PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO CONGRATULATIONS to the Fox Lane High School Class of 2023 Special Supplement to July 13, 2023
PAGE 2 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – JULY 13, 2023 HALSTON MEDIA SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky [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 Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions is the Wednesday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY HALSTON MEDIA, LLC MAIN OFFICE 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100 Mount Kisco, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC Ryan A. Ades Daniel Wilfred Agnello Marcelo R. Aguilera Saira M. Aguirre Colindres Rachel A. Akinla Sebastian G. Akinla Papangkon Alamala Matthew Y. Albuja Beltran Linda Alonzo Hernandez Scott Anthony Altro Ethan J. Anthony Alexandra R. Archila Martinez Dennis S. Argueta Jasmin M. Arias Lopez Roxana Bahari Caleb C. Bain Graeme Mason Banks Liam Tate Banks Frank B. Barresi Maya Elizabeth Bartlett Luis M. Bayona Noah H. Bender Olivia L. Bennis Noah J. Bensusan Emily R. Berk Sianna A. Biem Shoshana Leia Bittker Ayanna E. Blake-Ocasio Mia E. Bongiorno William T. Boyland Nathan S. Brauning Madelyn A. Broghammer Amanda M. Bu Munoz Julia Antoinette Cambareri Charlotte K. Cape Keydy E. Cardona Ramos Chiara L. Castellucci Elliana F. Castellucci Andres S. Castro Naranjo Andrew R. Catalanello Jakelin M. Chacon-Alonzo Krista K. Chasse Mia Q. Chen Maria E. Chinchilla Lemus Matios J. Christopher John J. Cicchelli Joseph A. Cicchelli III Sophia H. Cleveland Nathan S. Cohen Victoria A. Colindres Reyes Emily A. Contreras Cruz Owen H. Coulter Sabrina R. Crerend Marta N. Cruz Diana P. Cruz Guerra Wilhelmina M.A. Cuono Carmela E. Cutri Lucas G. Danisi Declan J. Davis-Lorton Logan G. Decker Scarlet M. Delgado Tapia Nicholas Dellorso Leonardo P. DeLuca Benjamin P. DeMarco Nikolas P.I. Dent Tess G. Di Carlo Brandiel A. Diaz de la Cruz Alvaro E. Diaz Mauricio Cristhian B. Diaz Sintu Stephanie A. DiFiore Colin T. Dillon Madeleine G. Diorio Gavin E. Dooley Harrison Edward Dow Diego N. Duran Ortiz Connor S. DuVally Emma C. Eckert Morgan G. Eigel Alexander Michael Eimer Dania Elgamal Izaiah M. Escalante Cindy D. Escobar Lopez Xavier A. Eusebio Ravelo Jacob E. Feldman Ashley E. Feliz Aidan M. Ferguson Gianna R. Fiorino Benjamin E. Fishkind Matthew R. Ford Alexia Ida Frusciante Stefanie G. Fuentes Gianna G. Gagliardi Yeremy Garcia Jonathan A. Garcia Vasquez Hannah Paige Getman Julian M. Getz Sofia M. Giaimo Juliana G. Giattino Justin A. Gierum Jose C. Giron Orellana Jesse N. Glickstein Ellie Gonzalez Patricia Marva Danielle Gooden Alice A. Gould Dylan F. Gourlay Katherine M. Grippi Jordan Maxwell Gruber Justin L. Gutierrez Max K. Guyder Roan K. Guyder Carlos M. Guzman Michael G. Halley Conrad A. Hardie Henry J. Helbock Nadia P. Hernandez Sagastume Riley K. Hester Caroline R. Hewitt Anna M. Castaldo Hickey Alexxandra James Hoffmann Erin M. Holohan John R. Hopf Chloe F. Hoskins Charles P. Hoyt Vanessa Huapaya Anthony R. Ingraldi Ryan J. Isabella Julia A. Jacobs Mauricio J. Jarquin Duarte David C. Jordal Oak W. Juneau Ethan S. Karpowich Wallis Kelleher-Ferguson Jordynn H. Killion Jessica A. Klotz Matthew D. Krasnow Ace W. Kunz Margaret M. Kuo-Reed Dylan J. Landau Olivia S. Landsman Sophie R. Liebeck Tyler J. Lin Lucas S. Loaysa Stephanie M. Long Enrique Lopez Recinos Jordan A. Lubinsky Felix B. Lucchese Marissa Adriana Luchen Anthony Mark Luppino Alessandra M. Machado Cusi Ava R. Mack Rodin A. Madric Filipp T. Madubuko Campbell S. Magee Sarah Maiorano Sarah E. Malpica Kate Manning Tate Christopher Mannion Marc Vincent T. Marinas Stephanie A. Martinez Cruz Rolando D. Martinez Mateo Erick A. Martinez-Castillo Aman Matin Mackenzie R. Matson Jenry P. Matute Kevin A. Matute Kemari J. McClary Elizabeth C. McCormack Emily Y. Meikle Anderson O. Mejia Rivera Selvin O. Mendez Miguel Lindsey R. Miller Natalie E. Miller Raul M. Monrroy Arana Eymi J. Morales Aguirre Sophie F. Mosolino Sean V. Mulleady Justin R. Munoz Marroquin James D. Nagel Jacob D. Nahmias McKenzie Alexandra Naranjo Alex S. Naranjo Benavides Ashley A. Narvaez Cesar A. Narvaez Kevin A. Navarro Santos Mark E. O’Dwyer Miguel Ortega Recinos Justin G. Ortiz Colleen M. O’Shea Connor O’Sullivan Oona P. Owen Brenda Q. Paiva Phoebe Catherine Paletta Melissa I. Palma Martinez Liam J. Parker Dominique J. Parris Maxwell J. Pastilha Violet I. Paul Jesus A. Pena Villeda Joseph S. Peralta Quizhpi Victor A. Perea Rojas Kenneth R. Perez Flores Heidy N. Perez Lopez Maudiori Y. Perez Sandoval Jasper T. Plant Katherine E. Plant Maya S.H. Plonchak Mars Porteus Jonatan O. Posadas Ramos Christopher P. Puma-Yuquilima Yosselin A. Quevedo Guerra Geidi B. Ramos Garcia Christopher C. Redhead Adam Phillip Reig Fox Lane High School Class of 2023 SEE GRADUATES PAGE 11
