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Published by Halston Media, 2023-05-09 14:47:54

The Somers Record 05.11.2023

VOL. 13 NO. 6 THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 39 CLASSIFIEDS 38 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 37 LEISURE 31 OPINION 10 SPORTS 26 Tuskers Battle Yorktown pg 26 SOFTBALL Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Looking skyward PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMERS LIBRARY BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER A grand opening was held for Metro-North Railroad’s new commuter parking lot this week. Located on Croton Falls Road in Somers, it has 450 spaces, along with 10 charging units for electric cars. Sidewalks and lighting were also installed so people could safely walk to the train station in Croton Falls. It opened on Monday, May 8, and a ribbon-cutting was held the following day. fi e parking lot alleviates congestion around the station from customers parking along Croton Falls Road. During the planning stage of the project, there was close  coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Protection and Metro-North Environmental Compliance, as the parked vehicles were leaking ffl uid into a nearby watershed.  “fi is is part of our effi orts to make the railroad more convenient for all to use,” said Metro-North Railroad President and LIRR Interim President Catherine Rinaldi.  “fi e Upper Harlem Line is unique in that stations attract customers from multiple municipalities. A brand-new commuter lot will make the Croton Falls station a more attractive connecting point to get to New York City.” Supervisor Robert Scorrano said that “the residents of Somers are thrilled about the opening of the Croton Falls station. fi is expansion will give our residents additional parking options and more accessible access to Metro North, which will make for an easier commute.” North Salem Supervisor Park and ride New MTA commuter lot opens The Somers Library recently announced the winners for their latest photo contest, “The Winter Sky.” Taking top honors was Jonathan Alves with “Nebula.” See the rest of the amazing photography from these talented local shutterbugs on page 20! SEE MTA PAGE 36 The most exciting equestrian experience. 740 acres of pure perfection is on the market. The epitome of luxury for horses and their owners. Scan for Video & Property Details


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 2 291 Route 100, Somers • 914.277.8539 • Route100market.com and Deli Open 24/7/365 Visit Us At Route100market.com Happy Mother’s Day From Route 100 Market We Have Flowers For Mom!


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com “A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” —Unknown Wishing all our great Moms, a very Happy Mother’s Day! BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER 332. fi at’s how many more acres Somers needs to protect in order to achieve land and water conservation goals covered under a national initiative known as 30X30, according to author and environmental champion Tony Hiss. But it needn’t stop there; it’s just a ffl rst step, said the lifelong advocate for the preservation of habitats both natural and manmade. Hiss was basically preaching to the choir when he spoke last month about the importance of biodiversity at the Somers Land Trust’s Arbor Day Celebration. fi e SLT is a non-proffl t organization that’s been dedicated to preserving the town’s natural and historic landscapes for three decades. On Sunday, April 23, Hiss told a packed crowd at Town Hall that so far, Somers has protected 5,843, or 28.3 percent, of its 20,583 acres. If that was upped to 6,175, then the town would reach the magic 30 percent envisioned by President Biden’s executive order on tackling the climate crisis domestically and abroad. Commonly referred to as 30X30, the initiative aims to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and freshwater and 30 percent of U.S. ocean waters by 2030. Hiss called it a vital if “watered down” version of the Half Earth movement, an ambitious global effi ort also known as 50X50 that claims saving half the world’s land and oceans by 2050 can protect between 85 and 90 percent of species. “Not everything, but almost everything. Enough to A conservation conversation Tony Hiss speaks in Somers Hiss meeting with fans at the Somers Land Trust’s Arbor Day celebration. Jan Antonucci, Rosey Van Wart, Gail Simpson, Bob MacGregor, Tony Hiss, Michael Barnhart, and Lauretta Jones PHOTOS: CAROL REIF SEE HISS PAGE 6 Anthony Bambach with Tony Hiss


PAGE 4 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 The Stafi EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] Whit Anderson Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Somers Record The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request The Somers Record weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Periodicals Postage Paid at Somers, NY and at additional mailing ofi ices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Somers Record at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 (ISSN 2330-1597) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! 914.455.2158 10% OFF Service Calls When You Present this Ad First Time Customers Only Light up your summer • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers • GENERATORS AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! Somers Lions Club Carnival May 17 through 21 To be held at Fireman’s Field on Rt. 202. Featuring rides, games, food, and fun! Pay one price ride special every day! The Fabric of Our Community Monday thru Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Through June 30 Hosted by Coldwell Banker Realty, featuring an exhibit by local artists. Free admission. Located at fi e Bailey House, 338 Route 202 in Somers. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 331 Route 100, Somers SPRING PLANT SALE Mothers’ Day gifts, quality annuals and perennials, beautiful mixed ff ower baskets and more will be for sale through Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring cash or your checkbook! Somers Education Foundation www.sefny.org HARLEM WIZARDS  BASKETBALL GAME Friday, May 12, at 7 p.m. GOLF OUTING Monday, June 12, at 11 a.m. Returning for the 22nd time! To be held at Anglebrook Golf Club Somers Recreation Department 914-232-8441 [email protected] SPRING PROGRAMS Registration now open! Visit www.somersny.com, then click on “Parks & Recreation” and scroll down to “Program Registration Site.” Available programs are in the green tab. DAY CAMP REGISTRATION Offl ering a variety of fun ffi lled activities, sports, group games, arts and crafts, performers and special theme days. fi ere is also a NEW on-site inff atable waterslide! fi e camp fee includes all programs, themed days and entertainment. Grades: Entering Kindergarten - 8th in Sept. 2023 Camp Dates: 6/26 - 8/4 No Camp 7/3 & 7/4 Camp Fee: $850.00 For the entire 6 weeks DAY CAMP POSITIONS AVAILABLE First Aid Supervisor, Counselor. To be a camp counselor applicants need to be at least 16 years old by the start of camp, 6/26. Applicants available to work the entire 6 weeks of camp, Mon.-Fri. 6/26-8/4, will be given preference. To apply, visit www. somersny.com. If you have any questions, please call the Recreation Department at (914) 232-8442 Westchester Female Flag Football Registration is open for Summer Female Flag Football under the lights! Westchester Female Flag Football, powered by Gridiron Partners, offl ers a summer league for adults (fi ursday evenings) and youth (Tuesday evenings) from late June through early August at the Somers High main football turf ffi eld. Please visit their website to learn more and register https:/clubs.blue sombrero.com/gridiron. Visit them on Instagram and Facebook @gridiron partnersinc The Somers Library Please register using the online calendar at www.somerslibrary. org to have access to online meetings. If virtual, you will receive an invitation prior to the start of the program. Programs are supported by the Friends of the Somers Library through patrons’ generous contributions. (IN PERSON) ENERGY SMART HOMES WORKSHOP Thursday, May 11, from 7 to 8 p.m. Saving the planet one backyard at a time! Join in at the Somers Library to learn about decarbonizing your home heating and cooling. Plan for the future to avoid a missed opportunity for heat pumps in your home and ffi nd out more about state, utility and Inff ation Reduction Act incentives for the weatherization and electriffi - cation. Speakers include Sustainable Westchester’s Energy Smart Homes Installer Partners. fi is presentation is sponsored by Somers Energy Environment Committee. Please register online or call the library. SEE TRUNK PAGE 9 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 Bring back common sense approach to education and focus on Accountability, Academics, and Transparency. Paid for by Pat & Dom for BOE. VARBERO and DEMARTINO for Somers Board of ED. MAY 16th Vote Rows 1 and 2 • Attended SCSD K-12 • 3 children in district • 12 year Veteran and Sergeant Harrison Police Dept • Homeland Security & Incident Command System Certifications • NYS DCJS Instructor • Volunteer Baseball and Football Coach • SEPTA Member • 40 years of family history in Somers • Father of 2 children in the district • Long time Somers resident • Business Owner • 10 years Military Service – US NAVY Reserve • Military Intelligence Exp /Top Secret Clearance • Advocate for advancing STEM programs • Flag Football Coach VARBERO and DEMARTINO for Somers Board of ED. MAY 16th Vote Rows 1 and 2 • Attended SCSD K-12 • 3 children in district • 12 year Veteran and Sergeant Harrison Police Dept • Homeland Security & Incident Command System Certifications • NYS DCJS Instructor • Volunteer Baseball and Football Coach • SEPTA Member • 40 years of family history in Somers • Father of 2 children in the district • Long time Somers resident • Business Owner • 10 years Military Service – US NAVY Reserve • Military Intelligence Exp /Top Secret Clearance • Advocate for advancing STEM programs • Flag Football Coach Bring back common sense approach to education and focus on Accountability, Academics, and Transparency. PAT VARBERO DOM DEMARTINO


PAGE 6 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Seasonal Plants Potted Perennials Annuals & Vegetables 10”, 12” & Larger Hanging Baskets 914-232-3570 194 ROUTE 100 SOMERS, NY Jonathan Green Grass Seed Pottery, Insecticide Fruit Trees & Flowering Trees 1.5 MILES NORTH OF RTE 35 INTERSECTION ON ROUTE 100 MON - SAT 8-5 • SUN 8-4 Specializing in Complete Landscape Design & Installation Happy Mother’s Day Large Selection of Perennials! Somers Faculty Association BUDGET VOTE & TRUSTEE ELECTION: MAY 16, 2023 Remember the children and please... WHAT YOU’LL BE VOTING ON: LOCATION: SMS GYMNASIUM, 250 ROUTE 202, SOMERS, NY TIME: 7 AM to 9 PM ANYONE WHO IS A RESIDENT OF THE SOMERS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A REGISTERED VOTER MAY VOTE ON MAY 16. V OT E 2023-24 BUDGET AUTHORIZE USE OF MONEY FROM CAPITAL RESERVE FUND ELECTION OF TWO TRUSTEES feel like we’ve done a decent job,” he said. According to Hiss, a million species of plants and animals are now at risk of extinction. He also pointed to a recent report from the United Nations that declared “decisions made in this decade will afi ect life thousands of years from now.” By protecting biodiversity, we can also protect ourselves, Hiss said. “We’re beginning to realize that saving them is not just a nicety, it’s not just a nicety, it’s an essential because it’s really the patterns of life created by difi erent species that make it possible for us to have enough food to eat and for us to have enough air to breathe.” “Arboreal landscapes store carbon in a way that nothing else can,” Hiss said, referencing Canada’s 894 million acres of forest, the third largest such area in the world. It’s also important to us humans’ physical, mental, and emotional health, which, he said, “is so dependent on some kind of contact with natural surroundings.” Hiss was a stafi writer for  ffl e New Yorker magazine for more than 30 years and a visiting scholar at New York University for 25 years. Now 81, he continues to lecture around the world and has written 15 books. His latest eye-opening work,  “Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth,” addresses the brutal realities of climate change – heat waves, ffi oods, tropical storms – and outlines the challenges and opportunities in North America. SLT president  Michael Barnhart  praised the book as “a wonderful read and very inspiring.” “After 30 years, which is as long as the land trust’s been in business -- and I’ve been with them since the very beginning -- I was feeling a little tired, but Tony’s book defl nitely revivifl ed me and made me feel much more optimistic,” he said, adding that he hoped the folks in the audience would feel that way too after reading it. With the support of the town, county, and entities such as the state Department of Environmental Conservation and New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the local land trust has done a lot to protect the environment. It owns Rhinoceros Creek Reservation and is the town’s designated steward of the 654-acre Angle Fly Preserve, which is home to the last naturally spawning brook trout stream in Westchester. Together with the Westchester Land Trust, SLT is involved in a number of conservation easements in town. It has also partnered with municipal agencies and other non-profl ts on the preservation of Stuart’s Farm as forever agricultural land and other projects such as ffl e Pollinator Pathway, which is a program supporting public and private pesticide-free corridors of native plants that provide food and living space for pollinating insects and birds. Education and advocacy have continued to be tops on the SLT’s agenda, said vice president Bob MacGregor. Of current concern is the protection of the aquifer that runs under the Rhinoceros Creek Preserve, he told the crowd. HISS FROM PAGE 3 SEE HISS PAGE 33


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 7


PAGE 8 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 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! Elizabeth Spano and Rayssa Aguiar love reading and enjoy competition. “I like challenges,” said a proud Spano, a sixth-grade student at Somers Middle School. “I’m a competitive person.” fi e latest challenge posed at the SMS Library allowed Spano, along with her classmates, to put a face behind that claim — literally. Students have been encouraged to participate in the ongoing Bookface Challenge, which involves a reader closely matching his or her face or body part with a book cover. Aguiar, who is also a sixth grader, ff rst picked a book with one large eye on the cover, but couldn’t form an appropriate picture. She instead chose “Jake,” pairing the bottom of her face with the blueeyed subject. Aguiar, who has dark brown eyes, embraced the contrast. “I looked for something that was the opposite of what I look like but also one I could make work on camera,” she said. “I saw books that looked like me but none of those worked. I tried this one and I thought it looked good.” fi e striking images were ff rst popularized in 2015 by the New York Public Library, along with other libraries eager to ditch their hard-copy reputation and join the digital trend. fi e photographs became especially popular on Instagram and readers posted photos on Fridays with the hashtag #BookfaceFriday. Article courtesy of Somers Central School District. Bookface gives busy students a fun challenge


