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Published by Halston Media, 2023-11-07 14:09:40

Yorktown News 11.09.2023

VOL. 12 NO. 36 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS 31 LEGAL NOTICES 30 LEISURE 27 OBITUARIES 5 OPINION 10 SPORTS 18 TOWN GREEN 4 Lantern Walk makes Downing Park sparkle pg 16 SHINE A LIGHT! Visit News.HalstonMedia.com for the latest news. Election results are online The Election Day polls closed hours after our Tuesday afternoon deadline for this week’s paper. Please visit news.halstonmedia.com for the results. A full report will appear in the print edition on Nov. 16. Please vote for Yorktown News in the “Best of Yorktown” contest. Visit YorktownChamber.org. BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER The Yorktown Police Department introduced a new officer, recognized two civilians, and commended members of its force at the town’s annual Police and Civilian Awards ceremony, which took place at Town Hall last month. Chief Robert Noble introduced the new officer, Madison Cora, who graduated from Yorktown High School in 2018. Cora went on to attend Sacred Heart University, where he was a Dean’s List student and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2022. He was also the vice president of his class, did volunteer work, and interned with the Drug Enforcement Administration where he assisted agents and detectives in cases. After working as a peace officer in Westchester County parks, Cora joined the NYPD in July 2022 and spent a little more than a year working mainly in the 50th Precinct in the Bronx. He joined the Yorktown Police Department this July 26. So far, he has finished his field officer training and now works in the patrol division under Lt. Justin Foley. “He has assisted on multiple arrests in the community, both YPD issues awards and welcomes new officer Members of the Yorktown Police Department line up outside of town hall after the award ceremony. PHOTO: SOPHIA CASELNOVA BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER Average assessed homeowners in Yorktown can expect to see a decrease of about $124 in municipal taxes next year, including garbage, according to the tentative 2024 budget. For every $1,000 of assessed property value, a homeowner’s municipal tax bill would be $165.78 (not including water, garbage, and emergency medical services). This means that for the average assessed home of $10,000 (assessment is different from actual market value), the property owner owes $1,657.80 in municipal taxes. With water and emergency medical services, the total bill would come to $1,857.80, which is up $4.06. When you add the cost of garbage hauling, it brings the total bill to $2,434.58, which is $55.71 more than in 2023. It is important to note that, unlike the water and emergency medical services taxes, the refuse tax is not based on assessment. A major concern for taxpayers has been the outcome of the refuse contract changes and how that would affect their wallets. The estimated 2024 refuse tax rate is $576.78, up 9.9 percent from last year or $51.80 - an annual increase coming to $4.32 per taxable parcel per month. The town appropriated $300,000 from the refuse fund balance to offset the bond performance that is expected to be collected from Competitive Carting’s performance bond in response to Yorktown homeowners could see lower tax bill Diana presents 2024 tentative budget SEE AWARDS PAGE 6 SEE BUDGET PAGE 8


PAGE 2 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 3 Law Office Of andres d. GiL, PLLC Honor, Integrity, Compassion, and Dignity Call Us Today At (845) 940-1110 ADG-LAW.com 973 Route 22, Suite 3, Brewster New York State Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business TRUST & ESTATES • WILLS • ELDER LAW • REAL ESTATE LAW OFFICE OF ANDRES D. GIL, PLLC Honor, Integrity, Compassion, and Dignity Call us today at (845) 940-1110 Scan here to visit my website BY JESSICA JAFET CONTRIBUTING WRITER  Those who choose to become firefighters are extraordinary individuals who possess a unique blend of bravery, selflessness, compassion and resilience. They deserve our attention, and the profession itself should be honored and celebrated. Retired New York Fire Department member and Shrub Oak resident Dan Potter has felt these sentiments for his whole life and has finally created a written monument that highlights 90 fellow firefighters in a new book, “They Saved New York.”  Along with photographer Glen Usdin, who is also a fire chief and longtime chronicler of the fire service, Potter has preserved the legacies and documented the personal stories of remarkable men and women who race into burning buildings while others are running out of them.  “This book is about the personality of the firefighter,” Potter said. “Many live around here and you wouldn’t know seeing them in civilian clothes, that they’ve done so many extraordinary deeds.” With historical vignettes about some notable fires included in the book, the profiles “correlate to some of the spectacular and tragic fires that they have been to,” he added. Potter grew up in Brentwood, Long Island, and as a young boy, would accompany his uncle Jack, a New York City fireman, to calls in the Bronx. It was a very active time known as “The War Years,” from the 1960s to the 1980s – a period when there were numerous fires in the city’s poorer neighborhoods (often caused by arsonfor-profit insurance fraud). Potter said New York firefighters of that era were would fight more fires in a week than most of their counterparts across the country would see in a year. “I would ride the trucks with him, and I fell in love with the atmosphere of the firehouse, with the guys and with the neighborhood and ever since that point, I wanted to be a fireman,” he said. Ultimately, Potter fulfilled his dream to serve in the FDNY; he had been working for there for 18 years when the September 11 tragedy occurred.  At the time, he was living with his wife, Jean, just blocks away from the towers, and happened to be off duty at a training class on that fateful morning. His wife, however, was working on the 81st floor of the north tower. Potter rushed to the scene to find Jean and help others however he could. He discovered that she had miraculously survived and the two were eventually reunited. Many will recall an iconic photograph of Potter, paused on a bench in lower Manhattan after the collapse of the towers.  In the years that followed, Potter began writing the stories of the everyday heroes of the department, mainly on social media, which prompted Glen Usdin – who has spent over 50 years capturing the lives of firefighters in photographs –to contact him.  He and Potter developed a joint project that would put together evocative visual portraits and first-person accounts of what is like to serve in the FDNY. The result is an impressive coffee table book that is 296 pages long, measures 12 by 12 inches, and weighs five pounds. “We interviewed many people,” Potter said, “We wanted to capture their stories and what they did (and do) for the FDNY; I think that everybody that has a firefighter in the family or knows a firefighter should have a copy. It is a story about regular people who did extraordinary things – a firefighter has a dedication to serve, to be on the front-line assisting people on their darkest day – I think that is a unique trait that people are just born with.” Copies of “They Saved New York” can be purchased at theysavednewyork.com: a portion of proceeds will be given to various foundations that support current and retired firefighters. Shrub Oak author Dan Potter chronicles the Bravest lives ‘They Saved New York’ pays tribute to NYC firefighters Dan Potter Retired Special Operations Chief Freddie LaFamina Harlem Firefighter Keith Nicolillo PHOTOS COURTESY OF GLEN USDIN/THEYSAVEDNEWYORK With photographer Glenn Usdin at his side, author Dan Potter holds their new book “They Saved New York.” Yorktown resident and Retired Bronx Deputy Chief Tom Kennedy Images like Glenn Usdin’s photo of mid-1970s Manhattan fire capture the intensity of firefighting during “The War Years.”


PAGE 4 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Periodicals Postage Paid at Somers, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Yorktown News at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 (ISSN 2329-8693) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [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 Yorktown News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Yorktown News 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 Yorktown News 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. 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! $25 OFF Service Calls When You Present This Ad. New Customers Only. Keep the lights on. • GENERATORS • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! DR. AMANDA WIECHERT, DMD & DR. FELICIA NICOLAS, DDS. 1855 COMMERCE STREET YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 (914) 302-7717 www.northeastdentalny.com [email protected] Dentistry with the personalized touch EXPERIENCE THE NORTHEAST DENTAL DIFFERENCE Long-time Yorktown dentist Dr. Amanda Wiechert founded Northeast Dental in 2014, with the idea that patients should be #1. We know that life can be hectic, and our team goes the extra mile to make patients’ care convenient, comfortable, and reliably high in quality. American Legion Student Night The Yorktown American Legion Post #1009 invites area high school students, their friends, families, and educators to attend Student Night at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Post Hall, 235 Veterans Road in Yorktown Heights. The evening’s program features past student selectees, videos, guest speakers, and special awards. Included is information on how students in grades 9-12 can participate in the 2024 American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, and high school juniors in attendance can compete for the 2024 Boys State, N.Y. and Empire Girls State programs. For more information, contact education chairman John Witt at (914) 471-2083 or johnwitt@ optonline.net. Yorktown Food Pantry Resources Community Food Pantry at St Mary’s Mohegan Lake: 1836 East Main St. (Route 6), Mohegan Lake, 914-528-3972. Saturdays from 9-11 a.m., drivethrough model. For more information, including donations: cfpstmarysmoheganlake.com  First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown Food Pantry: 2880 Crompond Road (Route 202), Yorktown Heights, 914- 245-2186. Second and fourth Saturday of each month from 9-11 a.m., drive-through model. For more information, including donations, visit fpcyorktown.org/ mission/food-pantry.    Westchester Adventist Church: 1243 Whitehill Road, Yorktown Heights, Fridays from noon-2 p.m., drive through model. Learn more at westchester adventist.com. Yorktown Community (help inside the Albert A. Capellini Community & Cultural Center): 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown Heights, 914-962-1144. Third Wednesday of each month from 4:30-7 p.m., drive-through model. Yorktown residents only. Parks & Rec Winter Programs Yorktown’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation 2023-2024 Fall and Winter Catalog is  now available, and registration for programs is open. To find the catalog and registration information, visit yorktownny.org/ parksandrecreation/fall-winter2023-2024-catalog and follow the links. (Note: hyphens after winter are part of the URL). Blood Drives With blood supplies low, the American Red Cross is calling for blood donations and is holding a number of blood drives in the area: Friday, Nov. 17, American Legion Post 274, 936 McKinley St., Peekskill, 12 p.m.- 5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2, Jefferson Valley Mall, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec.12, John C. Hart Memorial Library, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. For more information and to find other blood donation locations in the area, visit redcrossblood.org/ give.html/find-drive. Family Support and Education Group The Spotlight Family Support group holds twice-weekly Zoom meetings open to anyone struggling with the effects of addiction in a friend or loved one. Tuesdays 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., and Wednesdays 7- 8 p.m. Visit yorktownny. org/community/spotlight-family -support-group for more. Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam Please join in for monthly discussions as we work to advance cross-racial and cross-cultural amity to impact the public discourse on race. Monthly meetings feature speakers, screenings, and presentations where discussions are aimed at TOWN GREEN SEE GREEN PAGE 28


