CLASSIFIEDS 39 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 37 LEGAL NOTICES 39 LEISURE 32 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 4 OBITUARIES 18 OPINION 10 SPORTS 27 VOL. 15 NO. 1 Visit News.HalstonMedia.com for the latest news. MAY 23 – JUNE 5, 2024 INSIDE THIS WEEK’S PAPER! BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE Luke Rathschmidt, the son of Jim Rathschmidt and Rene Skelly and stepson of Patty Rathschmidt, passed away suddenly early Saturday while attending Bike Week in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Rathschmidts are co-founders of United for the Troops, a Mahopac-based charity that sends care packages to overseas servicemembers inspired by Luke’s military service. While details remain unconfirmed, initial reports indicate that Rathschmidt, 38, died while staying at an Airbnb in Myrtle Beach in what family is describing as a “tragic accident.” He leaves behind two children, Jaelynn, 14, and eight-month-old Brandt, as well as seven siblings—Timothy Rathschmidt, Jimmy Rathschmidt, Denise (Dan) Iarussi, Kathy (Bobby) Moberg, Michael (Jen) Kelly, Tracy (Mike) Burrows), and Theresa (Brian) Reuter, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his partner Tracy Hascup. Jim and Patty Rathschmidt founded United for the Troops in 2007 after sending a care package to Luke, who was serving in the military in Afghanistan at the time. “That gave them the idea that if they could give a little joy to Luke, why not all the other men and women who serve overseas?” Councilman Frank Lombardi said in 2021 after the charity celebrated sending its 25,000th box. “So, they started this organization, and they fundraised and started collecting supplies— things that would bring a little bit of happiness and a little bit of home back to the soldiers overseas.” Barbara Reitz, a close personal friend of the family called Rathschmidt’s passing a “real shock” and “such a hard loss.” “He used to call me his second mother but I told him it would be better if he called me ‘Big Sis,’” she said. “So, that’s what I was. Sis. I will miss him.” Town Councilman Rob Kearns and Luke Rathschmidt were both members of Mahopac VFW Post 5491 and Kearns said Rathschmidt took him under his wing. They became fast friends and Rathschmidt became commander of the post. Mahopac mourns loss of ‘larger than life’ Luke Rathschmidt Luke Rathschmidt, right, with his father Jim FILE PHOTO Find Tuesday’s Election Results Online This issue went to press before polls closed for the Mahopac School District budget vote and Board of Education election on May 21. For voting results, visit news.halstonmedia.com SEE RATHSCHMIDT PAGE 19 RE/MAX Classic Realty 914-282-6440 [email protected] CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION HOMES ARE SELLING AT RECORD PRICES. Spacious colonial with lake rights, a short walk to Lake Mahopac! This large home (2,600 sq ft) is set on pretty property and boasts a 4-room office with bath & private entrance! Two driveways + large 2-car detached garage w/loft above - would make a great workshop. Plenty of living space with 4 bedrooms, in addition to the eat-in kitchen, large living room & formal dining room - both with lovely bow windows. Coming soon to the market! $549,000 COLONIAL HOME COMING SOON IN MAHOPAC – SEPARATE OFFICE W/PRIVATE ENTRANCE! Are you wondering what your home is worth? Should you add on, or remodel? Buy smaller or larger? Please allow me to answer your questions. Call Today!
PAGE 2 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 The Woods at Pawling 79 UNITS AT1-5 Castagna Drive, Pawling, NY 12564 Dutchess County Application Due: May 24, 2024 Amenities: Individually controlled Heating & A/C, LEED Certified, Nearby Parks and shopping, Public Transportation close-by, On-site Management & Maintenance Staff. Income Restrictions Apply – No Application Fee – No Broker’s Fee Applicants will not be automatically rejected based on credit or most background check info Mobility disability 8 Units; Hearing/Vision disability 4 units); People with physical Disabilities/Traumatic Brain Injury 12 Units; More Information: 845-306-7705 Your household must meet these income restrictions: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Governor Kathy Hochul HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas www.hcr.gov/lotteries NYHousingSearch.gov AMI Unit Size # Units Monthly Rent* Household Size*** Household Income** 30% 1 BR 2 $507.00 $24,990 - $28,560 2 BR 5 $600.00 $28,560 - $35,700 3 BR 1 $674.00 $32,130 - $41,430 60% 1 BR 18 $1,174.00 $49,980 - $57,120 2BR 26 $1,402.00 $57,120 – 71,400 3 BR 13 $1,600.00 $64,260 - $82,860 80% 2 BR 5 $1,880.00 $76,160 - $95,200 3 BR 5 $2,177.00 $85,680 - $110,480 90% 2 BR 3 $2,113.00 $85,680 - $107,100 3 BR 1 $2,414.00 $96,390 - $124,290 *Rent includes sewer and trash removal. Income guidelines & permitted household size are subject to change. **Minimum income listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies. Asset limits also apply. ***Minimum household size Application Due Date: MAY 24, 2024 Must be postmarked by this date. Sending more than 1 application may disqualify you. How to Apply: Request Application By Phone or Email: 845-306-7705 – [email protected] By Mail or In-Person: Kearney Realty & Development Group – 57 Route 6, Suite 207, Baldwin Place, NY 10505 Include your address & the name and address of the building where you want to apply. Lottery Date & Location: June 10, 2024 – 11:00 AM – Kearney Realty & Development Group Office The lottery will determine which applications will be reviewed for tenancy YOU HAVE RIGHTS! ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION • If you have experienced housing discrimination: https://dhr.ny.gov/journey-fair-housing or call 844-862-8703 • Learn about how your credit and background check will be individually reviewed: https://on.ny.gov/3uLNLw4 • 8 units are adapted for mobility impairment • 4 units are adapted for hearing/vision impairment • All units are adaptable to be wheelchair accessible • Reasonable accommodation and modifications may be requested ESPAÑOL siguiente página 中文 下一页 KREYÒL AYISYEN paj kap vini an 국어다음 이지 [বাাংলা] - পরবর্তী পৃষ্ঠা� РУССКИЙ Следующая страница POLSZCZYZNA następna strona صفحہ اگال - اردو ITALIANO pagina successiva FRANÇAIS page suivante אידיש - ווייַטער בלאַ ט
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3 BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Lake Mahopac’s Rotary Club 10th annual Rock & Soul Spectacular has Mahopac High School jumping on May 10. Hosted by Dave Hunter from radio station Oldies 98.9FM, the Rotary’s annual fundraiser—which raises money for scholarships—featured four stirring acts covering rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, soul, and disco from the 1960s-’80s. Elvis tribute artist Richie Santana got things jumping (in a jumpsuit), wooing the crowd with “Burning Love,” “That’s All Right,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Bobby Brooks Wilson—the son of soul legend Jackie Wilson—performed a tribute to his father with hits like “To Be Loved” and “Higher and Higher” which got everyone out of their seats. The Chiclettes performed their “Tribute to Female Artists Through the Decades,” not missing a beat with hits like Donna Summer’s “On the Radio” and Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best.” Last but certainly not least, The Trammps set the house on fire with their classic “Disco Inferno.” One ‘spectacular’ night! The Chiclettes performed a tribute to female artists through the decades. PHOTOS: SOPHIA CASELNOVA The Trammps performed their hit “Disco Inferno” and more. Bobby Brooks Wilson delivered a soulful performance. Host Dave Hunter of Oldies 98.9FM got down for some laughs. Richie Santa gets up close an personal during his Elvis tribute. Trusts • Wills • Estate Litigation • Probate • Elder Law Guardianships • Real Estate Law LAW OFFICE OF ANDRES D. GIL, PLLC 845.940.1110 973 Route 22, Suite 3, Brewster | Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Business HONOR, INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND DIGNITY • EST.2018 Timely Professional Service Scan Here to Visit My Website
The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [email protected] Bob Dumas Editor at Large [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] DESIGN Bri Agosta Haven Elder Jacob Elder Noah Elder EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Emile Menasché at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Mahopac News weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email circulation@halstonmedia. com. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mahopac, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mahopac News at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 PAGE 4 – MAHOPAC NEWS (ISSN 2330-1627) Published by Halston Media, LLC at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Main Office 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 Memorial Day Events Mahopac’s Memorial Day observance will take place on Monday, May 27, at 10:30 a.m., when the parade steps off at the corner of Clark Place and Route 6N and proceeds to Memorial Circle on East Lake Boulevard for the wreath-laying ceremony. The VFW and American Legion will lead the service together. Refreshments will be served at the VFW on East Lake Boulevard afterward, where a roll call of deceased members will be held in military roll-call style. Later, the American Legion will hold a similar service. The event will be attended by elected officials, scouts, civic organizations, veterans, and others. The public is invited. MAHOPAC MUSINGS Garden Club Flower Show The Lake Mahopac Garden Club will hold its annual flower show this season on Friday, May 31, 1-4:45 p.m., and Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Mahopac Library. The public is invited. Many plants and floral/ plant designs will be on display, as the club fosters the artistic use of plant material and encourages the protection of native trees, plants, and birds in our area. The club’s mission is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs, foster the artistic use of plant material, aid in the protection of native trees, plants, and birds, and encourage civic planting. Learn more at lakemahopacgc.com or write to lakemahopacgarclub@ gmail.com. Save the Lions Club Mahopac Lions Club is in jeopardy of disbanding and we want to save it. Since 2017, the Lions Club has been serving the Mahopac community. Now we are calling on men and women of all ages to join the club and be protagonists in serving and making a difference for many less fortunate people. We are also interested in learning about how else we can best serve the community. Come to Four Brothers Pizza, Route 6, Mahopac, on Thursday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. for a meet and greet. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, reach out to DG Giuseppe Coco, district newsletter editor, and Pearl River Lions Club historian, at mahopaclionsclub@ gmail.com. IAC Columbus Parade Fundraiser The Italian American Club of Mahopac is seeking to bring back the Columbus Day parade to Mahopac and celebrate Italian heritage at the Evening in the Piazza. As a fundraiser, it is selling raffle tickets for a boat ride and tour of Petra Island on Lake Mahopac and the Frank Lloyd Wright design house, a $300-valued prize for the winner and their guest. Seven winners will be drawn on Aug. 17, the night of The Evening in the Piazza, in Chamber Park. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Freight House Cafe, 609 Route 6, Mahopac, at every Italian American Club event, 141 Buckshollow Road, or by calling Giulio Cefaloni at 845-745-2655 or Donna Massaro at 845-628-1872. Visit our website or Facebook page for more information. For band sponsorships and tax-deductible parade donations, call Giulio at 845-745-2655. Farmers Market The Carmel Farmers Market at Lake Mahopac is now open every Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through Oct. 20 at the Chamber Park, 953 S. Lake Blvd. Fresh produce and crafts - supporting local and regional farmers and artisans. Call 845-628-7888 for more info. IAC to Sponsor Italian Mass The Italian American Club of Mahopac will sponsor a mass in Italian and English celebrating The Feast of the Three Franciscans: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Pio of Pietrelcina on Friday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s the Evangelist Church, 221 East Lake Blvd., Mahopac. The celebrant will be Father Philip Caruso. All are welcome! Refreshments will be served in the Social Hall after mass. For info, contact Linda Cefaloni at 914 582-4373. Lifeguard Classes The Carmel Recreation and Parks Department is offering American Red Cross lifeguard classes. Lifeguard employment with the Rec Department is guaranteed upon passing the ARC course. Summer camp counselor and CIT positions are also available. Visit carmelny.org/recreation or call the recreation office at 845-628-7888 for more information. Sycamore Park Summer Jobs The Carmel Recreation and Parks Department is hiring at Sycamore Park’s summer camp. Positions available include lifeguards (must pass training SEE MUSINGS PAGE 8 Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock 963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 TOCKLAW.COM • 845-628-8080 CRIMINAL DEFENSE/DWI • PERSONAL INJURY REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, PROBATE ‘ Joe has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Listens to what you say and follows through in a professional and timely manner. ~J.D.
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5 Join your neighbors and businesses across New York! Tell Senator Harckham: Will lead to fewer choices in products like cheese slices, burgers and hot dogs, and chips, by banning their packaging Will make everyday items, including groceries, more expensive Will hurt businesses that makeup the backbone of our communities RADICAL ACTIVISTS ARE ABOUT TO RUIN SUMMER BBQ SEASON.