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 9 Now Accepting New Patients We Are In-Network With MetLife, Delta Dental, United HealthCare, Cigna PPO, and Ameritas PPO, and We Accept Other Insurances 914.277.3518 380 Route 202 at Junction of 116 (across from Heritage Hills) PaulHarbottle.com Excellence in Dentistry In Somers Since 1990 Paul D. Harbottle, DDS VOTED TOP DENTIST 2009-2019 by his Peers as featured in (IN PERSON) MANAGING MONEY: A CAREGIVER’S GUIDE TO FINANCES Friday, May 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. If you or someone you know is facing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or another chronic illness, it’s never too early to put fi nancial plans in place. ff is program offers tips for managing someone else’s fi nances, guidance on how to prepare for future care costs and the benefi ts of early planning. Please register. (IN PERSON) WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE YOU SAY “I DO” Saturday, May 13, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Join local attorney Tracy Christen Reimann for a discussion about this important topic. Many times we may get too wrapped up with all the wedding planning and anticipating the exciting chapter of your life as a couple and forget to think about the basic blueprint of your life planning. ff e seating chart is NOT the only thing that has to be arranged, especially when you are “blending” families or you are a business entrepreneur. Please join in for an informative and light hearted discussion on the alternatives and best planning options for your joint venture to ensure a happy future for all! Please register online or call the library. (VIRTUAL) THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS: RECKONING AND RECLAIMING Tuesday, May 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Even after 300 years, Salem’s witch trials remain a defi ning example of intolerance and injustice in American history. ff e extraordinary events of 1692-3 led to the deaths of 25 innocent people, the vast majority of whom were women. ff e exhibition includes tangible fragments from the past that illuminate the real lives of Salem’s residents: those accused of witchcraft, their accusers, and those who defended them against legal charges, risking their own lives and reputations in the process. ff e exhibition and virtual presentation seeks to ask: In moments of injustice, what role do we play? Presented by: New York Historical Society and Greenburgh Public Library, Dobbs Ferry Public Library, Harrison TRUNK FROM PAGE 4 SEE TRUNK PAGE 32 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK


Opinion 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Somers Record or its afi iliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY , EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Ofi ice: 914-302-5830 [email protected] PAGE 10 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 As some of my friends will tell you, I’m always ready to take the other side of an argument just to keep the discussion lively. It goes without saying, everyone tells you that you need to vote in your local school board election. With elections on the horizon next Tuesday, May 16, one wonders if your vote really matters. In recent years, budgets have passed by wide margins and many of the school board races have been uncontested. So why bother to vote? Clearly the “stay home, your vote doesn’t matter” vibe seems to be the majority position since turnout for these local school board races is abysmally low, usually about 20%. People say one thing about your vote mattering, but voter behavior would seem to say the opposite. Does your vote matter? It does, so 20% turnout is discouraging.  Here’s the argument for doing better. ff ere is no more responsive level of government than your school board. Some of our brave neighbors are stepping up for a sometimes thankless volunteer position that has more impact than the elected offl cials upstream from them in the food chain. What could be more impactful than shaping the education of our children? Yet as voters, we have our priorities backwards. Everybody gets jazzed about voting for president, senator and congressperson since turnout in those elections runs above 80%. Most of those same voters are no-shows at the local level even though our votes at the local level have so much more impact.  My wife and I raised our kids here. ff ey are in their 30s now and have moved away.  We have been voting on school board budgets and school board races since they were in preschool. It dawned on me that our district has spent over $2 billion during that time. Not a small sum. Tuesday’s election is the most important one High voter turnout tells the school district that we’re paying attention DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Demartino and Varbero are the best choices for school board Dear Editor, Somers is a town with a long history of being a community for middle-class working families, and this is still true today. We are writing in support of the two candidates for the school board who best represent the priorities and values of those hard-working, tax-paying families. Many Somers families require dual incomes to make ends meet. For single parents, these pressures are even more pronounced. ff ese are parents who wake up early and come home late. Families are overextended as they sprint on the treadmill of life. While mothers and fathers in this district remain preoccupied, performing logistical gymnastics while putting food on the table, changes are happening in the school system. Many of the changes continue to catch parents offi guard, and they are unaware of how or when the changes came about and how they will impact our children and the district in the long term. Most of us are made aware too late to have a say or for there to be a conversation. ff e cancellation of “Colonial Day” is a primary example.  Finally, people are beginning to speak up. At a minimum, they have started to pay attention. ff is attention requires more time and energy for many who don’t have that extra hour to dedicate to a board meeting or a 4 p.m. ad-hoc discussion, let alone join a subcommittee to “have a seat at the table.” As parents learn more, there is a developing consensus that decisions are being made “in secret,” leading to more signifl - cant skepticism. ff e remaining trust is destroyed when these parents stand up at board meetings to speak and are silenced by rules, processes, and embellished interpretations of legal defl nitions. ff e result is a growing number of voices who want a change because their trust has been lost.  Having a board that represents a cross-section of the community can help to ensure that the needs and concerns of all students and families are considered. ff e current board is similar to a single-party system that, by default, silences many voices in this town. Policies and decisions are made or changed, and no agent represents their point of view, leaving many with little or no opportunity for an “open conversation.” ff is is core to the current division.  As a further insult to working families, it was insinuated on a social media page that Pat Varbero and Dominick Demartino were somehow unqualifl ed to serve as trustees due to their lack of academic accreditation. Does this mean a blue-collar worker is not fl t to run as a Trustee in Somers? ff is view is elitist and arrogant. ff ere is an over-indexing of credentials versus real-world experience; we need voices representing a new perspective. Two candidates on the ballot offi er the district’s parents, teachers and students an opportunity to bring back balance through common sense. We, as tax-paying citizens, have a role to play in this; a chance to have our voices represented in the closeddoor executive session meetings. ff is is why we wholeheartedly support two of Somers’ own, Pat Varbero and Dom Demartino, as Trustees for the Board of Education.  ff ese are unequivocally the candidates for change and a voice for the currently underrepresented.  -Paul and Danielle Ciavardini, George and Christine Rios, Michael and Kristen Fiumara, Paula and Richie Guaragna, and Tina Berisha Palushaj  Somers families LETTER SEE SCOTT PAGE 11


Our relationship with the schools has changed, since we have lost the connection of having kids in the district. fi e last time I checked, two out of three families who pay taxes to support our schools, like us, don’t have children in the district. Yet, they support the mission with their wallets. For us, casting a vote is an aff rmation of our engagement in the community and it sends a message to those elected that we are paying attention. Low voter turnout sends the opposite message.  New York, for all its ffi aws, has it right with our school board elections in that they are nonpartisan. With the partisan rancor nationally, it is nice to have these elections without subjecting the electorate to party labels. However, it seems as though that may be slowly changing. You get the feeling that the local parties are starting to exhibit some inffi uence behind the scenes. For many of you on the sidelines, who haven’t voted because you don’t feel up to speed on the issues, I ofl er a couple of strategies. First, pick up the last couple of issues of your local paper. You should  nd some decent coverage about how your THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 SCOTT FROM PAGE 10 SEE SCOTT PAGE 19 Brewster, NY and Bethel, CT Showrooms On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! 845-278-0070 Southeastkitchenandbath.com Celebrating 50 years NOW OPEN: NH44 Indian - Hartsdale COMING SOON:Jaipore Express - Briarcliff Manor LUNCH MON - THURS: 11:30am - 2:30pm SAT & SUN: 11:30am - 3:00pm DINNER MON - THURS: 5 - 9:30pm FRI & SAT: 5 - 10:00pm / SUN: 5 - 9pm CLOSED TUESDAY 280 ROUTE 22 l BREWSTER,NY CALL FOR RESERVATIONS! 845-277-3549 SUNDAY, MAY 14TH JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL BRUNCH & DINNER BUFFET 12:00 - 3:00 pm / 4:30 - 9:00 pm $ 40 per person Visit us at 3563 Mohegan Ave. in Mohegan Lake! Federally Insured by NCUA *APY (Annual Percentage Yield). 4.25% APY based on 18 month certificate special. Minimum opening deposit of $500 and must maintain $500 minimum balance to earn advertised rate. Early withdrawal penalties apply. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional deposits are not allowed. Certificate specials will automatically renew into Sunmark’s 1-year certificate at the prevailing rate at the time of maturity. Rate is accurate as of April 26, 2023. Speak with a Sunmark representative for current rate information as well as applicable fees and terms. Rates subject to change. WAY TO SAVE A Brighter % 4.25 APY* 18 MONTH CERTIFICATE SPECIAL Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 914-302-5830.


PAGE 12 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 History is just a fable we all agree on. -Napoleon Bonaparte When my brother passed away a little more than four years ago, his family created a tribute video for him that ran on a loop on one of the TVs in a waiting room at the funeral parlor. It was essentially a photo montage set to fi e Beatles’ “In My Life.” fi ere were pictures of him as a little kid wearing a cowboy outff t replete with a holster and a pair of plastic six-shooters. fi ere were more recent ones, like him playing with his grandkids and celebrating a birthday, all the time sporting his trademark gray goatee. But the photo that most caught my attention was the one where he and two of his friends were posing in drag and blackface. Nowadays, that little snapshot would have freaked out everyone on both sides of the aisle. fi e conservatives would have a meltdown over the drag ensemble he was wearing, and the liberals would have been apoplectic over the blackface. Danny was an equalopportunity offl ender. Actually, my big brother would have never intentionally offl ended anyone. fi ere was not a racist or sexist bone in his body. But the dude did love Motown—fi e Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and fi e Four Tops. He had all their records. So that is why, when he was invited to a Halloween party that had karaoke (circa 1985), he and two of his friends went dressed as his favorite Motown girl group—Diana Ross and the Supremes. It was not meant to be racist, and certainly not sexualized in any way. It was bombastic and outrageous. fi ey sang “Stop! In the Name of Love”... badly. It was pretty disturbing. Dan never expressed any desire to pursue a career in politics, although he was a natural-born leader. He was president of his senior class and co-captain of the football team. He was prom king and voted Best Smile in the yearbook. Although he genuinely liked helping out and getting involved in the community, he was too thin-skinned for the ugly crucible politics can be. He wanted everyone just to be happy and play nice. So that Leave presentism in the past BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 19 4 Heritage Hills Plaza, 202 Ctr. • Somers, NY 10589 914-277-4222 • www.somerssmiles.com A new generation of family dentistry Gift Mom a whiter, brighter smile WITH OUR IN-HOUSE WHITENING!


