VOL. 13 NO. 23 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 26 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 27 LEISURE 19 OBITUARIES 9 OPINION 8 SPORTS 16 Mother & Daughter Publish Book pg 3 AUTHORS Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER A Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, at Bailey Park in Somers. The annual observance honors those who were injured or killed during the 2001 terrorist attacks. It is being organized by the Somers Historical Society. Three Somers residents lost their lives on 9/11. They were: · George Bishop, 52, of Granite Springs, was the vice president of Aon Corp., which had offices in the World Trade Center’s South Tower. He was one of 106 employees unable to evacuate in time. According to a profile in The New York Times, he loved taking his two sons to soccer games, going to the beach, hosting dinners for close friends, and listening to music. · Richard J. Klares, 59, was a risk engineer for Marsh & McLennan and was meeting with a client about factory safety on Sept. 11 on The community is invited to gather at Bailey Park on Monday, Sept. 11. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER A garbage strike that briefly affected Somers and North Salem appears to be over, according to WIN Waste Innovations and local officials. Members of Teamsters Local 456 walked off the job and onto the picket lines on Monday and Tuesday last week. They were back on their appointed rounds early Wednesday morning following several rounds of negotiations between their union’s leadership and the refuse collection company. Union president Louis Picani confirmed that a tentative agreement had been reached but had “no further comment” on whether the rank and file had voted to ratify it. North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas updated residents and businesses in a social media post. Noting that the strike only involved WIN Waste’s operations out of Somers, he said the rest of the New Hampshirebased multi-state refuse business was “up and running.” That allowed it to bring in drivers from other locations to fill in. There were a few glitches. “Some of those other WIN Waste employees were working in town on Monday and Tuesday but quite frankly they just do not know the routes. Probably 60 percent of you got pickup over the last two days. The rest were missed. They will play catch-up the rest of this week,” Lucas said Wednesday. Somers Supervisor Rob Scorrano said his office had received phone calls Monday and Tuesday from a few residents upset that their refuse or recycling hadn’t yet been collected. Garbage strike delays Somers trash collection SEE GARBAGE PAGE 22 Somers to hold 9/11 remembrance ceremony SEE 9/11 PAGE 7 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 Thinking of Selling? Don't Miss This Market. Discover how to maximize your property's value — sell with confidence. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation and find out why #UGottaHaveHope! Empty Nest? Ready to downsize? Want to head south? Let me share my proven strategies and personal- ized approach to ensure you get the best results. R Free Property Valuation: Find out what your property is worth in today's market. R Expert Staging Advice: Transform your home to make the best impression on buyers. R Targeted Marketing: Reach qualified buyers through our extensive network. R Smooth Transactions: Navigate the process with ease, from listing to closing.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 2 135 Mahopac Ave, Granite Springs, NY Jilco Window Corp. 914 248-6100 jilcowindow.com Please Contact Us for Special Savings on Select Andersen® Products. Special Pricing good thru October 7th, 2023.
Your Neighbor THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 BY TOM WALOGORSKY EDITOR “I wouldn’t really classify us as writers, but we tried,” jokes Siobhan Kennedy. The recently released children’s book that the Amawalk mom penned with her daughter, Olivia, says otherwise. Self-publishing is no easy task, and the mother-daughter duo began their journey with an unexpected idea. ‘No Phone Play Time’ “One day I was doing arts and crafts with my daughter, 5-yearsold at the time, and she said that she wanted to write a book,” Siobhan explains. “So, that obviously piqued my interest.” After some consideration, Olivia devised the concept of what would become “Charlie’s SpecTaBulous Box.” “It would be about mommy and me and ‘no phone play time.’” Like many people, Siobhan juggles the responsibilities of working full-time and parenting. Combined with the constant connectivity of the digital world, she sometimes found it difficult to unplug. “It was something that we started because the days are just so busy, I found myself on my phone more than I would like to be,” she continues. “I wasn’t really present during play time.” Realizing the importance of quality time with her daughter, Siobhan took a proactive approach. During play time she began to make an effort to put her phone down and just enjoy the moment. This newfound focus on their activities began to immediately pay dividends, culminating in Olivia suggesting the concept for their book based around unplugging to spend time together. “I didn’t realize the impact that had on her, and how much she was enjoying it,” Siobhan recalls. Pen to Paper Mother and daughter set to their task, with the goal of composing one page of the book each day. Olivia would provide an illustration and Siobhan would write the words to accompany it. As the pages were filled, a stronger bond was also forged. “We were connecting more and laughing more and forming this relationship,” says Siobhan. “It’s almost like we were building a friendship.” Eventually the story of “Charlie’s SpecTaBulous Box” took shape. Writing from experience, Olivia envisioned a story about a 5-year-old girl named Charlie who comes up with a creative way to get her mother more engaged during play time. Siobhan also used the collaboration to teach her daughter an important lesson that will serve her throughout her life. “It was important to show her that if she wanted to do something, she just needs to put her mind to it and work at it and we can get it done,” she explains. Once the story was finished, the pair would team up with illustrator Khadidja Mhamdioua who would provide the artwork for the book. Throughout, Olivia remained involved in every part of the creative process, including choosing the characters’ outfits and background details. Self Reliance Opting to go the self-publishing route for “Charlie’s SpecTaBulous Box,” Siobhan began to quickly learn about the process by watching instructional Youtube videos and joining several Facebook groups. “I asked a lot of questions, and a lot of people were really willing to help and give some advice,” she says. In June, the pair’s efforts finally came to fruition when “Charlie’s SpecTaBulous Box” was made available for purchase on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Siobhan and Olivia even shopped the book around to local retailers and it is now being offered at the newly-opened Somers General Store. When asked to give advice to any budding authors looking to go the self-published route, Siobhan offered a piece of advice that helped her through the process. “Just do it,” she explains. “Don’t think that you can’t. Believe that you can. For me, it really helped that I wanted to show Olivia that we could do it. That kept me motivated, and it was a special time that we got to have together.” “Charlie’s SpecTaBulous Box” is available on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, and at Somers General Store, located at 2 Old Tomahawk St., Suite 5 (near Barnwood Grill and Traditions.) Siobhan & Olivia Kennedy Mother-daughter team publishes first book The book teaches the importance of unplugging during play time. Olivia outside Somers General Store, which now offers copies of the book for sale. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIOBHAN KENNEDY Siobhan and Olivia Kennedy published “Charlie’s SpecTaBulous Box” in June. HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com PLEASE HELP OUR COMMUNITY GIVE TO THE SOMERS FOOD PANTRY
PAGE 4 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] 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! Mt. Kisco Septemberfest 2023 Sept. 8 - 10 The Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Village of Mount Kisco, presents SeptemberFest 2023! Join in the fun on September 8, 9, and 10, for festivities including a full-sized carnival, food and beer court, live music, a street fair, and other surprises. Mark your calendars and be ready to enjoy the weekend. Fun for the whole family! For a full schedule of events, visit www.mtkiscochamber.com. Senior Rosh Hashanah Lunch at Van Tassell House Thursday, Sept. 14, at 12 p.m. Featuring a menu of beef brisket, honey glazed carrots, potato latkes, apple sauce, dinner rolls, and pie! $3 per meal. Reservations are required. Transportation to and from Van Tassell House is available. For more information or to make reservations, please call 914-232-0807. Chavura Beth Chai Conducting services at the Lake Lincolndale Clubhouse, 11 Lake Shore Drive North, Lincolndale High Holiday Services Chavura Beth Chai, a nontraditional Jewish congregation without walls (except for the High Holidays, to accommodate a larger number of worshippers), invites the community to its services. Attendance is free. Rosh Hashanah services will begin on Friday evening, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. and Saturday morning, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. Yom Kippur services will begin on Sunday evening, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. and Monday morning, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. For more information about this unique congregation, visit www. chavurabethchai.org or call (973) 380-7995 and leave a message. Somers Parks & Recreation Department Fall Programs Now Online To register, visit www.somersny.com, then click “Parks & Recreation” and scroll down to “Program Registration Site.” Available programs can be found in the orange tab. The Church of the Good Shepherd 39 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs CRAFT VENDORS WANTED The church is seeking craft vendors to participate at its Oktoberfest event on Saturday, September 30 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The fee is $40 per space and organizers ask that you supply your own table(s). There will be flowers, pumpkins, baked goods and much more for sale. To register, please call the office at 914-248-5631 or email [email protected]. 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. Support Connection Team Spirit Campaign Sunday, Oct. 1 Support Connection announces the launch of the “Team Spirit” campaign for their 2023 Annual Support-A-Walk. This year’s Walk will take place in FDR Park ELEPHANT’S TRUNK SEE TRUNK PAGE 6
