VOL. 14 NO. 24 THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS 23 HEALTH & WELLNESS 16 LEGAL NOTICES 22 LEISURE 19 MAHOPAC MUSINGS 2 OPINION 8 SPORTS 18 Canon fire at Red Mills Park pg 12 BOOM TIMES! Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR Putnam Valley resident and Mahopac business owner Derrick A. Rocco, 47, is facing felony charges for allegedly possessing and promoting child pornography and taking hidden camera videos in his Mahopac deli’s bathroom after an investigation that began when, police say, he was caught trying to take pictures up a woman’s dress at a local supermarket. The investigation started on July 4 after Carmel police received a complaint that a man was trying to take “upskirt” pictures at the Stop and Shop on Route 6 in Mahopac. Officers responded immediately, but the suspect had fled before they arrived. Investigating at the scene, Carmel PD detectives found a second victim at the store, and through witness accounts and security video were able to identify the suspect as Rocco. Detectives arrested him on July 12 and charged him with two felony counts of second-degree unlawful surveillance. Rocco was arraigned in Carmel Justice Court by Judge Robert Miller, and released with electronic monitoring pending his next court appearance. Since Dec. 31, 2021, Rocco has owned Rocco’s Deli and Catering at 926 Route 6. Visited by Mahopac News staff during business hours on Friday and Monday, the deli appeared to be closed. Doors were locked, lights were off, and all signage had been removed. The store looked unoccupied, Mahopac business owner faces child porn charges Accusations include hiding a camera in deli’s bathroom IMAGE COURTESY OF CARMEL PD Derrick Rocco PHOTO: EMILE MNASCHÉ Rocco’s Deli and Catering appeared to be closed after its owner’s arrest. SEE ROCCO PAGE 5 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ EDITOR FEMA funds have been approved to help Putnam County recover from damage caused by July 9 deluge, though some local officials say more aid is needed for local businesses and individuals. Putnam—where rainfall topped 8 inches in places (including Mahopac)—is one of eight counties slated to receive funds after Governor Kathy Hochul’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration was approved by President Biden, Hochul announced on Saturday. While the amount of FEMA aid has yet to be finalized, county officials said the damage would cost well into the millions. In a press statement, County Executive Kevin Byrne said the aid followed a meeting between himself, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Whitehouse Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu to discuss recovery efforts in the Hudson Valley. Byrne said the county was also working with the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and that a preliminary damage assessment had been conducted by representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “I’d like to thank President Biden for approving the federal Major Disaster Declaration that will enable FEMA to offer critical financial disaster relief funding to various municipal governments suffering from storm damage,” Byrne Biden approves Putnam disaster declaration County and towns eligible for federal flood recovery funds SEE FEMA PAGE 6 Gerard Ahler CARMEL HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT Call or email Gerard anytime 914-447-4106 [email protected] mycarmelhighway.com “I Encourage All Graduates to Apply for Positions With the Carmel Highway Department When I Take Office!” EXPERIENCE | LEADERSHIP | ACCOUNTABILITY | INTEGRITY Paid for by Gerard Ahler THE REPUBLICAN & CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE
The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Emile Menasché Editor: 845-208-0774 [email protected] Bob Dumas Editor at Large [email protected] Whit Anderson Sports Editor [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines Mahopac News The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Emile Menasché at 845-208-0774 or email [email protected]. Subscribe To request Mahopac News weekly delivery, call 845-208-8503 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions are complimentary for residents and businesses in the town. Out of town mail subscriptions are $150 per year for First Class Mail. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mahopac, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mahopac News at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 PAGE 2 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 (ISSN 2330-1627) Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 824 Route 6, Suite 4 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Main Office 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Lake Mahopac Garden Club The monthly meeting of the Lake Mahopac Garden Club will be held on Tuesday, August 1, in Mahopac at a member’s home. The Meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. and the focus will be our annual Herb Luncheon. Members will share a dish highlighting their favorite herb. For further information contact Anne Gagliardi [email protected]. For information see lakemahopacgc.com Carmel PD National Night Out The Carmel Police Department and Carmel PBA are holding their first ever Night Out event at Chamber Park in Mahopac on Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 6 - 9 p.m. According to organizers, National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The Carmel PD’s will include music, BBQ, balloon animals, a bounce house, police vehicles and more. Go to the Carmel PD’s Facebook page for more details. Country Fest and 4-H Fair The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County and Putnam County will host the Putnam County Country Fest and 4-H Showcase on July 29 and 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 201 Gipsy Trail Road in Kent. The event will feature exciting activities for the whole family including artisan vendors, food trucks, games and inflatables for the kids—and even a car show. Traditional 4-H Fair favorites will also be showcased, including animal demonstrations, hands-on 4-H STEM activities, magic and creepy critters, horse and dog shows, Master Gardener demos and exhibits, face painting and more. Visit iloveny.com/ event/putnam-county-countryfest/64809 for more. MSA Soccer Mahopac Sports Association’s fall soccer season registration is open and will run until Aug. 27, with early bird discounts on offer until Aug. 6. All teams practice once a week; games are played on Saturdays. Practices and games will be held at Baldwin Field, or Airport Field. The season is expected to start on Saturday Sept. 16, and will end on Saturday, Nov. 4 (rain date Nov. 11). MSA is also looking for coaches and volunteers. Register, volunteer and learn more at MahopacSoccer.com or contact [email protected]. Red Mills Art Exhibit The town’s Recreation and Parks Department is presenting the Red Mills Historic Park Art Exhibit at Red Mills Park, 23 Hill St., Mahopac. The opening reception was on Saturday, July 22. The free exhibit will run until Oct. 30 and is open to the public daily from dusk till dawn. It’s made possible in part by the Putnam Arts Council’s Art Link Grant Program and public funds from Putnam County. For more info, call the Recreation and Parks Department at 845-628-7888. History Hunt The Carmel Historical Society’s 2023 History Hunt began July 1 and runs until Aug. 13. This scavenger hunt directs participants to locate various historical sites in Carmel and either take a photo (including selfies) or answer a question. for a list of items, email TOCHistoryHunt@ gmail.com; it will also be available at the July 4 concert at Red Mills Historic Park. Those who successfully complete the hunt will have a chance to win $100 at a drawing on Sunday, August 20. MAHOPAC MUSINGS SEE MUSINGS PAGE 20
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3 On the Fourth of July, the VFW Post 5491 in Mahopac held its annual patriotic boat parade on Lake Mahopac. About 50 boats participated, approximately half of which were piloted by members of the VFW and its auxiliary, while the rest were captained by private citizens. The boats are festooned with red, white, and blue bunting, banners, and American flags. It’s a tradition that the VFW has sponsored for about five years. Lakeside families on the shore came out with their flags to cheer them on. “In the years we have been doing this, I am happy to say that enthusiasm for the event has grown,” said former VFW Auxiliary president Ann Marie Vicario. “Not only do private boaters participate, but residents cheer us on from the shorelines, including children. It’s a great tradition! –Maureen Daly Making waves for America Annual boat parade celebrates Independence Day PHOTOS COURTESY OF HELENE DUNNE PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA REITZ From left, Auxiliary members Rachel Delduco, Brian Gagne, Jessica Sanchez, Robert Perelli, and Louis Preikschat
PAGE 4 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 Recent studies have shown that vaping and e-cigarette use are on the rise. According to the CDC, e-cigarette monthly unit sales increased by 46.6 percent in just two years—from 15.5 million units in January of 2020 to 22.7 million units in December of 2022. Prefilled device sales decreased, while disposable device sales increased—and sales of sweet, youth-appealing flavors increased. So where does all that waste go? While the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has been working on a solution, there is no formal mechanism to safely dispose of vape products in New York State. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recognized the need for a safe vape disposal mechanism to protect these products from diversion to underage persons and to keep high potency nicotine out of the soil and ground water. As such, this year the DEA began allowing vape devices, ecigarettes and cartridges to be disposed of during their bi-annual medication take-back days. But those events are few and far between. Although nicotine products are only legal for people 21 and older, Putnam County school districts have been especially hard hit with the number of vape devices they confiscate each year. A consortium of local substance use prevention agencies throughout the Hudson Valley approximated 90 pounds of vapes being confiscated by Putnam County schools each year. Mahopac gets vape disposal unit Prevention Council warns of underage use, hazardous material PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PREVENTION COUNCIL OF PUTNAM Kristin McConnell with supervisor Michael Cazzari at Carmel Town Hall in Mahopac Republican nominee for Carmel Highway Superintendent Gerard Ahler has been endorsed by the Town of Carmel Conservative party. The unanimous decision came at the organization’s July 18 caucus, chair Lisa Laquidara said. Alher, a longtime area businessman primarily in the construction industry, ran unopposed for the Republican nomination after incumbent Michael Simone withdrew his name from the ballot earlier this year. With no Democratic party candidate on the ballot in November, Ahler may run unopposed pending the outcome of a court case over the eligibility of current Highway Dept. employee Mike Stern to get on the ballot as an independent. Stern contends that the Board of Elections officials denied him a place on the ballot when it did will be heard in Westchester County court on Thursday, July 27. Ahler told Mahopac News that Stern had been put forwarded at the meeting by Stern’s father but that no one in attendance had seconded the nomination, leaving Ahler as the unanimous choice. “I have the Republican Party’s support and now the Conservative Committee, and I have support within the highway department,” said Ahler who said the dispute over the ballot would not affect his campaign. “There were about 50 people there—some of them from Highway—and none of them backed Stern.” Ahler gets Conservative nod Gerard Ahler SEE VAPE PAGE 20 349 Route 52 • Carmel 845-225-3054 24/hr Towing • 845-225-8006 www.chrisautomotive.com Celebrating our 32nd Anniversary in August! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE! OPEN SATURDAYS FOR REPAIRS No Appointments Needed For Most Services Mon - Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 7am-1pm $5.00 OFF REG. OIL CHANGE & $10.00 OFF SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE Present coupon at time of drop off. Not valid with other offers or discounts Expires 9/25/23 $30.00 OFF The Purchase of 4 New Tires & A 4 Wheel Alignment Must Present at time of Service. Not valid with other offers or discounts Expires 9/25/23 $10.00 OFF Any $100 Service Must Present at time of Service. Not valid with other offers or discounts Expires 9/25/23 $100.00 OFF AUTO BODY REPAIR OVER $1,500 SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY Must Present at time of Service. Not valid with other offers or discounts Expires 9/25/23 State Of The Art Auto Body Repair Center Collision Estimates • Repair All Makes & Models • All Major Insurance Accepted I-Car Certified Technicians • Body & Frame/Dent & Ding Repair • Glass Replacement Courtesy Door To Door Service Available! FREE TOWING back to shop with most repairs!
