VOL. 12 NO. 1 THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 30 LEISURE 25 OPINION 10 SPORTS 21 World Circus Day pg 6 OLD BET Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. The weather might not have cooperated for the Easter Egg Hunt on April 1, but that didn’t stop the Somers Leos from serving their community. See more photos on page 16! APRIL FOOLED! The team made the best of a soggy day at Reis Park. PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE In the wake of a public hearing, a plan for a Mahopac gun club to build a 14-station sportingclay range remains a polarizing proposal that pits club members and shooting enthusiasts against neighbors in Somers who say it would ratchet up noise levels, impact their quality of life, and reduce property values. At its March 22 meeting, the Town of Carmel Planning Board held a public hearing on the siteplan amendment. e hearing lasted for more than two hours as people on both sides of the issue weighed in on the controversial plan. e Willow Wood Gun Club is a private, 200-member club located on 86 acres o Union Valley Road. e club is seeking approval for the sporting-clay range that it built several years ago without the requisite Planning Board approvals and Zoning Board of Appeals variances. Sporting clays is a sport in which participants travel a course in a motorized cart, pull o at Neighbors blast Mahopac gun club over noise Plan for sporting clay course ignites debate at public hearing SEE GUN CLUB PAGE 9 124 1 (c)845.803.1241 ASSOCIATE BROKER debbiedemelis.com The #1 Coldwell Banker Agent in Somers* for 2023! Very d to The #1 Coldwell Banker Agent in Somers *Of Coldwell Banker Agents - units closed 1/1/22--12/31/22 per One Key MLS reporting The market is STILL STRONG and You Deserve the Best! Do you know I LOVE working with Buyers and Sellers?
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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) (Optional for TAPinto E-News) 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 The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times Mahopac News 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 Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com Don’t Miss a Week of The Somers Record. Please Re-Subscribe Today! Thursday, November 3, 2022 Vol. 11 No. 30 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 32 CLASSIFIEDS 34 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 26 OBITUARIES 30 OPINION 10 SPORTS 20 Tuskers Batter Brewster pg 22 FOOTBALL Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Please note that the Nov. 10 edition of The Somers Record will go to press before the Nov. 8 election results are available. Please visit TapIntoSomers.net to view our full election coverage. BY BOB DUMAS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR When voters go to the polls this election season, they will have a choice between two candidates who are vying for the state’s 40th Senate District seat. Incumbent Democrat Pete Harckham of South Salem, seeking his third term as state senator, will be opposed by Republican Gina Arena, an administrative assistant from Somers. Here is a look at the two candidates, including their platforms, accomplishments and goals. PETE HARCKHAM Now nearing the end of his second term in o ce, Pete Harckham is chair of the Senate Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. He worked to make the 2% property tax cap permanent; delivered record aid to education and addressed the opioid crisis by doubling minimum treatment times and reducing barriers to life-saving treatment. Harckham helped pass the toughest climate-protection legislation in the nation, and also introduced a measure, later enacted, requiring all new passenger-car and truck sales to be zero emission by 2035 and allowing municipalities to build solar canopies and jumpstart community renewable-energy projects. Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul placed Harckham’s wetlands legislation protecting Class C streams statewide, which will safeguard drinking water resources, into her proposed 2023 state budget. Harckham has been a leading voice to hold the utilities accountable in the wake of failed responses to natural disaster. To date, he has held 13 food drives to ght hunger, assisted thousands of residents with unemployment claims and delivered personal-protection equipment to rst responders and municipalities throughout the 40th Senate District. From 2008 to 2015 Harckham served on the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where he was a leading voice for protecting the environment and maintaining vital services. In addition to his professional work, Harckham served on the President’s Council for the Northern Westchester Hospital, was a board member for the United Way of Westchester and Putnam, the Junior League of Northern Westchester Community Advisory Council and the Livable Communities Council. “I come from a labor family and have been endorsed three times by the Westchester Building Trades, Westchester-Putnam AFL-CIO Central Labor Body, a host of service and public unions, as well as nurses and teachers,” Harckham said. “I work very closely with my union partners around the issues of decommissioning Indian Point and passed a law to protect wages and local jobs, as well as created the Decommissioning Oversight Harckham, Arena face off for 40th Senate District seat Sen. Pete Harckham Gina Arena SEE SENATE PAGE 28 SellYour Home for TOP DOLLAR with Somers’ Real Estate Specialist Visit: SomersHouseValues.com or Email: [email protected] Michael Trinchitella Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker FREE Home Evaluation Anytime — No Cost or Obligation Call 914.243.3051 SomersHouseValues.com CLASSIC REALTY IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER! Vol. 11 No. 35 Thursday, December 8, 2022 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 21 OBITUARIES 9 OPINION 10 SPORTS 18 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR Winning is always great. But making your way back to the top after a heartbreak is unmatched. Motivated by the crushing 32-31 defeat against CBASyracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome) last fall, Somers Football (13-0) avenged their one loss in the last three seasons with a dominating 58-21 win over Union-Endicott for the NYSPHSAA Class A Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Syracuse. Coach Anthony DeMatteo, carrying on the winning legacy of his father, Tony, at Somers, knew what he and his team set out to do when workouts began last summer. “Even though we said publicly we wanted to win the section, in house we said states, and we were angry all year. e preparation was on point, we did everything we were supposed to do, weathered several storms, weathered injuries, and we got it done,” said the second-year head coach. Wasting no time on the big stage, Ravi Dass (3 Rec, 2 TDs) answered the call on the opening return, taking it all the way to the Tigers’ 39, then catching an 18-yard pass from Matt Fitzsimons for the rst touchdown 22 seconds into the game. “Walking out as state champs, it’s awesome,” said the senior receiver. e defense’s turn, George Forbes (6 Tk) began his Tuskers avenge last season with 58-21 state championship win Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR Winning is always great. But making your way back to the top after a heartbreak is unmatched. Motivated by the crushing 32-31 defeat against CBASyracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome) last fall, Somers Football (13-0) avenged their one loss in the last three seasons with a dominating 58-21 win over Union-Endicott for the NYSPHSAA Class A Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Syracuse. Coach Anthony DeMatteo, carrying on the winning legacy of his father, Tony, at Somers, knew what he and his team set out to do when workouts began last summer. “Even though we said publicly we wanted to win the section, in house we said states, and we were angry all year. e preparation was on point, we did everything we Tuskers avenge last season with 58-21 state championship win Ravi Dass put his team ahead early with two huge touchdowns. SEE CHAMPIONS PAGE 18 The 2022 Tuskers cemented themselves in Somers history with the 58-21 win over Union-Endicott. PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 Your House Could Be the #1 Item on a Homebuyer’s Wish List During the Holidays Each year, homeowners planning to make a move are faced with a decision: sell their house during the holidays or wait. And others who have already listed their homes may think about removing their listings and waiting until the new year to go back on the market. The truth is many buyers want to purchase a home for the holidays, and your house might be just what they’re looking for. Call me for a no-obligation consultation about selling your home and the 5 great reasons you shouldn't wait until Spring. #UGottaHaveHope Thursday, December 8, 2022 rier Dome) last fall, Somers Football (13-0) avenged their one loss in the last three seasons with a dominating 58-21 win over Union-Endicott for the NYSPHSAA Class A Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, Coach Anthony DeMatteo, carrying on the winning legacy of his father, Tony, at Somers, knew what he and his team set out to do when workouts began last summer. “Even though we said publicly we wanted to win the section, in house we said states, and we were angry all year. e preparation was on point, we did everything we were supposed to do, weathered several storms, weathered injuries, and we got it done,” said the second-year head coach. Wasting no time on the big stage, Ravi Dass (3 Rec, 2 TDs) answered the call on the opening return, taking it all the way to the Tigers’ 39, then catching an 18-yard pass from Matt Fitzsimons for the rst touchdown 22 seconds into the game. “Walking out as state champs, it’s awesome,” said the senior receiver. e defense’s turn, George Forbes (6 Tk) began his Tuskers avenge last season with 58-21 state championship win SEE CHAMPIONS PAGE 18 MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 Thursday, December 15, 2022 Vol. 11 No. 36 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 37 CLASSIFIEDS 39 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 2 LEGAL NOTICES 37 LEISURE 31 OBITUARIES 9 OPINION 10 SPORTS 24 Toys for Tots pg 3 GIVING BACK Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER e Somers Board of Education got its rst o cial peek last week at the scal fallout from the settlement of the old PepsiCo property’s tax certiorari case. Also cited for their potential impact on local pocketbooks were fuel and electricity costs, which are rising at an “alarming” rate, according to the school district’s assistant superintendent for business, Chris Platania. Platania presented trustees and the public with an initial overview of the 2023-24 school budget on Tuesday, Dec. 6. ere won’t be preliminary numbers to share until after the governor’s rst budget comes out in January and the district gets a clue about what its state aid is going to be. TAXING CIRCUMSTANCES e 206-acre PepsiCo property, along with its 540,000-squarefoot o ce, o Route 35 was sold in 2015 to Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim Helú for $87 million. e new owners, listed as One P Way LLC, went on to challenge their real estate tax assessment as well as that of the old IBM campus’ on Route 100, which Slim had acquired in 2017. e former tax certiorari case was Board of Education begins budget process The Somers community got into the holiday spirit at the tree lighting ceremony outside The Elephant Hotel on Dec. 4. See more photos on page 22! Oh Christmas tr ee! SEE BUDGET PAGE 33 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 “Hope is quite simply the best agent I’ve ever come across in all my years living in Westchester County. Her complete knowledge of the market in the area has impressed even a skeptic like me. Once you hire her, she will represent you at every step in your journey with enthusiasm, professionalism and candor. She is a woman with smarts and integrity and does so much to help others even when she stands to gain nothing for herself. Hope is a quality human being that you should have on your team. I can’t say enough about Hope other than #UGottaHaveHope!” — TI, Somers about Your Local Expert! Rave Reviews Rave Reviews
Your Neighbor THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE e Somers Education Foundation (SEF) will induct three members into its Hall of Fame later this month. e public is invited to the honoree reception, which will be held at Anglebrook Golf Club. is year’s honorees include Je Feldman, Doreen Stoecker, and Dominic Veltri. e SEF, established in 1994, is a not-for-pro t, tax-exempt organization comprised of parents, school representatives, and community members. It supports Somers schools by raising funds for student- and teacher-initiated projects that enrich the educational experience and are not funded by the district’s budget. As of January, the SEF surpassed the $1.6 million mark in grants and scholarships awarded. e reception will be held Friday, April 14, from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $125 apiece and include small bites, beer and wine, music, and a silent auction. Sponsorships are still available. e bronze package is $250 and includes one ticket and a digital ad; the silver package is $500 and includes two tickets and a digital ad; the gold package costs $1,000 and includes six tickets and a digital ad. A digital ad by itself is $100. To reserve a spot, go to givebutter.com/SEFHOF2023. Here’s a look at this year’s Hall of Fame inductees: JEFF FELDMAN Je Feldman and his wife, Sharon, have lived in Somers for more than 30 years. Feldman has been a Somers Education Foundation board member for nearly 20 years and served as chair of the annual golf outing and the Harlem Wizards basketball game. He also co-chaired the Grants Committee and was a member of the Scholarship Committee. Feldman has also been a town of Somers soccer and basketball coach. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill and has been a mentor for New York City High School students through programs sponsored by the Hunts Point Alliance for Children and Pencil. He is currently a volunteer for an organization known as e States Project. After graduating from Walter Panas High School in 1974, Feldman received a B.S. in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from Syracuse University. He has been a real estate attorney since 1982 and recently retired from his co-general counsel position at L&M Development Partners Inc., a nationwide developer of a ordable and market rate housing. Born in Peekskill, Feldman is the oldest of four children. He and his wife are the parents of Andrew, Jordan, and Aaron. all Somers High School graduates. DOREEN STOECKER Doreen Stoecker has been a special education teacher for the last 25 years. She started out her career teaching in North Carolina after graduating from St. Bonaventure University. In 2000, she moved to New York and taught at Westchester Exceptional Children’s School in North Salem. In 2004, after completing her master’s degree, she started working at Somers High School where she has held several key positions, from starting the rst Special Class Instructional Program (SCIP) to teaching in the resource room. Stoecker is currently the workbased learning coordinator and transition specialist for the district and also served as Student Council advisor for many years. “Watching young leaders grow in their four years at the high school has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had,” she said. Stoecker has two children, Parker and Jack, who attend Somers High School. Her husband, Jerry, graduated from SHS in 1994. DOMINIC VELTRI Dominic Veltri moved to Somers in 1994 and has been an active volunteer in the community ever since. Veltri has volunteered his time to support various organizations, including AYSO, where he coached soccer for over 15 years. He also served as an AYSO board member, helped organize and run the indoor soccer program for its rst eight years, and coached boys and girls recreational teams and travel soccer teams. He also coached both boys and girls teams for FC Somers for many years and volunteered his time with Boy Scout Troop 376 in Somers where he served as an adult leader and chaired the Troop Committee for more than ve years. Veltri was born in Italy and migrated to the United States when he was 2 years old. He grew up in Mount Vernon and graduated from Iona Prep High School and then Manhattan College, where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering. He also received an MBA from Long Island University and is a licensed professional engineer. He manages a global engineering department for Verizon, where he has worked since 1991. Veltri has two children, Nicole and Dominic, who are Somers High School graduates. SEF to induct three members into Hall of Fame Public invited to honoree reception at Anglebrook Jeffrey Feldman Doreen Stoecker Dominic Veltri HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com
