The Advocates on WVOX

The Importance of Public Art, and how it affects our communities?

Richard J Garfunkel — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:52:52 GMT

iThe Advocates today will address “The Importance of Public Art, and how it affects our communities?” Our guests are Barbara Segal, Rosemary Uzzo and Yonkers Public Works Commissioner John Liszewski who will discuss this important topic.

Barbara Segal is the public Art Consultant to the City of Yonkers, NY. She has had many “One Woman Shows,” she has been involved in many group exhibits and has written numerous articles that have been published in the NY Times, the Journal News, and other publications. She is a graduate of the Pratt Institute and has a degree from L’Ecole Nationale Supericure, des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, and a BFA degree from Pratt.

Barbara Segal has earned a firmly established reputation as an important public artist and advocate of the arts in New York State. Her exhibitions and larger scale public works have consistently met with rave reviews. The New York Times describes her sculpture as "provocative and exquisitely carved", responding to her installation exhibit at the Neuberger Museum of Art in 2000. "Tour de force well describes Barbara Segal’s achievements in sculpture. She is a master at creating complex, detailed and unusual objects from hard stone”, states the Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the museum. The fall of 2003 welcomed the opening of a sculpture park on the Hudson River waterfront in Yonkers, N.Y. The City of Yonkers exclusively contracted Barbara Segal to organize and design this ambitious project as a symbol of its extensive cultural revitalization. Completed in 2005 is “Muhheakantuck”, an MTA Arts for Transit commission is a two-part seventy foot cast aluminum wave, charting the original borders of the Sawmill River. It runs along both sides of the historically land marked Metro-North viaduct in the heart of downtown Yonkers. Barbara Segal in partnership with JMC Art Partners created Yonkers Artrucks, launched during Business Week 2007 for the Dept. of Public Works. Together the team developed the concept and implemented the project to transform 6 garbage trucks into "mobile art galleries" with artist-designed vinyl wraps promoting environmental awareness. Currently Barbara is a consultant for the City of Yonkers working with the Dept. of Public Works and the Downtown Waterfront Development Corp. She spends everyday in her studio in Parkhill creating new works of art for galleries, museums and private collectors.

Rosemary Uzzo, a member of “Who’s Who in Education,” has a BA and an MA from Fordham University. She was a member of the Yonkers Board of Education from 1961 through 1996. During that period of time she served as the Director of Information Services, for the Yonkers Board of Education, served as an Assistant Principal, a curriculum Coordinator, and a curriculum writer. She is still active as an Instructor for Adult Education through BOCES, been the director of the Jewels Learning Center at the Yonkers YMCA. Ms. Uzzo has been an instructor at Mercy College, and an adjunct professor at Fordham University. She is the author of “Exploring New York,” and activity text for fourth grade students in New York State. She has served on numerous Boards and Councils, which include Mayor’s Community Relations Board, Westchester Council on crime and Delinquency, National Council of Christians and Jews, Bronxville Women’s League, the Italian-American/African-American Dialogue Group, American Association of University Women, among a number of others.

Commissioner of Public Works, John A. Liszewski, started his career in the City of Yonkers in 1987 as a senior budget analyst. He became Administrator for the Yonkers Police Department, then Director of General Services in the Department of Public Works. He was then appointed by Mayor Terrance Zaleski as Commissioner and was reappointed by both Mayor John Spencer and currently by Mayor Phil Amicone.

As Commissioner of Public Works, Mr. Liszewski holds full administrative responsibility for all phases of the public works operation, including the water system, the sewer system, solid waste collection, snow removal, recycling, bulk pick-up, and the maintenance of all public areas (streets, bridges, highways).

He continues to work on increasing the percentage of recycling that we do as a City. His duty as Commissioner of Public Works has always been to continue to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Yonkers and to maintain our proactive approach. In addition, he participated in collaboration with the City’s Art Community to create an exciting project to transform six garbage trucks into mobile art galleries. The outcome was to promote environmental awareness and educate the public on the integral role DPW plays in sustaining a clean and save environment.

He is a member of Westchester Counties Solid Waste Advisory Board, American Public Works Association, Westchester County Public Works Association, Westchester Counties Water Works Association, as well as many other community and civic associations.

