Yorktown News 08.05.21

Vol. 10 No. 20 Visit TapIntoYorktown.net for the latest news. Thursday, August 5, 2021

Homecoming
for new library
director
Yorktown native Yvonne Cech
to lead John C. Hart

BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER in 2015 after a 21-year career, re-
EDITOR
turned to serve as interim director.

Cech’s journey back to York-

For the briefest of moments, town started about two decades

Yvonne Cech considered closing ago when she was living nearly

the book on her career as a library 4,000 miles away in Switzerland.

director. But in a bit of serendip- A former marketing professional PHOTO: BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER
ity, the Yorktown native, who had for TV and radio stations, Cech Yvonne Cech, the new director of John C. Hart Memorial Library
spent about two decades leading left that world behind when she

school and public libraries, came traveled overseas to support her the hours of 2 and 4 a.m. family settled back in the States in brarian at Sandy Hook on Dec.

across a job posting from her husband’s career. Because only her “ at was oddly ideal for me Newtown, Conn., where she took 14, 2012, when a gunman killed

hometown: the John C. Hart Me- husband had a work visa, Cech because I had two little kids,” a part-time job as assistant to the 26 people, including 20 children.

morial Library was in the market used her time to volunteer. Left Cech said. library media specialist at Sandy Cech, who has recounted that day

for a new library director. with some time to soul-search, After about four years, she was Hook Elementary School. many times with various other

“ is is a town that loves its Cech pondered the question, ready to graduate. Around that “I fell in love immediately with media outlets, remained with the

library, and that’s a good envi- “What is it I want to do with the time, the Swiss town in which she that population and the material,” school district for two years after

ronment to be in when you have rest of my life?” was living o ered her the chance she said. the shooting.

a passion for creating library ser- After a lot thinking, “I discov- to run its English language library. Becoming a full-time library “I needed a change at that

vices,” said Cech (pronounced ered that I was a librarian.” “It was the only English lan- media specialist, however, re- point,” she said.

“check”) from her new o ce on In most cases, being a librar- guage library in that section of the quired Cech to go back to school She got her rst public li-

East Main Street. ian requires a master’s degree in country,” Cech said. “I got to do for a master’s degree in education, brary directorship at the Croton

e library director position at library science. Not quite ready to everything from the ground up. I which she earned from Southern Free Library. Just a short while

the library has been in ux since learn in a foreign language, Cech got to reinvent everything. It was Connecticut State University. into that job, the director posi-

Patricia Hallinan retired in 2019. attended college online at Florida really like taking my coursework “I got a full-time library media tion opened up at the Brook-

Her replacement,Jennifer O’Neill, State University. Because of the and putting it into practice im- specialist job, which is the greatest eld Library in Connecticut.

stayed for a year before resigning time di erence, that meant Cech mediately.” job in the world,” Cech said. SEE LIBRARY PAGE 2

in 2020. Pat Baressi, who retired did most her coursework between After earning her degree,Cech’s Tragically, Cech was the li-

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Page 2 – Yorktown News Thursday, August 5, 2021

The Staff LIBRARY years, “and they didn’t end up the highest-circulating libraries in graphic novels.
FROM PAGE 1
EDITORIAL TEAM building a new library,” she said. Westchester County. And it was, e John C.Hart is also partner-
BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER
EDITOR: 914-302-5628 “ e town just wouldn’t come up of course, the appeal of the historic ing with the Westchester Library
[email protected]
e now-Danbury resident with the money. So, I thought, building and the great renovations System to lend out Chromebook
ADVERTISING TEAM
PAUL FORHAN jumped at the chance to work in that’s pretty clear. It’s time for me they had done years ago to add laptop computers.

