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Congratulations to the Winter 2018 HOPP Award Recipients: Owen Anastas and Jared Morel

Pelham Memorial High School seniors Owen Anastas and Jared Mo-rel are the recipients of the Winter 2018 Heart of Pelham PACT (HOPP) Award. A special note of thanks to sponsors, Alice DeNormandie, Founder of Pelham PACT and the Pel-ham Civics Association. Their gener-osity makes this award possible for Pelham youth.

Owen Anastas is being honored for his KINDNESS and COMPAS-SION. A senior at Pelham Memori-al High School, Owen has spent the last four years as a volunteer in the Vermont Adaptive Ski Program, a nationally recognized program that seeks to empower people of all abil-ities to enjoy recreational sports. In this role, Owen assists and skis with mentally and physically challenged children and adults. Last year, he was chosen to work one-on-one with a young man with Downs Syndrome who was training as a Paralympic athlete.

According to the adult who nominated him, Owen “is kind, cour-teous and compassionate. He doesn't call attention to himself but has demonstrated consistent leadership and compassion in his commitment to his volunteer work, serving as a

good role model to his peers.”Four years doing this work

clearly demonstrates Owen’s under-standing at a very young age how to give of yourself to bring others joy—how to make sacrifices of time and other activities— to bring oth-er people joy. As these choices of-ten go without recognition, PACT is honored to be able to give Owen this recognition with a HOPP Award. Con-gratulations!

Jared Morel is being honored for his INTEGRITY and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. A senior at PMHS, Jared is a volunteer powerhouse, amassing over 200 hours of commu-nity service during his high school career, working with a number of or-ganizations in Pelham including Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Pelham Picture House and County Harvest, among others. Starting his service at a very young age as well, in 9th and 10th grade, Jared participated in service trips with Bridges to Com-munity, helping with a sustainable development project in the Domini-can Republic. A prolific chess player and a member of the PMHS Memorial Chess Club, Jared has not only found a way to excel at chess (he placed 1st in the 2017 Pelham Classic Chess

Tournament Reserve Section) but he has also taken an interest in guiding younger chess players. In 9th grade,

Jared taught chess in the after-school program at OLPH.

The adult who nominated Jared

praised his quiet humility. “Jared is a very honest and earnest young man.

Left to right: Laura Caruso, Executive Director, Alice DeNormandie, Audrey Levenson, Daniel James, Jared Morel, Owen Anastasia and Tim Case. Photo by Deborah Karson.

continued on page 10

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shorelinepub.com The Pelham Post • 3.6.18 - 3.20.18 • 3

Village of Pelham Board of Trustees ElectionVOTE TUESDAY MARCH 20TH

POLLS OPEN 6AM – 9PM at DARONCO TOWN HOUSE, 20 FIFTH AVENUE

Peter Potocki Hanan Kamal Eldahry Adam KaganCommitment to:

✭ Stay below 2% property tax cap

✭ Develop and grow the community via the Business District Floating Zone initiative

✭ Continue to promote community participation in local government

✭ Expand the Village’s initiatives for environmental sustainability

Working Together For PelhamEndorsed by: Pelham Democratic Committee • Pelham Strong Party

On Wednesday, Feb-ruary 7 PMHS juniors and seniors were inducted into the science and math honor societies at a ceremony held in the auditorium. The key-note speaker at the induction was Dr. Loretta Pouso of AE Dentistry, Advanced Esthetic Dentistry of Whitestone & Bayside.

Students are selected for the Math Honor Society based upon criteria of mathematical scholarship, service, charac-ter and citizenship. Students are selected for the science honor society based on en-thusiasm about research, par-ticipation in science-related activities, demonstration of achievement in science learn-ing, being service-minded, and presenting excellent per-sonal character.

This year’s inductees:SCIENCE

Stephan Akichy, Isa-belle Anderson, Grace An-

derson, Vedika Basavatia, Aidan Bennett, Giuliana Ber-tolotti, Lance Brady, Ellianna Bryan, Luca Capeci, Sophia Carranza, Lily Childs, Miri-am Ciacca, Andrew Clausen, Elizabeth Comerford, Juliana Cortale, Aidan D'Amore, Luke Diffley, Kayleigh DiNatale, Philip Dulock, Lynn Dvorkin, Stephanie Elmer, Rachel El-mer, Julianna Estatico, Guy Eustace, Lucas Fredbeck, Jack Gates, Athul George, Lukas

Glist, Taylor Goche, Owin Gong, Henry Gutch, Katy Hart, Kathleen Heaney, John Hopkins, Charlotte Howard, Ava Juliano, Julia Kaplansky, Nicole Kelly, Ashhab Khan, Griffin Kingsley, Jack Lahn, Asher Lal, Anna Larsen, Zachary Leonard, Michael Li, Grace Liberatore, Nick Lieggi, Lucas Matos, Tara Matz, Brian McFarland, Morgan McLean, Lindsay McNamara, Helen Meyerson, Alex Michailoff,

Olivia Min, Grace Miske, Quinlan Monaghan-Morris, Zachary Morgan, Isabella Mylonas, Emily Nakayama, James Nespole, Silda Neza, Dylan Nordstrom, Justin O'Beirne, Sarah Jane O'Con-nor, Julia O'Neil, Alanah Park-er, Ajdin Pelinkovic, Pamela Pennetta, Juliana Prisco, Jo-seph Puchalla, Andy Radva-ny, Bernadette Russo, Anna Shampanier-Bowen, Nicholas Shotkoski, Matyas Spunberg,

Daniel Tahbaz, Ste-phen Tahbaz, Emily Talamas, Luke Tarazi, Catherine Taubner, Joshua Timmermans, Nicholas Tiso, Piers Upton, Cassie Ventu-ra, Peter Wei, Caro-line Winston, Char-lotte Woods, Sophie Xu, Peri Zale.

MATHAlbert Ai, Is-

abelle Anderson, Grace Anderson,

Vedika Basavatia, Giuliana Bertolotti, Jenna Biskup, Isaac Blackburn, Lance Brady, Elli-anna Bryan, Luca Capeci, Lily Childs, Andrew Clausen, Ju-liana Cortale, Nicholas Cruz, Luke Diffley, Kayleigh DiNa-tale, Claudia Dodge, Philip Dulock, Lynn Dvorkin, Ra-chel Elmer, Stephanie Elmer, Guy Eustace, Lucas Fredbeck, Jack Gates, Athul George, Dylan Giglio, Lukas Glist, Taylor Goche, Owin Gong,

Science and Math Honor Society InducteesHenry Gutch, Hudson Hard-wick, Katy Hart, Kathleen Heaney, John Hopkins, Fiona Joffroy, Emilie Kelly, Nicole Kelly, Ashhab Khan, Asher Lal, Anna Larsen, Michael Li, Grace Liberatore, Nick Lieg-gi, Brian McFarland, Morgan McLean, Helen Meyerson, Alex Michailoff, Olivia Min, Zachary Morgan, Isabella My-lones, Emily Nakayama, James Nespole, Silda Neza, Justin O’Beirne, Sarah Jane O’Con-nor, Julia O’Neil, Alanah Park-er, Charlie Pedorella, Pamela Pennetta, Elizabeth Potocki, Juliana Prisco, Andy Radvany, Kimberly Rosell, Julia Rosen-berg, Bernadette Russo, Mor-gan Sample, Anna Shampani-er-Bowen, Christian Shiels, Nicholas Shotkoski, Sidney Skop, Emily Talamas, Luke Tarazi, Catherine Taubner, Joshua Timmermans, Nicho-las Tiso, Piers Upton, Cassie Ventura, Samantha Volpe, Peter Wei, Caroline Winston, Sophie Xu, Peri Zale.

4 • 3.6.18 - 3.20.18 • The Pelham Post thepelhampost.com

Stormwater Management Program

On March 10, 2003, the Village of Pelham began the development of its Stormwater Man-agement Plan, mandated by the United States Department of Environmental Protection and administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The plan requires that the Village make every effort to improve the water quality of its streams, lakes and rivers. The Village must implement six (6) minimum control measures including educat-ing the public, soliciting participation and involvement of the public, detection and elimina-tion of illicit discharges, control of construction site runoff, maintenance and operation of post construction structural Best Management Practices and pollution prevention and good housekeeping at municipal facilities.

Recognizing the need for improving the quality of our surface waters, the Village passed legislation in the initial stages of its Stormwater Management Program, designed to control the quantity and quality of runoff from new development and redevelopment, and insure that stormwater runoff from a project, once completed, created minimal or no impact on water quality. Pelham has been a proponent of maintaining and improving water quality and is part of a municipal consortium working to improve water quality in the Hutchinson River and Long Island Sound.

Learn what you can about improving stormwater quality by visiting the following web-sites:

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyNYS Dept of Environmental Conservation Long Island Sound Watershed Inter-municipal CouncilCenter for Watershed ProtectionVillage of Pelham

Please the following link to participate in the Stormwater Questionaire.

https://www.pelhamgov.com/sites/pelhamny/files/uploads/stormwater_screen_fillable_questionnaire_2018.pdf

Citizens Demand Immediate Gun Control Action from Lawmakers in Wake of Deadly School Massacre

Progressive Women of Pelham is calling upon lawmakers at every level of government to re-port on what immediate legislative steps they plan to take to protect their constituents from gun violence.

In the aftermath of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Flor-ida, that left 17 people dead, Pelham parents grappled with sending their children to school today given the unchecked gun violence that continues to threaten student safety nationwide.

Members of the community, along with a group of Pelham Memorial High School students led by 11th-grader Violet Massie-Vereker, held a demonstration in front of the school on the morning of February 16th, demanding sensible gun control legislation. Massie-Vereker’s gut-wrenching question for lawmakers, #MeNext? was posted online and garnered nearly 8000 shares overnight, igniting the worldwide #MeNext? movement.

“Students like me are afraid of going to school every day,” says Massie-Vereker. “Lawmakers are more worried about angering the NRA than protecting us. We want an immediate nationwide ban on assault weapons like the AR-15, better mental health services in schools and real background checks. And that's just the beginning!"

According to Business Insider, the United States has logged 30 mass shootings so far in 2018. With many of those shootings in schools, “parents deserve to know how lawmakers intend to en-sure the safety of their children in a place where they are required to send them every day,” says PWP co-chair Jennie Driesen. “Why are they not insisting on common sense gun regulations and safety protocols? We do not need our officials to offer thoughts and prayers. Our religious and spir-itual communities will do that. We need our elected leaders to lead, and to take some political risks. If they are more worried about keeping their political jobs than they are about fixing this national scourge, then they should not remain in office, and it’s up to us to vote them out.”

