|  by Janie Rosman  |

Outgoing School Superintendent Dr. Christopher Clouet poses with students.

When the school bell sounds in September, Dr. Daniel T. McCann will be two months into his one-year term as Tarrytown Union Free School District’s interim superintendent.

An educational consultant with a career in public education that spans 42 years, McCann was superintendent for the Hendrick Hudson School District in Montrose (from 2006 to 2012) and was Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Staff Development, Testing and Personnel for the Rye City School District.

More recently he was interim principal at Pleasantville High School (2013 to 2014).

TUFSD Board of Education President Mimi Godwin did not say whether Superintendent Dr. Christopher Clouet’s resignation nearly halfway through his four-year contract was a surprise. Certainly his job search was not.

“He was a candidate for another position, and after they (Connecticut) chose whoever they chose, he expressed an interest in going back to Connecticut,” Godwin told The Hudson Independent. She said the law requires the Board to have “a resignation in hand” before it can seek a replacement for a sitting superintendent and came to an agreement that Clouet would resign May 28, effective June 30.

The Board interviewed numerous candidates, and McCann came highly recommended. Because “he has fully retired” the Board cannot hire him. “We’ve not had an interim for 22 years. We had Dr. Kusel for eight years, and Dr. Smith for 12 years,” Godwin said.

“I think whatever he (Clouet) does will bring him back to friends and family,” she said. “We have to move forward as a district.”

That includes finding a replacement for Clouet, who reflected on his two-year tenure.

“This is hard work, emotional work, particularly focusing on students and their growth, and it’s joyful work,” he said. “I feel like I’ve accomplished some things here. This is a time for me to look to other opportunities. I will be sad to leave this really lovely community where I’ve made some good friendships and enjoyed doing the work.”

One accomplishment Clouet mentioned was developing the Peabody Preserve Outdoor Classroom with community partners and teachers and students. “Most districts do not have a 40-acre outdoor classroom – it has gone from being an underdeveloped, inhospitable environment for students to now being a place where teachers can bring students and have learning activities that could be related to environmental science and also (to) the arts,” he said.

Parents Katie Scully, Tracy Brown and Sonya Cowley worked with Clouet on the project.

“We took it and created a trail system and partnered with teachers,” Scully said, adding as soon as they met with Clouet in August 2013 they felt he understood the vision they had for the land. “He was always thinking of ways to involve the community. We partnered with Teatown and ArtsWestchester and have visiting artists and wove the afterschool program into Peabody.”

“He’s smart and caring and put his heart into his work,” Sleepy Hollow High School Principal Carol Conklin-Spillane said. “The kids responded to him, and the teachers felt good about his ideas.”

Conklin-Spillane said Clouet spent a lot of time discussing issues within the district and education to prepare students for the next generation, like with the student technical advisory group (STAG). “People were also pleased that he could speak with them in their native tongue,” she said.

Clouet was one of the educators who boarded a Thruway Authority tugboat to see the new Tappan Zee Bridge project prior to his first September as Tarrytown superintendent. Because of outreach presentations at the high school, students formed an engineering club.

“Project officials have come to our schools and spoken with the kids,” he said. “I would like to see a closer relationship between the construction and design professionals involved with building the bridge and the district, and hope the new superintendent and the new director of curriculum (Dr. Debbie J. Hand, former Washington Irving Intermediate School principal), will strengthen that relationship.”

Clouet cited the Dual Language program — a by-choice program for those in kindergarten through 5th grade. “Many students, including English-dominant kids, read comments they wrote in Spanish,” he said of the June 16 rising up ceremony. “It’s a gem for the district; however, it’s not for everyone, and parents can opt-out for their kids.”

Karim Flores, whose daughter (rising grade 6) and son (rising grade 1) are both enrolled in the program, agreed it’s a gift to the district. “Not every district has this program, which is a mirror of the Tarrytown community, a mixed community,” she said. “I was impressed to hear English-speaking kids reading in Spanish, and even my daughter, who has an accent, spoke English perfectly.”

In his letter to the community, Clouet said the district introduced the Habits of Mind in all grades — “16 habits that have been formulated that provides staff and students with a shared vocabulary of how to develop good habits” — and aligned the Dual Language program more fully with the Common Core Standards.

“People need to understand the difference between the Common Core standards, which are good, they’re not perfect, and separate that from the tests, which are much more questionable, and separate that furthermore from the evaluation of teachers,” Clouet told The Hudson Independent. “Let’s have our children learn through schooling to be able to read about issues and make coherent arguments rather than not have an opinion when asked about something. Our job as educators is to make sure we’re preparing kids.”

Before the Board can search for a new superintendent it must interview and select a search firm. “We’re starting now to get names and information, and then we’ll interview them and vote to hire one firm in August,” Godwin explained.

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Graduates

|  by Robert Kimmel  |

Peter Johnson, of SunCal, speaks at Lighthouse Celebration.
— Photo by: Sunny McLean

“It is a beacon that signals a new beginning here,” Mayor Ken Wray asserted during a June ceremony that celebrated the newly lit Lighthouse on Sleepy Hollow’s Hudson River shoreline.

The occasion served not only to herald the restoration of the Lighthouse’s lens following more than five decades of darkness, but also to focus on the waterfront development that will occur on the adjacent acreage, still desolate following General Motor’s departure almost 20 years ago.   

The 1883 Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1961 when lights from the Tappan Zee Bridge, completed only six years earlier, served to guide boats navigating the Hudson River. The Village of Sleepy Hollow  and the Westchester Department of Parks collaborated, using $35,000 in grant money and private funds, to have a replica of the original Fresnel lens made and then installed last month in the Lighthouse.   

Wray sees the new beacon as an iconic symbol of the village. “Everyone coming over the Tappan Zee Bridge, the old bridge and the new one, will say, “That is Sleepy Hollow,” he remarked. He noted that the Lighthouse, “which was put out of business by the old bridge, will actually outlive that bridge.” 

Future plans call for a complete restoration of the Lighthouse; however, that project is on hold until sufficient funds are secured to meet the cost, which could exceed $1 million.

As for the project planned for the adjacent site, Wray said, “This is a once-in-a-100-year opportunity for the Village, and we’re confident the development will benefit Sleepy Hollow and surrounding communities for years to come.”

Among the speakers at the ceremony, County Executive Rob Astorino noted that the development of the former GM site also will, “give access to the public so they can enjoy this beautiful shoreline.” He referred to a “renewal” of the area with residences, shops, and a lighthouse that everyone can get to. It will be wonderful for everyone.”    

