VOL. 6 NO. 1 THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 23 CLASSIFIEDS 22 LEISURE 20 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 4 SPORTS 16 Farewell to a Hero pg 12 GRANIERO Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 John Jay’s Kayla Cambareri competed at Kenmore West High School at the NYSPHSAA championships on March 4! Read more on page 19! VAULTING TO STATES! BY BILL BONGIORNO CONTRIBUTING WRITER At a work session held as part of its regular meeting on Feb. 27, the Lewisboro Town Board discussed parks and recreation capital improvements and ways to fund them, including borrowing, using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds or a combination. After a 45-minute discussion, the board approved an allocation of $402,000 for future projects, which includes $395,470 for improvements to parks, generator purchases and new roofs. is would leave $533,000 of the $1.284 million in ARPA funds the town received for future use, as $350,000 has been put toward the new playground at Town Park. e breakdown in allocations includes $55,000 for pool equipment; $75,000 for baseball eld backstops at Fox Valley, Onatru and Vista parks; $100,000 for bathroom updates at Onatru; a new shed for $12,000 at Town Park and a new roof on the shop barn where town equipment is stored. is path was chosen rather than the initial proposal to borrow the amount. Potential future projects discussed were installing pickleball courts ($300,000) at the former tennis courts at Town Park, as well as a new bath house at the town pool ($500,000). e board also decided to delay driveway paving at Town Park, which is estimated to cost $125,000. ARPA funds must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024, and the deadline to spend the funds is Dec. 31, 2026. Funds can be used for water, sewer and infrastructure improvements, including revitalizing parks, roads and road maintenance, among other items. Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves noted that the Association of Towns has advised municipalities consider using ARPA funds for more unique projects, amenities and infrastructure needs that would be less likely available for future grants and to improve longer term assets. WOOD DEBRIS AT SALT DOME Highway Superintendent Peter Ripperger said the removal of wood debris at the Salt Dome on Spring Street owned by the town has become an emergency due to its signi cant size, combustible nature and hazard to employees and wetlands. e work to remove the wood debris went out for quotes, not formal bids, because of the emergency situation. e job was awarded to the lowest bidder, Tremson Landclearing Corp. of Brewster, for $54,000 and will be paid under the department’s existing debris removal budget. Councilwoman Andrea Rendo asked Ripperger why this was suddenly an emergency when the wood pile had been a problem for Town Board approves $402K of ARPA funds for projects Wood pile at Salt Dome to be removed SEE BOARD PAGE 21 John Jay’s Kayla Cambareri competed at Kenmore West High School at the NYSPHSAA championships on March 4! Read more on page 19! TO STATES! PHOTO: CHRISTIAN MILES 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 This stunning and spacious 4 BR/3.2 BA custom colonial is set on a fantastic 2 acre parcel with a 3 car garage, gleaming wood floors, 2 fireplaces and lots of space for nanny/granny or to Work-From-Home! Located in desirable TipTop Farms and designed for indoor/outdoor entertaining with an expansive stone patio and plenty of room for parties, bbqs and lots of ball-playing. 2 separate pool sites and located just moments to town, train, school, park/library, shopping! $1,295,000 Casual Elegance for the Entire Crew I encourage you to Evolve Demand a better level of service and expect results that are beyond comparison. Defy the status quo —choose wisely — let's go get it all, shall we? #UGottaHaveHope a a
PAGE 2 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 19 CLASSIFIEDS 18 LEISURE 17 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 4 SPORTS 14 Wolves Win Big pg 15 HOCKEY Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 On Jan. 7, the stage at John Jay High School came alive with the return of ArtsALIVE’s Encore Cabaret! See more photos from this amazing evening on page 10. Encore! PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO The cast performing “What I did for Love” from A Chorus Line. BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Who thought this was a good idea, anyway? Two young bandits, clearly not acquainted with the relentless calculus of risk and reward, knocked over the tiny Waccabuc post o ce the other day. Sure, they came away with all of about $200, perhaps more cash than they might have realized in a gas station stickup. But for that skimpy take-home they quickly had at least four law enforcement agencies—local, state and federal, including the FBI and postal-inspection service— in hot pursuit. By late last week, all were said to have the getaway car’s license-plate number and to be closing in on their quarry. Waccabuc’s mail service is centered in a quaint, one-story white-clapboard structure on Post O ce Road. Built in 1880, it’s a venerable piece of the Waccabuc Historic District and had never, as far as anyone can recall, been a target of desperadoes. Until Jan. 10. at’s the day the two men entered, says Lewisboro Police Chief David Alfano, who gave this account: Both intruders were packing pistols when they walked in around 4:30 in the afternoon. While one guarded the door, the other vaulted the counter to scoop up the cash register’s contents. Neither thug bothered to cover his face. Alfano described the stickup duo as black men in their 20s, about 5 foot 8 and 6 feet tall and said one wore an orange re- ective safety vest. Cash in hand, the two ed, seemingly successfully. But their getaway car had a date with today’s ubiquitous digital surveillance. “We did succeed in obtaining a registration from our license-plate reader on Route 35,” Alfano said. Relatively new technology, license-plate readers capture and cross-reference a car’s plates in real-time, allowing the police to issue alerts even as suspects on the run believe they’ve evaded their pursuers. Two postal employees, one of them a woman working the service counter, were in the building when the bandits struck, police said. eir names were being withheld. Neither was hurt, a state police spokesman said. e U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which traces its roots to 1775, more than a century before the Waccabuc post o ce went up, was “taking the lead” in the investigation, Alfano said. Authorities hunt for Waccabuc post offi ce robbers HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 HAVE IT ALL AT HERITAGE HILLS! Absolutely one of the best locations in Heritage Hills - convenient, private and picturesque! Set on an expansive cul-de-sac, this desirable location offers beautiful year-round views of nature. Enjoy no steps in this one level light and bright updated 3-bedroom/2 full bath Croton II with a 2-car garage! $699,900 #UGottaHaveHope VOL. 5 NO. 44 THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023 as suspects on the run believe they’ve evaded their pursuers. Two postal employees, one of them a woman working the service counter, were in the building when the bandits struck, police said. eir names were being withheld. Neither was hurt, a state police spokesman said. e U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which traces its roots to 1775, more than a century before the Waccabuc post o ce went up, was “taking the lead” in the investigation, Alfano said. Authorities hunt for Waccabuc post offi ce robbers MAZZOLA Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com as suspects on the run believe Two postal employees, one of them a woman working the service counter, were in the building when the bandits struck, police said. eir names were being withheld. Neither was hurt, a e U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which traces its roots to 1775, more than a century before the Waccabuc post o ce went up, was “taking the lead” in the investigation, Alfano said. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 VOL. 5 NO. 47 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 19 CLASSIFIEDS 18 OBITUARIES 5 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 5 SPORTS 13 Scouts Give Back pg 10 TROOP 104 Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CALDWELL, NJ WEST PERMIT #992 BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Taxpayers in the KatonahLewisboro School District are being asked whether, and by how much, they want to thank veterans and rst responders for their service. KLSD’s Board of Education is considering a package of tax-relief proposals for vets and others, including senior citizens and disabled persons. Although the various tax breaks—covering eligibility levels as well as dollar amounts—were authorized last year by state legislation, Albany neither mandates them nor makes up any revenue they cost the district, shifting that burden to other KLSD taxpayers. At their Feb. 2 meeting, board members generally supported proposed improvements in the tax-relief programs. But they were less enthusiastic about creating di erent taxing levels for di erent groups of residents without a complete nancial picture of the impact. Trustee William Rifkin appeared to sum up their unease. Although the board annually approves the schools’ $100 millionplus budgets and their subsequent hefty tax levy, that burden is meant to be shared evenly by district property owners. “Here,” Rifkin observed, “we’re picking people who will pay to honor [other] people, and we’re making the decision for them. It’s uncomfortable.” e board will hold a public hearing Feb. 23 on the various proposals, which are also under separate discussion by the Lewisboro Town Board. In the meantime, residents are invited to email questions and views to BOE@ klschools.org. e decision to turn to the community for feedback followed an 80-minute discussion at last week’s board meeting in which the trustees leaned toward increasing Veterans’ existing tax bene t to new top levels enacted by last year’s state legislation. Albany also eased eligibility requirements for tax breaks to the other groups. Volunteer re ghters and ambulance workers would now qualify for the bene t in two years, down from ve, and seniors and persons with disabilities would be given higher permissible income levels. In an email, School Superintendent Andrew Selesnick said the district does not yet have “precise language for resolutions that may or may not be adopted on Feb. 23.” But he told board members they would have to act by about March 1 to assure that the new bene ts could go into e ect in the 2024-25 school year. Other nearby towns and school districts have already enacted tax breaks for Veterans, seniors and the disabled. Bedford, for example, acted last spring on Veterans, approving the maximum permissible levels, and voted relief for seniors and disabled persons at year’s end. e Bedford Central School District also voted last year to give Veterans the top exemption levels authorized in the new state law. Selesnick sat in last week for Danelle Pacella, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, who had briefed the board Dec. 1 on potential Veterans-exemption increases. For his own discussion, SeleBoard of Education considers tax-relief proposals SEE KLSD PAGE 4 Following a big win on the road against Somers last week, Annabel Brennan and the Wolves are looking to make an impact in the postseason! Read more on page 14. 