Mahopac News 05.11.2023

VOL. 14 NO. 13 THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 39 CLASSIFIEDS 38 LEGAL NOTICES 37 LEISURE 30 MAHOPAC MUSINGS XX OPINION 10 SPORTS 36 Mahopac Flag Football pg 27 GAINING STEAM BY EMILE MENACHÉ EDITOR fi e equinox may have happened back in March, but spring doesn’t really feel fully sprung until the Farmers’ Market kicks off —which it did last Sunday at the Chamber Park in Mahopac. Offl cially known as the Town of Carmel Farmers’ Market at Lake Mahopac, the event is organized by the town’s Recreation and Parks department and will be open from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. every Sunday through October 22. Organizers are calling this year’s Market lineup the biggest in years. fi e 24 opening-day vendors included both new faces and returning favorites. fi ere was also live music by the Good Old Brothers, crafts and more. Among last week’s vendors were the Weenie Wagon, Dragonffi y Farm/Richards Aquatics, Carmel Creamery, Cooperstown Cheese Company, Campanelli’s Poultry Farm, Lynne’s Sweet Treats and More, Pickles Olives Etc., Brooklyn Organic Kitchen, Katie Rose Bakery, Hells Onions, Monaelise, Kaitlyn’s Crystals, Frenchy’s Baked Goods, Bosco’s Beans, Mr. Rican, Do Re Me Farms, Taconic Distillery, ET designs, Self Care by Donna, Bohemian Groove by Jeremy, Yearning Wild Treats and Chews, Miss Mary’s Flowers, and Brewster Pastry. For updates and more info, visit facebook.com/ CFMatLakeMahopac. Carmel Recreations and Parks Senior Recreation Leader Nina Kallmeyer (left) with Farmers Market Manager/ Recreation Assistant Amanda Farina PHOTOS: CORINNE STANTON Frenchy’s Baked Goods owner and baker Karine Flanagan BY EMILE MENACHÉ EDITOR Mahopac’s Traci Medford-Rosow calls herself an “accidental writer.” But the attorney and three-time author may need to come up with a new sobriquet after her latest work, 2022’s “Unsheltered Love: Homelessness, Hunger and Hope in a City Under Siege” (Morgan James Publishing) earned the Eric Hoff er Mahopac author wins Hofi er Prize Traci Medford-Rosow recognized for chronicling plight of homelessness during COVID Farmers’ Market opens SEE MEDFORD-ROSOW PAGE 6 ITALIAN DISHES AND PIZZA WITH A MODERN TWIST Tuesday - Thursday - 12pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 3pm - 9pm, Monday CLOSED 845-628-1911 Enjoy appetizers, pizza, pasta & delectable entrees made with fresh ingredients and recipes. 597 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 trattoriasei.com • [email protected] Delivery thru Door Dash @trattoriasei

PAGE 2 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 The Stafi EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [email protected] Bob Dumas Editor at Large [email protected] Whit Anderson Sports Editor [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 Mahopac News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Emile Menasché at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Mahopac 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. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mahopac, NY and at additional mailing ofi ices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mahopac News at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 (ISSN 2330-1627) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Main Ofi ice 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC To advertise in Mahopac News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@ halstonmedia.com. MUSINGS Farmer’s Market fi e Town of Carmel Farmers’ Market at Lake Mahopac will be open from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. every Sunday through October 22 at the Chamber Park at the intersection of Routes 6 and 6N in downtown Mahopac. Food, crafts, live music, and more. School District Election fi e Mahopac Central School District will hold its school board and budget election on Tuesday, May 16, at Mahopac High School. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m at the high school gym. Visit the MCSD District Clerk’s off ce for more information. Oldies Show fi e Lake Mahopac Rotary Club has announced the lineup for its ninth annual Oldies Show to be held on Mother’s Day weekend, Friday, May 12, at Mahopac High School auditorium. “Mr. Entertainment” Bobby Brooks Wilson will headline with a high-energy tribute to his father, soul legend Jackie Wilson. fi e three-time Grammy winner will share the bill with girl group the Chiclettes and Carl Gardner’s Coasters. Tickets are $35 in advance ($40 night of event), and are currently available at eventbrite. com (search Lake Mahopac Rotary Club) and are also on sale locally at PCSB Bank (Mahopac Branch), Route 6 Deli and d’Berto’s Pizzeria. E-Waste Collection fi e Town of Carmel will hold an electronic waste recycling day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 13. fi e collection will take place in a new location this year, on Mud Pond between Lake Casse Road and Croton Falls Road in Mahopac (across from Town Hall). For more information and a list of eligible items, visit ci.carmel.ny.us/ home/events/47191. SEE MUSINGS PAGE 36 Boutique 845.628.1946 4 Veschi Ln N. & Rte 6 • Mahopac, NY • flowerboutiquemahopac.com Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14th! Order Today for your Mom! Large Selection of Flowers, Candy & Gifts OPEN MOTHER’S DAY! Personal Financial Literacy for all students Championfor Transparency andEthics Founded Advocacy Committee togive parents andresidents a voice VotedYES for TaxExemptions for Veterans, Seniors,&Fire/EMSVolunteers Tanner McCracken is a Mahopac Alum who has broughtfresh leadership to our school board VOTE TUESDAY MAY 16TH POLLS OPEN AT MAHOPAC HIGH SCHOOL FROM 6AM TO 9PM @McCracken4NY @Tanner_McCracken_ Paid for by Tanner McCracken

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3 Jackson Grimm of Mahopac Scout Troop 1 has always had a strong love for animals (dogs in particular) so when looking for an idea for his Eagle Scout service project, a K9 tribute was a great fit. Working closely with Sheriff Kevin McConville and Senior Investigator Randel Hill, Jackson started work on the project in April 2022. Over the past year, between planning, fundraising, design time, and actual labor, over 385 total man-hours have been dedicated to the project, 131 hours for Grimm himself.  Grimm said he is extremely proud of the result and hopes the sheriff and staff are pleased as well. Troop 1 scouts assisted with the project installation and Jackson extended his thanks to them, his family, Hill, and McConville for all of their support throughout the process. Following in the footsteps of others in his family, Jackson is not the first to reach the rank of Eagle. His father, Troop 1 Scoutmaster Darrin Grimm, is one of three brothers who are Eagle Scouts. In his  immediate family, Jackson follows his older brother Davis, who earned his Eagle in 2019. There are two younger Grimm brothers also working toward their Eagle rank. Jackson graduates from Mahopac High School this spring and will go on to study computer science in college. Article courtesy of Putnam County Sheriff ’s Office K9 tribute makes Mahopac scout ‘Eagle’ From left Jackson Grimm, Sr. Investigator Randel Hill, and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin McConville with tracker K9 Flash PHOTOS: COURTESY PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT. Jackson Grimm stands with his project. Mahopac High School has named Brett Bergerson as valedictorian and Megan Bloomer as salutatorian for the Class of 2023. Assistant Principal Matthew Calabro surprised the honorees with gold sashes denoting their achievements while they were in Edward Turenchalk’s AP calculus class. Their classmates erupted with applause and cheers as the announcement was made simultaneously over the public address system.  “I had no idea, I was completely shocked,” Bergerson said. “There are so many hard-working and talented students. I feel so honored.” Bloomer said she hadn’t focused on becoming salutatorian until her senior year. She thanked the people in her life who helped her reach that goal. “I have a lot of people to thank,” she said. “My mom was great in school so she helped me a lot and my dad and my older brother showed me how to have a strong work ethic.” Both Bloomer and Bergerson have plans for the future but they are keeping their options open. “I plan to go to McGill University in Montreal. I’m going to go for a science degree and an arts degree,” Bergerson said. “I want to keep my options open. I could see myself going into healthcare or food science, getting chemicals out of our food, or as a clinician, but I also really like writing and music and sports.” Bloomer, who plans to double major in health sciences and psychology with a minor in nutritional sciences on a pre-med track, said “I’ve always liked working independently, like on my science research project, so I’m really looking forward to finding my own way in college.” Bergerson is a member of the National Honor Society and the president of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. She is a well-rounded student whose academic achievements are mirrored by her dedication to the girls cross country team where she expanded recruitment by three times and the girls outdoor track and field team where she set school records in the sprint medley relay and 400m relay. She has spent years volunteering her time as a referee and coach with the Westput U6 and U8 New York Chapter of the Gaelic Athletic Association. She also sings and writes music, including 20 original songs on the keyboard, and is an accomplished author, being selected for the 2022 Putnam | Northern Westchester BOCES Young Authors Conference. Bloomer has maintained High Honor Roll for every quarter in her time at Mahopac Middle School and Mahopac High School and is a member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. As well as her academic accolades, Bloomer both teaches and competes in dance and co-founded the Future Students in Medicine Club, with the goal of spreading awareness to fellow students about the path to becoming a medical professional and raising money and awareness to support medical research and other medical related charities. A selfless member of the Mahopac community, Bloomer volunteered her time combating elder loneliness with GlamourGals National and served in the Putnam County Youth Court as a mentor for first-time offenders. Article courtesy of Mahopac School District MHS names valedictorian and salutatorian PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MAHOPAC SCHOOL DISTRICT Brett Bergerson Megan Bloomer

PAGE 4 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 SKIPPED TAB LEADS TO DWI, THEFT ARREST A drunk customer who tried to skip on his restaurant bill was busted for DWI, theft, and more in Mahopac last month. According to police, Carriage House stafi called the cops when 49-year-old Clifton N.J. resident Juan E. Rodriguez refused to pay his tab, tried to ff ee, and hit a fence with his car. After getting a description of the vehicle, offl cers found the suspect in his car a short distance down the road. “Sgt. Crecco initiated a traffl c stop of the suspect vehicle and an investigation at the scene determined the driver was operating under the inff uence of alcohol,” police said. Rodriguez was arrested without incident and charged with misdemeanor aggravated DWI, theft of services, and leaving the scene of a property damage automobile accident. CHASE LEADS TO OBSTRUCTION ARREST A Mahopac driver is facing multiple charges after leading Carmel police on a chase by car and on foot last month. According to police, Offl cer Carroll was on routine patrol when he saw a white sedan speeding on Route 6. When he tried to pull the car over, the driver ff ed at high speed. While police said Carroll elected not to engage in a dangerous high-speed chase, he did get the speeder’s license plate number and tracked the driver down at a Mahopac home, where he found the car parked in the driveway. ffi at’s when, police say, a low-speed chase ensued. As Carroll and Offl cer Palmiero approached, the 20-year-old male diver “ff ed the vehicle and entered a garage at the residence,” police said. When the offl cers knocked on the front door, the suspect ran out of the garage and into nearby woods. “After a short foot pursuit Carroll and Palmiero were able to take the 20-year-old male suspect into custody,” police said. In addition to multiple traffl c infractions, the defendant, whose name has been withheld, now faces a charge of misdemeanor obstruction. Emile Menasché Police Blotter P.O. Box 573, Brewster, NY 10509 PUTNAMSERVICEDOGS.ORG Questions? CALL US 917.449.5359 SCAN TO APPLY YOU have the power to change lives – one pup at a time! Your first step – become Help us raise a a volunteer Puppy Raiser! pup like us for 6, 12 or 18 months! Recruit ad_Halston 22 4c new.indd 1 12/1/22 10:23 PM

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5 Join us in building strong schools with programs that enhance student opportunity and add to a vibrant community. VOTE YES ON MAY 16TH

Book Award Grand Prize on May 1. “fi ey call me the ‘accidental writer,’ because I’m actually an attorney,” said Medford-Rosow, an intellectual property lawyer who has published three works of nonff ction since 2015 and is now working on her ff rst novel. “Each of my three books has come to me out of the blue,” said Medford-Rosow, whose two previous books include the 2018 USA Today bestseller “Unblinded: One Man’s Courageous Journey fi rough Darkness to Sight,” and 2015’s “Inffl ection Point: War and Sacriff ce in Corporate America.” But even for someone with a talent for ff nding unexpected storylines, the situation that inspired “Unsheltered Love” would have been inconceivable even weeks before the story begins. In March 2020, MedfordRosow and her husband Joel Rosow, returned to New York from overseas just as the city was becoming the national epicenter for COVID cases. With their daughter’s family isolated at the family’s Mahopac summer home, the couple found themselves stuck in a city that had become an eerie shadow of the one they’d left just a few weeks before. “It was the middle of the raging pandemic,” Medford-Rosow said. “Everything was closed. fi e city was a ghost town.” With the streets empty of residents and commuters, a reality so familiar that it fades into the background suddenly grabbed their attention: Homelessness. “Within a few days of lockdown, we started noticing the homeless people because there were no other people—there was nobody on the street,” she said. “In March 2020 when the pandemic was really at its height, New York basically looked like a city that had just come out of a war or something. “Nobody really knew what was going on,” she added. “It was a very unusual kind of reality. We started noticing the homeless people because they stood out.” While other people could shelter indoors, Medford-Rosow said the homeless had nowhere to go. Worse, with no passersby on the street, “it wasn’t that long before we realized that they were starving because there was nobody to panhandle from,” she explained. “So, my husband and I said we better get our butts up every morning and start making food and giving it out.” fi e couple began making sandwiches and distributing them on foot, walking around their neighborhood just south of Grand Central Station. fi ey soon discovered that people who had once seemed like faceless strangers had compelling and sometimes tragic life stories. “We spent all of 2020 getting to know the homeless people who were basically living within a 20-odd-block walk up and down Park Avenue from our apartment,” MedfordRosow said. “At some point in this process, I started to think about writing this book.” Published in August 2022, “Unsheltered Love” struck a chord, earning a place on the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists. In explaining its grand prize, the Eric Hoffer jury—which gives “one of the largest international book awards for small, academic, and independent presses”—called the book “challenging and inspiring” and said Medford-Rosow “poignantly shares the daily struggle of those on the street and how PAGE 6 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MEDFORD-ROSOW FROM PAGE 1 PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACI MEDFORD-ROSOW Traci Medford-Rosow writes about homelessness in her latest prize-winning book. “Unsheltered Love” won the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize on May 1. SEE MEDFORD-ROSOW PAGE 32 Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock 963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 TOCKLAW.COM • 845-628-8080 CRIMINAL DEFENSE/DWI • PERSONAL INJURY REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, PROBATE ‘ I have used the Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock for real estate and estate planning. Joe and his staff were professional, courteous, efficient, and they always returned my calls promptly when needed. I would never consider going to another law office for my legal needs. ~B.W.