He was born and raised in Yonkers, were he currently resides with his wife. He has three children and two grandchildren.

Our guests will address some of these following questions:

•   How does public art impact a Community?
•   Who should pay for it?
•   What is the difference between public art and gallery art?
•   Is there a discernible economic impact regarding public art?
•   Why have public art in a community?

Robert Flower, Ph.D. talks about his book, "Your Exceptional Mind" and it's meaning.

Richard J Garfunkel — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:58:20 GMT

Robert Flower and his book "Your Exceptional Mind,” and his thoughts on how “enhancing one’s intelligence promotes the expanding of understanding.”

Dr. Flower, who is a resident of Bronxville, NY, is a graduate of both Fordham University and Walden University with a BA degree in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Philosophy along with Organizational and Systems Sciences.

Dr. Flowers is a member of MENSA, has lectured and appeared on radio extensively. Part of his career has been devoted to the real estate industry, college lecturing and he has traveled extensively all over the world on archeological and anthropological investigations. He is has spent numerous years studying and reporting on “The Search for Natural Intelligence.”

As a result of this work, his books deal with intellectual potential and how it can enhanced, and utilized. His books have included, “Decoding Potential,” “A Revolution in Understanding” and “The Intelligence Cubes.” This afternoon we will explore his thoughts on intelligence and he will answer some of the following questions:

* What exactly is Natural Intelligence?
* How does it help people?
* How do you use it as a community activist?
* What is your view of governance?

"A Conspiracy of Silence, the Health and Death of FDR" with Author Harry S. Goldsmith, MD

Richard J Garfunkel — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:26:18 GMT

Our guest today is the renowned physician Dr. Harry S. Goldsmith, who is the author of the medical/mystery, “A Conspiracy of Silence, the Health and Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt."

Harry S. Goldsmith, M.D., is a renowned practicing surgeon who has invented many innovative surgical procedures, including those that help victims of spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer's.

He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and the Boston University School of Medicine. In his fifty years of practice he has been the recipient of numerous fellowships, served in the United States Army in Korea as a Captain, and is a member of many organizations and societies. He is the author of 225 scholarly medical papers on subjects that vary from cancer to arterial implantation.

Dr. Goldsmith is also a devoted medical history buff and in "A Conspiracy of Silence" takes the reader inside that critical moment in time when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was running for an unprecedented fourth term during World War II. Although there were rumors about his declining health and telling photos of him at Yalta, his true medical condition was kept secret. His Vice-president, Henry Wallace, was popular with the people and a longtime personal friend, but behind the scenes, Democratic insiders, largely unknown to the general public were conspiring to drop him from the ticket. Their heavy-handed manipulation of the 1944 convention ultimately led to the nomination of Harry Truman in his stead. One wonders if they ever realized how their own actions forever changed the face of America.

Goldsmith's interest in FDR's medical records began in 1963. Years later, he started looking for them and found at every twist and turn they had been destroyed or lost. By 1984 he himself was embroiled in a drawn out court battle for a medical document denied to its legal owner. Even with the backing of FDR's son, James, the original document was never released. What was the motivation of all these people, by what right did they take it upon themselves to keep or destroy historical papers even decades after FDR's death?

Robert Schlesinger discusses his book "White House Ghosts, Presidents and the Speechwriters."

Richard J Garfunkel — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:08:29 GMT

Our show today is about the book, White Houst Ghosts: Presidents and their Speechwriters, with the distinguished author and journalist Robert Schlesinger.

Mr. Bob Schlesinger will talk about his book, his renowned fathe, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., and the presidency. Schlesinger reveals, in intimate detail, how presidents from FDR through the present day got their most important messages across through their speechwriters.

Bob Sherwood, Raymond Moley, Harry Hopkins, Emmet Hughes, Peggy Noonan, Sam Rosenman. Clark Clifford, Ted Sorenson, Bryce Harlow, Bill Moyers, Jack Valenti, Richard Goodwin, Ray Price, Pat Buchanon, and William Safire, are some of the big-name writers that graced the White House from 1933 until today.

