By THANE GRAUEL The Pound Ridge Town Board on Tuesday unanimously voted to set some details for a special election on whether to form the Scotts Corners Water District. The board itself approved the district’s creation in July. Now the property owners will have their say. The election — at which the owners of the  39 or so ta xable properties in the district can vote — will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Town House, located at 179 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge. Two election inspectors, one Democrat and one Republican, will be on hand. Water issues, whether the supply of drinking water or how to deal with wastewater, have been an issue for many communities in the region.  Scotts Corners’ groundwater has been contaminated by fuel and chemicals from a gas station, a cleaner, spills and leaking underground tanks over the decades. In addition to gasoline and additives, the “forever chemicals” perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid, PFAS, have been found. The water district would be formed to solve the problem of providing safe drinking water to the 39 or so affected residential and commercial properties. A May 2024 engineering report commissioned by the town saw four courses of action, including taking no action. The other alternatives are: 1. Connecting to a treated water storage tank, owned by the Aquarion Water Company, at the Pound Ridge Golf Club on High Ridge Road. That would require laying 13,000 feet of water main. 2. Using the Siscowit Reservoir as a raw water supply and building a filtration and disinfection facility. This would require a new 200,000-gallon water storage tank and 13,000 feet of 8-inch water main. 3. Installing individual point-of-entry treatment systems at each property to treat the existing private well supply, with quarterly water supply testing and regular replacement of treatment components. The report recommended the first alternative, hooking into Aquarion’s system on High Ridge Road, which has an estimated cost of $10.8 million.  At previous town board meetings, some residents were  critical of aspects of the plan, and questioned what the actual annual costs to the property owners in Scotts Corners might be. Also percolating have been fears that by creating a water district, a wastewater treatment plant might soon follow. That was on the mind of Jessica Genova of Fox Run Road on Tuesday night. “I’m very concerned about, it seems like if we go down that direction, we’re putting in the pipes, we’re going to end up with a wastewater treatment plant,” she said. “I know that there’s been talk about it being at Old Pound Road, which is very close to the elementary school, the town park, where young children and families regularly congregate and play.” “I can ensure that all these new young families in town will be enraged if they find out about this anywhere near where children congregate and families congregate,” Genova said. She mentioned numerous studies she said document the health hazards of having a wastewater treatment plant near a residential area, including airborne hazards, well hazards, respiratory and gastrointestinal reactions, headaches and more. “Our town is a residential town, so we have to remember that,” she said. “We don’t have the ability, we don’t have the place to put this that won’t impact the health of people.”  She said people come to live in Pound Ridge because it’s far from major infrastructure, train stations and highways. “I’m very concerned … because we know if pipes go in downtown it’s going to end up here,” she said of a wastewater plant. “There will be lawsuits, I can assure you, because this is not the right thing for this town,” Genova said.  Town Supervisor Kevin Hansan thanked her as she left the podium, and Genova said, “I don’t want to say I told you so.” A man in the audience asked whether people could vote by absentee ballot in the special election, and whether the number of eligible property owners had been determined to be 37. “There will be no absentee ballots,” Town Attorney William Harrington said, “You have to be in person.” “They can delegate somebody,” Hansan said. Harringtown said a special counsel is helping with the legal aspects of the election, helping figure out questions such as who gets to vote if a property has two owners; and if a property is owned by a trust, obtaining written authorization for someone to vote on its behalf. He also was asked about what would constitute a majority vote. “So, it’s a situation where if you don’t show up, it’s obviously a ‘no’ vote, the question is whether or not it’s a majority of the people who vote, or a majority of the people who are in the district eligible to vote,” Harrington said.  A special counsel would help figure that out, he said.