PAGE 6 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 We have all Your Home Improvement Needs: Grills • Lawn Seed • Pool Chemicals Fertilizers & Treatments • Wheel Barrows Insect & Pest Control • AC filters Painting Supplies • DIY Supplies... and so much more! Fraser’s Hardware 153 Rt. 6, Mahopac, NY Mahopac Village Plaza (next to Acme) 845-628-0174 Mon-Saturday 8-5 • Sunday 8-3 Happy Memorial Day REMEMBER & HONOR BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE After researching whether it has the legal authority to declare a moratorium on the gridscale battery project proposed for Miller Road in Mahopac, the Carmel Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for June 19 to hear comments on enacting such a restriction. The move comes after the outcry against the so-called “battery farm” has dominated public discussion at recent town board meetings in Carmel as well as neighboring Somers, which directly borders the site of the proposed facility. For weeks, the board contended that it had no legal authority to rule on an application before the Planning Board, which is an independent body, claiming that any action or statement seen as influencing the Planning Board put the town in legal jeopardy. But after being criticized for initially trying to silence discussion of the project, the Town Board has pivoted to engage with residents over the issue and is now seeking a way to intervene. Board members said they’ve been receiving suggestions from area residents about a moratorium and are willing to consider such a move as they investigated whether they can legally apply such a moratorium to a project that is already well along the siteplan approval process. Councilman Frank Lombardi said one resident presented the board with an article from the Division for Local Government Services entitled “Land Use Moratoria” that illustrates how a municipality could establish such a moratorium. “The idea was discussed, and we did some research and found articles that said we could impose a moratorium on an existing application,” Lombardi said. “Our thought is we have the right to do it for a project that is before one of our boards. We have consulted with some attorneys who specialize in land use law, and they agreed. [The ‘Land Use Moratoria’ article] gives things like case law.” Supervisor Mike Cazzari said that in principle, the town has always opposed large gridscale battery projects such as the 116-megawatt facility proposed by Virginia-based East Point Energy for Mahopac. Cazzari said the long-awaited master plan includes very tight restrictions on such facilities. However, as the master plan has yet to be finalized, those restrictions have yet to become part of the town code. “The issue being that this wasn’t something the town was in favor of when it started [to revise the] master plan in 2019,” he said. “[The new master plan would have] prohibited the big solar arrays and big battery farms. It was not in the best interest of the town. If [the master plan had] been done in time we would have saved a lot of headaches.” Cazzari said that if the town could enact a moratorium it would act as a stopgap until the master plan is finalized, hopefully sometime this year. Town Board considers a ‘battery farm’ moratorium Public hearing on new legislation slated for June 19 Protesters against the proposed ‘battery farm’ march in Mahopac on Saturday, May 18. PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK SEE BATTERY PAGE 17
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7 LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! YOUR FAMILY CAR CARE CENTER For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating relationships and building a remarkable company with an amazing team JOE FERONE, owner of employees! BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR For the second time in four years, Mahopac residents have been plagued by thieves looking to steal items from unlocked cars. Residents are being urged to lock their vehicles and remove valuables after a series of robberies took place over the last month. According to police, the thieves operate at night and target unlocked vehicles–even those parked in driveways with residents likely to be at home. This isn’t the first time thieves have targeted unlocked cars in town. In 2020, police stopped a wave of similar robberies by burglars based in Connecticut. Then police chief and current supervisor Mike Cazzari told Mahopac News that the 2020 perpetrators were working as a team and traveling to Mahopac because people here “trust their neighbors” and leave doors unlocked. “From my memory, the group was [stealing] on East Lake when officers arrested them,” Cazzari said, adding that these thefts are “crimes of opportunity” because when the car’s doors are locked, the thieves will look for a new victim. “People need to lock their doors,” he said. “By locking vehicles, you remove easy access to stealing.” “Over the course of a few days, they hit different side streets,” added Carmel PD Sgt. Erin Macom. “They look for unlocked vehicles. They try the door handles; if the doors don’t open, they move on.” Macom said reports of the vehicle entries began on or around April 30 and include about a dozen incidents over the past few weeks. Police do not yet know if the current thefts are related to the 2020 break-ins. She said detectives were still investigating and hadn’t yet determined whether the thieves were part of an organized gang, were local, or from out of town. Security footage shared with Mahopac News shows several masked men driving up to homes in the area, checking car doors for easy entry, entering cars, and driving away. Two victims told Mahopac News their cars had been ransacked in their neighborhood near North Lake Boulevard. In both cases, the thieves opened the glove box and looked for valuables and documents. The victims asked not to be identified and said they reported the breakins to the police. A 75-year-old Mahopac woman said thieves got into two cars parked in her driveway while she Thieves targeting unlocked cars in Mahopac Similar wave of thefts happened four years ago Images taken from Ring doorbell cameras show alleged perpetrators entering unlocked vehicles in Mahopac. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RING NEIGHBORS SEE THIEVES PAGE 38
PAGE 8 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE A New York City police sergeant from Mahopac accused of throwing a cooler and killing a man during a drug arrest last summer in the Bronx was back in court earlier this month for a hearing in which prosecutors said they are still awaiting evidence discovery from the defense. Erik Duran of Mahopac, an undercover member of the NYPD Narcotics Borough Bronx Tactical Response Unit (NBBX)— who faces myriad charges in the August 2023 death of Eric Duprey—was surrounded by more than a dozen fellow officers as he appeared before a judge, according to published reports. Duran, 36, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, first- and second-degree assault, and criminally negligent homicide. According to the state attorney general’s office, on Aug. 23, 2023, Duran “forcefully threw a cooler” at Duprey as Duprey was driving a motorized scooter while trying to escape arrest. The cooler hit Duprey, causing him to lose control of the scooter which eventually crashed and caused his death. Duran was suspended and later placed on modified duty. Duran was arraigned before state Supreme Court Justice George Villegas back in January and remains free on $150,000 bail. If found guilty he faces up to 20 years in prison. At Duran’s arraignment earlier this year, his defense attorneys argued Duprey was responsible for his own death, but prosecutors said the sergeant should have known better than to toss the cooler. The NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) defended Duran and decried Attorney General Letitia James’ “demonization and criminalization” of the 13-year veteran. SBA President Vincent Vallelong maintained Duran took appropriate action in the line of duty. In a press release, the SBA said the criminalization of Duran’s actions “once again proves the old adage that overzealous prosecutors with a political agenda can indict a ham sandwich if inclined to do so” and the DA was trying to punish a cop just for doing his job. “Sgt. Duran made a split-second decision that was predicated solely on his concern for the safety of others,” Vallelong said in the statement. “Now he has become the latest victim of a legal system that treats honest hard-working cops as criminals and criminals as victims.” Dupey’s family, however, contends Duran should be held criminally liable for his actions. NYPD cop from Mahopac back in court over manslaughter charges This ad Sponsored by Mahopac News Would Like to Remind the Community to Vote for Library Trustees and Budget June 4, 2024, 7am – 9pm at Mahopac Public Library Please YES Meet the Candidates on June 3 at 7 -8 pm at the Library Eric Duran course for certification), camp maintenance (must be at least 18), leaders and counselors (must be 16 by June 30), and CIT— counselors in training, (must be 15 by June 30), CITs will earn community service credit. Visit carmelny.org/recreation or call the recreation office at 845-628-7888 for more information. PC Youth Business Market The May 24 registration deadline for Putnam County’s inaugural Youth Business Market is approaching. The county is looking for young entrepreneurs to take part at Tilly Foster Farm (100 Route 312 in Brewster) on Sunday, June 9, from noon to 4 p.m. Youth aged 5 to 17 are eligible to participate in an event designed to empower the next generation to create their own small businesses through a youth-led market. Register at putnamcountyny.com/ybm or call 845-808-1600 for more information. 4-H Fair Vendors Wanted The annual Putnam County Fair and 4-H Showcase will be held on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Carmel. This event attracts thousands of individuals and families from the Hudson Valley and the tri-state area. Putnam County and Cornell Cooperative Extension are seeking crafters and food trucks to showcase their offerings. They are looking for vendors who offer high-quality, unique, and engaging products and services that align with the values of the Fair and 4-H Showcase. MUSINGS FROM PAGE 4 SEE MUSINGS PAGE 9
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9 Missing 13-year-old located On Friday, May 17, Carmel police detectives located a missing 13-year-old boy on the Putnam County Rail Trailway with the department’s newly purchased utility terrain vehicle. Police received a call from the boy’s parents saying their son had left their house on foot approximately one hour earlier and was missing. Det. Sgt. Forde and Det. Shea immediately jumped into the department’s newly purchased 2024 Polaris Ranger UTV and began canvassing the Putnam County Rail Trailway for him. Within half an hour of receiving the call, Forde and Shea located the missing teen and were able to safely return him to his parents. Traffic initiative issues 23 summonses in four hours On Friday evening, May 17, several CPD officers participated in a second targeted traffic enforcement campaign focusing on unsafe driving in and around Mahopac Village Center. CPD has continued to receive complaints from residents and business owners of large gatherings of vehicles loitering in the parking lot and driving erratically during the evening hours. Friday’s campaign resulted in 23 traffic summonses issued in four hours. Ten summonses were issued for unsafe speed, six for equipment violations, and seven for other moving violations. CPD will continue to focus its efforts on vehicles operating in an unsafe manner and creating hazardous conditions for residents. Police charge two with DWI Early Friday morning, May 17, Officer Palmiero stopped a vehicle for speeding on Route 6. A subsequent investigation at the scene determined the operator, a 25-year-old Carmel resident, was operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The defendant was charged with misdemeanor DWI and issued multiple traffic summonses and an appearance ticket, pending a future court date in the Town Justice Court. At approximately 11 p.m. on May 18, Officer Valente stopped a vehicle for speeding on Route 6. An investigation at the scene determined the operator, a 30-year-old Katonah resident, was operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The defendant was charged with misdemeanor DWI and issued multiple traffic summonses and an appearance ticket, pending a future court date in the Town Justice Court. Courtesy of Carmel Police Department POLICE BLOTTER Vendors who are passionate about their craft or food are encouraged to apply. For more information, call the Putnam County Parks Office at 845- 808-1994, or email [email protected]. Relay for Life Shoe Donations All shoes, new or in good used condition, are wanted for a Relay for Life fundraiser. Men’s, women’s, and children’s, or sports shoes and boots can be left at the First Presbyterian Church’s garage at 411 Route 6N (and Secor Road), Mahopac, anytime, or brought to the Relay for Life event at Mahopac High School on June 1, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Shoes will be picked up at the end of June by Funds2Org, they will donate to Relay for Life and then the shoes will be used to supply micro-businesses in developing countries. For more information, e-mail Johanna at [email protected]. Youth Police Academy Has your child shown interest in becoming a police officer? The Carmel Police Department is running its second annual Youth Academy this summer for town residents entering grades 6-8 in the 2024-25 school year. This six-day introduction to policing will take place from July 15-19 and July 22 and includes physical training, team-building exercises, and presentations by specialized units within the police department. Space is limited; students will be chosen based on a short essay: “Why I Want to Join the Police Academy.” The cost is $150. For more information, visit the town of Carmel website and select the Youth Academy tab. PAC Kids/Teens Summer Classes The Putnam Arts Council has announced its summer clay arts and visual arts programs for kids and teens. Register early as classes are limited to 12 students and fill early. Register at www. putnamartscouncil.com Student memberships are $15 for 12 months. Clay Arts Program for kids 6-10 with Melissa Rossow Each Clay Arts Program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-noon for two weeks Four days: July 9, 11, 16, 18 - $140/$135 PAC member MUSINGS FROM PAGE 8 SEE MUSINGS PAGE 18 THESE PRICES ARE VALID WITH AD ONLY BEER & SODA Not to be combined with other offers. 20lb. Tank. Expires 6/2/24 $ 2.00 OFF PROPANE FILL-UP ANY CASE OF BEER 24 PACK OR LARGER 5 CASE LIMIT Not to be combined with any other offer. SALE ENDS 6/2/24 $ 2.00 OFF NARRAGANSETT $ 22.99 30 pack $ 18.99 HEINEKEN $ 18.99 ARIZONA HARD TEA POLAND SPRING $ 10.49 40 Pack 16oz bottles $ 18.99 12 Pack • All Varieties WHITE CLAW PERONI $ 18.99 12 Pack BUSCH LIGHT $ 10.99 12 Pack • Can or Bottle 12 Pack •All Varieties $ 18.99 CORONA LABATT BLUE $ 24.99 PABST $ 23.99 30 Pack 376 RT 6 MAHOPAC • 845-628-3147 CASH FOR CANS & BOTTLES HUDSON VALLEY BEVERAGE IS NOW A FULL REDEMPTION CENTER GET FULL 5¢ VALUE PER BOTTLE OR CAN Open Memorial Day 9am-5pm 12 Pack • All Varieties 30 Pack 12 Pack • All Varieties COUPONS EXPIRE 6/2/24
