VOL. 12 NO. 40 Visit TapIntoYorktown.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS 27 LEGAL NOTICES 26 LEISURE 24 OBITUARIES 6 OPINION 8 SPORTS 16 TOWN GREEN 4 Santa comes to town pg 14 CLAUS CALL! Last Sunday’s rain didn’t stop Yorktown’s menorah from being lit as the annual event took place inside the Albert A. Capellini Cultural Community Center. The room was packed with community members while local officials lit a 4-foot menorah. The event got everyone in the Hanukkah spirit with crafts for children, donuts, latkes, and a gelt drop. Festival of lights in Yorktown L to R: Town Clerk Diana Quast, former Supervisor Ilan Gilbert, Judge Aviah Cohen-Pierson, Assemblyman Matt Slater, Town Supervisor Tom Diana, Rabbi Yehuda Heber, Councilman Ed Lachterman, Councilman Sergio Esposito, and Perry Gustos from Yorktown Autobody Assemblyman Matt Slater and Town Supervisor Tom Diana lighting the menorah Children participating in crafts at the menorah lighting PHOTOS COURTESY OF SERGIO ESPOSITO BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER When taxpayers open their bills next year, the average homeowner can expect to see a slight increase in their municipal taxes. For every $1,000 of assessed value, the tax bill will be $165.78, not including water, garbage, and emergency medical services. This means that the property owner of the average home, assessed at $10,000, would pay $1,657.80 in municipal taxes. Adding in the cost of water and emergency medical services, the bill becomes $1,857.80, which is up $4.06 from 2023. (Note: A homeowner’s total tax payment to the town can vary depending on their sewer and water district.) Garbage pickup brings the total bill to $2,434.58 —$55.71 more than the 2023 budget. Unlike the water and EMS taxes, the refuse tax ($576.89 per house for 2024) is a flat fee for all single-family homeowners and is not based on property assessment. The $69 million preliminary budget was adopted by the Yorktown Town Board on Dec. 5 in the wake of a public hearing. The budget, originally proposed in October, was approved unanimously without changes. “The Town Board voted for a responsible spending plan that is mindful of our taxpayers who are facing rising costs for food, energy, and other essentials,” said Supervisor Tom Diana. “At the same time, this budget allows us to preserve the services our residents expect and to continue the improvements to our town’s roads, water mains, and parks.” The tax levy (total amount to be collected through taxes) will be $21,715,200, down $38,537 from the 2023 budget. Increasing the projected sales tax revenue kept the budget flat, according to town comptroller Gennelle MacNeil. Yorktown budget calls for slight tax increase Supervisor, police chief and others to get raises SEE BUDGET PAGE 5
PAGE 2 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 3 A classic cruiser lights up the night at the Shrub Oak Tree Lighting. Santa’s elves (the Lake Mohegan Fire Department) drove Santa and his friends to the tree lighting. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree! The Westchester Women’s Chorus kept the carols going. L to R: Luciana Haughwout, Mary Capoccia, Patrick Murphy, and Sergio Esposito PHOTOS COURTESY OF SERGIO ESPOSITO BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Shrub Oak held its second annual holiday tree lighting last Saturday outside of the John C. Hart Memorial Library, and some special guests made sure it was one to remember. Santa, one of his reindeer, Mrs. Claus, Frosty the Snowman, and the Grinch kept the holiday spirit high after being escorted in by the Lake Mohegan Volunteer and Professional Fire Department. Kids had opportunities to take pictures with their favorite holiday figures, participate in a craft table courtesy of Hart Library, and receive goodie bags from Christina Conklin from TNG Beauty Salon. Attendees also enjoyed hot cocoa and freshly baked cider donuts thanks to Lakeland Deli. Celtic Aer was also on hand showcasing holiday gifts from their shop, which is located across the street from the library. “The tree lighting was amazing,” said Supervisor Tom Diana, an organizer of the event. “We had more attendees than we had last year, and more people involved in the event itself with the addition of the Westchester Women’s Chorus who sang carols with the arrival of Santa and they kept singing throughout the night.” Oh, Christmas tree!
PAGE 4 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Periodicals Postage Paid at Somers, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Yorktown News at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 (ISSN 2329-8693) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [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 Yorktown News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Yorktown News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Yorktown News weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Your Family Car Care Center! LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Visit us at www.ProperService.com For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating releationships, and building a remarkable company with an amazing team of employees! Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! Blood Drives Both the New York Blood Center and the American Red Cross are warning of shortages in the blood supply and are seeking donations. Go to nybc.org or redcrossblood.org to make an appointment and learn more. Here are some options close to home. You can find more sites and dates on the respective organizations’ websites. New York Blood Center: Jefferson Valley Mall: Dec. 14, noon- 6 p.m.; Crystal Hall Community Center (34 Hillandale Road, Yorktown Heights): Wednesday, Dec 20. 1 - 7 p.m.; Putnam County FF and FOP (32 Gleneida Ave., Carmel Hamlet): Friday, Dec. 29, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. American Red Cross: Avalon Somers (Avalon Somers, 49 Clayton Blvd., Baldwin Place): Saturday, Dec. 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Islamic Center Community Night Hudson Valley Islamic Community Center (3680 Lexington Avenue, Mohegan Lake) holds its Community Night every Friday evening at 7 p.m. Dinner is served. All are welcome. The HVIC also has a monthly food pantry on the first Sunday of each month at the same location. For more information, call (914) 528-1626. Christmas Among Friends Amawalk Friends Meeting House, located at 2467 Quaker Church Road (near the corner of Route 35) in Yorktown Heights, will host an evening of silent worship, caroling, and refreshments on Dec. 24, from 4:30 p.m. Come with family and friends to gather around the wood stoves. Bring a flashlight. Yorktown Food Pantry Resources Hudson Valley Islamic Community Center: 3680 Lexington Ave, Mohegan Lake, 914-528- 1626. First Sunday of every month from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. HVICC distributes fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat, breakfast products, etc. All are welcome. Hot coffee is available. Community Food Pantry at St Mary’s Mohegan Lake: 1836 East Main St. (Route 6), Mohegan Lake, 914-528-3972. Saturdays from 9-11 a.m., drivethrough model. For more information, including donations: cfpstmarysmoheganlake.com First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown Food Pantry: 2880 Crompond Road (Route 202), Yorktown Heights, 914-245-2186. Second and fourth Saturday of each month from 9-11 a.m., drivethrough model. For more information, including donations, visit fpc yorktown.org/mission/food-pantry. Westchester Adventist Church: 1243 Whitehill Road, Yorktown Heights, Fridays from noon to 2 p.m., drive-through model. Learn more at Westchester adventist.com. Yorktown Community (help inside the Albert A. Capellini Community & Cultural Center): 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown Heights, 914-962-1144. Third Wednesday of each month from 4:30-7 p.m., drive-through model. Yorktown residents only. Family Support and Education Group The Spotlight Family Support group holds twice-weekly Zoom meetings open to anyone struggling with the effects of addiction in a friend or loved one. Tuesdays 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., and Wednesdays 7- 8 p.m. Visit yorktownny. org/community/spotlight-family -support-group for more. Pancake Breakfast The Sons of the American Legion will hold its monthly pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 9-11 a.m. at the Legion Post No. 1009 at 235 Veterans Road in Yorktown $10 for adults, $5 for kids, under 2 free. $5 mimosas and bloody Marys. 50/50 raffle. Limited seating. TOWN GREEN
The budget allows for infrastructure improvements, including paving around 11 miles of Yorktown roads, continuing repairs to water mains, and upgrades to town swimming pools. Outside of the municipal taxes, which make up only about 11 percent of a homeowner’s bill, are the county and school taxes which are determined by which district a residence falls in. In the 2022 town/county budget year and the 2022-23 school year, the average assessed homeowner in the Yorktown Central School District paid $10,386.42 in school taxes. In Lakeland, that number was $ 10,539.87. The county tax bill for the average assessed homeowner was $1,341.63. The new budget also calls for raises for town employees across the board. MacNeil said that the raises were not determined by a set rate increase that applies to everyone, but instead, were calculated by comparing them to neighboring municipalities. The supervisor will see a nearly $12,000 pay raise, bringing it from $124,361 annually to $136,470. MacNeil noted that the supervisor of Cortlandt Manor will make $170,369 in 2024. The supervisor’s salary in neighboring Somers will be $130,907. Other significant raises include: · Director of John C. Hart Memorial Library, increasing from $126,075 to $136,075 · Director of planning, increasing from $146,650 to $157,391 · Chief of police, increasing from $193,612 to $208,375 · Comptroller, increasing from $143,500 to $151,088. Find the full budget and more at yorktownny. org/comptroller. BUDGET FROM PAGE 1 While on a tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily, four travelers discovered they were from the same neighboring towns in Westchester. Pictured from left to right are Rosa Peysakh from Katonah, Galina Kanevsky from Yorktown Heights, and Ivelisse and Paul Forhan, also from Yorktown Heights. (Paul is also the Vice President of Advertising at Halston Media.) It certainly is a small world! It’s a small world after all! PHOTO COURTEY OF PAUL FORHAN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 5
