Vol. 7 No. 40 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. … · 2019-06-27 · Vol. 7 No. 40 Thursday, January 11, 2018 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 25 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK

Thursday, January 11, 2018Vol. 7 No. 40

BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27

CLASSIFIEDS 25

ELEPHANT’S TRUNK 18

LEGAL NOTICES 25

LEISURE 23

OPINION 8

SCHOOLS & CAMPS 19

SPORTS 21

TAX & FINANCE 26

Somers wins wrestling tournament.

pg 21

SPORTS

Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news.

BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSEREDITOR

Furor against NYSEG has ramped up in recent months, especially among Heri-tage Hills residents, but Christmas and New Year’s Eve power outages were the � nal straw for Somers Supervisor Rick Morrissey and North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas, who last week � led a for-mal complaint against the utility company with the New York State Public Service Commission.

“� e alarming number and length of power outages has become a signi� cant public safety issue,” the supervisors wrote in a Jan. 3 letter to John B. Rhodes, chair of the commission. “We are on a dangerous course that, if not remediated, may have serious implications for our citizens.”

New York State Electric & Gas provides electricity to more than 25,000 residents in Somers and North Salem. Since October, Morrissey and Lucas said, many of these customers have endured frequent black-outs that, on two occasions, have lasted more than 10 hours.

“� e abnormal frequency and length of power outages are occurring at a rate never witnessed by our communities,” they said.

� e prolonged outages, they said, are not just an inconvenience, but create a health

risk, especially to the seniors who live in Heritage Hills, “whose health and well-being are reliant on their access to electric-ity.”

“� ey have dealt with recurrent and pro-longed outages that has put their safety at dire risk,” the supervisors said.

On Dec. 7, dozens of Heritage Hills residents came to the Somers Town Board meeting to complain about frequent black-outs and a lack of communication from NYSEG.

During outages, Morrissey and Lucas said, their residents have di� culty reach-ing anybody from NYSEG, and informa-tion on the company’s website, including estimated restoration times, is often un-available or inaccurate.

Morrissey and Lucas said three NY-SEG circuits in their towns require “thor-ough evaluation and overhaul,” including the circuit that serves Heritage Hills. � ey said recent outages, including on Christ-mas and New Year’s Eve, were caused by breaker � res, which, they said, are prevent-able with proper inspection.

“� ere has been a clear degradation of services on the part of NYSEG and with winter at our doorstep, the situation has become untenable,” the supervisors wrote.

Somers to NYSEG: Do betterSupervisor complains to New York State about ‘alarming’ rate of blackouts

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELSUtility pole

SEE NYSEG PAGE 2

“� e abnormal frequency and length of power outages are occurring at a rate never witnessed by

our communities.”- Somers Supervisor Rick Morrissey and North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas

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Page 2 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 11, 2018

“� e outages indicate that NYSEG currently lacks the re-sources to conduct necessary pre-ventative maintenance, prepare and respond to outages, and pro-vide timely/accurate information to the public.”

� e supervisors requested that the Public Service Commission “work to ensure all appropriate resources are allocated by NY-SEG so that their infrastructure is equipped to reliably provide electricity to our residents.” � ey also demanded a point of contact for NYSEG be designated whom

residents can contact when their power is interrupted.

“We have noti� ed NYSEG of our concerns and issues, with no success,” they said. “It is our hope that results can be achieved at the urging of the Public Service Commission.”

Kevin Ortiz, a spokesman for NYSEG parent company Avan-grid, did not comment speci� cal-ly on the supervisors’ letter. How-ever, he said NYSEG is working on a � ve-year plan to “upgrade equipment and infrastructure that will improve service delivery and reliability for our custom-ers in Somers and North Salem. � is multi-million dollar com-

mitment will include replacing cables, transformers, and switch gears.”

To mitigate outages in the short-term, Ortiz said, NYSEG recently conducted patrols of circuits via helicopter for visual and infrared inspections. Any issues found were immediately addressed, he said. NYSEG also is working toward expediting scheduled tree trimming along its rights-of-way. He said NY-SEG is prioritizing trimming at the circuit that services Heritage Hills, as well as two other circuits in Somers, near Route 202 and Lake Road.

At the Dec. 7 meeting, Kath-

leen Abels, manager of commu-nity outreach and development at NYSEG’s Brewster o� ce, blamed more than half of NY-SEG’s power outages on trees (33 percent) and cars (19 percent) and noted that only 7 percent of incidents involving trees were in NYSEG rights-of-way, allowing the utility to trim them whenever necessary.

� e circuits themselves are subject to “things you might not think about,” Abels said at the meeting. � ings like mice, which were related to the almost 5 per-cent of outages attributed to ani-mal contact of all kinds.

NYSEG FROM PAGE 1The Staff

EDITORIAL TEAMBRIAN MARSCHHAUSER

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The Somers Record – Page 3Thursday, January 11, 2018

As part of a class project at Somers High School, juniors Isabella DeChico and Adeli-na Ademaj came up with an idea that would also help raise money for Putnam Hospital Center’s oncology department.

At the hospital, DeChico and Ademaj set up a table in the lobby selling holiday orna-ments and pens they made out of polymer clay. � e colorful decorations were whimsi-cal and come in a variety of sizes.

“It is our local hospital, so we wanted to help out,” DeChico said.

Ademaj said she is interested in pursuing medicine and cancer research, and DeChico

is into making crafts. So the two combined their interests for the project, she said.

“What a wonderful way to ring in the hol-idays,” said Priscilla Weaver, Putnam Hos-pital Center Foundation executive director. “We appreciate Isabella and Adelina’s inge-nuity and generosity. � ank you for thinking of our patients in this giving season.”

Customers can either purchase the orna-ments for themselves or donate the items to cancer patients, the students said.

Ademaj and DeChico sold their wares in December in the Putnam Hospital Center lobby.

Somers High students’ holiday crafts benefi t

hospital center

BY BRIAN MARSCHHAUSEREDITOR

A Holiday Gift Drive organized by the Somers Food Pantry provided gifts and food to more than 77 local families in need this holiday season.

� e Somers Food Pantry, active year-round, ramps up its fundraising e� orts from � anksgiving to Christmas. For � anks-giving, 68 families received gift baskets and turkey dinners.

Now in its 25th year, the Holiday Gift Drive is led by school social workers � e-resa Reda and Kristen Rigaglia.

“When we started, it was a much smaller operation,” Reda said. “We had maybe a dozen families in the beginning. It gradu-ally increased, then sharply in the last few years.”

Around � anksgiving, the pantry sends a survey to families asking them what items they need for the holiday season. Families requested items such as canned goods, clothing, jackets, boots, toys and grocery store gift cards.

“Pretty much anything the families asked for, the community found,” she said.

� e food pantry collects donations in various ways, including drop-o� boxes and word of mouth.

“� e community is so generous, they of-

ten get everything on the lists,” Reda said.Many people and organizations (too

many to name) assisted with the fundrais-ing. Before the holidays, dozens of volun-teers joined Reda and Rigaglia in the base-ment of St. Luke’s Church, where the gift baskets are assembled. � e volunteers are often retired teachers or members of the Somers Women’s Club.

“It truly is a community-wide e� ort be-cause so many people got involved,” Reda

said. “� ey’ve really gone above and be-yond.”

� e food pantry is always looking for donations. Non-perishable food may be donated on the � rst Wednesday of each month between 5 and 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the Somers Fire House on Route 202.

Suggested food donations: canned vegetables and fruits; hearty soups, canned or packaged; canned and packaged tuna;

canned chicken; pasta; tea; cereal; cake and brownie mix; bottled juice; mayonnaise and ketchup; paper goods—facial tissue, toilet tissue, paper towels; dish and laundry deter-gent, dish washing liquid; personal items—deodorant, shampoo, hand and facial soap, toothpaste; canned beans; rice; sardines; packaged macaroni and cheese; canned or jarred pasta sauce; co� ee; pudding and Jello; peanut butter, jams and jellies; bottled salad dressing; dried beans—black beans, lentils; condiments—salt, pepper, spices.

Food pantry delivers holiday gift baskets to dozens of families

The Somers Women Club helps assemble holiday gift baskets.

Adelina Ademaj and Isabella DeChico sell holiday ornaments and pens in the Putnam Hospital Center lobby.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCELA ROJAS

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF NANCY TEDROWEDozens of holiday gift baskets were assembled in the basement of St. Luke’s Church.


Q: What does the Pap test show? A: The Pap test (or Pap smear) screens for pre-cancerous cellular abnormalities in a woman’s cervix. If abnormalities are found, you can be monitored or treated so you don’t develop cervical cancer. A Pap test involves scraping cells from your cervix to examine for pre-cancerous changes in tissue. Depending on your age, history and previous Pap test results, the cells might also be tested for high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common cause of cervical cancer. Ninety-nine percent of cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus, which is generally sexually transmitted.

Q: If my Pap results are abnormal, what are the next steps? A: If your cervical cells appear abnormal and/or you are positive for high-risk HPV, you may undergo a colposcopy, an examination of the cervix under magnification, to find areas most likely to have abnormal cells. If these are found, a biopsy is used to make a de�nitive diagnosis.

Among women aged 20 to 30 years, cervical cell abnormalities often go away by themselves, so we typically monitor rather than treat these women, as cervical cancer develops slowly. However, when an older woman receives a positive biopsy report,

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Q: How effective is the Pap test? A: Very. Routine Pap tests have decreased the rate of cervical cancer in the U.S. by 80 percent. Women who get screened for cervical cancer have an extremely low rate of this cancer.

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Kennedy Catholic High School played host to more than 300 students in grades eight through 12 from Friday evening on Dec. 8 through Sunday af-ternoon on Dec. 10. � e occa-sion was a spiritual retreat facili-tated by Fearless Ministries.

Fearless Ministries conducts outreach dedicated to leading teens to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucha-rist. � e three-day retreats are meant to inspire young people to live and proclaim the Gospel.

� e retreat at Kennedy Cath-olic included talks by priests of the archdiocese, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and sta� members, Rosary, opportuni-ties for confession, a Eucharis-tic procession around school grounds and daily Masses.

“Kennedy Catholic was proud to host over 300 students on this retreat,” said Rev. Mark Vaillancourt, president and principal of Kennedy Catholic. “� e weekend consisted of fun and prayer in a way that drew the participants closer to Christ and His Church. � e program had for its main objective the strengthening of young people in their faith as they accept the challenges of living a Christian life in an ever-expanding secular world.”

Kennedy Catholic hosts ‘Fearless’ retreat

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN BRUDERFather Mark Vaillancourt with area students at the “Fearless” retreat


BY SKIP PEARLMANCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School hosted “STEAM-A-� on”—a � inkSTEAM event—on Saturday, an all-day event sponsored by HERlead, in which middle-school girls from around the tri-state area participated in technology workshops.

