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This page is where you can click to listen to archived
WDFH news and public affairs programs.
You can also subscribe to WDFH
podcasts to get
new episodes delivered automatically as they become available.
Programs available for online listening —
click to listen below:
-
WDFH Sessions: On The
Record — musicians performing in WDFH's Performance
Studio
-
OutCasting — a
unique public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues, produced
right here at WDFH
-
In Focus
— local news discussion on issues in the lower Hudson valley
-
For the Greater Good
— spotlighting the important work of nonprofit organizations in our area
-
Critical Conversations — an occasional
series of discussions on issues of public importance
-
Recovery Talk
— recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, domestic
violence, and more; interviews with people in recovery as well as
professionals in the field
-
Eyes on Westchester
— local news discussion on issues in central
and northern Westchester (series ended October 2012)
-
Village Green —
environmental sustainability (series ended March 2012)
Having
a problem hearing our online audio?
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LGBT YOUTH ISSUES
OutCasting
OutCasting is
WDFH's public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues.
More about OutCasting, including LGBTQ community
resources and the Trevor Project suicide hotline...
Enter the following address into your podcatching
software to subscribe to the OutCasting podcast (the
subscription is free):
PODCAST
http://wdfh.org/xml/outcasting.xml
The state of marriage equality following the
historic Supreme Court rulings in June — part 1 of 2
On this edition, OutCaster Travis talks with Evan
Wolfson, the founder and president of the organization
Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide.
During the 1990s, Evan served as co-counsel in the
historic Hawaii marriage case that launched the ongoing global movement
for the freedom to marry. Evan is the author of the book Why
Marriage Matters — America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry,
published by Simon and Schuster in 2004. In 2000, The National Law
Journal named Evan one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America,
citing his national leadership on marriage and his appearance before the
U.S. Supreme Court in the case Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale.
Newsweek and The Daily Beast dubbed Evan "the godfather of gay
marriage," and Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential
people in the world.
New York's Gender Expression Non-Discrimination
Act (GENDA)
This week, OutCasting returns to our look at
transgender issues in a discussions with Richard Gottfried, a member of
the New York State Assemblyman who represents Assembly District 75 on
the west side of Manhattan. Assemblyman Gottfried is known for the
HIV testing confidentiality law. He introduced New York's first
marriage equality bill in 2003 and co-sponsored the bill that brought
marriage equality to New York in 2011. He is now sponsoring
GENDA, which would add gender identity and expression to the state's
anti-discrimination laws concerning housing, employment, and public
accommodation.
The Boy Scouts of America's gay ban is partially
lifted
Since the late 1970s, the Boy Scouts of America (B.S.A.)
has had a policy that bans gay youth and adult leaders from membership
in the Boy Scouts. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that
B.S.A. had the legal right to continue this discriminatory policy.
In the years since, organizations have been formed to fight the ban
through other channels.
Meanwhile, B.S.A. has ejected Scouts and adult
leaders whose homosexuality came its attention. Others, after
becoming aware of the policy, left Scouting on their own. Untold
numbers have declined to get involved at all.
More than 60% of volunteer Scouting leaders voted on
Thursday, May 23, to partially lift the ban, but only to the extent that
it covers youth Scouting members; under the proposed change, gay adult
leaders will still be banned.
Will it now be safe for gay Scouts to come out?
What message does the partial change send? Will it be enough to
enable B.S.A. to regain some of the support and membership it has lost?
Perhaps most importantly, why is the B.S.A. reluctant to make a sweeping
statement that discrimination is simply wrong?
This week's edition of OutCasting, which was
produced before the vote took place, explores these complex issues
through discussions with people who are or have been involved with the
fight to overturn the ban, including:
-
Evan Wolfson, the civil rights attorney who
represented a gay Scout whose ejection from Scouting led to the U.S.
Supreme Court case Boy Scouts v. James Dale;
-
Zach Wahls, the executive director of
Scouts for Equality;
-
Mark Noel, the executive director of the
Inclusive Scouting Network who was ejected under the gay ban
shortly after the Supreme Court decided the James Dale case;
-
Michelle Tompkins, national media manager of the
Girl Scouts of the United States;
-
Christoph, who left Scouting;
-
David, a current Scout who opposes the ban; and
-
Michael, who is still closeted in Scouting.
Juli Grey-Owens — Part
two of two
On this new edition of OutCasting,
we broadcast the second
part of a two part series featuring a wide ranging discussion of
transgender issues with the transgender activist Juli Grey-Owens.
David and Morgan talk with Juli about trans and dual gender identity and
about her activism. The first part is available
in the
WDFH audio archive.
Juli Grey-Owens — Part one of two
On this new edition of OutCasting,
the first part of a two part series featuring a wide ranging discussion
of transgender issues with the transgender activist Juli Grey-Owens.
David and Morgan talk with Juli about trans and dual gender identity and
about her activism.
Juli is a Long Island and New York State
Transgender Community Advocate. She is a board member of the
Empire State Pride Agenda, the New York State LGBT Advocacy
Organization; Chair of the GLBT Democrats of Long Island; and a member
of the Suffolk County Democratic Party Executive Committee. She is
active in the Long Island Transgender Day of Remembrance Committee as
well as the Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition.
Juli regularly speaks at churches and
public forums about the need for statewide Transgender Civil Rights and
gave a key address at the 2012 New York State LGBT Equality and Justice
Day held in Albany, New York. She lives in Huntington with her
wife Barbara and their two cats Fraidy and Sylvia.
Dan Savage on bullying; California State Senator Mark Leno on LGBTQ
education law
This first national edition of
OutCasting features a discussion of LGBTQ teen bullying and suicide
prevention with Dan Savage, the author, activist, and co-founder of the
It Gets Better Project. Also, a discussion with California State
Senator Mark Leno about the law he sponsored that will require the
teaching of LGBTQ history in California schools. This program was
distributed on the Pacifica program Sprouts: Radio from the
Grassroots in March 2013.
An interview with Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson
This new edition of OutCasting
features an interview with
Gene Robinson, whose consecration as the first openly gay Episcopal
bishop was followed by a split in the Episcopal Church over the issue of
homosexuality. Bishop Robinson, a leading international voice for
gay rights, talks with OutCaster David about how he was elected, the
positive aftermath of his consecration, the death threats he received,
the split in the church, marriage equality, and his new book,
God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage.
If you're interested in buying this
book, please consider buying it from an LGBT bookstore. We are
losing these valuable community institutions in an age of internet
shopping, and a great deal is being lost.
Here's a list.
We Are the Youth — a photographic
journalism project countering the lack of
visibility of LGBT young people
On this
thirteenth edition of OutCasting, Diana
Scholl and Laurel Golio talk with Travis about the We Are the Youth
project. Diana and Laurel started the project
to address the lack of visibility of LGBT young people.
By chronicling the individual stories of LGBT
youth in the United States and providing a space for youth to share
stories in an honest and respectful way, the project has opened the door
for touching and revealing stories that reveal a lot the daily lives of
LGBT youth.
LGBT people in religion; stereotypes based on
appearance
On this edition of OutCasting, David talks with Rabbi
Sharon Kleinbaum of
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, an LGBT-inclusive synagogue in New
York City. Rabbi Kleinbaum is a recipient of the Woman of Valor
Award given by the Jewish Fund for Justice. The Forward, a
national Jewish weekly newspaper, and Newsweek have both named Rabbi
Kleinbaum as one of the top 50 American rabbis. New York Jewish Week,
another publication, named her as one of the 45 leading young American
Jewish leaders in New York. She has been an activist since her
college years.
Also, in our first OutCasting audio essay, Mady
talks about how appearances can be misleading.
Queens Legal Services, serving LGBT families and
people living with HIV; guest Richard Saenz, staff attorney
Queens Legal Services is a
not-for-profit organization that seeks to provide equal access to
justice for all low-income residents of Queens through a range of legal
advocacy, education, and community partnerships. They provide free
legal counseling, representation, and referrals in civil matters to
eligible low income individuals and families. They also work to
address and identify root causes of systemic inequalities in the legal
system. Queens Legal Services is a part of
Legal Services NYC.
Our guest, Richard Saenz, a staff
attorney at Queens Legal Services, represents low income LGBT families
and people living with HIV.
Two very different ways of dealing with LGBTQ
issues in public schools
LGBTQ education is a controversial topic in public
schools, especially with the recent outbreak of bullying and suicide.
On this new edition of OutCasting, we explore the issues LGBTQ
children face in public schools, differing views on legislative action,
and the benefits and repercussions of this legislation.
In California, the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and
Respectful (FAIR) Education Act, which went into effect on January 1,
2012, will require public schools to include material on LGBTQ history
and notable figures. Juliana talks this
week with California State Senator Mark Leno. The
openly gay Democratic senator was the law's sponsor in the state senate.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the "Don't Say Gay" bill would
effectively do the opposite, prohibiting mention of anything that strays
from the heteronormative in grades K-8. Joining
us are Brad Palmertree and Callie Wise from the Middle Tennessee chapter
of GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).
Healthy LGBTQ teen relationships
On this edition of OutCasting, we discuss LGBTQ teen
relationships and the things that can make them healthy or unhealthy.
Our guests are from the Domestic Violence Education and Prevention (DVEP)
Program at
My Sister's Place, which provides comprehensive shelter,
advocacy, legal services, and supportive services for victims of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse, stalking, and human
trafficking in Westchester County, New York.
Our guests are Kristine Poplawski, L.M.S.W., DVEP
Program Coordinator, and Rebecca Drago and Honor Adams, community
educators.
|
Joseph Birdsong |
On this eighth edition of OutCasting, Mady talks
with
Joseph Birdsong, a YouTube vlogger and musician.
Mady and Joseph talk about growing up gay in a small
southern town and the transition to
college. Joseph is known on YouTube as
disneykid1 and was previously a part of the YouTube channel
5Awesomegays. |
On this seventh
edition of OutCasting, we are joined by
singer/songwriter and transgender activist
Ryan Cassata, a recipient of the Harvey Milk Memorial Award.
Ryan talked with Travis and performed several songs in WDFH's live
performance studio.
On this sixth
edition of OutCasting, we look back at
Prideworks, a regional convention of hundreds of LGBTQ youth and their
straight allies. OutCasting was there and brought back interviews
about more sex education that is inclusive to all, whether their sexual
orientation or gender expression, and about queer cinema. Also, a
workshop was held at which Dr. Jallen Rix, a talked about his
experiences as a "survivor" of so-called "reparative therapy," an often
religious-based effort to try to "cure" homosexuality. Dr. Rix
joined us by telephone from his home to discuss this controversional and
often damaging approach.
On this fifth edition of OutCasting, we observe and discuss the
importance of World AIDS Day, December 1. Joining us are Twanna
Hines, the coordinator of the Comprehensive of Adolescent Pregnancy
Prevention Program and co-chair of the Youth Outreach Committee at
Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, and Santo Barbagiovanni, CHAPS
program supervisor with AIDS-Related Community Services.
On this fourth edition of OutCasting, we talk
with Alex Sanchez, an author of novels focusing on LGBTQ youth,
including Rainbow Boys, The God Box, and most recently
Boyfriends with Girlfriends. Also, a discussion of portrayals
of LGBTQ people in the media and literature and of
how traditional and new media differ in their treatment of LGBTQ
people and issues.
On this third edition of
OutCasting, we talk with David Diamond, a volunteer with the
Westchester chapter of PFLAG — Parents, Families, and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays. We will also discuss online reader comments
responding to an
article about OutCasting in the
October 6 edition of The Journal News.
On this second edition
of OutCasting, we talk with Dan Savage, the nationally-syndicated
columnist, author, activist, and co-founder of the It Gets Better
Project. We also discuss the rash of teen suicides that led to the
naming of October 20 as Gay Spirit Day.
On this first edition of OutCasting, we talk
with Mary Jane Karger about the roles of Gay-Straight Alliances in local
schools. Mary Jane is the
Hudson Valley regional co-chair and a national board member of
GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).
Also, we decode what all those letters in LGBTQ actually mean.
-
WDFH Sessions: On The
Record — musicians performing in WDFH's Performance
Studio
-
OutCasting — a
unique public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues, produced
right here at WDFH
-
In Focus
— local news discussion on issues in the lower Hudson valley
-
For the Greater Good
— spotlighting the important work of nonprofit organizations in our area
-
Critical Conversations — an occasional
series of discussions on issues of public importance
-
Recovery Talk
— recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, domestic
violence, and more; interviews with people in recovery as well as
professionals in the field
-
Eyes on Westchester
— local news discussion on issues in central
and northern Westchester (series ended October 2012)
-
Village Green —
environmental sustainability (series ended March 2012)
LOCAL NEWS AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
In Focus
WDFH's local public affairs discussion program with
regular guest Gary Cahill, publisher and reporter of The Gazette
in Croton-on-Hudson.
Enter the following address into your podcatching
software to subscribe to the In Focus podcast (the
subscription is free):
PODCAST
http://wdfh.org/xml/infocus.xml
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
The Briarcliff Manor Board of Education had its annual
reorganization meeting, at which Paul Wasserman, who opposed the board's
budget that was voted down on May 21, was sworn in as a trustee. Many
people blame him and his running-mate for what was the school district's
first budget defeat in at least 40 years. It remains to be seen how he
gets along with fellow board members as the school year progresses.
The Town of Cortlandt will have a
celebration of its 225th anniversary
on Sunday, July 28, from 3 to 9:30 p.m. at
George's Island Park, Montrose. It will be an old-fashioned
community-style picnic type of event with music, games,
crafts fair, and
magician, concluding with
fireworks.
July 31 is the deadline for applying to be one of the
purchasers of 14 two-bedroom "affordable"
condominiums at 445 North State Road, Briarcliff Manor.
Ossining schools administrators and teachers agree to
salary freezes and minor benefits concessions in new contracts that
have been in effect since July 1.
hosted this week by Tim Podell
A Croton-on-Hudson woman, Laurel Gouveia, has previously offered to
donate her 14-acre property, which has dramatic views of the Hudson
River and beyond, to the village in return for being able to continue
living there property tax-free. Mrs. Gouveia, now 71, has now
sweetened the offer. She will give Croton $1 million if is accepts her
property.
Problems of littering and conduct of individuals heats up for
residents along Croton River Gorge as a hot-spell set in, with no easy
answers to control conduct of visitors.
Business Council of Westchester study identifies Ossining as a good place
to help attract "young professionals."
Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct to host "party" on the Double
Arch Bridge from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, to mark completion of
recent work to help preserve the 160-year-old structure.
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
-
Longtime Ossining pastor dies
-
Plans are discussed for a museum at Sing
Sing
-
A controversial rezoning in Croton on Hudson
is approved
hosted this week by Tim Podell
Annual Ossining Independence holiday event Wednesday
evening, July 3. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.,
pyrotechnics at nine or thereabout. Thousands
expected. On Friday, July 5, six-week summer
music and film series begins, featuring bands followed by
"Ossining-themed" G or PG movies at different locations in the village.
First movie: "20,000 Years in Sing Sing," to
be viewed in the lower end of Louis Engel Waterfront Park, northerly
adjacent to where the movie was film in 1932 and "under" the former Sing
Sing guard tower in the park.
Town of Ossining has a buyer for its former police
station on North State Road. An
I.T. firm has agreed
to pay $1.475 million — about $1 million less
than is still owed on the bonds used to build it eight years ago
— and will also have reduced property taxes for seven years.
A "tag sale" of items in the building
— principally desks, tables and chairs —
is slated for Tuesday, July 9, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A recap of area high school graduation ceremonies,
including advice from the keynote speaker at Hendrick Hudson's
commencement — a Class of 1987 Hendrick Hudson
High School member, Katie Jacobs Stanton, who is a vice-president
of Twitter and a
former White House aide.
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
-
Briarcliff Manor school budget revote
passes
-
New affordable housing opens in downtown
Ossining
-
Croton-on-Hudson
Democrats choose their candidates
hosted this week by Tim Podell
A critical Briarcliff Manor
school budget vote will be held on Tuesday,
June 18. After significant cost
cutting, should this budget re-vote go down as did the budget
plan defeated on May 21 — the district's first
budget defeat in at least four decades — a
"contingency budget" will be required for the 2013-14 school year.
Transition Ossining will be hosting a home gardening
class at the Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center, Ossining, on June
30 for people interested in growing their own fruits and vegetables.
There are now six candidates for the two available
council seats up for election on the Cortland Town Board: Democratic
candidates Debbie Costello and Seth Freach; Democratic primary
challengers Domenic Volpe and Brian Pugh, who have recently picked up
the Independence and Working Families lines; and Republicans John
Lentini and Theresa Knickerbocker. Ms. Knickerbocker was recently
elected to her third consecutive two-year term as a Village of Buchanan
trustee. An independent who has been elected and reelected a Buchanan
trustee with Democratic support, there are grumblings among Republicans
in terms of supporting her.
The village of
Croton-on-Hudson is considering a First Night celebration for this
coming New Year's Eve. The last area municipality to host something
similar — the Village of Ossining, about eight
years ago — dropped the idea after the
inaugural event.
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
Briarcliff schools set "tax cap compliant budget" for
June 18 re-vote. Money is to be included for
continuation of the district's participation in Walkabout program.
Sing Sing inmates are exhibiting art at the Ossining
Arts Council's Firehouse Gallery,117 Main Street, Ossining.
Former Croton-on-Hudson Village Manager Richard Herbek,
66, a resident of Briarcliff Manor, resigns post as Newburgh city
manager after acknowledging to city officials he had a physical
relationship with a 33-year-old woman who has a history of prostitution
and drug arrests in that Orange County city.
hosted this week by Tim Podell
The 33rd Annual Ossining Village Fair is on Saturday,
June 8. In conjunction with the Village of Ossining's bicentennial
celebration, docent-led tours of a 25 piece outdoor sculpture exhibit
and tours of historic homes will also take place.
Dale Cemetery in Ossining is now on the state's Register
of Historic Places; a historic roadside marker was dedicated on Memorial
Day.
The Ossining Fire Department conducted its 64th annual
Communion Breakfast on Sunday, May 26th; it is in honor of members who
have passed on within the prior year's time.
The Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation will
have it's inaugural "Running of the Balls" on Roosevelt Island in
Manhattan on Saturday morning June 15th. Kimerling was a
Croton-on-Hudson resident and two time Emmy Award-winning sportscaster
who died in 2003 of testicular cancer at the age of 37.
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
§
Memorial Day festivities in the communities
§
election and budget roundup
§
Town Hall in the Town of Ossining
§
Village of Briarcliff Manor settles CSEA contract
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
May 2013 elections, specific budget issues and
candidates for Hendrick Hudson, Croton-Harmon, Ossining, and Briarcliff
Manor
hosted this week by Tim Podell
Town of Ossining Councilman Peter J. Tripodi IV
announces he will run for District Nine Westchester County legislator
rather than a second four year council term.
The N.Y.C. Department of Environmental Protection police
and New York Guard held the 95th annual tribute to members of the First
Provisional Regiment on May 5 at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. These members
were the "citizen soldiers" who guarded the New York City watershed and
aqueducts during World War I against terrorist activities by German
spies or sympathizers.
The Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society held
its 40th annual meeting at the Edith Macy Conference Center in Mount
Pleasant. The guest speaker, Village of Ardsley Historian Walter
Schwartz, reflected on the lives of V. Everett and Edith Carpenter Macy.
The husband dedicated the approximately 400-acre site and paid for the
construction of the first buildings in honor of his wife, who had died a
year before the 1926 dedication and had been a longtime member of the
executive board of what is today the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. G.S.A.
still owns the site.
-
Discussion about the Ossining Bicentennial celebration
-
Briarcliff fire chief elections, and its leadership structure
-
Expanded Metro-North service, and the impact it has along the Hudson
River communities
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
-
Ossining schools find alternate funds for
transportation
-
walking tours of Ossining
-
Croton-On-Hudson budget
-
Cortlandt Town Board Democratic
candidates
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
-
Ossining school transportation referendum
fails to pass
-
Commemoration at Sing Sing for the
anniversary of a murdered prison guard
-
Earth Day and environmental activities in
Ossining, Briarcliff and Croton
hosted this week by Tim Podell
Ossining school district residents vote Tuesday on
a proposition to extend minimum eligibility distances for sixth- through
twelfth-graders to receive bus transportation.
There is an effort among even strong supporters of the schools to
defeat the proposition.
The Village of
Croton-on-Hudson has won a three-year series of litigation to uphold a
controversial rezoning in its Harmon
commercial district intended to spur economic vitality in this three and
a half block area.
It appears that the
Briarcliff Manor school board's budget proposal for 2013-2014,
to be voted on by the public on May 21,will exceed the state's
prescribed tax levy cap.
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
-
Ossining Bicentennial celebration
-
Briarcliff fire chief elections and its leadership structure
-
Expanded Metro-North service, and the impact it has along the Hudson
River communities
hosted this
week by Tim Podell
-
The kickoff of the Village of Ossining's Bicentennial Celebration is
Tuesday night, April 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Ossining
Public Library.
-
The Village of Briarcliff Manor's tentative budget comes within the
state tax levy limit; the Village of Croton-on-Hudson's does not.
-
Area school districts are targeted for state aid increases.
hosted this week by Tim Podell
-
Election results in Buchanan
-
Briarcliff Manor election results including the almost
take over of four-term mayor William Vescio from newcomer Laura Morris
-
The Village of Ossining's initial dates for its
bicentennial beginning with April 2 — 200
years to the day that the "Corporation of Sing Sing" was created
-
Questions about several thousands of dollars in
revenue that was never accounted for from the sale of scrap metal in
Ossining
week of 3/18/2013 —
listen now
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
A Briarcliff pharmacist
has been charged in a
$500,000 Medicaid scheme. Two years
ago, he got sympathy from Briarcliff officials and area residents alike
when it was proposed that a CVS pharmacy take his independent pharmacy's
place at the Chilmark Shopping Center.
We run down the village elections
held in Briarcliff Manor and Buchanan on Tuesday,
March 19.
Croton-Harmon releases a
preliminary 2013-14 budget that complies with state's tax levy cap law;
Briarcliff Manor schools consider exceeding their cap.
hosted this week by Tim Podell
The proposed Ossining school
budget calls for a tax levy hike lower than permitted under state law.
Briarcliff Manor Mayor William Vescio is being
challenged for re-election on March 19.
The State D.O.T.
says that if people/local officials are not satisfied with proposed Bear
Mountain Parkway Extension upgrades it has planned for later this year,
it may not have the work done.
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
-
A Briarcliff Manor Fire Department member celebrates
his 70th anniversary.
-
County Executive Rob Astorino visits the Town of
Ossining for a town-hall-style meeting.
-
Ossining and Hendrick Hudson school districts get new
superintendents.
-
Briarcliff Manor school district examines potential
changes to the budget.
hosted this week by Tim Podell
Ossining schools will hold a special referendum on
Tuesday, April 16, to get needed public
approval to change the minimum distances kids
must live from their schools in order to get free bus transportation.
It is hoped that if the measure is approved, it will
result in a savings of $413,262 in next school year's budget.
A new "Energy Improvement Corporation" has the Town of
Ossining and Village of Croton-on-Hudson among its first members.
It is intended to provide low
cost financing for energy conserving
upgrades to certain multifamily homes.
The state Department of Transportation will hold public
informational meetings on the DOT's plan for
long-desire upgrades on the Bear Mountain Parkway Extension in Cortlandt
and Peekskill. Slated to begin later this
year, the primary intent is to prevent cross-over head-on
collisions. The meetings will be held
on Wednesday in Peekskill (at the Neighborhood Center, 4 Nelson
Avenue) and Cortlandt (Cortlandt Town Hall, 1 Heady Street).
Both meetings will run from 6:30 to 8:00
p.m.
hosted this week by Ian Isanberg
The new Fox TV show "The Following" filmed this week in
the Town of Ossining, using the town's former police headquarters.
U.S. Representative Nita
Lowey, a critic of the Indian Point Energy Center, toured the Buchanan
plant earlier this week with Allison Macfarlane,
the relatively new chair of the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission. Lowey, a 24-year incumbent, has been
at the plant numerous times since being elected to the House but this
was the first time — due to reapportionment
— she visited with the nuclear plant as part of her
congressional district. No
big surprises came during a somewhat awkward press conference that
followed. Macfarlane says the plant continues
to operate safely; Lowey says the N.R.C.
should consider during its licensing extension review that if this was a
proposed facility, it would never be approved due to the density of
population in the greater metro area.
Croton-Harmon schools administration is eyeing cutting
some positions in order to have a 2013-14 budget package that falls
within the state's so-called "tax levy cap law." All
area school districts are eyeing cuts, some significant, as in
Ossining's case (covered a few weeks ago on In Focus), in this
second year of the levy cap law.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
-
MetroNorth reported its second-highest ridership year
for 2012
-
Croton still discussing repairs to Yacht Club bulkhead
and possible restaurant on adjacent property
-
The annual Eagle Fest conducted by Teatown is held
February 9 from 9-4; www.teatown.org/eaglefest for more info
-
"Times Square Hero" Duane Jackson tries to keep his
trustee seat in Buchanan
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
The Briarcliff Manor People’s Caucus has voted to
nominate Howard Code for Village Justice, a contested position, which
probably will result in this candidate’s ultimately being elected to the
position this Spring.
