The Somers Record 02.02.2023

VOL. 11 NO. 43 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 26 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 26 LEISURE 23 OPINION 8 SPORTS 18 Field Hockey Clinic pg 22 ABLE Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Girl Scout Troop 1457 is always busy in our community! Read more about their recent visit to Wright Reis Homestead, as well as fundraising e orts to attend the National Girl Scout Convention on page 16. BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER 2022 was a banner year for Somers, says Supervisor Rob Scorrano, who outlined  the town’s top accomplishments in a letter to residents last week. First on his list was good money management. “Somers continues to be in an excellent  nancial position -- a position of strength,” Scorrano said, pointing to the town’s Aaa rating with Moody’s, a bond rating credit service. “Obtaining an Aaa rating is not an easy accomplishment. It takes dedication to be  scally responsible,” he added. According to Scorrano, the town is “committed” to keeping itself “a ordable and one of the lowest-taxed” in Westchester. He noted that while many surrounding municipalities have increased property taxes by 2 and 3 percent for the 2023 tax year, Somers’s only went up by 1 percent and there were no property tax increases the previous two years. (It remains under the state tax cap.) “Over the last 10 years, the average increase in the property tax levy has been 1.13 percent -- an outstanding achievement,” Scorrano said. Last year, the town settled a tax certiorari case with  One P Way LLC, the owners of PepsiCo’s former headquarters, which is one of the two biggest commercial properties in town.  e LLC is a liated with Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim Helú. “Once again, we were in a great  nancial position to weather the outcome -- a testament to our  nance  team and Town Board for being well-prepared,” Scorrano said.  e jury is still out  with regards to a tax certiorari case involving the former IBM property. It was purchased in 2017 by 294 Route 100 LLC, which is also linked to Slim. In 2018, plans for a private STEAM high school there were revealed to much fanfare by Evergreen Ridge LLC. Two years later, plans appeared to be gathering A banner year Supervisor Scorrano presents highlights of 2022 Support our Scouts! SEE HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 7 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536 Just Listed Just Sold  Call for more information or an appointment on these properties or to find one like the sweet Village colonial we just sold. The local Real Estate Market is thriving and interest rates are starting to correct. Call Your Local Expert (that’s me) to help with a purchase or sale you are considering. #UGottaHaveHope Croton 11 3 BR|2BA | 1,780 sf 2 Car Garage $699,900 Katonah 4BR|1.1 BA |1,848 sf .60 Acres Sold for $750,000 Sherman I 3 BR|2BR | 1,793 sf 1 Car Garage $715,000

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YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to The Somers Record YES, I really enjoy The Somers Record and I’d like to continue receiving it for 3 years, along with a monetary contribution this year. (Please print legibly.) First (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required) (Required. Please print legibly.) Last (Required) City: State: ZIP: Name: Signature: Email: Snowbird Dates (if applicable): Date: Phone: Address: (Optional) (Optional for TAPinto E-News) Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please Include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News The Katonah-Lewisboro Times Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times Mahopac News Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other OR Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com OR Visit www.HalstonSubscribe.com Don’t Miss a Week of The Somers Record. Please Re-Subscribe Today! Thursday, November 3, 2022 Vol. 11 No. 30 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 32 CLASSIFIEDS 34 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 26 OBITUARIES 30 OPINION 10 SPORTS 20 Tuskers Batter Brewster pg 22 FOOTBALL Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. Please note that the Nov. 10 edition of The Somers Record will go to press before the Nov. 8 election results are available. Please visit TapIntoSomers.net to view our full election coverage. BY BOB DUMAS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR When voters go to the polls this election season, they will have a choice between two candidates who are vying for the state’s 40th Senate District seat. Incumbent Democrat Pete Harckham of South Salem, seeking his third term as state senator, will be opposed by Republican Gina Arena, an administrative assistant from Somers. Here is a look at the two candidates, including their platforms, accomplishments and goals. PETE HARCKHAM Now nearing the end of his second term in oƒ ce, Pete Harckham is chair of the Senate Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. He worked to make the 2% property tax cap permanent; delivered record aid to education and addressed the opioid crisis by doubling minimum treatment times and reducing barriers to life-saving treatment. Harckham helped pass the toughest climate-protection legislation in the nation, and also introduced a measure, later enacted, requiring all new passenger-car and truck sales to be zero emission by 2035 and allowing municipalities to build solar canopies and jumpstart community renewable-energy projects. Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul placed Harckham’s wetlands legislation protecting Class C streams statewide, which will safeguard drinking water resources, into her proposed 2023 state budget. Harckham has been a leading voice to hold the utilities accountable in the wake of failed responses to natural disaster. To date, he has held 13 food drives to ” ght hunger, assisted thousands of residents with unemployment claims and delivered personal-protection equipment to ” rst responders and municipalities throughout the 40th Senate District. From 2008 to 2015 Harckham served on the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where he was a leading voice for protecting the environment and maintaining vital services. In addition to his professional work, Harckham served on the President’s Council for the Northern Westchester Hospital, was a board member for the United Way of Westchester and Putnam, the Junior League of Northern Westchester Community Advisory Council and the Livable Communities Council. “I come from a labor family and have been endorsed three times by the Westchester Building Trades, Westchester-Putnam AFL-CIO Central Labor Body, a host of service and public unions, as well as nurses and teachers,” Harckham said. “I work very closely with my union partners around the issues of decommissioning Indian Point and passed a law to protect wages and local jobs, as well as created the Decommissioning Oversight Harckham, Arena face off for 40th Senate District seat Sen. Pete Harckham Gina Arena SEE SENATE PAGE 28 SellYour Home for TOP DOLLAR with Somers’ Real Estate Specialist Visit: SomersHouseValues.com or Email: [email protected] Michael Trinchitella Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker FREE Home Evaluation Anytime — No Cost or Obligation Call 914.243.3051 SomersHouseValues.com CLASSIC REALTY IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER! Vol. 11 No. 35 Thursday, December 8, 2022 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 31 CLASSIFIEDS 30 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 4 LEGAL NOTICES 28 LEISURE 21 OBITUARIES 9 OPINION 10 SPORTS 18 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR Winning is always great. But making your way back to the top after a heartbreak is unmatched. Motivated by the crushing 32-31 defeat against CBASyracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome) last fall, Somers Football (13-0) avenged their one loss in the last three seasons with a dominating 58-21 win over Union-Endicott for the NYSPHSAA Class A Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Syracuse. Coach Anthony DeMatteo, carrying on the winning legacy of his father, Tony, at Somers, knew what he and his team set out to do when workouts began last summer. “Even though we said publicly we wanted to win the section, in house we said states, and we were angry all year. Ž e preparation was on point, we did everything we were supposed to do, weathered several storms, weathered injuries, and we got it done,” said the second-year head coach. Wasting no time on the big stage, Ravi Dass (3 Rec, 2 TDs) answered the call on the opening return, taking it all the way to the Tigers’ 39, then catching an 18-yard pass from Matt Fitzsimons for the — rst touchdown 22 seconds into the game. “Walking out as state champs, it’s awesome,” said the senior receiver. Ž e defense’s turn, George Forbes (6 Tk) began his Tuskers avenge last season with 58-21 state championship win Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR Winning is always great. But making your way back to the top after a heartbreak is unmatched. Motivated by the crushing 32-31 defeat against CBASyracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome) last fall, Somers Football (13-0) avenged their one loss in the last three seasons with a dominating 58-21 win over Union-Endicott for the NYSPHSAA Class A Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Syracuse. Coach Anthony DeMatteo, carrying on the winning legacy of his father, Tony, at Somers, knew what he and his team set out to do when workouts began last summer. “Even though we said publicly we wanted to win the section, in house we said states, and we were angry all year. Ž e preparation was on point, we did everything we Tuskers avenge last season with 58-21 state championship win Ravi Dass put his team ahead early with two huge touchdowns. SEE CHAMPIONS PAGE 18 The 2022 Tuskers cemented themselves in Somers history with the 58-21 win over Union-Endicott. PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536  Your House Could Be the #1 Item on a Homebuyer’s Wish List During the Holidays Each year, homeowners planning to make a move are faced with a decision: sell their house during the holidays or wait. And others who have already listed their homes may think about removing their listings and waiting until the new year to go back on the market. The truth is many buyers want to purchase a home for the holidays, and your house might be just what they’re looking for. Call me for a no-obligation consultation about selling your home and the 5 great reasons you shouldn't wait until Spring. #UGottaHaveHope Thursday, December 8, 2022 rier Dome) last fall, Somers Football (13-0) avenged their one loss in the last three seasons with a dominating 58-21 win over Union-Endicott for the NYSPHSAA Class A Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3, Coach Anthony DeMatteo, carrying on the winning legacy of his father, Tony, at Somers, knew what he and his team set out to do when workouts began last summer. “Even though we said publicly we wanted to win the section, in house we said states, and we were angry all year. Ž e preparation was on point, we did everything we were supposed to do, weathered several storms, weathered injuries, and we got it done,” said the second-year head coach. Wasting no time on the big stage, Ravi Dass (3 Rec, 2 TDs) answered the call on the opening return, taking it all the way to the Tigers’ 39, then catching an 18-yard pass from Matt Fitzsimons for the — rst touchdown 22 seconds into the game. “Walking out as state champs, it’s awesome,” said the senior receiver. Ž e defense’s turn, George Forbes (6 Tk) began his Tuskers avenge last season with 58-21 state championship win SEE CHAMPIONS PAGE 18 MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536  Thursday, December 15, 2022 Vol. 11 No. 36 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 37 CLASSIFIEDS 39 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 2 LEGAL NOTICES 37 LEISURE 31 OBITUARIES 9 OPINION 10 SPORTS 24 Toys for Tots pg 3 GIVING BACK Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER  e Somers Board of Education got its rst o cial peek last week at the scal fallout from the settlement of the old PepsiCo property’s tax certiorari case. Also cited for their potential impact on local pocketbooks were fuel and electricity costs, which are rising at an “alarming” rate, according to the school district’s assistant superintendent for business, Chris Platania. Platania presented trustees and the public with an initial overview of the 2023-24 school budget on Tuesday, Dec. 6.  ere won’t be preliminary numbers to share until after the governor’s rst budget comes out in January and the district gets a clue about what its state aid is going to be. TAXING CIRCUMSTANCES  e 206-acre PepsiCo property, along with its 540,000-squarefoot o ce, o‹ Route 35 was sold in 2015 to  Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim Helú for $87 million.  e new owners, listed as One P Way LLC,  went on to challenge their real estate tax assessment as well as that of the old IBM campus’  on Route 100, which Slim had acquired in 2017.  e former tax certiorari case was Board of Education begins budget process The Somers community got into the holiday spirit at the tree lighting ceremony outside The Elephant Hotel on Dec. 4. See more photos on page 22! Oh Christmas tr ee! SEE BUDGET PAGE 33 HOPEMAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE Sales Vice President Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker cell: 914.714.0090 [email protected] hopemazzola.com MAZZOLA YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE HOPE 95 Katonah Ave | Katonah, NY 10536  “Hope is quite simply the best agent I’ve ever come across in all my years living in Westchester County. Her complete knowledge of the market in the area has impressed even a skeptic like me. Once you hire her, she will represent you at every step in your journey with enthusiasm, professionalism and candor. She is a woman with smarts and integrity and does so much to help others even when she stands to gain nothing for herself. Hope is a quality human being that you should have on your team. I can’t say enough about Hope other than #UGottaHaveHope!” — TI, Somers about Your Local Expert! Rave Reviews Rave Reviews

