VOL. 14 NO. 42 Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS 27 LEGAL NOTICES 26 LEISURE 23 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 2 OBITUARIES 6 OPINION 8 SPORTS 16 Gymnastics season underway pg 16 BEAM ME UP! The Jewish communities in Mahopac and Carmel celebrated the Festival of Lights this week with ceremonial menorah lightings along Lake Gleneida and at Mahopac’s Temple Beth Shalom. Originally scheduled for Sunday, the Gleneida lighting, organized by the Chabad of Putnam, took place on Monday and featured Saul Naor, who lost his sister to the Hamas terrorist attack of Oct. 7, and had his niece and her children taken hostage for 49 days. Naor is scheduled to speak at Mahopac’s Temple Beth Shalom this Sunday at 2 p.m. “Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights,” said Rabbi Sarah Freidson of Temple Beth Shalom, which brought its lighting indoors due to bad weather on Sunday. “Each of the eight nights we add a candle reminding us to increase the light we shine in the world.” Mahopac and Carmel celebrate Hanukkah Rabbi Avi Korer, Shaul Naor, and local dignitaries gather on the shores of Lake Gleneida for Carmel’s annual menorah lighting. PHOTOS: JENNA WALDMAN BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR Town of Carmel Republican Committee chairman Stephen Baranowski has three months to win back the trust of committee members after an unofficial vote of no confidence on Monday overwhelmingly went against him, according to multiple sources who were present at the vote or had knowledge of the meeting. The vote, held by secret ballot at the Four Brothers restaurant in Mahopac, was 54-4 for “no confidence,” sources said. According to several sources, Baranowski tried to prevent the vote by talking while it was happening. “It was a s**t show,” one attendee said. “Alana Sweeny made a motion for a vote of no confidence and Steve refused to recognize it. It was [still] seconded and ballots were distributed as Steve kept talking while the ballots were bring distributed.” After the vote was read, there was a discussion about “how Steve violated the committee’s trust and committee members voiced their opinion.” It was after this discussion that Baranowski agreed to step down in three months if he didn’t regain the committee’s trust. If he remains in place after that, Baranowski’s term as Carmel Committee chair will be up around the end of August. Baranowski also serves on the Town Board with a term set to run until January 2025. Some sources claim that Baranowski is positioning himself to run for a seat on the Putnam County Legislature. The three-month grace period was reportedly suggested by committee member Giulio Cefaloni. “[Cefaloni] said that we should give Steve a chance and if he doesn’t succeed in regaining trust, he would then ask him to resign,” said someone present at the meeting. “Steve said he would. [Cefaloni] said ‘Give me your word that if the vote is 54-4 again, do I have your word you will step down?’ Steve said yes. Town GOP chair loses ‘no-confidence’ vote Party gives Baranowski three months to regain trust SEE NO CONFIDENCE PAGE 5 Julia Blair lights a candle with Temple Beth Shalom Rabbi Sara Freidson. Don’t forget our lunch with Sunday, Dec. 17 12pm or 1:30pm Reservaons Required 545 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 845-621-2489 Full Reta Market Featung The Highe Qualy Fresh Seafood Full Cateng Menu Avaable Create Your Own Fea Of The Seven Fish Live Lober Avaable Wh over 50 years in e seafood buness, and 27 years as a top seafood wholesaler, we can help cater all of your holiday events and gaengs. HHaappppyy HHoolliiddaayyss Santa & Mrs. Claus Scan Here for our Full Menu! Now Tang Holiday Orders Unl 12/23
The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [email protected] Bob Dumas Editor at Large [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines Mahopac News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Emile Menasché at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Mahopac News weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mahopac, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mahopac News at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 PAGE 2 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 (ISSN 2330-1627) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Main Office 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC MAHOPAC MUSINGS Our page 3 story “Let there be lights!” about the tree lighting at Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department omitted the world Falls from the first line of the copy, misidentifying the dept. as Mahopac Volunteer Fire Dept. In the front page story, “Write Lightening” (Mahopac News, Dec. 7) it was stated that Dr. Callie Johnson, currently one of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown’s deputy mayors, assisted Mike Stern with his write-in campaign for hignway superintendent. It was actually former Deputy Mayor Betsey Brown who was with the Brown staff at the time of his write-in campaign who assisted Stern. Mahopac News apologizes for the errors. CORRECTIONS Cookies with Santa The Carmel Recreation and Parks Department presents “Cookies with Santa” at Sycamore Park on Saturday, Dec. 16. The event includes holiday cookie decorating and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Registration is required and is currently open. The cost is $15 per child (ages 1-12 years). For event and registration information visit carmelny.org/ recreation or call the recreation office at 845-628-7888. Experiencing Terrorism Mahopac resident Shaul Naor will speak at Temple Beth Shalom on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. to share his his family’s experience during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, which left his sister dead and his niece and grandnieces held hostage for 49 days. Learn more at tbsmahopac.org. Blood Drive DriveBoth the New York Blood Center and the American Red Cross are warning of shortages in the blood supply and are seeking donations. Go to nybc.org or redcrossblood. org to make an appointment and learn more. Here are some options close to home. You can find more sites and dates on the respective organizations’ websites. New York Blood Center: Jefferson Valley Mall: Thursday, Dec. 14, 12- 6 p.m.; Crystal Hall Community Center (34 Hillandale Road, Yorktown Heights): Wednesday, Dec 20. 1 - 7 p.m.; Putnam County FF and FOP (32 Gleneida Ave., Carmel Hamlet): Friday, Dec. 29, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. American Red Cross: Avalon Somers (Avalon Somers, 49 Clayton Blvd., Baldwin Place): Saturday, Dec. 16, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Illusion The Mahopac High School Illusion rock concert is taking place from Thursday Dec. 14 - Saturday Dec. 16. Showtime is 7 p.m. for all three nights. Food Pantry The food pantry at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Parish Social Hall, 221 East Lake Boulevard in Mahopac. Call 845-628-2006 or visit sjtemahopac.org/events/ food-pantry/20231110 for more information. Library Holiday Raffle The Friends of the Mahopac Public Library are sponsoring a holiday raffle. The winner will receive a basket of gourmet treats, including pasta, olive oil, soup mixes, sauces, and more, courtesy of LBI Oil and Vinegar. Purchase tickets at the Library front desk for $5.00 each. The drawing will take place on Sunday, Dec. 17. SEE MUSINGS PAGE 22 Merry Christmas and All the Best in 2024 from all of us at Red Mills Pub! 575 Rt 6N • Mahopac, NY • 845-628-9879 FULL BAR WITH MENU • PRIVATE PARTY ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 70 PEOPLE • Gluten Free Menu Items Available • Reservations Recommended NOW OFFERING CATERING TO GO AND DOORDASH DELIVERY 252 Route 100, Somers 10589 • 914.232.8080 • www.mammarosaristorante.com Serving a Complete Special Dinner menu All Day Long on Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve. Make Your Reservations Early! Book your Holiday Party Early! 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Your Neighbor THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR If you went to Mahopac schools anytime between 1982 and 2011, you probably remember Millie the lunch lady. Over the decades, she saw thousands of kids through the transition between elementary school and high school. On Dec. 1, Millie – or, more formally, Carmella Costable – graduated into a very special club of her own by turning 100. “She is doing very well and in good health; better than most that are younger than her,” said granddaughter Dawn Kelly. “She maintains a lot of her independence and ability to care for herself. She enjoys going shopping, cooking, baking, watching movies, attending time with family and friends, and attending her great-grandchildren’s school and sports events.” Calvin Coolidge was in his first year as president when Millie was born. The Yankees had moved to their new home in the Bronx earlier in the year. The Ford ModelT was the hot car, setting a production record of more than two million that still stands today. Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Eddie Cantor, and Paul Whiteman were the top music artists; the highest-grossing movie was the silent version of “The Ten Commandments.” Less than half of all Americans had electricity in their homes, around 35 percent had telephones and only 10 percent had radios. “It was nice to be a kid,” said Millie, who grew up in White Plains. “I wish I could go back to my childhood. I had a lot of friends and fun. It was quieter than it is now; too much noise now. Too many things going on. People seem louder and always in a rush. “The Depression was a terrible time though,” she continued. “I remember we would have to walk to the courthouse with a wagon to pick up brown dresses and shoes. I can never forget those straight brown dresses. I did not like them. [It] was a terrible time. I hope you never have to see a time like that. We lost everything. It was very sad.” Having lived through so much, what are Millie’s more memorable experiences? “The best part of my life was meeting my husband, Carmen,” she said. “His cousin Nancy set us up and it was love at first sight. He had the bluest eyes. We were married in 1946. He loved to work in the garden. I still remember he would drive me to work at the middle school and lose track of time in the garden. We didn’t have cell phones then so I couldn’t call him. I would just have to wait for him to come! He would have loved to see how the family grew and meet everyone else.” Millie had just turned 18 when the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. As an adult, she would see big cultural shifts (TV, rock music, the internet), and things like jet travel, the space program, the development of the personal computer, the cell phone, and many more things that we now take for granted “The technology now is very interesting,” she said. “Who would have ever thought one day we would be able to see each other through a phone call? That is so wonderful to me.” “Getting older” brings change, Millie said. “It’s hard to get out. Lots of things change,” she explained. “You have to learn new things like how to walk with [a] walker.” Originally from White Plains, Millie, Carmen (who passed away in 1993) and their four children – Rose, Michael, Leonard and Joseph – moved to Mahopac Millie Costable (right) with a colleague at the Mahopac Middle School lunchroom Millie received hundreds of birthday cards to celebrate her century. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAWN KELLY Millie’s milestone: Beloved MMS lunch lady turns 100 SEE MILLIE PAGE 24
