BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 FOX TRACKS 2 HEALTH & WELLNESS 18 LEISURE 21 OPINION 10 St. Patrick’s Parade pg 16 ERIN GO BRAGH! VOL. 2 NO. 12 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST CALDWELL, NJ PERMIT #992 MARCH 14 – APRIL 10, 2024 Visit News.HalstonMedia.com for the latest news. BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Residents of Barker Terrace, a 92-unit co-op in Mount Kisco, reeling after being hit with an increase of more than 54 percent in their monthly maintenance fees, are sending out an SOS. Several who fear losing their homes appeared before the Village Board recently to plead for help. Dozens of others have signed a petition seeking a broader solution to what they claim is an untenable situation. And elected officials from all levels of government have been rallying to find ways to soften the blow. Barker was among five Mitchell-Lama housing projects outside of New York City that were selected for review as part of an audit of the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), the agency tasked with providing financing, maintenance, and supervision of mortgages to these privately-owned and managed developments as long as they remain in the program. The audit, conducted by the state Comptroller’s Office, criticized DHCR for what it called poor oversight of Barker Terrace and four other such developments throughout the state, including Sunnyside Manor in Yonkers. The audit’s intent was to determine if the developments were providing safe and clean living conditions, and whether funds were being properly accounted for and used for their intended purposes. What is Mitchell-Lama? The program came to be because of the Limited-Profit Housing Companies Act in 1955, legislation championed by state Sen. MacNeil Mitchell of Manhattan and Assemblyman Alfred Lama of Brooklyn. It aimed to create affordable housing – both rental and co-ops -- for middleincome New Yorkers. CO-OP IN CRISIS Barker Terrace residents seek help as maintenance fees skyrocket Residents of Barker Terrace learned that their monthly maintenance fees went up more than 50 percent. PHOTO: CAROL REIF SEE BARKER TERRACE PAGE 24 Find Out What Your Home Might Be Worth. Scan QR for instant value Sales Vice President, Licensed Associate RE Broker [email protected] | hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Avenue, Katonah, NY 10536 CELL: 914.714.0090 Follow us The Purveyor of the Finest Properties in Town #UGottaHaveHope
PAGE 2 – MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [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] DESIGNERS Noah Elder Bri Agosta Haven Elder Jacob Elder EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions is the Wednesday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] Location 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY HALSTON MEDIA, LLC ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC FOX TRACKS MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce www.mtkiscochamber.com Hop Into Spring Family Fun Saturday, March 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. Springtime family fun in downtown Mount Kisco! Take photos with the Easter Bunny in the gazebo and hop along the downtown egg trail to shop for the holiday, eat at one of our fabulous eateries, and enjoy the day! Kids can gather colorful eggs along the Downtown Egg Trail courtesy of participating merchants. Be sure to pick up your Egg Trail Map at the gazebo on South Moger Avenue! Mount Kisco Tree Preservation Board Annual Tree Art Project The Mount Kisco Tree Preservation Board’s Annual Tree Art project is officially underway. As they prepare for Arbor Day, the Board is accepting entries for their popular “Tribute to Trees” Art Project, now through Thursday, March 21. The Tree Art Project is open to all students residing in the Bedford Central School District. Young artists are encouraged to express their appreciation and love for trees in the medium of their choice, including drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, essay, poetry, or song. Photos of drawings and written works should be sent to [email protected]. There is no entry fee. Each artist may submit one artwork and one written or musical piece. Submissions will be evaluated in three age groups: age 6 and under, ages 7-12, and ages 13- 18. All entries will be displayed in at the Mount Kisco Public Library during the month of April. Mount Kisco’s Arbor Day celebration will be held on Saturday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m. at the Teahouse in Leonard Park. The event is proudly organized by the Mount Kisco Tree Preservation Board, Mount Kisco Conservation Advisory Council, and Mount Kisco Historical Society. Pound Ridge Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To be held at Town Park. Featuring egg hunts (Ages 5 and under at the playground, Ages 6 and over on the field), a DJ, face painting, a bouncy house, and food trucks including Waffle Cabin, Wing King, and Tipsy Taco, plus a photo area and an appearance by the Easter Bunny! Westchester Bluegrass Club www.westchesterbluegrass club.com On the Trail & Special Guests Saturday, March 16, (6:30 p.m. Doors, 8 p.m. show) Most recently, On the Trail had the honor of winning the 2022 Thomas Point Beach Band Competition after participating in 2021’s Telefunken Battle of the Bands at the Podunk Bluegrass Festival. They also were selected as an Emerging Artist at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2023. On The Trail features Austin Scelzo (fiddle and vocals), Tom Polizzi (mandolin and vocals), Charlie Widmer (guitar and vocals) and Matt Curley (upright bass and vocals). Westchester Oratorio Society Dance Thru the Decades Friday, March 15, at 7 p.m. Travel back in time to support the Westchester Oratorio Society, when the group presents its spring fundraiser, “Dancing thru the Decades” featuring the music of the 50s 60s and 70s. Come dressed in the decade of your choice and join the “almost famous” rock ‘n’ roll band “Da Spallinas” led by WOS president Joe Spallina for a fun filled evening of dancing, live music, good eats, soft drinks and a cash bar. To be held at the Moses Taylor Jr. American Legion Post, located at 1 Legion Way in Mount Kisco Westchester Oratorio Society, which is headquartered in South Salem and rehearses on Tuesday evenings at the Katonah Village Library. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Now in its 26th year, the group performs great choral works of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries for local audiences in northern Westchester with professional soloists and orchestras. Tickets are available for $50 per person by PayPal or major credit card on the group’s website www.westchesteroratorio. org. Tickets will also be available at the door (cash or check only). Mount Kisco Public Library 100 East Main Street, www. mountkiscolibrary.org Cooking with Rinku - Pickled Beet Devilled Eggs Saturday, March 16, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come join Rinku in welcoming spring while preparing a flavorful yet different kind of dish! Don’t let the description deter SEE TRACKSPAGE 7 Scan Here To Sign Up (It’s FREE!) Get YOUR Town’s Local News In Your Inbox Daily PUBLIC DOCUMENT | OFFICIAL BUSINESS | Paid for by official funds authorized by the House of Representatives. lawler.house.gov/services WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE 1013 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515(202) 225-6506 PEARL RIVER OFFICE One Blue Hill Plaza, Third Floor, P.O. Box 1645, Pearl River, NY 10965 (845) 201-2060 CARMEL OFFICE 60 McAlpin Avenue, Mahopac, NY 10541 (845) 743-7130 January 31, 2024 House passes bipartisan tax bill that would expand child tax credit CONGRESSMAN MIKE LAWLER Fighting to deliver tax relief to Hudson Valley families. Congressman Lawler voted to pass a bipartisan increase to child tax credit Congressman Lawler is taking on both parties to deliver even more tax relief Congressman Lawler has consistently been a leader in the House pushing members of both parties to provide much-needed tax relief to Hudson Valley families.
BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Whatever you do, don’t call Cafe 117 a “Caribbean” restaurant. The brand-new Bedford foodie spot boosts a diverse menu that draws inspiration from European, Asian, and the Middle Eastern cuisines, thanks to chef Jason Charles’ ability to cook globally while thinking locally. That doesn’t mean there aren’t specialties featuring favorites from Charles’ home country of Trinidad and Tobago such as jerk chicken, goat curry, and stewed oxtail. He also puts his own touches on staples like handcrafted hamburgers and hot sandwiches. Think shrimp po’boys, a traditional New Orleans dish, and grilled chicken. Also building a fan base is a customer favorite, the “Uptown Chopped Cheese.” Customers also can’t say enough good things about his coffee. Charles immigrated here 20 years ago with his wife and high school sweetheart, Natalie. He inherited his kitchen skills from his parents. Charles’ mom, a “phenomenal cook,” was renowned for a steak dish she often prepared when she wanted to wow out-of-town dinner guests. She’d go to the butcher in the afternoon, score a T-bone so fresh that it probably came from a cow that had been hoofing it around the pasture that very morning, come home, soak it in her homemade marinade, fry it up in a cast-iron pan, et voilà, a feast fit for a king … or queen. Despite having watched the process over and over and having coaxed the marinade recipe from his mother, Charles never could quite replicate the results, he admitted recently. “I’m the only one she told; none of my other siblings know how to make it,” he said with a fond chuckle. After once again failing to make as good a steak as his mom’s, Charles said he’d plaintively ask her: “What am I doing wrong?” And she’d reply: “It’s a touch; something about the feel.” (Today, Charles makes his own BBQ sauce and seasonings.) His dad was no slouch culinary-wise either. He raised and prepared the vegetables and the chickens (and the eggs they produced) that graced the family table. “I didn’t know much about stuff that didn’t come from our property,” Charles said. His dad also religiously adhered to a certain timetable. “For example, he would only make corn bread in the season where he had planted (the corn) and harvested it,” his son said. When asked if he ever got so attached to the poultry that he regretted eating them, Charles’ response was a hard no. “You don’t fall in love with your food. It’s F double O D, food. There’s no love relationship there except for the satiety that goes with filling the stomach,” he said, adding that he appreciated the animals. “Thank you for sacrificing yourself for me,” he said with a laugh. “God bless you, that’s all I could tell a chicken.” When it came to revealing whether dad or mom was the better cook, Charles was diplomatically silent. “I don’t want to get in trouble,” he said. Living the Dream Prior to becoming a professional chef, Charles was a police officer in Trinidad. He went on to work for the U.N. as a canine officer. His job sometimes took him to other countries where he was able to sample new and interesting cuisines. Natalie, then an elementary school teacher, is now happily ensconced in the corporate world. Still, it was the couple’s dream to get into the biz of feeding folks. In 2018, they purchased a second-hand trailer and launched Bazodee Street Foods. (Later, they upgraded to a school van, which they ferried all around Westchester, parts of Connecticut, and New York City.) “Bazodee” comes from the French word “abasourdir,” which is colloquial Caribbean term for thunderstruck, dazed, or entranced – in other words, in love. Charles named the food truck that because folks are going to be “crazy in love with my food,” he said. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when sit-down eateries were biting the dust left and right, the hardworking pair were doing a booming business. Charles, who was still working for the U.N., recalls serving free lunches to hordes of hungry and worn-out healthcare workers at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. Their territory was steadily expanding so they upgraded to a larger truck. It made pit stops at places that invited it, such as housing complexes and a bar that used to be open right next door to Charles’ newest operation. Once the couple got a taste of MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 3 HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com Get your body work done right the first time! Steve Deiana Deiana’s Custom Collision 11 Wesley Street Bedford Hills 666-6412 [email protected] Cafe 117 arrives in Bedford Hills April Olsen and Jason Charles have brought a unique culinary experience to the community. PHOTO: CAROL REIF SEE 117 PAGE 22
PAGE 4 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Veteran Bedford Town Clerk Lisbeth “Boo” Fumagalli will step down next month after 22 years as custodian of every record, regulation and scrap of paper the town needs to function. Fumagalli made her plans public in a formal notice of retirement, accepted by the Town Board at its Tuesday (Feb. 20) meeting. Her last day in the office she’s held since January 2002 is expected to be March 29. Her announcement signaled the second loss in less than a month of a key presence in the nitty-gritty work of Bedford’s local government. Comptroller Abraham Zambrano last week wrapped up eight years overseeing Bedford government finances and tax-cap-compliant budgets. Zambrano was in his final week as he attended Tuesday evening’s board meeting. Councilwoman Bobbi Bittker, who has worked closely with Zambrano as the board’s finance liaison, read a proclamation extolling at length his service to the town. In accepting Fumagalli’s retirement notice—“reluctantly”— Supervisor Ellen Calves promised her that “we will read embarrassingly long proclamations to you one day soon” as well. The board will appoint someone to fill Fumagalli’s demanding post for the rest of this year. But that person or someone else would have to run in this November’s general election to serve the final year of Fumagalli’s term in 2025. Then, in November 2025, a full four-year term will be on the ballot. So far, no obvious successor is in sight. Deputy Town Clerk Nina Kellogg does not want the job, Calves said, so the board is asking any residents interested in filling the $107,509 post to contact the town. “We are looking for someone who we think will do the job well,” Calves said. Zambrano’s successor, on the other hand, has already been chosen. Approved in a board vote Tuesday, Brian Kenneally, now comptroller for the town of Mount Pleasant, will step into Bedford’s $180,000 position next month. Zambrano, who announced his retirement plans in December, will serve as a consultant as Kenneally takes the reins. But he said in an interview, “I have no plans on doing consulting work beyond the transition period with the [new] town comptroller.” A Somers resident, Zambrano said he and his wife, Patricia, plan to sell their home and alternate between residences in Spain and at the Jersey Shore. Bedford was the last stop in a professional career spanning more than four decades. He began in the private sector before moving to government service, first managing fiscal matters at the villages of Briarcliff Manor, Ossining and Sleepy Hollow and later as village manager in both Croton-onHudson and Ossining. Since coming to Bedford in June 2016, Zambrano helped maintain the town’s triple-A credit rating and managed financing for a new police station and fully renovated Bedford Hills Community House in addition to providing for myriad capital needs. Still, asked to name his most important accomplishment, Zambrano said it has been “helping the elected officials maintain stable real property taxes while improving services for residents and taxpayers and maintaining competitive salaries for the staff.” Over the years, Zambrano has been a polished presenter in discussing fiscal matters at countless Town Board meetings. But taking the rostrum last week, following formal salutes from the County Legislature as well as the Town Board, he choked with emotion in thanking board members “past and present for giving me an opportunity to be part of the Bedford family.” Fumagalli and Zambrano to retire Bedford bids farewell to Town Clerk and Comptroller Councilwoman Bobbi Bittker reads the text of a proclamation held by Supervisor Ellen Calves thanking Comptroller Abraham Zambrano for his service. PHOTO: TOM BARTLEY We see you here. What’s our greatest asset at The Bristal Assisted Living communities? It’s the lifetime of interests and experiences you bring to it. After all, that’s what makes you special. A caring team that spends the time getting to know you so you can continue nurturing, sharing and exploring those interests? Well, that’s what makes us special, too. Schedule your visit today and see for yourself. THE BRISTAL AT ARMONK | 914.444.2636 THE BRISTAL AT WHITE PLAINS | 914.862.7667 thebristal.com Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies. Equal Housing Opportunity. Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 5 Route 117, BedfoRd Hills Delicious Global Fusion Cuisine …. Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Catering • Food Truck Boars Head Deli • Jerk Chicken • Oxtails • Wings • Hot Food Table 526 Bedford Rd . Bedford Hills 914-233-9669 Visit us at: www.cafeon117.com Ask about our Food Truck for your next catered event! $4 Off $20 purchase Excludes Oxtails Not valid with other offers Exp. 4/30/24 10% Off Any Catering Order Excludes Oxtails Not valid with other offers Exp. 4/30/24 Scan to See Our Menu Westchester Land Trust (WLT), a nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit headquartered in Bedford Hills, NY, announced several new additions to its leadership team. Anthony Barzilay Freund, of Bedford, and Chantel McGee, of New York City, joined the Board of Directors, and Ava Cohn, of Bedford Corners, David Michael, of Sleepy Hollow, and Michael Rubbo, of Verbank, joined WLT’s Advisory Board. This diverse group of professionals brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the fields of community engagement, nonprofit management, ecology, art, technology, and marketing. WLT’s Board of Directors is led by Bruce Churchill, chairman, Nanette Bourne, vice chair, Joe Edgar, treasurer, and Amy Ferguson, secretary. The Advisory Board is co-chaired by George Bianco and Tatiana Kaletsch. The new leadership members will work alongside WLT’s staff, Advisory Board, and Board of Directors to support land protection and stewardship, increased access to the outdoors for all, and stronger local food systems. “The five individuals joining Westchester Land Trust’s leadership represent a robust range of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to our work,” said Bruce Churchill, chairman of WLT’s Board of Directors. “As we continue to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve, we need big, bold, different ways of thinking, and I’m confident that this group will bring that kind of fresh energy to our organization.” Anthony Barzilay Freund is the editorial director of the e-commerce marketplace 1stDibs, where he oversees all digital and print content, including 1stDibs’ weekly Introspective magazine, The Study blog, and The 1stDibs 50, an annual celebration of interior design’s most compelling talents. A Bedford resident residing on a conservation easement held by WLT, Freund is a graduate of Columbia University, and he also attended Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. “As a lifelong resident of northern Westchester County, I’ve never taken for granted the gift of our green landscapes, just a stone’s throw from one of the world’s largest urban centers,” Freund said. “However, woodlands and farms I knew as a child no longer exist and open space throughout the county and beyond continues to be under threat. Westchester Land Trust has done remarkable work safeguarding the region’s natural resources, work that feels even more urgent in this time of radical climate change and diminishing natural resources. I’m excited to help support the organization’s vital efforts.” Ava Cohn is a community-minded volunteer and recent graduate of Columbia University. A resident of Bedford Corners, she has interned for child advocacy organizations and volunteered for several social causes, including food insecurity, refugee and immigrant services, and disability education access. Ava has connected with WLT staff around engagement of young adults in its mission and programs and plans to continue this work more formally as a member of WLT’s Advisory Board. “I have always had a passion for working alongside my community members to improve the integrity and inclusiveness of our environments and neighborhoods,” Cohn said. “I have seen the tremendous approach to conserve and protect our land through the hands of those who truly respect and care for it. I want to stand beside those staff members at Westchester Land Trust and be able to instill and provide the same level of care and effort into protecting our land and resources as they do.” David Michael is a sonic ecological artist and a technology professional in the cryptocurrency sector. A resident of Sleepy Hollow, Michael was first introduced to WLT when walking the organization’s preserves while capturing field recordings for artistic projects. Michael Rubbo is a professor of environmental studies and science at Pace University with a background in nonprofit leadership. Chantel McGee is a conscious leader, community builder, and humanitarian. Over her 15-year career, she has driven innovation at Google and Meta, founded a nonprofit, launched digital ventures with celebrities, covered news as a reporter for CNBC, and advised startups and social impact organizations. WLT’s president, Kara Hartigan Whelan, remarked on the vast wisdom and value of the five professionals, adding, “This extraordinary cohort represents the future of Westchester Land Trust and the type of inclusive approach needed to tackle the challenges we face head on. We’re eager to learn from our new leaders’ diverse fields of experience and incorporate their insights and ideas into our work.” The new additions to WLT’s leadership team will join other members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board to serve as the governing bodies of the organization, overseeing policies, fiscal and strategic planning, and supporting WLT’s commitment to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy future for all. For more information visit www. westchesterlandtrust.org. Westchester Land Trust announces new additions to leadership Ava Cohn of Bedford Corners PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANE BONDAREFF Anthony Barzilay Freund of Bedford PHOTO COURTESY OF WLT
For the tenth straight year, Fox Lane High School’s Science Olympiad Team is headed to the State Championships. After placing seventh out of 48 teams at the Lower Hudson Valley Regional earlier this month, the student scientists are headed to Syracuse in mid-March to participate in the New York State Competition. “No other team in our region has had this many consecutive years of participation in States,” said Jerry Ludwig, who co-advises the team with Fred Neumann. Science Olympiad Regional and State Tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions consisting of a series of team events that Fox Lane students collaboratively prepare for during the year. These challenging and motivational events are wellbalanced between the various science disciplines and applications of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology. Many Fox Lane students finished in the top ten in their events and earned a medal for their outstanding results: Top medal earners Zach Cohen and Max Chen placed second in Fermi Questions The team’s co-presidents, Zach Cohen and Max Rubinstein, finished third in Astronomy Juniors Maddie Stone and Gabe Wierzchowski placed third in Disease Detective Jasper Sizer and Charlie Wilson placed third in Ecology David Matz and Max Rubinstein earned fifth place in Chemistry Lab Seventh-place finishers included Gabe Wierzchowski, Max Chen and Owen Dunne in Codebusters; Zach Cohen and Maddie Stone in Geologic Mapping; Owen Dunne and Michael Mazurek in Microbe Mission; and Michael Mazurek and Max Bly in Optics Ewan MacDonald and Saer Sicigano earned a tenth-place finish in Tower Congratulations to all of the Fox Lane Science Olympians who attended: Gustavo Aguirre, Bianca Bayona, Maxwell Bly, Maxim Chen, Zach Cohen, Jack Cristiano, Ashley Del Cid Romero, Owen Dunne, Spencer Eigel, Caleb Hollander, Zephyr Kimmel, Rebecca Kolb, Ralph Kolb, Hades Laskaris, Jackson Lubinsky, Ewan MacDonald, David Matz, Michael Mazurek, Chase Metzger, Alex Montaño-Miller, Sophie Nahmias, Jayson Ramon, Max Rubinstein, Xavier Santos, Saba Shahidi, Saer Sicignano, Sidney Sicignano, Jasper Sizer, Maddie Stone, Felix Suiu, Arturo Tejada, Meghana Uday, Christian Valente, Aidan Weise, Gabe Wierzchowski, Charlie Wilson, and Emma (Xiong) Chang. Myer Simkhai attended the all-day event and was an invaluable help in assisting with judging and receiving medals for students who could not attend the awards ceremony. The Fox Lane Science Olympiad State Team roster will include Maxwell Bly, Emma Chang, Max Chen, Zach Cohen, Owen Dunne, Rebecca Kolb, Ewan MacDonald, David Matz, Michael Mazurek, Max Rubinstein, Jasper Sizer, Felix Suiu, Arturo Tejada, Gabe Wierzchowski, Charlie Wilson, and alternates Gus Aguirre and Jack Cristiano. Article courtesy of Bedford Central School District. PAGE 6 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 Olympiad heroes! Fox Lane student scientists headed for state championships The March winds are blowing, and the Crocuses are peaking their green shoots through the top of the soil. We are all looking forward to not only the rebirth of the land, but casting off our winter doldrums. This March brings us Daylight Savings Time, St. Patrick’s Day, Holi, Earth Day, and Easter. That makes for a very busy month! The Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce will be bringing events to springtime, including the “Hop into Easter Egg Hunt” on March 23. Keep an eye out for new ones along the way. The mission of the MKCC is to enhance the economic development of businesses, and we can all agree that the welfare of our village depends on us and how we support our businesses, much like tending your garden. The more attention given, the healthier the result. So, remember, when you Shop, Dine, Play and Stay local, you are bolstering your village, our village, and it will continue to thrive. Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce Corner Fox Lane’s Science Olympiad Team is headed to the state championships for the tenth straight year. 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 What steps have you taken to protect your life savings from the cost of long term care?
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 FOX TRACKS THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 7 you from trying something new! These pretty in pink pickled beet devilled eggs are a perfect easy to make flavorful springtime appetizer or meal. Celebrate Women’s History: Mary McLeod Bethune Council House Wednesday, March 20, from 7 to 8 p.m. A virtual event celebrating women’s history with the National Parks System! Educator, philanthropist, civil rights activist, founder of the National Council of Negro Women, advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt, and much more, Mary McLeod Bethune was called the “First Lady of the Struggle,” and the “Female Booker T. Washington.” Join in for a virtual Park Ranger talk to learn more about her, and her home in Washington, D.C., which served as the first national headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women and is now a National Parks site. Register on the library website. Teddy’s Egg Hunt Saturday, March 30, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Teddy the Rabbit has hidden eggs all around the Children’s Room. Come to the Children’s Room to a decorate a bag and then look all around to find Teddy’s hidden eggs. Pound Ridge Library Located at 271 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576. For more information, email info@poundridgelibrary. org or call 914-764-5085. To register for these events, visit the calendar at www.poundridgelibrary.org. The Magical Gardens of Bunny Mellon Saturday, March 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. Join award-winning landscape designer Jennifer Yates as she presents The Magical Gardens of Bunny Mellon. This fascinating presentation will cover much of Bunny Mellon’s life and focuses on her emergence as an important landscape designer. The talk will highlight key moments in Mellon’s life and career ranging from her redesign of the White House Rose Gardn to her estalishent of the Oak Spring Foundation, along with her enduring legacy focused on the importance of ecology and design, Paws to Read Tuesday, March 19, from 4 to 5 p.m. Join the heartwarming “Paws for Reading” program at the library, where children can build their reading skills while sharing stories with furry, fourlegged friends. It’s the perfect opportunity for young readers to boost their confidence and develop a love for books in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Children can read aloud to our friendly therapy dogs, who offer a non-judgmental and supportive audience, making reading a delightful adventure. Library Book Group Wednesday, March 20, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. “Perfectly Nice Neighbors” by Kia Abdullah. “A riveting and timely thriller, Perfectly Nice Neighbors asks the question: When your dream home comes with nightmare neighbors, how far will you go to keep your family safe?” Bedford Free Library Located at 32 Village Green, Bedford, NY 10506. For more information or to register for events, visit www.bedfordfreelibrary.org Stories, Songs & Surprises Thursdays, March 14, 21, and 28, at 11:15 a.m. Join in for weekly Storytime in the Library with Mrs. Crummy! Downloading with Charlie Thursdays, March 14, 21, and 28, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sign up for a one on one session with Charlie and learn to download digital materials. Charlie will show you how to download an ebook or audiobook to your Kindle, iPad or iPhone or Android device. Please bring your device, library card and Apple and Amazon information. Bedford Hills Free Library 26 Main St, Bedford Hills. 914-666-6472 For more information or to register for programs, visit www.bedfordhillsfreelibrary.org Tech Tuesday Tuesdays, March 19 & 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop by the Library on Tuesdays or call anytime! Technical questions answered in-person and over the phone, and personal appointments are available. Led by Katherine Whymark, Librarian for Adult Services & Programs. Little Folks & Friends Wednesday, March 20, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Embracing the boundless energy of toddlers with a focus on stories, singing, and movement. Storytimes are centered on a theme to increase vocabulary and knowledge of a subject. Toddlers learn sounds, letter/ number recognition, and language patterns while having fun with their caregivers and peers. Chronic Pain Support Group Research tells us that 50 million Americans live with chronic pain, or pain that lasts most days or every day for three months or more. Of this group, 20 million experience high-impact chronic pain, or pain that interferes with basic functioning and activities of daily living. Pain is the number one reason that Americans access the health care system, and costs the nation up to $635 billion each year in medical treatments, disability payments, and lost productivity. Support groups provide a forum for those with pain to gain support and learn about ways to manage pain and progress from patient to person. This group takes place over Zoom every other week. TRACKS FROM PAGE 2 SEE TRACKSPAGE 30 Getting enough good sleep is crucial to your health and well-being. As we recognize Sleep Awareness Month, daylight saving time begins, which can throw off our sleep patterns. Here are some tips on how to tackle sleep deprivation and commit to adopting better sleep practices. What are the signs of poor sleep? Some signs of poor sleep can include not feeling rested after the recommended amount of sleep, waking up during the night or experiencing symptoms of sleep disorders, including snoring, or gasping for air. How can sleep impact your health? Not getting enough sleep or regularly getting poor sleep may sometimes have a role in the development of chronic diseases that have had an increasingly common role in premature illness or death. Some conditions include obesity, depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. How can you improve your sleep habits? Talk to your medical provider if you are not getting quality sleep. Your doctor may be able to uncover any underlying conditions that may be causing your sleep issues. You can also adopt healthy sleep habits to improve your sleep and sleep duration such as staying physically active, ensuring that you have a dark and comfortable room to sleep in at night, avoiding screens before bedtime, and developing a consistent routine that is focused on going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Does sleep play a role in your overall health? Scan the QR code or visit optum.com/tri Optum Medical Care, P.C. (“Optum Medical Care”) is a physician owned and led practice having complete authority for all medical decision-making and patient care through its physicians and other licensed professionals. Optum, through its owned management organizations, provides non-clinical administrative services to support Optum Medical Care and its physicians. Neither Optum nor its management companies employs, engages, or supervises physicians or other licensed professionals, or determines or sets the methods, standards, or conduct of the practice of medicine or health care provided by Optum Medical Care or by any of its licensed professionals. “Part of Optum” reflects that Optum Medical Care is part of Optum’s effort to support forward-thinking physician practices in helping their patients live healthier lives. Optum is a registered trademark of Optum, Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All other brand or product names are the property of their respective owners. Because we are continuously improving our products and services, Optum reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. Optum is an equal opportunity employer. © 2024 Optum, Inc. All rights reserved. 02/24