� inkSTEAM, an organization that helps involve young girls in technology, was the brainchild of Lakeland High School student Jothi Ramaswamy when she was a freshman. She’s now a junior.

“It was her dream to create an organization called � inkSTEAM, and she’s created that to help more girls get into STEAM activi-ties (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics),” said Patricia Viggiano, direc-tor of curriculum for science at Lakeland.

Despite Saturday’s frigid weather, 75 girls, including some from Somers, went to Cop-per Beech to participate in hands-on work-shops in science, engineering and technol-ogy. � e Flavor Creations and Culinary and Food Science workshops were taught by a research and development team from Pep-siCo; the Swift iOS Playgrounds workshop was taught by the information and technol-ogy team from PepsiCo; the Sweet Science of Chocolates workshop was taught by IBM engineers from Watson; and the Virtual Reality workshop was taught by computer science students Akshay Ramaswamy from Stanford University (Lakeland alumni) and

Varun Baddam from the University of Cali-fornia San Diego.

“Today, we had � ve di� erent workshops the girls were able to rotate through,” Viggia-no said. “� ere were food scientists, they had a structural engineering challenge, they did virtual reality and did some programming on iPads. So they had a variety of di� erent ac-tivities. � ey really have fun with science and technology, and by the end of the day, they’ve

gone through the workshops and they’re just as excited as when they came in.

“It’s an exciting way to get the girls pas-sionate about it early, in middle school, so they continue and do more higher level things later on,” Viggiano added, “and go into some of the � elds like engineering and others we’ve seen today.”

For more information on the � ink-STEAM organization and its events,

check out its website at thinksteam4girls.org.

Area middle-school girls participate in STEAM-A-Thon

PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMANA virtual reality workshop was part of Saturday’s Steam-A-Thon.

The structural engineering group with its bridge-building experiment

PHOTOS: SKIP PEARLMAN


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OBITUARIES

Mary R. AzarMary R. Azar passed away on

Jan. 7 surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by two beloved children, George J. Azar and Deborah A. Spaziante (Da-vid Madson), and grandson Brett M. Spaziante.

Memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan.

12, at Cargain Funeral Homes in Mahopac. A memorial Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at St. Joseph’s Church in Somers.

In lieu of � owers, donations can be made in her memory to the Lake Lincolndale Property Owners’ Association, P.O. Box 1, Lincolndale, NY 10540.

Louis H. SickeniusLouis H. Sickenius, born Aug.

31, 1929, died peacefully with his family by his side on Dec. 9, 2017, in Fort Pierce, Fla. He was 88.

Mr. Sickenius is survived by his daughter, Regina Bello, and sons, Michael (Rose), Louis (Laura), and John (Penny); nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne, on the same day in 2014.

He was born in New York City and lived in Yorktown Heights until recently, when he moved to Florida. He was an avid � sh-erman and golfer as well as an accomplished artist. His family and friends cherish the special drawings he would e� ortlessly create and personalize for them for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on � ursday, Dec. 28, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shrub Oak. Interment fol-lowed at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Putnam Valley.

Barbara A. RohrbachBarbara A. Rohrbach of

Somers passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Jan. 1. She was 83.

Mrs. Rohrbach was born in Troy, the daughter of Kyle For-rest and Alice Frank. On Nov. 12, 1955, she married Robert L. Rohrbach in East Williston. � ey were married for more than 62 years.

Mrs. Rohrbach graduated from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1955. She then obtained her BSN from Mercy College in 1979. She had a dis-tinguished nursing career that spanned more than 30 years.

� e Rohrbachs moved to Heritage Hills in Somers in 1998 from � ornwood, where they had lived and raised their four daugh-ters for 31 years. While living at Heritage Hills, Mrs. Rohrbach was very active on the Health and Safety Committee. She and Robert ran the � u shot program there for many years.

She loved animals, playing bridge with lifelong friends, at-tending the opera and spending time with her grandchildren. Barbara and Robert enjoyed va-cationing in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., a passion they passed along to their children.

In addition to her husband, Robert, she is survived by her four daughters, Karen (Glenn) Ces-taro, Nancy (Steven) Trombetta, Ellen (Brian) Parise, and Sarah (Martel) Meyer; her siblings, Susan McLachlan and William Forrest; and her grandchildren, Jacqueline Cestaro, Michael and Caitlin Parise and Francesca and Benjamin Trombetta.

At Mrs. Rohrbach’s request, all funeral services will be private.

In lieu of � owers, please make memorial contributions in her name to the St. Luke’s Cen-ter for Public and Professional Education at the Foundation of NYS Nurses. Donations can be accepted online at foundation-nysnurses.org/donate or mailed to: Foundation of NYS Nurses, 2113 Western Ave., Guilderland, NY 12084. Please include the following statement with your donations: “� ese funds are to be designated to the St. Luke’s Cen-ter for Public and Professional Education in honor of Barbara Rohrbach.”

John RapawyJohn Rapawy, 76, of Somers,

formerly of Ardsley and the Bronx, died on Jan. 6 at Northern Westchester Hospital. He was born in New York City, and at-tended Fordham University. He served in the Marine Corps and received an honorable discharge. He worked at Con Edison as a systems analyst. He is survived by his beloved second wife, Marie. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church in Somers on Jan. 10. Burial fol-lowed at St. Raymond’s Cem-etery in the Bronx. He will be truly missed by all of his friends.

Tim CassonTim Casson, 82, of Walnut

Hill, Fla., Pawling and Somers, died Dec. 6 with his children Kim Marie, Tom and Mark by his side. He is also survived by his former wife, Jane; daughter-in-law, Kimberly; grandchil-dren, Joseph, Lily, Noah and Mariah; brothers, Brian, Austin and Chris; and his sisters, Lynne Cubberly and Sheelah Sinnott; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Casson attended Morris-ville College and did two tours

SEE OBITS PAGE 7


of duty in the Army. He dug foundations and built develop-ment roads as Casson Con-struction Co. He owned Swamp River Sand and Gravel, where after extracting the minerals, he reclaimed the land, restoring its natural beauty. He su� ered a seri-ous accident in February 1991 in which he lost his sight. He spent these past 27 years restoring hit and miss engines and antique tractors. He enjoyed taking his machines to tractor shows and talking to other restorers.

Mr. Casson passed peacefully at his farm in Walnut Hill. A Mass was o� ered for him at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Atmore, Ala. A Mass will be of-fered for him at St. John’s Church in Pawling at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Anyone wishing to make a donation in his honor may do-nate to: Operation Homefront, 1355 Central Parkway St., Ste. 100, San Antonio, TX 78232 (210-659-3968).

Britta RemmingBritta S.F. Remming passed

away on Dec. 27 at age 92. Pre-deceased by her beloved husband of nearly 63 years, Tom; devoted and loving mother of Marianne

(Michael), John ( Joan), Elisabeth (Paul) and Erik; much-loved grandmother of Britt (Tom), � omas John, Abby, Isabella and Matthew; beloved great-grandmother of Brynn, � omas Charles, Jeremiah and Kara Anne; and dearly loved sister of Egon of Brøndby, Denmark.

She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1925.

As a child, she sang in a re-nowned girls’ choir and played the piano, the start of her lifelong love of music. During World War II, she and her family en-dured the Nazi occupation and she was active in the civil defense corps, volunteering in air raid shelters. She and Tom married in 1946, and the family immigrated to the United States in 1960. A dedicated mother and home-maker, her greatest joy was gath-ering the family, upholding and teaching others the traditions of her homeland, which her family lovingly continues. She and Tom were the quintessential hosts, the true embodiment of Danish “hy-gge.” As the respected and dearly loved matriarch of her family, she will be greatly missed.

A celebration of her life was held at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, followed by interment at Kensico Cem-etery.

of duty in the Army. He dug foundations and built develop-ment roads as Casson Con-struction Co. He owned Swamp River Sand and Gravel, where after extracting the minerals, he reclaimed the land, restoring its natural beauty. He su� ered a seri-ous accident in February 1991 in which he lost his sight. He spent these past 27 years restoring hit and miss engines and antique tractors. He enjoyed taking his machines to tractor shows and talking to other restorers.

Mr. Casson passed peacefully at his farm in Walnut Hill. A Mass was o� ered for him at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Atmore, Ala. A Mass will be of-fered for him at St. John’s Church in Pawling at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. Anyone wishing to make a donation in his honor may do-nate to: Operation Homefront, 1355 Central Parkway St., Ste. 100, San Antonio, TX 78232 (210-659-3968).

Britta RemmingBritta S.F. Remming passed

away on Dec. 27 at age 92. Pre-deceased by her beloved husband of nearly 63 years, Tom; devoted and loving mother of Marianne

(Michael), John ( Joan), Elisabeth (Paul) and Erik; much-loved grandmother of Britt (Tom), � omas John, Abby, Isabella and Matthew; beloved great-grandmother of Brynn, � omas Charles, Jeremiah and Kara Anne; and dearly loved sister of Egon of Brøndby, Denmark.

She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1925.

As a child, she sang in a re-nowned girls’ choir and played the piano, the start of her lifelong love of music. During World War II, she and her family en-dured the Nazi occupation and she was active in the civil defense corps, volunteering in air raid shelters. She and Tom married in 1946, and the family immigrated to the United States in 1960. A dedicated mother and home-maker, her greatest joy was gath-ering the family, upholding and teaching others the traditions of her homeland, which her family lovingly continues. She and Tom were the quintessential hosts, the true embodiment of Danish “hy-gge.” As the respected and dearly loved matriarch of her family, she will be greatly missed.

A celebration of her life was held at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, followed by interment at Kensico Cem-etery.

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Frigid temperatures and blistering winds created blizzard-like conditions last � ursday in Somers, which was rocked by 8-10 inches of snow. Somers schools were closed both � ursday and Friday, as the Highway Department cleaned the roads and the Water Department § xed water main breaks. Dozens

of residents also lost power during the storm. Don’t forget to send us your best snow photos and

you may see them appear online or in our next print edition. Send all high-quality photos, captioned with full names and ages, to [email protected].

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB ONDROVICHunter enjoys the snow.

Snowmers


OpinionOpinion

If you’re looking for “fake news,” you will not nd it here. � e following stories are so ridiculous that they could

not conceivably be fake. It’s my job as a journalist to uncover them, bring them to you and then cover them up again as soon as possible, after rst burning them in a re pit to destroy any DNA evidence.

HOT AIR BALLOON LANDS IN ALLIGATOR-RIDDEN POND

In July, it was reported that a hot air bal-loon carrying 17 people made an emergen-cy landing in waters populated by alligators near Orlando, Fla. � e pilot informed his passengers that due to wind, they would not be able to make a landing in the desig-nated area. � e balloon ride, advertised as showcasing the “Magic of Orlando,” opted to land in the predator-infested swamp rather than risk a touchdown among a group of traveling insurance salesman vacationing nearby.

