Mahopac News 11.23.2023

BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 HEALTH & WELLNESS 18 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 23 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 2 OPINION 10 SPORTS 20 Mahopac comes out to support those who serve pg 16 VETERANS DAY PARADE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Mahopac News! We’ll be back in your mailbox on Dec. 7, as our staff is taking a much-needed holiday break. In the meantime, check for breaking news at News.HalstonMedia.com. BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR Shaul Naor is not used to public speaking. But last week, the Israeli transplant who now makes his home in Mahopac stood before a gathering of neighbors at the Lake Mahopac Rotary luncheon to tell the harrowing story of losing his sister Efrat Naor Katz, who was murdered by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and his fear for the fate of his niece, Doron Katz Asher, and her two daughters, Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2. David Katz, Doran’s stepbrother, is also among the missing. With support from Putnam Chabad Rabbi Avi Korer, Naor spoke quietly and with contained emotion. Naor’s sister – who would have turned 69 on Wednesday – was found dead in a field after evidently trying to escape Hamas kidnappers. Her partner Gadi Mosses has disappeared. As we go to press, his niece and grandnieces are still being held hostage, with no word on their location or if they are still alive. With hundreds of hostages taken and more than 1,500 people killed in one day, the Hamas attack has touched many other members of the Jewish community throughout the area. Naor and Korer handed out posters of the missing, ranging in age from children to the elderly in hopes that awareness would bring action and that government leaders will work to bring the hostages back home. Naor – who grew up in Israel, lived in Brooklyn, and had a summer home in Mahopac before moving here full-time a few years ago – was in Israel at the time of the attack. Like many Israelis accustomed to Hamas attacks, he didn’t realize anything outside the ordinary was happening at first. “It was very sketchy,” he told Mahopac News. “First of all, it was a holiday [and] Shabbat. A lot of people don’t even have their phones on in many religious communities.” Naor, observing the sabbath, was among those with his phone turned off. “People don’t turn the phone on unless it’s a specific emergency,” he explained. “But it takes a while [to get information]. And slowly, it started to come through. But it was very confusing.” The attacks, which started in the early morning, had been going on for hours by the time many Israelis became aware of them. “That was the situation till the afternoon,” he said. “A lot of people [under attack] were already in communication with their families. The attack started at 6:30 in the morning. Grieving and waiting How the Hamas attack brought terrorism home to a Mahopac man Shaul Naor holds posters of his missing relatives. PHOTO COURTESY SHAUL NAOR SEE NAOR PAGE 6 VOL. 14 NO. 41 SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! 914-282-6440 [email protected] RE/MAX Classic Realty CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION SERVICES OFFERED: Answers About the Current Market Free Property Evaluations Advice to Prep Properties for Sale Contractor Recommendations High-Definition Photography/Virtual Tour of Your Property Custom Digital Marketing Help with Estates & Probate Relocation Assistance – Anywhere in the World COVERING ALL OF NEW YORK AND FLORIDA Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Multi-Family Land • New Construction • Estates/Probate

GOVERNMENT AT WORK Here is the schedule for upcoming town and school district meetings: The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [email protected] Bob Dumas Editor at Large [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines Mahopac News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Emile Menasché at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Mahopac News weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mahopac, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mahopac News at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 PAGE 2 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 (ISSN 2330-1627) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Main Office 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com Environmental Conservation Board Thursday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Recreation Advisory Committee Thursday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Sycamore Park Rec Building 790 Long Pond Road Board Of Education Tuesday, Dec 19, 7 p.m. MHS Auditorium 421 Baldwin Place Road Holiday in the Park Come to the Chamber Park on Route 6N in Mahopac for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas tree lighting and a visit from Santa Claus on Saturday, Nov. 25. Santa arrives at 5 p.m. Bring your phone/camera to take pictures with Santa! For more info, call 845-628-5558 or visit www.mahopaccarmel chamber.com. Cookies with Santa The Carmel Recreation and Parks Department presents “Cookies with Santa” at Sycamore Park on Saturday, Dec. 16. The event includes holiday cookie decorating and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Registration is required and is currently open. The cost is $15 per child (ages 1- 12 years). For event and registration information visit carmelny. org/recreation or call the recreation office at 845-628-7888. Gingerbread Building Mahopac Public Library’s annual Gingerbread Building Program event will take place Thursday, Dec. 7, in two sessions (4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.) Signups have started and registration is required for this free program. Bring your own frosting and decorations; the library supplies “graham crackers, candy canes, hot cocoa, and fun!” Visit mahopaclibrary.org or call 845- 628-2009 x 139 for more info. Drop-In Crafts Do your kids like to use paint, markers, and glitter? Students in grades K-5 are invited to drop by Mahopac Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 9, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and decorate a wooden ornament to display in your window or hang on your tree. The event is free and no registration is required. One ornament per child while supplies last. Repair Café On Saturday, Dec. 9, Sustainable Putnam will host Mahopac’s first Repair Café at the Mahopac Middle School between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Bring your broken, but beloved item to be fixed for free by volunteers. Keep your lamps, clocks, toasters, and more working and out of a landfill. Register at  sustainableputnam/repair-cafe or call 646-598-6560. Volunteers are also welcome. Stories and Snacks with Rabbi Sarah Join Temple Beth Shalom in Mahopac for Stories and Snacks with Rabbi Sarah on Sunday, Dec..10 at 11:30 a.m.  Ideal for age groups 2-5 years old. Please call 845-628-6133 to register. Blood Drive DriveBoth the New York Blood Center and the American Red Cross are warning of shortages in the blood supply and are seeking donations. Go to nybc. org or redcrossblood.org to make an appointment and learn more. Here are some options close to home. You can find more sites and dates on the respective organizations’ websites. New York Blood Center: Jefferson Valley Mall: Monday, Nov. 27 and Thursday, Dec. 14, 12- 6 p.m.; Lakeland Copper Beach Middle School (3401 Old Yorktown Rd., Yorktown Heights): Monday, Dec. 4, 3:30 - 8 p.m.; Kennedy Catholic HS (54 Rt. 138, Somers): Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2:30 - 7 p.m.; Crystal Hall Community Center (34 Hillandale Road, Yorktown Heights): Wednesday, Dec 20. 1 - 7 p.m.; Putnam County FF and FOP (32 Gleneida Ave., Carmel Hamlet): Friday, Dec. 29, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. American Red Cross: Jefferson Valley Mall: Saturday, Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m. -to 3:30 p.m.; John C. Hart Memorial Library (1130 E Main St., Shrub Oak): Tuesday, MAHOPAC MUSINGS SEE MUSINGS PAGE 22 Town Board Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Planning Board Thursday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Zoning Board Of Appeals (ZBA) Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave.

Your Neighbor THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3 BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE Lola Lauro doesn’t get much sleep these days. When she is not busy being an honor student, the Mahopac High School sophomore is either on stage performing or in front of the camera posing. Lauro began modeling when she was just 9 years old. In 2020, KidFash magazine editors voted her one of the Top 10 teen models in New York City. Last month, Lauro was back in their Brooklyn studio posing for another issue, this time it was the magazine’s sports edition. “It was really fun,” said Lauro, who is now 15. “They took a bunch of photos of me on a skateboard and one of them will wind up in the magazine.” Not long after that, Lauro found herself back in the city auditioning for a Coca-Cola commercial. And it wasn’t an open casting call. You had to be invited to audition—which she was. “I’m still waiting to hear back about that,” she said. “I might be able to book that but even if I don’t get it, it could open new paths and new opportunities,” Lauro has a big, bubbly personality and loves joking around and being silly. But once the photographer’s camera comes out or the director yells “Action!” her demeanor instantly changes. “Once they say ‘action,’ it’s like a switch goes off in my head,” she said. “My passion takes over and I get right to work. I take it very seriously because it is something that I love to do. I goof around, but I try to work very hard.” Now that she’s been modeling for about six years, Lauro says she doesn’t feel as anxious as when she first started. “I don’t feel as tense,” she said, noting that she’s worked with many of the same people now. “In a way, I feel right at home. I have known them for a while now and it’s natural. I don’t have to overthink every single thing.” Meanwhile, Lauro’s work here at home has ratcheted up. She recently had the starring role in the high school’s production of “The Outsiders” where she portrayed Pony Boy—a male, who narrates the story. “It wasn’t weird but it was challenging,” she said about playing a male character. “I narrated so many of the scenes and had to talk to the audience. It was challenging but I pulled it off. I see [Pony Boy’s] point of view and I learned from him that I want to be the best actor I can be and this helped me to learn more. I had to do research about the character and it taught me how hard work can pay off.” She also took on the role of Young Fiona in the school’s production of “Shrek: The Musical.” “I had a solo and most of the kids in my grade didn’t have that chance,” she said. “I also got to sing harmonies with the main character, and it set me up for looking forward to the next musical and maybe being the lead.” But probably the highlight of her early high school entertainment career is her inclusion in Illusion, MHS’s annual rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza. “I was the only female sophomore who got accepted after the auditions,” she said. “I am doing two songs, including ‘Proud Mary,’ which is kind of the showcase.” Though a Creedence Clearwater Revival song, she researched the Tina Turner version of “Proud Mary” to perfect her chops. This past summer, Lauro kept busy performing at area restaurants and festivals, including the San Genaro Festival in Yorktown. “That was a lot of fun,” she said. “I also did a show at Chamber Park in Mahopac where they did a tribute to those who were lost on 9-11. It was very emotional for me to see these people who lost family members and hear them share their stories. I ended my set with ‘God Bless the USA’ and I was brought to tears. “It was a very busy summer,” she continued, “and there were lots of opportunities. You never know who is in the audience. I met some producers and a Broadway actress, and they invited me to go to Kevin Bacon’s house (who lives in nearby Connecticut), but I couldn’t go because I [had a previous commitment.]” Lauro, who remains a triple threat with her modeling, acting, and singing talent, said she is still undecided about what path to follow once she graduates. “I’ve always aspired to be a Broadway actress but I’m not sure what I will do,” she said. “I know that I really want to go on more auditions, as many as I can. I also have my eye on a few colleges but I haven’t done much research yet.” Through it all, Lauro remains one of the top students in her class. “I am in all honor classes and have all good grades, and make the high honor roll,” she said. “I have some sleepless nights with all the homework.” Lauro said she has already been asked to sign autographs. “It is so surreal that these people want an autograph from me,” she said with a laugh. But the way things are going for Llauro, it is probably not the last time someone will ask. The triple threat Lola Lauro’s modeling, acting and singing career continues to soar Lola Lauro poses for one of her recent modeling shoots PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOLA LAURO Lauro as Pony Boy in “The Outsiders”

