VOL. 14 NO. 47 Visit News.HalstonMedia.com for the latest news. FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 38 HEALTH & WELLNESS 28 LEGAL NOTICES 38 LEISURE 27 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 2 OBITUARIES 34 OPINION 10 SPORTS 22 The news gets flakey pg 20 SNOW WHAT??? BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR After Patrick Mahomes hit Mecole Hardman in the endzone to seal the Kansas City Chiefs’ second straight championship and third Super Bowl title in the Andy Reid era, TV cameras captured the explosive celebrations, with the usual crowd shots punctuated by closeups of one extra-famous Chiefs fan going crazy with her entourage. But as Taylor Swift made her way toward Travis Kelce for a meme-worthy on-camera kiss, two men sitting seven rows back at Allegiant Stadium had their own reason to find joy in KC’s 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers. Former Mahopac High School football coaches Gerry Keevins and Frank Miele had just watched Dave Toub, a kid they once coached, return to the top of the mountain of their shared profession with his third world title as Kansas City’s special teams coordinator and assistant head coach. The two men were there as Toub’s guests, fulfilling a pledge their former player made in recognition of the role both men played in shaping his life. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Keevins, who recalls 1980 MHS grad Toub as a player with a ton of heart and a leader who put the team first. “He is known as one of the best special teams coaches in the business. It was great to see him in action.” Miele, a Mahopac HS grad, teacher, and former Mahopac Athletic Director who coached football and baseball at the school from 1976 to 2001, said Toub left a mark on Mahopac’s sports program that remains today. “Toub and a few other athletes in Mahopac changed the whole culture of weight training,” said Miele, who was offensive line coach when Toub played there. “He and the Russo brothers (Tony, who went to UTEP, and Mike who won an NCAA title at Penn State) got everyone into strength training and changed the sports culture of Mahopac. And 40 years later, Mahopac has had a lot of success. They changed the culture in our school and that is a big deal.” A long road to the top After graduating from Mahopac. Toub would go on to Springfield College on a partial scholarship for two years. But it was a chance encounter with Keevins between semesters that sent Toub on his future path. “I happened to run into him at the high school track,” said Keevins, who served as Mahopac’s head football coach from 1976 to 2003 and is the father of recently appointed MHS principal Patrick Keevins. (As a volunteer assistant coach Bowled over! Mahopac grad and Chiefs coach Dave Toub brings his high school coaches to the big game Chiefs special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub celebrates with his former Mahopac high school coaches Gerry Keevins (in red) and Frank Miele (shaking hands) after KC’s Super Bowl win. PHOTO COURTESY GERRY KEEVINS AND FRANK MIELE SEE SUPER BOWL PAGE 25 RE/MAX Classic Realty 914-282-6440 [email protected] CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION HOMES ARE SELLING AT RECORD PRICES. Immaculate home, beautifully renovated by a craftsman – must see! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Granite center island eat-in kitchen. Huge deck w/gazebo overlooks large level yard, outdoor living area & pool. Incredible Canadian walnut hardwood floors. Crown moldings throughout. Updated bathrooms. All closets have wonderful built-ins. Finished lower level includes family room w/fireplace, den & powder room. Oversized heated 2-car garage. Solar panels save tons on electric costs, while a pellet stove reduces heating expenses! $750,000 JUST LISTED IN MAHOPAC! Are you wondering what your home is worth? Should you add on, or remodel? Buy smaller or larger? Please allow me to answer your questions. Call Today!
PAGE 2 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [email protected] Bob Dumas Editor at Large [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines Mahopac News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Emile Menasché at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Mahopac News weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mahopac, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mahopac News at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 (ISSN 2330-1627) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Main Office 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock 963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 TOCKLAW.COM • 845-628-8080 CRIMINAL DEFENSE/DWI • PERSONAL INJURY REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, PROBATE ‘ Professional & personable and delivered everything he promised. ~C.H. Garden Club Meeting The monthly meeting of the Lake Mahopac Garden Club will be held on Tuesday, March 5, in Mahopac at Airport Park. Participants are welcome and asked to bring their own lunch. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. The program presentation will be “Current Trends in Flower Arrangement.” The presenter is Karen Climi, owner of Flower Boutique Shop in Mahopac. For information, go to www. lakemahopacgc.com. Mahopac Repair Café Sustainable Putnam’s second Repair Cafe takes place at the Mahopac Middle School on Saturday, March 9, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring your broken, but beloved item to be fixed for free by volunteers. Save lamps, clocks, toasters, and more from the landfill. Volunteer “fixers” are needed. Register at sustainableputnam/ repair-cafe or call 646-598-6560. SEPTO: Strike Up Some Fun! Join Mahopac SEPTO at Spin Bowls, 23 Old Router 6, Carmel, Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a fun day of bowling. The cost is $20 and includes 1 1/2 hours of bowling and shoes. Bumpers are available. Reserve a spot and pay by going to septo-bowlingcopycheddarup.com. San Giuseppe Mass in Italian The Italian American Club of Mahopac will sponsor a mass in Italian and English celebrating the Feast of San Giuseppe (St. Joseph) on Tuesday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s The Evangelist Church, 221 East Lake Blvd., Mahopac. All are welcome! Refreshments will be served in the Social Hall after mass. For more info, contact Linda Cefaloni at 914-82-4373. Free Rabies Vax Clinic Attention Putnam residents! Bring your dogs, cats, and ferrets to a free rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the Putnam County Department of Health, the clinic is being held at Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park (Upper Park), 201 Gipsy Trail Road, Carmel, and is open to all Putnam County residents. Bring a photo ID as proof of Putnam County residency, as well as proof of prior rabies vaccination. Tags are not acceptable. If you do not have proof of prior rabies vaccination, your pet will receive a one-year rabies vaccine. Pets must be at least 12 weeks old. All dogs must be leashed and controlled. Any dog that may become aggressive must be muzzled. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers, top-loading carriers preferred, no harnesses. All animals must be supervised by an adult. For the comfort and safety of the animals, social distancing and bringing a minimum number of people are suggested. Masks are recommended inside the barn. For more information and directions, call the Putnam County Department of Health at 845-808-1390, ext.43160. PAC: Call to Artists Calling all artists 18 and over to be part of the Putnam Arts Council’s 2024 Members Exhibition scheduled to open on Saturday, March 16 from 2-5 p.m. We are seeking one piece of original fine art, completed within the past three years, and not previously exhibited in our gallery space at the Belle Levine Art Center, 521 Kennicut Hill Road, Mahopac. Two-dimensional work cannot exceed 36 inches in any direction and includes the frame. Three-dimensional works must be manageable by one person. Works do not need to be for sale but if works sell, PAC retains a 35 percent commission. We will accept hand-delivered work on Saturday, March 9, or Sunday, March 10 from 2-5 p.m. to PAC, 521 Kennicut Hill Road, Mahopac. A $15 entry fee must accompany the submission. Digital images are not accepted for this show. An exhibit prospectus outlining more details can be found on our website along with an entry form which should accompany your work when you hand deliver. Entry forms will also be available at drop-off. Questions? Call 845-803- 8622 or email [email protected]. Interested artists can join at the drop-off or 24/7 on our website, putnam artscouncil.com. Freedom from Smoking The Putnam County Department of Health will offer Freedom from Smoking, an evidence-based smoking cessation program, to individuals who live or work in Putnam County. Classes will be held in person on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Putnam County Department of Health, beginning now through March 25, with an extra class on Wednesday, March 6. The program will be at no cost to the participants, and they will be supplied with free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as long as the supply lasts. Pre-registration is required. Class size will be limited. Register at https://PCDOH FreedomFromSmoking2023. eventbrite.com For questions call the Putnam County Department of Health at 845-808-1390 ext. 43155. MAHOPAC MUSINGS
BY BOB DUMAS AND EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITORS Mahopac resident and World War II veteran Jim Dipelesi has finally received some well-earned recognition for his service. Dipelesi, who served 24 years total in the U.S. Navy and the Merchant Marines Auxiliary, was awarded the Merchant Marines Congressional Gold Medal from Congressman Mike Lawler during a ceremony at Town Hall earlier this month. The medal is the highest honor bestowed by Congress for those who have “created a lasting impact on American history.” The 97-year-old Brooklyn native was just 16 when he fibbed his way into the Merchant Marines at a time when shipping from the U.S. to Great Britain was coming under relentless attack by German submarines. “He initially tried to get on a ship with a friend but was turned down,” his daughter Joan Mancini said. “The captain threw me off the ship because I was very young,” Depelesi said. While that ship left without him, Depelesi was determined to set sail. He eventually convinced a stranger he met on the street to pose as his dad and give the Merchant Marine permission to induct him. “I lied about my age and I gave a guy $10 – a lot of money in those days –to say he was my father,” Depelisi said. “I found him on the street.” After a two-year stint in the Merchant Marine, Depelesi went into the Navy. Over the course of his service, he saw the world, sailing to Eqypt, India, and the Pacific. Asked if he ever felt fear while at sea, Depelisi said he and his fellow crewmen were too busy. “I wasn’t scared,” he said. “But I was aware that we were at war. I remember the convoy being attacked. Our destroyers went out and I could see the gunfire from our ship. It was something.” One of the most memorable experiences came at the war’s end, when his ship docked at Tokyo Bay. “We went into Tokyo Bay for the surrender,” he said. “We didn’t go inland at all. We stayed pretty close to the dock because the war had just finished. But we had no problems there.” Dipelesi was originally slated to receive the medal at a ceremony at the SUNY Maritime College in New York City, but Lawler was unavailable at the time, so the longtime Mahopac resident got his medal in the mail. His daughter Joan reached out to former Navy officer and Assistant District Legal Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Lou Liotti and Putnam County Legislator Erin Crowley to arrange a proper ceremony at Carmel Town Hall. The event was attended by County Executive Kevin Byrne, state Assemblyman and Naval officer Matt Slater, Supervisor Mike Cazzari, County Legislator Erin Lee Crowley, and other local elected officials, as well as members of Dipelesi’s family. “During his tenure with the Merchant Marines (he signed up at 16), Jim navigated the treacherous waters of the North Atlantic participating in the perilous Murmansk Run - a dangerous convoy route – where he faced formidable enemy opposition in extreme weather conditions to deliver vital supplies to our allies thereby contributing significantly to the allied victory in WWII,” Lawler said. “It demonstrated his unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy around the globe.” In the Navy, Dipelesi served aboard a cruiser in the South Pacific confronting the enemy with “courage and resilience contributing to the decisive triumphs that turned the tide of the war,” according to Lawler. “It really is a distinct honor to present a Gold Medal from the Merchant Marines for his service in WWII and present him with a Congressional proclamation highlighting his service and his many contributions.,” the congressman said. “We are honored to be in your presence and we are honored by your service and commitment.” Dipelesi said he was humbled to receive the honor. “Thank you very much but there are probably people in this room who deserve it more than I do or at least as much as I do,” Dipelesi said. “So, I accept this on their behalf.” Slater, a Navy Reserve officer, said Dipelesi walks the walk and talks the talk, noting the Navy’s motto of “Honor, Courage and Commitment.” “Honor, courage, and commitment aren’t just words, they are things that we live by,” Slater said. “I see through you and your service and throughout your life that you lived up to those words. You are truly an inspiration to us all.” Byrne noted that Dipelesi not only served his country but has been an asset to the local community as well. “Thank you for your military service, but thank you even more for your service to this town and this community,” Byrne said to Dipelesi. “We are very proud of our veterans here in Putnam County>’ James Calbo, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, flotilla commander, Lake Mahopac, said the auxiliary recently hosted a luncheon to honor Dipelesi and his 24 years of service to the military. “It’s been my honor to meet you and you are always welcome in our flotilla, my friend,” he said. FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3 Your Neighbor Depelisi receives Congressional Gold Medal WWII veteran was underage when he joined the fight Jim Depelisi in uniform today. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOAN MANCINI Local veterans, veterans advocates, officials, and political leaders gathered at Carmel Town Hall to honor Congressional Gold Medal recipient Jim Depelisi. Jim Depelisi in uniform from his days of active service. 914-277-4424 • 440 Rt 22 North Salem, NY • www.theblazerpub.com CELEBRATING 531 YEARS! Come Hungry, Leave Full!
PAGE 4 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 with WINTER REBATES from BELL! SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! LIMITED TIME OFFER 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com Heat pumps are a cleaner & healthier alternative to traditional heating & cooling systems. This all in one system will eliminate your need for fossil fuel and help you save thousands. Learn more about rebates & financing options! EXCLUDES SERVICE CONTRACT • EXP 3/31/24 Coupon must be presented at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES SAVE THOUSANDS in Federal, State and Local Incentives on your new HEATPUMP PROJECT CALL US TODAY! Leap into $aving$ BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE The Carmel Police Department is seeking to move forward with a plan to purchase a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) that would be used in search and rescue missions and other tasks; however, the type of UTV the department is looking to buy has changed since the plan was first introduced last fall. Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann went before the Town Board at its Feb. 21 meeting to explain the change and ask for the board’s approval of the purchase at its next voting meeting. “The vehicle will be utilized by the police department in various roles, including search and rescue in heavily wooded areas where regular patrol vehicles cannot operate, and also for patrol on the Putnam County Bike Trail that runs through town,” Hoffmann explained. A grant secured by state Sen. Pete Harckham to help municipalities purchase electric vehicles for their fleets was originally going to be used to purchase an electric UTV for Carmel PD, but that goal has since changed. “We started going through the grant process and as we were doing that we realized that our specifications had changed and a gas-powered UTV was more fitting for our needs and considerably cheaper,” Hoffmann told the board. So, the department put out a bid for a gas-powered 2024 Polaris XP Ranger - Northstar edition. The winner was Texieria’s Polaris of Hyde Park, N.Y. with a bid of $32,129. Hoffmann said the department will need to equip the vehicle with the appropriate emergency lights, a siren, and a radio. They will use RFC Emergency Lighting of Briarcliff Manor, which has performed work for the department before. RFC’s quote for equipment, including installation, was $4,013. Hoffmann said the total cost of the vehicle and aftermarket work (a little more than $36,000) would be funded via the 2024 police department vehicle budget line. “I recommend we go through with this purchase,’ Hoffmann said. “Its use was needed for a number of incidents that we’ve had lately—most notably the missing man we had [last summer] on the east side of town. We had another incident in October when someone was missing for a day in a wooded area and around Christmastime we had a missing juvenile female who was also found in a wooded area.” Hoffmann said it would also be used to patrol the bike trail, noting that they already know UTVs fit well on the trail because the Sheriff’s Office employs them. “There have been some crimes there and if we had had a UTV on patrol we could have prevented those crimes or it would have at least helped us to respond [more quickly],” the chief said. The vehicle could also be useful for monitoring parades and navigating blocked roads in the wake of a storm. The town’s decision to buy a gas-powered UTV doesn’t mean it will lose the electric vehicle grant money from the state. Hoffmann said the town can use those funds to purchase electric cars for government department heads. “The grant is not going away,” he said. “We are just using it for different vehicles.” Sgt. Kevin Anderson, who headed up the project to find a UTV, said the department has no immediate plans to buy a trailer for the vehicle, though they might consider it down the line. “It’s legal and well-capable of traveling on the roads,” he told the board. Anderson also said this type of UTV will keep occupants safe from the elements. “This one is fully enclosed, it has heat in it,” he said. “It seems nothing bad ever happens on a sunny 65-degree day. It’s always negative-2 or 113 degrees. Anyway, with this, we can get the victim or person we are trying to help get out of those elements, out of that exposure.” The Town Board was expected to approve the purchase at this week’s meeting. Police present plan to buy utility terrain vehicle UTV would play important role in search and rescue missions Carmel police are looking to purchase a Polaris UTV similar to this. PHOTO PROVIDED BY POLARISCENTRAL.COM
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE On Wednesday evening, March 6, local elected officials will gather at Town Hall for a ceremony that is 10 years overdue. On that night, the town and others will honor native son Navy Serviceman Alex David Wolfsie, who died on duty while stationed in Guam. Wolfsie will be posthumously recognized for his service with a proclamation from the town, another from the state presented by Assemblyman Matt Slater, and a plaque from Mahopac activist Marianne Chalusian and her Back the Blue organization. The story of how we all ended up here is intriguing. Chaluisan is known for her support of law enforcement and veterans. What some may not know is that she makes wreaths as a hobby—for the holidays, for patriotic occasions... whatever is called for. A few years ago, a woman reached out to Chalusian on social media to inquire about her wreaths. Her son, she explained, had died while serving in the Navy; the family wanted a wreath to display at his gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. Chalusian said she would be honored to donate a wreath to the cause and before you knew it, Chalusian and Patricia Wolfsie, Alex’s mom, bonded and became fast friends. The Woldsie family now lives in Denver. Remaining in Mahopac where Alex grew up (he went to high school at Kennedy Catholic in Somers) proved difficult. There were so many memories, and it became too difficult and so they had to leave. “My husband just couldn’t stay,” Wolfsie said. “It was just too hard for him.” “I was in the funeral business for 19 years and I know this is a mother’s worst nightmare,” Chalusian added. The Wolfsies still have family in the area, so Patricia comes back to visit now and then and that includes hanging out with Chalusian. “She participated in one of our Prayer Walks [for law enforcement],” Chalusian said, noting that Wolfsie, a former NYPD officer, also made a sizable contribution to the Carmel Police Benevelent Association (the police union). Chalusian learned that the 10th anniversary of Alex’s passing was coming up and felt the town should finally officially acknowledge it in some way. “No one ever did anything for them,” she said. “Too many people promised things but never did anything for this family.” Chalusian was in Town Hall one day and mentioned the pending anniversary to Supervisor Mike Cazzari, who agreed that the town should mark the occasion. “Matt Slater told me about it and then [Chalusian] spoke to me about it,” Cazzari said. “[Slater] said he would do a proclamation and asked me if the town could be a part of it. I said ‘Absolutely.’ We are a Purple Heart community. I hope it can heal some old wounds.” Patricia Wolfsie will fly in for the Town to mark 10th anniversary of Navy serviceman’s death Alex Wolfsie will be memorialized with proclamations Serviceman Alex Wolfsie PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WOLFSIE FAMILY SEE WOLFSIE PAGE 34 LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! YOUR FAMILY CAR CARE CENTER For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating relationships and building a remarkable company with an amazing team JOE FERONE, owner of employees!
