Police Chase Car Thieves on Route 119
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Greenburgh Police chased down two Bronx men with lengthy criminal records on Saturday morning September 1 shorty after 11 am. The two were driving a stolen 2007 Toyota Camry eastbound on Route 119 (Tarrytown Road) and sped away when police attempted to pull them over. During the chase, the car jumped over the median and drove into oncoming traffic -- then crossed back over the median, damaging the car, which came to a stop on the southbound entrance to the Bronx River Parkway. The passenger in the car, later identified as Jason Lopez, age 33, surrendered immediately, but the driver of the car, Wesley Jenkins, age 43 made a run for it. He was stopped by the Westchester County Police and the White Plains Police and according to the report, “apprehended after a brief struggle.”
Both suspects were charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd Degree for the stolen car and 5th degree for stolen merchandise found in the car. In addition, Jenkins was charged with Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.
Jenkins has 28 prior convictions including 4 felonies and 24 misdemeanors and Lopez has been convicted of one felony and
27 misdemeanors. Both suspects were arraigned before the Honorable Judge Gordon-Oliver and transported to the Westchester County Jail. Jenkins was held without bail and Lopez held on $15,000 bail. They are due back in Court today, Tuesday September 4th.
And what about the hair? Were the men in disguise or are those their usual dos? No information about the men’s unusual style was provided by the police.
(Pictured at top: Jason Lopez, at right; Wesley Jenkins)
Forty Shmorty
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It happened at midnight. I officially left my thirties behind. I’m not that thrilled about it. I hate to be a cliché, but I’m so going there…you got it…I’m having a major mid-life crisis. It’s been going on for a while, but has gotten more intense recently. This particular Birthday is not my favorite. I have definitely been assessing and evaluating the first 40 years.
I’m feeling a little…I don’t know what….
Restless. Yes, I’ve been restless. I’ve been feeling the need to do something. Something monumental to mark this milestone. Dye pieces of my hair blue. Get a tattoo. Go to trapeze school. Get a “Helix” piercing. I’ll let you run wild with that one….
No. Can’t do it. I’ve got to tell you. It’s a piercing on the top of your ear.
You like? It's so totally fake. I did send it to my Mother for shits and giggles. She went apoplectic. Priceless.
I talked about this “restlessness” with a lot of people over the past couple of months. And, whenever I brought up my desire for a tattoo…well, holy, stop, drop, and roll…people had some major visceral reactions. The majority, were AGAINST the tattoo. Let me be clear here. I wasn’t asking for opinions, but was happy to hear them. Their views really helped me with ironing out some important parenting issues.
For example, a lot of people asked, “What happens if Sam or Jake want to get a tattoo or get one when they’re older?” My response was, “Well, as long as my kids are happy, productive, and treat people with kindness I’m okay with them getting some ink.”
While my suburban brethren sat in shock, I continued, “I mean, if that’s the worst they do in their lives, then I’m getting off easy.” I’d get some answering head bobs communicating their tacit agreement on that point.
Of course, Mark was also very against the “tatt,” and, unfortunately, his is the only opinion that matters. So, when he said, “I will be P-I-S-S-E-D if you do it,” I immediately offered to inscribe his name on the inside of my wrist. You know what he said to me?
He said, “Well, that will be a problem for your second husband if his name isn’t Mark or if he spells Mark with a ‘c’ and not a ‘k’.” Damn. And, double damn.
It no longer matters now anyway. In an ideal world, I would pop a Xanax, do a shot of tequila, and visit Addicted To Ink tomorrow to celebrate my 40′s with some inky body symbol, but alas, it’s not to be.
Once my girl, Kris, suggested that I’ve got a solid 15 years to rock it until it becomes a hot wrinkly mess, I was pretty done. She makes a good point. I told her, “Maybe, I’ll just get some nips and tucks here and there instead.”
Kris gave me the thumbs up and a, “Thatta girl.”
I may go for the “Helix” though. We’ll see.
The other night I opened my fortune cookie and this is what I got, “In youth and beauty, wisdom is rare.” I almost fell of my chair. Hey, that rhymes.
But, that fortune was pretty accurate. Because, with age does come wisdom. The wisdom that getting older sucks. It sucks.
And, I will “not go gentle into that good night.” I will nip, tuck, inject, SoulCycle like crazy (meh), spend a fortune in facial products, and do what I have to do to look as young as I feel. I feel about 20, which I guess is pretty good since 40 is the new 20 now, anyway.
So…forty shmorty.
Contributor Sharon Lippmann, writes about her "so called suburban life" as a proud resident of Scarsdale, NY. She is a writer, blogger, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend and one sassy chick. She loves exploring the interesting, strange, perplexing, vexing, ridiculous and funny that life offers up frequently. Enjoying more of what she has to say about nothing, and, well, everything at mydailypill.com .
Greenburgh Town Board Rejects NextG's Bid to Install DAS in Residential Neighborhoods
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In an 18 page decision available here , the Town of Greenburgh decided to reject NextG’s current application to install distributed antenna systems (DAS) in residential locations. NextG, which was acquired by Crown Castle on April 20th, has also applied for zoning considerations in multiple municipalities throughout the country, including Scarsdale (For background information, click here or here , and also read a letter from a concerned resident here).
The decision, handed down on July 24th by members of the Town Board, rejects the current application made by NextG, but leaves the window open for an amended application. After reviewing all of the relevant documents and laws, the town found two violations of the Greenburgh Antenna Zoning Law that could not be ignored. The law, put into place in 1996, was made in order to maintain the character and property values of the municipality and calls for the use of non-residential antennas before new residential ones.
Although the law has many sections, the applicable violations were to the burden of proof that “The facility is needed to provide coverage to an area of the unincorporated area of the Town that currently has inadequate coverage,” and “The facility is the minimum height and aesthetic intrusion necessary to provide coverage.”