Mr. Robert Schlesinger, a U.S.News and World Report deputy editor, oversees all opinion editorial content. Spearheading the opinion section of www.usnews.com, Schlesinger solicits op-eds from writers and bloggers nationwide. Schlesinger came to U.S.News & World Report as a freelancer and blogger for a variety of publications, including Salon.com, Economist.com, the Huffington Post, and the New York Times Magazine. His work has also appeared in The Washington Monthly, the Weekly Standard, People, Campaigns & Elections, Washington DC Style, DC Magazine, the Washington Examiner, the Boston Globe Magazine, George, and the AARP Bulletin.

Prior to joining U.S. News, Schlesinger covered national security and public policy issues for the Boston Globe’s Washington bureau. He previously served as chief congressional correspondent at Voter.com, political editor at The Hill newspaper, and researched advisers to presidential candidates at the Center for Public Integrity, co-writing “Under the Influence,” a 1996 report on presidential campaign advisers. He is also co-founder and co-contributor of the blog, RobertEmmet, which covers topics from national security to entertainment and culture. He teaches political journalism at the Boston University Washington Journalism Center. He lives with his wife in Alexandria, Virginia. A New York City native, he graduated from Middlebury College in 1994.

Our show will attempt to explore these questions:

• How important are speechwriters to a president?
• Who was the first presidential speechwriter
• Who were the best writers among the presidents?
• What was it like being the son of Arthur Schlesinger Jr as a father?
• What made FDR’s team of writers special?

"The Unionization of the Taxi Cabs in White Plains, What are the Implications?"

Richard J Garfunkel — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:02:45 GMT

Our show is about “The Unionization of the Taxi Cabs in White Plains, What are the Implications?”

Our special guests are Mr. Michael Carriere of District Council 9, Mr. Mario Alfonso, a taxi operator from White Plains, NY and Mr. Glen Hockley, a Member of the White Plains City Council.

Mr. Carriere, who has been a Union member for 20 years, came from a Union family. He started a glazier for Local Union 1087 and held many elected positions, before and after, the merger with District Council 9 and the consolidation of Local Unions 206 and 1087. He is also a strong advocate of apprentice programs, and has contributed his time, and the efforts his union in many charitable projects that include the YMCA rehabilitation in White Plains, food pantries, toys for tots, The Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, various projects in Yonkers and church rehabilitations in Port Chester and Brewster.

Mr. Alfonso is a resident of White Plains, and is an owner operator of his own taxi. He has been actively involved in this effort to not only unionize his drivers, but to make sure that the standards regarding drivers, their conduct and dress are improved.

The some of the issues that will be discussed:

• How did this effort to organize cabdrivers begin?
• What role did Councilman Glen Hockley play?
• How is the price of gasoline impacting on taxi service?
• What role will unionization play in the upcoming years?
• How has this rich and poor society of the last decade affected the average working man?

Presidential Politics in the Post FDR Era

Richard J Garfunkel — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:08:48 GMT

Our guest today is Mr. Doug Garr, an author, writer, editorial consultant, speechwriter and former Editorial Director of the New York State Urban Development Corporation. Doug, a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications has written for magazines, newspapers, and CEOs of companies like, JP Morgan, Hewlett-Packard, and Network Appliances. He has written books on Lou Gerstner of IBM, investing, and Silicon Valley. He wrote economic speeches for former Governor Mario Cuomo, and he is currently working on two new books. He has a life-long interest in politics.

The Advocates will focus on “Presidential Politics in the Post FDR Era.”
Mr. Garr and I will discuss some of the pivotal elections, which include the following:

• Truman- Dewey-Wallace-Thurmond, 1948
• Eisenhower –Stevenson, 1952
• Kennedy-Nixon, 1960
• Nixon-Humphrey-Wallace, 1968
• Carter-Ford, 1976
• Reagan-Carter-Anderson, 1980
• Clinton-Bush-Perot , 1992
• Bush-Gore, 2000

"American-Made" author NIck Taylor Talks about the WPA-

Richard J Garfunkel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:08:42 GMT

Our special guest is Mr. Nick Taylor, the author of American-Made, The Enduring Legacy of the WPA: When FDR put the Nation to Work.

Nick Taylor has written ten books of non-fiction, both solely and in collaboration, on a wide variety of subjects. His history of the Works Progress Administration, was published last February to wide acclaim.

