BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 29 FOX TRACKS 4 HEALTH & WELLNESS 18 LEISURE 23 OPINION 10 SPORTS 22 Citizens of the Year pg 6 AWARDS VOL. 1 NO. 11 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 A MONTHLY PUBLICATION MARCH 9 – APRIL 13, 2023 Fox Lane High School has proudly named Valedictorian Alexxandra Ho mann and Salutatorian Jacob Feldman as the top students for the Class of 2023. In the fall, Ho mann will be headed for Duke University to major in neuroscience, while Feldman has not made a nal college decision but is anticipating majoring in chemistry. As the pair looks ahead to their bright futures, they took some time to re ect on their time at FLHS. WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU THE MOST PROUD OF? Alexxandra: I attended the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) annual abstract conference in Geneva, Switzerland in October 2022. While there, I presented my project, which was published in SIOG’s journal. I am proud that I was able to get there, but I am even more proud that I pushed myself to con dently speak to some of the best doctors in the geriatric eld as the youngest person at the conference. Jacob: I’ve been working with our school newspaper, e Fox Lane Times, for four years, and it’s been so incredible and so rewarding to see how the paper has grown and developed. WHO HAVE BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE? Jacob: I’m extraordinarily fortunate to have had so many kind and wonderful people in my life, but I would probably have to pick my maternal grandfather. I spent a lot of time with him as I was growing up, and he is — without a doubt — the person who spurred my interest in chemistry and science as a whole. Alexxandra: Both of my parents and my brother have helped develop my character in such different ways that I cannot deem one of them more in uential than the others. My dad has shown me work ethic and adventure. My mom has taught me to Fox Lane announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian for Class of 2023 Alexxandra Ho mann and Jacob Feldman with interim principal Sue Ostrofsky BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER e rst member of the Bedford Hills Fire Department to achieve 75 years of service has answered his nal alarm. Hometown hero George Edward Graniero Sr. passed away last month at an assisted care facility in Syracuse. He was 94 and had still been responding to calls at age 89. “He went out and directed tra c with his coat on and his ashlight. at was his big thing,” recalled his son George Graniero Jr., a Bedford Hills re ghter and an ex-chief of the department. Grandsons Marc Graniero Sr., a Bedford Hills re ghter and ex-captain, and Je rey Graniero, who is a member but not currently active, are also carrying forward his legacy. His late brother, Joseph, also served with the BHFD. “ e passing of our ‘Senior Man’ leaves an un llable void not only within our department but also in the Bedford community,” wrote Chief Alexander Dennett when announcing his death. “What a legacy George Graniero Sr. left to our town. After growing up and raising a family in Bedford Hills and 76 years serving as a volunteer re- ghter, it seems that everyone knew and loved him,” said Bedford Supervisor Ellen Calves. Folks ocked to social media to express sympathy to Graniero’s family. One noted that he was “the kindest man I’ve known.” Another wrote: “He lived a good life to the fullest and touched so many along the way.” Another recalled his “infectious smile” and “commanding wit.” Moving out of the house he’d lived in for most of his life and into assisted care was tough, said George Jr., praising his father for being brave. Graniero was doing well in his new home. “He made friends right away. He was named Man of the Month. Wherever he went, he touched people so much,” said George Jr., who added that even before his dad died, folks were always telling him that Graniero was “the greatest man they ever met.” Graniero was just 18 when he joined the BHFD on May 1, 1946. He was issued badge No. A hero’s farewell Community honors George Graniero SEE VAL/SAL PAGE 8 SEE GRANIERO PAGE 5 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 This stunning and spacious 4 BR/3.2 BA custom colonial is set on a fantastic 2 acre parcel with a 3 car garage, gleaming wood floors, 2 fireplaces and lots of space for nanny/granny or to Work-From-Home! Located in desirable TipTop Farms and designed for indoor/outdoor entertaining with an expansive stone patio and plenty of room for parties, bbqs and lots of ball-playing. 2 separate pool sites and located just moments to town, train, school, park/library, shopping! $1,295,000 Casual Elegance for the Entire Crew I encourage you to Evolve Demand a better level of service and expect results that are beyond comparison. Defy the status quo —choose wisely — let's go get it all, shall we? #UGottaHaveHope a a
PAGE 2 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Mount Kisco Mayor Gina Picinich’s recent decision not to seek a fourth term has set the stage for a possible Democratic primary in June. At present, there are two mayoral candidates gathering nominating ballot signatures in the hopes of securing a spot on the Democratic line in this fall’s general elections: Deputy Mayor Lisa Abzun and political newcomer Tom Luzio, a retired prosecutor. Luzio was o cially endorsed by the local Democratic Committee; Abzun was not. Also backed by the committee is Karine P. Patiño, who made history as the board’s rst Hispanic trustee in 2021. e attorney and lifelong Mount Kisco resident is seeking her second term. To make things even more complicated, Trustee Anne Bianchi is vacating her seat in order to run for county court judge and former trustee and deputy mayor Jean Farber has tossed her hat in the ring. Bianchi is a criminal defense attorney who works for the Legal Aid Society. Local Dems o ered to back Farber’s trustee bid if she agreed to run with Luzio. She declined, Chairman William Serratore said last week. Farber con rmed that fact. If Abzun should win in November, there would be another spot on the board to ll. According to village law, this can be done by mayoral appointment. At present, there doesn’t appear to be any other potential mayoral candidates – Democratic, Republican, or otherwise – waiting in the wings. But folks have until the rst week of April to le their nominating petitions, so anything could happen, Serratore said. Democrats currently outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 in the village of nearly 11,000 souls. e last time that Serratore could remember there being a GOP contender was about a decade ago. ere are about 3,000 unaf- liated voters. Democratic primaries are also a rare thing in Mount Kisco, he noted, adding that this year, primary contests seem to be trending in Westchester with multiple county legislators facing challenges within their own parties. WHY PICINICH DECIDED NOT TO RUN Picinich said last week that she wasn’t running for re-election simply because it was time. “So I have imposed a term limit on myself. I’ve often said that I don’t think these types of positions are intended to be long-term careers,” she explained, adding that she thought that “quali ed people need to bring the knowledge of the community, their experience, their leadership, and their enthusiasm.” Noting that the Village Board has accomplished “a lot” in the past six years, Picinich listed some highlights. ese included creating “a comprehensive community planning process that resulted in zoning changes intended to stimulate the economy and provide opportunities for more housing,” overseeing a “very aggressive and responsible capital plan to address infrastructure,” and balancing spending and savings in a way that improved Mount Kisco’s credit ratings. She also pointed to the town/ village’s strengthening of its relationships with the Westchester County Police, Northern Westchester Hospital, and local nonpro t organizations. In addition, Mount Kisco has branded itself as the “Big Little Village,” which she thought “so wonderfully re ects who we are as a community.” Looking to November Abzun, Luzio seek mayoral nod Mount Kisco Deputy Mayor Lisa Tom Luzio Abzun SEE CANDIDATES PAGE 27 1. Clip the short form on the page 2.Fill out the information. 3.Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4.Or Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com 5.Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times. YES, I really enjoy The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) 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MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 3 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE For Mount Kisco resident Greg Renza, a perfect day is one spent in his backyard on a chilly February afternoon, standing around the fire, and drinking beer with family and friends. The fire, in this case, is what one uses to boil maple tree sap and change it into maple syrup. It’s a hobby he’s indulged in for more than two decades. When Renza first visited the site of his future home in 2001, he noticed an abundance of trees on the one-acre property and knew dealing with mounds of fallen leaves would become an annual fall challenge. “I would spend years battling the autumn leaves with landscapers and alone with rakes, tarps, and various leaf blowers,” said Renza, an IT computer professional for a top 10 global law firm. “We had a tree service remove and trim many of the trees on the overgrown property and they informed us that most of our trees were sugar maples or what he called ‘rock’ maple. I didn’t think much of it at the time.” “I understood that the huge canopy of leaves that prevented sunlight from getting in and grass from growing, could also keep me quite dry when it rained,” he continued. “After one March storm, I needed to trim a bunch of broken branches. So, with pole saw in hand I began my work, and what I first thought was water raining down on me, I realized was maple sap. When most people think of sap, they think of thick and sticky pine sap, but maple sap is mostly water. There is only a small amount of sugar, which you can hardly even taste.” Renza was intrigued. He began researching how to make syrup and learned the best time to tap trees was in February and March and how much sap he could expect, and how long it might take to do the job. “Making syrup is labor intensive because you have to condense it by boiling off the water,” he said. “The ratio is about 40 to 1, meaning it would take about 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. Even after learning all that, I still decided to go ahead with it.” Renza said he started with a fairly primitive set-up to distill the sap but made improvements over the years. “I started with a pot and a fire and was out there from sunup to past sundown and it yielded about a quart,” he said with a laugh. “I realized that I needed to do it more efficiently, so I created a classic backyard maple sugaring rig out of cement blocks and stainless-steel catering pans... basic supplies. I made mine for under 100 bucks.” Renza said he got better at making it with each passing year. “It’s just one ingredient and you refine it. It’s all process,” he said. “You tap a tree, boil off the water. It’s really about endurance.” Renza said the weather is always a factor during tapping season, with warm days and cold nights being the best scenario for making the sap flow. The nights have been warmer than normal for this time of year, he said, which has slowed production. “The sap hasn’t been flowing,” he said. “And around here you are done by mid-March because the chemistry of the sap changes.” Renza doesn’t sell what he produces—it’s not a business—but he now understands why good maple syrup is expensive. He taps about 25 trees which nets about five gallons of what he’s dubbed Mount Kisco Maple Syrup. He breaks that down into 8 oz. bottles. “I like to invite friends to come watch the boiling. The key ingredient is beer,” he said with a laugh. “I can give away more of those [8 oz. bottles of] precious liquid gold. I don’t have enough to sell so I just give it away.” Renza said his wife and two teenage boys humor him. “The boys come out to see what I’m doing but otherwise leave me alone and my wife likes me being outside,” he said, “ but she helps with the bottling process.” Now Renza said he’s looking to take the hobby to another level. “It’s like candy making— you continue to find new things, like granulated maple sugar, which can be used as a baking ingredient, or maple candies, boiled to higher temps so it can be shaped. And there’s maple cream, whip it up into a spreadable frosting. It is just another form of sugar, so anyway you would want to use that, you can.” But Renza says the biggest thrill he gets out of syrup making is the DIY aspect of it. “To me, what is most rewarding is you can do it in your own backyard,” he said. “Sometimes you forget you can do things yourself and that is the kick I get out of it: I can make maple syrup right in my own backyard.” Renza, who’s also a musician and puzzle designer, says anyone willing to put in the time can make maple syrup if they know how to find the trees. “The best way to identify a maple tree is by its leaves,” Renza said. Sugar maples have dark gray bark with furrowed ridges and five-lobed leaves, which are wider at the base, dark yellow-green on top and lighter on the underside. They turn yellow, orange, or red in autumn. “Unfortunately, the leaves are off the trees when it’s time to tap, so identifying them is best done ahead of time,” Renza said. “New York is the is second to Vermont in U.S. maple syrup production,” he added. “Maple trees are native to and abundant in Putnam and Westchester counties. “Once you know, you see them everywhere. They might even be in your own backyard like mine.” How sweet it is Greg Renza perfects the art of backyard syrup-making Evaporator pans COURTESY GREG RENZA Greg Renza tapping trees with dog Coco Greg Renza with bottles of his homemade maple syrup
PAGE 4 – MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky (845) 661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions is the Wednesday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] Location 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY HALSTON MEDIA, LLC ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 e League of Women Voters of Northeast Westchester (LWVNEW) will host a Q&A with Chris Burdick, representative for New York’s 93rd Assembly District, on the topic of the New York State Housing Compact proposals. To be held virtually on Wednesday, March 15, from 7 to 8 p.m., the session will be moderated by League Co-President Susan Ferris Rights. IMPACT OF HOUSING COMPACT ON YOUR COMMUNITY? Announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in January, the series of Housing Compact proposals is a policy strategy to address the state’s housing shortage, with a goal of building 800,000 new homes over the next decade. e proposals include local participation requirements and incentives to increase housing supplies throughout the state, and would require municipalities with MTA rail stations to rezone locally for higher density residential development. e proposals will be considered by the New York State Legislature in the 2023 legislative session. Tune in to this live Zoom event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15 to learn more about this signi cant legislative initiative. Prospective attendees should go to the News & Events page at www. LWVNEW.org to pre-register and receive the event’s Zoom link. AD93* residents may submit questions on this topic to [email protected]. For a submission to be considered, it must include the questioner’s name and town (to verify residency, not to be read aloud) and be received by noon on Monday, March 13. (*Assembly District 93 includes the towns of Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Harrison, New Castle, North Castle, and part of White Plains.) Individuals may contact the League of Women Voters of Northeast Westchester at [email protected]. To learn more about the chapter and its activities, go to its website (www.LWVNEW.org), its Facebook page (League of Women Voters of North East Westchester) and its Twitter feed (@LWVNEW). e League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues. e League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Membership is open to anyone age 16 and over and provides the opportunity to be active and involved in local, state and national issues. League of Women Voters to host Assemblymember Burdick to discuss NYS Housing Compact Town of Bedford Recreation Department For more information, visit www.bedfordny.gov/ departments/recreation-parks SENIOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION & LUNCHEON Wednesday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the Bedford Hills Community House. Featuring corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, Irish soda bread, dessert, beverage, co ee and tea served by the friendly Recreation and Parks sta ! ere will be a $5.00 admission fee at the door for this event. Seniors must call (914) 666-7203 to make a reservation (indicate if you need transportation) no later than Friday, March 10. Free transportation for those who need a ride. Town of Bedford Veterans Committee 321 Bedford Road, Bedford Hills veterans@bedfordny.gov HONOR FLIGHTS Scheduled for Saturday, April 15 (Stewart Airport) and Saturday, May 20 (Westchester Airport). If you are interested in participating or volunteering as a “guardian” (or you know someone who might like to participate), please visit https://hvhonor ight. com/veterans/ VETERANS DAY It’s a long way o , but the committee has reserved the newly refurbished Bedford Hills Community House for a celebration on Saturday, Nov.11. Planning is underway. Mount Kisco Tree Art Project Open to all students residing in the Bedford Central School District. e entry deadline is Wednesday, March 22. ere is no entry fee. Young artists are encouraged to express their appreciation for trees in the medium of their choice -- drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, embroidery, essay, poetry, and song. All entries will be exhibited in the Mount Kisco Public Library during April. For more information, email [email protected] Bedford Free Library Located at 32 Village Green, Bedford, NY 10506. For more information or to register for events, visit www.bedfordfreelibrary.org TECH HELP WITH CHARLIE ursday, March 16, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Make an appointment with our Student Tech Expert Charlie. He will help you with technology questions and can assist you with downloading materials. All sessions are held in the Reading Room on the rst oor. Don’t forget to bring you device and any relevant password information. STORIES, SONGS, & SURPRISES ursday, March 23 from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. is Week’s eme: Where’s Spot? Join in for weekly Storytime in the Library with Mrs. Crummy. FOX TRACKS SEE TRACKS PAGE 6 Take your plain vanilla ice cream to the next level using balsamic vinegar and cherries! Ingredients: • 4 cups of fresh or frozen cherries • 1 cinnamon stick • 3/4 cup of sugar • 2 tablespoons of cornstarch • 2 cups of dry red wine • 4 teaspoons of Phat Olive Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar • Vanilla or Vanilla Bean Ice cream Directions: In a large saucepan over medium heat cook cherries, cinnamon stick, sugar and corn starch - cook until sugar starts to melt - about 1 min. Add the wine and Dark Chocolate Balsamic, bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the wine & balsamic has reduced and is slightly thickened, about 4 min. Remove from the heat, remove the cinnamon stick. Scoop vanilla ice cream into bowls and top with the warm cherries, wine and chocolate balsamic sauce. phatoliveoil.com 87 Katonah Ave, Katonah, NY SCAN TO VIEW MORE RECIPES Take your plain vanilla 4 cups of fresh or frozen cherries
