VOL. 13 NO. 22 THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS 23 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 2 LEGAL NOTICES 22 LEISURE 16 OPINION 8 SPORTS 14 Somers Football Preview pg 14 TUSKERS Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. BY TOM WALOGORSKY EDITOR Local wrestlers, including Somers standout Ryan Ball, stepped onto the mat – and into the spotlight – during the filming of a movie at Ossining High School earlier this month. The production of the short film “Squeeze” took place over two lengthy days of shooting on Aug. 19 and 20. Based on true events, the movie tells the story of an autistic high school student who finds his place and gains confidence when he joins the high school wrestling team. To add an element of authenticity, producers recruited athletes from Section 1’s tight-knit wrestling community. “It was just amazing, we had 24 wrestlers all decked out, on the mat, and some of them actually wrestled in the film,” explained writer/producer Carrie Gibson. Somers’ Ryan Ball helps train actors for wrestling film Wrestlers from throughout Section 1 were able to join the production of “Squeeze.” PHOTO: CHRIS BALL Grapplers unite behind the scenes of SEE SQUEEZE PAGE 14 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 Thinking of Selling? Don't Miss This Market. Discover how to maximize your property's value — sell with confidence. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation and find out why #UGottaHaveHope! If you are ready to make a move our proven strategies and personalized approach ensure you get the best results. R Free Property Valuation: Find out what your property is worth in today's market. R Expert Staging Advice: Transform your home to make the best impression on buyers. R Targeted Marketing: Reach qualified buyers through our extensive network. R Smooth Transactions: Navigate the process with ease, from listing to closing.
PAGE 2 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 The Staff EDITORIAL TEAM Tom Walogorsky Editor: 914-302-5830 [email protected] ADVERTISING TEAM Paul Forhan (914) 806-3951 [email protected] Bruce Heller (914) 486-7608 [email protected] Lisa Kain (201) 317-1139 [email protected] Corinne Stanton (914) 760-7009 [email protected] Jay Gussak (914) 299-4541 [email protected] Pam Zacotinsky 845-661-0748 [email protected] PRODUCTION TEAM Tabitha Pearson Marshall Creative Director/Photographer [email protected] Noah Elder Designer Bri Agosta Designer Haven Elder Designer EXECUTIVE TEAM Brett Freeman CEO & Publisher 845-208-8151 [email protected] Deadlines The Somers Record The deadline for advertisements and editorial submissions for The 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 ©2023 Halston Media, LLC 845-600-8004 | www.bellmech.com EXCLUDES SERVICE CONTRACT EXP 9/30/23 Coupon must present at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. $ 50 OFF ANY OF OUR SERVICES SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO! Slide into BIG $AVINGS with New Energy INCENTIVES WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP? Heat pumps will help you find the perfect balance of comfort and savings all year round, while reducing your carbon footprint. These all-in-one heating and air conditioning systems optimize the temperature throughout your home to use less energy, and can save you thousands on your cooling and heating costs. DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE to lock-in these incentive savings! FEDERAL INCENTIVE: 30% off the total cost STATE INCENTIVE: $5,000 UTILITY COMPANY INCENTIVE: Up to $20,000 HYBRID HOT WATER HEATER: $1,000 Rebate SUPER SAVINGS on your Heat Pump project while program funding lasts... CALL NOW TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY! ENJOY 0 DOWN, 0% FINANCING! Somers Parks & Recreation Department Fall Programs Now Online To register, visit www.somersny. com, then click “Parks & Recreation” and scroll down to “Program Registration Site.” Available programs can be found in the orange tab. The Church of the Good Shepherd 39 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs CRAFT VENDORS WANTED The church is seeking craft vendors to participate at its Oktoberfest event on Saturday, September 30 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The fee is $40 per space and organizers ask that you supply your own table(s). There will be flowers, pumpkins, baked goods and much more for sale. To register, please call the office at 914-248-5631 or email [email protected]. Hebrew Congregation of Somers Cypress Lane & Mervin Drive in Shenorock High Holiday Services Beginning with Rosh Hashanah Eve on September 15 and ending with Yom Kippur on September 25. The Hebrew Congregation of Somers welcomes guests to their Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Attendance is free, and organizers only request that you fill out a form by visiting www. hebrewcongregationofsomers.org. For further information call (914) 248-9532 and leave a message. Somers Women’s Club Rent-A-Space Tag Sale Sunday, October 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To be held in Reis Park, rain or shine. Spaces are $45 each for a 12’ x 12’ square. No assigned spaces, selection at setup time. Bring your own tables and tents. No raffle sales. No baked goods or fresh food sales. Please note that pets are not allowed in the Town Park. For any questions, please email SWC2023TagSale@ comcast.net or call 914-406-1593. “Pint for a Pint” Blood Drive Tuesday, Sept. 5, from 2 to 8 p.m. Give blood and get a free beverage from a participating venue! Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be welcomed if space permits. Please remember to eat, drink, and bring a photo ID. To sign up, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybc.org. To be held in the Somers Town Hall Meeting Room at 335 Route 202. Coldwell Banker Realty Ice Cream Social Thursday, August 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. Coldwell Banker Realty is hosting a free “Mister Softee” ice cream social at its Katonah office at 202 Katonah Ave. The event is offered by Coldwell Banker Realty sales associates Maryanne Durr, Patty Hinkley and Pat Palumbo, and sponsored by Cory A. Levine, P. C., Attorney at Law; Estate Inspection Group; Guaranteed Rate Affinity; and ProNational Title Agency. Support Connection Team Spirit Campaign Sunday, Oct. 1 Support Connection announces the launch of the “Team Spirit” campaign for their 2023 Annual Support-A-Walk. This year’s Walk will take place in FDR Park in Yorktown Heights and in communities nationwide! Support Connection is based in Yorktown Heights, but their toll-free and web services allow for a nationwide reach. Whether showing your support locally or from afar, you can participate in the SEE TRUNK PAGE 6 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK
Your Neighbor THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS, LIFE & HEALTH 914-232-7750 www.forbesinsurance.com When was the last time you reviewed your insurance? Call Us Today FOR A COMPLIMENTARY REVIEW! BY JESSICA JAFET CONTRIBUTING WRITER Running across the United States, relay-style, after completing one’s master’s degree might not sound like a student’s first choice for downtime during the summer. But for Somers resident Skyler Graap, the opportunity was just what he had in mind—to undertake a challenge that would be worthy and adventurous before he began his working life. The SHS graduate, who attended Stony Brook University, recently completed his graduate degree in meteorology at Penn State. In late June, the committed 25-yearold joined a group of six runners as part of the Ulman Foundation’s 4K for Cancer Run, traversing 4,500 miles of the country—setting off in Baltimore, Maryland and finishing on August 12 at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, California. The crew of 18–27-year-olds ran in pairs, in amounts equivalent to a halfmarathon per day, all with one mission in mind: to raise money and awareness to support young adults who are faced with a cancer diagnosis. According to the Ulman Foundation, based in Baltimore, there is a gap in cancer care for those impacted with the disease as young adults. It says that a “cancer diagnosis between the ages of 15 and 39 is eight times more common than a diagnosis during the first 15 years of life, and despite advances in early detection, treatment, and prevention, there has been no improvement within the last 30 years in survival rates for this particular age group.” The organization provides scholarships, support resources, housing (including for caregivers); it fosters connections among survivor communities and holds free physical training programs for cancer survivors. “The 4K for Cancer Run is relay-style, in pairs, where you cover the entire country,” Graap explained. “For me, it was about five or six hundred miles I ran over 42 days this summer.” Other participants in the fundraising effort chose to ride bicycles across the country with the same determination. Donations came from friends, family and others who have a connection to the cancer community—although Graap said that he has not been personally touched by the disease. As of this writing, he had nearly reached his goal of raising $6,000, with a collective team goal of raising $120,000—and invites anyone who would like to add to that number by visiting www.impact.ulmanfoundation.org/ team/431943. “We slept in churches, high schools, camped out—and people were so generous with food along the way,” Graap said. “The most touching part of this is when people came up to us who have had cancer, or lost someone to cancer, and told us their stories firsthand—I’ve broken into tears more than I thought I would.” In towns along the way, Graap and others on his team visited patients at hospitals and cancer centers on rest days, volunteered in local communities and served as ambassadors of hope and inspiration. They ran through landscapes of corn fields in Iowa, wheat fields blowing in the wind in Nebraska, endured hot days in Colorado and jogged through parts of beautiful eastern Utah. “The running was easier than I thought, the camaraderie was much nicer than I thought,” he reflected. As for the empathy and understanding he gained toward those who have been impacted by cancer, Graap said it was meeting regular folks in the country, who then shared their stories about the disease, that was immensely moving. “When you meet someone, get to know them and relate to them, and then you hear about cancer—you can easily see just how your life can get changed so quickly—you are a lot more grateful and understanding of the idea that you don’t know how many days you have left, or that are left without a condition.” Skyler Graap Somers man runs cross-country with a purpose The team meets Albino Buster Brown in Arapahoe, Nebraska. Prepping for another run on the road to Mount Sopris outside of Carbondale, Colorado. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SKYLER GRAAP Skyler, Dylan, and Ethan in front of a cornfield in Iowa.
