Mahopac News 02.09.2023

VOL. 13 NO. 52 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 26 LEGAL NOTICES 24 LEISURE 22 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 7 OPINION 8 SPORTS 16 ’Pac bowlers in the fast lane. pg 20 ON A ROLL! Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR Superintendent of schools is a tough job at any time in any community. But consider the cards dealt to Christine Tona when she stepped in to lead the Mahopac Central School district this past July. First, there was the post-COVID transition.  e pandemic sparked a crisis in education that’s been both practical and political, with vaccine and mask mandates, empty classrooms, and remote teaching wreaking havoc on academic development and socialization—and in some cases, causing rifts between parents and educators that are yet to heal. Superintendent Christine Tona interview Mahopac schools superintendent on the mascot, books, the budget and more SEE TONA PAGE 3 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR  e Town of Carmel is likely to reinstate a limit on smoke shops after residents and local o cials raised concerns about the number of such businesses operating in the area. At a special voting meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 8 (after this edition’s press time), the Town Board was expected to approve a resolution to schedule a public hearing on whether to establish a temporary moratorium on new or additional smoke or vape shops. At the Carmel board’s Feb. 1 meeting, Putnam County Legislator Erin Crowley (District 9) called for the moratorium after a stabbing at Cloud House Smoke Shop in Mahopac earlier in that week. And while police and town o cials have declined to comment on its investigation into the Cloud House stabbing or link the nature of the business to the violence, some residents have complained that smoke shops are attracting the “wrong element” to the area. Crowley called for “future zoning changes” and an investigation into the “impacts of these shops on the health, safety and wellness” of area residents. “Whether there are hazards associated with smoke shops is a matter to be researched and up for debate,” Town Supervisor Mike Cazzari told Mahopac News this week. Asked to compare smoke shops to businesses selling alcohol, he added “residents do not make many complaints about the liquor stores in town, but they do believe that smoke shops attract nuisance activities, perhaps since most of their clients are younger.” PREVIOUS PAUSES According to Crowley, moratoriums were in e ect in 2018 and 2019, but expired at the beginning of 2020. Cazzari told Mahopac News that the potential of a 90-day moratorium was raised before the stabbing. “After the third new smoke shop opened, the discussions began with residents complaining about the appearance being obnoxious, bright lights in the windows type of thing,” he said, noting that the last moratorium expired before he took o ce. “A moratorium would affect new applications, not businesses already open or in the process [of opening],” Cazzari said. “ ese only last 90 days. Currently, [if approved], the town will be placing a new 90- day moratorium in e ect and we will be making permanent changes to the town code to address smoke shops in the near future. We need to have a public hearing before enacting any town law like a moratorium.” While no date is set, Cazzari expects the hearing to take place when the board meets on Wednesday, March 1. “ ere are 11 smoke shops now in Carmel,” Cazzari added. “ e community feeling is there are more than enough. Public sentiment aside, we are going to take a hard look to see if we aren’t saturated with smoke shops.”   Smoke shops come under fire Town considers moratorium and zoning changes EMILE MENASCHÉ Cloud House Smoke Shop in Mahopac Superintendent SellYour Home for TOP DOLLAR with Mahopac’s Real Estate Specialist Visit: MahopacRealEstate.com or Email: [email protected] Michael Trinchitella Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker FREE Home Evaluation Anytime — No Cost or Obligation Call 845.628.4189 MahopacHomeValues.com CLASSIC REALTY

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YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to Mahopac News YES, I really enjoy Mahopac 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) (Optional for TAPinto E-News) Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please Include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News The Somers Record Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other OR Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com OR Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com Don’t Miss a Week of Mahopac News. Please Re-Subscribe Today! THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 VOL. 13 NO. 39 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 24 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 2 OPINION 10 SPORTS 20 Our 15 Minutes of Fame Explained pg 10 PUBLISHER’S MEMO Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR Christina and Lee Vataj, former  nance and pharmaceutical executives, opened Countryside Kitchen in Mahopac 14 years ago. During that time, the funky little diner has developed a loyal Hudson Valley-wide following for its unique selection of „ avoredpancake combinations and generous portions. † e restaurant has now o‡ - cially obtained long sought-after national attention. Earlier this year, the Cooking Channel came to Mahopac to  lm an episode of its popular “Man vs. Food” show featuring the restaurant, and now the episode, which has already aired, will be reprised later this month. On the show, host Casey Webb samples popular menu items, including the restaurant’s famous “Holy Cannoli Pancake.” “Casey Webb’s food frenzy takes him to New York’s Hudson Valley for...an Italian dessert for breakfast,” the Cooking Channel said in a press release. Lee Vataj said the show’s producers were looking to feature eateries from the Hudson Valley and came across Countryside Kitchen via a typical Google search. “We repeatedly popped as No. 1 and they continually scouted us,” he said. “Sharp Productions (the show’s producers) called us to see if we wanted to do the show.” Vataj said they were thrilled to be invited on the show, especially in the wake of the pandemic, a time during which so many restaurants struggled. “It was great,” he said. “We have been open for 14 years and we have really busted our butts to get here and to be recognized on a national level is great. It’s very humbling.” Vataj said the producers were looking for a more “decadent breakfast” to feature on the show, and Countryside Kitchen’s Holy Cannoli Pancakes  t the bill. He said  lming took about eight or nine hours, but the restaurant didn’t have to close. † e show wanted some regular customers there to interview. “† ey wanted to see the crowd and the ambience,” he said. Vataj said he wasn’t really nervous about being on TV and Webb really enjoyed the cannoli pancakes and other dishes he sampled. “We were just grateful,” he said. “We worked hard to get here with all the challenges we’ve been through.” You can watch the “Man v. Food” episode featuring Countryside Kitchen on the Cooking Channel on † ursday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. Mahopac restaurant shines on national TV Countryside Kitchen featured on ‘Man v. Food’ Christina Vataj, left, Casey Webb, center, and Lee Vataj, along with the Countryside Kitchen crew PHOTOS COURTESY OF COUNTRYSIDE KITCHEN Watch the episode Cooking Channel on Thursday, Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. Visit the restaurant 493 Route 6, Mahopac Host Casey Webb, second from left, interacts with owner Lee Vataj and staff. Remember, Mahopac News is a weekly paper and went to press before the election results were known. So, check out our website, TAPintoMahopac.net, for the most current developments. 914-282-6440 [email protected] ZACKS RE/MAX Classic Realty Services Provided Property Evaluation | Home Staging High Definition Photography | 3D/Virtual Tours Custom Digital Marketing | Five-Star Service LAWRENCE ZACKS, Winner of the 2021 Circle of Legends Award Questions? Call Lawrence Zacks Today! 914-282-6440 Looking to move? We can help you relocate anywhere in the world! Scan me! Call for a FREE CONSULTATION with the Hudson Valley’s top realtor! Amazing NEW 4 Bedroom Colonial — at the end of a Cul de Sac, part of a 4-Home Subdivision. Beautiful Covered Front Porch. Gorgeous Granite Kitchen w/Stainless Appliances (optional Center Island + Dry Bar w/Upper & Lower Cabinets). Stunning Hardwood Floors throughout. Lovely Large Windows. 9’ Foot Ceilings on Main Floor. Large Family Room with Slider to huge private Patio. Formal Dining Room. Terrific Primary Bedroom (His & Hers Closets, Full Bath + additional Walk-in Closet!). Full Basement. 2-Car Attached Garage... $769,900 NEW CONSTRUCTION IN SOMERS! VOL. 13 NO. 40 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 23 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 2 OBITUARIES 28 OPINION 10 SPORTS 22 Welcome to the new Assemblyman. pg 4 SLATER WINS Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. Youngsters honor our These boys are all grandsons of past Mahopac Fire Department Commissioner George Jones: Spencer, 5; Owen, 4; Parker, 3; and Caden, 6. They all came out to honor our nation’s veterans on Nov. 11. PHOTOS: MAUREEN DALY VETERANS Check out our coverage of Veterans Day on Page 3. BY BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER Having run unopposed, Republican Assemblyman Kevin Byrne will become Putnam County’s next county executive. Byrne won with 28,190 votes, which was the equivalent of 99% of votes cast and 69% of ballots cast (30.3% left their ballots blank). “OŽ cially winning this election, securing the support from over 28,000 Putnam voters, is a tremendous honor,” Byrne said. “I remain extremely grateful to the voters for once again placing their faith and trust in me. “ e amount of support I received has been overwhelming and I am truly honored and humbled to serve as our next Putnam County Executive.” In a speech to a packed room of supporters on election night, Byrne reiterated his commitment to Putnam. As a native son of the county, Byrne told the assembled he was “built and raised to work.” Byrne also reaŽ rmed his campaign promises. “When I said to you we were Byrne pledges ‘bold’ vision for Putnam County Crowley, Jonke and Ellner win seats on the County Legislature BY BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER In a local race that garnered national attention, Assemblyman Mike Lawler beat Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee  (DCCC) Chair Sean Patrick Maloney to become the next member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York’s 17th Congressional District. A Rockland County resident, Lawler beat Maloney, 140,883 to 137,633, or 50.6% to 49.4%.  “I am honored by the opportunity to serve as the next Congressman for the 17th Congressional District,” Lawler said at a Congressman-elect Lawler lays out agenda Assemblyman’s win receives national attention after beating DCCC chair SEE BYRNE PAGE 6 SEE LAWLER PAGE 8 (c)845.803.1241 debbiedemelis.com 338 Route 202 Somers NY 10589 From concept to completion, your home will be uniquely cared for and expertly marketed for a WIN in this STRONG MARKET! ASSOCIATE BROKER Ha angiving! You Deserve the best! Wishing Everyone a From concept to completion, your home will be uniquely cared for and expertly marketed for a WIN in this STRONG MARKET! THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022 Youngsters honor our VETERANS Check out Youngsters our coverage of Veterans Day on Page 3. In a local race that garnered national attention, Assemblyman Mike Lawler beat Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee  (DCCC) Chair Sean Patrick Maloney to become the next member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York’s 17th Congressional District. A Rockland County resident, Lawler beat Maloney, 140,883 to 137,633, or 50.6% to 49.4%.  “I am honored by the opportunity to serve as the next Congressman for the 17th Congressional District,” Lawler said at a Congressman-elect Lawler lays out agenda Assemblyman’s win receives national attention after beating DCCC chair SEE LAWLER PAGE 8 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 22 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 4 OPINION 10 SPORTS 20 Fire ghters save Chamber event. pg 16 SANTA! Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. BY EMILE MENASCHÉ STAFF REPORTER Mahopac has been known as “Indian Country” for as long as anyone can remember. But the school district’s arrowhead logo, “Indians” nickname and other Native American symbols may become relics of the past before the start of the 2023-2024 school year after a recent directive from the New York State Department of Education. In a memo to districts across the state, Senior Deputy Commissioner Jim Baldwin said schools have until the end of this school year to comply with longstanding rules prohibiting the use of Native American mascots--or face  nancial penalties and staˆ removals. “We are working with our attorney for guidance and waiting State threatens Mahopac schools over ‘Indians’ nickname School board to discuss directive at Dec. 20 work session For people unfamiliar with QR codes, simply use your cell phone camera to scan the QR code, and your cell phone will take you to the survey. Help choose a new team name & mascot Scan the QR code to take our survey • This is Massive Government Overreach and the District Should Ignore the State: 37.5% (48) • There is Nothing O ensive with Use of the Term “Indians,” but We Shouldn’t Risk Losing State Aid: 28.91% (37) • Use of the Term “Indians” is O ensive and it’s About Time the State Issued this Directive: 21.88% (28) • None of the above: • It’s Time to Get With The Times, but this is 7.03% (9) Government Overreach: 4.69% (6) Graph 1: We Asked Our Online Readers Their Thoughts 128 People Responded • This is Massive Government Overreach and the District Should Ignore the State: 37.5% (48) • There is Nothing Oensive with Use of the Term "Indians," but We Shouldn't Risk Losing State Aid: 28.91% (37) • Use of the Term "Indians" is Oensive and it's About Time the State Issued this Directive: 21.88% (28) • None of the above: 7.03% (9) • It's Time to Get With The Times, but this is Government Overreach: 4.69% (6) 37.5% 28.91% 21.88% 7.03% 4.69% VOL. 13 NO. 42 SEE NICKNAME PAGE 7 We Asked Our Online Readers Their Thoughts 128 People Responded 914-282-6440 [email protected] ZACKS RE/MAX Classic Realty Services Provided Property Evaluation | Home Staging High Definition Photography | 3D/Virtual Tours Custom Digital Marketing | Five-Star Service Questions? Call Lawrence Zacks Today! 914-282-6440 Call for a with the Hudson Valley’s top realtor! FREE CONSULTATION Privately Set Colonial in the Mahopac School District! (4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths.) Spacious rooms throughout. Well maintained w/ Gorgeous Entry & Private Deck. Open Granite Kitchen w/ Counter Seating, Door Out to Deck & Breakfast Area leading to spacious Family Room w/Wood-burning Fireplace. Hardwood Floors throughout. Formal Living Room & Dining Room. Primary Bedroom Suite w/Walk-In Closet + Full Bath complete w/Tub & Separate Shower. Freshly Painted Interior. New Front Door & Shutters. 2-Car Attached Garage... $649,900 LAWRENCE ZACKS, Winner of the 2021 Circle of Legends Award Door Out to Deck & Breakfast Area leading to spacious Family Room w/Wood-burning Fireplace. Hardwood Floors throughout. BEAUTIFUL CENTER HALL COLONIAL! Looking to move? We can help you relocate anywhere in the world! Scan me!