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Edward M. Herzog Edward M. Herzog, 76, passed peacefully on Nov. 4, 2023.  His generous soul will remain unmatched.  A giver, a lover, and a calming influence, Eddie touched and bettered the lives of so many. Born in Yonkers, the stories of his youth could entertain for hours. Eddie was a photographer by profession and his passion spilled over into all areas of his life. Many will picture him behind a camera because that is so often where he was.   Eddie cared deeply about his community and was always enthusiastic about helping others. He was a volunteer president of the Amazon Park Association, the Yorktown Area Jaycees, ever present with the Nor-West Regional Special Services community, the president of Freedom Gardens for the Handicapped, a CCD teacher at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Shrub Oak, and photographer for the Seton Parish. He is survived and deeply loved by his greatest supporter, his wife MaryEllen. In the early stages of their life together, they adopted a son Luis. They then had three children, Bill, Erin, and MaryAnne. Eddie has nine grandchildren: Liam, Maeve, Cassidy, Shea, Brody, Connor, and Norah, and through love, Gabriella and Christopher, who all call him Pa.  In addition, he is survived by his beloved daughter-in-law, Minnie, and sons-in-law, Drew and Matt, his brother Bill, many sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, and his great friends, Jimmy, Richie, Jude, and Howard. He is predeceased by his father Bill, sister Beth, and son Luis.   Eddie has taught his family to appreciate a good quote or lyric, to ponder the elegance of number sequences and dates, to never pay full price, and to say, “I love you.”. We love you. We’re in the car. Buckle up.   A wake will be held at Yorktown Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 10, from 4-8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Freedom Garden or the Handicapped, Inc., 1680 Strawberry Road, Mohegan Lake, NY, 10547, and Friends of NorWest Regional Special Services ([email protected]). With the holidays approaching, the Yorktown Lions are seeking help to provide food for the needy, “Can you ‘buy’ a turkey leg for $5 or a whole turkey for $20?” the organization asks in a recent press release. “Or would you prefer to drop off a turkey? Get ready for the Yorktown Lions’ ‘Turkey Challenge.’” The Yorktown Lions have set an ambitious goal of providing 200 turkeys for Thanksgiving distribution. The Lions will be counting on community turkey donations (hams are also accepted) and financial contributions. Go to yorktownlionsclub. com/turkey-donations to make your choice. Select the amount and indicate your method of payment. It’s that simple. The Yorktown Lions will be soliciting turkey donations and snacks from local supermarkets, such  as, Uncle Giuseppe’s, Acme, Shoprite, and Trader Joe’s. These companies have been extremely generous in the past; however, the Lions are asking local residents for their support. “Last year 30 turkeys were donated by local residents, plus the Yorktown PBA donated $250,” said Lions club boardmember Tom McLoughlin. “This year, we s hope to increase that number to over 100.” Another option will be provided at the Lions’ Parade and Carnival on Saturday, October 21. The Lions will have a “Turkey Tree,” which they hope will be stuffed with the names of children. “Make a donation, fill out your name on the turkey slip, and post the turkey on the tree,” McLoughlin said. “What a way to share Thanksgiving with other community members.” There will be two drop off days for those who wish to donate a turkey or turkeys (one person donated five last year!). The first will be during the Veterans’ Day ceremonies on Sunday, November 12 in Shrub Oak at the library, where the Lions pass out hot dogs and water. The tentative time is 1 to 3. The second date will be announced but will be outside the Capellini Community Center – near the theatre entrance on Veterans’ Road. The turkeys – and fixings – will be distributed by the Mildred Strang Middle School staff, the First Presbyterian Church (Route 202 and 132), and St. Mary’s Church in Mohegan Lake. The Lions are hunting for turkeys ‘Turkey Challenge’ launched to feed the needy The Yorktown Lions are seeking donations of turkeys and hams to help people in need for the holiday season. PHOTO COURTESY YORKTOWN LIONS OBITUARIES SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO VISIT ONE OF OUR SHOWROOMS TODAY! Your Bath. Your Kitchen. Your Home. 49 Route 138 Somers, NY 10589 M-Fr 9:30AM-4:30PM 914-232-2020 3372 Old Crompond Road Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 M-Sat 10AM-5PM 914-736-2468 (ACROSS FROM THE BJ’S SHOPPING CENTER) BESTPLG.COM $50 off $500 Minimum Purchase when Shipped Complete. Eligible at Yorktown and Somers showrooms only Show this Ad to Receive Discount. One per customer Expires 3/15/2024 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 5


PAGE 6 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 during his field training officer time and the short time that he’s been on the road on his own,” Noble said. “I have a firm belief that this young man will serve this community with pride and distinction throughout his career.” After being sworn in, Cora thanked the chief, the lieutenants, his fellow officers, and his family for their support. “It is an honor and a privilege to work for this police department, and this department wouldn’t be what it is without Chief Noble and all the hard work he’s put in and the hardworking people behind him,” Cora said. After Cora’s swearing-in, serving officers were recognized with Excellent Police Duty Awards and a Life Saving Award. There were also two awards given to civilians. Excellent Police Duty awards Officer John Battista, Detective James Hannigan, and Detective Sergeant Mark Rapisarda - Officers received this award for the parts they played in identifying a drug stash house and making an arrest back in February. Battista made arrests that consisted of larceny, criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation, and false impersonation charges. The defendant shared with police what they knew about things happening in the community. The department learned about a house close to the town border that was being used for the sale of narcotics. Rapisarda, Hannigan, and Battista developed a plan, got a search warrant, and found cocaine, stolen property, and a firearm in the house. Det. Richard Finn, Officer Guillermo Lizarzaburu, Det. Tommy Nadorski, Det. Ryan Noone, Det. Sergeant Mark Rapisarda, and Officer Michael Uhl - This award was given to the officers for their respective roles in the arrest of a man and a woman, who entered a home and kept a female resident at gunpoint in her bathroom for almost an hour last March. Investigation and sound actions identified two possible suspects and a vehicle, and this information was shared with the Westchester County Real Time Crime Center. The suspects and vehicle were found in the Bronx. The Real Time Crime Center confirmed, with the help of the NYPD, FBI, and Westchester County Police Department, that the suspects were arrested and the vehicle was seized within hours of the initial call for service. A few weeks later, detectives learned that the suspects might have hidden the gun used in the incident in a Bronx storage unit. They received a search warrant for the unit, and on April 12, they recovered a nonserialized and operable handgun with ammunition. Officer Kristina DeLatorre, Officer Domenico DiNotte, Officer Jack Doherty, Officer Max Ellsworth, Officer Devin Gregorio, Det. Ryan Noone, Officer Carl Nuccilli, Sgt. Craig Scatola, and dispatcher Beth Sherwood - These nine members of the YPD received an Excellent Police Duty Award for their respective roles in responding to a March 2023 report of a suicidal man driving on the Taconic State Parkway in the area of Route 6. The man, who was experiencing a mental health crisis, told State Police that he had a firearm and if the police tried to stop him, it would result in a gunfight. Doherty and DeLatorre tried to stop the man as he was driving, but he did not comply and it resulted in a pursuit through multiple residential neighborhoods. Officers worked to de-escalate and negotiate with the man, who was taken into custody at the end of the eight-hour ordeal. The firearm was also recovered. Life-Saving Award Sgt. Michael Woodard, Officer Colin Houlihan, and Officer Mike Vuoso - These YPD members received the award for their respective roles in saving the life of a 71-year-old man back in February who was not breathing, unresponsive, and not alert. The call came in around 7 a.m. during the final hour of their midnight shift. Houlihan instructed a family member to start chest compressions while he applied the automated external defibrillator. They performed CPR while waiting for the medics and ambulance to arrive. The man regained a pulse shortly after the arrival of the medics. He was brought by the YVAC Advanced Life Support to a local hospital and was moved to the ICU days later. The officers were commended for their action in giving the man a better chance of surviving the cardiac arrest. Civilian awards DJ Frank from Get Down Entertainment was recognized for his partnership and support in the success of the National Night Out. Yorktown Grange was also recognized for its partnership and support in the success of the National Night Out by providing hayrides at the event. AWARDS FROM PAGE 1 Police Chief Robert Noble announcing awards. Officer Madison Cora being introduced at the ceremony PHOTOS: SOPHIA CASELNOVA Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you know what steps you can take to avoid your estate going to probate?


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 7 Photos for illustrative purposes only. ©2017 Carpet One Floor & Home. All Rights Reserved 246 Route 52 Carmel, NY • www.kennyscarpetone.com • 845-225-4330 MON-FRI: 9 AM-6 PM • LATE NIGHT ON THURS EVE BY APPT ONLY • SAT: 9 AM-4 PM CARPET HARDWOOD DUSTLESS FLOOR REFINISHING LUXURY VINYL PLANK TILE AREA RUGS H20 PROOF LAMINATE BLINDS $250 OFF Any purchase of $2,000 or more. Coupons must be present at the time of purchase. Some restrictions may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Excludes labor. $100 OFF Any purchase of $999 or more. Coupons must be present at the time of purchase. Some restrictions may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Excludes labor. FINANCING AVAILABLE 0 FREE In-Home Consultation 20% OFF ANY NEW SHADE PURCHASE THRU DEC. 31 HUNTER DOUGLAS WINDOW TREATMENTS % INSTALLATION BEFORE the Holidays! In-stock materials only. See store for availability.


