Yorktown News 09.07.2023

VOL. 12 NO. 27 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 26 LEGAL NOTICES 27 LEISURE 20 OPINION 8 SPORTS 16 TOWN GREEN 4 Lakeland tops Panas pg 16 HORNETS’ NEST Visit TapIntoYorktown.net for the latest news. BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER The latest chapter in the Yorktown garbage saga turned out to be the final one for the Competitive Carting Corporation (CCC), with a plotline that included repossessed garbage trucks, the termination of a contract, and the now successful effort by the town to find a replacement. The town announced on Tuesday, Sept. 5, that it will appoint CRP Sanitation of Cortlandt-Manor as Yorktown’s new garbage hauler. “I am working closely with CRP Carting and our Refuse and Recycling Department to ensure that we restore the routine our residents expect,” said Supervisor Tom Diana. “CRP Carting is a local company with 35 years of experience and a fleet of over 60 trucks. They already serve thousands of Westchester residences, so I’m sure that we will receive the garbage-removal service that our residents expect.” The chain of events leading to the change came after five of the trucks Competitive Carting used to service Yorktown were repossessed on Monday, Aug. 28, forcing the town to find solutions for missed, and future, garbage pickups. Diana notified the public of the situation on Tuesday, Aug. 29 through an update on the town’s website, stating that he learned of the repossession from the Yorktown Police Department. Town trashes garbage hauler Board cancels contract after trucks repossessed Competitive Carting employee tossing a recycling bin while doing pickups PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Yorktown’s representative in the Westchester County Legislature, Vedat Gashi (D), is facing scrutiny for allegedly using an affordable housing program co-op on Manhattan’s Upper West Side as an investment property in violation of New York City affordable housing rules. Gashi, a graduate of Lakeland High School, was elected to the Westchester County Legislature’s District 4 (Yorktown, New Castle, Somers) in 2019. He is running for reelection this fall against Republican Dan Branda, who has accused Gashi of “defrauding New York’s affordable housing program during a housing crunch” by owning the NYC co-op. Gashi has denied any wrongdoing. As reported by The Journal News Tax Watch columnist David McKay Wilson, the co-op was purchased in 2015 by Gashi and his wife Vjosa, who both live in Yorktown. While it is legal to sublet such co-ops, properties purchased under New York City’s affordable housing rules are supposed to be the purchaser’s primary residence. According to property records, the co-op is a four-bedroom unit located at 72 West 88th St. and was purchased by the couple for $849,000. In 2017, Gashi and his wife moved to Yorktown, where they currently reside. While Gashi still owns the unit, it is not his primary residence, something required by the co-op’s regulatory agreement with New York City. Tax Watch reports that an exception can be granted to this regulation by the co-op’s board; a board on which Gashi serves as Vashi accused of affordable housing rules breach County legislator denies wrongdoing in owning NYC co-op SEE VASHI PAGE 21 SEE GARBAGE PAGE 6 Owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC. Happy Thanksgiving I am proud to support American Heroes & First Responders through the Homes for Heroes Program! This is my way of saying “Thank You” to those who serve or have served our nation and communities every day. Deborah Glatz Call or Text 845-206-1215 (m) The Average Hero Rewards Refund is $3,000! Contact me for information on how to get your refund or for any of your real estate questions. Real Estate Salesperson [email protected] |www.DeborahGlatz.com 366 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

PAGE 2 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 3 Library Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5p.m. Contacts:(914) 245-5262; reference@ yorktownlibrary.org; www.yorktownlibrary.org DID YOU KNOW? We had over 800 children sign up for our Summer Reading game! We started back in June by visiting schools within the Yorktown and Lakeland districts to invite students to our Summer Reading kickoff party, where sign-ups for the game started. Children earned a prize for every two hours that they read (or were read to). Those who completed the game were able to receive a coupon for a free pizza or ice cream prize after reading 12 hours. We want to thank all our local business sponsors who generously donated in support of the children who finished the game: o  Calabria Pizza o  Carvel ( Jefferson Valley) o  Frankie & Augie’z o  Rita’s Ice (Yorktown) o  Trailside Café o  Yorktown Pizza & Pasta Thank you to everyone for another great year of Summer Reading! CALENDAR Programming Key: (A) Adults (Y) Young Adults (C) Children’s. Please visit the library website (yorktownlibrary.org) calendar page for more information. Please register online except for drop-in programs. FRIDAY, SEPT. 8 (A) Not Your Mother’s Book Club. 10- 11:30 a.m. (A) Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 12:30-3:30 p.m. (A/Y) One-on-One Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2-4 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPT. 9 (A) Art Reception: Eileen Cruz. 2-4 p.m. MONDAY, SEPT. 11 (A) Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 10am-1 p.m. (C) Rock and Roll for Little Ones (Drop-in). 10:30-11 a.m. (A) Seed Saving with Cornell Cooperative. 3-4 p.m. (A) Earring Making Workshop. 6-7:30 p.m. TUESDAY, SEPT. 12 (A)  Medicare Counseling (Drop-in). 10a.m. -1 p.m. (A/Y) One-on-One Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2-4 p.m. (Y) Haunted House Prep Meeting. 4-5 p.m. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 13 (A) It’s A Mystery to Me Book Club: Eight Perfect Murders. 10-11 a.m. (C) Stories and Rhymes with Ms. Terry (Drop-in). 10-10:30 a.m. (A) Canasta (Drop-in). 12:30-2:30 p.m. (A) Adult Paint and Sip Night. 6-7:30 p.m. THURSDAY, SEPT. 14 (A)  Quilting & Needlework (Dropin). 10am-12 p.m. (C) Lego Free Build (Drop-in). 5:30- 6:30 p.m. (A/Y) One-on-One Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 5-7 p.m. (A) Up All Night Book Club. 6:30-8 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPT. 15 (A) Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 12:30-3:30 p.m. (A) Fall Planting and Native Plants with Hilltop Hanover Farms. 2-3 p.m. (A/Y) One-on-One Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2-4 p.m.  Article courtesy of John C. Hart Memorial Library Brothers Alexander and Adriano Felle, holding their “free pizza” coupons. Congratulations to all the children who completed the Summer Reading Game! PHOTO COURTESY OF HART LIBRARY HART LIBRARY CORNER Earlier this month, more than 20 volunteers came together to build a patio at Lakeland School District’s Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Yorktown Heights. This is not just any patio: The completed project will allow, Lucas Caniff, an incoming third grader who uses a wheelchair, to access new outdoor tables that would otherwise have been placed in the grass. The Mahopac Lions spearheaded the project in collaboration with principal Christopher Urso, with the assistance of local community member Jim Rathschmidt, who immediately thought of the Lions when he heard about the idea. Thomas Jefferson’s fifth grade class of 2022 had donated ADAcompliant outdoor tables to the school as their legacy gift, but the school had no place to put them that would allow for wheelchair accessibility. As part of the school’s Equity 4 All initiative, Urso hoped to create an outdoor seating space that allows access for all children and TJ community members. “Thomas Jefferson school has a beautiful, but underutilized enclosed courtyard space for children to expand their learning experiences,” said Urso. “The creation of a patio in our grass area, with access from our walkway, will allow for us to bring ALL children outside to the courtyard for 21st century learning experiences using our ADA compliant tables.” Timing was critical to install the patio before the start of school. The Lions organized a GoFundMe campaign on August 6 and a resounding response from the community resulted in hitting the fundraising goal within 24 hours. With the expert assistance of Carmel resident Rich Whitmarsh and Jake Dicob, owner of Vinco Builders (who donated equipment and labor) the 20 x 25-foot patio became a reality on Saturday, August 19. “We are so excited to continue to transform this wonderful space for futuristic learning opportunities,” added Urso.   Community impact The patio caps off a year of successful projects completed by the Lions and the Mahopac Leos— the Lions’ partner organization for 9–12th graders—that benefited the local community and beyond. The Mahopac Leos have donated 684 hours and counting since last September. They have collected 142 gently used and new Halloween costumes and distributed them to Slater Center and The Children’s Village in time for Halloween. Leos also ran the third annual Easter Egg Hunt fundraiser, and managed Mahopac’s Earth Day Cleanup with more than 50 volunteers. Lions and Leos also regularly volunteer to support the organization United for the Troops, which supports American service members stationed overseas. Leos welcome special guests at the group’s regular meetings, including Narcan training with Drug Crisis in Our Backyard and Support Connection. They made donations to the MHS Thanksgiving Dinner, Putnam Women’s Resource Center, and donated funds for an MHS junior prom ticket. Recent Lions fundraisers have included a Medium Night at Railyard Arts Studio and sales of hand loomed hats, scarves, and bracelets at Mahopac Farmer’s Market, among other places. The Lions raise funds to support scholarships, and this year awarded five MHS seniors for their remarkable community service. Article courtesy of Kristi McKee/ Mahopac Lions Lions and Leos help build TJ patio New surface will provide wheelchair access for Yorktown student Mahopac Lions and Leos helped build a patio to provide wheelchair access for a student at Thomas Jefferson Elementary school in Yorktown. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAHOPAC LIONS

