The Somers Record 07.22.21

Vol. 11 No. 14 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Thursday, July 22, 2021

Board of Ed Community
foorrngaewnizyeesar honors Fedora

Cambareri elected new president  DeLucia

BY CAROL REIF BY CAROL REIF
STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER

Going from vice president to president of the Somers Board Fedora C. DeLucia was, by all ac-
counts, never one to rest on her laurels.
of Education wasn’t that huge of a leap for Heidi Cambareri. She
But she’d probably be very pleased that
had already done her homework, so to speak. folks now have a place to sit down and
relax for a bit.
Cambareri, who assumed the new post last week, spent the last
Last week, o cials, friends, and family
year working with and shadowing her predecessor. Reelected to gathered in front of e Elephant Hotel
for a short ceremony dedicating three
a second three-year term this spring, she worked closely with Dr. park benches in the late Planning Board
member’s name.
Lindsay Portnoy, carefully noting how she carried out her duties
DeLucia, who died in 2017 at the age
in the event she “needed to step in.” of 86, was feisty to the very end.

anks to that education, she felt “well-prepared to move up “What makes us so strong is our diversity of opinions,”she said According to her former colleagues,
she followed planning deliberations lit-
into the role,” Cambareri said in making her case to fellow trust- of fellow board members. erally from her hospital bed, o ering the
board her encyclopedic knowledge of the
ees before they voted Tuesday, July 13, at the board’s reorganiza- Noting that the board serves “a democracy and not a dynasty,” projects reshaping her beloved Somers.

tion meeting. Portnoy said she believed that no one person should “hold this She joined the board in 1992 and
served for about 13 years, eventually be-
She told them that her two top priorities if elected would be role forever and always.” coming its chair.

to tighten up communications and to clarify the board’s role in While she “really enjoyed” serving as president, Portnoy said In 2017, Jan Corning recalled being
“astounded” by DeLucia’s ability to “re-
terms of what the school district and community “needs from us.” she thought Cambareri “would do a stellar job guiding our meet- member, retrieve, and discuss” things that
had happened 20 years before and apply
e board became embroiled in a debate last year over whether ings and helping move us along in the same direction that we’ve it to the projects that were before the
board.
it should or should not be taking o cial stands on national issues already gone.”
And she wasn’t intellectually stingy ei-
such as racism and hate crimes. “I appreciate your putting your trust in me for two years,” she ther.

Board members will be discussing the subject of setting told colleagues. SEE DELUCIA PAGE 8

boundaries over the summer as well as trying to gure out how to Trustee Joe Marra then nominated member Chadwick Olsen.

“function” as a group, Cambareri said Tuesday, adding that she’d Olsen, saying it’s been “an honor to serve on the board as part

like to help the board “navigate its way through that” whether as of the team,”said his rst priority was to bolster the working rela-

a trustee or as its president. tionship between the district administration and the board.

Cambareri was nominated Tuesday for the position by Portnoy, SEE BOE PAGE 9
who asked to include an explanation.

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ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 2

HEALTH & WELLNESS 20

LEGAL NOTICES 30

LEISURE 28 EXPRESSIONS
OPINION 10
SPORTS
26 Local Artist Show
pg 16-17

Page 2 – The Somers Record ELEPHANT’S TRUNK Thursday, July 22, 2021

Somers drawing will be held on Friday, Mt. Zion Church. Concerts are Chorale performs outdoor

The Staff Volunteer Fire July 23. To enter, visit https:// free, and visitors are encouraged lawn concerts in Putnam and
Department go.rallyup.com/lincolndalegrill to bring chairs and a picnic. e Dutchess counties. e concerts,
EDITORIAL TEAM event is cosponsored by Somers titled “America rough Song”,
TOM WALOGORSKY SUMMER FUNDRAISER Saturdays in the Parks & Rec Dept. and Somers features songs that represent sig-
EDITOR: 914-302-5830 Help support the Lincolndale Parks Historical Society. ni cant eras in our cultural and
[email protected] social history. Two concerts will
Fire House by participating in MIKE BURNS & FRIENDS Putnam Chorale be held:
ADVERTISING TEAM their online summer fundraiser. Saturday, July 24 at 5 p.m.
PAUL FORHAN LAWN CONCERT SERIES Friday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m. at
the Bowdoin Park bandshell, 85
(914) 806-3951

