The Katonah-Lewisboro Times 06.25.20

VOL. 3 NO. 4 Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Local leaders support making A new era at
Juneteenth a state holiday John Jay

BY CAROL REIF ings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery,

STAFF WRITER Breonna Taylor and others.

“ is is a moment where we could

Local politicians and racial equal- see change. And I want to be a force for

ity advocates are weighing in on Gov. change,” he said. Change could come

Andrew Cuomo’s promise to advance through law enforcement reforms and

legislation making Juneteenth an o - “expanded racial understanding, sensi-

cial state holiday next year. tivity, and progress.”

A portmanteau of June and nine- “And if Juneteenth is part of that

teenth, June 19 is also known as Jubilee and recognition of what happened, an

Day and Liberation Day, a commemo- understanding of what happened and

ration of the end of slavery in the Unit- an acknowledgment of that, great,” he

ed States. added.

It was on that date in 1865 that It’s more than a century later, and

Union soldiers, led by Major Gen. “there has still been rampant, systemic FILE PHOTO/ROB DIANTONIO

Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, discrimination and injustice in this John Jay will have a new mascot for the 2020-21 school year.

Texas, with the news that the war had state and this nation, and we have been Indians mascot to be replaced by Ravens or Wolfpack

ended and enslaved African Ameri- working to enact real reforms to ad-

cans were now free. is was two and dress these inequalities,” Cuomo said.

a half years after President Lincoln’s Making Juneteenth an o cial state BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER “We wanted something we could em-
SPORTS EDITOR brace without o ending people in our com-
Emancipation Proclamation, which holiday would enable all New York- munity,” said Christian McCarthy, athletic
At one point during the process to select director of the Katonah-Lewisboro School
had been made o cial on Jan. 1, 1863. ers to use the day “to re ect on all the John Jay High School’s new mascot, States- District.
men, an homage to the school’s namesake,
After making the announcement changes we still need to make to create was considered as a replacement for Indians, SEE MASCOT PAGE 20
which is being retired after decades of de-
Wednesday, June 17, Cuomo signed an a more fair, just and equal society.” bate over its appropriateness.

executive order making June 19 a paid State Sen. Pete Harckham, D-South But as much the Katonah-Lewisboro
School District was looking rid itself of a
holiday for state employees. Salem, applauded Cuomo’s e ort. mascot tied to a race of people, it also did
not want a gender-speci c symbol. So,
“Friday is Juneteenth—a day to “Our work in establishing ‘justice for Statesmen was out.

commemorate the end of slavery in all’ is still not nished, but today’s ac-

the United States—and it’s a day that tion con rms we will continue moving

is especially relevant in this moment toward a stronger future together while

in history,” Cuomo said in reference learning from the mistakes of the past,”

to nationwide demands for justice and he said. SEE JUNETEENTH PAGE 12

racial equality in the wake of the kill-

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HEALTH & WELLNESS Summer guide
LEISURE June 25, 2020
OPINION
SPORTS A Special
Supplement
to Halston
Media

14

PRSRT STD 21 What’s in 2
US POSTAGE 8 your backyard? TRACKS

PAID photos:
Tabitha Pearson Marshall
WEST CALDWELL, NJ
PERMIT #992 20 SEE INSIDE:
SUMMER GUIDE

PAGE 2 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

The Staff Lewisboro able to borrow shing equip- dren, on topics like transporta- ready for pickup and will sched-
Library’s Curbside ment, Discovery Backpacks and tion, fantasy, cooking and more. ule a pickup time that’s conve-
EDITORIAL TEAM select museum passes from the Requests for these items can be nient for you. Materials will be
JODI WEINBERGER Service Also Lewisboro Library via curb- placed by emailing lewisboro- checked out and waiting for you
Includes…. side pickup. Children’s librar- [email protected] or at the appointed time in the
EDITOR: 914-302-5830 ian Anna Moser has also put calling 914-875-9004. Curbside Pickup Tent located
[email protected] In addition to books, DVDs together some special collection on the Townhouse side in front
and magazines, patrons are now kits of themed books for chil- A sta member will con- of the Library.
BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER tact you when your requests are
SPORTS EDITOR: 914-302-5628
[email protected] Children’s Summer

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JENNIFER CONNELLY isborolibrary.org/event/virtual-
917-446-7757 2020-summer-reading-kicko /.
[email protected]
BRUCE HELLER Holiday Closing
914-202-2941 e Library will be closed on
[email protected]
SHELLEY KILCOYNE Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July
4, in observance of Indepen-
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[email protected]
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[email protected]
PRODUCTION TEAM Workshop
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the Library is hosting a “Virtual
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Space is limited! To register
Deadlines and view the materials needed,
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THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES org/event/virtual-cerealism-col-
DEADLINE lage-workshop/. A Zoom invite
with link will be emailed to reg-
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS istrants the day before.

AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS IS THE Advertising Deadline
The advertising deadline
THURSDAY BEFORE THE NEXT for The Katonah-Lewisboro
PUBLICATION DATE. Times is the Thursday
before the next publication
FOR MORE INFORMATION, date. Advertisements can
CALL JODI WEINBERGER AT be submitted by you as a
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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES PAGE 3

For better or for worse

Town clerks continue with marriages, other functions

BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER Maria Hlushko, town clerk for the small think that’s really good,”Fumagalli said. But seal it, and then we’re done.”

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR town of North Salem, said residents being despite its success, nothing can replace hu- Quast’s o ce has performed marriages in

barred from town buildings is the biggest man interaction. “I really miss the people. I the back of town hall and at nearby Patriot

What does a town clerk do? change for her o ce. Otherwise, it’s busi- miss the interaction with people and seeing Park. She said she tries to make the day as

It’s a question with no easy answer. ness as usual. people, and that’s been very, very tough.” special as possible for the couple.

ey issue all sorts of licenses and per- “I go out with a mask and gloves with In Yorktown, Quast’s home o ce looks “ ey had to cancel all of their [wedding]

mits. ey maintain vital records. ey a clipboard and pen that have been wiped more like a control room. She hosts the plans,” Quast said. “We just felt that being

notarize signatures. ey respond to open- down,” Hlushko said. “I do marriage licens- meetings on a tablet; uses a laptop to search here for them was the most important thing

records requests. ey run municipal meet- es in the parking lot.” and review information and uses a desktop that we can do.”

ings and take minutes. Some perform mar- to monitor the cable feed. Fumagalli and Quast have also performed

riages. And they’re usually the rst face you TAKING IT ONLINE “If you add two cellphones onto that with weddings on Zoom.

see when you enter your town hall. Some towns were more equipped than texts and emails, it’s an interesting time,” “ e rst one was really great,”Fumagalli

With few exceptions, these elected o - others to transition to a mostly digital world. Quast said. said.“ ere must have been 30 to 40 people

cials have continued to perform nearly all of Some towns, for example, manage records A town board meeting agenda can have on, and really it was a lot of fun.”

these functions as the world around them electronically while others keep paper re- a dozen or more items with as many guests In order to get married, even on Zoom,

continues to change in unexpected ways. cords in boxes. Some have online payment scheduled to speak. When guests arrive to both parties are required to physically be in

“I’m sitting here in my living room, but systems while some only accept cash. But the Zoom meeting, Quast will send them New York. Right now, Fumagalli is trying to

we’re doing everything that we’ve normally for the most part, handicap permits, dog li- into a virtual waiting room until it’s their get a special waiver from the state for a bride

done,” said Lisbeth “Boo” Fumagalli, town censes and even death certi cates can now time on the agenda. Residents can also still who is stuck in Germany while the groom

clerk of Bedford.“I’m right in the middle of be issued without having to come to town have their voices heard during the public is in Bedford Hills.

sending an email to a resident who needs a hall. In Yorktown, the clerk’s o ce will even comment portion of the meeting. “ ey would really like to get married on

handicap permit. We’re going to send him come to you. In some ways, the clerks said, the pan- a speci c date because it has meaning to

the permit and then he can send us the pa- Because of Yorktown’s mobile clerk’s of- demic has resulted in a more engaged public. them and their family,” Fumagalli said.

perwork. We’re not going to hold him up. ce, “I think it was a little bit easier for us Donohue said the most recent Lewisboro

So, that’s how we’ve been handling a lot of to transition and work remotely,” Quast Town Board meeting had 41 participants— MORE THAN A ‘CLERK’

things.” said. “We were already moving forward and far exceeding the usual Monday evening Lewisboro’s town clerk almost also got

