CLASSIFIEDS 39 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 39 LEISURE 24 OBITUARIES 30 OPINION 10 SPORTS 22 Eric D’Agnese Tournament pg 20 WRESTLING VOL. 13 NO. 38 Visit News.HalstonMedia.com for the latest news. JANUARY 11 – JANUARY 24, 2024 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER After swearing in elected officials, Somers kicked off the New Year with its annual organizational meeting and the appointment of a new deputy supervisor. Besides setting schedules, designating things such as the official depository and newspaper, and making assignments to various boards and committees, the Town Board announced that Michael Coughlin would be replacing former Supervisor Rick Morrissey in the role. Coughlin, a lifelong resident, has been with the Somers Volunteer Fire Department for three decades. He teaches in a school district outside town, has three children, and is an “avid” tennis player. “I’m happy to be part of the team,” he told Scorrano and Town Board members on Thursday, Jan. 4. Rick Morrissey, who had served four terms as supervisor before deciding not to run again in 2021, resigned from the deputy supervisor’s position effective Dec. 31. In a letter to Supervisor Robert Scorrano that was read into the record, Morrissey wrote that he trusted “the insights I shared contributed positively as you assumed the role of town supervisor.” He noted that it though it was time “to step aside and make way for another dedicated resident who can further contribute to the well-being of our community.” Saying that working with Scorrano and others in town government “has been an honor,” Morrissey added that he was “proud of have played a role in the governance of the Town of Somers.” “I have confidence in the continued success of the town under your leadership and I extend my best wishes for the progress and prosperity of our community in the years to come,” he concluded. Saying that Morrissey had been “very instrumental” as a sounding board during his first term, Scorrano called him a “mentor” and someone who holds a “special place” in his heart. Councilman William Faulkner said it had been “a pleasure” to have served with Somers officials welcome 2024 New deputy supervisor appointed PHOTO: CAROL REIF SEE OFFICIALS PAGE 37 Somers l 3 BR l 2 BA l 1,906 sf l 2-Car Garage l $825,000 Exciting Opportunity at Heritage Hills. Beautifully Updated and Meticulously Cared for and a chance to fall in love with this pristine Sherman II. Featuring three bedrooms + a Den, two full renovated baths, an expansive formal living room with stunning wood fl oors and sliders to the oversized deck, a handsome fi replace, spacious dining room, a sunlit and updated eat-in kitchen, and an attached two-car garage with oversized storage. #UGottaHaveHope 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 Just Listed
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JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year! BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER 10-13. In law enforcement speak, it means “Officer needs assistance.” But in one Lewisboro native’s case, it should translate to “Officer needs a kidney.” Clark Pitura, a longtime detective with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, was on duty in 2021 when he contracted COVID and was hospitalized in critical condition. The doctors suggested a certain medication that, they warned, could save his life but could also possibly harm his kidneys. Pitura’s family made the tough decision to go ahead with the treatment. He and his wife, Lia, an occupational therapist with the Lakeland Central School District, have one son, Dylan, who is now in college. The now 51-year-old dad survived but had to undergo six months of pulmonary rehabilitation and be placed on medical leave. To top things off, Pitura was dealing with Type 1 Diabetes, a disease he was diagnosed with when a student at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Orangeburg. (A 1990 graduate John Jay High School in Cross River, he grew up in Goldens Bridge and then lived in Katonah before moving to Brewster in Putnam County. Lia grew up in Katonah and graduated from John Jay in 1991.) Pitura had been working hard to get healthy enough to return to duty when he got the bad news that tests showed his kidneys had taken a big hit. Doctors had hoped the organs would rebound, but they got “worse and worse,” he said. There were times when Pitura was so fatigued he couldn’t get out of bed by himself. By 2022, the “writing was on the wall,” namely that he was heading for dialysis and would most likely need a transplant, ideally from a living donor. Although a perfect match, Lia couldn’t donate because she’s petite (about 5 foot 2) and doctors said her kidney would be too small for her 6-foot-plus spouse. Several cousins also stepped up, but unfortunately were medically disqualified. “It was nice of them to try, but it just didn’t work out,” Pitura said. The family turned to social media and also reached out to Pitura’s college pals and fellow church parishioners. “Everybody knows, but it’s a BIG ask,” he acknowledged recently. According to organdonor.gov, there are currently 103,327 men, women, and children in the U.S. on the national transplant list. The National Kidney Foundation set the average time frame for waiting at three to five years at most transplant centers. It can be even longer in some geographic regions of the country. There is a swap program where any healthy person willing to donate can. They do not have to be an exact match for Pitura. (You only need one kidney to live a full, healthy life. Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, which doesn’t require large incisions. Recuperation is quick, usually two weeks after surgery. Insurance and evaluation costs are covered by the recipient’s policy.) Pitura is registered with the Recanati/Miller Transplant Institute (RMTI) of Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. Here’s how its living donor team explains the institute’s “kidney swap” program. Say the prospective donor, “Mary,” wants to give a kidney to her friend “Joe,” but has a blood type that isn’t compatible. Mary and Joe are entered into the program’s data base as “a pair.” They remain remain on the list until a second “pair” – one of whom will be a match – is identified, the spokesperson said. But once that happens, it’s usually only two to three weeks before transplant surgery takes place. Joe gets a kidney from the matching donor and Mary donates one of hers to a second recipient. Besides saving a stranger’s life, Mary’s selfless act moves her to the top of the list for a kidney (from a deceased donor) transplant should she need one in the future. To take the donor survey, visit www.MountSinaiLivingDonation.org. For more information, visit www.mountsinai.org/care/transplant/services/living-donor or www.mountsinai.org/locations/ recanati-miller-transplant; or call (212) 731-7684. Pitura underwent a “fistula” procedure in 2022 that grafted an artery and vein in his arm in order to prepare him for dialysis, a treatment which removes water, waste products, and toxins from the bloodstream. By May 2023, Pitura was visiting a clinic in Jefferson Valley three days a week, an experience he calls “life-changing” and “humbling.” Although he knew dialysis was buying him time, Pitura was sad that it put the kibosh on favorite outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, and canoeing. Gratitude has kept him going. “Whenever I walk into the clinic I say to myself, I’m walking out of here and there are lots of people who aren’t as fortunate as I am,” Pitura said, adding: “As poor shape that I’m in, I look like Captain Fitness in comparison to some other folks.” However, it doesn’t make having to be tethered to a machine that resembles a commercial “Slushie maker” for 19 or 20 hours a week any less miserable. “The problem is that there’s no end in sight; it’s not like a broken bone or a wound that’s going to heal. It’s never ending; it can really make you cry,” he explained. That’s not to say Pitura’s not extremely thankful that he has access to life-saving medical care. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how much money you make, if you don’t have your health, you have nothing,” he said. Pitura’s kidneys have deteriorated to the point where even dialysis isn’t totally doing the job. He needs a transplant, and fast. Having to be hospitalized three times this fall so that excess fluids could be drained from his body, Pitura missed his 18-year-old son’s first Thanksgiving home from college. Asked how Dylan is holding up, the proud father said he’s “surprisingly confident in dealing with the situation and is being so supportive.” “Of course, he wishes it wasn’t happening,” Pitura added. Lia is impressed with her spouse’s fortitude and resilience and grateful that the family has been able to find new ways to be together. “It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t have a choice,” she told Halston Media recently. There’ve been a lot of emotional ups and downs along the way, but the Pituras feel “unbelievable fortunate to have a lot of people rooting for us,” Lia said. Folks in the law enforcement community are rallying around. Last spring, Westchester B.L.U.E. (Brothers in Law Enforcement Uniting Efforts) Foundation and the New York City Environmental Police Benevolent Association held a fundraiser to help the Pituras. There was food, raffles, T-shirts, music, and a 50- A neighbor in need Westchester native seeks kidney donation SEE NEIGHBOR PAGE 8 Clark Pitura with his son Dylan and wife Lia. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PITURA FAMILY
PAGE 4 – THE SOMERS RECORD The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [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] DESIGNERS Noah Elder Bri Agosta Haven Elder Jacob Elder EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Somers Record The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request The Somers Record weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Periodicals Postage Paid at Somers, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Somers Record at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 (ISSN 2330-1597) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 Halston Media, LLC JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! YOUR FAMILY CAR CARE CENTER For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating relationships and building a remarkable company with an amazing team JOE FERONE, owner of employees! Somers Parks & Recreation Department 2024 Winter Programs The winter programs are now available online, and registration begins Jan. 4. at 10 a.m. Visit www.somersny.com, then click “Parks & Recreation” and scroll down to “Program Registration.” Available programs are in the blue tab. Somers High School PTSA Hang Up & Drive Monday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. The Somers High School PTSA’s annual driver safety program returns for another year, providing a valuable message for both students and parents. Once again featuring guest speakers Jacy Good, Steve Johnson and Somers Town Justice Michael McDermott. Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam We welcome you to join us for monthly discussions as we work to advance cross-racial and cross-cultural amity. Monthly events feature speakers, screenings, and presentations, followed by discussions. Many meetings are hybrid (in person and on Zoom). Find us on Facebook or contact raceamitynwp@gmail. com. Martin Luther King Jr. “Beyond the Dream” Monday, Jan. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. You are cordially invited to join Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam and Yorktown for Justice at their upcoming event to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In honor of his legacy as a radical visionary and nuanced American icon, join in for a candid, in-person discussion of MLK’s life, history and mission through his most powerful and perhaps unfamiliar works. All are welcome. Featuring learning, music, and refreshments. To be held at Grace Lutheran Church at 3830 Gomer Street in Yorktown Heights. Free Square Dancing Fun Nights Mondays, Feb. 5 and 12, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Singles, couples, and families welcome! To be held at the Katonah Methodist Church Parish Hall at 44 Edgemont Road in Katonah. For more information, visit www.friendlysquares.com Somers Library Please register using the online calendar at www.somers library.org to have access to online meetings. If virtual, you will receive an invitation prior to the start of the program. Programs are supported by the Friends of the Somers Library through patrons’ generous contributions. After School Storytime & Craft Thursdays, Jan. 11, 18, & 25, at 4 p.m. Join the children’s librarians for a themed storytime after school! Crafts included after on the 11th and 25th. Best for ages 4 and up, but little ones are welcome! Lil’ Atoms STEM Club - Great Arctic Circle Challenge Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 3:45 p.m. Join in each month for STEM/ STEAM based experiments and projects. For this challenge, students will plan, design, and build an igloo warm enough and strong enough to survive the arctic! Grades 3 to 5. 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Book Clubs Wednesdays, at 3:45 p.m. Led by Beth Levine, students SEE TRUNK PAGE 26 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 THE POWER IN PLANNING: ATTORNEY EVENT PRESENTED BY: Paula Boa Sousa, Collins Hannafin, P.C. HOSTED BY: Maplewood at Danbury Join Maplewood at Danbury and Attorney Paula Boa Sousa for an informative event on Estate Planning, where we will shed light on crucial documents that can safeguard your future and provide peace of mind. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the essential tools that can protect your legacy and well-being. Estate Planning Documents Overview: 1. Health Care Instructions 2. Power of Attorney 3. Estate Administration 4. Will vs. Living Will vs. Living Trust (Revocable) 22 Hospital Avenue | Danbury, Connecticut | 203.744.8444 | MaplewoodAtDanbury.com RSVP By January 26th by scanning the QR code. If any questions, contact Jennifer Burke James at [email protected] or call 203.744.8444. MONDAY, JANUARY 29TH | 12:30 PM Paula Boa Sousa specializes in Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Elder Law, including Medicaid applications. In November 2010, Paula was appointed to the Legislative Committee of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. In this role, she actively advocates for seniors and plays a crucial part in shaping legislation to enhance State programs, protect the elderly from abuse, and improve their overall quality of life.
BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER The Somers Library is facing several financial and leadership challenges in 2024, including the loss of its director. Jennifer Daddio resigned last month from the position she’d held for three years. She will stay on until Feb. 2. Daddio confirmed last week that she has accepted the director’s job at the Chappaqua Library in New Castle. She takes over there from outgoing director Andrew Farber who, coincidentally, had spent five years at the helm of the Somers Library. Farber now works for the Greenburgh Public Library. Daddio would not reveal on her reasons for leaving but did say she was going “to miss Somers a lot.” “The Library Board and staff have both been phenomenal and the patrons are lovely,” she said. Late last year, Daddio advised the community to be prepared for some potential changes in the library’s operations. Explaining that that the “rising costs of everything” had forced it to “reconsider its services,” she told The Somers Record: “We’re being squeezed and at the same time we’re trying to retain talented people.” The Library Board met on Dec. 20 to discuss the possibility of cutting back on library hours, materials, and programming. According to Trustee Barbara Tepper, it decided to “leave things as they are for a few months and see how it works out.” However, it will be walking back the no late-fees policy it instituted in 2022, she said, adding that it was “something the town wanted.” Daddio noted that the library will no longer be purchasing new DVDs or books on CD or offering museum passes as of 2025. It also plans to cut back on the number of magazines it purchases next year. However, the library will maintain its streaming services so patrons can still borrow and enjoy audiobooks, eBooks, movies, TV, periodicals, or music on their computers, phones, and TVs. No staffing cuts are envisioned at this time, she said. The choices the board faces are difficult but necessary to ensure that it will be able to pay employees a living wage. “Our staff is the most valuable asset of this library, more than the materials or programs,” Daddio said last month. “If we didn’t have this phenomenal staff, this library wouldn’t be as great as it is.” Both Tepper and Trustee Bill Keane appeared at several Town Board meetings to appeal for more money in the library’s budget. The library has been experiencing issues with the aging building, located in Reis Park, over the years. The town offered to help with maintenance costs, but didn’t specify exactly how much, Tepper said. Besides the rising costs of fuel and electricity, the library’s facing higher fees for the Westchester Library System’s services, behind-the-scenes things that the public isn’t usually aware of but are needed to keep libraries running. The WLS, a state-chartered cooperative that serves 38 public libraries in Westchester, maintains the Somers Library’s public and staff computers, technology, and cataloging and keeps statistics on how many and what kinds of materials it loans to other facilities. Explaining that the library relies on the WLS’s support, expertise, and knowledge “heavily,” Daddio noted that it’s “much too small” to provide those services itself. The WLS also trains professional and support staff and makes interlibrary deliveries. So when the cost of gasoline goes up, for instance, it has to pass that along. “It’s a domino effect,” Daddio had said. Among the library’s accomplishments she highlighted in December were the hiring of two new children’s librarians, the expansion of teen services, and the applying for a $210,000 New York State Construction Grant it intends to use to create a new Teen Room. It also improved its technology services, created a Spanish language collection, and grew online and in-person programming. It’s partnered with other town entities such as schools, recreation facilities, St. Luke’s Food Pantry, and Embrace the MOMent, a new organization that supports moms to be, new mothers, and mom new to the area. According to Daddio, the fact that the WLS has “green-lighted” the grant application all but guarantees it will be approved. The library expects to hear from the state fairly soon, she said. Whoever takes over as director will have to coordinate input from town officials, library trustees, and the team of architects that’s currently handling the Teen Room project. It’s in “everybody’s best interests” to communicate and collaborate, she said. The Library Board’s next task is to find a new director. It could appoint someone from within the ranks or it could rely on the WLS to provide an interim director until a permanent replacement is found. There are said to be several retired library directors that could fit the bill, according to Tepper. PAGE 6 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 When did you last update your last will and testament and power of attorney? Somers Library director announces resignation ‘The Library Board and staff have both been phenomenal and the patrons are lovely.’ Jennifer Daddio Somers Library Director
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 7 JUST SOLD 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. Enjoyed working with the sellers of this great horse property Marcie Nolletti Licensed Real Estate Salesperson NY & CT Buying and Selling— I can make it happen! 338 Route 202 | Somers, NY 10589 Cell: (914) 424-5545 [email protected] | marcienolletti.com 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. 212 Hunt Lane, North Salem Quintessential horse property located on one of the most bucolic roads in Westchester. This well-appointed farm includes a colonial farmhouse, 3 stall barn, paddocks and a riding arena on the NSBT. The home features hardwood floors throughout, chef’s kitchen with granite counters, custom cherry inset cabinetry, Miele and Viking appliances with sliding doors to a beautiful fieldstone patio. Picturesque views from every window, enjoy watching your horses while sipping a cup of tea. The spacious family room has a built-in wet bar with Viking beverage fridge. A warm fireplace found in the formal living room is the perfect spot on a chilly day. The barn is Amish built and has hot water, matted stalls with walk outs, matted aisle, tack room with washing machine, outdoor wash stall, hay loft and access to paddocks.