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5 though products remained on the shelves. According to court documents, some of the alleged crimes took place at the deli. ONE ARREST LEADS TO ANOTHER It was while investigating the first set of charges regarding the upskirt video complaint that police say they uncovered even more disturbing evidence. After CPD detectives and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office investigators examined Rocco’s cell phone, police obtained additional search warrants for his residence and place of business. It was then that police say they allegedly discovered digital storage devices containing child pornography. According to court documents, Rocco’s iPhone 14 Plus contained videos ranging in length from around 48 seconds to just over eight minutes showing a number of underage sex acts. Additional videos on the phone showed footage captured when Rocco allegedly hid a camera in the toilet at Rocco’s Deli. The videos show both underage girls and adult women and one man using the bathroom. According to the documents, Rocco himself is seen retrieving the camera. CPD Lt. Michael Bodo said the investigation continues as detectives and forensic electronic specialists from the Sheriff’s Department “are still going through Rocco’s digital storage devices,” but declined to comment further, citing an ongoing investigation. After investigators found the videos, Rocco was arrested a second time by CPD detectives and has been charged with multiple felonies, including three counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child, one felony count of promoting a sexual performance by a child, and five additional felony counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree. He was arraigned by Justice Miller and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility on $75,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond. “The Sheriff’s Department has been helpful with both their expertise in electronics and also because the investigation includes Rocco’s residence, which is in Putnam Valley and therefore out of our jurisdiction,” Bodo said. Bodo said Sheriff’s Department Investigator John Hyla and K9 Hannah, who is trained in electronic storage device detection, helped in the search for storage devices currently being examined by investigators. Bodo would not comment of the number or type of the devices. On Monday, County Sheriff Lt. Michael Grossi said Rocco was still being held in county jail. As of now, the case involves two investigations, Bodo said: the upskirt and hidden camera charges in Mahopac and the child pornography charges. He is due back in Carmel Court on Sept. 11, but the case is likely to be moved to county court due to the felony charges. Carmel police credited the cooperation of witnesses, and local merchants—along with investigative help from the Sheriff’s Office—for the speed of Rocco’s arrest. As the investigation moves forward, police continue to seek witnesses in both cases. Those with information are asked to call Carmel PD at 845-628-1300. ROCCO FROM PAGE 1 Pizza and Pasta Pick up or FREE Delivery with minimum $15 TUESDAY SPECIAL $2 OFF any large pie Exp. 7/30/23 LUNCH SPECIAL 2 slices cheese pizza plus can of soda $8.50 Mon-Thurs. 11:30-3:30pm Exp. 7/30/23 Under New Ownership since 2022 Why wait on long lines, when you can order on line! www.cacciatoripizzamahopac.com 941 So. Lake Blvd • Mahopac NY 10541 • 845-628-7984 FAMILY SPECIAL 2 large pies and a 2 litter bottle of soda Nestled in a lush green hideaway of Yorktown Heights amidst tall evergreens and nature’s beauty, sits The Country House, recently named a Best Assisted Living community by U.S. News & World Report. We invite you to tour and learn more about how our services can benefit you or your loved one. Call (914) 249-9144 to schedule. Experience the Best THE Country House in westchester 2000 Baldwin Road · Yorktown Heights · thecountryhouseinwestchester.com LIC # 800-F-007 PHOTO: EMILE MNASCHÉ Rocco’s Deli and Catering appeared to be closed after its owner’s arrest.
PAGE 6 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 BY BOB DUMAS EDITOR AT LARGE The fiscal state of the town of Carmel is in stellar condition as it received another gold star in the wake of its annual audit. Alan Kassay, a partner with O’Connor Davies, the accounting firm that performed the audit, gave a PowerPoint presentation at the Town Board’s July 5 meeting laying out his findings. Kassay said his firm has issued an “unmodified (clean) opinion” relating to the town of Carmel as of Dec.31, 2022, the best opinion a municipality can receive. Kassay also noted that the town has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 31 consecutive years. “That is really quite an achievement,” he told the board. “There are probably less than two dozen municipalities in the state that could claim the same thing.” Kassay the town has maintained an Aa1 rating from Moody’s, which means it has a “very strong capacity to meet its financial commitments.” Consequently, the town can get the lowest interest rates possible when it needs to borrow money. Kassay cited the board’s ability to maintain a healthy fund balance (similar to a savings account) as one reason the town received the clean opinion. The general fund balance was $9.87 million in 2019 and rose to $12.77 million by 2022. The town also increased funding for capital projects by $250,000 from 2021 to 2022. Kassay noted that $450,000 was taken from the fund balance and used to balance the 2023 budget, a $25,000 decrease from the amount that was used in 2022. “The unassigned fund balance last year was $3.7 million, representing about 17 percent of [entire] 2023 adopted budget, which is definitely within the range recommended by the state comptroller,” he said. Kassay said revenues decreased by 1 percent from 2022 to 2023 but because the town has conservatively budgeted its revenue, it was still able to generate a positive variance. Kassay also praised the town for keeping spending in check. “Budgeting revenues conservatively is the right thing to do because aside from the property tax there is no control over revenue as it comes in,” he said. “The expenditure side is where you can control it, which the town has done. “The way you have issued bonds over the years and have them scattered [over time]... you are not burdening the town with excess debt service in one year,” he added. “Instead, you have it spread out all over the life of the bonds.” Councilman Steve Baranowski gave credit to Comptroller Mary Ann Maxwell and her department. “This whole process is every day doing every transaction right, making sure every bill gets paid on time and appropriately,” he said. Audit finds town is in solid fiscal shape Lauded for excellence in financial reporting for 31 straight years SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP? 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Cannot be combined with any other offer. $ 50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES We’re Committed to Your Comfort! said. “I’d also like to thank Governor Hochul, her staff and team at the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services for working jointly with our team at the Bureau of Emergency Services during the storms and recovery efforts. “Every representative from Putnam’s state and federal delegation took time to reach out and offer support in the aftermath of the storms, and we thank them all, but we also recognize we still have a long way to go before all repairs and mitigation efforts are completed,” Byrne added. “Many homeowners are still hurting from storm damage. We will continue to work with our partners at the state and federal government to give them what they need to bolster their efforts to bring back additional relief.” Eligibility for assistance to individuals is still being evaluated by the state and federal government. Residents are encouraged to document damage and work with their insurance companies. While welcoming the aid, Carmel Supervisor Mike Cazzari said individuals and businesses also needed recovery help and urged officials to act quickly. “I want to thank our state and federal representatives who have been working with the county executive to ensure that the needs of our residents are addressed,” Cazzari told Mahopac News. “It is unfortunate that the president has not yet approved federal assistance to individuals and businesses. Since FEMA is still evaluating whether to provide assistance Carmel business owners and residents are encouraged to document their damage as the county executive stated.” Putnam County’s Bureau of Emergency Services is working with the state to compile data from individuals and small businesses “to strengthen the state’s request for individual assistance,” Byrne’s office said. The county executive added that residents can visit putnamcountyny.com/damagereport to be directed to the survey provided by DHSES. EMERGENCY FROM PAGE 1 Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at freeman@halstonmedia. com. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you know what steps you can take to avoid your estate going to probate? All Together Now: Scenes of Summer is the current group exhibit on display in the Third Floor Gallery at Mahopac Public Library. Featuring 107 artworks created by 59 local and regional artists, the work in this show depicts the liveliness, activity, and vivid colors of the summer season. Scenes of Summer will remain on view through August 19 and can be visited during regular library hours. All Together Now is this year’s Collaborative Summer library Program summer reading theme, which focuses on friendship, kindness, inclusion, and diversity. A number of the artists participating in this exhibit have not previously displayed their work at Mahopac Library, including two gentlemen who are associated with The Arc MidHudson (a nonprofit that works to empower people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to achieve and experience the highest quality of life). By bringing all the artists together, the show complements and supports all the exciting and innovative programs and events taking place at the library during the months of July and August. A handful of works in the exhibit depict groups of people coming together and enjoying traditional summertime activities, including Pauline Bruno’s paintings “The Quarry” and “Beach Umbrellas,” Michael Mendel’s watercolor “Jones Beach,” “Looking Down from the Leaning Tower” (oil on linen) by James Sparks, and “Summertime” (oil on canvas) by Kjersti Lovece. Various pieces feature the flora and fauna associated with the warmer weather, including “Peony from My Garden” by JoJo Maxwell, “Valeria’s Flowers” by Rosemary Hocking-Sanzari, Lynn Burkett’s “Sunflowers in Vase” and “Daylilies,” and “Hydrangea” and “Mason Jar” by Muriel Wines. Clair Moritz-Magnesio’s watercolor “Summertime Delight” depicts a mouth-watering old-fashioned ice cream sundae, and “Burgers and Drinks” (digital art) by Lawrence Flood is what summer barbecues are all about! Several artists focused on beach scenes and waterscapes, including “Cabins at the Beach” by Danielle Rogers, “Delray Beach” by Nina Bertolino, “Warm Beach Day” by John Carrick (The Arc), “Sailing” by Wendi Bistany, “Walking on the Beach” by Marge Pollack, “Coral Seas” by Tatiana Ferraro, and “Little Treasures” by Rosemary Stock. Submissions for this show included jewelry, ceramics, mixed media, hand-ground minerals, fiber art, upcycled materials as well as paintings, photographs, and digital art. Suzanne Graziano’s remarkable ceramic piece “Summer Bouquet,” Mindy Ackerman’s necklace created with freshwater pearls and chalcedony, Amanda Lynne’s “Bee Mandala” (upcycled wood), and Cindy Green’s “Treasures of the Heartland” (fiber art/ mixed media) are among the works using less traditional materials. Many of the works in the Scenes of Summer are available for purchase; for information, or to inquire about an artwork or the library’s exhibition program, visit mahopaclibrary.org, or call 845-628-2009, ext. 107. Article courtesy of Mahopac Public Library ‘Scenes Of Summer’ Exhibit Fills the Mahopac Library Gallery Over 100 works in a variety of media are on display “Warm Beach Day” by John Carrick “Floral Joy” by Heidi Stein Cabins at the Beach by Danielle Rogers IMAGES COURTESY OF MAHOPAC PUBLIC LIBRARY