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 5 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years Do you know what steps you can take to avoid your estate going to probate? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 309 and assigned to the engine company. George Jr. shared one of his dad’s favorite anecdotes. Back then, sparks from passing locomotives would cause a lot of brush res, so the department was a very busy place. One day Graniero was sitting in his high school English class when the whistle blew. “So he gets up and he’s leaving and the teacher goes, ‘Excuse me, George, where are you going?’ He said, ‘ ere’s a re. I gotta go.’ And he ran out of the school, down to the rehouse, and drove the truck to the re,” his son said. During his tenure, Graniero held the positions of lieutenant (1955-1956), captain (1957-1959), member of the department’s board of directors (1957-1959) and engineer (E197) (2000-2004). Named Fire ghter of the Year in 2000, he was feted at the department’s 2021 inspection for becoming the rst member in its history to achieve 75 years of service. “George Sr.’s impact on everyone was evident in January ’22 when the community and our mutual aid partners came together to honor George for his dedication and many years of service,” Dennett wrote. A rst-generation American, he was born on March 14, 1928, to Michael and Assunta (Salvia) Graniero. After graduating from Bedford Hills High School, he became a medic with the Army Medical Corps during the Korean War. He and Della (Crandall) married in 1951 and built a home on Crescent Terrace where they raised three sons: Michael, George Jr., and Douglas. e couple spent many happy hours attending their boys’ football and baseball games. ey did the same for their grandchildren. Graniero was a huge Yankees and Giants fan. He and Della took up skiing in their thirties after their kids had learned the sport. Graniero was still hitting the slopes at age 80, George Jr. recalled. ey also hiked the national parks and took long strolls on a dirt road near the Cross River Reservoir. e Granieros were among the rst folks to discover that peaceful spot; now Maple Avenue is packed with walkers. His dad walked four miles a day “for years and years and years,” George Jr. added. ey also appreciated good music and often attended concerts at Caramoor and Tanglewood. e couple traveled to Italy, but most of all, their family said, “they loved their time spent at their vacation home on Cape Cod.” George was predeceased by his wife in 2014, and by his brother, Joseph, in 2013. He is survived by three sons: Michael (Lisa) of Manlius, George Jr. (Margaret) of Katonah, and Douglas ( Jennifer) of Boulder, Colo.; three grandsons: Marc (Alexandra) of Mahopac, Je rey (Meghan) of Brewster, and Samuel (Kandice) of East Syracuse; two great-grandchildren: Audrey and Marc Jr.; sister-in-law Mary Graniero; one niece; and several nephews. SAYING GOODBYE Friends, family members, and colleagues gathered at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah on Saturday, Feb. 25, to celebrate Graniero’s life and to give him a traditional re ghter sendo . e funeral procession rst wended its way through his old neighborhood. It then paused at the purple and black bunting-draped Bedford Hills Firehouse on Route 117 where, in Graniero’s honor, a last whistle was blown, an American ag was held aloft by two ladder trucks, re ghters stood at attention, and his old turnout gear was displayed. e last leg of the solemn journey took mourners up East Main Street in Mount Kisco where Graniero had a barber shop for more than four decades. (Della used to cut his hair. After she passed away, Je rey took on the task. Grandfather and grandson made it part of their Sunday breakfast ritual.) Fire ghters from the village’s Mutual Engine and Hose Co. saluted as the trucks rolled by. Graniero was interred at Oakwood Cemetery next to his beloved spouse as snow gently fell. TRIBUTE To see the re department’s tribute, paste this in your browser: https://www.bedfordhillsfd. org/news/707/-76-Year-LifeMember-George-Graniero-Sr- --Answers-His-Final-Alarm GRANIERO FROM PAGE 1 PHOTO: CAROL REIF Colleagues gathered on Feb. 25 to honor the life of George Graniero. PHOTO COURTESY OF BHFD George Graniero was still responding to calls at age 89.
PAGE 6 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 During a ceremony last month, Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce President Matt Grasso announced the honorees for the 2023 Citizen of the Year awards. e Citizens of the Year are JoAnne Hochstein and Beth Mannion. Both are residents of Mount Kisco and are fully engaged with several non-pro t organizations in the village. ey have extensive resumes, including but not limited to, board positions with the Emergency Shelter Partnership, and Parish Council at St. Francis of Assisi. Hochstein is chair of operations with the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry. Mannion has spent many years involved with the Mount Kisco Memorial Pool Swim Team, and Little League Baseball. Business of the Year has been awarded to D’Errico Jewelry. With shops in both Mount Kisco and Scarsdale, brothers Richie and Sal D’Errico began the jewelry journey in the garage of their home. ey have a history of giving to their communities and as a Gold Partner in the MKCC, their dedication and contributions have been numerous. e Mount Kisco Lions Club rounds out the award winners as the Organization of the Year. As a service organization, its mission is service to others. Whether they are donating Echo Dots to the Mount Kisco Seniors, handing out trick or treats with the Chamber, or collecting food for the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, the Mount Kisco Lions Club is always willing to help and give to others. e public is invited to the annual Citizens of the Year dinner on ursday, May 11. Journal Ads are available for purchase now and tickets will be available by mid-March. Call 914- 666-7525, or email director@ mtkiscochamber.com for more information. Article courtesy of Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce. Chamber of Commerce announces Citizen of the Year awards PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNT KISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE This year’s Citizen of the Year award winners Bedford 2030 www.bedford2030.org THE POWER OF TREES: A BEDFORD 2030 COMMUNITY FORUM Mar. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Save the date! e Power of Trees Forum will celebrate the critical role of trees in combating climate change. Join experts, community members, and local organizations pledging to support healthy ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and protect our planet. To be held at Fox Lane High School. Mt. Kisco Public Library Located at 100 Main St. For more information, visit www. mountkiscolibrary.org AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE NAVIGATOR Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment only, a trained Navigator provided by the Westchester County Department of Health will be available to help with choosing and signing up for health insurance under the A ordable Care Act and the NYS of Health Marketplace. Please call to make an appointment at 914-336-6935. COMMUNITY CRAFTING CIRCLE Sunday, March 26, at 2 p.m. An in-person program led by Karen Frazer, a passionate crafter with retail experience. Adult artists of all skill levels are invited to have fun on a Sunday afternoon painting, weaving, stitching, knitting, beading, glueing--you name it- -with other crafters. Together you could make a masterpiece! ere is no fee and materials will be supplied. To be held in the conference room on the second oor. Lasdon Park and Arboretum 2610 Amawalk Road, Katonah AMAZING BUTTERFLIES EXHIBIT rough May 7 Amazing Butter ies invites you to shrink down into the undergrowth to become one of the most extraordinary creatures on TRACKS FROM PAGE 4 SEE TRACKS PAGE 7 Transforming Ordinary To Extraordinary AL TISO p: (914)729-4485 e: [email protected] SCAPESBYAL.COM LANDSCAPE DESIGN • PLANTING • IRRIGATION MASONRY • LANDSCAPE LIGHTING FREE DIGITAL DESIGN with Consultation. SCHEDULE TODAY! Scan me for more info! YOUR LOCAL PAINTING COMPANY! RPC Painting & Contracting is a full-service painting and contracting company that has been servicing the area for over 26 years. We specialize in interior and exterior painting for residential and commercial customers based in Westchester County, NY. We also do basic maintenance and repairs. Our team is fully licensed and insured, so you can be sure that your home will be taken care of by highly skilled professionals who know what they’re doing. Contact Rick Cook TODAY! 914-486-8905 [email protected] rpcpaintingandcontracting.com FREE ESTIMATES!
THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 7 MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER A Mount Kisco man was arrested and charged with sexual abuse in the first degree, a Class D felony. Mateo Arteaga, the 38-year-old defendant, surrendered himself at Yorktown Police Headquarters on Dec. 6 following the investigation of an alleged incident which took place in September. According to police, the Yorktown Police Department received a report on Sept. 13 from the Westchester County Police Department of a possible sexual abuse in Yorktown. Detective Beyrer was assigned to the investigation. Following the investigation, it is alleged that Arteaga did sexually abuse the victim on Sept. 12. Arteaga was placed under arrest on Dec. 6, after surrendering himself, by Detective Beyrer and Police Officer Guillermo Lizarzaburu. After being processed on the charge of sexual abuse in the first degree, Arteaga was arraigned by the Honorable Gary Raniolo. He was remanded to the Westchester County Jail and subsequently turned over to the Westchester County Department of Corrections, according to police. A Temporary Order of Protection was issued on behalf of the victim. Mount Kisco man charged with sexual abuse The Bedford Democratic Committee (BDC) has announced its endorsement of candidates for the 2023 campaign season. Currently all incumbents, each candidate is experienced, tested, and an active member of the Bedford community. Seeking reelection are Supervisor Ellen Calves of Katonah, Council members Bobbi Bittker of Bedford Hills and Tom Catoliato of Bedford Village, as well as Westchester District 2 County Legislator Erika Pierce of Katonah, all of whom were unanimously endorsed. “These officials, who were duly elected by a majority of voters across Bedford, have served the community well by developing and enacting policies and legislation to improve the environment, manage a responsible budget, enhance public infrastructure and boost public safety, all while holding the line on taxes, clearly deserve to be re-elected,” says BDC Chair Mark Dembo. “Their proven track record and commitment to delivering innovative and effective nonpartisan local government results will keep Bedford moving forward together”. “The Bedford Democratic Committee is excited to support these candidates in their important work in our town and county government,” Dembo adds. “Their accomplishments, goals and community dedication are congruent with the values of constituents across each of Bedford’s hamlets, and the BDC will work diligently to help them get reelected in November”. To appear on the ballot, candidates need to collect signatures from registered Democrats in the town of Bedford. The collection period runs through April 2. Article courtesy of Bedford Democratic Committee. Bedford Democrats endorse candidates for Town Board and County Legislature Bittker, Calves, Catoliato and Pierce earn unanimous support earth. Dates, times and tickets are now available by visiting www.lasdonpark.org. Embark on a challenging journey teeming with friends and foes revealing the unusual relationship between caterpillars, butterflies and their natural surroundings. Adventure through the leaves, learn how to move like caterpillar, discover an ant that reaps the reward of an unusual friendship, then transform into a butterfly and take flight! Together, families will explore this interactive experience and learn the surprising challenges butterflies face every day. Become a caterpillar and find your way through a secret, wild world. As you navigate the terrain filled with challenges around every twist and turn, take on puzzles, games and exciting interactivities. The brave can even take to the air and soar down the butterfly zip slide. RideConnect Rideconnect has volunteers ready to help drive seniors to their medical appointments and assist with shopping. Services are free to seniors residing in Westchester and southern Putnam Counties. To request assistance call (914) 242-7433. Anyone wishing to volunteer for Rideconnect may do so by emailing Marietta Manoni at [email protected] TRACKS FROM PAGE 6 GOING ON NOW THRU MARCH 12TH SAVE AN EXTRA 10% OFF OUR WINTER SALE PRICES ON ALL FABRIC AND LEATHER SEATING: SOFAS, SECTIONALS, LOVESEATS, CHAIRS, RECLINERS AND MORE! PLUS GET AN EXTRA 5% ON ADDITIONAL PIECES* SAVINGS UP TO 50% OFF HOME FURNISHINGS • MATTRESSES • KIDS’ ROOMS • HOME OFFICE • LIGHTING • WINDOW TREATMENTS • RUGS • ART • DECOR VISIT OUR SPACIOUS BEDFORD HILLS SHOWROOM: 230 RTE 117 BYPASS ROAD COUNTRYWILLOW.COM *Offer not valid on purchase of gift cards, previously purchased merchandise, clearance items, balances, special discounts, delivery charges, furniture protection, Ekornes, Hunter Douglas and American Leather. COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN SERVICES
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SPRING SPECIAL! $100 OFF IN-GROUND TANK REMOVAL With this coupon only. Coupon must be presented at the time of the estimate. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 4/10/23 FREE ESTIMATES WE WILL MATCH OUR COMPETITOR’S ADVERTISED OFFER! We are the name you trust for environmental needs Since 1998 DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH AN AGING OIL TANK! be loving and to have fun with life. And my brother has demonstrated how far determination, intelligence and self-respect can get you. All three of them have and continue to in uence me in incredibly positive ways. I could not be more grateful. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOX LANE MEMORY? Alexxandra: To some, my favorite memory may seem insigni cant. To me, it is representative of a much larger picture. About a month ago, in my AP Spanish class for native speakers, we presented di erent types of dances from Spanishspeaking countries. As extra credit, we were encouraged to demonstrate our dances to the class. When my turn came, I asked a classmate to dance with me. However, I ended up dancing with ve di erent classmates. is class means so much to me because it allows me to feel connected to Spanish-speaking cultures that I am rarely exposed to. e day when we danced is simply an example of that connection. Jacob: I loved going to last year’s Science Olympiad State Tournament in Syracuse. e State Tournament had been canceled in 2020 and was held virtually in 2021 due to Covid, so this was my rst year attending States in-person. It was an incredible opportunity to spend time with my friends while simultaneously experiencing so many amazing science events. I had been waiting for that trip to Syracuse for three years — and it was worth the wait! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? Jacob: I’m extremely excited to attend college, as I love learning for the sake of learning and am looking forward to selecting courses and extracurricular pursuits that cater to my areas of interest. I intend to major in chemistry and pursue a minor in French language. After college, I hope to pursue academia and ultimately become a research professor in chemistry, but I could quite possibly end up pursuing something entirely di erent. ere is so much to explore. Alexxandra: I am attending Duke University, and I could not be more excited, as I think this school is the best possible t for me. I am psyched to go tenting with friends in order to attend the famous Duke v. UNC basketball game. I am also looking forward to taking classes in neuroscience and psychology that deeply interest me and give me with a greater understanding of those around me. Article courtesy of Bedford Central School District. VAL/SAL FROM PAGE 1 e Harvey School has announced the names of the area students who have earned academic honors for the rst marking period of the winter term. e following have been awarded a Cavalier Scholar certi cate (GPA of 4.0 or higher) or have earned places on the Head’s List (3.7 or higher) or Honor Roll (at least 3.3): Harrison Acrish, 12, Bedford Corners, Cavalier Scholar; Lily Acrish, 10, Bedford Corners, Head’s List; Logan Alexander, 10, Goldens Bridge, Cavalier Scholar; Dylan Bazaar, 11, Katonah, Honor Roll; Emily Bigman, 7, Katonah, Head’s List; Ryan Byrne, 10, Goldens Bridge, Cavalier Scholar; Amity Doyle, 7, Katonah, Head’s List; Lucinda Durkin, 12, Katonah, Honor Roll; Jordan Falk, 9, Bedford, Cavalier Scholar; Sophie Frankel, 7, Katonah, Head’s List; Emma Galgano, 12, South Salem, Cavalier Scholar; Aidan Garcia, 8, Mount Kisco, Honor Roll; Lilah Gro , 7, Waccabuc, Head’s List; Brandon Hall, 9, Goldens Bridge, Head’s List; Iliana Hellinger, 11, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Perri Hines, grade 8, Pound Ridge, Head’s List; Anna Hodgson, 10, Mount Kisco, Honor Roll; Juliet Jaques, 12, Goldens Bridge, Honor Roll; Jonah Kass, 10, Katonah, Honor Roll; Sophia Kimmel, 8, Bedford, Head’s List; Eli Klagsbrun, 9, Katonah, Head’s List; eo Klagsbrun, 11, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Ari Klein, 12, Bedford Corners, Cavalier Scholar; Emiliana Knauer, 12, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Harry Kreeger, 9, Katonah, Honor Roll; Aoife Lazzaro, 6, Katonah, Head’s List; Maeve Lazzaro, 9, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar: Kevin (Xiang) Li, 12, Goldens Bridge, Honor Roll; Phoebe Lichtman, 11, South Salem, Head’s List; Senna Lieber, 6, Goldens Bridge, Head’s List; Luca Marano, 10, Bedford, Honor Roll; Shelby McCaine, 11, Katonah, Honor Roll; Stephen Millette, 8, Mount Kisco, Head’s List; Felix Oliver, 11, Bedford Hills, Head’s List; Jacob Pinney, 8, Katonah, Head’s List; Alexander Rynott, 12, Mount Kisco, Head’s List; Daniela Rynott, 10, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Chloe Siddons, 9, Bedford, Honor Roll; Emily Sorio, 10, Mount Kisco, Honor Roll; Michael Sorio, 11, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Peter Sorio, 11, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Eve Tambor, 10, South Salem, Honor Roll; Charles Treseler, 12, Bedford, Head’s List; Tinsley Valenti, 10, Bedford, Honor Roll; Riannah Wallach, 11, Pound Ridge, Head’s List; Spencer Whitman, grade 12, Katonah, Honor Roll. Article provided by e Harvey School. Area students earn academic honors at The Harvey School