PAGE 4 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 Periodicals Postage Paid at Somers, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Yorktown News at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 (ISSN 2329-8693) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [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 Yorktown News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Yorktown News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Yorktown 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. TOWN GREEN Hunter Brook Hike On Sunday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m., explore a hidden Yorktown gem in a family friendly guided hike through the picturesque 45-acre Hunter Brook Preserve. The 2.59- mile moderate level hike should take about two hours. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.  Not suitable for children under age 5. Assemble on Fox Tail Lane off Hunterbrook Road. Sponsored by the Yorktown Trail Town Committee, yorktowntrailtown.org. For more information contact [email protected] Temple Beth Am 203 Church Place, Yorktown Heights High Holiday Services Looking for a place to celebrate the High Holidays? Temple Beth Am is offering services both in person and via Zoom! Tickets are free for members, and non-members can purchase tickets per person or per Zoom screen. Children under the age of 18 may attend free of charge. For more information, visit templebetham-ny.org or call 914-962-7500. Chabad of Yorktown Ladies Torah and Tea: High Holiday Edition Join the Chabad of Yorktown for friendship, tea, and some great discussions about  the upcoming High Holidays at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7 (Rosh Hashanah discussion) and 21 (Yom Kippur discussion). For more info and to RSVP, visit ChabadYorktown.com  or call 914-962-1111. Chabad Hebrew School Sunday mornings beginning Sept. 10: Children, acquire a broad knowledge of Judaism through a motivating and challenging venue. Our students gain an appreciation for the joys, values and traditions of the Jewish heritage as it is vividly brought to life by the dedicated and enthusiastic teachers whose creativity and dynamism make every lesson a unique learning experience. Visit ChabadYorktown. com/HebrewSchool for more info or to try a free, no obligations class! High Holidays Services Rosh Hashana  and Yom Kippur Services at Chabad of Yorktown, Cortlandt, and Somers. All are welcome. No membership or affiliation required. Traditional services with contemporary messages. Exciting children’s program. For more info, times of services, and to RSVP visit ChabadYorktown.com or call 914-962-1111. Chamber Networking Breakfast Join the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce for its monthly Networking Breakfast series, where you can network with local business professionals at Hill Boulevard Diner at 3665 Hill Blvd. in Yorktwon Heights. The $20 admission the door includes breakfast, with proceeds going to the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce Scholarship fund.Visit yorktownchamber.org or email info@ yorktownchamber.org for more information. Organic Yard Waste Facility Is Open Yorktown’s Organic Yard Waste Facility, 2200 Greenwood St., Yorktown Heights The town of Yorktown has “closed the loop on recycling” with the collection, processing, and giving-back of organic yard waste. The Organic Yard Waste Facility is available, without charge, to Yorktown residents delivering organic yard waste in vehicles without commercial license plates. Proof of residency is required. In addition, residents can help themselves to wood chips. This facility is also the depot for biodegradable paper leaf bags, branches, logs, and Christmas trees collected by Yorktown’s Refuse and Recycling, Parks, and Highway departments. SEE GREEN PAGE 22 99th Annual Yorktown Grange Fair September 8 — September 10 Yorktown Grange Fairgrounds 99 Moseman Road, Yorktown Heights Antique Tractor Parade Saturday at Noon! All proceeds benefit the Yorktown Grange Agricultural Society, a 501(c)(3) corporation. YORKTOWN GRANGE Celebrating 125 Years 1899-2023 P of H #862 Rides ~ Exhibits ~ Contests ~ Live Music All Weekend Livestock ~ Craft Vendors ~ Great Food & Craft Beer Only $10 per Carload Presented by the Yorktown Grange Agricultural Society 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! 10% OFF Service Calls When You Present this Ad First Time Customers Only Light up your summer • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers • GENERATORS AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 5 HHHHHHHH Vote November 7th Early In-Person: Oct 28- Nov 5 PAID FOR BY THE FRIENDS OF JENNA LENNOX BELCASTRO LEARN MORE ➜ jennaforyorktown.com I love this town and am proud to have been raised here. My husband and I also chose to raise our boys here because we value this community and see its full potential. I am running for Town Clerk to modernize and streamline services for you. With your support, we can make Yorktown even better, with a new generation of leadership. Please reach out to me with any questions. I look forward to hearing from you. Jenna Jenna and her husband Dan, a White Plains Police Officer, and their two sons.

PAGE 6 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 “Clearly, we were at a breaking point,” Diana said last week. “As you can imagine, this is an intolerable situation, and the public has every right to be fed up, as I am along with the entire Town Board.” As a stop-gap solution until the permanent hauler was secured, the town arranged for five additional garbage trucks from private vendors to help with last week’s Thursday and Friday garbage and recycling collections. “Two private carters that recognized the seriousness of the situation agreed to provide the additional trucks and crews after the town’s contractor had five of its trucks repossessed,” Diana said. “Their willingness to assist our community enabled all pickups to be made, thereby averting a potential health emergency as we enter the long holiday weekend.” CRP was one of the two coming to the town’s rescue. The other was Capital Industries of Yonkers. “I appreciate our residents’ ongoing patience and understanding,” the supervisor said. Dispute equals disruption If CCC’s repossessed trucks hadn’t proven to be the final straw with the town, the company found itself in even more difficulty last Friday when employees walked off the job in a labor dispute with management, leaving routes unfinished. The following day, eight trucks from CRP Sanitation came to town to complete the unfinished routes. “As far as we know, the whole town was picked up except for cans that might have been pulled in or missed, including recycling,” Diana told Yorktown News. The contract between CCC and the town was terminated last Friday after an emergency Town Board meeting and a round of phone calls among board members. “The special meeting was held to vet a possible new garbage vendor and also discuss the termination of Competitive Carting,” Diana said. “Circumstances continued to deteriorate with Competitive Carting throughout last week, which led to this decision.” “It is a shame that the carting company could not live up to its end of the contract,” added Councilman Ed Lachterman. “As a board, we vetted that company to the fullest extent that we could. Unfortunately, when some issues are hidden away from the vetting process, you may not necessarily be able to dig them up. “I am very proud of the team effort our entire board put in to find a solution to this issue,” Lachterman continued. “It has taken a tremendous amount of work to follow the proper procedures as dictated by municipal law. I give a lot of credit to our supervisor, Tom Diana, for his hard work, and balance, as he ran point on this negotiation. His expertise was essential in putting together all of the pieces.” A Cortlandt Manor man was killed last week in a one-car crash on Route 301 near Gipsy Trail Road in Carmel. Carmel police said that on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at around 4 p.m., they were called to the scene of the accident. They said a preliminary investigation revealed that an SUV was traveling eastbound on Route 301, veered off the roadway, struck a utility pole, and overturned onto its roof. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, Andrew Pesavento, 35, from Cortlandt Manor, was found unconscious and unresponsive at the scene and appeared to have sustained major internal injuries. Carmel police, along with the Carmel Fire Department, Carmel Volunteer Ambulance, and Empress EMS personnel were on the scene and assisted with extricating the victim from the SUV and performing life-saving measures. Pesavento was transported to Putnam Hospital Center where he was later pronounced deceased. Carmel police detectives are continuing their investigation into the accident and any potential witnesses are asked to contact the Carmel Police Detective Division at 845-628-1300. Article courtesy of Carmel PD Carmel car crash takes life of Cortlandt Manor man GARBAGE FROM PAGE 1 “It is a shame that the carting company [CCC] could not live up to its end of the contract.” -Ed Lachterman Councilman OF SAN GENNARO YORKTOWN FEAST PROCESSION * AMUSEMENT RIDES * FOOD MUSIC * GAMES * BEER AND WINE Wed - Friday, 5pm - 11pm Saturday, 12pm - 11pm Sunday, 12pm - 10pm Location: Commerce Street & Railroad Park September 13th - 17th Statue Procession Wednesday, September 13th @ 6:00pm Starts Behind Yorktown Firehouse (All are Welcome to March) @sangennaroyorktown [email protected] Thank you to our Sponsors!