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 13 When I started my career in Manhattan after college in the 1980s, people congratulated me that I was now in the “rat race.” Which was true, because there were so many rats that you had to win the race just to get a seat on the subway. For a while, you didn’t hear much about rats, or maybe there were just too many other problems to focus on. But they’re back, and in such numbers that the mayor of New York has appointed a “rat czar.” I guess she is technically a czarina, and her name is Kathleen Corradi. If she is successful, she could go down in history as Kathleen “fi e Great,” or Kathleen “fi e Terrible,” depending on if you’re a rat or not. If you are just entering a career in politics, and you start out as “rat czar,” I wouldn’t expect to rise past the rank of, say, alderman, whatever that is. You could try expanding the post to “rat, lion and kangaroo czar.” fi at way when someone complains that they still have rats, you can say OK, but if you haven’t seen any lions or kangaroos during the garbage strike, you’re welcome. Ms. Corradi is planning to introduce a “rat mitigation zone,” which is the type of phrase you might use if you’re planning to make politics your career, so maybe one day she will be an actual czar. Rats are the stuff urban legends are made of. Everyone has heard stories of rats coming out of the toilet, but I’m not convinced. No matter what kind of animal I was, there is no place I need to go so badly that I would try to get in through a toilet, except maybe a toilet. I remember a few years ago there was a picture in the paper of a rat dragging a slice of pizza up the stairs, but I can’t believe that a piece of pizza would survive long enough in New York for a rat to get his hands on it. Back in the days of pirates, there was a myth that a cat on your ship with six claws would catch more mice than one with the usual ffl ve. I don’t see how, unless he steps on each rat’s tail with one of his toes, like in a “Tom and Jerry” cartoon. Although I bet if humans had six ffl ngers, that slice of pizza wouldn’t have ended up on the ground in the ffl rst place.  Even in the suburbs we are not immune to rodent problems. We bought an expensive fi e rat race RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD SEE MELEN PAGE 18 155 Rt 202, Village Plaza, Lincolndale (Next to J’s Quik Stop) 845-475-7574 • 914-248-6000 Mon-Sat open 9:30am to 9:30pm • Sunday open 12 noon-9pm HUGE SELECTION OF ALL VARIETIES OF YOUR FAVORITE WINES & LIQUORS Celebrate Mom with a great glass of wine! 20% OFF All Rosés! HUGE SELECTION OF ALL VARIETIES OF FREE LOCAL DELIVERY (on purchases of $50 or more) 10% OFF ANY 6 BOTTLES OF WINE, MIX & MATCH CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS 10% OFF 15% OFF ANY 12 BOTTLES OF WINE, MIX & MATCH CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS


PAGE 14 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years Do you know what the cost of your long-term care will be if you are not eligible for Medicaid? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Our youngest son, brother and uncle, Joe, hit his 55th birthday a few weeks ago. We gathered together at our favorite ristorante, Mamma Rosa, to celebrate this milestone birthday. ff e time was spent sharing memories, catching up with each other’s lives and as usual, much joking, laughter and, of course, excellent food and service! ff at evening, as I comfortably sat in my chair with my kitty, Nina, I reached back into my own memory bank and brought to mind thoughts and events that make Joe the man he is. Joe is a skilled mechanic—aptly named after his super mechanic grandpa—and has rightfully earned the nickname, St. Joseph. He is the go-to person when family and friends have car problems: he once took a ffl at bed truck to Long Island to bring home a neighbor whose car had broken down. St. Joseph hits 55! PHOTO COURTESY OF RUTHANN SCHEFFER Ruthann Scheffer at Mamma Rosa during Joe’s birthday. He is sitting in the middle between older brother George and Ruthann. Behind are daughter-in-law JulieAnne, SEE SCHEFFER PAGE 15 nephew Matt Jr and son Paul. Missing is son, Matt, who lives in Florida. RUTHANN SCHEFFER WHAT WAS I THINKING?


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 15 Preferred provider with Aetna, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, United Healthcare and other PPO insurance plans. mycaremountdental.com 914-730-5390 Next to Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace 331 Downing Drive $ Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 800 Value! Comprehensive preventative care services twice a year. $500 OFF Full Orthodontic Treatment* 15% OFF Most Dental Procedures *Orthodontic treatment will be provided at our Mt. Kisco location ANNUAL 279 MEMBERSHIP $ VIP Plan Dental Cleanings • Tooth Colored Fillings Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatment Teeth Whitening • Crowns & Bridges Dentures & Partials • Cosmetic Dentistry Valid for new patients at our Yorktown Heights office only. Applies to standard cleaning in the absence of gum disease. Not valid with insurance or any other offers. Dental Cleaning, Exam and X-Rays Includes: $ 79 $500 New Patient SPECIAL Value! Healthy Smiles Start Here! If you remember Hurricane Felix, there was massive flooding; many cars were disabled and their drivers stranded. Joe was out in his tow truck and came upon a driver who was standing on top of his car as the water swirled about and was rising. Joe tied a rope to the truck and around his waist; praying he wouldn’t go under, he waded through the rushing water, grabbed the driver who hung on tightly and struggled back to the truck. The soaked and bedraggled driver told Joe he thought he was a “goner” and that Joe was a saint on earth. There were several more rescues/tows, but none were as dangerous as this one. Up until a few years ago during the winter months—he has since “retired”-- you would find Joe plowing driveways beginning in the early morning hours. One exceptionally busy winter, he was on the way to a customer’s home when he passed a woman shoveling her driveway. Joe stopped and offered to plow, no charge-- she was stunned. He said with just two sweeps of the plow, the driveway was done and the woman was delighted.   A few days later, as he passed her house, he noticed a sign on top of the mound of snow. He stopped to take a look: “Thank you, Joe” it read. He said that gesture of appreciation meant so much to him.   I’ve watched Joe hook up cars to the tow truck or inch a car on to the flat bed; I’ve seen him get a junk car ready for a demolition derby; I’ve seen firsthand cars he has carefully and lovingly restored from the “ground up;” I’ve watched him effortlessly plow a narrow, short driveway: Joe is poetry in motion. Add to this his love, caring and loyalty to family and friends and a willingness to help someone in trouble and you’ve met St. Joseph. Thanks, Joe, and another “Happy Birthday” to you!  SCHEFFER FROM PAGE 14 I t begins slowly.  Whenever I walk my pup, Daisy, I look for the first signs of spring in my yard. It’s usually the light and dark hues of our purple crocuses. Next, we see the petite snowdrops emerge sometimes from under some left-over snow. The buds begin to form on the azalea and rhododendron bushes and the brilliant spray of yellow foliage bursts forth from the forsythia bushes out back. Now I know we are fully ensconced in spring. Three years ago, two meaningful events occurred in our family. We lost our beautiful Chocolate Lab, Coco, who was Hello spring JO ANN FRANCELLA JUST JO ANN SEE FRANCELLA PAGE 16


PAGE 16 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 NORTHWELL HEALTH WALK AT WESTCHESTER Beneffiting Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital Sunday, May 21, 2023 FDR State Park, Yorktown Heights, NY Opens 8:30am | Ceremony 9:45am | Walk at 10am northwellhealthwalk.com/westchester Contact: Amanda Hellerman [email protected] or (914) 242-8361 Enjoy a dog-friendly 2.5-mile path through the park plus: Games • Music • Giveaways • Tai chi • Chair yoga • E-bikes Mini horses • DIY Slime • Bubbles • Touch-a-truck + more Wheelchair accessible. No fee for children under 14. Sign up now for a fun-packed morning supporting compassionate, high-quality care in our community! Walk with us! One Walk. One Community. 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 an amazing companion for us, and a month later, we had our very fi rst grandchild, Drew. When spring arrived almost six months later, we planted two trees on our property: a delicate pink and white dogwood tree for remembrance of Coco, and an ornamental pear, which we will watch grow and get stronger with each year, just like Drew. ffl ese trees have already gotten their ffi owers and now the leaves are getting bigger and greener. It’s very therapeutic for me to check all the plantings each spring to see how they have survived the winter and then prune and feed them throughout the summer into fall. At this writing, it is still April and I’m thrilled to have this all to look forward to once again. Ken loves to weed and fuss with the grass, and, I must admit, he does a great job. Drew came to stay with us last weekend and I loved showing him his “Drew tree.” ffl ey are both 3 years old and growing strong. Of course, Drew wasn’t too interested in the plants, so we set up his dinosaur tent on the grass and played “monsters.” Later in the day, Drew and I baked funfetti cupcakes and iced them with chocolate and vanilla frostings. I’m determined to get FRANCELLA FROM PAGE 15 SEE FRANCELLA PAGE 17 You can’t surrender yourself to the news these days without also surrendering your good sense to turn away from the relentless devolution of everyday human behavior so you can fi nd elusive peace within yourself. ‘Cause you sure as shootin’ aren’t likely to fi nd it out there.  Case in point: I just glimpsed a news report about the father of a high school baseball player who suckerpunched a 63-year-old umpire who had been instructing the father’s unruly son to behave.  As our social fabric frays to a fretful extent, my own thoughts turn to one Morris Schwartz. You might recognize his nickname “Morrie” as attached to a day of the week … as in the evergreen motivational best-seller “Tuesdays with Morrie,” which has sold more than 18 million copies in the past quarter-century.  ffl e slim volume, full of insights about life and death, What would Morrie do? Mega-selling book about simple life sessons takes the stage BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG SEE APAR PAGE 17


his culinary DNA activated and ready for Top Chef 2050. ff at night we took Drew for dinner at Golden House, our favorite Chinese food restaurant. Drew is not the best eater, but he loved the ribs, dim sum and chicken and vegetables. After dinner, we treated him to Carvel. Having Drew at our house is always such a treat. Right now I’m missing him, but have lots to keep me busy outside. Each morning with my little pup by my side, I walk around the neighborhood to see how other people take care of their lawns and get ideas on what to plant next. During this morning’s walk, I noticed that there are still some fallen leaves and branches and normal debris from the winter on our lawn. I had better get started on cleaning things up. Happy spring and happy planting to all who love this season as much as I do. Jo Ann Francella can be reached at [email protected]. THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 17 FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah Railroad station. • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars • Monuments & inscriptions available. FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HOT WATER HEATER & GAS NEEDS 59 Years of Excellence Putnam & Westchester County’s Premier Plumbing Professionals Since 1964 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com TAKE $25 OFF YOUR NEXT TUB/SHOWER CALL! MENTION AD FOR DISCOUNT. VALID ON CALLS OVER 1 HOUR. EXPIRES 6/30/23 Fun Facts by Jo Ann ‘Spring’ was formally called ‘Lent.’ In the 1300s, it was changed to ‘springtime’ and 100 years later, it was shortened to ‘spring.’ FRANCELLA FROM PAGE 16 is a hybrid memoir-tribute-selfhelp book by sports journalist Mitch Albom. ff ere is a stage adaptation in which I will play Morrie (with Eric Schuster as Mitch) on June 2 and 4 at Whippoorwill ff eater, part of North Castle Library in Armonk (info at armonkplayers.org). Admission is free with donations accepted.  VALIANT VICTIM Morrie was a popular sociology professor at Brandeis University who shot to national recognition for being interviewed three times on ABC-TV news program Nightline. Brimming with common sense, native wisdom and – most resonantly – a modern-day version of preaching love thy neighbor, Morrie captured hearts and minds as a valiant victim of “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” clinically known as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). As Morrie matter-of-factly describes its effl ects, “ff e brain’s signals never get through to the muscles, so they wither and die. ff e body kills itself.” ff e healthy brain thus remains trapped inside a casing of merciless inffi rmity.  ff e extraordinary grace and courage with which he persevered while facing imminent death turned him into a folk hero – an incandescent beacon who continues to inspire people three decades after his death and will continue as an uplifting presence for decades hence. He almost single-handedly redeffi ned what it means to die with dignity when you are handed a medical death sentence. Against the backdrop of the deafening noise and deadening of our senses that passes for today’s world, the book and play, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” are more worthy of our consideration than ever. Here are some of Morrie’s choice words of wisdom, which I am honored to voice in portraying him.  APAR FROM PAGE 16 SEE APAR PAGE 18


PAGE 18 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas and Accessories! Complimentary Gift Wrapping Always Available! Gift Wrapping Always Available! Somers Custom Framing & Gifts 253 Route 202, Somers • 914.276.3173 [email protected] • SomersFraming.com We NOW Carry Sterling Silver Jewelry! www.pleasantvillewellnessgroup.com CONTACT US 450 Manville Road, First Floor Pleasantville NY 10570 [email protected] (call) 914-769-1586 (text) 845-260-2797 PLEASANTVILLE WELLNESS GROUP offers compassionate and affordable care for whatever you or a loved one may be struggling with. Reach out today to find out how we can support you through your mental health journey. Services offered in person and online. heater for our pool, since when our house was built, years before we moved in, the builders must have asked, where should we put the pool? And somebody said, why don’t you stick it where the sun don’t shine? And that’s exactly where it is. So we had a heater installed, and within two years mice had chewed through the wire harnesses, and now the wires are running around unharnessed and the heater doesn’t work. One of my friends said (after the pool heater’s funeral of course) that we should have put moth balls inside it. And I said MOTH BALLS? It would have been easier just to put the whole moth in there. If wire harnesses were horrible-tasting, I could have saved fi ve thousand dollars. If you don’t like rats so much, what about his cousin? He has feet like a duck, wet fur, a face like a hairy fi rst baseman’s mitt with buck-teeth and a weak chin and a tail like a ping pong paddle. And by the way, it’s your State Animal. Just about any other rodent is more popular than a rat. Take squirrels or bunnies for another example. If you took away the furry tail, it’s basically a rat. I don’t know why one rodent is anathema to the human race and another the cutest thing on four wheels, but that’s just the way it is. Not everyone hates rats and some people keep them as pets, the kind of people whom keeping a rat as a pet is not even the thing you’re most likely to whisper about them. ffl ey argue that rats are intelligent, affi ectionate and easy to take care of. I guess it’s not THAT crazy; I keep fi sh as pets, and when a fi sh curls up in your lap, you end up with a wet lap. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new rat czar is spending her days trying to dream up more humane ways to deal with them so people don’t complain about her on social media. And we’ll build alternative rat housing for them, with all the pizza and wire harnesses they can eat and my rat tax will go up. You really want to get rid of rats the easy way? Call in the mob, they know how to deal with a rat. You’re welcome. Join Rick and No Options at Mohansic Grill in Yorktown Heights, Friday, May 12th at 7:30PM! Say hello at: rlife8@ hotmail.com. MELEN FROM PAGE 13 WISE WORDS “Are you at peace with yourself? Are you trying to be as human as you can be?” “If there is anyone you care about that you are fi ghting with, let it go. Forgive everyone everything.” “ffl e whole problem with this culture [is] more things is good, more money is good, more more is good. ffl e most miserable people who come to visit me are often the ones with the most money.” “Aging is not just decay. As you age, you grow. As you grow you learn. A tree’s leaves are most colorful just before they die.”  “Love is the only rational act. Without love, we are birds with broken wings.” Bruce Apar is a journalist, community volunteer and actor. He can be reached at [email protected]; 914.275.6887. APAR FROM PAGE 17 Contact Us The Somers Record is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected].


