But he can’t hit.

Here’s Roger getting ready for his morning walk along the Bronx River in Bronxville. Along the way, we saw a lot of Canada Geese and their newly hatched goslings. The geese crap everywhere, and Roger has this nasty habit of scarfing up a goose turd or two. A lot of dogs do this…it’s really disgusting, but there it is.

Anyway, Roger doesn’t like the geese very much, and it’s clear that he would chase after them, if I let him off his leash. Geese are a suburban scourge, health hazards. I’m guessing that millions of dollars have been spent over a generation in studies and reports on how to control the goose population. It’s all a waste of time.

Short of wholesale purging, nothing really works. Let’s face it.

I’m reminded of this Mahopac guy, Gregory Stefkovic, 44, who was slapped with several summonses earlier this week after he pumped some 1.77-caliber air rifle pellets into a goose in the Lake Ossi neigbhorhood. He said he killed the fowl for fouling the water.

Canada Geese can drive people and dogs crazy.

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I don’t know. About all I know is that Roger weighs 45 pounds and that’s as big as he’ll get.
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Early this morning, we took our usual walk-route—starting at the Yonkers bridge over the Bronx River Parkway and onward to the wide, grassy plain that spreads out five or six feet below Paxton Avenue in Bronxville. When there’s a hard rain, this area quickly fills up like a bathtub and overflows into the basements and garages of nearby homes.

I used to walk with my previous dog, Amy, along the Bronx River which never fails to deliver a lesson or two about the cycle of life—all of which would go unnoticed if I didn’t have a dog in the first place.
Dogs have an uncanny knack for finding dead things. Amy once found a squirrel carcass, that slowly decomposed and disappeared with each passing day, until all that was left was a thin stick of vertebra and a tiny skull. Then the bones disappeared, too.

Once Amy found a headless chicken. Must have been the leftover of a cult ritual. Weird stuff goes on at the river.

Walking with Roger on Mother’s Day, I found a $1 bill. Our lucky day.
Today, we found a dead Oriole, the photo of which accompanies this entry. Roger tried to grab it, but I held him back.

We also saw a snowy egret, very much alive.

The post Roger Diaries Entry 1: The Dead Oriole appeared first on Phil Reisman.

The settlement supposedly involves a payment of $100,000 to Zherka and an apology from former Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone. A few years ago, Amicone allegedly called Zherka a “mobster” and some other things, which resulted in the defamation suit. In Sunday’s column, I made a joke out of the settlement by imagining what a letter of apology from Amicone might look like.

Well, today a local blogger by the name of Delphim Heusler informed me, and probably a lot of other people, that Amicone was holding a press conference in front of Yonkers City Hall tomorrow at 11 a.m. to formally apologize to Zherka. He also sent me a “letter of apology” that Amicone supposedly wrote. It’s really funny…so funny, in fact, that I think Sam himself wrote it! And it turns out Zherka did write it. But we have further learned that Amicone gladly signed it as if it were his own. I am a fan of hoaxes. This sure smelled like one, but as it turns out this letter is the real deal.
Only in Yonkers.

Here it is. Enjoy.

2 on Scribd” href=”http://www.scribd.com/doc/137553166/Yonkers-Mayor-Amicone-Apology-Statement-2” style=”text-decoration: underline;” >Yonkers Mayor Amicone, Apology Statement²

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He was a true comic genious, who was famous for improvisational humor. Most people remember him for his characters such as the horny old bat, Maude Frickert (Johnny Carson copied her with his “Aunt Blabby”) and his comedy roles in films like “It’s Mad, Mad, Mad World” and “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.””
Few, if any of the obituaries on Winters mentioned that for some years he lived in Mamaroneck and that he often tried out his “shtick” with people he met in village drug stores and ice cream parlors. This was in the late 1950s and early ‘60s.

A little research reveals that he would talk the ears off strangers, telling them that he was Jesse James’s brother. Sometimes he would tell them he was a Mexican from Mount Kisco and that he was called “The Kisco Kid.” Or he’d say he was the deranged nephew of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and that he had been temporarily released from an inance asylum.