PAGE 4 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE The town of Carmel, along with Putnam County, and the Carmel Fire District (CFD), have reached an out-ofcourt settlement in a false arrest case that dates back 15 years. The Town Board approved its share of the $3 million settlement at its Dec. 6 meeting. Originally, there were myriad defendants named in the lawsuit, including members of the Carmel Police Department, members of the county arson investigation team, several Carmel town employees and legal counsel, and members of the Carmel Fire Department. All those individuals were eventually dismissed from the suit, leaving the town, the county, and the Carmel FD as the lone defendants. According to county documents, the three entities agreed to the $3 million settlement, with the county paying $1.44 million, the town paying $960,000, and the fire district chipping in $600,000. Those payments, minus a deductible, will be covered by the three entities’ insurance policies. The origins of the lawsuit date back to the early morning hours of March 10, 2007, when William Haughey, then 35 years old, was accused of setting a fire in the bathroom of Smalley’s Inn in the Carmel Hamlet. Haughey was eventually convicted of arson and sentenced to 10 years in prison. But nine years into his incarceration, a court overturned and vacated the sentence at the urging of county District Attorney Robert Tendy due to lack of evidence. Haughey passed away about three years after his release, but his estate maintained the lawsuit and will be the recipient of the settlement. The case was originally tried by thencounty DA Adam Levy. However, upon review by Tendy, the current DA said that there was no true evidence to convict Haughey, and what evidence that was presented was circumstantial. The Southern District of New York federal court agreed. “It was clear that [Haughey] was innocent of these charges,” Tendy told Mahopac News. “It is the only case we had that went through the conviction review process and made it through that entire process. It wasn’t investigated just by me. It was investigated by outside experts, and it was determined by everyone that arson was not established.” Tendy said the county arson investigators and police were not at fault because it was a difficult investigation. “It was nobody’s fault. It was a tragic unfortunate incident,” the DA said. “But in a review of the documents and the [surveillance] video, there was no proof anywhere that he started the fire. He actually helped put it out.” Town Supervisor Mike Cazzari is the former chief of the Carmel Police Department and was a lieutenant on the force when the incident took place in ’07, although he was not involved in the investigation. He said he would have preferred to keep fighting the lawsuit but noted that the town has a new insurance company and its lawyers urged the Town Board to settle. “They said it is not worth the risk of going to trial—we could lose a lot more money,” he said. “But for 15 years, we never settled and never lost, but now we’ve changed attorneys. We had a good track record. So, yes, I am a little disappointed [we settled]. I don’t like to settle and admit wrongdoing, which isn’t the case here. “[The jury] thought there was enough circumstantial evidence to convict,” he continued. “I don’t know. It’s frustrating. Just because there is reasonable doubt doesn’t necessarily mean you are innocent.” According to court documents, at around 1 a.m. on March 10, 2007, there was a small fire in the men’s bathroom at Smalley’s Inn which was owned at the time by the Porto family. Haughey and Anthony Porto were both present at the time of the fire. Witnesses said Haughey used the men’s bathroom twice before the discovery of the fire. When the fire was discovered, Haughey, along with other patrons and staff, helped extinguish it. According to the documents, after the fire was extinguished, there was a confrontation between Porto and Haughey, during which Porto accused Haughey of setting the fire. After the confrontation, Haughey left Smalley’s and drove to McCarthy’s, a bar located a couple of miles away, at which time Porto called the Carmel Police Department. Det. Michel Nagle responded to the call along with several other CPD officers. Nagle inspected the bathroom where the fire occurred, court documents state, and then took photographs, and interviewed witnesses. In the bathroom, Nagle observed charred debris on the floor and in a urinal. He also noticed that a ceiling tile had been removed, revealing charring on the wood in the ceiling subspace. 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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5 [County Legislator] Erin Crowley asked to vote on it but [Cefaloni] said ‘Steve gave his word and that’s good enough for me.’ “Baranowski said ‘Absolutely, you have my word,’” the source said. While the vote count demonstrates a lack of support, officials said it was not enough to force the chairman out. A little over half the committee was at the meeting, sources said. One committee member said it would take two-thirds of the entire committee of around 100 people to force him out. Another GOP insider said that even if Baranowski were to be expelled from the committee, a loophole in election law would allow him to remain as chairman. My way or the highway Baranowski has been under pressure for months over what some critics have called a lack of transparency – and others have characterized as deception – mainly stemming from the decision to place Gerard Ahler on the GOP line of the ballot for highway superintendent after the sudden withdrawal of longtime incumbent (and original party choice) Michael Simone. Mike Stern, who wanted to face Ahler in the GOP primary, went on to soundly defeat Gerard Ahler in a write-in campaign last month. Since the general election, complaints against Baranowski and calls for his removal or resignation have grown louder from Republicans both on and outside the committee. Baranowski has not responded to repeated requests from Mahopac News, including one on Monday, for comment about the Ahler decision or his position as local party chairman. And according to more than half a dozen local GOP members, Baranowski has been no more communicative with his fellow party members. Before Monday night’s informal meeting, the committee had not met since February – the night the GOP named Simone as its choice for highway superintendent -- sources said. One person at Monday’s meeting said Baranowski had promised to make changes and hold monthly meetings from now on. “He said that he is going to do better at communicating and will think about how he can address everyone’s concerns,” said a Republican who was at the meeting. “He did say he will not seek the position of town chair in September for personal reasons.” Several Republicans said Baranowski’s push to get Ahler on the ballot went back to an earlier connection forged when both were on the town’s Conservative Party Committee. According to several sources, after Simone withdrew from the race, Baranowski told the Putnam County Republican Party’s vacancy committee that the Carmel Town Committee wanted Ahler – who came in a distant second to Simone in the original committee vote – to be the nominee. Hearing this, the county GOP gave Ahler its blessing, which, critics say, Baranowski then used to justify putting Ahler on the ballot to the committee. “Ahler was there by default, he wasn’t the nominee,” a local GOP leader told Mahopac News. “If you do some investigating, his support of Ahler goes back to the Conservative Party,” said another Republican with knowledge of internal party politics. “I think [Baranowski] played both committees to get Ahler on the ticket. It’s due to a loyalty to the Conservative Party.” Monday’s meeting came after Baranowski asked select committee members to attend an “invitation-only” meeting to gauge support. Some of these emails were seen by Mahopac News and posted on social media. The move to meet with some, but not all, committee members triggered public calls for Baranowski’s resignation. “Chairman Steve Baranowski must go,” said Robert Buckley, former chair of the town’s Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee and now part-time Mahopac resident who remains influential in local politics. Buckley has publicly accused Baranowski of “lying to town committee members and county GOP leaders” about the decision to put Ahler on the ballot for highway superintendent. Buckley said Baranowski had also misled county Republican officials by saying the town committee was behind the Ahler decision. “Steve lied to the [Putnam County GOP] vacancy committee and then came back to Carmel and blamed the decision he made on the [county] Republican Party vacancy committee,” said Buckley, who claims that Baranowski has lost the support of both the committee and many local elected officials. “The [three-month] redemption period would make a mockery of the GOP in my opinion,” Buckley said on Monday after the vote. “He refused to step aside and instead said he would be better: 54 votes against him and only 4 votes for him.” In the runup to Monday’s meeting, multiple Republicans said a petition was circulating calling for Baranowski to resign. NO CONFIDENCE FROM PAGE 1 SEE NO CONFIDENCE PAGE 24 Town of Carmel Republican Committee Chairman Stephen Baranowski at Monday’s meeting SUBMITTED PHOTO
PAGE 6 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Austin Road and Lakeview Elementary schools recently partnered for a “Stuff the Bus” food drive this holiday season. They collected non-perishable items to benefit families within the Mahopac School District, with donations also going to the Saint John the Evangelist Catholic church’s food pantry. Austin Road bus-stuffers, pictured with bus 378, included Natalie G., Ileana K., Aria Kayler, Giuliana R., Tommy R., Dylan R., Eddie F., Eddie R., and Gia D. Lakeview students (standing in front of the the smaller bus) included Liam F., Mia M., Brie C., Genevieve F., Charlotte C., Angelo M., Logan B., Frankie M., and Charlie M. While the “Stuff the Bus” event has ended, the fight against hunger continues. Learn more about the Saint John’s food pantry at foodbank.net/agencies/st-john -the-evangelist-food-pantry. Mahopac students ‘stuff the bus’ Lakeview students Liam F., Mia M., Brie C., Genevieve F., Charlotte C., Angelo M., Logan B., Frankie M., and Charlie M. Austin Road students Natalie G., Ileana K., Aria Kayler, Giuliana R., Tommy R., Dylan R., Eddie F., Eddie R., and Gia D. PHOTOS COURTESY AMANDA RACE C: 914-447-7064 | New York and Conneticut [email protected] | GulliHomes.kw.com Dina DiPaola-Gulli, Wishing our clients a joyful holiday season! Thank you for making this year unforgettable. Cheers to a bright and prosperous new year ahead! Happy Holidays 2023! R.E. Salesperson Carmel, NY Carmel, NY Carmel, NY Yonkers, NY Fishkill, NY Yonkers, NY Yonkers, NY Carmel, NY Beacon, NY Mount Kisco, NY Yonkers, NY Bedford Hills, NY
