Mahopac News 05.14.20

VOL. 11 NO. 11 Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Being epic in School budget still unclear;
the pandemic state aid remains tenuous

Voting will be by mail-in ballot only

BY BOB DUMAS right-sizing the district,” he added. “We’ve

EDITOR continued that through attrition. We are

down a middle school team, and we are

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, down at the elementary school level as

Mahopac School District voters will have well. We are trying to [continue] that, so

to vote on the 2020-21 school budget and we don’t have to lay o teachers and then

Board of Education candidates by mail have our [class sizes] go up. We have just

this year. An executive order from Gov. the one vote and if we go to austerity, that

Cuomo last week decreed that there will means anyone who wants to use our build-

be no in-person voting. ings will have to pay for it. It also means

Additionally, voters will have but one the possibility of having to eliminate

opportunity to pass the budget. Should sports. I don’t want to have to get there.”

it fail, the school district will be forced to DiCarlo said cutting programs and

adopt an austerity budget, which would sports would be devastating to the re-

result in program cuts and potential lay- turning students who have already lost so

o s. much.

School Superintendent Anthony Di- “ ese kids who are coming back have

Carlo said an austerity budget would be su ered and I don’t want to have to tell

tragic for the students, sta , and commu- them I have to take all these things away

nity, noting that over the past several years from them,” he said. “I am very concerned

PHOTO: BOB DUMAS the district had nally begun to recover about the social and emotional well-being

Mahopac Soccer, of the Mahopac Sports Association (MSA), have found from the 2008 recession and was begin- of our students and what it’s going to look
a way to help out during the coronavirus pandemic. e group has begun
selling PAC PRIDE t-shirts to raise money to assist the Putnam County ning to restore programs. like come the fall both academically and
foodbank in replenishing its shelves. Here, Mahopac Soccer President Scott
Cronin and board of directors member Melissa Zeiler, sell the shirts in front “We have worked really hard to put extracurricular because these kids have al-
of Fraser’s Hardware on Saturday afternoon (May 9). Cronin said they’ve
raised more than $3,000 for the cause and have nearly run out of the shirts, back programs, and we adopted a strategic ready gone through a lot and to take more
but plan to have more made soon.
plan. We are seeing the results of that and stu away from them could be just devas-

are being recognized now,” he said, refer- tating.”

ring to rankings recently revealed by U.S. Consequently, DiCarlo called the up-

News & World Report naming Mahopac coming vote “probably the most important

a top school. (See story on page 20.) “We budget vote that this community might

don’t want to take a step backward. SEE BUDGET PAGE 2
“When I rst got here, I talked about

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BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27
CLASSIFIEDS
LEISURE 26
OBITUARIES
OPINION 25
SCHOOLS & CAMPS
SPORTS 18

10 SPOTLIGHT ON MHS

20 Mahopac High School ranked
22 a top school in nation.

pg 20

PAGE 2 MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

The Staff BUDGET fails]. It’s counterintuitive. ere a ord. at is the balancing act. that, we hope to keep our fund
are no words [to describe it].” We could get cut again dur- balance stable and have some
EDITORIAL TEAM FROM PAGE 1
BOB DUMAS
To make matters worse, the ing the course of the year, and reserves, so that when those
EDITOR: 845-208-0774
[email protected] ever have.” school board and district admin- we don’t know what those cuts costs hit, we can use some of
BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER
SPORTS EDITOR: 914-302-5628 e superintendent explained istrators are ying blind as they could be. It’s going to be a very, that reserve. But we don’t want
[email protected]
that school districts across the try to put the 2020-21 budget very di cult 2020-21 budget.” to throw every dime we have at
ADVERTISING TEAM
LISA KAIN state are working with outside together because the amount of Sandra Clohessy, assistant su- the budget because once you do

914-351-2424 vendors to have the ballots state aid is currently unknown perintendent for business, said that you don’t have anything [to
[email protected]
printed. He said the Mahopac and if and when it does come, that while state aid will be lack- fall back on]. It’s not a rainy-
PAUL FORHAN
914-202-2392 ballots will be sent out around it will likely be signi cantly re- ing, money could still come from day fund, it’s an important part
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON May 27-28 and must be duced from past years. In fact, the federal government. of the nancial picture because
845-621-4049
[email protected] returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, under the current executive or- “We are waiting for the once you do cuts, it takes a long
JENNIFER CONNELLY
917-446-7757 June 9, to be counted. He said der, it could be slashed on four federal government to come time to get things back. Hope-
[email protected]
BRUCE HELLER the governor’s executive order separate occasions throughout through,” she said. “Hopefully, fully, the federal government
914-202-2941
[email protected] dictates that all registered and the academic year—May 15, they’ll provide a stimulus pack- will come in and bail us out be-
SHELLEY KILCOYNE
quali ed voters within the school June 30, Dec. 31, and March 31, age so if we lose state aid, it will cause that’s what we need at this
CO-FOUNDER
914-924-9122 district receive one. Mahopac 2021. be replaced. It is a balancing act. point.”
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK will mail approximately 20,000 “We are being asked to de- We are always trying to take the DiCarlo called the current
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/DESIGNER
[email protected] ballots at a cost to the district of velop a budget on a lot of ‘what- taxpayer into account, as well as budget crisis “uncharted ter-