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7 fi e Carmel Historical Society will sponsor a guided walk of the Putnam Division Railroad through Mahopac on Sunday, May 21, at 10 a.m. fi e group will meet at the lower parking lot behind the Olympic Diner on Route 6 and Miller Road in Mahopac (next to the auto parts store), and the route will follow the bike path north to Carmel Town Hall at Croton Falls Road— almost three miles. Local author and historian Brian Vangor will lead the way. fi e  New York and Putnam Railroad, or Old Put for short, once went between the Bronx and Brewster along what is now the bike path. It carried passengers to the area from 1881 to 1958 and accommodated freight service until 1970. Organizers expect the walk to last approximately two hours, and handouts will be provided along with the guided narration. Some cars will be stationed at Town Hall to ferry people back to the starting location.  Guided walk to revisit Mahopac’s railroad history PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF CARMEL HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Mahopac station near what is now the VFW hall on Buckshollow Road The walk will begin at Baldwin Place, unrecognizable as shown here when it was still a stop on the Old Put. Academic Success Student Safety Mahopac 2030 - innovative programs - social, emotional, physical - vision for the future VOTE BEN DILULLO MAHOPAC SCHOOL BOARD MAY 16, 2023 Paid for by Ben DiLullo

PAGE 8 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Because Carmel Deserves Better. ROBERT KEARNS For Carmel Town Board Paid for by the Friends of Robert Kearns Accountability Integrity Transparency Leadership Revitalization Vote in the Republican Primary on 6/27/2023 — Putnam County’s largest card and gift shop! — Reopened under New Management 2 Clark Place, Mahopac 845-253-3433 OF MAHOPAC New Management 50% off all greeting cards and fully stocked! Mothers Day, Graduations, Communions, Fathers Day, all occassions we also have a great new line of gifts for everyone New Management Last week, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne announced the hiring of Marlene Barrett as the new deputy director of the Putnam County Ofi - cer for Senior Resources (OSR). Barrett, who has worked for OSR as a caseworker since 2011, will now be responsible for assisting in the management and oversight of the department’s programs and services for seniors in Putnam County.  “Marlene has been an integral part of the OSR team for over a decade, and I am pleased to announce her well-deserved  promotion to deputy director,” Byrne said. “Her experience, dedication, and compassion make her the ideal candidate for this role, and I have no doubt she will excel in this new position.” ffl e position of deputy director had been vacant since the summer of 2022, and Barrett was selected from a pool of highly qualiffi ed internal and external candidates. Byrne said her promotion refl ects not only her exceptional work ethic but the quality of county employees being fostered in Putnam County government. “Providing our seniors with top-notch services, fun and healthy programming, and any assistance they may need is at the very heart of what we do at OSR. Marlene has been exceptional in that e ort,” said OSR director Mike Cunningham. “For a decade she’s been an invaluable team member, and I know everyone here is excited to see her take on this new opportunity.”   For more information about the Ofi ce for Senior Resources, visit putnamcountyny.com/osr. Article courtesy of the Putnam County Executive’s Ofi ce Barrett named county Senior Resources deputy PHOTO: COURTESY PUTNAM COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE Marlene Barrett

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9 Smaller artworks often resonate with viewers in a quiet and contemplative way. fi ey provide an intimate experience, communicating a compelling narrative or emotion through imagery, color, pattern, texture, or material. fi e freedom to work small can inspire big ideas and powerful storytelling. Mahopac Public Library extended a call to artists to submit “small works” (12 inches or less in any dimension) and received 130 entries, producing a diverse and inspiring exhibit that is now on display in the fi ird Floor Gallery.  Seventy local and regional artists created their “small” work using a variety of techniques and mediums including oil and acrylic, watercolor, ceramics, mixed media, collage, graphics, paper quilling, jewelry making, ffl ber art, alcohol ink, and photography. Much of the work is joyful, exuberant, and ‘Small Works’ make a big impression New exhibit at Mahopac Library through May 31 “Weir Farms,” oil on board by Margaret Ryan “Train Depot,” wood and paint by Anthony Hyde SEE EXHIBIT PAGE 35 IMAGES: COURTESY MAHOPAC PUBLIC LIBRARY “Golden Canyon,” fi ber art by Cindy Green RED MILLS Convenience Center 575 Route 6N, Mahopac Falls • 845-628-9745 We have your grab and go items! OUR COOLERS ARE STOCKED! Your Favorite Cold Beverages & Poland Spring Cases of Water! Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Spring! Come see our vintage candy shop RED MILLS Convenience Center Mahopac Teachers, Students, School & Bus Garage Employees Buy One Egg Sandwich, Get 2nd HALF OFF Buy Lunch Sandwich, Get a Soda or Coffee FREE Happy Hour Coffee Ask About our coffee club Your 10th Cup is FREE! Any Size 3-7pm Purchase your box of Coffee to go! Buy 10, Get 1 FREE! Try our Coffee Flavors of the Season! Milkshakes & Smoothies $ 399 $ 1 00 We have over Sandwiches OFF 100 helium balloon choices! We are here if you need anything! Mother's Day Greeting Cards

Opinion BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER EMILE MENACHÉ, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Ofi ice: 845-208-0774 [email protected] 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 Mahopac News or its afi iliates. 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 845-208-0774 PAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 You can’t use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn’t use reason to get into. --Neil deGrasse Tyson There has been a lot of talk lately about banning books. It is nothing new. It’s the controversy that keeps on giving. “fi e Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was once banned not long after it was published. Mark Twain wore it like a badge of courage. I know that starting a rant with the words, “When I was a kid” is pretty shopworn and can even disqualify your point of view because clearly, you are an old man living in the past. But I am going to do it anyway. When I was a kid, the concept of a “banned” book never came up. Never heard of it. Apparently, it was happening in certain parts of the country, but not in my sleepy little town during the ‘70s. fi is is strange because you will not ffl nd a more conservative town than Pawling. We didn’t have “red” and “blue” states or towns back then, but if we did, Pawling would have been so deeply red it would have been maroon. I had a conversation recently with a conservative Republican colleague who opined that those on both sides of the political spectrum dabble in unsavory censorship, but noted that liberals tend to focus mostly on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, while conservatives go after books— something he wasn’t particularly fond of. I tend to agree with him, but today we are talking about books. My little maroon town (and school district) were surprisingly and quietly progressive. We had all kinds of required reading between ninth and 12th grade. And now, when I look at the list of most banned books of all time, I realize many that I had to read in high school were on that list! fi ese weren’t books checked out of the library; we got copies handed to us in class. Having read them, some of them several times, you can see what they did to me. Clearly, I am now a deranged, Communist pervert. Most of the titles on the most banned books of all-time list are American classics, and no matter how I try, I can’t for the life of me understand why some considered them objectionable. No. 1 on the list of most banned books of all time is “Catcher in the Rye.” It’s the heartbreaking, yet amusing, story of teenager Holden Caul- ffl eld, who, as he makes his way around New York City, seeks to ffl nd a world devoid of phony people. I think I was in 10th grade when I ffl rst read it and I remember talking about it a lot around my house. My mom, not really a big reader, asked if she could check it out when I was done. She didn’t want to read it to look for objectionable content; she just found my enthusiasm for it contagious. She really liked it, and we had some fun discussions about it. fi ink before you speak... read before you think BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD BY JEAN TOCK GUEST COLUMNIST A few years ago I wrote a column about the plethora of disposable dental picks that litter parking lots everywhere. I concluded that, as disgusting as this habit seems to me, people are apparently ffi ossing in their cars and tossing their used picks out of the car. It’s not a daily occurrence, but very often when I step out of my vehicle, I see a white or green plastic pick with that little strand of ffi oss suspended in the ergonomic handle. I continue to see these ffi oss picks lying in parking lots and I continue to get emails from readers and acquaintances, usually accompanied by a dental pick photo. My rant deffl nitely struck a nerve, but I’m still waiting for the world to change.  And now it’s cotton swabs, aka Q-Tips. fi ese white little ffi ufl s on a stick line the roads of my neighborhood and I am, once again, puzzled as to how they get there. Are they being tossed from a passing car? Are they escaping from the garbage truck on pick-up day? fi ere are far too many of them for me to believe drivers are cleaning something in their cars with cotton swabs; the number of roadside cotton swabs in my neighborhood is staggering.  In my part of town, the pickup day for recycling is Monday and it is Monday afternoons that I notice a new inffi ux of cotton swabs. So this is not exactly a mindboggling mystery. I thought if we could just get people to bag their recycling, the problem would be solved.  So I went on the Town of Carmel website, a di cult-tonavigate digital mess, but that’s a rant for another day. fi e Town “refuse collection speciffl cations” clearly emphasize in bold type that “recycling cannot be in bags.” When recycling programs were in their infancy, we were all encouraged to buy and use blue plastic bags to clearly difl erentiate our recycling from our regular garbage. Over time, waste management experts concluded that the blue bags were jamming machinery at sorting facilities and were causing delays and expensive repairs. fi us evolved the policy of not bagging recyclable items. I conffl rmed this information with a customer service repreTrash talk SEE DUMAS PAGE 11 SEE TOCK PAGE 14

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11 Here are a few other novels on the most banned books of all-time list: fi e Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird, fi e Color Purple, Of Mice and Men, Catch-22, Animal Farm, As I Lay Dying, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Slaughterhouse-Five, 1984, Lord of the Flies, fi e Call of the Wild, A Clockwork Orange, and In Cold Blood. All of these are considered iconic masterpieces that have helped deff ne American culture and, after all these years, are tightly woven into the national consciousness. (Okay, “A Clockwork Orange” is British.) Now, some of these are more appropriate for certain age groups (I would save Slaughterhouse-Five, A Clockwork Orange, and In Cold Blood for 11th- and 12thgraders), but why anyone would want to outright ban these precious works is so beyond my scope of understanding that I can’t even make a pithy, satirical joke here. A Catholic school in Nashville once banned the “Harry Potter” series because a reverend at the school claimed the books include both good and evil magic, as well as spells, which, if read by a human can conjure DUMAS FROM PAGE 10 SEE DUMAS PAGE 12 Brewster, NY and Bethel, CT Showrooms On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! 845-278-0070 Southeastkitchenandbath.com Celebrating 50 years NOW OPEN: NH44 Indian - Hartsdale COMING SOON:Jaipore Express - Briarcliff Manor LUNCH MON - THURS: 11:30am - 2:30pm SAT & SUN: 11:30am - 3:00pm DINNER MON - THURS: 5 - 9:30pm FRI & SAT: 5 - 10:00pm / SUN: 5 - 9pm CLOSED TUESDAY 280 ROUTE 22 l BREWSTER,NY CALL FOR RESERVATIONS! 845-277-3549 SUNDAY, MAY 14TH JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL BRUNCH & DINNER BUFFET 12:00 - 3:00 pm / 4:30 - 9:00 pm $ 40 per person Visit us at 3563 Mohegan Ave. in Mohegan Lake! Federally Insured by NCUA *APY (Annual Percentage Yield). 4.25% APY based on 18 month certificate special. Minimum opening deposit of $500 and must maintain $500 minimum balance to earn advertised rate. Early withdrawal penalties apply. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional deposits are not allowed. Certificate specials will automatically renew into Sunmark’s 1-year certificate at the prevailing rate at the time of maturity. Rate is accurate as of April 26, 2023. Speak with a Sunmark representative for current rate information as well as applicable fees and terms. Rates subject to change. WAY TO SAVE A Brighter % 4.25 APY* 18 MONTH CERTIFICATE SPECIAL Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 845-208-0774.

