John Meeker Jr. takes the helm of the SVFD VOL. 13 NO. 15 THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 26 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 2 LEGAL NOTICES 26 LEISURE 18 OPINION 8 SPORTS 16 Saturday in the Park pg 14 CONCERT Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Hail to Somers’ latest fire chief. John Meeker Jr. took on the new role – well, not so new; he headed the department from 2010 to 2011 – in May. His predecessor, Jon Mackey, was chief for three terms. Greg Lucia remains first assistant chief. Meeker joined the Somers Volunteer Fire Department in 2001. Prior to that, he was a firefighter in Carmel for eight years. A New Jersey native, Meeker and his family moved to Somers when he was in the sixth grade. He graduated from Somers High School in 1982. After getting married, he and his wife, Gail, lived in Oregon for a bit before coming back East and settling in Carmel. Wanting to get involved in the community, Meeker found that the local fire department was, he said, “a good fit.” His wife became a member of its Ladies Auxiliary. They had three children – two girls and a boy, now all in their twenties. Looking for a bigger house, the couple returned to Somers and Meeker joined the SVFD. Busy with the kids, his wife gave up her auxiliary duties. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve others. Some of the personal perks? “It lets me play with things that I can’t afford to play with, you know, the big equipment, and it keeps me in touch with the community,” he said, smiling. Meeker, who has a background in civil engineering, owns and operates Fireglow Distributors Inc., a 55-year-old business that sells and services wood, pellet, and gas stoves. When not running the business or fighting fires, Meeker likes to explore the backroads on his motorcycle. (He belongs to the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club, which promotes a positive image of motorcycling and promotes camaraderie among firefighters, both active and retired.) He also skis and hikes. “Of course, I’m getting older, so all these things are getting harder to do,” he admits. “My main hobby has been the fire department.” VOLUNTEERS ARE VITAL Meeker recently sat down with the Somers Record to share his thoughts on topics ranging from the importance of public participation to the future of the SVFD’s aging facilities. According to a recent report released by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, 93 percent of New York’s 1,604 fire departments are volunteer-based. That means that, in order to have the same coverage, the state would have to hire 31,058 full-time paid firefighters, the report said. Whether paid or unpaid, these courageous men and women are asked daily to risk their lives to help keep their communities safe. HAIL TO THE CHIEF! PHOTO: CAROL REIF SEE MEEKER PAGE 6 Meeker had previously headed the department in 2010. SellYour Home for TOP DOLLAR with Somers’ Real Estate Specialist Visit: SomersHouseValues.com or Email: [email protected] Michael Trinchitella Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker FREE Home Evaluation Anytime — No Cost or Obligation Call 914.243.3051 SomersHouseValues.com CLASSIC REALTY
PAGE 2 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Emile Menasche Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Somers Record The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request The Somers Record 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 Somers, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Somers Record at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 (ISSN 2330-1597) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC 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! In the article “Celebrating our scholars!” ( July 6, page 3), the list of recipients of the Somers Lions Club Scholarship should have read: Kiera Goff, Emma Sledzik, Aleksiana Rukaj, Alexis Aakjar, Jay Wilkinson, and Taylor Morrisey. We apologize for the error. CORRECTION A number of Somers students have been honored for their academic achievements at colleges across the country! Provost’s List SUNY ONEONTA Erin Clark Eric Halper Sydney Kahn Dean’s List EMERSON COLLEGE Jadon Silva SUNY ONEONTA Sage Cheung Anthony Foglia Max Grell UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA Jonathan Barakat Amanda Randazzo Celebrating our scholars! Light for Lyme Sunday, July 16, from 12 to 3 p.m. Take family portraits to raise money and awareness for tick borne diseases. Stop by for photos, kids’ crafts, and a mini art shop with all proceeds benefiting The Lyme Treatment Foundation. $20 per family. To be held at Railyard Arts Studio, 621 NY-22 in Croton Falls. Saturdays in the Parks Concert Series Presented by Somers Parks & Rec. and Somers Historical Society. Concerts begin at 5 p.m. and are free! Bring a blanket, lawn chair, and picnic dinner. Please leave alcoholic beverages and pets at home (they are prohibited in Somers parks.) For up to the minute information, visit Somers Historical Society’s Facebook and Instagram page. For general information, call 914-232-8441 or email somers [email protected]. July 15 - 20th Annual Woody Guthrie Birthday Hootenanny with Scott Urgola & Friends (Mt. Zion Church) July 22 - Mike Burns & Highway 53 (Mt. Zion Church) Aug. 5 - Dave Powers (Reis Park Stage) Aug. 12 - The Independence (Reis Park Stage) The Somers Library Please register using the online calendar at www.somerslibrary. org to have access to online meetings. If virtual, you will receive an invitation prior to the start of the program. Programs are supported by the Friends of the Somers Library through patrons’ generous contributions. STUFFED ANIMAL SLEEPOVER Tuesday, July 18, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Come in your pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal. Everyone will share some stories ELEPHANT’S TRUNK SEE TRUNK PAGE 7
Schading’s guide dog Keith gives her some encouragement. Your Neighbor THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE A couple of times each week, Mount Kisco resident Audrey Schading heads out the door and walks to nearby Club Pilates for her workout. Schading is 70 years old. But that’s not what makes this story so extraordinary. Schading is also blind. Her guide dog, a German shepherd named Keith, helps her find her way to the gym and then dutifully stands by as she goes through her routines. For those unfamiliar, Pilates is performed on specially designed apparatus, including a bed-like structure called a reformer, or more simply on a mat or blanket. Pilates focuses more on improving muscle tone than building muscles, but the result is similar: greater stability and endurance. It’s a favored workout for amateur and professional athletes because it can reduce the likelihood of injury. “I had done Pilates before, but many years ago,” Schading said. “I wanted to get back and didn’t know where or how.” Schading said not every gym is willing to take on a blind client. “I made a phone call and put it on the table,” she said. “Sometimes they’re welcoming, sometimes nervous. But [Club Pilates] called me back and said they had an instructor. It was the perfect synergy.” Trainer Trish Formisano said the manager of the club approached her about taking Schading on as a client. “She said she had the perfect client for me,” Formisano said. “She told me she is blind and wants to take Pilates, and the owner was fine with it. We did a test where I closed my eyes to see how it would work. It sounds silly, but I jumped right in and said let’s do it. I like challenges.” Schading said she was familiar with how Pilates works, having done it before, but was worried if she’d still be able to pull it off. “I was concerned with how it would work,” she said. “But I was familiar with it and all the memories came back and we were able to start right away. It took a few minutes to get acclimated. When something new was involved, Trish was super helpful with it. She would say, this is how we are going to do it and she would walk me through it. She would explain what it would feel like. She gradually built the whole thing.” Schading’s sessions started doing her workouts once a week and then increased the frequency to twice a week. “We’ve been in sync since,” Schading said. “[Formisano] knows what I can do and what I am ready to do.” Formisano said she and Schading “have very good chemistry and became fast friends.” “We enjoy each other’s company,” she said. “We came up with our own language to work through this. People with sight have trouble with [Pilates] but Audrey does it and I push her because I know she can do it. I have to find ways to explain to her what to do. She knows now where the machine is located and how to get to it.” Schading, who’s been blind since birth, is a retired teacher, though she still teaches brail and adaptive technology part-time to impaired adults. She also teaches English as a second language. “I love the work,” she said. Schading has two grown children and six grandchildren. She has been with her “significant partner,” Rich Laine, for 13 years. She said they’ve all been supportive of her Pilates endeavors. “They’re proud and Rich is always encouraging,” she said. “My daughter is an enthusiastic person, and she has done Pilates. Now, she’s a Peloton girl.” Formisano said she is impressed with what Schading has been able to accomplish thus far. “I don’t know if it would be for everyone. You need a certain type of personality,” she said. “You have to be calm and patient and interested. I was intrigued and wanted to make it work, so maybe there was a little vanity. But I got a lovely person, so it was a win/win for me.” Schading said she wanted to tell her story in hopes of inspiring visually impaired people that they can not only survive with their disability, but they can thrive as well. “It can be a challenge for some to even get out the door,” she said. “People are afraid of blindness, even today it is true. But Pilates is very doable. It is such a good means of self-care and if you have a way of doing it, you need to try and see how beneficial it is. You need the right person and the right circumstances. Everyone has to gauge it for themselves.” Audrey Schading Blind Westchester woman says Pilates is perfect for self-care PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRISH FORMISANO Schading works out on the reformer. ‘People with sight have trouble with [Pilates] but Audrey does it...’ -Trish Formisano Trainer Audrey Schading, right, with her trainer Trish Formisano PHOTO COURTESY OF MONICA MCSWEENEY FLOODS Can Happen TO ANYONE! Contact Us for Info on Flood Insurance HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com
PAGE 4 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 Source: OKMLS, 1/1/22-12/31/22, total dollar volume of single family homes and condominiums sold by Agent, Somers school district AGENT IN SOMERS & HERITAGE HILLS DONNA O’CONNELL Associate Real Estate Broker M 914.263.9108 O 914.277.8040 Ext. 334 [email protected] donnaoconnell.houlihanlawrence.com SOMERS BROKERAGE 104 VILLAGE SQUARE, SOMERS, NY 10589 As we head into the spring market, it’s a great time to list your home or condo. I would be happy to provide you with a complimentary market analysis. With over twenty-five years of real estate experience and an unmatched devotion to each client, I make the transaction process easy. Sellers are receiving multiple offers for their properties! Thinking about selling your home or condo? I can help! BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Two county officials announced last week that they are seeking the ouster of Somers resident Richard Leaf from the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame. Leaf, once beloved as “The Voice of the County Center,” pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in White Plains before Judge Philip Halpern last month to one federal count of receiving and possessing child pornography. He faces between five and 20 years in prison when sentenced in January. As the announcer of the Section 1 basketball championships, the now 75-year-old was a fixture in the high school sports world. After the retired Harrison middle school teacher was inducted in the Hall of Fame, Somers declared Nov. 10, 2017 as Richard Leaf Day. He was arrested in 2021 and charged by the FBI with having multiple pornographic images of children on his computer. At the time, he claimed his computer had been “hacked,” according to one media report. County Executive George Latimer opened his weekly press briefing on Wednesday, July 5, by somberly announcing that he and Vedat Gashi of Yorktown, chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, had to “mention something that’s rather serious.” He opened his remarks on a positive note. Established in 1968, the Hall of Fame “has been dedicated to celebrating over 200 remarkable individuals who have achieved greatness in their respective fields and made significant contributions to sports here in Westchester County,” Latimer said, emphasizing that it “not only acknowledges their athletic