VOL. 5 NO. 50 THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS 19 LEISURE 18 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 4 SPORTS 14 Wolves Playo Action pg 15 HOCKEY Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Bedford Police Chief Melvin Padilla Jr. accepted a proclamation from County Legislator Erika Pierce last week saluting his department’s work, especially in support of residents with autism. e proclamation, voted last week by the full county legislature, noted the department’s e orts in training Maverick, a Labrador Golden Retriever mix, to be a service dog for a child with autism. Volunteers—in Maverick’s case, four Bedford police o - cers—raise future service dogs from weeks-old pups until they’re about 18 months. e dogs then return to BluePath, a Hopewell Junction nonpro t, for further training that equips them to be an autistic child’s best friend. Maverick was on-hand at the Town Board’s Feb. 21 meeting with one of his handlers, Police O cer Andrew Klein. Later at the board meeting, Padilla delivered an annual summary of department activity, including a new initiative aimed at receiving feedback, good or bad, from anyone who deals with a town police o cer. He said his o cers now routinely hand out business cards with a QR code on them to everyone who interacts with the police. By scanning the quickresponse code, members of the public can tell in a survey how their experience went. In cooperation with the Police Community Group, Padilla said, a townwide survey in coming weeks will o er residents further opportunity for their comment. e full report of the department’s 2022 statistics is available online at www.bedfordpoliceny. org/department-statistics. Top cops! PHOTO: TOM BARTLEY Bedford Police Offi cer Andrew Klein and Councilwoman Bobbi Bittker are with Maverick, a service dog in training, who was honored along with the town police last week in a proclamation from County Legislator Erika Pierce, second row, center. Joining her at the town hall celebration were Councilman Tom Catoliato, Police Chief Melvin Padilla Jr., Councilman Andres Castillo, Councilwoman Stephanie McCaine and Supervisor Ellen Calves. BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER A proposed $120 million Katonah-Lewisboro School District budget, representing the biggest spending increase in years, faced some tough questions last week but ultimately survived an initial round of school board scrutiny. In two days of data-thick slides and educator presentations, a succession of KLSD administrators and other school o cials reviewed in line-by-line detail a “ rst draft” of their recommended spending for the 2023-24 school year. At $119,988,980, the budget School Superintendent Andrew Selesnick unveiled at the school board’s Feb. 23 meeting is $4,209,990 larger than this year’s, “a more signi cant increase than you’ve seen in prior years,” he told the board. It includes a hike in the property-tax levy of $1,573,008, to $102,522,198, a tax-cap-compliant 1.56 percent rise and nearly $1 million below the state’s mandated limit on levy increases. Four towns send students to KLSD schools. eir tax rates, re ecting disparate assessing practices, di er dramatically but are meant to share the tax burden more or less equally. Exact rates will not be set for months, but estimates show them up in Bedford, Lewisboro and Pound Ridge, down in North Salem. But before the superintendent’s budget can be cast in stone, the school board has a responsibility “to poke and prod this a little bit,” Trustee William Rifkin said. He called budgets in the Selesnick era “well-managed” and said he was “a big believer in ‘if educators say something’s necessary, something’s necessary.’” Still, he and others expressed concern over the role transitory factors might be playing in the proposed budget. It asks, for example, to ll the equivalent of 8.5 speci c teaching positions and four contingency ones. Were KLSD moves forward with budget process $120 million spending plan proposed SEE KLSD PAGE 2 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 Understated Elegance This custom built and timeless 5 BR 7,125 sf Brick Georgian Colonial has been fitted with the finest of finish and most discriminating of taste. Designed for supreme entertaining from the banquet-sized dining room to the club room with doors to the terrace and wrap porch. The attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship shows throughout this very special home. $1,899,900 #UGottaHaveHope
those teachers being hired out of need, Trustee Rory Burke wondered, or simply because the money was there? Selesnick assured him that the teachers were needed and that the district might not have the option to add positions next year. “I’d say we’re taking a conservative approach,” said the superintendent, who calls the document now under review “the rst draft of the budget.” Rifkin, too, worried that this year’s spending windfall may not be available under future, less-favorable budget conditions. “Revenue increase this year is luck-of-the-draw stu ,” Rifkin observed. “It’s interest, it’s state aid, it’s decreased contributions to the retirement system, increased sales tax revenue. It’s sort of like the wind’s been at our back.” State aid for 2023-24, for example, totals some $11 million, in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recommendation to the state legislature. Unexpectedly high, it’s also far from guaranteed this year, still needing lawmakers’ approval, and could drop substantially in the future. Indeed, the school board’s president, Marjorie Schi , warned that changes in the state aid formula, already being discussed in Albany, would “quite likely have a negative impact on the district.” Presiding over her seven member board’s Saturday discussion, Schi said she was “hearing some trepidation” over the budget’s proposed levy “but that it’s reasonable.” And Rifkin, for his part, said, “I don’t think there’s four votes saying come back with a new budget.” Given the economy’s continued price rise—at 6.4 percent in January it was about double the budget’s growth—Selesnick’s 3.6 percent spending hike was generally well-received. As Trustee Elana Shneyer observed, “ is is quite a modest budget increase at these in ationary times.” Julia Hadlock, the board’s vice president, said “nothing [was] glaringly out of line” and Trustee Liz Gereghty called it “thoughtfully put together.” e board is scheduled to resume deliberations March 9, the next step on a path running to May 16, when district residents will vote on a nal budget and elect two school trustees. PAGE 2 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 A breakdown of the proposed 2023- 2024 general fund budget distribution. IMAGE COURTESY OF KATONAH LEWISBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT KLSD FROM PAGE 1 Transforming Ordinary To Extraordinary AL TISO p: (914)729-4485 • e: [email protected] SCAPESBYAL.COM LANDSCAPE DESIGN • PLANTING • IRRIGATION MASONRY • LANDSCAPE LIGHTING FREE DIGITAL DESIGN with Consultation. SCHEDULE TODAY! We Carry A Complete Line of BioGuard Pool Treatments
North Salem pilot makes history at Super Bowl Taking flight Lt. Lyndsey Evans and Lt. Margaret Dente, both Naval Aviators attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, exit an EA-18G Growler after arriving at Luke Air Force Base. PHOTO COURTESY OF PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS ARON MONTANO THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 3 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER If growing up in North Salem gave her roots, then coming from a family of aviators certainly gave Lt. Peggy Dente wings. e pilot just made history by being part of the very rst all-female U.S. Navy yover at the Super Bowl. e event commemorated 50 years of women ying in the U.S. Navy. Of the eight who started ight school in 1973 in Pensacola, Florida, six went on to earn their “wings of gold.” Now, 15 percent of Navy aviators are women. rilled to be able to celebrate both the history and the legacy of those trailblazers, Dente told Halston Media that she thinks the yover will inspire others to take to the skies. “I hope that it was powerful to see a group of women doing something like this. Maybe some little girl will see it and think ‘Oh, maybe I could do that!’” she said. Dente graduated from Somers High School in 2009, got a ROTC Navy scholarship, and went to the University of Southern California, where she studied international relations and French. e two subjects weren’t speci cally related to aviation, but they “informed” her worldview as a member of the military. Dente is the daughter of North Salem residents Valeria and Gregory Bobbin and the little sister of W. Buck Bobbin, who works for the state labor department. She is married to U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Erik Dente. e couple has a two-year-old son, Nolan. ey’ve taken him on commercial ights, but haven’t yet introduced the tot to small aircraft. However, you know that’s inevitable; every time he spies one, Nolan points and gleefully announces: “Plane!” Dente comes by her love of ying organically. Her dad is a civilian pilot who has own everything from corporate jets to helicopters to seaplanes. “You name it, he ew it,” she said. Getting to y with him as a child meant she had “a ton of exposure to aviation” early on. Was she ever scared? “No, not at all. I loved it,” Dente claimed. Her mom, a retired speech therapist, was once a ight attendant for Pan Am. Her late grandfather was a U.S. Marine who piloted helicopters during the Vietnam con ict. To date, Dente herself has accumulated 1,300 hours of ight time and had recently been deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS eodore Roosevelt. She is based out of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in the state of Washington. FLYING HIGH e yover was timed to coincide with the conclusion of the National Anthem, which was performed by country music singer Chris Stapleton. Football fans craned their necks to catch the magni cent sight as the four planes blasted by in a diamond formation at 345 miles per hour. Dente and Lt. Lyndsay Evans, a college friend who is also stationed at Whidbey, ew an EA-18G Growler while three other all-female crews piloted two F/A-18F Super Hornets and a F-35C Lightning II. Dente represented VAQ129, the “Vikings,” and Evans, a resident of California, the Navy’s Electronic Attack Warfare School. ( e formation was led by Lt. Arielle Ash of Abilene, Texas, and Tampa, Fla. native Lt. Saree Moreno.) at was just a portion of the o cer aircrew contingent. e majority of enlisted logistics and maintenance personnel supporting the Super Bowl LVII yover were also women. Naturally, the historic moment generated a lot of pregame attention. Reporters were anxious to know which team Dente supported, but she diplomatically told them that she would be happy just to witness “a close game.” She got her wish. e nal score was 38-35, with the Kansas City Chiefs denying the Philadelphia Eagles the worldchampion crown. Dente’s husband is from Illinois, so she claims the Chicago Bears as her favorite team on his behalf. e crew actually got to catch some of the action in person, including Rihanna’s performance during the halftime show. After returning to the Luke SEE PILOT PAGE 18 HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com Blue Dolphin in Katonah, Best Italian Fare Anywhere!