PAGE 12 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years Do you know what the cost of your long-term care will be if you are not eligible for Medicaid? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 “evil spirits.” How do you debate that? See the Neil deGrasse Tyson quote at the top of the column.  And  I still cannot ff gure out how “ffl e Call of the Wild” made it onto the list. It’s about a damn dog. Facebook tells me we like dogs. Last winter, the Mahopac school board had to deal with the issue of 16 books being challenged. Fortunately, most of the books are withstanding the challenge. Some of the parents did make good points when they said they would prefer some titles to be moved to the high school level and not be in the middle or elementary school libraries. ffl at is understandable. But there are others who were seeking outright bans and when that didn’t happen, one parent could be heard loudly whispering as she exited that they were pedophiles looking to groom the children. I never know how to address people like that; they frighten me. I don’t even know what color the sky is in their world, but I sure know I wouldn’t want to live there, even if the tinfoil hats are provided for free. One of the problems, I believe, is that sometimes people conffi ate maturity-related access restrictions with culture-wide censorship. We already have maturityrelated access restrictions with movies. We have ratings such as G, PG, PG-13, and R, which dictate how old a person must be to see a ff lm. I am not suggesting such a rating system for books. Rather, I support just notifying a parent what books their child checked out and then they can decide on their own if it is appropriate for their kid or not. ffl at way, they aren’t preventing others from reading it if they want to. It is kind of what we are doing here in Mahopac schools. And I am proud of the school board and superintendent for not capitulating to those demanding outright bans. As for public libraries, no book should ever be banned from there unless it condones or encourages criminal activity. And those decisions should best be left to the head librarian and the stafl . Just a reminder, history does not look back very kindly on book banners and burners. (See Germany circa 1938.) I was looking at a list of the most common book challenges in recent years, and they include a signiff cant number of titles that deal with LGBTQ+ issues. ffl ere are probably myriad reasons for this—part of it is there are more books being written on this topic than ever before. Some parents probably believe LGBTQ+ issues are best suited for older students and shouldn’t be in an elementary school library, and I can understand that. But then there are others who fear if their children read such books, it will turn them gay, or it is an attempt by pedophiles to groom children (such as the parent at the school board meeting mentioned earlier). I am not sure how that would work because pedophiles tend to be straight men. I don’t know how to address that. It is way above my pay grade, and it is a complex issue. But I will say this, if Holden Caulff eld was still around today, he’d be stunned by the number of phonies who are still out there running around making things weird. DUMAS FROM PAGE 11

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 13 1060 Oregon Road | Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 (914) 734-1500 | [email protected] GolfHollowBrook.com There’s Something for Everyone at Hollow Brook... World-class golf on one of Westchester’s most spectacular golf courses. Tournaments and season-long competitions. Family activities... Couples Golf, Junior Golf, Pool and Social Events. From the moment you arrive at Hollow Brook Golf Club, you’ll know you’re in for something special. Contact us today to learn about our New Member Program. Pool Complex Hole 18 Hole 12 Excellence in Vision Care From Our Family To Yours raymondopticians.com Eyeglasses Eye Exams E F P TOZ Contact Lenses Insurance Accepted Prescriptions Filled Sunglasses Kids Eyewear Jefferson Valley 3656 Lee Road (914) 245-1222 Mahopac Somers Commons (914) 621-7700 Carmel Putnam Plaza (845) 228-5800 Visit us on the web for other locations Moms, Come See Our New Spring Sunglass Collection! You deserve it! Hay Mhers Day Raymond Opticians Eye Exams Available At All Locations Most Insurance Accepted! Urging people to vote for Tanner McCracken for school board Dear Editor, I would like to share how impressed I am with Tanner McCracken and urge the Mahopac residents who may not know him to please research him and vote for him.   I didn’t know Tanner prior to his last run for school board. I went to meetings and read up on him. I voted for him because I felt he would be a breath of fresh air and an integral part of much needed change. Tanner has not disappointed. He is intelligent and as a recent graduate of our school system, cares deeply for our schools and our community. He handles himself with a grace and dignity that has enabled him to not only hold his own with his much older colleagues, but in my opinion rise above them. My wife and I have personally sat in meetings and witnessed what we felt were other board members speaking down to him in a condescending manner when they should handle themselves in exactly the same way Tanner does. Tanner has been very responsive when I have reached out to him and on the rare occasion that he didn’t have an answer, he promised to get back to me and he did. During the pandemic and at his young age, he managed to meet the challenges presented to the school system. Times like the pandemic can make or break leaders and in his case, he truly showed what he is capable of. He fought for the parents and students and really earned our respect. ff ank you Tanner. -Joe Cassara Mahopac Anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric will result in violence Dear Editor:  Putnam County’s LGBTQ+ community members are under attack. At school board meetings, community members have stood up at podiums and called trans people, including children, sick and perverse. One person at a Carmel school board meeting recently even had the gall to suggest that trans people are more likely to be mass shooters based on exactly one instance of a mass shooting by a trans-identiffl ed person in any recent history, compared with the dozens to hundreds of straight, white cisgender male shooters who have terrorized our schools and communities for decades upon decades. Local LGBTQ+ and ally business owners who are taking steps to host fun and LGBTQ+ affi rming events are regularly being called pedophiles and groomers in social media groups and in public meetings. Protests are being planned and threats are being made. ff e harassment, lies, defamation and general ugliness LETTERS SEE LETTERS PAGE 15

PAGE 14 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 TOCK FROM PAGE 10 SEE TOCK PAGE 15 Education, like most everything else in our culture today, is becoming increasingly politicized. Over the last couple of years, we have seen an outpouring of anger from extremely opinionated parents and community members targeting lessons and books about racism, sexual orientation and gender identity.  So, it’s no surprise that a national survey of school principals, recently conducted by the University of California, found partisan politics leading to signiff cantly more conffl ict in schools, especially in high schools.  And these conffl icts are particularly concerning at schools in “purple” communities – congressional districts where Donald Trump received between 45% and 55% of the vote in 2020, and where Republican and Democratic voters tend to be more evenly split.  In the study, school principals in purple communities reported a dramatic increase between 2018 and 2022 in the number of parents and community members challenging instruction, and in the number of incidents of harassment of minorities and LGBTQ+ students. “Something’s happening in purple communities,” said John Rogers, director of UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access, who co-authored the study. “In many diffi erent instances, the level of conffl ict has grown dramatically – far more than in primarily red and blue communities.” fl e main sources of conffl ict: teaching and learning about race and racism; policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ students; children’s access to certain books in the library; and social-emotional learning. At least one-third of principals reported instances of parents or community members challenging or trying to limit the learning material or policy in each of these areas.   Principals in purple communities were also much more likely to report frequent instances of students making demeaning or hateful remarks about their peers. “It’s hard not to see a relationship between the political climate and negative student interactions,” Rogers said.  Principals in purple communities, according to Rogers, Diversity matters BERNIE KOSBERG HERE AND NOW! SEE KOSBERG PAGE 16 sentative at AAA Carting, the company who currently has the sanitation contract with the Town of Carmel. fl e rep not only conff rmed that plastic bags jam the machinery, but she also told me that when bagged recycling is taken to the sorting facility in the Bronx used by AAA, a claw machine reaches down, plucks out the plastic bags, and sends them to a landff ll. A complete defeat of NMLS #60828 Registered Mortgage Broker NY & CT Banking Depts. All Loans Arranged through Third Party Providers. Call Us Today! 800-771-1071 YOUR LOCAL HOME MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS 1013 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 - www.putcap.com AWARD WINNER 293 Rt 100 - Suite 207 Somers, NY 10589 OFFICE: 1-914-243-3050 CELL: 1-914-629-0236 [email protected] LIC. REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE BROKER Since 1985 Grace Vinciguerra Each office independently owned and operated •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 862 Route 6 Goodrow Building Mahopac NY 10541 (845) 208-0963 SOUTHEAST EXECUTIVE PARK 185 NY-312 • Suite 301B Brewster NY 10509 (845) 279-9288 MILL POND OFFICES 293 Route 100 • Suite 107 Somers, NY 10589 (914) 276-2520 www.aonpt.com The Road To Recovery Starts Here

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 15 TOCK FROM PAGE 14 ranges from disgusting to illegal. fi is is not something any community member should have to contend with, but I can’t help but feel encouraged in a sense. fi roughout history, when any movement toward social justice starts to take hold in a real way, there is a violent backlash from those desperately clinging to the status quo. As our community moves toward change, there are bound to be loud voices of opposition. fi at’s OK. What’s not OK is publicly calling anyone who embraces an LGBTQ+ identity a pedophile/ groomer intent on sexually abusing children. If you support the views of someone who feels empowered to accuse their neighbors of a felony without so much as having ever met them, you might want to rethink your stance. To be sure, this is a national narrative that is just being parroted back by local puppets of the powers that be, but the local harm it is doing is real. If you don’t like drag events, don’t go. If you’re homophobic or transphobic, stay away from LGBTQ+ people and events, but you don’t get to tell public schools they can’t acknowledge and validate their students’ experience. fi e rhetoric being spewed by a handful of community members who seem to think it’s their job to oppose people’s identities and existence, and who are using children as the scapegoats to justify their hateful views, is going to result in actual violence in Putnam County if we allow it to continue escalating. No matter who you support, I doubt you want that. No one is hurting you and, no matter how many lies you want to tell, no one is hurting children. We all have children we love in our lives; you are not the designated Defenders of All Children. We all want children to feel safe and included. You’re not making this community safer. And just remember that the more aggressive, angry and defamatory you are, the more evident it is that we’re winning. -Eileen McDermott Brewster LETTERS FROM PAGE 13 We Carry A Complete Line of BioGuard Pool Treatments YTLAI CEPS ALIAN TI E UQI OUT B FOOD mo c.c opa h cinama cu lal be BELLA CUCINA ITALIAN SPECIALITY & FOOD BOUTIQUE bellacucinamahopac.com BELLA CUCINA ITALIAN SPECIALITY & FOOD BOUTIQUE bellacucinamahopac.com BELLA CUCINA ITALIAN SPECIALITY & FOOD BOUTIQUE bellacucinamahopac.com BELLA CUCINA ITALIAN SPECIALITY & FOOD BOUTIQUE bellacucinamahopac.com Gifts that keep on Giving 730 US-6, Mahopac Gift Baskets and Gift Certificates recycling eff orts. So, as I see it, the Q-Tip problem is simply one of educating people as to what items are recyclable and what items are not. It seems to be common sense that Q-Tips should not be thrown loose into your 50-gallon recycling bin. But we all know that common sense is not so common. Cotton swabs are not part of the town-issued list of acceptable recycling, which includes cardboard, paper, newspaper, glass bottles, tin cans, aluminum cans and plastics. Cotton swabs belong in your regular garbage in garbage bags.  People live here because they enjoy the proximity of New York City, but want to raise their families in the natural beauty of Putnam County, “where the country begins.” As much as I’d like to completely eradicate litter, I know there will always be those who ffi oss their teeth on the go and think nothing of tossing the dental pick out of their car. But this Q-Tip deluge is killing me. Is it happening throughout the community or is there just a knucklehead living on my street? I’d love to know if other streets in our area are experiencing similar Q-Tip clutter, but please do not send me photos of the swabs – or the dental picks -- on your street. 