Most o ces in this area are modestly doing a lot more things electronically and crowd at town hall. stuck overseas. In early March, Donohue

sized, rarely exceeding four people—includ- online.” In Bedford, Fumagalli said her o ce has was in Vienna, Italy, visiting her daughter,

ing the clerk. ough the public is rarely al- e pandemic has given town clerks an- dealt with a record number of open-records who was studying abroad. She switched her

lowed into municipal buildings these days, other skill to add to their resumes: “Pro - requests under the state’s Freedom of Infor- ight and arrived in New York at 8:30 p.m.

most clerks’ o ces are still being sta ed. cient in Zoom.” e videoconferencing app, mation Law. on a Friday, mere hours before international

“We adapted by meeting [constituents] which has seen its popularity and stock “FOIL requests have gone through the travel was halted. Donohue was then quar-

outside,” said Diana Quast, town clerk of price surge since March, has hosted nearly roof,” Fumagalli said. “People have been sit- antined for two weeks.

Yorktown. “We do all the same business.” all municipal board meetings—with only a ting at home thinking. It has just been un- Since then, Donohue and her deputy

One of the few functions that can’t be few hiccups. believable. We’ve been very busy. I really feel have been coming into the o ce a few days

performed digitally is notarizing signatures. “ e rst couple were tricky, and we got good about the fact that we really haven’t a week, splitting mornings and afternoons.

Patricia Kalba, town clerk of Somers, is do- Zoom-bombed one time when we didn’t missed a beat.” “Phones have been covered, emails have

ing them by appointment only. have a password cover on it,” Donohue been covered, and people are pretty sur-

“I pick a day I’m going to be [at the said, referring to an unwanted digital intru- HAPPILY EVER AFTER prised that we get right back to them,”

Somers Town House] and for how many sion into the Town Board’s meeting. “We Marriages have also increased during the Donohue said. “Town clerks, that’s what we

hours,” Kalba said. “ en I’ll go into the learned to make all of our meetings pass- pandemic, with Quast estimating her Yor- do. We make it work.”

parking lot and I’ll notarize your docu- word-protected.” ktown o ce has performed twice as many When she’s not in the o ce, Somers’

ments. I’m still working at home on some ough worried at rst about how it as usual. town clerk said she’s had her o ce calls for-

days.” would work,some clerks now say they prefer “We had a woman from Canada who warded to her cellphone.

Residents can also still purchase an E- using Zoom instead of meeting in person. called to get married,” Quast said. “I’ve basically done things the most tra-

ZPass from their clerks. “Nobody wants to give up Zoom. We all e preliminary paperwork is done with- ditional way I can possibly do them,” Kalba

“I’ve been selling E-ZPasses out the love it,” Fumagalli said. “I really don’t think out the couple coming to the o ce. said.

back door,” said Janet Donohue, town clerk we’ve skipped a beat. I think people were a “We take a blank marriage license and we Quast and her sta have even traveled to

of Lewisboro. “I tell people to bring exact little frightened at rst, especially with zon- scan it to the couple,” Fumagalli said. “We residents’homes, delivering everything from

change or a credit card number.” ing and planning [boards] with these huge have them ll it in and they send us all of permits to masks to absentee ballots. Quast

Fumagalli has taken an inventive ap- plans, but it’s really worked out. We’ve done their documents.” also performs checks on some of Yorktown’s

proach to selling E-ZPasses without com- bid openings on Zoom. at has worked When the big day comes, the couple is senior residents “so they don’t feel alone,”

ing into contact with her constituents. out absolutely ne.” asked to bring all of their original docu- she said.