accomplishments, but also values their positive impact on society, considering them influential role models, particularly to young people.” “However, recent events have cast a shadow over the reputation of one inductee, Rich Leaf, following his recent guilty plea to a federal pornography charge,” he added. Gashi then stepped to the podium to announce that “in light of that, we have respectfully requested that the Hall of Fame Committee take immediate action to remove Rich Leaf from the Sports Hall of Fame.” “By doing so, I believe that we send a clear message that our organization is committed to the safety and well-being of the community and that we won’t tolerate any actions that compromise the trust and respect that we’ve earned over the years,” the District 4 legislator said. “We believe in the importance of accountability and believe that in taking swift and decisive action in this matter the Hall of Fame will uphold its mission of honoring both the sports community and our wider community.” Gashi thanked Latimer “for his initiative on this important matter.” Latimer pointed out Wednesday that asking for someone’s removal is “an unusual step for us to take,” but one that he and Gashi feel “is the right thing to do.” “It’s important to note that Mr. Leaf has not just been accused of an action, but he has pled guilty to that action, that of child pornography. A crime is a crime of various sorts, but some are particularly heinous, and whenever we’re dealing with an individual in a position of trust and faith that has committed a crime in that general direction, we feel the need to act quickly,” he explained. A letter reiterating that stand was signed by Latimer and Gashi, dated Wednesday, July 5, and sent to the Sports Hall of Fame Committee, which makes the ultimate decision. Leaf is in the hands of the criminal justice system and he will have to make whatever restitution the system determines is appropriate, Latimer said at the briefing. “We here in Westchester County want everyone to understand that we’re not going to uphold individuals who’ve committed, and admitted to, certain types of crimes,” he added, calling it “a clear statement of public policy.” FALL FROM GRACE In a 2021 announcement released by the Department of Justice and made by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, Leaf was alleged to “have engaged in deeply disturbing sexual communications in minors and being in possession of child pornography.” According to the federal complaint, he had posed as a teenager called “Alex Bronson” between March 2019 and April 2020 in order to communicate via Skype with a minor. “Alex Bronson” was depicted as a teenage boy with “midlength surfer-style blonde and brown hair with what appears to be the ocean and beach in the background,” it said, adding that Leaf believed that the person he was communicating with was 15. He told other recipients of his Skype messages that he was either 18 or 23 years old, the DOJ said. The DOJ listed the various usernames Leaf is alleged to have used “to engage with under-aged victims.” The complaint alleges that Leaf created fictitious accounts on Chat Avenue, an online chatroom, as well as Skype. The usernames of some of Leaf ’s fictitious accounts include: Alex Bronson, sportsboi.15, alex15, 15brandon, Westchester sports fixture pleads guilty to child pornography charges SEE LEAF PAGE 7
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 From aching joints to scoring points, the right orthopedic care makes all the difference Expert orthopedic care is now available at WPHPA of Somers. WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL IS A MEMBER OF THE MONTEFIORE HEALTH SYSTEM To schedule an appointment, visit wphpa.org/somers or call 914-849-7075. At WPHPA of Somers, patients can benefit from a comprehensive range of orthopedic care. From wellness and prevention, to the latest in treatments and surgical procedures, expert specialists are here to care for you. Steven M. Andelman, MD Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery Nicole Solomos, DO Sports Medicine, Lifestyle & Family Medicine BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER In response to heavy rainfall overnight and subsequent severe flooding, officials in nearby Yorktown declared a State of Emergency in the early hours of July 10. Later that morning, Yorktown officials, YPD Chief Robert Noble, Congressman Mike Lawler, County Legislator Vedat Gashi, Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, and Assemblyman Matt Slater gathered for a press conference at Yorktown Town Hall to discuss the situation. They also discussed the steps necessary to work through the declaration to receive assistance from the government and possibly the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “I am declaring a State of Emergency for the town of Yorktown,” said Town Supervisor Tom Diana. “It got so bad to the point where the Mohegan Fire Department lost a firetruck trying to respond to a scene and it was compromised by the high water on one of the roadways.” Storm damage included washouts on numerous roads, boulders being thrown onto the road causing cars to hit them, streams overflowing, and homes being flooded, according to Diana. The flooded homes had to have their electric meters removed to prevent electrical currents from potentially causing harm. Diana added that a dive team had to go into Hunter Brook to pull out a car on Sunday night. As of Monday morning, road closures included Route 6N between Perry Street and Wood Street; East Main Street between Pine Court and Barger Street; and Old Crompond Road between Linette Court and Mill Pond Road. Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble described challenges being faced in roadways and abandoned vehicles, explaining that the department was working alongside Yorktown Autobody to remove six abandoned vehicles. “Patience and good judgment are the operation today,” said Noble. “Yorktown’s been through this in the past, it’s no surprise. We’ve had a lot of things thrown our way. We’ll get through it. Patience, and let our people do their work so that you go about your day safely as soon as we can make that happen.” “As the water recedes, I’m sure we’re going to find more damage,” said Supervisor Diana. “There are roads washed out all over the place, so we advise everyone to use caution when they drive. Do not drive into standing water because you don’t know how deep it might be.” Gashi said that the county will take whatever necessary steps are needed at the county level in the declaration. “In an all-hands-on-deck situation, we are happy to be a partner and happy to be of whatever assistance we can,” said Gashi. Levenberg said that the first step in the declaration process is to assess the lost assets to figure out the aid needed from the government. Slater said that on Monday, he and Diana had been on the phone since dawn to figure out adjustments and assets. He and Levenberg have both been in touch with the governor’s office, along with the necessary state agencies. Congressman Lawler spoke on the damage throughout the region, including a number of missing persons and one reported fatality in Orange County. He also explained that the first step is for the counties and municipalities to declare States of Emergency, so that the state and the federal government can work together to make sure necessary resources are available. Lawler said that Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for Ontario and Orange Counties on Sunday, and he called on the Governor to declare one for Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties as well. Storm leaves Yorktown flooded PHOTOS COURTESY OF YORKTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT JV Mall (lower)
Meanwhile, national statistics show that the number of emergency calls have tripled since the 1980s. Somers’s situation reflects these trends. In 2022, the SVFD responded to approximately 2,800 calls, the bulk of which were related to medical emergencies. (Over the last 20 years, SVFD’s fire calls have risen from 400 to 600 annually, while EMS calls nearly quadrupled, going from 600 to 2,200.) Why? “It’s the nature of our society. The people who are moving up here expect EMS and a lot don’t even realize we’re a volunteer fire department,” Meeker said, noting that the department’s EMS “is supplemented by a paid crew, which allows us to almost be selfsufficient.” Who pays for that crew? The fire district contracts with Westchester EMS, which has four “fly cars” located in the north portion of the county. One of those “pretty much sits” at the Lincolndale firehouse. “It’s not unusual for us to have three or four of those cars on a not-so-great day,” Meeker said. The SVFD’s normal membership is anywhere from 80 to 120, including the under-18 probationary folks, said Meeker, noting that the department’s never had more than 120 members at a time. The roll now vacillates between 80 and 90. The ranks are beginning to fill out now that COVID “has more or less passed,” he said, adding that the department’s been attracting 10 to 15 new members a year, “in batches of two or five.” “For our area, we could handle a lot more members,” he added. SVFD volunteers are trained in BLS (Basic Life Saving) techniques such as CPR and the use of defibrillators. They can transport people to the hospital. Certified EMTs can administer oxygen and take pulses. Paramedics, on the other hand, are more highly trained in Advanced Life Saving procedures such as providing oral and intravenous medication and performing tracheotomies. ALS means that hospital-level treatment can start immediately, effectively “saving a life right there at the scene,” Meeker said. The town contracts with Westchester Emergency Medical Services for paramedics for the SVFD. WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE The chief pointed out that the fire district covers numerous waterways, including the Muscoot and Amawalk reservoirs, and Lake Lincolndale, Lake Shenorock, and Lake Purdys, where residents and visitors like to boat, fish, and swim. (About 8 percent of Somers’s 32 square miles is water.) According to Meeker, first responders have handled emergencies such as planes and cars plunging into the water, overturned boats, and people falling through the ice. Until recently, it only had three small “jon boats” that were given to it by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The flat-bottomed, aluminum vessels barely hold two people, aren’t designed to allow rescuers to easily haul victims aboard, and aren’t very fast, which isn’t good when time is of the essence. In January, then-chief Mackey applied to the Somers Women’s Club for funding for an inflatable search and rescue boat. The organization responded by donating $4,500, which the SVFD put towards an INMAR SAR 380 Mehler. The district then used its own funds to buy an outboard motor, fuel tank, life jackets, and other related equipment. The total bill was close to $8,900. The inflatable craft is 12 feet six inches long, weighs 220 pounds, and can hold six people. It was unveiled earlier this month at the Lincolndale firehouse. STRATEGIES, LOGISTICS At 32 square miles, Somers has one of the largest fire districts in the region. Its four firehouses are located in Lincolndale, Granite Springs, Amawalk, and in Somers proper near the intersection of Routes 202 and 100. All the structures but Lincolndale’s are small and, typically, have two fire vehicles. Lincolndale has three, plus ambulances. Noting that because there’s no “direct path” through town, it can take “15 minutes to get from one side of Somers to the other,” according to Meeker. Those strategic locations give first responders a better chance of getting to the scene quicker. “Somers had that mapped out early on,” he said. Each firehouse has its own vibe. Lincolndale is fondly called “The Swamp” because the spot where it was built was marshy. Somers is known as “Heritage Hose,” probably because of its proximity to Heritage Hills, a sprawling condo development. Granite Springs is “The Big House,” because that’s where the department’s first radio equipment was kept. Amawalk, where firefighters do most of their classroom training, is “The School House.” It sits on the site of a former schoolhouse. Seniors and Boy Scouts meet there and the department also rents out space for special events. COMMITMENT, ADVANTAGES In New York, you have to be at least 18 years of age to become a full-fledged firefighter. Somers, like many fire departments, does allow volunteers to begin training and preparation work at 16. PAGE 6 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 PHOTO: CAROL REIF Meeker accepting a donation from the Somers Women’s Club earlier this year. MEEKER FROM PAGE 1 SEE MEEKER PAGE 17 Coming Soon! A gift shop born out of love for hand crafted + quality goods 2 Old Tomahawk St. Suite 5 (Near Barnwood Grill/Traditions) Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 4 Heritage Hills Plaza, 202 Ctr. • Somers, NY 10589 914-277-4222 • www.somerssmiles.com A new generation of family dentistry Jackie’s back!
