vernon announced the acceptance
of President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” community challenge on the
steps of City Hall in front of a large crowd.
Mayor Thomas was joined by a coalition of stakeholders that included School
Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton, several members of the Mount Vernon City
Council, clergy members, local nonprofit
groups, and other community members.
They stood in support alongside Mayor
Thomas to help advance the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative in Mount Vernon.
The program is aimed at helping young
people read at grade level by third grade,
high school completion, college and career readiness, improve access to jobs
and valuable work experience, and reduce
violence in the community.
Mayor Richard Thomas said, “My Brother’s Keeper is a pledge for all of us to look
at one another as brothers and sisters
and recommit to try to keep them out of
harm’s way. It’s very easy for young people in Mount Vernon to become a statistic. I was fortunate enough to have loving
people and a united community reach out
to me at a young age. I want to extend that
same hope and helping hand to the young
people in our community.”
School Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton said, “I commit my pledge on behalf
of the school district. We are committed
to combining our resources and I think it
is about time that our social services, our
religious leaders, our city and our schools
come together for the sake of all children.”
Councilman Yuhanna Edwards said, “It
is time to do this, but understand that we
cannot do this alone, the school district
cannot do this alone. It’s going to take a
village to raise a child, so let us get together, become that village and raise these
children and get ready for a new future.”
Commissioner Darren Morton said, “Our
children just need a promise. They just
need for us to believe in them and they
need for us to invoke the strategies that
we need for them to succeed in a web of
intervention. The Recreation Department
and the Youth Bureau will pool all their
resources together and help our children
find their place in this world. I commit all
of my resources, intellectually and collaboratively, with those here in Mount Vernon
to ensure that we are our brother’s and
sister’s keeper.”
“My Brother’s Keeper” advocate Delia
Farquharson said, “We have to consider
the social needs, the emotional needs,
and the psychological needs of our children and our community. These needs are
integral if any program is to work in effecting change in our community.”
Reverend Gwen Wilson said, “This program can catapult all of our youth to a
place where education will take them to
greater heights. Where they can enter the
workforce and become doctors, lawyers,
businessmen, police officers, firefighters,
and where they will be educated from elementary, middle school high school and
college. These young people can become
viable partners of this community and
make a great statement for our city.”
(l to r) Angela Freeman, Carmen Paolercio, Anton and
Anthony Paolercio
rt lovers flocked to a twoday art show held at The
Studio in Fleetwood, which
commenced on Saturday,
April 30. The theme of the art show
was: “The Journey Continues” – and
was sponsored by Angela Freeman,
principal of the Milestone School, and
modern artist, Anton.
The art show was held to help
support Esther’s Aid “Village of Peace”
in Rwanda.
Esther’s Aid inspires hope in the
impoverished, the hungry, and those
who have suffered greatly. They take
each child and youth from the dust,
teach and train them how to function,
and empower them.
Established in 1999 in New Rochelle, by Clare Effiong, Esther’s Aid
for Needy and Abandoned Children,
Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Christian-based,
non-profit charity devoted to helping
feed, educate, and train impoverished
children, youth and women.
Esther’s Aid has a strong record
of success, providing the tools necessary for youngsters and widows to lift
themselves out of poverty and achieve
productive futures.
Modern artist Anton has held several art shows in support of Esther’s
Aid, and 35% of the proceeds go directly to Esther’s Aid.
Anton’s pieces creatively explore
the many artistic avenues life has to
offer. “My intentions are to provoke
and jolt the viewer’s thinking by challenging them visually, but more important, mentally. We are much stronger,
much smarter and more powerful than
we have been led to believe,” emphasizes Anton. Anton decided several
years ago to include having art shows
that “give back,” focusing on helping
support the less fortunate.
Clare Effiong (c) with her students at Esther’s Aid Bakery
Empowerment Center in Rwanda
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7 l June 2016
Sweet “Dreamgirls”!
Story by Tamara Stewart
Pictures by Mike Williams
T
(l to r) Lorrell, Deena, Effie & Michelle
he spirit of Motown rocked the
house on Friday, April 29th,
when Mount Vernon’s talented
teens took on Michael Bennett’s “Dreamgirls” at Mount Vernon High
School. Under the powerful leadership
of Evelyn Collins, the Mount Vernon City
School District’s Director of the Arts and
Gifted and Talented Program, the District’s
performing and visual arts team has once
again successfully brought “The Great
White Way” to Mount Vernon.
While none of the teens in the high
school production had been born when
the original production of “Dreamgirls”
opened on Broadway in 1981, clearly all
of them are familiar with the movie version
that hit theaters in 2006, and which starred
Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé, Anika Noni
Rose, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny
Glover, and Keith Robinson. Echoes of
their idols could be seen and felt in the
young actors’ performances, as students
from Mount Vernon’s three high schools
sang, acted, and danced their way into the
audience’s hearts.
“Dreamgirls” follows the career of
Tiny Joe Dixon
a 1960’s girl group (initially called The
Dreamettes and eventually renamed The
Dreams), as they try to make a name for
themselves in the music business. Best
friends Effie, Lorrell and Deena begin the
show as musical ingénues hoping to win
Amateur Night at the Apollo, and end it
as worldly women who have learned that
there’s more to life than acquiring material things and achieving professional success. It was clear that the tale of show
business “aspirations, heartaches, and triumphs resonated with citizens of the “City
that Believes.”
All members of the ensemble cast gave
strong performances, exhibiting admirable command of a challenging number
of songs, numerous set changes, and
the show’s mature themes. Supported by
first-rate musicians, heavenly pit vocalists, and great music and vocal direction,
Mount Vernon students transported the
audience to the heyday of Hitsville USA.
Kudos are also in order for the evocative
set and lighting design, which began at the
entrance to the school, and which subtly
yet powerfully brought the past alive. Eye-
C.C. White, Effie, Lorrell & Deena
Marty & Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Jimmy Early
catching costume design and creative
choreography added to the show’s star
quality, and the entire production crew did
an outstanding job of keeping the show
flowing smoothly.
Superintendent of Schools Kenneth
Hamilton continues to be a charismatic
leader and driving force behind many
exciting improvements in Mount Vernon
education. Last year’s $1.35 million, fouryear grant funding the teaching of science,
technology, engineering, arts and math
(STEAM), will be joined by substantial improvements in the District’s programs and
facilities as a result of the passage of a
$108 million bond in March 2016. Establishment of a full-day Pre-Kindergarten
program, restoration of career and technical education programs, and repairs and
upgrades to school facilities, are among
the improvements targeted by the 20/20
Vision initiative. Like “Dreamgirls’” character Effie White, Mount Vernon schools
seem poised for a successful comeback!
INQUIRER
8 l June 2016
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Continued from page 1
The newly installed street sign soon after it was unveiled to the public
Department starting in 1977 and in innumerable positions in the volunteer and political sectors. There are few aspects of life
in Mount Vernon that he has not touched
and made better.
While his life was community involvement, his passion was politics. From
1969 to 1996, he was Chairman of the
Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee. He was also Chairman of the Black
Democrats of Westchester County and a
member of the Council of Black Elected
Democrats of New York State. Furthermore, he also served as New York State
Committeeperson for the 84th Assembly
District.
David played a huge role in helping to
diversify the political landscape in Mount
Vernon, since Mount Vernon was almost
100% Republican and white when he first
became involved in local politics. The
Democratic Party blossomed under his
leadership and eventually became the
dominant party in Mount Vernon.
In addition, he served as President of
the Lions Club of Mount Vernon and President of the Mount Vernon YMCA. He is a
Life Member of the 369 Veteran’s Association, and a Life Member of the Mount
Vernon NAACP. He was also a longtime
Chairman of the Board of Mount Vernon
Neighborhood Health Center and a member of the National Association of Health
Care Providers.
And, under his leadership, the Board of
Water Supply had a longstanding tradition
of excellence.
It is very important to note that Ford is
a veteran of WWII. He married the former
Eula (Daisy) Gadson, who passed not that
long ago, and is the proud father of six
children (David Jr., James, Renee, Garey,
Michael, and Karen). He has five grandchildren, Rachel, Shaarod, Nardara, Jerel
and David Christopher and three greatgrandchildren, Amira, Sydney and Camden.
Although David is now retired and his
mobility has been hindered a bit, he has
contributed to the Mount Vernon commu-
Ford addressing the crowd
Mayor Richard Thomas presented an award to Ford
nity for longer and better than we are ever
likely to see again.
The Master of Ceremonies at the unveiling ceremony was City Clerk, George
Brown.
There was a long list of speakers, led
by Mayor Richard Thomas, and Ford was
bestowed with many awards and endless
accolades by the many who spoke.
When asked to address the large crowd,
Ford stated: “I have had a lot of help from
many throughout the years. What you
have given me today will be with me forever. I plan to stay involved in politics, since
my mind is still active.”
Please note that the city had chosen
a different location for the street sign,
but Ford requested that the location be
changed to Park Avenue, directly below
Democratic Headquarters – for obvious
reasons.
After the unveiling of the street sign,
there was a picture taking opportunity
for the many who wanted to be photographed with Ford.
Immediately after the ceremony, Ford
and his family, along with invited guests,
attended a reception at a nearby catering
facility.
