by Tom Pedulla

Ryan Smith will be pitching for Division 2 Union College after graduating from Hackley.

Ryan Smith, an ace left-hander at Hackley School, understands the value of home-field advantage better than anyone. He has attended Hackley since kindergarten, but his connection runs far deeper than that.

“It’s been home since I was born,” Smith said.

His father, Bill, has served as Director of Buildings and Grounds since 1997, leading the family to live on campus so that he may respond to urgent matters if they arise. Ryan is the oldest of four children born to Bill and his wife, Flor. Ryan has two brothers, Patrick, 15, and Dillon, 14, and a sister, Isabella, 11.

Smith, a senior, made three interceptions at cornerback and contributed on offense as a wide receiver as Hackley rolled to a 7-0 season in the Metropolitan Independent Football League last autumn. The team fashioned a 28-4 record in his four years.

He is also a mainstay on the baseball team, heading the pitching rotation while providing an offensive catalyst as a first baseman or outfielder when he is not on the mound. He batted a rousing .382 as a junior with a team-leading 15 RBI.

He developed so much as a pitcher that he was recruited by Division 3 Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. He will continue his career there while chasing his dream of reaching the major leagues and continuing his academic progress.

Smith, 5-9, 165 pounds, traces much of his success to the easy access he enjoyed to Hackley’s facilities.

“Not many people have a baseball field or a (batting) cage right next to them,” he said. “I knew I wasn’t going to be the biggest naturally, so I would have to work out a lot and get stronger.”

Smith was chosen by his teammates as a baseball tri-captain – twin brothers Steven and Christopher Wahrhaftig are the other captains – due to his relentless work ethic. His father said Ryan’s alarm is typically set for 5:50 a.m. so he can focus on conditioning before attending to a demanding academic schedule. Late-night workouts also are common.

“It’s like the days of Louie Carnesecca and Chris Mullin at St. John’s,” said Steve Frolo, Hackley’s baseball coach. “Chris had the key to the gym and would shoot any time day or night. With Ryan, he was able to come in, get his swings in, use the weight room whenever he wanted to. It definitely helped.”

Smith often left behind evidence of his presence and that of his brothers.

“There would be balls scattered all over the gym on Monday mornings,” Frolo said. “The comment was always, ‘The Smith boys were around.’”

It took time and physical maturation for all of Smith’s work to reap rewards.

“He was always a smaller kid,” Frolo said. “It was only in the last year that he made himself into a player who could throw the ball in the low to mid 80’s.”

Smith has worked extensively with associate head coach Jim Gorton on his pitching mechanics with an emphasis on improving his balance and on adding a changeup to complement his fastball and curveball. Nothing comes easily, but it is coming.

“When he throws, he’s putting everything into it, shoelaces and everything,” Bill said. “He can really bring it for a kid his size.”

Smith wants to do well for himself. He also has been driven to win for Hackley. His connection to the school could not be stronger.

“He has an appreciation for what Hackley has to offer and what Hackley has given to him,” his father said. “You have to work really hard, but he’s a hard-working kid.”

Before long, Smith will experience college life and a new level of competition. He looks forward to that challenge.

“I want to be one of those guys you hear about in college representing Hackley School,” he said, understanding that home will always be where the heart is.

Martin Miedzowicz

Tarry Crest Swim and Tennis Club has hired a new pro to run its tennis program. The Crest Pool, as it is called, is a private club that has been a big part of our local communities and part of so many of local residents’ youth.

Martin Miedzowicz, a native of Montevideo, Uruguay, was ranked among the top players in both Uruguay and South America. He played several professional tournaments before coming to New York in early 2010.  He began his coaching career as a tennis instructor in Westchester as an undergraduate at Concordia College.

Previously, Miedzowicz was Head Assistant Coach of Racquet Sports at Ardsley Country Club for over four years and also taught at both the John McEnroe Academy and West Rock Academy. Currently, he works with over 100 players during the indoor season at the Tennis Club of Hastings and is USTA, PPTA, and ITF certified. His immediate plans are to re-energize and broaden tennis offerings for all skill levels of Tarry Crest’s members.

by W.B. King  

Along with the YMCA and the recently opened Tarrytown Fitness Center, residents who enjoy working out have yet another option to get physical: SnapFitness.

“What differentiates us from other gyms is that we are open 24 hours, seven days a week with unlimited access for members,” said General Manager and franchise owner, Eric Thomas. “The equipment, trainers and workout options for members are topnotch in the industry.”

With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Thomas has owned and operated a SnapFitness located in Mahwah, New Jersey since 2008. A hands-on general manager, he is keen on creating the right environment for exercise.

“We pay attention to all the details—from the HVAC system to the lighting—everything from the beginning of the build to the gym opening is about creating an ideal exercise experience,” said Thomas.

“You guys have everything needed for a good workout,” Gerardo M. from Mahwah, New Jersey wrote on Yelp recently. “The place looks clean always and machines work properly. Love the fact that it is open 24 hours.”

SnapFitness will occupy the 11,000-square-foot location at 69 North Broadway, formerly the T.F. Andrew furniture store. Members will be able to park in the 64 afforded parking spaces located behind the building. Thomas added that the McKeel municipal lot located across the street offers an additional 70 spaces.

And while the location has two floors, the gym will initially operate on the street level floor, which offers 7,500 square feet of space. “Once we are up and running, we will work to incorporate the second floor,” said Thomas.