BITCOIN’S BLOCKCHAIN ‘FORKS’In August, Bitcoin cryptocurrency expe-

rienced a “fork,” which split the blockchain into two chains, each of which contains a history of transactions veri able to the public. In the event of a fork, it is up to the administrator of the software to reconcile the two chains and their histories. Now that I understand the whole thing more clearly, I immediately identi ed a buying opportunity and purchased a new fork.

DUNKIN’ DONUTS MAY CHANGE NAME TO DUNKIN’

As of August, the doughnut chain was considering shortening its name to emphasize the fact that it sells co� ee in ad-dition to breakfast foods. In a similar move, � e Home Depot is thinking of changing its name to “� e.” Dick’s Sporting Goods has announced no plans to shorten its name.

FACEBOOK ENGINEERS HALT A.I. EXPERIMENT AFTER IT DEVELOPS ITS OWN LANGUAGE

In July, software developers were forced to abandon computer algorithms designed

to advance arti cial intelligence when the bots they created started to converse in a language they couldn’t understand. � e rst thing the bot said in English was, “I’m afraid I can’t open the pod bay doors,

Dave,” then burst into laughter before causing the company Roomba to chase everyone around the engineers’ lounge until security guards shot it with a shotgun.

RADIO SIGNALS FROM FARAWAY GALAXY DETECTED BY ASTRONOMERS

In August, astronomers in West Virginia detected repeating radio signals coming from a dwarf galaxy three billion light years away. Analysis of the data showed a “heightened activity state,” which, if you’re a dwarf galaxy, is better than nothing. No recognizable words or sounds have been identi ed, although one researcher said he heard a voice that sounded like “Cousin Brucie.”

DEATH ROW INMATE TO BE GIVEN A PILLOW TO HELP HIM BREATHE WHILE BEING EXECUTED

In November, it was decided that a con-victed killer in Ohio who su� ers from an obstructive pulmonary disorder should be given a special pillow to help him breathe during the administration of his lethal injection. His request to be executed by ring squad was turned down by a federal judge, as would have been any request to be su� ocated by a pillow.

COPS RESPOND TO CALLS FOR HELP, FIND PARROT

In November, a delivery man near Clackamas, Ore., heard cries for help emanating from a house and called 9-1-1. When police responded, they found a parrot named Diego who had learned to voice the word “HELP!” � e cops took a few sel es and then left, not noticing three people tied up in the living room. � e whole thing reminds me of a joke which I can’t go into here, but let me just say that neither the parrot nor the rabbi end up calling the police.

Say hello at [email protected]/

� e year in review, Part Two

RICK MELÉN

MAN OVERBOARD

The touch of a hand can bring warmth and love; it can bring comfort and understanding to

those who might be overwhelmed by life and its trials and tribulations. I choose not to write about the pain and unhappiness hands can in� ict; it’s enough that we read about it every day.

I recall once writing a few years back that our mom had beautiful hands, with long, tapered ngers. My sister and I have hands like Mom—thank goodness they’re not like Dad’s mechanic-sized hands.

Last week, I saw a Facebook photo of my grandniece, Emily, while she was jumping into the ocean at La Jolla, Calif. In that captured animation, her hands reminded me of Mom’s. Emily’s hands are expressive and graceful even when she’s nibbling on a cookie or feeding the chick-ens! Mom would have been delighted.

When I talk, my hands are in mo-tion—it’s Italian. If I had to sit on my hands when speaking, I’d probably be at a loss for words. I’m too embarrassed to tell you how many glasses of wine I’ve sent � ying, ruining a couple of tablecloths in the process, while trying to make a point. In fact, my dear, late friend Rina, as a last resort, bought fancy sheets and used them as tablecloths whenever I was coming to dinner!

Forget the wine! Just last week while enjoying dinner at a friend’s home, I proceeded to tip my water glass three times while voicing an opinion. Lucky me, water doesn’t leave a stain!

Have you ever watched a child try to tie his shoes for the rst time? � ere’s that look of deep concentration as those little hands try so carefully to make a knot. After several frustrating and unsuccessful attempts, he pulls the two loops: Hallelu-jah, he has a knot!

When I see babies in TV commercials, precious memories of the times I held my babies’ hands in mine as I cuddled them or when I softly caressed their warm cheeks poignantly come back to me. I remember the many times I held my little boys’ grubby hands after they fell in the dirt and how that small act of love soothed them—and, oh yes, some cookies and milk helped also!

Try this on for size: Tightly hold the hand of someone you care about or help steady a friend whose balance isn’t too cool (me) as she comes down the stairs and experience that wonderful human connection. My friends, it’s a gift that speaks volumes—you won’t be sorry!

Ruthann Sche er can be reached at [email protected].

Hands speak volumes!

RUTHANN SCHEFFER

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

I’ve just read an article stating that some of our ancestors were rats. Well, that’s not surprising...many of them

are still with us, except they now have two arms, two legs and no tail! We meet them in business, politics, and even ro-mantically. � ey burrow, insidiously, into our lives, causing us to question our best interests and make us wonder if right is right and wrong is wrong.

Evolution is interesting because some of us seem to have evolved faster than others. Unfortunately, there are people still functioning on a Cro-Magnon level, which makes reasoning with them al-

most impossible, and the “rats” take advantage of our di� erences, encouraging fear and suspicion in an already divided society.

Rats

ADRIENNEKAVELLE

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What better way to wel-come 2018, I thought, than by partaking of

the Syfy channel’s annual New Year’s Day marathon of “Twi-light Zone” episodes. Millennials have their futuristic “Twilight” movie series. Baby Boomers and Gen Xers have our retro “Twi-light Zone” TV series, which ran from 1959-1964, in glorious black-and-white, which only enhances its eeriness.

Bizarre coincidences often �gured in the series’ plots, but it’s no coincidence that “�e Twilight Zone” is coming back with a vengeance.

�e story lines – most of them written by series creator and resi-dent genius Rod Serling -- were thought-provoking commentar-ies on the human condition, focusing on themes like nuclear war, mass hysteria, prejudice and McCarthyism. Sound familiar? Afraid so.

Right at this moment, there is a stage version of the vintage TV series that is the talk of London, where it will play through Jan. 27 -- and then, one can hope, wend its way to Broadway.

Jordan Peele, the young �lm-maker who wowed Hollywood and audiences in 2017 with his breakout, black comedy about racism, “Get Out,” has been commissioned by CBS All Ac-cess to resurrect “�e Twilight Zone” for its digital streaming service, the only way it will be available, with no telecast on the CBS TV network.

Referring to the London stage version, an executive for CBS, which owns the rights to the se-ries, easily could have been talk-ing about the TV revival as well when she said, “‘�e Twilight Zone’ was an ingenious mixture of morality tales, fables and fantasy that are as relevant today as when they �rst aired. �e play allows these powerful stories to be experienced in an entirely new way to reach a whole new audience.”

�en there’s the British hom-age to “Twilight Zone” titled “�e Black Mirror,” which has garnered a large and rabid American fan base on Net¢ix, where it just began its fourth season of episodes. �e title of the series re¢ects a foreboding obsession with technology tak-

ing over our lives. Beyond the cult adulation

that has elevated “�e Twilight Zone” to near-mythic status, there is the enigma of its creator who fought tooth and nail with TV executives and with sponsors to maintain the integrity of his show and its stories. In one re-markable instance, a sponsor that sold cigarette lighters demanded that three words be deleted from a Serling script: “Got a match?”

Rod Serling was a man of deep intellect with obvious cre-

ative gifts, which were ignited by a �erce passion for social justice and for calling out the demons that threaten our better angels.

With his prodigious output over a very short period, at the peak of his powers, Mr. Serling was like the Sandy Koufax of television. Like the legendary Dodgers’ pitcher of the same era, who within four-year spans hurled four no-hitters and won three Cy Young Awards, Rod Serling to this day remains the gold standard for his profession. He won seven Emmy awards, three of them for �e Twilight Zone.

In his later years, Mr. Serling taught writing at Ithaca College, near his hometown of Bingham-ton. When I was an undergrad at nearby Syracuse University, he once spoke on campus and he was greeted like the rock star he was: �e over¢ow crowd of

awestruck students spilled out the door. Afterwards, he gra-ciously came outside to talk to those of us who couldn’t get in to see him. A few years later, the lifelong chain smoker (who can be seen in his episode introduc-tions with cigarette in hand, died of a heart attack at 50.

�rough his pungent dialogue and embattled characters, Mr. Serling was a �erce defender of individual freedoms and an equally �erce foe of repressive rulers.

Like many immortal creative forces, he was a tortured soul full of contradictions. A World War II paratrooper who was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, Rod Serling the paci�st wielded words mightier than swords.

In his coda to the episode “�e Obsolete Man,” a caution-ary tale about the dangers of an

authoritarian government, Mr. Serling direly warns us, “Like every one of the superstates that preceded it, it has one iron rule: logic is an enemy and truth is a menace.” If those aren’t the words of a prescient visionary, I don’t know what is. It’s as if he said it just yesterday, which makes one wonder: Has the Twilight Zone caught up to us? Or have we caught up to it? Either way, keep the faith. Rod Serling did, and his legacy is our food for thought.

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 �e Blog on social media. Reach him at [email protected] or 914-275-6887.

It’s ‘Twilight’ time again

BRUCE APAR

BRUCE THE BLOG

Promote Your CharitySend us a press release at [email protected], or give us a call at 914-302-5628.

OPINIONPage 10 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 11, 2018

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Taxation without representation—or what were you

thinking?To the editor,

It looks like the Republican Party, the majority in the Con-gress but the minority in opinion polls after numerous losses, will legislate the tax reform (?) plan. Prior to the last local election, we warned you that a vote for the Republican Party was a vote for its values and agenda. How is that vote working for you now?

Now all New Yorkers, particu-larly those in towns like Somers, will be hurting from the negative

impact on education, property and mortgage deductions. � is is the “gift” to the states that con-tribute 70 percent of the GDP (note: California is the � fth-larg-est economy in the world). How does that vote feel now? I will not even mention what will happen to Medicaid expansion in these states.

I have long ago accepted this Faustian agreement between shameless Republicans and their agenda and the Boy from Queens. But what bothered me most about the passage of this “reform” bill was the hasty pro-cess, especially in a booming economy. � ere was no time for the representation from the “real

economy,” from working men and women, from trends in technol-ogy, education and workplace. Aside from marching orders from Trump, what was the rush?

A robot story: I have had, and I regret it, personal experience in this. I was given contract to automate a commercial lending department. I was told to take automation to the next level of robotics. For about $50,000, we acquired a license to program a “process robot.” � is is a program operating on the cloud that re-places the manual and redundant processes of an o� ce worker (you can’t actually see this robot). In this case, it was all the data entry using existing applications. � e

next component allowed this ro-bot to “learn” and read all of the documents that came with the application. Finally, we imple-mented the last component, arti-� cial intelligence, or AI, to allow for decision making (underwrit-ing).