The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Whit Anderson Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Katonah-Lewisboro Times The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] Location 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC PAGE 4 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 Two women with local community ties have been named to the board of the Katonah Museum of Art. Katonah-bound Emily Sarokin and Alyson Williams of South Salem were unanimously confirmed by the museum’s Board of Trustees. They will work with executive director Michelle Yun Mapplethorpe and fellow trustees to strengthen operations at the 70-year-old center of art, culture and ideas. Sarokin heads operations at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), New York. Earlier, as senior vice president of operations for Christie’s, she delivered several iconic auctions, including the collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller. She holds a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, in art history from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and completed advanced studies at Oxford. Sarokin and her husband, Augie, are moving with their daughter, Elizabeth (Biz), from Brooklyn Heights to Katonah. Williams, senior vice president of digital operations and strategy at Forbes Media, brings expertise in the overall digital media space, including journalism, social media and ad technologies. A frequent speaker at industry functions and events, she previously held advertisingrelated positions at Forbes. A Boston College graduate, Williams has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and communications. She lives in South Salem with her husband, Nick, and their two young children, Amelia and Theodore. “We are delighted to welcome Emily and Alyson to our Board,” the museum board’s president, Vida Foubister, said. “Their commitment to our mission and backgrounds in art history, advertising and marketing, and operations and management will enable them to make significant contributions to the museum in the years to come.” Article provided by Katonah Museum of Art. Katonah Museum of Art welcomes new board members St John’s Episcopal Parish 82 Spring St., South Salem FOOD PANTRY Spread the word and get involved with the St. John’s Food Pantry! Distribution is every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. John’s. A food pantry box is available in the church parking lot 24/7 for those who cannot make it to pick up on Saturday morning - please take whatever you need from the box, as it will be replenished. Lewisboro Garden Club ROOTING FOR LEWISBORO Welcome to the third year of Rooting for Lewisboro for town residents! The Lewisboro Garden Club is offering 22 varieties of native trees and shrubs for free, thanks to a grant from One Tree Planted. Requests will be filled in the order they are received. You are limited to a maximum of 30 plants. The order form and tree and shrub information are available at www.Lewisborogardenclub. org. It is recommended that you refer to the LGC Tree and Shrub Information Guide located on the site for descriptions and site requirements. Be one of the many Lewisboro residents to find the perfect spot in your yard for some of our 2,850 offerings. Those who have ordered will be notified of the date and time to pick up the seedlings in late April. Lewisboro Library 15 Main St, South Salem, NY 10590 www.lewisborolibrary.org LEWISBORO COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FAIR Saturday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Give back to your Community! After two years of being virtual, this event will be in person at the Library this year. The Volunteer Fair matches would-be volunteers with local organizations in need of help. Local agencies will have tables at the Library with information on their services and volunteer needs. There are volunteer opportunities for adults and teens. CITIZEN PREPAREDNESS TRAINING PROGRAM Wednesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. Led by members of the New York National Guard. Be prepared for emergencies and disasters. This one-hour program will go over the steps you need to take to prepare for an emergency. Attendees can enter a free raffle for a 3-Day Emergency Supply Kit, courtesy of co-sponsor, the Lewisboro Emergency Management Committee. Space is limited to 50 people and registration is required. Please register via the Library website. Lewisboro Parks & Recreation To register for events, visit www.lewisbororecreation.com INDOOR PICKLEBALL The Town of Lewisboro will be offering our residents an indoor location at the Lewisboro Recreation Gym, 79 Bouton Road, South Salem NY. There are three indoor courts which will be first come, first served. Permits are required for indoor play. Photo Permits: A photo ID system has been implemented for indoor pickleball permits. Fees: Resident/School District Individuals - $125.00 Resident/School District Families - $200.00 Resident/School District Seniors (65+)- $80.00 Non-Resident Individuals - $150.00 Indoor Hours Adults: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (All Wednesday Pickleball will start at 10:30 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m.) Family: Sundays 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Additional indoor evening hours: Tuesdays 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.: 3/7, 3/14, 3/21 The Pickleball season will run until approximately March 31, weather and holiday permitting. Katonah Village Library 26 Bedford Rd, Katonah, NY 10536 www.katonahlibrary.org ART SHOW March 16 throught April 17 Neo-Fauvist painter Spencer Eldridge will show his collection of terrascapes, at the Katonah Village Library Meeting Room Gallery from March 16 through April 17. An opening reception will take place Thursday, March 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. The original mixed-media paintings will be available for purchase. For more information, visit www.spencereldridge.com TOWN CROSSING SEE CROSSING PAGE 5 Judi R McAnaw Financial Advisor 200 Business Park Dr Suite 107 Armonk, NY 10504 914-669-5329 Judi R McAnaw Financial Advisor 200 Business Park Dr Suite 107 Armonk, NY 10504 914-669-5329
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 5 2020 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are the registered service marks owned by the Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Whether you are selling or buying a home, I am experienced and knowledgeable of today’s ever changing market. You not only want, but need a qualified professional by your side. Contact me today for your free comprehensive market analysis and all your questions answered. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is pleased to honor Your exceptional performance exemplifies the best and brightest in real estate today. Congratulations on ranking among the top sales professionals in the network. STERLING SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL 2022 Ag en t Name Co l d w el l Ba n ker Br a n c h / DBA Marcie Nolletti Coldwell Banker Realty Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is pleased to honor Your exceptional performance exemplifies the best and brightest in real estate today. Congratulations on ranking among the top sales professionals in the network. STERLING SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL 2022 Ag en t Name Co l d w el l Ba n ker Br a n c h / DBA Marcie Nolletti Coldwell Banker Realty Marcie Nolletti Licensed Real Estate Salesperson NY & CT 338 Route 202 | Somers, NY 10589 Cell: (914) 424-5545 [email protected] marcienolletti.com Buying and Selling— I can make it happen! AARP TAX AIDE Certi ed AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers provide FREE income tax preparation for people with low and moderate income with special attention to those age 60 and older. Sign up at the library (in-person or by phone), to have a tax packet emailed to you and make an appointment to meet your TaxAide volunteer. (Appointments are Tuesdays only from 10:30- 2:30). Tax returns - Federal and State - will be done on site (at the Katonah Library), signed by the taxpayer and submitted electronically. Expect to be at the library for an hour. SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP Did you take Spanish in high School or college and wish you could practice the language again? ere’s a group for you! Join on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 11:30 a.m. for Spanish Conversation Group. Register on the library’s website calendar. SIT AND KNIT AND OTHER HAND-CRAFTS Exchange pattern ideas, use your skills to help others - and most importantly - have fun! is group meets the rst two Mondays of every month. However, holidays may impact. Check the website for updated times. NEED SOME TECH HELP? Get help with iPhones/Androids, Ebooks, Kindles, tablets, Zoom, Skype and more. Sign up for free one-on-one 30 minute tech support sessions. Tech-helper, Lucas, is a JJHS Junior, a volunteer for the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corp and an aspiring software engineer. Call to reserve a ursday or Saturday time. 914- 232-3508. Chronic Pain Support Group Research tells us that 50 million Americans live with chronic pain, or pain that lasts most days or every day for three months or more. Of this group, 20 million experience high-impact chronic pain, or pain that interferes with basic functioning and activities of daily living. Pain is the number one reason that Americans access the health care system, and costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatments, disability payments, and lost productivity. Support groups provide a forum for those with pain to gain support and learn about ways to manage pain and progress from patient to person. is group takes place over Zoom every other week. For more information, please call Ted Bloch at 914-552-6281 or email him at tednbloch@gmail. com. All conversations are kept strictly con dential. Two Harvey Middle School students have earned 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in the Hudson-to-Housatonic Writing Region. Seventh grader Amity Doyle of Katonah earned a Gold Key in poetry for her work “Four Poems.” Amity also earned honorable mention recognition for her essay “From Minnows to Mantas: Respect and Protect,” in the critical essay category. “Amity is a creative force and has made incredible contributions to the Middle School Publications class elective,” said English teacher Christina Alexander. Amity was the only seventh grader who received a top honor for her writing in the region. Her Gold Key-winning poem has advanced to the national competition. Eighth grader Sarah Fisher earned a Silver Key for her critical essay titled “Phonics: e Best Way to Learn to Read.” Ms. Alexander o ered praise, saying, “Sarah is a dedicated student who wants to teach one day, and I know she will be an outstanding educator.” A panel of professional novelists, editors, teachers, poets, librarians, journalists, and other literary professionals selected these works from 2,247 submissions this year. To recognize their outstanding work, this year’s Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention recipients are invited, along with their guests, teachers, and the esteemed jurors, to the 2023 Awards Ceremony for the Hudson-toHousatonic Writing Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards to be held Sunday, March 5 at Manhattanville College. Article courtesy of e Harvey School. Harvey Students earn writing awards Katonah’s Amity Doyle to be honored on March 5 Amity Doyle Sarah Fisher CROSSING FROM PAGE 4