Then there are the contested books, a national issue made local by parents challenging whether the materials on school library shelves are appropriate for their kids—or for any children in certain age groups. And while both the above obstacles may confront leaders in school districts across the country, Tona has also been faced with a state order to replace the Indians as the district’s mascot—and the challenge of how to pay for such a change. Yet the Long Island native, who now calls Mahopac home, has forged a solid working relationship with the Board of Education while addressing these issues and more. We sat down on Feb. 2 for a discussion about the challenges facing Mahopac schools and the opportunities ahead. Let’s start with the capital project. How is that coming along? There’s been progress. We’re completing the libraries at Austin Road and Fulmar Road. There’s a possibility we’ll get the students in those libraries by the end of this year, but if not, definitely for next fall. They’re beautiful spaces and provide modern learning opportunities for students, not just with reading books in the library, but for technology and conversation. Classes will be able to go into the library and have a nice space to have their lessons. Has the function of the school library changed a lot in the last few years? Is it more interactive for students? What are the upgrades? Yes, definitely. There’s additional computer space and flexible seating so students can be comfortable and learn in a modality that works best for them. The high school library is up and running now for almost a year. If you go in there at any point in the day, students are sitting comfortably, interacting with each other. There are study rooms, there are opportunities for them—not necessarily to read a book, but to communicate with each other and get their work done in a comfortable space. It’s almost a collegelike setting. They call it the stacks. It’s definitely a positive vibe to it. Students want to be there. The Middle School library renovation is coming in Stage Two of the capital project. Hopefully, it’ll be completed this summer or at some point into the fall. Challenged books have been a big topic at school board meetings. What kind of feedback are you getting on the books from parents? Are you getting pushback? Support? A mix of both? A mix of both. I think it’s important to recognize that not every book meets the needs of every student. We share the data that some of the challenged books really aren’t borrowed very often, but they’re there should a student need them.  When our librarians [consider books], they’re looking at the needs of the students. What are the requests of the students? What types of genres do they want? What authors are they reading? They use that information to help build a collection.  And libraries should change with the times. We have books that are classics that have been around from when we went to school and even before that. There are always new books coming out, and the libraries do a good job reviewing the books. There’s always going to be a book that’s controversial—and controversial for some people, but not necessarily for all people. Has the movement to list or object to books influenced the librarians’ or the district’s decision-making? I think that they’re even more thoughtful than they were before. They’re really doing their due diligence. Sometimes a book will come in and a librarian will read it first before they actually put it out on the shelf. [But] they can’t read all the books: They rely on recommendations from the American Library Association and other publications that school librarians use to vet books. Can parents see which books are in the library? If you go on to our [school district] website, go into Departments, then into library, there’s a link to see our collection. You can do the same thing for the middle school. Some board members have voted no on books based on how parental permission is granted versus the books themselves. Can you explain the distinction? Well, the current policy is generally students have access to all books. At the middle school, there is an eighth-grade reading section. Some books that have more mature content are placed there, where eighth-graders can borrow, but if sixth- or seventhgraders wish to borrow, the librarian would contact a parent to get permission first. From what they’ve said at meetings, that’s kind of in line with what a couple of board members have suggested to have that for all books, or all books that are challenged.  But my position is, with any of the books in libraries, K-12, if a parent does not wish their child to access that book, all they need to do is let the librarian or the principal know. [The borrowing checkout system] is all digital. So they could put a restriction, do not let this child borrow this book or these books. Some parents argue that the current policy gives them less control... I think we have to be careful about taking away choice. Because like I said earlier, a book that might not be appropriate for one child might be very appropriate for another. Parents certainly know best what their child’s maturity level is and what their needs are. But some of these books, especially as we have students getting into high school, they’re doing some soul searching for themselves and trying to learn about themselves. And the way that they can learn about themselves is through books. And they may not necessarily want their parents to know that they’re reading something that may be different from their parents’ beliefs. Can any parent challenge any book for any reason? Yes. From what I see among the listed books, the challenges have been on books discussing social issues, policing, race and sexuality. But what about books that are more mainstream, but which might conflict with a religious belief—say science books that discuss evolution? So if a parent says, I don’t want my eighth-grader to read that book, then they should just let the library know. What if they say “I don’t think any eighth-grader should read that book”? There’s a form to fill out, available on our website, or you can ask the librarian or principal. You have to describe what you’re challenging and why. It then goes to the building principal, who determines if they should convene a small committee of a few teachers and the librarian to discuss it. They can invite in the person challenging the book and take a look. There are probably some books out there that may not be appropriate for high school level or younger, and they may be in a library. So at that point that small group may determine that they should remove that book. And then that’s as far as it goes. The librarian is part of that process, and makes the decision. But if the committee feels, “No, we think this is appropriate,” then the challenger expects that it would go further. And that’s when we convene the larger Curriculum Committee. It includes volunteer representatives from the community as well as some of our staff members. And our staff members, if they’re in the Teachers Association, get paid for their time—the time it takes to read the book, as well as the time it takes to meet to discuss the book. That committee works through, then makes a recommendation to me. I’ve also been reading the books so that I have firsthand knowledge of what the content is. Do any of these challenges seem frivolous? You know, everyone’s entitled to their opinion and their reasons for challenging a book. I respect that. I think we have about 15 challenged books in total. And we’ve gotten through five so far with the board. And there’s at least one this month. The books are lengthy, and the committee has to find time to meet. So the process takes a little bit of time. Speaking of committees, how’s the mascot committee coming along? At the end of January, I closed the link for community members to be part of the committee. Within the next week or so, we’ll be sending invitations to people and organizations that fit the needs of the committee, and then we’ll be adding the students. We’re looking at a meeting of the full committee sometime THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3 EMILE MENASCHÉ Mahopac School Superintendent Christine Tona COURTESY MAHOPAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT The school district hopes to save the expense of changing its arrowhead logo, seen here on the high school football field. TONA FROM PAGE 1 SEE TONA PAGE 6

The Sta EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [email protected] Bob Dumas Editor at Large [email protected] Whit Anderson Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer [email protected] EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines Mahopac News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Emile Menasché at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Mahopac 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. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mahopac, NY and at additional mailing o ices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mahopac News at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 Mahopac, NY 10541 PAGE 4 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 (ISSN 2330-1627) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 Mahopac, NY 10541 Main O ice 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR  e Town of Carmel is in the process of contracting with the Carmel Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CVAC) to o cially expand its coverage area to include Mahopac and Mahopac Falls. Town Supervisor Michael Cazzari said CVAC’s focus will be on daytime coverage and will be in addition to services already provided by EMTs from the Mahopac and Mahopac Falls volunteer  re departments. “Carmel has been running a paid ambulance to cover their district for a few years now and it just makes sense that we expand their responsibility town wide,” Cazzari said. “Locally, the Town of Patterson has a townwide paid ambulance service, and Brewster  re department is contracting with an outside ambulance vender for coverage.” Funds to pay for the coverage will come from taxpayers in the Mahopac and Mahopac Falls  re districts and therefore requires approval from state and county o cials. Cazzari said the process could take 60 to 90 days. “ ere’s a lot of red tape,” he said. “But it’s important to know that the coverage is already there, so people are safe.” Cazzari said the move to a paid service in the area is driven by demographic shifts a ecting the pool of volunteer  rst responders. “ ere is a regional issue with less availability of volunteers to cover emergencies during the workday,” he said. “We are adding paid EMTs during those critical hours to supplement the volunteers.  e Mahopac and Mahopac Falls ambulances will still cover emergency calls 24/7, and all the ambulances in town will still be responding as mutual aid as needed—such as when there are more than one call at the same time in a particular district.” While all-volunteer  re and EMT services have a very long and proud history in the area, Cazzari said there is a shortage of volunteer EMTs in Putnam County and fears the trend may continue. “Our community is growing older,” he said. “Young people are moving north to  nd a ordable starter homes. As a town, we look for smart growth of available housing and a shift in demographics, which would enlarge the pool of volunteers. “I recently met with the Commissioner of the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services Robert Lipton and his EMS Director Alex Roehner and we spoke at length on this issue,” he added. “ ey are working on innovative plans to increase the number of EMTs in our county.” Town to augment EMTs Professional providers to fi ll in gaps in volunteer coverage Those interested in volunteering can contact: • Carmel Ambulance President Cindy Jacobsen: cn2561@ hotmail.com • Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Ray Hamill: Ray.hamill@ mahopacvfd.com • Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department President Randy Tompkins: 845-279-2046 • www.diggstricounty.com [email protected] 113 Old Rt 6 • Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512 TUES-FRI 8AM-4PM, SAT 8AM-12PM • EXTENDED HOURS SPRING 2023 GRAVEL & SUPPLY FOR ALL YOUR LANDSCAPE SUPPLY NEEDS! MULCH • GRAVEL • RECYCLED ITEM 4 • TOPSOIL • FILL • SAND • MILLINGS • DECORATIVE STONE • BLUESTONE • CEMENT • MASON MIX • REBAR & MUCH MORE! DELIVERY & CONTRACTOR PRICING AVAILABLE WE ALSO CARRY COAL, WOOD PELLETS & FIREWOOD FOR YOUR HOME HEATING NEEDS! STOVE CLEANING & REPAIR SERVICE AVAILABLE WINTER SAND & SALT AVAILABLE! Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Mahopac News need to be a highresolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissions can be emailed to mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Mahopac News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Advertise With Us When you advertise with Mahopac News, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout Mahopac, Mahopac Falls and portions of Carmel. To advertise or to place a classifi ed, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected].