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 tremely important factor in a show. It makes a performance more entertaining and creates a better connection with your audience.  e fun answer is this: One time, we got  ipped o by an old lady during a gig I played with the School of Rock Bedford House Band. She really made a big show of it, too. She gestured plugging up her ears and everything. However, I’m actually inclined to take her side, as we were playing Iron Maiden at a farmer’s market. As a senior at SHS, what kind of advice would you give to younger students who want to be involved in the performing arts? If you want to be involved in the performing arts, then do it. Take every opportunity and create your own. As you can tell from what I’ve written, the performing arts program was a transformative experience for me every step of the way; it’s a robust community of extremely friendly and talented people, and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s also just fun, man. Senior musician rocks out at SHS PERFORMING ARTS SPOTLIGHT BY TOM WALOGORSKY EDITOR To say that Andrew Tatela is busy at Somers High School would be an understatement. In addition to being named a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship, he also earned the distinction of Salutatorian for the Class of 2023. When he’s not excelling in the classroom, Andrew is also active in the school’s music programs as a member of the jazz band, choir, and drama club, also playing gigs as a part of the band Puppets for Hire. The Somers Record caught up with Andrew to learn more about his in uences, plans for the future, and favorite memories at SHS. When and how did you begin singing and playing?  I started playing music in the 4th grade because Mr. Reynolds, the high school band teacher, demonstrated the euphonium for prospective band students. He chose to play the Star Wars theme, which captivated 4th grade Andrew. I think I was aware that you could play the theme on other instruments, but I picked up the euphonium nonetheless, and I still play it today. Do you have a favorite type of music to sing or play?  It’s a pretty large blanket term, but rock. I play guitar and sing in a rock band. When you think of yourself as a musician, do you think of yourself as both an instrument player and a vocalist, or do you prefer one over the other? I think of myself as both, but I’m much more con dent in my skills as an instrumentalist. One of my main goals as a musician right now is to improve my vocal technique. However, I still love to sing. I think I do a passable job in my band, but I can sometimes hide the lack of prowess behind charismatic frontman-isms. Is it di cult to balance both being a vocalist and playing an instrument? How do you think singing a ects your playing, and vice versa? Not really. Singing is just another tool in my musical toolbox, another instrument to practice. As for playing an instrument and singing at the same time, it’s something I never really had issues with. One time, I did a little gimmick at a gig where I sang and played the solo under the third verse of Cream’s “White Room” at the same time. How much time do you devote to practicing? I feel guilty saying this, but I don’t have a regimented practice routine. I should, though. Mainly, my practice comes from inspiration or necessity. I’ll often have a piece of music that grabs my ear or gets stuck in my head, which leads me to learn it.  is is also where music appeals to my analytical side, as I can apply terminology and theoretical knowledge to provide a reason for why something sounds good. Or I practice because I have an upcoming performance and don’t want to embarrass myself. Have you been involved in any performances outside of school that you are particularly proud of? I’ve played some awesome gigs with my di erent bands. I’ve been on the bill with Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors, and I loved playing the Chance  eater. Recently, my friends from school and I had a blast playing a place called the Dog Haus in Mohegan Lake. It’s a shameless selfpromotion, but we’re playing there again on Feb. 25 if you’d like to see us. Are you involved in any other activities at SHS? Recently, I’ve fallen to the theater kids. Last year, I was convinced to do the musical, “All Shook Up,” and I ended up getting the lead. It was daunting to begin, but it’s probably my favorite thing I’ve done in high school. I grew immensely as a musician, performer, and person because of it. Since then, I’ve become very involved in the drama club. I was in the fall drama, “Night of the Living Dead,” and I got the lead in this year’s musical, “ e Wedding Singer,” which you should de nitely see on March 24-26. What are your future plans after SHS? Do they include performing arts? Hopefully, I’ll go to a good college. Although I don’t plan on majoring in music, I plan on taking advantage of every musical opportunity my chosen college has to offer me. I de nitely want to become a better creative writer in college. If you could fastforward to where you think you want to be in 10 years, where would you be? Do you plan to continue with your music? I’d like to be in some career related to math or science, as I consider myself to lean left-brained.  e dream is to maneuver my enjoyment of math into a lucrative career and be able to live securely while playing gigs on the side and maintaining my growth as a musician. How has being a musician shaped your high school experience?   e way I look at it, aside from the school part, music was my high school experience. All of my fondest memories of high school come from jazz band, men’s choir, Tri-M Co eehouses, Battle of the Bands, musicals, and countless other experiences. Music opened the door for me to break out of my awkward middle school shell in freshman year. I’ve made most of my friends through music and the more I grow as a musician, the more I grow as a person. It’s quite cheesy, but it’s true. What is your favorite performance memory?  I’ll give a sappy, noncommittal answer and then I’ll give a fun answer. I enjoy and cherish every moment of performing, and I think it comes through. I take pride in my stage presence, which is an exTHE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 Senior musician rocks out at SHS PERFORMING ARTS SPOTLIGHT Blossoms and Spin Doctors, and I loved playing the Chance  eater. Recently, my friends from school and I had a blast playing a place called Tatela will be playing at Dog Haus in Mohegan Lake on Feb. 25. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW TATELA HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com Great Food and Great Place for Special Parties

PAGE 4 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 The Sta EDITORIAL TEAM TOM WALOGORSKY EDITOR: 914-302-5830 [email protected] WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR [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] NOAH ELDER DESIGNER [email protected] EXECUTIVE TEAM BRETT FREEMAN CEO & PUBLISHER 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines THE SOMERS RECORD DEADLINE THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS AND EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR SOMERS RECORD IS THE THURSDAY BEFORE THE NEXT PUBLICATION DATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL TOM WALOGORSKY AT 914-302-5830 OR EMAIL [email protected]. Subscribe TO REQUEST THE SOMERS RECORD WEEKLY DELIVERY, CALL 845-208-8503 OR EMAIL [email protected]. SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN. OUT OF TOWN MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE $150 PER YEAR FOR FIRST CLASS MAIL. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT SOMERS, NY AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE SOMERS RECORD AT 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 (ISSN 2330-1597) PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY HALSTON MEDIA, LLC AT 118 N. BEDFORD ROAD SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2022 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Somers Girl Scout Troop 1457 PRIVATE INDOOR ICE SKATING EVENT Friday, March 3, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Open to everyone in our community! Come enjoy an afternoon of private skating with your friends and family on the main ice. Help the troop raise money for their trip to the Girl Scout National Convention this summer in Florida. To be held at Brewster Ice Arena, 63 Fields Lane in Brewster.  Includes a 1.5 hour private session on the main ice. Please arrive early to get skates. $20 per skater, includes skate rental, hot cocoa, snack, and craft. Organizers will provide nut-free and glutenfree snacks as well. ($16 if you bring your own skates.) $10 for adults, including skate rental. With any questions, please contact Michelle Quinn at super[email protected]. Google Form to RSVP and pay can be found at https://forms.gle/ ZRD8A8BXutpRJJXc6 Somers AYSO Indoor Soccer Through March 11 AYSO soccer is back with a full schedule! To be held Saturdays at Somers Sports Arena: U5/U6 Division (10 - 11 a.m.), U4 Playground (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.), U7/U8 Boys Division (12 - 1 p.m.), U10/12 Boys Division (1 - 2 p.m.), VIP Division (1 - 2 p.m.), Teen League (2-3 p.m.), U7/U8 Girls Division (3 - 4 p.m.), U10/12 Girls Division (4 - 5 p.m.) To register, visit www. AYSO95.org. For any questions, email [email protected] Fundraiser for Leukemia Lymphoma Society Thursday, Feb. 2  e Burger Barn on Route 100 in Somers, will host a day of fundraising to bene t John F. Kennedy Prep’s  Lead the Way  Student Visionaries Campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).  On Groundhog Day, the family-run restaurant will donate ten percent of all proceeds to the campaign, which bene ts blood cancer patients, who have di culty managing everyday expenses associated with their treatments.    e Burger Barn is open for lunch and dinner, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and is available for takeout and online orders.  Patrons must mention the Kennedy LLS fundraiser when ordering online, by phone or when paying their bill in the restaurant in order for funds to be donated to the campaign. To view a menu, visit theBurgerBarn.com or if you can’t make it to the fundraiser, donate to the campaign directly by visiting bit.ly/LeadtheWayforLLS. Somers Parks and Recreation WINTER PROGRAMS 2023 Winter programs are now available online. Visit www.somersny.com, then click on “Parks & Recreation,” and scroll down to click on “Program Registration Site.” Available programs can be found in the blue tab. DAY CAMP REGISTRATION March 29 at 10 a.m. O ering a variety of fun  lled activities, sports, group games, arts & crafts, performers, special theme days and a new on-site in-  atable waterslide!  e camp fee includes all programs, themed days and entertainment. Grades: Entering Kindergarten - 8th in Sept. 2023 Camp Dates: 6/26 - 8/4 (No Camp 7/3 & 7/4) Camp Fee: $850.00 for the entire 6 weeks For program information, visit www.somersny.com and click on SEE TRUNK PAGE 24 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK Joe Ferone OWNER FORMERLY          
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 18 Clark Pl, Mahopac, NY 10541 • www.savormahopac.com • (845) 628-3081 On Monday, Feb. 13th. $20 menu is NOT available, $30 Prix Fix menu IS available No Prix Fix menus are available on Valentine’s Day. $20 Prix Fix Menu WILL be available on Thurs Feb. 16 Make your reservation ON TIME THIS YEAR! Get the best time, table and a special gift for your partner! Just Make your Reservations by FEB 8! Tues-Fri 3:30-6:30 Sun 12-6 1/2 PRICE Apps, Pizza, Wine & Beer! OPEN 7 DAYS See website for daily hours Order Online! TAKE-OUT & FREE LOCAL DELIVERY! Make your reservation It’s almost Valentine’s Day... it’s 1/2 Price Happy Hour! You’ll Love Our All New Menu with Even More Gluten-Free Options! Check out our Valentine Specials AVOID THE RUSH! STARTING FRIDAY FEB 10 OUR VALENTINES SPECIAL MENU WILL BE AVAILABLE! See our website for details! Just Mention this ad for a Valentine special gift for your partner. Our main menu will also be available It’s not 1/2 portion Happy Hour... It’s the PLACE to BE! Check out our Upgraded Wine List! $10 Gift Card FREE When you sign up for our emails! We’ll announce special events and other offers you’ll love. Not to be combined with other offers, promotions or special menus. Valid with minimum purchase of $20 or more. Valid for take out or dine in. Receive a Scan Here to sign Up! Fall in Love with Savor!

