North Salem News 02.29.2024

Vol. 9 No. 45 BALANCED ROCK 2 LEGAL NOTICES 23 LEISURE 17 OBITUARIES 19 OPINION 8 SPORTS 16 Cards of Caring pg 12 VALENTINE’S DAY Visit News.HalstonMedia.com for the latest news. FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 13, 2024 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Pedestrian safety and accessibility for the mobility challenged took a giant step forward at the Purdy’s Metro-North station in North Salem with the official opening this week of a new street-level elevator and an ADA-compliant sidewalk. The town started loudly advocating for the upgrades a dozen years ago after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority decided that the aging metal stairs leading from Route 116 to the station below were beyond repair and abandoned them. (The stairs were built by the state Department of Transportation and maintained by Metro- North Railroad.) That forced folks walking to the station from the hamlet of Purdys – or to and from two nursing homes located half a mile away on Route 22 -- to either hike up and down the 800-foot-long access road, which has no sidewalks, or cut through a steeply sloped wooded area. More than just an inconvenience, this created a potentially dangerous situation, especially at night and in the winter when there was snow and ice. Among local dignitaries attending the launch party on Thursday, Feb. 22 was Town Supervisor Warren Lucas, Town Board members Martin Aronchick and Katherine Daniels, and Christopher Brockmeyer, a member of the town’s Planning Board and a Purdys resident. “I’m smiling,” said Lucas. “this is just an exceptional day.” The project was truly a team effort. The DOT fixed the guardrails and sidewalk on the Route 684 overpass and the town put in a new sidewalk and traffic control devices after obtaining a $409,952 grant through the state DOT’s Transportation Alternatives (TAP) – Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program, which helped defray 80 percent of the cost of the $512,000 sidewalk project. Of course, nothing would have happened if the MTA hadn’t stepped up. “This is the third piece of the puzzle and we’re just terribly excited,” Lucas said. “The new upgrades at the Purdy’s train station are a tremendous benefit to all commuters and I look forward to hearing from our residents about their commuter experience,” said the supervisor of the nearby town of Somers, Robert Scorrano, last week. Debra Greif, Christopher Greif, and Jesse Figueroa, all of Brooklyn and riders and advocates for people with physical and other disabilities, were also on hand to hail the new elevator and sidewalk. Addressing the crowd, MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo pointed out that the Purdy’s Station already had two elevators leading from the platform to the parking lot, it was tough to access from Route 116 by foot. “With this new elevator along with new improvements with the help from the NYS DOT and the MOVING ON UP! Officials unveil upgrades at Purdy’s train station A team effort made great strides for accessibility and safety at the Purdy’s Metro-North train station. PHOTO: CAROL REIF SEE PURDYS PAGE 18 BUYING ONLY 845-628-0362 WE WILL COME TO YOU! 53 WE BUY: YEARS! Gold • Sterling Silver Jewelry • Coins Paintings • Bronzes Clocks • Collectibles Antiques • ETC. Items for sale? Call us!

Page 2 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 Isabella and Julianna Farago enjoying the snow on Feb. 13. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAUREEN FARAGO SNOW DAY! BALANCED ROCK North Salem Lions Club Easter Basket Drive By Saturday, March 23, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. The North Salem Lions Club is hosting an Easter Basket Drive By at the North Salem Town Hall and Ruth Keeler Memorial Library campus for town and school district families. The North Salem Lion and Easter Bunny will gift each child with an Easter basket! For ages 2 - 11. Event will be held rain or shine. Please be sure to register in advance at northsalemny.org/ recreation so your child will not be disappointed - once the time slots are filled, registration will close. Ruth Keeler Memorial Library The library is open for browsing, computer use and reading! Please visit www.ruth keelermemoriallibrary.org for more information. Most programs are in person or on ZOOM. Send an email if you want to participate to keeler [email protected]. When you email, a link will be sent to click on, including a password to enter. Fun with Puppets Thursdays, Feb. 29, March 7, 14, 21, & 28, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Bring your little ones to the library for fun-filled story time and a puppet show! Our toddler storytime will engage the imaginations of our youngest library visitors. With a mix of classic children’s stories and new favorites, these story time sessions promise an adventure in learning and fun. Bagels and Books Group Thursday, March 7, from 10 to 11 a.m. The Bagels and Books Group will be reading “Why Fish Don’t Exist” by Lulu Miller. This group is open to anyone, and books are available at the library. Toddler Storytime Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20, & 27, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Join in for fun and interactive toddler story time! This program is designed for children birth - 5 and their caregivers to enjoy stories, songs, and activities together. Ms. Elizabeth will read engaging stories and lead interactive activities to help build early literacy SEE ROCK PAGE 4 North Salem News USPS #22110 Published Weekly by Halston Media, LLC at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC 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 North Salem News Deadline The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for North Salem News is the Thursday before the next publication date. For more information, call Tom Walogorsky at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected] Online Follow Us Periodicals Postage Paid at Somers, NY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to North Salem News at 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 For more information visit railyardartsstudio.com and register today! RAILYARD ARTS STUDIO 621 Route 22, Croton Falls, NY • (914) 617-8541 One-week summer sessions for kids & teens! Week 1: July 8-12 High Seas Week 2: July 15-19 Summer Spells Academy 2024 Week 3: July 22-26 Theatre Week Week 4: July 29-26 Summer in Storyland Week 5: August 5-9 Out of this World Camp Week 6: August 12-16 Art Lab Young artists will engage with a variety of art materials to learn techniques while having fun and developing their own style of art. Women Jewelry Baby & Kids Accessories Men 1137 E. Main St, Shrub Oak | www.celticaer.com | (914) 526-3361

North Salem News – Page 3 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER This postal worker really delivered. Anthony Primavera was taking a breather on the porch of the Amawalk Post Office in Somers recently when he spotted someone parked in a restricted area at the back of the lot. It was getting near closing time, the sun was going down, and delivery trucks were due to arrive at 5 p.m. They use the space to back up so they can unload. Afraid that the vehicles might accidentally plow into the car, he walked over to give the driver “a little heads-up.” As soon as Primavera tapped on its window, he realized something was terribly wrong. The driver was slumped over and drooling. The car was still running and there was a large pit bull inside. He banged a little harder. The dog reacted, but the man didn’t move a muscle. Primavera sprinted back indoors, yelled for a co-worker to call 911, and returned to the unconscious man’s side to wait for help. There within minutes, crews from the Somers Volunteer Fire Department and Westchester EMS determined that the victim had suffered a possible drug overdose. Local and state police also responded. “It was a scene,” Primavera recalled. They revived the man by using naloxone, a life-saving medication designed to reverse the effects of opioids. He was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital and his friendly pet was safely returned home. Police confirmed that the unidentified man survived and was doing OK. But that might not have been the case had it not been for a stranger’s concern. Primavera was later told by police that “a little longer and he might not have made it.” The unassuming 47-yearold dad of three brushes off any praise by claiming he’s just grateful to have been in the right place at the right time. “I try and play it down a little bit,” when anyone mentions it, Primavera said, also noting that it was “lucky” that the man was in a no-parking space because he otherwise might not have gone over to speak to him. There are definitely some, however, who think he deserves some sort of recognition, not only for his actions on that fateful Wednesday, but also for the way he goes about his daily life. “He’d give you the shirt off his back. He goes above and beyond to help,” said loyal postal patron Gina Somoza, who says she ships and receives packages at the Mahopac Avenue facility nearly every day. Calling Primavera a diligent worker and “a wonderful human being,” the Amawalk resident told The Somers Record that she found it comforting to know that her “mail is safe.” “He loves the Post Office and the people,” Somoza added. Primavera’s been a clerk at the Amawalk Post Office for four years. To order to support his family, he’s held down several jobs at a time, including that of guest relations manager at a golf club in Hastings-on-Hudson. He’s in charge of making sure all the club members’ guests were “very well taken care of,” Primavera said on his LinkedIn page, noting that that meant everything from “shoeshines and showers to Ubers and umbrellas.” The high cost of living in the metropolitan region -- coupled with a family member’s medical expenses -- recently prompted a move from Mahopac to Connecticut. That means he now must commute an hour and a half each way through the proverbial rain, snow, sleet, and hail. But Primavera’s happy to make that long trip each day. “I can’t leave my customers, so I drive,” he explained. Delivered to safety Hero postal worker rescues overdose victim The Westchester Parks Foundation, the only organization dedicated exclusively to promoting and supporting Westchester County Parks, is seeking applicants to work this summer in residential positions at North Salem’s Camp Morty, a traditional sleepaway camp for underserved children in Westchester County.   Job openings include positions as camp nurse, camp recruitment manager, kitchen staff, camp counselors, and lifeguards.  Located at Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park, the county’s northernmost park in North Salem, Camp Morty was founded in 2006 and is operated by the Westchester Parks Foundation in partnership with Westchester County’s Department of Social Services, Department of Community Mental Health, and Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation. The camp provides a quality outdoor traditional summer camp experience for children ages 8 to 15, many of whom are in foster care, live in homeless shelters, or are under child protective services.   Applicants must be 18 years old as of June 30, 2024, and if appointed and under the age of 18, they must provide the age-appropriate working papers to comply with NYS Labor Laws. Those who wish to apply, should email admin@campmorty. com or register to fill out an application by April 30. Applications are also being accepted for general counselor positions. For more information about Camp Morty, visit www.campmorty.com Article courtesy of Westchester Parks Foundation. Camp Morty announces summer employment openings Camp Morty has opening for kitchen staff, counselors, and lifeguards. Quick thinking by Anthony Primavera helped to save the life of a man who overdosed outside the Amawalk Post Office. PHOTO: CAROL REIF February 29 - March 13, 2024

