The Somers Record 11.04.21

Vol. 11 No. 29 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Thursday, November 4, 2021

Tuskers U.S. News releases elementary
and middle school report
Take Section How do Somers schools stack up?

Title! BY CAROL REIF test scores from the 2018-2019 school year, SOMERS STATS
STAFF WRITER before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted ere are four schools and 2,894 students
Following a thrilling 6-5 victory student assessments.
over Eastchester on Oct. 30, Somers e U.S. News & World Report, known in the Somers Central School District. It
boys soccer are Section 1 champions! for assessing student performance at col- at begs the question, some media re- has no magnet or charter schools.
Read about it and all your other Tusker leges, universities and high schools, has ports have said, of how useful or accurate
teams starting on page 22. added elementary and middle schools to its the new rankings are in today’s context. e district average for elementary
repertoire. schoolers pro cient in reading was 55%; in
PHOTO: CONNOR DURSO U.S. News said its team uses statistical math, 69%.
e publication, which has been provid- techniques that look at student perfor-
Results from the election ing a popular and in uential annual list mance “in the context of demographics and So how did its individual public elemen-
on Tuesday, Nov. 2 were not of education rankings since 1983, claims their states.” tary and middle schools fare?
available by press time for The that it – along with the data and “word-
Somers Record. Please visit of-mouth research” – can help parents nd “We believe that is more useful than PRIMROSE ELEMENTARY
TapintoSomers.net for updated schools “that may be a good t for their simply looking at test results to evaluate SCHOOL
children.” schools, because this process resembles to
voting results. a certain extent how education administra- Located on Route 139 in Lincolndale,
Its methodology for the inaugural rank- tors and researchers consider school perfor- Primrose (kindergarten through second
ings focus on math and reading pro ciency mance,” it explained. grade) has 517 students, 45 equivalent
– how well students do on state assessments full-time teachers and one full-time school
– and math and reading performance – e rankings assign “considerable counselor.
how well they do compared to expectations. weights” for scores because, the publication
believes, “parents value environments where Its minority student enrollment is 23%.
States are trying to gure out whether most children arrive prepared to learn and Economically disadvantaged students make
learning in core subjects has been achieved teachers can provide a culture of enrich- up 10% of the population.
and just how well schools are educating ment,” it reported earlier this month.
students, it said, including children from e student-teacher ratio is 11:1, the
low-income households and with “histori- All public schools were ranked where same as the district’s, with a student popu-
cally underserved ethnicities.” data and history were available. Whether lation of 47% females and 53% males.
a particular school was ranked or unranked
e data, which only includes public had nothing to do with “academic quality,” In subject pro ciency, Primrose was
schools,  typically comes from each state’s U.S. News said, noting that it was able to ranked 62% (district) and 50% (state) in
education agency website or directly from rank approximately 81% of public elemen- math; and 54% (district) and 47% (state) in
state education agencies.Schools are ranked tary and middle schools. reading.
at the state and district levels. Charter and
magnet schools are considered stand-alone (Schools are ranked on their performance Data for student performance in math
categories. on state-required tests, graduation, and how and reading was unavailable. Kindergart-
well they prepare their students for high ners through second-graders don’t take state
e data used for the 2021 rankings school.) assessments.
comes from reading and math standardized
It ranked 2,831 elementary schools and Primrose was unranked in the elemen-
1,673 middle schools across the state. tary schools studied.

SEE US NEWS PAGE 27

SellYour Home forTOP DOLLAR BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31
CLASSIFIEDS 30
with Somers’ Real Estate Specialist ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 2
LEGAL NOTICES 28
FREE LEISURE
OPINION 26 TUSKERS ROLL!
Home Evaluation SPORTS
10
Anytime — No Cost or Obligation
Somers Tops Huskies
Call 914.243.3051 22 pg 24

SomersHouseValues.com

CLASSIC REALTY Michael Trinchitella
LicensedAssociate Real Estate Broker

Visit: SomersHouseValues.com
or Email: [email protected]

Page 2 – The Somers Record ELEPHANT’S TRUNK Thursday, November 4, 2021

Somers Lions Club Model T with honored veteran and Saturday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. - 4 Church of the Good
The Staff former police chief Michael Driscoll. p.m. Shepherd

VETERANS DAY PARADE Also in attendance will be represen- e Primrose PTA proudly pres-