[email protected] Enter their ra e for a chance e concert series in Somers Friday, July 23 and Saturday, Sheafe Road, Wappingers Falls.
BRUCE HELLER
(914) 486-7608 to win a Weber Grill perfect for continues with Mike Burns and July 24 Saturday, July 24 at 3 p.m. at
[email protected]
family BBQs, valued at $520. e Friends performing bluegrass at Join us when the Putnam Southeast Veteran’s Park (for-
LISA KAIN
(201) 317-1139 merly Electrazone Field) in

Brewster.

[email protected] Lake Lincolndale
CORINNE STANTON Property Owners
(914) 760-7009

[email protected]
JAY GUSSAK
(914) 299-4541 Association
[email protected]
SHELLEY KILCOYNE
(914) 924-9122 aanndd DDeelliiand Deli FUNDRAISING CONCERT
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK 29122R99o11 uRRtooeuutt1ee011000,00S,,SoSoommmeeerrsrss•••99911414.42.72.2777.787.58.3589359•3•r9oru•oteurt1oe0u10t0me0a1mr0ka0ermtk.ecaot.mcrkoemt.cotymSOatewuLnrdeaarksye, AJLusilnsyoc2co4ilantaditoa7nlepiPs.mrho.poledr--
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/DESIGNER ing a fundraising concert July
[email protected] and Deli 24 at our clubhouse featuring
our very own Simon O’Keefe’s
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CREATIVE DIRECTOR colndale. Food and Drinks avail-
PHOTOGRAPHER able for purchase, doors open 6
p.m. Advance tickets $10/ $15
[email protected]
CHRISTINA ROSE Lowowkaaiynygttoofooorrraddneere?ra?sier at the door day of show. Venmo:
ART DIRECTOR/ @LakeLincolndale-Proper-
tyOwners. For more info: info@
DIGITAL PRODUCTION MANAGER lakelincolndale.org
[email protected]
way to order? The Somers Library
EXECUTIVE TEAM
BRETT FREEMAN MYSTERIOUS WORLD:
CEO & PUBLISHER
845-208-8151 UNEXPLAINED CREATURES

[email protected]

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Thursday, July 22, 2021 The Somers Record – Page 3

Your Neighbor

M.O.D.O.K. follows the exploits of a comically PHOTOS COURTESY OF JORDAN BLUM
M.O.D.O.K. premiered on May 21.
inept supervillain with work and family stress.
From Somers to supervillains