The development of the site, a joint venture of SunCal, headquartered in California, and Diversified Realty Advisors, a New Jersey firm, calls for the construction of 1,177 condominiums, townhouses, and apartments, a 140-room hotel, retail space of 135,000 square feet, and 35,000 square feet of  loft office  space.  It will also feature 24 acres of parks and gardens, along with the RiverWalk near the Hudson’s bank.

Peter Johnson, representing SunCal, and speaking in behalf of the venture, now named Edge-on-Hudson, said he was very grateful for the cooperation of the village and that the firms are very excited about getting the development started. 

That enthusiasm was shared by Jonathan Stein, Managing Partner of Diversified Realty Advisors. Stein had been an executive with Roseland Property which exited a deal with GM for the development in 2007, because of litigation by Tarrytown over the then existing scope of the project. 

“We have an application before the Planning Board now for a site plan and sub-division for the initial stage which will be heard over the next several months,” Stein said. “If all goes well through that process, we will be able to get some of the infrastructure work done, I hope, before the end of the year,” he told The Hudson Independent. “Our schedule will be affected by weather conditions,” he noted. Stein also emphasized that the development will adhere to the Special Permit, “our guiding force,” that was approved in 2011 by the Village.   

Stein explained that “The infrastructure work here is quite extensive,” adding that it would consist of work on a “Beekman Avenue bridge, and a road built in, sewers and sidewalks. That is about 18 months of work.” He estimated that it would be “…two years before we start going vertical with buildings. The first buildings, realistically, could be up in three to four years,” he said. 

Of the 96 acres vacated by GM, the development will utilize 65, with much of the remaining acreage, on the East Parcel, going to Sleepy Hollow’s Local Development Corporation, formed last year. The Village benefits financially with that arrangement, and the LDC would be responsible for building new athletic facilities and a public works building without having to comply with a New York State law prohibiting  the selection of a single contractor to oversee all the work.

Opening day of the new Tarrytown and Sleepy HollowFarmers Market (the TaSH) drew close to 2,000 people to Patriots Park to meet the farmers and sample an array of tasty foods, all while listening to great music and socializing with neighbors.

“The new market had a fantastic debut,” said Suzanne Sorrentino, co-president of Rivertowns Village Green (RVG), the nonprofit group made up of volunteer community members that formed to revitalize the market. “Our hope that the farmers market could be a vibrant center of village life, while offering access to local, fresh, wholesome food, has come to life.”

Volunteers counted an estimated 1,900 visitors to the market on Opening Day, May 23. Opening Day featured 20 vendors, a kick-off performance by Route 9, a impressive rock band made up of Sleepy Hollow High School students, as well as a ribbon cutting by Mayors Drew Fixell of Tarrytown and Ken Wray of Sleepy Hollow.

“We were thrilled to have several key sponsors help launch The TaSH, including Mrs Green’s Natural Market, Phelps Memorial Hospital and Green Mountain Energy,” said Tammy Abraham, co-president of RVG. “Beyond their financial support, they’re bringing experiences like chef demos and nutritional

education to the market. We’re extremely grateful for their support and look forward to working with other businesses interested in supporting the community.”

Pulling together the “village green” namesake vision of RVG, the opening day market also featured music from favorite Westchester County band Andrea and the Armenian Rug Riders, a children’s musical enrichment program offered by Josie LaRiccia of Kindermusik, a Tarrytown Music Hall children’s activity, free yoga sponsored by the YMCA, the Foundation for the Public Schools promoting the annual Horseman Color Run, the Historical Society promoting its Strawberry Festival and Warner Library promoting children and teen summer reading programs.

“We are so happy to provide the venue for other great community institutions and organizations to get the word out about their programs and good works, and hope others reach out to us to coordinate efforts,” Sorrentino said, adding that more vendors, children’s activities, movement activities and community groups will rotate through the market throughout the season.

Also starting in June, vendors at the market began to accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks, which income-qualified mothers and senior citizens can use to purchase fruits and vegetables.

|  by Zoe Kaplan  | For the past 10 years, local director Peter Royston has brought numerous Shakespeare productions into the Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow community. From As You Like It to Romeo and Juliet, tweens and teens alike have not only performed but also learned the magic of Shakespeare. However, this year moves away from “Shakespeare in the Park.” The 2015 production is neither Shakespeare or in the park: Royston is taking a more musical direction, as Les Misérables comes to the Sleepy Hollow stage.

Why such a change of pace? Two years ago, when the older troupe performed Henry IV Part I and II, the actors were in a sense “addicted” to Les Misérables. Barbara Turk, long-time producer of the camp, recalled many moments when the actors used their free time to sing songs from the show. Royston also has a strong connection to the show, as he worked for the General Manager of the Broadway production in 1986. Not only was he able to work with the actors, but he also got the opportunity to see every performance during its first year.

There’s more than a change from drama to musical. This year, the camp welcomes many new staff members: musical director Maria Jacobi, pianist Steve Tubin, pit orchestra director Neal Spitzer, set and costume designers Joel Sherry and Stewart Lee, and Gina Lamparella, who performed in the 10th anniversary Broadway company of Les Misérables. The camp is also extended a week, and will be performed in the Sleepy Hollow High School auditorium instead of Patriot’s Park, as the show requires some specialized equipment.

However, there are many components of the camp that will remain the same. The YMCA, with the lead of Turk, will continue to administer the camp. The YMCA has produced the camp for all of its now 11 years – helping advertising and marketing, sourcing the staff, handling registration, and providing the rehearsal space. Also, as in last year’s production of Romeo and Juliet, there will be a live pit orchestra joining the cast. Much of the orchestra is made up of teens in the community, and, as mentioned before, will be directed by elementary school band teacher Neal Spitzer. Most importantly, the same energy will be present in the rehearsals and productions. Actors in the community come back year after year, just like the staff – some on their fifth, sixth and seventh years.

“The reason we keep coming back is the chance to work with these amazing young people! Some of them have been in the program for years, growing in confidence and ability and their joy in storytelling! To be a part of that learning process is very exciting,” Royston said.

Les Misérables will be performed on July 31, August 1, and August 2 in the Sleepy Hollow High School Auditorium.

Deaconess Creola Solomon, 77, is proud of her long history of service for Tarrytown’s New Hope Institutional Baptist Church.

|  by Tess Wietzner  | “To whom much is given, much is required,” proclaimed Reverend Dr. John H. Gilmore. “That’s the scripture that comes to mind when I think of Mrs. Solomon.”

Deaconess of Tarrytown’s New Hope Institutional Baptist Church, Mrs. Creola Solomon, 77, has devoted the last 54 years of her life to graciously serving her community. Named “Unsung Hero” by the Town of Greenburgh in 2013, Solomon is regarded by her clergy as a positive role model who “teaches by example, and is highly respected by the community,” continued Rev. Gilmore.   