EDITORIAL TEAM Thursday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. tatives from the Girl Scouts, Boy ents the return of Holiday Happi-
TOM WALOGORSKY
e Somers Lions Club will be Scouts, Brownies, Daisies, Eagle ness at Primrose Elementary School. OBTAINING COLLEGE

EDITOR: 914-302-5830 holding a Veterans Day parade in Scouts, Somers Leos, and many e event will feature a tag sale, food SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
[email protected]
honor of all who served our country. more. For more information please trucks, a silent auction, a free fun Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. - 12

e parade will begin at 10 a.m., fol- contact Lion Kate O’Keefe 914- zone,crafts,holiday photos,ra es by p.m.

ADVERTISING TEAM lowed by a ag ceremony at 11 a.m. 384-1612 or [email protected] local merchants, live music by Kevin Father Hal Roark, rector at e

PAUL FORHAN e route will begin at Somers Mid- Primrose PTA Stietzel, and over 100 vendors. For Church of the Good Shepherd,
(914) 806-3951 dle School and end at the Veterans any questions, please contact Nora at will present a free talk called “How
[email protected] [email protected] to Get Into the Best College with
Memorial in Ivandell Cemetery. the Most Scholarship Money,”
BRUCE HELLER [email protected] based on his own family experience.
(914) 486-7608 Leading the parade will be a HOLIDAY HAPPINESS COTGS is located at 39 Granite
[email protected]

LISA KAIN
(201) 317-1139
Springs Road, Granite Springs. All
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON are invited and welcome.Masks will
(914) 760-7009 be required and other COVID pro-
tocols will be in place.
[email protected]
JAY GUSSAK
(914) 299-4541 Hebrew Congregation
[email protected]
SHELLEY KILCOYNE aanndd DDeellii29122R99o11uRRtooeuutt1ee011000,00S,,SoSoommmeeerrsrss•••9991141a4.42.n72.277d7.787.58.3D58935e9•3•r9loiru•oteurt1oe0u10t0me0a1mr0ka0ermtk.ecaot.mcrkoemt.coVEmDIRUTCUAAToLIfOASDNoUmLTers
(914) 924-9122 Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.
and Deli Rabbi Shoshana Leis is teach-
[email protected]
ing a virtual adult education class
PRODUCTION TEAM
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL LLooookkiinngg ffoorr aanneeasaiseirer291 Route 100, Somers • 914.277.8539 • route100market.com this fall and winter focused on the
Hebrew prophets. She will lead dis-
CREATIVE DIRECTOR cussions exploring the history and
PHOTOGRAPHER relevance of the Hebrew prophets,
re ecting on two questions: What
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK Lowowkaaiynygttoofooorrraddneere?ra?sier is prophecy? and What is the power
DESIGNER of prophecy to bring about societal
change? e texts for the class are
[email protected] “ e Prophets” by Abraham J. He-

EXECUTIVE TEAM way to order? schel and “ e Liberating Path of
BRETT FREEMAN the Hebrew Prophets” by Nahum
CEO & PUBLISHER Ward-Lev.
845-208-8151
For questions or to register, email
[email protected]

Deadlines

THE SOMERS RECORD DEADLINE
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS

AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR [email protected].

SOMERS RECORD IS THE THURSDAY
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, Chabad of Yorktown
CALL TOM WALOGORSKY AT
914-302-5830 OR EMAIL
[email protected]. OUTSMARTING
ANTISEMITISM

Subscribe Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 7:30 to
9 p.m.
TO REQUEST THE SOMERS RECORD
WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 Chabad of Yorktown is proud
OR EMAIL [email protected].
to o er a four week course titled:

“Outsmarting Antisemitism: How

SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR to Beat it with Purpose, Positivity
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN.
OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE and Jewish Pride.” e program will
$150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL. run on four Wednesday evenings,
beginning Nov.3.We cannot let an-

tisemitism de ne our Judaism, but

Scan our barcode we cannot ignore it either. As direct

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT wwowSor.ocSrrroaocoauonrrnrdtdedoeeo1eurru0rro0oomnbbnnallaailirninrrcnkeecoeeoadatttd.eacteom memory of the Holocaust fades,
SOMERS, NY AND AT Jews around the world are wonder-
ing whether the patterns of past
ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. centuries are returning, in both the
POSTMASTER: Old and New Worlds, where Jews
experience more hate crimes than
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO any other group. rough illumi-
THE SOMERS RECORD AT nating source texts and captivating
case studies, this course considers
118 N. BEDFORD ROAD the sources of this ancient scourge,
SUITE 100

MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549

wwwww.wOr.oproueuntete2114000/0m7m/aa3rrk6ke5et.ct.ocmom(ISSN 2330-1597) along with the appropriate strate-
gies for overcoming it. It’s time to

nd the con dence to ght hate
with hope and to stand tall against
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY
HALSTON MEDIA, LLC AT antisemitism with positivity, pur-
pose, and plenty of Jewish pride!
Visit Us At Route100market.com118 N. BEDFORD ROAD
SUITE 100 e course will be in-person as
well as online over Zoom. For more
Open 24/7/365MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 info and to sign up for the course
visit www.ChabadYorktown.com/
Visit UOs pAet nRo2ut4e/1700/m3a6r5ket.com©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC JLI or call 914-962-1111.
Open 24/7/365
Visit Us At Route100market.com

Visit Us At Route100market.com

Thursday, November 4, 2021 The Somers Record – Page 3

Your Neighbor

Nicole Eustace

SHS alum to discuss new novel on Nov. 7

BY DONNA CHRISTOPHER them by the French,” saw the
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
killing as an opportunity to forge
When teachers express passion to their
students and welcome their ideas, they are stronger bonds with the Colo-
remembered.
nists. 
e names of some of her educators from
high school slip out easily in a conversation “ ey’re promising equal jus-
with Somers native Nicole Eustace, who
graduated from Somers High School in tice,”Eustace said.
1990.  She is a professor of history at New
York University and an accomplished author “ e native people of the
of historical non ction.
Susquehanna include various
e Mamaroneck resident talked fondly
about her K-12 education in Somers in a groups. ey say no thank you.
conversation about her new book, “Covered
With Night: A Story of Murder and Indig- at’s not how we handle a
enous Justice in Early America” (Liveright/
W.W. Norton, 2021). A Zoom talk about murder when it occurs between
the  work by the author is being sponsored
by the Friends of Somers Library on Sunday, friends. We would like you to
Nov. 7.
express condolences on our grief,
e suspenseful true historical crime dra-
ma is about the killing of a Native American make reparation payments, and
man and its implications for the de nition of
justice from early America to the present day. for the murderers to express re-

On the eve of a major treaty conference morse. en after a ritual process PHOTOS COURTESY
between Iroquois leaders and European colo- of reconciliation, we would like OF W.W. NORTON
nists (1722), two white fur traders attacked
an Indigenous hunter and left him for dead to welcome the attacker back Rudd passed away in Contests in the Era of 1812,” co-edited with
near Conestoga,Pa. e killing led to a crimi- Fredrika Teute (Chapel Hill, 2017). 
nal investigation and cross-cultural negotia- to the community. One life is 2016.
tions that challenged the de nition of early Researching and writing the latest book
America.  enough to be lost and no one should die for George Bickel taught 11th grade AP his- took ve years but “re ects three decades of
work, conversations with colleagues, and stu-
Eustace tells the story of the crime and its this.” tory and is someone the author remembers dents and courses I’ve taught,”said Eustace.
aftermath and how the murder of the Indig-
enous man led to a fear among the Colonists “ e book is quite suspenseful,” Eustace as having “a progressive voice and asked us to “I am still reading the book; it’s fascinat-
that war would ensue with an Indigenous ing,”  said Susan Berkow, president of the
uprising. A debate ensued between Native said. “It’s about what’s going to happen to think about history from the bottom up,from Friends of the Somers Public Library. “ e
American forms of justice that hinged on reviews are stellar; it is a nalist for the Na-
community, forgiveness and reparations ver- these accused murderers and which side is ordinary people. It’s called social history.” tional Book Award in non ction. e story
sus those of the Colonists. has implications that reach far beyond the
going to prevail.” An example from her book is the story of a 18th century.”
“ ey were determined to enforce English
law, which meant capital punishment if the Ultimately, the Natives wins and forces the servant boy who commits a crime and quickly “We are thrilled to be able to o er this pro-
killers were found guilty,”Eustace explained. gram and its exploration of cultural boundar-
community to sign a treaty that is still in ef- faces capital punishment, an occurrence that ies and concepts of justice,”Berkow said. 
e book charts the rami cations of the
murder and challenges the assumptions of fect today. shows “justice was not really equal, even e book discussion with Nicole Eustace is
“civilized” Europeans and “savage” Native scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 7, from 2 to 3 p.m.
Americans, the book summary on the pub- “We can consider this treaty to be one of among the Colonists,”Eustace said.
lisher’s website points out. e program is presented by the Friends of
our founding documents,”she said.  She has a B.A. in history from Yale Univer- the Somers Library, Race Amity of Northern
It relates how the Iroquois properly called Westchester and Putnam and the Somers
the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, a Eustace talked about an assignment she sity (1994) and earned her PH.D. in history Library. It will be a virtual conversation with
name that Eustace said was “imposed on Eustace, moderated by Professor Charmaine
completed in ninth-grade social studies that from the University of Pennsylvania (2001). Aleong of the Race Amity Steering Committee.

