BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Displaying the same cool e ciency as the machines they design, build and operate, John Jay High School’s Robotics Team catapulted into world-class status this month with a razor-thin, against-allodds victory in the New York State nals of a global science tournament. e MOB, as team members style themselves, now heads to Houston where they will meet the world’s best young science minds next month in matches marked as much by collaboration as competition. Some 190 teams—state champions and international teams from countries like England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, ailand and Romania—will face o in this year’s FIRST Tech Challenge. At last week’s Katonah-Lewisboro School District board meeting, Superintendent Andrew Selesnick publicly congratulated the team’s dozen members— evenly divided, boys and girls—and read aloud their names: David Bond, Orion Brandt, Zoe Dollar, Kristina Fonseca, Brooke Habinowski, Spencer Hadlock, Spencer Levine, Rachel Lewis, Kai Luongo, Will Matthews, Lucas Oyen and Jack Shapiro. To punch their ticket to Texas, the MOB—shorthand for Mechanical Operations Bureau—had to overcome neardisaster at the state nals, held March 5 at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. FIRST—“For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”—calls “gracious professionalism” a core value and emphasizes “co-opertition” over competition. So, its matches are marked by alliances, in which each team is randomly matched with another. at team may be a competitor in one round and an ally in the next. And that format nearly sank the high- ying John Jay squad, which was matched with another school under the randomalliance scheme in the tournament nale. “ e third and nal match of the championship nals was going to determine it all,” Rachel Lewis, a senior and team member, recalled. John Jay was o to an excellent start. Lewis said the MOB couldn’t help but feel con dent with their signi cant autonomous point lead—”until their alliance partner’s robot stopped moving entirely.” Fortunately, the MOB had generated one of the state’s most dominant robots. Jonathan Peter, John Jay’s robotics teacher and coach of its robotics teams, said, “A clear focus on team dynamics generated terri c hardware, code and team strategy as well as a awless presentation of their product.” So, despite being outnumbered and seeing a once-comfortable point lead disappear, the MOB remained poised and con dent in what Lewis described as a “1- vs.-2 situation.” “In the nal two minutes of the nal match,” she said, “with all odds against them, MOB drivers David Bond and Jack Shapiro pulled through. In a seemingly miraculous win—by one point—over the No. 2 seed, the MOB was crowned the winner of the New York Excelsior Regional Championship and handed their tickets to the World Championship in Houston.” For MOB members, the road to Houston ran through the John Jay Robot Rumble last December and the Peekskill Quali er in January before the state championship matches in Utica. “ ey work tirelessly, often until late at night,” said their faculty advisor, Peter. “Whether it’s troubleshooting or brainstorming innovative solutions, their creativity and ingenuity never cease to amaze me. ey continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, and I’m honored to work with such an exceptional group.” In addition to the MOB, John Jay’s robotics program also includes the Super Monkey Robo Team (SMRT), Super Awesome Robot (SAR) and Tin Diesel. e program is growing, Peter said, from a more diverse base in Computer Science 1 and 2—the prerequisite for robotics. Lewis sometimes acts as spokesperson for the MOB. Ebullient after the Utica victory, she took to the microphone in John Jay’s main o ce to declare during morning announcements, “ e MOB is going to Worlds!” VOL. 6 NO. 2 THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 19 CLASSIFIEDS 18 LEISURE 17 OPINION 6 TOWN CROSSING 4 SPORTS 13 Youth Basketball Results pg 14 HOOPS! Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 John Jay Robotics Team headed for World Championship The MOB won the NY-Excelsior Regional Championship and punched their ticket to the World Championship in Houston. See more photos from the Regional Championship on page 10! Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. John Jay Robotics Team headed for World Championship HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 Whether you choose to just do some light cosmetics or a complete metamorphosis, this solid 4 BR/2.1 BA Colonial offers fantastic space, level and lovely 1.13 acre property, an IG pool and a wonderful neighborhood. In exchange for a little work and imagination you’ll enjoy the reward of a custom transformation! Call today for more information! $649,900 Transform This Caterpillar into A Butterfly! Find Out What Your Home Might Be Worth Scan for Instant Results #UGottaHaveHope
PAGE 2 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 19 CLASSIFIEDS 18 LEISURE 17 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 4 SPORTS 14 Wolves Win Big pg 15 HOCKEY Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 On Jan. 7, the stage at John Jay High School came alive with the return of ArtsALIVE’s Encore Cabaret! See more photos from this amazing evening on page 10. Encore! PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO The cast performing “What I did for Love” from A Chorus Line. BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Who thought this was a good idea, anyway? Two young bandits, clearly not acquainted with the relentless calculus of risk and reward, knocked over the tiny Waccabuc post o ce the other day. Sure, they came away with all of about $200, perhaps more cash than they might have realized in a gas station stickup. But for that skimpy take-home they quickly had at least four law enforcement agencies—local, state and federal, including the FBI and postal-inspection service— in hot pursuit. By late last week, all were said to have the getaway car’s license-plate number and to be closing in on their quarry. Waccabuc’s mail service is centered in a quaint, one-story white-clapboard structure on Post O ce Road. Built in 1880, it’s a venerable piece of the Waccabuc Historic District and had never, as far as anyone can recall, been a target of desperadoes. Until Jan. 10. at’s the day the two men entered, says Lewisboro Police Chief David Alfano, who gave this account: Both intruders were packing pistols when they walked in around 4:30 in the afternoon. While one guarded the door, the other vaulted the counter to scoop up the cash register’s contents. Neither thug bothered to cover his face. Alfano described the stickup duo as black men in their 20s, about 5 foot 8 and 6 feet tall and said one wore an orange re- ective safety vest. Cash in hand, the two ed, seemingly successfully. But their getaway car had a date with today’s ubiquitous digital surveillance. “We did succeed in obtaining a registration from our license-plate reader on Route 35,” Alfano said. Relatively new technology, license-plate readers capture and cross-reference a car’s plates in real-time, allowing the police to issue alerts even as suspects on the run believe they’ve evaded their pursuers. Two postal employees, one of them a woman working the service counter, were in the building when the bandits struck, police said. eir names were being withheld. Neither was hurt, a state police spokesman said. e U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which traces its roots to 1775, more than a century before the Waccabuc post o ce went up, was “taking the lead” in the investigation, Alfano said. Authorities hunt for Waccabuc post offi ce robbers HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 HAVE IT ALL AT HERITAGE HILLS! Absolutely one of the best locations in Heritage Hills - convenient, private and picturesque! Set on an expansive cul-de-sac, this desirable location offers beautiful year-round views of nature. Enjoy no steps in this one level light and bright updated 3-bedroom/2 full bath Croton II with a 2-car garage! $699,900 #UGottaHaveHope VOL. 5 NO. 44 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023 as suspects on the run believe they’ve evaded their pursuers. Two postal employees, one of them a woman working the service counter, were in the building when the bandits struck, police said. eir names were being withheld. Neither was hurt, a state police spokesman said. e U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which traces its roots to 1775, more than a century before the Waccabuc post o ce went up, was “taking the lead” in the investigation, Alfano said. Authorities hunt for Waccabuc post offi ce robbers MAZZOLA Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com as suspects on the run believe Two postal employees, one of them a woman working the service counter, were in the building when the bandits struck, police said. eir names were being withheld. Neither was hurt, a e U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which traces its roots to 1775, more than a century before the Waccabuc post o ce went up, was “taking the lead” in the investigation, Alfano said. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 VOL. 5 NO. 47 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 19 CLASSIFIEDS 18 OBITUARIES 5 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 5 SPORTS 13 Scouts Give Back pg 10 TROOP 104 Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CALDWELL, NJ WEST PERMIT #992 BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Taxpayers in the KatonahLewisboro School District are being asked whether, and by how much, they want to thank veterans and rst responders for their service. KLSD’s Board of Education is considering a package of tax-relief proposals for vets and others, including senior citizens and disabled persons. Although the various tax breaks—covering eligibility levels as well as dollar amounts—were authorized last year by state legislation, Albany neither mandates them nor makes up any revenue they cost the district, shifting that burden to other KLSD taxpayers. At their Feb. 2 meeting, board members generally supported proposed improvements in the tax-relief programs. But they were less enthusiastic about creating di erent taxing levels for di erent groups of residents without a complete nancial picture of the impact. Trustee William Rifkin appeared to sum up their unease. Although the board annually approves the schools’ $100 millionplus budgets and their subsequent hefty tax levy, that burden is meant to be shared evenly by district property owners. “Here,” Rifkin observed, “we’re picking people who will pay to honor [other] people, and we’re making the decision for them. It’s uncomfortable.” e board will hold a public hearing Feb. 23 on the various proposals, which are also under separate discussion by the Lewisboro Town Board. In the meantime, residents are invited to email questions and views to BOE@ klschools.org. e decision to turn to the community for feedback followed an 80-minute discussion at last week’s board meeting in which the trustees leaned toward increasing Veterans’ existing tax bene t to new top levels enacted by last year’s state legislation. Albany also eased eligibility requirements for tax breaks to the other groups. Volunteer re ghters and ambulance workers would now qualify for the bene t in two years, down from ve, and seniors and persons with disabilities would be given higher permissible income levels. In an email, School Superintendent Andrew Selesnick said the district does not yet have “precise language for resolutions that may or may not be adopted on Feb. 23.” But he told board members they would have to act by about March 1 to assure that the new bene ts could go into e ect in the 2024-25 school year. Other nearby towns and school districts have already enacted tax breaks for Veterans, seniors and the disabled. Bedford, for example, acted last spring on Veterans, approving the maximum permissible levels, and voted relief for seniors and disabled persons at year’s end. e Bedford Central School District also voted last year to give Veterans the top exemption levels authorized in the new state law. Selesnick sat in last week for Danelle Pacella, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, who had briefed the board Dec. 1 on potential Veterans-exemption increases. For his own discussion, SeleBoard of Education considers tax-relief proposals SEE KLSD PAGE 4 Following a big win on the road against Somers last week, Annabel Brennan and the Wolves are looking to make an impact in the postseason! Read more on page 14. HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 If A Picture Paints A Thousand Words, Then This Amazing Story is A Best Seller! Meticulous and truly move-in ready, this sunny and spacious contemporary has been nicely updated and perfectly maintained. Located in Greenbriar with pool, tennis, basketball and clubhouse just moments from town, train, school and highways. Super low taxes! 