will take over the post on feb. 26 · e board appointed mahopac native anthony dicarlo as the next...

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018VOL. 8 NO. 48

CLASSIFIEDS 35

HEALTH & WELLNESS 21

LEGAL NOTICES 35

LEISURE 33

MAHOPAC MUSINGS 2

OPINION 10

SCHOOLS & CAMPS 20

SPORTS 27

Region gears up to � ght � u.

pg 6

FLU EPIDEMIC

Visit TapIntoMahopac.net for the latest news.

BY BOB DUMASEDITOR

When the Mahopac Board of Educa-tion began its search last fall for a new su-perintendent of schools, it listed � nding a local resident to � ll the position as one of its priorities.

Missioned accomplished.� e board appointed Mahopac native

Anthony DiCarlo as the next superinten-dent at its meeting � ursday, Jan. 18.

DiCarlo will o� cially take the helm Feb. 26. He signed a � ve-year contract at an annual salary of $235,000. He currently serves as principal of Trinity Elementary School in the New Rochelle School Dis-trict and has a wealth of experience in the � eld of education.

“We are con� dent that Mr. DiCarlo’s leadership, career experience and his love of the community will take us to the next levels of education,” said Board of Educa-tion President Leslie Mancuso. “We are proud of the search process and how it was conducted.”

� e need for a new superintendent arose last summer when it was announced that the contract of the current superin-tendent, Dr. Dennis Creedon, would not be renewed when it expired at the end of June 2018.

Mancuso said that when DiCarlo takes over at the end of next month, Creedon will continue in the role of a consultant to

advise DiCarlo and aid in the transition.“I have so many words of gratitude for

Dr. Creedon,” Mancuso said. “He has not only been a true gentleman but a true pro-fessional throughout the whole process. He has really made it seamless and has given lots of advice throughout the pro-cess. He will remain as a consultant with us through the end of the school year. It’s been a pleasure working with him and I really want to thank him. It’s been an hon-

or sitting by him.”Creedon said that DiCarlo will begin

his tenure by walking into some upheaval in the central o� ce with the departure of Ron Clamser, who served as assistant su-perintendent of both business and human resources. Clamser, whose last day was Jan. 19, left to take a business superintendent position in Dobbs Ferry. Creedon said the district will seek two new assistant super-intendents to take Clamers’s place—one

for business and one for human resourc-es—and he will assist DiCarlo with the search.

“As someone who is from Mahopac, who knows the town and its backstories, [DiCarlo] is part of the community,” Creedon said. “I will do everything I can in the next month to lend my support and make sure the transition is totally seam-less and he is fully prepared for the � rst day because our students deserve nothing less. [We need to] keep the focus where it needs to be: the students, their well-being and education.”

DiCarlo and his wife moved to Ma-hopac 18 years ago, and his four children all went through the Mahopac school sys-tem. His wife, Rosemarie, is a director for Pine Grove Country Day School.

DiCarlo has also spent time in politi-cal circles. He is a former Putnam County legislator, holding the District 9 seat for one term, from 2010-13. He was a mem-ber of the Carmel Town Board for seven years (2003-10) before being elected to the legislature.

DiCarlo called the appointment to the superintendent’s post a “dream come true.”

“I’m so honored to be here in front of you tonight and I want to thank the Board of Education and the interview commit-tee for giving me this honor to serve the community I love,” he told the board at

Mahopac’s Anthony DiCarlo named new school chiefWill take over the post on Feb. 26

PHOTO: BOB DUMASSchool Board President Leslie Mancuso with newly appointed Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo

SEE DICARLO PAGE 4

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MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

The StaffEDITORIAL TEAM

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EDITOR: [email protected]

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Mahopac NewsMahopac News

Peter Caruso Wrestling

TournamentMahopac High School will

host the Peter Caruso Mahopac Wrestling Tournament with 18 teams competing on Saturday, Jan. 27, with wrestling beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Local teams include Somers, Yorktown, Putnam Valley, Car-

mel, Byram Hills, Peekskill, Our Ladies of Lourdes and Roy C. Ketcham. � e tournament wel-comes Long Island’s Center Moriches and Smithtown East, Section 9’s Middletown, Pine Bush and Rondout Valley, Sec-tion 2’s Greenville and Guilder-land, New Jersey’s St. Joseph Re-gional and Connecticut’s Darien.

� e Pete Caruso Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded three scholarships in 2017 for a total

of 18 scholarships in the six years since Caruso’s passing. All schol-arship winners continue to build on Caruso’s and Mahopac’s leg-acy of friendship, teamwork and sportsmanship. All are invited to attend the tournament, and more information is available on Pete’s website, petecarusomemo-rialscholarshipfund.com, or by calling 845-849-4579.

Gaelic Football Club WestPut Setanta is a children’s

Gaelic football club that serves Northern Westchester and Put-nam counties. It o� ers boys and girls from ages 6 to 16 the op-portunity to learn Gaelic football and compete in local leagues and national tournaments. Gaelic football combines the suspense of soccer, the skills and scoring of basketball, and the speed of the fastest sports in the world. � e club is actively recruiting boys and girls of all ages to join its winter program and learn the skills needed to play the game. Visit www.westputsetanta.com for more information and to see some videos of their teams in ac-tion during the fall season.

Winter Art ClassesBrighten up your winter with

art classes at the Putnam Arts Council (PAC) in Mahopac. Come create, learn and enjoy the company of fellow students as you express yourself through the arts. Classes begin week of Feb. 5.

All courses are taught by work-ing artists/educators in our art studio spaces at the Belle Levine Art Center. Individual instruc-tion, small class size and a nur-turing environment are featured. Classes are designed for begin-ners as well as advance students. Classes are o� ered in a variety of media.

Visit www.putnamartscouncil.org to register and for pricing and information, or call 845-803-8622. PAC is located at 521 Kennicuit Hill Road.

Free Family Movie Night

In honor of the upcom-ing big game, Lake Mahopac United Methodist Church will screen, “Remember the Titans,” Friday, Feb. 2, at 6:30 p.m., at the church at 85 Mount Hope Road (across from CVS Phar-macy). Bring your children or grandchildren to Charles Bloomer Fellowship Hall. � ere are plenty of chairs to view the movie, which is projected onto a large movie screen on stage. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs or comfortable mats of your own, if preferred. Pizza and light refreshments of pop-corn, co� ee, tea, hot cocoa and water will be provided. You can also bring snacks, especially if food allergies are a concern. Come for a night of community fun and fellowship. Any dona-tions given to the church will go toward the kitchen renovation fundraiser. (Snow date Feb. 23).

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Your NeighborYour NeighborMAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

BY FAITH ANN BUTCHERCONTRIBUTING WRITER

�e Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce will rec-ognize four local business leaders whose business and volunteering e�orts have made a positive im-pact in the Mahopac-Carmel area at its Business Person of the Year awards dinner on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

“With people having to fo-cus more time on their business or their career than in the past, it takes a special kind of person to work all day and then contribute to the community as well,” said Chamber CEO Michael Celes-tino. “�e people who are being honored have sel�essly given of themselves to make the Mahopac-Carmel community better.”

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

At the ceremony, William “Bill” and Donna Pope, owners of Spot-less Cleaning Systems in Carmel, will be the recipients of the 2017 Business Person of the Year award. High school sweethearts who graduated from Mahopac High School, the two wed in 1982. Bill Pope started the business in 1985 and Donna joined the company in 1989.

While raising their sons, Will and Dan, the Popes were active in the school scene—volunteering for various school functions. Bill Pope even coached his sons’ bas-ketball and baseball teams.

�e Popes became chamber members in 2006 and began ac-tively volunteering in 2009. �ey assisted with such events as the Mahopac Street Festival, Carmel Spring Fair, Business Expo and Holiday in the Park. �eir passion, though, is in providing scholarship money for graduating high school seniors. After serving as members of the Casino Night committee for several years, Bill Pope spear-headed the Night at the Races event, which, like Casino Night,

raised funds for the scholarships. Bill Pope was a chamber board

member from 2012 to 2016. He served one year as secretary and one year as vice chairman.

�e Popes live in LaGrangeville.�e Business Person of the Year

is selected by a committee of past honorees who consider �ve crite-ria in determining who deserves the recognition. First, the person’s company must be in business for at least three years. Second, the person must be reputable and suc-cessful. �ird, the person must be held in the highest regard by in-dustry peers. Fourth, the person must have served on the board of directors of �e Greater Ma-hopac-Carmel Chamber of Com-merce at some point. Finally, the person must have made a positive impact on the community by be-ing a role model of involvement, sponsorship and activities in the Mahopac/Carmel community.

BUSINESS PERSON MERITORIOUS

Susan Nunziata, a senior cus-tomer service representative for the Mahopac branch of Tompkins Mahopac Bank, will be honored as the 2017 Business Person Merito-

rious. Nunziata joined the chamber in

2002 while she worked at Sound Federal Savings Bank. In 2007, she left Sound Federal for Mahopac Bank and continued serving the chamber.

�rough the years, Nunziata has been a committee member for �nance, marketing, the Mahopac Street Festival, as well as the Tree and Menorah Lighting. She also chaired the scholarship commit-tee.

Nunziata served on the cham-ber board of directors from 2006 to 2012. She was the secretary for the 2010-2011 �scal year, and the vice chairperson for the 2011-12 �scal year.

In addition to her e�orts with the chamber, Nunziata volunteers for the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Nunziata lives in Mahopac with her husband, John, and their three dogs. She is the mother of Kim and Paul, stepmother to Erica and grandmother to Mia.

Business Person Meritorious, which is also chosen by the Busi-ness Person of the Year Commit-tee, is a person whose business is

reputable and successful. �e per-son must have previously made a positive impact on the community by being a role model of involve-ment, sponsorship and activities in the Mahopac-Carmel community.

EMERGING PROFESSIONALStephen Apap of George Apap

Painting will be honored with the Emerging Professional Award.

Raised in Pawling, Apap is a third-generation painter. His grandfather became a painter af-ter emigrating from Malta to the United States. His father started George Apap Painting and in 2004, Stephen’s older brother, George, bought the business. Ste-phen Apap has been painting for the family business since he was 12 years old. After graduating from SUNY Oneonta with a BA in business, he became a project manager and estimator for the Patterson-based company.

In 2016, Apap became an ac-tive member of �e Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce. When George Apap Painting launched Shine Holiday Lighting that same year, Stephen Apap approached the chamber about donating the company’s

services to assist in decorating Mahopac Chamber Park for the holiday season. Since then, he has continued to donate the lights and labor of decorating the gazebo and tree before the Holiday in the Park festivities.

Apap lives in Brewster with his wife, Jessica, and daughter, Dani-ella.

�e Emerging Professional Award is given to an individual who has been a member of �e Greater Mahopac-Carmel Cham-ber of Commerce for three years or less, who is an active volunteer in the chamber and who has made a positive impact on the community.

�e Business Person of the Year awards dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Putnam County Golf Course, which is lo-cated at 187 Hill St. in Mahopac. Tickets are $40 per person.

For more information, contact �e Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce at 845-628-5553.

Mahopac-Carmel Chamber to honor local business people

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREATER MAHOPAC-CARMEL CHAMBER OF COMMERCEBack row, from left, are past Business Person of the Year honorees: Thomas O’Leary, Joseph Tock, Richard D’Andrea, Kenneth Hogan and William Zacotinsky; front row, from left: this year’s honorees Donna and William Pope and Susan Nunziata

Business Person of the Year Awards DinnerPutnam County Golf Course187 Hill St., MahopacTuesday, Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m.Tickets: $40845-628-5553

Steve Apap

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DICARLO FROM PAGE 1

BY BOB DUMASEDITOR

After working for a year and a half without a new contract, the United School Workers of Mahopac (USWOM) and the school district agreed on a new accord, which was approved by the Board of Education at its Jan. 18 meeting.

USWOM includes bus driv-ers, mechanics, custodians, groundskeepers and bus moni-tors, as well as a mail carrier and food carrier.

�ose involved in the negoti-ations said the new agreement is basically a rollover of the union’s former one with a 1.5 percent raise for all of its members. Em-ployees will receive their raises retroactive to July 2016.

“It was basically retroactive; they will receive money owed them from the time” the former

contract expired, said Superin-tendent Dr. Dennis Creedon.

�e new contract expires in spring 2019. �e two parties hope to go back to the table and work out a new long-term agreement before the new one expires.

Ken Jones, USWOM presi-dent, said the union was pleased to be able to �nally move for-ward.

“�ey dropped their demands and we dropped ours,” he said.

Jones said he felt the reason negotiations were able to go more smoothly this time around is because the school district hired new counsel.

“�ey got a new lawyer and he said there was stu� that shouldn’t be on the table,” Jones said. “He had a better look at the contract and could see what’s going on.”

Asked whether he and his

union members were happy with the new agreement, Jones said, “Well, yes and no.”

“We did get some kind of �-nancial relief; we hadn’t gotten a raise in quite a while,” he said.

Ed Caperna, USWOM’s vice president, addressed the board, thanking it for approving the new contract.