St. Theresa ‘s Catholic elementary school in Briarcliff
Manor and Assumption Catholic elementary school in Peekskill are being
closed by the Archdiocese of New York as a result of increased cost and
declining enrollment.
There are two Intel Finalists
from the area. They will compete in a
field of 40 in March for scholarships. The
students are Daniel McQuade from Ossining High School and Chris Traver
from Croton High School.
The Ossining Public School Board is struggling to trim
between $3 million
and $4 million from the budget,
which it will present on March 1 in order to
comply with the state mandated tax cap.
Some suggested cuts are the ice hockey
program, reducing the number of class sections in the elementary grades
(thereby increasing class size), and
eliminating free bus service for those students who live a shorter
distance from school. The School Board will
continue to hold regular meetings and the public is welcome to make
suggestions.
Pacifica Radio network is now available as a free app on
I-phones and I-pads. The app includes
links to member stations, like our own WDFH!
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
In a surprise move, Briarcliff schools' superintendent
Neal Miller will be resigning effective June 30, only two years into his
five-year contract. The reasons are not
known. High school principal James Kaishian
will move up as interim superintendent and the school's assistant
principal, Debora French, will move into Mr.
Kaishian's spot.
The Croton-Harmon train
station parking lot is jumping into the twenty
first century with the advent of license plate readers to replace the
sticky tags currently in use by permit holders. The
new system is scheduled to go into effect June 1.
Ossining will hold a public hearing on approximately $3
million in necessary budget cuts. Please
share your thoughts on Wednesday, January 23, at 7:30 p.m.
at the Claremont school.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
This year’s Intel Finalists have been
named. Four
were from Ossining High School, one
from Croton High School, and
one from Briarcliff Manor High School.
Among the projects is an effort to increase
enzyme production in a protein that kills cancer cells.
The Briarcliff Manor People’s Caucus will hold
an election to nominate a candidate for elected Village Justice to
replace Judge Fred Weinstein, who is not seeking re-election. The
candidates are Lori Sullivan and Howard Code. The election will be
held on January 23 from 3:00
until 9:00 p.m. at the Briarcliff Manor
Youth Center; the formal election will be on March 16, 2013.
On Saturday,
January 5, the Cooperative Scholarship Fund, a not-for-profit
organization that raises money for African American students in
Ossining, held its annual Martin Luther King event at Ossining High
School. About 120 persons attended.
The honorees were Dr. Phyllis Glassman, retiring Ossining Schools
Superintendent, Martin MacDonald, Director of the Ossining Public
Schools Cable Services, and Rev. Arthur Lewter, Pastor of Star of
Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ossining.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
Lifelong resident and active Briarcliff community member
Eileen O'Connor Weber passed away on December 30 at the age of 94.
Last chance for Briarcliff public information meetings
on cleanup of school athletic fields: January
8 at 7:30 p.m. and January
12 at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Briarcliff Middle School Theatre.
Croton EMS begins public relations campaign for
reinvigorating current members who are inactive as well as attracting
new volunteers.
The Ossining school board seeks three community members
to sit on superintendent candidate review panel. Contact the clerk's
office at 941-7700 ext. 1317 or
ossiningufsd.org.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
January 1 will see the inauguration ceremonies of
Ossining Village Board of Trustees’ John Codman III and Victoria Gearity
as well as Mayor William Hanauer. In addition, Sandy Galef will be
sworn in for another term as State Assemblywoman and David Carlucci will
be inaugurated as State Senator. The ceremony begins at noon at the
Ossining Community Center.
At 2:00 p.m. on New Year’s Day, the new officials of the
Ossining Volunteer Fire Department will be sworn in for the 2013-2014
term by Mayor Hanauer. The ceremony will take place at the State Street
Firehouse.
The Briarcliff Manor People’s Caucus will hold its
annual meeting on Wednesday, January 8, at 8:00 p.m. Notably,
David Venditti has announced that he will not seek re-election for the
office of Village Trustee, and there is an opening for the post of
Village Justice.
The Ossining Town Board has released its budget and
there is no longer any funding for the Police Resource Officer at
Ossining Middle School, which is in the Town of Ossining. The Resource
Officer for the high school is funded by the Village of Ossining. The
matter is controversial as the two schools serve children in several
towns that comprise the school district as well as the “Town Outside.”
There is a feeling that the Ossining school district or the other towns
serviced by the the schools should pick up some of these costs.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
On December 5 and 6, AMD Middle School in Ossining
presented a two day program for students
that involved a strong anti-bullying message. Kirk Smalley, who
lost his own son to suicide, was the speaker.
He travels the country with his emotional appeal for empathy and
involvement from the students, entitled “Stand for the Silent.”
The program was sponsored by the Ossining Public Schools and the
Ossining Communities that Care.
On Friday night, the Ossining Volunteer Fire
Department will gather at AMD Middle School to assemble the food gift
baskets for the 97th annual Baker-Collyer Cheer Fund, to be
delivered early Saturday morning, Dec. 22.
The correct address for donations is P.O. Box
508, Ossining, NY 10562. In previous
years, the address was in care of the Town of Ossining at the Municipal
Building on Croton Avenue.
Four area senior citizens were inducted into
the Westchester County Senior Citizen Hall of Fame, to honor them for
their volunteer efforts. They are: Joseph Lalak of Briarcliff
Manor, Marie Turner of Cortlandt Manor, Carol Shanesy of Croton,
and Laura Seitz of Croton.
The Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees, over
objections from residents, voted to approve the upgrade to Croton Point
Avenue in order to make the access to the train station easier and
safer, especially for bicyclists and pedestrians. The
$2.8 million plan will cost residents
$1.2 million in taxes.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
The Ossining Fire Department is the oldest in the county
at 200, and with about 400 members it's also
one of the largest. New Chief Jason Lorenz
and First Assistant Matt Scarduzzio, along with Second Assistant Chief
Angelo Manicchio, who ran unopposed, will be
sworn in on January 1, 2013. Current Chief
Thomas Reddy will step into the official title of Deputy Chief, ready to
lend assistance in times of need.
The Ossining Community Crib has been displayed in
Washington Square for 27 years, and for 30 years before that it was in
municipal spaces. The dedication this year
was celebrated with the St. Ann's Church Choir
and local legislators.
The Cortlandt emergency food bank needs food and money,
citing a 30% increase in demand this year. Checks
can be sent to 19 Old Post Road South, Croton
10520. Meanwhile, youths known as the "God
Squad" solicited donations in front of the Holy Name of Mary Church for
CHOP (Caring for Homeless Of Peekskill) for the fifth year running.
And the 97th Baker-Collier Appeal to benefit
needy Ossining households is happening.
Donations can be sent to Town of Ossining, 16 Croton Avenue,
Ossining 10562; on Friday, December 21,
members of the Ossining Fire Dept will be at the A&P in the Chilmark
shopping center assembling baskets for hundreds of hungry families.
Additional charitable opportunities can be found at
townofossining.com and villageofossining.org.
Croton is debating returning their local election date
to March from November. Even though the
turnout is higher in November, some feel that the consideration of local
issues may get lost in the national and state
level races. Also, the certification by the
Board of Elections was delayed due to their busyness, causing the
swearing-in to be pushed back to December 10.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
After 71% of residents voted to maintain the position of
Highway Superintendent as an elected one, Mike O'Connor is revealed to
be suing Ossining over their use of moneys to promote their idea that
the position should be an appointment.
The Village of Ossining has asked a local public
relations team to create an updated logo and tagline for use next year
during the bicentennial celebrations.
A proposal to reduce the number of refuse collection
days from two to one is being bandied about.
Tax savings might be about 2%. Public
comment is currently being sought.
hosted this week
by Melinda Battle
Many in the Hudson communities remain critical of Con
Ed's handling of the outage issues following Hurricane Sandy.
Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi will put
in a formal complaint to the state; Governor Cuomo has promised to look
into the issues. Gary discusses what happened
to some boats in the storm, as well as talking about residents of the
trailer park and the Red Cross trailer's effectiveness.
Bill Hanauer was elected to his fourth term
as mayor of Ossining. John
Codman and Victoria Gearity are trustees now. The
Ossining town highway superintendent position will not become an
appointed position but remains and elected one —
we discuss the ins and outs of that sticky wicket.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
Hurricane Sandy and other storms are due to strike our
area today and the local Hudson River communities are preparing for
possible flooding, tree damage, and power
outages. Since Metro North suspended service
as of Sunday night, the parking lots at both the Croton and Ossining
train stations are closed, since high tides and the storm surge are
likely to produce flooding in these low lying areas.
The Ossining Community Center will serve as a shelter and also a
location to use electric power to charge cell phones for those whose
phones are down due to loss of cable service.
Due to the storm, the local candidates’ debate,
scheduled by the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce, has been
postponed; a new date hasn't yet been announced.
The Briarcliff Manor Garden Club’s annual
Fall Fashion Show has also been postponed to November 14 at Sleepy
Hollow Country Club.
The four member Advisory
Committee to the Croton Board of Trustees regarding Croton Volunteer
Ambulance Corps has made its recommendations to the Board, in light of
the need for faster response times and understaffing.
They are in favor of keeping the organization as primarily a
volunteer service, but with a paid EMT and supplemented by mutual aid,
such as from the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
They threw the understaffing issue right back at the Board,
however, and stressed the need to attract and retain at least 70
volunteers (right now there are seven active
volunteers who handle 600 calls a year). This
is the only way, in their view, to provide effective emergency services.
Ossining held a parade last Saturday for Ossining High
School and the Ossining Public Schools to celebrate their winning Intel
awards such as the Star Innovator Award for having the number one
science program in the country.
Ossining competed with schools having admission criteria to
attend. The parade and rally drew
approximately 500 people, including officials from Intel Corporation
as well as state, county, and local
officials.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
Evidentiary hearings are under way at the Doubletree
Hotel in Tarrytown. Allegations presented by
Riverkeeper, Clearwater, the State of New York,
and others against Entergy on a variety of issues of concern.
According to the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission website, "Open to public to listen only. Due
to the proprietary nature of some information discussed in the
evidentiary submissions for NYS-6/7 and RK-TC-2, the Board may be
required to close portions of the hearing on those contentions from
public viewing." The licensing for the
continued operation of the plant hangs in the balance.
The Village of Sing Sing was founded in April of 1813,
and the Village of Ossining plans a year-long bicentennial celebration.
On the schedule are home and historic
building tours, art/photography/sculpture/writing displays, possible
prison tours, and many other events.
All events will be free or "reasonable
priced," says the 20-member advisory committee. About
$45,000 has been raised so far and an additional $65,000 is sought.
A Family Matters workshop will be held at the Dorner
Middle School on Tuesday, October 23, at 6:30
p.m. The event,
which includes a dinner, is free to local parents of students in grades
5 through 12 and will address such issues as bullying, social media,
parent liabilities, and the dangers of the
home medicine cabinet. Registration is
required. Visit http://ossiningctc.org/familymatters.html
for more information.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
On October 5, the young child of Manuela Morgado was
laid to rest. Jason Reish is believed to have
been asphyxiated by his mother on October 1 in their Mamaroneck home.
Ms Morgado then allegedly tried to end her
life by overdosing but did not succeed. She
and the boy's father, Tim Reish, lived in
Ossining at one time. The father's eulogy was
heartwrenching. Ms Morgado remains in custody
under suicide watch.
Brooke Astor intended a large bequest for local churches
as well as the New York Public Library and the New York Museum of Modern
Art. All Saints Episcopal Church and Trinity
Episcopal have already received bequests from
the estate, which was embroiled in a legal dispute involving Mrs.
Astor's son, Anthony Marshall. A recent
auction of some remaining items has netted about $19 million, however,
which should provide for additional checks to be written.
Community Markets, which runs 18 markets in the New York
metro area, started out in Ossining and has long wanted to have a twelve
month market there. The Ossining Board
of Trustees should grant them their wish, and this winter should see a
Saturday market at Market Square, where Spring Street meets Main.
The location is outdoors.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
The Croton Yacht Club is leased on an acre and a half of
village owned property, and the annual rent is
$12,500, which some residents feel is too low. There
is about $3 million worth of repair work to be done to the bulkhead
which the village would find hard to afford, and the property is
currently available only to members. Some
proposals include a restaurant, but concerns abound.
The Board of Trustees is looking to work this out.
The section of Main Street in Ossining between the post
office and the train station is still awaiting its facelift, but the
federal department of Housing and Urban Development is holding their
promised $300,000 in abeyance due to the county's dispute over
affordable housing. Ossining has decided to
go ahead with the repairs anyway and pay back any loans with the money
when it eventually materializes.
The Ossining Rotary Club held a fundraiser recently
which raised about $5,000 for an agency devoted to polio eradication.
Ossining High School's business department was cited by
the New York State Department of Education Business Teachers'
Association. Debra Jacoby teaches business
there.
Brian Lehrer of WNYC spoke recently to residents at the
Club at Briarcliff Manor about social media. Other
speakers in the past have been Robert Klein and Leonard Lopate.
Croton-on-Hudson Democrats held their primary and
selected their slate for the November 6
general election. There are
two out of five seats open on the Village
Board of Trustees, so the candidates selected are incumbent Ann Gallelli
and 23 year-old Kevin Davis. The Croton
Democratic Committee had selected Ms. Gallelli and Andrew Levitt to run,
but Mr. Davis challenged the slate and prevailed in the primary.
Since there are no Republican challengers
this year, it is expected that Ms. Gallelli and Mr. Davis will win in
the general election and join the all Democrat Village Board.
Clifton Travis, an Entergy employee who is a Security
Guard at the Indian Point Nuclear Plant, is
suing Entergy for $20 million in compensatory
damages and $1.5 billion in punitive damages.
Mr. Travis claims that Indian Point security
is extremely insufficient and in need of both
plant upgrades and improved training and equipment for the security
staff. He claims he has been put on unpaid
leave and criticized for "whistleblowing."
The public informational session regarding improvements
to Croton Point Avenue and the access roads to the Croton Metro North
railroad station was held last Tuesday night, in spite of the severe
weather — heavy rain, wind and power outages
in the area. Although this may have accounted
for low attendance, the Croton Board of Trustees went ahead and heard
mostly opposition to the plan, particularly
the cost (now raised to $2.8 million, up from
$2.5 million). There is currently no future
meeting held, but interested persons have until October 5 to contact the
village with their comments.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
The dedication ceremony for the placement of a Blue Star
Byway Marker was held recently in Briarcliff Manor. The
Marker, which comes from the blue star on the U. S. Armed Forces Service
Flag, was placed in the Pocket Park located on Pleasantville Road in the
business district of Briarcliff Manor.
It is the 9th to be placed in Westchester
County and it honors and reminds us to remember those who have served
and are presently serving in our Armed Forces.
Ossining High School was recognized as
first in the nation by the Intel Corporation,
which awarded the high school its annual Star
Innovator prize. The school was cited for its
Science Research program, in which students work on a project for
three years with an outside mentor, and for
its Robotics program. Administration
officials, including Superintendent Phyllis Glassman and Principal
Joshua Mandel, were in Washington, D.C.,
last week to receive the award, which also includes a monetary grant to
the High School.
A $100,000 reward is being offered by the parents of
Alexander Grant for any information leading to the arrest or conviction
of person(s) in connection with the death of their son.
Alexander Grant was a 19 year old Briarcliff Manor college
student who was visiting another Briarcliff Manor student at Skidmore on
March 5, 2011, when he wandered off from a party, broke into a building
and left without his clothes. His body was
found two days later in a creek.
Although he had a .16 blood alcohol level,
this would not seem to account for this irrational behavior,
and the local police have no answers. There
is a phone number to call with information: (877)216-9588; or a website
which can be found by searching Alexander Grant
on your web browser.
There will be a public information meeting on Tuesday,
September 18, at 8:00 p.m. at the Croton
Municipal Building on Van Wyck Avenue in Croton to discuss proposed
changes to Gateway Plaza and Croton Point Avenue at the entrance to the
Croton Harmon Metro North Station, to improve safety and relieve traffic
congestion during rush hours. The cost to
Croton residents for the improvements, which would include installation
of traffic lights, sidewalks, and bicycle
lanes, is estimated to be $900,000 after Federal, State and County aid
money is taken into account.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
Ossining Matters held its 5K Run/2 mile Walk on Sunday,
with at least 259 runners crossing the finish line.
The race, which began in front of the Post Office on Main Street
in Ossining, continued along the Old Croton Aqueduct and looped back,
finishing on the Double Arch Bridge near the Community Center.
This year, the first place winner was Louis
Francisco, a 41year-old man from Mahopac. The
first place female was Kristin Vespa, 22, who was the female winner last
year. Ms. Vespa graduated from Ossining High
School and was a member of the Cross-Country and Track teams.
The second place finisher over-all was Ryan
Sweeney, 17, a current member of the Ossining High School Cross-Country
Team.
The Toughman Half Triathalon competition was held
Sunday, beginning and ending in Croton Point Park. The
three event race raises money for charity and
this year had over a thousand participants
from 25 states and other countries. There
were a lot of concerns raised about the road
closures, particularly on Routes 9 and 9A, which resulted in lengthy
traffic back-ups. The closures were announced
ahead of time and they were scheduled on a Sunday from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00
p.m., but there was still a lot of confusion
and congestion, so it is anticipated that the event will be reviewed by
the prevailing authorities before scheduling it for 2013.
This year's 9/11 Memorial events include a dedication in
Croton at Croton Landing Park of a new sculpture constructed from a beam
from the North Tower of the former World Trade Center.
The service will be Tuesday, September 11, at 3:00 p.m. at the
Park. Ossining Village and Town will hold a
service at Engel Park at the location of 2 markers installed right after
the tragedy. The Ossining memorial will be at
6:30 p.m. with various civic groups attending such as the Village and
Town Boards, Police and Fire Departments, and
Boy and Girl Scout Troops.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
Ossining Matters, the foundation set up to support the
Ossining Public Schools, will hold its 10th annual 5K
two mile Run/Walk on Saturday, September 8. The
race begins at 9:00 a.m. sharp and runs along the Old Croton Aqueduct
trail. Registration is from 7:30
to 8:30 a.m. in the Community Center, or if not participating,
interested persons may make a contribution to the organization.
On Sunday, September 9, the 5th annual Toughman Half
Iron Marathon will be held in Croton Point Park. The
event begins with a swim in the Hudson River, followed by biking and a
running race, finishing up at the Park. It
should be noted that from 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m., Routes 9 and 9A Southbound will be closed from Peekskill to
Briarcliff Manor to accommodate the racers.
Within the Park, there will also be "Tough Teens" and "Tough
Kids" versions of the competition.
The Briarcliff School Board approved the proposed $1.5
million remediation plans for its two practice
fields' contaminated soil. The Board voted to
send the plan to the State Department of Environmental Conservation and
the State Health Department for their approval of the measures to be
taken. State approval is expected, and the
work to cap the fields and apply natural turf should take about one to
one and a half years to complete.
The Town of Cortlandt and the Village of
Verplanck have a new Veterans' Park on the
Hudson River in Verplanck.
Recently, an aviation playground was dedicated to the late Jim
Martin, who ran the Peekskill Seaplane base from that location since the
1950s. Mr. Martin, who owned the land now
dedicated as a park, had refused to sell to real estate developers,
choosing instead to give it by will to the people of the Town for their
use as a park.
hosted this week
by Melinda Battle
The Ossining
Board of Trustees settles with Policeman's
Benevolent Association on a five
year contract that will include some
retroactive coverage. One result is that
active employees and future retirees will contribute to health care
expenses.
September 8 will mark the tenth anniversary of the 5K
run and two-mile walk benefiting Ossining Matters, an organization
that helps provide local schools with needed
aid. To register, visit ossiningmatters.org.
We update the case of Maria Villa Loja, charged with the
suffocation of a five-month-old infant in her care.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
The Inaugural Ironman U.S. Championship was held this
past Saturday in New Jersey and New York with a local connection: the
winner, Jordan Rapp, is a former resident of Briarcliff Manor. The
32-year-old Mr. Rapp graduated from the Hackley School and has been
living in California, where he is a professional triathlete. The event
was nearly canceled earlier in the week due to a sewage spill into the
Hudson River off Sleepy Hollow, but Westchester County officials were
able to repair the leak and remedy any contamination which would have
harmed the swimmers.
The Briarcliff Manor School District has a new Trustee:
Jonathan Satran was appointed by the School Board for the new year. Mr.
Satran was chosen from among three candidates and was selected due to
his background as a financial analyst and his extensive involvement in
and knowledge about District affairs.
In a related story, the Briarcliff School District has
approved financing and construction of a new playground for kindergarten
through second grade at the Todd School. The playground should be
finished by the second week of September.
The Town of Cortlandt has announced the opening of a new
Veteran's Park, dedicated to honor all members of U.S. Military serving
in all wars. The new park is located along the Hudson River in the
Village of Verplank and is actually the site where Continental Troops in
the Revolutionary War massed to cross the Hudson to Stony Point en route
to the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
A task force convened to study areas of the Croton River
for safety hazards following the recent drowning death of a Bronx man
has toured the river by boat. They report many areas of erosion and
hillsides used by too many people to be safe. One 19-acre parcel, the
Croton Gorge Unique Area, has no regulations against campfires,
overnight use, or how the area can be responsibly utilized. Currently
managed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, one
possibility would be to allow the area to be transferred to the auspices
of the state Parks and Recreation department, which could better patrol
and regulate the land.
The joint Buchanan-Cortlandt-Croton 9/11 memorial is
moving into completion of the first phase. Called "Reaching
Through the Shadow," a 16-ton boulder was recently placed on the site in
preparation for a carefully positioned girder from the towers.
Eventually, a bronze statue of a woman reaching up will be added. The
girder will cast a shadow on medallions encircling the boulder
depicting, on every September 11, the events at various times on that
day. Phase One is scheduled for dedication on this year's eleventh
anniversary of the tragedy.
Ossining is looking to make the superintendent of
highways position and elected one, rather than by appointment. A recent
public hearing and other public input seems to indicate the town is not
in favor of this change, saying that Michael O'Connor, currently in the
position, is doing "a fine job." The last public hearing on the issue
before it goes to vote (as the town seems to want) will be August 24 at
7:30 p.m. at the Ossining Public Library.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
On July 24, a Bronx man was pronounced dead at the scene
on the Cortlandt side of the Croton River. Carlos
Cholco had jumped in to rescue two of his children. He
succeeded in saving the kids but perished himself. The
Village of Croton and the Towns of Ossining and Cortlandt are concerned
about safety in and around the river; task forces are being created.
Assemblyperson Sandra Galef renews her call for
legislation requiring operators of motorized boats to pass an
eight hour safety course. The
legislation has been stalled, but a compromise excluding rentals and
allowing purchasers extra time to take the course may help it pass.
Waterview Drive in Ossining was the scene of a large
underage party on July 19. Two teens were
treated at Phelps Hospital for alcohol poisoning;
others were issued desk tickets. Ossining
Communities That Care and other civic groups have begun an awareness
campaign, including the revival of the decades-old phrase, "It's ten
p.m. Do you know where your children are?"
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
The Town of Ossining will hold a public hearing on
Tuesday, August 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the
Ossining Police-Court Facility on Spring Street regarding the recent
proposal to abolish the elected position of Town Superintendent of
Highways. The Ossining Town Board is required
to pass a resolution in September regarding this change to local law in
order to schedule a referendum on the ballot in November, when the
public would vote on the measure. If the post
is abolished, the position would be filled by appointment of the Board.
Town Supervisor Susanne Donnelly has no
problem with the current Superintendent, Michael G. O'Connor, who would
be permitted to serve out his full term, but would like to avoid the
possibility of having a new Superintendent every two
years who might not be qualified for the post when there are a
lot of long term public works projects being planned.
Others have argued that having an elected
Superintendent makes the department more responsive to the people of the
Town.
The Village of Croton will hold elections in November
for the first time as opposed to March. Since
this past March, residents voted to change the annual election
date to coincide with the general election. The
Village will save some money, but local issues could receive less
attention among the state and national concerns of the other candidates.
In September, there will be a primary for the
two democratic candidates.
Ann Gallelli and Andrew Levitt were nominated by the local
party, but Kevin Davis has filed his petition to primary for a place on
the ballot. The two
winners will be on the Democratic line on the ballot in November.
There are no Republicans nominated to oppose them.
Ms. Gallelli is a long time Croton public
servant and incumbent; Mr. Levitt is a six
year resident who is active in local Croton politics; Mr. Davis is a 23
year old third generation Croton resident
whose family has also been involved in politics.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
The Village of Briarcliff Manor Planning Board has given
final approval to the site plan authorizing expansion of the Chilmark
Shopping Center. The result will be the
addition of a 13,900 square foot C.V.S.
store and the relocating or elimination of
other, smaller stores. The property owner
will be required to make improvements to the property, including
reconfiguring the parking lot, adding sidewalks,
and planting trees to blunt the impact of the C.V.S.
"wall" which will face residents on the Pleasantville Road
side of the property. In
addition, the C.V.S.'s
hours will be limited to 7 a.m. to midnight
and there is to be no overnight unloading of trucks or steam cleaning
the parking lot. Other improvements in
lighting and employee parking will also be required.