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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 Yorktown 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 BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER EMILE MENASCHÉ, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: (845) 208-0774 [email protected] PAGE 8 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 Over the many years I’ve attended Town Board and Planning Board meetings, I’ve observed countless residents speaking up, either to support or oppose a development plan, or voice their concerns about other town issues. And over those years, when it comes to influencing board members, I’ve learned that some approaches work better than others. With that in mind, I humbly offer the following advice to my fellow Yorktowners. • Be civil. Yes, this is obvious, but sadly it needs to be said. Passion is no excuse for rude inappropriate behavior. And frankly, outbursts, disrespectful comments or shouting out from the audience lessens the likelihood that board members will listen to you. • Which board to address. For new development projects, if the plan conforms to existing zoning, then you need to direct your attention to the Planning Board; the Town Board has no involvement with the plan. But if the plan requires a rezoning, like a change from single family on half an acre to multi family or commercial, then you need to address your concern to the Town Board. • Board procedures. Familiarize yourself with each board’s procedures and when you can address the board. With the exception of public hearings, the Town Board and Planning Board have different procedures. Both boards hold “regular” and “work session” meetings, although the Planning Board typically combines regular and work session agenda items into a single meeting. • Speaking opportunities. Neither board permits resident comments during work session meetings and the Planning Board doesn’t allow comments during its regular meeting. The Town Board does, however, allow residents three minutes to address the board — on any topic — during the Courtesy of the Floor portion of regular meetings that are held the first and third Tuesday of the month. • Public hearings. For development plans before the Planning Board, there are TWO public hearings. The first, the Public Informational Hearing, comes relatively early in the application process and gives residents an opportunity to express their concerns about the project. The PIH also gives the Planning Board a heads up on what residents are most concerned about. The second hearing comes at the end of the review process. Typically, there are no time limits for speakers at public hearings. But overly long, meandering comments generally don’t work and are a turn off. If you have multiple points to make, and if you’re working with other residents, consider dividing up your comments among them. Try not to be repetitive. Sometimes, but not always, after every person who wants to speak has, the board may give you a second chance to address the board. • Keep informed. Go to the town’s website (How Do I?/Subscribe link) and sign up to receive the agendas for the boards you want to follow. If the development you’re interested in is on the next Planning Board meeting agenda, check out the online “meeting packet” on the town’s website, (Your Government/ Agendas & Minutes link). The packet, available the day of the meeting (and sometimes before) will contain various documents relating to the plan. The more you know about the plan, the more effective you can be. Follow all the work session meetings, in person, livestream, on Channel 20/33, or on the meeting videos posted on the town’s website. The work sessions are when the plan’s details get worked out and when the initial plan may change. By the time the development plan gets to the public hearing stage — and when you can address the board — the plan is pretty well set and it will be difficult, although not impossible, to get the board to make changes. Observing how the board deals with other applications can help you sharpen your own interactions with the board. • Facts vs emotion. If you oppose the development, argue facts, not emotion. Arguing that the development will “make it unsafe for my children to play in the street” is not a persuasive argument. But calling the Planning Board’s attention to existing neighborhood drainage problems or sight distance safety issues is. • Email. Don’t forget about emails — throughout the process — as the board continues its deliberations. For Town Board members, their email addresses are on the town’s web page and whether they reply is up to them. For the Planning Board, emails should be sent to [email protected]. But don’t expect pesonal replies from the Planning Board.   A final piece of advice. Accept the fact that board members won’t always agree with everything you say. But you won’t know that until you’ve tried to influence their decision. Sometimes persistence pays off.   How to voice your concerns A guide to communicating with the Town and Planning boards SUSAN SIEGEL GUEST COUMNIST When I was in sixth grade, they had a reading program where you would read a short story and then answer a series of questions about it. If you got them right, you got to move on to the next level. The levels were color-coded, so you would start at the entry-level, which was yellow, and the stories were simple, and the questions were easy. Then you might move on to the green level (which was tougher) and then blue and all the way to purple, which was the top of the game. There was a big cardboard bin at the back of the classroom that contained the stories on stiff paper known as oaktag. The questions were on the back. We got to pick what we wanted to read at our designated level, and this was how I discovered my love for scary stories and all things paranormal, which was why I was one of the first kids in the class to reach the purple level. I couldn’t get enough of that stuff. One of the first stories I read was O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” That is the story of a poor couple at Christmas time. The wife sells her hair to buy a silver pocket watch chain for her husband. But he’s already sold his watch to buy her a set of fancy ornate combs, which, of course, she could now Now that’s scary! BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 9

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 9 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you understand the difference between an irrevocable and a revocable trust? no longer use. It wasn’t exactly a horror story, but it taught me a lot about irony, which is often a big horror story component. One of the next stories I read was “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. That story scared the bejesus out of me, and I loved it. It kick-started my lifelong fascination with Poe and the horror genre in general. At home, I was able to find horror on the TV. The best was Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone.” Those episodes were made in the late ‘50s-early ‘60s, so the stories were often influenced by the Cold War. There was a lot of nuclear bomb stuff. In one episode, the media announced that nuclear missiles were on their way and the end was near. But one family had a safe room in their basement and locked themselves in. The entire neighborhood came by begging to be let in, but the family wouldn’t let them. They didn’t have enough room or supplies to sustain them all. Then, it’s announced that the missile thing was a false alarm. So, the family has to come out of the shelter. Can anyone say, “awkward?” Those future block parties are going to be really uncomfortable. Remember the episode where Burgess Meredith played the mousy old nerd who only wanted to read books? Then he survives a nuclear holocaust that leaves the library standing. He is overjoyed because now he has all the time in the world to just read. Then he accidentally steps on his glasses and crushes the lenses. He can no longer see to read. There is the irony I was talking about! There were other similar shows such as “The Outer Limits” and “One Step Beyond.” They were often broadcast on Saturday afternoons and my poor mother could never figure out why I was inside watching TV on such a beautiful day when I should be out riding my bike. In the 1970s, Serling got a new show called “Night Gallery.” It was an hour long and usually contained two or three stories. It was far more terrifying than “The Twilight Zone,” plus it was in color. It was on Wednesday nights, the same night my parents went square dancing. I was a 13-year-old boy home alone watching an episode of “Night Gallery” called “The Sin Eater.” It freaked me out so badly that I went out and sat on the front porch until my parents came home. So, people ask me if this stuff scares me so badly, why do I watch/read it? Well, “The Sin Eater” thing was really the only time I’ve had such a visceral reaction to horror. (Watch the damn episode and see how you do.) Most of the time when I close a book or the credits on the movie start rolling, I can walk away from it without a care. I never have nightmares. Because I know vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and assorted other monsters don’t really exist. Watching cable news at night is far more terrifying because that stuff is real. One time, when I was about 18, I was wandering around the local grocery store (Grand Union— remember those?) and I passed a wire rack display with paperbacks. One book, in particular, caught my eye. It had a glossy black cover with the embossed image of a young girl with a red blood drop on the corner of her mouth. It was called “Salem’s Lot” and was Stephen King’s second book. It was about vampires. There hadn’t been any vampire books since “Dracula.” I was sold. I read it in about two days and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I’ve pretty much read everything he’s written ever since, including his nonfiction. King fans will know what I mean when I say his characters are so beautifully drawn and richly textured that when the supernatural hits the fan, you can actually believe it. It’s why he is considered the master of modern horror. Anyway, that began a lifelong obsession with King, who I admire not only as a writer, but as a person. I would love to have a beer with him someday. We’d talk about writing and horror, of course, but also about baseball (he loves it, but sadly is a Red Sox fan), rock music (he digs AC/ DC and the Ramones), and politics (he is no fan of Trump and has sharp opinions). I have written plenty of horror fiction myself. I wrote a screenplay called “The Providers” about a creepy ancient family that lives in the walls and tunnels of a vacation home in New England, which is where a bestselling author goes to overcome his writer’s block. My agent called it “unsettling” and doubted he could sell it. He was correct. I also wrote a collection of 13 short stories (13-get it?) that I called “Grave Concerns.” I wrote that over a period of about four years and was very proud of those stories. Then one day my computer crashed, and a repairman tried everything to retrieve the files but to no avail. But I didn’t worry. I had the whole thing backed up on a thumb drive. But then the thumb drive went missing. I still have five or six of those stories on hard copy somewhere around here, but basically “Grave Concerns” is dead. To this day, I am convinced that a gremlin crashed my computer, and a poltergeist stole the thumb drive. Hey... that might make a good story. DUMAS FROM PAGE 8 Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 914-302-5628.

PAGE 10 – YORKTOWN NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 We see you here. What’s our greatest asset at The Bristal Assisted Living communities? It’s the lifetime of interests and experiences you bring to it. After all, that’s what makes you special. A caring team that spends the time getting to know you so you can continue nurturing, sharing and exploring those interests? Well, that’s what makes us special, too. Schedule your visit today and see for yourself. THE BRISTAL AT ARMONK | 914.266.3550 THE BRISTAL AT WHITE PLAINS | 914.485.7020 thebristal.com Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies. Equal Housing Opportunity. Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care Ever since my mother read “The Babe Ruth Story” to me at bedtime when I was a toddler, I have always loved stories. That love eventually grew into a fascination with linguistics; more specifically, with the study of the origins and purposes of language. Although there is no scientific consensus pinpointing the exact birth of language, it’s easy to see why humans began to assign sounds to objects. Recognizing patterns is the key to human survival. We sense the rhythms of the world. Each day is different, but as time goes by, we learn to rely on the comings and goings of our surroundings. In a necessary mix of instinct and memory, we “learn” what is safe, what is dangerous, and most importantly, what is predictable. Primitive humans learned, through observation and experience, where to hunt, live and congregate. It is easy to understand why language was developed, even if no one knows for sure when or how it came into being. Everything about our lives revolves around words. Linguist Guy Deutscher suggests the first words ever spoken may have emerged “from shouts and calls; from hand gestures and sign language; from the ability to imitate; from the ability to deceive, from grooming, from singing, dancing, and rhythm, from chewing, sucking and licking; and from almost any other activity under the sun.” I can’t think without ascribing words to my thoughts. We know that early humans developed words, sounds and written languages not only to facilitate the need for survival, but also to pass on hard-earned knowledge. By so doing, they could teach future generations while enhancing life. Or, as Toni Morrison once suggested, “We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of life.” From uttering words to the formation of sentences to the art of storytelling, language has, for thousands of years, allowed humans to organize happenings into narrative form. Before there were books, stories were passed down from generation to generation by means of the spinning of yarns. These verbal exercises allow us to explore and memorialize a wide range of human behavior, from the mundane to the outrageous, from the perfectly entertaining to the important moral lesson, from the loving to the hateful; all of it gets passed on. As Brian Greene beautifully points out in his breathtaking work, “Until the End of Time,”: “By the time we have language and by the time we have stories, we have acquired the capacity to live beyond the moment. We are able to navigate the past and the future with ease. We are able to plan and design, to coordinate and communicate, to anticipate and prepare. The utility of these capacities is manifest, but with such mental agility we also live with the memory of those who were but are no more. We infer the pattern, never breached, that each life ends. We recognize that life and death are locked in an uncleavable embrace. They are dual qualities of existence.” Storytelling has served as a mechanism for entertainment and escapism. In ancient times, life was fraught with danger and uncertainty. Stories provided a way for people to momentarily transcend their reality and immerse themselves in different worlds, whether mythical, fantastical, or simply different than their own. Storytelling allowed individuals to find solace, entertainment and inspiration, helping them cope with the hardships of daily life and providing them with a sense of wonder and imagination. Narratives, in the form of myths, both sacred and profane, also seek to enforce a set of values, practices and traditions. In their own way, these myths are used to impose order on the world. If you simply subscribe to them, you need not fear anything, including death. Narratives thus serve as a cultural repository, ensuring the transmission of cultural values, rituals and practices. By engaging with these stories, we can maintain a sense of connection to our cultural roots, strengthening our collective identity and sense of belonging. As a reminder of our shared heritage, they become vehicles of tragedy and triumph, of adventure and reflection that inevitably shape us and define a society. Over time, the most enduring mythic tales developed into one of the world’s most powerful forces: religion. Besides being an indispensable tool for culture, heterogeneity and religious instruction, storytelling played a crucial role in the evolution of human cognition. By storytelling, early humans exercised their cognitive faculties, such as memory, imagination and critical thinking. The ability to create and follow narratives enhanced their mental capacities, enabling them to problem solve, make connections and understand complex concepts. Storytelling became not only a means of reinforcing a culture’s values and cohesion, but it also contributed to the development of human intelligence. Today, storytelling is as powerful a force as ever. As it has always been, it is a font of communication, bonding, entertainment, cognitive development, moral Language is the measure of life JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE SEE MARTORANO PAGE 12

