The Katonah-Lewisboro Times 11.10.2022

VOL. 5 NO. 34 Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Outpouring of support for John
Jay coach following complaint

BY TOM BARTLEY the backside in a girls junior- two decades, Swertfager is not a Coach Bill Swertfager
CONTRIBUTING WRITER varsity softball game. full-time KLSD employee. e speaking before the Board
owner of the Cross River-based of Education on Nov. 3.
For more than 20 years, Coach Neither the KLSD administra- marketing rm AIA Promotion-
Bill Swertfager has built John tion nor the school board, bound al Source, he draws only a token PHOTO: TOM BARTLEY
Jay High School’s wrestling pro- by privacy regulations, is permit- stipend from the school treasury.
gram, from literally nothing to ted to identify the complainant. Whoever is varsity wrestling
a perennial Section One con- One account making the rounds coach this winter will be paid
tender. More signi cantly, he’s among the coach’s supporters in- $8,140 for the season.
built a generation of young men sists that neither the player nor
and women who are now better her parents have taken issue with Still,the 63-year-old Swertfag-
adults thanks to the example he his actions. Instead, this version er noted in the interview, “I have
set and the life lessons he taught, holds, one of the girl’s teammates, dedicated my entire adult life, 40
scores of supporters told the Ka- “uncomfortable” with seeing the years, to coaching boys and girls
tonah-Lewisboro school board touch, complained about it. in seven sports, including softball,
last week. baseball, track and eld, boys and
Swertfager, for his part, says he girls soccer, football, basketball
Some 300 strong, a standing- has no recollection of delivering and, of course, wrestling. ou-
room-only throng, they packed what is the sports world’s long- sands of young men and women
the board’s Nov. 3 meeting in the time, spontaneous gesture of sup- without a single blemish on my
high school cafeteria to deliver port or congratulations. “I have record for anything.” 
full-throated support for Coach no idea who the player was that
Bill. I supposedly did it to, or who the e school board had been ex-
teammate was who was uncom- pected to appoint all coaches for
ey appealed to keep him at fortable with it,” he said in an winter sports at ursday’s meet-
the wrestling program’s helm, interview last weekend. “I simply ing but ultimately put the matter
beseeching school o cials in don’t remember the incident. I over to the next meeting, Nov. 17,
public a week ago after a com- am not saying it didn’t happen; I after a crescendo of voices insist-
plaint made in private more than am just saying I don’t remember ed Coach Bill be retained.
a year ago put the coach’s job in it.”
jeopardy. In the spring of 2021, Swertfager had the rst word.
an unidenti ed person asserts, ough he has been an inte- Addressing the school board for
Swertfager slapped a player on gral part of John Jay’s athletic
establishment for more than SEE COACH PAGE 28

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PAGE 12 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