PAGE 6 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE In response to Gov. Hochul’s proposed $60 million cut in the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) within the 2024-25 state budget, Sen. Pete Harckham, Assemblyman Matt Slater, area highway superintendents, and elected leaders from around the region have called on her to restore the funding for the upkeep of local roads and bridges. “In the past few years, a surge in traffic, rising repair costs, and a proliferation of potholes have left our local municipalities struggling to keep our roadways safe for travel,” said Harckham. “Our annual state investment in CHIPS has helped us maintain decent road conditions statewide, but there has been marked deterioration in many areas, like the Hudson Valley, because of climate change. Looking ahead, we can see that more, not less investments will have to be made for our local roads to stay safe for motorists, and those increases should be on the books this year. Simply, cuts to CHIPS puts motorists on New York roads at risk.” New York State is in the third year of a five-year capital plan for the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to repair the local road system. Inside of that plan is $538.1 million for annual funding of CHIPS. Record-high inflation rates and increased costs for highway materials on top of worsening infrastructure have caused major problems for municipalities, which is why the State Legislature added $60 million for a total of $598 million to CHIPS in last year’s budget. The proposed budget cuts the CHIPS funding back to $538 million. Harckham, who has already called for an additional $2 billion in the state budget for highway improvements, said last year’s investment of $598 million for CHIPS “definitely helped our municipalities deal with much-needed road repairs, but circumstances are requiring more funding. Now is not the time for cuts.” A recent report from TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based transportation research organization, noted that New York’s roadways cost the state’s drivers $8.7 billion—an average of $715 per motorist—in repairs last year. Add congestion-related delays ($16.8 billion) and traffic crashes caused by unsafe roads ($11.2 billion) and the total skyrockets to $36.7 billion. Meanwhile, local governments are responsible for maintaining 85 percent of all roads statewide, with towns responsible for the most—62.9 percent. The Association of Towns of the State of New York (AOT) states that every dollar of road and bridge maintenance saves New York drivers four to five dollars in future repairs. In total, New York drivers lose an average of $2,768 a year because of bad, unsafe roads and traffic jams. AOT adds that “…reliable funding sources like CHIPS allow towns to engage in long-term capital planning…” “CHIPS money is an integral part of Carmel Highway Superintendent Mike Stern’s ability to keep the public roadways safe,” said Town Supervisor Mike Cazzari. “There are approximately 180 miles of town roads in Carmel. We primarily rely on CHIPS funding to maintain and repair our infrastructure. The roadways have been heavily damaged from the excessive amount of flooding this season; combined with the temperature fluctuations between freezing and thawing, many roads are just one continuous pothole. New York State should be increasing, not reducing, this desperately needed funding, especially with the skyrocketing cost of materials.” Slater, who is a member of the Assembly’s transportation committee, joined fellow assembly members, local highway superintendents and highway workers, at a press conference last Harckham, Slater decry state cuts in road repair funding Area highway supers also join cries to restore CHIPS money to local governments RED MILLS Convenience Center 575 Route 6N, Mahopac Falls • 845-628-9745 Mahopac Teachers, Students, School & Bus Garage Employees Buy One Egg Sandwich, Get 2nd HALF OFF Buy Lunch Sandwich, Get a Soda or Coffee FREE Happy Hour Coffee Check out our Coffee of the Month! Any Size 3-7pm Firewood Bundles Purchase your box of Coffee to go! Warm Up with Winter Breakfast Special Bacon egg & cheese Sausage egg & cheese and Ham egg & cheese $4.49 bacon egg cheese & hash browns $5.49 Try our Coffee Flavors of the Season! Come see our vintage candy shop Cold weather accessories! Salt and windshield wiper fluid. We have over 100 helium balloon choices! RED MILLS IS YOUR... Gas - Coffee - Grab and Go items LOTTO - Candy - Seasonal items Balloons - Snacks and Beverages. SEE CHIPS PAGE 35
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7 “A Hidden Gem…” –Westchester Magazine 100 Route 202 • Lincolndale, NY 10540 • (914) 245-5588 www.anglebrookgc.com • [email protected] Be a Member for a Day, Book Your Event Today! For All Your Catering Needs Banquets, Receptions & Golf Outings Birthdays, Anniversaries, & Graduations Small & Large Conference Rooms Spectacular Setting with Fine & Casual Dining Options Reduced Membership Rates Private club available for non-member functions BY EMILE MENASCHÉ CONTRIBUTING EDITOR This spring, Travelers Rest will fill with laughter for a seriously worthy cause. For more than 37 years, CAREERS Support Solutions (careerssupportsolutions.org) has been helping people with disabilities of all kinds find jobs. Originally based in lower Westchester, the nonprofit now has locations in Carmel Hamlet (102 Gleneida Ave.) and Valhalla and serves Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Like many nonprofits, CAREERS relies on a combination of grants and donations to operate. And according to Executive Director Tina Cornish-Lauria, funding has become more of a challenge in the post-COVID world. “Things have changed so drastically,” Cornish Lauria said, noting that the grant application system has become more complex. “In the past, I’d raise $200,000 in grants. And now last year and this year I’m close to having to fundraise almost $400,000 to our budget.” Those funds are necessary because all CAREERS services are provided for free. “We do not charge clients, their families, or employers for our services,” Cornish-Lauria said. This year, CAREERS is launching a fun and funny way to help shore up the budget with its firstever comedy night on Friday, April 12, at Travelers Rest in Ossining. Comedians Dimitri Giatrakis, Vicki Sanches, Dr. Blain Langberg, Anthony Sanches, Susan Schatzie, Matt Orefice, LouAnn Daprato, Bill Greene, and Barbara Miller will provide the laughs at the fundraiser, with all profits going to help CAREERS in its mission to help disabled people find employment. “Anyone who lives in Westchester, Putnam or lower Dutchess counties and has a disability is eligible for our services,” CornishLauria said. “You can call CAREERS Support Solutions Carmel office at 845-225-8007 and ask to attend a weekly orientation Zoom meeting. That is the first step. Then ACCES-VR (the NY State Education Department) will need to do an intake for services after they attend the 45-minute meeting.” Part of what makes CAREERS so effective is that it tailors its services to the interests and abilities of each client, looking for well-fitting jobs with the same tools used by job seekers everywhere. “After we receive a new referral, we set up an intake where we gather information from each client, their case manager, family members, etc., and figure out as a team what services they need,” Cornish-Lauria said. “We do not have a pool of jobs that we fit people into. On the contrary, we figure out what each client wants and needs and go looking – just like anyone else looking for a job or paid internship. “Because we work with a wide range of disabilities, that means there is also a wide range of functional levels,” she continued. “We have clients working in daycare centers, lawyers offices, supermarkets, retail stores like Marshall’s and HomeGoods, school districts, hospitals, churches, libraries, and any other places that our clients are interested in working in and have the right experiences for.” While the program works with local school districts and serves around 200 high school students per year, Cornish-Lauria said there’s no age limit. “We provide services to anyone between the ages of 16 to up in their 70s,” she said. CAREERS Board of Directors President Lauren Enea said the comedy night is about more than raising funds; it’s also a chance to increase awareness of CAREERS’ programs. “We’re very excited to introduce or reintroduce CAREERS to the community and hopefully get some more support from our community members in a fun way and with an engaging and exciting night,” Enea said. “We have an amazing list of comedians who are donating their time to perform, so we’re hoping for a good crowd and for them to learn more about careers throughout the night as well.” Tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities are now available for the April 12 CAREERS Support Solutions Comedy Night. Email [email protected] for more information. Individual tickets are also available at Zeffy.com, accessible via the accompanying QR code or this case-sensitive short link: https://bit.ly/ CAREERSComedy. A funny way to raise money CAREERS comedy night will help support jobs for disabled people Dr. Blain Langberg and eight other comics will perform to benefit disabled job-seekers at CAREERS Support Solutions’ April 12 Comedy Show fundraiser. COURTESY YOUTUBE
PAGE 8 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 Epic Dance Center’s holiday show, Candy Cane Lane Holiday Spectacular, was held in December and raised $12,010. Featuring the studio’s competitive dance teams and younger recreational dancers, it showcased all styles of dance including tap, hip hop, jazz and contemporary, as well as a beautiful lyrical piece choreographed and performed by Bailey Ralls alongside Kyia and Roma McConnell as a tribute to their dads. The funds raised this year will go towards two local charities, The Scott Ralls Fund and Owen McConnell Memorial Foundation. The Scott Ralls Fund is in memory of Ralls, a camp director, volunteer and Epic Dance Dad. This fund will help camps provide excellent programming and facilities so more kids will have the opportunity to attend summer camps. The Owen McConnell Memorial Foundation’s mission is “Love and Kindness” and it is a campaign to “Be More Like Owen.” Owen dedicated his life to helping people, if he left them laughing…even better! He made the world a better place and we want to continue that legacy with memorial funds going to families dealing with a cancer diagnosis and towards scholarships for kids who hold the characteristics that Owen admired in a student-athlete. Article courtesy of Epic Dance Center. Epic Dance Center raises more than $12,000 Bailey Ralls (Yorktown) danced alongside sisters Roma and Kyia McConnell (Mahopac) in a tribute to their fathers Scott Ralls and Owen McConnell. Monies raised in Epic’s holiday show benefitted charities named for their dads. Wonka Production opened up the Candy Cane Lane Holiday Show Epic Dance Center Class of 2024 Team Seniors: Zuzana Harvan (Lakeland HS), Bailey Ralls (Yorktown HS), Lexi Spadafino (Lakeland HS), Giana Cosoleto (Mahopac HS) and Ashley Pfeifer (Mahopac HS) PHOTOS COURTESY OF EPIC DANCE CENTER Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you understand the difference between an irrevocable and a revocable trust?
