VOL. 6 NO. 15 THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 19 CLASSIFIEDS 18 OBITUARIES 5 OPINION 12 TOWN CROSSING 2 School Board Stumbles pg 12 OPINION Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 Find Out What Your Home Might Be Worth Scan for Instant Results #UGottaHaveHope You’re at the top of the world surrounded by 10 glorious acres ensconced in your own private oasis. This expansive (4,980 sf) modern masterpiece has been designed for living life on a grand scale. $1,200,000 House of the Week! Dreaming of Tuscany? PHOTO: EMRIN LECLAIR BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER At least three people were known to be seeking short-term appointment this week to a seat suddenly vacant on the KatonahLewisboro School District board. Potential successors had until school district offices closed last Monday (June 26)— after The Katonah-Lewisboro Times went to press—to signal their interest in succeeding Trustee Liz Gereghty, who resigned this month, a year into her second three-year term, to seek a congressional seat next year. As of last Friday afternoon (June 23), when schools closed for the weekend, the district would say only that three candidates had applied to fill the final year of Gereghty’s scheduled three-year term. The applicants were not identified, thus joining the “who” with much of the “what” in official silence on the current search for Gereghty’s interim replacement. Although official identifications were being withheld, two of the candidates themselves made no secret of their entry. In response to a reporter’s question, Erika Glick and Samantha Hirsh said they were eager to succeed Gereghty, who has declared herself a candidate for Congress and who resigned her board seat in a surprise move June 15. The Katonah-Lewisboro Times reached out to a person believed to be the third candidate but had not confirmed that by press time. Glick and Hirsh, both of them educators, were the leading vote-getters among unsuccessful candidates in the last two school board elections. Glick, a Katonah mother of two who owns a preschool in the hamlet, has campaigned for change in KLSD reading instruction. In declaring for the board appointment, Glick said she felt “compelled to do this because, after all my years of advocacy at BoE meetings, I continue to see that there is room for improvement.” “I have a demonstrated commitment to this community,” Glick wrote in an email. “I feel passionately about engaging in this Uncertainty surrounds open Board of Ed seat KATONAH-LEWISBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT Graduation day! The John Jay High School Class of 2023 took the next step into their future at graduation on June 20. See our full coverage in the special commemorative insert inside today’s paper! SEE KLSD PAGE 9
The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Emile Menasche Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Katonah-Lewisboro Times The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] Location 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC PAGE 2 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 A number of local students have been recognized for their academic achievements at colleges across the country! Graduations HAMILTON COLLEGE Kaitlyn Bieber Dean’s List ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY Dylan Berliner UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND Emma Hinkley Trey Lucciola Jordan May Kayli McMorrow Zachary Nyikos Grace Stellato WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Jesse Dunn Rebecca Rodriguez Celebrating our scholars! Lewisboro Library 15 Main St, South Salem, NY 10590 Please register for programs by visiting www.lewisborolibrary.org LEGO HOUR STARTING IN JULY Beginning on July 3, the Library will be holding a “Lego Hour” every Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The program is for students in grades three through five. There will be a different project each week (build your house, build a playground, etc) followed by free play. TEENS GET A TASTE OF MOROCCO On Friday, July 7 at 7 p.m., teens in middle and high school are invited to the Library to experience Morocco at “Cool for the Summer: Moroccan Mint Limonana.” Make a refreshing middle-eastern mint lemonade with fresh ingredients, and then paint a Moroccan tile. Browse some great YA titles that take place in this intriguing part of the world. AFTERNOON FILMS AT THE LIBRARY The Library’s “Monday Afternoon Film Series” continues in July with a screening of “Jerry & Marge Go Large” on July 10 at 1 p.m. Based on the true story of retiree Jerry Selbee, who discovers a mathematical loophole in the lottery and wins millions with the goal of reviving his small Michigan town. PAJAMA STORYTIME STARTS JULY 11 Beginning Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m., the Library will be hosting a “Pajama Storytime” for children of all ages. The program will repeat on Tuesday evenings through July 25. “MINUTE TO WIN IT” CHALLENGE FOR TEENS Teens in middle and high school are invited to the Library for a “Minute to Win It” game night on Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m. Sign up with a friend or individually and find out who can get the record in a number of hilarious challenges - like who can eat Fruit by the Foot fastest with no hands! WESTCHESTER POWER PRESENTATION ON JULY 12 On Wednesday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m., the Library is hosting “Westchester Power,” an informational session to update community members on changes to their energy supply. Representatives from Westchester Power and Sustainable Westchester will be discussing the details of the upcoming contract for NYSEG TOWN CROSSING SEE CROSSING PAGE 4 Nestled in a lush green hideaway of Yorktown Heights amidst tall evergreens and nature’s beauty, sits The Country House, recently named a Best Assisted Living community by U.S. News & World Report. We invite you to tour and learn more about how our services can benefit you or your loved one. Call (914) 249-9144 to schedule. Experience the Best THE Country House in westchester 2000 Baldwin Road · Yorktown Heights · thecountryhouseinwestchester.com LIC # 800-F-007
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 3 Have a Happy & Safe 4th of July! HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com John Jay High School’s Meghan Condon has been proudly named as the recipient of the PEO Jane Wahl STAR Scholarship Award. Throughout her time at JJHS, Condon was an integral part of both the Wolves field hockey and lacrosse teams, as well as a member of the National Charities League which provides hands-on support and fundraising for local charities. She also served as an ambassador for One Love, a national organization that promotes healthy relationships and how to develop the skills needed to navigate those relationships and a teen ambassador for Morgan’s Message, which addresses mental health issues in student athletes. Meghan will be attending Colgate University in the fall and plans to major in Biology. PEO is a national and international philanthropic organization dedicated to helping women at all stages of their lives to achieve their goals through educational support. The community-based organization is one of the largest in North America with almost 250,000 initiated members. PEO provides scholarships, grants, and loans for women desiring to expand their educational horizons and achieve their highest aspirations. To learn more about PEO and its educational mission, visit www. peointernational.org. Condon earns STAR Scholarship Award PHOTO COURTESY OF PEO Meghan Condon with members of Chapter O. A Katonah Firefighter, Devin Braun, is the 2023 recipient of the Donald R. Kellogg Memorial Scholarship. In its 20th year, the scholarship is awarded each year in memory of Donald R. Kellogg to honor his selfless service and commitment to our community. Dean W. Pappas, Ex-Chief and President of the Katonah Fire Department nominated Devin “as the ideal candidate given his community service and embodiment of the ‘hometown first’ philosophy that Donald R. Kellogg so clearly embraced and modeled.” Devin is an active member of the Katonah Fire Department through his attendance at fire calls, is the Engineer for Tanker 6, and has also contributed to the department by creating a database of members who own businesses to direct more work toward them. Donald’s son, Jeff Kellogg, was pleased with the selection stating, “Dad would be proud that the scholarship has achieved its 20th year of recognizing ‘quiet doers.’ He would have loved working side by side with Devin at the fire house, being a mentor and instilling his sense of giving back to the community.” In addition to volunteering for the fire department, Devin has volunteered at the Katonah Public Library, and has helped coach at Rising Stars, an alternative athletic program for developmentally disabled children in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District. Devin graduated from John Jay High School this spring and will be attending Syracuse University in the fall where he also plans to intern with the Syracuse Fire Department. Those interested in making a charitable contribution to the Donald R. Kellogg Scholarship Fund can send a check, payable to the Katonah United Methodist Church – earmarked Donald R. Kellogg Scholarship Fund – to the Katonah United Methodist Church, 7 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY 10536. Donald R. Kellogg Memorial Scholarship awarded to “Quiet Doer” PHOTO COURTESY OF DRK SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE Devin Braun, with Jeff and Nina Kellogg The Harvey School in Katonah has announced the names of the area students who have earned academic honors for the final marking period of the 2022-23 school year. The following have been awarded a Cavalier Scholar certificate (GPA of 4.0 or higher) or have earned places on the Head’s List (3.7 or higher) or Honor Roll (at least 3.3): Harrison Acrish, 12, Bedford Corners, Cavalier Scholar; Lily Acrish, 10, Bedford Corners, Cavalier Scholar; Logan Alexander, 10, Goldens Bridge, Cavalier Scholar; Dylan Bazaar, 11, Katonah, Head’s List; Emily Bigman, 7, Katonah, Head’s List; Ryan Byrne, 10, Goldens Bridge, Head’s List; Aislinn Carnes Swingle, 12, Pound Ridge, Head’s List; Amity Doyle, 7, Katonah, Head’s List; Lucinda Durkin, 12, Katonah, Head’s List; Jordan Falk, 9, Bedford, Cavalier Scholar; Sophie Frankel, 7, Katonah, Head’s List; Emma Galgano, 12, South Salem, Cavalier Scholar; Lilah Groff, 7, Waccabuc, Head’s List; Brandon Hall, 9, Goldens Bridge, Head’s List; Iliana Hellinger, 11, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Maximillian Hernandez, 10, Cross River, Head’s List: Perri Hines, 8, Pound Ridge, Head’s List; Anna Hodgson, 10, Mount Kisco, Honor Roll; Liz Hurley, 12, Mount Kisco, Honor Roll: Jonah Kass, 10, Katonah, Honor Roll; Casey Kelly, 9, South Salem, Head’s List; Sophia Kimmel, 8, Bedford, Head’s List; Eli Klagsbrun, 9, Katonah, Head’s List; Theo Klagsbrun, 11, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Ari Klein, 12, Bedford Corners, Cavalier Scholar; Emiliana Knauer, 12, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Aoife Lazzaro, 6, Katonah, Head’s List; Maeve Lazzaro, 9, Katonah, Cavalier Scholar; Senna Lieber, 6, Goldens Bridge, Head’s List; Luca Marano, 10, Bedford, Honor Roll; Shelby McCaine, 11, Katonah, Honor Roll: Stephen Millette, 8, Mount Kisco, Head’s List; Jason Nelson, 11, Pound Ridge, Head’s List; Jacob Pinney, 8, Katonah, Honor Roll; Daniela Rynott, 10, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Chloe Siddons, 9, Bedford, Honor Roll: Lila Silpe, 9, Bedford, Honor Roll; Emily Sorio, 10, Mount Kisco, Honor Roll; Michael Sorio, 11, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Peter Sorio, 11, Mount Kisco, Cavalier Scholar; Eve Tambor, 10, South Salem, Honor Roll; Charles Treseler, 12, Bedford, Cavalier Scholar; Tinsley Valenti, 10, Bedford, Head’s List; Riannah Wallach, 11, Pound Ridge, Head’s List; Spencer Whitman, 12, Katonah, Honor Roll. Information provided by The Harvey School. Local students shine at The Harvey School
PAGE 4 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 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 Do you understand the difference between an irrevocable and a revocable trust? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 rates, which starts December 1, 2023. They will present the details of the new contract, including the supplier and rates, and welcome questions the community may have on how to read their bill and energy related questions. WORKSHOP FOR ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS On Thursday, July 13 at 2 p.m., a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association will be holding a workshop at the Library on “Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior.” This workshop helps caregivers identify triggers for common behaviors associated with dementia and learn strategies for addressing these behaviors. For more details and to register, please visit the library website. Chronic Pain Support Group Research tells us that 50 million Americans live with chronic pain, or pain that lasts most days or every day for three months or more. Of this group, 20 million experience high-impact chronic pain, or pain that interferes with basic functioning and activities of daily living. Pain is the number one reason that Americans access the health care system, and costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatments, disability payments, and lost productivity. Support groups provide a forum for those with pain to gain support and learn about ways to manage pain and progress from patient to person. This group takes place over Zoom every other week. BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Conservative budgeting—essentially, erring on the side of caution, not optimism, in forecasting income and expenses—was among the fiscal practices credited last week with helping Bedford to maintain its coveted AAA bond rating. Not many Westchester municipalities achieve that top-tier credit status in the municipal bond market, an independent auditor told the Town Board’s June 20 meeting. “You should be very proud of that,” Alan Kassay, a partner in the accounting firm PKF O’Connor Davies LLP (Harrison), said in discussing his firm’s audit of 2022 town finances. Pride aside, the AA rating makes borrowing less expensive. “Overall, the audit went very well,” Kassay told the board, saying the examination found “no material weaknesses and no significant deficiencies.” The audit resulted in an “unmodified opinion... also known as a ‘clean’ opinion,” which Kassay called “the best opinion you could receive.” He applauded the town’s careful approach to fiscal forecasting. “It’s very important to budget on a conservative basis, which you have done for years,” he said. “And it’s proven to be beneficial.” In last year’s budget, for example, total revenue—income from all sources, such as state aid, sale taxes, fees and other streams—was forecast at only $24.5 million but came in at more than $27 million. Similarly, total spending was budgeted at $23 million but actual expenditures were less, by $1.46 million, or 6 percent. “All the top numbers . . . all those variances, are spread throughout various functions,” Kassay said, adding there were no negative variances—more money spent than expected—on the expenditure side. Kassay noted that the town’s unassigned fund balance—money appropriated in years past but not spent—had reached $12.7 million, or “about 48 percent of your 2023 budget.” “Some may think that’s excessive and high. But if you think not only in the percentage but also the dollar amount . . . if you had a major sewer project or highway project, [$12.7 million] wouldn’t even cover it,” he noted. “So, it’s a good fund balance,” Kassay said. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely a good fund balance. It’s certainly not excessive.” Comptroller Abraham Zambrano said having the extra cash in reserve can pay off by not forcing the town to tap credit markets to make up, say, for a shortfall in school property-tax collections. Those tax dollars must be remitted as scheduled to Bedford’s two school districts—whether or not the money has been collected. The fund balance “helps us not to have to borrow money when we have to make the school districts whole,” he said. Other municipalities have had to finance the expenditure by issuing tax-anticipation notes, Zambrano noted, “and that can get pretty expensive.” In the decade since Albany imposed a cap—nominally 2 percent, at most—in the amount local tax levies can rise year over year, healthy fund balances have also been tapped to balance budgets while remaining cap-compliant. Last year, as soaring inflation clearly outpaced the 2 percent cap, Bedford applied $500,000 in fund-balance cash to its revenue total. Zambrano said next year’s budget anticipates a $400,000 infusion [from fund balance], followed by $300,000 in 2025 “until we get back to $200,000, which has been the norm.” Bedford maintains AAA bond rating CROSSING FROM PAGE 2 SEE CROSSING PAGE 5