A copy of this statement has been provided to the following elected officials:Donald Trump, President of the U.S.Mike Pence, Vice-President of the U.S.Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader of the U.S. SenatePaul Ryan, Speaker of the U.S. House of RepresentativesEliot Engel, U.S. Representative for New York’s 16th Congressional DistrictCharles Schumer, U.S. Senator from New YorkKirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator from New YorkAndrew Cuomo, Governor of New YorkKathy C. Hochul, Lieutenant Governor of New YorkEric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General of New YorkJeffrey Klein, New York State Senator for District 34Amy Paulin, New York State Assemblymember for the 88th Assembly DistrictGeorge Latimer, Westchester County ExecutiveJames Maisano, Westchester County Board of Legislators, District 11Michael Volpe, Mayor, Village of Pelham, NYAdam Kagan, Deputy Mayor, Village of Pelham Xaira M. Ferrara, Trustee, Village of Pelham Andrea Reinke, Trustee, Village of Pelham Ariel Spira-Cohen, Trustee, Village of Pelham Chance Mullen, Trustee, Village of Pelham Peter Potocki, Trustee, Village of Pelham Jennifer Monachino Lapey, Mayor, Pelham Manor, New YorkMatthew T. McLaughlin, Pelham Manor TrusteeLouis Annunziata, Pelham Manor TrusteeA. Michelle DeLillo, Pelham Manor TrusteeJoseph C. Senerchia, Pelham Manor TrusteePeter DiPaola, Town Supervisor, Town of PelhamDan McLaughlin, Deputy Town of Pelham Supervisor Blake Bell, Pelham Town CouncilTimothy Case, Pelham Town CouncilRae Szymanski, Pelham Town Council

Home of The Pelham Postwww.thepelhampost.com

Visit our new events page!


Bill Bassell and Amy Fierman Moore Running for Manor Board of Trustee Positions

Bill Bassell and Amy Fi-erman Moore are running for the two Manor Board of Trustee positions. They are honored to have received the Democratic nomination and are greatly looking forward to engaging with residents about the needs of Pelham Manor. They look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion with Republican members of the Board of Trustees to ensure that Pelham Manor remains a shining example of the Amer-ican Dream.

Bill Bassell has been a res-ident of the Manor – with his wife and two sons – for over 20 years. He has been an educator for 38 years and a high school principal for the last 24, so he brings a long and active his-tory of engagement in public service to the Trustee role. As a leader in his profession, Bill is responsible for mentoring principals, supporting those who want to become princi-pals, and participating in the Cahn Fellows program, a fel-lowship recognizing "distin-guished principals." In many ways, a high school is its own village, and Bill's work in man-aging HR, public works, safety/security, and legal compliance

parallel many of the responsi-bilities of a village trustee.

Amy Fierman Moore is a proud graduate of Pelham Memorial High School, class of 1999, and has lived in Pel-ham for over 25 years. Amy's two children ages 3 and 5 are growing up here, which is why she cares so deeply about mak-ing sure Pelham Manor stays a great place to raise a fami-ly. Through her involvement with Junior League of Pelham, Pelham Children’s Center and Siwanoy School PTA, Amy demonstrates an unwavering commitment to our communi-ty. After graduating from Bos-ton College with a degree in finance and accounting, Amy started at KPMG while becom-ing a Certified Public Accoun-

tant (CPA) and manager within the financial services practice. After KPMG, Amy went on to become a controller at a Manhattan hedge fund where she works today. As a CPA, she un-derstands the story that budgeting numbers tell her and how to press for better answers. She would love to use this

experience to help the Village of Pelham Manor run as effi-ciently and cost-effectively as possible.

Bill and Amy want to:-- keep Manor debt free

and property tax below 2% cap-- work with other levels

of government to extent possi-ble to regain federal tax deduc-tability of property tax

-- install more responsive system to report and track citi-zen-reported needs

-- make Manor gov-ernment more transparent, by posting budgets online, live-streaming meetings, and improving the website

Amy and Bill, both tire-less hard workers, are teaming up to bring their expertise and a bit of balance to the one-Par-ty Manor Board of Trustees.

Bill Bassell and Amy Fierman Moore

Mayor Lapey Discusses Florida Shooting, Outlines Security Plans

BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN

Village of Pelham Man-or Mayor Jennifer Monachi-no Lapey opened their Feb-ruary 26 Board of Trustees meeting by saying, “First of all, I think that it is fair to mention and appropriate for us just to make a note that ev-eryone on this Board and Ad-ministration’s heart is heavy with the recent shooting in Florida. This Board, Village and Administration will con-tinue to work collaboratively with the other municipali-ties to the best of our ability to ensure that all residents are safe.

“Last week I spoke with School Superintendent Dr. Champ. I have also been in contact with [Town] Super-visor Peter DiPaola and Vil-lage of Pelham Mayor Mi-chael Volpe … Police Chiefs Jeffrey Carpenter of our Village and Joseph Benefico from the Village of Pelham will be meeting with Safe-ty Coordinator of Pelham Union Free School District Ralph DeMasi to brain-storm and discuss possible initiatives and ideas.

“The Village Manager John T. Pierpont remind-ed me that in these trying times we voluntarily engage in active shooter training at the schools each year…We do take a proactive approach …,” Lapey stressed. Pierpont added that there are direct alarms between schools and the Police Desk.

On another note, Trust-

ee Joseph Senerchia reported that he partic-ipated in a tournament with New York Rang-ers Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, “Kancer Jam” on Saturday, Feb-ruary 24 in Tarrytown to raise money for the Garden of Dreams Foundation and Chil-dren’s Hospital at Mon-tefiore, combatting pediatric cancer along with Pelham Manor Fire Chief Joseph Rug-giero and Pelham Vil-lage Firefighter Jason Tortorella.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Pierpont reported that $571,000 worth of Vil-lage paving was done

this year. “Out of that mon-ey, nearly $122,000 was re-imbursed to us from ConEd. We received a $125,000 grant from Assemblywoman Amy Paulin plus our regular al-lotment of $173,000; the bal-ance was taken from our re-serve,” Pierpont noted.

“I think that it is amaz-ing that you didn’t have to come to us for capital debt,” Lapey added.

Pelham Manor Trustee Michelle DeLillo


Letters to the EditorFran & Joe Nunziata Support Breda Bennett’s Commitment to Volunteerism for Pelham Manor Trustee

Breda Bennett has proven time and time again that VOLUNTEERISM, coupled with ex-perience, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic are the foundation for visionary initiatives that make a difference. Her involvement includes Pelham PACT Board of Trustees, Town of Pelham Recreation Commission, Pelham Booster Club, Little League… just to name a few. Sac-rificing time and talent to create and maintain meaningful programs, projects and events in our community to help individuals and families - from students to the elderly - defines an “active volunteer”. This is Breda. So please join us in supporting Bridget “Breda” Bennett for Pelham Manor Trustee for her continued commitment to Pelham Manor and all of our residents, and vote Tuesday March 20th at the Pelham Manor Fire House.

Thank you.

Fran & Joe Nunziata 1110 Clay Avenue Pelham Manor

Sandy Hook Victim’s Mother to Present Keynote for the 17th Annual Human Rights Institute Held by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

Held annually, The Human Rights Institute for High School Student Leaders promotes student aware-ness of human rights issues on both local and global levels, and empowers students to become Upstanders by creating and implementing Action Plans of their own.

“Scarlett Lewis emphasizes the importance of empowering youth by choosing love over angry thoughts, inspiring bravery, and being an Upstander. This message reflects what we try to promote through our annual Human Rights Institute, to inspire students to make a difference and to take positive action for change,” said Julie Scallero, Co-Director of Education at The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center.

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center hosts the Institute to enhance the teaching and learn-ing of the lessons of the Holocaust to support the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect.

Expected attendance includes 480 high school students and 45 teachers, from 44 high schools.*Keynote Speakers Include:

Scarlett Lewis, Founder and Chief Movement Officer of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement - www.jessielewischooselove.org

Judith Altmann, Holocaust survivor and member of the Speakers Bureau at the Holocaust & Human Rights Education CenterSpecial Guests Include:

George Latimer, Westchester County Executive and Shelley Mayer, Assemblyperson Student facilitators will lead small-group workshops on a wide-range of human rights issues.** Students and teachers implement Upstander programs during Upstander Week, May 21 – May 25, 2018,

(as proclaimed by Westchester County Executive George Latimer). Teachers will also participate in two workshops, one with our keynote speaker, Scarlett Lewis, and the

second one with Judith Altmann, Holocaust survivor.For more information contact Millie Jasper, Executive Director, at (914) 696-0738 or mjasper@hhrecny.

org.*Students and teachers are from the following participating 44 high schools: Ardsley, Blind Brook, Bri-

arcliff, Bronxville, Byram Hills, Croton-Harmon, Edgemont, French American School, German International School, Gorton, Greenwich, Horace Greeley, Irvington, John Jay, Lincoln, Maria Regina, Mount Vernon, New Canaan, New Rochelle, North Rockland, North Salem, Ossining, Palisade Preparatory School, Peekskill, Pel-ham Memorial, Pleasantville, Putnam Valley, Ridgefield, Rocky Point, Roosevelt, Rye Neck, Saunders Trades & Technical, Scarsdale, Sleepy Hollow, Solomon Schechter, Somers, The Summit School, Nellie A. Thornton, Tuckahoe, The Ursuline School, Walter Panas, Woodlands, Yonkers, and Yonkers Montessori Academy**Some of the Student-initiated workshop topics will include:

"Me Too" MovementGender EqualityEducation Inequality in Latin American CountriesJuvenile Justice/IncarcerationGovernment Surveillance/CensorshipGlobal WarmingIncome InequalitySexual Assault on College CampusesOppression and Labor Camps in North KoreaWomen's Rights in Saudi ArabiaDACAHomelessnessHurricane Maria & Recovery in Puerto RicoSexual & Reproductive Health Rights in Developing NationsThe Effects of Natural Disasters on Impoverished PeopleLibyan Slave TradeRefugee Crisis in America

At Note from the School SuperintendentDear Pelham Parents, Staff and Community Members,

The Pelham Union Free School District is committed to providing a world class education to all eligible students within our District boundaries. To ensure that our taxpayers' money is being used efficiently, the District routinely conducts residency checks when credible evidence suggests that a student may not be a resident under the terms of the District's policy.

In an effort to improve our residency investigation process, the District has launched two new channels to report residency concerns. Anyone who believes a stu-dent currently attending the Pelham Public Schools is not a District resident is encouraged to report this by calling 914-738-3434 ext. 1166 or send an email to [email protected] so that we may investigate these matters. Such reports may be made anonymously.

We hope that this proactive measure will help ensure that our resources are being used appropriately. I also encourage you to review our residency policy by visit-ing www.pelhamschools.org/residency to review the Board of Education's complete policy.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,Dr. Cheryl Champ, Ed. D.Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cheryl H. Champ, Ed.D.

Pelham Manor Trustee Election March 20th, 2018Dear Pelham Manor Voters,

I’m writing in support of candidate Breda Bennett who is running for one of the Trust-ee positions on March 20th.