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR A 23-year-old Mahopac man is in custody after allegedly threatening neighbors with what appeared to be a handgun last night (Feb. 19), then barricading himself into an apartment. According to Carmel PD, the incident at 149 East Lake Blvd. took place at around 10:20 p.m., when they were notified by Putnam County Emergency Services of a 911 call saying “a male known to [the caller] as a neighbor flashed a black handgun in a threatening manner and fled into his apartment complex at 149 East Lake Blvd.” According to a prepared statement from Carmel PD officers “quickly established a perimeter, evacuated adjacent apartments, and attempted to contact the male by phone with negative results.” The newly reconstituted Putnam County Multi-Agency Police Emergency Response Team (ERT) of police SWAT operators and crisis negotiators from the Carmel Police and Kent Police Departments was deployed to the scene. After being requested, the Westchester County Police Special Response Team (SRT) and crisis negotiators assisted as well. “After multiple attempts to contact the suspect, Westchester County PD SRT gained entry to the suspect’s apartment and took the suspect, Nicholas Buccheri, a 23-year-old male from Mahopac, into custody without further incident,” Carmel PD said. Westchester SRT officers turned Buccheri over to Carmel detectives. Police said an “imitation handgun” was recovered at the scene. Buccheri is being held pending charges of second-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In its statement, Carmel PD thanked the Kent Police Department and the Westchester County Police for their aid. Speaking to Mahopac News (Halston Media) on Wednesday, Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffmann praised the fast action of his department’s officers and the cooperation from Kent and Westchester County and thanked the nearby VFW and Joseph Smith Funeral Home for allowing the responding units to use their respective properties as staging areas. “I would just like to reiterate that the quick thinking and actions of our patrol officers to secure the scene and the professionalism and teamwork between Putnam County ERT and Westchester SRT brought this to a safe and peaceful conclusion,” Hoffmann said. “I thank all the agencies involved, Town Councilman Robert Kearns for allowing us to utilize the Mahopac VFW, Joseph Smith Funeral Home, and local residents for their cooperation during the incident.” Carmel Police detectives are continuing to investigate this incident and ask anyone with information to contact them at 845-628-1300. Mahopac man arrested for alleged threats, barricading Carmel-Kent joint ERT deployed, neighbors evacuated The Putnam County Department of Health has issued an alert after a feral cat found in the Peekskill Hollow Road and Tinker Hill Road section of Putnam Valley tested positive for rabies. The department asks residents who may have come into contact with this cat (see photo) to call health officials at 845-808-1390 to determine if post-exposure treatment is necessary. Rabies staff can be reached 24/7. The rabies virus is nearly 100 percent fatal once a person begins showing signs and symptoms. Last week, the unowned cat was safely transported to a veterinarian, where the animal was exhibiting neurological signs of rabies. The health department worked with the veterinarian to determine the need for rabies testing, which was labconfirmed positive. This is the second incidence of confirmed rabies in Putnam Valley this year and is an important reminder to keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations and avoid contact with all wild animals. The Putnam County Department of Health reminds residents that strange behavior in an animal may be a sign of rabies. This includes acting unusually aggressive or tame, excited, irritable, or lethargic. Residents are reminded to promptly report any animal bite, or contact with any wild animal to the health department 845- 808-1390. Article courtesy of Putnam County Health Dept. Alert issued after feral cat tests positive for rabies If you came in contact with this feral cat, notify the county Health Department. PHOTO COURTESY OF COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Act now to lower your Flu/COVID risk Optum Medical Care, P.C. (“Optum Medical Care”) is a physician owned and led practice having complete authority for all medical decision-making and patient care through its physicians and other licensed professionals. Optum, through its owned management organizations, provides non-clinical administrative services to support Optum Medical Care and its physicians. Neither Optum nor its management companies employs, engages, or supervises physicians or other licensed professionals, or determines or sets the methods, standards, or conduct of the practice of medicine or health care provided by Optum Medical Care or by any of its licensed professionals. “Part of Optum” reflects that Optum Medical Care is part of Optum’s effort to support forward-thinking physician practices in helping their patients live healthier lives. Optum is a registered trademark of Optum, Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All other brand or product names are the property of their respective owners. Because we are continuously improving our products and services, Optum reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. Optum is an equal opportunity employer. © 2024 Optum, Inc. All rights reserved. WF12832462 01/24 During the peak season for respiratory illnesses, the most effective way to reduce your risk of Flu and COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated. Be proactive about maintaining good health for yourself and your family. How do you know if it’s the Flu or COVID-19? Both are contagious and impact the respiratory system which can lead to severe illness. Some shared symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, and muscle aches. It is important to get tested for exact diagnosis and treatment. Who is at risk for Flu or COVID-19 complications? Those aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and adults with chronic health conditions who have been hospitalized are most at risk. Additionally, children under the age of 5, especially those under 2 years old, are also at a higher risk of facing severe complications. How do I keep myself and my family protected? To prevent illness from these two viruses, it is important to ensure that you are up to date on your vaccinations. Additionally, practicing general safety measures daily can be beneficial. These include regular handwashing, avoiding contact with individuals who are sick, and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If you are already sick, refrain from contact with others. Importance of a primary care physician Having a primary care physician, and receiving regular preventive care, can assist in maintaining good health and detecting problems early on. Keep preventative care visits separate from those for sickness, injury, or routine care for ongoing medical conditions. Scan the QR code or visit optum.com/tri
PAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 Opinion BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER EMILE MENASCHÉ, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 845-208-0774 [email protected] 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774 Tyrants have an effective way of suppressing opposition. Kill, torture, imprison the messengers of freedom and scare the rest into submission. It is an old story, as true today as when the Romans came for Jesus. It was true for the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and holds true for anyone in a totalitarian regime who speaks truth to power. One would not ordinarily think that standing up for human rights in a free country could get them killed. However, we know differently. Abraham Lincoln’s commitment to human rights made him a target for an assassin’s bullet. Dr. Martin Luther King’s commitment to ending Jim Crow earned him the same fate. John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the U.S., made virtually the same types of enemies as both Lincoln and King. They were, and still are, a handful of rich and powerful people with a vested interest in making sure that whatever human rights the masses receive proceed from them. Many people in this country, including your friendly correspondent, believe Kennedy was assassinated because he stood up to the forces of tyranny not in faraway places, but in our own country. Kennedy was elected during the height of the Cold War between Russia and the U.S. To give some context, schools of that era were required to have air raid drills. I remember boys and girls lining hallways, every ear attuned to the oncoming missiles and planes. In his inaugural speech, Kennedy never mentions Russia by name, but it’s clear that he’s addressing the growing nuclear threat posed by that country. “Man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life,” Kennedy declares early in his speech, “yet the revolutionary beliefs for which are forbearers fought are still at issue around the globe.” Less than a year after giving his speech, Kennedy faced what became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was discovered that Russia had been sneaking missiles equipped with nuclear warheads into Cuba. Kennedy met with his generals. It was immediately decided that the missiles had to go. Kennedy surrounded the island with a naval blockade. Tensions increased. Kennedy’s generals wanted to attack the missile sites. They were unanimous in their thinking, but Kennedy turned down the plan. It has been reported that Kennedy told his generals that it wasn’t going to be him that started the war that destroyed the world. He ordered the Russians to remove the missiles, which they did- after tense negotiations. Sanity prevailed and it was that incident that helped lead to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty between countries, still in existence, but toothless without Russian participation, which has been suspended by Vladimir Putin. Viewed in the partisan air we breathe today, Kennedy’s speech is decidedly non-political. He stridently and pointedly pledges to protect the “revolutionary beliefs” this country was founded on, but steers clear of rhetoric and ideology. It is refreshing to see a world leader speak from his most deeply held beliefs. Kennedy says, “If we can’t protect the many who are poor, how can we save the few who are rich?” Kennedy didn’t speak like a politician. He spoke like a savior. And we know how the world treats saviors. Herman Melville has been called the “seer of the sea,” with good reason. He foresaw the 20th century while writing his books in the 19th century. In the last novel he wrote, “Billy Budd,” I think he saw the 21st century, specifically 2024. In the novel, Billy Budd is accused by Is democracy destroying democracy? LORENZO GARO OF HUMAN INTEREST People are always coming up to me and saying, “Bob, you are so handsome, wealthy, smart, and kind, how is it you never got married?” OK. Nobody’s ever said that to me ever. But they do say things like, “You never got married? Is there something wrong with you?” Or... “You never got married?? Tell me in detail how you dodged that bullet.” I am not philosophically opposed to marriage. But I never set out into adulthood with it at the forefront of my mind. I just assumed it would happen when it happened. My brother got married. My sister got married. All my friends and cousins got married. (Even my parents were married.) And to the best of my knowledge, everyone is still happily bonded. I just figured it would catch up to me eventually and was as surprised as anyone else when it didn’t. It just feels like I was never in the right place at the right time. Or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on your perspective. Maybe it’s just as well. I read somewhere that 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce and the other 50 percent end in death. Some believe romantic love is a biological imperative that we homo sapiens developed as a species in order to bond and create a family which, in turn, protected us and helped propagate the species. Actually, the notion of “romantic love” didn’t really exist until the 18th century. Before then, it was all arranged marriages, which seemed to work fine, but whatever. Anyway, why romantic love exists doesn’t matter, does it? It’s here. My parents were married for more than 50 years, and I saw them fight like, maybe, three times. My brother was married for more than 40 years and when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I watched as his wife doted over him, taking him to doctor’s appointments in Manhattan, For better or for worse BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 11 SEE GARO PAGE 12
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11 Women Jewelry Baby & Kids Accessories Men 1137 E. Main St, Shrub Oak | www.celticaer.com | (914) 526-3361 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! $25 OFF Service Calls When You Present This Ad. New Customers Only. Keep the lights on. • GENERATORS • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! making sure he took his meds in the right quantities at the right times, making sure he had the right diet and got some exercise. She picked up after him. It was a full-time job. Romantic love is real and it’s out there. It just might not be all that romantic. Sometimes it can be messy. A lot of young women fantasize about their dream wedding. And while that’s great and all, what they should probably be focusing on is the marriage, not what floral arrangements should be used as centerpieces or if the ice sculpture is too close to the Sterno cans. My brother got married relatively young. He was 24, she was 22. I was a junior in high school. My brother actually had “marriage” as a goal from a young age. His sights were set. It was even in his high school yearbook under his picture. GOALS Play football in college; get a degree in business; get married. (He did them all.) My goals were more like, “Meet David Bowie, learn to time travel, invent a new type of food.” It’s all about priorities. I remember my brother’s wedding very well. Shocking, when one considers the circumstances. I was nearly 17 and was an usher in the wedding party. The ushers and bridesmaids were paired off by height and each couple had their own car and driver to take them from the church to the reception (the Amber Room in Danbury). My partner was Suzy, and I knew her and her family well—and she was married to my cousin. Halfway to the venue, Suzy says, “Bob, do you smoke?” “No.” “Oh, well, do you mind if I do?” “Not at all.” (This was 1975.) Suzy then proceeds to hike up her bridesmaid’s gown revealing two joints tucked away in her garter belt. “Ooohh,” I said. “That kind of smoke...” It’s kind of funny now when you look at those old wedding photos—many of which were taken outdoors on the lawn of the Amber Room. Everybody is smiling, of course, but nobody is doing it with more enthusiasm than me. And I’m not squinting cause the sun’s in my eyes. (Sidenote here: Suzy is now a retired grandmother and still married to my cousin. They reside somewhere down in North Carolina, living out their golden years fishing and playing golf... and maybe other fun stuff. I don’t know what they’re into these days.) Back to the wedding: I remember coming inside the venue after the photo session and seeing my new sister-in-law in the lobby in total hysterics. My brother was on one knee with a cup of water in one hand and a handkerchief in the other. He was trying furiously to rub some sort of spot off the front of his wife’s very white wedding dress. It was a tense moment. My brother eventually stood up. “Well... You won’t be able to wear it tomorrow,” he deadpanned. Everyone laughed and it diffused the situation. He had a way of being able to do that. But I think most importantly (and I didn’t realize this till much later) what he truly meant was—it is just a dress; this is just a ceremony and a ritual. Let’s have fun now because what truly matters is what lies ahead. Their wedding ceremony was in a Catholic church, but my brother just did that to appease my parents. (His wife wasn’t even Catholic, so she didn’t really care.) He told me he’d get married barefoot on the raft on the lake at the town Rec Park if that’s what they wanted him to do. My best friend George was wed in a Catholic church too. I have written about George before. He was in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and escaped. Like me, he was raised Catholic but hadn’t been to church since around high school. Nonetheless, he and his fiancée chose the super deluxe Catholic wedding package. That includes not just the matrimonial ceremony, but an entire specialized mass, including a choir, incense, guest gospel speakers and I think there might have been an impromptu performance by Mummenschanz. For a while, it looked like they were going to re-enact the Stations of the Cross... or maybe “Cats.” I’m not sure. A lot was going on. Anyway, my girlfriend at the time was Jewish and she was in awe at all the pageantry. The next day we stopped at her mom’s, who asked, “So, kids... how was the wedding?” “It was nice,” my girlfriend told her. “A lot of Jesus stuff though.” “They’re Catholic,” I sighed. “He was bound to come up eventually.” But the best wedding I ever went to was for a guy I barely knew when I lived in Los Angeles. He was a friend of a friend. This guy once invited me to go camping and dune buggy riding in the desert of Glamus, Calif. He decided he liked me and invited me to the nuptials. I don’t even remember his name. I knew this wedding was going to be different when he told me the dress was “casual.” I wore some khakis and an Oxfordcollared shirt. Loafers without socks. Well... it turned out I was WAY overdressed. Many of the guys were in cargo shorts and John Deere hats. One woman was quite fetching in a onepiece burgundy velour tracksuit. “Casual” apparently means different things to different people. This guy lived about twoand-a-half hours outside L.A. You could watch the landscape change as you headed east. The city gave way to suburbia, which in turn gave way to very rural neighborhoods, which eventually gave way to cow pastures, outlet malls, and meth labs. The groom did something with coaxial cable for a living. (Sold it... installed it... repaired it—not sure.) On his property, he had this big barn/warehouse thing where he stored huge spools of the stuff. These were all pushed aside to make room for the wedding. A table was set up to accommodate the potluck dinner and paper plates (the best barbecued chicken ever!). There were kegs and red Solo cups, a few dusty bottles of liquor, and some mixers. Music was courtesy of mix tapes (they wrote “Wedding” on the cassettes) and a boom box. I think the ceremony was officiated by the bride’s pilates instructor. It’s amazing how much fun you can have when all the stiffness, formality, and pretense are eliminated. (No worries about stained dresses.) No one there knew me but all were kind and welcoming. It was a blast. Guys... see if you can talk your fiancée into something like that for your wedding. Just wear a helmet and an athletic cup when you do it. You know, the more I think about it - ladies, maybe it’s not too late for me after all. Buy yourself a velour tracksuit and maybe we can talk. DUMAS FROM PAGE 10
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Everyone, including the ship’s captain, Captain Graveling, knows it. Billy is given a chance to defend himself but becomes as tonguetied as he is innocent. He strikes Claggart, who falls and hits his head, accidentally dying, accidentally/on purpose dooming Billy. By maritime law, Billy’s punishment is death. The sentence is carried out with a sense of dread, though not for Billy. Every person on deck who witnesses Billy’s hanging knows what Claggart is, yet in the end he gets his way. The ship’s crew, most of all Captain Graveling, share a palatable sense of shame. Melville’s overriding subject was the paradox of progress. In “Billy Budd,” he may have attempted to show the paradox of the democratic process. It must protect the rights of criminals, even those who run for office, even those who run for the highest office. More than six decades ago, the 35th president of the United States envisioned a world without poverty and war, a world free of tyranny. “The work must begin now,” Kennedy said, his voice as clear and crisp as the cold November air. The risk of catastrophe was too great. The catastrophe, though, won’t be a nuclear war. The catastrophe is a country that no longer knows itself. GARO FROM PAGE 10 Dear Dr. Linda, I’m not one to criticize—at least I try not to—so how do I tell my son and daughter-in-law and my granddaughter, a freshman in high school, that she needs to learn grammar? Her writing is atrocious! She speaks well, but when I read her papers, I’m in shock. I’m not a retired English teacher, but I know enough to be concerned that she will not know how to write a paper with correct grammar by the time she finishes high school. -Concerned Grandma Dear Concerned Grandma, Your email couldn’t have been timed better! March 4th is National Grammar Day. It was created by Martha Brockenbrough to encourage the use of correct grammar in both verbal and written language. Grammar is a set of rules for understanding language—any language. It includes punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, parts of speech, spelling, tenses and more. It is essential to know the rules of grammar in order to communicate orally or in writing. It used to be a major part of the educational system. Even if it still is a major part, texting ignores most of the rules. Therefore, students brought up texting will not be practicing good grammar. In fact, it’s probably pretty low on their list of important information to learn. They may never think about it. Here’s a little quiz you can give your granddaughter to learn what she actually knows. If she does well, it means that she has learned many of the rules of grammar, but either ignores them or forgets to use them when writing. Why? Because we don’t always use them when texting. How’s Your Grammar? 1. Which is a complete sentence? a) A number of people; b) The gaggle of geese; c) Jane ate the apple. d) Some plants 2. Which word is the subject of the sentence? The museum specializes in art from Greece. a) Greece; b) art; c) specializes; d) museum 3. Which word is the predicate of the sentence? The museum specializes in art from Greece. a) Greece; b) art; c) specializes; d) museum 4. How many nouns are in this sentence? The airplane flew over houses, towers and bridges. a) 3; b) 4; c) 1; d) 2 5. Which word in this sentence is a common noun? Sally lives near the ocean. a) Sally; b) near; c) lives; d) ocean 6. Which word in this sentence is a proper noun? Sally lives near the ocean. a) Sally; b) near; c) lives; d) ocean 7. Which word in this sentence is a pronoun? He lives near the Hudson River. a) Hudson; b) he; c) lives; d) River 8. Which word in this sentence is a verb? Jack and Jill went up the hill. a) went; b) up; c) hill; d) the 9. What tense is the word “went” in Jack and Jill went up the hill? a) present tense; b) future tense; c) past tense; d) all of the above 10. Which word in this sentence is the adjective? Funny Fanny makes everybody laugh. a) Fanny; b) everybody; c) funny; d) makes. 11. Which word in the sentence is a compound word? Max wanted to win the goldfish at the fair. a) goldfish; b) Max; c) fair; d) wanted Grandma’s grammar gripe A concerned elder’s quest for correct language usage in the texting generation SEE DR. LINDA PAGE 13 DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 13 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com 60 Years of Excellence CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE Softening. Filtering. Clean Water Solution. March into $pring $avings! $150 OFF INSTALLATION OF A SOFTENER 12. Which word uses a prefix in the sentence? Would you please retell the story? a) you; b) retell; c) would; d) please 13. Which two words are homonyms? a) sea see; b) too two; c) waist waste; d) all the above 14. Which word is the adverb in the sentence? Aunt Jane spoke softly. a) Aunt; b) Jane; c) spoke; d) softly 15. Which word is the preposition in the sentence? Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue went into the store. a) Uncle; b) Joe; c) into; d) store 16. Which word is the conjunction in the sentence? Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue went into the store. a) and; b) the; c) into; d) store 17. Which word is the helping verb in the sentence? Jack and Jill are helping the farmer. a) helping; b) are; c) Jack; d) Jill 18. Which punctuation mark is used to separate a series of adjectives in a sentence? a) comma; b) period; c) question mark; d) exclamation point 19. A word or group of words that expresses strong feelings is called a) a conjunction; b) interjection; c) question; d) none of the above 20. What punctuation marks do you put before and after the exact words of a speaker? a) quotation marks; b) colon; c) period; d) dash Answers: 1) c; 2) d; 3) c; 4) d; 5) d; 6) a; 7) b; 8) a; 9) c; 10) c; 11) a; 12) b; 13) d; 13) d; 14) d; 15) c; 16) a; 17) b; 18) a; 19) b; 20) a Since there’s 20 questions, count each as five points. If she misses more than 7 questions, that means she received a 65%. You may suggest at that point that your son or daughter-inlaw contact her English teacher to find out if grammar will be taught at some point. If they find out that it has been taught, and others are doing fine, they may consider going online or hiring a tutor to help her brush up. -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda, along with her husband, Dr. Al, own Strong Learning Tutoring and Test Prep serving Westchester and Putnam Counties for over 40 years. Strong Learning tutors students K-12 in any subject, in person or remotely. Drs. Linda and Al are also the authors of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids,” available on Amazon and at stronglearning. com. DR. LINDA FROM PAGE 12 I t’s not every day a columnist (like the scribe scribbling these very words) gets to write about Leap Day. Heck, it’s not even every year that the opportunity rears its quadrennial head. Fun Fact: did you know that end-of-century years (such as 2000) must be divisible by 400 to be duly designated a Leap Year, which is why 1900 was blackballed from that exclusive club. Leap Years are more than just Leap Years. Every year that tacks on that bonus day at the end of February also is a Presidential Election year. But wait, there’s more! Leap years and Presidential Election years form a trifecta with another quadrennial signpost – the summer Olympics. Wow, what an eventful dozen months await us. Are we having fun yet? Remember Common Knowledge? Used to be Leap Year was the kind of thing that is common knowledge. Even a kid who was more class clown than class valedictorian could be expected to acknowledge its existence. “Leap Year? Yeah, that’s the funny thing that happens every four years. I think it’s pretty cool, but don’t ask me why it exists. My mom probably knows.” Alas, common knowledge is less common these days, I’m sorry to report. How else do you explain that among the frequent questions about Leap Year that people ask the all-knowing oracle Google is, “How often is a leap year in the U.S.?” Once upon a time, if someone asked a friend that question, the friend would assume it was akin to being asked, “Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb,” and would likely reply with equal snarkiness, “Go take a leap, will ya.” What happens if you’re a Leap Day baby? Well, other than the healthful outcome of eating birthday cake only 25% as often as other people, in non– leap years, you celebrate on Feb. 28 or March 1, whichever comes first. Jeepers Leapers Did you know Leap Day babies are called “leaplings” or “leapers”? I don’t understand how the International Olympic Committee missed the obvious cross-marketing opportunity to establish a track and field event in which only Leapers compete. There reportedly are 4 million Leapers in the world, so there’d be no shortage Take a leap! A busy year that adds a day, elects a president, and cheers for the Olympics BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG SEE APAR PAGE 14