PAGE 8 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 their breach of contract in servicing the town in 2023. If the town collects above and beyond the $300,000, it will go back to the refuse fund balance for the 2025 tax year.  The $69 million 2024 budget was unveiled by Supervisor Tom Diana on Oct. 26, at a press conference at Town Hall. According to the tentative budget – available on the town website – the town’s total 2024 tax levy (amount to be collected by taxes) would be $21,715,200, which is down $38,537 from last year. According to town comptroller Gennelle MacNeil, the budget was able to be kept flat because the town increased its projected sales tax revenue. Town taxes only make up approximately 11 percent of total taxes for both schools the Lakeland and Yorktown Central School Districts. In the 2022 town/county budget year and the 2022/23 school year, the average assessed homeowner in the Yorktown Central School District paid $10,386.42 in school taxes. In Lakeland, that number was $10,539.87. The county tax bill for the average assessed homeowner was $1,341.63. According to Diana, the town’s spending plan for 2024 includes upgrading municipal swimming pools, paving about 11 miles of Yorktown’s roads, and continuing water main repairs. “I am very conscious of inflation and economic difficulties that many members of our community face, which is why I am presenting a 2024 budget that respects taxpayers while maintaining our quality of life and services,” said Diana. The Town Board will meet with department heads on Nov. 8 and 9 to discuss the tentative budget. A preliminary budget will be adopted on or around Nov. 9 with a public hearing on Dec. 5. The board will make appropriate revisions based on the public comment and the final budget must be adopted by no later than Dec. 22. “I am pleased to propose a 2024 municipal budget that preserves services, improves our infrastructure, and beautifies our parks,” said Diana. “I want to thank all my department heads who tightened their belts and made this budget work.” Residents with questions about the budget process or suggestions on how the town can economize its operations can contact Diana’s office at 914-962-5722, ext. 200. BY SOPHIA CASELNOVA STAFF WRITER A town committee is proposing roof-top solar panels for some of the town’s buildings as the next step to make Yorktown greener. Keith Holmes and Sarah Wilson of the Climate Smart Community Task Force presented the plan at the Sept. 26 Town Board meeting, saying the goal of the project is to install roof-top panels on town buildings that are serviced by NYSEG. They said it would reduce the town’s reliance on gridsupplied electricity and lower greenhouse gas emissions and Yorktown’s carbon profile.  Four sites are being considered for rooftop solar: the sewer treatment plant, the Highway Department building, the police and court buildings, and the Albert A. Capellini Community & Cultural Center. Holmes and Wilson said federal funding is available to help pay for the panels which weigh around 150 pounds each. “Our goals would be to have the panels similar to what you have at your house and have those [provide] power in the building itself,” Wilson said.  The task force’s implementation plan laid out the steps for the proposal, starting with designing the request for proposals (RFP) based on preferences. The next step would be to have an energy audit and solar viability assessment done on the buildings that will be supervised by the CSC Task Force. The task force wants to also manage bid solicitation in the town’s RFP process.  According to the presentation, the evaluation of the viability of solar panels in these locations will start with a building audit which will identify the age of the roof of each building, check for utility interconnection issues and line capacity issues, capture 12 to 24 months of electric bills, and identify the age of each building’s electrical panel and whether any of them need to be upgraded. The process will also evaluate whether the locations will work as community solar sites and whether they will be resilient. Lastly, financing options will be considered. The presentation explained that there are federal grants that can lower the costs. “I think the sooner you get started on this the better,” said Councilman Sergio Esposito. “Just let us know what you need.” “I’ve been pushing for this since Michael Grace was in office,” added Councilman Ed Lachterman. Town Attorney Adam Rodriguez said that there was an RFP done in the past for a similar project. He said that some of the bids were not economically viable at the time. This RFP will be referenced in this process. “It’s far time we start practicing what we preach, and this is a step in the right direction,” said Supervisor Tom Diana. The task force will continue to do research and return to the board with more information. Roof-top solar panels proposed for town buildings Yorktown looks to reduce carbon footprint BUDGET FROM PAGE 1 Thank You For Your Service. SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! FEDERAL & STATE INCENTIVES UP TO 30% AVAILABLE! SUPER SAVINGS on your Heat Pump project while program funding lasts... CALL NOW TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY! CALL US TODAY! ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! 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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 FOCUS ON ELDER LAW YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 9 For the longest time, whenever I heard someone ask another person how much money they make, the typical reply is, “It’s none of your business. Whatever I make is between me, God, and the IRS!”  It is not unusual for an individual to be protective of their personal finances. The concern on this issue, especially for most parents, is often that if their children (and/or family) know what they have, they will be more likely to ask for money and less motivated to work hard and save their own money. While there is some merit to this point of view when children are younger and impressionable, as you and they age, the value of this secretive approach can have diminishing and detrimental returns. On those occasions when children have been kept in the dark about their parents’ and/or grandparents’ finances and a sudden illness or tragedy strikes, the family often has great difficulty handling the unknown financial affairs for their loved ones. This can adversely impact those finances from an estate tax and/or long-term care planning perspective. For example, let’s say Dad just had a heart attack and is mentally incapacitated and in need of significant physical therapy and care for the immediate future. Obviously, Dad’s finances are going to play a major role in whether or not he will be eligible for the Medicaid nursing home and/ or home care program. Additionally, depending on the size of his estate, Dad may also have estate tax issues that the family is unaware of. Thus, before they are able to even approach the hurdle of making a plan of care, the family will first be forced to gather all of this information, while simultaneously determining the best plan for Dad’s health needs.   Without having an accurate picture of the income and other financial information for an ill individual, the individual’s family members and/ or named agents under a Power of Attorney will struggle to ascertain what steps they should be taking. They won’t, for example, be able to calculate how much of the ill person’s income is available to finance the cost of longterm care and how much of the loved one’s savings will need to be used to make up the difference. An attorney won’t be able to provide informed legal advice to the family on numerous important issues without knowledge of the finances.  While it is always preferable for an aging person to provide specific financial information, if one is concerned about privacy, it may be sufficient to provide a detailed list of the assets, as well as how they are titled and the corresponding account numbers and financial institutions, without exact dollar amounts. In addition to making this financial information available in some form to trusted friends or family, it is equally as important to ensure that the person has executed a General Durable Power of Attorney with broad powers so that loved ones can handle the ill family member’s finances and undertake everything that the ill individual could have done themselves if they were competent.  In conclusion, as one ages, keeping secrets from family may result in the family’s inability to take the necessary steps to protect their loved one’s estate from estate taxes and the cost of longterm care. It’s not the surprise a family wants! Anthony J. Enea is the managing attorney of Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP of White Plains. He also has an office in Somers. He focuses his practice on Wills, Trusts, Estates and Elder Law. Anthony is the Past Chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), and is the past Chair of the 50+ Section of the NYSBA. He is a Past President and Founding member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Anthony is also the Immediate Past President of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and a Past President of the Westchester County Bar Association. He can be reached at 914-948-1500 or at www.esslawfirm. com. Have you kept your loved ones in the dark? Keeping secrets from family may result in the family’s inability to take the necessary steps to protect their loved one’s estate from estate taxes and the cost of longterm care.’ -Anthony J. Enea Enea, Scanlan and Sirignano, LLP ANTHONY J. ENEA GUEST CORNER


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 Yorktown News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at (914) 302-5830 Brett Freeman, Publisher Tom Walogorsky, Editor Tabitha Pearson Marshall, Creative Director Editorial Office: (914) 302-5830 [email protected] PAGE 10 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Our edition after the election each year is always a strange one.  We always hear from some readers who express extreme dismay to discover a newspaper devoid of election results. Unfortunately, our five weekly newspapers go to press before results roll in (a couple of them literally just hours before polls close). If you aren’t yet aware of who won in your town, please visit News.HalstonMedia.com. Our website has the latest information. So, as I’m sitting here writing this week’s Publisher’s Memo, I have no idea who won the races in each of our towns.  Halston Media has a unique perspective, as we publish six newspapers covering eight towns. A few of our towns have a one-party board (whether all Republican or all Democrat). I’m publishing the same Publisher’s Memo in all our newspapers. So, you can rest assured the following observations aren’t partisan, nor are they aimed at any one town or any individual politicians. But it’s been my observation that the best municipal governments have at least one politician from the opposing party on the town board. This ensures that the municipal government has a watchdog to challenge the prevailing orthodoxy, ensure transparency and make sure that all actions are on the up-and-up. While the most vocal gadflies in some of our towns can be cavalier in their allegations of corruption, I do think a one-party board has the perception of a good-old boy (or good-old girl) network. And good-old boy networks always give off a sense of injustice to those residents who feel left out. Regardless of how fair and transparent the processes are in each of our towns, perception is important. When the default on a board (any board, whether in government or in private sector) is to protect the board, that’s not healthy. Opposition on a board prevents this from happening.   I also find the unique level of engagement in each of our towns worthy of a study by Malcolm Gladwell, who has authored several sociological books on individual and group behaviors.  For example, in our North Salem and Yorktown races in particular, we received and published several dozen letters to the editor in the past few weeks. We also had reader engagement in our Katonah-Lewisboro newspaper. In Mahopac, which had a number of hot races, our opinion section was like listening to crickets. Few people engaged in any letter-writing campaigns. I don’t know why that is, but I suspect it’s a little bit of a social contagion. If you see your opponents’ letters in the newspaper, you are going to encourage your own supporters to write letters also.  Then there is Somers, where all the action seems to be for school board races. The Somers Town Board election most years is like Democrats and Republicans sitting around a campfire singing “Kumbaya,” with both parties not running candidates against each other. While the absence of any vitriol in Somers is refreshing, it’s also boring for us journalists. And to be frank, I’m not sure how healthy it is for a town board race to have no competition. There has to be a healthier middle-ground.  Then there are the accusations from readers on both sides of the aisle. Democrats are convinced we are a “right-wing” mouthpiece and Republicans are convinced we are a “liberal rag.” No matter how careful our editors are in terms of laying out our pre-election candidate profiles, some readers are convinced there is a conspiracy if a candidate profile jumped to the back of the newspaper, jumped to a page with a political ad on it, jumped to a left-hand page or whether a story jumped at all.  My retort: you try putting together this jigsaw puzzle each week.   I had one candidate threaten to withhold advertising because his/her team was convinced we purposely weren’t publishing letters to the editor endorsing them. This is because on one week, several weeks ago, we didn’t have room for two letters, one in support of a Democrat and one in support of a Republican. Last week, we embarrassingly Behind the scenes at Halston Media From election night print cycles to accusations of bias and the power of local politics Municipalities must produce a budget annually, prior to the upcoming calendar year.  The budgetary numbers are estimated by analyzing historical prior year costs and projecting costs for the upcoming budget year.  Property taxes are calculated relative to the ever-increasing costs to “do business.” So how is your property tax bill, actually, calculated? Your property tax bill is made up of several categories, all added together to give you your final number. The first category is what I like to refer to as “Town Wide” taxes, meaning everyone in town must pay these taxes. Your town-wide taxes include your General, Highway and Library taxes. Next you have your “Special Districts,” which include sewer, refuse and recycling, emergency medical, water, park districts, etc. It’s important to note that these special districts do not apply to all residents. For example, your home may not be on the town sewer and may have a septic tank, so you would not be liable for any sewer taxes. This year I am happy to announce that through the diligent and hard work of Supervisor Tom Diana and the Town Board I currently serve on, we are able to keep your “Town Wide” property taxes flat, meaning there will be no tax increase to the residents for this category. The majority of our “Special Districts” also will see no increase. In the interest of fairness and transparency, the only taxing district that saw a small increase was garbage. In speaking with our very capable comptroller, Gennelle MacNeil, we estimate that residents will see a minor increase of approximately $4.30 per month or $52 bucks a year. The town is currently in the process of pulling the bond from the previous company, which will offset costs. So how were we able to accomplish keeping taxes flat? Increased revenue, great departments and responsible government. This year we project an increase in non-property tax revenue of $2.4 million, allowing the town to offset many of the ever-increasing costs due to inflation. We were able to stay below the tax cap, which in turn allowed us to keep our property taxes flat while still providing all the services we enjoy and have come to expect. The tentative budget has been released and the Town Board will be meeting with every department on Nov. 8 and 9, starting at 9 a.m. in the Town Board room at Town Hall. These meetings are, of course, open to the public. Town-wide municipal taxes to remain flat in tentative budget SERGIO ESPOSITO WORD ON THE STREET BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER’S MEMO SEE FREEMAN PAGE 13 Please vote for Yorktown News in the “Best of Yorktown” contest. Visit YorktownChamber.org