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 9 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER If growing up in North Salem gave her roots, then coming from a family of aviators certainly gave Lt. Peggy Dente wings. e pilot just made history by being part of the very rst all-female U.S. Navy yover at the Super Bowl. e event commemorated 50 years of women ying in the U.S. Navy. Of the eight who started ight school in 1973 in Pensacola, Florida, six went on to earn their “wings of gold.” Now, 15 percent of Navy aviators are women. rilled to be able to celebrate both the history and the legacy of those trailblazers, Dente told Halston Media that she thinks the yover will inspire others to take to the skies. “I hope that it was powerful to see a group of women doing something like this. Maybe some little girl will see it and think ‘Oh, maybe I could do that!’” she said. Dente graduated from North Salem High School in 2009, got a ROTC Navy scholarship, and went to the University of Southern California, where she studied international relations and French. e two subjects weren’t speci cally related to aviation, but they “informed” her worldview as a member of the military. Dente is the daughter of North Salem residents Valeria and Gregory Bobbin and the little sister of W. Buck Bobbin, who works for the state labor department. She is married to U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Erik Dente. e couple has a two-year-old son, Nolan. ey’ve taken him on commercial ights, but haven’t yet introduced the tot to small aircraft. However, you know that’s inevitable; every time he spies one, Nolan points and gleefully announces: “Plane!” Dente comes by her love of Westchester native makes history Taking flight with Super Bowl flyover Lt. Lyndsey Evans and Lt. Margaret Dente, both Naval Aviators attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, exit an EA-18G Growler after arriving at Luke Air Force Base. PHOTO COURTESY OF PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS ARON MONTANO SEE PILOT PAGE 26 she studied international relations and French. e two subjects weren’t speci cally related to aviation, but they “informed” her worldview as a member of the military. Dente is the daughter of North Salem residents Valeria and Gregory Bobbin and the little sister of W. Buck Bobbin, who works for the state labor department. She is married to U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Erik Dente. e couple has a two-year-old son, Nolan. ey’ve taken him on commercial ights, but haven’t yet introduced the tot to small aircraft. However, you know that’s inevitable; every time he spies one, Nolan points and gleefully announcDente comes by her love of Westchester native makes history Taking flight with Super Bowl flyover Lt. Lyndsey Evans and Lt. Margaret Dente, both Naval Aviators attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, exit an EA-18G Growler after arriving at Luke Air Force Base. PHOTO COURTESY OF PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS ARON MONTANO PILOT PAGE 26 AUTO BODY COLLISION SPECIALIST | EXPERT FRAME STRAIGHTENING | PROFESSIONAL COLOR MATCHING | ALL WORK GUARANTEED 24 Hour Lock-Out Service & Towing Available Phone: 845-628-0069 | Phone/Text Now: 914-727-9497 | Fax: 845-628-3745 | 381 US 6 • Mahopac NY | proshopautobodynorth.com PROSHOPAUTOBODYNORTH AND WHEN THEY DO, PRO SHOP NORTH HAS GOT YOU COVERED ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. Car accidents happen when you least expect them, and they can cause significant damage to your vehicle. Driving your vehicle after can be incredibly dangerous, especially if there is damage to the frame. Pro Shop North can assess the damage for you and work with your insurance company to complete any necessary repairs. Customers always come first at Pro Shop North, so we’ll help you make the most of your insurance claim and get you back on the road safely. AUTO BODY COLLISION SPECIALIST | EXPERT FRAME STRAIGHTENING | PROFESSIONAL COLOR MATCHING | ALL WORK GUARANTEED 24 Hour Lock-Out Service & Towing Available Phone: 845-628-0069 | Phone/Text Now: 914-727-9497 | Fax: 845-628-3745 | 381 Route 6 • Mahopac NY | proshopautobodynorth.com PROSHOPAUTOBODYNORTH
PAGE 10 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 Brett Freeman, Publisher Tom Walogorsky , Editor Tabitha Pearson Marshall, Creative Director Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected]. MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 Many of our readers, including our valued clients, are small business owners. There are many perks to being a small business owner, not the least of which is the opportunity to work around the clock for nobody but yourself. But in addition to a business owner’s profession, he or she is also mandated by federal and state law to act as a tax collector on behalf of the government. The business owner performs this function by withholding income from their employees in order to directly pay their FICA (Medicare and Social Security) and other federal and state taxes owed to the government. The business owner’s mandated role as tax collector is intentional. I’m sure you’ve all heard the law firm commercials that promote their ability to help taxpayers settle with the IRS. By forcing businesses to function as an intermediary between the IRS and taxpayers, it increases the probability that the government will collect all that is owed to them. It’s the same reason FHA-backed mortgage loans also collect property taxes in addition to the monthly mortgage payment. Personally, I like to pay my property taxes through my mortgage lender. It forces a certain financial discipline and also enables me to not even think about it. In addition to withholding an employee’s tax contributions, employers also match an employee’s Medicare and Social Security payments and employers must also pay into state and federal unemployment insurance funds through payroll. Outside of payroll, employers must also pay disability and workers compensation insurance premiums for each employee. However, it should also be noted that employees (not employers) are actually on the hook in New York for paying into the Family Leave fund. With all these extra expenses, this is why we have read in the news about battles between the executives running Uber and DoorDash vs. various states that have aimed to reclassify the freelance drivers as employees. These “gig economy” companies realize it is much cheaper for a company to limit its payroll and classify as many people as possible as independent contractors. In a scenario where someone is an independent contractor, he or she must also pay the employer’s contributions to their own wages, but that independent contractor can also take all sorts of business deductions not offered to employees. So, the government has a huge incentive to limit the number of independent contractors. But a business owner’s role in tax collection isn’t entirely about performing a function and maximizing the government’s collections. Uncle Sam also wants employees to feel that they aren’t “really” making what they are making. It’s the same reason we never see what we’re “really” paying at the pump. Not all of that money is going to the gas companies, but nobody is cursing the government during that transaction. Additionally, employer-paid health insurance is not taxed as wages and an employee’s contribution is made with beforetax dollars. This is performed through a payroll company, and done in a manner that ensures an employee never sees those dollars. But if an employee buys health insurance on his or her own, it is with after-tax dollars. So, the government gives a better deal to employees when they are on their employer’s health insurance plan. And if the employer contributes a percentage to the plan, it conceals the tremendous cost of private insurance. Of course, a business owner also sees a benefit from this health insurance arrangement. It’s a way to compensate an employee without paying their FICA match and other obligations on that portion of the employee’s earnings. Regardless, this bifurcation emphasizes a hierarchy between employer and employee and divides the electorate into “us” vs “them,” which is never a healthy attitude in a democracy. Having been on both sides of the relationship, I know that when I was an employee, I just wanted to know what I’d “really” be netting in my paycheck (as opposed to the total amount I was being paid). Now as an employer myself, I don’t mind fulfilling all of my legal and financial obligations. In fact, as a patriotic citizen, I’m happy to do it. But I do mind the fact that it’s so complicated that I need to pay an outside vendor to figure it all out for me. As the owner of Halston Media, I pay a lot of money to ADP, a Fortune 500 company, to figure out all this complicated minutia. It would be nearly impossible for me to fulfill all my legal obligations as an employer without a vendor like ADP to keep me compliant. And I do mind that the amounts I pay as a business owner are purposely hidden by the government, designed in a way that minimizes the employee from ever feeling as if they earned that money in the first place. There is a reason an employer’s portion of payroll taxes are not reported on a pay-stub or the W-2 tax form. Employees only see their own contributions, but never learn the total amount being paid to the government in their name (and therefore, the total amount they are being compensated). Personally, I wish that I could pay the total amount I owe directly to the employees. In that scenario, my obligations would remain the same and the employees would earn the same, but they’d see what they are “really” making. It would also increase transparency and go a long way towards making us all feel like we’re part of the same team. Government wants ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER’S MEMO
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PAGE 12 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES OPINION MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 FREEMAN FROM PAGE 11 When most of us were doing our holiday shopping in late December, our state senators and assembly people here in New York were scurrying back to Albany for a special session to do some gift giving of their own. Surprisingly, the gifts they were giving were to themselves in the form of a 29% pay increase, giving our state the highest paid legislature in the country by a long shot, at a salary of $142,000. eir new salary is twice the average household income of their constituents, for what was originally intended to be a part-time job. eir generosity with taxpayer money did not extend to their sta , however, a source of some contention for their employees. You are in good company if you nd the move tone deaf given the current economic uncertainties and other challenges in front of them. ey are in session for 60 days a year. at’s good, since as Mark Twain said, “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” At their new salary, they are making $2,400 per day while in session. Not bad. In fairness, they have signi cant obligations when they are not in session, but the raise is still over the top. In what other world do the employees get to vote themselves a pay increase? Interestingly, the state constitution prohibits the legislature from voting themselves a raise. eir lame-duck session presents a loophole however, as they technically aren’t voting themselves a raise since the raise is for the next legislature, which is sworn in after the new year. e governor could have vetoed the raise, but instead signed it into law. I followed the election pretty closely and didn’t hear any candidates talking about the raise they were going to vote themselves as the closing act of the legislative year. If you aren’t careful, you could become cynical about politics. e salary vote was taken two years before the next election, during a time when the public’s attention is elsewhere. ey hope that voters will forget about it before they head to the polls in 2024. ey provided a g leaf by placing limits on outside income as part of the salary bill, pitching it as an anti-corruption move. at turns the notion of a “citizen legislator” on its head. Somebody should be able to earn outside income and serve as a part-time legislator. We want people to serve from all professions and not have to leave their jobs to serve. Instead, this makes the job a full-time, lifetime profession putting our elected o cials further out of touch with those they are meant to serve. Reform is needed. Raises for legislators should be enacted by referendum or at the very least not done in a special session after election day. Our county legislators used a lame duck move a couple of years ago to give themselves a 50% bump. If raises are justi ed, they should be explained to voters prior to heading to the polls and passed in a regular legislative session. Another thought, make the raise e ective for the next person to serve and not the legislator taking the vote – paying it forward to the legislator’s successor. at would tamp down wage in ation. Lame duck largesse I already have lots of customers, but really want them to buy more products at a time, or make purchases more often? Halston Media: “ en you might include a coupon that incentivizes purchasing a larger amount of your inventory at one time. Or maybe your coupon creates a sense of urgency. Dissatis ed Client: “What if I want to focus on brand building instead of using coupons?” Halston Media: “ at’s also a great idea. To build your brand, you need repetition in your advertising. You also need a simple message. Your current ad has way too many words in it. A reader’s eye doesn’t know what to look at. You have just a few seconds to get the reader’s attention.” Dissatis ed Client: “You mean I shouldn’t list every product and service and discount and schedule and the history of our business?” Halston Media: “ ink of an ad for a diamond at De Beers. e ad is simple: a picture of a beautiful diamond with the slogan, ‘A Diamond is Forever.’ Or think of a juicy Big Mac with the slogan, ‘I’m Lovin’ It!’ You can extend that simple concept to any local brand.” TWO MONTHS LATER SATISFIED CLIENT: “ ank you Halston Media. You gave great advice. Your team of marketers and designers really did a great job with my ad. e coupon worked GREAT! It really caught everyone’s attention. I have a lot of new regular customers now. And when we did that branding ad for the following month, it really got the community talking about my business.” Halston Media: “We’re so glad you are satis ed. So, I guess advertising in our newspapers really does work?!” SATISFIED CLIENT: “Halston Media newspapers clearly have a huge reach into the community! It really was all about having the right message in my ad.” I hope this hypothetical conversation was helpful. If you want our team to help you with your marketing, call me at 845-208-8151, email [email protected] or visit halstonmedia.com. The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 OPINION THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 13 2020 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are the registered service marks owned by the Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Whether you are selling or buying a home, I am experienced and knowledgeable of today’s ever changing market. You not only want, but need a qualified professional by your side. Contact me today for your free comprehensive market analysis and all your questions answered. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is pleased to honor Your exceptional performance exemplifies the best and brightest in real estate today. Congratulations on ranking among the top sales professionals in the network. STERLING SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL 2022 Ag en t Name Co l d w el l Ba n ker Br a n c h / DBA Marcie Nolletti Coldwell Banker Realty Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is pleased to honor Your exceptional performance exemplifies the best and brightest in real estate today. Congratulations on ranking among the top sales professionals in the network. STERLING SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL 2022 Ag en t Name Co l d w el l Ba n ker Br a n c h / DBA Marcie Nolletti Coldwell Banker Realty Marcie Nolletti Licensed Real Estate Salesperson NY & CT 338 Route 202 | Somers, NY 10589 Cell: (914) 424-5545 [email protected] marcienolletti.com Buying and Selling— I can make it happen! I am at the stage of my life where my Social Security checks are an indispensable and vital part of my monthly income. So, it’s not surprising that recent challenges to Social Security’s continued existence caught my attention. To assess the situation, I turned to an old friend, who happens to be the leading expert on all things related to Social Security, William Arnone. Can you tell our readers what your expertise is with regards to the Social Security program? Arnone: As a founding board member of the National Academy of Social Insurance in 1986, I have devoted my career to researching and promoting public understanding of Social Security and other social insurance programs, like Medicare and unemployment insurance. I have written extensively on Social Security over the years and have conducted presentations on its importance at conferences and other events nationwide. What was the philosophical basis of the program when it was rst established by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt? Arnone: e philosophy underlying its establishment by FDR in 1935 was the urgent need to protect older Americans from the risks of poverty. e Great Depression dramatically highlighted the need for such a program, as millions of older people lost their life savings and were plunged into destitution. Few had other sources of retirement income, such as pensions. e U.S. Social Security program was based on Germany’s social insurance approach. Its essential characteristic was that bene ts would be earned based on compulsory employee and employer contributions while individuals were working. Eligibility for bene ts was based on earnings from work, and not subject to means tests. is di erentiates social insurance from social assistance. Revenues come from dedicated payments (called Federal Insurance Contributions Act - or FICA, often referred to as “payroll taxes”) withheld from employee wages and matched by employers. Has the program been successful? Arnone: Yes. For the past nearly 90 years, Social Security has been the most cost-e ective and popular government program in the nation’s history. It has dramatically reduced poverty among the elderly and has provided a solid foundation on which people build retirement security through other sources of income, such as their own savings. It has also been expanded to provide critical protection for spouses, survivors, dependents and people with disabilities. While its focus has been on providing a measure of economic security to older people, over three million children also receive bene ts today. It has proven to be a “family protection” program for people of all ages. is is not to say that the program does not need to be enhanced, especially for subgroups of our population who are still facing high levels of economic insecurity. A recent report of the National Academy of Social Insurance, “Economic Security for the 21st Century,” includes a portfolio of Social Security policy options to meet the needs of those who are falling through the cracks. See https://www. nasi.org/research/economic-security/thefour-pillars-of-economic-security/ Recently Florida Sen. Rick Scott released a proposal to “sunset” all federal programs every ve years. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin went even further, suggesting that federal programs should all be deemed “discretionary” and debated and voted on every year. Please clarify for us – if their recommendations are implemented, how would it a ect programs like Social Security and Medicare? Arnone: Social Security and Medicare are often referred to as “entitlements.” is is a technical federal budgetary term, which means that, unlike “discretionary” programs, their funding is based on appropriations that are not subject to annual Congressional action. As “earned rights,” they are protected by law and may not be reduced, unless Congress passes legislation to speci cally make changes in bene ts and their nancing. Both programs also have trust funds that contain reserves to help nance bene ts. Subjecting Social Security and Medicare to annual reconsideration or “sunset” would lump them with all other federally funded programs and subject them to the uncertainties of the annual Congressional appropriations process. It would also pit them against other programs that also provide needed bene ts to millions of Americans, like Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka “food stamps”). Is Social Security in trouble? JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE SEEMARTORANOPAGE 14
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WE BUY: GOLD • STERLING SILVER • JEWELRY • COINS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • CLOCKS • COLLECTIBLES • ANTIQUES • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller (Westchester/Putnam) Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! What do you say to critics like Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who say these “entitlement programs” are socialism and should eventually be scrapped? Arnone: From the inception of Social Security, ideological opponents have attacked it as “socialism.” Similarly, when Medicare was launched in 1965, opponents called it “socialized medicine.” To the contrary, social insurance is an alternative to a socialist approach to economic security, which would involve government ownership of the means of production. Social insurance complements free markets by lling gaps for which private businesses are either unable or unwilling to provide solutions. As our baby boomer generation ages, there are legitimate concerns about the nancial viability of Social Security. What can be done to keep the program solvent? Arnone: e aging of the U.S. population, and that of most other countries, does provide signi cant funding challenges to programs like Social Security. Much of this is due to the shrinking ratio of workers to bene ciaries. Currently, funding for Social Security is adequate to pay for all legislated bene ts until 2035. If Congress does not act before then, Social Security bene ts for all would need to be reduced by about 20 percent. e longer we wait to develop a long-term bipartisan solution, the more di cult it will be. e key to a politically viable solution will be a combination of additional revenues (e.g., increasing the amount of wages subject to FICA, which is now capped at $160,200) and bene t adjustments (e.g., changes in the bene t formula and the full retirement age). You worked during your college years in the New York Senate o ce of Robert F. Kennedy. If he were alive today, how do you think he would view the present situation? Arnone: No one who knew Robert F. Kennedy is able to project how he might view today’s issues. Although I always ask myself this question as part of my role and responsibilities as the non-partisan Academy’s chief executive, I remain inspired and driven by his compassion for those who are su ering the most. Programs like Social Security are vital lifelines to millions and reduce economic insecurity and anxiety. When I worked for him in 1967-68, his positions on Social Security were quite progressive, as he called for signi cant increases in bene ts. Do you have any nal thoughts that you would like to share with our readers? Arnone: Every generation is called upon to rea rm its political support for programs like Social Security. We boomers, who did not trust anyone or anything over age 30, came to trust this vital program. My biggest concern today is how many millennials and Generation Z express skepticism that Social Security will “be there for me.” My response is that, unless they show their strong support for it, then the program faces the risk of its substantial reduction by those who have always opposed it on ideological grounds. ank you so much for your time! Arnone: You’re very welcome. Please invite your readers to visit the Academy’s website at www.nasi.org and sign up to receive information about our activities. MARTORANO FROM PAGE 13 People are always losing things: keys, eyeglasses, gloves, umbrellas. Since the earliest days of horse and carriage rides, people have been leaving behind their bonnets and glass slippers. In our current age of ride-share services, Uber maintains a system for returning missing property as well as compiling an annual lost-and-found report. Uber’s 2022 Lost-and-Found index lists cellphones, wallets and keys as the most often leftbehind items. e ride-share company also tracks the most forgetful cities with Austin, Texas in rst place followed by Charlotte, NC and Houston, Texas. ose riders must have a lot on their minds. I enjoyed reading about the “most unique lost items” on Uber’s annual list, including dentures, a bucket of slime, a brown tortoise and an Employee-of-the-Month plaque. Surprisingly, riders also left behind urns containing the ashes of loved ones. In my lost and found research, I learned that the hotel chain, Travelodge, has compiled a list of the most unusual items left behind in 2022. e hotel chain, which operates 580 locations throughout Britain, listed a pair of puppies named JLo and Ben left behind at its Bath Central location. A Liverpool Football Club soccer-themed wedding cake was left at the Liverpool Central Strand Travelodge where the wedding’s best man had been staying. Hotel guests left numerous smart watches in their Travelodge rooms in 2022, as well as keys to a powerboat, an oil painting of Queen Elizabeth II, a pair of Segway scooters and a four-foot tall gingerbread man. I have my own new lost-andfound story to share. In my Dec. 29, 2022 column titled “Reach Out,” I encouraged readers to reach out to one person from the past as a good way Lost and found KIM KOVACH READING, WRITING & CHOCOLATE SEEKOVACHPAGE 15
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 OPINION THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 15 to start the New Year. I heeded my own advice and decided to try to locate my good friend, Alexandra, who had lived up the street when we were teens. Alex and her family had moved to Greece when we were in 10th grade. We had corresponded faithfully for years, writing our newsy letters about school, family and friends on thin blue airmail stationery. Alexandra attended college in the U.S. and has lived back and forth in Illinois, Brooklyn and Athens, Greece over the years. e last time I saw Alexandra, she visited me in 1988 after I had moved to Cross River. She returned to Greece to attend medical school and we lost touch. I could not nd any trace of Alexandra online. But I did nd an address for her brother who is a medical doctor with an o ce in midtown Manhattan. I wrote a one page note inside of a Christmas card and mailed it to Dr. A, asking if he could put me in contact with his sister. On Jan. 3, I received a lovely email from Dr. A saying that he had forgotten to bring my card and contact information with him when he ew to Greece for the holidays. He said that when he told Alexandra that I was looking for her, she was “ecstatic!” e next day, I received an email from Alexandra! She is a dermatologist living and working in Athens, Greece. Reading Alex’s email letter written in her distinctive “voice” reminds me of our conversations and airmail letters from years ago! Once a week, we write emails back and forth talking about present day life and work, recalling events and people from the past and enjoying that special bond that can only be found in friends from long ago. Kim Kovach is thrilled to have found her good friend after 35 years apart! Visit her at kimkovachwrites.com. KOVACH FROM PAGE 14 Sitting in the stillness and resting in the quiet you remember her. Maybe it’s in the old familiar song in the car or running into an old friend at reminds you She’s still there. at child who dared to dream, who believed anything is possible, who wasn’t afraid to try and fail, and who believed success would come… the child not afraid to dance in the rain, jump in the puddle or laugh until it hurt, she’s still there. Remember, you are still her. Choose to embrace the unpredictable beauty of life with joy and let her out a little more often. Kim Stoll empowers women to nd joy in every day and build a life they love through positive habits in mindset, tness and smart nutrition. Virtual coaching available. Coachkimstoll@gmail. com Let out your inner child KIM STOLL GUEST CORNER Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Mr. President, Happy birthday to you. I have to admit, it sounded better when Marilyn Monroe sang it, and that’s why I wrote it instead. As a nation, we used to celebrate Washington’s birthday, and some states added Lincoln’s birthday, and now we’ve opened it up to anyone elected to the o ce, and everyone gets to have their cake and eat it too, even if it isn’t really their birthday. Some states do not o cially observe President’s Day, probably because some sourpuss in the state legislature was angry that HE didn’t get the day o . is year I didn’t observe President’s Day, but only because I left my glasses in the other room. And now that it’s called “President’s Day,” it means any president is eligible to be honored, no matter what damn fool things they did. I’m willing to celebrate some presidents, but not the loser presidents. Certainly not one that lost TWO senate races. Oops, Lincoln did that. De nitely not a president who as a general lost more battles than he won. Oops, Washington did that. I refuse to extol a president who lost re-election. Oops, John Adams did that. I guess it’s more complicated than I thought. It made me wonder what makes an e ective president. Being able to assemble and lead a competent team would be one desirable trait. erefore I nominate a ticket of Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone, as long as they don’t raise ticket prices. Notably, Lincoln appointed a cabinet of political rivals who were known to have opinions contrary to his own. I guess it was the precursor to “ e Real Housewives of the Potomac,” only realer. Many presidents gained empathy by overcoming adversity. Franklin Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio in his 30s, and responded by founding an institute to help people with similar a ictions. e deaths of eodore Roosevelt’s wife and mother on the same day shaped his immersion into the cause of conservation that became part of his legacy. After Lyndon Johnson su ered a near-fatal heart attack, he devoted himself to the legislation of equal rights. I can understand this concept, because I overcame the cancellation of “Bosom Buddies” by trying to come up with a cure for eisoptrophobia, and I am still re ecting on that. A good president should have communications skills that move the constituency. A few years ago, I heard a speech and it made me want to move, but that’s not what I’m talking about. Sometimes just one memorable phrase sums up a president’s style, such as Obama’s “Yes we can,” or Eisenhower’s “Pessimism never won any battle,” or Donald Trump’s “Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.” It’s better if I don’t mention what he said right after that. How do the great presidents make crucial decisions that stand the test of time? Do they rely on the courage of their convictions? Do they enlist the opinions of their trusted advisors? I don’t know, I can’t decide. But in the heat of battle there usually isn’t time to wait around for revisionist history. Is their foreign policy rooted in history, science and learning from past mistakes? Or does it sometimes seem reminiscent of plot lines from “ e Avengers?” Is it consistent with itself and American core values or does it seem prone to mood swings like it’s been up all night drinking espresso and cheap wine at the same time? Finally, a president should be able to set a good example. I’ve compiled a list of things a president should not do, in order to maintain the respect of the people: A president should not use all caps, or more than one exclamation point, and I cannot stress this ENOUGH!!! A president should not watch “ e Bachelorette.” A president should not use Cheez Whiz outside the con nes of the White House. A president should not be seen patronizing any business with a name that uses a “Z” instead of an “S,” a “K” instead of a “C” or numbers instead of letters. A president should not use the word “amazeballs.” A president should not sing “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” at karaoke. I stopped compiling the list when I realized that it was a list of everything I would do, only as a joke I’m hoping. I have to destroy this document now because it’s classi ed. It’s classi ed as “GOOFY,” but technically that’s still a classi cation. Join Rick and No Options for some rock & roll at Back Nine in Cortlandt, Saturday, March 25, at 9 p.m.! Join Rick and Trillium for some love and harmony at Argonne Rose at Mohegan Lake, Friday, March 31, at 8 p.m.! Say hello at: [email protected] Happy birthday, Mr. President RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 “We couldn’t imagine our business without it. Halston’s people are fabulous to work with; our advertising in Halston papers has given us considerable name recognition for our office and our agents and has driven traffic to our web site.” ~Zef Camaj Branch Manager / Houlihan Lawrence Yorktown