helped inform her interest in learning history She taught at Rutgers University from 2001- ere will be an opportunity for a live Q&A
for Zoom participants at the end of the
by looking back to learn about the lives of 02. At NYU, she directs the NYU Atlantic presentation.  is event is free of charge. To
register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
ordinary people rather than just important/ History Workshop and teaches in both the ranwp-november-meeting-with-somers-
library-friends-of-the-somers-library-
known gures of the past. Early American History and the History of tickets-178903323657

“I really appreciate the utter dedication of Women and Gender programs.  ere will be a few copies held at the Reference
Desk for anyone interested in reading it before
the teachers I had in Somers. Ronnie Hirsh- “Covered With Night” has been named the discussion. Visit the library to get your copy.

horn  was my ninth-grade social studies to the 2021 National Book Awards Longlist

teacher and she did a section on anthropol- for Non ction and has been named a Junior

ogy. She gave us a worksheet on Nacirema, Library Guild selection, listed by the Library

American spelled backward. It talks about Journal under “Books and Authors to Know:

(the ctional people) of Nacerima and was a Titles to Watch 2021” and awarded a starred

lesson in cross-cultural respect and openness. review by Kirkus Reviews, and listed in the

It shows how easy it is to put blinders on. I’m Top 12 biographies for April by editors at

still thinking about it, about how easy it is to Amazon.com. 

cast judgment,”she said. Eustace is also the author of  “Passion Is

In 10th grade, Eustace had Ruth Rudd the Gale: Emotion, Power, and the Com-

for English, she said. “She was a wonderful ing of the American Revolution” (Chapel

teacher. She cared so much about writing. Hill, 2008/paper 2011); “1812: War and the

She tailored totally individual assignments,so Passions of Patriotism” (Philadelphia, 2012/

she let me do a history research paper even paper 2015) and co-editor of the essay col-

though her subject was English.” lection, “Warring for America: Cultural

HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS,
LIFE & HEALTH
914-232-7750

www.forbesinsurance.com

Page 4 – The Somers Record Thursday, November 4, 2021

Tractor Supply eyes Somers property

BY CAROL REIF style retailer,” is proposing to build a the size of retail establishments there, Another issue is the proposed seek a variance for the number of

STAFF WRITER 22,000-square-foot store with out- Tractor Supply will have to also con- project’s proximity to wetlands.  parking spaces. Under current zon-

door display spaces and greenhouse vince the Town Board to amend the Mack V’s Matt Darling sought ing, a retail site that size needs 110

If Tractor Supply gets the thumbs- on a 4.9-acre site o Clayton Boule- planned hamlet zone. input from town planners in June. spaces.Tractor Supply’s plan calls for

up to open in Somers, its new store vard behind the Stop & Shop. “ ere is a long process ahead of After hearing their comments about 76, which is typical for its stores.

will be the last commercial piece to e property is owned by Somers us,”said Williams. the aesthetic impact on adjacent resi- But what if Tractor Supply even-

be placed in a certain puzzle. Realty Corporation. e prospec- Planning Board member Nancy dences, developers changed the ori- tually moves out and another retailer

But how well it will t is a ques- tive buyers/developers are Mack V Gerbino, noting that there are lots of entation of the main building. comes in?