(914) 806-3951 her backyard. to start thinking about what I want more space. I thought there was a e library is also tasked with
[email protected]
“I really wanted to stay in Cro- to do.” lot of potential here.” providing the community with
BRUCE HELLER
(914) 486-7608 ton longer, but they were going to en the Yorktown job came Libraries, especially with CO- relevant programming, especially
[email protected]
build a new library in Brook eld, open, and Cech was excited at the VID-19 highlighting new work/ when it comes to the 0-5 age group.
LISA KAIN
(201) 317-1139 and that’s kind of the dream if aspect of returning home. study trends, are at a turning point, “When you think of the 0-5
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON you’re a librarian,”Cech said. But, as she noted, “It was more Cech said. Many, including John population,libraries ll a void there
(914) 760-7009
[email protected] So, Cech took the job and than the hometown aspect. It C. Hart, now provide digital access that really can’t be lled anywhere

JAY GUSSAK worked there for four-and-a-half was the fact that it was one of to movies, books, magazines and else,” Cech said. at is particu-
(914) 299-4541
[email protected] larly true during the summer,when
SHELLEY KILCOYNE
(914) 924-9122 school is not in session.
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK “If they go from the end of
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/DESIGNER
[email protected] June to September without re-

PRODUCTION TEAM ally steadily reading, they enter the
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
next school year at a de cit,” Cech
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER said.“So, the public library lls that

[email protected] need with a really robust summer
CHRISTINA ROSE
ART DIRECTOR/ reading program.”

DIGITAL PRODUCTION MANAGER e library also o ers programs
[email protected]
for adults, teens and older children.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
BRETT FREEMAN For example, the library recently
CEO & PUBLISHER
845-208-8151 o ered kids the opportunity to

[email protected] read to a therapy dog.

Deadlines “If you’re an emerging reader,

YORKTOWN NEWS DEADLINE what better way to bolster your
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS
con dence in your reading skill
AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR
than read to a nonjudgmental dog
YORKTOWN NEWS IS THE THURSDAY
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE. that’s trained to be gentle and listen

FOR MORE INFORMATION, to you?”
CALL BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER AT
914-302-5628 OR EMAIL John C. Hart is also preparing to
[email protected].
restart its drop-in programs, such
Subscribe
as chess, mahjong, quilting and
TO REQUEST YORKTOWN NEWS
WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 book clubs for all ages. Cech also
OR EMAIL [email protected].
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR hopes to develop a space dedicated
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN.
OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE for teens at the library.
$150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL.
But perhaps the No. 1 item on
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT
SOMERS, NY AND AT Cech’s wish list is the development

ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. of individual study spaces.
POSTMASTER:
“One of the things that COVID
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO
YORKTOWN NEWS AT taught us was that working and go-

118 N. BEDFORD ROAD ing to school remotely is challeng-
SUITE 100
ing from your home,” Cech said.
MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549
“If you’ve got two or three people
(ISSN 2329-8693)
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY in the house working remotely and
HALSTON MEDIA, LLC AT
118 N. BEDFORD ROAD the dogs are barking and the kids

SUITE 100 are screaming and you need to have
MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549
a meeting,it would be really great if
©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC
the library could provide individual

study spaces or meetings rooms for

people.”

Many libraries, including John

C. Hart, were developed with an

open-space concept, Cech said,

but modern libraries are used dif-

ferently.

“ at’s probably our No. 1 con-

cern in terms of our current oor

plan, is try and carve out individual

study spaces or meeting rooms for

remote work and remote learning,”

she said. “I know that the commu-

nity would really respond well to

that. I know there’s a need for it.”

In 2020, the Yorktown library

celebrated its centennial. at

milestone event was dampened

by the pandemic. So, Cech said, a

redo is likely on the schedule for

this year.

John C. Hart has seven full-time

librarians: three children’s librar-

ians, three adult librarians and one

librarian who specializes in IT and

circulation.

“We are well-sta ed and ready

to take on the future,”Cech said.

Thursday, August 5, 2021 Yorktown News – Page 3

Girl Scout goes to bat for bats

LHS graduate installs bat boxes at FDR Park

BY NICK TRUJILLO “We do a lot of Eagle Scout planting night-blooming ow-

STAFF WRITER stu and Boy Scouts, but this is ers, installing bat boxes around

the rst one I’ve had with a Girl homes, and stopping the use of

e Mohansic Lake dock Scout and I’m happy to do that,” pesticides.

at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Mami said. “ ey all help the She ends her brochure by urg-

Park is home to di erent kinds park. e Boy Scouts do steps in ing readers to go to the Bat Con-

of wildlife, as well as being a swamplands for disc golf people. servation International Group

popular shing spot for visitors ey do kiosks that give us maps (batcon.org) and learning more

of the park. e serene spot now for people in the park to know about their initiatives to help the Frank Mami and Cathleen Gallagher after hanging bat boxes on trees
features brand new bat boxes, what’s going on.” endangered species. over the Mohansic Lake dock
thanks to the Gold Award proj-
On the morning of July 26, Earning a Gold Award as

ect of a local Girl Scout. Mami tossed a ladder and a drill a Girl Scout is a monumen-

