BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 23 LEGAL NOTICES 23 LEISURE 20 OBITUARIES 6 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 3 SPORTS 16 Scenes From Our Schools pg 12 STUDENTS VOL. 6 NO. 42 Visit News.HalstonMedia.com for the latest news. FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 Bedford Corners l 5 BR l 5.1 BA l 7,200 sf l 4.02 Acres Crisp. Stylish. Refreshing. Step into the realm of modern luxury with this unparalleled new construction. Immerse yourself in the allure of stunning design, where every detail speaks of quality and sophistication. Truly a testament to architectural innovation on 4+ private acres in total harmony with the landscape. Call for your private viewing. Offered at $4,150,000 #UGottaHaveHope HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 New Construction Wolf pack attacks! Jane Brennan and the Wolves battled Yorktown in a thriller. PHOTO: RICH MONETTI BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER As a new committee studies the future of the Lewisboro Elementary School building, it’s likely town officials will be closely monitoring progress. That’s because the study panel—expected to be created by the Katonah-Lewisboro School District board tonight (Feb. 8)—will consider, among many alternatives, demolishing the venerable schoolhouse. But the Bouton Road building, often referred to simply as LES, is now home to a number of town of Lewisboro agencies, including the police department, assessor’s office and planning and zoning departments. “We will certainly be interested in the outcome of the KLSD decision,” Lewisboro Supervisor Tony Goncalves said in an email. Among the options: a “look at our existing facilities and review what expansion is possible to accommodate the offices currently located in the former LES building.” School board President Julia Hadlock called last month for creation of a committee to evaluate what should be done with the district’s former headquarters on Shady Lane and the Bouton Road schoolhouse. “We’re not talking about the divesting of either of the properties these buildings are on,” Officials weigh options for Lewisboro Elementary School Board of Ed accepts Superintendent Selesnick’s resignation With the playoffs looming, John Jay’s student-athletes are getting ready to make some noise in the postseason. Read the latest results starting on page 16! SEE LES PAGE 3
PAGE 2 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times YES, I really enjoy The Katonah-Lewisboro Times and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com OR or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News The Somers Record Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times Mahopac News 2 TRACKS A number of local students have been recognized for their academic achievements for the fall semester at colleges across the country! Graduation James Madison University Alejandro Sanchez Victoria Giudice Dean’s List Clarkson University Thomas Tan Matthew Toscano High Point University Paul Rossi Lehigh University Miles Baker Nicholas Petrella Le Moyne College Nicholas Panaro Ohio Wesleyan University Jessica Leahy Dani Phillip Roger Williams University Dylan Berliner Southern New Hampshire University Joanne Amuyal Springfield College Max Grzymala SUNY New Paltz Althea Llewellyn Martin Stuttman University of Bridgeport Edlira Brija University of Delaware Danielle Blachar University of Rhode Island Emma Hinkley Trey Lucciola Jordan May Evan Mazzola Zachary Nyikos Western Connecticut State University Lauren Close Jesse Dunn Jason Kamerman President’s List The Citadel Jack Lawton Do you have a scholar you would like to recognize in an upcoming issue? Let us know at [email protected] The Harvey School has announced the names of the area students who have earned academic honors for the fall term. The following have been awarded a Cavalier Scholar certificate (GPA of 4.0 or higher) or have earned places on the Head’s List (3.7 or higher) or Honor Roll (at least 3.3): Lily Acrish, 11, Bedford Corners, Cavalier Scholar; Logan Alexander, 11, Goldens Bridge, Cavalier Scholar; Sienna Bates, 12, Waccabuc, Honor Roll: Dylan Bazaar, 12, Katonah, Head’s List; Emily Bigman, 8, Katonah, Head’s List; Ryan Byrne, 11, Katonah, Head’s List; Amity Doyle, 8, Katonah, Head’s List; Jordan Falk, 10, Bedford, Cavalier Scholar; Sophie Frankel, 8, Katonah, Head’s List; Krisi Friedman, 8, Cross River, Head’s List; Brydie Groff, 6, Waccabuc, Head’s List: Lilah Groff, 8, Waccabuc, Head’s List; Brandon Hall, 10, Goldens Bridge, Cavalier Scholar; Iliana Hellinger, 12, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Anna Hodgson, 11, Mount Kisco, Head’s List; Helena Kasarda, 12, Katonah, Head’s List; Jonah Kass, 11, Katonah, Honor Roll; Casey Kelly, 10, South Salem, Honor Roll: Sophia Kimmel, 9, Bedford, Head’s List; Eli Klagsbrun, 10, Katonah, Head’s List; Theo Klagsbrun, 12, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Aoife Lazzaro, 7, Katonah, Head’s List; Maeve Lazzaro, 10, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar: Phoebe Lichtman, 12, South Salem, Head’s List; Senna Lieber, 7, Goldens Bridge, Head’s List; Fife MacGregor, 10, Katonah, Head’s List: Leo Marano, 9, Bedford, Head’s List; Stephen Millette, 9, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Giulia Muenzen, 8, Katonah, Head’s List; Gus Oliver, 12, Bedford Hills, Honor Roll; Cassidy O’Neil, 8, Bedford Hills, Head’s List; Daniela Rynott, 11, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Lila Silpe,10, Bedford, Honor Roll; Emily Sorio, 11, Mount Kisco, Honor Roll; Michael Sorio, 12, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Peter Sorio, 12, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Sara Strnad, 10, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Stefan Volpitta, 11, Pound Ridge, Honor Roll: Riannah Wallach, 12, Pound Ridge, Cavalier Scholar; Sullivan Wieting, 9, Bedford, Honor Roll. Article courtesy of The Harvey School. Area students earn academic honors at The Harvey School Celebrating our scholars!
FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 3 she told the board’s Jan. 25 meeting. “We’re really talking about the structures that are on them.” Hadlock said, “We need to think about what would it look like to the community to not have these buildings and what is the best way to use the property.” The LES structure itself, built in 1939, “is costing us money” for upkeep, Hadlock said. She made clear the venerable structure’s fate might be the wrecking ball, saying, “We have a building that could be demolished, we have a building that could be partially demolished. . . . There are multiple options for what could happen.” Goncalves said the town pays KLSD about $120,000 a year to rent office and meeting space. While the district’s upkeep costs were not immediately available, Lisa Herlihy, the assistant superintendent for business, said that expenses “generated by typical maintenance, unanticipated repairs, insurance and utilities are outpacing the rental income.” Under a rough timetable discussed at the last board meeting, the new study panel expected to be created tonight would hold its first meeting in March and wrap up work by school year’s end, June 30. The school board will make the final determination on the properties. If the school board decides to tear down LES, destroying the town’s rented workspace, Goncalves, the Lewisboro supervisor, said “we hope, of course, that we will have time to review our backup plans.” He said the town had developed some plans “about 20 years ago to expand the existing facilities at the current Town House and Highway Garage location. We will dust off those plans and take another look at supporting a potential expansion at those buildings.” Faced with declining enrollment a decade ago, the school board took the controversial step of shuttering the schoolhouse doors. Two years ago, the board’s Finance Committee did a deep dive exploring options for LES, leading Trustee Rory Burke to object last month to creation of a new study panel. He said “it just feels like we’re delaying.” “We’ve already delayed two years,” he said at the Jan. 25 board meeting. “So, now we’re going to set up another committee to talk about the same things we’re already talked about.” Hadlock said the Finance Committee had assessed the issue from a largely financial standpoint, revenue vs. expense, while the panel she proposed would take a broader perspective. “What would it look like to the community to not have these buildings? What is the best way to use the property?” she said. SUPERINTENDENT’S RESIGNATION The school board, as expected, formally accepted Andrew Selesnick’s resignation “for the purpose of retirement.” Selesnick, 52, came to KLSD in 2015 after 23 years in Chappaqua schools as a teacher and administrator. Trustee Marjorie Schiff, who was president of the board that hired Selesnick, recalled his arrival as “a great moment of hopefulness for our school district,” following the tumultuous tenure of former Superintendent Paul Kreutzer. She thanked Selesnick, with whom she had worked closely till resigning her presidency last year, for his “tireless dedication to students and staff.” In emotional remarks, Schiff’s successor as president, Julia Hadlock, thanked the outgoing superintendent “as a parent and as a board member.” “We really are grateful for the impact you have had on our district,” she said. Other board members saluting Selesnick included Lorraine Gallagher, who asked, “Do we have to accept the resignation?” NEW BUSINESS CHIEF Just as the district gets down to the nuts and bolts of budget-making, Lisa Herlihy was named assistant superintendent for business at the Jan. 25 board meeting. She had been serving as KLSD’s “interim” business chief for the past six months, “doing a phenomenal job,” Selesnick said in recommending Herlihy’s promotion. “We’re lucky to have her,” he said. SHORTER SPRING BREAK Winter weather has clipped yet another day from the 12-day spring break once envisioned on the KLSD calendar. Already shortened by the weather-related loss of March 28 at the front end, the break has been reduced to 10 days with the loss of April 8, now scheduled as a make-up day of classes. LES FROM PAGE 1 BY ROB SAMPLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER Municipal infrastructure dominated the agenda at the Lewisboro Town Board’s Jan. 22 meeting. At the same time, the social media comments by Councilman Dan Welsh, which were critical of Israel and its recent invasion of Gaza, continued to receive sharp public comments. The session’s agenda was different from most, in that the public-comment portion came before the business part of the meeting. Beth and Kevin Uretsky of Goldens Bridge, Daniela Goldman of Vista, and Elizabeth Amerling of South Salem continued to call on Welsh to resign. This time, however, an almost equal number of people spoke in Welsh’s defense. “I want to share a few thoughts – not about Dan Welsh but about Lewisboro,” said Peter Gross of South Salem. “Are we a town that values free speech? Are we a town that values diversity of views? Or are we a town that cowers in silence when a group of citizens demands that one of our town board members be removed because they don’t like his views on world politics? The question here is not whether we agree or disagree with this view. It’s simply whether someone who expresses it should be forced off our town board or officially censored.” “It’s time for you, Dan’s colleagues on the town board, to say no more,” he added. “Put down the pitchforks and let’s move on.” Funds for pool bathhouse The largest item on the board’s agenda was a borrowing resolution for the construction of a bathhouse at the Lewisboro Town Pool, along with a water storage and purification system. The total cost for both is expected to be in the range of $865,000. The $600,000 borrowing resolution that ultimately passed was limited to spending for the bathhouse. The board tabled discussion for a future meeting on the water filtration and storage system project. It noted that the latter project might also be eligible for grant funding through the state. “I want to invest in the infrastructure of our town,” said Deputy Town Supervisor Mary Shah. “The town park is so important for all of us. I’m fine with the full amount.” “Conceptually what you’re talking about is no problem, except we have no good faith estimate as what it’s going to cost,” countered Councilman Rich Sklarin, who cast the only ‘no’ vote. The board then engaged in a lengthy discussion about the possible locations for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. “We approved in a prior meeting moving forward with the inter-municipality agreement with [Westchester] county where it would pay up to 50 percent of the cost of these chargers,” Supervisor Tony Gonçalves noted. Since that time the town has been working with a county-recommended engineering consultant on the feasibility and cost. A variety of factors would make installing the charging stations at the library and at Onotru Farm have a zero net cost to the town, said Gonçalves. “I strongly feel that the EV chargers don’t belong at Onatru,” said Board Member Andrea Rendo, who noted that yet another location – a shopping center in Goldens Bridge – possesses an “enormous amount of asphalt that’s already on the ground.” Sklarin noted that there’s a safety component as well in the location of EV chargers. “It’s a 24-hour type thing,” he said. “Maybe people who live on Main Street don’t want somebody at a charger [at all hours]. And maybe people don’t want it close to neighborhoods – maybe, maybe not, but that should be a discussion that we bring up.” Ultimately, the board approved a resolution approving the expenditure of up to $28,000 on charging stations at four locations: Vista Park, Lewisboro Town Park, Lewisboro Library and at the Town House. The two park locations will be subject to review by the town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Weighing wastewater improvements The board also discussed an upcoming application for a Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) program grant, which would help fund the installation of a sewer system in the lakes region. The proposal comes in response to studies conducted in 2019, which found that the lakes’ water quality was being adversely affected by wastewater. “This was calculated to be a $40 million project that would provide sewage or wastewater treatment for Lake Waccabuc, Lake Truesdale, and the Twin Lakes, and a portion of the parcels around those lakes,” said Gonçalves. “[The grant would be] Lewisboro board examines infrastructure projects SEE BOARD PAGE 22 HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com BaCiO Trattoria Best Italian Anywhere!
