3 27 Fin

W W W . W E S T C H E S T E R G U A R D I A N .
C O M
Westchesters Most Influential Weekly
Vol. VI, No. XIII Tursday March 27, 2014 $1.00
LEE H. HAMILTON
Fixing Congress
Page 16
LARRY M. ELKIN
The Last
NATO President
Page 13
JOHN SIMON
Fairy-tale Musicals
Page 12
CHRIS ROSTENBERG
Pro-Choice Liars
Page 10
JOHN F. McMULLEN
Mr. Gates Is In
The Building
Page 9
RACHEL McCAIN
Homelessness in
Yonkers
Page 8
SHERIF AWAD
From Luxor
Page 6
LEE DANIELS
Creative Journey of
Hank Kimmel
Page 4
Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver Lends His Support to
Yonkers Board of Education
Transformation
By HEZI ARIS, Page 20
PROSECUTORS
ELLIOT JACOBSON AND PERRY CARBONE
UNETHICAL AND
CORRUPT
HYPOCRITES!!!!!
By TED ZELMANN, Page 3
Page 2 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014
Page 3 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN
Of Signicance
Community Section ............................................................................... 4
Business ................................................................................................ 4
Calendar ............................................................................................... 4
Charity .................................................................................................. 5
Contest .................................................................................................. 6
Creative Disruption ............................................................................ 6
Education ............................................................................................. 7
Fashion .................................................................................................. 8
Fitness.................................................................................................... 9
Health ..................................................................................................10
History ................................................................................................10
Ed Koch Movie Review ...................................................................12
Spoof ....................................................................................................13
Sports Scene .......................................................................................13
Najahs Corner ...................................................................................13
Writers Collection.............................................................................14
Books ...................................................................................................16
Transportation ...................................................................................17
Government Section ............................................................................17
Albany Correspondent ....................................................................17
Mayor Marvins Column .................................................................18
Government .......................................................................................19
OpEd Section .........................................................................................23
Ed Koch Commentary.....................................................................23
Letters to the Editor ..........................................................................24
Weir Only Human ............................................................................25
Legal Notices ..........................................................................................26
Mission Statement
Te Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events
and developments that are newsworthy and signifcant to readers living in, and/or employed in,
Westchester County. Te Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, reliable informa-
tion without favor or compromise. Our frst duty will be to the PEOPLES
RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation,
no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the fnest tradition of FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS.
Te Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and
businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than
focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily
journals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more compre-
hensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened
with analysis, where appropriate.
From amongst journalisms classic key-words: who, what, when,
where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We
will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the
initial spin and damage control ofen characteristic of immediate
news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will
take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot
be obtained elsewhere.
To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not neces-
sarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be
all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of
relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features
and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the
county. We must stay trim and fexible if we are to succeed.
west chest er guar di an. com
Guardian News Corp.
P.O. Box 8
New Rochelle, New York 10801
Sam Zherka , Publisher & President
publisher@westchesterguardian.com
Hezi Aris, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President
whyteditor@gmail.com
Advertising: (914) 562-0834
News and Photos: (914) 562-0834
Fax: (914) 633-0806
Published online every Monday
Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Tursday
Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc.
www.wattersonstudios.com
RADI O
Westchester On the Level with Narog
and Aris
Westchester On the Level is heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon
on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Join
the conversation by calling toll-free to 1-877-674-2436. Please stay on topic.
Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are your co-hosts. In the week beginning February 20th and ending on
February 24th, we have an exciting entourage of guests.
Every Monday is special. On Monday, February 20th, Krystal Wade, a celebrated participant in http://
www.TeWritersCollection.com is our guest. Krystal Wade is a mother of three who works fty miles
from home and writes in her spare time.Wildes Fire,her debut novel has been accepted for publication
and should be available in 2012. Not far behind is her second novel, Wildes Army. How does she do it?
Tune in and nd out.
Co-hosts Richard Narog and Hezi Aris will relish the dissection of all things politics on Tuesday, February
21st. Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick will share his perspective from the august inner
sanctum of the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 22nd. Stephen Cerrato, Esq., will share
his political insight on Tursday, February 23rd. Friday, February 24thhas yet to be lled. It may be a propi-
tious day to sum up what transpired throughout the week. A sort of BlogTalk Radio version of Tat Was
Te Week Tat Was (TWTWTW).
For those who cannot join us live, consider listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or on
demand. Within 15 minutes of a shows ending, you can nd the segment in our archive that you may link
to using the hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph.
Te entire archive is available and maintained for your perusal. Te easiest way to nd a particular interview
is to search Google, or any other search engine, for the subject matter or the name of the interviewee. For
example, search Google, Yahoo, AOL Search for Westchester On the Level, Blog Talk Radio, or use the
hyperlink above.
Page 3 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN
Of Signicance
Business ................................................................................................ 4
Calendar ............................................................................................... 4
Charity .................................................................................................. 5
Contest .................................................................................................. 6
Education ............................................................................................. 7
Fashion .................................................................................................. 8
Fitness.................................................................................................... 9
Health ..................................................................................................10
History ................................................................................................10
Ed Koch Movie Review ...................................................................12
Spoof ....................................................................................................13
Sports Scene .......................................................................................13
Najahs Corner ...................................................................................13
Books ...................................................................................................16
Transportation ...................................................................................17
Albany Correspondent ....................................................................17
Mayor Marvins Column .................................................................18
Government .......................................................................................19
OpEd Section .........................................................................................23
Ed Koch Commentary.....................................................................23
Letters to the Editor ..........................................................................24
Weir Only Human ............................................................................25
Legal Notices ..........................................................................................26
Mission Statement
Te Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events
and developments that are newsworthy and signifcant to readers living in, and/or employed in,
Westchester County. Te Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, reliable informa-
tion without favor or compromise. Our frst duty will be to the PEOPLES
RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation,
no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the fnest tradition of FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS.
Te Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and
businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than
focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily
journals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more compre-
hensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened
with analysis, where appropriate.
From amongst journalisms classic key-words: who, what, when,
where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We
will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the
initial spin and damage control ofen characteristic of immediate
news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will
take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot
be obtained elsewhere.
To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not neces-
sarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be
all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of
relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features
and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the
county. We must stay trim and fexible if we are to succeed.
west chest er guar di an. com
Guardian News Corp.
P.O. Box 8
Sam Zherka , Publisher & President
Advertising: (914) 562-0834
Fax: (914) 633-0806
Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Tursday
www.wattersonstudios.com
RADI O
Westchester On the Level with Narog
and Aris
Westchester On the Level is heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon
on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Join
the conversation by calling toll-free to 1-877-674-2436. Please stay on topic.
Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are your co-hosts. In the week beginning February 20th and ending on
February 24th, we have an exciting entourage of guests.
Every Monday is special. On Monday, February 20th, Krystal Wade, a celebrated participant in http://
www.TeWritersCollection.com is our guest. Krystal Wade is a mother of three who works fty miles
from home and writes in her spare time.Wildes Fire,her debut novel has been accepted for publication
and should be available in 2012. Not far behind is her second novel, Wildes Army. How does she do it?
Tune in and nd out.
Co-hosts Richard Narog and Hezi Aris will relish the dissection of all things politics on Tuesday, February
21st. Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick will share his perspective from the august inner
sanctum of the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 22nd. Stephen Cerrato, Esq., will share
his political insight on Tursday, February 23rd. Friday, February 24thhas yet to be lled. It may be a propi-
tious day to sum up what transpired throughout the week. A sort of BlogTalk Radio version of Tat Was
Te Week Tat Was (TWTWTW).
For those who cannot join us live, consider listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or on
demand. Within 15 minutes of a shows ending, you can nd the segment in our archive that you may link
to using the hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph.
Te entire archive is available and maintained for your perusal. Te easiest way to nd a particular interview
is to search Google, or any other search engine, for the subject matter or the name of the interviewee. For
example, search Google, Yahoo, AOL Search for Westchester On the Level, Blog Talk Radio, or use the
hyperlink above.
Of Signicance
Business ................................................................................................ 4
Calendar ............................................................................................... 4
Cultural Perspective ........................................................................... 7
Energy Issues ....................................................................................... 8
In Memoriam ....................................................................................10
Medicine .............................................................................................10
Najahs Corner ...................................................................................11
Movie Review ....................................................................................12
Music ...................................................................................................12
Community ........................................................................................13
Books ...................................................................................................16
People ..................................................................................................18
Eye On Teatre ..................................................................................18
Leaving on a Jet Plane ......................................................................19
Campaign Trail ..................................................................................20
Economic Development ..................................................................20
Education ...........................................................................................21
Te Hezitorial ....................................................................................21
Legal ....................................................................................................23
People ..................................................................................................24
Strategy ...............................................................................................24
OpEd Section .........................................................................................25
Legal Notices ..........................................................................................27
RADI O
Westchester On the Level with Narog and Aris
Westchester On the Level is usually heard from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12
Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel.
Because of the importance of a Federal court case purporting corruption and bribery
allegations, programming with be suspended for the days of March 26 to 29, 2012. Yon-
kers Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor James Sadewhite is our scheduled guest Friday,
March 30.
It is however anticipated that the jury will conclude its deliberation on either Mon-
day or Tuesday, March 26 or 27. Should that be the case, we will resume our regular
programming schedule and announce that fact on the Yonkers Tribune website.
Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are co-hosts of the show.
Page 26 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012
George Weinbaum
ATTORNEY AT LAW
175 MAIN ST., SUITE 711-7 WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601
FREE CONSULTATION:
Before speaking to the police... call
Criminal, Medicaid, Medicare
Fraud, White-Collar Crime &
Health Care Prosecutions.
T. 914.948.0044
F. 914.686.4873
Professional Dominican
Hairstylists & Nail Technicians
Yudis Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle, NY 10801 914.633.7600
Hair Cuts Styling Wash & Set Perming
Pedicure Acrylic Nails Fill Ins Silk Wraps Nail Art Designs
Highights Coloring Extensions Manicure Eyebrow Waxing
LEGAL NOTICES CLASSIFIED ADS
Ofce Space Available-
Prime Location, Yorktown Heights
1,000 Sq. Ft.: $1800. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230
Prime Retail - Westchester County
Best Location in Yorktown Heights
1100 Sq. Ft. Store $3100; 1266 Sq. Ft. store $2800 and 450 Sq. Ft.
Store $1200.
Suitable for any type of business. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230
HELP WANTED
A non prot Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) Direc-
tor of Development- FT-must have a background in development or expe-
rience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and experi-
ence working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a
good knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties include
overseeing all box ofce, concessions, movie stafng, day of show lobby
stafng such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with POS
system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203)
438-5795 and ask for Julie or Allison
FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER
In the Matter of ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
SUMMONS AND INQUEST NOTICE
Chelsea Thomas (d.o.b. 7/14/94),
A Child Under 21 Years of Age Dkt Nos. NN-10514/15/16-10/12C
Adjudicated to be Neglected by NN-2695/96-10/12B
FU No.: 22303
Tiffany Ray and Kenneth Thomas,
Respondents. X
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR
RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT
22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO TERMINATE
YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE
CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, AND MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH
PERIOD.
UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETH-
ER THE NON-RESPONSENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RESPONDENT; IF
THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE
COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NON-RESPONDENT
PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD; IF THE CHILD IS PLACED AND
REMAINS IN FOSTER CARE FOR FIFTEEN OF THE MOST RECENT TWENTY-TWO MONTHS, THE
AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF
THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE
PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE PARENT(s) WERE NOT NAMED AS RESPONDENTS IN
THE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING.
A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CUS-
TODY OF THE CHILD AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD.
BY ORDER OF THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT(S) WHO RESIDE(S) OR IS FOUND AT [specify
address(es)]:
Last known addresses: TIFFANY RAY: 24 Gareld Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701
Last known addresses: KENNETH THOMAS: 24 Gareld Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701
An Order to Show Cause under Article 10 of the Family Court Act having been led with this Court
seeking to modify the placement for the above-named child.
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at Yonkers Family Court
located at 53 So. Broadway, Yonkers, New York, on the 28th day of March, 2012 at 2;15 pm in the
afternoon of said day to answer the petition and to show cause why said child should not be
adjudicated to be a neglected child and why you should not be dealt with in accordance with the
provisions of Article 10 of the Family Court Act.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that you have the right to be represented by a law-
yer, and if the Court nds you are unable to pay for a lawyer, you have the right to have a lawyer
assigned by the Court.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that if you fail to appear at the time and place
noted above, the Court will hear and determine the petition as provided by law.
Dated: January 30, 2012 BY ORDER OF THE COURT
CLERK OF THE COURT
Get Noticed
Get
Noticed
Legal Notices, Advertise Today
Legal Notices,
Advertise Today
1 column 2 column
914-562-0834
WHYTeditor@gmail.com
(914) 562-0834
Feature Section ................................................................................................................................. 3
Legal ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Breaking News Exclusive ......................................................................................................... 20
Community Section ........................................................................................................................ 4
Arts and Leisure ........................................................................................................................... 4
Calendar ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Education ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Cultural Perspectives .................................................................................................................. 6
Homeless ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Housing ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Music .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Creative Disruption..................................................................................................................... 9
Roe V. Wade ................................................................................................................................ 10
Eye on Teatre ............................................................................................................................ 12
Current Commentary............................................................................................................... 13
Middle East Forum ................................................................................................................... 14
Government .................................................................................................................................... 16
Lee Hamilton Commentary .................................................................................................... 16
Economic Development .......................................................................................................... 16
Mayor Marvin ............................................................................................................................ 17
OpEd................................................................................................................................................. 18
Virtue ........................................................................................................................................... 18
Legal Notices ................................................................................................................................... 19
Guardian News Corp.
P.O. Box 8
Sam Zherka, Publisher & President
Offce: (914)-576-1481
Fax: (914) 633-0806
Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
wattersonstudios.com
Page 26 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012
George Weinbaum
ATTORNEY AT LAW
FREE CONSULTATION:
Before speaking to the police... call
Criminal, Medicaid, Medicare
Fraud, White-Collar Crime &
Health Care Prosecutions.
T. 914.948.0044
F. 914.686.4873
Professional Dominican
Hairstylists & Nail Technicians
Yudis Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle, NY 10801 914.633.7600
Hair Cuts Styling Wash & Set Perming
Pedicure Acrylic Nails Fill Ins Silk Wraps Nail Art Designs
Highights Coloring Extensions Manicure Eyebrow Waxing
LEGAL NOTICES CLASSIFIED ADS
Ofce Space Available-
Prime Location, Yorktown Heights
1,000 Sq. Ft.: $1800. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230
Prime Retail - Westchester County
Best Location in Yorktown Heights
1100 Sq. Ft. Store $3100; 1266 Sq. Ft. store $2800 and 450 Sq. Ft.
Store $1200.
