Hip and Delicious: Fortina in Armonk
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Always on the prowl for new dining spots in Westchester we jumped at the chance to check out Fortina in Armonk and braved the potholes to get there. Located in a new shopping center off Route 22, the barn-like, rustic wood-paneled interior gives the impression that the restaurant has been in operation for longer than its short nine-month tenure. The large space includes a 50-foot stainless steel bar and ample seating to accommodate families and large parties. Though it's billed as a pizza place we quickly saw they had much more to offer.
The gen-X staffers are inviting and hip – and you almost feel like you are in Williamsburg rather than
deep in suburbia. Our waiter's hair was wound into a top-knot and he looked adorable and was friendly and generous with advice on what to order. Chef Christian Petroni came to Fortina from Barcelona Restaurant in Greenwich and also happens to be a co-owner of Cooked & Co. in Scarsdale.
The drink selection is extensive. For wine I counted 22 whites available by the bottle (and some by the glass), ranging in price from $36 to $112 per bottle. There are draft beers, ciders, ales and beers from many countries. The cocktail selection is appealing as well –with many imaginative concoctions including unusual spirits and liquors.
While we considered the extensive menu and sipped our drinks, we munched on spicy green olives bathed in red peppers. Since we were a large party, we had the chance to order and taste a good array from Fortina's menu.
For appetizers we shared garlic bread topped with melted mozzarella and accompanied by fresh, chunky tomato sauce. That was irresistible and filling. We also ordered the fried meatballs in tomato ragu with parmesan cheese. Those were crisp on the outside, flavorful on the inside, and a meal in themselves. Salads are served in large bowls. We had the house salad with romaine, red onion, cucumber, and tomato in a crispy Italian dressing. The lettuce was crisp and crunchy and we would order that one again.
For starters, there is also a selection of salumi e formaggi – at $11 each, $19 for three or $29 for five. On the list are sweet and hot sopressata, speck, mortadella and more meats as well as fontina, pecorino, provolone, manchego, gorgonzola dolce and parmesan. I would consider going back to sit at the bar to feast on these meats and cheeses with a glass from Fortina's wine cellar.
Pizza and pasta are the restaurant's mainstays and the smell of the wood—fired pizza oven infuses 
the restaurant. From the pizza menu we ordered a classic margherita, "The Luigi Bianco" with burrata, robiolona, parmesan and black truffle, and a prosciutto pie with mozzarella, tomato, arugula and olives. The pizzas emerged hot from the oven and were staged atop large empty San Marzano tomato tins on the table. The crusts were bready and delectable and it was difficult not to scarf these slices down too fast. The truffle pizza – swimming with truffle oil and mushrooms was gone first – but in fact all three pizzas were delicious.
From the Primi menu, we ordered three of Fortina's pastas, each arriving in it's own ceramic casserole. All were consumed and enjoyed including the ravioli with fresh ricotta, pomodoro and basil, the "Wood-fired Paccheri – pasta and baby veal meatballs in a rich béchamel sauce, and the spicy "Pici,"baked with tomato, onion, smoked bacon and a dash of chili. For those looking for meat and fish, there's a wood-roasted half chicken, prime dry-aged beef, pork braciole and a market fish of the day. We were too busy downing carbs to try these, but since everything we had was good, I 'd have to assume these dishes would be as well.
The atmosphere was relaxed, informal and lively enough to ward off another dark winter night. Kids were busy with crayons, singles were mixing it up and people of all generations appeared to be enjoying the food and the ambiance. Prices were reasonable – with pizzas ranging from $11 to $21 and pastas at $15. Why was there a large oil painting of Bill Murray dressed up as Ernest Hemingway on the wall? You'll have to go there yourself to get the story.
So – if you can't get into Polpettina in Eastchester, hop in the car for a more spacious rendition of their menu and more. You can't go wrong on the food and you'll have a good time too!