Breda represents all that is great about this village. She has lived in Pelham Manor for many years, raised six wonderful children here, and has been involved in countless commu-nity service initiatives. I can say without hesitation, Breda loves this town!

I know Breda to be a selfless individual, always available to help and contribute when called upon. Throughout the years she has been involved in so many local benefits, sports teams, fundraisers and organizations that I have lost track.

She is what I would call a true community service hero. If ever there is a need for help, you will not be surprised to find Breda in the thick of it with her sleeves rolled up.

In addition, Breda is uniquely qualified for the position, as she runs a family owned real estate development business. She has tons of experience working with building, govern-mental and regulatory agencies to get projects done.

Our community needs a sharp, level headed, get it done kind of leader to represent our best interests, and I can’t think of anyone more qualified.

Please get out and vote for Breda Bennett on March 20th!

Sincerely, Sue Cirillo980 Peace StreetPelham Manor


Recent PMHS Athletes of the Week

Senior Mason Brady, juniors Liam Ronan and Pallavy Franco, sophomores Lance Brady and Dylan Nordstrom and freshmen Mya Davis and Chris Hartigan were recently named PMHS Athletes of the Week. Lance and Mason Brady, Nordstrom and Hartigan had outstanding seasons competing for the boys’ swim team in the program’s inaugural season. Ronan has been excellent in goal for the ice hockey team in the Pelicans 2-1 win over scarsdale, shutout of Niagara Falls and 5-2 win over Pearl River. In his last five games, Ronan has a 1.77 goals against average. Davis stepped in as the cheerleading team’s main flyer due to injury and impressively learned the whole pyramid the morning of the team’s competition. Franco, while not competing for the cheerleading team this season, has been helping her team-mates by spotting and subbing for her teammates and also took the initiative to prepare “candy grams” for the winter sports pep rally.

Loyola University Maryland has announced the members of its fall 2017 Dean's List. In order to qualify for the Dean's List at Loyola, a student must achieve a minimum QPA of at least 3.500 for the term, provided that, in the term they have success-fully completed courses totaling a minimum of 15 credits.

The following local students have achieved this honor and indicat-ed that Loyola can release their direc-tory information:

Charlotte Little, class of 2018 from Pelham

Alexander Sansone, class of 2021 from Pelham

Gregory Scaglione, class of 2019 from Pelham

Established in 1852, Loyola Uni-versity Maryland is a Catholic, Jesuit comprehensive university compris-ing Loyola College, home to the Uni-versity's arts and sciences programs; the Sellinger School of Business and Management; and the School of

Local Student Achievements Education. Loyola enrolls 4,000 un-dergraduate and 2,000 graduate stu-dents from across the country.

Purchase College announced that more than 1,200 students were named to the Dean's List for the fall 2017 semester. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and taken a minimum of 12 credits.

Andrew Baccellieri of Pelham, who is studying Economics.

Michael Bitetto of Pelham, who is studying Liberal Studies: Comm/Media.

Connor Brown of Pelham, who is studying Biochemistry.

Saino Xavier DeSantis Morales of Pelham, who is studying Psychol-ogy.

Erin Maloney of Pelham, who is studying Creative Writing.

Kelly Quigley of Pelham, who is studying Music: Studio Composition.

For more information about the College, visit www.purchase.edu

Kristen Elizabeth Dudek of Pelham has been named to the Pres-ident's List at Clemson University for the fall 2017 semester. Dudek is majoring in Elementary Education. To be named to the President's List, a student must achieve a 4.0 (all As) grade-point average.

Hard work in high school has paid off for college-bound seniors. Luca Grammatica, of Pelham, has been granted the Veronica Founder's Scholarship to study Communication at Alvernia University in the fall. Grammatica is currently a senior at Pelham Memorial High School.

To be awarded this $16,000 schol-arship, the recipient must have a min-imum GPA of 3.0 and minimum SAT score* of 980 old/1060 new (21 ACT). * "Old" SAT scores are calculated using combined Critical Reading and Math

sections. "New" SAT Scores are based on the Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing sections. Students are eligible for only one merit schol-arship.

ALVERNIA is a distinctive Fran-ciscan university, grounded in the Catholic and liberal arts traditions, that combines diverse academic op-portunities with personal attention and an unmatched commitment to community service. Alvernia em-powers students to become "eth-ical leaders with moral courage." Through real-world learning and the challenging guidance of faculty mentors, they discover their passion for life and turn what they love into lifetimes of career success and per-sonal fulfillment. Alvernia students do well and do good.

Sophia Merelas was named to the dean's list at Bates College for the fall semester ending in Decem-ber 2017. This is a distinction earned

by students whose cumulative grade point average is 3.71 or higher.

Merelas, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond P. Merelas of Pel-ham, is a 2014 graduate of Pelham Me-morial High School. She is majoring in psychology at Bates.

Located in Lewiston, Maine, Bates is internationally recognized as a leading college of the liberal arts, attracting 2,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world. Since 1855, Bates has been dedicat-ed to educating the whole person through creative and rigorous schol-arship in a collaborative residential community.

With a commitment to afford-ability, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion or national origin. Cul-tivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, Bates prepares leaders sustained by a love of learn-ing and zeal for responsible steward-ship of the wider world.


Endorsed by Pelham Democratic Committee & Pelham Strong Party

PelhamNYStrong.com facebook.com/BillAmyforPelhamManor

twitter.com/BillAmy4Pelham

Keep Manor debt free and property tax below 2% cap

Work with other levels of government to extent possible to regain federal tax deductability of property tax

Install more responsive system to report and track citizen-reported needs

Make Manor government more transparent: • post budgets online• live stream meetings• better website

Photo credit: Moon Baby Photo

The 2018 Living Art Event – An Innovative Merger of Art and Theater

The Ossining Arts Council (OAC) and The Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT) will present The 2018 Living Art Event (LAE), show-casing OAC artworks and six original WCT one-act plays inspired by selected works. A docent led tour through a gallery will pause intermit-tently to allow the art to spring to life. The LAE runs weekends from March 2 through March 24 at the OAC Steamer Firehouse Gallery in

Ossining; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Satur-days at 2 pm and Sundays at 3 pm; talk-backs on Sunday, March 11 at 3 pm and Saturday, March 17 at 2pm. The OAC Steamer Firehouse Gallery is located at 117 Main St., 2nd Floor in Ossining. General tickets are $20. Discounted tickets are available for WCT and OAC members, students, seniors and groups of 5+. Advance online pur-chase is strongly recommended: www.wcthe-

ater.org or www.ossiningartscouncil.org.Jill Kiefer, the incoming president of OAC,

says, “We’re very excited to be part of this col-laborative effort, the fourth LAE presentation!”

Local Pelham resident, Jane Ann Valentine will present, Clam Diggers and Mussel Suckers: Brody and Waverly, two college students on a date, share an unexpectedly tender moment while watching the sunrise over the water at

City Island. Can something so impersonal as an app where you swipe right for likes lead to something like love for these two millennials?

The plays were inspired by artworks cre-ated by: Margaret Zeitlin; Liv Gus; Keith Gor-don; Judith Gordon; Brynley Lazar; and Barbara Levine.

Jane Ann Valentine

Broadway comes to Pelham in March as Pelham Memorial High School’s Sock’n’Buskin proudly pres-ents the smash hit musical comedy “HELLO, DOLLY!” March 23-March 25 at the PMHS Auditorium.

“HELLO, DOLLY!” follows the romantic and comic adventures of Dolly Gallagher Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker. The full-length musical, currently playing in revival on Broadway, will fea-ture a cast of over 40 high school students and is di-rected by Tom Beck and Neil Schleifer with musical direction by Maria Abeshouse and choreography by Jesse Pellegrino.

Set in New York in the 1890s, this classic Jerry Herman (“Mame,” “La Cage aux Folles”) show opened in 1964 and ran seven years becoming the longest playing Broadway musical at the time. “HELLO, DOLLY!” is a magical piece of musical theatre filled with memorable songs such as “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” and “It Only Takes A Moment.” Show-stopping dance numbers combine with beautiful turn-of-the-century cos-tumes to create a musical the whole family will enjoy!

Performances are Friday, March 23 and Satur-day, March 24 at 7:30 pm. Sunday, March 25 is a 2 pm matinee. All seating is reserved; adult tickets are $20 and student/senior citizen tickets are $15. For reser-vations and information, email [email protected].

Sock 'n' Buskin Presents Hello Dolly!

The Pride of Pelham

The Pelham commu-nity is truly blessed to have Richard and Sona Davidian, who

have given so much of their time and determination to charitable causes. An Owner/Broker at McClellan Sotheby’s International Realty since 1989, Sona was Past President of Pelham Newcomers Club; President, Pelham Memorial High School PTA; Chair, Man-or Club Evening Section; Pel-ham Art Center; past Pelham

Education Foundation Board member; past Friends of Town of Pelham Public Library; past Board member, Pelham Re-vitalization; Pelham Junior League; Pelham Family Ser-vice and Nurses Network. In addition to giving of her time to so many causes, Sona is very proud of the fact that McClel-lan Sotheby's has been a strong financial supporter of most of the local Pelham organizations and charities under her 28 year ownership of the firm.

Richard and Sona have lived in Pelham for 37 years, raising three children, Alex-is, who is getting married this July in Carmel Valley, California; Alyssa Berryman who lives in Mamaroneck with her husband Rob and their 18 month old son, Coo-per, their first grandson, "a very welcome and joyful fre-quent sleepover member of our family," according to Sona and Deana, an attorney who lives in Manhattan. Some of

their most memorable Pelham moments have been with their children participating in mul-tiple sports, including hockey, traveling soccer, softball and basketball.

Born and raised in Man-hattan, Sona holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College and Masters in Social Work from University of Pennsylvania, becoming a psychiatric social worker in the South Bronx. Asked what attracted her to

real estate, Sona replied, “I had my first child and did not want to work full time. I wanted to do something local and had an affinity for real estate and thought that my social work skills would lend well,” noting her vocation was great train-ing for working with people stressed with buying a house for the first time.

She went to work for C.S. McClellan Realty at the time, and with partners Carol Brown and Mary Grimm, pur-

chased the company from Mc-Clellan who was retiring.

“When we got married, Richard and I lived in Manhat-tan for five years and decided to give suburbia a try,” Sona stated, noting that her mother had good friends in Pelham. “We got off the road at Boston Post Road and walked into the first real estate office we saw. This is the only house in which we have ever lived.”

Richard held senior level marketing positions at Colgate Palmolive and Bristol Meyers Squibb, subsequently becom-ing a Partner at Accenture and more recently, DXC Technolo-gies. An active member of the Pelham community including the Pelham Civics Association, Richard was chair of the Good Neighbor Program for 12 years and a former board member of the Teacher Institute of Lower Westchester and a present board member of a local home-owner's association.