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 If A Picture Paints A Thousand Words, Then This Amazing Story is A Best Seller! Meticulous and truly move-in ready, this sunny and spacious contemporary has been nicely updated and perfectly maintained. Located in Greenbriar with pool, tennis, basketball and clubhouse just moments from town, train, school and highways. Super low taxes! 4 BR/3 BA, 2,850sf $685,000 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 Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 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 this page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to: P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or Visit https://bit.ly/halstonsubscriber 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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We Need Your Support To Continue The Paper THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 would be given higher permissible In an email, School Superintendent Andrew Selesnick said the district does not yet have “precise language for resolutions that may or may not be adopted on Feb. 23.” But he told board members they would have to act by about March 1 to assure that the new bene ts could go into e ect in the 2024-25 Other nearby towns and school districts have already enacted tax breaks for Veterans, seniors and the disabled. Bedford, for example, acted last spring on Veterans, approving the maximum permissible levels, and voted relief for seniors and disabled persons at year’s end. e Bedford Central School District also voted last year to give Veterans the top exemption levels authorized in the new state law. Selesnick sat in last week for Danelle Pacella, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, who had briefed the board Dec. 1 on potential Veterans-exemption For his own discussion, SeleSEE KLSD PAGE 4 VOL. 5 NO. 34 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 LEISURE 24 OPINION 10 TOWN CROSSING 7 SPORTS 20 Project Breaks Ground PLAYGROUND 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 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 Outpouring of support for John Jay coach following complaint 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. Another great transaction with THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 VOL. 5 NO. 48 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 23 CLASSIFIEDS 22 LEISURE 21 OPINION 8 TOWN CROSSING 2 SPORTS 17 Heading for States pg 17 GYMNASTICS Visit TapIntoKLT.net for the latest news. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Cardinal Timothy Dolan scored some big points with the clergy at St. Mary of the Assumption in Katonah with a blessing of a newly renovated gymnasium. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, led a Saturday night mass at the parish’s school building on Valley Road. Hundreds gathered on Feb. 11 to celebrate the new gym, which serves as a facility for various sports activities such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. “Let me say again how happy I am to be with you here at St. Mary’s Parish in Katonah,” Dolan said in his homily. “Of all the duties that I have as your archbishop, this one is what I relish the most, to be with you, God’s people, for the most important thing we do every week: o er the holy sacri ce of mass.” e e ort to renovate the Cardinal Dolan visits Katonah Archbishop praises St. Mary’s for investing in sports and spirituality Cardinal Dolan at St. Mary’s on Feb. 11. PHOTO: BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER ‘You’ve got a good thing going here at St. Mary of the Assumption in Katonah.’ Cardinal Timothy Dolan Archbishop of New York BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Bedford’s Town Board, which last year improved the propertytax breaks it gives veterans and others, is looking now to add rst responders to that list. e board last week scheduled a public hearing for next month on a proposal that would cut the length of service time needed before volunteer re ghters and ambulance crew members could claim a 10 percent reduction on the assessed value of their homes. More than simply a “thank you” for the critical services these volunteers provide, the cut in qualifying time from ve years to two is seen as a potential recruiting enticement. Bedford’s emergency services are having “quite a challenge” bringing in new members, Supervisor Ellen Calves said in introducing the measure at the board’s Feb. 7 meeting. Similar proposals, all based on recent changes in state law, are under consideration by the Lewisboro Town Board and the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, the latter representing by far the biggest chunk of local homeowners’ property taxes. Exemptions would apply only to primary residences. All told, the breaks that have either been enacted or are under consideration in the three taxing jurisdictions would bene t veterans, rst responders, senior citizens and the disabled. e money they would save—expected to be a relatively small piece of their total tax bill— would have to be made up by the other town and school district residents, those not in one of the qualifying categories e tax bills of those other residents likely would not see signi cant increases, Bedford Assessor Harold Girdlestone said in proposing the expanded break last week. “ e ve-to-two-years [service requirement] wouldn’t be much of an impact,” he told the board, saying “to wait ve years is really a long time.” Saluting the volunteers who roll on myriad emergency calls 24/7, Girdlestone said, “ e service they provide is really unbelievable.” Bedford contemplates first responder tax break SEE DOLAN PAGE 3 SEE BEDFORD PAGE 4 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice Licensed Associate Real Est President ate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 What Dreams Are Made Of! Car Collectors - Landscapers - Contractors - Studio - whatever space you need or want to do, this 8-car garage will totally deliver. Add the 900 sf move-in ready ranch with gleaming wood floors, new kitchen appliances and a lovely 1/2 acre lot - all for one low price and with super low taxes. Garage has full heat, AC, hot water/drain and super high ceilings. The total package for living, rental or as a hangout. A rare bird for sure and not going to last so call me today! $499,000 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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Your Neighbor Your Neighbor THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 3 HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com Time to Check Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors! Sunday, March 12th BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE For Mount Kisco resident Greg Renza, a perfect day is one spent in his backyard on a chilly February afternoon, standing around the re, and drinking beer with family and friends. e re, in this case, is what one uses to boil maple tree sap and change it into maple syrup. It’s a hobby he’s indulged in for more than two decades. When Renza rst visited the site of his future home in 2001, he noticed an abundance of trees on the one-acre property and knew dealing with mounds of fallen leaves would become an annual fall challenge. “I would spend years battling the autumn leaves with landscapers and alone with rakes, tarps, and various leaf blowers,” said Renza, an IT computer professional for a top 10 global law rm. “We had a tree service remove and trim many of the trees on the overgrown property and they informed us that most of our trees were sugar maples or what he called ‘rock’ maple. I didn’t think much of it at the time.” “I understood that the huge canopy of leaves that prevented sunlight from getting in and grass from growing, could also keep me quite dry when it rained,” he continued. “After one March storm, I needed to trim a bunch of broken branches. So, with pole saw in hand I began my work, and what I rst thought was water raining down on me, I realized was maple sap. When most people think of sap, they think of thick and sticky pine sap, but maple sap is mostly water. ere is only a small amount of sugar, which you can hardly even taste.” Renza was intrigued. He began researching how to make syrup and learned the best time to tap trees was in February and March and how much sap he could expect, and how long it might take to do the job. “Making syrup is labor intensive because you have to condense it by boiling o the water,” he said. “ e ratio is about 40 to 1, meaning it would take about 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. Even after learning all that, I still decided to go ahead with it.” Renza said he started with a fairly primitive set-up to distill the sap but made improvements over the years. “I started with a pot and a re and was out there from sunup to past sundown and it yielded about a quart,” he said with a laugh. “I realized that I needed to do it more e ciently, so I created a classic backyard maple sugaring rig out of cement blocks and stainless-steel catering pans... basic supplies. I made mine for under 100 bucks.” Renza said he got better at making it with each passing year. “It’s just one ingredient and you re ne it. It’s all process,” he said. “You tap a tree, boil o the water. It’s really about endurance.” Renza said the weather is always a factor during tapping season, with warm days and cold nights being the best scenario for making the sap ow. e nights have been warmer than normal for this time of year, he said, which has slowed production. “ e sap hasn’t been owing,” he said. “And around here you are done by mid-March because the chemistry of the sap changes.” Renza doesn’t sell what he produces—it’s not a business—but he now understands why good maple syrup is expensive. He taps about 25 trees which nets about ve gallons of what he’s dubbed Mount Kisco Maple Syrup. He breaks that down into 8 oz. bottles. “I like to invite friends to come watch the boiling. e key ingredient is beer,” he said with a laugh. “I can give away more of those [8 oz. bottles of] precious liquid gold. I don’t have enough to sell so I just give it away.” Renza said his wife and two teenage boys humor him. “ e boys come out to see what I’m doing but otherwise leave me alone and my wife likes me being outside,” he said, “ but she helps with the bottling process.” Now Renza said he’s looking to take the hobby to another level. “It’s like candy making— you continue to nd new things, like granulated maple sugar, which can be used as a baking ingredient, or maple candies, boiled to higher temps so it can be shaped. And there’s maple cream, whip it up into a spreadable frosting. It is just another form of sugar, so anyway you would want to use that, you can.” But Renza says the biggest thrill he gets out of syrup making is the DIY aspect of it. “To me, what is most rewarding is you can do it in your own backyard,” he said. “Sometimes you forget you can do things yourself and that is the kick I get out of it: I can make maple syrup right in my own backyard.” Renza, who’s also a musician and puzzle designer, says anyone willing to put in the time can make maple syrup if they know how to nd the trees. “ e best way to identify a maple tree is by its leaves,” Renza said. Sugar maples have dark gray bark with furrowed ridges and ve-lobed leaves, which are wider at the base, dark yellow-green on top and lighter on the underside. ey turn yellow, orange, or red in autumn. “Unfortunately, the leaves are o the trees when it’s time to tap, so identifying them is best done ahead of time,” Renza said. “New York is the is second to Vermont in U.S. maple syrup production,” he added. “Maple trees are native to and abundant in Putnam and Westchester counties. “Once you know, you see them everywhere. ey might even be in your own backyard like mine.” How sweet it is Greg Renza perfects the art of backyard syrup-making COURTESY GREG RENZA Greg Renza with bottles of his homemade maple syrup Greg Renza tapping trees with dog Coco