PAGE 6 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 John P. Kincart John Patrick Kincart, 66, of Yorktown Heights, passed away on Dec. 5, 2023, after a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer. John was born to John and Grace Kincart on Oct. 21, 1957, in Tarrytown. John lived a life of love and service for others. He had a powerful presence, and you could always tell if he was, or was not, in the room. His love and commitment to his family, friends, and community drove everything he did. The center of John’s life was his partnership with his beautiful wife Elaine. Together they built a loving and beautiful family with Brianna, Conor, and their “dog-ter” Rory. They designed and built their beautiful home along with their successful business. They valued family traditions and worked together to bring them to life for their family. Elaborate birthday party props and setups, car duets with Brianna, motorcycle rides with Conor, family vacations to LBI, and annual Thanksgiving celebrations helped create family memories lasting a lifetime. These traditions also extended to their close friends, including the annual wood-chopping party with the “Five Families” and numerous trips abroad. John and Elaine...always together, always building. John showed natural leadership at an early age, and these qualities helped shape a very successful professional career. As a child, he took pride in his role as the oldest brother in his family. He often told stories of this time period that left you to sometimes wonder how he and his siblings survived some of the adventures. His love for adventure never left him, and his ability to turn the mundane into excitement was unrivaled. A morning walk in the woods would somehow turn into a concussion or a broken collarbone and another story for John to tell. Loving, leading, and serving became themes that would embody the rest of John’s professional life. His higher education began at the Coast Guard Academy, then shifted to Cathedral College. He graduated magna cum laude as he considered priesthood. He taught at Cathedral Prep while starting and coaching their first soccer program. He started his career in sales at Sara Lee, shifted to real estate, and eventually co-founded his real estate company, Kincart Associates, with Elaine. He was proud to be the No. 1 agent in Yorktown for 10 years, a title earned through the exceptional service he provided to his clients and community, which included volunteering his time and expertise on the Yorktown Assessment Review and Planning Boards. He also taught CCD at St. Patrick’s Church, coached soccer, and built floats for school classes and sets for the school dance company. John was always there if help was ever needed, and his ability to create something out of nothing earned him a reputation as a “MacGyver.” John loved a good-hearted prank, often investing heavily in the setup. Somehow, the more he teased you, the more you felt loved by him. He was never one to shy away from the dance floor, even when his foot was broken, or if the dance floor happened to be on the bar. His laughter was always the loudest in the room. In addition to his public service, he helped countless family members, friends, and strangers through some of their most difficult personal challenges. He believed that you never know the impact you have on someone’s life or how far the ripples of that impact will extend. He is survived by his wife Elaine and his children, Brianna and Conor. He is also survived by his mother, Grace, and his siblings: Mary Kincart, Christine Kincart, Joe and Laurie Kincart, Stephen and Sue Kincart, and Andy Kincart, along with all their children and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father, John Kincart. There are no adequate words to mark the life of John Patrick Kincart, but he lived his life with intention. It was a life well-lived, full of adventure, love, and laughter. He will be missed dearly and will be remembered with every bourbon or “Johnny 2-Cherries” we raise. OBITUARIES BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR The Lakeland Central School District is pursuing a full-time universal prekindergarten program for the 2024-25 school year. At the district’s Dec. 7 school board meeting, Superintendent Karen Gagliardi said the administration was moving forward with a plan first presented at the board’s Nov. 2 meeting. Gagliardi said a request for proposals for pre-K providers had been sent out and that the district hopes to begin offering the program in the fall. Lakeland hopes to launch fullday pre-K Slots for next fall would be chosen by lottery in February SEE LAKELAND CSD PAGE 26 DRY EYE IS A COMMON DISEASE, LEADING TO WATERY, IRRITATED, RED EYES & BLURRY VISION. ASK US ABOUT OPTILIGHT. NOW is the time to use your FSA! 20%OFF (NOT ELIGIBLE ON INSURANCE ORDERS) (FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT) a pair of glasses
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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 Yorktown News 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] PAGE 8 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 I found Susan Siegel’s column, “They’re really ugly: Where do large solar farms belong?” (Nov. 16, Page 10) to be incredibly disingenuous. There are facts and factors that we as legislators in Yorktown must consider and we do not have the luxury, as many do, to only consider those facts and factors that are amenable to an argument one is trying to make. All projects are multifaceted and unique in their own way, and we must see the big picture and not just a narrow view as is portrayed in the aforementioned column. On facts, when the Town Board amended the solar law, we raised the lot size limit to five acres from two acres. In effect, this immediately reduced the properties available in the Town of Yorktown that could have large scale solar. Today, 96.43% of the approximately 14,000 total parcels are NOT eligible. In Yorktown, there are approximately 500 parcels that MAY meet this requirement. Simple math will yield a total of 3.57% of potentially available parcels that MAY fall under the newly amended solar law. The FACT is that this one amendment significantly reduced where solar farms can go. The new amendments also included increasing the setback requirement for large-scale systems from 50 feet to 100 feet; creating a requirement for the property owner to conduct annual inspections of the screening, landscaping, etc., with a report to be submitted to the Town Engineer for review, who has enforcement authority; requiring an in-depth analysis of the function of the woodlands for any large scale systems installed in woodlands, which would be paid for by the applicant; making a decommissioning bond mandatory; and also requiring a PILOT or Payment in Lieu Of Taxes. There were also some other changes, but to my mind, these were the most significant. There are many other requirements as well, such as mandating the “Method for Calculating Carbon Sequestration by Trees in Urban and Suburban Settings” of the U.S. Department of Energy. In other words, the law requires a calculation, which balances the loss of trees against the benefit of producing solar energy as opposed to a more traditional energy production method, which produces carbon, such as a fossil fuel electrical generation plant. Let’s not forget a full SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) must be performed, which requires looking at all environmental impacts for a particular project. Large-scale solar farms, which could produce enough renewable energy that would be worthwhile to an investor, are typically tied to the number of solar panels needed, which in turn is tied to the amount of acreage available. Typically, five acres is inadequate to fit enough solar panels that would produce a significant number of Kilowatt-hours or kWh, needed for making the investment worthwhile. This further reduces the amount of viable and worthwhile parcels in Yorktown that would be attractive to an investor. As legislators, we must also consider the many factors that come into play when making decisions and creating or amending laws. For example, the column never once considered our national electric grid, which is taxed during peak hours; never once considered how large scale solar can offset the unquenchable thirst for electric power we have as Americans; never once considered how we can do our part to mitigate the ever-increasing need for energy. Consider, for example, the rise of the EVs or Electric Vehicles, which require more electricity. The amendments made to the existing solar law were significant and considerably reduced the “proliferation” of solar farms in Yorktown. As legislators, we must compromise, mitigate and consider the many factors for our projects. We listen to every comment, consider every opinion, then attempt to reach a consensus. We also have a very talented Planning Board that is meticulously hard working and thorough. The column was clearly unbalanced and offers a one-sided view of how the solar law is truly written, does not consider all the facts and ignores most factors. By the way, I still think they’re really ugly! Facts & factors SERGIO ESPOSITO WORD ON THE STREET To my surprise — and delight — the public hearing on the 2024 budget was one of the best attended hearings in recent years. And the most informative in terms of shedding light on what to expect from our Town Board over the next two years. One theme that came across loud and clear was that the town’s expenses — over which it has no control — keep increasing, from medical benefits for town employees to the cost of fire hydrants. But, at the same time that expenses are increasing, the town has no control over revenue from the sales tax, the largest source of non-property tax revenue. Uncle Giuseppe’s may be generating more revenue than the former Turco’s, but the store’s sales tax revenue goes to the state and county, not the town. And the county distributes a portion of the sales tax it collects based on a population formula, not on the town where the money came from. As long as the economy remains strong, we’re OK. But... I still remember the 2008-2009 recession when the town had to scale back planned expenditures because of falling revenue over which it had no control. The second revenue source recent Town Boards have been relying on to offset the increase in expenses is the Observations on the 2024 town budget SUSAN SIEGEL GUEST COUMNIST SEE SIEGEL PAGE 9
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 9 C: 914-447-7064 | New York and Conneticut [email protected] | GulliHomes.kw.com Dina DiPaola-Gulli, Wishing our clients a joyful holiday season! Thank you for making this year unforgettable. Cheers to a bright and prosperous new year ahead! Happy Holidays 2023! R.E. Salesperson Carmel, NY Carmel, NY Carmel, NY Yonkers, NY Fishkill, NY Yonkers, NY Yonkers, NY Carmel, NY Beacon, NY Mount Kisco, NY Yonkers, NY Bedford Hills, NY SIEGEL FROM PAGE 8 Letters and Op-Ed Policy 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 Yorktown News 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. town’s rainy day fund — its fund balance. For example, the 2024 budget takes $1,450,000 from the fund balance, or $275,000 more than the 2023 budget, to cover operating expenses, like salaries. The additional money reduced the typical taxpayer’s yearly town tax bill by about $21. The same $275,000 could have been used to fund a capital project, like paving one mile of town road, a project that would have continued to benefit taxpayers for at least 10 years. Despite having a healthy fund balance, a balance that far exceeds the state comptroller’s recommended amount, recent Town Boards have failed to adopt a fiscally responsible one year capital plan that sets priorities. (The Capital Plan in the budget book is basically a wish list, not a real plan.) Instead, they’ve been funding projects on an ad hoc basis in response to emergencies, like the failed Old Crompond Road culvert or the unsafe steps and plaza at the court/ police headquarters. The need for both projects had been known for years. Recent Town Boards have also been reluctant to use the fund balance to finance long term improvements to aging infrastructure. Instead, they’ve relied on repeated short term Band Aids, like only patching cracks at the tennis courts. To his credit, Supervisor Tom Diana, who has been on the Town Board for nine years, said that the era of Band Aids is over and that it’s his intention to see that infrastructure projects are done once and done properly the first time. We need to hold him, the Town Board, and town staff to that commitment. Let’s see what actually gets done in 2024. Other takeaways from the hearing • Lawsuits. The Board chided residents for suing the town just because they opposed a certain action, like the passage of the Overlay Law that paved the way for the controversial Underhill Farms development. Supervisor Diana reminded residents that they end up paying to defend what he called frivolous lawsuits. • Garbage. The town is suing Competitive Carting’s bonding company for not responding to