“People will call us, they’ll give their cred- Once-rigid meetings have taken on an ments with them to town hall. “All town clerks are about their residents,”

it card information,” Bedford’s town clerk entirely di erent atmosphere, Fumagalli “We meet in the lobby of the court,” Fu- Quast said. “ ey’re out there to help peo-

said.“We have a mailbox right outside town said. magalli said. “ ey sit on one side [of the ple,and that’s one goal we have in common.”

hall. ey’ll tell us when they’re coming; “It’s not as formal.People are more at ease. bench], I sit on the other side with my mask SEE CLERKS PAGE 16

we’ll put the E-ZPass in there.” ere is better interaction with people,and I on. ey sign the marriage license, I sign it,

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School budget passes in KLSD

BY TOM BARTLEY Catharine Oestreicher William Rifkin the KLSD school district.”
CONTRIBUTING WRITER “Serving on the KLSD Board of Edu-
terms of budgetary priorities, it seems the place than it was six years ago and I thank
Katonah-Lewisboro school o cials Board of Education and the school ad- you for allowing me to play a small role in cation has been one of the singular hon-
thanked voters last week for the over- ministration are ‘on the same page’ with this improvement.” ors of my life,” he said. “I take to heart
whelmingly support they showed this the majority of the voters.” the trust given to me, and will continue
month for next year’s spending plans. Oestreicher, with 3,170 votes, led all to strive to represent all segments of the
Rifkin was one of two trustees whose candidates in the three-person race for community fairly. I also congratulate
Voting entirely by mail for the rst terms expired this year. e other, Scott two open board seats. Rifkin retained his Catharine Oestreicher on her election to
time ever, residents approved an over- Posner, did not seek re-election but he with 2,883 votes while Samantha Holc- the board. I look forward to working with
hauled $111 million budget by a margin thanked the KLSD community “for man, a leader in the Katonah Elementary her.”
or more than 3-1 and a second spending trusting me and allowing me the honor School PTO, drew 2,320.
proposition by 2-1. In school board bal- and privilege of representing you for District o cials had considered next
loting, voters returned William Rifkin these past six years.” Rifkin commended Holcman on her year’s budget virtually nished after a se-
for a third three-year term and elected “strong campaign,” saying, “She engen- ries of presentations to the school board
Catharine Oestreicher, president of the “I can’t say we as a board got it right dered passionate support, and I hope she in March. But then the virus swept in,
high school PTO. every time,” he acknowledged. “I know considers running again in the future.” bringing with it not only immediate
we didn’t.” But Posner maintained that health concerns but also the promise of a
e results, announced June 10, came the district “is in unquestionably a better He also expressed appreciation for “the major blow to New York’s economy.
as all KLSD schools remained closed by faith placed in me again by the voters of
the coronavirus outbreak. School Super- at forced Albany budget makers to
intendent Andrew Selesnick described amend on the y next year’s spending
himself as “tremendously grateful” for the plans, due for adoption by April 1. State
public’s support in the budget vote. aid for schools, among other things, was
suddenly in limbo, forcing districts every-
“We always talk about this work as a where to reconsider their future nances.
partnership with the community,” he said
at the school board’s June 18 meeting, KLSD’s revised spending plan won
“and really, we were in some ways over- easy approval, 3,849 to 1,145. Voters also
whelmed by the show of support from gave a green light to spending $725,000
the community.” in reserve cash for new school buses. e
tally was 3,436 in favor of the proposition
Rifkin, in an email, echoed those sen- to 1,552.
timents, saying, “In these very uncertain
times, this support should not be taken e revised budget, $111,472,680,
for granted. hikes spending 1.18 percent but keeps
the same property-tax levy, $97,948,497,
“ ere will be many challenges we as last year. School property-tax rates
will face, both scal and educationally,” in three of the district’s four towns go
he said, “so it is heartening to see that in down.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES PAGE 5

PAGE 6 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

‘Thank You’ Bedford Hills ShopRite

Mary Connor realized weeks ago that the supermarket workers were just
as battered rising to the occasion of the coronavirus as many rst respond-
ers and so assembled a very big greeting card—8 feet wide—to thank the
team at the Bedford Hills ShopRite via hand signatures.

is took Connor to post on Katonah Parents (Facebook), Bedford
Hills Neighborhood Association and in her own network. She had pass-
ersby signing while walking on Maple Avenue towards Cross River Res-
ervoir, at the Katonah Gazebo and she went door-to-door.

“Sure, the media has recognized this news story, but I wanted to have
something personal—meaningful—as many families in the area, like
mine, were raised at dinnertime from meals we prepared courtesy of
weekly grocery shopping at this store. I’ve been a weekly customer for
35 years, and I never, ever considered the behind-the scenes e ort that
gets our groceries on the shelf.” Connor said.