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 19 local candidates compare along with the argument for the spending increase requested by your current board. Second, phone a friend. You have to know somebody you trust who follows this more closely than you. fi ey can ff ll you in on the hot scoop and give you some guidance about casting your vote. Bottom line, the best way to hold your district leaders accountable is by casting your vote. High voter turnout in your community is a sign of pride and engagement. Get in the game. Vote next Tuesday. See you at the polls. SCOTT FROM PAGE 11 is why I was a little surprised when he decided to run for school board one year. He won handily. But the district was going through some serious problems at the time, both legally and morally, so he was not coming on board at a great time. Having to deal with all that acrimony was too much, so he did his three years and then got the hell out. But imagine if he did have a desire for a political career—a nice guy who truly wanted to ff nd a way to help his constituents and do a good thing for his community. Suppose he won and quickly found favor with his party’s leadership and heavyweight donors. He makes headway, passing important legislation, and developing innovative policies. He a shining up-and-comer. fi en someone discovers that old karaoke picture. fi e New York Post has it on the front page... it’s on every social media platform. And in the blink of a digital eye, his career in politics is over.  You can lie about your education. You make up your entire work history. You can play fast and loose with the truth about your ethnicity and family history—and you can still keep your offi ce. But if you dress like a woman at a costume party... especially a black one, you will be canceled so hard they won’t even let you keep your socks. I wonder if they could make the movie, “Tootsie” today. Dustin Hofl man would be banned in Florida. And what about the guys from Monty Python? fi eir cross-dressing antics would get them canceled faster than you can say, “We are the knights who say nee!” fi ere is something known as “presentism,” which is where you judge people’s actions in the past by the standards of today. Back in the mid-’80s, when Dan did his karaoke act, he had no malicious intent and everyone at the party understood that. But if the opportunity to do the same thing presented itself today, I’m sure he would think twice about it. Why? Because things have changed. And that is what those who practice presentism need to understand... things change. We evolved. We get enlightened. I mean, how would you like to be held accountable today for the thoughts and feelings you had when you were in eighth grade? (Bone-chilling thought, ain’t it?) fi ere was a movement a few years ago to cancel Abraham Lincoln. San Francisco wanted to change the name of any of its schools that carried the Lincoln moniker because they discovered his administration was absolutely awful to American Indians and Indigenous people. But I am willing to bet that there aren’t a lot of American presidents who get a gold star in that particular category. So, canceling Lincoln for that, especially when one holds it near all that Emancipation Proclamation stufl , seems downright moronic. fi e move to cancel Columbus and, of course, Columbus Day, has been around for a while. First, they say, he didn’t really discover America. He got lost and accidentally stumbled into what is now known as the Bahamas. fi ere, he and his crew committed atrocities so terrible I can’t detail them in a family newspaper. But the thing is, as Bill Maher recently said, “Of course, he committed atrocities. Back then, people were pretty atrocious.” Yes, they were. And while we still hear about atrocities on the cable news every day, we have to admit that we are not nearly as atrocious as we were in the 15th century. We have improved as a species. We have to stop being so damn arrogant and condescending when it comes to history, thinking things like, “Oh, if I lived then, I wouldn’t have owned a slave.” Yes. You would. If you were a person of means, you would have. It’s what they did back then. And it wasn’t a uniquely American thing, so stop thinking that we invented slavery in 1619. All humans have been enslaving each other since we crawled forth from the primordial ooze. People haven’t made good humans so far. But now, as we try to correct our course, let’s not overcompensate. Let’s not try to edit the past. Let’s, instead, work to make a better future. DUMAS FROM PAGE 12 Progressive Animal Hospital What is the most common mismanaged condition that you see? THE ITCHY DOG! 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G2T HY1errobdreffie yn oiff sstvuoyffbrble mentions were Kim Shedlin (Winter Morning Serenity), Fred Higham (Winter Sky at the Titicus Inlet), Sue Kravits (Sunset at the Farm, Amawalk), Peggy Feigenbaum (Sky Over the Hudson), Lisa Guerci (December Dusk), and Sandra Ferrantello (Fury). fi e contest was judged by Library Director Jennifer Daddio, Head of Public Services Tara Ferretti, and Senior Clerk Anne Dehn. The Winter Sky “Fury” by Sandra Ferrantello PAGE 21 “Sky Over the Hudson” by Peggy Feigenbaum “Sky Sunbubble” by Deborah Hardy “Sunset at the Farm, Amawalk” by Sue Kravits “Winter Morning Serenity” by Kim Shedlin “Winter Sky at the Titicus Inlet” by Fred Higham “Nebula” by Jonathan Alves “December Dusk” by Lisa Guerci PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOMERS LIBRARY Elder Law & Estate Planning Wills, Trusts & Estates Small Business • Real Estate Matrimonial • Criminal Personal Injury • Commercial SOMERS • YONKERS Evening Appointments & Home Visits Tel: 914-964-6806 www.marralaw.com • [email protected] 914.248.6117 | ManciniRealEstate.com 358 Route 202, Somers NY 10589 Your HomeIs Where Our Heart Is ! We appreciate you!


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PAGE 22 – THE SOMERS RECORD NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows have returned to Westchester County’s beautiful horse country, May 9-14 and May 16-21, with a full schedule of world-class competition featuring many of the nation’s best horses and riders.  One of the premier stops on the nation’s hunter-jumper horse show circuit, the Spring Horse Shows host competitions for riders of all levels and ages, ranging from young children on ponies to Olympic veterans aboard their grand prix mounts. Many familiar faces return to Old Salem Farm each year to vie for top honors, including Olympic medalists such as Brewster resident McLain Ward (USA) and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA).  “Last year was a great one for the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows as we took major steps forward in our ongoing efforts to be one of the finest horse show facilities in the country,” said Scott Hakim, owner and president of Old Salem Farm. “Spectators can get up close to all the action and watch Olympic riders like McLain Ward of the U.S., Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, Daniel Bluman of Israel and so many more. It really is show jumping at its best!” The Spring Horse Shows’ Week 1 takes place May 9-14, with highlights including the Evergate Stables’ $40,000 Welcome Stake presented by JumpR App., $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off, $10,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby and the $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Presented by The Kincade Group. Week 2 competition follows, May 16-21, featuring the $65,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem, presented by The Kincade Group, $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off and the $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Mane ‘n Tail before concluding on Sunday, May 21, with the $200,000 Empire State Grand Prix. The ambiance at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows is unlike any other venue in the country, with over-the-top hospitality and unique shopping offered along Old Salem’s popular Boutique Row. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows also feature a collection of local, Spring Horse Shows return to North Salem Brewster resident and Olympic medalist McLain Ward will be one of the familiar faces returning to the Spring Horse Shows at Old Salem Farm in North Salem. Ward clears the last fence with the shortest time in the 2022 Grand Prix jumpoff. PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL OLD SALEM FARM SEE OLD SALEM PAGE 25


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 23 PERFECTLY DESIGNED SANCTUARY Welcome to this private park like sanctuary set on over 10 acres of fully fenced property with direct access to the NS bridle trails. Winner of the Pinnacle award for best restoration/renovation the home is masterfully designed. Enjoy an open concept living space, including a chef's kitchen with custom cabinetry, island, appliances and granite counters. Beautiful hardwood flooring throughout the home including two bedrooms on the main floor. Spectacular views out every window. Private main suite on the second floor with a Juliet balcony overlooking a serene babbling brook. New automatic entry gate, fencing, 36'x48' 1 1/2 story barn and run in barn. Everything completed with new landscaping and new seed for all the paddocks. The home features Geothermal for maximum efficiency with an automatic generator for the home. Everything thought of to move you and your fourlegged friends in. Close to world renown horse farms for competing and training. Come check out this one-of-a-kind property. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Not intended as a solicitation if your property is already listed by another broker. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker® Realty. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Price upon request 577 GRANT RD, NORTH SALEM, NY 10560 MARCIE NOLLETTI REALTOR® M: 914.424.5545 [email protected] MarcieNolletti.com 338 Route 202 Somers, NY 10589 2020 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are the registered service marks owned by the Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Price upon request. Welcome to this private park like sanctuary set on over 10 acres of fully fenced property with direct access to the NS bridle trails. Winner of the Pinnacle award for best restoration/renovation the home is masterfully designed. Enjoy an open concept living space, including a chef’s kitchen with custom cabinetry, island, appliances and granite counters. Beautiful hardwood flooring throughout the home including two bedrooms on the main floor. Spectacular views out every window. Private main suite on the second floor with a Juliet balcony overlooking a serene babbling brook. New automatic entry gate, fencing, 36’x48’ 1 1/2 story barn and run in barn. Everything completed with new landscaping and new seed for all the paddocks. The home features Geothermal for maximum efficiency with an automatic generator for the home. Everything thought of to move you and your four-legged friends in. Close to world renown horse farms for competing and training. Come check out this one-of-a-kind property. Marcie Nolletti Licensed Real Estate Salesperson NY & CT Buying and Selling— I can make it happen! 338 Route 202 | Somers, NY 10589 Cell: (914) 424-5545 [email protected] | marcienolletti.com


