Week In Review: Investors Make United Hospital Pitch, Port Chester Grandmothers Are Wii Champs

Plans for a 750-unit development at the old United Hospital site moved forward this week as investors submitted a study on potential environmental impact.

Representatives from Starwood Capital were in Port Chester on Monday, touting plans that would bring new housing, stores and office space to the village.

They spoke of Sound views and tree-lined walkways as they showed conceptual images to Port Chester's trustees, three days after delivering a draft of an environmental impact study. Starwood's plans call for a change to local zoning to allow for the living and commercial space where the abandoned hospital now stands.

Some trustees sounded notes of caution and some were cautiously optimistic. After they get caught up on Starwood's proposal, they'll set a date for the public to weigh in on the proposed plans.

At the site of Port Chester's other large-scale development, several moviegoers got a nasty surprise when they returned to their cars on the AMC Loews parking deck -- thieves had smashed windows to get at purses, electronics, and a 47-inch TV. Police say it was probably the work of opportunistic thieves who used a rock, and not a targeted spree -- a fourth break-in was unsuccessful, and damage to the car's window suggests the thieves used a rock, not burglar's tools.

In lighter news, Patch contributor Rosanne Luis visited the Port Chester Senior Center, where she interviewed a team of grandmothers who play Nintendo's Wii like it's second nature.

The seniors heard about the game from their grandchildren -- and now they're beating them at it. Now they're looking to take on seniors from other towns to spark friendly rivalries on the pixelated lanes.

On the election front, two political scientists released their study of last month's historic election this week. The results provide a look at how people used their votes in the new cumulative voting system -- most split their votes in some fashion, and more than a third cast all six of their ballots for one candidate.

And on the arts scene, a local theater group brought the play Sweet Charity to local audiences this week, but not without quite a bit of cramming to remember their lines. Contributor Ed Boulat visited the actors and the directors on stage as they prepared for a pair of shows this weekend.