PAGE 4 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 The Sta EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Whit Anderson Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The 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 o ices. 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 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC 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 On Sunday, March 26, Carmel Police o cer Vincent DeSantola and K9 Pietro conducted a demonstration for all the families at the Carmel Recreation and Parks Egg Hunt. Later that same day, they were called into action for something more serious, helping Somers and New York State police locate a missing man in Somers. According to Carmel PD, the 60-year-old vulnerable adult had been missing for over one hour. “ e man was in possession of a cell phone, but the battery had died, complicating the search,” Camel PD said. “O cer DeSantola began [to track the missing man] and K9 Pietro led him for nearly a mile - along roadways, through several backyards and nally into a wooded area where he located the missing individual at 3:53 p.m. e man was evaluated by EMS and then returned safely into the care of his family.” K9 Pietro finds missing Somers man PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL K9 Pietro with Offi cer DeSantola. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 331 Route 100, Somers EASTER EGG HUNT Sunday April 9, at 11:15 a.m. Children of all ages are invited to join in the outdoor fun beginning at 11:15 a.m., following the Easter service. Bring a basket to collect the goodies, and plan on a family photo op with the Easter Bunny! All are welcome. Further information can be found at www.slcsomers.org, FB SaintLukesSomers, or Instagram saintlukessomers. CONCERT TO BENEFIT THE CHILDREN OF UKRAINE Saturday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. World-renowned classical musicians and singers will return for a second bene t concert, with 100% of proceeds going to the children of Ukraine. Tickets are $40 each and may be purchased on the church website at www.slcsomers.org For additional information contact the parish o ce at [email protected] or 914.277.3122 Church of the Good Shepherd 39 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs SENIOR LUNCH Saturday, April 15, at 12 p.m. e Church of the Good Shepherd will host its next nondenominational, free lunch gathering of local senior citizens at the church. A delicious hot meal will be served, and will be accompanied by companionship, conversation and community! e meal will conclude with dessert and co ee. A second meal will be given to everyone attending to take home. RSVP is requested by calling 914-248-5631 or emailing seniorssaturdays@ goodshepherdny.org Somers Holocaust Memorial Commission EVENING OF REMEMBRANCE Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. Please join in to hear keynote speaker, Ruben Ward, tell his fascinating story of parents who met in Argentina following their escape from Nazi Germany. e purpose of the SHMC remains to educate young people about ELEPHANT’S TRUNK SEE TRUNK PAGE 7
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 The Spring Market Has Begun! THERE’S A SHORTAGE OF HOMES—IT’S TIME TO SELL YOURS! Let me help you... • Prep your current home for the market • Find your new home – anywhere in the world • Turn your real estate DREAMS INTO REALITY LAWRENCE ZACKS 3+ Decades’ Experience Over 3,000 Families Helped Business Person of the Year Top 1% of Agents Worldwide It’s Time to Meet — Don’t Wait! Contact Larry today—914-282-6440 [email protected] Would you like more info about my marketing plan? Scan here! Call TODAY for Your FREE Market Analysis OVER 3,000 HAPPY FAMILIES SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SERVICES PROVIDED: Property Evaluation | Home Staging | High Definition Photography | 3D/Virtual Tours | Custom Digital Marketing | Five-Star Service “There is no one more knowledgeable, caring, considerate and professional than Larry. We interviewed about 10 realtors and no one had the knowledge and experience that measured up to Larry. We would recommend Larry to everyone we know. He’s the best choice and should be your only choice. ~A.S.
PAGE 6 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years Do you know what the cost of your long-term care will be if you are not eligible for Medicaid? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Come one, come all! e Somers Historical Society is gearing up to mark World Circus Day and, as part of that celebration, will be showing o the new statue of the town’s totem pachyderm. e festivities kick o at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, with the placing of a peanut wreath at the base of the Old Bet monument in front of the town’s o ces, aka the Elephant Hotel, located at the intersection of Routes 100 and 202. at event will be immediately followed by the grand unveiling of a brand-new bronze beast made by renowned sculptor Luigi Badia. e Somers resident will be on hand to answer questions and a short lm depicting the statue’s creation will be shown. It will eventually be placed atop the 15-foot shaft of dressed granite from which the 1930s version of Hachaliah Bailey’s prized moneymaker now reigns. Beaten up by nearly 90 years of weather and just plain old age, the concrete elephant’s legs were splitting and local historians had rallied to get it replaced. e actual installation will take place at a later date. at’s because the historical society thought it would be neat if folks could take a gander at the new Old Bet up close. e town also has to rst con rm the structural integrity of the obelisk. She will be displayed in the town meeting room until 1 p.m. Also stepping right up will be guest of honor Dr. Arthur H. Saxon, a P.T. Barnum scholar, author, and the rst American to be designated an honorary member of the Paris-based Club du Cirque. World Circus Day was started by the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque in 2009 to celebrate the art and history of the circus. Children of all ages will be invited to sculpt their own version of Old Bet. Light refreshments will be served. According to its vice president, Grace Zimmerman, the Historical Society is considering establishing a “Pennies for Pachyderms” campaign as a way to support elephant conservation e orts. According to panda.org, because there are only 40,000 to 50,000 of the mammoth mammals left in the wild, the species is classi ed as endangered. Bowing to pressure from animal rights activists, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus retired all of its elephants in 2016. e following year dwindling ticket sales forced it to halt all performances. e “Greatest Show on Earth” is reportedly planning a comeback – sans live animals -- this fall. However, there are still many other traveling circuses that continue to use elephants in their shows, according to multiple media reports. OLD BET’S TAIL Old Bet had belonged to local farmer turned entrepreneur Hachaliah Lyman Bailey. He rst spotted – and was smitten by -- the elephant in 1804 at an exhibition in Boston. He rediscovered her a few years later at a New York City cattle auction where she was being sold for meat. Somers readies for World Circus Day Town to unveil new ‘Old Bet’ statue PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOMERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY The statue of Old Bet has stood in front of the Elephant Hotel since the 1930s. SEE CIRCUS PAGE 8
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PAGE 8 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com Spring withBELL! into Savings WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP? Heat pumps will help you find the perfect balance of comfort and savings all year round, while reducing your carbon footprint. These all-in-one heating and air conditioning systems optimize the temperature throughout your home to use less energy, and can save you up to 30% on your cooling and heating costs. $ 1,000 IN REBATES Heat Pump Hot Water Heater Call Us TODAY! 845-600-8004 UP TO $ 174 PLUS TAX Call Us TODAY! 845-600-8004 AC Preventative Maintenance Visit Starting at Only EXP 4/30/23 Coupon must present at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $ 115 INSTANT REBATE Duct Cleaning inking he could use the elephant to plow his elds, Bailey brought her back to Somers. When that did not work out, he pivoted to the menagerie biz, exhibiting Old Bet for 25 cents a peek, a hefty sum in the 19th century. As his pro ts mounted, he added trained dogs, pigs, and horses and took his act on the road. is proved to be a mammoth mistake, as least as far as his biggest star was concerned. In 1816, when the troupe was in Alfred, Maine, fellow farmer Daniel Davis shot Old Bet. He thought it was sinful for poor folk to have to pay to see one of God’s creatures – at least that’s one of the theories. e Route 4 spot where she was tragically felled is still marked by a small plaque. Undeterred, Bailey used his dough to purchase at least two more elephants including Little Bett, who also ended up being shot and killed. e father of eight was twice elected to the state Legislature, owned a stagecoach line, and, in 1825 built the Elephant Hotel (now a national landmark), which supposedly was frequented by such luminaries as author Washington Irving. Bailey sold the hotel in 1837 and moved to Virginia, where he established a winter headquarters for his circus. In 1845, he returned to Somers for a visit, was kicked by a horse, and died. He is buried in Ivandell Cemetery. Many of Bailey’s friends and acquaintances, including Gerard Crane, were inspired by Old Bet’s success to go into the menagerie biz. Somers eventually became a center for the harboring of all sorts of exotic critters. ey were billeted in barns and allowed to roam unfettered in elds. Local lore has it that a rhinoceros once busted out of a barn on Crane’s property o Route 202 and took a casual stroll into the hamlet, causing consternation among the townsfolk. It reportedly took eight horses to drag, er, coax it back. e name of the Somers Land Trust preserve Rhinoceros Creek sprung from that alleged incident. e peanut wreath-laying tradition was begun in 1922. Old John, an elephant from the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, was walked 50 miles from the old Madison Square Garden in New York City to Somers as part of a promotional stunt. He then used his trunk to lay the beribboned tribute at the foot of the Old Bet monument. Somers is very proud of its links to the early American circus. e historical society maintains a museum packed with artifacts and memorabilia such as a hand-carved diorama complete with miniature acrobats, clowns, lions, tigers, and elephants. Located on the Elephant Hotel’s third oor, it also houses an elaborately embroidered costume that had once belonged to Charles Sherwood Stratton, a diminutive circus performer better known by his stage name “General Tom umb.” e high school’s football team is named the Tuskers. e o cial town logo, an elephant appears on everything from welcome signs to re trucks. Known today as the “Cradle of the American Circus,” Somers had once gotten into a major battle with Baraboo, Wis., the home of Ringling Bros., over which town was the actual “Birthplace of the American Circus.” Baraboo won the argument and to this day there are some who still feel that Somers was robbed. FOR MORE INFO For more information, email the historical society at [email protected] or call (914) 277-4977. CIRCUS FROM PAGE 6 PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMERS HISTORICAL SOCIETY Old Bet belonged to local farmer turned entrepreneur Hachaliah Bailey.
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 9 a station and step into a wooden cage. ree clay targets are released into the air and the participant shoots them in the order they’re released before moving on to the next station. In 2016, the club obtained a tree-harvesting permit to clear areas around which the sportingclay course was built. More than 300 trees were removed. It was around this time that the club’s residential neighbors began to complain to Carmel town o - cials, saying the noise had become “intolerable in both frequency and volume.” Before the installation of the sporting clays course there was some noise, they said, but it was endurable. However, the neighbors contend that tree-culling removed a natural sound barrier and the new course moved shooters to a higher elevation, which allowed the sound to travel further—all the way to Somers, particularly some in the Heritage Hills neighborhood. In 2019, the residents led a memorandum of opposition with the town spelling out their issues with the club and included a petition with 45 signatures. A subsequent investigation by town o cials led to a cease-and-desist order being issued against the gun club and the noise subsided. Since then, the club has abided by that order and not used its sporting clays course. It has since conducted a noise study and undertaken what it says are noisemitigation e orts, such as moving some shooting stations and adding more and better sound barriers. e town also conducted its own noise study. However, one point of contention has been whether the town code’s maximum level of 60 decibels is applicable, or the state’s maximum of 90 decibels. Gun club o cials contend the state code supersedes the town’s, but said they are willing to abide by the local ordinance. “[ e club says] state law provides a 90-decibel limit for shooting ranges and that supersedes local ordinances. Frankly, that is inaccurate,” argued Justin Cooper of Somers during the public hearing. “ e law is a complex thing and thankfully we have judges to interpret the law.” Cooper provided a state Supreme Court ruling in a similar case in Su olk County where the court rejected that gun club’s contention that the state codes superseded local ordinances. “So, the local ordinance applies, and the sound study shows that [the noise] exceeds the decibel level of the local code of 60 decibels,” Cooper said. Patricia Perez, a Union Valley Road resident in Mahopac, opined that Willow Wood does nothing for the community other than create noise. “ ey create nothing for the community other than create a nuisance for the surrounding neighborhood,” she said. “ e club is preventing us from enjoying our homes and the outdoors. What type of plan is there for ongoing [sound] monitoring of the club? Willow Wood cannot be trusted to police itself.” Pamela Manna, who has lived in Heritage Hills for more than 15 years, said the noise from the club was bearable when she rst moved here but became a problem after the clays shooting course was built. “We’ve heard the guns since day one. But they’ve been more than tolerable. We’ve learned to live with it as part of the sound of the community,” she told the board. “But then, about two years ago, we were in the kitchen when suddenly it sounded like an explosion. I can’t express in words the type of noise. My husband has PTSD and he reacted very negatively. e new stations are actually yards from our home. I am closer to the guns at the newer stations than most of the people in this room. Calling this a severe hardship is putting it mildly.” Gun club advocates argued that the club was there rst, since 1955, and those who built homes next to it knew what they were getting into. However, neighbors argued that the tree-culling and addition of the shooting clays course changed things. “My house was built before the gun club,” said Karen Boehm GUN CLUB FROM PAGE 1 SEE GUN CLUB PAGE 28 PHOTO: EMILE MENASCHÉ Willow Wood is a private, 200-member club located on 86 acres off Union Valley Road. Source: OKMLS, 1/1/22-12/31/22, total dollar volume of single family homes and condominiums sold by Agent, Somers school district AGENT IN SOMERS & HERITAGE HILLS DONNA O’CONNELL Associate Real Estate Broker M 914.263.9108 O 914.277.8040 Ext. 334 [email protected] donnaoconnell.houlihanlawrence.com SOMERS BROKERAGE 104 VILLAGE SQUARE, SOMERS, NY 10589 As we head into the spring market, it’s a great time to list your home or condo. I would be happy to provide you with a complimentary market analysis. With over twenty-five years of real estate experience and an unmatched devotion to each client, I make the transaction process easy. Sellers are receiving multiple offers for their properties! Source: OKMLS, 1/1/22-12/31/22, total dollar volume of single family homes and condominiums sold by Agent, Somers school district HERITAGE HILLS DONNA O’CONNELL Associate Real Estate Broker M [email protected] donnaoconnell.houlihanlawrence.com SOMERS BROKERAGE 104 VILLAGE SQUARE, SOMERS, NY 10589 With over twenty-five years of real estate experience and an unmatched devotion to each client, I make the transaction process easy. Sellers are receiving multiple offers for their properties! Thinking about selling your home or condo? I can help!