Some people he accosted didn’t know what to make of him and thought he was a pain in the neck. Like many highly creative comedians, he was walking a thin line of sanity. And indeed, Winters did have a nervous breakdown in 1961 while he was on the comedy circuit in San Fransisco. The story goes that he went to Fisherman’s Wharf to visit a three-masted ship, a tourist attraction. Winters declared that the ship was a fake because it had an outboard motor. He also tried to climb up one of the masts.
When asked who he was he said, “I’m Jonathan Q. Winters.” He also said he was from outer space. It was as if he was doing one of his bits, but it was a real breakdown brought about from pure exhaustion and anxiety that he was always away from his wife and children back in Mamaroneck where he owned a century-old house on Hommocks Road.

The post Jonathan Winters: The Local Angle appeared first on Phil Reisman.

The flag is famous, steeped in American history. It shows a coiled snake against a yellow background and carries the phrase, “Don’t Tread on Me.” A Revolutionary War general by the name of Christopher Gasden designed the banner, which became a popular symbol of rebellion against tyranny.

To the dismay of the veterans, Mayor Noam Bramson and the Democratic majority ordered the flag be taken down on the grounds that it is associated with the modern Tea Party movement and therefore is too politically charged for publicly owned property. Bramson said that flags on public property should include the American flag and possibly the state flag. (Evidently, he forgot about the POW/MIA flag which often flies on municipal flag poles.)

Bramson is not popular with the veterans, in part because the city rejected a veterans-backed proposal to redevelop the rmy property. The flag, which was raised by The United Veterans Memorial & Patriotic Association of NewRochelle may have been done in protest to that rejection, but so what?

Taking the flag down seems petty. Ascribing a Tea Party motivation behind it is insulting to the veterans. What’s more, it also me as disingenuous. It’s a red herring excuse.
I suspect the mayor simply doesn’t like the veterans talking back at him. If Bramson had an ounce of cool, he wouldn’t have made an issue of it in the first place.

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Here’s some thoughts:
1. THE BILL CLINTON DEFENSE
I don’t inhale.

2. THE EUGENE LEVY DEFENSE
It wasn’t me. It was a case of mistaken identity. Maybe the guy stopped by the state trooper said it was me, but it wasn’t me. Maybe it was really my doppelganger, Eugene Levy, the comic actor.

I mean, look at him. Looks like me, kinda?

3. NOT MY CAR DEFENSE
Oh yeah, man…I borrowed that car, man. I didn’t know there was a bag of weed in it, man…Man, you gotta believe me.

4. I DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS POT DEFENSE
I thought it was kitty litter. You know, I’m a veterinarian.

5. TEMPORARY INSANITY DEFENSE
Yeah, that’s it. Shelly Silver is the devil! He made me smoke the evil weed! Arggghhh!!

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To date, the disabled list includes Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and Mark Texiera—all of them key power hitters who are heading into the twilight of their careers.

I fear the Yankees will badly stink this year. Here’s my nightmare lineup.

1. Ichiro Suzuki, right field
So far, so good. Right? Ichiro is a great player, even at 39. I think he’ll make it to opening day.

2. Hank Steinbrenner, second base
Along with brother Hal, hH’s one of the sons of the late George Steinbrenner, who was a bully and a tyrant but demanded a winner, and usually got one. Hank and Hal just want to make money.

3. Eduardo Nunez, third base
A scrub who can run but has little power and fields like a Little Leaguer.

4. Roy Hobbs, Designated hitter
The Natural. He’s older than dirt, perfect for the geriatric Yankees.

5. Pete Balboni, first base
Former Yankee prospect who had a couple of good years in Kansas City. His nickname was “Bye-Bye,” but we say, hello again.

6. Don Zimmer, shortstop
Zim. Rub his head for luck!

7. Charlie Sheen, left field
He’s been in two baseball movies. Therefore, he qualifies. Tiger blood. Winning. Whatever.

8. Jose Feliciano, center field
He can also sing The National Anthem. Can drive the ball to all fields.

9. Francisco Cervelli, catcher
Yes, even on this team, he bats ninth.

Warming up in the bullpen….
CALVIN COOOLIDGE. Why not? He’s having a comeback year.

The post My Nightmare Yankee Team appeared first on Phil Reisman.

Without money and still smarting from a failed pay-raise grab when he was chairman of the board of legislators, Ryan is considered to be a definite third place finisher to Board Chairman Ken Jenkins and New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson. The Dems will hold their nominating convention later this year.