Discussing the, “Help a Child – Change a Life” pro-gram that he created, Richard stated, “Unfortunately, there is a student population who live with financially stressed families that do not have ac-cess to skilled building and learning tools. We help with their homework, after school instruction, tutoring, SAT preparatory assistance, Ad-vanced Placement and costs associated with computers.

“We offered free comput-ers and printers for children before Senator Jeffrey Klein came out with Chrome Books. This was the ‘Help a Child – Change a Life’ program...”, for which Richard received the Fenlon Award from the Pel-ham Board of Education. He remains in contact with the students as adults.

“Our community is get-ting younger, with more chil-dren and programs to help them become more success-ful,” Richard observed. “Pel-ham is a very caring communi-ty,” Sona added. If something catastrophic were to happen, absolute strangers would show up on your doorstep…”

Recently receiving his real estate license, Richard joins his wife at McClellan So-theby’s International Realty.

One of the most challeng-ing memories the Davidians recall, was the fight to save Colonial School. “With a lot of hard work and knocking on doors, we successfully fought to keep the school open,” Rich-

Richard & Sona Davidian


Article by: Stephen E. Lipken, Edited by: Cynthia E. Pena, Photo by: Deborah Karson (deborahjkarson.com)


Louis Annunziata

It has been my profound honor to serve our Village of Pelham Manor for the last 31 consecutive years as Planning Board Chairman, Zoning Board Chairman, and since 2011, as Village Trustee.

As Trustees, we are charged with developing policies that maintain and improve upon the various services that our village provides, while being mindful of the costs to our residents and the state-mandated tax cap. I am extremely proud to be a member of a Board of dedicated, intelligent, and talented people who bring a variety of perspectives and expertise to the issues. As sworn fiduciaries, we always keep the best interests of our residents at the forefront of our deliberations. To that end, we have put forth and ratified annual balanced budgets that have stayed below the tax cap without curtailing village services — and we remain debt free. This has not been an easy feat considering the state mandates for increased pension contributions very often are two and three times the mandated tax cap. During my tenure as Trustee, we have increased our non-residential tax base with zoning changes that have created revenue-generating usage in the Canal Road area. The Village of Pelham Manor maintains a robust recycling and composting facility on Spring Road. We collect our residents’ leaves, grass and garden clippings, and brush, and at no cost to the Village, these items are composted by a landscaper. The majority of the composted material is given out to our residents free of charge. We also collect and recycle textiles at that same location. Additionally,

we collect and recycle electronics for our residents, and we allow residents of neighboring communities to drop off their electronics at our facility. For the last three years, I have had the privilege of serving as Police Commissioner and Deputy Mayor. As Police Commissioner, I was on a committee along with the Mayor, Village Manager, and a private citizen with a law-enforcement background to select our current Police Chief from among several interviewed candidates. Village service requires a working knowledge of many complex issues. In addition to Village Code and Zoning laws, municipal labor contracts are critical to maintaining a superior work force and at the same time, keeping labor costs affordable. I have had the experience of successfully negotiating union labor contracts with our Department of Public Works employees and with our Police department. Pelham Manor has been and continues to be a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming place to live and raise a family. We welcome and respect all residents, visitors, workers, and shoppers. Our Village employees, elected officials, and community leaders will always work together to serve their needs and maintain their rights. At every juncture of my tenure in Village service, I have had one goal — to improve the quality of life for all residents in Pelham Manor through policy decisions that are forward-thinking and affordable. I am proud of what has been accomplished, and I respectfully ask for your vote so I can continue to serve you.

Sincerely,

Louis Annunziata Trustee Pelham Manor

LOUIS ANNUNZIATA for TRUSTEE H VILLAGE OF PELHAM MANOR

The latest addition to Wolf’s Lane Park is a stone and timber pergola donated by Pelham Pres-ervation & Garden Society (PPGS). It is located at the top of Sparks Avenue just south of the Memorial and Sculpture Courtyards on Wolf’s Lane in Pel-ham.

The idea of a pergola in the park emerged during a series of meetings in the summer of 2015; PPGS had convened a subcommittee to assist with

the review of the proposed Wolf’s Lane Park reno-vation. PPGS Board Member Aldo Di Vitto, who is an architect, initiated the idea of a pergola. He pre-pared drawings pro bono and managed the entire process. He worked closely with mason Aurelio Secchiano of A. Secchiano Contracting to match the stone and mortar with the wall and stairway which are original to the park dating back to over 100 years old. Given their proximity, getting a good

match was an important part of the project. A stone bench along the rear was also added to serves as both seating and a retaining wall.

Aldo also worked closely with Mark Perricone of Quality Home Improvement, the carpenter and contractor who custom fabricated the rafter tails and assembled the roof of the pergola. Mark showed great care for details and for the longevity of the structure. He insisted on staining the rough sawn

cedar rafters and powder coating the galvanized brackets and bolts at his own expense to give back to our community. In addition, Ciro Cuono from the firm of Cuono Engineering, also worked pro bono on the project, reviewed the structure of the pergo-la.

Aldo Di Vitto, upon viewing the plans and walking the grounds, was inspired by the line of sight at that plateau area of the park provided and its connection to the original retaining wall and stairway acting as a gateway to the downtown. “It was an opportunity to make a lasting structure to encourage gathering and reflection at a point of elevation above the busy downtown. It was all de-signed with an intentional nod to the historic stairs while integrating the enjoyment of the large trees which surround the new pergola.”

The committee members included Aldo Di Vitto as well as Aimee Linn Kaplan, Nigel Scott-Wil-liams, Arthur Scinta, and Mike Carpenter who met over the planning summer to discuss materials, scale, greenspace preservation, and access points for the park.

“It was incredibly helpful to collaborate with PPGS on this significant park project. A combina-tion of the committee’s expertise and the generosity of the PPGS pergola donation helped inform and elevate the park design. Aldo worked for months to bring the pergola concept to a reality; his day-to-day management of the construction is evident in the details of this magnificent structure that will serve Pelham for generations,” commented Susan Mutti, Deputy Mayor of Pelham Village during the project.

Aldo and the PPGS committee members worked to affect the design of the park entryways as well as considering design details, materials and scale of the pergola and other park elements. The original drawing called for circular entries at each of the corners of the park. The PPGS committee suggested and designed access that retained more greenspace and allowed a better buffer around the street lighting infrastructure. Mr. Di Vitto reit-erated that none of the inspired renovations to the Wolf’s Lane Park could have happened without the leadership and follow-through of Susan Mutti. The pergola is now completed and residents and visitors may enjoy it for years to come.

Remember to mark the date of Saturday, June 9 for the 2018 PPGS Annual Garden Par-ty Benefit. This fun garden party is the primary means of fundraising, along with membership dues, for the PPGS. Tickets are available at the door

Pelham Preservation & Garden Society Donates Pergola to Wolf's Lane Park

View of Pergola in late Fall with original matching staircase and retaining wall



Pelham Manor is a remarkable place in which to live. As a registered independent voter, I am truly honored to be running for the position of Village Trustee. My husband, Tom, and I have raised our six children here. All of them attended Pelham schools. We are

deeply rooted in the community, having benefitted from our children’s outstanding education and lifelong Pelham friendships. As a 21-year resident with an extensive business background and significant community leadership experience, I am well-positioned to make a positive contribution to the Village of Pelham Manor Board of Trustees. Originally from the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Business Education from Lehman College. After graduation, I taught at Career Blazer Learning Center in NYC and became the Director of Education. Later, I was an adjunct lecturer in the Secondary Education Department at Lehman College and also taught in the Business Department at Westchester Community College. I now focus my professional efforts on my family- owned home building business, participating in all aspects of administration and company finances. Currently, I am the Vice President, a role which I have held for the past 25 years. I am responsible for day-to-day business operations and am integrally involved with all budgeting and planning. Representing my company at all levels has afforded me the opportunity to work with various building, governmental and regulatory agencies. Through this position, I am also familiar with local zoning and have strengthened my command of environmental and sustainability programs. The financial discipline that I employ in the business arena is directly applicable to Village Trustee work. I am committed to continuing Pelham Manor’s tradition of delivering high-level services in a fiscally responsible manner. If elected, I would work to continue to provide services to Pelham Manor residents within an acceptable tax framework. We are fortunate that the Village is New York State tax-cap complaint and carries no debt. My community service record dates to 1997. As a PACT (Parents and Community Together) board member,

I secured the appearance of recognized youth sports author Bob Bigelow, and during two terms on the Prospect Hill Site-Based Council, I worked closely with the principal and the Village of Pelham Manor Police Department to implement critical traffic safety procedures and address other pivotal issues. During twelve years on the Pelham Little League Board, I rose to Vice President and Treasurer, performing financial oversight and fundraising duties. In my fourteen years on the Pelham Recreation Commission, I pioneered the Recreational Basketball League in which approximately 500 Pelham children now participate, with Pelham teenagers as coaches. I was also instrumental in reorganizing the Recreation Office, which has netted valuable gains for the community. I am the current Co-President of the Booster Club, having served as Treasurer of the organization, ensuring that all the books were balanced. I am committed to environmental sustainability. The Village of Pelham Manor boasts a robust and cost-effective recycling and reuse program. Services include curbside pickup of paper and plastics, as well as curbside pickup of leaves, which the Village grinds and composts at the Spring Road facility. I applaud the addition of textile recycling to the Village’s efforts, which also include electronic waste recycling. I am dedicated to maintaining Pelham Manor’s other green initiatives, such as the LED streetlight replacement program. As with all endeavors, communication is key. We must have effective communication with all residents -- both young and old. I am impressed with the Village’s outreach efforts through Facebook, the Village e-mail blast system and Nixle alert system. I pledge to reach out to those who are not up to date with the latest technology to keep them informed. We live in a welcoming, vibrant community. I hope to maintain the quality of life for all Pelham Manor residents through integrity, common sense and hard work. I am proud to be a registered independent voter, who has also earned the support of the Republican Party. Through my approach as a consensus builder, I look forward to serving our Village at the Board level. I humbly ask for your support on March 20.

Sincerely,

BridgetA."Breda"BennettBridget A.“Breda” Bennett

BRIDGET A.“BREDA” BENNETT for TRUSTEE H VILLAGE OF PELHAM MANOR

ard stressed.Richard and Sona mentioned that those who return

to Pelham after leaving, are attracted by the 29-minute commute to Manhattan, excellent school system and fond childhood memories.

Sona humorously emphasized that her youngest daughter may have a difficult time to find a place to go on her honeymoon where she has not been since the Davidi-ans are avid travelers, seeing Europe; [their] motherland Armenia; Caribbean; Middle East; Southeast Asia; South America and even a South African safari.

When asked if they had a particular pet peeve, Sona commented, “Neither one of us has any tolerance for slop-piness, disorganization and tardiness. Both of us are me-thodical in the things that we do.”

