Mahopac News 05.12.22

VOL. NO. Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news. THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

Vowel Back to the drawing board
Man Candidates in limbo as district maps ordered redrawn
comes to
Fulmar! BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER to always have four Democrats and four they were unconstitutionally drawn with

Vowel Man handed out shields to kin- CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Republicans—require at least seven a bias toward Democratic candidates.
dergartners at Fulmar Elementary School
last week. e superhero comes to the votes before they can head to the State “Gerrymandering discrimination
school as an annual tradition to inspire
students to learn their vowels and im- For some politicians, the fate of their Legislature for approval. However, the hurts everyone because it tends to si-
prove their reading skills. However, Vowel
Man’s true identity remains shrouded in state and federal campaigns are now in committee never reached a compromise. lence minority voices,” McAllister wrote.
mystery. For more on the story, see page 8.
the hands of a man from Pittsburgh. Democrats drew up their own maps and “ en none of us receives the bene t
PHOTO COURTESY
OF MAHOPAC A court-appointed “special master” Republicans did the same, with no mid- from the input of the silenced.”

SCHOOL DISTRICT was given roughly a month to draw dle ground to be found. About a month later, the Court of Ap-

up new maps for New York’s Congres- at left legislators to draw up their peals upheld McAllister’s decision. With

sional and state Senate districts after own maps, which were approved in Feb- primary elections looming, the court

the old ones were tossed out by a state ruary mostly along party lines. Almost moved the case back to the Supreme

Supreme Court judge in March. e immediately, a lawsuit was led in Steu- Court with instructions to adopt consti-

Court of Appeals upheld the ruling in ben County by a group of New York vot- tutional maps “with all due haste.”

April, sending New York politics into ers. e task of drawing up new maps has

a frenzied state just months before the In his March 31 order tossing out the fallen to Jonathan Cervas, a redistricting

scheduled primaries. maps, a Supreme Court judge lambasted expert and researcher at Carnegie Mel-

the redistricting commission, which he lon University. Cervas has until May 16

BACKGROUND said “never embraced” the idea of com- to submit his revised maps. Written op-

Every 10 years, New York redraws promise. position will be accepted until May 20,

its political maps to account for chang- “Unfortunately, in recent years, the and the new maps will be issued on May

ing demographics based on census data. idea of ‘compromise’ has gotten the 24.

However, the process is susceptible to reputation of being something distaste-

gerrymandering, a practice by which the ful and something to be avoided,” Judge WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

political party in power tailors district Patrick McAllister wrote in his opinion. Candidates for the U.S.House of Rep-

boundaries for their bene t. “Yet compromise is the foundation upon resentatives and state Senate will remain

In an attempt to avoid gerrymander- which the U.S.Constitution,our political in a holding pattern until the new maps

ing, New York altered its constitution in system, and our country was established. are issued.

2014 and created an Independent Re- It is compromise that is the safest way to Westchester County Legislator Vedat

districting Commission with a balanced avoid the plague of partisan gerryman- Gashi, for example, entered the race for

representation. eoretically, new maps dering. If gerrymandering is allowed to Congressional District 16 with the in-

could not be drawn unless members of occur, then certain groups of voters will tention of mounting a primary challenge

opposing political parties were willing to be discriminated against and become dis- against incumbent Rep.Jamaal Bowman.

compromise. enfranchised.” However, as his home in Yorktown is on

Maps drawn up by the 10-member McAllister, in striking down the Con- SEE REDISTRICTING PAGE 2
redistricting commission—guaranteed gressional and state Senate maps, ruled

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OBITUARIES pg 18
OPINION
SPORTS

PAGE 2 MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

County Land REDISTRICTING trict has its boundaries and its borders, sor of Yorktown, is running for the
Trust seeks board FROM PAGE 1
we’ll nd out over the next couple of 94th Assembly District. e district,
candidates
weeks. But I am undeterred.” which is slated to gain Kent and

the border of the district, his op- State Sen. Peter Harckham, who is lose the western half of Yorktown, is

ponent might change depending on running for reelection, has represent- mostly situated in Putnam County.