Page 4 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 A number of North Salem students have been recognized for their academic achievements during the fall semester at colleges across the country! Graduation Georgia Institute of Technology Knute Broady Dean’s List Emerson College Newton Bersch Purchase College Khadijah Boothe Thomas Dachik Ruby Yarnall Rochester Institute of Technology Ruthie Witmer Sacred Heart University Allison Outhouse Do you have a scholar you would like to recognize in an upcoming issue? Let us know at northsalemnews@ halstonmedia.com and we would be happy to include them in our next print edition! Celebrating our scholars! Brody having a blast after a snow storm! PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNE GREENBERG A FURRY (AND FROSTY) FRIEND! skills and encourage a love of reading. The library will also provide a safe and welcoming space for children to socialize and make new friends. Girl Scout Troop 2950 Under The Sea Girls Dance Friday, March 8, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 2950 invites all North Salem girls in grades K through 5 to come for a night of dancing, desserts, photo booth fun and friends! To be held at Pequenakonck Elementary School at 173 June Road in North Salem. Dress to impress in your favorite party attire. All girls MUST be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. This is NOT a drop off event. All girls will get a professional photograph taken with their special guest. Cupcakes, cake pops and popcorn will be served. There will also be a photo booth for fun photos with friends and a DJ for great music and dancing on the dance floor! All girls will receive a goody bag including a photo frame for their keepsake photo before leaving. Join in for a girls night of fun! Box office closes Friday, March 1.  To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/underthe-sea-girls-dance-tickets814263613387?aff=oddtdtcreator True Crime Fiction Writing Series Author and fiction writing teacher, Kim Kovach, presents a new 5-week series - True Crime Fiction Writing via Zoom  on Wednesday evenings 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. starting on Feb. 28. Investigation meets imagination for arm-chair detectives and true crime fans as Kim Kovach introduces a True Crime case each week. Participants can put a new spin on the facts by writing stories from different points of view - a neighbor, a co-worker, a witness, the victim or the accused. The weekly  True Crime Fiction Writing program begins on Wednesday, Feb. 28, and continues on Wednesday evenings through March 27. This virtual five-week series is offered in cooperation with the Pound Ridge Library, the Lewisboro Library and the John C. Hart Library. Registration is limited. Please register online through the library websites - poundridge library.org or lewisborolibrary. org or yorktownlibrary.org ROCK FROM PAGE 2 SEE ROCK PAGE 20 with WINTER 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 3/31/24 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! Leap into $aving$

February 29 - March 13, 2024 North Salem News – Page 5 Do You Suffer with NEUROPATHY? No Surgery, Shots or Medications - 100% Non-Invasive Imagine a proven long-term solution for your: • Numbness • Diabetic Nerve Pain • Sharp Electric like Pain • Burning or Tingling • Muscle Weakness • Difficulty Sleeping from Leg or Foot Discomfort • Sensitivity to Touch • Pain when Walking Call Today: 914-686-6200 Your Appointment Includes: - FREE Consultation with the Doctor - Thermography Imaging of the affected area “When I first reached out to Dr. Gertner, I was in horrible shape. I could barely walk because of the neuropathy. I had pain in my back, traveling down both legs. The pain was excruciating. It was a combination of burning, pins & needles, and weakness. Dr. Gertner went over a five prong system to not just slow down the neuropathy, but actually reverse the degenerative changes. I am incredibly humbled and blessed that this doctor helped me get back to the best “ME” that I can be. Thank You!” – Thomas C. UCC-NY.COM | 311 North Street, Suite 410, White Plains, NY Dr. Gertner’s book

Page 6 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER North Salem officials and state lawmakers are alarmed by a proposed cut in the state money municipalities receive to make road repairs. According to state Sen. Peter Harckham (D-Lewisboro), Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive 2024-2025 budget includes a $60 million reduction in CHIPS (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program) funding. Town Supervisor Warren Lucas called it “an eye opener and certainly concerning.” Pointing out that North Salem has 42 miles of local roads, he said Connecticutgenerated commuter traffic is “constant.” The town has to pave four lane miles of roads “just to keep up with the damage caused by the excessive traffic,” Lucas said, adding that while CHIPS provides it with around $120,000 a year, it’s not enough to “make a dent” in its repair bills. While the state seems to be happy to get income taxes from the “many thousands” of commuters who work in New York but live in Connecticut, it “fails to understand the realities of what it takes to maintain these roads with the damaging traffic.” On Friday, Feb. 16, state GOP minority Assembly members and highway supers and workers from the Hudson Valley region gathered in the Dutchess County town of Fishkill to advocate for more CHIPS funding, not less. They waved placards reading: “Local Roads Matter” and “Invest in Local Roads.” At press time, Halston Media was seeking comment from North Salem Highway Superintendent Ward Hanaburgh. Somers Highway Superintendent Nick DeVito, who was at the event, pointed out that “almost 90 percent of state roads and bridges are local, yet less than 12 percent of the taxes and fees paid to the state by those who use them go back to maintaining them.” He added that he hoped the governor heeds their plea and not only retracts her proposal but actually increases funding. Saying he hadn’t been aware of the Fishkill rally, state Assemblyman Chris Burdick (D-Bedford) issued the following statement the next day. “I work very closely with the Construction Industry Council as do other members of the Westchester delegation to the Assembly. We are pressing for increases in DOT spending across the board including for CHIPs, DOT Region 8, (and the) roads and bridges program.” Burdick represents the 93rd District, which includes the town of North Salem. Assemblyman Matt Slater (R/C-Yorktown), a member of the state’s Transportation Committee, spoke at the rally. He represents the 94th District, which includes the towns of Somers and Yorktown. Reducing state funding, especially when paired with “the continual doubling of road repair costs, “could have a drastic impact on infrastructure, he said, noting that local highway officials “fear that there will be no way to finance upcoming projects.” Slater, a former Yorktown town supervisor, and other lawmakers are also urging the state to increase the funding cap from $350,000 to $1 million to “efficiently address these much-needed improvement projects. “CHIPS funding is critical to the safety and quality of life in our communities,” he said. “It’s imperative not only to restore this funding but also to increase it and invest in our infrastructure.” Other Programs The governor’s proposed budget called for the continuation of infrastructure programs such as CHIPS, Extreme Winter Recover (EWR), Pave our Potholes (POP) and PAVE-NY. However, it would decrease CHIPS funding by $60 million and chop $40 million from the State Touring Routes Program (STR), which gives money to municipalities for the maintenance, construction, and repair of highways, railroad crossings, bridges, and transportation facilities. Hochul’s Highlights Hochul announced the “highlights” of her executive budget on Jan. 16. The “investments to continue road, bridge, and safety improvement across New York” include, she said: · $7.9 billion  in State operating aid for the MTA, which Gov. Hochul said she saved from the “fiscal cliff” in last year’s budget. · $7.6 billion  for the third year of the five-year $32.9 billion Department of Transportation Capital Plan, the largest in New York’s history. · $577.8 million in funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) and the Marchiselli Program. (The latter provides a local match to federal funds for local highway and bridge capital projects). · $551 million  for non-MTA transit in the downstate region. · $323 million for transit systems in upstate New York. · $100 million for the Pave our Potholes (POP) Program · $45 million for engineering on the Interborough Express · $16 million to move forward with the planning of the Second Avenue Subway extension to Broadway. · Introducing a comprehensive safety package to address the remaining legislative recommendations from the Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Task Force. Officials concerned over possible reduction in road funding SEE CHIPS PAGE 22 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you understand the difference between an irrevocable and a revocable trust?

February 29 - March 13, 2024 North Salem News – Page 7 In Case You Missed It The Harvey School’s lacrosse camp will take place July 22-26. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HARVEY SCHOOL The Northern Star Quilters Guild will be raffling off this quilt to raise money for the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps. PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHERN STAR QUILTERS GUILD Members of the Croton Falls Fire Department were among the companies responding to a house fire in Somers on Feb. 21. PHOTO COURTESY OF SVFD Quilters’ Guild to raise funds for NSVAC Quilts create warmth in more ways than one. For someone whose life has fallen into pieces, being gifted one can be a source of love and solace, says the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild. The Bedford-based nonprofit has been meeting for at least a decade at the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps’ Daniel Road facility, and have chosen the NSVAC as the beneficiary of its 2024 Charity Quilt fundraiser. Westchester firefighters battle blaze in Somers On the evening of Feb. 21, multiple Westchester fire companies raced to the scene of a structure fire in the Preserves Complex on Tanna Hill Court in Somers. Members of the Somers Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene first, raising a second alarm when they encountered heavy flames at the residence. Summer sports academies coming to The Harvey School The Harvey School in Katonah will be offering a program called Summer Academies focused on team sports geared for boys and girls of middle school and high school age. Harvey is offering weeklong programs that aim to help develop body, mind, and spirit of young athletes to help them excel in playing their favorite sport, appreciate the importance of sportsmanship, and acquire skills in team leadership. State Sen. Pete Harckham and environmental advocates at a zeroemissions vehicle sales press conference in Albany. PHOTO COURTESY OF OFFICE OF STATE SEN. PETE HARCKHAM / JAMES PERSONS Sen. Harckham announces new bill to spur zero-emission vehicle sales State Senator Pete Harckham  and advocates from several prominent environmental groups announced new legislation designed to  increase sales of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) statewide if predetermined sales targets are not met. The stories below were published on our website in-between 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.