PAGE 8 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 Conveniently located at: 34 Hillandale Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY Accommodates up to 120 people Ample Parking Handicap Accessible Full Kitchen Changeable LED Lighting Stereo System, Free Wi-Fi 3 Cable TVs, Full Stage Separate Suite with Fireplace The Somers Lions Club is pleased to announce the winners of the 10th Annual “Illuminate Somers Parade of Lights” contest. On Dec. 17, hundreds of Somers residents took a tour of holiday decoration displays around town, led by the Somers Highway Department. More than 100 carloads participated across five tours. Everyone received hot chocolate, candy canes, maps and a visit from Santa Claus as they lined up at Reis Park before the event. A panel of judges evaluated all entries and determined winners in several categories, with each receiving a $50 prize. Best Classic Decorations: Norton Family, 3 Wellington Lane Most Original/Creative Decorations: DeFeo Family, 13 Chambers Drive Best Figurines/Inflatables: Guyot Family, 1 Somerset Drive Additionally, the community voted on a “Community Choice” decoration award, which was presented to the Guyot Family. Thanks to everyone who participated, either by entering their decorated homes, going on the tour and/or voting. And a special thanks to the Somers Highway Department, Somers Police and the Somers Leos Club, who were instrumental in making the evening a success, despite less than ideal weather conditions. The Lions would also like to thank event sponsors Kearney Realty and Development Group and the Paramount at Somers Rehabilitation Center. Their generous donations covered the costs of the event. Article courtesy of Somers Lions Club. llluminate Somers makes the season merry and bright Lions Club names contest winners NEIGHBOR FROM PAGE 3 50 drawing. Founded in 2011 by former Mount Vernon homicide detective Matthew Frank, B.L.U.E helps active and retired police officers who are experiencing emotional, physical, and financial difficulties. “There are so few resources, we have to rely on ourselves and be there for one another,” he explained. “Whatever their needs may be, they just have to reach out and we’ll be there, 24/7, 365,” said Frank of cops in crisis. Calling the Pituras “a lovely family,” he added: “Clark is awesome; his wife’s the best; and their son is a very smart young man.” Frank said it was important that people “realize that there are all kinds of dangers police officers face on the job.” (He himself was seriously wounded in 2006 by a shooting suspect he’d been questioning.) While most are obvious – injury or death caused by persons or animal, traffic accidents, and even suicide – the one thing that folks don’t usually think about is exposure to illnesses. The impact on first responders and medical providers became painfully apparent during the COVID epidemic. Despite the personal risks, they’d take them “again and again and again” because “when you’re a police officer, it’s in your heart. It’s not just a job, it’s part of who we are,” Frank said. Officers have to take care of themselves and their brothers and sisters in blue, he said, recalling a favorite analogy. “I tell people then, when you are in the police academy, one of things they teach you is how to drive a certain way. You have to stop at signs and lights; you can’t just blow through them. Proceed with caution. Because if you don’t get there, you can’t help anybody else,” he said. To donate to B.L.U.E visit www.westchesterblue.org and click on the “About Us” and then the “Donate Now” buttons. To direct funds to Pitura, specify that in the notes section. Pitura’s goal is not only to be there for his family but to get healthy enough to return to the career he loves. Among the friends pulling for him is Joe Parrello, a Harrison police officer who had been Dylan Pitura’s football coach. “Clark’s an amazing man, a great husband, and a great dad. He’s lived a life of service and someone’s donating a kidney would be the perfect way to give back,” he said. The Guyot family won the “Best Figurines/ Inflatables” and “Community Choice” categories. PHOTO: CAROL REIF
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 9 SOMERS Central School District Forward in Exceence Myth: IB is only for the high-achieving students. FACT: The IB framework is designed to minimize barriers for all students and fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for learning. It promotes inclusivity and a collaborative culture, encouraging exploration of concepts and topics of interest to individual students. Students receive the individualized support they need to be successful. Myth: IB isn’t nationally recognized and doesn’t support the teaching of New York State Standards. FACT: In SCSD, all instructional units follow New York State Standards. IB provides the framework for the best teaching and learning practices across all grades. IB is recognized by the Military Child Education Coalition as a valuable and rigorous academic program for children of U.S. military personnel. International Baccalaureate Programme The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is an internationally recognized educational framework for kindergarten through 12th grade that follows New York State Education Standards. IB is not what we teach and learn in Somers, but rather how we teach and learn. Separate fact from fiction. Here are some common misconceptions and facts about the International Baccalaureate Programme: Myth: IB is a prescribed curriculum. FACT: Curriculum, including content and resources, are chosen at the school level based on New York State Standards. The IB framework equips students with critical thinking skills to draw independent conclusions based on their own research and experience. This approach supports diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and opinions, empowering students to ask questions and find the answers themselves. Myth: All tests and papers of American [IB] students are sent to Europe/Geneva for grading and evaluation. FACT: Assessment in the IB Diploma Programme is evaluated by students’ own teachers and external examiners. Rigorous review and moderation ensure a consistent standard, similar to the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, which sends exams worldwide for scoring by teachers. Both IB and AP require scorers who are current teachers of that subject with a minimum of three years of experience. Provided by Somers Central School District.
PAGE 10 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 Opinion 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Somers Record 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 BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY , EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Last month I sent a directive to our regular columnists that this newspaper is banning all mentions of “Biden” and “Trump” in 2024. Half our audience hates Biden; the other half hates Trump. There is absolutely nothing new that a community newspaper can bring to light about presidential politics, so there is no reason to discuss it. Being non-partisan remains an important part of our business model and turning off half our audience is not something I choose to do. I will apply this same standard to our letter writers. If you want to write about Biden or Trump, please send it elsewhere. Every national outlet, from The New York Times to the New York Post, from The Wall Street Journal to The Washington Post, is associated with a political party. On TV and the Internet, the partisanship is more pronounced. The outlets all create their own ecosystems, where one side declares a political event to be a scandal and the other side declares it a conspiracy theory. The allegations against the politicians they seek to protect are always unproven, whereas the opposing politicians have always perpetrated the next Watergate. As a news publisher, I’m always astonished by the editorializing and analyses by so-called “objective” national outlets. They can afford to sell newspapers that way, as they have millions of potential subscribers. On the hyper-local level, non-partisanship is key. Of course, every journalist approaches his or her job with their own preconceived notions and world views, which is why diversity of thought is so important in a news room. At Halston Media, a free flow of ideas is essential. Some people on our staff (including me) are more opinionated than others. We do have one person on our staff who holds his cards so close to the vest, I’m convinced he’s either a member of the Whig or Bull Moose Party. It would be playing Russian Roulette if I had to guess which way this person pulls the lever in the voting booth. But I digress. Going back to our new policy about Biden and Trump, it isn’t just about not annoying half our audience. It’s also about not being boring. More often than not, anyone who writes about Biden or Trump in our opinion pages is simply regurgitating what they heard the night before on CNN or Fox News. The best national political columnists have actual national sources. In his memoir, “The Prince of Darkness,” the late great syndicated columnist Robert Novak spoke about having sources and targets, and if you weren’t his source, you were his target. He also spoke about getting hammered with his sources with drinks over lunch, which is how he loosened the lips of national politicians and had the inside track inside the Beltway. Nobody could ever accuse Novak’s columns of being boring. So, short of actual scoops from our columnists or original analyses from our letter writers (or short of Biden or Trump visiting Northern Westchester or Putnam County), there is no place in these opinion pages for commentary on Biden and Trump. Additionally, as part of our New Year’s resolution, I call on our columnists and letter writers to stick to issues instead of accusing Republicans of this and Democrats of that (which is boring and often a generalization). Spend 20 minutes with someone from the opposing political party, and I promise that you’ll discover areas of agreement on the most important issues of the day. Instead of writing that “Republicans want to kill Social Security” or “Democrats want open borders,” I call on our contributors to instead write about why they think Social Security is something that should be preserved (or not) and why our immigration policy is broken (or not). And of course, with those two topics, there is a lot of nuance in-between. I also remind all our contributors that you catch more flies with honey. Writing an opinion piece shouldn’t just be about serving red meat to the converted; it should also be about convincing those who may disagree with you. Most importantly, if you can bring all of these issues back to how it impacts your local community, even better. Especially in your hometown community newspaper. Happy New Year! This paper’s New Year’s resolution No mention of Biden or Trump in 2024 BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER’S MEMO I f I had to choose only one film to be my “desert island Christmas movie,” it would undoubtedly be “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” While my regular holiday rotation also includes tales of Buddy the Elf, Red Ryder BB guns and Nakatomi Plaza, “Christmas Vacation” tops my list every December. And the older I get, the more I identify with Clark Griswold. For those unfamiliar with the story, the patriarch of the Griswold clan sets out to host an unforgettable holiday for his huge extended family. Naturally, nothing goes according to plan, and destruction, kidnapping and other wacky hijinks ensue. This year the film was especially relatable to me since my wife, Maggie, and I were hosting our own celebration with family coming in from around the country. Twelve different house guests over 10 days, culminating in one huge Christmas party with a whopping 24 people attending. What could possibly go wrong? Shopping Spree I might not be an expert host, but I have discovered that around the holidays people like to eat. To prepare for a family gathering of this magnitude, you need to break out the big guns. Naturally, we headed to Costco. For anyone familiar with oversized bulk shopping, you know you can’t set foot in the warehouse without spending at least a few hundred dollars. We were pleasantly surprised when two carts came to just under $500. Although, going to the store in the evening to sidestep the crowds meant I was deprived of my beloved Costco free samples. I suppose everyone needs to make sacrifices around the holidays. With some steaks generously provided by my in-laws, we were ready to do battle with hungry holiday guests. Comfort and Joy Hosting a gathering for 24 people was simultaneously exciting and daunting. Thankfully, I had the good fortune of marrying a highly motivated and organized woman. Armed with a spreadsheet and a game plan, Maggie planned the day to perfection. We also received a helping hand from my mom’s kitchen, and all of our guests brought dessert so we wound Clark Griswold has nothing on me ‘Twas the season to be jolly. TOM WALOGORSKY TOM’S TAKE SEE WALOGORSKY PAGE 16
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! CALL US TODAY! ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! LIMITED TIME OFFER 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com CALL BELL before the Winter Spell! Heat pumps are a cleaner & healthier alternative to traditional heating & cooling systems. This all in one system will eliminate your need for fossil fuel and help you save thousands. Learn more about rebates & financing options! EXCLUDES SERVICE CONTRACT • EXP 1/30/24 Coupon must be presented at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES UP TO SAVE THOUSANDS in Federal, State and Local Incentives on your new HEATPUMP PROJECT Whenever you see the holidays reflected in art, they usually depict families, together again, laughing, having a grand old time, eating, drinking, and not fighting. That is why we invented art, so that we could picture things the way we want them to be, and give ourselves something to shoot at. I meant to say “shoot for,” but that brings me to my point. When reality falls short and it turns out we don’t live in a Norman Rockwell painting, it can be a stressinducing torment. Norman Rockwell himself once said that he painted happiness, but he didn’t live it. If I could paint, I would rather live happiness and not paint it. And if I was a sculptor, but then again, no. I hope you had a chance to take a few moments for yourself, before everyone arrived and took all your moments for themselves. Everyone has different ways of dealing with trials and errors, and finding the right one for you might be a matter of trial and error. Many people like to put themselves in someone else’s hands for an hour or so. Massage may be relaxing for some, but not for me; I’m as ticklish as it gets, and massaging me would be like massaging an eel. Even if I wasn’t ticklish, I’d be afraid that the therapist would take a look at my body and say, “What’s this bone doing here?” And I’d say, “It’s probably up to no good, like the rest of them. Can’t you massage it over to where it’s supposed to be, like a bubble in a hose?” My wife says that she sometimes falls asleep during the massage, and I ask, well then, how do you know if it was relaxing? There are those who consider yoga to be the way to achieve their best self, through breath control and self-awareness. My friend said she attended a goat yoga session, and the goat was lousy at it. Even when in the dog position, the cat position and the camel position, it still looked like a goat. Then it started to eat the yoga mat. Another girl I know said she attended a hot yoga session, and it wasn’t that hot. So I don’t think it’s for me, because a 6-foot, 2-inch guy in the shape of a pretzel does not sound appetizing without mustard. Yes, you say, but have you ever seen a stressed-out pretzel? There are people who swear by Transcendental Meditation. You choose a mantra, something easy to remember, like your Social Security number, and repeat it out loud over and over. Your eyes are closed, and 15-20 minutes later, you transcend something. If my eyes are closed for 15-20 minutes, I’m either attending a joint session of Congress, presiding over a meeting at work or pretending to be asleep, and I am known for my realistic pretending. I remember when the Beatles went to India to meet with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at an ashram near the Himalayas, to try to achieve the seven levels of consciousness. I can get to the first level of consciousness only after a large cup of coffee, and I cannot achieve the second without being tased. My idea of relaxation is to ride my motorcycle on a warm November day when the leaves are off the trees. You can see 180 degrees for miles around, the wind racing you, your body and the machine in a synchronous accord of balance and purpose. There is no radio, no one talking to you, no cellphone ringing. You are alone with your thoughts, which trust me, is better than being alone with mine, especially without a chaperone. The beauty of the occasion lasts as long as the weather holds out, there are no potholes, no deer and no one pulls out quickly in front of you. Nothing is forever. I know some people that aren’t truly at peace unless they are engaged in battle. This may sound like a paradox, but they crave disorder in the world so that they can tame their own little piece of it. Drama queens, divas, cardiologists, their way of relieving with stress is to cause an equal amount of it in others. If you don’t shut your brain down once in a while, it’s going to take some vacation time at the worst possible moment. So take a few minutes, take a deep breath, and picture how nice it was when your sister and brother-in-law came home for the holidays and everyone was together at last. And how she still made fun of the way you make mashed potatoes, and how he still can’t stop talking about how much more money he makes than you although he never picks up the check, and how you still have to follow their kid around saying “please don’t touch that,” because it seems like there are hyenas better trained than he is. And then picture how you felt waving at their taillights, with a sink full of dishes, wrapping paper all over the place, inappropriate gifts to return, and instead of dealing with any of it you decided to get to the bottom of a cup of hot chocolate and the Times crossword puzzle. That moment might make all the stress worth it, and I can’t stress that enough. Say hello at [email protected]. A tension getter RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD
PAGE 12 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 DR. AMANDA WIECHERT, DMD & DR. FELICIA NICOLAS, DDS. 1855 COMMERCE STREET YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 (914) 302-7717 www.northeastdentalny.com [email protected] Dentistrywith the personalizedtouch EXPERIENCETHENORTHEAST DENTAL DIFFERENCE Long-time Yorktown dentist Dr. Amanda Wiechert founded Northeast Dental in 2014, with the idea that patients should be #1. We know that life can be hectic, and our team goes the extra mile to make patients’ care convenient, comfortable, and reliably high in quality. Kids Welcome! 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! $25 OFF Service Calls When You Present This Ad. New Customers Only. Keep the lights on. • GENERATORS • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com Well, beat the drum and hold the phone The sun came out today We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field... -John Fogerty “Centerfield” Well, Saturday night it snowed for the first time since 1965. I didn’t care. That’s one of the positive sides of being homebound and a non-driver. As long as the weather doesn’t knock a tree onto my house or cut off the power, internet, or cable, I don’t give a fig about what goes on out there. Eighty degrees and sunny with cute fluffy clouds gliding by in the breeze, or an apocalyptic nor’easter stranding hundreds on the interstate in sub-zero temperatures—it doesn’t matter to me. It’s all the same from here. So, as I write this, I am looking out my living room window at a vast blanket of glistening whiteness sprawled before me in the dusty-gray chilly twilight and I can’t help but think of one thing. Baseball. It’s not just the game itself, it’s what it represents to me. And the first thing it represents—most importantly—is warm weather. Usually, at some significant milestone during the winter months (Christmas, New Year’s, the first snowfall), one of my baseball friends will cheekily remark something such as, “Well, only 45 days until pitchers and catchers report.” They’re referring to Major League Baseball (MLB) spring training where pitchers and catchers must report a week or two ahead of the rest of their teammates. Knowing when pitchers and catchers report is a sure sign that winter is well on its way to hospice care. But you are probably thinking, “Bob, didn’t you just say you don’t care what the weather is like because you’re stuck indoors?” OK, well, first of all... shut up. But secondly, I like summer because the house isn’t constantly chilly, I can get fresh produce from the garden and farmers markets, and it’s a nicer view out my window during the summer—not looking like it does now... the cold, desolate landscape of a dead planet on the outskirts of the galaxy. Plus... in the summer we get baseball. After all, they’re called the Boys of Summer for a reason. Now, I don’t want to go too far off on the baseball thing because this is not (usually) a sports column. But over the years, the game and its language have sort of become a metaphor for life: Threestrike law (felonies); that’s a home run (a successful idea); a curve ball (a tricky question); a soft ball (an easy question); that came out of leftfield (something caught you offguard); getting to second base (well, you know). The Little League in our town used to take all the players and coaches to a Mets or Yankee game every summer. They would alternate each year between Yankee and Shea stadiums. My dad was a Little League coach for 18 years, so even before I was eligible to play, I got to go on the bus with the “big kids” and go to a game. There are two things I remember most about those adventures: 1. The overwhelming smell of diesel fuel as the bus sat rumbling in the parking lot next to dozens of other running diesel buses as we waited to disembark. 2. How incredibly green the grass on the field was. It was like it was so green that your brain couldn’t comprehend it if you’d The joys of summer BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 14
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 13 Dear Friend, Let me start by explaining the photo in this letter. You know, when I meet people in town they usually say, “oh yeah, I know you, you’re Dr. Gertner. I’ve seen stories for years...” Well, that’s me. I’m the guy in the picture with my amazing family. “When I was in college I was injured playing football. I began developing severe and constant pain in my neck and lower back. After chiropractic, and PT were not effective in relieving my symtoms... I had surgery. Over the next 20 years I had surgery 3 more times, but I still suffered with horrible pain. I was referred to Dr. Gertner by a friend. On the first visit he performed a computerized diagnostic scan that located my problem. I had a pinched nerve. After only a few visits most of the pain in my neck and back was gone for the first time in decades. I fell like I have my life back!” –Rob C Now let me tell my story. When I was in chiropractic school in Atlanta, Georgia, I had a severe injury to my lower back. For over a year I suffered with horrible pain. I was getting adjusted three times a week by traditional chiropractors without any results. I was less than a month away from graduation and I became very frustrated. For the last 8 years I had studied to become a chiropractor, and now my life was put on hold by a condition that chiropractic is supposed to treat. A colleague of mine introduced me to a doctor who specializes in an unique type of chiropractic called NUCCA. In the entire world there are less than 200 NUCCA doctors. NUCCA can be considered to be like “engineering of the spine,” specializing in spinal correction without surgery. The NUCCA correction gently restores the skull, spine, and pelvis back to its proper posi tion. This takes pressure off the nerves and allows the body to return to its natural, healthy state. Patients are typically seen 1/3 as often as traditional chiropractic and most patients receive permanent relief. Immediately after the first visit I felt relief, and in one week I was completely out of pain. I spent the next two years working as an intern in that Atlanta office. In 2002 I returned home to NY. In the last 21 years we have quickly become the busiest NUCCA office worldwide. It is common for patients to travel well over an hour each way for care. We have seen patients that travel from all over the world, as well as 48 of the 50 United States. It’s strange how life is, because people now come to see me with all types of problems. With this NUCCA procedure I have tremendous results with the type of patients that visit traditional chiropractors like neck pain, back pain, and headaches, but the majority of my patients have more severe neurological conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, MS, Parkinson’s, and Seizures, just to name a few. I explain to my patients that I am not curing them of anything, but the NUCCA procedure is able to help alleviate many of the symptoms associated with the disease. Here’s what some of my patients had to say: “I used to suffer with severe facial pain called trigeminal neuralgia. I’ve seen my MD, Neurologist, and Acupuncturist with limited results. I travel from East Hampton, LI because this is the only treatment that has helped me” – Pat G “For the last few years I have suffered with MS. I’ve been suffering with tremors, poor circulation, neck and back pain, loss of coordination, fatigue, asthma and insomnia. I have been under care for six months and without medication, Dr. Gertner has helped me control my MS. My tremors are gone and I am able to keep my hands steady. I am also seen great improvements in all my original symptoms including asthma – all without drugs! –Don O Several times a day patients thank me for helping them with their health problems. But I can’t really take the credit. I’ve never healed anyone of anything. What I do is make a specific spinal adjustment to remove nerve pressure, and the body responds by healing itself. The power that made the body, heals the body! We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that! Make A Believer Out Of Me Offer – You shouldn’t go bankrupt to find out the solution to your health problems. If you bring in this article, you can receive my computerized diagnostic test and new patient exam with x-rays if needed for $27. This exam could cost you $300 just for the computerized test alone. But, please call right away because this offer expires on January 31, 2024, and I don’t want you to miss out. Why am I doing this? My purpose is to get as many people well through NUCCA chiropractic care as I possibly can. I want to become your chiropractor if you need me. If after the exam I think I can help you I’ll tell you, If not I’ll personally refer you to the appropriate healthcare professional. Satisfaction... Please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care. You’ll get professional care that’s affordable. My qualifications... I graduated from Hofstra University before finishing my Doctorate at Life College in Marietta, GA. I’m Board certified in the state of New York, and by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. I’ve been entrusted to take care of more than 10,000 patients... newborns, pro athletes, and celebrities that you may know, and I have delivered over 250,000 spinal corrections. My assistants are Diana and Sharee and they are great people. Our office is both friendly and warm and we try our best to make you feel at home. Our office is called Upper Cervical Chiropractic of New York and is conveniently located at 311 North St in White Plains. Our phone number is 914-686-6200 or you can visit our website at www.nuccadoctor.com. Call today for an appointment to start getting well! Thank You. George Gertner, DC Do you have a pinched nerve? WE CAN HELP!
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JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 15 I f you are like me, Jan. 1 comes with lofty goals, such as elimination of cheese and fried food from my diet, and a resolution of exercising at least four days a week. I’m hopeful I’ll make it six weeks! A more permanent goal, and one with very longterm benefits, might be getting your affairs and estate plan in order. Here are a few questions to get you started: 1. Have you created an inventory of all your assets, accounts, safety deposit boxes, retirement accounts, beneficiary designations and digital assets? Throughout your life, you have accumulated a variety of assets that are held and titled in different ways. Creating an inventory of all your assets will not only help you prepare to meet with a financial advisor or estate planning attorney, but will also be invaluable to your family and/ or spouse in the event you are unable to handle your own finances or pass away. 2. Have you reviewed your monthly income needs and created a budget for your expenditures? Does your monthly income cover your expenses? Are you able to save money for retirement, household projects and/or your children and grandchildren? Discussing a budget with your spouse and a plan for your future with your trusted advisors is an excellent way to start the new year. 3. Have you met with an Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney? Ensuring your estate planning documents are valid and updated can have life-long benefits. Making sure that you have designated an agent to make medical decisions for you in a Health Care Proxy, along with an agent(s) to make financial decisions for you in a Power of Attorney, in the event you are unable to make said decisions yourself. Your Last Will and Testament and if you prefer, a Revocable Living Trust, should be created or updated so as to ensure you have taken advantage of all estate planning options available to you and have properly named the beneficiaries, executors and/or trustees in accordance with your wishes. If your assets are held in a revocable and/or irrevocable trust, upon your death, your loved ones will avoid the need of a probate proceeding. Having a trust can also allow for ease of transition to those you want handling your affairs in the event you become incapacitated and can no longer manage your affairs. In addition to avoiding probate, an Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection trust can be used in order to do Medicaid Planning, and thus protect your assets from the cost of long term care. 4. Have you engaged in long term care planning? Understanding and planning for the cost of long-term care will help you determine if and how you will be able to pay for the cost of your long-term care, in the event you need assistance in your home (a home health aide) or in a facility (assisted living facility or nursing home). Paying for long-term care can be done in a variety of ways, including by using your life savings, using long-term care insurance, or taking steps to become eligible for Medicaid benefits. Having a conversation with an Elder Law attorney may be beneficial to determine what your exposure to the cost of your longterm care is, and what steps you can take to minimize said exposure. Happy New Year and Happy Planning! Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is an Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and she enjoys working with individuals and families to ensure that their estate and long-term care plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea is on the executive committee of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section and is also the Co-Editor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be reached at 914-948- 1500. LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER New Year’s Resolutions Estate Planning Edition Having a conversation with an Elder Law attorney may be beneficial to determine what your exposure to the cost of your long-term care is, and what steps you can take to minimize said exposure.’ -Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP FOCUS ON ELDER LAW
