Mahopac News 02.24.22

VOL. 13 NO. 3 Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Schools fire back at
Albany mandates

‘Our Schools, Our Choice, Our Voice’ advocates home rule

BY BOB DUMAS for community involvement to and sta in addition to provid-
EDITOR
make their e orts successful. ing the highest quality educa-

e committee was established tion possible.”

e Mahopac school district last September with a commit- Mongon maintains that

has seen enough and has decided ment to help the board and ad- school districts often di er

it wants to be more proactive when ministration monitor federal and from each other in many ways,

it comes to state-mandated guide- state education initiatives and ad- so a one-size- ts-all statewide
lines and other edicts it believes vocate for policies that are in the mandate doesn’t always work.

impinge on home rule—especially best interest of the Mahopac Cen- “We believe school dis-

those related to the pandemic. tral School District. tricts—with their own diverse

At last ursday’s (Feb. 17) McCracken said he hopes the needs and contexts—should

Board of Education meeting, committee will provide some in- have the choice to make local

the board introduced its recently sight into “what it really means decisions regarding protocols,”

formed Education Reform and to advocate,” with a campaign he wrote.

Advocacy Ad Hoc Committee, they’ve dubbed “Our Schools, Our Mongon wrote that the dis-

which is made up of trustees and Choice, Our Voice.” trict wants to know what met-

community members. Trustee Ben “ is is the rst of many things rics the state is using to make PHOTO: MICHELLE MASSA

DiLullo is chair of the committee, we can do as a community,”he said. its decisions on such things as Members of the Mahopac Boy Scout Troop 71, along with

and he is joined by fellow school It started last year with a letter mandates, quarantines and vac- friends and family, cheer on the cars during Saturday’s Pinewood

board members Tanner McCrack- from Mongon to Gov. Kathy Ho- cinations. Derby at the Mahopac rehouse. e scouts were excited to be back

en and Michael Simone, as well as chul and local state representatives e metrics the board after last year’s derby was lost to the pandemic. For more photos of
the Pinewood Derby, see the centerspread on pages 14 and 15.
board President Michael Mongon. announcing the creation of the sought included the percentage

Community members appointed committee, what it stands for, and of positive cases of quarantined
to the committee include Maggie what it expects from the state in its students; infection rates by

Traynor, Joaquim Mota Jr., John e orts to stand up for more home county, ZIP code and school dis- their students. nd resources and ways to begin

Ferlauto, Christopher Harrigan, rule and fewer statewide mandates trict; infection rates by age groups “We demand answers to im- to advocate. (https://sites.google.

Christina Moissiadis, Daniela Pol- coming out of Albany. in these areas; and any other re- portant questions that impact the com/mahopac.org/ad-hoc-advo-

jak and Melissa Rear. In the letter, Mongon writes, lated data the state Department future of state COVID-19 man- cacy-committee-maho/home).

e group gave a PowerPoint “We believe in local control for our of Health can provide to establish dates,” Mongon wrote. Visitors to the page will nd a

presentation outlining the com- school districts. We believe in the a rubric for local school districts to e committee has created a SEE AD HOC PAGE 6

mittee’s goals, strategies and need health and safety of our students help guide their community and website where district residents can

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BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27
CLASSIFIEDS
HEALTH & WELLNESS 26
LEGAL NOTICES
LEISURE 18
MAHOPAC MUSINGS
OBITUARIES 24
OPINION
SPORTS 23 COUNTY EXECUTIVE
2 RACE

17 Kevin Byrne wins
8 GOP nomination.

21 pg 3

PAGE 2 MAHOPAC NEWS MAHOPAC MUSINGS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

The Staff Sycamore Camp Sunday, Feb. 27, noon-3 p.m. or business casual attire. As a 100 or call Jim at 845-729-4239.