4 BR/3 BA, 2,850sf $685,000 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 VOL. 5 NO. 34 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 LEISURE 24 OPINION 10 TOWN CROSSING 7 SPORTS 20 Project Breaks Ground pg 16 PLAYGROUND Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER For more than 20 years, Coach Bill Swertfager has built John Jay High School’s wrestling program, from literally nothing to a perennial Section One contender. More signi cantly, he’s built a generation of young men and women who are now better adults thanks to the example he set and the life lessons he taught, scores of supporters told the Katonah-Lewisboro school board last week. Some 300 strong, a standingroom-only throng, they packed the board’s Nov. 3 meeting in the high school cafeteria to deliver full-throated support for Coach Bill. ey appealed to keep him at the wrestling program’s helm, beseeching school o cials in public a week ago after a complaint made in private more than a year ago put the coach’s job in jeopardy. In the spring of 2021, an unidenti ed person asserts, Swertfager slapped a player on the backside in a girls juniorvarsity softball game. Neither the KLSD administration nor the school board, bound by privacy regulations, is permitted to identify the complainant. One account making the rounds among the coach’s supporters insists that neither the player nor her parents have taken issue with his actions. Instead, this version holds, one of the girl’s teammates, “uncomfortable” with seeing the touch, complained about it. Swertfager, for his part, says he has no recollection of delivering what is the sports world’s longtime, spontaneous gesture of support or congratulations. “I have no idea who the player was that I supposedly did it to, or who the teammate was who was uncomfortable with it,” he said in an interview last weekend. “I simply don’t remember the incident. I am not saying it didn’t happen; I am just saying I don’t remember it.” ough he has been an integral part of John Jay’s athletic establishment for more than two decades, Swertfager is not a full-time KLSD employee. e owner of the Cross River-based marketing rm AIA Promotional Source, he draws only a token stipend from the school treasury. Whoever is varsity wrestling coach this winter will be paid $8,140 for the season. Still, the 63-year-old Swertfager noted in the interview, “I have dedicated my entire adult life, 40 years, to coaching boys and girls in seven sports, including softball, baseball, track and eld, boys and girls soccer, football, basketball and, of course, wrestling. ousands of young men and women without a single blemish on my record for anything.” e school board had been expected to appoint all coaches for winter sports at ursday’s meeting but ultimately put the matter over to the next meeting, Nov. 17, after a crescendo of voices insisted Coach Bill be retained. Swertfager had the rst word. Addressing the school board for Coach Bill Swertfager speaking before the Board of Education on Nov. 3. PHOTO: TOM BARTLEY Outpouring of support for John Jay coach following complaint SEE COACH PAGE 28 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 UH, OH! THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT ‘ME’, AGAIN! "Hope pulled out all the stops during the purchase of our home. She reached out to her contacts, connected us with her invaluable resources, negotiated on our behalf, and got us the keys to our dream house in a timely manner. She made herself available to us at all times, had our best interest at heart, and did not stop working for us - even after the closing. I can't say enough good things about Hope; without her on our team, there is no way my husband and I would have gotten our house." — CS, Purdys NY Your Local Expert. #UGottaHaveHope Another great transaction with 1. Clip the short form on this page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to: P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or Visit or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times. YES, I really enjoy The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional) (Optional for TAPinto E-News) Checks payable to Halston Media LLC Please include this form in your envelope. Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other OR Visit https://bit.ly/HalstonSubscribe OR Visit https://bit.ly/ HalstonSubscribe 2 TRACKS Please Subscribe— It’s FREE & it’s Easy! We Need Your Support To Continue The Paper THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 would be given higher permissible In an email, School Superintendent Andrew Selesnick said the district does not yet have “precise language for resolutions that may or may not be adopted on Feb. 23.” But he told board members they would have to act by about March 1 to assure that the new bene ts could go into e ect in the 2024-25 Other nearby towns and school districts have already enacted tax breaks for Veterans, seniors and the disabled. Bedford, for example, acted last spring on Veterans, approving the maximum permissible levels, and voted relief for seniors and disabled persons at year’s end. e Bedford Central School District also voted last year to give Veterans the top exemption levels authorized in the new state law. Selesnick sat in last week for Danelle Pacella, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, who had briefed the board Dec. 1 on potential Veterans-exemption For his own discussion, SeleSEE KLSD PAGE 4 VOL. 5 NO. 34 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 LEISURE 24 OPINION 10 TOWN CROSSING 7 SPORTS 20 Project Breaks Ground PLAYGROUND BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER For more than 20 years, Coach Bill Swertfager has built John Jay High School’s wrestling program, from literally nothing to a perennial Section One contender. More signi cantly, he’s built a generation of young men and women who are now better adults thanks to the example he set and the life lessons he taught, scores of supporters told the Katonah-Lewisboro school board last week. Some 300 strong, a standingroom-only throng, they packed the board’s Nov. 3 meeting in the high school cafeteria to deliver full-throated support for Coach Bill. ey appealed to keep him at the wrestling program’s helm, beseeching school o cials in public a week ago after a complaint made in private more than a year ago put the coach’s job in jeopardy. In the spring of 2021, an unidenti ed person asserts, Swertfager slapped a player on among the coach’s supporters insists that neither the player nor her parents have taken issue with his actions. Instead, this version holds, one of the girl’s teammates, “uncomfortable” with seeing the touch, complained about it. Swertfager, for his part, says he has no recollection of delivering what is the sports world’s longtime, spontaneous gesture of support or congratulations. “I have no idea who the player was that I supposedly did it to, or who the teammate was who was uncomfortable with it,” he said in an interview last weekend. “I simply don’t remember the incident. I am not saying it didn’t happen; I am just saying I don’t remember it.” ough he has been an integral part of John Jay’s athletic establishment for more than Outpouring of support for John Jay coach following complaint UH, OH! THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT ‘ME’, AGAIN! "Hope pulled out all the stops during the purchase of our home. She reached out to her contacts, connected us with her invaluable resources, negotiated on our behalf, and got us the keys to our dream house in a timely manner. She made herself available to us at all times, had our best interest at heart, and did not stop working for us - even after the closing. I can't say enough good things about Hope; without her on our team, there is no way my husband and I would have gotten our house." — CS, Purdys NY Your Local Expert. Another great transaction with THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 VOL. 5 NO. 48 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 23 CLASSIFIEDS 22 LEISURE 21 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 2 SPORTS 17 Heading for States pg 17 GYMNASTICS Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Cardinal Timothy Dolan scored some big points with the clergy at St. Mary of the Assumption in Katonah with a blessing of a newly renovated gymnasium. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, led a Saturday night mass at the parish’s school building on Valley Road. Hundreds gathered on Feb. 11 to celebrate the new gym, which serves as a facility for various sports activities such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. “Let me say again how happy I am to be with you here at St. Mary’s Parish in Katonah,” Dolan said in his homily. “Of all the duties that I have as your archbishop, this one is what I relish the most, to be with you, God’s people, for the most important thing we do every week: o er the holy sacri ce of mass.” e e ort to renovate the Cardinal Dolan visits Katonah Archbishop praises St. Mary’s for investing in sports and spirituality Cardinal Dolan at St. Mary’s on Feb. 11. PHOTO: BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER ‘You’ve got a good thing going here at St. Mary of the Assumption in Katonah.’ Cardinal Timothy Dolan Archbishop of New York BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Bedford’s Town Board, which last year improved the propertytax breaks it gives veterans and others, is looking now to add rst responders to that list. e board last week scheduled a public hearing for next month on a proposal that would cut the length of service time needed before volunteer re ghters and ambulance crew members could claim a 10 percent reduction on the assessed value of their homes. More than simply a “thank you” for the critical services these volunteers provide, the cut in qualifying time from ve years to two is seen as a potential recruiting enticement. Bedford’s emergency services are having “quite a challenge” bringing in new members, Supervisor Ellen Calves said in introducing the measure at the board’s Feb. 7 meeting. Similar proposals, all based on recent changes in state law, are under consideration by the Lewisboro Town Board and the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, the latter representing by far the biggest chunk of local homeowners’ property taxes. Exemptions would apply only to primary residences. All told, the breaks that have either been enacted or are under consideration in the three taxing jurisdictions would bene t veterans, rst responders, senior citizens and the disabled. e money they would save—expected to be a relatively small piece of their total tax bill— would have to be made up by the other town and school district residents, those not in one of the qualifying categories e tax bills of those other residents likely would not see signi cant increases, Bedford Assessor Harold Girdlestone said in proposing the expanded break last week. “ e ve-to-two-years [service requirement] wouldn’t be much of an impact,” he told the board, saying “to wait ve years is really a long time.” Saluting the volunteers who roll on myriad emergency calls 24/7, Girdlestone said, “ e service they provide is really unbelievable.” Bedford contemplates first responder tax break SEE DOLAN PAGE 3 SEE BEDFORD PAGE 4 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice Licensed Associate Real Est President ate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 What Dreams Are Made Of! Car Collectors - Landscapers - Contractors - Studio - whatever space you need or want to do, this 8-car garage will totally deliver. Add the 900 sf move-in ready ranch with gleaming wood floors, new kitchen appliances and a lovely 1/2 acre lot - all for one low price and with super low taxes. Garage has full heat, AC, hot water/drain and super high ceilings. The total package for living, rental or as a hangout. A rare bird for sure and not going to last so call me today! $499,000 Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times YES, I really enjoy The Katonah-Lewisboro Times and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com OR or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please Include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News The Somers Record Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times Mahopac News Since the founding of our country, the U.S. Postal Service offered reduced rates to newspapers. This is because the post office recognized that newspapers were an essential element for an informed electorate, which depended upon a healthy exchange of news, ideas, and opinions. For free newspapers to receive a postal discount, the post office requires that at least 50% of readers formally subscribe with their signature. Signatures are only valid for a limited amount of time. We are a small business and need all the support we can get. If you are able to include a monetary contribution with your signature, it is welcome and appreciated more than you can know. But please also recognize that basic support — a signature to request the paper — is also greatly appreciated. Our Mission: We aim to be the most trusted and respected source for hyper-local content. We want our subscribers to look forward to reading us every week. We want to inform, educate, entertain and inspire better than anyone else on a local level. Truly Grateful, Brett Freeman Publisher #
BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE Waccabuc resident Rufus Jones and his wife, Jill Rosenberg Jones, are on a mission to keep the legacy of James Weldon Johnson (1871- 1938) alive. Johnson, an icon of African American history and culture, was an author, lyricist, poet, diplomat, attorney, and leader of the NAACP. He authored the lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in 1900 for a celebration of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and is now generally used throughout the country as the Black/African American “national hymn.” Johnson worked for social justice and to expose the power of African American contributions to the intellectual and artistic life of America. The Jones’ foray into James Weldon Johnson’s world began in 2010 when Jill was bequeathed the author’s literary estate from Johnson scholar Dr. Sondra Kathryn Wilson, who had been a family friend. “She didn’t have any children so there was no one to leave it to in the traditional sense,” Rufus Jones said. “My wife’s mother was friends with [Sondra Wilson]. When my wife was a teen, Sondra would share all these stories with her. She was like an auntie to her. She knew her for 40 years.” But the Joneses had no idea what it meant to be the executor of a literary estate. This one included about 1,500 pieces of copyrighted material, most of it housed at Yale University. “We found out that if people wanted to use poems or artifacts for something, they would have to call and ask permission from my wife,” said Jones, who is now president of The James Weldon Johnson Foundation. A short time later, Jill had a dream in which Wilson spoke just five words to her: “James Weldon Johnson... Great Barrington.” The Joneses did a Google search and discovered that Johnson had summer home in Great Barrington, MA, and it had been on the market for 18 months. Known as Five Acres, the property boasted a cottage and a writing cabin. So, the Joneses paid a visit to check out what condition the property was in. “We were concerned someone would tear it down and put up a McMansion,” Jones said. “It had his writing cabin where he wrote many of his works, including his autobiography in 1933. We wanted to make sure it was still standing. We had to protect it.” Within five days of visiting Five Acres, they had the property under contract. Jones put together a committee of sorts made up of family and friends to decide what to do with the property. “We brainstormed what to do with it,” he said. “A mission statement was born to advance the legacy of James Weldon Johnson and support art, literature, and social justice. Those were the things he stood for.” In 2020, Jones retired from his Wall Street job, and with the pandemic in full force, he had time to devote to the Five Acres property. But the couple lived in Jersey City, NJ, and that required an untenable commute. But Jones had a friend and old college roommate who lived with his wife in Waccabuc and the Joneses had spent many weekends there over the years, so they knew the area well. Noting it was much closer to Great Barrington, the couple bought a home in Waccabuc last year. Their 17-year-old now attends John Jay. “Now I can drop my son off at school and drive the hour and 40 minutes to meet with my contractor and architect. When we lived in Jersey City, I couldn’t do that,” Jones said. Phase 1 of the writing cabin renovation is now complete and the building is open for use by nearby Bard College students. “Now the building is not going to fall down,” Jones said. “We want tourism and community engagement. Phase 2 is the interior. It still has his day bed, his desk, and other artifacts.” But the biggest step the Joneses and The James Weldon Johnson Foundation have taken in their efforts to maintain Johnson’s legacy may be their involvement with the National Football League (NFL). In 2020, the NFL partnered with The James Weldon Johnson Foundation to share with their fans Johnson’s spiritual song popularized as “Lift Every Voice And Sing” during the pageantry of the 2020 NFL Kickoff Weekend. “They wanted to educate their fans on how important [Johnson] is to the community and we said ‘yes.’ Each team has the option to play the song before the national anthem if they want to,” Jones said. “It is part of our mission so we became a partner and we received a grant to continue our mission.” Jones said the actual title of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is “National Hymn.” He said the criticism the song has received from some quarters as being divisive because it caused a movement to create two national anthems is off base. Jones said the song is not really an anthem, but rather a hymn, as the title implies. The lyrics were Johnson’s attempt to honor and respect President Lincoln and recognized his achievements, Jones explained. “It is more from a spiritual point of view,” he said. “It was spread by word of mouth—church to church, school to school. That is how it spread across the country, especially the black community. You had Jim Crow Era laws, segregation, second-class citizenship, and police brutality. But people found joy and dignity in it like the old Negro spirituals.” Tragically, Johnson was killed in a train accident while in Maine in 1938, but his list of accomplishments is impressive. He was the first black lawyer to pass the bar in Florida. He was appointed as a diplomat. He was a leader of the NAACP. He was the first black professor at New York University. “He was first at a lot of stuff,” Jones said. “He had no children and he wanted to preserve his legacy after his death, so he donated his papers to Yale. It has the most extensive Harlem Renaissance collection in the world. It was a catalyst for other writers to donate their works, people like Langston Hughes.” Jones is also a singer/songwriter and now that he is retired he has picked up his guitar again when he is not in North Barrington he can be found performing regularly at the Katonah Reading Room. “They want me to tell stories,” he said. His adventures in the world of James Weldon Johnson and his Five Acres will likely be part of the repertoire. Your Neighbor Your Neighbor THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 3 Preserving a legacy The life and works of cultural icon James Weldon Johnson Rufus Jones at the entrance of Johnson’s writing cabin PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JAMES WELDON JOHNSON FOUNDATION Bard College students at the cabin in 2022 FLOODS Can Happen TO ANYONE! Contact Us for Info on Flood Insurance HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com
PAGE 4 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Whit Anderson Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Katonah-Lewisboro Times The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] Location 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Justin Young, the latest candidate for a seat on the Katonah Lewisboro School District board, puts transparency and fiscal responsibility high on his list of needed district improvements. A seven-year KLSD resident, Young joins Bill Swertfager and Lorraine Gallagher as declared candidates for the seats now held by Trustees William Rifkin and Catharine Oestreicher, whose three-year terms end June 30. Neither has announced re-election intentions. District voters will go to the polls May 16 to fill those two openings on the seven-member board and decide the fate of a proposed $120 million budget. While applauding the quality of education in district schools, Young said in a statement announcing his candidacy that he believes “some improvements can be made.” “As an engaged, active parent of two KLSD students, I have had a front-row view of our district’s strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “I am eager to roll up my sleeves and put my professional skills and community experience to work for our students, our educators and my fellow taxpayers.” Young, 43, and his wife, Daniela, live in the Katonah section of Lewisboro with their two children, both students at Increase Miller Elementary School. Young earned his M.B.A. from C.W. Post College and is an active member of the Westchester and Greater Connecticut Chapter of the National Black MBA Association. He owns an organic-imports business, which Young credits with providing experience in competitive bidding for goods and services, a skill he deems especially needed in KLSD. A pilot, Young flies private planes out of Westchester County Airport, is a self-described “avid fitness enthusiast” and volunteers a coach of basketball and youth football in district schools. All three challengers carry sports credentials into the school board race. For two decades, Swertfager, a Katonah businessman, was the John Jay wrestling coach until he was removed last year after a complaint that has never been made public. And Gallagher, a lawyer and vocal supporter of the ousted coach, is president of the John Jay Boosters Club, which supports the district’s athletic programs and students. In the statement announcing his board bid, Young emphasized communication and cooperation. “I believe strongly in inclusivity,” he said. “Let’s listen to the voices and hear the concerns of all stakeholders in the KLSD district. I am here to work collaboratively with my fellow board members while keeping children first.” BOARD FINISHES BUDGET REVIEW The KLSD school board last week wrapped up its initial review of the district’s proposed $120 million in spending for the next academic year. Despite the draft budget’s $4 million spending increase, the biggest year-over-year hike since at least 2018, the tax levy to support it rises only $1.5 million, or almost a million dollars below the state’s cap on property-tax rises. Administration officials credit gains in nontax revenue, including Gov. Kathy Hochul’s largerthan-expected state aid numbers, and reductions in some mandated-spending categories for keeping the levy cap-compliant. Still, Trustee Rory Burke continued to express concern that this year’s confluence of favorable events—what has come to be known in the budget talks as “the wind at our back”—might not materialize next year. Burke, who has served on the board’s Finance Committee since his election in 2019 and chaired the panel for two years, originally expressed misgivings on spending during line-by-line budget scrutiny on Feb. 25. At the board’s March 9 meeting, he renewed his concerns. While “the district is financially strong,” he said, “if it were not for those additional increases on the revenue side . . . It [the budget] would be really, really tight, and we wouldn’t have any opportunity but to max out the tax cap—and probably breach the tax cap, in fact.” Pointing to what he called “these inflationary times,” Burke suggested his fellow board members “pause to consider tightening our belts.” “I do think that there are some areas in the budget that we could have taken a second look at and to try to trim certain items,” he said. Trustee William Rifkin said that he had “many of the same concerns” but that the board should focus on one budget at a time. “If indeed there’s less wind at our back [next year]and there’s a need to either raise the tax levy further or to make some cuts, we will. And we’ll have to. So, fear of that isn’t necessarily a reason not to do something this year.” Burke, for his part, called the proposed spending plan “a very good budget” and said he “absolutely will vote for it. But in my heart of hearts, I just feel like there are some opportunities here, in these times—where our expenses are increasing so drastically—for us to sharpen a pencil.” The budget, which is available online (klschools.org), will have a public hearing May 4 as well as public presentations May 8 at 9:30 a.m. in the middle school theater and May 10 at 7 p.m. in the high school theater, all in advance of the residents’ vote on May 16. Young announces Board of Ed bid Board completes budget review Justin Young KATONAH LEWISBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT Bedford 2030 www.bedford2030.org THE POWER OF TREES: A BEDFORD 2030 COMMUNITY FORUM Mar. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Save the date! The Power of Trees Forum will celebrate the critical role of trees in combating climate change. Join experts, community members, and local organizations pledging to support healthy ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and protect our planet. To be held at Fox Lane High School. Town of Lewisboro SHREDDER SERVICES Friday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The “Shredder Truck” will be at Lewisboro Town Park, 1079 Route 35 (Old Post Road), in South Salem. This will be for the town departments along with town residents. Please remove all metal clips, fasteners, binders, folders and hard covers and place the papers loosely in a box. Hard covers – cardboard or plastic covers on items such as ledger books, marble composition books and hard-cover books – cannot be shredded and will be turned away. Residents must rip pages out from hard cover books for shredding and throw the covers in their regular household recycling. Up to four large (cubic foot) boxes of papers are allowed for shredding. All residents attending shredder events must follow these safety guidelines to protect themselves and staff: Residents must remain in their vehicles at all times. Documents should be boxed and placed in the trunk of resident’s vehicle, if possible, or in TOWN CROSSING SEE CROSSING PAGE 5 In the March 9 article, “John Jay 5/6 starts playoffs strong” (Page 16), Mei Mei Cheng’s last name was spelled incorrectly on the scoreboard roster handed to our reporter. The error was then copied into the paper. We apologize for the error. CORRECTION Contact Us The Katonah-Lewisboro Times is located at 118 N Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected].
