Yorktown and Cortlandt region

Baseball exhibit in Yorktowns

Robert Marchant — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:30:40 +0000

Fans of baseball history should take a trip to the Yorktown museum. Collector Bob Mayer has selected a collection of artifacts that show the game’s history in the Hudson Valley.
The show will run through October, and it’s on view at the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Read more about it in an upcoming edition of the Express.

Interim superintendent

Robert Marchant — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:15:11 +0000

Following the announcement that Daniel McCann was stepping down as superintendent of the Hendrick Hudson School District, an interim appointment has been named. Here’s the announcement from the district:

The Hendrick Hudson Board of Education is pleased to announce the selection of Brian D. Monahan, Ph.D, as interim Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2012. He will replace Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel T. McCann who announced in March his intention to retire at the close of the 2011-12 school year.

Dr. Monahan, currently serving as Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Educational Leadership and Technology at Pace University, brings nearly 40 years of experience as an educator to the Hendrick Hudson School District.

Beginning his public education career in Yonkers Public Schools as a computer science and English teacher, Monahan has a wide breadth of experience both in and out of the classroom. He has held positions as a curriculum specialist, Director of Information Technology and Deputy Superintendent. He retired from the North Rockland Central School District (Haverstraw-Stony Point CSD) in August of 2009 as Superintendent of Schools, where he served since 1995.

Monahan received his B.A. in English from SUNY Albany, holds three Master’s Degrees (English Education-Iona College, Applied Linguistics- Columbia University and Computer Science- Pace University). Additionally, he received his Ph.D in Curriculum and Teaching with a specialization in Language and Literacy from Fordham University.

In addition to his professional resume, Monahan has been active in his community, serving as a trustee on the Dobbs Ferry Village Board and three terms as Mayor. He has also served on the Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District Board of Education.

Monahan resides in Dobbs Ferry with his wife Lisa. Together they have one daughter, Lisa.

Brian Monahan

French Bistro with a Moroccan Flair Coming to Croton

Liz Johnson — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:16 +0000

Jonathan Pratt and Craig Purdy, owners of Peter Pratt’s Inn in Yorktown Heights and Umami Cafe and MexToGo in Croton-on-Hudson, will open a French Bistro with a Moroccan flair in the former Bella Paula location at 120 Grand Street in Croton-on-Hudson this summer. They hope to be open by July.

Pratt says the menu will be classic French bistro — steak frites and frisee aux lardons and the like — with Moroccan dishes, too, such as tagines, carrot salads and mint tea. France and Morocco have had political ties since the 8th century.

The restaurant will have 50 to 60 seats inside, and 20 seats on a patio. It will look more like Paris than Marrakech, thought Pratt wasn’t sure whether they’d have a zinc bar. Bella Paula used to be split in two; one side a pizzeria, the other a restaurant. Pratt and Purdy are converting the pizzeria to a bar, which will also have seating. The working name, which may change, is Brasserie Grand.

Chappaqua elementary school goes green

Marcela Rojas — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:27:18 +0000

Here’s some information from Grafflin Elementary School’s green initiative:

Learning doesn’t get much more hands-on than digging seeds out of cucumbers and holding red wiggler worms fresh from the compost bin. And that’s just how Grafflin Elementary School students learned about sustainability during the school’s annual Grafflin Goes Green Day last week.

Moving through a series of activities to earn an “I Went Green at Grafflin” sticker, the students learned how to pack waste-free lunches by using reusable containers rather than disposable packaging, and studied the earth’s air cycle, figuring out how they could help reduce natural and manmade pollutants. They used bottle caps to create artwork and learned about the school’s butterfly garden, which is currently being replanted.

Vermiculture was one of the most popular exhibits, drawing a large crowd. Susan Rubin, a local environmentalist and the self-proclaimed Worm Woman of Westchester, placed wiggly worms in the hands of eager students. While they watched her find the red wigglers in a worm composting bin Ms. Rubin explained how worms break down organic matter. “This is a perfect example of sustainability that the students can touch and feel,” Ms. Rubin said.

Students also harvested seeds from peppers and cucumbers, learning about the cycle of growing from plant to fruit and back to plants again; they were tested on environmental trivia topics such as carbon footprints and pollution-free living; and they saw some of the hydroponically-grown plants grown in the school’s greenhouse.