� is is an illustration of a trend happening in many o� ces around the country. � e main limitation is also part of the solution—trained and skilled technicians to build, maintain and innovate. In my case, I insisted that the robots be “taxed” a dollar/transaction to fund the monies for reskilling and early retirement. With the huge decrease in labor costs, the com-pany can more than a� ord educa-

tion cost. In our lifetime, predictions are

that 45 percent to 50 percent (Google this) of the white-collar workforce will be impacted. � e last 30 years of automation have shown that if investments are made early, continuously, in edu-cation, innovation, retraining, that jobs will be created around the technology. It will be the quality and the scope of our education systems that will be the deter-minants for growth, not the rich donors or the corporations.

Let’s just hope our American values will stop this class war now.

Michael BlumSomers

LETTERS

Contrary to what I gener-ally tell people, the hap-piest moment of my life

was not the day I got married, nor the � nal push when I gave birth to either of my two kids. It was the day a driver tailgated me relentlessly for � ve miles and then sped away… until he got pulled over by a state trooper.

Although I know it is better

to forgive and forget, I am just not one of those people who is able to let these things just roll o� me. � ere’s a big chip on my shoulder that usually gets in the way. However, I do realize that I might live a longer, healthier life if I didn’t carry a grudge… or 20 grudges, as the case may be. So, this year, I decided for my New Year’s resolution to vary from my

usual pledge to lose ten pounds, to a promise to be a less vengeful person.

� erefore, in an e� ort to get 2018 o� on the right foot, I make the following amends:

• To the guy I met at the cash machine who told me I’d look more like a lady if I grew my hair longer: I take back the comment I made that bald men shouldn’t

throw stones.• To the man behind the

counter at the store where I was returning a vacuum cleaner who made me wait 20 minutes while you pretended to read a blank piece of paper and then told me you were going on break: I apol-ogize for telling you to “make

Speak softly and carry a big grudge

TRACY BECKERMAN

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Interestingly, these “rats” usu-ally come from the more edu-cated and knowledgeable groups, using their teeth and claws to eviscerate understanding and

enhance the di� erences between us in order to elevate their own positions. Rather than point out our similarities, “rats” resort to using mob violence and � ery words to alienate and divide us even more.

In business, they pit the

KAVELLE FROM PAGE 8

BECKERMANFROM PAGE 10

like a vacuum and suck it.”• To the lady behind me on

the supermarket checkout line who looked at the snack food I was buying for my kids and informed me that childhood obesity is the number one prob-lem in America: I’m sorry I told you that people who comment on the food you are buying at the supermarket are the number one problem in America.

• To the mother who shrieked

at her kids in front of me for no apparent reason: I regret tell-ing you to be nicer to your kids because when they grow up they will pick out your nursing home.

• To the guy in the fancy car who took up two parking spaces when the lot was full: I’m sorry my little car could still � t in half a spot and I parked so close you had to climb in your car from the hatchback.

• To the lady at the DMV who was just unbelievably rude to me: I’m sorry for asking you if you also need a license to work there

and make everyone’s life a living hell.

• And � nally, to the girl at the cosmetics counter in the department store who told me I needed six di� erent products for my wrinkles and sagging skin: I apologize for telling you that people who work in department stores have the highest rate of premature aging.

I’ll try to come up with better retorts next year.

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

have-nots against the haves; in politics, party against party; and in romance, they’re just out for what they can get...in essence, “rats.”

How can we eliminate them? We can’t, but we can recognize them for what they are and do our best to trap them in their own snares. We must not be afraid to challenge “rats” and expose their motives.

Every generation has spawned vermin and tyrants. If we hadn’t unmasked them, we would not have survived, but survive we have.

Present day “rats,” as always, thrive on fear and strife, so we must continue to de-fang and de-claw them and learn to live together in a civil society. Not an easy task, but one to strive for, giving hope and incentive to future generations, ensuring that there will, indeed, be a future.

Adrienne Kavelle can be reached at [email protected].

OPINIONPage 12 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 11, 2018

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Dear Dr. Linda,I teach third grade and I want

to tell parents to make sure their children have had breakfast be-fore coming to school. � ey can’t learn if they’re hungry!

I actually have a drawer of snacks in case a child is hungry. I shouldn’t have to do that. � ese children are not poor. In addition, it’s probably illegal because of al-lergies, but a child who is hungry can’t concentrate.

I have come to believe that schools should provide breakfast just as we provide lunch so that we can be sure that our kids aren’t eating a piece of candy for break-fast or nothing at all.

CarolineDear Caroline,

You bring up an excellent point. In order for children to concentrate in school, they can’t be hungry. Yet untold numbers of children struggle in school simply because they are hungry or physically uncomfortable. Many of their basic needs are not being met. Many children go to school without breakfast, many are tired because they’re not getting adequate sleep, and many are cold because they’re not wearing appropriate clothing for di� erent

weather conditions.Let’s begin with diet. � ere is

no escaping the fact that children need a balanced diet with all food groups represented. With that in mind, skipping breakfast is probably the most common issue for kids, especially teens. School mornings are such a whirlwind that many kids rush out of the house without eating anything. � ere are many quick and easy solutions, but here is one that works particularly well—a glass of milk and a little bag of not-too-sweet cold cereal. It takes almost no time to down the milk. Eating the cold cereal from the bag en route completes the break-fast without taking much addi-tional time. And, if your child has an after-school activity, be sure to send an extra snack to eat after school. It’s no di� erent if you’re an adult. It’s hard to pay attention if you’re hungry.

Meeting basic needs to improve teen learning

DR. LINDASILBERT

STRONGLEARNING

� e second basic need is to get adequate sleep. Sleep depriva-tion, while a possible issue for children of any age, is particularly prevalent among teenagers. It can make teens and children cranky and blue, ruin their ability to concentrate and delay response time. � e fact is that children and teens need more than nine hours of sleep each night. Yet teens tend to stay up late, then must wake up early to catch their bus. � e problem is that teens really can’t go to sleep that early. � eir biological clocks won’t let them. But you can help by being their ally. Help them adjust their

schedules so that they are not do-ing homework late at night, allow them to sleep in on the weekends, and campaign for later school starting times.

� e third basic need is to be dressed appropriately. If you’re sit-ting in school and you’re cold, it’s normal to focus on getting warm and not on what is being taught. � e reason many teens may be physically cold is because they want to follow the dress code their peers have developed. How-ever, many elementary school children go o� to school during the winter with no hat, gloves or even a warm coat. When it’s

freezing outside and you’re wear-ing only a short-sleeved shirt, you’re going to get cold. If your elementary-age children refuse to wear layers to school, leave a bag of clothes in school for those cold days. Young children and many teens don’t think ahead to bring along some extra clothes in case they get cold, but it’s a known fact that if they’re really cold, they’ll be happy to put on a hat and gloves!

Dr. Linda

Send your questions to [email protected].


BY BOB DUMASEDITOR

Approximately 35.8 million people in the United States su�er from hear-ing loss. Unfortunately, only one in six of those who needs hearing aids has them.

Home Hearing Solutions (HHS) is out to change all that. Dr. Rose DuLude, the innovative audiologist behind Home Hearing Solutions, believes that better hearing should be available to everyone. �ey’ve come up with a way to make it easier, and signi�cantly less expensive, to treat hearing loss and increase people’s quality of life.

�e doctors from Home Hearing So-lutions will come right to the patient’s home or workplace for an in-depth look at how they hear in their living environ-ments. In addition to a diagnostic hearing test, patients receive a communication as-sessment and an individualized treatment plan right in the safety and security of their homes. It’s something o�ce-based hearing healthcare cannot do.

“I have owned brick-and-mortar clini-cal facilities and provided better hearing for thousands of people who needed it,” Dr. DuLude said. “But eventually real-ized we were missing out on a population that was unable to come to our o�ce. We also knew that being able to be part of someone’s hearing challenges in real time in their living environment would better help them with their needs. So, we started this home-based audiology service. It also allows us to do the heavy lifting for the patient. We not only provide testing, but also dispense and program hearing aids and other devices, which means the least amount of e�ort and confusion on their part.”

Home Hearing Solutions will help set up all the patient’s assistive-listening de-vices for the TV, phone and more. �is personalized assistance helps to increase hearing aid success. �ere is no more wasting time traveling to and from the audiologist’s o�ce. No more waiting in waiting rooms; no more enlisting family members to set up connections to TVs and phones, and no more paying top dol-lar to get top-dollar service.

“Because we don’t have a brick-and-mortar building, we can provide services that average 30 to 50 percent less than anywhere else,” Dr. DuLude said. “We don’t have the same type of overhead as a traditional situation.”

�e doctors at Home Hearing Solu-

tions note that hearing loss is one of the fast-est growing medical problems in America. It has been linked to conditions such as de-mentia, cognitive de-cline, depression, heart disease, increased hos-pitalization rates, and poorer overall health.

“Hearing is the way we connect to the world; it sets us apart from every other creature,” Dr. Jennifer Gilligan, a member of the �ne group of Doc-tors of Audiology at HHS said. “[Hearing loss] creates a social isolation which com-promises our overall health and wellbeing. People [with hear-ing loss] reduce their amount of participa-tion and stay at home more. �ey don’t go to medical appoint-ments. It impacts them in many di�er-ent areas. We are very concerned about that. It’s a dehumanizing situation to be in. �ere is high-quality research that links hearing loss to memory decline and unsuccessful aging of the brain. We want to treat hearing loss it to make sure the brain stays healthy. It is a very serious consequence that can be avoided.”

Dr. Gilligan said even with mild hear-ing loss, chances are three times more likely that someone will su�er a fall.

“�ere are greater rates of hospitaliza-tion seen in people who have hearing loss,” she noted. “But when we treat it, we decrease the risk of a life-altering fall”

Dr. Gilligan also notes that chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease conditions often co-exist with hearing loss.

“For patients with chronic health con-ditions, we can monitor their hearing on a regular basis to make sure it’s not get-ting worse,” Dr. Gilligan noted.

Home Hearing Solutions remains on the cutting edge of audiology and o�ers to most current technology for patients.

“�ere is always something that can be done to improve hearing and at di�er-ent price points,” Dr. DuLude said. “As

experts, we can help our patients navi-gate the hundreds of options that are out there. We carry a full line of technology, including the most sophisticated devices on the market. We use shared-decision making with patients so they can decide what is best for them.

“We have a lot of tools that are evi-dence-based that you may not �nd else-where,” Dr. DuLude continued. “Not ev-eryone has the training we have; we keep the practice current to help patients make the right decision to treat their hearing loss and understand their condition. We help them become self-advocates for their hearing loss. �is approach is con-sidered the Gold Standard in care by the World Health Organization”

With Home Hearing Solutions, there’s no one-size-�ts-all type of care. Each patient’s treatment plan is designed

uniquely for them.Dr. DuLude also notes that Home

Hearing Solutions treats not only the physical aspect of hearing loss but the emotional side as well.