BY DONNA CHRISTOPHER nization and his demanding fam- e show’s star voice cast in- to e Master’s School in Dobbs Somers native Jordan Blum
CONTRIBUTING WRITER ily.  cludes Jon Hamm, Benjamin Ferry. Growing up, he remembers recently debuted a new
Schwartz, and Whoopi Goldberg, wanting to be a comic artist from animated show on Hulu.
Locals who grew up in Somers Blum, 42, now a married father among others. a young age. His earliest memory
during the 80s and 90s may rec- of two sons, said the character is of liking comics is captured in a M.O.D.O.K. was streamed at the
ognize the name Jordan Blum in relatable. e premise for the series re- photo of him in a high chair with same time. Blum said he and Os-
the credits of a popular new adult volves around M.O.D.O.K. hav- a Captain America comic book. walt are waiting to hear about a
animated series on Hulu. “What I love about ing a dream of conquering the second season.
M.O.D.O.K. is that for a giant world, but there have been “set- “I was always in art class. It was
Blum, who now lives in Cali- backs and failures ghting Earth’s my favorite class and I was always He explained that the show’s
fornia is creator, executive produc- oating head that shoots deadly Mightiest Heroes” and he’s run making my own comics and after stop motion animation is done by
er, and writer along with Patton mind blasts he’s weirdly relatable,” his evil organization A.I.M. into school went to classes to make actual puppets that move frame to
Oswalt, of the Marvel Television says Blum. “He’s insecure, in his the ground.  my own comics. I traded Marvel frame and are digitally enhanced.
show M.O.D.O.K. based on the head too much -- with lofty ambi- Comics cards and comics with
Marvel Comics character of the tions that often fail because of his Ousted as its leader and deal- friends at Primrose School,” he “It’s an older style of animation
same name. Oswalt is a standup own self-doubt. We’re all capable ing with a rocky marriage and recalled. with new technology where they
comic many know as Spence of being our own worst enemies, family life, M.O.D.O.K. is set to were able to shoot it with hand-
Olchin in the sitcom e King of even if we’re not all trying to take confront the challenge of rebuild- “I gave up drawing and started held photography and stop mo-
Queens and the voice of Remy the over the world.” ing A.I.M., xing his marriage, directing and writing in high tion,” he said.
rat in the Disney Pixar lm Ra- appeasing his teen daughter, and school. I would make lms and
tatouille, is the voice of the titular He spoke recently about his helping his son get ready for his my buddies would act in them. Blum also described the writ-
character. background, and the origin of the Bar Mitzvah. One was where a guy was hit- ing process for M.O.D.O.K.
show which commuters may have ting another guy with a car. I Eight writers in a writer’s room
M.O.D.O.K. (an acronym for seen highlighted on a billboard in Blum said he and Oswalt ini- would pay them with food from
Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Or- Times Square lately. tially pitched the show idea to Wendy’s,” he recalled. Blum then eshed out the stories, rst talk-
ganism Designed Only for Kill- Marvel producers around the majored in lm and TV at Ohio ing for weeks about what would
ing) is a character appearing in “M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games premise of what it is like to be a University. He moved to Los An- be the seasonal arcs for the show,
comic books published by Marvel. was a limited series and was writ- supervillain, then they built a fam- geles in 2005. then broke out into individual
ten by myself and Patton Oswalt ily around him, and created a kind episodes with each writer pen-
e show debuted on May as a way to bridge the show ver- of workplace set for his evil orga- Blum previously wrote for such ning them. Blum and Oswalt
21 and is now streaming all 10 sion with the comic version. It’s nization.“ e idea is it’s one thing shows as Community, Savage, and wrote the pilot.
episodes of Season 1. It centers gotten good reviews,” Blum said. to say you’re going to take over the American Dad!.
around an egomaniacal supervil- world, and then to run this bu-
lain with a really big head and a e review website Rotten To- reaucracy,” Blum added. “I was just in Somers recently
really little body. He struggles to matoes said in part that the “slick and met up with some friends
maintain control of his evil orga- stop-motion” series with “killer Blum attended Somers schools who still live there,” he said.
voice cast, and a seemingly endless until high school when he went
well of jokes make M.O.D.O.K. an e entire rst season of
entertainingly chaotic diversion.” 

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Page 4 – The Somers Record Thursday, July 22, 2021

Somers sisters help
those in need
about Her Drive on TikTok, and I found
BY TOM WALOGORSKY out that we were able to host a drive in our PHOTO COURTESY OF AMITA
EDITOR area.” KHURANA

