Vol. 10 No. 19 Visit TapIntoYorktown.net for the latest news. Thursday, July 29, 2021
Why is Yorktown
so attractive to
solar developers?
A half-dozen projects are in the works
BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER tion for these types of installations
EDITOR
is the farms,” said Rob Garrigan,
PHOTO: BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER Planning Board member, at the
The 5,100-square-foot space in the Triangle Center is being actively marketed. Earlier this month, as the town’s board’s July 12 meeting. “ ey’re
Panera closes in Yorktown Planning Board was reviewing ideal. I think it’s a tremendous
yet another solar proposal, Chair bene t for some of the landowners
Rich Fon noted that Yorktown is who struggle to maintain whatever
“becoming the solar capital of the type of business they might have
Had operated in the Triangle Center for 15 years state.” He was only partially kid- had there.”
ding. Yorktown is among the handful
On top of having already ap- of Westchester municipalities that
BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER “We understand the impor- on Yorktown. We’ve owned the proved two solar projects at IBM has a law on the books regulating
EDITOR
tance Panera played both in the shopping center since the mid- and Hemlock Hill Farm,the board solar arrays, which is helping to
community and as a tenant at our ’80s. We’re not going anywhere.” is reviewing applications for six make Yorktown a solar hot spot.
Panera Bread, which has oc- property,” Brodsky said. “As such, e 5,100-square-foot space other solar farms or canopies pro- Additionally, all of the solar pro-
cupied a space in the Triangle last week I approached the owner at 6 Triangle Center in Yorktown posed for both sides of the reser- posals listed above are located in
Center for about 15 years, is and asked him to make us an of- Heights, which Brodsky called a voir: Con Edison territory, which is not
leaving Yorktown at the end of fer regarding the rent that would premier location, is being actively • Kitchawan Preserve (Route a coincidence. e energy compa-
the month, said Adam Brodsky, allow them to be successful while marketed. 134, Ossining) ny, which services a portion of Yor-
the center’s director of commer- at the same time preserving their “We are optimistic that in • Arcadia Farm (Baptist Church ktown, provides rebates and other
cial properties. tenancy. He simply said the deci- short order that space will be Road, Yorktown Heights) nancial incentives for landowners
“Panera is vacating,” Brodsky sion has been made and they are occupied by a new and dynamic • Old Hill Farm (East Main who add solar to the grid.
told Yorktown News. “ eir lease leaving.” tenant that will add to the com- Street, Je erson Valley) “You can take that all into con-
is up at the end of the month. Messages requesting comment munity and the vibrancy at our • Yorktown Rehabilitation and sideration and it starts to make a
ey are moving out.” from the Panera franchise owner, property,” Brodsky said. Nursing Center (Catherine Street, lot of sense,”said John Tegeder, the
Panera ceased operations at Don Harty, were not returned. Town Supervisor Matt Slater Cortlandt Manor) town’s planning director.
2 p.m. Monday, July 26, sev- e Triangle Center owners described himself as “extremely • Dell Avenue (Ossining) Fon said he’s toured some of the
eral days before the lease ended. are “disappointed” to lose a long- disappointed” by Panera’s clos- • Foothill Street (Mohegan sites in question and met with the
Brodsky said negotiations with term tenant, Brodsky said. But he ing. Lake) landowners, many of whom are
the franchise owner broke o last added, “When one door closes, SEE PANERA PAGE 4 “I think one of the reasons we’re SEE SOLAR PAGE 4
seeing Yorktown as a popular loca-
week. another opens. We’re bullish
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Page 2 – Yorktown News Thursday, July 29, 2021
The Staff Owner of pet rescue accused of stealing $17,000
EDITORIAL TEAM e owner of a pet rescue or- Lisa-Marie Birdsdall, 55, of SPCA of Westchester, a shelter tended for Recycled Paws, a
BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER ganization in Mohegan Lake is Cortlandt Manor was arrested empowered by the state to en- nonpro t pet rescue located on
EDITOR: 914-302-5628 accused of stealing more than Tuesday, July 13, by the Humane force its laws, speci cally those Route 6, and using it for per-
[email protected] $17,000 intended for her charity. Law Enforcement unit of the pertaining to animals. e grand sonal expenses.
