Archive for February, 2012
Governor to Explore Turning Tappan Zee into a Park
It’s been more than a decade since the idea of turning the current Tappan Zee Bridge into a park and walkway was first brought up. Last week, the prospect took a significant step towards becoming a reality as Gov. Andrew Cuomo called it “exciting” and said his administration would be exploring whether such a park [...]
Tax Cap May Ax JV Sports at Carmel High School
By Sara Dunn If the Carmel Central School District is to keep spending within the confines dictated by the new state-imposed tax levy cap, all freshman and junior varsity sports programs at Carmel High School will be shuttered for the 2012-2013 school year and potentially further into the future. While school districts state-wide all are [...]
DOT Not Going Forward With 125 Foot Towers
A Department of Transportation project that would have put seven 125-foot towers throughout the Saw Mill Parkway and that generated rigorous opposition is not going forward. The announcement was made in a statement released tonight by State DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald following a meeting with Assemblyman Robert Castelli. “Since 2005, the New York State Department of Transportation [...]
Missing Mahopac Girl Found Alive and Safe
The search for Jade Pelletier, a 13-year-old Mahopac girl, who has been missing since Feb.19, is over according to her family. “My granddaughter Jade has been found!!!! [sic],” her grandmother Mary Ellen Colontonio posted on Facebook. “She is well, safe and sound and with a relative now.” Authorities believe that Pelletier was traveling with Gian [...]
Residents, Officials Continue Fight Against DOT Towers
Pleasantville residents have mobilized to fight the state Department of Transportation’s efforts to build 125-foot telecommunications towers along the Saw Mill River Parkway. Last Wednesday, residents gathered at Starbucks on Memorial Plaza to try and make the public aware of the proposed project. On Sunday, a meeting was organized by concerned residents at the Mount [...]
Times Square Hero to Run for 19th Congressional District
By Martin Wilbur The street vendor who helped thwart a May 1, 2010, Times Square terrorist scare officially announced Monday morning he is joining the race for the Democratic nomination in the 19th Congressional District. Duane Jackson, an 18-year Village of Buchanan resident, is the fourth Democrat to join the fray in hopes of taking [...]
Gillibrand: Infrastructure and Tax Reform are Key for Recovery
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D- Brunswick, N.Y.) told members of the Business Council of Westchester last week that despite the stalemate in Congress she thinks that by focusing on issues that have bipartisan support the lawmakers in Washington D.C. can break through the gridlock and help revive the economy. “We see constant and endless bickering,” Gillibrand, [...]
State Audit: Croton-Harmon Has Excess Fund Balance
By Alex Weisler Though the New York State Comptroller’s office found that the Croton-Harmon Union Free School District has had a budget surplus above the legal maximum for the last four years, the district’s school board president called the excess funds good fiscal policy. By annually overestimating budget line items like employee health benefits, social [...]
New Orchestra Lights Up Westchester
By Sam Barron The New Westchester Symphony Orchestra (NewWSO) is making beautiful music and it wants everyone in Westchester to join. NewWSO, which formed last year, holds open rehearsals every Wednesday at the Music Conservatory of Westchester on Central Park Avenue in White Plains. Musicians of all ages and abilities are invited to attend. NewWSO [...]
Renna Helps Golfers Improve Their Golf Game Through Fitness Training
Serious golfers are a crazy bunch of people. I know this very well because I’m a golf fanatic. If you love this game like I do the game is always in your mind. I’m very lucky that my job lets me drive through Westchester Country past many beautiful and challenging golf courses. With the weather [...]
The Pet Effect: Life Lessons and Good Health
Animal lovers are well-aware that pets bring life-enhancing qualities into a home. Having a loving, non-judgmental companion can benefit adults and children in a multitude of ways. For instance, many people are aware that studies suggest pets relieve stress. The list, however, extends far beyond that. Having a pet has been shown to affect child [...]
Entergy Funds NextGen Festival of Arts in Yorktown
The Yorktown Teen Center received a grant for $4,000 from Entergy to cover costs for the 2012 NextGen Festival of the Arts. “This grant will allow us to add to what we already have planned by providing us funds to offset our costs” said Helena Rodriguez, president of Board of Directors of the Yorktown Teen [...]
Crops and Whips and Spurs, Oh My!
Crops, whips, and spurs are just a few of the “artificial aids” a rider uses to help communicate with the horse. Since I’m not a big fan of “manners”, Mom always carries a whip when she leads me. She’ll hold it up and say, “No shenanigans, Meenster. Don’t make mommy use the whip.” I [...]
Mahopac’s Sweeny the First Female PAL Executive Director
A Putnam County woman is once again making history. Alana Sweeny, a Mahopac resident, was named the Police Athletic League’s (PAL) new executive director. She will be the organization’s first female executive director since its founding in 1914. PAL is New York City’s largest, nonprofit, independent youth organization. PAL’s mission fits with Sweeny’s passion and [...]
My Oscar Thoughts and Predictions
Not that anyone asked, but here are my thoughts on this year’s Academy Awards. Five was Fine Can The Academy cut its losses and go back to five nominees for Best Picture? It expanded to 10 after the 2009 ceremony, when the critical and box office hit The Dark Knight failed to get a nomination. [...]
