Author Archive for Alex Weisler
Voters Approve Budgets, Re-elect Incumbents
Voters in northern Westchester school districts overwhelmingly supported proposed school budgets and, in most cases, returned incumbents to district school boards. In Croton-Harmon, the budget passed 592 to 215, with school board incumbents Andrea Furey and Giuseppina Miller retaining their seats. A $335,000 bus proposition also overwhelmingly passed. In Hendrick-Hudson, the budget passed 820 to [...]
Hendrick Hudson Reaches Tentative Agreement With Teachers
The Hendrick Hudson School District has reached a tentative settlement agreement with the Hendrick Hudson Educational Association, the union representing the district’s 234 professional teaching staff. The proposed plan, if ratified by the union and the Board of Education, will restore six full-time teaching positions. The district also expects to restore three previously full-time positions [...]
Somers Synagogue Celebrates Pets
With a fair few barks and a hearty “muzzle tov” from Rabbi Fred Schwalb, members of the Hebrew Congregation of Somers — and their furry friends — took part in the third annual Bark Mitzvah, a special prayer ceremony honoring pets. Inspired by the Christian ceremony of the Blessing of the Animals, Schwalb, who has [...]
PHOTOS: Hundreds Attend Yorktown Community Day
Hundreds of Yorktown residents converged on Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park three community building events on Saturday. The Yorktown Chamber of Commerce started the day’s activities with the HealthYorktown 5K run that benefited the Yorktown and Lakeland education foundations. Following the race the Alliance for Safe Kids (ASK) held organized Yorktown Community Day and the [...]
Hendrick Hudson Addresses Contract, Sees No Resolution
Though about 20 members of the Hendrick Hudson Educational Association sat at Wednesday’s school board meeting in matching blue T-shirts, none of them spoke up during public comment or would speak to a reporter after the meeting had concluded The meeting actually focused more heavily on a proposed plan to move English Language Learner (ELL) [...]
International Violinist Bets on Peekskill
Violinist Daisy Jopling believes in the power of Peekskill — that’s why she’s headed back to the Paramount Theatre May 19 for a repeat performance and why she’s set on establishing a non-profit arts education program in the city. The initiative, which would be modeled on the Harmony Project in Los Angeles, would teach children [...]
PHOTOS: Cuomo Visits FDR PARK on I Love My Park Day
Governor Andrew Cuomo visited Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Saturday as part of the statewide I Love My Park Day initiative, which brought together about 3,500 volunteers at 40 sites across New York. Cuomo, who helped build a picnic table and stopped to chat with volunteers, was visiting the park en route to [...]
Reynolds Remembered at Hen Hud’s Annual Stay Awake A Thon
Just days after the death of its biggest fundraiser, the Hendrick Hudson community came together to fight cancer at its annual Stay Awake A Thon fundraiser. The event, held annually at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose since 2008, is a 12-hour endurance test and fundraiser. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., hundreds of community [...]
Yorktown Police Dog Caesar Dies
Caesar, a six-year veteran police dog of the Yorktown Police Department, was put down Tuesday after suffering from kidney failure. Lt. Kevin Soravilla said the dog, who assisted frequently with locating missing persons and tracking suspects at crime scenes, will be greatly missed by the department. “Due to his unfortunate demise, we have definitely lost [...]
Yorktown to Honor Relay for Life with “Purple” Friday
Yorktowners will have the chance to show their support for the anti-cancer Relay for Life event this Friday by wearing purple and raising awareness on the annual “Paint the Town Purple Day.” Yorktown Supervisor Michael Grace will officially announce the day at 9 a.m. Friday, and the YAC cheerleaders will be on hand to motivate [...]
HVHC Unveils New Organic Garden as Anti-Cancer Tool
An innovative new idea combining anti-cancer treatments and the principles of organic farming has taken root at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center, the 128-bed regional hospital located in Cortlandt Manor. The facility unveiled its new “Seeds for Health” initiative, featuring an expansive on-site organic garden on the grounds of its Pataki Center, at a launch [...]
Post Office Honors Oscar Winner, Longtime Ossining Resident
The United States Postal Service bestowed one of its highest honors on Academy Award-winning actor Jose Ferrer last week, honoring the Puerto Rican icon and longtime Ossining resident with his own commemorative stamp. Ferrer, who lived in the Village of Ossining from the 1940s until his death in 1992, was the first Hispanic actor to [...]
Tappan Zee Projects Fails to Receive Federal Funding
Though the Tappan Zee Bridge reconstruction project’s efforts to secure about $2 billion in federal funding hit a snag last week when the government denied its request for the loan, area political officials said it’s important to remember that this federal rejection is not the end of the line. The five projects — out of [...]
PHOTOS: Special Olympics Walk at FDR Park
Hundreds of children and families took to Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park Sunday for the 2012 Vincent Miritello Special Olympics NY Miles for Medals Walk. A pint-sized band performed classics like “Sweet Child of Mine” and “Get Back,” and participants had the opportunity to enjoy a picnic after a leisurely two-mile walk around the state [...]
Yorktown Tables Landmark Committee Appointments
The Yorktown Town Board’s proposal to appoint a slate of members to a newly reformed landmark preservation committee was tabled Tuesday after the council decided to address a policy disagreement before moving forward. The issue came up when Mark Michaels, a former member of the landsmark preservation committee, spoke during courtesy of the floor to [...]