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7 14 Frances Kiernan Place & Rt 6 Carmel-Mahopac • 845-625-4222 northwoodinn.net WEDNESDAY Burger Special Buy 1 Burger - Get the 2nd 1/2 OFF (of equal or lesser value) Join Us for New Years Eve! THURSDAY PRIME RIB NIGHTS PRIME RIB DINNER INCLUDES: 16oz PRIME RIB POTATOES, VEGETABLES, SOUP OR SALAD AND COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF WINE $ 28 NEW! .99 NORTHWOOD INN One coupon per check table. Exp. 3/1/24 Any Check $30 or More NORTHWOOD INN One coupon per check table. Exp. 3/1/24 Any Check $60 or More HAPPY HOUR ALL DRINKS Buy 1, Get 1 1/2 Of f PRIVATE party room Karoake Night Thurs Dec 28th Come To Our Christmas Party! FRIDAY DEC 22 50/50 raffle Extended Happy Hour • Complimentary Hot Buffet Ugly Sweater Contest BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR The Putnam County Sheriff ’s Office and Mahopac school officials are investigating after drawings of swastikas and other racial slurs that were found in a Mahopac Middle School bathroom last week. The discovery occurred on Wednesday, the day before Hanukkah. It follows incidents earlier this school year at Carmel High School in which swastikas and “Adolph Hitler” were discovered on school grounds. In a letter sent last week by the district to parents and staff, Superintendent Christine Tona said the school’s resource officer and county sheriff were “immediately involved” once the graffiti was discovered and that the “student or students involved” had yet to be identified. In addition to conducting an investigation, Tona said the school would step up bathroom monitoring. “The Mahopac Central School District will not tolerate any form of anti-Semitic or discriminatory symbols, speech, or actions,” she said. “I encourage families to discuss the seriousness and hurtful nature of these discriminatory acts with their children.” Tona asked parents and children with information about the incident to contact district officials. “We strive to provide all of our students with a safe learning environment where all students feel welcomed and cultural differences are embraced,” she said. Tona, who shared the letter with Mahopac News, later said the graffiti – which was removed last week – was a first since she took over as superintendent in 2022. “This was the only incident that we have experienced,” she said. Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann said police have not received many other reports of anti-Semitism recently. “Other than the swastika at Carmel High School (which, like om Mahopac, was handled by a Sheriff ’s Department school resource officer), we’ve had one incident recently where a woman found a swastika written in dust on an old door,” Hoffmann said. “[We have] no idea when that was done or if it was directed at anyone.” Hoffmann added that schools and local religious leaders could work together to teach students about the dangers of bigotry. “I’ve been thinking recently since we’ve seen these incidents in schools, maybe we need an approach with our local congregations and the school districts to increase education,” he said. “We keep an eye on the bigger picture by doing things like having our detectives embedded in the Westchester/Putnam Real Time Crime Center, and thankfully we haven’t seen direct threats to our area, although stuff like the lone wolf incident this week in Albany (which ended in an arrest but no injuries after shots were fired outside a synagogue on Wednesday) is always a concern.” Hoffmann said he planned to talk to Rabbi Sarah Freidson of Mahopac’s Temple Beth Shalom and Superintendent Tona. “It seems like a lot of homegrown issues are coming from the schools and could benefit from taking a proactive educational approach,” the chief said. Swastika and other racial slurs found at MMS Mahopac Middle School PHOTO COURTESY AMY MENASCHE
Opinion BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER EMILE MENACHÉ, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 845-208-0774 [email protected] 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774 PAGE 8 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Hate is hate... and usually ignorance as well. Hate crimes in the U.S. saw an increase of almost 400% in 2022, according to a recent FBI report. The statistics are shocking, and the percentage continues to increase. Statistically, over 50% of these hate crimes are directed towards Black and African Americans, while the data also showed a sharp increase in anti-Hispanic bias, an increase in anti-Muslim bias, increased occurrences of hate crimes against members of the LGBTQ+ population and increases in antisemitism over the 2021 FBI data. Fast forward to the present day, just a couple months after the tragedies that occurred in Israel on Oct. 7, and the subsequent military strikes inside Gaza that followed. Now we are seeing an almost 400% increase in antisemitism, according to recently released data from the AntiDefamation League. So, is this hate new, or just being refueled by current events? My personal experience inside the walls of Mahopac schools would say this is nothing new. When I attended Mahopac Middle School, I experienced antisemitism from some fellow students as well. There were a few students with bad intentions that were compiling a list of Jewish students in the school. The administration at that time found out, there had been no physical violence that occurred, the report was investigated, and nothing really came out of the events, similar to the events of the past week that are still being investigated. This was a recurring theme on display in Mahopac Chamber Park a few years ago when hundreds of our community members, both past and present, gave their own personal experiences of hatred and discrimination that have happened to them, in our hometown. So how long have we seen these types of discrimination? Well, as far as I have researched, discrimination and hate seem to have existed since the beginning of recorded history. If we look back through almost all of mankind’s religious texts, all compilations of events of our histories, we see a common theme underlined, highlighted and in bold letters: Some people don’t like what they don’t understand; some people don’t like anything that is different from them; and some people don’t like anyone that has something they desire. This is a recurring and staining rule of mankind, the complete opposite of the Golden Rule we have been taught. A staining rule, one that wants to degrade, take away from, and conquer anything that is not similar to us or anything that has something we want for ourselves. This type of character has been displayed for millennia, through historical battles over land, trade (natural and human resources), and battles over differences in whom one may believe makes the sun rise and the tides ebb and flow. Now, the big question, the elephant in the room… how do we improve upon this history, our history? How do we learn and improve upon ourselves and how do we improve our community? How do we address this hate we see displayed daily, locally and globally? Unfortunately, we have to address this in ourselves as adults, parents and mentors first. We may not even realize when we do it. It may be when a comment is made to disparage another, using a term of race or identity as a punch line to a “joke,” almost as if the sensation of wrong is completely dissolved from our moral conscious as the words come out of our mouths. These words may seem menial, but these words can be as damaging as bullets and similar to a round in a gun. Once these words are spoken, there’s little that will stop them from reaching their intended target with devastating consequences. We are the only ones who can stop shooting the rounds down range at each other. So, what can we do locally to address the racism and discrimination, while providing a clear path forward for our community? As a school board member, I am recommending that we review our district policy and resolutions addressing discrimination and racism. The board should revisit these with the intention of making as strong a statement as possible against all types of actions of racism and discrimination. As the ultimate authority inside our school district, our board should address these matters as aggressively as legally possible. I believe our district attorneys Why so much hate? JONATHAN SCHNEIDER GUEST COLUMNIST SEE DUMAS PAGE 11 SEE SCHNEIDER PAGE 9 With Christmas looming on the horizon, it got me thinking about the winters in my neighborhood when I was growing up. Today, as a cranky old man, I loathe winter. I don’t like being cold and I hate it when it gets dark at 2 in the afternoon. I prefer summer... sun dresses, flowers on the side of the road, fresh produce from the garden, sun dresses, the smell of freshly cut grass, sun dresses, fishing, baseball, barbecues. Did I say sun dresses? The street I grew up on was called Grandview Avenue, and while I don’t think the views were as grand as that of the Grand Canyon or from the top of the Empire State Building, they were still very nice. I guess when the land was subdivided, the developers felt that “Grandview” was a more marketable name than “Pretty Decent View.” The neighborhood was filled with little hills and valleys, flower-strewn meadows, and several ponds and small streams, which were the perfect place for a young boy to hunt for salamanders, painted turtles and bullfrogs. Besides black-eyed Susans, pussy willow and golden rod, those meadows teemed with grasshoppers and fireflies. But the coolest thing about that neighborhood was that it abutted the 296-acre Holiday Hills YMCA Conference Center, which featured the 38-acre Green Mountain Lake (where we all learned to swim and paddle a canoe), tennis courts, a tiny A-framed church (with a pipe organ!), a string of little cottages known as Cottage Row, bocce courts, horse barns, hiking trails and toboggan runs. It also had an “inn,” which boasted a huge dining room that overlooked the lake and could host wedding receptions. Lots of teens had their first job working in that kitchen. The best thing about Holiday Hills—or as we called it, the “Y”—was that it was run by the father of one of my best friends. So, we pretty much had the run of the place and could hang out Grandview winters BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9 RED MILLS Convenience Center 575 Route 6N, Mahopac Falls • 845-628-9745 Mahopac Teachers, Students, School & Bus Garage Employees Buy One Egg Sandwich, Get 2nd HALF OFF Buy Lunch Sandwich, Get a Soda or Coffee FREE We Are Here If You Need Anything! We have your grab and go items! Come see our vintage candy shop We have over 100 helium balloon choices! Cold weather accessories! Salt and windshield wiper fluid. Happy Hour Coffee Check out our Coffee of the Month! Any Size 3-7pm Firewood Bundles Purchase your box of Coffee to go! $ 499 Warm Up with Winter Breakfast Special 2 eggs fried or scrambled 2 pancakes * Hashbrowns* 2 sausages or bacon Small Coffee ONLY Try our Coffee Flavors of the Season! 99¢ should be present for this discussion. The board should not only hold our students accountable for their actions, but also include the parents, to ensure the severity of these violations is felt by all surrounding the individuals that may voice, display, repeat and disseminate hatred in our schools and our community. I believe all of this should be done with the intention of making this a learning experience, and an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. For if it is just done as a punishment, the outcome may only be more hate. The Dalai Lama emphasizes the importance of compassion, understanding and respect for all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity or background. He advocates for harmony among diverse communities and often stresses the need for dialogue, education and fostering a universal sense of responsibility for counteracting discrimination and racism in our society. If you want to help by discussing discrimination with your family and loved ones, here are some valuable resources: • savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/tips-teach-explainracism-to-children • all4kids.org/news/blog/ racism-definition-for-kidsstereotypes/ • todaysparent.com/family/ parenting/how-to-talk-to-kidsabout-racism-an-age-by-ageguide/ Jonathan Schneider is a member of the Mahopac Central School District Board of Education, but he is writing this column on his own behalf, and it does not necessarily represent the opinion of his colleagues on the board. SCHNEIDER FROM PAGE 8 Dear Dr. Linda, I’m a sixth-grade English teacher. I’ve been teaching for 20 years. I believe in homework and always give my students what I consider is necessary. Lately, I’ve been giving more because there’s more material to cover and my students have to be prepared for the state tests. I give at least an hour of homework a night, and I think it’s necessary. However, I’ve had more complaints from parents than ever before. I’m annoyed that the parents have this power to tell me how much homework I should assign. I don’t want to be defensive, yet I think I’m right. What do you think? -Old Time Teacher Dear Old Time Teacher, Because there is more information kids need to know and more skills they need to master to be able to compete in this information-driven global economy, the amount of homework seems to have increased in the past few years. As the amount has increased, the effectiveness of homework as a way of reinforcing material discussed in class has decreased. More and more kids rush through piles of homework—not necessarily learning anything from it, not always completing it and not always handing it in. In order to meet demands from administrators, teachers are pressured to cover the specifics of an ever-expanding curriculum, which increases the need for homework, but the very same time constraints often make it impossible for most to even check if the homework is done correctly, much less go over the answers in class. For younger children, homework often curtails or displaces time to play, denying them valuable experiences that, like recess, help grow their bodies and minds. Balancing homework and learning Expert advice for teachers on managing assignments DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING SEE DR. LINDA PAGE 10
PAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Grades 6–12 with 5-day boarding for 9–12 in Katonah, NY harveyschool.org/apply Apply Now for 2024-25 Priority Deadline Jan. 15 GUIDELINES FOR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS 1. Ensure that homework is purposeful. If children, particularly older ones, perceive that homework is purposeful, they’re far more likely to buy into it and do it well. In my view, there are three main purposes of homework, which give rise to my “Three-Step Homework Plan” or “RAP”: • R=Review what was done in class in order to ensure comprehension. • A=Apply and practice exercises relating to the material covered during class. • P=Preview the material that will be covered in class the next day. Reviewing and applying what was done in class has been the main purpose of homework forever. Using homework time to preview is now coming into its own. It’s a brilliant way to help make learning easier and more efficient. Previewing is like a “sneak peek”—it allows students to see what will be covered the next day in class to help them get more out of the lesson. For example, imagine that you’re going to the opera. If you read a summary of it first, learn who the characters are, become somewhat familiar with the story, you’ll be more engaged in the opera and get way more out of it. 2. Ensure that the quality of your homework assignments is consistent with that of your classroom instruction. Students are quick to notice and react to “low-quality” homework, which we define as not fulfilling an obvious purpose. Examine the homework assignments you’ve given in the past and consider finding ways to “upgrade” any of them, if necessary. Here are a few suggestions: • If the textbook homework questions are poor quality or don’t relate to what you taught in class, don’t use them. Assign only those items that reinforce classroom exposure. • Supplement textbook items with quality homework questions or tasks that you borrow from other sources or create yourself. • When selecting items to include in your homework assignments, be sure to include some that require each level of thinking. Assembling great homework items requires an investment of time, but it is time well spent—once done, you’ll likely be able to use the assignments or simply add to them for many years to come. 3. Remember that homework quantity does not correlate to homework quality. Many teachers assign a considerable amount of homework, believing it demonstrates that they’ve covered the material required by the curriculum. But, homework isn’t about quantity. Homework is about helping children learn. Limit the number of items assigned to correspond with the realistically-assessed capacity of your students. 4. Be an ally with homework, not an adversary. You’ll be amazed how kids will learn to trust you once they perceive that you really are on their team. If you’re fair, assign homework that’s reasonable and valuable and care enough about them to review their work and provide the support they need, it will dramatically reduce the homework challenges you face. For older students, once you establish a trusting relationship, you can save valuable class time by simply providing your students with the answers and letting them come to you only if they have problems. (Those few who are inclined to cheat will do it anyway—the rest will be able to check that they’re doing the work correctly and will be able to get much more out of their homework sessions.) 5. Use the 10-minute rule. There is no set rule as to how much homework is the right amount, but remember to consider the age of your students and their not-yet-full-grown capacities for attention and understanding. The 10-minute rule has proven reasonable in the past: Multiply the grade level by 10 minutes and that’s approximately the right amount of time children should have to spend doing all their homework each night. For example, Grade 1—10 minutes; Grade 4—40 minutes, Grade 12—120 minutes. This will vary considerably, depending on subjects, projects due, upcoming tests, etc., and may be slightly longer on weekends, as needed, to complete major projects or prepare for exams. If your students consistently take more time doing their homework night after night, give thought to modifying your assignments. Since you’re teaching sixthgrade, your students should have approximately an hour of homework. That includes homework from each teacher. If you’re giving an hour or more just from you, then you need to rethink what you’re doing. 6. Collaborate with colleagues. Middle and high school teachers often need to talk among themselves to keep informed about what’s being assigned in other subjects. If left to chance alone, there’ll be many times when there’s a homework bubble—that is, an unusually large amount of homework or tests that fall on the same day. This creates an untenable situation for kids that serves no useful purpose for anyone. By making your colleagues aware of when you plan to schedule major projects, an occasional massive homework assignment, or major tests, they may be able to adjust what they assign to balance the load on your mutual students. Work together. -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda, along with her husband, Dr. Al, own Strong Learning Tutoring and Test Prep serving Westchester and Putnam counties for over 40 years. Strong Learning tutors students K-12 in any subject, in person or remotely. Drs. Linda and Al are also the authors of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids,” available on Amazon and at stronglearning.com. DR. LINDA FROM PAGE 9
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11 Your Family Car Care Center! LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Visit us at www.ProperService.com For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating releationships, and building a remarkable company with an amazing team of employees! Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! DUMAS FROM PAGE 8 there as much as we pleased. It was my backyard—and a great place to ride our bikes. I swear, Norman Rockwell could not have conjured up a better slice of 1960s/70s Americana. But when winter came—Oh, my!—Grandview and the neighboring Y took on a whole new aura. Back then, we actually got snow in the winter. Often... epic snow. And that transformed the neighborhood into a sparkly bleached landscape that would become eerily quiet as all living things huddled away from the frosty wonderland. When the sunshine hit the ice-covered snow, it could be blinding and disorientating. It was awesome! We celebrated snow days off from school as if it were the first day of summer vacation. We would begin putting on our snow clothes around 8 a.m.; that way we could get outside by noon. It was an arduous process. It was hard to decide what to do first. Snowball fight? Snowman? I loved building snowmen. My grandparents still had a coal-fired furnace back then and would give me a bag of coal lumps to use for the snowman’s eyes, his smile and his buttons. Mom provided the carrot for the nose; Dad had an old top hat he’d let us use. (To this day, I have no idea where he got that thing—never saw him wear it. But every time I watch Slash play in his trademark chapeau, I am reminded of those days.) An old scarf completed the classic snowman look. All those hills and valleys I mentioned earlier became the perfect venues for sledding. Every kid on the block owned either a sled, a saucer, or a toboggan. I myself was a sled guy. There was one particular hill that was most popular for sledding. A frozen pond lay at its bottom and if you steered just right and hit the right speed, you could fly across the pond’s frozen surface and crash into the bushes clear on the other side. I wrote a fictional story based on that hill called “Dead Man’s Hill” when I was in seventh grade and won an award and got it published in the school’s monthly literary magazine known as The Hydrofoil. Several ponds in the neighborhood would freeze over pretty good and were perfect for hockey. The problem was, I couldn’t skate. Never could... at least not very well. I had to use figure skates, which provided more ankle support. But for hockey, I was always the designated goalie because I could wear my snow boots and just stand in front of the goal (two orange road pylons someone pilfered from a construction site). We always played hockey at “The Pond,” the one that was closest to our homes. I remember one day when a bunch of us kids were hanging out there after school, skating and practicing hockey moves. For reasons I can’t quite recall, one of the boys, a kid named Chris who was a year younger than me, took my sister’s boots (she had her skates on) and tossed them over a fence into someone’s backyard. “Hey! Go get them!” I roared. He just skated away. But here is where not being able to skate was to my advantage. Wearing my boots, I followed him out onto the ice and caught up. “Hey, Chris! What did you do that for? Go get those boots!” “No.” I laid him out with one punch. He pinwheeled for a moment, windmilling his arms to try to keep his balance, but to no avail. He wobbled on his skates and then fell over like a bag of wet cement. I looked down at him and his bloody nose and soon-to-be black eye and said, “It’s OK. I’ll get ’em.” Which I did. Then I went home. But here’s the rub. Chris’s father was the principal of our high school. I figured that wouldn’t bode well for me. About an hour later he called and spoke to my father, who calmly but firmly explained to him what had transpired. A short while later, Chris and his dad appeared on our doorstep and Chris tearfully apologized for being such an unmitigated ass hat. Chris wasn’t at the bus stop the next day, but I saw him a few days later and he was sporting the most awesome shiner. I will always remember his dad and what he did that day. He wasn’t one of those parents who blindly believed his kid could do no wrong. I guess we could use more of that today. The other pond in the neighborhood was Umshied’s Pond because it was on the Umshied family’s property. They were the ones who used to own all the land that eventually became Grandview Avenue. They would let us kids fish in the pond each spring and summer. One day, in early winter, my friend George and I decided to take a shortcut and walk across the frozen surface of Umshied’s Pond to get to wherever the hell we were going. (Constant readers may recall George from a previous column called “9-11 and the Lemonade Stand.” He was my friend who was inside one of the Twin Towers when the planes attacked.) I should note that before I left the house that morning, my mother actually warned me: “Don’t go on the ponds, the ice isn’t thick enough yet.” So, of course, the first thing we did was go on the pond. And of course, the ice cracked, and I plunged through. It was terrifying. And a bit chilly. I was able to grab the lip of the hole as I dropped so my head was never submerged. But my heavy winter coat was soaked and was making it difficult to pull myself out. “George!” I cried. “Help! Pull me out!” He turned and assessed the situation. “I can’t... I’ll fall through too.” I was finally able to pull myself up out of the hole and onto the ice. I then crawled on my belly (just like we were taught in Boy Scouts) to the safety of the shore. I was dripping wet. I couldn’t go home like that. My mother would bust me hard. Fortunately, George’s mother wasn’t home, so we went there and tossed all my clothes, including the coat (a Navy P coat) into the dryer. George lent me his bathrobe while we waited. It was nearly impossible to pull a fast one on my mother, but somehow, I think we got away with that one. To this day, I still razz George about that incident, praising him for his “bravery” in saving my life. But I am glad I never punched him in the eye. But the moral of all this is... always listen to your mother. She may be a buzzkill, but she is usually right.