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9 l June 2016
Williams School students perform at Pierre Hotel in NYC
O
Members of the Edward Williams Elementary School Chorus at
The Pierre Hotel
n Thursday, May 5, under
the direction of Antonella Delli Carpini (Chorus
Director), select members of Edward Williams Elementary School Chorus performed “Get
Up!” at the annual National Mothers’ Day Council Luncheon at The
Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, sponsored by Elizabeth Arden, Inc. This
prestigious event recognizes and
honors mothers who maintain exceptional careers while balancing
the demands of motherhood; this
year’s main honorees were actress
Sarah Jessica Parker and entrepreneur Joy Mangano.
This extraordinary experience
provided the talented students of
Edward Williams with the opportunity to perform for an audience
of over 500 guests and other honorees. Each student (ranging in
grades 3rd-6th) conducted themselves with great integrity, behaved
respectfully and performed professionally. Visiting and singing in such
a historic and wonderfully artistic
venue is an experience the students
will carry with them for the rest of
their lives.
Everybody involved whole-heartedly thanks the gracious people at
Elizabeth Arden Inc. for their kindness, hospitality, professionalism
and generosity of spirit! And the
event would not have been possible
without the marvelous chaperons,
Rachel Boettigheimer (Williams’
ICT & Resource Room Teacher) and
Mary Lando (Williams’ String Ensemble Instructor).
C.A.P.P. Program presented 3rd Annual Youth
Empowerment Showcase
Five young men entertaining the audience with a dance routine
O
n Friday, April 22, the C.A.P.P.
Program presented a spectacular event at Nellie Thornton High School. The C.A.P.P.
A
Program, through the Mount Vernon
Youth Bureau and with the support of
Mayor Richard Thomas and the City of
Mount Vernon, continue to bring ex-
citing opportunities for youth to come
together for great causes and to showcase the positive collaborations and
projects in which they are engaged.
This was an evening filled with stellar
performances by local youth through
poetry on self-esteem, short skits on
healthy behaviors, dance routines,
soulful signing and a fashion show finale. The audience was also treated to
very informative and engaging speakers such as Grammy and Clio Award
winning poet and youth advocate J. Ivy,
who educated our audience on healthy
behaviors vs. risky behaviors and their
consequences. Students, parents, and
community-based organizations were
all in attendance.
Mayor Thomas said, “Thanks once
again to our Mount Vernon Youth Bureau for their outstanding youth programming. The C.A.P.P. program offers
our youth a chance to empower themselves and showcase their talents to
the community. Mount Vernon is a hub
for the arts and music and this show-
case brought out the best that Mount
Vernon has to offer.”
“The Mount Vernon Youth Bureau,
through its C.A.P.P. Program offers
multi-dimensional opportunities which
promote community support related to
health, education, and recreation. We
are thankful for the community collaborative and the city’s youth who shared
their talents,” stated DaMia HarrisMadden, Executive Director.
The city worked in collaboration with
the students from Mount Vernon, Nellie
Thornton, and Mandela High Schools
who were committed to making the
event a success, as well as Sports and
Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) and
their dedicated dance troops, Family
Services of Westchester, WestCop, The
Nepperhan Community Center of Yonkers, Kensworth Consulting, the Garrison Family and other youth advocates
to present this event.
For more information contact the
Mount Vernon C.A.P.P. Program at 914665-3870.
Building sought for music school sold at auction
building on the city’s foreclosure list and eagerly
sought by the Mount Vernon Arts Council for a music school, has been sold at auction.
It is well known that the City Council originally approved the sale of the
building, located at 135 N. High St.,
to the Arts Council, but when the
matter went before the Board of Estimate and Contract, the sale of the
property was voted down.
It had been rumored that the sale
to the Arts Council was stopped due
to involvement by former employees
of the City of Mount Vernon.
When questioned on the matter by
the Inquirer, Mayor Richard Thomas
stated: “I voted down the sale of the
property to the Arts Council, since
former city employees sit on the Arts
Council board and I found that to be
a conflict of interest.”
Regrettably, if the building had
been sold to the Arts Council, it
would have been used to expand the
popular music school, which is currently housed at the Doles Center.
INQUIRER
10 l June 2016
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Mt. Vernon School of Music holds exciting “Spring Recital”
T
A young performer impressing the audience on the piano
he popular Mount Vernon School
of Music continues to grow at a
rapid pace and on Saturday, May
7, they held their annual “Spring
Recital” at their current home, the Doles
Center, before an excited packed theater.
Opening comments came from Judy
Williams, who thanked the many parents
for having the vision to enroll their children
in a school that is educating their children
about the arts; teaching them how to become excellent vocalists; and also teaching them to play their favorite instruments
– all in a safe environment.
Judy Williams providing opening comments
The Mistress of Ceremonies for the
spectacular event was Cathy Webb,
whose warm personality and great sense
of humor kept the large audience smiling
and applauding loudly throughout the re-
cital.
Maureen Wilson, director of the music
school said, “Our goal is to help students
garner a love of music-making that they
will have their entire lives. Our school
Loretta Van Raalte inducted into
the 2016 Eastern Hall of Fame
This young group of singers drew a standing ovation
L
This beautiful young lady awed the crowd with her performance on
the guitar
oretta Van Raalte, of Hartsdale,
N.Y., has been a staple in tennis
in the Eastern Section for more
than 35 years. Her kind spirit,
hardworking demeanor and love of the
game are evident to anyone she meets.
And on Friday, April 29, she was inducted into the Eastern Hall of Fame at the
Beach Point Club in Mamaroneck, NY.
She started playing tennis in 1978
when she took lessons with her friend
June Marcus in Greenburgh, N.Y.
Shortly after her first tennis lesson, Van
Raalte began playing at the Hudson
Valley Tennis Club in 1979, where she
was introduced to the club’s designer,
builder and teaching professional, Jerry
Alleyne.
She quickly became interested in organizing tennis and took a job coordinating the Hudson Valley Tennis Club’s
leagues from 1980 to 1985. Van Raalte
then was asked by Alleyne to be the
club’s director of tennis, a role she held
from 1985 to 1998.
Van Raalte founded the Jerry Alleyne
Memorial Foundation (JAMF) in 2000
following Alleyne’s death in 1998.
JAMF offers a summer program for
kids from May to September at the
Westchester Plaza Tennis Academy in
Mount Vernon.
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
11 l June 2016
Mt. Vernon hosts Holocaust Memorial Program
Holocaust survivors Arthur Citrin (l) and Esther Elstein lit three of six candles
representing the six million who perished in the Holocaust
M
onday night, May 9, was a night
of reaffirmation, and memories
of the darkest era in modern
history echoed through Mount
Vernon’s City Hall.
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas
and City Council members joined eleven
Holocaust survivors, their families, Jewish
clergy and community members in paying
tribute to the resilience of those who lived
through the horror of the systematic genocide the Nazis called the Final Solution.
After welcoming remarks by Louise
Challop of the Jewish Community Council
of Mount Vernon, a visibly moved Mayor
Thomas said he was truly humbled to be
in the presence of those who are such
clear examples of “endurance and perseverance.”
The Mayor went on to draw a connection between the lessons learned from the
Holocaust and present day Mount Vernon.
Pointing out that when the Nazis rose to
power, few voices were raised against
them, the Mayor promised “Mount Vernon
is a voice that will always speak up … to
take the right stand on the right issues.”
All the survivors in attendance at the
ceremony had been children during the
Holocaust. Their heart-wrenching stories
of survival were brought to life in the vivid
telling by Tania Weiss and Halina Rosenkranz, both from Westchester Jewish
Community Services.
Rabbi Morris Barzilai from Sinai Free
Synagogue and Rabbi Gedalyah Berger
of Fleetwood Synagogue spoke about the
triumph of the human spirit.
Also sharing experiences was Ira Korner, a son of survivors.
The survivors lit six candles representing the six million Jewish men, women
and children who perished in the Holocaust.
Violist Lydia Leizman underscored the
evening’s theme of loss, remembrance
Holocaust survivor
Dora Zyndorf
Holocaust survivor
Hyman Mendelowitz
Holocaust survivors Minnie Osher (l) and Dora Zyndorf (r) lit the remaining
three candles
and resilience.
The survivors in attendance were: Ellen
and Jerry Kaidanow, Hyman Mendelowitz,
Danuta Rottman, Rose Winterfeldt, Esther
Elstein, Hannelore Hecht, Helen Levenson, Minnie Osher, Arthur Citrin and Dora
Zyndorf.
The Jewish Community Council of
Mount Vernon and the Mayor’s office
sponsored the evening, with assistance
from Westchester Jewish Community Services.
This adult band was terrific and received a rousing applause
Holocaust survivor Helen Levenson
strives to spread the transformative
power of music by providing the highest quality music education and experiences to all in the community who
seek them.”
The recitalists spanned generations
with performers as young as five years
old sharing the bill with adults, featuring performers demonstrating their
skills on the piano, guitar, and an assortment of other instruments. Others
entertained the audience by singing.
The recital also included an adult
trio of guitarists who received a rousing ovation at the end of their performance. The audience was also treated
to two adults – one who performed
excellently using a trombone and the
other one on the drums. They were
both extremely talented and entertaining.
The guest performer was Mount
Vernon City Councilman Andre Wallace, who played several pieces on
the piano.
Although learning under crowded
conditions at the Doles Center, members of the Board continue to seek a
new and larger location for the school.
The City Council recently approved
the sale of a promising building to
the school on the city’s foreclosure
list, but Mayor Richard Thomas voted
down the purchase of the building.