Working It Out

With 2,000 clubs open or in development in 18 countries, SnapFitness specializes in smaller fitness gyms. The company ethos is “no frills,” so the business model does not include pools, tennis courts or locker rooms.

“In lieu of locker rooms, our facility has six private restrooms, four of which have showers,” said Thomas. “Additionally, we have a member lounge area with seating, cubbies for members to store their belongings and a flat panel LED HDTV.”

The gym is scheduled to open by mid-May. Thomas couldn’t share the number of “charter discount” members who have signed up in advance of the grand opening, but is encouraged by the interest he is fielding. Additionally, he couldn’t share the number of people who he would employ, but estimated approximately 15 staff members when fully operational.

“The number of employees will depend on the how the club develops, but most of the employees will be trainers and fitness professionals,” said Thomas.

New York State, as well as the federal government, does not require any certification to become a personal trainer. This reality, noted Thomas, can create confusion for people attending gyms.

“Anyone can spend $99 for a weekend course and be certified,” said Thomas. “It’s scary because people trust these people because they think they are certified.”

Tarrytown’s SnapFitness trainers will have nearly 10 years of fitness experience with some having college degrees in an exercise related field.

“We have much higher criteria than any certification can offer,” said Thomas. “They will be trained in CPR, first aid, have a proven track record of success and be fully insured.”

For members who work odd hours, the 24-7 business model provides convenience without sacrificing access to services.

“Trainers work varying schedules, generally revolving around member needs,” said Thomas. “If someone is looking for a trainer at 2 a.m., we will do everything possible to accommodate them.”

A Tarrytown resident and family man, Thomas said he looks forward to working with the Chamber of Commerce and other local businesses.

“We have already developed business relationships, and as a resident I have relationships predating the gym,” said Thomas. “As the gym continues to get established, we will give back to the community in all sorts of ways.”

SnapFitness is preparing to occupy the former furniture store space at 69 North Broadway. — Photo by W.B. King

by Alexa Brandenberg

Jim Husselbee
Sleepy Hollow
“Peabody Outdoor Classroom, because it is a wonderful setting for learning.”

Jean O’Brien
Works in Sleepy Hollow
“Kingsland Point Park”

Pat Way-Townes
Works in Sleepy Hollow
“Sunset Cove, but I’d really like to go to Blue Hill at Stone Barns one day.”

Jacki Geoghegan
Sleepy Hollow
“Rockefeller Preserve. I can go there every day, take a different path, and see something new.”

by Rick Pezzullo

A Tarrytown man was killed Tuesday night in a motorcycle crash in the village.

According to State Police, Kenedy Severino, 32, was operating a 2017 BMW motorcycle northbound on the deceleration ramp of Exit 8 on I-87 at approximately 10:38 p.m. when he failed to maintain his lane, lost control of the motorcycle and struck a concrete barrier.

Severino was pronounced dead at the scene.

by Robert Kimmel

Richard Slingerland

“It is all positive.” That’s how Tarrytown’s new Village Administrator, Richard Slingerland, described the many developing projects in which the village is engaged.  Returning to a post he held 15 years ago, from 1999 to 2002, he sees busy days ahead.

Slingerland pointed to the Village’s Comprehensive Plan and Station Area Study as “immediate priorities,” along with the waterfront revitalization plan.

He listed a series of additional projects on the village’s agenda that add up to his current work challenges: fixing the H-bridge over the Metro Railroad tracks, acquiring a new fire boat, improving Tarrytown’s docking area, countering flooding in Losee Park, RiverWalk landscape restoration, upgrading Patriot’s Park, and the purchase of new fire engines, were just some of them.

“There are several grant projects which we are working on that will take a lot of time and effort,” Slingerland predicted.

It has been two months since the tall, youthful looking administrator took over for Mike Blau, who headed for semi-retirement in North Carolina after working in Tarrytown during two separate terms totaling 17 years. Slingerland, 51, originally followed Blau into other administrative posts after his first village administrator’s job in Tarrytown. Blau had gone from Tarrytown to work as administrator in Mamaroneck and then to Briarcliff before returning to Tarrytown. Slingerland’s path went from Tarrytown to Pelham, then to Mamaroneck, and now, back to Tarrytown.

“I always looked up to Mike as a role model,” Slingerland said. “He was very well respected as a professional, a good colleague, and I consider him a friend. It is a privilege to follow after him.”

While the administrator sees some similarities in Tarrytown compared to the other villages where he worked, Slingerland perceives Tarrytown as “being more mainstream America. The community gets along very well, and that is one of the great things about it. You always have differences of opinion, and difference in politics, but, regardless of that, the officials and residents of the community get along well. They see the vision and the future that can be accomplished by working together.” He added, “Mayor Fixell and all the board members have a great working relationship.”

“I look at Tarrytown as the western gateway to Westchester,” Slingerland said, “With traffic and people coming from Rockland and upstate New York, as well as New York City, we are a real hub of activity.”

Slingerland recalled the discussions during his initial tenure in the village about the value of the waterfront and “getting people back to the river and the importance of maintaining access to the waterways and scenic vistas. It is exciting to see all the pathways and walkways around the village…for people to get out and enjoy the views and parks,” he said. “I have always been a huge fan of recreation and walking.”

“It is interesting to see how things have moved along the lines that were starting back then,” he said, referring again to his past work in the village. It included a referendum for funding a new Village Hall. “It’s nice to see a beautiful municipal building that is an asset for the community. It is all pleasant to come back to and to see some of the people with whom I worked before.”