PRODUCTION TEAM around $45,000 to $55,000. ifs,’” DiCarlo said. “And along the students.” ritory,” with the state saying it
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
DiCarlo noted the irony the way, we may get other cuts. Clohessy said some funds has no money left for its public
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER should the budget fail and the We have never seen anything left over from the current bud- schools. Normally, school dis-

[email protected] district is forced into austerity. like it before. It’s like trying get could be transferred to the tricts know what their state aid
CHRISTINA ROSE
“When the schools open back to hit a moving target. We are 2020-21 spending package, will be by April 1.
ASST PRODUCTION MANAGER
DESIGNER up in September, there will be a working hard to keep the pro- which could mitigate some of “Once we get the [aid] num-

[email protected] lot of time and work needed [to grams we started to get back the impending scal challenges. bers, and we know what the cuts

EXECUTIVE TEAM disinfect] them and get them over the last three years. We “We hope to be able to save are, the board will adopt the
BRETT FREEMAN
CEO & PUBLISHER ready,” he said. “We will need want to keep that momentum some funds from this year that budget,” he said, explaining why
845-208-8151
more people to do that. But we moving forward but still keep will help us to weather the SEE BUDGET PAGE 4
[email protected] could lose that [if the budget in mind what the taxpayer can storm,” she said. “If we can do

Deadlines During these trying times,
Schneider Financial Group is working
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CALL BOB DUMAS AT
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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 3

Summer camps ‘cautiously optimistic’ about opening
Many waiting on state to issue guidelines

BY KATHERINE

BORCHERT
STAFF WRITER

Local summer camp leaders

are planning for multiple sce-

narios of how to proceed during

the coronavirus pandemic while

parents remain eager to enroll

their kids back into a routine of

sunscreen, swimming and mak-

ing friendship bracelets.

Most camps are preparing for

summer as usual while knowing

that any day now, news from

the Department of Health or

CDC could determine the fate

of their operations.

“We are actively planning for

the summer,” said Jamie Sirkin,

owner and director of Summer

Trails Day Camp in Granite

Springs. “Camp directors plan

all year for the summer months

and we have continued to do

that. Just like the rest of the

world, we are anxiously await-

ing the green light from the

Department of Health, state of-

cials, the CDC and all of those

decision-makers, that we’ll be

permitted to open this summer

and we’ll be able to provide a PHOTO COURTESY OF TOWN OF CARMEL
safe and fun environment for Having fun at Sycamore Summer Camp

our community.”

Camp Kiwi director Will we’re given but planning-wise, to create plans for both on- Camp Nabby in Mohegan mer, there are many unknowns

Yahr said that the Carmel camp we’re planning as if we’re going campus and virtual camp and Lake is in the process of giving the department must take into

is continuously planning for to open the same day we always learning opportunities. Once everything a new coat of paint consideration.

this summer’s operations and do,” Dineen-Carey said. we have a clearer sense of what and setting up basketball and Yorktown Parks and Recre-

plans to open on schedule. Karen Grazia, director of will be possible this summer, tennis nets while owner Rita ation Superintendent Jim Mar-

“I would say we’re almost communications for the Harvey we will communicate with our Bertino says they’re optimistic torano Jr. said the department

where we would be in a nor- School, said that the Cavalier camp community, explaining about opening this summer. is still considering many factors

mal time of year, we’re just be- Camp is currently working out our plans to safely open while “As of right now, we still hope when it comes to reopening

ing cautiously optimistic with how it will operate this summer. following all guidelines that are to open on time, but will be camps this summer.

what the outcome is going to “While it is di cult to think in place.” ready to go in a variety of po- North Salem Town Supervi-

be,” Yahr said. “We feel strongly about summer fun and camp Jim Gilchrist, recreation di- tential scenarios,” Bertino said. sor Warren Lucas and Andrew

that there should be camps this activities given the loss and rector for the town of Carmel, “We are prepared to honor the Johnson, assistant superinten-

summer and we want to be as real struggles faced by many of said the town is currently plan- recommendations of the state dent for parks and recreation

ready and prepared for it as pos- our local families, we believe ning to operate summer camps of New York.” for the town of Somers, both

sible.” that it is important to support on schedule but is waiting on However, town and camp said their respective towns have

Maxwell Dineen-Carey, di- our community by continuing the nal call from the Putnam leaders are facing the same not many any decisions yet re-

rector of Pied Piper Preschool to o er summer programming Department of Health. sense of uncertainty as the rest garding camps. ey both are

and Summer Camp, said the for children in a structured, “ ey’re the ones who are go- of the country at the moment. anticipating more information

preschool camp has been plan- safe environment,” Grazia said. ing to make the determination Dana M. Mayclim, superin- from the DOH in the next two
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ning to open on June 29. “While we are waiting for the if camps are going to happen tendent of parks and recreation weeks.