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 11 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10TH AT 5PM. FREE MENU TASTING! JOIN US FOR OUR GRAND OPENING & RIBBON CUTTING Place your Thanksgiving Holiday Orders by November 21st! Hours of operation Sunday 11-4pm Monday Closed Tuesday through Friday 11-7pm 545 Rt 6 Mahopac NY 845-621-2489 Find Us On: BBrreewwsstteerr, , NNYY aannd d BBeetthheell,, CCT T Design Centers Design Centers On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! 884455--227788--00007700 SSoouutthheeaassttkkiittcchheennaanndbdbaatthh..ccoomm Celebrating 50 years This past Tuesday, many of us went to the polls to choose the people we want to lead us. But even though we filled out our ballot and handed it in, did we really choose? A recent blockbuster book by Robert Sapolsky, “Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will,” suggests we didn’t choose at all.  Dr. Sapolsky’s thesis is nothing new. For millennia, scientists and philosophers have suggested that we are not free agents, consciously making choices that impact our lives. Preliminarily, we need to distinguish Sapolsky’s biological determinism from the age-old notion of religious predestination. The latter suggests that an invisible supreme being previously determined everything that has happened, is happening and will happen. Hence, we are only actors filling predetermined roles. Biological determinists like Professor Sapolsky, on the other hand, contend that every event in our lives has a cause and that every human action is determined not by a deity, but by preceding factors, such as genetics, upbringing and environmental influences. This view resonates with discoveries in fields such as neuroscience and psychology, highlighting the impact of deterministic processes on human behavior.  “Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will,” takes this approach a step further. The author, a Stanford biologist, believes that our entire notion of “free will” has been catastrophic. He sees embracing the concept of determinism as “liberating” for most people for whom, as he puts it, “life has been blamed and punished and deprived and ignored for things they have no control of.” In general, biological determinists have always argued that, by acknowledging that our actions are merely predictable outcomes, we can cultivate empathy and understanding, realizing that individuals are not responsible for their actions. Instead of focusing on punishment, as their argument goes, society can emphasize rehabilitation, as well as addressing root causes of destructive behavior.  But what about the fact that our entire civilization, from the criminal justice system on down, is based on the concept of free will and the responsibility it entails? Wouldn’t a rejection of that have a catastrophic ripple effect on the entire fabric of our society? Dr. Sapolsky, in a recent interview, addressed that concern. He said, “I want to wean people off the knee-jerk reaction to the notion that, without free will, we will run amok because we can’t be held responsible for things. That we have no societal mechanisms for having dangerous people not be dangerous, or for having gifted people do the things society needs to function. It’s not the case that in a deterministic world, nothing can change.”  I do acknowledge that we are integrated systems in which complex instructions are embedded in both our mind and our body, and that both can behave on their own impulses without our being aware or in control. Much of our behavior is controlled by our subconscious mind and much more resides in the genetic structure of the physical body. But I don’t agree with Dr. Sapolsky when he says, “Every living organism is just a biological machine. But we’re the only ones that know that we’re biological machines; we’re trying to make sense of the fact that we feel as if our feelings are real.” Supporting this thesis is the fact that genetics have revealed that we do possess basic personality characteristics that are determined by our genes. Many of the specific genes that produce these predispositions have been pinpointed and studied by geneticists. Do advances in genetics and biology mean that we don’t possess free will? I think not. The mistake neuroscientists and biologists like Dr. Sapolsky make is that they reverse engineer the decision-making process. Sure, all of us have a genetic, biological, emotional and experiential context. We are not blank slates. But, by examining our physical, emotional, rational and genetic makeup after the fact, determinists jump to the conclusion that our decisions are robotically induced and not the product of free will.   Joining me in my argument for free will, for different Was your vote really a choice? JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE SEE MARTORANO PAGE 14


PAGE 12 – YORKTOWN NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Yorktown News reporter Sophia Caselnova shared the details of the proposed new senior center behind the existing Beaveridge senior apartment complex in the Oct. 26 edition (“Town gets first glimpse at new senior center plans,” Page 8). The town is proposing a 4,000 square foot, one story building, roughly half for the senior center and half for new offices for the Parks & Recreation Department, with a lobby and restrooms separating the two uses.  At 1,700 square feet, the senior center would be one large room with a kitchenette for preparing snacks and would be smaller than the Nutrition Center at the Albert A. Capellini Community Cultural Center (ACCCC).  The Town Board presentation was brief — and there was no time table for moving forward. This leaves seniors, as well as all taxpayers, time to ask questions before the plan moves forward: • Who wants a new senior center?  • How would the center be used? • Does the proposed design make sense? But before I get to those questions, a major piece of disinformation needs to be corrected. And that’s the incorrect statement town officials keep making: the new center will be “rent free” for 35 years. NOT TRUE.   Yes. The Beaveridge owners agreed to spend $880,000 to design and build the center. But, town officials keep forgetting to tell us that in exchange, Beaveridge’s annual tax payments will be reduced. Assuming the center is built and occupied in 2028, over the next 10 years, Beaveridge’s payments will be reduced by $279,453. Not exactly “rent free.” And the tax loss continues thru 2056. Who wants a new senior center? Does the proposed new center address senior needs? Does it give seniors something they don’t already have?  How do town officials know what Yorktown seniors need? They’ve never surveyed the town’s 7,400 seniors (65+). If the town is going to use limited taxpayer dollars to provide a new senior benefit, doesn’t it make sense to ask seniors what their priorities are, e.g., transportation to doctor’s appointments or a room for playing bingo? Absent a clear documented need, the demand for a new center is more likely coming from a small but vocal number of seniors who simply don’t like the ACCCC and want a shiny new facility. But there’s a big difference between need and want, especially when taxpayer dollars are paying the bill. And elected officials, knowing that seniors vote, are eager to be responsive to the proverbial “squeaky wheel.”  Approximately 200 seniors participate in programs at the ACCCC. What do they think? How would the new center be used? The existing programs now held in the ACCCC and Sparkle Lake building would simply move to the new center. Which means that the center would only be used a few hours each week. The center would be empty much of the time. Does it make sense to pay to maintain a new town facility that will be dark for long stretches of time? Space for additional senior programs is not a problem. If the town wants to expand its senior offerings, there’s lots of available space in the ACCCC.  Does the proposed design make sense? The answer to that question is NO. One of the town’s most important senior programs, the lunch program, will remain in the ACCCC. That’s because moving a commercial kitchen to the new center is way too costly. So seniors having lunch at the ACCCC will need to be bused to or from the new center if they want to participate in a program at the new center. An added transportation cost.  The parking issue has never been seriously addressed. The only parking will be 30 spaces shared with the residents of Underhill Farms. But one senior club that would meet at the new center can have as many as 65 attendees at a meeting. Where will they park? In spaces that are for Beaveridge residents? And the 30 spaces don’t take into account the parking needs of Parks & Rec Department staff and the residents who visit the department. Where will they park? Were seniors and town staff who interface with seniors on a regular basis asked to provide input for the design of the new center? If so, does the design reflect their input? If not, why not? Was the one large room design dictated mostly by cost? Finally, there’s the issue of the Parks & Recreation Department. No one disputes that the department needs a new facility. But has the town investigated other alternative locations? Why can’t the department move to the ACCCC, where there’s vacant space? Taxpayers are entitled to an answer. Maybe, just maybe, before proceeding with a plan that clearly hasn’t been thought out and has serious drawbacks, the next Town Board should hit the pause button and start over again. Does the proposed senior center make sense? SUSAN SIEGEL GUEST COUMNIST Anthony J. Guarino Family Owned & Operated 945 East Main Street Shrub Oak, NY 10588 (914) 962-0700 www.YorktownFuneralHome.com [email protected] Compassion HONORING ALL WHO SERVED Veterans Day Some things are more important than others. Like serving our community. With Compassion. With Integrity. With Sincerity. We care for the individuals and the families we serve when they most need it. We believe it is one of the most important things we do. We know our responsibility is to you. “Where The Difference Is In The Caring”


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 13 Your Family Car Care Center! LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Visit us at www.ProperService.com For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating releationships, and building a remarkable company with an amazing team of employees! Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! published an error on two ads for Republican candidates in Yorktown because one of our designers grabbed a photo of a sign from Yorktown, Va., instead of Yorktown Heights, N.Y. I subsequently wrote an apology note on our website, falling on our sword and explaining it was our error and not the candidates (although both candidates approved the ad).  The next day, a reader wrote an email to me declaring, “What a stupid error!” Yeah, we know!  But then this person wanted to know why we are designing ads for Republicans. I assured this reader that we design ads for Democrats too! If only our audience could get a glimpse of the internal conversations within our company, they would know that we’re split pretty evenly on the ideological spectrum at Halston Meda. As Publisher and CEO, I pride myself in hiring the most talented people, and I couldn’t care less how my colleagues vote.  Readers of my Publisher’s Memo can guess where I stand politically. But when it comes to the local level in particular, I’m far more concerned with how candidates treat our staff than how they voted in the last presidential election. Civility trumps whether or not I agree with you politically. I don’t see eye to eye with some of the nicest, most honest people. And some of the people who share my politics have been jerks to us. I assure you that if any bias is shown, it’s in favor of candidates who treat our staff with respect and not whether you have an “R” or a “D” next to your name.    My parting thought has to do with the actual importance of town board races. On the local level, most of our tax dollars go to the school board. If you want your taxes to go down, the town board seems to be the less important body to expend your energy. FREEMAN FROM PAGE 10 When I was a teenager back in the ’70s, my dad and I used to argue about fashion. We weren’t debating which one was more progressive and influential—Yves Saint Laurent or Diane Von Furstenberg. No, our quarrels were over what I wore to school. My basic ensemble was a pair of faded blue jeans (with requisite patches) and a t-shirt with a rock band logo on it. Dad grew up on a farm, so to him, jeans were known as dungarees— something you wore to muck the stalls, not something you’d put on to learn about the symbolism of Stephen Crane’s “Red Badge of Courage,” or the causes of the Peloponnesian War. Dad worked for IBM in Poughkeepsie (for 38 years). And in the 1960s, every morning he got up and put on the same thing: A charcoal-colored pair of dress pants (he called them trousers), and a white collared shirt with a skinny black tie. (Twenty years later, Elvis Costello would dress practically the same way, but I thought that was cool.) IBM had a strict dress code back then and the white shirt and black tie were at its core. In the ’70s, they loosened up a little bit and they allowed colored shirts... and the ties got wider. Much wider. So, when I’d get Dad a tie for Father’s Day, it was actually a welcome gift. The dude needed ties. In Pawling, where I grew up, we had the prep school TrinityPawling, and those kids had to wear a uniform to class. I remember expressing my relief that such wasn’t the case at our public school. Then someone pointed out that we all wore pretty much the same thing— those jeans and t-shirts—so, in a way, we did have a uniform. That stung. I’ve never been much of a slave to fashion. However, I did get excited when Jerry Garcia started producing neckties in the ’90s (I still have a few), and thought it was cool that Carlos Santana created a line of women’s shoes (my friend has several pairs). Other than that, I couldn’t distinguish one designer label from another—except telling a pair of Levi’s from Wranglers. But it is kind of fun to take note of the evolution of fashion styles throughout the decades... and centuries. Back in the 18th century, upper-class men wore wigs, knee-high silk stockings, and sometimes even a little rouge on their cheeks. Yep... the framers of our Constitution apparently were cross-dressers. But as long as they didn’t try to read “Gulliver’s Travels” to the kids at the local one-room schoolhouse, they were probably OK. Did you ever see those old black-and-white photos or grainy film footage of crowds at Major League Baseball games in the 1930s or ’40s? All the men (not a lot of women there) were wearing suits and ties with either straw hats (‘30s) or fedoras (‘40s). Can you imagine that? It’s 90 degrees out in mid-July and these guys are all crammed together while dressed for church. Must have smelled delightful. Nowadays, when you see crowd shots of a baseball game on TV, most of those folks look like they just rolled out of bed. When my brother got really sick a few years ago, we sadly knew the end was near. My aunt, Fashion senseless BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 14