the town’s demand that it owes the town money as a result of the canceled contract. Supervisor Diana didn’t disclose the amount of money the town is seeking, but he’s anticipating that the town will recover at least the $300,000 it had to take from the Refuse District’s fund balance in order to cover the cost of the more expensive CRP replacement contract. • Commercial water meters. Enforcing the 2020 law that requires the owners of commercial water meters to test the accuracy of their meters every three years and replace faulty meters remains on hold. Although there are only about 350 commercial users, they account for a significant percentage of water use. The meters haven’t been tested for accuracy in over 30 years. • Assessment roll. The town’s total taxable assessed value for 2024 decreased for the first time in 10 years, due primarily to a large increase in the number of seniors whose income qualified for a tax exemption. A decrease in the total taxable assessed value results in a tax increase for the remaining taxpayers. • Recreation fee: In response to the Planning Board’s decision that the Underhill Farms development did not have to pay a per unit recreation fee, the town is looking into possible “clarifications” in the existing recreation fee law. • Solar: Supervisor Diana explained that based on a previous study, the parking lot adjacent to Town Hall is not financially feasible for a solar canopy project. And the town is waiting for the vendor responsible for the Granite Knolls project to begin the installation of the parking lot canopy. Work was supposed to have started last month. • ARPA (COVID) money. Of the $3.7 million the town received, to date, the board has only allocated $1.8 million. The town needs to allocate the remaining funds by 2024; any money not spent by the end of 2026 will have to be returned to the federal government. • Unpaid taxes. The town has about $4 million outstanding in unpaid taxes, some dating back to 2006. Supervisor Diana said, “It is on our radar; we’re going to look into [it].” • Fluoridation. The project still isn’t finished. The project was supposed to be completed by March 2020.
PAGE 10 – YORKTOWN NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Just steps away from the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley is a home-away-fromhome for families facing the emotional stress of caring for a medically fragile child, like Bella. Your support is crucial as we provide accomodations and meals for families during their most trying times. Help us this holiday season to achieve our goal of supporting 100 Nights of Hope. Make a donation today! 100 Nights of Hope Scan QR Code or visit www.rmh-ghv.org MON-THURS: 4pm-9pm | Fri 4pm-10pm SAT: 12pm-10pm | Sun 12pm-8pm 715 Saw Mill River Road, Yorktown Heights (914) 962.4298 nadinesrestaurant.com we wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year! We invite you to join us for a truly special Winter Season Dining Experience! Biergarten is open throughout the Winter Season! A Nadine's Favorite! We humans tend to take some things for granted. Take local newspapers, for instance, like this one. We don’t consider what it would be like if we had no source of local news to keep us informed – shades of “It’s a Wonderful Life” – but we should consider it. We’ve all heard of the Sahara and the Mojave, but have you ever heard of a News Desert? These days, at a rather alarming rate, News Deserts are a thing in the journalism profession and they are a thing in U.S. communities to which the label applies. It means a well-populated geo-political area – for instance, a town or a county – in which there is not a single media company whose primary purpose is covering such hyperlocal and essential news as a town council meeting. If that sounds like a marginal concern, it is anything but. A News Desert can cost taxpayers dearly. The lesson of Bell Consider the object lesson of Bell, Calif. It’s a small community, with 25% of the populace below the poverty line. You’d never know it, though, from what had been the annual income of the town’s top elected official, whose base salary by 2010, built up over 17 years, reached $800,000, and whose total take-home per year was $1.5 million. Is it any wonder that homeowners in Bell paid higher property taxes than residents of Beverly Hills?! The town’s corrupt leadership eventually earned substantial prison terms and multi-million-dollar fines, but how on earth did they pull off such a grotesque grift for almost two decades? The Bell ringers’ reign of ripping off an unsuspecting citizenry picked up momentum right about the time Bell’s last newspaper went out of business in the mid-1990s. Coincidence? More like cause-and-effect. Of course, the Bell story is extreme, but it also is a cautionary tale. As reported by Steven Waldman in the August 2023 issue of Atlantic Magazine, “On average, two newspapers close each week. Some 1,800 communities that used to have local news now don’t.” What does this have to do with you and your community, whether you’re a local business owner or a customer? For business owners who are not advertising in local media – which, by the way, includes sponsorship and other opportunities your Chamber of Commerce offers – you owe it to yourself to give it serious consideration. It’s the best way to reach current and future customers. Don’t rely solely on social media Many business owners are under the impression social media alone is a marketing solution. It emphatically is not. (I know of at least one seemingly robust local business that only used social media; it recently was forced to close.) It’s one way to keep your name in the game, but it is far from a panacea. And, unlike the professional, responsible content that is created and distributed by a media company like this newspaper or a Chamber of Commerce, many social media posts are infamously unreliable. They are rumor mills that create a less than credible sales environment. Advertising is not the only way to take advantage of news-driven print and digital marketing channels. If you have something of general value to say to the community of customers who are reached by local media, contact the editor. Strike up a relationship. Editors and their reporters always are looking for good content. One of the ways to leverage advertising is to also get your name and message in the editorial pages. As an advertiser, it’s a good bet that you will be given all due deference by the media company. Their welcoming your input is simply good business. The bottom line, by engaging more with your community’s local media, in terms of both advertising and editorial content, you’ll be doing your part to ensure your community doesn’t become a dreaded News Desert. Ask not for whom the story of “Bell” tolls. It tolls for all of us. Bruce Apar is VP of the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce, where this article first appeared. Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He is nominated in the Broadway World Regional Awards as Best Performer in a Play for his title role in “Tuesdays with Morrie.” Voting is open to the public at broadwayworld.com/rockland/ voteregion.cfm. For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. Supporting local media is all our business ‘No news’ is terrible news BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 11 3 26 POPHAM ROAD SCARSDALE, NY 10583, 914.723.6800 © 2023 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. 2440 Saw Mill River Road, Yorktown Heights $1,188,888 | 4 BR | 4 BA | 3,658 SF | 3.6 Acres Just move into this skillfully renovated 4-bedroom, 4-bath home. This special residence offers 3,658 SF of living space and a seamless blend of colonial and farmhouse charm. It is an ideal full-time luxury retreat or weekend getaway. New Kitchen, New Baths, New Interior Doors, New Hardwood floors, New Roof, NEW HVAC, New Driveway. Web# H6272400 Glorianne Mattesi Lic. Assoc. R.E. Broker M 914.393.6990 | O 914.723.6800 [email protected] elliman.com Move-In Ready Renovated Farmhouse! Over the past few weeks, I have had the honor of attending several retirement parties of people I have known for years. That experience, coupled with my thoughts when I went through my retirement in 2021, made me wonder if it is possible to pinpoint the most significant and exciting moment in our professional careers. Our individual answers are unique to our own life’s course, but what about famous people? Can we, given the luxurious advantage of hindsight, answer this inquiry about some of the more renowned people in history? I think we can. Here goes: Albert Einstein, one of the most influential physicists in history, had a defining moment in 1905, when he published his theory of relativity. This revolutionary theory challenged Newtonian physics, presenting a new understanding of space, time and gravity. Einstein’s theory demonstrated that the laws of physics are not absolute and that they are dependent on the observer’s frame of reference. Einstein’s moment led to groundbreaking discoveries, such as the concept of spacetime and the famous equation E = mc 2, which revolutionized our understanding of energy and mass. Marie Curie, a pioneering physicist and chemist, had a significant moment in 1898, when she discovered polonium and radium. The discovery of two radioactive elements not only contributed to Curie’s scientific legacy, but it also led to the development of radiotherapy for cancer treatment. Curie’s work in radioactivity laid the foundation for modern nuclear treatments that continue to save lives today. For all her efforts, she became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in 1903. Isaac Newton, one of history’s greatest scientists, experienced a crucial moment in the late 1660s, when he developed the concept of universal gravitation. As the story goes, Newton observed an apple falling to the ground, inspiring him to question why objects fall towards the Earth. This moment sparked Newton’s journey towards formulating the laws of motion and gravitation, which became cornerstones of classical mechanics. Newton’s work laid the foundation for future scientific advancements and established him as one of the most influential scientists of all time. Charles Darwin, a biologist and naturalist, had his most significant moment during his voyage aboard the HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836. This expedition allowed Darwin to explore various ecosystems and observe a vast array of flora and fauna. It was during this journey that he began to develop his theory of natural selection. Darwin’s observations of different species and their adaptations led him to propose that all organisms share a common ancestor and evolve over time. Darwin’s book, “On the Origin of Species,” published in 1859, revolutionized biology and laid the way for modern evolutionary theory. Galileo Galilei, a mathematician, astronomer and physicist, had his critical moment in 1609, when he first turned his telescope towards the night sky. Galileo’s telescopic observations allowed him to make revolutionary discoveries, including the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus and the uneven surface of the moon. These observations provided evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system, which challenged the prevailing geocentric view. Galileo’s work not only expanded our understanding of the universe, but also marked a significant shift towards empirical observation and experimentation in the field of science. Leaving the scientific realm, I suggest that our first President George Washington’s most significant moment was when he decided to step down after serving two terms. This act of voluntarily leaving power set a precedent for future presidents, establishing the principle of a peaceful transition of power. Washington’s decision solidified the values of democracy and the importance of limiting the concentration of power in one individual, ensuring the longevity of the nation’s democratic institutions. Abraham Lincoln, known for his leadership during the Civil War, faced his defining moment when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The document declared that all slaves in territories rebelling against the Union would be forever free. The Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal step towards abolishing slavery in the United States, transforming the Civil War from a conflict solely focused on preserving the Union to a struggle for human freedom and equality. Lincoln’s courageous act laid the groundwork for the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which officially abolished slavery nationwide. Among the many critical moments in Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency, I would propose that perhaps the most important one took place in 1935 when he signed the Social Security Act into law. This landmark legislation created The luxurious advantage of hindsight JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE SEE MARTORANO PAGE 12