Road rage  On Wednesday,  Aug. 28, at 3:30 p.m., police were dispatched to Railroad Avenue, Bedford Hills, on a report of a  disturbance in a parking lot. They spoke with a taxi driver and a passenger who described a woman driving on Bedford Road near Cherry Street who was speeding and cut off the cab. The woman, a Bedford Village resident, had a few things of her own to say about the cab. She followed it to the parking lot and initiated a verbal argument. Neither party cared to pursue the matter further and a report was made for documentation only.  Party crasher  On Saturday, Aug. 31, at 9:47 p.m., police went to a residence on Hook Road, Bedford, on a report of a party crasher. They spoke to the homeowner who said the man, who lives up the street, wasn’t invited. Police spoke with the unwanted party who said he was under the impression it was an open house and said he’d been at the party for two hours before being asked to leave. Police told him not to come back unless he’s invited.  Monday, Aug. 26 12:21 p.m. — A woman stuck in an elevator at the Hunting Ridge Mall on Old Post Road, Bedford, was freed by Bedford firefighters. 3:55 p.m. — A woman was reported walking in the roadway on McLain Street, Bedford Hills; the caller thought she might be in need of assistance. Police contacted her and she said she was fine and walking home to Mount Kisco.   9:28 p.m. — Police went to a residence on Adams Street, Bedford Hills, for a report of a woman crying. On their arrival, they saw a man standing outside holding a young child. There was a language barrier and as no Spanish-speaking officer was available, police used a translating app on their phone to facilitate a conversation. They spoke with the woman who said she and the man had argued and it turned physical. He struck her on the wrist and her face which is when she called 911. Her friend arrived and took her and her young son to their home in Mount Kisco. A New York state domestic incident report was completed and the woman was provided with information on how to get help for her situation.   Tuesday, Aug. 27 11:39 a.m. — A CVS employee on Bedford Road, Bedford Hills, reported that an unknown man entered the store and stole two electric toothbrushes valued at about $250. Police say the employee followed him out of the store and saw him get into a car where someone was waiting; the car was seen headed towards Green Lane. The store has surveillance video and police are investigating.   5:21 p.m. — Police went to a home on Bedford Road, Bedford Hills, for a report of a domestic  incident. There was a language barrier and police used the translation app on their phones as no Spanish-speaking officer was available. A female, 24, said she and her boyfriend went to a relative’s home to collect her child. An argument started between the woman and her mother and her sister, who are seeking custody of the victim’s child. The sister pushed the complainant and someone called 911. Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps was on scene but the woman declined medical attention. The victim, her boyfriend and the victim’s son were brought to headquarters for paperwork and the other parties left the residence. A New York state domestic incident report was completed and child protective services were notified of the situation.  Wednesday. Aug. 28 1:35 p.m. — A motorcyclist, male, 68, was reported down in the roadway on Route 117, Bedford Hills, in front of McDonald’s. He said he was making a right hand turn out of the parking lot when he lost his balance and fell off his bike, sustaining a minor laceration to his hand. His bike was damaged and he refused medical attention.  8:51 p.m. — A resident of Harris Road, Bedford Hills, spoke to police after her son called them to say she’d locked him out of their condo. The mother told police she wouldn’t let him back inside because the last time she did, he stole something from her. The son said he was going to spend the night in White Plains and he would speak to his mother later.   Thursday, Aug. 29  10:51 a.m. — A female, 84, was taken to Northern Westchester Hospital by Bedford firefighters after she fell in her Bedford home after tripping over a carpet. No further information was provided. 5:40 p.m. — A motorcycle reported weaving between cars was struck by one after stopping at a traffic light on Cross River Road, Katonah. No injuries were reported and the motorcycle did not require a tow.   Friday, Aug. 30 12:30 p.m. — The dog control officer responded to an animal rescue operation located on Babbitt Road, Bedford Hills, after the rescue reported two cats were returned without paperwork after being adopted. The reporting party said the person who adopted the cats failed to pay the adoption fee. That person’s son found the cats famished and dehydrated and returned them to the rescue. When asked to provide the cats’ paperwork including vaccination information, the son bolted. The rescue made a report with law enforcement.  10:22 p.m. — A man came to headquarters seeking police advice. He said he formerly resided at an equine facility on Succabone Road, Bedford Hills, which is still his current place of employment. He said his wife moved out and his employer gave him a deadline when he had to clear out of the apartment. He missed that deadline and said he found his belongings outside and that some of them were missing. He did not enter the apartment or take his belongings. Police advised him not to return until he was invited to do so by the property owner.  Saturday, Aug. 31 9:48 p.m. — A malfunctioning hot water heater brought police and Bedford Hills firefighters to a residence on Haines Road, Bedford Hills, after a report of a fire in the basement. There was no fire and firefighters disconnected the water heater and told the resident to call a plumber for service.   Sunday, Sept. 1 1:10 p.m. — An older woman who collapsed in the ShopRite parking lot on South Bedford Road, Bedford Hills, told police and Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps crew she was fine and didn’t need assistance.  2:13 p.m. — A caller on Hook Road, Bedford, reported there was a raccoon on the porch trying to enter the house. They said the animal looked ill. Police looked for the raccoon but didn’t find it. The caller was told to call back if it returned.  — Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer This report was made from official reports provided by the Bedford Police Department.