PAGE 16 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 We see you here. The things you love doing are more than just passions. They’re what make you “you.” This is why at The Bristal, our expert team members dedicate their time, attention, and energy to creating customized social activities that ensure each resident continues being the unique person they are. And, in the process, create the one-of-a-kind community we are, too. Schedule your visit today and see for yourself. THE BRISTAL AT ARMONK | 914.306.8580 THE BRISTAL AT WHITE PLAINS | 914.594.5787 thebristal.com Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies. Equal Housing Opportunity. Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care up with more food than we could handle. One oversight was planning for 24 people, but not taking into account that some of our younger attendees were more than happy to dine on dinosaur chicken nuggets, leaving my wife and I with an abundance of leftover baked potatoes into the new year. Not a bad problem to have. Perhaps I’ve watched “Christmas Vacation” one too many times, but I spent the days leading up to the event wondering what sort of holiday calamity would happen. During the course of the day, the kids staked their claim to my office, where they had free rein on my computer. At one point, I was summoned by the sound of a collective blood-curdling scream. Their YouTube session had apparently included some footage of the popular horror video game, “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Uncle Tommy isn’t here to enforce internet restrictions, but I wouldn’t be surprised if their parents eventually sent me the therapy bills. And to All a Good Night Our family Christmas was a complete success, packed with presents, full of food and loaded with laughter. Maggie and I also proved to ourselves that we could host the enormous family gathering. In my book, that’s a win-win. After all was said and done and our guests returned to Massachusetts, Vermont and North Carolina, we were once again able to enjoy a quiet evening. Naturally, we capped off the season by watching “Christmas Vacation.” As we watched, something curious struck me. Clark Griswold wrecks his house, nearly goes to jail and loses his sanity while hosting only 14 guests. Our Christmas had 24 people in attendance without property damage or criminal charges. Maybe next year we’ll try for more. Tom Walogorsky’s brother threatened to show up in an RV next Christmas. Contact him at Walogorsky@ halstonmedia.com. WALOGORSKY FROM PAGE 10 A great Zen Master was once asked to explain the essence of Zen. In what became known as the “Flower Sermon,” he wordlessly held up a flower. His disciples smiled in silent understanding. The Zen Master’s meaning is almost too simple to grasp. Look. Every person reading this has experienced a Zen state. When you look at the clock and wonder where the time has gone, chances are you have been in a focused, Zen-like state of mind. Zen Meditation also promotes an intuitive state. It teaches you what you already know. Marcy was 34 when she lost her 16-year-old daughter to a drug overdose. A friend gave me her book, a thin, self-published little gem. There is not one word in the book about Zen. But what she experienced, brought on by her single-minded attempt to bring her daughter back to life, is the heart of Zen. After her daughter died, Marcy suffered a crisis of faith and became obsessed with trying to understand what happened. She began wearing her daughter’s clothes and hanging out with her friends. She basically attempted to reenact her daughter’s life. Many of the people around her- Marcy included- thought she was losing it. But then she had an experience that restored her faith. Zen Meditation is difficult to master. If it were golf, I’d still be trying to break 100. Yes, one can have a Zen-like experience without even knowing, as did Marcy. But the ability to hold a posture and maintain one’s breathing until the mind quiets and one discovers a force inside of them that’s known and remembered, a force that desires them as much as they desire it, is unique only in the sense that very few end up devoting their lives to it. I have a teacher who doesn’t teach. We sit facing each other on soft cushions, the idea being to practice breathing and posture and meet in our authentic selves. On one occasion, I told her that I was thinking of giving up meditation because I thought it was making me feel deranged. I didn’t want to be permanently crazy. She said, “You must decide whether you want to be permanently crazy or permanently normal.” She checks all her students’ progress. On another occasion, a student, only half in jest, claimed that he knew how evil had got into the world. “Don’t tell me that you’ve been enlightened,” she said, half in jest herself. “Adam and Eve!” he cried. “Through the story itself! The guy who wrote it is the evil one!” “Not bad. Not bad,” she said, knowing full-well that Buddhists do not accept evil as a supernatural force. The Zen tradition de-emphasizes doctrine and scholarship. No Hell, no Heaven, no Purgatory, the present is enough. When the heart speaks, that’s the doctrine. “Faith makes life possible,” Marcy wrote near the end of her book. I don’t think I fully understood her words until How Marcy got her faith back LORENZO GARO OF HUMAN INTEREST SEE GARO PAGE 17
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 17 SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO VISIT ONE OF OUR SHOWROOMS TODAY! Your Bath. Your Kitchen. Your Home. 49 Route 138 Somers, NY 10589 M-Fr 9:30AM-4:30PM 914-232-2020 3372 Old Crompond Road Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 M-Sat 10AM-5PM 914-736-2468 (ACROSS FROM THE BJ’S SHOPPING CENTER) BESTPLG.COM $50 off $500 Minimum Purchase when Shipped Complete. Eligible at Yorktown and Somers showrooms only Show this Coupon to Receive Discount. One per customer Expires 3/15/2024 2023. Endless war, savagery limited only by the imagination, a planet on fire, a planet underwater, how does one live in madness without losing faith, without allowing the monsters to make you hate life as much as they do? I wish I could write that Marcy found her faith after being visited by an angel. That you might believe. But the truth is that Marcy walked into her kitchen one morning and noticed that the tablecloth looked different. It appeared to her as it once did, full of light and color and beauty, the way it looked when her daughter was still alive. Marcy found her daughter-and herself- in a beam of morning light that fell over the table where they once sat for breakfast. Nothing so much as a sunbeam saved Marcy. In researching his book, “Varieties of Religious Experience,” widely considered one of the most comprehensive works on the subject, William James found that believers aren’t any more likely to have “religious” experiences than atheists. The foundation of Zen Buddhism rests on this point and I think helps explain what happened to Marcy. She never truly lost her daughter. She lost her faith. Faith is a glass of water to quench a thirst. It’s the sound of a communion bell in a hushed church; it’s a sunset, a sudden kiss; it’s eyes meeting eyes. Faith is an ordinary beam of light. The same beam that unified Marcy with her daughter and unifies all the rest of us. “One inside the other,” Marcy wrote of the light, Zen-fully, on the last page of her book. It didn’t feel like an ending, though. It felt like a beginning. Once life begins, it never ends. GARO FROM PAGE 16
PAGE 18 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 A C T I V E H O M E S F O R S A L E 1 6 3 6 % D E C R E A S E F R O M 2 0 2 2 S O M E R S M A R K E T U P D A T E D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 A V E R A G E S A L E P R I C E $ 7 6 2 , 4 7 7 H O M E S S O L D - F U L L Y E A R 1 3 5 1 9 % D E C R E A S E F R O M 2 0 2 2 L E S S T H A N 1 % D E C R E A S E F R O M 2 0 2 2 S I N G L E F A M I L Y A C T I V E H O M E S F O R S A L E 1 0 2 5 % I N C R E A S E F R O M 2 0 2 2 A V E R A G E S A L E P R I C E $ 5 7 6 , 8 5 3 H O M E S S O L D - F U L L Y E A R 1 1 1 2 9 % D E C R E A S E F R O M 2 0 2 2 9 % I N C R E A S E C F R O M 2 0 2 2 O N D O M I N I U M S Source: OKMLS, single family & condominium, active, sold & average sale price, 01/01/2023 - 12/31/2023 as compared to 01/01/2022 - 12/31/2022, Somers school district. T H I N K I N G A B O U T S E L L I N G YO U R H O M E O R C O N D O ? I T ' S T H E P E R F E C T T I M E T O B E O N T H E M A R K E T. W E H AV E L O W I N V E N T O R Y A N D M A N Y B U Y E R S . P L E A S E F E E L F R E E T O C O N TA C T M E A N Y T I M E . I ' M H E R E T O H E L P. D O N N A O ' C O N N E L L A s s o c i a t e R e a l E s t a t e B r o k e r S o m e r s B r o k e r a g e M 9 1 4 . 2 6 3 . 9 1 0 8 O 9 1 4 . 2 7 7. 8 0 4 0 Ext. 3 3 4 D o c o n n e l l @ h o u l i h a n l a w r e n c e . c o m d o n n a o c o n n e l l . h o u l i h a n l a w r e n c e . c o m Dear Dr. Linda, I have two questions for you. 1) What’s your opinion on making New Year’s resolutions? 2) Do you know why we celebrate New Year’s on Jan. 1? Here’s why I’m asking these questions. Every New Year’s Day, we invite family and friends to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. I created a tradition of sharing our New Year’s resolutions. However, many guests decline. I’ve personally found success with resolutions. Setting resolutions is a positive way to start the new year, especially as it sets an example for our high school kids. What’s your opinion? My next question is why we celebrate the New Year on Jan. 1. Living in the Northeast, it’s abysmal timing. It’s flu season, and the weather can be cold and snowy, making driving a hazard. Thanks for your time. -Jake Dear Jake, I’ll begin with your first question. I agree that New Year’s resolutions are promising, but the challenge lies in sustaining them. Making resolutions is easy, but without active effort, they often fall by the wayside. Given your success in making resolutions work, you grasp what it takes to achieve them. If you have children in high school, it’s an excellent time to discuss their academic aspirations. For instance, if they aim for better grades, collaboratively outline a list of short-term goals like consistently completing homework, improving time management or seeking assistance when needed. Together, identify potential obstacles hindering these goals, such as his commitments to sports, school activities or work. Document these obstacles and brainstorm three feasible solutions for each. This exercise will help them understand that thoughtful planning can pave the way for academic improvement. If challenges persist, reevaluate the obstacles and explore alternative solutions. To answer your second question, I made up a quiz that responded to this question years ago. Happy New Year Quiz 1. The first time New Year’s Day was celebrated on Jan. 1 was in the year: A) 45 B.C.; B) 400 A.D.; C) 1599; D) None of the above. 2. The person who decided to celebrate the first day of the year on Jan. 1 was: A) Napoleon B) George Washington C) Julius Caesar D) Benjamin Franklin. 3. The ancient Greeks celebrated the beginning of a new year: A) around Nov. 30; B) on the winter solstice, around Dec. 20; C) around the beginning of fall in September; D) at Easter time in April. 4. The ancient Romans celebrated their new year on: A) July 1; B) Oct. 1; C) Feb. 1; D) March 1. 5. A French king once decreed that the first day of the year would be on: A) Thanksgiving; B) Easter; C) Christmas; D) Halloween. 6. About 200 years ago, the French moved the first day of the year to A) April 22; B) May 22; C) Sept. 22; D) Aug. 22. 7. Many people follow more than one calendar and celebrate different new years on different days. For instance, the Jewish New Year is celebrated between: A) Sept. 5 and Oct. 5; B) Aug. 5 and Sept. 5; C) Dec. 5 and Jan. 5; D) Feb. 5 and March 5. 8. The Russian Orthodox Church starts their new year: A) April 14; B) Jan. 14; C) June 14; D) July 14. 9. The Chinese New Year is celebrated between: A) Jan. 21 and Feb. 21; B) March 21 and April 21; C) Oct. 21 and Nov. 21; D) Dec. 21 and Jan. 21. 10. Because all of this was as confusing then as it probably is to you now, a movement developed to standardize the day to be celebrated as New Year’s Day, and Jan. 1 was restored and has remained so ever since. In what century did that movement begin? A) during the 17th century; B) during the 15th century; C) during the 12th century; D) during the 16th century. Answers: 1) A; 2) C; 3) B; 4) D; 5) B; 6) C; 7) A; 8) B; 9) A; 10) D Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy New Year from my family to yours. -Dr. Linda Send your questions to Linda@ stronglearning.com. The roots of New Year’s Day DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151.
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 19 Members of Troop 1465 with making special deliveries on Veterans Day. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIDIA GRAHAM YOUTH FOCUS The Somers Red Storm 12U in Cooperstown. PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMERS RED STORM As we welcome 2024, The Somers Record is proud to introduce our newest feature, Youth Focus! Is your child’s Scout Troop working on a community service project? Did their team bring home a championship? Is there a youth program you would like to recognize or an upcoming event we should know about? We want to hear from you! In this special section we would like to highlight the youth of Somers, including sports, Scouting, and any other programs or events in our community. Please send photos and story ideas to [email protected]. Youth Focus will be sponsored by our friends at Bridgham Barr Orthodontics, located at 293 Route 100 in Somers. Learn more at www.bbosmiles.com Students at Penny Lane Dance Academy PHOTO COURTESY OF PENNY LANE DANCE ACADEMY Girl Scout Troop 1457 visiting the Wright Reis Homestead. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOAN KAMINSKI Players and coaches getting fired up during Able Field Hockey’s winter sessions at The Somers Sports Arena. PHOTO COURTESY OF ABLE ATHLETICS Somers AYSO U10/12 players. PHOTO COURTESY OF NORA IVEZAJ Cub Scouts from Somers Pack 1 hosting a food drive for St. Luke’s Food Pantry. PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG MCCLURE Introducing Youth Focus! Call for your FREE consultation today 293 Route 100 Suite 209 Somers, NY (914) 277-1111 www.BBOsmiles.com NEW YEAR NEW SMILE NEW CONFIDENCE Flexible, interest-free financing available Braces and Invisalign for all ages Your hometown board-certified orthodontic specialists GET THE SMILE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED
PAGE 20 THE SOMERS RECORD – JANBY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Saturday January 6, the wrestling team hosted the Eric D’Agnese Memorial Somers Tournament, and when the day ended, the Tuskers definitely scored some hardware. The result was a second place finish, and the gold began at 116 pounds. For the second consecutive year Ryan Ball won the tournament and did so by beating Nate Smith of Darien by a score of 10-4. “He made it look easy,” said Coach Ron DiSanto. Even so, the coach was quick to point out that appearances can be deceiving. Sick the last few days, said DiSanto, “The fact that he even came here to wrestle shows a lot of heart and then to win it shows guts.” Ball began with a first period takedown, and from there, it was mostly reversals. Smith and Ball traded places to close the first, and Ball went up 8-2 in the second on a reversal and a near fall. A reversal each for both wrestlers in the third, Ball got the outcome he wanted by being unexpected. “I make sure my opponents don’t know what’s coming their way,” said the first place finisher. At the top of the podium, Ball was joined by Liam Dwyer after he defeated TJ Stazzone of Kings Park. A real dogfight, the 2-0 third period score really put Dwyer to the test, according to DiSanto. “Winning a low scoring match takes intensity and focus,” said the coach. Good strategy doesn’t hurt either. “We knew Stazzone was really good on top,” said DiSanto. So Dwyer chose neutral to start the third. On his feet, the 124-pounder got a takedown, let Stazzone up and got another takedown. “I snapped him down and got behind,” said Dwyer, who also won the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler award. Robert Vrabel didn’t have a bad showing either. Unfortunately, the 145 pounder was reversed in the final seconds for a 3-1 loss, and DiSanto could see a silver medal wasn’t much consolation to the senior. “He’s very competitive. He’s our captain from North Salem, so he really wanted it. But I’m proud of him regardless of the result,” said DiSanto. The finals over, Justin Daniyan wrestled for third place. At 190, Daniyan fell behind early when George McKigney got the opening takedown. But the Tusker quickly turned the tables. “He had my leg so I wrapped my leg around his, grabbed his head and just leaned back,” Daniyan described a Peterson. Back points included, the senior would take a 5-3 lead in second and then scored a reversal. Up 7-3, Daniyan surrendered control and was taken down. But he closed the second period with a takedown and went into the third with a 9-6 lead. Nonetheless, McKigney got the takedown to open the third and the drama was pretty thick at 9-8. So Daniyan went to work. He shot a takedown, and after sending McKigney to his back, the prevent defense was in order. “There was no way he was going to score five points in 45 seconds,” said Daniyan. McKigney did escape and get a takedown, though, and the 14-11 score didn’t look so “no way” when the Kings Park wrestler ran a half. “All the time we spend defending half nelsons,” said Daniyan, “I knew I better not lose.” Up to the task, the clock ran out, but no matter the finish, Daniyan always makes sure the real final score is in his favor. “As long as you know that you left 100% on the mat, then you’re still a winner,” he assured. Derek Kuchinsky included, he finished in fifth. Wins in the first two rounds, Kuchinsky was injured in the quarterfinals and relegated to the wrestle-backs. Not settling, the 131 pounder was proud to persevere. “I was able to battle back and still place,” he said. Adding to the Somers tally, the accumulation of points or victories isn’t what matters most on the daily basis of a wrestling season. “Nobody thinks wrestling is a team sport, but it really is,” Kuchinsky asserted. “Your teammates might not be with you on the mat. But they are with you every step of the way, always helping you to get better.” His teammates would probably agree and it was TJ Mauro’s fifth place medal that closed the day. Tuskers take second at Eric D’Agnese Memorial Tournament SHS alum Brian Realbuto with the Somers wrestlers. Coaches Chad Brenneman and Ron DiSanto watching Ball repeats as tourney winner Elder Law & Estate Planning Wills, Trusts & Estates Small Business • Real Estate Matrimonial • Criminal Personal Injury • Commercial SOMERS • YONKERS Evening Appointments & Home Visits Tel: 914-964-6806 www.marralaw.com • [email protected] Neal L Sullivan, CPA Joanne Cerbino Edy Schupp 421 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 845-628-9604 • www.callsullivan.com BUSINESS • UMBRELLA HOME • AUTO Call Us Anytime for Multiple Quotes Owned and operated bywith over 80 years of cProudly Serving Putnam awww.ecstaffingCALL US TODAY for a frRoute 202 Suite #3 Somers, NY Dementia Care In-Home Evaluations CompanRespitOverwhelmed Caring For Your Loved One? Call us today!
UARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 PAGE 21 Ryan Ball was the tournament champion. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRIS BALL Liam Dwyer PHOTO: RICH MONETTI the action. T.J. Mauro NMLS #60828 Registered Mortgage Broker NY & CT Banking Depts. All Loans Arranged through Third Party Providers. Call Us Today! 800-771-1071 YOUR LOCAL HOME MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS 1013 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 - www.putcap.com (914) 248-6220 Progressive-Vet.com 268 Route 202 • Somers, NY 10589 Does your pet need an Ultrasound or Echocardiogram? Say goodbye to long wait times and uncertainties! Introducing a revolutionary pet healthcare solution — QuickScan Pet Ultrasound! INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED SPEEDY DIAGNOSIS CONVENIENCE EXPERT ANALYSIS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY PEACE OF MIND Your pet’s health matters to us, and with QuickScan Pet Ultrasound, we’re committed to providing the fastest and most reliable diagnostic service available. DON’T WAIT—give your pet the care they deserve with QuickScan Pet Ultrasound today! y two Registered Nurses combined experience! and Westchester Counties gsolutions.com ree phone evaluation! 10589 914.265.4299 nion Care te Care Nursing Care 24 Hour Care
BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Dec. 27, Somers traveled down county for the Pelham Winter Tournament and faced Mamaroneck in the first game. Growing them big there, the Tigers had height inside, and at the same time, used the advantage to make plenty of space outside. The combination proved too much, and Mamaroneck didn’t waste much time to exert dominance. They jumped out to a 16-2 lead, and Somers was left chasing in a 72-43 defeat. With Quinn Lawler posted up in deep, Will Plunkett fed the bounce pass and the big center was too much for Mac Sullivan. One dribble and some muscle and Mamaroneck had the lead for good. Of course, Mamaroneck was quick on their feet too. A swarming defense forced a miss and a steal, and three points at the line by Plunkett and Brandon Burrell followed. The urgency apparent, Brady Leitner tried to thread a pass inside and Plunkett pounced. He muscled the loose ball, shoveled to Burrell, and the guard airmailed to Cosmo Hardison under the basket. A 7-0 game, Somers called for time and the pause did briefly pay dividends. Jacob Hauser received a bounce pass from Leitner, saw that he had a step and drove to the rim for two. So, the Tigers made sure Somers knew who the prey were. Elijah Friedman came around the screen and drained a three. Then Friedman one upped himself. He took the pass in the corner from Burrell and was fouled on the triple. The free throw made it four, and the score was now 14-2. A long way to go, Somers next saw Mamaroneck play defense with their feet. Sullivan drove baseline and Burrell got their first for the charge. Back the other way, Hardison got the ball down low and grunted his way to the glass. He hit the square and scored the layup for a 14-point lead. Somers kept on nonetheless. Hauser hit a put back, Leitner pulled up for a short jumper and then dropped a reverse layup on the fast break. On a roll, the Tuskers looked like they were giving the Tigers some of their own medicine on defense. Friedman drove the lane, and Nate Cohen thought he got their first. Not according to the ref, though, Cohen was also hit with a technical foul. Four free throws on the way, Mamaroneck made three, and the miniSomers run was essentially negated. And just to make sure, Mamaroneck added six more to end the quarter. Jared Rabina hit a three, Burrell dribble, spun through the paint for two and then swished a three to open a 25-10 lead. The advantage would grow to 38-21 by halftime and reach 46-25 on another Burrell triple. But the Tuskers did have one last gasp. Leitner twice penetrated to free up Hauser for layups, and Philip Santore nailed a well defended corner three to make it a 50-37 game. 27 seconds left in the third, Burrell made sure the Tuskers didn’t get any funny ideas. He took the ball up court, kept his dribble and got to the rim at the buzzer. No laughing matter yet, Plunkett got the put back to open the fourth and Burrell’s three made it a 20-point lead again. There was no coming back and Somers could only play out the string. Somers did bounce back in a big way versus Clarkstown North, though. The following day, the Tuskers won by a score of 64-34. PAGE 22 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 Sports 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 3/31/24 $10.00OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25%OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 3/31/24 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER After ending their break with a victory over Eastchester last week, Somers was hoping to follow up with a win over John Jay. The home game on Wednesday January 3, the Tuskers fell behind 21-9 and looked defeated before intermission. But the girls battled back and a threepoint deficit with two minutes remaining in the game had a comeback in clear view. Unfortunately, Somers could not overcome and fell by a score of 49-42. Caitlin Mayfield did get her team off to a good start by scoring a reverse layup. But John Jay proceeded to go on a 10–0 run and built a 12-2 lead. The Somers defense did provide a brief blip, though. Sydney Ingraham picked Sela Halaifonua’s pocket in the paint, got the ball ahead to Lindsay McCullough, and she completed the fast break. 1:23 left in the first, John Jay was able to beat the press on the next trip back. Natalie Ellrodt got the ball ahead in the front court to Jordan Kauftheil, and she hit Halaifonua for the open layup. The quarter scoring closed, Ingraham opened the second. She got the long rebound on McCullough’s miss and scored one from the line of the drive. Misses then coming on both sides, Somers went forward motion again. Arianna Adelmann took the ball above the arc and her hard charge for the rim banked in for a 14-7 deficit with 4:21 left in the half. Of course, John Jay could play that game too. Brooke Habinowski got to the metal for a three-point lead, Charlotte Omin found a path through the paint for two more, and Habinowski muscled a put back to extend the lead to 21-9. A big hole, the way back did begin where the game started. Ingraham dribbled, penetrated, found Mayfield in the corner, and she drained the three to close the half. Still, the momentum did not carry in the Tuskers favor after intermission. The John Jay defense doing the duty, a block by Halaifonua and a steal by Jane Brennan paid offensive dividends Tuskers falls short in comeback versus John Jay Sydney Ingraham Lindsay McCullough PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI GIRLS BASKETBALL Tuskers can’t keep pace with Mamaroneck Philip Santore Brady Leitner PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI BOYS BASKETBALL SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 23
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 23 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER Brewster/Yorktown/Somers/North Salem (BYSNS) started the new calendar year with a 9-4 triumph versus Cortlandt, which gave the Bisons their fourth victory in a row after an 0-4 start. “It’s a big win coming out of the break,” said BYSNS coach John Veteri. “It’s always nice to get the W against a league rival.” The win came about because of a great team effort on Friday, Jan. 5, at Brewster Ice Arena. “We had contributions from the top to bottom,” Veteri said. “Dylan Weber (29 saves) played great for us in net.” Sean Mansfield (19 saves) and Brandon DiBenedetto (2 saves) manned the net for the Rebels. Cortlandt’s Sean Foley (2G) scored the first goal of the game, assisted by Jack Jimenez (1G, 2A) and Ryan Rosenbaum before the Bisons answered on a goal from Matteo Guastadisegni (3G), with an assist from James Munoz (1G, 1A). A goal by Jason Piccirillo, courtesy of a Nate Garofalo assist, put the Rebels back up 2-1. Afterwards the BYSNS ran off three straight goals to finish the scoring in the opening period. Guastadisegni, off an assist from Jack Lukse (2A), Kaden Krempler (1G, 2A), with an assist from Lucas Salvatore (3G, 2A), and Salvatore, with the assist on his goal coming from AJ Jones (1G, 3A), made up the Bisons’ scoring spree. The BYSNS outscored the Rebels 3-1 in the second period. Jimenez then scored in the third period, courtesy of assists from Garofalo (2A) and Vincent Ofrias, to cut the Bisons’ lead to 7-4. The BYSNS were able to hold off the Rebels from there and will look for its fifth straight win when it plays Pawling at the Brewster Ice Arena at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12. “Continuing to play as a team and staying disciplined on what we can control,” said Veteri, on what his team has to continue its winning streak. John Gannon also recorded an assist for the Rebels. BYSNS batter Cortlandt to ring in 2024 Somers’ A.J. Jones moves the puck against the Rebels. PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO ICE HOCKEY for each other. Brennan got a fast break layup, and Halaifonua knocked down a put back to open a 25-15 lead at 2:58. Then the ball movement got its due. Kauftheil anticipated Halaifonua’s cut for the hoop, and receiving the over the top pass, Halaifonua gave John Jay a 13-point lead. Next, Halaifonua caught Habinowski coming off the screen, and she dropped a three to make it a 31-15 game. 1:35 left in the third, Olivia Allegretti’s put back stopped the run, and once again, Mayfield came to the rescue to close the quarter. She grabbed Allegretti’s miss from three, scored the put back and sunk the free throw. An 11 point game with eight minutes to go, Somers got off to a good start again. McCullough spotted a narrow lane, sliced the steak and went glass to pull to 31-22. Even so, John Jay maintained the 11-point lead on the inside. Brennan’s drive put her on the line for two made free throws, and Halaifonua led Kauftheil for another layup at 6:35. So, Somers went outside. Adelmann and McCullough banged triples, and it was suddenly a 35-30 game. McCullough then added a free throw, and when Ellrodt threw the ball away, the Tuskers stampede seemed poised to overrun. Not to be, Adelmann’s drive to the hoop rolled off the rim, and John Jay did not extend their sympathies. After Halaifonua scored a layup, Habinowski did her teammate one better. She got the put back, and on the foul line, the senior built the lead to nine. Not for long, Adelmann made sure. The center picked off Brennan’s pass to set up an Allegretti three, and off Mayfield’s penetration across the paint, Adelmann came free to make it two in a row from downtown. Three down with two minutes to go, John Jay’s 2H club started an eight-point run. Halaifonua spotted Habinowski forcing her way through the paint and yet another layup went down off the glass. From there, Halaifonua had a put back, and Brennan’s three-point play on the drive opened an 11-point lead that sealed the Tuskers fate. BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 22 4 Heritage Hills Plaza, 202 Ctr. • Somers, NY 10589 914-277-4222 • www.somerssmiles.com A new generation of family dentistry New Year, New Services Facial Esthetics & TMJ Treatment! Now Offering Apply Now for 2024-25 Priority Deadline Jan. 15 WHERE STUDENTS BECOME THEIR BEST SELVES. Grades 6–12 with 5-day boarding for 9–12 in Katonah, NY harveyschool.org/apply
PAGE 24 – THE SOMERS RECORD LEISURE JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 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. Bleated 6. Snakelike fish 9. Database management system 13. Russian-American violinist 14. Wendy’s founder Thomas 15. Ancient Italian-Greek colony 16. Negatives 17. Rescued 18. Self-immolation by fire ritual 19. Assigns tasks to 21. Island nation native 22. Trade 23. Detergent brand 24. Famed NY Giant 25. Before 28. Split pulses 29. Extremely angry; highly incensed 31. Body part 33. American state 36. David __, US playwright 38. Move one’s head slightly 39. Secret rendezvous 41. Improved 44. A place to exercise 45. 18-year astronomical period 46. Automobile 48. You can take it 49. A radio band 51. Jaws of an animal 52. Short-billed rails 54. Chinese province 56. Shameless and undisguised 60. Horizontal passage into a mine 61. Adult males 62. Fail to entertain 63. Dried-up 64. City in north-central Utah 65. Southern U.S. 66. German river 67. Oxygen 68. Make law CLUES DOWN 1. Curved segment 2. Wings 3. From pentane (Chemistry) 4. Gradually gets into 5. Commercial document (abbr.) 6. Overhang 7. Christmas and New Year’s have them 8. Type of bulb 9. Lacking a plan 10. Tattle 11. Rockers like it “heavy” 12. One who’s been canonized 14. Indicate time and place 17. Nobel Prize winner in physics 20. The voice of Olaf 21. Fragmented rock 23. They __ 25. Master of Philosophy 26. Backside 27. Landmark house in L.A. 29. An act of undue intimacy 30. From which a later word is derived 32. Equal to 10 meters 34. Neither 35. Computer language 37. Sacred book of Judaism 40. A woolen cap of Scottish origin 42. A way to dedicate 43. Challenges 47. British Air Aces 49. Large, influential bank 50. Portended 52. Cavalry-sword 53. Vaccine developer 55. Napoleonic Wars general 56. Italian Seaport 57. Hip joint 58. __ Clapton, musician 59. Insect repellent 61. Decorative scarf 65. Delaware Loaded Beef Nachos Serves 4 Taco Seasoning: • 5 teaspoons paprika • 1-1/4 teaspoons garlic powder • 1-1/4 teaspoons ground cumin • 1-1/4 teaspoons onion powder • 1 teaspoon chili powder • 1 teaspoon oregano leaves • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt Nachos • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 pound ground beef • 1 cup diced onion • 1 cup diced green bell pepper • 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as RO-TEL¨) • 1 15-ounce can Mexican-style corn (optional) • 1 16-ounce can refried beans • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, or as needed • 4 ounces tortilla chips, or as needed Toppings (optional): • 1/2 cup sour cream (optional) • 1/2 cup salsa (optional) • 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional) • 1/4 cup sliced jalape–os (optional) • 1/4 cup green onion For taco seasoning: Stir paprika, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder, chili powder, oregano, and salt together in a small bowl; set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in onion and green pepper; cook and stir with oil and juices from browned meat until much of the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes more. Stir 1/2 can diced tomatoes with chilies and Mexican-style corn into skillet. Season beef mixture to taste with prepared taco seasoning mix. Stir together the remaining 1/2 can diced tomatoes with chilies and refried beans in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until heated through, stirring every 30 seconds, 1 to 3 minutes. To assemble nachos: Lay half of tortilla chips in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate, then drop teaspoons of refried beans onto chips, followed by meat mixture and shredded cheese. Repeat with remaining chips, beans, meat and cheese to make a second layer. Microwave on high until cheese is melted and nachos are warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Top with sour cream, salsa, olives, jalapenos, and green onion as desired. Nachos make the ideal game day snack Big games dot the college and professional football landscapes each year beginning in late summer and ending in mid-winter. But no games are bigger than those that take place once the calendar turns to a new year. That’s when the postseason begins in both college and professional football. Game watches with fellow fans, family and friends are a great way to make playoff football even more enjoyable. With so many big games on the horizon, football fans would be wise to ready their culinary arsenal. Whether you’re hosting at home or going to a game watch at a fellow fan’s house, keep in mind that food and football are a great match. Certain dishes have long since staked their claim on the game watch dinner and snacking tables, and nachos certainly need no introduction to football fans. As this year’s playoffs kick off, football fans can try this recipe for “Loaded Beef Nachos” courtesy of AllRecipes.com.
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 25 845-279-9555 • TankRemovalServices.com Before you place your home on the market, contact ENVIROSTAR about replacing your aging underground storage tank (UST). It is required by most insurance companies prior to insuring property. We replace above ground tanks as well! Call us today for a free estimate and evaluation of your current above ground tank. WINTER SPECIAL! $100 OFF IN-GROUND TANK REMOVAL With this coupon only. Coupon must be presented at the time of the estimate. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 2/29/24 FREE ESTIMATES WE WILL MATCH OUR COMPETITOR’S ADVERTISED OFFER! We are the name you trust for environmental needs Since 1998 DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH AN AGING OIL TANK! Starting our 44th year serving Yorktown children Family Owned And Operated, Owners Always On The Premises. WWW.PIEDPIPERSCHOOLYORKTOWN.COM 2090 Crompond Road - Yorktown Heights For more information call 914-962-5196 or 914-815-5281 PRESCHOOL • Ages 18 months to 5 years • Operating Hours 7am to 6pm • New York State Certified Curriculum • Before & After Care Available BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES • Ages 18 months to 10 years • Large indoor and fenced in outdoor playgrounds • Homework Assistance • Bus Transportation Provided By The Yorktown School District • Food and drinks provided Happy Holidays from the Pied Piper Family! Enrollment Opens Feb 1st For The 2024-2025 School Year SUMMER CAMP • Ages 18 Months To 10 Years • Flexible Days, Weeks & Times • Indoor Air Conditioned Playground • Weekly Themes And Activities Including Sports, Arts & Crafts, Music, Cooking And Theatre. • Bls, Cpr, Rit First Aid, Epipen & Mat Certified Check out our new website. Call today and sign up for a tour. Our family can’t wait to meet your family! Forensics students at Somers High School are diving deep into the world of crime fighting and careers in criminologyrelated fields. “Forensics is one of my favorite classes I have ever taken,” Sophia Mcintyre said. “I feel like I’m learning a lot, and there is still so much more to learn. The class is never boring and is always super fun.” Students in forensics learn the difference between trace and physical evidence, study famous and historical crimes, and work through a mock crime scene. Their classes have covered a variety of topics including fingerprinting, counterfeit currency, cybercrimes, handwriting analysis, blood and DNA sampling, and how different fibers burn. “My class spent some time learning about trace evidence and arson,” Megan Gilbert said. “I’ve learned that it’s possible to recover a thumbprint even in a fire. We learned exactly how to collect trace evidence (evidence you leave everywhere you go) and the process of legally transporting it.” Along with their hands-on investigative lab work, students have also been treated to many presentations, including one about the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating individuals who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes through DNA testing. The class has also been visited by various special guests, including multiple Secret Service agents, members of the FBI, police detectives, and even a local K-9 officer, helping students learn about the various career opportunities available in the criminology field. “I enjoyed the Innocence Project unit we did,” said Sophia Mcintyre. “We got to research a specific person who was wrongfully convicted of a crime and learned how the Innocence Project helped to prove them not guilty.” During the semester, students visited the Shawangunk Correctional Facility as part of the Youth Assistance Program. They were given an inside look at the prison, including a cell block, the yard, and classrooms. During their visit, they also met with inmates who shared stories about their incarceration, how they adapted to prison life, and how they have changed. “I enjoyed our trip to the prison where we were able to interview prisoners and walk through the cells,” said Isabella Wissa. Forensics is a new course offering. It’s a half-year, 0.5-credit science elective and is available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Article courtesy of Somers Central School District. Uncovering evidence and discovering new careers at SHS The class has been visited by special guests including members of the FBI and a local K-9 officer.