PAGE 14 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 of qualifying athletes. Among Leapers are rapper Ja Rule, motivational speaker Tony Robbins and some flighty character named Superman. But my favorite in this elite club is actor Alex Rocco. His name probably doesn’t ring a bell, but you may recognize him by his character name of Moe Green, the Las Vegas casino owner in The Godfather. Hey, here’s looking at you, Alex. Oops! Too soon? Who’s the rocket scientist that came up with the idea for Leap Year? It in fact was a different kind of scientist, a Greek astronomer who worked for Julius Caesar. I will stop right here before taking a perilous leap of faith into explaining the astronomical rationale for Leap Year. I never was good at Earth Science, and I’m not about to embarrass myself at this late date. All we need know for now is that it is a spry 2,070 years old, give or take a year, leap or otherwise. The Calendar’s Rodney Dangerfield In some ways, Leap Years are like the calendar’s Rodney Dangerfield. They can struggle to get the respect they so richly deserve. Consider these shameful examples … The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies (a real thing, 11,000 members strong) has lobbied technology gatekeepers like Microsoft to include Feb. 29 as an option when someone enters their birthdate online. Progress reportedly is being made on that discriminatory practice. Feb. 29 also bears the weight of being the first fateful day (in 1692) that arrests were made in Salem, Mass., infamous home of the eponymous witch trials that resulted in 20 fanatical executions of innocents. Remember Toys “R” Us and its mascot Geoffrey, he of the lengthy neck? Until it was fixed, at one point young Leapers who wanted to get a personalized birthday card from the celebrity giraffe were out of luck because Feb. 29 was not programmed into the retailer’s computer system. Not that there aren’t some positives to be gleaned from Leap Day. If you’re a single guy in Ireland, you might want to make yourself readily available on Feb. 29, the day when it’s de rigueur for the ladies to flip the script and propose marriage to the gentlemen. No wonder Leap Day in the Emerald Isle also answers to the moniker Bachelor’s Day. The first Academy Award won by an African American went to Supporting Actress nominee Hattie McDaniel as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.” That milestone Oscars ceremony took place Feb. 29, 1940. Bruce Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He will appear in the Ariane One-Act Festival April 12-14 at Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison in “The Beauty of Numbers.” For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. APAR FROM PAGE 13 We decided to go non-traditional this year for Christmas dinner. Rather than turkey, ham or lamb, we decided to opt for sizzling steaks on the grill. They looked wonderful as 10 of us sat down for our holiday meal. I wolfed down the first bite of a beautiful sirloin, but as I swallowed, it didn’t make it to its destination. Luckily, it made it past the Heimlich zone before lodging itself about three quarters of the way down my throat. Without going into the gory details, suffice it to say, it is an unpleasant sensation. I quietly excused myself from the table and retired to the backyard where I engaged in every maneuver I could think of with the help of a Google search to coax my errant bite of steak to its destination. After about 45 minutes of study of various Internet suggested treatments and cures–jumping jacks, deep knee bends, ginger ale and yodeling–the conventional wisdom was that I needed to head to the emergency room. I am happy to say that no one seemed to notice I was missing from the dinner table. I was able to convince my son and his significant other to give me a ride to the ER. We made the Irish exit from the party. Thankfully, since most people having Christmas dinner in the area had decided to chew their food, it was a quiet night at the ER. I was interviewed by the intake folks after handing over my insurance card. I was whisked into a small room to await the doctor. After a short interview, the doctor ordered the obligatory CT scan to get a better understanding of where the steak stopped. Next, an IV needle to infuse me with the magic throat relaxer potion in preparation for the expected intervention by the endoscopy team. Magically, the IV drugs did the trick and the esophageal traffic jam cleared. I dodged the endoscopy. Less than three hours later, I was on my way back home to learn that the party went on without me and everyone had a good time. 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FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 FOCUS ON ELDER LAW MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 15 “Am I responsible for my parents’ debts?” is a common question I receive from clients. Unfortunately, the answer is typically, “it depends.” Debts can range from credit card debt, taxes, unpaid medicals bills to liens on real property and secured debts. Generally, any outstanding debts of a decedent will be paid from their probate or intestate estate. Their probate (if they passed away with a valid Last Will and Testament) or intestate (if they passed away without a will) estate consists of assets that are in the decedent’s name alone at the time of their death, including bank accounts, real property, cars, stock, etc. If there are assets in the decedent’s name alone, it is then the Executor or Administrator’s role to ensure that any outstanding debts are paid from the estate before any beneficiaries or heirs are given their inheritance. There is also a hierarchy under New York Law as to which debts are to be paid first. For example, under New York Estate, Power and Trust Law (EPTL) Section 12-1.1, funeral expenses have first priority for payment followed by 1) debts entitled to a preference under the Laws of the United States and State of New York; 2) taxes assessed prior to death; 3) judgments and decrees against the decedent; and 4) all other bonds, sealed instruments, notes, etc. These debts must be paid first and if there are no funds remaining in the estate to pay the other debts, then the other creditors many not have any recourse. For example, credit card debt are the last debts of the estate that should be paid. The executor or beneficiaries are not typically personally liable for the debts, according to the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC); and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits collection attempts for credit card debt against a surviving relative or beneficiary. But, what if there is no estate? What if the decedent passed away with no funds in his or her name alone? For example, many individuals use probate avoidance mechanisms, such as Joint Bank Accounts, Beneficiary Designations or Trusts to avoid having a probate estate. In most cases, if assets have named beneficiaries and pass “by operation of law,” the creditor typically has no recourse in being paid out of that asset. There are some exceptions to this rule in certain circumstances. For example, if the beneficiary accepted joint responsibility for the debt, then they can be held liable to the creditor for payment of the debt. We often see this with admission agreements to a nursing home or assisted living facility, where a family member or spouse signed the admission agreement for an ill or mentally incompetent family member or spouse. Additionally, medical debts can sometimes pass to a spouse because spouses have a “joint obligation of support.” What about Student Loan Debt and Car Debt? Student Loan debt depends on the type of loan. Typically, if the loan is a federal loan, the loans will be discharged upon death. Private student loans depend on the terms of the lease agreement and may seek payment from a deceased person’s estate, or from the co-signor, if there is one. In regard to car debt and more specifically leases, one would logically think that if you die during the term of a car lease, that the leasing company would take the car back with all future lease payments being released. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Many early termination clauses in lease agreements state that all remaining lease payments are immediately due and payable upon the death of the signor and the car must be immediately returned as well. In a nutshell, protecting yourself from becoming responsible for the debts of a relative is important and can be avoided by not agreeing to pay debts of a deceased person during their life, keeping your personal finances separate, and if you are the executor or administrator, making sure you are following New York law for paying creditors in accordance with the proper hierarchy. Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is an Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and she enjoys working with individuals and families to ensure that their estate and long-term care plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea is on the executive committee of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section and is also the CoEditor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be reached at 914-948-1500. Debts and death: Who is responsible? LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER There is a hierarchy under New York Law as to which debts are to be paid first.’ -Lauren C. Enea Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP
PAGE 16 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 Tuesday, March 19th from 5:30pm - 8:30pm Engage in Networking & Conversations with Attendees from Different Chambers! Brewster Chamber of Com merce All Roads Lead to Brewster $40/per person Please RSVP by March 11th - 845-628-5553 Members of any Chamber of Commerce are welcome to attend 983 US-6 - Lake Plaza Shopping Center in Mahopac Be Prepared. For Life. Strengthening our youth through Scouting. For more information check us out at Facebook or contact us at [email protected] Adventure Awaits! Join Troop 173 Yorktown! Troop 173 Yorktown— Enriching the lives of our youth through leadership, service to the community, and outdoor adventures. BSA Troop 173 Yorktown Serving the Community since 1965. was gone, but that has not been confirmed. After this ordeal, you can count me in as a big fan of modern medicine and big pharma. Things could have turned out a lot worse. A few days later, I received a bill in the mail for my 90-minute visit to the ER – $7,900. Not quite $3,000 per hour, but close. I probably got the senior citizen discount. There was a $3,217 flat fee to walk into the emergency room; $3,525 for two CAT scans; and $927 for the magic throat relaxer drug. Deduct from that $4,446 for the discount my insurance company gets and you are left with a $3,122 payment to the hospital by my insurance company. As I was lifting my jaw off the floor, I finally got to the bottom line, the “amount due from patient” was a whopping $25. I quickly paid it before they changed their mind. Thank goodness for health insurance. Do any of us ever look at their charges for our medical care? Probably not, since somebody else is paying. I was happy to have coverage from an insurance company that negotiated a deep discount from my health care provider, but even at the lower price, it was still an eye popping number. The nurses and doctors have little idea what things cost, so nobody considers the cost of this procedure or that test since somebody else is paying. That could be part of the problem of skyrocketing health care costs. Nobody knows what anything costs. Does any of it make sense? Does anyone pay retail, or is the price just inflated anticipating the deep discount the insurance company would be taking? Is there any transparency with pricing? According to a web search, the average cost of a CT Scan ranges from $230 to $1,100. My CT scan charge, before the insurance discount, was $3,200. Hmmm. I felt a little better about the $7,900 charge for my visit to the ER since it was $100 cheaper than an end zone seat at this year’s Super Bowl. So I should quit whining. I learned a couple lessons from my Christmas ER experience. First, the quality of healthcare in this area is phenomenal, but it is expensive. Second, you should chew your food. SCOTT FROM PAGE 14 I had a random thought the other day (which I guess technically makes it an accident) that artificial intelligence may never be used for anything useful. I know that sounds cynical, and I want to believe that great things will lie ahead, and that AI won’t simply be put to work figuring out new ways to scam us, coming up with fake photos and videos to support goofy conspiracy theories and proliferating content that I’ll probably have to delete from my web browser but I swear I didn’t look at any longer than was absolutely necessary. I came across an article imparting generous qualities to AI, which said that it could “execute plans,” “learn and become better” and “predict future outcomes based on historical trends.” It was so self-flatteringly like a George Santos job resumé that it must have been written by AI. But we’re not at the Saving-The-World stage yet; there are still some bugs to be worked out. “WOW, Watson, I heard that you wrote up a plan that can save our company by predicting future outcomes based on historical trends! That’s wonderful!” “Why, thank you. I discovered that your company has always spent more money than it has taken in, and I predict that you will continue to do that.” “That is awesome! And I heard that you will keep on learning and getting BETTER!” “Yes, my goal is to be better than Bing. I am already nicer-looking, taller and more modest.” “I can’t thank you enough for putting together this plan. When will you execute it?” “I already have. That’s it in the corner, that pile of dust. I executed it this morning by firing squad.” Instead of beating around the bush, maybe I’ll just ask you directly: Hey, Artificial Intelligentsia, if you’re such a genius, how about inventing a traffic light that can take a look across the street to see if anyone’s coming, and since nobody is, turn itself green? It’s lonely sitting there by myself. How about telling us how to manufacture an easy-open package of cheese that opens easily? I recently found myself in a cheese emergency, and committed a felonious assault on Swiss cheese with a Swiss Army knife. Hey AI, maybe you can figure out how to make the Real Housewives look realer? Make them look like they did before they had all that plastic surgery, and charge them for it AGAIN. How about coming up with some better ways to crossbreed animals and plants? Why can’t we cross a leek with a seal and cure the problem before it even starts? How can we mate an impala with a jack-in-the-pulpit in case it gets a flat? Okay maybe I should think back inside the box. One thing AI should not be used for is creating art. The most interesting thing about art is often not the art itself, but the glimpse into the artist’s brain. AI has no artist’s brain; it just has the Can AI really save us? RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD SEE MELEN PAGE 17
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I am convinced that whoever is in charge of music at the arena, being granted a budget of, well, zero, turned to AI to generate an artificial soundtrack that was not subject to music publishing royalties. And so, in its wisdom, AI scoured the internet and learned that at every basketball game, ticking noises were being played, and it assumed that it was because we loved them, and figured out how to generate them louder and more often. So I’m hoping that this great tool, which could affect the course of mankind, will someday be applied to the grand purpose of solving problems we don’t even have yet. Medical science, the planning of cities, manufacturing and finding renewable energy are noble pursuits. But let’s start small. First, let’s figure out how to stop people from scamming us, how to identify fake political conspiracy theories and how to better hide my browser history. Say hello at [email protected]. MELEN FROM PAGE 16 I mbued with years of training in philosophy and the law, I learned at a young age to approach any problem by breaking it down into its component parts. I wasn’t alone. Many scientists, in trying to understand mysteries like consciousness, black holes, and time, have followed the same method. Only now, in my 70s, have I realized that my propensity to focus on the specific caused me to miss a profound understanding of the general. Over the years, I’ve searched for a new approach. Fortuitously, I stumbled upon a branch of science that believes in the study of “emergent properties.” But how could I have been so blind for so long? The concept of “emergence” has intrigued scientists, philosophers and thinkers for centuries. Emergence refers to the idea that complex systems and properties (like consciousness) can arise from simple interactions between individual components, leading to new, unpredictable and often unexpected behaviors and traits. Emergence suggests not only that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but that novel properties can emerge from the interaction of individual elements in a system. For me, the most interesting application of the concept of “emergence” occurs when it is applied to the phenomenon of consciousness. Consciousness is a state of awareness and subjective experience that is often considered the greatest mystery of the human mind. While scientists have made significant progress in understanding the neural mechanisms and processes that underlie consciousness, the question of how subjective experience emerges from the physical processes of the brain remains a topic of intense debate and speculation. Many theorists and philosophers have proposed that consciousness may be an emergent property of the brain, arising from the intricate interactions and connections between billions of neurons and synapses. According to this view, which I support, consciousness is not a separate entity or substance. Instead, it is a complex phenomenon that emerges from dynamic and interconnected activity of the brain’s neural networks. Did you ever wonder how a flock of birds or a school of fish can act seemingly as one? We have learned that they are able to develop a consciousness, derived from a collective activity of neurons in the brain, that allows them to act literally in unison. Can we apply the same principle to humans? Perhaps. To really appreciate the value of the concept of emergence, we must dramatically shift our perspective from reductionism to holism. Reductionism is the view that complex systems can be understood by breaking them down into their constituent parts and analyzing them at the most basic level. However, emergent properties, such as consciousness, cannot be fully explained or predicted by examining the individual components of the system in isolation. Instead, emergent properties require a wider lens that considers the interactions, relationships and feedback loops between components of the system. A prominent theory of consciousness that incorporates the concept of emergence is Unlocking the mysteries of consciousness JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE SEE MARTORANO PAGE 18
PAGE 18 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-HOUR PROBLEM GAMING HOTLINE: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369) Newburgh, NY RWHudsonValleyNY.com I-84 | Exit 36B I-87 | Exit 17 Earn Entries All Month Long! Friday, March 29 • 10pm & Sunday, March 31 • 4pm Double your luck with a chance to win a Chevy Colorado*! *Actual models and colors may vary. DOUBLE YOUR LUCK CHEVY COLORADO DRAWING AWARD WINNER LIC. REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE BROKER Grace Vinciguerra MARTORANO FROM PAGE 17 Happily Ever After the integrated information theory (IIT) proposed by neuroscientist Giulio Tononi. According to IIT, consciousness arises from the integrated and irreducible information-processing of the brain’s neural circuits. In this view, consciousness is not localized in any specific region of the brain but, rather, it emerges from the global and interconnected activity of neural networks. By proposing this theory, IIT offers a novel and mathematically rigorous framework for understanding consciousness as an emergent property of the brain’s complex network dynamics. The global workplace theory, proposed by cognitive scientist Bernard Baars, is another influential theory drawing on the concept of emergence. According to this theory, consciousness arises from the global broadcasting and integration of information across different brain regions. The global workplace acts as a central hub or “theatre,” where information from various sensory modalities and cognitive processes is brought into awareness and made available for conscious processing. By treating consciousness as an emergent property of the brain’s information processing and communication systems, the global workplace theory offers insight into the dynamic and distributed nature of conscious experience. While my new favorite concept, emergence, provides a valuable framework for understanding consciousness, it also raises several important questions and challenges. For example, how do we bridge the gap between the physical processes of the brain and the subjective experience of consciousness? How do we account for the unity and continuity of conscious experience despite the diversity and complexity of neural activity? And how do we explain the relationship between consciousness and the external world, including perception, cognition and behavior? Despite these challenging questions, I firmly believe that the concept of emergence offers a promising approach to appreciating consciousness as a complex and dynamic phenomenon that develops from the interactions of neural networks in the brain. By viewing consciousness as a byproduct of the brain’s information and communication processes, we gain new insights into the nature of subjective experience and the mechanisms underlying awareness. While the mystery of consciousness may not be solved in my lifetime, the concept of emergence has provided me with a valuable perspective for exploring the enigmatic and profound nature of human consciousness.