JULY 13, 2023 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 3 Good evening everyone. My name is Alexx, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to spend a few minutes with you. Muchas gracias a todos por su tiempo y atención. The months following high school graduation present one of the greatest changes to the lives of students and families. Each of us is filled with excitement, nervousness, and anticipation of what lies ahead. Amongst all of our emotions, one question rises to the top: will we be happy? Every person here tonight has the desire to be happy. Given my own curiosity, I have spent my free time over the last several years studying happiness on a biological level, and there is a fundamental finding I would like to share with you: The single most important contributor to our happiness is not money or work. It is our relationships. Biologically, meaningfully interacting with others causes our brains to produce chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine that activate our reward centers and suppress anxiety and depression. Practically, relationships can cultivate a level of happiness that nothing else can replicate. Our most intrinsic relationships are those with our family. Family should constitute our most powerful system of unconditional support and love. But these relationships being obvious, being a given, is exactly why we perpetually take them for granted. Moving forward, as most of us will not be seeing our family every day, these relationships will require a newfound effort to maintain. So let us love our family and work to keep these relationships strong, whether calling or visiting. But parents, please don’t take this as a reason to overdo it. An equally essential type of relationship is that with our friends. In elementary school, we befriended the kids with Minecraft mansions in survival mode or those whose parents let us watch PG-13 movies. Then, when our younger selves hit middle school, we formed new friendships, though many were probably rooted in making slime and musically dances. However, we grew up, and upon entering high school, many of us finally connected with friends that get us. People with whom we could share our fears, dreams, insecurities, and desires. These authentic friends make us happy by giving us a place to be comfortable in our skin. Soon, we will get to do it all again with greater maturity and a distinct sense of self, so we have to do what may be uncomfortable in allowing ourselves to be open and vulnerable. This will be one of the most important investments we can make in our happiness for the rest of our lives. There is also a third set of relationships that often goes unrecognized: relationships with acquaintances. What do school staff and shop workers mean to us? There’s Mr. Kimmerle with his extra-extra large Dunkin coffee and T Swizzle obsession, Sra. Romero con sus referencias del conejo malo, Deb with her advice on the drama we unmask to her, and even Joe from Cams Deli. These are the people we often think of as just crossing paths with, only what we don’t realize is that we go to places like that coffee shop not just for the coffee, but for the familiarity of a kind face. Our acquaintances fil the gaps in our social network, routinely bringing comfort Alexxandra Hoffmann ‘Relationships can cultivate a level of happiness that nothing else can replicate.’ PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO VALEDICTORIAN SEE HOFFMANN PAGE 10 Huge Selection! Always the LOWEST price...PERIOD! 128 East Main Street • Mount Kisco, NY 10549 • 914-666-6100 www.atlanticappliance.com Air Conditioners, Ranges, Fridges, Washer/Dryers Huge Selection! Always the LOWEST price...PERIOD! & more! 128 East Main Street • Mount Kisco, NY 10549 • 914-666-6100 www.atlanticappliance.com Air Conditioners, Ranges, Fridges, Washer/Dryers & more! Huge Selection! Always the LOWEST price...PERIOD! 128 East Main Street • Mount Kisco, NY 10549 • 914-666-6100 www.atlanticappliance.com Best Wishes to the Class of 2023