“We’re going to continue to state’s health department to this summer, and obviously that for the town of Lewisboro, said Deborah Lividini, secretary

do the same thing we normally provide guidelines regarding will be based on what New York that while the town continues SEE CAMP PAGE 4

do, follow the guidelines that summer programs, we continue State says,” Gilchrist said. to plan diligently for the sum-

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CAMP been before. Perhaps for par- we’re so strong, we’ve been required to open later or told that we trust.

FROM PAGE 3 ents, too, it’s going to be more able to do well. We are seeing not to operate at all. “We work with the CDC,

important that our kids are so- more families looking to come “In March, we started plan- the ACA [American Camp

to school administrator for cialized and out of the house. to Kiwi this year as they’re ning for a variety of summer Association], and we’re going

PNW BOCES, said its plans We’re fortunate, you know, as nding out that maybe their camp scenarios. We rst start- to work with our local health

are on hold. someone who has been in the smaller camps or pool or pre- ed hiring and scheduling for department on whatever those

Even so, camps are still community for over 40 years, school might not be in opera- our regular summer o erings,” new rules and regulations

elding calls from parents and we’ve built a lifelong rela- tion, so we’ve seen an increase Grazia said. “We also created would be to gure out which

about registration. tionship with our parents and in calls recently. Everyone is models that included addi- of our plans we’re using. e

Mayclim said the town is community members and they going to be in the same boat. tional safety precautions and reality is it’s going to be a hy-

receiving calls daily from par- trust that when we do open, We have a lot of families that social distancing measures. Fi- brid. My team of dedicated,

ents who want to enroll their it’s going to be safe to do so are just waiting for the gov- nally, we laid out plans for an year-round individuals have

children in programs for the and that we’re going to do the ernment to turn back on, to online program that could run come up with many di erent

summer. things that are necessary to give the OK.” independently or in conjunc- scenarios and we don’t know

Sirkin said Summer Trails ensure that we’ve upheld the Bertino said that Camp tion with our regular camp.” which one is going to be the

also is receiving calls and in- standard that they’ve expected Nabby has received calls from Yahr said he feels a June 29 approved one, but we’re plan-

quiries about summer registra- from us the last several de- families eager to provide a opening is still feasible. ning to be as prepared as pos-

tion. cades.” positive summer experience “We have a great team at sible for this.”

“We are continually getting Despite COVID-19, Yahr for their children, while Gra- Kiwi and we feel like we can However, many said the best

people that are interested in of Camp Kiwi said it saw an zia of Harvey School said that camp in ready mode by then, feature of camp is the in-per-

registering and I think that uptick in this year’s registra- though it has received calls but if we have to wait an addi- son interactions children get

when it comes to our children, tion. for summer registration, there tional week or two, we would to experience.

we want to know that they are “Before this all happened, have been fewer compared to a push camp if we needed to,” “We believe the value of at-

in a safe environment and we we were having the best year typical year. Yahr said. “Our plan is to tending camp lies in the face-

also want them to have a nor- in enrollment that Kiwi has While summer camps are continue to move forward as to-face interactions of our sta

mal experience,” Sirkin said. ever had and even with this hopeful they will be able to best as possible using the in- and campers to develop both

“ ey’ve had weeks or months going on, we are still surpass- open and operate, for which formation we have and pa- physical and social skills,” Ber-

of being at home and social- ing numbers from previous many the start date is June tiently wait for the additional tino said. “After many months

ization for them is going to be years,” Yahr said. “We got o 29, they have developed con- information. We’ve been using of screen time, we hope chil-

more important than it’s ever to a strong start and because tingency plans should they be whatever guidance we can nd dren will be able to get out-

doors this summer and enjoy

nature, so currently we do not

plan for any online activities.”

BUDGET

FROM PAGE 2

845-628-2580 | www.bellhvac.com the district isn’t ready to present
any budget gures at this point.
888W-4e29A-r5e6O4p1e| nwTwowS.beerlvlehvYaocu.!com “We don’t want to confuse the
public.”
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Coupon must be presented at time of service. Can- DiCarlo said that no matter
with a new high-efficiency not be combined with any other offers Coupon must be presented at time of service. what the nal numbers are, he
Cannot be combined with any other offers doesn’t expect the budget will
AC/Heat Pump System Installation Offer Expires June 1, 2020 exceed the state-imposed 2 per-
Expires 6/1/2020 Offer Expires June 1, 2020 cent tax levy cap.
As for the school board race,
CALL NOW to schedule your preventative maintenance visit & that, too, will be on the mailer
that district voters will receive.
ASK US ABOUT OUR SERVICE AGREEMENT! DiCarlo said the normal peti-
tion requirements for candidates
SCHEDULE EARLY AND SAVE! 845-628-2580 are waived this year and district
“Service was fast, courteous and professional.” ~Mark C. residents can get on the ballot by
lling out some requisite paper-
work with the district o ce.

ree seats are up for grabs,
with the three-year terms of
Mark O’Connor, Mike Sim-
one and board President Leslie
Mancuso expiring. DiCarlo said
O’Connor and Mancuso have
indicated they will not seek re-
election, adding that several oth-
ers have thrown their hats into
the ring. e deadline to get on
the ballot was May 11 and in an
upcoming issue, Mahopac News
will pro le all the candidates.