Slingerland remembered the old Village Hall on Wildey Street, with its “tilted stairs, low ceilings and that, during a walk up from a mid-level lavatory, you could knock your block off.”

While he sees Main Street as having some subtle changes, he noted, “There are great restaurants…and it is nice to see the Music Hall still viable and bringing in concert-goers, and its effect on restaurants and businesses downtown. Some great businesses are still there such as Goldberg Hardware.”

Slingerland said he is prepared “to work hard and into the late hours,” and hopes that “this will be a nice long tenure.” The administrator lives in Ossining with his wife and daughter, a senior in high school. He added, “I might even ride my bike to work once in a while.”

Motorists now have a new way to pay for parking in the Village of Tarrytown. PayByPhone is an app that allows drivers to pay for or extend a parking session from anywhere and will even send a reminder when time is set to expire.

When paying for parking by phone, the license plate and parking time are automatically displayed on a device used by the parking officer. No receipts are required to be displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard. PayByPhone is available in various lots and on-street locations in the village.

Smartphone users can enter m.paybyphone.com on their browser, download the iPhone or Android app, or call 1-866-234-7275. Further information can be found at www.tarrytowngov.com.

Irvington Day, Sunday, June 18

A free shuttle bus will carry you up and down Main Street, from Broadway to the riverfront as shops, restaurants and local interest groups show their wares. There will be activities for all ages, including an Historic Trolley Tour; a Classic Car meet-up; guided history walks and Tiffany Room docent tours; vintage film festival; face painting; tips from genealogy researchers; street food and Father’s Day brunches, plus music on Main Street, Astor Street and in the two waterfront parks.

Roman Kent (second from right) was honored last month in Westchester.
—Photo by Kevin Brown

Holocaust survivor Roman Kent, who has been a leading voice for the rights of Holocaust survivors, was honored last month in Westchester by an organization that promotes Jewish identity and education among young Jews from the former Soviet Union.

Kent, a survivor of the Lodz ghetto and four Nazi camps, including Auschwitz, was honored for his unceasing work in fighting on behalf of Jewish Holocaust victims and ensuring that their legacies are not forgotten. He was presented with the Honorary Elie Wiesel Award for Jewish Continuity and Holocaust Remembrance by Limmud FSU, an organization which brings together Jews from the former Soviet Union for weekends of Jewish culture, seminars and discussion.

As a young boy of 10 in Poland, Kent was sent, along with his family, into the Lodz Ghetto. In 1944, they were transported to Auschwitz, where he and his brother convinced the Nazis they were tradesmen, and were transferred to the Flossenburg concentration camp, ensuring their survival. He was liberated in April 1945, and came to the U.S. in June 1946.

Limmud FSU, which stands for Former Soviet Union, is an international organization that seeks to strengthen Jewish identity by providing Russian-speaking Jews around the world, ages 23– 40, with interactive workshops, panel discussions, religious celebrations, and cultural performances. Approximately 1,000 people participated in about 100 sessions during its weekend conference in Rye Brook.

U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey opened the event and was presented with the Limmud FSU Honorary Elie Wiesel Award for Jewish Continuity and Enduring Commitment to the State of Israel.  She spoke about the importance of restoring Jewish traditions and community throughout the former Soviet Union, where Judaism was repressed for decades under Communism. Cantor Azi Schwartz, who is featured in the movie Norman, starring Richard Gere, and the cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, performed.

Consul General of Israel in New York Dani Dayan spoke at the conference. Also featured was Yoel Rappel, the founder and former director of the Elie Wiesel Archive at Boston University, and who curated an exhibition for Limmud FSU conferences about the life of Elie Wiesel.

Kent is special advisor to the president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), which supports Limmud FSU workshops around the world.  For more than 65 years, the Claims Conference has represented world Jewry in negotiating for compensation and restitution for Holocaust victims. The Claims Conference administers compensation funds, recovers unclaimed Jewish property, and allocates funds to institutions that provide social welfare services to Holocaust survivors and that preserve the memory and lessons of the Holocaust.

As Co-Chairman of the Claims Conference’s negotiating committee, Kent meets frequently with German government officials in his never-ending mission to support Holocaust survivors. For decades, he has exhorted the German government that it has a financial obligation to the Jews who survived the Nazi genocide, who suffered indescribable torments, and who lost their entire families and had to start their lives anew after WWII.

“The Claims Conference is thrilled that Roman has been recognized by Limmud FSU for his life’s work  – helping elderly and frail survivors of the Holocaust live the rest of their lives in dignity, which was so cruelly taken from them in their youth,” said Claims Conference Executive Vice President Greg Schneider.

Limmud FSU was co-founded by Chaim Chesler, also a member of the Claims Conference board, and New York philanthropist Sandra Cahn. “Limmud FSU’s mission is to help rebuild Jewish intellectual and cultural traditions that were wiped out by the Holocaust and decades of Soviet oppression,” Chesler said. “We want to strengthen the Jewish identity of young adults and to encourage them to participate in the revival of Jewish communities and culture, which will create a sustainable Jewish future.”

by Robert Kimmel

After eight years as Chair of the Tarrytown Merchants’ Council, longtime village resident and business owner Theresa McCarthy has stepped down from that role within the organization. A person familiar to village residents, former Mayor Paul Janos, has taken over leadership of the Council.

“Serving on the Council has been an incredibly rewarding experience enabling me to foster significant relationships in the village and to make lasting changes for the betterment of the business community,” McCarthy commented.