Opinion BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER EMILE MENASCHÉ, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 845-208-0774 [email protected] 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774 PAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 Happily Ever After I ’ve written about Pawling in this space plenty of times before. If you haven’t actually been there, you are at least probably aware of its existence. It is a small community of about 7,000 people located in the southeastern corner of Dutchess County. That is what the population was back when I graduated high school in 1976. I had always imagined that due to the megalopolis effect (the expanding growth of urban areas), within a few decades it would grow to 20,000... maybe 30,000 people. Well, 50 years later the population of Pawling is, um, about 7,000. It was always anticipated that the stretch of Route 22, from about the state troopers’ barracks/Red Rooster area in Brewster up to Pawling (and maybe even beyond) would expand to six lanes, and just become a continuation of I-684. As a young man, I was excited about that idea. Maybe Pawling would become a thriving metropolis filled with culture, music, art and progressive ideas. I thought that if I couldn’t move to the city, maybe the city would move to me. Obviously, that never happened. And I am so glad it didn’t. I am not sure why the town never grew even just a little bit in the last four decades. I think some wanted to see it trapped in time, a relic of a bygone “Leave it to Beaver” era when women wore pearls while they vacuumed, and men wore jackets and ties to baseball games. Many of you might know of Daryl’s House. It is the club/restaurant venue in Pawling owned by Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates fame. It serves great food and has amazing international acts that come and perform there on an almost nightly basis. It is truly a gem of mid-Hudson Valley. A couple of years ago, the club wanted to expand its outdoor seating for its gospel brunches and some other performances because they’d grown in popularity. We are talking about a few dozen extra seats, not hundreds. It went before the planning board, and the board made rumblings about how it wouldn’t approve such an expansion. (Too many people, too much noise.) But the club said, well, this is what we need to do to survive financially, so either figure out a way to make it happen or we will close down and move somewhere that is more business-friendly. I was terrified that the town planners would just double down and that would be the end of it, but fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and the board decided this was not the hill they wanted to die on. A compromise was eventually reached. As you know, the club is still there and is thriving. So, the one thing in town that actually put Pawling on the map was saved. (When I lived in L.A., I met folks who knew of Pawling simply because of Daryl’s House even though they’d never been out of the state of California.) What seemed to escape Pawling officials at the time, is that it was more than just about the club. It was about the entire business community. Hundreds of people from all over the tri-state area would come to the club and then head out into the community and patronize other businesses while they were in town. It was a total shot in the arm for the local economy. While Daryl Hall doesn’t live in Pawling (he’s just across the border in Connecticut), over the years there have been some pretty iconic figures who have called that place home, and that eventually led to my brush with greatness. “Brush with Greatness” was a bit David Letterman did in which viewers would call in and recount their humorous encounters with celebrities. Pawling has some celebrities—Randy Levine, president of the NY Yankees (he would donate tickets to local fundraising raffles), Sally Jessy Raphael (the former daytime talk show host) and the famously baritone actor James Earl Jones, to name a few. But it also was the home of some iconic historical figures as well. Thomas E. Dewey lived there. (For a while, Pawling even had a museum dedicated to all things Dewey.) Quick history lesson: Dewey was a New York City district attorney who went after the mob and played a big part in tempering the Mafia’s influence (not unlike Guiliani) and he eventually became governor of New York. He twice ran unsuccessfully for president as the GOP nominee. In 1948, he lost to Democrat Harry Truman in what is widely considered to be the greatest presidential election upset in U.S. history. There is the famous picture of Truman smiling and holding up the Chicago Tribune with a front page headline that read, “Dewey Defeats Truman!”, which, of course, he did not. Back in Pawling, a Republican town to say the least, they were gearing up to throw a huge parade in honor of their native son. But it was a parade that never stepped off. Now, I wasn’t born yet when this all happened, but my dad, one of a handful of Democrats in town at the time, loved to tell the story and even years later he couldn’t recall it without a snicker and tinge of devilish glee in his voice. One of Pawling’s other great celebrities was a gentleman named Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. (You’re always famous when you get to use three names.) Peale shot to fame in the 1950s when he wrote a self-help book called “The Power of Positive Thinking.” The book came under fire from both mental health experts and theologians alike because it was filled with anecdotes from unverifiable sources. So, of course, something that sketchy instantly became a bestseller. It spent 48 weeks at No. 1 on The New York Times Bestseller List. Running on the popularity generated by the book (he wrote many more), Peale created The Foundation for Christian Living (FCL) and built a small campus in the middle of the Pawling village. They employed dozens and dozens of locals over the years. Many teens, including myself, got summer jobs there working on the maintenance crew. What exactly FCL did—other than generate revenue—was never really clear. One thing they did was take paid prayer requests. For a simple cash donation, Peale and his employees would pray for you to find solace. For example, “Dear Dr. Peale, My daughter is 17, pregnant, and addicted to cocaine. My brush with greatness BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 16
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11 As long as I can remember I have been captivated by movies. I remember being taken to the local movie theater by my grandmother to see the likes of “Old Yeller” and “The Ten Commandments.” As I got older, I began to enjoy movies with a more cerebral bent, even ones which explored the darker side of life. As I searched for insights into life’s complexities, I found myself especially savoring cinematic productions where filmmakers explored the loneliness and isolation that often plagues modern life. One film that delves deeply into these themes is a little-known gem, “Lost in Translation,” directed by Sofia Coppola. Released in 2003, “Lost in Translation” tells the story of an aging washed up movie star (Bill Murray) who travels to Tokyo for a commercial shoot, where he meets a young woman named Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), who is accompanying her distant husband on a photography assignment. Throughout the film, both characters struggle with feelings of alienation and disconnection in their respective lives. Bob is in a stagnant marriage and feels disconnected from his wife and children back home, while Charlotte is a recent college graduate who feels lost and unsure of her place in the world and her relationship with her husband. The two characters meet serendipitously and form a bond over their shared sense of loneliness and longing for a connection, finding solace in each other’s company as they navigate the unfamiliar and chaotic landscape of Tokyo. The city of Tokyo itself serves as a powerful metaphor for the alienation and disconnection that the characters experience. With its bright lights, bustling streets and language barrier, Tokyo is a foreign and overwhelming environment for Bob and Charlotte, highlighting their feelings of being lost and out of place. The crowded and impersonal nature of the city only adds to their sense of isolation, as they struggle to find meaning and connection in a world that seems indifferent to their presence. In one memorable scene, Bob and Charlotte share a quiet moment together in a crowded karaoke bar, singing along to a melancholy ballad. The scene concisely encapsulates their shared sense of loneliness and longing for human connection, as they find solace in each other’s presence amidst the chaos and noise of the city. Their relationship is both tender and fleeting, a brief respite from the alienation and disconnection they feel in their everyday lives. They both accept the fact that their connection, although meaningful, is brief and never to be revisited. For me, such an understanding is a profoundly mature acceptance of life’s temporality. “Lost in Translation” is just one example of movies which incorporate themes of alienation and disconnection. One of my other favorites is a little-known film, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, directed by Michel Gondry. Released in 2004, the film follows the story of Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet), two former lovers who undergo a procedure to erase memories of their failed relationship. As Joel and Clementine grapple with the erasure of their memories, they confront the pain and loneliness that comes with losing part of themselves. The film explores the ways in which relationships can shape our identities and the profound sense of loss that accompanies their dissolution. Joel and Clementine’s struggle to hold onto their memories and connection to each other speaks to the universal experience of grappling with alienation and disconnection in our relationships. A third film that I enjoyed, which wrestled with the same theme, is “Her,” directed by Spike Jonze. Released in 2013, “Her” tells the story of a lonely man named Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), who falls in love with an artificial intelligence operating system (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). As Theodore becomes increasingly enmeshed in his relationship with Samantha, he grapples with the complexities of intimacy and connection in a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technology. “Her” explores the ways in which technology can both connect us and isolate us from one another, highlighting the methods by which our digital devices can become a barrier to genuine human connection. Theodore’s relationship with Samantha raises questions about the nature of intimacy and the boundaries between human and machine, underscoring the ways in which we seek connection in an increasingly fragmented and alienating world. I have always thought films are a mirror into the soul of society. It is no accident that themes of alienation and disconnection are prevalent story lines in many cinematic productions. Movies like “Lost in Translation,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “Her” offer poignant explorations of these themes, inviting audiences to contemplate the complexities of human connection and the way in which we navigate the challenges of loneliness and longing in our lives. These films remind us of the importance of reaching out to one another, of forging connections in a world that can often feel overwhelming and isolating. They serve as powerful reminders of our shared humanity and the universal desire for meaning and connection in a world that can often leave us feeling lost and adrift. Finding insights at the movies JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE As Memorial Day weekend launches the onset of summer vacation and travel, families eagerly anticipate gatherings filled with flavorful barbecues and picnics. Amid the joyous celebrations, it’s paramount to prioritize safe food handling practices to keep you and your guests safe from potential foodborne illnesses such as Salmonella and E. coli. Implementing precautionary measures during food preparation and consumption helps to prevent the risk of illness, hospitalizations and even fatalities. What are some food safety guidelines to follow? Some helpful and easy tips include: wash your hands and surfaces often, keep raw meats, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from cooked and ready to eat food, cook to the right temperature (depending on the type of food a safe temperature is 145°F to 165°F), and refrigerate perishable food within two hours (one hour when temperatures are over 90°F degrees). What are the most common symptoms of food poisoning? Symptoms can range in severity as well as duration, depending on the germ ingested. The most common symptoms include: • Diarrhea • Stomach pain or cramps • Nausea • Vomiting • Fever When should I see a doctor for food poisoning? It is important to seek medical care when symptoms are severe or prolonged. According to the CDC these symptoms include: 1. Bloody diarrhea 2. Diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days 3. High fever (temp. over 102°F) 4. Vomiting so often that you cannot keep liquid down 5. Signs of dehydration 6. If you are pregnant and have a fever and other flu-like symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately Essential precautions for summer food festivities Scan the QR code or visit optum.com/medicalcare Optum Medical Care, P.C. (“Optum Medical Care”) is a physician owned and led practice having complete authority for all medical decision-making and patient care through its physicians and other licensed professionals. Optum, through its owned management organizations, provides non-clinical administrative services to support Optum Medical Care and its physicians. Neither Optum nor its management companies employs, engages, or supervises physicians or other licensed professionals, or determines or sets the methods, standards, or conduct of the practice of medicine or health care provided by Optum Medical Care or by any of its licensed professionals. “Part of Optum” reflects that Optum Medical Care is part of Optum’s effort to support forward-thinking physician practices in helping their patients live healthier lives. Optum is a registered trademark of Optum, Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All other brand or product names are the property of their respective owners. Because we are continuously improving our products and services, Optum reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. Optum is an equal opportunity employer. © 2024 Optum, Inc. All rights reserved. 04/24
PAGE 12 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 I was discussing rules of etiquette with reader Maria a little while ago, and I asked her why a person would say “bless you” after a sneeze, when a cough seems much more serious? When I discourage people from blessing me when I sneeze, sometimes they ask “why?” After I stop 47 sneezes later, they say, “Oh, okay.” The human concept of manners demonstrates our dedication to civilization and separates us from the rest of the living beings on the Earth, who by the way are a bunch of animals. I thought my cat was different, because he waits near the door as I’m walking to the bedroom, as if to say, “You first, sir, since I see that you are balancing a sandwich, a crossword puzzle and a glass of apple juice.” I nod thank you, but then he darts in front of me and I almost trip over him, dropping the sandwich and spilling most of the apple juice. Even though the crossword puzzle is wet, at least now I know a four-letter word meaning “cat.” I saw a picture of Trump walking in the rain with his wife Melania, holding an umbrella over only himself, and I thought, WOW, this guy is the perfect role-model! If there’s only one umbrella, why should I hold half of it over someone else’s head, ensuring that both of us will be half soggy? If we’re both righthanded, one of us will be doing almost everything we do, wet. There are a lot of new rules about how you address people. You used to start a letter with “Dear Sir,” but then women learned the complicated secrets of how to open a letter, so we thought “Dear Sir or Madam” might be better, but there turned out folks falling through the cracks, so we said “To Whom it May Concern,” but when we found out it may not concern anybody, we went back to sirs and madams, but people who identified with other genders or inanimate objects complained, so now I just open my correspondence with “HEY YOU,” which seems both inclusive and nice. How did all this even start? There are some rules of etiquette that are based on common sense. “Save the women and children first” is based on the idea that, if all the boats in the world capsized at the same time, you’ll need women to bear children and carry on the human race. “YAY! We are saved! And there are no more men around to bully us about our use of hummus and unattractive sneakers! The first thing I’m going to do is binge-watch ‘The Good Witch.’ Then I’m going to purge-watch it! SO fun! And we can have children whenever WE want to have them! And carry on the human race! All we need is some... Hmmm. I’m not sure we thought this entirely through. But let’s see that remote control!!” Other rules I would guess are based on human nature. Why is it always “ladies first?” Well, I don’t know much about the history of etiquette, but I know a whole lot about dudes. Somewhere around the middle ages, a typical middle-aged guy was probably out with his girlfriend and he wanted to keep an eye on her. If you knew her, you would agree. The rear-view mirror hadn’t been invented yet, so the only way to get the same view was to have her walk in front. Some were based on personal safety. I’ve read that the custom of clinking glasses during a toast originated with the practice of pouring a little wine into each others’ glasses, to prove that it was not poisoned. The bar for drinking buddies was much lower back then. Some rules are clearly outdated, such as the direction in an 1883 etiquette book that a man should be expected to choose the woman’s horse. I would not want the pressure of having to gauge both the woman’s and the horse’s personality. The chances of offending both run fairly high, leading to a disparaging phrase regarding me and also the horse I rode in on. Etiquette is more confusing now than it ever was, that’s for sure. I already covered gender pronouns and their (they/ them) use. I understand that I shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day, even though I don’t understand why. But on what date does after one Labor Day become before the next Labor Day? And what about civil disobedience? Is that good manners or not? An example of civil disobedience might be: “I only wanted to burn down the courthouse, but the fire spread because I was holding the door open for the ladies.” I don’t know all the rules but I do try to be nice to people on the off-chance that they might be nice back. It’s not good manners to get into an argument with me about manners. “Rick, you shouldn’t chew with your mouth open, especially if it is full of lies.” “Excuse me, but did I not hold the door for you?” “Yes you did, and it was a revolving door and I banged my knee pretty good.” Join Rick and No Options at 9 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Back Nine in Cortlandt. Say hello at [email protected]. Mr. Manners RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD Submit a Classified Have a Help Wanted? Selling something? Looking for something? Contact us at [email protected].