PAGE 14 – YORKTOWN NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to Yorktown News YES, I really enjoy Yorktown News and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com OR or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: The Somers Record Mahopac News North Salem News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times in her 90s and a Type I diabetic, was also pretty ill. I knew I had some funerals looming in the nottoo-distant future and realized I hadn’t bought a new suit since the late ‘90s. So, I got one. At my brother’s wake, family members lined up as the mourners passed by to shake our hands and offer condolences. The older folks were dressed nicely, some in suits, others in sport coats and collared shirts. The younger folks looked like they just came from a day at the park—t-shirts, cargo shorts, jeans, polo shirts. I wanted to be appalled and offended, but thought, well, I guess this is just the way it is now. Older generations have always clashed with younger generations about style. My father and I not only argued about wearing jeans to school, but hair length as well. I wanted to be a rock-n-roller and grow my hair long. He wanted me to have a buzz cut and resemble a death-row inmate. These arguments got heated and contentious. For Dad, it was pretty clear: Boys had short hair, girls had long hair...end of story. When I helpfully tried to point out that was not what differentiated the sexes and proceeded to explain the anatomical distinctions in detail, he literally chased me out the front door. True story. I had my convictions, but was also kind of a wise ass. I think that’s why I ended up being a journalist. But now I’m old and I can’t have long hair anymore—unless I want to look like Ben Franklin or Doc Brown from “Back to the Future.” And I am trying to resist buying my first velour tracksuit. Now, as I look around and observe the style of millennials and Gen Xers, I have all I can do not to deride them because I remember being called a dirty hippie due to my long hair and patched blue jeans. But it is still hard to resist mocking them with their skinny jeans and man buns (aka the “hair tumor”). Apparently, they have a uniform as well. And it is not only the man buns that exasperate me as a hairstyle. They love these weird quasi-Mohawk things. When I go to get a haircut, I hear them discussing them with the barber. “Use a No. 5 on the sides, and a No. 3 on the back and leave the middle top alone because we’re gonna spike that and add some blonde tips.” I’m like, “What the hell did he just say?” But the barber always just nods and responds, “Sounds good.” My barber asks me what I want, and I say, “See my hair? Make it shorter.” One recent fashion trend for female millennials was yoga pants. They were ubiquitous. I had a friend who practically lived in them and wore them no matter the occasion. She just changed out the accessories. Then one day I told her, “You know, there are only three things that never lie: Drunks, little kids and yoga pants.” She pretty much stopped wearing them after that. reasons, are two disparate groups: proponents of Quantum Indeterminacy and advocates of Chaos Theory. The former assert that the uncertainly principle, which is part and parcel of quantum mechanics, mandates genuine randomness and free will. Correspondingly, advocates of Chaos Theory believe that human behavior, influenced by countless interconnected factors, may exhibit nonlinear dynamics, rendering it difficult to attribute actions solely to predetermined causes. While I appreciate their help, my slant is quite different.    This entire debate brings to my mind the words of my good friend, the brilliant philosopher and author William Jaworski, who in his book “Philosophy of Mind,” put it this way: “All of these problems originate in the disparity between the way we describe the world scientifically and the way we describe it in our everyday dealings.” Our perspective really determines how we answer this question.  From a nonscientific perspective, I believe that we possess the power to make autonomous decisions despite our predispositions. Consciousness’s greatest gift is our tangible experience of choosing. When we are conscious, we are responsible. At every moment of our lives, we have an infinite number of choices before us, ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Yes, we can feel pressured to feel, think, and act in a certain way by society, church, friends, laws and our conscience. But the fact is that we can resist them all and decide on our own path. We can choose to override our “programming” whether it’s from genes, our early environment or other societal pressures.  So yes, my friends, if you did vote last Tuesday, despite your predispositions, when you filled out your ballot, you made a conscious choice, for better or for worse. We are complex beings, no doubt, pushed and pulled by forces that seem as overwhelming as they may be stealthy. Yet, risking to sound inerudite, I trust in the exhortation of philosopher James L. Christian who insisted, “to exist is to be free, and to be free is to act, to take initiative, to make choices, and decisions, to dream impossible dreams-however unreachable they are-and to fail. In a word, we must try to do what we already know we cannot do. MARTORANO FROM PAGE 11 DUMAS FROM PAGE 13


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 OPINION YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 15 Consult with us for Pre-Planning arrangements Serving All Faiths ~ Ample Parking ~ ~ Modern Chapels ~ ~ Burial & Cremation Services ~ Serving the Yorktown Area Since 1955 914.962.3333 2104 Saw Mill River Road (Route 35, 118 & 202) Yorktown Heights NY 10598 www.clarkfh.com Clark & Giordano FUNERAL HOME We Salute Our Veterans 2084 Crompond Road Yorktown Heights NY 10598 [email protected] 914.245.1715 Find God Build Relationships Make A Difference Welcome Home! Flow Vineyard Church Come as you are and grow with us! Join us for our current message series: “Emotionaly Healthy Relationships” Sunday Contemporary Worship Service 10:30am Coffee Fellowship Following Service After failing a high school sports physical because of an undiscovered heart murmur, I became depressed. Back in those days there were no pills to make you feel better and seeking professional help was akin to an admission of insanity. “Snap out of it!” was all my father said, not knowing how worthless I felt and how much I wished I’d never been born—at least with a faulty heart.  We did things as a family, so when my mother told me not to make any plans for an upcoming Saturday, because she and I were going to spend the day in New York City, I knew she wanted to cheer me up.  We took the train from Croton Falls. From Grand Central we extravagantly hailed a taxi to get downtown. “The Strand,” my mother told the driver. I had only heard about the Strand. “Eighteen thousand miles of books,” said the sign outside. Inside, it smelled like a church. Bookstores and libraries are to my mind spiritual places, filled with love of silence and mystery. A kindly fellow wearing a bright blue bowtie that matched the color of his eyes greeted my mother and I warmly, as if we were old friends. My mother, to my surprise, informed the bookseller that we were looking for a set of books. She joked that the right one might keep me out of trouble for a few years. Delighted, he led us to a used but very expensive looking set of Guy de Maupassant. He noted that the illustrations were done from engravings and were probably printed in the book separately. I noted the price tag: twice my mother’s weekly salary.  It had been exciting to hold and touch the books, but it was sad that they were out of our price range. But then my mother did one of those irrational things that parents do when they love their children a little too much. She bought the books, then very cleverly had them sent to our address.  My reading experience as a teenager consisted of closing the door to my room and breathing a sigh of relief. I felt safe. Yes, the heart murmur amplified my uncertainties. But I don’t think I was much different than most teenagers back then or today. I was bountifully entertained by Maupassant’s characters: the jealous husband driven to insanity and murder, a spoiled child that no one wanted, the poor soul who died without ever knowing what it felt like to be kissed. But more than this, without even knowing, reading created a place for my teenage self to live and be happy, to explore and feel protected.   About a year after the excursion to the city, I tried to borrow “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” from the library. The horrified librarian handed me a parental permission slip, which my mother signed without batting an eye.  The first thing my parents did when our family moved to Mahopac was send their children to Catholic school. If I were bringing girls up to my room rather than books, my mother would have chained me in the basement. If she knew some of the things I read (sometimes by flashlight), she would have been as horrified as the librarian. But my mother worried more about her children finishing their Brussels sprouts than what they read. That said, I wonder what she would have thought of the title “Worm Loves Worm,” one of the books on this year’s “banned” list.  She would have been shocked, but that would not have kept her from reading the book, which I read online through a free e-reader app. All the banned titles are now available through the Digital Public Library. I have been doing some “banned” reading lately.  What I have read so far has humor, humanity and hope for a more loving world. I see progress, yet that doesn’t preclude me from asking what progress means and how much we’ve made in terms of human understanding since, say, the days of King Solomon. These books are graphic and at times I have wondered how much kids should know. Even how much I want to know.  The answer comes back. Everything!  I find myself asking why culture wars are necessary and why one group must be ascendant when there’s room for everyone? While we are on the subject, call me naïve, but I cannot understand what is wrong with telling young children that a man can fall in love with a man and a woman can fall in love with a woman. Maybe third-graders should be explaining gay marriage to parents. And what is wrong with white kids feeling guilty over slavery? If no one felt guilty, think of how bad we all might be.  Dangerous reading LORENZO GARO OF HUMAN INTEREST To advertise in Yorktown News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected].


PAGE 16 YORKTOWN NEWS – THURKiEmilia Tappana, age 3, marveling at her homemade lantern. REQUEST A FREE QUOCALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE *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. (877) 516-1160 $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTREQUEST A FREE QUOWhether you are home or away, protect what matters most from unexpected power outages with a Generac Home Standby Generator. NO FEE Are You Planning On Retiring Soon? Make an INFORMED DECISION 914-330-5252 [email protected] Angela Asadi Licensed Agent MEDICARE MADE SIMPLE! I CAN HELP! 10% OFF* Glasses & Contact Lenses Cortlandt Town Center 3145 East Main Street Mohegan Lake, NY (845) 823-4063 * Valid only at the Mohegan Lake location. Cannot be combined with other discounts, coupon or insurance plans. See associate for details. Offer Expires: 12/31/24 Coupon code: YTNEWS502510 Visit americasbest.com to book your eye exam. Yorktown’s Downing Park shimmered at dusk on Sunday as more than 50 people of all ages gathered to take part in the annual Yorktown Lantern Walk. Hosted by Kate Lanfer of Little Green Hearts (an outdoor play-based program run through the Yorktown Parks and Recreation Department), the event celebrates the changing of the seasons and was held on the first day back to the “shorter” days of standard time. Walkers sang traditional lantern songs while carrying their own illuminated lanterns.   “It’s OK to miss those long, warm sunny days of summer, but we can also celebrate the coziness that winter darkness offers,” Lanfer said. “I hope traditions like the Lantern Walk help attune ourselves and our children to the beauty of the rhythms of nature.” Learn more about Little Green Hearts at linktr.ee/lilgreenheartst. DOWNING PARK sparkles FOR LANTERN WALK PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATE LANFER/LITTLE GREEN HEARTS


RSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 PAGE 17 Kate Lanfer of Little Green Hearts ids gather to under the lights PHOTO COURTESY ASHLEY CAREY Friends, family, and neighbors participated in this year’s walk: Maggie Tappana, Emilia Tappana, Eve McGuigan, Christian McGuigan, and Hunter McGuigan. The Yorktown community gathered to sing songs and light lanterns. Families gathered at Downing Park to celebrate the changing season. Here are Liz Goodyear, holding Ellie Goodyear, with friend Hannah. Families gathered at Downing Park to celebrate the changing season. Children: Brendan Quinn, Thomas Quinn. OTE 0TIONS OTE FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $735 Value! 17 Miller Rd. Mahopac 845-621-1222 RooneyOrtho.com Rooney Orthodontics Children & Adults (914) 248-6220 Progressive-Vet.com 268 Route 202 • Somers, NY 10589 Does your pet need an Ultrasound or Echocardiogram? Say goodbye to long wait times and uncertainties! Introducing a revolutionary pet healthcare solution — QuickScan Pet Ultrasound! INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED SPEEDY DIAGNOSIS CONVENIENCE EXPERT ANALYSIS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY PEACE OF MIND Your pet’s health matters to us, and with QuickScan Pet Ultrasound, we’re committed to providing the fastest and most reliable diagnostic service available. DON’T WAIT—give your pet the care they deserve with QuickScan Pet Ultrasound today!