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5 18 Clark Pl. Mahopac, NY 10541 • www.savormahopac.com • (845) 628-3081 Tues-Fri 3:30-6:30 • Sun 12-6 1/2 PRICE Apps, Pizza, Wine & Beer! OPEN 7 DAYS See website for daily hours Order Online! TAKE-OUT & FREE LOCAL DELIVERY! it’s 1/2 Price Happy Hour! You’ll Love Our All New Menu with Even More Gluten-Free Options! Check out our Valentine Specials DINNER FOR 2 ON VALENTINES DAY Check our website for details. Will be in Addition to Our Main Menu AVOID THE RUSH! Starting Friday Feb 10 OUR VALENTINES SPECIAL MENU WILL BE AVAILABLE! See our website for details! Just Mention this ad for a Valentine special gift for your partner. Our main menu will also be available It’s not 1/2 portion Happy Hour... It’s the PLACE to BE! Check out our Upgraded Wine List! $10 Gift Card FREE When you sign up for our emails! We’ll announce special events and other offers you’ll love. Not to be combined with other offers, promotions or special menus. Valid with minimum purchase of $20 or more. Valid for take out or dine in. Receive a Scan Here to sign Up! 18 Clark Pl. Mahopac, NY 10541 • www.savormahopac.com • (845) 628-3081 Fall in Love with Savor! Due to the Upcoming Holiday, our Monday $20 All-Night 3-Course Menu will be Moved to Thurs., Feb. 16 Next Week. Please plan accordingly. Our $30 3-Course Menu will Still be Available Every Night Except Valentine’s Day.

PAGE 6 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 TONA FROM PAGE 3 SEE TONA PAGE 23 after the February break, the last week of February. Did a lot of people reach out to join? I’d say about 50 people. Some of them are sta members, some are alumni, some are residents with students, some are residents without students. Some are alumni who live here. Some are alumni who don’t live here. A couple of students asked to join through the sign-up system. We’re looking for a cross representation of people. I understand the NYS Board of Education is also taking public comment through Feb. 28, so your committee will be formed around the same time the state public comment period closes. Yes. We probably won’t even hear speci cally how people from Mahopac comment to the State. But at some point in April, the Board of Regents is supposed to vote to put this regulation into practice. And they’re supposed to use the public comment period to craft do’s and don’ts. I’m in the process of crafting my public comment and then using that public comment to write emails to the tribes that were indigenous to this area. What do you intend to say to the tribes? I will explain to them that we are the Mahopac Indians and are now looking to change the name of the mascot, that we once used a headdress logo, but we don’t any longer. Our current logo, we feel, pays respect and gives a nod to the indigenous people. And we hope that they feel that’s not disrespectful to them in any way, having the arrowhead with the feather.  e hope is that we can get support from some indigenous tribes.  en I can go back to the state education department and say, “We have support here, can we keep the logo?” How much do you think it will cost if you have to change all the logos? I’m going to say about $200,000. It could be even more. We’re looking at the gym  oors, some of the turf  elds probably would have to either be spray painted and redone, or we’d have to carve out the center and replace it. We have signage at a lot of places.  at all adds up. Is there any hope of state aid? It does not look like it. I did speak to Assemblyman Matt Slater recently. He asked how he could support us. Any additional funding to help us with this would be welcomed.  e state has not given us any indication [of aid]. And when the original mandate went out in like, 2001, I don’t believe there was any additional aid attached. Other districts in the region who have made changes, I believe they did that out of their own general budget. It’s an emotional as well as  nancial issue... People that have been here for a long time, or their relatives have been here before them, there’s a lot of pride here. And I don’t think people have malicious intent. You know, what the whole process is shining a light on, at least for me as a new person in the community, I’m learning about [Mahopac’s] history. And that’s what we need to do for everyone; tap into the people who have been in the district for a long time and have them share [the] history with us. Do you think coming from outside gives you an advantage, though, because you can look at stu with a fresh perspective? I think it gives me more of an objective opinion. And in my career, I’ve learned that you have to have an objective opinion. It’s not the way I want to do things sometimes. In this case, we’re given a mandate, it’s my job to follow the mandate and protect the school district from any further sanctions, such as loss of state aid. What are some of the other priorities you have for the rest of the school year and going into next year? We’ll be starting work on a strategic plan, which will bring us through the next  ve years and beyond. We’ll be asking for input from the community again; the community is going to get tired of all my surveys I send out, but hopefully they’ll participate in them to give us an idea of what we need to do so that we can provide the best education for the students. How is the makeup of the student body changing, or maybe a better question is how are the educational needs changing, if at all? De nitely the e ects of COVID are still here. We had RED MILLS Convenience Center 575 Route 6N, Mahopac Falls • 845-628-9745 Mahopac Teachers, Students, School & Bus Garage Employees Buy One Egg Sandwich, Get 2nd HALF OFF Buy Lunch Sandwich, Get a Soda or Coffee FREE We have your grab and go items! Happy Hour Coffee Check out our Coffee of the Month! Any Size 3-7pm Firewood Bundles Purchase your box of Coffee to go! Warm Up with Winter Breakfast Special Bacon egg & cheese Sausage egg & cheese and Ham egg & cheese $4.49 bacon egg cheese & hash browns $5.49 Try our Coffee Flavors of the Season! Come see our vintage candy shop Mahopac Teachers, Students, School & Bus Garage Employees Cold weather accessories! Salt and windshield wiper fluid. We have over 100 helium balloon choices! We Have a large selection of valentine Gifts! Happy Valentines Day!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7 Putnam County Sheri Kevin McConville, Carmel Police Department Chief Anthony Ho mann and Kent Police Department Chief Kevin Owens announced today that Putnam County police agencies and STOP-DWI coordinators will participate in special e orts to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.  e Super Bowl is America’s most watched national sporting event and Super Bowl weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. In a combined e ort to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives law enforcement o cers across New York State and STOPDWI programs will be participating in special engagement e orts.  e statewide STOPDWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign start on Feb. 10 and will end on Feb. 13.  e STOP-DWI Super Bowl High Visibility Engagement Campaign is one of many statewide initiatives promoted by STOP-DWI NY and the governor’s Tra c Safety Committee.  e statewide STOP-DWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign also targets Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day/end of summer, Halloween,  anksgiving, the holiday season and St. Patrick’s Day. Highly visible, highly publicized e orts like the STOPDWI High Visibility Engagement Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.  You can help to make a difference by Having a Sober Plan! Download our mobile app – “Have a Plan” and you will always be able to  nd a safe ride home stopdwi.org/mobileapp.  Impaired driving is completely preventable.  All it takes is a little planning. Article provided by the Putnam County Sheri ’s Department  Town and county law enforcement to participate in statewide STOP-DWI e ort STOP-DWI Impaired Driving campaign runs Feb. 10 –13 Sycamore Camp dates announced Sycamore Park summer camp registration will open on March 13. Camp will run from June 26 - Aug. 4 and costs for $600 per town-resident child for those entering grades 2-8 in fall, 2023 $650 for rising kindergarteners and  rst graders. Immunization records are required to reserve a place. Learn more at facebook. com/CarmelRecreation.  e town is also taking camp employment applications at ci.carmel. ny.us/recreation-parks/pages/ summer-employment. The Book Barn is open  e Book Barn at Mahopac Public Library is welcoming shoppers again. Book Barn hours are Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.,  ursday, 4 to 6:45 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Book donations are by appointment only. Please call 845-628-2009 x143 to schedule your donation.  ank you to all Book Barn patrons for your patience and your support during the weatherization project. MAHOPAC MUSINGS SEE MUSINGS PAGE 15 The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. 237 Route 6 Mahopac • 2nd floor • By Appt Only • No mail received here—drop slot available Former IRS Agent & 30+ Years Experience 20% OFF FOR NEW CLIENTS OFFERING SECURE CLIENT PORTALS ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE: Medicare, Social Security, and Retirement Planning Including Plan Roll-Overs INCOME TAXES 845-628-9300 [email protected] CALL OR E-MAIL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE FORMER IRS AGENT & 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE 20% OFF FOR NEW CLIENTS OFFERING IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS & SECURE CLIENT PORTALS CALL OR E-MAIL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 845-628-9300 [email protected] 237 Route 6 Mahopac 2nd “Professional Services with a Personal Touch” floor * By appt only * No mail rec’d here, drop slot available Thomas J. Langtry I.R.S. Enrolled Agent Former I.R.S. Agent Christopher S. Langtry Tax Preparer Staff Accountant Boutique Valentine’s Day is Tuesday February 14th! Order Today for your Valentine! Large selection of Flowers, Candy & Gifts 845.628.1946 Boutique 4 Veschi Ln N. & Rte 6 • Mahopac, NY • flowerboutiquemahopac.com Valentine’s Day is Tuesday February 14th! Order Today for your Valentine! Large selection of Flowers, Candy & Gifts