Opinion 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 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 a iliates. 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 O ice: 914-302-5830 [email protected] PAGE 10 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 I ’ve been called many things in my life, but perhaps I most like being called “ e Funny Priest.” Yet, even I am willing to admit: the bar for priest-funny is rather low; and sometimes the bar is unfortunately so low that if I just need to give a homily with more charisma than drying paint, I might liven up a congregation with less-than-skyhigh expectations. No, I don’t try to be funny as a means of living out my failed stand-up comedy dreams. It’s truthfully because I can’t help but separate the Catholic faith from comedy, speci cally the classical understanding of comedy and tragedy. You don’t have to be a great student of theater to know the di erence. Classically, a tragedy would end in the death of the main character(s), most tragically by murder; whereas a comedy would end in the most joyful event possible: a wedding feast and celebrating newfound love with the people most important in their lives. We then assume they go on to live happily ever after. e tragedy of life, we could say, is that we know the ending: death is coming for all of us, and there’s no escaping it. We can delay it with medicine, healthy diet and exercise, and caring for our bodies, but ultimately death is looked upon as the only undefeated player in mother nature. How could anyone laugh when this life, this valley of tears, is the classical de nition of tragedy? en one historical event changed this: about 2,000 years ago, after lying dead in the tomb for three days, Jesus rose from the dead. By His resurrection on that rst Easter morning, Jesus unlocked the gates of Heaven for us; by His resurrection, Jesus has defeated the seemingly undefeatable opponent of death; by His resurrection, Jesus has invited us to join Him at the Wedding Feast of Heaven; by His resurrection, Jesus has changed life from a tragedy into a truly divine comedy. As the Church will pray at the Easter Vigil Mass, Jesus’ resurrection “dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty [power of death].” roughout the Scriptures, we read various descriptions of Heaven: paradise, the Father’s house, a utopian city, to name a few; but the most common description of Heaven found in the Scriptures is that of a wedding feast. And much like those in a classical comedy, those who are welcomed to the Eternal Wedding Feast of Heaven will truthfully live happily ever after. So now the pen is in our hands, so to say, and we are invited to write our own story. Jesus’ resurrection has given us the opportunity now to write that perfect comedy and live happily ever after with Him in Heaven; yet our Father has given us the free will to write that tragedy if we so choose, that life which will result in an everlasting death. How good God is to invite us to Heaven despite our unworthiness, and still how good He is to not force us, because true love can never force, only invite. Might I close with an invitation of my own: it’s never too late to rewrite the script, to change the story from a tragedy into a comedy. If you’re Catholic and it’s been a while since you’ve been to church, come back home. If you’ve fallen out of the habit of Sunday Mass every week, now’s the perfect time to get back on the horse. If you haven’t been to Confession in a while, now’s the time to receive God’s mercy. Stop writing the tragedy, and start rewriting that divine comedy. It’s a story we never have to write alone; one that God gladly writes with us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). at might not be news to laugh at, but it is certainly news that should bring joy and mirth to every heart. Happy Easter to all of us whose lives have been purchased by the Blood of the Lamb; and happy Easter to all of us whose stories have been rewritten from a great tragedy into the greatest comedy ever. Fr. Matthew Breslin is a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of New York, serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph’s Church in Somers and Chaplain of Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School. Easter turns tragedy into comedy FR. MATTHEW BRESLIN Wishing our readers a Happy Easter and Passover We ran a great piece by Rabbi Yehuda Heber ahead of Passover in last week’s edition. Visit TapIntoSomers.net to read the piece.
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 We Carry A Complete Line of BioGuard Pool Treatments ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 331 ROUTE 100 | SOMERS NY 10589 914.277.3122 | www.slcsomers.org SaintLukesSomers saintlukessomers MAUNDY THURSDAY April 6 – 7.00pm Holy Eucharist and Foot Washing GOOD FRIDAY April 7 – 7.00pm Holy Eucharist and Good Friday Liturgy EASTER SUNDAY April 9 – 10.00am Holy Eucharist with Music Easter Egg Hunt outdoors 11:15am All are welcome! St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Holy Week & Easter Services All are welcome! Last week was National Puppy Day, and I would have forgotten all about it if someone hadn’t stuck their pointy nose in a place where some of the best reminding is done. Our puppy, the everadorable Gidget, is not really a puppy at all, but a full-grown dog who refuses to act her age. I don’t know where she gets that from, but it can’t be from my side of the family. I adopted Gidget at the age of three months from a wonderful breeder outside of Toronto. I know you’re thinking that’s rather young, but it was Gidget who was three months old, not me. We had to sneak her through Customs, which required her to be six months. I rolled down the window for the Customs agent, who was checking inside the car, thinking he might be starring in a real-life “Midnight Express.” He looked around and noticed four suitcases for a weekend trip (less luggage than usual actually). Maybe it was 400 kilos of Canadian Gold and maybe I was a mule. Does a mule have to be over six months old to enter the U.S.? “What’s in the bags?” he asked, and I didn’t bat an eyelash. “What bags?” By this time, Gidget was getting restless and starting to yip from her crate in the back, covered with a blanket. I opened my mouth every time she yipped, so that the agent would think the noise was coming from me. Still not batting an eyelash but yipping incessantly, I just pretended everything was normal for a nonblinking guy with the yiccups. He looked me in the eye: “Anything to declare?” I said, “Well, I’m traveling ALONE, so I guess that’s a declaration of independence, ha ha ha ha ha ha.” I wasn’t going to make it easy for him. “What’s in that crate under the blanket?” he asked. “IT’S MY DOG! SHE’S THREE MONTHS OLD!” I blurted out. He showed a look of abject disappointment as the prospect of a major drug bust and a quick promotion with an early retirement faded, and said, “Oh. You can go.” I wanted to get her a Puppy Day gift, but I couldn’t think of anything she really needs. She has more than enough toys. She already has a squirrel, a moose, a snake, a lamb, a skunk, a fox, a thing that looks like a stu ed coronavirus and an opossum (actually the opossum might be real). I could have gotten her a new ea and tick collar, but as a gift, that’s like giving somebody a pair of orthopedic shoes. So I gave Gidget a spa day at the beauty parlor, and she got her hair cut and styled and a mani/pedi. It took them a few minutes to work out which set of paws was the mani and which was the pedi. Gidget does not need to get her hair colored because she is a natural redhead. Yes, I’ve heard all the rumors about redheads, that they can be “ ery,” or “di cult,” or “hot-tempered,” or that they get more ticks than usual. But these are just myths. It’s been my experience that not one of these myths isn’t totally not untrue. And I’m banking on the myth that most redheads will not have the patience to try and unravel that sentence. But Gidget is the exact opposite of these fair-haired falsehoods, because she doesn’t try to boss me around by standing up and staring at me until she gets what she wants. And she doesn’t try to win my a ection by winking at me. And she doesn’t go on a hunger strike until the dinner menu changes. Okay, I guess she doesn’t NOT do those things, but with her they seem like adorable character traits. It is true that she doesn’t like to stay in the sun too long. She is already well-groomed anyway. I spend a couple minutes’ time each day brushing Gidget’s hair, or approximately 300-times more than I spend on my own. Well, it turns out that going to the beauty parlor was not as fun for her as I thought it would be, and she was seething mad at me when she got home. I tried to make it up to her and asked her if she wanted to go for a walk. When I found her three hours later, I told her that I meant WITH me. And Gidget has been the perfect companion. To me she is a much better choice than say, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. If your dog retrieves just one of those, you’ll have to move. I didn’t want a toy dog, although it would cost less to feed. I didn’t want a Bouvier des Flandres, pour des raisons évidentes. I thought brie y of a Schnauzer, and all the schnauzing we might do together. But in the end I settled for the perfect dog. So happy Puppy Day, Gidget! Join Rick and No Options at Fulgum’s in Montrose, Saturday, April 22, at 8:30 p.m.! Say hello at: [email protected]. Paws to celebrate Rick Melen’s dog, Gidget RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD
PAGE 12 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 PEACE OF MIND “Just over a year ago, I moved my husband Bob into Currents at Maplewood. It was about six years ago when I started to see subtle changes in him. He’d have moments where he’d forget who I was or where we were and his anxiety over small things increased. After many falls and trips to the hospital, we confirmed he had Alzheimer’s. We downsized into a condo but the disease affected his walking – he shuffled and tripped a lot and getting out of bed was very difficult. He was angry when I had to bathe him. The pandemic compounded everything and my children insisted I move him as it was affecting my health. Maplewood stood out for me because I witnessed the care team hugging the residents just like family. I know Bob would be well taken care of. I go three times a week or more to visit him, join in the programming and attend the monthly Alzheimer’s support group. The support I receive from the community is vital for my peace of mind - knowing he’s being taken care of when I go home reduces my anxiety.” —Rita, for her husband, Bob,, Resident Maplewood at Danbury 203.744.8444 MaplewoodAtDanbury.com 22 Hospital Avenue Danbury, Connecticut Maplewood Senior Living is dedicated to the care and wellbeing of our residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We offer two distinctive levels of memory care that address the unique needs of our residents. Currents™ at Maplewood Senior Living was created for residents with moderate to advanced-stage memory impairment. It provides additional support and personalized services. We place an emphasis on making Currents residents feel safe and secure. Deeply comfortable accommodations and secured community spaces provide opportunities for social and cultural engagement. Together we discover joy and fulfillment in the moment. CALL US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION! You will also receive a FREE copy of our Guide: YOUR GUIDE TO NAVIGATING A DEMENTIA DIAGNOSIS Billy Joel once had a hit song called “Honesty.” In it, he sang, “Honesty is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue.” I love that song for two reasons: it has such a soulful tune and because it reminds me of me. To be clear, if you ask me for my opinion, I will tell you exactly what I think and not what I think you want to hear. I’ve always been like that. At times, my honesty has gotten me into trouble, but in the long run, people tend to come to me because they know I will be honest with them. I am not a sugar-coater, and that brings me to my next story. Kim was away at college and life had changed dramatically for me and Ken. We needed to do things to keep us busy all the time. We woke one Saturday morning and Ken suggested we take a ride up to Vermont. I love Vermont and I love the ride there. So we got ready, brought a few bagels in the car to snack on and took the 3-1/2-hour ride up to Wilmington. Along the way, we stopped in Bennington to stroll through the museum. By the time we got to Wilmington, we were starving and stopped at Dots, our favorite place to eat in town. You can get breakfast there any time of the day, and we dug into our berry/ berry pancakes with gusto. After we walked around town for a while and picked up a few trinkets, we headed home. We had spent a full day driving and walking around and I was exhausted. Ken has always been great about telling me I should take a nap, even though I like keeping him company on long drives. I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes, I looked out the window to see how far we had driven. Nothing looked familiar. Ken and I have been taking that same route up to and back from Vermont since Kim was born and we are both very familiar with every road, restaurant and rest stop along the way. “Where are we?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes. “Oh, I thought I’d surprise you. I took a detour through Massachusetts.” “WHAT? I’m exhausted from the whole day. Aren’t you?” I asked. “Nah, I feel pretty good. I thought you’d be happy.” “Hon, thank you for thinking of me, but it’s already dark and I really can’t wait to get home.” “Well, it might be a while yet. I think I’m lost.” “I really hope you’re kidding. Now I remember why I never take a nap while you’re driving. It should take 3-1/2 hours to get home and we’ve been traveling 4-1/2 hours already. Also, I’m starving.” From the road we saw an enormous sign up ahead which read, “Best Pizza in Massachusetts.” We decided to get o that exit, have something to eat and gure out where we were. We found the Italian restaurant and told the waitress that we wanted the best pizza in Massachusetts. She asked if we wanted the 18- or 24-slice pizza. “Oh my goodness, that must be some enormous pizza,” I said. She assured us that we could handle it. I wasn’t sure whether we both looked that hungry or that she saw us as two sumo wrestlers who were ready to chow down. Minutes later, she served us a 9-inch round pizza cut into 18 slices. I almost laughed. Ken told me to behave because he knew I was hungry and cranky. I was already in a bad mood and gured this was not going to go well. We ate the ridiculous looking pizza and I soon realized that the dough was almost cake-like. All I could taste was butter. “Ken, this is horrible. I’m actually eating it out of necessity, but this is pretty bad.” “Yeah, I know,” he said as he scarfed down three quarters of the pie, each slice being a halfinch wide. “Can we please go right home now?” I begged. At least we had Honesty JO ANN FRANCELLA JUST JO ANN SEEFRANCELLA PAGE 13