PAGE 4 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Residents of Heritage Hills in Somers should expect to see fewer power outages and improved services after their utility company completes a major infrastructure improvement project. Begun in the spring of 2020, work is expected to wrap up by the end of this year, New York State Electric & Gas announced last week. NYSE&G replaced 58,994 feet of cable, 94 pad mount transformers, and 46 junction cabinets. Fault indicators were also installed in transformers, a change which will allow line workers to more quickly identify and repair power outages. Heritage Hills falls under the jurisdiction of NYSE&G’s Brewster Division. The utility also offered stipends of up to $4,000 to each condo owner to replace vegetation removed during the upgrades with more “utility friendly” plantings. “These upgrades will improve service for 2,961 Heritage Hills customers by increasing reliability and decreasing the number of and duration of outages,” said Rich Schmoll, NYSE&G’s program manager for major construction. Calling it “an important piece of the investment we’re making in Brewster,” he said the project also includes upgrades to the Dingle Ridge substation in the town of Southeast and associated circuits. Somers Supervisor Rob Scorrano called the improvements “a massive benefit” to Heritage Hills residents and predicted they “will modernize technology and increase reliability during outage periods.” State Sen. Peter Harckham (DLewisboro) also weighed in. “NYSE&G’s plan to substantially upgrade the utility infrastructure at Heritage Hills in Somers is certainly welcome news,” he said last week. “This community has been hit hard with power outages over the years, so working to maintain reliable utility service for residents, especially during severe weather events, will benefit residents greatly.” State Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) agreed that Heritage Hills folks “have been on the receiving end of power outages for too long.” While recognizing the utility’s efforts to “improve reliability and storm resiliency for this community,” he also thought there was “more work to be done.” Slater, a former Yorktown supervisor, also praised NYSE&G for “demonstrating a strong commitment to the Hudson Valley.” Westchester County Executive George Latimer echoed that, saying: “NYSEG’s efforts to fortify Heritage Hills’ power infrastructure underscores a dedication to safeguarding vulnerable residents when they need it most.” “As storms intensify due to climate change, ensuring their uninterrupted power access becomes pivotal for their security and resilience -- and can help provide peace of mind during times that may otherwise prove stressful,” Latimer added. 2018 NOR’EASTERS Outage weary municipal officials started to mobilize after two back-to-back nor’easters in March 2018 left multitudes in Westchester and surrounding areas without power for days and sometimes weeks. Somers residents, however, had been complaining to the state Public Service Commission about NYSE&G’s frequent power outages long before those storms. Among problems they cited were restoration of service delays and a lack of timely communication with customers. One of them told The Somers Record in 2018 that she’d lost electricity 12 to 13 times that past year. “Nobody explains it and we never get answers,” she claimed. At the time, a NYSE&G representative said the utility was taking a closer look at senior developments and nursing homes to make sure they were properly designated in its system as priorities. Waterview Hills, a rehab and nursing center in nearby North Salem, was without power for four days. Noting that NYSE&G was doing all it could at the time, the utility’s spokesperson insisted that the utility cared about the facilities and understood that was “critical” that residents of a certain age not be without power for “even an hour.” ISAIAS FALLOUT When Tropical Storm Isaias struck the New York region in 2020, it also knocked out internet and wireless services at a time when many people were starting to work, and go to school, from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Somers reacted by forming a Telecommunications Task Force. Its mission was to advocate for “reliable communication and data services that promote affordable alternatives, safety and emergency planning, and sustainable service practices that are responsive to our residents, businesses, and government.” Harckham called on the state to hold public hearings on what he saw as a failure of electrical utilities and also wireless carriers to adequately prepare for the powerful storm. In a formal submission to the state PSC, then-Somers Supervisor Rick Morrissey called Optimum owner Altice USA’s response to Isaias “chaotic at best.” “It’s a utility now and it should be treated as such by the PSC and FCC (Federal Communications Commission),” he said. In July 2021, in a settlement approved by the state’s PSC, NYSE&G agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine for failing to adequately prepare for, and respond Heritage Hills to see utility service improvements SEE HERITAGE PAGE 20 fiank You For Your Patronage fifffflffiflffiffi fffflflffflfflffiffifflff fifffflffiflfifffflfifflfflflfflfffflffiffffl ffffl fifffflffiflfl flffiflflfiff fl fl fiffflfl fl fflflffl fiffflfl fifffflffiffflflfflfflfffffflfflffflfffflflffl flfflff ff fiffffl ffl fffflfflfflffflfflffl flfflffflff fifififffflffiflfflflffiff ffi Open House! September 9 & 10 10am-1pm 914-248-8822 Penny Lane Dance Academy Welcomes You to JOIN US for an Meet a Princess! For Ages 16 mos - 18 yrs TRY FREE SAMPLE DANCE CLASSES! Come see our NEW LOCATION! 288 Rt 6 Mahopac, NY 10541 (next to Park Ford) Dance the Experience! pennylanedance.com
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 Contact ANTHONY J. ENEA, ESQ. Managing Member • Fluent in Italian 914.948.1500 WHITE PLAINS • SOMERS • WWW.ESSLAWFIRM.COM • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) • Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) • Wills, Trusts & Estates Past Chair of Elder Law Section of NYS Bar Association “Super Lawyer” In Elder Law for 16 consecutive years CALL NEW YORK’S ELDER LAW TEAM 914.948.1500 Do you know what steps you can take to avoid your estate going to probate? BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER Planning, zoning, and development items dominated the agenda at the Somers Town Board’s recent combined regular meeting and work session. Here are some of the highlights from Aug. 10. TRAILSIDE ESTATES The board heard real estate developer Kenneth Kearney’s formal submission of plans to build Trailside Estates, a 76-unit, market-rate “townhouse community” off Route 118 in Baldwin Place. The two- to three-bedroom units will top off at two stories. Basements – should the occupants want one -- will be located below ground level, Kearney said. According to the plans, about 20 acres of the 56.8- acre site would be set aside as a conservation easement and a 5,827-square-foot recreation center, which would be donated to the town, and possibly a dog park – would be located on 7.5 acres. The plans were presented on behalf of property owners Parkview B&G LLC, which is asking the town to rezone the property to MFR-BP, or Multifamily Residence - Baldwin Place. Right now, the zoning is a mix of R-40, R-80, and Planned Hamlet. The site is located behind the Somers Commons shopping center. According to Attorney Charles Martabano, Kearney sought out suggestions about development amenities, design, and other aspects from town stakeholders. Based on that some of that feedback, the size of the recreation center’s second-floor conference/meeting room was increased to 555 square feet from the original 370 square feet. That’s a 50 percent increase in the amount of “usable space,” Martabano wrote in a letter to the town. Storage space on the center’s first floor has been modified to make it “more accessible and efficient,” he added. There will be bathrooms, lockers, and a small conference area on the first floor and the center’s “open area” could be used for pickleball, basketball, and town meetings. The applicants are touting the fact that not only will Trailside Estates itself be “walkable,” it will be linked to the Planned Hamlet and Crossroads at Baldwin Place, a mixed-use development on Route 6. Townhouse dwellers will have access to the North County Trail as well. Parkview is also seeking to take advantage of a “credit mechanism” that would allow it to forego the building of affordable dwelling units, Martabano told the board. The latter would require that the applicant and “affiliates” – in this case, mostly members of the Kearney clan – to show that they have already built enough affordable housing units in town to exceed the code requirements. Currently, housing developers are obligated to make 15 percent of their total units “affordable.” Martabano said Parkview had contemplated asking for a “waiver” but after Town Attorney Roland A. Baroni Jr. pointed out that the Town Board was not legally “authorized” to grant one, decided to go the “credit” route instead. That would require a text amendment in the language relating to MFR-BP zones. In a letter to the town, Martabano pointed out that the code currently recognizes that applicants for residential development “are entitled to density bonuses for market rate units equal to one additional market rates unit for each affordable unit in excess of the required 15 percent of the base-permitted density.” Kearney Realty & Development Group has built 265 dwelling units in Somers and 226 – or 85 percent -- of those qualify as affordable housing, he said. Those are contained in The Mews at Baldwin Place I and II, two contiguous affordable agerestricted housing complexes; Crossroads at Baldwin Place, a combo of offices, retail shops, and rental apartments; and Hidden Meadows, a luxury townhouse development that addresses the needs of older residents – such as first-floor master bedrooms -- but is not age-restricted. The majority of those housing units are within walking distance of the proposed project. Martabano wrote that the developers believe the credit option to be a very “appropriate and equitable” one. Another matter to eventually be resolved is whether the county will eventually allow Trailside Estates into the Peekskill water/ sewer district. Everyone seemed to agree that lots of things have to fall into place just right for the project to go forward. “It’s complicated,” noted Councilman Anthony Cirieco. Most importantly, the town has to consider whether the project not only “fits” Somers, but “benefits” it as well, said Councilman Rich Clinchy. “We understand where you’re coming from,” responded Martabano. “We’re going to try to show you this is something we’re all going to be proud of.” Town Board discusses Trailside Estates Public Hearing set for Lincolndale rezoning SEE BOARD PAGE 18
PAGE 6 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 Support-A-Walk wherever you are! The Support-A-Walk is held to bring attention to the needs of people affected by breast, ovarian, or any gynecological cancer and to raise funds for Support Connection’s free cancer support programs and services for those living with these diseases. Since the organization was founded in 1996, many thousands of people locally and across the country have received help from Support Connection. The Team Spirit Campaign encourages friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors to “team up” for the SupportA-Walk. Teams are groups of people who decide to participate together in any way they wish. Team activities can include seeking donations, planning fundraising activities, inviting others to participate, and spreading the word about the Walk. Teams can create their own t-shirts and signs or banners to share their stories and express their inspiration for participating. Team members can live close to one another or far away. Those who can’t all be in one place can make plans to walk at the same time in different locations. It’s a great opportunity to connect with loved ones to work for a common cause. Team Spirit Awards will be presented as part of this campaign. Awards will go to the top 3 teams for the amount raised; the top 3 teams for the number of donors; the most creative team sign or banner. To learn more about the Support-A-Walk, or to make a donation, call 914-962-6402 or visit www.supportconnection. org/support-a-walk Temple Beth Am 203 Church Place, Yorktown Heights High Holiday Services Looking for a place to celebrate the High Holidays? Temple Beth Am is offering services both in person and via Zoom! Tickets are free for members, and non-members can purchase tickets per person or per Zoom screen. Children under the age of 18 may attend free of charge. For more information, visit www.templebetham-ny.org or call 914-962-7500. Labor Day Fundraiser for BluePath Service Dogs Sunday, September 3, at 5:30 p.m. To be held at Uncle CHEEF’s, located at 988 Route 22 in Brewster. Dawn Derow and Peter Calo will reunite for a special end-ofsummer concert to support BluePath’s mission to unlock life’s potential by providing expertly trained autism service dogs that offer safety, companionship, and opportunities for independence. The evening will feature folk and classic rock from the 1960s to the present, with songs by The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Webb, Shawn Colvin, Brandi Carlile, among others. General Admission: $40 ($15 of the ticket price is tax-deductible). There will be a $25 food/drink minimum. Somers Library Please register using the online calendar at www.somerslibrary. org to have access to online meetings. 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. Movie Matinee: West Side Story Thursday, Sept. 7, from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Somers Library Movie Matinee series meets in person to view: “West Side Story,” the original 1961 classic inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The story is set in the mid-1950s in the TRUNK FROM PAGE 2 SEE TRUNK PAGE 7 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK WHY DO WE ADVERTISE IN HALSTON MEDIA’S LOCAL NEWSPAPERS? TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151 “Advertising in Halston Media is being part of a community. While walking through different towns, people recognized our picture and connected it to the services promoted. It was a great way to get new customers while validating our work with current clients.” Dr. Deborah Hardy Student Support and Educational Consultant GuidED Consulting, LLC 99th Annual Yorktown Grange Fair September 8 — September 10 Yorktown Grange Fairgrounds 99 Moseman Road, Yorktown Heights Antique Tractor Parade Saturday at Noon! All proceeds benefit the Yorktown Grange Agricultural Society, a 501(c)(3) corporation. YORKTOWN GRANGE Celebrating 125 Years 1899-2023 P of H #862 Rides ~ Exhibits ~ Contests ~ Live Music All Weekend Livestock ~ Craft Vendors ~ Great Food & Craft Beer Only $10 per Carload Presented by the Yorktown Grange Agricultural Society Your One-Stop Shop for Deck Building Materials DECKING & RAILING Mahopac Railroad Tie Experts in Deck Lumber 911 Route 6, Mahopac, NY • 845-628-8111 • www.decklumber.com