PAGE 8 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 BY EMILE MENASCHÉ CONTRIBUTING EDITOR This spring, Travelers Rest will fill with laughter for a seriously worthy cause. For more than 37 years, CAREERS Support Solutions (careerssupportsolutions.org) has been helping people with disabilities of all kinds find jobs. Originally based in lower Westchester, the non-profit now has locations in Carmel Hamlet (102 Gleneida Ave.) and Valhalla and serves Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Like many nonprofits, CAREERS relies on a combination of grants and donations to operate. And according to Executive Director Tina Cornish-Lauria, funding has become more of a challenge in the post-COVID world. “Things have changed so drastically,” Cornish Lauria said, noting that the grant application system has become more complex. “In the past, I’d raise $200,000 in grants. And now last year and this year I’m close to having to fundraise almost $400,000 to our budget.” Those funds are necessary because all CAREERS services are provided for free. “We do not charge clients, their families, or employers for our services,” Cornish-Lauria said. This year, CAREERS is launching a fun and funny way to help shore up the budget with its first-ever comedy night on Friday, April 12, at Travelers Rest in Ossining. Comedians Dimitri Giatrakis, Vicki Sanches, Dr. Blain Langberg, Anthony Sanches, Susan Schatzie, Matt Orefice, LouAnn Daprato, Bill Greene, and Barbara Miller will provide the laughs at the fundraiser, with all profits going to help CAREERS in its mission to help disabled people find employment. “Anyone who lives in Westchester, Putnam or lower Dutchess counties and has a disability is eligible for our services,” Cornish-Lauria said. “You can call CAREERS Support Solutions Carmel office at 845-225- 8007 and ask to attend a weekly orientation Zoom meeting. That is the first step. Then ACCESVR (the NY State Education Department) will need to do an intake for services after they attend the 45-minute meeting.” Part of what makes CAREERS so effective is that it tailors its services to the interests and abilities of each client, looking for well-fitting jobs with the same tools used by job seekers everywhere. “After we receive a new referral, we set up an intake where we gather information from each client, their case manager, family members, etc., and figure out as a team what services they need,” Cornish-Lauria said. “We do not have a pool of jobs that we fit people into. On the contrary, we figure out what each client wants and needs and go looking – just like anyone else looking for a job or paid internship. “Because we work with a wide range of disabilities, that means there is also a wide range of functional levels,” she continued. “We have clients working in daycare centers, lawyers offices, supermarkets, retail stores like Marshall’s and HomeGoods, school districts, hospitals, churches, libraries, and any other places that our clients are interested in working in and have the right experiences for.” While the program works with local school districts and serves around 200 high school students per year, Cornish-Lauria said there’s no age limit. “We provide services to anyone between the ages of 16 to up in their 70s,” she said. CAREERS Board of Directors President Lauren Enea said the comedy night is about more than raising funds; it’s also a chance to increase awareness of CAREERS’ programs. “We’re very excited to introduce or reintroduce CAREERS to the community and hopefully get some more support from our community members in a fun way and with an engaging and exciting night,” Enea said. “We have an amazing list of comedians who are donating their time to perform, so we’re hoping for a good crowd and for them to learn more about careers throughout the night as well.” Tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities are now available for the April 12 CAREERS Support Solutions Comedy Night. Email [email protected] for more information. Individual tickets are also available at Zeffy.com, accessible via the accompanying QR code or this case-sensitive short link: https://bit.ly/ CAREERSComedy. A funny way to raise money CAREERS comedy night will help support jobs for disabled people
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 9 “A Hidden Gem…” –Westchester Magazine 100 Route 202 • Lincolndale, NY 10540 • (914) 245-5588 www.anglebrookgc.com • [email protected] Be a Member for a Day, Book Your Event Today! For All Your Catering Needs Banquets, Receptions & Golf Outings Birthdays, Anniversaries, & Graduations Small & Large Conference Rooms Spectacular Setting with Fine & Casual Dining Options Reduced Membership Rates Private club available for non-member functions BY TOM BARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER Members of Bedford’s Open Space Acquisition Committee have won Town Board support for a new body to pay for undeveloped land deemed worthy of acquisition. Their bank balance scanty after more than two decades of shopping for such property, the committee members, cochair Wendy Belzberg and ex-officio John Needham, are calling on the board to create a Land Preservation Fund. The fund would be bankrolled by a 2 percent fee, paid by the buyer, on pricey—the upper half—of property sales. That levy could yield about $4 million annually, Needham asserted, or 8 times what Bedford now sets aside for land acquisition in its largely property-tax-dependent annual budget. The state’s Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act allows towns in specified counties to establish the preservation fund. Six towns in four counties—Ulster, Dutchess, Orange and Columbia—now have the funds; Bedford would be the first community in Westchester to establish one. Belzberg led the presentation at the Feb. 5 Town Board meeting and quickly got to the point. “There is no money left in the open-space fund,” she told the board, saying $1.5 million tapped as part the town’s $3 million-plus purchase late last year of some 23 acres near Buxton Gorge had run the well dry. Belzberg called the proposed preservation fund “a tool that is needed now. . . . It complements what we have.” Supervisor Ellen Calves, who directly controls the committee’s coffers, later said the open-space fund still has some cash but did not specify how much. Still, with a prime Bedford acre currently commanding a median sale price of about $315,000, Needham noted, the town’s current $495,000 fund contribution will “buy you an acre and a half of land.” The two made their remarks following a six-week study by a task force of the open-space panel. Their recommendation, warmly received by the board, nevertheless faces a tight schedule to win voter approval this year. “This is a referendum that would be on the ballot in November,” Belzberg said. “So, the community would have to be interested in this, would have to be into this, and would have to vote for it before the preservation fund could be a reality.” To meet deadlines for appearing on this fall’s presidential-election ballot, the referendum request must be filed with the Board of Elections by Aug. 5. But before that can happen, the open-space task force must produce a draft Community Preservation Plan and submit it to the Town Board by May. From then through July, the board could make modifications to the plan before adopting it after a public hearing. It would also draft a local law levying the 2 percent real-estate-transfer fee and spelling out the specific uses of the funds. “The benefits of this fund are spread across the spectrum,” Needham said, noting that the money can be used not only to buy land but also improve water, provide recreation in the form of parks and playgrounds, and invest in Bedford’s historic places. Moreover, he said, the fund becomes an asset multiplier when its cash is leveraged to provide the town’s required share to receive matching federal and state grant money. “Where does the [fund’s] money come from?” he asked rhetorically. “Well, I think most important is to start by saying where it doesn’t come from. It does not come from property taxes. Instead, the primary funding source is a one-time real estate transfer tax. . . . Anything under the median [property-sale price] is exempt from the tax.” Belzberg and Needham were joined at the presentation by Ted Fink, owner of Greenplan (Rhinebeck), a communityplanning consultancy, and Kevin McDonald, a member of The Nature Conservancy. She described them as experts brought in to bolster task force efforts. Fink, a professor of land-use planning at Bard College’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies, is drafting the Community Preservation Plan. “This is a program that is very well-suited to the town of Bedford,” he said, noting that protection of the environment and open space was “the No. 1 goal you have in the 2003 Comprehensive Plan.” McDonald has worked with communities in the Hudson Valley and Long Island to establish similar preservation funds. “There isn’t a person who doesn’t say, ‘This has exceeded our expectations, it’s been transformative, and it’s made our community so much better,’” he said. The Community Preservation Plan Fink is drafting will be flexible enough, McDonald said, to adapt to change. He described the plans as “intimately tailored to meet the needs of the community as it evolves.” Belzberg said the task force sought the views about 60 people, in Bedford and in those upstate towns that have already implemented local preservation funds. Open Space Committee seeks to establish Land Preservation Fund BEDFORD SEE BEDFORD PAGE 30
PAGE 10 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY , EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected]. Happily Ever After EDITORIAL As objective and independent news writers and editors, we have an imperative to cover the issues most important to the people in Mt. Kisco, Bedford and Pound Ridge. Every day, our team is on the ground reporting on municipal and school news and uplifting the stories of community changemakers. But, amidst industry challenges, it is no longer unfathomable to picture a future when New York State is completely without local newspapers and other local news outlets. According to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, 2-1/2 newspapers now close each week in the U.S. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2004, and New York has been particularly hard hit. In 2004, New York boasted 501 newspapers; today, it’s only 260. In 2022 alone, 30 newspapers closed across the state. A quarter of New York’s counties are news deserts-–down to their last newspaper. Orleans County recently became the first in the state to have none. These closures have also resulted in thousands of lost journalism and newsroom-supporting jobs. Local news matters. Studies show that when a community loses its source of local news, it experiences decreased voter turnout and civic engagement; increased municipal borrowing costs that lead to higher taxes; and decreased transparency among government and business officials, leading to increased waste, fraud and abuse. As newspapers shutter, communities become more polarized, leaving us stuck in a never-ending doom loop where we lose sight of our shared values. During this era of intense national partisanship, local news offers a path forward. The time to act is now. That is why The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times has joined with over 150 other New York local newspapers to launch the Empire State Local News Coalition. The Empire State Local News Coalition, comprising both print and online local newspapers, is advocating for sound public policy that ensures the important work of local news organizations can continue in our state. Through our independent journalism, we aim to serve, inform, uplift and protect New Yorkers. Our coalition cares deeply about our local communities as well as the future of New York’s free press. However, market forces are making it nearly impossible for us to survive. So, together, we are sounding the alarm bell for our leaders in Albany to hear. At the heart of our advocacy is the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. Sponsored by NYS Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, with the bipartisan support of 55 co-sponsors, this bill provides tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local news journalists. We want to thank Sen. Pete Harckham and Assemblyman Chris Burdick for supporting this legislation. We urge Sen. Shelley Mayer to sign on to it! News organizations are incentivized to actually add jobs, returning reporters to many of the state’s newsrooms, which are becoming increasingly desolate. Importantly, the bill is also content neutral, meaning that any legitimate local news outlet--left, right, or in between--can benefit from this bill. The objectivity of the bill’s eligibility requirements means the legislation cannot be weaponized to penalize news organizations critical of government officials. As New York loses talented journalists, lawmakers must act to ensure the industry is allowed not only to survive, but also to thrive. Only local news outlets--with boots-on-the-ground journalists--can deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial well-being. Imagine no stories about the Town Board meeting or the school budget debate. No pictures of your granddaughter’s first soccer goal. No obituary of your friendly (and eccentric) neighbor. No reporting to hold public officials to account. And no trusted institution to convene the community around a family in need. We need your help to save local news in New York. To get the Local Journalism Sustainability Act across the finish line, lawmakers need to hear from you about why our newspaper matters and why this bill is important to you. If you would like to help, reach out to Gov. Hochul and to Sen. Mayer (it’s still helpful to contact Harckham and Burdick even though they are already co-sponsors) to let them know you stand with local news. Imagine a future without local news New York must enact the Local Journalism Sustainability Act Support the New York Local Journalism Sustainability Act Contact Governor Kathy Hochul: 518-474-8390 Contact Senator Pete Harckham: 518-455-2340 Contact Assemblyman Chris Burdick: 518-455-5397 Our newspaper is a proud member of the Empire State Local News Coalition: support the coalition at SaveNYLocalNews.com.