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 13 #UGottaHaveHope Featured Properties Your Local Real Estate Expert Knows the Area Top to Bottom! Resort Amenities $1,950,000 3.184 acres | 5,806 sf | 4 BRs | 4.2 Bths Casual Elegance $1,295,000 2.04 acres | 4,500 sf | 4 BRs | 3.1 Bths New Listing - Katonah Village $745,000 .283 acres | 1,874 sf | 3 BRs | 2.1 Bths New Listing - Somers $649,000 1.13 acres | 2,514 sf | 3 BRs | 2.1 Bths (just a few that I've sold in the area recently) OPEN HOUSE 4 Emerson Ct, Katonah 4/8, 1-3 pm something in our stomachs and we had mapped out the rest of the trip. All was going well until we tried to leave the restaurant. “Have a nice evening,” said the hostess. “How did you enjoy your pizza?” I could see Ken’s face turn ashen as he waited for my response. Ken knows better than anyone that if you ask me a question, I will give you my honest answer. “Well if you’re asking, I will tell you that that was probably the worst pizza I have ever eaten. It tasted like it had butter in it, the sauce tasted like it came from a can and I think there was American cheese on it. I nd it hard to believe that your sign proudly announces that you serve the best pizza in Massachusetts.” “Oh my,” she said, shocked. “Would you like to speak to the owner?” “Oh no. I’m sure this just may be the best pizza in Massachusetts. I’m just used to New York pizza.” I could see the color slowly returning to Ken’s face, and as we walked out the door, I thought, note to self: don’t ever eat pizza anywhere but New York. You were right, Billy Joel, “honesty is such a lonely word…” Jo Ann Francella can be reached at [email protected]. FRANCELLA FROM PAGE 12 Fun Facts by Jo Ann National Pizza Day is Feb. 9. To me, a teacher is someone who wears many, many hats. I’d say at least 10 on any given day. You’ll often nd a teacher acting as a nurse, a therapist, a mom and an o ce manager throughout the course of the day, along with someone who is also responsible for daily lesson planning, grading papers, and oh, ya know, actually teaching between four to six engaging lessons per day. is teacher must also be aware if the lesson was successful and gauge how well the class learned the material. is teacher has to be animated and entertaining, enthusiastic and smart. Your child’s teacher is not only teaching, but performing. Now let me start by saying that I am not writing this because I am a former teacher. I am writing this to truly share my appreciation for all of the teachers out there right now. Teaching requires blood, sweat, tears, and a lot of heart. It also requires some thick skin. You have to be able to hear criticism from your own administrators as well as some parents who are just never happy, despite how hard you work and your best intentions. In my experience, when I started as a teacher at a small private school at the age of 23, I really got a feel about just how important my job was. I spent three years teaching at this school and always had very small classes. I believe I had around 10 to 12 kids each year that I taught second grade. I got to know each student and what their strengths and weaknesses were. I learned about their interests and talents. I even got to know their families and still keep in touch with many of them. I worked very hard as a new teacher, and since there was only one teacher per grade, I planned my own curriculum. I made all of my own tests and quizzes and was able to get creative with projects and trips. I truly enjoyed every minute of those three years. I remember telling a co-worker how I wanted to look into getting a job in a public school in New York City to be able to collaborate on a team of teachers and to have more support. She told me that she had been in that position and that while it seemed enticing, to watch out because public schools have a lot of “red tape.” I came to nd out exactly what that meant as soon as I started my new job in the city when I turned 26. I wound up teaching in East Harlem, also known as El Barrio, for eight years. During that time, I worked so, so hard, as did my colleagues. Truthfully, I wouldn’t even hesitate to say that actual blood, sweat and tears went into this job. I worked before I had my daughter and after. I hate to say this, but teaching is no longer the job to have, as a mom to young kids. When I was in graduate school, so many people would tell me how great it would be to be a teacher after having kids. “You’ll be on the same schedule as your own kids! And the best part is you’ll have summers o ,” they would say. Little did I know at the time that I would have less time with my daughter than some of my friends who worked corporate jobs. I was clocking in early to set up my classroom, leaving Show your support to teachers NICOLE DOOLEY MAMA EXPLAINS SEEDOOLEY PAGE 14
PAGE 14 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 at 4 p.m. everyday and leaving even later on days when I had meetings and extra work to do. I would then always bring home tests to grade and lessons to plan. e work was never ending. At the end of the day, I could always be found with a pile of papers on my lap while my toddler played around it all. I was never fully present because the endless hours of paperwork consumed me. And as for the red tape, there’s not much room for imagination when you have to follow a curriculum that doesn’t know your students. “Teaching to the test” was my biggest gripe. I wanted to focus on student interest, but when your school is graded based on how they perform on state tests, test prep trumps creativity and interests. Most teachers I know work hard. Very hard. ey wake up in the middle of the night in a panic when a random teaching thought pops in their head at 2 a.m. I know this because this was me and I have had this conversation with many old co-workers. ey are told not to answer emails after school hours, but they always do. ey are always available to reassure a parent that everything went OK during recess time and that the situation with their child’s bully had been handled. ese teachers will go above and beyond and hear what is happening at home and will o er to help in any way. ey will notice who needs a winter coat and make sure they have something for that child in need the very next day. ey will use a large chunk of their own paycheck to buy tissues, sanitizer and new markers when the old ones dry out. ese teachers will feel your child’s head to see if it’s warm, and make sure they get checked out by the nurse. ey will plan appropriate lessons for your child if he or she is struggling or is academically advanced. He or she will suggest after school activities or support to the parents because they know their children so well. ese teachers love your children. ey love them like their own. ey light up when that child who has been struggling with their multiplication facts nally gets a passing grade or makes honor roll. ey cry happy tears when their little learners make the art club or win an award. ey are your child’s biggest fans. Remember, if you have a question about your child’s education, always reach out. e majority of these teachers are parents and they have been on both sides. A good teacher will welcome the communication and make every e ort to explain any questions or concerns you may have. But always keep the lines of communication open. I would bet anything that more often than not, these people are taking valuable time away from their own families to make sure that your child is learning every day, safe, and happy. Teaching is one of the most important jobs in this world, and is right up there with being a parent. So make sure the teachers you know feel supported. ey also need to hear that they are appreciated and a thank you can make their day. Nicole Dooley is a Somers mom who enjoys writing for her parenting blog. If you enjoyed her column, you can read more of her entries at www.mamaexplains. com or follow her on Instagram at @mamaexplains for relatable parenting tips and stories. Also, feel free to send her a message or a question at mamaexplains@gmail. com. DOOLEY FROM PAGE 13 Thankful that Krav Maga gave my son confidence to face a bully Dear Editor, It is rare to nd a business that believes so strongly in its values that it will act out of pure concern and passion while putting nancial considerations in the background. For that reason, I wanted to give a heartfelt shout-out to Krav Maga New York, a local Somers martial arts gym where my child has been attending classes for about two years. My child’s differences have often attracted bullies, and for the past few months a repeated series of taunting and intimidation had caused major anxiety and depression to the point where it was di cult getting into school each day. Feeling helpless, I emailed KMNY owner/instructor Davide, hoping that he might have a few words of encouragement before or after class one day. I obviously did not realize the depth of KMNY’s commitment to helping the victims of bullying. I knew that KMNY emphasizes what they call “verbal judo,” which covers everything from verbally di using a tense situation to properly representing yourself in everyday life. But beyond that, Davide and instructor Erin, through a series of private sessions, dug into the nature of the bullying, learned what motivated the bully, and explored why my child had been accepting it without pushing back. ey helped to develop speci c and logical strategies with the intention of redirecting or di using the bully’s behavior, which we practiced until my child was ready to implement them at school. With full knowledge and support of the school authorities, KMNY is helping to transform my child into someone who is con dent and assertive. It’s a workin-progress, but the positive behavioral changes and e ective responses to bullying incidents have made a dramatic di erence in a relatively short time. For the rst time ever, my child told LETTERS SEELETTERS PAGE 15 Your Family Car Care Center! 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THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 15 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 Joe and his staff are AMAZING!! They stay on top of everything and communicate with you all the way. You won’t find a better law firm when in need of representation. ~T.D. ‘ 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 me “I am proud of myself” for being assertive in the face of a bully and that was truly wonderful to hear! Given the prevalence of children who might learn di erently or may otherwise not t in socially with the majority of their peers, the service KMNY is providing is a true blessing. To my knowledge, there are no other similar resources out there...certainly none so immediately practical, e ective and supportive. I am grateful to KMNY for their commitment to sharing their expertise with kids and families who really need the help. I strongly encourage anyone with a child who is struggling with bullying or just needs coaching for con dence and assertiveness to reach out to Krav Maga New York. -Marie Katonah Ode to the good drivers out there Dear Editor, Recently, my wife and I decided to have a quick lunch at Panera in Danbury. I’m a defensive driver and I carefully observe the posted speed limits and always signal my intentions. Whether its changing lanes or exiting a highway, I notify other vehicles what I’m going to do. All too often, I witness aggressive and speeding drivers. I designate them as “peddle-to-the-metal” o ensive drivers, and they’re ying by, going way over 65 miles per hour, changing lanes without signaling and obviously they can’t wait to cause an accident, dent a car or two, hurt some innocent people, or just create mayhem. ey are de nitely crazy. So, back to the nal destination, Panera Bread. When I exited o of Route 684 North onto Route 84 East, I realized that a white car had been following behind me at a safe distance, not tailgating at all. We arrived, parked and entered the building. I noticed that the same white car that was on the road behind me also pulled up in the parking area for Panera. OK, no concern. Now, I’m waiting in line to order our food. A man probably in his 60s approached me and asked, “Were you driving the red Honda?” I replied, “Yes, that’s me, is there something wrong?” I looked outside at my car, thinking that he was going to inform me that someone just hit my car. Not the case at all. is gentleman informed me that since he was directly behind me and also going to Panera, he watched me carefully coming o the highways. “I was very impressed to see you signaling all your turning intentions,” he said. “Today, many drivers don’t signal at all, so congratulations on following proper driving rules.” Wow! I thanked him very much for coming up to me and detailing my appropriate driving technique. It certainly made me feel good. We both wished that more drivers would signal their intentions. at afternoon turned out to be very uplifting indeed. A delightful Panera lunch and recognition as being a responsible driver behind the wheel. To all the over-aggressive, dangerous and o ensive drivers out there… please tone down/ stop your reckless driving habits. Lt’s allow everyone to arrive home safely. For all the good driver’s out there, be vigilant and stay away from the inconsiderate drivers. Stay clear of vehicles that don’t follow common sense rules of the road. -Harvey Savadsky Somers LETTERS FROM PAGE 14 My wife Elyse and I noticed on social media recently parents observing something called “National Sons Day.” Heck, we observe that every day, I thought. Not that we have much of a choice. e last time we touched Harrison was March 21, 2003. His last day on earth. A day after my birthday. Since then, he continues to touch us by his mystical presence – touch our hearts, touch our minds, touch our lives. It would be nice to know the luxury of setting aside one day to highlight our love for him. For people like us, the celebration of a child’s life lost must manifest itself each day – in some small, often subconscious way – to keep their spirit alive. It’s not unlike continually stoking a re to keep the ame aglow. e physical comings and goings of our daughter Elissa – as with anybody’s child – attest to her earthly presence. When you lose a child, that presence no longer readily and regularly presents itself – not without some goading from the living. You conjure ways to fabricate the presence of the deceased child to fool yourself into alleviating the eternal separation anxiety. A TINKERBELL MOMENT For 11 years after Harrison’s death, until we sold our home, each night before turning in, Birthday presence BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG SEEAPAR PAGE 18