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 13 RED MILLS Convenience Center 575 Route 6N, Mahopac Falls • 845-628-9745 We have your grab and go items! OUR COOLERS ARE STOCKED! Your Favorite Cold Beverages & Poland Spring Cases of Water! Happy Spring! We are here if you need anything! Come see our vintage candy shop Mahopac Teachers, Students, School & Bus Garage Employees Buy One Egg Sandwich, Get 2nd HALF OFF Buy Lunch Sandwich, Get a Soda or Coffee FREE Happy Hour Coffee Ask About our coffee club Your 10th Cup is FREE! Any Size 3-7pm Purchase your box of Coffee to go! Buy 10, Get 1 FREE! Try our Coffee Flavors of the Season! Milkshakes & Smoothies $ 399 $ 1 00 OFF Sandwiches 3pm to 7pm We have over 100 helium balloon choices! 99¢ Ten years ago, I joined the board of Allied Community Enterprises – ACE, which is an affordable housing advocacy group. In addition to providing education and raising awareness about affordable housing and the lack of it, the group also develops properties for qualified applicants. The experience has given me a greater appreciation for the challenges related to building more affordable housing options. During my decade on the board, we developed and sold two properties. One in Croton Falls and the other in Mount Vernon. The amount of effort and time, mostly by our executive director and president, was substantial. Clearly, for them, it was a labor of love with an emphasis on the labor. Navigating the maze of government regulations for grants as well as preparing the property for marketing to qualified buyers was overwhelming, not to mention local zoning issues and building code requirements to bring the properties “up to code.” The property that was developed in Mount Vernon was a lesson in “no good deed goes unpunished.” ACE bought a property off of the foreclosure rolls just before COVID struck. The ensuing three years were spent negotiating with contractors, the City of Mount Vernon’s building inspector and their affordable housing corporation. Bringing the property up to modern codes added tens of thousands to the cost. Ripping out the sheet rock and replacing four inches of insulation with six was just one example. The effort was rewarded with a bill for years of back taxes and penalties. There has to be a better way. There is affordable housing and then there is housing that is affordable. The former is housing that comes through the red tape and government system of grants, rules Affordable housing: Challenges, solutions & a path forward DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT SEE SCOTT PAGE 14
PAGE 14 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 Your One-Stop Shop for Deck Building Materials Mahopac Railroad Tie Experts in Deck Lumber 911 Route 6, Mahopac, NY • 845-628-8111 • www.decklumber.com DECKING & RAILING Installation to existing gas lines Safety check On-site tank requirement assessment New customer pricing Automatic delivery Budget payment plans Web portal and mobile app for easy account management 24/7/365 emergency service 1-800-PROPANE Mention Code: 3822 *Oer expires 6/30/24 Tank installation special applies to standard installation of above-ground tank. Oer applies to new residential customers with a fuel service agreement, subject to credit approval. Customer is responsible for the removal of competitor’s tank. Not to be combined with any other oer or discount. Other restrictions may apply. Valid at participating location only. Call for details. LIMITED TIME OFFER 1-800-776-7263 SWITCH & SAVE! New Suburban Propane automatic delivery customers receive*: FREE PLUS FIRST FILL SPECIAL ONLY $1.899 Get This Newspaper’s App On Your Phone Always Stay Informed About News Involving YOUR Town & Schools Android Scan Here iPhone Scan Here Get Our App! and subsidies; the latter occurs organically via the market, or as “naturally occuring.” Building naturally occurring affordable housing is where we could make the most progress. Interestingly, improving the availability of affordable housing is something that unites the left and right. The cost of housing has risen much faster than inflation and it is impacting family formation and fertility, since young people wait much longer to get married and have children, if they decide to have children at all. The economy takes a hit because of the loss of mobility. People can’t take that new job in a new place because they can’t find housing within an acceptable commuting distance. I recommend an entertaining and funny graphic novel, “Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation” by Bryan Caplan, a George Mason economics professor and illustrated by Ady Branzei. The format is a great way to break down an otherwise dry topic and capture my short attention span. As the title implies, the only way to solve the housing crisis is by a dramatic increase in building fueled by deregulating housing. Local changes in approaches to zoning are more desirable than top down solutions coming from Albany, like last year’s failed attempt by Gov. Hochul to rezone large swaths of local communities to promote transit oriented development. Rezoning selected areas and changing non safety-related building codes to make them more attractive to affordable development will have to come locally. The big gains will naturally come from the more urban areas where large developments make more sense economically because of existing density and sewer and water infrastructure. But that doesn’t mean that opportunities don’t exist in semi rural areas like ours. Thoughtful mixed use development not only could provide more housing opportunities, it could have a positive impact on the vitality of downtown areas, which is a major challenge for many of our suburban towns. There is no time better than the present to act. SCOTT FROM PAGE 13 Someone I’ve known my entire life lives in the holy city of Jerusalem, which both Israelis and Palestinians consider their capital. I recently asked, “How are you and your family faring with the current situation?” What I received in return is not the perspective of, say, a 20-year-old on a United States college campus who most likely never has visited Israel, let alone lived there for any length of time. As my pen pal describes in some detail, the notion of Israel practicing apartheid is the furthest thing from their personal experience as an Israeli over many decades. Grasping on to oversimplified and perverse tropes of prejudice, as some protesters sadly have succumbed to, is low-hanging fruit. Conversely, wrapping your mind around the complexities of the world and your place in it is rigorous work that demands self-reflection and self-doubt. It’s easy to hate; it’s hard to Letter from inside Jerusalem Seeing the conflict through the eyes of an ordinary Israeli citizen BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG SEE APAR PAGE 16
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 15 A health care proxy is a legal document where you can appoint another person (called an “agent”) to make medical decisions on your behalf, if you are incapacitated and unable to make medical decisions yourself. Anyone in your life can be appointed as your health care agent as long as they are over the age of 18 and have the capacity to act. You can also name successor agents, in the event the person you appoint pre-deceases you or is unable to act as your agent. Appointing someone is a fairly straightforward process and can be invaluable in the event of incapacity, as the appointment of an agent for medical decisionmaking can avoid the need for a Guardianship Proceeding or court intervention if you are unable to make medical decisions yourself. The form must be signed by the creator in front of two disinterested witnesses who are adults, over the age of 18 and have capacity to sign legal documents. When setting up a health care proxy, it is also important to consider the following: • Establish what you truly want by thoroughly deliberating your priorities and principles. Some people may find it challenging to think about these issues, but it could be essential if you are making end-of-life preparations. Being clear about what treatments you want to refuse and which you would be willing to receive can help your agent make swift decisions if you unexpectedly become unable to express them yourself. The health care proxy allows you to state specific wishes, treatments, medications you would or would not want, or alternatively, you can state in your health care proxy form that your agent shall have authority to make medical decisions “in accordance with my wishes as he/she knows.” This gives your agent flexibility to make decisions in accordance with your wishes as you have advised them. It is important to communicate with your agent what types of medical treatments and medications you would or would not want, as well as for your agent to have a basic understanding of your medical history and conditions. The more your agent knows and understands your medical history and current conditions, the better he or she will be able to advocate for you. • Share your preferences and other instructions with people you trust. Having this conversation could be difficult for your family members or friends, but these people might be the only ones who would uphold your wishes. Your agent can be the person to enforce your instructions, but informing other people can help support what you genuinely want. Your agent can also turn to these other trusted family members or friends for guidance and support in making decisions for you. • Speak to a health care provider who can enable the arrangement when necessary. In addition to choosing an agent, you should inform your physicians that you have signed a health care proxy and it even may be prudent to provide them with a copy. Your physician, your agent, and in some situations even other family members can keep a copy of your form, which can be helpful during emergencies. We also recommend keeping a copy of your health care proxy on your refrigerator or posted on the inside of your front door, in the event a paramedic and/or first responder needs to obtain contact information in the event of an emergency. End-of-life matters can be challenging to navigate, especially if you are incapacitated and your family members have no idea what you would want. In these scenarios, pre-planning and having documents such as a health care proxy are very practical. In the long run, planning and preparing these setups can benefit your welfare and help those you love navigate your care with ease. Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is an 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 and families to ensure that their estate and long-term care plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea is on the executive committee of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section and is also the CoEditor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be reached at 914-948-1500. How to relay your medical preferences in a health care proxy ‘ Your physician, your agent, and in some situations even other family members can keep a copy of your form, which can be helpful during emergencies.’ -Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER FOCUS ON ELDER LAW
PAGE 16 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 APAR FROM PAGE 14 understand. That’s not to say there aren’t matters of conscience worth protesting. No matter where you stand, it’s all too easy to wax judgmental in the current zeitgeist washing over us. That’s why I find value in absorbing the organic perspective of an ordinary Israeli citizen who lives peaceably alongside Palestinians absent the ethnic prejudice that many protesters on our shores – without benefit of first-hand knowledge – stubbornly want to believe exists unchecked. It’s understandable if U.S. student protesters cannot readily relate to the reality of life in Israel. While roughly six in 10 U.S. high school graduates go on to college, in Israel, 18-year-olds must serve in the military for two to three years before embarking on a college education. The following are excerpts from the letter I received in mid-May from my pen pal in Jerusalem: Things here are strange. The war continues in the north and the south. Every morning I turn on the news and hear the report of soldiers killed. Also, sometimes Al-Issawiya is mentioned. This is the hostile [Arab] village that is at the end of my street. (Once, a delivery kid turned left instead of right, entered the village and was beaten so badly he ended up in the hospital.) On the other hand, the people from Al-Issawiya patronize and work here in the supermarket, post office, coffee shops, and it’s fine. They call Hadassah Mount Scopus “Hadassah Issawiya.” Many patients, doctors, nurses, etc., they are Arabs. Most of the pharmacists in Jerusalem are Arabs. So are most taxi drivers, bus drivers, etc. So are many university students. I wouldn’t be surprised if Arabs were in the majority at Haifa University. Arab Knesset members, judges, etc. My nextdoor neighbor is a Muslim Arab Israeli policeman married to a Christian Arab lawyer who has a government job. So much for apartheid. When Israel left Gaza in 2005, all the infrastructure was left intact. Farms, hothouses, etc. Hamas was voted in and [changed all that]. It built tunnels with the money that the U.S. and Europe poured in. Not to mention [funds from] UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees]. The “Two State Solution” has been offered many times over the years and rejected by the Palestinians. I am upset, depressed, angry. Angry at our own government. October 7 was a direct result of a combination of Israeli arrogance and all the in-fighting that was going on. It should never have happened and we are to blame. What’s happening in the U.S. took me by surprise. Not the America that I knew. A combination of antisemitism and ignorance, I guess. I may be more worried about America than Israel. It will cost us but the war will end. However, how can all the hatred, combined with misinformation, be put back into the bottle? As for me, just glad to be able to go about my usual activities. I continue to give talks at an assisted living facility. Helped with a little cooking and knitting of hats for the soldiers just to feel I was contributing. Forgot to mention the hostages, but I guess that situation is just too terrible for words. Bruce Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He is being honored on June 9 as “Volunteer of the Year” by the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce at its Stars Along the Hudson awards gala. For more information, visit business.hvgatewaychamber.com/ events. Contact him at 914-275- 6887 (text or voice) or email [email protected]. Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com 85 Myrtle Avenue, Mahopac, NY 10541 845-628-7500 • www.pineg rovecou ntrydayscho ol .com Certified by NYS Department of Education/NYS Department of Social Service • Infant (6weeks - 12 months) • Wobbler/Toddler (12-36 months) • Preschool (3-5 yrs) • Pre-K (older 4’s) • Before & After School (5-12 yrs) Now accepting CAMP REGISTRATION for Summer 2024! Now accepting CAMP REGISTRATION for Summer 2024! She has been arrested six times. Would you please pray for her salvation? Here are 10 bucks.” If the writer ponied up the appropriate fee, a slip of paper got passed around to the employees who could then pray for the girl’s salvation. No money? Well, no salvation. Folks could also buy one of Peale’s many books and pay a little extra to have it autographed. The thing is, the good doc didn’t actually sign the book himself. They had a machine that replicated Peale’s signature to do it. I saw it. Years later, after I took over as the managing editor of the local paper, I was invited to FCL for some type of outdoor event they were having. They wanted the paper to cover it and I thought, “Sure, why not?” I got there and they had tents set up all around the big sprawling lawn. A woman greeted me and thanked me for coming and brought me to meet Dr. Peale. We shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. He was sitting next to a guy who looked vaguely familiar to me. “Bob, this is my friend Art Linkletter,” Dr. Peale said. Some of you may not recall Art. I was pretty young during his peak of fame. He was a huge radio and television star. He hosted “House Party” on CBS for 25 years, “People Are Funny” on NBC for 19 years and then later, and perhaps most famously, hosted the first incarnation of “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” When I met him, he was about 75 years old. My grandmother adored him. He was by far her favorite celebrity, so it was kind of cool that I was getting to meet him. I shook his hand and he affably asked, “So, how do you like living around here?” I thought that was a strange question, but I said, “It’s great... I graduated from high school here.” Art kind of eyed me up and down for a minute and then said, “Well, I see they feed you well.” As I walked away a few minutes later, I whispered to my photographer, “I think Art Linkletter just called me fat.” It kind of gnawed at me for a few days but eventually, I found the humor in it—my grandma’s favorite celebrity insulted me! I wore it on my sleeve... my red badge of courage. I once met Sammy Hagar, the former Van Halen singer, on an elevator at the MGM in Las Vegas. He was cool and affable, and we spent about 45 seconds talking about music. When he left, he gave me a pat on the shoulder. But if I had to go on Letterman and discuss my “Brush With Greatness,” I would tell the Art Linkletter story over Sammy Hagar. For some reason, it is much more fun when people are asses. Especially if your gramma has a crush on them. Bob is editor at large for Halston Media. He’s lost about 80 pounds over the past few years but there are still plenty of things you can make fun of him for. Write to him at [email protected]. DUMAS FROM PAGE 10 Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Mahopac News need to be a high-resolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to [email protected].