PAGE 18 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER It was a thrilling state Class B regional semifinal between Section 1 champion Lakeland and Section 2 champion Burnt Hills-Balston Lake at Guilderland High School on Nov. 1, with Burnt Hills-Balston Lake coming out on top 3-2 in overtime to end the Hornets’ spectacular season. “We played awesome,” said Lakeland coach Sharon Sarsen. “Our defense was amazing.  We battled and did everything we could except score in OT. I am so proud of how we handled every aspect of this game including the outcome.  We were brave and handled it with character and class.” Backing up that defensive effort was Maeve Dineen-Herzog and Jenna Yazzetti, with 3 saves apiece. After trailing 1-0 at the end of the first quarter, Lakeland made a change offensively. “After a rough first quarter, we made some adjustments moving both Emily Yazzetti and Gabby Santini from midfield to forward,” Sarsen said. “We saw things changing so we were optimistic and kept plugging Lakeland’s season ends in OT Nipped by Section 2 champs FIELD HOCKEY SEE HOCKEY PAGE 22 Lakeland’s Emily Yazzetti moves upfield in state regional semifinal. PHOTOS COURTESY BEN DANIEL Lakeland’s Gabby Santini defends in the state regional semifinal.


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 19 25% OFF ALL IN-STOCK OUTERWEAR, FLEECE & ACCESSORIES (Jackets, Snowpants, Thermals, Helmets, Hats, Gloves, Goggles and Socks) 20% OFF ALL IN-STOCK LACROSSE EQUIPMENT BLACK FRIDAY SALE 11/20-11/27 CLOSED THANKSGIVING 15% OFF ALL CURRENT MODEL HARD GOODS (Skis, Snowboards, Bindings, Boots, Poles) WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY. SALE IS ON IN-STOCK MERCHANDISE ONLY. DOES NOT APPLY TO CUSTOM OR SPECIAL ORDERS. NOT VALID ON SKI RENTALS. NOT VALID ON ALREADY MARKED DOWN ITEMS. Join our email list for MORE savings. BLACK FRIDAY ONLY POWER HOUR SALE 11/24 - 10am - Noon 30% OFF All In-Stock Outerwear, Fleece & Accessories 20% OFF Skis, Snowboards, Boots, Bindings & Poles 2918 Crompond Rd, Yorktown, NY 10598 sportsbarnyorktownny.com • (914) 245-1300 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER Lakeland/Panas took part in the Section 1 Class A championships at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls on Nov. 4. Leading the Lady Rebels was junior Lily Day (20.48.80), who finished fifth, qualifying for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championships. Day earned one of the five at-large bids to qualify while Arlington took the team title. For the Rebel boys, senior Bobby Mayclim qualified for states as well, placing fifth (16.51.10). Mayclim was the fourth at-large bid, with Arlington also earning the boys team title. Vincent Evola (19.08.50) and Dylan Young (20:15.50) were among the top finishers for the Rebel boys. “I am beyond happy and ecstatic and proud after today’s races,” said Lakeland/Panas coach John Benvin. “The boys team had a lot of seniors running their final races today so it was bittersweet to say goodbye to them, but also exciting to see the young runners on the team get a taste of the big races, so they have something to build on.” Benvin is especially proud of Day and Mayclim, who will both be at Vernon Verona Sherrill High School, on Saturday, Nov. 11, for the state championships. “Lily started coming on late last year and just missed qualifying (for states) a year ago,” Benvin said. “This year she started off slow but really picked it up at leagues last month and carried that wave of running into counties and again into today.  For Bobby, this is his third time (qualifying for states) already.  It wasn’t an easy year at all for him.  Injuries and setbacks had him running not so great but he refused to give up on the team, coaches, or himself.  He too, saw a change at leagues and carried that momentum into counties last weekend, which he won by a huge margin.  He channels that Steve Prefontaine mentality and keeps going, which was shown today.” YORKTOWN Yorktown competed in the Section 1 Class B championships on the same day, at the same location, with Grace McCann leading the Husker girls squad with a time of 22:20.2. Teammate Phoebe Banner also excelled, with the second-best time on the team at 23:50.8. Kaitlin Fox was right behind at 23:53.1. Rose Fox put in an impressive time of 25:01.4. Hope Fisher also got in a solid run of 27.39.8, with Alexandra Harrison recording a respectable time of 32:07.5. Standing out for the Yorktown boys squad was Jason Muroski, who paced the Huskers with a time of 18:11.5. Behind Muroski was Sean Ryan, who ran very well in a time of 21:02.2 Eric Song also did the job with the Huskers, running the course in 21:23.6. Liam Treuel produced a solid time himself, with a mark of 21:59.7. Nicholas Ducey performed well, registering a time of 22:34.5, with Cameron O’Brien doing the job at 22:47.3. Adin Schlosberg (21:47.3) and Michael Bruno (25:14.8) also made the Huskers proud with their times. Yorktown coach Keith Smith was very happy with his team’s work at the sectionals. “They all recorded performances that they should all be very proud of,” Smith said. “Everyone ran their best time on the challenging course at Bowdoin Park. I thought that they all had a great day.” Lakeland/Panas duo headed to states Huskers shine as well Lakeland/Panas runners Bobby Mayclim and Lily Day are headed to states. PHOTO COURTESY JOHN BENVIN CROSS COUNTRY


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER When No. 5 Lakeland (6-4) traveled to No. 1 Pleasantville, a Class B state finalist the last two seasons, in the Section 1 Class B semifinals on Nov. 3, Panther senior RB/WR Daniel Picart showed why he was the state Class B co-player of the year in 2022. Picart (9 carries, 156 yards, 3 receptions, 37 yards) led the Panthers to a 42-14 victory. “Daniel Picart is a really difficult matchup,” said Lakeland coach Ryan Shilling. “He lines up everywhere. If he’s in the backfield, you need to stack the box. If he is at receiver, you need to lighten the box. Either way, there are seams in the defense. Even when there is no seam, because of his speed, vision, elusiveness, and power, he is able to find a seam. Even in special teams and defense, he is a major factor. Your game plan has to change when he is out there.” Picart finished off a five-play, 98-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run, giving the hosts a 7-0 first-quarter lead. He started the drive with a 71-yard run. Lakeland answered when quarterback Grady Leonard connected with Anthony Frobose (3 catches, 107 yards), on the Hornets’ next possession for a 70-yard touchdown pass on a screen, with Anthony Ramirez’ PAT tying the game at 7-7. “Pleasantville brings a lot of pressure with their linebackers,” Shilling said. “The screen was a jailbreak to Anthony Frobose, who is a junior committed to play baseball for Rutgers University. The first drive stalled because of the pressure they were bringing, so we thought a screen might slow them down a bit. It went for a touchdown, fortunately. We were competitive early and we knew we needed to hit some big plays because it is tough to score on long extended drives against them.” However, Pleasantville scored the next five touchdowns – two of them on runs of 4 and 15 yards respectively by Picart –to seal the contest. Leonard (10-17, 177 yards, 4 carries, 37 yards), scored on a 9-yard keeper in the fourth quarter for the game’s final score. Kyle Gallagher (3 catches, 49 yards) also contributed to the Hornets’ effort. Heartbreak in Harrison No. 2 North Yorktown had a battle at No. 1 South Harrison in the semifinals of the Section 1 Class A Tournament on Nov. 3, taking a 21-10 lead before the Huskies came back for a 24-21 victory. With time expiring in the first half, Yorktown quarterback Kaden Gonzalez (20/29, 190 yards) connected with Tommy Costello (5 receptions, 77 yards) on a 35-yard touchdown pass, with the first of three Ronan Forde PATs cutting Harrison’s lead to 10-7 at halftime. “It gave the team a burst going into halftime, but more importantly it put points on the board,” said Yorktown coach Pantelis Ypsilantis. “I knew points were going to be hard to come by in this game and Kaden and Tommy were able to connect Hornets and Huskers bow out Lakeland falls to Pleasantville, Huskers eliminated at Harrison, FOOTBALL SPORTS SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 21 Lakeland’s Anthony Frobose returns a kickoff in the sectional loss to Pleasantville. PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? To AdverTise wiTh Us, CAll BreTT FreemAn AT (845) 208-8151 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 PAGE 20 – YORKTOWN NEWS


SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 21 FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 20 on an explosive play against a defense that typically does not allow big plays.” Yorktown went ahead on a 4-yard touchdown run by Chris Constantine (7 receptions, 41 yards, 5 tackles) and a 5-yard touchdown pass from Gonzalez to Costello, the latter giving the Huskers a 21-10 advantage with 1:12 remaining in the third quarter. “We made a couple of adjustments at halftime, especially in terms of what the offensive line was doing,” Ypsilantis said. “Dylan DelVecchio (23 carries, 104 yards) got going and gave us some hard running and Kaden spread the ball around to all our skill guys. Justin Price (5 receptions, 55 yards), Andrew Weissman (2 carries, 17 yards, 9-yard reception, 3 tackles), Tyler Galante,   Ryan Cane, Costello, and Constantine all made great plays. We were multiple and played with great tempo.” Harrison rallied in the fourth quarter, with a 27- yard touchdown pass early in the quarter and a 5-yard touchdown run with 4:19 remaining in the game, to go up 24-21. Yorktown (8-2) made a valiant effort to come back, driving from its 27 to the Harrison 13, but a Huskie interception at the 5-yard line secured the win for the hosts. “We all watched the evolution of a QB in what Kaden was doing there,” Ypsilantis said. “He was making college-level reads and throws and played like an All-Section quarterback. Our team did not back down to anybody all year and even more than the physical toughness, the mental toughness to play balanced football, and trusting and relying on each other when things got tough are long-term, lifelong skills that will lead these young men to tremendous success in whatever they choose to do.” Conor Duncan (12 tackles), Ryan Vogel (11 tackles), Jack Ferone (9 tackles) and Chad Bowen (5 tackles) also stood out for Yorktown.  Lakeland quarterback Grady Leonard rolls out. The Hornets’ Nicholas Ferrante fights through a double team. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO Lakeland’s Connor Hoban and Riley Sand combine on a stop. NEW GENTING REWARDS CARD MEMBERS SPIN 2 WIN $500 FREE SLOT PLAY * *Offer only valid for new members. Visit any promotional kiosk and swipe your Genting Rewards Card for a chance to win up to $500 Free Slot Play!* Ivanna Win 12282022 RWHudsonValleyNY.com Newburgh, NY MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-HOUR PROBLEM GAMING HOTLINE: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369) NEW GENTING REWARDS CARD MEMBERS SPIN 2 WIN $500 FREE SLOT PLAY * *Offer only valid for new members. Visit any promotional kiosk and swipe your Genting Rewards Card for a chance to win up to $500 Free Slot Play!* I12282022 RWHudsonValleyNY.com Newburgh, NY MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-HOUR PROBLEM GAMING HOTLINE: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369) Breathe Easy 3379 Crompond Rd (in the BJs Plaza) Yorktown Heights NY 914.930.5550 afcurgentcare.com/yorktown-heights M-F: 8am-8pm, S-S: 8am-5pm At American Family Care, getting you better quickly is our number one priority. We offer the Respiratory Panel test - a one swab test for all of your needs including Flu, COVID, RSV, and so much more! We’re open every day with extended hours to fit your schedule. No appointments needed. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023