“Our workers are loyal and conscientious and have the best interests of the Mahopac school district and community,” he said. “�e union looks forward to working with the district in the future to make sure we con-tinue to give the best services and make further progress in future negotiations.”

Jones said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the negotia-tions for the next contract.

“We are hoping it goes easier,” he said.

Mahopac school workers get new contract ‘�e most important thing

is it’s all about the kids and I am

thinking about bringing all of

us to what I call the Mahopac

way and really holding on to

the traditions of Mahopac.’

-Anthony DiCarloNew Superintendent

of Schools

Share Your MilestonesLet your neighbors know about the special moments in your life, whether it’s a birth, engagement, wedding or anniversary. Send us a photo and announcement at [email protected] or mail it to Mahopac News, Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. There is no charge for this announcement. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like your photo returned.

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last week’s meeting. “I’m very much looking forward to work-ing with building administrators and central o�ce administra-tors, parents and faculty. During my �rst couple of months, I’m going to be listening, listening and doing some more listening. I’ll be in the schools, with the kids, in the community and at events. Some of you know me, and you know I bleed blue.”

DiCarlo said he plans to im-plement what he calls the “Ma-hopac way.”

“�e most important thing is it’s all about the kids and I am thinking about bringing all of us to what I call the Mahopac way and really holding on to the tra-ditions of Mahopac, which we all hold in our hearts,” he said. “Also, working with the students and promoting the emotional, physical, social, intellectual; working with the challenges for

an ever-changing world.”DiCarlo received his un-

dergraduate degree from Iona College, where he also earned master’s degrees in both inter-national business and educa-tion. He started his education career as a social studies teacher in Eastchester and eventually became dean of students at Yon-kers High School.

Later, he obtained his ad-ministrative degree at Iona and took his �rst administrator’s job in Leonia, N.J., as an assistant middle school principal. He was an assistant principal in the Har-rison Central School District; principal for Tuckahoe Middle School; middle school princi-pal at Lakeland Copper Beech; and went back to Tuckahoe as an elementary school principal before being promoted to the central o�ce, where he became director of special education, personnel and athletics.

“In all those jobs I’ve gotten tenure and developed great rela-tionships,” he said. “I was build-ing my resume to come to this point in my career.”

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BY TRUDY WALZCONTRIBUTING EDITOR

With the o� cial � u season now at full throttle, misery, hospital-izations and deaths are plaguing pockets of America while the numbers of those a� icted in New York continue to climb.

For only the week that ended Jan. 13, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 14,401 new laboratory-con� rmed cases, bringing the sea-son total to 74,562. And the New York State Department of Health said it received 6,083 laboratory-con� rmed in� uenza reports, more

than double the number of the previous week.

Connecticut’s death toll associ-ated with this season’s particular strain of the virus, H3N2, was 21 as of Jan. 19—among its victims, a 10-year-old boy, of New Canaan. In New York, one death, another 10-year-old, from downstate (of-� cials declined to provide the ex-act community), has been linked to the � u.

But the national numbers don’t seem to speak to what is going on in the communities of York-town, North Salem, Mahopac and Somers, where residents are either doing something right or su� er-

ing in silence. In North Salem, Maria Hlush-

ko, captain of the North Salem Ambulance Corps, said it has transported only one or two peo-ple with � u symptoms to health facilities.

Peg Eichorn, manager of the Van Tassell House at 98 Primrose St., a senior favorite in Somers, estimated it has experienced as much as a 25 percent decline in business.

“With our home-delivered meals, it’s been OK, because peo-ple are home, but with transporta-

Region gears up to fi ght infl uenza epidemic

Minor outbreaks reported in some area communities

PHOTO: JODI WEINBERGERNagi Wissa, owner of Lake Mahopac Pharmacy, gives a fl u shot to Halston Media publisher Brett Freeman.

IMAGE COURTESY OF PUTNAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.A map of reported fl u cases in Putnam County.

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tion and our on-site meals, we’ve gone down in volume,” she said.

e cause, however, is anyone’s guess—including snow and freez-ing temperatures.

“ is is a crazy winter,” Eichorn said. “What I’m seeing usually does happen anyway in the winter months, more people signing on for home-delivered meals.”

Nagi Wissa, owner of Lake Mahopac Pharmacy, said he’s been administering about 10 � u shots a day, every day, this season. And, he said, it’s paying o� . More people than ever are coming in to get the � u shot and consequently less are coming in to get Tami� u, a medicine used to treat the � u, Wissa said.

For those worried about the shot itself, Wissa is the man to see.

“I’m con� dent. I’ve yet to have someone complain about my technique,” Wissa said. “Giving a shot is very hard to teach. You can’t teach someone to give a � u shot; you either have that skill or you don’t, but luckily, I have it.”

One of the broader measures in assessing the � u’s impact is to look at absences in public schools.

Mahopac Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dennis Creedon said that Mahopac Middle School re-ported � ve cases of � u as of Friday, Jan. 19.

“We have invested in a machine called Bio Plant, which is a dis-infector,” Creedon said. “We are using a disinfectint call Buckeye E23, which is used in schools and buses.”

Creedon explained that the Bio Plant sends out a mist that doesn’t leave any residue on surfaces. Ma-hopac schools began the disinfect-ing protocol last week in the mid-dle school and in Fulmar Road Elementary and then will use it in the remainder of their buildings. ey will then repeat the process.

Dr. Ron Hattar, the district of Yorktown’s superintendent, said several students were believed to be out with the bug. In Shrub Oak, Lakeland High School spokesman James VanDevelde said � u absences were also in the single digits.

Meanwhile, Matt Carr, direc-tor of human resources for the Somers Central School District, and North Salem Superintendent Kenneth Freeston both reported no blips on their radars.

“Our custodial sta� always re-mains vigilant and in the past, when we have the part of the year when germs tend to spread, our custodial sta� is out rubbing down banisters and door knobs on a more frequent basis,” Carr said.

is virus, said by experts to be a rapidly mutating one, is driving “a severe � u season,” according to Dr. James Dwyer, chair of Emergency

Medicine at Northern Westches-ter Hospital in Mt. Kisco.

“I think this one is a little bit di� erent in the sense that we’re really seeing very high volumes very early in what would typically be considered � u season, and the acuity is higher, as well.” He add-ed: “ is is a very bad season, no question.”

Dr. Dwyer said the strain now circulating “is causing people to get a lot sicker, especially the vul-nerable populations, the elderly or those with signi� cant medical conditions.

“You’d have to look back to the swine � u to � nd a time where there was more of a volume of

cases,” Dwyer said.At NewYork-Presbyterian

Hudson Valley Hospital in Cor-tlandt Manor, Dr. Omar Al-Aw-wad said there is an uptick of � u patients in their E.R. compared to previous years.

“We follow a protocol that in-volves administering medications at the � rst sign of � u that we know will, oftentimes, reduce the sever-ity and length of time the � u lasts in the patient,” Al-Awwad said.

Putnam County has reported 78 con� rmed cases of the virus so far this season, more than in the past several years.

“ at could be only a fraction of the actual cases because once

it becomes widespread, doctors aren’t required to test for it or they would be inundated,” said Susan Ho� ner, a health educator for the Putnam County Department of Health. “If the patient has the symptoms, they declare it the � u.”

Putnam Hospital Center’s Lau-ra McDonald, RN, Infection Pre-vention and Control, explained that the hurricanes over the sum-mer may have contributed to the spread of the � u.

“When you have pockets of people who aren’t vaccinated, the disease can really take hold,” Mc-Donald said. “It’s what’s called ‘herd immunity.’ If I get the � u and nine out of 10 people are im-

mune, I might pass it on to the one person, and they might pass it on to one person. But if � ve out of the 10 people are not im-mune, those � ve can now get the � u. And maybe they can pass it on to � ve more people, and those � ve people can pass it on, so it spreads out in concentric circles. So the less immunity you have in your population, the quicker a disease is going to spread. Which is why everyone pushes for high levels of immunization.”

Every health professional inter-viewed for this article urged best practices such as hand washing,

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Quit Smoking Program

�e Putnam County Depart-ment of Health will oer Free-dom From Smoking, an evi-dence-based smoking cessation program, to individuals who live or work in Putnam Coun-ty. Classes will be held at the Putnam County Department of Health at 1 Geneva Road, Brewster, on Wednesdays start-ing at 6 p.m., beginning Jan. 31 and running through March 14. During the fourth week, an ad-ditional session will take place on Friday, Feb. 23. �e pro-gram is free and will supply free Nicotine Replacement (NRT) as long as the supply lasts. Pre-registration is required. Class size will be limited. For ques-tions or to pre-register, call the Putnam County Department of Health at 845-808-1390, ext. 43155.

A Paint Night with Heart

Paint Love-A Paint Night with Heart will be held at the Allstate Insurance Co., Smith & Clarke Agency, 530 Route

6, Mahopac, �ursday, Feb. 1, 6:30-9 p.m., to bene�t Love Holds Life. Come for an eve-ning of painting with heart by teaming up with Creative Can-vas and Love Holds Life Chil-dren’s Cancer Foundation for a little fun for a great cause. Ap-petizers and all painting sup-plies will be provided. Cost is $35. RSVP to 845-210-5550 or email [email protected].

Reads at Reed Book Club

�e Reads at Reed Book Club will meet Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. to discuss the book “�e Submission” by Amy Waldman. �e meeting will be held at Reed Memorial Library, 1733 Route 6, Carmel. Contact 845-225-2439 with any ques-tions.

Friends of Music Fundraiser

Let Chili’s do the cooking while supporting Mahopac Friends of Music at the same time. With each ¤yer presented or mentioned on Saturday, Feb. 13, 4-11 p.m., the Chili’s in Somers will donate 10 percent of the event day sales. Chili’s

is located at 80 Route 6, Suite 208. Mention or show the Giye Back Event ¤yer with each check to receive credit for the sale. Sale cannot be included in donation amount with ¤yer. Of-fer is only valid on the date and location stated above. Dona-tions will not be given on sales made prior or past this date.

Volunteer Drivers Needed

Can you spare a little time to make a dierence in the life of an older adult? RideConnect, a program of Family Services of Westchester, is an information, referral and volunteer transpor-tation program for adults ages 60-plus who can no longer drive. We seek volunteer drivers who are willing to provide occasional rides to our older adult neigh-bors. �ese rides enable our clients to remain active in their communities and to continue to lead ful�lling lives. Rides are typically to medical and dental appointments, grocery shopping and other errands. Give the gift of mobility and independence. For more information, go to ri-deconnectwestchester.org, call Marietta C. Manoni at 914-242-7433, or email [email protected]

getting plenty of sleep and cover-ing up sneezes in order to prevent the spread of ¤u.

“If you do feel down – with sudden onset fever (above 101), body aches, and generally feel-ing badly, go see a doctor and get Tami¤u,” said Dr. Rajesh Gupta, director of medicine at AFC Ur-gent Care Yorktown. “�ey say to take Tami¤u 24-48 hours from the onset of symptoms, but new studies have suggested that even if it is 72 hours or later and you still aren’t feeling well, that you should get this anti-viral. It will minimize your symptoms and even though it is a �ve-day course, many people start to feel better after the �rst or second dose. It lowers the vi-ral load, which is what is causing you to feel so poorly. You may still have a runny nose or other “cold like symptoms,” but your overall

feel will be greatly improved.�e Putnam County Depart-

ment of Health has scheduled a ¤u clinic for all those who live and/or work in New York State, including those aged 6 months and older. �e clinic is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 2 to 6:30 p.m., at the health department’s main o®ce at 1 Ge-neva Road in Brewster. �e fee is $25 (cash or check only) or free for those with a Medicare card. In case of inclement weather, call the ¤u hot line at 845-808-1390 or visit the PCDOH’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/putnamhealth for noti�cation of postponement. �e snow date is �ursday, Feb. 1, from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the health department.

Yorktown News editor Brian Marschhauser, Mahopac News editor Bob Dumas, North Salem News/Somers Record editor Jodi Weinberger and sta� writer Jeremy Brown contributed to this article.

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BY BOB DUMASEDITOR

At the prodding of Coun-cilman Mike Barile, the Town Board may take a closer look at how its government agencies are organized and could restructure a signi� cant portion of its depart-ments.

While the prospect of such a move is still a long way o� , the idea got a foothold at last week’s meeting ( Jan. 17) when Barile made a motion to abolish the town’s full-time engineering po-sition. � e motion died when it wasn’t seconded. However, Bari-le challenged his fellow board members to publicly discuss how to best structure the town gov-ernment and its departments to make them the most e� cient and taxpayer-friendly.

“Can you explain to me why we are the only town in Westchester or Putnam counties that has both a town engineer and a consulting engineer and why we have the highest budgeted engineering department?” Barile asked the board after his motion died.

Barile was referring to full-time town engineer Richard Franzetti, who heads the town engineer-ing department, which has a 2018 budget of $599,427 (up 6.8 percent from last year), and John Folchetti, the town’s chief engineering consultant, who was just re-retained by the board at an annual cost of $120,000, plus any work done on capital projects.