Leena and Amita Khurana are sisters on “After seeing that, we started to think Leena and Amita Khurana
a mission. As part of Her Drive Westches- about the poverty rates in the area,” adds chose to spend the
ter, the pair of Somers natives have been Leena Khurana. “Especially in Peekskill summer helping their
spearheading an initiative to collect dona- and White Plains, and we wanted to do community.
tions of bras, underwear, menstrual prod- something about it. We talked about it, and
ucts, masks, and toiletries for those in need. talked with our friends, and realized this is The donation box
something that was important to us.” at the John C. Hart
Her Drive, Co. is a nonpro t organiza- Memorial Library.
tion based in Chicago that combats the Her Drive Westchester began accepting
public health issue caused by limited access donations on July 12, and the sisters were
to hygiene and menstrual care products. encouraged by a spirited initial reaction
Since it launched in June 2020, the orga- from the community.
nization has collected more than 11,000
new and gently used bras, over 165,000 “On the rst day, we had a full donation
menstrual care products, and more than box at the John C. Hart Library, and $250
100,000 general hygiene items. in donations on Venmo,” says Amita. “It
was really exciting to see.”
e Khurana sisters are both currently
juniors in college. Amita attends Barnard Donations will be given to My Sister’s
College of Columbia University in New Place in White Plains, and the Caring
York City, where she is majoring in Po- for the Hungry and Homeless Shelter of
litical Science and Women’s, Gender, and Peekskill.
Sexuality Studies with a minor in dance.
Leena is attending American University in Donation boxes are currently set up at
Washington, D.C., where she is majoring the John C. Hart Memorial Library in
in International Relations with minors in Shrub Oak, the White Plains Library, Ma-
both Arabic and dance. hopac Library, and MEB Tax & Account-
ing located at 278 Route 202 in Somers.
“We’re both home from college right Items will be accepted through August 4.
now, and we wanted to do something this
summer for our community,” explains Am- For more information, visit https://linktr.ee/
ita Khurana. “Funnily enough, I found out HerDriveWestchester

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purchasing this raffle ticket enables
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Thursday, July 22, 2021 The Somers Record – Page 5

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Page 6 – The Somers Record Thursday, July 22, 2021

Houlihan Lawrence reopens Somers office

BY CAROL REIF e o ces, located in the Towne Centre at Somers PHOTO: CAROL REIF
STAFF WRITER o Route 100, were closed because of COVID-19
restrictions last year and agents either worked from Anthony Cirieco with Aaron, Nathaniel and Charlotte Velez at the
e grand reopening of Houlihan Lawrence’s home or at Houlihan Lawrence’s o ces in Brewster. ribbon cutting event.
home in Somers was a real family a air.
With the physical space empty, it was the perfect
Dozens of the real estate operation’s neighbors, time for an upgrade.
business partners, clients, agents, sta and local o -
cials gathered ursday, July 15, to mark the occasion But the o ce got more than a mere facelift. It
with wine, beer and catered fare. was renovated from oor to ceiling. e atmosphere
seems very spa-like now, with orchids, minimalist fur-
But it wouldn’t have been a true celebration without nishings and sage-painted walls.
having kin there.
And, in homage to history, there is a large print of
Nathaniel and Charlotte, the 6-year-old twins of e Elephant Hotel on display.
brokerage manager Aaron C. Velez, were the picture
of cuteness as they snipped the red ribbon—under e project started in December and wrapped up
adult supervision, of course. in four months. By the end of April, employees were
back at their desks.
School board trustee Ifay Chang was there in part-
nership with his wife, Teresa, a broker. Velez gave a shout-out ursday to the team’s “cap-
tain,” Nunan, calling her “amazing” and “appreciated.”
Town Councilman Anthony Cirieco, husband of
broker Carol A. Cirieco, presented Houlihan Law- Also getting special mentions were Annette Carpi-
rence with a proclamation recognizing it as an impor- no, director of corporate administration, who “ensured
tant staple in the community. that every detail was done to the highest quality,” and
o ce administrators Eugenie “Gigi” Ford and Erika
eir son, Matthew, did his share of mingling. Rodriguez, who kept everything “running smoothly.”
e head of the Houlihan Lawrence family, presi-
dent and CEO Liz Nunan, was front and center. Velez didn’t forget to salute all the family, friends
But the folks who perhaps earned the biggest and clients who supported Houlihan Lawrence
hurrah that day were the agents and sta who had through last year’s tough times.
powered through last year’s pandemic challenges like
champs. “It means the world to us!” he said.
“We are a team. We are a family,” Velez told the And the rm was pleased to have been able to sup-
crowd. port its local stores, restaurants and o ces.
Calling them “the nest, most professional group of “It’s been 17 months since COVID came and shift-
real estate agents that there is,” he said they deserved ed the way we conducted business. I can tell you that
to “work in a high-level work environment” that re- internally we made sure to promote your businesses
ects the quality of services they provide clients “every and encouraged everyone to shop locally,” Velez told
single day.” the crowd. “We are so glad you are here!”