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you understand the difference between an irrevocable and a revocable trust? BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER The tenants at three shopping centers in Somers have a new landlord. Urstadt Biddle, the Greenwich, Ct.-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that owned Somers Commons, Towne Centre at Somers, and Heritage 202, was recently acquired by, and merged with, Regency Centers Corp. in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.4 billion. Regency is a nationwide real estate investment trust with headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. Eighty percent of its properties are anchored by top grocers. Regency’s combined portfolio will now be comprised of 481 total properties encompassing more than 56 million square feet of retail space. (Urstadt Biddle owned interests in a total of 77 properties in the tri-state area comprising 5.3 million square feet of gross leasable space.) Urstadt Biddle’s president and CEO Willing “Wing” Biddle -- now retired -- said last week that he expects no changes in day-to-day operations or lease terms at the three Somers shopping centers as a result of the acquisition. “Regency has a long, successful history of being a sector and industry leader in the ownership and operation of high-quality shopping centers around the country, with one of the bestregarded teams in the REIT industry,” he said in a press release issued by Regency. “I have no doubt that our portfolio will be in great hands under Regency leadership, and as a future Regency shareholder I look forward to the scale and platform benefits that the combination of our two companies will provide,” Biddle added. Saying Regency “couldn’t be more excited about the combination of our two great companies,” president and CEO Lisa Palmer noted that Urstadt Biddle “has carefully assembled over more than 50 years offers a highly aligned demographic and merchandising profile to Regency.” Both companies “have a successful track record of owning and operating best-in-class grocery-anchored neighborhood and community centers in premier suburban trade areas,” she said, adding that Regency is looking forward to “the synergies and growth opportunities that this transaction will offer to the combined shareholder base.” According to a report by CT Insider, Palmer said the New York City and southwestern Connecticut areas in which Urstadt Biddle’s assets are located appears to be benefiting from “positive post-pandemic trends” such as “suburban micro migration” and “hybrid work.” Regency is seeing a rise in “shop occupancy,” she added. Urstadt Biddle was formed in 1989 by the late Charles Urstadt after he became Hubbard Real Estate Investments’ CEO. The company’s focus then turned to open-air retail plazas. In a recent interview with CT Insider, Biddle did not go into the reasons behind the decision to sell the company. Regency acquires Somers plazas Tractor Supply holds soft opening Somers Commons Towne Centre at Somers Heritage 202 SEE PLAZA PAGE 6 PHOTOS: CAROL REIF
PAGE 6 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 fifffffflffiflffflffiff THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS Community Service hours are available [email protected] for this event! KEEP SOMERS BEAUTIFUL elephant hotel Sat & Sun SEPTEMBER 16th & 17th 9-12 Supplies at Town Hall SOMERS NEEDS YOU to KEEP SOMERS BEAUTIFUL! in Yorktown Heights and in communities nationwide! Support Connection is based in Yorktown Heights, but their toll-free and web services allow for a nationwide reach. Whether showing your support locally or from afar, you can participate in the Support-A-Walk wherever you are! The Support-A-Walk is held to bring attention to the needs of people affected by breast, ovarian, or any gynecological cancer and to raise funds for Support Connection’s free cancer support programs and services for those living with these diseases. Since the organization was founded in 1996, many thousands of people locally and across the country have received help from Support Connection. The Team Spirit Campaign encourages friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors to “team up” for the Support-AWalk. Teams are groups of people who decide to participate together in any way they wish. Team activities can include seeking donations, planning fundraising activities, inviting others to participate, and spreading the word about the Walk. Teams can create their own t-shirts and signs or banners to share their stories and express their inspiration for participating. Team members can live close to one another or far away. Those who can’t all be in one place can make plans to walk at the same time in different locations. It’s a great opportunity to connect with loved ones to work for a common cause. Team Spirit Awards will be presented as part of this campaign. Awards will go to the top 3 teams for the amount raised; the top 3 teams for the number of donors; the most creative team sign or banner. To learn more about the Support-A-Walk, or to make a donation, call 914-962-6402 or visit www.supportconnection.org/ support-a-walk TRACTOR SUPPLY TO THE RESCUE Back in 2022, Somers Commons had two anchor stores: Stop & Shop and HomeGoods, a national chain known for low-priced home décor and furnishings. After HomeGoods decided to move to the Cortlandt Town Center in Mohegan Lake, Urstadt Biddle approached the town with a proposal to demolish its former space and replace it with multifamily housing targeting millennials and baby boomers. It pointed to a nationwide trend of turning shopping centers into multi-use properties. “We have a problem on our hands: we have a 30,000-square-foot box and I don’t need to tell you all there’s been a lot of challenges in the retail world certainly over the last two years but even before that due to the rise of internet sales,” Biddle told the Somers Planning Board then. “It’s more and more difficult to find what I’d call big box retailers to come into this type of a shopping center, which is a neighborhood grocery-anchored shopping center,” he had said. Although there was still demand for small retail operations, Somers Commons had four empty stores at the time. The HomeGoods space was 220-feet deep and 160-feet wide. Carving it up would have created “long, bowling-alley type” spaces and that wouldn’t have been practical, Biddle claimed. On the other hand, quality residential housing in Somers, such as the nearby Avalon Bay apartment complex, was doing extremely well, Urstadt Biddle consultant Anup Misra had said. Noting that the company’s been a fixture in Somers since 1992, Biddle told the town in 2022 that its three shopping centers generate about $1.1 million in tax revenues. Urstadt Biddle plans to hold onto its properties there “for many years,” he added. However, the proposal to create 160 apartments in a five-story building didn’t appear to fly with town officials who pointed out that it would be located in a Community Shopping (CS) zone. While apartments and offices over retail stores were allowed in a CS zone, freestanding apartment buildings are not. The other catch was that the zoning prohibits anything higher than two stories. Some on the Planning Board worried that a five-story building wouldn’t fit with the character of the town. Biddle came back to the Planning Board a few months later with a new proposal to convert the former HomeGoods into a Tractor Supply store. The rural lifestyle retail giant had already been eyeing a 4.9-acre site off Clayton Boulevard on the west side of Somers Commons, which is located in Baldwin Place off Route 6. It sells everything from work and recreational clothing and boots, lawn and garden tools, home goods, fencing, gas grills, tractor tires and other parts, truck beds, chicken coops, pet food and toys, bird seed and feeders, and bedding, feed and goodies for horses and other farm animals. That one stuck. While its garden center, an outdoor display area for bulky items such as power equipment, and a propane supply station are still under construction, Tractor Supply was able to open for its first customers on Friday, Sept. 1. A planned pet washing station awaits the Westchester County Health Department’s approval. (A quick visit by this reporter Friday also found stuffed toys, plastic farm animals, and old-fashioned candies and snacks for the little ones, as well as hunting and rural lifestyle magazines and greeting cards for the grown-ups.) The grand opening itself is set for early October. For store hours, visit tractorsupply.com and click the store locator tab for Baldwin Place, 80 Route 6, or call (914) 519-6217. TRUNK FROM PAGE 4 SEE TRUNK PAGE 22 PLAZA FROM PAGE 5
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 7 OF SAN GENNARO YORKTOWN FEAST PROCESSION * AMUSEMENT RIDES * FOOD MUSIC * GAMES * BEER AND WINE Wed - Friday, 5pm - 11pm Saturday, 12pm - 11pm Sunday, 12pm - 10pm Location: Commerce Street & Railroad Park September 13th - 17th Statue Procession Wednesday, September 13th @ 6:00pm Starts Behind Yorktown Firehouse (All are Welcome to March) @sangennaroyorktown [email protected] Thank you to our Sponsors! the 105th floor of the South Tower. No one in his office survived the attack. The son of a German immigrant who laid tracks for the subway system and a stenographer, he grew up in Harlem and the Bronx, went to merchant marine college at Fort Schuyler in the Bronx, and married his high school sweetheart, Veronica Bavoso. · Joseph P. Spor Jr., 35, grew up in Somers and graduated from Somers High School. He joined the New York City Fire Department in 1994. The father of four was assigned to Engine 88/Ladder 38 in the Bronx for seven years. Three weeks prior to the attacks‚ he transferred to Rescue Co. 3‚ fulfilling a lifelong dream. He was among eight firefighters lost from that company. There are benches in the park’s “Unity Garden” dedicated to the three men. Bailey Park is located at the intersection of Routes 100 and 202. 9/11 FROM PAGE 1 Leo P. Masterson Leo P. Masterson passed away Thursday, August 24, 2023, surrounded by his family following a brave 11-month battle with peritoneal mesothelioma. He was 66 years old. Leo was born in Dongan Hills, Staten Island to Margaret Brandefine and Leo C. Masterson. He always enjoyed the pursuit of academics and athletics. Leo was a star baseball and football player in high school and continued to play baseball at Wagner College while graduating with an accounting degree. He went on to become a CPA and acquire his MBA at St. John’s University. Leo met the love of his life, Lori Pavone, at Shell Oil Company in NYC. After a handful of “I’ll think about it” responses to Leo’s persistent asks, Lori agreed to a date with her quick-witted coworker and they were an inseparable team ever since. They began their marriage in 1988 and started their family in Katonah, followed by a move to Cross River. Leo was remarkably devoted and took pride in his work. He became the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer of Private Export Funding Corporation in NYC for 20 years followed by a position in his hometown of Lewisboro as the Comptroller and Deputy Town Supervisor. Leo was passionate about coaching his children, Andrew and Sara, and attended every game and meet. He liked taking walks with Lori and their Rhodesian Ridgebacks, vacationing, and laughing over his favorite movies with his family. He was dedicated to his church at St. Joseph’s in Somers, NY. Although Leo’s feelings were not always worn on the outside, he did not have to speak much to be heard. Consistently stoic, he proved his astuteness with calculated precision. Quiet but strong, real, and solid. Leo’s caring heart shines through how he treated others with his actions, in big and little ways, every day. His unequivocal love for his family remains profound. Leo is survived by his loving wife, Lori, their two proud children, Andrew and Sara, dog Zulu, and his two devoted sisters, Lynn (Louis) Spinelli and Eileen O’Brien. Susan C. Graham Susan C. Graham of Somers, NY, died on Sunday, August 27, at Northern Westchester Hospital. She was born in Mount Kisco on August 29, 1940, to Arthur and Sarah MacPhee. She graduated from Fox Lane High School. Susan was a teacher’s aid in the Somers Central School District for 30 years. Susan was an active parishioner of St Joseph’s RC Church in Somers. She loved to attend her grandkids’ sporting events and play slots at the casino. She was the beloved wife of George for 63 years and the loving mother of Kim Wottle, George (wife Patrice) and Danny; devoted grandmother of Kaitlyn, John, Bryan, and Jake. Family and friends called at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah on August 30. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church on August 31, with interment following at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Somers. OBITUARIES