PAGE 4 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 Sara Servadio has been named the new commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, Social Services & Youth Bureau.  Servadio’s appointment comes in the wake of longtime Commissioner Mike Piazza’s retirement earlier this month. “Sara Servadio is a consummate professional who brings a level of dedication and leadership that is unmatched in her field,” said County Executive Kevin Byrne. “I am confident that under her guidance the many operations she oversees, especially our mental health services, will thrive.” Servadio brings more than 20 years of experience in case management and the mental health field to her new role as commissioner. She began her work as deputy commissioner in Putnam County in February 2022. Prior to that, her career has included work at various non-profits as well as numerous assignments in Westchester County’s Department of Community Mental Health. “I’m committed to ensuring our department remains a steadfast resource for Putnam County residents,” Servadio said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to build on the strong foundation established by Mike Piazza, but we have a lot of work ahead of us. County Executive Byrne has made clear that we’re going to transform and expand the services we offer; we’re working to establish a Mental Wellness Stabilization Center, we’ve created a director of mental health position, and we’re establishing a mental health co-response team with the Sheriff ’s Office.” Servadio was appointed by Byrne after a competitive interview process was conducted by a selection committee that included Legislator Amy Sayegh who chairs the Legislature’s Health Committee, Deputy County Executive Jim Burpoe, Director of Personnel Paul Eldridge, Deputy Director of Personnel Adrienne Iasoni, and Executive Ann Ellsworth, director of Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center “Sara has proven to us during her tenure that she is the perfect person to fill Mike Piazza’s very big shoes,” Sayegh said. “As commissioner, she will lead the team responsible for the well-being of some of our most vulnerable residents, and I’m confident they are in good hands.” Servadio’s appointment is expected to be confirmed by the legislature on Dec. 5.  Article courtesy of County Executive’s Office Servadio named new Mental Health chief Sara Servadio PUTNAM COUNTY GOVERNMENT BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE The County Legislature has voted to provide five county elected officials a 2.75 percent cost-of-living raise, overriding a veto by County Executive Kevin Byrne that would have blocked the pay increases. Bryne and the legislators were in the midst of preparing the 2024 budget when a disagreement arose over the salary increases, which are below the rate of inflation. The positions affected by the ruling include the county clerk, county sheriff, and three coroners. During his campaign, Byrne, a Republican, pledged there would be no raises for elected officials – including himself. When the Legislature included the raises for the five positions in the proposed budget, Bryne vetoed them. However, last week, the legislators voted 6-0 to override the veto. Three legislators—Nancy Montgomery (District 1), Bill Gouldman (District 2), and Erin Crowley (District 9)—were not present for the vote. “Residents are still facing real economic hardship from inflation, high interest rates, or unaffordable housing,” Bryne said about his decision to reject raises for elected officials, at least for now. “Overall, the Legislature and I agreed on over 95 percent of what this budget should include. We worked together to reduce property and sales taxes, while still delivering services our residents have come to rely on and made record investments in infrastructure improvements and mental health services.” It’s important to note that even if Byrne’s veto had withstood the Legislature’s override vote, it would have only affected the salaries of Sheriff Kevin J. McConville, County Clerk Michael C. Bartolotti, and the three coroners. The nine legislators will also get a 2.75 percent raise – something Byrne was powerless to veto. The county charter prevents the county Legislature overturns Byrne’s veto of employee raises SEE VETO PAGE 8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5 Michael Stern THANKS YOU! THANK YOU! We, as a community, have conquered the “impossible”. Democracy is the government of the people and BY the people. Over 7000 voters came out, making this one of Carmel’s biggest local elections. Here in the Town of Carmel on Election Day 2023 we reminded the government agencies and political parties that they work for the public, and our voices matter. Thank you to each and every one of you who wrote in my name, I’m so blessed to have each of you in my corner. We stood together as a community, a community that I am proud to represent beginning January 1st 2024 as your Town of Carmel Highway Superintendent! Paid for by Michael Stern

PAGE 6 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 They started with hundreds and hundreds of rockets in every direction just to confuse the Israeli army. The purpose, I guess, was to confuse the Iron Dome [defense] system. It was chaos. That was the main thing that Hamas wanted, so their forces could go through the border.” Messages from those under attack underscored the feeling of confusion and helplessness as people began to hear from loved ones under siege. Because war is a constant backdrop to life in Israel, there are warning systems, shelters, and safe rooms, but none of them were designed for the massive door-to-door assault by Hamas. “A lot of people were communicating through their phones, even those who were locked in the safe rooms,” Naor said, adding that his sister, knowing his phone would be off for Shabbat, communicated with friends. “And her daughter was communicating with her husband [who had left the day before] and her friends. Everybody was communicating. People were saying ‘We’re locked up, we hear them.’” Naor said people hiding could hear the terrorists walking the streets and surrounding their homes, “trying to break into the houses, looting, shooting, trying to break into safe rooms.” With the attack happening on an unprecedented scale on the ground, Naor said he didn’t really know his sister was missing until the following day. “By the afternoon, she wasn’t answering her phone, and we had no idea why. The next day we started to get a clearer idea [why] people were not answering. It was because [they could not]. I mean that nobody really knew [what was happening] – only the people on the ground over there knew; the public did not know anything. Of course, they just knew that people were not answering the phones; the army was not coming out with much information at that point. It took a few days for people to realize what really happened.” Over time, Naor came to learn that Efrat’s longtime boyfriend Gadi Mosses, 79, had also disappeared, evidently after leaving the safe room to try to reason NAOR FROM PAGE 1 SEE NAOR PAGE 7 NORTHERN WESTCHESTER’S WALK-THROUGH LIGHT EXPERIENCE INTERACTIVE LIGHT DISPLAYS HOT DRINKS & FOOD SECURE YOUR TICKETS NOW LIGHTS TO MUSIC

with the Hamas attackers. He has not been found as of press time. “There’s a picture of him somewhere, being led away by two guys,” Naor said. “My sister, her daughter, and her two girls were rounded up with others from the kibbutz. And a bunch of them were put onto some kind of a farmer’s wagon pulled by a tractor. And they were going towards the Gaza border, which is maybe 10 minutes away by tractor. “At one point there was an altercation,” he continued. “Something happened there. We know that because one of the women managed to jump off and actually survived. She somehow made it back to the kibbutz. So we know from her that there was some gunfire [and an] altercation. Some people got hurt, including my sister. I believe she fell off the wagon. Someone tried to help her but was told it was no use. You can’t help her. Then they were rounded up again by the terrorists and put back in a wagon and taken to Gaza. “And my sister was left in the field,” he added. “That much is confirmed. And we don’t know what happened to the rest of them. We assume they’re being held in Gaza right now. There’s no sign of life, nothing. Conditions are very bad.” Naor said his sister was identified about a week after the attack by Israeli forces regaining control of the border. “They collected dozens and dozens of bodies, including terrorists... everybody,” Naor said. “She was identified through DNA and other means. And we were able to bury her.” His niece and her daughters are still presumed to be among the hostages. Naor said a last-minute change of plans proved tragic for them. “My niece and her daughters were actually visiting for the holiday,” he said. “They were supposed to leave on Friday to visit her husband’s parents, but they decided to stay one extra day. My sister has another daughter, who actually lived in a kibbutz with her family, but they left to celebrate the holiday with her in-laws. So they were spared that particular day.” While discussing the story is extremely painful for Naor, he is trying to keep focus on the fate of the hostages and pressure public officials to push for their release. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7 Register at msasports.org/wrestling For more information, email [email protected]. Grades 3-6 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays ($250)* Kindergarten-Grade 2 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays ($150)* *Discounted sibling rate for 2+ athletes calculated at checkout. Nothing Worth Having Is Given. It Must Be Earned. FREE CLINIC OFFICIAL SEASON STARTS DEC. 4 Nov. 27, 28 & 29 for all K-6 athletes (returning or new) NAOR FROM PAGE 6 SEE NAOR PAGE 24

PAGE 8 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 RED MILLS Convenience Center 575 Route 6N, Mahopac Falls • 845-628-9745 Happy Thanksgiving! WE HAVE ALL YOUR COLD WEATHER SUPPLIES! Firewood • Windshield Washer Fluid • Rock Salt CAR SUPPLIES: Shovels & Scrapers • Hats & Gloves only $ 499! 2 Eggs Fried or Scrambled 2 Pancakes • Hash Browns 2 Sausages or Bacon Small Coffee Breakfast Special Coming Soon! Our Christmas Selection Check out our candy selection... We have something for everyone! For Kids... All of the fun candy you can imagine! For Adults... Take a trip down memory lane with retro candy! We are grateful for your business! Happy Hour Coffee 99¢ Check out our Coffee of the Month! Any Size 3-7pm Now Serving Soup daily! Plus more Hot to-go items & Pizza! executive from having any input on legislators’ salaries. He also has no say in the district attorney’s pay, which is determined by the state. Legislator Amy Sayegh, who serves as deputy chair and represents District 8 (which covers parts of Mahopac), said the legislators voted to give themselves a small raise for 2024 because years ago, the lawmakers voted to give themselves a 14 percent raise – after not receiving any salary bump for 10 years – and “took a lot of grief ” for that move. She believes that from now on, it’s better to give smaller cost-of-living raises periodically to keep them in line with similar county legislatures around the state. The aggregate total for the raises for all nine lawmakers in the proposed budget comes to $10,962 annually. But when it comes to the raises for those five county employees that Bryne does have control over, Sayegh, also a Republican, said his stance was simply political grandstanding and even hypocritical. Sayegh noted that the total amount saved by cutting the raises for the county clerk, sheriff, and three coroners would have amounted to just $11,405. She said eliminating those raises would have just been “symbolic” but it wouldn’t have been symbolic for the employees who were not getting the relatively modest raises. “[County clerk] Mike Bartolotti has a wife and family and so does Sheriff McConville,” she said. “All these employees live in Putnam County. They all live and work here. These coroners make about $25,000 a year and they have to go out in the middle of the night to drag dead bodies out of houses and deal with suicides and drug overdoses. They do the work of the people. “I get emotional and don’t like playing political games with people’s salaries,” she added. “[Byrne] is trying to make a political point by using other people.” Sayegh also noted that Byrne brought in Jim Burpoe, an Orange County resident, to serve as deputy county executive, which included a salary hike of  $24,625, which she feels invalidates Bryne’s contention that his pledge to not increase the salaries was to ease the taxpayer burden. “Let’s revisit the county executive’s first month in office where he gave a $24,625 raise to his deputy before even working a month on the job, an amount that exceeds all county elected officials combined,” she said. “I voted against that increase. If [Byrne] wants to send a message...[he should] start with his own staff.” Sayegh conceded that Bryne declined to take a raise for 2024, but pointed out that he was given a cost-of-living adjustment when he first took office back on Jan. 1. “So, he didn’t take [a raise] this time, but he had already gotten one – so that was really big of him,” she said. “This whole thing is not about [alleviating] any financial stress for the county, it’s just political grandstanding.” Not all lawmakers agreed with the override. Legislator Erin Crowley, who represents District 9 (which also includes parts of Mahopac) was away when the Legislature voted to overturn Byrne’s veto, but told Mahopac News that she sided with the county executive. She said if she had been there at the time of the vote, she would not have joined her colleagues’ decision to reinstate the raises. Part of the reason has less to do with the expense and more to do with appearances in light of upcoming negotiations with unions representing county workers. Back in October, Crowley issued a statement that said, “In light of the upcoming contracts expiring with the four unions in Putnam County, I moved to have [the cost-of-living adjustments] be allocated to sub-contingency until a [contract] resolution is reached.” She also said that she, personally, was not comfortable with accepting a raise for herself. “I am not at ease with accepting a pay raise given the current rate of inflation and how it directly impacts the taxpayers of Putnam County,” her statement read. Last week, she told the media that she stands by her decision to table the cost-of-living adjustments “in light of the current circumstances where the hard-working employees in Putnam County (unions) are starting their work without a formal agreement from Jan. 1. It’s crucial to remember that we were elected by the people to fulfill their needs, and I assure you that I will always uphold this responsibility.” Byrne agreed, saying the collective bargaining agreements need to be settled before elected officials can give themselves pay hikes. “We’re working to negotiate contracts with the four collective bargaining units that represent our public employees, and I simply find it unfair to grant pay raises to elected officials who negotiate or vote on these same contracts before an agreement is finalized. It’s clear six legislators disagree,” he said. Byrne said his desire to not offer raises to the five elected officials is not a reflection of the job they are doing. He said the move was merely fiscal but added he has no hard feelings toward the Legislature for overturning his veto. “This is what happens in a healthy democracy supported by a system of checks and balances,” he said. “I used my veto power as a check on the Legislature to fulfill a commitment I made to freeze pay raises for elected officials in my first year. The Legislature exercised its check to override my decision as county executive.  “This administration’s mission remains the same – with a detailed focus on delivering topnotch services as we continuously work to make Putnam County Government more affordable, accountable, and accessible for our residents.,” he continued. “And, I realize we have more work to do. But the people of Putnam County should know their county executive stayed true to his word and did not take a raise in pay.” VETO FROM PAGE 4 ‘This whole thing is not about [alleviating] any financial stress for the county, it’s just political grandstanding.’ -Amy Sayegh County Legislator, District 8

BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR Mahopac Girl Scouts continued what has become a local tradition of putting together Thanksgiving gift baskets for families in need. Last week, more than 90 scouts gathered at Lakeview Elementary School to assemble 30 overstuffed baskets with complete Thanksgiving dinners along with lots of extras and a gift card for a turkey. The baskets were delivered to families at each of Mahopac’s elementary schools, with additional donations going to the food pantry at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church. In addition to assembling the baskets, the event – which is organized by Heidi Morrione, Nelly Santiago, and Cadette Troop 1499 – included bingo and a round of Girl Scout songs. “Thank you so much to everyone who helped us reach our goal,” Randi DiMilia, a Service Unit Manager of Mahopac Girl Scouts, wrote on Facebook. “My heart is full and I feel blessed to be part of this community...This is what Mahopac Girl Scouts is all about –making the world a better place!” Morrione said the event teaches the Girl Scouts the importance of service to the community. “All Girl Scouts strive to live by the Girl Scout law and making the world a better place is a big part of that,” she said. “We try to teach the girls to be agents of change and to recognize the power of one, the power of team, and the power of community. “So each individual girl brings her donation toward Thanksgiving dinner. [This is] their power. All the girls in her troop also contribute, and together they are able to complete a dinner for a family in need – the power of a team. This is a really good feeling, but what makes it better is when all the troops in Mahopac come together as a community, and 30 families are fed. Obviously, the power of our community  is so incredible  and we accomplish  a great deal together.” Morrione said that the Thanksgiving event was expanded this year to encompass all three elementary schools in Mahopac and included help from the community at large as well as the school district. Thanks to their combined efforts, the scouts weren’t finished when they filled the 30 baskets. “We had bags of extra nonperishables that were donated to Saint John’s food pantry,” Morrione said.” These baskets are special, lovingly curated, and include not just dinner but other breakfast items, roasting pans, can openers, and the gift cards to an area grocery store in lieu of a turkey. The girls assemble their baskets together  and the older girls help get everything where it needs to go. The school administrators handle distribution.” Organizers gave a special shoutout to Nivia Campos-Arias, Patricia Vitale, Dawn Timpa Baker, Annalisa Mancini, Eileen Friel Kulp, Lauren Butow Shmulewitz, Denise Giordano, Pauline BoyleAngrisani, Nicole Liebowitz, Gilles Plante, Valerie Venmard, Linda McGuinness, Cheryl Davidson, Meagan Hartnett, and Marcy DiBatista for donating baskets and money to the cause. Mahopac Girl Scouts step up for needy families Mahopac Girl Scouts and parents gathered at Lakeview Elementary School to assemble Thanksgiving baskets for the needy. PHOTO COURTESY MAHOPAC GIRL SCOUTS OOrrddeerrss HHOOLLIIDDAAYY IIGG:: AANNSSSSeeaaffooooddMMaarrkkeett && AANNSSEEllmmssffoorrdd 554455 RRoouuttee 66 MMaahhooppaacc,, NNYY 1100554411 AANNSS Seafood & Seafood Market Seafood & Seafood Market FFaacceebbooookk:: AANNSS SSeeaaffoooodd MMaarrkkeett WWeebbssiittee:: wwwwww..aannsssseeaaffoooodd..ccoomm 884455--662211--22448899 The Highest Quality Fresh Seafood Delivered Daily The Highest Quality Fresh Seafood Delivered Daily 22 WWiilllliiaammss SStt.. EEllmmssffoorrdd,, NNYY 1100552233 991144--559922--99225500 NNooww wwiitthh TTwwoo LLooccaattiioonnss RReettaaiill MMaarrkkeett && RReessttaauurraanntt WWhhoolleessaallee && RReettaaiill MMaarrkkeett Taking Holiday Orders through December 23rd Taking Holiday Orders through December 23rd THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9

Opinion BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER EMILE MENACHÉ, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 845-208-0774 [email protected] 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its 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 845-208-0774 PAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 Note to Readers: We are republishing this column from last year’s Thanksgiving edition, with modifications, as it is certainly still applicable today. We don’t always know what is going on in another person’s life. So, when we criticize another human being, we often do so without the context of knowing whether that person is in pain, whether they are grieving and whether they are depressed or feeling hopeless. The criticism may also miss the mark and lack context. I raise these points because of a general sense that people seem to be on edge, particularly because of politics, where our country seems to be in a stalemate. I’ve heard the term “civil war” mentioned too many times over the past couple of years, but who are we going to fight? Uncle Bob and Aunt Sue at our Thanksgiving dinner? Little Johnny who is home from college?  What are we going to do in a civil war? Take our own family members as prisoners?  I think the solution starts with empathy. It’s the acknowledgment that we can’t fully understand why the other person thinks the way they do without stepping into their shoes. It’s about bringing a degree of empathy to our posts on social media. Halston Media relies on Facebook to bring traffic to our website, but we often brace ourselves before posting a story, no matter how innocuous. Keyboard warriors love to tell us how stupid we are, how awful we are and how partisan our newspaper is (we’re either “right-wing nut jobs” or a “liberal rag” depending on who we offended). And forget about us. These keyboard warriors are also vicious about the people we write about.  It’s about taking politics out of gender, race, ethnicity and religion. It’s about not assuming that everyone at your church or synagogue agrees with you on everything. And it’s about not assuming that a person thinks a certain way because of the color of their skin or whether that person is male or female. There is nothing more racist or sexist than assuming all members of a race or gender should think a certain way.  The most deeply persecuted minority in America is the “individual.” What do I mean by that?  I mean that the most misunderstood people in the world and the people who suffer from the greatest persecution are victims because they are a party of one. It’s because nobody was capable of jumping into that person’s shoes to try and truly understand them. It’s because we all lacked a degree of empathy.  Don’t get me wrong. I’m guilty of this as well at times. But I do think Thanksgiving is a time to take stock of our lives and acknowledge our blessings. It’s also a time to acknowledge that others are in a different situation.  The nicest house on your road? That family might be struggling financially or perhaps they are grieving. Aunt Betty, who you disagree with on politics, might be hiding a cancer diagnosis. And Johnny might be really homesick while away at college after breaking up with his girlfriend.  Life is more than politics. As we enter into the holiday season, let’s all attempt to have a little empathy for one another.  Have some empathy for your ‘enemies’ BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER’S MEMO CHRISTINE TONA SUPERINTENDENT’S COLUMN Dear Mahopac Community, This week, families and friends across the nation will come together to celebrate Thanksgiving, a day to express gratitude for all of our blessings. Thanksgiving also signifies the start of the “holiday season,” where we spend time with loved ones, share generosity and compassion toward others, and look forward to the hope that a new year brings. The students in the Mahopac Central School District will bring us much joy over the next few weeks and I invite our entire community to join us at the many amazing concerts that are on the horizon. One concert that has been part of the fiber of our school district since 1981 is “Illusion.” Last year, I had the pleasure of attending my first “Illusion” concert as a new superintendent and resident and I was more than impressed! Our high school students are incredibly talented and they come together to collaborate on a variety of musical genres to perform a professional concert that would make music stars of today and yesterday proud. Under the direction of Stas Przymylski, who performed in “Illusion” as a Mahopac High School student in the 1980s, our students do it all. They sing, play electric guitar, keyboards, drums, and even play in the horn section. They have stage presence and professionalism. The show comes with lights and up close cameos on the big screens- truly not to be missed! “Illusion” is just one example of how our students learn to collaborate, develop skills which will serve them well as adults, and create memories for a lifetime. Am I proud of these terrific students? I sure am! I hope to see you at our “Illusion” concerts at Mahopac High School on Dec. 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m.  I wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! Mahopac proud! Celebrating community and talent Mahopac superintendent’s Thanksgiving message and invitation to ‘Illusion’ concert

