The Somers Record 02.06.20

Vol. 9 No. 42 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Thursday, February 6, 2020

Holocaust Commission stresses Local officials
education on day of remembrance oppose I-684 toll
BY CAROL REIF
STAFF WRITER BY TOM BARTLEY also warned of potential payback
CONTRIBUTING WRITER if Hartford lawmakers insisted on
ey might look like a couple
dozen books on a library shelf. implementing the toll proposal.

But to those gathered in North Bedford Supervisor Chris In remarks prepared for deliv-
Salem to mark International Ho-
locaust Remembrance Day, they Burdick went to Hartford last ery at the hearing, he told law-
are so much more.
week to convey the opposition of makers “there are discussions in
ey are a physical reminder
of why humans must rst be able a score of Westchester o cials, the New York State legislature to
to take an un inching look at the
past, however painful, before we including Somers Supervisor Rick respond in kind to the Greenwich
can hope for a future unmarred by
ignorance and hatred, said speak- Morrissey, to Connecticut’s plans toll proposal should Connecticut
ers at the recent re-dedication of
the Fred Bachner Holocaust Col- to collect truck tolls on I-684. move forward with it.”
lection.
Addressing a public hearing of Burdick said he was speaking “on
e memoirs and other ma-
terials were donated to the Ruth the Connecticut General Assem- behalf of my community and elect-
Keeler Memorial Library by the
Somers Holocaust Memorial bly’s transportation committee, ed representatives in Westchester
Commission.
Burdick said the Westchester of- County.” In addition to Morrissey,
Marked by a brass plaque, the
special collection was named in ceholders “take exception” to the they included supervisors Peter
honor of Bachner, the commis-
sion’s late founder. e Somers proposed toll. He called it a threat Parsons of Lewisboro, Warren Lu-
resident was a prisoner at Aus-
chwitz and several other concen- to the well being of many West- cas of North Salem and Matthew
tration camps.
chester residents and said it would Slater of Yorktown,County Execu-
His incredible story, like the
wrenching accounts by other Ho- encourage truckers to detour onto tive George Latimer and state Sen.
locaust survivors in the collection’s
local roads, which were never Peter Harckham of South Salem.
SEE COLLECTION PAGE 3
meant to handle the oversized rigs. Harckham made clear his op-

Connecticut lawmakers are position to the toll plan last year.

considering a package of tolls, e senator found it “particularly

scattered throughout the state, galling” that Connecticut wanted

to nance needed infrastructure to collect usage fees on a road-

repairs. e proposed tolls, $6 to way that New York built and now

Community members $13, include a truck-only reader pays for “road repairs, re and
from Somers and North
above a 1.4-mile stretch of I-684 emergency responses, state police
Salem came together
for the re-dedication running through Greenwich, be- patrol, snow plowing, removal of
of the Fred Bachner
Holocaust Collection. tween the county airport and Ar- deer carcasses—everything.”

PHOTO: CAROL REIF monk interchanges. Harckham said he would pro-

Burdick called for continued pose legislation enacting tolls

bi-state cooperation in addressing SEE TOLL PAGE 3
the states’mutual problems. But he

“Opportunity is missed by most people
because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”

– Thomas Edison

Don’t miss the opportunity to sell your home for top dollar. Use my proven approach
to getting your property ready for sale. Starting with a comprehensive, no-obligation
market analysis which will take you through the entire process, including:

• how to deal with deferred • sourcing materials Sales Vice President | Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
maintenance • organization
• packing Cell: 914.714.0090
• upgrades that will give the • staging
best ROI • preparing a moving plan [email protected] | hopemazzola.com

• service recommendations 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah NY 10536

True, there is no short cut, but together we will make your house shine — and get it sold
for top dollar. Opportunity awaits - Let’s get to work!
#UGottaHaveHope

BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31
CLASSIFIEDS
ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 30
LEGAL NOTICES
LEISURE 2
OPINION
SCHOOLS & CAMPS 31
SPORTS
29

10 GIRLS BASKETBALL
22

24 Milestone reached
pg 24

Page 2 – The Somers Record ELEPHANT’S TRUNK Thursday, February 6, 2020

The Staff Magic Show $15 online or $20 at the door. 11:45 a.m. for the 12:00 Service. sample local beer, listen to music,