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, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 Dear Dr. Linda, This is to all those kids that hate school. There’s nothing wrong with school and it is a necessity for society, but for those individuals that simply don’t fit into the system, it’s a nightmare. I know this because I’m a successful adult who hated school. The only way I got through was because it was easy for me because. But there was no way I could stay focused on what we were supposed to be learning. To make matters worse, I was born on Sept. 5, which meant that my birthday either fell on the first day of school or sometime during the first week of school. Hence, every time I thought of my birthday, which should have been happy thoughts, it reminded me of school. As a result, I dreaded to think of my birthday. Here’s a little story I wrote years later describing one birthday that stood out. “Everyone, please find your seats. I’d like to begin class now.” Reality hit. Another school year. I was sitting at a desk surrounded by my fellow classmates. Farley Finnigan, the perfect student, was already taking notes. I looked around and all the kids in class seemed to be squeaky clean. You could smell soap and shampoo in the air. Even Thatch, who was always an untidy mess, looked very well put together. I had nicknamed him Thatch because he had a great big messy head of hair. The words “comb,” “brush” and “hair gel” were not in his vocabulary. Everyone in class also looked like they were wearing new clothes. Including me. I had on a new shirt and brand new running pants. I was also proudly wearing my brand new super cool sneakers. The reason that everyone and everything looked so neat and well-groomed on that morning was because it was the first day of school. Yuck! A lot of kids got excited about going to school. Not me. I was the opposite of excited. I sat with a look on my face as if I had just sucked a lemon. I stared at the back of Thatch’s head, which was slowly morphing, changing back, into its normal disorderly state and let out a sigh. Here we go again, I thought. Besides this being the first day of school, it was also my birthday. A birthday is usually a great day that a kid waits for all year long. There is an excitement as the day grows nearer — a day chock full of cake, ice cream, singing, games and best of all… presents! Lots and lots of presents. There’s a fine art to laying down subtle hints to your parents as to what presents you want. Most kids would wish for a bike or a trampoline or something fun. This was not the case for me, however. Each year, I hoped that I didn’t have to go to school. But, no matter how hard I wished, it didn’t work and without fail the first day of school would always arrive. I hated the idea of tests, homework and lessons already looming in my head. Plus, to make it even worse, I always ended up sitting next to Mary McGerkin. Her nose always whistled from a cold she could never shake. Mary had been in my class for three years in a row and I’d heard songs come out of her nose every day. To be honest, it’s quite amazing. As the years have gone by, she really came into her own. She began with classical music. After the winter vacation, Mary tried different pitches and tones. But, she couldn’t quite find her natural sound. She must have practiced hard the following summer, because her nose whistling talent now even includes jazz with a hint of the blues. I heard that she was going to try hip-hop. I asked her one time if she took requests, but she just sneered at me, turned her head and ignored me for a week. Maybe she’d have a new attitude this year. After all, it was my birthday. So, I wrote her a note and slid it across her desk that read; “At lunch today, could you please whistle ‘Happy Birthday’ to me out of your nose? She crumpled up the note and threw it at me in a huff, which I found not only rude, but also not environmentally friendly. She should have recycled the note and not litter our planet. I taught her a lesson by ignoring her for the next few hours. Funny story about the first day of school DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING SEE DR. LINDA PAGE 9 When I was a teenager back in the ’70s, my dad and I used to argue about fashion. We weren’t debating which one was more progressive and influential—Yves Saint Laurent or Diane Von Furstenberg. No, our quarrels were over what I wore to school. My basic ensemble was a pair of faded blue jeans (with requisite patches) and a t-shirt with a rock band logo on it. Dad grew up on a farm, so to him, jeans were known as dungarees—something you wore to muck the stalls, not something you’d put on to learn about the symbolism of Stephen Crane’s “Red Badge of Courage,” or the causes of the Peloponnesian War. Dad worked for IBM in Poughkeepsie (for 38 years). And in the 1960s, every morning he got up and put on the same thing: A charcoal-colored pair of dress pants (he called them trousers), and a white collared shirt with a skinny black tie. (Twenty years later, Elvis Costello would dress practically the same way, but I thought that was cool.) IBM had a strict dress code back then and the white shirt and black tie were at its core. In the ’70s, they loosened up a little bit and they allowed colored shirts... and the ties got wider. Much wider. So, when I’d get Dad a tie for Father’s Day, it was actually a welcome gift. The dude needed ties. In Pawling, where I grew up, we had the prep school Trinity-Pawling, and those kids had to wear a uniform to class. I remember expressing my relief that such wasn’t the case at our public school. Then someone pointed out that we all wore pretty much the same thing—those jeans and t-shirts—so, in a way, we did have a uniform. That stung. I’ve never been much of a slave to fashion. Fashion senseless BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 9
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 9 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 ‘ I have used the Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock for real estate and estate planning. Joe and his staff were professional, courteous, efficient, and they always returned my calls promptly when needed. I would never consider going to another law office for my legal needs. ~B.W. A short while later, I sat with my cheek pressed into my hand as Ms. Vanderbeek told us what lessons we were going to tackle this year. Borrr-ing! At that point I’m pretty sure I should have been paying attention to what she was saying. But, since it was my birthday, I felt I should at least be able to do what I wanted. So, I thought I’d treat myself by counting the tiles on the ceiling and then staring out the window for a while. Then I noticed my mom was at the door. A worried feeling came over me. Does Ms. Vanderbeek have a button under her desk that triggers a silent alarm at our house informing my mom that I wasn’t paying attention? Like in the movies during a bank robbery? Then I noticed my mom was carrying a big box in her arms. What was in the box? Were these all of my belongings from home? Were my parents evicting me for getting in trouble so quickly? Maybe they were shipping me off to military school! I started to panic. I would never survive all the discipline and marching at military school. Plus, most uniforms usually made me hot and itchy. Geez, I only lasted two days in the Cub Scouts. How would I possibly survive military school? But wait! Suddenly things were looking better. The box my mom was carrying was actually filled with cupcakes, party favors and hats. Wow! Before I knew it, all the kids in the class were crowding around and singing to me. Everyone had big smiles on their faces and chocolate cupcake frosting all over their mouths. I guess my mom figured out a way to plan a birthday party on the first day of school after all. She’s awesome! As I downed my third cupcake, all the negative thoughts from earlier in the day were now washed away. I was feeling pretty good! I was having a blast at my birthday party, and I wasn’t headed to military school. Except for somehow losing my favorite sweatshirt during the party, this wasn’t such a bad first day of middle school after all. And…it may have been my imagination, but through all the commotion, I swear I could faintly hear the beautiful sounds of ‘Happy Birthday’ coming from Mary McGerkin’s nose. -Gary Dear Gary, Great story! Thank you! Wishing every student a happy and successful school year! -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda, along with her husband, Dr. Al, own Strong Learning Tutoring and Test Prep serving Westchester and Putnam Counties for over 40 years. Strong Learning tutors students K-12 in any subject, in person or remotely. Drs. Linda and Al are also the authors of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids.” DR. LINDA FROM PAGE 8 However, I did get excited when Jerry Garcia started producing neckties in the ’90s (I still have a few), and thought it was cool that Carlos Santana created a line of women’s shoes (my friend has several pairs). Other than that, I couldn’t distinguish one designer label from another—except telling a pair of Levi’s from Wranglers. But it is kind of fun to take note of the evolution of fashion styles throughout the decades... and centuries. Back in the 18th century, upper-class men wore wigs, kneehigh silk stockings, and sometimes even a little rouge on their cheeks. Yep... the framers of our Constitution apparently were cross-dressers. But as long as they didn’t try to read “Gulliver’s Travels” to the kids at the local one-room schoolhouse, they were probably OK. Did you ever see those old black-andwhite photos or grainy film footage of crowds at Major League Baseball games in the 1930s or ’40s? All the men (not a lot of women there) were wearing suits and ties with either straw hats (‘30s) or fedoras (‘40s). Can you imagine that? It’s 90 degrees out in mid-July and these guys are all crammed together while dressed for church. Must have smelled delightful. Nowadays, when you see crowd shots of a baseball game on TV, most of those folks look like they just rolled out of bed. When my brother got really sick a few years ago, we sadly knew the end was near. My aunt, in her 90s and a Type I diabetic, was also pretty ill. I knew I had some funerals looming in the not-too-distant future and realized I hadn’t bought a new suit since the late ‘90s. So, I got one. At my brother’s wake, family members lined up as the mourners passed by to shake our hands and offer condolences. The older folks were dressed nicely, some in suits, others in sport coats and collared shirts. The younger folks looked like they just came from a day at the park—t-shirts, cargo shorts, jeans, polo shirts. I wanted to be appalled and offended, but thought, well, I guess this is just the way it is now. Older generations have always clashed with younger generations about style. My father and I not only argued about wearing jeans to school, but hair length as well. I wanted to be a rock-n-roller and grow my hair long. He wanted me to have a buzz cut and resemble a death-row inmate. These arguments got heated and contentious. For Dad, it was pretty clear: Boys had short hair, girls had long hair...end of story. When I helpfully tried to point out that was not what differentiated the sexes and proceeded to explain the anatomical distinctions in detail, he literally chased me out the front door. True story. I had my convictions, but was also kind of a wise ass. I think that’s why I ended up being a journalist. But now I’m old and I can’t have long hair anymore—unless I want to look like Ben Franklin or Doc Brown from “Back to the Future.” And I am trying to resist buying my first velour tracksuit. Now, as I look around and observe the style of millennials and Gen Xers, I have all I can do not to deride them because I remember being called a dirty hippie due to my long hair and patched blue jeans. But it is still hard to resist mocking them with their skinny jeans and man buns (aka the “hair tumor”). Apparently, they have a uniform as well. And it is not only the man buns that exasperate me as a hairstyle. They love these weird quasi-Mohawk things. When I go to get a haircut, I hear them discussing them with the barber. “Use a No. 5 on the sides, and a No. 3 on the back and leave the middle top alone because we’re gonna spike that and add some blonde tips.” I’m like, “What the hell did he just say?” But the barber always just nods and responds, “Sounds good.” My barber asks me what I want, and I say, “See my hair? Make it shorter.” One recent fashion trend for female millennials was yoga pants. They were ubiquitous. I had a friend who practically lived in them and wore them no matter the occasion. She just changed out the accessories. Then one day I told her, “You know, there are only three things that never lie: Drunks, little kids and yoga pants.” She pretty much stopped wearing them after that. DUMAS FROM PAGE 8