PAGE 6 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 ItalIan ContInental CuIsIne Take-out Available • Full Bar with Menu • Private Party Rooms Available From 20 to 70 People Gluten Free Menu Items Available • Reservations Recommended 252 Route 100, Somers 10589 • 914.232.8080 • www.mammarosaristorante.com Open Tuesday-Sunday for Lunch and Dinner Make Your Reservation for a Memorable Valentine’s Day Serving Special Menu Mamma Rosa Gift Certificates are the Perfect Present Year-Round! Now Accepting New Patients We Are In-Network With MetLife, Delta Dental, United HealthCare, Cigna PPO, and Ameritas PPO, and We Accept Other Insurances 914.277.3518 380 Route 202 at Junction of 116 (across from Heritage Hills) PaulHarbottle.com Excellence in Dentistry In Somers Since 1990 Paul D. Harbottle, DDS VOTED TOP DENTIST 2009-2019 by his Peers as featured in Owned and operated by two Registered Nurses with over 80 years of combined experience! Proudly Serving Putnam and Westchester Counties www.ecstaffingsolutions.com CALL US TODAY for a free phone evaluation! Route 202 Suite #3 Somers, NY 10589 914.265.4299 Dementia Care In-Home Evaluations Companion Care Respite Care Nursing Care 24 Hour Care Overwhelmed Caring For Your Loved One? Call us today! Middle and high school students from Westchester,  e Bronx, Sullivan County, and Long Island will descend upon Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School in Somers, on Saturday, Feb. 4, for the 2022-2023 VEX Robotics Competition game, Spin Up, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation.  irty teams will come together for a non-stop, actionpacked day of competition where they will battle against each other with robots they designed, built and programmed themselves from scratch. All are invited to stop by to check out the action between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Competing schools include Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School (Somers),   e Harvey School (Katonah),  Rye Country Day (Rye),  Fordham Preparatory School (Bronx, NY), Fallsburg Jr Sr High School (Fallsburg), Windham Ashland Central School (Windham), and St. Catherine Academy (Bronx, NY). Article provided by Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School. Kennedy Catholic readies for robotics tournament Kennedy Catholic’s Robotics Team When high school junior EvaMarie Mastrantoni, and senior Tyler Brownstein were helping with the Somers Middle School musical last spring, they quickly noticed that the soundboard and audio equipment in the auditorium were in serious need of an upgrade. “ e microphones were cutting out at random times, and you couldn’t mute some of them,” says Mastrantoni. Mastrantoni and Brownstein, both sound technicians on the stage crew at the high school, took matters into their own hands. Mastrantoni wrote a proposal for a new soundboard and equipment, which the middle school decided to fully fund.  is fall, the two students helped professional sound tech, Frank Dickinson, install the new soundboard, which is a smaller version of the soundboard at the high school. “It’s all compatible,” says Brownstein. “So, if you learn at the middle school and come up to the high school, it’s the same program, which is one of the things we love about it.”  e crew prioritized making the new board organized and accessible to students who are new to working with audio equipment. “ eir e orts have made such a di erence for our programs at the middle school,” says Je Getman, middle school principal. “ e new soundboard is so much easier to use, and we are so grateful to them.” Mastrantoni, who was pulled into sound tech reluctantly and initially only did it to help her friend, Tyler, has fallen in love with the craft and plans to pursue technical theater and sound design in college. Brownstein is following his other passion, cooking, and has been accepted into the Culinary Institute of America. Article provided by Somers Central School District. Sounds like a great idea!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 7 PRESENTED & HOSTED BY: Sarah Altberg, Memory Care Director, Maplewood at Danbury, 22 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810 Are you searching for answers regarding your loved one’s well-being? Join us for a series of events and learn about: • Memory impairment and the impact associated with the disease • How to connect with your loved one • The importance of managing caregiver stress RSVP For one or multiple events to Diana Lopes at [email protected] or 203.744.8444. This event is open to the public. Complimentary refreshments provided. THURSDAYS 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM FEBRUARY 9TH Communication FEBRUARY 16TH Challenging Behaviors FEBRUARY 23RD Safety at Home DEMENTIA BOOT CAMP Exclusively for Adult Children & Loved Ones BEST OF SENIOR LIVING 2022 22 Hospital Avenue | Danbury, Connecticut | 203.744.8444 | MaplewoodAtDanbury.com momentum and then the pandemic struck. Not a peep has been heard since. Somers also made strides in its bid to reduce its carbon footprint. It installed electric vehicle charging stations at Reis Park and at its senior and recreation center in D. Wayne Van Tassell Memorial Park, both located on Primrose Street. The town also purchased a hybrid SUV for the police department; implemented the NYStretch Code, a statewide model designed to help communities meet energy and climate goals through their building codes; and started a food scrap recycling program. “These energy-efficiency measures are just the beginning for our town and we  will continue to do our part for the environment,” Scorrano promised. The town is also keeping on top of local utilities such as NYSE&G, Verizon, and Altice in the hopes of halting the proliferation of “double” utility poles around town. The issue has been hanging around since the previous administration and revolves around the delayed or incomplete transfer of utility equipment/cables from old poles to new ones along with the failure to remove weathered and/or broken poles.  Calling the progress so far “outstanding,” he said the town will continue its war against “double” poles until it’s “satisfied with the outcome.” Also on the plus side in 2022 was the revival of the town’s Independence Day celebrations. More than 1,000 folks attended the event at Reis Park. “The feeling was like a backyard barbecue,” Scorrano recalled. The Somers Library made several improvements, including overhauling the children’s room with new carpeting and windows. It is in the process of installing a new emergency generator. In January 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed several laws aimed at addressing the state’s housing crisis. The more controversial aspects of that plan would have required municipalities to allow for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in single-family residences and for Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs). Under the latter scenario, local governments would have been compelled to authorize the construction of up to 25 residential units per acre within a halfmile of transportation centers, such as a train or bus station. Those were removed from the executive budget after pushback from local officials bent on protecting “home rule.” The Somers Town Board passed a “bipartisan” resolution in 2022 opposing the legislation. Hochul reintroduced the proposals – but in more of a carrot than a stick form – in her recent State of the State address as the “New York Housing Compact.” Folks won’t know the precise details until the governor unveils her executive budget for fiscal 2024. That’s set for Wednesday, Feb. 1. However, the town also made its feelings crystal clear on home rule protections then, and it’s not likely to stay mum in the future. “This fight is not going away and we will continue to voice our concern to Albany,” Scorrano said. In 2022, the town did things to make it a bit easier for local police officers to do their jobs. Among the tools and resources it provided  were a new utility vehicle, radar message board, and new computers for the cop cars. It also hired another officer. Somers upgraded its emergency shelter’s generator and added four 1,000-gallon propane tanks at Heritage Hills last year. Those came in handy when the shelter had to be used during recent prolonged power outages. Scorrano thanked all the volunteers and the town’s emergency operations team who assisted residents. The Highway Department paved 31 town roads, or the equivalent of 10 miles, and is in the process of building a new salt shed and installing a generator. Scorrano also pointed out that the town had negotiated a “fiscally responsible” Teamsters contract. Somers was also able to make progress in the long-discussed “land swap” between the Angle Fly Preserve and Reis Park. In October, Scorrano was authorized to execute a conservation easement modification agreement between the town, county, and state Department of Environmental Conservation. It would create possibilities for a new athletic area while protecting a part of the preserve for open space recreational uses. The pact is currently awaiting the county and DEC’s sign-offs. Also “restored and re-energized” was the town’s conversation with the New York State Police about keeping a barracks in Somers, Scorrano said HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAGE 1 SEE HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 24

Opinion 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2021 HALSTON MEDIA, LLC Letters to the editor and op-ed submissions may be edited. The views and opinions expressed in letters and op-eds are not necessarily those of The Somers Record or its a iliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 BRETT FREEMAN, PUBLISHER TOM WALOGORSKY , EDITOR TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Editorial O ice: 914-302-5830 [email protected] PAGE 8 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 Today’s issue publishes exactly two years and a day from when I took the next step in my journalism career and joined Halston Media. February 2021 seems like a lifetime ago. Hitting this milestone got me thinking back on the last 24 months, and being lucky enough to be a part of the happenings in our communities. Where does the time go? SCRAP HEAP My journey to Halston Media’s doorstep began with hip replacement surgery and a global pandemic. Prior to COVID rocking our world, I spent three years as the editor of  e Pawling Record in nearby Dutchess County. I was the smallest of the small town newsmen, operating out of a tiny o ce and shamelessly leveraging my status in the community for free co ee. Like many small businesses, the publication couldn’t withstand the  nancial impact of the pandemic, and I found myself without a paper. I discovered that my bills don’t pay themselves, so I took a temp job doing clerical work at a hospital in Poughkeepsie. While I dutifully answered phone calls and  led medical charts, a nagging pain in my hip steadily worsened, and I  nally gave in to the inevitable and scheduled a replacement surgery. (Having a hip replacement at age 36 also placed me  rmly in the “not a kid anymore” category.) After I was successfully patched up, I had six weeks of recovery time to catch up on my reading, re-watch a bunch of James Bond  lms, and think about my future plans. Deciding that the hospital life wasn’t for me, I began looking for options to return to the wonderful world of journalism. THE INTERVIEW I sent in an application to Halston Media, aware that I was trying to make the jump from my small Pawling pond to a much larger chain of newspapers in a sizable coverage area. Soon, I was scheduled for an interview with the publisher. Since we were still in the midst of the dark pandemic times, I  rst met Brett Freeman over Zoom as I interviewed from my kitchen table. It was my  rst virtual job interview, and I decided to wear a shirt and tie, just as I would have, if it were conducted inperson. We barely made it  ve minutes into our chat before he jokingly made two things clear: I was overdressed for a Zoom interview, and I wasn’t to refer to him as “Mr. Freeman.” We spoke about the trials and tribulations of local journalism and shared some stories from our respective beats. A week later I received a phone call that I would be joining Halston Media as the editor of North Salem News and  e Somers Record. ( e lesson here is that, even virtually, you should dress for success!) TIGERS AND ELEPHANTS I was born and raised in Brewster, and my knowledge of the towns that I would be covering was limited to the Balanced Rock and  e Elephant Hotel. Interesting local landmarks aside, I needed to get myself up to speed, and fast. Fortunately, Halston Media has an amazing sta of reporters, editors, and salespeople, all of which were more than happy to help me get ingrained in my new communities.  e next year was everything North Salem and Somers, dodging foul balls at Tiger baseball games, chatting with politicians outside  e Elephant Hotel, and impressing community members by outrunning another news crew to get the perfect photo of a local parade. ONWARD AND UPWARD Last spring, Halson’s family of papers was set to expand with the addition of the monthly Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times (MKBT). For the second time in my career, I was entrusted with the launch of a brand-new publication, once again starting from scratch within a new community. Six months after the launch of MKBT, I received a call from our publisher. He said we needed to “discuss my future with the company.” When your boss says those words, it is essentially the equivalent of your signi cant other saying “we need to talk” right before you  nd yourself single. In reality, one of our editors was leaving Halston to pursue another opportunity and I would be taking on his publications with the new title of Editor-in-Chief. Once my panic subsided, I politely asked Brett to use di erent wording when he wants to discuss a potential promotion with an employee. And just like that, I had taken on editorial duties for  e Katonah-Lewisboro Times and Yorktown News. ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS In two years with Halston Media, I have had a hand in producing more than 250 papers covering life in eight di erent towns. Each community has their own personality, and there have been countless stories to tell. I have seen celebrations and cancelations, tragedies and triumphs, and our papers have been there through it all. I would like to thank everyone at Halston Media for all their help over the past two years. We truly have a wonderful sta , and I’m proud to be a part of it. I also want to give special thanks to my parents (my most loyal readers), and my wife, Maggie (who hears more about local news than she probably wants to) for all of their love and support in my crazy life of journalism. And  nally, I want to express my gratitude to all of our readers.  ank you for picking up the paper each week, the kind words we often receive, and for not yelling at me too often. We’ll keep doing our best to tell your stories. Tom Walogorsky isn’t getting old, he’s becoming a classic. Contact him at [email protected] Happy Halstonversary TOM WALOGORSKY TOM’S TAKE Happily Ever After