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 7 We follow strict CDC guidelines. We pledge to keep everyone safe! •Precision Cuts • Sets • High-End Color • Highlights • Perms • Blow-Dry • Facial Waxing (914) 232-7070 Hours: Tues • Wed • Fri 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Thurs 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Sat 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Time for Summer Fun! Enjoy the Summer Season and Look your Best! Brewster Brewster, , NY an NY and d Bethel, C Bethel, CT T Design Centers Design Centers On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! 845-278-0070 845-278-0070 Southeastkitchenan Southeastkitchenandbdbath.com ath.com Celebrating 50 years and songs together and then tuck our stuffed animals in for the night. Return the next day and see pictures of what your pets got up to in the night! Children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult. HENNA TATTOOS FOR ADULTS AND TEENS Thursday, July 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Henna tattooing is an ancient female art form (everyone is welcome!) using natural materials that last 1-2 weeks. Margie from Making Faces is going to talk about the history of henna art, safe henna and then you can get your own tattoo. She will also show how you can do your own henna tattooing at home. This program is for adults and teens Gr. 6-12. (VIRTUAL) AUTHOR TALK: “ONCE WE WERE HOME” Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m. Join in for a book discussion with author Jennifer Rosner as she discusses her latest book. Publishers Weekly calls it “An engrossing story inspired by the postwar lives of Jewish children who were hidden during the war. Fans of Jewish historical fiction will be moved.” (VIRTUAL) RAPTORS FOR ROOKIES Thursday, July 20, from 7 to 8 p.m. Presented by the Saw Mill River Audubon Executive Director zach.914, runnerboi.14, austinf19. sportsgirl.914, brandon.williams.23, dan.dan77771, beachsand.7, and Austin A. Those who believe they’d been in contact with Leaf were asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or reach authorities online at tips.fbi.gov As the case was unfolding, FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney urged parents to look at the fake accounts and talk to their kids to see if they’ve been in contact with Leaf. Law enforcement officers reported finding “almost a dozen images and videos containing child pornography on Leaf ’s home computer,” Strauss said. Interviewed for a lohud.com video in 2017, Leaf was asked to comment on the emotions he felt upon receiving the Hall of Fame honor. He called it “very special and humbling … especially on the 50th anniversary of this institution and with some of the great, great people that proceeded me.” Leaf ’s 2017 bio described him as a Scarsdale High School graduate who had announced the Section 1 boys and girls basketball tournaments for 36 years. He also had announced games for Iona College men’s and women’s basketball, Scarsdale and Mamaroneck basketball, and numerous tournaments. He had been officiating soccer for more than 20 years at that point and was also president of the WestchesterPutnam Approved Soccer Officials Association. According to the Sports Hall of Fame’s website, nominations are made by the public and reviewed by its committee. A prospective candidate has to be at least 25 years old and “should be a person of integrity and good character” who is well-known in either professional or amateur sports as a player, coach, manager, official, owner, or member of the sports media. Inductees are revealed in the fall and each gets a trophy and their name inscribed on a plaque at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. LEAF FROM PAGE 4 TRUNK FROM PAGE 2 SEE TRUNK PAGE 23
Opinion 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 The Somers Record or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 Brett Freeman, Publisher Tom Walogorsky , Editor Tabitha Pearson Marshall, Creative Director Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] PAGE 8 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 First, let’s be clear. Affirmative action is not dead; it’s a little hobbled maybe, but still standing. Too many (still) predominantly white colleges and universities have too much capital investment in buildings, curriculums, organizations and recruiting to dismantle their diversity efforts with the wave of a wand. Consciously including or excluding a mix just won’t be as visible or audible, like legacy or other special acceptances. Minority student populations on predominantly white campuses will dwindle and 20 years from now we will be wringing our hands once again because colleges and universities no longer represent the face of their off-campus communities and we’ll be asking how it happened. The answer, of course, is always the same: not necessarily by intent but in practice. Without the reminder and pressure of legislation, monitoring the law and auditing practices, the results - - the pressure to diversify - - will fade. Without deliberate intent but with predictable behavior, predominantly white colleges and universities will default to old thinking and behavior. Remember why regulations for OSHA, labor unions, veteran entitlements, banks and financial institutions were necessary? Hidden is a pearl, an advantage, an unintended boon to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their communities, which may still struggle with their endowment and the ability to offer financial aid. Although presented as victims in mainstream media, these schools can flourish. It will be an easy shift for African American students rejected by white colleges to find acceptance at HBCUs. Black and foreign students of color will now simply turn to a smaller base of academic options, but still engage in the process and benefits of a post-secondary higher education. Over time, the HBCUs will hire more faculty, build more buildings, accept more students and by default increase their endowments and alumni contributions. Historically black colleges’ coffers will grow, alumni associations will have a greater base from whom to solicit and Black infrastructure will thicken and soar. HBCU graduates will still be as competitive as any other. Whether or not the races are now separate but equal will resurface in discussion. The Supreme Court has inadvertently enabled a burst of economic potential to the Black communities in the U.S. It has also unintentionally robbed white academic institutions of some of their economic base. To wit: According to “Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2023,” there are currently 107 HBCUs serving more than 228,000 students throughout this country. Nearly a quarter of the students attending these institutions were non-Black, as of 2019, with white, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American students making up a fifth of HBCU populations. Richard Humphreys established the African Institute (now Cheyney University) in 1837 in Pennsylvania, making it the oldest HBCU in the United States, according to documentation by Cheyney University. So, HBCUs are entrenched institutions, not some hastily established offshoots of any civil rights act. In 1969, the late D. Park Gibson, president of a public relations firm in Manhattan, published “The $30 Billion Negro, an examination of the consumer strength of African Americans,” then estimated at $30 billion. Manhattan based McKinsey & Company estimates that African Americans will represent a $1.8 trillion spending power in 2024. The silver lining in the Supreme Court decision about colleges and universities and affirmative action will have far reaching - - and, I believe - - unintended benefits as well as consequences. Patricia Adams moved to Somers from Hastings on Hudson in 2007. She graduated from NYU Stern in 1963 and earned her MBA at Atlanta University in 1969. She worked in human resources for IBM and retired from Digital Equipment Corporation/ Hewlett Packard in 1998. She was awarded an honorary doctor of letters from Hobart & William Smith Colleges in 2023. She welcomes your ideas and comments at [email protected]. Silver lining to affirmative action decision PATRICIA ADAMS GUEST COLUMNIST This July 4th marked the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The anniversary was part of the draw for me to participate as a delegate in a convention of Braver Angels, which was held at Gettysburg College over four days following the holiday. Braver Angels is an organization formed in 2016 in response to the rising political polarization across the country. The first meeting took place in Ohio shortly after the presidential election. Attending were 11 Clinton supporters and 11 Trump supporters dedicated to the mission of bridging the partisan divide and helping depolarize the country. The symbolism of holding the event on the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War where over 50,000 Americans perished, as well as the site of Lincoln’s iconic Gettysburg address, was not lost on the organizers. Last week’s convention was triple the size of the previous gathering, drawing over 750 delegates who were equally divided between “reds” and “blues,” so their message must be catching on. All delegates were required to pick a side in order to participate. It is not your party registration that determines your side, but rather your “tendency” to vote for Democrats or Republicans. One of the group’s founders, David Blankenhorn, referred to the gathering as the largest gathering of reds and blues in equal numbers and on equal footing in this century, which I guess would A ‘Braver Angels’ visit to Gettysburg DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT SEE SCOTT PAGE 9
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 9 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 When did you last update your last will and testament and power of attorney? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 be hard to disprove. Adding to the experience was holding the event at Gettysburg College. We were housed in dorms and ate our meals in the dining hall together. The food and facilities have come a long way since I attended college. The Gettysburg campus is beautiful, and it made me nostalgic for my college days, which I did not fully appreciate at the time. Mealtime between sessions gave opportunities to interact with the other delegates. Everyone wore their name tag with a red or blue lanyard and the state they were representing, which provided a conversational icebreaker when you sought out someone to sit with. I, like most people, sought out an opposite color to sit with. I met a teacher, a priest, a therapist, a retired scientist and a journalist, among others. I also met a couple who were celebrating their anniversary. I’m not sure that would be my wife’s idea of a romantic getaway, but different strokes for different folks. In addition to plenary sessions with the entire convention in attendance — with speeches, presentations and musical entertainment — there were dozens of small-group breakout sessions and workshops with a wide range of topics from a debate about DEI to Christian Nationalism to Toxic Media. I took part in a workshop on writing op-eds taught by the editor of Newsweek and another on improving your family political conversations taught by a family therapist. I learned that family estrangement, when a family member has cut off communication with the rest of the family, is an epidemic. Those break-ups are often driven by political differences. Braver Angels has trained hundreds of volunteer moderators and facilitators who have conducted thousands of workshops and debates at state and local legislatures, high schools, colleges, senior centers, and libraries centered on providing opportunities to engage in political discourse with honesty, dignity and respect. The organization seeks to foster a social movement and they seem to be well on their way. Their platform, which was developed at the convention, is titled, “First Principles of the Civic Renewal Movement.” One of the musical groups performing at the event may provide the perfect metaphor of the movement. The group “Gangstagrass” combines rap music with bluegrass. Like peanut butter and banana sandwiches, it sounds like a terrible idea, but it tastes pretty