“Both my husband and I grew up with four parents that were extraordinarily involved in community and civ-ic organizations. For instance, my mother was Commis-sioner of the Girl Scouts in New York City. They were hard working, busy people but they always made time in their lives to give back by taking on leadership roles in charita-ble, church and community organizations,” Sona conclud-ed. “Both our parents were role models from the earliest days that we can remember, always doing something for different organizations that they identified with,” Richard added. “Both parents were very instrumental in teaching us about a strong work ethic, the importance of giving back.”

The Pride of Pelhamcontinued from page 9

He never wants to claim any credit for himself. He is a very genuine and positive role model for children in younger grades and volunteers his time not to get recognition but to help others.”

Jared has dedicated himself to improving the lives of people across Pelham, and we are proud to recognize him with the HOPP Award – Congratulations!

Finally, in addition to honoring Owen and Jared, Pelham PACT has partnered with Pelham Middle School to recognize its first two winners of the HOPP, Jr. Award. HOPP, Jr. seeks to recognize middle school students who demonstrate exceptional qualities relating to the IB learn-er profile. This month, for our inaugural HOPP, Jr. we are honoring 7th grade student Audrey Levenson for being caring and reflective and 6th grade student Daniel James for being open-minded and a critical thinker. Both of these students were selected by a team of teachers, guidance counselors, staff, and administration as two exemplary young people who give of themselves for the benefit of others and the PMS community overall. Pelham PACT is proud to partner with PMS to honor these students. Con-gratulations, Audrey and Daniel!

Because of the generosity of the Pelham Civics Asso-ciation and lifelong youth advocate and PACT founder, Al-ice DeNormandie, these students were awarded a gift card and other treats at a ceremony generously hosted by J Café on February 14, 2018. At an intimate gathering of family, friends, sponsors, and Dr. Roelle and Ms. Sabia from PMS, HOPP winners were celebrated for their efforts and con-tributions. The following day, PMS students were also surprised with a special milkshake delivery by PACT high school students.

Do you know a Pelham teen doing great things in the community and who demonstrates compassion, leader-ship, integrity or determination? Nominate him or her for the Heart of Pelham PACT (HOPP) Award! Our next round of nominations are due by April 1, 2018.

Congratulations to the Winter 2018 HOPP Award Recipients: Owen Anastas and Jared Morelcontinued from page 1

or in advance and online. Invi-tations will be mailed the first week of May, or go to the group’s website for more information in early May. www.pelhampreser-

vationsociety.com.Formed in 1999, this group

of volunteer Pelhamites devel-ops programs and funds proj-ects aimed at protecting and

enhancing the aesthetic and historic character of the Pelham community. Recent projects of the PPGS include the restoration of the Four Corner’s Police Booth, regrading and cleanup of greenspace at Veteran’s Park at Four Corner’s, installation of more historic light poles and benches at Four Corners, res-

toration and repainting of the clock tower in the Village of Pelham, the installation of green space and shade trees at the Cor-lies Parking Lot at Pelham Me-morial High School, restoration of the Pelham Memorial High School lobby murals, the Oculus windows at the Picture House, Highbrook Gates, the Benedict

Fountain, “Pelham by Design” book collection at the library, the sign and plantings at the train station, the Historic Houses Plaque program and the “Mimi Buckley” PPGS Scholarship, as well as the downtown flower baskets.

To learn more about Pelham Preservation and its

activities, visit www.pelham-preservationsociety.com. All Pelhamites are invited to join as a member for $25 annually. To join the PPGS please send a check made out to Pelham Preserva-tion & Garden Society to: P.O. Box 8129, Pelham, NY 10803. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Pelham Preservation & Garden Society Donates Pergola to Wolf's Lane Parkcontinued from page 10


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The original Polpettina opened in Eastchester seven years ago. The restaurant flour-ished and co-owner, Michael Abruzese decided to expand and open a second, larger location in Larchmont, in the space that for-merly housed the Spanish restau-rant Espana.

Abruzese began his jour-ney at the Culinary Institute of America. After a brief internship

in St. Thomas, he travelled to Mi-ami and worked in the kitchens of Japanese restaurants, Nemo and Shojii Sushi. Abruzese never for-got his Italian roots moving on to Il Mulino in Greenwich Village, a mecca for red sauce dishes. These among other restaurants along the way, served to create the vi-sion for Polpettina.

Abruzese naturally creat-ed three unique and best-selling meatballs. Topping the list is the Beef Meatball, using only first

quality, 100% domestically-raised beef from Meat Purveyors, Pat LaFrieda. The meatball is sea-soned with tomato basil, ricotta, pecorino and parsley. For a more Asian twist, the Chicken Meatball is a blend of white and dark meat along with sesame soy jus, scal-lions, cilantro, pickled carrots, a spicy aioli and are wonderfully juicy. Third, but certainly not least is Polpettina’s vegetarian Falafel Meatball, perfectly balanced with pickled red onion gremolata, spic-

es and served with dill buttermilk. Try all three for the complete ex-perience.

The pizzas at Polpettina are definitely worth mentioning as well. They serve traditional as well as Polpettina’s Signature Pies that are categorically appetizing. Of course, there is the Neapolitan Pie, round with sauce with a thin crisp crust. The well-known, Grand-ma – a square pie with cheese and sauce, or San Marzano with garlic and fresh basil. (A great deal is happy hour, 4 – 7pm daily – when the pies are $10.) The most-ordered Signature Pie – the Black Mission Fig – is wonderfully combined with pancetta, goat cheese, aru-gula pesto and truffle honey. The Black Truffle Pie has taleggio, bé-chamel and mushrooms and the Caciocavallo is a lovely creation of prosciutto, peach jam, basil and salted pistachios. Each Signature Pie on the menu elevates pizza be-yond anyone’s expectations.

Vegetables at Polpettina are exciting, unique and have both Italian and Asian influences. The Kale is prepared with garlic, gin-ger and lemon; and Broccoli Rabe with garlic, pecorino and chili

flakes. In addition, Asian-inspired Kimchi, a fermented cabbage blend of ginger, garlic and Korean spices, is something you may nev-er have tried, but will again.

If you are in the mood for a Pasta dish, Polpettina offers the classics such as Bolognese, classi-cally prepared with béchamel and

pappardelle or Penna Vodka with speck, vodka sauce, parsley and pecorino. The Truffled Carbonara is a combination of roasted mush-rooms, pancetta, farm egg, pecori-no on rigatoni. Call ahead to find out about the evening’s pasta spe-cials . . . Uni Butter and Linguine is a flavorful treat.

Quick mention: two won-derful appetizers to try are the Ko-rean-Style Spicy Chicken Wings made with kimchi and blue cheese buttermilk; and wide variety of Fries offered including Sea Salt, Garlic & Herb, Spicy (with chi-potle and ancho chilies), Truffle Parmesan, Bacon + Egg, or “Make ThemPolpettina” with mozzarella and Bolognese. All are perfectly crispy and go well with one of the delicious cocktails from the bar. Not surprising, one of the most requested appetizers is Crispy Michael Abruzese

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DeCicco & Sons Supports Autism Research & Awareness

BY JOE NUNZIATA

“Autism is one of the most misunderstood conditions in our society today,” explains Lu-

isa DeCicco, PhD of DeCicco & Sons. “During April - Autism Awareness Month - we are sup-porting Autism Speaks - an autism advocacy organization -

throughout our Larchmont and Harrison stores, so we’re asking our customers to please join us again in this cause”. Similar to last year’s successful efforts, customers can donate at the cashiers and have an Autism Speaks Support Card proudly

DeCicco & Sons’ Matt Eberhart, Luisa DeCicco, Autism Speaks Senior Director of Field Development Jena Schneider, and Aimen Shaukat of DeCicco & Sons

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displayed in the stores.The Quality First theme

line of DeCicco & Sons goes be-yond their aisles of produce and groceries, and into altruistic ini-tiatives to improve the quality of life throughout Westchester County. Whether it be hands-on

volunteering, creating vision-ary programs to help those in need, or actively supporting many charitable causes,.. such as understanding Autism.

According to Autism Speaks, 1 out of 68 children in America have been identified

with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and many people still do not understand it. With corpo-rate partners such as DeCicco & Sons, they are able to spread the word throughout the communi-ties, with clarity and purpose. The funds collected are directed toward research, ASD family ini-tiatives, and education. The goal is to empower people who have autism (and their families) with resources, online tools and infor-mation covering the life span.

Autism refers to a broad range of conditions character-ized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal commu-nication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most caused by a combination of ge-netic and environmental influ-ences. It has been found that a clear understanding of this con-dition among children greatly reduces bullying and hostility. “Education is the key”, added Lu-isa DeCicco.

To find resources, make a donation or join the 2018 Fund-raising Walk on June 3rd, visit www.AutismSpeaks.org.


Adam Kagan, Hanan Kamal Eldahry and Peter Potocki Run for Village of Pelham Board of Trustees on March 20, 2018

SUBMITTED ARTICLE

On Wednesday, January 24, 2018 Pelham Democrats filed Daronco Town House, as three candidates were selected at the Democratic caucus. Pelham Democratic Committee Secre-tary Eldar Shuminov chaired the caucus, which selected current Trustee and Deputy Mayor Adam Kagan, Trustee Peter Potocki, and Hanan Kamal Eldahry. The three were nomi-nated for the Village of Pelham Trustee positions up for elec-tion this coming Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

Hanan is a professional journalist who has been work-ing with non-profits in Pelham for over a decade. Her experi-ence as a journalist has been focused on the intersection of business, healthcare and pub-lic policy. Her problem-solving and unique background com-plement Adam and Peter’s and together she says, their expe-rience, talent, and energy will further enhance our Village of Pelham government. Hanan’s top priorities for the village include sharing services with neighboring municipalities to save money through economies of scale, and fostering a clean and healthy environment by continuing on the path of sus-tainability that the village has emphasized this past year.

Adam has been serving the Village of Pelham as a Trustee for three terms and is seeking a fourth term in addition to his duties as Deputy Mayor. At the end of 2017 the Village Board

convened emergency sessions to try to address the loss of the State and Local Tax deduction from federal taxes. The Village Board worked with the school and town Boards to communi-cate with the public about school and property tax pre-payment options. They continue to work with our State elected officials on this topic, particularly in light of this Village Board’s com-mitment to stay beneath the 2% property tax cap.

In recent years there had been no new multi-family rent-al housing built in Pelham. Both Adam and Peter were pleased to work with their Vil-lage Board colleagues to adopt a business-district floating zone (“BDFZ”) to make Pelham an easier place to build in-fill devel-opment in our downtown corri-dor. These pocket-developments are designed to drive more peo-ple to local stores and restau-rants, and at 1-2 bedrooms, they

Left to right: Peter Potocki, Hanan Kamal Eldahry and Adam Kagan

are attractive to empty nesters who would like to stay in Pel-ham, but for whom a single fam-ily home is no longer the right housing choice. Hanan aligns strongly with Adam and Peter in that she wants smart sustainable development that balances new revenue sources with preserv-ing our “village” atmosphere.