Over the years, the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows have offered a full schedule of worldclass competition for many of the nation’s best horses and riders, and this year is no exception. Learn more about some of the familiar faces competing in the Old Salem Farm International Arena:  MCLAIN WARD (USA) Continuing as Co-Chairman of the Spring Horse Shows for the second consecutive year, McLain Ward returns to Old Salem Farm as the defending champion in several highlight classes, including the shows’ culminating event, the $200,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group. He is a highly accomplished rider on the international stage, having competed in five Olympic Games (with two Gold and two Silver medals!), four FEI World Equestrian Games (with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals), two Pan American Games (with two Gold and one Silver medal) and 25 of the 28 FEI World Cup Finals since 1995. He was the 2017 FEI World Cup champion and is currently the World No. 4 ranked rider on the LONGINES FEI World Rankings.  GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA) As a young rider, North Salem resident Georgina Bloomberg earned four medals in her three appearances at the North American Young Riders’ Championships, and she has continued to be a major player for Team USA in the years since. She made her Nations Cup debut in 2005 in France, where she was a member of the all-female winning team; she made her first of two World Cup Final appearances that same year in Las Vegas, NV. She helped to clinch the win at the 2014 Furusiyya Nations Cup in Spain and later claimed the Team Bronze medal in her major games debut at the 2015 Pan American Games. A dedicated philanthropist and advocate for animal rescue, she shares her North Salem farm with her horses, dogs, goats, rabbits, mules and the endearing pig, Wilbur.  LILLIE KEENAN (USA) Lillie Keenan has been a competitive rider from a young age, making headlines early in her career for her successes in many events such as the 2007 USEF Pony Hunter National Championship, 2011 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, 2012 North American Junior Equitation Championship, 2013 USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals, and North American Junior and Young Riders Championships where she won individual and team Gold medals in 2013 after winning team Gold in 2012. Since then, she has represented the U.S. in international competition on several Nations Cup teams, including at the 2017 Dublin Horse Show where an all-female team claimed the prestigious Aga Khan Trophy for the first time. She has ridden on the U.S. team in the FEI Nations Cup Final in 2016 and 2021 and in the FEI World Championships in 2022. DANIEL BLUMAN (ISRAEL) Daniel Bluman first competed on the world stage under the Colombian flag, representing his home country for 12 years through two Olympic Games, two FEI World Equestrian Games and three Pan American Games. In 2017, he chose to represent Israel and has since added the 2018 World Equestrian Games, 2022 World Championship and 2023 FEI World Cup Final to his record. Among his grand prix wins are major events including the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome, the Hampton Classic Grand Prix (twice), and the FTI Wellington Finale. Outside the show ring, he and his wife Ariel recently created the “Ride the Future” program, helping to support riders who otherwise may not have the means to pursue a career in the sport.  RODRIGO PESSOA (BRAZIL) One of the most accomplished riders in show jumping history, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa is another familiar face at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with several top finishes during last year’s event. Pessoa has competed in six Olympic and FEI World Equestrian games each, securing several podium finishes including Individual Gold medals at the 2004 Olympics and 1998 World Equestrian Games. He has also brought home Team Gold medals from two of the three Pan American Games he’s attended and he’s competed in 13 FEI World Cup Finals, claiming three consecutive wins from 1998-2000. He is the only rider in history to win the World Cup championship three consecutive years. NAYEL NASSAR (EGYPT) Since winning his first FEI Grand Prix in 2011, Nayel Nassar has represented Egypt in three FEI World Cup Finals, the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games, and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with several big grand prix victories along the way. He is a threetime winner of the HITS $1 million Grand Prix and is the only rider ever to win the Speed Challenge and 5* Grand Prix at the same Longines Masters event. He currently rides as part of the team at Evergate Stables, competing with several horses out of their California and Florida bases, and is a member of the Paris Panthers on the prestigious Global Champions League circuit. Who’s competing in the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows?  North Salem resident Georgina Bloomberg PHOTO COURTESY OF GEOFFREY TISCHMAN/ JUMP MEDIA COURTESY OF HIS OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE Daniel Bluman of Israel PHOTO COURTESY OF LILLIE BY FLYING CHANGES Lillie Keenan McLain Ward, from Brewster, riding Contagious PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL PAGE 24 – THE SOMERS RECORD NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 NORTH SALEM HORSE SHOW THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 25 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows May 9-21 www.OldSalemFarm.net • 190 June Rd. North Salem, NY Week 1 (May 9-14) Highlights: • Evergate Stables $40,000 Welcome Stake • $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off • $10,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby • $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Week 2 (May 16-21) Highlights: • $65,000 Welcome Stake of North Salem • $38,700 FEI 1.45m Jump-off • $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby • $200,000 Empire State Grand Prix Over-the-top hospitality and unique shopping experiences! Kids’ Activities • Pony Rides • Face Painting & More! ADMISSION IS FREE THE WORLD’S BEST right in everyone’s own backyard! gourmet food ofi erings and family-friendly activities including pony rides, face painting, dog adoptions each Saturday and more. From Welcome Wednesday to Fiesta Friday and Family Fun Weekends presented by Halston Media, the publisher of this newspaper, every day is special at the Spring Horse Shows!  OLD SALEM FARM WILL UNVEIL A REVITALIZED VENDOR AREA FOR EVEN MORE UNIQUE SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES  Old Salem caters not only to the comfort of the people visiting the historic facility, but also to the horses competing onsite, providing top-notch care alongside sponsors such as the HEART Equine Ambulance, which will provide tours during the Spring Horse Shows. HEART provides state-of-theart emergency transportation services for injured or ill horses while preserving their health, safety and dignity as athletes, much like their human partners in the ring.  ffl e incredible action starts daily at 8 a.m. with classes running in three rings simultaneously throughout the day before ffi nishing at approximately 5 p.m. A full schedule can be found at Old SalemFarm.net/our-events/. Admission to the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows is free! OLD SALEM FROM PAGE 22 PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDOLPHPR Old Salem Farm will unveil a revitalized vendor area for even more unique shopping opportunities.


Sports PAGE 26 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 YOUR TURN NOW IT'S HEY MOM Call for your FREE consultation today $500 OFF FULL TREATMENT 293 Route 100 Suite 209 Somers, NY (914) 277-1111 www.BBOsmiles.com For moms of current or previous patients who sign up in May. Must mention this ad. BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR Somers Softball looked to take the second matchup of the season on Yorktown’s diamond after a statement 12-8 win earlier in April. The win, clearly not a fluke, was part of the Tuskers’ 9-1 start under first-year coach Teresa Ricci. “This is my first coaching position at a high school,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect. This team has defeated all expectations that I had. They are just fighters on all levels, every single one of them, in all different ways. It’s unbelievable to watch. They just never give up, and it makes me proud every game.” But this time around, the tables turned as the Huskers showed perseverance in an offensive surge that got them a 9-4 victory on Thursday, May 4. Somers up 2-1 heading into the bottom of the third, with Emily Boyle (single, RBI) on the mound, Yorktown loaded the bases and brought in two off a sacrifice fly and a HBP to take a one-run lead. Looking like the beginning of a classic back-and-forth rivalry game, the top of the fourth started with Mia Barlanti walking, then singles from Victoria Morel and Katie Cole (2-4) loaded the bases. Ellie Walsh (3-3, RBI) took advantage by driving one in to make it 3-3, but the next two batters struck out before more damage could be done. On the other hand, Yorktown did not hold back in the bottom of the fourth. A single and sac bunt got a Husker runner to second, followed by a grounder through the hole to right that put Yorktown on first and third, and an infield hit that scored another run (4-3). Not done, a double down the left field line brought in another two, then the Huskers piled on with an RBI single and two-run home run from Julia Centofanti to get it to 9-3 in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, Coach Ricci stayed positive with her squad when they returned to the dugout, demonstrating the approach that has led to the Tuskers’ success. “When I was a player, I did not play well when I was nervous, stressed out, getting down on myself. And they do not either,” she emphasized. “Knowing that you need to be positive and support them at every level, that really helps them. And the fact that they pull each other up is the biggest thing. We just have to keep it going the whole season.” Senior Krista Gallagher echoes the same sentiment, win or loss. “I think our season has been going really well, and our stats show that. Obviously with a new coaching staff, we didn’t know how it was going to be coming into it. But we have really come together as a team, and you can see that when we are on the field together.” Back to game action, both teams put up zeroes in the fifth inning, and the Tuskers quickly had a potential rally cut short when Cole had her liner caught, leading to the Huskers picking off Morel when she was caught between first and second. But still one more inning to go, Somers made some noise. Bottom of the seventh and one out, Julia Rossi (HR, RBI) send a ball sailing over the left field fence to spark some life into her team. The momentum carrying, Boyle recorded a single on a short fly that dropped in right field. Unfortunately, that was all she wrote as Yorktown was able to get the next two batters on strikeouts to take it home. The season series at 1-1, Gallagher explained the extra edge that comes in that cross-town rivalry. “It was really exciting coming off the first win. We all just came together as a team and wanted to do it again today. Obviously it didn’t go our way, but they cannot all go our way.” The following day (5/5) also did not go Somers’ way in a 6-1 defeat to Fox Lane. Then on Saturday (5/6), the tides didn’t change in a 9-1 home loss to Tappan Zee. Yorktown gets revenge on Somers Tuskers staying positive Coach Teresa Ricci is a major reason for the Tuskers’ resurgence this spring. PHOTOS: WHIT ANDERSON Victoria Morel runs down to first. Alyssa Pirraglia takes a cut. SOFTBALL


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 27 1060 Oregon Road | Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 (914) 734-1500 | [email protected] GolfHollowBrook.com There’s Something for Everyone at Hollow Brook... World-class golf on one of Westchester’s most spectacular golf courses. Tournaments and season-long competitions. Family activities... Couples Golf, Junior Golf, Pool and Social Events. From the moment you arrive at Hollow Brook Golf Club, you’ll know you’re in for something special. Contact us today to learn about our New Member Program. Pool Complex Hole 18 Hole 12 REDEEMABLE AT FROZEN TREAT $1 OFF WHEN YOU BUY ONE Expires 04.15.2021 RITAS OF YORKTOWN 1881A COMMERCE STREET YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 914 302 7711 ritas.com www.facebook.com/ritasof $1 OFF BUY ONE, GET $1 OFF ANOTHER ritasofyorktown ritasofyorktown.com Discount applied to lowest priced item. Not valid on take home treats, catering, or novelty items. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RITA’S LOCATIONS. Exp. 5/25/2023 TRACK & FIELD Joe Wynne Somers Lions Club Invitational 2023 Friday/Saturday, May 5-6 fi e Somers Lions Club, athletic department, and community at large came together once again to host the annual Joe Wynne Somers Lions Club Invitational last weekend, a grand event that had 48 schools and over 2000 athletes. “Hosting a meet of this size takes a community eff ort,” said Coach John Vegliante. “All the work from the school staff and administration, the Lions Club members, the Booster Club, and parent volunteers blew us away. fi ey went above and beyond to make this meet happen and we cannot thank them all enough. It’s a special meet where the Somers community all comes together.” Starting off the meet with the youth kids race, the high schoolers then got into action with the girls 4x1600M relay team of Jess Masterson, Kaeleigh Picco, Mia Sandolo, and Julia Aquilino clocking 22:44.16 for ffl rst place. fi e Sprint Medley relay saw the same success, as Haylie Donovan, Lindsay Gill, Keira Cleary, and Chelsea Lewitt got them the gold in 4:20.17. Donovan was also the 200M winner thanks to a 25.56, and Tuskers host Lions Club Invitational Somers Baseball on a hot streak PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO Somers’ Julia Aquilino leads a pack in the 3,000 meters. VARSITY ROUNDUP SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 28


PAGE 28 – THE SOMERS RECORD SPORTS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 took third overall in the 100M. In the 400M hurdles, Isabella Milojovic’s 1:10.49 gave her first place. For the boys, placing third and winning Class B at the meet, Andrew Fasone ran a season-best 22.36 to win the 200M in front of the hometown crowd. He then joined the Sprint Medley relay squad (Fasone, Sam Parsons, Jaden Abreu, Aiden Meza) that won their race, also with a season-best at 3:37.58. In the hammer throw, Jared Googel’s 161-5 was strong enough for a secondplace finish. “Looking back at the results from Saturday, everyone on the team set new personal bests,” said Coach Mike Lacko. “I am so proud and just so grateful to be the coach of Somers Track and Field. This was a very successful Joe Wynne Somers Lions Club invite!” BASEBALL Somers 11, Eastchester 2 Wednesday, May 3 The Tuskers jumped out to an early lead and didn’t look back in their home win last week. Nick Conti, Tommy Tan, Evan Carway, and Jay Creighton all drove in runs in an explosive third inning. Creighton also hit a home run in the fifth. On the mound, brother George Creighton pitched over two innings and allowed only one hit with three strikeouts. Somers 4, Hendrick Hudson 0 Thursday, May 4 Jay Creighton getting the start this time on the road, he went the whole way, recording a win and striking out 13 sailors. The Tuskers scored in the first inning when Eddie Baranowski drove in two runs on a single, and then Stefan Swee hit a homer in the fourth. Somers 6, Hendrick Hudson 0 Friday, May 5 Back at home this time, it was Swee’s turn to shut down the Sailors on the mound. He also pitched a complete game, allowing just two hits with 10 Ks. Pat Bracelin’s sac fly got the scoring started in the first inning, and he was assisted by multiple hits from Baronowski and Alex Kuchinsky. Somers 2, Brewster 1 Monday, May 8 Tied up at one in the bottom of the seventh, Ravi Dass’ clutch hit drove in Jake Gannon to get the Tuskers a victory on Senior Night and to extend their win streak. Dass, George and Jay Creighton, Swee, Kuchinsky, Baronowski, Jack O’Reilly, Nolan Considine, Gannon, Tan, and Carway were the seniors honored on the special evening. BOYS LACROSSE Rye 8, Somers 2 Tuesday, May 2 Landon Pepe (17 saves), Mac Sullivan (G), Nathan Ehrmann (G), Grayden Carr (A), and Miguel Iglesias (A) paced the Tuskers in their loss at Rye. John Jay-Cross River 12, Somers 7 Thursday, May 4 Pepe (14 saves), Carr (3G), Sullivan (3A), James Balancia (G), Jackson Forsberg (G), Iglesias (G), and Luke Kennedy (G) put up a fight, but it was not enough in a home loss, this time to rival John Jay. GIRLS LACROSSE John Jay 13, Somers 9 Wednesday, May 3 Getting off to a 2-0 lead, thanks to two goals from Teagan Ryan, the Tuskers could not maintain the advantage as the Wolves went on a scoring run to take the win. TENNIS Somers 6, Sleepy Hollow 1 Monday, May 8 Tuskers Tennis started off their week with a visiting win over Sleepy Hollow. Max Yates, Landon Bleasdale, and Ezra Weinstein all picked up easy single victories, and the doubles teams (John Raducanu & Seth Cheung, Harrison Mellor & Alex Wissa, Samuel & Zachery Folner) completed a sweep. FLAG FOOTBALL Somers 57, Poughkeepsie 28 Thursday, May 4 Ella Ponterio (99 YDs, TD, EP), Cara Persico (74 YDs, 2 TD), Julia Schmidberger (3 TD, 49 YDs), Chloe Gabriele (INT, EP), Abby Abaetcola (TD, 4 TK), Amber Webber (TD), and Beatriz Rios (4 TK) contributed to the great all-around team effort that took down Poughkeepsie at home last week. Somers 30, Scarsdale 7 Monday, May 8 The Tuskers continued to put points on the board in an easy road win over Scarsdale. ROUNDUP FROM PAGE 27 Haylie Donovan competes in the 100M final. PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ The Tusker seniors picked up a big win over Brewster on Monday. Andrew Kapica George Creighton Matt Hirsch PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 29 On Saturday, Apr. 15, players ranging from our U4 to Teen division participated in a wide variety of skill training followed by head-to-head matchups.  AYSO would like to thank our coaches for volunteering their time, and for all their support. We look forward to making this year the best yet! AYSO scores big on first day! Spring season off and running PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORE IVEZAJ AYSO SOCCER We Carry A Complete Line of BioGuard Pool Treatments