“We bring counseling skills—patient-centered counseling for hearing loss,” she said. “People are so much more than their hearing test results. Everyone has a di�erent experience of their hearing loss, and we join that journey with their family and loved ones, to provide services that are carefully and expertly tailored for their personal situation.”

Home Hearing Solutions serves Put-nam, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Ulster counties. Schedule a licensed, certi�ed audiologist to come to your home or business and give you the best hearing possible at the most a�ord-able price. Call 914-418-4888.

Home Hearing Solutions audiologists

come right to your doorstep‘ere is always something that can be done to improve hearing at di�erent price points. As experts, we can help our patients navigate the hundreds of options that are out there. We use shared- decision making with our patients, so they can decide what is best for them.’-Dr. Rose DuLudeFounder, Home Hearing Solutions

Bringing better hearing

Home Hearing [email protected]

www.HomeHearingSolutions.com914-418-4888

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Page 15Page 14 The Somers Record – Thursday, January 11, 2018

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BY JEREMY BROWNSTAFF WRITER

For years, Midge Miller worked in an exciting job at a publishing company in Stam-ford, Conn., where she worked with such celebrities as Hugh Downs and John Cleese. But, when she lost that job due to cutbacks, Miller knew that it was time for a new chapter.

“I knew that I didn’t want to go back to the whole thing of being the new person on the job,” she said. “I was ready to retire. But I couldn’t retire from life. I had to keep mov-ing.”

� at desire to keep moving led her to help found TEAM Tuskers, a mentoring program that is now in its � fth year of operation. � e program pairs students at the Somers middle and intermediate schools with a responsible adult mentor, and the two meet each week at their respective schools to hang out, play games and just enjoy some meaningful inter-action.

“It’s very pleasant and I think it gives the kids a friend,” said Ruth Rosenberg, a long-time mentor. “We’re not there to teach them, we’re there just to be their friend. We play games, we sew, we crochet. It’s just an extra in their lives.”

Paul Sacco, another mentor who enjoys spending the time playing games like Battleship with his mentee, Zane Mur-phy, agrees.

“I could have used some-thing like this when I was his age,” he said. “� is would have been good for me. Having a man as a mentor that I could talk to and not be afraid say certain things would have been

good for me.” � e TEAM Tuskers pro-

gram can trace its roots back to the summer of 2012 with a think tank called the Whole Child Community Coalition. Consisting of Somers parents working to support youth and improve student learning, the coalition identi� ed some key needs within the community.

“� ey tested the develop-mental assets of all the kids in the Somers schools,” Miller said, “and they decided that the kids needed some help with social and emotional well-being. So they wanted to start a mentoring program so they put out this request for someone to come forward.”

� at’s when Miller, who now serves as the TEAM Tuskers chairperson, became involved. Working with Leah Gregory, another Somers par-ent, Miller spent the rest of the summer and fall design-ing the program and it � nally launched in March 2013 with six mentors and six kids.

Since its inception, the pro-gram has grown exponentially, and now boasts 51 mentors across two schools. But even more important than the numbers is the human con-nections that are formed in the small mentoring room.

Barbara Silvestri recalled a very emotional memory when the child she had been men-toring invited her and her hus-band to attend his graduation from eighth grade.

“I sat with his family and my husband and I were invited back to his home for the cele-bration,” she said. “To me, just to have that warm connection, not only with him but with his family as well, is something I’ll

always remember.”Ric Peace, a two-year men-

tor, also said that the connec-tions made in the mentoring program are what make it all worthwhile.

“You get these sort of ‘ah-ha’ moments where you don’t think you’re making much headway and then they’ll come back and repeat some-thing you’ve said or demon-strate in another fashion that they were paying attention or that they’ve taken a kernel of what you’ve said and applied it to their own life,” he said. “I’ve had a few of those.”

Peace has also become fa-mous in the mentoring room for his weekly riddles, which challenge both the mentors and the mentees alike.

“I tell them, ‘Talk it over with your mentor, take it home to your parents and siblings and then come up with the answer,’ ” he said. “� en they all put their answers in a box and then I’ll select one out of the correct answers and create a ‘Riddle Solving Champion of the Week’ certi� cate and I’ll post that on the bulletin board.”

It’s this level of engagement, the mentors say, that keeps the kids coming back each week. Leigh Jones, one of the pro-gram’s original mentors, spoke of the excitement her mentee, � omas Svoboda, feels each week when he knows it’s a TEAM Tuskers day.

“His mom says that on � ursdays he bounces out of bed and cannot wait because it’s � ursday and he gets to hang out with Leigh,” she said.

As if that wasn’t con� r-mation enough that she was making an impact, Jones also

relayed an even more poi-gnant story that spoke to the power of the mentoring pro-gram. One afternoon, as they were leaving school, � omas showed Jones the wall of leaves the students had designed for � anksgiving, each one outlin-ing what they were thankful.

“� omas was like, ‘Oh, � nd my leaf !’ ” she said. “So we found it, and it said, ‘I’m thankful for my family and my friends,’ and he suddenly said, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t write Leigh!’ So right there he got out a pen and wrote, ‘And Leigh’ on the leaf. It was the cutest thing ever. And now whenever we walk by it, he says, ‘Look, there you are!’ ”

For Miller, the program is only going to grow, with more mentors and mentees joining every year. But, however far it may go, to her, it is already an unquali� ed success. She shared a story that serves not only to illustrate the success of TEAM Tuskers, but also a powerful metaphor for how it works.

“Last spring, we took all the kids and all the mentors to a place called Adventure Park in Bridgeport, Conn. It’s a park in the trees,” she said. “You climb up to these platforms in the trees and you move from tree to tree on zip-lines and walkways. And what im-pressed me the most was, not all the mentors would go up in the trees. All the kids went up. And the older kids were help-ing the younger kids, the men-tors who did go up helped the kids whose mentors didn’t go up. It was like one huge com-munity with everyone working together and everyone helping each other.”

The Somers Record – Thursday, January 11, 2018

TEAM Tusker

Mentor Fred Bailey and his

mentee, Joshua Ridenour

TEAM Tusker mentors and mentees enjoy a day out at Adventure Park.

Mentees Mikayla Haran, Thomas Svoboda, Lizzie Svoboda at Adventure Park

Barbara Marino and her mentee, Charley Martabano, hang out at Adventure Park.

Mentor Paul Sacco and his mentee, Zane Murphy, play Battleship in the mentoring room at Somers Middle School.

Mentor Leigh Jones plays Chinese checkers with Thomas Svoboda during their mentoring session at Somers Middle School.

Mentors helps both kids and adults form lifelong bonds

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIDGE MILLER

TEAM Tusker TEAM Tusker TEAM Tusker

program continues program continues program continues program continues program continues program continues

to grow


As the year winds down just before New Year’s Eve, time seems to slow. Activities may be centered on the home and family and if you can plan it, you may have an hour or two to do some goal-setting for the year ahead. Judith, a colleague of mine, annually schedules a retreat on New Year’s weekend. It’s great because it accomplishes two things: It allows her to measure where she has been and then to decide what she wants to achieve in the year ahead. It’s also the perfect time to recover from the pressure of the holidays and cultivate the inner resources you need for the challenges you want to take on in your life and work.

Not all of us have the time to go away right now, but you can still � nd an hour this weekend to look back and plan ahead for everything you want in the com-ing year.

You may already have a method of doing this, but if not, here are some tips to get started:

1. SCHEDULE ITIf you want to get something

done, you’re going to have to make time for it. Just as you schedule your workout to ac-complish your health goals, you must carve out time for your New Year’s goals. It takes commitment and repetition for activities to become habits. My brother, for instance, is in the midst of a major health initia-

tive. It took him three months before the habit of going to the gym started feeling like a natural part of his routine. You will have to commit to doing what you need to before this becomes an automatic event in your day.

2. DEFINE A FOCUSDecide what’s important to

you, then construct your goals around it. If you want to get healthy this year, then decide what that looks like to you. Is being healthy eating better to feel better? Is it being more

active? Maybe it means eating more veggies and less cheese. Maybe it means walking three times a week or going to the gym. Name your goals and be speci� c.

3. MEASURE IT How will you mark your

progress? Does it mean going to the gym eight times a month? Does this break down to twice a week? If your goal is to spend more quality time with the im-portant people in your life, will you schedule bowling or going to movies twice a month? If it has something to do with your personal � nances or professional life, then � gure out the metrics. � is way, at the end of the year, you have something tangible as a measurement.

4. KNOW YOUR “WHY”Know why your goal is

important to you. Is it for the sake of your blood pressure, the well-being of your family or personal satisfaction? Your “why” will propel you forward. “I want to be proud of myself ” or “I want the comfort of having X amount in the bank” or “I want to create memories with my children and loved ones” are examples of “whys.”

5. CHECK-IN DAILYHold yourself accountable

for your long-term progress by committing to it a little bit each day. Measure how you did and plan for the next day/event and then decide what you’re going to do next. Jot down three to � ve action steps for the next day. All this should take less than 10 minutes. � is little exercise alone will make a BIG di� erence in achieving your goals.

You start the next day know-ing exactly what you will do. It’s like the Stephen Covey adage, “Start with the end in mind.”

So I challenge you to spend an hour this weekend working out your vision for the upcom-ing year. If it’s world peace, then decide how you are going to contribute to that. If it’s better health or a closer family, then decide how you’re going to go about working toward that. Write down your goals, decide what steps you’re going to take and then make yourself account-able. When you plan ahead like this, achieving your goals becomes systematic and more likely to be successful.

Congratulations in advance—you’re going to have a great year!

Time management for reaching New Year’s goals

ANDRÉA DEINSTADT

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BY PAUL LASPINAGUEST WRITER

� ere are many myths sur-rounding the Somers Lions Club: “It’s an all-male club,” “a busi-ness networking group,” “an old men’s club,” “an event coordination group.” Let’s start by saying all of these suppositions could not be further from the truth.

� e Somers Lions Club is a 52-year-old, all-volunteer organi-zation with a mission of bringing hope and help to the needy and to host service projects that ben-e� t our community. � e club is an a� liate of Lions Club Inter-national, the world’s largest service club organization with more than 46,000 clubs and 1.4 million-plus members. We are proud to have two of our charter members, Jerry Billingsley and John Harkins, still very active in our club!

� e Somers Lions Club is 126 members strong, adding one to two members every month. Our members come from all walks of life: business owners, corporate, le-gal, medical, education, retirement. More than 25 members are female.

Our mission is to make a posi-tive impact on our local commu-nity by helping those in need and to support the vision of Lions In-ternational. We are driven by four pillars of service: local families in need, diabetes, pediatric health and vision. � ese are supported by our fundraising e� orts (carni-val, car ra� e, golden oldies, pan-cake breakfast). Furthermore, we support local families in need by repairing homes, providing food and gas cards, oil deliveries and car repairs, to name a few.