A veteran’s story Many happy
returns
MUSINGS: e movie had hardly begun when television tuned to a major network,
PAST AND an usher, with ashlight in hand, and later it was announced that this party. I would love
PRESENT started searching both sides of the was the Cuban Missile Crisis.
aisle. He stopped when he got to Al, MAN to see political
MARILYN A. asked his name, and then informed Now we were all totally alarmed.
PELLINI him there was an emergency phone at was when we got that second OVERBOARD ads banned from
call for him. We both hurried to call from Al asking me again to television, forc-
After graduating from the theater o ce, and his mother pick him up at Union Station in RICK ing people to
Boston College, my soon- told him she had gotten a message Providence. He said he would MELÉN actually read about
to-be husband, Al, went that he was to return to the ship explain in detail once he got back
to OCS School in Newport, immediately. Literally, we ran to the home. Looking weary and worried the candidates
Rhode Island. He had to make car, raced to his house so he could for his shipmates, Al explained
a service commitment back then get into his uniform and grab his about his orders to attend school and gure out a
and preferred the Navy, so he overnight bag, and returned to the in Newport, and we were all so
joined up. Al had requested a small Providence train station. His parents relieved. We remained glued to So, what have you coherent reason
combatant out of the West Coast, had gotten the schedule, so we knew the TV set for the next few days, got planned for
an opportunity to see and experience that he could narrowly make the however, because the Wasp was the next Tuesday? Most for supporting one over
a di erent part of the country, but next train if we rushed. command vessel in this stando . the other. en I remem-
instead was assigned to the carrier Al, being a communications o cer, bered that I work for
Wasp in Boston. It was fortuitous, When Al arrived back at the ship, would have been in the thick of it.
however, as that was the summer we his commanding o cer informed When the crisis was averted and people will be going to television, and these ads
began to date seriously. him that orders had been cut for school in Newport over, Al returned
him to attend a course in Newport, to the Wasp. His CO told him that the polls and casting help pay my exorbitant
Whenever Al had a night o and he had 10 minutes to be o the when he handed him the orders to
from the ship, he would hop on ship. Al hastened to do what he was attend school, he thought to himself, their vote. I’ll be having salary, and now they give
a train at Boston’s South Station, told, and retraced his steps, returning “Perhaps I am saving just one life
within walking distance of the by train once again, in the very same aboard this vessel.” my foot operated on, vot- me a warm and fuzzy
Wasp, and be in Providence, Rhode evening, back to Providence. Al did not make the service a
Island, in no time, as we both still career, but each Fourth of July stood ing for a cast. After all, feeling.
called that home. is particular After I had originally dropped proud and tall with a salute when
evening we decided to take in an him at the station I had gone back the band played the Navy anthem, it is elective surgery...As I have consciously
early movie, and then I would drop to his folk’s house, where his mom “Anchors Aweigh.” He said back
him back at the station for his and I sat silently commiserated with then that he had entered the service painful as it will be for avoided discussing
return trip to Boston and his ship. tears in our eyes. His dad looked as a boy and came out a man. Al was
grave. We all knew the situation was extremely proud of his commitment me, I wouldn’t want to be politics here because if
of the upmost urgency, but had no to serve his country.
idea what was going on. We kept the in your shoes. Following I do, afterwards I feel

returns all night long, the like earthworms have

potential for a depressing been crawling all over

result, obvious losers who my body, and believe

refuse to concede, and on me, the sensation is

top of that, I’m never go- no less unpleasant for

ing to t into your shoes the earthworms. ese

with this cast on. days everything is black

At least it will bring or white, all or noth-

a welcome end to those ing, good or bad. If you

political ads, which I SEE MELEN PAGE 14

can’t stomach for either

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES PAGE 13

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PAGE 14 THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