Opinion PAGE 8 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 For nearly 10 months, I spent day after day speaking to Putnam and Westchester County residents in the 94th Assembly District about the future of New York State. Without question, the leading concern expressed by local voters was New York State’s high cost of living and the affordability of our region. Since taking office in January, this has remained my focus. Despite projected revenue shortfalls and a national recession, Gov. Hochul put forward the largest budget in state history for 2023-2024--increasing state spending by billions of dollars. While I support an expanded investment in public education and mental healthcare, the Governor’s continued attack on suburban taxpayers in the Hudson Valley is deeply troubling. First, Hochul’s budget proposal would shift $1 billion in Medicaid expenses to local property taxpayers and raise property taxes by approximately 10%. Because of our high taxes, New York State continues to lead the nation in outmigration, with millions of New Yorkers relocating to states like Florida and Texas with no state income tax. For years, Westchester County homeowners have paid the country’s highest property taxes and, through Albany’s legacy of unfunded state mandates, Putnam County is also among the 10 counties with the highest property tax burden. Instead of the relief area homeowners so desperately need, the New York State Association of Counties is rightly raising the red flag about Governor Hochul’s latest scheme. If that is not enough, the Governor is once again penalizing local businesses by increasing the hated MTA Payroll Tax in order to funnel an extra $800 million per year to subsidize the MTA. This will adversely impact businesses all across our region at a time when New York State remains last in the nation in attaining pre-pandemic job levels. At this point, Governor Hochul and the rest of the Albany politicians should understand that a tax on jobs does not create jobs! The Governor’s tax proposal is on top of her efforts to implement congestion pricing, which would cost suburban commuters up to $23 just to drive below 60th Street in Manhattan. With no reforms or accountability of the MTA, Governor Hochul is only enabling the same mismanagement that has perpetuated for years and siphoned billions of dollars from Hudson Valley taxpayers. Hochul’s assault on our suburban quality of life becomes even more clear when looking at her proposals for local transportation and housing. Our region has the most state and local lane miles of road in the entire state, yet 57% of those roads are rated in fair or poor condition. We also have more state-maintained bridges than anywhere else, exceeding New York City and Long Island combined. Despite this critical situation, Governor Hochul’s budget fails to provide any additional funding to address these shortfalls and she refused to help offset the inflation-driven increase in the costs borne by municipal governments to repave their roads. As Town Supervisor and a candidate for the State Assembly, I vocally opposed Hochul’s plan to supersede local zoning through her ill-advised accessory dwelling unit law. I firmly believe in the importance of local decision-making and the review processes our towns and villages follow. Governor Hochul’s so-called Housing Compact is a direct attack on the fabric of our communities and will mandate housing projects go through a virtually automatic process that circumvents state environmental review requirements and prevents localities from averting adverse impacts on their residents. Worse, if any project is rejected, there is an appeal process that can compel towns and villages to approve the new housing proposals even if it conflicts with their master plan and zoning laws. For communities with train stations, the Governor’s plan is even more intrusive. It mandates high-density Transit Oriented Development within a half-mile radius around these stations and empowers the State Attorney General to enforce this requirement if a municipality does not approve proposed projects. Finally, as it relates to the quality of life enjoyed by Hudson Valley residents, I am extremely concerned about Governor Hochul’s plan to cut 17 different programs for our veterans. With so many brave men and women who valiantly served our nation living in this region, the Governor’s decision to divert critical resources away from the vital services upon which our veterans rely is nothing short of a failure of leadership. This year’s state budget could either help ease the burden on Hudson Valley families or exacerbate the affordability crisis. As the budget negotiations progress, I will continue fighting for Hudson Valley taxpayers and ensuring that our region and its residents receive their fair share from Albany. Matt Slater is currently serving his first term as Assemblyman in District 94, which includes Yorktown, Somers, and the eastern part of Putnam County, including Mahopac and Carmel. Governor’s proposed budget harms Hudson Valley residents J ust like McDonald’s, we love to see our clients smile. But all too often, prospective clients approach us with a disastrous plan: they want to advertise for just one week. You know…to try us out. As our client, unless you have an urgent call to action because of an event planned next week, this is what my sales colleagues will tell you to do with your money: “Use the $150 (or whatever you planned to spend based on ad size) and take your wife or husband out to dinner.” While we don’t like to turn down a sale, we are not going to let a client waste their hardearned cash on an ill-advised marketing approach. One-anddone ads rarely see much success and the client will be unhappy with the results (and they’ll tell the world they were unhappy with the results). Seasoned marketing professionals will say that advertising frequency (repetition) separates winning campaigns from losing ones, among other important approaches. They will also say that just like a business owner needs to pay essential expenses like rent and utilities, they also need to dedicate money towards building their brand’s awareness and image. “Fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.” I could recite that quote in my sleep. Or if you decide to go with your local Allstate insurance agent, you’ll be “in good hands.” These brands have simple, memorable messages that are repeated all day long, 365 days per year. Of course, small businesses don’t have multi-billion-dollar budgets. But most industry associations are able to recommend a percentage of a business’s budget that should be devoted to marketing. This is true whether you own or run a restaurant, an insurance, law or medical practice, or if you are in real estate, home improvement or retail. Ideally, you should take that marketing budget and divide it by 52 or 26 weeks, and that is what you should spend every week or every other week annually. If a year or 26 weeks is outside of your budget, then perhaps go with the idea of flighting, where you run four to six weeks Marketing is all about repetition Marketing is all about repetition BRETT FREEMAN MARKETING 101 SEEFREEMAN PAGE 9 The Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce is a COST EFFECTIVE way to GROW YOUR BUSINESS by taking advantage of NETWORKING, ADVERTISING, SPONSORSHIP, VOLUNTEERING and becoming more involved in your COMMUNITY. CALL or EMAIL today: 845-628-5553 | [email protected] Visit Our Website: www.MahopacCarmelOnline.com 692 Route 6, Mahopac, NY Join  e Chamber Like Us & Follow Us ASSEMBLYMAN MATT SLATER GUEST COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9 FREEMAN FROM PAGE 8 Back in the 1960s, when I was born, women were indoctrinated by doctors and the culture not to breastfeed, because baby formula, produced by expert formulators following “science,” had managed to out-create mother nature.  For modern people living in the scienti c age, breastfeeding became something to look down upon and was considered primitive. Science had surpassed mother nature.   My own mother, I’m sorry to say, was completely suckered into this delusion about science, scientists and expert formulators. And she kept those prejudices fully alive until my sister began breastfeeding her kids. Initially, she couldn’t believe that my sister would do this. But my sister and I hit her with a barrage of facts learned since her time as a mother. And she soon forgot her social conditioning in the joy of being a new grandmother.  In the time between the 60s and today, we’ve learned that this early boast by “science” was entirely unfounded. Breastfeeding confers immediate immunity on the baby, while simultaneously strengthening his or her gut microbiome. Good gut health is at the root of full body health. It also strengthens emotional bonding between mother and child. And that is just what When ‘science’ becomes an agenda SEESCHIFFREN PAGE 12 MARA SCHIFFREN LIFE, HEALTH, POLITICS PRICES VALID WITH AD ONLY HUDSON VALLEY BEVERAGE 376 Route 6 Mahopac 845-628-3147 FIZZ & FOAM Bucks Any Case of Beer 24 Pack or Larger $2.00 OFF 5 CASE LIMIT • Expires 2/19/23 • Not to be combined with any other offer. SALE ENDS 2/19/23 BUD & BUD LIGHT $28.99 36 Pack Are You Ready for Game Day? SAM ADAMS ALL VARIETIES WHITE CLAW SELTZER Variety Cans $17.99 12 Pack $17.99 $ 2 OFF Propane Fill-Up 20 lb Fill-Up Not valid with any other offers Exp. 2/19/23 $18.99 12 Pack PERONI $28.99 36 Pack COORS LIGHT $16.99 8 Pack GUINESS CANS LANDSHARK LAGER $ 15.99 PABST BLUE RIBBON $ 16.99 24 Pack Cans STELLA ARTOIS $ 17.99 12 Pack $ 17.99 $ 23.99 CORONA LIGHT $ 17.99 20 Pack 20 Pack COORS LIGHT 12 Pack BUD & BUD LIGHT 24 Pack Cans 12 Pack Brewster, NY and Bethel, CT Showrooms On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! 845-278-0070 Southeastkitchenandbath.com Celebrating 50 years at a stretch a few times per year. While the size of the ad is important, we’d rather you run a smaller ad repeatedly versus running a full-page ad just once or twice. You’ll have more success with the repetition of a smaller ad than you would with a one-hit wonder. For seasonal businesses, divide your budget by the number of weeks in your season, but be sure to start several weeks early to build awareness before your prospective clients start making purchasing decisions. If you have an urgent call to action, it’s important that you advertise more than just one week. You should be promoting the event a few weeks before the sale and during the sale week.  is is not self-serving. You don’t need to spend any of your marketing budget with us.  at is our advice whether you decide to advertise in newspapers, on radio, on the Internet, on cable/streaming TV, or all-of-the-above. Any salesperson who wants to take your money for one week of advertising is doing you a disservice. Marketing your business for the long-haul is a necessary expense. As Nike says, “Just do it!”

PAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 845.628.2233 • 2 Mahopac Plaza, Route 6N, Mahopac Serving Breakfast & Lunch • WiFi Available Apple, Pumpkin, Pecan, Coconut, Cherry, Banana Cream, Chocolate Cream & Lemon Meringue Pies! Honey Balls, Gingerbread Houses, Cookie Trays, Pastry, Breads, Bagels & More! Gluten Free Baked Goods Available including Gluten Free Cannoli & Rainbow Cookies! Who Loves You?! February 14th Mahopac Flower Shop will donate $ 5 to the St. John the Evangelist Food Pantry for every dozen roses sold on Valentine’s Day! Mahopac Mahopac Flower Shop 603 Route 6 • Mahopac NY 10541 845-628-2949 We would love to know what you think. Please take our survey by visiting halstonmedia.org/3YIegzp (the address is case sensitive) or scan the QR code. Who made a more compelling argument? Take our reader survey Scan the QR code to take this survey. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) caused quite a kerfu e last month when they announced they would recommend banning gas stoves due to indoor air pollution and climate change concerns. Agency commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr. said, “Besides barring the manufacture or import of gas stoves, options include setting standards on emissions from the appliances.”  e reaction from gas stove enthusiasts was swift and spirited. Get your hands o my stove!  e Internet memes were hilarious – from pictures of gas stove removal SWAT teams to “Don’t Tread On Me”  ags with gas stove emblems. It turns out that 40% of the homes in the country and 94% of the restaurants rely on gas stoves, so the pushback was predictable.  e “we didn’t really mean that” walkbacks started within days of CPSC’s announcement.  e gas- re in ated trial balloon didn’t gain much altitude before crashing back to earth. You shouldn’t mess with grandma’s stove. Along with the White House, Gov. Hochul issued a statement assuring everyone that she was not coming for your stove, which was reassuring to some. However, she did say in her State of the State address that she will be phasing out the sale of fossil fueled heating equipment by 2025 and requiring the new construction for residential to be all electric by 2030 – a pretty aggressive timetable. She also wants to phase out fossil fueled vehicles following California when it comes to electric vehicles, eventually banning the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. She has joined California in requiring that Unintended consequences of all-electric mandates BY ANSHUL GUPTA GUEST COLUMNIST The most recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, prepared and reviewed by thousands of scientists and experts from 195 countries, conclude that barring immediate concerted e orts to tame carbon pollution from fossil fuels, our world could be unrecognizable by the end of the century – within the lifetime of a child born today. Climate deterioration marked by worsening  res,  oods, droughts and extreme weather is already tracking worse than scientists’ predictions. Mass migrations, geopolitical upheavals, biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruptions are some of its other perils. For instance, if this winter ends without a su cient stretch of deep frost, we could see an overabundance of all kinds of pests right here in Westchester in the spring and summer. Mending our energy-extravagant ways will be a challenge, so it behooves us to kickstart the easiest actions without delay. Transitioning construction to all-electric buildings in New York State is one such impactful move that would actually save money and is worthwhile for its health and economic bene ts alone. With the U.S. becoming the world’s largest exporter of liqui ed natural gas, the era of cheap natural gas is over.  e tens of thousands of new gas customers each year create enormous extra demand that increases pressure on everyone’s supply prices. Most New Yorkers are unaware that new gas hookups with service lines  e case for all-electric Impact on climate, health & economics DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ANSHUL GUPTA GUEST COLUMNIST SEESCOTT PAGE 11 SEEGUPTA PAGE 11

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11 Valentine’s Day Event Please call for Reservations! TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14th 7-10pm DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT 489 E. MAIN STREET JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY 10535 TO VIEW MENU: TheJeffersonOnTheLake.com/special-occasions 929-614-3021 • Glass of Red or White Wine • 4 Appetizers • 5 Entrees• Dessert • Coffee/Tea • Prosecco Toast (Cash bar available) “Sounds Familiar” with Sean & Valerie PRIX FIXE DINNER INCLUDES CHOICE OF: ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY: PER PERSON +TAX/GRATUITY and meters costing thousands of dollars each are mostly given away for free and their cost is tacked onto everyone’s delivery charges. Not only would it be cheaper to construct and power new buildings with highly ef-  cient and reliable cold-climate heat pumps, it could also o er cost reprieve to existing gas customers. According to the 2022 Clean Energy Industry Report, building electri cation and energy-e ciency is the largest segment of New York’s clean energy jobs that grew 13% over  ve years. Mount Kisco-based Dandelion Energy has never stopped hiring since installing its  rst geothermal heat pump in 2018 and has expanded into three neighboring states. Each year, its systems enable hundreds of new households to start heating and cooling their homes without paying astronomical utility bills or polluting their neighborhoods.  e outdoor pollution from fossil fuels in New York’s buildings is estimated to be responsible for about 2,000 deaths each year, with about $22 billion in associated healthcare costs. Similarly, indoor pollution from leakage and combustion of gas is linked to myriad health risks, including asthma among children and dementia among the elderly. None of these bene ts have prevented the fossil-fuel industry and its allies from attempting to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt about our clean energy future with scaremongering over grid capacity and reliability and with culture wars over gas stoves. Our electric grid is stressed in the summer while the heat pumps add to the winter electricity demand. Major utilities like Con Edison support all-electric new construction to begin an orderly transition to a pollutionfree buildings sector. According to the Energy Information Administration, 26% of U.S. homes are already all-electric; 33% rely on electricity for space heating, and 57% for cooking. A majority of Americans do not cook on gas. Even fossil-fueled heating doesn’t work during power failures without expensive generators. A look at poweroutage.us would reveal that beyond severe weather events, power outages are uncommon. However, almost every winter day, HVAC technicians and plumbers rush to rescue thousands of customers with broken boilers, furnaces and water heaters.  e state of Washington recently mandated electric heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water in all new buildings starting July 2023.  e prohibition on fossil-fuel hookups in new construction in New York City and Montreal, which is colder than most of New York State, will start phasing in starting 2024.  e technology is ready and economical; all we need for saving money while saving lives is to muster the political courage to stand up to special interests and hasten the transition to all-electric buildings. Hopefully, our legislature and Governor Hochul would do just that. Anshul Gupta is a research scientist and a member of the Westchester chapter of the Climate Reality Project, a 501(c)3 not-for-pro t international organization founded and led by former Vice President Al Gore. GUPTA FROM PAGE 10 all cars and light duty trucks sold in 2035 must be electric. Now, I think electric cars are cool, but they are expensive and they do have their limitations. If my six numbers come in on the lottery, I’ve got my eye on that Porsche EV I saw at the electric car show last summer.  e sticker price starts at 100 grand. I’ve been relying on the quick pick for the lottery, which isn’t working. I think I need to be more thoughtful in my number selection strategy if I am going to succeed. Hybrids seem to make more sense to me than all-electric.  ey deliver the range and  exibility of ICE vehicles while providing the savings and reduced environmental impact of an EV. Interestingly, most owners of EV’s also own an ICE vehicle. I’m not sure if hybrids will be banned in New York, like they have been in Europe’s new targets, by 2035 or not. Details to follow. What doesn’t get much coverage is the impact on the electric grid that banning all these fossil fuel powered vehicles and appliances will have. Is there capacity? Clearly, there isn’t currently, and it is questionable whether it can be ramped up in time to meet the new demand. And what will the impact be on electric rates, which in New York are already among the highest in the country. EVs are cleaner than ICE vehicles, but not by as much as you might think.  e majority of the electricity generated to charge those batteries comes from fossil fuels, and in New York only 6% of the power generation comes from renewable sources. EVs just move the  ame from under the hood to the power plant. Also to be considered is that the energy devoted to mining and re ning the rare earth minerals needed for battery manufacturing is signi cant, not to mention environmental impacts and the fact that China has a stranglehold on the supply chain. Central planners always fail to account for the unintended consequences of their actions, which will be shouldered by their constituents. In this case, the unintended consequences will be the higher costs for vehicles, appliances and the energy to power them. New York’s actions will make our state even less competitive nationally.  ese technologies, both in power generation and vehicle technology, need to be given time to evolve prior to mandates being handed down. SCOTT FROM PAGE 10