PAGE 16 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 KOSBERG FROM PAGE 14 SEE KOSBERG PAGE 17 We treated Sarah’s postcards as if they were holy objects. fi ey came from all over: the Madi Gras, Matisse’s chapel in Nice, a steeplechase race in Ireland, the pyramids. A postcard from Sarah was our way out of Mahopac and the spiritual malaise that comes with the sameness of days. She was my family’s superstar, you might say, though not my father’s, who harbored an understandable jealousy toward Sarah. She and my mother grew-up close as sisters, lifelong friends, though Sarah’s life lasted only 49 years.   fi ey lived in the same Hungarian neighborhood in the South Bronx. fi e Great Depression was on. Mom’s father went back to Hungary, leaving a mother and two daughters to fend for themselves. Sometimes mom’s mother had to travel for work. When she did, my mother stayed with Sarah’s family, who were just as poor as my mother’s family, but in an entirely diffl erent way. In Sarah’s home, my mother found music and she found books. Sarah’s mother used charcoal that fell from the hot stove to sketch portraits of her children on the walls of a tenement apartment. Remembering Sarah LORENZO GARO OF HUMAN INTEREST SEE LORENZO PAGE 17 said their districts offl ered fewer professional development opportunities to teachers teaching about sensitive subjects, and that their districts were not discernibly supportive of equity and inclusion practices.  Principals in blue communities, according to Rogers, said their school or district were providing increased professional development in how to conduct productive discussions of controversial issues. In red communities, principals reported less of this in-service training. In purple communities where principals reported the highest rates of harassment and conffi ict over diffl ering points of view, principals reported a dramatic decline in professional development.   “fi ose declines are particularly striking because they’re occurring in the places where there’s the greatest need,” said Joseph Kahne, who co-authored the study. Over the years, the Mahopac Central School District has experienced its share of racist, anti-ethnic, anti-Semitic and sexist polemics, a notoriety it is has worked hard to overcome. Research suggests that having a more diverse school board can make concrete diffl erences in how schools operate. At present, the makeup of the nine member Mahopac Board For more information: visit lakemahopacrotary.org e-mail [email protected] • or call (914) 588-0394 online tickets available on www.eventbrite.com • Search for Lake Mahopac Rotary THIS AD DONATED BY MAHOPAC NEWS/HALSTON MEDIA GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Tickets $35 in advance • $40 at the door Purchase tickets at PCSB Bank (Mahopac), d’Berto’s Pizzeria & Rt 6 Deli  7PM Sponsored by Show Host Dave Hunter “Mr. Excitement” Bobby Brooks Wilson A TRIBUTE TO HIS FATHER— JACKIE WILSON “Higher and Higher” “Lonely Teardrops” “To Be Loved” “That’s Why” Oldies Show! A Rock&Roll The Lake Mahopac Rotary Club presents Also Featuring FRIDAY MAY 12TH The Chiclettes A Tribute to Female Artists Through the Decades Tickets $35 in advance • $40 at the door The Coasters “Yakety Yak” “Along Came Jones” “Charlie Brown” “Poison Ivy” MAHOPAC HIGH SCHOOL 421 BALDWIN PLACE RD

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 17 KOSBERG FROM PAGE 16 Sarah went to bed probably just as hungry as my mom, but with dreams that went way beyond the Bronx. Sustenance is not always a matter of nutrition. fi ough they shared many of the same interests, as young women my mother and Sarah diff ered on one matter. My mother wanted children. Sarah was having too good of a time to want anything other than the life she had as a musician, traveling to diff erent gigs and seeing the world.  After she gave birth to me and my twin brother, my mother had to go back to work for ffi nancial reasons. Sarah had a steady job with the New York City Opera at the time, playing viola. It was fate. Mom didn’t like leaving us with “the Italians,” as she called them, my father’s operatic family, and Sarah wanted to help my mother take care of me and my brother. I think my mom wanted to share the experience of motherhood, the way Sarah shared her life with us. We eventually went back to the Italians, where it was not nearly as fun, but much safer.  Here is an example of a day with Sarah: She has planned an outing to Van Cortlandt Park. “Where our your six-shooter’s,” she says, dramatically. “We may run into Indians!” Of course, my brother and me shoot at everyone, until Sarah tells us to stop because we might start a range war. (She referred to Van Cortlandt Park as the “range.”) We pick wild mushrooms, which Sarah says are safe, as long as the penny in the pot of water we cook them in doesn’t turn green. We have the usual malteds and cake for lunch. fi e last thing we do, when our outings take us in that direction, is stop at a church on University Avenue, to pray for my mother, who, Sarah says, misses us terribly and always worries over us. LORENZO FROM PAGE 16 SEE LORENZO PAGE 19 of Education is one woman and seven men, one of whom is Hispanic. One male member of the board recently retired. On May 16, school district voters will cast their ballots on the 2023-24 budget. fi ey will also choose to elect three members of the board from a list of four candidates, bringing the total back up to nine.  A school board almost entirely comprised of white, mostly conservative men, in a community becoming more diverse by the year, is not a representative model. And a school board without a professional educator as a member is not fully representative, as well. To its credit, the Mahopac school board recently hired its ffi rst woman superintendent, a highly skilled and experienced administrator, which is a progressive step forward.  Superintendents and school board members do have a role to play in elevating diff erent voices. fi ey can encourage and subsidize PTOs to develop programs that purposely encourage minority representation. fi e value of developing school boards that look like the rapidly diversifying communities they represent goes beyond public relations.  According to Christina Samuels in her recent article in Education Week – “Why School Board Diversity Matters” - school districts with a diverse mix of school board members beneffi t both socially and academically. Surely, students in these districts will be better prepared for the changing society they live in.  Elder Law Wills, Trusts & Estates Estate Planning Medicaid Applications Guardianships Probates Elder Law & Estate Planning A Tradition of Excellence in Elder Law (845) 621-8640 thefellergroup.com 625 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541 We make home & hospital visits Contact the team today! (845) 621-8640

PAGE 18 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 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! 914.455.2158 10% OFF Service Calls When You Present this Ad First Time Customers Only Light up your summer • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers • GENERATORS AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! www.pleasantvillewellnessgroup.com CONTACT US 450 Manville Road, First Floor Pleasantville NY 10570 [email protected] (call) 914-769-1586 (text) 845-260-2797 PLEASANTVILLE WELLNESS GROUP offers compassionate and affordable care for whatever you or a loved one may be struggling with. Reach out today to find out how we can support you through your mental health journey. Services offered in person and online. Dear Dr. Linda, I love my mother and my children love me, but I don’t love Mother’s Day on many fronts. To begin with, it’s a made-up holiday created by Hallmark to make a lot of money. Secondly, it forces mothers and children of all ages to be part of a holiday which has no meaning to them and may even be a heartache for them due to death, relationships or lifestyle. In addition, elementary school teachers spend hours of valuable time having their students make Mother’s Day cards and gifts when they can be teaching them a host of other things that will help them succeed in school. Finally, I feel that Mother’s Day is teaching our children that there’s one day a year they need to be nice to their mothers and then they can be rude and uncaring the other 364 days. You have my permission to publish my thoughts. fi ank you. -Ilene Dear Ilene, Even though Mother’s Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in this country, I have heard similar remarks from others, especially that Hallmark created the holiday. However, if you go back in history, you’ll see that Mother’s Day began with the ancient Greeks and Romans. fi ey had festivals in honor of their mother-goddesses.  Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world, but in the northern hemisphere it is celebrated on diffl erent days in April or May. It was ffi rst introduced in the United States by a woman named Anna Jarvis, a social activist, not Hallmark. She is known as the founder of Mother’s Day in the U.S. However, as the holiday became more commercial, she became so distraught over it, that she actually wanted to stop it. She believed that her ultimate goal to honor mothers for their everlasting love became overshadowed by commercialism. With that said, it seems that Mother’s Day is here to stay along with Hallmark cards, fl owers, candy and overbooked restaurants. But is that so bad? Being a mother is one of the most important roles in life and it seems appropriate to honor mothers (and fathers, too). Generally, children appreciate and love their parents on the 364 other days too. If children are rude and uncaring those other days, as you say, or other hardships and issues are happening in their families, then those are personal issues that need to be addressed. As far as thinking that it’s a waste of time for children to make cards or gifts for their mothers during the school day, it’s actually just the opposite. fi e lesson of giving is one of the most important lessons children learn. Even though a child and parent may give each other gifts throughout the year, having a special day devoted to mothers provides the opportunity for all of us to appreciate and celebrate our mothers. fi e same goes for Father’s Day. Children learn that holidays are special days to honor, remember or observe a religious event, a particular event in history or a famous person or group of people. In addition, celebrating holidays together builds strong family and community bonds. fi ey not only provide children with positive childhood memories, but also provide them days of excitement anticipating those special days. A child’s excitement waiting to give his or her mother the handmade card, painted rock (paper weight) or bouquet of tissue fl owers colored and scented with lipstick, made at school, is genuine and heartfelt.   Family celebrations, such as Mother’s Day, also help children grow because they provide a sense of belonging. Feeling that you belong, whether it is to a family, a school, a religious group or a community, is a basic need of all humans. If a person is not fortunate enough to have family with whom to share holidays, then they would do well to create their own traditions around holidays. So, Ilene and others who put Mother’s Day down, try to enjoy the holiday with your mom and children by explaining how it began and why it has continued. Plus, enjoy the cards, homemade or store bought, the fl owers, the candy and the other gifts you may get and say, “fi ank You!” Happy Mother’s Day, -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda can be reached by visiting stronglearning.com. Mother’s Day is more than just commercialism DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 19 Sure she worried. In addition to being crazy, Sarah may have had a mild form of epilepsy.   “If she goes into a trance, don’t wake her,” my mother said. “She’s seeing something beautiful.” One year, Sarah looked thinner than usual. My mother balled her out for not eating enough. But the weight loss hadn’t been intentional. We were immediately worried, it turned out, for a good reason. Sarah had cancer. About a year later, her father called from Arizona. If we wanted to see Sarah, he said, we better get there right away. We were on a plane the next day. My mom nursed Sarah day and night for four straight days. Sarah was in bed. Most of the time her eyes were closed, and she hardly spoke. My mother cared for Sarah, somehow controlling her emotions, while rapidly losing the person she sometimes referred to as her “heart.” She dabbed Sarah’s mouth with a sponge and hummed Puccini, Sara’s favorite composer. Tears came later.  Mom stayed in bed for three days after we came home. I brought her hot chocolate and biscuits. When she asked why I never put enough butter on the biscuits, I knew she’d be OK. But she was never quite the same. She lived 50 more years and never stopped missing Sarah.  In the early 1970s, thanks to the Beatles, transcendental meditation became popular. I tried it with mixed results. I’d usually fall asleep or get distracted by thoughts that came and went. Getting a mantra didn’t help, either. I ff gured my conscious level would never rise higher than the basement, but then my mother gave me some guidance, which worked miraculously. She told me to think of Sarah when I meditated. I would see something beautiful.  Mom’s advice still works like a charm. LORENZO FROM PAGE 17 You can’t surrender yourself to the news these days without also surrendering your good sense to turn away from the relentless devolution of everyday human behavior so you can ff nd elusive peace within yourself. ‘Cause you sure as shootin’ aren’t likely to ff nd it out there.  Case in point: I just glimpsed a news report about the father of a high school baseball player who sucker-punched a 63-yearold umpire who had been What would Morrie do? Mega-selling book about simple life sessons takes the stage SEE APAR PAGE 30 BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG Summer Female Flag Football Under the lights REGISTRATION IS OPEN! WOMEN’S LEAGUE Thursdays Under the Lights Late June-August 7-9pm Visit us on Instagram and Facebook @gridironpartnersinc [email protected] 917-848-7780 Please visit our website to learn more and register Westchester Female Flag Football is powered by Gridiron Partners YOUTH LEAGUE Tuesdays Under the Lights Late June-August 7-9pm at the Somers High School main football turf clubs.bluesombrero.com/gridiron FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 59 Years of Excellence Putnam & Westchester County’s Premier Plumbing Professionals Since 1964 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT TUB/SHOWER CALL! MENTION AD FOR DISCOUNT. VALID ON CALLS OVER 1 HOUR. EXPIRES 6/30/23

PAGE 20 MAHOPAC NEWS – TH Mahopac High School students stepped out in Pro change this spring, the weather cooperat Phil Scuderi, Robert Dusovic , Quentin Bally, and Casey Brandstetter PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATHYANN BRANDSTETTER Casey Brandstetter and Adriana Pranzo J Jenna Perricone and Cole Haddock Progressive Animal Hospital What is the most common mismanaged condition that you see? THE ITCHY DOG! Is your pet... scratching • licking • chewing feet or having chronic skin infections? Stop treating the symptoms and find out the underlying cause with a simple blood test. Get your pet feeling better and stop the frequent trips to the vet. INDEPENDENTLY OWNED and OPERATED 268 route 202 l somers, ny 10589 914.248.6220 l progressive-vet.com Voted “Best of Somers” 2020-2023

HURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 PAGE 21 n style for the Junior Prom last month—and for a om ted. The pictures speak for themselves! PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCINDA RIVERA Shane Waring and Giovanna Rivera Chris Sapienza and Cierra Davis Junior