You better work, work, MELEN faster than YOU. Politicians don’t have to be
work, work, work smarter than the average high school graduate,
FROM PAGE 13 they just have to be louder and more annoying
(OK, so I totally wrote that year with my rst graders. I was than the one running against them.
spin something that’s black and white, it turns
singing “Fifth Harmony” and now lucky enough to gure out a setup gray, and the gray areas are much more inter- Why not make the race a REAL race, like
esting. Subtlety and nuance live there, as do art a pentathlon? Five events to nd out which
you will, too!) that would have my mother being and music. If politics could be a little more like candidate is the worthiest. e rst event is
When you’re a mother, life with Reagan while I worked full art and music, it wouldn’t sound so horrible all the “Skeleton,” where we count the number of
is full of hard decisions. time. I would leave my house at the time. scandals each contestant has in their closet and
Every day you’re faced 5:30 a.m., leave Reagan with my see whose is the seamiest. Next is the “Interna-
with tough mom and drive Also, and I don’t want to sound any more tional Spin,” where we present each candidate
ignorant than usual, but there are some o ces with a tragic overseas natural disaster and see
choices, some MAMA down to the city. that I have no idea what they do, and I mean which one can make it most about THEM. In
this with no disrespect. I’m sure that comp- the “Political Football” event, we take an issue
bigger than I’d work my full trollers are out there every day ghting the that no one wants to talk about, like lowering
others. What good ght, but I can’t remember the last time their own salaries, and whichever one can keep
am I making EXPLAINS day and then drive someone said, “ is situation is out of comp- from making a face like they just ate tainted
back through troll! Only a competent comptroller can keep seafood wins. Next is “Discuss row,” where,
this thing from going haywire!” when presented with a speci c topic to discuss,
for dinner NICOLE rush-hour tra c he or she thinks about it thoughtfully, then
I also don’t know what an adjutant does, but proceeds to answer a question that was never
tonight? DOOLEY only to get home I suspect that if my comptroller had one, he or asked. Lastly, “Artistic Pandering” measures
she would send them along to do all the dirty a candidate’s ability to make a speci c and
Should my by 6, since my work, and then swoop in to take all the credit brainless statement designed to appeal to the
afterwards. A bursar’s duties are a bit of a mys- least intelligent segment of the population,
daughter take hour commute tery to me, other than doing the billeting. And and then tries to get Mexico pay for it.
here’s a bulletin: I don’t know what billeting
ballet over always turned into is, either. I do know that a bursar sounds like So, Melén, I guess you think you could do
it could be harmful to your skin. “Didn’t you any better? Hell no, I would be disquali ed
playing soccer this season? Can my a two-hour ordeal. ank you, Ma- used to have a bursar in the o ce next door?” after the rst hacker gets hold of my browser
“Yes, and we had to call a doctor in to have it history. Oh, I don’t have any more to answer to
son handle his math homework or jor Deegan Expressway. I would removed. I was going to lance it myself with a than any other normal guy, but anyone look-
barbecue skewer, but my secretary talked me ing at the weird searches I do to research this
does he need a tutor? And in my often have papers to grade and out of it.” column would have to conclude that I should
be institutionalized sooner rather than later.
opinion, the biggest and one of the lesson planning when I got home, Just listening to most politicians talk is like
watching an embarrassing Oscar’s speech. Join Rick and No Options at Mohansic Grill in
hardest questions of all is should I which left me with an hour with Judging by the brainpower of some members Yorktown Heights, Saturday, Nov. 12, at 7:30
of the Senate, it seems easier to get a seat there p.m.! Look for Rickster Melen on Facebook! Say
stay at home or go back to work? I my baby…if I was lucky. I had than on the No. 7 train during rush hour. It’s hello at: [email protected]
like the old joke that to escape, I don’t have
have experienced both options and mom guilt like you wouldn’t be- to run faster than the lion, I only have to run

let me tell you, one is not easier lieve. I would ask myself, “Nicole,

than the other. why did you have a baby if you

After I had my daughter can’t stay home with her?” Luck-

Reagan, my rst child, in March ily, I only had to work three weeks

of 2012, I knew I would take my before the summer came, which

12-week maternity leave and then gave me two months o to spend

go back to my teaching job. I loved devoted to my little girl. We had

my daughter, but I also felt like I SEE DOOLEY PAGE 15

had a responsibility to nish the

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 SPORTS THE KATONAH LEWISBORO TIMES PAGE 23