The village of
Croton-on-Hudson, which gets its water from Village owned wellfields
(unlike Ossining, which gets its water from the Old Croton Reservoir),
has enacted temporary mandatory water restrictions.
The purpose is to reduce demand during the peak summer months to
protect the pumping equipment and other infrastructure.
It will restrict watering lawns, washing
cars, etc.
Scarborough Park, which is a small peninsula on the
Hudson River and is the only riverfront owned by Briarcliff Manor, is
the subject of a 50-50 grant application to the state
for funds to improve it. There is pending a
$1 million plan to restore the shoreline, which has suffered from
erosion, and also to provide amenities, such
as benches, tables, paths, and a floating dock
to accommodate kayaking. Should
the application be denied (this is the third
application), the village of Briarcliff Manor
is likely to still restore the shoreline, reinforce rip-rap,
and take other steps to prevent further erosion, or else the land
itself, and thus the size of the park, will be
forever lost.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
Dr. Phyllis Glassman, Ossining superintendent of
schools, announced her retirement as of January, 2013, at the June 28
school board meeting. Dr. Glassman has been
with the district for more than 20 years, and stated there were various
reasons for her decision. She has received
numerous accolades during her career. Many
expressed disappointment at her leaving. A
search for a permanent replacement will probably take place next spring.
Rosella Ranno, who has served two years of her three
year term on the Briarcliff school board, announced her
resignation effective June 30. The union
free district is required to fill her seat within 90 days by
appointment or election. Applications for the
position must be received by July 23.
The Town of Ossining has not had a property tax
reassessment since 1972, but they are looking into one now.
It would cost about $150 per parcel of land,
and some owners would be facing increases as others (probably newer
properties) would see no change or a decrease. The
tax cap rules might create some issues.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
Voters in the newly configured 17th Congressional
District, which now includes Ossining, Croton-on-Hudson,
Cortlandt, and Peekskill, will be
voting for Congresswoman Nita Lowey on the Democratic side or Joe Carvin
on the Republican side. Ms. Lowey is
currently representing the 18th District, which has been altered due to
reapportionment in New York. Mr. Carvin won
the Republican nomination for the seat and is the present Rye Town
Supervisor.
Bryan Johnson, a 26-year old Ossining resident and
graduate of Ossining High School, drowned in a
boating accident off of City Island last week. His
body was recovered from Long Island Sound on
Tuesday, June 26. The circumstances of his
death are unclear and the accident is being investigated by the New York
City Police Department. Mr. Johnson, a
supervisor at a Tarrytown hotel, was the son of Sheila Lilley, a
corrections officer at Sing Sing prison, and the grandson of Thomasina
Laidley-Brown, the Chair of the Ossining Town Democratic Committee.
His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, July 3,
at 11:00 a.m. at the
Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ossining.
Dr. Kusum Sinha has been tapped by the Briarcliff Manor
Public Schools to the new full-time position of Assistant Superintendent
for Curriculum, Assessment, and Human
Resources. Dr. Sinha was formerly an
assistant superintendent in the Croton Harmon School District, where she
was highly regarded and which she left in order to pursue her Ph.D.
Briarcliff Manor Schools has functioned with
a number of interim positions for several years and conducted an
extensive search before hiring Dr. Sinha.
A petition with 1,500
signatures will be presented this week to the New York State Department
of Transportation and local legislators on behalf of the Town of
Cortlandt and the family of a deceased motor vehicle accident victim.
The petition calls for construction of a center median barrier
along the length of the Bear Mountain Parkway in the Town of Cortlandt.
This stretch of roadway has been the site of
numerous accidents, including fatalities over the years.
The Town of Cortlandt has been asking the State D.O.T.
to take this step. The latest fatality
occurred in December, 2011.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
The former site of Testwell Laboratories, which occupied
about eight acres just south of Ossining's correctional facility,
has been languishing for between one and two years since a foreclosure
and bankruptcy in 2009. The bank, instead of
"mothballing" the building, has been maintaining it and its equipment.
Now a company engaged in similar testing will
be leasing the space and the equipment. HAKS
Engineering is tri-state based and will, among other things, be using
its services to test materials on the new Tappan Zee Bridge.
A zoning variance needed to be obtained,
however, for them to use the space. Gary
explains the ins and outs of zoning changes.
The Ossining town board may present a referendum to
unincorporated Ossining residents on the November ballot which would
eliminate the elected position of highway superintendent and instead
have an appointed position. The department
also handles sewer, drainage, water, and
bridge issues as well as area roadways. Mike
O'Connor, the current highway head, will continue in his post until the
end of 2013 either way. Mr. O'Connor seemed
unaware of the pending change at the board meeting last week.
Gary, a fount of information, tells
us about the ups and downs of "oil and chip" grading on roads.
Nita Lowey has two Republican challengers who will face
off in this week's primary. Jim Russell of
Hawthorne and Joe Carvin of Rye are vying for the privilege of going up
against Ms. Lowey, a veteran of more than 20 years in
Congress, in November.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
This week from Tuesday through
Friday, residents and businesses of Briarcliff Manor are being asked to
conserve water due to testing of the new state-of-the art filtration and
purification project installed by the New York City Department of
Environmental Conservation. This project
affects water coming from the Catskill Aqueduct and the project's cost
to Briarcliff Manor property owners will be substantially less than if
they had to purchase water from other sources, such as Ossining or New
Castle. This is due to funding by the Federal
government under President Obama's stimulus
package.
Town of Ossining Supervisor Susanne Donnelly will hold
her third monthly Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. in
the Ossining Public Library's Budarz Theater. The
agenda will include: (a) proposed revisions to
Ossining's accessory apartments law, which would relax some of the
requirements, such as enlarging the size of such units and shortening
the waiting period before a home addition qualifies to become an
apartment; (b) new information on the impact
to the unincorporated section of the Town if Districts 17 and 20 vote to
separate from the Town and become part of the Village of Briarcliff
Manor; (c) an update on the Supervisor's
communications with Westchester County regarding the County's use of the
Town Police building rent-free and for non-police uses.
Croton's E.M.S.'s
services may be reviewed and/or changed due to lagging response
times, although service had been expanded with assistance from the
Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps. One
alternative to this understaffed agency would be to become part of the
Mid-Hudson Ambulance District, as OVAC is, which is paid for through
local taxes.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
The Ossining Town Board is proposing limiting smoking in
the four major town parks. The ban would
exclude smoking in playgrounds, game courts, pavilions, athletic fields,
and dog parks, requiring smokers to move at least 50 feet away to
indulge. This would become a law, if
approved, punishable by a fine. There is a
public hearing on June 16; information is available on
townofossining.com.
The Harmon neighborhood in Croton has been in
controversy for over three years regarding zoning. Some
want to rezone to allow more density among the thirty-odd commercial
properties involved. The Democratic majority
feels that allowing mixed use (residential and commercial) would be
helpful, while others say the burden on schools and infrastructure
services would be detrimental. The Board
passed a revised version of the proposal last month, but it has been
challenged and will be on hold for at least another four months.
Elsewhere in Croton, for the first time since it was
founded in the 1890s, Croton residents will be voting at the same time
as the November general elections, instead of in March as they
historically did. There are two trustee seats
up for grabs, and Croton Democrats have endorsed Ann Gallelli and Andy
Levitt as their candidates. There may not be
a Republican candidate, although a possible September 13 primary may
change that up as there is still time.
The Maryknoll School, which is celebrating its
Centennial this year, has set aside 42 of its 67 acres as a conservation
easement. This will restrict development and
protect much of the natural beauty that is there.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
Ossining village held ribbon
cuttings last Saturday at three local parks.
Sparta Park was re-landscaped and enlarged,
which provided it with a new playground, walking paths,
and benches and a gazebo overlooking the Hudson River.
Nelson Park was improved by adding lighting
for its tennis courts enabling night-time play;
the poles were donated by the U.S. Tennis Association in Queens.
Crawbuckie Nature preserve was landscaped and
enlarged providing paths and Hudson River Overlooks for hikers.
Ossining Mayor William Hanauer and his partner for 38
years, Dr. Alan Stahl, were married in a
historic ceremony at Sparta Park on June 3. Ossining
residents and officials were in attendance as well as family, friends,
and colleagues of the mayor and Dr. Stahl.
The ceremony was officiated by Lynda
Clements, who is the Minister of Ossining's First Presbyterian Church.
Three responders in the
Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps received recognition and citations
from the Westchester Regional Emergency Medical Services: Gary Conklin,
Joyce Wilson, and Joseph Bucchignano.
The Ossining Village Fair will take place in downtown
Ossining on Saturday, June 9, from 10:00 to
5:00 p.m., with a
raindate of Sunday, June 10.
The Ossining Historical Society and the Campwoods
Association staged a Civil War re-enactment on
Saturday, June 2. The re-enactment included
soldiers, dances, and ceremonies
honoring those from Ossining who served in the Union Army and Navy.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
Kim Izzarelli, a Republican,
has stated that she will challenge long-time
incumbent Sandra Galef for the 90th/95th state assembly seat.
(It is currently the 90th district, but will
become the 95th district when the new borders go into affect later this
year.) The two candidates differ on state
mandates and other issues.
Frank DeMaria, a master of Kung Fu, was sentenced to
seven years in state prison. Mr.
DeMaria was convicted in February of nine counts of various levels of
child sexual molestation for acts committed in his Croton school.
Multiple sentences will be served
concurrently.
An incident in 2011 between Rosella Ranno and Sal
Maglietta of the Briarcliff school board that allegedly took place in
the parking lot of a polling place is now closed. Ms.
Ranno claimed Mr. Maglietta approached her in
the dark lot and caused her alarm. After an
order of protection was issued and Mr.
Maglietta was arraigned, a trial was set for January,
but the judges recused themselves.
The case was transferred to Lewisboro, but
all parties have now agreed to adjournment in
contemplation of dismissal (A.C.D.).
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
Briarcliff Manor's school vote produced no surprises,
with a 73% approval for the budget and the two board seats going
uncontested. Residents were no doubt
responding to the fourth annual decrease in expenditures and the promise
of no layoffs in the district. Ossining's
budget also passed, and the two incumbents won back their seats leaving
newcomer Sharon Abreau coming in third.
The library, back to being a part of the school vote after a year as a
separate entity, also saw its budget passed, and
Alice Joselow, Art Jay, and Lucinda Manning were elected to the
board. And Hendrick Hudson's budget, also
passing, will save six full-time positions.
On January 12, 2010, Luiz Carlos da Costa of Ossining
was working as second in command of U.N.
peacekeeping forces in Haiti when he was killed by the cataclysmic
earthquake that struck there. Ossining
recently honored the memory of Mr. da Costa by
dedicating Quail Hollow Road as "Luiz Carlos da Costa Way" in a ceremony
including his wife and many supporters.
About 25 years ago, a Westinghouse employee working near
the Indian Point power plant found a cockatiel and, despite advertising,
an owner was not found. When the worker
returned to his home near Pittsburgh, he took the parrot with him.
The owner recently contacted Gary Cahill of
The Gazette to talk about "Wes," who is now about 27 years old.
If anyone feels Wes is rightfully his or her
bird, please contact the newspaper.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
The Ossining and Briarcliff Historical Societies will
host Peter Falk Night at the Ossining Public Library on Thursday, May
17, at 5:00 p.m. The event will include memorabilia of Mr. Falk's (who
grew up in Ossining and graduated from Ossining High School). There
will be a showing of his film, "The In-Laws," which co-starred Alan
Arkin. Tickets are $15.00 and must be purchased in advance.
The Ossining Public Schools Budget and School Board
election will be held Tuesday, May 15, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at
the Ossining High School gym. The budget for the coming year is $106.5
million, which is less than the state tax levy cap. There are
three candidates running for two open seats: Dana Levenberg (incumbent),
Kimberly Case (incumbent), and Sharon Abreu. The Library Budget and
Board election will be held simultaneously with the School vote.
The proposed library budget is $3.65 million and there are five
candidates running for three seats: Arthur Jay, Lucinda Manning, Maddi
Zachacz, Alice Joselow, and Allyn Heald.
The Briarcliff Manor Public Schools will hold their
budget and school board election on May 15, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The proposed budget is $47.6 million, which is under the state tax levy
cap. There are two candidates running for two open seats: Michael
Haberman and Dina Brantman. In addition, there is a proposed bond for
capital projects in the amount of $10.5 million, mainly for athletic
fields and facilities.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
Duane Jackson, who two years ago reported smoke from an
SUV parked in Times Square, thereby earning the moniker "Times Square
Hero," has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees in
Buchanan. The position has been vacant since January, when Jane Hitney
resigned. Mr. Jackson still plans to face off against Republican
Representative Nan Hayworth in November.
On May 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cortlandt Town Hall, there
will be a meeting with state D.O.T. representatives and others on
addressing congestion along the Rte 202/6/35 corridors as well as the
Bear Mountain Parkway.
The Briarcliff Manor/Scarborough Historical Society held
its annual meeting on April 29. A profile of The Manor House and the
Law family proved fascinating; Gary fills us in on the particulars.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
The Village of Ossining has adopted a local law
containing restrictions for applicants who seek to operate pawn shops in
the village. Under
State law, the village is not permitted to ban
such businesses altogether, but may otherwise regulate them by setting
certain conditions. Here, for example, there
is a restriction as to the location within the Village for any potential
shop — in the Route 9 corridor at the
north or south ends of town in business
districts.
The family of Alexander Grant, a Briarcliff Manor
college student who died last year while visiting a friend at Skidmore
College due to accidental drowning and exposure after being served
excessive amounts of alcohol at a house party, have filed a wrongful
death action against nine current or former
Skidmore students who allegedly served Mr. Grant even though he was a
minor. Apparently, the Saratoga police
have had little success at learning what happened that night, as these
students have not been very forthcoming, so Mr. Grant's family is hoping
for answers through the civil lawsuit.
This past Saturday, the Ossining Post Office had a
formal unveiling ceremony of a new "Forever" stamp with Ossining's Jose
Ferrer on it. Mayor
William Hanauer attended, as did Ossining's historian, William
Reynolds, who also attended a celebration of the late actor's 100th
birthday in New York City at the Players'
Club. Also present at the N.Y.C.
event was Jane Clark, formerly an administrator at the Ossining Public
Library. Ms. Clark was a long time neighbor
of Mr. Ferrer and provided many anecdotes about him.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
On April 26 at 7:30 p.m.
at the Joseph Caputo Community Center on Broadway, there will be an
information session on what it might mean to merge the services of the
Town of Ossining and the Village of Ossining, as well as possible
annexation of about a third of Ossining to the Village of Briarcliff
Manor. Be there if you're a resident!
On April 12, longtime resident and purveyor of musical
instruments and lessons to Ossiningites, Robert Galassi, passed away.
Gary talks about his life, career,
and legacy.
A U.S. postage stamp honoring Ossining native and actor
José Ferrer will be unveiled on April 26.
Mr. Ferrer was born 100 years ago this past January and died
twenty years ago, also as of January.
Ossining's ex-historian, Bill Reynolds, will
attend along with Mr. Ferrer's widow, Stella Magee. (Gary
also reminisces about Peter Falk, another Ossiningtonian, and other
notable natives.)
The four-mile stretch of the Bear Mountain Parkway
between Routes 6 and 202 in Cortlandt has had
more than its share of vehicular fatalities, and the Town of Cortlandt
has been trying to rectify that. Their latest
hope is to install median barriers on at least the upper two miles.
Watch for petitions to be circulated.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
A new program was announced in the Ossining area called
"Community Helping Hands." This is a new
organization which aims to help local senior citizens age "in
place." In other
words, they will provide volunteers to take
seniors to doctors, shopping, and to cultural
events to enable them to remain in their homes rather than having to
move to a senior living type arrangement (which they might not be able
to afford). The kick-off will be held at the
Landmark Diner between 5:30 and 8:00p.m.; reservations are requested.
Call 346-7773.
The Ossining School Board has released its proposed
budget for the 2012-2013 school year. It
calls for $106.58 million in spending, which is an increase of 2.92 over
last year. This budget does not violate the "2 per cent cap" imposed
last year by the State legislature, since the formula for Ossining (in
order to achieve tax equity relative to property values and other
factors) allows it to increase up to 3.23 per cent. The
budget vote will be held on May 15.
The Hendrick Hudson High
School 10th annual film festival will be held on April 20 beginning at
6:30p.m. The keynote speaker will be Andrew
Jenks, a former Hen Hud student and founder of the festival in his
senior year. Mr. Jenks is currently hosting a
program on MTV.
The Croton Free Library recently held its 75th
Anniversary Celebration at the library in the
Ottinger Room. Mr. Egon Ottinger was
remembered for the generous gift (at least $750,000) he made upon his
death about 20 years ago which enabled the Library to expand to its
present size. The celebration coincided
with the launch of a major capital campaign in order to upgrade the
technology at the Library.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
James Biear of Ossining worked as a caretaker and
chauffeur for the grandson of the newspaper
magnate Joseph Pulitzer. During his
employment from 2005 to 2007, Mr.
Biear stole $3.2 million and an Andy Warhol
"Heinz 57" box from Kenward Elmslie, an 81-year old poet.
Mr. Biear was
sentenced to ten years in prison last week.
85% of the Village of Briarcliff Manor is in the Town of
Ossining, and 15% is unincorporated, comprising election districts 17
and 20. Many residents of those two districts
would like to be annexed into Briarcliff Manor as well.
Gary explains the reasoning and what's next.
Ossining's 13-year-old accessory apartments law may be
changed. A public hearing is scheduled for
the last week in April to discuss increasing the square footage, appeals
for those turned down for a permit to have an apartments,
and altering the three-year waiting period.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
On May 4, 1812, the Washington Hook and Ladder Company
was formed in Ossining. A celebratory dinner
was recently held at the North Side Firehouse attended by many area
notables. In the 19th century, Ossining
was one of the most heavily populated areas in Westchester, acting as a
major river port for local farm goods. We
discuss some history as well as the remarkable longevity of fire
apparatuses in Ossining.
Among the issues presented in the May 15 school budget
vote in Briarcliff will be work on the school fields using synthetic
turf; other fields would make do with 20
inches of subsoil and natural grass as a barrier to certain iffy
substances previously used there. Additional
HVAC upgrades are planned. It's also planned
to have a largely neutral effect overall on property taxes.
We discuss re-lamping throughout the district
(installing new LED lights) and the county.
In an effort to improve safety on the main corridor
approach to the Croton-Harmon Metro North train station, local officials
plan to install a bike lane and an additional sidewalk on Croton Point
Avenue. This would remove any existing
on-street parking, which business owners are not happy about.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
The proposed redistricting of state senatorial districts
has passed. This moves the town and village of Ossining to the
38th District across the Hudson River and joins it to Rockland County.
This proposal was widely criticized as gerrymandering, which Gov. Cuomo
had indicated he opposed, but the measure passed nonetheless in return
for the State Legislature's agreeing to reforms to the state pension
system.
Town of Ossining Supervisor Sue Donnelly held her first
"Town Hall" style meeting to hear the concerns of the residents of the
"Town Outside," which is the unincorporated area of the Town of
Ossining. Among the issues that came up were the use of the baseball
fields in Ryder Park and the number of group homes located in the area.
There will be a Town Hall meeting scheduled every six weeks.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
Ossining has now approved the $41.5 million capital
project plan. Voters had previously rejected proposals asking for more
money, but now plans can move forward on significant improvements to the
Dorner Middle School and Ossining High. The school district is now
putting forth a $105.9 million budget proposal, which includes a tax
levy increase, though costs are being pretty well kept in check. There
is an April 12 deadline to finalize that figure; voters go to the polls
on May 15.
On December 31, a congressional option to allow leasing
of a portion of the Veteran's Affairs property in Montrose expired. As
a result, the Enhanced-Use Lease plan (EUL) announced about ten years
ago, cannot go forward putting the kibosh on 17 projects across the
country. Some of them involved housing, with a "preferred" status
given to veterans. In return for leasing 160 of the 172 acres at
Montrose, the facility would have gotten some state-of-the-art clinic
space. Opponents to the plan are happy, but should Congress reopen
the books, they hope any final results would be less dramatic.
Hundreds of local folks commemorated the anniversary of
the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan by marching
from Croton to Buchanan. On Sunday, March 11, at 3:36, a moment of
silence was observed, and the march ended up at the gates of the Indian
Point facility. Some anti-nuclear demonstrators added color to the
scene, but it was a peaceful observation for the most part.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
The bond referendum for the Ossining Public Schools will
be held Tuesday, March 6, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Ossining
High School gym. The School District seeks to borrow $41.5 million over
20 years for capital projects, such as roof and boiler replacement, as
well as adding classrooms in the High School science wing and making
improvements to the auditorium.
A new program, "Energize Ossining," will kick off on
Thursday, March 8, at the Community Center in Ossining. This program
invites homeowners to have their homes evaluated in terms of energy use
and will offer cost effective solutions to saving energy. The audits
will be free. Two Ossining politicians, Village Trustee John Codman and
County Legislator Catherine Borgia, volunteered their homes to be
audited on Saturday, March 3, and the public was invited.
The Ossining Rotary Club will celebrate its 90th
anniversary on March 23 with a dinner at the G.E. Management Institute.
Tickets are $40.00 per person and reservations must be made by March 16
in order to attend.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
The bond referendum for the Ossining Public Schools will
be held Tuesday, March 6, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Ossining
High School gym. The School District seeks to
borrow $41.5 million over 20 years for capital projects, such as roof
and boiler replacement, as well as adding classrooms in the High School
science wing and making improvements to the
auditorium.
A new program, "Energize Ossining,"
will kick off on Thursday, March 8, at the Community Center in Ossining.
This program invites homeowners to have their
homes evaluated in terms of energy use and will offer cost effective
solutions to saving energy. The audits will
be free. Two Ossining politicians,
Village Trustee John Codman and County Legislator Catherine Borgia,
volunteered their homes to be audited on Saturday, March 3, and the
public was invited.
The Ossining Rotary Club will celebrate
its 90th anniversary on March 23
with a dinner at the G.E.
Management Institute. Tickets are $40.00
per person and reservations must be made by March 16 in order to
attend.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
The Harbor Square project, having been "on hold" for
several years, has been revived, in that the
developers Capelli and Ginsberg have come forward with a revised plan
for the Hudson River site in Ossining. They
are seeking to amend their site plan and will present their new plans to
the Ossining Planning Board on February 28 at the Armory on Rte. 9 in
Ossining.
The Briarcliff Public Schools Ad Hoc Facilities
Committee has come out with its recommendations for the schools, which
if adopted will cost approximately $9 million.
They exempted from their proposal the issue
of the contaminated practice fields and softball field, located at the
high school, since the school board was already deliberating various
proposals for remediation.
The Croton Conservation
Advisory Council will have the first of its free monthly programs at the
Croton Library on February 28 at 7:00 p.m. The
topic will be cost effective types of remediation people can use for
soggy yards and gardens. Future programs
include protecting your property from deer and dealing with invasive
plants.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
The ribbon has been cut on an additional 730 parking
spaces on the west side of the Cortlandt Metro North railroad station.
Although there are not as many trains
stopping there as at Croton-Harmon to the north, this should ease
congestion and allow for commuters who had been waiting to receive a
parking permit. Croton-Harmon itself may soon
find the need to increase parking, although it is the largest
accommodation with 2,100 spaces.
(Unlike Cortlandt,
which is owned by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the town of Croton
owns the parking at their station.)
Ossining Mayor Bill Hanauer
and Supervisor Sue Donnelly are waging a P.R.
campaign against what they claim is gerrymandering. Recent
redistricting has placed Ossining in the 38th senatorial district,
thereby connecting it with Rockland county. Mr.
Hanauer, Ms. Donnelly,
and others say that many of the issues facing Ossining have little in
common with the county across the Hudson and that being lumped together
makes no sense. Residents are urged to visit
the Town and Village websites for information on how to express their
opinion to the Legislative Task Force on
re-apportionment. Public hearings are being
held for another couple of months.
Briarcliff Manor, which holds no partisan elections, has
caucused two nominees for the Board of Trustees: Mark Pohar and Robert
Murray. Although they will run unopposed, the
Town is urging all residents to turn out for the March 20 meeting if
they support these candidates, as a write-in
campaign could toss in a monkey wrench.
hosted this
week by Jane Botticelli
Frank DeMaria, a retired Westchester County
police officer who ran a
martial arts studio in Croton, was convicted last week of
sexually molesting four of his minor students.
He remains in the County Jail awaiting
sentencing.
Briarcliff Manor Public Schools announced that they will
be firing all of their teacher's aides effective at the end of the
present school year. The Board plans to hire
teaching assistants, who are paid a little bit more than teacher's aides
but who are fully licensed teachers who have
not found employment as teachers.
Community Markets, the business that founded and
operates the Farmers' Markets in the area, was granted a permit to hold
an indoor winter market in the vacant Blockbuster store on Maple Avenue
in Croton. The winter market will run through
the end of May on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m.
hosted this
week by Melinda Battle
A 14-foot, one-ton girder from the North Tower
of the World Trade Center is to be the focus
of a 9/11 memorial which is a bit behind schedule. Supporters
hope to break ground this coming September, but meanwhile money is
needed, so a fundraiser at The Cove (former
Crystal Bay location) is planned for February
12. Tommy Sullivan of The Brooklyn Bridge
will play and tickets are only $35. Checks
for this worthy cause should be send to BCC 9/11 Memorial, Box 153,
Buchanan, NY 10511.
