Yorktown and Cortlandt region

Yorktown’s Connor Vercruysse scores a goal past Lakeland-Panas goalie Michael Zingaro during the Murphy Cup lacrosse game at Lakeland-Panas

See more photos of Yorktown at Lakeland-Panas Murphy Cup lacrosse

YORKTOWN — For six graduates of Putnam and Northern Westchester BOCES’ fashion design and merchandising program, the road to the runway starts on Seventh Avenue where the students have been accepted at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

“We always have some students who are accepted to FIT as well as other fashion programs, but this year six of the eight students who applied to FIT were accepted,” said Lisa Tobin, a fashion design and merchandising teacher at BOCES and an FIT graduate. “The remaining two were wait listed, which is very impressive.”

The six students accepted by FIT are: Sarah DeMattio and Edina Mehmedovic, both from Mahopac High School; Angelina Leone and Skye Golematis, both from Walter Panas High School; Maya Goldberg of Horace Greeley High School and Kaya Birch of Ossining High School.

Of the 16 students expected to graduate from the fashion design and merchandising program at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, all but one of the graduates is going to college to pursue fashion.

PHOTO: From left, Sarah DeMattio, Angelina Leone, Edina Mehmedovic, Skye Golematis, Maya Goldberg and Kaya Birch

YORKTOWN — Jenna Ritornato says her cousin Thomas didn’t lose his battle to cancer “because to lose, you need to quit and he never quit.”

In an essay about the painful experience of watching her cousin and best friend die from brain cancer, Ritornato wrote that Thomas not only endured the suffering of a terminal disease, but he did it gracefully and bravely.

Ritornato, a cosmetology student at Putnam and Northern Westchester BOCES, recalled in her essay how Thomas fought the side effects of chemotherapy and the mocking of schoolmates who picked on him for being bald and frail.

She wrote he “always turned the other cheek, concentrated on school and soccer, and his friends.”

Ritornato’s essay won third place in a competition sponsored by Gilda’s Club of Westchester, a support group for families affected by cancer formed in the memory comedian Gilda Radner.

A senior at Hendrick Hudson High School who plans to attend Dutchess Community College in the Fall, Ritornato will be honored with other essay winners at Gilda’s Club in White Plains on May 7.

“Although Thomas’s time here with us was much too short, he taught me unconditional love, strength, hope and so much more,” she wrote in her essay.

Yorktown’s Frankie Fusco cools off before a lacrosse game with Shenendehowa at Yorktown. Yorktown won 20-11.

See more photos of Yorktown vs. Shenendehowa lacrosse

Each year the Special Programs and Resource Connection, known as SPARC serves more than 1,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs through therapeutic services and recreation, social programs.

The nonprofit’s organization’s 3rd Annual Benefit Gala: Road to Morocco is coming right up on March 31 at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

The honorees for the evening will be Citibank Branch Manager and Vice President Regina Servidio; the H.O.P.E. for Youth Foundation and Jim Witt of Cold Spring, the weather expert who oversees H.O.P.E. Foundation; and the Silverberg family from Irvington who are longtime SPARC supporters. The host will be WHUD’s Don Bennett.

SPARC is based in Yorktown, but serves many families in northern Westchester and the Yorktown-area communities. Programs provide participants with a peer network, developmental services and after-school activities.

Tickets to the gala are $100 each. For more information on the gala, go to SPARC’s website.

Here’s the travel advisory from the DOT:

TRAVELER ADVISORY

Ramp Closures

Taconic State Parkway, Town of Yorktown

Westchester County

Motorists are advised that the New York State Department of Transportation will be closing the Taconic State Parkway southbound ramps to and from NY Route 134 on Thursday, March 15 and Friday, March 16. Weather permitting, the closures will take place daily between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM for construction activities.

Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the work area and pay particular attention to all traffic control devices, including variable message signs, work zone signs and flaggers. Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of the driver’s license.