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 5 BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Residents’ ways to take the occasional dip at Katonah Memorial Park or other town-run swimming pools will increase this summer and include a new day pass, changes to existing ones and free admission for veterans and their families. Town recreation o cials proposed the new swim options and saw them adopted last week as they outlined for the Town Board an extensive roster of spring and summer o erings in Bedford’s three town parks. e 2023 rec brochure will be available next Tuesday (March 21) on the town website, bedfordny.gov. At the Town Board’s March 7 meeting, Recreation & Parks Superintendent Chris Soi, saluted his sta , saying, “ anks to their efforts we continue to be able to o er a wide range of recreational programming and special events.” Soi successfully sought board approval of the swim changes. ey create new adult and youth daily pool passes and restructure the fees and options available for the existing adult pool passes. In an earlier memo to the board urging adoption of the new o erings, Soi called them an e ort to “provide options that are a ordable, convenient and exible.” For a single visit, resident adults (over 22 years of age) will be able to buy a pass at the pool gate for $20 while young people 2 to 22 years will cost $15. An adult must accompany any youth and no guest privileges are permitted. In the past, residents could buy what was known as an “Adult Pay Tag.” After an initial $88 fee, holders still had to pay $15 each time they visited a pool. e new “Adult Flex Pass,” at $95, has a higher initial cost but includes ve free visits. After those are used, a holder could continue to come to the pool at $15 a dip or buy a discounted ex pass for $60 and another ve visits. ese passes will only be available at the Recreation O ce, 425 Cherry St., when pool registration begins March 29. Pool membership fees will be waived for Bedford veterans and anyone on active duty as well as their families to recognize the veterans’ service and sacri ce, Soi said. at bene t was already extended to the town’s rst responders. In a separate action last week, the town voted its rst responders a bene t already accorded veterans. FIRST RESPONDER TAX BREAK As expected, the Town Board lowered, from ve years to two, the length of time volunteer re ghters and ambulance crew members must serve to earn a 10 percent reduction on the assessed value of their primary home. In a public hearing, Katonah Fire Commission Chairman Henry P. Bergson, Bedford Hills Fire Department Deputy Chief Joseph J. Lombardo III and Allie Whalen, captain of the Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps, enthusiastically endorsed the proposed change in service requirements. e board voted, 4-0, to grant the new bene t. Councilwoman Bobbi Bittker, whose husband, Aric, is a member of the Bedford Department, did not vote, saying she was a potential bene ciary. O icials outline recreation programs First responder tax break approved BEDFORD TOWN BOARD the back seat of the resident’s vehicle. Sta will remove the boxes directly from the resident’s vehicle and place them in the shredder mechanism. Vehicles will be queued at a safe distance from sta and only one vehicle will be serviced at a time. Please be mindful to observe all posted signage and directions from the sta . If you have any questions, please call the Town Clerk’s O ce at 763-3511. St John’s Episcopal Parish 82 Spring St., South Salem FOOD PANTRY Spread the word and get involved with the St. John’s Food Pantry! Distribution is every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. John’s. A food pantry box is available in the church parking lot 24/7 for those who cannot make it to pick up on Saturday morning - please take whatever you need from the box, as it will be replenished. Lewisboro Garden Club ROOTING FOR LEWISBORO Welcome to the third year of Rooting for Lewisboro for town residents! e Lewisboro Garden Club is o ering 22 varieties of native trees and shrubs for free, thanks to a grant from One Tree Planted. Requests will be lled in the order they are received. You are limited to a maximum of 30 plants. e order form and tree and shrub information are available at www.Lewisborogardenclub.org. It is recommended that you refer to the LGC Tree and Shrub Information Guide located on the site for descriptions and site requirements. Be one of the many Lewisboro residents to nd the perfect spot in your yard for some of our 2,850 offerings. ose who have ordered will be noti ed of the date and time to pick up the seedlings in late April. CROSSING FROM PAGE 4 Take your plain vanilla ice cream to the next level using balsamic vinegar and cherries! Ingredients: • 4 cups of fresh or frozen cherries • 1 cinnamon stick • 3/4 cup of sugar • 2 tablespoons of cornstarch • 2 cups of dry red wine • 4 teaspoons of Phat Olive Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar • Vanilla or Vanilla Bean Ice cream Directions: In a large saucepan over medium heat cook cherries, cinnamon stick, sugar and corn starch - cook until sugar starts to melt - about 1 min. Add the wine and Dark Chocolate Balsamic, bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the wine & balsamic has reduced and is slightly thickened, about 4 min. Remove from the heat, remove the cinnamon stick. Scoop vanilla ice cream into bowls and top with the warm cherries, wine and chocolate balsamic sauce. phatoliveoil.com 87 Katonah Ave, Katonah, NY SCAN TO VIEW MORE RECIPES Take your plain vanilla 4 cups of fresh or frozen cherries Transforming Ordinary To Extraordinary AL TISO p: (914)729-4485 e: [email protected] SCAPESBYAL.COM LANDSCAPE DESIGN • PLANTING • IRRIGATION MASONRY • LANDSCAPE LIGHTING FREE DIGITAL DESIGN with Consultation. SCHEDULE TODAY! Scan me for more info!
Opinion PAGE 6 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 2 TRACKS BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Katonah-Lewisboro Times or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC You never know who, living among us, may go on to acquire a measure of public recognition. It could be a neighbor down the road, or your child’s classmate. Recently, an alumna of North Salem High School, Lt. Peggy Dente, was part of the first all-female U.S. Navy flyover at the Super Bowl, as reported in North Salem News. Yorktown alone has produced its own cavalcade of stars that range from a regular host on Turner Classic Movies (Dave Karger) and a WWE wrestling superstar (Amanda Saccamanno, aka Mandy Rose) to an NBC New York TV journalist ( Jessica Cunnington), a world-touring country singersongwriter ( Jessica Lynn), and a budding actor who’s been on NCIS Hawaii and Netflix Biblical series “The Chosen” (Andrew Dispensa). There’s even a Jeopardy winner in our midst, Somers High alumna Katie Palumbo, currently of Amawalk. There also are those who are luminous on a grand scale, yet whose fame stays under the radar. THE CAPA SPACE World-class photographer Robert Capa is one such buried treasure, literally. His gravesite is in the Amawalk Friends Cemetery in Yorktown Heights. Amawalk now is the site of a newly completed education and exhibition photography center whose name pays homage to him and brother Cornell – The Capa Space. Robert was “a groundbreaking photojournalist who placed himself in the middle of military conflicts to document the destruction of lives and property while also capturing the survivors who marched on through life, the human spirit in triumph over unspeakable adversity.” Cornell (interred at Amawalk Cemetery along with their mother) had his own estimable career, and founded the International Center of Photography in Manhattan. Calling Robert Capa a Wartime sharpshooter without a gun Soldier Saluting at Farewell Ceremony for the International Brigade, Spain, 1938. PHOTO BY ROBERT CAPA, FROM THE ROBERT AND CORNELL CAPA ARCHIVE AT THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY Robert Capa photos are focus of exhibit BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG SEEAPAR PAGE 17 February is a brutal month. Football is over. The weather is depressing. Spring isn’t even on the horizon. I read some wisdom recently that said if you can get through February, you can make it through another year. Finding the occasional crocus on the front lawn along with spring training baseball are coping mechanisms that can help you make it through March. The occasional trip to Florida doesn’t hurt either. Baseball is going through a real transition this spring. Several new rules changes have been introduced, which are meant to speed up the game and produce more action. The most impactful change is the introduction of the pitch clock. A pitcher will now have to deliver a pitch within 15 seconds -- 20 seconds with men on base -- and a batter must be in the batter’s box ready to hit with eight seconds left on the clock. Gone are the days of batters calling time and stepping out of the box to adjust batting gloves, along with every strap and article of clothing, hair and makeup. Pitchers play a role in slowing down the game too, stepping off the rubber, throwing over to first, etc. In its first few decades, the average game took less than two hours to play. Over the years, that time has ballooned to over three hours. During spring training, the new rule has shortened the game by 30 minutes. Everyone I have talked to supports the new changes, except for a few nostalgic for tradition On the clock DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT SEESCOTT PAGE 7