PAGE 30 – THE SOMERS RECORD SPORTS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 BY ALESSANDRA PONTBRIAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER Over 600 athletes from the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Central New York traveled to fi e United States Military Academy at West Point to compete in the Special Olympics Spring Games on Saturday, Apr. 22. Participants trained for eight weeks to compete in track and ff eld, swimming, and powerlifting in hopes of earning one of 300 medals in over 20 diffl erent events.  “It’s such an honor for us to be here, and when we said that to the leaders of West Point, they said it right back to us that it’s their honor to have us,” Special Olympics New York President and CEO Stacey Hengsterman said. “I really feel that’s the spirit here. I feel that it is such a noble, historic place and we feel so included.”  Over 50 athletes who live in Westchester and Putnam counties competed in the Spring Games. fi ey are members of the Northeast Knights, a team led by head coach and Katonah resident Joe Bellini. fi e Knights compete for the Northeast Westchester Special Recreation, which is an agency that provides therapeutic recreation programs for northern Westchester County residents with developmental disabilities. Around 100 athletes train on the team and range from teenagers to senior citizens.  “You do not get a lot of opportunities to change lives and to actually see it on a regular basis,” Bellini said.    “Some of our guys have been competing for 30 years, and when they win a medal, it’s like the ff rst one they have ever got and that does not change, so it’s really cool.” Northeast Knights special olympian and Hawthorne resident Louis Jost has been with the team for 20 years. He competed in three track and ff eld events Saturday. He won gold in the turbo javelin event with a 27.5 yard throw. His teammate, Yorktown resident Leonard Cannavo, won silver in the same event. fi ough Jost was most excited for one of his other events this year.  “What I’m most looking forward to is shot put,” Jost said. “I have competed in shot put in high school. I won three bronze medals as a member of the Westlake High School Wildcats in fi ornwood.”   fi e Knights have 15 assistant coaches, including Bellini’s wife, Nancy.  “It helps that my wife is coaching with me,” Bellini said. “She has the same kind of drive and commitment that I do. It’s fun.” It’s somewhat of a love story. Joe and Nancy met while coaching for the Special Olympics. He became involved with the organization in 1994. His 29 years of commitment awarded him as the Special Olympics North America Coach of the Year, which encompasses the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.  “It’s pretty cool to have other people telling you that you are doing a good job because every day I’m still wondering if I’m doing the right thing,” Bellini said. “It was a great feeling.” Last year, he won the New York State Coach of the Year award, which nominated him for the higher honor. Bellini, like some of the athletes, was surprised when they announced the award at the New York State Winter Games in February. “I’m so honored that he won this,” Jost said. “It’s a true blessing.” fi e  Spring Games is the largest track and ff eld meet for the Special Olympics Hudson Valley region all year. Runners raced around Shea Stadium with hundreds of people in attendance from participating teams, families, and over 450 cadets who volunteered on Saturday. fi e Games were organized by cadet in charge, senior Kiersten Eggers.  “My goal this year is to leave a positive impact on West Point before I graduate, and this seems like a great opportunity to give back to the community and also to get other cadets involved in service like this,” Eggers said. Cadets helped plan and organize the Games. Others were paired with an athlete to cheer and guide them to events, while West Point division one athletes were in charge of running each event. “It is incredibly rewarding,” Eggers said. “Seeing other people and the smiles on their faces, being able to help is a great opportunity for them to be able to give back.” fi is is the 48th  year the Special Olympics Spring Games were at West Point, though it’s the ff rst time the competition is back to its largescale operation since 2019. Special Olympics teams compete year-round in many sports including softball, fl oor hockey, swimming, basketball, and track and ff eld. “fi e magic about the Special Olympics  is that everyday, these athletes get to train with their team,” Hengsterman said. “fi ey do smaller competitions, to larger competitions, and that’s really where the power is. fi at’s really where the inclusion is. We do advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.” Westchester athletes medal at Special Olympics Spring Games Over 600 athletes competed in the Special Olympics Spring Games at the United States Military Academy. PHOTOS: ALESSANDRA PONTBRIAND Northeast Knights special olympians Leonard Cannavo and Louis Jost posed for a picture with their medals. INCLUSIVE SPORTS Special Olympics New York President and CEO Stacey Hengsterman pictured with the United States Military Academy football players.


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 LEISURE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 31 People often turn to lighter fare when the weather warms because a dense, hot meal can contribute to feeling sluggish or overheated when the mercury has risen. In addition to sandwiches and platters of finger foods, salads can be refreshing on warm days. They also tend to be less calorie-dense and healthier than other offerings. This recipe for “Mediterranean Salad,” courtesy of The American Heart Association, is full of vegetables and beans and fits with a heartfriendly diet. It’s filling and delicious any time of the day or year. Mediterranean flavors shine through in salad Mediterranean Salad Serves 4 1 medium head lettuce (green leaf, red leaf or romaine), cut into thin strips 1 medium cucumber, chopped 1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped 1 15.5-ounce can no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1/2 medium red onion, finely sliced 1/2 cup crumbled fat-free or low-fat feta cheese, or 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon pepper In a large bowl, gently toss the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, chickpeas, onion, and feta. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, garlic powder, and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad, tossing to combine.


PAGE 32 – THE SOMERS RECORD LEISURE THURSDAY, MAY 11, 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. Midway between south and southeast 4. Fathers 9. Wine grape 14. Al Bundy’s wife 15. Organic compound 16. Venezuelan state 17. Interest term 18. Experts 20. Central cores of stems 22. Smooth and glossy 23. One-time S. Korean city 24. One from Damascus 28. Short message at the end of an email 29. It cools your home 30. Oh, God! 31. Intestinal pouches 33. Men 37. Popular English soccer team (abbr.) 38. Former CIA 39. Arrange in steps 41. A baglike structure in a plant or animal 42. The Great Lake State 43. Dog-__: to mark a page 44. Stop moving 46. Ancient Dead Sea region 49. Of I 50. Clerical vestment 51. Songs sung to a lover 55. Charges 58. Popular design program manufacturer 59. Where to park a boat 60. One who values reason 64. Slang for cigarette 65. Sailboats 66. Actress Zellweger 67. Screen material 68. Country music legend Haggard 69. Puts together in time 70. When you hope to arrive CLUES DOWN 1. An involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction 2. Philly’s rail service 3. Leaves a place 4. No longer be a part in 5. Guitar players use them 6. Cease to exist 7. General’s assistant (abbr.) 8. Shaking of the earth 9. Strong winds 10. For each one 11. A bog 12. The creation of beautiful or significant things 13. Affirmative 19. Pie _ __ mode 21. Nonclerical 24. Inspirational football player Hamlin 25. Learning environment 26. Khoikhoi peoples 27. Bring out or develop 31. Shows up 32. Theatrical device 34. Loads 35. Popular Hollywood alien 36. Distinguishes 40. College dorm worker 41. Secondary or explanatory title 45. Resembling wings 47. One who delivers a speech 48. In the middle 52. Loop with a running knot 53. Airborne (abbr.) 54. Beloveds 56. Ordain 57. Breed of small cattle 59. Very small period of time (abbr.) 60. Revolutions per minute 61. They __ 62. Longtime ESPN anchor Bob 63. A place to stay Public Library, Putnam Valley Library, Somers Library, Yonkers Public Library, & Warner Library. Please register online or call the library. (IN PERSON) OTAKU CLUB Every other Sunday, from 5 to 7 p.m. Now through May 28. If you are interested in anime, manga, comics, video games, and all things “otaku,” come hang out with like minded people! fi e library will host watch parties, movie nights, gaming tournaments and talk about the newest series! Snacks are provided! Members should be 18 or older. Suggestions and ideas for future meetings are always welcome. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 68 Bedford Road, Katonah ANNUAL PLANT PATCH SALE May 11 thru 14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Following a tradition of almost 30 years, St. Luke’s will hold its annual plant patch sale. fi is year’s off ering will include annual ffl owers and native perennial plants, as well as vegetables and organic herbs. Proceeds from the sale help to fund St. Luke’s outreach programs. BENEFIT CONCERT Saturday, May 20, at 3 p.m. Featuring world-renowned guitarist Jim Skinner and friends. Hear exotic rhythms from Brazil and favorites from the American song book. Tickets are $20 and $10 for students at the door. Proceeds will help fund the Cashew Tree Project of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in Dodoma, Tanzania. Somers BSA Troop 228 WEEKLY MEETING Mondays, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Amawalk Firehouse Give your son the tools to develop his conffi dence, leadership skills, and interest in community service while experiencing the outdoor adventures of Scouting. Discover the natural wonders of New York State, whether canoeing in the Adirondacks, hiking the Appalachian trail, or camping at one of our State Parks. Excursions for all ages and levels of experience. Scouts explore their personal interests through over 135 merit badges. Troop 228 is sponsored by the Somers Volunteer Fire Department. We are proud citizens and actively give back to Somers through community service and environmental conservation projects. To ffi nd out more, email us at [email protected] or visit our website at Troop228somers.com. Somers BSA Troop 376 WEEKLY MEETING Most Tuesdays, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Somers Middle School Cafeteria. Embark on a journey that your son will remember and beneffi t from for a lifetime! fi ere is no youth program quite TRUNK FROM PAGE 9 SEE TRUNK PAGE 37


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 33 1 DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 7/31/2023. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Buy one (1) window or entry/patio door, get one (1) window or entry/patio door 40% off, and 12 months $0 money down, $0 monthly payments, 0% interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or entry/patio doors between 3/26/2023 and 7/31/2023. 40% off windows and entry/patio doors are less than or equal to lowest cost window or entry/patio door in the order. Subject to credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or familial status. Savings comparison based on purchase of a single unit at list price. Available at participating locations and offer applies throughout the service area. See your local Renewal by Andersen location for details. CA License CLSB #1050316. Central CA License #1096271. License #RCE-50303. OR License #198571. WA License #RENEWAP877BM. WA License# RENEWAW856K6. All other license numbers available upon request. Some Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. “Renewal by Andersen" and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2023 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. RBA13228 Save on Windows and Doors! AND 40% OFF1 BUY ONE, GET ONE Minimum purchase of 4 – interest accrues from the date of purchase but is waived if paid in full within 12 months. $0 Money Down $0 Interest $0 Monthly Payments for 12 months1 866-944-1728 Call by July 31 to schedule your FREE consultation. Approximately 300,000 gallons of water are taken from the aquifer a day and should it become contaminated, it would be very expensive to clean up. Then there’s the possibility of losing the source altogether. That means there would be “a massive number of people, probably almost 20 percent of the town, who will lose their access to clean water,” MacGregor said. “So, it’s important to think about. It’s the land; it’s the species; it’s the water; it’s the whole environment,” he added. Hiss’s presentation began with a discussion of the biodiversity crisis and the need “to end endlings” such as the late Lonesome George, who was the last known giant tortoise from Pinta Island in the Galápagos, and the late Sudan, the last male northern white rhino on earth. He then traced America’s attitudes toward land consumption and conservation from the westward expansion in the early 1800s, which he said was spurred by a belief in manifest destiny and economic opportunity and intensified by a disregard for the people and animals already there; to the creation of Yellowstone, the country’s first national park in 1872, the National Park Service in 1916, and the Appalachian Trail (proposed in 1921 and completed in 1937); to its current response to the climate and biodiversity crises. Noting that all kinds of initiatives have begun to flourish, Hess said folks are coming around to the belief that it’s possible to “add human uses without subtracting the use that’s already there -- the lives and habitats of other creatures.” Two examples he cited were an 18-million-acre project that hopes to link up Yellowstone National Park, which spans three states, to Glacier National Park in Montana; and the Western New York Wildway, an ambitious long-term plan to protect and connect 1.5 million acres in upstate New York. There’s a “third possible standout, Somers, N.Y.,” Hiss said, noting that the town is “so close” to achieving the 30X30 goals thanks to the work the community’s done “over the last generation.” Somers managed to stay very rural much longer than other towns partly because of its being home to New York City water sources, its hilly nature, and its resistance to the railroad and “all kinds of other embellishments” intended to draw it into Westchester’s growth, Hiss said. However, in the 1980s Somers embraced the “idea of big-time growth” and, as a result, has had to deal with “consequences that hadn’t been anticipated,” he explained. Hiss called out the former IBM campus, saying it “suddenly appeared on a hilltop, brought sky glow into town, created a 25-acre parking lot and five miles of roads. 3,000 people came and went and then went forever.” “It sits empty today. How are you going to remediate a site like that?” he asked. The town has since returned to a slowgrowth philosophy. In 2006, land that had been targeted for a massive housing development was saved through coordinated town, SLT, county, city, and state efforts, and turned HISS FROM PAGE 6 SEE HISS PAGE 34