She had held the post since 2009. McCarthy said she took over as Chair at the urging of another local business leader, JoAnne Murray, whom she said, “I hold in high regard and consider my mentor regarding community leadership and service.” McCarthy was part owner, with David Starkey, of the Sweet Grass Grill on Main Street. Coincidently, they purchased the restaurant from Janos in 2008.

McCarthy stated she “especially enjoyed advocating for the merchants with the village administrator, the Building Department and the Village Board of Trustees. Michael Blau and recently, Richard Slingerland, new Village Administrator, have always taken the time to sit down with me and discuss various pressing concerns.”

While McCarthy is no longer Chair of the Council, she stated, “I am pleased to continue with my work on parking in the village to keep the positive momentum going and to see things through to completion.” She has had recent discussions with one of the owners of a large segment of the parking lot space behind CVS on Main Street, Edward Coco, Jr., and has reported that he is moving toward making the location more available to the general public, perhaps initially with valet parking.

During McCarthy’s tenure, there have been successful pursuits by the Merchants’ Council she said: “The Village Code was adapted regarding filming in the Village, including the recent raise in fees for productions. Outdoor Dining and Sandwich Board Permits were adapted to adjust fees and accommodate more months of outdoor dining; parking issues have been examined, and parking lots created.” She added that village signage has been posted in various locations; village beautification was extended to support flowering baskets along Main Street and Broadway; new holiday decorations were purchased and tree lights installed; and new garbage receptacles were placed throughout the village.

As for her successor Janos, McCarthy said, “His past connections with fellow merchants, his high profile in the village and his engaging people skills make him ideal for the role. I wish him as positive an experience as I have had and any support I can offer.” Janos was Tarrytown’s Mayor and a Trustee for a total of 10 years. His experience also includes real estate, and he has been in charge of marketing and sales at Hudson Harbor since its completion.

by Robert Kimmel

In assessing the past year at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center, its President and CEO Daniel Blum had a good number of successes to report. The account of those achievements came recently at the Hospital’s Annual Community Breakfast at the DoubleTree Hotel, attended by local political and business leaders.

Blum noted that a recent statewide hospital survey of patients’ satisfaction resulted in Phelps’ placement in the 96 percentile. “That means that with over 225 hospitals in New York State, only four percent of the hospitals received patient satisfactory scores better than Phelps,” Blum explained. “We have made tremendous progress,” he added, while crediting the hospital’s staff for its part in that attainment.

The hospital is quite selective in hiring its medical force, according to Blum. “We hire about 10% of those who submit applications seeking jobs; we are very choosy. We engage in a lot of education internally trying to develop a certain kind of culture,” he said, adding that, “We have become a much more sophisticated organization.”

Among its other accomplishments in 2016, Phelps has been designated as a “Baby-Friendly” hospital, Blum stated. A world-wide program, it signifies that Phelps provides top care and support for new mothers. Phelps is among 18 hospitals in New York State which have that label, and is the second to attain it in the Hudson Valley. Throughout the nation, 420 hospitals and birthing centers have it. A four-year pursuit at the hospital in Sleepy Hollow earned the designation.

Blum also described the hospital as having twice passed what were termed “rigorous and unannounced inspections.” The initial inspection was by the federal government Joint Commission which accredits thousands of hospitals and healthcare program facilities nationwide. “They come in for a surprise inspection once every three years, scour the hospital, its medical records and engage staff members,” he said.

“They go into the operating room and with gloves wipe surfaces and check sanitary conditions,” Blum noted. “The standards are phenomenal, and it one of the most thorough surveys that Phelps has gone through. It is a strong validation of quality, a measure of operational performance. You can’t cram for the test,” he added.

That inspection, Blum said, was followed by another surprise survey visit, this time by the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which does a random sampling of hospitals. The results were termed “exceptional.”

“The Phelps Board has a sense of mission and purpose of treating our patients as a whole,” Blum commented. He noted that the hospital serves a “challenging population…in large measure a charity population…and many services are not compensated.” He mentioned the hospital as “bringing in people for health education.”

The hospital’s latest achievement came last month when its Hyperbaric Medicine Department received Accreditation with Distinction for its program from the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society. Phelps’ claims the largest state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber in the northeast. The department’s initial four-year accreditation came in 2013.

Another point of progress, is the establishment at Phelps of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, which will offer comprehensive cancer services, from prevention, and diagnosis to a variety of treatments. Much of the expansion of resources at Phelps has been attributed to its becoming, in January 2015, part of Northwell Health, the largest provider of health services in New York State.

The non-profit hospital has undertaken medical equipment advances over the past year or so, with an additional focus on technology, according to Blum. He described new CAT scan equipment and the purchase of the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, a robotic apparatus that offers major progress in minimally invasive surgery. “The hospital is also in the process of installing a very hi-tech radiology lab,” Blum related.

During the past year, 88 “carefully selected” physicians have been added to the hospital’s medical staff, and its outreach has expanded to 15 locations in the community, according to Blum.

The hospital’s president was careful to avoid commenting about the political healthcare issues that have been the focus of disputes in Washington; however, when asked, Blum said that the Affordable Care Act was better than the proposed, revised legislation that did not pass Congress in terms of the hospital’s accessibility for all who needed healthcare. He emphasized; however, that regardless of whatever legislation prevails, Phelps would continue to provide care for those in need.