EDITORIAL TEAM Kids under 2 are free. For more Bring your unit ags. St. Joseph’s and learn more about the maple
JODI WEINBERGER
e 10th annual Somers information, email somerssepta@ is located at 95 Plum Brook Rd. sugaring process.
EDITOR: 914-302-5830
[email protected] Magic show is Friday, March 20, gmail.com A brief reception will follow. Maple sugaring happens at

BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER at Somers High School. Doors Scout Sunday Service Sugaring and Suds Muscoot during the late winter
SPORTS EDITOR: 914-302-5628 open at 6 p.m. and the show be- and early spring. At Muscoot
[email protected]
ings at 7:30 p.m. ere will be Farm, sugaring is done for edu-
ADVERTISING TEAM
LISA KAIN pizza, drinks, ice cream and sou- St. Joseph’s Church and Cub On Friday February 21st at cational purposes. Visit the farm

914-351-2424 venirs for sale along with a ra e, Scout Pack 319 will host a Scout 5-8pm the Friends of Muscoot to learn more about this historic
[email protected]
and bake sale to bene t e Ca- Sunday Service on February 9th. Farm will be hosting a one of a and delicious process.
PAUL FORHAN
914-202-2392 marra Crusaders. All other pro- All local Scouts (Girl Scouts, kind event. In conjunction with For just $25 dollars visitors will
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON ceeds bene t Somers SEPTA. Scouts B.S.A,, Cub Scouts and the Maple Sugaring events at be treated to pizza from Colony
845-621-4049
[email protected] Tickets are available at seatyour- Venturers are invited. Scouts Muscoot, visitors will be able to Grill, beer from Broken Bow
JENNIFER CONNELLY
917-446-7757 self/biz/somerssepta. Tickets are should gather in full uniform at purchase a ticket to eat pizza, Brewery, local music, and tours
[email protected]
BRUCE HELLER of Muscoot Farm’s maple opera-
914-202-2941
[email protected] tion. is event is for adults 21
SHELLEY KILCOYNE
and older.
CO-FOUNDER
914-924-9122 To learn more about the Friends
[email protected]
of Muscoot visit www.muscoot-
PRODUCTION TEAM
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL farm.org; Broken Bow Brewery

PRODUCTION MANAGER http://www.brokenbowbrewery.
DESIGNER/PHOTOGRAPHER
[email protected] com/; Colony Grill Pizza https://

CHRISTINA ROSE www.colonygrill.com/
ASST PRODUCTION MANAGER
raYy Aobou! For additional information
DESIGNER
[email protected] C please contact Muscoot Farm at
914-864-7286.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
BRETT FREEMAN Movie Music Night
CEO & PUBLISHER
845-208-8151 Come watch scene selections
from your favorite family friend-
[email protected] ly movies accompanied by the
JOSEPH R. TESONE Somers High School Symphony
Band to support them in their
SENIOR VP & ASSISTANT PUBLISHER fundraising e orts to perform at
845-621-1116
Carnegie Hall in the spring. $5
[email protected]
suggestion donation. e event is
Deadlines
at 7 p.m., Feb. 12, at the Somers
THE SOMERS RECORD DEADLINE
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS High School auditorium.

AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR Westchester
Bluegrass Club
SOMERS RECORD IS THE THURSDAY
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE. Tel: 914-245-3899 e Westchester Bluegrass
Club presents e Feinberg
FOR MORE INFORMATION, 32 Triangle Cent er, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 • www.genesisjewelers.com Brothers at Saturday, Feb. 8, at
CALL JODI WEINBERGER AT the Lake Purdys Clubhouse, 33
914-302-5830 OR EMAIL Lake Way, Purdys. Donation:
[email protected]. $20. BYOB and bring a snack to
share. Visit westchesterbluegrass-
Subscribe club.com/ for more information.