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11 Old Friends, New Friends and All Friends gather at Red Mills Pub. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! 575 Rt 6N • Mahopac, NY • 845-628-9879 Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock 963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 TOCKLAW.COM • 845-628-8080 CRIMINAL DEFENSE/DWI • PERSONAL INJURY REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, PROBATE Joe and his staff are AMAZING!! They stay on top of everything and communicate with you all the way. You won’t find a better law firm when in need of representation. ~T.D. ‘ My parents were Catholic, so hanging on their bedroom wall, next to each other, was a picture of President Kennedy and a picture of Jesus. JFK was the first Catholic president, so I think in my parents’ minds the two were interchangeable. I was only 5 when Kennedy was murdered, so I have no recollection of how my folks felt or reacted when it happened. I imagine they were devastated. I never really discussed it with them when I got older, but I kind of wish I had. They were also both proud Democrats, which, as I got older, I thought was odd because they—particularly my dad—were pretty conservative in their social views and values. However, Dad liked to brag he had only ever voted for the Democratic candidate for president. (Mom would never reveal her choices.) But if a Republican won, Dad believed you deferred to him and respected the office of President. Sadly, that concept doesn’t seem to be as prevalent today. So, although Dad was no fan of Richard Nixon when Tricky Dick got elected, he was totally behind him. If Nixon said your son is going to Vietnam, he was damn well going to Vietnam. If the president said we are bombing Cambodia back to the Stone Age, Dad figured they probably had it coming. Most of the younger people today probably don’t remember the lottery draft. It was a way to draft new soldiers to join the war effort in Vietnam. It was televised on national TV. They had a big barrel with a bunch of capsules in it that they would turn in a circular motion like it had bingo balls inside. Inside these capsules was a piece of paper with a birthday written on it—all 366 days (including Feb 29). If your birthday was one of the first hundred or so chosen, you were going to war. My brother was 18 during this little lottery, the targeted age, so as you might imagine, our family was pretty interested in it. We watched it like it was the Ed Sullivan Show. My brother’s birthday was May 1. I can’t remember precisely where his birthday fell in that surreal lottery (somewhere around the 325 mark), but we knew it far enough back that it meant my brother wasn’t going anywhere. I was 10 at the time and that was my first glimpse into national politics. I saw what that damn lottery did to my mother and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I realized then I was not going to be like my dad and blindly follow a president no matter what he did. I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but that’s called critical thinking. It’s a fancy way of saying, I will make up my own damn mind on a case-by-case basis. When I moved to Putnam County nine years ago, I quickly discovered how “red” this place was. As a Democrat, I felt like a vegan at Peter Lugar’s steakhouse. Oh, sure, they’ll let you in, but you are going to get some subtle snickers and eye-rolls. I had a co-worker at that time who was so far right he almost came back around to the other side. He knew I was a Dem and liked to give me a little good-natured ribbing. (Sometimes not so goodnatured.) I remember one time he was quite outraged about something some Democratic politician said and confronted me about it. I agreed with him, saying I wasn’t very fond of that particular Democrat anyway. He was confused and looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. “I don’t agree with every Democrat,” I told him. “Just like I’m sure you don’t agree with every Republican and every conservative.” He stared at me. “Wait. You do? Really?” I said. “Of course,” he said. “Every politician? Every pundit? Every talk show host?” I asked. “One hundred percent, all the time?” “Yup!” Wow, I thought. What an interesting way to go through life. Everything was black and white for this dude. No grey areas. My life is nothing but grey areas. Recently, Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, was arrested by the FBI (apparently, they do arrest Democrats from time to time) and charged with accepting bribes and a litany of other felonies. The guy had gold bars stuffed into his suit for God’s Another grey area BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 15

PAGE 12 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 59 Years of Excellence Putnam & Westchester County’s Premier Plumbing Professionals Since 1964 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT SERVICE CALL! VALID ON CALLS OVER 1 HOUR. EXPIRES 12/31/23 May the holiday spirit be with you and your family. Tree Lighting Santa arrives at 5pm Don’t forget your phone to take pictures with Santa! For information call 845-628-5553 or Visit www.mahopaccarmelchamber.com Sponsored by: George Apap Painting • Mahopac Flower Shop Shine Holiday Lighting of Westchester • Local Boys Christine Picone of William Raveis Real Estate Holiday in the Park at Chamber Park in Mahopac Saturday, November 25th Bob Dumas’ columns make me think of a film set in a small New Hampshire town called Grover’s Corners. I must have seen the movie, “Our Town,” at least 15 times and it still gets to me. It’s the same with Bob’s columns. I know that somewhere within his allotted 800 words or so, he will write something that gets to me. Maybe it will be about the brother he lost or the girl he flutily tried to impress with his cooking or a radio to stave off loneliness. His last column (“It’s a family affair,” Nov. 9, Page 10), I thought, expressed what many of us older folks feel as we make our way down the far side of the mountain: the fear of being forgotten. What got to me about that column was Bob’s evident joy that a song he wrote a couple of generations ago has been kept alive by his family. He has not been forgotten nor has his song been forgotten. I took it as a story about the magnificence of the human heart. When I met Bob, he impressed me as a spiffy dresser and worldly, yet I could still hear and detect in his manner a little Grover’s Corners.  It’s easy to hear in almost any small town, that same direct, no-nonsense way of speaking that’s used by the characters in “Our Town.” Those New Englanders had no time to waste. The first time I met Bob, it was 3 p.m., and he was just getting to lunch. He was friendly and encouraging, yet something in his manner of speaking told me that he had no time to suffer fools gladly- at least for very long. And yet, even while his nachos and cheese were getting cold, he didn’t seem the slightest bit in a hurry. If anything, I was trying to hurry him. For my photo, he took several pictures inside and outside. And he didn’t stop until he got a flicker of a smile out of me. Thanks, Bob. You’re a genius. That’s the best picture I’ve ever taken. I would recommend “Our Town” for the music alone. It was scored by Aaron Copland. Lots of strings and emotion in almost every scene. It’s odd to hear it played as the milkman goes about his simple tasks, cheerily telling one customer that it was 10 below in the barn that morning. You hear the music during an ordinary breakfast; you hear it when neighbor meets neighbor on a deserted street. It leads to the most thematic scene in the movie. The female lead character, Emily, pregnant with her second child, becomes ill and dreams that she’s dead. She travels back in time to her 16th birthday, but can’t bear the day. She misses life too much. “Hot baths, waking up, going to sleep, “she cries. “Oh, Earth, you’re too wonderful to realize.” At the start of the movie, we meet some of the townsfolk in Grover’s Corners. Without a trace of pity, almost as if he were announcing a baseball score, the narrator introduces Wally, who will die on a camping trip of a burst appendix. We are told that the boy delivering the morning newspapers was smart enough to win a scholarship to engineering school. But war broke out in Europe, and he was killed in France. “All that education for nothing,” says the narrator, dryly, and you know he can’t be serious. What education could be worth a single life? Instead of weeping, the narrator uses a survivalist’s wit to keep himself going. You can see Bob trying to do the same thing when he writes about his health problems. One can hear him laughing- through tears.     I was saddened and amused to read about Bob’s foibles in that cauldron of ego and humiliation called social media. He commented that pickleball was tennis for poor people and I guess a few pickleball players saw a chance to get insulted and punish the outrage. If Bob wanted to insult pickleball players… he could have done a lot better job. He was just trying, of course, to bring a little humor into a world that could sorely use some. I’m left wondering if the kind of humor meant to keep a person from becoming “too big for their britches” is having the opposite effect. How dare you say I’m too big for my britches! I will close with a brief story that I think will give Bob a laugh. If you have lost a leg, though, be warned. You may get offended.  After his friend, fellow playwright and writer lost his leg, George Bernard Shaw sent him a telegram. “For people in our profession,” it read, “having two legs is a luxury.” Editor at large       LORENZO GARO OF HUMAN INTEREST To advertise in Mahopac News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected].

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 13 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 What steps have you taken to protect your life savings from the cost of long term care? Dear Dr. Linda, Last year you suggested some fun activities to do at home that are also educational that we could do with our children for Thanksgiving. Do you have any suggestions for this year? -Teacher Wannabes Dear Teacher Wannabes, I’m glad you enjoyed last year’s activities. To recap, last year I suggested that if you’re going to roast a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, get the kids to help you do the calculations.  Ask them what size bird you need to buy, how long it needs to be in the oven and how much stuffing you’ll need for it. This is a good activity for your kids from Grades 5-9. Let’s say you’re going to have dinner at 5 p.m. Ask the kids what time you need to put the turkey in the oven based on their calculations.  Obviously, younger children can do easier calculations. Maybe you’re making a double batch of cranberry sauce and the bag says 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar; how much water and sugar would you need?  And what about the stuffing? How many cups of stuffing will you need for your turkey? If you buy pre-packaged stuffing mix, how many bags will you need? They’ll need to read the fine print on the bags of stuffing when you go to the store. If you need a bag and a half, how much water and how much butter or margarine will you need? If you’re following Grandma’s recipe, will you need to double it? Cut it in half? Now here’s something to do between dinner and dessert or after the meal. It’s fun for all and it gives guests who don’t watch football something else to do — and everyone will learn something. It’s a 10-question quiz that kids and adults can play individually or on teams. Teams are usually more fun. I suggest the rules include allowing people to go online to find the answers. (The answers are at the bottom.) Of course the winner or winning team gets a prize. THE HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING QUIZ We trace our Thanksgiving dinner to the Thanksgiving feast which occurred in Plymouth Colony in 1621. Governor William (1)_______________approved a celebration to give thanks to God for the end of a drought and the safe journey of a ship carrying new colonists to Plymouth.  The celebration lasted for (2)_______ days. A large number of Wampanoag Indians attended. In fact, it is said that there were (3)_______in total. There were more Indians at the celebration than Pilgrims. Some thanksgiving celebrations continued, especially in the New England colonies, but not on a specific date.  They ate ducks, geese and turkeys in addition to lots of (4)___________,which is usually not part of the main course of our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Because the Pilgrims didn’t have ovens or (5)__________, it is said that they didn’t eat pumpkin pie or other baked desserts.  In 1789, after the Revolutionary War, President (6)_________________ proclaimed that Nov. 26 of that year would be a national holiday to give thanks for the establishment of a new government. But only some states celebrated Thanksgiving. By 1830, the state of (7)_____________ had an official Thanksgiving Day. It was the first state to have an official Thanksgiving Day. In 1863, Sarah Hale, the editor of a famous lady’s magazine, convinced President (8) ___________________ to proclaim that the last Thursday in November would be a day of thanksgiving.   Then in 1939, President (9) _____________said that Thanksgiving should be celebrated one week earlier. In 1941, Congress passed a law that Thanksgiving would be observed on the fourth Thursday of November and it would be a legal federal (10) __________. Answers: 1. Bradford 2. Three 3. 90 4. Fish (specifically shell fish) Deer is an acceptable answer also. 5. Sugar 6. George Washington 7. New York. 8. Abraham Lincoln 9. Franklin D. Roosevelt 10. holiday Happy Thanksgiving, -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda, along with her husband, Dr. Al, own Strong Learning Tutoring and Test Prep serving Westchester and Putnam counties for over 40 years. Strong Learning tutors students K-12 in any subject, in person or remotely. Drs. Linda and Al are also the authors of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids,” available on Amazon and at stronglearning.com.   A Thanksgiving quiz for the whole family And other educational and fun activities for the holiday DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING

PAGE 14 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 Your Family Car Care Center! LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Visit us at www.ProperService.com For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating releationships, and building a remarkable company with an amazing team of employees! Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! One of our Thanksgiving gatherings from years ago is a day that lives in infamy. Things were going so well until two of my brothers-in-law got into it with my father over politics after a few glasses of wine. I may have contributed to the altercation, but memories are fuzzy. The incident caused my mother to ban all political discussions from future family gatherings. We have mellowed a bit, so maybe it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. The political dynamics of many families make Thanksgiving especially challenging these days. Should politics be avoided at all costs, or should it be attempted with some ground rules? According to an Economist/YouGov poll, 46% of Americans avoid talking about politics at the Thanksgiving celebration. But maybe it is the way we talk about politics that is the problem and not the topic itself. After all, politics is on many of our minds these days, so why not share with friends and family?  I’m active in an organization called Braver Angels. They are dedicated to depolarizing our politics by, among other things, promoting more civil discussions about controversial topics. I attended one of their workshops called “Families and Politics, How to Talk to Loved Ones on the Other Side.” I gained some insights on how to navigate difficult conversations, even over Thanksgiving turkey.  Family members fall in to different roles in political conversations. The Gladiator initiates the battles to straighten out wrongheaded relatives. The Defender counterattacks, sometimes by mischaracterizing the position of the speaker. The Sniper tosses in barbs from the sidelines. The Peacekeeper, my mom, always wants to cut off all political conversations before they get started. The Bystander keeps their mouth shut and has their head down on their phone when the sparks start to fly. And finally, there is the Engager, who tries to have a respectful conversation to understand differences and seeks common ground. The goal is to be an engager. Braver Angels teaches constructive engagement in these conversations by using CAPP, an acronym for Clarify, Agree, Pivot, Perspective.  You Clarify, by restating your discussion partner’s position to demonstrate that you were listening to them. Paraphrase their position without judgment or shading. “So to make sure I know what you are saying…” Then Agree by trying to find some common ground. “We can agree that X is a problem” or “we all want the same thing.” By creating some alignment, it turns the temperature down a bit and puts both people on the same side of the table. Finding agreement is sometimes easier said than done. Pivot, by asking permission or signaling that you would like to offer your own point of view. “Here is where I am coming from on this.” Or, “Can I give my thoughts?” Offer your Perspective, with your feelings on the topic. Anecdotes and stories are always helpful to make your point. Calmly explain your position and how you came to it. Deliver your perspective without denigrating the other person’s position or motives. In order to be understood, you must first understand where your relative is coming from. Even if you might not agree with their view. And, most importantly, have an exit strategy. If head-butting persists, a simple, “maybe we should leave it there for now” should suffice. Or, if they insist on having the last word, “OK, got it, let’s move on.” But let’s be optimistic and assume things went well. Close the conversation with, “I enjoyed our conversation. Thank you. I’m glad we could discuss this in a civil way. That doesn’t happen often these days. Please pass the turkey.” Happy Thanksgiving. Is politics on the menu for Thanksgiving? A guide for civil discussion DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774.

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PAGE 18 – MAHOPAC NEWS HEALTH & WELLNESS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 17 Miller Rd. Mahopac 845-621-1222 RooneyOrtho.com Rooney Orthodontics Children & Adults 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. 11 11 is a Sweet older boy. Estimated to be about 10 years old. He gets along with all the other cats that walk loose in the lobby and the office. He’s a true sweetheart! Loves to cuddle with other cats. Will make a great lap Cat. Sweet Reba can be a little shy , but warms up very quickly. We think she’s about two years old. Found as a stray, and we were shocked that no one claimed her. kids Reba THIS AD WAS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY HALSTON MEDIA. 68 Old Rt. 6, Carmel an be a very hocke that o one www.aonpt.com The Road To Recovery Starts Here GOODROW BUILDING 862 Route 6 Mahopac NY 10541 (845) 208-0963 MILL POND OFFICES 293 Route 100 • Suite 107 Somers, NY 10589 (914) 276-2520 BREWSTER 3 Starr Ridge Road Brewster, NY 10509 (845) 279-9288 NEW LOCATION Pain occurs for a variety of reasons. Pain may be a byproduct of overuse of a particular part of the body, or it could signal an underlying illness or condition. Sometimes injury is at the heart of aches and pains. Daily aches and pains may be seen as a normal byproduct of aging, but that does not mean aging individuals should simply accept pain. In fact, daily discomfort can be remedied with some relatively easy techniques. • Get moving. Lower back pain is common among adults, and most often appears when individuals are in their mid-30s and 40s. Strength training and cardio exercises can remedy this pain because these activities increase blood flow and help build core muscles, which support the spine. Support can alleviate pressure on the discs in the back. Exercising also will build strength in other areas of the body and support joints. • Practice good posture. Sitting and standing with optimal posture can help the body feel better. The body is designed to stand in a “neutral” position that stacks the pelvis, head and torso, according to DMC Healthcare. When posture is out of whack, this puts undue stress on muscles, leading to pain. Dropping your head or shoulders also can create unnecessary tension that leads to headaches. Good posture can alleviate this. • Exercise more often. Certain pains arise when exercising for the first time or performing a new activity. Allan H. Goldfarb, Ph.D., a professor and exercise physiologist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, says when you do the same activity again and again, your muscles will start to get used to it and soreness will be reduced. Don’t give up on exercise too soon, but include off days in your routine to give your body time to become more acclimated to increased physical activity. • Get tested. Speak with your doctor if you have chronic pain in one or more areas. Such pain may be a sign of osteoarthritis, an inflammatory condition that is associated with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions can cause aches and pains as well, leaving the joints and tendons inflamed and a body with low energy. A doctor can rule out these conditions or help you get the therapy and medications you need. • Increase stretching and movement exercises. Incorporate stretching and movement exercises like yoga or tai chi into your daily regimen. These activities slowly stretch areas of the body and can improve range of motion and flexibility over time.  These are just a few ways to address common aches and pains. Medical interventions, physical therapy, occupational therapy and ergonomics assessments, and massage therapy also may help to alleviate aches and pains.  This article is from Metro Creative Connection. Alleviate everyday aches and pains

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 HEALTH & WELLNESS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 19 Elder Law Wills, Trusts & Estates Estate Planning Medicaid Applications Guardianships Probates Elder Law & Estate Planning A Tradition of Excellence in Elder Law (845) 621-8640 thefellergroup.com 625 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541 We make home & hospital visits Contact the team today! (845) 621-8640 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 1-855-916-5473 Is there anything more heartwarming than the tradition of a turkey being pardoned by the President before Thanksgiving?  Of course not.  The inalienable rights of poultry must be preserved at all cost.  But, what about the yams. Who will speak up for them? Don’t yams deserve a pardon too….a suspended sentence at least?  These are some of my Thanksgiving thoughts while I wait for a giant roasted bird to be paraded through the kitchen and settle on the dining room table. Turkey day is a time for reflection (and arranging food on your plate that strikes the perfect balance between proteins, starches and canned cranberry sauce). Memories of past feasts blend with the warmth of present-day family camaraderie. You may have noticed that some family members have a tendency to retreat into their phones when the conversation lags.  Hiding the phone in the turkey, calling it and watching your loved one panic as the ringtone reverberates in the stuffing is not recommended.  Talking about estate planning readiness is a much better option…..and less sticky. So, how do you start a conversation about estate planning? Do what comes easy. Talk about yourself. If you are organized and have completed your core estate planning documents (Trust, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Living Will and Last Will and Testament), then you are a force of change, stressing the importance of planning and nudging family members in the right direction. If you are a disorganized procrastinator and disclose that fact in your estate planning commentary, you may find that others share your affliction.  A few chuckles and shrugs later, everyone collectively decides to change their ways. Sometimes the subject of estate planning comes up inadvertently. Maybe a loved one was recently discharged from a hospital or the lack of a Power of Attorney may have made it difficult for a spouse to get information concerning a retirement account.  These life events provide an opening for wider discussions about the value of being prepared. I like the phrase “mapping things out.” There is a form of geographical positioning that takes place in estate planning in which the people you care about and the things you own are carefully arranged to obtain an optimal result.   There is a school of thought among certain estate planning practitioners and clients that all of this should remain private and not for public consumption.  Obviously, larger Thanksgiving gatherings with distant cousins, friends and neighbors of the host may not be the optimal occasion to blurt out the names of all the people you’re disinheriting. What we are talking about is a holiday meal where the individuals seated around you are lifelong intimates, family, loved ones of enduring duration.  The idea of a strong family that is meeting estate planning goals and building an infrastructure that will connect family members for decades in celebration and difficulty remains paramount in my mind.   Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at The Feller Group, P.C. Contact the professionals at The Feller Group, P.C. today for more information. The Feller Group is a multi-disciplinary law practice specializing in elder law, estate planning and business advisement. This article was written by Alan D. Feller, Esq. Feller can be reached at 845-621- 8640, or visit thefellergroup.com.  Why Thanksgiving is perfect for estate planning discussion ALAN D. FELLER, ESQ. GUEST CORNER

Sports PAGE 20 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 1/31/24 $10.00 OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25% OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 1/31/24 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team earns All-State Status for MPVC varsity swim mollyATHLETE SPOTLIGHT mcgourty BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR Mahopac High School junior Molly McGourty started swimming at an age when most kids are just learning to walk without tipping over – and hasn’t stopped since. She began competing on the club level in elementary school before joining what is now the MPVC swim team as a high school freshman. Her performance this season, which earned her a spot in the New York State championships earlier this month, helped the Mahopac/Putnam Valley/Carmel varsity to its best-ever showing in the sectionals. “She accomplished an amazing goal of making it and being our first-ever swimmer at states,” said coach Erica Burlenski, who called Molly a team player willing to swim in any event where she’s needed. “I know next year her senior year will be one to watch and I have high hopes that she will make [the state championships] for a few events and will have some of her teammates there by her side.” We caught up with Molly to ask about her approach to swimming, school, and being teammates with her younger sister Megan. When did you start swimming and when did you know you were getting good? I started swimming competitively when I was 6 years old. I started lessons before I was 2 years old. What do you do to train?   Besides swimming for MPVC Varsity, I train year-round with my club team the Marlins out of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester in Mount Kisco. I do morning practices before school and after-school practices along with dryland training. How do you mentally get ready to compete? To prepare for meets is a process. My coaches build a training plan that includes initially high amounts of yardage to build our endurance and then closer to big meets, we taper down to lower yards and more intensive speed work. This also includes working on race details. I sleep a lot and eat a ton. Carbs and protein are very important. I do breath control meditation before races and stretching. For morning races I like eggs and toast and for afternoon/evening races turkey and avocado sandwiches. What’s it like to be part of the team and work with your teammates and coaches? I feel fortunate to have great coaches both in varsity swim with coach Erica Burlenski and assistant coach Emily Furfaro and for my club swim team the Marlins with coach Zachary Hojnacki. High school varsity has been a great experience the last three years. I’ve enjoyed spending time and training with girls who enjoy swimming just as much as me. What are your favorite school subjects or activities and what makes them interesting? Science and math are my favorite subjects and I’ve really enjoyed being part of the German program in Mahopac. What do you plan to do after high school? I plan on going to college and studying biology with a possible pre-med or PA track. I also plan on continuing to swim in college. How do you like to spend time when you’re not studying or training? My favorite thing to do outside of swimming is spending time with all my cousins and siblings. I have a large family and we are all very close. Of course [being with] my swim friends too. I enjoy away meets for swimming in states like Florida, Maryland, Arizona, and the Carolinas, to name a few. My favorite movies are “Caddyshack and the “Fast and Furious” series. My favorite after-practice sandwich is from Our Town Bagels and Bakery on Route 6. I enjoy skiing, hiking, and teaching learn-to-swim lessons at the Boys and Girls Club in Mount Kisco, giving back to a sport I love. What’s it like swimming in the same team as your sister [Mahopac High School freshman] Megan? Are you two competitive with each other? When we were younger we were very competitive because the races/events we were good at were similar. This has changed since we’ve gotten older and we’re happy to see each other do well. This swim season for varsity has been so much fun and it’s been great to see all the coverage we’ve gotten. I hope younger kids in Mahopac consider swimming as a sport and that the girls’ and boys’ varsity teams continue to grow and compete against the strongest varsity teams in Section 1. Mahopac HS junior Molly McGourty was MPVS’s first ever swimmer to make it to the New York State championships PHOTO COURTESY ERICA BURLENSKI