118 N. BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2024 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY, EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] 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 North Salem News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail to [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830. Opinion Page 8 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 People are always coming up to me and saying, “Bob, you are so handsome, wealthy, smart, and kind, how is it you never got married?” OK. Nobody’s ever said that to me ever. But they do say things like, “You never got married? Is there something wrong with you?” Or... “You never got married?? Tell me in detail how you dodged that bullet.” I am not philosophically opposed to marriage. But I never set out into adulthood with it at the forefront of my mind. I just assumed it would happen when it happened. My brother got married. My sister got married. All my friends and cousins got married. (Even my parents were married.) And to the best of my knowledge, everyone is still happily bonded. I just figured it would catch up to me eventually and was as surprised as anyone else when it didn’t. It just feels like I was never in the right place at the right time. Or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on your perspective. Maybe it’s just as well. I read somewhere that 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce and the other 50 percent end in death. Some believe romantic love is a biological imperative that we homo sapiens developed as a species in order to bond and create a family which, in turn, protected us and helped propagate the species. Actually, the notion of “romantic love” didn’t really exist until the 18th century. Before then, it was all arranged marriages, which seemed to work fine, but whatever. Anyway, why romantic love exists doesn’t matter, does it? It’s here. It’s real. You can do with it what you want. How it got here isn’t relevant. My parents were married for more than 50 years, and I saw them fight like, maybe, three times. My brother was married for more than 40 years and when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I watched as his wife doted over him, taking him to doctor’s appointments in Manhattan, making sure he took his meds in the right quantities at the right times, making sure he had the right diet and got some exercise. She picked up after him. It was a full-time job. Romantic love is real and it’s out there. It just might not be all that romantic. Sometimes it can be messy. A lot of young women fantasize about their dream wedding. And while that’s great and all, what they should probably be focusing on is the marriage, not what floral arrangements should be used as centerpieces or if the ice sculpture is too close to the Sterno cans. My brother got married relatively young. He was 24, she was 22. I was a junior in high school. My brother actually had “marriage” as a goal from a young age. His sights were set. It was even in his high school yearbook under his picture. GOALS Play football in college; get a degree in business; get married. (He did them all.) My goals were more like, “Meet David Bowie, learn to time travel, invent a new type of food.” It’s all about priorities. I remember my brother’s wedding very well. Shocking, when one considers the circumstances. I was nearly 17 and was an usher in the wedding party. The ushers and bridesmaids were paired off by height and each couple had their own car and driver to take them from the church to the reception (the Amber Room in Danbury). My partner was Suzy, and I knew her and her family well—and she was married to my cousin. Halfway to the venue, Suzy says, “Bob, do you smoke?” “No.” “Oh, well, do you mind if I do?” “Not at all.” (This was 1975.) Suzy then proceeds to hike up her bridesmaid’s gown revealing two joints tucked away in her garter belt. For better or for worse BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD I t’s not every day a columnist (like the scribe scribbling these very words) gets to write about Leap Day. Heck, it’s not even every year that the opportunity rears its quadrennial head. Fun Fact: did you know that end-ofcentury years (such as 2000) must be divisible by 400 to be duly designated a Leap Year, which is why 1900 was blackballed from that exclusive club. Leap Years are more than just Leap Years. Every year that tacks on that bonus day at the end of February also is a Presidential Election year. But wait, there’s more! Leap years and Presidential Election years form a trifecta with another quadrennial signpost – the summer Olympics. Wow, what an eventful dozen months await us. Are we having fun yet? Remember Common Knowledge? Used to be Leap Year was the kind of thing that is common knowledge. Even a kid who was more class clown than class valedictorian could be expected to acknowledge its existence. “Leap Year? Yeah, that’s the funny thing that happens every four years. I think it’s pretty cool, but don’t ask me why it exists. My mom probably knows.” Alas, common knowledge is less common these days, I’m sorry to report. How else do you explain that among the frequent questions about Leap Year that Take a leap! A busy year that adds a day, elects a president, and cheers for the Olympics BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG SEE DUMASPAGE 9 SEE APARPAGE 14

February 29 - March 13, 2024 OPINION North Salem News – Page 9 LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! YOUR FAMILY CAR CARE CENTER For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating relationships and building a remarkable company with an amazing team JOE FERONE, owner of employees! “Ooohh,” I said. “That kind of smoke...” It’s kind of funny now when you look at those old wedding photos—many of which were taken outdoors on the lawn of the Amber Room. Everybody is smiling, of course, but nobody is doing it with more enthusiasm than me. And I’m not squinting cause the sun’s in my eyes. (Sidenote here: Suzy is now a retired grandmother and still married to my cousin. They reside somewhere down in North Carolina, living out their golden years fishing and playing golf... and maybe other fun stuff. I don’t know what they’re into these days.) Back to the wedding: I remember coming inside the venue after the photo session and seeing my new sisterin-law in the lobby in total hysterics. My brother was on one knee with a cup of water in one hand and a handkerchief in the other. He was trying furiously to rub some sort of spot off the front of his wife’s very white wedding dress. It was a tense moment. My brother eventually stood up. “Well... You won’t be able to wear it tomorrow,” he deadpanned. Everyone laughed and it diffused the situation. He had a way of being able to do that. But I think most importantly (and I didn’t realize this till much later) what he truly meant was—it is just a dress; this is just a ceremony and a ritual. Let’s have fun now because what truly matters is what lies ahead. Their wedding ceremony was in a Catholic church, but my brother just did that to appease my parents. (His wife wasn’t even Catholic, so she didn’t really care.) He told me he’d get married barefoot on the raft on the lake at the town Rec Park if that’s what they wanted him to do. My best friend George was wed in a Catholic church too. I have written about George before. He was in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and escaped. Like me, he was raised Catholic but hadn’t been to church since around high school. Nonetheless, he and his fiancée chose the super deluxe Catholic wedding package. That includes not just the matrimonial ceremony, but an entire specialized mass, including a choir, incense, guest gospel speakers and I think there might have been an impromptu performance by Mummenschanz. For a while, it looked like they were going to re-enact the Stations of the Cross... or maybe “Cats.” I’m not sure. A lot was going on. Anyway, my girlfriend at the time was Jewish and she was in awe at all the pageantry. The next day we stopped at her mom’s, who asked, “So, kids... how was the wedding?” “It was nice,” my girlfriend told her. “A lot of Jesus stuff though.” “They’re Catholic,” I sighed. “He was bound to come up eventually.” But the best wedding I ever went to was for a guy I barely knew when I lived in Los Angeles. He was a friend of a friend. This guy once invited me to go camping and dune buggy riding in the desert of Glamus, Calif. He decided he liked me and invited me to the nuptials. I don’t even remember his name. I knew this wedding was going to be different when he told me the dress was “casual.” I wore some khakis and an Oxford-collared shirt. Loafers without socks. Well... it turned out I was WAY overdressed. Many of the guys were in cargo shorts and John Deere hats. One woman was quite fetching in a onepiece burgundy velour tracksuit. “Casual” apparently means different things to different people. This guy lived about twoand-a-half hours outside L.A. You could watch the landscape change as you headed east. The city gave way to suburbia, which in turn gave way to very rural neighborhoods, which eventually gave way to cow pastures, outlet malls and meth labs. The groom did something with coaxial cable for a living. (Sold it... installed it... repaired it—not sure.) On his property, he had this big barn/warehouse thing where he stored huge spools of the stuff. These were all pushed aside to make room for the wedding. A table was set up to accommodate the potluck dinner and paper plates (the best barbecued chicken ever!). There were kegs and red Solo cups, a few dusty bottles of liquor, and some mixers. Music was courtesy of mix tapes (they wrote “Wedding” on the cassettes) and a boom box. I think the ceremony was officiated by the bride’s pilates instructor. It’s amazing how much fun you can have when all the stiffness, formality and pretense are eliminated. (No worries about stained dresses.) No one there knew me but all were kind and welcoming. It was a blast. Guys... see if you can talk your fiancée into something like that for your wedding. Just wear a helmet and an athletic cup when you do it. You know, the more I think about it - ladies, maybe it’s not too late for me after all. Buy yourself a velour tracksuit and maybe we can talk. DUMAS FROM PAGE 8 Letters and Op-Ed Policy Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of North Salem News or its affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830.

Page 10 – North Salem News OPINION February 29 - March 13, 2024 Lawler is strengthening our border and global democracy Dear Editor, I must express my admiration for Congressman Mike Lawler’s handling of current key problems with the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act. He has masterfully struck a balance between strengthening our national borders and extending a helping hand to our allies through foreign aid, while working in a bipartisan fashion. By setting aside $60 billion for our military, and for our strategic partners - Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan - Congressman Lawler isn’t just supporting our friends; he’s fortifying the pillars of global democracy. Part of the package is showing commitment to bolstering our border security, ensuring that we have some order at the border. I’m happy Lawler represents us in North Salem -- his method of bipartisan, effective policy-making in building focused bills represents us well. We need more of this in Washington. -Mary Pat Campbell Croton Falls LETTER Dear Dr. Linda, I’m not one to criticize—at least I try not to—so how do I tell my son and daughter-in-law and my granddaughter, a freshman in high school, that she needs to learn grammar? Her writing is atrocious! She speaks well, but when I read her papers, I’m in shock. I’m not a retired English teacher, but I know enough to be concerned that she will not know how to write a paper with correct grammar by the time she finishes high school. -Concerned Grandma Dear Concerned Grandma, Your email couldn’t have been timed better! March 4th is National Grammar Day. It was created by Martha Brockenbrough to encourage the use of correct grammar in both verbal and written language. Grammar is a set of rules for understanding language—any language. It includes punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, parts of speech, spelling, tenses and more. It is essential to know the rules of grammar in order to communicate orally or in writing. It used to be a major part of the educational system. Even if it still is a major part, texting ignores most of the rules. Therefore, students brought up texting will not be practicing good grammar. In fact, it’s probably pretty low on their list of important information to learn. They may never think about it. Here’s a little quiz you can give your granddaughter to learn what she actually knows. If she does well, it means that she has learned many of the rules of grammar, but either ignores them or forgets to use them when writing. Why? Because we don’t always use them when texting. How’s Your Grammar? 1. Which is a complete sentence? a) A number of people; b) The gaggle of geese; c) Jane ate the apple. d) Some plants 2. Which word is the subject of the sentence? The museum specializes in art from Greece. a) Greece; b) art; c) specializes; d) museum 3. Which word is the predicate of the sentence? The museum specializes in art from Greece. a) Greece; b) art; c) specializes; d) museum 4. How many nouns are in this sentence? The airplane flew over houses, towers and bridges. a) 3; b) 4; c) 1; d) 2 5. Which word in this sentence is a common noun? Sally lives near the ocean. a) Sally; b) near; c) lives; d) ocean 6. Which word in this sentence is a proper noun? Sally lives near the ocean. a) Sally; b) near; c) lives; d) ocean 7. Which word in this sentence is a pronoun? He lives near the Hudson River. a) Hudson; b) he; c) lives; d) River 8. Which word in this sentence is a verb? Jack and Jill went up the hill. a) went; b) up; c) hill; d) the 9. What tense is the word “went” in Jack and Jill went up the hill? a) present tense; b) future tense; c) past tense; d) all of the above 10. Which word in this sentence is the adjective? Funny Fanny makes everybody laugh. a) Fanny; b) everybody; c) funny; d) makes. 11. Which word in the sentence is a compound word? Max wanted to win the goldfish at the fair. a) goldfish; b) Max; c) fair; d) wanted Grandma’s grammar gripe A concerned elder’s quest for correct language usage in the texting generation DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING SEE DR. LINDA PAGE 15 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! $25 OFF Service Calls When You Present This Ad. New Customers Only. Keep the lights on. • GENERATORS • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! Cross over to reliable propane delivery! New Suburban Propane automatic delivery customers receive*: FREE Installation to existing gas lines Safety check On-site tank requirement assessment New customer pricing Automatic delivery Budget payment plans Web portal and mobile app for easy account management 24/7/365 emergency service PLUS 1-800-PROPANE Mention Code: 3822 *Offer expires 4/30/2024. Tank installation special applies to standard installation of above-ground tank. Offer applies to new residential customers with a fuel service agreement, subject to credit approval. Customer is responsible for the removal of competitor’s tank. Not to be combined with any other offer or discount. Other restrictions may apply. Valid at participating location only. Call for details. TIME OFFER LIMITED 1-800-776-7263

