Eastchester Board: Looking into Long-Range Plans for Lake Isle, Tarcinale Honored, Pay Tickets Online

Here's an overview of what happened at the August 17 Eastchester Board of Trustees meeting:

Al Tarcinale Honored

The Board honored Al Tarcinale from Eastchester Little League with a distinguished service recognition.

Tarcinale, who is 99 years old—or, 99 years young, as he corrected Supervisor Colavita—has been involved with the Little League since its founding.

"He has done a magnificent job," said Colavita, explaining that Tarcinale has held almost every position in the League.

"More than anything else, he's a good man," he said.

Colavita also noted that Tarcinale will be throwing first pitch at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, which kicks off on August 20.

"Each year they ask one person and only one person to throw out the first pitch," he said. "This year they asked Al to do it."

Tarcinale addressed the Board saying, "Thank you for this and hopefully I can pitch a strike."

Leaf Blower Update

Peter McCartt, the chair of the Eastchester Environmental Committee gave the Board an update on a number of events, including Bike Week, which will take place between September 26 and October 2.

He also noted that the Committee had drawn up a resolution on gas-powered leaf blowers and had discussed it with the Board.

Supervisor Colavita noted that he needed to do some more work, but that at some point it would be put on the agenda.

The resolution, which provides a recommendation for certain restrictions to be put on leaf blowers and other lawn power tools, can be read here.

EVAC Update:

In the third special presentation of the night, Kevin Cunningham from Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Core (EVAC) updated the Board and the public on a number of new initiatives.

He said that since July 1 a new ambulance, which has GPS technology and an enhanced patient area, has been in use. Cunningham thanked The Community Fund for making the ambulance possible.

He also noted that there have been an increase in the number of calls to the organization—a trend that has been ongoing for the last two or three years. Cunningham said there has not only been an increase in the number of calls, but in their severity as well.

As for updates, Cunningham said EVAC is planning to revamp their website as well as establish an internal command center, which they hope to have up and running by the end of September.

New equipment and technologies have also been added, such as a rescue pod, which he said helps increase circulation when doing CRP and has been shown to up survival rates with heart attacks.

Supervisor Colavita thanked EVAC for their efforts and encouraged people to donate to the volunteer organization.

Design Firm to Look at Future of Lake Isle

The Board approved retaining Lothrop Associates to create a long-range plan for design work at Lake Isle.

According to Supervisor Colavita, $10,000 would be paid as a lump sum to the firm, which has done work at Lake Isle in the past. They'll report back to the Board on some possibilities for the club, including design, layout, feasibility and pricing, he said.

He noted that it's, "important to get the ball rolling."

Colavita said that some possible changes could be the installation of an indoor pool and improving the restaurant and snack bar, since right now there is no place for golfers or tennis players to eat before or after they play.

Pay Parking Tickets Online

Supervisor Colavita noted that parking tickets could now be paid online. Visit Eastchester.org for the link or go directly to www.parkingticketpayment.com/eastchester.

Possible Library Lot Renovation

In his report, Supervisor Colavita discussed the possibility of renovating the library parking lot, which could include consolidating that lot, Parsons Place and the O'Rourke lot into one. While the idea is only being discussed conceptually at this point, he said this could theoretically could net 23 parking spaces and help for drainage and snow removal.