Solomon first moved to Tarrytown in March of 1959, and joined the church in June of 1961. She has been married to her husband, Wade Solomon Sr., for 55 years, and has six children, four grandchildren (one deceased) and seven great-grandchildren. “I don’t have an immediate family except for my husband and children here, so New Hope is my family,” she said proudly. “We are sisters and brothers.”

In supplement to her role as Deaconess, Solomon has also held the positions of President of The Pastor’s Aid, Chair of the Decorations Committee, member and Treasurer of the Mitchellaires Gospel Choir, member of the Senior Usher Board, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, and Manager of the Food Pantry.

She currently serves as President of the Senior Canteen, a program run from the Tarrytown Neighborhood House that functions as both a social outlet for local seniors and an educational resource for church members who choose to learn from Phelps’ physicians how to care for the elderly. Solomon is known for spending hours at local nursing homes and visiting the sick. She also participates in a program to check on seniors when they are absent from church. “We call and say, ‘I miss you’,” she explained. 

To invest so much time and energy into the community, “feels good,” declared Solomon. “I get satisfaction out of doing what I do for others because there may be a time when I’m not around…That’s the way I was taught: you help others.”

Her humble, unwavering generosity reverberates strongly within the community. Still an active leader for the church’s food pantry, Solomon will often jump at the opportunity to provide for hungry individuals and families, some of whom may be living on the street or seeking help at the church after traveling many miles with small children.

Friend and former New Hope member Shirley Drassin observed, “Actions speak louder than words, and she does the action. A lot of people look at what she’s doing, and I think they often wonder sometimes, well how does she do all of this? It’s just that energy that she has, that she shows and gives to people. She’s just that kind of person.”

Over the course of more than half a century, Solomon has also recorded the birthdays and anniversaries of nearly all members of the church, who can expect a card from her every year. “We have well over a hundred members; that’s thousands of cards,” remarked Rev. Gilmore, who has been with New Hope since 1992.

“Whatever I do, I do it from my heart. If it’s not done out of love, I don’t do it. And that’s the only way you do it!” she said.

Like many across the nation, Solomon is deeply affected by the recent shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. She has a personal connection to the city in mourning through her pastor by whom she was baptized and has known for more than 23 years. Rev. Gilmore, who hails from Charleston, visited Sunday, June 28, to attend several funerals of the victims. Said Solomon,“You should feel safe in a house of worship. No one has the right to take that from you.”

Dr. Daniel McCann took over as interim superintendent of schools in Tarrytown on July 1. (photo by Janie Rosman)

| by Janie Rosman |

Less than eight hours into his first day in Tarrytown, new school district Interim Superintendent Dr. Daniel T. McCann spoke with The Hudson Independent about his vision for the district and his general goals.

“My work here really is to move the district forward, and to take care of the kids here and to ultimately make it a safe environment. Whatever good initiatives occurred, they need to continue, yet you can’t be satisfied where you are,” McCann said.

McCann addressed the district’s diversity as a strong point. “Here all kids are together from the beginning, like a family, which builds bonding and an understanding of kids who are/not like you,” he said.

Instead of focusing on what his predecessor did or didn’t do, McCann aims “to capture the energy of this organization, of a lot of capable people, and let them know that hopes and dreams are possible, too.”

The new interim superintendent spent his first day meeting the Board of Education and reviewing reports that were online “to see how things were approached, and that was very helpful to me, and I read about the successes that occurred here,” he said.

His entry plan for the months before school begins includes getting to know the district and its personnel “as fully as possible in a brief period of time” before September; identifying key issues and how they’re handled; identifying and ranking tasks in order or priority; and establishing how tasks will be accomplished after consulting with personnel and the district.

What would you like to see happen the first day of school?

“It’s an interesting question,” he reflected. “I think that I want people to see me as fair, as open-minded, also knowing I’m going to listen. The greatest strength of a school system is its school community as a whole.”

The district also has a new Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Debbie J. Hand, and Director of Human Resources Pamela T. Rourke, “and I feel fortunate to have them,” McCann said.

When he asks people about special moments in their lives, he said, “It’s nice to hear those special moments around school and raising children and seeing kids come together who are fragile and who are now confident.”

McCann praised the high school’s Career Day as a way for young people to see real people not much older than themselves in real professions. “They’re to get a look in, and become interested in, internships in hospitals, in an engineering or law firm, the city manager’s office and feel good that the day has been productive.”

Excited to be part of a school district that’s made a difference for kids and is supportive of athletics, McCann said, “I want people to know that my first impressions are very positive here. People are very caring, and they want to move things forward and not sitting in place.”

With most of his background in math and science, McCann delineated between STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and STEAM (with art). “They are two separate areas, and we need to enhance the arts in the right way and not limit it to engineering — there’s biomedical, marine science, life sciences,” he said.

It is possible to have more of a connection between the classroom and the new bridge?

“That’s an interesting question you raise,” he said. “We did a lot of work around Project Lead the Way (at Hendrick Hudson School District), and one of the strategic action plans was create greater connection within the community.”

Within sight of the high school was an engineering company that made instruments for NASA, and when approached, the company said it would love to have young people intern.

“It’s an engineering design, an extraordinary design because you’re seeing the internal structure,” he said of the bridge. “You’re really seeing structure and function and basic physics. This is why internships are important: it brings relevancy when you leave high school since there’s not the same level of support in college.”

McCann’s vision is for students to leave the school system knowing they’ve been challenged to do their best, valuing learning as a means to personal fulfillment, and for the district to be responsible for and proud of its students’ growth and achievements and seen as a valuable community cornerstone.

“I think I have a good team here,” he said. “When kids come to school and get excited, and they start an engineering club, it’s that kind of excitement that you love to build on.”

|  by Bob Kimmel  |

While no mosquitoes found so far this year in Westchester County have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the County Health Department is recommending some precautions regarding the disease. Primarily, it is urging residents to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes collected in Rockland County, in Queens and Staten Island have tested positive for the West Nile Virus, according to the Health Department. “Given the fact that our neighbors have reported positive mosquitoes, it is safe to assume that mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are also present here in Westchester County,” Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sherlita Amler said.

“The recent rain we’ve had also provides optimal breeding conditions for mosquitoes that can carry the virus,” Dr. Amler explained. “I urge all residents to remove standing water from their property and to take personal protective measures against mosquito bites when spending time outdoors,” she cautioned.

