Yorktown News 06.02.2022

Vol. 11 No. 11 Visit TapIntoYorktown.net for the latest news. Thursday, June 2, 2022

Yorktown PHOTO: BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER A Feast of
San Gennaro
Pat McDonough, adjutant of American Legion Post
1009, salutes during a ceremony at Jack DeVito reboot

remembersVeterans Memorial Field. BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA
the fallen STAFF WRITER

Yorktown remembered U.S. soldiers who died in service to the country with wreath-laying e Yorktown Feast of San Gennaro
ceremonies and a parade on Monday. Turn to pages 18 and 19 for more photos. faced an uncertain future when its or-
ganizer was caught on tape uttering an
ethnic slur on Election Night 2021. e
Town Board acted swiftly, severing ties
with Tom Pomposello’s organization,
CCM of Westchester, also citing con-
cerns about the organization’s delay in

ling taxes for three years.
About seven months later, two of
Pomposello’s former partners have
linked up with another non-pro t
organization in the hopes of reboot-
ing the annual celebration of Italian
heritage. ey brought their proposal
to the Town Board’s May 24 work ses-
sion.
Michael DiCostanzo and Ralph
Caiazzo, who identi ed themselves as
former o cers of CCM, have jumped
ship to Ti Piace, a non-pro t that pro-
motes Italian culture, music, heritage,
and entertainment. Caiazzo and Di-
Costanzo said they are soon to be of-
cers of Ti Piace.
Pomposello, who was listed on tax
lings as CCM’s principal o cer, sar-
castically downplayed Caiazzo and

SEE SAN GENNARO PAGE 2

There is No Better Time to Sell! BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31
With Rising Interest Rates, CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL NOTICES 30
Ultra Low Inventory, Bidding Wars and LEISURE
Multiple Offers on Many Properties, OPINION 28
SPORTS
Nearly Every Home Sells In Record Time. TOWN GREEN 29

Call or Text Pauline Today 8 BOYS LACROSSE
at 845.664.4579 (m)
20 Yorktown competes in
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pg 20

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Page 2 – Yorktown News Thursday, June 2, 2022

The Staff SAN GENNARO sello said. “Huh, that’s crazy. “I want to make sure the for transparency in this event,
FROM PAGE 1
EDITORIAL TEAM Never heard of them.” board has an opportunity to saying he wants to ensure the
BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER
EDITOR: 914-302-5628 At the Town Board meet- deliberate on this because it’s a town is working alongside
[email protected]
DiCostanzo’s role in organiz- ing, the possibility of Pom- sensitive matter. We all know “honest brokers.”
VIM WILKINSON
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR ing the Feast of San Gennaro, posello being a liated with that,” said Town Supervisor Councilwoman Luciana
[email protected]
which has been held every Ti Piace was alluded to as a Matt Slater, who was logging Haughwout pushed back
ADVERTISING TEAM
PAUL FORHAN September since 2015 (except pressing concern, though his in virtually because of a posi- against the idea of the Town

(914) 806-3951 for a few Covid-interrupted name was never mentioned. tive Covid-19 test result. “So, Board having to vet Ti Piace.
[email protected]
years). In an interview, he Questions over the status I want to make sure the board “I recognize there were a
BRUCE HELLER
(914) 486-7608 repeatedly denied knowing of Ti Piace’s tax lings were itself as a whole is comfort- lot of delays with tax lings,”
[email protected]
them. also asked in response to what able allowing this particular Haughwout said. “Technical-
LISA KAIN
(201) 317-1139 “ ere were other people on transpired with CCM of group to move forward.” ly, for me, that’s your business.
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON the board for CCM?” Pompo- Westchester. Slater emphasized the need Not mine. I don’t run your
(914) 760-7009
[email protected] business. You’re just coming

JAY GUSSAK to the town to say can we
(914) 299-4541
[email protected] have this amazing event?”
SHELLEY KILCOYNE
(914) 924-9122 Responding to a request
[email protected]
from the Town Board, Caiaz-
PRODUCTION TEAM
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL zo and DiCostanzo agreed to