PAGE 22 – YORKTOWN NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 An Invitation to Area High School Students, Their Family, Friends & Teachers to Attend… STUDENT NIGHT Saturday, November 11th at 6PM Yorktown American Legion Post #1009 235 Veterans Road, Yorktown Hts, NY 10598 Learn how Students can Participate in… _________________________________________________ THE AMERICAN LEGION HIGH SCHOOL ORATORICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM “A Constitutional Speech Contest” ________________________________________ BOYS STATE, NY & EMPIRE GIRLS STATE Weeklong summer-time Educational Programs with additional opportunities for attending an additional week Program in Washington, DC ____________________________________________ The evening will also feature Special Awards presented by Yorktown Officials, with refreshments and conversation afterwards. FACTORY TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF COMMERCIAL & HOMEOWNER POWER EQUIPMENT EAST ROAD MOTORS 58 CAROLAN RD. EAST CARMEL, NY 10512 www.EASTROADMOTORS.com 845-225-3503 PICK-UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE email: [email protected] * LEAF BLOWERS * LAWN MOWERS * STRING TRIMMERS * CHAIN SAWS * SNOWBLOWERS * GENERATORS * QUADS * SNOWMOBILES SERVICE & REPAIR away. We talked about getting the ball to our right side.  We talked about our forwards continuing to defend.  We talked about forwards being options in the midfield and using them in transition.” Things opened up after that for Lakeland (16-4-1). “It helped our team get the ball to the goal and give us more opportunities to score,” Santini said. Emily Daniel cashed in on one of those opportunities, scoring to tie the game at 1-1 in the third quarter. “The ball was about to go over the end line, so I pulled it back a bit and pushed it through an opening between the goalie’s legs,” Daniel said. “It felt amazing, it was a big relief to be able to tie the score. It felt like a new game.” Santini assisted on the goal. “I was dribbling the ball down the field and I got to the right corner of the field and sent the ball in,” Santini said. “It hit the goalie and Emily Daniel got the rebound and buried it in the back of the goal with power. It felt amazing because it proved that we didn’t give up and that we were fighting for the win.” Burnt Hills-Balston Lake then took a 2-1 lead to end the third quarter, before a goal by Lakeland’s Bella Basulto tied the game in the final quarter to force overtime. “I’m not really sure how the penalty stroke got called, however the moment of scoring and equalizing was simply electrifying,” Basulto said. “Our team’s energy was sky-high, and our relentless competitiveness and intensity were palpable. That goal was a clear signal for us, we were back in the game. I couldn’t be prouder of our performance.” For Basulto, a senior two-year captain, it was the end of a legendary varsity career, which saw her win a state title, three sectionals crowns, and a Putnam-Northern Westchester Regional Small School Title (pandemic year, 2020). “Having the privilege to be a part of the Lakeland field hockey team for five wonderful years is something I’ll cherish forever,” said Basulto, who is planning to play in college, but hasn’t made her decision yet. “It’s been the world to me. The memories of my inspiring coach, my incredible teammates, and the unique culture that embodies Lakeland field hockey are irreplaceable. These are the things I’ll miss dearly.” Santini, a junior captain, is returning. “I am so proud of how far we’ve come and what we have accomplished,” Santini said. So is Daniel, also a junior. “Although we’re losing a lot of seniors, our younger players stepped up and made big contributions this season,” Daniel said. “It gives us confidence that we can accomplish great things again next year.” Sarsen was pleased with what her team accomplished this season. “Winning the Section 1 Tournament is amazing,” Sarsen. “I feel this team had the ability to go further and I feel sad for the girls that they can’t show the rest of the state how talented they are. We were successful due to the commitment and talent of the girls and the support of the families.” HOCKEY FROM PAGE 18 Lakeland’s Charlotte Sabert battles for ball in state regional semifinal. Lakeland celebrates after Emily Daniel’s third-quarter goal ties state regional semifinal at 1-1. PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN DANIEL


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 23 Scan Me! Now you can read all about Yorktown AND the region!


PAGE 24 – YORKTOWN NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 BY MIKE SABINI CONTRIBUTING WRITER It was a thrilling back-and-forth match between host No. 2 Yorktown and No. 3 Eastchester in the semifinals of the Section 1 Division 2 Boys Volleyball Tournament on Nov. 1, but in the end, the Eagles prevailed 3-1 (27-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-20). The contest was a postseason rematch of last season, where Yorktown traveled to Eastchester in the semifinals and lost the first two sets before rallying to win the final three sets to take home the match. Yorktown tried to duplicate that formula this season, losing the first two sets before it won the third, getting off to a 5-1 lead in that set. “That’s the set where we realized these guys were beatable, that’s the set where we realized hey let’s take it now, take it into the fourth,” said Yorktown coach Mira Rugova. “The third set was quite important because I feel like it’s a turning point, we can make it a turning point. We’ve done it before where we lost two sets. We have a lot of young players who have that underdog mentality and we try to play like that every game. Eastchester is a very good team, they are very scrappy and were great defensively. It’s not like we didn’t go down without a fight but they were definitely a top-tier team. I wish them luck.” Finishing the third set with a kill by skying high above the net was outside hitter Justin Sek. “It was a great pass and then a great set, from our setter Jack (Brunner),” Sek said. “I just visualize the ball and knowing in the moment, just go back to my training. I practice so many times that hit, so I just had the confidence to hit it down the line.” Sek also had another key kill in the first set, which tied that set at 24-24, after the Huskers had trailed 16-6. “We stayed strong mentally,” Sek said. “Our coaches brought us back, our captains brought us back, we never lost the fight in our head. We knew mentally that we could stay strong as a team, as a family, and come back from any deficit.” The fourth set was another barn burner, with Eastchester pulling away by winning six of the last nine points to garner the set and match. Leading the Huskers was Sek (21 kills, 4 blocks, 30 digs) and Brunner (29 assists, 5 kills, 5 blocks, 18 digs). “They started off at such a high level as freshmen and have been just growing from there,” said Rugova of the two sophomores. “They are young and have great energy. They have played club together. They’ve played two seasons of varsity with one another and are both are very competitive.” Eastchester prevails in semis Huskers go out valiantly Emanuel Gojani sends it over the net. Yorktown’s Jack Brunner sets up a teammate. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO The Huskers’ Tommy Vano bumps it. VOLLEYBALL SEE VOLLEYBALL PAGE 25


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 SPORTS YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 25 MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE DEC. 2ND 2023 Register Now www.jbr.org/westchester 55KK JJIINNGGLLEE BBEELLLL RRUUNN WWeessttcchheesstteerr Join us for a family, fun 5k (timed or untimed) in support of the Arthritis Foundation! All registered runners receive a t-shirt. Gold Sponsor: Contact Nancy Sorbella at [email protected] or 929-446-0939 Silver Sponsor: Llewellyn Burchell Charitable Trust Foundation Event Supporter: FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 59 Years of Excellence Putnam & Westchester County’s Premier Plumbing Professionals Since 1964 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT SERVICE CALL! VALID ON CALLS OVER 1 HOUR. EXPIRES 11/30/23 Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. The Huskers’ Evan Menocal hits it over the net. PHOTOS: ROB DIANTONIO Seniors Tommy Vano (4 blocks, 27 digs), Zevin DaCruz (5 blocks), Evan Menocal (6 blocks), and Matt Yee (16 digs) also stood out in their final match in a Husker uniform. “We left it all on the court,” Rugova said. “We did everything we possibly could. We were there defensively, offensively. It was an effort I am very proud of, from every single one of them. It was a very competitive game. They definitely gave it their all.” Two days later, Eastchester won the tournament at Clarkstown South, defeating No. 4 Walter Panas in five sets. Yorktown (15-7) advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-18) victory versus visiting No. 7 Lakeland (3-16) in the quarterfinals, with Sek (19 kills), DaCruz (2 blocks) and Brunner (24 assists) doing the honors for the Huskers. Lakeland girls bow out No. 3 Lakeland (15-6) lost 3-0 (17-25, 17-25, 17-25) to visiting No. 6 Byram Hills on Oct. 30 in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class A Tournament, led by Kelly Mallon (7 kills, 10 digs), Emma Dedushaj (13 digs), and Sofia Cruz (4 kills). VOLLEYBALL FROM PAGE 24 Zevin DaCruz goes for the block for Yorktown.