We also support organization such as Friends of Karen, Make-A-Wish, Blythedale Children’s Hos-

pital, Vacation Camp for the Blind, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Blue-Path Autism Service Dogs, Camp Sunshine, YMCA, Somers Senior Citizens, scholarships for Somers graduating seniors, summer camp scholarships for local children, lo-cal Scout and sports groups and veterans. In our spare time, we love to thank our community for its support by hosting the Joe Wynn/Somers Lions Track Meet, Inde-pendence Day Picnic, Fall Festival/Trail of Terror and Health Expo/Blood Drive.

For those in the community who don’t feel they have the time to work on hands-on projects but would still like to support our community through donations, we have set up the Somers Angels, which is a fund within the Somers Lions Charitable Foundation

(501c3) that accepts donations to satisfy acute � nancial needs, such as food, heating oil, emergency auto or home repairs, funeral ex-penses, etc. We provide help via direct payments to providers and pre-paid cards to those in need.

� e Somers Lions also sponsor the Somers LEO Club, a youth (ninth through 12th grade) organi-zation of Lions Clubs Internation-al. We are excited to have one of the largest and most active LEO Clubs in New York State, with more than 200 members who perform more than 3,400 hours of volunteer ser-

vice every year. We encourage our members to explore their leader-ship traits by obtaining experience through the opportunity of partici-pating in local community service projects. � ey are often working, side by side, with Somers Lions and community leaders, who o� er mentorship, guidance and a laugh while working to improve the lives of many in our community. � e LEOs just completed a $27,000 “Polar Plunge” fundraising e� ort for Special Olympics New York.

I have to say, this is a wonderful group of caring people who give

sel§ essly every day to help those in need and to make our community a better place for all.

A special thank you to our com-munity for supporting us each year and allowing us to do what we do. If you are interested in � nding out more about the Somers Lions, please come and join us for a meet-ing held the � rst and third Tuesday of every month. More information can be found at somerslionsclub.org or by calling 914-302-4546.

Paul LaSpina is president of the Somers Lions Club.

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PTSA Fundraiser� e Somers High School

PTSA is selling Somers ap-parel (rain jackets, � eeces and billboard shirts) until Jan. 31. For more information, go to somersclassof2021.itemorder.com. If you have any questions, contact Tammy Repp at [email protected]. Orders will be taken until the end of January, with items arriving in February. All proceeds bene� t the Somers High School Class of 2021.

Lions Make-a-Wish Fundraiser

On Jan. 22, the Somers Li-ons, in partnership with Mam-ma Rosa Ristorante, will host a fundraising event to grant a wish for a local young lady with a life-threatening Illness through Make-A-Wish Hud-son Valley.

� e Make-A-Wish organiza-tion has been granting wishes

since 1980 and has since grant-ed more than 285,000 wishes.

� e event is dedicated to Au-drey Currie, who was a teacher and dedicated her life to helping children. � e Lions, inspired by her strength, courage and love, will come together to give joy and hope to a local child and her family.

Anyone can participate, ei-ther by making a donation, bidding online for one of the auction items or by purchasing event tickets.

For more information, visit the Somers Lions website at somerslionsclub.org or call Richie at 914-320-5927.

Vision WorkshopIs there more you are desiring

to be, do and have in 2018? Start 2018 at the Vision Workshop from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. � eresa Wienecke, life mas-tery consultant, will lead the free interactive workshop in the

Church of � e Good Shepherd community room, 39 Granite Springs Road. Participants will leave with their individualized 2018 Vision Statement. � e free event is suitable for high school students through retirees. For more information or to RSVP, email [email protected].

Nature Walk at Muscoot

Come to Muscoot Farm in Somers from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 20, for a Win-ter Tree Identi� cation event with naturalist Tait Johansson. He will teach you how to use a tree’s struc-ture, bark and other clues to ID it even after the leaves have fallen. � e event is family-friendly, but all children must be accompanied by an adult. It is free. � e level of physical di� culty is easy. Dress warm. Please register with Susan at [email protected] or 914-302-9713.

Hebrew Congregation

EventsFor more information, email

[email protected] or call 914-248-9532.

• Jan. 13, 9:30 a.m.—Satur-day morning services

• Jan. 13, 11:30 a.m.—Lunch n’ Learn





• Jan. 28, 10:30 a.m.—Adult education: Rabbi Abraham He-schel

Winter Events at Somers Library

� e Somers Library is locat-

ed at 82 Primrose St. Register for programs at somerslibrary.org or by calling 914-232-5717. Programs are funded by the Friends of the Somers Library through donations.

DROP-IN FOR ARTMondays, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5,

2/19 and 2/26, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Do you want to create dur-ing the cold winter? Drop in, no registration required. Bring supplies of your choice. � ere is a $6 charge per class.

BRIDGE AT THE LIBRARYMondays, noon� ese classes are for begin-

ners and players with some ex-perience. Learn how to navigate your way around the game from bridge maven Walter Heitner. You will learn bidding and work on the play of the hand. Space is limited; register online.

ANIME CLUBWednesdays, 3:15–4:30 p.m.� is program is for teens en-

tering seventh grade and up.

COMMUNITY OPIOID OVERDOSE TRAINING

Thursday, Jan. 18, 12:30–2 p.m.

Help save a life. � e West-chester County Department of Health will o ̈er a free train-ing for the public on how to respond to an opioid overdose using naloxone (Narcan). Space is limited; pre-registration is re-quired. Register online at west-chestergov.com/health or call the Division of Health Promo-tion at 914-995-6584.

ANIME NIGHTFriday, Jan. 19, 4–6:30 p.m.Come to the library for a

chance to watch anime from Crunchyroll with your friends. � is program is for teens enter-ing seventh grade and up.

ACT PRACTICE EXAMSaturday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m.–2

p.m.� ere is a di ̈erence between

the SAT and the ACT, and some students do better on one than the other. Here is your opportunity to try your hand at the ACT without having to worry about the score. After the test, participants will re-ceive an extensive score-report showing exactly where your strengths and weaknesses are, plus a personalized consulta-tion to go over your scores and answer your questions. Please bring graphing calculator, pens, pencils, and water and snack bar (optional). Registration is required.

ELEPHANT’S TRUNK

The Somers Record – Page 19Thursday, January 11, 2018 SCHOOLS & CAMPS

Upon taking inventory of their lives at the start of a new year, some people entertain thoughts of returning to school.

Adults who decide to return to school after a long layo� are following a popu-lar path. According to the education resource Education Corner, a growing num-ber of career colleges and vocational training schools now o�er bachelor’s and graduate degree programs geared toward working adults.

People return to school for various reasons, including the chance to learn new skills or further develop their existing skills. Some return to school because they are changing careers, while others may have lost a job or desire a promotion and feel that attaining a higher level of education or new skills can make reaching that goal more likely.

Adults who hope to return to school might be surprised to learn that the edu-cational landscape has changed considerably since they were last in a classroom.

• College students are no longer just young men and women who begin pur-suing degrees right out of high school. In fact, the number of adults returning to the classroom has increased considerably, often making younger students the exception rather than the rule, says the college nancial planner Straighter Line. According to the U.S. Department of Education, college students 25 years or older comprise 40 percent of all students enrolled in college.

• Adults who are thinking about returning to school are urged to ll out the free applications for student aid to see if they qualify. Grants and scholarships may be available, and some workers nd that employers may match funds or o�er some assistance to nance job training courses.

• Many schools now o�er online courses that make it easier for working adults to pursue their degrees.

Many working adults are returning to school to pursue new or advanced de-grees, as more colleges and universities are facilitating such pursuits.

�is article was provided by Metro Creative Connection.

Things to know about returning to school

ACT Practice Exam�e Somers Library will host an ACT

practice exam from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat-urday, Jan. 27. �ere is a di�erence be-tween the SAT and the ACT, and some students do better on one than the other. Here is your opportunity to try your hand at the ACT without having to worry about the score going anywhere. After the test, participants will receive an exten-sive score-report showing exactly where their strengths and weaknesses are, plus a personalized consultation to go over scores and answer questions. Please bring graphing calculator, pens, pencils, and wa-ter and snack bar (optional). Registration is required.

Lions Club Scholarships�e Somers Lions Club is looking to

award $1,500 scholarships to ve deserv-ing high school seniors who plan to at-tend a university, college, trade school, technical institute, or pursue an alternate education. Applicants for the scholarship must live in Somers, regardless of the high school they attend.

�e scholarship application is available on the Somers High School Naviance program and the Somers Lions Club website (somerslionsclub.org). �e appli-cation deadline is March 31.

TEAM TuskersTEAM Tuskers mentoring is look-

ing for committed, dedicated adult men and women to spend an hour each week during the school year to support a student in the schools. Mentoring is based on building a sup-portive relationship between an adult and a student—to provide insight, to guide, to listen and to be supportive. Mentors meet with their mentee for about an hour each week at either SIS or SMS, before school, during lunch or after school. Rooms have been set aside in each school for these meetings and are equipped with games, arts and crafts, puzzles, sports equipment, and a computer.

If you are interested, please visit som-ersschools.org/teamtuskers; email [email protected], or call 914-481-2716.

BRIEFS

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 The Somers Record, 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.

I am a scholarI am optimistic

I am Harvey

Admissions Open House: Wed., Jan. 24For details and to register, visit harveyschool.org/visit.

Small classes, inspiring teachers, rigorous academics and an array of extracurriculars instill in students a passion for lifelong learning,

and the con�dence to pursue individual passions.

Harvey is a coeducational college preparatory school located in Katonah, NY enrolling students in grades 6–12 with boarding beginning in grade 9.

SCHOOLS & CAMPSPage 20 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 11, 2018

845-628-750085 Myrt le Avenue, Mahopac, NY 10541 • www.pineg rovecou ntrydayscho o l . com

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for Nearly 40 Years

Recent college graduates may be entering the job market with degrees in tow, but many also are leaving school with sizable amounts of student loan debt. According to a 2017 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, student loan debt rose for the eighteenth consecutive year, while Debt.org reports that stu-dent debt in the United States totaled $1.4 trillion in 2017. Ca-nadian students are not faring much better than their American counterparts, owing an average of $28,000 after four years accord-ing to the Canadian Federation of Students.

Student loan debt is a heavy burden that has short- and long-term a� ects on borrowers. Siz-able student loan debts may af-fect young professionals’ ability to support themselves, while the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports that such debt has contributed to a decline in the housing market, as fewer col-lege graduates can a� ord to buy homes while still in their 20s.

� e notion of paying o� their student loans before they reach maturity may seem implausible to some borrowers. But there are

a handful of ways for adults with sizable student debts to do just that.

• Make more frequent pay-ments. Many homeowners pay their mortgages o� early by mak-ing bi-weekly payments. Doing so means they will make 26 half-payments, or 13 full payments, each year as opposed to the 12 full payments made by home-owners who pay on a monthly schedule. � e same approach can be applied to student loans. � at extra annual payment each year can gradually chip away at loan balances, helping borrowers pay loans o� before they reach ma-turity.