Suitable for any type of business. Contact Wilca: 914.632.1230
HELP WANTED
A non prot Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) Direc-
tor of Development- FT-must have a background in development or expe-
rience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and experi-
ence working with sponsors/donors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a
good knowledge of computers/software/ticketing systems, duties include
overseeing all box ofce, concessions, movie stafng, day of show lobby
stafng such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be familiar with POS
system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203)
438-5795 and ask for Julie or Allison
FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER
In the Matter of ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
SUMMONS AND INQUEST NOTICE
Chelsea Thomas (d.o.b. 7/14/94),
A Child Under 21 Years of Age Dkt Nos. NN-10514/15/16-10/12C
Adjudicated to be Neglected by NN-2695/96-10/12B
FU No.: 22303
Tiffany Ray and Kenneth Thomas,
Respondents. X
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR
RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT
22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO TERMINATE
YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE
CHILD FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, AND MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH
PERIOD.
UPON GOOD CAUSE, THE COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETH-
ER THE NON-RESPONSENT PARENT(s) SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RESPONDENT; IF
THE COURT DETERMINES THE CHILD SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS/HER HOME, THE
COURT MAY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE NON-RESPONDENT
PARENT(s) SHOULD BE SUITABLE CUSTODIANS FOR THE CHILD; IF THE CHILD IS PLACED AND
REMAINS IN FOSTER CARE FOR FIFTEEN OF THE MOST RECENT TWENTY-TWO MONTHS, THE
AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OF
THE PARENT(s) AND COMMITMENT OF GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD FOR THE
PURPOSES OF ADOPTION, EVEN IF THE PARENT(s) WERE NOT NAMED AS RESPONDENTS IN
THE CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE PROCEEDING.
A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CUS-
TODY OF THE CHILD AND TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF VISITATION RIGHTS WITH THE CHILD.
BY ORDER OF THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT(S) WHO RESIDE(S) OR IS FOUND AT [specify
address(es)]:
Last known addresses: TIFFANY RAY: 24 Gareld Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701
Last known addresses: KENNETH THOMAS: 24 Gareld Street, #3, Yonkers, NY 10701
An Order to Show Cause under Article 10 of the Family Court Act having been led with this Court
seeking to modify the placement for the above-named child.
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this Court at Yonkers Family Court
located at 53 So. Broadway, Yonkers, New York, on the 28th day of March, 2012 at 2;15 pm in the
afternoon of said day to answer the petition and to show cause why said child should not be
adjudicated to be a neglected child and why you should not be dealt with in accordance with the
provisions of Article 10 of the Family Court Act.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that you have the right to be represented by a law-
yer, and if the Court nds you are unable to pay for a lawyer, you have the right to have a lawyer
assigned by the Court.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that if you fail to appear at the time and place
noted above, the Court will hear and determine the petition as provided by law.
Dated: January 30, 2012 BY ORDER OF THE COURT
CLERK OF THE COURT
Get Noticed
Get
Noticed
Legal Notices, Advertise Today
Legal Notices,
Advertise Today
1 column 2 column
914-562-0834
WHYTeditor@gmail.com
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Westchester On the Level
with Narog and Aris
Designated a Featured BlogTalk Radio
program, has been operating for over two
years via the Internet with Co-Hosts Richard
Narog and Hezi Aris every weekday, from 10
a.m. to 12 Noon. Listen to the show live or
on demand. Share your perspective by calling
(347) 205-9201 or by clicking onto the following
hyperlinks: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/
westchesteronthelevel
RADI O
Prosecutors Elliot Jacobson and Perry Carbone
Unethical And Corrupt HYPOCRITES!!!!!!
LEGAL
By TED ZELMANN
America in May 2013 was once again
awakened to the abuses of the federal
government when media blew wide open
the unscrupulous and unconstitutional
targeting of Americans who considered
themselves part of the Tea Party platform,
who spoke out against corruption, incum-
bent career politicians, high taxes, and
against predatory and abusive government.
Te Tea Party was subjected to tar-
geting as early as 2010 by IRS agents,
and agents from other federal agencies, in
an attempt to intimidate and silence this
ever so powerful movement of everyday
hard working Americans who believe in
America, the American Dream, and who
are against the economic enslavement of
the American People.
During 2009 and 2010, Publisher
Sam Zherka, organized over a dozen
well-attended rallies and press conferences
throughout Westchester County and New
York City, in support of the Tea Party and
in an efort to form a minor statewide
political party called T.E.A.
In attendance at these rallies and press
conferences were people of all persuasions,
ethnicities, and political afliations who
supported the message of the Tea Party
and what it stood for.
THE JANET DiFIORE CONNECTION
In and around the spring of 2009,
prior to the Tea Party Evolution (T.E.A.),
Westchester County District Attorney
Janet Difore contacted federal prosecu-
tor Perry A. Carbone, 56 (happy belated
birthday), a 20-year resident of Yorktown,
and asked that he and Elliot Jacobson, 60
(happy belated Birthday), a Greenburgh
resident, also a federal prosecutor, to inves-
tigate Sam Zherka, as a favor to her and
her husband and in retaliation for negative
articles previously published about her and
her husband in in Publisher Sam Zherkas
newspaper, Te Westchester Guardian.
DiFiore and her husband Dennis
Glazer, have for many years interviewed
and discussed employment opportunities
with federal prosecutors which included
employment at one of the nations largest
law frms, Davis Polk and Wardwell,
where DiFiores husband is a partner.
In and around 2009, Andy Grosher,
an investigator for the Westchester County
D.A.s ofce stated to an attorney, who
for this article shall be kept anonymous
and who did not have any relationship
with Sam Zherka, that the feds were
eventually going to indict Sam Zherka.
In and around December 10, 2011,
and just about two weeks after subpoenas
were served on Zherka by the IRS, and
FBI, as part of the targeting against the
T.E.A. Party advocates, Arthur Glover, an
investigator from the Westchester County
District Attorney Janet DiFiores ofce,
with frst hand knowledge contacted an
attorney who did work for Zherka and
warned her of the pending federal Grand
Jury investigation which was not made
public knowledge and nearly 18 months
prior to the IRS targeting of the T.E.A
Party hit the media.
As early as 2010, the IRS and other
Federal Agencies started targeting TEA
Party organizations and their support-
ers nationally, while here in Westchester
Continued on page 4
LEGAL
By LEE DANIELS
Last month, former
Chappaqua resident and
playwright Hank Kimmel
hit the big time, performing
in one of his own plays at
Lincoln Center.
OK, so the venue was the performance
space at the local New York Public Library,
but Kimmel was nonetheless elated to be
there.
Decidedly laconic--especially for a
former stand-up comic--and with his trade-
mark dry, self-deprecating delivery, Kimmel
in a recent interview described the path that
led him to publish nearly 50 plays, and what
brought him to New York to perform in his
one-act play,Te Lunch-Time Panelist.
I got involved in theater my last year of
college (Brown University), too late to make
an impact on not much more than my few
buddies who came to my shows. (As soon
as I got involved with theatre, any girlfriend
became an ex-girlfriend). I did a lot of
stand-up comedy, and realized that while I
liked writing jokes, I wasnt geared toward
performing them in front of strangers, said
Kimmel.
Nevertheless, upon graduation from
college, he moved to New York and took a
couple of classes at the New School, one in
improv and one in juggling.
Te juggling led nowhere, but Paul
Simon was one of the other students, oddly
enough. After one of the improv classes, I
went up the instructor and started talking
to her about comedy. I told her I was inter-
ested in writing,and she told me that she was
producing cabarets and was always on the
lookout for new material. We took a cab to
her studio in midtown Manhattan (46th and
8th), and went upstairs to her studio where
her talent (writers and actors) were about to
have a meeting.I thought,Wow,this is great;
Ill have the chance to meet some other joke
writers. Te group of about 20 was already
assembled. When we walked in, she said to
the group,Tis is Hank Kimmel. Hes going
to join us. Hes a playwright. Tis woman
had such a strong personality that I fgured
if she said I was a playwright, then, well, I
guess Im a playwright. I started writing for
her cabarets, mostly short skits. It was a great
experience in that if you wrote something
in the morning, youd see it acted out in the
evening. Tough the quality of our work
was less than scintillating, there were a few
moments of pure joy. I decided that thats
County United States Assistant Attorneys
Elliot B Jacobson, and Perry A. Carbone,
saw the opportunity to assist in the IRS
unconstitutional targeting of Sam Zherka,
the loudest tea party voice in New York,
as a favor to their dear friend Janet DiFiore,
the Westchester County District Attorney.
Elliot B. Jacobson, a registered liberal
Democrat since March 1996 with a JD
from Harvard University is licensed to
practice law in the State of New York since
1981. Jacobson has spent almost 32 years
as a prosecutor. Jacobson briefy left the
public sector only to return after failing
to make a living in the private sector as an
attorney. Jacobson has been accused several
times in the past of unethical and corrupt
behavior and prosecutorial misconduct.
For many years Jacobson and Carbone,
two political hacks, have been seeking a
political ally and favor to assist in securing
either a promotion at the United States
Attorneys ofce or appointments to federal
judgeships.
Over the past two years and after
hundreds of subpoenas Jacobson and
Carbone, with the help of the IRS Agents
who were targeting Sam Zherka for his
Tea Party activities, have interviewed many
people who have done business with Sam
Zherka in the past. Some people were ques-
tioned in a Grand Jury which was convened
to hear evidence, and others were inter-
viewed in a conference room at Jacobson and
Carbones ofce in White Plains.
Anthony (Tony) Nikc, a Westchester
County resident who is in the commer-
cial real estate business, was interviewed
by members of the IRS, specifcally by
Elliot Jacobson and Perry Carbone for
nearly 6 hours. In and around 2012
and through 2013, Mr Nikc contacted a
friend, Antonio Raimondo, and on several
occasions complained about the corrupt and
unconscionable false admissions Carbone
and Jacobson asked Nikc to make in order
to secure an indictment against Sam Zherka.
Tey want me to lie about Sam Zherka,
stated Nikc to Mr Raimondo.
Nikc also stated Tey are threaten-
ing to prosecute me, if i dont lie about cash
under the table which never happened.
Tese people are corrupt, said Tony Nikc.
Mr Nikc told this writer that in his opinion
these people, meaning Perry Carbone and
Elliot Jacobson, have a personal vendetta
against Sam Zherka.Tis is personal, they
fucken hate Sam Zherka
In and around the spring of March and
April 2012, two men Pasquale (Pat) Scarpa,
and Kevin Sisti, of Connecticut who were
previously contacted by the IRS and received
subpoenas from Jacobson and Carbone,
via the IRS Agents, expressed their disbe-
lief and astonishment as to the existence of
any inquiry regarding dealings with Sam
Zherka, especially since all their dealings
with Zherka were legal and above board.
I never thought we would be targeted for
doing real estate deals, legitimate real
estate deals, this is crazy, said Scarpa.
Scarpa, during at least two meetings,
made it very clear that the IRS and the
prosecutors have a real hard-on for
Zherka and reiterated Jacobsons hatred
and venom for Zherka, and his statement
that, everyone around Sam Zherka is a
target.
One year later and after Pasquale (Pat)
Scarpa and his attorney Mr Kevin Kitson,
of White Plains met with Prosecutors
Jacobson and Carbone, and IRS Agents
investigating Tea Party activity, Mr Scarpa,
contacted his partner Kevin Sisti, who
solely negotiated each and every real estate
deal in the New England area involving
Sam Zherka and or his afliated entities.
On behalf of prosecutors Jacobson and
Carbone, and IRS Agents investigating the
Tea Party, Pasquale (Pat) Scarpa attempted
to solicit the help of Kevin Sisti,to change
the story, and abort from the truth and
tell the prosecutors , what they wanted
to hear. Scarpa asked Sisti to manufac-
ture evidence to avoid being targeted by
Jacobson, Carbone, and the IRS. Scarpa
delivered Jacobsons message, Join team
America because team Sammy is going
down.
Kevin Sisti stated that he was shocked
and astonished that Pasquale (Pat) Scarpa
would ask him to lie and fabricate evidence
in order to appease these rogue prosecu-
tors and IRS agents in an attempt to secure
an indictment of Zherka, who to the best
of his knowledge is guilty of nothing more
than speaking out against politicians, gov-
ernment ofcials and corruption. Sisti,
refused to participate in any such unethical,
unconstitutional and corrupt activity.
In and around 2012 and 2013,
Jacobson, and Carbone along with IRS
agents investigating Zherka for his Tea
Party activities, interviewed Vincent
DAgnillo, a Queens, NY, mortgage
broker. Carbone and Jacobson along with
IRS agents, threatened DAgnillo, directly
and through his attorney with imminent
prosecution if DAgnillo did not agree to
fabricate evidence and admit to criminality
he had no knowledge of and which did not
exist involving Sam Zherka.
In and around November 2011, an
attorney whos name shall be kept anony-
mous for this article, was served with a
subpoenas by IRS and FBI Agents. In and
around early 2012, this attorney was invited
by Jacobson and Carbone to their ofce for
an interview. Tis attorney declined the
invitation and asked to be questioned only
in front of a Grand Jury. Perry Carbone,
reluctantly convened a Grant Jury, and cross
examined this attorney (witness) in front of
a panel of Grand Jury jurors.
Perry Carbone, deliberately
attempted to mislead the Grand Jury
jurors in an attempt to secure a fabricated
indictment, stated this attorney. Carbone
fnally asked the witness to leave after the
witness lashed out at Prosecutor Carbone
about his frivolous investigation which was
nothing more than a fshing expedition.
An attorney whos name shall be kept
anonymous for this article and who had
contact with Perry Carbone regarding this
First Amendment retaliatory investigation
stated, the amount of money spent on this
bogus investigation is a crime in of itself .
Perry A. Carbone and Elliot B.
Jacobson, two ethically challenged, corrupt
political hacks, along with IRS Agents
and others, have shown that they are
more willing to break laws, suborn perjury,
fabricate evidence, and outright lie, in an
attempt to violate Sam Zherkas constitu-
tional rights in retaliation for his political
speech, free press and Tea Party afliations.
Basically, the Tea Party came under
attack, investigation and scrutiny by the IRS
and other Federal Agencies, and the likes of
Carbone and Jacobson saw the opportunity
to jump on board to attempt to receive polit-
ical favor for their personal beneft.
Every American should be very con-
cerned with any attack on civil liberties by
corrupt government ofcials no matter
what the message. Whether you approve
or disapprove of the political speech, edi-
torial or opinion, no one who has sworn
to uphold the Constitution of the United
States should betray his oath for any reason;
and in doing so is betraying the fabric of
what this country was built on, and betray-
ing the mothers and fathers whose sons
and daughters died defending the very
Constitutional rights which are currently
under attack.
Mr Elliot B. Jacobson, a bonafde
hypocrite is no diferent than his former
Democratic buddy one-time Governor
Elliot Spitzer, and should be more con-
cerned with being seen frequenting
massage parlors where happy endings run
rampant, than indulging in fshing expe-
ditions and constitutional violations for
political favor.