Cathleen Gallagher, who into the bed of his park issued tal achievement as well, as only

graduated from Lakeland High pickup truck and led Gallagher, 5.4 percent of Girl Scout’s ever

School in June, and FDR State her mom, her younger sister, and achieve the award, according to

Park manager Frank Mami, in- her Girl Scout leader Pat Byrnes the Girl Scouts website. Galla-

stalled four boxes on the morn- to the Mohansic Lake dock to gher said she felt proud of her

ing of Monday, July 26, with a complete the Gold Award proj- project not only because of the

ladder and a drill. e houses ect. outcome that will help boost the

o er bats a safe place to reside “ is is going to be great, keep park’s ecosystem and combat the

and allow them to a ect the en- the mosquitoes down for people decline of bats, but also because

vironment in positive ways, such who come to the dock all the of the process.

as insect control and nocturnal time and go shing,” Mami said. “It all came together with

pollination. Gallagher’s research on bats such a close-knit community,”

Gallagher got the idea to in- taught her that they can eat ap- Gallagher said. “It makes me

stall bat boxes at local parks proximately 1,000 insects an feel really good and proud. I put

from a nature magazine that was hour, helping humans avoid bugs a lot of work and dedication into

delivered to her house that was and saving crops from harm. Bat this, my blood, sweat, and tears

full of information on bat’s use- boxes installed on farms can because hammering the nails

fulness to their natural habitats, limit pesticide use, as they are a doesn’t always end well.” Frank Mami and Cathleen Gallagher with Gallagher’s family
their bene ts to humans, and natural alternative for insect de-

how their population has been terrent and help save crops from

steadily decreasing. being ravaged by bugs.

“I knew I wanted it to have “Bats, after bees, are one of

something to do with nature,” the main pollinators of the envi-

Gallagher said of her Gold ronment because when they eat

Award project. When she found seeds, they’ll leave some behind

the magazine, she told her mom, and they’ll be all over the ground

“I think I found my Gold Award for plants to grow,” Gallagher

topic. We could do something said.

and write about how the bat Much like bees, bats spread

population is decreasing and pollen from place to place by

how we can increase it by build- getting the nectar stuck on their

ing the houses and being aware body during consumption, and

of all the things that are bring- having it fall of when they y.

ing their population down.” ey are vital to the process of

To assist her e orts, Gal- night owering as one of the

lagher enlisted the help of her main nocturnal pollinators.

local community, her fellow e bat population has fallen

girl scouts, and her two sisters’ drastically mainly due to White

Girl Scout troops by running Nose Syndrome, a fungus disease

workshops out of her garage to that only a ects bats. According

build 10 bat boxes. is doubled to an EarthDay.org article from

as an opportunity to gain ser- 2019, the American bat popula-

vice hours, as Gold Award Girl tion has decreased by a third of

Scouts need to accrue over 80 what it used to be in the 2010s.

hours of community service with e fungus was rst discovered

their project. in Howes Cave near Albany in

“We hosted workshops with 2006, and as of 2019, had killed

[my sister’s] troop, her friends’ an estimated 5.7 to 6.7 million

troops and my younger sister’s American bats.

troop. We live in a neighbor- Gallagher created a brochure

hood where there’s a lot of kids that is available at the FDR

and they all play together, so we State Park o ce, containing

hosted a workshop with all the much information on the ben-

little kids too,” Gallagher said. e ts of bats and the reasons for

Gallagher then walked into the decline in population. Her

the FDR State Park o ce with tips for stopping the decline in

an o er to donate the bat boxes, the bat population include being

she just needed help with the cautious of areas where bats live

installation process. Mami, the so as not to unknowingly track

park manager who was present, bacteria carrying White Nose PHOTOS: NICK TRUJILLO
Syndrome into their habitats, Cathleen Gallagher hands Frank Mami a bat box to hang.
was all for the project.