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 17 Putnam County Sheriff Kevin McConville, Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann, Kent Police Chief Kevin Owens, and STOP-DWI coordinators will participate in special efforts to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving this Memorial Day weekend. The statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign will start on May 24 and end on May 27. Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and marks the official start of summer. State Police, county sheriffs, municipal law enforcement agencies, and local STOP-DWI programs will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of impaired driving-related injuries and deaths. The STOP-DWI Memorial Day Weekend High Visibility Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The Statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign also targets the 4th of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, the holiday season, Super Bowl weekend, and St. Patrick’s Day. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download the mobile app—“Have a Plan” and you will always be able to find a safe ride home at www.stopdwi.org/mobileapp. Impaired driving is completely preventable. All it takes is a little planning. Article provided by Putnam County Sheriff ’s Department STOP-DWI campaign on for Memorial Day weekend Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 What steps have you taken to protect your life savings from the cost of long term care? “Other municipalities have done this from what I understand,” he said. The court maintains that you need a mechanism so that the landowners can apply for relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) if they haven’t had their project approved already. “[The developers] can appeal the moratorium. They can have due process,” the supervisor continued. “You don’t want to violate the landowner’s rights to use their property, so you can do that as long as you give them due process.” According to documents, East Point Energy plans to sign (or has already signed) a long-term lease with the local landowners of the roughly 95-acre parcel bordering Miller Road. Much of the opposition to the project stems from safety concerns, its size, and its proximity to a residential neighborhood in Baldwin Place. Cazzari said if the town does it correctly it can stop new applications while it waits for approval of the master plan, which addresses battery farms and other issues of concern. Cazzari said the revised master plan would prohibit Tier 2 projects— anything above 0.6 megawatts. At a proposed 116 megawatts (116 million watts), the proposed Mahopac project would be among the biggest in New York State. Councilman Robert Kearns said he’s still frustrated that the master plan has taken so long to complete— nearly five years. He said if it had been put in place in a timely manner, battery farms would never have been an issue. “A moratorium sounds great, in theory, but really it’s just a Band-Aid, not a solution,” he said. “If the town had been paying attention to what was going on in Albany, they would have known these types of facilities are popping up all over the place, including some of our neighboring towns. Maybe that would have lit a fire under them to actually address some of the glaring weaknesses in our badly outdated master plan and zoning code, which have been getting ‘revised’ for five years now. “But instead of being proactive,” Kearns continued, “now we’re caught pulling up our pants and having to save face in the midst of an application that is already so far along.” Tyler Kline, vice president of project development for East Point Energy, said his company was aware of the moratorium discussions and public hearing, but declined further comment at this time. BATTERY FROM PAGE 6 ‘Our thought is we have the right to do it for a project that is before one of our boards.’ -Councilman Frank Lombardi
PAGE 18 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 Virginia Lounsbury Virginia L. (Glashoff) Lounsbury passed away at the age of 84 on May 9, 2024, surrounded by her family at her home in Mahopac. Ginny was born in Brooklyn to George Glashoff and Lillian (Lansing) Glashoff. She grew up in Montrose, N.Y. where she graduated from Hendrick Hudson High School. She worked at IBM for a while before leaving to raise her family in Mahopac. She spent many years as a school bus driver for the Mahopac School District where she was adored by the students. She received cards from many of them saying she was their favorite bus driver. Ginny was an avid reader. She enjoyed traveling and went all over this country and also visited many countries around the world. She loved to go dancing, especially during the disco era. Flower gardening and bird watching around her yard were some of her other passions. She was previously a member of the Country Chicks chapter of the Red Hat Society where she served as queen for several years. She had a lot of fun during their many outings and conventions together. Most of all, Ginny loved getting together with family and friends. She especially enjoyed the family summer gatherings with barbecues on the deck, lawn games, swimming in the pool, and ice cream. She was predeceased by her brother George Glashoff (Marie) and her sister Carol Rist ( Joe). She is survived by her longterm partner Lou Valentino, her four children, Michelle Cooke (Ed), Robert Lounsbury (Lenore), Michael Lounsbury (Cathy), Ginger Conlin (Tim); her seven grandchildren, Erin Marone, Danny Lounsbury (Rubi), Brian Lounsbury, Shannon Cooke, Haley Cooke, Ally Conlin, Olivia Conlin; two great-grandchildren, Oliver Marone, and Chloe Marone; and many nieces and nephews. She was also “mom” to Michelle Bedder Nicholson and the late Marie Bedder Sciarrotta. Ginny was known for her beautiful smile and making friends wherever she went. She will be forever in our hearts. Services for Ginny have concluded. John M. Pires John M. Pires of Carmel, formerly of Yonkers, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2024, surrounded by his family. John was born on June 5, 1943, in Sabugal, Portugal to the late Francisco and Gloria Melro Pires. He was married for 52 years to the love of his life, his devoted wife, Anna Marie (De Sousa) Pires. He is survived by his loving family, including his children, Elizabeth (Alberto) Santarelli of Westport, Conn. and Jennifer (Joseph) Occhicone of Carmel, cherished granddaughter, Olivia Occhicone, mother-in-law Rosa DeSousa, brothers Manuel (Manny) of Stratford, Conn., and A. Frank of Glen Ellen, Ill., as well as many nieces and nephews in Connecticut, Illinois, and Washington. John was pre-deceased by his sister Mary Beatriz (Antonio “Tony”) Goncalves of Darien, Conn. He came to the U.S. as a young child and later served his country in the branch of the Army from January 1969 to September 1971 where he was stationed in Vietnam as a staff sergeant for 20 months. After his return, John completed his studies, graduating from Pace University in 1973. In his professional life, before retiring in 2005, he worked for the city of Yonkers as an accountant. Among his many proud accomplishments, John was instrumental, with the cooperation of the N.Y. Archdiocese, in building and opening a church where the Portuguese community in Yonkers could practice their faith and pledge devotion to its patron, Our Lady of Fatima. Within the community, he was the leader of the youth (folklore) group for many years, enjoyed volunteering where needed, and was a proud member of the Portuguese American Community Center in Yonkers for the past 52 years. John loved to read and had a particular love for music— especially “the Fado,” which he would often have playing in the background in the house. Our family is grateful for all the cherished memories, love, and support he gave each of us through the years. Family was at the core of his heart and soul. Reposing was at Sinatra Funeral Home in Yonkers on Thursday, May 9. Funeral mass was at Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Church in Yonkers on Friday, May 10, with interment following at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese Church, 355 South Broadway, Yonkers, N.Y. 10705. OBITUARIES Four days: July 30, August 1, 6 and 8 - $140/$135 PAC member Four days: Aug. 20, 22, 27, and 29 - $140/$135 PAC member Pre-teen Thursdays for kids 8-10 Drawing and Painting for Kids with Rosalie Marcus This is a class for young children about learning how to use the basic tools for drawing and painting and having a fun time while they’re doing it! Four Thursdays, 5:30-7 p.m. July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1 $95/$90 PAC members Teen Fridays for ages 11-18 Clay Arts with Melissa Rossow Build sculptures, decorative and functional pieces. Open to teens of all levels. Four Fridays 6-8 p.m. Session 1: July 12, 19, 26, Aug. 2 (four weeks) Session 2: Aug., 16, 23, 30 (four weeks) $110/$105 PAC members per session Drawing/Painting/Anime with Rosalie Marcus This class will be an open studio where each student works on their own art projects, whether it is anime or traditional drawing and painting. July 12, 19, 26 and Aug. 2 $110/$105 PAC members Call 845.803.8622 for more info. Food Pantry The food pantry at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Parish Social Hall, 221 East MUSINGS FROM PAGE 9 SEE MUSINGS PAGE 33 Come indulge in scenic Lake Mahopac • New & Pre-owned Boats • Service & Repairs • Docking & Storage • Boating Accessories 1 Marina Dr. • Mahopac, NY • 845-628-2333 57 macdonaldmarineny.net MacDonaldMarineNY 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! Light up your summer • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers • GENERATORS AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! $25 OFF Service Calls When You Present this Ad First Time Customers Only
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 19 Robert Kearns and Luke Rathschmidt. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT KEARNS “We were the younger guys [at the VFW]—there is kind of a big age gap there—and we stuck together,” Kearns said. “He put the VFW ahead of everything and made sure it was a place where vets could call home. We kind of became the new leadership. “He welcomed me to the community and to the VFW and we hit it off well,” Kearns continued. “He was the older brother I never had.” Kearns said Rathschmidt was a motorcycle enthusiast, which is what brought him to Myrtle Beach Bike Week. He said Rathschmidt lit up the room whenever he was around. “He was the life of the party, you always knew when he was in attendance,” Kearns said. “He made it his mission that everyone was having a good time.” Kearns said the VFW will have a hard time recovering from the loss of Rathschmidt. “There will be a big hole, and I don’t know if that’s a void we will be able to fill,” he said. An outpouring of grief and sympathy for the Rathschmidt family hit social media throughout the weekend. (A GoFundMe has been set up for Luke’s family at gofundme.com/f/honoringlukes-legacy-help-his-family.) “We are saddened and at a total loss of words by the sudden passing of a remarkable man, patriot, and leader who dedicated his life to serving his country through the U.S. Army and VFW, as well as his family’s tireless efforts to provide comfort and support to our troops,” Marc Sieifeld wrote on Facebook. “He will be deeply missed.” KatyLynn Huff wrote Luke and his family have “inspired so many to be better people and proud Americans.” Maria Benack McGuire said Luke Rathschmidt was “truly larger than life.” “I have no doubt his memories will last a lifetime for everyone who had the opportunity to have Luke in their lives, whether it was for a short time or forever,” she wrote. RATHSCHMIDT FROM PAGE 1 He made it his mission that everyone was having a good time.’ —Councilman Rob Kearns JOIN A GREAT TEAM NOW HIRING! 3 Experience Required 3 A or B Tech 3 Top Pay in a Busy Shop 3 Good Working Conditions/Clean Atmosphere 3 Seeking Long Term Employee 3 OT/Benefits Available Full-Time Auto Mechanic! 914-962-3879
PAGE 20 MAHOPAC NEWS – MBUYING845-62WE WILL COWE BUY: Gold • Sterling SJewelry • CoinPaintings • BronClocks • CollectiAntiques • ETItems for saVisit us at: 128 Route 52, Carmel Shari Zimmerman 845-621-2557 [email protected] Call for a FREE Quote today! RATES GOING UP? AWARD WINNER LIC. REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE BROKER Grace Vinciguerra BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER The Italian American Club of Mahopac was packed with wine enthusiasts last month for its eighth annual homemade wine competition. More than a dozen IAC members brought their homemade vino to be tested by both judges (who selected a top three) and attendees (who bestowed the People’s Choice Award) for the popular event that took place on April 21. The judges awarded Carmine Cedrola Mastro Del Vino for his homemade Chablis, with Dominic Bauco’s Mosccine’s blend of Burgundpleting the top three. Alfhome the People’s Choicof Chardonnay, MalvasiaIn addition to a selecalso enjoyed a five-courthing from fresh mozzapasta, meats, and vegetabas the baked goods was CHis rendition of traditionItalian songs led to a sinplenty of felicità. Salute! IAC hosts anwine-tasting compeIAC President Giulio Cefaloni and first-place winner Carmine Cedrola Salute! Winemakers and Joe Fierro toast their samples. Winemakers Vincenzo Fella, Costanzo DelGrosso, Joe Tripodi, and Joe Zeolla with their homemade wines PHOTOS: SOPHIA CASELNOVA
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PAGE 22 – MAHOPAC NEWS The Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce’s Business Person of the Year Dinner recently brought together local business leaders and government officials to celebrate, elect new board members, and look at a promising year ahead. At last month’s event, Businessperson of the Year John Malzone (owner of Mahopac’s Custom Interior Remodeling), Geovanna Lacerra (owner of Pro Autobody North in Mahopac), and Ruth Ayala-Quezada (owner of Mahopac-Carmel Taxi) were voted to the board of directors, which, according to Chairperson Christine Picone, has been especially busy with ribbon-cuttings and a wave of new businesses coming to town. The Chamber will hold its next monthly mixer—a scavenger hunt—at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, at Best in Backyards, 119 Route 6 in Mahopac. For more information about this and other upcoming Chamber of Commerce events, visit mahopaccarmelchamber.com/upcoming-events. Three elected to Chamber Board of Directors 2023 Businessperson of the Year John Malzone addresses the attendees. Geovanna Lacerra makes her case for election Chamber Chairperson Christine Picone gets the to the board. festivities rolling. PHOTOS EMILE MENASCHÉ The Chamber Board of Directors for 2024, from left, James Pfeifer, John Tsantakis, Scott Centofonti, Tom Courtney, Ruth Ayala-Quezada, Christine Picone, Stephanie Bellofatto, (back) John Malzone, Carl Garofolo Jr., Geovanna Lacerra (missing: Corinne Stanton) PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINE PICONE. MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 HEALTH & WELLNESS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 23 I f you’ve had back pain in the last few months, you are not alone. In a survey done in 2019 by the National Center for Health Statistics, 39% of the participants said that they had lower back pain in the last three months. That’s approximately one in three people! According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, lower back pain is the leading cause of disability globally. In this article I will give you some information to help give you the best chance to avoid becoming part of that statistic. There are many causes of lower back pain, but this article will focus on Degenerative Arthritis, also known as Osteoarthritis (OA), what the specific triggers are, what its effects are, and what you can do about it. Let’s talk about structure. The lower back is constructed in a way that the lower spine and muscles carry considerable weight while being able to have considerable range of motion. That makes the lower back susceptible to injury. To see OA in X-rays, it takes 10-20 years. That means the actual injury occurs many years before you can see the physical effects. In my 29 years in practice, I have seen many patients who didn’t complain of chronic back pain, and yet when X-rays were taken of their lower back, it revealed degenerative arthritis in the lumbar spine. How does it all start? I put the triggers for Osteoarthritis under two categories: macrotrauma and microtrauma. Macrotrauma refers to a specific incident over a short period of time causing an injury. Examples are falls, car accidents, athletic injuries or other incidents where specific instantaneous strains on your body cause damage. Microtrauma refers to repetitive strains on your body that cause damage over time. This includes poor posture, poor biomechanics (the way you move) and imbalances in your musculature or structure. What causes pain? Any trauma can damage the low back joints, causing swelling and pain. This can also result in joint locking and misalignment, muscle spasms, imbalances, irritation and compression of nerves and continued breakdown of the joint. The interesting thing is the body does what it can to heal, but once the damage is done, degeneration is likely. Age is usually considered a cause of OA, but in reality, it’s not just age. It’s a traumatized joint that has continued to break down over time. Now, how do we limit the damage or stop the process altogether? I cannot emphasize enough how detrimental being sedentary is. GET MOVING! (see last month’s article on sitting). For those not active now, walking and swimming are great low impact activities. If you are already doing higher impact activities or decide to start, make sure you are cross training (alternating activities daily), as high impact activities can cause wear and tear on your joints. Also maintaining flexibility can lessen the pull of the muscles on your spine. If you don’t stretch, start off slow and get some instruction. There are some great resources online or ask your healthcare provider. Good nutrition is important. The cells that make up your joints need to be fed in order to repair and maintain. Whole foods are best. Proper hydration is also important for properly functioning joints and muscles. Chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and massage can be very helpful with lower back pain and improved function. As a chiropractor, my focus is to restore motion to locked joints and improve nerve function while addressing poor biomechanics and posture to relieve stress on the spine. We use many modalities to accomplish this goal. Back pain is so common because the structure of the lower spine is susceptible, and injuries over our lifetime have a cumulative effect. Get your back properly evaluated by your healthcare provider. You want to lessen the likelihood of back pain, but most important improve your overall spinal health. Early evaluation and treatment will help you mitigate the previous damage to your spine and allow you to get back to living. Dr. Chris Perrone, DC, has been in practice for 29 years and has extensive experience in treating sports, spinal and muscle injuries. He is presently practicing at Perrone Family Chiropractic, 925 Route 6, in Mahopac. He can be reached at 845-628-3805. Why is lower back pain so common? Andrew Krumerman, MD, a cardiovascular expert with more than 23 years of experience, has been appointed as director of cardiac electrophysiology at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH). In his new role, Dr. Krumerman, who specializes in treating patients with atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias, will lead the efforts in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, further enhancing the hospital’s reputation as a leading provider of cardiovascular care in the region. Dr. Krumerman joins NWH from the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care. He is the former director of cardiac electrophysiology at NYC HHC Jacobi Medical Center. Dr. Krumerman specializes in complex catheter ablation procedures to treat cardiac arrhythmias. He serves on the board of directors of the CMR Institute, a non-profit provider of educational solutions for pharmaceutical and medical device professionals. Dr. Krumerman is a professor of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and has been instrumental in pioneering various research initiatives. As a founder of the Montefiore/Einstein ECG Research Group, he focused on disparities in health care and the use of artificial intelligence to improve cardiac health care delivery. Dr. Krumerman was also one of the developers of the Pacer ID application, which allows for rapid identification of an implanted deNew director of cardiac electrophysiology appointed NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL SEE KRUMERMAN PAGE 25 17 Miller Rd. Mahopac 845-621-1222 RooneyOrtho.com Rooney Orthodontics Children & Adults Perrone Family CHIROPRACTIC 925 Route 6 • Mahopac, NY 10541 • Tel: (845)628-3805 Serving the Mahopac Community for Over 25 Years We will take care of you like family. perronechiro.com [email protected] Less Pain • Feel Great • Better Health CALL US TODAY! CHIROPRACTIC • MASSAGE THERAPY • ACUPUNCTURE SPINAL DECOMPRESSION • NEUROFEEDBACK • WEIGHT LOSS In Pain? We Can Help! DR. CHRIS PERRONE GUEST CORNER
