Westchester County Newsmakers, 7.29.13

Happy 70th

PENTEGRA RETIREMENT SERVICES in White Plains celebrated its 70th anniversary at a company party July 17. Photo credit: Pentegra Retirement Services.

Four agents get special recognition

FOUR HOULIHAN LAWRENCE BROKERS have been named to the nationwide REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal Top Thousand list. Houlihan Lawrence agents Nancy Kennedy, Susy Glasgall, Sheila Stoltz and Joan O”™Meara made the list based on their 2012 sales volume. More than 50 of the family-owned firm”™s agents ranked among the top 100 salespeople locally as well, based on 2012 sales volume reported to the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service.

Kennedy was not only included in this year”™s Top Thousand list for sales volume, but she also ranked number 74 on the list for individual units sold. Kennedy was the No. 1 associate for the entire Westchester and Putnam County MLS in 2012 by units sold and dollar volume and has been named top agent company-wide seven different times.

Glasgall, with more than 25 years of real estate experience, has consistently been one of the top-performing agents for Houlihan Lawrence. Not only was she ranked on the Top Thousand list this year, but Glasgall was also No.1 for single-family homes sales by dollar volume in 2012 for all of Westchester County and has received this honor multiple times.

Stoltz is consistently recognized as a top Realtor in Bronxville and Westchester County. Her expertise and data-driven market insights allow her to deliver the best service to her clients and maintain her top standing over the years.

O”™Meara is an industry expert who has been specializing in the Rye and Harrison regions for more than 16 years where she repeatedly ranks in the top 2 percent of the Westchester Board of Realtors. O”™Meara strives to exceed each customer”™s expectations as reflected in her frequent top achievements.

Initiative to benefit the blind

GUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND recently honored Lions clubs from across the region at the nonprofit”™s annual “Salute to Lions Day.” Approximately 200 Lions members were recognized for their ongoing support.

The Lions recently launched a Lions/Guiding Eyes Vehicle Project Two-for-One Challenge to help accelerate the replacement of the school”™s aging vehicle fleet.

Spearheaded by the Van Tassel Society, the Two-for-One Challenge engages Lions throughout the tristate area with its fundraising goal. The Van Tassel Society was founded in 1991 and is made up of Lions Club members. The society has also assisted the school”™s fundraising efforts and was recently a significant contributor to the renovation of Guiding Eyes”™ Canine Development Center.

For more information, call (914) 243-4348 or email lionschallenge@guidingeyes.org.

New doctor joins MKMG

HILARY FAZZONE has joined the ophthalmology department of Mount Kisco Medical Group (MKMG).

Fazzone received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed her internship in internal medicine at the Cambridge Hospital, Harvard University. She completed her ophthalmology residency at St. Luke”™s-Roosevelt Hospital Center and completed a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary/Beth Israel North Medical Center. Fazzone is board certified in ophthalmology.

Pro bono designation

JAMES VENERUSO, managing partner of the law firm Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto L.L.P., has been designated by the New York State Bar Association as an Empire State Counsel in recognition of his pro bono services.

In 2011, he was named Most Socially Conscious Attorney by the Westchester County Bar Association and Pace Law School. Veneruso currently serves on the board of trustees of St. Joseph”™s Hospital and Yonkers Partners in Education. He is a former chairman of Heartsong Inc. and has served on the board of directors of Greyston Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Family Services Society of Yonkers.

Broker receives certification

MICHAEL MARCIANO of Marciano Realty Team, Keller Williams NY Realty completed a seller representative specialist (SRS) certification.

A seller representative specialist has achieved a level of sales, marketing, exposure and education that reflect a specialty in the marketing and sale of homes.

With more than 15 years experience in the Westchester County real estate market, Marciano has closed in excess of 450 traditional property transactions.

Surgeon joins ENTA

ENT AND ALLERGY ASSOCIATES L.L.P.(ENTA), headquartered in Tarrytown, announced that rhinologist and endoscopic skull-base surgeon Roheen Raithatha will join its Park Slope and Bay Ridge West offices in September.