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 9, 2023 Brewster, NY and Bethel, CT Showrooms On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! 845-278-0070 Southeastkitchenandbath.com Celebrating 50 years PHOTO COURTESY OF BRYAN FUMAGALLI Eight-year-old Reagan Fumagalli, granddaughter of Bedford Town Clerk Boo Fumagalli, in her “snow factory,” aka the Katonah paddle tennis courts. Snow Angel Photo Submissions Photos submitted to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times need to be a high-resolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to The KatonahLewisboro Times by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to KLT@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Lasdon Park and Arboretum 2610 Amawalk Road, Katonah AMAZING BUTTERFLIES EXHIBIT rough May 7 Amazing Butter ies invites you to shrink down into the undergrowth to become one of the most extraordinary creatures on earth. Dates, times and tickets are now available by visiting www.lasdonpark.org. Embark on a challenging journey teeming with friends and foes revealing the unusual relationship between caterpillars, butter ies and their natural surroundings. Adventure through the leaves, learn how to move like caterpillar, discover an ant that reaps the reward of an unusual friendship, then transform into a butter y and take ight! Together, families will explore this interactive experience and learn the surprising challenges butter ies face every day. Become a caterpillar and nd your way through a secret, wild world. As you navigate the terrain lled with challenges around every twist and turn, take on puzzles, games and exciting interactivities. e brave can even take to the air and soar down the butter y zip slide. TOWN CROSSING SEE CROSSING PAGE 21
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 5 If your property is currently listed, this is not intended as a solicitation. LOOKING FOR A HARD WORKING REALTOR? DB Leap into the Spring Market with me! CALL US NOW! 914-846-0408 We are your Hometown Realtors Independently Owned and Operated Weichert Realtors Signature Properties.com Real Estate Broker, New York O: 1-914-846-0408 M: 1-914-359-0368 275 E. Main Street • Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 [email protected] / Weichertsignatureproperties.com 2900 Westchester Ave, Suite 107, Purchase, NY 10577 NMLS #299861 DOROTHY BOTSOE
PAGE 6 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 Michael Tom CFP® CFA® • Jeff Wund • Todd Rebori, CFA® 23 Parkway, Second Floor • Katonah, NY 10536 FOR BUSINESSES Retirement Plan Services PERSONAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT Financial Planning • Investment Management Tax Planning & Preparation Stressed about taxes? We’ll help you organize, strategize, and file. www.AtwoB.com • (914) 302-3233 Point B Planning, LLC d/b/a/ AtwoB (“AtwoB”) is a registered investment adviser. A copy of AtwoB’s current written disclosure statement discussing AtwoB’s business operations, services, and fees is available at the SEC’s investment adviser public information website or from AtwoB upon written request. This article is for information only and should not be considered investment advice. 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! Scan me for more info! e Lewisboro Democratic Committee (LDC) has announced its endorsement of Town of Lewisboro candidates for the 2023 campaign season. Seeking reelection are Supervisor Tony Gonçalves of Goldens Bridge, Councilmembers Rich Sklarin of Goldens Bridge and Dan Welsh of South Salem, Town Clerk Janet Donohue, Town Justice Sue Simon, as well as Westchester District 2 County Legislator Erika Pierce of Katonah, all of whom were unanimously endorsed by the LDC. Additionally, the LDC overwhelmingly voted to endorse rst-time candidate Steve Alfano for Town Highway Superintendent, whose management experience and background in the landscape industry will be assets to the department. “Our incumbent elected of- cials have repeatedly proven themselves e ective and scally responsible, focusing on smart investments in our infrastructure, public safety, and the environment. Understanding how important it is for Lewisboro to have a new comprehensive plan, they have made the completion of that project a major priority for our town,” says LDC Chair Jenn Castelhano. “ eir focus on seeking grant funding for local projects and the continued improvement of our town-wide communication platforms is just the type of e ective nonpartisan results that will keep Lewisboro moving forward in a responsible and sustainable direction,” says Castelhano. “ e addition of Steve Alfano for highway superintendent further strengthens this slate by adding his management experience and deep knowledge of the Town and local issues,” says Castelhano. “ e Lewisboro Democratic Committee is excited to support these candidates for county and local government to continue their work on behalf of all Lewisboro residents,” adds Castelhano. To appear on the ballot, candidates need to collect signatures from registered Democrats in the town of Lewisboro. e collection period runs through April 2. Article courtesy of Lewisboro Democratic Committee. Lewisboro Democrats announce endorsements BY BILL BONGIORNO CONTRIBUTING WRITER e Lewisboro Planning Board met in-person on Feb. 28. Chair Janet Andersen noted that, by law, they are unable to stream meetings or allow for public comment over Zoom. She explained that inquiries from the public can still be emailed to the board. Audio recordings of meetings are also available on the town website. Anderson announced that the Planning Board had added newly appointed John Gusmano to its ranks. He had previously served on the board from 2005-2012. He joins existing Chair Janet Andersen and members Jerome Kerner, Charlene Indelicato and Bruce ompson to meet the quorum needed to conduct the business of the board. e new Building Inspector Kevin Kelly also joined the meeting for the rst time. GOLDENS BRIDGE VILLAGE CENTER e board granted a one-year extension to the property manager and future builder of Golden’s Bridge Village Center, NYS Route 22, in Goldens Bridge. Plans are expected to be ready in the next few months and will be presented to the board for approval and go ahead for the construction. Stephen Cipes is the owner of record, according to board documents. e Planning Board Resolution for Site Development Plan Approval, Wetland Activity Permit Approval and Town Stormwater Permit granted on Jan. 21, 2020 for modi cations to the existing shopping center, had expired Jan. 21, 2023. POUND RIDGE STONE David Moorman, owner of Pound Ridge Stone at 2 West Road in South Salem, was granted a six-month extension. e Planning Board Resolution for a Negative Declaration of Signi cance, Site Development Plan Approval, Special Use Permit Approval, Town Wetland Activity Permit Approval and Town Stormwater Permit Approval granted on Aug. 17, 2021 for site upgrades including additional parking and storage areas had expired on Feb. 17, 2023. WACCABUC COUNTRY CLUB Waccabuc Country Club had previously applied for a pavilion, replacement of snack bar, and installation of accessible parking and walkways. Architect Dawn McKenzie spoke on behalf of the Club and said she had gotten Zoning Board of Appeals approval for variances and for the beach club. e board Planning Board adds new member Goldens Bridge Village Center granted extension SEE PLANNING PAGE 21
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 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 steps you can take to avoid your estate going to probate? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER You don’t have to look far to nd creative people in our area. At the same time, there are artists among us who’d have us doing a serious double take if we knew their level of talent and/or the lineage they come from. Andy Hammerstein is one who can unassumingly be seen around town, and yes, the name is not a coincidence. A visual artist and the grandson of the iconic Broadway songwriter, Hammerstein is also the uno cial family historian and is ready to share. On Saturday, March 11, Hammerstein will host a fundraiser for the Bedford Playhouse, and on the docket, will be a host of his grandfather’s songs and the stories that go with them. Among the roster of performers will be Emmy Award winner Jamie Lawrence, Rita Neidich of e Fantasticks, acclaimed actor/ singers Bruce Sabath and Henry rasher and our own Robin Reitzes. “I feel very, very honored to be part of this group,” she said. e John Jay mom has long been out and about and performing in rock cover bands. But her range runs much deeper and in accordance with the venue. “I was classically trained in opera, arias, and a lot of Broadway music requires the foundation,” she said. Reitzes didn’t sing on Broadway, though. In fact, her stage presence was not really seen. “I had terrible stage fright as a young woman, she said. “It would paralyze me.” So she opted for the next best thing. “If I’m too much of a scaredy cat to sing, I can at least be behind the scenes in the arena I love,” Reitzes revealed. In turn, Reitzes racked up a few internships and various theater experiences and cut her teeth by helping to produce Broadway shows for Radio City Entertainment. Her rst job out of school, she met Hammerstein and was sure to let him know she was a singer. inking along the lines of future reference, she eventually moved to Westchester, got married, had kids and easily transferred her theater related skills to a career in marketing and public relations. A success again in this eld, the Goldens Bridge resident wasn’t able to simply balance the ledger with the bottom line. “I realized my true love is music,” and supplemented by beginning a rock cover band called Blonde Ambition. Of course she kept her day job and has been involved in a number of musical endeavors. Blonde Ambition did atline during Covid, though. But her latest band is called Willin’ and hit a pretty high pro- le at the Bedford Music Festival at the John Jay Homestead. Playing before 4000 people last fall, Reitzes said, “It was very ful lling.” e singer also realized she wanted to do more high caliber events, and Do-Re-Mi, the challenge of hitting the high notes de nitely su ces. “Going back to my roots,” she said. “You’re singing in a very technical way that I’ve always wanted to sing, and now I’m getting the opportunity.” So alongside, she says, “I’ve always been a big fan of Bruce (Sabath), Rita (Neidich) has a gorgeous voice, and Henry ( rasher) is o the charts.” e entertainment value aside, the cause serves us all. “When you have a thriving arts community, you have better restaurants, shops and destinations,” she assured. So the movies, guest speakers and readings are the obvious o ering, but she’s pretty partial to First Fridays. Clearing the lounge for live music, Reitzes says, I’ve played there many times and I absolutely love it. Her ag planted, Reitzes is eager to belt out her passion and isn’t worried about a con ict of interest. “It’s a great spot and I want it to grow and do well,” she concluded. An evening of Broadway Stacked lineup set for Bedford Playhouse Robin Reitzes PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE KILGORE ‘I feel very, very honored to be part of this group.’ Robin Reitzes