good. They made great music together. If rap and bluegrass can come together, maybe there’s hope for the Braver Angels mission of bringing America together. To learn more, visit braverangels.org. SCOTT FROM PAGE 8 Like some folks, I spent July 4th celebrating my independence from some of the junk that’s in our garage, and endeavoring to replace it with more stuff that will one day itself be junk. I needed some big boxes to throw the stuff out, and where better to get them than a big box store? The Home Improvement Store (not its real name) is the biggest big box store I can think of, and when I got there I was surprised to find that the plum parking spaces were reserved for “Pro Shoppers.” I researched this further and apparently it’s a rewards program for frequent customers, and as they buy more home improvement stuff, they get a free drink or snack credited to their account. The more they spend, the more free snacks they get, and they start to drool like Pavlov’s dog as they loiter around the gardening section. I found a guy wearing an orange apron and I asked, “Hi- I recently received an SOS message from something stranded on my kitchen island. Where would I find materials to rescue it?” “You might try the Isle Aisle, Number 122,” he said. “Oh, OK, Aisle do that. I mean I’LL do that,” I responded. I found a huge dolly the size of a cabin cruiser, big enough to hold all my purchases until my credit card company calls to have an intervention. They’re the only people who ever say that I don’t give myself enough credit. Once I got to Aisle Number 122, they had everything there but the kitchen sink, which was unfortunate, since I needed a new kitchen sink. “Oh- Kitchen sinks are in Aisle number 3. It’s about half a mile west of here, then you turn right at this thing that looks like a roll of insulation. That’s actually my manager.” No sooner did I manage to get my cart moving again when a guy coming out of Aisle 121 with an even bigger cart almost hit me. “Dude I have the right of way, since I’m going straight and you’re making a turn,” I said. “Plus once I get going I can’t stop this thing without casting anchor.” He said, “My apologies, I didn’t realize you were going straight since two of your three wheels are going in opposite directions.” He was a little drooly and had a glazed-over look; I pegged him as a “Pro Shopper.” As I walked through the walls of Thinking outside the big box RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD SEE MELEN PAGE 10
PAGE 10 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 fifffffflffiflffflffiff THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS Community Service hours are available [email protected] for this event! KEEP SOMERS BEAUTIFUL elephant hotel Sat & Sun JULY 15th & 16th 9-12 Supplies at Town Hall SOMERS NEEDS YOU to KEEP SOMERS BEAUTIFUL! hardware, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Henry F. Phillips. Imagine going through life with a head so oddly shaped that they named the Phillips-head screwdriver after you? I asked a sales representative, “Do you have any spot remover?” “Hmmm.... It used to be in that spot right over there.” We need new trash cans, but I have no idea how to throw out the old ones. If I put the old bin inside the new bin, will the trash collector know that the old bin is a has-been? I stalked the power tool section, because not needing something is a poor excuse not to buy it. If you were fighting a war, I bet you could defend your territory one Home Improvement Store (not its real name) at a time. Just in this aisle alone, with pneumatic nail guns, impact wrenches and a Milwaukee Sawzall, I like your chances. You’d have to lure the enemy to the store using, say, the promise of an air conditioner sale. In the lawn section, there was a 23-horsepower fabricateddeck V-twin engine with a hydro-static transmission gang mower that I had my eye on. Loaded up with a sunroof and custom wheel covers, I bet it would be a pretty sweet ride. I imagined people racing these things at Watkins Glen, and meanwhile they get their grass cut for free. But I’m saving my money for a grain harvester. I strike up a little small talk on the checkout line with a guy sporting quite a few prison tattoos. “Wow that’s an interesting array you’ve got there, duct tape, zip ties, rubber gloves, bleach and a shovel! You must have quite a problem with rats! HA HA HA HA!” I got the hell out of there. I ended up behind a guy with a 30-foot beam in his cart, and I could barely make out the cashier in the distance. A new checkout line opened and when he turned his cart around to make a scramble for it, about 15 of us had to double-Dutch over his beam. In the parking lot I couldn’t fit some of my purchases in the car, and I thought about buying the lawn mower just to get the stuff home. In the end, I was able to get home with everything except for quite a bit of my money. Say hello at [email protected]. MELEN FROM PAGE 9 I can listen all day to the musings of a child. I love the clean palette they begin with, so innocent, so pure and so hungry for knowledge. I was 6 when my sister, Teresa, was born. I felt like she was a gift for me to play with and I kept her close whenever I could. I even watched her as she slept, hoping that she would wake soon so we could play again. My mother must have loved how I took to being a big sister and the fact that she had a built-in babysitter in me. As Teresa grew and began crawling, then walking, she also began talking. One day my father said that I should keep a list of all the new words Teresa was learning. I loved my new project and tried to teach her new words just so I could add to the list. Years later, as a young mother, I was in awe of how my daughter’s mind worked. We teach them the basics and they run with it, trying to figure out by trial and error how to expand their knowledge and vocabulary. When Kim was 4 years old, we were at La Guardia Airport waiting for my husband to return from a business trip to Miami. The flight was delayed about half an hour and I used that time to read to her. After a while she asked, “Will Daddy be here soon?” “Yes,” I replied. Daddy’s flight from Miami just landed and he’ll be walking through those doors very soon.” She surprised me by saying, “What was he doing in ‘your Ami?’” Ah, the mind of a child. Another time we took Kim to eat at a Chinese Restaurant. She wanted to experience everything, so she asked if she could have some Chinese tea from the little pot on the table. I poured some for her and added a small amount of sugar. I then lifted the warm cup to her lips so she didn’t burn her fingertips. She was not a fan of the tea and asked if she could have some Chinese water instead. Now that Kim has her own child, I have, once again, been given the gift of experiencing a child’s mind at work, and it’s glorious. At 3 years old, my grandson speaks in full sentences and is eager to repeat whatever he hears and to mimic whatever we do. My daughter has no idea that the best is yet to come. Jo Ann can be reached at [email protected]. In the mind of a child JO ANN FRANCELLA JUST JO ANN Fun Facts by Jo Ann A baby cannot taste salt until it is 4 months old. At birth, babies have no knee caps; they develop after 6 months.
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 Tel: 914-245-3899 • 32 Triangle Center, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 www.genesisjewelers.com Christmas in July July 19 through July 22 Sale! All Fine Jewelry in stock (new purchases only) Wednesday - Friday 10-6 Saturdays 10-5 45% off Your One-Stop Shop for Deck Building Materials DECKING & RAILING Mahopac Railroad Tie Experts in Deck Lumber 911 Route 6, Mahopac, NY • 845-628-8111 • www.decklumber.com 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 Dear Dr. Linda, Our daughter is entering fourth grade and the last thing her teacher said to me at our spring conference was, “Emma is still struggling in math, so be sure to do math with her over the summer so she won’t struggle in fourth grade.” Did she ruin our summer with that advice? Yes. As a student, I hated math. I didn’t understand what the teacher was saying and when my parents tried to help me, it made everything worse. My husband and I don’t know what to do—and my daughter ends up crying if I mention the word “math.” Any advice? -Vicky Dear Vicky, Unfortunately, many people hate math. And it’s not because math is so hard to understand—it’s that math is personal. Some children understand numbers and enjoy playing with numbers. They’re our future mathematicians. However, even these children sometimes struggle in school with math because the teacher is told to follow a particular program and some children simply don’t do well with that program. For example, Andrew loved basketball and was able to figure out scores and make predictions by doing math in his head. Yet, he was unable to succeed following the school program because it had multiple steps and he struggled with anything in which he had to follow multiple steps. Because of this, he was failing math and had to go to school at 7:30 a.m., an hour and a half before everyone else, for math help. Obviously, it didn’t help him because he was still following the same program, a program that didn’t account for Andrew’s needs. Additionally, many children need to count on their fingers when they first learn how to add and subtract. Yet, as I mentioned in a previous column, many programfollowing teachers don’t allow these children to use their fingers. (As a result, the only thing they learn is how to hide their fingers.) One more example is the child who loves math, but is told (because of the program the school is using) that he needs to write and explain what he’s doing. For some children this is fine, but for one fifth-grader I worked with, this was a disaster because he had trouble with writing. He started failing math. If not for his parents and teacher who decided together to let him do the math his way, he’d still be failing math. Instead, he’s now entering eighth grade with an A+ average in accelerated math. The point is, teachers need to find the method that fits each child, not find a method and then try to make each child fit the method. When this happens, the child usually becomes frustrated and anxious and math becomes a negative thing. To prevent math from becoming even more negative for your daughter (and you), play age-appropriate math games that require the learning of addition or subtraction or the times tables, etc., to win. This will help your daughter and you change the way you both think and feel about math. Here’s one you might start with: First make a tic-tac-toe design. Instead of putting in X’s and O’s, put the numbers 4,9, and 2 across the top row. Then put 3,5, and 7 across the center row. Now put 8,1, and 6 across the bottom row. (If you add any three numbers across, down or diagonally, it always adds up to the same thing—15. Here’s to having fun with math, -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 originators of Phonics, Fluency and Math SuperDeck Learning Games, which make learning a whole lot more fun. For more information, visit stronglearning. com. Teachers must find the method that fits the child Prevent math from becoming negative DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING
PAGE 12 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 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 FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah Railroad station. • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars • Monuments & inscriptions available. I t seems the norm nowadays is to flip out your iPhone to show someone photos of family, pets or places. I admit that I have quite a few on my phone. My preference, however, is paging through photo albums by myself or with my family. This certainly was the case during the weeks that preceded the passing of my sons’ father, George Sr. Matt had come up from Florida to see his Dad one last time and to unite with his brothers, George Jr., Paul and Joe, in celebrating their father’s life. Matt stayed with me and we had the best visit, bittersweet though it was. One evening, I brought out the photo album of my 80th birthday. As Matt paged through, he started taking photos of album photos on his iPhone. I reminded him of how family often made snide little comments about me and my camera: “There she goes with her ever-present camera.” Matt agreed that it was a blessing to see and be able to take his phonephotos as we poured through several trunks of photo albums. “Jeez Ma, we looked like little nerds,” he said. Picture the ‘70s. “You weren’t nerds!” I said. “Sears Toughskin jeans and color-coordinated polo shirts were the fashion statement of the day.” A photo taken in the ‘40s shows a smiling Dad playing his mandolin while Mom lovingly watches. She has a jaunty bow in her hair and her signature smile. Love that photo. Another priceless memory was captured on Easter Sunday in 1945—Cousin Pat gave me this picture. I am standing next to Cousin Mickey, who’s next to Cousin Pat, who’s next to my brother Jack. Typically the clown, Jack’s shoulders are scrunched up, he’s squinting at the sun and his jacket is buttoned crooked! Pat has some treasured photos that she has shared with me. One in particular shows two little girls in Sunday finery tightly holding their well-dressed Daddies’ hands. We are smiling and our fathers look handsome and proud. A very meaningful photo was taken in 1958 in my folks’ backyard. There we are— Dad, me, little sister Rosemary, Mom and Jack—arms around each other and leaning against my sweet 1956 Chevy Bel Air convertible. Jack was in the Navy and home on leave; we’d gone to a dance in Manhattan with friends the night before. When the band leader saw Jack in his uniform, he led the band and crowd in a rousing “Anchor’s Away.” This was during the crisis in Lebanon and folks were on edge. Poor Jack turned a few shades of red! We as a family were worried that our son and brother might be called up if the U.S. became involved. A very poignant photo. A little side note: being the ever-helpful big sister, I pressed a sharp, straight front crease on Jack’s uniform pants—a huge no-no on Navy bell bottoms! It took forever and Mom’s expertise to remove the dreaded crease. There are countless studio portraits of my kids at different ages and they’re perfectly posed. But the “real life” photos are what start the conversations, questions and bring on the laughter and some tears. There were quite a few albums shared at the visitation for George, Sr. Our family had the best opportunity to view memories from both sides of the family. Priceless! ‘I love my photo albums!’ RUTHANN SCHEFFER WHAT WAS I THINKING? Happily Ever After
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 13 (mis)Understanding Mammy The Hattie McDaniel Story July 14 -30 By Joan Ross Sorkin Directed by Seret Scott Starring Multi Award Winning TINA FABRIQUE Tickets at: theSchoolhouseTheater.org A Westchester Premiere! A One Woman Play with Music “...a heart-breaking story of stardom and struggle in America” 845-279-9555 • TankRemovalServices.com Before you place your home on the market, contact ENVIROSTAR about replacing your aging underground storage tank (UST). It is required by most insurance companies prior to insuring property. We replace above ground tanks as well! Call us today for a free estimate and evaluation of your current above ground tank. SUMMER SPECIAL! $100 OFF IN-GROUND TANK REMOVAL With this coupon only. Coupon must be presented at the time of the estimate. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 8/30/23 FREE ESTIMATES WE WILL MATCH OUR COMPETITOR’S ADVERTISED OFFER! We are the name you trust for environmental needs Since 1998 DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH AN AGING OIL TANK! Every so often I eavesdrop on a couple of locals whom I call Mom and Pop Culture. They could be your next door neighbor. Or you. Or almost anybody else. They’re aware of what’s happening and quite outspoken (though aren’t we all). Let’s dial in to them now as they drive to wherever… POP: I guess you’ll take the Tappan Zee? MOM: No, sir. Not happening. POP: Why not? MOM: There is none. POP: None what? MOM: Tappan Zee Bridge. It came down in 2017. Replaced by the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Full stop. POP: Oh, lordy, here we go again. MOM: Just sayin’. POP: Just agitatin’ more like it. MOM: Me agitatin’? You’re the one who’s down with this whole “The bridge that dare not speak its name” hue and cry. POP: Nobody’s crying, Mom. We simply want justice! MOM: I get it, Pop. Social Justice. Environmental Justice. Now add “Public Works Identity Crisis Justice.” POP: There’s a petition signed by 300,000 people who want their good name back. MOM: Their good name? You mean they want the bridge to be called The Luddites? “Can’t change the name! It’s sacreligious!” POP: Then color me Luddite. The bridge’s native name honors native Americans. MOM: I know that. I respect that. What I didn’t know is that overnight you’ve become a fervent advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples. How convenient when it suddenly suits your agenda. Isn’t that called cultural appropriation? POP: If you say so. But I’ll tell you what it’s not. MOM: What? POP: It’s not political. MOM (after a roar of laughter): Come again? POP: Restoring the Tappan Zee name is not simply the sentiment of Republicans who want to reverse what former Gov. Andrew Cuomo ramrodded through his heavily Democratic legislature. MOM: It’s not? POP: A Democratic state senator from Orange County has made it his cause celebre to un-name the Cuomo Bridge and rename it the Tappan Zee. MOM: Impressive. His district must be a problem-free paradise for him to prioritize a bridge name as an urgent matter. POP: That’s not how it works, Mom. He can be paying attention to multiple matters simultaneously. Making that bridge’s sacred heritage whole again happens to be one of them. MOM: Whatever. I’m fully aware that Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor under duress for his problematic personal behavior, which I do not condone one bit, but here’s the rub, Pop: The bridge ain’t named for him. It’s named for his father. POP: Who said the world’s fair, Mom? Sometimes the sins of the son are visited on the father. MOM: Yeah, Pop, seems there’s a lot of that going around these days. But, as you said, it has nothing to do with politics. Bruce Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He can be seen on stage Saturday, July 22 (at 8 p.m.) and Sunday, July 23 (at 4 p.m.), as Morrie in “Tuesdays with Morrie,” at Whippoorwill Hall in Armonk. Admission is free. For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. Now you Zee it, now you don’t The bridge that dare not speak its name BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG 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 The Somers Record or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830.
PAGE 14 THE SOMERS RECORD – T www.pleasantvillewellnessgroup.com CONTACT US 450 Manville Road, First Floor Pleasantville NY 10570 [email protected] (call) 914-769-1586 (text) 845-260-2797 PLEASANTVILLE WELLNESS GROUP offers compassionate and affordable care for whatever you or a loved one may be struggling with. Reach out today to find out how we can support you through your mental health journey. Services offered in person and online. 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! FINANCING AVAILABLE Call today an FREE SH PACK PLUS $1 With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk- walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while offer at time of purchase. CSLB 10 1-855-91 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER It’s been a long and winding road, but Somers’s John Fiscella has finally made it all the way back to his happy place: the stage. The beloved guitarist and music teacher, who likes to joke that his mission as a musician is to both entertain and educate, and his talented songwriter/composer/pianist son, Eddie, kicked off the Somers Historical Society’s summer concert series on Saturday, July 8, at The Elephant Hotel, aka Town Hall. (The Saturdays in the Parks concerts are usually held at the historic Mount Zion Church or in Reis Park, but threats of thunderstorms prompted a change of venue.) The dynamic duo celebrated the Fab Four with a bonanza of Beatles songs – in chronological order -- that had audience members tapping their toes, singing along, dancing in their seats, laughing at John’s witty asides, and wiping away the occasional tear. They were also a smash with a shorter Beatles set at the Crestwood Library in Yonkers in June. Eddie Fiscella just graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, his dad’s alma mater. He sported a Paul McCartney T-shirt while his dad rocked a handmade hipster hat adorned with a sunburst pin. John Fiscella also marked a big milestone recently, something that did not escape the attention of his mom, Rose, and his wife, Heide, who had front row seats for the show. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES A year ago, this concert might not have been possible. Fiscella, who was worn out after years of battling renal failure, had learned that his disease was in the end stages. He was sleeping 15 hours a day and no longer had much energy for lessons, much less live performances. The then-54-year-old’s only hope was to get a kidney transplant. He had been on a national waitlist for a year. Neither Heide nor Eddie were matches. In March, Heide wrote up a summary of her husband’s plight in an email. Rose agreed to distribute it to the public, something she had done once before with great success for another son who had also needed an organ transplant. Rose forwarded the email to a friend, Corinne Stanton, a Halston Media account executive with a lot of connections in the community. Stanton sent it to Somers Record editor Tom Walogorsky. Little did the Fiscellas know that they would soon get a life-changing phone call from Maryjean Lugo, a Somers mom whose 22-year-old son, Vincent, had been declared braindead after suffering a severe asthma attack. The Somers Intermediate School library aide and her husband, Bill, wanted to donate his organs to someone in the community. Hoping to spread the word quickly, they enlisted SIS Principal Linda Belger, who thought of getting the local newspaper involved. She reached out to the son, Amanda Bergen, who Putting two and two cellas’ note to Bergen, wh district’s email was sent t Belger contacted Ma voicemail with the Fisce A life-saving connecti The Lugos told the Fi by the fact that John andated from Somers High S were passionate about m Miraculously, the tw Fiscella received one of younger man’s other kid also donated, which mea four lives. According to his momgettable kid” who was po talented. He was a posta and, according to his fammals, especially cats. Le it b Eddie and Jo Ken and Michelle Kessel with Rose, Heide, John, and Eddie Fiscella. open summer Ellen Tannenbaum showing her support. PHOTOS: CAROL REIF