PAGE 16 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIME BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER A piano recital is a time for music students to show off what they’ve learned. This time, the instrument itself also invited admiration. Four talented teens and three grown-ups performed at last month’s debut of a piece of Mount Kisco’s past that had recently been given to the local historical society. The Malcolm Love piano and an oil portrait of its original owner, Col. Robert Woodward Leonard, now reside at the historical society archives. The former was donated by Suzanne Phillips of Plano, Texas, who had acquired it from Polly Holyoke, a Leonard family descendant. Holyoke then gave the society the painting. Designed by the Wegman Piano Co., it was very popular with wealthy families in the 1890s. The Leonards were a prominent local family that had bequeathed 96 acres to the village in 1941. That land became the Leonard Park of today. In order to thank the folks who’d donated money to ship the piano and the painting back home, the historical society on Friday, Feb. 10, hosted what it called “a wonderful night of music, champagne, and laughter” at its headquarters on Green Street. Those gathered even got to sing “Happy Birthday” to volunteer Pat Rosafort, who had turned 90 years young that day. After a little TLC, the venerable piano played like a charm. The performers and what they played were: · Dr. Sarah Matthews, band director at Fox Lane High School. Albeniz’s Granada from Suite Espanola. · Society member Barbara Grandberg. Louiguy’s Le Vie En Rose and Bolcom’s Graceful Ghost Rag. · Rachael Agnello. Bach’s Solfeggietto, Chopin’s Prelude, Op. 28 No. 4, and Rollin’s Valse Brillante. · Caleb Bain. Chopin’s Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 7, and Rachmaninoff ’s Elegie, Op. 3 No. 1. · Jonah Kim. Chopin’s Nocturne No. 9 in B major, Op. 32 No. 1 and Ginastera’s Danza de la Moza Donasa. · Daniel Agnello. Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons, Op. 37A No. 6. June: Barcarolle. · MKHS supporter Brian Liebman played a medley of songs to provide music to mingle by after the main recital was concluded. Tickling the ivories! Jonah Kim, Caleb Bain, Daniel Agnello, and Rachel Agnello PHOTOS
ES – MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 PAGE 17 Jane Pieragostini and Mayor Gina Picinich Shonan Noronha, Ralph Vigliotti, Jean Farber, John Rhodes, and Deputy Mayor Lisa Abzun Volunteer Pat Rosafort and Historical Society president Ralph Vigliotti S: CAROL REIF
PAGE 18 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES HEALTH & WELLNESS MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket This is real dental insurance — NOT just a discount plan You can get coverage before your next checkup CALL NOW! 1-877-690-2680 Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details. Product not available in all states. Acceptance is guaranteed for one insurance policy/certifi cate of this type. This specifi c offer is not available in CO: call 1-800-969-4781 for a similar offer. For complete details about this solicitation of insurance, please contact us. Certifi cate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6129-1118 FREE Information Kit 1-877-690-2680 Visit us online at www.dental50plus.com/seasonal BY GIOVANNA TARTARONE GUEST COLUMNIST Can unlocking the power of our heart-centered emotions help us transform our mindset, achieve our goals, and boost our wellbeing? According to research, our emotions play a significant role in shaping our perception and experiences of the world. They can affect our behavior, decisionmaking, and overall well-being. When it comes to achieving our goals, we often focus on the external factors like hard work, planning, and persistence. However, the internal factors of faith, love, and gratitude can also play a significant role in helping us achieve our goals. By harnessing these powerful emotions and incorporating them into our thoughts, feelings, and actions, we can create a more positive and successful mindset that can propel us towards our goals. Faith, the belief in something greater than oneself, can be a powerful motivator when it comes to achieving our goals. By having faith in ourselves, our abilities, and our dreams, we can overcome any obstacles that come our way. This means that we need to trust in our own capabilities and believe that we have what it takes to achieve our goals. It also means having faith that the universe or a higher power is working in our favor and that everything will work out for our highest good. To incorporate faith into our thoughts, feelings, and actions, we need to start by visualizing our goals as if they have already been achieved. This means imagining ourselves living our best life, achieving our dreams, and feeling happy, fulfilled, and grateful for what we have. By visualizing our goals, we are creating a positive and powerful mindset that helps us stay motivated and focused on what we want to achieve. Also, by asking for guidance and support from a higher power, we are acknowledging that we are not alone in our journey towards our goals. Love is another powerful emotion that can help us achieve our goals. By cultivating a sense of love and compassion for ourselves and others, we can create a more positive and supportive environment that encourages growth and success. This means showing ourselves and others kindness, empathy, and understanding, even in the face of challenges and setbacks. To incorporate love into our thoughts, feelings, and actions, we need to start by practicing self-love and self-care. This means treating ourselves with kindness and respect, taking care of our physical and emotional needs, and setting healthy boundaries with others. By practicing self-love, we are creating a strong foundation of self-confidence and self-worth that can help us achieve our goals. We can also cultivate love and compassion for others by practicing empathy and understanding. This means putting ourselves in other people’s shoes and trying to see things from their perspective. By showing kindness and compassion towards others, we are creating a more positive and supportive environment that encourages growth and success for everyone. Gratitude is the final emotion that can help us achieve our goals. By cultivating a sense of gratitude for what we have in our lives, we are creating a positive and abundant mindset that attracts more positivity and abundance into our lives. This means focusing on the blessings and opportunities that we have, rather than dwelling on the challenges and setbacks. To incorporate gratitude into our thoughts, feelings, and actions, we need to start by practicing gratitude daily. This means taking time each day to reflect on what we are grateful for, whether it’s our health, our relationships, our work, or our hobbies. By focusing on the positive aspects of our lives, we are creating a more positive and abundant mindset that attracts more positivity and abundance into our lives. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that participants who wrote daily gratitude letters were more likely to make progress toward their goals. We can also practice gratitude by expressing appreciation and thankfulness towards others. This means thanking people for their help, support, and encouragement along our journey towards our goals. By expressing gratitude towards others, we are creating a more positive and supportive environment that encourages growth and success for everyone. Finally, use your gratitude to fuel your motivation to achieve your goals, and remember to celebrate the progress you make along the way. In summary, mindset, faith, love, and gratitude are all powerful tools because they are rooted in positive energy that can transform our mindset and help develop the strength, determination, and motivation to propel us towards our goals. By adopting a positive attitude, having faith in yourself, practicing self-love, and expressing gratitude, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to celebrate small victories and prioritize your well-being. Giovanna Tartarone is an Energy Practitioner and Transformational Life Coach. She is the founder and owner of Rainbow Alternative Healing and Life Coaching at 120 Kisco Ave., Suite J, in Mt. Kisco. For more information, visit GiovannaTartarone.com, email [email protected] or call 914-879-9900. Faith, love and gratitude The keys to reaching our success
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 19 On a day-to-day basis, small business owners are faced with a myriad of complex issues running the gamut from the revenue, costs and expenses associated with running the business, employee issues and profitability. These issues often become magnified when the owner(s) of the business is faced with the reality of an illness and/or their mortality. This includes the issue of what will become of the business they poured their heart and soul into upon their demise. For starters, one of the most difficult issues is determining a realistic fair market value for the business, especially if the principal owner of the business becomes incapacitated or has passed away. In my experience, the business owner is generally not the best person to value their business. They either overvalue the business or believe the business’s value will be significantly diminished upon their death. Thus, having the business appraised by a certified appraiser is usually the best and most accurate choice. The value of the business is critical in determining the total value of one’s estate for estate tax purposes and is also an important factor with respect to the beneficiaries who will inherit the entire business and/or the owner’s interest in the business. It is not unusual for a business owner to have a child or two working in their business and also have children not working in their business. Thus, creating an estate plan that is fair to all involved will hinge upon an accurate valuation of the business. Furthermore, if the business has multiple owners and/or shareholders or partners (depending on the type of business), strong consideration should be given to having a shareholder’s agreement, partnership agreement and/or a buy-sell agreement in place, which delineates exactly what will happen to each owner’s interests upon their disability and/ or death. Not having an agreement that spells out the terms of any buyout or spells out a way of valuing the business can have dire consequences. The small business owners who would be happy with becoming a partner with the spouse and/or children of their disabled and/or deceased partner are few and far between. The type of entity created for the business will also play an important role for tax planning purposes. Is it a “C” corporation or have they elected “S” corporation status for tax purposes; or is it a Limited Liability Company or Partnership. An “S” corporation has special requirements that need to be met to maintain “S” corporation status. These requirements typically limit how and to whom the “S” corporation’s stock can be transferred. Additionally, only specific Trust entities can hold “S” corporation stock. Thus, if the business is an “S” corporation, whether or not to leave the “S” corporation stock outright to one’s beneficiaries or in trust will be an important issue to be addressed. An issue that is also not given significant consideration is who will be responsible for managing the business while the owner is disabled or upon the owner’s death. All too often, one’s spouse is named as the Executor of a Last Will and/or Trustee of a Trust that will own the small business. However, is the spouse the most capable person of managing the business until it is to be sold and/ or distributed to the beneficiaries? For example, would it be wiser to have both the spouse and the child(ren) who are working in the business as co-executors and/ or co-trustees? Additionally, key employee(s) of the business may be worthy of consideration as an Executor and/or Trustee. The role of trustee can be split among individuals based on whether the assets are business and non-business assets. As for an Executor, you could have Co-Executors, but, the role can’t be divided based on the nature of the assets. Finally, a lot of the above stated will be moot if the owner of the small business has not executed a Last Will and Testament and/ or transferred their small business interest to a Trust during their lifetime. Without an estate plan, the small business owner would die “intestate,” thus, not having any say in who is appointed as the administrator of their estate and who will receive the business, as it would pass to their surviving heirs based on the laws of intestacy. Failure to plan creates the possibility that the business will go to individuals who didn’t want to receive it and it being managed by persons they didn’t select. In conclusion, if one has a small business, putting in place an estate plan that addresses the above issues (and others) that are unique to the business is imperative. The assistance of experienced counsel is invaluable. Anthony J. Enea is a member of Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP of White Plains. He focuses his practice on Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law. Anthony is the Past Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), and is the past Chair of the 50+ Section of the NYSBA. He is a Past President and Founding member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Anthony is also the Immediate Past President of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and a Past President of the Westchester County Bar Association. He can be reached at 914-948-1500 or at www. esslawfirm.com. Estate planning for small business owners FOCUS ON ELDER LAW The law firm of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP, with offices in Somers and White Plains, is pleased to announce the launch of their 2023 Lunch & Learn Series. Held at noon on the last Wednesday of each month, the free educational programs will shed light on important elder law and estate planning topics. The next program, “Avoiding the New York “Estate Tax Cliff,” takes place on Wednesday, March 29. “Many clients come to us when they (or their loved ones) are on the verge of losing everything, which can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets,” said Anthony J. Enea, the firm’s managing member. “Educating seniors and their families on the need for advanced planning is extremely important to all the attorneys at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano – and it’s never too early to start. There are several planning options available for adults of all ages, yet many remain in the dark.” The 90-minute programs, which include a light lunch and refreshments, will take place at the firm’s White Plains location and are open to the public at no cost – though space is limited. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register early by calling 914-948-1500 to reserve their spot. MARCH 29 – AVOIDING THE NEW YORK “ESTATE TAX CLIFF” Take an in-depth look at how to avoid the tax implications of New York’s “estate tax cliff.” Learn effective planning techniques, from the role of completed gift trusts to disclaimer and “Santa Clause” provisions. Presented by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. and Michael P. Enea, Esq. APRIL 26 – AGING IN PLACE: A GUIDE TO GROWING OLDER AT HOME Nearly 90 percent of seniors wish to stay in their own home as they age (source: AARP). Learn how to prepare a home to safely age in place through senior-proofing, necessary legal documents, strategies for bill paying and financial management, as well as an overview of the Medicaid home care program. Presented by Sara Meyers, Esq. & Samantha Lyons, Esq. MAY 31 – ESTATE PLANNING AND YOUR RESIDENCE What is a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust? Learn the ins and outs of Medicaid planning as well as options for home buying and selling within the trust. Presented by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. JUNE 28 – PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE AND SENIOR SCAMS Often referred to as “the crime of the 21st century,” learn key signs of financial and personal elder abuse, typical scams that are targeted toward the senior population as well as the important estate planning documents to help protect against financial abuse as one ages. Presented by Sara Meyers, Esq. SEPTEMBER 27 – LLCS: THE PROS, CONS AND ESTATE PLANNING For some, an LLC can be a useful tool to pass assets down to loved ones while avoiding or minimizing estate taxes. Discover if an LLC may be right for your estate planning needs as well as how they are used to reduce the risk of personal liability with rental properties. Presentation by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. & Michael P. Enea, Esq. OCTOBER 25 – UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF GRAY DIVORCE A divorce later in life often adds a level of complexity to the estate and tax plan process. Understand what potential complications may arise and how to address them – from division of assets and tax issues to estate and long-term care planning. Presented by Lauren C. Enea, Esq. NOVEMBER 29 – SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING FOR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES Ensure the future care and wellbeing of your child or grandchild with special needs using these estate planning strategies. This program will cover the three basic types of special needs trusts (also known as supplemental needs trusts), general drafting considerations and the newest type of special needs trust – the sole benefits trust. Presented by Sara Meyers, Esq. & Lauren C. Enea, Esq. The attorneys at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP specialize in elder law planning, asset protection planning, wills, trusts and estates, Medicaid applications (home care and nursing home), guardianships, and special needs planning. The firm has also attained MartindaleHubbell’s highest rating, AV Preeminent, for superior ethical standards and legal ability. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, with additional offices in Somers. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 914- 948-1500 or visit esslawfirm.com. Attend next monthly ‘Lunch & Learn’ estate planning session Attend an upcoming “Lunch & Learn” event. ENEA, SCANLAN & SIRIGNANO ANTHONY J. ENEA FOCUS ON ELDER LAW