PAGE 4 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – JULY 13, 2023 Good afternoon. As the first to speak at today’s ceremonies, please allow me to offer a word of welcome to our cherished guests and of course - a hearty congratulations to the Fox Lane High School Class of 2023. Before I begin, I’d like to express my deep gratitude a gratitude that I’m sure I share with my classmates to all of the family members and friends who have joined us today as well as the faculty and staff of the high school. These past four years have not been without their share of difficulties, and your continuous love and support, and I truly hope this goes without saying have been of vital importance in allowing us to grow and flourish as students. For all of us, today is a day of exceptional pride. And that pride is, of course, well-deserved. High school is difficult - in more ways than one - and successfully completing four years of it is an achievement that should be celebrated, and rightly so. But I’d like to take this opportunity to speak to you about the counter to pride - humility - and the lessons it offers with regards to virtue and the importance of education. Unfortunately, humility gets a bad rap. The word itself is often understood with relation to the verb humiliate - to disparage or belittle, often with great pain of embarrassment. It isn’t a fun word: no one wants to be humiliated because they said the wrong thing or played the wrong note. But this modern understanding of humility is actually quite unfair to what it really is. At its core, humility is all about awareness: it’s the strength and courage needed to acknowledge the flaws that we all possess. Though the exact role that humility plays in society has been the subject of much debate, many philosophers have maintained that a modest mind is necessary for the success of the individual and communities as a whole. In his writings, German philosopher Immanuel Kant identifies humility as a necessary element of rationality. Along with more recent individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, Kant believed that when we think modestly of ourselves and our own abilities, we gain a greater comprehension of our own shortcomings, allowing us to make grounded, well-informed decisions. Many also believe that humility is crucial to growth and self-improvement. Of course, we are best positioned to address our weaknesses when we acknowledge and understand them. Humility also offers some important lessons with regards to the relevance of education. At graduations like this one, it’s easy to reflect on everything that we’ve learned and everything that we do know. But equally important is everything that we don’t know: there will always be a language you haven’t learned, a mathematical technique you haven’t mastered, and a book you haven’t read. Certainty is a very dangerous thing. Think about all the conflicts, both minor and global, that have been caused by people thinking they were unequivocally correct. Academic humility instills within us the uncertainty needed to acknowledge the limits of our own understanding and open ourselves up to debate, discourse, and the attainment of new knowledge. Whenever you sit down to speak with someone, keep in mind that there will always be something they know about ‘Be kind, be virtuous, and be humble.’ PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO Jacob Feldman SALUTATORIAN SEE FELDMAN PAGE 10 14 Main Street I Bedford Hills NY I 10507 I 914 218 3296 • Sales • Service • Fitting • Accessories BICYCLE Now open! 681 Main St. Mount Kisco 914-241-6919 wwww.asmtkisco.com Antipasto Platters • Homemade Sausage • Fresh Mozzarella Italian Cheeses • Prepared Foods • Homemade Sauces • Bread $5 OFF ANY PURCHASE OVER $35 A&S Marketplace • 914-241-6919 Not valid with other offers. Exp 8/31/23 $10 OFF ANY PURCHASE OVER $75 A&S Marketplace • 914-241-6919 Not valid with other offers. Exp Exp 8/31/23 10% OFF YOUR CATERING ORDER OVER $100 A&S Marketplace • 914-241-6919 Not valid with other offers. Exp Exp 8/31/23 Congratulations! CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS Class of 2023!