PAGE 6 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Taking a shower’s pretty easy, right? Just step into the stall and turn on the tap. Now imagine having to get out of bed at 4 a.m., grabbing a bucket, and then standing in line for hours while waiting your turn at the one well available so you can get water for your morning bath. That’s the daily reality for hundreds of young students who attend Our Lady of Mount Carmel Girls Senior High School in Ghana, a small country on the West African coast. The private mission school was started by the Catholic Church in 2006 with the aim of “offering excellent education with sound moral values to young ladies” and “empowering them with the needed skills for the future,” according to its website. Its motto is simple: “Love and Service.” The school’s solid academic and religious reputation draws students from all over – and sometimes outside – Ghana. Enrollment is now around 900, nearly triple what it was five years ago. Students range in age from 14 to 17. That has put tremendous pressure on basic resources such as water. Mount Carmel receives some financial aid from the government. That pays for teachers’ salaries, food, and other bare necessities. Mostly everything else is up to God, ingenuity, and the generosity of strangers. That’s where Father Benjamin Obour and the good folks of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Mount Kisco come in. A native of Ghana, Obour arrived in the United States in 2011. He served at Saint Francis for seven years before being re-assigned as Mount Carmel’s chaplain. That’s how he came to know parishioner and longtime volunteer Sharon Luppino and her four sons. The youngest, Anthony, is now a senior and a class officer at Fox Lane High School. Mom is co-president of the Fox Lane High School Association Board, which is made up of parent volunteers. Obour visits whenever he can, both to renew old ties and to seek funding for his school. “We were very upset when father had to leave, but he’s much loved and wanted and needed in so many places that we have to share him,” Luppino told Halston Media. In 2019, Obour approached Jill Carelli, Saint Francis’s coordinator of religious education, and her assistant, Lisa Reinhardt, for help obtaining pens, pencils, and other school supplies and toiletries such as toothbrushes. That went well just through word of mouth and notices in the church’s newsletter and on its bulletin board. But for bigger-ticket items such as calculators and backpacks, the two realized they’d need to do some fundraising. Carelli and Reinhardt enlisted Luppino, who they knew had serious social media and fundraising skills. Luppino used her numerous community connections to launch a GoFundMe campaign and the three women rounded up an army of adult and teen volunteers for a fundraising car wash. The organizers’ combined efforts proved so fruitful that they were not only able to provide the supplies but – with the assistance of two local sporting goods stores – also numbered soccer jerseys with Mount Carmel’s logo. The team also collects little trinkets they think Father Ben’s charges might “get a kick out of,” said Carelli. Posted outside the office where they pack up donations is a sign that jokingly reads: “The Ghana Room. Shipping and Handling.” The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement have a bookstore at Graymoor in Garrison. They once sent the school crosses, holy water fonts, and religious statues, she said. Call Obour “charismatic, sweet, and funny,” Reinhardt said he’s been an inspiration to their congregation’s young people and a godsend to Mount Carmel’s. According to Carelli, Obour supplements his chaplain’s salary by saying Mass in local villages for a small stipend. Sometimes he gets paid in food. Obour has been using his own money to buy things for the school, she said, noting that he also helps financially support his eight siblings, some of whom are very ill. NEEDS PAST, PRESENT That first GoFundMe and car wash in 2019 produced funding Love and service Mount Kisco church brings aid to Ghana school PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTHONY LUPPINO Parishoners at Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Mount Kisco have been pitching in to aid Our Lady of Mount Carmel Girls Senior High School in Ghana. REGIONAL SEE CHURCH PAGE 7 Get the most out of your lawn this spring. 50 Your First Application % OFF* Save now with *Requires purchase of annual plan. Special price is for first Lawn application only. Requires purchase of annual plan, for new residential EasyPay or PrePay customers only. Valid at participating TruGreen locations. Availability of services may vary by geography. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. 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THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 7 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years Do you know what the cost of your long-term care will be if you are not eligible for Medicaid? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 for 40 new ceiling fans for the school’s one dorm and a security fence. e latter took two years to build, but it’s up. A second dorm is under construction. (Fans keep air circulating and malaria-carrying mosquitoes at bay.) Some money also went towards installing lights so that students wouldn’t have to use handheld ashlights when walking around campus at night. ere are many highly venomous snakes in Ghana and the girls were rightly terri- ed of encountering one in the dark, Obour said. Now it’s water that the school desperately needs. e Luppinos and members of the church community – and beyond -- are again stepping up to the plate. In the latest GoFundMe plea, Anthony explains that the rapidly growing student population has strained the school’s only well to the breaking point. Engineers have told Obour that there needs to be at least four to serve that many people. ere are no rivers or streams near the 300-acre school compound. And sometimes the water table is so low that even digging wells doesn’t help. Ghana is in sub-Saharan Africa, one of the world’s most water-insecure regions. Factors contributing to the growing crisis include insu cient rainfall, population growth, urbanization, and poverty. e money raised in this latest campaign will be used to buy tanks, pipes, and motors, and to pay associated electricity and labor costs. “Please help me to help them,” Anthony wrote, adding: “Any amount donated will make a huge di erence in their lives.” e 17-year-old posted shots of the students lined up with their buckets and promised more photos so folks could see exactly what their donations were doing. Helping them seems like a perfect cause for Anthony to pursue, not only because he and his family have long admired “Father Ben” but because the teen loves working with kids. He’s a part of a mentoring program at Mount Kisco Elementary School and plans to study biology and medicine in college with the goal of becoming a pediatrician someday. Anthony is also quite fond of his passel of little cousins. As of Jan. 29, the campaign had raised $5,020 of its $8,000 goal. However, there are no plans to “cap” the GoFundMe campaign at this time, Luppino noted. According to Obour, new wells cost around $5,000 apiece. But with $8,000, the school may be able to eke out two. Her son is so “into” the project that he’s constantly checking his phone to track its progress, said Luppino. Also on Mount Carmel’s longterm wish list is a real chapel. Right now Mass is celebrated in an all-purpose hall that’s not big enough to t all of the students in at the same time. As Catholics, it’s important to take the sacraments together, Obour said. e government is building a dining hall for students, but the construction’s been dragging on for at least eight years and the structure still has no roof. SCHOOL’S SUCCESS INSPIRES Despite challenges with its physical plant, the school has such an excellent reputation that the head of the local diocese, Bishop Dominic Yeboah Nyarko, has asked Rome for permission to start an all-boys seminary school in Techiman, Obour said. (On the high school level, a Catholic seminary school teaches students theology and scripture as a core part of the curriculum. It helps students identify vocational callings and readies them for adulthood while a Catholic seminary college prepares them for ordination to the priesthood.) Mount Carmel’s headmistress – or principal as we would call her here – is a nun. Last year, several grads joined the religious congregation. Students form lifetime connections. Even after they’ve moved on to college, university, and jobs many reach out just to let Father Benand their teachers and former classmates know how they’re doing. ey’ve formed an ad hoc alumni association and keep up with things via Facebook. Always a compassionate and thoughtful kid, Anthony would tell his mom how hard it was for him to imagine having to deal with the things the young members of Father Ben’s ock do. Especially going without the basic things – such as water – that we Americans take for granted. He would like to bring a group of people over to visit the school one day, his mom said. When asked why he’s doing this, Anthony responded: “I’ve always loved to give back to the community and help any way I could, especially my church. I was raised a Catholic and, like I said, so far have made all my sacraments. I just feel like anywhere I can help would be bene cial in some way.” Luppino’s willingness to come to the aid of others was an inspiration. “She’s helped people in so many ways,” he said. In Obour’s case, rising to the occasion was a no-brainer for Luppino and the other intrepid members of Saint Francis’s fundraising team. e priest’s dynamic personality and unwavering dedication to his parishioners and students make the job of getting folks to reach for their wallets relatively easy. “He’s so well-loved here. Knowing what he does, and how he shares everything with us, makes us want to help him help his school,” Luppino said. HOW TO HELP To contribute to the “Providing Wells for Fr. Ben’s School in Ghana” campaign, visit https:// www.gofundme.com/f/waterfor-the-girls-of-ghana. Donations can also be left at or mailed to Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Religious Education Of- ce, 16 Green St., Mount Kisco, N.Y., 10549. Its hours are 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Mondays; 12 noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ursdays. For more information, call 914-666-3161. CHURCH FROM PAGE 6
Opinion PAGE 8 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 2 TRACKS BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of Katonah-Lewisboro Times or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC When most of us were doing our holiday shopping in late December, our state senators and assembly people here in New York were scurrying back to Albany for a special session to do some gift giving of their own. Surprisingly, the gifts they were giving were to themselves in the form of a 29% pay increase, giving our state the highest paid legislature in the country by a long shot, at a salary of $142,000. Their new salary is twice the average household income of their constituents, for what was originally intended to be a part-time job. Their generosity with taxpayer money did not extend to their staff, however, a source of some contention for their employees. You are in good company if you find the move tone deaf given the current economic uncertainties and other challenges in front of them. They are in session for 60 days a year. That’s good, since as Mark Twain said, “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” At their new salary, they are making $2,400 per day while in session. Not bad. In fairness, they have significant obligations when they are not in session, but the raise is still over the top. In what other world do the employees get to vote themselves a pay increase? Interestingly, the state constitution prohibits the legislature from voting themselves a raise. Their lame-duck session presents a loophole however, as they technically aren’t voting themselves a raise since the raise is for the next legislature, which is sworn in after the new year. The governor could have vetoed the raise, but instead signed it into law. I followed the election pretty closely and didn’t hear any candidates talking about the raise they were going to vote themselves as the closing act of the legislative year. If you aren’t careful, you could become cynical about politics. The salary vote was taken two years before the next election, during a time when the public’s attention is elsewhere. They hope that voters will forget about it before they head to the polls in 2024. They provided a fig leaf by placing limits on outside income as part of the salary bill, pitching it as an anti-corruption move. That turns the notion of a “citizen legislator” on its head. Somebody should be able to earn outside income and serve as a part-time legislator. We want people to serve from all professions and not have to leave their jobs to serve. Instead, this makes the job a full-time, lifetime profession putting our elected officials further out of touch with those they are meant to serve. Reform is needed. Raises for legislators should be enacted by referendum or at the very least not done in a special session after election day. Our county legislators used a lame duck move a couple of years ago to give themselves a 50% bump. If raises are justified, they should be explained to voters prior to heading to the polls and passed in a regular legislative session. Another thought, make the raise effective for the next person to serve and not the legislator taking the vote – paying it forward to the legislator’s successor. That would tamp down wage inflation. Lame duck largesse DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT BY KENNETH FREEMAN OF HALSTON MEDIA The word “marketing” may evoke thoughts of fun, attractive ads. But marketing is much more than just advertising. It entails several tools called “the marketing mix.” A handy way to remember these tools is “the 5 P’s” – Product, Package, Place, Price and Promotion. The mix needs to be aligned, like a chiropractor does with a body, for best results. A recent personal experience demonstrates this. We recently received an invitation to a fancy wedding calling for a dark suit or tuxedo. Unfortunately, I’d recently discarded my well-worn black dress shoes, and hadn’t thought about replacing those shoes until the invitation arrived. My Google search for a source highlighted Men’s Wearhouse, and a torrent of online ads from that chain followed. My trip to the nearest Men’s Wearhouse store, in Danbury, was disappointing. Despite their ads showing a great selection of dress shoes, the store had little in stock. I shared my disappointment with the store clerk, who explained that I needed to order online. I buy lots of clothing online, but not shoes, as precise fit and comfort are paramount. I wound up buying the shoes I needed in another store in the same mall. Without the right selection (Product) and accessibility (Place), Men’s Wearhouse had wasted all of its ads targeting me . . . and tarnished its reputation with me as well. Here’s a quick look at the 5 P’s, which you can customize to your particular business or professional practice: • Product typically means quality and selection that deliver on brand promise Striving for alignment Smart marketers are similar to chiropractors SEEFREEMAN PAGE 9