As to the first stipulation, NextG argued that their possible clients had inadequate coverage in areas of the town and therefore passed the burden of proof. However, NextG is solely a utility, and its clients are not putting up the DAS. So, the Town Board argued that the facilities are speculative and not actually filling any void in coverage. Furthermore, the Second Circuit decided that any service gap must be decided from the perspective of “users in a given area.” Since Greenburgh residents are not complaining, no void exists.
In regards to the second passage, since NextG’s operations are speculative, it was unable to prove that the amount of space used by its antennas was appropriate. The proposed DAS have the ability to accommodate two carriers. Since NextG does not have two carriers lined up, this size may be unnecessary.
While both of these violations are apparent, the board still had to avoid certain Federal regulations in order to reject the application. For one, NextG attempted to utilize the Federal Telecommunications Act, Chapter 5, Section 332. While the act yields most power to local zoning codes, it provides several caveats. First, it notes that local zoning may not regulate based on environmental effects of antennas if the FCC has permitted them. Since the stated violations are not based on such effects, they stand.
Second, the act states that zoning laws cannot stop wireless service companies from providing service. However, Greenburgh does allow for wireless installations, just not in residential areas or in the right of way.
Third, the act denies local zoning from “discriminating among providers of functionally equivalent services.” However, it does allow for such discrimination based on aesthetic concerns. Thus, the local zoning objections stand up to Section 332.
NextG also tried to utilize passages in Section 253 of the same act. However, the statutes in the section specifically do not override those of Section 332. So, as long as the local zoning complies with section 332, the rejection is valid.
NextG still can continue its fight. If NextG finds legal problems with the ruling based on provisions in Federal or State laws, they have the right to sue the Town. And, the Town Board ruling also allows for an amended application. However, any such application must include a service gap from the perspective of users, which cannot be solved through the use of antennas in nonresidential areas, and solve the issue of maintenance or removal upon physical damage or possible obsoleteness.
While Greenburgh has finished its initial dealings with NextG and Crown Castle, Scarsdale’s conflict still continues. However, the decision in Greenburgh could expedite the process. Scarsdale’s dealings with NextG have been moving at a snail’s pace. The last Planning Board meeting on the subject was on May 7, and the two parties have no spoken in a while. “Scarsdale has not heard back from Crown Castle,” noted Joseph Van Eaton, partner at D.C based law firm Best, Best, & Krieger and Scarsdale Village’s lawyer on the matter. “Maybe they were waiting for Greenburgh themselves.”
Although the Federal laws are mostly applicable to Scarsdale’s case, Scarsdale and Greenburgh have different local zoning codes. A decision by Scarsdale must use the local codes and make sure that they do not violate and of the previously mentioned Federal acts or any other applicable laws.
Many residents hope that Scarsdale will be successful in attempts to deny the application. “I hope no antennas are put up,” stated one Greenacres Ave. resident. “I’m fine with the service just the way it is.”
Zach Edelman is a 2012 graduate of Scardsale High School who will attend college in September.
Popham Road Bridge to be Closed Thursday and Friday nights
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Drivers take note: Scarsdale Village has announced the following schedule for the closure of the Popham Road Bridge: The bridge will be closed from 8:30 pm on Thursday night August 9 until 5 am on August 10 when the contractor will remove the existing structural steel from the middle section of the bridge.
Detours: Westbound Popham Road traffic will be detoured south on Scarsdale Avenue west to Harney Road and north to Garth Road back to Popham Road. Eastbound Popham Road traffic will be detoured south on Garth Road east to Harney Road and north on Scarsdale Avenue back to Popham Road. Pedestrians must use the Metro-North and Freightway Parking Garage pedestrian bridges to cross over the Metro-North Railroad tracks.
The bridge will again be closed at 8:30 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012 until 5:00 a.m. Saturday, August 11. In addition, Scarsdale Avenue from Popham Road to the commuter parking lot entrance and East Parkway southbound from Christie Place to Popham Road will be closed.
Here are the detours for Friday night:
Southbound East Parkway traffic will be detoured east onto Christie Place, north onto Chase Road, east onto Crane Road, south onto Post Road, west onto Brook Street and west onto Harney Road north to Scarsdale Avenue or Garth Road.
Westbound Popham Road traffic will be detoured north onto Chase Road, east onto Crane Road, south onto Post Road, west onto Brook Street, west onto Harney Road and north onto Scarsdale Avenue or Garth Road.
Eastbound Popham Road traffic will be detoured south onto Garth Road, east onto Harney Road, east onto Brook Street, north onto Post Road and west onto Popham Road.
Northbound Scarsdale Avenue – vehicular traffic will be detoured east onto Grand Boulevard, north onto Post Road and west onto Popham Road.
The rain date for the Popham Road Bridge work is from 8:30 p.m. Saturday, August 11, 2012, until 5:00 a.m. Sunday, August 12.
Sidewalk Sale Friday and Saturday in Scarsdale
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It’s a Scarsdale tradition! Don your shopping shoes and head to the village center. The annual Scarsdale Sidewalk Sale, Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, runs Thursday, July 26, through Saturday, July 28. 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Merchants will display their wares on the sidewalks, and offer discounts you won’t find throughout the year. On Saturday, there will entertainment for kids from Scott Kazan and his Amazing Animal Balloons in Boniface Circle, plus music from DJ Dave from Summit Entertainment on Thursday and Saturday. There will be refreshments for sale.
Rain or Shine.
Additional metered parking can be found in the Christie Place garage, on Scarsdale Avenue, or on the Freightway garage roof. On Saturday, parking is free in the Freightway garage, and on the two lower levels of the Christie Place garage.