Miriam Haas started Community Markets in Ossining about
20 years ago and now runs 19 markets around the area.
Croton had an indoor location for winters but had to leave and
has been housed temporarily at the train station. They
are hoping to move into the former Blockbuster location for Saturdays
from 9 to 1, but
some are concerned about traffic and parking, as well as taking business
away from existing merchants in the shopping center.
There will be a public hearing on February
6 at 8:00 p.m.
at the municipal building on Van Wyck St.
Gary tells us a little history to the Harmon part of
Croton and discusses a proposed rezoning application that might affect
the Harmon Commercial district sales office, a concrete building on
Benedict Boulevard that currently
houses a nail salon. Croton
has lost many historic buildings, and some
don't want to lose this one.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
The annual Eagle Fest event will take place on Saturday,
February 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in several locations along the
Hudson River in our area, including the Echo Small Boat and Canoe Launch
in Croton. Binoculars and guides will be available in some locations.
If the weather is inclement, the alternative date is Sunday, February 5.
It is a great opportunity to see many bald eagles who reside in great
numbers each year as they "winter over" here.
As a result of the last census, there is a plan in the
works in Albany to possible reconfigure certain State Legislative
Districts, including that of State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef of
Ossining. The result would be to eliminate the portion of her District
that now includes parts of Putnam County. The State Senate District now
held by Suzi Oppenheimer, however, would change in that the Town and
Village of Ossining would become part of the 38th Senate District, which
is in Rockland County. There is a push against the plan and the
Governor has indicated he may veto such a move.
There will be a public meeting at the Ossining Public
Library on February 2, at 7:30 p.m. regarding the problem of "Library
Overlap" involving residents of the Ossining School District, (the tax
entity that pays for the Library) who also live in Briarcliff Manor or
Yorktown and support their own local libraries through other property
taxes. Possible solutions will be discussed by state representatives,
and a task force will be organized among those interested in donating
their time.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
Ossining High School announced that four seniors have
been chosen as semi-finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search
competition. They are Frances Russell, Evan Olin, Emily Prentiss, and
Amelia Clements. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a
chance to become a finalist in the competition.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection
will soon begin a major project to upgrade and replace much of the
internal mechanisms and structure of the Croton Dam. The agency also
announced plans to downsize the original project, which would have
included enlarging the dam to deal with spillway issues when there are
major storms in the area.
Democratic State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer announced that
she will not seek re-election this year, as she requires shoulder
replacement surgery, which will involve a lengthy recovery period.
Senator Oppenheimer is 77 years old and has served in public office for
28 years as both state senator and mayor. Bob Cohen, a Republican who
has challenged Sen. Oppenheimer in the past, announced that he would
seek to replace her. The Democrats have yet to name a candidate for the
seat.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
The Village of Ossining has filled a vacancy with Ingrid
Richards, who had been interim assistant village manager since last
spring. The part-time position commands a salary of $50,000 and there
was a field of fifteen candidates from whom Ms Richards was chosen.
The Ossining school board has held all informational
meetings on the proposed $41.5 million budget and has decided to send it
to the public for a vote on March 6. There will be no tax impact if the
budget is adopted; necessary repairs will take place and some of the
original wish list items from last year's defeated $69+ million proposal
will also be included.
The People's Caucus in Briarcliff Manor has nominated
two candidates to replace the outgoing Robert Mayer and Anthony Capasso.
Robert Murray is an attorney with planning board experience and Mark
Pohar is a registered nurse now working in administration at St John's.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
Briarcliff Manor is unusual in its electoral process in
that the village, founded in 1902, holds a People's Caucus open to all
residents eligible to vote. This year's caucus will be held on
Wednesday, January 11, at 8:00 p.m. at the Briarcliff Manor Middle
School theatre. Up for nomination are two board seats being vacated by
Robert Mayer, who is not seeking re-election, and Anthony Capasso, whose
term is up and who is unsure if he will try again. Gary Cahill explains
the procedure for nomination. If more than two candidates are nominated
on the 11th, the issue goes to an actual vote on January 25 at the youth
center between 3:00 and 9:00 p.m. to narrow the field to two.
Briarcliff is proud of its 110-year history of non-partisan politics.
Ossining school board's suggested $41.5 million
improvement package was met with some skepticism at a recent meeting.
At issue are the approximate $18 million dollars in critical
infrastructure repairs which were included in last spring's $69 million
dollar referendum, which was defeated. The repairs still need to be
made, but Ossining High School principal Joshua Mandel says that
additional classroom space is necessary to offer sufficient instruction
to an anticipated increased number of students. Other improvements are
folded into the new amount, which because of debt retirement is not
supposed to increase taxes. The school board meets on January 11 at
7:30 p.m. at the Roosevelt Educational Center to decide if the
referendum will go to a spring vote.
Ossining-based Community Markets is looking to install a
winter-month farmers market in the old Blockbuster building in Croton.
The building, which has been vacant for over a year, is located in the
Van Wyck II shopping center. Residents are concerned about parking for
existing retail stores in the center as well as traffic on the street.
The planning board will meet soon; Community Markets hopes to open on
February 11 for Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
The Town and Village of Ossining newly elected officials
began their new terms on January 1 with an inaugural ceremony held at
noon at the Ossining Community Center. At least 150 people attended the
ceremony as ten new officials were sworn in, including a new Town
Supervisor, Susanne Donnelly, and several judges for the new Town Court
— John Fried and Michael Tawil.
The Town of Ossining recently signed a new contract with
its Teamsters Union (Highway and Parks workers) that contains provisions
requiring payment of health insurance premiums for the first time, which
are variable depending on the level of compensation.
Ossining Public Schools will again float a bond
referendum for capital projects in the amount of $41 million. There
will be a public meeting on Tuesday, January 3, at A.M.D. Middle School,
and Saturday, January 10, at Ossining High School.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
Community Based Services (C.B.S.) runs 20 or so group
homes in the lower Hudson region, including one on Hawkes Close in
Ossining. The house directly adjacent has been vacant for over three
years, and C.B.S. would like to take it over as well. It is thought
that, should this happen, it would be the only instance of two such
homes next door to each other in New York. It should be noted that the
residents, with mild developmental issues, have so far been good
neighbors. New York's Padavan Law on site selection in these cases may
preclude approval; the town attorney is investigating.
Last spring, Ossining residents defeated a $69 million
referendum which included about $18 million in critical repairs and the
balance to cover upgrades for projected enrollment growth. The school
board explained then that due to retiring debt, very low interest rates,
and hungry contractors, it was a good time for the bond, but residents
disagreed. A new vote is planned for June 2012 for $41 million, which
will include the critical repair work and a reduced amount for upgrades.
Informational meetings will be held on:
§
Tuesday, January 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Anne M. Dorner Middle
School;
§
Thursday, January 5, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ossining Public
Library; and
§
Saturday, January 7, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ossining High
School.
Bethel Homes, a senior residential services provider in
Ossining, celebrates its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1911 at
Bethel Methodist Homes in Brooklyn, the nursing home relocated to an
estate in the Camp Woods section of Ossining in 1920. A new building
was erected in 1954 and they expanded about ten years ago. Now located
on Narragansett Avenue in Crugers and Springvale Road in Croton, Bethel
has become a fixture of Ossining area senior care.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
Gary remembers two men who had a great impact on the
people of Ossining and who passed away recently: Thomas Camberiere, who
was the former Mayor of Ossining and owner of Rocky's Millwood Deli, and
Stan Carney, who was the custodian of Park School for 39 years and
retired several years ago at the age of 84.
State Education Commissioner John King visited Ossining
and congratulated the School District on two creative programs: the
Science Research program at Ossining High School, which has won awards
and resulted in a number of Intel Scholars, and the First Steps program
which, through largely private funding, identifies families with
preschool children in need of literacy and language instruction as a
family so that the children come into the school system prepared to
succeed.
hosted this week by Melinda Battle
Ossining approved its 2012 budget; their fiscal year
follows the calendar. Although the state has mandated a 2% tax increase
cap, there was a public hearing just before the budget vote and Ossining
board members voted to override that, calling it "unreasonable," among
other things. Taxes will go up 4.23%, meaning an increase of about
$120 per year for the average homeowner. The good news is that
there are no town layoffs planned; five positions will clear by the end
of the year through attrition. Mayor Bill Hanauer reiterated his belief
that there should be no reductions in necessary services.
There are 14 municipalities in the Northern Westchester
Energy Action Coalition, including Croton, Ossining, Cortlandt, and
Peekskill. S ome proposed action items are to put solar panels on
municipal buildings, convert government vehicles to hybrid or electric,
and other ideas. One that has been put into action has been to replace
traffic signals' bulbs with L.E.D.s, which consume only 10-20% of that
used by traditional high-pressure sodium bulbs. The N.W.E.A.C.
estimates a two-year payback. County and state roads are in various
stages of doing the same. Some concern over the origin and quality of
the bulbs has been expressed.
Briarcliff schools have two more years on their capital
facilities plan but the viable proposals for fixing the contaminated
fields range from $1.4 million to $3.65 million. Other minor work will
be incorporated into the work. A low-interest-rate bond proposal vote
is slated for May 15.
Croton has a new village historian. Dorothy Dymes
Pezanowski, a third-generation Croton resident, will take up the
position vacated when Mary Lambruschi passed away in October. The
position is strictly voluntary.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
Briarcliff Manor Public Schools announced that that
first meeting of its Ad Hoc Committee on Facilities will take place at
Briarcliff Manor Middle School Cafeteria on Thursday December 8, at 9:00
p.m. The public is invited to join the committee as voluntary members.
Among the issues expected to be discussed is the remediation of the
contaminated soil on the practice fields at the high school and middle
school complex.
Briarcliff Manor Public Schools came to an agreement
with its teachers recently. There will be a three year contract with
increases of 2.3% per year, as well as changes to the health insurance
benefit package, including lifetime premiums and a minimum service
period before obtaining lifetime coverage.
On Saturday, December 10, at 10:00 a.m., there will be a
site inspection by the Briarcliff Manor Planning Board at the Chilmark
Shopping Center. The Board is considering the application of the owner
of the shopping center, Urstadt Biddle Properties, for an amendment to
the current site plan to allow for building a large C.V.S. store on the
property. The site inspection is open to the public and will focus on
the effects such development will have on parking and traffic flow in
the area.
hosted this week by Jane Botticelli
Briarcliff Manor high school and middle school practice
fields, which have been closed since 2010 due to soil contamination
concerns, can be remediated through one of seven possible options, which
were presented at a public informational meeting recently. The audience
heard from a toxicologist and the Department of Environmental
Conservation. The Briarcliff School Board will either decide on one of
the options or hold further info sessions.
The Croton E.M.S. just contracted with Ossining
Volunteer Ambulance Corps to have OVAC provide a paid E.M.T. available
24/7 to the Croton Service. This will enable them to build up their own
volunteer staff in order to continue to provide 24 hour service and
should result in increased response rates and decreased response time.
The Baker-Collyer Cheer Fund in Ossining is seeking
donations in its 96th year of providing holiday food baskets to needy
area families. The goal this year is $16,500.00, and donations may be
made by sending a check to the Offices of the Town of Ossining, payable
to Baker-Collyer Cheer Fund.
-
WDFH Sessions: On The
Record — musicians performing in WDFH's Performance
Studio
-
OutCasting — a
unique public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues, produced
right here at WDFH
-
In Focus
— local news discussion on issues in the lower Hudson valley
-
For the Greater Good
— spotlighting the important work of nonprofit organizations in our area
-
Critical Conversations — an occasional
series of discussions on issues of public importance
-
Recovery Talk
— recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, domestic
violence, and more; interviews with people in recovery as well as
professionals in the field
-
Eyes on Westchester
— local news discussion on issues in central
and northern Westchester (series ended October 2012)
-
Village Green —
environmental sustainability (series ended March 2012)
NONPROFITS
For
the Greater Good
For the Greater Good is a half-hour weekly program
enabling representatives from local not-for-profit organizations and
groups an opportunity to promote themselves. Hosted by Di Morgan,
discussion will focus on activities, programs, services, events,
and the need for funds and volunteers.
PODCAST
http://wdfh.org/xml/greatergood.xml
Open Door Family Medical Centers (encore presentation)
Anita Wilenkin and Grace Beltran describe the
high-quality yet affordable medical services delivered to thousands of
people by Open Door Family Medical Centers. The organization works to
reach very low-income residents who lack health insurance or have no
other health care options. Learn more at
www.opendoormedical.org.
Rockland County Haiti Relief
Natural disasters have plagued the people of Haiti, but Rockland County Haiti Relief keeps hope alive. The all-volunteer group collects school supplies, medicine, tools, and more and delivers it into the hands of Haiti’s most needy. RCHR coordinator Sandra Oates describes other initiatives to purify water, provide vocational training, and create community gardens, to name a few. For details, visit www.RocklandCountyHaitiRelief.org.
Wolf Conservation Center (encore presentation)
Promoting an understanding about wolf behavior and preservation and how they
contribute to our environment is the mission of the Wolf Conservation Center
located in South Salem, Westchester County. Maggie Howell discusses her
group's battle since 1999 to save endangered wolf species too. Learn more at
www.nywolf.org.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Each year, the motorcycling community takes part in the New York Metro Ride for Kids, an important fundraiser for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Volunteers along with riders make it fun for everyone who participates in this Central Valley event. Jack Jones provides details. Learn more
at www.curethekids.org/rideforkids.
Community Emergency Response Teams
Volunteers support first responders when serious
incidents occur as members of CERT, or Community Emergency Response
Teams. Rich Edelman
and Pete Dandreano of the Town of Greenburgh CERT discuss how group
members are trained and what they do to support police, fire and other
professional responders. Learn more at
www.greenburghny.com.
Pleasantville Circle of Friends
Folk musicians find friendship and feedback at the
Pleasantville Circle of Friends. The group
holds monthly song swaps and an open mike. Founded
by Jody Stockhamer and Jim Dirlam, the group is open to all.
Follow the group as Pleasantville Circle of
Friends on Facebook.
Clearwater
For more than forty years, Clearwater has advocated for
a cleaner Hudson River. Executive Director Jeff Rumpf talks about
Clearwater’s history and how it works with young people to create a new
generation of environmental leaders. Learn more at
www.clearwater.org.
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival at Boscobel
(encore presentation)
A view of the stunning Hudson Highlands makes scenery
unnecessary at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, held at the
Boscobel Mansion in Putnam County. Executive director Maggie Whitlum
discusses the 2013 season. Learn more at
www.hvshakespearefestival.org.
Literacy
Volunteers of the Tarrytowns
Literacy
Volunteers of the Tarrytowns makes it possible for immigrants to learn
to speak English. Mary Jane Driscoll and two other volunteers
explain the groups need for more volunteer tutors. Learn more at
www.lvtarrytown.org
Bezcak
Environmental Education Center
Jason Muller
from the Bezcak Environmental Education Center in Yonkers discusses how
his organization helps adults and children learn about and understand
the role the Hudson River and its animal inhabitants play in our loves
and in our larger environment. Learn more at
www.Bezcak.org.
Al-Anon
Al-Anon is an
organization that supports those who must deal with an alcoholic family
member or friend. The group is open to anyone seeking help
and incorporates a twelve-step program similar to the one used by
AA. Two Al-Anon volunteers share their stores and experiences.
Learn more at
www.westchesterputnamalanon.org.
Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless
Low-income people are the first to suffer in a
recession, and the last to recover. The
Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless works to alleviate the
problem. More at
www.westchestercoalition.org.
-
week of 4/22/2013 —
listen now
Scenic Hudson
— devoted to preserving resources and shaping development along the
Hudson River
A leader in the
launch of the modern environmental movement, Scenic Hudson has been
preserving resources and shaping development along the Hudson River.
Jay Burgess discusses the
organization's 50th anniversary, its
major projects, its parks, volunteer
opportunities, and more. For more info,
visit
www.ScenicHudson.org.
-
weeks of 4/1, 4/8, and 4/15/2013
—
listen now
Westchester Children's Association
The mission of the Westchester Children’s Association is
“Every child healthy, safe and prepared for life’s challenges.”
Cora Greenberg and Allison Lake describe how
W.C.A.
works to keep the well-being of local children at the top of the public
agenda. Learn more at
www.WCA4kids.org.
Westchester Institute for Human Development
Using technology and research, the Westchester Institute
for Human Development works with thousands of individuals with various
disabilities to improve their quality of life. The
organizations Chief Operating Officer, Dr. David O'Hara,
discusses this forty year old organizations accomplishments and
victories over the years. More information at
www.WIHD.org.
Westchester Alliance for
Telecommunications and Public Access
Norm Jacknis from the Westchester Alliance for
Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA) discusses how his volunteer
group helps nonprofits in the area with their internet needs.
WATPA also advises municipalities on cable TV
and internet-related issues and public policy.
Learn more at
www.watpa.org.
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
at Boscobel
A view of the stunning Hudson Highlands makes scenery
unnecessary at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, held at the
Boscobel Mansion in Putnam County. Executive
director Maggie Whitlum discusses the 2013 season.
Greenburgh Nature Center
Greenburgh Nature Center is a 33
acre nature preserve tucked away off a busy road in Scarsdale in
lower Westchester. Executive Director
Margaret Tjimos Goldberg and Anne Jaffe Holmes explain why their
educational programs, animal collection, hiking trails,
and concerts keep visitors coming back again and again.
Learn more at
www.greenburghnaturecenter.org.
River Spirit Music brings concerts
home
Local concert producer Peter Shafran goes no further
than his living room to put on a show. He
discusses how he started River Spirit Music, a house concert series
enabling guests to experience a musical performance in an intimate
setting where you can get up close to the performer.
Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry
Find out how the Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry prevents
low income pet owners from having to give up their animals. The pantry
relies on donations of cash and pet food to help more than two hundred
pet loving families in Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland. Founder and
president Susan Katz discusses the details and how the public can offer
support. More at
www.hvpetfoodpantry.org.
Patients at local VA hospitals can become actors for
a day thanks to the volunteers with the Veterans Bedside Network
Old radio and TV show scripts serve as the basis for a
few hours of great fun at local VA hospitals. Volunteers with Veterans
Bedside Network visit VA hospitals and lighten the mood as patients act
out parts and forget their worries. Learn more at
www.veternasbedsidenetwork.org.
Open Door Family Medical Centers
Anita Wilenkin and Grace Beltran describe the
high-quality yet affordable medical services delivered to thousands of
people by Open Door Family Medical Centers. The organization works to
reach very low-income residents who lack health insurance or have no
other health care options. Learn more at
www.opendoormedical.org.
United Way's Community Conversations Surveys
Shannon Cobb and Susan Sheflein join us to talk about United Way's Community
Conversations Surveys. Over the next few months, residents have the chance
to voice their opinions on what our community needs to focus on over the
next four years. Surveys may be taken online or in person, and volunteers
are needed to help with this effort. More at www.uwwp.org.
Help for victims of Hurricane
Sandy
Victims of Hurricane Sandy still have a few days left to
register with FEMA and SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance for financial
aid. Learn about how these agencies are helping those affected by the
devastating storm and how to seek help if you haven’t yet.
More at
www.FEMA.gov.
Westchester's Volunteer Center of
United Way
New York State is ranking low in the area of
volunteerism, according to a national survey of all fifty states.
But finding a suitable volunteer opportunity
is easy locally, through The Volunteer Center of United Way.
Executive director Alisa Keston sheds light
on her agency’s efforts to join nonprofit groups with those wishing to
donate their time. Details at
www.Volunteer-Center.org.
Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and
Services
This week we speak with Mae Carpenter, Commissioner for
the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services.
Older adults can find help there with everything from how to age in
place and live independently to locating nutrition centers, legal help,
information about social security and Medicare, and much more.
Details at
www.seniorcitizens.westchestergov.com.
Childcare Council of Westchester
Whether you’re a childcare provider or a parent, many
resources are available through the Childcare Council of Westchester.
This week, executive director Kathy Halas discusses her agency’s
efforts to support parents in their search for good quality childcare
and ongoing professional development for those providing that care.
Learn more at
childcarewestchester.org.
The Wolf Conservation
Center
From their live wolf cam to encouraging
visitors to howl to attract their residents, the Wolf Conservation
Center, located in South Salem, is devoted to
raising awareness about the importance of wolf conservation and
preservation. The center teaches people about wolves, their
relationship to the environment, and the human
role in protecting their future. Learn more
at
www.nywolf.org.
More information about getting
help from FEMA following Hurricane Sandy
More than 8,700 Westchester County residents have
applies for post Hurricane Sandy assistance from FEMA and the Small
Business Administration’s office of Disaster Assistance.
Guests Gary Weidner and Bradford Caldwell
provide information on how to proceed if you are at first denied
assistance and the application process for an SBA low
interest loan. Help is available from
both agencies for both homeowners and businesses, but you must apply
through FEMA first. Learn more at
www.disasterassistance.gov and
www.SBA.gov.
Hope's Door
Hope's Door aids victims of domestic violence in
Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.
Staffers CarLa
Horton and Ann Ring describe their agency's ability to help with
counseling and support, a shelter, legal assistance, a teen dating
awareness program ,and a 24-hour
hotline. For
details go to www.northernwestchestershelter.org.
Getting post-storm
assistance from FEMA
If your home or business suffered damage as a result of
the recent hurricane, you may be eligible for financial help from FEMA.
Spokesperson Gary Weidner provides details on the application process
for assistance and details the types of losses that may be reimburseable
for you, your home or business. Learn more at
www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-888-621-FEMA.
Green Chimneys, catering to the
needs of children and animals
Green Chimneys transforms the
lives of children with behavioral challenges through animal
assisted therapy and other nature
focused activities. Join Kristen Dionne and
Michael Kaufman for an informative exploration of this unique
organization that supports children and animals in need of
rehabilitation. Learn more at
www.greenchimneys.org.
The Loft, providing a
community center and support services for Westchester’s LGBT adults
The Loft is Westchester’s community center for LGBT
adults. Executive director David Juhren
discusses how his organization works to educate the public about gay
rights and LGBT issues and serve as an advocate for equality.
At the Loft, LGBT adults will find support
groups, resources, activities and events, health and other social
services, and legal assistance.
The Loft seeks to further the cause for
inclusion, diversity and pride. Learn more at
www.loftgaycenter.org.
United Way of Westchester and
Putnam
Education, income, and health
are the three primary areas of concern for the United Way of Westchester
and Putnam. Executive Director Naomi Adler
discusses the agency’s fiftieth anniversary, its nonprofit partners,
problems and issues in the community receiving the most attention,
funding, and the importance of
volunteers who serve our community in many ways. Learn more at
www.uwwp.org.
Westchester Residential
Opportunities promotes fair housing policies
From homebuying preparation and foreclosure counseling
to eviction prevention and access to housing for disabled people,
Westchester Residential Opportunities endeavors to educate consumers
about their rights and the laws that protect them.
Deputy executive director Andrea Klausner and fair housing
director Marlene Zarfes detail WRO’s many services and programs.
Learn more at
www.wroinc.org.
SPCA of Westchester
The SPCA of Westchester battles animal cruelty, places
unwanted and neglected pets in new homes, and
assists low-income pet owners with medical care. Lisa
Bonano, SPCA development manager, talks about how her organization works
to raise community awareness about the many animals awaiting adoption at
their Briarcliff Manor shelter. Learn more at
www.spca914.org.
Common Ground Community Concerts
Supporting both local and nationally touring musicians,
the eleven year old Common Ground Community Concerts is a major player
in Westchester's live music scene. Founder
Carter Smith discusses the venues and how the series supports charitable
causes. Learn more at
www.commongroundfusw.com.
Putnam and Westchester Independent Living Center
Advocacy, benefits, educational transition, nursing home
transitioning — these are just some of the
areas where individuals with disabilities can
seek support through the Putnam and Westchester Independent Living
Center. Di talks with Joe Bravo about this
nearly-35-year-old
agency, which is dedicated to serving those
who only wish to have what the rest of us may take for granted: a chance
to lead a full and barrier-free life. Learn
more at www.wilc.org or www.putnamils.org.
Neighbors Link
Neighbors Link strives to educate, empower,
and employ Latino immigrants living in Central and Northern Westchester.
Executive Director Carola Bracco sheds light
on her agency’s efforts to provide a wide range of services, ranging
from classes for English and parenting and
computer classes to a job bank for both
skilled and unskilled workers. Neighbors Link
also works to achieve a healthy integration of immigrants into the
greater community. Learn more at
www.neighborslink.org.
Historic Hudson Valley
You need not travel far to explore local historic sites,
thanks to the work of Historic Hudson Valley.
Rob Schweitzer and Ross Higgins discuss HHV’s site preservation
efforts and special events.
Historic Hudson Valley is a not-for-profit educational
organization that celebrates the history, architecture, landscape,
and material culture of the region. Rob
Schweitzer and Ross Higgins discuss HHV’s ownership, restoration,
preservation, interpretation, and promotion of
these local historic landmarks of national significance, including
Washington Irving’s Sunnyside and the Rockefeller estate known as Kykuit.