PAGE 34 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 into the 654-acre Angle Fly Preserve, which Hiss called a “wonderful belt of protected land right in the middle of town.” It didn’t just protect Somers’ rural character, it protected local species such as bobcats, wood turtles, frogs, and trout, according to Hiss. “It’s arrested the loss of biodiversity and it’s beginning to lead to the building back of biodiversity,” he added. If Somers manages to protect just another 332 acres, it could wind up being a “poster child” for the state, he said. Hiss allowed that “that won’t be the end of the story” because there are still some “large-scale properties, which in the minds of developers are considered empty and vacant, and as we now know are nothing of the sort.” “If they are going to accommodate any kind of growth, it has to be all species growth,” he advised. Somers could also get in on nearby initiatives such as the Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor project, a partnership between the Metropolitan Conservation Alliance and the towns of North Salem, Lewisboro, and Pound Ridge. fi e goal is to establish a regional approach to the conservation of wildlife and habitats. While local land trusts have their own balliwicks, they also work in tandem with other organizations. Coordinated regional eff orts appear to be the trend. CHANGE STARTS AT HOME fi ere are things that people who don’t even consider themselves as having any wildland can do, insisted Hiss. fi ey can take back part of their lawns and plant ffl owers and other native plants that support pollinators. fi ey can look out for the health of waterways by foregoing fertilizers and other lawn chemicals and by leaving streamside areas unmowed. fi ey can participate in the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat program. Hiss also noted that there’s a move afoot in New Castle to mobilize “vine squads” to remove – and teach people how to identify – invasive species such as Mile-aminute, a weed that smothers other plants, shrubs, and trees by growing over them. KEEP PLUGGING One woman in the audience told Hiss she’d had a “depressing” conversation with certain family members who, while supportive of the conservation movement, think it can’t succeed in a “capitalistic society” where money is the motivating factor. “How do you shift those values?” she asked. Promising her that “those values will seem quaint at some point in the future,” Hiss then summoned the spirit of Benton MacKaye, the founder of the Appalachian Trail, who oft deployed the catchphrase: “Optimism is oxygen.” fi ose attitudes shouldn’t stop folks from ffi ghting for the environment, he said, adding: “fi e more that you just work at being part of this the less you worry about the people are telling you it can’t happen.” HISS FROM PAGE 33 Advertise With Us When you advertise with The Somers Record, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout the Town of Somers, including all of its hamlets and Heritage Hills. To advertise or to place a classifi ed, call Brett Freeman at 845- 208-8151 or email freeman@ halstonmedia.com. Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! Established 1979 Hunter Douglas Showcase Priority Dealer WESTCHESTER 914-277-4229 • PUTNAM 845-278-2575 AS FEATURED ON FREE ESTIMATES AND FREE INSTALLATION DISCOUNTED BLINDS & SHADES VERTICAL-MINI BLINDS-SILHOUETTE SHUTTERS-WOOD BLINDS-VIGNETTE LUMINETTES-ROMAN BLINDS-VALANCES Shades Above the Rest for Home & Office SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $25 PER BLIND! www.westrockwindowdesigns.com Somers Resident COUPON DSL Construction The Home Team! Floors • Decks • Kitchens • Bathrooms Complete Remodeling of Your Home OFFICE: 845-276-8608 LOU: 845-494-9857 Proudly Serving Heritage Hills Community The Home Team! Floors • Decks • Kitchens • Bathrooms FREE Consultation & Design Fully Insured to Meet Your Needs Scaffold Law/Labor Law, Workman's Comp, Liability • No Job Too Small! One Marina Drive, Lake Mahopac NY 845-628-2333 www.macdonaldmarineny.net SALES • SERVICE • STORAGE DSL Construction Inc. Windows, Doors, and Painting Full Service Window and Door Installations Call for Free Quote and Measure We deal with all the major window, door, and paint brand manufacturers Office: 845-276-8608 • Lou: 845-494-9857 Fully Licensed to meet your needs! Scaffold Law/Labor Law, Workman's Comp, Liability • No Job Too Small! 421 Rt 6 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Tel: 845.628.9604 • www.callsullivan.com Neal L. Sullivan Business Umbrella Home Auto Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how.


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 35 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! 845-278-7312 ALL FUEL CO. The Shelley Family Home Heating Fuel 1606 Rte 22, Brewster • Burner Sales, Service & Installation • Tank Removal & Installation • Propane Available for Cooking & Heating Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com * Maintenance * Planting * Pruning * * Shrubs * Plants * Lawn Maintenance * Soil Test * * Landscape Architectural Planning * Horticulturist * (914) 248-7768 AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 52 YEARS! WE BUY: GOLD • STERLING SILVER • JEWELRY • COINS • PAINTINGS • BRONZES • CLOCKS • COLLECTIBLES • ANTIQUES • ETC. Items for sale? Call us! GOLD • SILVER • DIAMONDS WATCHES • COINS • FURS PAINTINGS • FULL ESTATES The Buying Service We simply pay more! Contact Barry 914-260-8783 [email protected] WE BUY Honest and Reliable, 30+ years experience. Local Collector/Seller (Westchester/Putnam) Call or text: 917-699-2496 • email: [email protected] Hope to hear from you! Thanks! BUYING COMIC BOOK COLLECTIONS! TOP PRICES PAID! Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how.


PAGE 36 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket This is real dental insurance — NOT just a discount plan You can get coverage before your next checkup CALL NOW! 1-877-690-2680 Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details. Product not available in all states. Acceptance is guaranteed for one insurance policy/certifi cate of this type. This specifi c offer is not available in CO: call 1-800-969-4781 for a similar offer. For complete details about this solicitation of insurance, please contact us. Certifi cate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6129-1118 FREE Information Kit 1-877-690-2680 Visit us online at www.dental50plus.com/seasonal Switch & Save Up to $250/Year On Your Talk, Text and Data Plan! © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. Terms and Conditions subject to change. New service activation on approved credit. Cellular service is not available in all areas and is subject to system limitations. Half the cost savings based on the cost of Consumer Cellular’s single-line, 5GB data plan with unlimited talk and text compared to the lowest cost single line post-paid publicly oƒ ered by all major wireless carriers, August 2022. Savings calculation is based on a comparison of Consumer Cellular’s average customer invoice to the average cost of single-line entry-level plans oƒ ered by the major U.S. wireless carriers as of May 2022. For J.D. Power 2023 Wireless Customer Care Value Mobile Virtual Network Operator Study award information, visit jdpower.com/awards. CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 877-427-0320 AWARDED BY J.D. POWER 14 TIMES IN A ROW “#1 in Customer Service among Value MVNOs.” 14x NATIONWIDE COVERAGE EXACT SAME PREMIUM COVERAGE As the Major Carriers for Up to Half the Cost Warren Lucas warned folks that the state Department of Transportation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection will be removing parking along the sides of Routes 202 100, and 116 and giving them access to the new lot. He added that “with people working at home, it will be interesting to see the uptake of this parking.” North Salem currently charges non-residents $800 a year for a spot in its parking lot. It charges daily fees of $5. The MTA lot will be charging $450 for a yearly permit. North Salem pays New York City 33 percent of the gross receipts it gets in fees. That’s because the town lot is located on their property. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the northern section of Metro-North’s Upper Harlem Line between the Southeast and Goldens Bridge stations draws customers from overlapping geographies covering eastern Westchester County and southeastern Putnam County due to an existing road network and limited railroad customer parking availability in the area.   The 450-space lot will help alleviate street parking concerns and provide parking for another 250 vehicles to accommodate current and future customers, it said. In the past, Metro-North has been able to address station access and parking shortfall issues on the Harlem Line through a systematic approach resulting in the construction of the North White Plains station garage and expansion of parking at the Goldens Bridge station. In keeping with this proactive approach, a detailed study of transportation conditions and parking utilization was undertaken by Metro-North to better understand the parking and pedestrian situation in the vicinity of Croton Falls.   “We are excited that the planned MTA parking area for the Croton Falls station is ready to open,” Lucas said last week.    “We look forward to the additional commuters spending some time at our businesses in Town. This adds to the 120 permit spaces and 70 daily spaces currently available in the hamlet of Croton Falls.” Other elected officials weighed in last week. “Access to modern parking facilities is essential if residents are to use MetroNorth trains for their daily commute or for recreational purposes,” said state Sen. Pete Harckham, who represents the area and is also the Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. “In addition to convenience, trains have the potential of reducing thousands of tons of greenhouse gases by taking cars off the road that would otherwise be used for daily transportation.”  “The new commuter parking lot at the Croton Falls station is a significant step towards making our transportation system more accessible and convenient for all commuters,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “I applaud the addition of ample parking spaces and charging units for electric cars, which are not only addressing parking concerns but also promoting sustainable transportation.”  MTA FROM PAGE 1 SEE MTA PAGE 37