Page 4 – Yorktown News Thursday, August 5, 2021

Town memorializes employee who died from COVID-19

BY NICK TRUJILLO dropping people o at the mar- “He was our entertainer. He’d tened for any sounds emanating positive attitude day in and day

STAFF WRITER ket or delivering lunches to our get the seniors up and dancing from the residence. out working with the commu-

seniors he always had a big smile and singing. He was a big favor- “He heard a very faint sound nity’s seniors is how he will be

Yorktown remembered a mu- on his face and a kind word for ite,” O’Driscoll said. and continued around to the remembered.

nicipal employee who died from all. He has left a lasting impres- In 2018, Rivera was credited window, where he could see “We are grateful to Sal for

COVID-19 in the spring with the sion on our town.” with saving the life of a Yorktown this woman lying on the oor,” the kindness and compassion he

dedication of one of its senior bus- Rivera moonlighted as a party senior who didn’t answer the O’Driscoll said at the time. “He showed our seniors. He exem-

es in the name of Salvador Rivera. DJ and used his personal sound door. Standard procedure is to called the o ce and the police, pli ed public service and love

Rivera, an employee of the se- gear for department events. His leave a note on the door, but Ri- and her family was noti ed.” for one’s neighbor. We will miss

nior services department for 19 role as the seniors’ emcee was not vera had a sense that something Rivera’s service to keeping Yor- him,” said Town Supervisor Matt

years, died on May 24. He was 57 lost on his department coworkers. was amiss, so he stayed and lis- ktown happy and safe, and his Slater.

years old. e department dedi-

cated the bus on July 2, in an act

of remembrance for the town’s

only employee to die from CO-

VID, and a man who made the

town better with his happiness

and glowing personality.

“He was an incredible, kind

and caring man. He was suited

for the job, and he treated every-

body like family,” said Noreen

O’Driscoll, senior services site

manager.

Rivera worked as a chau eur

for Yorktown’s senior community,

driving one of the department’s

buses to shopping trips, meal de-

liveries, and more. His typical day

consisted of about 40 meal deliv-

eries and multiple transportation

rides.

“Sal was an incredible human

being with a larger-than-life per-

sonality,” said Councilman Ed FILE PHOTO/BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF YORKTOWN
Lachterman. “Whether it was Sal Rivera, pictured in 2018 The Town of Yorktown and the Senior Services department honors Sal Rivera by naming a bus in his honor.

Prostate Cancer: The News is Good

Modern advances in everything
from diagnosis to treatment

Ask the Doctor Q: Am I at risk for prostate cancer? high risk, robotic surgery to remove the prostate or
A: Approximately 15 percent of men develop prostate some form of radiation is advised. Robotic surgery is
Warren Bromberg, MD, FACS cancer – one to two out of 10. Its prevalence increases performed under general anesthesia with a few small
Chief, Urology Division with age. Risk factors include family history, obesity, incisions, an overnight stay in the hospital, and return
Co-Director, Institute for Robotic and smoking, a diet high in animal fats, and being of to normal activities in a few weeks.
Minimally Invasive Surgery African-American descent.
Northern Westchester Hospital Recent advances in radiation allow treatment to be
Q: What symptoms should I look out for? administered daily for just one to four weeks. SpaceOAR
Learn more about Dr. Bromberg, How are men diagnosed? hydrogel may be temporarily implanted between the
visit nwh.northwell.edu/Bromberg A: Most men with early-stage prostate cancer have prostate and the rectum before radiation to reduce the
no symptoms. The only way to detect the disease in side effects of treatment.
The care and safety of our community its earliest and most treatable stage is though a
during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. The higher the Q: What about the possible side effects of
is our top priority. We have put maximum amount of PSA in a man’s blood, the greater the prostate surgery that many men worry about
safety measures in place to prevent likelihood prostate cancer is present. Through the PSA most – incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED)?
exposure to the coronavirus by anyone test, we are nding earlier and less advanced prostate A: While national rates for post-surgery incontinence
who comes to the Hospital for emergency cancer. As a result, far fewer men develop the advanced are 10 to 20 percent, rates at NWH are one to two
or scheduled care. Don’t delay care. Please stage of the disease with metastasis (spreading). At-risk percent. As for ED, nerve-sparing surgical techniques can
continue to wash your hands, wear a men should start getting tested annually at age 40; preserve the crucial nerves needed for normal sexual
mask, and practice social distancing. all others should be screened annually from ages function in the majority of cases. But if ED occurs, the
50-70 and then selectively thereafter. good news is, it’s treatable.