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 9 and customer expectations. In the Men’s Warehouse case, the store didn’t have in stock the shoe styles and sizes I needed so I could try them on. • Package often refers to package size and packaging communication. For example, a family-targeted food brand should probably o er larger sizes; a brand targeting empty nesters or individuals with special needs should probably o er smaller sizes. Packaging for senior citizen brands should include larger, easy-to-read type. Professional service providers might package or bundle services together in a convenient way meeting typical customer needs. • Place refers to retail location, where convenience may be important. It also refers more broadly to where and how one might buy the product or service – for example, in-store versus online, perhaps ordering by phone for products and services requiring customization or where real-time Q&As are important. • Price should align with customer needs and expectations. An accountant or attorney targeting individuals with simple nancial lives should o er comfortably lower fees. Accountants or attorneys handling individuals with more complex nancial lives or estate planning needs have greater fee latitude. • Promotion includes advertising, other communications such as public relations or social media, as well as purchase incentives delivered in ads, in-store, or wherever your business takes place. It is important not to overpromise, which can lead to customer disappointment and alienation as well as negative word-of-mouth and perhaps damaging social media. e whole marketing mix should be considered in tailoring the individual elements. It all needs to work together. Like a chiropractor, the smart marketer strives for alignment. Before helping his son found Halston Media, Kenneth Freeman earned his MBA from Harvard University and lead the marketing departments at major Fortune 500 corporations throughout his career. FREEMAN FROM PAGE 8 My birthday is in a few days. I look forward to receiving cheerful birthday cards from friends and family. It means a lot when someone takes the time to actually go to a store and select a greeting card meant just for you. A birthday email is nice, but receiving an actual colorful birthday card in the mail is even better. I’ve always liked sending greeting cards. Years ago, you could walk into stationery stores and actual card stores (remember Hallmark stores?) and browse up and down the aisles for the perfect card. ere used to be so many choices from major companies, including Hallmark, American Greetings, Blue Mountain Arts and Leanin’ Tree. A variety of greeting cards lled the displays to celebrate birthdays or “ inking of You” or “Happy Retirement.” I’ve purchased “New Baby” cards, “ ank You” cards, “Sympathy” cards and “Good Luck in your New Home” cards. I have never purchased a musical card for anyone. e cards in the “Humor” section are often not funny. Does anyone want a card with an illustration of an old lady or squirrel saying something raunchy? I’ve never bought a “Belated Birthday” card. I am very organized and write down special birthdays on my calendar so that I can mail out the cards in advance of the special day. Personally, I like to open my birthday cards as soon as I receive them. I place these thoughtful cards on the dining room table and keep them on display until a few days after my birthday. My friend, Jill, says that she only opens her birthday cards on her actual birthday. I still mail her birthday card several days in advance anyway. I have a personal goal of always being the rst person to mail a card to my friend, Ellen, who lives in Massachusetts. Her birthday is in early August, so I mail her card out in mid-July to make certain that she receives a birthday card from me rst! Most of the stand-alone card stores and stationery stores are all gone. Fortunately, I can usually nd a greeting card to t any occasion at the Cross River Pharmacy. Recently, I needed a few birthday cards and read through lots of colorful cards until I found the perfect card for each friend. While I was in the card aisle, I walked over to the “Congratulations” section to read a few cards. Congratulatory cards for a new baby, a new home, a new job, wedding, engagement and graduation lled most of that section. But one particular card caught my attention. It was a bright turquoise card with the word BRAVO in white bold letters across the front. Tiny stars in copper and green surrounded the white letters. I opened this card to read, “Impressive doesn’t begin to cover it. Congratulations!” Wow! I wonder what extraordinary accomplishments the recipient of this special card has achieved? I started imagining who this card could be sent to in acknowledgement of their success. Maybe this card will be sent to someone graduating from medical school or maybe this card will be mailed to a volunteer who has just returned from working with displaced families in a war torn country or after the massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria. I’d like to meet that special person. I’d like to hear the stories and learn about their rsthand experiences doing something so brave and extraordinary. ink about a special individual who might appreciate hearing, “Bravo! Impressive doesn’t begin to cover it. Congratulations!” Send that person a card! Kim Kovach likes all things paper- stationery, notepads, sticky notes, and greeting cards. www. kimkovachwrites.com Bravo! Impressive doesn’t begin to cover it KIM KOVACH READING, WRITING & CHOCOLATE Freelance Writer, Editor, and Content Producer Bill Bongiorno | (914) 533-7065 | [email protected] For All Your Writing Needs Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Railroad station. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars. • Monuments & inscriptions available. 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director MARISA A. GIULIANO ~ Director ADNER J. MONTENEGRO-LEE ~ Director CLARK ASSOCIATES FUNERAL HOME
PAGE 10 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 Contact Us The Katonah-Lewisboro Times is located at 118 N Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914- 302-5830 or email [email protected]. I t was 1969 and I had just moved to Katonah with my husband and little family of two children. I knew no one even close to the area where I was now living. So, on my third day in town, I called the local elementary school, where my son Michael would be starting kindergarten, to ask if they had a PTA. I felt that was a good way to meet some people and also make a contribution, since I had taught school before I married. e school secretary who answered the phone asked, “Would you like to be president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer?” I laughed heartily and explained that I had moved here only three days before and would be happy to do something in the future, but needed time to acclimate myself to my new town, and also was not even fully unpacked. Her next question was, “Do you have a pencil?” I reached for one and a piece of paper, which were nearby, and was ready to write down whatever information she was going to give me. “Good” she said. “Bring it with you to the school library at 7 p.m. on Monday and you can be recording secretary.” I did as I was told, but didn’t know at that time how much this rst community involvement would change my life. At that very rst PTA meeting, I must have mentioned that I was a teacher in the past, and just a few short days after my son started school, I got a call from the principal asking me to come in as a substitute teacher. at brought me happily back to the classroom, and I did that work for a number of years. at was not the only unusual and exciting experience that sprang from that little group gathered each month in the school library. I made some wonderful, lasting, interesting, caring friendships too. After each meeting, a small group of us began to go out for co ee, as the kids were being cared for by either dad or a babysitter. is later sprang into a once-a-month dinner out. Our little group consisted of Carolyn, Shirley, Margaret, Louise and me. Louise had grown up in Canada and dubbed us “Les Girls.” We so looked forward to getting together once a month and tried to choose a di erent restaurant as often as possible. Such fun and good food we had at some of the special places in our area. Many of our children were in the same classes and often played together. ey went to each other’s birthday parties, Girl Scout and Boy Scout meetings, even to school events and proms. e kids kind of parted ways when they went o to college, but Les Girls remained a close-knit group. We sometimes saw each other socially with our husbands, and shared important moments in each other’s lives, such as our kids’ engagements and weddings and other important milestones. e years have been passing quickly now, and we are all very involved with our grandchildren. Two in our group have moved away and another unfortunately is experiencing slight dementia. At our last meeting, there were just two of us, but we carry on and are still game to try any new restaurant that opens. Out of necessity, even friendships must wax and wane, but are always kept near and dear to our heart. at is what you call a lifelong friendship! Lasting friendships MARILYN A. PELLINI MUSINGS: PAST AND PRESENT A rebuttal to Dr. Visweswariah’s rebuttal Dr. Chandu Visweswariah’s “rebuttal” to my recent column “ e Unintended Consequences of All-Electric Mandates” was disappointing. In his letter titled, “A rebuttal to Don Scott’s electric vehicle critique” (Feb. 23, Page 15), he launched the classic straw man argument, pretending that the point of my piece was that electric vehicles don’t produce less pollution, and then proceeded to cite statistics about comparative emissions of electric vehicles. I made no such argument. I agree with his point that electric vehicles produce less emissions, even when considering that our power generating it is far from being all green. e New York Times reports that only 6% of our power comes from wind and solar. To his credit, Dr. Visweswariah is a co-founder of an advocacy group dedicated to eliminating 100% of emissions by 2040. As an advocate for eliminating all emissions, he no doubt wants to build a bigger tent to support his view and programs. Who doesn’t want to eliminate all emissions? Mischaracterizing the positions of those who think that all impacts should be considered doesn’t help the cause. Dr. Visweswariah seems to advocate for an all stick and no carrot approach to achieve his objectives, like Gov. Hochul’s 2021 law requiring that all vehicles sold in New York after 2035 must be zero-emission. LETTERS SEELETTERS PAGE 11 join Lauren, Colleen and Rick and bring a li� le harmony to your next event! musical vocal group playing an eclec� c mix of favorites, old and new [email protected] 914-248-5135 NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: YOU MAY *QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS! HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH Qualify Today: 800-944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to see if you *qualify Do you need a New Roof and Help paying for it? Do you need Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? 