Uriel Garcia

Uriel Garcia is the salutatorian for Hackley’s Class of 2017.  He came to Hackley in Middle School and quickly found a home. He actively pursues challenges, as evidenced by his course of study. He has challenged himself with AP or Post-AP courses in French, Chemistry, Calculus and Biology, and even in academic departments that don’t offer AP courses such as English and History. He is a gifted linguist. In addition to his native Spanish and his French studies, Garcia has also studied some Dutch, German, Portuguese and Arabic. On top of this very heavy academic load, he manages to find time to become involved in the community, both at Hackley and in New Rochelle. He plays alto sax in three different groups at Hackley.  He plays soccer and runs track for the spring track and field team. During the summers, he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, where he picks up and re-sells donated materials for the organization’s Re-store. Garcia will be the first in his family to attend college when he enters Williams College in the fall of 2017.

Isabelle Ampil

Isabella (Izzy) Ampil is the valedictorian of Hackley’s Class of 2017.  She came to Hackley in kindergarten and has been an outstanding member of the Hackley community ever since. She is a brilliant student, having taken and excelled in incredibly challenging courses. She’s just as adept in the STEM courses such as AP Physics C, AP Biology, and Multivariable Calculus as she is humanities courses like English and History. This year, she’s also taking an independent study with an English teacher to work on an original manuscript. She is also a musician who is a major presence in Hackley’s Chorus and female a cappella group, someone who taught herself guitar, ukulele and piano and has emerged as a talented songwriter too. She is an accomplished performer, having won Hackley’s Poetry Out Loud recitation contest three times. Her artwork is of the highest caliber, according to her art teacher. In short, she is the quintessential Renaissance young woman. Ampil will take her many talents, her unquenchable love of learning, and impeccable character to Stanford University in the fall of 2017.

by Robert Kimmel

Within its annual ranking of more than 20,000 public high schools in the nation, U.S. News and World Report placed Irvington High School at number 337, and awarded it a gold medal, a status only the top 500 schools received. The school was ranked 45th in New York, among the State’s 1,252 eligible schools measured.

Sleepy Hollow High School came in at number 559 nationally and was credited with a silver medal. Within the New York State rankings, it achieved 57th place. Thirteen schools in Westchester were within the state’s top 50, with gold medals going to 55 schools state-wide. The silver medal goes to “high-performing schools based on lower college readiness.”

Three categories of medals, gold, silver and bronze are awarded, and among the national rankings, 6,041 high schools received those medals, according to U.S. News. Nationally, 2.4% of the schools had gold medals, 10.3% silver, 16.8 bronze and 70.5% received no medal at all. As its measurements, the media company writes that it evaluates “…students’ performance on required state tests, their graduation rates and their college readiness.” To be listed, a school had to have a 75% or more graduation rate.

For the high school to receive a gold medal, “…students at those schools show the highest level of college readiness, based on “Advanced Placement participation rates and the proportion of students who do well on those exams.” A high school also must show that it is “…serving all of its students and not just those who are college bound,” to be rated among the best. Overall, within the national rankings, New York State’s high schools placed 12th. The state had 16.5 percent of those schools achieving gold or silver medals.

The report indicated that Irvington High School had a 97% graduation rate, and that 74% percent of the students are participating in Advanced Placement course work and exams. It noted that total minority enrollment is 24%. It also listed 9% of the student body as constituting the “Total Economically Disadvantaged” and of that group, 64% as “Proficient” on state exams, as opposed to those who were “Non-Disadvantaged” with a proficiency rate of 91.2%.

Sleepy Hollow High School had a graduation rate of 90%. Its total minority rate was listed as 67% of the student body, and the “Total Economically Disadvantaged” were listed at 55%. The “Percentage of Disadvantaged Students Who Are Proficient” stood at 70.1%, while those who were “Non-disadvantaged” and were “Proficient” was 85.4%.

US News states that its graduation rates used for the 2017 rankings, “reflects the 2015 cohort-students who entered ninth grade in the 2011-2012 school year.”

(For Rankings of other Westchester High Schools, see our website, TheHudsonIndependent.com.)

The Hudson Independent is looking for some good stories from area middle and high school students about what you’re doing over the summer break. It could be as dramatic as helping villagers in El Salvador build houses or as straightforward as working as a camp counselor here at home or in a nearby state. Send us a brief, informal summary of what you are doing and what you’re getting out of it to editor@thehudsonindependent.com. Don’t worry about how polished your submission is. If you are selected, we’ll get back to you and ask you to write it up more formally at about 200 to 300 words, and we’ll publish it either in a summer or early fall issue, or on The Hudson Independent website.

by Neal Rentz

This year’s Dobbs Ferry High School valedictorian
is Blake Hord (left) and Justin
Cohen is the school’s salutatorian.
—Photo credit: Neal Rentz

Graduating Dobbs Ferry High School seniors Blake Hord and Justin Cohen have been a large presence at the school for the past four years, and their achievements have been recognized.

Hord is this year’s Dobbs Ferry High School valedictorian, and Cohen is the school’s salutatorian.

Hord recalled that he and Cohen unexpectedly received the news of their honors during a recent breakfast event held at the school. “We were actually told together,” Hord said during an interview conducted at the school in May, adding he and Cohen were surprised.by the announcement. “It was completely unexpected,” Cohen said. They will be recognized on graduation day, which is scheduled for June 17.

Both students have been active both inside and outside the high school.  Both are taking part in internship programs. Hord is interning at the Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining as a program aide. Cohen is interning at an advertising agency in New York City.

One of the issues Hord said he has researched in the internship is Climate Change, which he said is real, not a myth. “It was such a great opportunity,” he said.

