Cora Moore drives baseline for Fox Lane. Dylan New makes her move to the hoop. Amanda Mazzuca hits a jump shot for the Foxes. Riley New shoots in the lane for the Foxes against Lakeland. JIM MACLEAN PHOTOS By JIM MACLEAN  One team was red hot, and the other went ice cold. Unfortunately for the Fox Lane girls varsity basketball team, the Foxes were the team that couldn’t get a shot to fall as they hosted Lakeland on Saturday, Jan. 10, and the Hornets couldn’t miss down the stretch as they pulled away to hand Fox Lane a 55-43 setback. Fox Lane actually took the lead in the third quarter, but Lakeland sank 21 of 24 free throws and nailed five three-pointers to take control and close out the victory on the road. “We took the lead and I thought we had it, but we went ice cold again and Lakeland hit everything,” said Fox Lane coach Kris Matts. “They stepped up when they needed to. Their role players hit threes, they made free throws, and when that happens it’s difficult to claw your way back, but you need to score with the basketball and we had a tough time putting it in. We’ve got to figure out a way to score, and unfortunately today just wasn’t our day.” Lakeland came out of fire at the start as the Hornets built a 15-9 lead in the first quarter. Fox Lane trailed by eight in the second quarter, but Nora Dooley came in and scored a pair of baskets and Cora Moore hit a 3-pointer to spark the Foxes, and Dylan New scored the final bucket of the half to cut the Lakeland lead down to 28-25 at halftime. The Foxes carried the momentum over into the third quarter as Morgan Clinton scored and Riley New then scored to give Fox Lane a 29-28 lead, but the Hornets answered with a 7-0 run to regain the lead. Amanda Mazzuca scored for the Foxes, and Dylan New then hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead down to one at 35-34, but the Hornets answered once again with a 7-0 run to take charge. Another 7-0 run put Lakeland up 47-36 early in the fourth quarter. Fox Lane had a 6-0 run to answer behind a pair of baskets from Riley New and one from Amanda Mazzuca, but the Hornets were able to ice the victory by hitting seven of eight free throws down the stretch when the Foxes started to foul to try and get possession to cut into the lead. In the end, Lakeland had two big stars as Liliana Aguirre scored 20 points and Riley Waters finished with 19 points to lead the Hornets to the victory. Moore led Fox Lane as she finished in double figures with 10 points. Riley New scored 8 points for the Foxes, while Clinton, Dooley and Amanda Mazzuca each scored six points. Dylan New finished with 5 points, and Kam Boniello rounded out the scoring with 2 points for the Foxes. “The girls played so intensely the entire game and I’m proud of them all,” Matts said. “We’ve been great defensively, we got stops and a lot of good looks, but they just weren’t going in for us today. Some people got into the rotation and didn’t back away. Nora Dooley played great, she’s one of the best shooters on the team, but she hesitates. Amanda Mazzuca is like a defensive maniac, she usually doesn’t like to shoot, but today she was hitting them. They shoot with confidence like that, they can help us more.” With the loss to Lakeland, Fox Lane fell to 5-6 overall after a busy week as the Foxes also cruised to a 50-29 win over Eastchester and fell to Ossining on the road by a score of 57-34 in another game where the Foxes just could not get the shots to fall. “Whoever gets us on the day our shots start going in, they are going to be very unfortunate,” Matts added. “I’ll be very excited to see it.” Coach Matts hopes that day will be Friday, Jan. 16, as the Foxes drive down the road to face Horace Greeley. It will be back-to-back games for the Fox Lane girls and boys teams against the rival Quakers.

Gianna Pelosi gets fouled in the lane. Avery Bisignano makes a pass. Gabby Camaj drives up the court for the Wolves. Kylie Bishop goes up for a shot. JIM MACLEAN PHOTOS By JIM MACLEAN  Dec. 18 seems like a long time ago. It was the last time the John Jay girls varsity basketball team was on the court for a game against an opponent. It showed as John Jay came out of the holiday break for its first game in almost a month on the road at Westlake on Monday, Jan. 12, and the Wolves found it hard to make a shot in a 47-31 setback to the host Wildcats. “A lot of time off, just playing us, and it showed,” admitted John Jay coach Matt Gallagher. “It’s not like we didn’t have good shots, they just weren’t falling for us. It’s unfortunate, that’s been our issue all season; a lot of good looks and they just don’t fall. That comes with experience, getting used to playing together. We’re getting there, practices are getting a lot better and we’re competing, moving in the right direction. We just have to make shots.” John Jay actually came out strong and the shots were falling early on for the Wolves. Gianna Pelosi scored 8 points and Gabby Camaj scored five as John Jay built a 24-16 lead midway through the second quarter, but then the Wolves went ice cold. Westlake scored the last five points of the quarter to cut the lead down to 24-21 heading into halftime. Coming out from the intermission, Kylie Bishop scored the first hoop of the second half to give John Jay a 26-21 lead, but that was the last points of the third quarter for the Wolves. The Wildcats went on a 9-0 run to end the third quarter with a 30-26 lead. Host Westlake was fired up heading into the fourth quarter and scored the first 5 points to build a 35-26 lead before Avery Bisignano hit a free throw for the Wolves to break their scoreless drought. Camaj then scored the first basket since the opening seconds of the half for the Wolves to cut the deficit down to six at 35-29, but the rally was short lived as Westlake answered with two hoops to regain momentum. Camaj scored again for John Jay to make it 39-31, but that would be the last points of the game for the Wolves as the Wildcats closed out the game with an 8-0 run to complete a 47-31 victory. The Wildcats made their free throws down the stretch and closed out the victory, but Gallagher credited his team for a good effort on the road after the long break. Camaj led the Wolves with 9 points overall. Pelosi finished with 8 points. Bishop scored 5 points, while Helena Schembri, Charlotte Omin, Bea Hill and Lina Halaifonua each scored 2 points for the Wolves. “They all play hard, every one of them, they’re giving me all they’ve got,” Gallagher said of his team. “We’ve just got to make shots, that’s been our story so far. We’re still trying to put it together. It’s a learning curve and we’re trying to right the ship and come back strong on Wednesday.” After the long holiday break, John Jay was given a schedule with a long road trip starting at Westlake as the Wolves have five-straight games on the road. Next up was a trip to Edgemont on Wednesday, Jan. 14, followed by a trip to Arlington on Friday, Jan. 16. The Wolves then play games at Croton and Rye Neck before returning home to host Pleasantville on Friday, Jan. 23.