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 7 Your Family Car Care Center! LOCATIONS: Baldwin Place • 44 Route 118 • (845) 628-7900 Croton Falls • 1 Center St • (914) 769-3206 Visit us at www.ProperService.com For over 100 years of combined auto experience, Joe Ferone and his sta of Proper Service have been serving the community, creating releationships, and building a remarkable company with an amazing team of employees! Find out why Joe Ferone of Proper Service needs to be YOUR Go-To Automotive Service Center! Brewster Brewster, , NY an NY and d Bethel, C Bethel, CT T Design Centers Design Centers On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! On your project everyday until completion... GUARANTEED! 845-278-0070 845-278-0070 Southeastkitchenan Southeastkitchenandbdbath.com ath.com Celebrating 50 years Upper West Side of Manhattan, then a multiracial blue collar neighborhood. This musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. STEM for Grades 4-7: Aerodynamics & Paperplanes Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. This program takes a fun look at how to build a paper plane, and how changing the design can help or hinder flight. Instruction will start small and work up to big paper airplanes, finishing off with a competition to see which plane flies the farthest, fastest and highest. Registration is necessary. (Rain date: Thursday, Sept. 21.) Tot Time Tuesdays, Sept. 12 & 26, at 10:30 a.m. Enjoy songs, rhymes and books. Ages 0-3 and caregivers. Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry Fundraiser The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, a weekly choice pantry with a 32 year history, will hold a fundraiser on Sunday, October 15, from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Captain Lawrence Barrel House in Mount Kisco. Come enjoy suds, sliders and songs while supporting the incredible work of this predominantly volunteer run community mainstay. This past year saw a staggering increase in the number of guests - over 92,000 ‘person visits’, 28% of which were children and 12% seniors. This is up 40% since last year. Food for over 1.2 million meals was provided, purchased at inflationary prices. There is no expectation of the need decreasing or prices of food falling. Individual tickets and sponsorships are available. Please visit www.mountkiscopantry.org or email outreach@mountkisco foodpantry.org for more information. Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival 10th Anniversary Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Taking place at the Chappaqua Train Station in Chappaqua. This year’s Festival will be the largest one yet, with 180 authors in attendance and celebrity authors Mary Pope Osborne and Alan Gratz leading the charge. Organizers look forward to introducing the community to new writers joining this year, like Alex Gino, and reconnecting with returning authors like Bryan Collier. Admission and parking are free, and the event will be held rain or shine (http://www. ccbfestival.org/). CCBF is proud to announce that it is a recipient of the WestchesterArts 2023 Arts Alive grant, given to support community-based arts and cultural projects developed by cultural groups and organizations. Chabad of Yorktown 2629 Old Yorktown Rd, Yorktown Heights Please RSVP for events by calling 914-962-1111 or visiting www.ChabadYorktown. com Chabad Hebrew School Begins Sept 10, meets Sunday Mornings Children, acquire a broad knowledge of Judaism through a motivating and challenging venue. Students gain an appreciation for the joys, values and traditions of the Jewish heritage as it is vividly brought to life by the dedicated and enthusiastic teachers whose creativity and dynamism make every lesson a unique learning experience. Visit www.ChabadYorktown. com/HebrewSchool for more info or to try a free, no obligations class! TRUNK FROM PAGE 6 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK SEE TRUNK PAGE 20
Opinion 118 N, BEDFORD ROAD, SUITE 100 MOUNT KISCO, NY 10549 ©2023 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 affiliates. Submissions must include a phone number and address for verification. Not all letters and op-eds will necessarily be published. Letters and op-eds which cannot be verified or are anonymous will not be published. Please send your submissions to the editor by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, call the editor at 914-302-5830 Brett Freeman, Publisher Tom Walogorsky , Editor Tabitha Pearson Marshall, Creative Director Editorial Office: 914-302-5830 [email protected] PAGE 8 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 A friend of mine referred to himself as a “joiner” when it comes to local organizations and groups. It is a trait I share with him. We got to know one another at one of those organizations. Being a joiner has been responsible for many of my friendships and has given me many opportunities for connection with our community. It’s in that spirit that I recently became a Friend of Stepping Stones. Stepping Stones is a six-acre site a few blocks away from our home in Katonah. It is the former home of Bill and Lois Wilson. Bill W, as he is referred to in the movement, was one of the cofounders of Alcoholics Anonymous, which was formed in 1935. The AA 12-step program has helped millions around the world for over 80 years. The Wilsons moved to Stepping Stones in 1941, where they lived for the rest of their lives. In 1951, Lois founded Al-Anon, a support group for friends and family members of alcoholics. Bill passed away in 1971. Lois left us in 1988. Before her passing, Lois founded the Stepping Stones Foundation, dedicated to maintaining the home as a historical site and to preserve and archive the over 10,000 artifacts and 100,000 documents and photographs housed there. The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2012 as well as being named part of the New York State Women’s Heritage Trail as a result of Lois Wilson’s contribution to the worldwide addiction recovery movement. The property draws visitors from across the country and around the world, who come to be inspired as well as to reflect on the importance of the site to the recovery community. Each June, for over 73 years, Stepping Stones has hosted a picnic for visitors to the site. Individual or group tours can be arranged during the week by contacting the organization at steppingstones.com. The foundation’s talented executive director, Sally Corbett, is celebrating her 10th anniversary in her role overseeing the foundation’s operations, preservation efforts, and educational initiatives. I was drawn to join Friends of Stepping Stones in order to help highlight the importance of the organization within our area and to raise awareness. Like many, I didn’t know it existed until it was brought to my attention when I was invited on a tour as a Town Board member. The history and beauty of the site is moving. In addition to visiting the Wilson’s home, you can visit the small writing studio Bill affectionately referred to as “the shack,” housing the desk that he sat at to write the AA “Big Book” – one of the best-selling books in history – in addition to hundreds of speeches, articles and several other books in support of AA and the recovery movement. September is National Recovery Month, so it is especially timely to highlight the mission of Stepping Stones. The focus of Recovery Month is to increase awareness and understanding of substance abuse and mental health as well as highlighting the importance of prevention, treatment and recovery support services. One event related to raising awareness, organized by “Drug Crisis in Our Backyard,’’ will be held at FDR Park in Yorktown on Sept. 30. The 5K race, Run4Recovery, raises funds to combat drug and alcohol addiction. If you are interested in arranging a tour of the historic site, or would like to know more about becoming involved as a Friend of Stepping Stones, reach out to Sally Corbett at [email protected]. A Friend of Stepping Stones PHOTO: BRIAN MARSCHHAUSER Stepping Stones was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. DON SCOTT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT My niece, who is also my goddaughter, is getting married next month up in Syracuse. I got the invitation in the mail a few weeks back and it, of course, asked for an RSVP. But there was no little return envelope with a stamp that you could mail back stating your intentions. Instead, there was a card with a QR code that you could scan with your phone, which would then take you online where you could RSVP (and shop at their myriad registries for a wedding gift). Now for those of you who are technologically impaired, a QR code is a small box that contains some weird black-andwhite hieroglyphics. You might have seen one without knowing what it was or what they do. I sighed and shrugged and longed for the days of stamps and envelopes. But I gamely took my phone and waved it over the weird little box. Nothing happened. “Scan!” I shouted. “Scan!” Still nothing. Maybe I have to turn on the camera, I thought. So, I did. Still nothing. So, then I Forget COVID Techno-itis will ruin your life BOB DUMAS OUT OF MY HEAD SEE DUMAS PAGE 9
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 9 914.455.2158 SpirelliElectric.com • [email protected] Specializing in residential & commercial services. Licenses in Westchester, Putnam CREATING CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE Family Owned—Over 40 Years Experience! 10% OFF Service Calls When You Present this Ad First Time Customers Only Light up your summer • Outdoor Lighting • Smart Home Setup • Electric Car Chargers • GENERATORS AND ALL OF YOUR ELECTRIC NEEDS! actually took a picture. Now I had a picture of a QR code, but I figured that wasn’t going to RSVP me. So... I gave up. Sunday morning, I got a text from my sister saying, “We know you can’t come to the wedding, but can you scan the QR code and RSVP anyway? It would help.” I sheepishly confessed my ineptitude with the QR thingy. My sister gamely walked me through it. “Turn on the camera and just hold it over the code. Some words will appear on your screen. Tap them and it will take you to the website and then just follow the instructions,” she wrote. I was skeptical, but gave it a try and, damn, it actually worked! I felt like the theme from “Rocky” should be playing in the background. I never gave it a lot of thought, but I always considered myself technologically adept. But I am not. Oh, I handle the basic fundamentals. My job requires me to work on a computer every day and I am pretty good at finding workarounds when the thing won’t do what it is normally supposed to do. But it seems like every other week some new technology comes along that leaves me drooling in the corner, curled up in the fetal position, and begging for my mommy. (As Dr. McCoy on “Star Trek” might say, “I’m a writer, not a scientist, dammit!”) I remember back around 2008 when Twitter first came on the scene. You could send out messages up to 140 characters long. One hundred and forty characters... not words. I didn’t understand the point. What could you possibly say with just 140 characters? I poo-pooed the idea and told coworkers that the thing would be dead in a year. Whoops. Of course, I also lacked the foresight to see we would eventually have a linguistically challenged president who governed by tweeting out monosyllabic word salads. I was just as myopic on the advent of most other social media. Back around 2007, my sister began haranguing me about getting a Facebook account. “Why the heck would I want that?” I asked. “I already have Myspace and I hardly use it.” But she was persistent, so I eventually signed up, but I rarely logged in. My sister said that made me a “lurker.” Whatever. Then I began getting friend requests from people I hadn’t heard from in ages, including an old high school crush. “Well, this just got interesting,” I thought. I decided to stop lurking in the shadows and have a bigger presence on the platform. Then, some