EDITORIAL TEAM Summer Job Fair at Sycamore Park, Mahopac. percent volunteer-led nonpro t, Mahopac Library
BOB DUMAS United for the this annual event raises essential Events
Join the town Parks & Recre- resources to bring a little comfort
EDITOR: 845-208-0774 to our troops. Online tickets and Name that Opera
[email protected] ation Department to learn about Troops Annual Gala sponsorships available through
the many summer-employment
VIM WILKINSON
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR and community service/volun- Friday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at March 10. ursday, Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m.
[email protected]
teer opportunities o ered by the Villa Barone Hilltop Manor. Join For tickets and more informa- Presented by Tanisha Mitchell
ADVERTISING TEAM
PAUL FORHAN town. Tour the park and partici- us for an evening of dinner, danc- tion, go to secure.givelively.org/ (virtual). From e Fresh Prince

(914) 806-3951 pate in some fun “camp activi- ing and great company. Open bar, event/united-for-the-troops/ of Bel-Air to the WWE, explore
[email protected]
ties,”and talk to camp leaders and bu et dinner, ra e prizes, 50/50, annual-gala-2022. opera in unexpected ways. In this
BRUCE HELLER
(914) 486-7608 sta members to see if working at $10,000 ra e (online ra e tick- To donate ra es items, contact talk, Tanisha Mitchell will dis-
[email protected]
summer camp is right for you. ets available). Adults only; festive [email protected] cuss how opera is used in popular
LISA KAIN
(201) 317-1139 culture, speci cally movies and
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON commercials. She will show opera
(914) 760-7009
[email protected] NOW OPEN clips from featured movies includ-

JAY GUSSAK ing e Shawshank Redemption,
(914) 299-4541 Carmen Jones, Fatal Attraction,
[email protected] and then the actual opera clip
SHELLEY KILCOYNE from an opera production.
(914) 924-9122
[email protected] is event will be presented

PRODUCTION TEAM virtually on Zoom. Registration
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
with a valid email address is re-
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER Your Family Car Care Center! quired. Register online at www.
mahopaclibrary.org, or call 845-
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK 628-2009, ext. 100.
DESIGNER
For over 20 years, Joe Ferone of Proper Service has been For further information about
[email protected] Mahopac Library’s programs and

EXECUTIVE TEAM serving the community, creating relationships, services call 845-628-2009, ext.
BRETT FREEMAN
CEO & PUBLISHER and building a remarkable company with 100.
845-208-8151 an amazing team of employees! Virtual Film Screening
ursday, March 3, 1 p.m.
[email protected]
Virtual lm screening: Alice’s
Deadlines
Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be Ordinary People: e Chicago
MAHOPAC NEWS DEADLINE Freedom Movement is a docu-
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! mentary about Alice Tregay - a

AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR woman who refused to stand still

MAHOPAC NEWS IS THE THURSDAY in the face of injustice. It’s Alice’s
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE.
story of the ordinary people who
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CALL BOB DUMAS AT e ected extraordinary change

845-208-0774 OR EMAIL and advanced the endless strug-
[email protected].
gle for human rights and dignity.
Subscribe
It’s an inspiration to current and
TO REQUEST MAHOPAC NEWS
WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 OR future generations, as they take
EMAIL [email protected].
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR up the mantle and continue the
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN.
OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE ght. Watch this screening via
$150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL.
Zoom; then attend a talk with
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT
MAHOPAC, NY AND AT the independent lmmaker who

ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. made this documentary on Tues-
POSTMASTER:
day, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. (also
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO
MAHOPAC NEWS AT via Zoom). Registration with a
824 ROUTE 6, SUITE 4
MAHOPAC, NY 10541 valid email address is required for

NMeawhsopac both programs. Register online at

(ISSN 2330-1627) www.mahopaclibrary.org, or call
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY
HALSTON MEDIA, LLC AT LOCATIONS: 845-628-2009, ext. 100.
824 ROUTE 6, SUITE 4 Gathering of the Gamers
MAHOPAC, NY 10541 Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900
Club
MAIN OFFICE
118 N. BEDFORD ROAD Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 ursdays, March 3, 10, 17,
White Plains • 105 Fulton Street • (914) 428-7185 3:30-6:30 p.m. Come one come
SUITE 100 all to the gamers club at Mahopac
MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549
©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Library. Kids in grades 6-12 can

arrive at 3:30 p.m. and enjoy a

gaming experience. Snacks and

beverages provided. Have a game

idea? Recommend it! Bring it!

Surprise us with it! No matter

what games are chosen, it can

always change or expand based

on what you prefer as a group.

Bonus option: write a review of

the experience or a speci c game,

or share ideas on how to improve

the Gathering of the Gamers

Club; each written statement will

count as an hour of Community

FORMERLY Joe Ferone Service for those who have to
meet a school year requirement.

OWNER Registration required for each

Visit us at www.ProperService.com SEE MUSINGS PAGE 25

A Qualified Auto Repair