Mary Connor

Signing at the Katonah Gazebo Team ShopRite: Jimmy Miller, HABA
Manager; Paul Greto, Deli Manager;
Kevin E. Sullivan, Produce Manager;

Jairo Maggots, Seafood Manager;
Jimmy Ronca, Meat Manager; Lorena
Sanhueza, Frontend Supervisor; Claudia
Pavone, Store Director; Loui Freire, Dairy
Manager; Heather Edwards, Scanning
Coordinator; Don Hoyt, Store Assistant

Manager; Mary Connor, President,
Weinrib & Connor; Jonathan Cano-
Aquino, Associate Relations Manager;
Christine Henry, Human Resources
Manager, Wakefern; Charlie Sladek,

District Manager, Westchester.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY CONNOR

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PAGE 8 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES Opinion THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Happily
Ever
After

Write with me Let’s all go bananas

Writing is a solitary a catharsis, the writing process READING, For some strange rea- TRACY
endeavor. at is always worth the e ort. WRITING & son, everyone jumped BECKERMAN
image of an author CHOCOLATE on the banana bread
toiling away at the computer In ction and non ction bandwagon this past spring. just use a standard wheat our
late into the night or perhaps writing classes, my life-long KIM In terms of fruit, I’m not sure recipe and swap the ours out.
an aged scribe hunched over a enthusiasm for writing stories KOVACH why it was banana bread and What could go wrong?
wooden desk, fountain pen in shines through. My “Let’s not pineapple cake or apple
hand, scribbling words in an write!” energy encourages and was impressed with the pie. I’m actually much more of It would behoove me to
attic room. beginners and advanced writ- stories her sibling in the states a peach person than a banana mention here that I am not a
ers to take on new writing had written in my classes. So person, but who am I to call great baker. When my daughter
Whether writing by hand on challenges. When I meet new I started a new International anyone bananas for wanting to was little and she wanted to
a lined pad of paper or sitting students, whether ten years Fiction Writing class where make banana bread. bake cookies with me, I would
at my laptop computer, I am old or 50 years of age or more we meet together each week somehow either burn them to
technically alone as I write. than 80 years old and show despite the ve-hour time dif- “Do you think I should make a hockey puck or under-bake
But my stories are peopled them how to access their own ference! some banana bread?” I asked my them so they were the con-
with characters that I create. ideas and memories to use in husband. sistency of mud. One time I
When writing ction stories, story writing, the results are Writing with my school- forgot the sugar. Another time I
I am free to invent people that quite magical. Each week we aged students over Zoom is “I don’t know,” he replied. accidentally used salt instead of
I have never met and entangle continue to open that door very convenient. ey always “Do you think I should build a sugar. And then there was the
them in activities and relation- of creativity and build on the have fun and look forward bookcase?” Great Cookie Incident of 2007
ships of my choosing. ese individual writer’s skills and to each writing challenge. I when I dropped cookie dough
characters say words that I put self-con dence in putting encourage students to discover “Why would you want to on the oor, slipped on it, and
into their mouths, sometimes words down on paper. their own writers’ voices. I build a bookcase?” I asked him. went shooting into the dining
surprising myself, when the know that our creative writing room on my back like I was in a
characters assume their own Many of my adult students classes prepare them to think “Well, it seems as random luge competition.
unique personalities. have been writing with me for di erently and express them- as you asking me if you should
years. It’s a pleasure to watch selves in words. ese writing make banana bread.” Determined to make this
When I write creative each writer’s individual growth skills will last a lifetime. work, I mixed all the ingredients
non ction about actual people and challenge them to try new I decided if I did make banana together, poured it all into a loaf
and places in my life, I try to genres, explore new topics. In Do you want to write ction bread, he de nitely wasn’t going pan, and stuck it in the oven.
stay true to the events and daytime or evening classes, this summer? Write with me! to get any. My mouth watered as I smelled
my memories of that speci c adult participants have the op- Always wanted to write down the bananas cooking and the
time. As I sit at the computer portunity to share life experi- those family stories before they I was still on the fence about chocolate chips melting and I
keyboard typing away, the ences and imagination in story are forgotten? Write with me! it two days later… until I saw was con dent I was going to
memories become clearer. form. We laugh a lot and write Have a fourth or fth grader or someone post a picture online have an amazing banana bread
Layers of time are peeled away good stories. middle schooler not going to of fresh banana bread with experience.
and long-forgotten details sleepaway camp this summer? chocolate chips. is was a game
emerge. When I switched to Zoom Write with me! Do you know changer. I’m of the mind that But when the timer went o
to teach my writing classes a high school student who can everything is better with choco- and I stuck a toothpick into the
My non ction writing class- this spring, the response was bene t from support with col- late. I would eat a shoe if it had loaf to see if it was done, it was
es o er a way to spark ideas fantastic. e ability to teach lege application essay writing? chocolate on it. Well, maybe
and retrieve long ago memories remotely resulted in even more Write with me! not a shoe. But quite possibly a SEE BECKERMAN PAGE 10
while presenting the informa- opportunities. One of my adult
tion in an interesting narrative. writing students in Connecti- Kim Kovach inspires ip op.
Participants feel comfortable cut asked if I would consider writers of all ages! Email at Since I’m gluten-free, I needed
in sharing happy and pain- teaching a private class for [email protected]. to nd a way to adapt the recipe
ful memories in prose form. her and her sister who lives in so it didn’t include wheat our.
Whether writing these family Scotland. Her sister had always I assumed that almond our
stories for grandchildren or as wanted to try writing ction would make an OK substitute.
But instead of nding a recipe
for banana bread speci cally
using almond our, I decided to