Ted Zelmann is a Westchester county resident
who has been writing writing on the issue
of prosecutorial misconduct and government
abuse for eight years. He is a freelancer and very
familiar with issue of government abuse which
is plaguing our county and America
CommunitySection
Lifelong Creative Journey Brings Former Chappaqua Resident Hank Kimmel Full Circle
ARTS & LEI SURE
Continued on page 5
Prosecutors Elliot Jacobson and Perry Carbone
Continued from page 3
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ENGINEERING n TECHNOLOGY n MANAGEMENT n AVIATION
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SPRING OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, March 29 and April 5
Journey Brings Former Chappaqua Resident Hank Kimmel Full Circle
ARTS & LEI SURE
what I wanted to become, a playwright
explained Kimmel.
After attending journalism school in
New York then working as a sportswriter at
Gannett Suburban Newspapers in White
Plains, Kimmel and his wife headed to
Atlanta, where he enrolled in law school, as
his wife was leaving her full-time work to
devote more time to raising their two small
children.
While at Emory, I worked for Georgia
Lawyers for the Arts. I kept meeting play-
wrights and theater artists and found the
community here more embracing than in
New York. With my lawyerly skills, I incor-
porated Working Title Playwrights, an
Atlanta-based theatre company dedicated
to the development of playwrights and new
plays (www.workngtitleplaywrights.com)
and, thanks to an enabling law school dean,
I was able to get an independent research
project in law school in which I could
research plays with some kind of legal com-
ponents. Tose plays I researched remain
my most produced and viable plays, said
Kimmel.
Upon graduation, I ended up going
into mediation, which is the highest-pay-
ing way to be a lawyer, but creates the least
residue. Each mediation is its own play--
some kind of confict needed to be resolved
in a short amount of time--and then its
over. Te courthouse became a good place
to write plays--and to be inspired to write
plays. If a judge is late to the bench, I pull
out my pad and start writing (or editing),
ruminated Kimmel.
Kimmel appeared at the beginning of
this month in Lunch-Time Panelist, at
the New York-based Piney Fork Teater
One-Act Play Festival, the frst of three pro-
ductions to be by the theater group this year.
His portrayal of a panelist in a daytime
TV show as he awaits his turn to review cake
the shows panelists are supposed to taste
begins in a sedate, almost meditative mono-
logue by Kimmel but culminates in a snappy,
explosive fnale that surprised and delighted
audience members.
After the play, as he nibbled at his
main prop for the play--a piece of New
York cheesecake--Kimmel refected on the
lengthy but fulflling journey that has led
him to this particular venue.
In a strange way, a lot of my life and
experiences have come full circle. When
the Piney Fork people asked for one of my
monologues, they said they would fnd me
an actor. But when that actor fell through, I
fgured, what the heck, I should get up there
and do it myself. Might be good for me as a
writer to have the experience again being on
stage. So, in a sense, the performance in New
York was an opportunity for me to go a long
distance out of my way to come back a short
distance correctly. I was on a New York stage,
not performing comedy, but being on stage
trying to make people laugh,said Kimmel.
Johnny Culver, managing director of
Piney Fork Press Teater, created the festival
as an alternative to others in New York City
that charge submission, reading and partici-
pation fees.
Piney Fork Press Playwriting Festival,
now in its third season, gives stage writers
from around the United States an oppor-
tunity to have their works directed and
performed by New York professionals, at no
cost, in a casual and supportive atmosphere,
said Culver in an interview this week.
Among Kimmels creative infuences,
he cites friend and mentor Geof Marchant,
his former English teacher and coach at the
Hotchkiss School; award-winning play-
wrights Gary Garrison and Susan Charlotte;
college theater professor, playwright, director
and proponent of the Regional Alternative
Teatre movement Erik Ehn; and play-
wright Margaret Baldwin.
While I appreciate (and feel blessed
about) where I have ended up,it has not been
a direct path to get there, mused Kimmel.
My favorite quote in literature (and my
guiding principle in life) comes from Zoo
Storyby Albert Albee: Sometimes its nec-
essary to go a long distance out of your way
to come back a short distance correctly.
Te Tird Piney Fork Teater One-Act
Play Festival, which will include another
play by Hank Kimmel, will take place this
summer. Rounds one and two will be held
on June 7th and July 19th at the New York
Public Library Alvin Ailey Auditorium on
West 115th Street, at 1:00 p.m. Te third
round will be held in August. More infor-
mation will soon be available at: www.
pineyforkpress.com.
Lee Daniels is Arts & Leisure writer for Te
Westchester Guardian and editor for Kiev,
Ukraine-based ICU.
Hank Kimmel
By SHERIF AWAD
In its 3
rd
edition (18-24)
March, the Luxor African
Film Festival organized
a press conference for
American flm star Danny Glover and the
Bissau-Guinean Director Flora Gomes
replete with tribute to them both. Te con-
ference was attended by Sayed Fouad, the
festivals president,and Azza el-Husseini,the
festivals director. It was moderated by Film
Critic Sherif Awad.
After thanking the festivals organizers
for their hospitality and tribute,Glover spoke
about his flm, Te Childrens Republic,
which was presented at the opening,revealed
he had a chance to visit some African coun-
tries in 2004 only to see the efects of civil
war on children in particular. He also made
notice of the presence of about one million
News & Notes from Northern Westchester
CALENDAR
By MARK JEFFERS
Heres a real shocker, Forbes
magazine has rated the New
York City-Westchester-
Hackensack, N.J., area as the
nations most overpriced area
to live in; I am sure glad our paper is still the
best priced periodical in the area, so sit back
and enjoy this weeks economically sensible
edition of News & Notes.
We can all help Te Community
Center of Northern Westchester help
students attend their proms and graduation
parties this year. Donate your gently-used
prom dresses, tuxedos, shoes and accessories.
Tey want to help ease the burden of buying
that perfect dress or suit to wear, by supply-
ing formalwear to local kids from families of
limited means. For one night in April, girls
can shop their prom closet at a very special
private event, graciously hosted by Mt. Kisco
boutique Elephants Trunk.
High school students who need this
help should call the Center. Tey will do
their best to accommodate them, while
maintaining their privacy.
Congratulations to Equinox as they
have taken over Te Gym in Armonk and
our friends a ProClinix Sports Physical
Terapy Chiropractic will continue their
professional practice operations within the
facility.
Te Center for the Arts at the
Westchester Community College in White
Plains will hold a Summer Art Classes for
Kids. Registration begins April 4
th
.
On Sunday, March 30
th
from 2 to
3pm, the Katonah Museum of Art presents
a Meet the Artist day with author artist
Rosemary Wells. Anyone with children
is familiar with her beloved picture books
featuring the character Max and Ruby. Join
Rosemary for a special reading and conversa-
tion. Learn about her artistic process, listen
to a Max and Ruby story, and participate in a
fun family book-making project. Ms.Woods
will have prints and signed books for sale.
I usually have this after chowing down
on chicken wingsSticky Fingers,a Rolling
Stones tribute band is set to perform at
the Mount Kisco Tavern on Friday April
4
th
, hopefully all attendees will get some
Satisfaction...
Tree cheers go out to Mount Kisco
Elementary School staf members who
recently participated in a districtwide fund-
raising volleyball tournament at the Fox
Lane High School. Te event raised more
than $1,000 for the Mount Kisco Food
Pantry.
Our business friends up in Yorktown
have formed Te Yorktown Small Business
Association to help economic development
in the area.
On Saturday, March 29
th
at 11:00am
the Copeland House in Mount Kisco is
presenting a free childrens concert Te
Dot and the Line. It is the story about a
frivolous dot that falls in love with a squiggle,
only to realize how much the dependable
straight line loves her.Tis multi-media per-
formance, narrated by Jamie Bernstein, is a
lively and engaging journey into geometry,
art, and an enchanting and delirious world
of sound. Te performance ends with an
instrument petting zoo, featuring over 25
percussion instruments that are all used in
this performance. Call 914-788-4659 for
more information.
Did you know that the Bedford
Historical Society ofers wonderful educa-
tional events and programs for children and
the community? Celebrated Journalist and
Author Cokie Roberts will be at the Bedford
Village 1787 Court House on Saturday,
April 5th promoting her childrens book
titled Founding Mothers: Remembering
the Ladies, she will give a talk and sign
some books.
Like everyone else, I am in search
of spring Te folks at Teatown Lake
Reservation in Ossining are too, and they
are searching for signs with a hike around
the lake on Saturday March 29
th
at 1:00pm.
Join them as they look for the greening of
the skunk cabbage and the frst signs of red
maples and explore all of the other tell-tale
clues that spring is on its way.
Te Bedford Hills Lions Club is
seeking classic cars, sponsors and vendors
for their 16
th
Annual Car Show on Sunday,
June 22
nd
, at the Katonah Commuter
Parking Lot #3.
Here I go again dating myself but
does anyone else remember Dennis Elsas on
WNEW FM? On Saturday night, March
29
th
, at 8:00pm, the North Castle Public
Library will present RocknRoll Never
Forgets with Dennis Elsas, a multimedia
journey through the historic rock n roll
archives of the legendary NY radio personal-
ity, at Whippoorwill Hall.
Tax season is in full swing, or as Uncle
Sam likes to say Its the Most Wonderful
Time of the YearSee you next week.
Mark Jefers resides in Bedford Hills, New York,
with his wife Sarah, and three daughters, Kate,
Amanda, and Claire.
EDUCATI ON
Yonkers Board of Education Policy Committee Announces Plans to Update Fiscal Policy
YONKERS, NY March 21, 2014 --
Continuing eforts to increase fnancial
accountability and transparency, the Yonkers
Board of Educations (YBoE) Policy
Committee has announced plans to draft
suggested changes to Board Policy Series
6000, Fiscal Management. Te recommen-
dations will include adjusting the timeline
for submitting the YBoEs annual proposed
budget to the City, enlisting membership of
the City Council Education Chair to the
Audit, Budget and Finance Committee,
and increasing collaboration with the Citys
fnance staf.
We believe that changes to the
Districts fscal management should be
made through Board policy not through
legislation, said Board Vice President Steve
Lopez, who chairs the Policy Committee.
Terefore,we have committed to instituting
policy changes that ofer transparency and
accountability while creating a cooperative
venture among representatives from the
District, City, County and State.
Te committees focus refects the
Boards commitment to engage stakeholders
in the Districts decision-making processes.
Te Boards fve committees Facilities,
Instructional Afairs, Legal AdHoc, Policy
and Audit, Budget and Finance (ABF)
- hold meetings in public and encourage
interested parents and citizens to attend.Te
community is also encouraged to attend the
Boards Workshop Meeting, during which
trustees review and inquire about upcoming
resolutions.
Board President Dr. Nader J. Sayegh,
Esq., noted, Te Board has unveiled several
measures to increase cooperation in the
budget process, including the enactment of
the current Inter Municipal Agreement.
President Sayegh said that the ABF
Committee Meeting on March 11 exem-
plifed the open dialogue among external
auditors, City of Yonkers fnance staf and
the YBoE fnance staf. For the frst time,
we were actually talking the same fnancial
language; we agreed on what the defcits
were and what shortfalls existed. Tis kind
of collective conversation makes it easier
to move toward solutions, said President
Sayegh.
Te members of the Board Policy
Committee are Vice President Lopez, Chair,
and Trustees Trevor Bennett and Judith
Ramos Meier. Dr. Sayegh, as president, is
ex-ofcio member of all Board committees.
Te next Policy Committee Meeting,
originally scheduled for Monday,April 7,has
been rescheduled for Monday, April 14 at
5:00 p.m. on the fourth foor of the Yonkers
Board of Education building, One Larkin
Center. Te topics will include Board Policy
Series 6000, Fiscal Management, and 7000,
Facilities Development. Te community is
encouraged to attend.
SOURCE: Maura Lamoreaux,
Yonkers Public Schools Public Information
Steve Lopez
Dr. Nader Sayegh
CULTURAL PERSPECTI VES
From Luxor
Flora Gomes, Sherif Awad, Danny Glover, Sayed Fouad, and Azza el-Hosseini at the 3rd
Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) conference.
Continued on page 7
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mines along many border areas in Africa
that caused the fall of many victims to land-
mines and the arming of children as part of
the allies in conficts.
Glover added that when he was ofered
the flms script, he recognized the script
was a recapitulation to him of many of the
events and circumstances with which he had
become familiar. He felt the script presented
an alien concept,that of the often overlooked
changes beginning to take hold in Africa.
Te growing reality is that Africa is moving
toward societies dreaming of peace and
prosperity. Tose changing visions acknowl-
edge women and children are frst to sufer
casualties, indignities, and trauma in any and
all conficts, and therefore must be the basis
of respect in order to reconstruct of a new
society among their nations.
On his frst visit to Luxor, Glover said
that this is his fourth time visiting Egypt; his
wifes frst time to do so. He revealed that his
wife is Brazilian and works as a professor of
education with a focus on the education of
children of African descent. He added that
their combined experiences brought them
personal relevance with respect to Egypt,
especially when they viewed the temples in
the Valley of the Kings.
Glover shared his desire for many years
to participate in African. In fact, he has shot
seven African flms including a TV flm for
HBO in which he played the protagonist
Mandela.
From his perspective, Director Flora
Gomes thanked the festivals organizers
and the French producer for his support in
bringing awareness of issues depicted in the
flm to larger audiences. Gomes added that
his friend Danny Glover supported the flm
from the frst minute and helped to realize
his dreams to cast an American star in flm.
Gomes also revealed that he was infuenced
by many since his childhood, including the
former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel
Nasser, an epic flm of the Arab leader
Gomes is currently preparing.
At another location, the flm workshop
tutored by US based Ethiopian Film
Producer Haile Gerima had 40 young
flmmakers participating; including 20
Egyptian and 20 Africans. For the frst
time, the workshop had visiting flmmakers
coming from such African countries such
as Eritrea, Comoros, Madagascar , Burundi,
and Rwanda. Gerima is assisted by Daniel
Williams and Ambessa Jir Berhe, flm-
makers and US based flm professors who
once were his students. During breaks, the
students were taken by the festivals shuttles
for daily visits to various Luxor monuments
at the West Side and Karnack Temple.
On March 18
th
, the festivals 3
rd
editon
kicked of with the presence of Luxor
Governor Tareq Saad, former Egyptian
Prime Minister Dr Essam Sharaf, and a
large number of Egyptian artists, including
Elham Shahine, Hala Sidky, Jehan Fadel,
and Mamdouh Abdel-Aleem, Sabri Fawaz,
Manal Salama, Hind Akef , and Egyptian
Directors Magdi Ahmed Ali, Omar Abdel-
Aziz, Sharif Mandour, Amir Ramses
Mandour , and Egyptian singers Essam
Karika and Samo Zein.
Te celebrations began at the heart of
the Nile River, with guests arriving from
their hotels to Luxor Temple on cruise lines
traversing the majestic Nile River to attend
the ceremony held there.
Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is a flm /
video critic and curator. He is the flm editor of
Egypt Today Magazine (www.EgyptToday.
com ), and the artistic director for both the
Alexandria Film Festival, in Egypt, and the
Arab Rotterdam Festival, in Te Netherlands.
He also contributes to Variety, in the United
States, and is the flm critic of Variety Arabia
(http://varietyarabia.com/ ), in the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), the Al-Masry Al-Youm
Website (http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/
node/198132) and Te Westchester Guardian
(www.WestchesterGuardian.com ).