Fortina
17 Maple Avenue
Armonk, NY
(914) 273-0900
Monday through Friday
12- 2:30 pm
Dinner starting at 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday –Dinner starting at 5 pm
Sunday Brunch 12 pm – 2:30 pm
http://www.fortinapizza.com/
Katzenberg's Closes Again and More Business News
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Katzenberg's in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center in Scarsdale is closed again. A Scarsdale10583 reader reports that the salad bar closed overnight and failed to inform their employees who waited outside the following morning. The employees came to work one morning ready to work but found the store shut. This is the third time that Katzenberg's closed suddenly. Though there was initially a sign that said "Closed for Renovation" on the door it did not appear that renovations were in process and the sign on the door is now gone.
Mrs. Greens on Central Avenue:
Mrs. Green's Natural Market recently opened its fifteenth location in at 381 North Central Avenue in Hartsdale in the space formerly occupied by Turcos. The store offers organic produce, all-natural meats and dairy, artisanal baked goods, supplements, and household, pet and baby products.
An organic salad bar, wholesome to-go meals and beverage bar serving Fair Trade coffee and organic juices will make this new Mrs. Green's Natural Market a popular spot for health conscious customers.
Mrs. Green's was founded in 1991 with the mission to provide organic and natural products.
Advocate Brokerage Wins Award:
Advocate Brokerage, a Scarsdale-based independent insurance agency that specializes in meeting the risk management needs of high net worth individuals and
families, has earned the "Paragon" designation from Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE).
This year, Advocate Brokerage was the only agency in Westchester County to earn the Paragon designation, earned by less than 8% of PURE brokers nationwide. These brokers execute PURE's commitment to creating an exceptional service experience and have contributed to the growth and underwriting quality of the PURE membership.
Commenting on the news, Denise Koslowsky of Advocate said, ""I am pleased that the service delivered by our team, coupled with our specialization of the high net worth niche, have yielded the results that warrant this special designation. Advocate Brokerage is proud to be Paragon and thrilled to provide the best service with the best companies for our clients every day".
White Plains Hospital Names New Board Members:
White Plains Hospital has named four new members to its Board of Directors, three who are from Scarsdale: John M. Jureller, Steven Silver and Robert Tucker, all of Scarsdale; and Jonathan Spitalny of White Plains were formally approved as members of the Board of Directors.
John Jureller is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Frontier Communications Corporation, a Stamford, CT-based telecommunications company. Mr. Jureller has extensive global financial and operational experience, having held prior roles in corporate development, corporate finance, turnaround management and banking, in addition to various chief financial officer roles. He is a graduate of Cornell University where he received his B.S. degree and an MBA in Finance. Mr. Jureller has been a member of the hospital's finance committee since 2011.
Steven Silver is Senior Managing Director of Centerbridge Partners, a private investment firm based in New York focusing on private equity and credit investments. He received a B.A. from Yale College and an M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School in 1995, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar. Mr. Silver serves on the Boards of Directors of American Renal Holdings, Inc., Culligan Newco Ltd., Reddy Ice Holdings, Inc. and Remedi Senior Care Holding Corporation.
Jonathan Spitalny is an Executive Director and Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in New York, specializing in the portfolios of high net worth individuals, families, foundations, and institutions. He earned a B.A. in Economics from Rollins College and is a former competitive golfer, having competed at the college and national levels. In 2008 Mr. Spitalny was instrumental in founding the annual Ahmad Rashad Golf Classic to benefit White Plains Hospital, held every June at the Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale.
Robert Tucker is the Chairman and C.E.O. of T & M Protection Resources, an international multidimensional protection and investigations company for high net worth corporations and individuals based in New York. Mr. Tucker is a graduate of George Washington University and the Pace University School of Law. In 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Mr. Tucker to serve as Chairman of the New York State Security Guard Advisory Council. Mr. Tucker is also a Director of the FDNY Foundation, Member of the Board of Directors and Past President of ALDONYS (Associated Licensed Detectives of New York State), a member of the Board of Directors of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, Vice President of the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, and a member of the Pace University School of Law Board of Visitors.