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Thursday, July 22, 2021 The Somers Record – Page 7

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Page 8 – The Somers Record Thursday, July 22, 2021

HOULIHAN DELUCIA

FROM PAGE 6 FROM PAGE 1

Partners such as those in the mortgage, title and legal Nancy Gerbino, who still sits on the Planning Board,
elds were praised as a team that helps clients “realize
the American dream of home ownership.” spoke in 2017 of being awed by the way she “shared her
Velez also thanked the Chamber of Commerce and
the Town Board, especially Supervisor Rick Morrissey knowledge gladly and always at great length.”
and Cirieco.
In presenting the proclamation, Cirieco noted that It was her institutional memory, dedication to civic
many businesses have been “struggling” because of the
pandemic’s impact. e fact that Houlihan Lawrence duty, and steely determination to achieve goals -- both
renovated its o ces here showed its willingness to
make a reinvestment in the community. her own and the town’s -- that fellow board members
“It’s appreciated, and you should be proud of the
work you’ve done,” he said. remembered best.

HOULIHAN HISTORY DeLucia had wanted to become a lawyer, but nan-
Around since 1880, Houlihan Lawrence was found-
cial circumstances required her to get a job.
ed by William Van Duzer Lawrence, a man said to
have played an integral role in de ning the American She did the next best thing, taking an administrative
suburb. He developed Lawrence Park in Bronxville, a
model neighborhood praised for its modernity and ar- position at a high-powered law rm.
chitectural excellence.
Although not a lawyer, DeLucia had similar powers
His family’s legacy in lower Westchester also includes
Lawrence Hospital and Sarah Lawrence College. of persuasion.

e rm, hoping to extend its reach into the north- Gerbino remembered her being able to win over ap-
ern part of the county, eventually merged with the rm
A.T. Houlihan. plicant attorneys, fellow board members, engineers, and

Peter and Nancy Seaman acquired Houlihan Law- planners with her arguments.
rence in 1990, cementing a fourth-generation heritage
in Westchester real estate and sparking three decades “Fedora was the consummate teacher, no matter what
of “tremendous growth,” the rm says.
your profession or station in life,” Gerbino told The
Today Houlihan Lawrence has 1,300 agents in 30
o ces in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia, Somers Record in 2017.
Orange and Ulster counties in New York and in Fair-
In 2011, she was inducted into the Westchester
eld, Conn.
Its Somers brokerage is located at 104 Village Square County Senior Hall of Fame, being nominated by then-
and can be reached at 914-277-8040.
Somers Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy.

And there were good reasons why. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM GARRITY
DeLucia had been a driving force on the town’s Mas-
ter Plan committee and had been instrumental in the Nicholas DeLucia seated on one of the benches honoring
establishment of a senior housing project, the Mews at his late wife, Fedora.

Baldwin Place. e Somers Lions Club spent months gathering the

She also went to bat for wetlands laws when it ap- 900 pounds worth of plastic bottles that were eventually

peared that development was about to harm certain recycled into “lumber” for the benches.

downstream ponds. Supervisor Rick Morrissey, noting DeLucia’s cham-

Again, DeLucia was apparently never content to sit pioning of environmental causes and open spaces, read

back and bask in the memories of past successes. a proclamation declaring Wednesday, July 14, “Fedora

She was in her early 70s when she went back to col- DeLucia Day” in Somers.

lege to earn a degree in environmental studies. After the ceremony, her husband of 65 years, Nicho-

at’s why it’s especially apropos that the newly dedi- las, proudly held the document while sitting — where

cated sitting spots are, as they say, “green.” else? — on one of Fedora’s benches.