CULTURAL PERSPECTI VES
From Luxor
Te Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) opening ceremonies honoring
Danny Glover.
Te Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) opening ceremonies honoring
Danny Glover.
Upper-Egyptian dancers performing at the Luxor African Film Festival ( LAFF) opening
ceremonies
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY FOR HUMANISTIC JUDAISM
INVITES YOU TO JOIN OUR
HUMANISTIC PASSOVER SEDER
LED BY RABBI FRANK TAMBURELLO
SHARE READINGS MUSIC
TRADITION
GREAT FOOD
WEDNESDAY- APRIL 9 7 PM
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COST: $40pp non members, children ages 12 and under are free.
Send checks payable to WCHJ
WCHJ, c/o I.Kleiman, 165 West End Ave. apt 12D, New York,NY 10023
RSVP before April 2. Seating limited to 40
For reservations call Charlotte Klein-914-218-8535 or
charlotteklein48@verizon.net
HOMELESS
The Face of Homelessness in Yonkers Varies
By RACHEL McCAIN
Homelessness is on the
Rise in Southwest Yonkers
in Afuent Westchester
County
Were like the front
lines. We see it all because everyone
comes to us frst. Ive been in danger-
ous situationsthings you couldnt even
imagine.
Chris Valencia has been working
at the shelter for about six years. He
began his career as a per-diem employee
working with the shelteron call for a
limited amount of days and time. Now,
hes one of the supervisors of the drop-in
program. Sometimes, like today, he helps
out in the cafeteria.
Chris is Hispanic, in his late 30s.
He has large green eyes and light brown
facial hair peppered with grey, olive skin.
His 6-foot-two muscular frame comes in
handy when he has to be assertive with
disorderly clients, he says. But what
sticks out in Chris mind are the elderly.
Sometimes, he says, seniors from
hospitals who have nowhere to go, whose
insurance cant cover their bills, have been
dropped of at the shelter.
Weve literally had to carry an
elderly couple up and down the stairs
because they couldnt walkthats how
old they were, he says. Te ambulance
came and just dropped them of, just like
that. Happens all the time.
He says staf cant load people into
the organizations vans at night to take
them to satellite shelter locations around
the city because nearby restaurants have
complained. Rain, snow or a crescent
moon, restaurant owners dont want their
patrons to see the homeless people, he
says, because its bad for business. Instead,
clients must walk several blocks away
from the shelter in order to be taken to
another location to sleepincluding the
elderly.
Its a tough job, Chris contin-
ues. You really gotta care about people
because the system doesnta lot of
people just dont care.
He says a Department of Social
Services worker once told him workers at
DSS dont get paid to caretheyre only
paid to tell people if theyre eligible for
benefts.
Tats what she told me. She seemed
like she cared, but thats just the nature of
the job, I guess.Chris gives a lunch ticket
to an older Hispanic man after writing
down his name, date of birth. He knows
it verbatim without asking.
A sudden 50-degree drop in tem-
perature causes the cafeteria to become
crowded one Tursday afternoon. Over
the course of a week, the weather went
from a high of 67 to a low of 15.
Its cold outside today, says Chris.
I dont want nobody standing outside.
So instead, he has everyone stand in
the cafeteria. Shoulder to shoulder, belly
to back, people wait on line for food
tickets. Tere are several male teenagers
on the line. A young Hispanic woman
holds the hands of her two children. An
adolescent sends texts while he waits
his turn. Many people on the line grab
a French baguette, donated by a local
supermarket. Everyone is bundled up in
coats, layered with sweaters and sweat-
shirts. From the body heat and warmth
of the heaters, the cafeteria is cozy. For
now, the room is quiet, except for a few
mufed conversations.
Te smell of stale alcohol and
pungent body odor mix with the aroma
of marinara sauce. On todays menu is
spaghetti and meatballs.
Tats exactly what I had last night,
says an elderly female. She appears to be
disappointed but remains on the line.
Rachel McCain is an MFA candidate at
Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville,
New York. She has a BA in English and
has written for Te Source Magazine,
Ploughshares Literary Blog, Litro
Magazine, and various other publications.
Rachel previously served as deputy editor of
Home Town Media Group, a small commu-
nity newspaper company in southern New
York. Currently, she is presently working on
a nonfction book manuscript. Direct email
to Rachel at Rachel.McCain@aol.com
By RICH MONETTI
When a homeowner misses
four consecutive payments
on their mortgage, the bank
doesnt hesitate to issue fore-
closure documents. It is then
not uncommon for the homeowner to go it
alone without any professional assistance and
seek a loan modifcation. In other words, the
length of the mortgage is increased or the
rate of repayment is increased toward the
back end when fnancial difculties have
hopefully alleviated. Te math is simple
enough, yet the process can easily succumb
to the intricacies of the paper work so enlist-
ing the help of a nonproft agency such as
the Westchester Residential Opportunities
can make all the diference and save a family
home.
Not properly flling out and complet-
ing documents, omitted crucial information
and getting lost in bank bureaucracy, means
delays and adds arrears to what is already
delinquent. As such, if that fgure gets too
high, a loan modifcation might not be
possible based on income level and other
debt.
On the other hand, foreclosure
specialists like Veronica Raphael can make
much more ado of the banks requirements
when homeowners are under her care. We
have to go through the same process as they
go through. Te diference is that we notice
the information that the bank wants, says
WROs Director of Foreclosure Prevention,
and the delays are cut to a minimum.
Hopefully, all this plays out before the
stated falling of point. WRO also provides
legal backing under the New York State
regulation that banks must hold a settlement
conference with the homeowner. We are
with them in the courtroom and speak on
their behalf,she says.
WROs assistance helps verify for the
judge that the bank has been timely with
documents they need to process, are submit-
ting accurate and up to date information,
and do not withhold pertinent information
to the homeowners case. Te value of a
housing counsel agency is to prevent these
distractions and the issues that arise from
them,she says.
Once the details are in place, a tem-
porary loan modifcation is issued. Teyre
allowed to make three payments over three
months. Its like a good faith efort. If they
complete that, the homeowner is issued a
permanent modifcation and then were
done,she says.
With the mortgage crisis fve years
behind us, the efect is coming due of sorts
for WROs workload. Te State of New
York required that banks were not allowed to
foreclose on all the robo-signed mortgages
because they could not prove they owned the
paper to do so,she says. Now that back log
is what we are dealing with.
Either way, the service comes at no
cost to the homeowner, and while many
people fnd legitimate lawyers to assist them,
among all the scams, the high legal price tag
doesnt imply you get what you pay for. We
normally get people after theyve paid $4,000
or $5,000 to an attorney and they didnt do
anything, she says, and then we end up
getting them the modifcation.
Whether that sinks in or not, she reit-
erates the most important piece of counsel.
Early intervention is really necessary, she
concludes.
For more information, call (914)
428-4507 or direct email to www.wroinc.org
Rich Monetti has been a freelance writer since
2003. He lives in Westchester County.
Free Foreclosure Assistance in White Plains
HOUSI NG
Page 5 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014
By MARK JEFFERS
One of the trickiest tasks
for us this winter season is
storing the Christmas deco-
rations in our garage while
making room for the cars
so we can plow our driveway. Good news to
reportFrosty and Santa are now driving
our car, but we made enough room to shut
the doorKudos to my wife. It was her
planning that allowed me to nish up this
weeks edition of News & Notes.
A big thank you goes out to the
Lions Club of Bedford Hills for their $500
donation to the Bedford Hills Free Library
to benet youth programs.
Grab your Xs, Qs and Zs and head
over to the Katonah Memorial House
on January 11
th
for the Katonah Scrabble
Tournament. Everyone is asked to register in
advance, equipment and score sheets will be
provided.
Te Katonah Museum of Art is holding
six-session art workshops for children 3
to 5 ve years of age through January 21
st
.
For more information give them a call at
914-232-9555.
Te Pound Ridge Library is holding
a winter forum on Saturday, January 11
th
,
Wild Flowers of the Wetlands and
Waysides? What Are We Losing? What
Can We Use?
Congratulations and good luck to our
friend Kenny Hayden as he has signed on
with the University of Albany to play baseball
and further his education next year
Te rst of the 2014 Home Gardening
Lecture Series at the Anthony Veteran Park
in Ardsley will be Right Tree in the Right
Place, with Amy Albam.
On Saturday, January 11
th
, the
Armstrong Education Center will host a
workshop on the Wild Suburbia Project
from 10am to Noon. Tis project captures
important information about local wildlife,
their movement, and interactions. All are
encouraged to become citizen scientists and
help record sightings of all the wildlife here
in Westchester County.
If you have a need for speed and it
seems the way my daughters drive, then you
will want to check out Grand Prixs newest
addition for racing enthusiasts of all ages.
It features an 80 foot long slot track with
adjustable speeds, promising fun for racers
of all ages. Drivers are able to design and
build their own custom NASCAR body in
GPNYs Art Garage and then head for the
slot track. Slot car racing is a logical exten-
sion to our existing racing-related oerings
and ts very well with our long term goal
of making Grand Prix a destination where
families, friends and corporate groups can
enjoy time together doing whatever it is they
love, all under one roof. said Grand Prix
New Yorks Vice President Nat Mundy.
Te Orpheus Chamber Orchestra will
be celebrating their 40
th
birthday with a
concert on January 26
th
at the Performing
Arts Center at Purchase College.
A very well deserved celebration is set
for January 25
th
as Bedford 2020 will hold
a Community Celebration honoring Lee
Roberts for 20 years of service for the town.
You know I will be in attendance at this
beer lovers dream-come-true event...the Big
Brew NY Beer Festival at the Westchester
County Center in White Plains on February
8
th
. Tere will be over 200 dierent brews to
try; Im getting thirsty already
Calling all tweens and teens, come and
make an awesome and adorable Penguin
Backpack Nametag from Duct Tape at Te
Field Library in Peekskill on January 27
th
. It
is a perfect wintery way to personalize any of
your bags, backpacks, or luggage. All supplies
are included free of charge; for middle and
high school age.
Representative Sean Patrick Maloney
will be the keynote speaker at the Antioch
Baptist Churchs annual Reverend
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Scholarship Banquet on Friday, January 10
th
,
at 7pm. Contact the church oce at 914-
241-0189 for ticket information.
If Donald Trump runs for governor,
can I become the new host of Celebrity
Apprentice? See you next week.
Mark Jeers resides in Bedford Hills, New York,
with his wife Sarah, and three daughters, Kate,
Amanda, and Claire.
CommunitySection
BLACKSMI THI NG
Top Ten Trends of 2014 - A Year of Extremes
pulled out from under them as they will
continue to be for the foreseeable future the
citizens of Slavelandia will have no recourse
but action. Te fast-food worker strikes of
2013, seeking a higher minimum wage,
were just a mild taste of what is to come.
Learn more in the Winter Trends Journal.
Te New Altruism: Several burgeon-
ing trends identied for 2014 will coalesce
in a welcome trend toward seless concern
for the wellbeing of others and an interest
in the common good. Across the age
divide, from people in their youth to those
of advanced years, the search for meaning
will intensify and become more widespread
in response to waning resources, want, and
an over-commodied culture. As despair
quietly takes more prisoners, Doing Good
will be recognized as the key to escape.
Ironically, the Internet that has been
much maligned for currying narcissism
will make the donation of money, time
and talents so easy that people will be able
to enact their better natures without resis-
tance. Be they Boomers in renaissance or
populists in revolt, people will discover and
expand the humanist side of globalism and
act accordingly. See why in the Top Trends
of 2014 Winter edition of the Trends
Journal.
Private Health Goes Public: While
the world focused on the blockbuster
NSA surveillance revelations and other
cyber-snooping episodes of 2013, another
powerful trend line was rmly planted:
Your health data has been progressively
mined, assembled and made accessible to a
widening group of interested parties.
While signing up for the Aordable
Care Act brought some attention to this
developing trend, around the globe, data
on individuals health status, behaviors,
prescriptions and even their genetic indi-
cators have been funneled to a wide range
of databases. Tose databases have many
purposes and a growing number of hands
on them.
Te positive and negative implica-
tions of this trend are equally powerful.
Individuals and their health care providers
can more easily tie vital physical data with
worldwide medical databases to anticipate
and potentially prevent disease. But, in
the wrong hands, the data can be used to
exploit, damage and take advantage of indi-
viduals and their families. Security concerns
will rise in equal importance with the
potential benets of this critical trend line.
What does this mean for you, your
family, or your business? Te Winter Trends
Journal will provide the answers.
Boomer Renaissance Arrives:
Distinct and strengthening economic, life-
style and societal determinants are building
a creative foundation for the older popula-
tion as it discovers new approaches to work
and nds long-elusive contentment in the
process.
You already know that older workers,
seeing their retirement plans shattered, have
to work beyond traditional retirement years.
You also know that those same economic
dynamics are forcing aging Boomers to
entirely rethink retirement. And, of course,
you know that as Boomers are living longer,
traditional thinking about retirement has
been stood on its head. What you might
not realize is how these factors are compel-
ling Boomers to unearth potent creative
energies not only to survive, but to realize
potential that evaded them in traditional
work roles.
In 2014, we will see growing evidence
of this Boomer Renaissance, accentuated by
waves of self-guided entrepreneurism that
alchemizes commerce, survival and self-
actualization into a new world and self view.
Te Winter Trends Journal will explore this
compelling 2014 trend in depth.
Digital Learning Explodes: Fears
that online educational platforms fall short
of providing depth and eectiveness in the
learning experience will all but disappear.
Across the entire educational spectrum,
online learning will expand to include not
only course instruction, but also a wealth
of real-life learning experience, with con-
siderable participation by the skills-hungry
business community.
For individuals, educational institu-
tions, industries, small businesses and
up-and-coming entrepreneurs, the impli-
cations are enormous. From traditional
degree-based education to very specic
micro skills-based learning, this trend line
explodes. Te Trends Research Institute
will break down the implications for indi-
viduals, business professionals and a range
of industries in its Winter Trends Journal.
Learn more about Gerald Celente and
Trends Research Institute online at
www.TrendsResearch.com or by calling
1-845.331.3500.
News & Notes from Northern Westchester
CALENDAR
Before speaking to the police...call
George Weinbaum
ATTORNEY AT LAW
FREE CONSULTATION:
Criminal, Medicaid/Medicare Fraud Matters
White-Collar Crime & Healthcare Prosecutions
T. 914.948.0044 F.914.686.4873
Mr. Gates Is In The Building!
Part 4 Whats Ahead?
CREATI VE DI SRUPTI ON
By JOHN F. McMULLEN
Te return of Bill Gates to
an active role in Microsoft
has led to much specula-
tion on just how much of an
impact his presence will have. It is obvious
that Gates is not only brilliant but also an
inspiration even a folk hero -- at Microsoft
so, from that aspect, his presence has to be
extremely benefcial.
Tere are, however, other factors to be
considered. Te frst is whether his presence
will prove to support or undermine the new
Chief Executive Ofcer, Satya Narayana
Nadella. I am not really worried about this
factor Gates and, I assume, Nadella should
be close enough to make this work. In the
event that, at some point, it all comes apart,
a la Jobs and Scully, Gates will have both the
power and stock to take total control.