“You have individuals that formerly
worked for the City of Mount Vernon
sitting on the school’s Board and that
presents a conflict of interest,” said
Mayor Thomas.
Readers interested in learning more
about the Mount Vernon School of
Music can call 914-667-2360.
INQUIRER
12 l June 2016
www.mvinquirer.com
Mt. Vernon holds Police Memorial Day
Four empty chairs and caps representing the officers Mt. Vernon has lost in
the line of duty
I
n 1962, President John F. Kennedy
signed Public Law 87-726 that set aside
May 15 as National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, and the week in which May
15 falls as National Police Week. This year,
National Police Week runs from Monday,
May 9 through Sunday, May 15.
Captain Edward Adinaro acted as the master of ceremonies
On Wednesday, May 14, during a sunny morning, many gathered at a City Hall
Plaza ceremony to commemorate Police
Officer’s Memorial Day in Mount Vernon.
This year’s event attracted a bigger
crowd than in previous years, and included a long list of dignitaries, along with
Mayor Thomas presenting a proclamation to Acting Police Commissioner
Ronald Fatigate
Mayor Thomas speaking during the ceremony
Police Emerald Society of Westchester County arriving at City Hall Plaza
many friends and family members of police officers that were honored.
Acting as the Master of Ceremonies for
the event was Captain Edward Adinaro,
Mayor Thomas presenting a commendation to P.O. Nicholas Smith
who stated, “As part of this observance,
Mayor Thomas created a Proclamation
declaring today, May 10, 2016, Police Memorial Day in the City of Mount Vernon.
INQUIRER
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13 l June 2016
Many celebrate life and music of Prince at MVPL
O
People dancing to Prince’s songs
n Thursday, May 12, the Mount
Vernon Public Library remembered Prince by holding a celebration in the library’s rotunda
and center hallway with portraits of Prince
adorning all the walls throughout the library along with purple balloons and other
decorations related to Prince.
The Mistress of Ceremonies for the
memorable event was Catherine Webb,
who kicked off the reception with a few
words about Prince, followed by a video
presentation.
The Grammy and Oscar-winner died on
April 21 after being found unresponsive in
Three volunteers helped to feed the hungry attendees
an elevator at his suburban Minneapolis
studio complex. He was 57.
“Prince showed you how to party, so
today, here in Mount Vernon, we’re going
to party as if Prince was here,” said one
attendee.
Many danced as huge speakers blasted
Prince’s hits and deep cuts. Some wiped
away tears but most treated the gathering
at the library as a definite celebration.
Those who attended enjoyed a sumptuous buffet, courtesy of the library, along
with trivia, karaoke, refreshments and
prizes.
A mother enjoying the festivities with her kids
This is the day that we remember
those members of the Mount Vernon Police Department who gave
their lives serving the citizens of
our city.” He further added, “As we
pause to commemorate our fallen
officers, we are also assembled here
today to pay tribute to those who
walk among us – those officers who
have exemplified themselves in acts
of bravery and intelligence over the
past year.”
Eve Soto, who besides being a
vocalist is also a songwriter, provided a beautiful rendition of the national anthem.
The ceremony began with a Mount
Vernon Police Department Honor
Guard marching in from the street
with the colors, followed by the impressive Police Emerald Society of
Westchester County band playing
the national anthem.
The speakers included Mayor
Richard Thomas, City Comptroller
Maureen Walker, City Councilwoman Roberta Apuzzo, PBA President
Brent Gamble, and Acting Police
Commissioner Ronald Fatigate.
The “Memorial Service” was followed by the “Awards Presentation” part of the ceremony in which
numerous members of the Police
Department were honored for their
outstanding performance. A total of
twenty-five officers received awards
and two civilians also were honored
with awards.
INQUIRER
14 l June 2016
www.mvinquirer.com
jaFa’s Poets Corner
2007 - PRESENT
Poems Submitted by Our Readers
Edited by jaFa (James Fair)
JAFA’S POETS CORNER (9TH
YEAR ANNIVERSARY)
Edited by james “jAFa” Fair
May the Muse of Poetry continue to
inspire.
THE SECRET GLANCES OR... I’LL
NEVER TELL
Author: bobbyjoemack
Mount Vernon resident
A Stolen Glance
That they can
Never...
Ever see
a silent glance
Exchanged between
You...
And just Me
A Glance
A Nod
A Mutual
Hidden Smile
The thought
The Heart
Will Cherish
For a while
And yet within
The unseen glance
Lingers the thought
Of some fine Romance
If only just Allowed
And given a Chance
And maybe soon
On One day
We shall Solemnly dance
And All because
Of one Silent
Yet Secret
Stolen Glance...
WALK SLOWLY BY ME
Author: Charles Roda
Sitting on a park bench in April I
admire
a young woman in a breeze-blown
skirt.
As her ponytail sways in the wind,
she is conscious of her beauty.
In the humid air of July I reflect on
a woman in her thirties in a blue suit
and lustrous, shoulder-length hair.
She arouses suspense and imagination.
With the autumn leaves falling I
study
a proud, silver-haired, confident
lady
in tan, pleated slacks and white
blouse.
Her disciplined body declares her
presence.
BROKEN SOCIETY, 2016
Author: Tanisha Wright,
Most of the time there’s a cycle of
broken children.
Broken homes, broken dreams filled
with broken identities.
Daddies left, mommies at work,
leaving the oldest raising their siblings.
Emotions and pain blocked with
sex, drugs, and intoxication.
The majority just conform to the
complexity of these broken societies.
Silent cries because prides are too
high
or some just don’t recognize the
cycle of broken children raising children.
POOR PERFORMING SCHOOLS,
ABANDONED BUILDINGS,
HOMICIDES, SUICIDES, AND IN
MOST CASES PROSTITUTION.
INCOMPLETED PARKS, MULTIPLE ALCOHOL SPOTS
AND
STREET
PHRAMACIST
CONTINUOUSLY INCREASING.
LACK OF FAITH, LACK OF HOPE,
WITH LACK OF CONFIDENCE.
SOME BREAK FREE AND BE
MORE THAN WHAT THE BROKEN SOCIETY WANT THEM TO
BE.
UNFORTUNATELY MANY ARE
TRAPPED,
STUCK BY THEIR UNHEALED
WOUNDS AND BRUISES.
It’s a cycle of unhealed children raising broken children
TO OUR READERS & SUPPORTERS
From the editor: james “jAFa” Fair
This month JAFa’s Poets Corner celebrates its 9th year. We are the longest,
continuously, running poetry column in any local area monthly publication.
We have reached this milestone because of you, the community, who have so
generously supported us. THANK YOU!
Please email your poems to [email protected] or mail a (typed copy please)
to James Fair, 153 South 5th Ave., Apt 6B, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
EDUCATION COLUMN
By Diane Fulves, M.A., M.Ed.,
Director, EMPOWERING OUR PARENTS
I
It’s the Law!
n a recent column I wrote
about the importance of
preparing for meetings and
receiving an I.E.P., an Individual Education Program,
that meets the individual educational needs of children.
The following information is a
quote from Wrightslaw regarding the unique needs of your
child and using the “IDEA mission statement”.
“Meeting
Your
Child’s
Unique Needs – It’s the Law!
The purpose of IDEA is to
meet the unique needs of your
child – not the class, not the
teacher, not the school, not
the district budget.
Do not accept these statements from the school:
• We don’t have to do it
• We don’t have money in
the budget
• We can’t make exceptions
• We have never done that
before
The school has a responsibility to provide your child with
an education tailored to his
unique needs and to prepare
your child for further education, employment and independent living. Find the legal
authority in IDEA.”
Parents, I highly recommend that you subscribe to
Wrightslaw where you will find
articles on many important
topics. The current edition
contains articles on what you
should look for in your child’s
I.E.P., the mission statement
of IDEA, and the need for a
new I.E.P. when unique needs
of your child change.
I would also suggest that
if you want specific information on the law, you should
purchase the book, Special
Education Law by Peter and
Pamela Wright. You will learn
more about IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, I.E.P.s and 504 plans.
Information is essential, but
you must be willing to do your
homework. The old adage,
“What you don’t know can
hurt you” is true. It can also
hurt your children.
Since we are on the subject
of the laws, I want to share
some specific information
from IDEA.
“The main purposes are
…to ensure that all children
with disabilities have available to them a free, appropriate, public education that
emphasizes special education
and related services designed
to meet their unique needs
and prepare them for further
education, employment, and
independent living, and to ensure that the rights of children
with disabilities and parents of
such children are protected…”
In regard to specific learning disabilities, the law states
that schools shall not be required to take into consideration whether a child has
severe discrepancy between
achievement and intellectual
ability to find a child eligible
for special education services
as a child with a specific learning disability.
Knowledge of the law helps
parents
understand
their
rights, but it does not eliminate their responsibility to
provide for their children. This
is a partnership. Parents must
be serious participants in the
education of their children.
They must be involved in academic success which means
the daily “grind” of homework
completion, test prep, READING, ongoing communication
with teachers, etc. When the
team is working together, children can achieve. If there are
problems, the team will strive
to find solutions. Children
have a right to an educational
program that works for them.
They are worth it!