Opinion PAGE 8 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 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 Happily Ever After On Feb. 9, we ran side-by-side opinion pieces about proposed environmental regulations. Halston Media’s regular columnist, Don Scott, expressed particular concern about the unintended consequences of central planners. Guest columnist, Anshul Gupta, made the case for all-electric vehicles, stoves and heating, and shared his concern that our world could be unrecognizable without taking immediate action to tame carbon pollution. On the same page, we asked our readers to fill out a survey to select who they thought made a more compelling argument. The opinion pieces ran in Mahopac News, The Somers Record, Yorktown News, North Salem News and The Katonah-Lewisboro Times. There were 174 responses. WHO MADE A MORE COMPELLING ARGUMENT? • Don Scott: 51 (33.12%) • Anshul Gupta: 154 (66.88%) • 20 people skipped the question READERS ALSO WERE ASKED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SCRIPTED COMMENTS THAT BEST REPRESENTED THEIR OPINIONS • 87 people (51.79%) agreed with the following statement: “These prospective mandates are necessary to tame carbon pollution, which is the cause of climate deterioration, such as floods, droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather, and also contributes to mass migration and geopolitical upheavals.” • 19 people (11.31%) agreed with the following statement: “While I’m uncertain about the extent of the environmental impact from climate change, these mandates will make a great positive leap forward in terms of renewal energy options. Ultimately, this will positively impact the environment and the economy.” • 34 people (20.24%) agreed with the following statement: “We should be concerned about the environment and do what we can on a personal level, but mandates are government overreach.” • 23 people (13.69%) agreed with the following statement: “This has nothing to do with the environment. We need to look into who is actually getting rich from these mandates. Follow the money.” • 44 people (26.19%) agreed with the following statement: “I’m concerned that the electric grid won’t be able to handle the mandates, and that I won’t be able to adequately heat my home and charge my car.” • 51 people (30.36%) agreed with the following statement: “All-electric doesn’t really improve the environment, as it just moves the flame to burn fossil fuels from the home and gas pump to the power plant. Additionally, the environmental impact on battery manufacturing is underestimated.” • 11 people (6.55%) agreed with the following statement: “Climate change is a hoax. If New York keeps trying to control my life, I’m moving to Florida.” • 33 people (19.64%) agreed with the following statement: “We should refocus this conversation by rebuilding our nuclear energy capabilities. Nuclear energy is the cleanest energy around.” • 6 people did not select any statements. READERS WERE ALSO GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. THIRTY NINE PEOPLE DID SO. HERE ARE A SELECTION: • I believe R&D are important but we must act now—both individually and collectively. • Making gas stoves a mandate is laughable. If the U.S. cut all man-made carbon emissions, it would make zero difference... Over 90% of carbon emissions come from Asia, Russia, and from nature (livestock). Just another ridiculous liberal concoction to increase regulations. With all that is going on in the world now, the fact that this is at the top of the liberal agenda shows you just how out of touch they are. • I agree with moving to electric homes and cars, but mandating this needs to be backed up by the government pumping massive resources into infrastructure and personal electric backups in each home. The government also needs to provide large rebates to encourage people to buy electric vehicles and convert their homes from fossil fuels to electric. • Changes like these should be laws passed by duly elected representatives, not mandates from a governor or unelected bureaucratic officials. • I feel we need to address consumption, population and the continued brainwashing of our society to have more new things. Will this shift in energy source address what will happen to the millions of vehicles, appliances and other machines that will become obsolete? Or address the enormous demand for precious and dwindling natural resources required to create all these new products that will run on electricity? I believe the climate crisis is real. However, I don’t know that building electric cars, trucks, machines, etc., will have any less of an impact or drain on our precious resources currently existing on the planet. We all need to use less and create things that are built to last and are repairable. I believe we also need to work on a mass transit system that can service more areas, decreasing the need for personal vehicles. • These are both thoughtful and compelling arguments. I can’t know for sure if the facts stated by each columnist is accurate. The question is not whether we should act and have mandates, but how do we galvanize all the experts in all the various components to make the changes necessary and address the inevitable unintended consequences. We’ve had decades to study these issues and it’s time to hasten our actions. • Don Scott laid out a list of issues Here’s what readers have to say 174 people responded to survey about environmental opinion pieces BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER’S MEMO SEEFREEMAN PAGE 9
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 OPINION THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 9 that need to be dealt with, but no solutions. Anshul Gupta laid out the reasons it is imperative to develop solutions now. is is not an issue of sides. For a long time now, we have had the overwhelming evidence that climate change needs to be addressed yesterday. And the longer we take, the more dramatic the e ects, and consequently the methods to combat it, will be. Now is the opportunity for this generation to bring their ingenuity to the table to develop the technologies for tomorrow that will bring about lasting economic and scienti c advance. • is survey was poorly designed. All but one of these eight statements re ect Brett Freeman’s negative editorial opinion on the topic, and don’t allow for other values and points of view. • While I rmly believe that climate change is not a hoax, I worry that our electric grid is inadequate at the moment. • e argument over gas stoves on a commercial level goes too far. I am all for logical legislation, and as an electric car, solar panel, and heat pump owner, I have made decisions that have helped the planet while nancially not impacting me. e discussion is not mutually exclusive. Without legislation, the market drivers will push only for the cheapest options and money makers. Wise decisions exist out there without extremes. And yes, research into nuclear energy has found safer ways of generating the electricity and storing the fuel, and need to be part of the mix. Additional e ort also needs to be made in cleaning the atmosphere of what is already created. ‘All of the above’ needs to help drive us to a cleaner tomorrow. • Aren’t we way past thinking climate change is a hoax? We’re leaving a real mess for our children. Learn the science behind it!! • It is undeniable to even the most casual observer that the climate is changing. I really don’t understand why this is political - the e ects are felt by everyone. Also undeniable is that humans are adaptable creatures. We will survive. • is is a poorly designed survey. Possible responses are skewed to anti-climate change perspectives. Move to Florida? Lol. With the Trumpers? No thanks. Garbage in garbage out when it comes to survey results. • Government mandates should always be a last resort, but they are becoming increasingly accepted by a public that doesn’t fear pernicious government overreach. Ultimately, it seems that the central planners want everyone on an electric grid that they will be able to ration and control. FREEMAN FROM PAGE 8 As Major League Baseball heads to Arizona and Florida for spring training, political operatives in Westchester, Putnam and across the state are revving up their spring operations as well. is week, petitions are being circulated for signatures to put candidates on the ballot for primaries to be held on June 27. Primaries for local elections were historically held in September, but a combination of politics and calendar math have conspired to select this late June date, which will ensure abysmally low voter turnout. You can expect most of the candidates to be placed on the ballot for November to be put there by less than 10% of the electorate through this primary process. In Westchester, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by over 2 to 1. Currently, the makeup of the 17-member county legislature is 15 Democrats to one conservative and one Republican. ese voter registration numbers will result, most probably, in more than half of the races being uncontested. With all of the overheated and overhyped rhetoric coming at us from both sides about democracy being in danger, these numbers might suggest that here in Westchester, it may be true, since most of the voters coming to vote in November won’t have a choice in many races. Sadly, in the current partisan climate, there is very little ticket splitting. e vast majority of voters go down the line according to party preference. at was not always the case. As I have written in the past, and as research has shown, national party labels don’t align well with local government issues, but that doesn’t keep people from voting as if they do. is reality makes it even harder to recruit challenger candidates. is lack of choice on election day is true in deep blue Westchester and New York City and probably equally true in deep red Putnam County, along with other deep red sections of the country. I give credit to those Republicans willing to throw their hat in the ring for longshot races in this area. Most of them are strawberries in a big blueberry patch. eir participation ensures that other perspectives will at least get an airing during the campaign season. e same credit is due to Democrats running in deep red districts. ere has to be a better way in these lopsided areas of the country. When you think A strawberry in a big blueberry patch SEESCOTT PAGE 10 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! DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