February 29 - March 13, 2024 FOCUS ON ELDER LAW North Salem News – Page 11 “Am I responsible for my parents’ debts?” is a common question I receive from clients. Unfortunately, the answer is typically, “it depends.” Debts can range from credit card debt, taxes, unpaid medicals bills to liens on real property and secured debts. Generally, any outstanding debts of a decedent will be paid from their probate or intestate estate. Their probate (if they passed away with a valid Last Will and Testament) or intestate (if they passed away without a will) estate consists of assets that are in the decedent’s name alone at the time of their death, including bank accounts, real property, cars, stock, etc. If there are assets in the decedent’s name alone, it is then the Executor or Administrator’s role to ensure that any outstanding debts are paid from the estate before any beneficiaries or heirs are given their inheritance.  There is also a hierarchy under New York Law as to which debts are to be paid first. For example, under New York Estate, Power and Trust Law (EPTL) Section 12-1.1, funeral expenses have first priority for payment followed by 1) debts entitled to a preference under the Laws of the United States and State of New York; 2) taxes assessed prior to death; 3) judgments and decrees against the decedent; and 4) all other bonds, sealed instruments, notes, etc. These debts must be paid first and if there are no funds remaining in the estate to pay the other debts, then the other creditors many not have any recourse. For example, credit card debt are the last debts of the estate that should be paid. The executor or beneficiaries are not typically personally liable for the debts, according to the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC); and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits collection attempts for credit card debt against a surviving relative or beneficiary.  But, what if there is no estate? What if the decedent passed away with no funds in his or her name alone? For example, many individuals use probate avoidance mechanisms, such as Joint Bank Accounts, Beneficiary Designations or Trusts to avoid having a probate estate. In most cases, if assets have named beneficiaries and pass “by operation of law,” the creditor typically has no recourse in being paid out of that asset. There are some exceptions to this rule in certain circumstances. For example, if the beneficiary accepted joint responsibility for the debt, then they can be held liable to the creditor for payment of the debt. We often see this with admission agreements to a nursing home or assisted living facility, where a family member or spouse signed the admission agreement for an ill or mentally incompetent family member or spouse. Additionally, medical debts can sometimes pass to a spouse because spouses have a “joint obligation of support.”  What about Student Loan Debt and Car Debt? Student Loan debt depends on the type of loan. Typically, if the loan is a federal loan, the loans will be discharged upon death. Private student loans depend on the terms of the lease agreement and may seek payment from a deceased person’s estate, or from the co-signor, if there is one. In regard to car debt and more specifically leases, one would logically think that if you die during the term of a car lease, that the leasing company would take the car back with all future lease payments being released. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Many early termination clauses in lease agreements state that all remaining lease payments are immediately due and payable upon the death of the signor and the car must be immediately returned as well.  In a nutshell, protecting yourself from becoming responsible for the debts of a relative is important and can be avoided by not agreeing to pay debts of a deceased person during their life, keeping your personal finances separate, and if you are the executor or administrator, making sure you are following New York law for paying creditors in accordance with the proper hierarchy.  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 CoEditor 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. Debts and death: Who is responsible? LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER There is a hierarchy under New York Law as to which debts are to be paid first.’ -Lauren C. Enea Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

Page 12 North Salem News - FebBY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Seniors in North Salem got a wholetine’s Day. The cupids at the town’s Recreationmorial Library worked together to colldelivered to residents of the Watervieter and Salem Hills Rehabilitation andhomebound folks, and anyone who neAssistant Library Director Jennifer took part in the project, which she clibrary’s had. “The kids really enjoyed making carsaid, adding that it was “a good teachreach out like that. We were glad to beThe cards were packaged up with crAccording to Superintendent of Rewarming endeavor was started in 2020people indoors, which was especially iscare facilities. It’s gotten bigger every year since, cards was impressive compared to the The healthcare facilities thanked th‘Valentines for Seniors’ initiative.” The cards brightened their residentsappreciated,” they said adding: “We argenerosity towards our communities.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF WATERVIEW HILLS AFFORDABLE Dumpster Rentals! CIRONE CARTING 845-533-5262 Same-Day Roll-Off Container Delivery Available 10-yard • 12-yard • 15-yard 20-yard • 30-yard CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE cironeconstruction.com The Consumer’s Choice for Discount Heating Oil! SAVE WITH OUR LOW C.O.D. PRICES! • No Contracts or Commitments • Oil Burner & A/C Service/Tune-ups • Quality Heating Oil • Senior Citizen & Volume Discounts • Heating, Cooling & Generator Installations • Price Matching (Restrictions apply) Order online at: www.codoil.com CALL US TODAY AND SAVE! 914.737.7769 FEELINlov

ruary 29 - March 13, 2024 Page 13 e lotta love sent their way this Valenn Department and Ruth Keeler Melect 600 handmade cards, which were ew Nursing and Rehabilitation Cend Healthcare Center in Croton Falls, eeded a little extra cheer. Gileno said both children and adults called one of the “most exciting” the rds for people they didn’t know,” she hing moment, that they were able to e a part of it.” rossword puzzle books and cookies. ecreation Lauren Rosasco, the heart0 after the COVID pandemic forced solating for seniors and folks in health she said, adding that the number of size of the town’s population. e town and library for its “wonderful s’ day and made them “feel loved and re so thankful for their kindness and Service: 914-669-9679 Auto Sales: 914-485-1195 Fax: 914-669-9685 6 Dingle Ridge Road - North Salem, NY 10560 meccanicshop.com 17 Miller Rd. Mahopac 845-621-1222 RooneyOrtho.com Rooney Orthodontics Children & Adults NG THE ve!

Page 14 – North Salem News OPINION February 29 - March 13, 2024 people ask the all-knowing oracle Google is, “How often is a leap year in the U.S.?” Once upon a time, if someone asked a friend that question, the friend would assume it was akin to being asked, “Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb,” and would likely reply with equal snarkiness, “Go take a leap, will ya.” What happens if you’re a Leap Day baby? Well, other than the healthful outcome of eating birthday cake only 25% as often as other people, in non– leap years, you celebrate on Feb. 28 or March 1, whichever comes first. Jeepers Leapers Did you know Leap Day babies are called “leaplings” or “leapers”? I don’t understand how the International Olympic Committee missed the obvious cross-marketing opportunity to establish a track and field event in which only Leapers compete. There reportedly are 4 million Leapers in the world, so there’d be no shortage of qualifying athletes. Among Leapers are rapper Ja Rule, motivational speaker Tony Robbins and some flighty character named Superman. But my favorite in this elite club is actor Alex Rocco. His name probably doesn’t ring a bell, but you may recognize him by his character name of Moe Green, the Las Vegas casino owner in The Godfather. Hey, here’s looking at you, Alex. Oops! Too soon? Who’s the rocket scientist that came up with the idea for Leap Year? It in fact was a different kind of scientist, a Greek astronomer who worked for Julius Caesar. I will stop right here before taking a perilous leap of faith into explaining the astronomical rationale for Leap Year. I never was good at Earth Science, and I’m not about to embarrass myself at this late date. All we need know for now is that it is a spry 2,070 years old, give or take a year, leap or otherwise. The Calendar’s Rodney Dangerfield In some ways, Leap Years are like the calendar’s Rodney Dangerfield. They can struggle to get the respect they so richly deserve. Consider these shameful examples … The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies (a real thing, 11,000 members strong) has lobbied technology gatekeepers like Microsoft to include Feb. 29 as an option when someone enters their birthdate online. Progress reportedly is being made on that discriminatory practice. Feb. 29 also bears the weight of being the first fateful day (in 1692) that arrests were made in Salem, Mass., infamous home of the eponymous witch trials that resulted in 20 fanatical executions of innocents. Remember Toys “R” Us and its mascot Geoffrey, he of the lengthy neck? Until it was fixed, at one point young Leapers who wanted to get a personalized birthday card from the celebrity giraffe were out of luck because Feb. 29 was not programmed into the retailer’s computer system. Not that there aren’t some positives to be gleaned from Leap Day. If you’re a single guy in Ireland, you might want to make yourself readily available on Feb. 29, the day when it’s de rigueur for the ladies to flip the script and propose marriage to the gentlemen. No wonder Leap Day in the Emerald Isle also answers to the moniker Bachelor’s Day. The first Academy Award won by an African American went to Supporting Actress nominee Hattie McDaniel as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.” That milestone Oscars ceremony took place Feb. 29, 1940. Bruce Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He will appear in the Ariane One-Act Festival April 12-14 at Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison in “The Beauty of Numbers.” For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. APAR FROM PAGE 8 Editorial Submissions Press releases and photos should be submitted to North Salem News by the Thursday before the next publication date. Submissons can be emailed to [email protected] or mail it to North Salem News, 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned. Advertise With Us When you advertise with North Salem News, you are reaching thousands of households and businesses throughout North Salem. To advertise or to place a classified, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 or email [email protected]. Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the North Salem News Bulletin Board and reach over 3,500 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 todayMy Community Bulletin Board Your business card could be here. Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to find out how. Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in the North Salem News Bulletin Board and reach over 3,500 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! 845-278-7312 ALL FUEL CO. The Shelley Family Home Heating Fuel 1606 Rte 22, Brewster • Burner Sales, Service & Installation • Tank Removal & Installation • Propane Available for Cooking & Heating