how the new maps are drawn up. ed District 40 since he took o ce in He faulted New York Democrats for

“Like everyone else, I’m waiting to 2018. If reelected, redistricting would the situation.

see what the results of this thing are,” have moved him to District 42, trad- “In 2014, voters overwhelmingly

Gashi said. ing Beekman, Pawling, and Putnam approved the creation of an inde-

Have you ever thought land conservation are valued Whatever the result, Gashi said he Valley for Bedford, North Castle, and pendent commission to ensure fair
about who sets the direction as an important part of our
and focus of the Putnam communities and our land is moving full steam ahead with his White Plains. A Democrat, Harck- and nonpartisan legislative districts
County Land Trust? e is permanently protected for
trust is an all-volunteer pro- future generations. campaign. ham voted in favor of the maps that are created every 10 years,” Slater
gram directed by a 15-per-
son board that meets eight to In addition to prepar- “ e lines may well change,but our were eventually tossed out. said. “Now, New York’s courts have
nine times a year to guide the ing for and attending board
program and operational de- meetings, trustees are en- reason for running will not,” he said. “I look forward to the settling of deemed Governor Hochul and New
cisions for the organization couraged to serve on one of
the board committees. ere In New York, primary elections for Senate district lines by the courts,” York Democrats did not honor the
e PCLT board has at- is always something to be
tracted a wide variety of men done and as a trustee, you Congress and state Senate have been Harckham said in a statement. “In will of the people and this year’s
and women. Candidates are will be making a major con-
not required to be experts tribution to our community. pushed back from June 28 to Aug. 23 the meantime, I remain focused on election process is now in chaos.
in the eld but rather have Currently there are two- and
an interest in the environ- three-year terms available (as of now,the assembly and guberna- important issues like helping resi- New Yorkers deserve better.”
ment and a dedication to that begin in August 2022.
the mission of the land trust torial primaries are still scheduled for dents and small businesses statewide
to “the protection of forests If you are interested in
and wetlands, wildlife habi- being considered as a trustee June 28). Candidates will also have to rebound economically, ghting the HISTORICAL CONTEXT
tats and important water for the organization, contact
resources in and around Put- Nicholas Maiorano at 914- restart the petitioning process. overdose crisis and protecting our en- is is not a rst for New York
nam County, New York.” 261-0679 or email Nick@
putnamcountylandtrust.org. “I don’t think the delay is desired vironment.” State. Redistricting has required ju-
e trust envisions a He will be able to answer
healthy future for all, includ- any questions and work by anyone, but justice and fairness dicial intervention every decade go-
ing access to safe drinking with you on the application
water, clean air and opportu- process. should be desired by everyone,” said STATE LEGISLATURE’S ing back to 1992. In 2012, the courts
nities to engage with nature
and one another. It calls for a PCLT seeks to have all Bill Faulkner, a Republican running OTHER HOUSE appointed a special master when the
future where the bene ts of completed applications by
June 30. for the 16th Congressional District. New maps were also approved Senate and Assembly could not

Faulkner said the judge’s decision in February for the state Assembly, agree on new congressional maps. A

is proof that Democratic state leg- which was not included in the initial special master also took over in 2002

islators “were all proven to be ger- lawsuit. However, on May 1, a peti- and 1992.

rymandering the districts. ey were tion was led in the same Steuben e 1992 situation most closely

all proven to be grossly unfair and County court to have the Assembly resembles what is happening today.

unconstitutional.” Given that fact, he maps thrown out. According to court records, the spe-

said, “there must” be modi cations to “ e court should take the logi- cial master that year was appointed

the maps. cal next step by following the clear in May to draw up new Congressio-

Faulkner, a Somers town council- rationale of the Court of Appeals nal districts. A month later, he was

man, said the outcome has no bearing decision and strike down the state tasked with coming up with new

on his candidacy. Assembly map as unconstitutional,” maps for the Senate and Assembly

“I’m running no matter what,” the lawsuit reads. after the old ones were declared un-

Faulkner said. “Where this 16th Dis- Matt Slater, the town supervi- constitutional.