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 7 SCOTT FROM PAGE 6 since baseball was the only major sport that didn’t require a clock. e one exception is cricket and those games can last days. Rather than having the game on in the background and letting it ow over you, the new game may require more attention as the action will be coming faster. Since everyone’s attention span is shorter, especially the younger generation, a faster game should help ratings. In addition to su ering from New York Jets fan syndrome, I am also a Mets fan. eir last World Series was 36 years ago, so allegiance has required some patience. After the purchase of the team by Steve Cohen, things are looking up, since it seems as if he will spend whatever it takes to bring home a trophy. Last season, I watched at least part of nearly every Mets game, so I am interested to see how the new rules will impact the experience. Maybe the 15-second clock could help in other places too. Although the PGA tour has a shot clock too, they allow 50 seconds. Contestants and spectators would bene t from trimming that a bit. Round times on the tour have increased to nearly 4-1/2 hours, which has spilled over to recreational golf too, since every weekend golfer loves to imitate the pros. While we are at it, how about business meetings? Participants should be able to deliver their pitch in 15 seconds. We would get more done, wouldn’t we? Just imagine if senators and congressmen had only 15 seconds to make their point. You couldn’t have a libuster with the shot clock. You wouldn’t be worrying about shutting down the government either. Like baseball, they’d be forced to get more done in less time. Opening day is just around the corner. For delivery or curbside orders please email [email protected] or call 914.533.7512 Bring in your Empties for Recycling! No limit on returns! YOUR LOCAL CRAFT BEER & BEVERAGE SOURCE Treat yourself to a huge selection of the finest craft beer, ciders, & soft drinks in the area. YOUR LOCAL Beer& Beverage For delivery or curbside orders please email [email protected] Bring in your Empties for Recycling! CRAFT BEER & BEVERAGE SOURCE Treat yourself to a huge selection of the finest craft beer, ciders, & soft drinks in the area. e St. Patty’s Day is March 17th! 204 Oakridge Common, South Salem, NY 914.533.7512 Hours MON 12-6 TUE-THUR 11-7 FRI-SAT 11:7:30 SUN 12-5 vistabeerandbeverage.com vistabeer vista.beer “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” – Vincent Van Gogh Self-ear surgery notwithstanding, I think Mr. Van Gogh gives good advice, and am grateful small business owners embody that advice. According to Forbes Small Business Employment Statistics: 99.9% of businesses across the U.S. are small businesses and nearly half of all U.S. employees are employed by a small business. My two most favorite categories of small businesses are leisure and hospitality, no surprise. Unfortunately, those industries saw the biggest loss of jobs in 2022, but the smart folks at Forbes postulate that those industries are well poised for rebounding post-pandemic. One might say a “beer glass half full” opportunity as the craft beer industry is made up almost exclusively of leisure and hospitality small businesses led by their courageous owners. Let’s do our part to help that rebound. FIELD TRIP TO HERE COFFEE + BEER, 20 MAIN ST., OSSINING (RIGHT BY THE TRAIN STATION), WWW.HERECOFFEEBEER.COM, 914-233-1189 Mrs. KBM and I ventured south to Ossining one recent crisp and clear afternoon to visit Here Co ee + Beer. e concept intrigued me and certainly inspired Mrs. KBM to observe (suggest?) that man cannot live on beer alone… Owners Stacy and Dylan hail from Ossining and Croton respectively and moved back to Westchester after formative years in Portland, Maine, honing co ee roasting skills and beer palates. ey opened only ve months ago, but are already engaged and integrating into Ossining. ey describe themselves as a community-focused gathering space and specialty store featuring in-house rotating art. Once you get into the vicinity of Here Co ee + Beer, which is on the way to the Ossining train station, you won’t be able to miss it because it is a white building with large bright colorful swooshes (art term). at is absolutely a proper introduction to the funky and unique space itself that gets a ton of natural light through big windows casting dynamic shadows throughout. Here Co ee + Beer o ers a truly amazing, broad, and curated selection of beer. “We try not to play favorites and we really appreciate all of the labor, science, art, and craft that go into these products and also understand that there is a palate for all of them,” Dylan said. ey have a very strong Belgium beer game, like more than I have seen in one place (I haven’t yet been to Belgium). I am studying up on beer and food pairings in preparation for hosting some upcoming events and was interested to learn that the extra e ervescence (in the form of tiny bubbles) that is characteristic of Belgium ales acts as a palate cleanser for your tongue after eating fatty cheeses or a creamy sauce. One excellent choice that we loved that day was Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel! Sentinelle Blond Ale inspired by the German Kolsch tradition: “slightly fruity aroma, delicately hoppy and crisp, with re ned bitterness.” eir beer fridge is truly an equal opportunity cooler: half imported and Have a beer, help a business JOHN BART THE KATONAH BEER MAN SEE BART PAGE 12
PAGE 8 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 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 Do you understand the difference between an irrevocable and a revocable trust? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 I often ask local business owners and professionals about their advertising. Many tell me they don’t need to advertise because everyone knows them. While I don’t argue with them, I believe they’re on a perilous course. Lack of advertising may not cause serious short-term business erosion, but it’s likely to lead to serious longerterm pain. You may think that everyone knows your business, but that’s really not the case. A recent U.S. Census Bureau ve-year analysis found that, on average, 16% of Americans moved each year. So without advertising, not everyone knows your business today, and even fewer will know it a year or two from now. Over my career, I’ve studied the results of numerous tests measuring the impact of increasing, decreasing or eliminating advertising. e question is whether there is an eventual “payout” to advertising expenditures. Test results have been quite consistent. Increasing or starting an advertising campaign produces sales gains pretty quickly, though sometimes not enough to increase the bottom line for the rst year. But pro ts usually start growing by the second year and beyond, as the sales tail wind grows. Conversely, the negative sales impact of reducing or eliminating advertising may be small enough to increase pro t the rst year, but sales usually drop o further over time, reducing pro t by the second year and beyond. And then restoring sales and pro t growth becomes increasingly costly. Advertising is an investment, like maintaining and improving property and equipment. You may be able to defer maintenance for a short while, but the longer you wait, the more expensive the repairs. If you’re planning to go out of business shortly, then eliminating advertising . . . except for focused going-out-of-business promotional ads . . . may be wise. If you’re in for the longer haul, though, then cut back on advertising at your own peril. Savvy marketers realize there also are di erent degrees of awareness. ey often focus on “top-of-mind” awareness. at is measured by asking people, in considering some category of product or business, which brands they think of immediately. e rst brand they mention is considered top-of-mind. Research shows that, especially for categories where there are numerous choices and extensive comparisons between those choices aren’t likely, top-of-mind awareness is a key driver of market share. at’s why brands like McDonald’s and Coke, and big insurance companies such as Progressive, Geico, and Liberty Mutual, keep spending on advertising. When a buyer needs to choose what or from whom to buy, top-of-mind awareness is important. You may not compete with major brands like those, but almost every business or professional practice has multiple competitors. So top-of-mind awareness matters. And, in fact, local merchants do often compete with mega-retailers like Amazon. If a local consumer is thinking about a gift purchase or about numerous product categories, unless the local merchant has built strong top-of-mind awareness, Amazon or some other mega-retailer may be the consumer’s automatic choice. Don’t let them win so easily. Beyond creating and sustaining top-of-mind awareness, what you communicate is important too. Advertising can convince prospects why they should choose your business, practice or rm over others. It can communicate how you’re di erent and better. It can also communicate what you have to o er that’s new, special or timely. So put yourself in your customer’s shoes and let them know “what’s in it for me.” And for best results, be sure your advertising aligns with the rest of your marketing mix (i.e. your product, packaging, place, and pricing). Do you want to learn more? Visit www. halstonmedia.com, and ll out the “Get in Touch” form on the home page. Before helping his son found Halston Media, Kenneth Freeman led a global marketing research company. Freeman earned his MBA from Harvard University and has led the marketing departments at major Fortune 500 corporations throughout his career. Everybody knows me... REALLY? WITH KEN FREEMAN Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for The Katonah-Lewisboro Times is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a cameraready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151.