PAGE 10 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! 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! About 10 years ago, I took a group tour of Spain with my daughter and her husband. We met a man named Jon from Australia who was traveling alone, and, after having spoken with him for a while, we realized that we all had a lot in common. Jon ate meals with us and when we had free time, we explored our foreign surroundings together. I finished our trip with a new friend and have enjoyed corresponding with Jon over the years. During one of our emails, Jon asked me a question, “What makes you happy?” Before answering, I realized that it was a complex question involving each stage of my life. I told him that when I was a child living on the West Side of Manhattan, happiness was feeling secure within the confines of our small apartment. I had parents who loved and cared for me, a warm bed, food whenever I wanted it, toys, a sister, and lots of cousins to play with. We didn’t need to be told to watch out for strangers since everyone in the neighborhood knew each other and we knew we were safe. When I was a teenager, happiness was a boy having a crush on me, going clothes shopping with friends and saving enough money to buy the new Elvis album. In my 20s, happiness was being able to work, support myself and have fun with friends. In my 30s, my happiness centered on my own family. My baby girl, Kim, and my husband, Ken, were my life. Doing things together and making our own traditions and memories were very important to me. In my 50s I was happy knowing that Ken and I did a good job raising our child. I was happy and proud to watch her graduate college and succeed in finding a good job. Also in my 50s, Kim and I began traveling to many countries in Europe. I have met several people during those trips who I am happy to call my dear friends. Now, in my 70s, I can make a list of so many things that make me happy: I have a wonderful and loving husband, a happy, healthy grandson who lights up my life, and I have a daughter who has carved out a beautiful life with her husband and son. Has my happiness quotient changed over the years? Absolutely. I seem to be happy all the time now. I always knew the aches and pains would come and I am neither annoyed nor troubled by them. I also knew the wrinkles and grey hair would become permanent and I’m OK with that too. But, if I were asked for just one special thing that makes me happy, my answer would be family. Jo Ann Francella can be reached at [email protected]. What makes you happy? Hopeful gun club reporting will help Somers achieve justice Dear Editor, Thank you for Bob Dumas’ outstandingly thorough reporting of the controversy surrounding the Willow Wood Gun Club (“Gun club neighbors: Lead shots contaminated soil, water,” Aug. 24, Page 1). While recognizing the legally required disclaimers in BNF Consultants’ report regarding lead contamination of soil on property owned by Heritage Hills Condo 22, the prevalence of excessive lead contamination in over half the soil samples tested and the magnitude of the lead concentration in the most severely contaminated sample suggest compellingly that the gun club’s clay pigeon station activities are having a serious environmental impact. The thousands of skeet discs witnessed by Condo 22 Vice President Jack Stein along the boundary line between the condo’s and the gun club’s property provide clear visual evidence of the issue. It is especially troubling that this situation began to accumulate when the gun club opened the sporting clay range illegally, without required permits, set up in the opposite shooting direction from what had been implemented earlier. Moreover, my understanding is that the club took down hundreds of trees without required permits, resulting in miserable noise pollution for much of Heritage Hills beyond just the Condo 22 property. As a Heritage Hills resident, I am hopeful that Dumas’ reporting will help my neighbors and the Town of Somers achieve justice. -Ken Freeman Somers LETTER JO ANN FRANCELLA JUST JO ANN Fun Facts by Jo Ann Some cultures believe in happiness aversion and that being happy makes it more likely that bad things will happen to you.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 You are Cordially Invited to the Digital Marketing Best Practice Seminar www.HalstonMedia.com Digital Marketing Best Practices Webinar When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 Where: Zoom Who: Business Owners who want to Leverage Digital Media to Grow their Business Seminar Description: Strategies for connecting with the always connected consumer have changed. In this fast-paced, 45-minute educational seminar, you'll learn how your business can take advantage of changing consumer behavior, with actionable tips & ideas for improving online visibility, telling the story of your business, and precision digital targeting options for reaching your perfect next customer. Everyone who attends will receive a Free Digital Audit report for their Business! Registration is Free: To register: 1. Email [email protected]. 2. Visit halstonmedia.org/webinar 3. Register by scanning QR code. About us: Halston Digital Agency is the digital department of Halston Media Group. We offer Digital Education, Web Design, SEO, Social Media, & Precision Digital Target Marketing that generates inbound Leads!
PAGE 12 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 We see you here. What’s our greatest asset at The Bristal Assisted Living communities? It’s the lifetime of interests and experiences you bring to it. After all, that’s what makes you special. A caring team that spends the time getting to know you so you can continue nurturing, sharing and exploring those interests? Well, that’s what makes us special, too. Schedule your visit today and see for yourself. THE BRISTAL AT ARMONK | 914.306.8580 THE BRISTAL AT WHITE PLAINS | 914.594.5787 thebristal.com Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies. Equal Housing Opportunity. Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care Our first five days in Alaska were filled with awe-inspiring views of America at its best (in other words, with no humans in it). “Oh wow,” people said to me before our trip, “you’re going to see so much wildlife! Maybe a whale, a moose and a grizzly bear on a good day!” Whether it’s a good day for them or me I guess depends on how fast I can run. But by the end of five days, as our train pulled into Anchorage, the largest beast I had seen was a squirrel attacking a bird feeder, and I was in awe of this illustration of the brutality of nature. I was animal-starved, and even a chocolate mousse on a menu would have seemed exotic. I pictured myself following a big game hunter in order to see some wildlife. “What are we looking for?” I ask him as I tag along. “Keep your voice down,” he says. “We’re looking for moose droppings.” “Wow,” it was hard to conceal my disappointment. “I figured we’d go after something larger, like maybe the moose.” Perhaps these animals are nocturnal, and since there’s 21 hours of daylight, they’re sleep-deprived, grouchy and looking for the first idiot who happens to blunder along. But all that would change as we boarded the Discovery, a 65-foot, six-cabin vessel fitted with kayaks and a motor skiff, designed to visit the natural splendors of the Prince William Sound, just south of the city. From our water-borne vantage point, we captured an iconic photo of a black bear capturing a fish in its mouth. It’s not so iconic for the fish, but that’s the nature of nature. We saw a tribe of mountain goats, the largest mammals to exist at those altitudes. They were on the move, as where they were looked to be extremely boring. We pulled up to a haulout of sea lions, noisy and social, and passed a raft of otters floating on their backs. On our hike we met up with an injured bald eagle that our skipper had been keeping track of. We saw crested puffins, harbor seals and of course, the black-legged kittiwake. We boarded our small craft and positioned ourselves fairly close to Surprise Glacier, and while it would be impressive to see calving activity, an entire cow would likely send our kayak out of the Sound at the speed of sound. We floated around in our kayak for the better part of an afternoon. The worse part of the afternoon was spent rowing it. There was a lot of ice in the vicinity, so I was careful not to have a “Titanic moment.” As the de facto captain, I did not want to have to go down with the ship, when it was much easier to wait until I was back on land and figure out a way to go down without it. We returned to town after our wonderful cruise to relax for a couple days before our return flight. Anchorage is home to half the people of the state, which is two-and-a-half times the size of Texas, but with a population roughly the size of Seattle. The city is home to several eateries and drinkeries, such as the Bear Tooth Inn, the Bear Paw and the Moose Tooth Tavern. If you assembled every bar in town, you’d have one complete animal that could at any time get you drunk and then eat you. Our last day we boarded a bus tour to the Wildlife Conservation Center about 45 minutes south of the city. As we neared the preserve, I had to hold onto my kidneys as I realized that the rutting season is the same for roads as it is for elk. But they were all there: the brown bear, of which the grizzly is a smaller subspecies; the moose, which often feeds in the ocean and finds the orca one of its primary predators; the arctic fox, bred for its soft fur. They seemed glad to finally see me. The only animal that did not show itself was the lynx. I bet if I spread out a newspaper and sat down with my coffee, he’d come right out and sit on it, and I would have found the missing lynx. Finally our beautiful glimpse into the wild corners of America was over, and we boarded the plane back to New York. I wave at the stewardess and say “Huhhi,” since they always say “Buh-bye” on your way out. We make it back to New York in record time, and I say to the stewardess, “Thank you for flying Delta,” which temporarily throws her off her game. It’s good to be back in my natural habitat: captivity. At least the animals in Alaska are free, at least until my credit card bill comes. Join Rick and No Options at the Yorktown Grange Fair at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Say hello at [email protected]. Half-baked Alaska, Part II RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD Contact Us The Somers Record is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected].