Opinion BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER EMILE MENACHÉ, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 845-208-0774 [email protected] 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 Mahopac News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 845-208-0774 PAGE 8 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 I t’s the tale of two visits to Ithaca, N.Y. One was the worst of times. One was the best of times. But I will forever associate this city — nestled in the Finger Lakes region of New York — as a costly one. The first visit was in late summer 1999, just a couple months shy of my 21st birthday. I had been hanging out with my childhood best friend, a student at Cornell University, who had taken me to an off-campus house party. “Put your drink down,” my friend said to me, as we were standing on the sidewalk in front of the house. I had been holding my very first drink of the evening. It was a beer poured into one of those ubiquitous red plastic cups distributed at college parties throughout America. Having taken only a few sips so far, I was as sober as a judge. But my friend saw a police officer approaching, and he knew we’d be in trouble. I carefully placed my drink on the sidewalk. As I look back on these 24 years, I can’t remember why my buddy wasn’t also the victim of what happened to me next. But I suspect that as an attendee of an elite Ivy League school, he was just smarter than me and did what I should have done; he presumably spilled his drink on the lawn. “Pick that drink up, or I will charge you with littering,” the Ithaca police officer said to me. So, I picked up the drink, and the next thing I know, I was in handcuffs, placed in the back of the squad car and driven to the police station. Turns out that it was a Catch-22 situation. He was either going to charge me for littering or drinking in public (I was standing on the sidewalk, just inches away from the private property). If I remember the details correctly, I think the eventual citation was for underage drinking since I was still 20 years old for a couple more months. When I arrived at the police station, I was handcuffed to a desk and waited for what seemed a couple of hours until my friend arrived separately and paid my $100 fine in order to have me released. In retrospect, some of this story doesn’t add up. The $100 payment secured my permanent freedom, and I never heard from the city of Ithaca again. I suspect this was a moneymaking scheme for the city and the officer had to fill his quota. Did I have a right to contest the charge? Could the officer even prove that the cup had any alcohol in it (as I doubt he retained the evidence)? Why didn’t I have to go to court? I presume the answer to this last question is that my infraction was roughly the equivalent of a speeding ticket, and paying the fine was the equivalent of pleading guilty. But if that’s the case, it seemed a bit over the top that he handcuffed me to his desk. Was I guilty? You bet. But I suspect the officer was also having a bit of fun that night with someone still young and naive. A VISIT TO ITHACA WITH MY DAUGHTER Fast forward 24 years. I’m fatter and balder, but definitely wiser. This past Saturday, I drove up to Ithaca to take my almost 14-year-old daughter, Jenna, to the Summer Music Academy at Ithaca College. I pride myself on being a detailoriented individual. You can’t run a media company (six newspapers with strict deadlines) and be unconcerned with details. Check-in for the week-long sleepaway camp was between noon and 2 p.m. We left our house at around 7:45 a.m. and arrived in plenty of time to grab a bite to eat before dropping her off. As we drove onto campus, we parked at the designated registration spot and couldn’t find a soul. We walked around for about 20 minutes looking for the registration desk before I re-read the welcome letter that was emailed to me earlier in the week. I felt like the biggest idiot on this planet. We arrived a day early. To my credit, the location on the website confirming Jenna’s registration had the wrong dates on it. But everything else, including the welcome letter, had the start date of Sunday. And I was obviously the only parent who made the mistake. As soon as I stopped chastising myself for such a moronic error and after falling on my sword to my wife (who was back home with our son) and my parents and in-laws who inquired how drop-off went, I then realized that this was an opportunity to spend quality time with my daughter. But we had nowhere to stay and I had no overnight bag. Additionally, one of our editors was on vacation, I had work to do before deadline, and I was four hours away from my computer. Over $1,000 later, and I’m sitting at my hotel desk on Sunday morning as I write this column. The hotel computers were so old that they were incompatible with our browser-based editorial database. So, after securing a room at The Hotel Ithaca (which is lovely, by the way), I drove to Staples to purchase a laptop (my wife needed one anyway), to T.J. Maxx to get a shirt and underwear, and to CVS for toiletries. But Jenna and I also took a great hike along the city’s famous gorge, we went to a great restaurant just a five-minute walk from our hotel, we hung out at a book store after dinner and then hung out at the hotel bar as we read our books. This time around, I stayed in the designated drinking area and not to worry - my daughter drank a Shirley Temple. Costly mistakes in Ithaca, NY Brett Freeman and his daughter Jenna taking a hike in Ithaca. After Brett stopped berating himself for his mishap, he enjoyed great daddy/daughter quality time in a fun city. BRETT FREEMAN PUBLISHER’S MEMO
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9 RED MILLS Convenience Center 575 Route 6N, Mahopac Falls • 845-628-9745 We have your grab and go items! Come see our vintage candy shop Happy Hour Coffee Ask About our coffee club Your 10th Cup is FREE! Any Size 3-7pm Purchase your box of Coffee to go! Buy 10, Get 1 FREE! Try our Coffee Flavors of the Season! Milkshakes & Smoothies $ 399 $ 1 00 Sandwiches OFF We are here if you need anything! $.99 Valid 3 to 7 PM Cool off with our July Savings! We have over 100 helium balloon choices! OUR COOLERS ARE STOCKED! With your Favorite Cool beverages, Ice, Beer, Ice cream & Cases of Poland Spring Water! Dear Dr. Linda, Our son is entering ninth grade, but if you looked at his writing, you’d think he was in second. He writes as little as possible and what he does write is illegible. Lately, when he has to write a paper for school, he won’t even show it to us or tell us about it. We contacted his English teacher because he’s failing English, which we learned when we went online. His teacher told us that he believes our son has a writing disorder called dysgraphia. I used to have him rewrite and rewrite before I’d let him hand anything in. There were times that I actually threw his papers in the trash. His teacher thought that was a horrible thing for me to do and then said, “That’s probably why he’s so afraid to write.” My first question is if you think he’s right? And my second question is if I should get a writing program for him over the summer? -Marla Dear Marla, To answer your second question, no, please do not get him a writing program to work on over the summer. It sounds like your son probably does have dysgraphia, which is a writing disorder. The handwriting of people with dysgraphia looks as if a chicken walked across the page—it is illegible, spelling is often atrocious, and punctuation is missing. There may be one period at the end of 10 lines and nothing capitalized. Some children and teens struggle with dysgraphia every day. Fortunately, for them, computers exist. Unfortunately, though, because many parents have never heard of it, they end up destroying any chance their child has for loving writing. It’s sad. Parents have the power to foster or destroy their children’s academic success. They don’t often realize it, because they’re following their own parents’ rules. It worked for me, they think, so it’ll work for my children. But especially when a child has a reading, writing or math disorder or another brain-related disorder that interferes with learning, it’s a sure bet they’ll be affected. But children with learning disabilities aren’t the only ones. Here are a few other things you can do to guarantee that any child stops being excited by learning. HOW TO DIMINISH YOUR CHILD’S NATURAL LOVE OF LEARNING: When your child doesn’t know how to spell a word, tell them to look it up. Stop. Think about that. Generally speaking, you have to already know how to spell something in order to look it up in a dictionary. When your child is writing a paragraph or paper, stop and make him correct misspelled words in the middle of it. The flow of creativity stops when you have to stop in the middle and think about spelling. If you’re writing a report, do you run “spell check” before you’re done writing? If he’s writing it by hand, don’t make him stop and look up a word—if you know how to spell it, tell him. When your child asks you a question, take as much time as you can to answer it. This is a fine strategy if you actually don’t want your kids to ask you a lot of questions. School-aged kids have already spent a whole day in school listening to their teachers, so if your answer goes on for hours, they’ll stop asking. Most kids would rather lose credit on homework questions than ask Mom or Dad and sit there for hours more. But you’re their greatest allies—if you listen to their questions and provide brief answers that actually help them make the right connections, you’ll be the hero! If your child doesn’t do well on a test or assignment, lecture him, ground him, and tell him he’s lazy. Really? You’re his parent, not his parole officer. Your job is to find out why s/he didn’t do well. Maybe your child didn’t understand the subject well enough. Maybe s/he hasn’t learned or developed good study skills. Maybe the test was based on a movie your child didn’t see because he was home sick. I have never met a child who is lazy, but I’ve met plenty who were confused, anxious, hungry or don’t know how to take notes or review for tests. Marla, I’m sorry to tell you, but your son’s teacher is probably right. Making him write and rewrite when he has a brainrelated dysfunction that actually affects, among other things, his ability to manage fine-motor control over a pencil—and throwing what it’s taken him hours to write in the trash—probably has caused him to be afraid to write. As parents, we’re all guilty. Because our parents did it or because we don’t have time, without realizing it, we sometimes destroy our children’s desire to learn. So, next time your child asks for help with a homework assignment, asks a question, or brings home a grade that’s lower than you know his ability to be, stop and think. You’re the most important influence and the first defense. -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda, along with her husband, Dr. Al, own Strong Learning Tutoring and Test Prep serving Westchester and Putnam counties for over 40 years. Strong Learning tutors students K-12 in any subject, in person or remotely. Drs. Linda and Al are also the authors of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids.” Don’t inadvertently hurt your child’s love of learning DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING
PAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED for Katonah-Lewisboro School District • Guaranteed 30 hours a week • Paid Holidays • Sick days & personal days • NY State retirement system • Medical benefits • Eye & dental benefits • Great place to work Job Flexibilitywork mornings or afternoons. For More Info Call: 914-763-7232 The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 TICKS ARE HERE. MOSQUITOS CAN BE DEADLY! CALL TODAY! ANTS • TERMITES • TICKS • MOSQUITOES SQUIRRELS • RACCOONS • BATS • MICE RATS • WASPS • BEES SPIDERS • MOLES • SKUNKS • BEDBUGS NEW SERVICE ONLY - ALL PEST AND WILDLIFE DON’T LIVE WITH ANY CRAWLING PESTS THIS SPRING & SUMMER. WE “ELIMINATE ‘EM! SpCB23 TERMITE ELIMINATION OR RODENT/BAT EXCLUSION A super-majority (about 65%) of Americans have told pollsters that they won’t vote for Joe Biden or Donald Trump in next year’s presidential election. That is, of course, despite the fact that both candidates have commanding leads in their respective polls for the Democratic and Republican primaries. The two grumpy old men ready to square off next year are not inspiring the masses. For that reason, the 2024 election is on track to provide the most unpopular choice in our nation’s history, and talk of a third party candidate is grabbing headlines. Earlier this month, “No Labels,” a national bi-partisan group promoting a possible third-party ticket, held an event with an overflow crowd in New Hampshire headlined by two of the group’s founders, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah. Also in attendance was Chris Sununu, the popular New Hampshire governor. The local Laconia Daily Sun’s headline captured the event’s buzz best, “Manchin’s visit to New Hampshire for No Labels event stirs interest and ire.” The No Labels event earned them significant play in the national news and opinion pages, causing what seems to be a Democratic freak-out about the possibility of a No Labels third party bid hurting Biden and helping Trump win. I’m not sure the freak-out is justified and a recently released Monmouth poll seems to cast doubt on the conventional wisdom. Their poll shows Biden with a 47% to 40% edge in a head-to-head match-up with Trump. When they polled a generic thirdparty ticket, Biden’s margin over Trump improved to 9%, with 37% favoring him compared to 30% for a third party and 28% favoring Trump. When they polled a Manchin-Huntsman ticket, their popularity dropped to 16%, with Biden still showing a 6% advantage over Trump. A Manchin-led ticket doesn’t seem to be inspirational. I don’t think “charisma” and “Jon Huntsman” have ever appeared in the same sentence. Ross Perot mounted the most serious third-party bid in recent history when he ran against Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush in the 1992 election. Perot pulled 19% of the vote and didn’t earn any votes in the electoral college. The consensus seems to be that he drew votes equally from the major party candidates. Teddy Roosevelt was the most successful third-party candidate in history. In 1912, he ran on the progressive “Bull Moose” Party and pulled 27% of the vote and earned six states in the electoral college. The Monmouth poll suggests that maybe it is Trump’s supporters that should be most concerned with a third-party bid. But it is impossible to predict how things will turn out. With more indictments looming for Trump and a trial scheduled for next May on the classified documents case, does the cumulative impact cause his popularity to wax or wane? It also remains to be seen whether No Labels can gain ballot access in all 50 states. At this point, they have only qualified in six states. They have promised only to mount a bid if the election is Trump vs Biden and only if they have a path to victory. They have said they are not in this to play the role of spoiler. That’s a lot of ifs. The presidential candidate that may present the bigger problem for Biden is activist and philosopher Cornel West. The former Harvard and Princeton professor launched his candidacy on June 5 as the “People’s Party” choice. The People’s Party was founded in 2017 by a former staffer of Bernie Sanders. He would pull votes from Biden’s left. It is hard to see how all this will play out, but it is clear that the two-party duopoly will be feeling the pressure in this election cycle. Although neither of the upstart parties are poised to win the election, they are likely to improve the dialogue and perhaps the market for new ideas. We could use that. Don Scott welcomes your comments at [email protected]. A third option in the presidential sweepstakes DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11 PICK-UP & DELIVERY AVAILABLE WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF PORTABLE GENERATORS 845-225-3503 * LAWN MOWERS * CHAIN SAWS * TRIMMERS * TRACTORS * GENERATORS * MOTORCYCLES * ATV’S * AND MORE! FACTORY-TRAINED SERVICE TECHNICIANS EAST ROAD MOTORS 58 CAROLAN RD. EAST • CARMEL, NY www.EASTROADMOTORS.com Imperative to preserve and restore historic Belden House Dear Editor, I am gratified to hear and read of the renewed efforts of “The Friends Of Belden House” to re-organize its initial efforts to save the historic Belden House from the most recent statements from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of their desire to demolish the building. As Deputy Putnam County Executive from 2003 to June of 2006, I worked diligently with the late Bruce Heilman, former chairman of the Friends of Belden House, and many others too numerous to mention, that culminated in a negotiated agreement with the DEP to commit $2.9 million to restore, as nearly as possible, the exterior of the building to its original condition. Previous DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd was very forthright in the announcement of this funding. Also included in this agreement would be the ability of the county under the direction of the Friends of Belden House to assist in the decorating of significant historic pictures and documents in the restored foyers and adjacent rooms. The DEP would house the Land Management Offices and continue to provide excellent recreation opportunities and water quality benefits. I applaud Ann Fanizzi in her efforts to lead this current renewed effort and I give my full support behind the efforts of the Friends of Belden House. Unfortunately, the design and commencement of the construction phase was halted. Some repairs and protections for the building were done since, but now there is talk of demolition. I urge the county and towns to assign a critical staff person to join with The Friends of Belden House and meet as soon as possible with the key DEP officials to renew the agreement and work to restore and preserve this historic building. -Frank J. Del Campo Former Town Of Carmel Supervisor (1996-2003) and Deputy Putnam County Executive (2003-2006) LETTER When I hear parents of college-age children discussing the cost of higher education today, it’s a mindblowing experience – for them, and for me too. Fortunately I can afford to have my mind blown because, as empty-nesters, our college expenses are well behind us. It struck me that the tuition I paid to attend Syracuse University in the 1970s was comparable to the cost for our daughter Elissa to attend SUNY Oneonta about 15 years ago. Today’s tuition for a private college like Syracuse is almost four times what I paid decades ago, and about eight times the tuition for an in-state student at SUNY Oneonta. The irony is that the higher expenses climb for going to university, the lower the public’s appreciation of higher education. At least that’s what the results show in data released from the Gallup Poll Social Series. LEARNING CURVE That survey says a little more than one in three Americans express “confidence” in higher education. That compares with more than half of Americans having confidence in higher education eight years ago. Forty percent said they have “some” confidence and 22% rated their confidence in higher education as “very little.” From June 1-22, 2023, Gallup surveyed a random sample of 1,013 adults 18 and older living in all 50 states. The margin of sampling error is plus/minus four percentage points. Compared to analogous data about confidence in other institutions, higher education doesn’t fare so poorly. Out of 17 institutions measured by Gallup to gauge the public’s confidence level, higher education ranks as fourth in confidence. The top three that hover above it in public confidence are small business, the military and law enforcement. It should come as scant surprise to learn from the Gallup poll that confidence in higher education varies according to political affiliation, education, gender and age. RED AND BLUE REACTIONS Among Republicans who participated in the survey, less than one in five said they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education. That compares with a vote of confidence stated by almost six in 10 Democrats. There’s a certain logic that can be drawn from the stat that half (50%) of those with a college degree or a post-graduate degree have a lot of confidence in what they experienced, although that number has fallen markedly since 2015, when 67% of postgraduate degree holders were highly confident. For those without a college degree, 29% say they’re confident in higher education, compared to almost twice that many who said the same in 2015. THE BOTTOM LINE According to Gallup, Lower expectations for higher education Gallup poll shows confidence in colleges is not very collegial SEE APAR PAGE 14 BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG
PAGE 12 MAHOPAC NEWS – TH The Carmel Historical Society’s annual Fourth of July celebration at Red Mills Park was full of sights and sounds, from the Revolutionary War reenactors—complete with flintlocks and a working canon—to the classic swing of the Norm Hathaway Big Band. Carmel Historical Society Vice President Brian Vangor, who was on hand to capture it on camera, said the event has been bringing people together for decades. “Red Mills is full of history, so this is the perfect spot.” A Revolutionary War reenactor fires a flintlock. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAIN VANGOR Independence Day!
URSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 PAGE 13 Nick DeVito wails on tenor sax Vocalist Stephanie Purcell Saxophonist Lorraine Janus Hathaway gets ready to lead the band. Reenactors load the canon, then fire it. Nick DeVito (left on tenor sax), Adam Davidson (center on alto) and Curtis Streuli (back on trombone) stand for solos. The Norm Hathaway Big Band’s rhythm section gets the groove going under the gazebo. Historian Alan Warneke addresses the crowd.
PAGE 14 – MAHOPAC NEWS OPINION THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 APAR FROM PAGE 11 Everyone I know has lost someone to cancer, dementia, or one of a host of other deadly maladies. I, like many of you, have watched loved ones suffer. My dad had colon cancer, which eventually spread throughout his body. My mom had strokes, which ultimately robbed her of her ability to communicate. Unlike skeptics of science, I have faith that eventually a cure will be found for most, if not all, presentday diseases. The problem is when? Recently, a drug (Leqembi), which directly attacks the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, was endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration. Even though it’s not a cure, it does slow down the disease’s progress. Unfortunately, due to appropriate protocol, it took many years to approve. For so many people, like a good friend who I worked with at Legal Aid, it came too late. Is there any hope that in the future we can speed up the process? Yes, there is. There is a scientific revolution brewing, as important and life changing as the Wright Brothers’ flying machines. It is the quantum computer. But first, some background is in order. All modern computers are based on a rather simple digital configuration of a series of 0s and 1s. The smallest unit of information, a single digit, is called a bit. A sequence of 0s and 1s is fed into a digital processor. A calculation is performed and, presto, an output is displayed. If you’re as ancient as I am, you are probably still amazed at how this works, seemingly like magic. But for visionaries, it’s as if we are using an abacus. As far back as 1959, Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman considered a different approach to digital information. He posed a simple question: why not replace the sequence of 0s and 1s with states of atoms, making an “atomic computer?” Atoms are like spinning tops. But because of the nature of the subatomic world, atoms spin in a combination of 0s and 1s. And to make it even more interesting, there are an infinite number of ways an atom can spin. So, if somehow you could channel an atom to carry information, there is no limit to how much it could transport. Even more thrilling, since Dr. Feynman’s time, scientists have found that objects on a subatomic level can exist in multiple states, in multiple places at the same time (superposition). Additionally, electrons can interact with each other at great distances (entanglement). Our present-day computers operate on a Newtonian level, looking at reality like we do, in a simple, straightforward way. A quantum computer, however, would harness the power of the atom as well as utilize the principles of superposition and entanglement. Richard Feynman understood that, for any particle-based computer to work, atoms would have to be arranged precisely, so they vibrate together (coherence). He also appreciated the fact that atoms are extremely sensitive to any disturbance from the outside world, which would ruin any calculation (decoherence). Today, in the quest to fulfill Feynman’s dream, researchers use special equipment to drop the temperature to near absolute zero, where vibrations would be at a minimum. But that is not that easy. Despite the obstacles, several companies (and countries) are investing billions into the development of this new breakthrough device. IBM, D-Wave Systems, Rigetti Computing, Google, China, Elon Musk, and many others, are in a race to be the first to come up with the first operational quantum computer. How close are they? Google announced two years ago that their Sycamore quantum computer could solve a math problem in 200 seconds, that would take 10,000 years for the world’s fastest supercomputer to solve. Recently, an IBM quantum computer is reported to have beaten a digital supercomputer in chess. The Quantum Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said it was finishing its development of a Quantum model that was 100 trillion times faster than an ordinary supercomputer. But when this quantum computer revolution arrives, will it change our world? Absolutely. As Professor Michio Kaku points out in his recent book, Quantum Supremacy, “quantum computers will be able to simulate hundreds of vital chemical processes…all of biology, medicine, and chemistry would be reduced to quantum mechanics. This means creating a “virtual laboratory” in which we can rapidly try out new drugs, therapies, and cures in the memory of the quantum computer, bypassing decades of trial and error and slow, tedious laboratory experiments. Instead of performing thousands of complex, expensive, and timeconsuming chemical experiments, one might simply push a button on a quantum computer.” I wish I could go back in time and push a button that finds a cure for my dad’s colon cancer or my mom’s debilitative state. That would be wonderful. We can’t save my parents or the dozens of other relatives, friends and co-workers that have since passed. But we can build a better world for our children and grandchildren. Dr. Kaku asserts that the two most important discoveries in medicine are antibiotics and Help is on the way SEE MARTORANO PAGE 15 JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE “Americans’ confidence in higher education, which showed a marked decrease between 2015 and 2018, has declined further to a new low point. While Gallup did not probe for reasons behind the recent drop in confidence, the rising costs of postsecondary education likely play a significant role. “There is a growing divide between Republicans’ and Democrats’ confidence in higher education. Previous Gallup polling found that Democrats expressed concern about the costs, while Republicans registered concern about politics in higher education.” Surveying this information also makes it abundantly clear why there is a healthy movement promoting the value and necessity of vocational schooling and on-the-job training. For helpful information on that, check out mikeroweworks. org. Bruce Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He can be seen on stage weekends Sept. 9-Oct. 8 at Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack (Rockland County) as Professor Van Helsing in Dracula. For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. 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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 15 Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Katonah-Lewisboro Times. YES, I really enjoy The Katonah-Lewisboro Times, and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional) (Optional for TAPinto E-News) Checks payable to Halston Media LLC Please include this form in your envelope. Mail to: P.O. 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Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News The Somers Record Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times I often read The New York Times because I like the pictures and because I love the fact that they can make a graph for just about anything. But I find I need more in-depth information, and figuring out how to read the graph is, to use graphic language, a pain in the axis. So I was scrolling through the news feed on my web browser to get the latest breaking bulletins. I found out, for instance, that Twitter users are throwing fire emojis at Elizabeth Hurley’s bikini photos. If this ends up causing a Canadian wildfire, I will know about it before anyone else. The news of the day turned up an article titled, “How To Spot A Psychopath Through 5 Telltale Traits.” Which, when you work in the media, is a useful thing to know. A team of researchers at Cornell University studying inmates convicted of murder found that a common theme among them was their patterns and topics of speech. It didn’t seem like a lot of new ground being broken, but I’ll paraphrase the results for you anyway. One of their habits is to frequently punctuate their speech using “um” and “uh,” I guess to consider if what they’re about to say sounds nuts. (I’m talking about the convicted murderers, not the researchers from Cornell.) So, if you happen to be chatting with someone who says something like, “Uh, it’s, um, so time-consuming being uh, a psychopath,” that could be a dead giveaway. Hopefully not in that order. They also use subordinating conjunctions such as “because” or “so that,” maybe to effect a logical premise for why they did what they did. Not only does it make sense that convicted murderers often believe that they killed for a good reason, but it also confirms my suspicion that my 10th grade logics class teacher was probably a psychopath. The study found that conversations with the inmates often included details about food, specifically, what they ate on the day of their crimes. I would be curious to know if there were any patterns regarding WHAT they ate, because I think you’d have to be a lunatic to eat Brussels sprouts. If you are what you eat, there are some people I know who probably ate a lot of bananas. Crazy is a word that’s bandied about way too loosely in my opinion. My Mom used to say I drove her crazy. I said, “Mom, I understand that I drive you crazy, but once you get there, you’ll be crazy about me! Hop in!” Much of what is labelled as “crazy” just turns out to be “stupid.” Some members of Congress seem to relish being called “unhinged,” possibly to illustrate that they are willing to go to great lengths in their beliefs and beef up fund-raising. They seem secretly hoping to be called “crazy like a fox,” but being crazy like a stupid fox isn’t flattering either to the congresswoman or the fox. Another psychopathic tendency is that they tend to shy away from discussing religion or family life. I’m not a great believer in organized religion, maybe because I’m afraid no organized religion would let me in if they see my office. And any talk involving my family is a discussion of wackos even before you get around to me. I guess most of us are a little bit crazy. According to my own research, a sociopath is anti-social and flouts the rules, impulsive and is quick to be angry and defensive. A psychopath tends to take pleasure in harming others, often internalizes his or her feelings and lies pathologically. As an illustration, a sociopath is like my cat, whereas a psychopath is like my other cat. I know the article was just trying to be helpful, but I need more definitive evidence that whomever I’m speaking to is a person that might kill me. For that reason, I take a quick DNA swab whenever I’m talking to someone who seems dicey. I also ask to see their web browser. I get a full set of fingerprints as well if there is a search for “places to hide a body where no one will find it.” I was surprised that the number one answer was my garage, by the way. To me, a psychopath is someone who is dangerously crazy, and I’m just slightly annoyingly quirky. But it was alarming how many tell-tale psychopath traits I have according to the article. I ask my wife, am I crazy or is this a dumb article? She says, why does it have to be one or the other? Say hello at [email protected]. Crazy talk RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD vaccines. However, antibiotics are found by trial and error and based on observed responses to administered medicine, not on any profound understanding of what is happening on the molecular level. Vaccines, similarly, rely on the simple idea of getting our body prepared to fight an invading virus without any profound grasp of what is happening on the molecular level. Quantum computers will allow us to pull down the curtain and reach a deep understanding of our bodies, which in the long run will open doors to countless cures. What’s at stake in the race to discover an operational quantum computer? Nothing less than our future and the future of our planet. Quantum computers working in tandem with AI will allow us to figure out what to do about our world’s problems like hunger, overpopulation and global warming. They will, I believe, provide miraculous breakthroughs in our struggles with maladies like arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and viruses, just to name a few. Beyond its medicinal uses, it is speculated that this new creation will help us truly understand the universe itself, including how life is formed. It is an exciting moment in the history of humankind. For me, the quantum revolution can’t come fast enough. MARTORANO FROM PAGE 14