Hord has won several awards from science competitions, including a contest sponsored by International Baccalaureate and was named a finalist in the highly respected Siemens Competition. According to its website, the Siemens Competition “fosters intensive research that improves students’ understanding of the value of scientific study and informs their consideration of future careers in these disciplines.”

Both graduating seniors will be continuing their education at prestigious universities next fall. Hord has enrolled at Stanford University, and Cohen will be attending the University of Pennsylvania. Both students are not certain which areas of concentration they will focus on in their college years, although Cohen said he may major in computer science or physics. Cohen said he is looking forward to living on the west coast during his college years, but “I’m sure my parents will not be too happy,” he quipped.

Both students have been active in student government, known as the Legislative Branch. Hord has been active in the Legislative Branch for four years, while Cohen has been involved for two years.

Hord and Cohen said they have been helped in their high school career with small class sizes that have provided more individualized instruction that a school with a much higher enrollment could not provide. Cohen said he has been instructed by several teachers for three or four years. During the 2017/18 school year there have been 103 seniors at Dobbs Ferry High School.

Hord and Cohen have both taken part in the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) academic program at the high school.  The program includes a requirement that students provide 150 hours of community service. Cohen said he and Hord were particularly grateful to one of his IB teachers, Neil Abbatiello, who teaches a two-year IB math course. “He has been such important teacher in our high school careers,” Cohen said.

(L-R:) Mary Kohrherr, Micah Sprague, and Jan Atkinson. photo by Clare Johnson

 by Clare Johnson

One of the things that makes the Tarrytown Union Free School district special is the Performing Arts Boosters program in the middle and high schools. Founded in the 1990’s by the music teachers, and a hardworking board of parent volunteers, the program raises funds for just about all programs in the music and drama departments. These funds help supply the arts program with new state-of-the-art equipment and allow music students to go on trips that they may not be able to afford.

The Performing Arts Boosters parent board is very dedicated to preserving the magic of the arts for middle and high school students. The current parent board consists of Mary Kohrherr and Jan Atkinson (co-presidents), Rachelle Gebler (secretary), and Leslie Vachon (treasurer). All parent volunteers have students that participate in the performing arts, which prompted their involvement. This spring, co-presidents Kohrherr and Atkinson and treasurer Vachonwill be graduating from the program along with their high school seniors. They have donated years of service and time to the performing arts that have greatly benefitted the lives of hundreds of arts students. The boosters also run through the help and coordination of music teacher liaisons, Micah Sprague (band teacher) and Brittney Trenzcer (orchestra teacher), who assist in organizing fundraising events such as the Santa Breakfast and Breakfast with the Easter Bunny.

The music boosters program has been tremendously successful, and the program now plays an integral role in the middle and high school performing arts department.

“I noticed right when I got here that a large number of my students couldn’t afford to rent instruments, and therefore couldn’t go on the trips. I wanted them to be able to afford the trip and be able to participate. Sleepy Hollow is the best example of what a public school has to offer,” Trenzcer said.

Kohrherr added, “The most rewarding aspect of participating in this organization is the success of the Winter Blues concert. With money raised from that, we were able to spend $15,000 to renovate the grand piano in the high school auditorium.”

Atkinson, who has been involved in the program for six years, said, “It’s great to have such a big community that supports the arts in our school district including even families whose kids are not involved.”

The Boosters host two annual concerts: Winter Blues (a jazz fundraiser) and Spring Harmony (a classical music fundraiser that works in collaboration with the Hudson Valley Wind Ensemble). Proceeds from the concerts have provided a great deal of money to invest in various types of new musical equipment, replacement equipment, and scholarships for students.

“We’ve fundraised about $100,000 worth of new equipment since I’ve joined the program,” said Sprague. These funds have gone toward both the drama department and the music department.

“We’ve been able to provide a wish-list for the department. We also renovated the costume department. We have been able to give a lot to the middle and high school shows,” TheKohrherr said.

Performing Arts Boosters has recently been granted a not-for-profit organization title by the IRS which means they will now be able to apply for grants and scholarships.

One of the best features of the Performing Arts Boosters is that parent volunteers and arts students work side by side, and develop positive relationships with each other. Many of the parents involved have watched these students grow throughout middle school and high school. As the kids grow, they take become active in the Boosters events, waiting on people at the Santa and Easter Bunny Breakfasts, and helping sell tickets and food at concerts and shows.

“It’s really fun to see the kids in a different environment outside the classroom,” said Sprague. “The kids really are the ones who run these events, and to see how responsible they can be running them is quite impressive.”

Sprague said, “All the growth that the Performing Arts Boosters program has experienced throughout the years with students, staff, and parent volunteers would not have been possible without Mary and Jan. They make it a very rewarding place for music teachers to work.”

“We are very sorry to be leaving, but it’s been absolutely rewarding and we’re so glad to have done it,”Kohrherr said.

The new parent board will consist of Alexa Brandenburg and Amy White (co-presidents), Mary Lazin and Rebecca Scarpati (co vice-presidents), and Rachelle Gebler, who will continue as secretary.  For more information about and to join the Performing Arts Boosters, see http://shhs-arts-boosters.weebly.com/ .

Photo Captions: Irvington High School seniors Ryan Meng-Killeen and Zoe Mermelstein.  Photo courtesy of the Irvington Union Free School District

Irvington High School seniors Ryan Meng-Killeen and Zoe Mermelstein, valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2017, said it was validating to receive the recognition.