PAGE 10 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES OPINION THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 SCOTT FROM PAGE 9 about it, the most outrageous congressional representatives from both sides of the aisle seem to come from one-party districts. eir seats are so safe, nothing they say seems to damage their chances of reelection. California may be onto something, however. ey conduct open primaries for many of their local races where all registered voters, regardless of political a liation, are able to vote. All those seeking a particular o ce, no matter their party, go on one ballot. e top two vote getters are put on the ballot in November, ensuring a choice on election day when most people come out to vote. e system is referred to as a “jungle primary.” e approach doesn’t mean you will always get a Republican and a Democrat on the ballot. In many cases, it will be one Democrat running against another or two Republicans squaring o . But the system at least gives voters a choice in November. More competition equals better representation. An increasing number of states are adopting more innovative ways of selecting and electing candidates. eir objective is to increase voter participation throughout the process as well as increase cross-party dialogue. New York could do a lot better. e hill to climb, however, is to convince politicians elected under the current system to advocate to change it. I can dream, can’t I? My MBA education featured realworld cases. We were given extensive information about a company problem or challenge, and learned by working toward a solution. In my rst marketing course, this approach uncovered a major lesson: In crafting marketing plans, always start with the customer. In the post-academic real world, I quickly learned another big lesson: What matters to the customer is what counts. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes and, as the customer, ask “What’s in it for me” – WIFM. Customers buy products and services for the bene ts they deliver. So you’d better know what the customer wants, make that clear to the customer, and deliver it. You may be rolling your eyes, thinking that of course you know your customer and you’re delivering what he or she wants. But how well do you really know your customer? Pareto’s Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, posits that 80% of your business (or 80% of your pro ts) come from 20% of your customers. Do you know who that 80% are . . . and why? Can you describe them precisely? And are you methodically targeting additional prospects who are just like that golden 20%? ere’s lots to know and consider. A good place to start is often basic demographics. Can you describe your key customers in terms such as age, household/family size, type of housing, and income or degree of a uence? You may not have hard data on these measures, but do you have a good sense of these variables? Assuming you do, and if your business or professional practice can draw on a multi-town geography, do you have a good sense of how these measures may di er from town to town and hence where your highest potential local markets may be? A quick Google search drawing on U.S. Census Bureau data can highlight meaningful di erences even between the relatively small towns in Northern Westchester and Putnam counties on measures such as median household income, percentage of households with children, percentage of population 65+ years old, and many other possibly important variables. is may be particularly relevant to entities such as furniture stores, restaurants, contractors, attorneys, accountants, investment advisors and doctors, to name just a few. Of course, there is a lot to know beyond basic demographics. Do you really know what your best customers really need and want? Do you ask them? Do you follow up to nd out how satis ed they are with how you deliver what they seek? Do you collect customer contact information so you can ask them or to let them know when you have something special to o er? ese considerations are important because, as discussed before, the best marketer is like a business chiropractor, aligning his or her marketing mix (the 5 P’s – product, package, place, price and promotion) to line up with core customer wants and needs. So you need to know all about your customers, especially that golden 20% accounting for the lion’s share of your sales and pro ts, and how well you’re doing in meeting their needs. Do you want to learn more? Visit www. halstonmedia.com, and ll out the “Get in Touch” form on the home page. 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. 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PAGE 12 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIME BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER e rst member of the Bedford Hills Fire Department to achieve 75 years of service has answered his nal alarm. Hometown hero George Edward Graniero Sr. passed away last month at an assisted care facility in Syracuse. He was 94 and had still been responding to calls at age 89. “He went out and directed tra c with his coat on and his ashlight. at was his big thing,” recalled his son George Graniero Jr., a Bedford Hills re ghter and an ex-chief of the department. Grandsons Marc Graniero Sr., a Bedford Hills re ghter and ex-captain, and Je rey Graniero, who is a member but not currently active, are also carrying forward his legacy. His late brother, Joseph, also served with the BHFD. “ e passing of our ‘Senior Man’ leaves an un llable void not only within our department but also in the Bedford community,” wrote Chief Alexander Dennett when announcing his death. “What a legacy George Graniero Sr. left to our town. After growing up and raising a family in Bedford Hills and 76 years serving as a volunteer re ghter, it seems that everyone knew and loved him,” said Bedford Supervisor Ellen Calves. Folks ocked to social media to express sympathy to Graniero’s family. One noted that he was “the kindest man I’ve known.” Another wrote: “He lived a good life to the fullest and touched so many along the way.” Another recalled his “infectious smile” and “commanding wit.” Moving out of the house he’d lived in for most of his life and into ass Jr., bra G new “ He W peo wh die tha the G join He ass G fav B loc bru ver O his the “ and Ge sai he the the D the 195ber dir (E N 200meing ach “ wa the par Ge A her Colleagues gathered on Feb. 25 to honor the life of George Graniero. PHOTO COURTESY OF BHFD PHOTOS: CAROL REIF 2 TRACKS 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 Freelance Writer, Editor, and Content Producer Bill Bongiorno | (914) 533-7065 | [email protected] For All Your Writing Needs
ES – THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 PAGE 13 sisted care was tough, said George , praising his father for being ave. Graniero was doing well in his w home. “He made friends right away. e was named Man of the Month. Wherever he went, he touched ople so much,” said George Jr., ho added that even before his dad ed, folks were always telling him at Graniero was “the greatest man ey ever met.” Graniero was just 18 when he ned the BHFD on May 1, 1946. e was issued badge No. 309 and signed to the engine company. George Jr. shared one of his dad’s vorite anecdotes. Back then, sparks from passing comotives would cause a lot of ush res, so the department was a ry busy place. One day Graniero was sitting in s high school English class when e whistle blew. “So he gets up and he’s leaving d the teacher goes, ‘Excuse me, eorge, where are you going?’ He d, ‘ ere’s a re. I gotta go.’ And ran out of the school, down to e rehouse, and drove the truck to e re,” his son said. During his tenure, Graniero held e positions of lieutenant (1955- 56), captain (1957-1959), memr of the department’s board of rectors (1957-1959) and engineer 197) (2000-2004). Named Fire ghter of the Year in 00, he was feted at the departent’s 2021 inspection for becomg the rst member in its history to hieve 75 years of service. “George Sr.’s impact on everyone as evident in January ’22 when e community and our mutual aid rtners came together to honor eorge for his dedication and many years of service,” Dennett wrote. A rst-generation American, he was born on March 14, 1928, to Michael and Assunta (Salvia) Graniero. After graduating from Bedford Hills High School, he became a medic with the Army Medical Corps during the Korean War. He and Della (Crandall) married in 1951 and built a home on Crescent Terrace where they raised three sons: Michael, George Jr., and Douglas. e couple spent many happy hours attending their boys’ football and baseball games. ey did the same for their grandchildren. Graniero was a huge Yankees and Giants fan. He and Della took up skiing in their thirties after their kids had learned the sport. Graniero was still hitting the slopes at age 80, George Jr. recalled. ey also hiked the national parks and took long strolls on a dirt road near the Cross River Reservoir. e Granieros were among the rst folks to discover that peaceful spot; now Maple Avenue is packed with walkers. His dad walked four miles a day “for years and years and years,” George Jr. added. ey also appreciated good music and often attended concerts at Caramoor and Tanglewood. e couple traveled to Italy, but most of all, their family said, “they loved their time spent at their vacation home on Cape Cod.” George was predeceased by his wife in 2014, and by his brother, Joseph, in 2013. He is survived by three sons: Michael (Lisa) of Manlius, George Jr. (Margaret) of Katonah, and Douglas ( Jennifer) of Boulder, Colo.; three grandsons: Marc (Alexandra) of Mahopac, Je rey (Meghan) of Brewster, and Samuel (Kandice) of East Syracuse; two great-grandchildren: Audrey and Marc Jr.; sisterin-law Mary Graniero; one niece; and several nephews. SAYING GOODBYE Friends, family members, and colleagues gathered at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah on Saturday, Feb. 25, to celebrate Graniero’s life and to give him a traditional re ghter sendo . e funeral procession rst wended its way through his old neighborhood. It then paused at the purple and black bunting-draped Bedford Hills Firehouse on Route 117 where, in Graniero’s honor, a last whistle was blown, an American ag was held aloft by two ladder trucks, re ghters stood at attention, and his old turnout gear was displayed. e last leg of the solemn journey took mourners up East Main Street in Mount Kisco where Graniero had a barber shop for more than four decades. (Della used to cut his hair. After she passed away, Je rey took on the task. Grandfather and grandson made it part of their Sunday breakfast ritual.) Fire ghters from the village’s Mutual Engine and Hose Co. saluted as the trucks rolled by. Graniero was interred at Oakwood Cemetery next to his beloved spouse as snow gently fell. TRIBUTE To see the re department’s tribute, paste this in your browser: https:// www.bedfordhillsfd.org/news/707/- 76-Year-Life-Member-GeorgeGraniero-Sr---Answers-His-FinalAlarm ro’s farewell George Graniero was still responding to calls at age 89. PHOTO COURTESY OF BHFD PHOTO COURTESY OF BHFD The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D.