PAGE 4 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] DESIGNERS Noah Elder Bri Agosta Haven Elder Jacob Elder EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Katonah-Lewisboro Times The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] Location 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC CHASE AWAY THE CHILL with WINTER REBATES from BELL! SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! LIMITED TIME OFFER 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com Heat pumps are a cleaner & healthier alternative to traditional heating & cooling systems. This all in one system will eliminate your need for fossil fuel and help you save thousands. Learn more about rebates & financing options! EXCLUDES SERVICE CONTRACT • EXP 2/29/24 Coupon must be presented at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES SAVE THOUSANDS in Federal, State and Local Incentives on your new HEATPUMP PROJECT CALL US TODAY! St John’s Episcopal Parish 82 Spring St., South Salem Food Pantry Spread the word and get involved with the St. John’s Food Pantry! Distribution is every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. John’s. A food pantry box is available in the church parking lot 24/7 for those who cannot make it to pick up on Saturday morning - please take whatever you need from the box, as it will be replenished. CoveCare Center Virtual Trivia Night Thursday, Mar. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Get your friends together and host a Trivia Party! Join in for a fun night of virtual trivia and laughs to support the programs and services of CoveCare Center! Prizes will be awarded to the first place team, and beat team name. Teams of up to 10 will compete through 4 rounds of trivia (8 questions per round). A surprise “Google proof ” final round to keep it interesting (name that tune, cross word puzzle, etc.) All team participants are encouraged to gather in one location and sign on to the event together. Host a trivia party! Reservations are for teams of up to 10 at $25/per person. If you don’t have a team, they will find one for you! Mulligans are available at $30 per pack of 3. Limit of one (3) pack per team, rounds 1-3 only (cannot be used in the final round). If you are registering team members in addition to yourself, please email [email protected] with your team members’ names and email addresses. As a nonprofit organization, CoveCare Center relies on your support to continue to provide the programs and services that our community so desperately needs. They have continued to experience a steady rise in services for those struggling with mental health and substance use issues, especially in our youth and senior populations. To learn more, visit https://covecarecenter. org/covecare-virtual-trivia-night-2024/ True Crime Fiction Writing Series Author and fiction writing teacher, Kim Kovach, presents a new 5-week series - True Crime Fiction Writing via Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 7 - 8:30 p.m. starting on Feb. 28. Investigation meets imagination for arm-chair detectives and true crime fans as she introduces a True Crime case each week. Participants can put a new spin on the facts by writing stories from different points of view - a neighbor, a co-worker, a witness, the victim or the accused. The weekly True crime fiction writing program begins on Feb. 28, and continues on Wednesday evenings through March 27. This virtual five-week series is offered in cooperation with the Pound Ridge Library, the Lewisboro Library and the John C. Hart Library. Registration is limited. Please register online through the library websites at poundridgelibrary.org or lewisborolibrary.org or yorktownlibrary.org Virtual Support Groups Support groups for women with breast and ovarian cancers have been transitioned to virtual platforms. Virtual groups are accessible to women from the comfort of their homes, regardless of where they live. All groups are open to new members as well as past participants. Advance registration is required by calling 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290. Support Connection’s Peer Counselors are also available for individual counseling and assistance via phone and email. Call 800-532-4290, or submit an online request at supportconnection.org. TOWN CROSSING
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PAGE 6 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 We see you here. The things you love doing are more than just passions. They’re what make you “you.” This is why at The Bristal, our expert team members dedicate their time, attention, and energy to creating customized social activities that ensure each resident continues being the unique person they are. And, in the process, create the one-of-a-kind community we are, too. Schedule your visit today and see for yourself. THE BRISTAL AT ARMONK | 914.344.6595 THE BRISTAL AT WHITE PLAINS | 914.745.6655 thebristal.com Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies. Equal Housing Opportunity. Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care William Lawrence Kelleher William Lawrence (Bill) Kelleher was a 72 year resident of Katonah and passed away surrounded by family at Northern Westchester Hospital after a brief illness on Monday, January 15. He was born on October 27, 1936, to Peter and Kathleen Cox Kelleher of Hartsdale and moved to Katonah in 1951. He attended Archbishop Stepinac and Katonah High Schools where he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He served in the United States Army until 1959 and then went to Western Connecticut State University where he ultimately earned his Bachelor’s and Masters degrees and began his career in teaching. Bill was admired in the Yorktown Central School District for his wonderful way with children, where he worked for over 30 years as an Elementary and Middle School Science Teacher and Varsity Golf Coach. Known as a gentleman and a loving father and grandfather, he was active in his Katonah Community. He was a member of the Katonah Fire Department for over 60 years and a communicant at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Bedford. He was a member of the Mens’ Ministry, Parish Council and leader of the church partnership with the Community Center of Northern Westchester. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Katonah. He was an avid golfer and supporter at every soccer field, pool and baseball diamond in the area with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by sisters Kathleen Kelleher of Southbury, CT and Mary Ann (William) Riley of North Salem, NY and his 3 children: Erin (Eamonn) Kelleher O’Donnell of Katonah, Laurie (Ryan) Kelleher Archer of Bedford Hills and William Kelleher Junior of Katonah and nephews Peter and James Riley. He is also gravely missed by his grandchildren Michael, Katherine, Kevin and Joseph O’Donnell and Julieanne Archer. He was predeceased by his wife Elaine Leahy Kelleher, daughter Shannon Kelleher, brother Jeremiah Kelleher and niece Eileen Riley Zawada. His family received friends at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah on Friday, January 19. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, January 20 at St. Patricks RC Church in Bedford. The burial followed at St Francis Cemetery in Mt. Kisco. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to Community Center of Northern Westchester, 84 Bedford Rd, Katonah, NY 10536 or Katonah Fire Department, 65 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY 10536 Richard Clark Davies Richard “Rick” Clark Davies passed away on January 19, 2024, in Mt. Kisco. Rick was born on April 12, 1945, in Mt. Kisco, a lifelong resident of the Katonah-Bedford community and a beloved resident of Fellowship Hall in Bedford Hills for over 30 years. Rick contributed his skills to various workplaces, including Northern Westchester Hospital, Caldor’s, and Clark Associates. In retirement, he found joy in dedicating time to his true passion: recycling. Proudly serving as a member of the Katonah Fire Department for 50 years, Rick cherished the responsibilities that came with being a firefighter. In his later years, he continued to serve his brothers by making coffee and opening doors when the alarm rang. Fireman parades were a highlight for him, especially riding in the antique car leading the marchers. He held a special fondness for the old La France truck. A devoted Mets fan, Rick followed games with unwavering optimism about their chances for World Series titles deep, deep into October. Weekdays at 3 p.m. were a sacred time reserved exclusively for the ceaseless drama of General Hospital. Rarely missing an episode, Rick could vividly report on the characters’ transgressions. His favorite color was red, and he loved naps. He loved country music, linguine with clams, and taking opportunities to be chivalrous. More than anything, Rick wanted to be included. Perhaps there’s someone in your life who sees the world differently – please find ways to include them. It means so much more than you know. Rick is survived by his loving brother, Philip, of Bedford Hills, NY; his cherished sister, Denise Tedaldi (née Davies), and brother-in-law, Gene, both of Lyndeborough, NH; and his devoted niece, Sam of Brooklyn, NY. A service was held at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah on Tuesday, January 23, with burial at Bedford Union Cemetery following the service. OBITUARIES SEE OBITUARIES PAGE 21
FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 7 Scan Me! Read your local news online now!