of the media companies I worked for started using Facebook as a marketing tool, and that kind of mandated that I learn my way around the site and become more proficient. The rest is history. Now Facebook is an everyday part of my life and I always have fun with it, even though sometimes it gets me in trouble. Turns out, I have a big mouth. Who knew? But the point is, when it comes to technology, I am not only unperceptive about its future but also borderline incompetent. Let’s talk cell phones, aka smartphones. I submit to you right here and now that they are not nearly as smart as they claim to be. Let me ask you this... how do you feel when you know it’s time to get a new phone? Do you start feeling a little nauseous? Do you feel compelled to block off a series of dates on your calendar and maybe ask your boss for a couple of days off because you know you are going to be otherwise preoccupied? I wish it was as simple as walking into the store, finding a phone on the shelves that you like and is in your price range (there are still some that can cost nearly $1,000... what the hell do they do?), taking it to the checkout counter, paying, and leaving. Nope. Get ready to devote half a day to uninterested employees who will spend most of their time with you furiously typing away on their tablets, mumbling to themselves, and occasionally looking up to tell you why they can’t do what you want them to do. A few years ago, I walked into a local phone store (I won’t say which one) and there was no one in it but one employee. It might even have been the proprietor, I don’t know. She was sitting at a table in the middle of the room typing on her phone. She never looked up to acknowledge my presence. So, I walked around the store checking out the phones and noticed they were all really, really expensive. “Excuse me, ma’am?” I actually heard her sigh as she put down her phone and looked up at me. She didn’t say a word. “Um, are these all the phones you have? I am looking for something a little less expensive. Like this.” I showed her my old (and now dead) phone. She wrinkled her nose as if I was a hobo who’d wandered into the wrong building and was now stinking up the place. “This is a franchise store,” she said. “You need to go to the corporate store. They have the cheap phones. It’s down Route 6 a few miles.” So, that is what I did. She was right. The corporate store was bigger and had more products. The workers were actually nice and helpful, but I was still in there for about two hours before I staggered back out into the parking lot, my brain numb from the experience. So, last summer my phone began to refuse to take a charge. I tried a bunch of different remedies, but nothing worked. That queasy feeling came over me... I was— gasp!—going to have to go to the phone store again! I went through all the dreaded machinations with the phone store automatons and four hours later I was back home. That night, I began getting ready to cook dinner. It should be noted I had one of those flat black electric stovetops. I turned a burner on and went to fetch something from the fridge. Suddenly, I smelled something weird... something burning. Black, acrid smoke was rising from the stove where I had laid my phone. It had melted... destroyed. After one day. Back to the store. Again. Twice in two days. More nausea. Now this summer, I have a new smartphone again. And it might be the dumbest one yet. When you want to send a text message and use the speaking mode, it will often wildly misinterpret you and write stuff you never even said. It will randomly capitalize words and place periods in the middle of a sentence. And it will always happily write what it hears coming off the TV. Recently, I was sending a text to someone—newspaper job-related—named Judy. I had never met Judy before, and she didn’t know me. But the phone heard her name as “Cutie.” So, I sent a business text to a total stranger that began, “Hi Cutie!” I was mortified and called Judy right away and explained and apologized profusely. Fortunately, she had a sense of humor and pretended to be disappointed I didn’t really mean “Cutie.” Just another bad case of techno-itis. And it’s spreading. And a mask won’t help. DUMAS FROM PAGE 8
PAGE 10 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 FUNERAL PREARRANGEMENT Both pre-payment and no-payment options Serving all Faiths since 1858 Cremations and Burials DANIEL B. McMANUS ~ Proprietor BRUCE E. REISDORF ~ Licensed Manager JOSEPH M. McMANUS ~ Director RONALD P. CERASO ~ Director www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah • (914) 232-3033 • Only 1/4 mile from 684 exit 6. • Only 1 block from the Katonah Railroad station. • Less than 60 minutes from N.Y. City. • Parking facilities for over 100 cars • Monuments & inscriptions available. Dear Dr. Linda, As a retired teacher, I’d like to give some advice to parents whose children hate math. A big part of helping improve math skills is changing students’ negative attitudes towards math in general. The better they like it, the more willing they’ll be to approach learning math. Given a budget, students can make gift lists (encourage giving vs. getting) while simultaneously creating math scenarios. Again, too, the decision-making and “power” is in the students’ control, which fosters independence! A winner all around. My body is still shaking with excitement over those “Pigs Will Be Pigs” books among other math-themed books in the library too. Sincerely, Leslie K. Dear Leslie, Thank you for your email. As children go back to school, the feelings they had when school was over in June all come back. There’s a population of children that hated math in June who are entering school in September, still hating math. I remember an email I received years ago from a parent. “Our daughter is entering fourth grade and the last thing her teacher said to me at our spring conference was, ‘Emma is still struggling in math, so be sure to do math with her over the summer so she won’t struggle in fourth grade.’ Did she ruin our summer with that advice? Yes. As a student, I hated math. I didn’t understand what the teacher was saying and when my parents tried to help me, it made everything worse. My husband and I don’t know what to do—and my daughter ends up crying if I mention the word “math.” Any advice? Vicky.” Unfortunately, many people hate math. And it’s not because math is so hard to understand—it’s that math is personal. Some children understand numbers and enjoy playing with numbers. They’re our future mathematicians. However, even these children sometimes struggle in school with math because the teacher is told to follow a particular program and some children simply don’t do well with that program. For example, Andrew loved basketball and was able to figure out scores and make predictions by doing math in his head. Yet, he was unable to succeed following the school program because it had multiple steps and he struggled with anything in which he had to follow multiple steps. Because of this, he was failing math and had to go to school at 7:30 a.m., an hour and a half before everyone else, for math help. Obviously, it didn’t help him because he was still following the same program, a program that didn’t account for Andrew’s needs. Then today, many children need to count on their fingers when they first learn how to add and subtract. Yet, as I mentioned in a previous column, many program-following teachers don’t allow these children to use their fingers. (As a result, the only thing they learn is how to hide their fingers.) One more example is the child who loves math, but is told (because of the program the school is using) that he needs to write and explain what he’s doing. For some children this is fine, but for one fifth-grader I worked with, this was a disaster because he had trouble with writing. He started failing math. If not for his parents and teacher who decided together to let him do the math his way, he’d still be failing math. Instead, he’s now entering eighth grade with an A+ average in accelerated math. The point is, teachers need to find the method that fits each child, not find a method and then try to make each child fit the method. When this happens, the child usually becomes frustrated and anxious and math becomes a negative thing. To prevent math from becoming even more negative, in addition to Leslie’s ideas above, play age-appropriate math games that require the learning of addition or subtraction or the times tables, etc., to win. This helps change the way children who hate math think and feel about math. Here’s one you might start with: First make a tic-tac-toe design. Instead of putting in Xs and Os, put the numbers 4, 9 and 2 across the top row. Then put 3, 5 and 7 across the center row. Now put 8, 1 and 6 across the bottom row. (If you add any three numbers across, down or diagonally, it always adds up to the same thing—15. To fun with math, -Dr. Linda Dr. Linda, along with her husband, Dr. Al, own Strong Learning Tutoring and Test Prep serving Westchester and Putnam counties for over 40 years. Strong Learning tutors students K-12 in any subject, in person or remotely. Drs. Linda and Al are also the authors of “Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids.” Let children do math their way DR. LINDA SILBERT STRONG LEARNING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 BENEFIT CONCERT AT UNCLE CHEEF FEATURING DAWN DEROW AND PETER CALO A LABOR DAY WEEKEND FUNDRAISER FOR BLUEPATH SERVICE DOGS Scan QR code for tickets SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD DOORS OPEN AT 5:30PM • CONCERT AT 6:30PM General Admission: $40 per ticket Food/drink minimum: $25 988 Route 22, Brewster, NY 10509 LIMITED TIME ONLY Frozen Lemonade Frozen Iced Tea Lemonade Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Frozen Peach Lemonade Small Large ©2023 Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Valid at participating locations. $0.00 $0.00 Discount applied to lowest priced item. Not valid on take home treats, catering, or novelty items. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RITA’S LOCATIONS. REDEEMABLE AT FROZEN TREAT $1 OFF WHEN YOU BUY ONE Expires 04.15.2021 RITAS OF YORKTOWN 1881A COMMERCE STREET YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 914 302 7711 ritas.com www.facebook.com/ritasof $1 OFF BUY ONE, GET $1 OFF ANOTHER ritasofyorktown ritasofyorktown.com Discount applied to lowest priced item. Not valid on take home treats, catering, or novelty items. Not valid with any other offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid at cart or theme park venues. Not for resale. ©2020 RITA’S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VALID AT PARTICIPATING RITA’S LOCATIONS. Exp. 9/7/2023 FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! We’re back from a wonderful trip to Alaska, and whether you like it or not, I’m going to tell you all about it. People have asked, “How long was your trip?” Well, it was a total of nine days and one night. That’s because during the summer, Alaska is the “Land of the Midnight Sun.” And you can see a beautiful sunset if you stay up past your bedtime until 11:30 or so. But don’t forget, in the winter Alaska is also the land of the noonday moon, with only a couple hours of sunlight a day. I thought I could pack casual to save suitcase room, but then I thought, what if I get caught in a long line at the Anchorage airport and get swallowed up by a glacier? And 30,000 years from now experts will dig me up and evaluate my clothing from an archaeological standpoint. Why was he wearing that ugly shirt? Was it to ward off predators? We began our trip outside of Fairbanks at the Chena Hot Springs Resort, an unassuming conglomeration of buildings that belies the innovations of its forwardthinking owner. The place is run by its own on-site geothermal-powered turbine. When I asked if they were “off-the-grid,” the answer was, “What grid?” We did eventually see evidence that Alaska would soon be getting the telegraph. The plant also makes plants, in a hydroponic vegetable-growing facility that produces all the produce for its restaurants. Great weather always follows us on vacation, but we were not expecting 85-degree sunshine in the Last Frontier, and our tour of the Aurora Ice Museum was postponed until the next day. When we got there, the 1,000 tons of frozen water kept at 25 degrees contained intricate pieces by renowned ice sculptor Steve Brice, and an ice bar serving cocktails. If you ask for a margarita, you need not specify that it be frozen, and I would be suspicious of any wine served at room temperature. We also toured their kennel facility, where dogs can train for the Iditarod, an annual re-enactment of a 1925 life-saving run of diphtheria serum by dogsled from Anchorage to Nome. A statue of Balto, the lead dog who became a national hero, was erected in Central Park that year. The lead dog runs the show, but the swing dog is the second-in-command, and must take the lead should the number one dog fail to fulfil its duties. The wheel dog is in the rear, keeps an eye on the other dogs and initiates turns. My own dog Gidget is Canadian, and she was bred to be a sled dog. I can easily picture her traveling the almost 1,000- mile route, as long as there is a comfortable place for her to sit on the sled. She’s not going to pull anything. She is very easily distracted, and spends much of her time trying to lick things. I sometimes ask her, you’re licking random objects all the time and you never once had a bad experience with that? I guess if you can’t lick ‘em, don’t join ‘em. The resort boasts a very refreshing man-made wading