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THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 11 To advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@halstonmedia. com. Top down solutions via executive at are never as e ective as grassroots movements based on full disclosure of all the relevant impacts. His letter makes no attempt to address the impact on electric rates by adding 100 million cars to the electric grid, not to mention the infrastructure needed to accomplish that. He also fails to address the pesky problem of the mining operation required for the batteries – the vast majority of which is controlled by China - to create an all-EV eet. My attempt to examine the impacts – all the impacts – of moving to an all electric eet should be encouraged, not belittled by Dr. Visweswariah and his organization. at is the way to win friends and gain support for the cause. -Don Scott Resident of Katonah and Halston Media columnist Freeman is at it again! Dear Editor, Imagine my excitement when I rst glanced the title of Brett Freeman’s Feb. 16 Publisher’s Memo: “Government wants ‘us’ vs. ‘them.’” At last, Mr. Freeman was going to expose the federal government’s deep state plot to divide and conquer its citizens! Alas, such was not the case. After the typical Freemanesque straw man set-up regarding raising the federal debt ceiling vs. defunding Medicare and Social Security (“a topic for another debate”), Mr. Freeman revealed the true nature of the government’s per dious scheme: the feds are “emphasizing a hierarchy between employers and employees - again, to divide everyone between ‘us’ and ‘them.’” How is this scheme implemented in practice? By forcing employers to comply with federal law and directly pay the federal government the mandated employer contributions to Social Security, Medicare, state and federal unemployment insurance on behalf of employees. Frankly, given the histrionic title of Mr. Freeman’s piece, I was hoping for at least a revelation of Joe Biden’s secret support of QAnon to divide us into red and blue factions, not a disquisition on payroll taxes. Oh well, there’s always next week’s Publisher’s Memo. -Lou Sorell Katonah, NY LETTERS FROM PAGE 10 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Mr. President, Happy birthday to you. I have to admit, it sounded better when Marilyn Monroe sang it, and that’s why I wrote it instead. As a nation, we used to celebrate Washington’s birthday, and some states added Lincoln’s birthday, and now we’ve opened it up to anyone elected to the o ce, and everyone gets to have their cake and eat it too, even if it isn’t really their birthday. Some states do not o cially observe President’s Day, probably because some sourpuss in the state legislature was angry that HE didn’t get the day o . is year I didn’t observe President’s Day, but only because I left my glasses in the other room. And now that it’s called “President’s Day,” it means any president is eligible to be honored, no matter what damn fool things they did. I’m willing to celebrate some presidents, but not the loser presidents. Certainly not one that lost TWO senate races. Oops, Lincoln did that. De nitely not a president who as a general lost more battles than he won. Oops, Washington did that. I refuse to extol a president who lost re-election. Oops, John Adams did that. I guess it’s more complicated than I thought. It made me wonder what makes an e ective president. Being able to assemble and lead a competent team would be one desirable trait. erefore I nominate a ticket of Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone, as long as they don’t raise ticket prices. Notably, Lincoln appointed a cabinet of political rivals who were known to have opinions contrary to his own. I guess it was the precursor to “ e Real Housewives of the Potomac,” only realer. Many presidents gained empathy by overcoming adversity. Franklin Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio in his 30s, and responded by founding an institute to help people with similar a ictions. e deaths of eodore Roosevelt’s wife and mother on the same day shaped his immersion into the cause of conservation that became part of his legacy. After Lyndon Johnson su ered a near-fatal heart attack, he devoted himself to the legislation of equal rights. I can understand this concept, because I overcame the cancellation of “Bosom Buddies” by trying to come up with a cure for eisoptrophobia, and I am still re ecting on that. 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PAGE 12 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 move the constituency. A few years ago, I heard a speech and it made me want to move, but that’s not what I’m talking about. Sometimes just one memorable phrase sums up a president’s style, such as Obama’s “Yes we can,” or Eisenhower’s “Pessimism never won any battle,” or Donald Trump’s “Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.” It’s better if I don’t mention what he said right after that. How do the great presidents make crucial decisions that stand the test of time? Do they rely on the courage of their convictions? Do they enlist the opinions of their trusted advisors? I don’t know, I can’t decide. But in the heat of battle there usually isn’t time to wait around for revisionist history. Is their foreign policy rooted in history, science and learning from past mistakes? Or does it sometimes seem reminiscent of plot lines from “ e Avengers?” Is it consistent with itself and American core values or does it seem prone to mood swings like it’s been up all night drinking espresso and cheap wine at the same time? Finally, a president should be able to set a good example. I’ve compiled a list of things a president should not do, in order to maintain the respect of the people: A president should not use all caps, or more than one exclamation point, and I cannot stress this ENOUGH!!! A president should not watch “ e Bachelorette.” A president should not use Cheez Whiz outside the con nes of the White House. A president should not be seen patronizing any business with a name that uses a “Z” instead of an “S,” a “K” instead of a “C” or numbers instead of letters. A president should not use the word “amazeballs.” A president should not sing “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” at karaoke. I stopped compiling the list when I realized that it was a list of everything I would do, only as a joke I’m hoping. I have to destroy this document now because it’s classi ed. It’s classi ed as “GOOFY,” but technically that’s still a classi cation. Join Rick and No Options for some rock & roll at Back Nine in Cortlandt, Saturday, March 25, at 9 p.m.! Join Rick and Trillium for some love and harmony at Argonne Rose at Mohegan Lake, Friday, March 31, at 8 p.m.! Say hello at: [email protected] MELEN FROM PAGE 11 Add Value to Your Home We specialize in targeted home improvements — both big and small — to maximize your home’s value,comfort and beauty. • Bathroom Remodeling • Kitchen Remodeling • Durable Vinyl Siding • Room Additions • Add-a-Levels • • Replacement Windows • General Carpentry • Basement Finishing • Painting • Interior Trim • Handy Man • Sero’s Contracting When we’re done, there is nothing left to do. Licensed & Insured • Local References • Brewster, NY • 845-216-1955 • 845-279-6977 • [email protected] Welcome to “News & Notes,” where we look at the happenings here in Westchester County. Let’s start o with some thoughts on the marvelous month of March. I hope we all get through the Ides of March with no ill e ects; we remember to spring ahead on March 12 at 2 a.m.; and survive the green beer on St. Patrick’s Day. Cheers to this week’s “March Madness” edition of “News & Notes.” With the Academy Awards around the corner…the Katonah Village Improvement Society presents Oscar nominated short lm screenings on Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4, at the Katonah Village Library starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, per screening, drinks and snacks included. Bedford 2030 will hold a community forum, “ e Power of Trees,” on March 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fox Lane High School. Healthy trees provide essential ecosystem services like clean air and water, fertile soil, plentiful habitat and increased biodiversity. Plus, trees provide shade for my afternoon naps in the summer. e forum has a fantastic lineup of speakers, activities and real-world tips to protect our trees. I certainly need to swing by the Bedford Hills Free Library for “Tech Tuesdays.” You can stop by the library from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or call 914-666- 6472. Technical questions are answered in-person and over the phone; personal appointments are also available. Please contact Katherine Whymark, the librarian for Adult Services & Programs. Please beware…our sports radio show, “ e Clubhouse,” returns to the air on March 8, 7 to 8 p.m. on WGCH 1490AM, live from e Hub at Hotel MTK in Mount Kisco. Come join us for some good food, fun and maybe even some sports stories. You’re going to want to save this date and rest your stomach in anticipation for the 14th annual Chili Cook-o hosted by the Katonah Chamber of Commerce on Friday, March 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Harvey School. e good folks at the Paramount Hudson Valley eater have some great shows in March. On March 24, Al Stewart and his band, “ e Empty Pockets,” perform his old favorites, like “Year of e Cat,” “Time Passages,” and “On the Border,” along with selections from his deep catalogue. Comedian Breuer hits the stage on March 30 with his hilarious view on the crazy state of the world today. Both shows start at 8 p.m. I would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day. May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your elds…see you all soon. What’s happening locally? MARK JEFFERS NEWS & NOTES
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Sports PAGE 14 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER e John Jay boys’ basketball team had a tough regular season this year. Shots unable to fall most games, the team picked up more than their fair share of losses. But these Wolves proved that they were just a work in progress. A couple of late season wins, and a pair of Section 1 playo upsets said as much. “We continued to develop as a team, aiming to play our best basketball in February, and obviously, they accomplished that goal,” boasted Coach Tyler Sayre. No reason to stop there, 31 minutes and 52.3 seconds of inspired play versus second-seeded Lakeland on ursday, Feb. 23 was even better. But sadly, it was not enough to reach the semi nals. O a Will Sanz miss at the foul line with 7.7 seconds remaining, Lakeland quickly brought the ball up, Chris Whyte-Luciano received, and as he fell left, his 25-footer tied the game at 45. e high-scoring guard then scored four straight points in overtime, and the Wolves were left heartbroken in a 54-51 defeat. But as usual, Sanz and Liam Lynch got things started for John Jay. Sanz hit a running onehander for a 2-0 lead, and after Lynch hit Craig Galea for a layup, the guard nailed a three for a 7-4 advantage. Lakeland would close the quarter at 7-6, and WhyteLuciano began opening up. He dropped a three for the Hornets’ rst lead and followed with a deuce to make it an 11-6 game. Unfazed, the Wolves had more than one dimension. Galea and Lynch each responded with a three and a two, and the big really got into the groove when he rejected Whyte-Luciano on the baseline. Not to be left out, Sanz kept it a ve-point game with his drive o the glass, but the Wolves could not keep a good man down. To close the half, Whyte-Luciano hit a three, drove for two more and scored another on a halfcourt steal. A 20-18 lead for Lakeland, the Hornets also had some threats to deal with too. At the start of the third, Galea kept the ball alive on the glass, and Sanz got the nish to tie the score. Nonetheless, Lakeland went up by four. But John Jay was far from done, and more names entered the mix. Ryan Giner spotted an open Ben Gold, and on the attempt to cover, he found Lynch for three. Lynch had no problem doing it alone either. Draped by his defender, the guard let y and gave his team a 26-24 lead. Two more then came on Sanz’s ability to put it on the oor. e center went o the dribble and breached the interior tra c jam for a fourpoint lead. Of course, Lakeland was not seeded second for nothing. Andrew Mendel muscled a put back, and after he blocked Lynch on the other end, the center got the ball up court for Whyte-Luciano. His reverse layup tied the game, and the hero’s three closed the quarter with a 31-30 lead for the home team. No hesitation out of the break, Whyte-Luciano stayed away for three and extended the lead to four. John Jay didn’t have any quit, though. Gold and Sanz’s hit triples, and teams were tied at 36. Even so, it was Lakeland’s turn for some separation. Mendel took an entry pass inside to retake the lead, and taking the charge on the way back, Whyte-Luciano was left to work his magic with a running layup. Whyte-Luciano maintained the four-point lead on the line, and the John Jay run looked like it might be over. So enter the Ben Gold defense that helped secure the win against Panas. He blocked Whyte-Luciano, but could not score on the outlet pass ahead. Still, John Jay stayed up. Sanz made a baby hook on the baseline, and down two, Giner got to play hero ball. In the corner, his three gave John Jay a 43-42 lead with 1:23 left. Neither team scored on their next possessions, and Lakeland got ready to tee up with 21 seconds to go. e clock running down, Sanz got a hand on a Lakeland jumper and came down with the ball. Heading up court, the Lakeland defender took a swipe at Sanz and was whistled for a technical. With 9.3 seconds left, Sanz went one for two, and fouling to put John Jay on the line, Sanz split his attempts again. Unfortunately, Whyte-Luciano took no mercy, and Jay’s utter shock could not be missed when his shot went down. Smelling blood, Whyte-Luciano kept buzzing, and Hornet momentum extended into overtime. But Sayre rose above the pain nonetheless. “We are incredibly proud of the boys for how they closed the year. I was lucky to coach this group and cannot thank the seniors enough for their commitment and hard work,” he concluded. Wolves finish with heartbreaking loss Craig Galea shoots a foul-line jumper. Ben Gold looks to steal the ball from Lakeland’s Grady Leonard. Does not dampen great end to season BOYS BASKETBALL John Jay’s Liam Lynch soars in for a shot at Lakeland. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO Ryan Giner shoots a three.