Two human cases of the disease occurred last year in the county and seven batches of mosquitoes were found to be positive for West Nile Virus. More than 40 batches of mosquitoes have been sent for testing by The Health Department since June. It will be continuing the testing throughout the season. The Department makes the following recommendations to help eliminate mosquito breeding grounds:

• Remove standing water around your home. After it rains, walk around and look for toys, flower pots or similar water-holding containers that should be overturned or put inside to avoid collecting water.
• Cover outdoor trash containers to keep rainwater from accumulating inside.
• Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are left outdoors.
• Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.
• Drain water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays twice a week.
• Sweep driveways after it rains so they are free of puddles.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty and covered if not in use; drain water that collects in pool covers.

To reduce your risk of mosquito bites:

• Avoid being outdoors in places and during times where and when mosquitoes are active and feeding.
• Use insect repellents with no more than 30 percent DEET, but use them sparingly and with care.
• Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors.
• DEET should only be applied once a day. Repellents with a concentration of 10 percent are effective for about two hours, and those with a concentration of 24 percent offer about five hours of protection. Repellents containing DEET are not recommended for use on children under two months of age. Carefully read and follow the package directions, and wash treated skin when mosquito exposure has ended.
• Wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks when outdoors and at times when mosquitoes are active.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.

Residents who notice large areas of standing water on public property should report this to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or by email at www.westchestergov.com/health.

The “flea” experience has arrived in Westchester.  Hastings Flea is a monthly outdoor market with local vendors from the Hudson Valley selling everything from vintage to antiques, to furniture, jewelry, crafts and more.  Offering live music and entertainment powered by a solar stage, Hastings Flea also features food trucks, crafts for kids, community vendors and other activities.

Hastings-on-Hudson resident Ilana Arazie started the Hastings Flea several years ago, after moving to Westchester from NYC.  “I wanted to create a fun event that brought the community together and also kept me busy and working in Westchester so I could avoid a daily NYC commute.”

Arazie and her former partner Michelle DeForest brought their idea to the Hastings-on-Hudson Village board, which approved the endeavor.  This year DeForest went on to start Brrzaar, the new frozen yogurt business in Irvington, though the two remain good friends.

“At first, we found most our vendors through the crafts website Etsy, but now local vendors are finding the Hastings Flea and constantly applying to be part of the event,” Arazie said.  “Items at the Hastings Flea are handcrafted, hand-picked or collected, and you just never know what you’ll find.  I always go home with great treasures for my home or unique gifts for family and friends.”

The Hastings Flea takes place the second Sunday of the month from April to November; the next event is on July 12th from 10am to 4pm.

This year, Arazie also launched the Chappaqua Flea alongside the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market on the Third Saturday of the month at the Chappaqua Train Station.  The town of Chappaqua was excited to have the Chappaqua Flea stimulate and celebrate the downtown area, attracting more shoppers and community.

Both The Chappaqua Flea and Hastings Flea feature a diverse array of vendors such as Laura Goode, owner of Vintage Pussycat, who sells vintage lingerie, clothing, decor and housewares from the 1920’s through the 1980’s or Davita Mckelvey, a travel blogger, who collects treasures from exotic countries such as Myanmar and Nepal.  Robert Leblanc comes to the Fleas from Peekskill with his rustic wood furniture and accessories made from reclaimed materials; Xiao Lin Hopkins shares her gorgeous collected vintage jewelry collection.  For more information (and to apply to be a vendor), visit: www.hastingsflea.com or www.chappaquaflea.com 

If You Go:

July 12th (and the second Sunday of the month at the Hastings-on-Hudson Metro North Train Station Parking Lot from April to November)

July 18th (and the third Saturday of the month at the Chappaqua Train Station, alongside the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market)

The drowning of a 43-year-old Sleepy Hollow man in the Hudson River Friday appears to have been accidental,  Tarrytown police said. Identified as  William Cabrera, of Cottage Avenue, he was unconscious when pulled from the river off Pierson Park in Tarrytown by a friend.  Cabrera swam out  about fifty feet offshore and on his way back submerged in the water, according to the friend.

Responding to a 911 call, the Tarrytown Police,  Fire Department and Volunteer Ambulance Corps all arrived at the scene.  Cabrera was not breathing when he was rushed to Phelps Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:25 p.m. The case has been referred  to the  Westchester Medical Examiner’s Office.

| by Robert Kimmel|

With  Pets Alive in Elmsford announcing that it will close its facility in about three months, ownership of the 5 acres of land it has been using could be in dispute.  The no-kill animal shelter disclosed that the cost of maintaining the shelter, along with diminishing revenue, is leaving it with no choice but to shut down and consolidate its operation at its Middletown, Rockland County location.

Pets Alive took over the facility from the long standing Elmsford Animal Shelter, which, in 2010 requested help from the organization.

Last year Pets Alive was forced to temporarily close the Elmsford location for emergency  repairs when structural cracks began to appear in its 46,000 square foot building and the structure was condemned. It subsequently re-opened, but now has found, “…that the building is located on unstable fill on top of wetland, and the ground underneath the building is shifting,” according to Erin Guilshan, its Executive Director.

Guilshan went  on to explain that, “Since being allowed back into the building we have looked at every possibility to stabilize the facility, but have been unable to find an option that does not involve investing far more than the aging structure is worth.”

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, however, asserted that, ” The decision of Pets Alive, which had taken over the Elmsford Animal shelter, to close down the Westchester shelter raises an important question: Who gets to keep the land?” He claims the land should not continue to be owned by Pets Alive if it leaves Elmsford. Nor should it be “…allowed to sell the land.” He noted that the “…land was donated with one purpose–to be used as a no-kill animal shelter.”

“I have asked the Greenburgh Town Attorney to review the deed to determine if the town has any rights since we were heavily involved in helping the shelter get the land donated to them,” Feiner said. He added that he would like to see the land  handed over  to “…animal rights advocates who can take over the responsibilities of the shelter or if they sell the land, 100% of the funds raised should be used to find another location in Westchester County.”

Pets Alive is estimating that it will take “…60 to 90 days to wind down the facility.” , Guilshan explained that it expects to have space at its Middletown, NY sanctuary for “…animals that we are not able to adopt out. Beginning immediately, both of our facilities will begin “Free Love” Name Your Own Price Adoptions to encourage adoption,” she announced. It will accept donations instead of its regular adoption fee.

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner addresses Town Hall meeting about Pets Alive animal shelter

| By Robert Kimmel |

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is optimistic about keeping the Pets Alive animal shelter in operation locally, either at its present facility in Elmsford or elsewhere. Following a meeting with the board leadership of Pets Alive Thursday morning, he told The Hudson Independent that, “I would be surprised if the shelter closes.”

Pets Alive Westchester had announced it was shutting down the Elmsford location because of structural problems with its building at 100 Warehouse Lane South and high maintenance costs. It planned to close within three months and consolidate its operation at the organization’s Middletown, facility in Rockland County. Pets could be adopted at either facility during the interim period, for a donation rather than the usual fee, it publicized.