PAGE 16 – MAHOPAC NEWS HEALTH & WELLNESS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 17 Miller Rd. Mahopac 845-621-1222 RooneyOrtho.com Rooney Orthodontics Children & Adults 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 Witnessing a wedding, where two young soulmates begin their journey together, is a heartwarming experience. Re-enacting the wedding all over again with more well wishers is a fairytale which recently played out at Artis Senior Living of Somers. Jenn Gaudet (Krumholtz), the beloved Life Enrichment Director at Artis, enthusiastically shared her excitement over wedding plans with the residents as they reveled in the anticipatory joy for the soon-to-be married couple. When Jenn returned from her honeymoon, she recreated the wedding day at Artis, inviting all the residents and staff. It was a glorious event, replete with a magnificent bride and handsome groom. The bride walked down the aisle, accompanied by Walter, a resident of Artis, who was beaming with pride as he gave Jenn away to the groom, Mark. This event elicited so many smiles for the residents, as they actively participated in this wonderful occasion. The joie de vivre was palpable and a special day was had by all. Wedding re-enactment at Artis Senior Living Artis Senior Living of Somers celebrated the wedding of Life Enrichment Director Jenn Gaudet (Krumholtz) and Mark, as they reimagined their wedding day for all the residents to enjoy. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTIS September marks the beginning of a new school year for millions of children. A new school year contains a host of challenges for every student, but some, particularly those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may face steeper challenges than others. ADHD is common in both the United States and Canada. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that ADHD affects between 4 and 12 percent of school-aged children, while the Center for ADHD Awareness, Canada indicates between 5 and 7 percent of Canadian youngsters have the condition. Such figures are disconcerting, particularly when considering the adverse effects of ADHD on academic performance. In fact, a 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that ADHD was associated with substantially lower performance in school independent of socioeconomic background factors. The stakes are high regarding ADHD and academics, so as a new school year begins, students and their families can familiarize themselves with the condition to ensure it does not interfere with their efforts to do their best in the classroom in the year ahead. WHAT IS ADHD? The AAP describes ADHD as “a chronic condition of the brain that makes it difficult for children to control their behavior.” Such characterization explains why the link between ADHD and poor academic performance is so strong. The AAP notes that children with ADHD often have trouble getting along with other children and, if they have issues with attention, they can have difficulty learning. BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS OF ADHD The AAP notes that ADHD includes three distinct groups of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children with inattention may daydream and have a hard time paying attention, often do not seem to listen, may be easily distracted from work or play, and may not follow through on instructions or finish tasks. Children with hyperactivity may be in constant motion, exhibit difficulty staying seated, frequently squirm or fidget, talk too much, and be incapable of playing quietly. Children with impulsivity may frequently act and speak without thinking, run into a street without first looking for oncoming traffic, be incapable of waiting, and frequently interrupt others. The basics of ADHD A condition like ADHD can compromise a child’s ability to excel in the classroom. SEE ADHD PAGE 17
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 HEALTH & WELLNESS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 17 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 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 1-855-916-5473 Sitting in his cushiony, beige, rock and swivel easy chair, my dad proudly proclaimed his plan for the future: “Alan, only 3,600 days until I retire.” The year was 1979. His projected retirement date of June 27, 2000, lay over 21 years in the future. Dad sat at the dining room table and used whatever math skills he possessed to arrive at that fantastical figure. Such was the life and career goal of a New York City school teacher in the late 70s. Of course, he was off in his calculations. During that 21-year span, there were two sabbaticals and 75 banked personal days that he had to use to prevent their forfeiture. He also worked beyond his original target date. This was my formal introduction to retirement planning. Elder law attorneys offer a unique perspective in their retirement advisement. Since retirement planning sits at the crossroads between estate and financial planning, our discussions with prospective retirees touch on retirement accounts, pensions, health and long-term-care benefits, trusts, spousal benefits and beneficiaries. The wide array of possibilities can be liberating for clients as they can be creative with their planning. We talk at length about adult children, grandchildren and how to protect a family’s legacy. Coordination with a financial advisor is crucial. Retirement planning must ensure that a client has the necessary resources to live their best life. Proper budgeting and investing must take into account a client’s lifestyle, familial obligations and health trajectory. New York has Jekyll and Hyde financial characteristics. High property taxes, a state income tax and state estate tax reside uneasily with a flexible Medicaid long-term-care system containing vital spousal protections not found in many states. The technical rules of Medicaid may alter a retirement plan. Qualified retirement accounts such as 401ks, Traditional IRAs and 403bs are Medicaid protected accounts once they are in payout status (regular annual distributions are coming out of the account). Roth IRAs, funded by after-tax dollars, are not Medicaid protected accounts and would have to be liquidated and transferred for a retiree to obtain Medicaid, if total assets were over $30,182 for 2023. Retirement affords many clients an opportunity to purchase vacation properties out of state. Owning multiple properties raises estate planning issues. For example, let’s say you own a home in New York and a condo in Florida. It is likely that, without a trust in place, two separate probates in two separate states with two sets of lawyers would be necessary to deal with those properties. The state with the primary residence would be the initial probate proceeding state and the other property’s state would host an ancillary probate. One overlooked aspect of retirement planning is the client’s health insurance and drug benefit plan and its eventual transition into Medicare and Supplemental Insurance. Elder law attorneys are keenly aware of how the right health insurance can save tremendous money during a health crisis. By the time my father retired, I was out of law school and in the early stages of my elder law career. You could say, he was my first retiree client. Contact the professionals at The Feller Group, P.C. today for more information on retirement planning in New York. The Feller Group is a multi-disciplinary law practice specializing in elder law, estate planning and business advisement. Alan D. Feller can be reached at 845-621-8640, or visit thefellergroup.com. Retirement planning in New York How an elder law attorney can help ALAN D. FELLER, ESQ. GUEST CORNER It’s important for parents to recognize that children with ADHD will not necessarily have all the symptoms. Symptoms are classified by the type of ADHD a child has, and a physician will indicate that upon diagnosis. ADHD cases are usually determined to be inattentive only, hyperactive/impulsive or combined ADHD, which includes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. WHEN SHOULD I ALERT A PHYSICIAN? The AAP notes that all children exhibit the symptoms noted above from time to time. However, a physician should be alerted when children exhibit those symptoms on a regular basis for more than six months. ADHD can affect children both academically and socially. More information can be found at healthychildren.org. ADHD FROM PAGE 16
Sports PAGE 18 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 Kelli Conlan PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Kristen DiCerbo Deb Ielpi BY RICH MONETTI SPORTS REPORTER The TNT Women’s Flag Football team started its season at 0-2, and the Gridiron Goddesses stood in the way of the Mahopac-based squad’s first win on Thursday, July 13. But that night at Somers High School, TNT lit the fuse—and didn’t wait long to explode. On the first play from scrimmage, Kelli Conlan burst through the line, cut to the sideline and ran the length of the field. The touchdown sparked a 32-18 victory that had captain Tiffany Ziegelhofer looking forward to even more success. “We now have momentum, and we’re going to continue improving,” she said. Even so, the Goddesses refused to implode. On third down, Elizabeth McGoldrick threw down field, and after the defense tipped the ball, Junie Carattini picked the deflection out of the air. Interception secured, she took off and didn’t stop until she crossed the goal line for game-tying pick-6. A 6-6 game, TNT briefly held Conlan in reserve. On third down this time, she took the handoff and went on the turn again. “I saw it was a little overloaded on the right. So I cut back to the left,” said the all-purpose back. TNT led 13-6 after Conlan pulled in the conversion from quarterback Tammy Wanner. The Goddesses still weren’t capitulating, though. On second down from deep in their own zone, Kelly Pirone bumped outside to midfield and then McGoldrick took care of business herself. She dropped back, paused the defense and took off running. She got to the sideline and scampered to the end zone for a 13-12 game. Undeterred, TNT was right back up the field. Vicki Mazzella switched directions this time on a handoff and the sleight of hand with her feet would set more fireworks. It was now TNT’s turn to win a tip drill to score. “I saw the defender coming. She got a hand on the ball, I grabbed it and kept running,” said Kristen DiCerbo. The lead grew to 20-12 when DiCerbo came down with Wanner’s loft on the conversion and halftime had the Mahopac team feeling pretty good. They felt even better when Conlan got back into the act after intermission. The player of the game stepped in front of McGoldrick’s pass over the middle, and in making for another TNT pick-6, the sideline was in awe. “She’s a star, she’s an athlete, and she’s not afraid of it,” said Debra Ielpi. But the Goddesses did have one last gasp. On third down, Pirone again got outside to midfield and a switch at QB did the rest. Christine Bueti hit Elana Shneyer to get in range, and then Bueti ran the ball into the endzone on the quarterback sneak. No surprise, the drama did not last, and Conlan brought down the curtain. Cutting in and out, the runner was a blur, and the 32-18 margin put the game out of reach. “I want to be her when I grow up,” joked Mazzella. After the game, camaraderie is strong. “Usually we hang out and have a couple of drinks,” said Melissa Zeiler. “Then we go back home and mom it.” Jackie Catania sees the participation of all the players as motherhood in its best form. “I am the mother of three girls. For them to see us compete and stay active is important. It shows them just because we’ve gotten older, we don’t stop playing.” In turn, the kids have received the message, and applied the old adage that age doesn’t matter. “Now, many of the daughters our playing in the youth league,” said Catania. So with their moms’ example laying a foundation, flag football in Mahopac looks like it’s here to stay. TNT is sponsored by Summer Trails. They are coached by Gary Ziegelhofer and Matthew Wanner and their roster also includes Patricia Holguin, Leigh-Anne Iannuzzo, Patty O’Halloran, and Sandy Parent. Tammy Wanner Mahopac’s TNT explodes for first flag football win 66 Miller Road, Mahopac 845-628-2050 www.mavistireofmahopac.com With This Coupon • Expires 9/30/23 $10.00OFF Synthetic Oil change (MOST CARS) 25%OFF 25 % OFF STRUTS & SHOCKS With This Coupon • Expires 9/30/23 CARING FOR YOUR CAR & OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! The Friendly Mavis Team