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 5 Please Join Us for our 1st annual Summer Kick-Off Networking Event $15.00 pp (Includes 1 drink & Passed Apps) HOTEL MTK Poolside Soiree Monday, July 10, 2023 5:30pm-7:30pm 1 Pat Reilly Way Mount Kisco, NY Raffles live Music Giveaways For more information, please call Ted Bloch at 914-552-6281 or email him at tednbloch@gmail. com. All conversations are kept strictly confidential. St John’s Episcopal Parish 82 Spring St., South Salem FOOD PANTRY Spread the word and get involved with the St. John’s Food Pantry! Distribution is every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. John’s. A food pantry box is available in the church parking lot 24/7 for those who cannot make it to pick up on Saturday morning - please take whatever you need from the box, as it will be replenished. Katonah Village Library 26 Bedford Rd, Katonah, NY 10536 www.katonahlibrary.org SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP Did you take Spanish in high School or college and wish you could practice the language again? There’s a group for you! Join on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 11:30 a.m. for Spanish Conversation Group. Register on the library’s website calendar. SIT AND KNIT AND OTHER HAND-CRAFTS Exchange pattern ideas, use your skills to help others - and most importantly - have fun! This group meets the first two Mondays of every month. However, holidays may impact. Check the website for updated times. NEED SOME TECH HELP? Get help with iPhones/Androids, Ebooks, Kindles, tablets, Zoom, Skype and more. Sign up for free one-on-one 30 minute tech support sessions. Tech-helper, Lucas, is a JJHS Junior, a volunteer for the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corp and an aspiring software engineer. Call to reserve a Thursday or Saturday time. 914-232-3508. Free Summer Music Series Wednesdays, thru July 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Cultural Arts Coalition in Brewster presents the Third Annual Brewster Summer Music Series. The series is FREE to all and will be held outdoors at the gazebo in Southeast Veterans Park, Morningthorpe & Railroad Avenues. Bring Eugene L. Hammer III Eugene L. “Bud” Hammer III of Katonah, passed away on June 13, 2023, after a short but courageous battle with Leukemia. His beloved wife Lisa and brother David were at his side. He was 58. Bud was a giving and thoughtful soul and will be missed and remembered by the many lives he touched. Always kind and quick with a grin, Bud was the consummate cheerleader who loved to talk and engage in deep conversations on any topic that piqued his curiosity. Forthright and honest, he was deeply passionate and focused on lifting others up and helping them be the best version of themselves. A lifelong resident of Westchester County, Bud was born in White Plains, NY on September 14, 1964, to Eugene and Madeline Hammer. He graduated from Pace University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing where he met his future wife and business partner Lisa (Fiorenza). Bud was the President and General Manager of Atlantic Westchester, Inc., an awardwinning commercial and industrial HVAC business located in Bedford Hills, NY. With his partner Lisa, Bud successfully grew Atlantic Westchester from the small “mom and pop” operation started by his parents to a multi-faceted enterprise offering intelligent, energy-efficient building management systems. Under his leadership, Atlantic Westchester earned several prestigious awards, and was recognized as a pioneer in environmentally friendly HVAC solutions. Bud was a strong believer in giving back to the community. In 2020, he was selected as Board Chair of United Way of Westchester and Putnam after joining the Board in 2017 and co-chairing the resource development committee and annual golf event. Bud also had a deep love for the New York Rangers, fast cars, classic rock and the blues, and the game of golf. He was rarely without his signature baseball cap, quick wit, willing attitude, and infectious smile. Bud will be greatly missed by his wife of 33 years Lisa and their pets as well as his brother David Hammer and family, his sister-in-law Laura Fiorenza and family, his brother-in-law Frank Fiorenza and family, and his many beloved friends and colleagues. Bud was predeceased by his father Eugene L. Hammer Jr., who died June 4, 2012 and mother Madeline Hammer, who died July 11, 2002. Visiting hours were held at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah on Saturday, June 24, followed by a short memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Way of Westchester and Putnam at www.uwwp.org/give OBITUARIES CROSSING FROM PAGE 4 SEE CROSSING PAGE 9
PAGE 6 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Dozens of members and supporters of Race Amity of Northern Westchester and Putnam gathered at Reis Park in Somers last Sunday to celebrate inclusiveness, equality, and justice. Folks enjoyed a potluck picnic, presentations, music, poetry, and opportunities to renew old friendships and make new ones. A performance was put on by young actors from New Era Creative Space, an arts organization based in Peekskill. The student-written play was inspired by Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2019. It commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. after the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation was declared in 1862, but enslaved persons in Texas weren’t informed until three years later. RANWP meets at the Somers Library on Primrose Street on the second Tuesday of every month. One of the group’s recent offerings was a talk by Mark Levy, a civil rights movement veteran, former teacher, and union organizer. Levy had volunteered for the Mississippi Freedom Summer project of 1964 as a teacher at the Meridian Freedom School in Lauderdale County. A proclamation, signed by Supervisor Robert Scorrano and presented by town Councilman Bill Faulkner, declared June 11 Race Amity Day in Somers. Noting that the nation “is comprised of multicultural, multiethnic, and multiracial citizens,” the town aims to “overcome racial prejudice and encourage respect, kindness, and amity as the commonly shared ideals across the United States,” it read. Similar declarations of support were offered by the county and by state Sen. Pete Harckham. Attendee Walter Heitner of Somers said he grew up in Brooklyn in the 1950s, which was then racially, socially, and economically divided. Despite it being the era of the so-called “Red Scare” where certain folks saw lefties and communists behind every bush, Heitner’s father and close family friends remained very open-minded. That “rescued” him, he recalled. Heitner grew up to become a printer. He worked closely with American folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger on a book about banjo playing. Shane Aiello, the library’s head of technical services, was manning a table offering children’s crafts, library books reflecting RANWP’s mission, and, most importantly, the chance to get a library card. Asked to comment on the event’s theme -- “Equity Through Race Amity - Developing Just Relationships” – Aiello said: “This world is getting more difficult to live in. We need to work together more.” RANWP co-founder and music teacher Susan Cody, opened with a song derived from a Bahá'í prayer. The refrain, as some folks have interpreted it: “The best beloved of all things in my sight is justice.” The religion, which was Race Amity Festival returns to Westchester PHOTOS: CAROL REIF THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 SEE RACE PAGE 8 STUNNING NEW CONSTRUCTION! Spectacular New Community — 3 Bedroom & 4 Bedroom models available, from $759,900 to $1.2 million. Open Floor Plans, Large Center Island Granite Kitchens, Custom Baths, Deluxe Primary Bedroom Suites (1st Floor Suites Available), 2 or 3-Car Garage Options, 16 Different Floor Plans, Luxury Clubhouse w/Pool, Tennis, Basketball, Fitness Center, Gathering Room, miles of Hiking & Riding Trails, Equestrian Center — most lots back up to Green Space. Over two thirds of the 300-acre Fortune Ridge property will remain ‘Forever Green’! Come Choose the Site for Your Dream Home! Contact Larry today! 914-282-6440 914-282-6440 [email protected] RE/MAX Classic Realty Call TODAY COME FOR A TOUR! PHASE 3 AT FORTUNE RIDGE! OPEN HOUSE SAT 7/1 1-3 PM Over 1/2 Sold — just a few cul de sac lots remaining LAWRENCE ZACKS The Fortune Ridge Expert 3+ Decades Experience Over 3,000 Families Helped
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 7 ADVERTORIAL Have you heard of Pickleball? Think of a slower moving, underhand-only version of Tennis that is played on a compact court. Pickleball is the fastest growing active sport in America for the third year running! There are now 36.5 million Americans who play Pickleball, and while originally invented as a game for kids, a third of Pickleball’s core players are now over the age of 65. THE PHYSICAL STRAINS THAT PLAYING PICKLEBALL IMPOSE ON OUR BODIES While less intense than Tennis, Pickleball is still a fast-paced game that requires quick reactions such as pivots, lunges, twists, and rotations. Because Pickleball serves are all underhand, your shoulders and upper body are less prone to overuse injuries compared to tennis and other racquet ball sports. However, underhand serves heighten the likelihood for strains and injuries to the back and lower body, so staying on top of warm-up exercises is key in preparation, practice, and play. EXERCISES TO PREVENT PICKLEBALL RELATED INJURIES Most players jump onto a pickleball court and start playing without any warm-up exercises. With such a substantial portion of pickleball players over the age of 40 and even 65, our bodies are less flexible, strong, and agile and thus more susceptible to overuse injuries. Acute injuries usually happen during a stumble or a fall as you backpedal for an overhead ball. You can reduce the risk of acute injuries by adding balance, agility, and proprioception exercises to your daily workout routine. Let’s get you ready to join the mainstream of pickleball players: 1. Make time to warm-up: a) Blood circulation: 5 minutes of fast-paced walking, swinging your arms and shoulders, bringing your knees high up to your