One Movie Lover’s Fearless Forecast for Oscar Night
By Turner Unruh I love to be entertained. I think everybody needs entertainment in their lives. Most households are huge fans of the Super Bowl. At my house, we love the Oscars. I started caring about the Oscars when I was in seventh grade. That year, “The Departed” won best picture. Two years later, I [...]
Wild Mushroom Cavatelli
I created this dish to bring to a party last year. It was made especially to honor the request of my friend Ray Eckerle, who left this earth a week ago today, much too soon. I will always remember the smile on his face when I told him what was in the dish. It was [...]
Yorktown Looking to Secure Smart Growth Funds for Rt. 202
By Alex Weisler More than 100 government officials, developers and citizens crowded into Yorktown Town Hall Thursday to debate a redevelopment plan for the stretch of Route 202 between the Taconic State Parkway and Lexington Avenue. Yorktown Supervisor Michael Grace said the meeting was convened in an effort to address the Route 202 corridor’s three [...]
State Legislators Seek New Veterans’ Cemeteries
State Sen. Greg Ball (R-C/Patterson) and Assemblyman Robert Castelli (R-Goldens Bridge) are pushing for legislation that would fund the construction of cemeteries for war veterans in the local region. Ball and Castelli, who spoke at the Mount Kisco American Legion on Feb. 23, called on the state Assembly to pass the Veterans’ Cemetery Bill, which [...]
Missing Mahopac Teen Considered a Runaway
By Faith Ann Butcher The search for a 13-year-old Mahopac girl who has been missing since Feb.19 continues. Authorities believe that Jade Pelletier could be traveling with Gian Vivanco. Vivanco is a 13-year-old Fishkill boy who has been missing since Feb. 20. “The young lady is traveling with a friend from Fishkill,” said Carmel Police [...]
N.Y. Rangers Honor Ossining Hockey Coach
Ossining High School Hockey Coach Kevin Connolly took center ice in the world’s greatest arena Sunday night when he was honored by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Connolly, who has been Ossining’s head hockey coach for 30 years, was the fifth winner of the Emile Francis Award for his contribution to local [...]
Putnam Valley Native Chosen as the Navy’s Soldier of the Day
From Forward Operating Base Delaram II in Afghanistan it was announced that the sailor of the day is Hospitalman Andrew M. Backus, a 21 year old, corpsman, Regimental Combat Team 6, from Putnam Valley. Backus joined the Navy in May 2010. Backus joined the Navy because one of his grandfathers was in the Navy and [...]
Magical Memories Entertainment, Pleasantville
As a child, Steve Burchard loved to perform magic, having been introduced to it by his father. Thirteen years later and less than a year after graduating from Pace University with a dual major in marketing and communications, Burchard has parlayed his love of magic into owning and operating his own business, Magical Memories Entertainment. He [...]
Yorktown Playwright’s Work Performed at Philipstown Theater
Inspired by true events, the Barry Malawer’s play “dEAD dOG pARK,” will run from Friday, March 2 through Sunday, March 18 at The Philipstown Depot Theater in Garrison as part of the main stage’s 2012 season. “dEAD dOG pARK,” is the third full-length play by Malawer, who is a Yorktown resident. Dead Dog Park is [...]
More Teacher Cuts Possible in Mahopac School District
There was a nugget of good news to come out of the Mahopac Central School District Board of Education Finance Committee meeting when it was announced that a forecasted $2.8 million in cuts from next year’s spending plan would be reduced to $2.2 million. Superintendent Thomas Manko said the amount of expected cuts was reduced [...]
Mercy College Gives Musicians Chance to be Discovered
By Alyssa Zack and Andrew Vitelli Last year, Danny Spadaro was in his high school library in New Jersey reading a magazine when he stumbled across an ad for DISCOVERED: The Unsigned Artist Competition. The New Jersey native, who had been playing guitar for most his life and singing for five years, was intrigued. “I [...]
Conifer Realty Submits Plan for 36 Affordable Units in Chappaqua
By Martin Wilbur The New Castle Town Board referred an application last week from a developer of affordable housing to the planning board and board of architectural review to begin evaluation of a proposed 36-unit building on Hunts Lane. Conifer Realty of Rochester, LLC, the 16th largest owner of affordable units in the United States, [...]
Tax Cap Could Lead to 20 Jobs Eliminated in Carmel Schools
If the Carmel Central School District is to remain within the confines of the new, state-imposed tax cap, 20 teaching, support staff and school resource officer positions will potentially have to be eliminated from the district’s 2012- 2013 spending plan next year. That was the news delivered by Superintendent James Ryan to the Board of [...]
Westchester and Putnam Towns Lag Behind MS4 Mandates
With no money coming in to cover the costs of required projects, the third year of the five-year stormwater management plan for the East of Hudson communities has been a difficult one. “We are waiting on money from the DEP [New York City Department of Environmental Protection], as well as from both Putnam and Westchester [...]
Business of the Week: Greek American Grill, Baldwin Place
When something is in your blood, there is no denying it. So it goes for Thomas, Michael and Christina Spyropoulos, who collectively joined efforts to open the Greek American Grill in Baldwin Place. Located at 63 Route 6 just west of Somers Commons, the restaurant brings some old-school experience to a whole new set of [...]