Learn more at www.hudsonvalley.org.
Mount Vernon United Tenants’ director Dennis Hanratty
discusses the power that organized tenants have to protect their rights
For thirty years, Mount Vernon United Tenants has
organized renters to enable them to insure their rights as renters are
protected and to work for legislation that supports affordable housing
in Westchester. MVUT works on local, state,
and federal levels to call attention to the
need for working class people to have access to rental housing that’s in
line with their income. Executive Director
Dennis Hanratty discusses how MVUT prevents hundreds of renters from
being evicted and organizes tenants to fight for increased services and
more affordable rents.
Westchester Disabled On the Move
Westchester Disabled On the Move offers information and
referral, housing advocacy, service coordination for those transitioning
to independent living, benefits advocacy and peer counseling. Executive
Director Mel Tanzman discusses how the agency works to improve the
quality of life and the rights of all people with disabilities in our
area.
The Jamaican Civic and
Cultural Association of Rockland
Student scholarships, a steel band,
and cricket matches are just a few of the activities conducted by
members of JAMCCAR, the Jamaican Civic and Cultural Association of
Rockland County. Longtime volunteer Dr.
Clover Hall describes how JAMCCAR fosters good relations and close
association with Jamaicans and friends.
The group conducts programs to celebrates the civic, economic,
and cultural aspects of the Jamaican, Caribbean,
and Pan-African communities.
Westchester Land Trust
Thanks to the work of the Westchester Land Trust,
thousands of acres of “wild” land are protected for the enjoyment and
appreciation of our community. Executive
Director Candace Schafer discusses W.L.T.’s
dedication to land preservation and stewardship and to education about
environmental land preservation issues.
Groundwork Hudson Valley
Improving everything “outside the door” is the focus of
Groundwork Hudson Valley, part of Groundwork U.S.A.,
both headquartered in Yonkers. Founder and
executive director Rick Magder talks about G.H.V.’s
Science Barge at the Yonkers waterfront and his group’s work with
community-supported agriculture, neighborhood
greening, supporting natural areas for recreation,
and related community building initiatives. Learn
more at www.groundworkhv.org.
The Bronxville
Career Network
The Bronxville Career Network offers job seekers and
career-changers a place to find support, information and encouragement.
Founder Pat Drew, with members Angela
Dempster and Sheila Larkin, discuss the
group's meetings, speakers, and positive
environment. BCN is sponsored by the Reformed
Church of Bronxville. Find out more via their
LinkedIn group, Bronxville Career Network.
Two By Twelve, an
organization employing music and art to help those suffering from
physical, mental and emotional challenges
Emily Mottahedeh, the 23-year
old founder of Two By Twelve, talks about her
organization's efforts to bring music and art workshops to children and
adults battling mental, physical, and
emotional challenges. A two-time cancer
survivor, Emily Mattahedeh has focused her group's efforts so far on
working with families affected by cancer at venues like Ronald McDonald
House. Everyone donates their time, from
unpaid office staff to volunteer musicians and event helpers.
Learn more at www.twobytwelove.org.
The Westchester Community
Foundation, connecting philanthropists with
not-for-profit
agencies
The
Westchester Community Foundation makes grants to numerous
not-for-profit groups working with disadvantaged people and worthy
causes throughout our county. Various funds,
designed to address such issues as housing, food insecurity, natural
resources, and energy, are created by individuals and families wishing
to provide philanthropic support to vetted agencies with good track
records for using it responsibly. W.C.F.
executive director Catherine Marsh discusses donors and the grantmaking
process.
Pro Bono Partnership assists many nonprofit groups
serving the disadvantaged with free legal assistance from volunteer
attorneys
Numerous not-for-profit organizations serving
disadvantaged populations receive free legal assistance form the
Pro Bono Partnership. Staff Attorney
Courtney Darts discusses how the organization,
based in White Plains but serving the
tri-state area, matches agencies with
volunteer attorneys. Attorneys counsel
organizations on a wide range of issues including incorporation,
employee benefits, immigration, intellectual property,
and the internet, to name a few.
Affordable housing in our area
This month, Habitat for Humanity - Westchester
celebrates 25 years of building houses and hope in this area.
Habitat works in partnership with homeowner
families, volunteers, and donors to make
affordable home ownership a reality for many families who otherwise
could not own a home. Executive Director Jim
Killhoran discusses HFHWC’s many projects —
from Yonkers to North Salem.
Chashama: connecting artists with
affordable exhibit and studio space
Artists from Long Island to Westchester are locating
affordable gallery, studio, and window exhibit
space in N.Y.C.
thanks to the work of an organization called
Chashama. Artistic Director Anita
Durst describes their numerous programs, projects,
and artist support activities that include youth outreach.
Started 17 years ago,
Chashama has assisted hundreds of artists
showcase their work and make connections with other artists, gallery
operators, and other key players in the arts
community.
The Carver Center
in Port Chester; guest Tarin Gonzalez
Hundreds of food insecure families in the Port Chester
area are helped to keep food on the table thanks to the Food Pantry
operated by the Carver Center. Food Pantry
Manager Tarin Gonzalez discusses how the pantry and other programs and
services offered by her agency makes an impact in the lives of
low-income families. The Carver Center
provides a social, cultural, recreational, and
educational hub for many of the area’s diverse and largely Latino
population.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary
On this week's edition
of For the Greater Good, learn about the work of the Coast
Guard Auxiliary, which provides volunteer
support for the Coast guard and promotes
boating safety through classes and boat inspection programs.
Bob DeRaio and Don Elmendorf discuss the
scope of the C.G.A.'s
work and their efforts to recruit new volunteers.
From learning how to construct a business plan to what
library materials can provide useful resources, help is available for
aspiring small business owners or businesses seeking to expand through
the Women's Enterprise Development Center. W.E.D.C. associate
director Joy Rosenzweig describes the classes, workshops, support
services, and grants provided by this White Plains-based
organization with connections to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Most services are either free or at low cost.
Pleasantville's Center for Aging in Place
More and more older adults in Westchester County are
choosing to remain in their communities where referrals for services,
social activities, and transportation are now more readily available
thanks to the Center for Aging in Place. On this week’s edition,
C.A.I.P. Executive Director Laura Traynor discusses the Aging in Place
movement and the unique and supportive communities that have been
established in Westchester County.
Westhab
Westhab is Westchester County’s largest
not-for-profit organization addressing the need for affordable rental
housing and meeting the needs of low-income residents with an array of
services. Rich Nightingale and John Parssimen
discuss how Westhab responds to those it serves through job placement
and training, case management, help with childcare, transportation,
and youth development.
League of Women
Voters of Westchester
Sharon Lindsay joins host Di Morgan to
discuss the work of the League of Women Voters of Westchester.
The organization offers up-to-date
voter information and takes a stand on issues
including the county budget, the
replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge,
and hydrofracking.
AIDS Related Services —
discussion with Santo Barbagiovanni, CHAPS
Program Supervisor
Because many people are living longer now with HIV/AIDS,
ARCS is evolving as an organization and taking up a more holistic
approach when it comes to serving all the needs of its clients.
Santo Barbagiovanni’s program, Community
Health And Prevention Services, works with young men of color who have
sex with other men — to educate them about
STDs and HIV-AIDS prevention. He also
discusses several upcoming events, including the HIV-AIDS Walk on May
5th along the Walkway Over the Hudson.
WESPAC Foundation — discussion with Nada Khader,
executive director
Progressive movement-building around Westchester is the
primary focus of WESPAC Foundation. Our
conversation with Nada Khader,
the organization's executive director,
explores the organization's involvement with opposition to
hydrofracturing, the upcoming Occupy May Day event in White Plains,
and local anti-war activities. WESPAC
Foundation provides support and office space for issues-oriented groups
in our area and serves as a resource for community organizing and social
justice activities.
This week, we talk with John
Bell, founder of Transition Westchester, a group dedicated to fossil
fuel alternatives.
People affected by cancer, including patients, family
members, and friends, are able to find support
and information at Gilda's Club of Westchester, located in White Plains.
In this first episode of For the Greater Good,
C.E.O.
Melissa Lang discusses how her organization addresses the needs of those
affected by the disease through support groups, workshops, events,
and resources. Membership is free and
clubhouse programs are open to anyone. Learn
more at
gildasclubwestchester.org.
-
WDFH Sessions: On The
Record — musicians performing in WDFH's Performance
Studio
-
OutCasting — a
unique public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues, produced
right here at WDFH
-
In Focus
— local news discussion on issues in the lower Hudson valley
-
For the Greater Good
— spotlighting the important work of nonprofit organizations in our area
-
Critical Conversations — an occasional
series of discussions on issues of public importance
-
Recovery Talk
— recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, domestic
violence, and more; interviews with people in recovery as well as
professionals in the field
-
Eyes on Westchester
— local news discussion on issues in central
and northern Westchester (series ended October 2012)
-
Village Green —
environmental sustainability (series ended March 2012)
ISSUES OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Critical Conversations
An occasional series of discussions on issues of public
importance. Started June 2013.
Enter the following address into your podcatching
software to subscribe to the Critical Conversations podcast
(the subscription is free):
PODCAST
http://wdfh.org/xml/criticalconversations.xml
Indian Point
Stonypoint 55 is a group opposing the
re-licensing of the Indian Point nuclear power plants.
Manna Jo Greene, Susan Leifer,
and Susan Shapiro discuss their activities and strategies
and why the group believes the plants are unsafe.
LOCAL NEWS AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Eyes on Westchester
Note: Series ended October 2012
A local public affairs discussion program, hosted by
Melinda Battle, with regular guest Faith Ann Butcher,
Editor-in-Chief of The Northern Westchester
Examiner.
Enter the following address into your podcatching
software to subscribe to the Eyes on Westchester podcast
(the subscription is free):
PODCAST
http://wdfh.org/xml/eyesonwestchester.xml
Governor Cuomo seems delighted that the environmental
impact statement for the new Tappan Zee Bridge has been approved by the
federal government. Of course, there is no
design, plan or permits, but the feds okayed
the statement in about a month.
Former North Castle Republican Chairman Loronda Murphy
faces up to 25 years in jail after pleading guilty Tuesday morning to
two felony counts in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme she
operated in 2009.
Pleasantville is ending its 15
year association with the operator of its popular farmers market, opting
to form a nonprofit organization that will enable the village to
exercise greater control and start an indoor winter market.
After two years of being vacant, French Hill School in
Yorktown is now fully rented to several businesses and organizations.
Eight tenants have already moved into the
building on Baldwin Road and two more are expected to occupy space in
October.
Caren Guyett of Yorktown took two silver and two bronze
medals in Japan's international lifesaving competition.
Three business owners have withdrawn from
the Article 78 lawsuit filed to prevent the CVS in Armonk.
The owners of a hardware store and a greeting
card store may be feeling that local retail establishments should remain
neutral in the dispute. Yet another
public hearing was held on September 24.
Yorktown residents have set up a website to
protest Costco's plans to go in on Route 202 near BJs Wholesale.
They claim that traffic and environmental
issues need to be addressed. The site is
www.nocostco.com.
A pre-K-to-grade-12 French American school
is being proposed for the former Ridgeway Country Club property in White
Plains. The school says it will turn 84 of
the 130 acres over for public use. Some are
still against the plan, however; building approval from the city is
still required.
Kudos to Ossining schools for being named
an Intel School of Distinction. Ossining High School has now gained
national recognition, as well as $100,000 in cash.
Caren Guyette, a 2007 graduate of Lakeland
High School in Yorktown, is in Japan for the Sanyo Bussan Cup, a
lifeguard competition.
On Saturday, October 6, a Dancing with the
Stars fundraiser will be held to benefit Hillside Food Outreach,
hillsidefoodoutreach.org. (Faith will be dancing, check it out!)
On Sunday, October 7, FDR park will see a
walk for Support Connection to benefit breast and ovarian cancer
survivors and their community. supportconnection.org
Governor Cuomo has announced a selection
committee for the design of the new Tappan Zee
Bridge, which includes representatives from Westchester and Rockland
counties, and Nyack and Tarrytown.
Some school districts in Westchester will
be sharing in a $300,000 settlement from being overcharged for school
lunch food by a former provider of same.
-
week of 9/17/2012 —
listen now
Faith and
Melinda discuss some of the ways counties and local municipalities are
looking to aid seniors with educational outreach, and some of the
housing issues faced by our area's older residents.
(Rebroadcast of July 30 program.)
-
week of 9/10/2012 —
listen now
This week
Faith breaks down details for the primary on September 13, including why
there is another primary now, details on the heated contest between
Putnam Republicans Neil DiCarlo and Stephen Saland, why there's no
Democratic primary in Westchester except in the Village of Croton, and a
discussion of the Dario Gristina/Steve Katz Republican contest.
The Town of North Castle has appointed its first ever
Town Administrator. Joan Goldberg,
transitioning from her longtime position as Yorktown's comptroller, has
accepted the position, which will handle many of the day-to-day
operations of the town and free up the supervisor somewhat.
North Castle's town board may have voted in July to
allow the CVS to go into the old A&P property, but the Concerned
Citizens of Armonk have filed an Article 78 petition with the courts
asking to nullify the decision. The petition
claims, among other things, that environmental and other state issues
have been bypassed by the approval.
A recent spate of accidents has the town of Cortlandt
looking for the state DOT to put barriers on the Bear Mountain Parkway,
similar to those installed recently on the Bronx River Parkway following
a fatal accident, but the DOT is backing away, claiming their scheduled
redo of the Bear Mountain/Route 6 interchange in 2017 will have to
suffice. That repair was originally scheduled
for this year but has been delayed due to budgetary constraints.
The Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill is
looking to raise $300,000 in a new public appeal. Much
of the funding is hoped to be raised at a Red Carpet Gala featuring the
band Journey on September 15. For information
visit paramountcenter.org.
The update
show:
Taconic
Parkway on track to reopen on November 1.
North Castle
girds for fight against their decision to charge non-union town
employees 15% toward health insurance coverage.
Mt. Pleasant
will forgo their 9/11 ceremony for the first time this year since 2002.
Headstones
have been vandalized at a Pleasantville church.
Somers'
referendum to extend supervisor term to four years still in the air;
another public hearing scheduled for September 6, 7:30pm, at Town Hall.
Cortlandt
will not see a WalMart Supercenter anytime soon.
Yorktown
under fire from council regarding the demolition of the Holland Sporting
Club.
Westchester
County Senior Hall of Fame nominations open. Deadline is September 14;
go to westchestergov.com or call 914-813-6414 and leave a message to
nominate a resident over 60 who has significantly contributed to the
quality of life.
A court of appeals has found that the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission has no plan in place for disposal of spent nuclear fuel rods
and so must provide a plan or explain why a plan is not needed before
relicensing is approved. Meanwhile it's business as usual with Entergy
and Indian Point until and unless licensing is denied.
The section of the Taconic State Parkway which runs
through our county is to be renamed the Westchester County Korean War
Veterans' Memorial Highway. We talk about some other renamings around
here.
The village of Pleasantville is not pursuing locating a
Verizon cell tower on a small parcel of town land after input from the
community.
A judge has dismissed the suit brought by Summit
Greenfield against New Castle town officials that they were stalling the
Chappaqua Crossing project saying they were just doing their jobs. The
suit against the town itself, however, can go forward.
Governor Cuomo signed off on ending the vestigial Mount
Kisco Urban Renewal Agency, removing an unnecessary layer in permits and
the like.
A new engineering firm is needed in order for Chappaqua
to go ahead with restaurant plans at the train station.
Ossining and Yorktown are both looking to change up the
highway department positions. Yorktown voted 4 to 1 not to change
the current lineup; Ossining seems to be going ahead with a public
referendum.
The Yorktown Grange Fair will be held September 6
through 9, and participants are welcome. If you have a craft,
food, or homegrown or homemade product and are interesting in joining
the fun, go to yorktowngrangefair.org asap.
New York State recently released the findings of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement on upgrade/replacement of the aging
Tappan Zee Bridge. Major concerns included construction impacts,
aesthetics, impact on the Hudson River, and additional mass transit
needs. Currently, they are looking to build a new bridge just north of
the existing structure, but plans to convert the old bridge into a High
Line-like park have been scuttled, mainly due to logistical and cost
issues. Also at present, no plans for a mass-transit piece are in play,
only a bus lane for the new bridge. The new bridge is scheduled for a
(unlikely-sounding) completion date of 2017. The public can still
comment. How to do so, a copy of the DEIS, and other info is available
at newnybridge.com.
The controversy continues surrounding the relicensing of
the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. The public can attend upcoming
hearings; comments/issues can be directed to the hearing officers in
advance by fax to 301-415-5599. Go to nrc.gov for more information.
North Castle has agreed to approve the special use
permit for CVS to move in to Armonk, but the Concerned Citizens of
Armonk still have... concerns.
New Castle community members were not in favor of a
mosque in their town as demonstrated at a recent public hearing on the
subject.
Faith and
Melinda discuss some of the ways counties and local municipalities are
looking to aid seniors with educational outreach, and some of the
housing issues faced by our area's older residents.
The historic Adams-Bernstein property on Old Yorktown
Road in Yorktown is being sold to Mark Franzoso for $150,000.
Mr. Franzoso has
said he will restore the house and barn and it will be a public space
for performances and possibly other uses. The
property will be subdivided so Franzoso can build and sell a house as
well. The property had been owned by the Town
for over twenty years but had fallen into disrepair.
The St. George Winery on Route
6 will be allowed to add parking spaces on town-owned land in exchange
for providing easement for the public to access the wetlands behind the
property.
The town of Somers is considering increasing the term of
supervisor from two years to four. There will
be a public hearing on the matter on August 9 at
7:30 p.m.
at Town Hall to decide on a referendum for the
November ballot.
Faith explains how the county's finances are taking
shape. With a cut in the tax levy
of about 2% and no tax increases proposed for
this year or next, things are looking better. Westchester
maintains a AAA credit rating. County
Executive Rob Astorino is up for re-election in 2013.
The library in Mt. Pleasant is
closed this week for re-roofing.
The Holland Sporting Club in Mohegan Lake, once a
lakefront resort for wealthy socialites, then a soccer and tennis
enclave, has been abandoned for years.
After it was bequeathed to the Town of
Yorktown for use as parkland in 2005, little was done to preserve the
land. Buildings on the property, fallen into
disrepair and deemed unsafe, were demolished last week by the Town.
Supervisor Michael Grace has asked the state to decommission the
land so there would be an option to sell it to
private developers, thereby joining the other private parcels
surrounding the lake.
C.V.S.
is still seeking inroads in Armonk, and the town of North Castle will
hold a public hearing on the sometimes-contentious subject on July 23 at
7:00 p.m.
at Town Hall.
Chappaqua Station, the affordable-housing building
proposed for a small bit of land between the railroad tracks and the Saw
Mill Parkway, is moving ahead.
North Castle has become the "lead agency" on
the project, thereby
bypassing some potential hold-up issues.
Lincoln Hall Boys' Haven has been a problematic stopping
place for troubled N.Y.C.
boys aged 12-17 years. Approximately 60 boys
can be housed there at any given time, but problems requiring police
response have been an issue for the community. Plans
are now underway for adapting the property to house teens who are part
of the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program for refugees.
Troubled boys will now be housed closer to
New York City and their homes.
Augie's Prime Cut Restaurant in Mohegan is hosting
another golf tournament to benefit Autism Speaks. The
event will be held on Monday, August 6, at the Hollow Brook Golf Club in
Cortlandt. The event includes golf,
cocktails, dinner and a silent auction. For
information, email info@augiesprimecut.com.
The Peekskill Jazz Festival happens this weekend.
Go! Enjoy!
The Upper Westchester Muslim Society is looking to build
a 25,000 square foot
mosque on Pines Bridge Road in Mount Kisco.
The land, purchased in 2004, will need to
have zoning approval, which will focus in part
on parking issues. The nearby First
Congregational Church has signaled its approval as diversity in worship
options would be good for the area.
The North Castle town board has voted 3 to 2 to revise
retiree benefits, removing vision and dental care from some retirees and
removing health coverage entirely for some part-time and non-union
retirees. A projected savings of $17 million
over several years is offset by threatened lawsuits from affected
people.
Low-income affordable housing costs in the city of
Peekskill will increase drastically come this September.
Tenants in some units who pay a flat fee
instead of a HUD-determined rent will see increases from 18% to 76%.
Mayor Mary Foster has written to HUD about
the problem, calling it "unconscionable."
In response to last year's storms and in anticipation of
future hurricane-season issues, Yorktown is forming a Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT). They are
looking for about 45 people to step up to help get the word out and aid
with evacuations and other storm-related community services.
Contact Public Safety Officer Larry Eidelman
if interested at 914-962-4141, ext 163.
week of 7/2/2012 —
listen now
There are several million registered Republicans, but
only a few thousand voted in last week's primaries for representation in
the House and Senate. Wendy
Long will go up against Kirsten Gillibrand for Senate and Sean Patrick
Maloney faces Nan Hayworth for Congress in November.
Mount Kisco has been required
to run applications for urban renewal through the planning board, then
duplicate that process through the Village board. The
State recently granted Mount Kisco the ability
to remove the defunct Urban Renewal Agency from the requirements,
relieving board members of an unnecessary duty.
Chappaqua is considering a parking structure near the
Metro North train station as downtown parking is tight.
Meanwhile, the town is granting parking
permits for business owners so their fees are lessened.
White Plains has been working with Zipcars,
the company that rents out small cars at an hourly rate, as one approach
to parking and traffic congestion management.
The town of Greenburgh is now exempt from the Finneran
Law, paving the way for a tennis bubble to be built and allowing
residents from outside the unincorporated part of the town to use the
facilities.
Westchester realizes over a billion dollars a year in
tourist revenue. In an effort to step that
up, the county has created an ad campaign called "Meet Me In Westchester
County." The campaign highlights arts,
culture, and nature-oriented attractions.
Many ideas for summer recreation and
edification can be found at artswestchester.org and
visitwestchesterny.com.
The Trump kingdom had a setback last week when the New
York State Court of Appeals overturned a lower
court decision which would have granted an easement through contested
space to the Seven Springs land they are looking to develop.
As the decision was unanimous, it is unclear
if an appeal will be filed.
The planned 9/11 Memorial in Croton has run into funding
difficulties and has had to cut its budget and push out the expected
completion date. Private funds are being
sought. Teatown Lake Reservation has also
been seeking funding and through recent private loans has been able to
add nine acres, including a vernal lake, to its property.
Stay tuned for more updates on hydrofracking in New York
State... we're on top of it.
On Tuesday,
June 26, there is a federal primary election
for one of New York's two U.S. Senate seats as well as U.S. House of
Representatives primaries affecting two districts in our area.
As this is the second of three primaries held
here before the November general election, Faith and Melinda spend the
show discussing the candidates and the districts involved.
We will do the same before the September 13
state primaries. The newly drawn district
lines have many confused; we will attempt to clarify.
In a bid to save some money, Mount Kisco may consolidate
their police department with the County department, as has been done in
Ossining and Cortlandt. Those communities are
not necessarily seeing the savings they hoped to, however, as much would
be achieved through gradual attrition. Other
issues to be resolved would be ownership of current police buildings and
infrastructure. Meanwhile, Yorktown police
have been without a contract for a couple of years now, but they show no
signs of interest in consolidation.
Energize New Castle is a community-based program
offering free home energy audits as well as financing information and
contractor listings. The hope is that
homeowners can assess their energy usage and make changes to reduce
their consumption thereby saving money. A
state Energy Coach stands by to assist the process. Visit
energizenewcastle.org for more information.
In 2011 there were over 50,000 arrests for marijuana
possession in New York State. About 50% of
the arrestees were under 25 years of age, about 82% were black or
Latino, and only around 10% were eventually convicted.
Numbers like these may have contributed to
Governor Cuomo's announcement that he'd like to reduce the penalty for
possession of less than 25 grams of pot in public view to a non-criminal
fine from a Class B misdemeanor, thereby avoiding jail
time for that offense. In 1997, the
state did just that for private possession of small amounts.
The Governor is also working on gambling in
the state, although disclosures of large donations to his electoral
coffers by gambling lobbyists is not helpful.
William Hanauer, mayor of Ossining for three terms and
running again this November, has married his partner of 38 years, Dr.
Alan Stahl. Hanauer, the only openly-gay
mayor in our county, was honored recently by the Westchester LGBT
Advisory Board.
Faith and Melinda then proceed to converse about the
Defense of Marriage Act, the constitution, medical marijuana (we discuss
the Connecticut legalization issue later in the program),
and Thomas Jefferson.
Returning to local issues, County Executive Rob Astorino
wants to increase families' share of payment for subsidized child care.
This has created yet more tension between the
Executive and members of the County
Legislature, who have filed a lawsuit. A
judge has issued an injunction in another county-level
governmental impasse.
Richard Benedict, the president of the Heritage Hills
community, is now a temporary council member in Somers.
He replaces Harry Bolton,
who stepped down due to health issues.
Jennifer and Jenesis Gallego, seniors at Peekskill High
School and identical twins, have been chosen
as the school's valedictorian (Jennifer) and salutatorian (Jenesis).
A few opportunities for Relay for Life remain
— please visit relayforlife.org to see how you
can help.