PAGE 12 – YORKTOWN NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Join us for Mass on Christmas! The Catholic Churches of Yorktown St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Rev. Msgr. Joseph R. Giandurco, Pastor 1377 E. Main St. Shrub Oak, NY 10588 www.seton-parish.org 914-528-3547 Masses at Seton: Christmas Eve: 4:00 Family Mass, 6:00, 8:00PM, Midnight in the Church Christmas Day: 7:00, 9:30, 11:00AM, and 12:30PM in the Church St. Patrick’s Rev. Msgr. Joseph R. Giandurco, Pastor Main Church: 137 Moseman Rd. Stone Church: 188 Church Pl. Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 www.stpatricks-yorktown.org 914-962-5050 [email protected] Masses at St. Patrick: Christmas Eve: 4:00, 7:30, 11PM (Not Midnight) in Main Church and 5:00PM in Stone Church Christmas Day: 7:45, 9:15, 11:00AM, 12:30PM in Main Church. There are NO Masses in the Stone Church and NO 5 PM Mass on Christmas Day. a system of social insurance, providing economic security for millions of elderly and unemployed Americans. The Social Security Act represented a fundamental shift in the role of the federal government, establishing its responsibility to protect citizens against poverty and ensuring their wellbeing. Roosevelt’s action, in my view, remains a testament to the power of government intervention in promoting social and economic equality. In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, outlawing racial segregation and discrimination in public places. This momentous event marked a turning point in the struggle for civil rights and equality in America. Through the Civil Rights Act, Johnson and his administration sought to address deep-rooted inequalities faced by African Americans, laying the foundation for future legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Johnson’s commitment to combating racial injustice remains a significant milestone in American history. None of us will ever enjoy the level of acclaim of the scientists or presidents named above. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that each of our lives is important and valuable. Looking back on your professional life, can you point to a moment that stands head and shoulders above the rest in significance and meaning? For me, it was when I was first elected to the Yorktown Town Board in 1991. For the next 20 years, I had the honor of serving the town I love so dearly. I will always be indebted to the wonderful people of Yorktown for affording me what I consider the honor of a lifetime. But enough about me, what about you? MARTORANO FROM PAGE 11 With Christmas looming on the horizon, it got me thinking about the winters in my neighborhood when I was growing up. Today, as a cranky old man, I loathe winter. I don’t like being cold and I hate it when it gets dark at 2 in the afternoon. I prefer summer... sun dresses, flowers on the side of the road, fresh produce from the garden, sun dresses, the smell of freshly cut grass, sun dresses, fishing, baseball, barbecues. Did I say sun dresses? The street I grew up on was called Grandview Avenue, and while I don’t think the views were as grand as that of the Grand Canyon or from the top of the Empire State Building, they were still very nice. I guess when the land was subdivided, the developers felt that “Grandview” was a more marketable name than “Pretty Decent View.” The neighborhood was filled with little hills and valleys, flower-strewn meadows, and several ponds and small streams, which were the perfect place for a young boy to hunt for salamanders, painted turtles and bullfrogs. Besides black-eyed Susans, pussy willow and golden rod, those meadows teemed with grasshoppers and fireflies. But the coolest thing about that neighborhood was that it abutted the 296-acre Holiday Hills YMCA Conference Center, which featured the 38-acre Green Mountain Lake (where we all learned to swim and paddle a canoe), tennis courts, a tiny A-framed church (with a pipe organ!), a string of little cottages known as Cottage Row, bocce courts, horse barns, hiking trails and toboggan runs. It also had an “inn,” which boasted a huge dining room that overlooked the lake and could host wedding receptions. Lots of teens had their first job working in that kitchen. The best thing about Holiday Hills—or as we called it, the “Y”— was that it was run by the father of one of my best friends. So, we pretty much had the run of the place and could hang out there as much as we pleased. It was my backyard—and a great place to ride our bikes. I swear, Norman Rockwell could not have conjured up a better slice of 1960s/70s Americana. But when winter came—Oh, my!—Grandview and the neighboring Y took on a whole new aura. Back then, we actually got snow in the winter. Often... epic snow. And that transformed the neighborhood into a sparkly bleached landscape that would become eerily quiet as all living things huddled away from the frosty wonderland. When the sunshine hit the ice-covered snow, it could be blinding and disorientating. It was awesome! We celebrated snow days off from school as if it were the first day of summer vacation. We would begin putting on our snow clothes around 8 a.m.; that way we could get outside by noon. It was an arduous process. It was hard to decide what to do first. Snowball fight? Snowman? I loved building snowmen. My grandparents still had a coal-fired furnace back then and would give me a bag of coal lumps to use for the snowman’s eyes, his smile and his buttons. Mom provided the carrot Grandview winters BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 13
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 13 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 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 Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! for the nose; Dad had an old top hat he’d let us use. (To this day, I have no idea where he got that thing—never saw him wear it. But every time I watch Slash play in his trademark chapeau, I am reminded of those days.) An old scarf completed the classic snowman look. All those hills and valleys I mentioned earlier became the perfect venues for sledding. Every kid on the block owned either a sled, a saucer, or a toboggan. I myself was a sled guy. There was one particular hill that was most popular for sledding. A frozen pond lay at its bottom and if you steered just right and hit the right speed, you could fly across the pond’s frozen surface and crash into the bushes clear on the other side. I wrote a fictional story based on that hill called “Dead Man’s Hill” when I was in seventh grade and won an award and got it published in the school’s monthly literary magazine known as The Hydrofoil. Several ponds in the neighborhood would freeze over pretty good and were perfect for hockey. The problem was, I couldn’t skate. Never could... at least not very well. I had to use figure skates, which provided more ankle support. But for hockey, I was always the designated goalie because I could wear my snow boots and just stand in front of the goal (two orange road pylons someone pilfered from a construction site). We always played hockey at “The Pond,” the one that was closest to our homes. I remember one day when a bunch of us kids were hanging out there after school, skating and practicing hockey moves. For reasons I can’t quite recall, one of the boys, a kid named Chris who was a year younger than me,” took my sister’s boots (she had her skates on) and tossed them over a fence into someone’s backyard. “Hey! Go get them!” I roared. He just skated away. But here is where not being able to skate was to my advantage. Wearing my boots, I followed him out onto the ice and caught up. “Hey, Chris! What did you do that for? Go get those boots!” “No.” I laid him out with one punch. He pinwheeled for a moment, windmilling his arms to try to keep his balance, but to no avail. He wobbled on his skates and then fell over like a bag of wet cement. I looked down at him and his bloody nose and soon-to-be black eye and said, “It’s OK. I’ll get ’em.” Which I did. Then I went home. But here’s the rub. Chris’s father was the principal of our high school. I figured that wouldn’t bode well for me. About an hour later he called and spoke to my father, who calmly but firmly explained to him what had transpired. A short while later, Chris and his dad appeared on our doorstep and Chris tearfully apologized for being such an unmitigated ass hat. Chris wasn’t at the bus stop the next day, but I saw him a few days later and he was sporting the most awesome shiner. I will always remember his dad and what he did that day. He wasn’t one of those parents who blindly believed his kid could do no wrong. I guess we could use more of that today. The other pond in the neighborhood was Umshied’s Pond because it was on the Umshied family’s property. They were the ones who used to own all the land that eventually became Grandview Avenue. They would let us kids fish in the pond each spring and summer. One day, in early winter, my friend George and I decided to take a shortcut and walk across the frozen surface of Umshied’s Pond to get to wherever the hell we were going. (Constant readers may recall George from a previous column called “9-11 and the Lemonade Stand.” He was my friend who was inside one of the Twin Towers when the planes attacked.) I should note that before I left the house that morning, my mother actually warned me: “Don’t go on the ponds, the ice isn’t thick enough yet.” So, of course, the first thing we did was go on the pond. And of course, the ice cracked, and I plunged through. It was terrifying. And a bit chilly. I was able to grab the lip of the hole as I dropped so my head was never submerged. But my heavy winter coat was soaked and was making it difficult to pull myself out. “George!” I cried. “Help! Pull me out!” He turned and assessed the situation. “I can’t... I’ll fall through too.” I was finally able to pull myself up out of the hole and onto the ice. I then crawled on my belly (just like we were taught in Boy Scouts) to the safety of the shore. I was dripping wet. I couldn’t go home like that. My mother would bust me hard. Fortunately, George’s mother wasn’t home, so we went there and tossed all my clothes, including the coat (a Navy P coat) into the dryer. George lent me his bathrobe while we waited. It was nearly impossible to pull a fast one on my mother, but somehow, I think we got away with that one. To this day, I still razz George about that incident, praising him for his “bravery” in saving my life. But I am glad I never punched him in the eye. But the moral of all this is... always listen to your mother. She may be a buzzkill, but she is usually right. DUMAS FROM PAGE 12 Contact Us Yorktown News is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email yorktownnews@halstonmedia. com.