pool, which cools the incoming 165-degree underground spring water to a more humane temperature. I could not confirm the legendary healing powers of the mineral-laden waters, but a breakdown of the chemical content showed a lithium value of 250 PPM, so I guess it’s a great place to go to recharge your batteries. I’m thinking of turning my own swimming pool into a resort for people trying to escape global warming, since it seems to sustain a constant temperature of about 33 degrees. Back in Fairbanks the next morning, we took the historic Alaska Railroad south on a breathtaking tour of the vistas that are just a normal occurrence here. Gold Star service means fine dining as well as a seat in the upper domed sight-seeing car. You can gorge on great food as well as gorgeous gorges in between the stunning Alaska Mountain range. The railroad, begun in 1903 by a private company, was finished by the federal government in 1923, at a cost of about five times what the U.S. paid for the entire state 56 years prior. We de-trained in the kitschy town of Talkeetna, native for “Three Rivers.” The unofficial but popular mayor of the place is a cat named Aurora who lives at the general store. We met her, and while I wouldn’t ask her to outline this year’s budget, I would trust her with decisions regarding fair mousing, and duties related to the purr-formance of the Town Pouncil. In the center of town is a grass airstrip, common in the state, used in bygone days for supplies and now mostly for tourism. The next day we took an ATV tour of the local trails. We made a few stops to admire the scenery, one of which held a dramatic sighting of Mt. Denali. The 20,000-foot behemoth, as big as it is, is only fully visible 30% of the time, so we were lucky to have a full view of it just before it hopped in the shower. Denali means “The Great One” in native Koyukon, and was restored as the official name from Mt. McKinley in 2015, since William McKinley, not a horrible president, was certainly not The Great One. I’ll see you in Anchorage next week for Part II. Wear something comfortable. Join Rick and No Options at the Yorktown Grange Fair at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Say hello at [email protected]. Half-baked Alaska, Part I RICK MELÉN MAN OVERBOARD
PAGE 12 – THE SOMERS RECORD OPINION THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 WE SPECIALIZE IN 8, 10, 12 & 15 YARD DUMPSTERS ON WHEELS & TRADITIONAL DUMPSTERS 10-40 YARD RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEAN-OUTS 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] S eptember is not my happiest time of year. I hate to see the summer come to an end. To make matters worse, as the days get shorter, I can almost hear the autumn breezes whispering a warning that much more challenging weather awaits. Ugh. It’s not that my summers are packed with trips to the shore or faraway places. I went nowhere this year. I guess it comes down to the fact that I enjoy the sunshine and, even if it’s my imagination, people seem much happier during the summer months. But are they really? A recent scientific study suggests that they are not. High temperatures are statistically linked to a dramatic increase in suicides as well as widespread depression, anxiety and a host of mental disorders. This summer was witness to parts of the West and South recording off the charts heat. But, counterintuitively, the increase in mental health issues during the hot months is normally greater in the northern parts of the United States. The explanation is that we northerners are less prepared to cope with heat waves. As a result, a dramatic surge in mental health conditions, including mood and anxiety disorders, stress disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, and selfharm are not unusual developments in our neck of the woods. It seemed curious to me that summer months would be more stressful. To satisfy my inquisitiveness, I did a little research. It turns out that during periods of high temperatures, our pulse and heart rates tend to be higher. That increase can lead to physical changes, which spark emotional and mental changes. On a chemical level, we need to look at serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to mood, anxiety and depression, which is also involved in regulating our body’s ability to sense temperature. Studies have shown that increased sunlight and heat can raise serotonin levels and may lead to mood swings, aggression and irritability. Equally troubling is the fact that a wide range of drugs, including ones used to treat mental health conditions, like antibiotics, beta blockers, anti-depressants and antihistamines, adversely affect the body’s ability to regulate body temperature. The fact is that warm weather can pose real challenges for our mental health. Dr. Asim Shah, a psychiatrist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, sees daily a direct link between rising temperatures and rising mental health issues among his patients. In a recent interview, he pointed out the dangers of extreme heat. Medications normally prescribed for schizophrenia, depression and bi-polar disorder weaken the body’s ability to sweat and cool itself. Lithium levels, for example, can elevate to dangerously high toxic levels, which can lead to serious physical and mental problems. So maybe September is not so bad after all? Not so fast. Just because the weather is cooling doesn’t mean that all of life’s stresses have abated. As a criminal defense attorney, I meet countless clients whose struggles with mental health and drug dependency persist all year round. Over the years, my advice to them has evolved into a long list of heartfelt suggestions: • Develop a support system. Surround yourself with people who offer emotional support, whether it’s friends, family, or support groups. I am so blessed in this regard; • Practice self-care. Take time for yourself to engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. I love to read with my dog by my side. I find it both intellectually stimulating and soothing; • Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly will greatly increase your ability to cope with stress. Your physical wellbeing directly impacts your psychological health; • Practice stress management techniques. Deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness and journaling are all practices that have been shown to reduce stress and promote a sense of calm; • If needed, seek professional help. Life’s challenges can, at times, be overwhelming. During periods when you feel lost or unable to cope, it can be extremely important to seek the help of a counselor or therapist. These professionals will work with you to tailor an approach to meet your specific needs. Do not be too proud to ask for help; • If you are in pain, rather than suppressing or denying it, accept it. Acknowledge its presence and allow yourself to fully feel and experience it. As uncomfortable as this may sound, it is the first step in real growth; • Take “me time.” Set aside private quiet time for self-reflection on the causes and impact of whatever is causing you pain. What can you learn from this experience? What patterns or beliefs does it reveal about yourself or your life? This time of self-reflection, hopefully, will produce much needed insight and understanding; • Practice self-compassion. Be kind and gentle with yourself as you navigate through your issues. Treat yourself with the same empathy and care that you would your best friend who has asked you for help. This exercise will allow you healing and growth; • Set boundaries and make changes. This one is tough, but it’s critical that we recognize what is unhealthy and painful in our lives and remove it. This includes patterns of behavior and relationships; • Cultivate resilience and emotional intelligence. Learning to cope with challenges in a healthy way is a lifelong struggle, but it’s one we can surely achieve. Your path may involve a combination of some of the strategies listed above like therapy, self-help, self-care, the development of new skills, or pursuing meaningful experiences. Upon reflection, maybe I should rethink my aversion to September’s cooler temperatures and shorter days. But whatever time of the year it is, none of us are immune from the constant struggle to deal with life’s trials. The important question is, how will we deal with these challenges? The answer to that query will determine the direction and quality of our lives. Like all of you, I have experienced life’s ups and downs. I have learned that each of us, individually, has the power to chart our own unique path. However, you should always remember that you are not alone. If you find life’s dilemmas overwhelming, you should seek help. All you must do is ask. Happy autumn, my friends. The September blues JAMES MARTORANO MY PERSPECTIVE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 OPINION THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 13 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 TALENT SEARCH FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES! or Email: [email protected] Call: (914) 997-8000 Fax: (914) 940-4730 APPLY NOW! GO TO CMCS.ORG/CAREERS Visit our website for career listings. • Teacher (Birth-2) • Family Worker/Advocates • Home Visitors • Health Specialist/Nurse • Custodians • Cooks • Teachers on Study Plan • Health Nutrition & Safety • Social Worker • Education Specialist INDEPENDENTLY OWNED and OPERATED 268 ROUTE 202 SOMERS, NY 10589 progressive-vet.com Rooted in the Community with Excellence & Love 914•248•6220 Don’t ask me why, but lately my taste for alcoholic beverages has been muted. I’m likely to tip one socially out of the house, but when home, how dry I am. Maybe it’s a sign of aging, who knows, but my reduced consumption also might be a sign of youthfulness, if a new report on alcohol consumption among the younger generations is any indication. According to updated research by prominent pollster Gallup – in its annual Consumption Habits survey conducted July 3-27, 2023 – “Young adults in the U.S. have become progressively less likely to use alcohol over the past two decades.” It should be noted that respondents to the Gallup survey are asked to self-report their consumption, so some allowance might be made for some people understating their behavior. At the same time, Gallup has been tracking consumption long enough (20+ years) that any under-reporting would be consistent, so it’s the relative fluctuations through the years that tell the story. Drinking by age The question posed by Gallup was, “Do you ever have occasion to use alcoholic beverages, such as liquor, wine or beer, or are you a total abstainer?” The results show that, among ages 18-34, those who answered in the affirmative represent 62% of the general population. That’s a decline of 10 percentage points, from 72%, over the past 20 years. Conversely, among adults 55+, the percentage of drinkers has increased by 10 points, to 59% from 49%. What about people whose age falls in between those two groups – from 35-54? Their drinking rate reportedly stays steady at 67%. As for those who are categorized as “regular drinkers,” Gallup data shows “fewer than four in 10 young adults (38%) now appear to be regular drinkers. That contrasts with 40% of 55+ adults and 48% of middle-aged adults. Twenty years ago, says Gallup, “younger adults were the most likely to be regular drinkers and older adults the least.” The demographic effect In analyzing reasons for the decline in regular drinking among younger adults, Gallup identifies shifting demographics as one reason: “Non-White Americans have been less likely than White Americans to use alcohol … across all age groups. The overall drinking rate among 18-34 year-olds has fallen as the proportion who are nonWhite has increased.” More than half of young adults (52%) cite concerns about their well-being, influenced by medical advisories that warn “even moderate drinking is bad for one’s health.” Notably, the percentage of young adults who believe drinking is a potential health hazard has risen 18 points (from 34%) in the past five years. In that same period, the percentage of middle-age adults who feel that way rose 13 points, while there was negligible change in the percentage of the 55+ crowd who worry that alcohol consumption might lead to health problems. Enter cannabis Another interesting tidbit from Gallup is that Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) are “more likely to drink alcohol than the Silent Generation (born before 1946).” Might another reason for today’s young adults’ downturn in drinking alcohol be an uptick in consuming marijuana? Gallup’s data gives rise to that deduction. In the past decade, it says, “Marijuana use has almost doubled, to 25% of adults ages 18-34. At the same time, cannabis has become a lot more popular too among middle-age people, with the number of those who partake quadrupling since 2013, to 17% today. In general, says Gallup, half of U.S. adults have “experimented” with marijuana, with one in six Americans current users, and three in four Americans “concerned about its effects on young/teen users.” Bruce Apar is a writer, community volunteer and actor. He can be seen on stage weekends Sept. 8-Oct. 7 at Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack (Rockland County) as Professor Van Helsing in Dracula. For more information, contact him at 914-275-6887 (text or voice) or [email protected]. If it pleases your Highness Tracking America’s alcohol and marijuana consumption BRUCE APAR BRUCE THE BLOG 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 somersrecord@ halstonmedia.com.