In a March 19
th
New York Times inter-
view (his frst since taking over as CEO),
Nadella seemed to put any fears on this issue
to rest, saying Te outside world looks at it and
says, Whoa, this is some new thing. But weve
worked closely for about nine years now. So Im
very comfortable with this, and I asked for a real
allocation of his time. He is in fact making some
pretty hard trade-ofs to say, O.K., Ill put more
energy into this. And one of the fantastic things
that only Bill can do inside this campus is to get
everybody energized to bring their A game. Its
just a gift.
What is of more concern is that, during
the last years of Gates active participation
and thereafter, Microsoft went from being
a great company to being a very good one
(as some observers now think Apple will become
in the post-Jobs years). Microsoft is now in
the position, vis--vis Apple, Facebook,
Google, and Amazon, that Apple, IBM,
and Lotus were in relation to it in the 1980s
and 1990s. Tey are the sexy darlings of
the tech world while Microsoft is a solid
provider of operating systems and applica-
tions software.
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By BOB PUTIGNANO
Daves Picks, Vol. 9: Harry Adams Field
House, U. of Montana 5/14/74 fnds the
Grateful Dead in the midst of their Wall of
Soundperiod, utilizing a complex system of
amplifers, monitors, and other various audio
gear that created one of the most intricate
stereo systems known to live performance
at that time. Still possessing an uncluttered
sound with just one drummer (Kreutzmann)
saying the Dead were deep into yet another
of its jam phases; would be an under-
statement. Teir song selections were
expanding into exploratory versions,but they
still ofered crowd favorites like Jack Straw.
Teir stunning rendition of Weather
Report Suitemorphs into a particularly epic
Dark Star,as well as some of the most jazz-
infuenced playing the Dead would branch
into that year. Tis set collects audio from
the entire show spanning over three hours
of music over three CDs,. Te analog Wall
of Sound audio converts superbly, so you can
clearly hear each instrument, and presents
lifelike vocals on this above-par digital mix.
Te show opens with a burly version
of Bertha. But their opening sets starts to
become more interesting when they unveil
the relatively new Scarlet Begonias (where
it is stated that this was just the second time
the band played it live,) it does not parlay
into the usual Fire On the Mountain here,
instead they roll into a upbeat version of It
Must Have Been the Roses. Also included
are very strong renditions of Deal,and Big
River, but they save the best for last closing
with a lengthy (nearly twenty-one minutes)
of Playing In the Bandthat not only enters
the stratosphere but also provides a glimpse
what was yet to occur during set two.
Te second set opens with the refur-
bished U.S. Blues (it was previously
performed as Wave Tat Flag.) But after
covers El Pasoand Row Jimmythe band
performs the entire three-part version of
Bob Weirs Weather Report Suite. Keith
Godchauxs heady keyboards pushes the
limits encouraging an on-ready Garcia to
roar and soar. (Note: www.Dead.net ofers
this free sixteen minute version of Weather
Report Suite. From this jam comes one of
the darkest and wildest Dark Starcomplete
with distortion and other sci-f moments,
it rages on for nearly twenty-seven minutes
until the band reenters earths atmosphere
with a pretty China Doll.Tey arent done
yet as its rock and roll time with a short cover
of Chuck Berrys Promised Land,and they
close the set with a rush Not Fade Awaythe
segues a hot Goin Down the Road Feeling
Bad. Still not done, the band encores with
powerful One More Saturday Night con-
cluding an all-encompassing genre busting
night of exceptionally high-level music.
Its hard to believe that it was forty years
ago (1974) that the Dead toured with the
massive Wall of Sound system designed
by LSD chemist Owsley Stanley. It nearly
bankrupted the band, so much so theyd
(temporarily) abandoned touring by years
end. But on this era-signifying evening from
Montana the Grateful Dead left their unique
mark upon their fans, and likely converted
scores of new Dead-Heads as well. Tis is a
very special night of music. Note how Jerry
Garcias guitar and Keith Godchauxs Fender
Rhodes sculpture jams that are somewhat
similar to Miles Davis free-funk Bitches
Brew zones. Te Deads piloting skills are
vast, limitless, and impressive here. Enough
said. Enjoy.
For ffteen years Bob Putignano has been pivotal
at WFDU with his Sounds of Blue radio show:
www.SoundsofBlue.com - Previously a senior
contributing editor at BluesWax, Blues Revue,
and Goldmine magazines, and present Music
Editor for Te Westchester Guardian and
Yonkers Tribune. Putignano can be contacted at:
bob8003@yahoo.com
THE SOUNDS
OFBLUE
By BOB PUTIGNANO
MUSI C
Grateful Dead Daves Picks Vol. 9
Missoula, MT. 5/14/74 - www.Dead.net www.Rhino.com
Continued on page 10
By CHRIS ROSTENBERG
Nine month pro-choic-
ers (those who support
unqualifed abortion)
have many weapons in
their arsenal, but none
are more powerful than obfuscation, the
deliberate confusion of ideas. On the
forty-frst anniversary of Roe vs. Wade
and Doe vs. Bolton, right after the March
for Life, CNN invited Lila Rose, presi-
dent of the pro-life youth group, Live
Action, onto its show to debate Ilyse
Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice
America. Crossfre was hosted by Sally
Kohn on the left and Newt Gingrich on
the right. Ms. Rose seemed to this writer
to be the winner of the debate, but the
pro-choicers were successful in employing
dishonest arguments that there was not
time to undo. http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=WdPIgsGmDcU Lets try to
clear up some of the confusion now.
Te show began as Ms. Kohn said to
Newt Gingrich, Tis isnt about personal
views on abortion. I respect your views.
Te diference is my views dont infringe
on your views whereas your position lit-
erally restrict my choices and my rights.
Enough of the claim that pro-choice
is the neutral, hands-of position, the
norm, and that the anti-abortion is the
position of diminished rights! Pro-choice
is not noninvolvement, it is an attack. If
any other group of human beings were
banished from the sphere of equal pro-
tection that the rest of us enjoy, so that
they could have their limbs ripped of and
their bodies poisoned, we would recognize
that as hostility. Slavery advocates did not
want all white people to be forced to own
slaves, they wanted white people to have a
choice to own slaves. Were slavery advo-
cates pro-choice on slavery, or were they
pro-slavery? Pro-choicers are pro-abor-
tion. A second type of pro-abortion person
is the rarer kind, who thinks abortion is a
good thing rather than a necessary evil,
and these people are often racists, popula-
tion controllers, and/or make a living of
killing children. Tis second group might
be called pro-abortion-enthusiasts to
contrast with pro-abortion-choicers.
Since there are two types of pro-abortion
people, pro-choicers are likely to say, I
dont like abortion, so Im not pro-abor-
tion.Tis is a mistake.
Sally Kohn said to the pro-lifers,
conservatives say they want smaller gov-
ernment. How do you defend the dramatic
expansion of government power to control
womens bodies and their choices? Tis
is ridiculous. It is the pro-choice attack
banishing unborn babies from the sphere
of equal protection that is the big gov-
ernment position. Te norm is that the
unborn get protection under law that
is the small government position. Roe vs.
Wade and Doe vs. Bolton are not consti-
tutional law; the justices supporting it are
judicial tyrants. People defending them
are akin to people who support a dictator
because they like his policies. If Americans
could vote on the price of postage stamps
and nothing else, they would not live in a
democracy. Since the Supreme Court has
usurped the legislative function in prenatal
I can, of course, be proven wrong
but I dont ever see Microsoft returning
to its loft position high above the technol-
ogy world. Te aforementioned four frms
(Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon), have
advanced too far and, while one or two
may stumble, it is hard to imagine them all
falling on bad times.What Microsoft can do,
however, is to expand its position in certain
segments of the marketplace in which it
has both present strength and / or potential.
What this expansion will require, however, is
that Microsoft correct previous failings and /
or perceptions of failure:
Windows 8 --Many pundits and, more
importantly, much of the general public
just dont like Windows 8. (Anecdotal case in
point Long term technology trainer Barbara
McMullen was recently teaching a class on the
use of Windows 8 to a group of experienced
computer users. One fellow, at the conclusion of
the frst class, told her I came here feeling that
Windows 8 was awful but had the nagging
doubt that I was doing something wrong and
was missing a lot. I now realize that I was right
it is awful. He then left, probably to buy a
Macintosh or a Chromebook).
I disagree with those who dispar-
age Windows 8. I think it is a good system
with a good interface. Te problem for most
people is that it is diferent and diferent
requires getting used to and mastering. It
should be remembered that Windows 8 is
Microsofts frst unique user interface that it
has ever created. Te command line inter-
face in MS-DOS was created by Seattle
Products, the frm that Microsoft pur-
chased for OS/86(which became PC-DOS
and MS-DOS) and, although the syntax
was diferent, the interface and user prompt
(>) were the same as in the CP/M operat-
ing system. Additionally, the Windows user
interface was pioneered by Xerox on its Star
minicomputer, was operational on Apples
LISA and Macintosh systems long before
it was workable on a WINTEL (Windows
+ Intel) system.Windows 8 is diferent than
anything that has come from Microsoft
before -- even when Microsoft added
Windowing to MS-DOS, knowledgeable
users had already seen the Macintosh and
were familiar with the concept (additionally,
users knew that they needed to be able to run the
frst Graphic Web Browser, Mosaic).
Te reaction to Windows 8 reminds
me of standing in a ComputerLand one
day shortly after the LISA was introduced
people were standing around gazing at
the LISA and oohing and ahhing at the
LISA while they waited to take home their
IBM-XTs. Peter Norton, developer of the
Norton Utilities, said at the time IBM
introduces no machine ahead of its time.in ref-
erence to the LISA being ahead of its time
(of course, IBM is now out of the PC business
and Apple is not).
Im running Windows 8 on a Surface
2 and on a laptop and it works very nicely.
It takes a little getting used to but so did the
Macintosh and the Chromebook. Microsoft
must continue to enhance the product and
users must continue to increase their famil-
iarity with it its worth it.
Microsoft Ofce While Ofce fle
formats remain the standard of the industry,
the dominance of the product itself has
eroded over the years as the free compatible
systems, such as OpenOfce, LibraOfce
& NeoOfce, and the Cloud-based
systems, such as Google Docs and Zoho
Ofce, came into prominence and Apple
introduced its own suite, iWork (putting it
into competition with MS-Ofce for the Mac,
long the most used Macintosh application).
Perhaps, even worse, Microsoft missed the
demand for Ofce-type systems on the
Apple and Android tablets, concentrating
instead on Windows tablets which went
nowhere (its possible that had MS-Ofce been
available for the iPad from day1, iWork never
would have taken of).
Microsoft has begun to strike back with
Ofce 365, a subscription basis full version
of MS-Ofce that provides for free updates
and Cloud storage, a Cloud service, initially
called SkyDrive and now One Drive,
which runs across platforms and contains
slightly watered down versions of the full
ofce, and a complete version of Ofce
installed on the Surface Pro (on which this is
written). Microsofts initiative in this area has
caused the type of discussion in the industry
about Microsoft products that has not been
present for a good while (other than the gen-
erally negative buzz about Windows 8). A
15-page section in the March 2014 issue of
PC Pro magazine, entitled Ofce Rent?
Buy? Dump? compares Ofce 365 with
the leading alternatives (including Ofce
2013) and generally fnds Ofce 365 to be
the superior choice of all. I think that these
moves by Microsoft portend a strong future
for the Microsoft productivity suite and it
further seems to me that, should the sub-
scription system be as successful as I expect
it to be, it will stop the erosion of Microsofts
position in the Ofce competition.
Xbox One Microsofts game machine
has come a long way since its introduction
in 2001 to the point that it is now a true
home entertainment system. It now seems
somewhat mired in second place behind
Sonys PlayStation 4(PS4) system in the
game machine world.Te PS4 led the Xbox
by a wide margin in January 2014 but the
Xbox One came back in February to account
for 90% of the PS4 Sales (Microsoft released
sales fgures of 258,000 units for February).
With the Xboxs higher price ($100 higher),
this increase resulted in Microsoft receiving a
higher revenue from its game machine than
Sony did from its.
Analysts pointed to the release of the
Titanfall role player game for the Xbox as
the prime factor for the increase with Forbes
Magazine reporting that Xbox sales in the
UK increased by 96% over the prior week
when Titanfall was introduced. On March
14
th
, Titanfall, developed by Respawn
Entertainment and published by Electronic
Arts as an exclusive for Microsoft platforms
(Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox 0ne) received
exceptional pre-release reviews.
It seems to me that Microsoft has
a built-in advantage in arranging exclu-
sive deals with developers because of its
Windows PC platform. It also appears to
me that the only way that the Xbox One can
compete in the arena where most games are
available for Xbox and PS4 systems is to be
price competitive since most reviews call any
diferences in hardware capability marginal
the $100 price diference can put the Xbox
out of some gamers range.
Te Surface line strikes me also as
very important, Te Surface 2 tablet, in my
judgment, is certainly the best hardware that
Microsoft has produced since the Xbox and
rivals the iPad in elegance (a term not often
associated with Microsoft). Te Surface Pro
2 laptop also calls for the elegant adjective
and I am impressed enough with its capabili-
ties and weight to buy one. Te forerunner
of Microsofts Surface brand, the Surface
TableTop, now renamed the Microsoft
PixelSense,is a multi-user touch screen 360-
degree rotating system designed for use in
public places Te hardware, now manufac-
tured by Samsung and running Microsoft
Surface SDK 2.0, has been installed in
current and previous versions at Disneyland,
Harrahs Entertainment, Sheraton Hotels,
MSNBC, and other locations. Although
a niche product, I think PixelSense can
re-cement Microsoft as the main resource
for business microcomputer technology
resources.
Its obvious to me that Microsoft has
its mojo going again and that the return
of its brilliant co-founder, the last of the
original microcomputer icons, can only add
to Microsofts resurgence. Te only negative
on his return, other than concern on the
possible impact on the new CEO came
from Wired Magazine columnist Steve
Levy when I interviewed him on my radio
show on February 16
th
. Steve thought that
Bills return can only beneft Microsoft and
thus the whole industry hes not worried
about any internal conficts -- BUT hopes
that it wont impact the even much more impor-
tant work that he has been doing fghting disease
and poverty through the Gates Foundation. I
agree and sincerely hope that he can do both.
(For a current view of Gates thoughts on
Te Gates Foundation, disease, poverty, charity,
inequality, Edward Snowden, Facebook, Steve
Jobs, religion, and God, see his interview in
the March 27, 2014 issue of Rolling Stone --
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/
news/bill-gates-the-rolling-stone-inter-
view-20140313)
Creative Disruption is a continuing series
examining the impact of constantly accelerat-
ing technology on the world around us. Tese
changers normally happen under our personal
radar until we fnd that the world as we knew
it is no more.
John F. McMullen is a writer, poet, college pro-
fessor and radio host. Links to other writings,
Podcasts, & Radio Broadcasts at www.
johnmac13.comhttp://www.johnmac13.com/.