Q: What happens if prostate cancer is found? Did You Know?
A: For low risk prostate cancer (based on the
aggressiveness of the cancer) about 40% of men can With the PSA test, prostate cancer is found
begin a program of active surveillance, which involves earlier. As a result, far fewer men develop
close monitoring with PSA, exams and at times, the advanced stage of the disease with
MRI imaging. When the cancer is of intermediate or metastasis (spreading).

Thursday, August 5, 2021 Yorktown News – Page 5

ECG Energy presents plans for Lakeland’s energy overhaul

Lyons comments on upcoming school year

BY NICK TRUJILLO of projects, accomplishing them Questions that Lyons and the e CDC last updated its K-12 people who are not fully vaccinated
STAFF WRITER through an energy performance district have not yet received guid- school guidance on July 9, reading is especially important indoors and
contract, funding them with their ance on is whether masks will be that “Masks should be worn in- in crowded settings, when physical
he Lakeland Central School own savings, and then freeing up required in school buildings and doors by all individuals (age 2 and distancing cannot be maintained.”
District has been looking for ways any future bond or your capital re- how quarantines will be handled older) who are not fully vaccinated.
to conserve energy used by its fa- serves for other needs,”McQuilton for the upcoming school year. Consistent and correct mask use by SEE BOE PAGE 6
cilities and save money to allocate said.
in other areas of need. After discus-
sions within the district’s construc- e bene ts of the project in-
tion and facilities committees, a clude modernized facilities replac-
plan to execute this initiative was ing outdated technology, improve-
presented to the Board of Educa- ments to fresh-air ventilation,
tion at its July 22 meeting. brighter learning environments,
improved control over classroom
Kendra McQuilton, CEO of temperature,and an overall increase
the ECG Group, came before the to the students and faculty’s every-
board to outline the energy e - day lives in school.
ciency consulting rm’s proposal
through energy performance con- “If a classroom is too hot, or it’s
tracting. e proposed improve- too cold,or the lighting is poor,or if
ments to the district’s facilities the ventilation is poor, all those fac-
include district-wide LED light tors are working against them and
installation and temperature con- the teachers,” McQuilton said. “It’s
trol upgrades, a steam to hot water a great nancial tool, but equally as
conversion boiler plant at Van Cor- great is the fact that it aligns with
tlandtville Elementary School, and all your good e orts to help stu-
heating, ventilation, and cooling dents succeed.”
unit installation at Walter Panas
High School. e next step for the project is
for a request for proposals (RFP) to
Energy performance contracts be crafted and sent out in August to
are a partnership between a school ESCOs and contractors by ECG
district, energy services company and the district’s legal counsel. Pro-
(ESCO), and the district’s energy spective contractors will submit en-
engineers. eir purpose is to assist ergy audits of the district’s facilities
municipalities in making needed to nd the most potential savings
building energy improvements and will be selected after a period
and paying for them through guar- of review from Lakeland’s legal
anteed savings brought on by the counsel and ECG.
upgrades, rather than incurring a
massive cost in the present. e “Our rm is going to make sure
contracts are authorized through that every page, every number is
Article 9 of New York State’s en- scrutinized in those proposals to
ergy law. make sure that everything is real-
istic, achievable and good for the
“ e state recognizes that every- district,”McQuilton said.
body wants to do energy e ciency
upgrades, but they’re limited by After the interviewing and selec-
funding primarily,” McQuilton tion process is completed, the cho-
said. “ ey don’t want that to get sen contractor will make a formal
in the way of making the upgrades proposal to the Board of Educa-
because it bene ts the municipal tion. ere is no cost or obligation
agency, the school district, and the for the district until they sign a con-
state as a whole for quality of life.” tract with an ESCO. e construc-
tion is expected to take 12 to 18
Since the savings through an months and will be performed after
energy performance contract are school hours when most students
guaranteed, they pose no impact to are out of the school buildings to
the taxpayers of the district and no avoid any learning disruptions.
out-of-pocket costs that a ect the
district’s budget. If the district does LAKELAND PLANS
not receive the amount of annual FOR IN PERSON
savings that were guaranteed, the INSTRUCTION
contractor must pay the di erence,
said McQuilton. With the recent development of
the Delta strain of the COVID-19
Lakeland’s facilities carry about virus causing positive cases across
$113 million in facility needs ac- the country to rise, Superintendent
cording to the recent building con- Brendan Lyons gave a brief update
ditions survey performed by the on how the Lakeland district is
district’s hired architect. McQuil- planning for the upcoming school
ton said approximately 20 percent year.
of the needs revealed by the survey
were attributed to energy-conserv- “Our plan is for full ve-day
ing systems (HVAC, boilers, light- instruction for all of our students.
ing).
at’s where they belong and that’s
“We have a lot to work with in where they can get the best educa-
terms of extracting those types tion,” Lyons said. “Our hope is to
the greatest degree possible, a sense
of normalcy.”