The three candidates know that Trustees need varied skills and perspectives when con-fronting challenges. Adam’s le-gal and government experience as well as attention to detail, Pe-ter’s business background and historical knowledge of the Vil-lage, along with Hanan’s media and communications skills, will lead the Board to find innovative ways to maintain and improve local life.

Your vote on March 20th at Daranco Town Hall (20 Fifth Avenue) from 6am to 9pm will support the ticket that keeps Pel-ham Strong.

Run for Something Endorses Alessandra Biaggi as Progressive Wave Builds Momentum

Run for Something (RFS) announced recently that its next round of en-dorsees will be strong voices in the next generation of progressive leadership. In New York, RFS is excited to endorse Alessandra Biaggi for New York State Senate, District 34.

“I am honored to be endorsed by Run for Something and join this family of brave leaders. We are ready to step up against an old political machine and innovate, standing for ethics, equality, and accountability,” said Alessandra.

“These first-time candidates all have the heart and hustle that is so im-portant to us at RFS, and we are proud to give them our endorsement,” said Ross Morales Rocketto, co-founder of Run for Something. “Put simply, they are the type of people we think the Party needs and the type of candidates who are going to work hard. They are knocking on doors and stepping up to run grassroots, community-led campaigns.”

The endorsement process includes an extensive internal review with a background check, staff interview, and insight from local state experts. The 48 new candidates are join-ing 150 previously endorsed 2018 candidates, totaling 131 RFS candidates in 2018 elections.

February RFS endorsement numbers: • 40 candidates from 26 states.• Campaign budgets range from $3,000 to $300,000.• Win numbers range from 645 to 30,000 votes.So far more than 16,000 young people from across the country have signed up as candidates and

gained access to Run for Something resources.

Alessandra Biaggi

New Federal Tax Law Affects Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

BY BERNARD A. KROOKS, CERTIFIED ELDER LAW

ATTORNEY

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act was enacted while most of us were away for the holi-days at the end of 2017. Much has been written about the changes made to corporate tax rates and those of cer-tain businesses, as well as the elimination of certain itemized deductions for in-dividuals. Less publicized, however, are the tax law changes made that will have an effect on seniors and in-dividuals with disabilities. Here’s a summary of some of the most important changes in that area:

There were two very positive changes to ABLE accounts. ABLE accounts are accounts that can be set up for a person with dis-abilities who became dis-abled prior to age 26. These accounts can benefit from tax-free growth while not disqualifying the benefi-ciary for government bene-fits. An individual can have only one ABLE account and contributions are capped at $15,000 a year. ABLE ac-counts are similar to 529 accounts, but there are a number of differences. 529 accounts are used to pay for qualified education expens-es, while ABLE accounts are used to pay for qualified disability expenses. Prior to the new tax law, it was not possible to move money between a 529 account and an ABLE account without paying penalties and tax-es. This created a problem for many who set up 529 accounts upon the birth of a child only to learn a few years later that the child has Autism or some other disability and will likely not need the money for higher education. The child will, however, need the money for other items necessary to improve his quality of life. Commencing in 2018, you can now roll a 529 ac-count into an ABLE account of the same individual or certain family members. The amount rolled over,

however, counts towards the $15,000 annual ABLE account contribution limit. Thus, if there have already been contributions totaling $15,000 this year, then no rollover from a 529 account is permitted that year.

The second big change relating to ABLE accounts allows individuals to con-tribute an additional $12,000 (above the $15,000 annual limitation) to their ABLE account if they have earnings from a job. While there are limitations on who can take advantage of this new provision (for example, it does not apply to folks who participate in certain retirement plans), it is a great opportunity for individuals with disabilities to save money on a tax-free basis without jeopardizing their government benefits. Remember, individuals with disabilities who receive Sup-plemental Security Income (SSI) can have no more than $2,000 in assets (not count-ing their ABLE account).

Another change with is expected to benefit seniors who have large medical ex-penses is the reduction in the medical expense floor. Prior to the enactment of the new tax law, individu-als could deduct medical expenses as an itemized deduction only if those expenses exceeded 10% of their adjusted gross in-come. The original version of the new tax law that em-anated from the House of Representatives would have completely eliminated the medical expense deduction. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed in the Senate and not only was the medical expense deduction main-tained, it was actually en-hanced temporarily. For the 2017 and 2018 tax years, the medical expense deduction floor is reduced to 7.5% of adjusted gross income. This should allow more people (especially seniors and oth-ers with chronic illnesses) to take advantage of this de-duction, although with the increased standard deduc-tion under the new tax law it

is unclear how many people will benefit from this provi-sion. Starting in 2019, the medical expense deduction floor reverts back to 10%.

With regard to medical expenses, keep in mind that the deduction applies only to unreimbursed medical expenses. So, if something is covered by insurance, then that portion of the expense is not deductible. Also, the deduction is only for ex-penses actually paid during the year, not incurred. So if you have a medical pro-cedure done in December and don’t pay for it until March, the deduction is not available until the year in which it is paid. However, if you paid for the December medical procedure by using your credit card in Decem-ber, the amount would be deductible in that year even if you didn’t pay the credit card bill until March of the following year. Sound con-fusing? It is. Make sure you work with a qualified tax professional any time you are dealing with complicat-ed tax issues so you don’t get an unwanted letter from the IRS.

Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., is a founding partner of Littman Krooks LLP and has been honored as one of the “Best Lawyers” in Amer-ica for each of the last seven years. He is past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAE-LA) and past President of the New York Chapter of NAELA. Mr. Krooks has also served as chair of the Elder Law Sec-tion of the New York State Bar Association. He has been selected as a “New York Super Lawyer” since 2006. Mr. Kro-oks may be reached at (914-684-2100) or by visiting the firm’s website at www.elder-lawnewyork.com.

art that The Boulders commissioned of a couple holding hands, done in the style of an ancient petroglyph. The icing on the wedding cake: a “his & her” pair of saguaro cacti that presid-ed over the venue – a lovely symbol of partnership.

The Boulders Resort is the recip-ient of countless awards, including Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List, Top Resorts of the World,” Arizona Bride Magazine’s “Best Wedding Night Hotel,” and Zagat’s “#1 Resort in the Southwest Region.”

If You Go: The Boulders Resort is located 33 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and transportation can be arranged in advance through the resort con-cierge. For more information or reservations, contact The Boulders at (866)397-6520 or (480)488-9009 or visit www.TheBoulders.com.

Barbara Barton Sloane is a Pelham-based Trav-el Editor/Columnist who writes for a num-ber of both national and international pub-lications. She delights in sharing her global travel experiences with

our readers.


GIRL IN TRANSIT: Between a Rock and a Soft Place – The Boulders Resort, Carefree, Arizona

BY BARBARA BARTON SLOANE

Lizards warm themselves on gi-gantic granite boulders, Jackrabbits and deer make their homes amid the desert landscape, towering saguaro cacti reach for the sky, and the sun’s rays encourage wildflowers to bloom in vivid shades of magenta, gold and lavender. This is life at The Boulders today, in a place unchanged for cen-turies. From its environmentally sound development to world-class resort, The Boulders is a compelling destination.

Named for the 12-million-year-old granite boulder formations that dot the landscape, the resort is situat-ed on 1,300 acres in the Sonoran Des-ert foothills and the terrain has been left virtually untouched to allow in-digenous plant and wildlife such as saguaros, mesquite, Palo Verde trees, coyotes and deer to prosper.

I visited The Boulders recently and, as we approached, like a mirage, the resort seemed to emerge from the desert like an offspring of the ancient boulders. My accommodation was in one of the 160 guest casitas which featured hand-hewn wood-beamed ceilings, a large wood-burning fire-place, ample dressing and bathroom area, and, one of the most charming additions, my very own private patio

which overlooked the sun-streaked desert. Each morning, I took my cof-fee and toast here and enjoyed the sight of Gambel’s quails, frisky and lo-quacious little birds, hopping around my table searching for crumbs while cottontail bunnies nibbled on plants among the cacti.

The Boulders carries the South-western motif throughout the prop-erty, with lobbies displaying Native American crafts and glass skylights and fireplaces providing warmth and light. The six restaurants on the property range from elegant to casu-al and feature innovative Southwest-ern cuisine. There are two champion-

ship golf courses renowned for their rugged beauty and breathtaking pan-oramas.

Not being a golfer, I quickly found my way to The Golden Door Spa. A comforting blend of Eastern and Western influences in its archi-tectural design, healing methods, treatments and philosophies, the spa is a 33,000 sq. ft. space which still manages to feel intimate and cozy. Being surrounded by the desert, I felt my skin could use a blast of pure ox-ygen so I opted for the Echo Oxygen Facial which promised to nourish and revitalize every cell of the skin, pore by pore. I think it worked be-

cause I emerged with skin that was dewy, fresh and smooth as a baby’s – er- whatever.

I had a mere three days at the resort, and tried to fit in as many on-site, fun adventures as possible. I went up, up and away in a beautiful balloon and I rode a horse through desert teeming with life. I spotted two brilliant red cardinals on the bough of a spiny Ironwood tree, a pretty pale colored coyote peeked out from behind a Prickly Pear cactus, and I gazed with amazement at the spectacular architectural designs of Arizona’s state tree, the Palo Verde. The name is Spanish for green stick, and in autumn, its chlorophyll-filled branches punctuate the desert sky.

On The Boulders property, there’s a magical placed called Prom-ise Rock, a one-of-a-kind romantic outdoor venue where fairytale wed-dings unfold. I was told it’s also a di-vine place to renew one’s vows. I had to see it! Created by nature but dis-covered only recently by the resort, Promise Rock opened this spring for those entering life’s most important union – marriage. The site draws upon the strength and rock-solid foundation of the surrounding boul-ders and the only sound I heard was that of a cascading waterfall nearby. I was particularly taken with the rock

Superintendent Dr. Champ Proposes Cap-Compliant $73.5 million 2018-2019 Budget

Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ presented the preliminary 2018-2019 budget proposal to the Board of Educa-tion at its meeting on February 27.

The preliminary budget will be reviewed by the Board throughout the spring, beginning with a line-by-line review on Saturday, March 10 at 9 am in the Middle School Library. The annual budget vote and school board elections will be held on Tuesday, May 15 when the polls will be open between 7 am – 9 pm in the PMHS gym.

Total appropriations in the pre-liminary budget are $73,482,000, which represents a 0.96 percent increase over the current year. The proposed tax levy increase is 2.42 percent, which is compli-ant with the New York State Tax Cap.

Included in the budget are funds to hire one additional Foreign Language Elementary School teacher, which will enable the District to proceed with the planned expansion of the program into 4th grade next year. Additionally, the budget utilizes savings from several key retirements in the Pupil Personnel Services Department to create a new Secondary Supervisor of Special Educa-tion position. This position is proposed

to help shift some of the administrative burden away from our school psycholo-gists and provide them with more time and resources to meet the social-emo-tional needs of middle and high school students.