A rainy morning couldn’t dampen the spirits at Reis Park on April 1! Somers’ annual egg hunt was washed out, but families who braved the weather still got to meet the Easter Bunny. Mother Nature might not have cooperated, but representatives from the Somers Department of Parks and Recreation and the Somers Leos Club did their best to make sure everyone still had fun! Rain, rain, go away! Olivia Kalantarov Th Bu Fa La Somers makes the best of a drizzly Easter celebration A rainy morning couldn’t dampen the spirits at Reis Park on April 1! Somers’ annual egg hunt was washed out, but families who braved the weather still got to meet the Easter Bunny. Mother Nature might not have cooperated, but representatives from the Somers Department of Parks and Recreation and the Somers Leos Club did their best to make sure everyone still had fun! Rain, rain, go away! Somers makes the best of a drizzly Easter celebration A rainy morning couldn’t dampen the spirits at Reis Park on April 1! Somers’ annual egg hunt was washed out, but families who braved the weather still got to meet the Easter Bunny. Mother Nature might not have cooperated, but representatives from the Somers Department of Parks and Recreation and the Somers Leos Club did their best to make sure everyone still had fun! Rain, rain, go away! Olivia Kalantarov Somers makes the best of a drizzly Easter celebration PAGE 16 THE SOMERS RECORD – T
Watson Padovani e Easter unny (Tyler zio) and Paul Spina PHOTOS: ROB DISTASIO Nicolas and Gavin Grima Austin and Tyler Arpa THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 PAGE 17
PAGE 18 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 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! My Community Bulletin Board 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! © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. For promo details please call 844-919-1682 CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 844-919-1682 O First Month of New Service! USE PROMO CODE: GZ59O EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! Promo Code: 285 FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 1 Subject to credit approval. Call for details. FREE GUTTER ALIGNMENT + FREE GUTTER CLEANING* SENIORS & YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY! PURCHASE* 20 + % % OFF 10 OFF *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. 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Rider kinds: B438, B439 (GA: B439B). 6208-0721 DENTAL Insurance One time use only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other coupon or offer. Coupon offer good until December 31, 2022. Valid for any new service except subscription fees. Must mention coupon at time of sale. One time use only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other coupon or offer. Coupon offer good until December 31, 2022. Valid for any new service except subscription fees. Must mention coupon at time of sale. I would go to his bedroom to quickly ick its ceiling light on and o . Call it a Tinkerbell moment. It was my way of letting my son know that, here or not, his light still shone brightly. I performed that light switch ritual of recalling his presence some 4,000 times. For the 15-plus years Harrison was here, we were blessed by his unique and joyful presence. To meet him was to marvel at his wit, his wisdom, his love of life, his prodigious sports knowledge – all the while braving the challenges that accompany being born with a rare dwar sm that stopped his growth at three feet and necessitated three open-heart surgeries. His e ect on people knew no age limit. Whether 8 or 80, they saw in him a fortitude that enraptured them. For the 20 years he’s been gone, we continue to be blessed, by the comfort and compassion of community. It’s my belief when you lose a child, you gain the privilege of helping others in your child’s name. One way we sustain his presence is through the Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation, which bene ts local recreation and education. BRENDAN’S IDEA Harrison succumbed Friday, March 21, 2003, a day after his third surgery – performed on my birthday. When 12-year-old Elissa came home from school that Monday, three days later, she told Elyse and me that one of her classmates, Brendan Frail (the younger brother of Harrison’s friend Kieran Frail), was telling anybody who would listen, “ ey should name Pinetree Field for Harrison.” “You must have heard wrong,” I told our daughter. Sure, I thought, Harrison was one of the rst to ever step foot on that eld, after we moved to the new Pinetree housing development in 1993, but that hardly quali es as any kind of valid reason to change what the eld is called. ey simply don’t name town parks for 15-year-olds. After spearheading a town-wide drive to collect 1,200 signatures on a petition to rename Pinetree Field as Harrison Apar Field of Dreams, Brendan and another classmate, Alison Belcastro, presented their case to the Town of Yorktown Parks and Recreation Commission. MUM’S MY WORD I attended the Parks and Rec meetings at which the proposal, endorsed by Yorktown Athletic Club (for which Harrison played and o ciated), was discussed. I was grateful that then-YAC president Mark Vercruysse lent his voice to the proceedings. I sat there quietly, next to him, without saying a word, knowing the commissioners could surmise for themselves where Harrison’s father stood on the matter, even if the renaming movement was not our family’s idea in the rst place. During the course of the Commission’s deliberations, local newspaper North County News, under editor Rick Pezzullo, proved an invaluable in uencer. He ran prominent stories, wrote endorsements of the idea, and published an editorial cartoon by Dan Capozzi, who exhorted the Commission to “Just do it!” Still, the Commission appeared to be at loggerheads, with some members understandably questioning the unprecedented nature – as I myself thought – of naming a town recreation facility for such a young person. In my mind, an in ection point occurred when highly respected commissioner Richard Hu eld spoke up in favor of the proposal. His aye vote came with a very speci c proviso that a plaque be installed at the eld to explain why it was named for Harrison. His rationale was that 20 years from then (that is, today), there would be meaning behind the eld’s name for the edi cation of future generations, who otherwise would have no reason to know about Harrison. IMPROBABLE RESOLUTION at is how, within weeks of Harrison passing away, in spring 2003, an improbable outcome transpired at Town Hall, as Supervisor Linda Cooper and the Town Board unanimously passed an unprecedented resolution to name a public place after a child of Yorktown. e festive dedication of Harrison Apar Field of Dreams on Sept. 7, 2003 will be recalled this fall (on a date to be determined), with a 20th anniversary celebration at the eld, tied in to the start of Yorktown Athletic Club’s fall 2023 baseball season. And so it is that Harrison’s presence endures these two decades later, in a way more public and precious than his family ever dared imagine. I am not the only one rmly convinced that, were it not for schoolchildren leading the way, the eld that carries our son’s name still would be known as Pinetree. It was their heartfelt passion and industry that made the di erence. CARING COMMUNITY It is humbling to know that it was someone else’s young son who saw it in his heart to honor our young son in such a remarkable way. Tragically, Brendan Frail had a fatal accident in 2010, and a bench at Harrison Apar Field of Dreams rightly commemorates his priceless contributions. Our hearts remain with his mother Diane and brother Kieran. We send well wishes as well to Richard Hu eld’s wife Patricia. When her husband – who never had met Harrison but had watched him umpire YAC baseball – passed in 2006, we were overwhelmed to learn that he had left a request for contributions in his memory to be made to the Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation. In a diary he started the night before his surgery, Harrison wrote that he fully expected to “give my dad a refreshing birthday gift wrapped in esh -- a son’s healthy heart.” e way I look at it, Harrison came through with ying colors on delivering his promise to me. It is a son’s gift that keeps on giving, not only on my birthday but every day – his everlasting and inimitable presence. Bruce can be seen in a wacky one-act called “Dream Lover” at Westchester libraries this spring, including Somers Library on April 2 at 2 p.m. From June 2-4, he will play the title role in “Tuesdays with Morrie” for e Armonk Players at the Whippoorwill eatre. All shows are free of charge. [email protected]; 914-275-6887. APAR FROM PAGE 15
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PAGE 20 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 As the Class of 2023 counts down to graduation, The Somers Record is proud to highlight a diff erent group of seniors each week! Somers High School Featured Seniors Victoria Olsen What is something that most people don’t know about you? Something most people don’t know about me is that I’ve gotten plastic surgery. Favorite movie? e Princess Diaries What is your idea of a perfect day? My perfect day would consist of me sitting on the beach and reading all day. What is Somers’ best attraction? Somers’ best attraction would be probably be Route 100 Mobil Mart. I love getting sandwiches and snacks from there. Were your years at Somers High School what you expected them to be? How would you describe your high school experience in one word? My years at Somers High School were not how I expected them to be. In one word, I would describe my experience as “unique.” It de nitely went by fast, but I’m grateful for my time at SHS and I’m excited for the future. Lexy Fay What three words would your friends use to describe you and your personality? Organized, funny, and determined Favorite book? “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover. What is something that motivates you? Something that motivates me is my family, because I want to make them proud. What is something that most people don’t know about you? Most people don’t know that my favorite artist is Taylor Swift. Just kidding, everyone knows that. Were your years at Somers High School what you expected them to be? My years at Somers High School were unique to say the least and de nitely not what I expected. I did virtual school for half of my freshman year and most of my sophomore year. However, junior and senior year were some of the best years of my life. I made so many new friends and memories, and I’m looking forward to the rest of my senior year. Madison Cacace What interests you most? What activities do you participate in, both in school and outside of school? I like spending quality-time with my family and friends. In school, I participate in the National Honor Society, varsity gymnastics, and the Fashion Club. Outside of school, I participate in competitive gymnastics and volunteering. Favorite TV show? e Vampire Diaries What do you hope to be doing in ve years? In ve years, I hope to be in a master’s program in order to get my degree in Speech and Language Pathology. I hope to work with children with special needs. What is Somers’ best attraction? e best attraction in Somers is the Elephant Hotel, especially during the holiday season when they have the Christmas tree lighting and carols. Were your years at Somers High School what you expected them to be? How would you describe your high school experience in one word? My years at Somers High School were not what I expected them to be since we had to cope with the pandemic and distance learning. However, I am grateful for the quality education, the supportive teachers and sta , and the amazing friendships. e one word I would use to describe my high school experience is “determined.” Phoebe Antonini What three words would your friends use to describe you and your personality? Persistent, open-minded, and positive! Favorite vacation spot? Turks and Caicos What is Somers’ best attraction? In my opinion, Somers’ best attraction has to be Bobo’s, because it is the heart of Somers. I have had so many amazing memories there. Are you a morning person or a night owl? De nitely a night owl, I don’t enjoy the mornings. Were your years at SHS what you expected? How would you describe your high school experience in one word? My years were and weren’t what I expected. Covid made many things di erent, but it was also enjoyable, and I was involved in so many more activities than I ever would’ve anticipated and am so thankful I was. In one word, I would say high school was “unforgettable.” Maddie Lyle What three words would your friends use to describe you and your personality? Outgoing, athletic, and determined. Favorite comfort food? A pitaya bowl from Bobo’s Café. I love to add chocolate, coconut, bananas, and honey. What do you hope to be doing in ve years? What are some of your main life goals? After graduating from college, I hope to be either in the FBI or the CIA. I would also like to continue to play lacrosse. Favorite sports team? e New York Yankees. I grew up watching them, and love to go to the stadium to watch them play. Were your years at SHS what you expected them to be? How would you describe your high school experience in one word? Yes, my years at Somers High School were what I expected them to be. One word I would use to describe it would be “exciting.” I enjoyed each season and loved experiencing all the di erent events.