PAGE 20 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES HEALTH & WELLNESS MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 Men and women are well aware that minor aches and pains are part of aging. A balky knee that acts up on rainy days or an old sports injury that still triggers periodic discomfort may not be much to worry about, but a more serious condition such as chronic back pain can be so debilitating that it’s wise for individuals to do whatever they can to avoid it or delay its arrival. Millions of cases of chronic back pain undoubtedly go unreported. at’s because many individuals accept back pain as a side e ect of aging, while others lack access to health care, making it di cult to pinpoint just how prevalent chronic back pain is. However, the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 estimated that around 577 million people across the globe experience lower back pain, or LBP. at prevalence should not give the impression that chronic back pain is unavoidable. In fact, various strategies can be employed to prevent back pain and all the negative consequences that come with it. • Be active. e O ce of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) notes that physical activity strengthens the back and lowers the risk for developing back pain. e ODPHP recommends individuals engage in backstrengthening and stretching exercises at least two days per week. Chiropractors or personal trainers can recommend safe back-strengthening exercises, which the Mayo Clinic notes include the bridge exercise and shoulder blade squeeze. Stretches individuals can try include the knee-to-chest stretch, the lower back rotational stretch and the cat stretch. • Embrace new exercise routines. Individuals accustomed to strength training that involves dumbbells and circuit training machines should know that there are other ways to build strength and bene t the back at the same time. For example, studies have shown the value of Pilates in increasing the strength of core muscles, including those in the lower back. In addition, the ODPHP recommends yoga to individuals who want to make their backs stronger and lower their risk for back pain. Many tness facilities have long since recognized the value of yoga and Pilates and now include each approach in their class schedules. • Perfect your posture. Another way to prevent back pain is to make a concerted e ort to maintain good posture. e ODPHP urges individuals to avoid slouching when standing and sitting and to stand tall with head up and shoulders back. When sitting, sit with back straight against the back of the chair and feet at on the oor. If possible, keep knees slightly higher than hips when sitting. Alternate between sitting and standing to avoid being in the same position for too long. • Lift correctly. Poor technique when lifting things, even items that are not excessively heavy, can contribute to back pain. When lifting items, do so with the legs and not the back. e ODPHP urges individuals to keep their backs straight and bend at the knees or hips when lifting items. Avoid lifting especially heavy items without assistance. Despite its prevalence, back pain is not a given. Individuals can keep various strategies in mind to avoid joining the hundreds of millions of people across the globe who su er from back pain every day. is article is from Metro Creative Connection. Strategies to prevent back pain Cognitive health is not something to take for granted. Although a certain level of memory loss can be expected as people age, when the ability to clearly think, learn and remember is compromised, those changes can a ect an individual’s ability to perform daily activities and should serve as a cause for concern. Brain health should be a priority for everyone. e National Institute on Aging says brain health is an umbrella term that encompasses a host of factors, including: • cognitive health, which is how well you think, learn and remember • motor function, or how you make and control movements • tactile function, which is how you feel sensations; and • emotional function, or how emotions are interpreted and responded to. Individuals can safeguard brain health — particularly cognitive health — by taking these steps. BE MORE HEALTHCONSCIOUS Working with doctors, individuals can put their health rst. is includes getting routine screenings, managing chronic health problems, limiting or avoiding alcohol and nicotine products, and getting the recommended amount of sleep each night. MANAGE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE All chronic conditions cause long-term repercussions, but the NIA indicates that observational studies show having high blood pressure in mid-life increases the risk of cognitive decline later in life. Lowering blood pressure lowers the risk for mild cognitive impairment and possibly dementia. CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN Harvard Medical School says nurturing social contacts, engaging in stimulating mental activities like reading and doing puzzles, seeing new places, and learning new things can help keep the brain in top form. MANAGE STRESS Stress can take its toll on the body, and there is reason to believe that it may adversely a ect cognitive health as well. Make every stride to reduce stress, whether that involves taking vacations, meditating, laughing with friends and family, or engaging in relaxing activities that relieve stress. GET ENOUGH VITAMIN D Vitamin D is linked to a host health bene ts, including its potential to promote a healthy brain. Individuals can get more time outdoors to get vitamin D naturally from the sun and eat foods rich in vitamin D. If doctors nd that vitamin D levels are exceptionally low, supplementation can help. PAY ATTENTION TO HEARING LOSS Certain hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline, says Healthline. Researchers in Italy concluded that people with central hearing loss had a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment than those with no hearing loss or peripheral hearing loss. Individuals with central hearing loss are urged to speak to their physicians to determine if they can take preventive action to stave o further decline. Cognitive health should be a priority. Adults can employ various strategies to reduce their risk of cognitive decline as they age. is article is from Metro Creative Connection. How to protect long-term cognitive health
THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 21 MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 At rest adults breathe between 12-20 breaths per minute or 17,000-22,000 per day. That is a staggering number. Unless we have a cold or become short of breath, we take breathing for granted. With each breath we take, fresh oxygen enters our lungs and oxygenated blood transfers to our heart which the heart pumps to our organs, cells and muscles. As we move or exercise, we breathe faster and deeper because our muscles and cells require more oxygen and the heart pumps faster. HOW WE BREATHE Breathing is a natural process and does not require a conscious effort. But most people tend to breathe shallow using the upper chest and neck muscles and do not use the most important breathing muscle - the diaphragm - to breathe. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle under your ribcage that contracts and relaxes rhythmically as we inhale and exhale. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHEST BREATHING AND DIAPHRAGM BREATHING Chest breathing uses the chest and neck muscles to pull on the ribcage as you fill the lungs with air, causing the chest to expand when you inhale and relax when you exhale. In contrast, with diaphragm breathing, your diaphragm contracts during inhalation for the lungs to expand, and the muscles between the ribs (intercostal muscles) help to expand and lift the ribcage sideways and allow more air to fill your lung capacity. The abdominals relax as you breathe in and contractz as you exhale. To train and engage the diaphragm to breathe properly will initially require a conscious effort. Breathing from the diaphragm also helps to control your posture by increasing your core strength, relax your neck muscle tightness as you offload on using the accessory neck muscles to breathe. THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF DIAPHRAGM BREATHING Several medical studies show the health benefits of diaphragm breathing; for example, it results in lower heart rate and blood pressure, helps to promote relaxation and exercise more efficiently.* The diaphragm helps maximize lung capacity when you inhale and, when you exhale, it helps to stabilize the primary foundation for the body forming the pelvic girdle. If you imagine the abdomen as a box: where the diaphragm muscle is the lid/top of the box, the core abdominal muscles is the front of the box, the buttock (Gluteal muscles) is the back of the box, and the pelvic floor muscles are the bottom. Using the diaphragm breathing method to assist in movement, exercise, transitions will help you to reserve more energy, prevent lactic acid build up as we have more oxygenated blood to the muscles, keep your posture more balanced and safer and protect your back. Never hold your breath and exhale on exertion or when the muscles contract. TRAINING EXERCISES FOR YOUR DIAPHRAGM MUSCLE To train your body to use your diaphragm more efficiently in all positions and by adding more muscle groups and eventually use diaphragm breathing in your daily life use these exercises: 1. Start: • Lie on your back with your knees bent over a pillow or feet flat on the table/ bed. • Place one hand on your chest and the other hand on your abdomen below your ribcage. • Breathe in through your nose and canalize all the air to your diaphragm allowing your hand on the abdomen to raise up to the ceiling as the diaphragm contracts and the abdomen relaxes. No movement should come from your chest hand. • Now exhale slowly through your mouth and pull your belly button to your back bone, tighten your pelvic floor muscles by pulling up between your legs, and contract the inner core muscles as you exhale. When you exhale, envision a vacuum in a plastic bag sucking the air from the inside to contract. 2. Next turn onto your side to practice diaphragm breathing on your side. Raise your upper arm up to the ceiling as you exhale. 3. Turn again onto your back and do mini-bridges by lifting your pelvis up in the air as you exhale adding the glutes. 4. Sit up tall to practice diaphragm breathing in a sitting-position. Lift one leg up to your chest when you exhale adding the hip-flexors. 5. Finally, stand up, exhale as you stand up by engaging your inner core to stabilize and keep your back flat. Tighten your glutes and thigh muscles to get to a tall upright position and lift your ribcage away from the diaphragm. More advanced uses with diaphragm breathing during exercises: • Plank: Lie on your stomach, push onto your elbows and on your knees. Engage your entire core pulling your belly into your spine. Progress to straighten your elbows and do the plank on your hands and toes. • Push-ups: Breathe in and expand your lungs relaxing your abdomen as you lower your body and exhale during the most difficult part as your contract your core– the push up. Correct breathing is a critical aspect of any exercise routine, walking and daily activities as your muscles need oxygen to contract and can make a huge difference in the outcome of your workout. Breathing with your diaphragm will help your feel more energized. As your diaphragm becomes stronger and lungs expand better with fresh oxygen, your inner core will get stronger with each exhale and contraction and you will feel more in control of your body. Take a deep diaphragm breath for a healthier body. If you experience any difficulty breathing, please contact your physician or physical therapist. * Hopper et al “Effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing for reducing physiological and psychological stress in adults”, National Library of Medicine (Sept 2019). LIZE LUBBE GUEST CORNER ADVERTORIAL We are hands on PTs! The professional services of the team at Lize Lubbe Physical Therapy include: • Pre & Post Surgery Rehabilitation • Sports Injury Rehabilitation • Neurological Rehabilitation • Treatment of Musculoskeletal & Orthopedic Conditions • Postural, Balance & Gait Training • Pain & Headache Management • Body Rebalancing through Diaphragm, Breathing & Pelvic Stability www.lizelubbept.com [email protected] 914.875.9430 892 NY-35, Cross River, NY 10518 (blue office building) Lize Lubbe is the owner of Lize Lubbe Physical Therapy with its main practice located at 892 Route 35 in Cross River and a PT Studio in the premises of Apex Fitness (where her team focus on the rehabilitation of sports-related injuries). Learn more by calling 914-875-9430, emailing [email protected] or visiting www. lizelubbept.com. USING YOUR DIAPHRAGM FOR breathing and a healthier body HEALTH & WELLNESS
PAGE 22 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 No. 7 seeded Fox Lane couldn’t hang onto the lead against No. 6 Yorktown, ultimately falling 64- 62 in the Section 1 Class A quarter nal game on Feb. 23. Foxes lose heartbreaker to Yorktown PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO Charlie Shevick makes his move. Matt Toscano drives to the hoop. The Foxes’ Chris Redhead celebrates a first-half three. Members of Fox Lane’s ski team took to the slopes at under Ridge on Feb. 7. Racing for the girls team were Brynn Anthony, Alexx Ho - mann, Sophie Abt, Stephanie Long, Rachel Akinia, Sadie Vanderkar, Danilla DiNicola, Parker Altman, and Abby Meini. Taking the slopes for the boys team were John Hamilton, Ethan Anthony, Will Gilligan, Sam Gri , Ryan Hester, Nathan Fishkind, Saer Sicignano, Ryan Isabella, Ben Fishkind, and Joseph Racanelli. Fox Lane hits Thunder Ridge PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI SKIING PHOTO: RICH MONETTI Hanging tough! Fox Lane’s Barron Ransom wrestling at Sectionals. WRESTLING BASKETBALL
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 LEISURE THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 23 To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! For puzzle solutions, please see theparamountrehab.com CLUES ACROSS 1. Half-conscious states 8. Unnatural 13. Deep regret 14. Rogue 15. Taken without permission 19. An alternative 20. After B 21. Partner to flowed 22. Weekday 23. Body part 24. WorldÕs longest river 25. One of the Greats 26. Make clean 30. C. Canada indigenous peoples 31. Japanese seaport 32. Most unclothed 33. Small grouper fish 34. Soluble ribonucleic acid 35. Distinguishing sound 38. French realist painter 39. Popular beer brand 40. Views 44. God depicted as a bull 45. Relieve 46. Residue after burning 47. Habitation 48. Poe’s middle name 49. Japanese title 50. TV series installation (abbr.) 51. Beloved country singer 55. Single unit 57. Genuine 58. Develop 59. Traveled through the snow CLUES DOWN 1. Clues 2. Do again 3. Current unit 4. Neither 5. Corporate exec (abbr.) 6. Second sight 7. The absence of mental stress 8. Supplemented with difficulty 9. Stop for good 10. College dorm worker 11. Bones 12. Most supernatural 16. Spanish island 17. Unlimited 18. Where golfers begin 22. No charge 25. Print errors 27. Professional drivers 28. Kiss box set 29. Short, fine fibers 30. Administers punishment 32. Czech city 34. Normal or sound powers of mind 35. The academic world 36. Crustacean 37. Currency 38. Pastoral people of Tanzania or Kenya 40. Cloth spread over a coffin 41. Grouped together 42. On land 43. Glistened 45. A type of extension 48. One who assists 51. College sports conference 52. Zero 53. Midway between northeast and east 54. Type of screen 56. The 13th letter of the Greek alphabet Cheesesteaks are decadent sliced beef sandwiches covered in gooey cheese and served on crusty rolls. According to Philadelphia’s o cial tourism site, Pat Oliveri invented the cheesesteak in the 1930s. Oliveri was a hot dog vendor who decided to grill beef from the butcher and put it on an Italian roll. A cab driver smelled the creation and asked f o r the sandwich. Word spread about this new concoction, and soon lots of customers were coming by for their own. Oliveri opened up Pat’s King of Steaks on 9th Street soon after. Cheese was added later to the sandwiches in the 1940s after a suggestion from manager Joe Lorenza. Cheesesteaks have become synonymous with Philadelphia. In fact, there is a erce rivalry between Pat’s and Geno’s, which is another cheesesteak restaurant that opened across the street from Pat’s in 1966 and claims they were the rst to add cheese to the steak. Fierce loyalties to both of these restaurants stand today in Philadelphia. However, a person doesn’t have to take sides when he or she makes cheesesteak at home. is recipe, courtesy of chef Robert Irvine and the Food Network, is easy and quick. Cook up a classic Philly sandwich Cheesesteak Makes 4 sandwiches 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil 2 cups thinly sliced yellow onions Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 4 9-inch sub rolls 2 pounds shaved beef, such as rib eye or sirloin 12 thin slices provolone In a large saute pan or griddle, heat the oil over mediumhigh heat for 1 minute, and then add the onions, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook the onions until caramelized, stirring throughout the process, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove and keep warm. Spread the softened butter on the interiors of the rolls and cook, butter-side down, on a griddle until browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the rolls, add the raw steak to the griddle and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook briefly, shredding the meat into small pieces with two metal spatulas. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Portion the meat into 4 piles, and top each pile with 3 slices of the provolone. Continue to cook until the cheese melts (putting on the lid and adding a little water to the pan can help with this step). Cover each pile with a browned roll, and place a spatula under the meat to pick it up with the roll.