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 Your Neighbor MAHOPAC NEWS PAGE 3

‘A Different Kind of Cool’

Mahopac writer’s new book sheds light on autism

BY BOB DUMAS Jeff Conlan an early-intervention program understand what these families
EDITOR when he was just 18 months old. go through. It is a unique situa-
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEFF CONLAN tion, and everyone goes through
Longtime Mahopac resident “A lot of parents are hesitant it di erently.”
Je Conlan has spent most of Tara and Jeff Conlan with their son, William to get help early on; they worry
his adult life working as a line- what people will think,” Conlan In fact, at the beginning of
man for Verizon—a communi- would ap his hands; there was to light and certain noises. ere said. “But we just wanted to get the book, Conlan uses the quote,
cations company. But Conlan him the help he needed.” “Broad brushes are the tools of
always longed to communicate ‘toe walking.’ He would stare at were a whole bunch of things.” fools.”
with others in a di erent way... William now has a service dog
he wanted to be a writer. the ceiling fan. He was sensitive e Conlans got William into named Charger. In the book, “Actions are what truly make
Wyatt has a service dog named a di erence, and I hope the book
e parent of a 14-year-old Elvis, which plays a pivotal role will move [readers] past aware-
autistic son, Conlan had all the in the plot of the novel. ness to acceptance,” he said. “And
inspiration he needed to write I wanted a quick read—some-
a novel about a severely autistic Conlan stresses that “A Dif- thing they could read on the
teen’s struggles and triumphs. ferent Kind of Cool” isn’t auto- beach and something that could
biographical, although the story help young adults understand
His book, “A Di erent Kind is heavily in uenced by his own their autistic classmates. I don’t
of Cool” (KGS2 Publishing), experiences raising an autistic force-feed people the informa-
dropped last week and is now child. tion.”
available on Amazon.
“ ere are lots of similarities Conlan said he has been writ-
Conlan said he hopes the sto- (between the book and real life),” ing his entire life, writing stories
ry will accomplish two things. he said.“But I just thought a book as a kid and poetry while in col-
First, he hopes the breezy, light- with a good story would relate to lege, so penning a book with an
hearted tale of Wyatt, the autistic people outside the autism com- autistic character seemed like the
youngster at the core of the story, munity. I wanted it to be some- logical next step.
and his friend Tony will make for thing people could relate to and
outstanding summertime reading “I never know where I am go-
for young adults and adults alike. ing with it,”he said of his writing.
He also hopes it will give people “I want to do more of it in the
a keener insight into the world of future. I am fairly realistic with
autism. the book and if you read it, you
will see a lot of genuine emotion
“It incorporates aspects of there and I hope it will get peo-
sports, friendship, true love, loss ple more involved. I know I was
and PTSD, all while taking a moved to tears when I wrote it.”
close look at some of the struggles
a family raising a severely autis- Conlan said he nished the
tic child may face,” Conlan said. tome about a year ago, doing the
“It has been my experience that bulk of the work during the pan-
most autistic characters in novels demic.
and movies are high-functioning
savants or the quirky doctor who Meanwhile, he says, his son
happens to have Asperger’s syn- gets better every day.
drome.”
“He makes strides all the time.
Conlan, a member of the It’s a matter of him learning for
MHS Class of ’92, said he and himself how to deal with certain
his wife, Tara, a teacher at Walter things,” Conlan said. “He has
Panas, saw early warning signs di erent coping methods. He
that something might be amiss has food allergies and biometric
after their son William was born. headaches (that can cause out-
bursts) so we are learning. He has
“We started to pick up on an app now with pictures on it
it when he wasn’t meeting his that he can use to communicate.
milestones,” Conlan said. “ ere He is improving.”
were early signs of autism. He
And maybe that will inspire a
sequel.