Opinion PAGE 8 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES 2 TRACKS BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] 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 Katonah-Lewisboro Times or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 Halston Media, LLC FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 J an. 28 was effectively the last day of football season. The Chiefs bested the Ravens and the Forty Niners beat the Lions. What lies ahead is the Taylor Swift Super Bowl featuring hours of pregame hype, way too many commercials and an hour-long halftime show, making it almost impossible to watch for most football fans. It is an event not for football fans, but for everyone else. So we are at that depressing time of year when football is over and baseball season is still two months away. I thought I could at least fill the void by focusing on the presidential primaries for entertainment during the lull, but it looks like both contests were already decided before the process even got going. Is our system for picking presidents broken if 99% of the electorate won’t participate in picking a candidate for November? Probably. The primary system for amassing delegates in order to secure a major party’s endorsement is a relatively recent phenomenon. Most of the reforms in the presidential nomination process came after the tumultuous 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. Party rules were changed to ensure the delegates to their national nominating convention were selected by primary voting rather than by party leaders at state conventions. Republicans followed suit. The idea was to let the people decide rather than “party bosses.” Like most reforms, there were unintended consequences. Only a small percentage of voters in each party participate in their respective primaries. Those voters are generally the activists and tend to be the most extreme in each of the parties. The characteristics and policy positions that make a candidate appealing to the most strident members of their party may not be helpful in a general election. The result is candidates that appeal to the base of the party, but not necessarily to those in the middle. Polarization among other things is the result. With 50 states, we have 50 different sets of rules for voting in a presidential primary. In most states, you must be a registered member of the party to participate in the primary. Approximately 20 states allow open primaries where a voter can participate in whichever primary they choose regardless of their party affiliation. Independents get to vote in those primaries. Open primaries are attractive because the inclusive electorate more closely resembles the general election, hence more appealing candidates could emerge from those states. Party leaders from both sides don’t like open primaries because they feel it dilutes the power of party membership. However, about 27% of the country identifies as Democrat and about the same percentage identifies as Republican. Forty-three percent identify as independent - a number that has been growing for years. If the goal is to select candidates that will fare well in the general election, why wouldn’t you want to know what independents think? Doesn’t that help build a coalition? Both parties are working hard to button up the primary cycle as quickly as possible, attempting to crown their respective nominees, short-circuiting the entire process. I’d be a fan of cutting to the chase, perhaps, if the product was appealing. But in all likelihood, we will be getting a rematch of the 2020 election. Gallup reports that 70% of those surveyed said they won’t vote for either candidate. It doesn’t look like the system is working. The two party duopoly is not turning out a good product. They are weak institutions, which seem to want to follow the parade rather than lead it. As a recent piece in the Economist opined, “political parties do not plot or strategize anymore to anoint a candidate, at least not with much effect; they have instead become vehicles idling by the curbs of American life until the primaries approach, waiting for successful candidates to commandeer them.” There has been a lot of chatter recently about how each candidate covets a Taylor Swift endorsement, which could make the difference in a tight race. It’s quite possible she may know more about picking presidents than the major parties do. Look how good she’s been at picking football teams. On football and the Taylor Swift presidential sweepstakes DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT I have a cousin who suffers from a persecution complex. A textbook paranoid, he thought everyone was out to get him. (Looking back, I think now maybe they were.) He felt the local paper had done him wrong and they were looking to smear his reputation (he had none to begin with). I don’t remember the specific circumstances of what was written about him—this was the ’80s—but he was not happy at all. So, did he write an angry letter to the editor? Did he hire an attorney and sue for libel? No. He decided instead to start his own paper and put the other one out of business. Now, the poor guy couldn’t write a grocery list or spell CAT, even if you spotted him the C and the T, but righteous indignation is a powerful motivator, even if you’re misguided. He actually did it and printed a few issues. He was doing everything... reporting, photographing, selling ads. But he had such a prickly personality that being a salesman was a bit of a challenge for him. His paper folded pretty quickly. The average person has absolutely no idea what goes into owning and running a newspaper. It’s a business like anything else—you have to worry about things such as payroll, insurance, utilities, IT stuff, dealing with printer issues, post office issues, legal stuff and taxes. And within all that, you need to find specialized talents that can write, report, edit, photograph, have a working knowledge of journalistic styles, design ads, and lay out pages using a computer with the help of an array of complex programs. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. My cousin’s inclination would be the same as me walking into a bank and yelling, “You charged me a $40 overdraft fee when I bounced a check! Well, that does it... I’m Adventures in newspapering BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 10
FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 9 MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-HOUR PROBLEM GAMING HOTLINE: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369) Newburgh, NY RWHudsonValleyNY.com I-84 | Exit 36B I-87 | Exit 17 FORD BRONCO GIVEAWAY Earn Entries All Month Long! Saturday, February 24 • 10pm *Actual model and colors may vary. Vista Fire District thanks community for support Dear Editor, We are pleased to announce that the preliminary results of the January 30, 2024 fire engine bond vote show an approval with: Yes: 90 No: 02 Total votes cast: 92 We are grateful to the Vista Fire District #1 community for their ongoing support of our fire district community. The Vista Fire District #1 Board of Fire Commissioners want to express our sincere appreciation to the men and women of the Vista Fire Department for their service to our community 24/7/365. If you want to provide feedback, please let us know. You can email us at: [email protected] -Vista Fire District #1 Town of Lewisboro LETTER Every winter, the kids in my neighborhood had a snowball fight with the kids who lived one block south of us. For some reason, they always seemed to have the advantage and the win. We did not really like them, and they didn’t like us. They were rather fresh and kind of aggressive, and teased us in the neighborhood and at school. They did not care for us because we seemed to be what they called “the rich kids.” That was not really true, but our homes were a tiny bit better than theirs and our yards somewhat groomed. The night before the appointed fight, my gang and I built some fortifications and poured water over them so that they would freeze solid overnight. The other kids did the same. No matter how strongly we built our fort and made sure that it froze solid, theirs was always bigger and better. One year, I remembered that my dad had brought home a number of ice cream scoops from his pharmacy because they needed some repair. I ran up the stairs of our house and begged my mother to let me take the scoops out to make snowballs. She cautioned that I was the only one who was to use the scoops. It truly did stem the tide in the fight, as I sat on the ground and just plopped the already round balls directly into my teammates’ hands. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a little girl appeared on the other side of our narrow street, begging for someone to “cross her the street,” stating that she wanted to play with the ice cream scoops too. That gave away our whole strategy, and the other side called us “cheats.” They relented in their taunting though because they too wanted to have me make snowballs and hand them off to them to be thrown as far as possible and break down all the fortifications. The next winter, the fight did not seem so enthusiastic because the two sides had kind of gotten to know each other. My mother did watch the little girl, Ginny, cross the street from our upstairs window. No one knew her, so we were sure she had wandered from far away. Mom asked for her phone number, which thankfully she knew, and someone from her house came to rescue her. From that day forward, Ginny and I became fast friends and still see and talk to each other often. Mom did not fare too well with Dad when he noticed the scoops had more wrong with them than when he brought them home, but he did congratulate my brother and me for finally breaking down so many barriers. Guess he wasn’t really that angry! Quick and easy snowballs MARILYN A. PELLINI MUSINGS: PAST AND PRESENT I n the twilight of my life, I have grown to appreciate, admire, respect and even envy those who have made a substantial contribution to our scientific understanding of the world. Progress has only occurred because of the imagination, fierce skepticism, intellectual honesty and, yes, courage of a very few great minds. Of course, there have been detours along the way. We once believed we were the center of the universe. Even after that was cleared up, cosmologists falsely proclaimed that the universe was static. Physicists incorrectly believed that there was nothing smaller than the fundamental particles that Tales of courage and brilliance SEE MARTORANO PAGE 14 JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE
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They had no experience, no education, and, apparently, no clue. But clearly, all they needed was some paper, a typewriter, and a willingness to try. Yet I needed five years of college and two degrees to get there, which wasn’t cheap. My parents were gonna be pissed. When I first got out of college, I needed a job as quickly as possible because I had student loans to pay off and beers to buy. I had a journalism degree but really had no idea how to get my foot in the door. So, I took a non-journalism job to keep the wolves at bay. Back then, one of the biggest employers in the region was the state-run Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center located in the little hamlet of Wingdale about eight miles north of Pawling. Both my parents worked there at one time or another. But in the ‘70s, the state decided it no longer wanted to warehouse psychiatric patients and set them free. The days of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” were over. So, the state converted the abandoned psychiatric center into a DFY facility. DFY stands for Division for Youth. While that may sound like some sort of patriotic youth organization, it definitely is not. DFY is the sister agency to the state Department of Corrections. It houses kids under the age of 18 who’ve committed serious felonies and were tried as adults. When they turn 18, if there is still time left on their sentence, they are sent off to big boy prison. So, at the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, they put bars on the windows, keycard locks on the interior doors, and then wrapped the whole thing with a 12-foot-tall chain-link fence topped with some nastylooking razor wire. They hired anyone with a college degree— no vetting, no background check, no psychiatric evaluation to make sure they were fit to work in such a place. So... they hired me. These weren’t hubcap stealers or shoplifters they were housing here—they were scary dudes who’d done some very bad things. We had one “kid” who was about 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds. The word about him was, “Don’t shoot him, you’ll really piss him off.” Not that we had guns. All we had was life insurance. Hiring people to work in a place like that without proper evaluation is a dicey game. It can attract some damaged people with delusional and/or sadistic tendencies... narcissistic bullies. But my first year there was uneventful. I worked the graveyard shift—from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. It was very quiet. Two of us would hang out in the office and once an hour we would walk the hallway of the dorm and peer through the windows in the doors with a flashlight to make sure the inmate (sorry... client) was still in his bed. They often were. It was when I got transferred to the day shift that things got weird. I was able to observe staff-client interaction up close and personal. You could tell pretty quickly the ones who were more suited to working security at a self-storage facility rather than with incarcerated disenfranchised youth. I am not going to go into it all just now, because it’s not what this particular column is about, but I (for reasons I still can’t figure out 45 years later) became a target of the administration. I began getting written up for petty things, and some things that were completely made up. I saw a memo on my boss’s desk that said, “Dumas must be out by July 20th.” That was when my probation was up, and I could join the union and basically become unfirable. Up until then, if they didn’t like the color of your socks, they could let you go without cause. I put in a request to get transferred back to the nightshift and they wrote me up again for that— insubordination. The writing was on the wall, and I was gone within a couple of weeks. Classic blessing in disguise. About a month later I landed my first reporting job and hit the ground running. After three years I made it to managing editor. Not long after, I started getting calls at the paper from former DFY coworkers who were still employed there. Bad things were happening, they told me. Inappropriate relationships between the clients and the female staff... staffers running drugs for clients between the Bronx and Wingdale... administrators being paid hush money to look the other way. Those workers began smuggling out copies of documents, logs, Polaroids and audio tapes. We’d meet late at night at the Triangle Diner—a local greasy spoon. Very skullduggery for so early in my career. It turned out to be a fourpart story—front page, above the fold, banner headlines. They fought us... tried to say I was a disgruntled fired employee, that we obtained documents illegally, and that they’d been taped without their knowledge. There were veiled threats; there were blunt threats. But we published anyway and... Nothing ever happened. Crickets chirping. I called the news editor at The Poughkeepsie Journal—the big daily in the region at the time—and asked him if he’d seen our series on the DFY. He said he had and thought it was strong. He said they were thinking of doing something about it. I encouraged him to do that and offered him our box full of documents, pictures and stuff. We didn’t need it anymore. They came and got it (and gave us credit). The Poughkeepsie Journal’s four-part series began two weeks later. Not long after, the state then began its own investigation. There were resignations, firings and arrests resulting in a little national coverage. The place eventually closed. We won a New York State Press Association award for best reporting. Studies show that towns with a community newspaper have lower taxes. That’s because, with a newspaper nosing around all the time, folks are less inclined to get into any monkey business. I offer up the DFY story as an example of what a bootson-the-ground community newspaper can do. Perhaps my cousin should have opened up his own bank. It probably would have been a lot easier. DUMAS FROM PAGE 8
I regularly meet clients who have been retired for 10 to 15 years and, remarkably, have not had the time to implement an estate and/or elder law plan for themselves. I understand that retirees have busy lives: After all, traveling and playing golf, tennis, pickleball and bocce can be quite time-consuming! (Perhaps not as time-consuming as babysitting, chauffeuring around the grandkids, or arranging and attending doctor appointments, but still…) Yet, for the life of me, I just can’t understand why one would wait until their 80s to implement an elder law and/or estate plan. While implementing an estate plan at any age is better than not doing so at all, the risks and adverse consequences of waiting are significant. For example, delaying the execution of a Durable Power of Attorney with broad gifting provisions and a Health Care Proxy creates the possibility that if one has become incapacitated (mentally and/or physically) and is unable to make financial and personal decisions, they will need to have a Guardian appointed for them. A Guardianship proceeding must be commenced in the Supreme Court of the County where one resides in New York. It is expensive, time-consuming, and can be emotionally taxing for all parties involved, particularly if it ends up being contested. Ultimately, the person appointed as Guardian may still be unable to make the financial transactions necessary to protect the incapacitated person’s assets from the cost of long-term care (especially, if the objective is eligibility for Medicaid home care). This outcome can be easily avoided by executing a broadly drafted Durable Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy long before this could come to pass. The failure to be proactive also rears its ugly head if one has not implemented an elder law plan at least five years before requiring nursing home Medicaid and, once the new law is implemented in 2025 or 2026, at least two-and-a-half years before requiring Medicaid home care. If one waits until their late 70s and/ or 80s to execute and fund a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT), they are increasing the risk that they will need to privately pay for their care in a nursing home or at home, which could potentially dissipate their life savings. It is quite common in the New York metropolitan area for a nursing home to cost between $175,000 to $220,000 per year and for home care to run approximately $150,000 to $175,000 per year. For a person of modest means, this can be devastating. Even for the affluent, the risk of delaying implementation of an estate plan with estate tax planning techniques can be detrimental. This is especially true for New York residents who have estates greater than approximately $7 million in the year 2024, and thus, may be subject to New York’s onerous estate tax cliff. Additionally, while the Federal Estate and Gift Tax exemption will be $13.61 million per person in 2024, said exemption will sunset if it is not extended by Dec. 31, 2025, and on Jan. 1, 2026, it will be reduced to approximately $7 million per person. Moreover, the failure to utilize part or all of the Federal Gift Tax exemption before it sunsets, by gifting assets and implementing an estate tax plan, subjects one’s estate to the potential for significant estate taxes, with a combined Federal and New York estate tax rate of 49.9%. While being proactive is a great idea during any stage in life, the failure to do so when one has reached retirement age can be quite expensive. Anthony J. Enea is the managing attorney of Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP of White Plains, New York. He focuses his practice on Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law. Anthony is the Past Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), and is the past Chair of the 50+ Section of the NYSBA. He is a Past President and Founding member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Anthony is also the Immediate Past President of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and a Past President of the Westchester County Bar Association. He is also fluent in Italian. He can be reached at 914-948-1500 or at www.esslawfirm.com. ANTHONY J. ENEA GUEST CORNER Being proactive in retirement Risks for waiting to implement an estate plan are significant If one waits until their late 70s and/or 80s to execute and fund a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT), they are increasing the risk that they will need to privately pay for their care in a nursing home or at home, which could potentially dissipate their life savings.’ -Anthony J. Enea Managing attorney of Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 FOCUS ON ELDER LAW THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 11
PAGE 12 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES –2 TRACKS Fierce Creatures Students from Meadow Pond Ejaw, patted an ermine’s silky whitfelt an alligator’s sharp teeth durshop, led by PNW BOCES CeStudents also met Koudra the cotroduced brought new topics to touflage and prey to longevity. TBOCES educator, stressed how system they live in. Jazzing It Up John Jay High School’s ChoraWalsh, were hard at work rehearslights includes Suite: Judy Blue performed by Crosby, Stills & Nathe 1987 Tony award winning mAncient Egypt Comes Alive “Ancient Egyptians invented tknow that one of their games wAvery. “They built their boats wit“They were far ahead of other csaid Finn. “They made everythingOver the past several weeks, Joress students have been exploringcient Egypt. As part of this studyest to investigate. They presentedclasses, school administrators andEach exhibit added another cois Ancient Egypt. “Students were able to show through a highly engaging, handsthe opportunity to be creative anco-teaches Team Progress with DArticle courtesy of Katonah-LewisbScenes from PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATONAHLEWISBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT (914) 248-6220 Progressive-Vet.com 268 Route 202 • Somers, NY 10589 Does your pet need an Ultrasound or Echocardiogram? Say goodbye to long wait times and uncertainties! Introducing a revolutionary pet healthcare solution — QuickScan Pet Ultrasound! INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED SPEEDY DIAGNOSIS CONVENIENCE EXPERT ANALYSIS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY PEACE OF MIND Your pet’s health matters to us, and with QuickScan Pet Ultrasound, we’re committed to providing the fastest and most reliable diagnostic service available. DON’T WAIT—give your pet the care they deserve with QuickScan Pet Ultrasound today! RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL GENERATOR INSTALLATIONS 914-763-5555 CHARLES GEORGE • POUND RIDGE, NY • LICENSED & INSURED NY & CT ELECTRIC
– FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 PAGE 13 Elementary School touched a shark’s te pelt, looked at an owl’s talon and ring the Fearsome Predators Workenter for Environmental Education. orn snake. Each animal that was inthe conversation, ranging from camThroughout, Mr. Danny, the PNW important predators are to the ecoal Jazz, conducted by Carly Spaethsing for their Jan, 18 concert. High Eyes written by Stephen Stills and ash, as well as a medley of songs from usical Les Misérables. toothpaste!” said Shannon. “Did you was made from knucklebones?” said thout using any nails!” said Kingsley. cultures in terms of metal working,” g from kitchen tools to battle axes.” ohn Jay Middle School’s Team Progg the fascinating civilization of Any, each student chose a topic of interd their learning to other sixth grade d family members this week. olorful piece to the rich mosaic that off their ancient Egyptian research s-on project that allowed individuals nd unique,” said Kerrie Ghiozzi, who David Fritsch. boro School District. our schools! www.summertrailsdaycamp.com CURRENTLY HIRING STAFF! CALL FOR A TOUR! 914.245.1776 Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com
PAGE 14 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 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 CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you know what steps you can take to avoid your estate going to probate? make up an atom. Plants could never communicate. DNA could not transmit heredity, etc. It has always been maverick investigators who ruthlessly try out new theories, forcing detractors to reconsider their cognitive biases. Often, they meet with considerable opposition, ridicule and even violence but, somehow, they persevere. And humanity is better off because of them. We all have heard of some of the shining stars in the constellation of great minds: Galileo, Darwin, Newton, Einstein. But, in the next couple of columns, I would like to introduce two who perhaps you have not heard of. The first, the subject of this column, died the same month I graduated high school. The second is alive and kicking and has graciously agreed to allow me to interview her. The prestigious British Association for the Advancement of Science celebrated its 100th anniversary in September 1931, at the famed Assembly Hall, near Westminster Alley. Thousands of scientists were in attendance. They had a lot to celebrate. In the previous century, biologists had discovered the power of evolution, geologists had made profound discoveries about the planet, physicists had detected electrons and protons, chemists had learned about how atoms bond, and cosmologists had discovered the vastness of an expanding universe. Anyone who was anyone in the scientific community attended the conference. There was a palpable air of superiority, given the sense that the heights of scientific knowledge had all but been reached. But that was about to be challenged, and then some. An unknown scientist wearing a black suit and a priest’s collar stepped up to the podium to address the prestigious crowd. Father Georges Lemaître, age 37, was not even listed in the original program. He had to be penciled in. Lemaître blew minds by suggesting that the expansion of the universe meant that the universe must have originated from a finite point in time. If the universe was expanding then, if you extrapolate back, inevitably you reach a point when the universe was packed together in an extremely dense state. Couple that idea with quantum mechanics and, in Lemaître’s mind, the conclusion that the physical universe initiated in a single particle, a primeval atom, was unavoidable. His conclusion marked the beginning of what later was derisively labeled The Big Bang. Who was this insane priest who dared to challenge the scientific status quo? Georges Lemaître was born in 1894 in Charleroi, Belgium. As a young man, his interests veered to both science and theology. He was a student at the Catholic University of Leuven when German troops poured across the Belgium border, plunging Europe and Lemaître into World War I. Lemaître ended up in trenches for months, fighting the Kaiser’s army. As fate would have it, he brought his physics books with him and read the works of French physicist Henri Poincaré, which changed the trajectory of his life. Lemaître continued, after the war, to pursue his two loves, getting ordained a priest but continuing his studies at Cambridge University with the esteemed Sir Arthur Eddington. By then, Albert Einstein had shaken the scientific community with his new theories and equations and established himself as a genius. For his part, Lemaître was fully immersed in his proposition that, not only was the universe expanding, but that galaxies were being pulled apart. Lemaître hoped to get Einstein’s approval of his ideas but, when they met in 1927, Lemaitre was crestfallen. The Great One made it known he hated Lemaître’s theories. Even when they shared a taxi, Einstein ignored him, considering him nothing more than an eccentric, misguided priest. Lemaître was undeterred by Einstein’s rejection. When his time came to address the British Association’s assembled throng in 1931, he did not hesitate to put forth his bold theory that the universe was produced by the disintegration of one tiny atom. In his later writings, he extrapolated that, “the evolution of the universe can be likened to a display of fireworks that has just ended: some few wisps, ashes and smoke. Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds.” After the shock of Lemaître’s declaration wore off, scientists around the world tried unsuccessfully to disprove it. Finally, in 1933, Einstein and Lemaître met again, this time in Pasadena, CA. After examining the existing data and listening to Lemaître speak, the Great One brought a huge smile to the priest’s face by declaring, “this is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of creation to which I have ever listened.” The camaraderie between the two men was evident as they then embarked on a speaking tour together. Even with Einstein’s approval, it took several years for Lemaître’s theory to receive almost universal approval in the scientific community. But, as the evidence grew, so did the group’s reluctant acquiescence. You may wonder how a priest could propose a theory as controversial as Lemaître’s, seemingly in violation of his religion’s teachings. Lemaitre saw no such contradiction. He bifurcated his two loves with ease. Science, he believed, shows us the nature of the universe, while religion teaches us the way to salvation. Case closed. Georges Lemaître continued, until his death in 1966, to follow his priestly duties while focusing his brilliant mind on scientific endeavors like electronic computation of astrophysical problems. Georges Lemaître, The Father of the Big Bang, is forever remembered as a courageous, unrelentingly intellectually curious scientist on whose shoulders new generations of brilliant scientists stand. One of those scientists is the focus of my next column, Dr. Katherine Freese. Stay tuned. MARTORANO FROM PAGE 9
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Sports PAGE 16 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER With everyone else getting the day off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the girls basketball team was on the clock and up at noon for a game at Yorktown High School. But while Jaime Bartley-Cohen acknowledged that it was a little unusual to be playing basketball on a Monday afternoon, she also welcomed the chance to represent on the holiday. “I’m glad we got to play today,” said the junior, and the team did more than just play. They built a 19-9 second quarter lead and went onto a 35-26 victory. After Kaitlyn Judge sunk one of two from the line to open the game, Sela Halaifonua picked up where she left off from her 29 point game versus Fox Lane on Saturday. The guard hit from downtown and scored on a layup on Jordan Kauftheil’s long outlet pass. Alexandra Livadhi did interrupt with her baseline jumper, but John Jay answered with ball movement and defense to go up 11-3. First John Jay got out on the break. Jane Brennan grabbed the defensive rebound, got it ahead to Halaifonua, and she hit Brooke Habinowski on the go for the layup. Then Halaifonua did some give and take. She caught Natalie Ellrodt on the cut for two across the paint, and after Jane Brennan got the steal, Halaifonua was ready in the paint to go bing bong off the box. Kaitlyn Judge didn’t relent, though, and even without the dropped three in response, Ellrodt knew what Jay was up against. “She’s good,” the guard left no doubt. Of course, the Wolves have a few of those, and no surprise, Halaifonua stood out to close the quarter. Seeing the court, she dished to Habinowski in the low post, and the senior swished a turnaround jumper. A 13-6 lead, the opening of the second had the point guard showing off her tunnel vision again. Twice she got the ball into Bartley-Cohen and a layup and a foul shot netted a tenpoint lead with 6:38 left in the half. So, Judge held court again. She launched a three and kept the game in range at 16-9. Not if Halaifonua could help it, though. Down with the defensive rebound, she led Kauftheil ahead, and her fast break basket doubled up Yorktown at 18-9. A minute to go in the half and Halaifonua found BartleyCohen inside again. A tough roll to the hoop in front of the forward, the sixth man put on the gritty face that is familiar to the John Jay faithful and is commensurate with the way the Wolf feels about playing. “I’ve always loved basketball, and the game makes me more aggressive,” explained BartleyCohen. A made free throw to go with it, John Jay took a 19-11 lead into the locker room after Jessica Crocamo sunk a pair of free throws. The Yorktown momentum would carry into the third too. Sofia Boucher hit a three to open the scoring, Isabella Walling got to the rim for two, and Judge lofted another three to pull the home team to within one. Under three minutes left in the quarter, Bartley-Cohen welcomed more dirty work. Brennan passed to Halaifonua in the corner, and the guard’s baseline drive put Bartley-Cohen and John Jay shines in victory over Yorktown Jaime Bartley-Cohen Avery Bisignano GIRLS BASKETBALL BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER After being manhandled by Zachery Efobi of Byram Hills a few weeks ago, John Jay hoped to neutralize the force of the big center at home on January 31, and halfway through the first, it was a 6-6 game. But Efobi on the inside wasn’t the only big man that caused a problem. Tyson Repa made the passes, while getting inside and hitting from the outside. All together, the Wolves could not keep pace and the onslaught spelled another big defeat. The game began with the guards. Christopher Amenedo sank two layups, and Ryan Valdes dropped a jumper and layup to match. Then the big boys showed up. First Repa got a put back on a free throw miss, and next played give and go with Efobi to grab the lead for good. 8-6 with 3:25 left in the first, the duo was far from done. At 2:48 Repa fed Efobi inside for the dunk, the lanky forward took on the double team for another layup, and Byram completed an 8-0 run when Efobi refused to relent on the offensive boards. Two rebounds and he had the put back for a 14-6 lead. In reply, the John Jay possession was indicative of what the bigs did to the Wolf attack. The boys feverishly worked the ball side to side, and when Brendan Corelli found a small crevice, there was still way too much height and muscle to beat. The shot going awry, Will Civetta did make do on the next possession. Dribbling toward the paint, he made a perfect bounce pass into Colin Bishop, and it was still a sixpoint game. 1:29 left in the first, John Jay managed to get a little closer. Valdes drove into the double team, passed back to Sam Rickel, and his three closed the quarter scoring at 16-11. A couple of stops for John Jay opened the second, but the narrow margin for error required offensive responses. Instead, Max Miller got a steal for two, and after a Sam Rickel miss from downtown, Repa played playmaker. He drove the paint, threaded a perfect pass for Ari Dreilinger, and his layup made it a 20-11 game. So major separation was on the way. Repa had a put back, a three, and juked for a jumper that gave the Bobcats a 27-11 lead. Even so, John Jay did respond with a nice little piece of triangulation. Valdes to Luke Panzirer, and Bishop was left underneath for the open layup, but flashes were not enough. Efobi muscled a put back at 2:21, Miller sank two from the line with a spin move through the paint, and Dreilinger drained a triple to open a 33- 17 lead. Still, John Jay did close the quarter again. Corelli beat the back court press, got the ball to James Arefieg, and he found Bishop underneath to go into intermission with a 33-19 deficit. John Jay can’t match up with Byram bigs Colin Bishop PHOTO: RICH MONETTI BOYS BASKETBALL SEE JOHN JAY PAGE 19 Sela Halaifonua PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI SEE WOLVES PAGE 17
FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 SPORTS THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 17 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Jan. 30 the combined John Jay/ Somers/Yorktown squad faced Scarsdale at Dynamic Gymnastics in Cortlandt and took the meet by a score of 183.35-141.65. The regular season completed, the postseason is just ahead. But John Jay’s Kayla Cambareri probably wasn’t alone in expressing a proud sentiment that is quite ready to look forward. “We are undefeated for the third straight season,” the sophomore extolled. Doing the all around, her best score came on the beam (9.25) and she revealed a new wrinkle. “I put my back tuck in,” said Cambareri. Not out of nowhere, the tumult she’s been practicing finally came due. “I’ve been doing this for over a year and decided, it’s time,” she revealed. The gymnast has similar plans on the bars. “I need to add a few more skills,” she said, and reaching the states again is the goal. The same goal for Amelia Carozza, she went all around too. She was 9.35 on the floor, 9.20 on the beam, 8.1 on the bars, 9.1 on the vault and identified a commonality for her performances. “My landings were good,” said the Yorktown Husker. Her classmate Arianna Gulli, on the other hand, was up in the air. Doing her back handspring on the beam was good for a 7.65 and hitting the maneuver is mostly a matter of pause. “I take a deep breath, and then, I do the skill,” said Gulli. Only a freshman, her goals are modest. “I want to put some of my new skills into routines,” said Gulli. On vault, the springboard certainly facilitates liftoff, but Kaitlin Gannon credited her return to earth for the strides she’s made. “I’ve been sticking my landings,” said the Somers Tusker who had an 8.05. A process that requires the gymnast to remain in equilibrium as the centrifugal forces apply from head to toe. “You got to balance your body and really feel it through your feet, and usually, it works,” Gannon explained. So another season over, the coach saw a looser team. “Everybody enjoyed today, and they looked like they were having more fun than usual,” said Teodora Cepoi. And she’d like to see the good cheer carry over. “I hope the spirit stays the same for the divisionals and sectionals,” she concluded. Combined team completes third straight undefeated season Kayla Cambareri PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL GYMNASTICS her lunch pail on alert. Hard to the hoop on the other side, she drew the foul and put a stop to the Husker run with a one of two from the line. A 22-20 game, Ellrodt soon found herself in a similar situation and went full blast too. But she did so from her read on the game. “At this point, the referees were calling everything,” she said. So a slight crevice was a win-win in Ellrodt’s estimation. “I saw the lane, and figured I could probably get an and one,” the junior reasoned. Well thought out, she did exactly that, and John Jay had some breathing room. Now 25-20, Halaifonua rubbed it in by getting a steal and going to the coast to close the quarter. A seven point lead, Judge got to the rim for two, and an Annie Cunneen’s free throw got Yorktown as close as they would get at 27-23. The separation began as might be expected. Halaifonua pulled down the defensive rebound, got the ball ahead to Kauftheil and her penetration straight down the lane freed up Habinowski. Alone on the baseline from seven feet, she let it go and there were just two minutes to kill. Judge did get to the line to get within four again, so girls went on the run. Halaifonua rebounded the miss, and like she knew before Brennan started to break, the point guard led her teammate for the icing on the cake. A six point lead with 57 seconds to go, another win had Gallagher revealing the main change made after the tough early goings of the season. “I really challenged them to compete every single day and out work opponents,” the coach concluded. “That’s when we started getting better.” The girls ended the week by beating Brewster 54- 40 and Somers 42-39 WOLVES FROM PAGE 16 FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 60 Years of Excellence 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT SERVICE CALL! VALID ON CALLS OVER 1 HOUR. Happy Valentine’s Day! 845-279-9555 • TankRemovalServices.com Before you place your home on the market, contact ENVIROSTAR about replacing your aging underground storage tank (UST). It is required by most insurance companies prior to insuring property. We replace above ground tanks as well! Call us today for a free estimate and evaluation of your current above ground tank. WINTER SPECIAL! $100 OFF IN-GROUND TANK REMOVAL With this coupon only. Coupon must be presented at the time of the estimate. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 3/31/24 FREE ESTIMATES WE WILL MATCH OUR COMPETITOR’S ADVERTISED OFFER! We are the name you trust for environmental needs Since 1998 DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH AN AGING OIL TANK!