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 9 The North County Trailway is in danger Dear Editor, Walkers, runners, bicyclists and nature lovers, your safety is in jeopardy if you use the North County Trailway bike path between Somers Commons in Baldwin Place south to where it crosses Mahopac Avenue.  ere is an application by a developer to build three new houses on the west side of the bike path, which has been submitted to the Town of Somers.  is is the scenic undeveloped natural side of the path where there are no houses.  is builder has purchased property on the west side of the bike path and in order to gain access to the property, he has to physically cross over the bike path where we are walking everyday.  eir plan is to extend the Green Tree Road cul de sac, construct a road that meets the trail and has to cross the bike path to build a driveway to the three new houses.   is proposal raises many concerns, including an environmental impact to the wetlands and wildlife that are in abundance on both sides of the trail.  is project puts all walkers, runners and bicyclists in immediate danger of vehicular tra c. Imagine you are enjoying your peaceful exercise on the lovely trail and suddenly there are construction vehicles, such as excavators, concrete trucks, and 18-wheelers carrying building supplies and not looking out for people.  is is very dangerous!  ere would be continual tra c after building is completed, including cars, UPS and Fed Ex delivery trucks, oil deliveries, possible school buses, etc.  ere is no possible tra c safety precaution that could be made to prevent terrible accidents from happening. Our family and many of our friends and neighbors moved to this area for the open space, fresh air, the grass, and the yards for our children to play in. We should protect this gift of nature on the North County Trailway by trying to keep the undisturbed open areas safe and secure for everyone to enjoy. If you agree with this, please voice your opinion to the Town of Somers by calling them at 914-277-5366 or by e-mailing the board at directorofplan[email protected].  By emailing, the town will know we’d like to keep the safety of our residents  rst and foremost and continue to enjoy the North County Trailway as it is. All letters received by the Planning Board are shared with all Town Board members.  -Heather and Anthony Tomassetti  Somers LETTER Folks, it’s over a month into the new year, people are already doing more dumb things, and I’m not even  nished with the dumb things we did last year. So let’s get right to it: Part Two of the 2022 Year In Review.  ese are the stories that make fun of themselves, so I’ll just use this time to do my taxes. MAN FINDS 160 BURIED BOWLING BALLS BURIED AT HOME A Michigan man doing a home renovation unearthed 160 bowling balls buried in the foundation of his rear stoop. It was either a case of someone repurposing factory rejects or really, really bad aim. Next time he goes bowling, he will already have 159 spares, and if he decides to replace his gutters, he could be in for even more surprises. WOMAN LEAVES ONE-STAR REVIEW FOR RESORT AFTER CROCODILE DRAGS FRIEND INTO OCEAN A woman vacationing in Mexico witnessed a crocodile drag one of her party into the surf, and with the help of her friends, rescued her. Amazingly, the victim is expected to make a full recovery, and even more amazingly, the guest still gave the resort a one-star review on TripAdvisor, possibly because of the unique water sports.  e crocodile also gave the hotel a one-star rating, citing the tasteless guests. POISONOUS SEA SNAKES ARE TRYING TO MATE WITH SCUBA DIVERS Olive sea snakes, a venomous species found in Australia that are are known to swim close to scuba divers, may not be exhibiting aggressive behavior. Instead, according to a study, they might be trying to put the moves on. Actions that occurred during peak breeding season, such as coiling around divers’ limbs, were possibly simply “misdirected courtship responses,” according to the report. But were these amorous advances really misguided? When it comes to spending the rest of your life with a dangerous reptile or say, a relatively harmless but boring insurance claims adjuster, you can pick your poison. A group of largely ignored sea cucumbers was said to have found the entire discussion revolting. BIDEN WHISKED AWAY FROM REPORTERS BY EASTER BUNNY In April, President Biden, hosting the White House Easter egg roll, began to ramble o -script in front of reporters about the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Before he could lay an egg, an aide dressed as a giant Easter bunny started waving frantically to get his attention and siphon him o so he could blow a whistle to signal the start of another round of egg-related competition. Apparently it was determined that he had come within a hare’s breath of saying something dumb.  e Year in Review, Part 2 RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD SEEMELEN PAGE 11 Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Railroad station. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars. • Monuments & inscriptions available. 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director MARISA A. GIULIANO ~ Director ADNER J. MONTENEGRO-LEE ~ Director CLARK ASSOCIATES FUNERAL HOME

PAGE 10 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 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! 914.455.2158 10% 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! 10% OFF Service Calls join Lauren, Colleen and Rick and bring a li� le harmony to your next event! musical vocal group playing an eclec� c mix of favorites, old and new [email protected] 914-248-5135 Recently, I have been wanting to put together a list of my favorite local spots, especially places that are geared towards kid-friendly activities. If you live in Somers (or nearby in North Salem, Katonah and Yorktown), then go ahead and read on! FAVORITE DANCE STUDIO: PENNY LANE DANCE ACADEMY. My daughter Reagan, who is now 10, has been dancing at Penny Lane since the age of 4. It truly feels like a family at the studio.  e teachers are all warm and caring and also very professional.  ere is focus on classical training, but the kids also enjoy the experience every step of the way. My daughter loves competing on the dance team there. Girls and boys can choose from ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap and modern. It’s de nitely the place to be where kids can go to feel uplifted and good about themselves. FAVORITE PRE-SCHOOL: LITTLE PEOPLE’S OF SOMERS My son John attended Little People’s and loved every minute of his three years there. My littlest, Tristan, is now their biggest fan, and I can’t even explain what a blessing they have been.  ey are a play-based pre-school that has such wonderful teachers.  ey are very nurturing and kind with their students and they make learning fun. It has a wonderful outdoor playground, which is an added bonus. My favorite event is their student art show.  e kids are so proud to show o their work come springtime.  e school o ers di erent hours for each age and is de nitely worth a tour if you need a pre-school.  e director, Mrs. CC, is truly invested in making each child’s experience a positive one! FAVORITE COFFEE SPOT: BOBO’S CAFE You can’t go wrong at Bobo’s! I love everything on their menu, especially the avocado toast and the Killa Kate and Bo-ccino shakes!  e vibe there is great and it’s the perfect spot to grab a co ee and run or have a nice brunch with friends. FAVORITE OUTDOOR SPOT TO VISIT FOR LITTLES: MUSCOOT FARM What parent doesn’t love taking their kids to the farm? My kids were always obsessed with farm animals, so Muscoot was a no-brainer for us.  ey have cows, pigs, goats and chickens to the delight of my 3-year-old.  ey also have programs and events all year round, including a farmers market! FAVORITE ART STUDIO: RAILYARD ARTS STUDIO Located right next to the Croton Falls train station, you will  nd this charming art studio. My kids have taken a Winter Wonderland workshop there, where they got to use Model Magic to create a winter scene.  ere are great kids classes to choose from, including painting, pottery and STEAM.  e adult options are worth a look, too! FAVORITE SPORTS CLASSES: NO FEAR No Fear is an awesome way to get your kids involved in learning the fundamentals of sports while doing it safely and having fun!  ey o er individual and group sessions, in addition to classes for toddlers, preschool age, and school aged students. FAVORITE CAMP: HEART AND HUSTLE  is sports camp located in Purdys is a hidden gem!  is camp focuses on various skills each day and has the campers moving and learning the whole time. My kids love the relay races with water balloons! FAVORITE FALL SPOT: STUART’S FRUIT FARM My family loves to visit Stuart’s in Granite Springs when it’s time for apple picking.  ey also have great apple cider donuts and pies.  ey are a little more quiet than some of the neighboring orchards, so my family and I prefer it when we are looking to beat the crowds. FAVORITE PIZZERIA: SAL’S PIZZERIA AND FRATELLI’S PIZZA AND PASTA  is was a tough one for me, but I have to say we love Sal’s Pizzeria in Lincolndale.  ere’s something about their sauce that makes this Italian girl happy. I’m aware my last name is Dooley, but my maiden name is Carlino, so you can understand now why sauce is important to me! And don’t miss out on their grandma pie! However, I have to give it to Fratelli’s Pizza and Pasta for their chicken roll! FAVORITE BAKERY: SWEET DELITES Any time we have a special event, we love to treat ourselves to a cake by Sweet Delites.  e family favorite in this house is the cannoli cake. We have ordered it for christenings and special events. It’s beyond delicious. FAVORITE RESTAURANT:  ere are way too many to choose from, so I’ll just go ahead and list my favorites.  e Burger Barn is the most kid friendly if you want a place where your kids can relax and you can still have a great burger. I love the ambiance at Prime Pub and the traditional Italian food at Il Forno; and the fun desserts at the Mt. Kisco Diner are truly a work of art! I’m sure I missed some wonderful spots, so feel free to send me a message on Instagram and let me know what I missed. I’d love to hear any other local recommendations you may have! Nicole Dooley is a Somers mom who enjoys writing for her parenting blog. If you enjoyed her column, you can read more of her entries at mamaexplains. com or follow her on Instagram at @mamaexplains for relatable parenting tips and stories. Some of my local favorites PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE DOOLEY Tristan at Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100, in Katonah. NICOLE DOOLEY MAMA EXPLAINS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 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 Do you know what steps you can take to avoid your estate going to probate? CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 WOMAN RELEASES BEE SWARM ON DEPUTIES A Massachusetts woman who was being served an eviction notice unleashed hundreds of bees, which attacked several deputies. She was immediately arrested as part of a sting operation.  e woman was wearing a bee-keeping suit, but not all bees are interested in being bee-kept, and the tactic seems a little like shooting a gun that points in all directions. She was charged with assault and battery, but the charges could have been upgraded had they been “murder bees,” or even voluntary manslaughter bees. ELECTRICAL OUTLET FOUND INSTALLED ON TRAFFIC LIGHT In Florida, a fully functioning power outlet was found wired to the pole of a tra c signal.  e Fort Walton Beach Police were not amused, noted on their Facebook page that tampering with tra c lights is a felony, and threatened to unfriend anyone who did so. It seems like the action of someone who was regularly inconvenienced by trying to read in alternating green, red and yellow light. Or possibly a person who is intrigued by electric vehicles, but unclear as to exactly where they get their power. FALLEN TREE TRAPS MAN IN GETTYSBURG PORTAPOTTY A man was hospitalized after a downed tree crushed the portable toilet he was using at the Gettysburg historic site. EMS commented that situation could have been serious, but in reality, quite the opposite was true.  e man was treated and released from his temporary Gettysburg address, a medical facility dedicated to the principle that people just trying to go to the bathroom shall not perish from this Earth. And that’s most of the important news from last year. Go forth with the understanding that you are now better-informed than you were  ve minutes ago, and  ve minutes from now, hopefully you’ll have forgotten the whole thing. Look for Rickster Melen on Facebook! Say hello at: rlife8@ hotmail.com MELEN Babysitting, grandma-style FROM PAGE 9 Ken and I recently babysat for my 3-year-old grandson, Drew. We had babysat him before, but had never actually put him to bed, and we soon realized that there was a whole process to the task. I decided to give him a bath at about 5:30 since he loves the water. I  gured he would wear himself out a bit splashing around. I  lled the tub with about 8 inches of water and put in a few capfuls of Mr. Bubble, the same bubble bath I used for Kim so many years ago.  e container was di erent, but the scent and the bubbles were the same, and it took me back to so long ago. Drew hopped right in and immediately began “swimming” in the tub. At one point he stuck his face in the bubbles and when he came up, his face was covered. He said, “Ho Ho Ho.” I  nally had to let the water drain before I picked him up, dried him o and put on his pajamas. Downstairs, Ken already had turned on Drew’s favorite TV show “T-Rex Dinosaurs.” Drew was a good boy as he sat on the sofa and watched. I began cleaning up from the bath and got his room ready for sleep time. Wow, this is going pretty well, I thought to myself. After a bedtime snack, Drew walked up the stairs to his bedroom. I settled him on my lap as I began to read one of his favorite books. “Where’s momma?” he asked with watery eyes. “Momma had to go out,” I told him. “Why?” “She went to buy some food for breakfast tomorrow.” “Why?” “Because you will be hungry when you wake up in the morning.” “Why?” “Because Momma and Daddy want you to be healthy and strong.” “Why?” “Because they love you.” “Why?” “Because you’re a good boy.” “Where’s Daddy?” “Daddy went out with momma and they will be here when you wake up tomorrow morning.” “Why?” “Because they want to see you when you wake up.” “Why?” “Because they love you. Now, I’m going to read you a story and then you can go to sleep.” “Why?” “Because it’s your bedtime.” “Why?” I  nally read the book, we sang a song together and I tucked him into bed. As I turned o the light and walked out the door, he told me he loved me and that I was his best friend. Now it was my turn to have the watery eyes. I  nally made my way downstairs where Ken was still watching “T-Rex Dinosaurs.” “Well, I  nally tucked him into bed after reading a story and singing a song. I’m exhausted and think I’ll go to bed myself.” “Why?” he asked as I silently left the room. Jo Ann can be reached at jkjfranc@ gmail.com. Fun Facts by Jo Ann: Children love having questions answered. Turn the tables on them and ask some age appropriate questions such as, “What color is a school bus?” JO ANN FRANCELLA JUST JO ANN