Page 12 – Yorktown News OPINION Thursday, August 5, 2021

LETTERS Where is this
Slavery and discrimination in Yorktown?

are not unique to U.S. PHOTO: BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER

To the editor, Congratulations to Michael Hoy, who was the rst to correctly guess that last week’s photo was
Over the last several weeks, there have many letters and taken at the veterans memorial on East Main Street in Shurb Oak, in between the library and the
Lakeland administration building. Diana Quast and Jodie DeBellis also got it right. If you know where
articles concerning Critical Race eory (CRT) and Diversity,
Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) in our communities and school this week’s photo is, email the editor at [email protected].
systems.
APAR zero-carbon certi ed arena in the to half to build isn’t called Amazon
e history of the world as we know it is fraught with actions world. He wanted it to use collected Arena.
that we should not be proud of. FROM PAGE 11 rainwater for the ice rink. He wanted
it to use an electric Zamboni. He It’s Climate Pledge Arena.
Slavery was and is not solely a U.S. institution. Slavery familiar company and a familiar bil- wanted it to use no gas. He wanted it As one of the project’s backers said,
continues today in many areas of the world. In the Americas, lionaire—who spent upwards of $400 to be so sustainable, it would be zero “We’re proud it’s not named for a
slavery was also condoned in Mexico, Central America, and million for naming rights to Key Are- waste and, by 2024, it would achieve corporation, but for a vision.”
some of the South American countries. It must be pointed out na in Seattle (where new NHL team zero single-use plastic. He wanted it Now that’s worth cheering about.
that in African nations, tribes held in slavery members of other the Kraken will play). Except, in return to be a fossil fuel-free, net zero energy
tribes as well as selling prisoners/slaves to slavers who trans- for that ginormous piece of change, he facility. It is all of that, and more. Bruce Apar is a writer, actor, consultant,
ported these purchased slaves to other parts of the world. Some didn’t even want his company’s name and community volunteer. He can be
Native American tribes in North America enslaved members of or his name on the stadium. His name is Je Bezos and the $1 reached at [email protected]; 914-275-
other tribes as well as people of African ancestry. billion stadium his company paid close 6887.
He wanted it to be the rst net
Discrimination was also widespread. In the U.S. during our
continuing history, there has been discrimination against im-
migrants from Ireland, Italy, eastern Europe, China, east Asia,
Africa, Central and South America, and the Arabian Peninsula,
etc. ere has also been discrimination in various parts of our
world against Jews, Catholics, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, etc.

Let us not forget about the Chinese labors who su ered
interminable cruelty in the west, building the railroads or the
oppression foisted upon the Native Americans including the
Aleuts.

We can search history and nd intolerable abuse against most
ethnicities and religions. Perhaps we should look to the future.
If not, based on what I have read, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
should be redesignated Diversity, Equity & Exclusion except
for one race, and Critical Race eory should be redesignated
Critical Singular Race eory.

