The Somers Record 09.29.2022

Vol. 11 No. 25 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Thursday, September 29, 2022

SOMERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

OceanNew DEI leader to help

district meet ‘equity’ goals of possibilities

Community invited to meeting 4 p.m. Earlier this month, the Somers Library con-
Oct. 18, at Somers Middle School cluded their summer photo contest. e
event challenged residents to show o
BY CAROL REIF SUSAN GONZOWITZ Each of the district’s four their best pictures of oceans, marine
STAFF WRITER schools has been designated as life, pirates, or the beach. See more
DEI work,  Comerford  pointed “No Place for Hate” by the An- photos on pages 18-19.
e Somers Board of Educa- to “increasing access for all stu- ti-Defamation League, which
tion last week formally welcomed dents to engage in higher-level means that they “engage in “Sunset Dive” by Lisa
the person charged with helping courses; responsive classroom schoolwide activities geared to- Billingsley took 1st Place.
the school district continue to practices that help create safe, ward decreasing biased-based
meet its “diversity, equity, and in- joyful, and engaging learning behavior,” she added. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMERS LIBRARY
clusion” (DEI) goals. environments at the elementary
level; professional learning for all A voluntary, non-paid
As the district’s brand-new faculty and sta with a focus on group,  SEEAT  was formed in
DEI leader,  Susan Gonzowitz’s engagement, responsive teaching, 2016. It’s comprised of admin-
job is to facilitate the  Somers and inclusive practices.” istrators, teachers, sta members,
Central School District’s Edu- students, parents and community
cational Equity Advisory Team’s members.
(SEEAT) mission. e full-time
paid position falls under the Eventually,  Gonzowitz  will
Learning O ce’s jurisdiction. work directly with all the dis-
trict’s four schools, helping them
Making the introduction build on their existing founda-
Tuesday, Sept. 20, was  Claire tions of DEI work.
Comerford, director of learning –
humanities. Key to that success is hearing
as many di erent points of view
e district, she told the board, as possible, she asserts.
has been “committed to engaging
students on a personal level so Presenting her three-phased
they can nd success in a global “entry” plan to the school board
society, also valuing diversity, eq- Tuesday, Gonzowitz told trustees
uity and inclusion in education.” that the DEI coordinator’s role

Listing a few examples of its SEE DEI PAGE 26

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BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 35 SPORTS
CLASSIFIEDS 34
ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 Tuskers defeat
LEGAL NOTICES 32 powerhouse
LEISURE 24
OPINION 10 pg 20
SPORTS 20

Page 2 – The Somers Record Thursday, September 29, 2022

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Thursday, September 29, 2022 The Somers Record – Page 3
Remembering ‘The Chapel’

Community re ects on the Presbyterian Church of Croton Falls

BY CAROL REIF
STAFF WRITER

“For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under
heaven.”

Ecclesiastes, 3:1-8

e Bible’s most quoted phrase,

it’s an enduring practical lesson for

navigating change, religious schol-

ars say.

e point is, everything’s tem-

porary, from the things us humans

build and create to the bodies we

live in.

When the Good Book refers to

church, it is referencing the body

of believers, not a place. In other

words, the church is not a building,

it’s a people.

at might bring a little com-

fort to those who worshiped at  e PHOTOS: CAROL REIF The 4,882-square-foot building is
now on the market for $425,000.
Presbyterian Church of Croton The Presbyterian Church of Croton Falls was officially closed by the Hudson River Presbytery this summer.
Falls.