February 29 - March 13, 2024 OPINION North Salem News – Page 15 12. Which word uses a prefix in the sentence? Would you please retell the story? a) you; b) retell; c) would; d) please 13. Which two words are homonyms? a) sea see; b) too two; c) waist waste; d) all the above 14. Which word is the adverb in the sentence? Aunt Jane spoke softly. a) Aunt; b) Jane; c) spoke; d) softly 15. Which word is the preposition in the sentence? Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue went into the store. a) Uncle; b) Joe; c) into; d) store 16. Which word is the conjunction in the sentence? Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue went into the store. a) and; b) the; c) into; d) store 17. Which word is the helping verb in the sentence? Jack and Jill are helping the farmer. a) helping; b) are; c) Jack; d) Jill 18. Which punctuation mark is used to separate a series of adjectives in a sentence? a) comma; b) period; c) question mark; d) exclamation point 19. A word or group of words that expresses strong feelings is called a) a conjunction; b) interjection; c) question; d) none of the above 20. What punctuation marks do you put before and after the exact words of a speaker? a) quotation marks; b) colon; c) period; d) dash Answers: 1) c; 2) d; 3) c; 4) d; 5) d; 6) a; 7) b; 8) a; 9) c; 10) c; 11) a; 12) b; 13) d; 13) d; 14) d; 15) c; 16) a; 17) b; 18) a; 19) b; 20) a Since there’s 20 questions, count each as five points. If she misses more than 7 questions, that means she received a 65%. You may suggest at that point that your son or daughter-in-law contact her English teacher to find out if grammar will be taught at some point. If they find out that it has been taught, and others are doing fine, they may consider going online or hiring a tutor to help her brush up. -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda, along with her husband, Dr. Al, own Strong Learning Tutoring and Test Prep serving Westchester and Putnam Counties for over 40 years. Strong Learning tutors students K-12 in any subject, in person or remotely. Drs. Linda and Al are also the authors of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids,” available on Amazon and at stronglearning.com. DR. LINDA FROM PAGE 10 Happily Ever After 914.948.1500 This ad is donated by Fundraiser to benefit people with disabilities Friday, April 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Travelers Rest, 25 Rte. 100, Ossining, NY 10562 $75 per person includes: 6:30 - 10 pm - Beer & Wine Open Bar 6:30 -7 pm - Appetizers 7 - 8 pm - Buffet dinner, dessert, soda/coffee 8 - 10 pm - 9 Comedians For tickets go to: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/b832fde8-d716-4a4f-af98-c73a84064a2a Or scan the QR code: CAREERS Support Solutions is a private non-profit that finds productive employment for individuals with disabilities. We provide on-the-job training and ongoing support services at no cost to our clients, their families or employers. Sponsorships Available Fundraiser to benefit people with disabilities Friday, April 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Travelers Rest, 25 Rte. 100, Ossining, NY 10562 COMEDIAN LINEUP CAREERS Support Solutions is a private non-profit that finds productive employment for individuals with disabilities. We provide on-the-job training and ongoing support services at no cost to our clients, their families or employers. Fundraiser to benefit people with disabilities Friday, April 12, 2024 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm Travelers Rest, 25 Rte. 100, Ossining, NY 10562 COMEDIAN LINEUP CAREERS Support Solutions is a private non-profit that finds productive employment for individuals with disabilities. We provide on-the-job training and ongoing support services at no cost to our clients, their families or employers.

Sports Page 16 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 Tigers and BYSNS exit playoffs Girls bowling team earns Section 1 runner-up The BYSNS finished the season with a record of 11-10-1. PHOTO: RICH MONETTI The Tigers will lose Luke Loftus and Nate Baer to graduation. PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIO VARSITY ROUNDUP BOYS BASKETBALL Bronxville 58, North Salem 45 Thursday, Feb. 15 Just after Valentine’s Day, the Tigers’ hearts were broken with a season-ending loss to Bronxville in the opening round of the section tournament. 9th seeded North Salem began their playoff campaign on the road against the #8 seed Broncos, battling until the final whistle but coming up short to close out the year. The offense was powered by a trio of standout performances, with Max Cotrone, Connor Meehan, and Luke Loftus all chipping in 11 points each. “Our record is not what we would have wanted, but we were competitive and played hard all year,” said Coach Chris Regan, who also took time to highlight the team’s many achievements this season. “We were the Pawling Tournament Champions, and runner up in the North Salem Booster Club Tournament, and our team achieved the New York State Team scholar athlete award. Our program’s Dunk Pink Fundraiser raised $2650.00 for the Side-Out Foundation’s campaign to end Breast Cancer. While the win total was low, the team had fun and enjoyed being around each other.” With the season now over, the Tigers will now look to the future. “JV Coach Chris Brandt and I are already looking forward to next season. We have three starters returning on varsity, and many players coming up from a JV team that was very competitive 10-7 and exciting to watch,” Regan added. North Salem will now say farewell to seniors Nate Baer, Reilly Denneen, Nick Foglia, Peter Guiliano, Luke Loftus, Matt Moia, and David Torres. GIRLS BASKETBALL The Tigers were set to square off against Alexander Hamilton in the sectional semifinal on Sunday, Feb. 25, after press time for this issue. BOWLING Section Championships Monday, Feb. 12 The Tigers took to the lanes at Fishkill Bowl, coming away as the Section 1 small school runner-up. The squad, consisting of Jenna Andrews, Isabella Halstead, Olivia Kasdan, Eowyn Keenan, Madeline Killeen, Kaitlin Mantis, Georgia Rubini, Erika Saez, and Rebecca Senatore finished behind champions Nanuet. BYSNS ICE HOCKEY BYSNS 3, Carmel 2 (OT) Friday, Feb. 16, at Brewster Ice Arena An overtime goal by Ryan Dean, assisted by AJ Jones (2A), gave No. 4 Brewster/Yorktown/ Somers/North Salem (BYSNS) a 3-2 win against No. 13 Carmel in the opening round of the Section 1 Division 1 Tournament. “I knew that I had to position myself to make a huge play in overtime,” Dean said. “Carmel lost the puck in front of the net and I took the opportunity to tap it in past the goalie (Daniel Burrone). He made great saves all game. This was a huge goal to move on to the next round of playoffs. This was the biggest goal I’ve had playing varsity and will definitely remember it forever. Having a great team supporting each other makes this win even better.” Dylan Weber (19 saves), Lucas Salvatore (2G), and Jordan Millar (1A) did the job for BYSNS. “Carmel played a great game,” said BYSNS coach John Veteri. “We came out strong but had to work for it tonight. We stuck to the game plan and played unselfish hockey. Our goalie Dylan stood on his head for us.” Scarsdale 5, BYSNS 3 Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Brewster Ice Arena No. 4 seeded BYSNS hosted No. 5 Scarsdale in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Division 1 Tournament. The BYSNS gave the visitors a battle before falling 5-3 at the Brewster Ice Arena, ending its season. “We played great,” said Coach John Veteri. “The kids did everything I asked of them. Played their hearts out and never gave up. I’m proud of them.” The Bisons showed that heart in the second period, when trailing 2-0, scored to cut the Scarsdale advantage in half. Scoring a power-play goal for BYSNS was Lucas Salvatore, with the assists coming from AJ Jones and Michael Bonelli. Scarsdale increased its lead to 4-1 with two goals to start the scoring in the third period. The BYSNS fought back though with a power-play goal by Matteo Guastadisegni, assisted by Jordan Millar and Jones. Scarsdale then scored again, followed by a goal from Guastadisegni, assisted by Millar and Salvatore, to finish the game’s scoring. Dylan Weber did the job in goal with 25 saves, for the squad that finished with a 11-10-1 overall record. “I think this year as a whole was a success,” Veteri said. “If you start your season 0-4 against some tough teams and can battle back to be 10-9-1 (regular season) with the No. 4 seed and two home sectional games, what more can you ask for. We left everything we had on the ice.” Mike Sabini, Rich Monetti, and Tom Walogorsky contributed to this report.