Maynor Argueta of Fox Lane won the 118-pound weight class title at the Hen Hud tournament. JIM MACLEAN PHOTO John Aniello advanced to the 126-pound championship bout at the Hen Hud tournament. Rob DiAntonio Photo Carmelo Cambareri of Fox Lane scores a takedown . JIM MACLEAN PHOTO By JIM MACLEAN  Wrestlers from Fox Lane and John Jay were busy last weekend competing at two of the largest tournaments of the year. Some of them went upstate to test themselves at the Eastern States Classic tournament with wrestlers from six states competing, and others stayed local to compete against a field from 30 schools at the Hen Hud tournament. At the Eastern States Classic in Clifton Park, Luke Ryan of Fox Lane had a big tournament as he placed fifth in the 165-pound weight class. He lost to the eventual champion in the semifinals and he worked his way back on to the podium in fifth place. “Luke had a really good tournament,” Fox Lane coach Anthony Rodrigues said of Ryan. “We were hoping he could get in the top three, but he lost to the kid who won it and had some really good tough matches. He steamrolls everyone in Section 1 and he can’t do that at the state level, so it was good for him to see some good competition at that level.” In addition to Ryan, Fox Lane had three other wrestlers compete at Eastern States as Chris Bloom, Flavio DiNicola and Piero DiNicola all made the trip north to face the best in the state and Northeast. “Flavio had a terrible draw and two tough matches, he could have won the Hen Hud tournament, but I think it was good for him to be up there at Eastern States,” Rodrigues said. “Piero actually wrestled really well, won his first match big, lost to a very good kid in the second match, and then he was wrestling a kid who placed second in the state and he was beating him, but took a bad shot and got pinned. Bloom beat the 13th seed and lost to the kid who placed third, it was probably the best he wrestled all year.” John Jay had a pair of wrestlers travel north for the Eastern States as David Corrales and Emerson Flamm both competed and came away with two tough losses. “A great experience, now they know what to expect against that level of competition, they’re all good up there,” Swertfager explained. “David wrestled hard, and Emerson had two tough matches, but both looked strong. It’s all about the experience.” At the Hen Hud tournament, Maynor Argueta was the bright spot for Fox Lane as he won the 118-pound weight class title. Argueta was seeded seventh, but he made it look easy with two quick pins to advance to the quarterfinals where he scored a 14-8 victory over the second seed. He then pinned his next two opponents to win the title. Other Fox Lane highlights at Hen Hud included Andrew Brauning at 215 pounds as he pinned four opponents and had only one loss to the eventual champion and finished third overall. Carmelo Cambareri went 5-1 overall, and Finn Guyder was 4-2 on the day. John Aniello had a big day for John Jay at Hen Hud as he advanced to the 126-pound title bout before falling by a 1-0 score to Kieran Harrington of Oceanside. Other highlights for John Jay included Joe Ferrer at 215 pounds as he finished fifth, and Nick Candia placed eighth at 285 pounds as they both went 4-2 overall on the day. Joe Arefieg went 3-2 for the Wolves. “John had a really good tournament, he lost a nail biter in the finals,” Swertfager said of Aniello. “He was sidelined with an injury, now he’s coming back and feeling really good getting ready for the second half of the year. Joe Ferrer is coming on strong and it’s really nice to see him put it together. Nick Candia is really showing progress, turning a corner. He’s one of our hardest workers and it’s paying off.” Both Fox Lane and John Jay will compete at the Shoreline Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 17, at New Rochelle High School.

Marc Fein splits a pair of defenders. JIM MACLEAN PHOTOS Nate Summer scores two of his team-high 19 points. Owen Gitelson scores in the lane. By JIM MACLEAN  The room was packed for “jam the gym” night as the John Jay boys varsity basketball team hosted league rival Hen Hud on Friday night, Jan. 9, and the Wolves put on a show for the home crowd. It was a thriller as John Jay rallied from behind in the third quarter and turned it on in the final quarter to secure a 70-62 victory over the Sailors. “Our hope is always that ‘jam the gym’ night is a lot of fun and people will keep coming back if we play well,” John Jay coach Tyler Sayre said of the big crowd. “Hopefully, that’s what we’ll get with the crowd, we need it with a couple of tough games next week. This was a nice win, two in a row for us and we have to build some momentum and keep improving.” It turned into a classic battle of two different styles. John Jay had the size advantage inside and used it, while Hen Hud had the sharp shooting guards on the outside and the Sailors kept hitting big 3-pointers to stay in the game. In the end, it was John Jay’s balance that won out as the Wolves had nine different players score and contribute, led by Nate Summer as he scored a team-high 19 points, including eight in the final quarter for the Wolves. Hen Hud countered with four different players in double figures, led by Hunter Kennedy-Brown with a game-high 20 points, and the Sailors connected on 10 3-pointers overall. “We knew we had a size mismatch and we had to take advantage of it, and we knew they’d try to play small,” Sayre said. “We’ve got size, not just big bodies; they’re pretty good players who can rebound, score and play defense. Nate is only a freshman and he’s here because he can put the ball in the basket. For about 28 minutes we played really well, we gave up a couple of runs, but outside of those runs I feel we kind of wore them down.” Alex Palacio also finished in double-figures for the Wolves with 10 points. He was one of four big men inside working hard for John Jay, as Timmy Pastore finished with 9 points, while Owen Gitelson and Marc Fein each scored 8 points for the Wolves. John Jay had built a 13-point lead in the second quarter, but Hen Hud went on a 9-0 run to cut it down to a 28-24 lead at halftime. The big men took charge to start the second half with six-straight points for the Wolves to get the lead back up to 10 points, but the Sailors got hot from outside nailing four 3-pointers to eventually take the lead at 44-41 late in the third. Pastore answered with a 3-pointer for the Wolves, and Summer scored to close out the third quarter with a 47-46 John Jay lead. In the fourth quarter, John Jay came out strong with Fein scoring a hoop and Summer then connecting on a 3-pointer and another basket to make it an 8-point lead. The Sailors cut it down to 4 points, but Braydon Gates hit a 3-pointer and another hoop, and Will Green and Summer each hit a pair of free throws to close it out for the Wolves. Gates and Green each finished with 5 points overall, and Dion Prelvukaj scored4 points and Patrick Ryan added 2 points as nine different Wolves contributed in the score column. It was the big 23-point effort in the fourth quarter that made the difference as John Jay sent the crowd home happy. The Wolves hope to carry the momentum forward with games against Yorktown and Byram Hills coming up on the schedule. “We’re just getting better, this team compared to our first game is like night and day,” added Sayre. “We have to keep it up, working hard, just try to keep getting better through February.”