FootballTHEHARVEYSCHOOL wins big at home

BY CHRIS DEL CAMPO tory,but the Cavs’defense sti ened. e Cavs received the second rst TD drive completing one pass for his life. Wyatt Bland had eight
First, senior captain defensive line- half kick, and on the rst play from for 12 yards. Saccomanno came tackles and an interception, Danny
e Harvey varsity football team man Nekia Bland had a big sack scrimmage, Saccomanno dropped in on the second Cavs’ drive and Gittleman had six tackles and 1/2
celebrated Senior Day Saturday, that caused a fumble and Lederer back and hit Gasch in the left at played most of the game, complet- sack, Lederer had ve tackles along
Oct. 29, with an impressive 40-14 picked o his second ball to sti e and the Harvey receiver outran ing 8-of-17 passes for 113 yards with his three interceptions, Mike
victory at home against NEPSAC Forman. Meanwhile, sophomore his opponents 45 yards for a TD. and a TD pass. e Cavs threw Sorio chipped in with ve tackles,
8-Man League rival Forman from QB Jackson Saccomanno entered Miller cashed in the two points sparingly because the ground game and Will Bland added three tackles
Litch eld, Connecticut. the game during the second Cavs’ with a three-yard run and the Cavs was spectacular. and an interception. Cornerback
possession and played most of the were up 24-14 over the stunned Jared E nger also forced a fumble.
e game started o ominously game. Lions. e Cavs rushed for 331 yards
for the Cavs as Forman took the on 37 carries,averaging just a touch Harvey head Coach Kyle Del-
opening kick and marched down A 22-yard pass from Sacco- Miller would score again early in under nine yards per carry for the aney said the seniors gave an im-
the eld, going 41 yards in four manno to junior wide receiver Jack the fourth quarter on a 26-yard run game. e attack was led by Miller pressive performance.
plays and scoring on a 33-yard QB Matz pushed the ball deep, and then cash in the two-point 3-yard who rushed for an incredible 243
keeper to take a quick 6-0 lead. Miller again capped the drive with run to bulge the lead to 32-14. yards on 26 carries and scored four “ ey knew how important this
Forman made the two-point con- runs of 19 and 10-yards to put the Miller’s fourth rushing TD came TDs. Mike Sorio added 30 yards game was and they took it from
version to make it 8-0. Cavs up 18-8. halfway through the fourth quarter on four carries and a TD. Gasch Forman,” Coach Delaney said,
on a 12-yard scamper after senior again led the team in catches,grab- adding, “ ere was no doubt in
Harvey came right back with With less than a minute left in captain and center Charles Treseler bing six balls for 105 yards and a their minds that we would win this
senior Sam Levine at QB leading the half, the Lions QB had a big of Bedford made a terri c block TD, and junior Jack Matz had one game today.”
a drive down the eld covering 60 run of 20 yards then hit his wide to open the hole for Miller. Miller catch for 22 yards.
yards in seven plays. Runs of 19, receiver with a 10-yard pass on capped o the day with the two- e Cavs improved to 3-1 in the
and nine yards by senior captain the last play of the half to slice the point conversion run to make the Nekia Bland had an outstand- division (3-2 overall), and traveled
running back James Miller and a lead to 18-14. But that would be as ing game with 12 tackles, 1 1/2 to the Frederick Gunn School in
12-yard completion from Levine close as Forman would ever get in nal score, 40-14. sacks, and one forced fumble. He Washington, Connecticut, Satur-
to senior captain wide receiver the rest of the game. QB Levine led the Cavs on their often had the Forman QB running day, Nov. 5 to take on the High-
Danny Gasch of 12 yards put the landers.
ball in the red zone for Harvey.
Miller nished the drive with a Than Yo Veteran .
three-yard TD run to cut the lead
to 8-6. e two-point conversion
try was unsuccessful.

e visiting Lions countered
with a smart drive of their own,
but it ended with an interception
by senior captain cornerback Brad
Lederer deep in Harvey’ territory.

e Cavs scored on their second
possession with a 10-yard TD run
by junior running back Mike Sorio
of Mount Kisco after Miller had
a long run of 28 yards. e two-
point run failed, but the Cavs were
on top 12-8 as the rst quarter
ended.

e Lions responded by push-
ing the ball deep into enemy terri-

XC

FROM PAGE 22

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Coach Coscio said the Har-
vey cross country coaching sta is
proud of the e orts the team put
forth at the HVAL championship
event.

“We’re all happy, but we also
know that the job is not done yet
– there are still some more champi-
onship meets ahead of us,”he said.

In the days ahead, the Harvey
boys will race in the NYSAIS
Championship Meet in New York
City and try for a rst-place trophy
in the NEPSAC Championship
event in New England.