Feiner, who has been spearheading the drive to keep the no-kill shelter operating locally, said that he was “very encouraged,” as a result of the Thursday meeting with the Pets Alive Board members. “There was no controversy. We talked about working together, cooperating with different options,” he added.

Noting that the present facility does have structural problems, Feiner stated that, “I am going to do is that I am going to reach out to some developer to see if they might consider a swap.  Pets Alive can use a location a little smaller than this.” He explained that the developer could take the location’s five acres in exchange for a smaller location for the shelter.

An “emergency” session open to the public Wednesday night, organized by Feiner to devise strategy to prevent the shelter’s closing, drew more than 100 people to Town Hall.

Supporters of the effort  heard  good news from Supervisor Feiner. He told those packed into the Town Hall meeting room, that Pets Alive could not sell the land to a commercial enterprise. Pets Alive took over the facility from the Elmsford Animal Shelter in 2010. Westchester County donated the property to the Elmsford Animal Shelter in 1985 for $10, a legal fee required to seal the property transfer.

The Supervisor disclosed that, “Greenburgh Town Councilman Francis Sheehan and Town Attorney Tim Lewis discovered a deed restriction stating that ‘the grantee, its successors and assigns shall use the said premises solely  and exclusively for park, recreational, or general municipal purposes, or an animal shelter in Perpetuity.”  Sheehan and Lewis attended the evening open meeting and further explained how the Town could enforce that restriction. They were also both at Thursday morning’s meeting with the Pets Alive leadership.

Following the session with the Greenburgh officials,  Pets Alive issued a statement describing the meeting as “constructive” and that there would be “continued discussion” next Thursday at a meeting with Feiner. Its own board meets to review the issue early this coming week.

There was further encouragement for the Greenburgh officials at the Town Hall public meeting where several representatives of existing non-profit pet groups, and professionals stated that they would eagerly volunteer to help set up an organization aimed at keeping a no-kill shelter operational in the local Westchester area.

Friday, July 31, 2015 — Team USA New York (Sleepy Hollow/Brewster combined team) just WON the gold medal in Unified Men’s Basketball at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles!!!! The USA New York team went undefeated in their division and beat Peru, Kenya, Pakistan and Luxembourg to win the GOLD MEDAL!  They will receive their gold medals tomorrow morning, Saturday, August 1, in the medal ceremony!

| by Elizabeth Nutig |

As daily life becomes more chaotic and interconnected, allowing time to cool down to be with ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually is essential, and one of the most credible ways to do that is through yoga. Fortunately, a yoga studio in Tarrytown has what’s needed for residents to revive themselves.

With the iconic hum of the Metro North trains in the background and the serene Pierson Park in front, Riverstone Yoga provides its clients with more than just a classroom for Yogis and Yoginis, it is a transformed temple of plasticity. Entering the studio, a garden of herbs meant for sampling greet any visitor as a dear friend, and once inside, the removal of shoes is expected to settle in to an isolated calming space, where the focus is you. With sometimes more than five classes per day, ranging from “Vinyasa Flow” (a class centered around the importance of the breath) to “Aerial Yoga Burn & Bliss” (yoga taught on aerial hammocks) to even Prenatal Yoga classes, Riverstone offers enough yoga classes to keep everyone on their toes.

Initially a Hindu philosophy for creating inner peace through the control of the body and the mind, yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and Riverstone does not disappoint. Its name derives from a jagged rock whose edges become soft and natural after years spent being water-smoothed by river flow. Owner Patricia Fischer Donohue chose the name because of how yoga has affected her own life. She began a career as a lawyer with a stressful Type A personality, but discovering yoga initiated a personal journey of finding her spiritual self, therefore smoothing her jagged edges. She believes everyone has something to gain from yoga, whether that be a type of self-realization that comes from learning how to problem solve through mental and physical challenges that yoga provides, or just a fun community and a fantastic form of exercise.

The health benefits of yoga are many, ranging from an increase in mood to a drop in blood pressure to the maintaining of the nervous system and to even reducing physical pain. But Donohue sees it somewhat differently.

“It’s because your start to learn about yourself. It’s because you take some time to slow down and disconnect from the 24/7 connected world and be with yourself, you have the ability to heal yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually,” she explained.

By taking time to understand your own body through a variety of moves and poses, yoga creates a unique type of intricate awareness. For example, when putting pressure on each side of your body for a Thread The Needle Pose, you may realize that one side is stronger than the other. “It’s through simply paying attention to what you do and how you do it, you have the ability to stay healthier and to heal yourself,” she said.

As many of us are hunched over computer screens, our health is slowly being compromised. Yoga helps alleviate this through the activation of the vagus nerve, which connects the whole body, and the way we stimulate it is through deep breathing. Riverstone and yoga as a practice presents its clients with the tools to handle stress, especially with the power of a breath. Deep breathing is proven to reduce blood pressure, as well as stress hormones in the blood, improve immune system functioning, and balance levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood, making it one of the most authentic stress relievers out there.

In a world becoming more connected at the cost of interaction and essentially disconnecting from our own humanity, Riverstone tries to heal this by fostering a sense of community. “Even if you are in a room of strangers, if you have 20 people breathing together, there is something on a deeper human level that connects you all, that creates an energy that helps to alleviate stress,” Donohue said.

Riverstone practices two main types of yoga- Asana and Pranayama. Asana connects the physical body to the mind through poses and moves, exploring emotions and testing concentration, while Pranayama’s purpose is to connect the breath, mind, and emotions. Everyone is on a different path and, in turn, has different reasons for practicing yoga; and this mindset of acceptance and non-judgment has always been an imperative part of the traditions and values of yoga practitioners, and it holds true especially for Riverstone.

“Riverstone Yoga is a calm, warm and welcoming studio where the instructors are so helpful and extremely knowledgeable.” said Riverstone student Becky Keitur.

Riverstone is an exciting place to work out and have fun as well as a vibrant community, and Donohue’s zeal for yoga as a lifestyle is unmatched. As she put it, “Everything that happens on the four corners of your mat happens in life.” Visit Riverstone Yoga’s website at www.riverstoneyoga.com for further information.

| by Marcie Cuff |
During the summer months, the living should be easy, right? And so, every kid should be provided with a warm-weather plan—a summer toolbox filled with things to help him or her experiment with ideas about how things and people work. And, while it’s not always wise to provide wild, passionate little people with a supply of two-part epoxy, a 13-piece Allen wrench set and Teflon grease, it is important to provide easy access to age-appropriate gadgets for important creative projects, particularly during the summer months.  After kids reach the age when they stop eating glue sticks, creative toolbox supplies should be kept in kid-level spots. Kids need places to go and tinker with things alone—to work independently, responsibly and thoughtfully. These skills take practice. I’m quite certain that these skills are the foundations of creativity and perseverance—necessary elements of a competent adult, and some of the most challenging to master in a classroom setting. So, summer is the perfect time for these sorts of things. If our goal in life is to make the world a better place than it was when we found it, how better to do that than to grow and encourage self-sufficient competent kids?