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 SPORTS THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 15 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER e last time John Jay met Horace Greeley, the Wolves made easy work of the Quakers. A 6-1 victory, the boys had to feel pretty good about their chances in the quarter nal round of the sectional playo s. ey certainly came out that way, and play mostly stayed in the Quaker zone. However, the net was not breached, and the familiar face of Ryne Wolberg was the reason. Standing strong through two periods last time, the goalie built another wall in the rst period. But same as before, a 0-0 tie was not going to hold. Kyle Petschek got two second-period goals, and John Jay skated to a 4-1 victory on Monday, Feb. 20. Not waiting long, Liam Burke, Walter Oestreicher and Declan Whelan went right to town on Wolberg. But PJ DeNoia pressed the pause button for the best chance. Coming out front, he cruised right and hung onto the puck for as long as he could. An opening appearing, his shot went just wide. No problem, Kenny Irving and Ryan Hasapis teed o to the crowd’s appreciation, and then Petschek set up Oestreicher for another good opportunity. A kick-save for Wolberg, his 12 saves on the period didn’t quite dig in on Whelan’s chip up on the goal line. On point, the net came o the mooring just prior, and the goal was disallowed. A break earned for Wolberg, John Jay simply resumed in period two, and Michael Mendicino put the rst puck on at 15 minutes. He backhanded a pass out front, the puck popped up high, than came straight down to everyone’s surprise. e puck was scooped up by Horace Greeley, and back the other way, Ryan Marcus was pulled down on his streak past the blue line. Big mistake, as Kyle Petschek does not take the traditional approach to a penalty kill. “I’m one of those guys who loves to put the puck into the back of the net, and I will seize any chance to do that,” he said. In this case, Brendon Asta was the impetus. “He made a stick lift inside the blue line and sat in front of me,” said Petschek. “I tapped it between the defender’s leg and broke down ice.” He scored the breakaway at 11:33, and John Jay was on the board. Moments later, Petschek was at it again. To the left of the goal, the forward made an amazing juke and stick handle to open some space and put the puck to Mendicino out front. Of course, Wolberg was there, but probability had to rule. Oestreicher and DeNoia got the puck up ice, and Petschek put the play on automatic pilot. “I didn’t think,” he said. “ at was all instinct.” On a roll, Mendicino gave the Wolves a 3-0 lead with a minute to go in the third, and the game seemed in hand. It was, but Jacob Schlatner delayed the celebration. He scored at 15:12 of the third, and Petschek sat a little dismayed on the bench. “I was a little nervous,” he admitted. So Mendicino picked the team up. “ e goal was so vital,” beamed Petschek. But he went into ursday (2/23) against Pelham with more than a sigh of relief. “We are ready,” he assured. A point that could not be argued after his two goals were added to Oestreicher’s, and a 3-2 lead was had over the defending Section 1 champs. But at the Ice Hutch in Mt. Vernon, Pelham scored four unanswered, and the Wolves were forced to accept a season-ending 6-3 defeat. On the other hand, their coach freely accepted and was compelled to acknowledge the players who have made the biggest commitment. “Seniors, thank you for pouring your hearts and souls into the program,” concluded Coach Greg Janos.” e privilege and honor has been mine.” Jay Advances past Greeley Falls to Pelham in semis PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Dylan Rogers Brendon Asta Walter Oestreicher Michael Mendicino HOCKEY CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION March 23, 2023 | 6:00 – 9:00 pm WALDEN GYM, 200 BOCES DRIVE, YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 REGIONAL UNION INFORMATION EVENT CARPENTRY HVAC ARCHITECTURE ELECTRICITY PLUMBING URBAN FORESTRY WELDING MASONRY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected] JOIN US AND MEET LOCAL UNIONS AND EMPLOYER PARTNERS REGISTER HERE! Learn About Career Opportunities with Union Apprenticeships To The Student-Athlete Parents (and Coaches) Coaches, please also send us information, including any quotes praising the student-athletes! Help Us Cover YOUR TEAM! Coaches, CONTACT US AT [email protected] with your GAME/MATCH/MEET PHOTOS! 2 TRACKS
PAGE 16 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 GIRLS Harvey’s girls varsity basketball team nished what they had set out to do way back in the preseason and are now 2022-23 champions of the Housatonic Valley Athletic League after defeating arch rival Watkinson 66- 41 Saturday (2/25) in the championship game at home. It looked like No. 1 seed Harvey would be in for a battle against the No. 2 Rams as both teams stayed close in the rst four minutes of the game, with the Cavs holding a slim 9-8 lead with a little more than two minutes left in the rst. But the Cavs’ defense made some key stops and forced several turnovers to sti e Watkinson’s o ensive e orts. Furthermore, Junior McKensi Forde got to work, hitting her shots to help her teammates build a 19-10 lead by the end of the frame. e momentum stayed with Harvey in the second quarter as Watkinson continued to have trouble scoring. Forde and senior captain Kira Ortega kept the o ense cooking as Harvey built up a 37-18 halftime lead. e third quarter was more of the same as Forde and Ortega each scored seven points to help build a 53-33 advantage. In the fourth quarter, the Rams could not do much to narrow the de cit as the o ensive troubles persisted, thanks to the Harvey defense. McKensi Forde nished with 29 points. Ortega tallied 14 while Peyton Forde added 11, Amani Carty had seven, and Fernanda Alexandre nished with ve. An elated Harvey head coach in Victoria Shopovick said the attitude and e ort of her team was impressive from the start to nish of this championship season. “ ey put in so much work during the season and came to practice each day ready to learn and get better,” the coach said. “ ey played not only as a team, but as a family. ey knew that they could win a championship, and that’s what they did. I could not be more proud of the girls and how they performed.” e girls nish with a 15-1 record (22-2 overall) against HVAL opponents. ey are expected to be invited to compete in the NEPSAC tournament. BOYS e top-seeded Harvey boys’ varsity basketball team is the 2022-23 champion of the Housatonic Valley Athletic League after coming back from a four-point de cit at the half and beating No. 2 seed Watkinson School of West Hartford, 49-45, Saturday (2/25) in the league championship game. It was a nail-biter from the opening tip to the nal buzzer. Harvey got the rst two points of the game when junior center Olaf Gorski scored from underneath the basket, but the early lead quickly disappeared as Watkinson went ahead on a threepointer, one of several the Rams would get throughout the game. e Cavs were down 7-4 at the 12:33 mark when senior Kirk Ortega nailed a three to tie the score. It went back-andforth for the rest of the half until the nal minute, when the Rams had a 28-22 lead. Sophomore Jonah Kass cut it to 28-24 just before the buzzer sounded at the end of two. e second half continued the see-saw until Kass and Marcus Diaz heated up and led Harvey on a 10-0 run during a fourminute stretch. When Diaz hit a three at 8:43, the Cavs had their biggest lead of the day, 41-32. Two successful long balls from the Rams, however, trimmed the de cit to four points with a little more than four minutes to play. e two teams traded baskets for the minutes that followed as Harvey held on to four-point lead before it was cut down to only two, 46-44, with three minutes left. Missed shots and sloppy ball handling kept both teams from scoring until there were just 19 seconds left with Harvey still holding on to that lead. Ortega then hit two clutch free throws to make it 48-44 with 9.3 seconds reading on the clock. Harvey’s defense then stepped up while the Rams could only score on one free throw, which was negated by Gorski’s foul shot a minute later. With just 1.9 seconds showing, Watkinson in-bounded the ball to a man deep in the corner. e shot no good, the Harvey boys leaped for joy as they became the HVAL champions. Kass nished with 17 points. Ortega had 13, Gorski tallied nine, and Diaz scored seven. Harvey head coach Denis Arnautovic was happy for both his team and the basketball program. “ e boys deserved this. After 28 years, the trophy returns back to Harvey. I am so very proud of the team.” Harvey nishes 11-1 against HVAL opponents, and 13-9 overall. e boys are likely to be invited to play in the upcoming NEPSAC championship tournament. Article provided by the Harvey School. Boys and Girls teams capture HVAL Championship Girls fi nish 22-2, Boys fi rst chip in 28 years PHOTOS COURTESY OF GABE PALACIO The 2023 HVAL champion Harvey girls’ basketball team. The Harvey boys fought till the fi nal buzzer to become HVAL champions. The boys and girls teams celebrated their wins together. 