YORKTOWN NEWS – THURIncludes FREE Eye Exam 2 Pairs of Glasses for $7995* with single-vision uncoated plastic lenses Cortlandt Town Center 3145 East Main Street Mohegan Lake, NY (845) 823-4063 Visit americasbest.com to book your eye exam. *Ask associate for details. NO FEE Are You Planning On Retiring Soon? Make an INFORMED DECISION 914-330-5252 [email protected] Angela Asadi Licensed Agent MEDICARE MADE SIMPLE! I CAN HELP! ON YOUR INSTALLATION 50% OFF Limited Time O1.855.492.60FREE ESTIMAEBefore Make the smart awhen tacklinNew orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combinemay apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Constructhe offer may not available in your area. If you call the number providemail, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service proviNOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/erie-licenses/. Up to With the reindeer resting at thVolunteer Fire Department goupgrading Santa’s ride from a slecandy cane run around town. Kiwith the man in red, confirm thhome some minty treatSanta ridDonika Komani, 7 and Agon Komani, 6 Santa brought cheer to kids everywhere he stopped around town. Santa takes a timeouhelpers with the Mohwith the Mohegan Voand Volunteer FirHeberto, Joaquin (age 2.5), and Ashley Espinosa Jorge and Lucas Portillo (age 3) pose with Santa. PHOTOS: JENNA WALDMAN PAGE 14
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PAGE 16 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER Lakeland’s Nichole Ljuljic (7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals) scored nine of her game-high 18 points in the opening quarter, propelling the host Hornets to a 16-7 first-quarter lead and a 46-37 victory against crosstown rival Yorktown on Dec. 4. “I just had a good warmup,” Ljuljic said. “My shot felt comfortable so I knew in the game that I had the confidence to go ahead and shoot. They just ended up falling, which was luckily in my favor.” Sarah Devane (11 points, 7 rebounds), Ava Lugo (5 points), Riley Waters (4 points), Amanda Franco (4 points), Grace Hahn (2 points), and Kellie Sullivan (2 points) also contributed to the victory. “It’s always a fun game against them, the rivalry has been going on for so long, so it feels good when we can get the upper hand on them,” Ljuljic said. “We feel good going into the start of the rest of the season, getting off to a 3-0 start. We are just excited and we are just going to keep working hard to get better every day.” Kaitlyn Judge (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Ava Costello (12 points) led Yorktown in its opener. “Even last year, they were two of our offensive weapons,” said Yorktown coach Kristi Dini. “They came out today and were the two toughest kids for us, they did everything they could offensively. I’m not surprised. They did that for us last year and they are going to continue to do that (this year). Trailing 25-15 at halftime, Yorktown scored eight of the first 10 points in the third quarter. “In the third, we got a couple of stops and a couple of baskets, and we were able to cut the lead,” Dini said. A field goal by Judge sliced Lakeland’s advantage to 27-23. “It was huge,” Judge said. “We came out of the half thinking that we had to take this game and in the third quarter, that’s when we started turning it on. Even though we didn’t get the win, we played aggressive and we played the best that we knew how to.” Lakeland answered with baskets by Lugo and Sullivan, starting a 12-4 run to finish the third quarter, which the Hornets led at the end of 39-27. Symbolizing that run was the hustle play of Hahn, who knocked the ball off the head of Ljuljic propels Hornets to victory over Huskers Judge and Costello pace Yorktown Yorktown’s Kaitlyn Judge follows through on a three. Lakeland’s Grace Hahn and Yorktown’s Lexi Livadhi battle for a rebound. Lakeland’s Nichole Ljuljic leads a break as Yorktown’s Liv DelGaudio runs with her. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO BASKETBALL SEE LJULJIC PAGE 17
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 17 a Yorktown player that went out of bounds, to keep the ball in the Hornets’ possession, leading to Sullivan’s hoop. “Grace is our workhorse,” said Lakeland coach Miranda Mangan. “She always does an amazing job in crashing the boards, getting on the floor, getting every loose ball she possibly can, especially on offensive rebounds. That’s just how she plays and that’s why we love her. She brings that energy to us and again, all the offensive rebounds, it’s more possessions for us to score. She has a great work ethic.” Judge scored the first five points of the final quarter with a field goal and a 3-pointer. “It felt amazing, it’s the best way to start a quarter by getting two baskets,” Judge said. “Definitely my teammates helped me, they set great screens, which got me the baskets.” Ljuljic scored a deuce after that but Costello responded with a trey, trimming Lakeland’s lead to 41- 35, before the Hornets scored five of the game’s final seven points to secure the win. “We just realized that we didn’t want them to get back in the game so we just had to turn the energy back up on defense,” Ljuljic said. “That meant doing whatever we could. That meant helping each other up, talking to one another, just getting our energy back up.” Lexi Livadhi (6 points, 5 rebounds), Sofia Boucher (2 points), and Liv DelGaudio (2 points) produced as well for the Huskers. Yorktown (1-1) won at Yonkers 78-14 on Dec. 6, paced by Judge (15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), DelGaudio (10 points, 10 rebounds), Jesse Crocamo (12 points), Costello (8 points, 5 rebounds), and Izzy Walling (three 3-pointers, 4 rebounds). Lakeland’s Ava Lugo drives baseline past Yorktown’s Lexi Livadhi. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO The Huskers’ Keira Mooney drives baseline as the Hornets’ Riley Waters goes for the steal. LJULJIC FROM PAGE 16 Sports Deadline The sports deadline for Yorktown News is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to sports@ halstonmedia.com. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. munity with rs who re. That’s what our town is made of. 1201196 State Farm, Bloomington, IL George Lucciola, Agent 1885 Commerce Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 Bus: 914-962-3030 [email protected] State Farm® has a long heritage of helping out in the community. That’s why I’m proud to support Yorktown Youth Sports. Get to a better State® . Community starts with neighbors who care. That’s what our town is made of. 1201196 State Farm, Bloomington, IL Ge18YorBugeoState Farm® has a long heritage of helping out in the community. That’s why I’m proud to support Yorktown Youth Sports. Get to a better State® . yho That’s what our town is made of. 1201196 State Farm, Bloomington, IL George Lucciola, Agent 1885 Commerce Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 Bus: 914-962-3030 [email protected] State Farm® has a long heritage of helping out in the community. That’s why I’m proud to support Yorktown Youth Sports. Get to a better State® Community . starts with neighbors who care. That’s what our town is made of. 1201196 State Farm, Bloomington, IL George Lucciola, Agent 1885 Commerce Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 Bus: 914-962-3030 [email protected] State Farm® has a long heritage of helping out in the community. That’s why I’m proud to support Yorktown Youth Sports. Get to a better State® . Community starts with neighbors who care. That’s what our town is made of. State Farm® has a long heritage of helping out in the community. That’s why I’m proud to support Yorktown. Get to a better State®. “The entire staff at UMAC is exceptional and really cares about its students. ”
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER CORTLANDT ICE HOCKEY (4-1) Cortlandt 7, Mahopac 3 Friday, Dec. 8, Brewster Ice Arena Cortlandt beat rival Mahopac 7-3 for its fourth straight win. “A huge part of our early lead (3-0) was our constant offensive pressure,” said Cortlandt’s Jack Jimenez. “Coach (Bart) Mucci always emphasizes to bring the game to them right from the first puck drop and tonight we successfully did that. Our goalie Sean (Mansfield) played a great game and made the saves he had to in very tough spots, he bailed us out when we needed him.” Jimenez scored the first goal of the second period, putting the Rebels up 4-1. “We kept our foot on the gas pedal throughout the game, the fourth goal was the result of my lines mates hard forechecking in the offensive zone,” Jimenez said. “The goal meant a lot to us because we felt like we were gaining most of the momentum now and it also gave us a little more leeway to play more freely. We are having a great start to the season and the team knows we have enough to go far this year.” Jimenez (2G, 1A), Jake DiBenedetto (1G, 2A), Dylan Marthalar (1G), Nick Curry (2G), Sean Foley (1G, 1A), Michael Alfinito (1A), Vincent Ofrias (1A), and Mansfield (13 saves) did the job for Cortlandt. “Beating Mahopac means a lot to us, it’s always good to win especially a rivalry game, and we look to keep this winning streak going,” Mansfield said. BYSNS ICE HOCKEY (0-3) John Jay-CR 5, BYSNS 2 Friday, Dec. 8, Brewster Ice Arena Brewster/Yorktown/Somers/North Salem (BYSNS) fell to John Jay-Cross River 5-2, paced by Sam Cucinell (1G), Ryan Dean (1G), Matteo Guastadisegni (1A), Wolfgang Cook (1A), and Dylan Weber (11 saves). Pelham 10, BYSNS 0 Sunday, Dec. 10, Brewster Ice Arena Last year’s state Division II finalist Pelham defeated the Bisons 10-0, with Weber and Patrick Vaughn recording 27 and 9 saves respectively. YORKTOWN WRESTLING (9-0) Yorktown Holiday Duals Saturday, Dec. 9, Yorktown High School Yorktown won the 21st Annual Yorktown Holiday Duals by defeating Newburgh Free Academy in the finals 38-36, clinched by freshman Gio Tornambe’s pin at 30 seconds in the 116-pound bracket. “I just knew that I have worked harder and put Rebels earn fourth win in a row YHS wins tourney; Huskers beat MV Cortlandt’s Nate Garofalo goes on the attack. Cortlandt’s Jack Jimenez controls the puck. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO VARSITY ROUNDUP PAGE 18 – YORKTOWN NEWS SPORTS SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 19 FACTORY TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF COMMERCIAL & HOMEOWNER POWER EQUIPMENT EAST ROAD MOTORS 58 CAROLAN RD. EAST CARMEL, NY 10512 www.EASTROADMOTORS.com 845-225-3503 PICK-UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE email: [email protected] * LEAF BLOWERS * LAWN MOWERS * STRING TRIMMERS * CHAIN SAWS * SNOWBLOWERS * GENERATORS * QUADS * SNOWMOBILES SERVICE & REPAIR Starting our 44th year serving Yorktown children Family Owned And Operated, Owners Always On The Premises. WWW.PIEDPIPERSCHOOLYORKTOWN.COM 2090 Crompond Road - Yorktown Heights For more information call 914-962-5196 or 914-815-5281 PRESCHOOL • Ages 18 months to 5 years • Operating Hours 7am to 6pm • New York State Certified Curriculum • Before & After Care Available BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES • Ages 18 months to 10 years • Large indoor and fenced in outdoor playgrounds • Homework Assistance • Bus Transportation Provided By The Yorktown School District • Food and drinks provided Happy Holidays from the Pied Piper Family! Enrollment Opens Feb 1st For The 2024-2025 School Year SUMMER CAMP • Ages 18 Months To 10 Years • Flexible Days, Weeks & Times • Indoor Air Conditioned Playground • Weekly Themes And Activities Including Sports, Arts & Crafts, Music, Cooking And Theatre. • Bls, Cpr, Rit First Aid, Epipen & Mat Certified Check out our new website. Call today and sign up for a tour. Our family can’t wait to meet your family!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 more time in the room and that gave me the confidence to know that I was going to win,” Tornambe said. “It felt really good to come out in top and help my team get the win.” Nicolas Bucello (technical fall, 138 pounds), Joe Tornambe (pin, 145), Anthony Muscolino (pin, 152), Ronan Forde (5-1 decision, 190), George Gjergji (pin, 285), and Colin Sheridan (pin, 145, extra match) won for the Huskers as well. “It meant a lot to the team to win the tournament because we have worked super hard the past few weeks and since we came in second last year, we wanted to come out on top this year,” Gio Tornambe said. The Huskers also beat Coxsackie-Athens, Putnam Valley, and New Rochelle. Lakeland/Panas finished third in the eight-team event, going 2-2, beating Carmel 48-27 and Coxsackie-Athens 39-34, while losing to Sleepy Hollow 36-24 and Newburgh Free Academy 40-30. Dan Horowitz (3-1, 101), Owen McManus (3- 1, 108), Matt Travis (4-0, 116), Matt Clyman (3-1, 145), Justin Alvarado (2-2, 160), Alex Ryzy (3-1, 189/215), Joe DeSantis (3-1, 189/215), and Dan Hurley (3-1, 285) stood out for the Rebels. “Our kids fought hard today, focused on the basics, and just did what we worked on in practice,” said Lakeland/Panas coach Dave Bergen. LAKELAND/PANAS WRESTLING (2-2) Wednesday, Dec. 6, Hendrick Hudson High School Lakeland/Panas competed in a multi-meet along with Hendrick Hudson, Tappan Zee and Nyack. Getting into the winners’ circle for the Rebels were Horowitz (2-0, 101), Mike Santoiemma (3-0, 145), Thomas Mekuto (2-0, 152), Ryzy (2-0, 190), Raul Aritsy (2-0, 215), Hurley (2-1, 285), and Shane Spielberg (1-0, 170), with McManus (108), Mateo Santiago (124), Brian DePascal (132), Max Finnegan (138), Alvarado (152), Martin Ryzy (160), Tim Mooney (170), DeSantis (190), Steven Miller (190), and Nick Shalhoub (215) all going 1-1. “It’s great getting so many kids on the mat,” Bergen said. “It’s the only way to learn what is working and what you need to work on. The kids all did a great job and were happy to compete.” YORKTOWN BOYS BASKETBALL (1-1) Yorktown 68, Mount Vernon 61 Friday, Dec. 8, Mount Vernon High School Yorktown defeated perennial power Mount Vernon 68-61. “It means a lot, after a tough start to our season we needed a bounce back game and to do it against a team and a program as storied as Mount Vernon is going to help us get our season back on track,” said Yorktown’s Billy Feeks. “Being down 10 early in the second half wasn’t ideal but we kept our composure and trusted the system and were able to come out with the win.” Feeks (23 points, 5 assists), Brandon Montero (15 points), Kaden Gonzalez (16 points), Ryan Duffy (8 points), and Justin Price (10 assists 5 rebounds) led Yorktown. “The kids worked hard this week in practice, and I’m so happy for them to get a win on the road at Mount Vernon,” said Yorktown coach Mark Pavella. “The kids earned this win, and we are looking forward to getting back into the gym and continuing to grow as a team.” ROUNDUP FROM PAGE 18 SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 20 Cortlandt’s Nick Curry looks for a teammate. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO Cortlandt’s Jake DiBenedetto sends in a shot against Mahopac. SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 19 Great care shouldn’t wait. 3379 Crompond Rd (in the BJs Plaza) Yorktown Heights NY 914.930.5550 afcurgentcare.com/yorktown-heights M-F: 8am-8pm, S-S: 8am-5pm At American Family Care, getting you better quickly is our number one priority. Our experienced team of medical providers is standing by and ready to treat you for just about anything that is making you sick. It’s nice to know that great health care is right around the corner from where you are, early or late, seven days a week. No appointment needed. Grades 6–12 with 5-day boarding for 9–12 in Katonah, NY harveyschool.org/apply Apply Now for 2024-25 Priority Deadline Jan. 15
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 21 SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! FEDERAL & STATE INCENTIVES UP TO 30% AVAILABLE! SUPER SAVINGS on your Heat Pump project while program funding lasts... CALL NOW TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY! CALL US TODAY! ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! LIMITED TIME OFFER UP TO INSTANT REBATE EXP 12/31/23 Please call or visit us online 845-600-8004 $ 8,000 AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS INSTANT REBATE EXP 12/31/23 Please call or visit us online 845-600-8004 $ 20,000 GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS UP TO EXCLUDES SERVICE CONTRACT • EXP 12/31/23 Coupon must be presented at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $ 50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com Happy Holidays, from our family to yours! UP TO BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER Yorktown goalkeeper Ciara O’Brien finished a girls soccer varsity career this fall that spanned four seasons, two of them as a starter. She was one of the Huskers’ cocaptains this fall, along with Kaitlyn Judge. The senior was named AllSection and All-League. Last season, her junior campaign, she was named All-Section Honorable Mention and All-League. O’Brien is also in her second season of being a member of the Huskers’ girls bowling squad this winter, which won its first league title since 2013 last season. She hasn’t played a spring sport yet but plans on joining Yorktown’s new girls flag football team this upcoming spring. How old were you when you started playing soccer and what got you started? I was 4 years old. When I was younger, I did everything I could to avoid the goal. It wasn’t until I joined the travel team in third grade that I tried it out and I loved it. What was your favorite thing about being on the soccer team at Yorktown? It’s how supportive we are of one another and how connected we are. It’s such a great feeling being part of an atmosphere in which everyone wants the best for each other. The friendships made on this team go far beyond the field. What was your favorite team activity or pregame or postgame ritual that you shared with your teammates? It has got to be the pregame locker room. Everything is so chaotic. The music is blasting, everyone’s getting their hair braided, and someone is always missing a sock somehow. It’s the perfect time to let loose and get hyped for the game. Who has been your biggest role model over the years and what have you learned from them? My former teammate, Emily Ward (who plays soccer at Virginia Military Institute, VMI). We have grown up playing sports both together and against each other, and she has always been someone I look up to. Not only her ability on the field, but she is the definition of what a good teammate really is and her leadership is unmatched. Tell us one thing about yourself that not a lot of people know? I have an irrational fear of balloons popping. I have to close my eyes and plug my ears whenever someone is inflating or playing with a balloon. Do you know what you want to study in college, what school, and do you plan to continue to play soccer? I’m not sure what school I want to go to yet, but I’m planning to study either biology or psychology in college. I am planning on playing for the club soccer team at whatever school I end up at. Name your favorite athlete/ sports team? I love watching the United States Women’s National Team play. What was your favorite music to listen to while warming up for a game? A lot of the music I listen to when warming up is the typical hype up rap music. A few songs that deviate from this, but are the most important, are “Shipping Up To Boston” by Dropkick Murphys and “Stadium Rave” from SpongeBob. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? I’d probably go with the typical answer of invisibility. I’d use this to sneak on planes for traveling, maybe listen in on some gossip, and sneak up on my friends to scare them. If you could pick one place to visit on vacation that you’ve never been to, where would you go and why? I would probably go to Paris to see all of the amazing sites but also to put my four years of studying French to use (I do not remember anything I learned). What was your favorite food to eat before or after a game? Our coach (Ryan Langkafel) actually instilled a new tradition that every halftime everyone can eat some of the Welch’s fruit snacks he brings. The purpose of this is to give a little energy boost for the start of the next half and to act as a little pick-me-up. What’s the best place to eat in Yorktown and why? My favorite place to eat in Yorktown is Pow! Burger. There is no better place to get a classic burger and fries than this place. What’s the go-to app on your phone and why? I use Spotify pretty much every hour of the day. Music is such a big part of my life and I love listening to it when I’m doing work, driving, showering, etc. What would you say to a young athlete thinking about trying out for the Yorktown girls soccer team? They are entering such an amazing environment. Soccer aside, being a part of the team is such a rewarding experience. If there is a young athlete thinking about trying out for the Yorktown girls soccer team, never give up on your goals because hard work pays off in the end. Yorktown co-captain Ciara O’Brien did the job in goal Yorktown keeper Ciara O’Brien looks to make the save in a 6-3 win at Byram Hills. PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