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Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ.

Managing Member • Fluent in Italian

914.948.1500

Thursday, July 22, 2021 The Somers Record – Page 9

BOE jobs that take a lot of work and dedication,” Last month, during discussions of the views on how to “lead and work together”
FROM PAGE `
Chang said, praising Portnoy for having district’s new Diversity, Equity and Inclu- as a board.“ at’s what’s important,”Olsen

done “an excellent job.” sion policy, one parent, upset about a past said.

He praised schools Superintendent Dr. “I don’t know why you want to step comment Portnoy had made about a “ge- “I think that’s the point. I think we’ve

Raymond Blanch and the rest of the ad- down, but certainly I think overwork might netic lottery” and racial privilege, called for become a really great cohesive team,” of-

ministrative team for maintaining district be one reason,” he half-joked. an apology and demanded that she step fered Portnoy, telling Olsen that she “en-

“accountability” to the community. Portnoy and Cambareri have worked down. Other parents, concerned about tirely” supported him for vice president and

Transparency is crucial, especially when well together as president and vice presi- DEI’s impact, raised the topic of critical thanking Chang for acknowledging how

the inevitable “adjustments” need to be dent, so Chang said he thought the “team” race theory, a national hot-button issue that hard the president’s job can be.

made—whether that’s in programs or poli- should go on for the sake of “continuity.” has been spurring a culture war. “Forget about the politics. Look at the

cies, he said. Marra, arguing for Olsen, agreed that Marra said Tuesday that he thought that time Lindsay put in and the dedication that

“ at partnership is important to the Portnoy and Cambareri had “in a lot of “political upheaval was not good for our she showed, and the work that she did re-

board,” he added. ways” done “a tremendous job,” especially district or the town in general”and that was ally was phenomenal considering that she

Olsen said Tuesday that his second mis- when it came to remote learning and in why he wouldn’t “support the ticket.” has two jobs, a business and a professorship,

sion if elected president would be to spend handling the school bus issue, a reference Portnoy,who had seconded Olsen’s nom- and is a wife and mother of young boys. It’s

some time looking at the way members to the 2019 incident involving a drunk bus ination, “respectfully” disagreed with Marra a lot,” Marra agreed.

work together “so we’re not necessarily as driver. that such discussions have been disruptive. Moving back to board business, Portnoy

reactive as we’ve been.” “ ere were many, many issues that they e response from the Somers com- told Olsen she thought he’d be a “fabulous”

Referring to the district’s struggles dur- handled extremely well,” he said. “Unfortu- munity has been “remarkably supportive,” vice president.

ing the pandemic, Olsen noted that “it’s nately, I also think that we became some- she said, adding that those who’ve spoken “If I didn’t already say it 17 times, let me

been an odd year and a half, to say the least.” what politicized as a board and there was their minds at board meetings “have been just say for the record,” she said, pointing

“We all do our best, but I think we want a lot of community upheaval as a result of thoughtful and compassionate and, regard- out that nobody had asked her whether she

to head into the next year a little more various positions.” less of their perspectives, have been able to accepted the nomination.

prepared and talk about some of the areas Much public debate ensued over the have intelligent conversations and debate.” Asked District Clerk Nancy Corrado:

where we’ve historically had some dif- board’s inability last year to agree on the Chang jumped in, saying he didn’t be- “Do you accept the nomination?”

ferences on what we think the role of the wording of a statement on the George lieve that there were any political issues di- “Ah, I think Chad would be a wonderful

board is,” he said. Floyd killing. Marra declined to sign it be- viding trustees “at this moment” or in the vice president,” Portnoy replied.