TO REQUEST THE SOMERS RECORD SEF Honoree Gala
WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503
OR EMAIL [email protected]. Shoswomyoeulorvemile e Somers Education Foun-
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR this Valentine’s Day dation Gala is celebrating 25
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN. $99 First Exam, X-Ray, & Cleaning* years of service to Somers Schools
OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE with its event this year themed,
$150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL. Regular value: $350. Not to be combined with insurance or any other offer. A Touch of Red and Silver. e
Exclusions may apply. SEF bene t is planned for 7-10
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT p.m. March 27. Sponsorships
SOMERS, NY AND AT INCLUDES: available. For more information,
visit sefny.org/red or email info@
ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. Comprehensive Exam, Digital Radiographs, Photos, sefny.org.
POSTMASTER:
Comprehensive Prophylaxis (Cleaning), TEAM Tuskers
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO
THE SOMERS RECORD AT Oral Cancer Screening, Fluoride & Laser Cavity Detection TEAM Tuskers mentoring is
BAILEY COURT *Mention this ad when scheduling your visit Dr. Gianna Ferranti looking for committed, dedicated
adult men and women to spend an
334 ROUTE 202, UNIT C1S 4 Heritage Hills Plaza, 202 Ctr, Somers, NY 10589 hour each week during the school
SOMERS, NY 10589 year to support a student in the
914-277-4222 • www.somerssmiles.com schools. Mentoring is based on
(ISSN 2330-1597) building a supportive relationship
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY between an adult and a student—
HALSTON MEDIA, LLC AT to provide insight, to guide, to lis-
ten and to be supportive. Mentors
BAILEY COURT meet with their mentee for about
334 ROUTE 202, UNIT C1S
SEE TRUNK PAGE 19
SOMERS, NY 10589
©2020 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC

Thursday, February 6, 2020 The Somers Record – Page 3

COLLECTION Weakened by hunger and illness, and wearing nothing other TOLL
FROM PAGE 1
than thin striped uniforms and torn shoes, many could not keep FROM PAGE 1

pace and were shot dead. ousands also succumbed to starvation on Route 116 in North Salem, Routes 35 and
123 in Lewisboro and Routes 124 and 137 in
volumes, gives perspective to the commission’s mission of educat- and exposure as they were mercilessly herded toward the interior Pound Ridge, as well as a toll on the Hutchin-
son River Parkway in Rye Brook,and elsewhere
ing people—especially the young—about human rights and the of the German Reich. along the Connecticut border, as necessary.”

Shoah: the murder of millions of Jews by the Nazi regime and Bachner—with B-10618 branded on his arm—was among the Town o cials also weighed in on the
toll plan. Somers’ Morrissey, in an email to
collaborators during World War II. few hundred prisoners who made it alive to the Dachau concen- Burdick, said, “Good luck with your appear-
ance in front of the Connecticut General
Speaking Monday, Jan. 27, were SHMC president Steven E. tration camp in southern Germany on Feb. 22. Assembly and of course Somers is in opposi-
tion to this ridiculous proposal. Feel free to
Waldinger and state Supreme Court Justice Lewis J. Lubell. He did hard labor on a construction site until April when word include my name in your testimony.”

North Salem utist Daniella Friedman performed two moving came that the allied forces were approaching. Burdick carried the message of opposition
into the Connecticut statehouse last Friday,
pieces: one from the lm “Schindler’s List” and one the middle Bachner and other inmates were loaded on a train heading to- Jan. 31.

school student composed herself. ward the mountains and were told they were to be shot, Green- A wireless toll reader like the one envi-
sioned on I-684 does not require tra c to
According to Waldinger, the interfaith SHMC encourages berg wrote. stop but instead automatically bills the trucks
rolling beneath it.Still,the Westchester com-
high school students in Somers and North Salem to create proj- “Deciding not to leave things up to fate,” he and two others munity leaders deem it both an imposition
on their residents and a destructive intrusion
ects in visual arts, poetry, music and other artistic mediums that somehow managed to jump o the train undetected. on their roads.