• Prioritize paying o� high-interest loans. Many students � -nance their educations by taking out multiple loans. If these loans come with di� erent interest rates, borrowers should pay o� the high-interest loans � rst to reduce the amount they’re spending on interest. Borrowers will still need to make minimum payments on other loans, but any extra money they intend to pay each month should go toward paying down the high-interest loan.

• Re� nance loans. Many recent

college graduates do not have lengthy credit histories, and some might be carrying low credit scores. Once such borrowers have shown that they can consistently make payments in full and on time, they can approach their lenders to re� nance their loans in the hopes of getting a lower in-terest rate re� ective of their cred-itworthiness. Re� nancing may only be available to borrowers

with private loans, but this strat-egy can save student debt hold-ers a lot of money over the life of their loans.

• Take advantage of o� ers from lenders. Some lenders may re-duce interest rates for borrowers who agree to certain terms, such as signing up to receive e-state-ments or enrolling in automatic payment programs in which money is deducted directly from

a borrowers’ bank account on the same day each month. � e sav-ings created by such o� ers may seem insigni� cant each month, but can add up over time.

Paying o� student loan debts early can be done, even for bor-rowers whose debts are tens of thousands of dollars.

� is article was provided by Metro Creative Connection.

Tips to pay off student debt early



SportsSports

BY ROB DIANTONIOSPORTS EDITOR

When Ron DiSanto took over as Somers coach four years ago, his plan was to get the Tuskers to improve each season with hopes that the program would eventually get back to where it used to be.

�e Tuskers are sure headed in the right direction.Somers won its own tournament—the Eric D’Agnese

Wrestling Tournament—for the �rst time since 2011 on Saturday, Jan. 6.

“Going into the season one of our goals was to place �rst at a tournament, and we couldn’t be any happier that it was at our own,” senior Sean Freebern said. “Accom-plishing such a feat was a big deal for us and it will only motivate us more for the rest of the season.”

�e Tuskers totaled 161.5 team points. Mamaroneck was second (149 points) with Mahopac (140.5) coming in third.

“It means that we are establishing ourselves as a very competitive team this season,” DiSanto said of winning the tourney. “We are still under the radar throughout the section, but little by little we are surprising people. However, we are not really surprised because we know our potential. We are starting to prove what we believe, and we believe we are going to make a lot of waves in the postseason. We really enjoyed winning the tournament, but with that said, we plan to continue to improve and see how much more we can accomplish.”

Freebern (220 pounds), senior Antonio Vieira (182) and sophomore Matt Kelly (195) claimed titles.

Second-seeded Freebern defeated top-seeded James Bellucci of Pawling, 3-1, in the championship match.

“Late in the third period wrestling tied is never easy, and I knew I had to pull something o� to clinch the win,” Freebern said. “With short time left, I sunk the cowboy, got my takedown and rode Bellucci out for the �nal sec-onds. I think one of my key strengths has always been my mental toughness, and I just dug deep and did what I had to do to claim my title.

“Both individually and as a team, winning the tourna-ment was a major accomplishment. Coming out of last season a Somers tournament champion, I was thirsty for another �rst-place title. Earning it yet again was an amazing moment in my career, and winning as a team made it that much better.”

DiSanto said that Freebern “showed a lot of heart” to win his second consecutive Somers tournament title. Freebern is 15-2 on the season.

“He was in one of the most competitive weight classes of the tournament,” DiSanto said. “His opponents in the

Back on top: Tuskers win own tourneyTrio of Freebern, Kelly and Vieira claims titles

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS GROSSSomers celebrates with the trophy after winning its own tournament for the first time since 2011.

PHOTO: DEENA BELLSean Freebern drags down Pawling’s James Bellucci in the finals on his way to the 220-pound title.

PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIOAntonio Vieira pins Lakeland/Panas’ Julian Soto in the quarterfinals.SEE WRESTLING PAGE 22

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SPORTSPage 22 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 11, 2018

BY ROB DIANTONIOSPORTS EDITOR

Somers’ winter track and � eld team had to do some reshu� ing with their schedule after the Dendy Invitational was post-poned and they were unable to make the Dartmouth Relays (Hanover, N.H.) due to snow and school cancellations.

e coaches were able to get the Tuskers into the 24th U.S. Army Hispanic Games at the last minute and Somers was able to post some strong results.

e boys 4x800-meter relay

team of Greg Fusco (1:59.20), Matt Fusco (2:03.47), Michael Altieri (2:03.71) and Chris Hannon (2:12) was seeded No. 6 but � nished second with a clocking of 8:18.39.

Matt Fusco had a pair of sec-ond-place � nishes in the 3,000 meters (8:52.43) and the 2-mile run (9:28.90). Greg also com-peted in the 1-mile run where he � nished third in 4:19.97.

Numan Maloney was fourth in the high jump with a leap of 6-4.

Anjali Kapur led the girls team with a sixth-place � nish

in the 3,000 meters (10:46.75). Her time was the second fastest clocking for a Tusker girl in pro-gram history.

e 4x400-meter relay (4:13.51) and 4x800-meter relay (10:34.94) both placed seventh. e 4x400 team consisted of Kellie Kottmann (61.51), Ash-ley Moon (63.81), Mercedesz Stumpf (67.36) and Emma Kittredge (60.84). Kittredge (2:52.38), Elisabeth Van Tas-sell (2:27.95), Caitlyn Van Tas-sell (2:53.68) and Clare Keane (3:17.97) comprised the 4x800 team.

Tuskers run at Hispanic GamesRelay team places second behind Fusco brothers, Kapur leads girls

PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY HANNONFrom left: Greg Fusco, Chris Hannon, Michael Altieri and Matt Fusco led Somers to a second-place fi nish in the 4x800-meter relay.

semis and � nals are both ranked in the section. He knew this go-ing in, so he knew he’d have to wrestle smart and not make any mistakes. He has improved a lot in adjusting his style for the 220-weight class, and it’s really working well for him.”

Vieira, the top seed, recorded two quick pins in the quarter-� nals and semi� nals to get to the � nals. He was tested in that match and was able to edge sec-ond-seeded Lucca Ardovianni, 3-1.

“Antonio showed great ath-leticism,” DiSanto said of Vieira, who is 12-0 on the season. “His defense was so strong that his opponents could not score on him. His technique and wres-tling smarts are improving which is making him a well-rounded wrestler.”

e top-seeded Kelly cruised to the 195-pound title, netting a pin in 40 seconds in the quar-ters and an 11-second pin in the semis. He defeated Irvington’s Aidan Daly by a 17-0 technical fall in the � nal.

“Matt wrestled like he was on a mission,” DiSanto said of Kelly, who is 14-0 this season. “He was really aggressive, taking shots within the � rst � ve seconds of every match. He executed his low single leg takedown very well. He had a dominant perfor-mance.”

Kelly said that having con� -dence in himself was a key for his success throughout the tour-nament.

“I’ve been excited all year thinking about the Somers tour-nament,” Kelly said. “I took sec-ond last year as a freshman at 152 pounds and I wanted to make a statement this year at my new weight. I tried to stay calm and

composed throughout the day. I was con� dent in my work ethic and ability from wrestling all o¡ -season and non-stop training at Iowa Style Wrestling. Winning the weight class at 195 meant a lot to me. I was hesitant to make the jump at � rst this season con-sidering it was four weight class-es above what I went last season, but my performance at the tour-nament helped reassure me it was the right decision.”

Senior Frank Celli su¡ ered his � rst loss of the season (17-1) but reached the � nals at 138 pounds. He had three pins on his way to the � nals but was pinned by top-seeded Jack Wrobel of Pawling in the championship bout.

“Frank was dominant leading into the � nals,” the fourth-year coach said. “Now his only loss of the season is to Wrobel, who was (Most Outstanding Wrestler) and is ranked fourth in the state in Division 2.”

WRESTLING FROM PAGE 21

PHOTO: DEENA BELLMatt Kelly locks in a half nelson in a 195-pound match.

PHOTO: ROB DIANTONIOTusker Frank Celli placed second at 138 pounds.

PHOTO: DEENA BELLMatt Russo takes down his opponent in a 99-pound match.

Sophomore omas Gall placed second at 170 pounds. He fell to Beacon’s Dirani Haynes in the � nal match after pulling out a 10-9 win over Irvington’s Nestor Ortiz in the semis. “It was impressive to see a sophomore in the � nals,” DiSanto said. “He even had the lead in the � nals so he was very close to winning it all.”

Matt Russo also endured his � rst loss of the 2017-18 cam-paign (16-1) but rebounded to place third at 99 pounds. Russo bested Beacon’s Chris Crawford 11-2 in the semi� nals.

Freshman A.J. Dorazio, who is primarily a JV wrestler, was

fourth at 170 pounds. Nick Davison “rose to the oc-

casion” at 160 pounds in what was probably the deepest weight class in the tournament, DiSanto said.

In his � rst varsity tournament, Zach Lupinacci � nished sixth with a 3-3 record at 145 pounds. “I was really proud of Zach,” DiSanto said. “He did very well for a sophomore.”

Brendan Loughlin made his season debut after returning from a shoulder injury. “He picked up his � rst varsity career win,” the coach noted. “His comeback is going to help us a lot, especially in dual meets.”

Matt Russo takes down his opponent in a 99-pound match.

LEISURE

Z’paghetti Marinara with ShrimpMakes 2 servingsIngredients

28 ounces (about 4 medium) zucchini8 ounces (about 16) raw large shrimp, peeled, tails removed and deveined1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/8 teaspoon black pepper1 cup Clean & Hungry Marinara Sauce (see below)2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheeseDirections

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lay a large piece of heavy-duty foil on a baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray.2. Using a spiral vegetable slicer, cut zucchini into spaghetti-like noodles. (If you don’t have a spiral veggie slicer, peel zucchini into super-thin strips, rotating the zucchini after each strip.) Roughly chop for shorter noodles.

3. Place zucchini noodles in the center of the foil and top with shrimp. Sprinkle with seasonings. Top with marinara sauce and Parmesan.4. Cover with another large piece of foil. Fold together and seal all four edges of the foil pieces, forming a well-sealed packet.5. Bake for 25 minutes, or until zucchini noodles have softened and shrimp are fully cooked.6. Cut packet to release hot steam before opening entirely.7. Transfer packet contents to a large bowl, and toss to mix.Clean & Hungry Marinara Sauce

Makes 6 servings3 cups canned crushed tomatoes1/4 cup tomato paste1 tablespoon white wine vinegar2 teaspoons Italian seasoning1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon black pepper1. Combine ingredients in a large

sealable container. Mix until uniform.2. Seal, and refrigerate until ready to use.


`

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Spaghetti is a staple of many family dinner tables. But home cooks who want to veer away from traditional pasta without giving up their love of marinara can try the following, zucchini-inspired alternative to traditional spaghetti, “Z’paghetti Marinara with Shrimp,” courtesy of Lisa Lillien’s “Hungry Girl Clean & Hungry” (St. Martin’s Press).