PAGE 12 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 OPEN 7 DAYS AWEEK • 11 AM - 10 PM 845.628.4404 654 Route 6, Mahopac | fourbrothersmahopac.com Happy Holidays from our Family to Yours! CALL TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S EVE Today! Check Out Our QR Code For Our Touchless Menu Special Take-Out Holiday menu available order online at www.fourbrothersmahopac.com We can deliver to your home or office. Elder Law Wills, Trusts & Estates Estate Planning Medicaid Applications Guardianships Probates Elder Law & Estate Planning A Tradition of Excellence in Elder Law (845) 621-8640 thefellergroup.com 625 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541 We make home & hospital visits Contact the team today! (845) 621-8640 We humans tend to take some things for granted. Take local newspapers, for instance, like this one. We don’t consider what it would be like if we had no source of local news to keep us informed – shades of “It’s a Wonderful Life” – but we should consider it. We’ve all heard of the Sahara and the Mojave, but have you ever heard of a News Desert? These days, at a rather alarming rate, News Deserts are a thing in the journalism profession and they are a thing in U.S. communities to which the label applies. It means a well-populated geo-political area – for instance, a town or a county – in which there is not a single media company whose primary purpose is covering such hyperlocal and essential news as a town council meeting. If that sounds like a marginal concern, it is anything but. A News Desert can cost taxpayers dearly. THE LESSON OF BELL Consider the object lesson of Bell, Calif. It’s a small community, with 25% of the populace below the poverty line. You’d never know it, though, from what had been the annual income of the town’s top elected official, whose base salary by 2010, built up over 17 years, reached $800,000, and whose total take-home per year was $1.5 million. Is it any wonder that homeowners in Bell paid higher property taxes than residents of Beverly Hills?! The town’s corrupt leadership eventually earned substantial prison terms and multimillion-dollar fines, but how on earth did they pull off such a grotesque grift for almost two decades? The Bell ringers’ reign of ripping off an unsuspecting citizenry picked up momentum right about the time Bell’s last newspaper went out of business in the mid-1990s. Coincidence? More like cause-and-effect. Of course, the Bell story is extreme, but it also is a cautionary tale. As reported by Steven Waldman in the August 2023 issue of Atlantic Magazine, “On average, two newspapers close each week. Some 1,800 communities that used to have local news now don’t.” What does this have to do with you and your community, whether you’re a local business owner or a customer? For business owners who are not advertising in local media – which, by the way, includes sponsorship and other opportunities your Chamber of Commerce offers – you owe it to yourself to give it serious consideration. It’s the best way to reach current and future customers. DON’T RELY SOLELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA Many business owners are under the impression social media alone is a marketing solution. It emphatically is not. (I know of at least one seemingly robust local business that only used social media; it recently was forced to close.) It’s one way to keep your name in the game, but it is far from a panacea. And, unlike the professional, responsible content that is created and distributed by a media company like this newspaper or a Chamber of Commerce, many social media posts are infamously unreliable. They are rumor mills that create a less than credible sales environment. Advertising is not the only way to take advantage of news-driven print and digital marketing channels. If you have something of general value to say to the community of customers who are reached by local media, contact the editor. Strike up a relationship. Editors and their reporters always are looking for good content. One of the ways to leverage advertising is to also get your name and message in the editorial pages. As an advertiser, it’s a good bet that you will be given all due deference by the media company. Their welcoming your input is simply good business. The bottom line, by engaging more with your community’s local media, in terms of both advertising and editorial content, you’ll be doing your part to ensure your community doesn’t become a dreaded News Desert. Ask not for whom the story of “Bell” tolls. It tolls for all of us. Bruce Apar is VP of the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce, where this article first appeared. Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He is nominated in the Broadway World Regional Awards as Best Performer in a Play for his title role in “Tuesdays with Morrie.” Voting is open to the public at broadwayworld.com/rockland/ voteregion.cfm. For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. Supporting local media is all our business ‘No news’ is terrible news BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 13 day care • hourly play • grooming • swimming • training and more [email protected] www.backyardbonesny.com 845.200.7939 • 114 old route 6, carmel, ny 10512 indoor dog park your pup’s favorite backyard! Happy Holidays from our park to your home! When your team is on a fivegame losing streak and the weather forecast for Sunday is steady rain, finding a friend to use your other ticket to accompany you to the game is a challenge. The rejections took two forms. There was the “wow, that sounds like a great idea; let me check at home to see if we have any plans.” This was followed by, “sorry, I checked and it turns out we do have plans.” Those plans were probably to be someplace warm and dry on Sunday afternoon. The other approach was outright rejection tinged with a hint of disgust at your even making the suggestion of going to the game. It became clear if I was going to go to the game, I would be going alone. I decided, what the heck, I’d head out alone. I donned my rain gear and headed to the stadium. And except for the Jets losing another one, I had a great time. There were 30,000 empty seats to choose from, so I took my seat in the fourth row at the 50 yard line and enjoyed chatting up a few new friends, all of whom shared my same dysfunction and lacked the common sense to come in out of the rain. As I drove home alone, I listened to a podcast I follow called, “No Stupid Questions” hosted by author and psychologist Angela Duckworth. This episode was titled, “Is It Harder to Make New Friends As an Adult?” The podcast discussion touched on some interesting trends in American society related to friendship and friends. My football game snub notwithstanding, I feel very lucky to have several close friends. Not surprisingly, there is a strong correlation between having close friends and happiness. The Survey Center on American Life reports that the number of people who have 10 or more close friends dropped from 33% in 1990 to 13% now. The number of people reporting no close friends has skyrocketed during that same period from 2% in 1990 To 15% now. Women seem to fare a little better than men in the statistics. People in their 40s and beyond form fewer new friendships than those in their 20s and 30s. Earlier this year, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called loneliness and isolation a public health epidemic. He said, “While the epidemic of loneliness and isolation is widespread and has profound consequences for our individual and collective health and well-being, there is a medicine hiding in plain sight: social connection.” As an empty-nester on the cusp of middle-age and whatever comes after it, there are fewer opportunities to make new connections. In the podcast, they discussed the maxim that there are friends for reasons, friends for seasons and friends for life. Friends for reasons are the friendships you make with your neighbors, workmates, etc. I think of friends for seasons as those friends drawn together due to our kids’ activities when they were at home, school, sports, clubs, etc. And then there are those lifelong friendships that stand the test of time. As an example, my wife still maintains tight relationships with a group of high school besties. Although they are scattered across the country, they have a decades-long tradition of getting together for an annual girls weekend. There is a civic component to these new friends trends as well. In his bestselling book, “Bowling Alone,” Robert Putnam examines the declining participation in all kinds of community groups, churches, service organizations, softball leagues, etc. The increasing disconnectedness results in a decline in what he refers to as “social capital.” This trend may be a driver of our increased political polarization as well. Being a “joiner” is the easiest way to make new friends and be happier individually, but it also benefits your community by increasing social capital and building trust in one another and our institutions. So why not make a New Year’s resolution to join something new in 2024. Braving rain and rejection A solo adventure in friendship and social connection DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Contact Us Mahopac News is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 845-208-0774 or email mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com.