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Advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Bulletin Board and reach over 3,500 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! the bird song to see if the birds would respond. Sometimes they did! Dad set up bird feeders in my yard and took photographs of the clever squirrels that still found their way into the “squirrel proof ” bird feeders. Maybe it’s not so unusual to think that Dad is visiting me in the form of a bright red cardinal. Some people say that when they see a butter y swoop by or a dropped bird feather on the ground, it reminds them of a relative who has passed away. It’s comforting to think so. Kim Kovach now waves to the red cardinal staring into the window. www.kimkovachwrites.com KOVACH FROM PAGE 11 On President’s Day, we were treated to rare, upper50-degree weather, perfect for a bicycle journey on the upper Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. e nice thing about a bike ride in the middle of winter is that with all the leaves o the trees, you can see for miles. And it’s a very pretty trail, overlooking the Croton River gorge and with occasional Hudson views in the distance. It’s a ride through history, and if you ride fast enough, you’ll catch right up to the present. Underneath you, the old underground conduit carried water 41 miles into Manhattan from its completion in 1842 until 1955, when it was supplanted by the New Croton Aqueduct and the Delaware Aqueduct. It had the immediate impact of curbing disease and helping transform New York City into a modern metropolis. Since Croton falls, engineers quickly realized the gravity of the situation, and things went downhill from there. Which translated, means that the lower elevation of Manhattan compared to Croton meant that the water could ow naturally with no means of propulsion. It took the water 22 hours to make the journey, so you might want to bring a crossword puzzle with you when you ll up your bathtub. A giant collection reservoir stood at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue to receive the precious drops. It was torn down in the 1890s, but if you are thirsty for knowledge instead, it is currently the site of the New York Public Library. I can almost imagine what drinking water that came from a reservoir in midtown Manhattan would be like today. I picture turning on the tap, and a few pieces of gently used chewing gum, some pizza crusts and a hub cap come out. If you add some single-malt scotch, you’ll hardly notice the di erence. As you ride down the trail, you’ll notice periodically a round, smokestack-type structure made of granite bricks. ese were ventilators, used to keep air owing throughout the system. Some had entrances to the underground waterway, in case engineers needed to get a closer look at the air. ere is other evidence of the old system, such as gate houses, weirs (for diverting the ow for maintenance) and a keeper’s house in Dobbs Ferry. We rode the upper portion of the trail on our ebikes, and before you carry on about what a poor physical specimen I am for riding on a power-assisted two-wheeler, let me assure you that I am in shape. Let’s not forget that there are a lot of di erent shapes out there, and I’m sure there is one for me that is geometrically viable. Yes, I might be over-represented in the rhombus area, but I defend the use of ebikes for people like me who weep uncontrollably at the sight of long hills. I recommend a model like ours, which can be used as a regular bicycle, with a motor to help you pedal if you need it, a little or a lot. It will open up your horizons. Along the trail you may run into dog strollers, roller-bladers and exercise walkers, and if you do, next time watch where you’re going. e trail took us to the top of the Croton Dam, where you can ride across and take in the picturesque reservoir on one side, and overlook the park on the other. If the weather is nice, you can bring a picnic and spend the whole dam day there. It brought me back to my high school years, when my friends and I would ride our dirt bikes on the old railroad bed (now the North County Trailway) from Millwood up to the Yorktown railroad bridge trestle. at was if I could get that little workhorse working. I was so proud that I took the transmission apart once to x it, and I would have been prouder still if I had been able to put it back together. Once I had it all in one piece, I realized there were supposed to be many more pieces than just one. You know when people say, “I found an extra gear?” Well, I found two of them on the oor after I was done assembling my crankcase. I guess I shouldn’t have been riding around where I probably wasn’t supposed to be, and de - nitely not on the slowest motorcycle. If you’re being chased by the police, the same rule applies as if you were being chased by a lion. You don’t have to be faster than the lion, you just have to be faster than the guy who’s with you. I picture the police catching up to me, and I say, “I guess you’re going to give me a ticket for riding on private property.” And he says, “No, litteringthese three gears dropped out of the bottom of your transmission.” 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: rlife8@ hotmail.com. Drinking in the sights RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 15 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Bulletin Board and reach over 3,500 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board VIKING LYNX MONOGRAM SUBZERO SCOTSMAN BERTAZZONI BOSCH BEST DCS GE MARVEL MIELE MAYTAG ELECTROLUX WHIPSPERKOOL FRIDGIDAIRE Trusted Repair That Will Stand the Test of Time Grills | Washers | Dryers | Refrigerators | Ovens | Ranges | Wine Coolers Serving Westchester County PH: 914.864.1252 6 Mark Mead Road • Cross River, NY 10518 Email: [email protected] www.appliancegenie.com AUTHORIZED SERVICE FOR VIKING, LYNX, FRIGIDAIRE Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 51 YEARS! WE BUY: GOLD • STERLING SILVER • JEWELRY • COINS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • CLOCKS • COLLECTIBLES • ANTIQUES • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! GOLD • SILVER • DIAMONDS WATCHES • COINS • FURS PAINTINGS • FULL ESTATES The Buying Service We simply pay more! Contact Barry 914-260-8783 [email protected] WE BUY Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller (Westchester/Putnam) Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC GENERATOR INSTALLATIONS LICENSED & INSURED NY & CT 914-763-5555 CHARLES GEORGE • POUND RIDGE, NY ADULT SOFTBALL YSALEAGUES.COM [email protected] YORKTOWN PARKS & RECREATION AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 59 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 email: [email protected] 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com For All Your Plumbing, Heating, Hot Water Heater & Gas Needs
Sports PAGE 16 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER With the spotlight off the sports scene at the high school, the youth teams are stepping up and filling the void. The girls’ Tri-County basketball travel team did the honors versus Mahopac on Thursday, Mar. 2 at Lewisboro Elementary and didn’t leave the fanbase feeling empty-handed afterwards. John Jay jumped out to a 19-4 lead and rode home a 35-22 firstround victory. Brynlee Davis did swish a jumper at the key, but the crowd quickly realized that the Wolves were only playing cat and mouse. Liana DiMatteo got strong under the boards for the put back, and on her toes, Danielle Weisfelner got the steal for a coast-tocoast layup. A 4-2 lead, these cubs didn’t wait to show they have taken to John Jay Basketball just like their elders. Sophya Papa was doubled teamed in the corner, and in finding an open DiMatteo for the layup, she later spoke right out of Mia Puccio’s playbook. “I always look to see who’s the open player,” said the guard. There was no need for Kylie Bishop after the forward ripped down the defensive rebound. The big gathered the ball and went the length of the floor for the first of her game-high 14 points. Niki Sayegh didn’t seem so bothered by the early 8-2 lead, though. The Indian caught the ball inside the arc and calmly made the jumper to cut the lead in half. Bishop then matched the Indian in the unconcern. Left open, she strode into a deuce for a 10-4 lead. 4:21 left in the first, Maddie DePonto was next. She ballhandled all the way around the arc, and upon seeing a lane on the right, the post player made good on another John Jay fundamental and hit her layup. “Every practice, we do ‘machine gun,’” said DePonto. “You run around, you get a pass, then run to another pass and shoot.” Also doing full-court layups, according to DePonto, Lily Pelosi’s miss at the rim may have said otherwise. But she got to the line and closed the quarter with a 13-4 lead. The break didn’t give Mahopac a breather either. Kathryn Hartney made her move, and when the defense converged, the point guard also put the lesson plan in motion. “I have to make sure we can move the ball around, get past the people in front, so we can drive to the basket,” she said. Bishop the beneficiary, the lead grew to 15-4. And dialing the deja vu, the John Jay faithful might have mistaken Weisfelner and Bishop for Puccio and Annabel Brennan. The two varsity players mastered the inbound play for numerous easy layups this season, and these two cubbies have emulated that chemistry. The lead would grow to 19-4 on another defensive rebound that had long legs. Caroline Civetta grabbed the board and went the length of the court for two. But Mahopac still came to play. Leah Croce made a half-court steal, converted the layup to close the half, and she also opened the third with a put back. Even so, John Jay was not buying in on a comeback. Ringing up at the register, Kenzi Skinner’s half-court steal for an easy layup reset the tone - even if putting the ball in the basket is not the main part of her game. “I box out and keep them from going down the middle,” Kenzi assured. Ava Kelley and Shannon Nolan know from that and could not have said it any better. The big Wolves are quick with their hands too, and so was Siena Giandalone. A steal for the young John Jay baller, the lead grew back to 23-8, but the game is still 32 minutes long. Sayegh again had ice water in her veins to close to 23-10, and on a roll, Katie Hartnett toughed in a put back for an 11-point deficit. DiMatteo refused to succumb on the rebound, though. She pulled down two straight boards and went the length for a 27-12 lead. Less than two minutes to go in the third, Bishop piled on and showed she could move without the ball, just like Sela Halaifonua. DePonto and Lily Pelosi both hit the forward on the cut, but the high-scorer made sure to not take all the credit. “We have to keep the team together and make sure it’s not just one player,” said Bishop, exuding leadership. Seven straight points for Mahopac certainly made the case. But John Jay eventually got the stop they needed, and in a great defensive effort overall, Pelosi described how she anchors in the backcourt. “I make sure if a ball is going to one side, I try to track and intercept.” The game was put away by two more long-range layups from Bishop, and afterwards, Coach Lizzie Cazzari took stock in how well the learning curve is going. “Starting the culture is exciting, and they are buying into everything I’m saying,” she said. “It’s pretty fun.” So is winning, and expecting to continue making the grade, Emily Fulton didn’t hesitate in saying how far this team can go. “Far,” she concluded. John Jay 5/6 starts playoffs strong Wins first-round game versus Mahopac Kylie Bishop PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Liana DiMatteo Lily Pelosi Maddie DePonto Mei Mei Chang YOUTH BASKETBALL