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
15 l June 2016
Jim and Annie Kiselak’s
Natural Food Column
Alternative Medicine
Options
Direct from the sunny island of
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Joe Parisi
Your best gluten
free goods
The following items can be
consumed liberally on your Gluten Free Diet (go organic and
local with your whole - food
choices wherever possible;
flash frozen is fine, too):
• Healthy fat: extra virgin olive
oil, sesame oil, coconut oil,
grass-fed tallow and organic
or pasture-fed butter, ghee,
almond milk, avocados, coconuts, olives, nuts and nut
butters, cheese (except for
blue cheeses), and seeds
(flaxseed, sunflower seeds,
pumpkin seeds, sesame
seeds, chia seeds).
• Protein: whole eggs, wild fish
(salmon, black cod, mahi
mahi, grouper, herring, trout,
sardines); shellfish and molluscs (shrimp, crab, lobster,
mussels, clams, oysters),
grass-fed meat, fowl, poultry, and pork (beef, lamb,
liver, bison, chicken, turkey,
duck, ostrich, veal), wild
game.
• Vegetables: leafy greens
and lettuces, collards, spinach, broccoli, kale, chard,
cabbage, onions, mushrooms, cauliflower, Brussels
sprouts, sauerkraut, artichoke, alfalfa sprouts, green
beans, celery, bok choy, radishes, watercress, turnip, asparagus, garlic, leek, fennel,
shallots, scallions, ginger,
jicama, parsley, water chestnuts.
• Low-sugar Fruit: avocado,
bell peppers, cucumber,
tomato, zucchini, squash,
pumpkin, eggplant, lemons,
limes.
• Herbs, Seasonings, and
Condiments: You can go
wild here as long as you
watch labels. Kiss ketchup
and chutney goodbye but
enjoy mustard, horseradish,
tapenade, and salsa if they
are free of gluten, wheat, soy,
and sugar. There are virtually
no restrictions on herbs and
seasonings; be mindful of
packaged products, however, that were made at plants
that process wheat and soy.
The following can be used
in moderation (“moderation”
means eating small amounts of
these ingredients once a day
or, ideally, just a couple times
weekly):
• Non-gluten grains: amaranth,
buckwheat,
rice
(brown, white, wild), millet,
quinoa, sorghum, teff. (A
note about oats: although
oats do not naturally contain
gluten, they are frequently
contaminated with gluten
because they are processed
at mills that also handle
wheat; avoid them unless
they come with a guarantee
that they are gluten-free.)
When non-gluten grains are
processed for human consumption (e.g., milling whole
oats and preparing rice for
packaging), their physical
structure changes, and this
increases the risk of an inflammatory reaction. For this
reason, we limit these foods.
• Legumes (beans, lentils,
peas). Exception: you can
have hummus (made from
chickpeas).
• Carrots and parsnips.
• Whole sweet fruit: berries
are best; be extra cautious
of sugary fruits such as
apricots, mangos, melons,
papaya, prunes, and pineapple.
• Cow’s milk and cream: use
sparingly in recipes, coffee,
and tea.
• Cottage cheese, yogurt, and
kefir: use sparingly in recipes
or as a topping.
• Sweeteners: natural stevia
and chocolate (choose dark
chocolate that’s at least 70
percent or more cocoa).
• Wine: one glass a day if you
so choose, preferably red.
by
Anti-inflammatory
smoothies worth trying
A
s the seasons shift,
embrace these antiinflammatory
“cocktails”—juices
and
shakes stocked with nutritious
superfoods to help maintain your
healthy lifestyle.
“No matter the kind of diet you
may lean toward—vegetarian,
vegan, low-carb, no-carb, Mediterranean, Neanderthal, or any
other kind of diet—any and all
anti-inflammation efforts are well
worth it!” says nutritionist and juicing pioneer Cherie Calbom, MS,
author of The Juice Lady’s AntiInflammation Diet. “You can lose
weight on the anti-inflammation
diet and rejuvenate your body.”
Here are a few of Calbom’s tasty
and convenient favorites.
Antioxidant Power Smoothie
• 1 cup unsweetened plant milk
such as hemp, coconut, or almond milk
• ½ cup blueberries
• 1 pear
• ½ cup baby spinach
• 1 teaspoon Indian gooseberry
extract (optional)
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed
• Ice cubes (optional)
Add all ingredients to a blender
and process until smooth.
KEY BENEFITS: Berries help
prevent damaging effects of free
radicals and inflammation.
Morning Energy
• 1 to 2 carrots, scrubbed well,
tops removed, ends trimmed
• ½ small beet, with leaves
• 1 cucumber
• 1 handful spinach or several
chard leaves
• ½ lemon, peeled
• 1-inch piece ginger root,
scrubbed
Cut produce to fit your juicer’s
feed tube. Juice all ingredients
and stir. Pour into a glass and
drink as soon as possible.
KEY BENEFITS: Beets contain
unique phytonutrients called betalains, which have been shown to
provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification effects.
Anti-Inflammatory Cocktail
• 1 green apple
• ½ large fennel with fronds
• 1-inch piece ginger root
• 1 large broccoli stem
• 3 leaves kale
• ½ cucumber
Cut produce to fit your juicer.
Start by juicing the apple and finish with the cucumber. Drink as
soon as possible.
KEY BENEFITS: All ingredients
are powerhouses known to have
anti-inflammatory, antihistamine,
analgesic, antioxidant, and/or anticarcinogenic effects.
Note: The information in this
article is not intended or implied
to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or
treatment!
16 l June 2016
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22 l June 2016
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Mt. Vernon forms get-tough
Quality of Life Task Force
Burr Davis Sharpe Funeral Home:
A long Mt. Vernon tradition
Mayor Thomas, surrounded by city officials, announcing his new
Mount Vernon Quality of Life Task Force
O
n Tuesday, May 17, with a stern
face and no nonsense demeanor, Mayor Richard Thomas held
a press conference in front of a
dilapidated home located on North Bond
Street where he unveiled the Mount Vernon Quality of Life Task Force. The task
force was formed to aggressively pursue
landlords, building owners, businesses
and contractors who operate illegally and
fail to maintain safe and sanitary conditions.
“The City of Mount Vernon has a zero
tolerance policy when it comes to crime
and grime. I have directed members of my
administration to actively monitor, enforce
violations and shut down unlawful activity. Illegal SRO’s [single room occupancy],
businesses operating without proper permits, and absentee landlords are going to
pay a price. Our people deserve to be safe
and secure in their neighborhoods and
enjoy clean streets. Our efforts today are
part of the struggle to create a better quality of life tomorrow,” said Thomas.
The task force, like Marines landing on
a beach, but comprised of police, fire officials, public works and city attorneys, officially went into action on May 17. The
initial ticket blitz targeted property and
business owners with a history of violations and unpaid tickets.
On the May 17 initiative, 28 residents of
an allegedly illegal boarding house were
displaced and were quickly sent to the
Mount Vernon Public Library, where city
officials, social service agencies and the
American Red Cross helped them find
new housing.
“As developers are flocking to Mount
Vernon we want to make sure criminals
and those creating a bad quality of life
flock out,” Thomas said. “We’re looking to
crack down on known problems and make
it very clear that the city is no longer tolerating the harm to quality of life and the
harm to property values.”
Prior to the North Bond Street press
conference, landlords and business owners were ticketed for improperly stored
garbage which has led to an increase in
rats throughout Mount Vernon. On the
day of the press conference, there was a
noticeable difference, since North Bond
Street looked a lot cleaner.
“We have hired a competent exterminator and we should have the issue with the
rats under control soon,” said the mayor.
From right to left are: Funeral Director Anthony Guarino, Frank Fraley, Jr.,
Anthony Guarino, Jr., and Guido Cicchetti.
B
urr Davis Sharpe Funeral Home at
the corner of Gramatan Avenue
and West Broad Street in Mount
Vernon, has spent decades caring for the needs of local families facing
their saddest days.
Anthony Guarino, funeral director and
owner since 2006, recently described to
the Inquirer what makes his funeral home
unique, based on his family’s association
with it, which dates back to 1997.
“Ours is not just any funeral home. With
our years of experience, and highly professional, friendly and compassionate
staff, we pride ourselves on being the first
choice for hundreds of area families each
year. We are proud to embrace traditional
values, diversity, and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we
serve. We offer a full selection of funeral
and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
burial services, cremation options, and
celebrant services,” said Guarino.
“We guide our families every step of the
way, from designing the most fitting service for the loved one, selecting the most
appropriate products to fit budgets and
suit needs, and making all arrangements
with regard to services whether they are
held at the family’s place of worship, our
funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.”
According to Guarino, they will take
care of all necessary paperwork, as well
as provide access to grief education and
support materials and referrals to counseling services. In addition, they are available to help at any time of the day or night
with just one phone call to address of the
physical care of the loved one and the
emotional care of those left behind. Their
pledge is to honor loved ones and their
families with dignity, respect and personal
attention to every detail.”
The Burr Davis Sharpe Funeral Home
can be reached at (914) 699-9700 and
they are located at 21 W. Broad Street,
Mount Vernon, NY. Their website address
is www.yannantuonofh.com.
Mayor Thomas graduates from NYU Stern
School with Executive MBA degree
O
n Wednesday, May
18, Mayor Thomas
was joined by friends
and family to celebrate his graduation from New
York University. The Mayor
achieved his Executive Master’s
Degree in Business Administration from the Leonard N. Stern
School of Business. The City
of Mount Vernon congratulates
Mayor Richard Thomas on this
great achievement.