PAGE 18 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES SPORTS FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER When a wrestling match is still undecided by the time the heavyweight or super heavyweight takes to the mat, the finality faced is an awful lot of pressure. So the first kid out there must be pretty relieved to be a lightweight. But that’s not entirely true, and John Jay’s 101 pounder revealed the pressure point after Thursday’s match against Eastchester on January 23. “The team depends on whoever goes first to get the energy going,” said David Corrales, and the 8th grader delivered. Corrales pinned Dylan Hendrie at 1:06 of the second, and the Wolves sailed to an easy 45-19 victory. The middle schooler began by getting the opening takedown. “I hit a slide by,” said Corrales. “When he tied up with me, I pushed his elbow around my head and circled behind.” Riding the top in the second, Corrales ran a bar for a 6-0 lead, and the pin following, Emmerson Flamm wasted even less time. No break in the circuit, the 108 pounder had John Jay up 12-0 after dispatching Luka Rados at 1:37 of the first. The 116 pound affair was a lot less certain for John Jay, though. A match that began with Gavin Orrill landing on top. “I shot a single leg takedown, got around and pulled him down,” said Orrill. But Chris Rodriguez did more than turn the tables in the second. The Eagle escaped, got the takedown and sent Orrill to his back. Or Orrill had his opponent just where he wanted him. “He was a little too far up,” said the sophomore, and Orrill took advantage. The sophomore rolled through, and diced what was left of Rodriguez. “I hit a butcher, I had both of his arms together and got the pin,” said Orrill, who evened his season record to 5-5. A forfeit next to John Aniello, Joe Gabriele continued the kinetics right from the outset “I took him down, cradled him up and got a quick five,” said the 131 pounder. The final score eventually tallying to 15-0, Gabriele has his eyes on the divisionals and getting in the right headspace. “I’m working on my mental game,” said the senior. Always nervous before matches, his game plan going forward is just to settle in. “It’s like do what you can do, work your hardest and you’re good,” said Gabriele. Now 29-0, Eastchester finally got on the board but not by much. After trailing 5-0 to Eugene Egbivwie, Wyatt Gierer hit two takedowns and closed to 5-4 in the third period. The wrestlers again ended up on their feet in a 7-5 match, but Gierer could not get the tying takedown. Three points to Eastchester, a run was not in the Eagles’ itinerary, and Deven Comstock stood firm. A 0-0 first period gave way to a reversal and a little stiff arm. “I ran a bar,” said the 138 pounder. Up 5-0, he want back to grind. Another bar, Comstock explained, “I could feel it, I had him tight.” The pin came with 28 seconds left in the third and has Comstock looking for some payback in the divisionals. He lost to Corey Fitzsimmons in the sectionals last year and the first match this season. “I’m looking to get that win,” said Comstock. Not to be for Jon Alia, he lost a tough 6-2 match to Luke Leshaj, but Austin Omin picked his teammate up nonetheless. A 13-4 victory, the lopsided score didn’t have him diminishing his effort or that of Sam Cavanna. “No match is easy,” the 152 pounder assured. Still, he made no apology for going to his bread and butter to get and keep the lead. Two ankle picks for two takedowns, he said, “I try to get the guy off balance first, create an angle, and I wait for his foot to come down. Then when he presses the weight on it, I go for the leg.” The divisionals on his mind too, Omin just wants to get his body right and make sure all the bumps and bruises are on the mend. That left it to Jake Llanos to complete the scoring for John Jay. After the 170 pounder took a 7-0 second period lead, Erik Brynnel battled back with a couple of reversals. But Llanos wasn’t worried. “If I get reversed, it’s not the end of the world,” he said. Definitely not because the next thing Brynnel knew, he was on his back and Llanos had his hand raised with 49 seconds left in the second. “I just keep wrestling,” Llanos said. As for the postseason, he’s going with the status quo. No new moves or wrinkles on the way,” Llanos concluded, “I’m just working on my conditioning.” John Jay overwhelms Eastchester 45-19 Deven Comstock Joe Gabriele Wyatt Gierer PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI David Corrales WRESTLING BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the John Jay/North Salem/Somers ski team took to the slopes at Thunder Ridge and the landscape wasn’t quite a winter wonderland. “It was definitely annoying because of how wet you could get,” said Emma Klares. “It soaks through your suit, which is really uncomfortable.” But stating a rainy day fact doesn’t mean the skier could think of a better way to spend the evening. “I’m glad we got to ski today,” said the senior, and the John Jay Wolf hydroplaned the drizzle to a 15th place finish (34.32). The challenge was denser snow and the ruts that made it harder to carve through. The water splashing up in her googles wasn’t great either. Still, Klares made do. “It went better than expected,” said the softball pitcher/skier. The 4th best time on the team, the top Wolf was Mia Bourla. “I did fairly well,” she said of her 5th place finish (29.32) Of course, the junior noticed the conditions too. “The snow gets really wet and heavy, so you got to make sure you stay nice and loose,” Bourla said. “This way you don’t get thrown around.” The lesson plan went in reverse, though. “I think I got in my head a bit,” she said of her second run (30.75). But the John Jay student doesn’t have to overthink the postseason. “Last week at Mohawk, I already qualified for the sectionals,” Bourla revealed. Not there yet, Daniella Dziedzic took 8th place (31.11) and skied the perilous ruts and divots in stride. “I think it’s exciting,” she said. “You have to ride the rut and really go through it.” Ellie Sheridan turned into the weather too. “You just have to not let it affect you,” said the Somers Tusker Good for 13th place (33.49), the senior got ahead of this curve by studying the grain beforehand. “I knew the visibility wasn’t going to be there,” she said. “I really memorized the course, so I could ski it in my head.” Looking forward, she puts postseason success on being less static on the turns. Instead of going side to side,” said Sheridan, “I need a more up and down motion to keep my momentum going through the curves.” Combined team beats the rain Ellie Sheridan PHOTO: RICH MONETTI SKIING SEE SKIING PAGE 19
FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 SPORTS THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 19 Check out our Facebook & Twitter pages! 845-225-7777 • www.puthumane.org Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Winona This little girl was found outdoors. About 4 y/o, she’s dainty, enjoys snuggling, and easily engages with staff. She has some special needs; please ask Stacy for more information. In the prime of her life, this 6 y/o girl has the lean agile form and energy of a youngster, and her run is more of a glide, beautiful to behold. Observant and curious, sweet and soulful, she’s also very shy and will need you to bring her out of her shell. When she knows you, she’s a trusting and loving companion. Lucie THIS AD WAS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY HALSTON MEDIA. 68 Old Rt. 6, Carmel 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com • [email protected] DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor • BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director • RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah Railroad Station. • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars • Monuments & inscriptions available. FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options Serving all Faiths since 1858 • Cremations and Burials Isabella Dziedzic shared a similar sentiment after finishing 19th (35.90). “I have to put more pressure on my outside ski and be more aggressive,” said the freshman. Even so, the skier knows her greatest strength doesn’t hinge on a swivel. “Knowing what I want, I have a good mindset,” Dziedzic assured. And there’s no way to lose - especially when it comes to expressing her love for the sport. “Everything,” the younger Dziedzic didn’t hesitate. Emmy Corlett, on the other hand, did a 180 on what she liked about the rain. “Nothing,” she implored. But the senior still kept her sense of humor. “Really slushy,” she joked, “It smelled like mashed potatoes.” A fan of the dish nonetheless, her teammates make up for any shortfalls. “The most spirited people, we cheer each other on, and we’re like a family,” said Corlett. As for the boys, James Bysshe was the top gun - despite the fact that he was flying blind. “I could not see anything,” said the John Jay Wolf. Still, the sophomore was more concerned with beating the clock than arriving in one piece. “Big holes,” he said, “just look out and ride.” Second place overall (32.49), his flight plan to return to the states is about as complicated as a nonstop one way ticket. “Just go faster,” Bysshe deadpanned. On his coattails, his brother Porter is a frequent flier too and didn’t get bogged down in the weather report. “I find the rain fun,” said the third place finisher (33.44). A trip to the states on his wish list too, the freshman got a little more specific on what needs to improve. On the stepper part of courses, he said “I think I can increase my speed.” The Wolf would also like to beat his brother and so probably would Sean O’Meara. In ninth place (36.90), the traverse takes him to the top no matter the results. “You feel like you’re flying,” O’Meara explained. Grounded either way, the skier knows where he can make up the difference. “I’m hoping to get more aggressive and make better turns,” said the John Jay sophomore. “I have to put more pressure on my downhill ski.” A little tough on a day like today, according to Josh Burkart. On the gates and turns, said the Somers Tusker, “You get a splash of water in your face.” The good news is in the absence of vision, he knows the course and the game. “It’s muscle memory,” said Burkart, who finished 33rd (44.83). No matter, the senior has tunnel vision for the season’s end. “Get to the states,” Burkart concluded. SKIING FROM PAGE 18 Arefieg opened pretty well too. The senior made the cut through the paint, and Valdes led him for the layup. Not impressed, Repa took his turn. He scored the layup on the inbound and got two more in close to extend the lead to 18 with five minutes left in the third. Valdes wasn’t giving up, though. He got to the line for two on his drive, and then turned a half court steal into a three point play. A 39-26 game, Repa went to town again. After Efobi posted up for a three point play inside, Repa posted and pulled up to regain an 18 point lead. A Jacob Jones jumper and Jared Weitman layup kept John Jay in distance, so Repa again moved the horizon. This time in the passing lanes, his penetration freed up Kevin Kendall to close the 3rd at 48-31. No letting up, Efobi’s put back extended to 19 and getting two blocks on the same position set his team up for the biggest lead of the game. No surprise, Repa stepped back and another triple made it 53-31. 6:15 remaining, the Bobcats did have to put up with one last gasp. Valdes’ penetration cued up Panzirer to stop the run, and Civetta got three more on a hard drive to the rim. Not done, Civetta sunk foul shots on another drive, and after Bishop laced a triple, the guard notched two more on a steal that made it an 11-point game with 4:15 left. A timeout called, Byram’s reset put the game away and the usual suspect was guilty. Repa hit a three and scored a put back to end any ideas of a John Jay comeback. JOHN JAY FROM PAGE 16 Will Rickel PHOTO: RICH MONETTI Emma Klares PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Mia Bourla James Bysshe, Josh Burkart, Sean O’Meara and Matt Wolfe