Additionally, this year’s bal-
lots will also contain a vote for
approving the Mahopac Public
Library budget.

“I think that will further con-
fuse people,” DiCarlo said.

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 5

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PAGE 6 MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Carmel PD adds new officer, County 4-H Fair
promotes another cancelled due to
coronavirus concerns
e Carmel Police Depart-

ment welcomed another new po-

lice o cer to its ranks last week e 49th annual Putnam “Given the uncertainty sur-

when Supervisor Ken Schmitt County 4-H Fair has been can- rounding COVID-19, and due

swore in Devon Sanborn. celled due to the coronavirus to an abundance of caution, the

Sanborn is a 2012 graduate pandemic. fair planned for July 24-26 has

of R.C. Ketcham High School “We’ve held it rain or shine, been cancelled,” she said.

and a Wappingers Falls resident. scorching hot temperatures, some e fair is traditionally held

He previously worked for the storms where the wind gusts at Veterans Memorial Park on

Wallkill Police Department and pulled the tent poles out of the Gypsy Trail Road in Carmel.

attended the Rockland County ground, but we carried on,” said “ e Putnam County 4H Fair

Police Academy, graduating in Dena Altavilla, Putnam’s 4-H showcases the best of our com-

June 2019. director. “So, it is with a heavy munities,” said Putnam County

Sanborn also served in the heart that we announce that for Executive MaryEllen Odell

United States Navy and was dis- the rst time, the Cornell Co- “Every summer the fair brings

charged honorably with a rank of PHOTO COURTESY OF CARMEL POLICE DEPT. operative Extension of Putnam families together for good food,
Devon Sanborn, center, is sworn in by Supervisor Ken Schmitt as
petty o cer 3rd class. Chief Mike Cazzari holds the bible. County’s board of directors made lively music and fun times, while
In addition to Sanborn’s
the di cult decision to cancel the youngsters get a chance to dis-

swearing in, O cer Brian Forbes fair due to concerns regarding the play their leadership skills. We

was promoted to the rank of de- Department in August 2018. coronavirus.” will certainly miss it this year, but

tective. Forde is a 2009 Carmel Forde is a 2013 graduate of the Article provided by Town of Stefanie Hubert, Cornell Co- I know that when the 4H Fair re-

High School graduate and trans- Dutchess County Police Acad- Carmel operative Extension of Putnam turns next year, it will be the best

ferred here from the Kent Police emy. County’s executive director, said one yet.”

that the planning was well under-

way for this years’ fair, but CCE Information provided by Cornell

prioritized the health, safety and Cooperative Extension

well-being of the communities.

For today, retirement Contact Us
and every moment Mahopac News is located at Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit
in between. C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can contact us at 845-208-0774 or
email [email protected].

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 7
Contact Us
Senior programs Mahopac News is located at Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can
go remote contact us at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected].

Putnam O ce for Senior
Resources gets innovative

Seniors have been singled out ty drove his department to create

as “vulnerable” since the COV- and implement innovative pro-

ID-19 outbreak rst began. e gram o erings for all Putnam se-

physical health of older Ameri- niors using both voice and video

cans became a priority, but as conference calling tools.”

the bene ts of staying at home All seniors in Putnam, whether

are obvious, so are the troubling they have previously participated

social and emotional e ects of in a senior center program are en-

isolation. couraged to call the OSR. eir

Every May, the national Ad- sta , currently working remotely,

ministration for Community will assist in identifying pro-

Living observes Older Ameri- grams that suit both the callers’

cans Month. e theme for 2020 needs and their interests.

is “Make Your Mark,” paying “It is important to remember

tribute to the countless contribu- that social distancing does not

tions that seniors have made in have to mean isolation, espe-

their communities, and invites cially for seniors,” Cunningham

communities, in turn, to pay it said. “Loneliness is bad for your

forward by supporting the health health, but you don’t have to face

and wellbeing of the older gen- the uncertainties alone. It is our

eration. goal to support seniors and of-

“ e connections created by fer them various ways to connect

our senior programs are truly a with one another, connect with

bright spot during this di cult professionals and connect with

time,” said County Executive, their larger community all while

MaryEllen Odell. “We know our staying safe at home.

seniors are anxiously waiting to “ e response to our one-on-

be able to reconnect in person one wellness calls and remote

at their local centers. e sta at group events such as Co ee and

our O ce for Senior Resources Conversation, have been very

have designed and implemented positive,” he added.

wonderful ways to serve the com- Other popular programs in-

munity. From fresh, home-deliv- clude book club meetings, brain

ered meals to connecting seniors tness activity groups, Zoom

with pen-pal groups in their local social dancing, strength and bal-

towns, we are supporting our se- ance exercise and caregiver sup-

niors in ways we may never have port groups. TeleBingo and other

imagined before.” new programs are being rolled

Michael Cunningham, direc- out as well.

tor of Putnam County’s O ce An innovative program called

for Senior Resources (OSR) said robotic pet companionship is

he’s unsure when his o ce doors SEE REMOTE PAGE 9 Our office is open for telephone consultations.
will reopen— but that uncertain- Call or email us.