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THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 SPORTS THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 17 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER For the Wolves girls’ basketball team, it’s been a long road together. e roster with ten seniors, four of which have been starters since freshman year, really hit their stride this winter with a 17-5 record. Entering Sectionals as the seventh seed, they got their rst postseason win against Lakeland last Saturday (2/18) and came out strong against thirdseeded Mahopac on ursday, Feb. 23. But despite the synergy created over the last decade, height, size, speed, and a ferocious, swarming defense proved too much. A 12-11 rst-quarter lead for John Jay was met by a 12-0 Mahopac run, and the proud lineage could not catch up in the 66-37 loss. Nonetheless, the game began with a familiar purview. A determined look on the face of Annabel Brennan, she took o above the arc and went straight o the glass for a 2-0 lead. en size had its rst say. Fiona O’Boyle got inside and muscled a put back for the ‘Pac. Speed next, Gianna Rispoli got a quick step in the corner, and Brennan could not keep up. Drawing the foul, Rispoli sank two from the line, but John Jay was up to the task. After Piper Klammer was whistled for a travel, the Wolves beat the press at this early juncture, and Miranda Martin made the home team pay with a three. Staying in the black, the Wolves registered an eight-second violation, and Coach Matt Gallagher was up in arms on the sideline. Unfortunately, John Jay could not take advantage and the Indians picked up the balance sheet. Klammer popped a deuce inside the key, the press yielded a John Jay turnover, and Lauren Beberman nonchalantly buried a three. A 9-5 game, both teams pressed on. Mia Puccio spotted Shannon Nolan underneath for an easy two, and after O’Boyle dumped another put back, Mahopac’s harrying forced another John Jay turnover. is time Mahopac didn’t take advantage, and John Jay beat the pressure for a Brennan triple. Mahopac returned the favor by turning the ball over, and Brennan led Mia Puccio for a crossunder layup with 2:45 left in the rst. eir last lead of the season at 12-11, John Jay’s table got turned on yet another turnover. Brennan got trapped on the sideline, O’Boyle got the steal and was able to convert on the break. Mahopac’s interior defense was nothing to sneeze at either. On Puccio’s attempt to retake the lead, the guard found Mahopac’s tra c jam to be more congestion than she could handle, and the senior’s acceleration fell short at the rim. A converted free throw later for Mahopac was not cause for concern. But when Madysen Ford scored a fast break basket on another steal, something was clearly afoot. A tough o ensive rebound for Puccio unfortunately yielded only two missed free throws, so Mahopac really started to pile on. Beberman tip toed the baseline and made easy work with a reverse layup that gave the Indians an 18-12 lead to close the quarter. Another point at the line built Mahopac’s lead, and no surprise, defense increased it. e Indians forced the turnover on the inbounds under John Jay’s basket, and Beberman went coast-tocoast for a 21-12 lead. Back the other way, Brennan could not sink an open three, and on the changeover, Jessica Sterbens was way too much for Miranda Martin on the low post. A 23-12 score, Martin did answer back with a three, but Mahopac barely noticed. ey kept the pressure on, and Kristina Rush buried a long ball for an 11-point lead. Misses and turnovers then going both ways, it was Mahopac that came out on top. Sterbens got to the line for two, and Rush hit another three to open a 31-15 gap. Brennan did at least close the half with a layup, and Martin gave the girls hope by opening the third with a triple. Sadly, Mahopac was just playing, and the tears in Jess Martin’s eyes showed how much it hurt for the journey to end. “ ey (my teammates) mean everything to me,” said the senior. A misty eyed Gallagher felt the same and was grateful for what the leadership of this team conveys. “ e way they respect the game and how they respect opponents, they have laid the whole foundation of what I’m trying to build,” he extolled. He’s also a good enough coach to know that being schooled by such a group carries no shame. “ ey have taught me how to be a better coach, and just be open to what they are seeing and what they are doing on the court,” he assured. So while it may be goodbye, their lasting impact is here to stay. John Jay falls to Mahopac End of an era Ava Kelley PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Miranda Martin GIRLS BASKETBALL WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 We’ve advertised with Halston newspapers since the beginning because we know they connect us to the communities we serve. We view our ads as an extension of word-of- mouth advertising; they have definitely played a role in our continued success with both new and returning families. -Jamie Sirkin Summer Trails Day Camp & Baseball Camp The New York Press Association, the trade association for newspapers in New York, is seeking a talented college creator to be our chief TikTok officer for the summer. The internship will pay a net take-home stipend of $2600 and weekly schedules/work hours are negotiable. We are seeking a candidate who uses the app daily and understands what resonates. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest to [email protected] explaining their qualifications and expertise. Include the name of the college you attend, expected year of graduation, and the names of three references — at least one of whom is one of your professors or instructors. Attaching sample videos encouraged. Application deadline is April 1, 2023. PA New York Press Association NOW HIRING: The New York Press Association, the trade association for newspapers Savvy intern who can make TikTok hits
Air Force Base, located 15 miles west of Phoenix, the yover crews were given a police escort to the stadium. “ at was pretty cool,” she said. Brought down to the eld through a phalanx of high- ving fans, they were recognized during the commercial break between the third and fourth quarters. While it was obviously an honor to represent the Navy on such a large national stage, no one lost sight of the spectacular event’s purpose -- to recognize the legacy of the country’s rst female naval aviators. “I’m glad that the yover got the amount of attention that it did because I think that that’s great for the Navy and great for celebrating women in aviation,” Dente said. During World War II, female pilots were only permitted to serve in civilian pilots’ organizations that had no military standing. Nevertheless, many ended up making the ultimate sacri ce for their country. Dente said she also “had the pleasure” of meeting one of those groundbreakers, Retired Navy Capt. Joellen Drag-Oslund, at the game. According to the U.S. Navy O ce of Information, the other members of “ e First Six” back in 1973 were: Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Allen Rainey, Capt. Rosemary Bryant Mariner, Capt. Jane Skiles O’Dea, Capt. Judith Neu er, and Capt. Ana Marie Scott. It was Dente’s very rst yover. When asked by CBS if she’d been nervous, she replied that one would have to “be crazy” if they weren’t. But that’s OK, a “little bit of nerves keeps you honest, keeps you humble, keeps you focused on the mission,” Dente told the reporter, adding that it was truly a team e ort. “We’re all wing women here,” she emphasized in the CBS report. Dente and crewmates also brie y hobnobbed at the game with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who she called “an impressive woman in and of her own right.” “It was an honor to meet her and a real special treat. It’s not something many people get to do,” Dente told Halston Media. She’s also not likely to forget the reaction when the whole ight-suit-clad team strode into the stadium. “People wanted to high- ve us and congratulate us. So yeah, I felt like a celebrity for a moment. But I am certainly NOT a celebrity,” Dente said, admitting, however, that it was “kind of fun.” Among the cheering crowd was a man who, upon seeing the aviators, asked: “Which one of you is from North Salem?” After Dente raised her hand, he told her that he was a member of the NSHS Class of 1990. at little personal connection will, for her, likely forever be one of the highlights of the whole experience. Remember roots and wings? Dente grew up in the bucolic northern Westchester town playing sports, being a Girl Scout, and belonging to the youth group at St. James Episcopal Church. “ ere’s a lot of connection there,” she said of the church where she’d been both baptized and married. It makes Dente happy to be able to “share a little bit” of her life now with her beloved hometown. “North Salem is a great place. I love it,” she said. When the Navy announced the yover roster, local social media simply exploded with congratulations and expressions of hometown pride. Town Supervisor Warren Lucas posted on his NorthSalemNYinfo Facebook page that everyone was “extremely proud of Peggy.” “By the way, this is an all-female pilot team. Awesome!” he added. Humbled by the outpouring of love for her and the whole yover crew, Dente explained: “It’s been really special to hear from so many old neighbors, classmates, and teachers. I just really appreciate the way North Salem has supported us.” PAGE 18 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES LEISURE THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 PHOTO COURTESY OF PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS ARON MONTANO The fl yover celebrated 50 Years of Women Flying in the Navy, honoring the legacy of women in Naval Aviation. PHOTO COURTESY OF PEGGY DENTE North Salem native Lt. Peggy Dente and the fl ight crew display the Super Bowl LVII pendant. PILOT FROM PAGE 3 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. Relaxing place 4. Plant by scattering 7. A type of explorer 12. Unique traits 15. Lady 16. Dismayed 18. Railway 19. Type of whale 20. Sodium 21. Manning and Lilly are two 24. Where golfers begin 27. Entrapped 30. Influential punk artist 31. Hebrew calendar month 33. Car mechanics group 34. Undesirable rodent 35. Minneapolis suburb 37. Witch 39. Get free of 41. A written proposal or reminder 42. British School 44. Country on west coast of Africa 47. Cool! 48. Information 49. __ route 50. Jim Nantz’s network 52. Something to register (abbr.) 53. Give cards incorrectly 56. One who’s learning on the job 61. Stevenson adventure novel 63. Taking careful notice 64. CNN’s founder 65. Speak badly of CLUES DOWN 1. A person with unusual powers of foresight 2. Single sheet of glass 3. Portrays a character 4. Expresses happiness 5. Acquires 6. “The Martian” author 7. Degree 8. 60-minute intervals 9. A detective’s pal 10. Group of nations (abbr.) 11. Popular Georgia rockers 12. Fencing swords 13. Basement 14. Samoan monetary unit 17. Male parent 22. Finnish lake 23. A smooth fabric 24. Arctic explorers (abbr.) 25. Mild yellow Dutch cheese 26. Very willing 28. Expressed pleasure 29. Lasso 32. Hindu model of ideal man 36. Move your head in approval 38. Ill-__: gained illegally 40. Die 43. Accused publicly 44. Precious stone 45. Individual thing or person 46. Behaved in a way that degraded 51. Derogatory term 54. No seats available 55. Liability 56. Popular beverage 57. Tough outer skin of fruit 58. __ Spumante (Italian wine) 59. Troubles 60. Negative 62. Camper