JULY 13, 2023 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 5 Good afternoon and a hearty welcome parents, grandparents, friends, esteemed faculty and staff as we gather together today to do something really special – to honor this amazing Fox Lane High School Class of 2023! Of all of the recognitions and gatherings that take place throughout the year, graduation is the most distinguished and solemn ceremony we will host. Why? Because it represents the culmination of 13 years of consistent work and diligent study; 13 years of relationship building with peers and staff; 13 years of growth, development, and change. These seniors standing before us entered the Bedford Central School District brighteyed and full of promise, and today they are exceptionally well-equipped to step out into life’s next adventure. But it’s not just the passage of time, the hard work, or the prospect of great things ahead we celebrate today or that make today unlike any other celebration. What makes graduation from Fox Lane High School so special is the recognition that these students have been shaped by a system of schooling that is rooted in the families and community represented here. A system of schooling that is designed to scaffold students from level to level, experience to experience, so that by the time they reach this very day of graduation they are exceptionally well prepared to tackle the next phase of their education and the next leg of life’s journey. And while our seniors have been learning and growing here at Fox Lane for years, I, on the other hand, am a relative newcomer to this amazing school district. For me it has been a constant year of firsts in my role as superintendent. That said – I have been around the block a few times – at least long enough to know that while there are many things in common from school district to school district, there are many distinctives that cannot be fully appreciated until they are experienced. And I must tell you that I have experienced something here at Fox Lane that – especially in the last few weeks – has taken my breath away. In the course of the many year-end celebrations and exhibitions that I have seen and experienced: in music, art, athletics, academics– whether it was avid students presenting to faculty, whether it was science research students presenting their work or students being recognized for the National Honor Society – in all these endeavors, across the board, a few characteristics stood out to me as clear as day and in a way (and at a scale) I have never seen before. I noticed these things not because the educators in the room mentioned them, not because there was an article in the newspaper, but because three things were clearly evident in the students themselves as they talked about their work and their educational experience. Seniors, you are the hallmark of this phenomenon, and here is what I observed in you throughout this year and especially over the last few weeks of exhibitions and celebrations: First, you care deeply about your work. The curriculum created enough space for you to find something that mattered to you, and you routinely attacked it with enthusiasm and energy. I saw the way you engaged in topics and big questions that were worth your best effort, and you gave ‘The future belongs to those who look to seize it.’ PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO Dr. Robert Glass SUPERINTENDENT’S SPEECH SEE GLASS PAGE 10 Iona Preparatory Upper School 255 Wilmot Road New Rochelle, NY 10804 (914) 600-6154 Iona Preparatory Lower School 173 Stratton Road New Rochelle, NY 10804 (914) 633-7744 @IonaPrep in/IonaPrep IonaPreparatory Investing in an Iona Preparatory education is an investment in your son, and it begins as early as Pre-K. From a safe and nurturing kindergarten to the Class of 2023, which has earned nearly $35 million in college scholarships. Over 81% of the graduating class has earned those scholarships, with an average award of almost $60,000, proving an Iona Preparatory education pays for itself! They are #IonaPrepared IonaPrep.org/Discover For more information, please email [email protected] Discover the Iona Prep Difference! Grades 9 -12 | PK- 4 - Grade 8
PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO PAGE 6 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MT. KIS Pomp & Circumstance Fox
SCO-BEDFORD TIMES – JULY 13, 2023 PAGE 7 x Lane High School Graduation - June 21, 2023