PAGE 22 – MAHOPAC NEWS NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows have returned to Westchester County’s beautiful horse country, May 9-14 and May 16-21, with a full schedule of world-class competition featuring many of the nation’s best horses and riders.  One of the premier stops on the nation’s hunter-jumper horse show circuit, the Spring Horse Shows host competitions for riders of all levels and ages, ranging from young children on ponies to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Many familiar faces return to Old Salem Farm each year to vie for top honors, including Olympic medalists such as Brewster resident McLain Ward (USA) and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA).  “Last year was a great one for the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows as we took major steps forward in our ongoing efforts to be one of the finest horse show facilities in the country,” said Scott Hakim, owner and president of Old Salem Farm. “Spectators can get up close to all the action and watch Olympic riders like McLain Ward of the U.S., Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, Daniel Bluman of Israel and so many more. It really is show jumping at its best!” The Spring Horse Shows’ Week 1 takes place May 9-14, with highlights including the Evergate Stables’ $40,000 Welcome Stake presented by JumpR App., $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off, $10,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby and the $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Presented by The Kincade Group. Week 2 competition follows, May 16-21, featuring the $65,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem, presented by The Kincade Group, $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off and the $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Mane ‘n Tail before concluding on Sunday, May 21, with the $200,000 Empire State Grand Prix. The ambiance at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows is unlike any other venue in the country, with over-the-top hospitality and unique shopping offered along Old Salem’s popular Boutique Row. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows also feature a collection of local, Spring Horse Shows return to North Salem Brewster resident and Olympic medalist McLain Ward will be one of the familiar faces returning to the Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem. Ward clears the last fence with the shortest time in the 2022 Grand Prix jumpoff. PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL OLD SALEM FARM SEE OLD SALEM PAGE 25

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 23 PERFECTLY DESIGNED SANCTUARY Welcome to this private park like sanctuary set on over 10 acres of fully fenced property with direct access to the NS bridle trails. Winner of the Pinnacle award for best restoration/renovation the home is masterfully designed. Enjoy an open concept living space, including a chef's kitchen with custom cabinetry, island, appliances and granite counters. Beautiful hardwood flooring throughout the home including two bedrooms on the main floor. Spectacular views out every window. Private main suite on the second floor with a Juliet balcony overlooking a serene babbling brook. New automatic entry gate, fencing, 36'x48' 1 1/2 story barn and run in barn. Everything completed with new landscaping and new seed for all the paddocks. The home features Geothermal for maximum efficiency with an automatic generator for the home. Everything thought of to move you and your fourlegged friends in. Close to world renown horse farms for competing and training. Come check out this one-of-a-kind property. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker® Realty. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Price upon request 577 GRANT RD, NORTH SALEM, NY 10560 MARCIE NOLLETTI REALTOR® M: 914.424.5545 [email protected] MarcieNolletti.com 338 Route 202 Somers, NY 10589 2020 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are the registered service marks owned by the Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Price upon request. Welcome to this private park like sanctuary set on over 10 acres of fully fenced property with direct access to the NS bridle trails. Winner of the Pinnacle award for best restoration/renovation the home is masterfully designed. Enjoy an open concept living space, including a chef’s kitchen with custom cabinetry, island, appliances and granite counters. Beautiful hardwood flooring throughout the home including two bedrooms on the main floor. Spectacular views out every window. Private main suite on the second floor with a Juliet balcony overlooking a serene babbling brook. New automatic entry gate, fencing, 36’x48’ 1 1/2 story barn and run in barn. Everything completed with new landscaping and new seed for all the paddocks. The home features Geothermal for maximum efficiency with an automatic generator for the home. Everything thought of to move you and your four-legged friends in. Close to world renown horse farms for competing and training. Come check out this one-of-a-kind property. Marcie Nolletti Licensed Real Estate Salesperson NY & CT Buying and Selling— I can make it happen! 338 Route 202 | Somers, NY 10589 Cell: (914) 424-5545 [email protected] | marcienolletti.com

Over the years, the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows have ofi ered a full schedule of world-class competition for many of the nation’s best horses and riders, and this year is no exception. Learn more about some of the familiar faces competing in the Old Salem Farm International Arena:  MCLAIN WARD (USA) Continuing as Co-Chairman of the Spring Horse Shows for the second consecutive year, McLain Ward returns to Old Salem Farm as the defending champion in several highlight classes, including the shows’ culminating event, the $200,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by ffl e Kincade Group. He is a highly accomplished rider on the international stage, having competed in ffi ve Olympic Games (with two Gold and two Silver medals!), four FEI World Equestrian Games (with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals), two Pan American Games (with two Gold and one Silver medal) and 25 of the 28 FEI World Cup Finals since 1995. He was the 2017 FEI World Cup champion and is currently the World No. 4 ranked rider on the LONGINES FEI World Rankings.  GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA) As a young rider, North Salem resident Georgina Bloomberg earned four medals in her three appearances at the North American Young Riders’ Championships, and she has continued to be a major player for Team USA in the years since. She made her Nations Cup debut in 2005 in France, where she was a member of the all-female winning team; she made her ffi rst of two World Cup Final appearances that same year in Las Vegas, NV. She helped to clinch the win at the 2014 Furusiyya Nations Cup in Spain and later claimed the Team Bronze medal in her major games debut at the 2015 Pan American Games. A dedicated philanthropist and advocate for animal rescue, she shares her North Salem farm with her horses, dogs, goats, rabbits, mules and the endearing pig, Wilbur.  LILLIE KEENAN (USA) Lillie Keenan has been a competitive rider from a young age, making headlines early in her career for her successes in many events such as the 2007 USEF Pony Hunter National Championship, 2011 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, 2012 North American Junior Equitation Championship, 2013 USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals, and North American Junior and Young Riders Championships where she won individual and team Gold medals in 2013 after winning team Gold in 2012. Since then, she has represented the U.S. in international competition on several Nations Cup teams, including at the 2017 Dublin Horse Show where an all-female team claimed the prestigious Aga Khan Trophy for the ffi rst time. She has ridden on the U.S. team in the FEI Nations Cup Final in 2016 and 2021 and in the FEI World Championships in 2022. DANIEL BLUMAN (ISRAEL) Daniel Bluman ffi rst competed on the world stage under the Colombian fl ag, representing his home country for 12 years through two Olympic Games, two FEI World Equestrian Games and three Pan American Games. In 2017, he chose to represent Israel and has since added the 2018 World Equestrian Games, 2022 World Championship and 2023 FEI World Cup Final to his record. Among his grand prix wins are major events including the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome, the Hampton Classic Grand Prix (twice), and the FTI Wellington Finale. Outside the show ring, he and his wife Ariel recently created the “Ride the Future” program, helping to support riders who otherwise may not have the means to pursue a career in the sport.  RODRIGO PESSOA (BRAZIL) One of the most accomplished riders in show jumping history, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa is another familiar face at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with several top ffi nishes during last year’s event. Pessoa has competed in six Olympic and FEI World Equestrian games each, securing several podium ffi nishes including Individual Gold medals at the 2004 Olympics and 1998 World Equestrian Games. He has also brought home Team Gold medals from two of the three Pan American Games he’s attended and he’s competed in 13 FEI World Cup Finals, claiming three consecutive wins from 1998-2000. He is the only rider in history to win the World Cup championship three consecutive years. NAYEL NASSAR (EGYPT) Since winning his ffi rst FEI Grand Prix in 2011, Nayel Nassar has represented Egypt in three FEI World Cup Finals, the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games, and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with several big grand prix victories along the way. He is a three-time winner of the HITS $1 million Grand Prix and is the only rider ever to win the Speed Challenge and 5* Grand Prix at the same Longines Masters event. He currently rides as part of the team at Evergate Stables, competing with several horses out of their California and Florida bases, and is a member of the Paris Panthers on the prestigious Global Champions League circuit. PAGE 24 – MAHOPAC NEWS NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Sunday- Thursday 12pm-10pm Friday & Saturday 12pm-12am thecarmelcigarvault.com//@thecarmelcigarvault Fromanold bank vaultto a luxury cigarlounge. Come relax&enjoy a cigar withus! The Carmel Cigar Vault 71GleneidaAvenue Carmel,NY10512 Who’s competing in the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows?  McLain Ward, from Brewster, riding Contagious PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL North Salem resident Georgina Bloomberg PHOTO COURTESY OF GEOFFREY TISCHMAN/JUMP MEDIA

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 25 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows May 9-21 www.OldSalemFarm.net • 190 June Rd. North Salem, NY Week 1 (May 9-14) Highlights: • Evergate Stables $40,000 Welcome Stake • $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off • $10,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby • $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Week 2 (May 16-21) Highlights: • $65,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem • $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off • $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby • $200,000 Empire State Grand Prix Over-the-top hospitality and unique shopping experiences! Kids’ Activities • Pony Rides • Face Painting & More! ADMISSION IS FREE THE WORLD’S BEST right in everyone’s own backyard! gourmet food ofi erings and family-friendly activities including pony rides, face painting, dog adoptions each Saturday and more. From Welcome Wednesday to Fiesta Friday and Family Fun Weekends presented by Halston Media, the publisher of this newspaper, every day is special at the Spring Horse Shows!  OLD SALEM FARM WILL UNVEIL A REVITALIZED VENDOR AREA FOR EVEN MORE UNIQUE SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES  Old Salem caters not only to the comfort of the people visiting the historic facility, but also to the horses competing onsite, providing top-notch care alongside sponsors such as the HEART Equine Ambulance, which will provide tours during the Spring Horse Shows. HEART provides state-of-theart emergency transportation services for injured or ill horses while preserving their health, safety and dignity as athletes, much like their human partners in the ring.  ffl e incredible action starts daily at 8 a.m. with classes running in three rings simultaneously throughout the day before ffi nishing at approximately 5 p.m. A full schedule can be found at Old SalemFarm.net/our-events/. Admission to the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows is free! OLD SALEM FROM PAGE 22 PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDOLPHPR Old Salem Farm will unveil a revitalized vendor area for even more unique shopping opportunities.

Sports PAGE 26 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Friday, May 5, Mahopac headed south to Rye, and Ava Lichtenberger and Erin Ball treated both fan bases to an exciting pitcher’s duel. At least they did for five innings. Then the bats took over, and a thrilling back-and-forth went in search of a hero. Both sides had an ample supply. But someone had to sound the trumpet, and the other side would have to succumb to the violins.  With the bases loaded and one out, Lichtenberger got the ground ball she needed in the bottom of the seventh, and with the infield in, Emma Behun picked it cleanly. Unfortunately, Ava Rollano was too fast to the plate, and the late throw sent Mahopac home with a crushing 4-3 loss. Nonetheless, Ball put up the first zero, and her offense immediately had their starter’s back. Penelope Gilmore drew a oneout walk, and after Dylan Deertz went down on strikes, Ashley Kessner hit a double in the gap for a 1-0 lead. A grounder to short closed the inning, and Lichtenberger settled into the second by retiring the side in order. Ball would match the donut in the top of the third, and Lichtenberger was on pace to continue the string in the bottom. She got a strikeout and a fly out, but an error at third kept the inning alive for Deertz. So the third baseman stepped in and also smoked a double for a 2-0 lead. No answer in the top of the fourth for Mahopac, Lichtenberger was tested in the bottom. After getting the first out on a hot shot to first by Kessner, the starter ended up in a jam. A Tessa Labovitz single to right was followed by a sacrifice bunt attempt by Erin Ball. Caitlyn Wolf fielded the ball, but the throw was off line and everyone was safe. So Lichtenberger got down to business. She struck out Rollano and put her off-hour skills to work on Ava Cross. The first baseman hit a hard one back at the box, and the pitcher fielded the ball like the shortstop she is on her travel team. The side retired, Ball returned the favor in order in the top of the fifth, and a little breathing room loomed in the bottom. Gilmore sliced a two-out double to right, but Bella Genovese bailed Lichtenberger out. The right fielder made the long throw to Camdyn Wilson at short, and Gilmore was tagged out in the run down. A bad omen for Rye was compounded when Behun’s bloop to left landed on the foul line. Sam Pellegri then got a grounder through the infield, and Wilson’s ground out to third sent Behun home with the first run.  Now 2-1, the pitcher put another one of her tools on display. She stroked a double, and in came Pellegri to tie the score. Not done yet, a wild pitch moved Lichtenberger to third, and Gianna LaFaro grabbed the lead for Mahopac with a sacrifice fly. Dialup in with a seventh-inning lead, Lichtenberger went three up, three down, and the offense was primed to put to their pitcher in good hands with some insurance runs. After Bella Genovese walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Emily Biagini, Behun launched an opposite-field projectile to right.  Bad news, Rollano got a good jump. She ran back and toward the line, making a lunging catch. Anticipating an extra-base hit, Genovese was caught off second, and Rye had the inning-ending double play. The ominous signage now flipped, Rye piled on in the seventh. Ball launched one to deep left center, and while Ally Wanner had the ball tracked, she was not able to put on the squeeze on it.  The tying run landing third, the Garnets played small ball.  Rollano’s bunt scored the run on the throw home, Cross walked and Zoe Lien beat out her bunt.  The bases loaded with no one out, Lichtenberger needed a strike out and she got it. The same goes for Gilmore’s ground ball, but good pitching and defense was not enough to save the day. Mahopac on wrong end of thriller in Rye  Alenah Gomes PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Ava Lichtenberger Camdyn Wilson Sam Pellegri SOFTBALL