Pro-Choice Liars
ROE v. WADE and DOE v. BOLTON
Mr. Gates Is In The Building!
CREATI VE DI SRUPTI ON
homicide, we do not live in a democracy.
In fact, since abortion is genocide, broadly
defned, our society is not even civilized.
Ms. Kohn asked Ms. Rose about
her extremism in opposing prenatal
homicide. But to be pro-choice is to be
a nine-month abortion supporter, in all
situations and all ffty states. Tat is what
abortion on demand means. When
pro-abortionists say the government, con-
trolled by men, have no right to forbid
prebirth infanticide, they are demanding
abortion until birth. When pro-choice-to-
kill advocates say women have the right to
control their bodies, again, they are insist-
ing on the right to kill children the day
before they would be born. Furthermore,
our law allows for abortion through all
nine months, contrary to conventional
myth. Roe vs. Wade cannot be taken at face
value and cannot be understood without
its companion case, Doe vs. Bolton. Taken
together, they comprise the most extreme
abortion law possible. As for anti-abor-
tionists being extremists, I only oppose
late abortion and take no position on frst
trimester abortions or baby killing due to
rape or incest. I am a pro-compromiser,
not a pro-lifer. Far too much time on the
show was dedicated to rape, incest and the
beginning of pregnancy.
It is absurd for pro-kill activists to say
pro-lifers and other anti-abortion people
misrepresent the issue. Why would we?
What incentive do we have to rational-
ize the issue or to be in denial? We are not
defending ourselves. In fact, the rights of
unborn children can seriously burden us,
and strictly limits the sex we can have.
When one of my feminist college profes-
sors said Pro-life is just about a bunch
of men who want to punish women for
having sex, I didnt know whether to
laugh or vomit. Nine-month pro-abor-
tionists on the other hand, are defending
the interests of adults like themselves (or
so they think) and they grant themselves
the right to be incredibly irresponsible. It
is easy to empathize with women, hard
to empathize with children in the womb
and it takes a particularly wise person to
realize the two groups are really not in
confict with each other. Progressives say
they want an inclusive society for people of
color, women and gays, but they hypocriti-
cally deny all rights to the most vulnerable
human beings in the world. Pro-choicers
are the most destructive bigots history has
ever seen. Tey are adult supremacists.
Te pro-choice attack which banishes
all human beings at the beginning of
their lives has nothing to do with advanc-
ing womens rights only their liberties
and has everything to do with denying
babies all rights whatsoever. Te anti-
abortion position is not about babies being
superior to women, or about caring more
about babies than women. Its about life
being more important than a temporary
infringement of bodily integrity. Women
do indeed have the right to privacy, the
right to control their bodies and guess
what? Tey had their bodies before they
were born.
Men dont have the right or need to
kill their babies under any circumstances,
even ones worse than crisis pregnancy. If I
were thrown into prison for life for a crime
I did not commit, and I could escape by
killing my own child, who says I would
have the right to do so? If women are not
held to this same standard, they are seen as
weak, hysterical and incapable of handling
their own bodies or their own lives. Pro-
choicers talk about empowerment. Te
Mafa is powerful. Pro-choicers are not
feminists, but witches in sheeps clothing.
Chris Rostenberg is a freelance writer.
Correspondence may be directed to
ChrisRosty@ gmail.com.
ROE v. WADE and DOE v. BOLTON
Charter School
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Tursday, March 20, 2014 @ 5:30PM
Jueves, Marzo 20, 2014 a las 5:30PM
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La Fecha Limite Para Entregar
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Pro-Choice Liars
Fairy-tale Musicals
By JOHN SIMON
Here now is the show
based on the 1992 cartoon
movie musical Aladdin.
It is a fairly sophisticated
fairy tale, music by Alan
Menken (additions by Michael Kosarin),
lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and
Tim Rice, and additional lyrics and
libretto by Chad Beguelin.
Tat many diferentand I do
stress diferentcooks might spoil the
brew, and some dissociation of sensibility
does prevail. It is most noticeable in the
up-tempo numbers being generally efec-
tive, whereas the romanticones, either cut
from or unwritten by the original, tend to
be somewhat soggy.
Nevertheless, like other respectable
fairy talesdespite modern variations,
superimposed satire, and tongue-in-
cheek anachronismAladdin has a
basic, unalienable attraction that latches
on to our attention. Surely the lamp-
dwelling Genie, the three granted wishes,
the comic villains, the befuddled sultan
with the rebellious daughter, the prin-
cesss rejection of princely suitors until,
incognito in the marketplace, she meets
the handsome young thief, are reliable
fairy-tale elements that redound and
resound with atavistic charm.
Now add largely lush scenery by
the old magician Bob Crowley, prime
Hollywood-worthy costumes by Gregg
Barnes, and insinuating lighting by
Natasha Katz, each a dependable help.
All this topped by tireless choreogra-
phy from the director, Casey Nicholaw,
deftly melding traditional and innovative
elements, and you have a real old-fash-
ioned musical from when fabulousness
was the surefre formula.
I have nothing but nods for the
immensely personable, athletic Aladdin
of Adam Jacobs, the Olympian arrogance
of Jonathan Freemans villainous Vezier
Jafar, the cuteness of Courtney Reeds
Princess Jasmine, the cunning litheness
of James Monroe Igleharts sassily cor-
pulent Genie, the wrangling of Aladdins
three jovial sidekicks (Brandon ONeill,
Brian Gonzales, Jonathan Schwartz)
and the bumbling of Jafars bootlicking
henchman, Iago (Don Darryl Rivera).
Tis is the marriage of Tinsel town
and the Great White Way, and whatever
smartypants cavils you may harbor, by
Allah, it works. John Steinmeyers fying
carpet alone, which craftily denies us
espied ropes, epitomizes the shows
professionalism, with other tricks in
abundance.
Now if you want a fairy-tale musical
to share with the kiddies, Aladdinis it. If,
rather, you want one to enjoy their tem-
porary absence, there is Rocky. Based
on Sylvester Stallones wildly successful
1976 movie, and even retaining some
of its music, it follows the original story
faithfully enough. Reviewing the flm, I
wrote, Rocky is a pugnacious, charming,
grimy, beautiful fairy tale.
And so it is. In both Aladdin and
Rocky an unlikely youth (thieving or
enforcing debts for a shady character)
given an almost impossible chance at
greatness, makes amazingly good, and
gets the girl (either a princess in disguise
or a lowly shopgirl with potential once
she removes her glasses), and all ends
wondrously well, whether involving
golden gloves or glass slippers.
Since you could not have avoided
seeing, or at least hearing or reading
about, the flm, I need not go into the
details of the plot about how a not-so-
young, no-account, Philadelphia boxer,
the self-styled Italian Stallion (it rhymes,
he explains) with a good heart, gets the
unlikely opportunity to fght the world
champion Apollo Creed, is able to take
a beating and stay with him for ffteen
rounds. Even if he loses on points, he
wins, not only the shy Adrian of the
ignorantly masculinized name, but also
the respect of his previously jeering
townsmen.
Two problems faced the writers (the
experienced Tomas Meehan and, once
again, Stallone): how to put boxing on
stage, and how to make a primitive boxer
into a singing protagonist. Somehow this
was solved by the co-authors, the co-cho-
reographers Steven Hoggett and Kelly
Devine, and the director, Alex Timbers;
all of them resourceful and persuasive.
Only once does the show go surreal,
when the training Rocky multiplies
into several adjacent Rockies, as cho-
reographed as the many sides of beef
hanging in the cold room of the butcher
shop where Rockys friend Paulie, brother
of Adrian, works.
Te beef almost takes the place of
chorus girls, although the latter, in the
retinue of champion Creed, arent lacking
either. Te best of the movie remains,
even the museum staircase as training
ground, and the comic pseudo-phone call
shouted through an open window.
But perhaps most deserving is the
lyricist Lynn Ahrens, who, to her partner
Stephen Flahertys perhaps appropri-
ately grubby music, turns out simple yet
pleasant lyrics of this kind: See that
poster on the wall?/ Rocky Marciano/
Never took a single fall/ Not Rocky
Marciano./ He and me,/ We share a
name/ I think of that a lot/ How one
Rocky gets the top of his game/And the
other Rocky gets/ What I got. We also
get songs like My Nose Aint Broken
and Fight from the Heart, which, as I
wrote about the movie, warms the heart
without shaking the head.
Admiring mention must be made of
the entire cast. Andy Karl is a very close,
very likable copy of the movies Stallone,
who still also manages to be his own
man. Margo Seibert is the perfect mousy
Adrian, Terence Archie, the splendidly
swaggering Apollo, and Dakin Mathews
as Mickey, even without resembling the
movies delightful Burgess Meredith, a
suitably tough but dedicated trainer.
Special mention must be made of
two Christophers: Barreca, who has
designed both majestic and intimately
grungy scenery, and Akerlind, who
provided compelling lighting for both the
glittering arena and the shabby gyms and
dwellings. Te climactic fght is superbly
staged, with the ring moved forward
into the audience, and the thus unseated
persons from the front rows moved up
onto the stage to become the sporting
spectators, providing even some clever
audience participation. Oh yes, wonders
still exist, whether out of Disney Arabia
or dingy South Philadelphia.
Venue for Aladdin Te Musical: Te
New Amsterdam Teatre, 214 West 42
nd

Street, between 7
th
and 8
th
Avenues, New
York, NY 10036. Box Ofce: (212) 282-
2900; order by telephone (800) 901-4092.
Venue for Rocky on Broadway:
Winter Garden Teatre, 1634 Broadway,
between West 50
th
and 51
st
Streets, New
York, NY 10019. Box Ofce: (212)
239-6200 or www.Telecharge.com
John Simon has written for over 50
years on theatre, flm, literature, music and
fne arts for the Hudson Review, New
Leader, New Criterion, National Review,
New York Magazine, Opera News, Weekly
Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg
News. He reviews books for the New York
Times Book Review and Washington Post.
To learn more, visit the www.JohnSimon-
Uncensored.com website.
EYE ON THEATRE
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CURRENT COMMENTARY
The Last NATO President?
By LARRY M. ELKIN
Kaliningrad, the city
that serves as the admin-
istrative center of the
Kaliningrad Oblast, was
once the German city of
Konigsberg. (An oblast is an administra-
tive division in many Slavic countries,
including former members of the Soviet
Union.) Kaliningrad Oblast became
Soviet territory when Stalin pushed
borders west at the end of World War II.
Te region adjoins Lithuania, which had
been occupied and annexed by the Soviet
army in 1940. After a battle with Hitlers
forces for control of the region, the Soviets
reconquered Lithuania and it became one
of three Soviet Baltic republics, along with
Latvia and Estonia.
But when the Soviet Union broke up
and the Baltics became independent states
and more recently, members of NATO
Kaliningrad remained part of Russia, now
isolated from the rest of the country, sand-
wiched between Lithuania and Poland.
Estonia and Latvia have large ethnic
Russian minorities, as is the case with
Ukraine, and Lithuania has Kaliningrad
practically at its back door. All three of the
Baltic states are as suspicious of Russian
interests as they are potentially vulnerable
to Russian economic or military aggres-
sion. Many of the pretexts that Vladimir
Putin has used to justify intervention in
Crimea, which he annexed this week,
and his threats against the other parts of
Ukraine could easily apply to Lithuania
and its neighbors. Lithuania faces the
added twist that Russia could claim that
future intervention there is an attempt to
rescue an isolated Russian outpost.
We are following the situation with
[Russias] increased military readiness and
drills at our borders, Lithuania President
Dalia Grybauskaite told reporters, accord-
ing to Reuters. She also said that Lithuania
and Poland could raise the issue with
NATO, and called Russia dangerousand
unpredictable. Estonia and Latvia have
both refused to recognize the legitimacy of
the Crimean secession referendum.
Te question then becomes whether
NATO members in general, and Obama
in particular, can really be expected to
honor their mutual defense commitment,
in which an attack on one is treated as an
attack on all. Clearly, this commitment is
something the leaders of the Baltic states
are counting on: Latvias foreign minister,
Edgars Rinkevics, was explicit that entry
into NATO was an insurance policy
against Russia.
But it is not at all certain that NATO
would honor that policy if called upon.
Would Germany, for example, send
military forces back to the Baltic in defense
of states that the Nazis overran when they
invaded the USSR in 1941? I think it is
unlikely, despite pledges of support from
Germanys foreign minister. To make it
even less likely, Putin and his associates
have been quick to denounce pro-West
Ukrainians as fascists. It sounds bizarre to
CURRENT COMMENTARY
our ears, but to a country that lost over
20 million of its people in World War
II, any hint of German military muscle-
fexing strikes a strong emotional chord.
Putins stance against Ukraines pro-West
factions has propelled his popularity
within Russia to multiyear highs.
If Germany wont intervene to
protect its eastern neighbors, is Obama a
credible deterrent? In light of the presi-
dents vacillations on Syria and almost
ludicrously weak sanctions in the face of
the Crimean annexation, would Putin
seriously expect him to send troops to
defend Vilnius, Lithuanias capital? Or,
for that matter, to defend Warsaw?
After all, few Americans could fnd
Vilnius, or even Lithuania, on a map.
Obama is not the kind of leader to
explain why they should bother.
As Stephen Blank, a senior fellow for
Russia at the American Foreign Policy
Council, said of Putin, [He] counted on
the weakness, irresolution and confusion
of NATO and Obama and, sad to say, he
was right.Te Baltic states have cause to
worry that Putin will decide that the lack
of a strong response regarding Crimea
and Ukraine is encouragement enough
for further incursions in the region should
he be inclined to make them.
Marko Mihkelson, who chairs the
Estonian parliaments foreign policy
committee, tweeted If West does not
wake up to Russian aggressive foreign
policy today, tomorrow will be too late.
He is certainly not the only citizen of the
Baltic states who fears such an outcome.
On Tuesday, Obama invited G-7
leaders for an emergency meeting to
discuss the situation in Ukraine. But
given that, at the time of the meeting,
member countries could not even seem to
agree on whether Russia was suspended
from the G-8 or simply not invited to the
meeting, the sign is not as hopeful as it
might be. Vice President Joe Biden was
visiting Poland and Lithuania this week,
but the lack of signifcant American
action is likely to speak louder than its
vice presidents words.
Putin makes no secret of his resent-
ment of NATOs expansion toward
Russias borders. Already his government
has convinced the interim government in
Kiev to disavow any intention of joining
NATO. For Putin, a major success
and political goal would be to remove
NATO from the Russian frontier by
separating the Baltic republics from their
post-Soviet allies. He and the Baltic
states, along with the rest of the world
must wonder whether Obama and
NATO are prepared to stop him.
If not, for all practical purposes,
NATO is extinct, and Obama will be the
president who presided over its demise.