Summer is the ideal time to explore under rocks and logs, make fairy houses out of natural objects, start backyard journals, design secret treasure maps and codes, and make tricky backyard scavenger hunts. Below is a list of other items to keep in your summer toolbox—things that are so transporting they’ll keep your offspring busy all summer long.

Cornstarch: Combine 3 parts cornstarch with 1 part water to make Oobleck, a fun non-Newtonian molasses-like suspension. This is a great rainy-day project that can keep small fingers busy for hours.

King-sized sheet: Make a tent, inside or outside. Fill the tent with pillows, stuffed animals and books, and send secret messages through the gaps.

Inoperable objects: Allow your kids to disassemble a broken wind-up toy, discarded doorknob, disabled rotary phone, or inoperable typewriter. Kids love finding out how things tick.

An outdoor digging spot: Set aside a spot outside just for your kids to get dirty. Keep it filled with a collection of shovels and tough earth-moving trucks.

An explorer’s kit: Turn even the smallest backyard into an exploratory adventure. Put together a kit filled with magnifying glasses, notebooks, pencils, canteens and trail mix.

Old-School Walkie Talkies: Give your kids a new way to communicate with each other. These two-way portable transceivers can turn any summer outing into a big adventure.

And so, fare thee well school lunch making!  See you in September! You will soon be replaced by long days crammed with crusty beach towel laundry topped with a pinch of sunscreen application whining.

Hurray! Hats off to summer!

Marcie Cuff lives in Irvington and is the author of the book “This Book Was a Tree”(Perigee Books). For more hands-on projects like this, look for her book at any bookstore, or visit her blog Mossy at http://mossymossy.com.

| By W.B. King |

July 4, 2015: Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow residents gather at Congress Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Front row: Maddy McGovern, Laura Kiss, Joanne Malandrino-Daly, Sharon Bucci-Thomas, Stella Goldstein, Heather Whitaker and Belle Gonzalez. Back row: Myles Birrittella, Kyle McGovern Jr., Tom Kiss Jr., Tom Kiss Sr., John Korzelius, Brad King, Laurie Birrittella, Kyle McGovern, Tom Shumacher, David Thomas and Bebe Gonzalez.

During Independence Day weekend, barely a breeze was felt from Lake Michigan. The Windy City, which played host to the Grateful Dead’s last three concerts, took a break yielding to sunshine daydreams and warm summer nights. Throughout Chicago’s tie-dyed streets, friends and loved ones danced and rejoiced. Smiling strangers stopped other strangers simply to shake hands—long lost cousins gathering for a final family reunion.

“The Grateful Dead means community to me, a vast social group with as many different values as people, but tolerant to each other’s ideas and values,” said David Thomas, 58, who has seen over 500 Dead shows and co-owns Tarrytown’s Little Bs with his wife Sharon Bucci-Thomas. The couple drove 13 hours to Chicago to see the final performances. “Being part of this group is a secret handshake where people are kind to each other, help each other without question and understand the concept we are all in this together.”

From Navy Pier to The Magnificent Mile to Grant Park to Soldier Field and points in-between, the Grateful Dead’s music lifted from street musicians busking for a chance—a miracle—to see one last show. Cover bands played their iconic songs in hotel lobbies, and bars where drinks and spirits flowed like rhapsody. Amenable vendors peddled everything from t-shirts to tapestries. This wasn’t the first time the Grateful Dead’s music and vibe enveloped Chicago, home to their musical roots -the blues, but everyone reveled knowing this was the last hoorah.

Take Me to the Leader of the Band

Jerry Garcia, the band’s late unofficial leader, guitar player and singer/songwriter, once said of the Grateful Dead’s music: “We’re like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice.”

On July, 3, 4 and 5, more than 213,000 lucky licorice loving ticket holders, including nearly 20 Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow residents, helped the band celebrate its 50th Anniversary Fare Thee Well swan song at three sold out dates at Chicago’s Soldier Field. When these shows were announced by the San Francisco-born band in January, an estimated one million fans world-wide scrambled for tickets via mail order and Ticketmaster.

“The Grateful Dead to me is a way of life. I was captivated by the music and never looked back,” said Bebe Gonzalez, 46, who has seen more than 60 shows since 1982 and owns Tarrytown’s Green Machine Laundromat and 22 Main Street. “When the Chicago shows came up, I wanted to share that experience with my daughter.”

Soldier Field has meaningful memories for band members and fans alike. The venue was the last place Garcia performed with the Grateful Dead in July 1995; a month later he died of a heart attack. Four years later, Gonzalez’s daughter, Belle, was born. Father and daughter wanted to pay homage to Garcia and traveled 800 miles by car to share in the happening.

“The Grateful Dead has always brought my dad a lot of joy throughout his life. I wanted to experience something this amazing and unique with him,” said Belle Gonzalez, who begins her senior year at Irvington High School this fall. “My favorite part of the concerts was dancing with my dad at Soldier Field just as I had done in my living room with him when I was a little girl.”

Who Are These Deadheads?

Minus the band’s iconic imagery, such as a “steal your face” logo, dancing bears or rose cladded dancing skeletons, there is no methodology to properly identify a deadhead on sight—he or she could be a doctor, a plumber, a teacher or a judge. The Urban Dictionary defines a deadhead as “a person who greatly enjoys the music of the Grateful Dead and particularly the genius of Jerry Garcia.” Beyond that descriptor, deadheads view the band members as they see themselves—fallible human beings with the ability to transcend space and time.

“The weekend after my high school graduation, I went to my first show up in Saratoga Springs, June 24, 1984,” said native Tarrytown resident Laurie Birrittella, 48, a financial executive who drove to the Chicago concerts with her husband, Myles. “Being a Sunday and a minister’s daughter, I of course went to the Old Dutch Church first and then headed up on the train. The feeling of community and the music was awesome. The band and the fans were one with each other.”

Among the legion of deadheads (past and present) are Steve Jobs, Walter Cronkite, Phil Jackson, Joseph Campbell and Bill Walton. The band even crosses political party lines; fans include Bill Clinton and Barack Obama plus conservative pundits Ann Coulter and Tucker Carlson. In Chicago, celebrities like Woody Harrelson, John Mayer, Senator Al Franklin and Bill Murray were in attendance.