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 19 Prevent the destruction of the Belden House Dear Editor, Putnam County has long had an opportunity to restore one of its oldest and most historic buildings—the Belden House in Carmel. But despite a commitment in 2006 from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fully restore the structure, the house remains in poor condition and is rumored to be torn down and replaced by a modern office building to be utilized by the DEP. However, the DEP has informed the Putnam County Executive that the DEP is open to “any creative solutions there may be for the property (and) remains hopeful for a pragmatic solution and is more than willing to facilitate and engage in productive solutions to that end.” It seems this is an invitation that local and county government entities would be remiss to ignore. Productive and pragmatic solutions exist, but require the financial willpower and commitment from our elected leaders to preserve this historical resource for the benefit of present and future generations. It would be tragic for our leaders to have to look back with regret, having not seized this opportunity to serve their constituents so easily and ably. The non-profit Friends of Belden House encourages all citizens of Putnam County to contact their local, county and national representatives without delay to forestall the destruction of this priceless 18th century farmhouse. -Jeff Hodges, Emily Parker, Natasha Didanato Carmel LETTER Sports Deadline The sports deadline for Mahopac News is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to [email protected]. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at freeman@ halstonmedia.com. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. Service... Integrity... Compassion Family owned and operated We began with a mission to celebrate life and serve families. There is much peace to be found here, and we invite you to find yours. Explore more. Take a tour. Read our story. Share in experiences. Anthony J. Guarino Family Owned & Operated 945 East Main Street • Shrub Oak, NY 10588 • (914) 962-0700 YorktownFuneralHome.com • [email protected] Scan Me! Read your local news online now! Scan Me! Scan Here To Get The Top Local News Delivered To Your Inbox Daily Scan Here To Read The News Of Mahopac
PAGE 20 MAHOPAC NEWS – FEBRUWith snow closing the schools, Mahopac kids (and a good few adults) found other ways to occupy their time. But what about that frosty fellow reading the paper? The Kearns family sledding at Lakeview PHOTO COURTESY ROBERT KEARNS Hailey has a ruff time in the snow PHOTO COURTESY TABITHA HARRISON Owen and Johnny Dicob making a snowman PHOTO COURTESY ERIN DICOB Shawn, Jack and Shane Degl with Danielle Albanese PHOTO COURTESY NICK ALBANESE BUYING845-62WE WILL COWE BUY: Gold • Sterling SJewelry • CoinPaintings • BronClocks • CollectiAntiques • ETItems for sawww.summertrailsdaycamp.com CURRENTLY HIRING STAFF! CALL FOR A TOUR! 914.245.1776 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
ARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 PAGE 21 Sofia, Carrie and Abby Chmielewski enjoy tree climbing on a snowy day. PHOTO COURTESY MONIKA CHMIELEWSKI This snowman is taking time out to sit, have his favorite beverage, and read the Mahopac News. Then he’ll see whats going on in The Somers Record. Always good to know whats happening around you. PHOTO AND SNOWMAN: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL That ‘snow way’ to have fun! G ONLY 8-0362 OME TO YOU! 53 YEARS! Silver ns nzes bles C. le? Call us! Progressive Animal Hospital What is the most common mismanaged condition that you see? THE ITCHY DOG! Is your pet... scratching • licking • chewing feet or having chronic skin infections? Stop treating the symptoms and find out the underlying cause with a simple blood test. Get your pet feeling better and stop the frequent trips to the vet. INDEPENDENTLY OWNED and OPERATED 268 route 202 l somers, ny 10589 914.248.6220 l progressive-vet.com Voted “Best of Somers” 2020-2023 Come See Us At Our New Location! PUTNAM WINDOW TINT AUTO , COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL WINDOW FILM Follow us on Instagram 1065 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • Paint protection film • Vehicle lettering • Full Service vehicle wraps • gift cards available Over 35 in Business Years
PAGE 22 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 Sports 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 3/31/24 $10.00OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25%OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 3/31/24 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team Two Wolf Pac gymnasts are heading to the state championships on March 2. Lexie Castrataro and Anna Carinci both qualified after the Section 1 championships at Eclipse Gymnastics, which took place Feb on. 8. “Both Lexie and Anna are excited about qualifying for the NYSPHSAA Gymnastics Championship,” said head coach Vin Collins. “Lexie had a solid night and came up big on vault. She was the last competitor on vault for the evening and she nailed it! Anna also had a nice night and she came up big on beam - a solid, well-executed routine.” The meet featured gymnasts from Somers combined (which includes Yorktown and John Jay), Lakeland/Panas/Putnam Valley, Clarkstown, Wappingers, Edgemont, Tappan Zee, and Scarsdale. “Our gymnasts did very well in one of the most competitive sectional finals in a few years,” Collin said. “To compete and score as well as they did in such a competitive atmosphere is outstanding!” Collins also praised “terrific competitions” by Kaitlyn Palange, Kelsie Thimm, Riley Hughes, and Lia DiMase. “Unfortunately it was Kaitlyn’s last high school competition since she is a senior, but I’m sure she has many great memories of her fouryear HS career,” Collins said. “I never get tired of saying how proud I am of our gymnasts!” Two Mahopac gymnasts qualify for states Anna Carinci Lexie Castrataro Anna Carinci PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL Lexi Castrataro
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 23 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @MAHOPACSOCCER FOR THE LATEST NEWS! For More info visit mahopacsoccer.com KINDERGARTEN SOCCER...$60* IN-HOUSE 1ST-9TH GRADE...$100* STARTING APRIL 13th Coaches and volunteers needed at all levels Season set to start on April 13 for K-9th Grades Registration for Pre-K, Summer Camp & Travel Tryouts Coming Soon! MAHOPAC SOCCER SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! MAHOPAC SOCCER SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! *early bird pricing ends 2/2, registration closes 3/23 BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Mahopac High School’s girls basketball team saw its season come to an end last Thursday (Feb. 22) when the Wolf Pac dropped a 47-32 decision to No. 3 seed Harrison in the Class AA quarterfinals at Harrison High School. The Huskies (16–6) were scheduled to take on No. 2 Ursuline in the semifinals on Feb. 27 at the Westchester County Center. Last Thursday at Harrison, the Huskies had a hot hand in the first half, and pulled out to a 32-17 lead by the break. “Their point guard (Olivia Perrandez) scored 20 in the first half, she crushed us,“ Wolf Pac coach Mairead Hynes said. “Mostly on drives… but we held her to seven in the second half. They shot extremely well from mid-range in the first half. That really killed us. “And on top of that we couldn’t put the ball in the basket,“ Hynes added. “We missed layups, and couldn’t hit from long range. Their defense hurt us a bit, but our outside shooting was not on.” Sophomore Madysen Ford lead the Pac (15-7) with 10 points, senior Fiona O’Boyle had nine, and freshman Giana Puckhaber added eight points. “Ford played well for us in the second and third,“ Hynes said. “She created a lot of our offense. And Puckhaber stepped up toward the end… We cut the lead to nine, but couldn’t get it any closer.” The Harrison loss came after a dominating 49-28 win against No. 11 seed Yorktown in the first round of the Class AA playoffs at Mahopac High School. In the win over Yorktown, the Pac was led by sophomore guard Madysen Ford’s 14 points. Soph Ashley Koch and senior Adrianna Pranzo each added nine, with senior forward Fiona O’Boyle adding eight. The Cornhuskers grabbed some early momentum, going up 10-7 after one, but Yorktown managed just four points in the second, as the Pac defense stiffened. The Wolf Pac went up 21-14 by halftime, and after an 18-point third, carried a 39-24 lead into the fourth. “I think we played really well,” Hynes said after the Yorktown game. “We came out strong, with a lot of energy. It was a little bit of a fight at the beginning, but our girls showed their resilience and played really well. I’m proud of them. “Mady and Ashley, our sophomores, played hard at the defensive end, and really shut down their best player,” Hynes added. “Koch had a ton of steals, and they both played really well for us today.” Still, Hynes knew the Wolf Pac would have its work cut out for it against the three seed. Harisson. “They’re a very good team,” the coach said of the Huskies. “They’re very big, and they move the ball well. I think it’s going to be a good game. We’ve got to focus on what we can control. We can control our defense, our rebounding, things like that. If we focus on what we can control, everything else will fall into place.” Things may not have fallen into place as she hoped, but Hynes still felt her team had had an impressive season. “I’m definitely proud of the girls,” the coach said. “Winning 15 games is a huge positive. They put the work in, and we didn’t let the losses get us down.” Mahopac girls fall to Harrison in the playoff Defeat comes after a dominating first-round win vs. Yorktown Senior Fiona O’Boyle (22) rises for a shot vs. Yorktown PHOTO: SKIP PEARLMAN BASKETBALL
PAGE 24 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 Same-Day Roll-Off Container Delivery Available 10-yard • 12-yard • 15-yard 20-yard • 30-yard CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE cironeconstruction.com Visit us at: 128 Route 52, Carmel Shari Zimmerman 845-621-2557 [email protected] Call for a FREE Quote today! RATES GOING UP? Wolf Pac boys see magical season end in agony No. 19 seed upsets No. 3 Wolf Pac in playoff stunner BASKETBALL BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER The magic the Mahopac High School boys seemed to find all winter – and used to grind out the best regular season in program history – was nowhere to be found on Friday, Feb. 16 in the first round of the Class AA playoffs, as the No. 3 seed Wolf Pac came out flat and never found their rhythm in a heartbreaking, 62-55, loss to 19th seeded Brewster. Mahopac (18-3) had routed the Bears by 22 points (54-32) during the season, just under a month earlier. While Mahopac came out of the gate slow, and couldn’t get early shots to drop, Brewster (which managed just five wins during the regular season) came out with a purpose, hitting from long range and making the Pac pay for mistakes. The Bears led 8-0, and then 14-3, 5:30 in. Mahopac clawed its way back in the second quarter, tied the game at 18-18 with 3:45 in the half, and led 23-22 at the break. The Pac seemed to find some traction in the third, going up nine. But then Brewster closed the quarter with three three-pointers, including one that tied the game at 43-43 at the buzzer. Down the stretch, a confident Bears team continued to play with a vigor Mahopac had trouble matching. The Pac cut a 59-55 deficit to two points (57-55) with a bucket with 8 seconds left, and with just under 2 seconds (after two Brewster misses at the line) had a chance to tie it with a twopointer. But Mahopac was unable to get a shot off and instead was called for an offensive foul, followed by a pair of technicals, allowing Brewster to shoot five free throws as time expired. “Brewster played phenomenal,” a stunned Pac coach Matt Calabro said. “They hit 11 or 12 threes and jumped on us early. They packed in the zone and made free throws, and we didn’t make plays. In the playoffs, that’s how your season ends.” Mahopac had a hard time against the zone during the season, and the Bears made the most of it. “It’s no secret we’ve struggled against the zone all year,” Calabro said. “We might’ve played a little tight… in the fourth, things weren’t going our way, and we weren’t being aggressive enough. We may have been pressing a bit. We missed shots we’ve made all season. We just didn’t make plays.” The weight of an 18-2 regular season, and the opportunity the Pac had in front of them, combined to make the loss a gutpunch of an ending for this veteran group. “They were devastated,” Calabro said of his players. “We all sat in the locker room for hours. These guys gave everything… to see them weep in each other’s chests is just so tough. They wanted to play at the County Center so bad. It was absolutely brutal, just the worst. After the season we had, to lose to the 19 seed was shocking. We really felt like we could’ve beaten anyone in AA. “They’ll remember it the rest of their lives,” Calabro added. “But the takeaway has to be the big picture – how great this season was. The greatest in school history. They’re fortunate to have this experience. Only 12 guys got to feel it.” Senior John Kearney (21) looks to drive vs. Brewster. PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN Senior Liam Scanlon (5) gets a shot off vs. Brewster.