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 13 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! The school year has begun for our kids and grandchildren. Time to move ahead in their future goals and time for memories. One of my fondest memories was going shopping with Mom for my backto-school outfit. We usually went with Aunt Thelma (Mom’s sister) and my cousin, Pat. Picking out an outfit, right down to new shoes, was such fun. We’d put our heads together, agree/disagree on the ensemble and leave the store with shopping bags in hand. Then it was off to a leisurely lunch. I loved these outings and remember them with affection. Another memory comes to mind. Son, Paul, was getting ready to begin his college life at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in Teaneck, N.J. We had set up a long metal table in the rec room to line up his “living needs”: sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, cans of soup, ceramic heater for the soup and so on. One night, we heard a crash. Once we traced it to the rec room, we found that the table had collapsed from the weight of everything. How did we solve this problem? Why, we slid a two-drawer file cabinet under the middle fold of the table and all was well! When we arrived at FDU, we set up Paul’s room. Mom was with us and she had a calming influence on us—our boy was going to be on his own, away from the nest. I was missing him already. Paul decided to go down to the music room— his instrument of choice being the trumpet—to investigate the possibility of continuing his studies. As I watched him walk away, I burst into tears. Bud and Mom comforted me, saying we had raised him with love and a good, firm foundation, and that he would be fine. I sniffled all the way home! A year later, Matt entered the Fairleigh Dickinson family but in Rutherford. When we arrived, we were not happy with the room. We were assured that it was temporary and that Matt and his roommate would be in a much better room by the week’s end. The good part? I could remove a leaf from the kitchen table now that our middle boys were settled in college. We gave Paul and Matt our Dodge station wagon so that they could come home on a weekend. It so happened that during their winter break, they were traveling home on a Friday evening on the Bear Mountain State Parkway, also known as the Goat Trail. I was grocery shopping at our local A&P (remember them?) when the manager turned on the P.A. system and requested that I come to the front. Once there, I discovered that a New York State Trooper had called the store to let me know that my boys’ car had “died” on the Parkway. After many decisions and help from the State Trooper, we got them home safely and the car towed to the local garage— the tranny had blown because of the weight of the small refrigerator, which had been tied to the roof! No wonder parents get gray hair! A few weeks ago, I wrote about the family BBQ at Kurt and Val’s. It was a “good luck” party for Nick and Brennan, who were going off to their respective colleges: Nick, to start his third year at Bucknell and Brennan who was beginning his freshman year at Stony Brook. I looked at these “six footers” (I feel like a Hobbit when I look up at them) and remember them coming to visit, along with sister Brie, and their countless puzzles and games. Val had her own feeling of being overwhelmed when she went grocery shopping a few days later and started to look for foods that were specific to Nick and Brennan. A Mom moment! My wish for our kids and grandkids starting/continuing their college years: good luck in your studies, make new friends, be true to yourself and remember that you are loved and cherished by your family and friends. God bless! Memories of the kids leaving home for college 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. RUTHANN SCHEFFER WHAT WAS I THINKING?
PAGE 14 THE SOMERS RECORD – THUTALENT SEARCH FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES! or Email: [email protected] Call: (914) 997-8000 Fax: (914) 940-4730 APPLY NOW! GO TO CMCS.ORG/CAREERS Visit our website for career listings. • Teacher (Birth-2) • Family Worker/Advocates • Home Visitors • Health Specialist/Nurse • Custodians • Cooks • Teachers on Study Plan • Health Nutrition & Safety • Social Worker • Education Specialist Civil War reenactors firing a canon at Lasdon Park. PHOTOS: CAROL REIF PHOTO: RICH MONETTI PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI
URSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 PAGE 15 NMLS #60828 Registered Mortgage Broker NY & CT Banking Depts. All Loans Arranged through Third Party Providers. Call Us Today! 800-771-1071 YOUR LOCAL HOME MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS 1013 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 - www.putcap.com The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 History Comes Alive Children and their folks had fun last month witnessing living history and learning about the lives of Civil War soldiers and their families. The “Civil War Soldier Experience” event took place under sunny skies on Aug. 26 and 27 at the Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Somers. Reenactors pitched tents and demonstrated other soldierly skills, including the firing of an authentic Civil War cannon. Participants got to create and take home an optical illusion toy popular during the 19th century called a thaumatrope, aka “spinning wonder.” They also each received a personalized certificate and a Friends of Lasdon embroidered patch. A whole ‘lot’ of fun Students started to get excited for the new school year by painting spots in the Somers High School parking lot last week! The annual tradition allows our Tuskers to get creative and show off their school spirit. Training day Close to a dozen emergency services took part in a large-scale drill in Somers recently. It gave the Somers Volunteer Fire Department and other participants the chance to practice shuttling large amounts of water from multiple sources to the “scene.” Attendees included mutual aid partners from Bedford Hills, Croton Falls, Mahopac, Mahopac Falls, Millwood, Pound Ridge, South Salem, and WCDES Battalion 4. The Bedford Fire Department and Yorktown Heights Volunteer Fire Department stood by to cover Somers’ calls while the crucial training was going on. Participating SVFD units were: Cars 2441, 2442 (IC), 2444, and 2447; Tankers T16 and Engine 188; Engines180, 181, and 185; Rescue 20; Tower Ladder 18; Fire Police; and Ambulance 80B3. The SVFD is always looking for new members. If you’re interested in joining, visit www.somersvfd.com. Scenes from around Somers firefighters holding a drill at Firemen’s Field. Somers! PHOTOS COURTESY OF SVFD
Sports PAGE 16 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 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 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Somers girls soccer team opened their season on August 29 against Pelham, and for Julia Arbelaez especially, it was no bother that the school year has not yet started. With a series of dazzling displays of footwork, she was the first one knocking, and in not waiting for anyone to answer, the junior led her team through the threshold and also slammed the door shut. Two goals and an assist, the forward was quick nonetheless to spread the credit in the Tuskers 3-0 home victory. “Just being around all these amazing teammates,” Arbelaez said, “they make me better.” The forward didn’t wait long to get started, either. After taking a short pass from Tiana Righetti, Arbelaez put on a little two step into space and kicked just over the crossbar at 36:10. Far from done, she cut through the defense on the visitor side of the field, and her shot sent Kaitlyn Howell to the turf. The rebound went to Adrianna Cooke at 33:40, and her shot sent Howell diving again. The save made, Arbelaez was soon doing a redo with Righetti. The Somers midfielder dribbled the ball out of the defensive end, made it past midfield and dished the ball to her teammate. Alone with some space, Arbelaez took aim but the shot went wide at 31:45. Then the Somers defense had a turn. With Oluchi Njoku coming down with the goalie kick at midfield, she made some space of her own. Unencumbered, Njoku made a lead pass on target, but Liza Mazzella got there first and broke up the play at 26:40. The back and forth continued - and no surprise - would give way to Arbelaez and Righetti again. Only in reverse, Arbelaez cleared out the defense with her dribbling and fed an open Righetti. Her shot sailed through the uprights, though. 21:47 left in the half, Pelham would get another glimpse. Abby Parker got the steal on the sideline and sent the ball ahead to Njoku. A lot of height and physicality to cover, Mazzella still had a step and broke up the play. So Arbelaez didn’t hesitate to take the cue. After taking the goalie pass, Annie Maguire dribbled to midfield and made a nifty pass to the high scorer. Three defenders converging, Arbelaez still got a shot off and sent Howell diving on the shot gone just wide. Undeterred by the pressure, Pelham applied their own and a big blast on the right by Njoku said as much. A thud to match, Marley Hawkins came off the bench and stood her ground. “When I see the ball in front of me, I just put myself in front, so it doesn’t get past me,” said the sophomore. A few more key defensive plays to follow, Coach Kelci Hegg saw Hawkins entrance as a turning point. “She’s composed. She makes smart decisions, and I think she settled us a little bit,” said Hegg. An errant pass led to Pelham’s best opportunity of the day, though. Njoku got the easy pick, her shot deflected to Rebecca Nicholas on the right, and Julia Schmidberger made a sliding save on the short side. But now Somers was done fooling around, and this time they added a few feet to the Tusker tandem. First, Righetti made a perfect lead pass to Arbelaez and Pelham raced to catch up. Two defenders on her heels, Arbelaez dropped a pass for a trailing Lindsay Ulaj and the race was on with Howell. “I just went for the ball and didn’t look back,” said Ulaj. Both arriving about the same time, the Tusker got off a shot, and the next thing she saw was the ground and Lindsay McCullough getting the drop. An easy kick, the ball’s loft took its time and the feather-like bounce had Ulaj teetering on edge. “It took forever,” Ulaj lamented. With Howell futilely giving chase, McCullough saw herself as just one of the cooks in the Somers kitchen. “The goal was a great team effort,” she said. At 3:14 of the first, Somers went into the second half ready to close, and Maguire’s shot from the corner looked like it would eliminate the crevice. Instead, Howell reached up at 28:30 and made the two handed snare. The Pelham goalie was up to the task too with ten minutes to go. Righetti stole the ball in the Pelham end, dribbled into the corner and set Arbelaez up right out front. The shot away, Howell went down, and the Pelham defense cleared the high rebound. Not far enough, Jordan McMorrow toed the sideline, secured the ball and made a move around the defense. She then found Arbelaez to the right of the goal in the end zone and blind expediency was the name of the game. “I knew I didn’t have time to look because the goalie was coming out,” said the shooter. “I just hit it over her, and it went in.” 9:37 left in the game, Arbelaez’s goal two minutes later iced the game on a very hot day and no doubt made the grade for the coach. “It was a good first test for us,” concluded Hegg. Tuskers pass first test of the season Arbelaez nets two in win over Pelham Tiana Righetti Julia Arbelaez PHOTOS: RICH MONETT Marley Hawkins GIRLS SOCCER ‘Just being around all these amazing teammates, they make me better.” Julia Arbelaez