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 LEISURE MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 19 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. Bonus materials 7. Formal names 13. Free from restraints 14. One who scrapes away 16. Type of device 17. Skin cancers 19. The Show Me State 20. Plate glasses 22. Red-brown sea bream 23. Small (Fr.) 25. Flightless Australian birds 26. High IQ group 28. Stiff structures 29. Revolutions per minute 30. Where a bachelor lives 31. Licensed for Wall Street 33. A place to park 34. Energy, style and enthusiasm 36. An important creed in Catholic Church 38. 18-year astronomical period 40. Furies 41. Removes from the record 43. Noted child psychiatrist 44. Feline 45. High schoolers’ test 47. Not happy 48. They __ 51. On top 53. Precious stones unit of weight 55. Moved quickly 56. Seagulls 58. A seed with hooks or teeth 59. Partner to “oohed” 60. Exclamation of surprise 61. Most unpleasant 64. Organization help service members 65. Type of cockatoo 67. Humorous criticisms 69. Went through and organized 70. Wakes up CLUES DOWN 1. Settle in tents 2. Big 3. Books 4. Masses of eggs in fish 5. Language 6. Not standing 7. Chinese philosophy 8. Computer giant 9. A device to catch 10. Emits coherent radiation 11. Actor O’Neill 12. Smallest interval in western music 13. Not lower 15. Revolves 18. Leavened bread 21. Number above the line in a fraction 24. Cable 26. Adult male 27. Airborne (abbr. 30. Bullfighting maneuvers 32. Broadcast 35. __ Angeles 37. Vehicle 38. Not religious 39. North American peoples 42. A baglike structure 43. Body art (slang) 46. Picked for a role 47. Actress Tomei 49. Former hoopster “Big Country” 50. Icelandic poems 52. More pleasant 54. It can add flavor to meat 55. Self-immolation by fire rituals 57. Expression of annoyance 59. __ Spumante (Italian wine) 62. Consumed 63. Body part 66. Thus 68. In reply (abbr.) There are many different ways to serve fish and an equally diverse array of fish to choose as the centerpiece of such meals. For many, catfish is the quintessential option for lunch or dinner. In the United States, catfish is a largely southern delicacy, and it is served predominately across Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia. However, anyone with access to fresh catfish can whip up a tasty serving. Catfish has a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a dense, moist texture. Since it is less flaky than other white fish when cooked, it holds up better when cooked in certain ways, such as frying. Catfish lovers can enjoy this recipe for “Beer-Battered Catfish with Homemade Tartar Sauce,” courtesy of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish. Beer-Battered Catfish with Homemade Tartar Sauce Serves 6 U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish fillets, cut into large strips Oil for frying 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided 1/2 cup cornstarch 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons salt 1 cup beef Salt and pepper to taste Fresh lemon wedges Malt vinegar Tartar sauce 1 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon dill pickle, minced 2 ounces fresh parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon dried dill 1 tablespoon sweet relish 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon drained capers Dash hot sauce In a deep fryer, heat oil to 375 F. Combine 1/2 cup flour, cornstarch, Cajun seasoning, baking powder and salt. Whisk in beer until smooth. Place remaining flour in a shallow bowl. Season fillets with salt and pepper; then lightly dust with flour. Dip the fillets in beer batter, allowing excess to drip off. Place catfish in oil a few pieces at a time. Fry until well browned on all sides, about 3 minutes. Remove, and drain on paper towels. To make tartar sauce, combine all ingredients in a small bowl; stir to combine. Refrigerate any excess. Reel in a delicious catfish dinner tonight
PAGE 20 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 At its reorganization meeting on July 13, the Mahopac Library Board of Trustees set its meeting dates for the upcoming year. They are as follows: August 24, September 28, October 26, November 16, and December 21, 2023; January 25, February 22, March 28, April 25, May 23, and June 27, 2024. Meetings are open to the public and begin at 6:30 p.m in the library’s third-floor Community Room. For further information about the trustee meetings, contact library Director Michele Capozzella at 845-628-2009, ext 107. For more information about Mahopac Library, visit mahopaclibrary.org. Article courtesy of Mahopac Public Library Mahopac Library sets trustee meeting calendar Securities offered through Cantella & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Cantella and Co., Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 from other accountants and tax preparers is our ability to work with you not just on taxes, but on financials, college planning, divorce, retirement planning, changes in life planning... We don’t just process tax forms, we advise on how to handle your income and expenses in the future with personalized recommendations. We help you navigate the tax code, and in the end, help you set sound financial goals. What separates us VAPE FROM PAGE 4 In response to these safe vape disposal concerns, the Prevention Council of Putnam has installed six safe vape disposal boxes located at Carmel, Philipstown, Patterson, and Putnam Valley town halls, Brewster DMV, and at the Kent Police Department. These boxes accept vape devices, e-cigarettes, and nicotine cartridges during the business hours of each respective location. The boxes display a QR code that connects people to local resources. The Prevention Council hopes to collaborate with local school districts later this year and expand safe vape disposal mechanisms to high school students. While there have been some concerns for the safe disposal of the lithium-ion batteries in some vape devices, precedent pilot vape disposal programs advise for the boxes to avoid wide temperature variation, extreme temperatures and must be emptied at least every six months. All six boxes meet these safety recommendations to reduce risk. Support for these boxes has been overwhelming in the community. “The Brewster DMV is happy to host the safe vape disposal box to help reduce vape waste and connect people to services they need,” said Putnam County Clerk, Michael Bartolotti. Molly Franco from POW’R Against Tobacco, a local resource for tobacco use prevention and support said the organization “applauds the efforts being taken by the Prevention Council and participating Putnam County municipalities to address this major environmental and public health concern. Increasing accessibility to safe disposal methods is an excellent step towards reducing tobacco waste and it is a practice that counties across New York State could benefit from. We encourage legislators to explore policy options that would streamline this process and hold tobacco companies accountable.” For information on safe vape disposal, substance use prevention, recovery or harm reduction resources, please call the Prevention Council of Putnam at (845) 225-4646 or email [email protected]. The Prevention Council is also on social media at Facebook@ putnamctc, Facebook@preventioncouncilputnam, Twitter@ putnamctc, Twitter@preventionptnm, and Instagram@preventionalptnm. Book Barn Special Offer Buy 10 or more books at the Book Barn and receive one free book (excluding collectibles) or one free Book Barn tote bag. Hours are Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, 4 to 6:45 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Blood Drive The New York Blood Center will be conducting a blood drive in memory of Eugene L “Budd” Hammer III at the Mahopac Golf Club, 601 North Lake Blvd., on July 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Slots are available for whole blood and double red cell donations. To sign up for this or other local blood drives, visit donate.nybc. org/donor/schedules/zip and enter your zip code or search by town. Farmers Market The Carmel Farmers Market at Lake Mahopac will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through Oct. 22 at the Chamber Park at the intersection of Route 6 and Route 6N in downtown Mahopac. Food, crafts, live music, and more. Female Flag Football Summer female flag football registration is open for women and youth. Games will take place on the Somers High School turf field on Tuesday (youth) and Thursday (adults) evenings. Those interested can learn more by visiting clubs.bluesombrero. com/gridiron, emailing grid [email protected], or calling Gridiron Partners at 917- 848-7780. MUSINGS FROM PAGE 2