Jay Kopstein

Yorktown Heights

A Goal Without a Plan Be part of our Home Foster Care!
is Just a Wish.
We are looking for people in our community who would welcome one of our
It’s not just about where you want to go, guide dogs in training into their home and provide a safe, loving environment
it’s being able to plan after spending the day training with their Guide Dog Mobility Instructors. They
how you’re going to get there. will be spending their weeknights and weekends with you. All veterinary care,
dog food, and supplies will be provided. Please consider volunteering.
We are your
trusted resource For more details and requirements:
to answer all your
financial questions WEBSITE: GuidingEyes.org
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 845-230-6412

Philip Settembrino, WMCP, President

2649 Strang Blvd, Suite 104 • Yorktown Hts NY 10598

Phone: 914-514-5000





















Thursday, August 5, 2021 LEISURE Yorktown News – Page 23

CLUES ACROSS actress Ryan 51. Born of perennial
1. Ponds 24. Sodium 52. Rich tapestry 17. Gulf in the Aegean
6. “Unbelievable” musicians 25. Engineering degree 54. S. China seaport 20. Clothes
9. Invests in little enterprises (abbr.) 56. Being without clothes 21. Chairs
13. Longtime Utah Jazz 28. Small lump 60. Surrounded by 23. Family of regulator
coach 29. African antelope 61. Remains genes
14. Small sailboat 31. Electronic point of sale 62. Away from wind 25. NY ballplayer
15. “Luther” actor 33. Carefully chooses 63. Dried-up 26. Impressive in size or
16. Round Dutch cheese 36. Ringworm 64. One who can see the scope
17. Detects underwater 38. Unrefined future 27. Jacques __, Fr. biologist
objects 39. Drenches 65. A very large body of 29. Manhattanite
18. Harsh, grating noise 41. Type of pants water 30. Genus of lemurs
19. Steward 44. Son of Noah 66. Digs up earth 32. Sings to
21. Fencing sword 45. Spiritual being 67. Type of screen 34. River in southern Italy
22. Painful places on the 46. Upton Sinclair novel 68. Old Norse poet 35. Supplemented with
body 48. Journalist Tarbell CLUES DOWN difficulty
23. “Sleepless in Seattle” 49. Atomic #21 (abbr.) 37. Farewell
1. Millisecond 40. Senior officer
2. Spanish city 42. Utah resident For puzzle solutions, please see
3. Sudden, very loud 43. Begets theparamountrehab.com
sound 47. Boy
4. Type of chair 49. Violently break
5. Tin 50. Brief appearance
6. Sea eagles 52. Expressed pleasure
7. Broad volcanic 53. A light informal meal
crater 55. Fabric with smooth finish
8. Some animals 56. One billionth of a second
have it (abbr.)
9. Ottoman palaces 57. Ancient Greek City
10. Divulge a secret 58. Close tightly
11. “A Doll’s House” 59. Commit
playwright 61. A way to communicate
12. “It’s a Wonderful (abbr.)
Life” director 65. Heavy metal
14. Poisonous

To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can
appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using
the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

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Page 24 – Yorktown News Thursday, August 5, 2021

A day at the lake

Lake Day at Mohegan Lake, to the public. Lake Day is spon-

an annual family-fun day of sh- sored by the volunteer group, Mo-

ing derbies, boat races, hiking, live hegan Lake Improvement District,

music, ai dancing, and more, which maintains the lake’s envi-

returned on Saturday, July 17. All ronment and preserves its history.

events, held at di erent beaches SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 25
around the lake,were free and open

Yorktown Town Supervisor Matt Slater and his family join Ken Belfer, Laura Kosbar, and Randall Duggan
from the Mohegan Lake Improvement District Board and others from the community on a hike around
Rock Hill Park, commencing Lake Day activities on July 17.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEN BELFER The creativity of the community was shown not only in The kids had great summer fun with
the beach decorations, but also in “Art on the Lake,” at children’s games hosted by Mohegan
Mohegan Highlands Beach picked up its rivalry with Lake Mohegan which residents’ arts and crafts were exhibited, and in two Highlands. This was their annual water
Park Beach in the annual beach-decorating contest. Coincidentally, performances by members of the community. In the first, balloon toss contest.
both beaches independently selected pirate themes this year. Beth the father and son team of Joseph and Lawrence Merriam
and Randall Duggan and Evan Bray, are pictured in their “Free opened the program with bagpipe and drums.
Britney” pirate ship built over a picnic table. Jim Martorano, Yorktown
parks superintendent, agreed to be the judge of the beach decorating
contest.

Ride the LuckyLink to Atlantic City

B m s & BeyLook for our special d
pullout section in the
Aug. 12 issue of this newspaper!

We want toofh r cthemseuansity.ed citizens

Service Operates Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Express From The Je erson Valley Mall

www.luckylink.us • 347-927-0750