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 11 @kitchen_headquarters Kitchen Headquarters WWW.KITCHENHQ.NET 1961 Commerce Street • Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 1-855-518-2436 CALL US TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT! Let us create a unique design that will make your kitchen dreams come true, creating a lifetime of memories . Grand Opening CELEBRATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH

PAGE 12 – YORKTOWN NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 LIMITED TIME ONLY Frozen Lemonade Frozen Iced Tea Lemonade Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Frozen Peach Lemonade Small Large ©2023 Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Valid at participating locations. $0.00 $0.00 Discount applied to lowest priced item. Not valid on take home treats, catering, or novelty items. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RITA’S LOCATIONS. REDEEMABLE AT FROZEN TREAT $1 OFF WHEN YOU BUY ONE Expires 04.15.2021 RITAS OF YORKTOWN 1881A COMMERCE STREET YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 914 302 7711 ritas.com www.facebook.com/ritasof $1 OFF BUY ONE, GET $1 OFF ANOTHER ritasofyorktown ritasofyorktown.com Discount applied to lowest priced item. Not valid on take home treats, catering, or novelty items. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RITA’S LOCATIONS. Exp. 9/7/2023 FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! Receiver of Taxes 914-962-5722 x212 363 Underhill Avenue 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 Monday through Friday TOWN OF YORKTOWN School Tax Bill for Year 2023-2024 The First Half of the school taxes are due and must be paid no later than October 2, 2023. (Last day to pay without penalty). Please note that only one (1) School Tax Bill is mailed to each resident. The bill was mailed on September 1, 2023. Each bill has two perforated payment stubs located at the bottom of the statement which are to be used for payments. Please call the Tax Office if you have not received your bill. Payment options: ➢ Payment in person: Town Hall Hours 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Drop box (gray box) available in back by the Town Hall entrance. ➢ Payment by mail Please be sure that all envelopes are postmarked by an official United States Post Office no later than October 2, 2023. ➢ On-line check/credit card payments Please refer to the “Tax Receiver” website at www.yorktownny.org to make payments on-line. Taxes must be postmarked no later than October 2, 2023 guidance, emotional engagement, language evolution and cultural preservation. But a note of caution. To the extent that the narrative promotes a lens, which inhibits critical thinking, it can become a cancer for any society. Particularly in the field of politics, the promotion of false narratives has become commonplace. As much as a proposed narrative may fit into your previously embraced worldview, it is essential that you always keep your critical thinking hat on. Fact and source checking are essential to make sure that what is being passed off as truth is not created by ideological fervor but rather, is based on accurate information that fosters a better understanding of the world. Putting aside that one proviso, I cannot think of any other creation of humankind that is as exhilarating, enjoyable and downright valuable as good storytelling, which even today, continues to enrich our lives. I only wish my mother was still around to read to me. MARTORANO FROM PAGE 10 I ’m sure most of you more (ahem!) mature readers recall Whitman’s Sampler, which is what our fictional film friend Forrest Gump was referring to when he uttered the famous epigram that “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” With that as inspiration, I thought this space would take a respite from focusing on a single topic and instead assemble a sampler of what pops up in our inbox from publicists pitching their clients’ wares. The fun of it is we never know what we’re going to get. What’s the story, Jerry? Westchester County is the No. 1 deadliest U.S. county during Labor Day weekend, based on traffic fatalities per hour, according to Jerry, “the car insurance savings app.” For what it’s worth, whomever authored the pitch abbreviated Georgia (whose Fulton County ranked No. 3) as G.A. Not sure what that says about the state of education. Snow job? “Get Ready for a Winter Wonderland!” declares The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which claims its forecasts have been 80 percent accurate since 1792. How much snow exactly should we expect? The Almanac’s PR pitch coyly says, “Keep a shovel at the ready early, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, where snow [“oodles of the fluffy stuff”] will arrive beginning in November with storms, showers and flurries continuing through the start of spring.” The Almanac sure knows how to shovel it. Parents are kids too Are you smashing eggs on your kids’ heads? Apparently, there are parents yolking around by indulging their inner child in the latest TikTok trend of letting all shell break loose. That’s by way of Bark, a parental control app that asked if I would like to interview its – wait for it – Chief Parent Officer to hear his thoughts on why this prank is dangerous for kids and parents alike. I replied that I’ll omelet them know. That’s Great, Gatsby How many streaming services do you subscribe to? How crazy do you get trying to sort through it all and remembering which show is on which app? Well, it’s Gatsby TV to the rescue! Named for founder Gatsby Frimpong, this “tech startup is solving the problem of how to find your next binge worthy TV show.” It brings all your streaming subscriptions into one place and lets you communicate with friends in-app to recommend to each other favorite shows.” After bingeing on this release, I realized we face-plant in screens so much, it’s likely our body’s biorhythms are being transmuted into algorithms. It’s Up to You, New York, New York, Way Up In case you missed the banner headline, New York has been named the tallest city in America. Funny, my money was on Providence, which didn’t even make the top 20, as compiled by Roof Gnome, a home services company. New York boasts nearly 6,000 high-rise buildings (defined as minimum 150 meters). The Big Apple also ranked top of the heap for rooftop drinking and rooftop dining. I wonder if Carole King wrote her hit song up on the roof of The Brill Building. Bruce Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He can be seen on stage on the weekends from Sept. 8-Oct. 7, at Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack (Rockland County) as Professor Van Helsing in “Dracula.” For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. Inside a writer’s inbox If this is news, it’s news to me BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 13 Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock 963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 TOCKLAW.COM • 800-869-8080 CRIMINAL DEFENSE/DWI • PERSONAL INJURY REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, PROBATE ‘ I have used the Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock for real estate and estate planning. Joe and his staff were professional, courteous, efficient, and they always returned my calls promptly when needed. I would never consider going to another law office for my legal needs. ~B.W. 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 Few things are harder to bear than the suffering of a helpless animal. I thought of that when I read the story in Mahopac News (sister paper of Yorktown News) about the golfer who killed an injured Canada goose at Putnam Golf Course. All I know is what I read and what I read described an alleged almost psychotic act of violence against a helpless creature. The golfer, though, justified his actions by claiming it was a mercy killing. Does his motive matter, many readers might ask? The man beat a helpless creature to death with a golf club after it had originally been hit by a golf ball. Having once killed an animal with a golf club, on a golf course, I think his motive does matter. I will get to that incident in a moment, but first a word about those geese at Putnam. I counted 78 of them one year. In late spring they have their babies. As parents, the geese are strict, marching their progeny in single file, mom on one end of the line, dad on the other. Should the troops break rank, they are quickly scolded. The geese are often on their way to a small pond, where the parents teach the chicks how to groom themselves. Removing parasites from their feathers is critical to their well-being. It’s funny watching them saunter across the fairways and barking indignantly at the golfers when they get too close. After all, the geese live there, while we are just playing a silly game. I can’t count how many times I have held my breath watching a tee shot come close to striking a bird. I’m not exactly sure who I am praying for in those moments. The birds, or myself? Thank God, I have never injured a bird, but it’s not hard to picture myself in the same situation as the fellow who killed the goose. I know who to call in the case of a hurt animal, having done so on several occasions. But the sight of a fellow creature in agony, I can tell you firsthand, makes following such protocols seem more like decorum than mercy. Sedgewood Golf Club in Carmel has a long tradition of allowing its members to bring their dogs on the golf course. I was a member there for 21 years, mostly for that reason. It gave me a nice place to bring my dog, Duke. Duke used to caddy for me. I mean that literally. One day while searching for a lost ball, I asked Duke for help. I wasn’t even serious. But he found the ball and dropped it at my feet. He performed this little service for years and, incredibly, never brought back the wrong ball. On one occasion I asked a playing partner with a wicked slice to let Duke sniff his ball, promising that if he hit it in the woods, Duke would remember his scent and find it for him. Of course, he thought I was crazy- until Duke found his ball. I used to play in the evening, never without my caddy. Duke did his thing: hunt. I did my thing: hack. One evening, the light growing murky in the twilight hour, I spotted something on the green ahead, which turned out to be a woodchuck. Fortunately, I did not see Duke, who I knew would attack. I walked quickly, hoping the woodchuck would see me and take off. But suddenly Duke popped out of the woods and charged the green as if he’d been shot out of a cannon. The woodchuck tried to retreat, but Duke was too close. The woodchuck then turned on his haunches to fight. Woodchucks are ferocious fighters and this one was gigantic. Duke was completely fearless, though. He wasted no time, grabbing the animal by its neck and shaking so hard that it flew out of his mouth. The force should have been enough to break the woodchucks’ neck, but as I mentioned, this was an exceptionally large woodchuck. Duke was even surprised that he didn’t kill it. He started to go after it again and I kicked him so hard in the shoulder that he fell over. The woodchuck was laying on his back, grasping desperately for breath, his face a mask of terror and agony. What was I supposed to do? Leave a message at the SPCA? If someone were playing behind me, they would have seen a crazy man yelling at the top of his lungs, kicking a dog, raising a golf club above his head, ax-like, and clubbing a woodchuck to death. Then they would have watched him carry the animal from the green, madly swinging the handle of the golf club to subdue Duke, and unceremoniously drop it in the woods. As Machiavelli once said, “Things are never what they seem.”  Mercy, mercy Analyzing the goose killer’s alleged motive LORENZO GARO OF HUMAN INTEREST