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 21 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the Mahopac News Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com BOGO 40% OFF OFFER ENDS 10/31 888-448-0421 © 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. Savings calculation is based on a comparison of Consumer Cellular’s average customer invoice to the average cost of single-line entry-level plans o ered by the major U.S. wireless carriers as of May 2022. CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 844-919-1682 Switch & Save Up to $250/Year On Your Talk, Text and Data Plan! NOTHING YOU NEED. YOU DON’T. EVERYTHING from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company Call to get your FREE Information Kit 1-855-225-1434 Dental50Plus.com/nypress Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds: B438, B439 (GA: B439B). 6208-0721 DENTAL Insurance Visit Our Display Center: 747 Pierce Road, Clifton Park, NY, 12065 • Sales • Rentals • Service • Buybacks New and Reconditioned Lifts Stay in the home you Love! ELEVATORS • STAIR LIFTS • WHEELCHAIR LIFTS • RAMPS Locally Owned & Operated 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! EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! Promo Code: 285 FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 1 Subject to credit approval. Call for details. FREE GUTTER ALIGNMENT + FREE GUTTER CLEANING* SENIORS & MILITARY! YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE* 20 + % % OFF 10 OFF *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only. 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufactured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. Registration# 0366920922 CSLB# 1035795 Registration# HIC.0649905 License# CBC056678 License# RCE-51604 Registration# C127230 License# 559544 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2102212986 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 2106212946 License# MHIC111225 Registration# 176447 License# 423330 Registration# IR731804 License# 50145 License# 408693 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# H-19114 License# 218294 Registration# PA069383 License# 41354 License# 7656 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 423330 License# 2705169445 License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE 1-855-478-9473 Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 855.281.6439 I Free Quotes UP TO Could your kitchen use a little magic? ON YOUR FULL KITCHEN REMODEL* SAVE 10% *Discount applies to purchase of new cabinets or cabinet refacing with a countertop. Does not apply to countertop only projects. May not combine with other offers or prior purchases. Exp.3/31/23. NP-263. NY: Nassau: H1759490000 Suffolk: 16183-H NY/Rockland: 5642 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! One Marina Drive, Lake Mahopac NY 845-628-2333 www.macdonaldmarineny.net SALES • SERVICE • STORAGE
PAGE 22 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 Putnam County Medical Reserve Corps volunteers had a special opportunity recently to hear from experts in the field of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. The occasion was an all-day training conference held at Centennial Golf Course in Carmel. They were welcomed by County Executive Kevin Byrne, who kicked off the event with a sincere thank you to the volunteers. “The MRC’s unwavering commitment to serving our community in times of need is truly commendable” said Byrne. “Putnam County has always had a strong culture of volunteerism, and the MRC exemplifies the spirit of selflessness and compassion that defines our county. These volunteers play a crucial role in bolstering our public health response and safety of our residents. Their dedication and willingness to lend a helping hand during both emergencies and average days is a testament to the remarkable sense of community we have in Putnam County. I am honored to work alongside such remarkable individuals and express my sincere appreciation for their valuable contributions to our community.” Byrne was joined in welcoming the crowd by Connie Bueti, the emergency preparedness coordinator at the Putnam County Department of Health and interim Health Commissioner, Dr. Michael J. Nesheiwat. Bueti, who coordinated the day’s events, outlined the agenda before introducing the first guest speaker. “Sgt. AJ Pizzuto has 18 years of law enforcement experience, including 12 on the Putnam County tactical team where he is currently team leader,” she said. Pizzuto began the morning session with a dynamic and comprehensive discussion on active killer situations. Pizzuto, who is also a “CRASE” instructor, standing for “civilian readiness for active shooter events,” explained the term has evolved to active killer situations to address a fuller scope of “attempted mass murder events.” All critical incidents, including those Pizzuto described, have both short and long-term physical, and mental health effects. The afternoon session furthered the discussion on these consequences with a lively forum presented by Frank Guglieri, the regional safety coordinator for Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES; Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health and Social Services Sara Servadio, and Commissioner Mike Piazza. The discussions ranged from protective actions, such as continuity of operations planning for emergencies, to reunification and long-term, ongoing recovery efforts after serious incidents. In addition to hearing from these experts in handling critical incidents and their aftermath, the MRC volunteers learned from state and county staff involved in coordinating and developing Medical Reserve Corps capabilities. Jack Porter, who retired from a 32-year military career, now works in the New York State Department of Health’s office of health emergency preparedness as both the NYS volunteer program coordinator and MRC state coordinator. The day was organized Bueti, and Stacey Gussak, the MRC program assistant, who also talked about local efforts to increase engagement. “You will be hearing from us, and we want to hear from you,” she said. “We are open to all suggestions about how you would like to contribute and what further trainings are needed.” For more information or to join Putnam’s Medical Reserve Corps, visit putnamcountyny.com/mrc. Story courtesy of the Putnam County Department of Health Medical Reserve Corps volunteers sharpen their skills ON YOUR INSTALLATION 60% OFF Limited Time Offer! SAVE! TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Additional savings for military, health workers and fi rst responders 10% OFF New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/licenses/ MADE IN THE U.S.A. New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and 1.855.492.6084 FREE ESTIMATE Expires 6/30/2023 Before After Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE when tackling your roof! REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (877) 516-1160 Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value! One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. alone I’m never Life Alert® is always here for me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! ® Help at Home with GPS! Help On-the-Go For a FREE brochure call: 1-800-404-9776 Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES Batteries Never Need Charging. Notice of Formation of Kamaru Clothing LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023- 06-15. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Kate Ruffalo: 161 Croton Falls Road Mahopac NY 10541. Purpose: Any lawful purpose NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Notice of Formation of A&R 360, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with SSNY on 2023-02-06. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail to Adam Bernier: 90 McManus Rd S, Patterson, NY 12563. Purpose: any lawful Notice of Formation of Frog Hill at Garrison LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State: 6/22/2023. Office location: Putnam County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 100 Travis Corners Rd., Garrison, NY 10524, principal business address. Term: until 12/31/2073. Purpose: all lawful purposes. Notice of Formation of Scrumdiddlyumptious LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-02-24. Office location: Putnam County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Legalzoom: 7014 13th Avenue Suite 202 Brooklyn NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose Notice of Formation of MAHOPAC WINE COMPANY LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY on 04/21/2023. Office location: Putnam SSNY desg. as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY mail process to 179 US-6, MAHOPAC, NY, 10541. Any lawful purpose. RCF Realty Management LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 4/6/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 33 Cimarron Rd., Putnam Valley, NY 10579. General Purpose Bulls Head Farm LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 6/19/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Matthew Bress, 24 Walker Dr., Carmel Hamlet, NY 10512. General Purpose Next Phase Home Inspection LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 5/3/2023. Cty: Putnam. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to John Delvino, 47 Red Mills Rd., Mahopac, NY 10541. General Purpose LLC NOTIFICATIONS
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 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 Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855- 543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required. ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888- 869-5361 (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am5pm PST) VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636 Do you need a Roof or Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months freepremium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313 DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-595-6967 DIRECTV. New 2-Year Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918 THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 23 ORDER ON OUR ONLINE STORE AND PICKUP LO CALLY! BEST PRICES IN THE AREA! PICKUP HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! www.american-arms.com [email protected] 1928 Commerce St, Suite C Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 NRA Basic Pistol/Personal Protection UTAH Concealed Firearms Course Private Lessons Permit Assistance Refuse To Be A Victim™ Group and Private Classes Gun Sales & Ammunition Gun Accessories FFL Services & Transfers 914-455-4210 NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH ROOFING | SIDING | WINDOWS | DOORS & MORE! Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 888-254-6006 or visit NYProgramFunding.net NEED HELP WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIRS? WE MATCH YOU WITH FUNDING YOU CAN AFFORD. ...but it won’t last! Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are first come, first serve. ACT NOW! “Selling Surplus Assets 7 Days a Week Online” For complete information, visit www.HerkimerCoAuction.com or call 800-536-1401, Ext. 111 Tax Foreclosed Real Estate Auction Herkimer County • Online Only Online Auction Start: Wednesday, July 19TH, 12PM Online Auction Closing Begins: Wednesday, August 2ND, 10AM 30+ Parcels: Lots, Acreage, Homes, Commercial Properties To participate in this online only auction, please visit our website and complete the “Online Bidder Registration Packet”. Bidder Packet Due By: Monday, July 31ST, 4PM **Action Required** Auctions_Intnl2x2_Herkimer_06.23.crtr - Page 1 - Composite Columbia 10+ 26th , 9th , Monday, August 7th, 4PM www.ColumbiaCountyAuction.com AUTO DONATIONS EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING HEALTH HOME IMPROVEMENT TV INTERNET PHONE MISCELLANEOUS FINANCE PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 7/20/23 Your ad could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. Contact Us Mahopac News is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 845-208-0774 or email mahopacnews@ halstonmedia.com.
PAGE 24 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 Work with the local team you trust! We make it easy, affordable and effective TAPINTOMAHOPAC.NET 2 TRACKS TAPINTOKLT.NET TAPINTOYORKTOWN.NET TAPINTONORTHSALEM.NET TAPINTOSOMERS.NET HALSTONMEDIA.COM • Advertise all over the Internet, on sites like Yahoo, ESPN, CBS Sports, Weather.com, CNN, Zillow, USA Today, and the list goes on and on. • Place your video on YouTube, Hulu and other streaming TV platforms, and place your audio on Spotify, IHeartRadio, Apple Music and other streaming audio platforms. • We build and host your website. • Search Engine Optimize (SEO) your website with regular posts and with Search Engine Marketing (SEM) ads on Google. • Protect your reputation and ensure your business shows up on 35 directories across the web, including Google, Bing, Apple Maps and Siri • Increase your presence on Facebook & Instagram with both organic posts and paid advertising. • Reach thousands of prospective clients and customers with email marketing campaigns. JAY GUSSAK, 914-299-4541 • 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD | SUITE 100 | MT. KISCO, NY 10549