PAGE 22 – YORKTOWN NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER The start of any new season always means the old reliables graduate, and holes are left to fill. The John Jay/Somers/Yorktown gymnastics team is no different, but head coach Teodora Cepoi is taking the losses in stride. “We have other kids coming up,” she said, and so far the results prove it’s not simply a coach being optimistic. First, the girls beat Lakeland/ Panas by 4 tenths of a point, and on Dec. 7, the team defeated Suffern by a score of 176.15 - 123.55. One of those new contributors is Arianna Gulli. The Yorktown gymnast felt best about her performance on the beam. “I stuck all my landings and didn’t fall,” she said. Good for a 7.5, Gulli had no problem settling for a 7.1 on the floor either. “My one and a half was good and so was my tumbling,” said the freshman. On the speaker, Heart of Courage helped provide the necessary lift and soften the blows. “I like that the song is dramatic,” she said. “That fits my personality.” Kayla Cambareri, on the other hand, stood more lighthearted on the floor with her Irish jig sounding song. “I like how action packed it is and lets me show off my skills,” said the John Jay gymnast. She scored an 8.85. But she was most pleased with her (9.0) performance on vault and the improvements so far. “I landed more upright then I usually do,” said the sophomore. “Compared to last year, I think my vault is getting there.” The same seems true for Amelia Carozza on beams. A 9.15, she still had measured praise for her showing. “I stepped all my skills, and I thought it was a clean routine,” said the Yorktown student. Then on the floor, the gymnast doubled down. Another 9.15, she felt her performance was also pretty unblemished but fell short when gravity took over. “I need to clean up sticking my landings,” said the junior. In the other direction, Kaitlin Gannon made the most of her springboard. “I executed very well today,” said the Somers gymnast of her 8.05 on vault. The sophomore still hopes to improve on her landing too, but her coach likes what she sees so far. “She’s clean and very graceful,” said Cepoi. The three-time Olympic medalist would know. A teammate of Nadia Comăneci in 1976, the years have not slowed her passion for the sport. “I’m still ready to go,” her eyes put a concluding exclamation point on another day for herself and the girls. Combined team already in stride Amelia Carozza PHOTO: RICH MONETTI GYMNASTICS Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays! 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! $25 OFF Service Calls When You Present This Ad. New Customers Only. Keep the lights on. • GENERATORS • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! DR. AMANDA WIECHERT, DMD & DR. FELICIA NICOLAS, DDS. 1855 COMMERCE STREET YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 (914) 302-7717 www.northeastdentalny.com [email protected] Dentistry with the personalized touch EXPERIENCE THE NORTHEAST DENTAL DIFFERENCE Long-time Yorktown dentist Dr. Amanda Wiechert founded Northeast Dental in 2014, with the idea that patients should be #1. We know that life can be hectic, and our team goes the extra mile to make patients’ care convenient, comfortable, and reliably high in quality.
Jolabokaflod is the Icelandic tradition of gifting books to friends and family on Christmas Eve. The library has put together a display in honor of this tradition, with staff picks of their favorite reads. Here are just a few of the titles Hart Library employees loved: “Big Tree” by Brian Selznick “Clytemnestra” by Costanza Casati “Love, Theoretically” by Ali Hazelwood “Olga Dies Dreaming” by Xochitl Gonzalez “The Bear and the Nightingale” by Katherine Arden “Tress of the Emerald Sea” by Brandon Sanderson “Vicious” by V.E. Schwab Jolabokaflod began in 1944, as paper was one of the few commodities not rationed during World War II. This led to many Icelanders exchanging their favorite books for the holidays, and it continues to this day as publishers flood the market with new releases before the end of the year. After exchanging gifts, Icelanders traditionally spend the night reading their new books while drinking warm beverages and eating Icelandic chocolate. See all Hart’s staff picks on the Jolabokaflod book display inside the library. Gratitude In November, the Children’s Room crafted a “Gratitude Chain,” where kids came and wrote down what they were thankful or grateful for, with each child’s contribution added as a link to the chain. By the end of the month, Hart’s chain spanned the entire width of the windows of the Story Hour room. The Library thanks all the kids who participated. Calendar Calendar guide: A – Adults; Y - Young Adults; C - Children. Visit the calendar page at hartlibrary.org for more information. Register online unless listed as a “drop-in” program. FRIDAY, DEC. 15 C - Music and Movement with Lori Cohen (Drop-in). 11-11:45 a.m. A - Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 12:30- 3:30 p.m. A/Y - One-on-one Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2:30-4 p.m. SATURDAY, DEC. 16 C - The Story of Ebenezer Scrooge. 10:30-11:30 a.m. MONDAY, DEC. 18 A - Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 10 a.m.-1 p.m.. C - Rock and Roll for Little Ones (Drop-in). 10:30-11 a.m. C - PAWS to Read with Izod. 5:30-6:30 p.m. TUESDAY, DEC. 19 A - Medicare Counseling (Dropin). 10 a.m.-1 p.m. A - Chair Yoga with Lisa. 1-2 p.m. A/Y - One-on-one Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2:30-4 p.m. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20 C - Stories and Rhymes with Ms. Terry (Drop-in). 10-10:30 a.m. A - Canasta (Drop-in). 12:30- 2:30 p.m. A/Y/C - Home Alone Movie. 2-4 p.m. THURSDAY, DEC. 21 A - Quilting & Needlework (Drop-in). 10 a.m.-12 p.m. A – Mostly Nonfiction Book Club. 2-3 p.m.. C - Lego Free Build (Drop-in). 5:30-6:30 p.m. FRIDAY, DEC. 22 A - Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 12:30- 3:30 p.m. A/Y - One-on-one Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2:30-4 p.m. Hart Library Corner The Capa Space in Yorktown Heights will present an exhibit of more than 30 photographs by photojournalist John Shearer, a prolific photo journalist who captured iconic images of major historical events in the 1960s and ’70s, including the funerals of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 25, 1963 and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 9, 1968, the Attica uprising, and much more. Known for his empathetic eye and ability to connect with subjects, Shearer produced stirring photographs of Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s funeral and the Attica prison uprising for Life and Look magazines. Shearer’s compassionate, unflinching photographs provided unique insight into a turbulent time in America. His work appeared in the New York Times, Ebony, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, among other outlets. Shearer brought nuance and humanity to charged issues of race, poverty, and justice. His visual storytelling cemented his reputation as an important voice of social documentary photography. The exhibit opened on Dec. 9 and will run through April 7. Gallery hours are 1 - 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. The Capa Space is at 2467 Quaker Church Road. Visit thecapaspace.org for more. Article courtesy of the Capa Space John Shearer’s iconic photojournalism on display at Capa John Shearer’s photograph of John F. Kennedy’s funeral is among 30 iconic images now on display at the Capa Space. PHOTO BY JOHN SHEARER, COURTESY THE CAPA SPACE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 23 NO NEWS... 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. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # 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 Yorktown News YES, I really enjoy Yorktown News and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) 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PAGE 24 – YORKTOWN NEWS LEISURE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 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. Mimic 4. Payroll firm 7. Perform in a play 10. Opine: __ philosophical 11. Crony 12. Political action committee 13. 