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 OPINION THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 11 A friend of mine was waiting for his car at the car wash recently when he noticed a couple of customers grabbing their cars and heading out without visiting the tip box. He felt bad for the workers, so he left them $20 instead of his normal $5. His story got me thinking that tipping has become more complicated these days. At our local car wash–actually we have two of them across the street from one another–there’s a tip box where you drop off your car, another at the counter, and another where you pick up your car. Are you supposed to hit each one? Or should you pick your favorite? I tend to wait until the end to make sure the car looks OK before I tip. Then there is the problem of cash. I always used to lecture my kids about having a $20 bill handy since they never carry cash. I haven’t changed their behavior, but I think they have changed mine, since I seldom have cash in my pocket now. That lack of liquidity leads to embarrassment sometimes. I’m not sure everyone believes me when I tell them I’ll take care of them next time. Maybe those cheapskates at the car wash didn’t have any cash either. COVID changed tipping behavior for Americans. We were so excited when someone delivered something to our house, or had meals ready for pickup, we started tipping in places we never tipped before. I asked the proprietor of my favorite pizza place if tipping was prevalent for takeout orders. He said that most people tip for take-out. A dollar or two in the tip bucket or adding it to their check when they pay by credit card. Ten percent seems to be the norm. Seven in 10 Americans say tipping is expected in more places today than it was five years ago, according to the Pew Research Center. Point-of-sale systems have had an impact. Frequently, the cashier spins around an iPad with a suggestion about a tip. I’m generally a 10% tip in those situations, but what if it’s preselected at 15%. Pressure. And there’s always someone looking over your shoulder. I went to a liquor store recently and I was prompted for a tip at checkout. I guess that’s one of the new places they’re talking about in the survey. In the same survey, 92% reported that they “often or always” leave a tip at a sit-down restaurant. Only 24% leave a tip at Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts. Those establishments could probably help their employees’ income if they made tipping easy on their apps or when collecting by credit card. I was recently at a resort for a few days that had valet parking. They had some nifty software. You scanned your claim check and they immediately responded with how many minutes it would be until your car was out front. Next they asked “would you like to give a tip for the staff?” I was happy to take care of that with a couple of taps on my phone. Maybe servers and valets could carry their own scan code so we can tip them by phone. In some situations, it may make sense to tip early. I was heading off to one of my first business meetings at a fancy hotel in New Orleans. My father told me the first thing I should do when I got to the hotel was to find the concierge and introduce myself, tip $20, and let them know I would be there for the whole weekend. I followed his instructions. All of my prospects and competitors were milling around the hotel lobby as it became the prime networking space at the conference. Every time I walked by the concierge desk, prominently located in the lobby, I was greeted with “good morning Mr. Scott, how are you today?” It was a great PR investment for my 20 bucks. Although the tipping game has changed, it’s still important to take care of those who take care of us with a few shekels, whether in cash or digital form. New etiquette of modern tipping DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Scan Here To Sign Up (It’s FREE!) Get YOUR Town’s Local News In Your Inbox Daily 230 RTE 117 BYPASS ROAD, BEDFORD HILLS, NY 10507, 914.241.7000 HOME FURNISHINGS • MATTRESSES KIDS’ ROOMS • HOME OFFICE LIGHTING • WINDOW TREATMENTS • AREA RUGS • ART • HOME DECOR COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN SERVICES COUNTRYWILLOW.COM NOW THRU MARCH 24TH THE DINING SALE WAYS TO SAVE UP TO 15% OFF WINTER SALE PRICING
PAGE 12 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES OPINION MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 PHAT OLIVE BOX OF THE MONTH IINTRODUC ING NTRODUCING Each month you'll receive a carefully curated theme of premium products valued at $50, spanning the best of our olive oils, balsamic vinegars, delightful seasonings, and even stylish home goods. phatoliveoil.com Follow us Facebook & Instagram @phatoliveoil SCAN QR CODE TO SUBSCRIBE OR GO TO PHATOLIVEOIL.COM TRANSFORM YOUR FITNESS J URNEY 584 North State Road, Briarcliff Manor NY | 914-250-2134 [email protected] When I was a teen, my brother got me my first “real” job and I am sure he regretted that move until the day he died. Back in the ’70s, he was a vice president and head loan officer at the National Bank of Pawling, which is now Key Bank. He got me a summer job as a teller. I don’t think they keep data on such things, but I just may have been the worst teller in the history of banks. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t difficult work. You got to socialize all day long. But I stunk at it. Literally... as you will soon see. Besides providing friendly customer service, the most important thing a teller must do is balance the cashbox when your shift is over. You count the money before you start and again when you finish. The machine will tell you how much cash you took in and gave out. It should all balance. For me... it seldom did. I’d always have half the staff crawling all over my station, going over the machine tape, recounting the money, and crawling around on the floor looking for stray bills I might have dropped. It was embarrassing. It was the end of a long day and these poor people just wanted to go home. But Bob can’t count. My career in the banking industry was doomed early on. One day (this was when I was a senior in high school) the president of the bank called me in for a chat. He wanted to know if I was interested in banking and if I was going to pursue a business degree in college. Now, all these years later, I realize what I should have said was, “I don’t know yet, sir. I am still carefully weighing all my options... but it’s certainly something to consider.” But instead, what I said was: “Are you kidding me? Oh, my God, no!” Nonetheless, they kept bringing me back every summer. In 1976, the drinking age was 18. I turned 18 on July 15 and took advantage of it throughout that summer. Friday nights were as good a time as any to do it. The problem with that was my job as a bank teller required me to work on Saturday mornings. Had to get there by 8:30. One particular Saturday morning I was hungover. Now, to give you some perspective, this one would easily make the Top 10 Worst Hangovers in the History of Fermentation. I knew I was going to be sick the moment I pulled into the bank parking lot that morning. I was wearing a jacket and tie, so this was going to be a first. The plan was simple—go straight to the men’s room, get it over with, clean up, get some coffee, get to work, and tough it out until noon, when we closed. Unfortunately, the janitor was in the men’s room mopping when I got there. The ladies’ room was occupied. Yikes! Plan B – go to the vault, get my cashbox, take it to my station, and get set up. The janitor should be done by then. Ahh, but as they say, “Man plans, God laughs.” When I got to the vault, without warning, physiology took over, my stomach would not wait any longer, and the little metal room suddenly smelled like a dive bar. One of my teller co-workers walked in just then, saw my whippeddog expression, and burst out laughing. She quickly regained her composure and led me to my station, got me coffee, and then got the janitor to take care of the mess in the vault. Other than that, the morning was uneventful, but I’ve never forgotten that incident. And I haven’t really told that story to anyone before, except maybe a few friends, for obvious reasons. It is true... as you get older you don’t care what people think anymore. It is weirdly liberating. I was never really “fired” by the bank, but on my last summer vacation home from college, I was told there were no jobs available that year. But my brother came to the rescue once again. He wanted to know if I wanted a job working at a new hardware/lumber store that was opening in town. I knew as much about hardware as I did banking so I thought, sure, that sounds great! The store was owned by two of my former high school teachers who had decided to change careers. They went from molding young minds to selling molding. They made the right decision... trust me. I had had them as teachers. I thought the job would primarily be stocking shelves and waiting on customers. It was not. The first day they had me out in the warehouse working a forklift. I cannot stress strongly enough how bad this idea was. I had never worked a forklift before, but they acted as if it was just like riding a bike. They gave me a few quick lessons and left me to my own devices. But the forklift didn’t want to do anything I commanded it to do and it wasn’t too long before I had smashed up a few pallets of lawn fertilizer, spilling piles of the stuff all over the place. So obviously the next thing to have me do was use the forklift to load a flatbed truck with a bunch of cinder blocks and then drive them to a construction site. Working for a living BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMASPAGE 13
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 OPINION THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 13 Offering the Unique Flavors of Asian Cuisine 914-232-3900 tengdakatonah.com 286 Katonah Ave. Katonah Welcome spring with open taste buds! Somehow I got the blocks on the flatbed without any major disasters, but I had never driven a truck like that before. I am pretty sure you needed a certain type of driver’s license to do it. I just had a regular license and I only had that for a couple of years and was still trying to get better at parallel parking. (They teach parallel parking in driver’s ed, but to this day there is no record anywhere of anyone actually doing it successfully. Kind of like folding a fitted sheet.) I headed out to the construction site going about 8 mph the whole way. The site was about 50 yards off the road and you had to drive through an open field to get there. You followed the tracks that previous heavy vehicles had made. The problem was that the path was not level. It kind of tilted a little to the right because of the lay of the land. The tilt got more extreme as you got closer to the site and by the time I arrived, I was on about a 30-degree angle. The cinder blocks began to slide, busted through the straps, and half of them fell to the ground where they pulverized each other into literal cinders. Somehow, I was still not fired. However, my job description did change radically. Now I was stocking shelves and waiting on customers and life was as it should be. The only machine they would let me near is the cash register and I think I might have broken that too. So... I wasn’t good at the cushy office job where you wore a tie, and I was even more of a disaster at hard labor. What was I to do? Fortunately, I found a career where you spend half the day sitting at a desk with a typewriter, later a computer, and the other half driving around and trying to get people to talk to you when they would much rather gouge out their own eyes than do that. Now I just sit and type, type and sit. The world can breathe a collective sigh of relief that there are no more busted cinder blocks and no unbalanced cashboxes or stinky bank vaults. All of it has been traded for a painful lower back and a touch of carpal tunnel syndrome. That seems about right. DUMAS FROM PAGE 12
PAGE 14 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES OPINION MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 845-279-9555 • TankRemovalServices.com Before you place your home on the market, contact ENVIROSTAR about replacing your aging underground storage tank (UST). It is required by most insurance companies prior to insuring property. We replace above ground tanks as well! Call us today for a free estimate and evaluation of your current above ground tank. SPRING SPECIAL! $100 OFF IN-GROUND TANK REMOVAL With this coupon only. Coupon must be presented at the time of the estimate. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 4/30/24 FREE ESTIMATES WE WILL MATCH OUR COMPETITOR’S ADVERTISED OFFER! We are the name you trust for environmental needs Since 1998 DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH AN AGING OIL TANK! Antique 18th Century Oak Welsh 18" Deep x 62" Wide x 77" High $2,800 OBO 914-241-4868 FOR SALE Dan Buettner’s book, “The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World’s Healthiest People,” reveals an intriguing statistic: each additional cheerful friend in our circle increases our own happiness by 9%, while every unhappy friend lowers it by 7%. If you’re fascinated by the lifestyles of communities worldwide, particularly those thriving in their advanced years, you might enjoy the Blue Zone book or its Netflix adaptation. They emphasize the importance of a vibrant social network in aging gracefully, highlighting how it supports cognitive health and slows mental decline. Where, then, can one find a treasure trove of joyful acquaintances to boost one’s happiness by leaps and bounds? Breweries are an excellent choice! Breweries often foster an environment conducive to socializing, fun, and the exploration of new tastes and experiences. Field trip to Yonkers Brewing Co., 92 Main St., Yonkers (yonkersbrewing. com). Take the Yonkers Brewing Co., for example. Steeped in history, Yonkers has been a cradle for innovation since its establishment in 1646. It owes its name to John Yonker, who initiated a ferry service connecting the area to Manhattan. The city’s rich past includes being the birthplace of the early versions of the elevator and golf. Yonkers Brewing Co., founded in 2013 by John Rubbo and Nick Califano, continues this legacy of innovation. Their grandfather’s winemaking inspired them to delve into beer brewing, a decision that led to the creation of their flagship Yonkers 914 Vienna Lager – a beer I personally rank as one of the finest. During our visit, Mrs. KBM and I were joined unexpectedly by a friend and a lively group of his daughter’s friends, adding significantly to our collective happiness quotient. The brewery’s diverse patronage is one of its strengths, according to John: “We probably have the most diverse clientele in Westchester. We have all ages and cultural backgrounds patronizing the brewery. And, being a family-friendly restaurant drives so many great people of all ages.” The interior boasts high ceilings, vibrant murals, and well-placed TVs for sports enthusiasts. They also have a stage for live music, enhancing the brewery’s lively ambiance. There was no band the afternoon we were there, but cool tunes, like David Bowie’s awesome Young American’s was playing at a reasonable volume (I know… the volume level is an old guy comment, but I want to hear what my new Social Circle has to say). Head Brewer Ian Issitt, who started as a homebrewer, brings his passion for innovative brewing to Yonkers. He constantly experiments with new styles, offering unique, taproom-only beers alongside their core offerings. Some of our top picks include the Bat Phone Double Red Ale (7.7% - malty crisp finish), Madison Blond/Golden Ale (5.5% - excellent with great sweet tone), 7-Hills IPA (5.6% - crisp and refreshing), and the Fudgin’ Around Stout (6.4% - a big hit with Mrs. KBM). Their Bloody Mary Flights, with varied liquors and extravagant garnishes, were also a crowd-pleaser. The menu adapts to the seasons, featuring hearty dishes in winter and a seafoodcentric selection in summer, perfect with their weekend brunch offerings. Music is another highlight, with AJ overseeing a vibrant and eclectic music scene that caters to diverse tastes, from classic rock to hip hop and R&B. I highly recommend visiting Yonkers Brewing Co. and would love to hear your thoughts! Cheers! The Katonah Beer Man can be reached at [email protected] or visit thekatonahbeerman.wordpress.com. Please check out our friends at Vista Beverage, vistabeerandbeverage.com; 204 Oakridge Commons, South Salem; 914-533-7512. Cheers to friendship The social magic of Yonkers Brewing Co. The Katonah Beer Man with his crew PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KATONAH BEER MAN Excellent rotating beers at Vista Beverage • vistabeerandbeverage.com • 204 Oakridge Commons, South Salem • 914-533-7512 JOHN BART THE KATONAH BEER MAN