No one on the board was able to explain the seeming redun-dancy.

“� at’s a good question and I can’t tell you or share with the public tonight why that is the case,” Supervisor Ken Schmitt said. “I am not really sure exactly why.”

“Maybe we can bring it up in a work session and have a dis-cussion on it,” said Councilman Jonathan Schneider. “We can get more information on it and dis-cuss it as a group.”

“� e question was raised at a work session on Dec. 20,” Barile said. “It wasn’t answered then, ei-ther.”

Schmitt said he agreed the public has a right to know why and how its tax money is being spent.

“It should be transparent what

the services are that are being provided,” he said.

A discussion then ensued dur-ing which Carmel was compared to neighboring towns and how they utilize their engineering services, but Councilman John Lupinacci said municipalities can handle such tasks di� erently, es-pecially those with a department of public works (DPW).

“We have to compare apples to apples when we are comparing data,” Lupinacci cautioned.

A department of public works is an umbrella agency that would include the highway department, engineering department, build-ing department and parks and recreation department. With a DPW, the highway superin-tendent would no longer be an elected position, but would be appointed by the Town Board.

Schneider said when the board does discuss the engineering question, creating a department of public works should be on the table.

“It has been brought up sev-eral times and it is something we should be looking at if we are looking at the delivery of services throughout the town,” Schneider said. “We should be looking at every department that we have and that [services] are delivered in the most e� cient way possible for the taxpayer.”

Barile said the idea was some-thing he campaigned on.

“� e � rst thing I did after win-ning the election was I went to the highway department, I went to the building department and to the engineering department, and I said in four years, I would like to see a DPW for the ben-e� t of the taxpayer,” he said. “But this is not the way to start out, with two engineers on sta� . It is a simple question. Why do we have two? It is something that should be discussed seriously in the very near future for the bene� t of the people. I think the taxpayers de-serve an explanation.”

Schmitt promised he would � nd an answer.

“We need to review exactly what the duties and responsi-bilities are of the full-time town engineer and the consulting en-gineer,” he said. “� ere will be a lot of research, a lot of review, as far as what other towns provide [to their residents].”

Could town create department of public works?

Board to examine most e� cient way to run agencies

OpinionOpinionPAGE 10 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

In a world rife with despotism and oppression, the United States, with its egalitarian form of government,

has always been the envy of the world. Laws apply equally to all; citizens are al-lowed active participa-tion through free and fair elections; indi-vidual human rights are zealously protected; and, in contrast to a dictatorship, Ameri-can citizens control their leaders through a representative form of government and can oust them without revolution.

� is is our democracy. But it is now in danger of being hijacked.

Americans have long taken several fundamental values of democracy for granted: the rule of law, the separation of powers, an independent judiciary and freedom of the press. � ese ideals, which have proven indispensable, are currently under attack.

We have elected an authoritarian president—Donald Trump—who not only refuses to understand the meaning and purpose of our country’s democratic principles, but daily and deliberately tries to challenge and undermine their importance. He shamelessly displays little interest in the workings of govern-ment; he has no practical knowledge of our Constitution; he de� es all political traditions that don’t serve his immediate interests, and he openly rejects the role that common decency plays in our politi-cal processes.

Behavior that was once considered highly improbable in American poli-tics—actions that can directly threaten our democracy and undermine public trust in our institutions—are becoming all too routine. Trump disrespects and demonstrates nothing but contempt for the press; he dismisses election results as fraudulent, and he continually lies to the public.

Trump’s brand of “democracy” is for sale. He actively mixes his business a� airs with his activities as president, reinforc-ing the belief, both at home and overseas, that corporations and foreign govern-ments can in� uence American policy

by currying favor with him through his business empire.

Over the last decade, Republicans have worked assiduously to end the reality of free and fair elections. By gerrymander-

ing the vote, they have enabled a demagogue to be elected president, despite receiving 3 mil-lion fewer votes than his opponent. Republi-cans knew that Trump was grossly un� t for o� ce; they could have acted forcefully to pre-

vent his election, yet they chose not to. Why? Republicans now control both

houses of Congress and the presidency. � ey are using that majority to pass a highly conservative, racist, business-� rst agenda which favors the rich, the powerful and the religious right while over-feeding America’s giant military industrial-complex. Republicans are not a bit distressed that they have put an uninformed, self-promoting narcissist in the White House. And they easily ignore his insulting, vulgar, misogynis-tic, conspiracy-peddling, Putin-loving, ethnic-hating, racist rhetoric.

Democracy is, indeed, in trouble. Trump and his cohorts are quickly gaining control over the courts and key investigative, regulatory and law enforce-ment agencies. � ey are indiscriminately attacking honest media outlets and opposition politicians and prominent cultural � gures who could rally public disapproval. And they are rewriting the rules of the game, attempting to perma-nently weaken or disadvantage oppo-nents.

A crisis—should a war break out with Iran or North Korea—would enable Trump to suspend institutional checks from Congress and the judiciary, giv-ing him enormous room to maneuver. Former presidents have demonstrated signi� cant restraint and have avoided exploiting crises for authoritarian ends. But Trump has never displayed that kind of restraint. Should President Trump have to confront an outbreak of war or a major act of terrorism, he will take full

Democracy in peril Alternate universesThis is my 500th column overall

and my 300th for Halston Media. � at I have been given the plea-

sure of doing this for 10-1/2 years is due to you and, of course, my employers. I hope to one day to start a column saying, “� is is my 1,000th…” � ank you all for your support. Now, let us talk economy.

� is is what you know if you only listen to the main-stream media. � ese are quotes from various economic “expert” talking heads opining on President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan’s assertion that the new tax policy signed into law will bene� t workers by increas-ing wages and creating more job oppor-tunities.

• “I’ll ask you plainly: Are they living in a fantasy world?”

• “Anybody who thinks that this cor-porate tax cut is going to trickle down to lift wages has a staggering ignorance of how public companies function.”

• “� at is—how do I say this nicely?—absolute nonsense. � ere are no examples anywhere of companies distributing their tax savings to their workers.”

• “Wage increases don’t follow tax cuts like this.”

• “Generally speaking, when com-panies get tax cuts, they keep them for themselves and distribute them to the shareholders. Will they actually increase wages? Will employees actually see the bene� ts of a corporate tax cut? None of them will raise a hand, because that’s simply not true.”

• “� is is a clear cut for the top, and it’s a hope and a wish for anyone else.”

Finally, my favorite, from Nancy Pe-losi: “� e crumbs that they are giving to workers to kind of put the schmooze on is so pathetic.”

Here is what is actually happening, which has NOT been reported by the mainstream media:

• Southwest and American Airlines both announced they’re going to give

thousand-dollar bonuses to employees following the tax overhaul.

• Capital One Financial con� rmed it will raise the minimum wage for all

U.S.-based employees at Capital One to $15 per hour.

• Wells Fargo said it would raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour.

• Boeing announced $300 million in invest-ments for corporate giving and workplace improvements.

• AT&T announced it will invest $1 billion dollars in the U.S. in 2018. Also, it will give a $1,000 bonus to 200,000

workers.• BB&T Corp. pledged to give bo-

nuses of $1,200 to almost 75 percent of its workers.

• Bank of America say it’s willing to shell out $1,000 bonuses to nearly 150,000 of its employees.

• Walmart is raising its minimum wage to $11 per hour.

� is is what Nancy Pelosi calls “pa-thetic.”

Each and every one of these compa-nies’ CEOs have said these actions are a direct result of the new tax policy. � ey said not one of these actions will a� ect their bottom line as the monies they are using is coming from the tax savings. � ey are disproving the lie that what is happening with the economy is the result of Obama’s policies � nally taking e� ect.

Unemployment applications are the lowest since 1973. Unemployment of blacks is the lowest since 1972, when the government � rst started recording � gures. For Hispanics, unemployment is the lowest since 1989. � ink of the numbers if Congress passes infrastruc-ture improvements.

Why don’t you hear about these things? Since the tax policy was ap-proved, the media has been focusing on: 1) Trump is a sexist; 2) Trump is a racist; 3) Trump paid a call girl for her silence; 4) the alleged Trump/Russia collusion.

BERNIE KOSBERG

HERE AND NOW! ANDY

BAZZO

BAZZOSAYS

Bazzo ManifestoFor more political news, visit bazzman.blogspot.com.

SEE BAZZO PAGE 15SEE KOSBERG PAGE 14

�e Greater Mahopac–Carmel Chamber of Commerce Join us in Congratulating Business Person of the Year

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OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 11THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

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OPINIONPAGE 12 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

Double, double, toil and trouble (in the workplace)Like many readers of the

Mahopac News, I read the front-page story ( Jan.

11), “Allegations of bullying at school transportation o� ce,” and later Bob Dumas’ reliably sane comments in his column, “Out of My Head,” with a mixture of “Say what?” and chagrin. I’m in no position to pass judgment on any of those involved, except to say that, given the underrated but important role of school bus drivers in any community, I hope the matter can at last be resolved. As Dumas noted, light can be a wonderful “disinfectant.”

School bus drivers are paid fairly well. Every day they wake at 5 a.m. and clock in at 6:15. Imagine spending the � rst few hours of your day locked inside a long, narrow cylinder � lled with 50 third graders. Try keeping them in their seats, from scream-ing and yelling, punching, curs-ing, and staying cool at the same time. And, of course, every driver has the ultimate responsibility of getting them to and fro safely.

Not as easy as it looks. Drivers must be alert for speeding cars that run reds without a single qualm and distracted children at dangerous crossings. � ese things keep school bus drivers awake at night. Considering the recent reports, it wouldn’t be surprising if drivers are getting second looks from parents who place so much trust in them.

Most of us can relate to trou-ble in the workplace. I remember once hiring a fellow, Kevin, to work for me in my landscaping business. He was 19 and had two main topics of conversation: the people he’d beaten up and the ones who had it coming. Over the course of a summer, Kevin became a threat to my other

worker, John, a quiet, unbothered sort of person—at least until Kevin came along.

� is may seem silly, but the only reason I kept Kevin around is because my dog, Doogie, liked him and he loved Doogie. So I was reminded that he did have some good in him. But it was hard to see, especially after he took a swing at me.

We’d planted some shrubs and Kevin was assigned to give them water.

“Make sure,” I told him, “that you wrap up the hose neatly, the way we found it.”

Kevin gave me more of a shrug than a nod, my order probably angering him, which was easy to do. We were all packed up and ready to leave when I decided to get out of the truck and make sure he did what I’d asked. Sure enough, the hose lay right where he dropped it after he’d � nished the watering.

I rolled up the hose, cursing. He’d gotten out of the truck, his arms unfolding as I got closer.

“Kevin,” I said, calmer than I thought I’d be. “Next time you don’t do what I tell you to do, I’m going to � re you.” He took a step closer.

“Dude, you don’t have to � re me. I f---ing quit.” He threw a punch that landed on my chin and took o� running. I took o� , too, but stopped after only a few steps.

I owed him three days’ pay and, wanting a clean break, went to his house to pay him. I was met by his father. He wanted to know what happened, so I told him. “Quite a temper your boy’s got,” I concluded. He apologized for his son, saying, “It’ll take 40 years of hard drinking to cure him of that temper, I’m afraid.”

Over a year later, unexpectedly, Kevin called me on the phone to apologize. We conversed for an hour. He told me about how he’d tried everything to control his anger. In high school, he’d been sent to the psychiatrist for � ght-ing. He tried meditation, even scream therapy, which was fun

but worthless. One day he went to get a haircut and got into an argument over who was next on line. He challenged the person to step outside. In the windup, the guy told the barber he’d come back later. Kevin sat down in the chair. As he told me over the phone, he saw the scowl on his face, his � sts were clinched. � e barber spoke to him calmly.

“Why do you think Jesus told us to love one another? For his own good? You want to call me a bad name; hit me? To get to me, it has to go through you � rst.”

Kevin asked why I didn’t chase after him and give him the beating he deserved. I told him that he was too fast a runner. I wanted to kill him.

I had stayed angry at him for a year, so I was all the more moved by Kevin’s contrition and found in his sorrow that I, too, had something to feel sorry about. All he had to do was extend his hand. Peace came immediately to us both.

LORENZOGARO

OF HUMANINTEREST

My daughter was the � rst one to get it. As soon as I heard the

coughing start, I knew I was done for. I practically bathed in hand sanitizer, but before you could say “expectorant,” the whole fam-

ily had the ¤ u. Even the dog was sick, which was the icing on the in¤ uenza cake. Truly, there is nothing like getting a wet dog sneeze in the face when you feel like roadkill.

Had it just been one drippy,

icky, coughing, wheezing, hacking, germ-terrorist of an o� spring in the house, I could have muddled through. But when I got sick next, and then my husband, it was like some-one had dropped a ¤ u-bomb in my house. � e nebulizers were running on full tilt, the counters were over¤ owing with decon-gestant and wads of used tissues over¤ owed from every trash can onto the ¤ oor like an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

“I don’t get it,” I said to my husband miserably. “I got the ¤ u shot.”