The Fox Lane High School Class of 2023 will be attending 116 different colleges across 26 states and Washington, D.C.! ARIZONA Arizona State University University of Arizona CALIFORNIA Cal Poly Claremont McKenna College Occidental College Santa Clara University University of California University of Southern California COLORADO University of Colorado Boulder CONNECTICUT Sacred Heart University University of Connecticut University of New Haven Wesleyan University Yale University DELAWARE University of Delaware FLORIDA Florida Atlantic University Lynn University University of Central Florida University of Florida University of Miami GEORGIA Georgia Institute of Technology Savannah College of Art & Design University of Georgia INDIANA Indiana University ILLINOIS University of Chicago MARYLAND Loyola University Maryland Institute College of Art University of Maryland MASSACHUSETTS Babson College Boston College Brandeis University Harvard University Northeastern University Williams College MICHIGAN University of Michigan MINNESOTA Macalester College NEW JERSEY Seton Hall University NEW YORK Adelphi University Alfred University Binghamton University Buffalo State University Clarkson University Cornell University CUNY Bronx Community College CUNY Hunter College CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY Lehman College Dutchess Community College Fashion Institute of Technology Five Towns College Fordham University Hamilton College Hofstra University Iona University Manhattanville College Marist College Mercy College Mount Saint Mary College New York University Pace University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology School of Visual Arts Skidmore College St. John’s University-New York St. Lawrence University State University of New York at New Paltz SUNY at Purchase College SUNY College at Oswego SUNY College at Plattsburgh SUNY College of Technology at Canton SUNY College of Technology at Delhi SUNY Cortland SUNY Westchester Community College Syracuse University University at Albany University at Buffalo University of Rochester Vassar College NORTH CAROLINA Duke University Elon University High Point University North Carolina State University at Raleigh Wake Forest University OHIO Case Western Reserve University Miami University Oberlin College Ohio State University OREGON University of Oregon PENNSYLVANIA Bucknell University Cedar Crest College Dickinson College Drexel University Franklin and Marshall College Lehigh University Pennsylvania State University Saint Joseph’s University Thomas Jefferson University Villanova University RHODE ISLAND Brown University Bryant University Providence College Roger Williams University SOUTH CAROLINA Clemson University College of Charleston University of South Carolina TEXAS Southern Methodist University University of Houston VERMONT University of Vermont VIRGINIA University of Richmond University of Virginia Virginia Tech WASHINGTON Seattle Central College WASHINGTON, D.C. American University The George Washington University WISCONSIN University of Wisconsin Information provided by Bedford Central School District. PAGE 8 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – JULY 13, 2023 Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
JULY 13, 2023 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 9 Good afternoon to our families, guests, educators and most importantly, the graduating senior Class of 2023! I am thrilled to be celebrating one of the greatest moments in your life - graduating from high school. Thinking about what to say to a class that I have known for a long time, some since kindergarten, the majority since middle school, and now as seniors, what can I say without sounding like a gushing parent or every other graduation speech about how to be successful or how to grab every opportunity in life. I decided to start with a personal story and how the learning from those moments in my life will hopefully give insight to help you on your new journey. When I retired from Fox Lane Middle School two years ago, I had no clue what the next steps were in my post-retirement journey. All I know is that I filled my days with hula hooping while watching K-dramas, excessive house cleaning, and pulling out clovers from my yard which is really not environmentally sound. My husband and our dog Omar were so sick of hearing the vacuum cleaner twice a day, with