But looky here! Ryan got the full favorite-son treatment last night when the White Plains Democratic Committee gave him a resounding thumbs-up. In a weighted vote, he received 4,801 votes to 718 for Bramson and 116 for Jenkins.

This is a signal as to how they will vote in the convention. The candidates have already agreed to abide by the convention’s outcome and not go to a primary.

The other big city committees will hold similar votes in the coming weeks. Ryan is keeping things interesting, at least for now.

The post Boss Ryan’s Express appeared first on Phil Reisman.

I suspect you may have received 100 comments on this already but . . . Candy on Bonanza was played by David Canary who is 74 and still with us. No parking lot burial for him. He most recently appeared in the grand finale episodes of “All My Children” in 2011.

And Tom Carroll of White Plains writes:

Enjoyed your column of Feb 10th.
But when you wondered who else might be 6 feet under your local car park you mentioned “The actor who played Candy in “Bonanza””.
I don’t think he’s there, because actor David Canary is still with us!
A small thing, but we wouldn’t want you to turn Mr. Canary into another Abe Vigoda now would we?
Seriously, I enjoy your writing and have for some time now. Keep up the good work!

Well, they were correct. Candy is alive, but like I said, I was just making a joke, actually an inside joke on my wife because she’s a Bonanza fan and she liked Candy. I could’ve just as easily said Charo, Tootie or any of the many thousands of TV “celebrities” from the past, but I chose Candy from Bonanza. Don’t ask me why.
Anyway, it was snark at Mr. Canary’s expense, and for that I apologize.
Now that I’ve explained the joke, it’s even less funny.

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The results were not surprising, proving once again that there are two Westchesters, pretty much divided along racial lines.
Overall, the Obama/Biden ticket won handily. According to unofficial results from the Westchester County Board of Elections, the Democratic incumbent received 221,354 votes overall, or 62 percent of the county vote.

The Republican Romney/Ryan ticket got 133,524 votes, or 37 percent of the county vote.

Romney did best in the mostly, white Republican town of Mount Pleasant, where at three voting district he pulled in 73 to 76 percent of the votes. In a section of Yonkers and in Eastchester he got 72 percent of the vote. That pretty much sums up the last strongholds of Republicanism in a county that is nearly 2 to 1 Democratic over GOP. Click on Romney map.

There were two districts in Mount Vernon and one in White Plains that went 100 percent for Obama. (photo left shows voting at Levister Towers in Mount Vernon.) The president also received almost all of the votes in two New Rochelle districts. Click on Obama map.

In Rockland County, Romney got 100 percent of the vote in the Hasidic community of Ramapo.

The post Two Westchesters: Where The Votes Were For Obama/Romney appeared first on Phil Reisman.

1”
My office is somewhere in the twisted metal. I assume they have removed the crappy newsroom rug, which was a featured element in a column I wrote.

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The city is selling a lot of old junk—including the old Getty Square clock.

It’s just one item in a large inventory of stuff going up for auction.

Starting bid for the clock is $660. It might be a steal, except it’s broken. Here’s a description supplied by Jasn Baker, a spokesman for Mayor Mike Spano:

“This cast iron four faced clock manufactured by Bench Manufacturing Co. is approximately 50 years old and needs repair in order to be fully operational. The plexiglass and the metal frame that holds plexiglass is cracked on one side but the exterior is in good condition considering the age.

Weight: approximately 4,000 – 6,000 lbs.
Clock dimensions: Clock Height (ground to pinnacle): 19’, Clock Head Height 78”, Clock Base Width: 35.5”, Clock face Diameter: 29”, Clock Head Diameter 43”“

Find out more. Go to. YonkersCARstore.com

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George Oros, chief of staff for Westchester County Executive, sent out an mass email to constituents giving them an update on efforts to get electrical power restored in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Oros said Astorino is doing “the best he can.”

But is “enough” enough?

Hardly, according to one county resident who replied to Oros with a long, blistering email from an iPhone, saying this is the sixth time in five years that he’s lost power for four days or more. “How dare you?” he writes. This could go viral.