larceny charge is being litigated
ADVERTISING TEAM PALLADINO BUILDING in Yorktown Justice Court; Bird- Birdsdall was asked by this
PAUL FORHAN INC. sdall’s next court appearance is paper if she denies the allega-
scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 3. tions against her. She deferred
(914) 806-3951 comment to her attorney, who
[email protected] Birdsdall is accused of steal- did not respond to an email.
ing more than $17,000 in-
BRUCE HELLER –Brian Marschhauser
(914) 486-7608
[email protected] Car thefts on the
rise in Yorktown
LISA KAIN
(201) 317-1139 Unlocked vehicles being targeted
[email protected]
CORINNE STANTON BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER ing,” Noble said. “ is is a crime
(914) 760-7009 EDITOR
[email protected] of opportunity. If everybody
JAY GUSSAK eliminated the opportunity, the
(914) 299-4541
[email protected] Make no mistake about it: people committing these crimes
SHELLEY KILCOYNE
(914) 924-9122 Anybody on the wrong end of a may go to another township
[email protected]
GABRIELLE BILIK car theft is the victim of a crime. where they’re not locking their
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/DESIGNER
[email protected] However, all ve of Yorktown’s cars. It’s that simple.”
PRODUCTION TEAM car thefts so far in 2021 have Midway through the year,
TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL
followed a noteworthy pattern. Yorktown has su ered ve car
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER “We have not had a theft of thefts, which is more than usual.
[email protected] a vehicle or from a vehicle that “We don’t typically get ve in
CHRISTINA ROSE
ART DIRECTOR/ was not unlocked,” said Po- a year,” the police chief said.
DIGITAL PRODUCTION MANAGER lice Chief Robert Noble. “We Additionally, some residents
[email protected]
haven’t had a forceable entry have reported items missing
EXECUTIVE TEAM
BRETT FREEMAN into vehicles.” from unlocked cars.
CEO & PUBLISHER
845-208-8151 So, with an easy deterrent at Another common theme is
[email protected] hand, the police chief is asking that these crimes occur over-
Deadlines residents to take simple steps night, usually between 2 and 5
YORKTOWN NEWS DEADLINE to protect themselves and their a.m., with many of the thieves
THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS
valuables. coming from the Connecticut
AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR
“We don’t want this to be vic- cities of New Haven or Bridge-
YORKTOWN NEWS IS THE THURSDAY
BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE. tim-blaming or victim-sham- port, Noble said. Typically, they
FOR MORE INFORMATION, move from driveway to drive-
CALL BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER AT
914-302-5628 OR EMAIL way in the dead of night, try-
[email protected].
ing many cars until they nd an
Subscribe
unlocked one. Sometimes, keys
TO REQUEST YORKTOWN NEWS
WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 Replacing scores of are left inside the unlocked ve-
OR EMAIL [email protected]. Allstate | State Farm | Geico hicles.
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN. Policies Everyday! “We’re seeing that a crew
OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE has come here, and they’re go-
$150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL.
ing from driveway to driveway
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT
SOMERS, NY AND AT or they’re hitting a condo com-
ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. plex,” Noble said.
POSTMASTER:
is problem is not unique
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO
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©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Aardvark Insurance Kemper • Hartford “People shouldn’t just think
Mercury • 1st American that we’re having a problem
here in Yorktown,” Noble said.
600 Rt. 6 | Mahopac NY Main Street America “ is is prevalent in a uent
845.208.3707 • 845.225.1007 Utica Mutual suburbs.”
e Yorktown Police De-
[email protected] partment has overnight crews
on patrol, Noble said, “but in
The Carmel Aardvark Insurance office is merged with the Mahopac office a 40-square-mile town, people
effective November 25, 2015. can help us out a lot by just
locking it up.”