PAGE 24 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. New service activation on approved credit. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations. Enjoy $25 o your fi rst month! Customers who sign up before April 15, 2023 get up to $25 o their fi rst invoice. This o er is for new and existing customers, and can be redeemed only at an account level, line levels excluded. This o er is good for $25 o the fi rst invoice, and any remaining credit from o er is forfeited if not used during this period. If account becomes inactive for any reason prior to receiving the full amount, any remaining credits will be forfeited. Customer must use a printed promo code to redeem o er. This o er is not stackable with other promotions, see website or store associate for details. O er not redeemable for cash, has no cash value and is not transferable or refundable. 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SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY! 1-866-868-3284 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER You don’t have to look far to find creative people in our area. At the same time, there are artists among us who’d have us doing a serious double take if we knew their level of talent and/or the lineage they come from. Andy Hammerstein is one who can unassumingly be seen around town, and yes, the name is not a coincidence. A visual artist and the grandson of the iconic Broadway songwriter, Hammerstein is also the unofficial family historian and is ready to share. On Saturday, March 11, Hammerstein will host a fundraiser for the Bedford Playhouse, and on the docket, will be a host of his grandfather’s songs and the stories that go with them. Among the roster of performers will be Emmy Award winner Jamie Lawrence, Rita Neidich of The Fantasticks, acclaimed actor/singers Bruce Sabath and Henry Thrasher and our own Robin Reitzes. “I feel very, very honored to be part of this group,” she said. The John Jay mom has long been out and about and performing in rock cover bands. But her range runs much deeper and in accordance with the venue. “I was classically trained in opera, arias, and a lot of Broadway music requires the foundation,” she said. Reitzes didn’t sing on Broadway, though. In fact, her stage presence was not really seen. “I had terrible stage fright as a young woman, she said. “It would paralyze me.” So she opted for the next best thing. “If I’m too much of a scaredy cat to sing, I can at least be behind the scenes in the arena I love,” Reitzes revealed. In turn, Reitzes racked up a few internships and various theater experiences and cut her teeth by helping to produce Broadway shows for Radio City Entertainment. Her first job out of school, she met Hammerstein and was sure to let him know she was a singer. Thinking along the lines of future reference, she eventually moved to Westchester, got married, had kids and easily transferred her theater related skills to a career in marketing and public relations. A success again in this field, the Goldens Bridge resident wasn’t able to simply balance the ledger with the bottom line. “I realized my true love is music,” and supplemented by beginning a rock cover band called Blonde Ambition. Of course she kept her day job and has been involved in a number of musical endeavors. Blonde Ambition did flatline during Covid, though. But her latest band is called Willin’ and hit a pretty high profile at the Bedford Music Festival at the John Jay Homestead. Playing before 4000 people last fall, Reitzes said, “It was very fulfilling.” The singer also realized she wanted to do more high caliber events, and Do-Re-Mi, the challenge of hitting the high notes definitely suffices. “Going back to my roots,” she said. “You’re singing in a very technical way that I’ve always wanted to sing, and now I’m getting the opportunity.” So alongside, she says, “I’ve always been a big fan of Bruce (Sabath), Rita (Neidich) has a gorgeous voice, and Henry (Thrasher) is off the charts.” The entertainment value aside, the cause serves us all. “When you have a thriving arts community, you have better restaurants, shops and destinations,” she assured. So the movies, guest speakers and readings are the obvious offering, but she’s pretty partial to First Fridays. Clearing the lounge for live music, Reitzes says, I’ve played there many times and I absolutely love it. Her flag planted, Reitzes is eager to belt out her passion and isn’t worried about a conflict of interest. “It’s a great spot and I want it to grow and do well,” she concluded. An evening of Broadway Stacked lineup set for Bedford Playhouse Robin Reitzes PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE KILGORE ‘I feel very, very honored to be part of this group.’ Robin Reitzes
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 25 Fifth graders at Mount Kisco Elementary School recently walked into the darkened Wellness Room and were greeted by soothing instrumental music and the smell of lemongrass. Stars were projected on the ceiling and there was a bubbling fish lamp in the corner, adding to the relaxing vibe of the space. “Our class is going to be a little bit different today,” said physical education teacher Melissa Ponzio as students made their way to yoga mats that were set out on the floor. The class started out with students lying on their mats and doing a series of breathing exercises. From there, they moved around the room finding different yoga position cards and holding the position shown for 10 seconds at a time. Some were solo poses, while others could be done with a partner. “Some positions were easy; some were hard,” said student Juliett Naranjo. “I liked doing the partner yoga.” After students spent a few minutes doing yoga card stations, Ponzio called them back to their mats to do glow yoga, explaining that they were going to work through a series of poses while holding glow sticks. The gasps of delight and smiling faces were a clear indication of how excited students were. “Sun salutation looks really cool. Warrior too,” Ponzio told them. “It looks like ‘Star Wars ‘— like you have a lightsaber.” As she passed the glow sticks out, Ponzio explained her expectations for their session. “When we get into our flow, we are going to treat it like an actual class at a yoga studio and we are going to be quiet,” she said. “If you need a break, you can stand, lie, whatever you feel comfortable with.” After putting on an instrumental version of the “Encanto” soundtrack, Ponzio led students through a series of poses. They bent and stretched while holding their glow sticks in the air, creating a mesmerizing movement of colors. Later, students laid down on their mats as Ponzio led them through guided breathing and meditation exercises. “Focus on listening to my voice and paying attention to the body part I’m describing rather than letting your thoughts go off on their own,” she said softly. The only sounds that could be heard in the room were Ponzio’s voice and the instrumental music that played quietly in the background. “Move your attention to your upper legs. Whatever you feel or don’t feel is fine,” Ponzio said. “Pay attention to your legs and let them rest. If you feel restless, that’s ok. It happens.” Before sitting back up and getting ready to go back to class, Ponzio rubbed a drop of lemongrass oil in her hands around each cluster of mats so that students could smell it—an added touch that they were vocal about enjoying. “My favorite part is smelling the oil,” said Sindy Perez. Students said they felt “amazing,” “relaxed” and “calm” after their glow yoga session. Ponzio prompted them to think of ways they could use what they learned during the unit at home. Students noted that they could stretch, relax, and listen to calming music. “I would probably do some of the yoga at home,” said Sadie Smith. “I have to stretch for dance, too.” Ponzio was happy to see students make connections to how they can use these skills outside of the Wellness Room. “I hope you take some relaxation skills from this unit home with you,” Ponzio said. “We have busy brains here. We learn English and Spanish. We learn hard things and play sports and interact with friends. It’s good to take a minute to let our brains and bodies take a break.” Special thanks go out to the Foundation for Bedford Central Schools for helping to make this experience possible. Article courtesy of Bedford Central School District. Mount Kisco fifth graders find their Zen with glow yoga Glow sticks are why it’s called glow yoga. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BCSD Students partner up for yoga class. 1 DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 4/30/2023. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. 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Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT NORTH AMER ICA’S 1 SellingWalk-In Tub Free Shower Package SPECIAL OFFER flying organically. Her dad is a civilian pilot who has flown everything from corporate jets to helicopters to seaplanes. “You name it, he flew it,” she said. Getting to fly with him as a child meant she had “a ton of exposure to aviation” early on. Was she ever scared? “No, not at all. I loved it,” Dente claimed. Her mom, a retired speech therapist, was once a flight attendant for Pan Am. Her late grandfather was a U.S. Marine who piloted helicopters during the Vietnam conflict. To date, Dente herself has accumulated 1,300 hours of flight time and had recently been deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. She is based out of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in the state of Washington. FLYING HIGH The flyover was timed to coincide with the conclusion of the National Anthem, which was performed by country music singer Chris Stapleton. Football fans craned their necks to catch the magnificent sight as the four planes blasted by in a diamond formation at 345 miles per hour. Dente and Lt. Lyndsay Evans, a college friend who is also stationed at Whidbey, flew an EA18G Growler while three other all-female crews piloted two F/A18F Super Hornets and a F-35C Lightning II. Dente represented VAQ-129, the “Vikings,” and Evans, a resident of California, the Navy’s Electronic Attack Warfare School. (The formation was led by Lt. Arielle Ash of Abilene, Texas, and Tampa, Fla. native Lt. Saree Moreno.) That was just a portion of the officer aircrew contingent. The majority of enlisted logistics and maintenance personnel supporting the Super Bowl LVII flyover were also women. Naturally, the historic moment generated a lot of pregame attention. Reporters were anxious to know which team Dente supported, but she diplomatically told them that she would be happy just to witness “a close game.” She got her wish. The final score was 38-35, with the Kansas City Chiefs denying the Philadelphia Eagles the world-champion crown. Dente’s husband is from Illinois, so she claims the Chicago Bears as her favorite team on his behalf. The crew actually got to catch some of the action in person, including Rihanna’s performance during the halftime show. After returning to the Luke Air Force Base, located 15 miles west of Phoenix, the flyover crews were given a police escort to the stadium. “That was pretty cool,” she said. Brought down to the field through a phalanx of high-fiving fans, they were recognized during the commercial break between the third and fourth quarters. While it was obviously an honor to represent the Navy on such a large national stage, no one lost sight of the spectacular’s true purpose -- to recognize the legacy of the country’s first female naval aviators. “I’m glad that the flyover got the amount of attention that it did because I think that that’s great for the Navy and great for celebrating women in aviation,” Dente said. During World War II, female pilots were only permitted to serve in civilian pilots’ organizations that had no military standing. Nevertheless, many ended up making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Dente said she also “had the pleasure” of meeting one of those groundbreakers, Retired Navy Capt. Joellen Drag-Oslund, at the game. According to the U.S. Navy Office of Information, the other members of “The First Six” back in 1973 were: Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Allen Rainey, Capt. Rosemary Bryant Mariner, Capt. Jane Skiles O’Dea, Capt. Judith Neuffer, and Capt. Ana Marie Scott. It was Dente’s very first flyover. When asked by CBS if she’d been nervous, she replied that one would have to “be crazy” if they weren’t. But that’s OK, a “little bit of nerves keeps you honest, keeps you humble, keeps you focused on the mission,” Dente told the reporter, adding that it was truly a team effort. “We’re all wing women here,” she emphasized in the CBS report. Dente and crewmates also briefly hobnobbed at the game with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who she called “an impressive woman in and of her own right.” “It was an honor to meet her and a real special treat. It’s not something many people get to do,” Dente told Halston Media. She’s also not likely to forget the reaction when the whole flight-suit-clad team strode into the stadium. “People wanted to high-five us and congratulate us. So yeah, I felt like a celebrity for a moment. But I am certainly NOT a celebrity,” Dente said, admitting, however, that it was “kind of fun.” Among the cheering crowd was a man who, upon seeing the aviators, asked: “Which one of you is from North Salem?” After Dente raised her hand, he told her that he was a member of the NSHS Class of 1990. That little personal connection will, for her, likely forever be one of the highlights of the whole experience. Remember roots and wings? Dente grew up in the bucolic northern Westchester town playing sports, being a Girl Scout, and belonging to the youth group at St. James Episcopal Church. “There’s a lot of connection there,” she said of the church where she’d been both baptized and married. It makes Dente happy to be able to “share a little bit” of her life now with her beloved hometown. “North Salem is a great place. I love it,” she said. When the Navy announced the flyover roster, local social media simply exploded with congratulations and expressions of hometown pride. Town Supervisor Warren Lucas posted on his NorthSalemNYinfo Facebook page that everyone was “extremely proud of Peggy.” “By the way, this is an all-female pilot team. Awesome!” he added. Humbled by the outpouring of love for her and the whole flyover crew, Dente explained: “It’s been really special to hear from so many old neighbors, classmates, and teachers. I just really appreciate the way North Salem has supported us.” PILOT FROM PAGE 9
THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 27 MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 Advertising in Halston Media is being part of a community. While walking through different towns, people recognized our picture and connected it to the services promoted. It was a great way to get new customers while validating our work with current clients. Dr. Deborah Hardy Student Support and Educational Consultant GuidED Consulting, LLC The New York Press Association, the trade association for newspapers in New York, is seeking a talented college creator to be our chief TikTok officer for the summer. The internship will pay a net take-home stipend of $2600 and weekly schedules/work hours are negotiable. We are seeking a candidate who uses the app daily and understands what resonates. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest to [email protected] explaining their qualifications and expertise. Include the name of the college you attend, expected year of graduation, and the names of three references — at least one of whom is one of your professors or instructors. Attaching sample videos encouraged. Application deadline is April 1, 2023. PA New York Press Association NOW HIRING: The New York Press Association, the trade association for newspapers Savvy intern who can make TikTok hits It has “a seat at the table” on the county and state level through its participation with groups such as the Westchester Municipal Of- cials Association and the NYS Conference of Mayors. And there has been progress on major capital improvements such as the renovation of two rehouses, even though those projects have been “moving more slowly than any of us want.” And the village did it all “while ushering a community through a global pandemic without interrupting services.” “Again, the story is NOT about me, it’s never been about me,” Picinich insisted. “In all honesty, I feel honored to be able to do what I’ve done to this point. ere’s still a lot more work to do. I’m still in o ce until the rst Sunday in December. So we have a lot more to do and will continue on until then.” WHO IS TOM LUZIO? Now retired as a prosecutor, Luzio is an attorney with a private practice in Mount Kisco that focuses on criminal defense, wills, trusts, and estate planning. He was a member of the Westchester County Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force and a policy advisor for Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah. Luzio had also volunteered as a policy advisor on Rocah’s campaign and as part of her transition team for over a year. As an assistant deputy attorney general with the O ce of the NYS Attorney Generals’ Organized Crime Task Force, he conducted major organized crime, animal cruelty, and narcotics investigations. As chief of the Narcotics Bureau of the Westchester DA’s O ce, he created and oversaw the county’s Overdose Response Initiative and helped start Westchester’s rst felony offender drug court. Earlier in his career, Luzio worked in both the Queens and the Kings County DA’s O ces. When not lawyering, he’s been a tness instructor and a cycling bu . Luzio graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1988 and from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he earned a BA degree in political science in 1984. It was the cell tower proposal – a real lightning rod issue in Mount Kisco – that Luzio said rst sparked his interest in seeking public o ce. Having been among the rst to sign a petition against siting it in Leonard Park, he subsequently felt he needed to “do more.” “I’ve spent my whole career advocating for various positions and I’ve worked with Republicans and I’ve worked for Democrats,” he added. “I know a lot of people are asking ‘Who is this guy?’ But it won’t take long for people to gure out exactly who I am. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m very proud of my career,” said Luzio, promising that, if elected, he would “be an advocate for not just the Democrats but all the residents of Mount Kisco, for sure.” ABZUN CITES ‘EXPERIENCE’ A lifelong Mount Kisco resident and Democrat, Abzun was appointed to the Village Board in 2021 and made deputy mayor. She ran unopposed for trustee in 2022. She also was “active in resurrecting the Mount Kisco Democratic Committee in the 1990s.” Having earned her law degree from Pace University, Abzun practiced in the village for about 10 years, working primarily in the elds of commercial and residential real estate. After the birth of her third child (then followed by her fourth), she put aside the practice of law to raise her family. Abzun has been a volunteer with FISH (Friends in Service Helping), driving homebound seniors to appointments, and belonged to the Mount Kisco Elementary School Parents Association for several years, managing its After-School Enrichment Program. Along with Farber, Beth Vetare-Civitello, and Alan Reingold, she resurrected the Mount Kisco Arts Council. A painter and a printmaker, she is currently its co-chair. Last year, Abzun mentored three Fox Lane High School ASPIRE students, all of whom had interests in the eld of art and design. Last June, the students held their rst annual Fox Lane Fashion Show at Fountain Park. e council supported the Bedford Teachers Association’s Fox Read Project. Abzun helped arrange the students’ nal presentation at the Mount Kisco Henry V. Kensing Public Library. In asserting that she is “the most quali ed candidate,” Abzun cited the “knowledge and experience” she gained through her legal training and practice as well as “the trust that so many have in her, her attunement to diverse and often competing views, her dedication to hard work and her ability to implement action after deep focus.” Among the issues she expects to continue working on are pedestrian safety, telecommunications infrastructure, insuring responsible community policing, a ordable housing, and food waste composting. “ e thing that I’m most concerned about is continuing the hard work that I’m doing and have done. I’m just going to continue to work with colleagues for the bene t of the residents of our village,” Abzun said last week. Saying board colleagues are “fairly aligned” about certain policies, there are still things that she feels “very strongly” about and isn’t afraid to speak up about. “I feel very comfortable doing that because I’m my own person,” Abzun said recalling that when rst asked by Picinich to sit on the board, she told her: “Gina, you know, you are more centrist and I’m de nitely more progressive. I just need you to know that.” e mayor assured her that she completely understood and that she accepted her as she was, Abzun said, adding that Picinich said: “I don’t want a carbon copy of me or anybody else. I just want you to be yourself because I know you work hard.” “So that’s where I always come from; I come from myself,” Abzun said. REINTRODUCING FARBER Farber was a trustee for 10 years under two administrations. She is an associate real estate broker with Houlihan Lawrence, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is the Mount Kisco Historical Society’s treasurer. Farber helped co-found the Mount Kisco Arts Council and until recently had served on the executive board of the League of Women Voters of Northern Westchester. She gave up the latter post when she decided to run for trustee because of the potential con ict of interest. She also was a volunteer driver with FISH and is vice-president of the Glassbury Court Homeowners Association and a member of its social committee. “Service is part of who I am,” Farber said last week. When on the Village Board, she was its liaison to many local organizations such as the ItalianAmerican Club and the American Legion. Farber, who has a background in radio and television, lived in Bedford for decades before moving to the village 18 years ago. “Mount Kisco has always been my neighborhood,” she said. Farber, who is seeking to run on the Democratic line, acknowledged that the committee had not endorsed her because wouldn’t run with Luzio. “I have a very long history (with the community) and experience and I’ve never met Tom (in person) before. I’m sure he’s a very nice person, but I’ve known Lisa forever and Tom hasn’t done anything on a local level,” she explained, adding: “I think he’s great and maybe in the future he’ll do even better, but right now my allegiance is to Lisa.” “I love this village very, very much. I’ve put in so much time and energy and experience and I really like helping people and putting things together,” said Farber, adding that she knows “how to get things done” and is “proud” of her record. According to the campaign announcement, she is “committed to keeping Mount Kisco an a ordable community in which to live with all the amenities the village possesses: a walking village, a vibrant arts community, lovely walking trails, a dedicated volunteer re department and ambulance corps, and a bustling downtown.” CANDIDATES FROM PAGE 2 SEE CANDIDATES PAGE 28