Stay Safe. Please be safe! Stay home!
Support our local restaurants—order takeout!
Enjoy Grace Vinciguerra
y h es. We, as a country, will be stronger
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PAGE 8 MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Putnam Hospital gets A in new hospital safety grades

Putnam Hospital earned the tients safe each and every day,” to more than 2,600 hospitals mance measures from the Cen- tional measurement and report-
distinction of an “A” grade from hospital President Peter Kelly across the country. e grade is ters for Medicare & Medicaid ing programs.
said. “ is is a true validation of updated every six months in the Services (CMS), the Leapfrog
e Leapfrog Group, a national the many e orts made by all the spring and fall. Putnam Hospi- Hospital Survey and other sup- Patient safety is a process,
nonpro t focused on improv- sta at Putnam Hospital in the tal, now part of Nuvance Health, plemental data sources. Taken not a singular event. At Put-
ing healthcare quality, safety and pursuit of a high degree of pa- also received an “A” grade in the together, those performance nam Hospital, an important
transparency. tient safety.” fall. measures produce a single letter practice implemented is a daily
grade representing a hospital’s safety huddle involving depart-
“ is is a nationally recog- e Leapfrog Hospital Safety e Leapfrog Hospital Safety overall performance in keeping ments across the facility to en-
nized score indicating the e orts Grade is a letter grade assigned Grade uses national perfor- patients safe from preventable sure safety issues are identi ed
a hospital puts forth to keep pa- harm and medical errors. e and addressed in real time, said
Safety Grade includes 28 mea- a hospital spokesperson.
sures, all currently in use by na-
Article provided by Nuvance

Congratulations SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO Sheriff warns of
CLASS of 2019 new scam during
JULY 4, 2019
Carolanne Matheson, Claire Fon, pandemic

Emily McGrath, Ally Dubbioso,
Caitlyn Tiedemann, and Sam Cerrato

(taking the picture)
PHOTO: DEENA BELL

Congratulations Congratulations
CLASS of 2019
CLASS OF 2019
CoCnLgArSaStuolfa2t0io1n9
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO CONGRCAlaTUssLoAfTI2O0N19S 2
TRACKS
JUNE 27, 2019 PHOTOS: SARAH BUSSINGER
PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL

SUPPSLPEEMCEIANLT TO
July 4, 2019

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

June 27, 2019
PHOTOS: SARAH BUSSINGER

Putnam County Sheri Rob- that they had access to the vic-

ert L. Langley reports that, since tim’s computer. However, Lang-

the work-from-home restric- ley explains, the password was

tions began during the COV- likely obtained from an old data

ID-19 pandemic, law enforce- breach already on the dark web.

ment has seen an increase in Langley advises the com-

Celebrate OurNow More Than Ever, Let’s computer scams. munity that if you receive such
2020 Graduates!
One such scam involves an an email you: 1. Do NOT send

email from a suspect to a vic- any payment, 2. Do NOT click

tim claiming that the suspect is any links provided in the email.

in possession of recorded web 3. Change the password for all

cam video footage of the vic- services/websites that use the

tim watching pornography. e password mentioned by the sus-

suspect implies that he has mal- pect and 4. File a report with the

ware/remote access to victim’s FBI Internet Crime Complaint

computer to record video. e Center. You can le such a com-

suspect then threatens to share pliant at WWW.IC3.gov. If you

Mahopac News, Yorktown News, North Salem News, the alleged footage with the are a victim of such a scam that
The Somers Record and The Katonah-Lewisboro Times will be honoring
victim’s Facebook friends and resulted in nancial loss you can
each town’s 2020 High School Graduating Class with a special insert
section that will be kept separately as a keepsake. family unless the victim pays the report such crime to the Putnam

suspect in the form of bitcoin County Sheri ’s O ce at 845-

payment. 225-4300.

In the scam, the suspect of-

Readers can purchase ten provides the victim’s valid, Article provide by Putnam
a small display ad with
p1rddo0aovefi%monpatllsabonaoutucdrfwnetalotmdaifilelulnreetrebconreets. $254E.6ig1h”RtAExhDA2PDS.:a5EgR1”e yet often old, password to prove County Sheri ’s Dept.
a photo and a
congratulatory message! WE MOVED!

Send a photo and a Our new location:
few sentences honoring
268SRoomueters202,
a graduate to
[email protected] DeCJiuccsot n&exStodnos oarndtoCVS!

The focus will be on the high school class and NOW OPEN OUR NEW LOCATION
may also include content from the lower schools. IS NOW A REALITY!

