The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

Harvey Cavalier Camp to Host First Open House on Jan. 9

by

Katonah – The Harvey Cavalier Summer Camp will hold its first offseason open house, Saturday, Jan. 9, at The Harvey School, 260 Jay Street, Katonah, NY from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

harvey photo 3

The 125-acre camp, which features arts, crafts, theater, dance, gymnastics, swimming, sports and ice skating, is a limited enrollment program for children entering Pre-K through ninth grade in September 2016.

The 2016 summer session begins Tuesday, July 5, and runs through Friday, Aug.12. For more information, parents should call (914) 232-0581 or go to: www.harveycavaliercamp.org

Should the event need to be postponed due to bad weather, the open house would be held Jan. 23.

Harvey Cavalier is a private, nonprofit camp for children who live in the counties of Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield, Conn.
harvey photo 2harvey photo pool

Byram Hills High School Club Embarks on ‘Printing’ Prosthetic Hands

by

A Byram Hills High School club, whose members are learning how to use 3D printers to create prosthetic hands, gained a new understanding of the importance of prosthetic limbs during a meeting with a retired U.S. Army officer who navigates life with an artificial leg.

Patty Solimene Collins spoke about the challenge of adjusting to a prosthetic leg, after needing an amputation following an accident, and how she learned to walk and run again.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Patty Solimene Collins shows Byram Hills students an artificial leg.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Patty Solimene Collins shows Byram Hills students an artificial leg.

“This is not cheap technology, but if you ask me, it’s priceless because it helps me do the things I love to do,” she said. While her legs were paid for by Army benefits (she has two: one for regular use and one for sports), she discussed how 3D printers can provide basic assistive hands for those who cannot afford more expensive custom versions because they lack insurance or are underinsured.

Ms. Collins’ visit was coordinated by the High School e-NABLE Club, which is part of the global e-NABLE network. High School Science teacher Paul Beeken, the club’s advisor, has been working with its members on printing a prosthetic hand using the high school’s 3D printers.

During the after-school presentation, Ms. Collins passed around her “everyday” leg as well as one that she uses when runs, rides bicycles and competes in para-triathlons. She also answered questions from students on everything from how a prosthetic leg feels to whether they can give athletes an advantage in competitions. Along with members of the e-NABLE Club, interested students from the Engineering Club and from Physics and Science Technology and Society classes also attended.

Ms. Collins and students also discussed the push to improve prosthetics created by 3D printing. Last June, e-NABLE Club members made a hand to demonstrate their skills and, after being approved by the network, are now waiting to be assigned a patient.
Meanwhile, they have practiced by making parts for other groups that help teach how to assemble the hand-assistive devices from open-source files that can be downloaded and printed for under $50. The 3D-printed prosthetics are typically given to children, who, because they may need a new one every six to nine months often do not get approval from insurance companies for the more sophisticated high-priced limbs. Although the 3D-printed hands are not fully functional prosthetic devices, they help children perform simple tasks and make it easier for them to ride bikes, play on swings or participate in sports.

News Courtesy of the Byram Hills School District

County Executive Signs off On Funds toward Costs of Sewer Expansion in New Castle Neighborhoods

by

Town of New Castle News release:

On November 23, 2015, the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted to authorize an inter-municipal agreement with the Town of New Castle and the City of New York to distribute $16 million from the East of Hudson Water Quality Investment Program Fund to help fund the costs of a sewer expansion/diversion project for the Town’s Riverwoods, Random Farms and Yeshiva neighborhoods.

The Legislation was promptly signed by the County Executive’s office this morning.mike kap passing a bill

This is a major step forward for a project that would solve longstanding problems with the sewer treatment plants serving the Riverwoods, Random Farms and Yeshiva communities, while helping protect New York City’s and Westchester County’s drinking water supply — an invaluable resource that serves 9 million New Yorkers. The work would involve extending a Westchester County sewer trunk line, which currently stops near Route 100 in the Briarcliff Manor area, to the Riverwoods Wastewater Treatment Plant and through Random Farms. Doing this will require the construction of 38,074 linear feet of pipeline and four new pump stations.

The Town of New Castle has been working on this project since 1997. For the past several years, the Town’s efforts have focused on reaching funding agreements with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Westchester County.