PAGE 12 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 we currently know.   ink of all the bene ts about breastfeeding that we’ve not yet sussed out through the scienti c model.  I bring all this up as context for understanding how science mixed with commerce often misses the mark. My anecdote is also a bridge to the present moment. We recently saw this same kind of “logic” deployed against the populace about the mRNA vaccine. We were told this experimental use vaccine, built with a new mechanism heretofore untrialed on humans, with no extensive data trail, was far superior to mother nature at creating natural immunity in its recipients.  It was a bait and switch on the populace. Leverage the term “antivax” at the opposition and make the media and popular culture call them “science deniers,” with the implication that they are all barbarian troglodyte know-nothings, and people tend to fall into line. No one wants that level of scorn aimed at them by the rest of society.  When government mandates began, the stakes were raised. Policies announced were punitive against the unbelievers. No entrance to entertainment or restaurants without vaccine papers.  ere began months of strangeness.  “Your papers please,” became a common phrase, as though we were watching a movie about the  ird Reich or the communist block from East Germany to the USSR. At the time, we naively thought that would never  y here. Fly it did, soaring right into the hemisphere.   ere were even a lot of voices, many famous, stating publicly that unvaccinated people – who were termed grandma killers – should be denied all medical services because they willfully put people in harm’s way.   And yet, this narrative proved entirely false.  e CDC was forced to admit that natural immunity worked better than the vaccines, which did not, as we all know now, stop transmission in any shape or form. In fact, the vaccines were never tested at any point for their ability to stop transmission.  ough, that did not stop the media from announcing on their broadcasts – despite their lack of investigations – that they did precisely this.  So why bring up all this old news now?   Because we  nally know how the decision was made to deny that getting COVID conferred natural immunity.  ere was a small, late-night Zoom meeting, undisclosed to the public. In it, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the Department of Tropical Medicine at Bailor College of Medicine, and a frequent guest “expert” on the media, argued for this nonsensical policy. Former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, decreed that this would be the FDA policy going forward.  ey cited “science” as their reason. But this was never science. Good science is never afraid of open debate. In fact, it requires it.  is is simply authoritarianism, pushing a fear agenda onto the public, in the name of science.  Again, why is this important now? Why dredge up an old battle?    Because Gov. Hochul is still  ghting to keep  rst responders who were  red under these deplorable mandates from being able to recoup their jobs. She is still on the news saying that the vaccines prevent transmission and people unvaccinated with the mRNA experimental treatment do not deserve to work in New York hospitals for that reason.  And it is all lies.  Mara Schi ren, PhD, is a Writer, Certi ed Functional Medicine Health Coach, Certi ed Integrative Psychiatric Educator and Certi ed Peak Performance Coach. You can reach her at MSchi ren.writer@ gmail.com. SCHIFFREN FROM PAGE 9 Dear Dr. Linda, I’ve been a third-grade teacher for over 20 years and have never allowed my students to celebrate Valentine’s Day in my class. I know my colleagues think I’m mean, but I’m refusing to celebrate it for many reasons: 1. Children hand out cards to each other and there’s always some child left out or gets very few. 2. Children are always asked to write a Valentine card during class for their mother and father. My mother and father died when I was young, so every year creating those cards was like torture for me. 3. It’s a day of make-believe “love.” If you want to share the day with a loved one, it doesn’t have to be broadcast all over. All that does is make the person who doesn’t get the card or box of candy feel bad. I’m not wasting an entire day on this silly holiday. A good friend of mine thinks I’m 100% wrong. What’s your opinion? -Barbara Dear Barbara, I do understand where you’re coming from. Holidays can be a sad and stressful time for many people, especially if they have just lost a loved one or are separated from loved ones. It’s obviously a sad day for you. But, the children in your class aren’t coming from your point of view. For the most part, children Should Valentine’s Day be celebrated in school? SEEDR. LINDAPAGE 13 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years Do you understand the difference between an irrevocable and a revocable trust? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 13 DR. LINDA FROM PAGE 12 It’s a little after 8 p.m., and the kids are  nally in bed. Well, if you’re in my house, it’s probably after 9 p.m. before all three are  nally tucked away. You make sure the garbage is taken out, the dishes are done, the lunches are packed and alarms are set. You sit down and  nally you breathe. Oh wait, you get back up and let the dog out. You sit down again. A huge “Ahhh!” leaves your mouth and you smile. It’s  nally mommy’s time. Now, you’ve been here before. It’s now close to 10 p.m. and you know you should go to bed. You’re well aware of how every article and Instagram meme advise on getting enough rest and anything under six hours a night isn’t going to cut it. You are reminded how under-eye circles and bloating can pop up without warning if you’re over 35 and without a good night’s rest. But you haven’t had a moment to yourself all day! You deserve some quality me time. You know there are a million things you can do. You can catch up on laundry,  nish that novel you were reading, start grading those papers you’ve had for a week, but girl, this is your time! You forgo all of the smart advice, grab your granny sweater, change into your frumpy sweats and grab a glass of wine and some snacks. And honestly, who are you kidding? You have been in your frumpy sweats since you got home. You decide it’s Net ix for the win. Now to  nd a show… oh wait, you’re up again…you almost forgot to let the dog back in. Back to a show, the possibilities are endless! Should you catch up with your guilty pleasure of reality TV? Maybe a little Bachelor in Paradise to remind yourself that your day was hard, but at least you’re not on an island trying to  nd someone to marry you. However, maybe after a glass of wine, that island isn’t looking too bad. Or maybe you had a rough day and are looking for some kind of rom-com that’s easy and light. You know you’re going to have one hand on your phone scrolling while the other is elbow deep in a bag of chips. You suddenly feel judged. And you should. Net ix is in fact judging you. You sco at the TV and choose something cheesy, but in a good way. You’ve chosen…Outlander. Hey, it’s historical  ction! You’re being educated about the history of Scotland all the while enjoying some eye candy.  is was the perfect choice…as if you haven’t watched the series three times already.  e thing about Outlander is it will pull at your heart strings. You fall in love with Jamie and Claire’s love. You start getting mad at your husband because he isn’t a big Scottish man in a kilt who lives his life to serve you. And anyone who says they haven’t watched Outlander is Don’t. Bother. Mommy. 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Includes Free cup of coffee or tea Breakfast Specials like parties, and if they know that their friends in other classes are having a Valentine party and getting cards and probably cupcakes and candy—and they’re not—that’s sad too. Does this mean that you must celebrate every holiday that comes along? Of course not. But if most of the children in your school are going home on Valentine’s Day with a bag full of goodies, and your students are not, then you must consider what will be “sadder” for them. Remember, school is a place where children learn many things, not only academics. Kids need to grow socially and emotionally as well as academically, in a safe place.  e good news is that you have the power to reduce the negatives. By now, you should know if there are children in your class who have special circumstances like yours, where parents are absent. You can’t change that, but you can decide in advance how the instructions are given, having children who have alternative family situations make cards for those adults who are important to them. And you can control the card-giving part by making “rules” so that no child is left out (or asking other teacher friends how they’ve done it in the past). Some teachers manage this by having their classes suggest rules. You’ll be surprised at how many good suggestions will be presented. Kids are usually more attuned to what’s fair than adults—they’re creative and great problem solvers when given the opportunity. School is not just a place where facts are crammed into brains so that students get high SAT scores or get into the best colleges. Its goal is to produce lifelong learners, problem solvers and creative thinkers. It’s a place where students learn perseverance and resilience.  ey learn how to respect each other’s opinions and lifestyles. School is an opportunity for students to learn and explore various subjects on their way to eventually  nding lifestyles and lines of work that they enjoy. So, you have a choice. You can harbor negative feelings about Valentine’s Day based on your own experience and project them onto your students. Or you can put a spin on the day that will bring fun and happiness into your classroom, and I’ll bet you’ll bring fun and healing into your own heart too. Happy Valentine’s Day, Dr. Linda Dr. Linda Silbert has a weekly Education Q&A column in Halston Media’s community newspapers. Submit questions using the contact form at StrongLearning.com.