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 9 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Bulletin Board and reach over 3,500 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. For promo details please call 844-919-1682 CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 844-919-1682 O First Month of New Service! USE PROMO CODE: GZ59O One time use only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other coupon or offer. Coupon offer good until December 31, 2022. Valid for any new service except subscription fees. Must mention coupon at time of sale. One time use only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other coupon or offer. Coupon offer good until December 31, 2022. Valid for any new service except subscription fees. Must mention coupon at time of sale. BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 51 YEARS! WE BUY: GOLD • STERLING SILVER • JEWELRY • COINS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • CLOCKS • COLLECTIBLES • ANTIQUES • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! GOLD • SILVER • DIAMONDS WATCHES • COINS • FURS PAINTINGS • FULL ESTATES The Buying Service We simply pay more! Contact Barry 914-260-8783 [email protected] WE BUY 855.281.6439 I Free Quotes UP TO Could your kitchen use a little magic? ON YOUR FULL KITCHEN REMODEL* SAVE 10% *Discount applies to purchase of new cabinets or cabinet refacing with a countertop. Does not apply to countertop only projects. May not combine with other offers or prior purchases. Exp.3/31/23. NP-263. NY: Nassau: H1759490000 Suffolk: 16183-H NY/Rockland: 5642 EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! Promo Code: 285 FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 1 Subject to credit approval. Call for details. FREE GUTTER ALIGNMENT + FREE GUTTER CLEANING* SENIORS & MILITARY! YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE* 20 + % % OFF 10 OFF *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only. 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufactured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. Registration# 0366920922 CSLB# 1035795 Registration# HIC.0649905 License# CBC056678 License# RCE-51604 Registration# C127230 License# 559544 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2102212986 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 2106212946 License# MHIC111225 Registration# 176447 License# 423330 Registration# IR731804 License# 50145 License# 408693 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# H-19114 License# 218294 Registration# PA069383 License# 41354 License# 7656 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 423330 License# 2705169445 License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE 1-855-478-9473 Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller (Westchester/Putnam) Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC GENERATOR INSTALLATIONS LICENSED & INSURED NY & CT 914-763-5555 CHARLES GEORGE • POUND RIDGE, NY ADULT SOFTBALL YSALEAGUES.COM [email protected] YORKTOWN PARKS & RECREATION AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262
PAGE 10 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIME 2 TRACKS HEADE Hous John Jay’s Robotics Team, to the World Championship in the New York Excelsior Region PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATONAH LEWISBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT Freelance Writer, Editor Bill Bongiorno | (914) 533-7 For CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION March 23, 2023 | 6:00 – 9:00 pm WALDEN GYM, 200 BOCES DRIVE, YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 REGIONAL UNION INFORMATION EVENT CARPENTRY HVAC ARCHITECTURE ELECTRICITY PLUMBING URBAN FORESTRY WELDING MASONRY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected] JOIN US AND MEET LOCAL UNIONS AND EMPLOYER PARTNERS REGISTER HERE! Learn About Career Opportunities with Union Apprenticeships titan [email protected] www.backyardbonesny.com 845.200.7939 114 old route 6, carmel, ny 10512 your pup’s favorite backyard indoor dog park day care hourly play grooming swimming training and more! kai
PAGE 11 ES – THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 ED FOR ston! e MOB, punched their ticket n Houston after a huge win at nal Championship on March 6! r, and Content Producer 065 | [email protected] All Your Writing Needs 914-277-4424 • 440 Rt 22 North Salem, NY • www.theblazerpub.com CELEBRA CELEBRA CELEBRA CELEBRATING 521 YEARS! Voted Most Popular Burger in Westchester! 914-277-4424 • 440 Rt 22 Just one day away! our 4th straight year! New Customers2023 BEST OF SOMERS AWARD awarded annually by THE SOMERS AWARD PROGRAM $ 20 OFF FIRST EXAM! (914)248.6220 268 ROUTE 202 / SOMERS,NY 10589 • Progressive-Vet.com
PAGE 12 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 59 Years of Excellence Putnam & Westchester County’s Premier Plumbing Professionals Since 1964 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT SERVICE CALL MENTION AD FOR DISCOUNT. VALID ON CALLS 1+ HOURS. EXPIRES 3/31/23 Every Drop Counts World Water Day Savings March 22 Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Railroad station. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars. • Monuments & inscriptions available. 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director MARISA A. GIULIANO ~ Director ADNER J. MONTENEGRO-LEE ~ Director CLARK ASSOCIATES FUNERAL HOME featuring some of the best and most in uential beers produced in the world. e other half is predominantly Hudson Valley/Metro-NY brewed craft beers. ey try and have the selection be stylistically diverse and always with seasonally appropriate options. Trend-wise, Dylan observes that “beer drinkers are diversifying their purchases. It’s not just about the latest IPA. A lot of lower ABV and session beers like traditional lagers and lighter drinking saisons seem to be moving. at may be a result of breweries putting more diverse o erings into the market or buyers putting more of them on the shelf, but the beer-loving community is certainly supporting this trend.” is writer certainly is. ey also o er ciders, natural wines and non-alcoholic choices. Dylan has been roasting co ee professionally since 2008 and there was actual roasting going on the day we were there, which was pretty cool to see. at being said, the co ee pro les are purposefully not too strong as the intention is to highlight the co ee, not the roasting process. ey o er many types from Drip to Cortado to Matcha and everything in between. We both thought the co ee was excellent and support their motto to be “Stewards of Outstanding Co ee!” ey also had a nice selection of loose teas. As a guy who, as part of my #LoseAChin e ort, is focusing on proteins, I could not be happier with the Charcuterie Movement (CM™) at many of the cool places I’ve been visiting lately. Here Co ee + Beer has a delectable list of mix-and-match charcuterie and cheeses like cured Italian ham, duck mousse, French style pork sausage, cow & goat milk cheese from the Canary Islands… For the sweet tooth, a wide array of pastries as well. ese are really nice folks whose passion and knowledge for their favorite cold and hot beverages come clearly through in a really neat environment. Check them out. GUEST REVIEW Brendan writes in about a new Captain Lawrence creation: “I organized a work holiday event at Captain Lawrence in Elmsford and it couldn’t have gone better. We were in the tasting room. ey had a nice selection of beer, including an NA and hard seltzer. e room was beautifully decorated and comfortable, and the sta was helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. ey o ered plenty of veggie options so each course had something for everyone. e food was perfect and the beer was excellent as you would expect from Captain Lawrence. We also opted to take a brewery tour, which was interesting and fun. Of particular note was a new beer named ink Pink, a Belgian-style ale brewed with grapes creating a bright and sweet drinking beer with a smooth nish. Altruistically, this beer will taste even better knowing the proceeds from sales go to making strides, which supports and aids those a ected by breast cancer.” Slainte and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Please check out our friends at Vista Beer & Beverage for excellent rotating beer selections and St. Patrick’s Day needs. www.vistabeerandbeverage.com; 204 Oakridge Commons, South Salem, 914-533-7512. Contact e Katonah Beer Man at eKatonahBeerMan@ gmail.com; eKatonahBeerMan on Instagram; or visit thekatonahbeerman. wordpress.com. BART FROM PAGE 7 Find the great beers mentioned in this column Vista Beer & Beverage vistabeerandbeverage.com 204 Oakridge Commons, South Salem 914-533-7512
Sports THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 13 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Friday, Mar. 10, the John Jay Howlers matched up against Hillcrest in the second round of the Tri-County Basketball League playoffs. After an even up game in the early going, the visitors jumped out to a nine-point lead on the strong play of Luke DeSola and Owen Farrell, and it looked like the game was going to get away. But John Jay refused to worry about appear - ances, and when the final buzzer sounded, Hillcrest were the ones who got the dress down. “We just knew we could always come back. We played as a team and got the job done,” Jake Blank said after the 52-37 victory. The game began with John Jay getting out to a 5-2 lead. Nate Summer and Blank hit jumpers, and Blake DiMatteo got to the line for one. DeSola and Farrell were only laying in wait, though. DeSola hit two jumpers and a layup, and his running mate buried a three and arched a floater for a 14-5 Hillcrest lead. Fortunately, Blank broke the 12-0 run at the line, and the quar - ter then closing on foul shots was not where the foretelling was. Cody Jones fouled on the put back, John Jay knew going in where their bread would get its spread. “They were not as big as us. Coach (Jacob Mercado) told us to focus on rebounding, and we would probably win,” Jones said. So a 15-8 deficit, John Jay was not above going low either. Nate Summer dove to the floor, shov - eled to Jones, and his layup got the home team within five. But Hillcrest’s flashy backcourt didn’t dim. Farrell burst straight through the paint, and putting on a ball fake beyond his years, his layup re-upped the lead to seven. 5:32 left in the second, John Jay did a little man-up in reply. After Jones missed in the paint, Theo Worner man-handled the bound, and his put back made it 17-12. Even so, the team’s sixth man is far from all muscle and takes a studious role while waiting for his turn. “I get to watch the other kids on the court,” he revealed. Extra insight, the idea is to get an edge, and Blank took the one he was given on the next possession. Left open, the guard let fly, and the triple made it a two-point game. Enter Hillcrest’s playmakers again, DeSola scored a baseline jumper on Farrell’s penetration. “They were pretty good,” Blank assured. No doubt, John Jay still did them one better to pull even. Summer scored on a layup, then Worner-to-Summer-to-Jones triangulated a low-post score for the latter. DeSola and his team were not fazed, though. He drove through heavy traffic for two, hit Ari Ber - shita off the penetration, and hauled in Farrell’s long outlet pass for a 25-21 lead. 1:15 left in the half, Farrell took his turn in the passing lanes. He hit Bershita inside for the layup, and John Jay was looking at separation again. Not to worry, DiMatteo put back a loose ball in the paint, and on the final possession, Blank had no apology for making a last-sec - ond deposit. Launching a three, the point guard banked off glass to make it 27-26. The third period’s opening had Hillcrest get the better off the boards when Bershita was fouled on the put back, but John Jay was up to the task. Summer sank one from the line on his put back at - tempt and then was the beneficiary of Blank’s penetration for a 29-29 tie. Keeping up, Farrell sank two from the line and one from outside. A four-point lead, Hillcrest was in position again. But John Jay had the Yonkers team exactly where they wanted them, and Blank did the honors first. On the drive, he drew the de - fense and fed DeMatteo for a twopoint game. Blake DiMatteo (left) Jake Blank PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Nate Summer BOYS YOUTH BASKETBALL John Jay stands tall in second round win SEE YOUTH BASKETBALL PAGE 16
PAGE 14 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER After making easy work of Mahopac on Thursday, Mar. 2, John Jay had a much bigger challenge ahead on the following Sunday (Mar. 5), and Coach Lizzie Cazzari knew it. “Edgemont is really good,” she assured. But the game stood tied at 20 with four minutes left to go, and the Wolves proved they were no slouches either. However, it was the home team that stood a little bit taller, and Kylie Bishop was left to sum up the disappointment. “It hurts really bad,” the fifth grader said, and her team was forced to accept the 22-21 second-round loss. The struggle had neither getting much separation. Edgemont’s 4-0 lead in the early going was not a good sign, but John Jay’s team basketball made sure the game did not get away. Getting the Wolves on the board, Sophya Papa scooped up a loose ball, and spotted Bishop ahead of the field for a layup. A 5-5 tie then came on the hard work of Liana DiMatteo. On a strong drive to the hoop, she sank one from the line and got two more on a baseline drive with 1:05 left in the first. Edgemont did retake the lead on the line, but DiMatteo was not afraid to work without a net to start the second. She danced the baseline like a circus performer and hit a reverse hook shot to pull even. Edgemont was not impressed, though. A jumper from the outside and a baseline drive of their own opened an 11-7 lead. So then it was John Jay’s turn to not go into panic mode. Bishop stole the inbound under her own basket for two, and a little defense from Mei Mei Cheng put even more mileage on John Jay’s odometer. The spark plug of a guard got the steal at half court, but smartly, the fifth grader thought better of going in alone. “I drove a couple of times, and the really tall girl on the other team blocked me. So I was like, maybe I should not do that,” she joked. Instead, Cheng found Danielle Weisfelner ahead of the field and her layup made it a one-point game with 30 seconds left in the half. Even so, Edgemont started the second half like they did the first. They jumped out to a 16-11 lead on some strong guard play, so the Wolves dug in again. Weisfelner hit a short jumper after pulling down an offensive board, and Bishop got ahead of the field for two again. This time Maddie DePonto made the pass, and with 1:20 left in the third, the one-point deficit was turned on its head by Cheng. Only this time she didn’t overthink it. “I was just like - well, I’m open,” she beamed. “So I shot and I was like, oh my God. Then I was like, vibrating.” John Jay took the 17-16 lead into the fourth, and no surprise, Edgemont regained the advantage at the outset. A long way to go, the Panthers went up 20-18, but John Jay was not ready to get on the Bronx River yet. Weisfelner pulled down the offensive rebound and went right up to tie at 20. 