e board then voted 4-3 in favor of cause he said it didn’t address violence and dozen-plus years he’s served on the board. Trustees then voted 5-2 in favor of Ol-

Cambareri. vandalism that occurred during some pro- e only virtues that count as far as being sen. Raising their hands for Portnoy were

In her camp were trustees Ifay Chang, tests that followed. is spring, immediate- a trustee goes is “ability, knowledge, dedica- Chang and Joseph; for Olsen, Cambareri,

MaryRose Joseph and Portnoy; in Olsen’s, ly following the Atlanta-area spa shootings tion and love for the schools and students,” Marra, Mancini, Olsen and Portnoy.

newly sworn member Nick Mancini and in which six women of Asian descent were he said. Following the elections, the board turned

Marra. Cambareri and Olsen each voted slain, the board issued a statement of com- Calling Olsen “a good fellow” whom he to the necessary duties of its annual reorga-

for themselves. munity support that every member signed. respects, he nonetheless said he thought nization. at included appointing district

When it came time to pick a vice presi- Recent antisemitic attacks here and abroad that Portnoy and Cambareri were “a good o cers, certifying payrolls, designating the

dent, Chang nominated Portnoy and Mar- have since spurred some residents to ask team and should continue.” #1district’s bank and newspapers, making ap-
ra nominated Olsen. why the board hadn’t yet done something Olsen agreed that everyone on the board
similar for members of Somers’s Jewish pointments to committees, approving the
“Everybody knows that the positions of community. has “the right heart, desires and goals.” Code of Conduct policy and setting its
president and vice president are thankless He and Cambareri hold very similar meeting schedule.

#1PROUD TO BE THE SPRING IS HERE! NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL IN THIS
AGENT IN AMAZING SELLERS MARKET!
SOMERS
HERITAGE HILLS Here's what's happening in Somers: We are receiving multiple offers on
most properties and are selling well over list price.
DONNA O’CONNELL
Please contact me to find out the value of your home or condo.
Source: OKMLS 1/1/20-12/31/20, total dollar volume of single family
homes and condominiums sold by agent, Somers school district. I would be happy to email my Market Snapshot for your neighborhood
OR for those homes or condos that are currently on the market, in
contract, or that have sold in the past six months.

It's great to know what's happening in this market in Somers!

DONNA O’CONNELL

Associate Real Estate Broker
M ..
[email protected]
donnaoconnell.houlihanlawrence.com