“Over the past several weeks, we have worked extremely hard to develop a budget proposal that complies with the tax cap, preserves and expands our aca-demic program, and supports the core pillars of our Strategic Plan,” Dr. Champ said. “I look forward to working with the Board and the community to review this proposal and finalize a budget proposal that is responsible to our students and residents.”

Other key highlights in the budget include:

• Increasing dual-enrollment col-lege credit course offerings at the high school, such as SUNY Criminal Justice, SUPA Academic Writing, and SUPA Pre-sentational Speaking;

• Continuing professional develop-ment for integration of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Pelham Middle School and at Pelham Memorial High School in grades 9 and 10;

• Ensuring that class sizes across

all grade levels are at or below Board of Education guidelines;

• Continuing implementation of mobile learning devices as well as ex-ploring emerging technologies that sup-port learning and teaching;

• Adding girls’ varsity golf and pro-viding an additional coach for winter and spring track due to increased stu-dent participation;

• Investing in professional devel-opment of faculty related to STEAM, literacy, project-based assessments and learning standards.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Champ and the entire administrative team for their hard work in preparing the preliminary budget for next school year,” said Board of Education President Madeline Smith. “As is the case each and every year, the Board will take a hard look to ensure that the budget we put forth to the com-munity on May 15 is one that moves our District forward in a strategic and re-sponsible manner that aligns with our Strategic Plan and provides the best pos-sible education for our students.”

The full preliminary budget is available for viewing at www.pelham-schools.org/budgets__finance.

The tentative budget meeting calendar is as follows:

• Saturday, March 10: BOE Line-by-Line Budget Review, 9 am in MS Library

• Tuesday, March 13: BOE Meeting, Budget Discussion, 8:15 pm in MS Library

• Tuesday, March 27: BOE Meeting, Budget Discussion, 8:15 pm in MS Library

• Tuesday, April 10: BOE Meeting, Budget Discussion, 8:15 pm in MS Library

• Monday, April 16: Voter Registration in District Clerk's Office, 10 am - 2 pm

• Tuesday, April 17: BOE Meeting, Budget Adoption, BOCES Budget Vote, 8:15 pm in MS Library

• Saturday, April 28: Voter Registration in District Clerk's Office, 10 am - 2 pm

• Tuesday, May 1: State-mandated public hearing on budget, 8:15 pm in MS Library

• Monday, May 7: Voter Registration in District Clerk's Office, 4 - 8 pm

• Tuesday, May 15: Budget Vote and School Board Election, Polls open 7 am - 9 pm in PMHS Gym

have to.There are also a variety

of shelves and racks that can be attached to the doors of the wall (upper) cabinets. (In a retrofit, you may have to trim the depth of the shelves for these to fit). Spices, among other items, can be removed from your counters and fi-nally be put away. If you are creative, you can end up with a place for everything, thus making your cupboards beautiful, both inside and out. And, fortunately, Amer-ican industry has recognized that we’re not going to get rid of our ‘stuff ’ so they will keep developing new organizers to manage all that we now have and what we’ll accumu-late tomorrow.

Paul Bookbinder, M.I.D., C.R., is president of Dream-Work Kitchens, Inc. located in Mamaroneck, New York. A Master of Design (Pratt In-stitute), and E.P.A. Certified Remodeler, he serves on the Advisory Panel of Remodel-ing Magazine. A member of the National Kitchen & Bath Assoc., he is also a contribu-tor to eZine and Do It Yourself magazine. He can be reached for questions at 914-777-0437 or www.dreamworkkitchens.com.

Kitchen & Bath Insider© - #208Streamlining Your Kitchen Stuff

BY PAUL BOOKBINDER, M.I.D., C.R.

As the years go by, we tend to accumulate as much ‘stuff ’ as we possibly can, fitting it into every nook and cranny that our home has to offer. Just take a look in your attic, your garage and especially your kitchen to see what I’m talking about. When is the last time you needed that big pot that your sister left at your house ten years ago? Or what about the fifty packets of duck sauce that you’ve saved, just in case they forget to include it with your next order of spare ribs!

Whether you’re cre-ating a new dream kitchen from scratch, refacing your existing cabinets or just modernizing your existing domicile, there are many companies that offer cabinet accessories to ease our over-stressed existences. Think of the contentment that you would derive if everything in the kitchen did have an actual place.

Rev-A-Shelf (http://www.rev-a-shelf.com/) and Knape & Vogt (https://www.knapeandvogt.com/) are the two biggest suppliers of ac-cessories for both new cabi-nets and aftermarket needs. Assuming you have access to the Internet, visit their web-sites. Rev-A-Shelf refers to these products as “nec-essaries” which are “acces-sories that are considered necessary for the organiza-tion and function of your

kitchen”. Both companies manufacture shelving units, garbage pull-outs and the ubiquitous lazy Susan.

On a historical note, the “Lazy Susan” was first writ-ten about in Vanity Fair mag-azine in 1917. However, these revolving serving trays have been around since the 1700s and were originally referred to as “dumb-waiters.” (Today, in America, the term dumb-waiter refers to a small ele-vator, although in England, [where they still insist on using the metric system], lazy Susans are still called dumbwaiters; and cooktops are called hobs). Go figure! Perhaps after leaving the EU they’ll get their act together.

Many linguists believe that “Susan” was simply a common maid’s name, and that the term “lazy Susan” was a derogatory reference to a lethargic servant, who walked around in circles. More likely, the source for the term was a brilliant copywriter, using the rep-etition of the “z” sound in “Lazy” and the “s” in “Susan”, to invent a memorable term for a clever appliance.

Meanwhile, back on point, roll-out trays are one of the best solutions to increase the efficiency of base (lower) and pantry cabinets. By making items easier to reach, it’s easier to keep them organized. And as we approach Social Secu-rity, even if there won’t be any money to collect, we’ll still appreciate not having to bend over, if we don’t

BY SCOTT SWANEZY

Now that I’m sober, why do I have to deal with these relationship issues? I could be drinking or doing drugs again. Getting sober was hard enough! Why do I have to pay all these bills? Why do I have to get along with my boss? I never asked for this! Why should I go to AA/NA meetings? I’ve got better stuff to do. What am I supposed to do on the weekends now? I have no sober friends. No one told me recovery was going to be so difficult.

My clients in recovery have said these same words to me over and over again for the last 18 years. So often that I have begun to believe that the “Why me?” syndrome is reserved not just for the few, but for the many.

But what does that mean? What is this syndrome? How does it impact my recovery? To state it simply, the “Why me?” syndrome is feeling sorry for oneself and the need to remain sober, while also creating a brand new life in recovery. And it’s completely normal.

Creating a newly sober life is not easy. It’s a challenge filled with ups and downs, and no one signs up for that challenge will-ingly. While it is certainly true that your new life in recovery can be a challenge, falling into the pit of “poor me” or “Why me?” is a mistake. This type of think-ing in the addiction treatment world has also been referred to as “Stinkin’ Thinkin’”.

Those in recovery are warned about the hazards of adopting such thinking, because it drives one back to the path of relapse and addiction. But what exactly am I going on about with the “Why me?” syndrome, why do so many people experience it, and could it actually open a new door to recovery for someone if greeted with curiosity?

Of those I have worked with in recovery, many would answer “yes” to all of the above. “Why me,” is a normal part of the recov-ery process, and it’s more about when you are going to experi-ence it, not if. But what if instead of holding it in and trying to block the feeling from your mind, you instead allowed it to sit with you? What if you allowed yourself a moment to try to understand it, communicate that feeling to oth-ers, and do something about it?

The “Why me?” syndrome at a glance is to feel sorry for one-self, but going further, that feel-ing is rooted in a deep need. The need to express that recovery is arduous, mysterious, and intim-idating. How can I sustain this long-term? It’s the need for sup-port and guidance to walk this path – no one can beat addiction on their own.

Further, there can be a vis-ceral reaction to that “Why me?” stirring up feelings of helpless-ness, loneliness and weakness. These thoughts can lead to anx-ious and depressed moods, mak-ing you feel like it may just be easier to go back to that old life of drinking or using, a much more predictable life in the short term, with substance abuse being the go-to way to deal with relation-ships and other issues that come up. It can be paralyzing, and it may prevent you from reaching out to get the support you need to make positive changes.

So, what can you do about it? You don’t go on a roadtrip for the potholes, construction or traf-fic. Nonetheless, the bumps in the road still get you to your destina-tion. In order to fully understand something, we need to see the road for what it is.

These are four questions you can answer to understand the power “Why me?” may have over you:1. What purpose does the “Why me?” serve in my recovery right now?2. What is the “Why me?” stopping me from doing in my recovery?3. How can I look at the “Why me?” from a different perspec-tive?4. How can I take the “Why me?” and use it in a way that helps me grow?

The more you understand something, the more you can block the power to change it. To block it out may help in the short-term, but the long-term neces-sitates fully understanding its purpose at this stage in your re-covery. It could be that you need time to grieve the loss of your pre-vious life. You miss the regulari-ty of using. You miss not having to deal with the complexities of real life relationships. You miss the power to change your mood. And you might not even know yourself all that well. Building a newly sober life is a process of beginning to understand what purpose those substances may have served and finding healthy alternatives.

Don’t just recognize the “Why me?”, but call it out by tell-ing someone supportive of your recovery process about it. Own it and be accountable. In life and recovery, the “Why me?” could just be a great rationalization you use during the grieving process. The less we own it, the more pow-er it has. You are accountable for your thoughts and feelings and acknowledging that fact will al-low you to move forward. Fail to own it, and it will swim around in your mind, allowing it to go un-derground and live on for years.

Here are two ways you

can call out the “Why me?” syn-drome:1. Tell someone about your “Why me?”.2. Ask others you’re close with if they’ve ever had the “Why me?” syndrome.

Honor yourself in the re-covery process by honoring the “Why me?”. Be kind to yourself about your mistakes and im-perfections. Love yourself deep down and allow yourself room to heal and grieve.

For many of us, this journey may take days or months. Honor your old life as it was and know that while we can learn things from past decisions, we can’t go back in time. You can’t undo the past, but that fork in the road between continued use and so-briety is critical. It is important to reflect on all that you have ex-perienced. Those experiences in sum make you an amazing per-son, addiction and all!

How can I honor “Why me?”1. Make a list of your pitfalls

during addiction. How have they made you a better person?

2. Write down what you miss most about your life before the road to recovery. How would you replace those things?

3. List what skills and per-sonal strengths you have used to get through your addiction.

For so many, this is the conundrum. Thoughts can get stuck in our head forever. So much so that we can become par-alyzed against doing anything at all. But one thing is for sure: we must take A.C.T.I.O.N. to move on to that road to recovery.

Alcoholics Anonymous uses this great acronym: Any Change Toward Improving One’s Nature.

Take A.C.T.I.O.N. on that new road of no excuses. Of ac-ceptance of who we are, what we have gone through, and the future we want to carve out. No one will make that future for you. You are the instrument of change, if you try nothing new, you will only remain at the fork in the road.