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 21 New York State has raised the age for unsupervised use of ATVs after Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a law cosponsored by State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Amy Paulin. The law raises the legal age for operating an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in New York State from 10 to 14 years old and changes existing law so that children under 16 operating an ATV now must be supervised by someone 18 years old or older. “Outdoor recreation should not come with a high risk of catastrophic injury,” said Harckham. “Our common-sense legislation to raise the age of ATV use from 10 to 14 years old while requiring safety courses will help eliminate potential accidents caused by use of vehicles that can travel as fast as an automobile.” In a press release announcing the new law, Harckham thanked Paulin “for her steadfast support” and Hochul for signing the bill into law.  “ATVs are very dangerous and it’s unbelievable that until now children as young as 10 years old, 4th graders, have been allowed to operate them legally in New York State,” Paulin addeds. “ATVs weigh hundreds of pounds and reach speeds of 70 miles per hour or more. Machines of this weight and speed are just not suitable for young children to operate, and we’ve seen many preventable tragedies as a result, including here in Westchester County. I’m grateful that Senator Harckham spearheaded the bill in the Senate, and that Governor Hochul has signed this legislation into law so that we can help prevent ATV-related accidents and deaths.” According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), operating off-highway vehicles (OHVs), including ATVs, involve real risks of overturning, collisions and occupant ejection. The CPSC’s latest  report, which tracks OHV accidents between 2016 and 2018, listed 2,211 fatalities—an annual average of more than 700 deaths and 100,000 injuries that required emergency department treatment. ATVs accounted for three-quarters of these fatalities and injuries.  New York is among the top 10 states with reported ATV accidents. According to the CPSC, there were 433 ATV-related deaths in New York between 1982 and 2012.   The CPSC advises that all ATV users get hands-on training from a qualified instructor and that operators under 16 drive only youth-sized ATV models. Article courtesy Senator Pete Harckham New state law raises legal age for ATV riders BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR For the Mahopac HS Cross Country team, 2023 was about building for the future. “Overall we had many newcomers this year,” said coach Kelly Posch. “So the focus of the year was positive experience and growth.” Posch said an influx of new runners bodes well for the girls’ team. “This team grew greatly in size this year and was incredibly young, made up of 75 percent freshmen,” she said. “We saw a lot of growth in experience and the future looks bright. Our lead runner was often freshman Nicole Machado. Sophomore newcomer Marley Melchner ran strongly with returning captain Sabrina Kenneally and freshmen Clara Sprague and Julia Houck consistently rounded out our scoring squad. The progress we saw from each of them leaves us excited for next season!” The boys’ team also featured a lot of newcomers, and many of the younger runners delivered when it mattered most. “Throughout the season we saw a lot of rookies step up to support our scoring spots,” Posch said. “The team was consistently led by freshman Brandon Kumrow, who placed 11th overall in the county championships, as the first freshman to cross the line. At the section championships, he placed 29th and was the fourth freshman to cross the line. Posch also highlighted “a solid season” by returning junior Liam McGuire – who lowered his overall personal best time at Bowdoin Park by over 2.5 minutes – and expects that trend to continue next fall. “We look to him to continue that trend next year as a senior leader,” said Posch, adding that three other runners made consistent progress throughout the season to give Mahopac its best performance of the season at the section championships. “Seniors Nicky Marks and Simeon Matute used their experience to close our scoring gap and newcomer Kelvin Cabrera made tremendous growth to finish the season as a consistent scorer.” Posch said, “We will need underclassmen to step up and fill Nicky’s and Simeon’s shoes next year and expect Kelvin to lead the way.” How young Mahopac runners stepped up CROSS COUNTRY SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! FEDERAL & STATE INCENTIVES UP TO 30% AVAILABLE! SUPER SAVINGS on your Heat Pump project while program funding lasts... 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PAGE 22 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 25% OFF ALL IN-STOCK OUTERWEAR, FLEECE & ACCESSORIES (Jackets, Snowpants, Thermals, Helmets, Hats, Gloves, Goggles and Socks) 20% OFF ALL IN-STOCK LACROSSE EQUIPMENT BLACK FRIDAY SALE 11/20-11/27 CLOSED THANKSGIVING 15% OFF ALL CURRENT MODEL HARD GOODS (Skis, Snowboards, Bindings, Boots, Poles) WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY. SALE IS ON IN-STOCK MERCHANDISE ONLY. DOES NOT APPLY TO CUSTOM OR SPECIAL ORDERS. NOT VALID ON SKI RENTALS. NOT VALID ON ALREADY MARKED DOWN ITEMS. Join our email list for MORE savings. BLACK FRIDAY ONLY POWER HOUR SALE 11/24 - 10am - Noon 30% OFF All In-Stock Outerwear, Fleece & Accessories 20% OFF Skis, Snowboards, Boots, Bindings & Poles 2918 Crompond Rd, Yorktown, NY 10598 sportsbarnyorktownny.com • (914) 245-1300 Dec. 12, 12 - 5 p.m.; Avalon Somers (Avalon Somers, 49 Clayton Blvd., Baldwin Place): Saturday, Dec. 16, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Pottery Show Hudson River Potters will hold a special two-day sale for the holidays at the Putnam Arts Council’s Belle Levine Center in Mahopac on Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participating potters will be on hand to answer questions and share their process and inspiration. Admission is free. Food Pantry The food pantry at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Parish Social Hall, 221 East Lake Boulevard in Mahopac. Call 845-628-2006 or visit sjtemahopac.org/events/ food-pantry/20231110 for more information. Mahopac Artist Shows ‘Variants’ Mahopac artist Janice A. Hyde will present “Variants,” a solo art show of assemblage and collage, during the month of November at Who’s Cooking, 14 Front St. in Croton Falls. Hours are 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, and 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturdays. There will be no opening reception. Book Barn Holiday Shopping Start your holiday shopping with $10 gift cards for sale at the Mahopac Public Library Book Barn. It’s redeemable for books in the lobby and the Book Barn. Other Book Barn special offers include “Buy One Get One Free” for children’s paperback books and James Patterson novels. Buy 10 or more books and receive one free book (excluding collectibles) or one free Book Barn tote bag. Hours are Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, 4 to 6:45 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Library Holiday Raffle The Friends of the Mahopac Public Library are sponsoring a holiday raffle. The winner will receive a basket of gourmet treats, including pasta, olive oil, soup mixes, sauces, and more, courtesy of LBI Oil and Vinegar. Purchase tickets at the Library front desk for $5.00 each. The drawing will take place on Sunday, Dec. 17. Proceeds support the programs and services of the Mahopac Public Library.  Putnam Chorale Holiday Concert The Putnam Chorale will perform “Holiday Fanfares: Music of John Rutter, Daniel Pinkham, and Gwyneth Walker” on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of Saint Joachim at 51 Leonard Street in Beacon, and again on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 83 Main Street, Brewster. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. The Chorale draws performers from throughout the region including Mahopac’s own Pat Miller, Joe Spallina, and Rebecca D’Ambrosio. For more information contact Nick Simonelli at 845-279-5099 or email [email protected]. Make it to Musings Mahopac Musings is always on the lookout for community events, and we often find them by accident. If you have a fundraiser, drive for donations, non-profit class or performance, meet-up, or anything you think your neighbors would like to know about, submit it to us at mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com with “musings” in the subject line. We can’t guarantee that every submission will get in but we’ll do our best. Learn to Save a Life The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services offers training in lifesaving skills from community professionals. Original and refresher basic life support (EMT) training is available. You can learn more and register for these courses at putnam countyny.com/life. For more information and directions, call 845-808-4000. Volunteer Drivers Needed Can you spare a little time to make a difference in the life of an older adult? RideConnect, a program of Family Services of Westchester, is an information, referral, and volunteer transportation program for adults ages 60-plus who can no longer drive. They seek volunteer drivers who are willing to provide occasional rides to older adult neighbors. These rides enable clients to remain active in their communities and to continue to lead fulfilling lives. Rides are typically to medical and dental appointments, grocery shopping, and other errands. Give the gift of mobility and independence. No minimum commitment. Match trips to your schedule. Rides can be set up by phone or online. Your family members, young and old, can ride along. For more information, go to rideconnectwestchester. org, call 914-242-7433, or email [email protected]. Visit Ride ConnectWestchester.org. Rental Arrears Help Volunteer residents of Putnam Progressives, in partnership with the Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, can help local tenants with rent debt, or in “rental arrears,” get money from New York’s ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program). These volunteers will be at the Gilead Presbyterian Church, 9 Church St., Carmel, 1-8 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 1-5 p.m. on Mondays. Renters from Putnam County are encouraged to come; volunteers can check your qualifications for money aid and apply you for rent relief. To be able to apply, bring papers that show your personal identity; rental amount; residency; income; and, if you have one, Social Security number. You can also apply for utility aid. If you want this, then also bring a utility bill. Questions? Call a rent relief volunteer at 817-382-7549. MUSINGS FROM PAGE 2 MAHOPAC MUSINGS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 LEISURE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 23 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. Nocturnal S. American rodent 5. Requesting 11. Give temporarily 12. Happiness 16. Military branch 17. -__, denotes past 18. Middle Eastern city 19. Air hostesses 24. Partner to Pa 25. Percussion instrument 26. Popular computers 27. Decrease light 28. Valley in the Osh Region 29. “To __ his own” 30. Absence of difficulty 31. Notice announcing intended marriage read out in church 33. Trims by cutting 34. Impact 38. Military member 39. A French river 40. Member of prehistoric people in Mexico 43. Messenger ribonucleic acid 44. Musician Clapton 45. Greek sophist 49. Largest English dictionary (abbr.) 50. Narrow valley 51. A way to disentangle 53. Indicates not an issue (abbr.) 54. Recommending 56. Genus of legumes 58. Friend to Larry and Curly 59. Off-Broadway theater award 60. Fencers 63. Small Eurasian deer 64. Denoting passerine birds 65. Separate by category CLUES DOWN 1. Colorless fluid part of blood 2. Of a main artery 3. Photographic equipment 4. Confirms a point 5. Developed over time 6. Not the leader 7. __ Lang (country singer) 8. Adults need one 9. Nests of pheasants 10. Antelopes 13. One quintillion bytes (abbr.) 14. Japanese threestringed lute 15. Type of cat 20. Cools your home 21. The ancient Egyptian sun god 22. Pouches 23. Trigraph 27. Form of Persian spoken in Afghanistan 29. __ route 30. Body part 31. Bridge building degree 32. Indicates position 33. Political action committee 34. Tasty snack 35. Part of a quadruped 36. Locate 37. Pitching statistic 38. Of I 40. City in Utah 41. Football players in the trenches 42. Hammer is one 44. A “nightmarish” street 45. Performers 46. Slang for cut or scrape 47. More breathable 48. Most slick 50. Provokes 51. Home to collegeÕs Flyers 52. Sodium 54. Large fish of mackerel family 55. Zero 57. __ and behold 61. The Palmetto State 62. Popular Tom Cruise movie franchise (abbr.) Scan Me! Now you can read all about Mahopac AND the region!