Here's a selection of area events, activities and programs of interest beginning January 16. FRIDAY, JAN. 16 Fantasy Finders: Creative Writing Club. Katonah Village Library, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah; katonahlibrary.org . Sixth to 12 graders will be able to share ideas, work with others and write stories from their imaginations. From 4 to 5 p.m. Fran Lebowitz.  Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, Conn.; ridgefiedlplayhouse.org . A conversation with the writer and cultural satirist; 8 p.m. SATURDAY, JAN. 17 Mobile Shredder.   Recycling Center, 343 Railroad Ave., Bedford Hills; bedfordny.gov .   A The company can shred paper, paper clips, rubber bands, staples and black clips; No three-ring binders or anything that is non-paper (CDs, tapes, DVDs, hard drives, etc.). Proof of Bedford town residency required. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum: Third Saturdays.  Aldrich, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, CT; thealdrich.org .  Visit the museum for free; enjoy storytime, art activities and a tour. From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  SUNDAY, JAN. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Antioch Baptist Church, 3 Church St., Bedford Hills; theantiochchurch.net . Interfaith community worship service; 4 p.m. Bruce Molsky.  Westchester Bluegrass Club, 33 Lake Way, Purdy’s; westchesterbluegrassclub.com . Molsky, world-renowned fiddler, banjo player and singer performs. From 3 to 5 p.m. Ramadan Crafts.  Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Parkway, Rye; discoverwcm.org . A family-friendly event making crafts inspired by the traditions and themes of Ramadan. From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Snow Stories.  Teatown, 1600 Spring Valley, Ossining; teatown.org . On this World Snow Day, find out the features of snowflakes, hear a snowy story, and learn to read the ice. From 1 to 2 p.m. MONDAY, JAN. 19 “Amend: The Fight for America.” Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Road, Bedford; bedfordplayhouse.org . In partnership with Antioch Baptist Church, the public is invited to this free screening and discussion; 10 a.m. B ring a donation of nonperishable food or snack items for the youth service project Monday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m. Community Ice Skating.  Harvey School, 26 Jay St., Katonah; bedfordny.gov . Enjoy skating to a DJ and sipping hot chocolate. Bring your own skates. From 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. Colonial Candle Making.  Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco; westmorelandsanctuary.org . A hands-on workshop for all ages. Participants will learn traditional techniques while making their own candles. From 2 to 3:30 p.m. Toiletry Drive. Pound Ridge Town House, 179 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; townofpoundridge.gov . In recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, donations of full-size personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant, will help support individuals in need through LifeWay Network’s Safe Housing Program. Donations accepted through Jan. 27. TUESDAY, JAN. 20 “Living Intentionally” Author Talk.   Bedford Playhouse, 633, Old Post Road, Bedford; bedfordplayhouse.org . Author Joe Gagnon will discuss how purpose, resilience, and awareness can change the way we live and lead; 7 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Beyond Plastics: Plastic Pollution & the Road to Advocacy.  Katonah Village Library, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah; katonahlibrary.org . The Bedford Garden Club hosts Kimberly Cameron who will discuss the growing global environmental crisis that disproportionately burdens people of color around the world, and how to advocate. From 10 to 11 a.m. The Bacon Brothers: People in the World Tour.   Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, Conn.; ridgefiedlplayhouse.org . The brothers have performed for three decades creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul and country music; 7:30 p.m.  Trivia Night.  Bedford Playhouse, 633, Old Post Road, Bedford; bedfordplayhouse.org . Trivia Night returns to the Playhouse Café. Play solo or as a team and test your knowledge on a wide range of topics; 7 p.m.  THURSDAY, JAN. 22 First Responder Information Night.  Bedford Hills Community House, 74 Main St., Bedford Hills; bedfordny.gov . Learn more about the four, all-volunteer first responder agencies in the town of Bedford. Panel discussion followed by Q&A; 6:30 p.m. Polar Bears!   Katonah Village Library, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah; katonahlibrary.org . Cornell Cooperative Extension will host kids K-5 to learn all about polar bears. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Adult Trivia Night ! Katonah Village Library, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah; katonahlibrary.org . Gather your family, friends and fellow trivia enthusiasts for an evening of games and prizes. From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  FRIDAY, JAN. 23 Coffee & Conversation with Celia Hirsch.  Bedford Free Library, 32 Village Green, Bedford; bedfordfreelibrary.org . Hirsch will discuss her memoir “Telling: What Remains Hidden Becomes Lethal,” recounting her traumatic childhood marked   by emotional abuse in the shadow of her parents’ Holocaust survival. From 10 to 11 a.m. Friday Poetry Group.  Katonah Village Library, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah; katonahlibrary.org . A beginning approach to poetry. All levels welcome. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Acrylic Painting Works.  Pound Ridge Library, 271 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; poundridgelibrary.org . Bring your own photo to use as inspiration in this acrylic painting workshop. All levels welcome. All materials provided. From 12:30 to 3 p.m. Preview Show-Art Show: Bedford St. Matthew’s Church, 382 Cantitoe St., Bedford; artshowbedford.org .   St. Matthew's largest outreach project is celebrating 53 years of highlighting local artists: painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry and more, and supporting local charities. From 6:30 to 9 p.m. Night at the Museum: The Big Backyard.  Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, CT: brucemuseum.org . Come in your pajamas and enjoy a family event of crafts and activities inspired by current exhibits, food and refreshments. From 5 to 7:30 p.m. Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band . Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill; paramounthudsonvalley.com . Azaria’s tribute performance is a full-tilt rock ‘n’ roll event, a true homage to Bruce Springsteen; 8 p.m.   SATURDAY, JAN. 24 Art Show: Bedford St. Matthew’s Church, 382 Cantitoe St., Bedford; artshowbedford.org .   St Matthew's largest outreach project is celebrating 53 years of highlighting local artists: painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry and more, and supporting local charities. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also held Sunday, Jan. 25, 30, 31, and Feb. 1. “My African Journey”: Martin J. Rosen.  Pound Ridge Library, 271 Westchester Ave. Pound Ridge; poundridgelibrary.org . Pound Ridge resident, Rosen,   a nature and environmental photographer, is displaying his skillsets in capturing the magnificent indigenous wildlife of the African continent. Refreshments. From 2 to 5 p.m. Sensory-Friendly Screening “Wicked: For Good.” Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Road, Bedford; bedfordplayhouse.org . A family-friendly screening in a comfortable, inclusive setting. Everyone is welcome; 12:30 p.m. “Frozen.”  A.C.T. of Connecticut, 36 Old Quarry Road, Ridgefield, CT; actofct.org . Based on the film, the musical tells the story of royal sisters, Elsa and Anna, as they journey through love, fear, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Various showtimes through March 15. Winter Sowing and Recycling Program: Seed Jugs.  Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100< Katonah; muscootfarm.org . Participants will learn how to turn recyclables into mini-greenhouses for seeds. Bring clean milk jugs, juice containers, large zip-top bags, or other clear recyclables. From 1:30 to 3 p.m. Cold Reads & Coffee.  Arc Stages, 147 Wheeler Ave., Pleasantville; arcstages.org . The monthly queer reading circle will read “The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer; 11 a.m. Comedy Night with Paul Virzi.  Conant Hall, 257 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; townofpoundridge.gov . Comedian Virzi performs; 8 p.m. SUNDAY, JAN. 25 Broadway Comes to Pound Ridge.  Pound Ridge Library, 271 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; poundridgelibrary.org . An intimate concert of Broadway classics and oldies, performed by New York–based singer and actor Liz Byrne. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Learn Street Magic with Davie Pogue. Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Road, Bedford; bedfordplayhouse.org . Local Bedford semi-pro magician Pogue has just published a new edition of “Magic for Dummies,” and he’s offering an in-person, hands-on, magic master class, in the Playhouse café; 2 and 4:30 p.m. James Austin Johnson.   Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, Conn.;  ridgefieldplayhouse.org . The comedian and SNL cast member performs; 7:30 p.m. Westchester County Wedding & Bridal Expo . Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains; countycenter.biz . Couples will have the opportunity to shop for every facet of their wedding in one convenient location. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. MONDAY, JAN. 26 “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” Lewisboro Library, 15 Main St., South Salem; lewisborolibrary.org . This biographical musical drama chronicles Springsteen’s personal and professional struggles during the making of “Nebraska.” From 1 to 3 p.m. TUESDAY, JAN. 27 Pound Ridge Sustainability Committee Book Club . Pound Ridge Library, 271 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; poundridgelibrary.org . The Pound Ridge Sustainability Committee and the Pound Ridge Library are starting a Sustainability Book Club and Lecture Series. This session will focus on “A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There,” by  Aldo Leopold. From 6 to 8 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28 Hope in Motion: Breaking Barriers with Autism Service Dogs.  Bedford Playhouse, 633 Old Post Road, Bedford; bedfordplayhouse.org . BluePath Service Dogs presents this documentary highlighting stories of connection, courage, and transformation, and how the dogs bring safety, independence, and joy to children with autism and their families. A panel discussion follows; 6:30 p.m. THURSDAY, JAN. 29 Cooking Class: Dips and Spreads.  Katonah Village Library, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah; katonahlibrary.org . A variety of dips and spreads presented by Linda Lederman. From 6 to 7 p.m. FRIDAY, JAN. 30 REV UP 250: 1776 Tavern Night.   Historical Hall, 608 Old Post Road, Bedford; bedfordny.org . Kicking off townwide efforts to celebrate and showcase the many events, programs and exhibits planned to celebrate the 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence with music, food and drink. From 7 to 9:30 p.m. Paint Escape with Nando . Bedford Hills Community House, 74 Main St., Bedford Hills; bedfordny.gov . All materials are supplied for an evening of painting and socializing. From 7 to 9:30 p.m. “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” Lewisboro Library, 15 Main St., South Salem; lewisborolibrary.org . This biographical musical drama chronicles Springsteen’s personal and professional struggles during the making of “Nebraska.” From 7 to 9 p.m. SATURDAY, JAN. 31 Harpist Lisa Tannebaum in Concert.  Pound Ridge Library, 271 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; poundridgelibrary.org . Tannebaum will be performing pieces from all genres of classical music. From 3 to 4 p.m.  SUNDAY, FEB. 1 “The Correspondent” Book Club . Katonah Reading Room, 19 Edgemont Road, Katonah; katonahreadingroom.com . Told through letters, emails, and journal entries, the novel explores the wisdom of age, the mistakes of youth, the importance of literature, and finding solace in human connection. Come and discuss; 2 p.m. Rock and Roll Playhouse: Bob Marley for Kids.   Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, Conn.; ridgefiedlplayhouse.org . A concert for kids and families sharing the music of Bob Marley; 2 p.m.  FRIDAY, FEB. 6 Escape Room Adventure.   Bedford Hills Community House, 74 Main St., Bedford Hills; bedfordny.gov . A family-friendly event that will challenge teams to solve riddles, uncover hidden clues and crack codes before time runs out. From 6 to 8 p.m.  SUNDAY, FEB. 8 Hudson Valley Wingfest. Nesheiwat Convention Center, 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie; midhudsonciviccenter.org . T he largest wing festival featuring an expanded lineup of wing restaurants, food trucks, music and more. From 5 to 8:30 p.m. LIBRARIES Bedford Free Library.  