were inspired by Holocaust Human Rights studies. Walking through the frigid forest for days, the three nally “ is proposed toll would create a signi -
cant disruption to the quality of life in many
ose works are showcased,and the students given awards,at the spotted white ags, a signal that the war was over, and American municipalities,” Burdick told the hearing.
“It would prompt trucks to take to the local
organization’s annual “Evening of Re ection and Remembrance.” soldiers. roads, causing congestion, damaging roads
and increasing the likelihood of collisions.”
It also helps schools establish human rights-orientated curricu- Bachner was eventually reunited with his father and brother.
He warned that New York could take un-
lum and programs, supports a book collection at the Somers Li- His mother did not survive the war. speci ed “other actions to bar the toll from
being implemented.”
brary and provides scholarships to graduating seniors committed Ruth Bachner and her family had escaped from Vienna and were
Instead of such a “tit-for-tat approach,” he
to human rights. in Belgium when it was invaded by Germany on May 10, 1940. proposed, “let’s work in partnership as our
great states have done so well for many years.”
Waldinger told the crowd Monday, Jan. 27, that he found it In an interview for Westchester Magazine,Bachner remembers
Estimates of usage-fee collections from
“heartening, particularly in these times of increasingly frequent she and her brother had to wear a yellow Star of David on their the proposed tolls statewide run as high as
$180 million a year and are seen as a way to
and disturbing acts of anti-Semitism, that our work has literally clothing. Her parents, desperate to save the children, entrusted bankroll the infrastructure repairs.

touched the lives of thousands of students.” them to a Catholic priest who hid them in a convent. Burdick backed the repairs if not the means
of nancing them. “I applaud your e orts in
Many of those young people are now in their 30s and 40s. To protect her, the nuns changed her name to Marie Renée Le tackling di cult infrastructure problems con-
fronting your state,”Burdick said. “We wrestle
“ at those people are out there with perhaps some heightened Roi. with the same problems in New York.”

level of understanding, empathy or decency because of what this After the war ended,Ruth was reunited with her mother and tak- But a vote on the package of tolls, which
had been expected earlier this week, ahead
commission does, in my view, is the most remarkable legacy of en to the United States, where she met and married Fred Bachner. of the scheduled start Wednesday (Feb. 5)
of the regular legislative session, was put o ,
Fred Bachner,”he said. e couple raised two daughters in Hartsdale—Ellen and raising questions of how much support the
toll proposals enjoy.
Waldinger, paying homage to Bachner’s wife, Ruth, then read a Cindy—before moving to Somers. ey also had several grand-
Other Westchester o cials joining in the
letter from the couple’s daughter, Ellen Bachner Greenberg. children. protest were state Sen. Shelley Mayer, As-
semblyman David Buchwald, mayors om-
Here is her retelling of her father’s story. Ruth Bachner told the magazine that “because of our experi- as Roach of White Plains, Gina Picinich of
Mount Kisco, Peter Scherer of Pleasantville
In January 1945, knowing that the Soviet Army was approach- ences,” she and her husband taught their children “never to hate and Drew Fixell of Tarrytown and supervi-
sors Ron Belmont of Harrison, Paul Feiner
ing, the Germans “wanted to get rid of the evidence—everyone others because they have di erent beliefs.” of Greenburgh, Kevin Hansan of Pound
Ridge, Gary J. Zuckerman of Rye Town,
who had witnessed their crimes.” Fred Bachner died in 2008. In his obituary, he is described as Anthony Colavita of Eastchester, Dana Lev-
enberg of Ossining and Nancy Seligson of
Nearly 60,000 prisoners—in what was known as a “Death a “Holocaust survivor who taught tolerance to children so they Mamaroneck.

March”—were forced to evacuate Auschwitz and subcamps in would understand the atrocities of the Holocaust.”

Nazi-occupied Poland on Jan. 27.

Europe was su ering through one of the coldest winters in its EDUCATION IS KEY

history, with blizzards and below-zero temperatures. Referring to the recent rise in hate crimes and anti-Semitism,

Lubell noted that the “true administration of

justice is more important than ever.”

However, knowledge of the past is also cru-

cial. at’s why people must read the books,

watch the documentaries and lms, listen to

survivors tell their stories, no matter how pain-

ful, he said.

As a Jewish person, Lubell has personally

experienced the sickening results of rampant

ignorance.

“Getting to the heart of it all, it’s not just us

who has to understand what’s happening, but

all faiths and ethnicities,” he said.

Holocaust and human rights education takes

place “one student at a time; one school at a

time; one locale at a time,” Lubell said.

“People need to be sensitive to hatred at every

level so it can’t happen again. It’s up to all of us.”

e SHMC is always looking for new

PHOTOS: CAROL REIF North Salem flutist Daniella members. To join, contact its president, Steve
Friedman performed two pieces. Waldinger, at: Somers Holocaust Memorial
State Supreme Court Justice Lewis J. Commission, Box 301, Somers, NY 10589.
Lubell spoke at the re-dedication.