Unfortunately, after years of delay, what began as a $16 million project with very little local tax impact has now grown to a $24-$26 million project. The Town is seeking additional funding from the 2015 New York State Water Quality Improvement Program through the 2015 Consolidated Funding Application to bridge this gap.

New Castle Supervisor Rob Greenstein stated, “This was a critical step forward. So many people have worked to secure these funds, there are too many to name. But on behalf of the Town of New Castle, and especially the residents of Riverwoods, Yeshiva Farm & Random Farms, I would however like to thank Westchester County Board Chairman Michael B. Kaplowitz for his leadership. Chairman Kaplowitz has been working on this project from Day 1. I would also like to thank former Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and former Town Attorney Clinton.”

Greenstein added, “This project is critically important. We need to solve the problem of failing waste water treatment plants that are impacting the Croton Reservoir, as it affects the water supply for Westchester County and New York City. We will continue to work hard to secure the additional funding that is needed to support this project and offset the costs to the local taxpayers.”

Westchester County Board Chairman Michael B. Kaplowitz stated “the 18 year effort to protect the environment & New York City drinking water as well as well the quality of life & home ownership values for the many New Castle residents in Riverwood, Yeshiva & Random Farms has reached a successful conclusion. The Westchester County Board voted overwhelmingly to allocate 16 million dollars to facilitate the sewer hook-up of these communities to the County’s Saw Mill River Sanitary District. Thanks to my legislative colleagues, New Castle Supervisor Rob Greenstein, former Town Attorney Clinton Smith, Town Council members Elise Mottel & Jason Chapin & the many community and past New Castle government leaders who helped make this happen.”

David Buchwald’s Newly Passed Bill to Help Keep Drunk Drivers Off the Road

by

New Law Follows One Month After State Comptroller Finds Significant Non-Compliance with Leandra’s Law

As New Yorkers look forward to celebrating the upcoming holiday season in a safe and responsible fashion, Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law legislation to reduce drunk driving among repeat violators of state law. The bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) introduced the legislation (bill number A.6222) earlier this year to close a loophole that allows repeat DWI offenders under probation to potentially operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated, despite the generally mandated use of an ignition interlock device (IID) under what is known as Leandra’s Law.

An IID is an apparatus that is similar to a breathalyzer and is often attached to the ignition system of a motor vehicle as a condition of probation stemming from traffic-related infractions. The vehicle can only be started if the driver blows into the ignition interlock and his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) is below the legal limit of .08 BAC. Assemblyman Buchwald’s legislation, sponsored by Senator Michael Nozzolio (R-Seneca Falls) in the State Senate, strengthens part of Leandra’s Law, which was signed in 2009 and named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed in a motor vehicle operated by a drunk driver.

buchwald

Last month, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli published an audit of drunk drivers who were ordered to install IIDs in New York City between 2012 and 2014. The audit found that of over 53,000 IIDs ordered by the courts, only 13,810 drivers, or just 25 percent, were compliant.1 For those who violated their probation or conditional discharge, the requirement to use an IID could not be extended to make up for the missed time on probation during which the violation occurred. The new law grants the courts the ability to extend the sentence of mandated use of an ignition interlock device if a DWI offender violates his or her probation or conditional discharge. Buchwald’s bill, which was recommended by New York’s Office of Court Administration, provides judges the ability to extend the period in which the use of an IID is mandated in the vehicle of a DWI offender who violates his or her probation.

“Over the years we’ve seen senseless accidents and tragedies as a result of drunk driving in every corner of the state,” New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said. “Ignition interlocks, coupled with aggressive monitoring of DWI offenders, are an effective way to prevent intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel and endangering the welfare of pedestrians and motorists. I commend Assemblyman Buchwald, as well as Senator Nozzolio, for their efforts to strengthen Leandra’s Law and thank Gov. Cuomo for signing this much needed measure into law.”

“Leandra Rosado’s story reminds us that life is precious, and in her memory New York State has taken steps to reduce the tragic loss of life due to drunk driving,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “Ignition interlock devices save lives, and by granting our courts the ability to extend the period of mandated time these devices are required for repeat offenders, we will increase the chance of preventing further tragedies like Leandra’s from happening in the future. I am thankful that Governor Cuomo signed into law this initiative to reduce drunken driving and keep repeat offenders off the roadways. I wish all New Yorkers a happy and safe holiday season.”