32 Village Green, Bedford; bedfordfreelibrary.org . Bedford Hills Free Library . 26 Main St., Bedford Hills; bedfordhillsfreelibrary.org . Katonah Village Library.  26 Bedford Road, Katonah; katonahlibrary.org . Lewisboro Library . Lewisboro Library, 15 Main St., South Salem; lewisborolibrary.org . Pound Ridge Library.  271 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge; poundridgelibrary.org . Mount Kisco Public Library.  100 East Main St., Mount Kisco; mountkiscolibrary.org . PARKS Croton Gorge Park.  35 Yorktown Road, Croton-on-Hudson; parks.westchestergov.com . The 97-acre park at the base of the New Croton Dam is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Croton Point Park.  1 Croton Point Ave., Croton-on-Hudson; parks.westchestergov.com . The 508-acre park situated on a peninsula on the east shore of the Hudson River is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. John Jay Homestead.  400 Jay St., Katonah; johnjayhomestead.org . Visitors may explore the 62-acre park and seven gardens. Open daily, sunrise to sunset. Teatown Lake Reservation.  1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining; teatown.org . The trails on the 1,000-acre nature preserve and education center are open daily, dawn to dusk. Dogs on leash are allowed. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation . 6 Reservation Road, Cross River; friendsoftrailside.org . The 4,315-acre park has varied terrain with miles of wooded trails. The Trailside Nature Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays. Westmoreland Sanctuary . 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco; westmorelandsanctuary.org . A 640-acre nature preserve with 7.5 miles of hiking trails. The preserve and Nature Center are free and open to the public seven days a week.

Collections of photos from community events and happenings in January taking place in Bedford, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge and Mount Kisco. This page will be updated throughout the month as new photo galleries are added. ICE’s actions draws more protesters Photos by Rob Cummings January 10 — Over 600 people swelled the Saturday protest in Mount Kisco from its usual 100-150 weekly participants. The Saturday protest has been ongoing in Mount Kisco since it started as a Tesla protest over federal spending cuts in February. This week, many carried signs decrying the fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by an ICE officer. Oath of Office Photos by Rob Cummings and Peter T. Michaelis Clockwise from top, Bedford Town Clerk Allie Whalen and family. Peter T. Michaelis Photo; Father Frank closes the Lewisboro swearing in ceremony at the South Salem Library. Pound Ridge's newly sworn-in officials Justice Renee Motola, Town Board member Diane Briggs, Receiver of Taxes Drifa Segal, Supervisor Kevin Hansan, and Town Board member Dan Paschkes. TOWN OF POUND RIDGE PHOTO; From left, Bedford Supervisor Ellen Calves, Town Board member Midge Iorio, County Legislator Erika Pierce, state Sen. Pete Harckham, Town Clerk Allie Whelan, Town Board member Stephanie McCaine and Town Justice Jodi Kimmel. Peter T. Michaelis Photo Robert J. Cummings; PhotoJudge John Pappalardo presides over the swearing in ceremony with Lewisboro elected officials and their families. Robert J. Cummings Photo

By MARC WOLLIN In a multitude of situations we gladly have other people or systems do menial, routine and repetitive tasks for us. In some cases they can do it better and faster, such as cutting the lawn or laundering sensitive fabrics. In other realms we find the project too time consuming, such as painting, or maybe even a little dangerous, like unclogging the gutters. And in still other instances it saves us time so we can do things we prefer, as opposed to house cleaning and vacuuming. We’re also increasingly being told how artificial intelligence can automate routine tasks to free up our time, though as writer Joanna Maciejewska elegantly put it, “I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.” And yet there is one area of growth where we seem to gladly reclaim the effort to do it ourselves versus farming it out. This in spite of the fact that others stand ready to assist, that they have far more experience and skill for the task at hand, that they generally work faster and can troubleshoot any issues far easier than we can, and ... here’s the kicker ... it costs nothing to engage their services, save perhaps a little time. So why, oh why, do we gravitate to the self-checkout lane at the supermarket? The concept seems simple enough. Once barcode scanning became the norm, it was super easy to slide a loaf of bread and a half gallon of milk across a glass screen, run your credit card through the reader, and walk out while the lady with the full cart on lane two was still putting her cottage cheese on the belt. No need to talk or smile at anyone, no need to stand around waiting for someone to dig out their coupons, no need to watch someone figure out that the boxes of pasta should go in the bag first before the eggs. If you’ve ever been behind someone trying to fish three pennies out of their wallet to make exact change, you can understand road rage.  And so stores went from one or two self-checkout lanes to multiples of that, while at the same time reducing the number of staffed lanes. And like sheep we gladly followed the flow. But now instead of having one or two items with the goal of a quick getaway, we push over carts brimming with merchandise. Included in that pile are meats wrapped in leakproof bags where the barcode is smudged, and produce with no codes that need to be weighed. Those require hunt-and-pecking the correct spelling, not to mention being able to distinguish between Red Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp and Gala apples, lest we be charged for the wrong variety.  Assuming we got the basics done of tallying all the items, it’s time for the payment portion of our show. Coupons? They have to be scanned, then adjudicated when it turns out you only had two bags of pretzels, and the offer was to get the third one at half price. Either you needed to leave everything alone and race back to grab another, or put back the second as you thought THAT was the deal maker, and you really didn’t want it to begin with. And there you are, all alone, no clerk to help and guard your stuff, with only the oncoming hoards behind you, and this time it is you holding up the line. But no, you are self-checking-out come hell or high water. A change is in the offing. A combination of factors, from customer dissatisfaction to theft, along with advances in technology like AI-powered mobile scanning in the cart is starting to shift the balance. There is also a movement towards hybrid systems, like the one at Sam’s Club where shoppers scan their own items as they shop via an app, and an employee checks the cart as they walk out the door.  