SOMERS BROKERAGE VILLAGE SQUARE, SOMERS, NY

Page 10 – The Somers Record Thursday, July 22, 2021

Opinion

Happily
Ever
After

e importance of travel

A student’s perspective

BY JULIA WILKINSON beautiful cultures all around me, to this island was always of great fellow traveling enthusiast. “ e provide students with a great
world is yours—might as well learning experience, some of the
STUDENT INTERN not just the ones I resided with pleasure to me and my brother, see it!”
rsthand experiences that come
“In the world through ethnically. de nitely a highlight of the Ayoubi has had the oppor- with traveling will give kids a
which I travel, I am end- tunity to travel to various states di erent kind of exposure that
lessly creating My parents took my brother multiple trips we took. But we across the US including Texas, can teach them more about cer-
and I on numerous trips in also walked along historic streets the Carolinas, Florida, Cali- tain people and places. “Simply
and charming colonial buildings, fornia, Arizona, and Ohio. She walking into a French bakery
America and Asia, has traveled internationally as and having the baker walk me
well, visiting France, the English through proper pronunciation
myself,” said noted both of which are large remnants of the British colonial suburbs, Egypt, Mexico, Canada, of all the baked goods, so I
and a pit stop in Sweden. “ ese wouldn’t butcher their language
psychiatrist Frantz melting pots of cultural era. And the street food was a opportunities to explore parts was a chance I wouldn’t get in an
of the globe add to the quality ordinary French class,” Ayoubi
Fanon. diversity. We visited delight as well, and we feasted of life,” Ayoubi explains. “ ere shared.
are always things you want to
Once you are sepa- many places practically on everything from Chinese do, and things you want to see Traveling provides many op-
— so to actually do it and see portunities to learn about other
rated from the things every chance we got, in- chicken rice balls to Indian it encompasses the epitome of cultures, civilizations, people, and
unforgettable and life-changing places. But it is also an open-
and places familiar to cluding England, Hong thosay, which has always been a experience.” ing to learn something about
yourself, when away from things
you and exploring the Kong, Dubai, Vietnam, family favorite. When asked about other familiar to you. “Even going to
reasons why she traveled to the beach serves as a moment of
unknown, it is often and ailand. Each When I moved to the US 8 some particular places, Ayoubi calm,” Ayoubi muses. “You learn
responded with, “First and something about yourself. It’s
an auspicious time for trip was enjoyable and years ago, my travels, although foremost… fun! But traveling okay to take a break and relax!”
has also given me a geospatial
introspection and self-discovery. eye-opening, letting loose a tide di erent, never ceased. As an awareness and made me more With my continuous mov-
well-rounded and receptive to ing and traveling, I learned both
It can serve as a window of op- of knowledge about the world athlete I have traveled for meets various types of people, lives, and miniscule and colossal things
culture as you said. So, actu- about myself. My frequent
portunity to venture through the around us. and championships across the ally, everywhere I have been has traveling inadvertently made me
taught me something.”  more conversant with di erent
depths of your own self and un- When I was 6, we visited Ho country, with locations including
While school systems can SEE WILKINSON PAGE 11
earth your interests, desires, and Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Cambridge, Bu alo, Rochester,

more. is is one of the many e wide roads were lled to Washington DC, Greensboro,

bene cial aspects of traveling. the brim with people on mo- and a future travel meet in

I myself was introduced to torcycles, still one of the most Indianapolis.

traveling at an early age. I was prominent things I remember

www.carminucciwealthmanagement.comborn in and had lived in Asia for from my visit. I got to explore
My story is a little di erent
from others given my complex

the rst 7 years of my life; my the Cu Chi tunnels, a network background, but it is still com-

mother is from Malaysia and of narrow passages dug and used mon for other adolescents and

my father is from America. My by the Viet Cong soldiers during younger children to travel as

mixed heritage of being a Ma- the Vietnam War. at was the much as I do, and for di er-

laysian-Indian and a European- rst glimpse I got of the hard- ent reasons as well. “Traveling

American was a passport to live ships of war. is a part of my family’s ideol-

and experience a multicultural We also traveled through Pen- ogy,” says Angelina Ayoubi, an

life. For my whole childhood, I ang, a beautiful Malaysian Island upcoming sophomore student

was exposed to the varying and south of ailand. e ferry ride at Somers High School and a

"The Wolf of Westchester"

Call Mike Carminucci for all your Financial Planning needs!

(914) 617-8780

carminucciwealthmanagement.com

Securities Offered Through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC

Thursday, July 22, 2021 OPINION The Somers Record – Page 11

PALLADINO BUILDING
INC.

Although there are times when having an extremely powerful
sense of smell is a huge advantage, this is not one of them.

WILKINSON come more culturally aware and embrace it for
its pure beauty. ere is a plethora of adventures
FROM PAGE 10 ahead of you, and I encourage you to seize them.

people, and more perceptive of the world and its Julia Wilkinson is a sophomore at Somers High
many facets. e thrills, adventures, culture, and School. World travels and multicultural influence
people have enriched my experience and widened have always made her inquisitive about the world
my knowledge, which has allowed me to better and communities she is part of. As an intern for
understand and interpret our world and society. The Somers Record, Julia hopes to write about a
variety of topics that appeal to her peers and their
So, I encourage you to travel. I encourage you families.
to explore your unknown and nd out more
about the world and where you t into it. To be-

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