PAGE 14 MAHOPAC NEWS – THURSService... Integrity... Compassion www.YorktownFuneralhome.com • (914) 962-0700 • [email protected] 945 East Main Street, Yorktown, NY 10588 Family owned and operated We began with a mission to celebrate life and serve families. There is much peace to be found here, and we invite you to find yours. Explore more. Take a tour. Read our story. Share in experiences. Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays! The Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chambespecial guest to Chamber Park in MahopFather Christmas was on hand for the treeto bring smiles to the faces of kids and groSanCharlotte Fischer, 7, Ameliah Nygard, 8, Saranda Osmonaj, 7, and Grace Bellantoni, 7 AsmfoMembers of the Chamber get in a quick photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus Assemblyman Matt Slater and his family hang out with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
SDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 PAGE 15 914-277-4424 • 440 Rt 22 North Salem, NY • www.theblazerpub.com CELEBRA CELEBRATING 521 YEARS! 52 From our home to yours, have a wonderful holiday season! The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 er of Commerce invited a very pac this holiday season: Santa. e lighting, but his main job was ownups alike. nta Santa signals to the reindeer flying overhead after being swamped by a bunch of happy kids. Robert Kearns and his son Grant, 5, announce Santa’s arrival. Members of the Fischer family hang out with the Clauses and elves. Chuck and Farrah Ballard at the Lions table All iles or Bridget, 6, and Jimmy Lane, 4 The Bellantoni family with Santa and Mrs. Claus PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
Sports PAGE 16 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR The Mahopac HS 2023-2024 gymnastics campaign began with a dominant home team performance against Tappan Zee at Eclipse Gymnastics Center on Dec.6. A Wolf Pac gymnast topped all four events and took the first four places (and five of the top 6) in the all-around. “A nice start to the season,” said coach Vincent Collins. “We had a good night!” Senior captain Kaitlyn Palange led the way with a 34.80 all-around score over the four events. She finished first in the vault (8.30) and floor exercise (9.00) and tied for first with teammate Kelsie Thimm with 8.70 on the uneven bars. Second overall with a 34.00, Mahopac sophomore Lexie Castrataro topped the balance beam with a 9.00, with Palange second (8.80). Freshman Anna Carinci (8.70), sophomore Riley Hughes (8.50) and junior Lia Dimase (7.90) completed the top five in that event for Mahopac. Thimm (33.15) and Hughes (31.80) rounded out the allaround top four. “Kaitlyn and Lexie picked up where they finished last season,” Collins said. “Kelsie and Lia were consistent throughout the meet.” Thimm and Dimase tied rookie Carinci for second on the vault (8.10), a score shared with Tappan Zee’s top performer Julia Clark. Collins said the results rewarded the team’s strong work ethic. “It was nice to see Keira (Callahan, a sophomore) and Riley Wolf Pac dominates in season opener Anna Carinci GYMNASTICS Kaitlyn Palange PHOTOS: JENNA WALDMAN Kelsie Thimm on vault Lexi Castrataro complete difficult tumbling passes they had been working on,” Collins said. “And our rookies –Anna, Sophia (Lombardi, a sophomore) and Lara (Dimase, a freshman) – all did well in their first high school competition.” Mahopac was scheduled to face Suffern on Tuesday, Dec. 12, and Clarkstown on Thursday, Dec. 14, both a Eclipse starting at 7 p.m. 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 1/31/24 $10.00 OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25% OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 1/31/24 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 17 Lia DiMase Lara Dimase Riley Hughes Sophia Lombardi Keira Callahan PHOTOS: JENNA WALDMAN Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 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 Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! SPORTS
PAGE 18 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER After a slow start, the Mahopac HS boys basketball team settled in and carved out a come-from-behind 39-34 victory over Harrison in a game played last Tuesday (Dec. 5) in Harrison. The Pac struggled in the first quarter, and trailed 20-13 at halftime, before outscoring the host 26-14 in the second half. Liam Scanlon had a monster game for Mahopac, pulling down 22 rebounds to go with 17 points; John Kearney added 10 points. “We’ll take an early road win any way it might come,” Pac coach Matt Calabro said. “And this was an ugly one. In the first half they packed the zone, and we missed shots. But we put together a good second half, and held them to 14 in that half. We turned turnovers into offensive opportunities, and Liam dominated. He got a lot of second-chance points for us – that was a big performance from him. And I was proud of our kids’ determination, and the leadership our guys demonstrated throughout the game.” Seniors Scanlon (F), Kearney (G), and Danny Koch (G) are the top returners from last year’s 10-12 team that lost in the first round of the playoffs, and the trio will serve as captains for this year’s team. Seniors Connor Ferrieri (G) and Daniel Dedvukaj (F) also return from last winter’s team. Juniors Ronan Hunter (F), Andrew LaRue (G), and Patrick Mahoney (F), and sophomores Drew Lichtenberger (G), and Matthew Reilly (F), join the team this season. “This group has won at every level,” Calabro said. “It’s really a fun group to coach, and I think their strength is their toughness. “Our three captains are all threesport athletes, and they know what we need,” Calabro added. “They’re not afraid to let people know how badly we want to win.” Mahopac competes in Class AAA, in a league with Arlington, RCK, John Jay, and Poughkeepsie, and Calabro said it’s a team he believes has the talent that could get the Wolf Pac to the County Center. “I believe we’re a playoff team, for sure,” he said. “We look at the league, tournaments, and the County Center as goals, and I think we have the talent to do these things. A key for us is taking one game at a time, and if we can get off to a good start, we can set ourselves up for a good season.” Mahopac was set to host Lakeland on Saturday at noon. Mahopac boys jump Harrison 39-34 in season opener Senior captain Danny Koch Senior captain John Kearney Senior captain Liam Scanlon BASKETBALL www.aonpt.com GOODROW BUILDING 862 Route 6 Mahopac NY 10541 (845) 208-0963 MILL POND OFFICES 293 Route 100 • Suite 107 Somers, NY 10589 (914) 276-2520 BREWSTER 3 Starr Ridge Road Brewster, NY 10509 (845) 279-9288 The Road To Recovery Starts Here Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season! PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 19 SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! FEDERAL & STATE INCENTIVES UP TO 30% AVAILABLE! SUPER SAVINGS on your Heat Pump project while program funding lasts... CALL NOW TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY! CALL US TODAY! ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! LIMITED TIME OFFER UP TO INSTANT REBATE EXP 12/31/23 Please call or visit us online 845-600-8004 $ 8,000 AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS INSTANT REBATE EXP 12/31/23 Please call or visit us online 845-600-8004 $ 20,000 GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS UP TO EXCLUDES SERVICE CONTRACT • EXP 12/31/23 Coupon must be presented at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $ 50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com Happy Holidays, from our family to yours! UP TO BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Second-year coach Mairead Hynes has her team playing a brand of pestering, pressing defense that Mahopac teams of the past have been known for. The hard-pressing Pac walked off with a pair of wins last week, overwhelming Greeley 48- 29 last Wednesday (Dec. 6) at home, and then tripping Nyack 45-36 two nights later on the road. Against Greeley in Mahopac’s home opener, the Pac pressured the Quakers from the start, and wore the visitors down. Mahopac finished with 11 steals in the first half, and 20 for the game, disrupting nearly every possession Greeley had. How effective was Mahopac’s press? The Pac jumped out to a 13-0 lead, and Greeley didn’t score a point until the final 31 seconds of the first, which ended with the Pac up, 13-5. “We feel like our strength is defense,” Hynes said. “So we press, and we make them uncomfortable. And it showed. Twenty steals means 20 extra possessions, and that’s huge for us. Our defense has really been coming along, and I’m really happy with how the girls are adjusting to being a full-court pressing team.” Senior Fiona O’Boyle led the Pac offense with 13 points, eight rebounds and added five steals. Sophomore Madysen Ford had 13 points, senior Adrianna Pranzo came up with nine points and four steals, and senior Juliana Mangione led the team with nine steals. “Mangione gave us nine steals, she was huge on defense,” Hynes said. “Pranzo did it for us on both ends of the floor, and Fiona and Madysen were big for us on offense.” Friday night at Nyack, the Pac came out focused. “The girls really showed up and worked well on both ends of the floor,” Hynes said. O’Boyle’s 16 points and nine rebounds led Mahopac. Pranzo added 13 points and four steals, and Ford had seven points and four steals. “Mady was big for us,” Hynes said of Ford. “And Pranzo and Fiona both did a nice job again.” Mahopac (3-1) was set to play Thursday and Saturday in the Somers Tournament. The Pac faces Panas Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Saturday’s championship game is set for 3:45 p.m., with the consolation game at 12:15 p.m. Pac rides pressure D and reliable O to wins over Greeley and Nyack Soph Madysen Ford (4) grabs one of 20 Mahopac steals in a win over Greeley. PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN Senior Adrianna Pranzo (14) rises for a shot vs. Greeley. Senior Fiona O’Boyle (22) drops in two of her 13 points vs. Greeley. Senior Julianna Mangione (13) led the Pac with nine steals vs. Greeley. BASKETBALL
JUSTIN CONTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER After dropping their first four games in what Mahopac coach Tim Donaghy sees as an earlyseason learning experience, the Mahopac boys varsity ice hockey team got their first win on Saturday, overpowering Fox Lane 6-2 at the Brewster Ice Arena. Eighth-grader Liam Robinson made his first career start in goal for the Wolf Pac and racked up 22 saves. Scoring was spread among four players: senior Matt Dulyk and sophomore Joey Minnix each tallied two goals, while senior Sean Danahy and junior captain Christian Martirano added one apiece. The win, coming in the Pac’s second game in as many nights, was especially impressive because the team was shorthanded on defense. Mahopac had only three defenders available over the entire weekend, which meant a lot of ice time for sophomore Josh Leviner and juniors Joseph Golia and Brady Donaghy, who all played major minutes over two consecutive nights. “All three were working very hard for two games,” Donaghy said. “Our captain Christian Martirano stepped in to help eat some of the minutes on defense as well.” The win came after a slow start to the season that nonetheless showed signs of progress following a couple of lean years. In Friday’s 7-3 loss to Cortlandt, senior Quinn Betancourt started in goal and made 20 saves over two periods. Sophomore Matthew Conelli came in for the third period in his first varsity start and tallied 7 saves. Despite the score line, Mahopac held their own following a rocky start that saw the Wolf Pac give up three goals in the first five minutes. After that, however, the Pac settled down and battled hard through the end. Minnix scored the first goal of his career and juniors Alex Wanner and Martirano also got on the board. Donaghy said the team has shown the ability to learn early in the season, and with the majority of the roster made up of returnees, he hopes for a strong run to the playoffs. “It was a good weekend with the team starting to make more plays and limiting their mistakes. A very good growing weekend,” Donaghy said. “After a couple of tough years, we expect to be competitive all season and have an opportunity to make sectionals and have a chance to compete for our league title.” In addition to Martirano, Donaghy said key returnees include forwards Wanner, Dulyk, and Sean Danahy (both seniors) and sophomore Ryan Danahy. On defense, juniors Silver, Donaghy, and Joe Golia, and sophomore Leviner, bring experience to the ice, along with senior goalie Quinn Betancourt. New players include Flood up front and Robinson in goal. Although the win over Fox Lane was the Wolf Pac’s first of the season, Donaghy said the opening tournament –which included close losses to While Plains (6-5) and Mount Pleasant (2-1) sandwiched by a bigger defeat by Carmel (11-6) – came with encouraging signs. “In our season-opening tournament we played [some] very close games,” Donaghy said. “We had an opportunity to win if we made a few more plays. “We have been spending a lot of time talking about how winning is learned,” the coach added. “We will get there if they continue to work hard and believe in ourselves.” Mahopac is scheduled to face the ETBE Eagles onSaturday, Dec. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Brewster Ice Arena. Wolf Pac tops Fox Lane for first win Key returnees spark hope for a strong season With the team short of defensemen, Joseph Golia (24) and Brady Donaghy (6) spent a lot of time on the ice. PHOTOS COURTESY JOHN DANAHY HOCKEY PAGE 20 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Joey Minnix carries the puck against Fox Lane. WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 “By promoting our business in Halston’s local newspapers, we have attracted many new customers and it has helped us stay connected to our existing clients. Readers love our monthly specials, and Halston’s staff is always there when we need them.” ~Mary & Ted Kugler Bee & Jay Plumbing & Heating 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! $25 OFF Service Calls When You Present This Ad. New Customers Only. Keep the lights on. • GENERATORS • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS!