It’s a learning curve for both customers and retailers alike. Like everything else in the shopping world it’s all about the holy grails of ease and efficiency while reducing cost and shrinkage.  Like the Middle East, one can only hope we find some balance of harmony and security. In the meantime, what’s the code for celery? Marc Wollin of Bedford usually heads for the lane with the smallest line, self or otherwise. His column appears weekly via email and online on Substack and Blogspot as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Wolf Conservation Center to Lawler: Protect gray wolves Jean, a Mexican gray wolf at the Wolf Conservation Center. Contributed photo To the Editor: The Wolf Conservation Center in northern Westchester County is home to 32 of Congressman Lawler’s most endangered constituents, a statistic he would do well to remember over the next few months. These residents are gray wolves, red wolves, and Mexican gray wolves, and they all stand to be impacted by the Congressman’s future votes regarding the Endangered Species Act. In December, Congressman Lawler ignored his constituents, both human and wolf, when he voted to advance H.R.845, a bill that would reinstate the first Trump administration’s unscientific rule removing ESA protections for gray wolves across 44 states. The bill advanced out of the House by narrow margins and made us wonder, is Congressman Lawler not the animal lover that he claims to be? We know that wolves will be killed if H.R.845 becomes law. After Congressman Lawler voted against the majority of Americans who support continued gray wolf protections, he then quickly announced his co-sponsorship of the Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons (SAW) Act, which would ban the use of snowmobiles to kill wolves. We applaud the Congressman’s leadership in attempting to stop animal torture and cruelty, but we can’t help but recognize the irony; this legislation is needed because wolves do not have ESA protections in certain states. Ultimately, Congressman Lawler’s reputation as a supporter of animals and science will be put to the test in coming weeks when the House votes on H.R. 1897, which would dismantle the ESA. Will he be a voice for animals, and his constituents, or will he once again vote against our best interests? Be like a wolf, Congressman. Be a leader. Martha Hunt HandlerBoard president, Wolf Conservation CenterSouth Salem

Chart from The Segal Group shows comparison of premium costs for 2025-26 and 2026-27 under the current self-funded health insurance plan and NYSHIP premiums. BCSD GRAPHIC By JEFF MORRIS Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Jose Formoso gave the Bedford Central Board of Education an update on the district’s efforts to limit extreme increases in health care costs at its Jan. 7 meeting. Board President Gillian Klein noted the insurance has been an ongoing discussion for several years and a topic for the budget advisory community group and finance committee. She said they had analyses done to determine whether they should remain self-insured. In September, the board learned that total medical expenses for 2024-25 came in at $3.6 million over what was budgeted — an increase that was deemed unsustainable. At that point, a look back at budgeted health care amounts and actual expenditures over a period of years revealed that the budgeted amounts had consistently missed the mark, and the board recognized the need to take a closer look at audited data. Members agreed with a proposal by Superintendent Robert Glass to spend $10,000 to have Segal do a data analysis and comparison of different health plan options. Introduced by Formoso, Vanessa Flynn of health care consultant the Segal Group said they had Segal’s commitment to ensure that the faculty, staff and all the district’s employees “continue to have a sustainable, high quality health benefit.” Formoso reviewed what had brought them to the current moment. Expenses for the health plan have been higher than projected; regardless of the method that was used to project health insurance expenses, they were still coming in under the actual amount.  “That causes a number of problems in terms of being able to accurately budget for future years,” said Formoso, “and also in terms of being able to charge the right premium equivalent.” The premium equivalent is the basis for the percentage of the premium that employees pay. In 2022-23, health insurance premium equivalents were less than they should have been due to the experience of the plan. On July 1, 2023, premium equivalents were increased by 33%, though the increase should have been 43%. Formoso said the district committee had worked hard to evaluate the plan and possible changes to mitigate risk; the district made changes to several copays and moved to Anthem, but those actions were not enough. The 2024-25 fiscal year ended in an unsustainable deficit position of over $3,000,000. It became clear, according to Flynn, that the size of the plan was the issue, and that the district health plan needed to be part of a larger risk pool. The district evaluated three larger plans. One was the Putnam Northern Westchester Health Benefits Consortium, but it turned out the eligibility rules eliminated this option. Another was the State-Wide Schools Cooperative Health Plan, but the district’s application to join was declined. The third option that was evaluated was the New York State Health Insurance Program. NYSHIP is a comprehensive health insurance program for public employees in New York state, managed by the state Department of Civil Service. NYSHIP covers over 1.2 million state and local government employees, retirees and their families. It offers comprehensive benefits using Anthem for the hospital network and UnitedHealthcare for the professional network, and coverage is available worldwide. Flynn pointed to a comparison of the employee premium equivalent rates that are currently in place, the break even premium equivalent rate that would be needed to avoid a deficit under the current plan, and the premiums under NYSHIP. She noted that “premium equivalent” is the term used in a self-funded plan because it is equal to