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 17 BY JUSTIN CONTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER 11 returning players, including nine seniors, three awarded players, the league Coach of the Year, and a statement to be made. The Somers girls varsity volleyball team is ready to pick up where they left off last year with their eyes set on the section title. After a devastating end to a 13-5 season last fall to Walter Panas in the quarterfinals, Coach Stacey Pittman has put the pedal to the metal on creating not only an unstoppable team, but a family. “We share with the girls and the parents what our culture or what we have dubbed as the ‘Tusker Way’ is all about,” the third-year coach remarks about what it means to be a family. “You know and trust your sister will be there for you when you step onto the court and give it your all.” A quartet of seniors will run the Tuskers’ offense, including setter and captain Reilly Pittman, outside hitter and captain Bridget Pittman, libero and captain Taylor Luks, and middle blocker Caroline Conti. Bridget Pittman, a veteran on this Tuskers team, knows how crucial it is to exercise the coach’s values of respect and commitment during each match. “It’s important that if we were to lose multiple points in a row that we Tuskers look to stampede to section title Tuskers volleyball traveled to Universal Studios for competition and team-building. Somers volleyball’s motto for this season is “believe.” Somers played 7 games in 2 days while in Florida. VOLLEYBALL SEE VOLLEYBALL PAGE 18 PHOTOS: JUSTIN CONTI COLLEGE COUNSELING ACADEMIC PLANNING • CAREER COACHING (845) 628-0726 • www.guidedconsult.com 900 South Lake Blvd., Suite 8 • Mahopac, NY 10541 EMPOWERING students’ critical thinking skills through academic, career, and post-secondary planning. College List • Essay & Supplemental Writing Resume Development • Application Completion Obtain ONGOING SUPPORT For A Detailed Process. Contact us TODAY JUNIOR TENNIS PROGRAMS FOR MORE INFO CALL: 914.669.9500 or email: [email protected] HardscrabbleClub.com • 22 Sutton Pl, Brewster, NY 10509 ENROLLING NOW for FALL 2023 Week of Sept. 4 onward GRAB YOUR SPOT BEFORE THEY’RE ALL TAKEN! STAGES: Red Ball, 5-7 years Orange Ball, 8-9 years Green Ball, 9-10 years Yellow Ball, 11- 18 years CLASSES: Weekdays: 4-5pm, 5-6pm & 5-6:30pm. Saturdays: 3:30-4:30pm & 3-4:30pm ALL LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, Middle School and JV/Varsity Team Players AFTER-SCHOOL
PAGE 18 – THE SOMERS RECORD SPORTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 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. FALL 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 10/31/23 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! LIMITED TIME ONLY Frozen Lemonade Frozen Iced Tea Lemonade Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Frozen Peach Lemonade Small Large ©2023 Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Valid at participating locations. $0.00 $0.00 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 guestNot valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RREDEEMABLE AT FROZEN TREAT $1 OFF WHEN YOU BUY ONExpires 04.15.202RITAS 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. 9/7/2023 FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Friday, Sept. 1 Somers traveled to Ramapo, NJ to open their season. Unfortunately, the Tuskers were defeated on the last play of the game, falling 38-34 to the Raiders. With six seconds to go, Gavin Taylor got behind the defense and Landon DePrima hit him from 39 yards away as the clock ran out. Not without controversy, there was a doubt as to whether Taylor’s knee was down at the 1-yard-line when making the diving catch. Somers had taken a 34-26 lead with 1:46 remaining when Mason Kelly scored his third TD of the game on an eight-yard run. But Ramapo scored with 19 seconds remaining, and then Kenton Grosfelt recovered the onside kick. Three plays later, the pass went up and Somers was forced to endure the shock. In the losing effort, Kelly rushed for 131 yards on 28 carries and Dean Palazzolo had 152 yards on three carries. In JV action, Somers came out on top of Pleasantville 21-0 behind a solid defensive effort. Tuskers fall to Ramapo in opener JV blanks Pleasantville The Tuskers JV squad picked up a win over Pleasantville on Sept. 1. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS BALL FOOTBALL can’t get upset or mad at each other and have to come together to figure out how we can turn the game around.” Coach Pittman is confident that if this team believes that they can win, they will outperform their accomplishments from the 2022 season. He has full confidence that they will be able to pull out all of the stops and work together as a team, in addition to a family, to see their names hanging on a banner in the gym. “Every year, for the back of our warm-up shirts, we pick a word. Last year that word was commit. This year we decided on ‘believe’” Conti commented on what is going to drive the team this fall. She is set to face off against Valhalla, her old high school, in their second match of the season. This past week, the Tuskers made their way down to Florida for five days in Universal Studios where they spent time riding roller coasters, made unforgettable memories, and played seven games of volleyball between Friday and Saturday. The defending league champions hope that after this team bonding experience and all of their hard work during the offseason, this year will be one to remember. VOLLEYBALL FROM PAGE 17
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 LEISURE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 19 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. Second sight 4. Standard electrode potential 7. Type of gibbon 8. John Joseph __: American industrialist 10. Manning and Whitney are two 12. Abrupt 13. Baroque musical instrument 14. Post-burning residue 16. When you hope to arrive 17. Sign up (Brit. Eng.) 19. Sun up in New York 20. Employee stock ownership plan 21. Where people live 25. Method to record an electrogram 26. Angry 27. No longer living 29. Simple 30. Swiss river 31. Portion of a play 32. It’s under the tree 39. Wood sorrels 41. No (Scottish) 42. Dialect of English 43. Former Steelers’ QB 44. Popular beer 45. It can make you sick 46. Tropical tree and fruit 48. Company officer 49. Contact lens term 50. Your consciousness of your own identity 51. “Ghetto Superstar” singer 52. Piece of turf CLUES DOWN 1. Number of players on each side in a football game 2. Containing salt 3. Reasoning or knowledge: a __ 4. Car mechanics group 5. Leave a place 6. Southern Colombian capital 8. Old English letter 9. Tide 11. Walk heavily 14. Chemical compound (abbr.) 15. Artificial openings 18. Luteinizing hormone 19. Unit of energy 20. Circular movement of water 22. A way of holding 23. Popular book of words (abbr.) 24. States’ group 27. Dashes 28. Body part 29. Electronic countermeasures 31. Consumed 32. Small bird 33. Unhappy 34. Football’s big game (abbr.) 35. Valued object offered in good faith 36. Wild goats 37. Precede in place 38. Small edible fish 39. Notice of death 40. Body cavity of a metazoan 44. Partner to cheese 47. Not around 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
PAGE 20 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 59 Years of Excellence Putnam & Westchester County’s Premier Plumbing Professionals Since 1964 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT SERVICE CALL! VALID ON CALLS OVER 1 HOUR. EXPIRES 10/31/23 It’s Back to School Time... Have a Great Year! BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Police are warning local residents—especially seniors—about a group of thieves using distraction and sleight-of-hand to rob them as they exit stores, banks, and ATMs. So-called “distraction scams”— both successful and attempted— have been reported in Yorktown, Mahopac, and some surrounding towns by what police describe as an organized ring operating throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond. Last week, two separate but similar “distraction” robberies were reported in Yorktown. Incidents have also been reported in Mahopac by what police believe are members of the same group. Parking lot robbery Police said the two Yorktown incidents were initiated by separate teams of people, but both targeted senior citizens in parking lots during daylight hours. “This past week, grifter-like criminals hit us on both sides of town, targeting our most vulnerable population, our senior citizens,” Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble said. “Senior citizens are targeted for many reasons, the most prevalent being that they are the most trusting and tend to have considerable savings or valuable possessions.” The Yorktown Police Department (YPD) posted photos of the alleged perpetrators to its Facebook account on Aug. 23 and continues to seek information about the suspects and any additional crimes. Police are asking anyone who has been approached, victimized, or has witnessed such crimes, to contact them. Meanwhile, the Carmel Police Department (CPD) said a similar attempt was made on the same day in Mahopac but was unsuccessful. In addition to the confirmed cases, police believe there may have been others that have not yet been reported. “I would say with a reasonable degree of certainty that there were additional attempts, probably even a successful one or two, that weren’t reported,” Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann said. According to Yorktown police, the first incident took place in the parking lot of TD Banknorth in Jefferson Valley. The victim—a woman in her 70s—had just made a bank withdrawal and gotten into her car when she was approached by a younger woman who allegedly told her not to back her car out of the spot because there was “something behind her rear tire.” When the victim got out of her car to look, a man allegedly reached into the car and took the bank envelope containing the victim’s cash, which police say which police say contained a few hundred dollars. Both suspects walked away from the incident but were reportedly later apprehended in upstate New York. According to YPD, multiple jurisdictions are coming forward to press charges. Noble said that the perpetrators are suspected of committing similar crimes as far away as Batavia, N.Y., but the ring has been operating locally as well. According to Hoffmann, the same two suspects in the TD Banknorth incident were allegedly in Mahopac the same day that they were in Yorktown. The second Yorktown incident took place in the parking lot of Uncle Giuseppe’s in Yorktown Heights, according to Noble. ‘Distraction’ scams target seniors Multiple robberies reported near area businesses Male suspect in the Jefferson Valley scam Male suspect in the Uncle Giuseppe’s parking lot scam PHOTOS COURTESY OF YPD Female suspect in the Jefferson Valley scam SEE SCAM PAGE 21
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 21 A RESPECTFUL APPROACH TO NAVIGATING FAMILY TRANSITIONS AND CONFLICT - Family, Elder and Divorce Mediation - Collaborative Divorce - Co-Parenting Plans - Pre-Nuptial and Marital Settlement Agreements ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION OFFERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES - Privacy - A Voice in Decision Making - Preservation of Assets - Child Focused Options - Avoidance of Often Toxic and Costly Court Proceedings NEW LOCATION: 340 Route 202 • Suite M, Somers • 914-669-5224 www.margaretnicholson.com • [email protected] “I am honored to have been selected by my peers for Hudson Valley Magazine’s annual “Top Lawyers” publication. THE LAW & MEDIATION OFFICE OF Margaret A. Nicholson Free Half Hour Consultations Virtual Options Available 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. The victim of this incident, a man in his 70s, was approached by a male/female team posing as jewelry sellers in the supermarket parking lot. The male suspect invited the victim to try on a necklace. The female allegedly placed the necklace on the victim while “skillfully removing” the necklace he was already wearing, police said. After taking the necklace (valued at around $3,000) the perpetrators fled in a Jeep. Using trust as a weapon Carmel police officer Erin Macom said that frauds and scams are becoming more frequent and complex every day, and while not all scams target seniors, many criminals see elderly people as easy targets. But, she adds, part of what makes the scammers’ job easier is that people think it will never happen to them. “It is easy to say you may never fall victim to a scam but we have plenty of intelligent and professional people come forward as victims,” said Macom, who is deputy public information officer for the Carmel PD and a member of its Community Relations Team. “The truth is that scammers work night and day thinking of effective ways to trick people. They are professionals and put a lot of time into looking credible.” Macom said Carmel PD “makes special efforts to teach people how they can identify scams and protect themselves from becoming a victim.” In her role as deputy public information officer, Macom and fellow CPD officer Vincent Serio frequently visit senior groups in the area to outline the dangers of crimes and explain how they can protect themselves. “Everyone has a story of someone trying to scam them, so we like to teach the basics on how to identify one,” Macom said. “There are three tell-tale signs people can look for.” First, the scammer will pretend to be someone you can and should trust, such as a bank employee or a loved one. Second, they will create an emergency situation and say you have to act immediately. “People often do not think clearly in an emergency,” Macom said. “Scammers know this is when people are most vulnerable.” Third, the scammers will create very short deadlines that you must meet or pay severe penalties. “The purpose of this is to deprive you of the time you need to think and verify their claims,” Macom said. “The best thing you can possibly do if presented with this situation is to stop and think through what the person is telling you. Is it likely? ‘How can I verify what they are saying? Are they trying to prevent me from verifying it on my own?’” Noble said that another sign that you might be a scam target in a public place is being approached by strangers with “a tale of woe.” Police recommend a quick response should you choose to engage such as, “I will be happy to call the police to assist you.” Noble said if you receive “no thanks” as a response, “something isn’t right.” Noble also said that if someone is trying to sell you something in a parking lot, continue walking to your destination, consider calling your local police, and do not engage. “Trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to be skeptical,” Hoffmann added. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” The scammers are smart, Noble said, and in communities such as Yorktown, they usually walk away with hundreds of dollars in cash. “You will also tend to see grifters in parking lots requesting money in suburban areas,” added Noble. “Some play musical instruments, others just stand there with a cardboard sign. Most are not genuine and in communities like ours, they tend to walk away with hundreds in cash. These scammers are smart. “For these individuals and groups that commit these scams, this is their job,” he added. “They work on their social engineering skills and how to play on people’s emotions like the rest of us work at our legitimate jobs. So we need to stay vigilant, and not be afraid to ask trusted friends and merchants for help when something doesn’t seem on the up and up. These scammers will try to disarm you with cunning and kindness, but you need to trust your gut.” Macom said scammers work night and day thinking of effective ways to trick people. “They are professionals and put a lot of time into looking credible,” she said. “So if you think something may be a scam or a deal is ‘too good to be true’ trust your instincts that it probably is.” “It is our hope that sharing this information both on social media and with the [media], will serve to better alert and protect the public,” said Noble. “It seemed to go viral, as our post was shared a few hundred times in several communities. Our patrols and detectives continue to work hard in an effort to prevent crime and to investigate crimes when they occur.” “Yorktown is a law and order community that supports its police department. We ask that all in our community continue to help us, help you,” he concluded. “We do live in a safe community and we all should endeavor to keep it that way.” Despite the aftorementioned arrests of the alleged perpetrators, Hoffmann said people should remain vigilant. “It appears that the same group that was in Yorktown and Mahopac was doing the same thing down county in the [Long Island] Sound shore area a few days prior, and they may even have been arrested,” he said. “Unfortunately with them being released with an appearance ticket rather quickly because they can’t get bail, arrests don’t seem to be a deterrent. So they’ll hang around until we catch them enough or we get the word out enough for people to be aware and they move onto another area.” SCAM FROM PAGE 20 The Jeep used to flee after the Uncle Giuseppe’s parking lot scam. PHOTO COURTESY OF YPD
PAGE 22 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 99th Annual Yorktown Grange Fair September 8 — September 10 Yorktown Grange Fairgrounds 99 Moseman Road, Yorktown Heights Antique Tractor Parade Saturday at Noon! All proceeds benefit the Yorktown Grange Agricultural Society, a 501(c)(3) corporation. YORKTOWN GRANGE Celebrating 125 Years 1899-2023 P of H #862 Rides ~ Exhibits ~ Contests ~ Live Music All Weekend Livestock ~ Craft Vendors ~ Great Food & Craft Beer Only $10 per Carload Presented by the Yorktown Grange Agricultural Society Russell Girolamo Jr. Stephanie Girolamo Burke Jennifer Thorp Auto | Home | Business | Life (914) 962-9777 www.girolamoagency.com 60 YEARS IN BUSINESS EST. + 1962 Russell Girolamo Jr. Stephanie Girolamo Burke Jennifer Thorp Auto | Home | Business | Life (914) 962-9777 www.girolamoagency.com 60 YEARS IN BUSINESS EST. + 1962 rock & roll with NO OPTIONS AT THE YORKTOWN GRANGE FAIR Friday, September 8th- 7:30PM 99 Moseman Rd, Yorktown Heights 914-962-3900 Lucas, however, had to field multiple complaints from the public. One angry post on NorthSalemNYinfo’s Facebook page, suggested that the union had deliberately timed the strike so it would coincide with the Labor Day holiday and urged the town to cancel WIN Waste’s contract and create of sanitation department of its own. Some of the other area municipalities WIN Waste serves are Lewisboro, Katonah, Mahopac, Pound Ridge, and Yorktown. Somers was also breathing a sign of relief Wednesday. “I’m glad the two parties were able to come to a solution,” said Scorrano, adding that he hoped WIN Waste customers “will have peace of mind knowing that their stuff will all be gone by the end of the week.” Calling the work stoppage “unexpected,” WIN Waste spokesperson Mary Urban said Wednesday, Aug. 30, that the New Hampshire-based company did everything it could to make sure that customers were “as minimally impacted as possible” during its “good faith negotiations” with the union’s leadership. “On Monday and Tuesday, we prioritized service areas based on the personnel we had available, the equipment in which they specialize, and our most dense routes so we could service the maximum number of customers,” the company explained in a statement. Those customers it couldn’t get to on those two days were “informed that all of their trash or recycling would be picked up the following week while our remaining customers for the week were services on their normal schedule,” it added. “We’re very pleased that all our teammates are back to work today, and we can once again provide great service to our customers,” WIN Waste said Wednesday. “A tentative agreement with union leadership was reached last evening, and we are glad to be back to our regular operations. “ Acknowledging that the contract still must be ratified, Urban said Wednesday afternoon that WIN Waste was feeling “encouraged” that it will happen. In 2021, Stamford-based City Carting & Recycling and Wheelabrator Technologies got together and rebranded themselves as WIN Waste Innovations. The latter operates a waste-to-energy facility in Peekskill. WIN Waste’s director of market development, Anthony Farina, sent the following note to Lucas Wednesday. “We’re operating with a full crew; work stoppage is over. Plan to have normal scheduled service from this day on. Regular drivers are back on those routes and working to get everything off the street this week,” he wrote, adding that he had “full confidence they will get it done.” Farina also thanked folks for their “patience.” GARBAGE FROM PAGE 1 Hebrew Congregation of Somers Cypress Lane & Mervin Drive in Shenorock High Holiday Services Beginning with Rosh Hashanah Eve on September 15 and ending with Yom Kippur on September 25. The Hebrew Congregation of Somers welcomes guests to their Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Attendance is free, and organizers only request that you fill out a form by visiting www. hebrewcongregationofsomers.org. For further information call (914) 248-9532 and leave a message. 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 its 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 3rdthrough 8th-grade student at their school for the upcoming school year. The commitment is TRUNK FROM PAGE 6 SEE TRUNK PAGE 24
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 23 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 Putnam/Westchester/Orange/Dutchess and more 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
PAGE 24 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 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. 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. Movie Matinee: West Side Story Thursday, Sept. 7, from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Somers Library Movie Matinee series meets in person to view: “West Side Story,” the original 1961 classic inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The story is set in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, then a multiracial blue collar neighborhood. This musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. STEM for Grades 4-7: Aerodynamics & Paperplanes Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. This program takes a fun look at how to build a paper plane, and how changing the design can help or hinder flight. Instruction will start small and work up to big paper airplanes, finishing off with a competition to see which plane flies the farthest, fastest and highest. Registration is necessary.(Rain date: Thursday, Sept. 21.) Tot Time Tuesdays, Sept. 12 & 26, at 10:30 a.m. Enjoy songs, rhymes and books. Ages 0-3 and caregivers. Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival 10th Anniversary Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Taking place at the Chappaqua Train Station in Chappaqua. This year’s Festival will be the largest one yet, with 180 authors in attendance and celebrity authors Mary Pope Osborne and Alan Gratz leading the charge. Organizers look forward to introducing the community to new writers joining this year, like Alex Gino, and reconnecting with returning authors like Bryan Collier. Admission and parking are free, and the event will be held rain or shine (http://www. ccbfestival.org/). CCBF is proud to announce that it is a recipient of the WestchesterArts 2023 Arts Alive grant, given to support community-based arts and cultural projects developed by cultural groups and organizations. TRUNK FROM PAGE 22 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK B”H Traditional High Holiday Services with Chabad of Yorktown Rosh Hashana: Sept 15-17 Yom Kippur: Sept 24-25 For more information and to RSVP visit www.ChabadYorktown.com or call 914-962-1111 • No membership fees fifffflffiflffi fflffi Traditional services with contemporary messages Hebrew/English prayerbooks • Insights and explanations Prayer instructions throughout the service • All are welcome Find out more about our exciting Hebrew school for this year! www.ChabadYorktown.com/ HebrewSchool WE SPECIALIZE IN 8, 10, 12 & 15 YARD DUMPSTERS ON WHEELS & TRADITIONAL DUMPSTERS 10-40 YARD RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEAN-OUTS FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 1-855-916-5473 One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. alone I’m never Life Alert® is always here for me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! ® Help at Home with GPS! Help On-the-Go For a FREE brochure call: 1-800-404-9776 Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES Batteries Never Need Charging.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 25 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 from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Call to get your FREE Information Kit 1-855-225-1434 Dental50Plus.com/nypress Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. 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, NY; 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). 6208-0721 DENTAL Insurance © 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 EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! Promo Code: 285 FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 1 Subject to credit approval. Call for details. FREE GUTTER ALIGNMENT + FREE GUTTER CLEANING* SENIORS & YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY! PURCHASE* 20 + % % OFF 10 OFF *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only. 