PAGE 26 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 RING IN THE SAVINGS! Scan for more information conserve.veolia.us 877-266-9101 Save water and money by upgrading to waterefficient appliances today. $100 REBATE $100 REBATE $50 REBATE $15 REBATE Russell Girolamo Jr. Stephanie Girolamo Burke Jennifer Thorp Auto | Home | Business | Life (914) 962-9777 www.girolamoagency.com 60 YEARS IN BUSINESS EST. + 1962 Russell Girolamo Jr. Stephanie Girolamo Burke Jennifer Thorp Auto | Home | Business | Life (914) 962-9777 www.girolamoagency.com 60 YEARS IN BUSINESS EST. + 1962 BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 53 WE BUY: YEARS! Gold • Sterling Silver Jewelry • Coins Paintings • Bronzes Clocks • Collectibles Antiques • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! meet once a month after school to discuss a book that they’ve read in advance, make a craft or play a game. Registration is required and children must be entering the grade they register for. Space is Limited. Grade 3: 1/31, 3/6, 4/10, 5/1 Grades 4 & 5: 1/17, 2/14, 3/20, 4/17, 5/15 Graphic Novel Book Club 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. For Grades 6 - 10. Did you know that “a growing body of research, focused on how the brain processes the combination of images and text, indicates that graphic novels are also excellent resources for advanced learners?” (Northwestern University, 2017) Graphic novels have become a popular format in classrooms, partly due to their appeal to reluctant readers. Apart from the adults, the teens love them and they cover many topics and forms! Church of the Good Shepherd 39 Granite Springs Road in Granite Springs Senior Saturday Luncheons Saturdays, Jan. 13 & 27, at 12 p.m. The church will host two nondenominational, free lunch gatherings of local senior citizens. At each luncheon, a delicious hot meal will be served, and will be accompanied by companionship, conversation and community! The meal will conclude with dessert and coffee. A second meal will be given to everyone attending to take home. RSVP is required by calling 914- 248-5631 or emailing seniors [email protected]. A Message from The Friends of the Somers Library The Friends of the Somers Library is dedicated to supporting and enriching the Somers Library. Over the years, the library has played an essential role in the Town of Somers by providing access to knowledge, fostering literacy, and serving as a gathering place for residents of all ages. Our organization has been working to fund the library’s resources and programs. We have witnessed firsthand the positive impact that the library has on our community, and we are committed to ensuring its continued success. To that end, we are reaching out to you to request your support in our mission. The financial support of town residents has played a pivotal role in the growth and improvement of the Somers Library over the years, and we are grateful for the continued dedication. Your generous donations have enabled us to: Enhance Educational Programs: Through your support, we’ve been able to offer engaging and educational programs for children, teens, and adults, including author talks, workshops, and live events. Improve Facilities: Your contributions have helped us make vital improvements to the library ensuring a comfortable and welcoming environment for all visitors. Promote Involvement: Your donations have enabled us to launch initiatives aimed at community involvement in our town, including summer reading programs for children and educational programs for adults. As we look ahead, we are eager to expand our offerings. To achieve these goals, we kindly ask for your continued financial support. To make on online donation, please visit the library’s website at www.somerslibrary.org and click on the “support” tab in the menu. Follow the prompts to the Friends of the Somers Library. To donate in person, there are membership flyers available at the front desk of the library that you can fill out and leave with one of the librarians. If you received one of our mailings, you can send a check in the envelope provided. Your donation, will make a significant difference in helping us fulfill our mission. Donating to the Friends of the Somers Library is an investment in the future of our town. Somers BSA Troop 376 WEEKLY MEETING Most Tuesdays, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Somers Middle School Cafeteria. Embark on a journey that your son will remember and benefit from for a lifetime! There is no youth program quite like Scouts BSA, which offers leadership development, teaches citizenship and responsibility, embeds useful outdoor survival skills, TRUNK FROM PAGE 4 SEE TRUNK PAGE 29 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 27 Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock 963 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 TOCKLAW.COM • 800-869-8080 CRIMINAL DEFENSE/DWI • PERSONAL INJURY REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS, TRUSTS, ESTATES, PROBATE ‘ The collective background Joe & his team bring forth is that of expertise, dedication and compassion. ~C.K. WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? “The saying goes, “shop local.” There is nothing like the local paper in the town you live in and love. My clients enjoy seeing the updated real estate news. We are blessed to still have a local newspaper delivered to our homes. Yorktown News is where you find everything about Yorktown: the good, the bad and the news.” Douglas Dill Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker Houlihan Lawrence Yorktown 914.671.7730 Have you driven by Rhinoceros Creek Reservation on Route 202 north of the Somers hamlet and wondered what it is? This 2017 donation to the Somers Land Trust (SLT) is a small sanctuary to escape the hurried lives we all seem to be living. It enables you to exercise on the trails, observe plants and animals, or quietly enjoy nature from our pavilion. The history of the Somers Land Trust goes back over 30 years. What is it and what has it accomplished since it was incorporated in 1992? Behind the scenes, it’s worked tirelessly to protect the natural and historic landscape in the town we love. In 2004, Westchester Land Trust and the Somers Land Trust helped facilitate a landmark agreement to purchase the 654- acre property that became known as Angle Fly Preserve. This brought together funding from the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York State and New York City. In May of 2006, Governor Pataki, Somers Town Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy, and other officials stepped into the meadows of Angle Fly Preserve to announce the good news. Prior to this, two attempts were made by developers to build houses and/or condos. In part, due to the efforts of SLT, this land has been preserved in perpetuity as open space. Imagine what Somers would look like if projects such as these were allowed to proceed? Instead of development, we have opportunities for hiking, fishing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing and nature study. An amazing surprise occurred in 2017. One of our staunchest supporters sold the Stone House on Route 202. Following the sale of this historic home, SLT learned that its owner, Christine Beshar, had presented the land trust with 115 acres of surrounding land. Our mission was a natural fit with the Beshar family’s wish to forever protect this property for the enjoyment of the public. Maybe you’ve wondered why it’s called Rhinoceros Creek? The Stone House was built by Gerard Crane, one of Somers’ 19th century menagerie owners. SLT named the property the CraneBeshar Rhinoceros Creek Reservation to memorialize two families that have shaped the land and to celebrate the connection to Somers unique circus history. According to old newspaper articles, the creek running through the preserve had once provided a place for Gerard Crane’s rhinoceros to bathe. The most recent acquisition has been a 50-acre parcel on Warren Street which was donated in 2021 by Heritage Hills. What else has the Somers Land Trust accomplished in between these landmark events? This question will be answered in subsequent articles in The Somers Record that highlight varied accomplishments throughout the years. We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about us at www.somerslandtrust.org. You can also subscribe to our newsletter on our website. It’s filled with timely information about environmental issues that pertain to all of us. Please consider becoming part of our environmental community! Article courtesy of Somers Land Trust. Have you heard of the Somers Land Trust? Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam had 25 attendees at the Vigil for the Healing of Humanity on Dec. 10. Held at the Somers Library, guests had the opportunity to get to know one another and were treated to inspirational readings and songs. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Healing humanity PHOTO COURTESY OF JUDYTH STAVANS
PAGE 28 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 BY KEN FREEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Neither rain nor full postChristmas bellies kept a crowd of more than 100 Heritage Hills residents from gathering in the community’s Activities Center on Dec. 27 to hear Congressman Mike Lawler share his views on several high priority national and local issues. Lawler, a Republican, was elected in 2022 to represent New York’s 17th congressional district, covering Halston Media’s northern Westchester and Putnam Counties circulation area along with portions of Rockland and Dutchess Counties. While a youthful 37 years old, Lawler has extensive public service experience. Prior to his election to Congress, he represented New York’s 97th district in the State Assembly. That followed his tenures as Deputy Town Supervisor of Orangetown in Rockland County and as a Senior Advisor to the Westchester County Executive. The Heritage Hills town hall began with the Congressman’s brief review of two areas he regarded as high priorities. The first was his district’s challenges with affordability, driven by the region’s high housing and tax costs, exacerbated by inflation over the past two years in everyday needs such as food and energy. He recognized how this is driving people to flee the state, especially his contemporaries and younger people, who simply cannot afford to live here. Representative Lawler cited his sponsorship of bipartisan, but not yet passed, legislation to double for couples the “SALT (State and Local Tax) cap,” which limits the federal income tax deductibility of state and local taxes to a maximum of $10,000 both for individuals and couples, to aid local affordability. His second focal area was the US southern border crisis, describing the existing immigration system, last updated in 1986, as broken, with asylum seekers waiting more than two years for legal resolution of their asylum requests. He said that the entry into the US, both legal and illegal, of over 8 million immigrants since January 2021 is unsustainable, and the cartel-driven flow of fentanyl as well as human trafficking intolerable, labeling the cartels as terrorists. Lawler also shared his wife’s personal experience, as an immigrant from Moldova, with the under-resourced, inefficient, and bureaucratically burdensome immigration system. Most of the town hall was devoted to a Q&A session. Lawler’s responses shared his analysis of the country’s problems and challenges and a willingness and desire for bipartisan solutions, reflective of his participation in the Problem Solvers caucus, a bipartisan group of 32 Democrats and 32 Republicans. Questions focused heavily on the border crisis, but also included questions regarding the federal budget and spending priorities as well as the exploding federal deficit, which has grown from $6 trillion in 2000 to over $34 trillion. He pointed blame at both Democrats and Republicans for the rapidly growing deficit, which he said is unsustainable and seriously threatens the national economy, not in the next year or two, but at some point in the future if left unchecked. Recognizing political realities, however, he did not shy away from supporting admittedly partisan Republican positions either. For example, when challenged by one questioner as to why he supports pairing immigration reform with further Ukrainian aid, he explained that he is strongly in support of further Ukrainian aid, but felt such a pairing was the only way to possibly achieve timely immigration reform, which he also believes is urgently needed. He further explained that following the Republican majority’s passage of HR 2, a bill spelling out such immigration system changes, the Senate failed to consider that legislation, even potentially with negotiated modifications, until the need for sustained Ukrainian aid reached a crisis point. When challenged by another questioner as to why he supported repeal of the provision in the enacted Inflation Reduction Act calling for 80,000 additional IRS employees for stricter enforcement of tax laws, he explained that he does support some addition in IRS staffing, but not by 80,000. Citing repeated calls for more IRS resources to force compliance among billionaires and the extremely wealthy, he said that there just aren’t enough of such targets to occupy the time of so many more IRS employees, and that the need for enhanced tax collections to justify the additional headcount would also hit middleclass working Americans. He went on to point out that recent tax revenues have been at an all-time high and described the nation’s growing deficit as “a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” labeling that as a fundamental difference between Republican and Democrat points of view. The town hall ended with event leader Mike McBride’s promise to invite Representative Lawler, along with whoever is his Democratic opponent, for a similar event leading up to the next congressional election in November. Congressman Lawler visits Heritage Hills Congressman Mike Lawler speaking at the Heritage Hills Activities Center on Dec. 27. 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JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 29 can spark career interests, and boasts exciting activities that few outside of Scouting have the opportunity to experience. Celebrating 30 years in Somers, Troop 376 is sponsored by the Somers Lions Club and proudly offers a well-balanced “AdultGuided, Youth-Led” program that includes activities for all skill levels and interests. As a slightly smaller Troop, Scouts enjoy ample opportunities for direct involvement and leadership, as well as a significant voice in suggesting future troop activities. Camping trips, day hikes, family-friendly activities like bowling nights and ropes courses, community service projects, annual “high adventure” excursions, and visits to historic destinations like Gettysburg are just some of the activities you can look forward to with Troop 376. To learn more, email Somers [email protected] and visit www.SomersTroop376.org. Somers BSA Troop 228 Weekly meeting Mondays, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Amawalk Firehouse Give your son the tools to develop his confidence, leadership skills, and interest in community service while experiencing the outdoor adventures of Scouting. Discover the natural wonders of New York State, whether canoeing in the Adirondacks, hiking the Appalachian trail, or camping at one of our State Parks. Excursions for all ages and levels of experience. Scouts explore their personal interests through over 135 merit badges. Troop 228 is sponsored by the Somers Volunteer Fire Department. We are proud citizens and actively give back to Somers through community service and environmental conservation projects. To find out more, email us at somerstroop228@ gmail.com or visit our website at Troop228somers.com. Somers Library Foundation Needs You Are you a passionate supporter of the Somers Library and looking for a way to help improve the services and capabilities? The Somers Library Foundation is looking for new board members. There are lots of opportunities to use your talents and build new skills. Send the foundation an email at [email protected]. Watch the Somers Library Foundation website (https://somerslibrary foundation.org) for details on upcoming meet and greet events to learn more about the Foundation and what it means to be a board member of the board. TEAM Tuskers Mentors Sought for Intermediate & Middle School Program TEAM Tuskers Mentoring is looking for adults interested in spending time with a 3rdthrough 8th-grade student at their school for the upcoming school year. The commitment is to spend 1 hour a week, every week with a student and make a difference in their life. You will develop a relationship and help open new lines of communication while playing games, doing puzzles, or just chatting. Please consider volunteering for this great program. A child will benefit from spending time with you! For more information, visit somersschools.org/Page/7356 or call 914-481-2716. Somers PTA Council Spirit Wear Sale The Somers PTA Council is selling Somers Spirit wear. The store is open year-round and items ship to your home. Promo codes are available on the website. Visit our store at teamlocker. squadlocker.com/#/lockers/ somers-pta-council-store Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam Monthly Meeting Please join in for monthly discussions as they work to advance cross-racial and cross-cultural amity to impact the public discourse on race. Monthly meetings feature speakers, screenings, and presentations where discussions are aimed at educating one another on who the oranization really is. Visit https://www.eventbrite. com/e/138495877899 to register for this online event. 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 RideConnect RideConnect has volunteers ready to help drive seniors to their medical appointments and assist with shopping. Services are free to seniors residing in Westchester and southern Putnam Counties. To request assistance call 914-242-7433. Anyone wishing to volunteer for Rideconnect may do so by emailing Marietta Manoni at [email protected] Somers Lions Club In 1966, the Somers Lions Club was chartered and has grown exponentially with dedicated men and women who volunteer their time, skills, and energy to make a difference in people’s lives, both in our community and for the charities we support. Lions can be found working on “hands-on” projects, fundraising, and running numerous community events in and around Somers. If you are in need of assistance, there is a good chance that the Lions can help. Visit www.somerslions club.org for more information. Follow on social media @somerslions. The Somers Lions would like to welcome its newest members and are proud to serve alongside you. TRUNK FROM PAGE 26 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 17 Miller Rd. 