Chamber members Wendy Wallis, Geovanna Lacerra, Rob De Lucia, Kelly Puccio and Stephanie Bellofatto relax by the campfire. GSHH Service Unit Manager Liz Gagnon speaks about the upcoming community fundraiser called Color Fest. Izzy Gagnon speaks about her Gold Award project which works to help boost the mental health of children, affected mainly by the pandemic, through positivity. S’more fun—with sePAGE 14 YORKTOWN NEWS – THURTALENT SEARCH FOR LIFE-CHANGING Oor Email: careeCall: (914) 997-8000 FAPPLY GO TO CMCS.OVisit our website fo• Teacher (Birth-2) • Family Worker/Advocates • Home Visitors • Health Specialist/Nurse • Custodians Includes FREE Eye Exam 2 Pairs of Glasses for $7995* with single-vision uncoated plastic lenses Cortlandt Town Center 3145 East Main Street Mohegan Lake, NY (845) 823-4063 Visit americasbest.com to book your eye exam. *Ask associate for details. rock & roll with NO OPTIONS AT THE YORKTOWN GRANGE FAIR Friday, September 8th- 7:30PM 99 Moseman Rd, Yorktown Heights 914-962-3900 Members CouncilmaHill CampMahopac Willis.

The Greater MahopacCarmel Chamber of Commerce came to Mahopac’s historic Rock Hill Camp last week both to celebrate the induction of Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson and Rock Hill as new Chamber members and to promote some important fundraisers. Guest speakers praised the resurgence of Girl Scouts in Mahopac, Yorktown, and the the surrounding area—with Mahopac alone boasting more than 300 scouts—before everyone headed outside to enjoy some campfire cuisine involving chocolate and marshmallows. S’mores aside, the main purpose of the event was to help secure the future of the camp (and others in the region) by funding some much needed repairs and upgrades after COVIDera disuse and more recent storm damage. Upcoming fundraisers include ColorFest on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the camp. For tickets and more information, scan the QR code below. PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL The docks at Rock Hill, in need of repairs. Some of the platform tents that need repairs at Rock Hill. Kelly Sorrentino builds up the campfire for the chambers members to enjoy. Kelly is an archery expert and trains leaders and volunteers to run archery programs for the Girl Scouts. Kelly Sorrentino and Kit Jones, from West Lakeland Girl Scouts, are ready to welcome the chamber members to the campfire they built for them to enjoy s’mores. erious goals RSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 PAGE 15 EARLY CHILDHOOD OPPORTUNITIES! [email protected] Fax: (914) 940-4730 NOW! ORG/CAREERS or career listings. • Cooks • Teachers on Study Plan • Health Nutrition & Safety • Social Worker • Education Specialist • Gravel • Topsoil • Mulches • Sweet Peet • Unilock Pavers BEDFORD GRAVEL & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY 27 Norm Ave., Mt. Kisco (next to Kohl’s) www.bedfordgravel.com 914-241-3851 • Sand • Stonedust • Item #4 • Drainage Pipe • Flagstone • Fieldstone • Belgian Block • Cobblestones • Wallstone • Fire Pits • Stepping Stones • Soil/Fill 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 of the Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce along with Supervisor Mike Cazzari and an Frank Lombardi, welcome new Chamber members, Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Rock . In front cutting the ribbon are board member Jean Zappia, interim CEO Helen Wronski, Service Unit managers Liz Gagnon and Randi Dimilia, and Chief Philanthropy Officer Kari

PAGE 16 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER When Lakeland came onto the field in its Sept. 1 opener against intra-district rival Walter Panas, it was an emotional scene, with some of the Hornets carryiing American flags and pumping up the crowd. They then went to the front of the stands to receive good luck wishes from the vibrant Lakeland student body. “When you come out with that energy, it’s contagious,” Lakeland quarterback Grady Leonard said. “The second you see people running around, you see people waving the flag, you can’t help but go all out. It feels great.” Leonard looked great too, going 11 for 12 for 203 passing yards and 3 touchdown passes, while rushing for 52 yards and a touchdown on 5 carries, in Lakeland’s 43-14 win against Panas. The win was the Hornets’ fifth straight against the Panthers. “This win means everything,” said Leonard, a senior. “We went to middle school with all these kids, we are friends with all these kids. We’ve been playing with them since we were little. It’s great. The last time we see them, to get to finish off with a win, is amazing.” Lakeland coach Ryan Shilling was happy with the win but acknowledged that Panas was heavily affected by losing its star dual-threat quarterback Travis Carlucci, who left the game in the first quarter due to injury. “Bill (Castro) does a great job, they have been improving over there, he’s building a program,” Shilling said of the Panas’ coach. Leonard stars in openingday win Hornets beat sister-school Panas Lakeland quarterback Grady Leonard races up the sideline in openingweek win over Panas. Lakeland’s Anthony Farroni lifts up Robbie Policastro after his first-half touchdown. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO Lakeland’s Sean Perry stiff arms a defender on a kickoff return. FOOTBALL SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 17

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 17 “He had a tough situation losing Travis, who was giving us some issues early on. “Obviously, we played okay. We had some really good moments, really bad moments, a lot of teachable moments, and it was good to get the win against a district rival.” In fact, Panas was up early on. But then Leonard went to work. He scrambled and found Michael DiCiccio with an 11-yard touchdown to make it 8-6, then he ran in the 2-point conversion to tie the game. “It’s something I’ve been doing since I was little, just running around, making stuff out of nothing,” Leonard said. “It’s controlled chaos. It’s how I play. Everything just kind of slows down once you get to this level.” Panas took the lead for the second time, but once again Lakeland answered quickly. A 61-yard touchdown run down the sideline by Robbie Policastro (12 rushes, 130 yards), followed by Sean Perry’s extra point, gave the Hornets a 15-14 lead with 6:45 left in the first half. Lakeland would never trail again. “Robbie was very, very good for us on the JV last year, he’s a gamer,” Shilling said. “He did a really good job when we were having some issues early on offensively. Our line is a group of veterans [with] three returning starters (Luca Sancimino, Anthony Farroni, and Kyle Ronk), so our passing game was sort of shaky early on but our run game, our line, and our running back [Policastro], did a good job settling us down. That helped a lot.” Leonard extended the Hornets’ lead to 22-14 with 3:37 to go before halftime on a 28-yard touchdown run. “One of our receivers, Jake Berlingo, made a great block, he let me get the edge, and then a few kids helped me around the pylon, allowing me to sneak in,” Leonard said. A 24-yard touchdown reception and 45- yard punt return for a touchdown by Kyle Gallagher (3 catches, 53 yards), and a 56- yard touchdown reception by Perry (6 catches, 135 yards, 2-point conversion reception, 3/4 PAT’s) finished the scoring. Defensively, led by 2 sacks from Anthony Farroni, the Hornets held Panas scoreless the final 31 minutes and seven seconds of the game. “I’m not going to lie, obviously it didn’t help them that Travis went down,” Shilling said. “We have to improve a lot. Somethings that we did, we changed a little bit of our defensive front. We were a little bit more aggressive with our linebackers. Obviously, I want to give credit to them, they were doing a pretty good job against us, and then Travis went down, we were able to settle down a little bit.” Lakeland next plays at perennial-power Rye, at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 16 Lakeland’s Nicholas Alleva gets the crowd pumped up after a defensive stop. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO 845-279-9555 • TankRemovalServices.com Before you place your home on the market, contact ENVIROSTAR about replacing your aging underground storage tank (UST). It is required by most insurance companies prior to insuring property. We replace above ground tanks as well! Call us today for a free estimate and evaluation of your current above ground tank. FALL SPECIAL! $100 OFF IN-GROUND TANK REMOVAL With this coupon only. Coupon must be presented at the time of the estimate. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 10/31/23 FREE ESTIMATES WE WILL MATCH OUR COMPETITOR’S ADVERTISED OFFER! We are the name you trust for environmental needs Since 1998 DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH AN AGING OIL TANK! Start the year with the all clear. 3379 Crompond Rd (in the BJs Plaza) Yorktown Heights NY 914.930.5550 afcurgentcare.com/yorktown-heights M-F 8am-8pm, S-S 8am-5pm You want your kids to start the school year right, and now is a great time to bring your family in for physical exams and immunizations. Simply walk in and AFC’s skilled medical team will help ensure your child is ready for the classroom. We’re open every day with extended hours to fit your schedule. No appointment needed.