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 37 “This is a welcome addition for many of our Putnam County residents who rely on the Croton Falls train station in their daily commute,”  said Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne. “I remember participating in project discussions with my former Westchester Assembly colleagues years ago when this specific project was discussed and advocated for. This long-awaited new parking area brings a strong regional benefit to both Putnam and our friends from Westchester, and we’re glad to see it finally completed. Thank you to the MTA and Metro-North for this investment in our community’s infrastructure. This will not only improve safety for commuters that no longer have to park on the street, but it will increase access and provide a quality-of-life boost for those who take a trip on Harlem Line.”  MTA FROM PAGE 1 like Scouts BSA, which offers leadership development, teaches citizenship and responsibility, embeds useful outdoor survival skills, can spark career interests, and boasts exciting activities that few outside of Scouting have the opportunity to experience. Celebrating 30 years in Somers, Troop 376 is sponsored by the Somers Lions Club and proudly offers a well-balanced “AdultGuided, Youth-Led” program that includes activities for all skill levels and interests. As a slightly smaller Troop, Scouts enjoy ample opportunities for direct involvement and leadership, as well as a significant voice in suggesting future troop activities. Camping trips, day hikes, family-friendly activities like bowling nights and ropes courses, community service projects, annual “high adventure” excursions, and visits to historic destinations like Gettysburg are just some of the activities you can look forward to with Troop 376. To learn more, email [email protected] and visit www.SomersTroop376.org. RideConnect Rideconnect has volunteers ready to help drive seniors to their medical appointments and assist with shopping. Services are free to seniors residing in Westchester and southern Putnam Counties. To request assistance call (914) 242-7433. Anyone wishing to volunteer for Rideconnect may do so by emailing Marietta Manoni at mmanoni@ fsw.org Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam MONTHLY MEETING Please join us for our monthly discussion as we work to advance cross-racial and crosscultural amity to impact the public discourse on race. Our monthly meetings feature speakers, screenings, and presentations where discussions are aimed at educating one another on who we really are. Visit https://www.eventbrite. com/e/138495877899 to register for this online event. TRUNK FROM PAGE 32 UPDATED Halston Media fillers 12/31/20 (new address) *NOTE: when putting these into place, please take hyphenation off as it can get very confusing for web and/or email addresses. thanks! Somers Record Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 914- 302-5830. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to The Somers Record need to be high-resolution. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. 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. Send us a photo and announcement at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. There is no charge for this announcement. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Somers Record or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830. Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Contact Us The Somers Record is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302- 5830 or email somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com. Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a cameraready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. Advertise With Us When you advertise with The Somers Record, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout the Town of Somers, including all of its hamlets and Heritage Hills. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. To advertise in The Somers Record, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Sports Deadline The sports deadline for The Somers Record is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to sports@ halstonmedia.com. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. Somers Record News Fillers Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 914- 302-5830. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to The Somers Record need to be high-resolution. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. Send a selfaddressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Share Your Milestones Let your neighbors know about the special moments in your life, whether it’s a birth, engagement, wedding or anniversary. Send us a photo and announcement at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. There is no charge for this announcement. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Somers Record or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830. Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to The Somers Record, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Contact Us The Somers Record is located at Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email somersrecord@halstonmedia. com. Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a cameraready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. Advertise With Us When you advertise with The Somers Record, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout the Town of Somers, including all of its hamlets and Heritage Hills. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. To advertise in The Somers Record, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email freeman@halstonmedia. com. Sports Deadline The sports deadline for The Somers Record is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to sports@ halstonmedia.com. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. header: Univers Bold 11pt/12leading body: Franklin Gothic Book reg10pt/11leading paragraph rule top Univers Bold 10pt/11 leading paragraph rule top Your ad could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. SR legals specs: STANDING HEAD: Gill Sans (TT), bold, 18pt, M100-Y100 HEADER-Univers 57 condensed regular 12/14, all caps, underline, centered BODY-Adobe Caslon pro 10/11 Left Justified, no hyphens LLC FORMATION NOTICE Notice of Formation of Rosslyn Farm LLC. Arts. of Org. filed w/ SSNY 2/23/18. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copies of any process served against LLC to 104 Delancey Road, North Salem, NY 10560. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. LEGAL NOTICES UPDATED Halston Media fillers 12/31/20 (new address) *NOTE: when putting these into place, please take hyphenation off as it can get very confusing for web and/or email addresses. thanks! Somers Record Promote Your Charity Send us a press release at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com, or give us a call at 914- 302-5830. Photo Submissions Photos submitted to The Somers Record need to be high-resolution. Images that are submitted at a low resolution cannot be published. Submit photos to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. 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. Send us a photo and announcement at somersrecord@halstonmedia. com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. There is no charge for this announcement. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Somers Record or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830. Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to The Somers Record by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com or mail it to The Somers Record, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Contact Us The Somers Record is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302- 5830 or email somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com. Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a cameraready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. Advertise With Us When you advertise with The Somers Record, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout the Town of Somers, including all of its hamlets and Heritage Hills. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. To advertise in The Somers Record, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Sports Deadline The sports deadline for The Somers Record is the Sunday before the next publication date. Varsity coaches should submit results and information by e-mail to sports@ halstonmedia.com. All youth sports and recreational sports items should also be submitted to the same e-mail address by the Thursday before the next publication date. NOTICE CONCERNING THE EXAMINATION OF ASSESSMENT INVENTORY & VALUATION DATA Pursuant to §501 of the Real Property Tax Law: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ASSESSMENT INVENTORY AND VALUATION DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION AND REVIEW. THIS DATA IS THE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE USED TO ESTABLISH THE ASSEESSMENT OF EACH PARCEL APPEARING ON THE TENTATIVE ASSESSMENT ROLL OF THE TOWN OF SOMERS TO BE FILED ON JUNE 1, 2023. THE INFORMATION MAY BE REVIEWED, IN THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE AT: 337 ROUTE 202; SOMERS, NY 10589 ON MAY 5, 2023; BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 AM AND 2:00 PM, AND AGAIN ON MAY 11, 2023, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 12:30 PM AND 4:30 PM.  AN APPOINTMENT MAY BE MADE TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION BY CALLING (914) 277-3504. MAY 3, 2023 TERESA STEGNER, IAO ASSESSOR; TOWN OF SOMERS Notice of Formation of Hucklequeen PMD. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 03-27. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Jami Schultz: 18 Parkway Dri Cortlandt Manor NY 10567. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of SSND Reality LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 03-23. Office location: Westchester County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Neha Desai-Jimenez: 65 Route 116 Purdys NY 10578. Purpose: Any lawful purpose PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the application of Glenn Albright for a renewal of a Special Exception Use Permit.  The property included in this application is located in an R-80 Residential District at 9 Route 100, Somers and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 58.12, Block: 1, Lot: 5. All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VICTOR CANNISTRA CHAIRMAN Denise Schirmer, Secretary May 4, 2023 PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the application of Jonathan and Melissa Chiotis and Esmerelda Tamez for a renewal of a Special Exception Use Permit.  The property included in this application is located in an R-40 Residential District at 56 Wilner Road, Somers and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 17.09, Block: 2, Lot: 16. All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS VICTOR CANNISTRA CHAIRMAN Denise Schirmer, Secretary May 4, 2023


PAGE 38 – THE SOMERS RECORD CLASSIFIEDS THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755 Wheels For Wishes benefiting Make-A-Wish® Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100% Tax Deductible. Minimal To No Human Contact. Call: (877) 798-9474. Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www.wheelsforwishes.org. COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required. TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Ofi ice Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! 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Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-595-6967 AUTO DONATIONS BUYING/SELLING Buying diamonds, gold, silver, all fine jewelry and watches, coins, EDUATION/CAREER TRAINING FINANCE HEALTH FOR SALE HOME IMPROVEMENT MISCELLANEOUS TV INTERNET PHONE HELP WANTED PHARMACIST sought by Lewisboro Pharmacy, Inc. dba Cross River Pharmacy in Cross River, NY. Dispense prescribed drugs & provide info to patients about meds use. M-F; 40 hrs/wk; $101,421-$104,000/yr. REQS: BS in Pharm, Pharm Sci, or rel. Must have FPGEC cert from NABP or qualified to practice as Pharmacist in NY. Apply to: Attn: RESUME, Cross River Pharmacy, 20 North Salem Rd., Cross River, NY 10518. PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 05/04/2023 EVENTS paintings, better furs, complete estates. We simply pay more! Call Barry 914-260-8783 or e-mail [email protected] Check out our Facebook & Twitter pages! 845-225-7777 • www.puthumane.org Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Rocky Rocky is 13 years old and had been adopted from PHS when he was a kitten. Things in his home changed forcing his family to bring Rocky to the shelter. He is devastated and does not understand what he’s doing in a cage. We need to find a home quickly to get the senior boy out of the cage and into a home, loved by the next family who will never let him go! Bella recently arrived at PHS after her owner passed away. She’s six years old and was used to going everywhere with him. He used to take her on trains and subways. Wherever he went, Bella was by his side. She’s hoping there’s another family out there who will want her to be as big of a part of their life as she was her Dad’s. 845-225-7777 • www.puthumane.org Bella THIS AD WAS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY HALSTON MEDIA. 68 Old Rt. 6, Carmel 220-230 S Fulton LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/29/2022. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to C/O Joseph Briody, 716 S Columbus Ave., Mt. Vernon, NY 10550. General Purpose 4388 Park LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/14/2022. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Alan Merovitch, 3 Elm Ave., Somers, NY 10589. General Purpose 153 Valentine LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/13/2022. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 5600A Broadway, Bronx, NY 10463. General Purpose Clinical Case Management Solution LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 2/13/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 57 Bank St., apt. PHA, White Plains, NY 10606. General Purpose Odessa 18 Realty LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/11/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 57 Bank St., apt. PHA, White Plains, NY 10606. General Purpose 44 New Ave, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/8/2022. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Kastriot Pepaj, 90 Colonial Pkwy. North, Yonkers, NY 10710. General Purpose Washington Street Garage, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/11/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to David A. Nigrelli, PLLC, 115 E Stevens Ave., Ste. 102, Valhalla, NY 10595. General Purpose Downtown Rye LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/6/2023. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Jonathan D. Kraut & Michael K. Petrillo, C/O Harfenist Kraut & Perlstein LLP, 2975 Westchester Ave., Ste. 415, Purchase, NY 10577. General Purpose


THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 39 Taking the time to formulate an estate plan can often seem daunting. This is particularly true for the single parent.   Single parents are already pressed for time as they “balance” the demands of taking care of their children, home and career. The mere thought of adding anything to the “to-do list” can seem overwhelming. However, taking the time to develop an estate plan can ease some stress and help ensure that your children are provided for according to your wishes, if you were to pass away while the child is a minor. Here are a few documents and decisions a single parent should consider if they have not done so already: DRAFTING A LAST WILL This document provides specific instructions to loved ones and family members on how assets should be distributed upon your demise. It can provide that assets not be distributed to your children until they have attained a specific age or satisfied by a specific condition, with the assets being held in a trust for the benefit of your children. Within the Last Will, you will be able to select who will handle the affairs of your estate (Executor) and administer any trust for your children (Trustee). This is very important, especially if the child’s guardian (for example the other parent) is not someone you would want handling your money for the benefit of your child. Without creating a trust for your children’s benefit, any inheritance would be held in joint control by the Surrogate’s Court (in New York) and the Guardian, with the Guardian ultimately deciding how said funds are to be utilized. GUARDIANS Arguably, the most important step when creating an estate plan for the benefit of young children is to determine who will be the guardian of the children. It is often recommended to choose guardians who are in a similar age group as the parent, or younger. It is important to keep in mind that if the other parent is alive and willing, that individual will likely gain custody of the children regardless of whom is named as a guardian. REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST A revocable living trust allows the creator of the trust to remain in control of the assets while he or she is alive, but also name someone to manage the assets in the event of the creator’s incapacity or death without Court approval or oversight, such as a Guardianship proceeding or Estate (probate) proceeding. This legal tool avoids probate and can also help to ensure that children and young adults do not receive a large inheritance before they are mature enough to manage the assets. The trust can have a continuing trust for the children until they have attained a certain age and/or for their life, or until a specific condition is met, while permitting the trust assets and income to be used for the health, education, maintenance and support of the child. POWER OF ATTORNEY Single parents typically are the only account holders on their bank accounts and likely hold all their assets in their name alone. As such, what would happen if the single parent were to become incapacitated? Who would be able to access funds for the single parent and his or her children? Who would be able to pay the mortgage and bills? This is where a durable general power of attorney is important. It is a document that allows the single parent to name a trusted person to handle their financial affairs if they are unable to do so themselves. Without a Power of Attorney, the only way to gain access to assets is to petition the Supreme Court in Westchester to have a guardian appointed for the individual, which can be a long, expensive, stressful and contentious process, especially if minor children are involved. These are just four of the legal tools and documents that can be used to help better ensure a single parent’s children are protected and the parent’s wishes are fulfilled. Other tools that can provide additional guidance are advance health care directives, which allow the creator to name an individual to make health care decisions on his or her behalf in the event of incapacity, and beneficiary designation forms on retirement accounts and life insurance policies. Those putting together an estate plan are wise to seek the counsel of an experienced estate planning attorney. This legal professional can review your situation and help guide you through the process, better ensuring a plan that is more likely to reflect your wishes, as well as ensure the legal documents signed are valid and will be upheld if contested by a quarrelsome co-parent.  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 www.esslawfirm.com. Attention single parents Protect your children with a proper estate plan Lunch & Learn Series Held on the last Wednesday of each month, Lunch & Learn programs shed light on a variety of important elder law and estate planning topics. The free educational program, held at the firm’s White Plains location, is open to the public – though space is limited. Those interested are encouraged to register early by calling 914-948-1500 to reserve their spot. A light lunch and refreshments are included. Future programs include: May 31 – Estate Planning and Your Residence: What is a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust? Learn the ins and outs of Medicaid planning as well as options for home buying and selling within the trust. Presented by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. June 28 – Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Financial Elder Abuse and Senior Scams: Often referred to as “the crime of the 21st century,” learn key signs of financial and personal elder abuse, typical scams that are targeted toward the senior population as well as the important estate planning documents to help protect against financial abuse as one ages. Presented by Sara E. Meyers, Esq. September 27 – LLCs: The Pros, Cons and Estate Planning: For some, an LLC can be a useful tool to pass assets down to loved ones while avoiding or minimizing estate taxes. Discover if an LLC may be right for your estate planning needs as well as how they are used to reduce the risk of personal liability with rental properties. Presentation by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. & Michael P. Enea, Esq. October 25 – Understanding the Implications of Gray Divorce: A divorce later in life often adds a level of complexity to the estate and tax plan process. Understand what potential complications may arise and how to address them – from division of assets and tax issues to estate and long-term care planning. Presented by Lauren C. Enea, Esq. November 29 – Special Needs Planning for Children and Grandchildren with Disabilities: Ensure the future care and well-being of your child or grandchild with special needs using these estate planning strategies. This program will cover the three basic types of special needs trusts (also known as supplemental needs trusts), general drafting considerations and the newest type of special needs trust – the sole benefits trust. Presented by Sara E. Meyers, Esq. & Lauren C. Enea, Esq. LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER


PAGE 40 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023


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