“Mothers Against Drunk Driving thanks Assemblyman David Buchwald for working to pass A.6222, and Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing this bill into law, that will increase the use of interlocks by individuals that have been found guilty of driving drunk in New York State,” states Rich Mallow, State Executive Director, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 20 percent of all children who are killed in traffic-related accidents perish as the direct result of a drunk driver.2 In addition, over 22,000 DWI offenders in New York State are repeat violators, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.3 The new law helps prevent this unnecessary loss of life by requiring that probationary terms remain in effect after a declaration of delinquency, and allowing the court the ability to extend the end date of the oversight and utilization of the IID.

Assemblyman Buchwald’s legislation passed unanimously in both the State Assembly and the State Senate.

______________________________________________________________________________

1 New York State Office of the State Comptroller; “Oversight of Persons Convicted of Driving While Intoxicated” (http://www.osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093016/14n4.pdf) October, 2015.

2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; “Injury Prevention and Control: Motor Vehicle Safety: Impaired Driving” (http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Impaired_Driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html) January, 2015.

3National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; “DWI Recidivism in the United States: An Examination of State-Level Driver Data and the Effect of Look-Back Periods on Recidivism Prevalence.” (www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/CATS/index.aspx) Nathan Warren-Kigenyi and Heidi Coleman. March 2014.

Nita Lowey on the Terror Gap: “Let’s Close this Glaring Loophole Immediately.”

by

Article and Photos by Grace Bennett

White Plains — “We are going to win this,” Congresswoman Nita Lowey told fellow speakers and several groups of gun violence prevention (GVP) activists who gathered today at a press conference to address the “terror gap.” While Federal law prohibits the purchase of guns in nine specific categories including to convicted felons, domestic abusers and the seriously mentally ill, those on “terrorism watch lists” are free to purchase firearms–even while they are prohibited from entering ‘no fly zones,’” Lowey explained.

Lowey urged immediate passage of the “Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015,” a bill she co-sponsored together with Republican Peter King of New York. Despite the bill having strong bipartisan support, the majority leadership in the house has failed to bring it to a vote.”

nita and speakers

“We prevent those on terrorism watch lists from boarding planes but they are welcome in gun stores,” Lowey told those gathered.

“Between 2004 and 2014, individuals on the terrorism watch list tried to purchase guns 2,233 times. 2,043 were approved. That’s an astounding 91 percent.

Terrorists and potential terrorists are “knowingly exploiting weaknesses in American gun laws.”

91 percent of the American public, and even the majority of NRA members, 67 percent, agree on the importance of prohibiting sales to suspected terrorists, yet the NRA has prevented the passage of this legislation, pointed out Lowey. “Let’s close this glaring loophole immediately.”

Two mayors attended, both members of Mayors against Ilegal Guns.

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach offered: “A Mayor’s basic role is to keep everyone safe,” Roach said. “If you don’t speak up on this issue, you are just not doing your job. I can’t believe we have to fight to get something like this passed.”

Nyack’s Mayor Jen Laird-White spoke eloquently about being a mother of two children living in major cities and another preparing to leave home for college. “I want my children to board the subway or go out to dinner without fear,” said Laird-White. “I don’t want my college bound son diving under a cafeteria table to avoid gun violence.

“I want every child to grow into a life of adventure and possibility, not a cramped and fearful existence shadowed by the threat of gunfire.

“We all know there are not guarantees of personal safety in life. But there are sensible actions that we can take as parents and public officials to reduce the threats of violence…

“There is no reason why someone on a terrorist watch list should be able to purchase an arsenal of high-powered weaponry and take it home—no questions asked,” she continued. “There is not proper definition of liberty that justifies such a pointless and potentially catastrophic risk. It’s time to put ideology and politics aside and try common sense for a change.”

The final speaker was White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong, standing next to two police officers who he reminded were our “first responders” in criminal situations. The additional protections, he said, would give law enforcement additional resources in ensuring that dangerous weapons do not end up in thae hands of terrorists–domestic or international.

Activists joining the speakers represented New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Million Mom March, the Brady Campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety
Activists joining the speakers represented New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Million Mom March, the Brady Campaign and Everytown for Gun Safety

Grace Bennett is publisher and editor of The Inside Press.