Gary Forbes Chris Radding HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH GET R.A.W.
914-232-7750 • www.forbesinsurance.com
The Forbes Insurance Team Call Matt for
Professional

Training

Deiana’s
R.A.W. Training
914-804-1675

Page 4 – The Somers Record Thursday, February 6, 2020

Transportation director resigns

Task force o ers safety recommendations

BY CAROL REIF Joe Bernardi has been on ad- Late last Friday, Jan. 31, schools til the district nds a permanent task force looked at the logistical

STAFF WRITER ministrative leave while the dis- Superintendent Dr. Raymond replacement. Bernardi is also the pitfalls of contracting with another

trict’s lawyers conduct an internal Blanch announced that Bernardi district’s chief safety o cer. company at this time.

e Bus P ripple e ect contin- investigation into the way he and had handed in his letter of resigna- Ferone, who started on Mon- She and fellow task force mem-

ues to spread in Somers, with the others handled an incident in- tion. e school board is expected day, Feb. 3, was the Carmel school ber Robert Ondrovic told the

latest splash being the apparent volving the DWI arrest of Royal to act on it Tuesday, Feb. 11. district’s director of transportation board Tuesday, Jan. 28, that the

impending departure of school Coach school bus driver William Peter Ferone was appointed in- for 18 years. Retired since 2011, Royal Coach eet is in good shape,

district’s transportation director. J. Mendez. terim transportation director un- he also has served in interim po- its drivers know the routes and

sitions for Ossining and Mahopac routines and are generally liked

schools. by the children they transport. It’s

Treat yourself e district is also investigating likely the same drivers would be
or someone you love
an October 2018 bus accident in- employed even if the district de-
Valentithnis e Da
volving the same driver. cided to go with a new company.

“If our goal is to make things

TASK FORCE OUTCOMES safer and better, we can do that

e district’s new transportation by making some of those changes

task force and safety consultants, here and having a vendor that will

Altaris, have pinpointed three big make them with us,”Winter said.

mistakes: 9-1-1 should have been Ondrovic, acknowledging that

called; the driver should not have the whole situation has been “po-

60 minute escape massage been removed from the scene until larizing,” told the board that con-
with aromatherapy and a choice checked out by police and EMS, tract discussions had been “open
and a more orderly parent-child and dispassionate,” but the recom-
reuni cation process should have mendation the task force reached

of foot scrub or 15 minute stretching taken place. was not “unanimous.”

Mindful of both the safety of e task force had an earnest

children and the cost of switching talk in January with Royal Coach

Try our CBD $100 value for$85 vendors, the task force has recom- president Steve DePaolo, who ap-
* purchase valid through Feb 14, 2020 mended that the district uphold its peared more than willing to im-
FULL BODY MASSAGE *not to be combined with other o ers contract with Royal Coach—for plement any changes the district
now. wants.
60 Minutes for $125
90 Minutes for $150 Primrose Elementary School SEE RESIGNS PAGE 6
Principal Katie Winter said the

914-617-8660

www.eternitaspa.com

253 Route 202 • Somers, NY 10589

Loo your bes for Valentin ’ Da ! To all my friends,
I wanted to let you know that

I am back!

For those of you who did not know I was
battling cancer for 10 months.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally
thank Dr. J. Gregory Mears & staff at New York-
Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital and the Cheryl
R. Lindenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center for

providing the highest quality of cancer care.
I would also like to THANK my family, staff and

my customers for
their support during

this trying time.

THANK YOU!
George of La Villetta
Hope to see you soon!

La Villetta

PIZZA & PASTA

3172 E MAIN ST • MOHEGAN LAKE, NY • (914) 526-0394

Thursday, February 6, 2020 The Somers Record – Page 5

Promise the curious
lives in...
The wonderers. The ponderers. The ones
© Nuvance Health who always wear their thinking caps.
Asking the di cult questions. Not only
treading into uncharted waters, but diving in.
In search of something new, something better.
At Nuvance Health, we embrace curiosity.
Because it leads to better answers. Answers
that help eliminate hassles. Answers that
o er new options. And answers that help
you and the people you care about rest easy.
The promise of curiosity lives in us, painting
a brighter future for us all.

nuvancehealth.org