In addition, the hospital announced a new healthcare partnership with Montefiore Health System, an academic medical center and the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The Board of Directors of White Plains Hospital approved the partnership with Montefiore at its February 5th Board meeting. This new affiliation enhances the missions of both hospitals as they continue to provide advanced, quality healthcare to their communities and an expanding service area of nearly 3 million people.
"Our Board of Directors established the qualities it sought in selecting a partner for the future, and Montefiore meets all of these criteria," said Jon Schandler, CEO, White Plains Hospital. "Our hospital provides an exceptional level of care through a close working relationship between our physicians, nurses and staff. With Montefiore as our partner, we will be able to build upon and continue this remarkable culture and together deliver advanced health care to the entire community."
The Needs of Greenacres School Should Be Addressed
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This letter was forwarded to us from Barry Meiselman, President of the Greenacres Neighborhood Association: Dear Greenacres Community: This is a joint message from the Greenacres Neighborhood Association and the Greenacres PTA Executive Committee regarding the future plans for the Greenacres School:
The Scarsdale School District has engaged the architectural firm of KG&D to develop a master facilities plan for the district. The short term and long range solutions that they recommend will be discussed with building level committees at each of the seven facilities. These committees will be comprised of the principal, faculty, Linda Purvis (Assistant Superintendent for Business and Facilities), parents and each PTA President. These building level committees will then make their recommendations to the district's Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee. The project timeframe for finalizing the plan is the end of April-beginning of May 2014.
At this point, projects at the Heathcote and Edgewood Schools, Middle School and High School, as well as district-wide technology enhancements are being considered at costs that are expected to exceed $12-14 million. If a bond issue is proposed and approved by the community in the range of $12-14 million, it would coincide with the retirement of earlier bonds and avoid any tax increases for residents. Therefore, it appears unlikely that all desired projects can and will be approved if a new bond issue is proposed.
What does this mean for the Greenacres Elementary School? The school is the oldest building in the district and has issues that would be anticipated for a building of its age, as well as logistical issues that have existed for some time. The school is at or near capacity in accommodating the current student population, classrooms are small, the heating system can't be fixed properly without an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars, there are water infiltration issues and there is an actively used road that separates the building from its ball field. What are the current thoughts by the district regarding the Greenacres facility? One is fixing the school in its current location. The footprint of the school cannot be expanded further and building a second floor during the school year is problematic considering disruption of classes, costs and the need for temporary classroom facilities in the ball field. The other option is building a new facility in the ball field while the current school is being used. While the costs have not been quantified at this point, $40-50 million of debt service will be retired in 2019-2020, providing the funding needed for such an undertaking while minimizing the possibility that a new bond issue will result in an increase in taxes.
It is important to note that consideration of these matters is at an early stage, and much more discussion is planned. As Greenacres residents, now is the time to get involved in this vital process and to contribute your thoughts and professional expertise. District Administration and the School Board have recognized the need to better communicate and inform all residents about ongoing deliberations and the decision making process.
The annual Greenacres Neighborhood Association Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2014 at the elementary school. We will start serving refreshments at 7:15pm and the meeting will begin at 7:45pm. Two of our invited guests will be Suzanne Seiden, President of the School Board and a representative from District Administration. This will be a great opportunity to hear more about the facility plan for Greenacres, as well as for school officials to hear your views. Please don't hesitate to call me at 723-5807 or email me at barwest2@aol.com to speak more about this issue.
Barry Meiselman
President, Greenacres Neighborhood Association
Greenacres PTA Executive Committee
Dana Matsushita
Isabel Finegold
Diane Gurden
Jeremy Guski
Sharon Higgins
Gwynn Hurshman
Amy Nadasdi
Tanya Singer
Gerry Young
Forum Hears Update on the State of the County
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Expecting to get an update on the affordable housing settlement and drinking water standards in Westchester, on February 6 I braved the frigid temps and slid into my car to attend the meeting of the Scarsdale Forum to see County Executive Rob Astorino. However when I arrived I learned that the County Executive was tied up at a black-tie affair and had sent Deputy Executive Kevin Plunkett in his place.