the premium in a fully insured plan. “When we’re talking about NYSHIP, we’re referring to it as a fully insured plan,” Flynn said. “You will pay a premium every month, it will be a fixed cost; you will remove the volatility that you experienced on a week-to-week or month-to-month basis.” The comparison showed that NYSHIP rates were significantly below the employee equivalent rates in every instance except for 2025-26 individual coverage. In the projected 2026-27 rates, NYSHIP is at $19,337 for individual coverage and $43,965 for family coverage, while under the current plan, individual would be $20,736, and family would be $53,916. Tho This report was made from official records provided by the Pound Ridge, Bedford, Lewisboro and county (Mount Kisco) police departments. Mount Kisco is compiled by Martin Wilbur, all others by Eve Marx. se are all annual numbers. Flynn showed that the employee contributions to a percentage of premium costs will offer cost savings. She also showed that, when compared side-by-side, coverage is the same, and the out-of-pocket limit is less under NYSHIP, which will also save employees money. “The dollars and cents and the benefits really do make sense for you as an organization to move to NYSHIP,” concluded Flynn. The district has an opportunity to join July 1, 2026, and there is no buy-in needed. Formoso explained there is a six-month period needed to complete the switchover.  Trustee Steven Matlin agreed moving to NYSHIP makes sense, but asked about the nuts and bolts of the changeover because the current plan aligns with the school fiscal year, while NYSHIP goes by the calendar year. Formoso said that would not be a problem. There were nothing but positive comments about NYSHIP from those on the board who have had personal or family experience with it, and Formoso said their historical rate increases have been significantly lower than what the district has been experiencing. Trustee Blakeley Lowry asked why, if this is such a slam-dunk now, the change had not been made years ago. Formoso said that was a difficult question, as he had not been with the district at the time, but he knows that expenses had increased dramatically and had not been anticipated. Flynn said there was actually a time when NYSHIP was more expensive than the self-funded plan, but that BCSD’s medical expenses had “shot up a little bit out of nowhere.” She said the district has “some really sick folks, both on the medical and prescription drug side of things,” and it now makes sense to be part of the larger pool. The board voted to authorize implementing the NYSHIP plan effective July 1.

By NEAL RENTZ The Lewisboro Town Board officially began its 2026 public meetings Jan. 12 with its annual organizational meeting. All the votes taken were unanimous. In the category of staff appointments, those hired as town attorneys were Gregory Folchetti and Herodes Law PC; Planning Board attorney, Judson Siebert from Keane & Beane; town engineers, KSCJ Consulting; town planner and wetlands inspector, KSCJ Consulting; town prosecutor Gregory  Monteleone; town auditor PKF O’Connor Davies LLP; fire inspector Kevin Kelly; chief of staff and benefits administrator Kerri Wolfe; comptroller, Annie Burnham; deputy supervisor Mary Shah; deputy receiver of taxes Anna Bauts; elections officer and registrar of vital statistics and records management officer Janet Donohue; deputy town clerk/deputy elections officer/ deputy registrar of vital statistics Jennifer Caviola; dog control officer Marla Valentine; town historian Maureen Koehl; cemetery commissioner Stephen Johnson; Wild Oaks administrator Supervisor Tony Gonçalves and Annie Burnham; Oakridge sewer and water administrator Gonçalves; Oakridge water billing administrator Deirdre Casper. The Town Board also appointed members to town committees, as well as chairpersons of committees, councils and boards. In addition, the Town Board approved the following appointments, approvals and authorizations: procurement policy; fee schedule; attendance at conferences and meetings; memberships; authority to join and pay dues, attend the training school, reappointment of the delegate and alternate to the Association of Towns; set parks and recreation seasonal salary ranges; set mileage rate for town employees who use their vehicles for town government work; the town’s kennel agreement; the town’s agreement with the public library;  designation of The Journal News as the town’s official newspaper; designation of banks; bank depository agreements; supervisor’s and comptroller’s authorizations to transfer funds; authorization for the highway department to purchase tools and other items; agreement for the highway department to spend funds; the highway department’s annual estimate and budget; and the setting of the Town Board’s meetings, which are typically conducted on the second and fourth Mondays, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Town House or the library, with additional meetings that could be scheduled.  Town Board committee liaisons:  — Advisory committee for the disabled, Town Board member Mary Shah.  — Architecture and community appearance review council, Town Board member Andrea Rendo. — Antenna advisory board, Gonçalves;  —Assessor’s office/board of assessment review, Rendo. — Benefits administration, Shah.  — Building department, Gonçalves. — Cable television committee, Rendo.  — Comprehensive Plan steering committee, Rendo and Town Board member Dan Welsh.  — Conservation advisory council Shah. — Court clerks’ office, Town Board member Richard Sklarin.  — East of Hudson Watershed Corporation, Gonçalves.  — Emergency Management Committee, Shah.  — Ethics Board, Rendo.  — Finance Department, Gonçalves.  — Highway Department, Sklarin. 17.  — Housing, Welsh.  — Katonah-Lewisboro School Board, Gonçalves.  — Labor negotiations, Gonçalves and Sklarin.  — Landmarks Advisory Committee, Rendo.  — Library, Shah.  — Maintenance Department, Gonçalves.  — Oakridge and Wild Oaks Sewer and Water Districts, Gonçalves and Rendo.  — Wild Oaks, Sklarin.  — Open Space and Preserves Advisory Committee, Welsh.  — Parks and Recreation Advisory Council, Shah.  — Parks and Recreation Department, Shah.  — Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, Welsh.  — Planning Board, Sklarin.  — Police Department, Rendo.  — Pool Committee, Sklarin.  — Sustainability Committee/Recycling Department, Welsh.  — Stormwater Management Committee, Welsh.  — Tax Receiver’s office, Gonçalves.  — Town Clerk’s office, Gonçalves.  —Veterans Advisory Board, Gonçalves. — Zoning Board of Appeals, Shah.