Meng-Killeen and Mermelstein said they have worked incredibly hard throughout their high school career, but were surprised to receive the school’s top honors. They attributed their success to their friends and family and being given the opportunity to pursue their passions both in school and outside of school.

“Being the valedictorian means that I have some very supportive friends who have always helped me do the best that I can do,” Meng-Killeen said. “You should try to be the best you can be because when you have opportunities and resources that maybe other people don’t have, there’s a responsibility to make sure you make the most of it.”

Meng-Killeen is a member of the varsity cross-country and track teams. He has also completed extensive and challenging independent research as part of the school’s Science Research Program and was awarded second place in the Cellular and Molecular Biology category at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair. He is the recipient of the Peter K. Oley Historian’s Award and was named an AP Scholar for completing challenging college-level courses. In addition, he was inducted into the school’s Cum Laude Society for his outstanding academic achievements and pursuing the most rigorous coursework. Meng-Killeen was also named National Merit Scholarship finalist this spring.

Mermelstein said it’s an honor to represent her class and recognized that everyone worked hard throughout their high school careers.

“I always tried to pursue things that I liked,” she said. “I never took every single Advanced Placement class that I had to take. I did a lot of history and language and I really enjoyed what I was doing and I studied a lot. It was easy for me to do the work if it was something I was passionate to be doing.”

Mermelstein is the captain of the varsity cross-country and track teams. She is the co-president of the Latin Club and a four-time National Latin Exam gold medalist. She is a National Merit Scholarship winner and a U.S. Presidential Scholarship nominee, as well as the recipient of the Yale Book Award and National Greek Exam Blue Ribbon. In addition, she was named an AP Scholar with Distinction for completing challenging college-level courses. Mermelstein was also inducted into the school’s Cum Laude Society for her outstanding academic achievements and pursuing the most rigorous coursework.

The soon-to-be graduates said if they could give any piece of advice to the incoming freshmen, it would be to pursue their passions and push themselves in the areas they’re strong at.

“They should do what they’re passionate about and interested in and not worry too much,” Meng-Killeen said. “I think a lot of the freshmen can be stressed out about starting high school and try to be perfect and make the perfect resume, but I think it’s good to keep things in perspective. School is important but it’s not everything. They should cultivate friendships and spend time with their families.”

As far as his speech, Meng-Killeen said he will reflect on the year and everything that makes their grade unique.

“Everyone is very passionate about what they do and I think that makes us a less competitive and more collaborative grade,” he said. “Irvington is a very special place and we have a pretty tight-knit community, which is nice.”

In the fall, Meng-Killeen will attend Cornell University, where he plans to major in biology. Mermelstein will be attending Brown University, where she plans to pursue a Classics and Middle Eastern Studies major.

by Julia Ann Friedman

Diego Arias

Diego Arias will finish his high school career at the top of his class, having come a long way from where he started. His family came to the United States from Uruguay when Arias was six years old, and the only English he spoke was “hello.”

In a third-grade reading enrichment program, Arias recalled feeling very frustrated when his class was assigned to read a challenging book at home. The teacher told the students to seek help from their parents, but Arias did not have English-speaking parents who could help him. He remembers trying to read the book, and having the desire to improve his English, but struggling having to do it on his own.

So how did Arias get to where he is today? He explained that his parents constantly motivated him to work hard and do his best. What his parents value more than him getting into college or being valedictorian is that he has worked hard for everything he has and that he has never given up. Arias described himself as self-motivated, learning this
idea from his parents.

Arias’ hard work will pay off , as he will be attending Harvard University in the fall. He is unsure of what he will be studying, but nonetheless, he is extremely excited to go to college.

Sofia Guarnieri

This year’s salutatorian, Sofia Guarnieri, reflected upon her high school experience,
extremely satisfied with the close-knit and spirited community at Sleepy Hollow High
School. Guarnieri admires the diversity at Sleepy Hollow, and enjoyed being a part of the
dual language program starting in kindergarten.

Even from a young age, Guarnieri recalled challenging herself academically, always taking
the hardest classes she could. She experienced moments of panic at the beginning of
each year, worrying that she would not be able to handle all of her schoolwork, but her
organization and dedication allowed her to manage her work and pass with flying colors.

Guarnieri said her motivation comes from herself, and that she always set high standards
and high expectations. Her parents also played a role in pushing her, but it was
mainly her personal drive that shaped her academic career. Surprisingly, it was never her
goal to be salutatorian, but she very much appreciates the honor and recognition that
comes along with it.

Guarnieri will be attending the University of Rochester in the fall, and will be majoring
in biomedical engineering.

by Tom Pedulla

Change is coming to Demeter’s Tavern and Sports Bar. And that is not easy for customers who feel so at home at a cozy spot owned by the same family since 1947.

Stephen Demeter, who took over the operation with his brother, Donald in 1990, as the third generation, finds himself reassuring customers that they will ultimately welcome the extensive renovation once it is completed.

“A lot of people say, ‘Don’t change this. Don’t change this,’” said Demeter. “We’re going to keep the same feel. The same people have been with us forever. It’s still going to be the same charm. It’s just going to be newer.”

The business closed on May 20. The projected re-opening date is July 7 with the intention of celebrating the 70th anniversary in style.

A new roof, new air conditioning, larger high-definition televisions and a gleaming mahogany bar that will have outlets for laptops are among the improvements.

Outlets for laptops?