4:20 remaining, the play went back-and-forth until Edgemont scored on the break. A 22-20 game with 90 seconds to go, John Jay continued to grind. DiMatteo cut the lead to one at the line, but the charity stripe proved far from free. Two more Edgemont fouls, the Wolves could not not tie the knot and final score stood. Cazzari was not counting, though. “I’m really proud of them. They played as hard as they could,” she concluded. “That’s all I can ask.” John Jay 5/6 girls edged by Edgemont Kathryn Hartney PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Maddie DePonto BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Saturday, Mar. 4, Sloan Wasserman embarked for Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex and didn’t let the commute put a dent in her 3000-meter state-level excursion. The freshman took seventh in her heat and went back to the mainland with a 21stplace finish. “My goal was to get to States,” she said. “I didn’t care so much how I did. It was just getting to States and experiencing it.” Wasserman qualified for the island run by taking third in her heat at Sectionals, and in the face of fiercer competition, she initially stuck to her strategy. “I knew I needed to get out sort of hard. I had a good start.” Unfortunately, the ninth grader needed more than her regular sea legs. “There was a leading pack, but I could not quite stick with them because I thought I would die,” she lamented. That said, she’s looking forward to having more breeze in her hair this spring. A lot less air and more laps to make up the same distance takes a toll, according to the runner. “The race feels a lot longer,” she assured. Wasserman will also be happy to put aside the long trips to The Armory for every meet, while acknowledging the overall mileage in the spring is put to much better use. “We have more races, so you can race yourself into shape,” she said. The roar of the home crowd will be nice too. “It will be super nice, and I’m really excited,” Wasserman said. “It’s going to be a great season.” On the other hand, she’s not just letting inspiration whisk her away, Wasserman shines at Staten Island Freshman races in 3000M at States PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITNEY HARTMANN WASSERMAN Sloan Wasserman (center) lined up amongst the best of the best at Track & Field States on Mar. 4. TRACK & FIELD GIRLS YOUTH BASKETBALL SEE TRACK PAGE 15
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 SPORTS THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 15 If Harvey’s boys varsity rugby team is hoping to do something big this season, what better place to set the tone than in Texas, where the Cavs will spend 10 days of spring break training and volunteering to help on community service projects in and around Dallas. When the boys return to kick o their 2023 spring season, head coach Phil Lazzaro expects the team to be competitive in the Metro NY League. e Cavaliers, 3-5 last spring, will be counting heavily on their veterans to produce wins. “We are returning a good number of players to the squad, and we are a senior-heavy team,” Coach Lazzaro said. e coach has a good idea where the o ensive strength is. “I expect our backline to generate o ense on a high level this season, led by our scrum half and y half senior combo of Hayden Smelser and Clayton Collum. ey will be keys to our success, so we need them to play smart and fast rugby.” e coach also sees two of the team’s speedy backs, senior Jesse Jamil and sophomore Jonah Kass, playing vital roles. “I’m looking forward to their play this season,” he said. Meanwhile, seniors James Miller and Ross McIntyre, along with sophomore William Herman, are expected to bring their experience to the team’s forward pack. It’s too early to say which newcomers will make an impact, but the Texas trip should help give the coaches an idea. “We are happy to have a large number of rookies this season, and our trip to Texas will provide valuable training time for the novices,” Coach Lazzaro said. He singled out one newcomer, junior Julian Marin, in particular. “Julian has impressed early on and should compete for a starting spot in our forward pack immediately,” the coach said. Coach Lazzaro and his two assistants, Connor Welles and Michael Leone, believe the team can expect quality leadership from their four captains; senior center Dylan Kluge, senior anker Harry Acrish, senior 8-man Daniel Gasch, and junior back Eli Cornell. “Rugby is a di cult sport with so many challenges and obstacles,” Lazzaro said, “But I am con dent in the team leadership and structure which will allow our players to grow and learn from each and every experience.” e 2023 season will pose its share of challenges as the Cavaliers will be competing in Division I. Coach Lazzaro sees nationally-ranked Xavier looming as Harvey’s biggest, most skilled opponent. “We are looking forward to the challenge,” the coach said. He also said he is excited to see how the season unfolds and believes his team has “a great combination of veterans and novices” who will go to battle. Harvey opens its rugby season Tuesday, Apr. 4 at home against St. Anthony’s High School at 4:30 p.m. Article provided by e Harvey School. Boys Rugby – Getting ready for the pitch PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HARVEY SCHOOL Boys Rugby is hard at work this preseason in hopes of competing at the Division I level. THE HARVEY SCHOOL so strength training has become part of her regimen. “I feel stronger than last year,” she said of her results. “I just hope that I am as fast.” Strength isn’t the only factor in her future, though. She plays soccer in the fall, and knows the interruption does set her back as a runner. Even so, she’s unapologetically coy when asked if she will leave everyone hanging until the last minute. “Yeah,” she giggled. But Wasserman certainly does not make light of the leadership that comes with being an elitelevel competitor. “It’s hard, but I love doing it. I want to continue representing the school and be the best I can.” TRACK FROM PAGE 14 OPEN HOUSE MARCH 16 | 5−7 PM 200 BOCES DRIVE – YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION The Career and Technical Education Center o ers over 40 courses to high school students from 18 districts in Putnam and Northern Westchester. COMMUNICATIONS CAREER ACADEMY CONSTRUCTION CAREER ACADEMY COSMETOLOGY CAREER ACADEMY ENGLISH AS A NEW LANGUAGE HEALTH CAREER ACADEMY HOSPITALITY CAREER ACADEMY TRANSPORTATION CAREER ACADEMY Fore More Information: (914) 248-2427 LIVE ROCK & ROLL WITH NO OPTIONS AT the BACK NINE Saturday, March 25th- 9:00PM �e e�o� onally prepared to have fun 2050 E Main St., Cortlandt Manor, NY (914) 739-4653
PAGE 16 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 “My job is to pass the ball,” Blank said succinctly. Getting in on the action above of the arc, Chase Nevins took his time, and any doubt didn’t last long. “I knew it was going in from the start,” he clarified, and the 34-33 score was the last lead change. Nevins was not the only one feeling it either. Blank followed with a three, and John Jay went up four with 4:04 left in the third. Of course, DeSola and Farrell still loomed. They combined for a fast-break layup, and things remained contained. Both teams then showed some nifty passing. Nevins found Andrew Fridie for a short jumper, and Ferrell’s masterful kick out for Ryan Keene had the synergy of a pro. Still, Summer’s foul shot gave John Jay a 40-37 lead to close the quarter, and he went to the circus to open the fourth. In the paint, his off-balance drive found the net, and the lead was five. Sniffing blood, John Jay fell back on their strength. Off a Nevins miss, DiMatteo stayed on with the put back. “I usually just take a dribble, pound through, and put it up,” he said. Then came the dagger, and it was Summer who had the edge. “When I saw that ball go in the net, it felt so good,” said the shooter. A 12-point lead with three minutes to go, John Jay had the game in the bag, but their coach was not celebrating yet. “They know the job is not done,” concluded Mercado. “We still got two more games.” Down to one, the Howlers defeated Yorktown 55-20 to reach the finals on Sunday (3/11). They are not the only John Jay team with a shot at the title either. The seventh grade team beat Somers by one on Saturday (3/11) on a Josh Cooper game-winning layup. YOUTH BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 13 PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Cody Jones Theo Worner
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 17 LEISURE 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. Belonging to a thing 4. Pass or go by 10. Partner to cheese 11. Subjects 12. U.S. State (abbr.) 14. Bits per inch 15. Forest-dwelling deer 16. Illinois city 18. A salt or ester of acetic acid 22. Wholly unharmed 23. Cuddled 24. Bane 26. Global investment bank (abbr.) 27. Oh my gosh! 28. Arrive 30. Famed Spanish artist 31. Home of ‘Frontline’ 34. Group of quill feathers 36. Keyboard key 37. Army training group 39. Detail 40. Pole with flat blade 41. Football play 42. Makes unhappy 48. Island in Hawaii 50. Back in business 51. Of an individual 52. Painful chest condition 53. Tropical American monkey 54. Matchstick game 55. For instance 56. Even again 58. Popular beverage 59. Evaluate 60. Time units (abbr.) CLUES DOWN 1. Stain one’s hands 2. Nocturnal hoofed animals 3. Back condition 4. Popular movie alien 5. City of Angels 6. Peaks 7. Infantry weapons 8. Left 9. Atomic #99 12. Told a good yarn 13. Vale 17. Resistance unit 19. Aquatic plant 20. Bluish greens 21. About some Norse poems 25. Reinforces 29. Egyptian mythological goddess 31. Supportive material 32. Subatomic particle 33. Expired bread 35. Cereal grain 38. Goes against 41. Walkie __ 43. One who does not accept 44. Beliefs 45. Indicates near 46. Brazilian NBA star 47. Grab quickly 49. Romantic poet 56. College dorm worker 57. Set of data APAR FROM PAGE 6 This Is Robert Capa! Opening reception April 8, from 5-7 p.m. Gallery hours 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Location • 2467 Quaker Church Road, in Yorktown Heights. • TheCapaSpace.org photographer is like calling Elon Musk a tinkerer. His legacy and his in uence invoke immortals of the 20th Century whom befriended him and admired not only his talent but his generosity of spirit and erudition. Who did he hang with? Only the likes of Hemingway, Steinbeck and Picasso – for starters. MORE THAN 50 PHOTOS Starting April 8, and running through Oct. 8, the space named for him will present an exhibition of more than 50 of his photographs under the title “ is Is Robert Capa!” His images, says e Capa Center, “set the bar for all subsequent war photography.” Robert Capa, who was killed by a land mine at 40, was a recipient of the Medal of Freedom, in recognition of an extraordinary 20-year career behind the camera, traversing theaters of battle throughout the world. His Wikipedia entry says, “He is considered by some to be the greatest combat and adventure photographer in history.” e intrepid and tightly focused Capa deliberately headed into “embattled regions to document war, and in his work inevitably caught images of children in harm’s way.” His peripatetic nature landed him not only in the second World War, but also in four others, including the Indochina War and the Spanish Civil War. HEMINGWAY + HITCHCOCK It was during that con ict that Capa and Ernest Hemingway bonded, a relationship portrayed by the adventuring novelist in “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Capa reportedly is the basis too of the James Stewart character in Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense classic “Rear Window.” Capa’s exploits extend even to playing poker on a movie set with director John Huston, author Truman Capote and iconic actor Humphrey Bogart. e man was a veritable celebrity magnet. Another bold-face name, “Of Mice and Men” author John Steinbeck, said of his friend, “Capa’s work is itself the picture of a great heart and an overwhelming compassion. No one can take his place. No one can take the place of any ne artist, but we are fortunate to have in his pictures the quality of the man.” As part of the “ is Is Robert Capa!” exhibition, local veterans are encouraged “to submit their best, most meaningful photographs from the time in which they served in the military.” A panel, headed by exhibit curator Marie T. Keller, will select from the submissions photographs that will be featured in a slideshow accompanying the Capa exhibit. BONUS FEATURES During the exhibit’s six-week run, two other features are in the works, with dates to be determined. One is a talk by Hamilton College professor of history and photography, Nadya Bair. Also in development is a theatrical piece titled “George and Ruth: Songs and Letters from the Spanish Civil War.” e two-person play dramatizes the true story of George and Ruth Watt, adapted from the letters they wrote while George was ghting the fascists in Spain and Ruth was at home in New York City. Yorktowner Elise Graham, one of “ e Capa Space” board’s seven founding directors (which includes another Yorktown resident, architect Tim Hartung), said, “I’d love to thank the community for their support of our inaugural exhibition ‘Empathy and Empowerment’ by photographer Jose Alvarado Jr., who grew up in Yorktown, attended Yorktown High School and is now a photographer for e New York Times.” is Is Robert Capa! will have an opening reception April 8, from 5-7 p.m. e Capa Space is at 2467 Quaker Church Road, in Yorktown Heights. Gallery hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. ursday, Friday, Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit eCapaSpace.org. Bruce can be seen in a wacky one-act called “Dream Lover” at Westchester libraries this spring, including Somers Library on April 2 at 2 p.m. From June 2-4, he will play the title role in “Tuesdays with Morrie” for e Armonk Players at the Whippoorwill eatre. All shows are free of charge. [email protected]; 914-275-6887. Contact Us The Katonah-Lewisboro Times is located at 118 N Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email KLT@ halstonmedia.com.
Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefi ts of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755 Wheels For Wishes benefi ting MakeA-Wish® Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100% Tax Deductible. Minimal To No Human Contact. Call: (877) 798-9474. Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www. wheelsforwishes.org. COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualifi ed applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required. ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfi led tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361 (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST) Arborvitae 6-foot Reduced to $125/ each Free Installation, Free Delivery. Fast growing, High-quality Beautiful & Bushy! Order now to reserve for spring delivery. Lowcosttreefarm. com 518-536-1367 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855- 413-9574 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636 Do you need a Roof or Energy Effi cient Windows & Help paying for it? YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affi liated with State or Gov Programs. Don’t Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again! American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/ $100 OFF POPULAR PLANS. 833-398-0526 Get DIRECTV for $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-534-6918 BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313 Do you have boxes of old comic books lying around? Turn them into cash. Call, text or write George and I will come get them. 917-652-9128; [email protected] DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-595-6967 PAGE 18 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES CLASSIFIEDS THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 03/09/2023 AUTO DONATIONS BUYING/SELLING Buying diamonds, gold, silver, all fi ne jewelry and watches, coins, paintings, better furs, complete estates. We simply pay more! Call Barry 914-260-8783 or e-mail [email protected] EDUATION/CAREER TRAINING FINANCE HEALTH FOR SALE HOME IMPROVEMENT MISCELLANEOUS TV INTERNET PHONE HELP WANTED FOR DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE Mature couple looking for household assistant. $30/hr Errands, organizing, kitchen prep. 6-12 hrs/wk fl exible schedule. 646- 820-5130 Photo Submissions Photos submitted to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times need to be a high-resolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to KLT@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. To advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Check out our Facebook & Twitter pages! Putnam Humane Society, 68 Old Rt. 6, Carmel 845-225-7777 www.puthumane.org Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Putnam Humane Society Becca Becca and Bloomer are a bonded pair abandoned when their family moved. They were very scared when they first arrived. Still a little shy, but sweet as can be. Bloomer This ad was generously donated by Halston Media. REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (877) 516-1160 Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value! Immediate Opening Fallsburg Central School Director of Student Equity The Fallsburg CSD is looking for a Director of Student Equity to be responsible for the ongoing internal commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for students. The partially grant-funded director of student equity (DSE) will lead and support the district in fostering an inclusive community and eliminating school-related causes of disparities in student outcomes. Salary $110,000 - $124,000 • NYS SDL or SDA Certification Required Please forward resume & Fallsburg’s application (located at fallsburgcsd.net) by Mar 31st to [email protected] Attn: Dir of Student Equity Search EOE 111377 Multi-Property Auction Homes, Land & Vacation Properties Ulster, Orange, Otsego and Delaware Counties ONLINE AUCTION Ending March 29 @ 1:01PM FREE info, visit web site or call AARauctions.com ABSOLUTE AUCTIONS & REALTY, Inc. (800) 243-0061 Take advantage of the new 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) with PWRcell, Generac’s fully-integrated solar + battery storage system. PWRcell will help you save money on your electric bill and be prepared for utility power outages. Plus it’s compatible with most existing solar arrays. Now’s the Right Time SAVE 30% WITH THE SOLAR TAX CREDIT^ Call to request a free quote! (888) 871-0194 Purchase a PWRcell and Receive a Free Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced – valued at over $189!* *Scan the QR code for promo terms and conditions. ^Consult your tax or legal professional for information regarding eligibility requirements for tax credits. Solar panels sold separately.
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 19 Many people make nancial New Year’s resolutions, such as reducing their debts or contributing more to their retirement accounts — both of which are certainly worthy goals. But among those who planned to make a nancial resolution for 2023, the primary reason was the desire to build an emergency savings fund, according to a December 2022 study by research rm Morning Consult. Factors such as economic concerns and the sharp rise in in ation seem to be driving this greater interest in building an emergency fund. But it’s extremely valuable to maintain this type of fund in any economic environment. An emergency fund can help you prepare for a temporary job loss or early retirement, or pay for large home or auto repairs, sizable medical bills and other needs. So, how much do you need to keep in an emergency fund? e answer depends on your stage of life. If you’re still working, you might want at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. If you’re already retired, however, you may need at least three months’ worth of expenses for emergencies, plus another 12 months’ worth of expenses, after accounting for your other sources of income, to cover your everyday spending needs. And if you are retired, it’s especially important to maintain this larger emergency fund so you can avoid dipping into your investment portfolio to pay for any unforeseen costs and daily expenses. As you know, the nancial markets can be volatile, so, if it’s possible, you’ll want to avoid having to sell investments when their prices may be down. When building an emergency fund, where should you keep the money? You’ll need it to be accessible, so you’ll want it in a liquid investment vehicle. At the same time, you don’t want to take risks with this fund, so you’ll want to be con dent that your principal will likely be preserved. Some possibilities might include short-term certi cates of deposit (CDs) or money market accounts. But wherever you put the money, keep it separate from your regular checking or savings account — it’s called an “emergency” fund for a reason, and you don’t want to mingle it with the accounts you use every day. Given the high cost of living, it’s not always easy to sock away money for emergencies — and if you wait until all your bills are paid before addressing an emergency fund, you may only make very slow progress. One possible strategy is to pay yourself rst, so to speak, by having some money automatically moved from your checking or savings account each month into your emergency fund. And whenever you get a nancial windfall, such as a tax refund or a yearend bonus at work, you might use some of it for this fund. It will take time and discipline to build and maintain an emergency fund. But once you’ve got such a fund in place, you’ll feel more con dent in your ability to deal with unexpected costs that could potentially disrupt your progress toward your nancial goals. So, make it a priority this year to build or strengthen your emergency fund. It will be worth the e ort. is article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Financial Advisor, Judi McAnaw, a resident of Katonah. She has an o ce at 200 Business Park Drive, Suite 107, in Armonk. Judi can be reached at 914-669-5329. Have you built an emergency fund? ...if you wait until all your bills are paid before addressing an emergency fund, you may only make very slow progress.’ -Judi McAnaw Edward Jones nancial advisor JUDI MCANAW GUEST CORNER Yorktown Chamber of Commerce 2010 Organization of the Year November 29, 1987-March 21, 2003 MAY WE STAND AS TALL AS HE DID in memory of Our 20th Year Proudly Supporting Community Recreation and Education HARRISON APAR Standing three feet tall due to a rare dwarfism, as a featured speaker at his middle school graduation, Harrison told classmates... ‘Dreams Do Not Come Easily, But If You Stretch Enough, Nothing Is Out of Reach’ Facebook.com/HarrisonAparFoundation [email protected] • 914.275.6887 P.O. Box 1383, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit incorporated in the State of New York from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Call to get your FREE Information Kit 1-855-225-1434 dental50plus.com/nypress Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255 DENTAL Insurance WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? To AdverTise wiTh Us, CAll BreTT FreemAn AT (845) 208-8151
PAGE 20 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2023 ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. AND WHEN THEY DO, PRO SHOP NORTH HAS GOT YOU COVERED. Car accidents happen when you least expect them, and they can cause significant damage to your vehicle. Driving your vehicle after can be incredibly dangerous, especially if there is damage to the frame. Pro Shop North can assess the damage for you and work with your insurance company to complete any necessary repairs. Customers always come first at Pro Shop North, so we’ll help you make the most of your insurance claim and get you back on the road safely. PHONE: 845-628-0069 | PHONE/TEXT NOW: 914-727-9497 | FAX: 845-628-3745 381 US-6 MAHOPAC NY | PROSHOPAUTOBODYNORTH.COM 24 HOUR LOCK-OUT SERVICE & TOWING AVAILABLE AUTO BODY COLLISION SPECIALIST | EXPERT FRAME STRAIGHTENING PROFESSIONAL COLOR MATCHING | ALL WORK GUARANTEED PROSHOPAUTOBODYNORTH