Larry M. Elkin, CPA, CFP, has provided
personal fnancial and tax counseling to a
sophisticated client base since 1986. After
six years with Arthur Andersen, where he
was a senior manager for personal fnan-
cial planning and family wealth planning,
he founded his own frm in Hastings on
Hudson, N.Y., in 1992. Tat frm grew
steadily and became the Palisades Hudson
organization, which moved to Scarsdale,
N.Y., in 2002. Te frm expanded to Fort
Lauderdale, Fla., in 2005 and to Atlanta
in 2008.
Is Barack Obama the last NATO president? Te answer may lie in a tiny corner of Russia, wedged deep within NATO territory.
By RAYMOND IBRAHIM
To their loss they are cru-
cifying the Son of God all
over again and subjecting
Him to public disgrace
Hebrews 6:6
Te United Nations, Western gov-
ernments, media, universities, and talking
heads everywhere insist that Palestinians
are sufering tremendous abuses from
the state of Israel. Conversely, the greatest
human rights tragedy of our timeradical
Muslim persecution of Christians, includ-
ing in Palestinian controlled areasis
devotedly ignored.
Te facts speak for themselves.
Reliable estimates indicate that anywhere
from 100-200 million Christians are perse-
cuted every year; one Christian is martyred
every fve minutes. Approximately 85% of
this persecution occurs in Muslim majority
nations. In 1900, 20% of the Middle East
was Christian. Today, less than 2% is.
In one week in Egypt alone,
where my Christian family emigrated,
the Muslim Brotherhood launched a
kristallnachtattacking, destroying, and/
or torching some 82 Christian churches
(some of which were built in the 5
th

century, when Egypt was still a Christian-
majority nation before the Islamic
conquests). Al-Qaedas black fag has been
raised atop churches. Christiansinclud-
ing priests, women and childrenhave
been attacked, beheaded, and killed.
Nor is such persecution of Christians
limited to Egypt. From Morocco in the
west to Indonesia in the east and from
Central Asia to the north to sub-Saharan
Africa to the south; across thousands of
miles of lands inhabited by peoples who
do not share the same races, languages,
cultures, and/or socio-economic condi-
tions, millions of Christians are being
persecuted and in the same exact patterns.
Muslim converts to Christianity and
Christian evangelists are attacked, impris-
oned, and sometimes beheaded; countless
churches across the Islamic world are
being banned or bombed; Christian
women and children are being abducted,
enslaved, raped, and/or forced to renounce
their faith.
Far from helping these Christian
victims, U.S. policies are actually exac-
erbating their suferings. Whether in
Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, or Syria, and under
the guise of the U.S.-supported Arab
Spring, things have gotten dramati-
cally worse for Christians. Indeed, during
a recent U.S. congressional hearing, it
was revealed that thousands of trauma-
tized Syrian Christianswho, like Iraqi
Christians before them are undergoing a
mass exodus from their homelandwere
asking Why is America at war with us?
Te answer is that very few Americans
have any clue concerning what is happen-
ing to their coreligionists.
Few mainstream media speak about
the horrifc persecution millions of people
are experiencing simply because they wish
to worship Christ in peace.
Tere, is of course, a very important
reason why the mainstream media ignores
radical Muslim persecution of Christians:
if the full magnitude of this phenomenon
was ever know, many cornerstones of the
mainstream mediamost prominent
among them, that Israel is oppressive
to Palestinianswould immediately
crumble.
Why? Because radical Muslim
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Why the Media Doesnt Cover Jihadist Attacks on Middle East Christians
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Why the Media Doesnt Cover Jihadist Attacks on Middle East Christians
persecution of Christians throws
a wrench in the medias other-
wise well-oiled narrative that
radical-Muslim-violence-is-a-product-
of-Muslim-grievancechief among
them Israel.
Consider it this way: because the
Jewish state is stronger than its Muslim
neighbors, the media can easily portray
Islamic terrorists as frustrated under-
dogs doing whatever they can to achieve
justice. No matter how many rockets
are shot into Tel Aviv by Hamas and
Hezbollah, and no matter how anti-
Israeli bloodlust is articulated in radical
Islamic terms, the media will present
such hostility as ironclad proof that
Palestinians under Israel are so oppressed
that they have no choice but to resort to
terrorism.
However, if radical Muslims get a
free pass when their violence is directed
against those stronger than them, how
does one rationalize away their violence
when it is directed against those weaker
than themin this case, millions of
indigenous Christians?
Te media simply cannot portray
radical Muslim persecution of
Christianswhich in essence and form
amount to unprovoked pogromsas
a land dispute or a product of griev-
ance (if anything, it is the ostracized
and persecuted Christian minorities who
should have grievances). And because the
media cannot articulate radical Islamic
attacks on Christians through the griev-
ance paradigm that works so well in
explaining the Arab-Israeli confict, their
main recourse is not to report on them
at all.
In short, Christian persecution is
the clearest refection of radical Islamic
supremacism. Vastly outnumbered and
politically marginalized Christians
simply wish to worship in peace, and
yet still are they hounded and attacked,
their churches burned and destroyed,
their women and children enslaved and
raped. Tese Christians are often identi-
cal to their Muslim co-citizens, in race,
ethnicity, national identity, culture, and
language; there is no political dispute, no
land dispute.
Te only problem is that they
are Christian and so, Islamists believe
according to their scriptural exegesis,
must be subjugated.
If mainstream media were to report
honestly on Christian persecution at
the hands of radical Islamists so many
bedrocks of the leftist narrative currently
dominating political discourse would
crumble, frst and foremost, the idea that
radical Islamic intolerance is a product of
grievances, and that Israel is responsible
for all Jihadist terrorism against it.
First published in Te Torch
Winter 2014.
http://www.meforum.org/3798/
why-the-media-doesnt-cover-jihadist-
attacks-on
Raymond Ibrahim, author of Crucifed
Again: Exposing Islams New War on
Christians (Regnery, April, 2013) is a
Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz
Freedom Center and an Associate Fellow at
the Middle East Forum.
By LEE H. HAMILTON
Tese are hard times for
Congress. Its approval
ratings have seen a bump
from their historic lows of
a few months ago, but its
a small one. Our representative democ-
racys keystone political institution is
widely derided as inefective, unproduc-
tive, irrelevant, and sadly out of touch.
It is no coincidence that this comes
while Congress has developed a taste
for so-called unorthodox lawmaking,
wandering far outside its traditional pro-
cedures. Tats why I would argue that as
grim as things seem now, there is a fx for
what ails Congress.
Broadly speaking, it involves con-
gressional process. Let me quote John
Dingell, the canny U.S. House member
from Michigan who recently announced
his retirement. Ill let you write the sub-
stance, he once told a House Judiciary
subcommittee, ...you let me write the
procedure, and Ill screw you every time.
In legislative bodies, whoever controls
the process controls the result. If it wants
to restore itself, Congress must make its
processes exemplary and fair.
Members should begin by opening
the foor to more amendments. At
the moment amendments are tightly
limited, if not banned outright, in an
efort by the leadership to control the
outcome. Tis restricts debate, impedes
the free fow of ideas, and strengthens
leaders while disempowering ordinary
members.
Te leadership also needs to give up
its concentrated power and hand more
authority to congressional committees.
However worthy congressional leaders
may be, they cannot do the job that the
committee system was designed for:
holding hearings, inquiring deeply into
issues, eliciting facts, laying out options,
arguing over amendments, fnding the
common ground needed to advance
legislation.
Te simple truth is that members of
Congress are there primarily to legislate
not to raise money or score political
points on television. Yet Congress seems
to devote less and less time to crafting
and passing legislation; it is losing the
habit and the skills, and its work product
sufers. It needs to work harder at the job
Americans expect.
To make this possible, the Senate
should do more of its business by simple
majority vote of the senators present
and voting. I know that many senators
like the ability to flibuster, and do not
want to abandon the rule that requires
60 votes to close debate. But heres the
thing: the super-majority rule, as it has
been applied recently, has become a
formula for impotence and disorder.
Every democratic institution in this
country operates by majority rule except
the Senate, where a small minority can
completely gum up the works.
Its important for the majority to
assure fair procedures that take minority
views fully into account, but at the end
of the day Congress needs to work, not
be hamstrung by loyalty to a Senate rule
that has outlived its purpose.
Which is not to say that tradition
has no place on Capitol Hill. Many of the
procedures it developed over long years
of practice were designed to improve
its functioning especially in design-
ing and enacting the federal budget.
Tat process is completely broken now.
Congress needs to focus its attention
on returning to the traditional budget
process of considering separate appro-
priations bills, as opposed to lumping
the entire budget into a single bill.
Other key processes also need
mending. Te confrmation of presi-
dential appointees is absurdly slow,
seriously jeopardizing a presidents
ability to govern. Some 50 ambassado-
rial nominees await votes in the Senate,
some of them having cooled their heels
for months, and foreign governments
are noticing and taking ofense. Te
congressional ethics committees are
dormant. Travel privileges are routinely
abused the government should pay
for legitimate congressional travel and
no trips should be paid for by special
interest groups. Te crucially important
oversight process has become a politi-
cal sideshow. Campaign expenditures
should be limited and donors should be
disclosed.
Te point of all this is that Congress
is listing, but it can right itself. It may
not be able to tackle all of these proposed
fxes at once, but each is within its power.
Members should quit throwing up their
hands and protesting that they cant do
anything about their own institutions
problems. Its their job to put Congress
back in working order and they have the
power to do it.
Lee Hamilton is Director of the Center on
Congress at Indiana University. He was a
member of the U.S. House of Representatives for
34 years.
Now on Facebook you can fnd informa-
tion about Center On Congress at Indiana
Universitys educational resources and programs,
and you can share your thoughts about Congress,
civic education, and the citizens role in repre-
sentative democracy. Like them on Facebook
at Center on Congress at Indiana University.
By PEGGY GODFREY
New Rochelle Commission-
er of Development Luiz
Aragon placed emphasis
on development of the
waterfront at the March
11, 2014, New Rochelle City Council.
In his PowerPoint presentation, Aragon
highlighted the three Development
Opportunities specifying transit oriented
development, downtown development, and
waterfront development.
Te City of New Rochelle (CoNR)
severed its relationship with Forest City
Residential (FCR) in February 2014. FCR
is the company that had been given New
Rochelle City Council (NRCC) permis-
sion to develop the Echo Bay waterfront
property. Aragon stressed the key reason
for urgently selecting a new waterfront plan
was the $1.5 Consolidated Funding grant
awarded to the City of New Rochelle for
waterfront infrastructure work. Aragon cau-
tioned the NRCC membership they could
lose the grant funding if they did not quickly
decide on a developer for the area.
Several options were given.Te NRCC
could return to the original proposals sub-
mitted by Forest City Residential when
they had initially been selected for the
Echo Bay Development Project. Another
proposal previously presented was by the
Twining Company; their suggestion was
considered a good alternative. Twining
Company had proposed a 70,000-square-
foot retail, 270,000 square-foot residential,
and a 45,000-square-foot hotel. Forest City
Residentials fnal plan had a retail footprint
of 25,000-square-feet, and 285 residential
units.Te Twining Company advise they are
willing to resubmit the proposal to NRCC.
Corporation Counsel Brian Powers advised
the NRCC membership that the Twining
Company can make small changes to their
initial proposal; if too many changes are
made the NRCC would have to issue a new
request for proposals (RFP).
Te other two choices Aragon presented
were to expand the Armory Design Award
winning proposals and add the New
Rochelle City Yard. (Tere are presently
three winners of this design competition but
CNRR was not made privy to the plans orig-
inally scheduled for last Decembers NRCC
meeting.) A hotel, a low-density residen-
tial, and a restaurant, would be possible to
combine with a winning Armory proposal.
According to Aragon, the timeframe was
crucial; an August or September selection
date was sought for a development choice.
Aragon was concerned that if no developer
was selected, New Rochelle could lose the
Consolidated Funding grant.
Mayor Noam Bramson was very
impressed by Aragons presentation, believ-
ing it was a culmination of Aragons eforts
to date.NRCC members Jared Rice and Ivar
Hyden inquired about the master developer
concept. Tere were concerns, for example,
about getting private owners on boardfor a
proposal, and about the possibility of getting
bogged down on one site for other reasons.If
the city was incapable of generating enough
inquiries for a master developer, Aragon sug-
gested presenting a Plan Bas an alternative.
Councilman Lou Trangucci said he
supported the idea to see what we get, but
had concerns over the plans devised for Te
Armory; he wanted to know how the four
(now three) selected Armory Design Award
plan fnalists would be included.Te selected
fnalists plans for the Armory were never
given a chance to present their plans before
the NRCC membership. New Rochelle
City Manager Charles B. Chuck Strome,
III said, all four plans would require
changes because of deed restrictions for the
Armory. Trangucci disputed Stromes asser-
tion. Trangucci is of the understanding that
the Save Our Armory proposal met the deed
requirements.
Bramson shared the excitement.
Bramson entered the fray with the admoni-
tion that there are hard choices that must
be made and fexibility may be needed.
After additional discussion over possible
development options, Councilmember
Hyden inquired over whether the CoNR
could move the process forward.
When Aragon suggested developing a
larger area,inclusive of the Mancuso Marina,
Nelstad property, and Armory site, Bramson
advised a new RFP (request for proposals)
would be required.
Bramson divulged he believed the
NRCC membership had always been
desirous of the larger vision for the devel-
opment. NRCC Councilwoman Shari
Rackman suggested use of a master devel-
oper for the larger vision would aford
the NRCC less freedom in their decision-
making ability. Bramson also ofered that he
could live with any of the choices,but that no
choice was a bad choice.
Tarantino, referring to the large devel-
opment parcels, said many neighborhoods
would be impacted and perhaps make the
efort impossible. He asked why a master
developer would be needed to bite of more
than we can chew; setting the city back in its
economic development aspirations..
After a lengthy discussion about
GovernmentSection
Fixing Congress
LEE HAMI LTON COMMENTARY
Will a Grant Hasten Waterfront Development in New Rochelle?
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whether the NRCC should request an
updated proposal from Twining, or issue a
new RFP (request for proposals), Bramson
asked if the Council agrees that they have
to make a decision soon. Strome added this
itethe answer to the question would be part
of the NRCC agenda very soon.
Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer and former
educator.
ECONOMI C DEVELOPMENT
Will a Grant Hasten Waterfront Development in New Rochelle?
A Communitys Best Interest Must Always Trump Political Agendas
GOVERNMENT MAYOR MARVINS COLUMN
By Mayor MARY C.
MARVIN
Governor Cuomo has
announced a two-year
property tax freeze as
a hallmark of his 2014
agenda. However, it is facing growing
opposition from both political parties,
school districts and local governments, as
well as the non-partisan New York State
Conference of Mayors and Municipal
Ofcials.
Te two-year tax freeze is for individ-
uals (outside of New York City) with an
adjusted gross income of under $500,000.
In order for a taxpayer to receive the
property tax credit, the local governments
must remain under the cap. In our case
that would include all taxing jurisdictions
such as the Bronxville School District,
the Village of Bronxville, the Town of
Eastchester, Westchester County and the
Eastchester Fire District.
In order to beneft from the freeze
in a second year, the local governments
would have to remain within the tax cap
as well as agreeing to various consolidation
plans with other communities.