A ectionately known as  “ e

Chapel,”  the small sanctuary on glad hymns of praise/Our hearts Also participating were  Chap- ing  Drew  and  Wayne  Outhouse, e closing of churches around the

Route 22 was o cially “closed” by are composing/Here gathered a lain Ian Lynton; members of who passed away in 2021 and this country is really not what is needed

the Hudson River Presbytery this family,/Called by bell in steeple,/ the  Seventh-Day Adventist year respectively. right now,”he said.

summer. ough no building can house Church; and  Presbytery Modera- Wayne and Katherine were e “optimist” is convinced that

It had been the spiritual home God/Who’s among all people.” tor Elect Dorinda Violante. married at e Chapel as was their people will come to their senses

for Presbyterians since the late It was sung to the tune of the old ( e SDA had been holding daughter Molly. and re-embrace “the forces that are

1800s and their friends of other hymn “Come, You Faithful, Raise services at the chapel on Saturdays. “It was a big, important part of here to help us and take care of us.”

faiths in more recent history. the Strain.” Credited with helping keep it go- everyone’s lives,” said Katherine, As folks begin to realize that we

“ e Chapel”was not alone. “We shared happy times and sad ing for the past decade, it is now recalling that folks worked hard all only have so many years on Earth,

Studies have shown that thou- times as well, so we were celebrat- ensconced at St. Luke’s Episcopal week, went to church each Sunday, they will “have to turn more and

sands of churches in America give ing that,”she said last week. Church in Somers.) and then got to socialize afterward. more to those kinds of thoughts,”

up the holy ghost every year. e Tompkins was also the organist Hallundbaek is a former director “It’s so sad that the congregation he added.

biggest reason cited is a decline at the tiny  Mount Hope  United of the Prison Partnership Program, over time just got less and less,”she It was Hallundbaek’s message

in membership. at was the case Methodist Church, which closed a ministry that sprang from an out- added. and his “beautiful soul” that rst

here, church leaders acknowledged. in 2016 after a long struggle with reach e ort by three churches in drew Moldow, an interfaith min-

e aging congregation had dwin- declining membership. the Hudson River Presbytery. SPIRITUAL NORTH STAR ister then living in Somers, to e

dled down to the point where it Of e Chapel, she said: “It e Chapel used to be “very “ is little chapel is a very sacred Chapel.

was no longer nancially feasible never was really a large congrega- well-visited with two services every little structure in Croton Falls,” For more than 20 years, she’s

to continue. tion, but we looked at one another Sunday and barbecues in the park- Hallundbaek said, pointing to the been the representative to the

A ceremony to recall the bless- as an extended family.We were like ing lot every summer,” Hallund- importance of keeping churches United Nations of May Peace Pre-

ings bestowed during the church’s a church family, and that included baek said. alive. vail on Earth International, which

174-year history was held on June the Interfaith people and the Sev- Many members of local families, “ e sad part in my opinion is promotes Peace Pole dedications

12. enth-Day Adventists too. We’re all such as the  Outhouses  of  Out- that the country, the world really, and World Peace Flag Ceremonies

It was indeed a “bittersweet” oc- one church family.” house Orchards fame, were mem- is in an existential crisis and I don’t sending the prayer “May Peace

casion, according to its last pastor Other former pastors speak- bers “forever,” recalled Katherine have to mention all the problems Prevail on Earth” to every country

and longtime music director,  the ing were the  Revs. Gary Dein- Outhouse. -- we all know what the problems in the world.

Rev. June Tompkins, who wrote a stadt  and  Hans Hallundbaek  of In 1969, two new stained- are -- and the sad thing is what re- A mutual friend who wanted

special song, “A Time for Celebra- the Presbyterian Church and glass windows and a spinet pi- ally could be our saving grace here to do something special for the

tion”: the  Revs. Melanie Gambino and ano were dedicated in memory is our faith in the beyond,our spiri- SEE CHAPEL PAGE 28

“Let no dirges in this church/ Deborah Moldow (who now lives of  A. Purdy Outhouse, the fa- tual connection to the universe and

Be sung at its closing,/But, instead, in Mexico) of the Interfaith Team. ther of ve children, includ- to God, and all those good things.