“Communities have some leverage with elected officials,” he said. “We talk with community leaders, just to bring awareness and not to slip it off. The people, you know, were taken away in the early morning, we’re talking about children, some of them age 9 months old, up to 85 years old. Sick people will need medication. And conditions [in Gaza] are horrible. [Hamas] is not like an organized army capable of taking care of them. No. They’re in some kind of tunnels that hardly have any air in them and are probably very wet. They don’t have any clothing on them, because they were all in pajamas.” Speaking at the Rotary luncheon, Rabbi Korer said the local community has been very supportive, displaying posters supporting the hostages. As for raising awareness, Naor said he’d heard from Congressman Mike Lawler, but preferred to focus on the local level. He has spoken to the congregation at Mahopac’s Temple Beth Shalom and plans to do the same in Yorktown. “I talk to the local people,” he said. “And that’s what I’m going to try to do – as much as I can.” NAOR FROM PAGE 7 Shaul Naor speaks to members the Lake Mahopac Rotary Club PHOTO: TABBY PEARSON MARSHALL PAGE 24 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 FACTORY TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF COMMERCIAL & HOMEOWNER POWER EQUIPMENT EAST ROAD MOTORS 58 CAROLAN RD. EAST CARMEL, NY 10512 www.EASTROADMOTORS.com 845-225-3503 PICK-UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE email: [email protected] * LEAF BLOWERS * LAWN MOWERS * STRING TRIMMERS * CHAIN SAWS * SNOWBLOWERS * GENERATORS * QUADS * SNOWMOBILES SERVICE & REPAIR 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) $15,000 GOBBLE GOBBLE CASH GIVEAWAY Win Your Share Of $15,000! Sunday, November 26 • 5pm Earn Entries All Month Long! 1st Place: $10,000 Cash 2nd – 6th Place: $1,000 Cash Newburgh, NY RWHudsonValleyNY.com I-84 Exit 36B | I-87 Exit 17 Earlier this week, County Executive Kevin Byrne and the Putnam County Legislature finalized the 2024 county budget, officially enacting multiple  tax  reductions, making new commitments to mental health services, investing record amounts in capital planning, and committing to responsible fiscal management. This budget comes amid continued financial stress on a national scale, as well as increased mandates and financial clawbacks from Albany.  The county’s final 2024 budget reduces the property tax rate to 2.85 percent, the lowest rate in 15 years, and represents an 8 percent reduction from the previous year’s rate of 3.12 percent. This is also the first county budget in 25 years to reduce the overall tax burden for residents; reducing the property tax levy and cutting sales tax over two years. Beginning in March of 2024,  sales  tax  on clothing and footwear under $110 will be eliminated. There is a sunset clause built in for the sales tax exemption after two years. During this period, Putnam County will evaluate the fiscal impact of the policy and will have the option to renew the tax cut in 2026.  “Identifying savings and passing on that savings to residents has been, and will continue to be, a hallmark of this administration,” said Byrne. “Together, with our partners in the Legislature, we’ve been able to capitalize on real opportunities to provide for a more affordable, accountable, and accessible government.” In addition to reducing the  tax  burden, the 2024 budget also provides for the expansion of mental health services for residents and continues to protect vulnerable populations by filling Medicaid gaps created by cuts from Albany. The Department of Mental Health, Social Services & Youth Bureau will hire a Director of Mental Health who will help strengthen the county’s relationship with providers such as CoveCare, play a critical role in overseeing a new Stabilization Center in Putnam County, while also serving as a resource for those in crisis and their families.    The adopted budget also includes a substantial investment in infrastructure by refocusing on the County budget includes tax cuts SEE TAX PAGE 26

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 25 Toys for Tots, a 75-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides year-round joy, comfort, and hope to less fortunate children across the Nation through the gift of a new toy or book. In Mahopac, Toys For Tots works with St Johns Chruch Food Pantry for distributions throughout the community.  Some of the largest supporters in Mahopac include the Mahopac Fall and Mahopac Volunteer Fire Departments and its Candy Cane Runs, Carmel Town Hall and Recreation Department, Mahopac Library, Mahopac American Legion Post 1080, Mahopac VFW Post 5491 and Mahopac Railroad Tie. Donations can be dropped off until December 15 and will all be distributed locally. The impact that the toys, books, and other gifts collected and distributed is extraordinary.  The gifts that are collected by Marines and volunteers during the holiday season, and those that are distributed beyond Christmastime, offer disadvantaged children recognition, confidence, and a positive memory for a lifetime. It is such experiences that help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. For over seven decades, the program has evolved and grown exponentially having delivered hope and the magic of Christmas to over 281 million less fortunate children. Now, in its 75th year, the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program also provides support year-round to families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus fulfilling the hopes and dreams of millions of less fortunate children Nationwide. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.   For more information, visit putnam-ny.toysfortots.org.  ‘Tis the season for Toys for Tots With post-Thanksgiving-dinner naps either in the immediate future or recent past, even those of us who complain about “Here Comes Santa Claus” playing in stores before Halloween are ready for some holiday spirit. Whether it’s donating to those less fortunate, volunteering, spending time with family, or simply hiding out from carolers, it’s hard to deny the cheer brought by holiday lights on the year’s shortest days. Pictured here is the Mahopac Chamber Park tree in all its glory from a couple of years ago. This year’s tree will be lit this Saturday (Nov. 25) at 5 p.m. Holidays come to light Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 from other accountants and tax preparers is our ability to work with you not just on taxes, but on financials, college planning, divorce, retirement planning, changes in life planning... We don’t just process tax forms, we advise on how to handle your income and expenses in the future with personalized recommendations. We help you navigate the tax code, and in the end, help you set sound financial goals. What separates us

PAGE 26 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Call to get your FREE Information Kit 1-855-225-1434 dental50plus.com/nypress Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255 DENTAL Insurance BOGO 40% OFF OFFER ENDS 1/31 Available at participating locations 888-448-0421 FOR SALE SNACK ROUTE Northern Westchester/ Putnam Weekly Sales $6000 For 3-1/2 Day Work Week Call Ross At Mr. Route | 516-785-6600 | mrrouteinc.com LEGAL NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received at the Office of the Town Clerk, Town of Carmel, 60 McAlpin Avenue, Mahopac, New York 10541, until 11:00 AM on December 1, 2023 at which time all bids will be publicly opened, read and recorded by the Town Clerk for the following: CONTRACT #C293 PURCHASE OF POLARIS RANGER XP 1000 PREMIUM FOR THE TOWN OF CARMEL POLICE DEPARTMENT All bidders must comply with Section 103(a) and 103(d) of the General Municipal Law relating to noncollusive bidding and waiver of immunity against criminal prosecution. Specifications may be obtained at the Office of the Town Clerk, at the above address, beginning November 22, 2023 between the hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Bid envelope shall be marked “BID” plus bid title and number. The Town Board of the Town of Carmel reserves the right to reject any and all bids and abandon the proposal or may reject all bids and re-advertise at a future date. By Order of the Town Board                                                                                                 of the Town of Carmel                                                                                                                                          Ann Spofford, Town Clerk NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Town Board of the Town of Carmel will conduct a Public Hearing on the Fire Protection Contracts and the Ambulance District Contracts for the year 2023, to be held on the 13th day of December, 2023 at the Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Avenue, Mahopac, New York at 7:00 p.m. or soon thereafter that evening as possible; said contracts to be advertised and posted as follows: Contractor                                                          Services                                                   Not to Exceed Mahopac Falls Volunteer                                   Fire Protection-Fire                               $915,500.00 Fire Department, Inc.                                         Protection Dist. #1 Mahopac Volunteer                                            Fire Protection-Fire                               $1,650,000.00 Fire Department, Inc.                                         Protection Dist. #2 Carmel Fire District &                                        Fire Protection-Fire                                $957,000.00 Carmel Fire Department, Inc                            Protection Dist. #3 Carmel Volunteer                                              Ambulance Service                                  $495,000.00 Ambulance Corps                                             Carmel Ambulance                                                                             District #1 North Salem Volunteer                                     Ambulance Services                               $13,500.00 Ambulance Corps                                             Carmel Ambulance                                                                             District #1 At said Public Hearing, all interested persons shall be heard on the subject thereof.  The Town Board will make every effort to assure that the Public Hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities.  Anyone requiring special assistance and/or reasonable accommodations should contact the Town Clerk. By Order of the Town Board of the Town of Carmel Ann Spofford, Town Clerk NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Town Board of the Town of Carmel, pursuant to Town Law Section 202-a will conduct a Public Hearing at the Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Avenue, Mahopac, New York on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM or as soon thereafter that evening as possible for the following purpose: To consider the 2024 Tentative Assessment Rolls of Carmel Sewer Districts #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 and extensions thereto as well as Carmel Water Districts #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #12, #13, #14 and extensions thereto as well as the Town of Carmel Garbage District BE IT FURTHER NOTICED, that the 2024 Tentative Assessment Rolls may be inspected at the Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Avenue, Mahopac, New York during normal business hours. At said Public Hearing, all interested persons shall be heard on the subject thereof. The Town Board will make every effort to assure that the Public Hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone requiring special assistance and/or reasonable accommodations should contact the Town Clerk. By Order of the Town Board of the Town of Carmel Ann Spofford, Town Clerk county charter-mandated six-year capital plan with an emphasis on making county facilities more accessible to the public, regardless of physical ability. This is part of the county’s renewed commitment to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY,” a movement to change the way government, businesses, and community think about and treat those individuals with disabilities.  All of this is achieved with no new borrowing, preserving the County’s AA1 bond rating; the second highest possible bond rating, and the highest rating of any county in New York. Due to interest rates being extremely high, the county is also exercising sound fiscal planning by utilizing funds from its capital reserve fund to support a number of larger-scale capital projects instead of bonding and paying more in the long run. “We have been trusted with a tremendous responsibility to manage the finances of this county during some extraordinary times,” Byrne said. “We will continue to demonstrate fiscal discipline, while also finding creative ways to provide all the essential services that our residents have come to rely on, and strengthening those services where necessary.” A number of moderate modifications were made by the County Legislature during the adoption process and approved by the County Executive. Those that the County Executive believed were inappropriate were vetoed. Visit putnamcounty.org for more information Article courtesy Putnam County Executive’s Office TAX FROM PAGE 24 Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774.