“Apparently, it was for the wrong strain,” he replied before letting out a sneeze that shat-tered the speed of sound.

“I want my money back,” I complained. “I should get, like, a re-¤ und.”

� e problem with me being sick, of course, was that with everyone else sick in the house, there was really no room for me to be sick, too. And yet, here I was, Typhoid Tracy and Nurse Betty all rolled into one.

“Mom, I need more tissues,” came a wail from the other room.

“Can I get some more lemon tea, honey?” yelled my husband.

“I’m nauseous.”“My head aches.”“My knees are sweaty.”“My earlobes hurt.”

“Your earlobes don’t hurt!” I bellowed back from the kitchen where I was pouring bowls of homemade chicken soup that I had made in some kind of out-of-body ¤ u-stupor. Suddenly I noticed that my earlobes hurt. My earlobes had the ¤ u? Who even knew that was a thing?

I loaded up the tray with three bowls of soup and started to walk out of the kitchen. Unfor-tunately, in my stu� y-headed, scratchy-throated, earlobe-ach-ing haze, I failed to notice the dog sprawled across the kitchen ¤ oor. I stepped forward, caught my foot on the dog and went ¤ ying across the ¤ oor. I watched in despair as the bowls took to the air like little out-of-control soup drones and rained down chicken soup on the ¤ oor, me and the dog. Miserably, I sat in a puddle of soup and noodles con-templating the meaning of life. � e dog, of course, was overjoyed and was thrilled to help me clean up the mess.

As I started to regroup, a voice rang out again from upstairs.

“Mom, is the soup ready?”“Yes,” I replied.“When can I have it?”I leaned over and picked a

noodle o� the back of the dog.“After the dog is done.”

For more Lost in Suburbia, follow Tracy’s blog at lostinsuburbia.com.

One u over the cuckoo’s nest

TRACY BECKERMAN

LOST INSUBURBIA

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OPINIONPAGE 14 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

When Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban collaborated on the

hummable score of “A Chorus Line,” they could not have imag-ined how prophetic their grand � nale exclamation—“one sin-gular sensation!”—would prove to be in describing the magical destiny of the show itself.

More than 40 years after it caused a sensation the likes of which Broadway had never seen, this unique masterwork remains as ageless as ever. � at’s because it is nearly � awless.

� e same superlatives apply to the Broadway-quality production now on stage through April 1 at Westchester Broadway � eatre in Elmsford (914-592-2222; Broadway� eatre.com).

� ere is no better or more suc-cessful example in theater annals of the cliché “less is more” than “A Chorus Line.” On the surface, it is minimalist. � e 23 actors are in street clothes or rehearsal dancewear. Otherwise, the stage is bare. � ere is not a trace of scenery or props.

Ah, but there is that mirror, that wall-to-wall, � oor-to-ceiling mirror that looms over the entire stage. It is used sparingly but to maximum e� ect, ingeniously “casting” the real-life audience as part of the show’s stage audi-ence. When used, the mirror also creates the illusion that there are twice as many dancers on stage.

� is show is all about its characters, and the austere set-ting allows the audience to focus squarely on their stories—of aspiration, frustration and com-ing of age—without the visual distraction of inanimate objects.

As simple as the set-up seems, the artful and empathetic book (by James Kirkwood and Nicho-las Dante) digs deeper than most any other musical had before it. It’s no stretch to observe that a character-driven phenomenon like “Dear Evan Hansen” is a direct descendant of “A Chorus Line,” whose tagline easily could be “show business raw.”

One by one, we meet the mul-ticultural collection of seasoned troupers who are auditioning to be cast in the eight-person chorus line. Each steps out when called on by the business-like director, Zach (an excellent Da-vid Elder), who mostly remains unseen, making his presence akin to a “voice of God.” He wants to know something personal about each of the dancers, and their responses form the tuneful and insightful journey on which we embark.

� e intimacy created between the audience and the characters is palpable, as the choreographed dancers’ smiles are wiped o� their faces to reveal achingly authentic people with whom we can sympathize. � e straightfor-ward power of the production sucks you right in to its emo-tional vortex and doesn’t loosen its grip one bit for two glorious

hours.� ere’s Val (a terri� c Emma

Degerstedt), who comically illustrates in “Dance: 10, Looks: � ree” how some well-placed cosmetic surgery can do wonders for getting noticed at auditions. From Mark (PJ Palmer) and Paul (Michael John Hughes), we learn (or recall) that sexual awak-ening comes in various forms (“Hello Twelve, Hello � irteen, Hello Love”).

And so it goes for other char-acters, whose tales of woe and of wonder are interspersed with a magical Broadway score that remains exciting, vibrant and uplifting, including the rhap-sodic “At the Ballet” (performed by the uniformly impressive trio of Lauren Sprague, Emily Kelly, Kelsey Walston), “� e Music and the Mirror” (a show-stop-ping Erica Mans� eld as Zach’s former squeeze, Cassie), and, of course, the one and only “One,” the rousing climax that sends a chill as the entire cast parades on stage in full regalia, costumed in gold formal wear replete with top hats.

� e ending works like a re-verse � ashback: Now that we’ve gotten to know close up these otherwise anonymous “gypsies” (as dancers are known in the trade), we get to see them as we normally do—as “one” of the many who toil in obscurity to form the sturdy and disciplined backbone of a musical produc-tion, while the big-name star is the “one and only” who basks in autograph-seeking adulation.

If “� ere’s No Business Like Show Business” was the unof-� cial entertainment anthem of

yesteryear, “One” has become its worthy successor for a new generation. � at much was clear as the audience on opening night started applauding in giddy anticipation as soon as it heard the � rst few notes.

You won’t regret seeing this Westchester Broadway � eatre production. Along with just about everyone else I spoke with at opening night, I can attest it’s one of the best shows I’ve seen at this professional theater (where you also can see a show without having dinner).

� ere are lots of reasons that recommend this as a must-see for fans of musical theater. First, there’s “A Chorus Line” itself, one of the few musicals to earn a prestigious Pulitzer Prize for drama, not to mention nine Tony Awards, a testament to the brilliance of its concept and execution and to its indelible heart and soul.

Second, this is a great cast, full of “triple-threats,” performers who excel at singing and act-ing as well as dancing. Other

standouts, in addition to the aforementioned, are Drew Carr as Mike, who back� ips across the stage in “I Can Do � at.” More than half the cast are members of Actors’ Equity Association.

� ird, there is the pitch-per-fect staging, with director/chore-ographer Mark Martino staying true to the original vision and mechanics of the legendary the-ater visionary Michael Bennett, who also gave us “Dreamgirls.”

Fourth, the orchestra does ear-pleasing justice to the clever and versatile score.

If you’re looking for great live entertainment nearby, this is the one.

Bruce “� e Blog” Apar promotes local businesses, organizations, events and people through public relations agency APAR PR. He also is an actor, a community volunteer, and a contributor to several periodicals. Follow him as Bruce the Blog on social media. Reach him at [email protected] or 914-275-6887.

‘A Chorus Line’—the one and only

PHOTO: BRUCE APARDancers Steven Boockvor, left, and Denise Pence Boockvor, right, the real-life inspirations for the married couple portrayed in “A Chorus Line,” congratulate Lauren Sprague, who plays Sheila, on opening night at Westchester Broadway Theatre.

KOSBERGFROM PAGE 10

advantage of it to attack oppo-nents and restrict civil liberties.

In our fragile democracy, the only brake on the tyranni-cal exercise of power is public opinion. Ominously, recent polls suggest that the American public has never been as skepti-cal of democracy or as open to authoritarian alternatives, like military rule, as it is right now. Should a crisis occur and Trump challenge our system of checks

and balances, a large percentage of the public may very well stand behind him.

Indeed, if we do nothing, we may well be looking back at the � rst 20 years of the 21st century as the time when our democracy died. Retreating into sheltered communities and being fearful of taking a stand is not accept-able. American democracy will disappear unless we speak out loudly and often against injustice and unless we actively reject and resist the ideological fervor of Donald Trump and his cohorts.

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OPINION MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 15THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

Dear Dr. Linda,My grandson called me the

other day and asked me if I knew what an 84-sided poly-gon is called. I didn’t know the answer, so I told him to ask his grandpa, who’s a retired accoun-tant. He didn’t know either.

Our grandson told us that his algebra teacher stopped in the middle of class and asked, “Does anyone know what an 84-sided polygon is called?” He was in-trigued and went online and dug deeper. He continued to look up the names of other polygons.

“� ere’s a pattern,” he said. “It sounds hard, but I gured out that each name is simply a combination of pre xes.”

I’m sharing this story with you because I’d love you to put it in your column. I want to thank those teachers who incorporate thought-provoking material into their everyday lessons to open up their students’ minds.

Grandma ClaireRetired principal

Dear Grandma Claire,� ank you for sharing this

because it’s a perfect example of how a teacher can motivate children to think and learn at a higher level than just memo-rizing material. � is teacher inspired your grandson and maybe others in the class to think about something they probably wouldn’t have thought about. Plus, it motivated your grandson to do some research and to analyze what he found. Traditional instruction has historically emphasized recall

and understanding: Here’s what I want you to know; memorize it and see if you can recall it on the Friday test.

However, this will not suf- ce in the 21st century. Stu-dents need to be challenged by projects, vocabulary and activi-ties that encourage them to do something new and di� erent with what they have learned. As a principal, you know this is called “higher-order thinking.” � at skill, already highly prized in our society, will be essential for future leaders in the global economy.

� is all sounds wonderful, but sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the school day for teachers to incorporate all levels of thinking into their lessons. Also, not all lessons or subject areas lend themselves to higher-order thinking. Memorizing the multiplication facts is just that—

memorizing the multiplication facts!

Hopefully, though, teach-ers can nd time, like your grandson’s teacher, to give their students those little gifts of knowledge that will stimulate some to do some higher-order thinking on their own.

I must admit, after receiving your email, that I didn’t know the answer. I, too, was intrigued and went online to learn for myself what an 84-sided poly-gon is called. All the de nitions began by reminding me that a polygon is any two-dimensional shape formed by straight lines. A shape with three lines or sides is a triangle or trigon. A four-sided polygon is a quadrilateral (like a square or rectangle) or tetragon. A ve-sided polygon, like our ve-sided military complex in Washington, is a pentagon. A six-sided shape is a hexagon—

like a “beehive or snow� ake.” A shape with seven sides is a heptagon and one with eight sides is an octagon— most often seen in a “stop sign.” � e list goes on and on.

Most kids learn the shapes of polygons with fewer than 10 sides in elementary school, but they usually don’t learn the name for a polygon with 84 sides! So here it is:

octacontakaitetragon.Knowing this, ask your grand-

son if he knows how many sides the following gures have:

1. hexacontakaipentagon2. pentacontakaipentagon3. octacontakaioctagonSee the pattern? ( Just as a

hint, “kai” is Greek for “and,” and “gon” is always the nal su� x.)

Have fun,Dr. Linda

Answers: 1) 65, 2) 55, 3) 88

Challenging students with higher-order thinking

DR. LINDASILBERT

STRONGLEARNING

According to Pew research, more than 60 percent of media cover-age of Trump is negative.

Appearing on David Let-terman’s new talk show, former President Obama said those who watch FOX News and listen to talk radio are living in an alternate universe. I ask you, seeing reality up against what is being reported, who is living in an alternate universe?

� is is what I say. What say you?

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SCHOOLS & CAMPSPAGE 16 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

� e New York School Bus Contractors Association is re-newing its call for the passage of legislation to sti� en the penal-ties for drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus.

It follows Gov. Andrew Cuo-mo’s proposal made during his recent State of the State Address to increase � nes for drivers who continue to ignore the law and put schoolchildren at risk.

“� e New York School Bus Contractors Association sup-ports Gov. Cuomo’s plan to increase the penalties for driv-

ers who illegally pass a stopped school bus,” said Bree Allen, president of the New York School Bus Contractors As-sociation. “Unfortunately, with estimates showing as many as 40,000 drivers in New York il-legally passing a stopped school bus every day that school is in session, it is clear that current penalties are not enough to act as a deterrent. We continue to strongly support the passage of complementary bills…to in-crease the penalties on drivers who continue to break the law

and put our children in danger.” Under current law, drivers

ticketed for a � rst o� ense face a maximum of up to 30 days in jail, a $400 � ne and a � ve-point penalty on their drivers’ license.

Recently proposed legisla-tion would increase the range of � nes to a maximum of $1,500, depending on the number of prior convictions. � e legislation also requires that a person who injures someone while passing a school bus be charged with ag-gravated vehicular assault, and if a person is killed in the incident,

the legislation requires a charge of criminally negligent homi-cide.

Other proposed legislation calls for the additional penalty of a 60-day suspension of a person’s drivers’ license when a person is convicted of illegally passing a stopped school bus two or more times within a 10-year period.

Both bills were passed unani-mously by the state Senate dur-ing the last legislative session in 2017, but failed to move in the Assembly.