chest. b) Stretches: i. Hold onto a sturdy fence/ wall, lunge forward with one leg with toes pointing straight forward, keep your back knee straight into a calf stretch. Hold for 10 seconds. Thereafter, lunge back by bending your back knee and keeping your front knee straight. Pull your front foot back and from your waist lean forward with your torso into a hamstring stretch. Hold for 10 seconds. Alternate the calf and hamstring stretches 5 times ii. Stand with your legs open wide. Lean to the one side and bend the knee until you feel the stretch in the opposite inner thigh. Hold for 10 seconds. Then bend to the other side. Repeat 5 times. Repeat but when you lean to the one side, raise the opposite arm overhead and rotate slightly across forward to add a lower back-torso stretch. iii. Roll your wrist around in circles. stretch your fingers wide open and then into a fist as you stretch your neck from side to side. 2. Cool down after a game of pickleball: repeat the same gentle stretches you performed for the warm-up. 3. Regular strengthening exercise routine to protect your back and knees: a) Lie on your back, tighten your core, and slowly raise your buttock up in the air into a bridge (by lifting from your coccyx slowly up as you squeeze your Glutes and rolling up to your lower back). Hold for 10 seconds. b) Lie on your back with one knee bent and foot flat. Tighten your core muscles and lift your straight leg straight up in the air with foot flexed back. Lower your raised leg. Lift the same leg up with your leg and foot turned out. Lower your leg. Lift the same leg and turn your foot and leg inwards. Repeat the 3-directional leg raises10 times. 4. Balance, proprioception, and agility training: a) Imagine you are standing in the middle of a clock. Stand upright with your weight on the balls of your feet, knees slightly bent. b) Place your left foot on the imaginary “9 o’clock” and right foot on “3 o’clock”. Transfer your weight in a fast-paced movement from one foot to the other as if you are dancing or jogging in place. Now move your right leg slowly forward to the “12 o’clock” position and your left leg to the “6 o’clock” position. Next, reverse the right leg to the “6’o clock” and the left leg to “12 o’clock” positions. Repeat going counterclockwise. c) If you can, repeat the above two clockwise and counterclockwise movements but with your eyes closed. Closing your eyes will add proprioception – the mind body awareness in space without the use of your eyes for balance. LIZE LUBBE GUEST CORNER DON’T PLACE YOURSELF IN A PICKLE—WARM-UP BEFORE PICKLEBALL Besides the above exercise, ensure you wear the proper shoes: pickleball is mostly played on an Asphalt surface, which is a difficult surface for the body. Wear sport shoes that provide adequate side-to-side support and court traction to prevent ankle and foot injuries and falls. Enjoy playing pickleball, and adequately prepare for your games to minimize injuries. If you experience any pain or discomfort, please contact your health care provider or physical therapist. *See https://www.thedinkpickleball. com/app-participation-report-2023/ We are hands on PTs! The professional services of the team at Lize Lubbe Physical Therapy include: • Pre & Post Surgery Rehabilitation • Sports Injury Rehabilitation • Neurological Rehabilitation • Treatment of Musculoskeletal & Orthopedic Conditions • Postural, Balance & Gait Training • Pain & Headache Management • Body Rebalancing through Diaphragm, Breathing & Pelvic Stability www.lizelubbept.com [email protected] 914.875.9430 892 NY-35, Cross River, NY 10518 (blue office building) Lize Lubbe is the owner of Lize Lubbe Physical Therapy with its main practice located at 892 Route 35 in Cross River and a PT Studio in the premises of Apex Fitness (where her team focus on the rehabilitation of sports-related injuries). Learn more by calling 914-875-9430, emailing [email protected] or visiting www. lizelubbept.com.
PAGE 8 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 founded in the 19th century, teaches the essential worth of all faiths and the unity of all people. Quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King and others that elaborated on that theme were peppered throughout the program and presentations were made by everyone from Amy Erard of the Hudson Valley Islamic Community Center to Priscilla Augustine, president of the Peekskill NAACP, to the Rev. Paul Tesshin Silverman, an ordained Zen Buddhist priest and the first Westerner to head a Zen Temple in Japan. Singer Aimie Schneider, Cody’s granddaughter, closed the entertainment part of the festivities with a heartfelt rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me.” Baba Kazi Oliver of Peekskill, dubbed the ambassador of West African drumming in the Hudson Valley, led a music workshop that delighted the intergenerational audience with his energy, enthusiasm, obvious dedication to education, and deep personal faith. As RANWP aims to advance inclusiveness, equality, and justice through communication and celebration, Oliver’s participation in the event was fitting. One of the seven principles of Kwanzaa -- Umoja, or unity -- stresses the importance of togetherness. It is reflected in the African saying, “I am We,” or “I am because We are.” To contact RANWP, email [email protected] RACE FROM PAGE 6 PHOTOS: CAROL REIF Baba Kazi Oliver Nola Blair, David and Judyth Stavans, Charmaine Aleong, and Susan Cody of Race Amity of Northern Westchester and Putnam with Tito Davila (representing Sen. Pete Harckham) and African drummer Baba Kazi Oliver Leslie Field-Cruz, Aisha Oyervide, Emma Fernandez, Abigail Asalsa, and Maya Cruz 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 • 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 Point B Planning, LLC d/b/a/ AtwoB (“AtwoB”) is a registered investment adviser. A copy of AtwoB’s current written disclosure statement discussing AtwoB’s business operations, services, and fees is available at the SEC’s investment adviser public information website or from AtwoB upon written request. This article is for information only and should not be considered investment advice. Michael Tom CFP® CFA® • Jeff Wund • Todd Rebori, CFA® www.AtwoB.com • (914) 302-3233 23 Parkway, Second Floor • Katonah, NY 10536 Why AtwoB? • Boutique, Independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) • Owner-Operated, Your Money Matters to Us • Legally Obligated to Act in Your Best Interests 100% of the Time • Unbiased – Paid Only By Clients, No Commissions or Hidden Fees • High-Touch, Attentive Service You Can Depend On • Employer-Sponsored Retirement Solutions for Business Owners Financial Planning Investment Management Tax Preparation & Planning Business Retirement Plan Services
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My philosophy is grounded in the belief there is always room for improvement and growth. While I may not have all the answers, I am confident enough to ask hard questions, to keep an open mind, and to truly listen.” Hirsh, a Goldens Bridge resident who is the mother of an Increase Miller firstgrader and the assistant director of curriculum and instructional services at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, persuaded almost 1,100 residents to write in her name on last month’s school board ballot. If appointed, she wrote in an email, “I will diligently collaborate with fellow board members, educators, parents and students to promote academic excellence, strengthen opportunities and access for all students, and ensure fiscal responsibility. . . . I am excited about the prospect of contributing to the growth and success of our district, and I believe that my skills and commitment will enable me to make a positive and lasting impact.” Though her 1,081 votes was an impressive total for a write-in candidate, she trailed in the May 16 balloting for two seats behind Lorraine Gallagher (2,147 votes) and Bill Swertfager (2,127). Both will become trustees officially on July 1, the new school year’s start, but they were invited to take part in the closed board meetings that have taken place since Gereghty’s resignation. Another longtime board critic, Matthew Goglia, whose electoral challenge also fell short last year, initially declared himself a candidate for Gereghty’s seat. But, he said in an email at week’s end, “I’ve given it a lot of thought over the past week and this is just not the right time for me. I still plan to keep engaged though!” Marc Abrams—Goglia’s running mate in 2022 and a fellow leader in the Special Needs Advocacy Group, which is critical of KLSD’s approach to special-education students—did not apply for the appointment, calling the search for Gereghty’s successor a “sham.” “The entire group of us (and apparently many in the community) look at this as a planned ruse,” he wrote in an email. “They have every intention of selecting another sycophant of [Superintendent Andrew] Selesnick and the board, rather than face a sudden threat to the ‘majority thinking’ that has supported incompetence and criminal actions. I have no intention of playing along with this ruse.” Other KLSD residents have made similar remarks on social