PAGE 24 – MAHOPAC NEWS HEALTH & WELLNESS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 Elder Law & Estate Planning A Tradition of Excellence in Elder Law Wills, Trusts & Estates | Estate Planning | Probates Elder Law, Medicaid Coordination & Estate Planning Attorneys We Make Home & Hospital Visits Contact the Team Today! (845) 621-8640 thefellergroup.com 625 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541 AFC Carmel (next to Starbucks) 1874B US 6, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512 914.380.8588 afcurgentcare.com/carmel M-F: 8am-8pm, S-S: 8am-5pm Some bugs do more than bite. If you’ve been bitten by a tick, don’t delay getting tested for tick-borne illness! AFC offers removal, testing and treatment for infection. With convenient extended hours seven days a week and the option to “save your spot” to be seen, getting the care you need when you need it has never been easier. During a crisis, my goal is to prioritize the basic steps that will create order out of chaos. This clear-headed approach usually follows several minutes of panic, disorderly behavior and exasperation at the universe’s casual disregard for my family’s well-being. With that out of the way, we can now focus on the three most important things to do when someone you love gets sick. The first thing to do is: Make sure that your loved one has created a well-drafted Power of Attorney. If they have not made one, get it done. A Power of Attorney’s benefits cannot be overstated. If a person cannot make financial decisions, a Power of Attorney authorizes an agent to make those decisions and gain access to financial records. For many families, tight-lipped loved ones may not have enlightened others as to their financial holdings. A Power of Attorney gives you legal authority to find out important financial information. Asset transfers, beneficiary designation changes, and trust planning for Medicaid are built in to well-drafted Powers of Attorney. Powers of Attorney found on the internet or drafted by non-elder care professionals may be missing important sections. A lousy Power of Attorney will screw up your planning. Without a Power of Attorney, your family members would have to seek an Article 81 Guardianship in New York State Supreme Court, which I can assure you, is not a piece of cake. The second thing to do is: Find out the Medicare situation. Does your loved one have straight Medicare with a supplemental insurance or do they have a Medicare Advantage Plan? This is important once the discharge from a hospital to a short-term rehabilitation facility is completed. Ideally, a short-term rehabilitation patient is allotted 100 days for their recovery. Recovery may include physical and occupational therapy, nutrition management and mental health management. The first 20 days are usually covered at 100% by straight Medicare, with the remaining 80 days covered at 80%. A decent supplemental insurance should cover the 20% co-pay. Medicare Advantage plans are more reasonably priced and fit better for healthier seniors, but they may not be the best option for someone in the midst of a major illness. Find out disenrollment and enrollment procedures to maximize health insurance coverage for a loved one. Please, reach out to the rehabilitation facility to find out when Medicare coverage will terminate. A lack of physical therapy progress may end coverage early, before the 100-day period concludes. Remember, once Medicare ends, private pay or Medicaid begins, potentially costing many thousands of dollars. The third thing to do is: contact an elder law professional to set-up a longterm care plan. The overwhelming impact of an illness on a family’s equilibrium is not something to minimize. Doing it yourself works until it doesn’t work. Skilled elder law professionals may be able to organize and protect assets, obtain Medicaid coverage and create legal documents which avoid Probate and limit capital gains taxes. Reducing anxiety and stress during difficult times is our profession’s lasting legacy. Contact the professionals at The Feller Group, P.C. today to review the three things to do when someone gets sick. They can be reached at 845-621-8640. The Feller Group is a multi-disciplinary law practice specializing in elder law, estate planning and business advisement. This article was written by Alan D. Feller, Esq. For more information, visit thefellergroup.com. Three things to do when somone you love gets sick A Power of Attorney’s benefits cannot be overstated. If a person cannot make financial decisions, a Power of Attorney authorizes an agent to make those decisions and gain access to financial records.’ -Alan D. Feller, Esq. The Feller Group, P.C. ALAN D. FELLER, ESQ. GUEST CORNER
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Dr. Krumerman’s achievements have been recognized through numerous awards, grants and funded projects, including the Albert Einstein Cardiology Program Director’s Faculty Award and the AECOM Cardiology Research Board Grant for the development of an ECG machine learning database. He is a fellow of several prestigious medical societies, including the Heart Rhythm Society and the American College of Cardiology. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Krumerman to our team,” said Sherri Sandel, DO, medical director at Northern Westchester Hospital. “His wealth of experience and dedication to advancing cardiovascular care through his research, innovation and mentorship align perfectly with our mission to provide exceptional healthcare services to our community.” Dr. Krumerman received his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology from the University of Michigan and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Tel Aviv University School of Medicine in Israel. His postgraduate training included residency at the Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in internal medicine and fellowships at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in cardiovascular medicine and at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University in cardiac electrophysiology. Northern Westchester Hospital has received many awards recognizing it as a center of excellence for cardiac care. In 2023, the hospital received a Coronary Intervention Excellence Award from Healthgrades, placing its coronary intervention program in the top 10 percent of the nation. The hospital also received five-star ratings from Healthgrades in 2023 for conditions and treatments in the areas of heart attack and coronary intervention. Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of Northwell Health, is a full-service 245-bed acute care hospital in Mount Kisco. Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, about 900 outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians. Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) earned a top ‘A’ rating for its patient safety, according to a report released last week by the Leapfrog Group for Spring 2024. The national distinction recognizes the hospital’s commitment to patient safety and achievements in promoting best outcomes. “Securing an ‘A’ hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group is no easy task,” said Derek Anderson, executive director for Northern Westchester Hospital. “It underscores our hospital’s steadfast dedication to both patient safety and personcentered care. The achievement highlights the tireless efforts of our remarkable staff, reaffirming our mission to deliver the highest standard of healthcare excellence while prioritizing the individual needs of every patient we serve.” The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization, assigns A, B, C, D or F grades to nearly 3,000 acute-care hospitals nationwide, which is based on 30 evidence-based patient safety performance measures, as well as federal data. The organization issues the report twice annually. NWH is nationally recognized for providing state-of-the-art medical expertise and world-class care. One of the many accolades the hospital has received is the MAGNET award, a prestigious designation granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in recognition of nursing excellence. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave NHW four of out of five stars for service quality in 2023. Earlier this year, Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) was the only hospital in Westchester County to receive Healthgrades 2024 America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award. Besides Northern Westchester, Leapfrog’s Hospital’s 2024 Spring Grade report showed that six other Northwell hospitals earned a top ‘A’ rating, including Glen Cove Hospital, Huntington Hospital, Mather Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, Plainview Hospital and South Shore University Hospital. Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of Northwell Health, is a fullservice 245-bed acute care hospital in Mount Kisco. Hospital earns ‘A’ grade in Leapfrog safety report KRUMERMAN FROM PAGE 23 Andrew Krumerman, MD PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH Is a Correction Needed? We strive for excellence, but we’re human. Email corrections to [email protected].
PAGE 26 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 Get great service & great rates. Get great service & great rates. You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements. Tim Beyrer, Agent 710 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 Bus: 845-628-9100 ibdfh@fGet great service & great rates. You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor servBut I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for eCall me for a quote to see how much you can saveYou might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirTim Beyrer, Agent 710 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 Bus: 845-628-9100 [email protected] State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001877 Get great service & great rates. You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements. Tim Beyrer, Agent 710 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 Bus: 845-628-9100 [email protected] State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001877 Get great service & great rates. You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements. Tim Beyrer, Agent 710 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 Bus: 845-628-9100 [email protected] You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements. Kailee Mastropietro and Monika Lazar have been named Mahopac High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian respectively. A talented musician as well as academic, Mastropietro has played the flute in Mahopac’s concert, symphonic, marching, and pit bands throughout her high school career. She is also a member of the Italian Club, the Italian National Honor Society, the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, and the National English Honor Society. She was elected to the Science National Honor Society as a junior. Mastropietro also served as secretary in the student government organization MOST (Mahopac Organization of Student Teamwork) and treasurer for the Tri-M Music Honor Society. The sixtime Signature Student awardwinner has been on the high honor roll every quarter of her high school career and was recognized by the Westchester Coalition of Italian American Organizations (WCIAO) last fall. While she called her teachers “the biggest factor” in her success because they inspired and nurtured her intellectual curiosity, she said the music program and extracurricular activities have also been vital to her well-rounded education. “I’ve made so many great friends here too through marching band and I’ve been able to get into science outside of the classroom thanks to the Science National Honor Society,” said Mastropietro, who plans to major in biology at SUNY Binghamton. “I’m going to miss it all a lot.” For her part, Lazar singled out the WISE (Wise Individualized Senior Experience) internship program at the Trevor Zoo as an important supplement to inschool learning. She is the president of the Math National Honor Society and a member of the Science and Spanish National Honor Societies. A scholar-athlete, Lazar played varsity soccer and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and Most Outstanding Student in Algebra 2, College Spanish, and Criminology “I really enjoyed the opportunities I had here at Mahopac,” said Lazar, who is headed to the University of Florida where she, too, will major in bio. “My internship is at the Trevor Zoo, where I had the chance to get hands-on with animals, which has helped further my interest in zoology and animal research.” In addition to the WISE program, Lazar did a paid internship with the Putnam County Health Department. She served as junior class secretary and class representative in student government, captained the Mahopac HS math team, took part in the Youth Court in Carmel, and served as a youth leader at Temple Beth Shalom. She also found the time to coach third- and fourth-grade soccer players for the Mahopac Sports Association. Article courtesy of Mahopac School District Mastropietro, Lazar named valedictorian, salutatorian Monika Lazar and Kailee Mastropietro PHOTO COURTESY OF MAHOPAC CSD YOUTH FOCUS
Sports MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 27 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 7/31/24 $10.00OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25%OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 7/31/24 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Wolf Pac boys have been playing some of their best lacrosse late in the season, and that trend continued last Saturday, when No. 9 seed Mahopac rolled into Harrison for a Class B out-bracket playoff game and dominated the eighthseeded Huskies from the opening faceoff in a 13-5 victory. The win earned Mahopac (4-11) a date with top-seeded Yorktown in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round. That winner advances to Friday’s semifinals. The Class B championship game is set for Wednesday (May 29) at Yorktown HS at 6:30 p.m. The Wolf Pac controlled possession— Gio Mirabile won 16 of 22 faceoffs—and got on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter, then made it 2-0 a minute later. A 6-1 second-quarter tear put the Pac up 8-1 by halftime and Mahopac carried a 9-4 cushion into the fourth. Senior captain Danny Koch couldn’t be stopped by the Harrison defense and led the onslaught with four goals and two assists. Bryan Margolis, Liam Jones, Liam Scanlon and Brayden Torrey each had two goals, and Bobby Egan added one. Jones and Scanlon had two assists apiece, and Torrey, Ryan LaRue, and Patrick Mahoney added one each. Keeper Lucas Lambertson had eight saves in net. “Our game plan was we wanted to come out with an urgency, come out Wolf Pac mauls Huskies to earn quarterfinal date with top-seeded Yorktown Pac senior Danny Koch (33) fires in one of his four goals vs. Harrison. Pac senior Liam Scanlon (25) rips a shot and scores vs. Harrison. Mahopac’s Liam Jones (3) had two goals and two assists vs. Harrison. PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN The Wolf Pac celebrates a second-half score vs. Harrison that helped Mahopac advance to face top-seeded Yorktown in the Class B quarterfinals. LACROSSE SEE LACROSSE PAGE 29
PAGE 28 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR The Mahopac Wolf Pac unified basketball team staged a furious comeback in a home game against Brewster earlier this month, falling just short before an enthusiastic crowd at the high school gym. Now in its third season, the team’s roster includes students with special needs and their general education teammates who play five to six games a year. The program’s success has led Mahopac to add unified bowling to its athletic programs. With family, staff, and fellow athletes from Mahopac’s lacrosse, track, and football teams looking on from the stands, the squad fought back from an early deficit thanks to a 10-point run in the closing moments, but Brewster managed to hold on to win 38-28. Mahopac will get a chance for revenge when Brewster returns to the high school, along with North Salem, on May 28 at 4 p.m. for the unified Wolf Pac’s season finale. Wolf Pac hopes to avenge Brewster loss in season finale The Mahopac unified basketball team closes its season on May 28 when Brewster and North Salem come to town. A big crowd of parents, staff, and fellow athletes came out to support the Mahopac unified squad. Maopac’s James Miglio (12) gets set to shoot over a Brewster defender. UNIFIED BASKETBALL Aiden Fleming takes a shot against Brewster.