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 OPINION THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES PAGE 9

Vicious Cycle

MAN e Trailway, along with the ad- miles-per-hour. ey didn’t have with the kind of padding built in I had one of those Flash Gordon
OVERBOARD joining South County Trailway any time to sound their bell, so that god gave me naturally. helmets with the pointy spoiler
and Putnam County Trailway, I rang mine to make sure I got that sticks out of the back I
RICK runs for about 48 miles from the out of the way. ey yelled “On ey seemed to be very late
MELÉN New York City border all the the left!” And I yelled, “Your left to wherever they were going, gure I could take about 5-7
way to Brewster. e paved path or my left?” But they didn’t have but I’m sure they were the rst seconds o my time when I’m
Since I’ve been work- is laid on the abandoned railroad any time to run into me and ones there and probably leave pushing my bike up a hill. I’ve
ing from home, and not bed of the New York Central, disappeared into the wind with before it started. ey’re the type been on a bicycle that had toe
walking around the city or which discontinued service the their toe clips, aerodynamically of people with beautiful roses clips, and all I can say is, thank
climbing the stairs to the train year I was born in 1958, but I designed helmets, and pants growing in front of their house
station or getting to the gym, don’t remember having anything and never stop to smell them. If SEE MELEN PAGE 10
I’m not getting the same amount to do with that. If you want to
of exercise that my body is used feel good about paying taxes for BUY MORE, SAVE MORE
to trying to avoid. One muscle once, get out onto this beauti-
that’s ourishing at this stage in ful bike path and thank the I N S TA N T R E B AT E S U P T O $ 1,5 0 0*
the coronavirus continuum is my government for re-paving it and
gluteus. It wasn’t exactly mini- installing new ood-control PLUS FREE DELIVERY!
mus before, but it’s more maxi- landscaping.
mus than usual, and not because
I’m just sitting around on the Before you set out there are
couch, which by the way looks a couple pieces of equipment
like it’s been lifting weights. It’s that I think are important. One
because riding a bicycle is one is a rear-view mirror, so you
of the few things you can do can see where you’ve been and
out in the world among people whether you liked it or not.
right now that seems pretty safe. People who fail to learn from
We’ve been taking to two wheels mistakes they made on the bike
just about every weekend, just trail are certain to repeat them
by ourselves since no fans are on the way back. e other is a
allowed to attend. bell, and mine sounds like the
ring-tone of a guy at work, so
Last weekend we hit the when I ring it I have to resist
North County Trailway for 16 the urge to answer his phone. I
mile leisurely ride, round trip. was using my rear-view mirror
to check my hair, and I saw this
couple, in their 30s or so, gaining
on us quickly, going about 40

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PAGE 10 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