two robovacuums also cleaning simultaneously, they would escape for long walks. People also thought I moved to Maui right after I retired because I grew up there. They envisioned me lounging on a beach with not a care in the world. Not the case at all. In January of 2022, my world was changed forever. Both of my young adult children got sick - very sick. My 24-year-old daughter was in the ICU on a ventilator. She has a genetic clotting disorder that we didn’t know about as she is adopted. Simultaneously, my husband and I discovered that our college age son was struggling significantly with mental health issues and a substance use disorder. Both were literally dying. Fast forward to today, both of my children are healthy and doing okay - for today. What did we learn from a year that most would consider hell? My husband and I learned about gratitude and to celebrate gratitude daily - Our mantra - “for today, our children and family are healthy and okay.” My daughter now knows she has a clotting disorder and what she has to do if she has symptoms or engages in activities that can be harmful. She has the power of knowledge. My son will be in recovery for the rest of his life. He is learning strategies to use when identifying his triggers, to treat his anxiety, depression and ADHD properly, and to stay connected to people who support his journey and recovery. So, what is the purpose of me sharing such a personal story? It is not for sympathy or because I had nothing else to share. It is because of how these moments in time have changed me forever. I wish I had this insight when I was your age. I learned about empathy, staying in my lane, controlling what I can control and letting go of shame at the ripe old age of 61. I am far more empathetic and understanding of other people’s situations. I have way more empathy for colleagues, friends Susan Ostrofsky ‘We still have time - time to experience life and learn.’ PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO FOX LANE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SEE OSTROFSKY PAGE 10 Berkelee College of Music Boston College Brandeis University Cornell University George Washington University New York University Northeastern University Pratt University The New School University of Connecticut Congratulations! to the Class of 2023 Top University Matriculations Now enrolling for the 2023-2024 school year www.efacademy.org
PAGE 10 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – JULY 13, 2023 and family who are struggling. I hope you can empathize more with peers, family, and friends that may be going through a hard time and not judge them. I had a hard time staying in my lane as I am a fixer. I like to fix problems. If my kids are struggling with anything, I want to fix it. Well, I learned I can’t fix everything - I can only control what I can control. And sometimes I just have to be a better listener and support quietly, standing beside my family, colleague or friend. I hope you can stay in your lane because drama takes place when you veer from your lane. I hope you can listen more, without judgment, and only give advice when asked. As stated previously, I can only control what I can control. If you want to eat healthy, the choice is yours. If you want to be on time for work or class, the choice is yours. If you party, you can decide if you need to Uber. You have the control to decide if you want to be helpful or hurtful. You are way more powerful - in a good way - if you control what you can control. Feeling ashamed or guilty is one of the worst feelings ever. When my son was sick, he didn’t want anyone to know. We respected his wishes. But the worst part was wondering what I could have done differently and, if I was a better parent, and did this and that, maybe he wouldn’t have had mental health needs or use substances - the guilt was enormous. Until I let go of the guilt (I attended and continue to attend support groups) and believed that I did the best I could do, the feeling of being ashamed lifted. I am more present for my family, friends, colleagues and myself. Please do not fill your head space with guilt or feeling ashamed. You will have missteps, you will hurt loved ones - forgive yourself, vow to learn from your misstep, move on, and let go of the guilt or feeling ashamed. The speakers this evening shared the following: If we have humility, the