The mayor’s graduation was held at Yankee Stadium
Mayor Thomas said, “This is
an occasion I will never forget.
To be joined by my wife, family
and friends to graduate from an
institution like NYU is incredible. I am a strong believer in education and a proud product of
Mount Vernon schools. I want
the children of Mount Vernon
to know that they can reach for
the stars if they put their hearts
in it.”
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
23 l June 2016
Mount Vernon City School District voters approve
$238.7 million budget
O
n Tuesday, May 17,
city residents approved
the Mount Vernon City
School District’s $238.7
million budget for the 2016-2017
school year by a 1,104-378 unofficial vote, a nearly 3-1 margin. Absentee ballots were not included in
the results.
The budget has a zero percent increase in the tax levy.
“This year, voters in the Mount
Vernon City School District have
certainly supported change and
improvement in their school buildings and in the education of their
children – with the $108 million
bond, which passed in March, the
district’s 20/20 Vision and now this
support for next year’s school district budget,” said District Superintendent Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton.
“We are excited to see this level of
commitment from the community
and are looking forward to helping
the district’s children pursue their
dreams through quality instruction
and programs in the coming school
year.”
The total proposed taxes to be
collected by the school district will
be $134 million, which is unchanged
for the third consecutive year. The
proposed budget is a 3.41 percent
increase, or $7.9 million, above last
year’s approved budget of $230.9
million.
The budget includes:
· Creation of six new English native learner positions
· Creation of six new special education teacher positions
·C
ontinuation of the beautification program at five elemen-
tary schools and Mandela High
School
· Expansion of the middle school
sports program to include wrestling, volleyball and softball
· Introduction of transportation for
Mandela students to allow them
to attend Mount Vernon High
School for career and technical
education (CTE) programs
· Introduction of Special Olympics
program for special education
students and to reinforce the importance of community service
to those supporting the program
· Realizing an oil cost-savings of
95 percent over the previous
year due to the district’s energy
performance contract (EPC).
·
Realizing an electric costsavings of 35 percent over the
previous year due the district’s
EPC.
· Acquisition of new financial software to modernize and create
greater efficiencies for payroll
and human resources
· Acquisition of a new identification card system for students
and staff
The budget is 100 percent aligned
with the Board of Education’s goals
to create systems to promote student achievement and increase outcomes, paying particular attention
to subgroups in order to close the
student achievement gap and developing and implementing a multiyear plan for improving buildings,
grounds and facilities including the
exploration of private and public
partnerships.
NY State Commissioner of Health
reminds all moms to make time to
take care of themselves
David Gentner, Wartburg President & CEO, Dr. Howard Zucker, Dr.
Sherlita Amler, Commissioner, Westchester County Department of
Health and Mayor Richard Thomas
I
n celebration of Mother’s Day,
New York State Commissioner of
Health Dr. Howard Zucker recognized mothers for all the care and
support they provide for others and
urged them to protect their health by
taking care of themselves too.
Mothers of all ages gathered on
Wartburg’s beautiful 34-acre campus
on Friday, May 6, to take part in dem-
onstrations on fitting healthy eating,
exercise, and better sleep into increasingly busy days—all while enjoy a healthy snack. Each mother
was given a tulip from Dr. Zucker in
appreciation for all they do.
Dr. Zucker began the event by highlighting the links between parenting,
caregiving, stress, diet, exercise,
and disease. Research suggests
that many women do not make selfcare a priority after having children.
A survey by Healthy Women and
Working Mother magazine showed
that women rank themselves last
when it comes to managing the family’s health care behind the care they
provide to their children, elderly relatives and spouse or significant other.
In fact, 78% of women said they often put off taking care of themselves
or making their own health appointments because they’re so busy taking care of other family members.
“This Sunday we will celebrate
mothers and other significant women in our lives,” Dr. Zucker said. “Too
often, women let go of their own care
in order to care for others. This event
is a reminder to all mothers and their
families that moms need to make
time to take care of themselves.”
Wartburg, a senior care facility including inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, adult day programs, a skilled
nursing facility, independent and assisted living, provided the venue for
the event.
“I would like to thank the Commissioner and his staff for selecting
Wartburg to be the location for this
exciting event and for celebrating
mothers of our communities,” said
David Gentner, president and CEO
of Wartburg. “While this is our 150th
anniversary year, it is also a celebration of our future. Post-acute senior care is evolving and we believe
Wartburg will play a key role in a new
standard of integrated housing and
services for seniors in Westchester
County.
24 l June 2016
INQUIRER
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Mt. Vernon City Council honors distinguished citizens
Dolores Mack being honored by Councilwoman Lisa Copeland
A
capacity crowd packed the
City Council Chambers on
Wednesday night, April 27,
to witness the honoring of
five distinguished Mount Vernon citizens prior to the commencement of
the regularly scheduled meeting of
the City Council.
Twice a year, the City Council honors remarkable individuals who have
served the City of Mount Vernon with
dedication and sacrifice and have
made significant contributions to the
Mount Vernon community.
The following is a list of those that
were honored:
• Danny Bernstein, Founder and
Executive Director, Backyard
Sports Cares;
• Dr. Joseph Cammarosano, Economist, Professor, and Administrator (Fordham University);
• Dolores Mack, Community Activist;
• Kevin Moore, Director, Young
Heroes Program (at Lincoln Elementary School); Founder, MKM
Foundation (for civic minded stu-
dents);
• Ruth Shire, Former President,
Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library.
A few years ago, as a relatively new
member of the Mount Vernon City
Council, Roberta Apuzzo, suggested
the idea of honoring extraordinary
citizens and organizations on a yearly
basis to the City Council body. The
City Council liked her suggestion, a
vote was taken, and the yearly event
was born. Due to the popularity of
the program, the City Council is now
honoring citizens twice a year.
According to Councilwoman Apuzzo, “By spotlighting these individuals who toil with a smile in relative
anonymity, we are actually reflecting upon the quality of citizens in
our community. These quiet heroes
are sprinkled throughout the city of
Mount Vernon. They perform deeds
silently, or with an assuring voice,
without the expectation of reward
or honor. They serve with grace and
humility. This pillar of the community
might be a teacher, business owner,
Kevin Moore being honored by Councilwoman Roberta Apuzzo
Danny Bernstein being honored by Councilman Yuhanna Edwards
Dr. Joseph Cammarosano being honored by Councilman
Andre Wallace
Ruth Shire being honored by City Council President Marcus Griffith
mother, father, soldier, teenager, athlete, community leader, or volunteer
– the list is endless.”
Each honoree was given a citation
by Mayor Richard Thomas and a special award (Resolution) from the City
Council.
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INQUIRER
become part of the promising renaissance that was about to unfold in
Mount Vernon.
One company that expressed an interest in bringing new development to
Mount Vernon was the South Korean
giant, Kumho, which dwarfs IBM in
size. They own Asiana Airlines, Kumho
Tires, Kumho Electric and a long list of
other huge companies. The company
actually sought to invest in Mount Vernon by establishing a distribution center in Mount Vernon and training many
of the city’s youth and hiring the unemployed.
The president of Kumho actually sent
a letter to Mayor Thomas expressing
an interest in meeting with him to discuss his intentions to invest in Mount
Vernon, but for some unexplained reason, the president’s letter went unanswered.
Sentinel Vocational Apprentice Training (SVAT), a 501(c)(3) vocational program created to focus on the need to
develop a skilled labor force in Mount
Vernon and beyond, held its very first
gala on Wednesday, October 1, 2014.
The event was held at the private, prestigious and luxurious Bronxville Field
Club and was attend by nearly 200
guests. Many of the guests were awed
by what they witnessed at the gala
since senior partners and representatives from multibillion dollar companies
were present. They all partnered with
SVAT and had committed to support
it in every way possible to ensure its
success.
One group was a real inspiration to
the guests since they had traveled all
the way from Paraguay, South America
to attend the gala. The small delegation
represented the Paraguayan government and was acting as emissary for
their country. Two members from the
delegation addressed the podium to
speak and received rousing applause.
“The president of our country learned
about the Mount Vernon delegation
that recently traveled to South Korea,
led by Mayor Davis and Terrence Horton and was highly impressed by the
accomplishments of the trip. He, too,
extended an invitation to Mayor Davis
to visit their country for the purpose of
signing a Friendship Agreement with
his city, Asuncion,” said one of the
speakers. He then read a letter signed
by his government and presented it
to Mayor Davis. Government officials
later traveled to Mount Vernon and
signed a Friendship Agreement involving the two cities.
The list of companies seeking to invest in Mount Vernon was a long one
and Mount Vernon’s economy was
about to explode, thanks to Sentinel’s
effort.
Regrettably, Mount Vernon managed to derail the plans that would
have surely developed an instant renaissance within the city when they reneged on finalizing the LED streetlight
contract with Sentinel.
South Korea and cities across South
America are highly disappointed in
Mount Vernon, since they were highly
interested in investing in Mount Vernon
after signing trade agreements with the
city, but Mount Vernon has been reluctant to follow through on its promises.
This established trade agreement,
along with Sentinel’s education program and coupled with Sentinel’s development, created the ideal citywide
incubator that was to attract people
from all over the globe, all recognizing
that Mount Vernon was the new destination. It was all intended to achieve
the ultimate goal of fueling economic
recovery in Mount Vernon by bringing foreign investors who would make
a financial commitment to the local
economy – thereby, transforming the
city of Mount Vernon into the epicenter
for Green Research, development, and
manufacturing.