PAGE 12 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 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. 2022 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. Smart customer service is the sine qua non of smart business. Three of four business leaders “report a direct link between their customer service and business performance.” That’s courtesy of the 2022 Zendesk Customer Experience Trends Report. I have a decidedly unscientific way of making snap judgments about the value a business places on customer convenience. Which spaces in its parking lot are closest to the entrance – visitors or employees? Logic suggests that customer convenience comes first, right? Not at Westchester County-owned Mohansic Golf Course, where the employees’ spaces are closest to the clubhouse. But that makes sense because the paying customers are masochists anyhow, so what’s one more indignity. This whole notion came to mind when a friend expressed concern about the rescheduling of his town’s 7 p.m. public work sessions to 6 p.m. He commutes from New York City, so those 60 minutes materially compromise his getting to the meetings on time to observe how the proverbial sausage is made. CONSIDER THE STAFF Why the time rollback? I asked. My friend says he was told a 6 p.m. start is more considerate toward the convenience of town hall staff, presumably so they don’t have to hang around as long after the workday for the meeting to start, and they get home that much sooner. OK, fine. The question is whether the convenience of constituents like my friend also was taken into consideration. Is town hall’s foremost obligation to its staff or is the staff ’s priority to serve constituents? It’s not that the two must be mutually exclusive or zero sum, but it’s worth a conversation if one disadvantages the other. A saving grace of sorts is that in these days of televised local government meetings, you can tune in from home, so you can have your 6 p.m. meeting and eat too. But wait a minute. There’s more. In this case, the work sessions have not been televised. It would seem there’s no better reason to start televising those meetings ASAP than because of the one-hour-earlier meeting time that could curtail in-person attendance. STREAMING RIGHT ALONG It’s increasingly out of step for any 21st Century municipality not to televise public sessions. Whether it’s cable, Facebook Live, Zoom or YouTube, there’s no shortage of options to maximize reach into the community when town business is on the table and officials are at the dais. Even New York State Assembly committee meetings now are being beamed into homes via livestreaming. Hey, it only took the gazelle-like gears of government more than six years, since it was legislated (in 2016), to turn the cameras on themselves. To his credit, freshman New York State Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) has wasted no time making an impression in Albany. His cogent comment on this topic is worth citing … “The best solution to stop Albany’s out-of-control spending and big government programs is to shine a light on the very process that has produced policies that have led to a mass exodus of New Yorkers,” Slater said. “Being able to view committee meetings is a significant victory for constituents across New York. Transparency for constituents is one of the most important jobs of an Assembly representative and I am proud to be a part of a new era here in Albany.” PITHY, PLEASE Is the customer always right? A quaint notion as well as an absurd one. It’s not hard to understand, for example, why elected officials consider it fair treatment of their collective constituency to limit public remarks at town meetings to three minutes per constituent. More people get to say their piece and the bloviators get to practice being pithy instead of pissy. On the other hand, what if the august body running your town brings in a friendly subject matter expert to put a shine on legislation it is jonesing to push through, but does not give equal time to an expert to speak against that same legislation? How customer- … I mean constituent-friendly is that? By the way, that ZenDesk Report reveals that three of five customers say they would go to a direct competitor after one bad experience. So, if you don’t like how your public servants are treating you, the answer is clear – pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move to the next town over. That’ll show ‘em who’s boss. Bruce watches town board meetings from the comfort of his man cave. He advocates that the pandemic practice of letting constituents at home participate in Courtesy of the Floor via Zoom during town board meetings should be adopted as standard practice to be more inclusive of constituents who choose to keep informed in the privacy of their abode. [email protected]. Constituents are customers too BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG

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If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. LIMITED TIME OFFER 60%off TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 10% off YOUR INSTALLATION Install for Military, Health Workers and First Responders + Warranty- Limited Lifetime. Transferable to 1 subsequent owner from original purchaser. Terms and conditions apply. Hail up to 2.5”, Appearance of the surface coating beyond normal wear and tear. Limited time offer. Expires 3.31.22 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 1-855-916-5473 One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7. alone I’m never Life Alert® is always here for me. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! ® Help at Home sends help fast, 24/7. with GPS! Help On-the-Go For a FREE brochure call: 1-800-404-9776 Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES Batteries Never Need Charging. © 2023 Consumer Cellular Inc. For promo details please call 844-919-1682 CALL CONSUMER CELLULAR 844-919-1682 O First Month of New Service! USE PROMO CODE: GZ59O 855.281.6439 I Free Quotes American Made Family Owned Award Winning Could your kitchen use a little magic? Acouple weeks ago, I conducted an informal focus group at the dog park (with owners, not canines).  e topic was county government. We frequently have these kinds of heady discussions about public policy while watching the dogs romp. We’d recently received a glossy newsletter from our county legislator giving an update about the happenings around our part of the county.  e mailing prompted a discussion around just what does county government do for us up here in the north country.  e two functions identi ed after some brain racking were: running our county parks and providing county police. I was able to add a third function,  e Bee Line bus system, as I had recently written a column about how the service was nearly nonexistent up in these parts and opined about how it could be reformatted and improved.  In our area, Ward Pound Ridge and Mountain Lakes are county operated parks.  e County Police patrol the Saw Mill Parkway and provide security for Westchester County Airport.  e county also operates the airport at taxpayer expense.  Several years ago, there was a movement afoot to eliminate county government in order to lower taxes. Eliminating county government would get rid of overhead and remove redundant services already covered by other levels of government at the town, village and state levels. Dumping county government would be a complicated endeavor that would de nitely save some shekels, since according to  e Tax Foundation, a DC-based think tank, Westchester ranks in the top 8 of 3,033 counties in the U.S. for highest property taxes paid. In fact, as a percentage of property values, 22 of the top 25 counties with the highest tax burden are in New York.  A major driver of our high taxes is all the government we pay for. In Westchester, there are 19 towns, 6 cities and 22 villages, not to mention over 40 school districts – that’s a lot of bureaucracy.   As far as county government in White Plains is concerned, things used to be a lot simpler.  e county was governed by a “Board of Supervisors” composed of the elected town supervisors.  e board met monthly with the county executive to make decisions about county government. But in 1985, that simple system was replaced by a “County Board of Legislators,” a 17-member body elected by district. Each of those legislators now make $75,000 for what was created as a parttime job, after voting themselves a 50% increase in December 2020. Each legislator has fulltime sta for their part-time positions.  e county commissioned a study called “Westchester 2000: A Vision for the Future,” that was conducted in 1998-1999. Among many recommendations from the study were to make county government more responsive to the needs of residents by streamlining services and reducing bureaucracy. As with many of these studies, it seems as though it was tossed on the shelf and forgotten.  Massachusetts, on the other hand, ended county government in the 1990s, while Westchester was going in the other direction by expanding it.  eir changes, which ceded more control to local boards and villages, led to more e cient and responsive local government. County government shouldn’t be eliminated since there are services it is best suited for, like running large parks, down-county transportation systems, social services, and our community college. But there are countless opportunities to consolidate, streamline and eliminate services that are better handled locally. With an election coming up in a few months, it might be a good time to ask our county legislator candidates whether they want to help.  Redundancies of county government Contact Us The Somers Record is located at 118 N. Bedford Road, Suite 100, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected]. DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

PAGE 14 THE SOMERS RECORD – TH

URSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 PAGE 15

PAGE 16 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Dozens of Girl Scouts gathered recently at the Caroline Wright Reis Homestead in Somers where they had fun while earning art badges and getting hands-on history lessons.  e event was hosted by local Troop 1457, whose four members are raising funds so they can attend the National Girl Scout Convention at Walt Disney World in Florida this summer, said Scout leaders Michelle Quinn and Joan Travis Kaminski.  e convention takes place every three years and is said to be an “epic” celebration for girls, young women, and everyone who supports them. So the site for the Jan. 17 occasion was a  tting one for the 65 Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts from Somers, Mahopac, and Harrison to also mark the birthday of someone who’d thrived at a time when the topic of equality for women was barely on the radar. Born on Jan. 11, 1880, Caroline Wright Reis was an artist, philanthropist, farmer, suffragette sympathizer, and, most notably, a devoted citizen of Somers. She also went to college, graduating from Pratt Institute in 1902, 18 years before women won the right to vote. Wright Reis helped raise money for a number of causes, including the Veterans Monument in Ivandell Cemetery and, despite not having children of her own, local schools. She left her property and its Greek revival farmhouse to the town in 1967 for recreational and academic purposes.  e youngsters toasted what would have been Wright Reis’s 143rd birthday with homemade cupcakes and song.  ey also made and signed an enormous card that will be displayed at the Somers Historical Society’s galleries in  e Elephant Hotel along with a quilt made by Somers Girl Scouts for the United States Bicentennial in 1976.  ere are lots of interesting artifacts at the homestead, but the dollhouse was reportedly the biggest hit with the girls.  ey were also fascinated by old-fashioned household implements such as an ice box and a rotary dial phone. Town historian Doris Jane Smith, along with Historical Society member and folk artist Susan Slyman, gave the girls and their parents tours of the house and grounds. A silent auction featuring a print of Slyman’s painting of  e Elephant Hotel raised $75, according to the society vice president, Grace Zimmerman. A SPECIAL PLACE  e homestead is a very special place to Scouts in Troop 1457, Kaminski said.  ey’ve spent years volunteering there as part of their Silver and Bronze Award projects and had even created a vegetable garden to donate fresh produce to the food pantry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Somers.  e event gave participants the chance to earn their art badges by completing skill-building activities such as making sculptures with marshmallows and toothpicks and maracas by using empty water bottles, rice, and beans.  ey also trooped outdoors to make watercolor paintings and engage in a scavenger hunt for natural objects. Troop 1457 members as well as others from the Girl Scout community manned nine stations. Scout Jillian Arena, who is working on her Gold Award, was at the “Kindness Rocks” one. SUPPORT THE SCOUTS Getting to the convention will cost about $14,000, said Quinn, noting that the troop’s fundraising e orts are “about halfway there.”  ere is, of course, the classic moneymaker – cookies. Scouts get a dollar for each Scouting ahead! Troop 1457 visits Wright Reis Homestead, fundraises for national convention SEE SCOUTS PAGE 17 Elder Law & Estate Planning Wills, Trusts & Estates Small Business • Real Estate Matrimonial • Criminal Personal Injury • Commercial SOMERS • YONKERS Evening Appointments & Home Visits Tel: 914-964-6806 www.marralaw.com • [email protected] Tour Your Future At The Tech Center at Yorktown For Middle and High School Students February 13th and 14th 8:00am-10:00am and 12:00pm-2:00pm • Visit over 40 programs within our career academies • Learn about opportunities to earn high school academic credits, college credits, and national technical certifications • Please see your home school counselor for further information and a permission slip. Information Contact: Samantha Vredenburgh at 914.248.2427 or [email protected]