strength and courage needed to acknowledge the flaws we all possess will make us better people. Without human connections or relationships, we will lead a life that can be lonely and without joy. We should be patient and kind to ourselves and give ourselves a chance to see things more clearly, because if we do, we can thrive. And we still have time - time to experience life and learn. Take my insights I shared and couple it with the learning from the speeches and you will leave this graduation with lots of collected wisdom. Whether you choose to use it or not, the choice is yours. For today, at this moment in time, you should feel so good about yourself for this huge accomplishment of graduating from high school. And for today, at this moment in time, you should practice gratitude - small or big, perhaps for the loving relationships you have or for those who stood beside you, through thick and thin and helped you get to this day. And for today, at this moment in time please know - you are simply good enough! And now to my last story for the evening: During my second week at Fox Lane High School while doing lunch duty, the dreaded middle lunch, I said hi to Jesse Glickstein, one of the 90 or so Mount Kisco Elementary students that I knew when I was principal. He was surprised I recognized him and we talked about how crazy it was that I gave him and his MKES classmates their moving up certificate at the end of 5th grade, again at the end of 8th grade and now their diploma at the end of 12th grade. We spoke about how special this was - to be able to work in all three different levels of schooling in one district and how wonderful it was to see him and his classmates grow up from 5 years old to 18 years old. We talked about the senior highlights we were looking forward to like prom and graduation. He said, “Mrs. O., it’s like your last dance.” And he was so right. This is my last dance as a principal in this district - and I couldn’t be happier and prouder to be dancing with all of you! Congratulations to the graduating seniors of Fox Lane High School, Class of 2023! your best in the pursuit of deep learning– learning that impacts the world. Second, you created a community. When I say community, I mean more than establishing relationships and friendships with classmates. The cognitive demand and gravity of the work before you required that you depend on one another and your teachers to keep you moving. Often, your classmates and teachers became more like mentors. You cheered each other on, created supportive bonds that lightened the load and made partnership the default pathway to get everyone successfully to the finish line. Lastly, you pushed yourselves to heights that at times you may have doubted were possible. So many times this year I have heard students express phrases like: “I never thought I could have accomplished so much” or “I wasn’t sure at the beginning how I was going to do it, but I now understand what it takes to be successful– and I know what is possible.” How do I know this? Because you expressed it so incredibly eloquently. Never have I heard over and over, night after night, seniors able to articulate, with such reflective detail, how they have grown through the journey, what they have learned, how they got there and who helped them get there. As an educator, this is one of my most fulfilling moments because – seniors – you were modeling learning of the highest, deepest level. You were expressing that you had come to a place where you had acquired more than knowledge, more than discipline, more than relationships, but the sum total of what you had begun to experience is what Socrates referenced when he said, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” And this is why I am so happy for you, seniors; because your education here in the Bedford Central School District has achieved what it was designed to do by the fabulous faculty who have been working with you from elementary days through your days here on the Fox Lane campus right through to the place where we stand today; with all of you extremely well prepared on the threshold of a bright new adventure that awaits. So seniors, as you go forward: keep caring about the work… keep the passion for learning and making a difference at the center-stage of your life. Keep creating community; not only does it hold the secret to your