February 29 - March 13, 2024 LEISURE North Salem News – Page 17 To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! For puzzle solutions, please see theparamountrehab.com CLUES ACROSS 1. Gene type 5. Persian male given name 10. Type of protection 12. Cloud 14. One who returns to life 16. Gym class 18. General’s assistant (abbr.) 19. Baby’s dining accessory 20. Enchantress 22. Prefix denoting “in a” 23. Spiritual leader 25. Cavities 26. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.) 27. Foot (Latin) 28. Sweet potato 30. Pharaoh of Lower Egypt 31. Land 33. More inquisitive 35. Dog breed: __ Apso 37. Stood up 38. Direct and uninhibited 40. Authorless 41. Blocking type of drug (abbr.) 42. Retrospective analysis (abbr.) 44. Root mean square (abbr.) 45. Macaws 48. Actress Remini 50. Polynesian wrapped skirt 52. City of Angels hoops team (abbr.) 53. Fitzgerald and Baker are two 55. Bowling alley must-have 56. A way to cool down 57. Ethnic group in Asia 58. A way to alter 63. Set of five 65. Removes from the record 66. Dummies 67. Set period in office CLUES DOWN 1. DC Comics superhero 2. Brew 3. Play 4. Single-celled animals 5. Rough to the touch 6. Small island (British) 7. Often noted alongside cons 8. Preparation of rootstock 9. Atomic #44 10. Egyptian unit of capacity 11. About secretary 13. Particular groups 15. Poke fun at 17. Make certain that something occurs 18. Financial term 21. Justify 23. Arbiter 24. 007’s creato 27. Czech name for Prague 29. Groans 32. American time 34. No seats available 35. __ Stahl, journalist 36. Cleft lip 39. Talk incessantly 40. Expresses atomic and molecular weights (abbr.) 43. A part of a river where the current is very fast 44. Curdled milk 46. Running competitions 47. A team’s best pitcher 49. Carthaginian explorer 51. World-renowned city 54. Most common Japanese surname 59. The bill in a restaurant 60. They __ 61. City of Angels football team (abbr.) 62. Distinctive practice 64. One quintillion bytes PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 02/08/24 Shortbread Dips Makes a dozen • 10-1/2 ounces soft butter • 4-1/2 ounces golden caster sugar • 10-1/2 ounces plain flour [all-purpose] • 1-3/4 ounces corn flour [cornstarch] • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt • 5 ounces dark chocolate • 5 ounces white chocolate • 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios • 2 tablespoons freeze-dried raspberries Preheat the oven to 340 F. Grease an 8-inch square baking tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Add in both the flours plus the sea salt and stir until it begins to come together, though take care not to overwork the dough. Bring the dough together with your hands and press the mixture into the prepared tin. Flatten the surface of the shortbread with the back of a spoon and use a fork to prick marks along the length of the fingers. Bake for 45 minutes until pale golden. Remove from the oven and, with a knife, mark lines where you are going to cut the shortbread. Leave to cool in the tin. Melt the dark and white chocolate separately in heatproof bowls set over a pan of gently simmering water. Take each of your shortbread fingers and use a teaspoon to coat one-third with the chocolate. Sprinkle pistachios or freeze-dried raspberries over the chocolate end and allow to set. Serve with a hot cuppa, or they will keep in an airtight container for up to four days. St. Patrick’s Day idea: Use green sprinkles in lieu of raspberries on the ends of the other biscuits for some extra green flare. Serve with Irish coffee or hot chocolate spiked with Irish Cream liqueur. Note: Caster sugar is finely ground granulated sugar. Its texture falls between granulated sugar and confectioner’s sugar. If you can’t find caster sugar, use a spice grinder to grind granulated sugar up to a finer texture.  Enjoy shortbread this St. Patrick’s Day Ireland’s rich pasture and lush land has made the Emerald Isle well known for its butter. In fact, butter long has been a popular export of this western European nation. The southwestern coast of Ireland has been known for producing rich and flavorful butter since the late 1700s. Although butter is delicious in many different applications, it’s right at home in baked goods, particularly shortbread biscuits. Shortbread is commonly eaten in Ireland and in neighboring Scotland, where this recipe originated. For a tasty St. Patrick’s Day dessert, try this recipe for “Shortbread Dips” from “The Hebridean Baker” (Sourcebooks) by Coinneach MacLeod.

Page 18 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 Town of North Salem, we’ve created a quick, easy and safe experience for ALL of our customers,” he said. The project was made possible because of funding from New York City’s “congestion tax,” which is an attempt to reduce traffic and pollution by charging higher prices to travel in certain areas. Arroyo went on to slam U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey (5th CD) for opposing the tax. (Gottheimer argues that the tax is estimated to generate $3.4 billion a year, three times New York’s legally mandate $1 billion target and that New York and the MTA could exempt all NJ crossings from the congestion tax and still raised $1.4 billion.) Arroyo noted that Purdy’s is the third accessibility project on Metro-North’s Harlem line this year. Hartsdale and Scarsdale have both undergone recent accessibility upgrades. The Purdy’s upgrades account for $6.8 million of the total $21 million for all three projects. Arroyo said he was hopeful that money from the congestion tax would help the rail service continue to improve accessibility for customers throughout the entire Metro North system. “The MTA has dramatically increased service while having to cut its budget, yet some like Gottheimer haven’t lifted a finger to fix the New Jersey Transit service problems they’re having with their collapsing financial situation. So much for being a problem solver over there,” said Arroyo, pointing to the new elevator. “This is what caring about transit looks like.” State Sen. Pete Harckham (D-Lewisboro) also praised the MTA. The Purdy’s Station project “symbolized a commitment to the Harlem Line, and a commitment to the northern end of the rail by Metro North,” he said. “This is about accessibility; it’s about convenience for riders; and it’s about investing in the system,” Harckham added. Assemblyman Chris Burdick (D-Bedford), a member of the state’s Committee on People with Disabilities, commended the “team effort” behind the project. He said it shows how much the state values “inclusivity” desires to continue that mission going forward -- not only for folks who use wheelchairs to get around but for older public transit riders. Westchester County Executive George Latimer was represented at the event by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. Jenkins didn’t speak, but Latimer sent along a statement. “Accessibility is the cornerstone of progress, and with the opening of the new elevator at Purdy’s Station, the MTA is ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access this vital transportation network,” wrote Latimer, adding: “This milestone reflects our joint commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected community for all.” “The installation of this elevator should foster better access from the hamlet of Purdys, encourage people to walk to the train and not rely on cars so much. The safety mechanisms in place are far superior to what we had before when there was no elevator, no sidewalk. This should be good for the residents,” Brockmeyer told North Salem News. Before introducing the speakers, MTA Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi called the elevator project an “important milestone,” and noted that it’s been “a long time coming.” (The stairs were closed off in 2012.) The MTA started working with the town and the DOT about five years ago making “the improvements necessary to be able to pull this off,” she said, adding that it’s now “made good” on its promised to “the community and everybody who uses this station.” (The original train station was opened in 1847.) Purdy’s Station may not be the “busiest” it has but there are still 69 trains that stop there every weekday and 50 on the weekends, Rinaldi said. “Now we’ve got this fully accessible station, which provides opportunities and mobility to all of our customers,” she said, adding: “This is what Metro-North is all about.” Rinaldi also pointed out that she’d spotted a lot of Connecticut license plates on cars parked in the lot, meaning to her that Purdy’s Station is “really the linchpin of regional mobility.” She thanked the construction and development team that worked on the project. “They’re not done yet. There’s funding for three more Metro-North stations in the current capital program, Woodlawn, Williams Bridge, and the Botanical Garden. We’re excited to get going on those projects as well. More mobility, more accessibility, more possibility for our customers,” she said. Rinaldi also took the opportunity to tout Metro-North’s efforts to come back since the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced ridership. Calling providing “excellent customer service” and “improving regional mobility,” PURDYS FROM PAGE 1 Martin Aronchick, Christopher Brockmeyer, Katherine Daniels, and Warren Lucas take the inaugural elevator ride. PHOTO: CAROL REIF SEE PURDYS PAGE 22 719 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. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. 24-HOUR PROBLEM GAMING HOTLINE: 1-877-8-HOPENY (846-7369) Newburgh, NY RWHudsonValleyNY.com I-84 | Exit 36B I-87 | Exit 17 Earn Entries All Month Long! Friday, March 29 • 10pm & Sunday, March 31 • 4pm Double your luck with a chance to win a Chevy Colorado*! *Actual models and colors may vary. DOUBLE YOUR LUCK CHEVY COLORADO DRAWING