By NEAL RENTZ Lewisboro property owners are getting a break from some building department fines via a new program. For a limited time, property owners with expired building permits are not required to pay the $102 filing/records management fee and the 25% additional fee to obtain renewals. The legislation was approved by the town board, at the request of the building department, July 22. The moratorium program, which began Sept. 1, runs through Nov. 1. “They sought to achieve a user-friendly way to close out these permits and save the homeowners of our municipality the 25% surcharge for renewing the permit.”  — Building Inspector Kevin Kelly Program participants will need to submit a building permit application with the supporting documentation and the renewal fee. The building department will do a brief code review to determine what inspections or other items are required to work toward closing the permit. The permit renewals will be valid for one year from the date of issue and standard inspection protocol will resume.  After final inspection and all required items are in place, a certificate of compliance or a certificate of occupancy will be issued by the building department, the legislation stated. Some residents have told the town board they were not aware that they did not receive a certificate of occupancy from the building department, even though they applied for one for work on their buildings many years ago, Supervisor Tony Gonçalves said over the summer. Those building owners said they were surprised that they not only had to pay another building fee, but also were given penalties by the town, he said.   Building Inspector Kevin Kelly told The Recorder on Sept. 4, that property owners need to apply to renew a building permit application. The building department will then approve or deny the application, and if approved, an inspection will be scheduled to close out the permit, he said. The goal of the program is “to create a more cost efficient process for homeowners to achieve their goal of obtaining a certificate of compliance or occupancy,” Kelly said. Gonçalves and the town board met with him to discuss ways to address lapsed open permits earlier this year, Kelly said. “They sought to achieve a user-friendly way to close out these permits and save the homeowners of our municipality the 25% surcharge for renewing the permit.”  In addition to presenting their concerns to town board members, a few residents reached out to the building department, Kelly noted.  “If any residents are unsure if they have an open permit, they can call the building department at 914-763-3060 to check,” Kelly said. For more information about the program, Kelly is asking residents to read the flier on the town website Building Department Amnesty Program, at lewisborony.gov .

By JESS FASANO As part of its yearlong forest health initiative, Westchester Land Trust is gearing up for more projects that will help transform local forests. The nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit, headquartered in Bedford Hills, announced in April that it received $100,000 from an anonymous donor to support efforts to improve forest health and combat the many challenges threatening trees across the region. The six-figure investment comes at a critical time when forests throughout Westchester County and beyond are up against growing threats, including pests, diseases, overgrazing by deer, smothering by invasive vines, and the impacts of climate change.  WLT aims to use the funding to mitigate these threats with a plan to restore the health of its forested preserves. The plan includes projects such as vine cutting, tree planting, and protecting vulnerable forest areas from grazing deer.  One recent project was the construction of a 10-acre deer fence at the trust’s Frederick P. Rose Preserve in Waccabuc, designed to exclude deer from a large group of beech trees.  Janelle Robbins, the trust’s vice president of conservation, said that when the beech canopy fails due to beech leaf disease and the sun hits the forest floor, the hope is that there will be greater regeneration of the forest without any deer pressure thanks to the fence.  The project is the trust’s largest deer exclosure to date.  Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Green Team program, which hires local teenagers enrolled in the Yonkers Public School system for environmental jobs, assisted with installing the fence in July. “It’s a tried and true method to give nature a chance to rebound on its own,” Robbins said of the exclosure.  In May, WLT planted 15 trees at Otter Creek Preserve in Mamaroneck, an effort that was also part of the ongoing forest health initiative. The nonprofit was assisted by a  local Girl Scout troop that has been volunteering  at the 35-acre preserve for the past year in a targeted forest restoration area. Robbins noted WLT will solicit more help from volunteers throughout the year for additional tree plantings, as well as vine cutting. She explained these two types of projects are particularly gratifying because of the immediate visible impact.  “You can see how much you’ve done,” said Robbins. “You feel really good at the end of the day, whether you’ve planted one [tree] or 10,” Robbins said.  Community engagement is a key component of WLT’s forest health initiative. Robbins explained a person can experience a sense of “doom and gloom” when thinking about all the threats forests are facing, but there is hope in taking action.  “We can act now. We can help, and you can have fun doing it,” she said. Robbins added that WLT has identified simple, replicable actions volunteers can take to help bolster forest health in their communities, while gaining skills they could use in their own backyards.  “This is a really easy and straightforward way to get anybody, of any age, involved,” Ben Kleist, WLT’s preserve manager, said of the forest health initiative. He explained taking action can lead to having a personal stake in forests, noting that “what you care about you take care of.” To receive information about upcoming volunteer opportunities, email ben@westchesterlandtrust.org .  In the future, WLT aims to assemble a toolkit with information gained over the course of its forest health initiative and distribute this toolkit to landholders, including municipalities, residents, and other nonprofits. The hope is that the toolkit would help remove initial barriers to supporting forest health, like where to find certain equipment.  “We’re really working out those details so other people don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Robbins said. “We want to bring them solutions.” Kleist summed up the idea like this: “We’re sticking with the plan, doing what we can, and trying to bring people into the fold.” For more information about the forest health initiative and WLT’s progress, visit westchesterlandtrust.org .  Editor’s note: Jess Fasano serves on the staff of a New Jersey-based environmental conservation nonprofit.