strong,” Wolf Pac coach Jon Bota said. “We stayed together on the first couple of series, and stayed disciplined. They understand the playoffs are different. We came out and executed and were able to capitalize on some good situations. “Danny Koch continued to do his thing for us,” Bota added. “Brayden Torrey has been stepping up, and a couple of our freshmen—LaRue, Egan, Jones—have come along well, they’ve grown, and Gio gave us great energy.” MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 29 BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER After pulling off a 13-12 road upset over No. 7 Clarkstown South in a Class B playoff out-bracket game last Tuesday (May 14) the No. 10 Mahopac HS girls lacrosse team saw its season end last Friday in the quarterfinals with a 16-5 loss to No. 2 seed Fox Lane. The Foxes advanced to Monday’s semifinal round. The Class B championship game is set for Thursday, May 23 at Lakeland H.S. at 4 p.m. In Friday’s loss at Fox Lane, Pac sophomore Ashley Koch scored a pair of goals and had an assist, senior captain Juliana Mangione had two goals, and Gianna Cirelli had a goal, in a game the Foxes dominated. Mangione and Koch each had a hat-trick for Mahopac (7-11) in the win over Clarkstown South, with Mangione adding an assist. Gianna DeVito had two goals and two assists, Adrianna Pranzo had two goals and added an assist, Cirelli had a goal and two assists, Erin Harney had a goal and an assist, and Shay Massett had a goal. Mahopac girls upset South in playoff opener, fall to Foxes in quarterfinals LACROSSE Coach Amanda Frederick and the Wolf Pac girls lacrosse team lost to Fox Lane in a Class B playoff quarterfinal. PHOTO: SKIP PEARLMAN MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-HOUR PROBLEM GAMING HOTLINE: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369) Newburgh, NY RWHudsonValleyNY.com I-84 | Exit 36B I-87 | Exit 17 Earn Entries All Month Long! Saturday, May 25 • 10pm Win a Ford Mustang GT Premium Fastback! *Actual model and color may vary. FORD MUSTANG DRAWING www.aonpt.com GOODROW BUILDING 862 Route 6 Mahopac NY 10541 (845) 208-0963 MILL POND OFFICES 293 Route 100 • Suite 107 Somers, NY 10589 (914) 276-2520 BREWSTER 3 Starr Ridge Road Brewster, NY 10509 (845) 279-9288 The Road To Recovery Starts Here LACROSSE FROM PAGE 27 Mahopac’s Brayden Torrey (5) had two goals and an assist vs. Harrison. PHOTO: SKIP PEARLMAN
PAGE 30 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR Mahopac ended a league-winning flag football campaign with a tough loss in the Section I, Division I semifinal to Scarsdale, but the season’s ending did nothing to diminish the squad’s achievement on the field or the foundation the Wolf Pac’s seniors have set for the future of the program. “As a team, I think winning the league was definitely memorable and a lot of hard work and effort was put into it,” All-League TE/ LB Francesca Bellanco said. “I also feel that in games when we were down, we managed to come together and beat some really good teams.” Mahopac won its quarterfinal game against Carmel, 19-7, before losing “a closely contested game, 31-18, against the only undefeated team in the section,” coach Matt Deiana said. “The girls had a great season culminating in a 12-5-1 record. Overall we had the highest bonus points total indicating the highest strength of schedule.” Veteran leadership played a key role in the Wolf Pac’s success this season, led by seniors Frankie Bellanco, Emma DeMuro, Gianna Fava, Isabella Fava, Jules Greco, Faith Poniros, and Julia Vitello. “The seniors led us to a league championship and have set the foundation for the future of Mahopac girls flag football,” Deiana said. “They will be greatly missed.” Senior captain Poniros had what Deiana called “a season that will forever be remembered” to earn Division I Offensive Player of the Year on top of All-Section and AllLeague honors. Porinos’s numbers are staggering: 1,456 rushing yards, 16 rushing TDs, 1,281 passing yards, 18 passing TDs, one receiving TD, a 65 percent completion rate, 26 conversions, 72 tackles, 13 tackles for losses, six interceptions, three defensive touchdowns, and an average of 30 yards per punt. “She totaled 2,921 yards and 38 TDs,” Deiana said. “She is the definition of a warrior and gave us a chance to win every game we played.” Porinos credited the number of returning players and the inspiration of her coach for the team’s success. “We had a great season,” Porinos said. “Almost all of our starters returned for the 2024 season and we had a great run. It was very exciting to see how much coach Deiana cared about our team, which really motivated us. For that reason, we really put in a lot of work on and off the field.” You wouldn’t guess from her gaudy passing numbers, but QB was a new position for Porinos. “It was challenging learning a new position at the start of the season—moving from wide receiver to quarterback was a huge adjustment,” she said. “I knew it was going to be difficult so I put in a lot of work with our coach in the offseason to be ready to help my team succeed.” Porinos wasn’t the only Mahopac player to have a big year. AllSection RB/CB Gianna Fava “was a force on both sides of the ball,” Deiana said. On offense, she amassed 1,002 rushing yards with 12 rushing TDs, 42 Catches for 257 yards and seven TDs, and six conversions. On D, she delivered 54 Tackles, seven picks, and three defensive touchdowns. Fava said she it was exciting to be part of a team that saw “significant improvement from last year” while also raising her own game. “What was really exciting was the thrill that came from our hardfought games and the hours of practice we put before each one,” Fava said. “Our coach’s dedication ensured we were always well prepared for each game. “ While Mahopac enjoyed some lopsided wins, Fava said the highlight was a comeback against Brewster “tying the game to with little to no time left.” “Looking back, our season was packed with memorable moments, and I’m proud of how well we performed overall,” she said. Other all-league players included Jules Greco (54 tackles for losses, or TFLs, and nine TDS), Bellanco (35 TFLS), and Gianna Dolan (7 TDs, 49 Tackles, 3 INTs). All League honorable mention honorees included Maria Garofalo (658 total yards, six TDS, two interceptions), and Isabella Fava (37 tackles, 3 INTS). Despite the season-ending loss, Porinos said he was proud of the way the team played against Scarsdale. “The highlight of the season was getting to watch how our team came together with everything we had in our final game against Scarsdale in the semifinals,” she said. “We put all nerves aside and gave them an extremely hard game and left it all out of the field.” League-winning Wolf Pac falls in sectional semis Porinos named Offensive Player of the Year Faith Porinos in early-season action. PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL Francesca Bellanco PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCESCA BELLANCO FLAG FOOTBALL Our Fences Include: Chain Link Aluminum Wood Vinyl Deer Fencing Railings scrfence.com | 914-302-2552 GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS. -Robert Frost See Our Great Selection of Styles & Colors! 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MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 31 NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to Mahopac News YES, I really enjoy Mahopac News and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com OR or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News The Somers Record Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR The Mahopac High School baseball team earned a hard-fought 4-3 home win against Suffern on Monday afternoon to reach the Section 1 AA semifinals, scheduled at home for Wednesday against Eastchester. “That was a tough game against a very well-coached and tough opponent,” coach Anthony Nappi said. “Suffern is one of those teams that will always battle.” On the mound, the Wolf Pac relied on their two Tylers, with Castrataro going five innings (3 runs, 2 earned, 6 Ks) to earn the win and DeBrocky pitching two scoreless innings (1H, 1BB, 1K) for the save. DeBrocky’s lone strikeout was the big one, setting down Suffern’s J. Egenhauser to end it and earn a bearhug from battery-mate DJ DeMatteo, who drove in the winning run in the fifth and was part of a game-saving play at the plate. After Suffern got on the board in the top of the first, Mahopac responded in the bottom half. Castrataro and Vince Cataldo reached on back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second. After Drew Litchenberger popped out, DeBrocky, who started in right field, drove Castrataro in with a single to left, Mahopac took the lead in the second after DeMatteo (2-3, RBI) doubled. With RJ Grabeklis in as a courtesy runner for the catcher, Robert Keller (2-2, RBI) singled to drive him in. Suffern tied the game in the third after loading the bases on two hit batsmen and a walk with no outs. A single drove in a run and kept the bags full, but Castrataro was able to limit the damage with a double play and a strikeout to end the inning. Suffern would take the lead in the fifth after a leadoff walk and a passed ball put a runner on third with two outs, allowing the Mounties to cash in on a wild pitch to make it 3-2. The Pac regained the lead for good in the bottom half. Drew Litchenberger (1-3, BB) drew a four-pitch leadoff walk and gave way for pinch runner Lorenzo Echandy, who stole second. DeBrocky (2-4, R, 2 RBIs) doubled to left to drive him in. After a Dusovic ground out, DeMatteo stepped up to drive DeBrocky in from second for the game-winner. “The approach was simple—don’t do too much,” DeMatteo said. “Coach Paul [Mayer] said it perfectly in pregame: When you’re ahead, attack, do damage, once you fall back in the count maintain focus and do your job. That really resonated with me, and was something I kept it in mind all day.” For the catcher, keeping his composure would prove to be decisive in the following inning. With DeBrocky pitching in the top of the sixth, a double and a passed ball put a runner at third with two outs. When another ball got by DeMatteo, the catcher rebounded to make a game-saving play, nailing the tying runner at the plate to end the inning. “The play was simply reaction, and not allowing the moment to get too big,” DeMatteo said. “It was 3-2 count, with two outs, and a runner on third, the tying run for that matter. The pitch was a little outside...but one I absolutely should’ve had. The ball got by me. Right away I peeked at the runner on third, I knew I had to get to it right away; he was aggressive all day. He broke for the plate and I knew it’d be a close play, so close I had to dive to get there on time. I laid out and beat him there. That momentum shift in the game was one of the biggest we had all year.” While the grind-it-out nature of the game may have had Nappi reaching for the antacids, the coach said the win showed the heart of his team. “We refused to lose yesterday,” Nappi said. “That was all mental toughness right there because, to be honest, we didn’t really bring our ‘A’ game. But a good team wins when they don’t have everything clicking, so we hope we can prove that to be true in tough games throughout the playoffs.” Pac tops Suffren to reach semi-finals Tyler DeBrocky, seen in earlier action, drove in two runs and earned the save with two scoreless innings. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GIL MCMAHON BASEBALL Catcher DJ DeMatteo, seen in earlier action, drove in the gamewinning run against Suffern.
PAGE 32 – MAHOPAC NEWS LEISURE MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! For puzzle solutions, please see theparamountrehab.com CLUES ACROSS 1. Lunatic 7. Doctor of Education 10. Able to make amends 12. Tight-knit group 13. Gland 14. Intestinal pouches 15. Fungal spores 16. Erstwhile 17. Engine additive 18. Nasal mucus 19. Fit a horse with footwear 21. Consumed 22. Settle 27. Larry and Curly’s pal 28. Basketball’s GOAT 33. Exclamation of surprise 34. Made tight 36. Before 37. Actor Nicolas 38. Not hot 39. Talk 40. Pledge 41. Abandon a mission 44. Trims by cutting 45. Aspects of one’s character 48. Boxing GOAT’s former surname 49. Holy places 50. Body art (slang) 51. Attributes CLUES DOWN 1. How one feels 2. American Nat’l Standards Institute 3. Information 4. Licensed for Wall Street 5. Keyboard key 6. Born of 7. Choose to represent 8. Small European freshwater fish 9. Everyone has their own 10. Line from the center of a polygon 11. Lebanese city 12. Type of watercraft 14. A way to twist 17. Soviet Socialist Republic 18. Greek island 20. Medical practitioner 23. __ DeGaulle, French President 24. Partner to “oohed” 25. Atomic #52 26. Santa’s helper 29. Rapper __ Rule 30. Month 31. Word formed by rearranging letters 32. Nullifies 35. Young woman ready to enter society 36. Unemployment 38. Weight unit 40. Formal party 41. Computer language 42. Residue formula in math 43. Duty or responsibility 44. Part of (abbr.) 45. Time zone 46. Body part 47. Nucleic acid Seafood is a healthy addition to any diet. Seafood, whether it’s fish, mollusks or crustaceans, tends to be lower in calories and saturated fat than meat- or poultrybased protein sources, and it may be rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Shrimp, in particular, is a type of seafood that many people enjoy because it’s not as fishy as other offerings. Shrimp can be cooked in various ways, but grounding shrimp into patties gives an interesting spin. Try “Shrimp Cakes with Honey Lemon Aioli” from “30-Minute Meal Prep” (Sourcebooks) by Robin Miller. Shrimp Cakes with Honey Lemon Aioli Serves 4 • 1 pound cooked shrimp, tails removed • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, plus more for serving • 1 large egg • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 4 tablespoons olive oil For the Honey Lemon Aioli: • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 1 teaspoon honey • 1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon zest 1. Place the shrimp in a food processor, and pulse on and off until coarsely chopped. Add the breadcrumbs, bell pepper, chives, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and pulse on and off until blended; you should be able to squeeze a small amount of the mixture and it will hold its shape. 2. Form the mixture into four patties, each about 1-inch thick. 3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp patties, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. 4. To make the aioli, whisk together all the ingredients until blended. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. 5. Spoon the lemon aioli over the shrimp cakes, and top with fresh chives. Note: The shrimp cakes can be assembled and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking. The aioli can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Move over crab; shrimp cakes are crisp and tasty
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 33 Physical activity benefits people of all ages, including kids. Despite widespread recognition of the positive impact physical activity has on children, many kids are not getting enough exercise. In an analysis of data collected as part of the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that less than one in four children between the ages of 6 and 17 participates in 60 minutes of physical activity per day. When established in childhood and adolescence, good habits like exercising regularly can set young people up for a long, healthy life. Perhaps in recognition of that, parents often look for ways to promote physical activity to their youngsters. Setting fitness goals is one way to help young people exercise more, and the following are a handful of strategies parents can try as they seek to promote a love of physical activity in their children. • Include fun activities in a fitness plan. Adults recognize the importance of planning when aspiring to achieve certain goals, and a plan can be just as integral to getting kids to be more physically active. When devising a fitness plan, parents should be sure to include activities kids find fun. Just because Dad liked playing baseball doesn’t mean his children will. Identify activities that kids enjoy, whether it’s hiking or cycling or playing an organized sport, and include that in the fitness plan. • Involve kids’ friends. Parents often make exercising a family affair, but a 2015 study led by a researcher affiliated with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found that children who exercised with friends were far less likely to cite barriers such as lack of enjoyment or lack of energy as reasons for not exercising. In essence, kids are more inspired to exercise with friends than they are with family members. When establishing fitness goals for kids, parents can work with other parents so kids can pursue those goals together, increasing the chances that those pursuits will be successful. • Set aside time to exercise each day. Physical activity should be part of everyone’s daily routine, and kids are no exception. Such activity does not need to be a grueling workout, and indeed children’s bodies will need time to recover after especially strenuous exercise. But setting aside time each day to be physically active is a good way to ensure kids’ lifestyles are not predominantly sedentary. • Make the goals attainable. Parents may know before kids begin exercising or notice shortly after they start being more physically active how much kids can reasonably handle. The YMCA notes that’s an important factor to consider, as fitness goals should be attainable so anyone adjusting to a new regimen, even kids, stays motivated. A child’s pediatrician can advise on how much exercise youngsters should get each day, and parents can help kids gradually reach that point by setting challenging but attainable goals. Regular physical activity can benefit kids for the rest of their lives. Parents can pitch in by embracing various strategies to help kids establish attainable goals that make fitness fun. This article is from Metro Creative Connection. How to establish fitness goals for kids Lake Blvd. in Mahopac. Call 845-628-2006 or visit sjtemahopac.org/events/foodpantry/20231110 for more information. Library Resource Help Looking for a job, working on a research project, or getting started with social media, email, or a new device? Have questions about Libby, Hoopla, or one of the Mahopac Library’s other digital platforms? Book a help appointment to meet one-on-one with a library staff member. They can help library patrons find and use information resources or address basic technology questions. Registration is required: Register online at mahopaclibrary.org, or call 845-628-2009, ext. 100. (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in December from open to close.) Make it to Musings Mahopac Musings is always on the lookout for community events, and we often find them by accident. If you have a fundraiser, drive for donations, non-profit class or performance, meet-up, or anything you think your neighbors would like to know about, submit it to us at mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com with “musings” in the subject line. We can’t guarantee that every submission will get in but we’ll do our best. MUSINGS FROM PAGE 18 Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 from other accountants and tax preparers is our ability to work with you not just on taxes, but on financials, college planning, divorce, retirement planning, changes in life planning... We don’t just process tax forms, we advise on how to handle your income and expenses in the future with personalized recommendations. We help you navigate the tax code, and in the end, help you set sound financial goals. What separates us Town Board Wednesday, June 5, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Planning Board Thursday, June 13, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Environmental Conservation Board Thursday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Thursday, May 30, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Recreation Advisory Committee Thursday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. Rec Office Building - Sycamore Park Board of Education Thursday, June 20, 7 p.m. MMS Auditorium 421 Baldwin Place Road