media and in outreach to the media. No one contacted by The Katonah-Lewisboro Times has provided evidence to support their suspicions, potentially nurtured by the board’s deliberations beyond public view. Normally a seven-member body, the school board was scheduled to meet again behind closed doors this past Tuesday (June 27) to consider the appointment. KLSD officials insist that the board can meet in a socalled “executive,” or closed, session without running afoul of a state mandate that public bodies conduct all their business—discussions as well as actions—in the open. The decades-old Open Meetings Law does permit some closed sessions, but it limits those exceptions to nine specific reasons. Among them is discussion of “the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to [that person’s] appointment . . .” As a result, the law is generally seen as permitting a closed meeting to discuss those very personal matters but not of the search generally to fill the board vacancy. KLSD FROM PAGE 1 the family, lawn chairs and a picnic to enjoy local bands and acoustic opening acts Wednesday evenings. There are no rain dates. Visit BrewsterMusic Festival.com for complete details and performance schedule. Westchester Female Flag Football Registration is open for Summer Female Flag Football under the lights! Westchester Female Flag Football, powered by Gridiron Partners, offers a summer league for adults (Thursday evenings) and youth (Tuesday evenings) from late June through early August at the Somers High School main football turf field. Please visit their website to learn more and register https://clubs. bluesombrero.com/gridiron. Visit them on Instagram and Facebook @gridironpartnersinc Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam MONTHLY MEETING Please join us for our monthly discussion as we work to advance cross-racial and crosscultural amity to impact the public discourse on race. Our monthly meetings feature speakers, screenings, and presentations where discussions are aimed at educating one another on who we really are. Visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/138495877899 to register for this online event. RideConnect Rideconnect has volunteers ready to help drive seniors to their medical appointments and assist with shopping. Services are free to seniors residing in Westchester and southern Putnam Counties. To request assistance call (914) 242-7433. Anyone wishing to volunteer for Rideconnect may do so by emailing Marietta Manoni at mmanoni@ fsw.org Virtual Support Groups Support groups for women with breast and ovarian cancers have been transitioned to virtual platforms. Virtual groups are accessible to women from the comfort of their homes, regardless of where they live. All groups are open to new members as well as past participants. Advance registration is required by calling 914-962-6402 or 800-532- 4290. Support Connection’s Peer Counselors are also available for individual counseling and assistance via phone and email. Call 800-532- 4290, or submit an online request at supportconnection.org. CROSSING FROM PAGE 5
PAGE 10 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIM 2 TRACKS On June 11, Lewisboro Town Park became a place of unity and hope. This year, Gossett Brothers Nursery Presents: RARE helped the Salla Treatment and Research (STAR) Foundation in their mission to benefit childhood rare disease research. The day featured pony rides, tours of fire trucks and police cars, face painting, burgers and hot dogs grilled by the Lions Club, free beer courtesy of Captain Lawrence, wine provided by Polaner Selections, a performance by magician RJ Lewis, and an appearance by Kevin Kujawa, an autistic juggler with the Big Apple Circus. Special needs workers from The Prospector Theater in Ridge Mredith Windisch and her parents Nicole and Rich at the crafts table. Erin and Richard Margraf helping Henry, and Violet, tye-dye shirts Charlotte Silver getting her face painted by Kate O’Conner RJ Lewis RA event ret Lewis Georgi Biddle decorating rocks 855.281.6439 I Free Quotes UP TO Could your kitchen use a little magic? ON YOUR FULL KITCHEN REMODEL* SAVE 10% *Discount applies to purchase of new cabinets or cabinet refacing with a countertop. Does not apply to countertop only projects. May not combine with other offers or prior purchases. Exp.3/31/23. NP-263. NY: Nassau: H1759490000 Suffolk: 16183-H NY/Rockland: 5642
ES – THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 PAGE 11 field, CT, sold popcorn and handed out movie tickets, and the Harlem Wizards presented their world-famous basketball show, sponsored by Burke Energy. The afternoon’s events were proudly sponsored by Captain Lawrence, Tomahawk Farm Pediatrics, Goldens Bridge Veterinary Care, Saltarelli Industries, King Lumber, Gossett Brothers Nursery, Westchester Animal Behavior, and Cross River Eye Care. 100% of the day’s proceeds were donated to Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and Einstein University’s Rose F. Kennedy Center for their continued research into Childhood Rare Diseases. Dominique, Harley, and Anthony Lombardi Lily and Nola Sheehan at a crafts table Zander Mazella riding a pony Jennifer Foglio, Salla Treatment and Research Foundation Founder speaking at the RARE fundraiser. ARE turns to sboro PHOTOS: KELSEY QUINN LEARY 2 TRACKS BOGO 40% OFF OFFER ENDS 10/31 888-448-0421
Opinion PAGE 12 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 2 TRACKS BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] 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 Katonah-Lewisboro Times 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 914-302-5830 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC Editor’s Note: Don Scott is a candidate for Bedford Town Board. All candidates on the ballot for Town Board are invited to send columns to this newspaper. Send them to [email protected]. Please keep to a 1,000-word limit. The lame-duck session of the Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education was not without controversy. Liz Whitmer Gereghty, who officially launched her campaign for the U.S. Congress on May 9, announced her resignation from the Board of Education. Good on her for doing that. It was the right call. But the timing of the announcement was “particularly awkward,” according to Board President Marjorie Schiff. Even if Gereghty had resigned from the school board at the same time she announced her run for Congress, her late scratch would not have left time to put her seat on the ballot for the May school board race. They discussed three options. First, leave the seat open until the next election 10 months from now, in May 2024. Second, appoint someone to fill the seat in the interim. They would have to run for the seat in 2024. It would only be for the remainder of Gereghty’s term, which would only have one year left. Finally, have a special election within the next 90 days to fill the seat. What is particularly awkward about the timing is that the decision is being made by three of seven members who won’t be around next month. At the same time, the two newly elected trustees, Bill Swertfager and Lorraine Gallagher, who take office this week on July 1, didn’t have a vote and couldn’t participate in the discussion. Unfortunately, it looks as though the board is inclined to take the least democratic and least transparent route by appointing to fill the position. There are times when this might be the right call, but this is not one of those times. If there was little interest in running for the board and it was hard to find a candidate to run, I’d love the appointment route. Recent elections have been contested and have generated lots of interest. So finding candidates willing to stand for election isn’t hard. Particularly troubling was the board’s discussion about the appointment in advance of moving into executive session to discuss candidates. Trustee Rory Burke mentioned the “elephant in the room” as a candidate, presumably referring to Samantha Hirsh who ran a write-in campaign receiving a third of the vote. There are at least three other candidates who have run in the recent past and received similar vote totals to Hirsh. If they apply, how does the board pick one over the other? There are problems with having an executive session discussion about candidates, since the district had not yet announced that they were soliciting applications. The clear advice I received as a board member on the Bedford Town Board is that this is not an appropriate executive session topic. The conversation should take place in public at the appropriate time. Also, finding candidates in a two-week window with graduations, the beginning of summer, closing of schools, etc., is a challenge. The decision about an appointment should be made with the new board, not the old board. Appointing a candidate who has failed at the ballot box sends an anti-democratic message, in addition to giving the appointee a huge advantage in the next election. The board, especially a lame-duck board, should not be putting their thumb on the scale. If they are going the appointment route, they should select someone who is not interested in running next May. One of the two retiring board members would be perfect? What’s one more year? Do they even need to go the appointment route? Operating with six board members for 10 months shouldn’t be a problem. For decades, there were only five trustees and it seemed to work fine. It’s also important to be respectful of the two new board members who will be joining the other four to include them in the process in a meaningful way. There is still time to get it right. School board stumbles out of the starting gate There is still time to get it right ‘Bill Swertfager and Lorraine Gallagher, who take office this week on July 1, didn’t have a vote and couldn’t participate in the discussion.’ DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 13 Open July 4TH 9-1 MKT-9811C-A > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC Bring on the fireworks and freedom! Happy July Fourth Judi R McAnaw Financial Advisor 200 Business Park Dr Suite 107 Armonk, NY 10504 914-669-5329 > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC IRT-1948K-A New job, new retirement account options Changing jobs? Consider these 401(k) options: • Leave the money in your previous employer’s plan • Move it to your new employer’s plan • Roll it over to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) • Cash out the account subject to early withdrawal penalties We can talk through your financial goals and find the option that works best for you. Judi R McAnaw Financial Advisor Somers Financial Center 332 Route 100 Suite 300 Somers, NY 10589 914-669-5329 > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC IRT-1948K-A New job, new retirement account options Changing jobs? Consider these 401(k) options: • Leave the money in your previous employer’s plan • Move it to your new employer’s plan • Roll it over to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) • Cash out the account subject to early withdrawal penalties We can talk through your financial goals and find the option that works best for you. Judi R McAnaw Financial Advisor Somers Financial Center 332 Route 100 Suite 300 Somers, NY 10589 914-669-5329 MKT-9811C-A > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC Bring on the fireworks and freedom! Happy July Fourth Judi R McAnaw Financial Advisor 200 Business Park Dr Suite 107 Armonk, NY 10504 914-669-5329 List Your Home with Confidence RITA CARROZZA Real Estate Salesperson M 914.806.5470 | O 914.232.5007 Ext. 226 [email protected] | ritacarrozza.houlihanlawrence.com K ATONAH BROKER AGE 143 K ATONAH AVE K ATONAH, NY 10536 Source: OKMLS, 1/1/22-12/31/22, total dollar volume of single family homes sold by company, Katonah-Lewisboro SD THE #1 BROKERAGE IN KATONAH-LEWISBORO Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as the old saying goes. But when that beautiful work of art is a spray-painted slice of pizza on the façade of a restaurant created in the dark of night, opinions are mixed. Is that colorful slice of cheese and pepperoni pizza art or is it vandalism? Over the last couple of months, at least eight pizza shops in Westchester County have discovered graffiti spray painted on their outside walls in the form of a colorful slice of pepperoni, cheese and green pepper pizza. The signature spray painted slice seems to be the “tag” of the same anonymous artist. Does the artist simply enjoy pizza and is displaying his opinion of the best places in the county, or is there another message being conveyed? Pizzerias in Yonkers, Larchmont, Eastchester, Pelham, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle and Tuckahoe have been tagged. Some owners immediately tried to power wash off the spray painted slice. Others admitted to reporters that they might have given permission to the artist if asked, and possibly even paid for the delicious looking art. But this type of unwanted graffiti is vandalism. The artist could face criminal charges if apprehended. This “pizza bandit,” as labeled in the media, is the latest in a number of well-known graffiti artists who enjoy the thrill of creating their art in unexpected places under cover of darkness. The anonymous street artist named Banksy is world famous for his whimsical, political and cultural graffiti art. According to the internet, Banksy started his public street art displays in his hometown of Bristol, England in the early 1990s. He produced his art on the sides of trains and public places around the city. In the 2000s, Banksy’s street art began to appear in more cities across the UK and around the world. Banksy’s most recognized image, Girl with Balloon, was painted on a wall in London in 2002. Several images appeared in New York City including Hammer Boy in 2013. The image of a young boy lifting a hammer to strike a fire hydrant is an example of how Banksy incorporates actual objects into his art. In 2022 Banksy created multiple images around bombed sites in Ukraine outside of Kyiv. His murals display solidarity with Ukraine through the satiric and political commentary of the images. Graffiti artist Sandra Fabara, a.k.a. Lady Pink, was born in Ecuador and moved to Queens as a child with her family in the early 1970s. As a teen, Lady Pink started spray painting her boyfriend’s name on city walls after he was sent to live in Puerto Rico. She progressed to tagging the sides of subway cars late at night with her graffiti artist name, “Lady Pink,” in bold colorful lettering. As a female graffiti artist among the maledominated graffiti crews, Lady Pink established her street cred. In 1980, her art was included in a New York show at Fashion Moda. She received worldwide recognition after her 1982 role in an independent film, “Wild Style,” about graffiti art and artists. Today Lady Pink’s graffiti art work is on display in museums around the world. She holds mural workshops and is paid to create colorful spray paint murals in her signature style. You can get creative and express yourself without breaking the law by signing up for my new six-week summer sessions of creative writing for adults via Zoom! Morning (10:30 a.m. – noon) and evening (6:30 – 8 p.m.) classes are offered by the Pound Ridge Library free starting on Tuesday, July 11. Please call the Pound Ridge Library to register at 914-764-5085. Kim Kovach expresses herself through writing! www. kimkovachwrites.com. Art of self-expression KIM KOVACH READING, WRITING & CHOCOLATE
PAGE 14 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah Railroad station. • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars We Carry A Complete Line of • Monuments & inscriptions available. BioGuard Pool Treatments Have you ever found life’s responsibilities so overwhelming that you imagined yourself stuck on a neverending treadmill that just kept speeding up? If so, you probably deserve a vacation. Or you could just read Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus.” While I can’t book your vacation, I can hopefully help you with understanding “The Myth of Sisyphus.” According to the ancient Greek myth, Sisyphus so provoked the wrath of Zeus that he was condemned for eternity to roll a huge boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll back down again. The brilliant existentialist, Albert Camus, saw this story as a metaphor for the absurdity of life. Human beings, he believed, are similarly condemned to lives of “futile and hopeless labor” without reasonable hope of fulfilling their true needs. Even though Camus and I lived in time periods which only overlapped slightly, I wish I could have met him. Despite his fame, he was a straightforward, unpretentious, approachable person who always made time for friends, actors and young philosophers just starting out. Camus was proud to be a human being. Despite the flavor of some of his writing, he reportedly loved life. It is said that Camus found joy in “the sun, the sea, and a youthful heart.” I imagine a robust conversation, had fate allowed us to meet. I most certainly would have expressed my dissent to his notion that life, absent an externally generated objective purpose, is absurd. I further would have voiced vehement disagreement with his support of the so-called “existential predicament”—the idea that the world we live in is valueless. A close examination of Camus’ essay on Sisyphus reveals that our imaginary conversation may have found some common ground. Despite our disagreements, Camus provides important insights, especially with regards to our life’s journey. In his famous essay, “The Myth of Sisyphus,” Camus turns the obvious lesson of the allegory on its head by making Sisyphus a hero who, although destined to never reach his goal, finds meaning and purpose, nonetheless. Camus writes, “I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burden again. But Sisyphus reaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” Camus asserted that all of us, by struggling against our Sisyphean fate to the end, can rebel against the absurdity of our lives and, in the process, find the ever elusive meaning we sought in the first place. His sentiment reminds me of the wise modernday slogan that life’s true meaning is not found in the destination but, rather, in the journey. I see the Greek