Plunkett ran through Astorino's standard speech, citing examples of "the three P's that had been accomplished during his term in office: protecting taxpayers, preserving essential services and promoting economic development. He credited Astorino with holding down county expenses and shrinking the county budget from $1.8 billion to $1.7 billion by sharing services and consolidation and said that spending on the neediest had increased rather than decreased.
Plunkett then discussed his team's efforts to keep Pepsico and Atlas Air in Westchester and the efforts of the Local Development Corporation to partner with non-profits to finance new projects, such as a $250 million building plan at Pace University. Similarly at Rye Playland, which now loses between $3-$5 million per year, Astorino's team has worked with partners in the private sector to form an organization called "Sustainable Playland." Private companies will run an amusement zone, the ice casino, and field house with indoor and outdoor fields, a lawn zone and a restaurant zone. The property will also be home to the Westchester County Children's Museum.
In order to bring more business and jobs to Westchester, the county is hoping to develop 60 acres of county-owned land north of the Westchester County Medical Center into a bio-tech hub of learning facilities and technology companies.
What about the fair and affordable housing settlement and the Justice Department lawsuit against Westchester County concerning safe drinking water?
Plunkett explained that though the county is ahead of schedule on constructing the required 750 units or affordable housing, the settlement remains tied up in court. In August, HUD announced the results of a study from a team from Pratt who analyzed Westchester zoning code to see if there were any municipalities with impediments to fair housing. They identified seven communities where they found socio-economic exclusionary zoning: Croton-on-Hudson, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mamaroneck, Ossining, Pelham Manor, and Pound Ridge. HUD has instructed the county to take legal action against these municipalities to change their zoning code and file an analysis of impediments to fair housing. However, Astorino maintains that the Planning Boards of these communities retain the right to regulate their zoning and that the county does not have exclusionary zoning. In the interim, HUD is punishing the county by withholding community development block grant funds until the gridlock between the county and HUD can be resolved.
Plunkett also addressed a second point of contention between the county and the federal 
government. The county has been sued by the Department of Justice for failing to comply with EPA regulations in regard to UV treatment of the water supply to eliminate cryptosporidium. Though the deadline was April 2012, the county was unable to come up with a workable and affordable plan to meet the requirements. Plunkett reported that the county is now working with representatives from Water District #1 (including Scarsdale) to gain approval from the EPA for a $7 million proposal to build two new pumping stations to treat our water supply.
(Pictured at top from left to right: Eli Mattioli, Michelle Lichtenberg, Howard Nadel, BK Munguia, Angela Manson)
Police Arrest Brooklyn Man for Fraud and Larceny
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On January 24 Scarsdale detectives arrested a Brooklyn man for cashing fraudulent checks totaling over $7,500 from the accounts of a business on East Parkway in Scarsdale and Post Road residents, both during the month of December.
Terrance Redden, age 22, of Dumont Avenue in Brooklyn was charged after two detectives working separately on the two incidents realized that they were pursuing the same subject.
On December 16, 2013, an East Parkway business reported that three fraudulent checks totaling over $3,500 had been drawn against the business account, and funds removed. On December 31, 2013 a Post Road resident came to Scarsdale Police Headquarters to report that three fraudulent checks totaling more than $4,000 had been drawn against their personal bank account.
As Detectives Craig Carroll and Joe Serio proceeded to investigate the crimes they found that they were looking for the same suspect and developed sufficient evidence against Terence Redden to go to his residence in Brooklyn on January 24. With assistance from the NYPD they took Redden into custody.
He was charged separately for the two incidents and has been charged with:
- Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd Degree, a Class D Felony (2 counts)
- Grand Larceny 4th Degree, a Class E Felony (2 counts)
- Identity Theft 2nd Degree, a Class e Felony (2 counts)
- Unlawful Possession of Personal ID Info 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor (2 counts)
Reden was arraigned on the 6 felony and 2 misdemeanor charges by Judge John Galloway and remanded to the Westchester County Jail on $100,000 bail.
The Scarsdale Police Department is continuing their investigation into both incidents, working with the Westchester County District Attorney's Office Economic Crimes Bureau and the security departments of the financial institutions involved.