Grafflin Goes Green Day is the culmination of a year’s worth of initiatives out of Grafflin’s Environmental Committee, chaired by Cathy Hildenbrand and Lisa Haunss Sanz. This year these have included recycling drives, waste-free lunch weeks, take-home questionnaires, and the sale of reusable lunchbox items such as Kleen Kanteens and Lunchskins. “We try to remain a presence throughout the year,” Ms. Hildenbrand said.

Ms. Hildenbrand said organizers of Grafflin Goes Green hope students will take away new ideas and knowledge – as well as more environmental awareness – from the day’s events. “We hope they will try to make more responsible choices on their own, such as turning off lights or the computer, and that they will share what they have learned with their families so that they can initiate making change together,” Ms. Hildenbrand said. “We hope to create a school spirited, environmentally-driven experience for all the kids at Grafflin. We look forward to putting it on every year and we think the kids really do get something out of it.”

Deal reached with teachers in Hen Hud distrct

Robert Marchant — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:03:24 +0000

An union accord has been settled between teachers and the administration in the Hendrick Hudson School District.
Here’s the announcement:

The Hendrick Hudson School District has reached a tentative settlement agreement with the Hendrick Hudson Educational Association, the union representing the district’s 234 professional teaching staff.

The tentative agreement, if ratified by the membership and the Board of Education, will result in the restoration of six full-time teaching positions. The district also expects to restore three previously fulltime positions as part time positions through savings in operational costs. “We are relieved that we were able to restore these critical positions, and as a result, will be able to maintain our quality programs,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel McCann.

“We are pleased and appreciative of the HHEA and their leadership for taking the necessary steps to bring this contract to resolution. This resolution is the result of 18 months of talks and some marathon negotiation sessions. The HHEA and the District were able to come together to resolve our differences and ensure that our students are provided with the very best education,” continued McCann.

“The HHEA is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the district. It was a long negotiation process. We thank everyone involved for their dedication to the children, the community, and the educators of the Hendrick Hudson School District,” said Doreen Halsall, Co-President the Hendrick Hudson Teacher’s Union.

According to McCann, “The leadership of the HHEA, Doreen Halsall, Gary Delcioppo and members of the negotiation team, played a critical role in bringing this contract to resolution. I would like to offer a special thanks to Ron Longo, attorney for the district, and Tom Casey, NYSUT representative for the HHEA, who helped to balance perspectives in these challenging times.”

“On behalf of the Board of Education, and the community, I would like to thank the HHEA for their commitment to restoring valuable positions while recognizing the difficult financial position the district was facing,” he concluded.

Zoning debate in Croton

Robert Marchant — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:19:54 +0000

Dozens of speakers came to Village Hall in Croton to debate the merits of a re-zoning scheme for the village’s Harmon business district.
Supporters called the new zoning package a necessary incentive to draw development to the area and give property-owners greater flexibility in designing new construction. Critics said the zoning would allow for too much residential development and lead to larger buildings out of scale with the community.
The village Board of Trustees did not pass the zoning Monday night after the public hearing, but passage could come next month after some more administrative moves are completed by the administration.
First proposed more than two years ago, the new zoning would allow for greater flexibility, as well as larger buildings on the commercial thoroughfare. Residential housing would be permitted, in a mix of residential and retail in one building.
Mayor Leo Wiegman said the intent was for land owners to “better utilize their properties.” The ultimate goal, he said, was for more development to broaden the tax base.
One supporter of the changes, Joanne Jackson, said successful business districts had a common feature. “The formula that works is a mixed-use scenario, that has a combination of commercial and residential,” she said, and the proposed zoning would encourage that.
“It doesn’t make sense to continue to say, ‘do nothing,’ “ she added.
One property owner, Milly Marano, said the greater flexibility for new building could make a positive difference. “It could raise the tax base,” she said, “Stores with apartments on top, they all thrive.”
But many critical opinions were also voiced.
“I like Harmon the way it is. It’s a quaint littler area,” said Virginia Calcutti, “It will take care of itself.”
Said Jane Hallock, “The plan allows for too much density and not enough parking. It makes no sense for the neighborhood….I don’t agree Harmon has been stagnating—businesses have been opening.”
While a majority of the village trustees support the new zoning, one dissenter on the board, Greg Schmidt, has become a vociferous opponent.
“It’s not going to improve the tax base in Croton, it’s not going to happen,” he said. The zoning would lead to residential development that the community did not need, Schmidt said. He said the other trustees on the board had been unwilling to engage in an open debate on the merits of the plan. Dismissing concerns that he was making a political stand on the zoning issue, Schmidt said at the public hearing that he was not running for office again.
Wiegman, the mayor, said he expected a vote sometime in the next few weeks.
“I was delighted to see people make good comments on both sides,” he said.
Wiegman said the village administration would issue a list of answers to many questions that have been raised by the public.
An earlier version of the zoning was challenged by a lawsuit, and opponents raised the possibility of new litigation.