Taylor’s other subjects include tournament bass fishing, the Mafia, and life in a small church. His memoir, A Necessary End recounts a baby boomer’s growing concern and care for his parents in their final years. His story of an intrepid Israeli’s journey into the German neo-Nazi underground, In Hitler’s Shadow, written with Yaron Svoray, was adapted as the HBO feature movie, The Infiltrator, starring Oliver Platt. His account of a Mafia family in the government’s Witness Protection Program, Sins of the Father, is currently under a motion picture option. Laser, published in 2000, tells the story of the laser’s true inventor and his thirty-year fight to win the patents that would make him rich. And he worked with astronaut and Senator John Glenn on the bestselling, John Glenn: A Memoir.

His pro bono work includes four years as president of the Authors Guild, the oldest and largest organization of published writers in the United States, which advocates for authors’ rights. He is a native of western North Carolina who today lives in Greenwich Village with his wife Barbara Nevins Taylor, who is an investigative reporter for Fox TV’s New York stations Fox 5 and My 9 News.

Mr. Taylor will address some of the following questions:
• Who was Harry Hopkins and how did he get to run the WPA?
• What role did the WPA play in preparing us for WWII?
• Why was the WPA so criticized and by whom?
• Where was the work of the WPA concentrated?

Freedom of the Press with Richard Blassberg of the Westchester Guardian

Richard J Garfunkel — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:27:53 GMT

Our special guest is Mr. Richard Blassberg, the author of “The Jeanine Machine,” an expose of former Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. He is also the Editor-In-Chief of the hard-hitting local newspaper the, The Westchester Guardian. He was born and raised in the 41st Precinct, "Fort Apache" the Bronx, Richard holds a degree in psychology from Adelphi College, and a law degree from Pace University School of law. A former Youth Board Worker for the City of New York, and Probation Officer for the County of Westchester, he has worked for nearly three decades with formerly homeless, and disadvantaged individuals.

The subject of “The Advocates” will be “Freedom of the Press,” and how he sees the small newspaper’s role in the following:

1) Corruption in the courts and the justice system
2) Justice for the oppressed and forgotten
3) The growth of layered, duplicative government, and is it out of hand
4) The game of incestuous politics: elected officials, the courts and law enforcement

Graying of the Great Powers: a talk with Richard Jackson

Richard J Garfunkel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:45:56 GMT

Our special guest is Mr. Richard Jackson, the author of The Graying of the Great Powers: Demography and Geopolitics in the 21st Century. Our program will explore what Richard Jackson has written, “The world is entering a demographic transformation of unprecedented dimensions… therefore the coming transformation is both certain and lasting. There is almost no chance that it will not happen --- or that it will be reversed in our lifetime.” In fact, Mr. Jackson warns, “In the developing world, the transformation will give rise to dangerous new security threats!”

Mr. Richard Jackson, Ph.D. is a Senior Fellow & Program Director, of The Global Aging Initiative, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1800 K. Street, NW, suite 400, Washington, DC 20006. This research program explores the economic, social and geopolitical implication of the aging of the population of America and around the world. He is also an Adjunct Fellow at the Hudson Institute and a Senior Advisor to the Concord Coalition. Mr. Jackson is the author of numerous policy studies, including, “The Aging of Korea,” “Long-term Immigration Projection Methods: Current Practice and How to Improve It,” “Building Human Capital in an Aging Mexico,” and “The Graying of the Middle Kingdom.” In 1994, he served as a Blackstone Group Chairman Peter G. Petersen’s liaison to the Kerrey-Danforth Commission on Entitlement and Tax reform. Mr. Jackson was awarded his Ph. D. in economic history from Yale University and currently lives in Alexandria with his wife Perine and his children.

Is The Size and Scope of Westchester County Government Out of Control, and What Can Be Done?

Richard J Garfunkel — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:29:48 GMT

Our special guests are the honorable Paul Feiner, The Town Supervisor of Greenburgh, NY and Ms. Joan Gronowski, a Member of the City Council of Yonkers, NY. Our subject today is, “Is the Size and Scope of County Government Out of Control, and What Can Be Done?”