PAGE 20 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES LEISURE FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 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. One point south of due east 4. Coagulated blood 8. Fortifying ditch 10. Devotee of Hinduism 11. Trunk of a tree 12. Bank note 13. Capital of Guam 15. Study again 16. Covered with hoarfrost 17. Opening 18. Legendary Rolling Stone 21. Stray 22. Computer storing system 23. Signal 24. Pitching statistic 25. Human being 26. Malaysian isthmus 27. The “Blonde Bombshell” 34. A gland 35. Bluish greens 36. Endangered 37. Three-dimensional 38. In a way, precipitated 39. God associated with dissolution 40. Blemished 41. Flow or leak slowly 42. Disco legends The Bee __ 43. Midway between south and southeast CLUES DOWN 1. A way to board 2. Get down 3. Highly seasoned sausage 4. First day of month 5. Eurasian shrubs 6. The organ that bears the ovules of a flower 7. Small lake 9. Belief 10. Sunrooms 12. Metric weight unit 14. Vasopressin 15. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! 17. One-time family room staple 19. Got back together 20. Anger 23. Sang merrily 24. Sea eagle 25. Military men 26. Kilo yard (abbr.) 27. Found in the sea 28. Protects from weather 29. Type of medicine 30. City along the Rhine 31. Animal disease 32. Martini ingredients 33. Get away 34. Lack of disunity 36. One-time European Commission officer PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 01/25/24 It’s that much more fun when hosting or attending a game watch party for the Big Game, as food and fellow fans only add to the enjoyment of the competition on the field. Though many foods are at home during game watch parties, perhaps no dish is more associated with football than chicken wings. Wings make the ideal food when watching football, and this recipe for “Grilled Buffalo Wings” courtesy of cookbook author Katie Lee Biegel and The Food Network can make a delicious addition to your game day spread. Grill some wings for the Big Game Grilled Buffalo Wings Yields 6 to 8 servings 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder 3 pounds whole chicken wings 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup hot sauce 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon honey Directions 1. In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper and garlic powder. In a large bowl, toss the wings with the salt mixture to evenly coat. 2. Preheat a gas grill to medium heat (about 350 F). 3. Place the wings on the grill, crowding them together so that they are all touching (this goes against the conventional wisdom of giving meat room so it doesn’t steam; you want them to steam so they stay moist). Grill, flipping the wings every 5 minutes, for a total of 20 minutes of cooking. 4. In the meantime, heat the butter, hot sauce, vinegar, and honey in a saucepan over low heat and whisk to combine. 5. In a clean large bowl, toss the wings with the sauce. Turn the heat up on the grill to medium-high. Use tongs to remove the wings from the sauce and put them back on the grill until the skins crisp, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Put the wings back in the bowl with the sauce, toss and serve.
THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 21 FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 Owned and operated by two Registered Nurses with over 80 years of combined experience! Proudly Serving Putnam and Westchester Counties www.ecstaffingsolutions.com CALL US TODAY for a free phone evaluation! Route 202 Suite #3 Somers, NY 10589 914.265.4299 Dementia Care In-Home Evaluations Companion Care Respite Care Nursing Care 24 Hour Care Overwhelmed Caring For Your Loved One? Call us today! BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 53 WE BUY: YEARS! Gold • Sterling Silver Jewelry • Coins Paintings • Bronzes Clocks • Collectibles Antiques • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! Sister Kathleen E. Fitzgerald Kathleen E. Fitzgerald, 88, of Bedford, NY, died on January 19. Kathleen Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Sister Marie Assumpta, was born November 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York, one of four daughters of Maurice and Nora Keenaghan Fitzgerald. Kathleen attended Saint Luke Elementary School in the Bronx and Cathedral High School in Manhattan. After graduation, Kathleen worked for two years before entering the sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1955. Sister Kathleen received a BA in History from College of Mount Saint Vincent and an MS in Education from Western Connecticut State College in 1972. New York State awarded her Permanent Certification in Education N – 6. Sister Kathleen’s sixty-five years of active ministry were dedicated in the field of elementary education. In her first six years as a teacher, she served at Saint Anthony in the Bronx and Saint Bernard in Manhattan. In 1964, Sister Kathleen began ministry at Saint Patrick School in Bedford where she remained for the next fifty-nine years. During her long service here, she was a classroom teacher of all grades one through eight, Director of Development, Computer instructor, and specialized teacher of religion in grades six through eight. When Saint Patrick School closed in 2020, Sister Kathleen devoted herself as a teacher of religious education in Saint Patrick Parish and continued as a tutor when help was requested. With her happy disposition and sincere interest in others, Sister Kathleen could easily take up a conversation with anyone. She was always ready to share a story and to hear one from someone else. This gift came with a sense of humor, an easy laugh, and a twinkle of Irish wit in her eyes. In her selfless way, she was quick to express her gratitude for any kindness received. Her sisters, their children, and the next generations in the family knew her love for them ran deep and wide and they returned their love to her. Sister Kathleen’s indisputable and tender love of the children sustained her vocation of education until her sudden death on January 19, 2024. She was in her sixty-ninth year of commitment as a Sister of Charity of New York. For the people of Saint Patrick Parish and the wider Bedford area, Sister Kathleen’s steady presence over the years could only have been an assuring blessing. Sister Kathleen, your life has been a growing relationship with our loving Creator God. You are now called to say an eternal Yes to the fullness of relationship our God offers and has promised. Go forth to enter the richness of God’s glory! The family received friends on January 25 at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah, and on January 26 at Mt St. Vincent Convent in the Bronx. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on January 27 at St. Patrick’s RC Church in Bedford with Rev Joseph Domfeh Boateng officiating. Interment followed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Yonkers. Robert J. Nielsen Robert J. Nielsen passed away at the age of 90 on January 9, 2024. He was predeceased by his wife Cathleen Nielsen. He is survived by his son Robert J. Nielsen Jr. and his wife Carolyn of Bedford, NY, his daughter Patricia Nielsen of Branford, CT, his grandchildren Robert J. Nielsen III and his wife Carissa of Bishop, CA, Matthew Nielsen and his wife Amy of Brooklyn, NY, John Nielsen of Bedford, and Sam Nielsen of Bedford, and his great-grandchildren Gwen and George Nielsen of Brooklyn, NY. Bob was raised in Woodlawn in the Bronx and was a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. He is a veteran of the Korean War having served in the Army. Bob did upholstery and drapery installation in theaters from Broadway to Venezuela to the old Cinema 22 in what is now Citibank in Bedford. He and Cathy raised their family in Bedford Village where Bob volunteered with the Fire Department serving as Chief from 1981 to 1983. The family wishes to thank Bob’s caregivers at Maplewood at Orange and Connecticut Hospice for all they did to make him comfortable in his final days. A service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held in the near future in Bedford Village. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405 or the Bedford Fire Department, P.O. Box 230, Bedford, NY 10506. Antoinette Allegretti Antoinette Allegretti, formerly of Katonah, passed away on January 27, 2024. She was born in Brooklyn, on February 2, 1936, and lived in Katonah for almost fifty years. She graduated from Saint Francis Xavier Academy and went on to earn her B.A. in Education at Fordham University. Ann worked as a teacher at P.S.1 in Manhattan and after raising her family, was a receptionist at the Mount Kisco Medical Group for over ten years. She was well known for her style, sense of humor, quick wit, wonderful cooking skills, artistic prowess and enormous love of family and friends. She and her by husband, Enzo, traveled extensively in retirement and enjoyed many years living on Cape Cod in Brewster, MA, where they loved hosting family and friends. It was a great joy for her to be surrounded by her grandchildren every summer when they attended Sea Camp on the Cape. She is survived her husband of 63 years, Enzo, her daughters Regina Allegretti-Davenport (Jonathan Davenport) of Katonah, and Gioia Allegretti (John Reister) of Palo Alto, CA, her grandchildren Allegra, William and Isabel and her brother John Barbieri (Angela). Ann’s family received friends and family on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah, NY. Burial was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne on Thursday, February 1. As her love of family and children was enormous, memorial donations would be welcomed to a children’s hospital charity of choice. OBITUARIES FROM PAGE 6