allegory of Sisyphus’s plight as a critique of societal norms and expectations. It challenges the notion that success and achievement are the ultimate goals in life. Sisyphus’s task, which resulted in no lasting progress or reward, questions the value we place on productivity and external validation. It suggests to me that we should reevaluate our priorities and consider alternative forms of fulfillment and satisfaction that may not conform to societal expectations. Many of us have experienced profound disappointment in our lives. I, for instance, often failed to achieve what I sought to accomplish. But I take solace in the moral I see in “The Myth of Sisyphus.” I look at it as a lesson of perseverance and resilience. Despite the futility of his task, Sisyphus continues to push the rock up the mountain, demonstrating an unwavering determination and commitment. In our own lives, we too can find meaning and purpose in the most challenging of circumstances. Along the same lines, Aristotle was adamant in his conviction that our quest for happiness should focus not on goals but, rather, on what accompanies certain activities. It is a way of doing things. I am not sure that Sisyphus was happy, as Camus asserts. But that is not the question we should ask. The issue is, did he find meaning in his work? Think of Socrates, Jesus, Gandhi, Mandela, Michelangelo, Beethoven and Virginia Woolf. When we think of them, is the first thing that enters our mind that they were happy? They may all have been happy, but that is not their defining characteristic. The mistake we make by putting emphasis on happiness is that we forget that life is a process defined by activity and motion. There is no perfect state of being. Change is the essence of life. In examining this issue, scholars have distinguished between synchronic and diachronic meaning. Synchronic meaning depends on your state of being at any one moment in time, like being happy with your job because you just got a raise. Diachronic meaning depends on the journey you are on, like being happy because you are making progress toward purchasing a house. Of course, it’s wonderful to accomplish our goals and reach our destination. However, we must understand that life is really about the journey. In 2021, I retired after 45 years with The Legal Aid Society, repJourney triumphs over destination in life’s purpose JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE SEE MARTORANO PAGE 16
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 15 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Bulletin Board and reach over 3,500 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board VIKING LYNX MONOGRAM SUBZERO SCOTSMAN BERTAZZONI BOSCH BEST DCS GE MARVEL MIELE MAYTAG ELECTROLUX WHIPSPERKOOL FRIDGIDAIRE Trusted Repair That Will Stand the Test of Time Grills | Washers | Dryers | Refrigerators | Ovens | Ranges | Wine Coolers Serving Westchester County PH: 914.864.1252 6 Mark Mead Road • Cross River, NY 10518 Email: [email protected] www.appliancegenie.com AUTHORIZED SERVICE FOR VIKING, LYNX, FRIGIDAIRE Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. For promo details please call 844-919-1682 CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 844-919-1682 O First Month of New Service! USE PROMO CODE: GZ59O from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Call to get your FREE Information Kit 1-855-225-1434 Dental50Plus.com/nypress Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. 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, NY; 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). 6208-0721 DENTAL Insurance Visit Our Display Center: 747 Pierce Road, Clifton Park, NY, 12065 • Sales • Rentals • Service • Buybacks New and Reconditioned Lifts Stay in the home you Love! ELEVATORS • STAIR LIFTS • WHEELCHAIR LIFTS • RAMPS Locally Owned & Operated BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 52 YEARS! WE BUY: GOLD • STERLING SILVER • JEWELRY • COINS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • CLOCKS • COLLECTIBLES • ANTIQUES • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! Promo Code: 285 FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 1 Subject to credit approval. Call for details. FREE GUTTER ALIGNMENT + FREE GUTTER CLEANING* SENIORS & MILITARY! YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE* 20 + % % OFF 10 OFF *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only. 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufactured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. Registration# 0366920922 CSLB# 1035795 Registration# HIC.0649905 License# CBC056678 License# RCE-51604 Registration# C127230 License# 559544 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2102212986 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 2106212946 License# MHIC111225 Registration# 176447 License# 423330 Registration# IR731804 License# 50145 License# 408693 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# H-19114 License# 218294 Registration# PA069383 License# 41354 License# 7656 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 423330 License# 2705169445 License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE 1-855-478-9473 Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller (Westchester/Putnam) Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC GENERATOR INSTALLATIONS LICENSED & INSURED NY & CT 914-763-5555 CHARLES GEORGE • POUND RIDGE, NY AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 Find Out What Your Home Might Be Worth Scan for Instant Results John Buckley Licensed Associate Real Esate Broker c: 914.227.4201 e: [email protected] 95 Katonah Avenue | Katonah, NY 10536
PAGE 16 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 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! ADMISSION: $5.00 • Children 12 and under FREE! www.GoshenHistoricTrack.com • (845) 294-5333 Email: [email protected] Open to General Public RACES July 1 - 3 ALL POST TIMES: 1:00 PM Gates open at 11am Music in the Park Veteran’s Park in Greenville | Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm Dutchman’s Landing Park in Catskill | Thursdays 7-9pm Windham Mountain Resort | Fridays 6-8:30pm Coxsackie Riverside Park | Sundays 6-8pm Athens Riverfront Park | Fridays 7-9pm #FindYourCatskills It happens here. Feel it. Breathe it. Live it. MARTORANO FROM PAGE 14 Contact Us The Katonah-Lewisboro Times is located at 118 N Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914- 302-5830 or email [email protected]. Dear Dr. Linda, Our son Mikey is completing second grade, but is still reading on first-grade level. That’s no shock to me because I had a lot of problems learning to read. His teacher recommended that he go to the school’s summer reading camp. My wife thinks that’s a great idea, but I don’t. I want him to go to a regular day camp where he can play all summer. I was sent to those summer reading camps. They’re from 9 to 12, five days a week. Every afternoon I’d try to find a friend to play ball with or go swimming with. But all my friends were in day camp. I can’t speak for the other kids with me—maybe they loved it and got a lot out of it. I just remember feeling so bad because I wanted to go to camp with my friends. My wife says that he’ll love it and that I’m suffering from the “grass is always greener” syndrome. Whatever it is, I can’t do this to him. Not being able to read is a punishment in itself, but it doesn’t have to ruin his summer too. I know because I was once Mikey myself. -Allan Dear Allan, When a child has difficulty learning to read, school is usually not a happy place for them. It’s not a good feeling for kids watching classmates move ahead while they’re still in the beginning level books, because it impacts self-esteem. It isn’t until much later that we can separate what we can and can’t do from our importance as people. And you know that no matter when you figure that out, the feelings experienced during those formative years don’t really go away when you “grow up.” School experiences are no different than other childhood experiences. They stay with you forever. That little child in you is always there even though you have changed physically and have learned how to cope with life a little better. Many maladaptive adult responses are based on childhood experiences that were never dealt with properly at the time. With this in mind, how do you decide what is best for Mikey? Begin by asking yourself, regardless of how he gets it, if Mikey would benefit from reading instruction over the summer. To help you with your answer, I’d like to share some research with you. It has been shown that by the end of summer break, struggling students who have not had instruction during the summer fall further behind than where they were at the end of the school year. Of course, not all students experience a loss. The children who love to read may read even more over the summer and see their reading skills improve. But, for the most part, when a child is struggling in reading, even more than in math, s/he will most likely slide backwards over the summer if s/he doesn’t receive remediation. Therefore, it is essential that Mikey