success but the success of the broader society as well. And whatever you do, make sure you keep reaching and pushing for what lies for you beyond the horizon. The future belongs to those who look to seize it. Seniors, I’m so glad you are coming to that place where you know yourselves well. This school community sure knows you, we appreciate your wisdom, and soon the rest of the world will too! Congratulations, and best wishes to the Fox Lane High School Class of 2023! the world that you don’t, so - no matter how far you go with your education - be willing to listen to them and question your own beliefs. In his 1330 collection of essays titled “Tsurezuregusa,” widely considered to be one of the most formative works in medieval Japanese literature, Buddhist monk Yoshida Kenko writes that uncertainty is life’s most precious gift. I’ll conclude by saying this: it isn’t my place - nor anyone else’s - to tell you how to live your life. Yet I implore you to consider the following: be kind, be virtuous, and be humble. Thank you. and humor to our lives, and there will be an initial void in our next chapter due to a lack of acquaintances. But through valuing and investing in these relationships, they’ll fill the void that we’re leaving behind. Yet, studies show that real-life social interaction has been declining over the last four decades, with a huge drop since the pandemic. Colectivamente, estamos enfrentando a una vida más solitaria. In losing sociality, we lose the very thing that makes us happy. As many of us graduates leave home, simultaneously maintaining existing relationships and building new ones will require conscious recognition and constant effort. But as is biologically proven, this work will lead to greater happiness. In his 2015 TED Talk, Psychologist Gary Lewandowski says, “When you think back on your life when you are 95, 100 years old, you’re not going to think ‘I wish I owned a better phone. I wish I spent more time on the internet. I wish I spent more time at work or sleeping.’ It’s not going to be any of those kinds of things. It’s going to be ‘I wish I spent more time with the people I love.’” So as I move forward, I hope to spend my time with the people I love, because as Kid Cudi would say, I’m on the pursuit of happiness... And I hope you all are on the pursuit of happiness, too. Thank you very much. HOFFMANN FROM PAGE 3 FELDMAN FROM PAGE 4 OSTROFSKY FROM PAGE 9 GLASS FROM PAGE 5
JULY 13, 2023 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 11 Isabella G. Rivard Julia A. Rizzi Katherine Robb Damien A. Rodriquez Andy A. Rodriguez Ramos Ricky J. Rojas Elijah T. Romeo Dillon E. Roppolo Lili Ann C. Rowley Francesco Ruggiero Emily F. Ruiz Carla J. Ruiz Naranjo Flori A. Salguero Giron Sandro P. Sanchez Samuel R. Sander Kelvin I. Sandoval Ramirez Alexa R. Schuster Eve R. Seery Allison J. Serrano Charles O. Shevick Ceres N. Shifrin Jack Shurgin Nell Silverman Lev J. Simkhai Praise M. Simmons Vincent Sinapi Huguetta-Katerina Sinis Analia I. Smith Shane C. St. Germain Anna Rose K. Stanton Tyler Alexander Stermasi Gianna Marie Stiloski Zoe Holiday Stoller Evelyn D. Suqui Estrella Jean M. Tiniguar Morales Roy Tolentino Santana Michael Ryan Toole Matthew M. Toscano Eli H. Townley Kenan I. Umana Vasquez Derek L. Urbina Valentina Valencia Isabella Vasquez Roselyn V. Vasquez Max Kenya L. Vasquez Ramos Daniel A. Velasco Johnathan A. Velasquez Meera A. Verma Kayleah A. Vilen Raphael S. Villeda Pinto Rene E. Villeda Ramirez John P. Vinanzaca Barbecho Merilyn S. Vinanzaca Solis Alexa A. Vitti Sarah E. Volpitta Anthony Vuka Shane Douglas Wassem Isabella N. Weidmann Isabella S. Weisse Benjamin P. Williams Laura A. Williams Holden Wills Colin Rex Witz Nicholas J. Wong Dylann L. Wright Jhoel E. Yanez Eric Y. Yang Ava J. Zegras Michael L. Zinzi Information provided by Bedford Central School District. GRADUATES FROM PAGE 2 Best of Luck Class of 2023! PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO
PAGE 12 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE MOUNT KISCO BEDFORD TIMES – JULY 13, 2023 Come See Us At NOW SERVING these TWO Locations: 680 East Main Street, Mount Kisco 914-666-3530 192 North Bedford Road, Mount Kisco 914-218-3140 WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU! FILL UP WITH TODAY! MARKET CONGRATULATIONS FOX LANE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2023