“School buses are, by far, the

safest way for a child to get to and from school every day, and school districts and contractors are doing a phenomenal job here in New York,” Allen said. “Our ongoing safety initiatives and awareness campaigns, including Operation Safe Stop, are help-ing, too. However, it is obvious that more needs to be done to make that ride even safer. We will continue to work closely with the governor and legis-lature to pass tougher laws on drivers who put our children in harm’s way.”

Union: Stiffer penalties needed for drivers who pass school buses

� e following area students received academic accolades from their respective colleges and universities:

Matthew Montera was named to University at Bu� alo dean’s list for the fall semester.

---Jennifer Mastopietro was

named to the fall semester dean’s list at Western Con-necticut State University with a GPA of 3.61.

---Jessica Mastropietro was

named to the dean’s list at Sa-cred Heart for the fall semester

where she majors in exercise science. She had a GPA of 3.81.

---Jillian Roberto achieved

dean’s list status for the fall semester at the Fashion Insti-tute of Technology where she majors in advertising, market-ing and communications with a minor in math.

---Tyler Rimaldi was named

to the fall semester dean’s list at Marist College where he ma-jors in computer science. He had a GPA of 4.0.

Area students receive college honors

Putnam County students can now apply for paid and unpaid summer internships in county government through the Putnam Invests in Leaders of Tomorrow (PILOT) Program.

Now entering its � fth year, the concept of the PILOT Program was � rst introduced by County Executive MaryEllen Odell and is supported by the Putnam County Legislature.

“I am so proud of the PILOT Program,” Odell said. “Our interns work on real projects and are able to get a genuine sense of what it is like to work in one of the 25 county departments. By having the interns, we are investing in the fu-ture workforce of the county gov-ernment and may inspire some of these youths to potentially be com-munity leaders or county o£ cials, right here in Putnam, later in their lives.”

Since its inception, hundreds of Putnam County youth have par-

ticipated in the program.Eligible participants must be

Putnam County residents who are graduate, college, or high school students in their junior or senior year. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. For college students a GPA of 3.0 or higher is recom-mended.

� e 2018 Summer PILOT pro-gram will run from May through August, depending on student availability. Internship hours, are typically 28 hours a week and will be coordinated with department supervisors.

Online � ling instructions are posted on the Putnam County website at putnamcountyny.com. � e application consideration deadline for students is Wednes-day, Jan. 31.

For more information, contact Putnam County Personnel, Adri-ene Iasoni at 845-808-1650, ext. 46625, or [email protected].

County accepting applications for internship program

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SCHOOLS & CAMPS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 17THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

How do animals survive in the winter? at’s what Fulmar Road students learned when Colin Remick, a naturalist from the Center for Environmental Education at Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES, visited their classrooms recently. Remick not only explained the di� erent ways ani-mals deal with cold temperatures—he also brought along some live examples.

“ ere are four ways animals deal with cold weather,” Remick told students. “ ey can hibernate, or sleep for three months in the winter; they can migrate and go to a warmer location, as many bird species and butter� ies do; or, like humans, they can stay active in the winter, meaning they go on with their lives as normal. Wolves and deer are also examples of active animals.”

Animals that belong to the fourth cat-egory, called torpor, “stay awake some-times and sleep sometimes,” according to Remick. Raccoons and skunks, for exam-ple, sleep for two weeks and are awake for two weeks when the temperatures drop.

e most interesting moment for stu-dents came when Remick displayed furs, a giant snakeskin and—best of all—some live animals. While the hissing cockroach made some students cringe, the tortoise and the hedgehog more than made up for it.

Article provided by Mahopac School District.

Fulmar students learn what animals do in winter

Naturalist Colin Remick, from PNW BOCES, teaches Fulmar Road students about animal adaptation in the winter.

Students check out some of the displays that naturalist

Colin Remick brought in for his presentation on animals in winter.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN THORNTON

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PAGE 18 MAHOPAC NEWS – THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

Mahopac NewsMahopac News

Instructor Pete Redmond with his dance partner, Linda Ferris

The MHS Jazz Band 1 lays down the groove.

Holly O’Connor and her daughter, Kelly, show

how it’s done.

Michelle Fahriger never got off the dance fl oor the entire evening.

The trombone section, senior Jacob Kayler and music teacher Steve Wands, takes over.

Adriana Dusovic dances with George Ghazal.

PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL

dance partner, Linda Ferris

Grace Goodman has the beat.

Mahopac High School’s music department held its annual swing dance Friday, Jan. 19, at Austin Road Elementary School, featuring the MHS Jazz Band. The music department holds the event as an opportunity to bring the community together for an evening of carefree fun and dance. It started with an hour of swing dance lessons from “Crazy Feet” Pete Redmond, followed by plenty of dancing, refreshments and raffles.

Maria and John Kaprielian cut a rug.

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SCHOOLS & CAMPSPAGE 20 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

School-aged kids who catch colds or the � u from their classmates can quickly spread those colds to their family members, who then might spread the colds further when they go to work.

Preventing the spread of colds and � u at school is a team e� ort that requires the as-sistance of not just parents, but also teach-ers and students. Still, parents might be the � rst line of defense when it comes to pre-venting the spread of cold and � u at school.

According to the U.S. Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention, more than 38 million school days are lost to the � u each year. � ose lost days can a� ect stu-dents who miss lesson plans, but also a� ect parents, who often must take days o� from work to tend to their sick children.

While there’s no way for parents to guar-antee their children won’t catch a cold or the � u this school year, they can take vari-ous preventive measures to increase kids’ chances of staying healthy and achieving perfect attendance.

Make sure kids are immunized and that their immunizations are current. Vaccina-tions bolster kids’ immune systems. � at’s important, as kids’ immune systems are naturally less mature than adults, making them more vulnerable to germs and vi-ruses. � e CDC recommends that adults and children receive their � u vaccinations in October while noting that such vaccina-tions can be administered as late as January and still prove e� ective. � e CDC also rec-ommends that adults and children receive � u vaccinations each year. Additional vac-cinations may not need to be administered as often, but parents should still ensure kids are up-to-date with their shots.

Make sure kids regularly wash their hands. Kids often catch colds by rubbing their hands that have been exposed to cold virus germs on their noses or eyes. To pre-vent that, parents can teach kids to wash to their hands thoroughly, including scrub-bing the backs of their hands, between their � ngers and around their � ngernails. Kids should know to wash their hands regularly, but especially after they use the bathroom and before they eat, drink or touch their

mouths, noses or eyes.Keep kids home when they are sick.

Parents don’t want their children to miss school, but kids who are su� ering from colds or � u should be kept home. � is pre-vents the spread of colds and � u to class-mates and teachers, and time to rest at home may help youngsters recover more quickly.

Teach kids to avoid common germ spots. Germs can be lurking anywhere, but some spots seem to make more welcome homes for germs than others. Studies have shown that kids were most likely to encounter germs in schools on water fountain spigots and on plastic cafeteria trays. Teach kids to never put their mouths on fountains and to avoid eating any food that might fall onto their trays in the cafeteria.

Article provided by Metro Creative Connection

Reduce kids risk of getting colds/fl u at school

PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE CONNECTIONMake sure kids are immunized and that their immunizations are current. Vaccinations bolster kids’ immune systems. That’s important, as kids’ immune systems are naturally less mature than adults, making them more vulnerable to germs and viruses. The CDC recommends that adults and children receive their fl u vaccinations in October while noting that such vaccinations can be administered as late as January and still prove effective.

Mahopac student-artists on display

Young Artists 2018 is an annual exhibition by area high schools held at the Katonah Museum of Art and curated and installed by the students. It runs now through Feb. 11. For more information, go to katonahmuseum.org. Here, MHS senior Alana Green poses with her acrylic painting, “Refl ection of Self.” Other Mahopac students exhibiting work include Daniela Cardanelli, Andrew Coletti, Gianna Moglia and Stephany Solis.

PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL

Teachers provide many things to their students. In addition to an educa-tion, support and guidance, many teachers also feel compelled to enhance their

classrooms with supplies they’ve purchased out-of-pocket.

According to a poll of 1,500 teachers conducted by the educational resource Edu-topia, 93 percent of teachers feel obligated or somewhat obligated to buy school sup-plies for their classrooms with their own money. � e Education Market Association says that virtually all teachers wind up pay-ing out of pocket for supplies.

� e amounts spent annually can be up-

wards of $1,000 per teacher. In addition, not all the teachers funding supplies work in low-income districts. A report published in early 2016 by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities found that many states now provide less � nancial support per student than they did before the recession took hold roughly nine years ago. Districts forced to work under tight budgets are increasingly outsourcing the costs of supplies to par-ents. When parents fail to provide supplies, teachers are bearing the brunt of the costs to avoid seeing their students go without nec-essary resources.

Article provided by Metro Creative Connection

Did you know?

HEALTH & WELLNESSPAGE 21 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

Q: Do I have sciatica? A: You probably do if you feel a sudden and severe pain, along with numbness and weakness, radiating from the buttocks down the back of one leg to the foot. The pain can be crippling. It is usually intense when you walk, diminishing when you lie down.

Q: What causes sciatica? A: The sciatic nerve branches from the spine in the lower back through the hips and buttocks and runs down the back of each leg to the foot. Sciatica occurs when this nerve is pinched in the lower back by spinal disc herniation – protruding disc material – or by a larger fragment of disc material. Disc herniation usually occurs during normal activities, such as rising from bed.

Q: Am I at risk for sciatica? A: Sciatica is common. More than three million Americans are diagnosed with the condition annually.* Apart from the fact that 10 to 15 percent of patients have a family history of back problems, there are no risk factors. No behavior predisposes you to it. Q: What are my treatment options? A: If you have sciatica and it is not severe, you will typically receive oral steroids (anti-in�ammatories) for seven days. Once you’re more mobile, you will engage in physical therapy for a period of time and then be

re-evaluated. If your symptoms persist, you may receive an injection of steroids at the nerve root to reduce pain. If this regimen fails, physicians will offer surgery. However, if a patient comes in unable to stand – basically bed-bound – we advise surgery sooner. It is important to know that 80 to 90 percent of patients get better without surgery.

Q: What can I expect from surgery for sciatica? A: This minimally invasive procedure takes under an hour, and consists of removing the disc material pressing on the nerve. Most patients are pain-free following surgery. We have seen patients who arrived unable to stand or walk for more than a few minutes, walk out the same day after surgery, completely asymptomatic. Sciatica recurs in ten percent of people, who may suffer recurrent bouts of the condition throughout their life.

Pain Shooting Down One Leg? What you need to know about symptoms and treatment of sciatica…

400 East Main Street | Mount Kisco, NY 10549 914.666.1200 | www.nwhc.net

Did you know?80 to 90 percent of patients with sciatica get better without surgery.

Ask the DoctorJohn Abrahams, MD, FAANSChief, NeurosurgeryCo-Director, Spine Surgery, Orthopedic & Spine InstituteNorthern Westchester Hospital

Learn more about Dr. Abrahams and advanced spine surgery at nwhorthoandspine.org

* http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/ back-pain-and-sciatica

� e use of electronic cigarettes by young people is skyrocketing and, according to experts, addict-ing a whole new generation to nicotine.

While the number of youth-ful cigarette smokers has gone down, a report from the U.S. Surgeon General states that the number of high school stu-dents using electronic cigarettes increased 900 percent between 2011 and 2015. Children as young as middle-schoolers can be seen on the Internet compet-ing to produce the most interest-ing vapor clouds using e-cigs, vapes and Juuling devices. Some kids estimate that more than half their peers are vaping and say they think it’s safe.

THESE DEVICES AREN’T FOR CHILDREN, EVER

Promoted as a safer nicotine delivery device than cigarettes, vaping has an ironic dual role in helping smokers quit and non-smokers start. If you’re an adult who hasn’t found success with smoking cessation programs, I would rather you vape than smoke a pack of cigarettes. But these devices are not for children – ever.

E-cigs and vape devices and their liquid, which contain at least 42 harmful chemicals that we know of, including formal-dehyde, lead and nicotine, use batteries to heat an aerosol cartridge that converts a chemical-laden liquid into a � avored vapor inhaled by the user.

A DANGEROUS LURE. HOW BIG TOBACCO IS TARGETING OUR CHILDREN

� rough the use of modi-� ed vaping devices shaped like Pokeballs or Game Boys, to-bacco companies are aggressively targeting children. � is is a nasty, nasty thing that’s happening. And it’s catching on really fast. Research shows that enticing � a-vors like Fruity Pebbles and Va-nilla lure adolescents into vaping for the � rst time. Many devices don’t produce an odor or vapor, so vaping often goes undetected by parents and teachers.

It’s devastating, but not sur-prising. Big Tobacco owns these

vaping companies and is pushing to addict the next generation. In fact, one juice-� avored pod in the JUUL brand of electronic

cigarette deliv-ers the same amount of nicotine as in a whole pack of cigarettes. Children as young as 10 are using these products. By the time they

get to high school, they’ll be completely addicted.

