Westchester Herald

EXCLUSIVE: Yonkers Board of Education to Close Mark Twain School Pool BY Hezi Aris

 Yearly Maintenance or Permanent Closure?

YONKERS, NY, July 28, 2010 -- The Mark Twain School Pool is a microcosm ofYonkers. The Mark Twain School Pool serves the entire community within the 4th Yonkers  City Council District, from the very young to the most mature. This is accomplished by the camaraderie nurtured between new swimmers and the swimmers who exercise to relieve the debilitating pains of arthritis. The Mark Twain School Pool is a microcosm of Yonkers society serving all within its pool from morning until late at night. Acid-tongued bloggers have learned that the pool is said to be slated to be drained this week. Short notice indeed to orders from up high. Is this the yearly maintenance protocol adhered to since the pool opened or is the Yonkers  Board of Education shutting the facility permanently. Conjecture seems to point to the latter. Chatter is strong and loud. Some within City Hall, who have shared their perspective under the safety of anonymity advise that they are only aware of the maintenance routine closure. Permanent closure is something they have not been advised.

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone Issues Statement Responding to State Legislators' Action on Restoration of School Budget Cuts

YONKERS, NY -- July 14, 2010 -- Yonkers, N.Y. (July 14, 2010) -- The following is an official statement from Yonkers  Mayor  Phil Amicone regarding the announcement made today by state legislators about the promised restoration of $36.4 million in funding for the Yonkers Public Schools.

A Timeline of Deceit: As the Stomach Continues to Churn in Yonkers BY HEZI ARIS

The chicanery deployed on Yonkers’ citizenry continues unabated. Yonkers has been grappling with a  budget deficit of $109.5 million since its presentation before the Yonkers  City Council. From the onset, Mayor Phil Amicone’s FY2010-2011 Budget Proposal was a multi-page compilation of deceit. The budget proposal should have been stated at $129.5 million. The discrepancy between what was formalized in Mayor Amicone’s FY2010-2011 Budget Proposal and the reality was that Mayor Amicone included $20 million that he knew prior to its being written, despite having won approval from the New York State Senate, had not won approval from the New York State Assembly. Both houses of the New York State Legislature needed to approve the funding prior to it being so. When Mayor Amicone presented the $109.5 million deficit, he knew he was lying to the public. When months later the Albany Delegation consisting of Deputy Majority Leader and Senator Jeff Klein, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblymen Mike Spano, J.Gary Pretlow, and Richard Brodsky were able to finally advise Mayor Amicone that the $20 million he had wanted had finally won approval from both houses, he shrugged it off as though it were a given. It was not. That was the first of many deceptions to follow. at the end, the Albany Delegation delivered $22 million.

Supreme Court Justice Validates Inspector General’s Purview Over Yonkers Board of Education BY HEZI ARIS

       

(L-R): YPS Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio, former Yonkers Inspector General Philip Zisman, and present Yonkers Inspector General Dan Schorr.

Exclusive: Court Ruling Herein

Exclusive: Statement of Philip Zisman, former Yonkers Inspector General

Yonkers, NY, July 2, 2010 -- Supreme Court Justice William J. Giacomo has validated the Yonkers Inspector Generals’ purview over the Yonkers Board of Education (YBoE) in a ruling that supercedes the YBoE’s assertion that had denied Inspector General Philip Zisman, and his successor Dan Schorr, fromauditing its books. The ruling is a recapitulation of like expression by Mr Zisman, former Corporation Counsel Frank Rubino, and Mayor Phil Amicone. 

       

(L-R): YPS Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio, former Yonkers Inspector General Philip Zisman, and present Yonkers Inspector General Dan Schorr.

Origami for Tweens And Teens at Yonkers Riverfront Library

Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Public Library’s Riverfront Library is holding origami classes for tweens and teens on Thursday, July 22nd, and on Thursday, August 19th.  Join librarian Jody Maier and learn the art of Japanese paper folding to create a sailboat, pigeon, fish, swan (pictured) and crane.  Classes will take place in the Teen Room on the 3rd floor at 2 pm.  No registration is required.