CREATIVE DIRECTOR share Ti Piace’s 990 tax forms
PHOTOGRAPHER
from previous years. Ti Piace
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK Italian American Presenta-
DESIGNER
tions, based in New York
[email protected]
City, formed in 2010 but has
EXECUTIVE TEAM
BRETT FREEMAN never hosted a festival.
CEO & PUBLISHER
845-208-8151 Haughwout said she had

[email protected] no interest in learning more

Deadlines about the organization or its

YORKTOWN NEWS DEADLINE nancial situation, saying,
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS
“We don’t have to vet Ti Pi-
AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR
ace.” She said the board was
YORKTOWN NEWS IS THE THURSDAY
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE. asking more of Ti Piace than

FOR MORE INFORMATION, it does of other organizations.
CALL BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER AT
914-302-5628 OR EMAIL “Do we do that every time
[email protected].
somebody les a permit?”
Subscribe
Haughwout asked her fellow
TO REQUEST YORKTOWN NEWS
WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 board members. “Do we ask
OR EMAIL [email protected].
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR them for their 990s?”
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN.
OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE Town Councilman Ed
$150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL.
Lactherman responded, “We
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT
SOMERS, NY AND AT probably should.”

ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. Slater, in a follow-up in-
POSTMASTER:
terview, said the town is cur-
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO
YORKTOWN NEWS AT rently waiting to receive the

118 N. BEDFORD ROAD tax forms.
SUITE 100
“We have a responsibil-
MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549
ity to protect the community
(ISSN 2329-8693)
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY and we’re going to review
HALSTON MEDIA, LLC AT
118 N. BEDFORD ROAD the 990s when the town at-

SUITE 100 torney receives them,” Slater
MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549
said. “We will make sure that
©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC
everything is in accordance

with the law.”

If permitted, this year’s San

Gennaro feast will be held

from Sept. 14 to 18. Enter-

tainment, vendors, food, and

the statue of San Gennaro

from the National Shrine of

San Gennaro on Mulberry

WINDOWS AND DOORS Street would be present. Ti
Piace said it would donate

BUILT FOR HOW YOU LIVE revenue to the Church of the
Most Precious Blood and a
Marvin windows and doors are inspired local charity.

Pomposello, who has since

by how people live. Explore our three apologized for his Elec-
product collections organized by degree of tion Night behavior and has
worked toward self-improve-

design detail, flexibility, and customization ment with local race-based
possibilities. organizations, had hoped for
the Feast of San Gennaro to

remain in his family. Howev-

er, it appears the town is ready

INTERSTATE + LAKELAND LUMBER to move on without him.

“I think we did a great job

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the community, and I wish
1248 East Main Street •Shrub Oak NY 10588 • 914- 245- 5050 • www.interstatelumber.com the best for them,” Pompo-
sello said.