Over the years, as publisher of the
Mount Vernon Inquirer, I have followed
Horton’s vision and compassion for all
of the people of the great city of Mount
Vernon, and covered the October 2015
SVAT rollout which attracted corporate
giants such as MassMutual of New
York, Gensler, the largest master planner in the world, and BRP, one of the
most successful and fastest growing
development firms in the Northeast.
As a former New York City Detective,
if I had detected wrongdoing concerning the LED streetlight contract awarded to Sentinel, I most certainly would
have ended my support for Horton.
Everything Horton has done to earn
the lucrative contract was done by the
book – contrary to what The Journal
News has printed, which was all misleading and damning.
Currently, the city is spending an
enormous amount of money in legal
fees trying to justify in court why Sentinel’s LED streetlight contract should be
rescinded. However, unknown sources want the contract and are fighting
Horton vigorously to get it.
What Horton has achieved until now
with his company is unprecedented
and historic, and his goal has always
been to educate, train and employ
many of Mount Vernon’s disenfranchised. Therefore, for the city to renege
on a contract he is legally entitled to is
incomprehensible. In the process, the
city has deprived the taxpayers of a
real renaissance and has lost all credibility with Fortune 500 companies that
were ready to invest in Mount Vernon.
And furthermore, its endless blunders
are costing taxpayers heavily.
This whole senseless matter is depriving young graduates of a once in a
lifetime opportunity to participate in the
most comprehensive paid internship
program that will/could catapult them
into unprecedented careers that have
been unmatched anywhere to date!
Mount Vernon taxpayers need to
demand truthful answers from city officials on this whole issue.
Joe Parisi
Publisher/Editor
25 l June 2016
50 models help raise funds for
WJCS Kids’ Kloset at 3rd Annual
Fashion Show
Assembly member Mayer (c) presenting a Proclamation to Kids’ Kloset
Director Stephanie Roth (l) and WJCS Director of Development
Susan Lewen (r)
M
ore than 200 guests, including New York State Assembly member Shelley Mayer,
watched 50 models, from tiny
tots to teens, strut their stuff at the WJCS
Kids’ Kloset 3rd Annual Fashion Show
to raise funds to continue providing free
clothing and related items to children in
need in Westchester. Assembly member
Mayer, a well-known champion for children, presented a proclamation to WJCS
Kids’ Kloset Director Stephanie Roth and
WJCS Director of Development Susan
Lewen.
The models wore selections from the
clothing donated to WJCS Kids’ Kloset
and provided free through social workers
at human services agencies, schools and
other organizations to individual families.
The clothes are chosen to match the sizes
and tastes of the recipients and packed
in bags, fondly deemed “bags of love” by
many recipients.
WJCS Kids’ Kloset, a volunteer-driven
operation, has been in existence for four
and a half years and during that time has
donated more than 8,000 “bags of love”
to children in Westchester. The volunteers
have been among the first responders to
alleviate the upheavals of families displaced by fires and other emergencies.
On a daily basis, Kids’ Kloset is outfitting
kids who don’t have winter coats, hats or
scarves or those who don’t have sneakers needed for playing basketball or even
babies who need strollers or just fresh diapers. Donations are collected at the warehouse at 170 E. Post Road in downtown
White Plains.
Funds collected at the fashionable
event, which was held on May 15 at the
Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, will
be used to replenish supplies of items that
need to be new or to keep the operation
going. Several sponsors and community
organizations pitched in to make the event
a rousing success. For more information
on WJCS Kids’ Kloset, visit www.wjcs.
com/kidskloset.
Mount Vernon Public Library
announces 2016
election results
T
he Mount Vernon Public Library (NY) Board of
Trustees is pleased to announce the passage of the
Library Budget of $4,525,631 with
420 Yes votes and 167 No votes.
The vote took place on Tuesday,
May 3, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
in the Grace Greene Baker Community Room at the library.
There was one trustee seat avail-
able on the Board of Trustees. This
seat replaced Mr. Sean McIntyre,
who resigned from the Board of
Trustees and is for a term of four (4)
years ending June 30, 2020.
Cathlin Gleason (6A) – 288
Tanya Southerland (5A) – 103
Virginia Cramer (2A) – 70
Mahlon Goma- 57
Jean Bacquie – 38
26 l June 2016
INQUIRER
Mt. Vernon resident recognized
for employee excellence
by Leake & Watts
R
ohan Robinson, a Mount Vernon
resident and employee of Leake
& Watts, was recognized for excellence in an awards ceremony
held at the Carol and Frank Biondi Education Center on May 17. Robinson is part of
the support staff in the Residential Treatment Center.
Leake & Watts is an award-winning
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non-profit organization serving more
than 11,000 children, adults, and families
throughout New York City and Westchester County and operates based on four
core values: respect, achievement, safety, and responsibility. Each year, Leake &
Watts recognizes employees that embody
these values through their work with the
clients they support.
Board of Legislators
announces 2016 Jandon
Scholarship recipients
D
Scholarship recipients displaying their awards
uring a press conference
on Thursday, May 19, the
Jandon Foundation and the
Westchester County Board
of Legislators announced the recipients of the 2016 Jandon Foundation
Scholarships. Sixteen Westchester
high school students will each receive
$12,000 in scholarship funds from the
Jandon Foundation in preparation for
their next educational steps. In order
for students to qualify for the awards,
their families must meet financial eligibility guidelines established by the
Jandon Foundation. The program is
unique in that it follows the students
throughout their college careers.
“Our Jandon Scholarship program
this year is certainly tinged with sadness because of the passing of Jane
Cecil last July. The Jandon Scholarships are a wonderful part of her legacy. It is a privilege to carry on the
Jandon program here at the Board
of Legislator to help further the philanthropic goals of the Cecil family to
enable these students,” stated Board
of Legislators Chairman Michael
Kaplowitz. “Quality education is such
a powerful and important part of individual success. When you consider
that the Cecil’s have helped more than
200 kids achieve the goal of a college
degree,that is a benefit for those individuals, their families and in fact, our
community. I’d like to thank the Cecil
family for their continued dedication
and support of education for Westchester’s youth.”
The Jandon Foundation is a private
foundation created by Jane and Donald Cecil of Harrison, New York. The
Cecil’s funded the Mount Vernon “I
Have a Dream” program in 1987 and
began funding the Neuberger Museum of Arts “Writing Through the Arts”
Program in 1993. The Jandon Scholars program began as a public-private
partnership in 2000 under County
Executive Spano in an effort to reach
students throughout the county. The
Board of Legislators has been administering the program since 2010.
The Cecil family’s primary philanthropic interest lies in education with
particular interest in helping students
from financially disadvantaged and
under-educated families succeed.
Alec Cecil, son of Jane and Donald, spoke at the press conference,
“My family is privileged and honored
to be able to provide assistance to
such deserving students, and we
very much appreciate the partnership
with the Board of Legislators. We are
proud of the results that so many past
scholars have achieved through their
hard work, dedication and the support of their families and others. We
welcome our new winners and are
confident that they will be equally successful.”
The following is a list of Mount Vernon recipients:
• Amigon, Melissa, Nellie Thornton,
SUNY Oneonta
• Ferrell, Precious, Nellie Thornton,
Johnson & Wales University
• Leslie, Shadae, Mount Vernon
High School, Boston University
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
27 l June 2016
Mayor Thomas holds successful open house at City Hall
T
Mount Vernon’s new Water Commissioner, Anthony Dellamura
he rotunda and hallways at
Mount Vernon City Hall resembled Grand Central Station during rush hour on Thursday, May
19, since many citizens responded to the
open house invitation recently publicized
by Mayor Richard Thomas.
Tables were tightly positioned next to
each other representing city departments
– all laden with brochures and flyers and
manned by a commissioner and representatives from each department.
Outside the entrance to the mayor’s office was a table with literature from the
Francine Carl (left) Director, Mt. Vernon WCC Extension Center; and Janna
Gullery, Assistant Director, with Mayor Thomas
Commissioner of Civil Defense, Fraida Hickson
Planning Commissioner, Shawn Patterson-Howard
mayor’s office on it. Standing by the table was Mayor Thomas, greeting people
as they approached him. Some spoke at
length with the mayor, while some mothers introduced the mayor to their young
children, and others just shook his hand
and kept walking.
Standing by the Management Services
table was Thomas Rajala, who had a big
smile on his face since he was recently
appointed Commissioner of Management
Services. Rajala formerly worked as a First
Deputy Comptroller in the Mount Vernon
Comptroller’s office.
“Being mayor of Mount Vernon is a
tough job and it involves a lot of stress,
and hopefully, events like this will help
build trust between my office and the entire community,” said Mayor Thomas.
“Inviting us here like this was a brilliant
move by Mayor Thomas since it gave us
an opportunity to not only meet him in
person, but also to meet all the people appointed by him to help him run the city,”
said one unidentified woman.
INQUIRER
28 l June 2016
Fine art exhibit with an “unexpected twist”
O
Exhibiting artists
n April 9, Got Art? Inc.
sponsored a Fine Arts exhibit at the Bronxville Library. During the opening
reception more than one hundred
people came out to view the exhibit,
which showcased thirteen area artists
(painters, photographers, sculptors
and multi-media).