Sports THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 21 BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR On a windy March evening (3/30), Somers Girls Lacrosse hosted North Rockland to an early-season battle that was back-and-forth throughout. e Tuskers held a slight advantage in the rst half, but penalties and a decrease in o ensive possessions allowed the Raiders to take the lead and hold on for the 12-11 victory. Down 2-0 to start, Sydney Ingraham (6G, game-high), who scored seven goals and a game-winner in the seasonopener vs. Pelham, once again provided what her team needed by netting the Tuskers rst two scores to tie it up. “First of all, I love her,” Coach Deb Daly said of her sophomore. “She’s a student-athlete that comes up to you before and after every practice to say thank you. She loves the sport of lacrosse and is going to continue to kill it...She is someone that I feel so con dent when she is on the eld.” e teams trading goals to even it at three, Molly Fink (3G, 2A) got on the board with her own score and gave Somers a 4-3 lead, followed by a goal from Tori Olsen for some insurance. In goal for Somers, Campbell Sternberg made several huge saves, but the Raider’s continued pressure broke the seal in the latter part of the rst half to tie it up 5-5. Coming back to the rescue, Fink found Ingraham with a beautiful pass through tra c for her third goal and a 6-5 edge at 3:09. A minute later, Fink again showed o the play-making skills to get Mia Parisi on the board, and send Somers into break up 7-5. North Rockland came out swinging in the second frame, resulting in an almost instant goal to cut the lead, followed Raiders squeeze by Tuskers Ingraham continues hot start Molly Fink (3G, 2A) makes her way through the defense. PHOTOS: WHIT ANDERSON Campbell Sterburg in goal. Sydney Ingraham (6G) continued her hot start. Lyla Mancini GIRLS LACROSSE SEE LAX PAGE 22 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 4/30/23 $10.00OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25%OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 4/30/23 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team
PAGE 22 – THE SOMERS RECORD SPORTS THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 Mancini in traffi c. PHOTO: WHIT ANDERSON up by another score to tie it at seven. Sensing the comeback, the duo of Fink and Ingraham went back to work, this time with Sydney creating a clean look for Molly to bring it to 8-7. e action picking up, the visitors evened it again on a nice spin and score, then nice ball movement from North Rockland resulted in another goal that put them up 9-8 at 20:31. Somers then found themselves in trouble when their opponents went up two at 10-8. But thankfully, the Tuskers have Ingraham, and she nailed a long shot with 12:08 remaining to keep it within striking distance. But the Raiders, racking up a plethora of penalty shots, much to the dismay of the Tuskers and their supporters, got another one to go back up two. Fink kept the game alive with one more score at 4:40, but a crunch-time visitor goal put it back at 12-10 with 2:15 till the buzzer. Ingraham made one last statement for her sixth goal at 1:26, but good execution from North Rockland in the nal 80 seconds kept Somers from getting an opportunity to send the match to overtime. “We had great moments,” said Daly. “We had great moments individually. We are still trying to nd our groove together and get the chemistry working... e girls have been working so hard... it’s just about trust and getting used to each other.” Earlier that week (3/28), the Tuskers, missing some key players, visited rival Rye and could not stop their o ense in a 23-9 defeat. LAX FROM PAGE 21 BOYS LACROSSE Somers 7, Hendrick Hudson 4 Wednesday, Mar. 29 A strong second half from the Tuskers got them an impressive road win over the Sailors last Wednesday. Mac Sullivan (2G, 2A) got the party started with the rst score one minute into the rst quarter. Following two Hen Hud goals to take the lead, Nick Newman (1G, 1A) got on the board to tie it up at two with 2:13 left in the frame. e second quarter was the Miguel Iglesias (3G, 1A) show, as he netted two goals at the 10:13 and 5:15 mark. Hen Hud, however, kept it within striking distance with a score of their own to enter the half down 4-3. e third started with a Sullivan goal, then a quick Sailor response brought it back to 5-4. en the Tuskers’ Grayden Carr (1G, 1A) got in on the action with his own score. In the meantime, great saves by Landon Pepe (13 saves) kept the score at 6-4 entering the nal frame. Boys lacrosse wins at Hen Hud Tennis starts season 3-0 PHOTO: CHRIS SMAJLAJ Mac Sullivan VARSITY ROUNDUP SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 23 Take Out • Delivery • Curbside Pick Up Open 6 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner Large Cheese Pizza Family Size Salad (House or Caesar) Family Size Chicken (Parm, Francese or Marsala) ONLY $ 49 ON 99 LY $ 4999 Fratelli’s Family Feast Spring Special Fratelli’s Family Feast Spring Special Order Ahead! Call 914-276-3450 1 Heritage Center, Route 202, Somers NY valid through 4/30/23 Large Cheese Pizza Family Size Salad (House or Caesar) Family Size Chicken (Parm, Francese or Marsala) COLLEGE COUNSELING ACADEMIC PLANNING • CAREER COACHING (845) 628-0726 • www.guidedconsult.com 900 South Lake Blvd., Suite 8 • Mahopac, NY 10541 College List • Essay & Supplemental Writing Resume Development • Application Completion Obtain ONGOING SUPPORT For A Detailed Process. Schedule a COMPLIMENTARY meeting with one of our GuidED Team Members TODAY! EMPOWERING students’ critical thinking skills through academic, career, and post-secondary planning.
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 23 Call us at 914-245-5588 or visit anglebrookgc.com to learn more. Non-Equity—No Assessments • Flexible Membership Options—Corporate, Individual, Couples, Families, Junior Executive and Weekday-Plus • Expanded Patio Terrace Outings, Receptions & Banquets • Liberal Guest Policies MGA’S MODERN DREAM 18 (2017) ROBERT TRENT JONES SR’S FINAL DESIGN A MODERN CLASSIC Join Anglebrook today NEW SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ Miguel Iglesias Landon Pepe Cameron Violante (left) Capping off the victory, Iglesias pulled off the hat trick for his final goal with seven minutes left in the fourth. Ryan Brush (1A) and Anthony Moschides (13-of-14 on face-offs) also contributed to the win. Wilton 17, Somers 5 Saturday, Apr. 1 A rainy road trip to Connecticut remained gloomy as Somers could not get anything going against a talented Wilton team last Saturday. Newman (3G), Iglesias (1G, 1A), Mason Kelly (1G, 1A), Sullivan (2A), and Pepe (22 saves) kept it to a 9-4 deficit in the first half, but they could not stick with their opponent in the second. BASEBALL Somers 3, Carmel 2 Monday/Tuesday, Apr. 27-28 Spanning over two days, the Tuskers picked up a hard-fought, 12-inning win on the road against Carmel to win their season opener. Sophomore ace Andrew Kapica looked as good as advertised on the mound. Tappan Zee 9, Somers 4 Monday, Apr. 3 On the road again, this matchup was not close, and not in Somers’ ROUNDUP FROM PAGE 22 SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 24
PAGE 24 – THE SOMERS RECORD SPORTS THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 favor as Tappan Zee coasted to a 9-4 win. Down 2-0 going into the third, Evan Caraway and Stefan Swee stole their way to home to tie it up, but the Dutchmen scored two of their own in the bottom half to get it back to 4-2. Jay Creighton came in for Kapica for relief duties, striking out two, then pitching a scoreless fth inning. However, things got out of hand in the bottom of the sixth when four TZ runners made it home to extend their lead to 9-2. Eddie Baranowski and Caraway scored in the seventh to lessen the damage, and Rhys Carway (1.0 IP, 2 Ks) pitched well to close out the game. Alex Kuchinsky (2-4, 2B), and Tommy Tan (1-1, 2 BB, 1 SB) both produced for the Tuskers. BOYS TENNIS Somers 6, Walter Panas 1 Tuesday, Mar. 28 Somers Boys Tennis was back at Reis Park for their rst match of the spring against Panas, making quick work of the Panthers in a near sweep. For singles, Max Yates (6/1, 6/0)Luke Cukaj (6/4, 6/2), and Landon Bleasdale (6/1, 6/0) all showed major promise in their rst wins on the season. en for doubles, the duos of John Raducanu & Gri en Hechler (6/1, 6/1), Harrison Mellor & Alex Wissa (6/1, 6/0), Zach Polner & Sam Polner (6/0, 6/0), and Seth Cheung & Noah Hechler (6/3) swept their competition. Somers 4, Rye 3 Wednesday, Mar. 29 Back at home the next day, the Tuskers faced a tougher opponent in Rye, but managed to squeeze out a statement win. Yates (6/1, 6/0) and Noah Hechler (6/1, 6/1) picked up crucial singles points over Lucos White and Oliver Meler respectively. Winning the third and fourth points in doubles were Raducanu & Cheung (7/5, 6/6, 7/3), and Mellor & Gri n Hechler (7/6, 6/1). Somers 4, Walter Panas 3 Thursday, Mar. 30 A third match in three days, this time in a road rematch at Panas, the Tuskers proved they are a team to watch out for as they edged out the competition for a third-straight win to begin the spring. Yates kept his undefeated record in a singles win over Mike Katz (8/4). But with the remaining individuals taking a loss, it was up to the doubles squads to pick up the slack. ankfully, they did just that as Raducanu & Cheung (8/2), Mellor & Wissa (8/2), and the Polner brothers (8/0) picked up three wins and three points in dominating fashion. FLAG FOOTBALL Somers 23, Hudson River Trailblazers 12 Tuesday, Mar. 28 e Tuskers began their second season last week by hosting the Hudson River Trailblazers, a Hastings/Briarcli combined team. eir dominant rst half told the story. Julia Schmidberger (4 Rec, 2 TDs, 3 Tk) recieved a pass from QB Ella Ponterio (11 Comp, 177 Yds) for the rst score of the game. Chloe Gabriele (2 Rec, 6 Tk, 2 Sacks) forced a safety for two points. en Ponterio was on the receiving end of a Schmidberger pass to make it 14-0. In the second half, freshman Cara Persico (72 Yds) converted a 55-yard TD run. Becca Lippolis (5 Tk) and Beatriz Rios (3 Tk) played crucial defense all game. SOFTBALL Somers 11, Fox Lane 6 Monday Apr. 3 After their Saturday (4/1) game was cancelled due to weather, Somers Softball began their spring on the road against Fox Lane. e bats were working all game, headlined by Krista Gallagher (4 RBIs), Emily Boyle (3 RBIs, 11 Ks on the mound), Kaleigh Conti (1 RBI), and Ellie Walsh (1 RBI). Lacrosse and Baseball notes provided by Chris Smajlaj ROUNDUP FROM PAGE 23 Andrew Kapica Jay Creighton PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ Rhys Carway PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANK CATANIA Somers Tennis is 3-0 on the early season. NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: YOU MAY *QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS! HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH Qualify Today: 800-944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to see if you *qualify Do you need a New Roof and Help paying for it? Do you need Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 *Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are on a first come, first serve basis in your area. Any leaking, visible damage, or roof age, may *qualify you! Drafty windows, energy cost too high, you may *qualify! SUMMERCAMP CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR MORE INFORMATION: (914) 248-2220 or (914) 248-2430 Discount of $10 per camper for payments received before May 5, 2023.Register early to guarantee camp choice and discount. 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THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 LEISURE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 25 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. Colas 7. Single-celled animals 13. The rear car of a train 14. Endangered 16. It cools your home 17. Helper 19. “The First State” 20. More aged 22. Partner to cheese 23. Type of wrap 25. From a distance 26. Satisfies 28. “Dallas Buyers’ Club” actor Jared 29. God of battle (Scandinavian) 30. Cooking utensil 31. Soviet Socialist Republic 33. Able to perform 34. Big man on campus 36. Second epoch of the Tertiary period 38. Porticos 40. Alban and Peter are two 41. Gets up 43. Humble request for help 44. One-thousandth of an inch (abbr.) 45. Unhappy 47. Hint or indication 48. A way to plead 51. Digits 53. Broadway actress Daisy 55. Jewish calendar month 56. Author Gore __ 58. Peacock network 59. White poplar 60. Promotional material 61. A period of calm 64. Take too much 65. Emit energy 67. Something you can take 69. Mended with yarn 70. Inconsistent CLUES DOWN 1. Calm down 2. One quintillion bytes (abbr.) 3. One who pretends 4. Hang glide 5. Distinctive practice 6. Mariner 7. Peaks 8. Queens ballplayer 9. Geological times 10. Twofold 11. Atomic #13 12. Tranquillizing 13. Metric weight unit 15. Indicates 18. Unwanted rodent 21. Partly cooked with hot water 24. One who can be recommended 26. Resembles a bag or pouch 27. Midway between south and southeast 30. Sets up for a photo 32. California white oak 35. More (Spanish) 37. After B 38. Decorated tea urn 39. Island 42. Car mechanics group 43. Wordplay joke 46. Cut a rug 47. Prickly plant 49. Speech in praise of a deceased person 50. European buzzard 52. Influential linguist 54. West African languages 55. Siskel’s partner 57. Skinny 59. Oblong pulpit 62. Consumed 63. Small, mischievous sprite 66. Powerful lawyer 68. Indicates position I used to feel there wasn’t much to do at nights in Northern Westchester. However, that is nowhere close to the truth. e fact is there are hundreds of live music options close to home. I decided to expand my horizons this month and look beyond 20 miles from my front door. Who’s been to the Peekskill Smokehouse at 15 N Division St or visited Common Grounds Co ee House in Je erson Valley since their March grand opening? e word is they both feature live music. If you’ve been, I’d love to hear your feedback on these new (to me) locations. ere’s been a bit of buzz about Uncle Cheef ’s Live Music Lounge coming to Brewster this spring. Route 22’s newest night club is under construction. Elisa Z (HearIt ere Founder) and I were given the grand tour recently and believe me when I say, we are all in for a luscious treat. e opening date is on the horizon, and I promise to keep you up to date as details become available. In the meantime, follow them on Instagram @ unclecheef for updates. As the Editor of HearIt ere.com, I get a weekly sneak peek at the multitude of live music events coming up. I’d like to tell you about two events that caught my eye. Jazz at the Lodge in Ossining is hosting SUNDAD on Saturday, April 29. I had the pleasure of hearing this Grammynominated ensemble at Daryl’s House Club. It is my pleasure to recommend this unique jazz band fronted by Father and Son guitarists. John Codman has been curating a scene at this Elks Lodge since 2016 and putting the Rivertown on the map for excellent jazz music. You’ll nd a listing for this venue’s ursday and Saturday night shows at jazzatthelodge.com. e Bedford Playhouse is hosting Spero Plays Nyro: e Music of Laura Nyro on April 6. For a point of reference, Nyro wrote “Eli’s Coming and Stoned Soul Picnic.” Tickets are available for the 8 p.m. show at bedfordplayhouse.org. e Playhouse also o ers FREE live music at 6:30 p.m. in e Café on the rst Friday of the month. If you miss the band, ONL, on April 7, vocalists Robin Reitzes fronts local band Willin’ on May 6 at the Cafe. Looking for some other options this month? DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN, 3137 E MAIN STREET, CORTLANDT TOWN CENTER, MOHEGAN LAKE, 845-915- 4287 ursday night acoustic music at 7 p.m. Bands perform Friday and Saturday nights from 8-11 p.m. JAZZ ON MAIN, 37 S MOGER AVE., MT. KISCO, 914-730-2399 e club has been getting noticed for its FREE Wednesday night open mic welcoming all forms of performance to the stage. A new addition to the Wednesday schedule is a one-hour featured band performance opening the stage at 7 p.m. Local bands interested in more details, please send me an email. WESTCHESTER BLUEGRASS CLUB, 33 LAKE WAY CLUBHOUSE, PURDYS Saturday, April 29, at 8 p.m., the club will host Grammy winning ddler Lisa Gutkin’s band, Lisa’s Pieces. Opening music at 7 p.m. Visit the WestchesterBluegrassClub.com for full details. Readers, I am here to help you get the word out. Feel free to send your May and June gig info to jacque@wbutter y. net. Jacque Roche is a freelance writer and content contributor to Halston Media Group publications, as well as editor and music blogger for HearIt ere. com. Archived broadcasts of her 2016-2020 radio shows are streaming on Mixcloud. com. Jacque’s Spin on Music for April! JACQUE’S S PIN O N M USI C JACQUE’S S PIN O N M USI C Contact Us The Somers Record is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected].