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 15 A Guardianship Proceeding is not something that is typically commenced unless there is a true necessity. It is a last resort mechanism for when someone is no longer competent to make their own personal and financial decisions, and has not executed a sufficiently broad Durable General Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy. Here are six factors to consider prior to commencing and filing the proceeding: (1) Determine whether the Alleged Incapacitated Person (AIP) has executed a valid Durable General Power of Attorney (POA), Health Care Proxy (HCP), Living Will and HIPAA form. The existence of the aforestated advance directives may obviate the need for a Guardianship Proceeding if they are sufficiently broad enough to deal with the issues present in the particular case at hand. For example, in many instances a valid POA has been executed, but the POA is not sufficiently broad to address the AIP’s financial needs. There may be an immediate need for broad gifting powers for Medicaid and or estate planning purposes where the POA only permits gifting to specific people and in a limited dollar amount, such as $500 or less. (2) Review how title to the AIP’s assets is held. Does the AIP have assets in joint title with others? If so, can these assets be accessed by the joint title holder if the AIP is not able to make decisions as to his or her financial affairs? If so, a Guardianship Proceeding may not be necessary as to those assets. (3) Has the AIP executed a Last Will and Testament or an Inter Vivos Trust? If a Last Will or Inter Vivos Trust are in existence, it will be important to determine whether or not any proposed transfer or disposition of the AIP’s assets sought in the Guardianship Proceeding is consistent or inconsistent with the AIP’s wishes expressed therein. If a beneficiary(ies) under an existing Last Will or Trust is affected by a proposed transfer, he or she will be entitled to notice of the Proceeding and a right to be heard. (4) Prior to filing a Guardianship Proceeding, it is important to determine whether the powers the Guardians will seek will be of an “unlimited” or “definite” duration. Obviously, a critical factor as to the duration of the Guardianship will be whether there is a likelihood that the AIP will be able to handle his or her financial affairs at a later date. Additionally, it will be necessary to determine whether there are any specific or special powers over the person or property that the Guardian requires that are not enumerated as part of the standard powers provided for under the Mental Hygiene Law. For example, perhaps the Guardian needs the power to relocate the AIP to another state or wishes to make gifts or transfers of the AIP’s property. Such powers must be specifically granted to the Guardian, sometimes in a separate proceeding. (5) Does there exist the possibility that the Guardianship will be contested? The possibility that the Guardianship will be contested will have a significant and important impact on whether or not to commence the Proceeding. It is always a difficult decision to commence a Guardianship for one’s father or mother, but the decision is made significantly more difficult when the Petitioner knows or believes that mom, dad or a sibling will contest it. Voluntarily placing oneself into a litigious proceeding with a parent or a loved one may have significant consequences depending on the level of mental capacity of the AIP. (6) Is the appointment of a Temporary or Independent Guardian advisable? In cases where there exists a significant possibility for either personal or financial harm to the AIP because he or she is unable to handle his or her affairs, it may be advisable to request that the Petitioner(s) or an independent third party be appointed a Temporary Guardian pending the final determination of the Court. This is often utilized when there is an immediate need to marshal the AIP’s assets to prevent waste, dissipation or fraud, or where there is an immediate need for someone to handle the Alleged Incapacitated Person’s personal and financial affairs. Additionally, in a contested guardianship setting, an independent non-related third party may be appointed as the guardian of the AIP in a final order by the Court in order to avoid any parties to the matter from making decisions regarding the AIP, where they cannot come to an agreement as to what is in the AIP’s best interest and who should act as the Guardian long term. In conclusion, although the aforestated factors are not the only factors that one should consider prior to commencing a Guardianship, in my experience they are often the most important! Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is an Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and she enjoys working with individuals and families to ensure that their estate and long-term care plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea is on the executive committee of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section and is also the Co-Editor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be reached at 914-948- 1500. Commencing a Guardianship Proceeding? Beforehand, consider these six factors under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law ‘It is always a difficult decision to commence a Guardianship for one’s father or mother, but the decision is made significantly more difficult when the Petitioner knows or believes that mom, dad or a sibling will contest it.’ -Lauren C. Enea, Esq. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER FOCUS ON ELDER LAW
PAGE 16 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMELuck of the Irish! Eric, Jay, Ellis, and Jenny Lentz of Mount Kisco Robbie, Gina, Troy, and RJ Scheller of Mount Kisco Mount Kisco’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Mount Kisco’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade took place on Sunday, March 3. Held before an enthusiastic crowd on an unseasonably warm afternoon, numerous community organizations took part and helped get everyone in the spirit! PHOTOS: CAROL REIF
S – MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 PAGE 17 Kevin McGinn of Bedford Hills Village Manager Ed Brancati, Town Justice Anthony Markus, Trustee Karen Schleimer, Deputy Mayor Theresa Flora, Mayor Michael Cindrich, County Legislator Erika Pierce, Sen. Pete Harckham, and Assemblymember Chris Burdick
PAGE 18 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES HEALTH & WELLNESS MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 WE’RE NOT YOUR ORDINARY DENTISTS. Affiliate of Astoria | Bay Shore | Garden City | Hoboken | Howard Beach Huntington | Lake Success | Long Island City | Mt. Kisco | Oceanside White Plains | Yonkers | Yorktown Heights Put Your Health Where Your Mouth Is™ and book an appointment today, call 914-770-8555 For more information: CareMount Dental is now ProHealth Dental. ProHEALTH Dental proudly announces a groundbreaking affiliation with Northwell Health. Northwell is New York State’s largest health care provider, with more than 900 locations. ProHEALTH Dental has a network of 16 state-of-the-art dental offices throughout the NY Metro Area. Together, we will treat patients holistically, focusing on how oral health improves overall health. phdental.com Oral Surgery General Pediatrics Orthodontics Endodontics Sleep Cosmetic Dentistry Periodontics Implants Dental health should be a priority at any age, and is especially important for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than half of children between the ages of 6 and 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their primary teeth. Also, more than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one permanent tooth. Cavities and other oral health conditions, such as periodontal diseases, are largely preventable with proper oral hygiene. Parents know that getting children — especially young ones — to care for their teeth in the correct manner may require some help and then reinforcement throughout the developmental years. However, there are ways to make dental care a more engaging activity for youngsters. Use plaque-disclosing tablets Show children just where they may need to direct more brushing effort with plaque-disclosing tablets. These tablets use food-grade coloring in them, which sticks to areas with plaque accumulation. After chewing the tablets and the child smiles, he or she will see the spots where efforts need to be ramped up. This can be a fun lesson as children will likely enjoy seeing their teeth covered in the tablet color. Flavored toothpastes and mouthwashes Mint reigns supreme in oral health products as the dominant flavor, but not all children are enamored with that flavor. Most oral care products geared toward the younger set come in different flavors like bubble gum and berry. Kids can take active roles in their oral health by choosing the flavored products they prefer to use. Electronic toothbrushes Children may enjoy using electronic toothbrushes because they are easy to maneuver and can even seem like a toy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, electric toothbrushes generally are considered more effective at removing plaque and keeping teeth clean. That benefits kids and adults because it potentially means fewer painful visits with the dentist. Make it a competition Children love games and healthy competition between peers and siblings. Offer a prize (non-sugary, of course) to children who brush and floss daily for the required times. Extra points can be awarded for every dental wellness check that comes back with a glowing report. Make smart food choices Engage children in lessons and choices about which foods are good for oral health and which may be poor. Sticky foods or those with a lot of sugary content should only be occasional treats. The entire family can work together to plan meals around foods that are good for the teeth and gums, such as crunchy veggies, leafy greens, high-calcium dairy products and fatty fish. Practice on pets Pets need clean teeth, too. Children may enjoy not only brushing their own teeth, but learning how to keep their companion animals’ mouths healthy with brushing and care. Various strategies can increase the chances that kids engage with oral hygiene practices early on. This article is from Metro Creative Connection. How to get kids more engaged in their dental health
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 HEALTH & WELLNESS THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 19 ADVERTORIAL To move and be active, we rely on our musculoskeletal system that is innervated by the somatic nervous system, which requires a conscious effort to activate the muscles, joints, and nerves. But our bodies also have the autonomic nervous system that works silently in the background that connects the central nervous system (CNS) to the peripheral system to regulate the involuntary body functions such as heart rate, organ functions, blood pressure, respiration, sexual arousal. OUR AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM Our bodies autonomic nervous system has two main components: the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The two systems play opposite roles in our body’s responses to internal survival requirements and external challenges. The two systems must be in balance to keep our body in a good homeostatic state: 1. SNS: the “fight-or-flight” response. This keeps your body prepared and alert to protect you in case of danger by elevating your heart and respiratory rates, release stored energy and blood supply to the musculoskeletal system in case you need to move faster (e.g., crossing a street in a rush when a car approaches) and slows down systems that are not as important during danger (e.g., digestion). 2. PNS: the “rest-and-digest “response to control the bodily functions in regular times to stimulate our digestive system to breakdown food and absorb nutrients, restore energy, repair, helps to build the immune system and controls heart rate and blood pressure. The PNS is controlled by the vagus nerve. OUR VAGUS NERVE It is the “wondering” nerve of our body (from its Latin translation) and is also called the 10th cranial nerve. The vagus nerve originates from the left and right side of your brainstem and forms the extensive “nerve highway” to connect your brain to vital organs in our head, neck, thoracic area, and abdomen. The primary function of the vagus nerve is to manage the PNS function and to regulate internal organ functions without you being consciously aware of the silent communication to keep your body function normally. The vagus nerve also plays a role in your: • Mood • Skin and muscle sensation • Mucus and saliva production • Speech • Taste • Urine output VAGUS NERVE DYSFUNCTION There are two main causes of vagus nerve dysfunction: 1) physical or psychological stress, and 2) any infection or inflammation. Throughout our daily lives we experience some kind of stress whether it is finances, health, family or work. The low-grade chronic stress can cause our vagus nerve to become overwhelmed and not be in its “rest and digest” state. This will activate the SNS when it is not required to respond to a threat and results in an imbalance in our PNS and SNS. This can lead to high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, brain fog, headaches, lack of energy, muscles ache and fatigue, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and more stress. EXERCISES AND ACTIONS TO CALM/STIMULATE YOUR VAGUS NERVE TO RESTORE YOUR BODY’S BALANCE To bring your PNS and SNS in harmony again, requires an awareness of your body’s states of well-being and how the mind-body connection works*: • Deep breathing: 4-Box breathing - sit in a relaxed position with your one hand on your diaphragm (below your ribcage/ upper abdomen) and other hand on your outside lower ribcage. Exhale through pursed lips for 4 seconds. Then inhale for 4 seconds and feel all the air canalizing under your two hands. Feel the diaphragm and ribcage expand as you breathe in, relaxing your shoulders. • Meditation: as you breathe, let your mind and body relax and fill with fresh oxygen. Connect your mind to your body and breath that brings in the meditation part to LIZE LUBBE GUEST CORNER Get your body in a balanced state by stimulating your Vagus nerve activate the vagus nerve. • Moving, humming, and music: put on a calm song and sway your body from side to side, humming to the song as the vibration in the back of your throat stimulates the vagus nerve that goes through your pharynx, larynx, and vocal cords in the back of your throat. Laughing out of your belly has a similar vibration and makes you feel alive. • Feet stimulation: remove your shoes and socks, sit comfortable in a chair, or stand holding onto a secure place. Put a tennis ball/foot roller/nerve ball under your one foot and roll your foot with deep pressure over the ball/roller with deep steady pressure. You can also sit crossing one ankle over your other knee and use your hands and fingers to selfmassage your feet or ask you partner for a foot massage. • Splash your face with cold water for about 5 seconds. We are hands on PTs! The professional services of the team at Lize Lubbe Physical Therapy include: • Pre & Post Surgery Rehabilitation • Sports Injury Rehabilitation • Neurological Rehabilitation • Treatment of Musculoskeletal & Orthopedic Conditions • Postural, Balance & Gait Training • Pain & Headache Management • Body Rebalancing through Diaphragm, Breathing & Pelvic Stability www.lizelubbept.com [email protected] 914.875.9430 892 NY-35, Cross River, NY 10518 (blue office building) Lize Lubbe is the owner of Lize Lubbe Physical Therapy with its main practice located at 892 Route 35 in Cross River and a PT Studio in the premises of Apex Fitness (where her team focus on the rehabilitation of sports-related injuries). Learn more by calling 914-875-9430, emailing [email protected] or visiting www.lizelubbept.com. Both our nervous systems are necessary in our daily lives to adapt and be flexible. Take control of your body and get ready for Spring to restore your inner balance and wellbeing by being in a more relaxed state of mind and body. If you have any questions or concerns about your health and well-being, contact you physician or physical therapist for more guidance and help. * For further information on the suggested calming exercises, see the following links: -https://www.webmd.com/balance/ what-is-box-breathing -https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3705176/ -https://www.allied-services.org/ news/2020/june/the-vagus-nerve-yoursecret-weapon-in-fighting-s -https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
PAGE 20 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES HEALTH & WELLNESS MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 BY MARIA SCAROS GUEST COLUMNIST I recently “celebrated” my birthday. A Sunday lunch with some of my favorite women, all of whom are my family. The evening was spent sharing pizza with my daughter, her partner, and my 4-month-old granddaughter. As I cradled my granddaughter in my arms, my daughter leaned over and quietly asked, “What did you think about today?” Without missing a beat, I said with a smile, “Your yiayia and your papou,” meaning your grandmother and grandfather, (my parents). “I thanked them for giving me life, which continues to be extraordinary.” I have not lived a charmed life. Who has? I am not always cheerful, and I can sometimes be downright ornery. I recall enormous grief and loss, disappointment, and tragedy. Family members who died prematurely. Loved ones who lost the decades I have been blessed to live. And yet, every now and then it comes along. I let it in. That “some kind of wonderful feeling.” That feeling of “Yes. This is good. This is what matters. Life overall is precious.” Monday through Friday I am surrounded by activity that is often frenetic and at times, serene. Friends and family find the love I have for my work confounding. I work in an assisted living community for people who have memory impairment. “It must be sad,” they say. Absolutely not. There is life. There is humor. There is joy. There are wonderful moments that confirm life can hold something wonderful at any stage. Bob has been living with us for almost five years. Over time he has not used words to communicate, but his “being” communicates more than most who have language. Interestingly, when our staff feels overwhelmed or in need of comfort, they all know intuitively to stand or sit beside Bob. He responds by looking you straight in the eye, “seeing” you, smiling, and nodding his head knowingly. You may see a staff member with their head on his shoulder. “Bob sees us.” It reminds me of the song by Carole King. That feeling is sometimes fleeting and often unexpected and often so quite simple: All you have to do is touch my hand To show me you understand And something happens to me That’s some kind of wonderful And then there is Loulette who smiles when she sees you and reaches for your hand. She speaks in riddles, but when the music begins, her rendition of “La vie en rose” is flawless. With a flower in her hair and a champagne glass of lemonade, she stands and swoons to the tune. “She is some kind of wonderful, yes she is.” Peter reports he is a serious man with a serious job. He tells us he does not dance or sing. Music was never much of a part of his life. Well, Peter, music is a part of life at the Greens. You can’t ignore it. Our dance/movement therapist put on a jazz classic. Frank Sinatra started. “I can’t dance. Don’t ask me.” The therapist’s graceful hand went out to Peter, and he grabbed it. He danced like no one was watching. It was “some kind of wonderful.” I do believe we are wired for these moments no matter how we understand the world. Everyone has the capacity to feel those moments of wonder, joy, love, and awe. Let us embrace them throughout our lives and see them for the miracles that they are. Maria Scaros is Executive Director at The Greens at Greenwich. To find out more information or to schedule a tour at The Greens at Greenwich, call 203-531-5500 or email mscaros@thegreensatgreenwich. com. You can also visit www. thegreensatgreenwich.com. Some kind of wonderful Loulette singing “La Vie En Rose” in fluent French. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREENS AT GREENWICH Call us today to find out more: 203.531.5500 • thegreensatgreenwich.com Discover the Greens At Greenwich Give yourself peace of mind with a trial stay for your loved one with memory impairment at The Greens at Greenwich. We provide safety, comfort, and a loving home filled with joy and friendship. SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY For a limited time: 30-60 day trial for $3000 per month. During this trial period, we will evaluate your loved one to determine what care they may need. Do you feel overwhelmed as a caregiver? Terms & Conditions apply, call for full details. Get This Newspaper’s App On Your Phone Always Stay Informed About News Involving YOUR Town & Schools Android Scan Here iPhone Scan Here Get Our App!