• The section will include lots of photos of the graduates So excited to add value to
• We’ll include lists of senior awards, profiles of the our wonderful community of

valedictorian and salutatorian, and a beautiful centerfold spread. pets and owners!!

Reader Ads: Eighth Page • 4.61”x2.51” • $25 Progressive Animal Hospital
(Reader Submitted) Ad reservation deadline/artwork approval TBD
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(waiting to hear plans from our school districts).
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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 9

Harckham visits Mahopac Fire Department

Chief James Stasiak of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department invited
state Sen. Harckham to stop by ursday, Apr. 30, and see the new, state-
of-the-art hydraulic stretcher system and gurney recently purchased for one
of the department’s emergency response vehicles. A $50,000 state grant
helped reimburse the department for associated acquisition and installation
costs. e stretcher system raises and lowers the gurney for easier loading
and unloading of patients. Harckham thanked the re ghters and EMTs
for their exceptional service during the COVID-19 health emergency.

Pictured, from left, are: Louis Scagnelli, Robert Kick, Chief Stasiak, Niko
Conde, Michael Revenson, Sen.Harckham, George Jones and Jack Casey.

musical vocal group

PHOTO COURTESY SEN. HARCKHAM ‘S OFFICE/TOM STAUDTER

REMOTE has been proven to enhance the accompany social distancing. To playing an eclec�c mix of favorites, old and new
well-being, sense of purpose learn more about the programs
FROM PAGE 7 and quality of life of individu- o ered visit putnamcountyny. [email protected] 914-248-5135
als living with dementia. During com/OSR or call 845-808-1700.
one of the many new o erings COVID-19, these robotic pets join Lauren, Colleen and Rick and bring a li�le
from OSR. Robotic pets look, are being utilized to address the Article provided by County harmony to your next event!
sound and feel like real pets. is emotional challenges that often Department of Health
alternative form of pet therapy

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PAGE 10 MAHOPAC NEWS Opinion THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

We’re far from Life in a pandemic
out of the woods
Ionce heard some- OF HUMAN asked.
President Obama’s one on television, INTEREST Philip answered
former healthcare an actor, say that
czar, Andrew Slavitt, by rote: “God made
in several interviews over
the past two months, dwindled to a handful each when you have 10 LORENZO me to know Him,
has repeatedly said that
this country’s inability to HERE day. Signs of improvement people play Hamlet, GARO to love and to
respond in a timely and AND across the rest of America,
e ective manner to the NOW! however, are far bleaker. you get 10 di erent serve Him in this
novel coronavirus pandemic may lead us to
the gravest public health collapse in over a We are still in the viselike Hamlets. world, and to be
century. More than 1 million could die.
How marvelously happy with him in
“ e only way to avoid an explosion,”
said Slavitt, “was for the entire population BERNIE grip of an unruly pandemic. true. Despite all the Heaven.”
to follow a strict policy of social isolation…
Expanding medical capacity has to be KOSBERG For every indication of pressure the world places on individu- e nun, probably a sadist, said,
done but will only make a tiny di erence if
we don’t self-isolate. progress in controlling the als to conform, every single person “Well, I guess we know who the better

“ ere’s a role for the federal govern- virus, new outbreaks emerge somehow remains unique. Being an half is now.”
ment in all of these things,” Slavitt goes
on to say, “and there’s a role for the state elsewhere, leaving the nation stuck in a identical twin, which, scienti cally My classmates giggled, the good
government. In testing, the federal govern-
ment is the most e cient person to make steady, unrelenting march of infection speaking, makes me a clone, I’m par- sister beamed, and I tried to hold back
sure that the supply chain works, to make
sure that we have all of the materials we and death. Yet, in spite of this, states in ticularly aware that no two people are tears. When I looked at my brother,
need, to make sure that states aren’t ght-
ing and creating bidding wars. at can’t the South and Midwest are rapidly lifting exactly alike. If you’re thinking about I knew that he felt as badly as I did.
be done by the states themselves. But when
it comes to actually administering the tests, restrictions meant to stop the virus, and cloning your dog, my advice is… don’t at’s when I knew that he was the
those are localized activities. Likewise,
contact tracing can get done at a local level. impatient Americans are resuming their bother. You may get a dog that looks better half.
And, remember, we’re not all going to be
going through the same thing at the same shopping trips, eating in restaurants, drink- the same, but you will never have your You know, he’s an inch taller than
time.”
ing in bars, and congregating in parks and old dog back again. And maybe you me, and that ain’t right. Sports and ed-
“We’re about to experience the worst
public health disaster since polio,” said Dr beaches. According to the CDC, are-ups shouldn’t. ucation came easier to him than they
Martin Makary, a health care futurist, sur-
geon, and professor of Health Policy and are sure to follow. I’m seven minutes older than my did me. He was a graceful out elder,
Management at Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity’s Bloomberg School of Public Health Rural towns, unscathed as recently as brother, Philip. When I popped out, but the thing was, he never got ner-
- in mid-March. “ ere are probably 25 to
50 people [in this country] who have the a month ago and unprepared for a major I hollered back to him, “Stay in there. vous. He’s a cool cat when the pressure
virus for each person who is con rmed. It’s
a grave disaster that’s about to bring us to outbreak, are now hot spots for the virus. It’s no good out here!” is on, a good man in a pandemic. I’m
our knees.”
It is rampaging through nursing homes, He didn’t listen. He came to the crib a worrier and a pessimist, which are
A few urban hotspots have shown some
success. New York City, which is engag- inundating meatpacking plants and whistling and smiling, so I’m told, a the two worst things you can be in a
ing in fairly rigorous social distancing, has
seen the barrage of daily deaths from the prisons, and killing essential workers. And future harmonica player. Me, I needed pandemic.
virus drop to less than half of what it was
at its peak. Chicago is having similar suc- the Trump administration, just last week, a hernia operation because I cried so A couple of weeks ago, my brother,
cess, and new cases in New Orleans have
raised its projection of deaths per day to much. e di erences have stood the unexpectedly, came to say hello. I was