DEVELOPING BRAINS VS. NICOTINE AND THC

According to the National Institutes of Health, developing brains are uniquely vulnerable to long-term modi� cation from nicotine. � e limbic system, which controls cognition, emo-tion and drug reward, is actively maturing during adolescence. Nicotine may disrupt this pro-cess, leaving children with emo-tional and learning di� culties and a greater chance to become addicted to other substances.

What’s more, because of its odorless and discreet nature,

marijuana wax or oil is fre-quently used by teens in vaping devices. Marijuana wax and oil contain a much higher concen-tration of THC extract – the psychoactive, dependent chemi-cal in the marijuana plant, with some wax or oil containing up to 80 percent THC. We’ve had adolescents brought to our Emergency Department due to ‘greening out’ or becoming extremely nauseous or distressed from vaping marijuana oil. � e user may also be exposed to other toxic substances. Marijua-na wax is commonly made with the lighter � uid, butane, which can cause irreversible brain dam-age when inhaled.

EXPLOSIONS, LUNG DISEASE AND THE UNKNOWN…THE SCARY TRUTH

Aside from the damaging and addictive e� ects of nicotine and the potential harm from vaping marijuana, vaping devices them-selves may pose serious dangers to smokers. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, devices have been known to overheat, catch � re and explode, causing severe burns and even missing teeth.

And there are more potential

hazards: � e vapor-producing liquid or “vape juice” is known to contain a chemical called benzene – an active ingredient in car exhaust. One vape � avoring in particular, known as diacetyl, is linked to a potentially fatal lung disease called “popcorn lung.” When inhaled, diacetyl is known to cause in� amma-tion and scarring of the lung’s smallest airways, leading to a progressively worse dry cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue and even death. Experts are calling for “urgent action” to evaluate exposure to diacetyl and other � avoring compounds in e-cigarettes.

While there has been no case of a patient with a disease directly linked to vaping, Dr. Stumacher believes it’s still too early to � nd one. Now factor in recent evidence that clearly proves adolescent vaping leads to cigarette use. Make no mistake, this is a looming health crisis. Ten to 20 years from now, this is going to get really ugly.

Until last year when a law was enacted to stop retailers from selling e-cigarettes to youth

Enough with the E-Pu�

DR. RICHARD STUMACHER

GUEST CORNER

SEE E-PUFF PAGE 24


BY STEPHANIE GOMMEGUEST COLUMNIST

As children develop, there are impor-tant pillars in their lives that shape who they become.

� ese pillars are the ones who hold them at night during a thunderstorm, convince them to eat broccoli and � nd socks in random places in their home: the caregivers, the providers, the parents.

As parents and caregivers, you may feel pressure to be perfect, but parenting can be overwhelming. Unrealistic expecta-tions of yourself and a lack of support can create days of unrelieved stress, which can ultimately result in an incon-sistent structure and routine for you and your family.

When you are burnt out you can become exhausted, su� er headaches and become less likely to appropriately deal with situations. What were once easy tasks become challenging as you are overworked and overwhelmed. Combine that with children who need your care, and you can � nd yourself in a stressed household. All of a sudden, the norm becomes being late for work or school, forgetting personal needs or school projects, and being unable to plan for yourself or your child.

Have you ever looked at your week and asked “How will I do this?” or been exhausted for the � fth day in a row with

no sign of a break? � en you are on the verge of being burnt out. Even though you are a caregiver, you are also an indi-vidual. You are allowed to take breaks, your home is allowed to be cluttered for a few days, and you are allowed to ask for help.

When you are faced with stress, as a parent and a person, you need to under-stand realistic expectations for yourself. Stop writing “to-do” lists that are impos-sible! Don’t assume you can neglect your basic needs because you don’t have time. When you care for yourself, you are then available to experience all your child has to o� er. Children need parents who are healthy and mentally de-stressed, and who can help them successfully manage their problems.

Know your limits as a parent. Your child can be throwing a tantrum and you may feel obligated to react immediately. Ask yourself, “Am I calm right now?” When a person is aggravated and has reached his or her limit, it is di� cult to have patience and show understanding, meaning it will be di� cult to e� ectively parent a child. You are allowed to give yourself a time-out from the situation. Ask a family member, friend or spouse to help you. Sometimes a new person enter-ing a stressful situation can defuse it.

Walk away. Whether your child is

� e ‘perfect’ parent

Sni� es, sore throat, fever and aches and pains may accompany a number of illnesses, but during the wintertime such symptoms are typically indicative of in-� uenza.

� roughout much of North America, � u season peaks between December and February. But � u season can occur any-where from October to March, advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. � e � u is contagious and can sideline people for extended periods of time. � e CDC says that each year one in � ve Americans gets the � u.

Taking steps to fend o� the � u can help men and women and the people they rou-tinely come in contact with.

FOODSFood can be used to fend o� the � u.

Common foods that many people already have in their pantries can be powerful � u-� ghters. Garlic, for example, contains compounds that have direct antiviral ef-fects and may help destroy the � u before it a� ects the body. Raw garlic is best. In addition to garlic, citrus fruits, ginger, yogurt and dark leafy greens can boost immunity and � ght the � u, according to Mother Nature’s Network. � e Brit-ish Journal of Nutrition notes that dark chocolate supports T-helper cells, which

increase the immune system’s ability to defend against infection.

A study published in the American Journal of � erapeutics showed that car-nosine, a compound found in chicken soup, can help strengthen the body’s im-mune system and help � ght o� the � u in its early stages.

FLU SHOT AND MEDICATIONSAnnual � u shots administered in ad-

vance of � u season can help protect peo-ple and their families from getting the � u. � e U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that, in select situations, antiviral medications — which are usually pre-scribed to treat the � u and lessen symp-toms — can reduce the chance of illness in people exposed to in� uenza.

Many over-the-counter medicines can alleviate symptoms of the � u, but cannot fend it o� .

STOP GERM PROLIFERATIONGerms can be spread easily between

persons through direct contact and indi-rect contact with surfaces sick individu-als have touched. Doctors recommend staying home for at least 24 hours after a � u-induced fever has dissipated. Well

Flu-fi ghting tips to keep you and others healthy

SEE PARENTS PAGE 24 SEE TIPS PAGE 25

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under age 18, vaping devices were completely unregulated. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorizes e-cigs as a tobacco product, while noting that regulation of these products does not mean they are safe to use.

� ere’s no reason any of our youth should be vaping, but they are. It’s rampant in our schools and a whole generation of ad-dicts is being created. It’s impor-tant for parents to discourage the trend. Don’t buy these products for your kids. Make sure your children aren’t purchasing them online; it’s easy to click ‘over 18’ and have the products sent di-rectly to your home. Learn about the dangers and start the con-versation about vaping. Finally, set a positive example by being tobacco and e-cig-free yourself.

Richard Stumacher, MD, is chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital, which has made it a policy to educate the hospital community about vaping (aka. E-cigarettes, Juuling). Between 2011 and 2015, the U.S. Surgeon General found vaping, or e-cigarette use, among high school students increased by 900 percent, with more teens now using e-cigarettes than cigarettes. � e Community Health, Education and Outreach Department, in collaboration with Dr. Richard Stumacher, Dr. Jim Dwyer and Director of the Emergency Department, Kristen Lawton, is coordinating programs throughout the Northern Westchester community. Educators are providing in-class and assembly presentations in area school districts. � eir physicians are presenting to PTA groups and community organizations.

E-PUFF FROM PAGE 21

an infant or a teenager, during a stressful situation, ensure your child is safe and take a � ve min-ute break to calm down. Inap-propriate discipline spawns from frustration and anger. If your infant is crying even though he or she has been changed, fed, and clothed appropriately, make sure he or she is in a safe space, and then take a few minutes to

breathe. Sometimes coming back to the situation calmer can create a better environment.

Did your teenager just slam their door in your face? If you are not prepared to have a discussion, put a “pause” on the discipline. Let them know he or she acted inappropriately and you will talk later. You are still modeling discipline but you are giving both parties time to re� ect—a great coping skill to teach.

Ask for help. If you and your

spouse are having di� culty com-municating, voice your concerns and create a plan. Reach out to friends and family for extra sup-port. Partner with your child’s school or daycare so they can better assist your child; some facilities have before and after care as well as homework help. Community resources can aid parents who are struggling, such as afterschool or weekend pro-grams that can provide you and your child an appropriate “break”

from one another. If you feel that more support is needed, there are behavioral health services available at community agencies that can provide counseling for you, your child and your family.

As a parent, you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be there for yourself so you can be there for your family. Know yourself, know your children and know what’s appropriate and realistic for your family.

Stephanie Gomme is a Parent Partner in the Family Empowerment Program at CoveCare Center in Carmel. CoveCare Center partners with individuals, families and the community to foster hope, wellness and recovery, and to restore quality of life by addressing mental health needs, substance use, and social and emotional issues. For more information, visit CoveCareCenter.org or call 845-225-2700.

PARENTS FROM PAGE 22

Advertising DeadlineThe advertising deadline for Mahopac News is the Thursday before the next publication date. Advertisements can be submitted by you as a camera-ready PDF via email at [email protected]. We also offer our clients a free ad design service. For more information, call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151.

HEALTH & WELLNESS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 25THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

HQPH4444_PHC_BreastCancer_Revised_Mahopac_Somers_FINAL.indd Mohapac News/Somers

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individuals should avoid contact with sick people.

Frequent hand-washing with soap and water can stop germs from spreading. When soap and water is not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can help. People also should avoid touch-ing their eyes, noses and mouths after being in public places or around someone who is ill.

REST AND RESTORE�ose who feel symptoms

coming on should begin drinking more liquids to keep the respira-tory system hydrated and make mucus less viscous. Remember to get adequate sleep, as a tired body cannot e�ectively �ght the �u virus.

People of all ages should take steps to protect themselves from the �u.

�is article is provided by Metro Creative Connection.

TIPS FROM PAGE 22

BY ALAN D. FELLERGUEST COLUMNIST

I have �ve pictures of my daughter on my desk.

Two are baby pictures, one photo is from a dance recital when she was a toddler, and the remaining two were taken in school. �is morning, I did more than just glance at the older of the two school photos. I studied it. My daughter looked so young, much younger than I expected after a few years of catching glances at that particu-lar photo. She is growing up, but her expectations (at this point) of me is to be a good daddy and not screw up the snack situation. I am told things will change when she becomes a teenager.

Family estate planning is usually centered around parents’ expectations for their children. More times than not, adult children are categorized by their parents as being “good” or “bad.”

“Good” children call and visit their parents often. “Bad” chil-dren broke o� communication or asked for money too many times. Previous generations have treated estate planning as a one-sided exercise, rewarding the “good” child and punish-ing the “bad.” With the gift of longer life comes the caregiv-ing component, which instead of cementing a parent’s role as benefactor, often places them in a dependent position. �is has bugged me for years.

“Good” and “bad” does exist in families and can be spotted very quickly by a professional.

But sometimes these de�nitions do not re�ect an objective reality and can back�re when estate planning turns into long-term care.

Should adult children have expectations for their parents? I think so. Parents should aim to take care of themselves physi-cally and mentally so as not to burden their families unneces-sarily. Parents should make an e�ort to prepare their advance directives and estate planning documents. Parents should maintain and organize �nancial records responsibly. Parents should share important and relevant information with their children. Leaving a mess to your children may be your right, but it is a lousy thing to do.

What about a parent’s role as an active grandparent? Do adult children have a right to expect their parents take on an active role as grandparents and second-ary caregivers to their grandchil-dren? Probably not. However, families with long traditions of babysitting grandparents will not look kindly on the generation of a grandparent that breaks with tradition. A “good” child calls and visits. A “good” parent is an active and caring grandparent. �ese are simplistic renderings, but these de�nitions impact both ends of the estate planning and long-term care spectrum.

Does a parent have any �nancial obligation to their adult children? No. A parent that has the means and inclination can boost an adult child’s resources, but there should not be an ex-

pectation of �nancial assistance. As with grandparenting, families with a tradition of older gen-erations helping younger gen-erations �nancially will have to address this issue more carefully.

We know that really “good” and really “bad” exist in families. Most of us fall somewhere in

the middle, hopefully closer to the “good” side. A key to proper estate and long-term care plan-ning is to recognize each fam-ily member’s expectations and understand that these expecta-tions do not live in a vacuum. Rendering judgment is built into the estate and long-term

care planning process. Always remember that judgment �ows in both directions.

Alan D. Feller, Esq., can be contacted at 845-621-8640. For more information, visit sloanandfeller.com.

Rendering judgment in a family �ows in both directions


HEALTH & WELLNESS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 26THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

Andrea Kropf, O.D.

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January 27thEstate Planning & Elder Care Law

BY SKIP PEARLMANCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Northern Westchester Hos-pital, along with a number of community partners, recently hosted its annual � ree Kings Day holiday party, welcoming members of the community to a celebration that re� ects the hospital’s commitment to the area Latino population.

� e free event, which has been held for over a decade, in-cluded breakfast and Christmas carols, and children received presents from the � ree Kings, played by area high school stu-dents.