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success, they began to dream of having a brick-and-mortar place. Café 117 opened in January. The food truck is sitting on the sidelines, for now. It will be on the road again this spring, “in time for all the festivals.” It’s been a big hit at the farmers’ market at Muscoot Farm in Somers. Normally, Badozee can squeeze in two or three events in a day. Charles is looking for someone who can both drive and man the grill. Besides Natalie, one of Charles’ biggest supporters was his sister Sheree, a talented baker who helped him prepare the food early in the morning before going to her own job. Early on with the food truck, she cooked and served, “the whole nine yards,” said Charles’ business partner, April Olsen. When Sheree died, it left “a really huge hole” in the family, she said. The back of Café 117’s Tshirts are the words, “Live Your Passion.” That certainly rings true for its culinary team. “Everybody’s here, not because they have to be, but because they want to be. And they all have a passion for good food and customer service,” Olsen said. Sheree “spoiled” Olsen’s hubbie, Peter, who works in advertising, with homemade goodies. “I would say to him ‘Sheree, he doesn’t need any more sweets and she’d say ‘Oh, but it makes him happy’,” Olsen said. It was Sheree who urged her beloved brother to give up his U.N. job and go for the restaurant dream whole hog. Sadly, she succumbed to cancer in 2021, but remains an inspiration and a touchstone for Charles and Olsen. Miracle Find In the beginning, Charles, a man of deep faith, was cooking for folks at his church. That was where he met Olsen, a fellow congregant. After Charles shared his dream with her, Olsen agreed that it was time to take the next step. “We looked at a bunch of places, but nothing felt right,” the Boston native recalled. The longtime friends make gentle fun of each other’s accents. “Who has the accent, her or me?” Charles asked this reporter, who had to admit it was him. “That’s because you’re talking to her. If she was talking to someone from Baaahstan,” he said, elongating the vowels, “you wouldn’t be able to understand what they’re saying.” One day in 2022, Olsen happened to be passing the old Bueti’s Deli at 526 North Bedford Road, aka Route 117 in Bedford Hills, and noticed that there was a “For Rent” sign in the window. April and Peter joined forces with Jason and Natalie and the rest is history. “Both of our spouses are the quote silent partners unquote, so they say,” Olsen said. As far as Charles’ mom’s feelings about the café? “She’s very happy, very proud,” he said. One of Charles’ and Olsen’s repeat customers said that he came to Café 117 for “two reasons.” “One, he’s a great guy and two, his coffee’s the best,” he said, adding that Charles was “very friendly, always smiling.” “What’s up, Renee?” Charles greeted another customer, explaining that he believed in calling everyone by their name because “it makes them feel special. I learned that from the police service.” Getting to know customers very well is part of the “fun” of being a mom-and-pop business. “We’ve had a lot of family, friends, and neighbors come in. They’ve been really supportive,” Olsen said. Both Olsen and Charles live in Bedford Hills. That’s why they feel so blessed to have found a space close to home. “My mantra is that is if you enjoy something, love something, share it, let everybody know. And if you don’t, let us know so we can fix it,” she said, adding: “If it’s not on the menu, we can make it for you.” Moments later, Charles greeted Alix and Alex Lajoie, twin brothers and “fellow food truckers,” with “What’s up double trouble?” “These are my friends; we’ve been eating each other’s food for the last four years,” he said. Asked if they’d ever thought of opening up a brick-and-mortar of their own, the cheesesteak maestros said they’d “done too many of those before.” The restaurant biz is notoriously tough. Of Charles’ and Olsen’s chances for longevity, “You never know, you never know,” the brothers said, adding hopefully: “You love it you gotta do it, right?” Family Affair Bueti’s had occupied the space for “a good 40 years,” Olsen said. Its ancient cash register and a vintage Coca-Cola clock sign remain as nostalgic décor because Olsen and Charles couldn’t bear to throw the artifacts away. Olsen shares Charles’ passion for good grub. She does everything but cook. She and Natalie are also his chief taste-testers. “I like to say I’m the brains of the operation; he’s the chef,” she teased Charles, adding with admiration: “He really knows what he’s doing in the kitchen.” While doing their market research, Charles and Olsen realized that there were at least four other delis within a half a mile of their location. To change things up, they decided to “lean into” a traditional New York Italian deli type style, along with a Caribbean fusion, giving people “the opportunity of having the best of both worlds,” Olsen said. Charles himself is very particular, a bit of a “food snob,” according to Olsen. PAGE 22 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 Café 117 owner Jason Charles with fellow food truckers Alix and Alex Lajoie PHOTO: CAROL REIF 117 FROM PAGE 3 SEE 117 PAGE 23 The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. 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He’ll try everything at least once. And if something really “fascinates” him he’ll try and recreate it, she said. What’s Next? Right now, Café 117 does takeout, catering, and online ordering. Charles and Olsen hope to add more seats, maybe some outdoors when the weather is warmer. The ultimate goal is to have a “sit-down restaurant.” But because parking is extremely limited, that would have to be somewhere else. A bar featuring “small-batch, handmade” ice cream is planned for the summer. Trying Different Things Their customers also seem to be willing to try different things. Someone once came in, looked inside the case, and asked: “What’s that?” Olsen told them it was ox tail, which is very expensive, and gave her a little tidbit to nosh on. Apparently smitten, she returned the next day and ordered a whole bowl to take home. Young people tend to be more adventurous. “They’ll say, ‘I’ll try it,’ and then they’ll come back with a friend,” Olsen said. So, how spicy is it? “We get those questions a lot,” she said, adding that: “There are things that are quite spicy; there are things that aren’t spicy at all, but we can make them like that if they want.” One of Café 117’s biggest sellers is something called “doubles.” It’s a humble sandwich made from curried chickpeas tucked between two pieces of fried flat bread and dressed in tamarind and coriander sauces, mango chutney, and cucumber. “You eat it with your fingers; it’s messy and fantastic,” Olsen said. Mondays through Fridays, the cafe offers different specials such as chicken or eggplant parm or spaghetti and meatballs Charles’ two daughters, Renee and Abigail – one of whom attends Fox Lane High School and the other, middle school – often help out in the cafe. Olsen has three sons: Alex, Joshua, and Thomas. Joshua and Thomas both contribute to the social media end of the family biz. There’s an old saying: Don’t eat the profits. But it’s really hard to resist temptation, especially with fresh-baked cookies calling your name. Olsen usually resists. “I don’t have great will power, but my saving grace is that I really don’t have a sweet tooth,” she explained. Charles sheepishly admits to occasionally sneaking a couple off the tray. Olsen gravitates towards “hearty food” like the ox tail stew, peas and rice, and jerk chicken. “Of course, you round it off with a few plantains and I’m good,” she said. Charles’ especially likes seafood dishes. “Anything out of the ocean is my go-to thing,” he said. So naturally, shrimp and salmon are among Café 117’s numerous offerings. (Fried chicken and French fries are both Olsen’s and Charles’ guilty pleasures.) Charles and his talented crew put in long hours. He hits the sack around 8 p.m. and arises at 3 a.m. to start the prep work, even on Sundays, before church. “Sleep is overrated,” he jokes. Cafe 117 is located at 526 Bedford Road in Bedford Hills. For more information, visit www. cafeon117.com MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 23 April Olsen with happy customer Mike Siguenza PHOTOS: CAROL REIF 117 FROM PAGE 22 with REBATES from BELL! SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! ACT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! LIMITED TIME OFFER 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com Heat pumps are a cleaner & healthier alternative to traditional heating & cooling systems. This all in one system will eliminate your need for fossil fuel and help you save thousands. Learn more about rebates & financing options! EXCLUDES SERVICE CONTRACT • EXP 4/30/24 Coupon must be presented at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES SAVE THOUSANDS in Federal, State and Local Incentives on your new HEATPUMP PROJECT CALL US TODAY! Sniff out sweet savings
PAGE 24 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 The program oversees 269 developments, containing a total of approximately 105,000 dwelling units. Some of those projects are rental apartments. Barker, however, is a co-op, which means the folks who live there have to buy a fixed number of shares in the housing corporation that owns the building. That makes them shareholders, not tenants. They don’t get deeds or title to the spaces they live in, instead they get stock certificates. It also means that folks who are struggling financially can’t just sell up and immediately use the money to start fresh elsewhere. According to one shareholder, they have to return the shares to the corporation and wait until it sells the unit in order to recoup their money. That could take months, she claimed. Which because of the increase means someone who pays, say $1,000 a month, now has to fork over $1,542 and change. Parking fees have also gone up, Barker residents said. Flaws Found Conducted from January 2019 through December 2022, the audit found that all five Mitchell-Lama developments sampled had not adhered to the proper use of funds and that all five had operated at a net loss for at least a year during the audit’s scope. “In light of this, it’s imperative that DHCR officials take a stronger position in enforcing improved monitoring by the management representatives,” the 32-page document said. Barker was one of two – the other being Tompkins Terrace in Beacon – that the audit also found had not been maintained properly. At both, auditors observed “several hazardous conditions, including rusty railings and water damage that has gone uncorrected for years.” Barker resident Margie Nugent, who moved into the eightstory brick building at 1 Barker St. 23 years ago, told Halston Media that there have been multiple floods in her first-floor apartment due to the aging building’s systemic plumbing issues. “It took out my sheetrock. There’s black mold. It’s been horrendous,” she claimed. A single mother, Nugent’s just one of many co-opters who’ve fallen behind in her monthly payments because of the new maintenance charges. Brenda Tollinchi is also struggling. A teaching assistant in Whites Plains, she’s been living in a twobedroom unit at Barker Terrace since 1999. It’s where she raised her now-24-year-old daughter, who she said has learning disabilities. Until recently, Tollinchi was able to make ends meet because of her second job. That changed when she lost that position due to an office transition. Tollinchi’s now actively seeking another second job but, at present, she simply can’t afford the $600 hike in her maintenance tab. “When I saw that increase on my birthday I started crying,” she told Halston Media, adding that she remains hopeful of remaining in her home. “I pray on it daily. I pray that it gets better,” the hard-working mom added. Inadequate Oversight The state audit also found that DHCR officials didn’t adequately oversee financial and physical conditions at the selected developments. Specifically, the agency’s representatives did not conduct regular site or office visits (during the audit period). DHCR’s own policies and procedures require at least one site visit a year regardless of a particular project’s rating. If those aren’t conducted, then “every subsequent annual rating will be based on years-old, unreliable information,” the audit said. DHCR’s response to the audit argued that, due to pandemicrelated federal mandates and the state’s executive orders, in-person visits were suspended in 2020 and management representatives were to conduct “desk reviews” instead. The audit found that there were no such reviews in 2020 at all five projects and only one in 2021, at Sunnyside. It also said that even when site or office visits were conducted, DHCR’s management representatives “follow-through” with reports were “deficient.” DHCR management representatives assigned to Barker never submitted a report after two visits in 2019, and for the remaining four developments, did not send the reports promptly, the audit said. In one case, it was 11 months after the visit. (DHCR further stated that “desk reviews” were for “internal purposes only.”) DHCR officials “have not developed the controls, including monitoring of management representatives” to ensure that operating funds are “spent efficiently and effectively” and that development management is “providing a safe, clean, and secure living environment” for residents,” the audit said. This contributed to its findings of “fiscal mismanagement and hazardous physical conditions.” Moreover, all five Mitchell-Lama developments paid bonuses to certain employees “despite operating at a net loss,” it found. 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MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 25 In Barker’s case, that net loss amounted to $141,027 in 2021. It applied for, and was eventually granted, the maintenance increases that took effect on Nov. 1, 2023. The audit emphasized that any development that “spends funds on unnecessary transactions and operates at a loss will eventually have to pass the cost down to tenants and co-operators (as co-op shareholders are called) through rent and carrying charge (or maintenance fees) increases.” The DHCR recently approved the allocation of nearly $293,000 to be used by Barker Terrace to hire an architect to develop and supervise a capital repair plan and to fund environmental testing and other improvements. In its response to the audit, DHCR agreed that up-to-date management plans and corrective actions were warranted. However, it felt that the comptroller’s office had not sufficiently recognized “the limited regulatory role” it has in overseeing day-to-day management of Mitchell-Lama housing. It also argued that the audit underestimated the amount of time and resources needed to maintain said housing, didn’t adequately acknowledge challenges posed by MitchellLama financial and ownership conditions, and failed to appreciate the “extraordinary impact” COVID-19 had – notably the restrictions on in-person site visits during the pandemic – on DHCR’s oversight role. According to DHCR Commissioner Ruthann Visnauskas, the audit acknowledges that it’s the responsibility of Mitchell-Lama owners and managing agents (the companies hired by the projects) “to provide safe and habitable housing,” yet it suggests that DHCR “should manage even the smallest of financial transactions and minor repairs at the property.” The comptroller’s office disagreed with all of those assertions and issued seven recommendations covering the five sampled Mitchell-Lama projects including mandating regular training for development management and co-op board members to “ensure that they’re aware of good governance and their fiduciary duties.” The Ferrara Management Group, the Bedford-based property management company that works for the corporation running Barker, also took issue with the audit’s findings, which its founder and president, Robert Ferrara, called “inaccurate” and “misleading.” It also contained allegations that were “baseless” and “without merit,” he said. Contending that his company had hounded DHCR for years to sort out Barker’s financial and physical woes, Ferrara claimed that the situation deteriorated because the agency was “slow” to release funds. Ferrara defended his company and Barker’s board of directors, saying both had acted in a “proper, lawful, and professional manner” and had fulfilled all of their duties, obeyed the tenets of the management agreement, and followed DHCR requirements. Calling the DHCR’s recent release of $239,000 for the capital plan “a start,” Ferrara saw it as a sign that things were “moving in the right direction.” Age is a big factor driving costs at Mitchell-Lama projects. “Buildings are getting older and older,” he said, pointing out that Barker’s comparatively small size – 92 units – means making tough decisions. Also beyond anyone’s control is skyrocketing insurance bills, fuel costs, and electrical charges. Not to mention inflation’s impact on day-to-day operations. “How do you split the cost? It’s not affordable,” Ferrara asked. The corporation is independently audited and must provide proof of spending to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, he said. The board of directors contends that “their books are in good standing” and that no funds have been stolen or misspend, as certain shareholders have alleged. His firm is hired to guide the board by making recommendations, but can’t actually implement proposals or sign the checks, Ferrara explained. “We haven’t been accused of misspending money,” he said. DHCR Explains A spokesperson for the DHCR issued the following statement on Thursday, March 7: “DHCR has a limited role in overseeing the day-to-day management of Mitchell Lama housing which is privately-owned and managed. DHCR’s highest priority is the safety and welfare of the low- and moderate-income residents it serves, and DHCR is committed to ensuring that all state Mitchell Lama properties are well positioned to make critical investments. In the past five years alone, HCR helped rehabilitate 24,000 Mitchell Lama units, investing more than $265 million to preserve this important supply of affordable housing.” The repair plan, once completed, “is anticipated to create a path for a more comprehensive rehabilitation,” it added. According to DHCR, the audit sample “isn’t random” – it includes some of the most structurally challenging and operationally complex developments in the Mitchell Lama portfolio. “Due to the oversight and operational difficulties during COVID, the challenges at these properties deepened and the housing companies and HCR faced significant obstacles to addressing them,” it said. DHCR has reminded all housing companies, of “their responsibilities under agency regulations regarding identity of interest and conflict of interest.” It also sent a memo advising board directors and managing agents of the requirement to submit monthly reports and board meeting minutes. What Can the Village Do? The audit results, released on Dec. 8 by State Comptroller Thomas P. DeNapoli, caught the eye of village officials. The shareholders’ plight was addressed at a Village Board meeting in January by Mayor Michael Cindrich, who said he’d been contacted by several Barker residents “in dire straits” who wanted to know if there were vacancies in local subsidized housing facilities. After doing some research, he found that there were none. 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“Housing is at a premium,” Cindrich explained, adding that he didn’t “want to see people that are on fixed incomes be displaced because the oversight failed.” He hastened to add that he was “not pointing blame at anyone” but was just hoping to “find a solution.” “We’re dependent on these bureaucrats that are supposed to be overseeing how money is spent and making sure the buildings are safe and secure,” Cindrich said. Trustee Karen Schleimer suggested that the village demand that state representatives “declare some sort of moratorium so that these people can remain in their homes while we figure out whether the building is safe, whether it can be made safe, and who’s going to pay for it and how.” But what can village and county officials do when Mitchell-Lama is a state-run program and the developments are privately owned and operated? They and other elected folks can advocate for changes, insist Barker residents who signed a petition asking the village to look into the feasibility of adopting a SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) and/or a PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) “with respect to the ownership of the above premises.” The petition was filed with the village on Jan. 25. SCRIE is a provision of the Emergency Tenant Protection Act and the Rent and Eviction Regulations. Maximum income levels differ from municipality to municipality. In Pleasantville, for instance, that’s $16,500. Mount Kisco isn’t currently among the 17 towns, cities, and villages in Westchester County that participate in the program. Speaking Out Terrence Gallimore, a 66-year-old teacher’s assistant in the Mount Vernon School District, urged authorities such as the state Attorney General’s Office to follow the money. According to Gallimore, the folks who own the building – the Mount Kisco Middle Income Housing Corp. -- had mortgaged it in order to pay for building upgrades. A native of Jamaica, he came to this country when he was 13. Two years later, his family moved into Barker and the dad of one has lived there ever since. Once a co-op board member himself, Gallimore claimed that the corporation kept an average surplus of funds – usually around $500K – sufficient to cushion unexpected expenses or to defray rising costs due to inflation. “We’re in a crisis right now,” he told the board on Feb. 5, thanking the village for its interest and suggesting that the state Attorney General’s Office get involved. “The people who are responsible for us being in this situation should be investigated. What happened to our money? Where did it go? And if they’re found guilty of mismanagement and abuse of our finances, they should be dealt with accordingly,” Gallimore said. Cindrich reminded him that his role as mayor was “not to fix blame” but to find a solution to a very “challenging” situation. While he appreciated the “mental trauma” everyone’s going through, the mayor also asked for patience. “We’re going to at least point you in the right direction. Right now we don’t know what we can do. I don’t have a magic wand,” Cindrich said. Barker resident Nicole Shreves-Wright also spoke. “This is an ongoing problem that has exploded, if you will, and it’s to the point where we’re bringing it to your attention,” she said. She implored village officials to work with shareholders. “We’re here, we’re open to suggestions, and we’re listening,” Shreves-Wright said, adding: “We would like this to be resolved because the longer it continues, the worse the problem becomes and really, we’ve been left to our own devices.” She claimed that shareholders haven’t been able to get answers from Barker’s management company, its board, or the DHCR. With so many moving parts, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the troubles. Some of the blame does land at the doorstep of the property’s managing agents, said Village Manager Ed Brancati, but “more importantly, because this is Mitchell-Lama housing, it’s the DHCR that has oversight and responsibility for this. At the end of the day, they failed in this instance and for this property. It’s not the only one, but it’s the only one that we care about at the moment.” Longtime Barker resident Lavinia Wiggins, interviewed in early March by Halston Media, had another take on the situation. She thought it was “mindboggling” that anyone could claim they were blindsided by the fee hike. There was a meeting to that effect and residents were also notified by mail. DHCR representatives met with them and explained that the increase was necessary because operating, electrical, and insurance costs have gone way up. “Under Mitchell-Lama, it’s our responsibility to pay for it. Nobody wants to pay more. It’s unfortunate that we’re in this rough situation, but it’s reality,” she said. Better communication between the co-op board and the residents could help, Wiggins suggested. Folks need to attend board meetings and the board itself should resume releasing its minutes, she said. That stopped after its secretary left. Wiggins has had flooding problems, too. She once had to camp out at a hotel for two months while her unit was being repaired. There hasn’t been a big maintenance hike in a long time, according to Wiggins, recalling that the last one was around 7 percent. “So we’re kind of spoiled because we’re not used to that,” she said. Wiggins, who is a few years away from retirement, is “not happy” to be paying more but is being “realistic.” “Bills need to be paid and operating costs have to be covered,” she said, pointing out that Mitchell-Lama buildings are good to be in because “marketrate apartments are so much more.” Wiggins confirmed that Barker appears to be almost full up. There’s only four units that are unoccupied and one of them needed extensive renovations after someone who moved in when the building was opened in 1967 left. “There’s always a list to get in,” she said. Wiggins also pointed out ‘We’re in a crisis right now.’ Terrence Gallimore Barker Terrace resident PAGE 26 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 BARKER TERRACE FROM PAGE 25 SEE BARKER TERRACE PAGE 27 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. 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MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES – PAGE 27 that despite some residents’ allegations of mismanagement, nothing fiscally nefarious is going on. “There’s no cahoots. We don’t just work on our own. We have our own DHCR representative. We’re audited and our accountant gives us financial reports every month,” she said. Wiggins also found “misleading” references to surplus funds supposedly maintained for emergency purposes by Barker in the past. Mitchell-Lamas aren’t allowed to keep such reserves and besides, what happened 20 years ago is no longer relevant, she said.. Co-op board president Ursula Johnson told Halston Media last week: “We are looking for ways to remedy this situation with the hopes of paying off all of our bills and hopefully lessening the impact of the current increase on our residents.” Options Examined In December, local elected officials posed several questions to Joseph Palozzola, vice president and assistant counsel for the Office of Intergovernmental Relations at DHCR. They asked if there was a statute that would permit Barker Terrace to convert from a limited equity cooperative to a rental property, and, if so, what the process would be. The agency responded in a memo dated Feb. 2, parts of which were read by Cindrich on Feb. 5. The village’s lawyers have been tasked with unraveling the legalese for village officials and the public. The answer was that there is no statute that specifically permits an Article 2 regarding Mitchell-Lama projects under the Private Housing Finance Law. The DHCR said it never heard of any such conversions within the program. The DHCR also noted that it is only aware of “a few, if any, examples” of a coop to rental conversions. Even if it did, PHFL requires multiple shareholder votes under such a scenario and any funds required for conducting a feasibility study or paying legal fees be “raised privately and cannot come from the corporation’s operating budget.” Also on people’s minds is the possibility of the housing company declaring bankruptcy and/or the appointment of a “receiver” to run the property. (Ferrara told Halston Media that the state has assured Barker that bankruptcy won’t happen.) The DHCR “would oppose” those types of efforts, the memo said, pointing out that the state Legislature has given it the authority to carry out the PHFL’s provisions under Article 2, the intent of which is that housing projects be maintained “through sufficient carrying cost income and other incidental income controlled at a rate to make them more attractive and available to middle-income earners.” The law grants the DHCR the authority to increase carrying costs as “necessary to meet all expenses and maintain the project in secure financial conditions,” it added. And that means that, at Barker Terrace, “it is necessary that income and cash flow be increased” if the corporation is to pay its bills and maintain state standards for the building. In Barker’s case, increases in insurance requirements, “a lack of prior year’s necessary maintenance costs, and current inflationary trends have increased operational and utility costs that were not previously conceived.” Then the memo’s wording got a whole lot scarier. “It’s clear that an increase in room rentals is required and absolutely necessary to put Barker Terrace on firm, financial footing,” it read. Failure to do so could “result in insolvency with a bankruptcy and foreclosure resulting with attendant impairment of security, great additional expenses, and the potential loss of shareholder equity upon purchasing the shares to their apartments (units).” Strength in Numbers County Legislator Ericka Pierce, a Democrat from Katonah, has taken a serious interest in helping Barker folks as have state Sen. Peter Harckham (DLewisboro) and Assemblyman Chris Burdick (D-Bedford). On Feb. 28, Pierce, Schleimer, and others gathered in a packed Barker community room to discuss programs available to struggling residents. Harckham’s community liaison, Tito Davilla, was among the audience members. A number of co-op owners there told Halston Media that they haven’t been able to pay the higher maintenance fees and are worried sick about losing their homes. Pierce has pointed out that while it’s Albany, not Westchester, that’s responsible for Mitchell-Lama projects, she’s been trying to shake loose some money from a county foreclosure prevention fund. The legislator has also approached the village’s tax assessor for information about benefits and tax exemptions such as STAR and Enhanced STAR that might be available to Barker residents who are seniors, veterans, volunteers such as firefighters or ambulance corps workers, and/or disabled. “There are a lot of ‘buckets’ of funds to pull from. If we can get different pieces and put together a whole pie, it might help you,” she told the crowd, noting that the county has been working with folks at the Mount Kisco Fox Senior Center, which puts together programs for those 55 and older. The goal there is to help them figure out how to “re-balance” all sorts of public benefits in order to “maximize” their impact and to ensure there’s equal access for all, Pierce explained. “These conversations are happening; we’re doing our best,” she promised. Barker’s financial struggles are not unique. “This is happening everywhere,” Pierce noted. BARKER TERRACE FROM PAGE 26 SEE BARKER TERRACE PAGE 30 719 Rte. 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 • 845.628.3924 • beeandjay.com 60 Years of Excellence CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE Softening. Filtering. Clean Water Solution. March into $pring $avings! $150 OFF INSTALLATION OF A SOFTENER MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PLAY THE NEW YORK LOTTERY GAMES. 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PAGE 28 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 In Case You Missed It The stories below were published on our website inbetween print editions. Never miss another local story again by visiting News.HalstonMedia.com. Scan the QR codes in the summaries below to read the full story. Scan Here To Get The Top Local News Delivered To Your Inbox Daily. Toxoplasmosis Warning Issued After ‘Game Dinners’ The Westchester County Department of Health is warning the public that it’s investigating two confirmed cases of toxoplasmosis linked to “game dinners” that were held at the Moses Taylor Jr. American Legion Post in Mount Kisco on Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20. Westchester Author Publishes First Crime Novel “I wanted to write a page-turner,” explains Richard Finn. Beginning with this aspiration, the longtime Goldens Bridge resident recently saw his literary goal become a reality with the publication of “Hildy’s Promise.” The crime thriller tells the tale of Hildy Swanson, a wealthy Westchester socialite who is abducted by a pair of masked kidnappers. They then summon her husband - a former golf champion - to meet them on the links to play 18 holes for a chance to win Hildy’s freedom. Fox Lane Middle School students celebrate Carnevale In February each year, Tania Abbrugiati’s Italian class at Fox Lane Middle School transforms into a magical, musical, sequinfilled celebration as students learn about Carnevale, the annual festival in Venice, Italy. World Read Aloud Day at Pound Ridge Elementary Last month, Pound Ridge Elementary School joined people all over the globe in celebrating World Read Aloud Day. For more than a decade, the nonprofit LitWorld has encouraged people “to celebrate the power of reading aloud to create community and amplify new stories, and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right.” Celebrated by millions, it has become a beloved tradition at PRES.