PAGE 26 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Genesis Jewelers of Yorktown has kicked off its eighth annual Diaper Drive in support of the Westchester County Diaper Bank. Anyone who brings a donation will be eligible to win a ladies’ Versus watch. The drive began on Monday and runs through Dec. 9. “Your donation will make a difference,” said Lara Galper, who co-owns Genesis with its founder, her husband Steve. “More than 10 percent of children under the age of four in Westchester live in or below poverty. Our goal is to help get clean diapers to families that struggle to afford them in Westchester.” Last year, Genesis collected over 10,000 diapers. “We would love to beat that number this year,” NAME said. “We are starting the drive by donating 5,000 ourselves.” “Diapers are a basic need, not a luxury item,” she continued. Diaper need is a silent crisis with parents and caregivers often choosing between food, rent, or buying diapers. There is no state or federal child safety-net program that allocates dollars specifically for the purchase of diapers.” Diapers can be dropped off at Genesis Jewelers, 32 Triangle Center in Yorktown Heights. For more information, call 914-245-3899.  Genesis Yorktown kicks off diaper drive Genesis Jewelers hopes to top last year’s drive, which collected 10,000 diapers for the needy. PHOTO COURTESY GENESIS JEWELERS OF YORKTOWN Get organized this season Hosting the holidays? Get your house ready for Thanksgiving and beyond when the library welcomes Pavla from Chic Organizer on Nov. 16 at 6:00 p.m. Pavla will walk you through how to organize your home and give you tips and tricks on how to get and stay organized. She will also discuss what to do with the items that no longer serve you. Registration is required; please visit the library website or call the reference desk to sign up. The library also wishes to thank everyone who took part in this year’s haunted house and made it such a big success. CALENDAR Note: The Library Trustee meeting will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. All are welcome. Calendar guide: A - Adults; Y - Young Adults; C - Children. Please visit the calendar page at yorktownlibrary.org for more information. Register online unless listed as a “dropin” program. FRIDAY, NOV.  10 The library will be CLOSED in observance of the federal holiday. SATURDAY, NOV.  11 The library will be CLOSED for the federal holiday. SUNDAY, NOV.  12 The library will be CLOSED for Veterans Day Parade. MONDAY, NOV.  13 A - Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. C - Rock and Roll for Little Ones (Drop-in). 10:30-11 a.m. C - PAWS to Read with Izod. 5:30- 6:30 p.m. A - Earring Making. 6-7:30 p.m. TUESDAY, NOV.  14 A - Medicare Open Enrollment Counseling (Drop-in). 10 a.m.-1 p.m. A - Chair Yoga with Lisa. 1-2 p.m. A/Y - One-on-one Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2:30-4 p.m. Y - Paying for College with Joshua Marber. 6-7:45 p.m. WEDNESDAY, NOV.  15 C - Stories and Rhymes with Ms. Terry (Drop-in). 10-10:30 a.m. A - Canasta (Drop-in). 12:30-2:30 p.m. C - Autumn Corn Story Craft. 4-5 p.m. THURSDAY, NOV.  16 A - Quilting & Needlework (Dropin). 10 a.m.-12 p.m. A - Mostly Nonfiction Book Club. 2-3 p.m. A - Home Organization 101. 6-7:30 p.m. C - Lego Free Build (Drop-in). 5:30-6:30 p.m. C – Parent & Child Chess. 6:30- 7:30 p.m. A - Up All Night Book Club. 6:30- 8 p.m.  FRIDAY, NOV.  17 A - Mah Jongg (Drop-in). 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. A/Y - One-on-One Tech Help with a Teen (Drop-in). 2:30-4 p.m.  Library Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 12-4 p.m. For more information, call (914) 245-5262, email reference@yorktownlibrary. org, or visit yorktownlibrary.org. 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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 LEISURE YORKTOWN NEWS – PAGE 27 Several members of the Knights of Columbus Fr. LaFarge Council enjoyed a moment with his Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan at a reception celebrating St. Patrick’s Church’s 125th Anniversary on Nov. 4. Knights pictured with Cardinal Dolan are Todd Carrozza, Andrew Amenn, Bob DiPrato, Ed Schmidt, John Stedman, and Larry Adams. Cardinal Dolan helps St. Pat’s celebrate 125th anniversary PHOTO COURTESY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FR. LAFARGE COUNCIL 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. Happen again 8. Large flightless birds 13. A type of account 14. Beyond what is natural 15. Beloved comfort food 19. Rural delivery 20. Belonging to us 21. Typical 22. Pie _ __ mode 23. Returned material authorization (abbr.) 24. Not us 25. Discharge 26. Made empty 30. Fishing net 31. Fast-moving, harmless snake 32. Analyzed into its parts 33. In a way, chilled 34. Hindu queen 35. Circles around the sun 38. Used for emphasis 39. Reactive structures 40. Recommendations 44. Feel intense anger 45. Puke 46. Rural Northern Ireland community 47. Naturally occurring solid material 48. British watch brand 49. Toddler 50. Integrated circuit 51. Being revered 55. “Pets” you can grow 57. Continual 58. Puts together in time 59. Houses temporarily CLUES DOWN 1. Vital public document 2. Disinter 3. Musical performances 4. After B 5. Every body has one (abbr.) 6. Utilize 7. In a way, disproved 8. Fisherman’s tool 9. Of she 10. Trauma center 11. Commercial flyer 12. Administered medicine to calm 16. Popular R&B performer 17. Regretted 18. Leg (slang) 22. “Night Train” author 25. More supernatural 27. Baltimore ballplayer 28. Shoe parts 29. Scores perfectly 30. More lucid 32. Trim by cutting 34. Disreputable people 35. Dramatic behaviors 36. Disorder 37. Private box in a theater 38. More dried-up 40. Raw 41. In operation 42. Pillager 43. Butterflies with brown wings 45. Disallow 48. Own up 51. Hungarian city 52. A way to condemn 53. Tax collector 54. Lease 56. Not out


PAGE 28 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 educating one another on who we really are. Learn more at facebook.com/RaceAmityof NorthernWestchesterandPutnam. 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] Chronic Pain Support Group Research tells us that  50 million Americans  live with chronic pain or pain that lasts most days or every day for three months or more. Of this group, 20 million experience high-impact chronic pain, or pain that interferes with basic functioning and activities of daily living. Pain is the  number one reason that Americans access the health care system, and costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatments, disability payments, and lost productivity. Support groups provide a forum for those with pain to gain support and learn about ways to manage pain and progress from patient to person. This group takes place over Zoom every other week. For more information, please call Ted Bloch at 914-552-6281 or email him at [email protected]. All conversations are kept strictly confidential. Telehealth Intervention Senior Programs Mondays, 9 to 11:30 a.m. TIPS has been at the forefront of the national telehealth movement. Westchester County continues to lead the way in developing best practices that help seniors age successfully in their homes and communities. Senior’s vital signs – specifically their pulse, weight, oxygen blood level, and blood pressure – are measured using computers and other equipment. That data is then transmitted to telehealth nurses who review it remotely.  If the tests show cause for immediate concern, the nurse will contact the seniors, their caregivers, or primary care physicians directly. Each senior leaves the session with a “TIPS Sheet,” a comprehensive assessment that includes the results of their vital sign tests, an explanation of what the results mean, and if needed, other relevant information such as referrals. Held at the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center located at 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown. Virtual Support Groups Support groups for women with breast and ovarian cancers have been transitioned to virtual platforms. Virtual groups are accessible to women from the comfort of their homes, regardless of where they live. All groups are open to new members as well as past participants. Advance registration is required by calling 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290. Support Connection’s Peer Counselors are also available for individual counseling and assistance via phone and email. Call 800-532-4290, or submit an online request at support connection.org Organic Yard Waste Facility Is Closing Soon Yorktown’s Organic Yard Waste Facility, 2200 Greenwood St., Yorktown Heights is scheduled to close in mid-November. The town of Yorktown has “closed the loop on recycling” with the collection, processing, and giving back of organic yard waste. The Organic Yard Waste Facility is available, without charge, to Yorktown residents delivering organic yard waste in vehicles without commercial license plates. Proof of residency is required. In addition, residents can help themselves to wood chips. This facility is also the depot for biodegradable paper leaf bags, branches, logs, and Christmas trees collected by Yorktown’s Refuse and Recycling, Parks, and Highway departments. Shoe Drive Progressive Foot Care’s16th annual Holiday Shoe Drive for the Homeless is seeking your support. For the past 15 years, Progressive has collected over 16,000 pairs of footwear to benefit the less fortunate. Its 2023 partners are: The United Way of Rockland (uwrc. org) and Catholic Charities of Rockland (ccsrockland.org), and The United Way of Westchester and Putnam (uwwp.org). You can drop off footwear in good condition – especially children’s sneakers and boots – in White Plains (95 Church Street, Suite 210, White Plains, N.Y. 10601) or Nanuet (259 South Middletown Road, 2nd Floor). The drive continues to Dec. 15. Learn more at Progressivefootcareny.com. K of C Fr. LaFarge Council 4012 The Knights of Columbus of the Fr. LaFarge Council #4012 is recruiting new members. Upcoming initiatives include collecting food items for the Yorktown-area food pantries and judging entries in the Knights’ Grade 8-12 essay contest. Other Council 4012 activities include volunteering for Battle of Yorktown cleanup and Special Olympics events, golf outings in support of Guiding Eyes and for high school student scholarships, delivering Memorial Day cards to veterans, providing wheelchairs for veterans, hosting hospitality breakfasts, and raising funds for Birthright and St. Joseph’s Seminary. The Council also attends summertime Hudson Valley Renegades games at Heritage Financial Park. The Knights are dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. To learn more, visit KofC4012.org or contact Andrew Amenn at [email protected]. GREEN FROM PAGE 4 TOWN GREEN Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for Yorktown News is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. 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PAGE 30 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Contact Us Yorktown News is located at Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can contact us at 914- 302-5830 or email yorktown [email protected]. Notice of Formation of City Gardeners LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 07-23. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Pedro Cintron: 25 Abner Place Yonkers NY 10704. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of D & E Guest Reality Management LLC.. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-09-15. 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 D & E Guest Reality Management LLC.: 79-81 Main Street, P.O. Box 1100 ground floor Yonkers NY 10702. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of 8TH Notch ABA LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-08-03. 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 United States Corporation Agents, INC.: 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of O'Callaghan Brothers, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2002-01-02. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to A.J. O'Callaghan: 2 Hilltop Dr. Port Chester NY 10579. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of MyBase LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-10-12. 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 Vladimir Gilinsky: 77 Beacon Hill Rd Ardsley NY 10502. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of EVMERCH LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-10-11. 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 EVMERCH LLC: 77 Fairmount ave Yonkers NY 10701. Purpose: Any lawful purpose NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education of the Lakeland Central School District shall hold a public hearing on the 16th day of November, 2023, at 7:00 P.M., at Walter Panas High School, 300 Croton Avenue, Cortlandt Manor, New York, for the purpose of discussion of proposed revisions to the Infractions with Penalty references in the Code of Conduct for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year. DATED: November 9, 2023 Lynn Cosenza, District Clerk ANNUAL ELECTION OF YORKTOWN HEIGHTS FIRE DISTRICT DECEMBER 12, 2023 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Annual Election of the Yorktown Heights Fire District will take place on December 12, 2023 between the hours of  6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Yorktown Heights Fire House located at 1916 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY for the purpose of:                                                                                                                                         Electing one Commissioner for a 5- year term, commencing on January 1, 2024 and ending on December 31, 2028. All duly registered residents of the Yorktown Heights Fire District shall be eligible to vote. Candidates for District Office shall file their names with the Secretary of the Fire District, Jeanmarie Klaus, office of Joseph F. Eaton CPA, 334 Underhill Ave Suite 4B, Yorktown Heights, NY.  Petitions can be picked up at the Secretary’s office Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning Wednesday, November 8, 2023.  The petitions must be returned to the Secretary, signed by a minimum of 25 qualified registered voters, no later than 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Jeanmarie Klaus Fire District Secretary Sports Deadline The sports deadline for Yorktown News is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to [email protected]. 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. NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH ROOFING | SIDING | WINDOWS | DOORS & MORE! 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 888-254-6006 or visit NYProgramFunding.net NEED HELP WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIRS? WE MATCH YOU WITH FUNDING YOU CAN AFFORD. ...but it won’t last! Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are first come, first serve. ACT NOW! ON YOUR INSTALLATION 50% OFF Limited Time Offer! SAVE! TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Additional savings for military, health workers and fi rst responders 10% OFF MADE IN THE U.S.A. 1.855.492.6084 FREE ESTIMATE Expires 12/31/2023 Before After Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE when tackling your roof! New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/erie-licenses/. Up to FOR SALE SNACK ROUTE Northern Westchester/ Putnam Weekly Sales $6000 For 3-1/2 Day Work Week Call Ross At Mr. Route | 516-785-6600 | mrrouteinc.com BOGO 40% OFF OFFER ENDS 1/31 Available at participating locations 888-448-0421 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 Yorktown News 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 yorktownnews@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Yorktown News need to be highresolution. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Yorktown News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to yorktownnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Yorktown News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to Yorktown News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or mail it to Yorktown News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned.


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PAGE 32 – YORKTOWN NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 MARIA TOMASELLI YOUR ADVOCATE, YOUR EXPERT, YOUR REALTOR Work With A Agent That Gets Results RE Salesperson 914.319.2962 (c) | 914.328.0333 (o) | [email protected] 222 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY | mariatomaselli.randrealty.com ©2021 We honor all of those that have served in the United States Armed Forces. Thank you for your bravery, commitment, and service. THANK YOU VETERANS!


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