PAGE 26 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 SATURDAY, APRIL 29th 5-9pm Offering beverages and light food. In-office discounts during event only! (does not apply to insurance) DRY EYE IS A COMMON DISEASE, LEADING TO WATERY, IRRITATED, RED EYES & BLURRY VISION. ASK US ABOUT OPTILIGHT. DR WA A One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. alone I’m never Life Alert® is always here for me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! ® Help at Home sends help fast, 24/7. with GPS! Help On-the-Go For a FREE brochure call: 1-800-404-9776 Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES Batteries Never Need Charging. The following are excerpts from an interview I recently conducted with Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah. What is presented here has been edited to t the allotted size of this column. e entire interaction can be viewed on my show, “All About Town with Jim Martorano,” which can be viewed anytime on YouTube or on Optimum Channel 74 Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. I had interviewed Rocah when she was a candidate years ago; this interview is a follow up. Question: Can you tell us about some of the goals that you have been able to accomplish in your rst two-plus years in o ce? Rocah: I’ve accomplished a lot of what I set out to do. For example, something I talked about during the campaign was setting up a Conviction Integrity Unit or Conviction Review Unit… We have to put guardrails in place because we know that mistakes happen and a Conviction Integrity Unit is one of those guardrails to make sure we are getting it right. And if we’re not getting it right, what kind of corrections can be made...We hired three women who are professionals in exoneration work… ey’re amazing…It’s the rst independent conviction review unit in Westchester and it is really a hallmark of any modern prosecutor’s o ce… Question: We read every day about gun violence. Can you tell us your thoughts? Rocah: I have done a lot of work with Moms Demand Action…We’ve been proactive since I got here…increased our relationship and partnership with law enforcement both across Westchester, the federal level, the state level, as well as New York City to make sure we are getting all the necessary intelligence to do seizures of guns. We’ve gotten literally hundreds of guns o the street in the last two years in these coordinated law enforcement operations. We set up a Gun and Gang Task Force with federal and the local level and again have been really successful in these coordinated e orts… We’re getting guns o the street…Most importantly, we’ve been proactive in preventing guns from getting into the hands of people who might do harm with them… Question: What about so called “red ag” laws? Rocah: Again, we’ve been proactive on the outreach and education front about what’s called red ag laws…We have a process in place in terms of training law enforcement, health care providers, prosecutors, educators…to make sure when there are “red ags,” we can apply to have the gun temporarily removed from the person who is showing signs that they would do harm to themselves or to others and, of course, that is all based on a court application and a court nding and a court order… Question: What about guns improperly stored? Rocah: We’re doing a lot of education on the Safe Storage Law because most school shootings, for example, are done by young people who get access to guns either in their own home or in the home of someone they know…It’s not an anti-gun law. It’s anti carelessness… Question: Besides your work on conviction integrity and getting guns o the street, can you tell us a third thing you are proud of? Rocah: A victim-centered approach to things…my own family, my parents, have been the victim of violent crime on more than one occasion…so I look at things through the eyes of the victims. And so setting up our Cold Case Bureau, which we’ve never had before, was a big accomplishment. ere have been over a hundred cold cases in Westchester… at means an unsolved homicide… and there’s a family out there who not only have lost a loved one, but haven’t received the closure that can come with having the case solved…So far, we’ve been able to successfully prosecute ve cold case homicides in just two years…and we’re working on many more…We have a new criminal investigator who’s working with our prosecutors…a former NYPD detective with a great history…so I think we’re going to be really successful going forward… Question: In my career of handling over 15,000 criminal cases, I have always been alarmed at the level of mental illness challenges that at least 30% of my clients are dealing with. Are the courts really equipped to deal with this issue on any meaningful level? Rocah: We’ve done a lot in this area. When there is a serious crime of violence…the person who committed that violence is probably going to go to prison for a long time… at’s too late…What we want to do…is to get at the problem BEFORE someone reaches that point… Hopefully mental health court… and our drug court can help… For our part, we’re trying to lower the barriers to entering and get far more people into these programs…and let’s not forget veterans’ court, which also deals with a lot of people with understandable trauma and mental health issues… Question: I have noticed a wonderfully innovative program you have initiated called Fresh Start. Can you tell us about it? Rocah: It is a pre-trial program we started for low level misdemeanors and violations, like loitering…It allows someone who would normally get a desk appearance ticket to receive an option to enroll in this Fresh Start Program…If they successfully complete the program, they never have to appear before a judge and, so, they have no record whatsoever. e focus is low level crimes of primarily rst o enders. We know people make mistakes and we want to catch that person and give them a safety net at that early phase when it’s relatively low risk. Fresh Start is a pilot program…We have trained the police departments, all 42 of them, because now it’s county wide…I don’t want to speak for them, but I would say, based on our success rate, you know most of them are quite enthusiastic and it gives them an alternative…It tries to break the cycle of recidivism… Question: I last interviewed you as a candidate. Now, as the District Attorney, what has surprised you the most during your rst two-plus years? Rocah: e volume of cases proportionate to the number of prosecutors…Each prosecutor has a high volume of cases…plus the new discovery obligations… make it harder to ensure that we are being as victim-focused as I would want us to be…we need to make sure that prosecutors are spending the time that they need to spend with each victim. e victims deserve to have us devote su cient time on each case and with each victim and their families. When I got here, the rst thing I did was institute a role internally that someone in Catching up with Westchester D.A. Mimi Rocah JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE SEE MARTORANO PAGE 29
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 27 A RESPECTFUL APPROACH TO NAVIGATING FAMILY TRANSITIONS AND CONFLICT - Family, Elder and Divorce Mediation - Collaborative Divorce - Co-Parenting Plans - Pre-Nuptial and Marital Settlement Agreements ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION OFFERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES - Privacy - A Voice in Decision Making - Preservation of Assets - Child Focused Options - Avoidance of Often Toxic and Costly Court Proceedings NEW LOCATION: 340 Route 202 • Suite M, Somers • 914-669-5224 www.margaretnicholson.com • [email protected] “I am honored to have been selected by my peers for Hudson Valley Magazine’s annual “Top Lawyers” publication. THE LAW & MEDIATION OFFICE OF Margaret A. Nicholson Free Half Hour Consultations Virtual Options Available FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah Railroad station. • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars • Monuments & inscriptions available. entire 6 weeks of camp, Mon.- Fri. 6/26-8/4, will be given preference. To apply, visit www. somersny.com. If you have any questions, please call the Recreation Department at (914) 232-8442 Senior Services SHOPPING TRIPS Friday, April 7 - Trader Joe’s Monday, April 10 - Danbury Mall (2 Bag limit. Call 914-232- 0807 for transportation.) The Somers Library Please register using the online calendar at www.somerslibrary.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. (IN PERSON) RETRO ART FOR ADULTS Registration starts Monday, April 10 Register to pick up a Take TRUNK FROM PAGE 7 BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Assemblyman Matt Slater joined sta from Feeding Westchester, members of the Yorktown Town Board, and local partners in ghting food insecurity at Saint Mary’s Food Pantry in Mohegan Lake for a press conference. Slater announced new legislation that promotes communitybased gardens, similar to Yorktown’s Garden of Hope, to donate food to local food pantries to combat food insecurity and hunger. e legislation would create a grant program that would support municipalities that invest in these types of gardens. “ e grant program is a start-up grant program and it does mirror the Garden of Hope because it will require that all the produce that is grown is then donated to a local food pantry to support all of these great families,” said Slater. According to Slater, the legislation has over a dozen sponsors so far as well as bipartisan support. He also discussed the need for funding for the free breakfast and lunch programs in schools. “I don’t care if it’s a republican issue or democratic issue; we’re talking about feeding children,” Slater said. “I’m proud to be part of a bipartisan coalition to support legislation that will reinstate the free breakfast and free lunch program throughout our schools.” Slater said he was disappointed that Gov. Kathy Hochul didn’t include it in her executive budget. Cindy Smith of St. Mary’s Food Pantry said that prior to the pandemic, the pantry served 85-90 families a week. Within two weeks, that number jumped to 500. She said it has settled down to about 200 families a week. “We don’t see that that will change for at least another year to two years,” Smith said. “Hunger is trailing indicator, so when people become unemployed or whatever other circumstances create issues for them, they still got some bene ts, they still got some unemployment, they got savings, so they don’t necessarily need to reach out right away.” She added that this goes both ways, as it takes time for people to get back on their feet. In Putnam County last year, 2,599 people received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which totaled just over $800,000. In Westchester, 76,400 residents received the help which added up to around $22 million. Slater cited United Way’s Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Reports for Westchester and Putnam County. e ALICE report identi es households that earn above the poverty level but still earn less than the cost of living, leaving them one emergency away from being below the poverty line. According to Slater, 33% of Putnam and 33% of Westchester are in this range. Local o icials address food insecurity PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF ASSEMBLEYMAN MATT SLATER Local offi cials gathered at Saint Mary’s Food Pantry in Mohegan Lake. REGIONAL SEE TRUNK PAGE 29
PAGE 28 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 1-855-916-5473 STRONG AS STEEL WITH THE ATTRACTIVE LOOK OF VARIOUS ROOF STYLES Upgrade Your Home with a NEW METAL ROOF Guaranteed to Last a Lifetime! From Dimensional Shingles to classic styles reminiscent of Cedar Shake and Spanish Tile, an architectural roo ng system by Erie Metal Roofs can enhance the beauty of your home while protecting your family and property for a lifetime. Call today to schedule your FREE ESTIMATE 1-855-492-6084 Made in the USA New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. 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Expires 3.31.23 REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (877) 516-1160 Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value! of Mahopac. “Over the 40 years we have been here we got used to the sound on weekends. You absorb it and get past it. But it got noisier in the past few years to the point where I can’t be out on my deck reading. I have company come and their immediate reaction is, ‘Are you kidding? Seriously?’ if I tried to sell the house, I would never have an open house on the weekend. That would be a no-go.” Other gun club critics worried about the amount of lead being shot into the surrounding area, especially wetlands, and what it could do to the water table. “This area is full of wetlands. There are a number of ponds on this property,” said Robert Butler, a Union Valley Road resident. “There are literally tons of lead that have been shot into these hills. What kind of environmental degradation is that going to create?” George Calcagnini, president of Willow Wood Gun Club, said the addition of the sporting clays course would not put the water table and surrounding environment at risk. “Where the sporting clays course is there are no wetlands. It is completely dry,” he said. “At considerable expense, we went out and retained the leading expert on environmental stewardship for outdoor shooting ranges. We will follow an environmental stewardship plan that is on file with the board.” Calcagnini said the club places lime on the ground to create a neutral pH level and notes that lead is inert in neutral pH. However, he said the club is still willing to do some soil remediation. “We will apply to the EPA to remediate any lead in wetland areas,” he said. “We would do it in stages.” He said claims in the residents’ petition that there are 8,400 shots fired daily at the club are inaccurate. “That would be for some of the largest clubs in the country, which we are not,” he said. Club members told the board how important the club was to their families and community and that it taught safety and responsibility. They said young shooters often pursue the sport in college and enter national competitions. Others said they often brought business associates to the club and later would dine out in the local community helping to boost the economy. “The youth [at the club] has learned core safety values there and some will go on to college and pursue the sport of clay shooting,” club member Andrew Young said. Danny Zito of Mahopac said his son would not be where he is today without Willow Wood. “He was recruited by the University of Alabama shooting team and he returns to Willow Wood on his breaks,” he said. “The club and its members have made a lasting impact on his life.” Mahopac’s Eric Willy also said that being a member of Willow Wood has been a positive experience for his son. “My son is a junior member of the club and got interested in shooting at a young age,” he said. “They taught him safe practices. It has been a great experience for my son and my family. In my opinion, it’s an asset to have this club and the sporting clays [course] in Mahopac.” “It does provide a valuable community resource for firearm safety for young people, especially scouts,” added club member Michael Early. Northern Westchester resident Ellen Barth said she started clay sports as a teen and it boosted her confidence as a woman in a sport dominated by men. “Until I found Willow Wood I had to travel many hours to practice my sport,” she told the board. “There are not many clubs that allow women to be full-fledged members. Willow Wood not only allows women to be members, but they welcome it. I do believe that is an asset these days. It is a very empowering and confidence-building experience.” Somers resident Patricia Fisher countered that while she can see the value of the club and all it does, it still creates a qualityof-life issue for its neighbors. “They come to the club and they do their work and have their fun and enjoy each other’s company and then they all get to go home,” she said. “But we have to stay day after day and live with it. What about the mental health impact it has on many of us?” But Calcagnini maintained the argument that the addition of the shooting clays course has not and will not increase noise levels in the adjacent neighborhoods. “This club has been there since 1955 and we are not increasing the level of noise at all,” he contended. “We are moving to a different section of the property, but the noise will be the same for the neighbors. We made changes to our original plans to ensure that. Our [expert’s noise study] came up with various sound-mitigation things such as changes to the sound barriers, and additional sound barriers.” Carmel resident John McGuire said he is not a member of the club, but is a staunch advocate and claimed that those who oppose it are simply anti-Second Amendment. “Some will couch their rhetoric in anti-Second Amendment [sentiment]. This is not the political forum for that opinion. We are here to discuss land use,” he said. “Some will [say] that their quality of life has been impacted. They hear noise. I will remind those homeowners that they are responsible for the mitigation of their own property. You have to tell us what mitigation efforts you have made that have failed.” McGuire also said that the opinions of those in Somers and other non-Mahopac/Carmel residents should have no bearing on the Planning Board’s decision. “Their opinion has as much meaning as my opinion on their HOAs and zoning,” he said. “Willow Wood has been there for 70 years, well before these homeowners built their homes. Are we saying we are going to take away [Willow Wood’s] property rights?” Planning Board Chair Craig Paeprer said the board will close the verbal portion of the public hearing but will allow written comments for another 10 days. “I would recommend we close the verbal part of the public hearing but as a courtesy to the applicants at least let them submit correspondence,” he said. “I just don’t want to go through another public hearing because I don’t think we are going to hear anything new.” The Planning Board meets next on April 26 when a decision on the Willow Wood siteplan amendment will likely be announced. GUN CLUB FROM PAGE 9 PHOTO: EMILE MENASCHÉ Residents in Somers claim the proposed sporting-clay range would impact their quality of life.