over 3,000, by June 1. test of time. Never more so than in the outside cutting down a tree. It didn’t

Removing restrictions without properly current crisis. turn out to be much of a hello. I went

staged programs of testing and contact- People have asked if we were com- inside and got a set of instructions

tracing in place will, according to the petitive with one another. What do stating what I wanted him to do if I

CDC, pandemic experts, and over half of you think? died in the pandemic. I wrote out a

the nation’s governors, dramatically speed We spent our early years trying to list of my meager assets and where I

up the transmission of the disease. is will beat the hell out of each other. One wanted my money to go. ere were

undoubtedly accelerate the monthly death day, Papa gave us boxing gloves and numbers for him to call, where to look

count way beyond the White House’s new told us to settle our di erences once for folders, and even the name of a

estimate. e novel coronavirus does not and for all. I remember the little smile cremation service. I sawed, while he

respect state borders, and containment ef- on my brother’s face before I saw stars. read.

forts across the entire country could easily I received a much worse punch in “Will you please turn o that

be undermined. parochial school. damned thing!” he hollered.

is country has the will, the manu- We recited our lessons aloud every For some reason, he was mad.

facturing capacity, and the know-how to day, the whole class singing praises to “You didn’t say what you want me to

survive this pandemic with far less chaos God. But when the sister made me do with your ashes,” he yelled, mak-

and death. ere should be no need to stand and asked a simple catechism ing it sound as if I was the dumbest

make these decisions by choosing between question, (Why did God make you?), I person on earth.

your money or your life. ere are hordes became tongue-tied. At that moment, I told him that he could spread

of talented and newly unemployed people I had no idea why God made me. I them under an oak tree. He said, “I

who would gladly be recruited to perform still don’t. thought you had more money. I see

the tests, do the contact-tracing, and will- e nun walked slowly across the you’re leaving more to the Humane

ingly help people navigate the realities of classroom and stopped at my brother’s Society than you are me.”

isolation and quarantine until the advent of desk. SEE GARO PAGE 17
“Why did God make you?” she
successful treatments and/or a vaccine.

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 11

Re ections on unsolicited advice Contact Us Mahopac News is located at Bailey Court,
334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can
his weekly newsletter, 5-Bullet POWER NAPS contact us at 845-208-0774 or email mahopacnews@
Friday (sub-dubbed Experi- halstonmedia.com.
ments in Lifestyle Design), I “Extraordinary claims should
was instantly enamored with NEW VISIONS KITCHENS &
BRUCE “68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice” require extraordinary evidence BATHS, INC.
THE BLOG that Ferris was passing along
from his friend Kevin Kelly, to be believed.” Wellborn
BRUCE who had just turned that age Cabinetry
APAR and whom Ferris called “argu- Very timely that. Proudly Built
ably the real-life most interest- in America!
Our impulses are driven ing man in the world.” “Learn how to take a
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Superego says, “It’s not that “Being enthusiastic is worth are powerful. newvisionsinc.com
simple, Id. People may get hurt.” 25 IQ points.” [email protected]
“Don’t be the best. Be the
Objective reality confounds Being hate- lled is worth
our Ego. minus-50 IQ points. only.”

Ego says, “Why can’t we do “Reading to your children Sound advice for a culture
both: protect our bodily health regularly will bond you togeth-
and our economic health at the er and kick start their imagina- addicted more to awards and
same time.” tions.”
hero worship than to innova-
at’s the kind of mental Same goes for reading to
machination being quarantined yourself, for your own enjoy- tion and uniqueness.
can trigger, especially if you’re ment and edi cation.
a word laborer whose job keeps “Art is in what you leave
you alert to opportunities for
out.”
lling empty space (I mean the
kind on the page, not between A timeless and elemental
my ears).
truism that applies, too, to the
Even if working the word
shift isn’t part of your job art of living.
description, this limbo we’re in
is a good time for re ection (I “Promptness is a sign of
mean the kind between your
ears, not in the mirror). respect.”