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 SPORTS THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 17 OPEN HOUSE MARCH 16 | 5−7 PM 200 BOCES DRIVE – YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION The Career and Technical Education Center o ers over 40 courses to high school students from 18 districts in Putnam and Northern Westchester. COMMUNICATIONS CAREER ACADEMY CONSTRUCTION CAREER ACADEMY COSMETOLOGY CAREER ACADEMY ENGLISH AS A NEW LANGUAGE HEALTH CAREER ACADEMY HOSPITALITY CAREER ACADEMY TRANSPORTATION CAREER ACADEMY Fore More Information: (914) 248-2427 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 For only the second time in school history, Harvey has won the NEPSAC Class C boys’ basketball championship. e Cavaliers, the No. 4 seed, defeated No. 3 Lexington Christian Academy 59-55 on Sunday, Mar. 5, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to earn a special place in Harvey School history, right next to the New England championship 1994-95 squad. e Cavs, who earned the No. 4 seed after capturing their rstever Housatonic Valley Athletic League title, came into the championship game as a slight underdog, going up against the team that just knocked o the three-time reigning NEPSAC champion and No. 2 seed Hyde School earlier in the day in their semi nal matchup. Harvey fans in attendance at the Worcester Academy gym and those watching on Livestream were biting their nails early as the Cavs and LCA Lions traded baskets in the rst ve minutes. Sophomore point guard Jonah Kass of Katonah then created some separation by hitting his second shot from long distance to give his team a 10-6 lead. As it turned out, that threepointer from the Class C Tournament MVP proved to be a turning point as Harvey never trailed in the game again. Kass sank a third three and nished the rst half with 14 points. He would go to tally a team-leading 22 points for the Cavs. ings were looking bright for the Cavs when they built up a 10-point lead with just four minutes to play in the opening half. But Harvey hit a bit of a cold spell on o ense, and LCA took advantage of some sloppy ball-handling to cut the de cit down to just ve points by halftime. e Cavs led 28-23 at intermission. Kass continued to lead Harvey’s o ense in the second half, scoring nine more points. Senior captain Kirk Ortega, who was cold in the rst half, heated up, along with senior point forward Sukie Vongveeranonchai. Ortega scored 11 of his 15 total points and Sukie added six more to help the Cavs maintain their lead as the Lions continued to look crisper on o ense and stay within striking distance of Harvey. When LCA cut Harvey’s lead down to just one, 41-40 with 9:35 to play, it was Kass and Ortega who hit shots to help the Cavs go on a 7-0 run to give them a 48-40 lead with seven minutes remaining. ree minutes later, a basket from Kass made it 52-43, the biggest lead Harvey had since midway through the rst half. But the Lions scored ve straight points to make it a 52-48 game with just under four minutes left. As LCA scored on their possessions in the last two minutes, Ortega, Sukie, and Kass hit their shots to frustrate the Lions in their attempt to tie it up. Cavs center Olaf Gorski also made it tough on the Lions when he continued to make his presence felt underneath the basket; blocking several shots, grabbing key rebounds, and putting up eight points. At 58-55 and just 1.2 seconds left with Kass dribbling around the oor to waste the clock, LCA nally fouled Harvey’s hottest shooter. He hit his foul shot to make it a four-point lead with virtually no time on the clock. When the buzzer sounded, Harvey’s bench stormed midcourt to join their teammates on the oor in joyous celebration. “Words cannot describe how proud I am of this team,” said Harvey head coach Denis Arnautovic. “ ey battled all season long and got rewarded in the end. We are bringing the NEPSAC championship back to Harvey!” e coach also went on to thank athletic director Ray Lacen for his “tremendous support.” He also thanked his assistant coach Connor Welles, saying, “His dedication and hard work helped us tremendously.” Harvey, 11-1 against HVAL opponents, nished the season winning six straight and ending with an overall record of 14-9. Article provided by e Harvey School. Cavaliers win NEPSAC Basketball Championship The Harvey boys’ basketball team didn’t let the underdog label stop them from capturing the NEPSAC Class C championship. HARVEY BOYS BASKETBALL Words cannot describe how proud I am of this team.’ Denis Arnautovic Harvey Boys Basketball Head Coach Jonah Kass, the ‘25 MVP of NEPSAC Class C. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HARVEY SCHOOL
PAGE 18 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 ey say all good things must end, and so it was for Harvey’s girls varsity basketball team whose history-making 22-win season concluded Wednesday, Mar. 1 with a 63-48 loss to the Millbrook School Mustangs in the quarter nal round of the NEPSAC Championship Tournament. e Harvey (No. 3) girls, who just last Saturday (2/25) captured the Housatonic Valley Athletic League championship, concluded their marvelous season on a bit of a sour note, ending a 12-game win streak during which they became the rst Harvey basketball team to record 20 wins in a single season. You had a sense it was not going to be their day when the girls uncharacteristically fell behind from the start. e No. 6 seed Mustangs jumped out to a 6-0 lead. e Cavs fought to score some points and wipe out Millbrook’s early advantage, but the closest they got in the rst half was three points. Millbrook led 14-9 at the end of the rst quarter. As the second started, Millbrook’s girls hit their shots, but the Cavs missed several of theirs, a theme that would continue throughout the game. e Mustangs would go on a 9-0 run before Harvey scored again. When the Cavs continued to miss, Millbrook took advantage and went on an 11-0 run within the nal three minutes of the second quarter. At halftime, Harvey was down 38-17. Shooting guard McKensi Forde, the junior captain and NEPSAC All-Star, had 12 of Harvey’s rst-half total and would nish with a team-high 26 points. Midway through the third quarter, Harvey was down by 21. Forde was again leading Harvey’s o ensive e ort and was joined by her ninth-grade sister Peyton as the siblings combined to score 15 of the team’s 19 points to trim Millbrook’s lead to 15. Peyton would go on to tally 11 points in the game. e Mustangs led 50- 35 after three quarters. While McKensi Forde continued to have the hot hand for Harvey in the fourth, her teammates struggled to nd the shooting range. Shot after shot seemed to either hit the rim and bounce away, bank o the backboard, or in a few cases, miss both rim and backboard altogether. “None of our shots were going in, and we were struggling to move the ball,” lamented Harvey coach Victoria Shopovick, who gave credit to Millbrook’s defense for limiting Harvey senior captain and NEPSAC All-Star Kira Ortega to just eight points. As much as the Cavs hustled to try to stop Millbrook and put themselves in position to score, it was just not their day on o ense. Coach Shopovick said the Cavs’ defense came up short too. “Our defense was good at times, but it de nitely could have been better,” the coach said. e girls nish the 2022-23 winter season with a 22-3 overall record. e loss in the NEPSAC tournament in no way tarnishes their season, as they go down in school history not only as the rst team to win 20 games, but also as the rst girls team to win a Housatonic Valley Athletic League championship. Harvey had won three titles in the old Hudson Valley Athletic League. On seeing her team fail to advance to the NEPSAC semi nal, Coach Shopovick said, “It’s hard to see it come to an end, but the girls played a great season, walking away with records and an HVA championship. I could not be prouder with this group of girls.” Harvey’s 2022-23 girls varsity basketball team has the trophy as proof of its monumental accomplishment, and soon the team’s championship banner will join it. Article provided by e Harvey School. Season ends for Cavs girls in NEPSAC Tourney loss PHOTO: GABE PALACIO McKensi Forde scores from underneath. HARVEY GIRLS BASKETBALL 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]. 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
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 SPORTS THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 19 John Jay’s Kayla Cambareri and her combined gymnastics team (Somers/Yorktown/John Jay) joined the rest of Section 1 on Saturday, Mar. 4 at Keymore West Senior High School in Buffalo for the 2023 NYSPHSAA Gymnastics Championships. The freshman showed no fear during her lone event, the Vault, nailing her routine for a 9.000 on the biggest stage against the best in New York, helping Section 1 place fourth overall (181.300). Cambareri vaults Section 1 at States Fourth-place team finish Kayla Cambareri PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN MILES Cambareri stuck the landing on the Vault for a 9.000. The lower Hudson Valley participants came together to represent Section 1 at States. GYMNASTICS Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 2022 was a CRAZY YEAR! 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 We can help make your taxes less crazy.
PAGE 20 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES LEISURE THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 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. Half-conscious states 8. Unnatural 13. Deep regret 14. Rogue 15. Taken without permission 19. An alternative 20. After B 21. Partner to flowed 22. Weekday 23. Body part 24. WorldÕs longest river 25. One of the Greats 26. Make clean 30. C. Canada indigenous peoples 31. Japanese seaport 32. Most unclothed 33. Small grouper fish 34. Soluble ribonucleic acid 35. Distinguishing sound 38. French realist painter 39. Popular beer brand 40. Views 44. God depicted as a bull 45. Relieve 46. Residue after burning 47. Habitation 48. Poe’s middle name 49. Japanese title 50. TV series installation (abbr.) 51. Beloved country singer 55. Single unit 57. Genuine 58. Develop 59. Traveled through the snow CLUES DOWN 1. Clues 2. Do again 3. Current unit 4. Neither 5. Corporate exec (abbr.) 6. Second sight 7. The absence of mental stress 8. Supplemented with difficulty 9. Stop for good 10. College dorm worker 11. Bones 12. Most supernatural 16. Spanish island 17. Unlimited 18. Where golfers begin 22. No charge 25. Print errors 27. Professional drivers 28. Kiss box set 29. Short, fine fibers 30. Administers punishment 32. Czech city 34. Normal or sound powers of mind 35. The academic world 36. Crustacean 37. Currency 38. Pastoral people of Tanzania or Kenya 40. Cloth spread over a coffin 41. Grouped together 42. On land 43. Glistened 45. A type of extension 48. One who assists 51. College sports conference 52. Zero 53. Midway between northeast and east 54. Type of screen 56. The 13th letter of the Greek alphabet Cheesesteaks are decadent sliced beef sandwiches covered in gooey cheese and served on crusty rolls. According to Philadelphia’s o cial tourism site, Pat Oliveri invented the cheesesteak in the 1930s. Oliveri was a hot dog vendor who decided to grill beef from the butcher and put it on an Italian roll. A cab driver smelled the creation and asked f o r the sandwich. Word spread about this new concoction, and soon lots of customers were coming by for their own. Oliveri opened up Pat’s King of Steaks on 9th Street soon after. Cheese was added later to the sandwiches in the 1940s after a suggestion from manager Joe Lorenza. Cheesesteaks have become synonymous with Philadelphia. In fact, there is a erce rivalry between Pat’s and Geno’s, which is another cheesesteak restaurant that opened across the street from Pat’s in 1966 and claims they were the rst to add cheese to the steak. Fierce loyalties to both of these restaurants stand today in Philadelphia. However, a person doesn’t have to take sides when he or she makes cheesesteak at home. is recipe, courtesy of chef Robert Irvine and the Food Network, is easy and quick. Cook up a classic Philly sandwich Cheesesteak Makes 4 sandwiches 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil 2 cups thinly sliced yellow onions Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 4 9-inch sub rolls 2 pounds shaved beef, such as rib eye or sirloin 12 thin slices provolone In a large saute pan or griddle, heat the oil over mediumhigh heat for 1 minute, and then add the onions, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook the onions until caramelized, stirring throughout the process, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove and keep warm. Spread the softened butter on the interiors of the rolls and cook, butter-side down, on a griddle until browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the rolls, add the raw steak to the griddle and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook briefl y, shredding the meat into small pieces with two metal spatulas. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Portion the meat into 4 piles, and top each pile with 3 slices of the provolone. Continue to cook until the cheese melts (putting on the lid and adding a little water to the pan can help with this step). Cover each pile with a browned roll, and place a spatula under the meat to pick it up with the roll.