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufactured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. Registration# 0366920922 CSLB# 1035795 Registration# HIC.0649905 License# CBC056678 License# RCE-51604 Registration# C127230 License# 559544 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2102212986 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 2106212946 License# MHIC111225 Registration# 176447 License# 423330 Registration# IR731804 License# 50145 License# 408693 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# H-19114 License# 218294 Registration# PA069383 License# 41354 License# 7656 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 423330 License# 2705169445 License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE 1-855-478-9473 Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST Visit Our Display Center at 747 Pierce Road, Clifton Park, NY, 12065 Same Day Installation • Sales • Rentals • Service • Buybacks New and Reconditioned Lifts Locally Owned & Operated Regain Your Independence! $ 200 OFF the purchase of any stairlift 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 Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. C ONN E C T S FREE INTERNET Qualify today for the Government Free Internet Program CALL TODAY (877) 651-1637 YOU QUALIFY for Free Internet if you receive Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefi ts, Lifeline and Tribal. Bonus offer: 4G Android Tablet with one time co-pay of $20 ACP program details can be found at www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-consumer-faq Switch to DISH for access to every professional football game this fall on YouTube, Prime Video, Peacock, and ESPN+ Plus, get the Multi-Sport Pack on us! Sign up for AT120+ or above and get 15 additional sports channels with the Multi-Sport Pack at no cost. DISH has the most college football with SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, and Longhorn Networks. FOR LIMITED TIME* DON’T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION! 8,000 TOUCHDOWNS O N E P L A C E T O W AT C H ! Plus, Multi-Sport Pack Included for a Limited Time 1-866-782-4069 3-year price guarantee requires credit qualification and 2-year commitment and covers core programming, local networks, and equipment. Call I-Tech for details at 1-833-682-2047. Gift Card Offer ends 10/11/2023: Requires offer code DTV2DISH. Eligibility requires: 1) continuing active DISH service, 2) completion of the first 31 days of DISH service, 3) payment of first DISH bill, 4) submission of a recent DirecTV satellite bill for the same name or address, and 5) online redemption after validation. After completing the redemption process, the gift card will be shipped within 4 to 6 weeks. For full details, visit https://my.dish.com/support/helpful-tools/gift-cards. All packages, programming, and offers are subject to change without notice.New customers only. Must subscribe to AT120+ or above or DishLATINO Max by 11/13/23. Multi-Sport Pack access ends 1/11/24. Offer subject to change without notice. Local blackouts and other restrictions apply. Streaming apps require separate subscription. *FOR QUALIFYING CUSTOMERS SWITCH TO DISH & GET UP TO A $300 GIFT CARD! BOGO 40% OFF OFFER ENDS 10/31 888-448-0421
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 26 Check out our Facebook & Twitter pages! 845-225-7777 • www.puthumane.org Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Billie Billie is a beautiful girl who was found as a stray. 10 years old . She’s so sweet. And sadly, she’s been diagnosed with mammorary cancer. She’s doing fine, but we don’t know what the long-term prognosis will be. Would love to get her into a home sooner than later. She’s a love. Turner is the happiest boy! Full of energy. Just three years old. He likes other dogs. Would be best with older kids just because he’s so strong and energetic, and could knock over little toddlers, but other than that he is good with all! Turner THIS AD WAS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY HALSTON MEDIA. 68 Old Rt. 6, Carmel REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE *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. (877) 516-1160 $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS REQUEST A FREE QUOTE FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $735 Value! Whether you are home or away, protect what matters most from unexpected power outages with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents? Want to keep your family healthy and safe? NYS Kinship Navigator provides information, referral and assistance with financial needs, legal options, school enrollment, kinship law and other resources. Help is just a phone call away. 877-454-6463 NYS Kinship Navigator can help. nysnavigator.org Then you’re a Kinship Caregiver! TTY: NY Relay 711 or 800-421-1220 ON YOUR INSTALLATION 60% OFF Limited Time Offer! SAVE! TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Additional savings for military, health workers and fi rst responders 10% OFF New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/licenses/ MADE IN THE U.S.A. New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and 1.855.492.6084 FREE ESTIMATE Expires 6/30/2023 Before After Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE when tackling your roof! CLASSIFIEDS DIVORCE $389 - Uncontested divorce papers prepared. Only one signature required. Poor person Application included if applicable. Separation agreements. Custody and support petitions. 518-274-0380 Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755 Privacy Hedge! Arborvitae 6-foot Reduced to $125/each. Free Installation, Free Delivery. Fast growing, High-quality Beautiful & Bushy! Order now to reserve for early Fall delivery. LowCostTrees. com 518-536-1367 HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-598-5898 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574 ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044 My Caring Plan’s local advisors have helped thousands of families with unique needs find senior living. Can you afford 2k a month in rent? We can help for free! 866-989-1812 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636 Secure your home with Vivint Smart Home technology. Call 866-601-1219 to learn how you can get a professionally installed security system with $0 activation. Do you need a Roof or Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months freepremium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313 DIRECTV Sports Pack – 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918 ATTORNEY AUTO DONATIONS FOR SALE HEALTH HOME IMPROVEMENT HELP WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Bookkeeper & Home Office Support. Mature couple in Lewisboro looking for part-time bookkeeper and home office support, including scheduling, organizing, and errands. $25-$30/ hr. 6-12 hrs/wk flexible schedule. 646-820-5130 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 8/31/23 Your ad could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151, to find out how. Share Your Milestones Let your neighbors know about the special moments in your life, whether it’s a birth, engagement, wedding or anniversary. Send us a photo and announcement at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. There is no charge for this announcement. Send a selfaddressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 914- 302-5830.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 27 Obviously, the death of a loved one creates a tremendous amount of stress and pressure on their surviving family and friends. It is an emotional period of time when many issues need to be addressed, including preparing for the wake, burial, safeguarding assets and ultimately distributing assets to those entitled to receive them from the estate. The following are an overview of the first steps one should take: Secure the Original Last Will and Testament or Trust The individual named as the Executor(s) of the Will or Successor Trustee of a Trust should take steps to safeguard these documents and review them with a Trusts and Estates Attorney to determine the necessary steps. Identify what the Decedent Owned Make a list of all assets owned by the decedent and categorize the items. Did the decedent own tangible personal property (automobiles, furniture, jewelry, clothes and artwork), real property (home, land and condos) and liquid assets (bank accounts, stocks, bonds, annuities life insurance)? You should also review how any of these assets are titled. Title of the assets is critical in determining whether or not the probate of a Last Will & Testament will be necessary and/or whether assets will pass by operation of law to a joint tenant of the property or to a named beneficiary. Marshal and Secure Assets Once the assets of the decedent are identified, it will be most important to marshal and secure those assets so that a third party is unable to unlawfully take possession of them. If assets are titled in the name of the decedent alone, the marshaling of said assets will require that the Executor(s) named in the Last Will petition the court for Letters Testamentary and/or Preliminary Letters testament so that upon issuance of said letters they can title the assets in the name of the decedent’s estate. If the decedent’s assets are in a Revocable Living Trust and/or Irrevocable Trust, probate will not be needed. The same applies if the decedent’s assets have a surviving primary beneficiary and/or contingent beneficiary. It should be noted that if a decedent dies with assets in their name alone and does not have a Last Will, Court intervention will still be needed in the form of an Administration proceeding and an Administrator will need to be appointed by the Court. Consult with an Attorney One should consult with an experienced attorney that handles the probate and administration of estates to determine what steps need to be taken depending on the nature of the assets of the decedent’s estate and whether or not there is a Last Will and Testament and/or Trust in place. This individual will also assist in determining the size of the estate and the potential estate tax, capital gain tax and/or income tax considerations that may need to be reviewed relevant to the estate. In conclusion, an approach that is structured and organized by an experienced trust and estates attorney will help accomplish the successful administration of the estate and the ultimate distribution of the estate assets to the beneficiaries. Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is a Senior Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and she enjoys working with individuals to ensure that their plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea received a B.S. in Business Management from Quinnipiac University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a J.D. from the Pace University School of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be contacted at 914-948-1500 or www.esslawfirm.com. First steps to take when a loved one passes LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER 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: Sept. 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. Oct. 25 Understanding the Implications of Gray Divorce: A divorce later in life often adds a level of complexity to the estate and tax plan process. Understand what potential complications may arise and how to address them – from division of assets and tax issues to estate and long-term care planning. Presented by Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Once the assets of the decedent are identified, it will be most important to marshal and secure those assets so that a third party is unable to unlawfully take possession of them.’ -Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: YOU MAY *QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS! HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH Qualify Today: 800-944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to see if you *qualify Do you need a New Roof and Help paying for it? Do you need Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? 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 *Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are on a first come, first serve basis in your area. Any leaking, visible damage, or roof age, may *qualify you! Drafty windows, energy cost too high, you may *qualify! Prime Nation Records LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/31/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Howard Johnson, 18 North Bond St., Apt. 1D, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550. General Purpose 27 New Street Realty LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 8/2/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to SMSM Accounting Services, 1075 Central park Ave., Ste. 206, Scarsdale, NY 10583. General Purpose AJSRJ LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 8/11/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 60 Elm St., Yonkers, NY 10701. General Purpose Royalty Day Care LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/27/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 167 King Ave., Yonkers, NY 10704. General Purpose Gillespie Consulting Group LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 8/3/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Thomas W Gillespie, 2 Coolidge Ave., Yonkers, NY 10701-5906. General Purpose Kokum Kitchens LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 8/2/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Arun Menezes, 2 Eastchester Rd., New Rochelle, NY 10801. General Purpose 51 Grove Street Realty, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/26/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Lynn Scott, P.O. Box 204, Mt. Kisco, NY 10545. General Purpose
PAGE 28 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023