Thursday, June 2, 2022 Yorktown News – Page 3

Donation drive

Yorktown sophomore collects, distributes feminine hygiene products

BY JESSICA JAFET “It is so beyond anything I ever Annabelle Newberger with her collected items
CONTRIBUTING WRITER thought was going to happen,”the
teenager said. “I always thought
When Annabelle Newberger it was really surprising how ex-
noticed that donation boxes lling pensive period products are, and
up around her school were missing they are a monthly necessity; it is
some very necessary items, it got a major issue in the United States
her thinking. and other countries around the
world where people with lower
e 15-year-old Yorktown incomes don’t have access to femi-
High School sophomore knew the nine hygiene products because of
importance of getting involved and their price. It is really important
giving to those who are less fortu- to spread awareness and start that
nate in the community, but after conversation, especially in schools
seeing toothbrushes, shampoo and full of young people who are going
other such toiletries accumulate, to grow up to help.”
she realized that feminine hygiene
products were being overlooked. e rst recipient of the prod-
ucts collected in the drive will
“ ere is such a stigma sur- be Caring for the Hungry and
rounding menstruation that peo- Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP),
ple often don’t donate that stu , an organization with a mission to
especially in high school where provide safe and a ordable tempo-
there are a bunch of teenagers rary housing, nutritious food, and
— because it seems weird or it’s support services to those in need in
something that shouldn’t be talked Peekskill and the surrounding area.
about,” Newberger said. She then Its CEO, Cynthia B. Knox, was
pitched her idea to begin a drive grateful to learn about the contri-
to gather these items to Yorktown bution.
High School Assistant Principal
Cristina Criscione-McCombs, “It’s truly amazing that commu-
who approved it and then helped nity members like Annabelle make
Annabelle with the proposal and sure that our clients can live with
execution of the e ort, which be- dignity and respect; we applaud
gan last December. her e orts to engage the commu-
nity, especially her school, and are
After creating a yer, making a so appreciative of her support of
school-wide announcement, and CHHOP,” Knox said. As for the
setting out boxes, Annabelle saw signi cance of donating these par-
her fellow students begin to step ticular types of personal products,
up by bringing in new packages of Knox couldn’t agree more with
feminine hygiene products — and Annabelles’s motivation.
then there was an even bigger boost
when her parents spread the word “It’s very important that people
on their social media platforms. have access to adequate sanitary
materials, people obviously really
e contributions came pouring need them, and any woman will
in and increased with an Amazon understand how important it is
wish-list that she made open to to your human dignity to have an
the public.To date, there have been adequate supply of these products,”
over $2,500 worth of donations she added.
and 169 orders placed.

Newberger collected items through a donation drive.

It is really important to spread
awareness and start that conversation,
especially in schools full of young people

who are going to grow up to help.’

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEREMY NEWBERGER –Annabelle Newberger
Yorktown High School student
Items were also donated through Newberger’s Amazon Wish List.

Page 4 – Yorktown News Thursday, June 2, 2022

Development would take out soccer field

BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA To compensate for the eld’s maybe using the money

STAFF WRITER demise, Toll Brothers has to help Hunterbrook

proposed giving $100,000 to become more playable,”

In with the active senior the town’s Parks and Recreation Martorano said.

development, out with the youth Department. Martorano described

soccer practice eld. While the contribution could the upper eld at

Toll Brothers, a Fortune 500 possibly be used to upgrade Hunterbrook to be

company that has agreed to other elds, elected o cials of a lower playing

purchase a portion of the Field remained concerned about the quality than that of the

Home property on Catherine loss of a public eld, considering Catherine Street eld

Street, is proposing to build there are only seven in town. but is interested in

a 118-unit age-restricted “I’m hung up on the soccer potentially turning it to

development that would lead eld,” said Councilman Sergio turf one day.

to the removal of a soccer eld. Esposito. “Kids are important, Town Supervisor

To move forward, the developer they’re very important to me, Matt Slater asked

needs a zoning change approved [and] we have a big soccer Martorano to get a

by the Town Board. community.” rm estimate on what

e eld would not survive Parks and Rec Superintendent the cost of updating

the development because James Martorano said that the the upper Hunterbrook

there would not be enough eld in question is great, but not eld would be.

room for it on the property big enough for games. Also involved with

when construction begins. “ e conversation that had was the development is a PHOTO: WESTCHESTER COUNTY GIS
proposed subdivision of
I’m hung up on the soccer field. the Field Home building An aerial view of the Catherine Street soccer field, which would be wiped out
because it does not play by the new development

Kids are important, they’re very into the development

and Toll Brothers agreed that it Cortlandt border, the properties.

should be preserved. townhomes would be for people e townhouses would

important to me, [and] we have a Toll Brothers rst proposed its aged 55 or older. include a master bedroom suite,

development in October 2021. e unnamed development an entertaining space, and two-

big soccer community.’ At the time, the company was would have three- and four- car garages. e units would
proposing to build 136 units. unit buildings, a community have a homeowner’s association

at has since been reduced to clubhouse, and a pool. Toll and would all be sold at market

–Councilman Sergio Esposito 118. Brothers is proposing to develop rate. e development would
Town of Yorktown Built near the Yorktown- the wooded portion of the not have any rentals.

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