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 17 box they sell. Quinn said Troop 1457 is hoping to sell 5,000 of them. Girl Scout Cookie season o - cially runs from January to April, although local programs can vary depending on weather and supply chain issues. Troop 1457 plans to start cookie sales in February. New this year is the Raspberry Rally™. A “sister” cookie to the Scouts’ beloved  in Mints™, it is infused with raspberry  avor instead of mint and dipped in the same chocolaty coating.  e troop is also planning a fundraiser at the Brewster Ice Arena, 63 Fields Lane, Brewster, N.Y.  e private indoor ice-skating event is set for 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 3. Available will be a 1½-hour session on the main ice. Folks are being asked to arrive early to get skates.  e cost is $20 per person -- $16 if you bring your own skates -- and includes skate rental, hot cocoa, a snack, and crafting. Nutand gluten-free goodies will be available. (Adult skaters: $10 includes skate rental.) For more info, email Quinn at [email protected]. SCOUTS FROM PAGE 16 Progressive Animal Hospital Voted “Best of Somers” 2020-2022 What is the most common mismanaged condition that you see? THE ITCHY DOG! Is your pet... scratching • licking • chewing feet or having chronic skin infections? Stop treating the symptoms and find out the underlying cause with a simple blood test. Get your pet feeling better and stop the frequent trips to the vet. INDEPENDENTLY OWNED and OPERATED 268 route 202 l somers, ny 10589 914.248.6220 l progressive-vet.com  www.summertrailsdaycamp.com 914.245.1776  CURRENTLY HIRING STAFF!    
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BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER  e season winding down, John Jay/ Yorktown/Somers/Hen Hud matched up against Scarsdale on Tuesday, Jan. 25. At Dynamic Gym in Mohegan Lake, the girls tumbled past the Raiders on Senior Night and are turning their attention to the postseason. “My goal is to make States again,” said Regan Mooney of Yorktown.  at said, she knows where to put her efforts. “I need to get my vault better.” An 8.00 on this evening, her best work came on the beam with a 9.20. “I did my jumps and turns really well and my leaps were really clean,” Mooney said.  e senior didn’t do badly on the  oor either. “My tumbling was really strong. I had a lot of power and got really high,” she said after her 9.0. Georgia Nekos felt up in the air too. “I did well in my events today, which is always my goal,” said the Tusker. By the numbers, a 9.15 on the  oor was her high score. “I really landed it,” Nekos said. But she was more proud of her bounce back on the beam. A few wobbles on high, the senior stayed the course. “I just try to forget about it and move on to the next skill,” asserted Nekos. As for the postseason, her head is wound on just right. “My goal is to hit all my routines and just have fun.” Scoring a 9.05 on vault gave Kayla Cambareri reason to cheer too. “I  ipped, got height and landed with one step,” said the John Jay Wolf.  en on the  oor, she stayed on point and in step. “I remembered my whole routine and landed all my passes,” said Cambareri of her 8.75.  e freshman also had a 7.7 on the bars, and is pretty satis ed with the improvements she’s made. “At the beginning of the season, I was not turning my giants over and now I’m doing it,’” she said. Meaning, she clari ed, “It’s like a big swing from a handstand and then over another handstand.” Letting  y, Claire Jahaly had a 7.65 in her only event. “I stuck the landing,” the John Jay gymnast said of her vault work. At the same time, she’s keeping it pretty simple going forward. “I want to score higher and do better,” said Jahaly. John Jay’s Berkeley Siegel was a solo act too. In turn, her 7.7 on the  oor had her measured in terms of providing a personal letter grade. “I got a higher score than last time by a lot,” she said. An incline that has showed results since the beginning of the year. “I have improved my drive, my power and my tumbling,” Siegel assured. Into the postseason, she’s looking to improve her endurance. “I do not want to get tired toward the end.” Finally, Maggie Johannsen of Hen Hud was dressed to the nines on three of four events.  e  oor coming in as her best, she hammered a 9.5. “I nailed my passes and had nice landings,” said the Sailor. Technique, on the other hand, does not amount to the most improved aspect of her game. “Con dence plays a big role in gymnastics and more con dence helps you be more solid in your routines,” said the freshman. All told, Coach Teodora Cepoi de nitely noticed the elevated acumen for the entire team. “I’m very happy with the results and their performance tonight. It was the best total team win for the season,” she concluded. Sports PAGE 18 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 The CONFIDENCE LIGHT UP THE ROOM to That's the BBO difference Call for your FREE consultation today 293 Route 100 Suite 209 Somers, NY (914) 277-1111 www.BBOsmiles.com PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL The combined team seniors, including Yorktown’s Gianna Mastro (left), John Jay’s Claire Jahaly, Somers’ Georgia Nekos, and Yorktown’s Regan Mooney all in center. Somers sticks the landing on Senior Night Eyeing postseason GYMNASTICS Georgia Nekos on the balance beam.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 19 MEDICAL & SURGICAL EYE CARE Looking Forward to seeing old, familiar and new faces! • Comprehensive Eye Care • Cataract Surgery, Glaucoma Laser & Implants, Botox Lan V. Pham,MD, PC CURRENTLY SEEING PATIENTS AT 101 S. Bedford Road, Suite 412, Mt. Kisco PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE BACK IN YORKTOWN IN EARLY 2023 1825 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights 914-772-9983 phameye.com Treat yourself or someone you love this The Eternita Experience 90 minutes: $165 Package of 5: $750 (savings of $75) 253 US-202 Somers 914-617-8660 eternitaspa.com Gift Certificates Available (Non-transferable. Good for 6 months from date of purchase) The Escape 60 minutes: $100 Package of 5: $475 (savings of $25) Valentine’s Day! BOYS BASKETBALL Somers 63, Rye 57 Tuesday, Jan. 24 Missing Dylan Ingraham for the road matchup, the Tuskers still managed to outlast the Garnets to begin their week with an overtime win. Matt Fitzsimons did both the scoring and the dirty work (22 pts, 17 rebs), Andrew Violante stepped up big time (18 pts), and Mac Sullivan (11 pts, 7 rebs) and Brady Leitner (8 pts, 4 asts) produced. Somers 77, Ardsley 52 Thursday, Jan. 26 Up 33-26 at half on the road, a third-quarter explosion had Somers up 64-38, en route to a fourth straight win and 12-2 overall record. Fitzsimons (25 pts), Nate Cohen (18 pts), Violante (9 pts), and Leitner (8 pts) all chipped in on the action. TRACK & FIELD Westchester County Championships Saturday, Jan. 28 Back in the Bronx, at  e Armory to be speci c, the Tuskers faced the best in the area at the Westchester County Championships, with the boys and girls placing third and seventh overall respectively. Competing against 39 other schools, the boys reached the podium thanks to standout performances from Andrew Fasone, Jared Googel, Liam Kim, and Mike Maguire. Fasone, who recently broke the school record in the 300M, outdid himself in the same event (35.33), placing him second overall in Westchester. Googel left the meet with plenty of hardware after winning both the Shot Put and Weight  row. Mike Maguire clocked a PR of 10:30 in the 3200M, and Liam Kim’s fourth place (5’8) in the High Jump turned some heads. “I am so happy for the team,” said Coach Mike Lacko. “Westchester is a big deal and a great start heading into Sectionals. I am so proud of the way this team competed. All the hard work is paying o in a big way.” A not too shabby seventh place for the girls was headlined by Haylie Donovan winning the 55M Dash (7.38). “It was a huge race for her and I could not believe how fast she went,” said Coach John Vegliante. Corryn Watt (3rd) and Rebecca Jandrasits (5th) both placed high to score points in the Pole Vault. “Both senior girls have been working hard in the vault, so it’s nice to see that paying o ,” said Vegliante. Chelsea Lewitt had a big day in the 600M (5th), along with helping her 4x200M (4th) and 4x400M (5th) teams place high in their relays. Boys Basketball moves to 12-2 Track & Field races at Counties Mike Cunningham had 13 points and his fi rst high school dunk against Cristo Rey. PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ JFK Seniors left to right: Ciaran O’Gara, Julien Karteron, Justin Smith, Ryan McInerney. VARSITY ROUNDUP SEE ROUNDUP PAGE 20

SPORTS Julia Aquilino (6th) was a blur in the 3000M, and freshman teammate Julia Duzynski (10:57.29) captured a major PR, shedding over a minute o her previous best time. “It was incredible to see,” Vegliante added. WRESTLING Somers-North Salem 34, Brewster 33 Thursday, Jan. 26 Liam Dwyer (126 lbs., MD 15-1), Matt Cascio (132 lbs., Dec 8-6), Robert Vrabel (138 lbs., Dec 4-0) Will Marcus (145 lbs., Fall), and Anthony Tucci (152 lbs., Fall) all got the Tigers/Tuskers crucial points to help them just edge out Brewster at their gym last  ursday. “Every single win was key and came from gritty perfomances from Liam Dwyer, Matt Cascio, and Robert Vrabel, in addition to our guys that won by foreit,” said Coach Ron DiSanto Jr. SKIING Sectional Qualifi ers Friday, Jan. 27 Last week, the John Jay/ North Salem/Somers combined ski team embarked for Mount Southington in Conn. and left a mark. A quali er race for Sectionals, the top nine  nishers automatically move on, and the boys put six in the post season. Luke Spieler took  rst, Chris Marchini was second and Matt Wolfe, James Bysshe, Josh Burkhart and Porter Bysshe took  fth to eighth. On the girls’ side, Rosie Binette took second (34.59), Ellie Sheridan  fth and Daniella Dziedzic ninth. JFK BASKETBALL Cristo Rey 52, Kennedy 37 Saturday, Jan. 28  e Gaels celebrated their vets pre-game for Senior Night, but could not carry over the cheer in a loss to visiting Cristo Rey. Sophomore Mike Cunningham had 13 points and his  rst career high school dunk. Senior Justin Smith chipped in 9. HOCKEY (5-11) BYSNS 5, Greeley 0 Friday, Jan. 27 (Brewster Ice Arena) BYSNS (Brewster/Yorktown/ Somers/North Salem) blanked Horace Greeley 5-0 to win on its Senior Night. Ty Wing eld (12 saves), Charlie Heese (2G), James Munoz (2G), Bryan Kottmann (2A), Wolfgang Cook (1G), Max Messina (1A), and Daniel Luis (1A) ignited the Bisons to the victory. “It meant a lot,” said Wing-  eld of the Senior Night victory. “ e guys really deserved this win.  e parents, coaches, and administrators did an amazing job organizing the pre-game ceremonies. It’s something that I will remember for the rest of my life.” Wing eld (Yorktown), Owen Cunningham (Brewster), Dylan Filmer (Brewster), Pat McDonagh (Brewster), James McGowan (Brewster), Matthew Guarini (Yorktown), Heese (Somers), Kottmann (Somers), and Messina (Somers) are the BYSNS seniors who were recognized beforehand. Byram Hills 4, BYSNS 3 Sunday, Jan. 29 (Brewster Ice Arena) BYSNS rallied from a 3-0  rst-period de cit to tie Byram Hills but fell to the Bobcats in overtime 4-3, led by Cunningham (1G, 1A), Heese (1G), Matteo Guastadisegni (1G), Messina (1A), Kottmann (1A), Dylan Weber (24 saves) and Wing eld (3 saves). BYSNS section provided by Mike Sabini. The top three boys fi nishers left to right: Chris Marchini, Luke Spieler, and Elliot Zhang. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEB SPIELER PHOTOS: CHRIS SMAJLAJ Matt Fitzsimons with the fl oater over Rye. Matt Cascio (132 lbs.) earned a decision over Brewster’s Liam Ford. PHOTOS: CHRIS BALL Ethan Steuber Boys Track & Field placed third at Counties last Saturday. PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY DEMARINIS ROUNDUP FROM PAGE 19 Andrew Violante fi nishes strong at the rim. PAGE 20 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! Promo Code: 285 FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!1 1 Subject to credit approval. Call for details. 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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 21 BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR Missing starter Lauren McCartin, Somers Basketball still brought their A-game against a talented John Jay-Cross River squad. Cutting the deficit to as close as two in the third quarter, led by Ava Giudice (20 pts), the Tuskers could not overcome the hot shooting from the Wolves, however, and fell 53-44 last Thursday, Jan. 26. Down 11-6 midway through the first quarter, Somers endured John Jay’s full court pressure to create on offense. First from Giudice, who found space to hit a baseline jumper, Lindsay McCollough then helped their scoring by forcing the defense to foul her on a three-point attempt. The junior made 2-3 free throws to end the quarter down 14-12. Somers had to sound the alarm when John Jay upped their defense in the second. Getting steals and baskets in transition, Annabel Brennan (16 pts) capped the run off with a three at 6:21 to make it 19-12. But coming to the rescue, Giudice made her way inside for two scores in traffic, and Bailey Atkinson (2 pts) nailed an elbow jumper off the glass to keep the Tuskers alive. Improved on both ends this year, Alexa Warycha (7 pts) also made the Wolves sweat. Blocking shots and rebounding on the defensive side, the center ended the half with aggression, using her size inside to get fouled and make two trips to the line to make the halftime score 24-21. “Me and Coach (Kelci Hegg) were talking about how this was by far our most complete game,” said Coach Kevin Mallon on the Tuskers’ effort. “We have been a team that has played great for a quarter, maybe quarter and a half, and the next three quarters were not that. Today, I felt all four quarters were consistent basketball. We were making shots, competed defensively...This was probably our best overall game from start to finish.” Somers kept up the performance out of the locker room. Trading baskets with Brennan, Giudice and Warycha kept it within two-four points. However, Shorthanded Tuskers nearly tame the Wolves Giudice 20-point effort PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Ava Giudice took it to the John Jay defense all evening. Maia Cassin played big minutes down the stretch. Kacey McCullough goes for the rebound. Alexa Warycha battling down low. GIRLS BASKETBALL SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 22 FAP-1966G-A > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC There may be opportunities for your investments to be working harder for you. Let's work together to make sure your financial strategy is optimized. Contact us today for a complimentary review. When it comes to your to-do list, put your future first. Michael O'Donovan Financial Advisor 247 Route 100 Suite 200 Somers, NY 10589 914-401-9218 FAP-1966G-A > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC There may be opportunities for your investments to be working harder for you. Let's work together to make sure your financial strategy is optimized. Contact us today for a complimentary review. When it comes to your to-do list, put your future first. Michael O'Donovan Financial Advisor 247 Route 100 Suite 200 Somers, NY 10589 914-401-9218