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Sports PAGE 16 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 BY RICH MONETTI STAFF REPORTER The Somers girls lacrosse team may not have brought home a sectional championship during the tenure of Molly Fink, Teagan Ryan, and Lauren McCartin, but the trio’s performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by area players, coaches, and fans. Now, their excellence is being recognized on a much larger stage. Fink and McCartin have been named Academic All-Americans, while Ryan received recognition as an Athletic All-American. Ryan said she fell in love with the sport as a little kid. “It was my favorite thing to do,” she said.“To just go outside and play lacrosse with my dad.” When she got more serious, her father was there to support her. “When I realized lacrosse was something I wanted to be good at—not just play for fun— he made that dream come true,” Ryan said. Ryan was influenced by the Rosenzweig sisters. In camp, the then third-grader learned Livy Rosenzweig was committed to Loyola and her older sister was at U Penn. “I thought that was so cool,” she said. “It’s something I wanted to do as well.” From there, Ryan was under the tutelage of coach Laura Parisi. “She taught me everything I knew when I was younger,” said Ryan, who graduated in June and plans to major in business at the University of Colorado. Ryan, Fink and McCartin recognized for excellence Tuskers named Academic and Athletic AllAmericans Teagan Ryan PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ Lauren McCartin faces off vs. Carmel. PHOTO: RICH MONETTI Molly Fink (15) in action vs. John Jay LACROSSE SEE LACROSSE PAGE 22 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 9/30/23 $10.00OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25%OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 9/30/23 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 17 Typically, it will have between four and 14 such trainees at a time, Meeker said, noting that they must follow “a different set of rules,” such as not going into burning buildings or being at the scene of a fatal car accident. “They’re also supposed to be protected from the gruesome nature of some of the calls,” he explained. Membership numbers are “cyclical.” “It comes and goes. It is a large commitment. It’s 120 hours or more of classes, not to mention inhouse training. That goes for junior and regular members,” Meeker said. The department will pay for additional education for firefighters – a “big advantage” in his estimation. Volunteers can go for their national certification as a firefighter or state emergency medical technician. That means they’ve met a certain standard and can go to any other department in any state and wouldn’t have to “start all over again,” Meeker said, adding that “it technically didn’t cost you anything but time.” Recruitment efforts are ongoing and baked into events such as Fire Prevention Week, which usually takes place in October when the department hosts an Open House. Members also reach out to the public during townwide happenings such as Somers’s recent Independence Day celebration at Reis Park. For more information on joining up, visit www.somersvfd.com. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE When asked what the top item on his “wish list” for the department would be, Meeker didn’t hesitate. “We always need more people. The manpower evolves, people move out, age out. With four fire houses and lots of community service, we can always use more men and women,” he said. It would also be great if the department could get its own training site where it could set up a “container-type village” where it could conduct search-and-rescue exercises. There is space behind the Granite Springs firehouse that could work, Meeker said. Again, it’s a matter of money. Training facilities like that can cost between $100,000 and $200,000, a sum that’s far beyond the donating capacity of local organizations or individuals. Meeker suggested that a government grant might have to be sought. Somers firefighters now train in Valhalla. There are a couple of catches. Some of the activities require 10 to 12 people and two engines. This makes it tough unless the SVFD pairs up with another fire department, he said. The other problem is that “now you’re 25 miles from home with district equipment that’s meant to be here protecting people.” The SVFD does have access to a fire training center in Putnam County. It’s “a little bit closer, but not as elaborate,” Meeker said, noting that it has a box and a tower. The latter is basically a set of stairs used for practicing high rise or ladder operations. Steel shipping containers are divided up into “rooms” and used to stage fire scenarios. “And that’s something that’s a consumable product. You have too many fires in it and it starts to fall apart. You are burning pallets and wood and generating a significant amount of heat,” Meeker said. Somers is good to go as far as equipment right now, but who knows what stresses future development could be put on the SVFD and other local services. “Somers is kind of limited on its growth, but IBM is a spot where all of a sudden you could have a large development, just like Heritage Hills, which could bring in a large number of people,” Meeker pointed out. HISTORY In 1931, a group of folks in Lake Shenorock, which was at the time the only heavily populated part of town and had its only public water supply system, organized the Amawalk-Shenorock Volunteer Fire Department. It started off in a small barn with a 1921 engine/pumper. Six years later the ASVFD expanded to cover the whole town and was incorporated as the SVFD. The fire district was formed in 1952 for the purposes of collecting tax revenue. The Granite Springs, Lincolndale, and Somers firehouses were built in 1958. Amawalk was built in 1967. Lincolndale was expanded in 1987. The Somers, Granite Springs, and Amawalk firehouses are feeling their age. Structure size is the main problem. Today’s apparatus, ie. firetrucks, are bigger. They only might be a foot wider or a foot or two taller, but that exceeds some of the firehouse door heights. “Somewhere down the road, those houses could need to be rebuilt,” Meeker said. “Yes, you can do simple renovations but nothing’s cheap and when you start looking at cost-to-benefit ratios, sometimes it’s easier to just knock it down and build new.” Noting that the fire district commissioners are the folks who give projects the thumbs-up or down, Meeker said: “Hopefully, they listen to the department’s requests, see the shortcomings, and figure out how to improve the structures.” But, just as importantly, the SVFD needs new people. “As much as the fire service is rooted in history, it needs fresh faces to move forward into the future. If we’re going to stay volunteer, the public needs to get involved,” he added. MEEKER FROM PAGE 6 SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP? 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PAGE 18 – THE SOMERS RECORD LEISURE THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 ©2023 Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Valid at participating locations. Display Date: 00/00/2023 - 00/00/2023 EXTRA CHARGE FOR TOPPINGS Mermaid Gelati Shark Gelati Discount applied to lowest priced item. Not valid on take home treats, catering, or novelty items. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RITA’S LOCATIONS. REDEEMABLE AT FROZEN TREAT $1 OFF WHEN YOU BUY ONE Expires 04.15.2021 RITAS OF YORKTOWN 1881A COMMERCE STREET YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 914 302 7711 ritas.com www.facebook.com/ritasof $1 OFF BUY ONE, GET $1 OFF ANOTHER ritasofyorktown ritasofyorktown.com Discount applied to lowest priced item. Not valid on take home treats, catering, or novelty items. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RITA’S LOCATIONS. Exp. 7/20/2023 WE SPECIALIZE IN 8, 10, 12 & 15 YARD DUMPSTERS ON WHEELS & TRADITIONAL DUMPSTERS 10-40 YARD RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEAN-OUTS 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. Database management system 5. Medical procedures 11. __ Clapton, musician 12. Defender 16. Exert oneself 17. Indicates position 18. Prevents river overflow 19. Atrocities 24. Mister 25. Ends 26. Slope or tilt 27. Taxi 28. The very ends 29. Actor Sean 30. Japanese persimmon 31. Sours 33. Beneficiary 34. Baseball official 38. Muddy, boggy ground 39. Not worldly 40. Actress Lathan 43. Soil 44. __-Cola 45. Asleep 49. __ Angeles 50. Give birth to a child 51. Beach shelter 53. Commercial 54. Taste property 56. Local jurisdictions 58. It cools your home 59. Dismounted from a horse 60. Charge with a crime 63. Close in 64. Spoke 65. Famed garden CLUES DOWN 1. Draw a scene 2. Its sultan is famous 3. Unlucky accident 4. A way to ski 5. Abba __, Israeli politician 6. Saw 7. “Westworld” actor Harris 8. Belonging to me 9. Shoelace tube 10. Takes to court 13. Early multimedia 14. In a way, produces 15. Bowlers 20. Of I 21. Equally 22. Gets some sun 23. A place to stay 27. Town in Galilee 29. Aronofsky film 30. Klingon character, “Star Trek” 31. Equal to 100 square meters 32. Atomic #58 33. Arrived extinct 34. Loosen grip 35. A distinctive odor that is unpleasant 36. Membranes 37. Some is poisonous 38. Partner to Pa 40. Small brown gray rail 41. A salt or ester of acetic acid 42. Sodium 44. Military official (abbr.) 45. Lighted 46. Took off 47. All 48. Ohio city 50. More abject 51. A radio band 52. Controversial tech product (abbr.) 54. Monetary unit 55. Passed with flying colors 57. A way to win a boxing match 61. The Golden State 62. Home of the Longhorns
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PAGE 20 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Chris Burdick announced last week that their bill designating a section of Route 121 in the Town of Lewisboro as the “John Jay High School Veterans Memorial Highway” has passed in the State Legislature. The bill also calls for the state Department of Transportation to install and maintain adequate signage regarding the designation. The bill (S.4085 / A.5814), which was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, renames the highway in front of John Jay High School in honor and memory of six veterans who were alumni and died in service. The Route 121 designation follows the efforts of Grant Vivaldi, a recent John Jay graduate, and the Lewisboro Veterans Advisory Committee to erect a monument at the high school commemorating the six fallen veterans. “This community-wide effort to ensure that these six individuals will always be remembered is a profound and touching reminder of the sacrifices that members of our armed services and their families and loved ones make,” said Harckham. “I am grateful for all the support this legislation received, and see it as an acknowledgement of the persistence and work necessary among the local residents to see projects like this through. We are always better when we commemorate the valor and heroism of our veterans, knowing that their courage and deeds stand as an abiding example for us all.” “We can never fully express our gratitude to the John Jay High School alumni who died in service to our country, but with the renaming of this road, we will ensure their memories are never forgotten,” said Burdick. “My thanks to Grant Vialardi and the Lewisboro Veterans Advisory Committee for their inspiration and assistance in getting this legislation passed.” In November 2022, the Katonah-Lewisboro School District approved a project to install a veterans memorial at John Jay High School in Cross River, NY, to honor and commemorate respective alumni who had died during their armed forces service. Grant Vivaldi, then a senior at John Jay (and an intern in Assemblymember Burdick’s office), first proposed the memorial in conjunction with the Lewisboro Veterans Advisory Committee. The intention was to install the memorial at the high school, but a major capital improvement project prevented this, and on Memorial Day in 2022, it was unveiled at the base of the flagpole outside Lewisboro Town House. Along with the memorial project was Vialardi’s request to rename the portion of Route 121. The section of the road to be renamed begins at the intersection of Route 35 Old Post Road and ends at the intersection of Gideon Reynolds Road. Four of the John Jay High School alumni died in service during the Vietnam War—Pfc. Kenneth Richard Jaconetti, Lt. Cmdr. George Russell Matthews, Pfc. Philip Grant Chipchase and Lance Cpl Howard J. Alaimo. The other two died in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing—Cpl. James J. Jackwoski and Cpl. Bert D. Corcoran. “I am very happy to see these soldiers recognized for their service with such a permanent monument,” said Vialardi, a volunteer EMT with the Vista Fire Department who will be heading to Fordham University next month to start his first year of college. “It goes to show the important and respected role that veterans continue to play in our communities. I would like to thank our elected leaders who have helped to make this project become a reality, and encourage everyone to take a more active part in improving their community.” Arthur Hanley, Deputy Director of the Putnam County Veterans Services Agency, said, “It is remarkable and moving to see the commitment made to honor these six soldiers, including my classmate and friend Howie Alaimo, who gave their all in service to our country. Renaming the roadway in front of the high school is a welcome tribute and a poignant reminder that brave and selfless service men and women are protecting us day and night.” Lewisboro Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves said, “We are extremely thankful to our two state legislators for their efforts in pursuing this designation of Route 121 as the John Jay High School Veterans Memorial Highway. It is important that we remember and honor all our veterans, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I also want to thank John Lemke and the Lewisboro Veterans Advisory Committee for their support of this initiative.” Article provided by the Office of State Sen. Pete Harckham. Harckham, Burdick pass JJHS Veterans Memorial Highway bill Sen. Pete Harckham REGIONAL Nestled in a lush green hideaway of Yorktown Heights amidst tall evergreens and nature’s beauty, sits The Country House, recently named a Best Assisted Living community by U.S. News & World Report. 