“I’ve always been a fan of the Dead, but only in the past couple of years have come to fully appreciate the depth, variety and spirit embodied in their work,” said Stella Goldstein, 32, an attorney who splits her time between Tarrytown and Forest Hills, Queens. She too drove to Chicago to see the finale. “I wish I would have seen Jerry before he died, but I feel lucky to have snuck in at the tail end of the trip.”

Surviving band members Phil Lesh (vocals/bass), 75, Mickey Hart (percussion), 71, Bill Kreutzmann (percussion), 69, and Bob Weir (guitar/vocals), 67, were joined for these concerts by pianist/singer Bruce Hornsby, who played more than 100 shows with the band when Garcia was alive, Phish’s front man Trey Anastasio, who stepped in for Garcia on guitar and vocals, and Ratdog/Furthur organist, Jeff Chimenti.

“Seeing the sea of tie-dyes and the excitement in the air was enough to give me goose bumps,” said Bebe Gonzales. “I think it is difficult to pack 50 years into five shows, but they did a tremendous job.”

The three final concerts in Chicago were preceded by two sold out dates in Santa Clara, Calif. When the initial three shows were announced nearly one million fans tried to get tickets with most being rejected. Soon secondary market companies like StubHub featured ticket prices at an astounding $116,000. But due to the two west coast shows, which allowed roughly 160,000 fans a chance to share the spirit with the band one last time, secondary Chicago ticket price averages dropped to roughly $200 to $500—a fee concert goers might pay to see contemporaries like The Rolling Stones.

A Band Beyond Description

Over the course of their career, the Grateful Dead played more than 2,300 live concerts, including Woodstock and Egypt’s Gizah Sound and Light Theater in the shadows of the Sphinx and Great Pyramid, recorded 13 studio albums and released countless live albums. Never playing the same show twice, their style is a mélange of blues, country, folk, psychedelic rock, jazz and rock and roll. At the heart of many of their songs themes like hope, perseverance, redemption and love emerge.

David and Sharon Thomas don’t intermingle the words “family” and “Grateful Dead” lightly. In 1984, during the band’s spring tour, they met at a concert in Las Vegas. Over the course of the summer tour, flirting and hand holding led to a relationship. Two years later they were married in Yosemite National Park. And nearly 30 years later, life came full circle for the couple in Chicago. The soundman for the Fare Thee Well concerts, Derek Featherstone, was the soundman at their wedding.

“The Grateful Dead was a major part of my journey of moving to California in 1981, which set my entire future in motion,” said Sharon Bucci-Thomas, who kept journals from her experiences seeing the band more than 150 times. She intends to write a book about her days with the Dead, tentatively titled: You Can’t Get on the Bus.

“My first entry was June 5th, 1980 on my way to the Dead’s 15th Anniversary in Boulder, Colorado with my two best friends, Brenda and Ilene. I was also at their 20th anniversary at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, Calif. It was a no brainer to be at the 50th! I needed the last chapter,” She continued. “The Grateful Dead is where I met my husband, made many friends and travelled to places in the country I would never have gone had it not been for the band.”

The Thomas’ love and support of music is apparent for frequenters of Little Bs, lauded for their build your own burgers, wings and specialty sliders. Every Saturday night the restaurant/bar hosts musical acts. David Thomas understands the role of the troubadour. Before moving to Tarrytown from San Francisco in the 1990s, he played guitar in a popular Bay Area band, Buffalo Roam. Today, he plays bass in Crazy Chester, a Tarrytown-based group that primarily interprets the music of the 1960s and 1970s.

“The Grateful Dead brought good people together through great music, and that is what we are trying to do on Saturday nights—providing different genres of music in a relaxed atmosphere for people to enjoy,” said David Thomas.

The last song the Grateful Dead played with Jerry Garcia at Soldier Field in 1995 was “Box of Rain.” In a tribute to their friend, the reformed band opened the Chicago Fare Thee Well shows with the same song. The July 4th show was capped off by an amazing fireworks display during the band’s song, “U.S. Blues.” However, for many fans, the first night’s encore, “Ripple,” written by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, who were inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in June, spoke to the band’s relevance and legacy. As the notes rang true, nearly 71,000 deadheads joined in harmony; some wiped away tears others hugged while many just swayed to the music smiling ear to ear singing:

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine…And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung…Would you hear my voice come through the music…Would you hold it near as it were your own?

| By Alexander Roberts |

Brace Cottage was built in 1908 in the Wilson
Park neighborhood.

A New York State Supreme Court justice in Westchester has ruled against the Tarrytown Planning Board in its effort to dismiss a suit filed by a developer saying that the board’s order to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement five years after site plan approval is illegal. It means the issue will be argued in court.

The issue concerns a caretaker’s house originally built in 1908 in the Wilson Park neighborhood, the last historic remnant of the 19th century mansion known as Braceholme, which was torn down in 1986.

The Planning Board had argued unsuccessfully that since it was not completed, the SEIS is not subject to judicial review. But the judge sided with an affiliate of Toll Brothers that in fact there is question whether the Planning Board erred in requiring the SEIS.

The controversy pits an affiliate of Toll Brothers, which is building 14 new homes on Wilson Park Drive pursuant to approvals dating back to 2011, against a new group called “Friends of Brace Cottage,” headed by village resident Mark Fry.

“Brace Cottage is an architectural masterpiece,” said Fry, “and one of the last remnants of the ‘Golden Age of the Tarrytowns,’ consisting of a row of 19th century estates that included the Rockefeller mansion.”

The cottage was slated for demolition after the developer filed plans to build a new house at the 1.36-acre property at 112 Wilson Park Drive. It would have been the eighth out of 14 homes to be constructed pursuant to the approvals. Fry and his group, which includes 11 descendants of the Charles Brace family, persuaded the Tarrytown Planning Board last October to require the developer to halt destruction of the stone cottage and file a new Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

A spokesman for Toll Brothers would not comment; however, the developer noted in its brief that the Planning Board was well aware of the significance of the cottage after months of public hearings and a consultant’s report to the New York State Office of Parks and Historic Preservation. The cottage’s removal was noted on the approved subdivision plan.

According to the Toll Brothers’ petition to the court, “The Planning Board’s determination to require a SEIS is arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law….and the Planning Board [should be] directed to act on and approve Toll’s site plan application as a SEQRA exempt action.”

In a victory for the new group, the judge granted standing to Friends of Brace Cottage, which has expressed the hope that Toll Brothers will carve out a lot containing the stone cottage and sell it either to the group, or to a homeowner willing to preserve it as a building eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

| by Katy Kachnowski |

While the competitive athletic careers of many graduated seniors have come to a close, the careers of some others will keep on running–literally. Recent Sleepy Hollow High School graduate Daniel Elia will continue his track and field career at the Division 1 Sacred Heart University this September.