(914) 372-7878 / WWW.PAWSCROSSEDNY.ORG 100 WAREHOUSE LANE SOUTH, ELMSFORD, NY 10523 "RESCUE ONE BY ONE UNTIL THERE ARE NONE" Our mission is to: At Paws Crossed, we believe that our mission is best fulfilled through rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, advocacy, collaboration and education. ADVERTISING SPACE PROVIDED BY ENEA, SCANLAN & SIRIGNANO, LLP Hats off to Mahopac resident Kelly Wilson, who coached Putnam Valley varsity cheerleaders to the New York State Championship in a brand new competition called Game Day Cheerleading. Held at at Veterans’ Memorial Arena in Binghamton last month, the 10-section showdown was New York’s first-ever championship for the Game Day category, which celebrates traditional cheerleading and is modeled after the sideline cheer routines done at sporting events. “I feel like this team really made history with the first ever Game Day championship,” said Wilson, who was a cheerleader at Mahopac High School and has been coaching in Putnam Valley for eight years. “I’ve always had a passion for cheer. It’s more than just coaching; it’s been part of my life since I started cheering in first grade. “I also enjoy coaching and seeing the difference we make in these kids’ lives on and off the matt.” Mahopac’s Wilson leads PV cheer to championship PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLY WILSON Putnam Valley cheerleading coach Kelly Wilson with assistant coach Nicole D’Addona and JV coach Joe D’Addona The Putnam Valley Varsity Cheerleaders go through one of their routines. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 21 The champions celebrate their historic win.
PAGE 22 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 from other accountants and tax preparers is our ability to work with you not just on taxes, but on financials, college planning, divorce, retirement planning, changes in life planning... We don’t just process tax forms, we advise on how to handle your income and expenses in the future with personalized recommendations. We help you navigate the tax code, and in the end, help you set sound financial goals. What separates us men’s room before the discovery of the fire and that they observed him borrow a cigarette lighter shortly before the fire was discovered. The next morning, Nagle returned to Smalley’s. Also present were Putnam County fire investigators Robert Geoghan and Robert Efferen, along with Carmel Fire Chief Daryl Johnson. The fire investigation team “determined that the fire was incendiary in nature because there was no electrical wiring, electrical outlets, electrical appliances, heating units, or pipes in the vicinity of the fire.” But Haughey’s attorney disputed the report’s conclusions, stating that it “was impossible for the fire investigation team to legitimately conclude” that the fire was incendiary in nature.” Haughey was charged the next day with two felonies: third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree arson. After a week-long trial, a jury convicted him, and he was later sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. In December 2013, while incarcerated, Haughey filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Habeas corpus is a recourse through which a person can report unlawful imprisonment and request that the court order law enforcement officials to bring the prisoner to court to determine whether the detention is legal. On May 5, 2016, nearly nine years after Haughey’s conviction, Tendy filed a memorandum of law in the case thus joining in Haughey’s writ of habeas corpus petition. The memorandum stated that “the evidence adduced at trial was legally insufficient” and that Haughey “has made a clear and convincing showing that he is actually innocent.” On May 23, 2016, Judge Vincent L. Briccetti granted the petition, thereby vacating Haughey’s conviction, his sentence, and the underlying indictment with prejudice and unconditionally released him. From arrest to freedom: A timeline According to court documents, here is the timeline of events alleged in Haughey’s legal complaint: · On March 10, 2007, Haughey was a patron at Smalley’s. Late that night, an electrical problem created a small fire in the bathroom ceiling. Haughey and several others smelled smoke, ran into the bathroom, and quickly extinguished the fire. · On March 11, 2007, the Portos “falsely reported” to the Carmel Police Department that Haughey “had intentionally set the fire in the bathroom ceiling.” Within hours of the report, Nagle arrived at the Inn, and the Portos informed him that Haughey started the fire. Nagle then informed the responding officials that Haughey set the fire and that there were witnesses who told him that Haughey “placed paper towels between the drop ceiling [tiles] and the ceiling and lit the paper on fire.” · Later that day Haughey was arrested for arson. In connection with this arrest, the fire investigation team’s field notes “falsely claimed” that it had eliminated all electrical systems, appliances, and accidental sources as causes for the fire. · Based on these reports and omissions, the Putnam D.A. (Levy) presented charges against Haughey to a grand jury, which then received “false testimony” implicating Haughey. The grand jury indicted Haughey for arson and criminal mischief. · On April 16, 2008, Haughey was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. · In 2013, after losing each of his state court appeals, Haughey commenced a federal habeas corpus proceeding challenging his conviction before Judge Briccetti in the Southern District of New York. · On May 5, 2016, DA Tendy submitted to Judge Briccetti his view that Haughey was “innocent, had been wrongfully convicted, and should be removed from prison immediately.” Tendy explained that there was “ample evidence that the fire may been electrical,” and that video evidence recorded that night “clearly belied many of the assertions made by the prosecution witnesses.” · On May 9, 2016, Briccetti ordered Haughey’s release from prison. · At a May 23, 2016, hearing before Briccetti, Tendy agreed on the record that Haughey “was actually innocent of the offenses of which he was convicted,” and that “no witness observed him put anything into the space above the bathroom ceiling tiles.” · After the hearing, Briccetti granted Haughey’s habeas petition, vacated his conviction, and dismissed his indictment with prejudice, which means the case cannot be retried. ARSON FROM PAGE 4 Proceeds support the programs and services of the Mahopac Public Library. Learn to Save a Life The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services offers training in lifesaving skills from community professionals. Original and refresher basic life support (EMT) training is available. You can learn more and register for these courses at putnamcountyny.com/life. For more information and directions, call 845-808-4000. Volunteer Drivers Needed Can you spare a little time to make a difference in the life of an older adult? RideConnect, a program of Family Services of Westchester, is an information, referral, and volunteer transportation program for adults ages 60-plus who can no longer drive. They seek volunteer drivers who are willing to provide occasional rides to older adult neighbors. These rides enable clients to remain active in their communities and to continue to lead fulfilling lives. Rides are typically to medical and dental appointments, grocery shopping, and other errands. Give the gift of mobility and independence. No minimum commitment. Match trips to your schedule. Rides can be set up by phone or online. Your family members, young and old, can ride along. For more information, go to ride connectwestchester.org, call 914- 242-7433, or email [email protected]. Visit RideConnectWestchester.org. MUSINGS FROM PAGE 2
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 LEISURE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 23 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. Mimic 4. Payroll firm 7. Perform in a play 10. Opine: __ philosophical 11. Crony 12. Political action committee 13. 1991 Wimbledon winner 15. Affirmative 16. Exclamation of disgust 19. Action of connecting 21. A way to calm 23. Especially fine or decorative clothing 24. Walked proudly 25. Group of people related through male heir 26. Supplemented with difficulty 27. Soft touch 30. Erases 34. Spanish river 35. A princess can detect it 36. Clouds of gas 41. A way to get through 45. Part of a book 46. Southwestern US state 47. Fields where rice is grown 50. Area in Ghana 54. Sayings 55. Involve deeply 56. Compels to act 57. “Ignore all rules” 59. Indoor entertainment space 60. Born of 61. Back muscle 62. Sea dweller 63. Tools that resemble an axe 64. Prefix denoting class or kind 65. Tooth caregiver CLUES DOWN 1. Inspiring 2. Put into a box 3. Breathes out 4. Pacify 5. Patriotic society for women 6. Fell down 7. Clothing 8. Dishwasher detergent brand 9. Former French republic 13. Single lens reflex 14. Men’s fashion accessory 17. Consumed 18. Marry 20. __ up: intensifies 22. Body of water 27. People of southern Benin 28. Decorate a cake with frosting 29. Snag 31. Yearly tonnage (abbr.) 32. Records brain activity (abbr.) 33. Car mechanics group 37. Brought up to snuff 38. __ faire: Economic approach 39. Phil __, former CIA 40. Affixed 41. Period of adolescence 42. Substance 43. Danced 44. Baked without its shell 47. Parts per billion (abbr.) 48. Satisfaction 49. Balkans river 51. Christmas carols 52. Partner to tonic 53. “The Godfather” character Johnny 58. Swiss river Starting our 44th year serving Yorktown children Family Owned And Operated, Owners Always On The Premises. WWW.PIEDPIPERSCHOOLYORKTOWN.COM 2090 Crompond Road - Yorktown Heights For more information call 914-962-5196 or 914-815-5281 PRESCHOOL • Ages 18 months to 5 years • Operating Hours 7am to 6pm • New York State Certified Curriculum • Before & After Care Available BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES • Ages 18 months to 10 years • Large indoor and fenced in outdoor playgrounds • Homework Assistance • Bus Transportation Provided By The Yorktown School District • Food and drinks provided Happy Holidays from the Pied Piper Family! Enrollment Opens Feb 1st For The 2024-2025 School Year SUMMER CAMP • Ages 18 Months To 10 Years • Flexible Days, Weeks & Times • Indoor Air Conditioned Playground • Weekly Themes And Activities Including Sports, Arts & Crafts, Music, Cooking And Theatre. • Bls, Cpr, Rit First Aid, Epipen & Mat Certified Check out our new website. Call today and sign up for a tour. Our family can’t wait to meet your family! Just steps away from the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley is a home-away-fromhome for families facing the emotional stress of caring for a medically fragile child, like Bella. Your support is crucial as we provide accomodations and meals for families during their most trying times. Help us this holiday season to achieve our goal of supporting 100 Nights of Hope. Make a donation today! 100 Nights of Hope Scan QR Code or visit www.rmh-ghv.org