PAGE 18 – YORKTOWN NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER LAKELAND FIELD HOCKEY (2-0) Lakeland 6, Putnam Valley 0 Thursday, Aug. 31, Lakeland High School Defending Section 1 Class B champion Lakeland blanked Putnam Valley 6-0. “Starting the season with a win is great,” said Lakeland’s Emme Numme. “It’s definitely a positive thing because it will keep our confidence and excitement going for the upcoming games, especially with many challenges coming within the next few weeks.” Numme  (3G), Gabby Santini (2G), Charlotte Sabert (1G, 1A), Keira Gallagher (2A), Emily Yazzetti (1A), Bella Basulto (1A), Maeve Dineen-Herzog (2 saves), and Jenna Yazzetti  (2 saves) ignited the Hornets to the victory. “We have been working really hard at practice on defensive and offensive situations, which definitely helped us win today,” Numme said. “I also feel that the fact we are such a close group of people who play together a lot makes us super successful.” Lakeland 8, Pelham 0 Saturday, Sept. 2, Pelham Memorial High School Lakeland defeated Pelham 8-0, led by Santini (1G, 2A), Emily Yazzetti (3A), Numme (2G), Sabert (2G), Riley Waters (1G), Gallagher (1G), Emily Daniel (1G), Jenna Yazzetti (3 saves), and Dineen-Herzog (2 saves). YORKTOWN FIELD HOCKEY (1-0) Yorktown 9, Byram Hills 0 Thursday, Aug. 31, Yorktown High School Yorktown shut out Byram Hills 9-0. “It feels great to start the season with a win,” said Yorktown’s Sammy Robustelli. “Our team came out strong and determined to work together. Although we lost a bunch of vital players on our team, we were able to quickly adapt and create an awesome team chemistry. This is just the start to an amazing season.” Robustelli (3G,1A), Lily Diaz (2G, first goal on varsity, 3A), Gianna Popovic (2G, 1A), Clare Ryan (1G, 1A), Marina Bowen (1G), and Ellie Glicksman (1A) made up the Huskers’ offensive explosion. “The team showed great energy throughout the game from the first whistle,” Robustelli said. “Our improved communication as a whole definitely helped us offensively. We were able to cut into open spaces, see each other on the field, and finish. Lily Diaz, a starting freshman, certainly stepped up and was a huge part of today’s win. I can’t wait to see what else we can do.” YORKTOWN FOOTBALL (1-0) Yorktown 47, Poly Prep 21 Thursday, Aug. 31, Poly Prep Country Day School A 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kaden Gonzalez (13/19, 200 yards, 2 TDs/3 carries, 10 yards, 2 TDs) gave Yorktown a 14-7 lead with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter, and the Huskers didn’t look back in a convincing 47-21 openingnight win in Brooklyn. “I caught the snap and ran where the play was meant to go,” Gonzalez said. “It felt good to get my first rushing touchdown.” What made the win extra special was that it came against the defending Metropolitan Independent Football League champions. “It feels great to prove what we have going on and definitely builds our confidence for the rest of the season,” Gonzalez said. Justin Price (5 receptions, 94 yards, TD), Chris Constantine (5 carries, 81 yards, TD/3 receptions, 32 yards), Dylan DelVecchio (16 carries, 68 yards, TD), Andrew Weissman (2 receptions, 28 yards, TD/2 tackles, interception), Conor Duncan (5 tackles, sack), Ryan Vogel (5 tackles), Matt Cicinelli (2 sacks), and Ronan Forde (5/7 PATs) also produced for Yorktown. “It was all about preparation,” said Yorktown coach Pantelis Ypsilantis. “We had a very strong week of camp. Our kids work hard and they pay attention to details with situational football. The biggest thing is that this team is hungry, humble, and very coachable. I thought they executed the gameplan one play at a time and took pride in their performance.” LAKELAND BOYS SOCCER (1-1) Lakeland 6, Hen Hud 1 Thursday, Aug. 31, Lakeland High School Lakeland got off to a fast start in a 6-1 opening-night triumph against Hendrick Hudson. “What enabled our team to get to a 4-1 halftime lead is that all of us have just been waiting and preparing for this game for the past nine months,” said Lakeland’s Silvio Ahmataj. “We just couldn’t wait to go out there on the field and show everyone right away why Lakeland is a dangerous team.” Ahmataj (3G, 1A), Anthony Abbondanza (2G), Vinny Karaqi (1G), Lucas Boyko (2A), Owen Becker (1A), Oban Rader (3 saves), and Anthony DiRusso (1 save) propelled Lakeland to the victory. “It (the win) meant a lot for us as a team as this is a big year for us and we have huge expectations,” Ahmataj said. “Starting our season off with a win like this was great and now we plan to continue this throughout the season.” Lakeland field hockey starts 2-0 Yorktown football wins opener Anna Lemma and Emma Numme embrace after one of Numme’s three goals. Lakeland’s Bella Basulto sends a pass in 6-0 win over Putnam Valley to open the season. VARSITY ROUNDUP SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 19 Gabby Santini makes her move for the Hornets. Lakeland’s Charlotte Sabert goes on the attack. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 19 ROUNDUP FROM PAGE 18 Tappan Zee 5, Lakeland 0 Saturday, Sept. 2, Pearl River High School Tappan Zee beat Lakeland 5-0 in the Ninth Annual Westchester vs. Rockland Challenge. YORKTOWN BOYS SOCCER (0-1) Sleepy Hollow 1, Yorktown 0 Thursday, Aug. 31, Yorktown High School Yorktown lost to Sleepy Hollow 1-0, with Jason Douglas recording 7 saves for the Huskers, who had 23 shots on goal and 6 corner kicks. LAKELAND GIRLS SOCCER (1-0) Lakeland 3, Carmel 0 Thursday, Aug. 31, Lakeland High School Lakeland scored three first-half goals in a 3-0 opening-day win vs. Carmel. Kayleigh Mula, Gianna Pace, and Victoria Caiazzo scored, with Mula assisting on Pace’s goal. For Pace and Caiazzo, both freshmen, it was their first varsity game. “One of the strengths of our team can be our mix of more veteran leadership as well as great younger players,” Mula said. “All enjoy playing together, and if we can continue to develop that chemistry we can continue to be a solid team. For the first game of the year everyone played well, our defense was very strong, which enabled those up front to play relaxed and unselfish, and from there we succeeded as a team, offense, and defense.” Mula said that it was great to start the season off with a win. “Especially knowing how tough our schedule is,” Mula said. “We get to go into the long weekend on a positive note. It definitely gives us the confidence we need starting off the season.” Lakeland’s Grace Hahn said that the team was happy with its strong performance. “All of us really wanted to get a confident start to the season and that is exactly what we did,” Hahn said. Lakeland eighth-grader Amelia Calisi, made 4 saves to record the shutout in her first varsity game. “Amelia is a hard worker that is very coachable and keeps getting better every day,” said Lakeland coach Shawn Sullivan. “I proud of the whole defense for limiting Carmel’s scoring opportunities.” The defense also helped the offense upfield. “Obviously, the great shots by Kayleigh, Gianna, and Victoria were key, but also the passing up the field from the defense to the forwards really helped us succeed,” Hahn said. YORKTOWN GIRLS SOCCER (1-0) Yorktown 0, Mahopac 0 (2 OT) Thursday, Aug. 31, Mahopac Middle School Yorktown tied Mahopac in double overtime 0-0, in Husker coach Ryan Langkafel’s debut. “Our team really locked down our defensive third of the field,” said Yorktown’s Ciara O’Brien, who made 6 saves. “Caitlin Mulvihill’s communication and leadership in our back line is unmatched and was crucial in our shutout. Along with that, Izy Walling, Emily Tian, and Amanda Linahan helped solidify our defense and keep the ball in our attacking half. Peyton Case put her body on the line and had a massive save as Mahopac was about to score. She truly showed what an amazing teammate looks like with the way she played today.” LAKELAND VOLLEYBALL (1-0) Lakeland 3, Tappan Zee 0 Wednesday, Aug. 30, Lakeland High School Defending Section 1 Class A champion Lakeland opened with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-22) victory against Tappan Zee. “It was important for us to win yesterday because this win got us off to a good start for the season and we are just going up from here,” said Lakeland’s Emma Dedushaj. Dedushaj (17 assists, 4 kills, 8 digs), Kelly Mallon (17 kills, 18 digs), Sophia Cruz (5 kills,  3 blocks), Isabella Sommovigo  (3 kills, 12 digs), and Juliana Walsh (12 digs) all contributed to the win. “Me and Kelly have been playing together for many years and I our connection on the court really helps out the rest of the team,” Dedushaj said. Mallon said that starting off with a win meant a lot to Lakeland. “We lost a lot of talented seniors, including Kayla Jennings (who had more than 1,000-career kills), so starting with a win proves that we are a strong team and on the right track,” Mallon said. “Our team played well today because we have been practicing really hard and have a lot of strong returning talent mixed with some key newcomers.” 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!