tion yet to be answered by the proj- Development, a Connecticut-based horse owners in northern Westches- While that would allow for “ro- at wouldn’t be a problem be-

ect’s developers and local o cials. rm that has built many Tractor ter, claimed those she’s talked to are bust” landscaping and other screen- cause it could repurpose the outdoor

e town established a Planned Supply stores. Tractor Supply would very enthusiastic about not having to ing, there’s a catch, said Jim Cas- display area for 45 spaces, meeting

Hamlet District (PHD) along lease the property. drive to Patterson in Putnam Coun- sidy of Hallisey Pearson & Cassidy, or exceeding parking requirements,

Route 6 in its northwestern corner Mark D’Addabbo, after introduc- ty, where the nearest Tractor Supply a Connecticut civil engineering com- Cassidy said.

to facilitate the creation of a village- ing himself as the “face”of Mack V to is located.  pany that’s assisting Williams. An upside to the proposed orien-

like development cluster combining the Planning Board,turned a presen- However,she said it’s important to “ e downside is it pushes every- tation of the building is that its front

housing, jobs, and nonresidential tation on the proposed project over acknowledge that this is a substantial thing to the southeast, closer to the can be seen from the access drive.

uses linked to, and supportive of, to its lead engineer, Rich Williams. project. DeCicco & Sons, an upscale wetlands,” he said, explaining that According to Cassidy, Tractor Sup-

neighboring retail/shopping areas. e fate of “Lot 4,” has been on grocery store in downtown Somers, part of the parking lot would be ply caters not to large farming opera-

e zoning allowed e Mews, e everyone’s radar for a long time, is 19,000 square feet; the proposed within the 100-foot wetlands bu er tions, but to “gentlemen farmers,”the

Mews II, and Avalon Somers, af- Williams said Wednesday, Oct. 13, Tractor Supply building is 22,000 zone. folks who own larger properties and

fordable apartment complexes, to be admitting that the “challenging mar- square feet, or “13 percent larger,” Tractor Supply doesn’t sell trac- need tools and equipment to main-

built in Baldwin Place. Artis Senior ket”has made it di cult to entice de- Gerbino said. tors, but it does carry large equip- tain them.

Living of Somers, a memory care velopers. Alternative uses for the site Counting the site’s open areas ment such as lawnmowers, log split- Tractor Supply doesn’t need to

community, is set to have its grand have been discussed, but the town makes it actually 16 percent larger. ters, brush hogs, and snow blowers. front on a major retail corridor like

opening next month. seems to be steering things toward “So that’s quite a large impact. I ese are kept outside on a concrete pharmacies or grocery stores that at-

Tractor Supply, which bills itself the commercial sphere, he said. don’t mean that as a negative, but just pad enclosed by a chain-link fence tract drive-by customers do because

as the country’s “largest rural life- Because there are restrictions on to present the facts,”she said. because they’re too big to t in the it’s a “destination”retailer, he said.

store. Gannon found that there was an

INSTALLATION BEFORE Planner Vicky Gannon was con- interesting “tension” between the
cerned that stormwater runo could aesthetic issues attached to being in a
carry contaminants from the pad residential area and the store’s being

THE HOLIDAYS! into the wetlands. Cassidy reassured so discrete as not to be “found.”
her that there’s never any gas or oil e appropriate signage could
in the machines. Fertilizers and pes-
ticides are not kept outside, he said. prevent Tractor Supply from being
“the hidden gem that stays too hid-

In-stock materials only. See store for availability. Tractor Supply will also have to den,”she added.

Carpet

Hardwood

Floor Refinishing

Tile

Area Rugs

Blinds FALL FOR
Luxury Vinyl Plank BEAUTY

Laminate AND
DURABILITY.

246 Route 52 Carmel, NY • www.kennyscarpetone.com • 845-225-4330

MON-FRI: 9 AM-6 PM • LATE NIGHT ON THURS EVE BY APPT ONLY • SAT: 9 AM-4 PM

Photos for illustrative purposes only. ©2017 Carpet One Floor & Home. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, November 4, 2021 The Somers Record – Page 5