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PAGE 20 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023 Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 VOL. 5 NO. 32 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 23 CLASSIFIEDS 22 LEISURE 21 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 4 SPORTS 18 Wolves Top Edgemont pg 20 GOAL! Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 A record-breaking crowd gathered on Oct. 22 for the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department’s annual “Community Day at the Firehouse” event. See more photos from this awesome afternoon on page 12! PHOTO COURTESY OF GBFD BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Construction is expected to begin next summer or fall on almost $50 million in school-building upgrades approved last week by voters in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District. In the district’s rst capitalconstruction referendum in 20 years, residents signed o on security improvements at all ve of their schools, a clean-energy HVAC alternative for Katonah Elementary and multiple other brick-and-mortar projects, including new classrooms at Increase Miller. Balloting took place Oct. 18 at KLSD’s three elementary schools. Despite a comfortable 893 to 565 overall margin in favor of the $49,458,200 bond, School Superintendent Andrew Selesnick later acknowledged the size of the vote against the proposed project. “I can’t imagine there’s ever been a bond vote that passed unanimously, in any school district,” he told the KLSD school board’s Oct. 20 meeting. “I say that because we also want to acknowledge that it [the bond] didn’t have unanimous support and we want to remain mindful of those who didn’t support the bond.” Opposition was clear at Meadow Pond Elementary School, where 53 percent of South Salemarea residents rejected the project, 199 to 174. But elsewhere, voters registered their support in numbers strong enough to overcome that de cit. At Katonah Elementary, “yes” votes prevailed, 311 to 124, as they did at Increase Miller, 408 to 122. “We can pledge to continue being mindful of our entire community in the ways we move forward,” Selesnick continued at the Oct. 20 board meeting. “We try very hard to be thoughtful about all the work that we do and all the projects we put forward with the entire community in mind.” As he did in the hours immediately after the balloting, Selesnick expressed his gratitude for the voter turnout. “We really do thank everybody who came out,” he said, “regardless of how you voted. We appreciate the participation in the democratic process.” District o¡ cials now move into the next phase of the project, including what Selesnick described, in a letter to the KLSD community, as “further design and re nement.” Final plans must then be submitted to the State Education Department for approval. “We anticipate this phase will take approximately one year,” Selesnick said. “Once approvals are received, construction is projected to last approximately two years. If all goes smoothly, all aspects of the project will be complete by the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.” KLSD Trustee Liz Gereghty chairs the two key school board committees, Finance and Facilities, as well as a resident-experts panel that helped guide development of bond speci cs. She had thanked her volunteers weeks before the vote and observed, “Public education is the most important investment a community makes.” Voters approve $49.5 million bond for Katonah-Lewisboro School District Fire away! HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 What Would a Recession Mean for the Housing Market? If you’re wondering what a potential recession could mean for the housing market, here’s a look at what history tells us. Questions? Let’s connect. #UGottaHaveHope VOL. 5 NO. 33 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 26 LEISURE 20 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 4 SPORTS 16 Wolves Win Big pg 16 PLAYOFFS Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 Please note that the Nov. 10 edition of The Katonah-Lewisboro Times will go to press before the Nov. 8 election results are available. Please visit tapintoKLT.net to view our full election coverage. BY BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER e race for New York’s 17th Congressional District has gained national attention as polls show it’s a tossup between Democrat Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and Republican Assemblyman Mike Lawler. Maloney, who is chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, currently represents the 18th district and was rst elected in 2012. He is running in this new district after redistricting took place in New York State. Congressman Maloney was raised in New Hampshire and earned his bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Virginia. Maloney served as a senior advisor in the Clinton Administration and after leaving the White House, he built a high-tech startup in New York and later worked for New York Governors Spitzer and Paterson. He and his husband, Randy Florke, have three children together and currently reside in Cold Spring. Meanwhile, Lawler represents New York’s Assembly District 97 in Rockland County. Assemblyman Lawler graduated from Suffern High School and went on to earn his degree in business administration from Manhattan College, where he graduated as the valedictorian. Lawler and his wife, Doina, live in Pearl River, and they have a baby girl. We asked the candidates a series of similar questions in separate interviews. You can Crime, infl ation and abortion at issue in Congressional race Both express support for Israel and Ukraine SEE CONGRESS PAGE 6 Assemblyman Mike Lawler Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney LOCAL REALTORS YOU CAN TRUST Ellen Schwartz and Devin McCrossan are Licensed Associate Real Estate Brokers affiliated with Compass. Kaitlyn ‘Katie’ D’Ambrosio and Catia Leon are Licensed Real Estate Salespersons. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity Laws. Lic. Assoc. Real Estate Broker M: 646.937.1897 • [email protected] 68-70 The Crossing, Chappaqua Lic. Assoc. Real Estate Broker [email protected] • M: 646.937.1897 387 Main Street, Armonk Ellen Schwartz Devin McCrossan THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 VOL. 5 NO. 34 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 LEISURE 24 OPINION 10 TOWN CROSSING 7 SPORTS 20 Project Breaks Ground pg 16 PLAYGROUND Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER For more than 20 years, Coach Bill Swertfager has built John Jay High School’s wrestling program, from literally nothing to a perennial Section One contender. More signi cantly, he’s built a generation of young men and women who are now better adults thanks to the example he set and the life lessons he taught, scores of supporters told the Katonah-Lewisboro school board last week. Some 300 strong, a standingroom-only throng, they packed the board’s Nov. 3 meeting in the high school cafeteria to deliver full-throated support for Coach Bill. ey appealed to keep him at the wrestling program’s helm, beseeching school o cials in public a week ago after a complaint made in private more than a year ago put the coach’s job in jeopardy. In the spring of 2021, an unidenti ed person asserts, Swertfager slapped a player on the backside in a girls juniorvarsity softball game. Neither the KLSD administration nor the school board, bound by privacy regulations, is permitted to identify the complainant. One account making the rounds among the coach’s supporters insists that neither the player nor her parents have taken issue with his actions. Instead, this version holds, one of the girl’s teammates, “uncomfortable” with seeing the touch, complained about it. Swertfager, for his part, says he has no recollection of delivering what is the sports world’s longtime, spontaneous gesture of support or congratulations. “I have no idea who the player was that I supposedly did it to, or who the teammate was who was uncomfortable with it,” he said in an interview last weekend. “I simply don’t remember the incident. I am not saying it didn’t happen; I am just saying I don’t remember it.” ough he has been an integral part of John Jay’s athletic establishment for more than two decades, Swertfager is not a full-time KLSD employee. e owner of the Cross River-based marketing rm AIA Promotional Source, he draws only a token stipend from the school treasury. Whoever is varsity wrestling coach this winter will be paid $8,140 for the season. Still, the 63-year-old Swertfager noted in the interview, “I have dedicated my entire adult life, 40 years, to coaching boys and girls in seven sports, including softball, baseball, track and eld, boys and girls soccer, football, basketball and, of course, wrestling. ousands of young men and women without a single blemish on my record for anything.” e school board had been expected to appoint all coaches for winter sports at ursday’s meeting but ultimately put the matter over to the next meeting, Nov. 17, after a crescendo of voices insisted Coach Bill be retained. Swertfager had the rst word. Addressing the school board for Coach Bill Swertfager speaking before the Board of Education on Nov. 3. PHOTO: TOM BARTLEY Outpouring of support for John Jay coach following complaint SEE COACH PAGE 28 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker Sales Vice President cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker Sales Vice President 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 UH, OH! THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT ‘ME’, AGAIN! "Hope pulled out all the stops during the purchase of our home. She reached out to her contacts, connected us with her invaluable resources, negotiated on our behalf, and got us the keys to our dream house in a timely manner. She made herself available to us at all times, had our best interest at heart, and did not stop working for us - even after the closing. I can't say enough good things about Hope; without her on our team, there is no way my husband and I would have gotten our house." — CS, Purdys NY Your Local Expert. #UGottaHaveHope Another great transaction with 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or Visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times. YES, I really enjoy The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) 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