Sports PAGE 14 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 Call for your FREE consultation today 293 Route 100 Suite 209 Somers, NY (914) 277-1111 www.BBOsmiles.com WE DON'T JUST CREATE AWESOME SMILES... WE INSPIRE THEM! Our friendly board-certified orthodontic specialists treat patients of all ages! We have an incredible team that works hard to make your braces/Invisalign experience amazing. DR. BRIDGHAM DR. BARR BY RICH MONETTI CONTRIBUTING WRITER Somers has had a lot of success on the football field over the last decade. The Tuskers won the States in 2016, went to the finals in 2021 and took the title again last year. So does hauling in trophies, dominating the section and making trips to Carrier Dome ever get old? “We never get tired of winning,” said running back Mason Kelly, and the end game has obviously not changed. “We want to go back and do the same thing we did last year,” Kelly asserted on August 26 during the annual Red/White Scrimmage at the high school. Of course, gobbling up ground begins with the offensive line. But while bigger may be better, Somers proves that enormity isn’t a necessity. “A pretty medium sized group,” Kelly said. “They work hard, and they all hit hard,” he assured. The venue having everyone dialed down a bit, lineman Nick Crecco was still making the most of his instinct to knock heads. “On the line we’re getting in good work, and we’re hitting hard,” said the senior. JP Herlihy included, the senior lineman gets a bang out of doing the dirty work too. “Springing a running back or two and protecting the quarterback,” he said, “That’s why we’re here.” Mac Sullivan concurs, and the time afforded will have the senior quarterback eyeing the type of receivers Somers is used to. “That’s a guy who is reliable,” Sullivan said. “Someone I know where he’s going to be, and who’s going to catch the ball.” That said, he’s not worried about graduation attrition. “We have a couple of guys stepping up who will fill those roles,” he said. “We’ll be fine.” In no position to disagree, receiver James Balancia has just as much confidence in his signal caller. “He throws a great ball. He gets the team hyped and keeps the team engaged,” said the senior. Sullivan can also read between the lines, according to his running back. “He’s extremely smart, and has one of the best sports IQs I’ve ever seen,” said Kelly. “That’s across basketball, lacrosse and football.” The first-year quarterback has got plenty of support from the top too. “The ceiling for him - we don’t know what that is,” said Coach Anthony DeMatteo. “Where going to ride him and see where it takes us.” A potential generational player, according to the third-year head coach, he’s pretty sure he has one of those on the other side of the ball. “Ryan Cole is an absolute animal,” said DeMatteo. “He’s potentially the best defensive player in the section.” Cole doesn’t just get on all fours, though, when it comes to the process of sacking the quarterback. “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s more about the work coming together,” said the senior. “Routine, there’s a lot behind it.” On the other hand, it’s not all about rote for Somers football, and Herlihy makes sure he plays a big part. “I’m here to keep spirits up and make sure everyone is feeling good,” the lineman clarified. “Morale is a big part of the game.” From the bottom up, DeMatteo agrees and the presence in the bleachers confirms for his part. “The community support we get in this town is insane. It makes my job really easy,” he said. So giving back becomes second nature, and the goal follows. “It is always going to be to reload and win the sectional championship,” DeMatteo concluded. The Tuskers open their season on the road against Ramapo on Friday, Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m. Tuskers reloading for another run Aidan Coolican Lou Hochman PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI Zach Zampaglione FOOTBALL “We also had coaches from all over to make sure everything was just right, and then we had a group of 30 to 40 people from all of these different wrestling communities to create the crowd that we needed for the film.” Seeking to shoot on location in the Hudson Valley, Gibson was put in contact with Ossining’s varsity wrestling coach Tom Larm. Larm, who earned a producer credit for his advisory work on the film, had originally hoped that one of his former wrestlers might also land the lead role in “Squeeze.” “The thing that caught my eye was that they were looking for a high school wrestler to audition, and we had a graduating senior, Tristan Robinson, who I thought would be perfect for the role,” Larm said. “I brought it to my Athletic Director, who thought it was a great idea. The next thing I knew, we were shooting at Ossining High School.” Robinson, who claimed the Section 1 championship and earned All-State recognition last year, would ultimately be cast as the wrestler opposing the main character. Needing experienced high school grapplers to help train the actors and serve as extras for the film, Larm put the call out to the local wrestling community. Joining the cast of “Squeeze” on the set for the weekend was Somers’ Section 1 champion Ryan Ball, as well as wrestlers from Horace Greeley, Iona Prep, Hendrick Hudson and Brewster. In addition, Section 1 wrestling official Sal Imbimbo was cast as a referee, and Brewster wrestling coach Tom Looby and John Degl of Empire Wrestling Academy in Somers had their sons wrestle as extras in the film. On the final day of shooting, the production was bolstered by the arrival of John Laurenzi and athletes from the Rockland International Wrestling Academy, who would be used as extras and opposing team wrestlers. Even with participants coming from many different -- and often rival -- schools, the bond of the wrestling community was evident. “They were from different schools, but it was great to see the camaraderie,” Larm said. “There’s always that mutual respect, because everyone knows what the other goes through. It SQUEEZE FROM PAGE 1 SEE SQUEEZE PAGE 15
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 SPORTS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 15 all goes back to that big, crazy family that we’re all a part of that is wrestling. 90% of the time we’re looking to kick each other’s butts on the mat, but we’re always a family at the end of the day.” Script to Screen Along with writing partner Tony Curry, Carrie Gibson has been seeking out engaging stories for three decades. “30 years ago, we started touring plays and interviewing people about issues and using their true stories to tell a larger story,” she said. “We kept running into these true stories that felt like they should be movies.” The genesis of the idea for “Squeeze” came from events that changed the life of Curry’s autistic son, Adam. While enrolled in high school in the 1990s, Adam broke personal barriers and overcame a fear of touching by joining the wrestling team. When Gibson asked Curry what turned things around in his son’s life all those years ago, the answer was unexpected. “He said it was a crazy wrestling coach.” Despite initially being skeptical about his son entering into the competitive world of high school wrestling, the decision would have a positive and longlasting impact on Adam. “The wrestling team supported him, and at the end of high school, he was voted ‘Most Likely to be Remembered,’” Gibson said. “And that’s all about the wrestling team having his back.” Over the next nine months, Adam’s story would be fashioned into a feature length script. Eventually, the producers opted to instead turn “Squeeze” into a 20-minute short film with the hopes of eventually shooting it as a full-length movie. “We wanted to get the character’s first foray into wrestling,” added Gibson. “He gets out of a hold and gets a point.” “Squeeze” was directed by Mike Clarke, with the primary cast including Josh Hamilton, Sallieu Sesay, Brendan Egan, Macoy Stewart, and Emily Kranking. Crash Course With the shooting schedule condensed into a single weekend, Coach Larm and the Section 1 grapplers had their work cut out for them. “They said, ‘we need you to teach Brendan and Macoy how to wrestle. We’re going to shoot in 45 minutes,’” he recalled. Fortunately, Larm had a helping hand in Somers wrestling phenom Ryan Ball. “Ryan had walked in a few minutes earlier, so we spent 45 minutes going over the basics and teaching them what they needed for their scene,” Larm adds. “Even though the actors didn’t have any experience, they picked it up quickly. It was a challenge, but it was cool to see.” Larm and Ball kept the training to the basics of wrestling and pin combinations and were pleased with the way the cast adapted. “We tried to keep it as simple as possible,” says Larm. “Macoy Stewart, who plays the lead role, was mostly using a double leg takedown. It isn’t the easiest thing, but it’s one of the first takedowns you would learn as a wrestler.” Larm also admits that camerawork and editing will be helpful with adding some polish to the finished product. “The good thing is that this is Hollywood,” he joked. “Any time there was a mistake, we were able to redo it.” Inspiration, Perspiration “It was a great experience,” said Ryan Ball of his time on the set of “Squeeze.” “I love that it highlighted wrestling, but it also highlighted autism. The movie shows that people with disabilities can do anything. It’s the same with wrestling. It’s the hardest sport, but if you train hard and keep your head in the match, you can achieve your goals.” Filming now complete, the cast and crew of “Squeeze” are anxiously looking to the future. Producers estimate that the finished short will be done in several months and be ready for entry into film festivals. “I would love to be at the Cannes Film Festival, and Tribeca or Sundance would be great,” Gibson said. “It’s a movie -- whether you’re into wrestling, or have a connection to someone with autism, or neither of those things -- that you’ll be incredibly moved or altered by the story.” With shooting finished and the story told, the wrestlers and coaches who participated in the production also took time to reflect on their time behind and in front of the camera. “The entire crew would come up to us and say, ‘this looks really good,’” recalled Tom Larm. “One way or another, we all wanted to make this the best we could. We were all on one big team that weekend. It was all about growing the sport of wrestling.” The efforts of the cast and crew to make “Squeeze” a success were also emphasized by Ryan Ball. “A wrestling match is not always won by the best wrestlers, but the ones that work the hardest and want it the most,” he concluded. “I think this movie proves that point!” SQUEEZE FROM PAGE 14 Somers High School wrestler Ryan Ball with Sallieu Sesay (Coach Higgins) and Thomas Looby of Brewster High School. PHOTO: CHRIS BALL COLLEGE COUNSELING ACADEMIC PLANNING • CAREER COACHING (845) 628-0726 • www.guidedconsult.com 900 South Lake Blvd., Suite 8 • Mahopac, NY 10541 EMPOWERING students’ critical thinking skills through academic, career, and post-secondary planning. College List • Essay & Supplemental Writing Resume Development • Application Completion Obtain ONGOING SUPPORT For A Detailed Process. 