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 25 Dave Toub stands with former Mahopac coaches Frank Miele and Gerry Keevins PHOTOS COURTESY GERRY KEEVINS AND FRANK MIELE at Somers HS for the past nine years, Keevins has also helped the Tuskers win three state titles.) “He told me he was leaving Springfield. I knew someone at the University of Texas El Paso. I said, ‘Let me make a few calls.’” “He got a scholarship to play for two years and was captain and starting center,” Keevins continued. “He signed his letter of intent at my kitchen table.” Toub would end up being an All-Conference offensive lineman at UTEP and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the ninth round, and later went to training camp with the Rams, but soon realized his future lay in coaching. “He went back to UTEP as a strength coach,” Keevins said. “That’s where he met [Chiefs head coach] Andy Reid.” Reid and Toub would make their way through the college and NFL coaching ranks, sometimes working together as assistants before Reid became the Philadelphia Eagles head coach in 1999 and brought Toub on as special teams and quality control coach in 2001. Toub went on to be the Chicago Bears special teams coordinator from 2004 to 2012—where he worked with Hall of Fame returner Devin Hester—before the two men reunited when Reid hired Toub as the Chiefs’ special teams coordinator in 2013. He added assistant head coach to his job description in 2018. “When you’re a football coach, you always say, ‘How did I get here?’ Toub said after the Super Bowl. “And I really look back to that point in time, because coaches Keevins and Miele got me interested in football. They got me going and football ended up being my career, ended up being my life. So I owe those guys a lot.” In his second year as assistant head coach, Toub won his first championship ring when the Chiefs beat the Niners 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV, KC’s first title since they did it in 1970 as part of the old AFL. Last year, Reid and Toub knocked off their old employers, the Eagles, in a tight game. It left the former Mahopac player reaching out to his former coaches and mentors. “When you go back [to the Super Bowl] and you look and you reflect,” Taub said. “So after the second one, I said, ‘Hey, if we go again, I want to thank you guys.’ And, then we ended up going again.” A man of his word, Toub brought the coaches out to Las Vegas and spent quality time with them. “And I’m so glad I did,” Toub said. The trip involved much more than tickets to the Super Bowl. Miele and Keevins said Toub and his family made time for them before the game, took them to dinner, and Toub even broke away from the celebrations after the win to share the moment with his two former coaches. “Frank and I spent quite a bit of time with his family and met his wife Cheryl and son Shane, who is also a coach,” said Keevins. “The game was unbelievable. We saw him after the game on Sunday, he came right over the rail. We were able to shake hands and congratulate him.” Miele said the opportunity to see the game from that close was SUPER BOWL FROM PAGE 1 SEE SUPER BOWL PAGE 26 85 Myrtle Avenue, Mahopac, NY 10541 845-628-7500 • www.pineg rovecou ntrydayscho ol .com Certified by NYS Department of Education/NYS Department of Social Service • Infant (6weeks - 12 months) • Wobbler/Toddler (12-36 months) • Preschool (3-5 yrs) • Pre-K (older 4’s) • Before & After School (5-12 yrs) Now accepting CAMP REGISTRATION for Summer 2024! Now accepting CAMP REGISTRATION for Summer 2024! Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com
PAGE 26 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 Gerry Keevins and Frank Miele at the Super Bowl PHOTOS COURTESY GERRY KEEVINS AND FRANK MIELE SUPER BOWL FROM PAGE 25 Frank Miele and Gerry Keevins with Dave Toub’s wife Cheryl both a thrill and a learning experience. “I’m still in awe,” he said. “I never expected to be that close to a game situation, to be that close to a worldwide extravaganza. Then to watch him perform and see how he acted on the sideline and how involved he was, you don’t get to see all they do on TV. As coaches, we could haven’t been any prouder. Dave is a coach’s coach.” As impressive as Toub’s success as a coach has been. Miele– who lives in Carmel and currently serves as hitting coach at Western Connecticut State University–pointed to the humility Toub demonstrated by recognizing any role Keevins and himself may have played in it. “To have a player that we coached over 40 years ago even have the thought to invite us to something that the average person can’t go to because of the expense, I was so honored and humbled by the whole thing,” said Miele, adding that he was also happy to reunite with his old colleague Keevins and spend time together. “To have someone to say ‘thank you for being part of my life at the beginning…’ He’s at the top of the sports world [but] to see how down to earth he was, no airs, he acted like a regular person. He could have acted like a superstar. That’s probably why he’s reached the heights he has. His desire and heart made him a great [high school and college] player and coach in the NFL.” With Kansas City the first team to repeat as NFL champs in over 20 years, it was extra special for Toub to be able to share some history with his former coaches. “It was awesome,” he said. “It was just good to see the smiles on their faces. And you know just how much they appreciated it—I appreciate that at the same time. So, it was all good.” Thinking back to the kid he once coached after the Super Bowl, Keevins said Toub seemed unstoppable even as a high school student. “I never had a player who was more focused than Dave; he knew exactly what he wanted,” recalled Keevins, who won nine league titles in Mahopac, was honored in 2020 by having the high school’s fitness center named after him, and still makes his home here. “I’ll never forget him saying to me, ‘Coach, one day I will be a coach in the NFL.’ He was so focused and I couldn’t be more proud of him.” 914.948.1500 This ad is donated by Fundraiser to benefit people with disabilities Friday, April 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Travelers Rest, 25 Rte. 100, Ossining, NY 10562 $75 per person includes: 6:30 - 10 pm - Beer & Wine Open Bar 6:30 -7 pm - Appetizers 7 - 8 pm - Buffet dinner, dessert, soda/coffee 8 - 10 pm - 9 Comedians For tickets go to: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/b832fde8-d716-4a4f-af98-c73a84064a2a Or scan the QR code: CAREERS Support Solutions is a private non-profit that finds productive employment for individuals with disabilities. We provide on-the-job training and ongoing support services at no cost to our clients, their families or employers. Sponsorships Available Fundraiser to benefit people with disabilities Friday, April 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Travelers Rest, 25 Rte. 100, Ossining, NY 10562 COMEDIAN LINEUP CAREERS Support Solutions is a private non-profit that finds productive employment for individuals with disabilities. We provide on-the-job training and ongoing support services at no cost to our clients, their families or employers. Fundraiser to benefit people with disabilities Friday, April 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Travelers Rest, 25 Rte. 100, Ossining, NY 10562 COMEDIAN LINEUP CAREERS Support Solutions is a private non-profit that finds productive employment for individuals with disabilities. We provide on-the-job training and ongoing support services at no cost to our clients, their families or employers.
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 LEISURE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 27 To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! For puzzle solutions, please see theparamountrehab.com CLUES ACROSS 1. Gene type 5. Persian male given name 10. Type of protection 12. Cloud 14. One who returns to life 16. Gym class 18. General’s assistant (abbr.) 19. Baby’s dining accessory 20. Enchantress 22. Prefix denoting “in a” 23. Spiritual leader 25. Cavities 26. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.) 27. Foot (Latin) 28. Sweet potato 30. Pharaoh of Lower Egypt 31. Land 33. More inquisitive 35. Dog breed: __ Apso 37. Stood up 38. Direct and uninhibited 40. Authorless 41. Blocking type of drug (abbr.) 42. Retrospective analysis (abbr.) 44. Root mean square (abbr.) 45. Macaws 48. Actress Remini 50. Polynesian wrapped skirt 52. City of Angels hoops team (abbr.) 53. Fitzgerald and Baker are two 55. Bowling alley must-have 56. A way to cool down 57. Ethnic group in Asia 58. A way to alter 63. Set of five 65. Removes from the record 66. Dummies 67. Set period in office CLUES DOWN 1. DC Comics superhero 2. Brew 3. Play 4. Single-celled animals 5. Rough to the touch 6. Small island (British) 7. Often noted alongside cons 8. Preparation of rootstock 9. Atomic #44 10. Egyptian unit of capacity 11. About secretary 13. Particular groups 15. Poke fun at 17. Make certain that something occurs 18. Financial term 21. Justify 23. Arbiter 24. 007’s creato 27. Czech name for Prague 29. Groans 32. American time 34. No seats available 35. __ Stahl, journalist 36. Cleft lip 39. Talk incessantly 40. Expresses atomic and molecular weights (abbr.) 43. A part of a river where the current is very fast 44. Curdled milk 46. Running competitions 47. A team’s best pitcher 49. Carthaginian explorer 51. World-renowned city 54. Most common Japanese surname 59. The bill in a restaurant 60. They __ 61. City of Angels football team (abbr.) 62. Distinctive practice 64. One quintillion bytes PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 02/08/24 Shortbread Dips Makes a dozen • 10-1/2 ounces soft butter • 4-1/2 ounces golden caster sugar • 10-1/2 ounces plain flour [all-purpose] • 1-3/4 ounces corn flour [cornstarch] • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt • 5 ounces dark chocolate • 5 ounces white chocolate • 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios • 2 tablespoons freeze-dried raspberries Preheat the oven to 340 F. Grease an 8-inch square baking tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Add in both the flours plus the sea salt and stir until it begins to come together, though take care not to overwork the dough. Bring the dough together with your hands and press the mixture into the prepared tin. Flatten the surface of the shortbread with the back of a spoon and use a fork to prick marks along the length of the fingers. Bake for 45 minutes until pale golden. Remove from the oven and, with a knife, mark lines where you are going to cut the shortbread. Leave to cool in the tin. Melt the dark and white chocolate separately in heatproof bowls set over a pan of gently simmering water. Take each of your shortbread fingers and use a teaspoon to coat one-third with the chocolate. Sprinkle pistachios or freeze-dried raspberries over the chocolate end and allow to set. Serve with a hot cuppa, or they will keep in an airtight container for up to four days. St. Patrick’s Day idea: Use green sprinkles in lieu of raspberries on the ends of the other biscuits for some extra green flare. Serve with Irish coffee or hot chocolate spiked with Irish Cream liqueur. Note: Caster sugar is finely ground granulated sugar. Its texture falls between granulated sugar and confectioner’s sugar. If you can’t find caster sugar, use a spice grinder to grind granulated sugar up to a finer texture. Enjoy shortbread this St. Patrick’s Day Ireland’s rich pasture and lush land has made the Emerald Isle well known for its butter. In fact, butter long has been a popular export of this western European nation. The southwestern coast of Ireland has been known for producing rich and flavorful butter since the late 1700s. Although butter is delicious in many different applications, it’s right at home in baked goods, particularly shortbread biscuits. Shortbread is commonly eaten in Ireland and in neighboring Scotland, where this recipe originated. For a tasty St. Patrick’s Day dessert, try this recipe for “Shortbread Dips” from “The Hebridean Baker” (Sourcebooks) by Coinneach MacLeod.
PAGE 28 – MAHOPAC NEWS HEALTH & WELLNESS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 AFC Carmel (next to Starbucks) 1874B US 6, Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512 914.380.8588 afcurgentcare.com/carmel M-F: 8am-8pm, S-S: 8am-5pm We’re ready to see you. AFC Carmel is now open, and we’re proud to provide fast, accessible healthcare for the whole family. Our skilled team ensures you’ll receive the highest quality medical care, early or late, no appointment necessary. Stop by and meet your new medical team today! Join us for a fun night of trivia and laughs to support the local community programs of CoveCare Center! Thursday, March 7th - 6:30pm $25 per player Invite your friends & family - HOST A TRIVIA PARTY - Support a great cause! Prizes for the Winning Team & Best Team Name We are in need of EVENT & TRIVIA ROUND SPONSORS! To sponsor or register, scan the QR code or visit: https://covecarecenter.org/covecare-virtual-trivia-night-2024/ For more details contact: [email protected] Join us for a fun night of trivia and laughs to support the local community programs of CoveCare Center! Thursday, March 7th - 6:30pm $25 per player Invite your friends & family - HOST A TRIVIA PARTY - Support a great cause! Prizes for the Winning Team & Best Team Name We are in need of EVENT & TRIVIA ROUND SPONSORS! To sponsor or register, scan the QR code or visit: https://covecarecenter.org/covecare-virtual-trivia-night-2024/ For more details contact: [email protected] Join us for a fun night of trivia and laughs to support the local community programs of CoveCare Center! Thursday, March 7th - 6:30pm $25 per player Invite your friends & family - HOST A TRIVIA PARTY - Support a great cause! Prizes for the Winning Team & Best Team Name We are in need of EVENT & TRIVIA ROUND SPONSORS! To sponsor or register, scan the QR code or visit: https://covecarecenter.org/covecare-virtual-trivia-night-2024/ For more details contact: [email protected] The human body changes as it ages. While certain conditions are commonly associated with aging, some individuals may be surprised to learn of the more common health conditions that can affect seniors. The World Health Organization says one in six people will be 60 or older by 2030. With such a large portion of the population on the cusp of turning 60, it makes sense for individuals to familiarize themselves with the more notable issues affecting seniors. Cognitive decline A certain degree of memory loss is a natural component of aging. Forgetting where you left your keys or experiencing difficulty putting a name to a face can be a random and frustrating occurrence. However, dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, are not a side effect of aging. As many as one in five seniors experiences mental health issues that are not associated with aging, and it helps to learn the early warning signs of dementia. Such recognition may compel individuals to seek treatment that can slow the progression of the disease. Osteoarthritis Aches and pains may come with aging, and often can be attributed to osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears away over time. It is progressive and cannot be reversed, but maintaining a healthy weight and staying active can help alleviate pain and improve joint function. Cataracts and refractive errors It should come as no surprise to most that the eyes change as the body ages. Refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia can make objects look blurry when viewed, says the National Eye Institute. Cataracts, which are a clouding of the eye’s natural lenses, affect about 20 percent of people age 65 and older, according to the American Geriatrics Society, while the National Eye Institute says half of all people over age 80 will get them. Cataract removal surgery and prescription eyeglasses can help. Type 2 diabetes American Senior Communities reports that it’s estimated 25 percent of adults age 65 and older have type 2 diabetes. Unchecked diabetes can lead to a host of ailments, including vision problems, mobility issues, kidney damage and increased risk for heart disease or stroke. Many people can manage type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise. Heart disease The National Institute on Aging says adults age 65 and older are more likely than younger people to suffer from cardiovascular disease that affects the heart, blood vessels or both. Conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol need to be properly managed, and diet and exercise is important throughout life to avoid developing heart disease in later years. Balance issues Balance issues that can lead to falls are a major concern for seniors. According to HealthinAging.org, many things can adversely affect balance. These include nerve and brain problems, vision troubles, diabetes, arthritis, inner ear problems and even dehydration. Dizziness or balance problems should be addressed, as there are serious health risks associated with falls. This article is from Metro Creative Connection. Notable senior health concerns Did you know? Falls pose a significant threat to the senior population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says someone age 65 or older suffers a fall every second of every day in the United States. This makes falls the leading cause of injury and injury death among this demographic. The National Council on Aging says one in four Americans fall each year. In fact, the NCOA notes that falls result in more than three million injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms each year, including more than 800,000 that lead to hospitalization. The financial toll of falls among older adults also is significant, and estimates suggest falls will cost $101 billion annually by 2030. That cost is only expected to increase as the population ages.