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GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac EXP: 08/31/2024 GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac Off Any Breakfast Sandwich EXP: 08/31/2024 GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac Not valid on mobile app, or delivery orders. Limit one per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No meat or cheese substitutions. Excludes extra meat, egg and cheese, roasted tomatoes add-on, Omelet Bites, Dunkin’ Wraps, specialty hashbrowns and all Toast varieties. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. Small Hot or Iced Latte excudes Signature and Chai Lattes EXP: 08/31/2024 Not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Excludes Cold Brew & Nitro. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No substitutions. Non-dairy alternatives, flavors, cold foam, and Espresso Shots may be an additional charge. Espresso beverage offers exclude Signature Lattes and Specialty Lattes unless otherwise noted. Tea beverage offers exclude specialty teas unless otherwise noted. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. Classic Donut With Purchase Of Any Beverage excludes Specialty Donut and Fancies EXP: 08/31/2024 Not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No substitutions. Excludes fancies, specialty donuts/bagels, donut kits, avocado spread, Pancake Wake-Up Wraps®, and all Toast varieties. Consumer must pay applicable tax. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. Buy One Sundae Get One Free (of equal or lesser value) EXP: 08/31/2024 Offer not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Single Use Coupon. Limit one offer per customer per visit. No substitutions allowed. Customer must pay applicable tax. May not be combined with any other coupon, discount, or promotion. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. See store for details. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. ©2024 BR IP Holder, LLC.[Coupon_Requests_8.4.23.xlsx]Requests!$C$14:$P$24 Half Dozen Classic Donuts With Purchase Of 6 Donuts excludes Specialty Donut and Fancies Not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No substitutions. Excludes fancies, specialty donuts/bagels, donut kits, avocado spread, Pancake Wake-Up Wraps®, and all Toast varieties. Consumer must pay applicable tax. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. $1.00 99¢ ÍÇvUzILz:8f<Î 99865390414490262470 FREE ÍÇt'ÅbnwQe%ZÎ 99840797667887496905 FREE ÍÇ|Z5BHduOE2Î 99925821344068854737 FREE ÍÇÅM>84)D`5iÎ 99974530242009366421 ÍÇ?CÇHqkOJLrÎ 99313599408175474244 Excludes Specialty Donuts and Fancies. Price and participation may vary. Offer valid on sausage, egg and cheese sandwich only. Limited time offer. Exclusions and terms apply. ©2023 DD IP Holder LLC. Great deals on food with the purchase of a medium or larger coffee Terms apply. GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac EXP: 08/31/2024 GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac Bagel With Cream Cheese Spread EXP: 08/31/2024 GOOD AT 118 Rt 22, Patterson 325 Rt 100, Somers 111A Independent Way, Brewster 1 Starr Ridge Rd, Brewster 1583 Rt 22, Brewster 1090 Rt 52, Carmel 1863 Rt 6, Carmel 969 Rt 6, Mahopac Not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No substitutions. Excludes fancies, specialty donuts/bagels, donut kits, avocado spread, Pancake Wake-Up Wraps®, and all Toast varieties. Consumer must pay applicable tax. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. Half Dozen Donuts or 25 Munchkins® excludes Specialty Donut and Fancies EXP: 08/31/2024 Not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No substitutions. Excludes fancies, specialty donuts/bagels, donut kits, avocado spread, Pancake Wake-Up Wraps®, and all Toast varieties. Consumer must pay applicable tax. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. for 6 Bagels EXP: 08/31/2024 Not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No substitutions. Excludes fancies, specialty donuts/bagels, donut kits, avocado spread, Pancake Wake-Up Wraps®, and all Toast varieties. Consumer must pay applicable tax. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. for 2 Muffins EXP: 08/31/2024 Not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Offer must be presented at the time of order. Shop must retain coupon. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. No substitutions. Excludes fancies, specialty donuts/bagels, donut kits, avocado spread, Pancake Wake-Up Wraps®, and all Toast varieties. Consumer must pay applicable tax. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. Off Any Cake min. $15 cake purchase Offer not valid on mobile app or delivery orders. Single Use Coupon. Limit one offer per customer per visit. No substitutions allowed. Customer must pay applicable tax. May not be combined with any other coupon, discount, or promotion. Void if copied, transferred, sold or prohibited by law. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. See store for details. Cash Value 1/20 of 1c. ©2024 BR IP Holder, LLC.[Coupon_Requests_8.4.23.xlsx]Requests!$C$14:$P$24 $1.00 $3.99 ÍÇ4lA`x#P):CÎ 99207633648803480926 $3.99 ÍÇ12ÅqGIfb'QÎ 99171897813941706607 $2.00 ÍÇU{ÃÆBIAwÃ;Î 99539195983441338795 $3.00 ÍÇWO;L+s"u/ÃÎ 99554727441183028515 ÍÇ3D]Æ1,Ada/Î 99193661981712336865 Birthday & Holiday Cakes Numbers, Fun Shapes & Customized Donuts! Call to Order HAPPY HOUR! Daily from 4-6 and again from 9-11 on Thurs., Fri and Saturday nights. 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PAGE 30 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 The reaction, across multiple demographics, she said, has been virtually all positive. Enacting the proposed preservation plan, Needham said, would be “improving the product that the local real estate community has to offer. And it will be very good for property values over the long term.” Police Report Police Chief Melvin Padilla is asking residents to play a more proactive role in bringing down crime. Making his annual report to the Town Board, Padilla showed the Feb. 5 meeting a PowerPoint of statistics for last year, none especially alarming but including 55 larcenies, perennially Bedford’s single biggest crime statistic. A catchall term for stealing offenses, anything from grand theft auto to nickel-and-dime shoplifting and pilfering from unlocked cars can fit the category. To cut the number of larcenies and other “crimes of opportunity,” Padilla told residents, “We are asking for your help.” When going away, on vacation, for example, he said, let your neighbors know. They’re more likely to notice something amiss than an officer on patrol, “who can’t be everywhere, obviously, at every time.” The chief also urged residents to keep their doors locked and remove tempting valuables from “visible spots in your car.” Visit News.HalstonMedia. com for a look at Bedford’s crime picture for the past year. BEDFORD FROM PAGE 9 For more information, please call Ted Bloch at 914-552-6281 or email him at tednbloch@gmail. com. All conversations are kept strictly confidential. RideConnect Rideconnect has volunteers ready to help drive seniors to their medical appointments and assist with shopping. Services are free to seniors residing in Westchester and southern Putnam Counties. To request assistance call (914) 242-7433. Anyone wishing to volunteer for Rideconnect may do so by emailing Marietta Manoni at [email protected] Virtual Support Groups Support groups for women with breast and ovarian cancers have been transitioned to virtual platforms. Virtual groups are accessible to women from the comfort of their homes, regardless of where they live. All groups are open to new members as well as past participants. Advance registration is required by calling 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290. Support Connection’s Peer Counselors are also available for individual counseling and assistance via phone and email. Call 800-532-4290, or submit an online request at supportconnection.org. TRACKS FROM PAGE 7 Among those making presentations was Tiffany Kilpatrick, director of homeownership and housing retention with Community Housing Renovations, a not-for-profit organization that serves Westchester, and Ronni Cox of the Westchester Department of Senior Programs and Services, who Pierce called a “fearsome advocate for seniors and a wealth of knowledge.” CHR offers financial assistance of up to $24,000 to those who are delinquent or who are facing foreclosure as well as counseling and assistance for renters. The catch is, it has to be due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the window for applying is looming, and the total piggy bank is currently about $100,000. Plus, eligible applicants have to prove they can pay their bills going forward, and that seemed far out of reach for some Barker folks. Cox handed out folders containing helpful information about free income tax preparation and other services such as crisis/suicide intervention, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and free legal and/or credit counseling, among other things. There was even a Mitchell-Lama Tenant Complaint Form in the packet. Cox reminded residents that they’re “owners NOT renters,” and, as such, they should be able to band together through a homeowner’s association, something Barker currently doesn’t have. It wasn’t in Cox’s job description to give legal advice. However, she said certain organizations that provide free legal services (civil cases only) to low-income clients have been made aware of the Barker situation. Individuals can reach out for help and maybe a “collective complaint” aka class action lawsuit could be considered? Again, that’s not something that’s in the DSPS’s wheelhouse. Several members of the audience told Cox that they’re still confused about the reasons why the maintenance fee went up so much and seemingly so suddenly. There are certain expenses that the corporation has to bear, Cox said. Costs have to be spread out among the shareholders, and there’s no getting around it. “It’s like the homeowner who doesn’t want to pay for the roof repair. It’s your house and your roof!” she said. However, if residents still feel they don’t have all the answers, they should definitely bring the DHCR folks back “for another discussion,” Cox said. Pierce urged people to take advantage of all available benefits. And help isn’t just for older folks. Young families could be eligible for childcare scholarships, for instance. “Let’s say we get lucky. Let’s say we’re able to reduce that increase down to 30 percent, whatever. Life is still expensive. It is very difficult for a lot of people out there right now,” she said. Wiggins appreciates that elected officials appear to be on board. “With all these eyes on it, everything that can be done will be done,” she predicted. BARKER TERRACE FROM PAGE 27 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. 2023 was a CRAZY YEAR! 845-628-5400 SFGtaxes.com | [email protected] 824 Route 6, Suite 4 | Mahopac, NY 10541 We can help make your taxes less crazy.
MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES– PAGE 31 Dana Protomastro, a certified primary care nurse practitioner and founder of Thrive wellness + aesthetics, celebrated the grand opening of her establishment on Feb. 22. Located at 666 Lexington Ave., in Mount Kisco, Thrive offers medically based cosmetic and wellness treatments for patients to enhance their well-being with life-changing results. Aesthetic treatments include lasers, micro needling, Botox, fillers, skincare, skin and hair rejuvenation. Wellness services include hormone replacement therapy, supplementation and IV therapy. Protomastro has over 25 years of experience delivering exceptional care with a holistic approach in perioperative care, plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine. She has introduced cutting-edge, non-invasive technologies into her practice as wellness-based alternatives to surgical procedures. She works closely with men and women of all ages to determine the best treatment method for their individual needs. For more information, visit Thrivewellnow.com. Kisco Chamber welcomes Thrive to the biz community Celebrating the grand opening of Thrive are, from left, Linda Bonenfant (retired, Sports Illustrated, Norwalk, Conn.), Margo Lancia (Houlihan Lawrence Bedford), Dana Protomastro (Owner & Founder of Thrive wellness + aesthetics) and Diane Bradsell (Bradsell Contracting Bedford). Celebrating the ribbon cutting of Thrive are Ed Reilly, Thomas Fox Catering and Mt. Kisco Chamber of Commerce co-vice president; Amy Travis, Houlihan Lawrence Bedford; and Leslie Protomastro RN, BSN, business manager of Thrive. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MT. KISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1. Clip the short form on the page 2.Fill out the information. 3.Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4.Or Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com 5.Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. is NOT necessarily good news! It’s FREE & it’s Easy! 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 Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times YES, I really enjoy The Mt. Kisco-Bedford 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. Please Include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: Mahopac News The Somers Record Yorktown News North Salem News The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com OR Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 02/08/24
PAGE 32 – THE MT. KISCO-BEDFORD TIMES MARCH 14 - APRIL 10, 2024 fie team at Weichert Realtors, Signature Properties is committed to promoting fair housing, cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion of all. We provide integrity, service and love to help you achieve the American Dream! Jump Into the Spring Market with a Hard Working Realtor! DOROTHY BOTSOE ABR, AHWD, BA, C2EX, CBR, CDEI, CIPS, CRB, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, ITI, PSA, RENE, SFR, SRES, SRS 2020 NYS Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year l 2019 Lawrence B Caldwell RPAC Award Recipient 2017 HGAR President l 2012 HGAR Realtor of the Year l 2007 NYS WCR Member of the Year Platinum RPAC, HOF Member l RPAC President’s Circle member If your property is currently listed, this is not intended as a solicitation. Independently Owned and Operated Weichert Realtors Signature Properties.com Real Estate Broker, New York 275 E. Main Street • Mt. Kis co, NY 105 49 O: 1-914-846-0408 M: 1-914-359-0368 [email protected] / Weichertsignatureproperties.com CALL US NOW! 914-846-0408 We are your Hometown Realtors