Mr. Feiner was a Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude at Fordham University and a 1981 graduate of St. John's Law School, Mr. Feiner immediately put his academic skills to good use. He led the campaign to open committee meetings of the Westchester County Board of Legislators to the public. This successful effort prompted Common Cause to name Mr. Feiner one of six national recipients of the Common Cause Public Service Achievement Award in 1982. His award cited Mr. Feiner's "force of imagination, initiative and perseverance that have made an outstanding contribution to the public interest in the areas of government performance and integrity."

Joan Gronowski is a lifelong Yonkers resident, born and raised on Hawthorne Avenue. She has lived in the Yonkers 3rd district for most of her life. Joan attended St. Mary’s Parochial School and Blessed Sacrament Academy High School, beginning her employment with the City of Yonkers shortly thereafter.
Joan is a retired City of Yonkers employee and former member of the Service Employees’ International Union Local 704, having served as the Union’s Recording Secretary for ten years. Joan worked for many years in the city’s Office of Consumer Protection, corresponding with the private sector as a liaison to resolve constituent complaints and inquiries. During the latter years of her employment, Joan became actively involved in the political process, hoping to bring about more accountability in our public officials. She became a first-time candidate herself, and in November 2007, was elected to the Yonkers City Council representing the Third District.

Grace Chang on Jin Jin the Dragon in the Forbidden City

Richard J Garfunkel — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:36:59 GMT

Ms. Grace Chang is the author of the new children's book Jin Jin the Dragon, on today's China. It presents a colorful world that is both exotic and lush. It is an overview of Chinese characters and especially the Chinese Dragon. Ms Chang will discuss the meaning of her book, the significance of the “Dragon” in Chinese folklore and mythology, reflect on the coming Olympic Games and tell us about her life growing up in Beijing near “The Forbidden City.”

Ms. Grace Chang is from a family of famous Chinese entertainers. She learned magic tricks in the courtyards of the Forbidden City, which was the home of the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty, in the 1400’s to the end of the Qing Dynasty between 1912 and 1924. The last imperial monarch Puyi was removed finally from his residence in 1924. After the invasion of China, in the 1930’s, the Japanese enthroned “Henry” Puyi as the puppet head of its Manchurian colony, known then as Manchukuo.

Ms. Chang entered into the world of entertainment through the influence of her father who was a radio and stage personality. Ms. Chang was an illusionist and ringmaster, who created, performed and directed her own shows in a nationally acclaimed circus. Today she lives in Brooklyn with her family and has devoted many years to helping American families adopt thousands of Chinese children.

Energy, alternate fuels, and conservations

Richard J Garfunkel — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:13:28 GMT

Our special guests are Ms. Allegra Dengler, who is in the studio, and Mr. Ken Brooks, who is reporting from the Brookings Institute in Washington DC, and their Conference on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Today’s topic of course deals with energy, alternate fuels and ways to conserve our conventional usage of fossil fuel.

Allegra Dengler was a former Dobbs Ferry Village Trustee, is a member of the Sierra Club, serves on the New York Democratic Lawyer’s Council HAVA Committee (Help America Vote Act), and is a member of the Progressive Democrats of America Election Protection Working Group. She was a candidate for the Greenburgh Town Board in 2005 and narrowly lost election for Mayor of Dobbs Ferry. She is constantly working, along with the League of Women Voters, and other groups, to insure that New Yorkers have the proper paper ballots when the current lever machines are replaced under our new law. Ms. Dengler, who has been an active watchdog regarding the Hudson River and Indian Point, is currently the new coordinator of the Greenburgh Office of Energy Conservation.

Kenneth R. Brooks founded Go-Eco in October of 2007. Ken also serves as the managing partner of the highly successful branded-entertainment agency, CAE (Creative Artist Enterprises Group). Under his leadership, CAE has helped some of America’s most notable brands, including Pepsi, RJR, Sirius, GM, Pennzoil Quaker-State, Greyhound, McDonald’s and others, establish mutually beneficial relationships with celebrities, from the world of television, film and music.