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 HEALTH & WELLNESS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 29 Do You Suffer with NEUROPATHY? No Surgery, Shots or Medications - 100% Non-Invasive Imagine a proven long-term solution for your: • Numbness • Diabetic Nerve Pain • Sharp Electric like Pain • Burning or Tingling • Muscle Weakness • Difficulty Sleeping from Leg or Foot Discomfort • Sensitivity to Touch • Pain when Walking Call Today: 914-686-6200 Your Appointment Includes: - FREE Consultation with the Doctor - Thermography Imaging of the affected area “When I first reached out to Dr. Gertner, I was in horrible shape. I could barely walk because of the neuropathy. I had pain in my back, traveling down both legs. The pain was excruciating. It was a combination of burning, pins & needles, and weakness. Dr. Gertner went over a five prong system to not just slow down the neuropathy, but actually reverse the degenerative changes. I am incredibly humbled and blessed that this doctor helped me get back to the best “ME” that I can be. Thank You!” – Thomas C. UCC-NY.COM | 311 North Street, Suite 410, White Plains, NY Dr. Gertner’s book
PAGE 30 – MAHOPAC NEWS HEALTH & WELLNESS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 Elder Law Wills, Trusts & Estates Estate Planning Medicaid Applications Guardianships Probates Elder Law & Estate Planning A Tradition of Excellence in Elder Law (845) 621-8640 thefellergroup.com 625 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541 We make home & hospital visits Contact the team today! (845) 621-8640 www.aonpt.com GOODROW BUILDING 862 Route 6 Mahopac NY 10541 (845) 208-0963 MILL POND OFFICES 293 Route 100 • Suite 107 Somers, NY 10589 (914) 276-2520 BREWSTER 3 Starr Ridge Road Brewster, NY 10509 (845) 279-9288 The Road To Recovery Starts Here Connecting Medicaid Planning to matters of the heart may seem unconventional, but the law is surprisingly sympathetic to your primary love relationship. New York State law allows transfer of assets to your spouse to obtain Medicaid for longterm care. These transfers are not penalized. Even if the total assets exceed community spouse guidelines, a “Spousal Refusal” form may be filed, which allows the ill spouse to receive Medicaid without considering the healthier spouse’s assets and income. No other relationship is treated with the same compassion. For example, with nursing some applications, Medicaid penalizes most asset transfers to children if the purpose of those transfers is to attain financial eligibility. An elder law attorney’s office is an unlikely venue to discuss a romantic couple’s journey towards wedded bliss. But it happens. Long-term cohabiting companions and formerly divorced spouses will sit across from me and lament on how one partner’s health issues will have major pocketbook implications. I usually nod and carefully mouth these words, “you may or may not want to consider getting married.” With that, I stop, avert my eyes for a second and wait for the lovebirds to laugh uncontrollably or solemnly take each other into their arms and profess their undying love. There is a sound planning reason to walk down the aisle. Spousal Medicaid protections will preserve more of the couple’s assets. Remaining unmarried affords no Medicaid asset protection. Asset transfers from one companion to the other is a penalizable gift for Nursing Home Medicaid. Besides the wedding cake, another perk of marriage involves taking a spouse’s higher Social Security amount for themselves after a spouse’s death. We understand that there may be valid reasons why a couple decided to remain unmarried for 40 years. Complicated family dynamics, step-children, and other fun social experiments may be lurking. After tying the knot and dancing that first dance, a couple can work on Medicaid planning and set up a Trust to ensure that both spouses’ families are recognized and protected. The unromantic view of Medicaid planning and marriage is that New York State does not want the ill spouse’s decline to financially decimate the healthier spouse. A married couple is considered one unit under the law. Each county in New York has discretion to seek financial contributions from the spouse who has received the bulk of the family’s wealth to pay for some of the long-term care. These contributions may be negotiated and counties usually do not want to place unreasonable burdens on spouses. As a matter of governmental fiscal responsibility, it is generally good policy to set rules that limit a very wealthy family’s access to an entitlement program. That said, the massive costs of long-term care can wreak havoc on most families. You probably will not see “Love and Medicaid” on the Hallmark Channel any time soon and that is too bad. Just know that elder law attorneys are no strangers to cupid and his arrow. Contact the professionals at The Feller Group, P.C. for more insight on Estate Planning reevaluations. The Feller Group is a multi-disciplinary law practice specializing in elder law, estate planning and business advisement. This article was written by Alan D. Feller, Esq. Feller can be reached at 845-621- 8640, or visit thefellergroup.com. Medicaid matters Navigating the month of love with financial finesse ALAN D. FELLER, ESQ. GUEST CORNER
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 HEALTH & WELLNESS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 31 Perrone Family CHIROPRACTIC 925 Route 6 • Mahopac, NY 10541 • Tel: (845)628-3805 Serving the Mahopac Community for Over 25 Years We will take care of you like family. FOR A LIMITED TIME CALL US TODAY FOR DETAILS GET 10% OFF UP LOSE TO 40lbs IN 42 DAYS! AND OUR PROGRAM IF YOU WANT: Less Pain, to Feel Great, and Better Health... CALL US TODAY! We utilize many different types of therapy and treatment to get you feeling your best. Chiropractic • Massage Therapy • Acupuncture Spinal Decompression • Neurofeedback • Weight Loss 17 Miller Rd. Mahopac 845-621-1222 RooneyOrtho.com Rooney Orthodontics Children & Adults Despite the recent spring-like weather we have had recently, Mother Nature has a way of reminding us that winter is not over. We are all looking forward to warmer weather and associated outdoor activities that is to come. As a health care provider, I wanted to give information to help you prevent many of the avoidable injuries I have seen this winter. To help organize this information, I break it down into these categories: Slips and falls Walking in parking lots, driveways or sidewalks with black ice or snow are common causes of injury. Wearing proper footwear, avoiding dangerous areas, being aware of your surroundings, as well as taking small steps in unavoidable slippery situations may help you avoid catastrophe. According to the American Academy of Surgeons, traction devices like ice cleats or grips can be added to everyday shoes for an extra layer of protection. Shoveling injuries Back and shoulder problems are common when shoveling. Biomechanics (the way you move) and posture are so important when shoveling. Knees and hips should be bent. Keeping the shovel closer to your body so you don’t reach out too far lessens the strain on your joints and muscles. As with any exercise, warming up and stretching would be wise. Car Accidents Snowy and icy conditions, black ice and decreased visibility all increase the probability of accidents. Awareness of your surroundings is also important. Are you crossing a bridge where ice can form more easily and is there a sharp turn ahead? AAA suggests driving slowly and accelerating and decelerating slowly to increase your following distance. Inactivity related injuries How can I injure myself with inactivity? I recently spoke to someone who had gradual onset unexplained upper back pain. He did not recall a specific action that caused it, but as we discussed his condition, I discovered he had been sitting and reading more than usual over the last few months. After my evaluation, I analyzed postural issues that were contributing to his pain. This is just one example. Stay active, keep moving, stretch and exercise. Training/Sports Those who are in shape are not immune to any of the injuries mentioned above, but even the training can cause injuries as well. Because it is colder, it may take a little longer to warm up. That advice is also for winter sports. Skiing, snowboarding and other winter activities have their inherent dangers due to falls. Regular cardiovascular exercise, weight training and core exercises would be immensely helpful. Even if you work out during the week, it is not the same as skiing or snowboarding for hours straight. Fatigue increases the likelihood of injury. Take frequent breaks and know your limitations. I cannot stress enough, if you do have a winter injury, get evaluated and treated as soon as possible. It is always easier to correct an injury the sooner it is addressed. Hopefully, you apply the information in this article, so you don’t need my services due to a winter injury. Dr. Chris Perrone, DC, has been in practice for 29 years and has extensive experience in treating sports, spinal and muscle injuries. He is presently practicing at Perrone Family Chiropractic, 925 Route 6, in Mahopac. He can be reached at 845-628-3805. Guard against winter mishaps as spring nears DR. CHRIS PERRONE GUEST CORNER
PAGE 32 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR A Mahopac 10-month-old who suffered a seizure at a local daycare is home from the hospital thanks to what officials are calling “immediate help” from the facility’s staff and the fast action of local first responders to get the child emergency treatment at Valhalla’s Maria Fareri Children’s hospital. Carmel PD officers were commended at the Town of Carmel’s Feb. 14 meeting for their role in saving the child’s life, who is now home with her family after spending several days in intensive care. Later, details emerged about the role played by staff and the cause of the seizure. The incident at Little Feet Childcare Center happened at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, as most of the children were getting ready to go home. According to Scott Roveto, husband of owner/Executive Director Darlene Roveto, the 10-month-girl “went into a low squatting position, placed her head on a table as if to rest, then rolled back onto her back and head.” Roveto said staff members reacted quickly by calling him and calling 911. He said he got to the scene within 6 minutes to find first responders just arriving. Roveto said he was on the phone with the child’s mother—who had been on her way to pick her daughter up— throughout the ordeal. “Our staff members—Ms. Jianyna, Ms. Amy, and [site director] Ms. Emily—reacted quickly and attended to the child right away until first responders arrived.” Roveto declined to give the staff members’ last names to protect their privacy. Roveto said the child was breathing normally initially but that first responders soon determined that she needed urgent treatment and considered intubating her. “A paramedic told me they were thinking about calling a chopper but then the police cleared the roads to take her to Maria Fareri,” said Roveto, adding that doctors there discovered two underlying conditions. “The parent later advised me that the primary cause of the seizure was the adenovirus and the fall was the secondary trigger,” Roveto said. “They said she also had non-COVID coronavirus, though she did not have a fever or any other symptoms when she arrived in the morning. We informed the parents of the children that this child was in contact with. No other children at the center had the diagnosis prior to this child, so [the viruses] came from outside.” Clearing the roads According to police, fast transport to the hospital, facilitated by Carmel PD and other agencies, helped save the child’s life. Three Carmel PD officers were commended at the Town of Carmel’s Feb. 14 meeting for their roles in the rescue. Speaking to the town board Chief Anthony Hoffmann said Sgt. Christopher Fox and Officers Michelle Yeager and Vincent DeSantola helped first responders get the girl to the hospital. “EMS got there, the medic didn’t like the way things were going [and] the decision was made to go to Maria Fareri hospital,” Hoffman said. “The officers very quickly set up a police escort of the ambulance. They shut down the roads, our dispatch got in touch with Yorktown PD, got in touch with WestchesterCounty PD, New York State [and together they escorted the ambulance] all the way down to Valhalla to Maria Fareri, where the 10-month-old got [treatment] very quickly, and last I heard is doing very well.” Roveto said Carmel detectives acknowledged the reaction of Little Feet’s staff. Hoffmann later confirmed that Detective Brian Smith “states in his narrative that the teachers immediately began to help.” Roveto said Smith praised the teachers after downloading and reviewing Little Feet’s surveillance video. “He said if it wasn’t for the teachers’ responsiveness and training, the outcome could have been a lot worse.” Toddler saved by daycare staff and first responders after suffering seizure Little Feet Daycare staff members Ms. Amy (site director) and teachers Ms Jiyana and Ms. Emily PHOTO COURTESY LITTLE FEET DAYCARE Show Love, Shop Small EVENT BUNDLE APPRECIATION OFFER Sign up for both the 2024 Spring Festival & Car Show (Sunday April 28th) and the 2024 Fall Festival & Car Show (Sunday October 13th) and receive $50 off the total registration price! visit yorktownchamber.org to register and to check out other space options! LUCKY YOU! OFFER EXTENDED! CALLING ALL VENDORS!! Offer expires March 17th Dinner prepared by Sons of the American Legion under the supervision of Chef Rob on Wheels. PICKUP ONLY 1-4 pm American Legion Post 1009 235 Veterans Rd. Yorktown Heights, NY For Reservations call Paul at 914-980-5627, or email [email protected] Limited availability for unreserved day-of walk-ups Fundraiser for Veterans Services Ad Donated by Halston Media Group Sunday, March 10, 2024 • Individual portions - $18.00 • Family of 4 - $65.00 with a loaf of Irish Soda Bread • Full Dinner for 4 - $75.00 with Irish Soda Bread and a 6 pack of Coors Light (Must show ID for Beer) • Homemade Soda Bread $10 • 6 pack of Coors Light for $10
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 33 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR While the trombone is her main axe in the Mahopac High School Jazz Band, it’s far from the only instrument in the toolkit of multi-instrumentalist Maxine Van Nortwick. In addition to playing brass both higher (trumpet) and lower (tuba) than the ’bone, the 17-year-old senior plays the piano and sings, combining the latter with acting in several high school musicals. Surprisingly, Van Nortwick didn’t discover her love of brass until high school, when, she says, Mahopac HS band director Richard Williams inspired her to start practicing seriously. We caught up with Van Nortwick in early February, just a few weeks after she and some of her Mahopac low-brass bandmates took part in the 50th annual Tuba Christmas at Rockefeller Center. When did you start playing? I technically started playing in fourth grade, but I didn’t start practicing and taking it seriously until sophomore year when I joined Jazz Band. Do you take private lessons? I took private piano lessons with Diane Goldstein at Putnam Music for three-and-a-half years with piano, and trombone lessons with Patrick Murphy for four months on the trombone. What are your main musical influences? My main musical influence is definitely my band teacher, Mr. Williams. He’s the one who got me interested in music when I absolutely detested playing, the one who pushed me to join Jazz Band, and the one who encouraged me to keep playing no matter the challenge. Additionally, I’m influenced a lot by some of the jazz greats like J.J. Johnson, Frank Rosolino, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Chet Baker. All of these artists have such distinct sounds that I try to take inspiration from when creating my own. Finally, I get a lot of inspiration from my family. My parents aren’t musicians, but they introduced me to a plethora of genres, like jazz, when I was younger, and their influence have helped to cultivate my music tastes and my style. Their support has been unwavering over the last couple of years while I’ve learned how to play, and I’m really grateful for it. What makes playing in Jazz Band special? One of the most enjoyable parts of being in the school ensembles, specifically Jazz Band 1 and Jazz Combo, is being able to play with all of my friends. The high school music department is filled with creative, skilled, accomplished musicians and I’m so proud I get to work with them. Working with my friends on different pieces reminds me how collaborative music is, and how necessary it is to work with one another when accomplishing a musical goal. Also, they make a tough rehearsal a lot of fun. Definitely one of the largest challenges of being in the aforementioned ensembles is the genre of jazz itself. I started playing jazz two years ago, so I’ve had to play a lot of catch-up. Also, the improvisation aspect of jazz takes a lot of time and skill to develop properly, and there is always more to learn/improve on. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s all worth it when you find just the right combination of notes and rhythms in a song. What’s your favorite piece to play and what is the most challenging? My favorite piece to play is “Misty” [written by Erroll Garner]. We haven’t played it in a curricular ensemble, although I’m hoping to introduce it to our Jazz Combo soon, but it is beautiful. It’s one of my all-time favorite songs; I wrote my college essay on it, and my most loved variations of it are from Chloe Moser and Sarah Vaughan. The song has a warm yet haunting melody that clings with me, and I love the myriad directions the song can be taken in. I can’t pinpoint one specific piece that was the hardest to work on, but the majority of songs I had to play in my sophomore year were terrifying. I’ve been playing the trombone technically since the fourth grade, but I never practiced and hated all of my band classes up until high school, so I was going into sophomore year advanced ensembles with the skill level of an eighth-grader at best. It was so difficult trying to play all of those pieces, jazz and curricular ensembles both, at a musical level, and I remember practicing for about six-10 hours every week just to be able to barely play them. With time came improvement and I did find my way through the pieces, but it took a lot of work. Do you plan to continue playing or studying music after high school? In college, I plan on taking on a music minor and joining music ensembles like jazz band, and possibly marching band. Music is such a big part of my life and I’m excited to start the next level of ensemble work. Also, a lot of the schools I’m considering have really interesting music courses on subjects like “Jazz Improvisation Theory” and “Music & Women Cross-Cultural Perspective.” I want to keep growing musically throughout college, and I’m excited to meet new people and discover new genres through that process. What are the top five songs you’d put on a mixtape? “That’s Our Lamp” by Mitski “Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill “Moved Along” by Wilt “Romeo & Juliet” by Peter McPoland “Nothing Left to Lose” by Katie Lynne Sharbaugh Maxine Van Nortwick explains why she got ‘Misty’ in her college essay PHOTO COURTESY MAHOPAC CSD PERFORMING ARTS SPOTLIGHT Jackson Grimm, Maxine Van Nortwick, Joaquin Martinez and Mike Mako put on a show as part of the Mahopac HS Jazz Band. PHOTO COURTESY RICHARD WILLIAMS