The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
(MS4) water cleanup act needs funding,
and County Executive Rob Astorino is trying to speed up those funds.
The East of Hudson funds come in part from
the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
The total cost is estimated to be $500 million, much of which is
unfunded. We are in the third year of the
first five year segment of the program.
Yorktown may eliminate the elected position of Highway
Superintendent in favor of an appointed Department of Public Works
officer. A referendum may appear on this
November's ballot to that effect.
Faith updates us on state assembly races in our newly
confused and redistricted area.
A public hearing in Tarrytown on the fate of the Indian
Point Nuclear Power Plant drew over 200 people and was described as
"energetic and vocal" by observers. Both
those in favor of maintaining the facility and those who feel it should
be shut down were loud in their opinions. Those
in favor cite the economic advantages and clean energy, while detractors
spoke of the environmental effects and the
outdated systems. There are nearly 20 million
people in a 50 mile radius of the plant.
Evacuation drills,
anyone?
Rob Astorino and the county government are still being
argumentative.
Mt. Pleasant, White Plains,
Lakeland, and other
school districts have seen their budgets passed this year with a
respectable voter turnout. We speculate on
some of the backstory. Meanwhile, State
Assemblyman Steve Katz has introduced legislation in Albany for
immediate relief from unfunded mandates that are hobbling some districts
financially.
An eight year study of the
Bear Mountain Parkway and Routes 202, 35,
and 6 corridors in Yorktown, Cortlandt, and
Peekskill is just in time for proposed commercial building along
Route 202 and others. As
it is also part of the Evacuation Plan should there be a nuclear
emergency from Indian Point, keeping those byways clear is obviously of
utmost importance.
The citizens of Armonk are not happy about the future C.V.S.
to go in to the old A&P building. The plan
has been amended from entirely C.V.S.
space to allow for 2,500 square feet of retail space rented to another
tenant, yet to be determined. Faith fills us
in on Planning Board reactions.
The small, wooden train depot, long a landmark on
Route 133 near Millwood Lumber, is gone.
The owners of the property had the
over-100-year-old structure demolished and removed. There
had been concern for some time that the building, though its interior
was inaccessible, could be a danger to users of the nearby North County
Trailway.
As Pace University gears up to consolidate its
Briarcliff Manor campus into the Pleasantville location, environmental
studies, zoning board meetings, public hearings, and the like proceed
apace. The updated campus will almost double student housing, among
other upgrades, but the project isn't expected to be completed for at
least seven years.
Patterson resident and attorney Andrew Falk will be
running as the Democratic candidate for the new 94th State Assembly seat
currently held by Yorktown resident and veterinarian Steve Katz. We
also promise to unconfuse the upcoming two primaries in a future show.
Faith updates us on former police chief Robert Pavone,
who is suing the Town of Cortlandt over denial of compensation for
injuries he claims resulted from a collapsed chair in 1998.
Furniture Sharehouse has been helping get used furniture
to the needy since 2007 — furnituresharehouse.org.
Internationally-acclaimed violinist Daisy Jopling is headed to the
Paramount Theatre May 19 for a performance to benefit her work
establishing a non-profit arts education program in the city. Relay For
Life has events on behalf of the American Cancer Society in Chappaqua
(May 19), Somers (June 1), Ossining (June 2) and Yorktown (June 8). Go
to relayforlife.org for information on how you can participate.
The American Heart Association lobbied Albany recently
to mandate C.P.R. instruction in New York high schools. Recent student
emergencies have helped to push for this move, and the A.H.A. may try to
make this a nationwide initiative. It will be, however, another mandate
that schools will have to subsidize if it becomes reality.
The Westchester County Association is busily promoting
the White Plains/Harrison area as business-friendly. Local governments
are changing zoning to multi-use and other considerations are being
investigated.
Senator Greg Ball has presented a bill to the state
senate that would give disabled veterans the same preference in
obtaining state contracts as is currently shown to women and minority
groups.
Don't forget school budget votes on May 15 — a large
percentage of your homeowner's taxes hangs in the balance!
County Executive Rob Astorino gave his third State of
the County address last week. Some good news
is that an agreement has been reached with area Teamsters, who have been
without a contract. Salary and health care
compromises have been reached.
The U.S. Department of Transportation passed over New
York in its awarding of $13 billion in infrastructure loans to various
states. This removes the $2 billion which had
been expected to go toward a new Tappan Zee bridge project.
Governor Cuomo had assured us that shovel
would hit dirt on this before the end of the year, but area county
executives are scurrying to cover the expenses.
Mark Lee Krangle, a 65-year-old Croton resident, was
arrested last week at Pittsburgh International Airport for allegedly
threatening University of Pittsburgh professors via email.
A self-published author, Krangle maintains
his innocence. There have been many bomb
threats against the university this year,
including two received after Krangle's arrest.
Faith talks about stopping by the IBM facility where a
small plane made an emergency landing, and Melinda asks about the varied
pronunciation of "Mahopac."
Governor Cuomo announced a $75 million school grant
program as incentive to state school districts to work within the 2% tax
cap budget. If a public vote overrides the
cap, the district will not be eligible to share in the grant, which
provides relief for administrative, management,
and transportation costs. Some districts,
however, want more relief for mandates such as the Triborough Amendment,
busing regulations, Wicks Law, and
last-in-first-out employment policies.
New York Presbyterian Hospital is beginning construction
on an 11,000-square foot Center for Autism and
the Developing Brain in White Plains.
The center, which will provide residential, educational,
and state-of-the-art clinical services for the lower Hudson valley area,
is expected to be completed in early 2013.
Westchester County's first quarter real estate numbers
showed up better than the same period last year, but only by a small
margin. The number of sales is up by 1.4%,
but the median sale price declined 8.5% to an average of $505,000.
The 2011 average was $550,000.
This is the lowest average price since 2002,
when it first exceeded $500,000.
The 93rd Assembly district, which runs from North Salem
along the Connecticut border to White Plains, is currently represented
by Republican Robert Castelli. White Plains
Councilman David Buchwald, a Democrat, has announced he will challenge
Castelli for the seat. The district also
covers New Castle, Mount Kisco, Bedford, Harrison, North Castle, Pound
Ridge, and Lewisboro.
County Executive Rob Astorino
has announced that
he will appeal a judge's ruling
that prevents Jay Pisco from carrying out
duties as Commissioner of Public Works and
Transportation. All acquisitions in that
department are stalled while the legislators work this out.
Meanwhile, on other capital
project fronts:
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a group is growing to stop the delays on
constructing a new Tappan Zee Bridge (buildthebridgenowny.org);
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the city of White Plains may take over a
derelict Lyon Place garage to build a new parking structure with 650
spaces, 500 of them publicly available;
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Pace University's Briarcliff campus is
for sale and plans are to incorporate residences and classrooms into
an expanded Pleasantville space;
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100 acres in Yorktown on
Route 202 are being looked at for another
big-box retail outlet, but residential
zoning is an issue.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has fined
the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant $1.2 million, finding significant
violations of the Clean Water Act. In 2010,
the facility released 10,000 gallons of oil into the Hudson River as a
result of a transformer fire. The DEC also
found improper bulk storage of chemicals and has concerns over the
cooling pools that have increased the temperature of the river water.
Many species of fish are threatened or gone.
Entergy will pay the fine and try to behave
in future.
To help local school districts adhere to state mandates,
a proposal is on the table to reduce the fifteen-mile parochial bussing
radius to five miles. Currently, students who
attend private schools are bused up to fifteen miles at the expense of
their local public school district. The
change has some Catholic-school parents alarmed as several area Catholic
schools have been forced to close recently, leaving options further away
than before. Senator Greg Ball favors leaving
the fifteen-mile limit in place.
Walmart, despite having a sizable store in place at the
Cortlandt Town Center, is hoping to build a supercenter across Route 6
from the Center by 2018. Rezoning would have
to be approved by the town, as the 36-acre parcel they are eyeing is
mostly zoned for residential use at present. The
supercenter would be open 24 hours a day and
would encompass a full grocery store.
Faith fills in some more details on the somewhat-fuzzy
calculations behind the 2% property tax cap. This is the first year
that school districts are affected, and many communities are wrestling
with their own particulars to stay in line. Where some of the more
affluent communities have had to reduce expenses and are even
considering cutting some sports programs, White Plains, which has kept
expenses down in the past, can now actually increase expenditures and is
looking to add two teachers and a couple of librarian positions.
County Executive Rob Astorino is asking the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development to release approximately $7
million dollar in grant money that has been frozen. Federal magistrates
have ruled that Westchester has not violated the 2009 housing settlement
agreement, and Astorino feels that HUD's freezing of the money was
premature. Meanwhile, Chappaqua Station is another proposal to add a
five-story building between the Saw Mill Parkway and the train tracks
for affordable housing; many object that traffic will worsen and that
the minute parcel of land is not suitable for residential units. Plus
the location is bad.
The state legislature recently passed, and Governor
Cuomo signed, the Tier 6 pension plan. Local tensions escalate:
Assemblyman Steve Katz voted against it, Senator Greg Ball voted for it.
Katz protested at Ball's kickoff party, and Ball apparently put a
person in a chicken suit and sent him to a Katz event. Ball's "robo
calls" continue, and negative websites are linked back to him.
Meanwhile, Katz insists he remains above the fray.
Faith has had so many positions at the paper since we
began our adventure in March of 2011 that we now just say she's "of
Examiner Media." The jocularity continues as we discuss local issues in
a lighthearted yet hopefully informative manner.
The Taconic State Parkway will be shutting down the
southbound lanes at the AmVets bridge over the Croton Reservoir for
repairs. All traffic will be redirected to the northbound lanes, two in
each direction, until the anticipated completion date in November.
Commuters are pleased as punch.
As the need for local grocery supply continues, the town
of New Castle is considering a major supermarket in the 114-acre complex
of the former Readers Digest. A hearing is scheduled for March 27 at
7:45 p.m. at the New Castle town hall.
The state legislature has agreed on the new district
lines for the Senate and the Assembly. The pressure was on as election
preparations needed to get under way for many of the positions that have
been shuffled. On another political note: Steve Katz has officially
thrown his hat in the ring to oppose Greg Ball for the 40th senate
district now shaped like a horse. Or a chair. We're still working on
that; stay tuned.
Authority given to the federal Department of Veterans
Affairs from Congress to lease portions of the land occupied by the
Veteran's Hospital in Montrose apparently expired on December 31, 2011,
but no one noticed. Without further approval from Congress, the
Department of Veterans Affairs is forbidden from moving forward on 17
projects, including the V.A. campuses in Montrose and Castle Point,
located near Monticello. Many who were opposed to the idea in the first
place are elated.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey will lose some of her
lower-Westchester district, and Congresswoman Nan Hayworth will step
away from many north-county communities if the federal redistricting is
finalized on March 18. A federal judge has submitted plans that would
shake up many of our federal boundaries in the lower Hudson valley.
Hayworth, a Republican, will gain territory in predominantly Democratic
Dutchess County, ceding much of Cortlandt, Croton, Peekskill, Mount
Kisco, Buchanan, Yorktown, and New Castle to Lowey. An interesting
note: Lowey favors closing Indian Point, which will now be in her
bailiwick; Hayworth is a nuclear supporter.
Assemblyman Steve Katz, whose 99th district includes
many areas in north and northeast Westchester, will challenge Senator
Greg Ball for control of his 40th senatorial district this fall.
Anonymous "robo calls" have been going out claiming that Katz has a
jail record. Katz confirms two past arrests, both involving
misunderstandings over dogs. Katz, who owns a veterinary practice in
the Bronx, was happy to disclose the somewhat amusing details.
Meanwhile, in the state assembly race between Wolf Lawton and Dario
Gristina, Mr. Gristina made public comments last week about his ex-wife,
Anna, a.k.a. the "Manhattan Madame."
The Westchester County Association (westchester.org) has
announced the creation of a Blueprint Accelerator Network designed to
link up young local entrepreneurs with the resources to get businesses
or enterprises started. Venture capitalists, mentors, office space
owners, and others will be tapped for this project, which has already
attracted $150 million in investments.
Another lawsuit has been filed
against Eric DiBartolo of Yorktown. This one,
filed by William LaPierre, an irked
ex-neighbor and funeral home owner, claims
that the Highway Superintendent misappropriated funds in a variety of
schemes to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. DiBartolo filed a previous suit against
Mr. LaPierre and Fred Gulitz, the parent of an
employee. Complicating matters are previous
attitudinal difficulties between Mr. LaPierre
and Mr. DiBartolo as ex-neighbors as well as
business rivals; Mr. DiBartolo owns another
funeral home in town. This is the second
lawsuit pending involving Mr. DiBartolo; the
first, filed against ex-Town Supervisor Susan Siegel, stemmed from Ms
Seigel's allegations of a love affair with another employee.
And so the plots thicken in Yorktown.
The Croton-Harmon school
district may have too much money in its coffers, according to a state
audit. The state comptroller says the extra
funds should be returned to the taxpayers, but the district differs.
Meanwhile, the Carmel school district in
Putnam, despite having cut personnel repeatedly in recent years, is
considering discontinuing junior varsity programs. Although
a popular program with winning teams, the program runs about $150,000.
Will this spread to area schools?
On February 14, the A&P in Armonk closed its doors.
A CVS, previously set to move into the space,
is facing new opposition from the Concerned Citizens of Armonk.
The town has issued a permit to CVS for the
property, but it can be rescinded. The town
is awaiting public input; a hearing originally scheduled for March 1 is
now planned for April 12 at Town Hall.
Somers Superintendent Mary Beth Murphy is chair of the
East of Hudson Watershed Corporation. The
Corporation is working in conjunction with the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York
City Department of Environmental Protection to further Storm
Water MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) quality projects in
the Croton Reservoir basin. However, with no
money coming in to cover the costs of required projects, the third year
of the five-year stormwater management plan has been a difficult one.
“We are waiting on money from the D.E.P.,
as well as from both Putnam and Westchester counties,” Murphy said.
She thinks it will be another two months
before there is a check in the mail from any of the parties.
Since it is thought to take at least five and a half
years to build a new Hudson bridge just north of the Tappan Zee, there
should be plenty of time to decide what, if any, future there might be
for the existing structure once it's no longer in use as a motor bridge.
One thought is to put light rail there.
However, Governor Cuomo is backing a greenway project, similar to
the High Line in lower Manhattan. Some
reservations have been discussed regarding safety,
as access to the middle of the over-three-mile-long bridge might be
difficult in case of emergency. What do you
think? Share your thoughts on uses for the
old TZB with me at
melinda@wdfh.org and I'll air them on another program.
Westchester County is mandated to supply 750 units of
affordable housing in those communities that have not quite lived up to
their fair share. Some are still lagging
behind in compliance, while Chappaqua is now looking at 32 more units.
Called Chappaqua Station, the development
would be near downtown and provide 24 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom
units in a five-story structure. The
developers are looking for a variance from New Castle to build up to
that height. One problem the towns all face is that the Department of
Housing and Urban Development keeps changing the rules (for example, now
requiring three-bedroom units be also provided). Meanwhile,
the county is not receiving Community Development Block Grants that
would help beef up the coffers.
Longer-serving Democrats and
Republicans in the county legislature are disagreeing over the premature
appointment of Jay Pisco as head of the Department of Public Works in
January. County Executive Rob Astorino
appointed Pisco before any approval by the board of legislature.
The board, possibly in retaliation, is
arguing over his $58 million capital budget plan.
Public hearings for Westchester on the upgrade to the
Tappan Zee Bridge are being held Thursday, March 1, from 4:00
to 9:00 p.m.
at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. This
affects all residents on both sides of the Hudson.
A widening rift between
two onetime political allies, state
Assemblyman Steve Katz and state Senator Greg
Ball, has come to a head with news that they
may face one another in a Republican primary race for the 40th senate
district. Mr. Ball, who delayed his vote
against marriage equality, has come out against hydrofracking and
supports much of what Governor Andrew Cuomo, a
Democrat, is doing.
This is not in much favor with the Republican establishment.
Mr. Katz shows himself in a more conservative
light, with Tea Party support.
On February 16, Governor Cuomo struck a deal with state
Teachers. In order to keep the federal Race
to the Top funding, districts will be judged 60% on annual reviews of
teacher performance and 40% on student testing.
Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget favors hydrofracking in
New York State to provide another source of energy. The
Department of Environmental Conservation is working on regulations to
oversee any drilling that is done, although they will grant a limited
number of drilling permits for 2012. Many
more overseers will need to be hired, however.
We discuss other energy plants, both existing and in the
plans, including one in Southeast, that the New York Assembly Committee
on Energy claims can fill any void created by the closure of the Indian
Point Nuclear Power Plant.
Governor Cuomo is fast-tracking
construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge,
to be built just north of the existing bridge. An
estimated $5 billion price tag hangs on the project, for which four
companies are bidding. Three of them are in
Westchester: Yonkers Contracting Corporation,
Tutor-Perini Corporation, and Granite
Construction are all vying for the construction,
which is expected to take four to five years.
Perhaps 3,000 local union workers will
be employed. The governor wants to start this
summer.
The old Bear Mountain Lodge Inn has completed a $15
million renovation, taking about 10 years. Faith
shares fond childhood memories.
Family Services of Westchester has set up a volunteer
driving service for seniors in Somers, Mt.
Kisco, North Castle, Lewisboro, Katonah, North
Salem, and Pound Ridge. The
service, launched last September, charges a minimal fee to seniors, much
less than car services charge, and also frees up caregivers for seniors
with medical appointments, shopping requirements,
and the like.
Linda Puglisi, long-time supervisor of the town of
Cortlandt, has created what may be the first Facebook page for a town.
Several school districts have pages on the
social networking service, and soon every person, place and entity will
too.
As a result of some reports from the Fukushima incident,
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is requiring
Indian Point to revamp its existing
mostly-manual fire prevention system and make it more automated.
Entergy, which owns the
plant, has agreed to the requirement. Continued
public hearings on the relicensing of the plant are to be scheduled
soon.
Partly as a result of a Bedford man whose unexpected
hospital bill came to over $99,000 after insurance, Senator Greg Ball is
introducing legislation requiring insurance companies to be clearer
about what hospitals and providers are covered.
The man, who was having heart troubles, went to the nearest
hospital then was transferred to another with a special cardiac unit.
Apparently unbeknownst to him, one of the
hospitals was not considered "in network" by his insurance company.
Westchester Burger Company, currently in White Plains
and Rye, is looking to take over the Bedford Hills location formerly
occupied by 353 Restaurant. A Five Guys has
opened in Cortlandt, and other burger-and-family-fare eateries are open
around the county.
There will be public hearings in Armonk regarding the
proposed C.V.S.
retail location on Main St on March 1. Many
concerned citizens are expected to attend.
A rash of youth deaths in the Yorktown area over the
last few years has contributed to the reason new supervisor Michael
Grace pushed for the formation of a Community Affairs Board. Despite
various programs and the local Teen Center, endangered teens continue to
be a concern. The new Board will focus on youth and seniors but will
also reach out to the whole community. Yorktown's Bruce Apar has been
pegged to chair the all-volunteer board. For 24/7 assistance or further
info, please call 914-275-6887.
Opposing Nan Hayworth for Congress this year will be
Mayor Tom Wilson of Tuxedo Park, Cortlandt Council member Richard
Becker, Wappinger Falls mayor Matt Alexander, and Duane Jackson, aka the
"Times Square Hero," a street vendor who spotted a NYC bomb in 2010,
thereby averting serious trouble.
And then at length we discuss the new redistricting
announced on January 26, expected to go into effect January 2013.
Several towns are affected by the new legislative borders.
On January 17, Governor Cuomo shared his budget for the
next year. Included is, as promised last year, an increase in school
aid. Needier districts are in line to receive more, but all districts
need to measure teacher performance. New York State pays more per
student than any other state. The governor also pushed for mandate
relief on the local level and promised no raise in income tax levels.
He has brought a $10 billion deficit down to $2 billion.
January 19 unemployment figures show the fewest new
applications since the recession started in 2008. The housing market
also shows improvement with more homes selling, although market values
are still much lower than four years ago.
Teatown Lake Reservation and the Saw Mill Audubon
Society will present the annual Eaglefest on February 4 at Croton Point
Park. There will be guided tours and entertainment as well as much
information on the annual southerly migration of the bald eagle to the
lower Hudson valley area. Admission will be $5 and the festival extends
up to Peekskill's River Green Park.
A performance of "The Vagina Monologues" in Mahopac will
benefit the Westchester Women's Resource Center; Faith Ann Butcher will
be one of the readers. February 10 and 11 at 8pm, and Feb 12 at 2pm,
the Freight House Cafe on Rte 6. $25 for performance, $35 includes
refreshments and wine. No tickets at the door — call 845-628-1872 to
purchase.
On January 10, Reactor #2 at the Indian Point Nuclear
Power Facility was offline due to a leak. We are assured that there has
been no danger to the public. On January 12, coincidentally, there was
a public hearing in New York City. The Riverkeeper group spoke about
the age of the equipment. Even though the initial public comment period
is over, it is possible the Nuclear Regular Commission may reopen it.
Governor Cuomo has stated his desire to begin work at
long last on the aged and decrepit Tappan Zee Bridge by the end of 2012.
Former Governor Paterson has wanted a private-public funding option,
but that is not legal in New York State for state projects. Part of the
funding may come from union retirement funds and public bonds. The Bear
Mountain and Newburgh-Beacon Bridges, meanwhile, are due to see their
tolls increase.
The Yorktown Fire Department had its busiest year on
record in 2011, responding to 778 emergency calls. As there is a
separate ambulance service, those calls were not medical in nature. In
2009, there were 614 (fewer in 2010), but Tropical Storm Irene and the
October snowstorm accounted for about 140 calls last year. Cats in
trees may have added to the total as well; no figures were available.
Susan Siegel, voted out as Yorktown supervisor, and Jim
Martorano, a 20-plus-year veteran of the town board, have always had the
best interests of Yorktown and its residents to heart. Mr. Martorano
says he always kept three things in mind: serving the people of
Yorktown, staying clear of partisanship and gossip, and making lives
better. Ms Siegel, who has been active in the Yorktown area for
decades, feels that good government is the bottom line. Dave Paganelli
succeeds Mr. Martorano on the board, and Michael Grace was sworn in as
Supervisor on January 1.
We discuss some of the points made in Governor Andrew
Cuomo's State of the State address last week and review his progress in
his first year. As a comparatively young leader, Governor Cuomo seems
to be trying to "think outside the box" and come up with creative
solutions to our problems as well as keep New York a progressive and
forward-looking state.
The Yorktown museum, located upstairs at the Community
Center on Commerce Street, is featuring a creative exhibit of miniatures
that are housed in antique clocks. Called "Time to Celebrate," the
exhibit runs until the end of February. Somers' museum, in the
Elephant Hotel, is showcasing, appropriately enough, circus memorabilia
from pre-Civil War days. And at the Ossining Cultural Center, there is
a display of an actual prison cell from "Sing Sing," along with an
electric chair for some shocking verisimilitude.
As the public comment period has been extended to
January 11, we look at hydraulic fracturing, a.k.a. hydrofracking, in
the Marcellus shale: what it is and why we should care. Governor Cuomo
says it will improve upstate economies and allow for power to fill the
vacuum if Indian Point is closed. The Citizen's Campaign for the
Environment (www.citizenscampaign.org) and other concerned groups say
the damage factor is too big.
To share your views with the governor, go to
www.governor.ny.gov and click on Contact, or write him at
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of New York
State
N.Y.S. State Capitol Building
Albany NY 12224
You can also write to the NY State Department of Environmental
Conservation at 625 Broadway, Albany NY, 12233-6510, attention "DSGEIS
comments," (http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/58440.html).
Yorktown passed its 2012 budget, but not without some
re-votes due to confusion on the part of some board members. After the
third round when all went well, it turns out that New York State law
would have required the original budget to go into effect after all.
Fatal accidents in Somers and Mahopac and on the Bear
Mountain Parkway have created concern at the Department of
Transportation. Discussion is ensuing about banning the use of cell
phones, among other things. A median suggested a while back for the
Bear Mountain has been in the planning stage, but there is no money for
the project; accidents may push that agenda forward.
Community partnerships among several non-profit groups
in the Yorktown area are helping with the difficulty those entities are
facing finding donation funding. By combining resources, they have been
able to help make ends meet.
Voters in the Hendrick Hudson school district voted by
an almost two-to-one ratio against the proposed $25 million bond in a
December vote. Part of the money was earmarked for classroom upgrades,
repairs to fields and fences, fixing the broken septic tanks in two
elementary schools, roof repairs to one school, tech upgrades, music and
art programs, and the like. Included in the bond, however, was $11.2
million for a new community-use performing arts center at the high
school. In a high turnout, voters emphatically stated (1,777 to 977)
that the bond was unacceptable; thoughts are that the theatre was the
breaker. A referendum for the important repairs may be added to the May
school budget vote.
As part of the municipal housing settlement, 31
communities in the area need to provide at least 750 low-income housing
units. North Castle developer Crabapple Properties has proposed some
single family units on the Cider Mill property as well as some middle
income properties. In order for them to create low-income spaces, North
Castle needs to pass the law supporting the settlement. Outgoing
supervisor Weaver is in favor, incoming supervisor Arden is not.