North Salem News – Page 19 Mary Ann Barbieri Mary Ann Barbieri (Conroy), formerly of North Salem, passed away on February 7. Mary Ann was born on December 28, 1934 in Yonkers. Daughter of the late Edwin and Jane (Fell) Conroy. She married Robert Barbieri on April 18, 1959 in Mt. Vernon. Mary Ann attended Katherine Gibbs Business School in Manhattan and had a successful career as an executive secretary for several businesses including Sports Illustrated and Movielab in NYC. She later chose to become a stay at home mom and was very active in PTA, even serving as president. Mary Ann was a North Salem resident for many years and enjoyed being a member of Pehquenakonck Country Club, the North Salem Democratic Club, and the North Salem Senior Citizens. She also had a strong connection with St. Joseph’s Church and its Senior Citizens Group. She was an avid golfer and shopper. Mary Ann’s greatest joy was spending time with family, and was known for welcoming them with open arms for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations. Her grandchildren have fond memories of her penne alla vodka as well as corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day. Mary Ann is survived by her son Robert (Maria); daughter Jayne (Matthew); daughter Nancy (Thomas); and seven grandchildren, Kathryn, Bryan, Alison, Michael, Charles, TJ and Annie. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Robert. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Thursday, February 15, at St. Joseph’s Church in Somers, followed by the interment in Peach Pond Cemetery in North Salem. Louis A. DiAgostino Louis A. DiAgostino passed away on February 14, 2024, lovingly surrounded by his wife and children. He was 95 years old. Lou was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, friend, and hero to many. Lou and Anne (née Lorenz) the love of his life, were blessed to celebrate 70 loving years of marriage this past June 13. Lou was predeceased by his six siblings Steve, Tony, Millie, Ida, Angie, and Rosie and by his dear son-in-law Tom Bigler, daughter-in-law Tracy DiAgostino, and beautiful grandson Anthony Bigler. Besides his beloved wife, Lou is survived by his adoring children, Catherine Bigler of Brewster, Barbara Paesano (Danny) of Brewster, Louis M. DiAgostino (fi Mickey) of College Point, Sarah Sorgie (Chris) of Ridgefield, and Scott Cunningham (Debbie) of New Fairfield who he considered a second son; his grandchildren who he was so proud of Tommy Bigler (Maddy), Barbara Ford (Kenny), Susan Bigler (fi Phil), Daniel Paesano (Emily), Ryan Bigler (Erin), Alyssa Paesano, Cassidy DiAgostino (fi Ryan), Louis J. and Harlee DiAgostino, Julia, Anna, and Matthew Sorgie, Scott John and Laura Cunningham; and his five great-grandchildren who he absolutely adored, Kenneth, Mia, Rhett, Makayla, and Thomas as well as two on the way, Phillip and Parker. Lou is also survived by his in-laws John and Arlene Lawrence, Barbara Kouris, William Carson, and Rosemary Williams, an abundance of loving nieces and nephews, and friends from all phases of his life. Lou was born the son of Italian immigrants, Maria (Porreca) and Constantino DiAgostino in Astoria, Queens during the Great Depression. Times were tough and as an infant his bed was a dresser drawer. Eventually he shared a bed with his two older brothers. His cousin Angelo Maglio lived next-door and was a big part of his early life. At the age of 14 Lou began working in a tire shop in Manhattan. As was the custom during the Depression, Lou was required to turn his wages over to his mom, but he managed to squirrel away enough money to buy himself a bicycle, his prize possession at the time. Lou enjoyed playing stick ball in the street, swimming in the East River, and riding his bicycle long distances with his best friend John Sapieta, often from Astoria to Manhasset LI and back again. He and his cousin Angelo and friends went to many Italian feasts in his neighborhood and would walk across the Triboro bridge to the East Harlem Giglio, or hop on the subway to the San Genaro Feast. Lou was an avid NY Yankees fan and went to many Yankee games at the stadium, often with his dad. After work at the tire shop, he would sometimes go to the Paramount Theatre in Times Square, the Roxy, and the Capital Theatre, and for 50 cents would enjoy concerts including Frank Sinatra and the Mills Brothers. Lou is a Purple Heart veteran and a proud member of the Second Division. After seeing both of his brothers go off to WWII and thankfully return safely, he was sent off to combat in the Korean War where he met his lifelong buddy Joe Caramico and good buddy Mario DiCicco (aka Gunga), who served alongside him throughout the war. Lou suffered two injuries during his service. He was part of the May Massacre and saw 102 straight days of battle capturing Fools Mountain. He also fought in the battles of Bloody Ridge, Heartbreak Ridge and Operation Touchdown. After a year and a half in Korea, he returned stateside. During one of his military leaves he went roller skating with his cousin Angelo. There he met the love of his life, Anne. With the encouragement of his cousin, he asked Anne to skate with him and later drove her and her friends home in his shiny new Packard. Nine months later they were married and moved in with his brother and sister-in-law on LI. They then lived in apartments in Astoria and Flushing Queens, before making their home in College Point, Queens where they raised their family. Their home was filled with love, laughter, profound patriotism, discipline, and frequent OBITUARIES SEE OBITUARIESPAGE 20 February 29 - March 13, 2024 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com • [email protected] DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor • BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director • RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah Railroad Station. • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars • Monuments & inscriptions available. FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options Serving all Faiths since 1858 • Cremations and Burials WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? “Advertising in Halston Media’s publications is one of the best investments the Anglebrook Golf Club has ever made. The response far exceeded our expectations, and most of the inquiries resulted in booking banquets, private parties, golf outings and even enlisting new members.” - Matt Sullivan, General Manager, Anglebrook Golf Club

guests. They often entertained friends at summer holiday barbecues and family at Sunday dinners and holidays. A summer tradition was to use his vacation time every Monday to take his family to Bayville Beach along with extended family and friends. Lou loved to drive and would take his family on a road trip vacation somewhere in the northeast each summer. When his dear friend and hunting buddy, Sandy Esposito moved to California, Lou saved to buy a new station wagon in order to drive his family across country on the trip of a lifetime and visit his friend in California. Lou’s dear friend Tommy Pandolfi introduced him to upstate New York and hunting. Eventually Lou and his friends Tommy and Sandy, purchased a piece of property of their own and enjoyed fall and spring weekends there with their families, as well as hunting trips in November. As time went on most of Lou’s upstate trips were with his sons, son-in-laws, and their close friends. While the kids were hunting in the woods and target shooting, Lou would grill up food for everyone. His legacy upstate will live on through his sons, grandsons and great grandsons. Eventually, Lou and Anne were introduced to Peach Lake. After renting a cottage there, they purchased their own small cottage. Every summer Lou looked forward to his weekends at Peach Lake. He enjoyed nothing more than sitting on the third base sideline, near home plate, watching his sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons play softball. Another Sunday ritual was morning breakfasts of bacon and eggs on a roll, not only for his family, but any Peach Lake friends that wanted to come by. In fact, he often insisted they come by for breakfast. Throughout his life Lou worked two, and sometimes three jobs to provide for his family. After the war Lou worked for Grumman Aerospace for almost 30 years on the A-6A Intruder, F9F-6 Cougar Jet, and HU16 Albatross. He then worked for Jaffe as a member of the Steam Fitters Union driving trucks and making deliveries. From the age of 18 until he was 81 Lou worked part time as an auto mechanic at the same service station, first named Walt & Pete’s and then L&M, located in Astoria, where he made many lifelong friends. Lou had a passion for cars and Lionel trains from a young age. He was meticulous about his cars and washed and waxed them regularly, both his as well as the cars of others, to a brilliant shine. He enjoyed collecting Lionel trains and when his children were young, he made a train layout in his basement for them and his nieces and nephews to enjoy. Along with his children and grandchildren, he often visited train museums and train shows, and even had the opportunity to ride on a locomotive. From a young age Lou was a very giving person. As a teenager he’d often help his friend’s uncle with moving jobs, without pay, just to help people out. His giving ways continued throughout his life repairing cars for friends and relatives, as a newlywed and beyond providing family members a place to live while they got on their feet or were in troubled times, being a foster father for Catholic Charities, and always including his children’s friends in everything they did. He faithfully supported several charities throughout his life, especially those for disabled veterans. Lou endured a very long list of surgeries and illnesses throughout his life and persevered through each challenge far beyond the expectations of medical professionals. He had an iron constitution and intense determination to live for his wife and his family. He never lost his sense of humor even in multiple emergency situations in the ER. Expected to die shortly after his hospitalization in October, Lou lived to see his 95th birthday on January 1st out of sheer willpower and resolve. His long, tough battle and suffering ended on Valentine’s Day, appropriately for a man who loved so deeply. Lou never failed to tell his wife and family how much he loved them. He was adored by his nieces and nephews and beloved by his Peach Lake family, friends, College Point neighbors, and many co-workers, especially the guys from L&M. He was an inspiration to many by the way he lived his life. He will be missed beyond words by so many and will be carried in our hearts forever. We love you with all our hearts and always will. The Family received friends and family at Beecher Funeral Home in Brewster on Sunday, February 18. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Ridgefield, CT on Monday, February 19. Interment followed at Peach Pond Cemetery in North Salem. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Page 20 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 OBITUARIES FROM PAGE 19 ROCK FROM PAGE 4 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. CoveCare Center Virtual Trivia Night Thursday, Mar. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Get your friends together and host a Trivia Party! Join in for a fun night of virtual trivia and laughs to support the programs and services of CoveCare Center! Prizes will be awarded to the first place team, and beat team name. Teams of up to 10 will compete through 4 rounds of trivia (8 questions per round). A surprise “Google proof ” final round to keep it interesting (name that tune, cross word puzzle, etc.) All team participants are encouraged to gather in one location and sign on to the event together. Host a trivia party! SEE ROCK PAGE 23

February 29 - March 13, 2024 North Salem News – Page 21 Ultimate Pools & Custom Pool Liners 2023 pricing thru 1/31/24 Be Ready to Swim Summer 2024! Sales & Installation thelinerspecialistsny.com 1214 RT 52 • Carmel, NY 10512 (845) 225-4124 • [email protected] TM Openings • Closings • Vinyl Pool Renovations • Safety Covers Order Now & $AVE! PISAPAVING.COM • 914-490-1375 Authorized Installer of Unilock & Cambridge • All Types of Masonry • Stone Work • Asphalt • Paving • Curtain Drains • Driveways • Parking Lots • Sidewalks • Retaining Walls • Blacktop • Roads Specializing in Asphalt & Masonry HAPPY HOUR! Daily from 4-6 and again from 9-11 on Thurs., Fri and Saturday nights. OUTDOOR PATIO Enjoy Dining on our Heated Covered Patio Offer expires 3/1/24 Offer expires 3/1/24 BREWSTER PAINT & DECORATING CENTER Family Owned and Operated Since 1989 38 ARGONNE RD • BREWSTER, NEW YORK 10509 $10 OFF Call today and let us make sure you get the best paint and advice to get your project done right. Hurry, this exclusive offer ends 09/01/2023. Offer valid for $10 off retailer’s suggested retail price per gallon of up to five (5) gallons of Benjamin Moore® premium products. Excludes Aura®. Redeemable only at participating retailers. Limit one per customer. Products may vary from store to store. Subject to availability. Retailer reserves the right to cancel this offer at any time without notice. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer expires 09/01/2023. ©2021 Benjamin Moore & Co. Arborcoat, Aura, ben, Benjamin Moore, Gennex, Regal, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. 7/21 845-279-7686 WWW.BREWSTERPAINTANDDECORATING.COM HOURS: Mon-Fri 6am - 5:30pm Sat 6:30am - 4pm Summer 2023 • Zone 2 Kick Off Summer With New Color! BrewsterPaint-frontCVR-SH-0523.indd 1 4/18/23 4:33 PM Reach up to 125,000 Homes 125,000 Homes in the Community’s Premiere Marketing Magazine Only LOCAL Advertisements (No National Ad Distractions) GLOSSY On Every Page Choose Any Target Among FIVE 25,000 MAILED ZONES Work With a Local Sales Team That Will Talk Up Your Business in the Community! Call Pam Zacotinsky Today at 845-661-0748 for details or For more information, visit www.HalstonMedia.com. Scan Here to Get In Touch!