receive reading help during the summer months. So, how do you accomplish that while guaranteeing that he has a fun and relaxed summer? Here are three options to help you and your wife decide what to do. OPTION 1 Mikey attends the school summer reading program from 9 to 12, and then have every afternoon free to do what he wants. But, before you sign him up, be sure that the summer program the school is offering specifically addresses Mikey’s needs. Also, contact day camps, his friends, town programs, etc., to help plan his afternoons. And although he is like you, Mikey isn’t you. Other variables are also at play—he may love the summer school program. OPTION 2 Mikey attends a day camp that also offers reading support. OPTION 3 Mikey attends a day camp and then meets with a private tutor after camp or on the weekends. -Dr. Linda Have a tutoring or other school-related question? Ask Dr. Linda directly by emailing her at Linda@ stronglearning.com. Struggling students fall further behind during summer DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING resenting indigent clients in the Bronx. At the time, I didn’t feel like I had reached any real destination. I experienced depression as I profoundly missed the activity of helping those who needed my assistance. Like Sisyphus, I found meaning in pushing the boulder up the mountain. Now I am back in local courts, happy once more to help those who need me. Purpose, not contentment, seems to be what provides meaning for my life. So, my dear friends, if you feel overwhelmed at the hands of life’s demands, don’t despair. Understand that just the process of coping, day in and day out, is itself a wonderful, fulfilling accomplishment of which we can all feel proud.
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 17 Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 914-302-5628. To help newsrooms struggling with ongoing business pressures, the New York Press Association this summer will begin offering training to community members interested in covering news for their local paper. Drops in advertising and subscriber revenue as well as increases in production costs have led to substantial reductions in staffing in most newsrooms across the country. Supplementing existing coverage with trained community correspondents will help newspapers fill gaps in existing coverage, especially in small towns. The training will give participants basic guidance to build upon on the job under the supervision of editors. The four-part online program will focus on journalism basics such as ethics, accuracy in reporting, interviewing techniques and writing clearly. To earn certification, participants must complete all four sessions and pass a written test. The training is being offered free through NYPA’s member newspapers. “We’re not aiming to replace traditional journalists with this program,” said Judy Patrick, the association’s vice president for editorial development. “We’re working to expand local news coverage and build on our industry’s longstanding tradition of community correspondents.” The online training will be offered four times a year; the first sessions will be July 10-13. Registration is open through July 7 by contacting [email protected]. Calling all prospective community correspondents New York Press Association Press Pass program 4-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday: July 10-13 One: Introduction to journalism • First Amendment explainer • Ethics • Difference between news and opinion: news and advertising • News literacy • Business of newspaper explainer Two: Accuracy • Checking the facts • Writing clearly • Sticking to style (discuss AP style and what style is in general) • Explaining off-the-record, on background, etc. • Basic newswriting, the inverted pyramid and how to write a lede • Libel Three: On the job • How to comport yourself on the job • How to interview • How to find news • Different kinds of stories (hard, soft, feature) • How to find and develop sources • Why deadlines matter, why stories get cut, why you can’t make promises about publication Four: Working the beat • The basics of local government in NYS • Covering budgets • Covering education • Covering politics • Basic investigative tools • Open government tools in NYS • Social media 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. REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (877) 516-1160 Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value! 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
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Mature couple in Lewisboro looking for part-time bookkeeper and home office support, including scheduling, organizing, and errands. $30/ hr. 6-12 hrs/wk flexible schedule. 646-820-5130 To advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. ON YOUR INSTALLATION 60% OFF Limited Time Offer! SAVE! TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Additional savings for military, health workers and fi rst responders 10% OFF New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/licenses/ MADE IN THE U.S.A. New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and 1.855.492.6084 FREE ESTIMATE Expires 6/30/2023 Before After Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE when tackling your roof! 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. Leo Leo is 10 years old. 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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 19 The Era of No Lookback Periods for Medicaid Homecare Is Finally Coming to an End In New York! Barring another pandemic or other significant health emergency, on March 31, 2024, the days of being able to gift away your assets in New York without creating any period of ineligibility for Community Medicaid (also known as Medicaid Homecare) will be coming to an end. On March 31, 2024, any uncompensated transfer of assets (gift of assets) will create a 30-month lookback period for Community Medicaid retroactive to all uncompensated transfers made on or after Oct. 1, 2020. It should be noted that although these transfers have had no impact on eligibility for Community Medicaid for decades, they have always created a 60-month (five year) lookback for Medicaid nursing home. This change in the law will have a major impact on seniors who want to age in place at home and access the Medicaid home care program, which provides seniors with paid home health aides. The aides assist seniors in performing activities of daily living (ADL’s), such as walking, dressing, feeding, going to the bathroom and bathing. Thus, if on April 1, 2024, a single person (no spouse) has nonIRA/non-retirement liquid assets greater than the resource exclusion ($30,180 for 2023), they will be creating a 30-month (2-1/2 years) lookback and ineligibility period for Community Medicaid, unless a “Medicaid Crisis Plan” can be implemented for the applicant’s resources, which would help reduce the ineligibility period below 30 months. For seniors who are currently struggling to remain at home (including those who reside at an assisted living facility) because of both physical and cognitive incapacities, the implementation of the 30-month lookback can be a devastating blow. Thus, we are encouraging our clients who are in need of assistance with their ADL’s to make the requisite transfer of their non-IRA/non-retirement resources above the current resource limit prior to March 31, 2024, and to apply for Community (homecare) Medicaid before March 31, 2024. It is critical that both the transfer and application for Community Medicaid be made before March 31, 2024, to avoid the 30-month lookback. Although one’s physical incapacities may not be significant enough to warrant 12 or 24 hours of care per day, it is important to be in the system and receiving any amount of approved care before the 30-month lookback commences. As one’s condition continues to deteriorate and additional hours of care are required, one can request that their care needs be reevaluated and that additional hours of care be provided. Being proactive in seeking homecare prior to March 31, 2024, is of great importance. Anthony J. Enea is a member of Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP of White Plains, New York. He focuses his practice on Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law. Anthony is the Past Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), and is the past Chair of the 50+ Section of the NYSBA. He is a Past President and founding member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Anthony is also the Immediate Past President of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and a Past President of the Westchester County Bar Association. He can be reached at 914-948- 1500 or at www.esslawfirm.com. Era of ‘no-lookback periods’ is ending Medicaid Homecare eligibility will be impacted starting on March 31, 2024 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: September 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. ANTHONY J. ENEA GUEST CORNER 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 The Katonah-Lewisboro Times. 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