ceremony and will be joined by family and friends at Town Hall. “I thank Marianne for helping with this; she has such a good heart,” she said. “We are just so glad to get recognized finally. It’s overdue. It would have been nice to recognize him as a kid who lived here his whole life, given he was in the military. But now I am so happy for [Alex].” Wolfsie recalled her son as a mischievous kid who drove the sisters at Kennedy Catholic High School a little crazy. “The nuns would have told you there is no way he would ever go into the Navy,” she said with a laugh. “He was such a pain in the butt.” But Alex signed up without telling anyone. His mother said he had never expressed interest in the military, so his enlistment came out of left field and surprised everyone. Nonetheless, his parents fully supported his decision. “He just loved being in the Navy,” Wolfsie said. “We visited him once in San Diego and he had gotten so big.” The circumstances surrounding Alex’s death remain somewhat of a mystery. Naval officials told the Wolfsies that he died from blunt-force head trauma caused by a fall, but no other details were forthcoming. “It’s all we really know,” his mom said. But now, Alex Wolfsie’s service to his country will at last be recognized by his hometown. The public is invited to the ceremony on March 6, which begins at 6:45 p.m., just before the start of the Town Board meeting. PAGE 34 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 Eugenia Juback Eugenia “Gena” Juback, 80, passed away peacefully on Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2024, at Saucon Valley Manor in Hellertown, Pa., where she resided for the last 4 1/2 years. She was born Aug. 18, 1943, in Brooklyn, and lived most of her life in Mahopac before moving to Hamilton Square, N.J. in 2012. Daughter of the late Eleanor and Eugene Loughlin, she was preceded in death by her husband Justin, OBITUARIES SEE OBITUARIES PAGE 36 AND LEARN Diamonds are a girl's best friend! During this month of love, join us for a fun after-hours event with jeweler Casey Carter for tips on what you really need to know when choosing that special engagement ring, appraising cherished heirlooms, and ideas around gifting jewelry during your lifetime. And before you walk down the aisle, we'll also help you understand additional important decisions you should consider. Judi McAnaw FINANCIAL ADVISOR Lauren C. Enea ATTORNEY-AT-LAW THURSDAY, FEB. 29, 2024 6PM – 8PM FREE and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to (914) 669-5329 by February 26, 2024 135 Katonah Ave. Katonah, NY 10536 HOSTED BY Casey Carter CERTIFIED GEMOLOGIST & OWNER Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Austin Road Elementary School 3 WAYS TO REGISTER Blood Drive at Austin Road Sedran Family and Friends Give Back! Blood Drive in honor of Teresa Sedran Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Austin Road Elementary School To register, people have the option of scanning the QR Code below, clicking the link below, or calling 800-933-2566. https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/320877 (The red lines below are printed on the blood drive posters, so thought it was important to include.) Appointments are strongly encouraged, yet walk-ins will be accepted as capacity permits. Sedran Family and Friends Give Back! Blood Drive in honor of Teresa Sedran Scan here to register or visit https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/320877 or call 800-933-2566 Appointments are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins will be accepted as capacity permits. Please remember to eat, drink, and bring your donor ID card or ID with name and photo. The wreath made by Marianne Chalusian sits next to Alex Wolfsie’s headstone in Arlington National Cemetery PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIANNE CHALUSIAN WOLFSIE FROM PAGE 5
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 35 Town Board Wednesday, March 6, 7 p.m. Carmel Firehouse, Vink Drive Wednesday, March 13, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Planning Board Thursday, March 14, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Environmental Conservation Board Thursday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Thursday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Ave. Recreation Advisory Committee Thursday, March 7, 7:30 p.m. Rec Office Building - Sycamore Park Board of Education Thursday, March 14, 6 p.m. (work session) Falls School, 100 Myrtle Ave. Tuesday, March 19, 7 p.m. Mahopac High School, 421 Baldwin Place Road GOVERNMENT AT WORK Feb. 24 – Mar 2: United Way Canned Food Drive Thru March 2. Mahopac Library is the drop-off location. March 2: Carmel Rotary Basketball Challenge Fundraiser at Carmel H.S. Gym 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. March 10: Mahopac St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday 2 pm, Route 6 Mahopac March 23: Free hot dogs served at the annual Egg Hunt at Airport Park 10:30a.m -1 p.m. May 10: Oldies Show at Mahopac H.S. 7 p.m. $40 per advance ticket May 29: Free hot dog lunch for seniors at the Mahopac Firehouse Rotary clubs bring together people across generations who wish to create lasting change in the world, in their communities, and in themselves. Rotary members around the world strengthen their connections to friends and neighbors by taking action through service above self. Article courtesy of the Lake Mahopac Rotary If you are interested in more information about The Lake Mahopac Rotary, or in becoming a member, please contact us at [email protected]. The Lake Mahopac Rotary is involved in our community in so many ways, and below, you will find some of the many upcoming events we sponsor, organize or are involved with. week to highlight their advocacy for additional CHIPS funding. “The 2022 road conditions report revealed the Hudson Valley ranks among the regions with the worst roads in all of New York state. Rather than addressing this issue, the governor’s proposal entails further cuts,” said Slater. “Drawing from my experience as a former town supervisor, CHIPS funding is critical to the safety and quality of life in our communities. It is imperative not only to restore this funding but also to increase it and invest in our infrastructure.” Camel Highway Superintendent Mike Stern noted that with the rising cost of infrastructure projects, every dollar counts. “We all took oaths to keep our residents’ safety as priority number one, so our state government shouldn’t be public enemy number one,” Stern said. “Our roadways don’t know political lines, so we need to fight for every dollar to keep our infrastructure at its peak.” Putnam County Department of Public Works Commissioner Thomas Feighery said the roads serve as the lifeline for daily commuters, commerce, emergency services and the overall connectivity of neighborhoods. “Funding ensures that these roads remain safe, reliable and efficient, benefiting both residents and businesses,” he added. CHIPS FROM PAGE 6 State Sen. Pete Harckham opposes the governor’s cuts in CHIPS money. FILE PHOTO Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 2023 was a CRAZY YEAR! 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 We can help make your taxes less crazy.
her daughter Jennifer, and her sister, Barbara Lethbridge. Eugenia was a 1962 graduate of James Madison High School. She worked as a secretary for the Putnam County Health Department before her retirement in 2011. She was an active participant at the Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Mahopac where she sang in the choir for many years and was a member of the Altar-Rosary Society. She was a professed Third Order Franciscan with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and close friends with Fr. Benedict Groeschel. Upon moving to Hamilton Square, she joined the Church of Saint Gregory the Great where she was a daily communicant and a member of the Resurrection Funeral Choir as well as the Altar-Rosary Society. An avid reader, her bookshelves were filled with study Bibles and spiritual classics. She is survived by her son, Justin Juback of Los Angeles; her daughters and their husbands, Jessica and Eric Kressler of Coopersburg, Pa., and Jeanine and Andy Loh of Hamilton Square, N.J.; and her grandchildren, Brendan Kressler, Rachel Kressler, Teresa Loh, John Loh, and Susanna Loh. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Judith Juback-Griffin of Virginia Beach, Va., and many nieces, nephews, and friends. A Funeral Mass was held at the Church of Saint Gregory the Great in Hamilton Square on Feb. 23. Gena will be cremated and buried by the side of her beloved husband, Justin, in Mahopac. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. During her last years, she was spiritually sustained and comforted by the programming offered by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210 or online at ewtn.com or Masses may be offered for the repose of her soul. Please visit Eugenia’s tribute page at brennacellinifuneralhomes.com. Angelo Pugliese Angelo Pugliese of Mahopac, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed unexpectedly on Jan. 27, 2024, while vacationing in Aruba with Debbie, his wife of 47 years. He is survived by his sons Eric and Christopher, Eric’s wife Andreia, and his adored grandchildren, Marco and Leia, all of whom were a constant source of joy and inspiration in his life. Angelo is also survived by his brother Salvator Pugliese (Christine), sister Mary Gigliobianco, sisters-in-law Barbara Polese (Frank), Susan Moloney, Maryann Moloney, and brothers-in-law Tod Moloney and Christopher Moloney, as well as many nieces and nephews. Angelo was predeceased by his parents, Rose and Anthony Pugliese, his mother and father-in-law, Joan and Francis Moloney, his niece Michelle Bianco and his brothersin-law Michael Gigliobianco, Richard Moloney and Francis Moloney. Born on Feb. 26, 1951, Angelo’s roots were in the Bronx where he attended Salesian High School. Furthering his education, he graduated from Iona College with a degree in criminal justice. On July 1, 1972, Angelo was appointed a police officer for the Yonkers Police Department where he earned a Medal of Honor and became a detective. Angelo retired from the Yonkers Police Department on Nov. 28, 1993, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and impactful service to the community he served. His first partner was his family friend, George Hazzard, who imparted invaluable insights into policing in Yonkers. Over the years, Angelo formed lasting bonds with many other partners, including Ronald Negro, Alex (Lexi) Raimondelli, and Ginger Fitzgerald, all of whom evolved into his lifelong family friends. Post-retirement, Angelo pursued a second career successfully building tennis courts and recreational facilities for many years until he once again decided it was time to retire. However, his entrepreneurial spirit would not be quieted, and he then collaborated with his son Eric at Sport-Tech Construction until his passing. Angelo was much more than his professional accomplishments; he was a people person who cherished every interaction. From his early days walking the Yonkers beat to the beach in Aruba, pool bars at Divi or Marriott, Arturo’s Tavern, Chop House, and Primavera Restaurant, Angelo made lasting connections. His weekend breakfasts at Rammis Bagels with the “Breakfast Club Guys” exemplified his commitment to friendship. Angelo and Debbie built a family and life in their dream home in Mahopac. Angelo, a devoted family man, consistently demonstrated his love for his family on a daily basis. His enduring bond with them was characterized by love, laughter, and invaluable lessons and is a testament to the lasting legacy of a remarkable man. Everyone who met Angelo loved him. His warm and inviting nature endeared him to people from all walks of life, fostering lasting connections throughout the different phases of his life. Angelo’s ability to bring people together and create memorable moments was a testament to his genuine and uplifting personality, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those fortunate enough to know him. He will be sincerely missed by everyone, and his memory will endure through the countless lives he touched with his kindness, laughter, and the lasting impressions of shared moments. Visiting will be held on Thursday, February 22 from 4-8 pm at Yorktown Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Somers. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Angelo to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the American Heart Association. PAGE 36 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 OBITUARIES FROM PAGE 34 NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. 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PAGE 38 – MAHOPAC NEWS BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 AFC Urgent Care, the second largest privately owned operator of urgent care and accessible primary care facilities in the country, will be expanding its signature brand of quality health care with a new state of the art center in Carmel, opening this Thursday, Feb. 29, with a VIP Ribbon Cutting from 10 - 11 a.m. Dr. Rajesh Gupta, an Emergency Room doctor, will lead the AFC Carmel team as its Medical Director. He is optimistic about this new location. He started his career as a business owner in 2016, when he bought an AFC Urgent Care franchise in Yorktown Heights. Since the purchase, Dr. Gupta has been actively looking for space in Carmel and now he is excited to be preparing for its grand opening at 1874 B Route 6, Putnam Plaza, Carmel. “I am looking forward to being more involved with our patients, their families and our greater Carmel community, which is very different than being in an emergency room setting,” said Gupta, who has 30 years of experience in emergency medicine. “Developing relationships, building stronger ties with the community and serving a town where urgent care is not as accessible, are the main reasons I am doing this.” The urgent care center will have its own on-site lab and digital X-ray equipment, enabling doctors to diagnose and treat illnesses and set broken bones, all under one roof. Additional services will include all typical of urgent care services, plus preemployment exams, drug testing, breath alcohol tests, sports and school physicals, DOT physicals, pre-surgical physicals and vaccinations, including travel vaccinations. Dr. Gupta is also very passionate about serving those who have served our country and in doing so is making it his priority to see that all veterans have the best healthcare available. AFC Urgent Care Yorktown will be accepting Tricare, the veterans’ health insurance plan and is looking forward to working with local veterans’ organizations and facilities to bring health awareness, care and education to all the veterans in the area. Dr. Gupta is a 20-year resident of Yorktown with his wife Seema. They have raised their two sons and have been active members of the Northern Westchester/Putnam community. AFC Urgent Care Carmel will accept most insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, as well as affordable cash and credit card rates for self-pay patients. Open seven days a week 1874 B Route 6, in Carmel (next to Starbucks), AFC Urgent Care Carmel will offer convenient, state-of-the-art treatment. Hours of operation: M-F 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Grand opening of AFC Urgent Care this week WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? “Advertising in Halston Media’s publications is one of the best investments the Anglebrook Golf Club has ever made. The response far exceeded our expectations, and most of the inquiries resulted in booking banquets, private parties, golf outings and even enlisting new members.” - Matt Sullivan, General Manager, Anglebrook Golf Club FOR SALE FINE, LIKE NEW FURNITURE: * Empire style Sofa, 76" long * Round, 5 ft. Dining Table, w leaves * Wood King Size Bed frame (No matt.) Sold our House! 914 232 3896 ORDER ON OUR ONLINE STORE AND PICKUP LO CALLY! BEST PRICES IN THE AREA! PICKUP HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! www.american-arms.com [email protected] 1928 Commerce St, Suite C Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 NRA Basic Pistol/Personal Protection UTAH Concealed Firearms Course Private Lessons Permit Assistance Refuse To Be A Victim™ Group and Private Classes Gun Sales & Ammunition Gun Accessories FFL Services & Transfers 914-455-4210 The Northern-Westchester Putnam St. Patrick’s Day parade is slated for Sunday, March 10, in Mahopac with longtime Carmel resident Brendan McDonnell to serve as Grand Marshall. The parade kicks off at 2 p.m. at the corner of Route 6 and Croton Falls Road (near the firehouse) in Mahopac. For more information, or to register to march in the parade, email Mahopac [email protected]. Mahopac St. Pats Parade set for March 10 Brendan McDonnell Little leprechauns AJ and Rocco Puccio, and Caroline Campay at Mahopac’s 2023 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 39 In Case You Missed It PHOTO COURTESY CARMEL PD/FACEBOOK The stories below were published on our website in-between print editions. Never miss another local story again by visiting News.HalstonMedia.com. Scan the QR codes in the summaries below to read the full story. Scan Here To Get The Top Local News Delivered To Your Inbox Daily. Carmel Town Board approves joint ERT The newly reconstituted joint Emergency Response Team became official earlier this month when the Carmel Town Board followed that of Kent voting to work together. The unit has already been deployed. Motorcycle chase leads to DWI charge The “STOP DWI” campaign resulted in several arrests over Super Bowl weekend, including one involving a high-speed chase with a motorcyclist. No one was injured, and the rider has been charged with a number of counts. Bondi honored with plaque Former Putnam County Executive Robert Bondi returned to his old beat earlier this month to see the unveiling of a plaque in his honor. School board increases tax exemptions The Mahopac Board of Education voted to expand its existing program offering tax exemptions to veterans, volunteer first responders, seniors and people with disabilities. The new exemptions will take place for the 2024- 2025 school year. PHOTO COURTESY CARMEL PD PHOTO COURTESY PUTNAM COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE FILE PHOTO
PAGE 40 – MAHOPAC NEWS FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 CONGR ATUL ATIONS Houlihan Lawrence is proud to recognize our exceptional local sales professionals for 2023. SALES AWARDS GIGI FINAN Associate Real Estate Broker Platinum Award DOUGLAS DILL Associate Real Estate Broker Platinum Award JOHN KINCART Associate Real Estate Broker Top Producer l Platinum Award YORKTOWN BROKER AGE | 703 EA ST MAIN STREET | JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY 10535 | 914.962.4900 NADIA VAN HAUWAERT Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award SHARI BESTERMAN Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award KATHLEEN O’DRISCOLL Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award LISA DA ROS Real Estate Salesperson Gold Award BARBARA SAWIN Real Estate Salesperson Gold Award LORI SHEEHY Associate Real Estate Broker Silver Award MAGDALENA KONKOLA Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award SOCCORSA GARGANO Associate Real Estate Broker Silver Award LIZABETA NDREU Real Estate Salesperson Silver Award ELSA FERREIRA Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award PATRICIA D’A L E S I O Associate Real Estate Broker Silver Award ELIZABETH FINNEGAN Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award MARGHERITA ECCLESTON Associate Real Estate Broker Silver Award DIANE RYAN Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award RAYMOND MAGNANI Real Estate Salesperson Gold Award STEVE FRATTAROLA Associate Real Estate Broker Silver Award MARIBEL ILLESCAS Real Estate Salesperson Gold Award LISA BUCOLO Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Award MARIA MAKAJ Real Estate Salesperson Silver Award FATIMA CANDIOTTI Associate Real Estate Broker Silver Award BARBARA J. NICOTRA-BURRONI Real Estate Salesperson Gold Award DONNA KING Associate Real Estate Broker Silver Award ANDREA MICCARELLI Real Estate Salesperson Gold Award