PAGE 14 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 When Mahopac and Carmel varsity hockey teams faced o at Brewster Ice Arena on Sunday night, there was more at stake than the game itself. It was for the bene t of Putnam Community Cares, a nonpro t organization that helps families of school-aged children who have a parent su ering from cancer or other major medical illnesses. According to Putnam County legislator and Community Cares founder Amy Sayegh, the game raised over $900, which will help families throughout Putnam County, Northern Westchester and Southern Dutchess counties. “I’d like to thank the Mahopac and Carmel varsity hockey teams, the parents and the coaches for supporting Community Cares this year,” Sayegh said.   “Community Cares is a small not-for-pro t helping local families going through cancer treatments and all donations stay local helping our friends and neighbors at a di cult time.” Hockey fundraiser a success Mahopac & Carmel skaters raise funds & awareness in cancer fi ght PHOTOS: JAMES PFEIFER Mahopac and Carmel hockey players helped raise funds and awareness in the fi ght against cancer Fans turned out to support the players and the fi ght against cancer Read the game report on page 16. Learn how you can help at communitycares.org. Elder Law Wills, Trusts & Estates Estate Planning Medicaid Applications Guardianships Probates Elder Law & Estate Planning A Tradition of Excellence in Elder Law (845) 621-8640 thefellergroup.com 625 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541 We make home & hospital visits Contact the team today! (845) 621-8640 845-279-9555 • TankRemovalServices.com Before you place your home on the market, contact ENVIROSTAR about replacing your aging underground storage tank (UST). It it required by most insurance companies prior to insuring property. We replace above ground tanks as well! Call us today for a free estimate and evaluation of your current above ground tank. WINTER SPECIAL! $100 OFF IN-GROUND TANK REMOVAL With this coupon only. Coupon must be presented at the time of the estimate. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 2/28/23 FREE ESTIMATES WE WILL MATCH OUR COMPETITOR’S ADVERTISED OFFER! We are the name you trust for environmental needs Since 1998 DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH AN AGING OIL TANK!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 15 Friends of the Library ra le To celebrate the reopening of the Book Barn, the Friends of Mahopac Public Library are hosting a ra e January 28 through February 18.  e prize will include a mixology kit donated by Jean and Joe Tock and a basket of additional items for raising a cheer. Ra e tickets are $5 each. To see the prize and purchase tickets, please stop by the Library’s main desk through February 18.  e drawing will be in the Library, Saturday, February 18, at 2 p.m. Proceeds of the ra e will support the programs and services of the Mahopac Public Library. United for the Troops Gala Tickets are on sale now for the annual United for the Troops Gala, scheduled to take place on Friday March 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Villa Barone Hilltop Manor 466 Route 6, Mahopac.  e event will include dinner, dancing, and open bar a 50/50 ra e and a $10,000 ra e. Organizers of the volunteer-led nonpro t said the annual event “raises essential resources in bringing a little comfort to our troops.” Learn more at unitedforthetroops.org. Learn to save a life  e Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services o ering training in lifesaving skills from community professionals. Original and refresher basic life support (EMT)  trainings is available. You can learn more and register for these courses at putnamcountyny.com/life. For more information and directions, please call the at (845) 808-4000. Mahopac Library seeks Trustee candidates Mahopac Public Library will host three information sessions for Mahopac residents who would like to consider serving on its Board of Trustees. Meet virtually or at the Library to learn about the rewards and responsibilities of serving as a trustee, and get to know the current trustees and library director.  e two remaining sessions will be held onsite at the library from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7. Interested individuals are asked to register online at mahopaclibrary.org, or call 845- 628-2009, ext. 100, to register by phone.  e community is at the heart of the library, and its mission and goals are intended to serve the diverse interests and needs of its constituents. If you have questions, or would like additional information, contact Michele Capozzella at 845-628-2009, ext. 107 Putnam Arts Council Starts Winter Classes  e Putnam Arts Council is inviting people of all ages and skill levels to “come create, learn, and enjoy in the company of fellow students as you express yourself through the arts.” Held at the Belle Levine Art Center on 521 Kennicut Hill Road, Mahopac, classes include pottery, watercolors, print-making and more. To register or learn more about the current o erings and other Arts Council programs, visit putnamartscouncil. com or call 845.803.8622. You Can Make a Di erence. 2023 is a year for local elections.  e Town of Carmel will each be electing a County Legislator, Town Supervisor and two Council Members (Board Members). Carmel will also be electing a Town Clerk, Town Justice, Receiver of Taxes and Highway Superintendent.  e County District Attorney position is up for election, as well. You can make a di erence in the quality of life for yourself and your community by running for local o ce.  e Democratic Committees of Carmel will be holding an informational meeting on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 25. If you are interested in serving your community or just want to learn more about how local elections work, please email CarmelNYDems@gmail. com for details. Story provided by the Democratic Committees of Carmel Carmel Democrats seek candidates MUSINGS FROM PAGE 7 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! Service... Integrity... Compassion www.YorktownFuneralhome.com • (914) 962-0700 • [email protected] 945 East Main Street, Yorktown, NY 10588 Family owned and operated We began with a mission to celebrate life and serve families. There is much peace to be found here, and we invite you to find yours. Explore more. Take a tour. Read our story. Share in experiences.

BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER Coming into Sunday’s game on Feb. 5, Mahopac knew they were facing a talented and tall Carmel team.  e Indians didn’t do themselves any favors at the outset either. “We came out and made some mistakes,” said Coach Tim Donaghy. “You cannot come back against a good team like that.” Unfortunately, Donaghy was proven correct.  e Rams scored three goals in the  rst  ve minutes and went onto an easy 8-1 victory in the team’s “Hockey Fights Cancer” matchup. Mahopac’s Alex Wanner put a couple of early shots on Ra aele Lestingi, but he would not bend an inch in registering 20 saves on the evening. Instead, Noah Jettelson and Brendan McMahon fed Aidan Fleming for the  rst goal at 15:17. Still a game, Nick Stiller did have the puck bounce out to him inside the blue line, and all alone, the senior didn’t hesitate to tee o . He got the same result from Lestingi, though. Back the other way, Seamus Howard swooped in and let  y on the right. Beating Quinn Betancourt, Carmel had a 2-0 lead. 12:29 left in the period, Carmel then came from the other side. McMahon passed to Jettelson on the left, and the forward had the third goal only 21 seconds later. Not giving up yet, Jonny Martirano and Wanner peppered Lestingi again, and all Donaghy could do was praise the saves and the overall e ort of the Carmel goalie. “He made all the saves he needed to make, and when he needed to rob us, he robbed us,” said the coach. Taking the cue, Howard scored on the power play at 9:26 and then on even strength at 5:53.  e 5-0 lead was pretty insurmountable, but Christian Martirano did at least break up the shutout. He went just under the crossbar with 4:17 left in the game, and despite the solitary breakthrough, Donaghy gave props to the sustained e ort the team has put forth throughout the season. “Our guys, they work all year.  ey look out for each other,” he said. “ ey know their next shift is going to help somebody else, and they have got great camaraderie.”  e underclassmen especially did their part on this night. “A lot of the guys were stepping up, trying to make something happen for the seniors,” said Donaghy. “ ey know this is their last game and wanted to reward them for all the time they have put in.” Of course, the losses making the record lopsided is hard to miss. “It’s been a tough year,” lamented Donaghy. On the other hand, with returners like Wanner, Christian Martirano and “the  re plug” that is Ryan Danahy, the coach is certain next year will be illuminating. “ e future is looking bright. Our younger guys are going to step in and take a bigger role,” he assured. And in a year or two, he concluded, “ e sky is the limit.” Winning their previous matchup 12-9, the Sunday, Jan. 29 rematch against Fox Lane was a lot less dramatic. Mahopac won an easy 10-3 victory. On Senior Night, Jonny and Christian Martirano both had a hat trick and Sean Danahy, Tommy Poniros, Logan McCormick and Michael McFadden had one goal a piece. In between the pipes, Quinn Betancourt had 25 saves and registered the Indians fourth win on the season.  en on Wednesday (2/1), Mahopac fell 11-9 to New Rochelle. Five of Mahopac’s goals went to Christian Martirano, but his brother Jonny may have still stolen the headline. His  rst period goal was number 100, and the senior added two more. Not the only milestone, Ryan Danahy scored his  rst and Alex Wanner had the other in a losing e ort. Sports PAGE 16 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 Mahopac ends season Hockey Fights Cancer matchup PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Christian (7) and Jonny (21) Martirano with their family on Senior Night. Alex Wanner Ryan Danahy 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 2/28/23 FREE 6-POINT WINTER MAINTENANCE CHECK $20 OFF ANY CAR BATTERY With This Coupon • Expires 2/28/23 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team Get Your Car Ready for Winter Travel!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 17 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @MAHOPACSOCCER FOR THE LATEST NEWS! For More info visit mahopacsoccer.com KINDERGARTEN SOCCER...$60* IN-HOUSE 1ST-9TH GRADE...$100* STARTING APRIL 15th Coaches and volunteers needed at all levels Season set to start on April 15 for K-9th Grades Registration for Pre-K, Summer Camp & Travel Tryouts Coming Soon! MAHOPAC SOCCER SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! MAHOPAC SOCCER SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! *early bird pricing ends 2/14, registration closes 3/17  e Mahopac winter track team competed at  e Armory on Friday, Jan. 27th for the Northern and Rockland County Meet. In the boys 3200M run, Dylan Tyberg ran a 10:08.03, breaking the school record. “Dylan Tyberg, along with his brother Ryan Tyberg, have been going above and beyond this season when it comes to training.  ey are great role models to the other athletes and make the people around them work harder,” said Coach Summer Breidenbach.  e girls 4x200M team, consisting of Grace Witt, Jenna Perricone, Cece Hablering, and Sam Salomon, came in fourth place in their event with a time of 2:00.28.  e boys 4x800M, consisting of Ryan Tyberg, Dylan Tyberg, Brandon Kumrow, and Nicky Marks, came in third place in their event with a time of 8:55.25. “ e athletes that came to this meet have been training hard all season and they were able to showcase their hard work,” said Coach. ‘Pac takes on Counties Dylan Tyberg breaks school record PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUMMER BREIDENBACH The girls 4x200M relay team sprinted to fourth. The boys distance runners came together for an impressive thirdplace fi nish in the 4x800M. TRACK & FIELD

PAGE 18 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 Tour Your Future At The Tech Center at Yorktown For Middle and High School Students February 13th and 14th 8:00am-10:00am and 12:00pm-2:00pm • Visit over 40 programs within our career academies • Learn about opportunities to earn high school academic credits, college credits, and national technical certifications • Please see your home school counselor for further information and a permission slip. Information Contact: Samantha Vredenburgh at 914.248.2427 or [email protected] 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt MKT-5894N-A > edwardjones.com Tom Casey, ChFC®, CEPA®, AAMS™ Financial Advisor 163 Route 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 845-621-8647 Financial solutions are around the corner. Stop by. BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER With playo s just a week away, every win is important, and the Indians boys basketball team picked up two big wins last week. First beating Arlington, 53-38, on the Admirals’ home court Friday night (2/3), the ‘Pac also handled RCK, 50-38, two nights earlier (2/1) at home. Friday night at Arlington, the Indians jumped to a 17-7 lead after one, and led 31-14 by halftime. Jake Couzens led the Indians with 25 points, including 16 in the  rst half on 9-of13 shooting. Joey Koch added 10 points and three steals, Liam Scanlon had seven points, 10 rebounds and three assists, Dan Dedvukaj added eight points and  ve boards, and Danny Koch had seven points and dished out  ve assists. “We controlled play from the start, and throughout,” Coach Matt Calabro said. “We played the kind of basketball we have wanted to play, and we have shown glimpses of. Defensively, we are hard to score on now, and our defense turns into o ense. We were able to get out in front, and if we can hold teams around the 30’s, that’s a good recipe for success.” “Jake was incredible,” Calabro added of Couzens’ performance. “I think that was his best game of the season, and everyone played well. Danny played well with the assists, Scanlan and Dedvukaj were both very active, Kearney and Joey Koch had a big impact for us, and Connor Ferrieri was good o the bench.”  e prior Wednesday evening, the Indians controlled the pace against RCK. “It felt like we outplayed them in the  rst half, but it was tied at halftime,” Calabro said. “I was happy with our team defense, and John Kearney played good defense. We played well in the second half as well; we got the lead, and we stayed solid.”  e Indians were set to host John Jay-EF Tuesday (2/7), visit Carmel  ursday (2/9) at 6:15 p.m., and travel to RCK Saturday (2/11) at 2 p.m. in the regular-season  nale.  e Section 1 Class A tournament is scheduled to begin on Feb.18, with  rst-round games. Outbracket games are set for Feb. 16. With the Indians at 7-10 overall (4-3 in league play), Calabro likes the way his team has been playing as the tournament approaches. “Overall, we are trying to win as many as possible going into the playo s,” he said. “We have been working hard since we were 2-7. Right now every game is big, and we are going one at a time. We believe we can make some noise in the playo s, when that time comes.” ‘Pac boys snag wins over Arlington, Ketcham SPORTS BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER With playo s just a week away, every win is important, and the Indians boys basketball team picked up two big wins last week. First beating Arlington, 53-38, on the Admirals’ home court Friday night (2/3), the ‘Pac also handled RCK, 50-38, two nights earlier (2/1) Friday night at Arlington, the Indians jumped to a 17-7 lead after one, and led 31-14 by halfJake Couzens led the Indians with 25 points, including 16 in the  rst half on 9-of13 shooting. Joey Koch added 10 points and three steals, Liam Scan- ‘Pac boys snag wins over Arlington, Ketcham SPORTS BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER o s just a week away, every win picked up two big wins last week. First beating Arlington, 53-38, on the Admirals’ home court Friday night (2/3), the ‘Pac also handled RCK, 50-38, two nights earlier (2/1) at home. Friday night at Arlington, the Indians jumped to a 17-7 lead after one, and led 31-14 by halftime. Jake Couzens led the Indians with 25 points, including 16 in the  rst half on 9-of13 shooting. Joey Koch added 10 ‘Pac boys snag wins over Arlington, Ketcham Dan Dedvukaj releases a fallaway jumper vs. RCK. PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN Connor Ferrieri glides to the hoop in a win. Joey Koch had 10 points and three steals in a win over Arlington. BOYS BASKETBALL