Exhibiting artists included: Shahaan Azeem, Fani Miller-Beard, Cris-
tina Cerone, Cecelia Duncan, james
“jAFa” Fair, Alison Gilham, Amelia
Jones, Barry L. Mason, Hasna Muhammad, Jihaad Muhammad, FannyMarie Oliveras, James Bujo Williams
and Ebony Yizar.
The exhibit ran through April 30.
Got Art? Inc. is a non-sectarian organization founded to develop a network, whose goal is to connect with
Fine Art artists (painters, photogra-
Mayor Richard Thomas
on the passing of retired
MVPD Detective
George McClendon
Retired Detective
George McClendon
R
etired Detective George
McClendon was a major
figure in Mount Vernon.
He will be sorely missed
and the City of Mount Vernon extends our deepest condolences
to his family.
George started his career in
1991 with the Mount Vernon Police Department. In 1994, while
off-duty he was shot in the chest
while protecting his family from a
failed carjacking. George was a
man of the community, engaged,
involved, and strove to make a
difference in the lives of all people. In his spare time, he was an
umpire for Little League baseball
and served as security at New
Rochelle High School.
He inspired many to rise above
and gave his time at numerous
community and masonic events
to empower those traveling toward their potential. George’s
example of giving back is something we can all learn from and
his memory will live on with his
Mount Vernon family.
phers, multi-media, etc.) in order
to provide and share resources, art
instruction, references, and workshops for artists who seek information about exhibiting, publishing,
and perfecting their works.
Membership is open to all who
believe that the arts are essential
aspects of a community’s health
and development. All ethnicities,
spiritual beliefs and political views
are welcome.
The organization itself is not affiliated with, or expressively supportive of any political philosophy
or religious organization.
Got Art? Inc. officers: FannyMarie Oliveras, President, james
“jAFa” Fair, Vice President, Fani
Miller-Beard, Secretary, James
Bujo Williams, Treasurer, Cecelia
Duncan and Public Relations Coordinator, Barry L. Mason - Graphics
Coordinator.
PO Box 1206, Mt. Vernon, NY
10550
Got Art? Inc. invites everyone to
their website: www.gotart.org.
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INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
29 l June 2016
Mt. Vernon Portuguese community honors Antonio Ferreira as
“Man of the Year”
Photos by Henrique Mano of Luso Americano
(l to r) Tony Amieiro (PAC President), Tyrae Woodson-Samuels (Staff Assistant
to Congressman Engel), Council President Marcus Griffith, Councilwoman
Roberta Apuzzo, Tony Ferreira, Mayor Richard Thomas, Janice Duarte,
Councilman Yuhanna Edwards
W
hile Portuguese live throughout the county, sizable Portuguese enclaves exist in
Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New
Rochelle, the Tarrytowns and Ossining all places where Portuguese-American
clubs, soccer teams and stores selling
Portuguese food have flourished throughout the years.
The Portuguese American Club (or
“PAC”) was originally founded on August
18, 1935 in the City of Mount Vernon,
NY as “Club Português Nova Aurora” or
in English, “the New Dawn Portuguese
Club” as a common place for Portuguese
immigrants to come together as they established themselves in their new home
city and country. PAC adopted its current name, Portuguese American Club,
on March 18, 1949 and its evolution and
growth in Mount Vernon has spanned
from 62 West First Street to its current location at 130 East Prospect Avenue since
September 13, 1975.
PAC remains dedicated to its early
goals and purpose, which is to promote
the Portuguese language, culture and traditions, and community service. Through
the school Escola Dom Afonso Henriques,
young children learn the Portuguese language, culture and history. Some of the
richest traditions are rooted in music and
food and it’s often shared with the larger
community at annual barbeques and picnics. On September 1, 1983, the City of
Mount Vernon honored the club by officially naming Temple Place, Portugal
Place.
(l to r) David Duarte, Planning Commissioner Shawyn Patterson-Howard,
Janice Duarte, Councilwoman Roberta Apuzzo, Isabelle Marques (President
of NYPALC), Tony Amieiro (President of PAC), Antonio Ferreira, Bertina Correia , Gabriel Marques (President of North American Regional Council of the
Portuguese Diaspora), Tyrae Woodson-Samuels
(l to r) Tony Ferreira, Mayor Thomas and Fernando Viegas
(l to r) David Duarte, US Congressman Eliot Engel and Janice Duarte
On Saturday, May 21, Mayor Richard
Thomas and members of the Mount Vernon City Council attended a special event
at the Mount Vernon Portuguese American
Club to honor Antonio Ferreira, who was
voted Man of the Year 2016 by the Portuguese communities of New York State.
It’s the first time someone from the club in
Mount Vernon has received this recognition, and Mayor Thomas, members of the
City Council and other dignitaries presented proclamations and citations to Ferreira.
António or “Tony” was born on September 16, 1955 in Águas Santas, Vila-Real,
Portugal and is the youngest of three children. At the age of 13, Tony immigrated to
France where he began to learn his first
craft and studied carpentry at Bourgoin
Jollie. On June 17, 1972, at the age of 16,
Mount Vernon welcomed Tony to his new
home in America. Tony’s brother and sister continue to reside in France and Tony
continues to live and call Mount Vernon
his home.
Tony became a member of the Portuguese-American Club (PAC) of Mount
Vernon 44 years ago – the same year he
arrived in America. At the time, PAC was
located at 28 East First Street and is now
celebrating its 41st anniversary at its current home. He’s consistently been an active member, and has served in various
leadership roles at various times. In 1996,
because of his extensive volunteering
both of his time and his services to the
club, he was awarded an honorary membership, but continues to pay his annual
dues despite his honorary status.
Of course, Tony’s community involvement doesn’t stop there either. Tony currently serves as Treasurer of the Academia
do Bacalhau de New York, which is an organization that raises funds to help Portuguese-Americans and their descendants
in financial need, such as paying rent or
their electrical/heating bill.
Tony is a loving father and has instilled
his example of civic participation early
in his daughter, Sonia Ferreira, who at 5
years of age became a member of PAC
Mount Vernon, and his wife, Bertini Correia.
INQUIRER
30 l June 2016
www.mvinquirer.com
Ambassador Ron Kirk attends Chamber of Commerce
event at Maggie Spillane’s
A
(l to r) SHARE-NY President Frank Fraley, Mt. Vernon
Mayor Rich Thomas and U.S Ambassador Ron Kirk
mbassador Ron Kirk,
former U.S. Trade
Representative
for
President
Barack
Obama and currently co-chairman of the Clean and Safe
Energy Coalition, provided keynote remarks at the Mt. Vernon
Chamber of Commerce roundtable on Tuesday, May 24, at
Maggie Spillane’s restaurant.
Ambassador Kirk is a leader in
the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition’s (CASEnergy) mission to
advance nuclear energy as part
of our nation’s energy portfolio.
In his remarks, Ambassador
Kirk said, “We need to do something about dirty air. You can’t
get rid of Indian Point and say
you’re an environmentalist.”
The Ambassador served in
the President’s Cabinet as his
principal trade adviser, negotiator and spokesperson on trade
issues, and oversaw approval
and implementation of free
trade agreements with South
Korea, Colombia and Panama.
Kirk also oversaw the start
and advancement of the trade
agreement with the European
Union and the Trans-Pacific
Partnership.
As mayor of Dallas, Texas, before joining President Obama’s
Cabinet, he oversaw economic development efforts that
brought more than 45,000 new
jobs and more than $3.5 billion
in new investment to Dallas.
Westchester Center resident celebrates her
107th birthday
Vera Dorch (c) with family and church members during her
107th birthday celebration at the Westchester Center
O
n May 20, Vera Dorch
was honored at the
Westchester Center for
Rehabilitation & Nurs-
ing by the facility, staff, her adoring niece, Constance Vera Terry,
as well as her Pastor and fellow
church members of Macedonia
Baptist Church. Dorch was
presented with gifts, cards,
flowers, songs, prayers and a
large chocolate cake in honor
of her 107th birthday.
Dorch has been a resident of
Mount Vernon since her family moved here around 1922.
She and her brother, Clarence
Odell, remained in Mount Vernon for their adult lives and
were prominent members of
the Mount Vernon community.
She graduated from A.B.
Davis HS and Elizabeth City
Teacher’s College in North
Carolina.
Dorch joined Macedonia
Baptist Church in 1927 and
is the oldest member of the
church. It was there where
she met her future husband,
Sherefield Dorch, and was
married to him by Rev. Nelson
in 1938.
Dorch and her husband
were active members of the
church and helped, raise and
mentor their nieces and neph-
ews.
Dorch enjoyed a happy marriage for some fifty-two years.
She was always passionate
in decorating and sewing and
retired from Lord & Taylor department store.
She has always maintained
her hobbies of knitting, crocheting, listening to jazz,
reading the bible and novels
and keeping up with current
events.
With the support of her
niece, Constance, she has
enjoyed the Summer Breeze
Concert Series and was a
member of the “Breezetts.”
She has also been a life member of the Presbyterian Jazz
Society.
She has voted in elections
up until 2008.
Terry describes her aunt
as a “beautiful person, both
inside and out.” Dorch credits her longevity to her faith
in God, and a clean, happy,
healthy lifestyle.
INQUIRER
www.mvinquirer.com
31 l June 2016
Local physical therapist holds seminar at Armory
N
Dr. David Cassuto speaking to the seniors at the Armory
umerous senior citizens benefited from a seminar held on
Wednesday, May 25, at the popular Armory in Mount Vernon. Dr.