PAGE 28 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 PATINO SEEKS RE-ELECTION Patiño, a criminal lawyer and lifelong Mount Kisco resident, took o ce in 2022. She is a rstgeneration American, having been born after her parents migrated to the U.S. from Ecuador, and is the rst board member to come from the Latin community. Patiño has volunteered for community organizations such as Neighbors Link. She has also assisted village police with the creCANDIDATES FROM PAGE 27 Fox Lane High School’s Science Olympiad team placed fourth out of 40 teams at the Lower Hudson Valley Regional competition! e team’s incredible results earned them a trip to the state tournament for the ninth year in a row — the longest streak for any Science Olympiad team in the area. PHOTO COURTESY OF BCSD Experimenting with excellence! WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 We’ve advertised with Halston newspapers since the beginning because we know they connect us to the communities we serve. We view our ads as an extension of word-of- mouth advertising; they have definitely played a role in our continued success with both new and returning families. -Jamie Sirkin Summer Trails Day Camp & Baseball Camp ation of Police and Community Together, a program that has been used in training more than 300 o cers in cultural competency. As a student at Pace Law School, she spearheaded its rst “Street Law en Español” legal workshops. She practices in Mount Kisco and specializes in immigration, criminal matters, and tra c court matters. Patiño joined the Putnam County Legal Aid Society in 2017 and was appointed in 2019 to the Westchester County Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force. In 2014, she was chosen as one of the 40 Under 40 Rising Stars by e Hispanic Coalition of New York. In 2016, Patiño was elected Library Trustee in Mount Kisco and served for three years. In 2017, she was recognized as a “Woman Who Inspires” by the president of the National Assembly of Ecuador. She also serves on the Executive Board of Hispanic Democrats of Westchester and is a member of the Mount Kisco Democratic Committee, the Northern Westchester Italian American Club, and a member of the Latino Providers Network. In 2021, Patiño was recognized by Sen. Peter Harckham for work in the Hispanic community within the state Senate’s 40th District. In 2022, Assemblyman Christ Burdick recognized her e orts. Patiño said she was endorsed by the committee but is choosing to petition alone. BIANCHI MAKES A MOVE Besides being a Mount Kisco trustee and a criminal defense, Bianchi has been a supervisor with the Legal Aid Society and has more than 30 years of experience in the eld of law. Last month, she was unanimously endorsed by the Westchester County Democratic Committee, to be its candidate for county court judge. She is the rst woman to run from the Legal Aid Society for the post. According to the WCDC, Bianchi has “signi cant trial experience.” She has argued successfully before both the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 2nd Department, and the NYS Court of Appeals. As supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Society, Bianchi is responsible for overseeing 500 cases a year. She could not be reached for comment before press time. NOMINATING PROCESS Although a registered Democrat, in 2017 Picinich ran for mayor solely on the independent 4MK line. She won by about 100 votes, besting longtime Mayor J. Michael Cindrich, who appeared on ve lines and had been tapped by both the Democrats and the Republicans. She ran with Isi Albanese, a registered Republican, who was elected as a trustee. He served one two-year term. (Mayors serve two-year terms.) Picinich was backed by the Democratic Committee in the next two elections although, she said, those endorsements were made “reluctantly.” at’s because members “were, are still, upset that I beat them the rst time around,” she said, adding: “ at’s the reality of it and I suspect, I suspect, that this committee did not endorse Lisa because they view her as connected to me.” Serratore rejected Picinich’s statement as “fundamentally incorrect.” “We didn’t ‘reluctantly’ endorse her. In fact, I said to the committee, ‘Listen, she won. She is a registered Democrat. We should attempt to unify and have us all be one. at is why she was o ered the line,” he said. Having accepted it, Picinich “then refused to run, or be seen, with the rest of the candidates we were running for of- ce,” Serratore claimed. “Gina’s independent streak is of her own doing, not because the party is juvenile and playing tit for tat. We’ve never done that. I would never do that. My own personal brand would never allow that to stand. I’d resign my chairmanship before I signed o on people doing petty things like that. So she’s just 100 percent incorrect on that,” he said. Picinich appeared before the committee recently to inform it that she would not be running this time around, but was instead strongly encouraging it to endorse Abzun, who was her “pick for a replacement,” Serratore noted. “So we took that into consideration,” he said. Despite that support, the committee overwhelmingly voted to give the nod to Luzio. Insisting that the nominating process is completely open and transparent, Serratore explained that the committee picked Luzio because it preferred the answers he gave during the interview process and believed he would provide local government with a fresh perspective. Serratore said neither he nor the committee bears any “ill will” against Picinich or Abzun, who he’s known for 30 years. “I don’t have anything against her. is was a committeedriven decision just based on a couple of issues. It felt that Tom Luzio made a much stronger argument towards a di erent vision for Mount Kisco and was 100 percent against the cell tower and the development of Kirby Plaza or any kind of residential development at the train station,” Serratore explained. Picinich disputed that, based on the fact that, she said, he had wanted to deny her entry to a Democratic Committee Zoom meeting this past January. He only allowed her in after being encouraged by others to do so, she claimed. Serratore sees it a di erent way. He explained that Picinich, along with several others, had been placed in the meeting’s waiting room and was admitted “in due course” after the committee business was completed. Abzun ran unopposed for trustee and was elected in 2022. She was appointed deputy mayor by Picinich. Her term runs out in December 2024. Asked to comment on the committee’s decision to go with Luzio, she admitted she was “disappointed, for sure.” “However, I never come at anything feeling like I have an entitlement to it. I certainly understood that anything can go any way,” she said. However, Abzun said she still had the feeling that the outcome “was really a vote against Gina and anyone who was aligned with Gina” versus a pro vote for Luzio, who she called a “complete unknown.” “ e thing that really makes no sense to me, when really thinking about it, was that this was the same committee that overwhelmingly endorsed me just four months prior,” she added. Luzio, an active member of the Democratic Committee, countered that he has a record of public service that “goes back 30 years.” “I’m by no means a carpet bagger. I’ve lived here since 2015 and I’m married to a woman who’s lived here much longer than that and whose daughter went to Fox Lane (high school). I have had connections to this town since I met my wife back in 2009,” he said. Luzio has conducted many criminal investigations in Mount Kisco since arriving at the DA’s O ce in 1998. “After the primary, whoever the victors are, we will be 100 percent behind any Democratic candidate. It’s part of a process. We’re following the process. ere’s going to be a primary and so be it, we won’t be alone. We won’t be the rst and we won’t be the last. e voters will decide, which is great, which is how it should be, and then we move on into the general (elections),” Serratore said.
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES– PAGE 29 Military families face many challenges — one of which is the need to build and manage their nancial resources. If you are connected to the military, either as an active member or as part of a family, what are some of the issues you face? And what opportunities are available to you? To begin with, when trying to save and invest for retirement, military families encounter two main di culties. First, many military service members don’t remain in the armed forces long enough to earn a pension. And second, because military families move around so much, military spouses often don’t stay at a job long enough to become eligible to receive employer contributions to retirement plans or to become vested in these plans. However, military spouses who couldn’t fully participate in employer-sponsored retirement plans in the past now have a new opportunity. As part of 2022 legislation known as SECURE 2.0, small employers — de ned as having 100 or fewer employees earning at least $5,000 in annual compensation — can receive a tax credit of up to $500 for three years if they make military spouses eligible for a de ned contribution plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), SEP IRA and SIMPLE IRA. e credit is available for the year in which the military spouse is hired, plus the two following taxable years. Spouses’ contributions to retirement plans can certainly be one part of the retirement income picture for military families. But military members may also want to contribute to the rift Savings Plan, which functions much like 401(k) plans in the private sector. Speci cally, if you’re in the military, you can make pre-tax contributions, or after-tax (Roth) contributions, or both. By visiting the rift Savings Plan’s website at www.tsp.gov, you can learn about investing in the plan, and you can nd tips on various life events, such as buying a house. Another savings opportunity is available for military personnel who have served in designated combat zones. If you’re eligible, you can deposit up to $10,000 and receive a 10% interest rate — an amount far above the rates typically paid by traditional savings accounts and even highyield savings accounts. You can learn more about this program at www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/sdp/. And you may also be able to gain valuable nancial bene ts for education through the Post9/11 GI Bill. Even if you’re a veteran who doesn’t plan to go back to school, you may be able to transfer the GI Bill’s bene ts to your spouse or child. To nd out more about this program, go to www.va.gov and hit the “apply for education bene ts” link. Finally, health insurance is another nancial issue that military personnel and their families need to consider. If you’re still on active duty, you have to enroll in TRICARE, and if you’re veteran, you are likely still eligible for TRICARE coverage, along with your VA bene ts. But there are di erent TRICARE options available, so you’ll want to nd the plan that’s right for your needs. To familiarize yourself with what’s available, visit www. tricare.mil. By making the right nancial moves, military families like yours can go a long way toward achieving the dignity and security you deserve. Make sure you’re exploring all your opportunities. is article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Financial Advisor, Judi McAnaw, a resident of Katonah. She has an o ce at 200 Business Park Drive, Suite 107, in Armonk. Judi can be reached at 914-669-5329. Financial moves for military families Millions of students will walk across a stage at graduation ceremonies and receive their bachelor’s degrees this spring. at feeling can be unlike any other, marking the culmination of years of hard work and schooling that began nearly 20 years earlier. ough many students look forward to entering the workforce upon receiving their bachelor’s degrees, some ponder if graduate school should be their next step. A 2021 report from the American Council on Education revealed that more than 1.7 million students were enrolled in graduate education in Fall 2020 at institutions that participated in a survey conducted for the report. A decision regarding graduate school is seldom easy. In addition to the academic rigors of graduate school, tuition is costly. Cost is no small consideration, as the ACE survey found that 43 percent of grad students in Fall 2020 were part-time. Part-time students are typically ineligible for nancial aid, which means students will have to pay out-of-pocket or apply for loans to - nance their schooling (Note: Lenders may restrict student loans to full-time students.) Paying out of pocket is a signi cant commitment, as the Education Data Initiative indicates the average cost of a master’s degree in Business Administration in 2022 was just under $62,000. Much is at stake as graduates ponder whether or not graduate school is the right next step for them. e following are some factors students can consider as they try to make this decision. • Professional need: Certain professions require more than a bachelor’s degree to gain employment. For example, a student who aspires to teach at a college or university will likely need more than a bachelor’s degree. Adjunct professors, who are part-time faculty members hired on a contractual basis, typically need a master’s degree (though a bachelor’s degree and professional experience is su cient for some positions). A doctoral degree is often a requirement to become a full-time tenure-track professor. When considering grad school, prospective applicants should determine if an advanced degree is a requirement to work in their desired eld. If so, the decision is essentially made for them. If not, applicants must decide if the cost and rigorous workload is worth it. • Candidacy: Another consideration is each individual’s candidacy. Students considering grad school should realistically assess their academic performance as an undergrad. Was the performance strong enough to gain entry into a top-tier graduate program? is is an important consideration, as top-tier programs typically have much higher endowments, which means they can more e ectively help students o set grad school costs through grants and other types of nancial aid. Students can still gain a lot from grad school if their undergrad performance wasn’t enough to earn nancial aid for postgraduate work. But in such instances, students may need to nance the degrees on their own. • Earning potential: Earning potential also merits consideration. As noted, some professions require postgraduate degrees. But many do not. However, that does not mean students have little to gain from earning an advanced degree in a eld where no such degree is required. For example, a recent analysis from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that the average starting salary for individuals with a master’s in Finance was 15 percent higher than the average starting salary for individuals with just a bachelor’s degree. e same survey found that a master’s in Computer Science translated to a 32 percent higher starting salary than a bachelor’s. In such instances, a master’s could be well worth the investment. Recent college graduates can consider a host of variables as they try to decide if graduate school is the right next step after receiving their degrees. is article is from Metro Creative Connection. Is graduate school the right next step? JUDI MCANAW GUEST CORNER Make sure you’re exploring all your opportunities.’ -Judi McAnaw Edward Jones Financial Advisor
PAGE 30 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 BY JESSICA JAFET CONTRIBUTING REPORTER When it comes to creating the ideal lighting for a particular space, it makes all the difference when nding a retailer who provides a personal touch and whose sta prides itself on its commitment to customer satisfaction. It has been this type of approach that has kept Mid-County Lighting Showroom and Electric Sales in business for the past 50 years. Located on Route 6 in Mahopac, the family owned-and-operated store has been providing professional contractors and area residents with exactly what they need for their homes, o ces and businesses. In addition, they are one of the local area’s top sources for electrical supplies and hard-to- nd bulbs. “We are an electrical supply house for contractors and homeowners,” said Steve Deirmendjian, the company’s Vice President. “In the lighting showroom, we have chandeliers, sconces, indoor and outdoor lighting, paddle fans—and we also have landscape lighting.” Back in 1973, it was his father-in-law, Ben Restucci (and brother Frank) who started the electrical supply business in Mahopac, and in 2006, Mid-County opened the lighting showroom at its current location. e family is now second-generation proprietors with Je Restucci at the helm as company president, along with Deirmendjian, Debbie Restucci-Deirmendjian and Holly Restucci leading the team. All along, they have stuck to a philosophy that has made the shop a xture in the community. “We treat everybody like family; electricians walk in, we know them and their kids. Our sta is like family too, and a couple of them have been here over 20 years,” he said. e knowledgeable and friendly employees will listen and make suggestions based on a customer’s individual project, whether it is recommending a reputable electrician to them or simply helping to plan and design the lighting for their home renovation or new construction. Residents from a wide area, including Mahopac, Somers, Carmel, Yorktown, North Salem, Katonah-Lewisboro, Mt. Kisco, Pound Ridge, Bedford, Dutchess County and lower Westchester, visit the showroom, where they nd inspiration and a selection of the latest styles and lighting options that they can see and touch in-person. Shoppers can nd brands like Kichler, Quoizel and Nuvo Lighting to browse for the perfect t. “We are very competitively-priced,” the VP added. “We have people who come here and take photos and get quotes and most become orders because we sell lighting at Internet prices.” Mid-County Electric also sells generators and a wide range of supplies, such as outlets, switches, connectors, wire and more—and the President, Je Restucci, and their attentive sta , will help source any other electrical or lighting items that are not already inhouse, as quickly as possible. Celebrating 50 years in business PHOTOS: CORINNE STANTON Some of the inventory at Mid-County Lighting Showroom & Electrical Supplies PHOTOS: CORINNE STANTON Mid-County Lighting Showroom & Electrical Supplies The team at Mid-County Lighting Showroom & Electrical Supplies: Debbie Restucci-Deirmendjian, Je Restucci, Gerry Avery, Mike Nappi and Steve Deirmendjian. Not pictured: Holly Restucci MID-COUNTY LIGHTING SHOWROOM & ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES Mid-County Lighting Showroom & Electrical Sales 240 US-6, Mahopac 845-628-9124 [email protected]
MARCH 9 - APRIL 13, 2023 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 31 @2023 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. 83 KATONAH AVENUE, KATONAH, NY 10536. 914.232.3700. When it comes to selling real estate, local expertise has never been more important. An award-winning 20-year veteran and top-producing broker at Douglas Elliman, Melissa is raising her family in Katonah and has deep roots in the Northern Westchester community. Melissa has successfully leveraged Douglas Elliman's New York City reach by matching exceptional Westchester homes with the right buyers. If you’ve been considering a move, now is a great time to contact Melissa. It pays to work with a professional with local expertise and first-hand knowledge of the community. Contact Melissa today. 2023 Top Real Estate Agent by Westchester Magazine Melissa Frank Lutz Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker O: 914.232.3700 | M: 646.765.8691 [email protected] The Spring is a time for New Beginnings Deep Local Knowledge. Broad Expertise. If you have considered selling your home, the Spring season is the optimal time to take advantage of our Real Estate market. Call Melissa today to get started.
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