� e holiday is celebrated all over the world, but is especially popular in Spain and in Latin American countries. � ree Kings Day, also known as the Feast of Epiphany, is repre-sented in the Bible by the Magi who come to worship baby Je-sus.

Ninety-� ve children were pre-registered, and over 120 area families attended the event.

A group of musicians from Manhattanville College pro-vided entertainment, but the main event was the smiles on the faces of the children.

“� is is a wonderful event for the community and the Hispanic population,” said Dr.

Peter Richel, chief of pediat-rics. “� e children come and actually receive a gift from one of the kings, representative of one of the Magi that visited the manger. In many cultures this is very important, perhaps even more important than Christ-mas Day.

“� e kids dress up, and they come up one at a time when their name is called - after feasting on cookies and milk of course,” Richel added. “� ey come up and receive a gift from the king, and the king’s scribe. � e time and talent is donated by local volunteers, these kings and scribes are high school young men and ladies, and they gave up their time freely to serve others who perhaps don’t have as many gifts as other population here in suburban New York.”

Dr. Richel said the Latino community has embraced the event.

“� e response has been over-whelming,” he said. “� ey’re very, very appreciative. � ey love that the hospital takes the time at a community event to reach out to them, to bring them in for a day of joy after the holi-days. Hanukkah and Christmas have passed, so they really look forward to this greatly, the re-sponse is tremendous, they just really appreciate it.”

Hospital celebrates Three Kings Day with Latino community

PHOTO: SKIP PEARLMANSmiling children pose with their families after receiving gifts from the Three Kings and their Scribes at Northern Westchester Hospital’s Three Kings day holiday celebration.


SportsSportsMAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 27THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

BY DOMINICK DEPOLECONTRIBUTING WRITER

Making quite the splash this past week, Mahopac’s boys bas-ketball team not only notched two league victories on the road, but also won two straight games for the �rst time this season.

“We’re starting to pick up mo-mentum and guys are starting to play with a lot more con�dence,” Mahopac coach Matt Simone said. “�e key tonight was that we had a ton of contributions o� the bench.”

A 64-51 triumph at the over-matched Carmel Rams was the Indians’ most recent victory as they outdid the Rams in nearly every facet to maintain a constant lead behind senior Shane Loos’ 24 points o� six three-pointers.

“I just wanted to win—that was the biggest thing,” Loos said. “I know that when I shoot and I get hot, I can make a lot of shots. We were hustling the entire time and were not getting out-rebounded. We were also lock-down on defense, and when we do that, we can win every game.”

Zach Puckhaber hooked up with Loos on a long inbound pass from midcourt for a contest-ed layup just before the halftime buzzer to pump the bench up and send the Indians into the locker room with a 32-20 lead.

Early in the third quarter, se-nior point guard Justin Parker got loose in transition and nailed a three-pointer to put Mahopac comfortably in front, 36-20.

Late in the third, Parker swung a pass to Kenny Perna in the cor-ner as he rattled home another triple that gave the Indians a 43-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“Justin (Parker) did a great job of getting to the paint,” Simone said. “When he is constantly able to beat his guy o� the dribble, the defense has to help and he did a great job �nding those guys.”

But the Rams heated up from downtown as well and wouldn’t go down without a �ght on their home court, cutting Mahopac’s edge to 53-45 with four minutes remaining.

‘Pac kicked back into high-gear from there, as senior center Ryan Dugan drove baseline and hooked around for a tough layup to give the Indians a 12-point lead a minute later.

“We did well on the boards and everybody was crashing,” Dugan

said. “Our interior was very good this game; they (the Rams) didn’t score much in the paint. �ese league games are huge for us and we’re looking to keep the mo-

mentum going.”Carmel continued to score

from the outside, but had no an-swers defensively as it resorted to a press. It wasn’t a problem

for Parker, who sliced through from end to end before netting an acrobatic lay-in. �at gave Mahopac a 60-48 lead with two minutes left.

Parker hit two free throws on the next possession and the In-dian defense played strong from

Loos cannon: Senior unloads for career-high in win over CarmelIndians �nd groove in two straight league victories

Shane Loos kicks out a pass. Kenny Perna goes up for a shot in a crowd.

Ryan Dugan shoots a corner three in the waning seconds of the first quarter.

PHOTOS: DEENA BELL Mahopac’s Justin Parker drives to the hoop.

SEE BOYS HOOPS PAGE 30

SPORTSPAGE 28 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

BY ROB DIANTONIOSPORTS EDITOR

It was a tight-knit a� air when Mahopac’s gymnastics team faced o� with perennially strong Clarkstown.

Clarkstown edged the host Indians, 169.2-167.55, at Lakeview Elementary School on Jan. 18. Scarsdale also competed and rang up 129.4 points.

“A good team e� ort. We came up a little short today to a very good Clarkstown team,” Mahopac coach Vin Collins said.

Callie Johanson was � rst in three out of the four events but took second in the all-around to Clarkstown’s Alexa Henshaw.

Johanson won the vault (9.0) and uneven bars (9.15) outright and tied for � rst in the � oor exercise (9.5) with Henshaw. She was � fth in the balance beam (8.45).

Eighth-grader Lia Graap was right behind Johanson in third for the all-around (34.8). She was third in the bars (8.55) and beam (8.95) and fourth in the � oor (9.1). She took � fth in the vault. “Lia keeps improving—her best all-around of the season.”

Sydney Hughes was sixth all-around with a 33.3. Her top performance came in the beam where she took second (9.35). She also was

fourth in the vault (8.35).Indian Julie Santoiemma was sixth in the

bars with a 7.5. “Julie keeps improving on bars,” Collins noted. “Today was one of her best rou-tines of the season.”

Mahopac placed � rst out of eight teams in the FDR/Katie Filiberti Invitational on Jan. 15. � e Indians posted 171.275 team points with Saratoga taking second (168.525).

“A very competitive meet; our gymnasts rose to the challenge,” Collins said. “A terri� c team e� ort. I’m proud of all of our gymnasts.”

Johanson was victorious in the all-around with 37.050. She was � rst in the � oor (9.575), beam (9.225) and vault (9.325), while � nishing second in the bars (8.925). “Callie had a great meet today—solid in every event,” Collins said.

Graap was fourth in the all-around (33.575) with Jamison Castrataro taking � fth (33.35). Castrataro was � fth in the vault (8.55) while Graap was sixth in both the vault (8.425) and bars.

Chloe Lee won the bars with an 8.95 and was sixth in the beam (8.8). Hughes � nished � fth in the bars (7.875).

“Chloe had a great set on bars today as did Sydney, Julie Santoiemma and Lia,” Collins said. “Some of the best routines of the season.”

Indians drop tight match with Clarkstown

Mahopac wins FDR/Katie Filiberti Gymnastics Invitational

Lia Graap focuses in the balance beam.

Sarah Citarella fl ips in the balance beam.

Julie Santoiemma competes in the bars.

Chloe Lee performs her uneven bars routine.

PHOTOS: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL

Indian Alex Porcelli fl ies off the vault as coach Vin Collins looks on.

SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 29THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018


�e true character of an ice hockey team is displayed when it faces a challenge in a close game in the third period.

Mahopac rose to the oc-casion and pulled out a 4-3 win over Horace Greeley on �ursday, Jan. 18, at Brewster Ice Arena.

“We never really get rattled in close games,” senior captain Gianfranco Pulice said. “We’re really good at keeping our composure and battling hard.”

Michael Truschelli, who �n-ished with two goals, netted the game winner with just 3:48 left in the third period.

“Late in the game, you have to seize your opportunity,” Truschelli said. “Going hard to the net paid o� as Gianfranco sauced (a pass) back door for a quick one-timer.”

John Dignam and Brian O’Shea netted the other goals for the Indians, who led 2-1 heading into the third period.

“When you’re watching the clock run down, it helps when everyone on the team digs a little deeper,” Truschelli said. “We all knew what had to be done, so we went out there and played good Mahopac team hockey to get the win.”

Logan McDougall came up with some key saves in the third period to preserve the win. “He’s been playing really well all season,” Pulice said of McDougall. “He’s come up big for us a number of times.”

�e Indians peppered the net for 59 shots in a 7-1 win over Mount Pleasant on Jan. 21 at BIA. �ey led 6-1 after two periods.

Pulice paced Mahopac with two goals and two assists. Dig-nam added a goal and two as-sists. Truschelli, Dundon, San-toro and Ryan Caraher scored a goal apiece. Caraher’s tally was his �rst varsity goal.

�e Indians (11-5) are scheduled to face rival Carmel in their senior game at 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, at BIA. Two nights later they’ll host Sleepy Hollow/Irvington at 6:30 p.m. at the same venue.

Truschelli bags game winner vs. Greeley

Mahopac lights up scoreboard in 7-1 win over Mt. Pleasant

Mahopac celebrates Michael Truschelli’s third-period goal in

win over Greeley.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK BETANCOURT

Contact UsMahopac News is located at Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can contact us at 914-302-5830 or email [email protected].

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BY SKIP PEARLMANCONTRIBUTING WRITER

�e Mahopac High girls bas-ketball team split its two games last week, topping Arlington, 58-44, on �ursday, before drop-ping a 51-40 decision to visiting Yorktown on Saturday.

Against the Huskers, the In-dians (6-5) got o� to a slow start and found themselves in a 17-4 hole at the end of the �rst quarter. Yorktown led 25-16 at halftime, and 35-24 at the end of three.

Kat Severino led the Huskers (5-8) with 23 points. Mackenzie Merson added 15 points.

“We didn’t come out ready to play.” Indians coach Chuck Scozzafava said. “�ey out-hus-tled us, they outworked us, we weren’t making our shots. And defensively I don’t know what happened to us. �at’s not the way we’re supposed to play de-fense. And they killed us on the boards.

“�ings that we’ve been doing well for the �rst 10 games, we did not do well today,”.

�e coach pointed to a few strong performances.

“Claire [Felix] did a nice job o�ensively,” he said. “Siob-han [Hynes] had another good game—it’s just that there was no consistency. O�ensively we weren’t consistent, and defen-sively we were awful. But I give some credit to Yorktown—they came in and outworked us.”

In the prior �ursday’s win over Arlington, Hynes led Ma-hopac with 21 points, Katrina Klammer added 11 points, Zina McInerney had nine and Shan-non Becker had seven.

“�at was a great win, we played well,” Scozzafava said. “A little di�erent from today (vs. Yorktown). We were prepared to play. We moved the ball well, played good defense and con-trolled the boards. We took ad-vantage of some turnovers, and we didn’t turn the ball over. Our defense was a lot more intense.”

With his team sitting a game over the .500 mark, Scozzafava said Mahopac has played well so far, but could be doing even bet-ter without mistakes.

“I would have liked to be a little bit better than we are right now,” the veteran coach said. “We lost a couple of games early that I felt we should have won. I think our record should be at least two or three wins more. We gave a game away in Ma-maroneck, we gave a game away in Mount Vernon, so we had a couple of games where we didn’t do what we needed to do.”

Scozzafava was asked about his keys for success down the �-nal stretch of regular season play.

“We’ve got to get the o�ense to start executing,” Scozzafava said. “We’ve got to start moving the ball. Defensively, we have to get back to playing defense the way we were taught. And we’ve got to get back on the boards.”

Mahopac splits in girls hoopsIndians defeat Arlington but fall to Yorktown

Mahopac coach Chuck Scozzafava and the Indians are 6-5 with a few weeks to go in the season.

Mahopac’s Siobhan Hynes boxes out Mackenzie Merson of Yorktown Saturday at Mahopac.

PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMANCaitlyn Boyle of Mahopac looks to go up for two.

there to take home the big win. Loos played like an all-around

star in a game for which the Ma-niacs had traveled well. Parker chalked up 19 points and Du-gan had seven. Perna and Simon Shkoza both scored six points and Mike Argila had two.

“Shane played an unbeliev-able game,” Simone said. “He is the best shooter we have on the team. We’ve been telling him all season, ‘when you get in the game, we want you to catch the ball and shoot it.’ A lot of times he hesitated throughout the year and tonight he did what we asked. When he plays with that con�dence, it brings us to an-

other level.”All of the excitement was pre-

ceded by another huge victory at league rival Arlington, 58-40 on Saturday, Jan. 13.

Parker stepped up once again with 20 points and Dugan scored 15 as Mahopac controlled the Admirals. Reahl Allen penciled 10 points and Perna scored eight.

But the Indians’ league-streak ended on Friday when Ketcham came to town and handed Ma-hopac a 55-50 defeat.

Parker had another 20-point game, while Loos scored 10 points. Dugan produced eight points in the setback.

“It just dates back to my work ethic,” Parker said when asked about his consistency. “I practice a lot and it just carries over into

the games.”Mahopac dropped another

home game to Horace Greeley, 68-52 on Saturday. �e match was tied going into the fourth quarter before the Quakers ran away with it.

Perna led the Indians with 14 points and Dugan had 13. Parker �nished with 11 points.