I set my timepiece ahead by

10 minutes. It sort of works,

lately. SEE APAR PAGE 12

SELF ACTUALIZATION
at state of mind led me

to this guy Timothy Ferris (at
Tim.blog), whom I’ve been
spending some time with.
Don’t know him. Never met
him. He’s what might be called
a self-actualization special-
ist. He’s also what might be
called very successful, as well as
controversial.

His Tim Ferris Show Pod-
cast has 400 million downloads.

You may have heard of his
international best-seller e
4-Hour Workweek. e ful-
crum of the book is how the
author transformed his life
unimaginably -- going from
a $40,000 annual income
working 80-hour weeks, to a
4-hour workweek that earned
him $40,000 -- wait for it -- a
month.

So, yeah, I’ll pay attention
to someone like that ... espe-
cially during an apocalypse.
What does he know I don’t?
Everything, apparently. (Caveat
emptor: Ferris has his share of
detractors, who think he’s a bit
of a fraud. at’s ne. Maybe
I’m a bit gullible, so we’re a
good match.)

LIFESTYLE DESIGN
As soon as I signed up for

PAGE 12 MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

How have you BEAN?

After my kids left the nest, I went had bought rolls and had on my family, and threat to our comfort, and quite possibly
from cooking every night for four my marriage, I needed to nd a way to
people to cooking every night for rolls of toilet paper for let’s just say that there cook them so neither of us would have
just my husband and myself. And when I a problem. I scoured the Internet and
say cooking every night, I actually mean, the quarantine, I had TRACY isn’t enough Febreeze discovered that soaking and rinsing the
eating out twice a week, ordering in three stocked up on beans. beans prior to cooking, even canned
times a week, and cooking twice. Actually, Apparently, for no BECKERMAN in the world to over- beans, would help a lot.
I’d cook only once, because the second come what my family
time we’d have leftovers. So, one night I tested the theory and
reason whatsoever, I let loose. ere was made a batch of Black Bean Sloppy Joes.
But then we all got quarantined and
suddenly I was making three meals a day was convinced that a a time, once, where e rinsing seemed to do the trick for
every day for the two of us for what felt me, and I felt no gaseous side e ects after
like a year. My husband of course, didn’t pandemic would lead I was pretty sure we dinner. But as we sat on the couch later,
see anything wrong with this, while I felt I suddenly smelled something so bad it
like I’d become a short-order cook. to a shortage of beans, were to blame for a singed my nose hairs.

So, when my husband asked me a so I panicked and bought a dozen or so massive hole in the Earth’s ozone that “Was that you?” I asked my husband as
simple question for the ninety- fth hun- I smothered my face with a pillow.
dredth time, I kind of lost my mind. cans. But in my bean-induced confusion, had formed after we had dinner on Chili
“No,” he said, pulling his shirt up over
“Hey honey, what’s for dinner?” he said. I hit the wrong button and instead of Night. his nose. “You?”
“Aauugghh!” I yelled and ran into the
bathroom. I needed to be alone with ordering a few cans, I ordered a case, and en, that weekend, we took our left- I shook my head. We both looked
my thoughts. ere weren’t many. It was down at the dog asleep on the oor.
mostly that I didn’t want to make dinner when it arrived, I was the proud owner of overs with us when we went skiing. e
again. “Hmmm,” I said. “Guess I won’t be
50 cans of beans. next day, I swear we all skied 50 percent putting any more beans in his food.”
e problem wasn’t so much that I
had to cook. e problem was what I Besides having nowhere to store 50 faster because of our “tailwind.” You can follow Tracy on Facebook at
had to cook with. While other people facebook.com/LostinsuburbiaFanPage, and
cans of beans, I had another problem. e kids, naturally, found all this hilari- sign up for her newsletter at tracybeckerman.
com/newsletter.
When I was ordering my beans, I failed ous. My husband and I… not so much.

to take into account the fact that my At some point I tried giving everyone

family has not historically done too well some of those natural digestive enzymes

with beans, and there existed the very real they sell in the store for just such a

possibly that if I served too many meals problem. It was clear they did not help

made of beans, we would probably, in no when the gas company showed up at our

uncertain terms, blow up. door after the neighbors reported smell-

is was not something I was guessing ing something noxious coming from our

at. is was a known fact. Having made house.

chili before, I knew what e ects the beans Knowing that the beans posed a serious

APAR Attention hiring managers. ally, you are just coasting.” “Don’t trust all-purpose glue.”
“ e Golden Rule will never fail you. Failure’s a better teacher than success. is one will stick with me.
FROM PAGE 11 It is the foundation of all other virtues.” “Hatred is a curse that does not a ect
And the rule probably most violated Bruce Apar is a writer, actor, consultant,
GOLDEN RULE by most of us. the hated. It only poisons the hater. Re- and community volunteer. He can be
“Experience is overrated. When hir- “If you are not falling down occasion- lease a grudge as if it was a poison.” reached at [email protected]; 914.275.6887.

ing, hire for aptitude, train for skills.” To hate is lazy; to understand is hard.

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 When the markets twist,
turn to us for practical advice.MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 13

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