Conservatism in America, Part II

Richard J Garfunkel — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:32:40 GMT

Our special guest is Mr. William J. Bernstein, who was raised in Mount Vernon, NY and is currently retired in the State of Florida. Mr. Bernstein was educated in the Mount Vernon School system, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University with a major in history. He is a graduate of the prestigious New York University School of Law. During his long career he has been employed by the National Labor Relations Board, the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining, New York University and the Coca Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia. He has served on the following boards: The Georgia Business Forum, The Atlanta Region of the Red Cross Blood Services, and the New York University Law School Industrial Relations Council. He has also represented United States employers at the Organization of Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD). This group promotes international standards for employment.

We continue our discussion this week, on “Conservatism in America, What Does it Really Stand For?” In the recent New Yorker magazine, Mr. George Packer has written a provocative article, “The Fall of Conservatism, Have the Republicans Run out of Ideas?” Mr. William J. Bernstein will participate in Chapter 2 of this discussion about conservatism and its future.

Conservatism in America, What Does it Really Stand For?

Richard J Garfunkel — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:17:34 GMT

Our special guest is Mr. Michael Shapiro, a long-time Scarsdale resident and noted criminal defense lawyer. Mr. Shapiro, who was raised in the Bronx, and was educated at the City College of New York, where he received a Bachelor of Arts cum laude, later earned his JD from New York University. He is currently a faculty member of the Cardozo Law School’s Intensive Advocacy Program and has been a frequent guest panelist at the Harvard Law School. Michael started his legal career as a prosecutor, serving as a special assistant attorney general in the then newly established NY State Office of the Special Prosecutor for Nursing Homes, Health and Social services. He is now a partner with the prestigious Wall Street, New York law firm, Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, which was established in 1854. As a testament to his career, and reflective of his interested in individual liberty, he was just elected to New York’s most exclusive criminal defense group, the NY Council of Defense Lawyers, an elite organization that promotes the protection of individual rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution through education and advocacy.

Today’ program will focus on “Conservatism in America, What Does it Really Stand For?” In the recent New Yorker magazine, Mr. George Packer has written a provocative article, “The Fall of Conservatism, Have the Republicans Run out of Ideas?” Mr. Shapiro and I will explore the philosophical issues of the “right” and see if they are relevant today.

Burma, Human Tragedy and Social Disaster, 45 years in the Making

Richard J Garfunkel — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:05:54 GMT

Our special guest today is Kyi May Kaung (Ph.D.) is a literary activist who is concerned and involved with TAN, the Technical Advisory Network of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or the Burmese Government in Exile, located in Rockville, Md.

Ms. Kaung was born in Burma during WWII and the Japanese occupation, and left there as a child to the United Kingdom, she traveled back to Burma in 1982 and eventually settled in the United States. She was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Pennsylvania where she earned an M.A. and Ph.D. She later won awards from The Academy of American Poets and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. She has been a Pew finalist twice for her dramatic (her play “Shaman” was praised by Edward Albee) and poetic work, and is the author of two poetry chapbooks. For the last decade she has worked for the Burmese democracy movement. She is currently a Senior Researcher with the Vahu Development Institute of Maryland. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the “Pathologies of Tyrannies, as it related to Burma.”

We also have a special call-in guest, Ms. Maureen Aung-Thwin, from the Burma Relief Project funded by The George Soros Foundation. Ms. Aung-Thwin is the Director of the Burma Project/SE Asia Initiative for the Open Society Institution, and is on the Advisory Board of the Human Rights Watch.

photograph of Ms. Kaung taken by Linda Fay Cook at Women's National Democratic Club.

Mount Vernon at an Educational Crossroads, Can We Afford the Future?"

Richard J Garfunkel — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:06:58 GMT

Our special guest today is Dr. W. L. (Tony) Sawyer, the Superintendent of the Mount Vernon Public Schools. For more than 30 years Dr. W. L. (Tony) Sawyer has served urban education in the following capacities: a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, a deputy superintendent, a superintendent of Manhattan High Schools, in New York City, Superintendent of the Topeka Public Schools, USD 501 and currently serves as Superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District.

Dr. Sawyer has established a positive reputation for working effectively with all members of the learning community and has received numerous awards and honors. Dr. Sawyer is noted for the establishment and design of smaller learning communities, which have led to greater academic success for students who, in larger organizations, sometimes fall between the cracks.