David Mark Cassuto, a physical therapist,
who has a practice located at 105 Stevens Avenue, offered valuable information
on how to engage in low-impact exercise
while staying safe and well hydrated during activity.
As some of the participants enjoyed
lunch provided by the Armory staff, the
group attentively listened to Dr. Cassuto
explain the benefit that physical activity
has on overall health and well- being and
how it can help retain balance to reduce
the risk of falls.
“Physical activity is a vital part of everyday life, especially as we begin to
age,” said Dr. Cassuto. “Keeping seniors
healthy is a priority of Physical Therapy
Services of Westchester, and we offer numerous programs that address prevalent
challenges they face. It is our goal to help
seniors achieve pain-free movement and
maintain their independence.”
If you are a Medicare patient and suffer from joint pain, arthritis, stroke, joint
Some of the many seniors that participated in the informative seminar
replacement, Parkinson’s, muscle weakness, difficulty walking and other physical
conditions, don’t hesitate to reach out to
Dr. Cassuto.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) report that since inactivity increases with age, one in three men
and one in two women engage in no physical activity by the age of 75. The CDC
states that significant health benefits can
be achieved through moderate activity,
which can reduce swelling caused by arthritis, promote strong bones, and lessen
depression.
“We were delighted that Dr. Cassuto
offered to present this seminar to our
seniors, and always welcome the opportunity to have Dr. Cassuto speak to our
group,” said Geraldine Christiana, Director of the Senior Program at the Armory.
Dr. Cassuto’s longtime practice location
address is 105 Stevens Ave, Suite 309, Mt.
Vernon, New York and he can be reached
via phone at 914-663-4500 and via fax at
914-663-4501.
Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon participates
in NY State Youth of the Year competition
N
Nathaly Burgos (r) with Jaron Dobson, 2015 Youth of the Year
athaly Burgos a fouryear member of Boys
& Girls Club of Mount
Vernon represented the
Club at Siena College in Loudonville, New York. Nathaly was
one of 30 participants in the
statewide competition. At fourteen years of age, she was one
of the youngest participants.
Despite her youth, she showed
exceptional leadership qualities.
Nathaly was part of a fivemember team that participated
in a team building scavenger
hunt. She assumed the leadership role on her team and led
them to victory.
Nathaly also interviewed very
well with the panel of judges.
While she did not get selected
as a finalist, she left her mark as
a strong force in future competitions.
Gene Bailey, director of Organizational Development for
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
said, “Miss Burgos represented
herself and Boys & Girls Club
of Mount Vernon very well. She
showed great leadership and
was compelling and inspirational.”
Nathaly will receive a $750
scholarship from the Boys &
Girls Club of Mount Vernon and
is eligible to compete again until
she becomes 18.
Learn more about Nathaly Burgos and the Boys & Girls Club of
Mount Vernon through the club’s
website found at www.bgcmvny.
org.
INQUIRER
32 l June 2016
www.mvinquirer.com
Children having a great time
hugged and greeted each other warmly
everywhere you looked, and the atmosphere was one of unity and camaraderie.
The Recreation Dept., led by Commissioner Dr. Darren Morton and Deputy Commissioner Diane Atkins, did an excellent job
of managing logistics, from transporting
seniors and manning the grills, to provid-
Whip & Nae Nae dancers
ing chairs and cleaning up meticulously at
the end of the day.
During the program, artist André Trenier
signed his powerful tribute mural of Heavy
D & the Boyz, and Heavy D’s mom heaped
generous praise on the soft-spoken artist and his evocative work. Photographer
Leon Cato attended the fundraiser to in-
Youngsters playing basketball during the festivities
The t-shirt booth
The Myers family members and friends
clude Heavy D in a documentary film he’s
making about Mount Vernon and the complex issue of gentrification. Live musical
performances, spoken word tributes, and
even some light comedy made the time
pass quickly, with popular music for the
Artist André Trenier signing his powerful tribute mural of Heavy D
& the Boyz
“over 30” and “under 20” cohorts keeping
the crowd engaged in between. Heavy D’s
teenage daughter Xea flew in for the occasion, and a number of family members
and artists traveled from out-of-state to
participate in this special day.
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33 l June 2016
The Mount Vernon Youth
Bureau participates in
“I Love My Parks Day”
Mount Vernon senior
citizens help empower
City Hall
Mt. Vernon students doing volunteer
work at the Jay Heritage Center
located in Rye, NY
A senior citizen helping out at City Hall
O
ver the past few months
Mayor Richard Thomas
has been working to
bring a softer image to
City Hall by engaging with our senior citizens to help them volunteer
their services. Their experience
and wisdom is bringing historic
knowledge and building a better
future based on firm past foundations to City Hall.
The results have been great and
government is becoming more
welcoming. Seniors have been
signing up to help out with some
of the day-to-day tasks that occur in the Mayor’s office. It has
been a great experience and there
are plans to expand this program
across City Hall.
Seniors are powering and providing new energy which is helping
operations run smoothly. As part of
the expansion, seniors will also be
welcoming people into City Hall to
create a friendlier atmosphere. To
date, the outreach and response
has been remarkable, with nonprofit organizations chipping in to
aid in this effort. “Being involved
& engaged” is part of the major
theme from Mayor Thomas’ office.
One of our senior volunteers,
William M. Rodwick, brings over
50 years of experience as a designer, construction manager, estimating chief, AVP of design, and
quality and safety chief. He is helping empower our Public Works department by assisting in pavement
resurfacing, construction quality
control, lighting and electric power,
as well as a host of other topics.
Mayor Thomas said, “This is
what it means to be engaged and
to be involved. Our seniors are
stepping up to help out in a major way. Our plan is to expand this
to every department and have seniors truly involved in improving
the operations of City Hall. I am
thankful that they are a part of this
administration and will continue to
play a role in making Mount Vernon
great.”
Former NYC Transit manager,
current NYU Professor and Mt.
Vernon resident William Rodwick
said, “I’m very excited to be of assistance in training the Department
of Public Works employees to develop their skills and practices.”
Retired former Mt. Vernon teacher, with deep Mt. Vernon roots,
Donna Marable, said, “It’s a great
idea to expand this senior program
across the building. We all have
a role to play in making our city
great and I really appreciate the
opportunity to share my experiences with others. Mount Vernon
is a special place and it’s good to
see our Mayor taking care of the
seniors.”
Singer, songwriter, musician and
Mt. Vernon resident Beverley Draper said, “I want to thank the Mayor
for allowing seniors a chance to
stay involved and give back to our
community.”
O
n Saturday, May 7, students
from the Mount Vernon Youth
Bureau’s WDAY (Workforce Development Academy for Youth)
program participated in the New York
State Parks and Historic Sites “I Love My
Parks Day.” This is an exciting statewide
event to improve and enhance New York’s
parks and historic sites and bring visibility
to the entire park system and its needs.
This year was the biggest turnout yet,
with over 6000 volunteers throughout
New York State. The WDAY students volunteered at the Jay Heritage Center located in Rye, NY to help rehabilitate the 1917
Tennis House for community use and particularly for youth clinics. While cleaning
up around the Tennis House, WDAY Program participant Jaylen O’Neal assisted
the Jay Heritage Center’s archaeologist
discover artifacts from the 18th century.
Through the WDAY program, students
are offered paid and unpaid work expe-
riences and are required to complete a
GREEN/ STEM project. WDAY Program
provides in-school youth ages 14-21 and
out of school youth ages 16-24, with a
comprehensive program that enables
youth to transition into adulthood and
gain economic self-sufficiency through:
job skills training, mentoring, leadership
opportunities, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and college/career
exploration. By focusing on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)
projects, the program provides innovative
opportunities and prepares youth for the
global economy.
Mayor Richard Thomas said, “Mount
Vernon supports community gardening
and the revitalization of all parks for families to utilize. The Jay Heritage Center is
a New York State historic site and Westchester County park. I am a big proponent
of open green space and it remains one
of my top priorities for Mount Vernon as
well. STEM continues to play a vital role
in educating our youth and providing our
young scholars with different avenues of
growth to reach their full potential and the
Youth Bureau continues to focus on these
opportunities.”
“GREEN and STEM activities are a vital
part of the WDAY program and help participants understand the daily relevance
of science, technology, engineering, and
math. Through this experience these
young people not only learned about the
environment, they also learned the importance of volunteering and giving back to
the community,” stated Deputy Director,
Dena Williams.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dominique Smith,
Youth Case Manager at 914-665-2344 or
[email protected]
The fundraiser was marked
by many expressions of gratitude and appreciation from
those who graced the stage.
Among others, Mr. & Mrs. Myers and their extended family,
Mayor Thomas and his sister
Jacene, NBA Hall of Famer
Walt Frazier and members of
the New York Knicks organization, Bowlegged Lou of “House
Party” fame, and WBLS’s Dr.
Bob Lee, expressed pride in,
and appreciation for, Heavy D
and the City of Mount Vernon,
and encouraged those in at-
tendance to work together to
continue the city’s traditions
of talent and greatness. There
were lots of smiles and laughter, and like the scattered raindrops towards the end of the
day, a few tears as well.
Those interested in learning
more about The Myers Foundation, or the treatable, medical condition thrombosis that
took Heavy D’s life much too
soon, should visit the foundation’s website www.themyersfoundation.org.
34 l June 2016
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36 l June 2016
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Transcription

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