For real-time travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org.

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As part of its commitment to give back to the communities it serves, A.G. Williams Painting Company raised and donated $2,660 to Support Connection, a Westchester County-based not-for-profit organization that offers free, confidential support services to people nationwide who are affected by ovarian and breast cancer.

A.G. Williams kicked off its Paint It Teal/Paint It Pink in September 2011, pledging to contribute a portion of the profits from every paint job through the end of the year to the Support Connection. The color teal is connected with ovarian cancer awareness and the color pink with breast cancer awareness. On Sunday, October 2, 2011, Paul Viggiano, Director of Business Administration and Marketing, along with George Williams, President and CEO, and members of the A.G. Williams Painting Company team raised more than $1,000 through their participation in the 17th Annual Support Connection Support-A-Walk at FDR State Park in Yorktown, New York. Company representatives also greeted hundreds of participants at its Paint It Pink display table and distributed pink water bottles that A.G. Williams donated to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This month, Mr. Viggiano proudly presented Katherine Quinn, Executive Director of Support Connection, with a check for $2,660, representing funds raised at Support-A-Walk and donated from A.G Williams profits. “We are deeply touched by the commitment of A.G. Williams to our organization,” said Quinn.

“Support Connection makes a difference in the lives of our neighbors in Westchester County and southern Fairfield County,” said Viggiano. “With our contribution, we help Support Connection in its mission to provide emotional, social and educational support services to women affected by breast or ovarian cancer, and their families and friends.”

A.G. Williams Painting Company is located at 411 Pelham Avenue, Pelham, NY, 800-227-1906, with offices at 26 Arcadia Road in Old Greenwich, CT, 203-618-0058. www.agwilliamspainting.com.

A.G. Williams Painting Company, Inc. a family-owned and -operated residential and commercial painting firm, has serviced the tri-state area for over 100 years, since 1906. Founded by Arthur George Williams, A.G. Williams is in its third generation of Williams family ownership under the leadership of grandsons George P. Williams and Arthur G. Williams, with office locations in Pelham, New York, and Old Greenwich, Connecticut. The company is a recognized leader in the residential and commercial painting industry through its state-of-the-art precision interior and exterior painting, powerwashing, wall coverings, faux finishes, expert design services and high quality carpentry. A.G. Williams proudly maintains an unparalleled tradition of honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

About Support Connection

Support Connection, Inc. is a 501© (3) not-for-profit organization that provides free, confidential support services and programs to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Founded in 1996, Support Connection is based in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., but through their toll-free hotline and website they serve people throughout the country. Services include: One-on-one peer counseling and support groups, offering women the opportunity to connect with other cancer survivors; ongoing wellness classes; Holistic health workshops; public educational programs; information; referral services and a toll-free cancer information and support hotline (1-800-532-4290.) Support groups and other programs are often offered outside of business hours at convenient locations in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. To learn more, visit http://www.supportconnection.org or call (914) 962-6402.

Support Connection will host their 15th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Colonial Terrace, 119 Oregon Road, Cortlandt Manor, NY. Support Connection, Inc. is celebrating 15 years of service, offering help and hope to people with breast and ovarian cancer. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, dancing, silent auction and more.

At this celebration Support Connection will announce the recipients of their 2012 Spirit Awards. The Spirit Awards are given each year to honor those who contribute to the organization’s mission by providing inspiration, time, talent and other resources. In addition, to commemorate celebrating 15 years, this year they will recognize 15 “Unsung Heroes” who have helped Support Connection grow throughout the years.

This year’s Spirit Award recipients are:

SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD: Jane Gentile, Shrub Oak, NY: Honored for her dedication, support and commitment to us and the community. Her willingness to share her own story as a cancer survivor and her dedication has translated into raising awareness as well as funds to support our programs and services.