PAGE 22 – THE SOMERS RECORD SPORTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 BY WHIT ANDERSON SPORTS EDITOR  e Somers Sports Arena was a hub of activity last Saturday, Jan. 28, when players, parents, and volunteers came out for the second of four Able Field Hockey winter sessions. “I’m a PE teacher, I’m a mom, I’m a  eld hockey coach, so I feel like it’s all worlds colliding to o er this to our special needs kids,” said Melissa Ponzio, Director of Able Field Hockey, and the Commissioner of Somers Youth Field Hockey. Able Field Hockey, under the umbrella of Able Athletics, o ers sporting opportunities for the local special needs community. Parents like Ponzio, who has a son on the spectrum, jumped on the opportunity to contribute to this movement and provide a broader scope of inclusive sports. Founded in 2021 as Able Lacrosse, the program started from the desire of two Scarsdale Middle School boys to help their special needs little sister, Elle, participate in sports. “Being there for someone who struggles throughout the day, having that safe space where they can succeed is just really special,” said eight-grader Rowan Dias, who conceptualized Able Sports with his younger brother, Christian, after their sister had di culties integrating into mainstream sporting programs. Buying his sister her  rst lacrosse stick with his allowance, according to Mother Vanessa Dias, Rowen and Christian wanted to go farther than just teaching their sibling the sport in the backyard. “ ey kind of just decided one day: Hey Mom, why don’t we do this for Elle’s friends?” she revealed. From there, Able Sports went into full swing.  e growing support from volunteers, coaches, and partners got them out of the backyard and into full-sized facilities for lacrosse sessions that started back in spring 2021.  en further expanding, with the help of Ponzio and others, Able Sports hosted their  rst  eld hockey trial clinic at Somers High School last fall. “Everything just kind of took o from here, so here we are in our inaugural season...With our phenomenal leaders and our organization, it’s just onward and upwards.” Dias added. Equipped with physical therapists, occupational therapists, and educators, along with various varsity programs and special needs organizations as their partners, Able Sports ensures that all involved possess knowledge on how to work with special needs children participating in a sport.  is knowledge is passed on to the numerous volunteers, largely consisting of local high school varsity lacrosse and  eld hockey players, in onboarding educational sessions so they are prepared to guide each participant in the low-cost clinics.  e  eld hockey clinics themselves are a fast-paced blast. Players move from station-to-station every few minutes to learn and practice a new skill taught by the volunteers. And at the end of the hour-long session, Ponzio gathers everyone in the center to discuss what they learned, and to celebrate a successful day. “Inclusion is a beautiful thing,” Ponzio emphasized. Coming from the same perspective, James Synowiez, Co-Director of Able Lacrosse, is elated by the evolution of the program. “We were kind of in the dark with how this was going to go,” revealed the varsity lacrosse and hockey coach of Scarsdale High School, who is also the father of a special needs daughter. “From where it started in terms of meeting right before the session and breaking things down to now, Melissa has done a great job breaking it down to the volunteers...It really raised the foundation of success for both (players and volunteers). It’s been awesome.” Able Lacrosse will expand into eight sessions this spring; Four in Yorktown and four in Scarsdale. Rowan, who will enter high school next fall, is proud of Able Sports’ progress so far, but believes they are just tapping into the potential of inclusive sports. “I want to expand this throughout the country... ere are not just people with special needs in New York.  ere are other people who need help and need access to these kinds of services.” Able Field Hockey clinics in full swing Dias brothers inspire a movement Able Field Hockey concluded its second of four winter sessions last Saturday. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABLE ATHLETICS The volunteers, coaches, and players come together at the end of each session for an inspiring send off. PHOTO: WHIT ANDERSON Able Volunteers help develop participants’ abilities at each skill station. PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL VALLARELLI PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA the Tuskers would then su er a crucial loss. Giving it all to grab a defensive rebound, Warycha lost her footing and fell to the ground, smacking her head in the process and missing the rest of the game. Like against Brewster the prior week when she fouled out, the Tuskers could not keep up with their opponent without Warycha’s presence down low. John Jay got the momentum back, Miranda Martin hit a crushing three. Giudice and McCoullough both scored to keep Somers lurking, but they ended the third down 36-29. “She (Warycha) is such a great kid, so whenever she goes down, I get so upset. She is one of our staples on defense...and today she played great o ensively. Losing her was de nitely hard for us, but that is something you have to overcome as a team. I thought we did a pretty good job with it, but de - nitely hard to lose her,” said Mallon.  e e ort still there, but the results did not follow for the Tuskers in the  nal quarter. Getting the lead up to 39-29, the shooting prowess of John Jay showed when Jess Marbin nailed a triple on the wing in McCollough’s grill. Taking it right back to the defense, however, McCollough hit her own trey to keep it at 42-35. But Brennan, as she did all evening, acted as the momentum killer with a short jumper. Somers missing a crucial three on the other end, the Wolves came back to their side for a score and a 46-37 advantage with 3:53 remaining. Another contested Brennen basket unof-  cially sealed the deal, and the Wolves bid their time and made their free throws to put the league match away. Mallon is looking forward to seeing how this performance carries the Tuskers for the remainder of the season. “We have to continue to practice, continue to work hard. We have a great group of girls. I think the wins will come. Obviously, it has not been the most successful season wins wise. But as long as we give this e ort, I will be a happy coach and look forward to the rest of the year.”  e previous Tuesday (1/24), Putnam Valley defeated the visiting Tuskers 65-34. Giudice was the leading scorer with seven points. Warycha and McCullough both had six. BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 21 PHOTO: RICH MONETTI Bailey Atkinson with the jumper.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 LEISURE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 23 Hello readers! I hope you had a great January and were able to include live music in life. February may be a short month, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. We have romance to talk about! Music is the language of love! What could be more loving than a scrumptious dining experience, toasting your Valentine with a glass of champagne and enjoying romantic music in an intimate setting? Jazz on Main in Mt. Kisco will provide you with two chances to experience that!  e jazz dinner club will host two passionate Valentine’s Dinner Shows in February! On Saturday, Feb. 11, Italian vocalist Vanessa Racci’s Quartet entertains for two sets at 7 and 9 p.m. On Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb 14, jazz vocalist Beatrix Malnic and her band performs Falando de amor (speaking of love) at 7 p.m. Venue owners, musicians and event planners, if you have live music events to share for March 2023, tell me about it at jacque@wbutter y.net. I’d like to include you in the listing below. For a detailed listing of local live music events, visit HearIt ere.com. ELMSFORD Live Music at Carmine’s, 7 Old Road, 914-345-2605 Weekend nights, the deli turns down the lights to host live music, delicious food and a fun time dancing. Who’s been?  e February band line up can be found on Facebook @ LiveMusicAtCarmines. MOHEGAN LAKE Dog Haus Biergarten, 3137 E Main St., Cortlandt Town Center, 845-915-4287  ursday night acoustic music at 7 p.m. Bands perform Friday and Saturday nights from 8-11 p.m. MT KISCO Jazz on Main, 37 S. Moger Ave., 914-730-2399 A high-energy performance by Seth Kibel on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. Seth presents Klezmer & Swing Songs of Snark & Despair, wowing audiences on saxophone, clarinet and  ute! His YouTube videos are fantastic! PLEASANTVILLE  e Garage at Lucy’s, 446 Bedford Road, 914-747-4740 Local rock celebrity Pete Donnelly and his “Band of Special Guests” return Feb. 9th and March 16 to host his monthly residency. If you recognize Pete from  e Figgs, NRBQ or Soul Asylum, you will certainly recognize his special guests! PURDYS Westchester Bluegrass Club, 33 Lake Way Clubhouse On Saturday, Feb. 4, Grant Gordy & Joe K Walsh are the featured act at 8 p.m.  ere is an open mic performance at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. YORKTOWN HEIGHTS Mohansic Grill, 1500 Baldwin Road, 914-962-9300  ere is a full lineup of live music starting at 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in February. My friends,  e Fat City Rockers, are performing a special show Saturday, the Feb. 4, called “A Day the Music Died Night” featuring special guests.  ere are fantastic bands scheduled all month every weekend. Jacque Roche is a freelance writer, content contributor to several local publications, as well as editor and music blogger for HearIt ere.com. Archived broadcasts of her 2016- 2020 radio shows can be heard streaming on Mixcloud.com. Jacque’s Spin on Music for February! JACQUE’S S PIN O N M USI C JACQUE’S S PIN O N M USI C CLUES ACROSS 1. Shed tears 5. Luxury jewelry designer 10. Goddess of wisdom 12. Convert into a particular form 14. Working-class people 16. It borders Canada (abbr.) 18. A princess can detect its presence 19. Red-brown sea bream 20. Defunct retail empire 22. Vase 23. Demeter’s equivalent 25. Monetary unit of the Maldives 26. French and Belgian river 27. Small amount 28. High schoolers’ test 30. Animal’s foot 31. Some is red 33. Per __: each 35. Swedish jazz pop duo 37. Plate for Eucharist 38. Train line 40. Russian pop duo 41. Stake 42. Plant by scattering 44. Female sibling 45. City of Angels hoopsters (abbr.) 48. Popular cookie brand 50. Group of Niger-Congo languages 52. A team’s best pitcher 53. Vomits 55. 19th letter of Greek alphabet 56. Men’s fashion accessory 57. Its capital is Pierre (abbr.) 58. Expensive cut of steak 63. Popular James Cameron film 65. A __: relating to knowledge gleaned from deduction 66. Kids’ snow toys 67. Flip side to yin CLUES DOWN 1. Global public health agency 2. Snake-like fish 3. Midway between northeast and east 4. Dabbed 5. TV show 6. Folk singer DiFranco 7. Canadian flyers 8. Of the dowry 9. Commercial 10. The act of imitating 11. Equipment used to broadcast radio or TV signals 13. Lands of an emir 15. Swiss river 17. Island 18. Monetary unit of Afghanistan 21. One who surrenders under agreed conditions 23. Garfield is one 24. A baglike structure in a plant or animal 27. Small boats used in the Black Sea 29. Small savory Spanish dishes 32. Body part 34. Touch lightly 35. Popular grilled foods on a stick 36. __ Hess: oil company 39. Antelope with a reddish coat 40. Pharaoh of Lower Egypt 43. Pink Floyd’s Roger 44. Short and thick 46. Small, sac-like cavities 47. Performer __-Lo 49. Entrails of animal used as food 51. __ King Cole, musician 54. Where construction is done 59. Chap 60. Investment vehicle 61. Often mixed with tonic 62. Holiday beverage egg __ 64. Against 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