Sawyer understands the importance of ensuring that all principals are first and foremost instructional leaders. It is his contention that every effort must be made to ensure that all children are appropriately served in every classroom. This means establishing what he refers to as a “flexible delivery system” which focuses on addressing student needs based on their individual learning styles. In his words, “An effective school is knowledgeable of the strategies necessary to meet the needs of a diverse learning community.”

At the core of everything he stands for is his commitment to children. Dr. Sawyer has dedicated his life to ensuring that children are prepared academically and emotionally with the critical skills required for a lifetime of success.

Today’s program will focus on “Mount Vernon at an Educational Crossroads, Can We Afford the Future?” He will try to answer the question, Can the urban schools of Westchester compete with their neighbors, and close the learning gap?

Ralph Branca and The Golden Age of NY Baseball 1947-57, and How the Game Has Changed!

Richard J Garfunkel — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:29:31 GMT

Our special guest today is Ralph Branca, who grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, graduated from AB Davis HS, and New York University. He is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1944 through 1956, Branca played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1944-53, 1956), Detroit Tigers (1953-54), and New York Yankees (1954). He batted and threw right-handed. Branca was known as a very good starter during his years in Brooklyn. Branca debuted on June 12, 1944 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and put up a 3.04 ERA in 109.2 innings pitched in 1945, his rookie year. A three-time All-Star, he won 80 games for the Dodgers with a career-high 21 wins in 1947. Mr. Branca who has spent over 50 years in the insurance industry, is affiliated with Strategies For Wealth in Rye Brook, NY. Also today is Alan D. Rosenberg, who will serve as our guest panalist. Alan, who is another native Mount Vernonite, also graduated from AB Davis and New York University. He is a long-time CPA, who has offices in both New York City and Scarsdale and is an avid sports fan and memorabilia collector.

Today’s program will focus on the “Golden Age” of New York baseball 1947-57, during which Ralph Branca played a pivotal role. We also discuss how the sport has changed over the past 60 years and how it grew into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Ralph will also tell us in his words what “the shot heard round the world” was really about!

The Decline of the Nuclear Family with Norman Solovay

Richard J Garfunkel — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:12:46 GMT

Our special guest today is Norman Solovay, author, long-time litigator, expert in mediation and arbitration and currently, of counsel to Hartman & Craven LLP, NYC. Our subject today is “How Divorce Has Social Consequences for Our Society: The Decline of the Nuclear Family.”

Norman Solovay, is a former editor of the Columbia Law Review and law secretary to the late Judge Charles Breitel. He served for a number of years as a litigation associate at the firm of Rosenman, Colin, Goldmark & Kaye. Mr. Solovay subsequently formed, and for some 20 years headed, the litigation department of Holtzmann, Wise & Shepard. The Holtzmann firm had an unusual practice for its then size, primarily based on its representation of Allen & Company, the Onassis interests, and a significant number of the corporations financed by Allen & Company, such as Syntex, Ogden, Bunker Ramo, among many others.

Eventually Mr. Solovay founded Solovay, Marshall & Edlin, with his son, Michael Solovay (then a senior associate in Skadden Arps corporate department), and Paul Marshall, a leading entertainment/intellectual property lawyer. While there, Mr. Solovay authored Alternative Dispute Resolution, dealing with both arbitration and mediation and, subsequently, a book entitled The Internet & Alternate Dispute Resolution: Untangling The Web, also dealing with both mediation and arbitration on the internet. Mr. Solovay is presently a member of the Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City Of New York and is Chairman of its Subcommittee dealing with the expansion of Collaborative Law.

The Unlimited Potential of Solar Energy with Frank Falatyn

Richard J Garfunkel — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:40:00 GMT

We have a special guest today Mr. Frank Falatyn, of the Solar Energy Consortium, and two panelists: Mr. John Berenyi, and Mr. Ken Brooks, who have both joined our forums on other occasions. Our topic of today is “The Unlimited Potential of Solar Energy and How It Can Impact our Energy Needs.”

Mr. Falatyn is Vice Chairman of TSEC, Frank Falatyn works with industry, academic, environmental, labor and economic development partners and NY state, federal and local governments to create a new “CleanTech” solar energy industry as an emerging strategic sector for the NYS economy.