From Oros:

Dear Friends,

And the fury:
Dear George,

Greetings to you and Mr Astorino, and how dare you have the nerve to pen a kind note like this (below) from your Ivory Tower, while so many of us are cold and hungry in this terribly long aftermath of another damaging storm. We are out of touch with the news media except for newspapers, because we have no electrical power, no cable TV, no home phone, and no internet service. It’s really not your fault, we know that. We have been dealt another horrific weather disaster as we have several times before now.

This is at least the 6th disaster that NY, Westchester, and the Metro area has encountered and suffered during the past 5 years.We continue to suffer for days and now a week or more and our local, county and state government and utility service fails us each and every time. Why?We have no electricity or heat in our house, and no fuel in our car.

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I think he meant “Devices” not “Devises.” But that’s not what made me laugh.

Anyway, Abinanti’s pitch is to stop tractor-trailer trucks from wandering on the Hutch and other parkways. This has been a pet issue of his for years going back to his time on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. And he’s right—it’s been a big problem. How many times have we seen or heard of big rigs crashing into the parkways’low bridges and causing horrible traffic holdups?

So walk tall Tom. We’re behind you on this one.

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click here to listen to the radio ad.

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LATIMER: You were for the MTA payroll tax, saying that without it Metro North train fares would raise. Then you changed your mind and worked to repeal the tax. Why the change of heart?

COHEN: You are a New York City landlord and you have gotten the support of numerous property-advocacy groups, including the Rent Stabilization Association. These types of groups have been on record, calling on the repeal of the state’s rent stabilization laws.
There are 74,000 rent stabilized apartment in Westchester. Can you assure those tenants that you will protect their rights?

LATIMER: You walked out on the vote on Tier 6, Gov. Cuomo’s pension reform initiative, because you didn’t feel you had enough time to digest the bill. Would you vote for Tier 6 now? What would your vote be, and if it’s “yes,” how does that square with pension reform opponents, like the Yonkers PBA which supports you candidacy?

LATIMER AND COHEN: How would you propose reigning in pension costs in New York?

LATIMER AND COHEN: The Tax Foundation rated New York state, 50th among the states (dead last) in business friendliness. How would you improve that miserable rating?

LATIMER: You’ve called Cohen a “slum lord” in mass mailings. Can you say that to his face, using those words?

COHEN: You’ve called Latimer the number one “taxer” in Westchester. Can you say that to his face, using those words?

LATIMER AND COHEN: Where you guys stand on hydro-fracking?

LATIMER AND COHEN: After the election, the state legislature will be voting on casino gambling in New York state. How will you vote? Assuming the bill passes, how will you counteract the problem of compulsive gammbling?

LATIMER: You voted against the state two-percent tax. Now you act like you support it all the along. What’s the story?

COHEN: In some of your ads, you are billed to voters as “one of us.” You live in a gated community. Who is the “us” you refer to?

LATIMER AND COHEN: Many bills are proposed in the legislature and most of them die. Day one in office—what piece of legislation would you propose that you absolutely, positively think needs to be passed?

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Losee’s parents are both buried there, but not the Little Big Horn casualty. In fact, his body and the bodies of most of his comrades was never identified.
Why weren’t they identified? For one thing, the Indians pretty much carved up the dead—the bodies were stripped and dismembered and in some cases beheaded. Making matter worse, the bodies had baked under a hot June sun for quite a long period of time, which made positive identification even harder.
Losee’s remains certainly never made it back to Brewster. His remains are in Montana, and his name is listed on a battlefield monument there.
But there’s more to the Losee mystery? Who was he? What’s the story behind the placement of his name on his parents’ grave?
Finally, what compelled this man to leave New York and join the cavalry? If anyone has any information about William Losee, I’d love to hear from you.

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confidential information.It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named
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review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by
reply email and destroy all copies of the original message”

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There were three winners at the concert last night, the Capitol Theater which did a nice job with the early stages of its restoration, the fans, who, notwithstanding a mostly spoken rendition of each song, were treated to a nostalgic evening, and, lastly, Dylan himself who was able to put a swing, rhythm and blues and rockabilly music to previously written lyrics. It appeared that Dylan himself enjoyed jamming with his band as much as the fans did.

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“An atomic bomb exploded over the northwest corner of Silver Lake Park at 9:15 A>M> today.
First estimates of the damage in White Plains were 500 dead, 3,200 stretcher cases and 3,300 walking wounded, and more than 10,000 homeless.
Residents had 15 minutes to flee to shelters…”

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