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 27 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER After playing Brewster to a 13-13 tie on Tuesday, May 2, Mahopac came home to play Panas on fi ursday (5/4), and Coach Matt Deiana was well aware how much height his team was up against. “We knew they were going to be tough,” he said, and the Panthers didn’t take long to turn the advantage their way. On their second possession, a towering Kelsey Cregan went up top to an almost as tall Sara Chiulli at the 25, and on the next play, the quarterback had plenty of vision to spot Makenzie Schmidt in the ff at. fi e play gave the Panthers a 6-0 lead at 19:01, and the Panthers stayed tall on the way to an 18-0 victory.   fi e Panthers got down to business again after their ffi rst score, but the Indian defense only bent. Cregan looking right ffi rst, she hit Cassidy Pisani on the sideline to midffi eld and then stepped up to ffi nd Chiulli a second time.  A ffi rst down at the 29, Panas then got really tall. Cregan let ff y, and Jaelyn Helfrich dwarfed her defenders by pulling the ball in at the 20. A little trickery came next. Cregan hit Melina Monica on the left, and she optioned to Schmidt. But the play was not good enough for a ffi rst down, and while Mahopac took over, Deiana voiced the conundrum. “We started three times inside the ten, and our ofl ense is not built to go 90 yards,” the coach lamented. With the help of a holding penalty, Marie Camastro’s run got the crowd up and the ofl ense out to the 30. fi e forecast rang true, though, and Mahopac was soon punting.  So Panas worked their advantage again and added mobility to the mix. Cregan hit Kiara Williams with a screen right at the 33, and from there, the receiver really put the moves on. Shaking the grasping paws of the Mahopac secondary, the Panther was not pulled until reaching the 47.  Cregan snuck for the ffi rst down on the next play, but defense stacked up. Faith Poniros knocked down a Cregan pass, then pulled the QB ff ag on a draw, and the incomplete that ended the drive helped demonstrate the team’s improvement, according to Camastro. “When the ball is in the air, we are defending a lot better.” On the ground ofl ensively was not Mahopac continues to improve Gianna Fava PHOTO: RICH MONETTI FLAG FOOTBALL SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 29 FOR MORE INFO VISIT MAHOPACSOCCER.COM MAHOPAC SOCCER REGISTRATION FOR TRAVEL TEAM FALL 2023/SPRING 2024 SEASON IS OPEN. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @MAHOPACSOCCER FOR THE LATEST NEWS! TRYOUTS WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUES MAY 16 & THURS MAY 18 with a rain date of Tues May 23. Players are encouraged to attend both tryout dates. See schedule of times below (subject to change): MAIN FIELD AIRPORT 1 4:15-4:30 check in 4:35-5:35 Tryout session 1 (2015 & 2014 Boys and Girls) 5:25-5:35 Check in 5:40--6:40 Tryout session 2 (2013 & 2012 Boys and Girls) 6:30-6:40 Check in 6:45-7:45 Tryout Session 3 (2011 Boys and Girls) Times for athletes born in 2010 or earlier will be announced before the tryout dates. Camp registration is also open for the weeks of Aug. 21 and Aug 28.

PAGE 28 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Mahopac High School’s girls lacrosse team opened last week with a 13-11 Senior Night victory over Lakeland/Panas, Wednesday night (5/3) at home, before falling 10-9 in OT Friday (5/5) at Clarkstown North, and then getting overwhelmed Monday (5/8) at home by John Jay of Cross River, 15-6.  In Monday’s loss to John Jay (14-1), the Indians trailed 12-5 at halftime and made a push in the third, but it was not enough with the Wolves having an answer for every Mahopac score.  Juliana Mangione led Mahopac with four goals, and Adrianna Pranzo and Katie Watts each scored once.   “We came out with a lot of energy and hustle,” Coach Christina D’Amore said. “I thought we took some good shots, their goalie made some nice stops.”  D’Amore said some secondhalf adjustments made a diff erence. “We made some defensive shifts and slowed them a bit in the second half. I thought we held our own against a talented John Jay team.”   Shannon Nolan, JoJo Degl, and Mia Puccio each had a hattrick for John Jay.  Last Friday against Clarkstown North, Mahopac (6-8) trailed 4-3 at halftime, but went on a run in the second half and took a 9-6 lead with just a few minutes to play. But with the Indians playing shorthanded because of yellow cards, North sent the game into OT and stole the victory.  “I thought we dominated the second half,” D’Amore said. “Unfortunately, we were down two men in the ffl nal minutes, and also a man down in the OT.” “Giana Rispoli, Gia Perillo, and Grace Witt all have been doing a phenomenal job communicating for us,” Coach added. “And Juliana Mangione and Adriana Pranzo continue to work hard for us.” In Mahopac’s win over Lakeland/Panas, Watts and freshman Ashley Koch each had four goals, with Watts adding an assist. Riley Massett had two goals and an assist, Mangione had a pair of goals, Hannah Harney scored, and Witt had one assist. Amanda Carey had a strong game in net, according to D’Amore, with eight saves.   “Pranzo came up big for us in the circle, winning eight draws,” D’Amore said. “And Carey had an incredible game for us in goal.”  ffi e Indians had two games left before the playoff s, with the team taking on Ursuline Tuesday (5/9), and hosting Yorktown ffi ursday (5/11) at 4:30 p.m.  “Right now, we are trying to come out with energy, and keeping the work and the eff ort up,” D’Amore said. “ffi e girls continue to work hard, and we will carry that right into the playoff s.” GIRLS LACROSSE Indians edge Lakeland/Panas Fall to Clarkstown North, John Jay Indians keeper Amanda Carey faces a shot by JJ’s Mia Puccio. Adrianna Pranzo looks for a net. ‘Pac senior captain Juliana Mangione looks to pull the trigger Monday vs. JJCR. PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN Katie Watts launches a shot.

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 29 17 Miller Rd. Mahopac 845-621-1222 RooneyOrtho.com Rooney Orthodontics Children & Adults fifffflfflffiflffiffffi www.summertrailsdaycamp.com 914.245.1776 ffiffi CURRENTLY HIRING STAFF! ffi   ffifi  ffiffi
 so bad either. Gianna Fava took the hand-ofi at the 15, and the Mahopac line got her out of the blocks before being stopped at the 40. “Wherever my teammates want me to go,” said the running back, “I ff gure out how to get through.” Unfortunately, the big run was all the Indians could muster, and Mahopac had to punt three plays later. Changing over, the defense had the bends again.  Cregan pass plays to Helfrich, Williams and Schmidt had Panas cruising and another score was in reach. But after the defense forced two incompletions and a short gain, Juliano Greco’s sack at the 20 ended the drive and the half. After intermission, both teams traded short possessions until Panas went long. Cregan dumped one over the middle to Chiulli, and despite being in the thick of it, the receiver broke free with her ffi ag attached. 53 yards later, the receiver was in the end zone. 11:35 left in the game, Mahopac could not answer back, and the matter was settled when Panas used their height again. Helfrich reached high for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 5:28 remaining, and Deiana could only accept the disadvantage. “fl ere’s nothing I could say we could have done,” he said. On the other hand, the coach noted the big strides his team has taken since an opening day 38-6 loss to Scarsdale. In this, he attributed the 5-3-1 record to the kids gaining a basic understanding of the sport and his system. “We have gotten way better.” FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 27 Gianna Dolan PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Marie Camastro

PAGE 30 – MAHOPAC NEWS LEISURE THURSDAY, MAY 11, 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. Midway between south and southeast 4. Fathers 9. Wine grape 14. Al Bundy’s wife 15. Organic compound 16. Venezuelan state 17. Interest term 18. Experts 20. Central cores of stems 22. Smooth and glossy 23. One-time S. Korean city 24. One from Damascus 28. Short message at the end of an email 29. It cools your home 30. Oh, God! 31. Intestinal pouches 33. Men 37. Popular English soccer team (abbr.) 38. Former CIA 39. Arrange in steps 41. A baglike structure in a plant or animal 42. The Great Lake State 43. Dog-__: to mark a page 44. Stop moving 46. Ancient Dead Sea region 49. Of I 50. Clerical vestment 51. Songs sung to a lover 55. Charges 58. Popular design program manufacturer 59. Where to park a boat 60. One who values reason 64. Slang for cigarette 65. Sailboats 66. Actress Zellweger 67. Screen material 68. Country music legend Haggard 69. Puts together in time 70. When you hope to arrive CLUES DOWN 1. An involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction 2. Philly’s rail service 3. Leaves a place 4. No longer be a part in 5. Guitar players use them 6. Cease to exist 7. General’s assistant (abbr.) 8. Shaking of the earth 9. Strong winds 10. For each one 11. A bog 12. The creation of beautiful or significant things 13. Affirmative 19. Pie _ __ mode 21. Nonclerical 24. Inspirational football player Hamlin 25. Learning environment 26. Khoikhoi peoples 27. Bring out or develop 31. Shows up 32. Theatrical device 34. Loads 35. Popular Hollywood alien 36. Distinguishes 40. College dorm worker 41. Secondary or explanatory title 45. Resembling wings 47. One who delivers a speech 48. In the middle 52. Loop with a running knot 53. Airborne (abbr.) 54. Beloveds 56. Ordain 57. Breed of small cattle 59. Very small period of time (abbr.) 60. Revolutions per minute 61. They __ 62. Longtime ESPN anchor Bob 63. A place to stay instructing the father’s unruly son to behave.  As our social fabric frays to a fretful extent, my own thoughts turn to one Morris Schwartz. You might recognize his nickname “Morrie” as attached to a day of the week … as in the evergreen motivational best-seller “Tuesdays with Morrie,” which has sold more than 18 million copies in the past quartercentury.  ff e slim volume, full of insights about life and death, is a hybrid memoir-tribute-self-help book by sports journalist Mitch Albom. ff ere is a stage adaptation in which I will play Morrie (with Eric Schuster as Mitch) on June 2 and 4 at Whippoorwill ff eater, part of North Castle Library in Armonk (info at armonkplayers.org). Admission is free with donations accepted.  VALIANT VICTIM Morrie was a popular sociology professor at Brandeis University who shot to national recognition for being interviewed three times on ABC-TV news program Nightline. Brimming with common sense, native wisdom and – most resonantly – a modern-day version of preaching love thy neighbor, Morrie captured hearts and minds as a valiant victim of “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” clinically known as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). As Morrie matter-offactly describes its effl ects, “ff e brain’s signals never get through to the muscles, so they wither and die. ff e body kills itself.” ff e healthy brain thus remains trapped inside a casing of merciless inffi rmity.  ff e extraordinary grace and courage with which he persevered while facing imminent death turned him into a folk hero – an incandescent beacon who continues to inspire people three decades after his death and will continue as an uplifting presence for decades hence. He almost single-handedly rede- ffi ned what it means to die with dignity when you are handed a medical death sentence. Against the backdrop of the deafening noise and deadening of our senses that passes for today’s world, the book and play, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” are more worthy of our consideration than ever. Here are some of Morrie’s choice words of wisdom, which I am honored to voice in portraying him.  WISE WORDS “Are you at peace with yourself? Are you trying to be as human as you can be?” “If there is anyone you care about that you are ffi ghting with, let it go. Forgive everyone everything.” “ff e whole problem with this culture [is] more things is good, more money is good, more more is good. ff e most miserable people who come to visit me are often the ones with the most money.” “Aging is not just decay. As you age, you grow. As you grow you learn. A tree’s leaves are most colorful just before they die.”  “Love is the only rational act. Without love, we are birds with broken wings.” Bruce Apar is a journalist, community volunteer and actor. He can be reached at [email protected]; 914.275.6887. APAR FROM PAGE 19