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Wolke, age 95, passed away on December 19, 2023, in Danbury, CT. She was born on December 7, 1928, the youngest of three sisters, in New York City and lived in Shenorock, NY for more than 60 years. Patricia was a woman of strong faith and worshiped at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Mahopac, NY. She will be remembered as a truly kind, caring and positive person with a great sense of humor. Patricia graduated from Cathedral High School and furthered her education at Fordham University where she completed her master’s degree. She was a lifelong learner and greatly valued education. Patricia devoted her whole life to helping others in a caring, compassionate way. As a young woman, she joined the order of the Helpers of the Holy Souls. This was followed by a successful career as a Social Worker in Westchester County and later as the Commissioner of Mental Health for Putnam County. She dedicated her life to helping others and making a positive impact on the lives of those she served. She was a regular blood donor and an Eucharist Minister and a Lector for her church. Patricia loved to travel and traveled throughout Europe and even lived in France for a brief period. She also loved gardening, solving crossword puzzles and playing games of all kinds, including video games, board games, word games and card games. During these past two years, even as her health declined and mobility became increasingly restricted, Patricia showed tremendous courage and strength. She rarely complained and was always appreciative of the care she received. On many occasions, doctors, nurses and caregivers remarked on what an intelligent and kind woman she was. She is survived by her nephew Christopher Stevens, his wife Cynthia “Neice,” grandniece Victoria Stevens, niece Michelle Bordonaro and her cousin Joan McGuire. Patricia was predeceased by her mother Charlotte, father Theodore, sister Dorothy and sister Margaret. Her Funeral service can be viewed on Saint Joseph’s Church website at www.facebook.com/ churchofsaintjoseph. Patricia will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her. Her kindness, generosity, courage, faith and love for others will be forever remembered. May she rest in peace. Patricia A. Waill Patricia A. Waill of Somers, an artist and expert quilter with the Village Squares Quilters and the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild, 95, died peacefully on December 26, 2023 with her family by her side after battling a brief illness. Devoted wife of the late Robert, loving mother of Linda and David, and mother-in-law to Pamela and Eric. Beloved grandmother of Hannah, Rachel, Nola, Henry and Elias. Proud graduate of the University of North Carolina. Services were held on Thursday, December 28, at Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah. Burial followed at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, N.Y. Darrell Baker Darrell Baker, 89, of Somers, formerly of Laguna Niguel, CA and Montclair, NJ, died Sunday, December 17 at Waterview Hills in Somers. Darrell was born on August 26, 1934, in Pueblo, CO, to the late Harley and Lucille Baker. Darrel was a graduate of Oberlin College, receiving his BA in Studio Art. He later went on to found his own independent illustration firm. Notable clients included the Disney Company, Warner Brothers, and Hanna-Barbera. Between the 1970s and 2000s, it was virtually impossible not to find his illustrations featured prominently in bookstores throughout the world. Darrell is the beloved husband of Linda, deceased, and is the loving father of Kate of Mandeville, LA, and Jamie, of Katonah, NY. He is the grandfather of Sam, Maddy, Reed and Miles. Public services will be held at St James Episcopal Church of South Salem, at a date to be determined next Spring. Margaret Mary Goode Margaret Mary Goode (Marge), formerly of Goldens Bridge, passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2024, at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta. The only daughter of the late Michael and Mary Goode, Margaret was raised in the Bronx. She attended high school at the Academy of the Sacred Heart of Mary and was a proud graduate of Fordham University. She went on to have a career in human resources and employee benefits management, spending a large portion of her career at American Ultramar. Marge loved to travel. She made many trips to her parents’ homeland of Ireland where she enjoyed spending time with family. She also made two trips to New Zealand to visit her dear friends, the Prebbles. Marge left behind boxes of photos documenting her travels to Hawaii, Alaska, California, Florida, England, and many other destinations. Margaret was a communicant of St. Joseph’s in Somers where, for many years, she assisted with parish blood drives. Margaret is survived by her cousin and godson, Terrence Dwyer and his wife Joan who lovingly looked after Marge for the past two years, her cousins David Flynn, James Dwyer, Mary Flattery, the Bucci Family, as well as many friends. She was predeceased by her parents, two newborn infant brothers, and her dear cousins Marie Bucci, Anne Dwyer, Margaret Caulkins, and Kate Flynn. There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church in Somers, on Tuesday, January 16, at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetary, Tenafly, NJ. The family deeply appreciates the loving attention and care Marge received at Hampshire House Assisted Living in Oneonta. Memorial donations in Margaret’s memory can be made to the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Dr., Tarrytown, NY 10591 Thomas Paul Diana Thomas Paul Diana of Shrub Oak, passed away on Friday, January 5, 2024 at the age of 66. Thomas was born to the late Henry Paul Diana, and Maurine Audra Power Diana. He was born and raised in Shrub Oak, New York where he proudly continued to live and serve. Thomas graduated from Lakeland High School in 1975. He then started his long career in public service as Putnam County Deputy Sheriff. After serving for Putnam County, he transferred to Yorktown, New York Police Department as a part of the K9 Unit. Succeeding his employment there he transferred to the town of Cortlandt Police Department, where he became Patrol Commander OBITUARIES SEE OBITUARIES PAGE 32
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 31 Scan Me! Read your local news online now!
PAGE 32 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 Sergeant. Thomas then finished his law enforcement career in the Westchester County Police Department, retiring in March 2005. Thomas was a successful small business owner. During this time Thomas served as town Councilman for Yorktown for seven years. He became the interim Town Supervisor for Yorktown and then was overwhelmingly elected as the current Yorktown Town Supervisor in November 2023. Thomas never met a stranger he didn’t know and loved talking to people. He would drop everything to help anyone in need. He had a quick wit and beautiful, blue eyes that lit up the room. Thomas had a jovial smile and laugh that made everyone happy whenever he was near. Outside of his law, small business, and political ventures, Thomas enjoyed many hobbies. His favorite being drag racing. He was a momentous part and supporter of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. He socialized, pups and successfully raised a graduate pup named Nacho. Thomas loved the sea and sky. He was an avid boater and a licensed boat captain. Thomas also received his pilot’s license. Thomas loved community service and was an integral part of initiating the Yorktown Against Heroin Program. He had a passion for socializing, meeting new people, and serving his community. Thomas was a member of many organizations including The Yorktown Elks, Circolo DaVinci Italian Club, and Sons of the American Legion. His love of this was evident in his everyday life. He loved his family and adored his grandchildren. Thomas is survived by his devoted, loving wife Donna, daughter Megan, her husband, William, their children, Emma Marie and Gracie Lynn, his daughter, Brianna, her husband, Steven, and their children, Penelope Rose and Daisy Row. Family and friends honored the life of Thomas at Yorktown Funeral Home on Monday, January 8. A mass of Christian burial was held on Tuesday, January 9, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, followed by a burial at Assumption Cemetery in Cortlandt Manor. OBITUARIES FROM PAGE 30 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Two Westchester County police officers who pulled a Bedford man from a burning car have been nominated for an award honoring their lifesaving actions. Michael Miller, 51, was fleeing from an attempted traffic stop on Friday, Dec. 1, when he lost control of his Chevy Malibu on the Saw Mill River Parkway and crashed, police said. Thrown into the back seat, he was unconscious when the vehicle caught on fire. According to Commissioner Terrance Raynor of the Department of Public Safety, Officers Niall Nerney and Christopher Duffy used a portable fire extinguisher and then broke through the car’s damaged windshield to help Miller. They pulled him to safety just as flames reached the passenger compartment. “This suspect fled at high speed on a rainy night, putting himself, other motorists and these officers in jeopardy. Regardless of this man’s reckless behavior, Officers Nerney and Duffy did not hesitate to put themselves in harm’s way to save him as the flames spread,” Raynor said, adding that he commended them “for the decisive, skillful and courageous actions they took when every second mattered.” The dramatic incident began around 9:30 p.m. in Hawthorne, when Miller sideswiped another car, police said. He did not stop at the accident scene, but instead continued north on the parkway. The driver of the other vehicle called County Police and gave Westchester officers honored after heroic save Westchester County Police Officers Niall Nerney and Christopher Duffy (center) are flanked from left to right by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Sgt. Ed Zerbo, Chief Inspector James Luciano and County Executive George Latimer PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY REGIONAL SEE OFFICERS PAGE 36 My Community Bulletin Board DSL Construction The Home Team! Floors • Decks • Kitchens • Bathrooms Workman's Comp, Liability • No Job Too Small! FREE Consultation and Design Fully Insured to Meet Your Needs Complete Remodeling of Your Home OFFICE: 845-276-8608 LOU: 845-494-9857 Proudly Serving Heritage Hills Community DSL Construction Inc. Windows, Doors, and Painting Full Service Window and Door Installations Call for Free Quote and Measure We deal with all the major window, door, and paint brand manufacturers Office: 845-276-8608 • Lou: 845-494-9857 Fully Licensed to meet your needs! Workman's Comp, Liability • No Job Too Small! Established 1979 Hunter Douglas Showcase Priority Dealer WESTCHESTER 914-277-4229 • PUTNAM 845-278-2575 AS FEATURED ON FREE ESTIMATES AND FREE INSTALLATION DISCOUNTED BLINDS & SHADES VERTICAL-MINI BLINDS-SILHOUETTE SHUTTERS-WOOD BLINDS-VIGNETTE LUMINETTES-ROMAN BLINDS-VALANCES Shades Above the Rest for Home & Office SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $25 PER BLIND! www.westrockwindowdesigns.com Somers Resident COUPON INCREASE REFERRALS AND NAME RECOGNITION. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today!
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 33 Elder Law Wills, Trusts & Estates Estate Planning Medicaid Applications Guardianships Probates Elder Law & Estate Planning A Tradition of Excellence in Elder Law (845) 621-8640 thefellergroup.com 625 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541 We make home & hospital visits Contact the team today! (845) 621-8640 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Pound Ridge has officially paused development in its business and commercial district, Scotts Corners. The six-month moratorium, approved unanimously by the Town Board on Dec. 5, took effect immediately. According to Town Attorney William Harrington, it aims to buy the town enough time to weigh local laws that would control the way cannabis dispensaries are operated. Once that legislation passes, there will be public hearings if a dispensary license is ever granted by the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) within Pound Ridge’s borders, he said. Pots shops are already the hot topic around town. Dozens of residents packed the local elementary school’s gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 9 to slam town officials for not opting out of allowing adult-use cannabis dispensaries or on-site consumption establishments when it had the chance. To opt out, municipalities needed to pass local laws before Dec. 31, 2021 exerting their authority to prohibit cannabis establishments. The Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) legalized adult-use of recreational marijuana in 2021 and the sale -- through state-approved dispensaries -- in 2022. Cannabis used for medical purposes has been legal in New York since 2016. According to legal experts, the local laws were subject to “permissive referendum,” which means that if residents disagreed with a municipality’s decision to opt out, they could petition for a special election allowing voters to decide whether to override the opt-out. Municipalities that officially opted-out have the option of opting-in later, a cautious approach that the majority of them appear to have taken. Conversely, the municipalities that took no action before the deadline, and are now required to allow cannabis dispensaries, can’t opt-out in the future. The Rockefeller Institute of Government released data in 2022 that showed approximately half of all municipalities in the state had voted not to allow dispensaries, and 57 percent also nixed on-site consumption lounge. The opt-out numbers were a bit higher in municipalities in Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland as well as six other Hudson Valley counties. Among the local governments opting out were Mount Kisco, North Salem, Somers and Yorktown. Pound Ridge was the only one in the northeastern part of the county that didn’t, according to the Rockefeller tracker. Mark Buzzetto Jr. and Sophia J. Mortell of SMMB Inc. have leased a former wine shop located at 32 Westchester Ave. in Scotts Corners with the intent of opening a cannabis dispensary there. Buzzetto Jr. declined to comment last week when asked by Halston Media if SMMB had received its state license yet. Meanwhile, Monica Alexander confirmed last week that she’s withdrawn her application to open a dispensary at 69 Westchester Ave., a retail space on Pound Ridge’s so-called “Main Street.” According to a report in The Journal News, the Town Board has notified the OCM that it supports a “home rule law” that could give it a second chance at holding a public referendum on cannabis operations. Dispensary opponents have reached out to state Sen. Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) and state Assemblyman Chris Burdick (D-Bedford) for help. Burdick confirmed last week that the MRTA doesn’t contain language that would allow municipalities that didn’t optout “a second bite of the apple.” However, if they opted-out before the 2021 deadline, then they can opt in if they change their minds. While there’s “no waiver, no mechanism within the four corners of the act itself,” that doesn’t mean that the elected officials can’t approach the Cannabis Control Board, which is the OCM’s approval and oversight body and is responsible for regulatory framework and implementation of the act. “We don’t want to be disingenuous about this. We’re not aware if the board would have the authority to allow for it, but it is our responsibility to inquire about the possibility,” Burdick said. Saying she agreed with the way Burdick “framed” the issue, Shelley noted that the lawmakers, while having heard comments from both the Town Board and constituents are “reluctant to overpromise the reopening of a complicated and long-fought effort to pass the underlining bill.” “But we have an obligation to see what we can do to try to craft a solution for Pound Ridge,” she added. As for the possibility of going the “home rule” route, Burdick noted that such laws Pound Ridge pauses business district development Cannabis dispensaries in question REGIONAL SEE POUND RIDGE PAGE 34
PAGE 34 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 Add Value to Your Home We specialize in targeted home improvements — both big and small — to maximize your home’s value,comfort and beauty. • Bathroom Remodeling • Kitchen Remodeling • Durable Vinyl Siding • Room Additions • Add-a-Levels • • Replacement Windows • General Carpentry • Basement Finishing • Painting • Interior Trim • Handy Man • Sero’s Contracting When we’re done, there is nothing left to do. Licensed & Insured • Local References • Brewster, NY • 845-216-1955 • 845-279-6977 • [email protected] only apply under “certain narrow circumstances and changes would only apply to a particular municipality. “The first step is to see if there’s any recourse through the CCB. We want to first exhaust any possibilities available under existing laws and regulations,” Burdick explained. The “home rule” thing might not be relevant anyway. The state might find that it only could be applied if the entire MRTA was amended and could reject it based on the finding that it would “set a precedent.” Resident Cheryl Schacht told town officials on Dec. 5 that she only learned in October that a dispensary might open in Pound Ridge and was upset that there’s been no outreach to residents and no opportunity to participate in the decision-making process. She demanded that the town explain why it did not opt-out and that board or commission members disclose any financial interests they may have in cannabis dispensaries. Kurt Schacht also decried the lack of a public hearing or referendum and asked that a public vote be held on whether on-site consumption of cannabis products should be allowed. “My main question is: ‘Are we totally foreclosed at this point from revisiting the opt-out decision as a town?’ I’m wondering because there was no public forum or public comment or ability to view the issue and all the things that should be looked at like traffic, property values, and safety,” asked Cheryl Schacht, adding: “Can we say it was a mistake? Can we go to whatever the authority is and tell it this was not fully vetted and, therefore, we’re going to request that we get the opportunity to revisit this as a town with full town support?” “The answer’s no,” both Harrington and Supervisor Kevin Hansan flatly responded. MORATORIUM SPECIFICS The moratorium prohibits the town building inspector, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals from issuing any determinations under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) or any final determinations on applications for non-exempt building permits, variances, special use permits, site plans, certificates of occupancy, or subdivisions located in the PB-A, PB-B, or PB-C zoning districts. The town’s Land Use Board can hold public hearings and discuss applications, but can’t formally approve or deny them while the moratorium is in effect. There are certain applications that are exempt, namely: area variances for one- or two-family dwellings; building permits for work that doesn’t require approval from the Land Use Board; those that the building inspector “reasonable believes” are being performed primarily for health and safety reasons; and those planned for existing structures for existing operations with a gross floor area of less than 3,000 square feet. Property owners facing a “severe financial hardship” due to the delay in processing their applications may seek an exemption from the Town Board. To qualify, they have to show a financial loss of at least $750,000 in funds already spent on their proposed development. The town gave itself the option of extending the moratorium beyond the initial six months. LEGISLATION WEIGHED The intent of passing a local law regulating state-licensed cannabis sales is to mitigate any “potential nuisances” or “adverse impacts on “public youth facilities” such as schools and residences and to “protect the overall community character while allowing for small business development that provides outlets for hookah and vaping, and for the retail sale of associated products and cannabis for at-home consumption.” It defines what cannabis is and exempts hemp, cannabinoid hemp, or hemp extract products that have been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. The law, if passed as written, would prohibit such operations from creating any hazard, including, but not limited to: fire, explosion, fumes, gas smoke, odors, obnoxious dust, vapors, and offensive noises or vibrations – basically anything that would “impair the normal use and peaceful enjoyment of any property, structure, or dwelling in the area.” No cannabis retail business, or hookah lounge or vape shop, will be allowed within 500 feet of public youth facilities or schools, or within 200 feet of any house of worship. Proximity restrictions may also apply, if the Planning Board chooses, to libraries, playgrounds, parks, martial arts and dance studies, pediatric medical offices, toy stores, government buildings for youth, and youth clubs. The board will be allowed to deviate from those restrictions if the applicant can show “good cause” regarding the need to “foster and develop new businesses” while balancing that with the need to protect the community. The draft law also addressed hours of operation. No cannabis business may open before 9 a.m. or close later than 5 p.m., unless it gets a special use permit. The sale or consumption of alcohol on the premises – except for the sale of tinctures allowed by state law – is prohibited as are drivethrough services and sales. Facades, signage, and ventilation and security systems must also pass muster with the town. Details of the moratorium and the proposed law can both be found on the town’s website, www.townofpoundridge.com. ALL FIRED UP Harrington claimed at the heated Dec. 9 public hearing that, at present, no state licenses have been issued to dispensaries that want to operate in Pound Ridge and there there’s “no guarantee” that the state will approve such license “in the near future or ever.” (That contradicts a media report that SMMB Inc. had been issued a license by the state. Alexander said POUND RIDGE FROM PAGE 33 SEE POUND RIDGE PAGE 36
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 35 Call 914-689-7350 to schedule your free quote!