My Cousin’s brings ‘elevated
American’ cuisine to Mahopac

e town’s newest destination restaurant

BY VIM WILKINSON
BUSINESS EDITOR

My Cousin’s is an upscale restaurant with a catchy PHOTO: CAITLYN BARRICK PHOTO: CHRIS HEMICK
name, a touching back story and, most of all, a casual
twist just right for our local communities—a place that David Gallo, owner of My Cousin’s $2 o all cocktails, and an awesome discounted happy
has great food but is not a slave to the demands of pre- hour menu. e bar gets full by around 4 or 5 so get
tention. hope to bring that to the community where I grew up. there early even though happy hour is accepted at the
My grandmother used to tell me, “Dorothy had to go tables in the restaurant, too.
Opened in September, My Cousin’s has been getting all the way to Oz and back to realize there was no place
excellent reviews for its food, service and atmosphere. like home.” Give us five absolutely must tries at My Cousin’s.
So, what sets My Cousin’s apart? Who better to enlight- Grandma’s cauli ower patties, candied bacon, smoth-
en us than the owner himself, David Gallo, who was My Cousin’s has been getting great reviews. Tell us ered pork chop, shrimp farfalle and artichoke dip.
born and raised locally? about the menu.
From tasty morsels like candied bacon, charcuterie
What’s the story behind the name, My Cousin’s? I kind of knew what kind of place I wanted it to be, board, burrata salad to decadent entrees, like the smoth-
e name was created in memory of my friend, Ja- and my background is in steakhouses, so I knew what ered pork chop to lobster tails and immensely satisfying
kind of proteins I wanted to serve, but the details re- pasta dishes, it’s no wonder My Cousin’s has become the
son Shenkman, who passed away. Our families are very mained elusive for a while. Over the summer I started talk of the town. Complemented by craft beers, delicious
close. Growing up, we always took family vacations and cooking with my fantastic chef Ronni Palacios Reyes cocktails, an extensive wine list and impeccable service,
spent holidays with each other. We weren’t related but and started building a menu. We had ve or six tasting My Cousin’s is getting some serious buzz as the next
always considered each other family, so we called each nights with my friends and family to see which dishes dining destination. e beautifully designed restaurant
other “my cousin.” When we worked together behind everyone enjoyed the most. ere are a couple of old that boasts ample parking is open Tuesdays to Saturdays
the bar, we would often talk about one day opening a family recipes on the menu like my grandma’s cauli ow- 3-10 p.m. and Sundays noon-9 p.m.
bar called My Cousin’s. When I nally decided to open er patties and my Aunt Chrissy’s meatballs, which have
the restaurant, it could only be one name, My Cousin’s. really been a hit. Call ahead at 845-648-2600 or make reservations
online (mycousinsmahopac.com) for a great dining
Tell us about the journey and how you started this I wanted to make the menu simple but have some- experience.
restaurant. thing for everyone. My sister Alyssa, who works at the
restaurant, is a vegetarian, so she made sure that I was PHOTOS: VIM WILKINSON
As long as I’ve been working, even if it was part-time, thoughtful in the construction of the menu for all types
I was working in the hospitality business. I started like of eaters.
most, in the kitchen washing dishes. I eventually became
a line cook, and then made it to the front of the house, What is elevated American cuisine?
bussing, waiting tables, and eventually really nding my I’ve been telling people that the res-
passion in bartending. I cut my teeth in restaurant opera- taurant is upscale/casual. Good food, at
tions when I helped open e Chophouse Grille in 2012. reasonable prices in a comfortable atmo-
sphere with impeccable service. It’s a white
After selling my share of the restaurant in 2015, I tablecloth restaurant, so it’s nice enough to
moved to the city to do a little soul searching. I really bring a date to or celebrate your anniver-
got a masterclass in food and service when I was waiting sary and have a beautiful bottle of wine but
tables at Del Posto, a Michelin star ne-dining restau- relaxed enough to sit at the bar and have a
rant in Chelsea. Service was like a ballet and the food burger and a beer.
was a symphony, and it really opened my eyes to what My Cousin’s happy hour. Tell us more.
dining could be. It’s 3-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Two for
When my cousin Amanda told me over the holidays one beers, and two for one glasses of wine.
that the old Ramiro’s building, literally across the street
from the old Chophouse, was available, I called the
owner to see it after the new year. As soon as I saw the
space, I saw the potential and knew this was it.

So, I got to work. I put a business plan together, ap-
proached a handful of my close childhood friends from
Yorktown to invest in me, raised the money I needed
to pull the trigger, and signed the lease in the spring. It
took me until September to throw everything together,
and now I get to do what I love.