Raithatha graduated with a bachelor”™s degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania and received his doctor of medicine degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed advanced rhinology and endoscopic skull-base surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Successful fundraiser

HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE OF WESTCHESTER (HPCW) in White Plains recently hosted its 11th annual Golf Invitational at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains. Proceeds from the event will benefit HPCW”™s mission to provide comfort and care to individuals and families facing a serious or life-limiting illness.

The event”™s co-chairpersons included Larry Dix, William F. Flooks Jr., Michele Geller, Jack Geoghegan, Tim Murphy, James P. O”™Toole, Jim Steets, Patrick L. Vaccaro and John Zanzarella.

“We are thrilled with the success of our invitational,” said Mary K. Spengler HPCW executive director. “The generosity of our community continues to impress us and we are grateful for the support of our sponsors, friends, families and neighbors. It is this dedication that allows us to continue providing the highest level of care to our patients.”

Grand sponsors of the event included Entergy and the Hildegarde D. Becher Foundation Inc. Sponsors included Beecher Flooks Funeral Home Inc., Jackson Lewis L.L.P. and Zanzarella Marketing. The hole-in-one contest was sponsored by Arroway Chevrolet Cadillac of Mount Kisco.

Donors receive special thanks

UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK”™S WESTCHESTER EDEN SOCIETY recently celebrated its donors”™ generosity with a tour of the Louis-Dreyfus Family Collection in Mount Kisco, comprising more than 3,500 paintings, works on paper and sculptures. The Eden Society recognizes Westchester individuals and families who contribute a minimum of $10,000 to UJA-Federation”™s annual campaign.

In addition to a welcome from gallery owner William Louis-Dreyfus, Linda Plattus of Scarsdale addressed the group, providing an update on UJA-Federation”™s 2013 annual campaign, which closed on June 30 at $145.3 million, exceeding last year”™s total by $8.6 million.

“Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, providing services for the disabled and job training for the unemployed, extending a compassionate hand to the elderly and Holocaust survivors, inspiring a passion for Jewish life and learning, and so much more ”“ none of this could happen if we didn”™t work together with this organization that we all care so deeply about,” said Plattus, who heads the Eden Society with her husband, Seth Plattus and Debbie and Richard Yoken of Chappaqua.

For more information on how to donate or volunteer, visit ujafedny.org.

Arc of triumph

ARC OF WESTCHESTER, the largest agency in the county serving people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities, received the official seal of excellence certificate and designation from the Maryland-based Standards for Excellence Institute at its annual board and senior staff strategic planning retreat.

“We are very honored and proud to receive this recognition and would like to thank members of the Arc organization and foundation for their help and support in successfully completing this yearlong project,” said Richard Swierat, executive director, Arc of Westchester.

The national initiative promotes the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management and operations, while staying focused on the people and communities being served.

Medical graduation

SOUND SHORE MEDICAL CENTER cited 13 graduates of its department of medicine residency program, four transitional year graduates and five preliminary year interns at the graduation ceremony held recently at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.

Director of Medicine Stephen Jesmajian said, “Sound Shore Medical Center has been actively engaged in medical teaching since 1957 and is pleased to graduate another class of well-prepared physicians and interns.”

Before more than 150 administrators, faculty, physicians and guests, Jesmajian presented diplomas as well as a number of awards. He was joined by Drs. Bernard Gitler, Prasanta Basak and Daniel Pomerantz for the presentation of the cardiology, dermatology and primary care awards, respectively. Those receiving special recognitions include Julia Dry, Outstanding Intern of the Year Award and the Rameschandra Shukla, Memorial Humanitarian Award; Grettel Tesado, the Robert Yarrish Memorial Outstanding Resident of the Year Award; Alexis Ferguson, Cardiology Award ”“ ECG Interpretations; Vinita Singh, Dermatology Award; and Jennifer Poste, the William Winters Memorial Primary Care Award.

The Robert D. Brandstetter Memorial Teaching Award was presented to Sound Shore Medical Center physician Joseph Casino. In addition, outgoing co-chief residents, Bubu Ama Banini and Diana Dela Cruz DeJesus, received Thank You plaques from the department of medicine for their outstanding service.

Giving thanks

FOOD BANK FOR WESTCHESTER, Westchester County”™s emergency food distribution network, which provides 95 percent of food to those who are hungry or at risk of being hungry, hosted a Happy Hour Block Party for its supporters at its warehouse in Elmsford.