PAGE 24 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 in 1968, when Michael was a senior in high school. She still lives in the same family home and now has 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. But the young lives she touched aren’t limited to her blood relatives. Starting in the 1980s, she would become a fixture in the Mahopac Middle School lunchroom. “I just loved it,” she said. “I loved helping the kids. I really loved working at the middle school. It was a beautiful time. I think I started working there in 1982. Kids would always come to me and say ‘I need to talk to you.’ They wanted my advice and I felt so lucky to help them.” According to Dawn Kelly, Millie is still a force to be reckoned with. “She is the matriarch of our family and a damn good one!” Kelly said “She has always been very independent and a strongwilled woman. She’s honest and trustworthy and if you ask her opinion or advice, she’ll give it to you straight. “She enjoys watching all the kids grow up,” Kelly added. “She stays active by walking every day. Even if it’s too cold to go outside with her walker, she will do laps inside. She likes to keep busy whether it is going out to lunch, shopping, painting pottery, or baking. She loves to share and receive recipes. If you make something she likes, she’ll ask you for the recipe and once she receives it, she will try to make it that week.” She continues to enjoy music (Sinatra is her favorite) and movies (especially classics of the past and westerns), and plays cards and games to win (“even with the youngest grandchildren,” Kelly said), often betting $1 on the outcome. One of her favorite quotes is “Don’t take any wooden nickels!” Kelly said her grandmother is also a huge Yankees fan. “She keeps the schedule by her couch, watches every game, and marks the schedule if they win or lose. When she meets you for the first time, she’ll ask you if you’re a Yankee fan<” she said. “She makes a lasting impression when you meet her. To know her is to love her. For her 100th birthday, we started a campaign to get 100 cards for her 100 years. We have been overwhelmed by the impact she’s had on so many in the community and we’ve received more than 100 cards!” MILLIE FROM PAGE 3 “He has little or no support on the committee,” one official said. “Thirty percent of the people are willing to sign the petition. Another 20-30 percent would vote to have him removed in a silent ballot.” Whether a majority of committee members would vote for removal may be moot, however, because rules may not allow the party chair’s removal short of resignation. “The bylaws and the election law allow us to use Robert’s Rules [of Order],” said a source familiar with party procedures. “There’s a difference of opinion on whether he can be removed short of litigation.” That official didn’t believe the chairman could be voted out before his term ends in September 2024, a timeline that will impact the next election season. “Both Democrats and Republicans have to walk petitions in the springtime,” one source said. “The town [GOP committee] reorg meeting in September is when [Carmel Republicans] can vote in a new chair.” While the Ahler ballot issue may have been the most public conflict between the chairman and the committee rank and file, it wasn’t the only complaint among members. “There are other things with Steve,” one official said. “There are issues with him backing GOP candidates. After [Carmel Town Board member-elect] Robert Kearns won the primary, Baranowski refused to call him and didn’t speak to him the entire campaign. If Kearns showed up, Steve would walk the other way.” Kearns was willing to speak on the record and said Baranowski had ignored him throughout the election despite numerous attempts to coordinate campaign events. “Mr. Baranowski never called to congratulate me after I won the primary,” Kearns said. “Even before the primary, I attended all the Town Board meetings; there were several times we walked past each other, and he didn’t say hello to me.” Kearns said the chairman’s actions did not reflect the party as whole. “Did I get support from the party? Yes, but not from Baranowski. He never coordinated any meet-and-greets. The Republican Women’s Club reached out to him to coordinate a meet and greet, and he ignored me. He never notified me of any events. The Mahopac Street Fair had a Republican table; he didn’t let me know. It had everyone’s materials on display except mine. I had to get my own table. “I’m not blaming the party at all,” Kearns said. “The party stood by me and helped me. The chairman did not.” Things did improve slightly after Kearns’s victory in November. “After I won the general election, he finally started talking to me and pretended like nothing ever happened,” Kearns said. “I’ve been cordial and professional with him. We were elected by the residents of Carmel to represent them to the fullest. I will work with him on the Town Board, but I strongly believe he’s not fit to be chairman of the party.” Nicole Barile-Stern, who managed her husband Mike’s winning write-in highway superintendent campaign, said Baranowski’s vow to reform was too little, too late. “There is nothing that he can do to prove he is a good leader,” Barile-Stern said. “There is no coming back from what he did.” NO CONFIDENCE FROM PAGE 5 FACTORY TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF COMMERCIAL & HOMEOWNER POWER EQUIPMENT EAST ROAD MOTORS 58 CAROLAN RD. EAST CARMEL, NY 10512 www.EASTROADMOTORS.com 845-225-3503 PICK-UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE email: [email protected] * LEAF BLOWERS * LAWN MOWERS * STRING TRIMMERS * CHAIN SAWS * SNOWBLOWERS * GENERATORS * QUADS * SNOWMOBILES SERVICE & REPAIR Newburgh, NY RWHudsonValleyNY.com MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. 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PAGE 26 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready 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. Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 845-208-0774. 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 ON YOUR INSTALLATION 50% OFF Limited Time Offer! SAVE! TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Additional savings for military, health workers and fi rst responders 10% OFF MADE IN THE U.S.A. 1.855.492.6084 FREE ESTIMATE Expires 12/31/2023 Before After Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE when tackling your roof! New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/erie-licenses/. Up to NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH ROOFING | SIDING | WINDOWS | DOORS & MORE! Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 888-254-6006 or visit NYProgramFunding.net NEED HELP WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIRS? WE MATCH YOU WITH FUNDING YOU CAN AFFORD. ...but it won’t last! Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are first come, first serve. ACT NOW! FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 1-855-916-5473 LEGAL NOTICE By the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Carmel pursuant to Section 267 Town Law, notice is hereby given that a hearing will be held on: DECEMBER 21, 2023 – 7:30 P.M. To hear the following applications: HOLD OVER APPLICATIONS: 1. Application of ROBERT ALTERO for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to retain gazebo and legalize room above garage. The property is located at 3 Curry Spur, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #53.12-1-17 Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 10’ rear (gazebo) 2’ 8’ 25’ front (garage) 0’ (over property line. Easement agreement needed.) 25’ 2. Application of BORE COTAJ for an Interpretation of Section 156-15. Applicant owns the parcel upon which the temporary dock is located and a parcel improved by at least one residential dwelling unit which is directly across the street but separated by a road (i.e. East Lake Blvd.). Applicant seeks an Interpretation that the intent of the statute (i.e. a dock when not located on a parcel improved by at least one residential unit) is met under the circumstances set forth herein or, in the alternative, the following area variances (table below). The property is located at 148 East Lake Blvd., Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #76.30-1-5. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required Dock: Lake frontage 50’ 6.25’ 43.75’ Minimum Area 3,000 sf 280 sf 2,720 sf NEW APPLICATIONS: 3. Application of MICHAEL J FESTO for a Variation of Section 156-101 & 156-47A(1) seeking a Use Variance for permission to encroach upon front & rear setbacks with garage, and expand non-conforming Use (twofamily). The property is located at 247 Buckshollow Road, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #75.16-2-1. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required Accessory front setback of 25’ 23.75’ 1.25’ Accessory front setback of 25’ 8.83’ 16.17’ 4. Application of JUDE BROWER for a Variation of Section 156-15 seeking a Variance for permission to retain shed. The property is located at 525 North Lake Blvd., Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #65.9-1-9. Code Requires/Allows Provided Variance Required 10’ 6’ 4’ 5. Application of DRANA VUKAJ for a Variation of Section 156-47A(1) seeking a Use Variance for permission to put up a pergola near the pool on lot with: two 1-family dwellings and one 1-family dwelling. The property is located at 515 Route 6N, Mahopac NY and is known as Tax Map #75.10-1-18. By Order of the Chairman, John Maxwell
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 27 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 12/07/23 DIVORCE $389 - Uncontested divorce papers prepared. Only one signature required. Poor personApplication included if applicable. Separation agreements. Custody and support petitions. 518-274-0380 HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-598-5898 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574 ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044 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 AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-920-9937 Do you need a Roof or Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944- 9393 or visit NYProgramFunding. org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. DIRECTV Sports Pack – 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918 SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277 ATTORNEY HEALTH HOME IMPROVEMENT MISCELLANEOUS TRAVEL SERVICES Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Mahopac News need to be a high-resolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a selfaddressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. To advertise in Mahopac News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@halstonmedia. com. ORDER ON OUR ONLINE STORE AND PICKUP LOCALLY! BEST PRICES IN THE AREA! PICKUP HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! www.american-arms.com [email protected] 1928 Commerce St, Suite C Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 NRA Basic Pistol/Personal Protection UTAH Concealed Firearms Course Private Lessons Permit Assistance Refuse To Be A Victim™ Group and Private Classes Gun Sales & Ammunition Gun Accessories FFL Services & Transfers 914-455-4210 One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. alone I’m never Life Alert® is always here for me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! ® Help at Home with GPS! Help On-the-Go For a FREE brochure call: 1-800-404-9776 Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES Batteries Never Need Charging. Call 877-516-1160 to schedule your free quote! 72-76 Cold Spring, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 7/19/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to PO Box 630, Garrison, NY 10524. General Purpose 263 North Brewster Rd. LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/30/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to John Browne, 31 Pan Road, Patterson, NY 12563. General Purpose Shirosan Consulting LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/24/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to William J. White, 22 Fireside Ct, Patterson, NY 12563. General Purpose H&W Rodriguez Shipping LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 6/23/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Claudia R. Rodriguez, 11 Orchard Rd, Putnam Valley, NY 10579. General Purpose Notice of Formation of Attune Embody Psychotherapy LCSW PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-03-08. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Karalyn Violeta LCSW: 12 Main St #1082 Brewster NY 10509. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Love and Anger Clothing and Kitsch LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-06-01. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Karalyn Violeta: 12 Main Street # 1082 Brewster NY 10509. Purpose: Any lawful purpose
PAGE 28 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023