Roasted Vegetable Focaccia Sandwich 6 servings 1 medium eggplant 1 large zucchini 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 garlic cloves, pressed Salt and coarsely ground black pepper (optional) 2 balls fresh mozzarella cheese (8 ounces), sliced 1 medium tomato, sliced 1 7-1/2-inch loaf focaccia bread (about 12 ounces) 1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Cut eggplant and zucchini crosswise into 1/4-inchthick slices. Combine eggplant, zucchini and oil in a mixing bowl. Press garlic into mixing bowl using a garlic press; toss to coat. Season with salt and black pepper, if desired. 2. Arrange vegetables in a single layer on a stoneware bar pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender and deep golden brown. Remove from oven to a cooling rack; cool slightly. 3. Meanwhile, cut mozzarella and tomato into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut bread in half horizontally. Spread mayonnaise on cut surfaces. 4. To assemble sandwich, arrange basil leaves, vegetables, tomato slices, and mozzarella slices over bottom half of bread. Top with top half of bread. Cut into slices and serve. Opportunities for enjoying sunshine and fresh air abound in spring and summer. Who wants to be stuck indoors when the weather is pleasant? People engage in all sorts of activities while enjoying Mother Nature, including dining outside. When it comes to picnics or meals enjoyed at the beach or on park benches, portability reigns supreme. This makes sandwiches the ultimate go-to. Sandwich ingredients do not need to be limited to cold cuts or tuna salad. This recipe for a “Roasted Vegetable Focaccia Sandwich” from “The Pampered Chef Stoneware Inspirations” (The Pampered Chef, Ltd.) by The Pampered Chef Test Kitchens puts vegetables front and center. Sandwich ideal for picnic dinners THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 LEISURE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 31

their heartbreak and misery touched her heart in incredible ways.” Medford-Rosow says her experience taught her that she had more in common with people experiencing homelessness than she could have ever imagined. “I think the topic of homelessness is very germane at this point,” she said. “The homelessness crisis is on people’s minds. At first, we were afraid to go out,” she added. “But then we just said, ‘We have no choice. Are we going to sit here in the comfort of our apartment looking out on Park Avenue watching people starve to death or are we going to overcome our own fears and get out there?’” For the couple, both over age 65, the fear went beyond dealing with potentially mentally unstable people living in the street. At the height of the pandemic, their ages put them at high risk of contracting COVID and becoming severely ill. “We both just said, ‘alright we’re going to get it, but we’ll get better,’” Medford-Rosow said. “And in fact, we did both get it. And we both got better.” COMMON GROUND As for dealing with mentally unstable people on the street, Medford-Rosow said there was no way really of knowing which people were more violent “versus the ones who just had everything go wrong in their lives.” Little by little, the couple began to not only get to know people but befriend them, including Maggie Wright, who found herself on the street after opioid addiction stole her away from her career and family in New Jersey. Wright’s journal entries included in the book are so poignant that Medford-Rosow refers to her as co-author. “We’re just two women and we could hardly be more different based on outward appearances,” Medford-Rosow said. “She lived on the corner of Park Avenue and 30th Street for three years. But there is really no difference.” As they got to know more of the people on the street, Medford-Rosow and her husband developed friendships and looked for other ways to provide more lasting help. To protect their privacy, Wright and others profiled in the book are identified by pseudonyms. Meanwhile, spending time with street people at the height of the pandemic didn’t exactly go over with the couple’s social circle. “None of our friends would have anything to do with us because of the pandemic,” Medford-Rosow said. “And then once they found out we were actually out on the streets of New York City every day interacting with homeless people, our friends were really afraid of us because they figured we would be carrying the virus—not an unrealistic concern. “So, then our world became more of the homeless people we were helping and that created a profound shift in the way that we looked at ourselves.” Eventually, the couple got to know everyone on their route along Park Avenue South. “We became friends with every single one of the people in that 22-block stretch,” MedfordPAGE 32 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MEDFORD-ROSOW FROM PAGE 6 SEE MEDFORD-ROSOW PAGE 34 692 RTE 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 | 845-628-5553 [email protected] | www.mahopaccarmelchamber.com OUR PARTNERS: FUN for the Whole Family! Gleneida Avenue between Fair Street and Vink Drive 11am to 4pm FOOD • VENDORS • ENTERTAINMENT SPRING FAIR The Greater Mahopac Carmel Chamber of Commerce CARMEL May 20th 11am to 4pm, Saturday, May 20th, 2023 Rain Date: May 27th, 2023 TIMESThe Putnam County and NORTHWELL HEALTH WALK AT WESTCHESTER Beneffiting Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital Sunday, May 21, 2023 FDR State Park, Yorktown Heights, NY Opens 8:30am | Ceremony 9:45am | Walk at 10am northwellhealthwalk.com/westchester Contact: Amanda Hellerman [email protected] or (914) 242-8361 Enjoy a dog-friendly 2.5-mile path through the park plus: Games • Music • Giveaways • Tai chi • Chair yoga • E-bikes Mini horses • DIY Slime • Bubbles • Touch-a-truck + more Wheelchair accessible. No fee for children under 14. Sign up now for a fun-packed morning supporting compassionate, high-quality care in our community! Walk with us! One Walk. One Community.

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 33 United Way of Westchester and Putnam is now accepting fi - nancial requests from local nonprofi ts to support program or operational eff orts. ffl e United Way of Westchester and Putnam Community Impact Fund supports local nonprofi ts serving the needs of the underprivileged, marginalized, or ALICE (those who are employed but are living paycheck-to-paycheck) populations in Westchester or Putnam Counties. United Way is off ering grants between $5,000 and $10,000.   “ffl e United Way has a long tradition of working with and supporting the nonprofi t community. ffl rough this Community Impact grant initiative, we hope to support their ongoing eff orts serving the 40 percent of our neighbors living in poverty or paycheck-to-paycheck,” said Tom Gabriel, President, and CEO of UWWP.     ffl e funding can be used in two ways: 1) to support programs in the areas of education, fi nancial stability, or health that benefi t underprivileged, marginalized, or ALICE populations in Westchester or Putnam counties or 2) to support operational expenses of local nonprofi ts in Westchester or Putnam County whose mission relates to improving the education, fi nancial stability, or health of underprivileged, marginalized or ALICE populations.     ffl e submission deadline, which includes the application and the required attachments, is 5 p.m. on May 15, 2023. It can be submitted online at uwwp.org/ community-impact-grant or via email at [email protected].    Article courtesy of United Way of Westchester and Putnam United Way Accepting Grant Applications ‘Community Impact’ grant deadline is May 15 Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 from other accountants and tax preparers is our ability to work with you not just on taxes, but on financials, college planning, divorce, retirement planning, changes in life planning... We don’t just process tax forms, we advise on how to handle your income and expenses in the future with personalized recommendations. We help you navigate the tax code, and in the end, help you set sound financial goals. What separates us Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Mahopac News need to be a high-resolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned.

Rosow said. “And we’re still friends with them more than three years later.” As the COVID crisis continued and friendships developed, the couple started looking for ways to get people ofi the street. With caseworkers working remotely, Medford-Rosow and her husband became in-person surrogates for city agencies. “One by one, we got them all ofi the streets,” she said. “We were actually functioning as unpaid liaisons for the homeless agencies at the time because the case workers were not allowed to be out on the streets. ff ey were working remotely. “Well, it’s not a remote job” she continued. “You can’t deal with people on the street, you know; they don’t even have telephones.” One person who remains friends with the couple had “lived on the street in New York City for 24 years,” Medford-Rosow said. “Now, certainly society can do better than that,” she said. “Unsheltered Love: Homelessness, Hunger and Hope in a City under Siege” is available on amazon.com. PAGE 34 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 For today, retirement and every moment in between. Michael A. Bucci Financial Advisor Tier 4 Planning A financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. 203.302.6744 41 W. Putnam Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 [email protected] Tier4planning.com CA Insurance #0M83870 The Confident Retirement approach is not a guarantee of future financial results. The initial Confident Retirement conversation provides an overview of financial planning concepts. You will not receive written analysis and/or recommendations. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC., a registered investment adviser. © 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (05/19) Confident Retirement approach Tier 4 planning isn’t about getting a new 403(b) or buying financial products. It’s about becoming educated and empowered around the events and decisions in your personal financial life. It’s about being prepared. Maybe it’s time. Call me today for your initial Confident Retirement conversation. Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com ZIMMERMAN AGENCY 845-621-2557 • [email protected] Look for us in our new office in February! 128 Gleneida Ave (Route 52), Carmel You’re in good hands. FREE Insurance Review #WINwithZIMM Local Advice you can ALWAYS trust. Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller (Westchester/Putnam) Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the Mahopac News Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the Mahopac News Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board MEDFORD-ROSOW FROM PAGE 32 Contact Us Mahopac News is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 845-208-0774 or email mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 35 is accomplished with bold colors including pieces by Rose Stock (“Natural Beauty”), Julius Grill (“Red Rose”), Jessica Paternoster (“Springtime”), Nancy Woogen (“Lily”), and Joan Gillman Smith (“Strawberry Blonde,” “Lover from Another Planet”). fi e coming of Spring and warmer weather resulted in artwork depicting seasonal imagery including Georgine Honohan’s ‘Oh, Happy Day’, Meredith V. Laubin’s photograph entitled “Frolic,” Kjersti Lovece’s “Family Outing” (colored pencil), Christine Rice’s watercolor and encaustic pieces entitled “Swainson’s fi rush” and “Carolina Wren,” Talia Moriaz’s embroidered “Hydrangea,” Gina Bodelsen’s “Tulips” (watercolor), Amanda Lynne’s “Marigold Glow” (mixed media), Barbara Lemischak’s “Sunff ower” (alcohol ink on Yupo paper), ‘Country Site’ by Danielle Rogers, and Penny Feder’s giclée print entitled “Hello, Sunshine!” Insightful and whimsical works were created by Daniel Creary (“Buzz”, “fi e Mix Tape”), David Lovelace (“Anubis vs Space Invaders,” “Horus vs Pac Man” – watercolor on papyrus), Jean Tock (‘serendipity”), Heidi Stein (“Murphy’s Law Applied to All of fi em), Adrienne Cullom (“Mysterious Land and Sea” and “fi e Wave”), Mindy Ackerman (“I Gotta Be Me!”), and Janice A. Hyde (“Josephine Baker,” and “Jackie-O, dancing with Oleg Cassini”). Several still life works are beautifully rendered in watercolor and pastel including “#2 Pencil” by Karen Villarreal, Barbara DeMartini Smith’s “fi ree Little Pears,” “Still Life in Blue and Gold” by Barbara Mahon, “Light Lunch” by Muriel Wines, Nina Bertolino’s “A Wash of McIntosh,” and “Reff ective Pears” by Marge Pollack. Small three-dimension work added an intriguing component to the show including Anthony Hyde’s “Train Depot” and “Barn” (wood and paint), “Ode to Cats” and “Lil Bo” (ceramic) by Sally Jarvis, Marilyn Saqqal’s “Wedding Cake” (paper quilling), and Linda Horton’s “Brandi on the Side of the Rainbow” and “Celestial Sun” (acrylic paint on rock). Cindy Green submitted two ffl ber art pieces entitled “Golden Canyon” and “Sunset at Red Cliffi s, UT”; mixed media and collage work is explored by Margie Marek (“Kinship” and “Bountiful”), Karimi Iwasaki (“Pink Winter”), and Joann Zwolski (“Creative Play” and “Discover”).  All of the artwork reff ects an enthusiasm for the opportunity to think big and work small! fi e small works show will remain on display in the fi ird Floor Gallery through May 30; visitors to the Library can view the exhibit during regular Library hours.  For further information about the Gallery, or to purchase an artwork from the show, call 845-628-2009, ext. 108. Article Courtesy of Mahopac Public Library EXHIBIT FROM PAGE 9 “#2 Pencil,” oil on linen by Karen Villarreal IMAGE: COURTESY MAHOPAC PUBLIC LIBRARY Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the Mahopac News Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board Aardvark Insurance 421 Route 6, Mahopac NY Call Us Anytime Sue Rohrig & Joann Servillo @ 845.208.3707 We Offer Many A-Rated Companies Adirondack • +AARP Hartford • Chubb Foremost Hanover • Kemper • Mercury • Main Street America • NatGen Progressive • Safeco Travelers Utica Mutual • Utica First We Also offer Pet Insurance We Offer Many • Savings • Service • Satisfaction Don’t Call an 800 # SHOP LOCAL! One Marina Drive, Lake Mahopac NY 845-628-2333 www.macdonaldmarineny.net SALES • SERVICE • STORAGE BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 52 YEARS! WE BUY: GOLD • STERLING SILVER • JEWELRY • COINS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • CLOCKS • COLLECTIBLES • ANTIQUES • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! GOLD • SILVER • DIAMONDS WATCHES • COINS • FURS PAINTINGS • FULL ESTATES The Buying Service We simply pay more! Contact Barry 914-260-8783 [email protected] WE BUY GLAZING De-frizz... Smooth a unisex hair salon 898 Rt. 6, Mahopac, NY845-621-7111 nowhairsalon.com Book your appointment TODAY! Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the Mahopac News Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262