Or, maybe you look back, and return down the old road of what you knew in the past.

Don’t let the “Why me?” syndrome win. Remember that it is a crucial part of your recovery process. Just as you have made it through whatever obstacles recovery has sent thus far, you will get through the “Why me?”. Not only will you get through it, but you will use it to deepen your relationship with yourself and those around you.

Scott Swanezy is an addiction and substance abuse counselor in Westchester County. He can be reached at 914-434-9945 and visit outofthefog.info for information.

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ClassifiedsANTIQUES • ART • COLLECTIBLESMost cash paid for paintings, antiques, furniture, silver, sculpture, jewelry, books, cameras, records, instruments, coins, watches, gold, comics, sports cards, etc. Please call Aaron at 914-654-1683.

EXQUISITE ART FOR SALEColorful. Original. Inspiring, and tax deductible. Palms for Life Fund offers original oil paintings by renowned Latin American artist for sale to benefit its charitable work for children worldwide.Different sizes and colors. A must see! Call 917-346-6177 or email [email protected] to arrange for a private viewing in Bronxville.

PURCHASING COLLECTIBLE CARDSLooking to buy Basketball (pre-1988), Football (pre-1987) and “Garbage Pail” cards (1985 to 1986). Mint condition only. If interest, call 914-738-1151, leave a message and your phone number.

BUYING ORIGINAL ARTBuying original illustration art done for magazines, books and paperback covers, ads, pinups, comics. Also antique posters, maps, all interesting paper. 914-588-9359. [email protected]

HIRING AUTO BODY REPAIR MANPelham Collision is hiring a full time Combination man and a Detailer. Must have experience. Located in Pelham, NY. Call to apply. (914) 738-6532.

ROOFING SPECIALISTSJoseph A. Madonia Roofing specializing in shingles, slate, tile, flat roofs, gutters and down-spouts, copper work, and repairs of all types. Call 914-777-3891.

RELIABLE NANNYPelham family has had the same live-out reliable nanny for 10 years and since child is now grown, they would like to find a nice family for her to work for. If you are in need of an experienced caregiver, please call or text 646-750-7027.

EXPERIENCED INVESTORExperienced Investor offers Dividend Program with yields of 7-10% as al-ternative to random investing. Advise amount to be invested. Fee $250. Program has worked for me for many years. Call 914-235-5618 or email [email protected]

MONTAUK -- SUMMER RENTALJuly mo. or bi-weekly. 3 BR, 2-1/2 Bath. Outdoor shower/AC/Decks + BBQ/East of Town -- Walk to Ditch Plains. Call John at 914-563-6740.

New Aging Mastery Program for Older Adults Designed to Help Enhance Longevity

Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced that registration is now open for the Aging Mastery Program (AMP), a new 10 session course designed to help older adults learn how to enrich their longevity, by mastering aging with other members of the community. The program will start on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at the Ambassador of Scarsdale, 9 Saxon Wood Road, White Plains.

“This innovative program is designed for older adults who are interested in participating in a positive learning experience that focuses on engaging with the community,” said Latimer. “I en-courage Westchester’s seniors to sign up for this wonderful opportunity.”

AMP consists of a series of 10 classes, 90 minutes each, with a focus across three areas: life enrichment, physical health and financial stability. The program, developed by the National Coun-cil on Aging, is offered under the auspices of the County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services’ (DSPS) Livable Communities Program, in partnership with the Ambassador of Scarsdale. This series of classes will be offered free of charge.

“This is an opportunity to meet new friends, provide support and encouragement to your peers, and to become more involved as a leader in your community,” said DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter. “Like many of the services we offer, AMP is a valuable program. Please take advantage of these classes and register today.”

The 10-course program will start on Thursday, March 22, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and will repeat on a weekly basis through Thursday, May 24. All classes will be held at the Ambassador of Scarsdale, 9 Saxon Wood Road, White Plains. Participation is free, but space is limited and an en-rollment application is required for registration. Subsequent AMP classes may be subject to a fee.

For more information and/or to receive an application form, contact Marikay Capasso at (914) 813-6427 or [email protected].

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The AARP Automobile & Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford CT 06155. CA license number 5152. In Washington, the Auto Program is underwritten by Trumbull Insurance Company. The Home Program is underwritten by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company. AARP does not employ or endorse agents or brokers. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. You have the option of purchasing a policy directly from The Hartford. Your price, however, could vary, and you will not have the advice, counsel or services of your independent agent.P

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COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC. 201 WOLFS LANE PELHAM , NY , 10803

Anthony Villani Principal [email protected] WWW.AVANTIASSOCIATES.COM

914-738-1900

February SnowPhoto by Jeremy Driesen

Jeremy Driesen will have his work on display at The Simon

Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard in May and through the end

of the year featuring Vineyard photos as well as a collection

of New York City photos, portraits and selections from his

general portfolio.

The Simon Gallery is owned by Peter Simon, a photographer

who is best known for amazing rock ’n roll photography from

the 60s and 70s. His subjects have included, The Rolling

Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, The Grateful Dead, James

Taylor, and Carly Simon (Carly is his sister, by the way).

Peter and Jeremy have been friends for years. He learned

about Jeremy's photography while attending Still Shooting,

a one-man, three-week photo show Jeremy did last year on

Martha's Vineyard. After that, they started to kick around the

idea of featuring Driesen's work at his gallery and eventually

hit on a plan.

The Gallery is located at 54 Main Street in Vineyard Haven on

the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Visit www.petersimon.com

and www.jeremydriesen.com


Morris Gutwith

Where to Dine After the Spring Orchid Show at NYBG!

A beautiful Technicolor harbinger of spring, the an-nual Orchid Show runs at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx March 3rd thru April 27th. I look forward to visiting NYBG, walking thru the beautifully restored Enid Haupt Conservatory and be-holding the seductive floral arrangements and dramatic plantings. (For additional info: www.nybg.org) After taking in all that beauty, we do get hungry. So where do we dine? Here are a few sug-gestions…

STARR DINING PAVILLIONS at NYBG!

Ever since restaurant rock star Stephen Starr took over the food service con-cessions at NYBG, hungry visitors have been taking note. Starr made a big name for himself in Philadelphia where he owns several power house restaurants including his retro: Continental. He is also represented in Atlan-tic City at Buddakan, and in Washington, D.C. at the hot new Le Diplomate where we enjoyed a wonderful French brasserie brunch recently. He has premiered themed Din-ing Pavilions throughout the park and near the Enid Haupt Pavilion: the casual Pine Tree Café and a more formal din-ing room with waiter service called Hudson Garden Grill serving an eclectic American menu with locally sourced in-gredients. Open daily. Check it out online.

MARIO’S2342 Arthur Ave., Bronx 718-584-1188

Since 1919 five genera-tions of the Migliucci family have worked the front and back-of-the-house making sure patrons are well served at this venerable Little Italy institution. Amiable Joe Mi-gliucci, the current patriarch, is there with his wife Barba-ra, daughter Regina and sons Michael and Mario. To many, the flavorful sauces and gra-vies produced in this kitchen are the stuff of Italian ‘foodie heaven’. And for those in the know, the old-world menu also holds many surprises. For starters enjoy the palate pleasing lagniappe of mar-inated carrots, hot peppers and good crusty Arthur Ave.

bread. www.mariosrestarthu-rave.com

ARTIE’S STEAK & SEAFOOD 394 City Island Ave., Bronx 718-885-9885

It’s right in the middle of City Island, the charming seaport village near Orchid Beach. Owner Spiro Chagares and his staff offer patrons an inspired melding of tra-ditional and contemporary dishes served with flair. Sit back in one of several refur-bished dining areas and enjoy such changing specialties as: hearty Seafood Chowders; Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups; Wood Grilled Jumbo Shrimp and Scallops; hunks of tender Short Rib; a massive Zuppa Di Pesce; tender Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb; Chardonnay Poached Salmon with seafood; and fresh Lobster prepared in a variety of styles. There’s a loaded Lobster Salad Roll at lunch and their Mediter-ranean style Pizzas are good to share, too. Check out the redesigned bar/lounge most evenings for good network-ing. Private party facilities.

Off premise catering. Open 7 days. Free parking. www.arti-escityisland.com

PRIME 16156 Fifth Ave., Pelham 914-576-0700

Prime 16 in Pelham es-pouses the virtues of ‘gour-met’ burgers, tavern spe-cialties and local craft beers which are updated regularly. Changing starters include: meaty Chicken Wings with choice of such sauces, and Ahi Tuna Tacos. Fresh prepared salads include: California Cobb and Kale Caesar. Deli-cious 8 oz. Burgers include: All American, topped with Vermont aged white cheddar, butterhead lettuce and sliced tomato, topped with Elm City yellow mustard & smoked ketchup; and The Smoker,

topped with smoked Gouda, smoked Apple-wood bacon, sautéed onion, sautéed crimini mushrooms, romaine & sliced tomato with a side of garlic aioli. You can also ‘Build Your Own Burger’. There is a Craft Beer Happy Hour offered Monday thru Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm featuring ½ priced drafts, select wines and 12-piece wings. www.prime16.com

FLORIO’S OLDE STONE MILL2 Scarsdale AvenueTuckahoe 914-771-7661

Florio Rugova, a veteran of the hospitality business, has assumed management of the landmark Olde Stone Mill Restaurant in Tuckahoe and he has been busy refin-

Artie's Giant Zuppa di Pesce

ing the menu. It will become known as Florio’s at the Olde Stone Mill. Florio previous-ly managed La Fontanella in Pelham. Most recently, he was affiliated with Jordan Hall 10803, also in Pelham. Olde Stone Mill has evolved into

Sandwich selections at the NYBG’s Pine Tree Cafe.

an Italian/American kitchen with Continental overtones. The bar/lounge is wood and stone. A passageway leads to the lovely 85-seat main dining room with airy picture win-dows, piano, warming hearth and beautiful table settings. The airy atrium room has become a popular gathering place, too. Look for such new specialties as: Clams Casino, Pork Osso Bucco, and Vitello Oscar Portions are gener-ous. Seasonal outdoor patio. There are private party ac-commodations. Open daily for lunch, dinner and week-end brunch. Free parking. www.theoldestonemill.com

Delicious entree at Florio’s Olde Stone Mill

(Morris Gut is a restaurant market-ing consultant and former restau-rant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in greater Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at: 914-235-6591. E-mail: [email protected])

• Chopped Salads• Juice Bar & Wheat Grass Shots• Gourmet Hot Food Bar & Cold Salad Bar• Premium Deli with Flat Bread Sandwiches• Homemade Soups (Dairy free & Gluten free)• Homemade Pizza• Espresso, Cappuccino & Herbal Teas• Fine Catering

Gourmet e xp r e s s

914-738-6569 or 738-6156 Fax: 738-6800924 West Street, Pelham Manor, NY 10803


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Restored Glory

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