PAGE 20 – YORKTOWN NEWS LEISURE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 59 Years of Excellence Putnam & Westchester County’s Premier Plumbing Professionals Since 1964 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT SERVICE CALL! VALID ON CALLS OVER 1 HOUR. EXPIRES 10/31/23 It’s Back to School Time... Have a Great Year! B”H Traditional High Holiday Services with Chabad of Yorktown Rosh Hashana: Sept 15-17 Yom Kippur: Sept 24-25 For more information and to RSVP visit www.ChabadYorktown.com or call 914-962-1111 • No membership fees fifffflffiflffi fflffi  Traditional services with contemporary messages Hebrew/English prayerbooks • Insights and explanations Prayer instructions throughout the service • All are welcome Find out more about our exciting Hebrew school for this year! www.ChabadYorktown.com/ HebrewSchool To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! For puzzle solutions, please see theparamountrehab.com CLUES ACROSS 1. Second sight 4. Standard electrode potential 7. Type of gibbon 8. John Joseph __: American industrialist 10. Manning and Whitney are two 12. Abrupt 13. Baroque musical instrument 14. Post-burning residue 16. When you hope to arrive 17. Sign up (Brit. Eng.) 19. Sun up in New York 20. Employee stock ownership plan 21. Where people live 25. Method to record an electrogram 26. Angry 27. No longer living 29. Simple 30. Swiss river 31. Portion of a play 32. It’s under the tree 39. Wood sorrels 41. No (Scottish) 42. Dialect of English 43. Former Steelers’ QB 44. Popular beer 45. It can make you sick 46. Tropical tree and fruit 48. Company officer 49. Contact lens term 50. Your consciousness of your own identity 51. “Ghetto Superstar” singer 52. Piece of turf CLUES DOWN 1. Number of players on each side in a football game 2. Containing salt 3. Reasoning or knowledge: a __ 4. Car mechanics group 5. Leave a place 6. Southern Colombian capital 8. Old English letter 9. Tide 11. Walk heavily 14. Chemical compound (abbr.) 15. Artificial openings 18. Luteinizing hormone 19. Unit of energy 20. Circular movement of water 22. A way of holding 23. Popular book of words (abbr.) 24. States’ group 27. Dashes 28. Body part 29. Electronic countermeasures 31. Consumed 32. Small bird 33. Unhappy 34. Football’s big game (abbr.) 35. Valued object offered in good faith 36. Wild goats 37. Precede in place 38. Small edible fish 39. Notice of death 40. Body cavity of a metazoan 44. Partner to cheese 47. Not around

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 21 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. Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents? Want to keep your family healthy and safe? NYS Kinship Navigator provides information, referral and assistance with financial needs, legal options, school enrollment, kinship law and other resources. Help is just a phone call away. 877-454-6463 NYS Kinship Navigator can help. nysnavigator.org Then you’re a Kinship Caregiver! TTY: NY Relay 711 or 800-421-1220 secretary. Gashi apparently has the exception in writing but had declined to provide it, according to McKay Wilson. Gashi and his family’s 4,000-square-foot Yorktown home sits on 1.81 acres and has an assessed value of nearly $1 million, according to the town’s tentative assessment roll. “My wife and I worked and saved to purchase this apartment in 2015 to be our family home for us and our children,” Gashi said in a statement. “Our family has grown and we have made our way back to my childhood home in Yorktown, where my wife and kids and I now reside and my kids attend school. We have followed every housing rule and have always sought explicit written permission for our use of residence in this building from the cooperative, including ensuring that we qualified to purchase.” Gashi’s opponent in November’s election for county legislature, Branda, a Somers resident, issued a statement on Friday calling for an investigation into Gashi’s ownership of the co-op. “It is crucial that we can trust the Board of Legislators to proceed with a fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of these allegations against Vedat to run parallel to any other investigation by the many agencies that have jurisdiction,” Branda said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we can.” In July, Gashi served on a committee that looked into Legislator Chris Johnson for moving outside of his district while renting his affordable housing unit. Johnson resigned as a result, which Gashi said was in “the best interest of our constituents.” The Journal News report said that Gashi’s New York City co-op is listed as a business venture. And while the city’s affordable housing program allows shareholders to sublet units for up to 18 months in five-year periods, the unit would still have to be the owner’s primary residence, according to William Fowler, a spokesman for the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Branda accused Gashi of violating rules in New York City that he’s supposed to help govern in Westchester. “He’s a real estate attorney who engages in millions of dollars in real estate transactions, and as chairman of the Board of Legislators he has a duty in Westchester to enact our own Affordable Housing policy,” Branda said. On Friday,  The Journal News reported that County Legislator Damon Maher (D-New Rochelle) was calling for an investigation into Gashi and compared his coop to the housing scandal that led to Johnson’s resignation. However, Gashi rejected the idea that the two cases were similar. “Respectfully, I would argue that this situation is very different than Mr. Johnson’s,” he said, according to The Journal News. “There his residency impacted his eligibility for the role. No one is questioning whether I reside in Yorktown where we have deep roots and my kids attend the public school.” In a separate statement, Gashi defended his ownership of the property. “Upholding the public trust is a foundation of my public service,” he said. “The co-op in question was purchased in 2015 after being ensured that we qualified and met all purchase requirements. In subsequent years, we moved our home to Westchester, where my extended family has extensive roots, to raise our children. We are proud of that decision. We sublet the New York City co-op in compliance with all governing rules, including renting to a family throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.” VASHI FROM PAGE 1 Vedat Gashi with his wife and children PHOTO: COURTESY OF GASHIFORCONGRESS.COM

PAGE 22 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Nonprofit community organizations Alliance for Safe Kids and Drug Crisis in Our Backyard have announced that they’ve made an existing partnership closer, with the latter’s programs now falling under the Alliance’s umbrella. Based in Yorktown, Alliance for Safe Kids (ASK) is a 501(c) (3) founded in 2002 to promote awareness for youth mental health and the prevention of substance use and abuse, and combat other “destructive behaviors” that harm young people, according to its website. As part of this mission, ASK says it aims to connect resources for treatment and recovery to those who need them while offering young people opportunities for “thoughtful service.” Under the terms of the expanded partnership, Drug Crisis in Our Backyard (DCIOB), which is based in Mahopac, will continue offering its programming while ASK assumes all financial responsibility and management roles. On its website, DCIOB says it will operate under ASK’s banner to help “extend [its] reach and impact.” “The Alliance for Safe Kids (ASK) has been connecting our community to important resources and opportunities for close to 20 years,” said ASK Executive Director Liz Talbert. “Our strengthened partnership with Drug Crisis in Our Backyard will support the ongoing connections between the community and potentially lifesaving resources, as well as allowing for important programs to continue. “We look forward to working more closely with Drug Crisis in Our Backyard and doing all that we can to thoughtfully support our youth and families,” Talbert added. Talbert said that ASK’s mission aligns with that of DCIOB and as the two organizations move forward in a “stronger partnership” they are still working to provide Naloxone training, family support groups; CRAFT and Invitation to Change training. “We are excited to be partnering with the Alliance for Safe Kids,” said Susan Salomone, cofounder of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. “In 2012, when we were forming Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, right after the passing of my son Justin, Tricy Cushner (ASK’s president) helped me put the important pieces together to move forward with our nonprofit organization. “It was with that in mind, that I asked Tricy and Liz if they would consider partnering with Drug Crisis In Our Backyard in 2022,” she added. “Stronger together!” Talbert asks that readers consider visiting allianceforsafekids.org to make a donation and sign up to receive a monthly email from ASK, which includes updates on current trends and opportunities. ASK partners with Drug Crisis in Our Backyard DCIOB to operate under ASK’s banner NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: YOU MAY *QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS! HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH Qualify Today: 800-944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to see if you *qualify Do you need a New Roof and Help paying for it? Do you need Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 *Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are on a first come, first serve basis in your area. Any leaking, visible damage, or roof age, may *qualify you! Drafty windows, energy cost too high, you may *qualify! NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to Yorktown News YES, I really enjoy Yorktown News and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com OR or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: The Somers Record Mahopac News North Salem News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times GREEN FROM PAGE 4 Documentary Screening The Capa Space will present a free outdoor screening of “Crip Camp,” a documentary about a groundbreaking summer camp that galvanized a group of teens with disabilities to forge a path towards greater equality. This film is rated R for some language relating to sexual references. Showtime is Friday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. BYO picnic dinner. The Capa Space is at 2467 Quaker Church Road in Yorktown.  This film is rated R for some language relating to sexual references.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 23 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the Yorktown News Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com Connect Anywhere, Anytime. fifffflffiflffffffiffffiffi   ffi ffiffffflffi
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PAGE 24 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 25 You are Cordially Invited to the Digital Marketing Best Practice Seminar www.HalstonMedia.com Digital Marketing Best Practices Webinar When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 Where: Zoom Who: Business Owners who want to Leverage Digital Media to Grow their Business Seminar Description: Strategies for connecting with the always connected consumer have changed. In this fast-paced, 45-minute educational seminar, you'll learn how your business can take advantage of changing consumer behavior, with actionable tips & ideas for improving online visibility, telling the story of your business, and precision digital targeting options for reaching your perfect next customer. Everyone who attends will receive a Free Digital Audit report for their Business! Registration is Free: To register: 1. Email [email protected]. 2. Visit halstonmedia.org/webinar 3. Register by scanning QR code. About us: Halston Digital Agency is the digital department of Halston Media Group. We offer Digital Education, Web Design, SEO, Social Media, & Precision Digital Target Marketing that generates inbound Leads!