PAGE 34 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAY IS LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH!! RAISING AWARENESS, FUNDING RESEARCH, & SUPPORTING LUPUS WARRIORS! JOIN US AT OUR SPRING NETWORKING MIXER ON THE PATIO AT THE GRAMERCY THURSDAY, MAY 23 6-8PM Lupus is a complex, chronic autoimmune disease that has no cure For more info, scan the QR code or email [email protected] 345 KEAR ST, YORKTOWN HTS, NY PICK-UP & DELIVERY AVAILABLE WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF PORTABLE GENERATORS 845-225-3503 * LAWN MOWERS * CHAIN SAWS * TRIMMERS * TRACTORS * GENERATORS * MOTORCYCLES * ATV’S * AND MORE! FACTORY-TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS EAST ROAD MOTORS 58 CAROLAN RD. EAST • CARMEL, NY www.EASTROADMOTORS.com BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Yorktown mother and daughter Cheryl and Brittany Sanchez are on a mission to raise awareness about a condition that’s often misunderstood and misdiagnosed—lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans have a form of this chronic autoimmune disease, which can cause inflammation and pain in any part of the body, most commonly skin, joints, and internal organs. Brittany is one of the 1.5 million, and her journey dramatizes the challenges of diagnosing, let alone treating, a condition often mistaken for other illnesses to the point where it’s known in medical circles as “the great imitator.” The symptoms In 2018, Brittany Sanchez was a typical young college grad setting off on her career path in her chosen field at the Bronx Zoo and Norwalk Maritime Aquarium. Yet at age 24, she found herself dragging despite drinking several cups of coffee to get through the day. She eventually realized that feeling “tired” had taken on a new meaning. It was more than fatigue; it was inescapable exhaustion. It took two years of doctor’s appointments, trial and error, and a strong display of self-advocacy to finally discover the answer: She had lupus. “I had been worried that something had been going on for a long time,” Brittany said. “For years I had noticed that I was just wiped out and way more tired than everyone else. “I just knew something was wrong.” In addition to fatigue, Brittany began catching more colds, viruses, and bacterial infections. She had three sinus infections in one year. So she went from her primary care physician to an infectious disease specialist, to an allergist, to an immunologist, and eventually to a rheumatologist to try to find the root cause of her symptoms. The elusive diagnosis Blood work early in the process indicated one of the markers for lupus. It wasn’t enough to diagnose her at that point, but it was enough for the doctor to send a letter to her home informing her that lupus could eventually become a diagnosis—though there were no guarantees. At the time, Brittany—who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at SUNY Purchase—was often around kids through her jobs at the zoo and aquarium. When doctors told her that being exposed to children at those venues was causing her illnesses, she got a new job in the back room at a veterinary office. Yet while she was working with animals and adults and no longer exposed to kids, her symptoms persisted. She recalled the point in 2020 when a “switch flipped” and she knew something was seriously wrong after a long shift at the vet. “I remember drinking so much coffee and calling my mom crying ‘I’m so tired, this isn’t normal,’” she said. “On my way home, that’s when the joint pain started. I have not been pain or symptom-free since.” “As a parent,” Cheryl Sanchez said, “if your kid is telling you something is not right, you have to listen.” Brittany went back to the doctor. “My [bloodwork] lit up like a Christmas tree,” Brittany said. “I had that perfect moment of getting my blood taken. Everything aligned.” “That’s when we realized there really aren’t many resources,” Cheryl Sanchez said. Local lupus warrior vies to bring awareness to the Hudson Valley May is Lupus Awareness Month Brittany and Cheryl Sanchez with the Proclamation for “World Lupus Day” presented to them by Legislators Vedat Gashi and Colin Smith PHOTO COURTESY OF CHERYL SANCHEZ REGIONAL SEE LUPUS PAGE 36
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 35 With Relay for Life returning to Mahopac High School (421 Baldwin Place Road) on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m.-11 p.m., supporters came out in force to “Paint the Town Purple” to raise awareness for the event. According to the American Cancer Society, the annual cancer fundraiser is part of “the world’s largest volunteer-based fundraising event.” Nearly 40 years after the first relay, “communities across the world have come together to honor and remember loved ones and take action for lifesaving change.” The event includes multiple ceremonies celebrating survivors and caregivers and a Luminara Luncheon to honor those who’ve lost their battle with the disease. This year, the Mahopac relay organizers hope to raise $150,000 to help fund the fight against cancer. To learn more, visit aceevents. org or contact regional organizer Kate Corsitto at kate.corsitto@ cancer.org. Mahopac goes purple to fight Cancer PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL Heather Strickland, Zachary Peterson, 16, Erica Orofino, Steve Tantolos, and Nina Kallmeyer Mahopac High School student volunteers Julia Tedesco, 17 and Arianna Martins, 14 were out in downtown Mahopac collecting donations. Scan Here To Sign Up (It’s FREE!) Get YOUR Town’s Local News In Your Inbox Daily Service... Integrity... Compassion Family owned and operated We began with a mission to celebrate life and serve families. There is much peace to be found here, and we invite you to find yours. Explore more. Take a tour. Read our story. Share in experiences. Anthony J. Guarino Family Owned & Operated 945 East Main Street • Shrub Oak, NY 10588 • (914) 962-0700 YorktownFuneralHome.com • [email protected]
“Learning she had lupus was a complicated and difficult process. As a parent, part of you wants to believe that the doctors are right and that the symptoms are caused by something like being around kids with colds. But in the back of your mind, you know there’s more to it. Her persistence was the key to getting the diagnosis.” Cheryl said the difficulty diagnosing her daughter’s condition is especially poignant for them because of their background in the sciences. She has a master’s in biology and has been in healthcare for 30 years. “Having these types of backgrounds, we still found it really difficult to navigate the healthcare system and get a diagnosis, and advocate for what was needed even with all that privilege, experience, and knowledge,” Cheryl Sanchez said. “It was still so difficult. Anyone can develop lupus, but those at a higher risk include women ages 15 to 44, people who have a relative with lupus or another autoimmune disease, and certain racial and ethnic groups including people who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander. Lupus is not contagious, but it can be genetic. Its main cause is unknown, but experts think it might develop because of certain hormones or environmental triggers. Raising awareness, raising money In May, in honor of Lupus Awareness Month, Brittany and Cheryl held their second annual fundraising event at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown. They said the idea for the fundraiser originated after they realized that there was nothing in the Westchester County/Hudson Valley area to bring awareness to lupus. The closest events are in New Jersey (in May) and New York City (in the fall); not very geographically accessible depending on the level of a “lupus warrior’s” condition. “Knowing how hard it was for us, that’s why we said ‘we need to do something to spread awareness and help others get the answers they need,” Cheryl said. In addition to raising money for the Lupus Research Alliance, the Sanchezes hope to connect community members to resources by ensuring each vendor at the event is all about health and wellbeing. Brittany said the goal is to make sure the vendors are useful to anyone with a chronic illness and their caregivers, especially those dealing with lupus. “The chronic illness doesn’t just affect the person who has it,” Brittany said. “My mom’s life has changed. I was a totally functioning adult with a 9-to-5 job and totally self-sustaining—paying my own bills and everything. And now I haven’t been able to work like that since that day [the joint pain started]. “People like my mom and other caregivers need support and encouragement too,” she added. County legislators Vedat Gashi and Colin Smith presented Brittany and Cheryl with a proclamation at the fundraiser declaring May 10 as “World Lupus Day” in Westchester. The Sanchezes will hold their third annual Spring Networking Mixer and Fundraiser Event on the patio of The Gramercy in Yorktown (345 Kear St.) on Thursday, May 23 from 6-8 p.m. to recognize Lupus Awareness Month and fundraise for lupus research. But their mission to support research goes beyond any one event. “May is Lupus Awareness Month, Chery Sanchez said. “But this is a cause that needs attention all 12 months of the year.” To donate to their fundraising efforts, visit give.lupusresearch.org/ team/581270. PAGE 36 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 Add Value to Your Home We specialize in targeted home improvements — both big and small — to maximize your home’s value, comfort and beauty. • Bathroom Remodeling • Kitchen Remodeling • Durable Vinyl Siding • Room Additions • Add-a-Levels • • Replacement Windows • General Carpentry • Basement Finishing • Painting • Interior Trim • Handy Man • Sero’s Contracting When we’re done, there is nothing left to do. Licensed & Insured • Local References • Brewster, NY • 845-216-1955 • 845-279-6977 • [email protected] LUPUS FROM PAGE 34 Cheryl and Brittany Sanchez, Legislator Vedat Gashi, and Legislator Colin Smith with the proclamation for “World Lupus Day” in Westchester PHOTO COURTESY OF CHERYL SANCHEZ
MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 37 BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE The Town Board has unanimously approved the purchase of two new electric vehicles to add to its fleet, and both are being paid for primarily through a state grant. State Sen. Pete Harckham had helped secure $2.1 million in Community Resiliency Economic Sustainability and Technology Program (CREST) grant money for electric-based projects. Each municipality in Harckham’s 40th Senate District received $100,000. “Each town got the money to use for electrification projects,” said Supervisor Mike Cazzari. “A lot used them for solar panels and some for EV (electric vehicle) charging stations. But we already have solar panels on the roof (of Town Hall) from when my predecessor Ken Schmitt was here and he was also able to get us some free EV stations. We have four of them in town.” So, the town began looking into electric vehicles. Originally, the police department sought to purchase an electric all-terrain vehicle to use for search and rescue missions but discovered the gas-powered version was more suitable. Instead, the town opted to purchase two electric SUVs—one for the police department and one for the engineering department. Last week, the board signed off on the purchase of two 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD SUV vehicles from Healy Brothers Ford in Poughkeepsie. The total cost for both vehicles is $93,025. Required upgrades for the police vehicle will cost $8,816. The total cost of the project comes to $101,841 with $100,000 of it to be reimbursed by the CREST grant and the remaining $1,841.18 to be funded by the police department’s 2024 vehicle budget line. Town Board OKs electric car purchase with grant money A Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD SUV, similar to what the town of Carmel has purchased PHOTO COURTESY OF ELECTRICHUNTER.COM Contact Us Mahopac News is located at 118 N Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 845-208-0774 or email mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com. AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 Same-Day Roll-Off Container Delivery Available 10-yard • 12-yard • 15-yard 20-yard • 30-yard CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE cironeconstruction.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 Get This Newspaper’s App On Your Phone Always Stay Informed About News Involving YOUR Town & Schools Android Scan Here iPhone Scan Here Many readers may already Get Our App! know the story of American General Benedict Arnold and British Major John André during the American Revolution. But did you know that André’s path to his fate passed through Mahopac? Read all about it in historian Brian Vangor’s monthly column at News.HalsonMedia.com. The revolution passed through Mahopac Major John André PHOTO COURTESY WIKIPEDIA.COM In Case You Missed It
PAGE 38 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024 My Community Bulletin Board My Community Bulletin Board (845) 309-9214 LISCENSED & FULLY INSURED COMMERCIAL/ RESIDENTIAL [email protected] Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the Mahopac News Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! 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! 914-245-2060 YorktownGardenSupply.com Topsoil Stone Mulch Sand 3311 Gomer Street Yorktown, NY 10598 GREAT BEAR SEPTIC SERVICE We’re there when you need us. 845-621-0250 Give Us A Call Today! was at home sleeping. “Both cars were ransacked,” she said. While she didn’t determine that any valuables were taken, she said the incident frightened her. “Mahopac has gotten scary,” she said. A man living in the same neighborhood said he opened his car door to find “my glovebox emptied all over the seat” and wasn’t sure what had been stolen. Ring Doorbell camera footage shared with Mahopac News shows another alleged incident near Hill Street. An SUV pulls up and a husky masked man gets out of the passenger door, then tiptoes toward a car parked in a driveway. He’s off camera for a few seconds, then quickly comes back into view and returns to the SUV, which drives off. The whole incident is over in less than a minute. One Mahopac resident reported on the Ring Neighbors app that $150 was stolen from two unlocked parked cars, though thieves left behind Amazon boxes and other valuables. “They also tried to start the car thinking maybe keys were in the vehicle,” the resident said. “They must have only been looking for money because they left [Apple] AirPods on the seat, sunglasses and [Nike] Jordans. “It’s unbelievable that this is happening in our town, just feel so violated,” the resident continued, adding that police responded “very quickly” when altered to the incident. “Stay safe out there,” the resident added. “And if you happen to experience the same thing, report it.” Macom said that so far, the thieves hadn’t damaged or stolen any vehicles but had taken cash and valuables from inside the unlocked cars. In the past, she added, cars had been stolen when the keys were left inside them She said the best way to protect yourself is to lock your car, remove all valuables, and keep the keys in the house. “Don’t be an easy target,” she said. “Follow the ‘9 p.m. routine.’” According to a written guide provided by Carmel PD, the 9 p.m. routine recommendations include parking in well-lit areas, locking car doors and windows, and removing valuables such as electronics, wallets, purses, sunglasses, important documents, and cash. If you must leave them in the car, police recommend putting them out of sight, such as in the trunk. Macom said it’s especially important to remove key fobs because thieves have been known to steal the cars when they find the key inside. The written “9 p.m.” Carmel PD guide goes a step further: “In your home, consider keeping the fob in a metal box or Faraday pouch to protect against signal relays,” it recommends. The Carmel PD also advises against leaving garage door openers in the car because they can “leave your home vulnerable to entry.” The Carmel PD said technology can help protect your vehicle. Recommendations include security cameras—which can act as a deterrent as well as an alert when you’re not at home. Police also recommend installing motion detector lights, which “increase safety and deter criminals,” and using GPS trackers to help locate lost or stolen electronics. Keeping records about your valuables (including serial numbers, cost, and purchase date of each item) is also helpful. As the investigation into the thefts continues, Carmel PD has increased its patrols and visibility at night and in the early morning hours. While there have been no reports of violence so far, Macom said the best thing to do if you witness a break-in is to call the police and not try to chase the perpetrator away. “Don’t confront them,” she said. “You don’t want to put yourself in a dangerous situation. Call the police immediately, because that gives us the best chance of catching them. And if you see something on a Ring or similar camera, contact the Carmel PD’s detective division.” THIEVES FROM PAGE 7 Images taken from Ring doorbell cameras show alleged perpetrators entering unlocked vehicles in Mahopac. PHOTO COURTESY OF RING NEIGHBORS
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PAGE 40 – MAHOPAC NEWS MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2024