Mahopac (6-7) will meet Hen-drick Hudson in the consolation game of the Somers Tournament on Saturday at noon.

“For us, it’s about consistency,” Dugan said. “We’ve shown in games like [the ones] against Su�ern and Arlington that we can be a great team. We just have to buy in defensively and play tough. If we can do that, we can go on a big win streak.”

BOYS HOOPSFROM PAGE 27

PHOTO: DEENA BELLThe Mahopac Maniacs can’t contain their excitement in the fourth quarter.

SPORTS MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 31THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

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Four Mahopac wrestlers went unbeaten and the Indians went 4-0 at the Staples Duals in Con-necticut on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Despite still missing four key starters in Frankie Scauzillo, Andi Berisha, Tom Mahoney and Joe Harney, the Indians thrived.

“Other wrestlers stepped up and had big days,” Mahopac coach Dennis DiSanto said. “What this tournament showed is that we have a lot of depth and I can pull wrestlers up from JV and they can win on varsity. We wrestled well, were aggressive and on the attack. I like going out of the section because it gives us dif-ferent looks. So far we traveled to Long island, Section 2 (Albany) and now to Connecticut. Hope-fully we are peaking at the right time and can take this momen-tum into our last three matches and into the postseason.”

� e grapplers who went 4-0 were Aidan Muldoon (106 pounds), Xander Smith (126),

Tyler Roa (138) and Mike Rivera (220).

A.J. Watts (113), Kevin Bu-nyea (120), Larry Nardecchia (132) and Christian Brito (152) each went 3-1.

“I am especially impressed by Kevin Bunyea and Larry Nardec-chia,” DiSanto said. “Kevin hasn’t wrestled in three years and he has done an outstanding job this year, � lling out the 120-pound spot and right now he is 18-14. Kevin has great technique, is quick and wrestles with a lot of heart. You can never count him out. Larry is another surprise. It is only his second year of wrestling and last year he didn’t win one JV match all season. He is currently 17-12 and just continues to improve and surprise us. He is strong, keeps moving and stays in posi-tion. You would never know he is a second-year wrestler.”

Mahopac will host the Peter Caruso Mahopac Tournament with 18 teams competing on Jan. 27. Wrestling begins at 8 a.m.

Local teams include Somers, Yorktown, Putnam Valley, Car-

mel, Byram Hills, Peekskill, Our Lady of Lourdes and Roy C. Ketcham. � e tournament welcomes Long Island’s Center Moriches and Smithtown East, Section 9’s Middletown, Pine Bush and Rondout Valley, Sec-

tion 2’s Greenville and Guilder-land, New Jersey’s Saint Joseph Regional and Connecticut’s Darien.

� e Peter Caruso Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded three new scholarships in 2017 for a

total of 18 scholarships in the six years since Caruso’s passing. All scholarship winners continue to build on Caruso’s and Mahopac’s legacy of friendship, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Mahopac goes unbeaten at Staples DualsIndians to host Peter Caruso Tournament on Jan. 27

FILE PHOTOMahopac’s Andi Berisha went 4-0 at the Staples Duals.


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Mahopac senior Tom Mahoney is a team captain and competes at 170 pounds on the varsity wrestling team.


How old were you when you started wrestling and how did you get started?

I have been wrestling since I was 10 years old. My parents registered me for Mahopac Youth Wrestling, without me knowing. I have been doing it and loving it since then.

What are your individual goals for the rest of the season? What about team goals?

My individual goals are to stay healthy for sectionals and hopefully win sectionals this sea-

son, since it’s my last year with Mahopac. As a team, I would like the same. I’d like everyone to stay healthy, so we can qualify many wrestlers for sectionals and have a big presence.

As a senior captain, how do you see your role on the team, and how much do you value being a team leader?

I feel that my team looks up to me and depends on me. I always try to lead by example. I love being captain, but it doesn’t separate me from my teammates.

What is your favorite team activity, pre-match or post-match ritual that you share with your teammates?

My favorite team activity is o� the mats and after matches, when we go out to eat and get fat.

Who has been your biggest role model over the years and what have you learned from them?

My biggest role model is probably my mom. I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter who you are in this world, everyone can accomplish the same things be-cause no one person is any better than any other.

Tell us one thing about yourself that not a lot of people know?

People may know this, but some may not. Some of the best times I have had is spending time with my family.

Do you know what you want to study in college? If yes, what and why?

In college, I would like to

study criminal justice. Ever since I was younger, I had a fascination with being a cop or someone in law enforcement.

Name your favorite profes-sional athlete and pro or college sports team?

Derek Jeter. He’s a great role model and captain. My favorite team is the New York Giants.

What is your favorite music to listen to warming up for a match?

I don’t have any favorite music to listen to before matches. I just try to � nd music that gets me pumped up.

If you could have one super-power, what would it be and why?

It would probably be to run really fast to make weight after eating whatever I want.

If you could pick one place to visit on vacation that you’ve never been to, where would you go and why?

It would have to be either Italy or Ireland because of my heritage.

What is your favorite food to eat before or after a match?

De� nitely peanut butter and jelly before a match. After a match, probably mac and cheese.

Best place to eat in Mahopac and why?

� ere are a lot of good places to eat in Mahopac. It really de-pends on what I’m in the mood for.

Facebook, Twitter or Insta-gram? Why?

Instagram, because that’s what everyone my age is using. Face-book is for, like, older people.

For a young athlete growing up in Mahopac, what would you tell them about the experience of being part of the wrestling program and why should they go out for the team?

I would tell them to go out for wrestling because you don’t have to depend on anyone else. It teaches you how to win, lose and be humble. People will also not mess around with you, knowing that you wrestle.

Senior grappler looks to close career strong

FILE PHOTOIndian Tom Mahoney goes for the takedown at the Yorktown tournament this season.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT - TOM MAHONEY


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LINE COOKS NEEDED. Two positions available. Some cooking experience required. Must live in Mahopac or Carmel. Must speak Spanish. Call 845-621-3333.

Buying Diamonds, gold, silver, antique and modern jewelry, better furs, U.S. and foreign coins, paintings, bronzes, complete estates. Highest prices paid. Call 914-260-8783 for appointment.

CLASSIFIEDSPAGE 34 – MAHOPAC NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

ORDER ON OUR ONLINESTORE AND PICKUP LO CALLY!

BEST PRICES IN THE AREA!

PICKUP HOURSBY APPOINTMENT

ONLY!

[email protected]

1928 Commerce St, Suite CYorktown Heights, NY 10598

NRA Basic Pistol/Personal ProtectionUTAH Concealed Firearms CoursePrivate LessonsPermit AssistanceRefuse To Be A Victim™Group and Private Classes

Gun Sales & AmmunitionGun AccessoriesFFL Services & Transfers

914-455-4210Putnam Humane Society, Old Rt. 6, Carmel; 845-225-7777 www.puthumane.org; Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Flower: Flower is an adorable Bull Dog mix who is fun to be around. She is a goofy, funny dog. What a wonderful companion for some lucky family!

Southerland: Southerland is an absolutely beautiful long hair Tabby who is very shy.

Our staff and volunteers are working to make her feel

more confident. She really would do well in a patient,

quiet, loving home

Putnam Humane Society

Don’t miss Valentine’s Day photos! SAT., DEC. 9 11-4, FEED BARN,

MAHOPAC

*Free Vehicle/Boat Pickup ANYWHERE*We Accept All Vehicles Running or Not*Fully Tax Deductible

* Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. To learn more about our programsor financial information, visit www.wheelsforwishes.org.

WheelsForWishes.orgCall: (914) 468-4999

Make-A-Wish®

Hudson Valley

Benefiting

Wheels For Wishes

DONATE YOUR CAR


WHY DO WE

ADVERTISE

IN HALSTON

MEDIA’S

LOCAL

NEWSPAPERS?

I like to support local businesses and over the years they have been, by far, the best way to cover the tight knit communities they serve. My ads are seen by thousands and are an integral part of my marketing efforts. The crew at Halston Media is a pleasure to work with.

~Mike Trinchitella Re/Max Classic Realty

TO ADVERTISE WITH US, CALL BRETT FREEMAN AT (845) 208-8151

APARPRPUBLICITY WITH PERSONALITY

Public Rela� ons For...Businesses | Individuals | Organiza� ons | Events

Your Message Is Our Mission

Leave Your Message Here...(914) 275-6887 | bruceaparpr@ gmail.com

BRUCE APAR

Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). Resorts World Catskills is an equal opportunity employer.

GET DEALT IN ON AN EXCITING CAREER.

For details, visit RWCATSKILLS.COM.

Become part of our team.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A WETLAND PERMIT

Date: 01/19/18TAX MAP #55.14-1-11.3

PURSUANT TO THE TOWN OF CARMEL WETLAND ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 89-5.

Applicant: Pulte Homes of New York, LLC.

Address: 150 Allen Road, Suite 303, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Has led an application with the Clerk of the Town of Carmel where the application and associ-ated documents and maps along with published rules and regula-tions are available for public in-spection.

THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT A PERMIT BE ISSUED:

Pulte Homes, Lot #5 Senior Housing received an amended site plan approval on Septem-ber 25, 2013 from the Planning Board for 20 single family cot-tage units on the north of Lot #5. � e three (3) manor homes on the south were already con-structed. � e site plan grading, at the north of the site is within 100 feet of a drainage channel.

� ere is grading necessary within the 100 foot bu� er in order to grade for the build-ing site, site utilities, road and pocket park. � e area of distur-bance is approximately 20,000 square feet and approximately 2,000 cubic yards of ¡ ll. � e area will be landscaped, graded and have a walking path. � ere are no buildings within the buf-fer zone.

� ere will be tree plantings within the wetland bu� er as remediation for trees that have been previously cut down.

Situated within the periphery of a fresh water wetland and the “adjacent areas”. (100 feet of the wetlands associated with) Cross-es northwest portion of lot.

� e property is located: Ter-race Drive, Lot #5, Carmel, NY 10512

In the Town of Carmel, Put-nam County, New York.

Any person interested in this application who wishes to be-come a “party in interest” in this proceeding must le a statement of the precise grounds of support of, or opposition to, or interest in the application, with the under-

signed no later than February 28, 2018. Any party in interest will be eligible to be heard if a public hearing is ultimately held in con-nection with application.

Robert LagaChairman, Environmental

Conservation Board

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALSNOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

EN that sealed proposals will be received at the O� ce of the Town Clerk of the Town of Car-mel, Town Hall, 60 McAlpin Av-enue, Mahopac, New York 10541 until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday the 27th day of February, 2018 for the following:

SYCAMORE PARK CONCESSION STAND OPERATOR

All proposers must comply with Section l03-a and l03-d of the General Municipal Law re-lating to non-collusive bidding and waiver of immunity against criminal prosecution.

Proposal documents may be obtained at the o� ce of the Town Clerk at the above address, beginning January 25, 2018 be-tween the hours of 8:30 a.m. and

4:30 p.m. Monday through Fri-day.

Proposal envelopes shall be marked “PROPOSAL” plus pro-posal title.

� e Town Board of the Town of Carmel reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and re-advertise at a future date.

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF

CARMEL,ANN SPOFFORD, TOWN

CLERK

Your ad could be here.

Call Brett Freeman at 845-208-8151 to fi nd out how.

LEGAL NOTICES


G E R A L D I N E “ G I G I ” F I N A NAssociate Real Estate BrokerYorktown BrokerageM [email protected]

7 0 3 E A S T M A I N S T R E E T ( R O U T E 6 & 6 N ) , J E F F E R S O N VA L L E Y H O U L I H A N L A W R E N C E . C O M

Presenting a Selection of Gigi Finan’s 2017 Real Estate SalesThe “right market” is today’s market.Every home is different. I can offer an accurate value for selling your home in today’s market. Reach out today for a free, no-obligation home value estimate.

CO N N EC T W IT H G I G I TO DAY TO E X P LO R E YO U R O P T I O N S .

CARMEL46 Fini Drive

CARMEL128 Highview

CARMEL49 Salem Ridge Road

CARMEL30 Stebbins Road

MAHOPAC26 Radnor Lane

MAHOPAC48 Memory

MAHOPAC32 Mc Nair Drive

MAHOPAC95 Union Valley Road

MAHOPAC34 Birch Drive

MAHOPAC481 Union Valley Road

MAHOPAC14 Ashley Road

MAHOPAC6 Kia Ora Boulevard

MAHOPAC71 Scout Hill Road

MAHOPAC312 Barrett Hill Road

MAHOPAC63 Bloomer Road

MAHOPAC17 Blueberry Hill Road

MAHOPAC29 Boniello Drive

MAHOPAC1036 Route 6

MAHOPAC39 Maple Hill Drive

MAHOPAC402 Woodsbrook Drive

MAHOPAC402 Williamsburg Drive

MAHOPAC6 Kia Ora Boulevard

MAHOPAC4 Marina Drive

MAHOPAC141-F2 East Lake Boulevard

will take over the post on feb. 26 · e board appointed mahopac native anthony dicarlo as the next...

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