Te impetus for this new iteration
in an election year is prompted by the
Governors belief, that the State needs to
pressure municipalities to cut spending in
order to establish long term tax savings in
a state with among the highest taxes in the
nation.
Tere is not a community anywhere
in New York that is increasing services by
2% each year, nor does any elected think
that is a good idea, rather we are cutting
personnel and services to meet Albanys
bills.
Although the Governor promised
that the implementation of the initial
property tax cap would be followed by
meaningful mandate relief to help local
governments live within the cap, that
promise was not kept and in addition state
aid was cut.
No mandate relief is in sight but
election year pressure is increasing. Te
hypocrisy of all of this is astounding. An
example, since I have been mayor, our staf
has been cut by over 15% in an efort to
meet the increasing mandates/bills sent
directly from Albany. If the Village did
not buy a new pencil last budget cycle,
just retained the status quo, taxes would
have increased 5.5% because of bills from
Albany.
Te two percent tax cap was a great
sound bite for a world that does not
exist or for a public one assumed was not
informed.
Adding insult to injury, the new tax
cap freeze incentive only benefts commu-
nities who came to the game late and only
recently began to consider consolidating
and sharing services. Communities like
Eastchester, Bronxville and Tuckahoe who
have been doing it for years will receive no
credit for past eforts.
Again in a poorly planned rollout,
the current iteration property tax cap plan
will prove to be a disincentive to consoli-
dating any future services due to the fact
that when a municipality consolidates
services with another municipality its tax
levy cap is reduced, however this ignores the
fact that the municipality still needs to pay
another local government for the service.
Te State powers that be must also
recognize that there are very diferent types
of local governments with very diferent
needs that do not lend themselves to certain
consolidations be it a school system, police
department or 24/7 snow and ice equip-
ment. Te best interest of a community
must always trump other political agendas.
Te cap also does not exempt the cost
of repairing aging infrastructure through-
out the state, thus creating a powerful
disincentive to do needed repairs that may
not be visible to the taxpayer.
Before forcing municipalities to cut
services and schools to cut programs,
Albany needs to look inward and show
leadership by cutting unfunded mandates
with creative solutions.
For example, many states that truly
care about their employees and want to
create a sustainable pension system plan
created a hybrid model, with a 401K type
model blended with defned benefts.
Te New York Legislatures solution
was to create a Tier 6 which now requires
any new hires to pay 3 - 6% towards their
future pension. Te problem is no one is
hiring, rather reducing staf to meet the
current pension burdens and even if a new
hire is added, the fnancial beneft will be
achieved in twenty plus years.
If the State government was truly
serious about bringing property tax relief to
local property taxpayers, they would begin
by doing what every other state across
the nation has done - pay for State and
Federal social service programs with State
revenue not County property tax and sales
tax revenue. In Westchester County alone,
$225 million collected annually at the
local level are paid to Albany for the State
Medicaid program. Westchester County
taxpayers could see $225 million in local
tax relief immediately if the Governor and
the State Legislature would only do what
49 other states have done already. Tat
would be action, not a tedious and wasteful
exercise. We deserve better.
Mary C. Marvin is the mayor of the Village
of Bronxville, New York. If you have a sug-
gestion or comment, direct your perspective
by e-mail to: mayor@vobny.com .
HELP WANTED
The City of Stamford
is seeking qualifed
applicants for the following
positions:
Shift Foreman - WPCA
Salary Range:
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(Annually)
Applicants must possess a
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Time and Attendance Manager
Salary Range:
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Plant Maintenance
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Salary Range:
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Equal Opportunity Employer
A Communitys Best Interest Must Always Trump Political Agendas
GOVERNMENT MAYOR MARVINS COLUMN
OpEdSection
Virtue
By BOB PASCARELLA
It is the sum of all that is
good and the quintessen-
tial attribute of our nature.
Courage, faith, hope,
charity, fortitude, chastity,
kindness, temperance, humility, justice,
prudence, diligence and patience, are
the Cardinal, Heavenly and Teological
Virtues. Virtue can best be defned as
moral excellence, an efective force or
power. Te question is what is its signif-
cance, if any, in America today?
America has come a long way in
its 238-year history. Since its founding
countless people from all over the world
have made the perilous journey across the
seas and emigrated from their homelands,
most seeking a better life for themselves
and their families, others sought refuge or
asylum from hostile or oppressive envi-
ronments, all looking to America as their
best hope for a safe and prosperous future.
Together weve seen great invention
and technological advancement, a better
life for most. But such progress does not
come without a price; human folly and
its repercussions; war, civil strife, poverty,
ignorance, and what at times seems
unending confict of one sort or another.
Yes we have transgressed and made
mistakes, we are not perfect beings, but
we are also a generous and compassion-
ate people, with unwavering faith, and in
most cases respect and tolerance for the
rights and dignity of others.
Since its inception America has
gone through a transformation and
mostly for the good. But over the last
60 years something has changed in the
American ethos. Some say its a culture
war, and a manifestation of a weak and
misguided people that have succumbed
to demagogues and false prophets. Tat
we have become recalcitrant toward
virtue, yielding to overwhelming desires
and overpowering extraneous forces, suc-
cumbing to our inner demons. And with
the advancement of new technologies,
especially TV, the major media, comput-
ers, the Internet, and social exchanges, a
new dynamic has been added.
Voices from the past speak to us;
teaching, at times warning, the people
and their leaders of the consequences of
moral turpitude. Te Founding Fathers
expressed their thoughts toward virtue
in the people and those in leadership,
and spoke eloquently on this. Te father
of this nation and its frst president
George Washington on a number of
occasions spoke of virtue in the body of
the people; If that virtue erodes by a cor-
ruption of morals, profigacy of manners,
and listlessness for the preservation of
the natural and inalienable rights of
mankind, America would degenerate into
tyranny. Also, Tere is no truth more
thoroughly established than there exists,
an indissoluble union between virtue and
happiness.
Benjamin Franklin wrote, Only a
virtuous people are capable of freedom.
As nations become more corrupt and
vicious, they have more need of masters.
And Tomas Jeferson, No govern-
ment can continue good but under the
control of the people, and their minds
informed by education of what is right
and wrong; to be encouraged in habits of
virtue and deterred from those of vice.
Alexander Hamilton wrote, Te institu-
tion of delegated power implies that there
is a portion of virtue and honor among
mankind which may be a reasonable
foundation of confdence.
Te Founders were patriots, learned
Americans, men willing to sacrifce their
lives, fortunes and sacred honor to a cause
greater than themselves. Tey believed in
the American dream, and the need for a
good, just and virtuous people to uphold
and sustain the ideals they hoped would
survive future generations. At issue is
whether we heard their accumulated
wisdom and knowledge imparted to us
down through the centuries, or whether
we closed our minds to these voices from
the past.
Tere is growing concern among
many that traditional values and institu-
tions are being eroded, and thatwe have
strayed down a path that can only lead to
a place of darkness and empty dreams,
when the truth is, the only real things
that matter and sustain, and will survive
through time and remain for the good of
the American people and humanity, are
those conceived in the minds and hearts
of the thinkers, achievers and the virtuous
among us.
Te persistent confuence of these
cultural expressions, and the images they
generate, exploit and depersonalized the
person, especially the young, who when
cast into the public spotlight must deal
with success, and sadly falling prey to
their own weaknesses and excesses end
up out of control, in rehabilitation, or
dead.
Virtue is a particularly efcacious
good and benefcial quality, and its place
in a culture and how it is ascribed to
each person has been much debated over
time. But there is one overriding evolving
concept, the essence of which is that it
cannot be imposed, but is something that
is realized and voluntarily lived up to by
each individual. In other words, virtue and
its nemesis vice, do not go about saying
here we are, this is right, this is wrong. It
demands careful and sustained refection
by every man and woman before it can
become part of ones life.
America is more than purple moun-
tains majesty and amber waves of grain.
Her greatness lies in the people, men
and women of indomitable strength and
spirit; they are the heart of a great nation.
And for that nation to thrive, prosper, and
maintain honor and dignity in the world,
the goodness of her people is tantamount.
We owe America - each of us have a duty
to live up to the highest of ideals and
moral standards.
Te words of Alexis de Tocqueville,
French historian and political thinker,
author of Democracy in America, said
it best, I sought for the greatness and
genius of America in her commodious
harbors and her ample rivers, and it was
not there; in her fertile felds and bound-
less prairies; it was not there; in her rich
mines and vast commerce, and it was not
there. Not until I visited the churches of
America and heard her pulpits afame
with righteousness did I understand the
secret of her genius and power. America is
great because she is good, and if America
ever ceases to be good, America will cease
to be great.
Bob Pascarella is a freelance writer,
designer of posters, and greeting cards. He
is the author of Short Stories In Verse; the
Website: www.ShortStoriesInVerse.com.
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Westchester Co. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on
9/17/13 SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon
whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall
mail process to The LLC 20 Oscaleta RD South Sa-
lem, NY 10590. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange ST
Wilmington, DE 19801. Arts. Of Org. led with DE
Secy. of State, PO Box 898 Dover, DE 19903. Purpose:
any lawful activity.
BLUEPAC PARTNERS FUND, LP Authority led with
Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/27/13. Ofce loca-
tion: Westchester Co. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on
10/8/13. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom
process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail
process to The LP 20 Oscaleta RD South Salem, NY
10590. DE address of LP: 1209 Orange ST Wilmington,
DE 19801. Arts. Of Org. led with DE Secy. of State, PO
Box 898 Dover, DE 19903. Purpose: any lawful activity.

BLUEPAC PARTNERS FUND, LP Authority led with
Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/27/13. Ofce loca-
tion: Westchester Co. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on
10/8/13. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom
process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail
process to The LP 20 Oscaleta RD South Salem, NY
10590. DE address of LP: 1209 Orange ST Wilmington,
DE 19801. Arts. Of Org. led with DE Secy. of State, PO
Box 898 Dover, DE 19903. Purpose: any lawful activity.
GLORIA LOUZAO LLC Articles of Org. led NY Sec. of
State (SSNY) 1/29/14 Ofce in Westchester Co. SSNY
design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may be
served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to C/O Zuss-
man Law PLLC, Attention: Michael J. Zussman, Esq.
425 East 79th St Ste. 1F New York, NY 10075. Purpose:
Any lawful activity.
TRINITY SHARP REALTY LLC Articles of Org. led NY
Sec. of State (SSNY) 9/17/13 Ofce in Westchester
Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process
may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to
C/O Solomon Borg 630 Third Ave New York, NY 10017.
Purpose: Any lawful activity.
Notice of Formation of Oxyto, LLC. Art Of Org. led
with SSNY on 12/16/2013. Ofce Location: West-
chester County. SSNY designated as agent of the
LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
SSNY mail shall mail process to: C/O UNITED STATES
CORPORATION AGENTS, INC. 7014 13TH AVENUE,
SUITE 202 BROOKLYN, NY 11228. Purpose: Any law-
ful purpose.
MELVILLE GARAGE LLC Articles of Org. led NY Sec.
of State (SSNY) 2/5/14 Ofce in Westchester Co.
SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may
be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to The
LLC 305 North Ave New Rochelle, NY 10801. Purpose:
Any lawful activity.
WISDOM ADVISORY, LLC Articles of Org. led NY
Sec. of State (SSNY) 2/20/14 Ofce in Westchester
Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process
may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to
The LLC 6 Hadden Road Scarsdale, NY 10583. Pur-
pose: Any lawful activity.
RUBIUS, LLC Articles of Org. led NY Sec. of State
(SSNY) 3/10/14 Ofce in Westchester Co. SSNY
served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to C/O Cor-
porate Creations Network Inc. 15 North Mill St Ny-
ack, NY 10960. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
BODMODS LLC Articles of Org. led NY Sec. of
State (SSNY) 3/4/14 Ofce in Westchester Co. SSNY
served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to C/O Zuss-
man Law PLLC Attn: Michael J. Zussman, Esq. 425
E. 79th St Ste. 1F New York, NY 10075. Purpose: Any
lawful activity.
JT DIAGNOSTICS, LLC Articles of Org. led NY Sec.
of State (SSNY) 3/11/14 Ofce in Westchester Co.
SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon whom process may
be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Stern
Keiser & Panken, LLP 1025 Westchester Ave Ste. 305
White Plains, NY 10604. Purpose: Any lawful activity.
LEGAL NOTI CES
WESTCHESTER
GUARDIAN
LEGAL
ADVERTISING:
Send us your
Legal Notices!
914.576.1480
10:30AM-5PM
W W W . W E S T C H E S T E R G U A R D I A N . C O M
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Lends His Political
Support to Transforming the Yonkers Board of
Education into a Department of the City of Yonkers
BREAKI NG NEWS EXCLUSI VE
By HEZI ARIS
On March 20, 2014,
Yonkers Tribune learned
that New York State
Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver has
endorsed Yonkers Mayor Mike Spanos
request of him to permit the transforma-
tion of the Yonkers Board of Education
(YBoE) into a Department of the City
of Yonkers (CoY). Te clout the NYS
Assembly Speaker has lent to Mayor
Spanos interest in making the YBoE
a Department of CoY consolidates the
YBoE and Yonkers City Hall into one
entity promoted toward that end to save
money, bringing about greater trans-
parency of the money allocated, and a
humongous bastion for future patronage,
and control of the most important aspect
of the soon to be former YBoE, that is,
the beginning of resurrecting a school
buildings infrastructure, best known
as the Public Private Partnership for
Education (P3forE), that two years ago
was valued at $2.7 billion. By such stan-
dards, the 2014 fgure should likely hover
closer to $5 billion.
Despite all that was at stake, and
despite that no vision for fscal restraint
and scrutiny is mentioned, no legal mech-
anisms have been formalized.
Te silence among students, parents,
teachers, politicians, among other stake-
holders have been mum. Te lack of
discussion is tantamount to submitting
the deal is correct for CoY. Te Yonkers
Tribune will not hold its breath for fscal
solvency to take place. We advised last
week that the deal would go through.
It will be announced within hours
despite the protestations of the Albany
Delegation.
Te losers are NYS Democratic
Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-
Cousins, NYS Senator George Latimer,
NYS Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, and
NYS Assemblymember Shelley Mayer.
Te Yonkers City Council Democratic
Caucus, especially the Democratic
Minority Leader Michael Sabatino
whose intent to speak to the issue at news
Tuesdays, March 26, 2014th Yonkers
City Council is too little, too late. When
the dust settles, Yonkersites will also
realize they have been hoodwinked again.
Te winners are Yonkers Mayor Mike
Spano, former NYS Senator and lobbyist
Nick Spano, NYS Assemblyspeaker
Sheldon Silver, and the P3forE concept
moving forward. Te Republican
Majority Caucus of the Yonkers City
Council may think themselves winners,
but they will soon learn it is only the
Yonkers City Council President Liam
McLaughlin who will earn a share of the
wealth.
FeatureSection
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Mayor Mike Spano
DOING?
MIKE
HOWS
Paid for by Yonkers Fireghters Local 628 I.A.F.F. COPE
DOING?
MIKE
HOWS
DOING?
MIKE
HOWS

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