1991 Wimbledon winner 15. Affirmative 16. Exclamation of disgust 19. Action of connecting 21. A way to calm 23. Especially fine or decorative clothing 24. Walked proudly 25. Group of people related through male heir 26. Supplemented with difficulty 27. Soft touch 30. Erases 34. Spanish river 35. A princess can detect it 36. Clouds of gas 41. A way to get through 45. Part of a book 46. Southwestern US state 47. Fields where rice is grown 50. Area in Ghana 54. Sayings 55. Involve deeply 56. Compels to act 57. “Ignore all rules” 59. Indoor entertainment space 60. Born of 61. Back muscle 62. Sea dweller 63. Tools that resemble an axe 64. Prefix denoting class or kind 65. Tooth caregiver CLUES DOWN 1. Inspiring 2. Put into a box 3. Breathes out 4. Pacify 5. Patriotic society for women 6. Fell down 7. Clothing 8. Dishwasher detergent brand 9. Former French republic 13. Single lens reflex 14. Men’s fashion accessory 17. Consumed 18. Marry 20. __ up: intensifies 22. Body of water 27. People of southern Benin 28. Decorate a cake with frosting 29. Snag 31. Yearly tonnage (abbr.) 32. Records brain activity (abbr.) 33. Car mechanics group 37. Brought up to snuff 38. __ faire: Economic approach 39. Phil __, former CIA 40. Affixed 41. Period of adolescence 42. Substance 43. Danced 44. Baked without its shell 47. Parts per billion (abbr.) 48. Satisfaction 49. Balkans river 51. Christmas carols 52. Partner to tonic 53. “The Godfather” character Johnny 58. Swiss river Newburgh, NY RWHudsonValleyNY.com MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-HOUR PROBLEM GAMING HOTLINE: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369) Friday, December 29 • 10pm Earn Entries All Month Long! *Actual model and colors may vary. SANTA’S ELECTRIC SURPRISE Win A New Tesla!* Streamlined Marketing • Free advertising in the Monthly Yorktown Member Events blast • Complimentary 300-word article in The Yorktown Network • Company logo, contact info added to the Chamber Membership Directory • Offer discounts to Chamber members • Discounted LED sign advertising New Business Opportunities • Receive customer referrals from the Chamber when we receive inquiries regarding your products or services • Member networking meetings: meet new clients or business partners • Chamber “Check In” – personal scheduled business check in meetings Education & Advocacy • Be informed on governmental issues affecting the business community Why join the Yorktown Chamber? Why not? JOIN US TODAY! VISIT WWW.YORKTOWNCHAMBER.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO JOIN The Yorktown Chamber of Commerce’s Membership Blitz NEW MEMBERS: join by January 2023 and save 25% off your membership dues for the first year! CURRENT MEMBERS: earn three months free LED SIGN advertising with a signed referral. 1
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PAGE 26 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Also known as “preschool access for all,” universal prekindergarten is a state and federally-funded policy framework designed to give any family the opportunity to enroll their preschool-aged child in a pre-kindergarten education program for free, regardless of family income or background. Since 2007, Lakeland has offered universal pre-K in two half-day sessions, with current enrollment around 70 students. District officials said the existing programs “have proven to be highly beneficial for children’s early development and success in school.” The program is funded by a combination of state and federal grants, as well as from the district’s own budget and is open to students who will be four years of age by Dec. 1, of the school year. Currently, the morning session runs from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; the afternoon session runs from 12:30-3:00 p.m., leaving a gap in the day for working parents. “The introduction of full-day [pre-K program] in collaboration with an outside third party demonstrates the commitment to provide accessible and comprehensive educational opportunities for our youngest learners,” Gagliardi said. “A full-day program offers several significant advantages, including providing high-quality pre-K education to families regardless of family income or background... the availability of a comprehensive educational team, a convenience for parents as we move from a partial to a full day.” Gagliardi said if the process is successful, the district would begin the program in September 2024 with 72 available slots for students, which will be selected by a lottery system that will open on the district website on Feb. 1 and run through March 1. “You’ll see an email and hear more from me about the process as it unfolds,” Gagliardi said. District still hiring Lakeland continues to seek personnel as the district strives to become “fully staffed,” according to district human resources chief Dr. Joseph Mosey. Mosey told the school board that the the district had hired 93 staff members since July 1, but is still seeking to fill several positions, including food service helpers, school bus drivers, monitors substitute teachers, and teacher’s aides. Mosey said those interested can learn more or apply at lakeland schools.org/departments/human_ resources/employment.php. LAKELAND CSD FROM PAGE 6 Your ad could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151, to find out how. Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 914-302-5628. Notice of Formation of D & E Guest Reality Management LLC.. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-09-15. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to D & E Guest Reality Management LLC.: 79-81 Main Street, P.O. Box 1100 ground floor Yonkers NY 10702. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of D&D Vele Home Solutions, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 10-22. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Alba Illescas: 1230 E Main Street Shrub Oak NY 10588. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of 8TH Notch ABA LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-08-03. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to United States Corporation Agents, INC.: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of O'Callaghan Brothers, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2002-01-02. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to A.J. O'Callaghan: 2 Hilltop Dr. Port Chester NY 10579. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of 622 Harrison Ave, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 10-22. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Alba Illescas: 1230 E Main Street Shrub Oak NY 10588. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of 174 Route 22, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-10-22. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Alba Illescas: 1230 E Main Street Shrub Oak NY 10588. Purpose: Any lawful purpose To advertise in Yorktown News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Chosen Realty, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/18/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 167 Phyllis Ct, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. General Purpose FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. 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 1-855-916-5473 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS LAKE MOHEGAN AQUATIC PESTICIDE TREATMENTS NOTICE IS HERE GIVEN that sealed proposals will be received by the Town Clerk, Town of Yorktown, Westchester County, NY until 10:00 AM on January 11, 2024 at Town Hall, 363 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 for Lake Mohegan Aquatic Pesticide Treatments. Copies of the Request for Proposal Documents are available upon request or on the Town’s website, www.yorktownny.org under “Bids and RFPs,” as well as on BidNet, www.bidnetdirect.com. All completed proposals must be labeled “RFP: Lake Mohegan Aquatic Pesticide Treatments” and must be accompanied with an executed non-collusive bidding certificate. The proposer assumes the risk of any delay in the mail or in the handling of mail by the employees of the Town of Yorktown. Whether sent by mail or means of personal delivery, the proposer assumes the responsibility for having bids in on the day, time, and place specified above. The Town reserves the right to waive any informalities in the proposals, to reject any or all proposals, and reserves the right to accept that proposal which it deems most favorable to the interests of the Town of Yorktown. If mailed, sealed proposals must be addressed in care of the Town Clerk at the above address. DIANA L. QUAST, TOWN CLERK TOWN OF YORKTOWN MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 2023-2024 GRANT SERVICES NOTICE IS HERE GIVEN that sealed proposals will be received by the Town Clerk, Town of Yorktown, Westchester County, NY until 10:00 AM on January 11, 2024 at Town Hall, 363 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 for 2023-2024 Grant Services for the Town of Yorktown. Copies of the Request for Proposal Documents are available upon request or on the Town’s website, www.yorktownny.org under “Bids and RFPs,” as well as on BidNet, www.bidnetdirect.com. All completed proposals must be labeled “RFP: 2023-2024 Grant Services” and must be accompanied with an executed non-collusive bidding certificate. The proposer assumes the risk of any delay in the mail or in the handling of mail by the employees of the Town of Yorktown. Whether sent by mail or means of personal delivery, the proposer assumes the responsibility for having bids in on the day, time, and place specified above. The Town reserves the right to waive any informalities in the proposals, to reject any or all proposals, and reserves the right to accept that proposal which it deems most favorable to the interests of the Town of Yorktown. If mailed, sealed proposals must be addressed in care of the Town Clerk at the above address. DIANA L. QUAST, TOWN CLERK TOWN OF YORKTOWN MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK
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PAGE 28 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023