Over the past five years, Elia has been a cornerstone of the Sleepy Hollow track and field team. Elia joined the varsity track team in the spring of 2011 as an eighth grader. This move was encouraged by Coach Lisa King, who spotted his talent in middle school physical education. As the youngest athlete on the team, Elia enjoyed the physical challenge and being pushed by his coaches and teammates.

“It was fun for me,” he said. “At that point, I was just focused on keeping up with the rest of the pack.”

Elia competed in the long distance events, running both the mile and the two mile races. Elia continued to run long distance as a freshman and sophomore, where he received All-League and All-County honors. However, halfway through his high school athletic career, after running on a 4×200 meter relay team, he decided to make a change. Instead of running the longer events, Elia began training for the 400 meter, 400 meter hurdles, 55 meter and 110 meter hurdles, and joined the 4×400 meter relay.

“My switch to short distance was a bit of chance,” Elia explained. “The coaches needed a runner for the 4×200 meter relay after an injury, so I stepped in. After winning the race, I decided to change my events.”

It was in short distance where Elia found his groove. Today he holds eight school records, including the 400, the 400 hurdles, 110 meter dash, the 55 meter dash, and the 4×400 meter relay. He has gone on to attain All-Section, All-County, and All-League honors four times. Elia won numerous awards including the Bruce Jenner Award, the Rotary Club Sportsmanship Award, and the Doc Rasbeck Track MVP Award.

His final race as a Horseman was on June 12, at the State Championships in Albany. Elia competed in the 400 hurdles, and finished seventh, but was disqualified because his leg hooked the hurdles. While he is disappointed on missing out on All-State honors, he realized that it is just part of the sport.  “While I wish the State meet could have had a better ending, one race does not reflect all of the work that I have put into the sport and all that I have done so far,” he said.

Sleepy Hollow High School track Coach Paul Gersfeld is confident Elia will continue to excel in college.

“He is an outstanding track athlete, and his versatility really sets him apart from all the others,” Gersfeld said. “You can plug him in anywhere, in short distance, long distance, or a field event, and he can dominate. Because of this range, any coach is lucky to have him. That being said, I am happy for him and the continuation of his career. He has really matured, and is in a good place mentally and physically to compete at the college level. Sleepy Hollow will miss him and his talent, but we look forward to seeing him run in Division I track and field.”

| by Alexa Brandenberg |

Pete Loja, 20
Tarrytown
“I like to take my two dogs for walks on the Aqueduct Trail.  I find it relaxing.”

Leo
Letter Carrier in Tarrytown
“I usually just stay home, relax, and enjoy the day off.  I like Ocean City, MD, but that’s not really a day trip.”

William Nieves, 8
Sleepy Hollow
“I like to go to the beach by the lake but I don’t remember what it’s called.”

Barbara Eisert
Sleepy Hollow
“I love to go to the city. I love the museums and the galleries in Chelsea, and the restaurants are wonderful.  I have two sons and two grandchildren there whom I visit.”

Evelyn Nelson, 8
Sleepy Hollow
“I like to go to the beach by the Hudson River because I like to swim and I see a lot of friends there.”

| by Dottie Conigliaro |

There’s a really funny guy living in Tarrytown. His name is Albin Sadar, and in addition to being funny, he’s a writer, actor, producer and general Renaissance man. According to Linkedin, he’s “A vital contributor to two Best Show Emmy Award-winning teams as a creative writer and television segment producer.”

In addition, he designed and installed landmarks and logos for a NASCAR-sponsored charity, authored several humor kits for Perseus Books; developed a children’s book series for Simon & Schuster, and created the concept and was project manager for an amusement park ride.

For the past 15 years, Sadar has been the producer and project manager for Slycraft, where he uses his considerable talents in segment writing and editing, field production, talent coordination, product and prop design, webpage design, and photography. During his busy life, Sadar has produced several “kits” that are vital to our everyday needs. They include The Underwear Repair Kit: Fix it on the Fly, that contains all the essential tools (needle and thread, iron-on patches, safety pins) and instruction manual for underwear repair; another is Mistletoe on the Go: Stick it and Smooch! (a portable mistletoe that attaches to the forehead with a suction cup…), and Grow Your Own 6-Pack: ‘cause Beer Don’t Grow on Trees!  (“a dream come true for all the do-it-yourselfers out there who’d rather pluck fresh, cold six-packs from the ground than haul themselves all the way from the beer store.”) The kit comes with six aluminum can tabs to plant as “seeds,” plastic six-pack ring to latch the crops together, shovel for planting, mini beer mug, a plant marker, and a 32-page Olde Beer Farmer’s Almanac, all of which make for a fantastic gift purchase.

Sadar marches to a different drummer. An article in The New York Times describes “The Inspired, the Silly and the Useless” inventions people have come up with. Here’s what they say about him: Albin Sadar of Manhattan, and his friend, Bob Pagani, from Allentown, Pa., have devised Dobermask, an inexpensive way to warn off burglars. ‘’It’s a mask of a Doberman pinscher that you slip on the head of your cat or puppy,’’ Albin explained. ‘’We suggest a little shaving cream around the mouth of the mask, for that foaming-at-the-mouth effect. It comes with a sign you put in the window saying: ‘These Premises Patrolled by Dobermask.’

You can tell already that Sadar has a “far out” sense of humor, especially when it comes to kids. That’s because he is uncle to 22 nieces and nephews, who think it’s always a party when Uncle Albin comes to visit, and he always comes up with some funny stories for their entertainment. He has written and invented goofy and creative books and toys for kids – and for adults! He co-wrote and produced the children’s video, The Chartreuse Goose, and masterminded the hot-air-balloon water tower at NASCAR’s Victory Junction Camp. He is also co-author of Slycraft’s Catalog of Stuff and B.S. Bentley’s Beyond Belief.

On a less frivolous note, Sadar produced and wrote entertainment segments for numerous live and live-to-tape programs. In that connection, he built props, found shoot locations, decided on camera angles, collaborated on logos and special effects, selected background music and worked with the editor to finalize pieces. And, he writes book reviews for The Washington Times.

As an actor., he has played offbeat character roles on BackChat, in pilot episodes of The Imposters and The Right Thing, in a segment of Law & Order SVU, and he played Bill Henderson in Robert Redford’s Quiz Show. Off camera, he has been a stand-up comedian at clubs in New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.

Sadar lived in Manhattan for 33 years before meeting his wife, Anne McKissick. The couple later moved to Tarrytown. Sadar’s new book, Hamster Homes, is available at A Nu Toy Store on Main Street in Tarrytown.