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PAGE 16 – THE SOMERS RECORD LEISURE THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! For puzzle solutions, please see theparamountrehab.com CLUES ACROSS 1. Midway between east and southeast 4. At right angles to a ship’s length 9. William Penn’s business partner 14. __ de plume 15. Accomplished soccer coach 16. Bone cavities 17. __ juris: independent 18. Popular Philly sandwich 20. Northern Ireland county 22. Performing artist 23. S S S 24. Lacks flavor 28. Commercials 29. Anno Domini (in the year of Our Lord) 30. Qatar’s capital 31. Indigenous peoples of Alberta 33. Popular footwear 37. Indicates position 38. Anglican cathedral 39. Aircraft part 41. Before 42. Blood group 43. Secretory organ 44 .Fencing swords 46. The small projection of a mammary gland 49. Technological advancement 50. Male parent 51. Dissociable 55. More cold 58. Cape Verde Islands capital 59. Blood disorder 60. Creative 64. Sun up in New York 65. Made angry 66. Relieves 67. Brooklyn hoopster 68. Seasonsings 69. Movable barriers 70. Attempt CLUES DOWN 1. Occur as a result of 2. Spiritual essences 3. Representative 4. Entering 5. Nobel Prizewinning physicist 6. Midway between northeast and east 7. Consumed 8. Tablelands 9. Kids’ craft accessory 10. Not known 11. Sound directed through two or more speakers 12. A major division of geological time 13. Wild ox 19. Shock treatment 21. Turner and Lasso are two 24. Genus of flowering plants 25. Relating to ductless glands 26. Stock certificate 27. Satisfies 31. Places to enjoy a rest 32. Edward __, author and writer 34. “__ but goodie” 35. One hundredth of a liter 36. Shabbiness 40. TV personality Roker 41. Triangular upper part of a building 45. Speed at which you move 47. Offend 48. A reference point to shoot at 52. Forays 53. Biblical city 54. Blatted 56. Northern sea duck 57. Shabby (slang) 59. Allege 60. Tax collector 61. Whereabouts unknown 62. Chinese philosophical principle 63. Indicates equal This salad celebrates the bounty of late summer by grilling fresh vegetables to enhance their flavors. It’s a refreshing and hearty dish that can be served as a main or a side. Vegetables • Zucchini: 2 medium-sized, sliced lengthwise • Yellow squash: 2 mediumsized, sliced lengthwise • Red bell pepper: 1, seeded and quartered • Corn on the cob: 2 ears, husked • Cherry tomatoes: 1 cup Dressing • Olive oil: 1/4 cup • Lemon juice: 3 tablespoons • Fresh basil: 1/4 cup, finely chopped • Garlic: 2 cloves, minced • Salt: 1/2 teaspoon • Black pepper: 1/4 teaspoon Instructions 1. Prep the Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. 2. Prep the Vegetables: Lightly brush the zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper, and corn with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. 3. Grill the Vegetables: Place the zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper, and corn on the grill. Grill the vegetables, turning occasionally, until they are tender and have grill marks. This should take about 10-15 minutes. Remove them from the grill and let them cool slightly. 4. Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, chopped basil, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Adjust the seasoning to taste. 5. Assemble the Salad: Once the grilled vegetables have cooled slightly, chop them into bitesized pieces and place them in a large salad bowl. Add the cherry tomatoes. Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to combine. 6. Serve: Transfer the salad to serving plates and garnish with additional fresh basil if desired. This salad can be served warm or at room temperature. Enjoy this delightful grilled summer vegetable salad as a tribute to the flavors of the concluding summer season! Grilled summer vegetable salad
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 17 You are Cordially Invited to the Digital Marketing Best Practice Seminar www.HalstonMedia.com Digital Marketing Best Practices Webinar When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 Where: Zoom Who: Business Owners who want to Leverage Digital Media to Grow their Business Seminar Description: Strategies for connecting with the always connected consumer have changed. In this fast-paced, 45-minute educational seminar, you'll learn how your business can take advantage of changing consumer behavior, with actionable tips & ideas for improving online visibility, telling the story of your business, and precision digital targeting options for reaching your perfect next customer. Everyone who attends will receive a Free Digital Audit report for their Business! Registration is Free: To register: 1. Email [email protected]. 2. Visit halstonmedia.org/webinar 3. Register by scanning QR code. About us: Halston Digital Agency is the digital department of Halston Media Group. We offer Digital Education, Web Design, SEO, Social Media, & Precision Digital Target Marketing that generates inbound Leads!
PAGE 18 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 NO NEWS... 1. Clip the short form on the page 2. Fill out the information. 3. Mail it to P.O. Box 864, Mahopac, NY 10541 4. Or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com 5. Or Scan our QR Code to Subscribe. We need you to subscribe. It’s FREE & It’s Easy! is NOT necessarily good news! # Please print your first and last names and address legibly, sign and date (all required to continue receiving your subscription to this newspaper). YES, I wish to receive a FREE 3-year subscription to 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 for TAPinto E-News) (Optional) Mail to: P.O. Box 864 Mahopac, NY 10541 While we need your Full Support to keep this newspaper strong, we include the option for Basic Support because we don’t want financial reasons to get in the way of our readers receiving this newspaper. Basic Support vs. Full Support Basic Support Full Support $100 $50 $20 other or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com OR or visit www.halstonsubscribe.com Checks payable to Halston Media LLC. Please include this form in your envelope. Please include the following additional papers as part of this subscription: North Salem News Mahopac News Yorktown News The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times The Katonah-Lewisboro times The board voted unanimously to accept the formal submission of the Trailside Estates plans, to declare itself the lead agency, and to distribute the project’s Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) to all “interested and involved parties,” including the town Planning Board and county Planning Department. LINCOLNDALE UPDATED A public hearing was held on a proposed local law that would allow the rezoning of 19 acres of land in Lincolndale from Neighborhood Shopping to R-10, R-40, R-120 Residential, and Office-Light Industrial (OLI). The town updated its Comprehensive Plan in 2016 with the intention of strengthening the hamlet’s business “node” and increasing pedestrian connectivity, according to documents. The proposed changes are “consistent” with the plan’s “goals and objectives,” said the town’s director of planning, David Smith. The 15 parcels that would be affected by the change are located on Lincoln Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Route 202. Looking at a map of the hamlet, Clinchy sought some clarification. “When it says there are pedestrian connections and proposed zone changes, those are aspirational, these aren’t what’s promised, these are what we hope to have, correct?” he asked. Smith responded that the town is “just focusing right now on the zoning changes.” “The other items are recommendations that the town can still begin to move forward on,” he added. Cirieco pointed out that Somers has been working on “modernizing” its codes, partly because that would “reduce the administrative burden on all the agencies and departments in town.” “So this is something that would make sense,” he said. The board, which is acting as lead agency under SEQRA, then adopted a “negative declaration” – meaning that the zoning changes won’t have a significant adverse effect on the environment. It also unanimously passed a resolution to approve the zoning map amendments. MUNICIPAL FACILITIES The board set a public hearing for Thursday, Sept. 14, on whether it should amend its zoning code to allow municipal facilities in residential areas. Currently, municipal facilities are only considered “principal permitted uses” on property defined as OLI or Planned Hamlet. Smith pointed out that Town Hall, aka The Elephant Hotel, sits in the Business-Historic Preservation (B-HP) district. “So, technically, this is nonconforming,” he added. According to Smith, the “issue came up because the state police are looking to relocate into an R-80 zoning district.” The state police’s Troop K currently operates out of a 3,000-square-foot barracks on Route 100, a space that it has long outgrown. Keeping the state police in Somers has been considered by some to be critical to the town’s fiscal well-being. Without them, it might eventually have to switch from a part-time to full-time local police force, which would be costly. The Planning Board, which had discussed the proposed change the night before, appears to be “in general agreement” with it, Smith said. However, there was one thing that it wanted to bring to the town’s “attention.” Planning Board member Christopher Zaberto had wondered what would happen if the town decided to build a municipal facility such as a DPW garage in a residential neighborhood. “Well, that’s a possibility, I guess,” Smith allowed, adding: “You have an existing DPW (in the OLI district), and I don’t imagine that’s going to be relocated at any time.” The town could cut that type of situation off at the pass by clearly defining just what types of municipal facilities would be allowed in which residential zones, he suggested. “I think definitions are always helpful,” Cirieco said. Supervisor Rob Scorrano and Baroni also got behind the idea of getting more “granular” in the text language. “We can work on that and kind of craft it a little bit,” Scorrano said. LANDMARK WALL FIGHT A 55-year resident of Lincolndale and a former Town Board member, Patrick DeSena used the public comment period to reiterate his and his Robert Martin Boulevard neighbors’ plea for the reconstruction of a small stone wall that the town razed because it considered it a safety hazard. The 10-home enclave is located off Lovell Street. A petition decrying the wall’s demise was delivered to the Town Board on July 20. “I see our petition is not on the agenda tonight, but we are hopeful it will be on next month’s,” said DeSena, claiming that it detailed how the neighborhood “has been harmed by the sudden demolition of our vintage landmark entrance monument.” Noting that the four-foothigh structure has “stood for over 55 years,” he said petitioners are seeking a work session with Town Board members and the town’s highway superintendent “to discuss reasonable options for replacing the wall.” DeSena acknowledged that “occasionally some snowplow has clipped off some stones from that wall, but very rarely.” The town itself had mentioned repositioning the wall in a 2021 memo, he said, calling it “a suitable, safe alternative” that could resolve “this issue.” Shifting its orientation from horizontal to vertical and reducing its size, “all safety concerns can be ameliorated,” DeSena claimed, saying that he and others remain optimistic that “we can arrive at a result that will satisfy all parties involved.” “I think it’s something that can be a win-win situation, for the town and the people. We were shocked by the demolition of that wall, let me not kid you. It hurt,” he said. BOARD FROM PAGE 5 SEE BOARD PAGE 20
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PAGE 20 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 Ladies Torah and Tea - High Holiday Edition Join in at 6 p.m. for friendship, tea, and great discussion on the upcoming High Holidays! Sept 7 - Rosh Hashana discussion. Sept 21 - Yom Kippur discussion. Ladies challah/babka bake Wednesday, Sept 13, at 7 p.m. Make a delicious homemade challah and babka loaf to grace your holiday table! High Holidays Services Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Services at Chabad of Yorktown, Cortlandt, and Somers. All are welcome. No membership or affiliation required. Traditional services with contemporary messages. Exciting children’s program. Sukkot Community Dinner Friday, Eve of Sukkot, Sept 29 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner under the stars! TRUNK FROM PAGE 7 DeSena added that he had talked to a former town snowplow driver who told him that in his 30 years on the job there had never been a “problem” with the wall. Clinchy asked if the wall had any “historical significance to the neighborhood,” if it was “tradition,” or “you just didn’t like it being done without anybody asking?” “No, no, no. This is a vintage landmark that’s been on the property, as far as we know, for at least 55 years,” replied DeSena. One of the residents, the late John A. Graziano, a WWII Navy veteran and past commander of the Moses Taylor American Legion Post 136 in Mount Kisco, “used to take great care of the wall.” “If one of those stones came out, he would call the highway superintendent and get it fixed,” DeSena said. The wall’s demolition “hurt, it really hurt,” he insisted, calling it “our lighthouse to our little cove of Robert Martin and Adson Way.” “It’s very significant to the people who live there, to the people who lived there, and passersby who use it as a landmark,” DeSena added. Councilman Tom Garrity thanked DeSena for the 16 years he spent on the Town Board, adding: “We remember them well.” WINGS OVER WATER The board also