I’ve always loved entertaining people, whether at
home or at the bar or restaurant. Holidays and events at
the Gallo’s were always a spirited a air lled with great
food, good drinks, and a lot of laughs. My grandmother
and aunt were both career waitresses for over 50 years,
and when they hosted, they were always sure to show ev-
ery person in the building a good time. I have taken that
with me throughout my hospitality career, and certainly,

My Cousin’s

954 Route 6 • Mahopac • 845-648-2600 • mycousinsmahopac.com

ADVERTORIAL

Page 6 – The Somers Record Thursday, November 4, 2021

Past, present, and future
Eagle Scout serves his community through history

BY TOM WALOGORSKY to excelling at a full schedule of published author and the founder for history into the creation of an sign that was similar to the one lo-
EDITOR academics and athletics at Somers of a non-pro t that provides sup- interpretive historic sign at Bailey cated at North Salem’s Town Hall,
High School, he has also recently port for servicemen and women Park which was unveiled in a cer- as I felt that Somers was just as de-
To say that Robert Moore III attained the rank of Eagle Scout who are returning to civilian life.  emony on Sunday, Oct. 24. serving of a testament to its story,”
has been busy of late would be as a member of Somers Troop 228. Robert recalls.
an understatement. In addition If that weren’t enough, he is also a As his Eagle Scout project,Rob- Robert’s love of history can be
ert chose to channel his passion traced back to his early years of e sign displays information
PHOTOS: TOM WALOGORSKY school. ere, the seed was planted and images of several notable ele-
Robert Moore unveiling his for the enthusiasm that would one ments of the Somers Hamlet Na-
Robert with local officials at the ceremony in Bailey Park. project at Bailey Park on Oct. 24. day become to culmination of his tional Historic District,including a
Scouting career. visit from General George Wash-
Professional and ington in 1780, the signi cance
“History is my foremost pas- of the area to e Comte de Ro-
sion,” he explains. “I caught the chambeau and Hachaliah Bailey,
history bug back in 4th grade, and and historic buildings such as the
then it really took o in 6th grade. William Bailey House and the El-
ephant Hotel.
at’s when I really started to study
history seriously, and I have read a e sign also contains a map
lot of books on various histori- of the Somers Hamlet, and a QR
cal subjects. When I started with code for visitors to scan to learn
my Eagle Scout project, I knew I further information.
wanted to do something related
to history and historic preserva- Anyone familiar with Eagle
tion because it is such a passion of Scout projects knows the tremen-
mine.” dous amount of time and e ort in-
volved in their completion. At the
Combining his historical pas- sign’s unveiling, Robert Moore ac-
sion with the drive to complete knowledged the many people who
his Eagle Scout project led Robert assisted with the project.
to the idea for working with the
Somers Historical Society to install “I would like to thank Somers
a sign that would commemorate Town Historian, Mrs. Doris Jane
the history of the Somers Hamlet, Smith and Mrs. Grace Zimmer-
placed beside the gazebo in Bailey mann, the Vice President of the
Park.
SEE SCOUT PAGE 8
“I knew that I wanted to install a

personal guidance

to help you make

confident

business decisions.

We are open and ON YOONUYROUJORBJOEBVEGEVGREURYUAYADRDRAAAAYYNNUUTTNENEETETDILDILCOCMOPMLEPTLIOETNI..O. N…
ready to assist you.
ON YOUR JOB EVERYDAY UNTIL COMPLETION…
GUARANTEED

LAW OFFICES OF JOSEPH J. TOCK963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 19 1O0L1DG1DR1991EOO10OE0L1AL1DNGDNGRDWDRSEOEOBEOEAANUNNNOWWRSSDBBOOGUUOOARRRDDGGVDAARSRESVV.DHDHS.EEB.H..BBO.ORBBOREBERWWWEEETTEWWTHRWRHRHSOETOSSOLEEOTET,LOMLEROC,ER,,TSCMMNR,CT0NYS6,TS08Y1N60080115Y0069|1588012|09|0031285|04793584|8.487252479.8|8200.7093088000.407070005478027980000070

TOCKLAW.COM • 800-869-8080CT LIC. #HCICT0LI6C4. 6#H1I0C2064|61W02E|SWTECSTHCEHSESTTEERRLLICI.C#2.9#128591H8165 |HPU1T6NA| MPLUICT. N#PAC7M152LIC. #PC7152
wwwwww..ssoutheaassttkkiittcchheennananddbabtaht.hco.cmom
www.southeastkitchenandbath.com