Senator Greg Ball headed up a roundtable discussion
recently in Yorktown with local officials and representatives of Con
Edison and N.Y.S.E.G. to assess the response to recent storms. Among
other things, it was determined that Con Ed's practice of proactive tree
trimming near power lines was helpful; customers were 66% less likely to
lose power in those cases where branches were kept at least ten feet
from transformers. N.Y.S.E.G. has agreed to step up their tree-trimming
efforts. Communications issues were also discussed; Con Ed's "all
hands reporting 24/7" policy also received kudos.
At around 2 a.m. on December 9, the Westchester
legislature agreed on the 2012 budget, despite a lack of concession from
the unions on contributing to their healthcare costs, among other
things. The bipartisan vote was 16-1 (a Democrat was the holdout) in
favor. The budget has saved 187 jobs, kept the nature centers open,
continued legal aid programs, kept 22 positions in the probation
department, and still avoided a tax increase. Some facets may still be
vetoed by County Exec Rob Astorino; it will be a done deal by December
27.
The Westchester Medical Center has a shortfall of $61
million and is facing layoffs of 250 people. Its proposed budget is
$871 million. The state will be helping.
The state has extended tax hikes on those making more
than $200,000 annually, but most Dutchess and Ulster small business
owners with less than $1.25 million in payroll will no longer be
required to pay the M.T.A. tax, only corporations and municipalities
(not schools). Flood relief from Irene and Lee is forthcoming.
Blythedale Children's Hospital unveiled a new $65
million unit to help children with complex medical needs. This is the
hospital's first renovation and, started in 2009, the unit adjoins the
existing building. Northern Westchester Hospital has healthy cooking
classes for cardiovascular patients and their families.
We share a bunch of holiday-oriented happenings around
the county including tree lightings, charity gifting options and
concerts among others. Tune in for details!
The Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt near
Peekskill recently unveiled a beautiful new cancer treatment facility.
The space, which adjoins the existing hospital by a bridge, is
scheduled to open on December 1 and will provide state-of-the-art
techniques to test, treat, and monitor cancer. One goal was to provide
a level of care that patients must currently travel to New York City or
elsewhere to find. Bruce Lindenbaum was a major donor for the new
clinic in memory of his wife, Cheryl, who passed away from breast cancer
in 2005. www.hvhc.org
The town of Bedford has been the focal point for the
Energize Northern Westchester initiative. Called Energize Bedford, the
program, which has been in place for about ten years but needed some new
public push, offers an energy analysis of residents' homes followed by
recommendations for upgrades to improve energy efficiency. The analysis
is offered free or at a reduced cost to households with income under
twice the county median of $209,000 per year. After the analysis,
owners are given a list of suggested upgrades and local contractors to
choose from, and subsidies and low-interest financing options are
available. www.energizenorthernwestchester.org or energizebedford.org
Some New Castle neighborhoods which are on septic are
sullying the Croton watershed. Almost 300 parcels in the town are being
considered for upgrade to town sewers, but the additional flow of an
estimated 200,000 gallons per day is worrying Yonkers residents.
Although the extra sewage would be a very small fraction of the amount
handled in the county facility there daily, residents are worried about
odors and other issues. The N.Y.C. Department of Environmental
Protection has cleared the way for land use by offering to sell it for
one dollar, and the MS4 program will help financially as well. If
Yonkers executive Jenkins goes up against Rob Astorino for County
Executive, as is rumored in some circles, will that change his
perspective?
-
WDFH Sessions: On The
Record — musicians performing in WDFH's Performance
Studio
-
OutCasting — a
unique public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues, produced
right here at WDFH
-
In Focus
— local news discussion on issues in the lower Hudson valley
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For the Greater Good
— spotlighting the important work of nonprofit organizations in our area
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Critical Conversations — an occasional
series of discussions on issues of public importance
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Recovery Talk
— recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, domestic
violence, and more; interviews with people in recovery as well as
professionals in the field
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Eyes on Westchester
— local news discussion on issues in central
and northern Westchester (series ended October 2012)
-
Village Green —
environmental sustainability (series ended March 2012)
HEALTH
Recovery
Talk
WDFH's pioneering program about resilience in
recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, and more, hosted by Robyn
Leary.
Enter the following address into your podcatching
software to subscribe to the Recovery Talk podcast (the
subscription is free):
PODCAST
http://wdfh.org/xml/recoverytalk.xml
Robyn died unexpectedly on June 6, 2011. Since
June 13, 2011, we have been presenting earlier programs in her memory.
On this edition
of Recovery Talk, Jim J. shares some of the peaks and valleys along his
road to recovery from alcoholism. Clean and sober for eleven years, his
stories reflect many joys not widely known about or commonly associated
with recovery. Tune in!
Jim Smith is a
CSAC — Certified Substance Abuse Counselor — and Patient Coordinator at
Phelps Threshold, a well-respected outpatient rehab center in Tarrytown,
New York.
On this week's Recovery Talk, Mr. Smith explains various
outpatient treatment strategies and distills the current thinking and
central strengths of each. In practice for longer than fifteen
years, Mr. Smith explodes commonly-held misconceptions about what
happens in drug and alcohol rehab and the process itself. He also
discusses some specific problems common only to people in treatment in
Westchester County, New York. Tune in: get an ear-full.
"Dr. Bill"
is a busy Westchester psychologist. In his private practice he
specializes in addiction psychotherapy and has helped hundreds if not
thousands of patients over the years. In this edition of Recovery Talk,
he remains anonymous, that is, Dr. Bill, so that he can discuss his own
recovery from alcoholism and the strengths of the well-known program of
the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Two addicted sons
Part 2: On
this edition of Recovery Talk, we hear firsthand the diary-like
account of a woman who has worked tirelessly to help loosen the
horrors of addiction, which held not one but two of her sons in its
powerful grip. Rachel F. unspools the beginning, the middle,
and the present of this unforgettable yarn which is her life's journey.
If she can help even one parent now facing this reality, Rachel F. says
it will have been worth it. She stresses that information and
knowledge of the support networks now available are essential to move
forward. Rachel's story is that of a
survivor.
Two addicted sons
Part 1: On this edition of
Recovery Talk, we hear firsthand the diary-like account of a woman
who has worked tirelessly to help loosen the horrors of addiction,
which held not one but two of her sons in its powerful grip.
Rachel F. unspools the beginning, the middle,
and the present of this unforgettable yarn which is her life's journey.
If she can help even one parent now facing this reality, Rachel F. says
it will have been worth it. She stresses that information and
knowledge of the support networks now available are essential to move
forward. Rachel's story is that of a survivor.
On this week's
edition of Recovery Talk, New York music promoter Robert Taylor
explains why the annual Christmas party at Eva's Village has grown the
reputation as an exciting platform to debut new talent. For the
past four years, Taylor has produced the show. He says the
audience at the well respected New Jersey homeless shelter for men and
women in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction are unusually good
judges of talent. Listen up and find out why.
Drug
addiction, with guest Bob M.
On
this edition of Recovery Talk, Bob M. describes how his drug of
choice, crack cocaine, took him and his family
into a dark, seemingly endless abyss. Now
in recovery for 5 years, Bob M. shares how his tireless work on the
stuff between his ears has created the environment, emotional and
physical, in which even his relationship with
his two young sons has been restored.
Obesity — discussion with Barry Shapiro, M.D., D.M.D.
Today's guest on Recovery Talk is
Briarcliff Mannor, N.Y., physician, Dr. Barry Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro is an
oral surgeon and in his medical practice he specializes in the treatment
of obesity. (Here, perhaps the case can be made that one thing leads to
another!) On today's show we'll explore the irony of why eating makes us
hungry and how the obesity epidemic in America got started. Dr. Shapiro
tells us how he lost more than eighty pounds and, further, how he
successfully keeps the weight off. In his philosophy, he turns what we
used to know as the pyramid of foods on its head. Tune in and learn how
to get svelte.
Quitting Smoking
Andrea Gordon, C.S.W., is this
week's guest on Recovery Talk. Andrea Gordon teaches a smoking
cessation workshop at The Wellness Club at the Cortlandt Town Center, an
affiliate of the Hudson Valley Hospital Center. As she sees it,
there is no single way to quit smoking — one of the most dangerous and
difficult of habits to break. She believes there are many ways that
work.
On this edition of Recovery
Talk, Ms. Gordon illuminates her most successful techniques and
discusses the importance of embracing a new sense of self for those trying
to quit. Ms. Gordon says it takes a new self-concept as a
"non-smoker" as well as the consciousness to redirect the negative urges
to smoke into positive activities and choices.
Bereavement
Our guests on this edition of
Recovery Talk are Joyce Bluestone and Bess Steiger. Both are
bereavement counselors at Phelps Hospice at Phelps Memorial Hospital in
Sleepy Hollow, New York. In this show, we explore the very delicate
needs of individuals and families when confronted with the death of a
loved one. Although time may be the biggest healer, according to our
guests, there are techniques and therapies that can be extremely helpful
in this major adjustment to loss and the reaffirmation of life.
DWI
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Theodore E. Frerking
examines the legal consequences of a drug arrest or the seemingly
endless repercussions of an arrest or conviction for DWI — Driving While
Intoxicated. Mr. Frerking, an Ossining lawyer of many years, will
translate some of the more relevant state and federal laws and explain
how they apply in these cases as well as explore the expenses associated
with the court's mandates treatment programs as well as the costs
affiliated license revocation. The message: don't drink-drug and drive!
National Association on
Alcoholism, Drugs and Disability
John de Miranda is Executive
Director of the National Association on Alcoholism, Drugs and Disability,
headquartered in San Mateo, California. With a professional
background in the alcohol and drug field that spans 25 years, Mr. de
Miranda has served as program administrator, management consultant,
therapist, educator, government official, researcher and trainer. As
director of the National Association on Alcoholism, Drugs and Disability,
Mr. de Miranda works with individuals and organizations dedicated to
improving access to substance abuse prevention and treatment services for
people with disabilities. He holds an advanced degree from
Harvard University and teaches in the alcohol and drug studies program at
the University of California at Berkeley.
Domestic violence — guest Deborah Mullin
What it takes to survive domestic violence is the topic on
Recovery Talk
this week. From her desk at the Northern Westchester Shelter and
in the field, Domestic Violence Counselor and Advocate Deborah Mullin's
chief concern is keeping women safe. In this interview, she explains
what "safe" means and talks openly with host Robyn Leary about the
nature of abusive relationships and how to get out of them. Date
rape and other issues now very much on the minds of young women and
students across the country are also a focus of this week's program.
Surviving a massive stroke at a young age
This week on
Recovery Talk, Robyn talks with
Tim Podell about his remarkable recovery from a massive ischemic stroke
that made him unable to walk and talk. He was
24. Today, this Westchester producer/director
is leading the field in educational teaching videotapes.
In his best-selling productions, Good
Conversations and All About the Book, he interviews writers of
children's books. Both series are available
in libraries nationwide. In this candid
discussion, Mr. Podell describes his two year struggle in recovery and
the indispensable roll played by family and friends.
This interview was recorded in 2004. We are
very happy to say that in addition to his other work, Tim Podell is now
a volunteer at WDFH. He currently co-hosts In Focus and
plans to pick up where Robyn left off with his own version of
Recovery Talk here on WDFH.
Faces and Voices of
Recovery (FAVOR)
This week's guest on Recovery Talk
is Pat Taylor, campaign chair of Faces and Voices of Recovery (www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org),
a national recovery advocacy group whose focus is largely on issues of
discrimination and the stigma which confronts many in addiction-recovery
today. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Ms.
Taylor stopped by WDFH's studio and discussed a number of the
organization's initiatives including those for "National Recovery
Month."
Recovery from alcoholism — discussion
with Phil L.
This week, our guest is
Phil L., a man in recovery from alcoholism who openly discusses
his journey of some 23 years in sobriety. Phil L. shares what his
life was like before he gave up drink, what finally propelled him into
the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, and where
he stands today. Join us for a fascinating
account of recovery, one which employs even
the philosophy of Zen.
The science of addiction
Dr. Carlton Erikson discusses his book,
The Science of Addiction – From Neurobiolgy to Treatment. Dr.
Erickson, a prominent educator at the University of Texas at Austin
College of Pharmacology in Texas, is one of the first scientists to
delineate and explain the distinction between substance abuse and chemical
dependency.
Videographer Andy Lock
Andy Lock is a Chicago videographer who
has just completed a documentary on the Middle East Conflicts Wall
Memorial and the motorcycle ride known as the Illinois Freedom Run, which
promotes and financially supports the memorial. The Middle East Conflicts
Wall Memorial, a national memorial, is fully granite and is inscribed with
the names of over 6,000 soldiers — the men and women who lost their lives
in Operation Desert Storm-1, the Lebanon Barracks bombing, Operation
Desert Shield, the USS Cole incident, Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A portrait of women warriors returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan
Part three of a three part series on women in war
Former Marine Lance Corporal Jessica Goodell was a
diesel mechanic before she took off for Iraq. In Iraq, she
volunteered for an assignment in Marine Mortuary Affairs. There her job
was picking up and recovering body parts of the dead and sending them
home. Join Robyn Leary on this edition of Recovery Talk and
learn the inside story of some of the unfathomable and grizzly realities
of war.
Women warriors: Iraq and back
Part two of a three part series on women in war
Before Colonel Olson started her career helping
veterans, she served in the Air Force for 25 years. She was part of the
first generation of female military pilots with nearly 4,000 hours of
flying time. Tune in on this edition of Recovery Talk with Robyn
Leary and learn what Iraq and back is all about.
Women warriors: she’s back, but she’s not the same
Part one of a three part series on women in war
Brigadier General Rebecca Halstead is Robyn Leary’s
guest on this edition, the first of a three part series on WDFH's
Recovery Talk. General Halstead served in the U.S. Army for 27
years and was the first female graduate of the United States Military
Academy to be promoted to General Officer. She served in both
Afghanistan and in Iraq, commanding over 20,000 soldiers. Tune in and
learn what it’s like to re-enter from the harrowing experiences in
combat and what it takes to readjust to civilian life.
Surviving Cancer
Debbie Gregg is surviving brain cancer. On this edition
of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary explores Ms. Gregg’s medical
history, her future, and how she copes with a dormant form of cancer on
a daily basis.
In the Wake of the Japanese Disaster
Psychiatrist Robert Dupont is Robyn Leary’s guest on
this edition of Recovery Talk. This is the second in a series on
anxiety. Dr. Dupont is a specialist on fear and anxiety who
sub-specializes in the fear of nuclear disaster.
A Harlem voice sober for over four decades
T.W. has been in recovery from heroin and alcohol for
over 40 years. In stories from Spanish Harlem, where he grew up in the
underworld, and other places down yonder, he recalls moments of his
early and late recovery. Join Robyn Leary on this edition of
Recovery Talk and learn what it’s like to be sober for decades.
Anxiety and its modern day treatment
How many Americans suffer from anxiety? On this edition
of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary explores the nature of anxiety with
Dr. Greta Hirsch, clinical director of the Ross Center for Anxiety and
Related Disorders. Tune in and learn about anxiety, its predisposing
causes, and how to prevent it.
Update on AIDS
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary’s
focus is on the new developments that have so improved treatment of
AIDS. J. Dewey, her guest, is the public relations and resource
enhancement director for AIDS-Related Community Services (ARCS). This
organization is the Hudson Valley’s only comprehensive HIV/AIDS service
agency providing a continuum of care and a stabilizing presence for over
3,000 people in crisis each year. Tune in and hear what’s new.
365 days in recovery
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
explores the ups and downs of early recovery with Daniel J., who details
his first year of life without alcohol. Difficult though it may be
to change one’s life completely, there is a lot of hope and
determination in this story.
Mending hearts for survivors of cardiac events
Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the
United States for the past 80 years, and though it is a major cause of
disability, not much is known about life for those living with heart
disease. On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
investigates the Mended Hearts program, which has been offering the gift
of hope to heart disease patients and their families for 60 years.
Executive Director Tim Elsner is one of two guests, joined by Jeff
Marshall, M.D., vice president of the Society for Cardiovascular
Angiography and Interventions. Listen up and learn how different the
risk factors are for women than they are for men.
Victims and survivors are speaking out about rape
On January 18, 1994, Kellie Green was brutally beaten in
her own apartment by an intruder and then, as she lay on the floor, she
was raped. On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
explores with Ms. Green the circumstances and the aftermath of her rape.
Ms. Green went on to found Speaking Out About Rape Inc. to empower
survivors of sexual violence and transform the public’s understanding
and acceptance of rape victims.
Out of the Dark Ages and into the light for children
with severe mental illness
In 1957, when William T. Barnes entered the Special
Education field, the Dark Ages of treatment for children with severe
emotional problems were still fresh in everyone’s minds. As
recently as the early fifties, these children were treated only in state
hospitals, placed in residential institutions, or worse, kept at home in
what must have been desperate isolation.
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
explores the history of treatment for mentally ill children with Mr.
Barnes who, since 1968, has been Executive Director of the Clear View
School in Briarcliff Manor, New York. Under his leadership, Clear View
has become the largest day-treatment program in Westchester County, and
is considered by many as a model program for the severely disturbed
child.
Deepening an already solid love or resuscitating one
adrift
America has the highest divorce rate in the world. On
this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary engages Claudia and
Jeff Cortez on the value of the World Wide Marriage Encounter. Married
for 20 years with three children and one on the way, they are not
professional marriage counselors but an average married couple who’s
life changed eight years ago. Tune in an learn how and why the Marriage
Encounter Weekend changed their lives.
Surviving and thriving in the glow of resilience
Dorothy Tomaskovic Oakley has been through more than her
fair share of the wringer. This 81-year-old native New
Yorker-turned-South Carolinian has suffered one medical or surgical
calamity after another since being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002.
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary and Mrs. Oakley
explore not only her survival in the face of such challenging odds but
the nature of human resilience.
Meeting the needs of parents and families with
behavioral and emotional problems
Parents with children who have emotional and behavioral
difficulties often live isolated lives. Family Ties of Westchester
County, New York, is a family support organization that provides support
and services to and for such families. On this edition of Recovery
Talk, Robyn Leary discusses the challenges in this arena with Sylvia
Escala, the Ossining, New York Site Manager for Family Ties. Tune in
and learn what it takes to navigate the labyrinthine child welfare
system of an often impersonal, underfunded, and complex bureaucracy.
Un-becoming a nurse
According to a conservative estimate, one in ten nurses
will develop a problem with drugs and/or alcohol within their lifetime.
Some studies suggest the prevalence is double that. On this edition of
Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary talks with Paula Davies Scimeca, R.N.,
M.S., and a specialist on chemical dependency in nurses. In her two
breakthrough books, she outlines factors that predispose nurses to
addiction and factors that protect them from it. She also profiles
29 nurses about their decline and resilience in long-term recovery.
New technologies emerge that sustain breast health
Solomon Katz Breast Center at Sound Shore Medical Center
of Westchester County, N.Y., promotes the health and well-being of
women. On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary explores
the new technologies emerging that sustain breast health and hasten
early cancer detection with the Breast Center’s chief, Dr. Rosanne
Newell. Tune in and learn what’s happening with digital mammograms, new
x-ray imaging for breast biopsies, and comprehensive treatment for
cancer.
The science of
addiction
Dr. Carlton Erikson
discusses his latest book, The Science of Addiction – From Neurobiolgy
to Treatment. Dr. Erickson, a prominent educator at the University of
Texas at Austin College of Pharmacology in Texas, is one of the first
scientists to delineate and explain the distinction between substance
abuse and chemical dependency.
HIV/AIDS and its societal causes
The new HIV/AIDS epidemic will go largely ignored and
cost many more millions of lives unless we transcend the taboo of
talking about sexual behavior, poverty, race, and communities
characterized by incarceration.
As Director of New York State Policy at the Legal Action
Center, Tracie Gardner is the lobbyist for people in the criminal
justice system living with and without HIV/AIDS and the communities
fighting discrimination and stigma. Tune in this week as Robyn Leary
investigates new projects such as Alternatives to Incarceration and the
Women’s Initiative to Stop HIV/AIDS — why they work, reduce crime, and
save money. Learn too about what you can do to help stop the new
HIV/AIDS epidemic now sweeping the country, which is concentrated in the
population of girls and young women 14 to 19 years of age.
What? There’s no “normal”? Egad!
Besides being an out-of-the-box thinker, J. P.
Harpignies is a writer, editor, conference producer, and long term
grassroots environmental activist. He said as a youth that he had
a gut feeling something was wrong in modern life, that all was not as
sane or tidy as it seemed. In a former life, he served as program
director at the New York Open Center, the largest urban holistic
learning institution in the nation.
For over 20 years, Mr. Harpignies has been a member of
the Bioneers, the largest and most diverse independent eco-themed
enclave in the nation. On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn
Leary explores what Mr. Harpignies calls the myth of a dominant
morality. In his latest book, Delusions of Normality: Sanity,
Drugs, Sex, Money and Beliefs in America, he takes on each subject
and proves that we are all freaks — in a word, that deviancy is the
norm. Tune in for some brain food.
Child maltreatment: its cause, prevention, and
intervention
Intervention and prevention of child maltreatment,
autism, and other developmental disabilities are the major research
interests of Dr. John R. Lutzker, director of the Center for Healthy
Development at the Institute of Public Health and Professor of Public
Health at Georgia State University. On this edition of Recovery Talk,
Robyn Leary explores the root causes of the high rates of child abuse
and maltreatment in the U.S. and what might be done to arrest it.
Recovering the earth through the lens of integral
ecology
Every field from sociology to psychology, philosophy,
and industrial design — even feminists today — claim a niche in integral
ecology, a branch of biology that studies the relationship between
organisms and their environment. Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D., gets deeply
serious about ecology. In fact, he was instrumental in engineering
a national movement called “Deep Ecology.”
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
and Michael Zimmerman discuss the difference
between the milk carton-recycling enthusiast and those who define
ecology as simply the fight against pollution and depletion of resources
and deep ecology. In this conversation, they explore the deeper
questions such as the politics and ethics of man’s relationship with the
earth and other non-human life forms. Dr. Zimmerman questions whether
man’s place is one of control and domination of nature and, at this
point, what might be done to recover the earth. Integral ecology
is a field that identifies multiple perspectives on the natural world
and unites the many and varied threads.
What’s so funny about addiction recovery?
He was a self-admitted “garbage head,” but Dave
Dubroff’s drug of choice was methamphetamine, a drug that led him down
the path of self-destruction and nearly cost him his life. But in
the midst of finding recovery, Dubroff grabbed a microphone and within a
year was a stand-up comic headlining recovery conventions nationwide.
Later, physical disaster struck as his body developed one malady after
another from his drug-addicted past. Twenty surgeries in twenty years
led him to relapse on pain meds. Tune in as Robyn Leary elicits his
twistedly-funny tale of recovery.
“Fat Panic” eats its way through the U.S.
Dr. Kathleen LeBesco researches the politics of fatness.
The way she sees it, a Fat Panic is sweeping the country. On this
edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary chews the fat with the
renowned scholar of corpulence, who argues steadfastly that the
“epidemic of obesity” is really a moral injunction masquerading as
public health policy. She examines the discrimination and stigma
against large bodies and the seemingly unanticipated negative
consequences that such public policy initiatives like the war on fat can
have. “Health At Every Size” is one of LeBesco’s perspectives in her
quest to destabilize traditional understandings of what is good health.
By the way, Dr. LeBesco is a happily-robust and healthy plus-sized
woman.
Toxins in Recovery
For those in recovery, it may be time to take an
inventory of every day chemicals and foodstuffs now in the kitchen
cabinet. On this edition of Recovery Talk, the focus is on
nutritional and environmental toxins that surround us in our every day
life — even more specifically, the role of nutrition in recovery. Robyn
Leary explores some cutting edge ideas with Sue Haberin, a fitness
nutritionist, whose research has lead her into the realm of the special
sensitivities that people in recovery from alcoholism and other drug
addiction are likely to have. Tune in and learn the surprising facts
about food ingredients and the chemical compounds under your sink.
HIV/AIDS and its societal causes
The new HIV/AIDS epidemic will go largely ignored and
cost many more millions of lives unless we transcend the taboo of
talking about sexual behavior, poverty, race and, communities
characterized by incarceration.
As Director of New York State Policy at the Legal Action
Center, Tracie Gardner is the lobbyist for people in the criminal
justice system living with and without HIV/AIDS and the communities
fighting discrimination and stigma. Tune in this week as Robyn Leary
investigates new projects such as Alternatives to Incarceration and the
Women’s Initiative to Stop HIV/AIDS — why they work, reduce crime, and
save money. Learn too about what you can do to help stop the new
HIV/AIDS epidemic now sweeping the country, which is concentrated in the
population of girls and young women 14 to 19 years of age.
Got cancer? Come as you are to Gilda’s Club
Westchester
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
talks with Donna Fishman, CEO of Gilda’s Club Westchester about the
importance of support following a cancer diagnosis – not just for the
person living with cancer but for his or her family and friends. Tune
in and find out why this extraordinary organization, founded by comedian
Gilda Radner’s psychotherapist, is so extraordinary. Learn too,
how to become a member of Gilda’s Club.