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Share in experiences. her state license was “pending.”) Licensed operators would be required by the town to ensure that there’s no interference with the public thoroughfare, that there’s no use or consumption of cannabis on the premises, and to comply with all local regulations. (It’s unclear if municipalities that didn’t opt out, and are therefore legally bound to allow cannabis dispensaries, can ban on-site consumption.) Among the speakers expressing frustration with the lack of a public discussion of the issue in 2021 was John Nathan, who claimed that the Town Board’s decision not to opt-out “off the books” violated the law. He planned to ask the OCM to stay any applications until all questions are resolved and that it give municipalities a second chance to opt-out. Catherine Nathan then demanded that the entire Town Board resign. Equally as critical, Kathleen McCown said she thought this “debacle of poor governance” could be reversed if residents were given the opportunity to vote on the matter. John McCown, her husband, tried and failed to unseat incumbent Supervisor Kevin Hansan in November. Citing a 2021 study, John McCown asserted that a dispensary at a former wine shop on Westchester Avenue would harm the value of at least 69 residential properties nearby. Resident Peggy Seton feared that the traffic generated by cannabis operations would make Pound Ridge a “less desirable” destination and that marijuana dispensaries are not an “appropriate fit” for the town. Andrew Klaber echoed that sentiment when he declared that cannabis-related business activity will jeopardize the smalltown environment that he and his wife want for their children. Barry Cohen noted that local police lack the “resources” to address issues that may arise because of a dispensary. Many other speakers accused the Town Board of failing to do its due diligence and of not acting in the best interests of residents. Insisting that having a dispensary in town was not the way “to put Pound Ridge on the map,” Richard Schlesinger predicted that more than 90 percent of residents would vote against dispensaries if given the chance. Ellen Kearns and Sara McLeod both were anti-dispensaries while Ellen Ivens came out on the pro side, saying she had outlined her reasons why in a letter to the town. Steven Kuschner, one of the authors of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, said it was disingenuous to state that there would be no consumption of cannabis in the town because it has failed to opt out of that. Slamming the Town Board, he claimed that that its actions were illegal and urged Harrington to pursue every possible avenue to undo the damage. Jay Goodgal asserted that the Town Board’s failure to opt-out constituted “gross negligence” and suggested that residents should be able to sue its members personally. Nicola Stephenson was one of two speakers who came out on the pre-dispensary side of the argument. The owner of a cannabis company, she decried the “typecasting” of marijuana users, she pointed out that the substance provides many people with relief from anxiety, pain, sleep deprivation, menopause symptoms, and other debilitating conditions. Stephenson also noted that the cannabis industry is “highly regulated” and that the “real danger” is not “plant-based medicine” but the illicit drug market. After the public hearing was adjourned, Councilwoman Alison Boak apologized to residents for not having realized that the cannabis issue was so “controversial” and “divisive,” according to Town Board minutes. Councilman Dan Paschkes also threw himself on the sword and admitted that the board had dropped the ball by not having a public hearing and referendum before deciding not to opt-out. Emphasizing that there had been no conspiracy as some speakers had clearly implied, he agreed that residents’ concerns were valid and said he thought the board should make every effort to revisit the cannabis issue. Councilwoman Carla Brand, who has left the board after completing a four-year stint, reiterated that there was no conspiracy and expressed the hope that there could be more “listening, learning, and working together in the future.” She encouraged residents to remain engaged and admitted that the board’s handling of the cannabis issue was her “greatest regret” during her time as a councilwoman. Noting that he was frustrated that the state had “deviated” so far from the original plan for cannabis regulation, Hansan assured residents there would be more opportunities for public input in the future. POUND RIDGE FROM PAGE 34 them a description of the fleeing vehicle. Nerney and Duffy positioned their patrol car on Grant Street in Pleasantville to observe passing traffic. After spotting the Chevy Malibu, they tried to stop Miller near Route 120 in New Castle but he sped off. Miller skidded on wet pavement about a mile south of Readers Digest Road and collided with another car before flipping his vehicle, police said. He was transported by Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. Nerney was treated for smoke inhalation and cuts to his hands. Miller’s condition was not released. A 33-year-old woman and her 7-year-old daughter, occupants of the vehicle that had been struck, were taken to the hospital, evaluated, and released. A loaded handgun was found in Miller’s car, police said. Charged with second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Criminal Contempt, Fleeing an Officer in a Motor Vehicle, and Reckless Driving, he was also issued summonses for speeding and leaving the scene of the initial accident in Hawthorne. The criminal contempt charge was lodged because he is barred from possessing a firearm due to a pre-existing Order of Protection, police said. OFFICERS FROM PAGE 32
JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 37 NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # 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 Somers Record YES, I really enjoy The Somers Record 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.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com OR or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News Mahopac News Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times Morrissey and noted that he was “sure he’ll be doing plenty of great things for Somers.” One of Morrissey’s “greatest attributes” is his “unwavering” dedicated to doing what’s “best for Somers,” Faulkner added. Somers officials sworn in on Monday, Jan. 1 at Town Hall were Scorrano, Councilman Thomas Garrity, Councilman Richard Clinchy, Town Clerk Patricia Kalba, Highway Superintendent Nicholas DeVito, and new Town Justice Joseph Marra, who was administered the oath of office by his predecessor, recently retired Town Justice Denis Timone. Town Justice Michael McDermott, who has served since 2000, was not present at the swearing-in ceremony. Timone had been town justice since 1983. Scorrano, Garrity, Clinchy, Kalba, and DeVito were all incumbents. Here’s what each of them had to say to the large crowd of friends and family members gathered at Town Hall and to the town’s residents: SCORRANO “It’s a great day. I’m happy that everybody came out to support all the candidates. I’m happy for the town’s support. It’s been a pleasure to serve the town of Somers for the last two years. I’m looking forward to serving the town for the next two as well and just really appreciate everybody who came out in support.” MARRA “I want to thank you all for coming out; it’s a great honor for me. But besides me, do you know who’s the happiest person in this room right now? Mrs. Timone. What did she tell me? Make sure you keep your phone on. I didn’t tell my wife that part yet, getting calls in the middle of the night. She’s finding out now. But it’s truly a great honor to have been elected and supported by the people in the town. I’m really, really looking forward to it. I know I have extremely large shoes to fill in Justice Timone, who’s well-respected, not only in this town but throughout the county and the state by the people he’s met and touched over many years. So I’m going to be aspiring to reach the example and the standard that he has set for me and for everyone. I know Mike (McDermott) is very supportive and welcoming of Judge Timone and all the help he’s gotten. I also have to say, Barbara Lloyd is here, our (court) clerk. She is a phenomenal person. They have all been really helpful trying to help me get up to speed before I start. So I want to try to hit the ground running with all their help, with all your help. So thank you all very much and thank you all for coming. I will do my best to make sure that I reach the standard that you folks expect and that Judge Timone has set.” KALBA “I’m very humbled and grateful.” GARRITY Garrity, a Republican, was thankful for his fellow councilman Rich Clinchy, a Democrat. “We’ve become very good friends and confidants. We’ve run together numerous times and they’ve all been great experiences. What I laugh at is how quickly the time goes because when I first ran he was five (referring to his son, Tommy) and she (his daughter, Brenna) was five months old. Now she’s holding the Bible and he’s about to graduate from college. I can’t say it’s been smooth sailing the entire time, but it’s been a lot more good than not. The one thing I will mention; this will be my last time getting sworn in. I’m going to do this one last term. But, in this town we have great employees and we three fantastic full-time elected employees: Patti (Kalba), Nick (DeVito) and Michele (McKearney, receiver of taxes) who are quite possibly THE best in their positions in the state of New York. And even when I’m long gone, I’ll be doing everything to support them as we move forward into these tumultuous times that we’re all experiencing. They’re good employees, but more importantly, they’re good people. And that’s what the town needs and that’s what this town runs on. So I thank all the councilmen who I’ve run with: Rob (Scorrano), who in his first two years has done a phenomenal job, picking up everything, getting involved in everything, and most of all, my good friend Rich. So I thank you very much.” Saying he’d know Timone since he was little, Garrity added: “We’re blessed to have him.” CLINCHY Besides Garrity, Clinchy said he very much appreciated the friends he’s made in his role as councilman, especially “Supervisor Rob, Bill (William Faulkner) and Tony (Anthony Cirieco), and Patti, of course, all the people who work in this building. It’s a pleasure going to work when you work with nice people and I have to say, they’re very nice people. So that makes it a special pleasure and it’s an honor always to serve the people to the best of my ability. So thank you all for coming, that’s a great thing, thank you.” OFFICIALS FROM PAGE 1 Share Your Milestones Let your neighbors know about the special moments in your life, whether it’s a birth, engagement, wedding or anniversary. Send us a photo and announcement at [email protected] or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. There is no charge for this announcement. 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PAGE 38 – THE SOMERS RECORD JANUARY 11 - JANUARY 24, 2024 Westchester Oratorio Society has announced that weekly rehearsals resume on Tuesday evening, Jan. 9 in preparation for the group’s May 4 concert featuring Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52 (selections), Brahms Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), Op. 54 and Mozart Great Mass in C minor K. 427 with professional soloists and orchestra. The chorus is planning for a special event as this will be the final performance for longtime Artistic Director Benjamin Niemczyk and marks 20 years of association with the ensemble. Mr. Niemczyk, who lives in Brooklyn, is leaving to concentrate on his many other New York City based positions including as conductor of the New Your Session Symphony and choir director of St. Boniface Oratory Church in Brooklyn. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Garden Room of the Katonah Village Library, 26 Bedford Rd., in Katonah, located a short walk from the Metro-North train station. The concert will be Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at South Salem Presbyterian Church. Competent singers in all voice parts are welcome. Potential new singers are invited to attend any January rehearsal. For more information, email wosinformation@ gmail.com or visit the group’s website at www.westchester oratorio.org. Article courtesy of Westchester Oratorio Society. Westchester Oratorio Society begins rehearsals for spring season Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 2023 was a CRAZY YEAR! 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 We can help make your taxes less crazy. BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER First responders in nearby North Salem had a busy start to the year. Barely an hour of 2024 had passed before the Croton Falls Fire Department was called to a chimney/fireplace fire on Hilltop Drive. Crews spent an hour putting out the flames and venting smoke from the residence. Then at 5 a.m., firefighters and ambulance crews were back on the road helping to search for a man who had left a New Year’s Eve party at a home on Wallace Road near the North Salem/ Ridgefield, Conn. border around 2 a.m. He was on foot, didn’t have his cell phone on him, and was possibly not wearing a jacket, said fire Chief Jeffery Daday. Temperatures that morning were in the mid-30s. After being unable to locate him, the man’s frantic wife called the State Police for help. Also aiding in the search were the Yorktown Heights Fire Department and the Putnam County Sheriff ’s Department, both of which provided Missing man found safe on New Year’s Day SEE FOUND PAGE 39
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Call: 877 988 7277 ATTORNEY HEALTH HOME IMPROVEMENT MISCELLANEOUS TRAVEL SERVICES Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 914-302-5830. a drone with thermal (heatsensing) capabilities, which comes in handy when searching large, wooded areas. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection deployed a helicopter with a thermal-imaging device. Meanwhile, the Connecticut state police searched on their side. Six hours after he disappeared, the man was located unharmed at a store in Danbury. It was unclear whether he had walked all that way, or had hitched a ride. He had asked the store to use its phone to call his wife, who then alerted the authorities. The man was reunited with his family — a “happy ending,” Daday said. On another positive note, the CFFD swore in Daday, as well as First Assistant Chief Paul D’Agostino and Second Assistant Chief Mark McCabe. Even then, duty called. Just before the ceremony, the CFFD responded to an additional alarm. FOUND FROM PAGE 38 First responders were deployed to Wallace Road in North Salem after a man was reported missing by his family. A drone was deployed to help locate the individual. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CFFD PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the application of North County Homes for two Variances. The property included in this application is located in an R-40 Residential District at 5 Cardinal Way, Yorktown Heights and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 16.17, Block: 2 Lot: 7. All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. For questions, email [email protected]. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VICTOR CANNISTRA CHAIRMAN Denise Schirmer, Secretary January 4, 2024 PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the application of Alexei Perzow and Kate Ann Gonta for a Special Exception Use Permit. The property included in this application is located in an R-40 Residential District at 8 Cornelius Lane, Baldwin Place and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 5.17, Block: 2 Lot: 5. All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. For questions, email [email protected]. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VICTOR CANNISTRA CHAIRMAN Denise Schirmer, Secretary January 4, 2024 Pana Infiniti LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/31/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Grunwald & Seman, PC, Attn: Milton Grunwald, Esq., 100 Garden City Plaza, Ste 203, Garden City, NY 11530. General Purpose Silverlake Estimating LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/31/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Chris Bisceglia, 1 Main Place, West Harrison, NY 10604. General Purpose 99 North Broadway LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/31/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 11 Quarry Ln, Irvington, NY 10533. General Purpose
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