By JEFF MORRIS  An application for an addition to an existing accessory structure that was already the subject of a lengthy hearing in December came back before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 7, and resulted in an even more contentious session.  The request by Marc Abrams and Gia Miller for a variance to permit the construction of an addition and covered porch to a preexisting, legal accessory structure had been adjourned on Dec. 4. Abrams came out swinging at this appearance, regarding accusations that were made about his activities and plans for 37 Woodfield Road, Katonah. He said he was returning with plans redone by his architect as a result of suggestions from the board regarding a change in the covered porch.  The majority of his remarks were in direct response to charges leveled by neighbor Gregory Dinapoli and some others at the earlier meeting. He explained he was seeking a variance to enlarge the existing art studio to create a safer space, or dojo, within which he can train in martial arts, with the expanded space allowing one or two people to “simply take a few more steps in one direction, and allow for a sword to be raised safely.” He had invited the board to come to the site and visit the studio. Abrams noted that three out of four neighbors abutting his property support the application, while Dinapoli raised concerns that were “not only disingenuous, but sought to distract the committee from the task at hand.” Regarding the allegation that he is operating a business out of the studio, he said, “the Building Department has known about these false claims for a number of years now.” In fact, he said, one of the building inspectors has come by multiple times to investigate, without ever validating the complaints, and the town supervisor “told me directly that what I was doing was entirely legal.” Nonetheless, he said, Dinapoli has tried to imply that “there was some kind of hidden business related to my prior legal martial arts business.” After providing a detailed history of his prior martial arts businesses, which he said have all been closed, Abrams addressed other issues people had raised about traffic flow. He pointed out that those who have sent letters opposing the variance do not have sight lines of the property, and have provided no documentation for claims of traffic problems. And he directly countered a complaint from a resident across the street about two cars parking in front of the house creating a hazard, submitting photos of vehicles parked in front of that person’s house for longer periods of time and blocking the road. He called the notion that somehow the two cars have created a hazard or are disrupting traffic flow in the community “absolutely absurd.” Abrams said he would have students refute claims that the use of wooden swords creates a danger for the neighborhood. He also rejected comments made by Dinapoli about the changing character of the neighborhood, people parking their work vehicles in their driveways, and traffic flow.  “None of those issues are relevant to my seeking a variance to allow me to train in the privacy of my property in a safer manner,” he said. “It’s almost like he believes that our neighborhood is part of a homeowners association, and he’s chair of the HOA.”  Abrams traced the problem back to his having legally removed “sickly trees” on his property five years ago, “to begin the landscaping process that has turned what was an eyesore property into a property with beautiful gardens that people routinely stop and thank us for creating.” The session continued with several speakers supporting Abrams. Then Dinapoli returned to again argue that Abrams is running a home business. Chair Peter Michaelis noted they were only reviewing a variance for an accessory structure, and town Attorney Christian Gates argued there had already been a determination that there was no home occupation. Things became heated as ZBA member Howard Stern became embroiled in an argument with Dinapoli’s attorney, Jonathan Davidoff, regarding whether anybody who has a business registered at their address is actually operating a home business — an argument that then enmeshed Gates. Accusations flew about who was interrupting who, and whether either of the parties was insulting the other.  After additional testimony from the project architect, another neighbor, questions from the board about screening to which Abrams responded, and more input from Gates, the public hearing was closed. Michaelis proposed a resolution approving the application, with a number of conditions related to the number of participants occupying the structure at any one time or number of days per week. Gates raised concerns about including such conditions, saying they were not within the ZBA’s purview nor within the enforcement capabilities of the Building Department. He indicated such conditions were more appropriate for a special use permit and were duplicative of what is already in the town code.  The board finally approved the basic variance application for expansion of the accessory structure.

By MARTIN WILBUR The Village of Mount Kisco announced Wednesday that it hopes to have an agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority by Jan. 30 on the Preston Way bridge replacement that would enable it to go out to bid. A post on the village’s social media and website stated that if an agreement is in place by the end of the month and meets the New York State Department of Transportation requirements, the Village Board would be able to approve the agreement at its Feb. 2 meeting.  Being able to put the project out to bid is seen as a critical step so Mount Kisco would be able to get an updated price tag on the work. “Going out to bid is a key milestone in this project, as the true cost to replace the bridge is still unknown, and all parties involved cannot plan accordingly until such a number is identified,” the village’s statement read. Any agreement will confirm that the MTA would be responsible for the force account, which was $845,000 based on the last estimate for the work of $8.6 million two years ago, according to the village. That figure was an all-inclusive number for the cost of the project at that time. It would also spell out future maintenance responsibilities once the new bridge is opened. In recent public comments, Mayor J. Michael Cindrich has stated that he could find no evidence that the MTA had kept up with maintenance of the bridge. The village had also contended that it shouldn’t have to bear full financial responsibility for the bridge’s replacement. The announcement comes after state Sen. Pete Harckham, D-40, organized a meeting last Friday with Mount Kisco officials, MTA representatives, the DOT and staffers from the offices of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler and Assemblymember Chris Burdick. The span was abruptly closed on Dec. 3 within two hours of a DOT order to shut it down after the results of an August inspection determined it was no longer safe to carry traffic. Cindrich and Village Manager Ed Brancati could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. Burdick said that he was hopeful the Jan. 30 target date for completing the agreement could be met. All involved entities have been working diligently to reach an understanding since it is clear Preston Way is a critical artery for Mount Kisco and the surrounding area, he said. “I think the parties recognize that it’s a real hindrance to not just the village but to northern Westchester since so many people, as we discussed, come to Mount Kisco either because they work here, go to businesses, and so forth,” Burdick said. “That’s not lost on them and they’re working to try to achieve that.” Wednesday’s announcement did not mention if the MTA or state would contribute more money to the project. Mount Kisco had obtained a $5 million state grant and borrowed $3.6 million to cover the previously estimated expense.