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PAGE 28 – MAHOPAC NEWS LEGAL NOTICES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774. Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. 72-76 Cold Spring, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/19/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to PO Box 630, Garrison, NY 10524. General Purpose 263 North Brewster Rd. LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/30/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to John Browne, 31 Pan Road, Patterson, NY 12563. General Purpose Shirosan Consulting LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/24/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to William J. White, 22 Fireside Ct, Patterson, NY 12563. General Purpose   H&W Rodriguez Shipping LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 6/23/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Claudia R. Rodriguez, 11 Orchard Rd, Putnam Valley, NY 10579. General Purpose  Notice of Formation of Attune Embody Psychotherapy LCSW PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-03-08. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Karalyn Violeta LCSW: 12 Main St #1082 Brewster NY 10509. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Davis PowerSports LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 07-13. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Robert Lee Davis: 9 Center Drive   Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of LaViola NY Holdings LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 10/11/23. Office location: Putnam County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 19 Cove Rd., Rhinebeck, NY 12572. Purpose: any lawful activity. Notice of Formation of Hello Moment LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 09-24. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Hello Moment LLC: 47 Sunset Hill Rd Putnam Valley NY 10579. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of MWBH LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 10/12/2023. Office location: Putnam SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 15 LAKE CELESTE DR, GARRISON, NY 10524. Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of Love and Anger Clothing and Kitsch LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-06-01. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Karalyn Violeta: 12 Main Street # 1082 Brewster NY 10509. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of M. Spano LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-07-31. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Michael N. Spano: 91 Lake Drive Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose UPDATED Halston Media fillers 12/31/20 (new*NOTE: when putting these into place, please take hyphenation off web and/or email addresses. thanks! Mahopac News To advertise in Mahopac News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@halstonmedia. com. Advertise With Us When you advertise with Mahopac News, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout Mahopac, Mahopac Falls and portions of Carmel. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Contact Us Mahopac News is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 845-208- 0774 or email mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com. Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and opeds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Mahopac News need to be a highresolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 845- 208-0774. LEGAL NOTICE By the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Carmel pursuant to Section 267 Town Law, notice is hereby given that a hearing will be held on: NOVEMBER 30, 2023 – 7:30 P.M. To hear the following applications: HOLD OVER APPLICATIONS: 1. Application of ROBERT ALTERO for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to retain gazebo and legalize room above garage.  The property is located at 3 Curry Spur, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #53.12-1-17 Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 10’ rear (gazebo) 2’ 8’ 25’ front (garage) 0’ (over property line. Easement agreement needed.) 25’ 2. Application of BORE COTAJ for an Interpretation of Section 156-15.  Applicant owns the parcel upon which the temporary dock is located and a parcel improved by at least one residential dwelling unit which is directly across the street but separated by a road (i.e. East Lake Blvd.).  Applicant seeks an Interpretation that the intent of the statute (i.e. a dock when not located on a parcel improved by at least one residential unit) is met under the circumstances set forth herein or, in the alternative, the following area variances (table below).  The property is located at 148 East Lake Blvd., Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #76.30-1-5. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required Dock: Lake frontage 50’ 6.25’ 43.75’ Minimum Area 3,000 sf 280 sf 2,720 sf 3. Application of PATRICK KOHLMAN for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to add steps to deck & shed.  The property is located at 26 Summit Circle Drive, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #87.9-1-33. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 30’ Rear – Deck 1.1’ 28.9’ 40’ Front – Shed 13’ 27’ Shed Front 10’ Side – Shed 1.5’ 8.5’ Shed Rear 4’ Front – Fence 6’ 2’ NEW APPLICATIONS: 4. Application of WILLIAM & DEBORAH SHILLING for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to build shed.  The property is located at 37 Kirk Lake Drive, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #64.11-1-16. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 8’ x 10’ Shed:  10’ side  2’ 8’ 5. Application of PATRICIA & GARY SAVITZKY for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to remove 3-car garage & replace with 2-car garage.  The property is located at 22 Averill Drive, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #64.12-2-8. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 10’ side 5’ 5’ 10’ rear 4’ 6’ SEE LEGALS PAGE 29

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 29 LEGALS FROM PAGE 28 6. Application of MARK VUSHAJ for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to extend my current deck 2 feet closer to my rear property line.  The property is located at 144 See Avenue, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #76.30-1-51. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 20’ rear  18’ 2’ 7. Application of SALVATORE MAZZUOCCOLO for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to construct pre-fab shed.  The property is located at 8 Topland Road, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #74.42-1-10. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 10’ side 3’ 7’ 8. Application of ANDREW SABO for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to construct new 144 s.f. dining room addition to existing dwelling.  The property is located at 40 Bloomer Road, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #75.20-1-14. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 20’ side yard setback 13’ 7’ 9. Application of CARMEL TERMINALS for a Variation of Section 156-11 seeking a Variance for permission to construct the project per the enclosed plans within the required front and rear yard setbacks; vary the requirement for a minimum of 200’ of lot depth.  The property is located at 79 Old Route 6, Carmel NY and is known as Tax Map #55.11-1-23. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required Front Yard Setback:  40’ required 25’ 15’ Rear Yard Setback:  30’ required 24’ 6’ Lot Depth:  200’ required 144’ 56’ By Order of the Chairman,   John Maxwell LEGAL NOTICE OF ESTOPPEL The bond resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on November 15, 2023, and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which the Town of Carmel, Putnam County, New York, is not authorized to expend money, or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the date of publication of this notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the Constitution. A complete copy of the resolution summarized herewith is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Office of the Town Clerk for a period of twenty days from the date of publication of this Notice. Dated: Carmel, New York,             November 16, 2023.                           /s/ Ann Spofford Town Clerk BOND RESOLUTION DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2023. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $212,000 BONDS OF THE TOWN OF CARMEL, PUTNAM COUNTY, NEW YORK, TO PAY PRELIMINARY PLANNING COSTS FOR A LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY IN THE TOWN’S WATER DISTRICTS, IN AND FOR SAID TOWN. Specific object or purpose:                          Preliminary planning expenses for a lead service line                                                                          in the Town’s water districts Period of probable usefulness:                    5 years Maximum estimated cost:                            $212,000 Amount of obligations to be issued:            $212,000 bonds SEQRA status:                                              Type II Action NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH ROOFING | SIDING | WINDOWS | DOORS & MORE! Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 888-254-6006 or visit NYProgramFunding.net NEED HELP WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIRS? WE MATCH YOU WITH FUNDING YOU CAN AFFORD. ...but it won’t last! Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are first come, first serve. ACT NOW! One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. alone I’m never Life Alert® is always here for me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! ® Help at Home with GPS! Help On-the-Go For a FREE brochure call: 1-800-404-9776 Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES Batteries Never Need Charging. Your ad could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. Contact Us Mahopac News is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected].

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 31 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 Mahopac News YES, I really enjoy Mahopac News 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 The Katonah-Lewisboro times Augie’s Prime Cut, a steakhouse in Northern Westchester, is excited to announce a significant rebranding as it approaches its 15th anniversary. The restaurant is now called Augie’s Prime Italian, combining the best of the Augie’s experience with an Italian flair.  “Augie’s has always been about delivering exceptional dining experiences—and that’s exactly what we’ll continue to do with this evolution to Augie’s Prime Italian,” said owner Audrey Hochroth. “As we reach this milestone of 15 years in business, we believe it’s the perfect time to reinvent ourselves and offer something new while preserving the heart and soul of Augie’s.” Since opening its doors in 2009, Augie’s has become a staple in the Northern Westchester dining scene, renowned for its handcut steaks, seafood and commitment to quality. As the restaurant enters its 15th year of operation, it is embracing change while preserving the essence of what has made Augie’s so beloved among patrons. Augie’s Prime Italian will live up to its namesake, offering an enticing array of Italian-inspired dishes with a special section dedicated to homemade pastas and flatbreads. The menu will showcase the richness and diversity of Italian cuisine while incorporating elements of modern American culinary innovation. Popular antipasti include beef carpaccio and spicy salmon tartare; entrees range from veal chop alla parmigiana, Berkshire pork chop Italiano and grilled branzino. Previous staples that guests have come to love will remain on the menu, including the USDA prime, hand-cut filet mignon, porterhouse for two served on a sizzling platter and colossal shrimp cocktail. In addition to the revamped menu, Augie’s Prime Italian will continue to offer its popular happy hour specials, now featuring Italian-inspired additions. Guests can expect an expanded selection of handcrafted cocktails, fine wines and craft beers to complement the dining experience. The restaurant hopes its loyal patrons, local food enthusiasts and newcomers will join in this exciting transition. For more information, go to augiesprimeitalian.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest hours and daily specials. Augie’s Prime Italian is located at 3436 Lexington Ave., in Mohegan Lake. Popular steakhouse adds Italian cuisine to repertoire Rebranded restaurant changes its name to Augie’s Prime Italian Honey Do Men Home Remodeling & Repair has been bestowed with the esteemed Best of Houzz 2023 Award in the Customer Service category by Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. Houzz®, a pioneer in the home improvement industry with its comprehensive software solution for professionals, annually recognizes companies that stand out in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. As a community of over three million active professionals in the home building, remodeling, and design industry, Houzz community members select the winners of these prestigious awards. Honey Do Men Home Remodeling & Repair has achieved recognition based on a host of factors, including the company’s outstanding overall rating on Houzz and rave client reviews received throughout 2022. This award honors professionals who demonstrate superior commitment to their clients and are recognized by their clients for delivering exceptional service. The Best of Houzz 2023 badge is more than just an award. It’s a testament to a company’s dedication to excellence, appearing prominently on the winner’s profiles. This coveted badge assists the Houzz community of over 65 million homeowners and home design aficionados in identifying top-rated home professionals to entrust with their projects. Darrell Babboni, founder, president, and CEO of Honey Do Men Home Remodeling & Repair, shared his thoughts on the honor, saying, “We are truly humbled and delighted to be awarded the Best of Houzz 2023 in Customer Service. This award validates our team’s steadfast commitment to delivering superior quality service to our valued customers. We deeply appreciate the recognition from the Houzz community, and we will continue to strive for excellence in serving our clients.” In the competitive world of home remodeling and design, being recognized by Houzz in their annual Best of Houzz awards is an exceptional accomplishment. The award not only highlights Honey Do Men Home Remodeling & Repair’s dedication to customer service, but also sets the benchmark for others in the industry. Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing an all-in-one software solution for industry professionals and tools for homeowners to update their homes from start to finish. Honey Do Men Home Remodeling & Repair is a trailblazer in the home improvement sector, offering a comprehensive suite of services that cover a broad spectrum of home repair and improvement needs, including specialized gutters, roofing and handyman services. With a highly dedicated team of professionals, this esteemed company ensures the use of the finest materials available on the market, partnering exclusively with top-tier contractors and installers. Honey Do receives 2023 ‘Best of Houzz Award’

PAGE 32 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023