PAGE 24 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 USPS delivered mailing addresses every week. Call 845-208-8151 today! My Community Bulletin Board Increase referrals and name recognition. Advertise in The Somers Record Bulletin Board and reach over 7,000 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 Immediate Opening F Fallsburg Central School High School Principal EOE The Fallsburg CSD is looking for a Junior Senior High School Principal to provide instructional leadership to students, staff, and community members. He/she will lead innovative programs that result in attainment of the district’s vision, achievement of school/district goals and improve student achievement. Salary $135,000 - $145,000 NYS SAS or SBL Certification Required Please forward resume & Fallsburg’s application (located at fallsburgcsd.net) by Feb 10th To [email protected] Attn: HS Principal Search BOCES_2x2 Fallsburg 4.crtr - Page 1 - Composite 421 Rt 6 • Mahopac, NY 10541 Tel: 845.628.9604 • www.callsullivan.com Neal L. Sullivan Business Umbrella Home Auto without elaborating.  e supervisor also highlighted the proposed  Tractor Supply  project.  e nationwide retail chain sells products for home improvement, agriculture, lawn, and garden maintenance, and livestock, equine, and household pet care.  e national chain had originally been eying a piece of vacant land o nearby Clayton Boulevard but is now aiming to occupy the former  HomeGoods store in Somers Commons, a shopping center in Baldwin Place. Looking ahead to 2023, Scorrano said: “ e Town Board’s mission has always been – and will remain – to do what’s in the best interest of the residents of Somers regardless of the ‘noise’ around us. We are a community, and we are a community of one.” HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAGE 7 “Parks and Rec.” For any questions, call 914-232-8441 or email [email protected] DAY CAMP POSITIONS  e Department of Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for the following day camp positions: First Aid Supervisor, Division Head, Arts & Crafts Specialist, Sports Specialist, and Counselor. To be a camp counselor applicants need to be at least 16 years old by the start of camp, 6/26. Must be able to work entire 6 weeks of camp, Monday - Friday, 6/26-8/4. To apply, visit www. somersny.com ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUE Somers Parks and Recreation is excited to o er a COED Adult Softball League.   is is a call for teams. All interested teams, please email parks@ somersny.com and you will be sent the team entry form to complete and return to the Recreation Of-  ce as soon as possible or by 3/1 at the latest.  Rosters may not exceed twenty-  ve players and must be comprised of not less than 50% Somers residents. Anyone that does not live in the Town of Somers is considered a non-resident. All participants must be 18 years old.  Please remember, teams would need to  eld a minimum of 4 women and no more than 6 men each game.   Games will run from May through July.  Team fee would be $600.00 and will include 10 games plus playo s, umpire and game balls.  The Somers Library Please register using the online calendar at www.somerslibrary. org or on the link included in the description in order to have access to this meeting. If virtual, you will receive an invitation prior to the start of the program. Programs are supported by the Friends of the Somers Library through patrons’ generous contributions. (IN PERSON) VALENTINE’S DAY DESSERTS Thursday, Feb. 9, from 7 to 8 p.m. Join in to learn how to make Molten Lava Cake & Persian Love Cake in this virtual baking class with Chef Empress Vasquez! (HYBRID) SOMERS LIBRARY BOOK GROUP Friday, Feb. 17, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.  e group will meet both in person and virtually to discuss Marie Benedict’s “Personal Librarian.”  e novel tells the story of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, who became one of the most powerful women in New York, despite her secret preserving her carefully crafted white identity.  is Library-sponsored book group is led by Diana Cunningham, Librarian, who selects the books to be discussed, chosen in consultation with Tara Ferretti, Head of Public Services, with feedback and suggestions from the group. New members are always welcome. Somers BSA Troop 228 WEEKLY MEETING Mondays, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Amawalk Firehouse Give your son the tools to develop his con dence, leadership skills, and interest in community service while experiencing the outdoor adventures of Scouting. Discover the natural wonders of New York State, whether canoeing in the Adirondacks, hiking the Appalachian trail, or camping at one of our State Parks. Excursions for all ages and levels of experience. Scouts explore their personal interests through over 135 merit badges. Troop 228 is sponsored by the Somers Volunteer Fire Department. We are proud citizens and actively give back to Somers through community service and environmental conservation projects. To  nd out more, email us at [email protected] or visit our website at Troop228somers.com. Somers BSA Troop 376 WEEKLY MEETING Most Tuesdays, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Somers Middle School Cafeteria. Embark on a journey that your son will remember and bene t from for a lifetime!  ere is no youth program quite like Scouts BSA, which o ers leadership development, teaches citizenship and responsibility, embeds useful outdoor survival skills, can spark career interests, and boasts exciting activities that few outside of Scouting have the opportunity to experience. Celebrating 30 years in Somers, Troop 376 is sponsored by the Somers Lions Club and proudly o ers a well-balanced “AdultGuided, Youth-Led” program that includes activities for all skill levels and interests. As a slightly smaller Troop, Scouts enjoy ample opportunities for direct involvement and leadership, as well as a signi cant voice in suggesting future troop activities. Camping trips, day hikes, family-friendly activities like bowling nights and ropes courses, community service projects, annual “high adventure” excursions, and visits to historic destinations like Gettysburg are just some of the activities you can look forward to with Troop 376. To learn more, email SomersTroop376@ gmail.com and visit www.SomersTroop376.org. TRUNK FROM PAGE 4

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Trusts are excellent vehicles for probate avoidance, management of assets, ease of disposition of funds to one’s bene ciaries upon death, asset protection planning and estate tax planning.  at being said, it is often dif-  cult to know what type of Trust one needs!  is article will discuss the basic di erences between Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts. A Revocable Living Trust (RLT) is a writing wherein the Trust Creator(s) (also known as a “Grantor(s)”) create a Trust for their bene t, where they can also be the sole Trustee of the RLT. During the lifetime of the Creator, they have full control over the real property, bank accounts, investments and any other assets that have been titled in the name of the RLT, along with the power to amend, modify and/or revoke the RLT.  e most signi cant advantage of an RLT is that it avoids the need for Probate with respect to the assets titled to the RLT upon the Creator’s death. Probate is the process of admitting one’s Last Will and Testament in the Surrogate’s Court in the county where the decedent resided in order for it to be deemed legally valid after one’s passing in order to allow the Executor to have access to assets titled to the decedent’s name alone and to allow the Executor to pay bills and distribute the funds to the bene ciaries named in the Will.  e probate process can take approximately nine months to over a year to complete.  ere are also  ling fees to be paid to the court, legal fees to attorneys and one’s estate is then a matter of public record. A RLT, and the diligent transfer of one’s assets (non-IRA/nonRetirement) to said trust, can accomplish everything a Last Will and Testament can while avoiding the expenses, di culties and delays associated with the Probate process. It should be noted that IRAs, 401Ks, Annuities and Life Insurance should have named bene ciaries and alternate bene ciaries so as to avoid Probate. Additionally, any estate tax planning that can be done in one’s Last Will and Testament can be done in a RLT. In comparison, Irrevocable Trusts are trusts that cannot be amended and/or revoked.  ere are a number of types of Irrevocable Trusts, but most commonly they are used as a planning tool to transfer assets for the bene t of another without making an outright gift to said individual, or for purposes of Medicaid Planning and/or Estate Tax Planning. An Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) allows an individual to protect one’s life savings (non-retirement savings) and home from the cost of longterm care, while granting the Trust Creator the right to continue to reside in their home and still bene t from the income generated by the assets transferred to the Irrevocable Trust. With this type of Trust, the Trust Creator cannot be the Trustee of the Trust. Typically, one’s children and/or loved ones are named as Trustees.  e transfer of assets to a MAPT creates a  ve-year penalty period for Nursing Home Medicaid and, as of the time of this writing, would create a two-and-a-half-year penalty period for Home Care Medicaid for applications  led after March 31, 2024. After the penalty periods run, the funds held by the trust are protected and no longer countable assets for Medicaid eligibility purposes and Medicaid can no longer have a claim or lien on said assets. Additionally, an Irrevocable Trust can be used to transfer assets for the bene t of a loved one, friend, child and/or grandchild so that the assets are not controlled by the Trust’s bene ciary, but can be used by the Trustee of the trust for the bene ciary’s health, education, maintenance and support.  is is an excellent tool often used to lower one’s taxable estate and provide for the education and future needs of a grandchild and/ or child. As you can see, there are a number of excellent reasons to consider a Revocable and/or Irrevocable Trust! Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is a Senior 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 to ensure that their plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea received a B.S. in Business Management from Quinnipiac University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a J.D. from the Pace University School of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be contacted at 914-948-1500 or esslaw rm.com. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 27 APAR PUBLICITY WITH PERSONALITY PR Public Rela ons For... Businesses | Individuals | Organiza ons | Events Your Message Is Our Mission Leave Your Message Here... (914) 275-6887 | bruceaparpr@ gmail.com BRUCE APAR WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 “We couldn’t imagine our business without it. Halston’s people are fabulous to work with; our advertising in Halston papers has given us considerable name recognition for our office and our agents and has driven traffic to our web site.” ~Zef Camaj Branch Manager / Houlihan Lawrence Yorktown Which is best for me? Choosing between a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano 2023 Lunch & Learn Series Noon on the last Wednesday of each month at 245 Main St., Suite 500, in White Plains The free educational programs will shed light on important elder law and estate planning topics. The 90-minute programs, which include a light lunch and refreshments, are open to the public at no cost – though space is limited. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register early by calling 914-948- 1500 to reserve their spot. February 22 – Nuts and Bolts of Estate and Financial Planning Discover the difference between a last will & testament and a trust – and why you may need both. This program will also cover the importance of the power of attorney and health care proxy documents. Presented by Anthony J. Enea, Esq. and Lauren C. Enea, Esq. LAUREN ENEA GUEST CORNER

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