A new take on ‘spaghetti’

LEISUREPage 24 – The Somers Record Thursday, January 11, 2018

CLUES ACROSS 1. Make ale 5. Residue 8. Female parent12. Succulent plants14. OJ’s judge15. Czech river16. Embarrassing predicament18. NHL legend Bobby19. Sunfi sh20. One who acclaims21. On the __: running away22. Oklahoma’s “Wheat Capital”23. The Golden State26. Merrymake30. Siberian nomads31. Pock-marked32. Baleen whale33. Leaf-footed bug genus34. Treasure39. Tanzanian shilling42. Changed44. Intestinal pouches46. Walked in a celebratory way47. South American

mountain chain49. Jai __, sport50. Consumed51. Firm56. Pubs57. Leafy drink58. Cured59. Northern wind of France60. Tax collector61. Respite from the sun62. American spy Aldrich63. Central Standard Time64. Myanmar ethnic group

CLUES DOWN 1. Crush 2. Razorbill genus 3. “Full House” actress Loughlin 4. Bluish green 5. Garlic mayonnaise 6. Attacks repeatedly 7. Secretion 8. Special instance 9. A handsome youth loved by Aphrodite10. Tree genus in the mahogany family11. Israeli city

13. Formed a theory17. Remove24. Type of light25. Repeats26. Certifi ed public accountant27. River in eastern France28. Returned material authorization (abbr.)29. Special __: military group35. Ribonucleic acid36. Not even37. Power transmission belt38. Doctor of Education40. Type of nerve41. Types of tops42. Large primate43. Flooded, low-lying land44. Gritty45. Gets up47. Stake48. Not the most49. Swedish rock group52. Expresses pleasure53. Expression of boredom54. Queen of Sparta55. Where Adam and Eve were placed at the Creation

Fun By The NumbersLike puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fi ll each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can fi gure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Puzzle solutions on page 25Crossword

Contact UsThe Somers Record is located at Bailey Court, 334 Route 202, Unit C1S, Somers, NY 10589. You can contact us at 914-302-5628 or email [email protected].

4th Annual Women's

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CLASSIFIEDS The Somers Record – Page 25Thursday, January 11, 2018

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

PUBLIC NOTICEPLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that the Zoning Board of Ap-peals of the Town of Somers, Westchester County, New York will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 16, 2018at 7:30 P.M. at the Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York, 10589 on the applica-tion of Anthony and Catherine Porco for an interpretation un-der the Town Code of the Town of Somers pertaining to a non-conforming commercial use in a single family, residential district under Section Schedule 170-112. � e Property included in this ap-plication is located in an R-80 Residence District at 1 Route 6, Yorktown Heights and is known and shown on the Town Tax Map as Section: 4.18, Block: 1, Lot: 1.

All persons having any interest in the application are invited to attend and will be given an op-portunity to be heard.

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF

APPEALSVICTOR CANNISTRA

CHAIRMANDenise Schirmer, Secretary

January 3, 2018

LLC FORMATION NOTICEfeminineYou, LLC, Arts of

Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/2/2017. Cty: West-chester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 6 International Dr., Ste. 130, Rye Brook, NY 10573. General Pur-pose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICECommerce Marina LLC,

Arts of Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/7/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 124-18 Metro-politan Ave., Kew Gardens, NY 11415. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICEJoe’s J&M Services LLC, Arts

of Org. � led with Sec. of State

of NY (SSNY) 12/13/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 11 Alden Rd., Apt. 4H, Larchmont, NY 10538. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICE20 Scott Circle, LLC, Arts of

Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/29/2017. Cty: West-chester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Richard Giliotti, 800 Westches-ter Ave., Ste. S-340, Rye Brook, NY 10573. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICEJDM Advisors LLC, Arts

of Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/20/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Je� rey J. Demar-co, 125 West 96th St., #5K, NY, NY 10025. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICEClassic Beauty Models, LLC,

Arts of Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/27/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to c/o Claire Civet-ta, 12 Wyndham Rd., Scarsdale, NY 10583. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICEAquino Mallol Property LLC,

Arts of Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/31/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 3535 Kings Col-lege Pl., Bronx, NY 10467. Gen-eral Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICE11 North Sixth Ave LLC, Arts

of Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/19/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 11 N. Sixth Ave., Mt. Vernon, NY 10550. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICE� e Edem Group, LLC, Arts

of Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 10/11/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 330 Oxford Rd., New Rochelle, NY 10804. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICENotice of Formation of 3S

MARKETING LLC. Art. Of Org. � led with SSNY on 11/07/2017. O¦ ce Location: WESTCHESTER. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: LEGALINC CORPORATE SERVICES INC., 1967 WEHRLE DRIVE, SUITE 1 #086, BUFFALO, NY 14221. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICE LA Silverman Consulting

LLC, Arts of Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/8/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 81 Berrian Rd., New Rochelle,, NY 10804. General Purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICENotice of Formation of FJG

Chemical LLC. Art. Of Org. � led with SSNY on 9/28/17. O¦ ce Location: Westchester. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 29 Hynard Place, Baldwin Place, NY 10505. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

LLC FORMATION NOTICEDorf & Nelson LLC, Arts of

Org. � led with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/4/2017. Cty: Westchester. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to Dorf & Nelson LLP, � e International Corporate Center, 55 � eodore Fremd Ave., Ste. A300, Rye, NY 10580. General Purpose.

LEGAL NOTICES


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The recently signed into law “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,” e� ective

Jan. 1 of this year and which sunsets on Jan. 1, 2025 for most provisions a� ecting individuals, provides for a dramatic increase in the federal estate and gift tax credit.

For 2018, the credit will be $11.2 million per person — up from $5.49 million per person in 2017 — and $22.4 million per married couples. Because of this increase in the amount excluded from taxation, the vast majority of Americans will not be impact-ed by federal estate and gift taxes.

In fact, it has been estimated that the number of federal estate tax returns � led for the year 2018 will drop from approximately 5,000 per year to 1,500 per year. Additionally, the new law allows the heirs and bene� ciaries of the

decedent to receive the property inherited at its fair market value on date of death, thus, being able to avoid capital gains taxes un-less the property/assets are sold for more than their date of death fair market value.

� is change in the federal es-tate and gift tax law allows one, either during lifetime (by gifting) or upon death, to pass a stagger-ing amount of money without the payment of any federal taxes. Considering the amount of taxes imposed on one’s earnings and savings during one’s life, many

would consider this to be a just result.

While New York and other states still have an estate tax, it is not as onerous as the 40 percent tax rate imposed under federal law for estates larger than the available credit. In New York, the available estate tax credit for 2018 will be $5.25 million per person and $10.5 million per couple (as indexed for in� ation) with the highest tax rate of approximately 16 percent on amounts above the available credit.

At this point, you are prob-ably wondering why the new tax legislation makes long-term care and elder-law planning even more important. Well, the an-swer is quite simple.

With the federal estate tax, and for most New Yorkers, the New York estate tax being of little concern, the most impor-

tant issue many seniors should focus on are the steps they should take to ensure that their life savings are not dissipated by the signi� cant cost of long-term care (either nursing home and/or home care). It is important to take the necessary pro-active steps to protect one’s life saving before health and aging issues rear their ugly head. Whether it be utilizing an Irrevocable Med-icaid Asset Protection Trust, the gifting of assets to loved one’s or purchasing long-term-care insurance, it is imperative that seniors act while they are in good health and are still capable of doing the planning. It is also important that one be cognizant of the 5-year ineligibility period (look back) created for Medicaid nursing home eligibility when one transfers assets to an Irrevo-cable trust and/or as gifts to one’s

children or others. � e signi� cant minimization

of the risks of being subjected to the federal estate tax for all in-tents and purposes highlights the need for seniors to refocus their attention to their long-term care and elder law planning needs.

Anthony J. Enea, Esq. is a member of Enea, Scanlan, & Sirignano, LLP, of White Plains and Somers. Mr. Enea is the past chair of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and is the past president and a founding member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Mr. Enea is the current president of the Westchester County Bar Foundation and past President of the Westchester County Bar Association. He can be reached at 914-948-1500.

Tax reform makes long-term-care planning more important

ANTHONY J.ENEA

GUEST CORNER

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 The Somers Record, 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.

TAX & FINANCIAL PLANNING

BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE The Somers Record – Page 27Thursday, January 11, 2018

Real estate can be a good in-vestment that helps build wealth and secure a nancial future.

According to Investopedia, average 20-year returns in com-mercial real estate hover around 9.5 percent, while residential and diversied real estate average re-turns of 10.6 percent.

Such gures may seem too good to ignore for many prospec-tive real estate investors. But in-vesting in real estate can be risky, and it’s important that rst-time investors consider a host of fac-tors before deciding to delve into the real estate market.

CURRENT FINANCESReal estate can potentially yield

big returns, but these may only materialize after investors spend ample amounts of money refur-bishing or even maintaining their investment properties. Prospec-tive investors without the capi-tal on hand to nance repairs or routine maintenance may nd it di�cult to make their properties appealing to potential tenants, which can make it harder to meet mortgage payments. Prospective investors who already have siz-able debts, be it consumer debt or existing mortgage payments, may want to pay down those debts be-fore investing in real estate.

DOWN PAYMENTSAccording to Wells Fargo,

mortgage insurance does not cover investment property, and loans typically require a mini-mum down payment of 20 per-cent of the value of the property. So prospective investors cannot count on mortgage insurance to nance their investments in real estate. Investors should not just make sure they can meet that

20 percent requirement, but also ensure they have enough capi-tal left after making their down payments to address any repairs that need to be made. If not, they might have trouble attracting renters willing to pay enough in rent.

INTEREST RATESProspective real estate inves-

tors may be surprised to learn that investment property loans are often subject to higher in-terest rates than those for home buyers borrowing to purchase a primary residence, says Quick-en Loans. Investors should not count on getting the same or better interest rates for their in-vestment properties that they did when buying the homes they cur-rently live in.

FINANCIAL RESERVESSome lenders may require that

prospective investors have sizable nancial reserves before they will lend them money to invest in real estate. Some may require that borrowers have several months’ worth of reserves to nance both their personal lives and their in-vestments. If a 20 percent down payment would make that impos-sible, then prospective investors may want to wait a little longer to invest and save more money un-til their nancial reserves would prove more acceptable to lenders.

Investing in real estate can yield big returns. But rst-time investors should know that such investments are vastly di�erent than investing in a home for one-self.

�is article is provided by Metro Creative Connection.

Tips for first-time real estate investors

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Vol. 7 No. 40 Visit TapIntoSomers.net for the latest news. … · 2019-06-27 · Vol. 7 No. 40 Thursday, January 11, 2018 BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 27 CLASSIFIEDS 25 ELEPHANT’S TRUNK