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 19 BY SKIP PEARLMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER  e Indians girls basketball team picked up a pair of impressive wins last week, beating Pelham, 51-44, Saturday (2/4) on the road, after taking care of Arlington, 57-44, one night earlier (2/3) at home. Mahopac also took its second loss of the season to a talented RCK team, falling 55-42, the prior Tuesday (1/31) in Dutchess County. Mahopac (14-4, 5-3) was scheduled to visit John Jay-EF Tuesday (2/7), and host Carmel  ursday (2/9) to close out regular-season play.  e Section 1 tournament was scheduled to begin with  rst-round games on Feb. 18, with outbracket games set for Feb. 16. Saturday at Pelham (15-3), the Indians picked up one of their best wins of the season over a talented Pelicans team. Lauren Beberman led Mahopac with 13 points, Fiona O’Boyle added 12, and Gianna Rispoli had 10 points. “ at was a big game for us,” Indians coach Mairead Hynes said. “ ey are one of the top Class A teams, and we handed them only their third loss of the season. We played very well, we played with a lot of energy.” “Our press was huge,” Hynes added. “We created turnovers, and we didn’t let them get into their half-court press.” One night earlier at Mahopac, Beberman’s 20-point e ort led the Indians pass the Admirals. Kristina Rush added nine points in the win. “We came out strong that game,” Hynes said. “ e girls were excited to beat a team that Indians girls take second loss to RCK Roll past Arlington, Pelham GIRLS BASKETBALL PHOTO: SKIP PEARLMAN Adrianna Pranzo moves the ball. SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 21 • HEATING • AIR CONDITIONING • PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE • AIR QUALITY • DUCT CLEANING/SEALING •GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS YOUR TRUSTED HVAC COMPANY WITH DECADES OF EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com 0 DOWN 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE! $ 174 Preventative Maintenance Visit Starting at Only Plus Tax WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP? Heat pumps will help you find the perfect balance of comfort and savings all year round, while reducing your carbon footprint. These all-in-one heating and air conditioning systems optimize the temperature throughout your home to use less energy, and can save you up to 30% on your cooling and heating costs. Let BELL Keep You Warm & Comfortable! Whether its the BIG GAME, or Valentine Romance... $ 1,000 IN REBATES Heat Pump Hot Water Heater Call Us TODAY! UP TO Don’t miss your chance to lock in rebates and incentives today— VALUED UP TO 50% of your Heat Pump project while program funding lasts… CALL NOW TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY!

PAGE 20 – MAHOPAC NEWS SPORTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Monday, Jan. 30, the bowling teams traveled to the Fishkill Bowl to face Ketcham. Only two girls competing for the opposition, Mahopac won easily on the girls side, but the boys came down to the wire.  e Indians trailed by  ve pins when the last frame came around, and with everything on the line, Richard Settembrini stepped up. “We got it,” he said in providing the 2463-2461 victory.  e majority of the pins went to Austin Arzaga, though. His high score came in game one, and the bowler struck out to tally a 212. “I took my time, I threw the ball and it had a nice drag,” he said of his last three rolls. Arzaga also knows how much the team counts on him with a team high average of 173. “I feel like if I don’t hit strikes, it’s going to cost us the game,” said Arzaga, who had a 609 total. On his teammate’s heals, Chris Sapienza was neck in neck in game two. Falling four pins short with a 198, the Indian has his sights set for the top spot. “I just need to get a few more pins, a few more strikes and I’ll cook ‘em,” he joked. Either way, he’s on the upswing. “It’s going really well recently, and I hope to keep it up,” said the baseball standout. Crossing over, Liz Suriel modestly acknowledged the 121 that was good enough for a high score in game one. “It does not happen very often,” she assured. Staying in her lane, she mostly just rolls with it. “I throw it and hope for the best,” said the junior, who had a 304 total.  irteen pins behind, Emma Long was below board her 139 average. “Yeah, not a good start,” Long said. “But we are going to stay positive.”  at she did, and a 124 took the high score for Mahopac in game two. Just behind was Emily Asanza’s 123, and it was hard to miss the quick turn away after she releases the ball. “I’m scared, because I think it will not make it,” the sophomore lamented. She was not ready to reveal her admittedly “low average” either, but she felt con dence went a longer way on this day. “I had faith in myself,” said Asanza. Not the only factor, the bowler credited the lesson plan too. “I have learned to be careful and precise where you step, because if you don’t step right, you will not make the shot,” she said. Game three had Long taking the same advice and resulted in a big rebound from game one. “I just concentrated and threw it down,” she said after her 168 game tallied a total of 400. On the cusp of qualifying for Sectionals, Coach James Carroll praised her bounce back from the poor start. “She put it together, so she has a chance on  ursday (2/2),” he said. Arzaga and Richard Settembrini are in the same boat, and Carroll was de nitely happy with the good showing on both sides. “Overall, they bowled really well,” he concluded. Last  ursday (2/2), Long put together a 521 series to qualify for Sectionals. Indians defeat Ketcham at the Fishkill Bowl Emma Long PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Austin Arzaga Emily Asanza Michael Mako BOWLING

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 21 PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN Fiona O’Boyle had 12 points last Saturday in a win at Pelham. Piper Klammer looks to pass along the baseline. Lauren Beberman drives around an Arlington defender. Somers Custom Framing & Gifts 253 Route 202, Somers • 914.276.3173 [email protected] • SomersFraming.com Unique Valentine’s day Gift ideas and accessories! Complimentary Gift Wrapping Always Available! We now Carry Sterling Silver Jewelry! Unique Valentine’s day Gift ideas and accessories! We now Carry [email protected] • SomersFraming.com Aardvark Insurance WE HAVE MOVED: 421 Route 6, Mahopac Across from Cargain Funeral Home. Call Us Anytime Sue Rohrig & Joann Servillo @ 845.208.3707 We Offer Many A-Rated Companies • Adirondack • +AARP Hartford • Chubb • Foremost • Hanover • Kemper • Mercury • Main Street America • NatGen • Progressive • Safeco Travelers • Utica Mutual • Utica First We Also offer Pet Insurance • Savings • Service • Satisfaction Don’t Call an 800 # SHOP LOCAL! had beaten us (Mahopac lost a previous meeting by three points). We played with a lot of energy, which was nice to see.” “Lauren stepped up for us and shot well in that game,” Hynes added. “Jess (Sterbens) also played well. She was excellent down low, and at stopping their best player. Kristina also had some big shots for us, and Madysen Ford has been playing well.”  e prior Tuesday, the Indians took their second loss of the season to a team Hynes said is the best they have seen. “I think they are the best team we faced so far.  ey are dynamic, and hard to stop.  ey hit a lot of shots, they have two good bigs who crowd the lane, and a fantastic shooter.” Beberman’s 14 points led Mahopac, Sterbens added 11, and Rush had nine. With just two games left before the playo tournament, Hynes likes what she sees from her team. “I think we are pretty happy right now,” she said. “We are ranked third point-wise in Class A.  at can still change with two games remaining, but we are hoping for a home (playo ) game.  e girls continue to build and make adjustments, we are still getting better every day.” BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 19 ‘The girls continue to build and make adjustments, we are still getting better every day.’ Mairead Hynes Mahopac Basketball Head Coach

PAGE 22 – MAHOPAC NEWS LEISURE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! For puzzle solutions, please see theparamountrehab.com CLUES ACROSS 1. Functions 5. Records electric currents associated with contractions of the heart 8. Trigonometric function (abbr.) 11. Secret political clique 13. Type of gibbon 14. Nocturnal S. American rodent 15. Famed American playwright 16. Mesopotamian goddess 17. Abba __, Israeli politician 18. Long ridge of gravel and sediment 20. A place to stay 21. Actor Idris 22. One who behaves in a rebellious way 25. A way to measure movement 30. Distinguish oneself 31. Type of drug (abbr.) 32. Basketball great Baylor 33. Masses of salivary matter 38. Calls balls and strikes 41. Plant that grows along the ground 43. A recreational activity in the air 45. Consumes too much 47. Island nation 49. Pistol 50. Mixtures of soul and calypso 55. Ancient Greek City 56. Similar 57. Roughly trimmed tree trunk used in a Scottish game 59. Semitic fertility god 60. Born of 61. Frogs, toads, tree toads 62. School in the northeast (abbr.) 63. Soviet Socialist Republic 64. “__ the Man” Musical, baseball player CLUES DOWN 1. Fiddler crabs 2. Discount 3. Partner to “flows” 4. Ethnic group of Laos 5. Beloved “Seinfeld” character 6. Book of tickets 7. The last name of “Hermione” 8. Type of TV package 9. Helps to heal a cut 10. Town in Galilee 12. Actor Horsley 14. “Hocus Pocus 2” actor Ed 19. Bird-loving group (abbr.) 23. They respond when someone is sick 24. Emerged 25. Midway between south and southeast 26. Monetary unit of Afghanistan 27. Unit of work or energy 28. Indicates near 29. Famed river 34. For each 35. News organization 36. CNN’s founder 37. They __ 39. Areas off to the side 40. Satisfies 41. A spare bed 42. Legendary singer Diana 44. Frothy mass of bubbles 45. A kind of sorcery 46. River in South Africa 47. Philippine Island 48. County in China 51. S. American plant 52. Beverage containers 53. Edge 54. Protein-rich liquids 58. Moved quickly on foot DOOLEY FROM PAGE 13 lying to you. Find friends who aren’t embarrassed to admit they watch this show and then giggle and smack each other when dying over Jamie Fraser. Your husband walks into the room and asks you why Black Jack Randall is trying to kill your precious Jamie. You shush him and tell him that it will take too long to explain. He shrugs and leaves the room. Ah, peace. He comes back in  ve minutes later to ask where his good gray T-shirt is. You grit your teeth and tell him that it’s clean and folded in his drawer. He shrugs and leaves again. You take a sip of wine. Back to Jamie. Oh, and Claire, too. He returns. “Yessssss?” (a hissing sound escapes). “Would you mind…” he begins innocently before the following words come  ying out of your mouth: “What?! What do you neeeeed?!  is is mommy’s time! Me! I’m the mommy!” It happens all too often.  ere’s no down time for moms. And not having down time leads to the inevitable breakdown. Self-care is not a trip to the grocery store or showering by yourself.  at is not enough! Self-care should be doing something for yourself that you love.  at you deserve.  at you need. And it should be uninterrupted! Yoga, meditation, shopping, reading, whatever you want! My kids know that when mommy is on the Peloton, she’s unreachable. When mommy is singing her heart out in the basement riding away on her bike, they just know to leave the poor woman alone.  ey know I’m available 24/7 day and night. And in reality, that’s the only time I get to myself where they get to “ gure it out” or ask daddy. Imagine telling a dad that he couldn’t use the bathroom without an audience, couldn’t go to the doctor without bringing all his kids (with entertainment and snacks), or lugging all the groceries inside with the kids in tow. So forgive me if I need at least a half hour at the end of the day to look like a train wreck while shoving my face and watching nonsense on TV. Don’t. Bother. Mommy. I refuse to feel guilty over this. I am entitled to decompress in whatever way I see  t. Now, could my delivery to those who interrupt me be a bit sweeter? Yes, 100%! But it’s now 11:30 p.m. and I should have been in bed an hour ago. I’m cranky and tired and I promise myself tomorrow I’ll get some yoga in and have some time to myself. As for my husband, he knows Jamie would never tell Claire that she was being unreasonable. He gives me a hug, takes my chips and tells me to make sure I don’t fall asleep on the couch again and to get some rest. He reminds me that my neck can’t handle the wrong pillow and that tomorrow he’ll try to be home early so I can try and have some time to myself. One of these days I’ll get more than a moment to myself. For now, I’ll do my best and remember to be more patient at the end of the night. After all, there’s always tomorrow for another episode and maybe if there’s time, I’ll give my husband the recap on how Jamie and Claire met so he can watch too. Nicole Dooley is a Somers mom who enjoys writing for her parenting blog. If you enjoyed her column, you can read more of her entries at mamaexplains. com or follow her on Instagram at @mamaexplains for relatable parenting tips and stories. Don’t break up Yorktown, Somers & Eastern Putnam in Assembly District 94 Dear Editor, Recently, I provided testimony at a hearing held by the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission (NYIRC) regarding the potential redrawing of the lines for State Assembly. During my testimony, I encouraged the Commission to preserve the core of the existing Assembly District 94 and to revise its initial draft so as to keep the Town of Carmel and Mahopac whole and preserve the existing community of interest connecting the northern Westchester towns of Yorktown and Somers with the Town of Carmel and the rest of eastern Putnam County. For the last 20 years, eastern Putnam County and the northern Westchester towns Yorktown and Somers have shared representation in the State Assembly. In the upcoming redistricting, preserving this continuity of representation is both critical and vital, respectively. Communities of interest typically share commonalities with their neighbors that are not present with other communities who share commonalities and similarities with their respective neighbors. Such is the case with eastern Putnam County, including the Town of Carmel and Mahopac, and the towns Yorktown and Somers. We, indeed, are a single community of interest with integrated economies and local community concerns. What is of extreme importance is that we are also connected by the Route 202 and Route 6 corridors, forming a unique and cohesive integration. Alternatively, eastern Putnam County and the western Putnam County town of Philipstown, which includes Cold Spring, are very di erent. In large part, this is because Philipstown is served by the Route 9 corridor, while Eastern Putnam County, as well as Yorktown and Somers, are served by the Route 202 and Route 6 corridors. It would be detrimental to separate the core of the existing 94th Assembly District, its continuity of representation and the interests that these communities indisputably have in common. -Sergio Esposito Councilman, Town of Yorktown LETTER