set a public hearing for Thursday, Sept. 14, on a request from Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. -- owners of three shopping centers in Somers: Heritage 202, Town Center, and Somers Commons -- to amend the town’s code relating to its Community Shopping (CS) districts. Last year, Somers Commons (located at the corner of Routes 6 and 118) lost one of its anchor stores, HomeGoods, when it vacated its 30,000-square-foot space and moved to the Cortlandt Town Center. The other anchor, Stop & Shop, remains. After a proposal to construct a 160-unit apartment building in HomeGoods’ place didn’t fly, Urstadt Biddle pivoted to Plan B. Fortunately, Tractor Supply was willing to step into the breach. It had already been considering another site located within the Planned Hamlet. The national retail chain sells products for home improvement, agriculture, livestock, horse, and pet care; and lawn and garden maintenance. No official opening date had been announced as of press time, but a recent field trip found that the shelves were being stocked and finishing interior touches were underway. Urstadt Biddle is now seeking zoning text amendments to permit veterinary services and public and/or private recreational facilities in CS districts. Tractor Supply stores sometimes offer pet washing stations and the town has appeared open to the idea of a doggie daycare operation at the shopping center. According to a June 2 letter sent to Scorrano by Urstadt Biddle’s CEO, Willing L. Biddle, one of its tenants, New York Sports Club, is “having financial difficulties and in order to keep the health club open to the community is on a greatly reduced rent plan.” NYSC has a swimming pool and Urstadt Biddle owns a shopping center in Brewster where there’s a swim school called Wings Over Water that’s interested in leasing the pool and locker room. UB is also in discussions with a smaller gym about leasing the rest of NYSC’s space. Wings over Water was told by the town’s building inspector that he “wasn’t certain” that a swim school, or a fitness gym, were permitted principal uses in CS districts, “despite the fact that NYSC has been operating, with a pool, there for 15 years,” Biddle wrote. Biddle said the NYSC had previously been given a building permit based “on the understanding” that a health club is considered “a personal service use,” which is permitted in the CS zone. The building inspector would be “more comfortable” if modifications were made in the permitted principal uses in order to “approve the swim school,” he wrote. UB is asking that the CS zone’s language be amended to specifically allow veterinary services, and private or public recreation uses, such as swimming, racquet sports, bowling, golf, skating, soccer, and similar activities. BOARD FROM PAGE 18 to, the Aug. 4 storm. The utility recorded about 183,000 outages in northern Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. For Isaias, as well as failures related to the 2019 Brooklyn/Manhattan outages and a 2018 steam outage, Con Edison and Orange & Rockland were ordered to fork over a whopping $82 million. At that point, Altice USA had already settled with the PSC for $72 million. HERITAGE FROM PAGE 4 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. 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PAGE 22 – THE SOMERS RECORD BY CAROL REIF STAFF WRITER The pond at Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Katonah was Patricia “Pat” Gorski’s “happy place.” Now the county has named it in honor of the late public servant. A plaque was unveiled Friday, Aug. 25, by County Executive George Latimer and members of the Friends of Lasdon Park. Gorski began her lengthy and devoted career with the county Board of Legislators when she was hired in 1977 as a secretary to its clerk. In 1992, she was unanimously elected clerk and chief of staff of the BOL, a position she held for six terms until she retired in 2002. In 1971, Gorski was a summer intern in the Department of Public Works. She moved on to the office of County Executive Edward Michaelian and then became the secretary to the commissioner of social services and to the commissioner of finance. Gorski and her husband, Walter, were married for almost 50 years. After retiring, the couple strolled the paths at Lasdon Park several times each week. Their walks started on the woodland trails, extended across the fields, and always ended with them relaxing on the bench at the pond. It was Pat’s “happy place” where she found peace and serenity, according to Walter. Calling Gorski “a true friend,” Latimer praised her as “dedicated, fair, kind, and hardworking.” “It is our pleasure to honor and memorialize Pat for all time at Lasdon Park,” he said Friday. “Pat adored every job she had during her long career in public service for the county,” said County Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor. “Her love of Lasdon Park and her ‘happy place’ there made naming the pond after Pat an easy and appropriate choice.” “The halls of the Board of Legislators are full of memories of Patricia’s selfless spirit and her dedication to serving the people of Westchester County,” said Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi.” “She believed that every task, great or small, is an act of service, and that every person, regardless of title, is worthy of equal respect. She loved Lasdon Park, and now her legacy will forever be memorialized there through this dedication,” he added. GOOD TO KNOW Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial is a Westchester County Park. It is located on Route 35 in Somers. The GPS address is 2610 Amawalk Road, Katonah, NY 10536. Lasdon Park pond renamed in honor of Patricia Gorski County executive George Latimer unveils the plaque naming a pond at Lasdon Park in Katonah after Patricia Gorski. PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 ON YOUR INSTALLATION 60% OFF Limited Time Offer! SAVE! TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Additional savings for military, health workers and fi rst responders 10% OFF New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. 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. License numbers available at eriemetalroofs.com/licenses/ MADE IN THE U.S.A. New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placed on behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and 1.855.492.6084 FREE ESTIMATE Expires 6/30/2023 Before After Make the smart and ONLY CHOICE when tackling your roof! REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. 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Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 1457 Main St., Peekskill, NY 10566. General Purpose 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 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. Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents? Want to keep your family healthy and safe? NYS Kinship Navigator provides information, referral and assistance with financial needs, legal options, school enrollment, kinship law and other resources. Help is just a phone call away. 877-454-6463 TTY: NY Relay 711 or 800-421-1220 NYS Kinship Navigator can help. nysnavigator.org Then you’re a Kinship Caregiver!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 CLASSIFIEDS THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 23 DIVORCE $389 - Uncontested divorce papers prepared. Only one signature required. Poor person Application included if applicable. Separation agreements. Custody and support petitions. 518-274-0380 Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755 ANTIQUE LOVERS TAKE NOTE! BRIMFIELD IS HERE – ALL SHOWS! September 5-10. New shows open daily! BrimfieldAntiqueFleaMarket.com. 2024 dates: May 14-19, July 9-14, September 3-8 Privacy Hedge! Arborvitae 6-foot Reduced to $125/each. Free Installation, Free Delivery. Fast growing, High-quality Beautiful & Bushy! Order now to reserve for early Fall delivery. LowCostTrees.com 518-536-1367 HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. 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YOU MAY QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS (800) 944- 9393 or visit NYProgramFunding. org to qualify. Approved applications will have the work completed by a repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months freepremium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313 DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-595-6967 DIRECTV. New 2-Year Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918 ATTORNEY AUTO DONATIONS EVENTS FOR SALE HEALTH HOME IMPROVEMENT TV INTERNET PHONE MISCELLANEOUS PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF 8/24/23 HELP WANTED Bookkeeper & Home Office Support. Mature couple in Lewisboro looking for part-time bookkeeper and home office support, including scheduling, organizing, and errands. $25-$30/ hr. 6-12 hrs/wk flexible schedule. 646-820-5130 Advertising Deadline The advertising deadline for The Somers Record is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at freeman@halstonmedia. com. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151. TAX NOTICE The warrants for the collection of 2023/2024 School Taxes have been received. Taxes will be collected in this office beginning: Friday, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 From 9 AM to 4:30 PM – Mondays-Fridays Tax Law prescribes the following penalties for deferred payment of School Taxes: If paid during the month of: 1stHalf 2nd Half October 2% 0 November 5% 0 December/January 7% 0 February/March 10% 10% April 12% 12% May 13% 13% June 14% 14% July Goes to Lien Michele A. McKearney Receiver of Taxes Date: August 24, 2023 PLANNING BOARD TOWN OF SOMERS WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK PUBLIC NOTICE: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Board of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York, has scheduled a Public Hearing on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, to consider the application of DISH Wireless for a Special Use Permit. The proposal is more specifically shown on a drawing set titled: “DISH Wireless 121 Route 100, Katonah, NY 10536”, prepared by B&T GRP, PDS Engineering, D.P.C., dated October 7, 2021; last revised May 2, 2023. The Application is to collocate three (3) new DISH panel antennas, one (1) antenna platform mount, six (6) RRU’s and related cables and equipment on an existing monopole tower. The subject property is located at 121 Route 100, Katonah, New York and is designated on the Town Tax Map as Sheet 38.17, Block 1, Lot 5 and is in the R-80 Zoning District. Anyone is invited to attend and will be heard on the aforesaid matter. BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD John Currie, Chairman Wendy Getting, Senior Office Assistant NEW YORK HOMEOWNERS: YOU MAY *QUALIFY THROUGH NEW RELIEF PROGRAMS! HELP IS AVAILABLE EVEN IF YOU COULD PAY CASH Qualify Today: 800-944-9393 or visit NYProgramFunding.org to see if you *qualify Do you need a New Roof and Help paying for it? Do you need Energy Efficient Windows & Help paying for it? Approved applications will have the work completed by a quality repair crew provided by: HOMEOWNER FUNDING. Not affiliated with State or Gov Programs. Contractor License: NY: #2719-h14 *Enrollment is only open during a limited time. Programs, appointments, and installations are on a first come, first serve basis in your area. Any leaking, visible damage, or roof age, may *qualify you! Drafty windows, energy cost too high, you may *qualify! 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PAGE 24 – THE SOMERS RECORD THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 Photos for illustrative purposes only. ©2017 Carpet One Floor & Home. All Rights Reserved 246 Route 52 Carmel, NY • www.kennyscarpetone.com • 845-225-4330 MON-FRI: 9 AM-6 PM • LATE NIGHT ON THURS EVE BY APPT ONLY • SAT: 9 AM-4 PM Carpet Hardwood Floor Refinishing Luxury Vinyl Plank Tile Area Rugs H20 Proof Laminate 0% $250 OFF Any purchase of $2,000 or more. Coupon must be present at the time of purchase. Some restrictions may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer. 20% OFF Excludes labor. ANY NEW SHADE PURCHASE THRU 10/1/23 HUNTER DOUGLAS WINDOW TREATMENTS DESIGN INSPIRATION $100 OFF Any purchase of $999 or more. Coupons must be present at the time of purchase. Some restrictions may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Excludes labor. FINANCING AVAILABLE FREE In-Home Consultation FOR EVERY ROOM!