MELEN weren’t in the middle of a serious pandemic Coping with
I would have gone in and said, “I’m a bit of pandemic graduations
FROM PAGE 9 a masochist, could you give me 50 lashes?”
Just to see what they said. ere seems to Dear Dr. Linda,
god I was wearing a helmet when I tried to be a service that specializes in every small
get o it. aspect of a woman’s physical person. A girl My husband and I are so proud of our STRONG
was telling me recently that she can’t wait twin granddaughters. ey just gradu- LEARNING
We stopped in Yorktown to poke around, for her blow-dry bar to open. I had no idea ated high school with honors and are
and there were some signs that local shops this kind of thing even existed. If you’re a DR. LINDA
are coming back to life. Yorktown Grille guy, and you wash your hair in the winter, it looking forward to college in August. SILBERT
had some customers at some tables set freezes on the way to the car, breaks o in an It’s amazing us that they both seem to
up outside there. I know it might be an icicle and you go Jeez that almost hit my car.
inconvenience for restaurant owners to Between getting her nails done, facials, hair be OK with the virtual graduation cer-
have to set up tables six feet away from one appointments, massages and other things
another, but I don’t have any burning desire that I don’t even know about, it seem very emony they had. ey were even excited
to be any closer than that under the best time-consuming to be a woman. ere are
of conditions. What if somebody orders all sorts of reasons I’m glad I’m not a woman. about the make-believe graduation party
snails, and they wander over to check out
my garden salad? Also, I don’t need the ere are all sorts of reasons that most men they had. e problem is that we’re not OK, especially me. I feel so sad that
whole world to know that I order from the are glad I’m not a woman also.
children’s menu. they couldn’t have a traditional graduation ceremony and the excitement
We stopped for co ee at Rocky’s in
I know when I’m talking too much Millwood, poked around the hardware store of a big graduation party at their house. My daughter tells me to get over
because my wife suggests we stop at an ice to pick up a few things, and then it was
cream parlor. She knows it will take me a time to get back in the saddle. e ride back it, but this is tough. Graduation is a big milestone in a person’s life, and my
long time to decide which kind of chocolate was just as nice. When things get back to
to get, and even longer to eat it. Longer still normal, and my whole weekend is taken up granddaughters deserve that experience. What a shame!
if you forget to take o your facemask. Other with xing the toilet or moving dirt piles
establishments were testing the waters, too. around, I hope I don’t forget how nice it is Grandma Janet
not to be normal sometimes.
ere was an eyelash lounge celebrating a Dear Grandma Janet,
grand reopening. I’m not sure what goes on
at an eyelash lounge, or even if the clientele You have every right to feel upset and disappointed. We’re living in
are primarily people or eyelashes. But if we
upsetting times, and we have no control of it. All we can do is accept what

is happening until it is over. As the saying goes, it is what it is. So, we move

on controlling what we can control. Your granddaughters and your daugh-

ter seem to have accepted that.

Say hello at: [email protected] SEE DR. LINDA PAGE 11

Law Firm of BECKERMAN of the baking banana bread.
Apparently, he thought that he
Tracy Christen Reimann FROM PAGE 8 had squatter’s rights to some of
JD, LLM, P.C. the banana bread by virtue of
still raw in the middle. the fact that he was living in the
Hi, All: I gured the almond our must house with me.

In this pandemic, many clients need more time to cook than the “You made banana bread!” he
have decided to get their estate wheat our, so I stuck the bread said.
plans (will, etc.) done rapidly. back in for another 10 minutes.
“I did.”
Just to let you know, I am en 10 minutes more. en “How did it come out?” he
working during the crisis, in case another 10 minutes. Soon the out- asked.
you need some estate planning, side of the bread started to burn “Pretty good,” I said.
and I gave up and pulled it out. “Can I have some?” he asked.
including special needs and “Absolutely,” I nodded, hand-
mental health planning. I waited a bit and then cut ing him a plate. en I opened
into it. e crust was like a rock the utensil drawer.
and the inside was pure goo. It “But here… you’ll need a
was less like banana bread and spoon.”
more like banana mush. e
outside was inedible, but the You can follow Tracy on Facebook at
inside seemed ne enough… if facebook.com/LostinsuburbiaFanPage
I was in the mood for chocolate and sign up for her newsletter at
chip banana stew. tracybeckerman.com/newsletter.

My husband had been linger-
ing nearby, enticed by the aroma

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