students who missed two to three years of traditional schooling. We’re looking to close gaps to make sure that students are able to read by the time they reach third grade, they’re strong readers through middle school and high school, [that] their math skills are strong [and] their communication skills are strong so that they can leave Mahopac High School and go on to college [and/or] a career and be successful.  I think that’s always the mission of a school district, to provide opportunities. Now those opportunities change over time. Literacy is still an important focus. But so is teaching students to work together and contribute to a team where everybody has a different role, teaching how to do research, how to find information—how to find information out that’s factual, taking information from different sources to form an opinion and to have an open mind. In the world today, it’s important to be able to balance what you hear with what you believe, and to be willing to consider other people’s opinions. I think that’s our charge as educators, to provide opportunities for our students to be able to do that. Are there demographic changes in the district? Our enrollment is steady. We’re projecting about a 40-student decrease. But then again, there were a lot of demographic changes during COVID, which wouldn’t necessarily be reflected in any census data. So if families have moved here and now have students entering kindergarten, there could be an uptick in enrollment. This year, we have a larger kindergarten class than we did the prior couple of years.  We look at all of that, and that’s how we determine how we can keep class sizes just right— not too large and not too small. Right now, they’re around 20, on average, which is good. For kindergarten and first grade, we want to be a little bit under that number because students have needs when they’re coming in. What do you think are the biggest challenges for the district in the near term? We’re in budget season. We just received our state aid run. We’re putting together a [provisional budget] to bring to the board. The goal is to present a budget that meets the needs of the school district so that we can meet the needs of the students, but also balance the fiscal needs of the community. Because there are high taxes here. And we’re aware of that. We want to be able to maintain our programs and grow them because that’s to the benefit of the students. And the better our students do, the stronger the community is. Last year, the budget failed by a handful, six or seven votes. There were some reductions made to the budget and it did pass overwhelmingly on the second vote. Of course, our goal is always to present a budget that the community supports so that it will pass overwhelmingly. I think that’s the challenge right now.  If people have questions, I’d rather they ask those questions than make assumptions. I’m a new superintendent. I’ll be out there presenting the budget to different community groups. How can parents reach out if they have questions about the budget, books or anything else? If anyone has any questions, they can always reach out to me. I have my Community Connections at 6 p.m. on the nights of the regular board meetings as well as during the day [of the board meetings] at 11:30 a.m. They can also email me or call my office, and they can come to Community Connections. I asked you about the challenges. What are the things you’re looking forward to seeing happen the most over the next year? That strategic plan is going to help give us some goals to move forward. I’m also looking forward to having fully functioning libraries at each of our elementary schools that are up to date, and provide spaces for our teachers to bring students there for additional learning. In the high school and middle school, I’m looking forward to growing our offerings in Project Lead the Way engineering courses. We have a fabulous music department, a fabulous art department, and we want to keep showcasing those areas. And we have wonderful staff of talented, dedicated people. I think we offer so much for students here. We have a wonderful athletic program. And when I go to those games, I’m impressed with the number of students who come out to cheer on their friends. We welcome anyone from the community to come to the concerts, shows and the games. It brings the community together. If you’re an elementary parent, come out to the high school concerts, they’re just so entertaining. And it gives younger students something to look forward to. We have the middle school musical in March and high school musical in April. There’s always something going on. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 23 TONA FROM PAGE 6 Our current logo, we feel, pays respect and gives a nod to the indigenous people.’ -Christine Tona Superintendent, Mahopac Central School Distriuct Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 2022 was a CRAZY YEAR! 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 We can help make your taxes less crazy.

PAGE 24 – MAHOPAC NEWS LEGAL NOTICES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 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 To advertise in Mahopac News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@halstonmedia. com. Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for Mahopac 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. Sports Deadline The sports deadline for Mahopac News is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to sports@ halstonmedia.com. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 845- 208-0774. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to Mahopac News need to be a highresolution image. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to Mahopac News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to mahopacnews@halstonmedia. com or mail it to Mahopac News, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Share Your Milestones Let your neighbors know about the special moments in your life, whether it’s a birth, engagement, wedding or anniversary. 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Arts. of Org. filed w/ SSNY 2/23/18. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copies of any process served against LLC to 104 Delancey Road, North Salem, NY 10560. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. LEGAL NOTICES Notice of Formation of ALPHA BUBBLE GAMMA LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2022- 09-16. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Cameron Mayo: 351 W Lake Blvd Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Qualification of ATT Concepts, LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-01- 04 Office location: Putnam County. Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed in DE on 2023-01-01. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to ATT Concepts, LLC: 16 Mount Ebo Road South Suite 12A-3 Brewster NY 10509 Articles of Organization originally filed with DE Secretary of State (SOS). 16192 Coastal Highway Lewes DE 19958. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. Notice of Formation of J & R signs & more LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2022- 11-15. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Joseph Cavarretta Jr.: 89 Baldwin place road Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of Croton River Home Inspections LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-01-08. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Michael A. Guedes Jr.: 27 Acorn Rd Brewster NY 10509. Purpose: Any lawful purpose To advertise in Mahopac News, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected].

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 27 Trusts are excellent vehicles for probate avoidance, management of assets, ease of disposition of funds to one’s bene ciaries upon death, asset protection planning and estate tax planning.  at being said, it is often dif-  cult to know what type of Trust one needs!  is article will discuss the basic di erences between Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts. A Revocable Living Trust (RLT) is a writing wherein the Trust Creator(s) (also known as a “Grantor(s)”) create a Trust for their bene t, where they can also be the sole Trustee of the RLT. During the lifetime of the Creator, they have full control over the real property, bank accounts, investments and any other assets that have been titled in the name of the RLT, along with the power to amend, modify and/or revoke the RLT.  e most signi cant advantage of an RLT is that it avoids the need for Probate with respect to the assets titled to the RLT upon the Creator’s death. Probate is the process of admitting one’s Last Will and Testament in the Surrogate’s Court in the county where the decedent resided in order for it to be deemed legally valid after one’s passing in order to allow the Executor to have access to assets titled to the decedent’s name alone and to allow the Executor to pay bills and distribute the funds to the bene ciaries named in the Will.  e probate process can take approximately nine months to over a year to complete.  ere are also  ling fees to be paid to the court, legal fees to attorneys and one’s estate is then a matter of public record. A RLT, and the diligent transfer of one’s assets (nonIRA/non-Retirement) to said trust, can accomplish everything a Last Will and Testament can while avoiding the expenses, di culties and delays associated with the Probate process. It should be noted that IRAs, 401Ks, Annuities and Life Insurance should have named bene ciaries and alternate bene ciaries so as to avoid Probate. Additionally, any estate tax planning that can be done in one’s Last Will and Testament can be done in a RLT. In comparison, Irrevocable Trusts are trusts that cannot be amended and/or revoked.  ere are a number of types of Irrevocable Trusts, but most commonly they are used as a planning tool to transfer assets for the bene t of another without making an outright gift to said individual, or for purposes of Medicaid Planning and/or Estate Tax Planning. An Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) allows an individual to protect one’s life savings (non-retirement savings) and home from the cost of long-term care, while granting the Trust Creator the right to continue to reside in their home and still bene t from the income generated by the assets transferred to the Irrevocable Trust. With this type of Trust, the Trust Creator cannot be the Trustee of the Trust. Typically, one’s children and/or loved ones are named as Trustees.  e transfer of assets to a MAPT creates a  ve-year penalty period for Nursing Home Medicaid and, as of the time of this writing, would create a twoand-a-half-year penalty period for Home Care Medicaid for applications  led after March 31, 2024. After the penalty periods run, the funds held by the trust are protected and no longer countable assets for Medicaid eligibility purposes and Medicaid can no longer have a claim or lien on said assets. Additionally, an Irrevocable Trust can be used to transfer assets for the bene t of a loved one, friend, child and/ or grandchild so that the assets are not controlled by the Trust’s bene ciary, but can be used by the Trustee of the trust for the bene ciary’s health, education, maintenance and support.  is is an excellent tool often used to lower one’s taxable estate and provide for the education and future needs of a grandchild and/or child. As you can see, there are a number of excellent reasons to consider a Revocable and/or Irrevocable Trust! Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is a Senior Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future, and she enjoys working with individuals to ensure that their plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea received a B.S. in Business Management from Quinnipiac University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a J.D. from the Pace University School of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be contacted at 914-948-1500 or esslaw rm.com. Which is best for me? Choosing between a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust  e most signi cant advantage of an RLT [Revocable Living Trust] is that it avoids the need for Probate with respect to the assets titled to the RLT upon the Creator’s death.’ -Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano 2023 Lunch & Learn Series Noon on the last Wednesday of each month at 245 Main St., Suite 500, in White Plains The free educational programs will shed light on important elder law and estate planning topics. The 90-minute programs, which include a light lunch and refreshments, are open to the public at no cost – though space is limited. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register early by calling 914-948- 1500 to reserve their spot. February 22 – Nuts and Bolts of Estate and Financial Planning Discover the difference between a last will & testament and a trust – and why you may need both. This program will also cover the importance of the power of attorney and health care proxy documents. Presented by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. and Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Sarah Spratt LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/22/2022. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 44 Travis Corners Rd., Garrison, NY 10524. General Purpose A&J Riverdale Realty, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/29/2022. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 3 Blueberry Ln., Putnam Valley, NY 10579. General Purpose JK Arts Consulting, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 5/3/2022. Cty: Putman. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 517 Beach Rd., Mahopac, NY 10541. General Purpose LLC FORMATION NOTIFICATIONS Advertise With Us When you advertise with Mahopac News, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout Mahopac, Mahopac Falls and portions of Carmel. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. APAR PUBLICITY WITH PERSONALITY PR Public Rela ons For... Businesses | Individuals | Organiza ons | Events Your Message Is Our Mission Leave Your Message Here... (914) 275-6887 | bruceaparpr@ gmail.com BRUCE APAR

PAGE 28 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023