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 29 Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (844) 536-2370 FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value! DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket This is real dental insurance — NOT just a discount plan You can get coverage before your next checkup CALL NOW! 1-877-690-2680 Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details. Product not available in all states. Acceptance is guaranteed for one insurance policy/certifi cate of this type. This specifi c offer is not available in CO: call 1-800-969-4781 for a similar offer. For complete details about this solicitation of insurance, please contact us. Certifi cate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6129-1118 FREE Information Kit 1-877-690-2680 Visit us online at www.dental50plus.com/seasonal Home Paint by Numbers kit. There will be four different landscapes available, but what you get will be a surprise! Sign up for one and avoid those summer boredom days! One per person while supplies last. (VIRTUAL) AAA’S, THE OLDER & WISER DRIVER Tuesday, April 11, from 5 to 6 p.m. Keep yourself safe in your car while you age. Learn safe driving strategies to compensate for vision, cognitive & physical changes that come with aging. (IN PERSON) OTAKU CLUB Every other Sunday, from 5 to 7 p.m. Now through May 28. If you are interested in anime, manga, comics, video games, and all things “otaku,” come hang out with like minded people! The library will host watch parties, movie nights, gaming tournaments and talk about the newest series! Snacks are provided! Members should be 18 or older. Suggestions and ideas for future meetings are always welcome. The 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 somerslibraryfoun[email protected]. Watch the Somers LIbrary Foundation website (https://somerslibraryfoundation.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 3rd – 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 Sprit wear. The store is open year round and items ship to your home. Promo codes available on the website. Visit our store at teamlocker. squadlocker.com/#/lockers/ somers-pta-council-store 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.somerslionsclub.org for more information. Follow on social media @somerslions. The Somers Lions would like to welcome their newest members, and are proud to serve alongside you. Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam MONTHLY MEETING Please join us for our monthly discussion as we work to advance cross-racial and cross-cultural amity to impact the public discourse on race. Our monthly meetings feature speakers, screenings, and presentations where discussions are aimed at educating one another on who we really are. Visit https://www.eventbrite. com/e/138495877899 to register for this online event. 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] our office should reach out to the families of homicide victims within 24 hours. Previously, it was the police handling that, but I think it should be someone from the prosecutor’s office as well…It’s a small thing, but it can mean a lot to the family. Question: Have you done anything to relieve the burden placed on the local Assistants, especially given their discovery obligations? Rocah: To make sure we meet all the law’s discovery demands…we set up a Discovery Bureau, which has been very successful. Assistants used to provide their own discovery. But now, if I am a prosecutor in the office and I have a case, I can go to the Discovery Bureau and they will help me. Ultimately, each prosecutor needs to own it and review it and certify it…but at least they will get help with the process of gathering the materials from the police departments and outside agencies… Question: I want to thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy day to sit down for this interview. As always, it was wonderful talking to you. Keep up the good work on behalf of the people of Westchester. Rocah: It was my pleasure. MARTORANO FROM PAGE 26 TRUNK FROM PAGE 27
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Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 03/30/2023 AUTO DONATIONS BUYING/SELLING Buying diamonds, gold, silver, all fine jewelry and watches, coins, paintings, better furs, complete estates. We simply pay more! Call Barry 914-260-8783 or e-mail [email protected] EDUATION/CAREER TRAINING FINANCE HEALTH HOME IMPROVEMENT MISCELLANEOUS TV INTERNET PHONE Your ad could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. To advertise in The Somers Record, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Take advantage of the new 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) with PWRcell, Generac’s fully-integrated solar + battery storage system. PWRcell will help you save money on your electric bill and be prepared for utility power outages. Plus it’s compatible with most existing solar arrays. Now’s the Right Time SAVE 30% WITH THE SOLAR TAX CREDIT^ Call to request a free quote! (888) 871-0194 Purchase a PWRcell and Receive a Free Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced – valued at over $189!* *Scan the QR code for promo terms and conditions. ^Consult your tax or legal professional for information regarding eligibility requirements for tax credits. Solar panels sold separately. Suly’s Jewelry LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/8/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 17 Kaldenberg Pl., Tarrytown, NY 10591. General Purpose WS Plaza II, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/13/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to C/O Belal Almohen, 44 Briggs Ave., Yonkers, NY 10701. General Purpose 82 Tuckahoe LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/4/2022. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Richard A. Orefice, 34 Interlaken Dr., Eastchester, NY 10709. General Purpose Environmental Tech Solutions LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/8/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 487 East Main St., Ste. 339, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549. General Purpose LLC FORMATION NOTICES Notice of Formation of Angle Fly Valley Farm LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 02-01. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Michael Wilder: 2658 Route 35 Katonah NY 10536. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Somers Record News Fillers Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 914- 302-5830. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to The Somers Record need to be high-resolution. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. Send a selfaddressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. 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 somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. There is no charge for this announcement. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Letters and Op-Ed Policy 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 somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830. Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to The Somers Record, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Contact Us The Somers Record is located at Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email somersrecord@halstonmedia. com. 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 cameraready 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. Advertise With Us When you advertise with The Somers Record, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout the Town of Somers, including all of its hamlets and Heritage Hills. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. To advertise in The Somers Record, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@halstonmedia. com. Sports Deadline The sports deadline for The Somers Record is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to sports@ halstonmedia.com. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. header: Univers Bold 11pt/12leading body: Franklin Gothic Book reg10pt/11leading paragraph rule top Univers Bold 10pt/11 leading paragraph rule top Your ad could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. SR legals specs: STANDING HEAD: Gill Sans (TT), bold, 18pt, M100-Y100 HEADER-Univers 57 condensed regular 12/14, all caps, underline, centered BODY-Adobe Caslon pro 10/11 Left Justified, no hyphens LLC FORMATION NOTICE Notice of Formation of Rosslyn Farm LLC. Arts. of Org. filed w/ SSNY 2/23/18. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copies of any process served against LLC to 104 Delancey Road, North Salem, NY 10560. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 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Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Contact Us The Somers Record is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302- 5830 or email somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com. 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 cameraready 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. Advertise With Us When you advertise with The Somers Record, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout the Town of Somers, including all of its hamlets and Heritage Hills. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. To advertise in The Somers Record, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Sports Deadline The sports deadline for The Somers Record is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to sports@ halstonmedia.com. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. Check out our Facebook & Instagram pages! Putnam Humane Society, 68 Old Rt. 6, Carmel 845-225-7777 www.puthumane.org Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Putnam Humane Society Atlas Atlas is a 3 year old super athlete! He loves to run, play and jump and he is very smart. Knows all of his basic commands. Would be a great addition to an active family. Delilah is 7 years old. Very sweet , and sensitive. She just wants to be back in a loving home. Take a look into her eyes and your heart will melt. Delilah This ad was generously donated by Halston Media.
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 31 Yorktown Chamber of Commerce 2010 Organization of the Year November 29, 1987-March 21, 2003 MAY WE STAND AS TALL AS HE DID in memory of Our 20th Year Proudly Supporting Community Recreation and Education HARRISON APAR Standing three feet tall due to a rare dwarfism, as a featured speaker at his middle school graduation, Harrison told classmates... ‘Dreams Do Not Come Easily, But If You Stretch Enough, Nothing Is Out of Reach’ Facebook.com/HarrisonAparFoundation [email protected] • 914.275.6887 P.O. Box 1383, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit incorporated in the State of New York WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? Because when customers walk in with the ad in hand we know our advertising works. Halston papers are read cover to cover, and dollar for dollar they are by far the best advertising medium we’ve found. ~Steve Delzio Owner To AdverTise wiTh Us, CAll BreTT FreemAn AT (845) 208-8151 Aphorisms – pithy observations of general truths – are powerful. “Actions speak louder than words.” “ e early bird catches the worm.” As a marketer, my favorite is “Fish where the sh are.” As Google puts it, “Take your marketing message and your business to where your customers and potential customers already are.” I rst learned this lesson in business school. A class assignment sent four of us to Pittsburgh to tackle an analytic project for Heinz Pickles. We were to measure the brand’s return on marketing investment, market-by-market. We found consistently better returns on marketing investment in areas where the Heinz Pickles brand was already stronger, where its share of market and per capita sales were already higher. e marketing investment had caught more sh where the sh already were. I found that principle con- rmed repeatedly over my career. How can you take advantage of this principle in your business? A helpful process to follow is Research > Plan > Implement > Evaluate. Let’s consider each step. In the “Research” step, determine where the sh are. e sh are your customers, especially your best customers. ey tend to be concentrated where your business is strongest. e sh are also your highest potential prospects, those with the greatest need for what you have to o er. at may lead you to particular geographic areas. For example, an investment advisor or estate attorney likely does better where there are more wealthy prospects. Sometimes there isn’t a clear geographic answer, but you may nd that your best customers are people with particular characteristics. For example, podiatrists may nd that more of their patients are people who do lots of physical work on their feet, versus people in sedentary occupations. So podiatrists may tailor their marketing message to appeal more to blue collar workers and craftsmen. e “Planning” step is when you decide how to apply your knowledge of where the sh are. For best results, target your e orts generously to your already-strong markets (where the sh have proven to be), since there are probably still lots more sh there ready to bite. If resources permit, extend e orts into additional areas with the same key characteristics. e investment advisor or estate attorney could broaden e orts toward other high income/high wealth areas. e podiatrist could broaden e orts to areas with greater numbers of workers who are on their feet more and have greater care needs. e “Implementation” stage is when you execute the plan. With rod and reel in-hand, you cast your bait into the water where there appear to be more sh. Finally, don’t forget the “Evaluation” stage, when you measure and analyze results. Are they what you expected? Where are you seeing greater or less market response? Can you gure out why? oughtful analysis will help you get smarter, to re ne future planning. e sh-where-the- sh-are principle also can be applied in other aspects of marketing beyond advertising. For example, in some categories, referrals may be powerful and worth incenting current customers to provide them. Wealthy clients of investment advisors and estate attorneys probably can help you reach other high potential prospects like themselves. Podiatrists’ patients who are on their feet at work can probably help you reach others with similar work and similar needs. You also might o er promotional incentives that are most motivating to your best customers and highest potential prospects. at too is shing where the sh are. For example, a liquor store may o er a discount on the purchase of a half-dozen or dozen bottles of wine. at investment should generate more incremental business and more pro t than chasing after people who just don’t drink much wine. e principle is simple. Target your marketing investment in areas and toward people who already buy more of what you have to o er, and pursue growth in similar areas and among similar prospects. Fish where the sh are. You’ll get more bites! Do you want to learn more? Visit www.halstonmedia.com, and ll out the “Get in Touch” form on the home page. Before helping his son found Halston Media, Kenneth Freeman led a global marketing research company. Freeman earned his MBA from Harvard University and has led the marketing departments at major Fortune 500 corporations throughout his career. Fish where the sh are WITH KEN FREEMAN
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