The founders, Frank and Elizabeth, would never have seen that coming. And it is jolting to patrons who have counted on the place for decades for nothing more complicated than lunch or dinner with a home-cooked touch, a drink or two after work, and conversations with fellow customers who quickly become friends.

Trish Pozzi, one of the bartenders, finds herself doing more hand-holding than usual these days. She promises that, although Demeter’s will be different, it will not be all that different.

“Some of these guys have been coming here for 20 or 30 years, so change is scary for them,” Pozzi said. “It’s still going to be that homey, ski-lodge feel.”

Perhaps there could be no greater compliment to Demeter’s – and to what it represents to the community – than customers who would want to cling to a roof that leaks and an air conditioning system that remains balky despite frequent repairs.

Locally, Demeter’s is the closest thing imaginable to a real-world Cheers.

“It was, and still is, the most wonderful place you could go,” said Melanie Clish, a customer since she moved from her hometown of Pittsburgh to Tarrytown in 1997.

In a sense, Demeter’s was her salvation then. The change had been wrenching for her as she left behind family and friends to relocate to an area where she knew no one. She desperately sought a friendly face.

Then she walked into Demeter’s — where there are always friendly faces.

“They make you feel totally welcome,” Clish said. “They are the nicest people you could ever meet.”

That goes for the owners, staff and customers, an engaging mix of blue-collar workers, corporate types, families and guests at nearby hotels.

“We play music. We sing. You can be goofy there. You can be sad. Whatever you want to be,” said Clish, adding, “There have been joys and sorrows, births and deaths, and everything in between.”

Michael Mahonec has been a regular since the early 1980’s. There is no place he would rather be, especially on NFL Sundays.

“It’s comfortable,” he said. “That’s the best word to use.”

So comfortable that Allison Montovelli continues to work as a waitress on Friday nights as she has since 1990 despite having a full-time position as an office manager.

“It’s like a big family,” she said. “I just could never give it up.”

When Pozzi moved from Yorktown to Tarrytown two years ago, customers did the heavy lifting. Many of those same people were high on her guest list when she planned her wedding.

As if this place wasn’t special enough, Demeter said no price increases will accompany the facelift. Even more comforting to devotees, he emphasized that his family remains as committed as it always has been.

“We’re not going anywhere,” he said.

by W.B. King

Riverrun Books & Manuscripts Owner Tom Lecky.

With a revolving inventory of more than
30,000 volumes of rare, antiquarian, unusual
books and manuscripts from all time
periods, Hastings-on-Hudson’s Riverrun
Books & Manuscripts is tantamount to a
literary time machine.

“Since 1978, it has been an antiquarian
book store focusing on fine books and first
editions,” said owner Tom Lecky. “Until I
took over in June of 2016, the focus was
on modern material because that was the
strength of the previous owners.”

Prior to buying the book store, Lecky
spent 17 years working for Christie’s auction
house. During his last 10 years of employment,
he headed the company’s Printed
Books & Manuscripts Department.

“Given my background and experience,
I have handled a lot more earlier material,”
said Lecky. His current catalog project, for
example, features more than 120 books
that reflect the entire history of book illustration—
from the 15th century to early 20th century.

“The stock we have now tends to reflect
more of that (older titles) as well as the
whole scope of books throughout printed
history,” said Lecky.

Bound and Determined

A Hastings resident since 2001, Lecky
often passed the book store on his way to
and from the train when he commuted to
Manhattan. He would stop in on occasion
to see what new titles were on display or
just to have a chat.

“The store has the same name as it did
in 1978. I knew the previous owner and
bought things from him,” said Lecky. “Last
year the opportunity arose for me to take
over the business, and I ended up purchasing it.”

With an extensive list of books, customers
could purchase a first edition, first issue
of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatbsy
for $7,000. On average, Lecky said book
prices range from $5 to $150,000.

“I am not what you would call a used
book store,” said Lecky. “I sell first edition,
scholarly books and unusual books. This
doesn’t necessarily mean they are expensive
but it means they have a unique or interesting
feature to them rather than, say, a
paperback version of a Charles Dickens novel.”

And while his list of books sits around
30,000 titles, only 15,000 are catalogued
on the store’s website (www.riverrunbookshop.
com). “There is a tremendous amount
of material that hasn’t been processed yet or
is of more modest value and doesn’t warrant
the time and detail it takes to catalog,”
said Lecky. “So there is a lot to discover in the store.”

Turning the Page

Lecky, who has been a featured appraiser
on PBS’s Antique Roadshow, has worked
on various literary collections that went
to market, including the Fox-Bute set of
Audubon’s’ Birds of America, which holds
the world record for price of a printed book
($10 million). And while this example is
the exception rather than the rule, rare,
valuable books continually pop up, he said.
“Most of the books that are here and that
I purchase are books that have been passed
down in families going back one or two
generations,” said Lecky. “The overwhelming
number of books are of nominal value,
but that is true of any area whether it is
silver, porcelain or a painting. Every once
in a while you find a real gem.”

Lecky purchased Riverrun Books &
Manuscripts, in part, to support the literary
community in and around Hastings-on-
Hudson. The store regularly holds
readings and receptions. He is also happy
to field general questions from customers
on the lineage and history of a book. For a
fee, he offers professional estate and insurance appraisals.

“There are fewer and fewer book stores
people can visit,” said Lecky. “This store is a
place where people can come and feel comfortable.
They can browse, ask questions
and make discoveries on their own of really
interesting material that ranges across centuries
and subjects. It’s a pleasure to share
my love of books with people.”