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PAGE 4 MAHOPAC NEWS MAHOPAC MUSINGS THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

The Staff Absentee Ballot Chamber Park on South Lake academic needs.Cost to participate pointment only! Information on

EDITORIAL TEAM Deadlines Boulevard in Mahopac each Sun- is $20 per ra e with all proceeds the cost and how to apply for a
BOB DUMAS day through Oct. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. going to Relay for Life. is is U.S. passport, as well as the link to

EDITOR: 845-208-0774 As a result of a candidate with- ere will be live music and enter- available to Mahopac District stu- make the necessary appointment,
[email protected]
drawing from the election, educa- tainment every Sunday, as well as dents only. e winner and a friend is available at the Putnam County
VIM WILKINSON
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR tion law requires that the school food trucks, event days and alcohol will shadow Mr. Tromblee as they, clerk’s website at putnamcoun-
[email protected]
district extend the deadline to vendors throughout the season.It is among other events, greet buses, tyny.gov/county-clerk. Only the
ADVERTISING TEAM
PAUL FORHAN le candidate  petitions an ad- a great place to bring the family to pilot a drone, have a power lunch applicants and necessary parents/

(914) 806-3951 ditional 15 days from the date of listen to music, eat good food, and with Superintendent Anthony Di- guardians will be permitted to en-
[email protected]
the withdrawal, so the new dead- pick up some local produce, breads, Carlo, and attend important meet- ter the o ce for the appointment.
BRUCE HELLER
(914) 486-7608 line for  candidate petitions was pastries, and handmade crafts. Fol- ings to see how the district runs. U.S. citizens must present a
[email protected]
May 9 at 5 p.m.  erefore, no low us on Instagram and Facebook To purchase ra e tickets, sign valid passport book when enter-
LISA KAIN
(201) 317-1139 absentee ballots could go out be- at CFMatlakemahopac for weekly up on simplybookme: mahopacle- ing or re-entering the United
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON fore that time.  ey were sent out updates, vendor information, and osegghunt22.simplybook.me/v2. States by air. U.S. citizens entering
(914) 760-7009
[email protected] the morning of May 10 in hopes event details. Ra e drawing will be held on the United States from Canada,

JAY GUSSAK Leos Club Fundraiserto get them to all absentee bal- Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. on Mexico, the Caribbean and Ber-
(914) 299-4541 Mahopac Leos Facebook Live. muda at land borders and seaports
[email protected] lot recipients as quickly as possible.
SHELLEY KILCOYNE Please ensure all absentee ballots of entry must present a passport
(914) 924-9122 are returned to the District Clerk, e Mahopac Leos Club is Passport Saturday book, passport card, or other travel
[email protected]
Melody LaRocca prior to May 17 hosting a fundraising ra e to ben- documents approved by the U.S.
PRODUCTION TEAM
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL at 5 p.m. You can drop them o in e t Relay for Life now through e Putnam County Clerk’s government.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR the brown mailbox located at the May 18. e event, called Leo O ce will host Passport Saturday County Clerk Michael Barto-
PHOTOGRAPHER
district o ce, 179 E. Lake Blvd. Leadership/Assistant Superinten- at its o ce located at 40 Gleneida lotti can be reached at 845-808-
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK Email [email protected] dent for the Day, will take place Ave., Carmel, on Saturday, May 1142, ext. 49301 for any questions
DESIGNER
with any inquiries.  on ursday, June 2, and allow the 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to provide regarding obtaining a U.S. pass-
[email protected]
Farmers Market winner and a friend to be Assistant passport information to U.S. citi- port or traveling abroad.
EXECUTIVE TEAM Superintendent for the Day with zens and to accept passport appli-
BRETT FREEMAN
CEO & PUBLISHER Mr. Tromblee. e day will be tai- cations. SEE MUSINGS PAGE 21
845-208-8151
e Farmers Market is back at lored to the winner’s interests and is event is available by ap-
[email protected]
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