Eastern and Western medical practice commingle in the
blink of an eye
Natural Vision Improvement is a holistic approach to
ophthalmologic practice. On this edition of Recovery Talk,
Robyn Leary explores an ancient field of alternative medicine with John
Monroe, a Natural Vision Improvement educator, clinical assistant, and
protégé of the late Dr. Deborah Banker, M.D. She was an
ophthalmologist as well as a nationally and internationally known
lecturer on holistic practices for the eye. Tune in and learn among
other things, why they think it’s possible to throw your glasses away
without surgery. Listen up and see the big picture!
A new paradigm for addiction treatment
Jim Leonard is the founder and director of The Art of
Living Life, Inc., a non-profit organization committed to assisting all
those in need of achieving physical, mental, and emotional well being.
He has developed a holistic approach to such areas as responsibility,
spirituality, and relationships which, he believes, are the underlying
issue of addiction and other traumatic issues. Tune in as Robyn
Leary explores his new paradigm for addiction treatment.
Six-time Olympic luge athlete reveals recoveries on
and off the ice
Anne Abernathy was nicknamed “Grandma Luge” in 1993 by
fellow Olympic competitors: she was the oldest luge athlete in the six
Olympic games, and as a result, she wound up in the Guinness World Book
of Records. This 90-m.p.h. athlete has at different times battled
non-Hodgkins lymphoma, severe brain injury, broken bones, and an
embarrassing bladder control problem. Tune in as Robyn Leary gets
a fast-paced picture of multiple recoveries.
A woman on
the move
Edie Hand is a
three-time cancer survivor who devotes her life to the encouragement of
others in need. A media personality, Edie has
starred in national television commercials and daytime soaps and has
hosted numerous national radio and television shows.
Tune in and get an earful of Robyn Leary’s conversation with
this acclaimed chef, philanthropist, and more.
Addiction prevention for kids 7 to 12 years of age
Victoria Morgan is the founder and president of the
Believe In Sobriety Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to
teaching kids and adults about addiction. Tune in this week as Robyn
Leary learns how important it is to reach kids — even as young as 7 to
12 years of age — whether or not they are in a high-risk-for-addiction
household.
An incisive look at healthcare in the U.S.
Furley Lumpkin is an accomplished healthcare information
technology executive. Mr. Lumpkin has
more than twenty years' experience with internationally renowned
healthcare institutions. On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn
Leary explores his new book, Healthcare: It Mostly Works.
Tune in to a lively discussion on the
healthcare landscape of America — its successes and failures.
A healthy recovery takes time and knowledge
Sue Haberin is a fitness nutritionist and personal
trainer. On this edition of Recovery Talk,
she elaborates on the importance of nutrition and exercise in recovery.
Twelve to Twenty-One in the Sex Trade
In 1998, with only a computer and $30 dollars, GEMS:
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services was established to support
American girls and young women victimized by the commercial sex
industry. On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
interviews one of the principals of GEMS’ network, Muhammida El Muhajir.
Tune in and learn how prevalent the sex trade is in young women 12 to 21
years of age.
The wisdom of harm reduction in addiction recovery
Raymond P. was a street drug user and abuser and an
alcoholic. In the 1980s he got clean for ten years with the help
of a harm reduction community-based agency, but then relapsed. On this
edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary and Raymond P. discuss his
difficulties in addiction-recovery, his relapse, and why harm reduction
is so important to the recovery movement.
Stony Point Retreat and Conference Center in Stony
Point, N.Y., is
celebrating its sixtieth anniversary
During the 1950s, it was both a spiritual home and a
cultural crossroads for students and church leaders from around the
world who came for a time of rest and reflection.
From the late 1970s through the 1980s, the historic center became
a place of sanctuary for faith-based activists working for human rights
around the world.
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary and
the center's co-director, Kitty Ufford-Chase, discuss Stony Point’s
history, its present, its future, and their importance to the recovery
of human rights and to providing an environment for different cultural
and faith traditions.
Post-traumatic stress and its aftermath
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
investigates trauma recovery with one of the leaders in the field.
Elizabeth Power is a trainer and consultant on trauma who works with
both children and adults. Not only is Ms. Power a professional in the
field, she’s someone who continues to work on her own recovery from
trauma and its life long consequences. Tune in and listen to her story.
What’s new in brain injury medicine and how it
relates to pregnant women
Steven V. Joyal, M.D., is an internist and the Vice
President of Science and Medical Affairs for Life Extension. His sub-speciality
is anti-aging. Also: brain trauma. Tune in to this week’s edition of
Recovery Talk and hear the discussion between Robyn Leary and Dr.
Joyal about what’s what in both of these new and emerging medical
fields.
Running up against the law while drinking has
consequences
Terry D. is Robyn Leary’s guest on this edition of
Recovery Talk. He openly shares his history of alcoholism and
discusses his current in-patient treatment program which was court
mandated. Tune in and learn what can happen when one mixes alcohol
while breaking the law.
Adult Children of Alcoholics grows worldwide
Omer G. is Robyn Leary’s guest on this edition of
Recovery Talk. He is an adult child of an alcoholic with extensive
knowledge of the history and reemergence of the twelve-step program
known as Adult Children of Alcoholics [ACA]. Omer G. also shares his
story of growing up in a violent alcoholic home. Tune in and learn
about this vital fellowship organization and how it transforms lives.
New York Child Victims Act: a re-examination
of the current statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims
Joseph Turco, a former lobbyist for the A.C.L.U.,
civil rights litigator, and election observer for Lawyers Without
Borders, is Robyn Leary’s guest on this important edition of Recovery
Talk. Together they explore the New York Child Victims Act — a new
bill that seeks to expand the statute of limitations for filing child
sexual abuse claims, opening a window for more than five years for
victims who are currently suffering. Considering how long sexual
abuse victims often take to find the courage to speak out, Mr. Turco
argues that New York State’s current statutes of limitations are
woefully short and act as an arbitrary barrier to justice. Tune in and
find out why.
Survivor of clergy sexual abuse walks the walk and
talks the talk
John Salveson is a survivor of clergy sex abuse and the
founder of the Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse, Inc. In this
interview with Robyn Leary, he talks openly about his childhood sexual
trauma and about the laws now in several states to enlarge the time
window in which victims of childhood sexual trauma may file claims.
A careful and non-invasive approach to the cervical
and lumbar spine
Jack Stern, M.D., Ph.D., is a senior partner at Brain
and Spine Surgeons of New York. He’s also on the faculty at Yale
University School of Medicine. His holistic and non-invasive approach
to anything medical or surgical dealing with the brain and spine is
illuminated this week on Recovery Talk. Tune it in: just by
listening, this guy can get rid of the pain in your neck, back,
and more.
Recover your inner calm and improve your
self-awareness through unleashing the Ch’i
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
explores the powerful physical and mental health benefits that are
possible through the slow, meditative movement of T’ai Chi. Her guest,
Dr. Robert Chuckrow, is certified as a master teacher of Kinetic
Awareness and has written five award-winning books on various aspects of
good health as well as T’ai Chi. He also happens to have a Ph.D. in
experimental physics from New York University
and has taught physics at N.Y.U.
and Cooper Union in New York City. Tune in and learn why T’ai Chi is
called “the pearl of Chinese knowledge and culture.”
Grin and bear pain no more
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
explores the relatively new field of pain management and how
instrumental it is in recovery and in the healing process.
Martha Maresco, R.N.,
is certified in Pain Management Nursing at Phelps Memorial Hospital in
Sleepy Hollow, New York. Her colleague, Neeta Sethi, R.N.,
rounds out the interview, which covers the history of what we know about
pain and the new developments in how to treat it. Tune in: it’s
painless.
Open-mindedness and change and their impact on mental
health
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary
explores the mental health aspects of open-mindedness and how it
influences our beliefs and our ability to be open — or not to be open —
to change. In this discussion, Dr. Mehul Shah, an assistant professor
at Bucks County Community College in Pennsylvania, unlocks many keys to
the mind and sprit of change and changing. Tune in: you might change
your mind.
Chemical dependency treatment in the LGBT community
Stepping Stone of San Diego is nationally recognized as
a model treatment center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
communities. On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary talks
with John de Miranda, Chief Executive Officer of Stepping Stone, San
Diego, about the special challenges associated with providing chemical
dependency treatment to these too often stigmatized communities.
Hand-made drugs that work for a lot of people
Phil Altman is the boss and pharmacist at Healthy Choice
Apothecary in Chappaqua, NY. These days, since the arrival of the
Clintons, it’s a very tony address, but rather than drinking coffee at
Starbucks, Altman is customizing medications; it’s called “compounding.”
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Robyn Leary walks the walk
with a pharmacist who is a pioneer in the field of bio-identical hormone
replacement for men and women. Tune in: this pharmacist is not just
counting pills.
-
week of 3/5/2012 —
listen now
Crack cocaine will kill you — and if it doesn’t, it
will bring you down to the ground
John H. was kind of an ordinary Joe until he got
strung-out on crack. He’s not a teenager or even close, but he lost
everything to what was in a glass pipe. Tune in — it’s a fascinating
profile of how you sink and how you swim.
-
week of 2/27/2012 —
listen now
Beginning as a free clinic housed in a church
basement, The Open Door Family Medical Centers have evolved into
federally qualified nonprofit health centers
The Open Door has cared for Westchester County’s most
vulnerable residents for over 37 years. On this edition of Recovery
Talk, Robyn Leary’s guest is Pamela Ferrari, a nurse and an
administrator at the Open Door, whose energy has been instrumental in
driving such important health initiatives as improving prenatal care,
improving the medical treatment of HIV-positive patients, and, for other
patients, routine screenings for breast, colon, and cervical cancer.
Tune in and get an ear full of what it takes to get and
stay healthy.
Hepatitis C — it can and will change your life
Dan Brown was living an ordinary life when, out of the
blue, without any symptoms, his life took a turn for the worse. From
Denver, Colorado, Mr. Brown talks about the invisible onset of Hepatitis
C. Now recovered, his story serves to help others.
New York drug law reform
John Coppola, the Executive Director of the New York
Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers, is Robyn
Leary’s guest on this edition of Recovery Talk. Tune in and
learn about the repeal of the draconian Rockefeller drug laws and how it
will affect the drug laws worldwide.
Sub-Saharan Africans suffering from AIDS get a
helping hand from New York high school students.
Leah Horowitz and Dana Kayser are seniors at New
Rochelle High School in New York. Leah Horowitz is president of the
Face AIDS chapter whose mission is to help raise money and awareness for
HIV and for those who suffer from it. Dana Kayser is the organization’s
vice president. Together they work to help the 24.5 million adults
and children in sub-Saharan Africa who are living with HIV. Tune in to
this show and learn about the kind of work young Americans are doing for
others less fortunate around the world. And why.
Autism: What is it? How is it treated? And what
are the scientific outcomes of treatment?
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Meghan Shawn
O’Reilly-Green, treatment team leader at the Brooklyn Autism Center in
Brooklyn, New York, discusses the challenges that face educators and
therapists who work with autistic children. Ms. O’Reilly-Green has been
working as an Applied Behavioral Analysis therapist for children
diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder for over eight years. Tune in
and learn what all this means, and what it means for families and their
children afflicted by this disease.
Date rape, the stigma of addiction and recovering
from it, and combat stress injuries and recovering from them
Pam Woll is an addiction treatment consultant and
trainer based in Chicago. In recent years, her focus has been on trauma
and the resilience that protects us and the many processes that help
people get back in balance. Ms Woll has a lot to say about returning
veterans with combat-stress injuries and what it takes to begin
recovery.
New technologies in neuroscience step to the
forefront in treating depression, PTSD, stroke, and Parkinson's
Dr. Ross Hoffman, a former cardiologist, is Robyn
Leary’s guest on this edition of Recovery Talk. Dr. Hoffman left
a lucrative heart practice seeking a solution to one of his children’s
neurological problems. He wound up developing an electrical brain
stimulation device that’s used on the skull via electrodes and delivers
direct electrical stimulation to the brain, which, in the end, resets
abnormal brain signals. This is big news for those who suffer from
depression, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), Parkinson’s disease —
even TBI (traumatic brain injury). Tune in and stimulate your brain.
The Betty Ford Institute
Garrett O'Connor, M.D., is
chief of the Betty Ford Institute which, by name, is appended to the
Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Tune in and learn
what's going on in the nation's foremost think-take on recovery.
Autism: What is it? How is it treated? And what
are the scientific outcomes of treatment?
On this edition of Recovery Talk, Meghan Shawn
O’Reilly-Green, treatment team leader at the Brooklyn Autism Center in
Brooklyn, New York, discusses the challenges that face educators and
therapists who work with autistic children. Ms. O’Reilly-Green has been
working as an Applied Behavioral Analysis therapist for children
diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder for over eight years. Tune in
and learn what all this means, and what it means for families and their
children afflicted by this disease.
Date rape, the stigma of addiction and recovering
from it, and combat stress injuries and recovering from them
Pam Woll is an addiction treatment consultant and
trainer based in Chicago. In recent years, her focus has been on trauma
and the resilience that protects us and the many processes that help
people get back in balance. Ms. Woll has a lot to say about returning
veterans with combat-stress injuries and what it takes to begin
recovery.
New technologies in neuroscience step to the
forefront in treating depression, post-traumatic stress disorder,
stroke, and Parkinson's disease
Dr. Ross Hoffman, a former cardiologist, is Robyn
Leary’s guest on this edition of Recovery Talk. Dr. Hoffman left
a lucrative heart practice seeking a solution to one of his children’s
neurological problems. He wound up developing an electrical brain
stimulation device that’s used on the skull via electrodes and delivers
direct electrical stimulation to the brain, which, in the end, resets
abnormal brain signals. This is big news for those who suffer from
depression, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease — even traumatic brain injury.
Tune in and stimulate your brain.
Understanding the integration of psychotherapy and
twelve-step programs
Dr. William A. Knack, a well-known thinker in the field
of addiction treatment, is Robyn Leary’s guest this week on Recovery
Talk. Dr. Knack is a clinical psychologist and associate professor
at the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury. In this
interview, Dr. Knack discusses his recently published article,
"Psychotherapy and Alcoholics Anonymous: An Integrated Approach,"
published in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration.
In his article, Dr. Knack argues that integrating AA
self-help and psychotherapeutic approaches yields a more significant
outcomes than either approach in isolation.
Keon Center: a place where the not-so-profitable get
paid
Rebecca Davis is the Workshop Director at the Keon
Center, a non-profit agency that provides programs and paychecks to the
mentally retarded and developmentally disabled.
Located in Peekskill, New York, the center has been
paying the mentally handicapped for their work since 1954.
On this edition of Recovery Talk, we learn how
empowering is the labor and socialization of the handicapped — and how
it has transformed lives.
Three-part series on women in the
military returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:
A portrait of women warriors returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan
Former Marine Lance Corporal Jessica Goodell was a
diesel mechanic before she took off for Iraq. In Iraq, she
volunteered for an assignment in Marine Mortuary Affairs. There her job
was picking up and recovering body parts of the dead and sending them
home. Join Robyn Leary on this edition of Recovery Talk and
learn the inside story of some of the unfathomable and grizzly realities
of war. (Part 3 of a 3 part series).
Iraq and back
Before Colonel Olson started her career helping
veterans, she served in the Air Force for 25 years. She was part of the
first generation of female military pilots with nearly 4,000 hours of
flying time. Tune in on this edition of Recovery Talk with Robyn
Leary and learn what Iraq and back is all about.
(Part 2 of a 3 part series.)
Women warriors: she’s back, but she’s not the same
Brigadier General Rebecca Halstead is Robyn Leary’s
guest on this edition, the first of a three part series on WDFH's
Recovery Talk. General Halstead served in the U.S. Army for 27
years and was the first female graduate of the United States Military
Academy to be promoted to General Officer. She served in both
Afghanistan and in Iraq, commanding over 20,000 soldiers. Tune in and
learn what it’s like to re-enter from the harrowing experiences in
combat and what it takes to readjust to civilian life.
(Part 1 of a 3 part series.)
-
WDFH Sessions: On The
Record — musicians performing in WDFH's Performance
Studio
-
OutCasting — a
unique public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues, produced
right here at WDFH
-
In Focus
— local news discussion on issues in the lower Hudson valley
-
For the Greater Good
— spotlighting the important work of nonprofit organizations in our area
-
Critical Conversations — an occasional
series of discussions on issues of public importance
-
Recovery Talk
— recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, domestic
violence, and more; interviews with people in recovery as well as
professionals in the field
-
Eyes on Westchester
— local news discussion on issues in central
and northern Westchester (series ended October 2012)
-
Village Green —
environmental sustainability (series ended March 2012)
ENVIRONMENT AND
SUSTAINABILITY
Village
Green
Series ended March 2012
Village Green
explores environmental and social issues reflecting the greening of our
communities – here in the lower Hudson valley and across the globe.
Village Green, hosted by Maxine Margo Rubin,
builds awareness and promotes
grassroots efforts in the areas of energy use, alternative energy
sources, food and local farming, water and land use, and more
eco-friendly personal habits.
Culture and Community Sustainability through the Arts
Our guest this week on Village Green is Paul
Nagle, Executive Director of ICSCS at Demos, the Institute for Culture
in the service of Community Sustainability. ICSCS is an affiliate
program of the progressive think tank Demos, whose mission is to support
development of public policy that strengthens art’s central role in
civic life and enhances cultural, environmental, and community
sustainability.
Social activism, social change, and using wisdom to
make a difference
Our guest this week on Village Green is Sunny
Armer, poet, writer, and member of the activist group The Raging
Grannies. We discuss how Sunny works with a wonderful group of woman
who are dedicated to promoting social change, which led her to start a
chapter of The Raging Grannies of Westchester. They attend rallies and
protest injustices through music, humor, satire, and props. They
are women who use their wisdom to lead a call to action.
Hydrofracking in the Delaware Basin
Our guest this week on Village Green is Jonathan
Ben Gordon, Cantor of Woodlands Community Temple. Cantor Gordon has
been involved first hand with the dangers of hydrofracking in the
Delaware Basin. We discuss his experiences in trying to stop the gas
drilling, as its effects are causing toxins to seep into the pristine
water and land of the Delaware Basin.
Ossining Organic Garden, the Cornell Co-op Extension,
eco-art and sustainable landscape design
Our guest this week on Village Green is Donna
Sharrett, a master gardener who helped organize and now runs the
Ossining Organic Community Garden. She is also an eco-artist who uses
the land to create natural designs called "knitted sticks." We discuss
the intergenerational aspect of the Community Garden and its special
component of accessibility for those people who are wheelchair-bound.
In addition, we talk about her art, which has been recognized by
critics and curators around the world as soulful and beautiful and that
humanizes its materials.
Hudson River water quality, Riverkeeper Shad Fest
Our guest this week on Village Green is John
Lipscomb, the boat captain for Riverkeeper, a Westchester based
environmental organization. Mr. Lipscomb patrols a 200-mile stretch of
the Hudson by boat from the Battery in N.Y.C. to Troy, seeking out
polluters and reporting them. He is the "neighborhood watch" for the
river. He does habitat mapping and navigational surveys and conducts
studies to see how fast and well the river flushes impurities out of the
system. We discuss water quality and the Shad Fest and other issues
involving the river.
Cleantech, Energy Trading, and Energy Efficiency
Our guest this week on Village Green is Dan Unter,
a corporate and technology attorney with Cleantech Law Partners. We
discuss renewable energy, energy trading, and energy efficiency. We
also get into the problem with Chinese drywall and why it is important
to use natural/green products to build new homes and office buildings. Cleantech
will lead us to a cleaner, greener planet, as it is important to work
with new energy companies, municipalities and to work to enact
legislative changes via building codes and zoning laws to produce more
sustainable practices, products, buildings, and energy.
Sustainability education and environmental literacy
programs
Our guests this week on Village Green are
Westchester area high school students Amelia Schwalb of the Hackley
School and Gaemin Lee of Horace Greeley High School. They were
co-leaders of the Education/Activism group at a recent Summit on
Sustainability, sponsored by the Children’s Environmental Literacy
Foundation, CELF, which promotes curriculum on issues of sustainability
for grades K-12. We also have Patti Bressman, Program Director of CELF
on the show. Collective action of students and educators is of great
importance in teaching topics which relate to issues affecting the
environment. Bringing young people together to participate in
environmental forums is essential to teaching students about climate
change, human rights, farming, alternative energies, sustainable design,
and social activism.
How herbal remedies can be used to promote personal
health and help to remove toxins within our bodies and in the water we
drink and the air we breathe
Our guest this week on Village Green is Bonnie
Rogers, a clinical herbalist and herbal educator who believes there are
healthy solutions to many health issues that do not require the
perpetual use of pharmaceuticals. Her philosophy is to eliminate
chemicals from people’s lives, and she does this by working with plants
and water filters, as we need to eliminate the toxins contained in the
water we drink and the air we breathe.
Home energy efficiency, comprehensive home energy
assessments
Our guest this week on Village Green is Thomas
Bregman, Director of Energize Bedford, a community-based energy
efficiency program which works to dramatically increase home energy
efficiency upgrades. We'll talk about how homeowners can apply for home
energy audits and what local communities can do to encourage residential
efficiency, as a staggering 53% of greenhouse emissions come from single
family homes.
Better School Food and Slow Food, as well as what
ties food security, climate change, the economy, and peak oil together
Our guest this week on Village Green is Dr. Susan
Rubin, Founder of Better School Food and Slow Food Westchester. We’ll
talk about what we need to do to improve the food environment in schools
and how that intertwines with food security, climate change, peak oil,
and the economy. Within our daily lives, we seem to be disconnected to
nature. We must reconnect with the land in order to nourish ourselves
and our children and better understand the world around us. After all,
our sustenance and survival depends on what the earth gives us, and we
must take care of it in order to better take care of ourselves.
Adventures in eco-conversion — ways to reduce your
environmental impact
Our guest this week on Village Green is Colin
Beavan, the founder and executive director of the No Impact Project, an
international environmental non-profit initiative that encourages others
to make choices that better their lives and lowers their environmental
impact. Colin spent a year of his life in which he and his family
attempted to reduce their net environmental impact to zero. He produced
a documentary and wrote a book called No Impact Man detailing of
those adventures in eco-conversion.
We'll talk about cows, elevators, candle light,
bicycles, solar panels, toilet paper, Farmers’ Markets, planting
gardens, and pot-in-pot refrigeration. We will delve into the trials
and tribulations of washing clothes in your bathtub, having a compost
box with worms in your apartment, and what surprises that might bring in
the warmer months, and much, much more.
How meditative music in the form of Vedic chants are
used to grow crops, and the connection between spirituality and
sustainability
Our guests this
week on Village Green are Elizabeth Taggart and Sam Katz.
Elizabeth is the owner of Amba Farms, a 2.5 acre organic farm in
Bedford, New York. She is also a teacher and practitioner of
Transcendental Meditation. Elizabeth studied under the Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi, also known as the guru to The Beatles. Sam Katz, is a
graduate of Maharishi University and has been a certified T.M.
instructor since 1974. He and his wife Melody are directors of the T.M.
program in Westchester, and they serve as the national directors for T.M.
Expansion.
We’ll talk
about how meditative music, in the form of Vedic chants, are used to
grow crops. We will also discuss how spirituality affects
sustainability and the benefits of slow food and its importance on
nutrition and health. We all need to nourish our bodies and our
intelligence and follow our spiritual paths, as according to Vedic
knowledge, it is pure consciousness, energy, and creativity that
underlies all nature.
Legal challenge to Indian Point Nuclear Plant’s
license renewal, status of G.E.’s clean-up of the Hudson River, and
Riverkeeper’s continued work to protect the drinking water of 9 million
New York City and Hudson Valley residents
Our guest this week on Village Green is Phillip Musegaas,
Hudson River Program Director at Riverkeeper. He oversees attorneys and
investigators whose mission it is to safeguard the ecological integrity
of the Hudson River. Phillip is also the Indian Point Policy
analyst and has helped prepare legal challenges to the license renewal
of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.
We'll talk about the where the legal battle stands in
determining whether the plant can renew its license, as the
facility continues to heat the water and kill aquatic life in the Hudson
River. We will also discuss the status of G.E.’s clean-up of the river,
as well as the fight to stop hydrofracking in the most pristine areas of
New York State.
-
WDFH Sessions: On The
Record — musicians performing in WDFH's Performance
Studio
-
OutCasting — a
unique public radio program giving voice to LGBTQ youth issues, produced
right here at WDFH
-
In Focus
— local news discussion on issues in the lower Hudson valley
-
For the Greater Good
— spotlighting the important work of nonprofit organizations in our area
-
Critical Conversations — an occasional
series of discussions on issues of public importance
-
Recovery Talk
— recovery from illness, addiction, trauma, domestic
violence, and more; interviews with people in recovery as well as
professionals in the field
-
Eyes on Westchester
— local news discussion on issues in central
and northern Westchester (series ended October 2012)
-
Village Green —
environmental sustainability (series ended March 2012)
Midnight Run
documentary (2006), also broadcast nationally on
the Pacifica program Sprouts and on other community radio stations
across the United States.
Listen now
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Westchester and the surrounding counties north of New York City, New
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Thanks to all!
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