PAGE 22 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 IflditiAdtiiThKthLibTiBlltiBddh3500USPSdlidiliddkCll84520881My Community Bulletin Board INCREASE REFERRALS AND NAME RECOGNITION. Advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Bulletin Board and reach over 3,500 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. CALL 845-208-8151 TODAY! Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. J E S S I C A C U N N I N G H A M Real Estate Salesperson M. 914 589 3207 O. 914 232 5007 jessicacunningham.houlihanlawrence.com [email protected] 143 K ATO N A H AV E N U E K ATO N A H , N E W YO R K 105 3 6 Fundraiser to benefit people with disabilities Friday, April 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Travelers Rest, 25 Rte. 100, Ossining, NY 10562 $75 per person includes: 6:30 - 10 pm - Beer & Wine Open Bar 6:30 -7 pm - Appetizers 7 - 8 pm - Buffet dinner, dessert, soda/coffee 8 - 10 pm - 9 Comedians CAREERS Support Solutions is a private non-profit that finds productive employment for individuals with disabilities. We provide on-the-job training and ongoing support services at no cost to our clients, their families or employers. Sponsorships Available 25 percent of the project cost, so $10 million.” A federal infrastructure grant may be on the horizon as well for a different area. The grant, which would be shared with the Town of North Salem, would alleviate flooding in the areas of Nash, West Meadow, and Wild Oaks Roads, all of which lie in both towns. The grant money would enable the installation of larger drains and piping to handle such situations. The Town Board also approved the following resolutions, among others: $128,000 to be borrowed for the purchase of a highway department dump truck; $30,000 to be borrowed for the purchase of storage cabinets and seven automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for the Parks and Recreation Department; The appointment of Savannah Usher and John Odermatt to the town’s Emergency Management Committee. The board voted to reschedule a public hearing on the Oakridge Water District to February 13. That hearing had been scheduled for Jan. 22 but the notice was never published because the town’s designated newspaper for public notices - The RecordReview - ceased publication. The board voted to publish future public-hearing notices in the Westchester Journal News. Among other business, Welsh will convene a workshop, at a future date, with citizens concerned about traffic issues on certain roads in town. That move came in response to a letter to the board from resident Richard Holl, expressing his frustration with traffic problems along Ridgefield Avenue. At Shah’s suggestion, the focus of the workshop and any subsequent committee will encompass all town roads with traffic issues. BOARD FROM PAGE 3 The 2024 summer camp programs offered on the sprawling 125-acre campus of The Harvey School in Katonah are now open for registration. The Harvey Summer Camp features a wide range of full and partial session participation in summer activities for campers entering first grade through ninth grade. Options include a traditional summer camp experience, featuring activities in the arts, sports, science, music, and theater as well as games and camp-wide events. “This variety of offerings allows campers entering first through ninth grades to explore different interests while introducing them to new activities,” said Harvey Camp Director Vinny Alexander, who has over 40 years of experience in summer camp programs as a counselor, lifeguard, theater specialist, camp medical director, and camp director. Other summer options include single-focus specialty programs in the arts, sports, robotics, coding, circus arts, along with clinics in basketball and volleyball as well. New this summer at Harvey is the addition of Summer Academies, weeklong programs for boys and girls in grades 6-9 that focus on athleticism, sportsmanship, and skills while developing well-rounded athletes. Other weeklong sessions focus on girls and boys basketball, lacrosse, and hockey. For specific information on each option visit harveycamp.org and click on the “Summer Academies” button. To register or learn more about all the summer camp options at Harvey, visit harveycamp.org. Harvey’s 2024 summer camp season gets underway Monday, July 1. Article courtesy of The Harvey School. Registration now open for Harvey Summer Camp The Harvey Summer Camp features a wide range of activities for campers entering first grade through ninth grade.
FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 23 I nvesting for your future is important — but it can be challenging. How can you navigate the complexities of the financial markets and make the right decisions for your situation? Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. A financial advisor can help you in these key areas: • Developing a personal financial strategy – Many factors go into creating a long-term financial strategy. What is your risk tolerance? When would you like to retire? What sort of retirement lifestyle have you envisioned? What are your other important goals? A financial advisor will ask these and other questions in getting to know you, your family situation and your hopes for the future. By taking this type of holistic approach, a financial advisor can help you create financial and investment strategies appropriate for your needs. • Avoiding mistakes – A financial advisor can help you avoid costly investment mistakes. One such mistake is attempting to “time” the market. Investors pursue market timing when they try to “buy low” and “sell high.” In theory, of course, this is a great idea — if you could consistently buy investments — stocks, in particular — when their price is down and then sell them when the price has risen significantly, you’d always make some tidy profits. The main drawback to this technique, though, is that it’s virtually impossible to follow, especially for individual investors. Nobody, not even professional money managers, can really predict with any accuracy when stock prices have reached high or low points. Consequently, those who try to make these guesses could miss out on opportunities. For example, investors who are determined to buy low might not want to purchase investments when the market is up — but this practice could lead to taking a “time out” from investing just when the market is in the midst of a rally. But a financial advisor can steer clients toward a more disciplined approach, such as buying quality investments and holding them for the long term, regardless of the ups and downs of the market. • Checking progress toward your goals – If you were to invest without any guidance, you might not be looking at your investments’ performance with the proper perspective. For example, some investors simply compare their portfolio returns against a widely used market index, such as the S&P 500. But this comparison may not be that useful. The S&P 500 only measures the stock prices of the leading publicly traded U.S. companies by market capitalization — but your investment portfolio, if properly diversified, will include investments other than U.S. stocks, such as bonds, government securities, international stocks and more. Consequently, the performance of your portfolio won’t track that of the S&P 500 or any other single index, either. Your financial advisor can help you employ more meaningful benchmarks, such as whether your portfolio’s progress is on track toward helping you meet your financial goals. Also, a financial advisor will review your portfolio and investment strategy regularly to determine what changes, if any, need to be made, either in response to the markets or to events in your life. Investing for your future can be exciting and rewarding — and you can feel more confident in your decisions when you have someone helping you along the way. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Financial Advisor, Judi McAnaw, a resident of Katonah. She has an office at 200 Business Park Drive, Suite 107, in Armonk. Judi can be reached at 914-669-5329. Why see a financial advisor? JUDI MCANAW GUEST CORNER If you were to invest without any guidance, you might not be looking at your investments’ performance with the proper perspective.’ -Judi McAnaw Edward Jones Financial Advisor SOUTH SALEM FIRE DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISIONERS MEETING NOTICE 2024 LEGAL NOTICE: In compliance with the Open Meeting Law requiring notification of the date, time, and place of all public meeting of local governments, for publication in the community's interest; this is to advise that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the South Salem Fire District, South Salem, New York, will meet as follows: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the District Board of Fire Commissioners of the South Salem Fire District, South Salem, New York, will hold its monthly Board meetings on the second Monday of every month. All meetings start at 7:00 p.m. unless noted. All meetings will be held at the office of the Board of Fire Commissioners located at the South Salem firehouse 1190 Route 35, South Salem, N.Y. 10590 Members of the public may attend in accordance with the Open Meetings Law. Respectfully submitted, Doreen Nastasio Secretary South Salem Fire District January 11, 2024 Vista Fire District #1 January 30, 2024 We are pleased to announce that the preliminary results of the January 30, 2024 fire engine bond vote show an approval with: Yes……………… 90 No………………. 02 Total votes cast… 92 We are grateful to the Vista Fire District #1 community for their ongoing support of our fire district community. The Vista Fire District #1 Board of Fire Commissioners want to express our sincere appreciation to the men and women of the Vista Fire Department for their service to our community 24/7/365. If you want to provide feedback please let us know you can email us at: [email protected] WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? “People recognize us all over town and compliment us on our advertising. Our ability to reach patients and inform the community about different aspects of our practice has allowed us to grow.” - Drs. Richard Bridgham and Anita Barr
PAGE 24 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2024 2023 Top Real Estate Agent by Westchester Magazine 2023 #4 Agent in GCI, Volume & Transactions In Westchester for Douglas Elliman* 2023 Top 12% of Agents Company Wide for Douglas Elliman* Melissa Frank Lutz Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker M: 646.765.8691 | O: 914.232.3700 [email protected] Now is the Time to Contact Me to Prepare for Our Spring Market When it comes to selling real estate, local expertise has never been more important. An award-winning 24-year veteran and top-producing associate broker at Douglas Elliman, Melissa is raising her family in Katonah and has deep roots in the Northern Westchester community. Melissa has successfully leveraged Douglas Elliman's New York City reach by matching exceptional Westchester homes with the right buyers. If you’ve been considering a move, now is a great time to contact Melissa. It pays to work with a professional with local expertise and first-hand knowledge of the community. Contact Melissa today. Deep Local Knowledge. Broad Expertise. ©2024 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. 83 KATONAH AVENUE, KATONAH, NY 10536. 914.232.3700. *2023 Douglas Elliman Ellie Awards based on GCI, Volume and Transactions from 2022. Real Estate market demand will increase in the coming months. Call Melissa to get a head start.