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 21 said it would like to see DEP and Westchester County Board of Health approval before moving ahead. She acknowledged minor changes to the plans, including a re ned septic system design. Septic elds will replace the tennis courts. Building Inspector Kevin Kelly, as well as Chair Janet Anderson, expressed concerns about re protection and access for re trucks. ey noted the re department needs to weigh in on the topic. Ms. Anderson asked for the drafting of a resolution to be started, and the board agreed. No members of the public commented, and there will be another public hearing at the next meeting on March 21. MERCEDES BENZ OF GOLDENS BRIDGE e Board accepted a new resolution to allow building permits issued, per health department approval, to continue. OTHER BUSINESS A subdivision request for Rising Starr Horse Rescue on Silver Spring Street was referred to the Building Inspector, and a public hearing was set for the March 21 meeting. e board discussed an application for a subdivision and special use permit associated with a private nature preserve at the Wolf Conservation Center on Buck Run in South Salem. PLANNING FROM PAGE 6 STRONG AS STEEL WITH THE ATTRACTIVE LOOK OF VARIOUS ROOF STYLES Upgrade Your Home with a NEW METAL ROOF Guaranteed to Last a Lifetime! From Dimensional Shingles to classic styles reminiscent of Cedar Shake and Spanish Tile, an architectural roo ng system by Erie Metal Roofs can enhance the beauty of your home while protecting your family and property for a lifetime. Call today to schedule your FREE ESTIMATE 1-855-492-6084 Made in the USA New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not be available in your area. Offer expires March 31, 2023. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. GA License Number: RBCO006004 LIMITED TIME OFFER 60%off TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 10% off YOUR INSTALLATION Install for Military, Health Workers and First Responders + Warranty- Limited Lifetime. Transferable to 1 subsequent owner from original purchaser. Terms and conditions apply. Hail up to 2.5”, Appearance of the surface coating beyond normal wear and tear. Limited time offer. 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NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: YOU MAY *QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS! HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH Qualify Today: 800-944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to see if you *qualify Do you need a New Roof and Help paying for it? Do you need Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 *Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are on a first come, first serve basis in your area. Any leaking, visible damage, or roof age, may *qualify you! Drafty windows, energy cost too high, you may *qualify! some time. He said that although the project was put out to bid in August, no company at the time met the insurance requirements. He stated given the height and magnitude now of almost two years of accumulation, it needs to be removed. Councilman Daniel Welsh, in reply to a letter from Carol Cernak, caretaker of Farvue Farm, questioning why former processor Hickory Homes shouldn’t take the debris, asked whether it was the former processor’s responsibility. Ripperger said they had taken everything that was theirs and the town’s two years ago. Town Attorney Greg Folchetti noted the added concerns about regulatory enforcement by the DEP and the statute that allows awarding a government contract on an emergency basis without competitive bidding. e board unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the work to proceed and Tremson is expected to complete the work completed within 30 days of signing a contract. e board also approved a resolution to award Horticultural Asset Management Inc. (HMI) of North Carolina a contract to remove dead ash trees in Lewisboro and haul them away at a cost of $59,940. Its subcontractor, Alpine Tree Service of Hopewell Junction, will be responsible for the work. SAM GRANT Supervisor Tony Gonçalves announced a preliminary application for a $100,000 System for Award Management (SAM) grant to help pay for putting in a water disinfection system at the bathrooms at Fox Valley Park. He noted the health department wants it and could shut the bathrooms down if not addressed. e water is tested at the beginning of the spring season and monthly. Goncalves would also like to look into making it a year-round facility and not board it up in the winter by adding a small heating system. e grant also would pay for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades to the bathrooms. SECOND TAX EXEMPTION PUBLIC HEARING e board held its second public hearing on a proposed amendment that would enable volunteer emergency services workers to seek a property tax exemption after serving two years, rather than ve. After hearing three public comments in favor of the proposal, the board voted unanimously to pass the measure to provide a real property tax exemption of 10% on the assessed valuation of property owned by an enrolled member of an incorporated volunteer re company, re department or incorporated voluntary ambulance after a minimum of two years of service. Vista Fire Chief Je Peck sent a letter in support, saying it was not self-serving but sounded the alarm to the decline in recruitment and retention of volunteers and hoped the exemption would be an incentive for new members and to retain personnel. He noted the total number of members who would bene t from the change of a ve-year service requirement to two years would only be four. VISTA HAMLET STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL FORMED Daniela Goldman, a Vista resident for 15 years, spoke about the formation of Vista Hamlet Stewardship Council to raise funds to help development of the community, improvement of the Vista Community Park, and Vista Hamlet overall. e rst fundraising event will be there on March 25 and will be a free Easter egg hunt. Face painting and arts and crafts will be on tap, as well. ey have already cut down brush and cleared the park with the help of the Lewisboro Baseball Association and Vista Troop 101 Boy Scouts. BOARD FROM PAGE 1 Virtual Support Groups Support groups for women with breast and ovarian cancers have been transitioned to virtual platforms. Virtual groups are accessible to women from the comfort of their homes, regardless of where they live. All groups are open to new members as well as past participants. Advance registration is required by calling 914-962-6402 or 800- 532-4290. Support Connection’s Peer Counselors are also available for individual counseling and assistance via phone and email. Call 800-532-4290, or submit an online request at supportconnection.org. CROSSING FROM PAGE 4
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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES – PAGE 23 APAR PUBLICITY WITH PERSONALITY PR Public Rela ons For... Businesses | Individuals | Organiza ons | Events Your Message Is Our Mission Leave Your Message Here... (914) 275-6887 | bruceaparpr@ gmail.com BRUCE APAR WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 “We couldn’t imagine our business without it. Halston’s people are fabulous to work with; our advertising in Halston papers has given us considerable name recognition for our office and our agents and has driven traffic to our web site.” ~Zef Camaj Branch Manager / Houlihan Lawrence Yorktown Military families face many challenges — one of which is the need to build and manage their nancial resources. If you are connected to the military, either as an active member or as part of a family, what are some of the issues you face? And what opportunities are available to you? To begin with, when trying to save and invest for retirement, military families encounter two main di culties. First, many military service members don’t remain in the armed forces long enough to earn a pension. And second, because military families move around so much, military spouses often don’t stay at a job long enough to become eligible to receive employer contributions to retirement plans or to become vested in these plans. However, military spouses who couldn’t fully participate in employer-sponsored retirement plans in the past now have a new opportunity. As part of 2022 legislation known as SECURE 2.0, small employers — de ned as having 100 or fewer employees earning at least $5,000 in annual compensation — can receive a tax credit of up to $500 for three years if they make military spouses eligible for a de ned contribution plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), SEP IRA and SIMPLE IRA. e credit is available for the year in which the military spouse is hired, plus the two following taxable years. Spouses’ contributions to retirement plans can certainly be one part of the retirement income picture for military families. But military members may also want to contribute to the rift Savings Plan, which functions much like 401(k) plans in the private sector. Speci cally, if you’re in the military, you can make pre-tax contributions, or after-tax (Roth) contributions, or both. By visiting the rift Savings Plan’s website at www.tsp. gov, you can learn about investing in the plan, and you can nd tips on various life events, such as buying a house. Another savings opportunity is available for military personnel who have served in designated combat zones. If you’re eligible, you can deposit up to $10,000 and receive a 10% interest rate — an amount far above the rates typically paid by traditional savings accounts and even highyield savings accounts. You can learn more about this program at www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/sdp/. And you may also be able to gain valuable nancial bene ts for education through the Post9/11 GI Bill. Even if you’re a veteran who doesn’t plan to go back to school, you may be able to transfer the GI Bill’s bene ts to your spouse or child. To nd out more about this program, go to www.va.gov and hit the “apply for education bene ts” link. Finally, health insurance is another nancial issue that military personnel and their families need to consider. If you’re still on active duty, you have to enroll in TRICARE, and if you’re veteran, you are likely still eligible for TRICARE coverage, along with your VA bene ts. But there are di erent TRICARE options available, so you’ll want to nd the plan that’s right for your needs. To familiarize yourself with what’s available, visit www. tricare.mil. By making the right nancial moves, military families like yours can go a long way toward achieving the dignity and security you deserve. Make sure you’re exploring all your opportunities. is article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Financial Advisor, Judi McAnaw, a resident of Katonah. She has an o ce at 200 Business Park Drive, Suite 107, in Armonk. Judi can be reached at 914-669-5329. Financial moves for military families Make sure you’re exploring all your opportunities.’ -Judi McAnaw Edward Jones Financial Advisor JUDI MCANAW GUEST CORNER
PAGE 24 – THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 @2023 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. 83 KATONAH AVENUE, KATONAH, NY 10536. 914.232.3700. When it comes to selling real estate, local expertise has never been more important. An award-winning 20-year veteran and top-producing broker at Douglas Elliman, Melissa is raising her family in Katonah and has deep roots in the Northern Westchester community. Melissa has successfully leveraged Douglas Elliman's New York City reach by matching exceptional Westchester homes with the right buyers. If you’ve been considering a move, now is a great time to contact Melissa. It pays to work with a professional with local expertise and first-hand knowledge of the community. Contact Melissa today. 2023 Top Real Estate Agent by Westchester Magazine Melissa Frank Lutz Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker O: 914.232.3700 | M: 646.765.8691 [email protected] The Spring is a time for New Beginnings Deep Local Knowledge. Broad Expertise. If you have considered selling your home, the Spring season is the optimal time to take advantage of our Real Estate market. Call Melissa today to get started.