BEACON OF LIGHT: Margaret Zulkowsky, Yorktown, NY and Brenda Maxwell, Fishkill, NY: Honored for being an inspiration to so many cancer survivors. By taking their own experiences and translating them into an opportunity to reach out to others and raise awareness, they give people the tools to find their inner strength.

HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR: Dana Boulanger, Natural Awakenings, Lincolndale, NY: Honored for her continuous support of our programs throughout the years. Thanks to her efforts and promotion of our programs and events, Dana has increased our reach into the community.

To pay tribute to this year’s honorees and “unsung heroes” with a congratulatory Journal Ad, become a Sponsor or purchase tickets to the Anniversary Celebration, contact Michelle DeIeso, Support Connection, at 914-962-6402, michelle.deieso@supportconnection.org. Tickets are $95 per person or $850 for a table of 10. All proceeds benefit Support Connection’s free breast and ovarian cancer support services.

SUPPORT CONNECTION, INC. is a 501© (3) not-for-profit organization that provides free, confidential support services and programs to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Founded in 1996, Support Connection is based in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., but through their toll-free hotline and website they serve people throughout the country. With Support Connection, those living with breast and ovarian cancer don’t have to face it alone. To learn more, call 914-962-6402 (toll-free: 800-532-4290) or visit www.supportconnection.org.

Support Connection Inc. of Yorktown Heights, NY, which offers free, confidential support services to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer, recently received several grants to help fund their programs. As an independent not-for-profit organization that is not affiliated with any national groups, all of Support Connection’s services and programs are funded by contributions and grants.

Two of the recent grants will help fund Support Connection’s One-on-One Peer Counseling Program. This program provides free, personalized, confidential support and education to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. The professional Peer Counselors on Support Connection’s staff are cancer survivors themselves. Peer Counselors are available 5 days a week, at the Support Connection office and by phone. Peer counseling can be utilized at any time during a person’s journey with cancer, with no limits. It is also available to family members and loved ones.

Sole Ryeders and Friends of Rye, NY approved a two year grant totaling $15,000 to help fund the Peer Counseling program. This is the second time Support Connection has received funds from Sole Ryeders. Founded in 2007, Sole Ryeders & Friends is a community based charitable organization that raises funds to provide financial support to Westchester County based cancer-related programs. To learn more, visit http://soleryeders.org.

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, based in Lagrangeville, NY, a gave a $10,000 grant to help fund the Peer Counseling Program for one year. In addition, Miles of Hope gave a grant of $3,818 to help fund a weekly yoga class for women with breast cancer for one year. Miles of Hope has been supporting programs offered by Support Connection since 2004. The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is a non-profit 501© (3) public charity established in 2004. Their mission is to provide funding to non-profit organizations for support services and outreach for people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley, NY. They hold fundraising events throughout the year to support their efforts. To learn more, visit http://www.milesofhope.org. Grants from The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation are facilitated by the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley www.cfhvny.org

Support Connection, Inc., founded in 1996, recently marked their 15th year of service to the community. It is a 501© (3) not-for-profit organization that provides free, confidential support services to people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Services include: One-on-one peer counseling; monthly support groups; ongoing wellness classes; holistic health workshops; public educational programs; information and referral services. Support Connection is based in Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; however, through their toll-free info and support hotline they serve people throughout the country. To learn more, visit www.supportconnection.org or call: 914-962-6402 or Toll-Free 800-532-4290. Support Connection Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support: We’ve been there. We care.

Eight Lakeland Central School District athletic teams have been honored by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) with their Scholar/Athlete Team Award for the winter 2011-2012 sports season.

The NYSPHSAA honors those teams that excel in the classroom after each of the three sports seasons. To qualify, teams must have an unweighted composite grade point average of 90 or above.

The teams honored included four merged teams with students from both Lakeland and Walter Panas high schools: Wrestling, Boys’ Track, Girls’ Track and Boys’ Swimming. The Girls’ Basketball and Girls’ Bowling teams from each high school were also recognized for their achievement.