PAGE 36 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 1 DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 7/31/2023. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Buy one (1) window or entry/patio door, get one (1) window or entry/patio door 40% off, and 12 months $0 money down, $0 monthly payments, 0% interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or entry/patio doors between 3/26/2023 and 7/31/2023. 40% off windows and entry/patio doors are less than or equal to lowest cost window or entry/patio door in the order. Subject to credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or familial status. Savings comparison based on purchase of a single unit at list price. Available at participating locations and offer applies throughout the service area. See your local Renewal by Andersen location for details. CA License CLSB #1050316. Central CA License #1096271. License #RCE-50303. OR License #198571. WA License #RENEWAP877BM. WA License# RENEWAW856K6. All other license numbers available upon request. Some Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. “Renewal by Andersen" and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2023 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. RBA13228 Save on Windows and Doors! AND 40% OFF1 BUY ONE, GET ONE Minimum purchase of 4 – interest accrues from the date of purchase but is waived if paid in full within 12 months. $0 Money Down $0 Interest $0 Monthly Payments for 12 months1 866-944-1728 Call by July 31 to schedule your FREE consultation. Members of the Lake Mahopac Rotary Club, Garden Club, and the Town of Carmel Recreation and Parks Department added some beauty to Airport Park in Mahopac on Earth Day by planning a weeping cherry tree. The annual planting is a cooperative undertaking organized by the Rotarians; the Mahopac Garden Club chooses the tree and the Parks Department picks the location. A tree grows at Airport Park PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE LAKE MAHOPAC ROTARY CLUB Lake Mahopac Rotarians Anna Mergen, Regina Morini, Lillian Jones, Lorraine Mariani (in back), Hilary Albert, Roberta Cassetta (behind the tree), Keiren Fahrquar, Pat Miller, Ellen McNamara and Nina Kallmeyer from Carmel Recreation and Parks, all lend a hand to plant a tree at the Airport Field. IAC Poker Tourney The Italian American Club of Mahopac is hosting a charity poker tournament on Saturday, May 27, to help raise funds for the IAC’s scholarship program. Registration begins at 6 p.m., followed by a homemade Italian dinner at 7 p.m. The tournament begins at 8:00 p.m. The $120 admission fee includes 5,000 chips and dinner. To register or for additional information, visit italianamerican clubofmahopac.org or call Steve Levy at (917) 670-9337, Joe Fierro (914) 584-9641, or Giulio Cefaloni (845) 745-2655. You must be at least 21 years old to play. MUSINGS FROM PAGE 2

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 37 fi is week’s Mahopac Library calendar includes two book groups, coloring for grownups, a surprise movie for kids, a one-woman show about ff rst ladies, a disaster preparedness class, a look at Mahopac’s historical role in circuses— and more. Unless otherwise noted, programs are held at the library and attendees must register, either online at mahopaclibrary.org or by calling 845-628-2009. Use ext. 139 for youth programs and ext. 100 for adult programs, book reservations, and general information. THURSDAY, MAY 11 5 p.m.: Historical Book Society fi is adult book group meets on the second fi ursday of the month. fi is month, the group will discuss “Brooklyn” by Colm Toibin, which is available from the library by calling 845-628-2009, ext. 100, emailing [email protected], or by picking up a copy at the main desk. fi is is a drop-in group; no registration is needed. For group updates, email [email protected] to be added to the group’s contact list. FRIDAY, MAY 12 4 p.m.: Coloring for Adults (18-plus) fi is drop-in program meets at the library on the second and fourth Friday of each month, and all materials are provided. No registration is needed. 5 p.m.: Feast of Films for Teens Teens in grades 8-12 will meet in the Library Community Room to watch a surprise movie. A short discussion will follow the movie, and pizza will be served. Teens must arrange transportation home from Mahopac Library at 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY, MAY 13 1 p.m.: “fi e First Ladies Coalition”—a theatrical performance by Ginger Grace. “fi e First Ladies Coalition” is a one-person show written and performed by Ginger Grace and directed by Austin Pendleton.  Colleen, a resilient ex-con, immigrant, and survivor of domestic violence, invites Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, and Mary Todd Lincoln into her sewing shop. Mysteries and secrets are unveiled (hers and theirs) and with the help of these courageous women, Colleen turns insurmountable obstacles into extraordinary possibilities in the most surprising situations. In 90 minutes, through the eyes of Colleen, the production encapsulates American history and the impact made by these four First Ladies as they spoke out and helped change the course of events. According to the library, “fi ey were forerunners, paving the way for our current wave of women in politics, the #MeToo Movement and social justice.” MONDAY, MAY 15 6:30 p.m.: Learn the Basics of Google Docs Google Workplace Series (hybrid). Google Docs is designed to make it easy to collaborate with others. In this hybrid in-person/virtual class, attendees will learn to create a Google Doc, share it with others, use editing and suggestion mode, and leave comments. fi is workshop is designed for learners who are new to digital tools. Join in person in the Learning Lab or virtually via Zoom. To attend virtually, you must register with a valid email address. Register online or call 845-628-2009, ext. 100. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 11 a.m.: Putnam’s Circus History: A Local History Talk fi is lecture will discuss why local farmers became circus entrepreneurs and how they shaped American leisure and entertainment. fi e lecture is presented by local historian Amy Campanaro and is a program of the Putnam County Libraries.  Registration is requested. register online or call 845-628-2009, ext. 100. 1 p.m.: Light Bite Book Group (hybrid): fi e Light Bite Book Group will meet in person at the library (and virtually) to discuss “Mad Honey” by Jodi Picoult. fi e title is available at the front desk and as an e-book and audiobook on the Overdrive app. New members are always welcome. To receive the Zoom link to attend virtually, you must register with a valid email address. 6 p.m.: Citizens Preparedness Workshop With severe weather events becoming more frequent and more extreme, it is more important than ever that New Yorkers are prepared for disasters. fi e N.Y. Citizen Preparedness Training Program teaches residents how to organize the tools and resources needed to prepare for any type of disaster, respond according, and recover as quickly as possible. fi is training course will provide tips on how to respond to both natural and manmade disasters. Participants will be advised on how to create a family emergency plan and stock up on emergency supplies, and more. Learn more about the Citizen Preparedness Training Program at dhses.ny.gov/citizenpreparedness-corps. This week at Mahopac Library 14 Church St LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/30/2021. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 108 Hustis Rd., Cold Spring, NY 10516. General Purpose 335 Winthrop Realty LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/14/2022. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Jeffrey Rothberg, 178 W Shore Dr., Putnam Valley, NY 10579. General Purpose JJJ Curanaj, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/13/2022. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Joseph A. Scutieri, Esq., Attorney at Law, 445 Hamilton Ave., Ste. 1102, White Plains, NY 10601. General Purpose Hortontown Rd LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 3/23/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 1 Blueberry Ln., Putnam Valley, NY 10579. General Purpose F. S. E. Realty LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 3/9/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Damiano Zito, 15 Fawn Dr., Mahopac, NY 10541. General Purpose UPDATED Halston Media fillers 12/31/20 (new address) *NOTE: when putting these into place, please take hyphenation off as it can get very confusing for web and/or email addresses. thanks! Mahopac News To advertise in Mahopac News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@halstonmedia. com. Advertise With Us When you advertise with Mahopac News, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout Mahopac, Mahopac Falls and portions of Carmel. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. Contact Us Mahopac News is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 845-208- 0774 or email mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com. Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. 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 Mahopac 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 opeds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774. Share Your Milestones Let your neighbors know about the special moments in your life, whether it’s a birth, engagement, wedding or anniversary. Send us a photo and announcement at mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. There is no charge for this announcement. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Mahopac News need to be a highresolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 845- 208-0774. Sports Deadline The sports deadline for Mahopac 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. Notice of Formation of Name Brands For Less . Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2022- 05-17. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Sejal Lauro: 47 Kayla Ln Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Gordon & Frost LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 03-13. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Ryan Gordon: PO Box 363 Patterson NY 12563. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of victa6 LLC.. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-04-10. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to United States Corporate Agents: 7014 13th Avenue suite 202 Brooklyn NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of NightScapes LLC. Arts of Org. filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/18/2023. Office Location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company LLC (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Brian K. Kretzschmar: 3 Pike Place Mahopac, New York 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of Ant’s Home Inspection . Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 03-25. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Anthony perez: 107 wood street Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Notice of Formation of BeeDub Properties LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 04-03. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to LLC: 87 Ressique St. Carmel NY 10512. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Garageman's Lien Sale: Valley Towing & Sons Sells  5/24/23 16 Rt 6N Mahopac, NY 10541 1:00PM  07 Infiniti JNKAY01E07M307287 Re:Hernandez,F  15 Nissan 1N4AL3AP3FN863918 Re:Salmon,D  13 Honda 5J6RM4H78DL045433 Re:Turner,B  07 Honda 1HGCM66597A022544 Re:Howling,M Garageman's Lien Sale: Citywide Automotive Sells 5/24/23  824 Peekskill Hollow Rd Putnam Valley, NY 10579 1:00PM  06 Bentley SCBLC37F86CX11150 Re:Evans-Marino,J Garageman's Lien Sale: Valley Towing & Transporting Sells 5/31/23 16 Rt 6N Mahopac, NY 10541 1:00PM 95 Ford 1FALP45T5SF242579 Re:Mills,P

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THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 39 By defi nition, business owners put a lot of their fi nancial resources into their enterprises. But as an owner, you may need to invest in more than inventories and payroll to help achieve the future you’ve envisioned. Here are a few investments you may want to consider: • Retirement account – Depending on the nature of your business and how many employees you have, you can choose from a variety of tax-advantaged retirement plans, such as an owner-only 401(k), a SEPIRA and a SIMPLE IRA. By contributing regularly to one of these accounts, you can avoid being entirely dependent on the sale of your business to pay for your retirement years. To fund your 401(k) or other retirement plan, you’ll have many investment options — stocks, bonds, mutual funds and so on. And if you “max out” on your retirement plan, you may even be able to build a separate investment portfolio. In any case, keep in mind that you’re already putting a lot of money into your business, so, to achieve a level of diversifi cation, you may want to concentrate your investment choices in areas outside your industry. However, while diversifi cation can help reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio, it can’t guarantee profi ts or protect against losses in a declining market. • Property – Your physical space is a key part of your business’ success. So, you may want to invest some time in comparing the pros and cons of renting versus owning. Of course, owning your building may require a big fi nancial commitment, and it may not be feasible, but it could free you from worrying about untimely rent increases.   • Disaster protection – If a fi re or a weather-related disaster should strike your business, would you be prepared? It’s important for you to create a disaster recovery plan, which can include business interruption insurance to pay for your operating costs if you’re forced to shut down for a while. • Emergency savings – While a disaster protection plan with appropriate insurance can help keep your business affl oat, it’s unlikely to cover other types of emergency needs, such as a major medical bill or an expensive repair to your home. For these unexpected costs, you may want to build an emergency fund covering at least a few months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid account. Without such an emergency fund, you may be forced to dip into your 401(k), IRA or other long-term investment vehicle. You’ll also want to invest the time and energy into creating a business succession plan. Will you keep the business in your family? Sell it to outsiders or a key employee? If you do sell, will you do it all at once or over time? Clearly, the answers to these types of questions will make a big diffi erence in your ultimate fi nancial security. Finally, invest in help – Enlist the services of a fi nancial advisor and business-planning professional, so you’ll be able to make the decisions that work best for your business and you.  Your business may well be a lifelong endeavor — so make sure you’re investing whatever it takes to earn a lifetime of benefi ts.  fi is article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones ff nancial advisor (member SIPC). Tom Casey, CHFC, CEPA, CRPC, AAMS, CRPS, is a licensed securities adviser associated with Edward Jones, located at 163 Route 6 in Mahopac. He can be reached directly at 845-621-8647. Investment ideas for business owners After serving Westchester and surrounding areas for over 30 years, County Comfort Home Solutions celebrated their grand opening for their new ofl ce at 265 Route 6, in Mahopac. A familyowned business, they can be reached at 914-468-4182. Celebrating their new ofi ice on Route 6 COUNTY COMFORT  HOME SOLUTIONS TOM CASEY GUEST CORNER Mahopac Chamber of Commerce Board Member Stephanie Bellofatto with County Comfort’s Debbie Jensen, President and CEO Joe Jensen, and COO Mike Jensen PHOTO COURTESY OF COUNTY COMFORT

PAGE 40 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023