In additional to his TSEC work, as President of FALA Technologies, Mr. Falatyn leverages his company’s 63 years of business in precision equipment building to providing complete technology commercialization programs for the semiconductor, nano-scale and advanced energy industries. In 2005, New York’s Lt. Governor honored Frank with the Small Business Person of the Year award for his advanced development work in partnerships with leading semiconductor industry consortia such as International SEMATECH North and Albany Nanotech.

Mr. Falatyn serves on numerous industry boards in New York State. He has been appointed by NY’s governor to the NYS Small Business Advisory Board and is a founding member of the Manufacturers Alliance of New York State. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) in Albany, N.Y., and is an active member of their global “NY Loves Nanotech” and “NY Loves CleanTech” initiatives. As President of the Council of Industry of Southeastern New York, he also leads the association representing all Hudson Valley manufacturers since 1910. He is a founding board member of the Hudson Valley Technology Council, a board member of the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center, an advisor to the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation and he serves on the Institute of Business Innovation industry sector committee. In addition, he is on the State University of New York (New Paltz) Engineering Advisory Board, the Kingston/Ulster Empire Zone board, the Ulster County Community College Foundation Board, the Colonial Cooperative Insurance Company board and he serves as a Metal Trades program advisor for Ulster County’s BOCES Education program.

Our first panelist is Mr. Kenneth R Brooks founded Go-Eco in October of 2007. Ken also serves as the managing partner of the highly successful branded-entertainment agency, CAE (Creative Artist Enterprises Group). Under his leadership, CAE has helped some of America’s most notable brands, including Pepsi, RJR, Sirius, GM, Pennzoil Quaker-State, Greyhound, McDonald’s and others, establish mutually beneficial relationships with celebrities, from the world of television, film and music.

Also we have Mr. John Berenyi, who is no stranger to these broadcasts. Mr. John Berenyi, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in, engineering, management sciences and applied economics from Columbia University. He has been an investment banker, who has specialized in alternative energy and environmental finance for the past 25 years. In the early part of his career, as a Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies at Harvard University, he developed the composite set of environmental indicators to measure the quality of life in cities across the United States. Cities, counties, states, and academic institutions have adopted this work, across America, as a tool for public of public policy and evaluation. Today, after a long career serving companies like Citicorp, HSBC Capital and IF Rothschild, he is the managing director of Ecocite, a Canadian-based company that works as an energy investment trust for eco-property development. He is also the Senior Advisor on Energy to the AJ Congress to implement the US-Israeli Energy Independence. Act.

Modern Africa, Is This Region Making Progress?

Richard J Garfunkel — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:12:39 GMT

Our special guest today is Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins, who is deeply involved in Development/Strategic Planning. He has worked on these efforts all over the world and is the author of an unlimited number of reports, the last being “Capacity Assessment Guidelines: In a Systems and Strategic Management Context, about Somalia and Nairobi. His publications have ranged from “Teaching Evaluative Research in Developing Countries: Practice before Theory” to “Wood Energy Consumption and Resources Survey.” Dr. Hopkins has taught in places as familiar to us as Fordham and Columbia Universities and in places as distant as the University of Zambia. Our subject today is “Modern Africa, Is this Region Making Progress, and How Do Developmental Planners Make an Impact.”

Dr. Hopkins has a Doctorate Degree, Columbia University (New York) in Social Policy and Planning; along with Masters and Undergraduate degrees from Loyola University of Chicago, and Illinois State University. He has 30 Years experience in the Policy/Planning field (domestic and international). He is a Former University Professor (in USA and Africa) specializing in Social Policy/Planning and Evaluation Research and a former UN senior official for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/OPS) New York and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Nairobi, Kenya. His special skills include Program planning, evaluation and analysis surveys, project preparation, baseline studies, needs assessment, strategic planning and operations/management research.

During February – March 2006 He was a member of the UNDP/World Bank Somalia Joint Needs Assessment Mission and participated in the “Local Government” field visits Capacity Assessment in the three major regions of Somalia – Somaliland, Puntland and Central/Southern Somalia. I designed and presented my report “Capacity Assessment and Development Guidelines: In a Systems and Strategic Management Context”. He has worked recently in Pakistan on citizens’ participation and community empowerment. He has worked on the Nile Basin Initiative, which is a program regarding eight countries in East and Central Africa.