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THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 21 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board DSL Construction The Home Team! Floors • Decks • Kitchens • Bathrooms Workman's Comp, Liability • No Job Too Small! FREE Consultation and Design Fully Insured to Meet Your Needs Complete Remodeling of Your Home OFFICE: 845-276-8608 LOU: 845-494-9857 Proudly Serving Heritage Hills Community VIKING LYNX MONOGRAM SUBZERO SCOTSMAN BERTAZZONI BOSCH BEST DCS GE MARVEL MIELE MAYTAG ELECTROLUX WHIPSPERKOOL FRIDGIDAIRE Trusted Repair That Will Stand the Test of Time Grills | Washers | Dryers | Refrigerators | Ovens | Ranges | Wine Coolers Serving Westchester County PH: 914.864.1252 6 Mark Mead Road • Cross River, NY 10518 Email: [email protected] www.appliancegenie.com AUTHORIZED SERVICE FOR VIKING, LYNX, FRIGIDAIRE Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 52 YEARS! WE BUY: GOLD • STERLING SILVER • JEWELRY • COINS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • CLOCKS • COLLECTIBLES • ANTIQUES • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! DSL Construction Inc. Windows, Doors, and Painting Full Service Window and Door Installations Call for Free Quote and Measure We deal with all the major window, door, and paint brand manufacturers Office: 845-276-8608 • Lou: 845-494-9857 Fully Licensed to meet your needs! Workman's Comp, Liability • No Job Too Small! Established 1979 Hunter Douglas Showcase Priority Dealer WESTCHESTER 914-277-4229 • PUTNAM 845-278-2575 AS FEATURED ON FREE ESTIMATES AND FREE INSTALLATION DISCOUNTED BLINDS & SHADES VERTICAL-MINI BLINDS-SILHOUETTE SHUTTERS-WOOD BLINDS-VIGNETTE LUMINETTES-ROMAN BLINDS-VALANCES Shades Above the Rest for Home & Office SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $25 PER BLIND! www.westrockwindowdesigns.com Somers Resident COUPON Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller (Westchester/Putnam) Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 * Maintenance * Planting * Pruning * * Shrubs * Plants * Lawn Maintenance * Soil Test * * Landscape Architectural Planning * Horticulturist * (914) 248-7768 One Marina Drive, Lake Mahopac NY 845-628-2333 www.macdonaldmarineny.net SALES • SERVICE • STORAGE BOGO 40% OFF OFFER ENDS 10/31 888-448-0421
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Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! 10% OFF Service Calls When You Present this Ad First Time Customers Only Light up your summer • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers • GENERATORS AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! The strong coaching continued through high school. “The player I was freshman year to the player I was when recruited [by colleges] is completely different. And that is all because of them,” said Ryan of her coaches Deb Daly and Ali Burnard. As for her legacy at Somers, Ryan said she believes she became a strong role model for the younger girls to follow. “I work my best to be a positive figure who supported everyone,” she said. “So I hope they learned to recognize that.” Among those carrying on Ryan’s mission is attacker Molly Fink, who earned Academic AllAmerican honors. “I was surprised that Coach Daly even nominated me,” Fink said. Math is Fink’s favorite subject because very little is done by rote. “You don’t have to memorize,” she said. Instead, the discipline has her identifying patterns and arriving at an answer through problemsolving, a process that appeals going forward. “I’m leaning toward doing something in business or economics,” she said. As a rising senior, Fink will be on the Somers field next year, and she’s glad to have the whole recruiting process behind her. “I was very stressed out,” she said. She said she’s grateful for the support she received from Daly and Burnard, as well as club coaches Jackie Pierce and Steph Hopkins. “They gave me the confidence I needed,” Fink said. Ironically, lacrosse wasn’t her original sport. “I felt I was better at lacrosse than other sports and found it more fun,” Fink said. Fink said that team leaders Noelle DeMarinis and Ella Kittredge “just wanted us to get better, and we were lucky to have them as captains.” With the guard changing, it’s now Fink’s turn at the helm with the other seniors. “It’s a little nerve-racking to be the leaders, but I think it’s exciting too,” Fink said. “I want to be a good leader and do well in school.” As for McCartin, being named Academic All-American fits perfectly with her own approach to balancing studies with sports. “Academics have always been my top priority, followed closely by athletics,” she said. “So to receive an award that acknowledges my hard work in the classroom, as well as on the field is a huge achievement.” That academic excellence is sending her to Yale, where a challenging major awaits. “I will be studying biology on the pre-med track,” she said. “I have had a demanding academic schedule while being a threesport varsity athlete throughout high school. I have learned how to manage my time in order to excel in academics and athletics.” McCartin discovered her penchant for lacrosse back in fifth grade. “I knew lacrosse was the one I loved and decided to pursue it at the club level with Prime Time,” she said. There, she ran into the same coach as Fink. “Coach Laura Parisi was my amazing youth coach who taught me the fundamentals of the game and inspired me to believe I had the talent to play at the next level,” McCartin said. The same appreciation goes to Daly, Burnard, Hopkins, and Pierce. “I will be forever grateful,” she said. “I [also] can’t thank my parents enough. My parents always supported me in my athletic journey but they never pressured me. They took my lead to pursue playing at the club, high school, and now collegiate level.” The now-former Tusker also credits Kittredge and DeMarinis. “They taught me so much, and we played so well as a team,” McCartin said. Going full circle, the midfielder has a legacy in mind too. “I hope my lasting impact will be the importance of being a good teammate, leading by example, and staying positive on and off the field,” she said. “My goal in college is to continue to excel academically [as well as] in lacrosse while taking advantage of all the unbelievable opportunities thatYale has to offer.” LACROSSE FROM PAGE 16 Sports Deadline The sports deadline for The Somers Record is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to [email protected]. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. SPORTS
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 23 © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. New service activation on approved credit. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations. Savings calculation is based on a comparison of Consumer Cellular’s average customer invoice to the average cost of single-line entry-level plans o ered by the major U.S. wireless carriers as of May 2022. CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 844-919-1682 Switch & Save Up to $250/Year On Your Talk, Text and Data Plan! NOTHING YOU NEED. YOU DON’T. EVERYTHING Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock 963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 TOCKLAW.COM • 800-869-8080 CRIMINAL DEFENSE/DWI • PERSONAL INJURY REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, PROBATE ‘ Our family received outstanding service from Joe and his staff. They are accomplished and professional, yet accessible and friendly— a wonderful community resource that I would recommend to anyone. ~A.W. 855.281.6439 I Free Quotes UP TO Could your kitchen use a little magic? ON YOUR FULL KITCHEN REMODEL* SAVE 10% *Discount applies to purchase of new cabinets or cabinet refacing with a countertop. Does not apply to countertop only projects. May not combine with other offers or prior purchases. Exp.3/31/23. NP-263. NY: Nassau: H1759490000 Suffolk: 16183-H NY/Rockland: 5642 Anne Swaim. Over 20 species of raptors may be spotted in our area including various kinds of eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. Find out when and where raptors may be seen and how they are doing in the mixed rural and suburban landscapes of the lower Hudson Valley. This program is co-sponsored with Somers Library, Tuckahoe Library and Yonkers Library. Somers Women’s Club RENT-A-SPACE TAG SALE Sunday, October 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To be held in Reis Park, rain or shine. Spaces are $45 each for a 12’ x 12’ square. No assigned spaces, selection at setup time. Bring your own tables and tents. No raffle sales. No baked goods or fresh food sales. Please note that pets are not allowed in the Town Park. For any questions, please email SWC2023TagSale@ comcast.net or call 914-406-1593. The Schoolhouse Theater (MIS)UNDERSTANDING MAMMY: THE HATTIE MCDANIEL STORY July 14 through 30 “A heartbreaking story of stardom and struggle in America.” Starring multi-award winner Tina Fabrique in a one woman play with music. To purchase tickets, visit www.theschoolhousetheater.org Free Summer Music Series Wednesdays, through July 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Cultural Arts Coalition in Brewster presents the Third Annual Brewster Summer Music Series. The series is FREE to all and will be held outdoors at the gazebo in Southeast Veterans Park, Morningthorpe & Railroad Avenues. Bring the family, lawn chairs and a picnic to enjoy local bands and acoustic opening acts Wednesday evenings. There are no rain dates. Visit BrewsterMusicFestival.com for complete details and performance schedule. Yorktown Repair Cafe Saturday, July 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteer repair coaches are available to help people make all possible repairs free of charge. Lamps, small appliances, bikes, clocks, fabrics, toys, wooden items, crockery, jewelry, computers, and electronics are welcome (limit 2 items). Advance registration reduces wait time. Go to www. repaircafehv.org/yorktown for info and link to SignUp form. To be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 3830 Gomer Street in Yorktown Heights. A Message from Somers Girl Scout Troop 1457 This summer, our Cadette Girl Scout Troop is attending the Girl Scout National Convention in Walt Disney World. We have been working hard to raise money for this trip. Cookie season is about to begin, and we have set a goal to sell 7,000 boxes of cookies as a troop. The profit we earn from cookie sales will help pay for plane tickets, park tickets, hotels, meals, and convention entry fees. Not only will we be representing Somers Girl Scouts, we will also be representing our local Girl Scout council, Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson. This trip will allow us to meet with industry leaders and explore potential career paths. We will also be meeting with girl scouts from all over the world. We would love the support of our local businesses. Some ways you can help are: purchase cookies from us to share with your employees, family, and friends, invite us to sell cookies to your staff, buy cookies from us to give to your clients, customers, patrons, business prospects, donate boxes of cookies to the military and veterans through Operation Cookie Drop, allow us to host a cookie booth outside your establishment or during a business event, or share our troop QR code to order cookies. If you have any other suggestions on ways to support us to please let us know by contacting [email protected] The Somers Library Foundation Needs You Are you a passionate supporter of the Somers Library and looking for a way to help improve the services and capabilities? The Somers Library Foundation is looking for new board members. There are lots of opportunities to use your talents and build new skills. Send the foundation an email at somerslibrary [email protected]. Watch the Somers LIbrary Foundation website (https://somerslibrary foundation.org) for details on upcoming meet and greet events to learn more about the Foundation and what it means to be a board member of the board. Somers Lions Club In 1966, the Somers Lions Club was chartered and has grown exponentially with dedicated men and women who volunteer their time, skills, and energy to make a difference in people’s lives, both in our community and for the charities we support. Lions can be found working on “hands-on” projects, fundraising, and running numerous community events in and around Somers. If you are in need of assistance, there is a good chance that the Lions can help. Visit www.somerslionsclub.org for more information. Follow on social media @somerslions. The Somers Lions would like to welcome their newest members, and are proud to serve alongside you. TEAM Tuskers MENTORS SOUGHT FOR INTERMEDIATE & MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM TEAM Tuskers Mentoring is looking for adults interested in spending time with a 3rd – 8th grade student at their school for the upcoming school year. The commitment is to spend 1 hour a week, every week with a student and make a difference in their life. You will develop a relationship and help open new lines of communication while playing games, doing puzzles or just chatting. Please consider volunteering for this great program. A child will benefit from spending time with you! For more information, visit somersschools.org/Page/7356 or call 914-481-2716. TRUNK FROM PAGE 7 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK
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THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 25 Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times. YES, I really enjoy The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional) (Optional for TAPinto E-News) Checks payable to Halston Media LLC Please include this form in your envelope. 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 https://bit.ly/HalstonSubscribe OR Visit https://bit.ly/ HalstonSubscribe 2 TRACKS NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Somers Record YES, I really enjoy The Somers Record 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 Mahopac News Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (844) 536-2370 FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value!
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SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Alexander DeMaria: 120 Barrett Hill Road Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Smooth Skin Studios, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 04-24. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Republic Registered Agent Services Inc: 54 State Street Ste 804 Albany NY 12207. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of JMRC Yorktown LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 04-10. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Michael Tsao: 746 Delano Rd Yorktown Heights NY 10598. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of DB Greenbuilders LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2018- 05-22. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Don Bleasdale: 66 Forest Lane Yorktown Heights NY 10598. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of People Experience Group. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 05-23. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to SSNY: 51 Mayflower LN Katonah NY 10536. Purpose: Any lawful purpose PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the application of Nicholas Foster for a variance. The property included in this application is located in an R-80 Residential District at 4 North Lane, Katonah and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 48.13, Block: 1, Lot: 9. All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VICTOR CANNISTRA CHAIRMAN Denise Schirmer, Secretary July 5, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the application of Richard and Diane Borque for a variance. The property included in this application is located in an R-10 Residential District at 14 Overlook Way, Purdys and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 18.13, Block: 2, Lot: 32.5. All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VICTOR CANNISTRA CHAIRMAN Denise Schirmer, Secretary July 5, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the application of Jason Long for a variance. The property included in this application is located in an R-10 Residential District at 20 Lakeview Drive, Yorktown Heights and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 16.09, Block: 3, Lot: 46. All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VICTOR CANNISTRA CHAIRMAN Denise Schirmer, Secretary July 5, 2023 Notice of Formation of 124 Seafield Point, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 06-28. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Laura Bortstein: 39 Walbrooke Road Scarsdale NY 10583. Purpose: Any lawful purpose 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 The Somers Record or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830.
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 27 Unfortunately, it has become more common for a child, grandchild or other loved ones to be diagnosed with autism, ADHD, bi-polar, schizophrenia, or for them to suffer from a variety of other diagnosed physical and/or mental disabilities that are severe and chronic. Because of this, the use of a Special Needs Trust (SNT) as a planning tool has become increasingly important and often necessary. When a parent, grandparent or other family member or friend wishes to provide for the needs of a disabled person in either his or her Last Will and Testament or in a Trust within a Last Will, or as a separate document, the vehicle that is most often prepared is a third party SNT. Use of the third party SNT allows the disabled person to continue to receive any federal or state aid and government benefits without the aid or benefits being impacted by the assets and/or income generated by the SNT. Additionally, because a third party SNT (unlike a self-settled SNT) is not funded with the assets of the disabled person (savings/recovery from a suit), but with the assets of a third party (parents/grandparents or others), the Estates Powers & Trusts Law provides that upon the death of the trust beneficiary, the trust assets can be distributed to anyone without the necessity of the trust assets being utilized to pay back the state or federal government for the dollar value of benefits provided to the disabled person. This rule does not apply to a trust funded with the assets of a disabled person (a first party SNT), which must provide for the payback of the benefits paid to the government entity. The assets of, or received by, a disabled person should never be used to fund a third party SNT. Additionally, the spouse of a disabled beneficiary or the parent of a minor disabled beneficiary cannot create and fund an intervivos SNT trust (one created during their lifetime) and get the protections provided by the Estates Powers & Trusts Law. This is because there are spousal and parental obligations of support to their spouse and/or minor child. However, the spouse or parent can fund and create a testamentary trust (one created in their Last Will and Testament) or an inter-vivos SNT, which is not funded until they are deceased. For example, their Last Will and Testament and/or Revocable or Irrevocable Trust provides for a distribution to the SNT upon their demise. A third party SNT can be testamentary, inter-vivos (created during life with the exceptions stated above), revocable and/or irrevocable. There is great flexibility in how the SNT can be drafted. The funds and income generated by the third party SNT can be used on behalf of the disabled individual to supplement and not supplant government benefits such as Medicaid and SSI (Supplemental Social Security Income). In essence, the trust assets can be used to cover expenses that are not intended to be provided for by Medicaid and/ or SSI. For example, they can be used to purchase a home for the beneficiary, provide for special therapies, wheelchairs, handicap accessible vans, recreational and cultural experiences (vacations, etc.). Payments made in the form of in-kind distributions for food or shelter will reduce SSI payments as they are considered unearned income. However, payments for goods and services other than food and shelter will not reduce SSI income. There is no limit to the amount that can be used to fund the SNT. Additionally, in spite of the restrictions imposed by statute and SSI regulations, third party SNTs generally give the Trustee(s) the power to make distributions to meet even the basic needs of the beneficiary (food, clothing, and shelter), even if it will diminish the receipt of government benefits. When considering an SNT for a loved one, it is important to thoroughly review the present and potential future needs of the disabled beneficiary. A thorough analysis by a qualified and experienced attorney who is familiar with the array of federal and state benefits that may be available is advisable. Anthony J. Enea is a member of Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP of White Plains. He focuses his practice on Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law. Anthony is the Past Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), and is the past Chair of the 50+ Section of the NYSBA. He is a Past President and Founding member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Anthony is also the Immediate Past President of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and a Past President of the Westchester County Bar Association. He can be reached at 914-948-1500 or at www. esslawfirm.com. Importance of a third-party SNT Benefit a disabled loved one without impacting government aid Lunch & Learn Series Held on the last Wednesday of each month, Lunch & Learn programs at Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP, shed light on a variety of important elder law and estate planning topics. The free educational program, held at the firm’s White Plains location, is open to the public – though space is limited. Those interested are encouraged to register early by calling 914-948-1500 to reserve their spot. A light lunch and refreshments are included. Future programs include: September 27 LLCs: The Pros, Cons and Estate Planning: For some, an LLC can be a useful tool to pass assets down to loved ones while avoiding or minimizing estate taxes. Discover if an LLC may be right for your estate planning needs as well as how they are used to reduce the risk of personal liability with rental properties. Presentation by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. & Michael P. Enea, Esq. ANTHONY J. ENEA GUEST CORNER It happens here. GreatNorthernCatskills.com Greene County Youth Fair July 27-30 Angelo Canna Park, Cairo REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (877) 516-1160 Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value! Odessa 108 Realty LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 6/1/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 57 Bank St., apt. PHA, White Plains, NY 10606. General Purpose J&M Devco LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/29/2022. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to C/O Joseph Briody, 716 S Columbus Ave., Mt. Vernon, NY 10550. General Purpose. Notice of Formation of Senior Moments Care NP in Adult Health PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-05-18. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Senior Moments Care: 777 Westchester Avenue Suite 101 White Plains NY 10604. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Let’s Play Westchester . Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 02-19. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Timothy Lennon: 789 robin road Yorktown heights NY 10598. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of LGHV, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-06-06. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Laurent Verard: 51 Bedell Road Katonah NY 10536. Purpose: Any lawful purpose
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