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Page 4 – The Somers Record ELEPHANT’S TRUNK Thursday, September 29, 2022

The Staff Somers Central about the new programs and ini- snack sale, free admission and Somers Volunteer
School District tiatives in our Somers schools. parking, holiday boutique, pho- Fire Department
EDITORIAL TEAM No RSVP necessary. Co ee and tos with Santa, ra e, silent auc-
TOM WALOGORSKY TUSKER TIME mu ns will be served! tion, tag sale, crafts, free fun kid OPEN HOUSE
EDITOR: 914-302-5830 Monday, Oct. 17, zone, food trucks, live music, Saturday, Oct. 22,
[email protected] from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Primrose PTA Eclipse Gymnastics, and Penny from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHIT ANDERSON All community members are Lane Dance. Vendor registra- e SVFD welcomes all
HOLIDAY HAPPINESS tion has been open to past ven-
SPORTS EDITOR invited to join Somers Schools Saturday, Nov. 5, dors! Registration will open up members of the community to
[email protected] Superintendent Ray Blanch for from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to new vendors this week! If you take a look inside their organi-
Tusker Time upstairs at DeCic- Save the date! Holiday Hap- are a Primrose parent and are zation. e day will include re
VIM WILKINSON co’s in Somers. Come to this in- interested in joining the plan- and EMS demonstrations, re
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR formal gathering with questions piness 2022 will take place on ning committee, please contact safety games, Sparky the re
[email protected] about the district and learn more Nov. 5 at Primrose School. e [email protected]. dog, and fun for the entire fam-
day will feature a bake sale/ ily. To be held at the 119 Prim-
ADVERTISING TEAM rose St. in Lincolndale.
PAUL FORHAN
The Paramount
(914) 806-3951 at Somers
[email protected]
189 NY-100, Somers, NY
BRUCE HELLER 10589. www.theparamountre-
(914) 486-7608 hab.com
[email protected]
FALL FESTIVAL
LISA KAIN Sunday, Oct. 2
(201) 317-1139 from 12 to 4 p.m.
[email protected] Fun for the whole family!
CORINNE STANTON
(914) 760-7009 Featuring live music, pumpkin
[email protected] patch, bounce house, food trucks,
face painting, photo booth, pet-
JAY GUSSAK ting zoo, hayride, and corn maze.
(914) 299-4541 $15 per person, children under
[email protected] 5 are free. All proceeds from
PAM Zacotinsky the event will bene t Friends
845-661-0748 of Karen. For more informa-
[email protected] tion, please call 914-391-3088
or email FallFestival@ ePara-
PRODUCTION TEAM mountRehab.com
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
Somers Department
CREATIVE DIRECTOR of Parks &
PHOTOGRAPHER Recreation

[email protected] FACTORY TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS MONSTER BASH
NOAH ELDER
DESIGNER * LAWN MOWERS * GENERATORS PUMPKIN DECORATING
* CHAIN SAWS * MOTORCYCLES Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m.
[email protected] * TRIMMERS * ATV’S To be held in the Reis Park
* TRACTORS * AND MORE!
EXECUTIVE TEAM Pavilion. e Parks & Recre-
BRETT FREEMAN PICK-UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE ation Department will provide
CEO & PUBLISHER sugar pumpkins, decorating sup-
845-208-8151 ** WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF PORTABLE GENERATORS ** plies and a scary good time! For
Somers residents in grades K-5.
[email protected] EAST ROAD MOTORS $10 per registrant. Visit www.
somersny.com, then click on
Deadlines 845-225-350358 CAROLAN RD. EAST • CARMEL, NY Parks & Recreation and scroll
down to click on Program Reg-
THE SOMERS RECORD DEADLINE www.EASTROADMOTORS.com istration.
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS
St. Luke’s
AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR Episcopal Church

SOMERS RECORD IS THE THURSDAY 331 Route 100, Somers.
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
FOR MORE INFORMATION, Sunday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m.
CALL TOM WALOGORSKY AT All are welcome to bring a pet
914-302-5830 OR EMAIL
[email protected]. in celebration of St. Francis of
Assisi. Animals will be blessed
Subscribe at the 10 a.m. Holy Communion
Service. Immediately following
TO REQUEST THE SOMERS RECORD the service there will be an ad-
WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 ditional blessing outdoors in the
OR EMAIL [email protected]. St. Francis Garden.
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN. SEE TRUNK PAGE 8
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