Clothing drive to benefit Ossining’s IFCA

Marcela Rojas — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:59:32 +0000

My Divine Concierge and March Boutique have teamed up on a clothing drive that will benefit Innovations for Community Advancement or IFCA.

Niña Weireter of My Divine Concierge, an Ossining business that organizes senior move management, said people can drop off clothing and accessories for men and women from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at March Boutique, 1250 Pleasantville Rd., Briarcliff Manor. The boutique is offering a 10 percent discount that evening to shoppers who bring in items.

Weireter said she will have tax deductible forms on hand.

IFCA is an Ossining based not-for-profit neighborhood preservation group that buys, renovates and rehabilitates homes and rents apartments for low to moderate income people. Clothing will go to the organization’s thrift shop and its clients, Weireter said.

Ice cream celebration for Shavuot, May 27

Barbara Nackman — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:47:35 +0000

Chabad Lubavitch of Briarcliff- Ossining is hosting a holiday party May 27 to celebrate Shavuot, the day when the Torah was given to the Jewish people.

It will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Chabad center, 11 Orchard Road, Briarcliff.

The program will commence with the special Torah Reading of the Ten Commandments – “to reenact the Sinai experience,” Rabbi Dovid Labkowski, director of Chabad of Briarcliff-Ossining explained in a press release from Chabad. “Our festivals do not merely mark events of the past. We are enjoined to relive the historic occasions and making them relevant and meaningful today.”

The feasting and partying will be highlighted by the children taking center stage to hear to Ten Commandments being read. The children will have the opportunity to create and participate in holiday activities.

The party will feature ice cream and cheesecake. The custom of eating dairy foods on Shavuot began back when the Torah was presented 3,324 years ago and participants ate dairy food.

It is is free and open to the public. Reservations are appreciated but not required. Please call Chabad, 914-923-2522 or info@ChabadBriarcliff.com to reserve.

Science fair at Croton-Harmon HS

Robert Marchant — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:44:27 +0000

Students from the elementary school to the high school put on a science fair that covered everything from robotics to rockets nutrition to global warming.
Hundreds of visitors came to the high school Friday evening to take in the hands-on science fair and get an up-close and personal lesson from the students.

Fifth-grader Ella Deutchmann spent hours working on a global warming demonstration.

Visitors got information on buoyancy at one booth.

It’s the second annual “experience” science fair that the district put on to promote a hands-on approach to education.

Peter Falk movie event Thursday in Ossining

Barbara Nackman — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:52:17 +0000

Actor Peter Falk, a native son of Ossining who made roughly 50 films, will be remembered this week at a special screening of his movie “The In-Laws” at the Ossining Public Library.

He grew up on nearby Prospect Avenue. He died at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 23, 2011 at the age of 83. Falk was known for a range of movies from comedies to dramas and he appeared in stage productions as well. He was particularly known for his police detective character, Columbo where he wore a tattered khaki raincoat.

The film evening is at 5 p.m. Thursday and will feature an introduction to the film by John Farr, who analyzes movies and stars at bestmoviesbyfarr.com. Farr has appeared on PBS, CNN and NBC, is A wine and cheese reception follows the film and there will be a display of Falk memorabilia, including the infamous Columbo raincoat and some of Falk’s excellent art work.

The event is co-hosted by the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough, and Ossining Historical Societies. Members of either group will be admitted for $12; friends for $15.

Library rules require all payments to be made in advance. Please send checks to “BMSHS”, Box 11, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. 10510 or call 941-4393.

The event will be held in Budarz Theater in the lower level of the Ossining library at 5:00 p.m.