PAGE 26 – YORKTOWN NEWS CLASSIFIEDS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 ORDER ON OUR ONLINE STORE AND PICKUP LO CALLY! 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 Check out our Facebook & Twitter pages! 845-225-7777 • www.puthumane.org Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Billie Billie is a beautiful girl who was found as a stray. 10 years old . She’s so sweet. And sadly, she’s been diagnosed with mammorary cancer. She’s doing fine, but we don’t know what the long-term prognosis will be. Would love to get her into a home sooner than later. She’s a love. Turner is the happiest boy! Full of energy. Just three years old. He likes other dogs. Would be best with older kids just because he’s so strong and energetic, and could knock over little toddlers, but other than that he is good with all! Turner THIS AD WAS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY HALSTON MEDIA. 68 Old Rt. 6, Carmel Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller Putnam/Westchester/Orange/Dutchess and more Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! 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 DIVORCE $389 - Uncontested divorce papers prepared. Only one signature required. Poor person Application included if applicable. Separation agreements. Custody and support petitions. 518-274-0380 Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755 Privacy Hedge! Arborvitae 6-foot Reduced to $125/each. Free Installation, Free Delivery. Fast growing, High-quality Beautiful & Bushy! Order now to reserve for early Fall delivery. LowCostTrees. com 518-536-1367 HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-598-5898 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574 ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 888-514-3044 My Caring Plan’s local advisors have helped thousands of families with unique needs find senior living. Can you afford 2k a month in rent? We can help for free! 866-989-1812 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636 Secure your home with Vivint Smart Home technology. Call 866-601-1219 to learn how you can get a professionally installed security system with $0 activation. Do you need a Roof or Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months freepremium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313 DIRECTV Sports Pack – 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE. Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918 ATTORNEY AUTO DONATIONS FOR SALE HEALTH HOME IMPROVEMENT HELP WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Bookkeeper & Home Office Support. Mature couple in Lewisboro looking for part-time bookkeeper and home office support, including scheduling, organizing, and errands. $25-$30/ hr. 6-12 hrs/wk flexible schedule. 646-820-5130 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 8/31/23 Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. To advertise in Yorktown News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected].

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 27 Obviously, the death of a loved one creates a tremendous amount of stress and pressure on their surviving family and friends. It is an emotional period of time when many issues need to be addressed, including preparing for the wake, burial, safeguarding assets and ultimately distributing assets to those entitled to receive them from the estate. The following are an overview of the first steps one should take: Secure the Original Last Will and Testament or Trust The individual named as the Executor(s) of the Will or Successor Trustee of a Trust should take steps to safeguard these documents and review them with a Trusts and Estates Attorney to determine the necessary steps.   Identify what the Decedent Owned Make a list of all assets owned by the decedent and categorize the items. Did the decedent own tangible personal property (automobiles, furniture, jewelry, clothes and artwork), real property (home, land and condos) and liquid assets (bank accounts, stocks, bonds, annuities life insurance)? You should also review how any of these assets are titled. Title of the assets is critical in determining whether or not the probate of a Last Will & Testament will be necessary and/or whether assets will pass by operation of law to a joint tenant of the property or to a named beneficiary. Marshal and Secure Assets Once the assets of the decedent are identified, it will be most important to marshal and secure those assets so that a third party is unable to unlawfully take possession of them. If assets are titled in the name of the decedent alone, the marshaling of said assets will require that the Executor(s) named in the Last Will petition the court for Letters Testamentary and/or Preliminary Letters testament so that upon issuance of said letters they can title the assets in the name of the decedent’s estate. If the decedent’s assets are in a Revocable Living Trust and/or Irrevocable Trust, probate will not be needed. The same applies if the decedent’s assets have a surviving primary beneficiary and/or contingent beneficiary. It should be noted that if a decedent dies with assets in their name alone and does not have a Last Will, Court intervention will still be needed in the form of an Administration proceeding and an Administrator will need to be appointed by the Court. Consult with an Attorney One should consult with an experienced attorney that handles the probate and administration of estates to determine what steps need to be taken depending on the nature of the assets of the decedent’s estate and whether or not there is a Last Will and Testament and/or Trust in place. This individual will also assist in determining the size of the estate and the potential estate tax, capital gain tax and/or income tax considerations that may need to be reviewed relevant to the estate.  In conclusion, an approach that is structured and organized by an experienced trust and estates attorney will help accomplish the successful administration of the estate and the ultimate distribution of the estate assets to the beneficiaries. Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is a Senior Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and she enjoys working with individuals to ensure that their plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea received a B.S. in Business Management from Quinnipiac University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a J.D. from the Pace University School of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be contacted at 914-948-1500 or www.esslawfirm.com. First steps to take when a loved one passes LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER Lunch & Learn Series Held on the last Wednesday of each month, Lunch & Learn programs at Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP, shed light on a variety of important elder law and estate planning topics. The free educational program, held at the firm’s White Plains location, is open to the public – though space is limited. Those interested are encouraged to register early by calling 914-948-1500 to reserve their spot. A light lunch and refreshments are included. Future programs include: Sept. 27 LLCs: The Pros, Cons and Estate Planning: For some, an LLC can be a useful tool to pass assets down to loved ones while avoiding or minimizing estate taxes. Discover if an LLC may be right for your estate planning needs as well as how they are used to reduce the risk of personal liability with rental properties. Presentation by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. & Michael P. Enea, Esq. Oct. 25 Understanding the Implications of Gray Divorce: A divorce later in life often adds a level of complexity to the estate and tax plan process. Understand what potential complications may arise and how to address them – from division of assets and tax issues to estate and long-term care planning. Presented by Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Notice of Formation of Snuggle Wugglez Baby Plus Store LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-07-07. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Snuggle Wugglez Baby Plus Store LLC 75 South Broadway 4th floor #1077 White plains, NY 10601. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Fairman Health LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 03-08. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to United States Corporation Agents, Inc: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn NY 1128. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Not a Saint, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 07-23. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Liz Poling-Hiraldo: 86 Maple Street Croton on Hudson NY 10520. Purpose: Any lawful purpose NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Sections 37 and 240 of Town Law, Laws of New York State, 1948 and Section 283.301 of the Westchester County Code that I, the undersigned, Receiver of Taxes of the Town of Yorktown, have received from the Supervisor of said Town the warrant for the collection of School Taxes of the said Town of Yorktown for the Year 2023/2024 and that I will attend daily, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays excepted, and with the exception of days hereinafter specified.  FROM EIGHT (8) O’CLOCK A.M. UNTIL FOUR (4) O’CLOCK P.M., at my office, Town Hall, Yorktown Heights, New York for the purpose of receiving payment of aforesaid taxes.  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the provisions of the statute aforesaid, that the collection of such taxes will begin on September 1, 2023 and from such date until the close of business on the 2nd day of October, 2023, such taxes will be received WITHOUT PENALTY OR COLLETION FEE, thereafter, SCHEDULE OF PENALTIES to be added as follows:                                                              1st Half            2nd Half             September                               None               None              October                                   2%                   None              November                               5%                   None              December-January                  7%                   None              February-March                      10%                 10%              Thereafter to Date of Sale       12%                 12%  By resolution of the Town Board these taxes may be paid in two equal installments.  Dated at the Town of Yorktown this 1st day of September, 2023.                                                                                      Barbara A. Korsak  Receiver of Taxes  BOGO 40% OFF OFFER ENDS 10/31 888-448-0421

PAGE 28 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 Our town is still selling! Recent Successes: Catherine Duff-Poritzky Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker M 914.960.5577 [email protected] 1857 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY Catherine Duff-Poritzky and The CDP Team are real estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. 1613 Heights Drive, Yorktown Heights 3112 Muir Court, Yorktown Heights 18 Fairview Drive, Yorktown Heights 93 Showings, 24 Offers | $575,000 2738 Moreland Street, Yorktown Heights 31 Showings, 8 Offers | $939,000 360 Saw Mill River Road, Yorktown Heights 1928 Longvue Street, Yorktown Heights