Katz Drops Primary Challenge Against Ball
Assemblyman Steve Katz will not challenge State Senator Greg Ball in the Republican primary, opting instead to seek reelection to the assembly. “I regret that I cannot presently offer the voters of our district a clear choice in the State Senate that pursues the integrity, honesty and Republican principles that they deserve,” Katz said. “Instead, [...]
Yorktown Stage to Perform Iconic ‘Bawdy’ Musical
Yorktown residents will get a taste of Broadway next weekend as Yorktown Stage goes more “bawdy” than usual with its production of the classic comedy “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” The 1960 musical, which won four Tony Awards in its initial theatrical run, starred Zero Mostel and tells the story [...]
Photos: Egg-cellent Day for an Egg Hunt in Yorktown
Hundreds of Yorktown families gathered at Downing Park Saturday morning for the annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by the Yorktown Lions Club. Though the hunt was postponed for a week due to last weekend’s rainy weather, the event still drew an ample crowd. In addition to hunting for eggs, children had the possibility of posing [...]
Former Clinton Aide Enters Hayworth Race as Challenger
New York City lawyer and former Bill Clinton aide Sean Patrick Maloney is the latest Democrat to throw his hat in the ring to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Nan Hayworth. Maloney, who previously ran for New York State attorney general in 2006, said he’s pursuing the position because he considers the 2012 election “the most [...]
Photos: Hendrick Hudson Lions’ Egg-ceptional Egg Hunt
Hundreds of area families gathered at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose Sunday for the Hendrick Hudson Lions Club’s annual Easter Egg Hunt. Youngsters of all ages scoured the high school’s large, sloping lawns and had the chance to interact with costumed characters like the Easter Bunny, SpongeBob SquarePants and Elmo. Vendors also sold popcorn [...]
Lowey Presses for Domestic Violence Funding
Congresswoman Nita Lowey joined Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore Monday to advocate for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, legislation she said provides “essential” funding to the fight against domestic violence. “This is such a critical piece of legislation, and we appreciate your advocacy because it is being blocked in the House [...]
Ball Urges Fight Against Parochial Busing Legislation
The next step in his quest to mobilize public opposition to a planned state bill that would reduce transportation options to parochial school students throughout the Hudson Valley, State Senator Greg Ball held a conference call with interested stakeholders last Wednesday. The call, which drew more than 100 constituents, lasted about 45 minutes and included [...]
Farmers Market Discussed at Yorktown’s YOUnited Mtg.
Karen Symington Muendell’s proposal to create a weekly farmers market in Yorktown drew support and criticism at the second meeting of Yorktown Organizations United (YOUnited), the new group dedicated to non-profits and charities in the town. Muendell, accused by three local farmers who attended the meeting of not reaching out to include them in the [...]
Hendrick Hudson Board of Education Discusses Succession Plan
At its Wednesday night meeting, the Hendrick Hudson Board of Education expressed its regret over the impending retirement of district superintendent Daniel McCann. “Dr. McCann has tirelessly and endlessly put in hours of hours of dedication to the students of our district, working diligently toward our strategic plan and maximizing student potential and developing a [...]
Yorktown, Ossining Students Secure Top Science Honors
Several area high school students scored top marks in the “Olympics of science competitions” — the recent Westchester Science and Engineering Fair, held at Sleepy Hollow High School. The competition is the regional precursor to the national Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which will be held in Pittsburgh from May 13-19. That competition will [...]
Farmers Market Backer To Present at Yorktown Meeting
Karen Symington Muendell has a simple request for Yorktown residents concerned about the financial impact of her planned farmers market: Come talk to me. Muendell said she believes that most of the misgivings about the project are driven by ignorance or a twisting of the facts, which is why she urges community members on both [...]
Peekskill St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Hundreds of residents of Peekskill and surrounding communities lined the city’s streets on Saturday for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. The event included classic cars, Irish step dancers, traditional pipe and drum bands, brass bands and fire engines. Also marching in the event were politicians like Assemblywoman Sandy Galef and representatives of several area [...]
Yorktown School Board Decries Underfunded Mandates
Yorktown Central School District Assistant Superintendent for Business Thomas Cole lambasted the Race to the Top program at last week’s school board meeting, arguing that the federal educational initiative is another example of a culture of “unfunded and underfunded mandates.” “The Race to the Top monies are obviously insignificant to cover the cost,” said Cole, [...]
Croton-Harmon Revamps Budget Process in Wake of Audit
In the wake of a state audit that accused the Croton-Harmon Union Free School District of annually overestimating expenses, the district’s director of finance and administration stressed the attention to detail she pays during the budgeting process at a Thursday school board meeting. Diane Chaissan told the board and a full Croton-Harmon High School Community [...]
Yorktown Town Board Approves Athletic Field Fee Increases
Outgoing Yorktown Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Jennifer Fava received the Yorktown Town Board’s support for a proposal that would up the fees for using town athletic fields at last week’s work session. The proposal would increase the fee for Yorktown residents from $15 to $45 per hour and from $30 to $75 for non-residents. [...]