Page 22 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 Motorists ‘At Risk’ Harckham represents the 40th Senate District, which includes the towns of Somers, North Salem, Yorktown, Lewisboro, and Bedford. He pointed to “a surge in traffic, rising repair costs, and a proliferation of potholes” that’s left local communities “struggling to keep our roadways safe.” CHIPS has helped maintain decent road conditions statewide, but “there has been marked deterioration in many areas, like the Hudson Valley, because of climate change,” Harckham said in a press release. “Looking ahead, we can see that more, not less investments will have to be made for our local roads to stay safe for motorists, and those increases should be on the books this year,” the senator insisted, emphasizing: “Simply, cuts to CHIPS puts motorists on New York roads at risk.” New York is in the third year of a five-year capital plan for the state’s Department of Transportation to repair the local road system. Inside of that plan is $538.1 million for annual funding of CHIPS. Record-high inflation rates and increased costs for highway materials on top of worsening infrastructure have caused major problems for municipalities, which is why the state Legislature added $60 million for a total of $598 million to CHIPS in last year’s budget, Harckham said. Hochul’s executive budget would CHIPS funding back to $538 million. Last year’s investment helped municipalities deal with muchneeded repairs to local roads, but now circumstances require more funding, not less, Harckham said, noting that he’s called for an additional $2 billion in the state budget for highway improvements. (That’s a different bucket of money. CHIPS is for use on local roads only.) A recent report from TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based transportation research organization, noted that New York’s roadways cost the state’s drivers $8.7 billion -- an average of $715 per motorist -- in repairs last year. Add congestion-related delays ($16.8 billion) and traffic crashes caused by unsafe roads ($11.2 billion) and the total “skyrockets” to $36.7 billion, Harckham added. According to Harckham, local governments are responsible for maintaining 85 percent of all roads statewide, with towns responsible for the most -- 62.9 percent. Collateral Damage The Association of Towns (AOT) of the State of New York states that every dollar of road and bridge maintenance saves New York drivers four to five dollars in future repairs. In total, New York drivers lose an average of $2,768 a year because of bad, unsafe roads and traffic jams, the AOT stats found. In the organization’s educated opinion, “reliable funding sources like CHIPS allow towns to engage in long-term capital planning.” The American Society of Engineers released a report that found half of New York’s roads are in fair or poor condition and that 10 percent of its bridges are in poor condition. The national transportation advocacy organization TRIP claims that inadequate state and local funding has resulted in 43 percent of major local and state roads and highways are in poor to mediocre condition, according to one media report. CHIPS FROM PAGE 6 part of the mission, she said that last year, it chalked up an on-time performance of 97 percent. “Our customers are coming back. We’re thrilled to see them and now more of them can come back here to Purdy’s Station and take advantage of the terrific Metro North service,” Rinaldi said. After the speeches were made, Rinaldi stepped back up to the mic. “The last time I was here, I actually scrambled up that hill,” she said pointing towards Route 116. “It was all poison ivy. It was not pretty.” TRACKING HISTORY Purdy’s takes its name from the family of Daniel Pardieus who purchased large tracts of land in the area for farming in the late 18th century, MetroNorth said. His grandson, Isaac Hart Purdy, made an agreement with the New York & Harlem Railroad to establish a station and cattle yard. The railroad arrived in the summer of 1847, paying a dollar for use of the land, in exchange for the guarantee of trains making “regular stops” at Purdy’s. The pact saved train service in the mid-1950s when the New York Central Railroad, a Metro-North predecessor, sought to abandon or reduce service to the stop. A second station replacing the original was built between 1890-1910 and a second track was added through Purdy’s to Croton Falls by 1907. The station building was demolished in 1974 as Interstate 684 was built between Goldens Bridge and Brewster. PURDYS FROM PAGE 18 Scan Me! Read your local news online now! Scan Here To Read The News Of North Salem Scan Me! Scan Here To Get The Top Local News Delivered To Your Inbox Daily

Reservations are for teams of up to 10 at $25/per person. If you don’t have a team, they will find one for you! Mulligans are available at $30 per pack of 3. Limit of one (3) pack per team, rounds 1-3 only (cannot be used in the final round). If you are registering team members in addition to yourself, please email [email protected]  with your team members’ names and email addresses. As a nonprofit organization, CoveCare Center relies on your support to continue to provide the programs and services that our community so desperately needs. They have continued to experience a steady rise in services for those struggling with mental health and substance use issues, especially in our youth and senior populations. To learn more, visit https:// covecarecenter.org/covecarevirtual-trivia-night-2024/ A Message from the North Salem Senior Club Don’t you want to join us? We meet each month on the second Tuesday at the North Salem Firehouse at 301 Titicus Road. You must be over 50 years old, fill out the enrollment form and send it in with $15 dues. Members are looking forward to the Thanksgiving celebration, our holiday luncheon, Penny Social and Silent Auction, a variety of speakers and many fun-filled activities. So become a member and join us! Contact Jinx at jinx [email protected]. Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam We welcome you to join us for monthly discussions as we work to advance cross-racial and cross-cultural amity. Monthly events feature speakers, screenings, and presentations, followed by discussions. Many meetings are hybrid (in person and on Zoom). Find us on Facebook or contact raceamitynwp@gmail. com. February 29 - March 13, 2024 North Salem News – Page 23 ROCK FROM PAGE 20 BALANCED ROCK NO NEWS... 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. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # 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 North Salem News YES, I really enjoy North Salem News and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) 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 or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: The Somers Record Mahopac News Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times SECTION A  PUBLIC NOTICE  TOWN OF NORTH SALEM  WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY  PROPOSED CROTON FALLS COMMUNITY   GREENSPACE IMPROVEMENTS Sealed proposals for performing the work herein described will be received at the Town Clerk’s Office, 266 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560, until 10:00 AM on March 20, 2024 and immediately thereafter the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud in said office.  The work consists of constructing improvements at the Croton Falls Community Greenspace. The work includes asphalt and concrete sidewalks, curbing, asphalt parking, water service line, and appurtenant electrical work. Other related work shall include demolition, preparing, restoring and cleaning the project area all in accordance with the plans and specifications as directed by the Engineer. The project is partially funded by a Westchester County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and is subject to the CDBG requirements.   Contract Documents may be obtained at the above office of the Town Clerk on or after February 20, 2024, at 2:00 PM, upon payment of a cash deposit of $50.00 for each set, which will be refunded upon return of said Contract Documents in good condition within 30 days after receipt of Bids. Contract Documents will only be available for purchase and return, not for on-site review. Documents will also be available for free from the Town website https://www.northsalemny.org/bids.    Bids shall be made on the separate Bid Proposal Forms furnished with the Specifications and must be accompanied by a Bid Bond acceptable to the Town or a certified cashier’s check drawn on a solvent bank in the amount of not less than 5% of the total amount of the bid. Checks shall be made payable to the Town of North Salem, and are to be held by the Town as a guarantee for the proper execution and delivery of the Contract and bonds to secure the faithful performance thereof. In default of such execution and delivery of contract and bonds, the amount of the deposit represented by the check shall be forfeited to and retained by the Town of North Salem as liquidated damages.   Contractors bidding the project should visit the site prior to bid.    Proposals shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope bearing the name and address of the bidder, addressed to the Town of North Salem, 266 Titicus Road, North Salem, New York 10560 and endorsed “Croton Falls Community Greenspace Improvements”.   The Town of North Salem reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informality in any bid, and to award the contract to other than the lowest bidder if deemed in the best interest of the Town to do so.  By Order of The Town Board  By Maria Hlushko, Town Clerk  FOR SALE FINE, LIKE NEW FURNITURE:  * Empire style Sofa, 76" long  * Round, 5 ft. Dining Table, w leaves  * Wood King Size Bed frame (No matt.)             Sold our House!              914 232 3896  

Page 24 – North Salem News February 29 - March 13, 2024 2020 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are the registered service marks owned by the Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. First time on the market... Marcie Nolletti Licensed Real Estate Salesperson NY & CT Buying and Selling— I can make it happen! 338 Route 202 | Somers, NY 10589 Cell: (914) 424-5545 [email protected] | marcienolletti.com Whether you are selling or buying a home, I am experienced and knowledgeable of today’s ever changing market. You not only want, but need a qualified professional by your side. Contact me today for your free comprehensive market analysis and all your questions answered. this stunning and unique four bedroom home offers an open floor plan for the ultimate in entertaining. The exquisite design includes a chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, granite counters, spacious dining and custom bar. The hardwood floors flow throughout the first floor including a private office, two main floor bedrooms one of which is the primary suite with an oversized shower and walk-in closet. There are an additional two bedrooms upstairs with a beautiful full bath and bonus room. Enjoy the screened-in porch, oversized deck and beautiful patio that surrounds the heated Gunite pool. There is a separate outdoor covered pool cabana with a kitchen and bathroom. All set on over 33 acres of private land and trails, this home is the perfect retreat. Turk Hill is one of Putnam’s most prestigious areas offering bucolic scenery and yet close to train, highways, shopping and village. 65 miles to NYC and within close proximity to the train station. 198 Turk Hill Road, Brewster | Offered for $1,495,000.00