By JOYCE CORRIGAN   Renaissance phenoms like Leonardo and Michelangelo knew they’d really made it when their work was in the Vatican, a Medici villa or in front of Florence’s town hall (ciao, “David.” )   In the golden age of magazines, the pinnacle for portrait photographers was Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.  Art directors like Alexey Brodovitch, Alexander Liberman, Graydon Carter and Tina Brown were the popes wh ile the publishers of Condé Nast (billions-rich with luxury fashion advertising) were the Medicis. They’d commission masters like Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, and later Annie Leibovitz and Jonathan Becker to take provocative, modern pictures of Hollywood, art, literary and rock royalty — and occasionally real royalty. Magazines hosted the dominant narrative of 20th- and  21st-century American culture and what a swell party it was. If somehow you managed to miss the heyday — digital dealt the final death blow about 10 years ago — go directly to the KMA to see “Jonathan Becker: Lost Time.” This thrilling exhibition features over 50 of the artist’s timeless square-format photographs in both dazzling color and black and white, captured through the lens of his trusty Rolleiflex.  Madonna, John F. Kennedy Jr., Andy Warhol, Prince Charles, along with fashion legends André Leon Talley and Diana Vreeland and many of their peers are all here. Icons, who, through Becker’s intimate lens, are laid bare — looking natural, never posed, and capturing what legendary photographer Robert Frank believed was the essence of a great photograph, “the humanity of the moment”.  “Postwar magazines mirrored the mainstream of American culture,” offered curator Mark Holborn, whose monograph “Jonathan Becker: Lost Time” forms the basis of the exhibition.   “It was a moment of optimism, and magazines offered readers aspiration,” he explained. “Jonathan would take us to places we otherwise wouldn’t be.” Here is a laughing Madonna with fashion icon Calvin Klein as they partied backstage at Martha Graham’s final performance. Graham, the modern dance legend, then 76, with a sultry look aimed straight at the camera, cheekily upstages the 20-something Material Girl. There’s Warhol in the chaotic kitchen of legendary New York celeb hangout Elaine’s. The feisty, much-feared Elaine is there, too, and together with Becker, coaxed a rare smile out of the pop art icon. Photographed from behind, the Prince of Wales, in casual clothes walks alone in 2010 in the gardens of Highgrove, contemplating the heavy crown he would one day wear. And JFK Jr., at the White House correspondents’ dinner, sitting on his crumpled tuxedo jacket, observes the goings-on, no doubt contemplating his own political career that was, of course, not meant to be. He would die in a plane crash two months later. “We are delighted to celebrate one of the great photographers of our time with revelatory works spanning 50 years of outstanding magazine work” says Katonah Museum of Art director, Michelle Yun Mapplethorpe. “That said, Jonathan’s deft eye and gift as a storyteller transcend the boundaries of the printed page, enabling his images to maintain a powerful presence when transposed to a grand scale befitting a museum setting.”  One of the show’s most powerful and poignant portraits is of the late great photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe. Taken at the opening of what would be his final solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Mapplethorpe, cane in hand, looked frail and vulnerable surrounded by adoring colleagues and museum patrons. Becker’s depiction was far from the polished image Mapplethorpe created for himself in the several self-portraits he did during those same final days; and Mapplethorpe was less than happy about it. “He actually hated it,” offered Becker from his Bedford Hills studio. “His vanity was offended by the starkness of the portrayal. But he compared it to a Diane Arbus, so there was at least a backhanded compliment.” Pictured left to right, Martha Graham at New York City Center after her final onstage bow, backstage with Madonna and Calvin Klein, 1990; Patricia Herrera at home; John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette after the White House correspondents’ dinner, Washington, D.C., 1999; Photos courtesy of Jonathan Becker. “Great editors would let you do your thing, “continued Becker. “I was left to my own devices with subjects who had no influence over those devices. A perfect circumstance for portraiture.” Unlike today, when an “honest” image of a famous person is hard to come by — between Adobe Photoshop, AI and overbearing public relations teams — Becker feels fortunate to have been working in an era when a portrait was a document of a genuine moment. “And seeing was believing,” he added.   As fate would have it, the KMA show   came about because of a portrait taken by Becker about 10 years ago. Katonah resident, author and longtime KMA patron, Sara Arnell, was asked to be part of a magazine story about mothers and daughters. The editor was her good friend and longtime Becker collaborator, Leon Talley (Two outstanding portraits of Talley, winner of the KMA’s prestigious Himmel Award, appear in the show). Last year Arnell, who’d been so impressed with Becker, called Mapplethorpe and suggested the exhibition.  “Jonathan sort of ‘uncaptures’ you,” explained  Ms. Arnell. “He waits until all the self-consciousness of a portrait sitting falls apart, and then he takes the picture.” Arnell recalls inching around the set, trying to do what she thought Becker wanted, posing a little here and there, and then realizing he wasn’t shooting. “My daughter starts playing her guitar and the second I look over at her, Jonathan takes the shot, “she said. “And it became the shot because it was when I looked genuinely maternal.” Much has been made of Becker’s formative tutelage under one of the giants of 20th century photography, the Hungarian-French Brassaï . His iconic 1933 “Paris by Night,” was a collection of dreamlike black-and-white photos of nocturnal Parisian life. “Brassai really informed Becker’s aesthetic and positions him within a rarified artistic lineage,” observed Mapplethorpe. “To me, Jonathan’s after-dark images of the cultural scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s seem like a ‘New York by Night,’” commented Arnell. Becker’s genius is in the fact he didn’t have to take rolls and rolls of images, believed Holborn. “He knew what he was looking for and knew when to strike.” “Creativity,” observed Albert Einstein, “is intelligence having fun.” Looking at the photos of “Lost Time” you can’t imagine Becker not enjoying the process.  “Always” he confirmed. “Subjects often comment on my look of amusement as I peer down into the Rolleiflex viewfinder at a private theater. Even the tough ones; the challenge was always part of the joy.” Like the people he photographed,  Becker is a citizen of the world, immersed in the zeitgeist; part artist and part documentarian. The son of a film distributor who specialized in arthouse and foreign movies and an award-winning dancer/choreographer mother, he grew up around what he has called “starry circles.”  The photographer’s spontaneous, sometimes irreverent style of portraiture mirrors his own dapper style: seersucker blazers, white trousers, South of France tan and signature cigar. He just happened to have a knack for sharing his vision with the generations who aspired to being a part of his rarefied world.  “Jonathan’s pictures, like Brassaï , offer us a glimpse into a world that’s now passed,” offered Holborn. “Memory is the most valuable asset for us all not only on a personal level but on a wider social level. We need to remember history as strongly as we need to remember those who we knew and are no longer with us.” And what better way than to spend a few hours getting a little lost in “Lost Time.” Becker and  curator Robert Storr will discuss  the photographer’s body of work on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. as part of KMA’s “Artists in Conversation” series. Becker will share the stories behind the iconic images on exhibit and unique insights into the art of photography. Reception to follow. Tickets are $25, $15 for museum members.  The Katonah Museum of Art is located at 134 Jay Street. For information, call (914) 232-9555.

Hugh T. McGowan of Katonah, a Navy vet and longtime dentist, died at home with family by his side on Aug. 28. He was 98. McGowan was born May 16, 1926, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Hugh and Florence McGowan. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School and St. Francis College in Brooklyn and graduated from the SUNY Maritime College at Fort Schuyler and the NYU College of Dentistry. During the Korean War, McGowan served as a Navy dentist for two years at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In 1954 he moved to Katonah, with his wife, Alice. There he practiced dentistry for 45 years and they raised seven children. As a boy he summered at Breezy Point where he learned to swim and body surf. He was an usher at Ebbets Field and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He was an avid sailor and tennis player. He was involved with Boy Scouts, CCD, the Katonah Town Pool, and many other local activities. McGowan and his wife were members of St. Mary of the Assumption, where he was a Eucharistic minister as well as an altar server.  McGowan was predeceased by his daughter, Anne Marie, and his wife. He is survived by his three sons, Hugh F. (Valerie), Thomas, and Peter (Antonette); and his three daughters, Mary Pat (James), Alice (Edward), and Catherine (Thomas). He also is survived by 21 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and other family members.   The family will receive friends at Clark Associates Funeral Home, located at 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, Friday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, located at 55 Valley Road, Katonah, Saturday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m.

By ROBERT BRUM In 2018, Dawn and Jason Bowman were planning to move down South and put their Pound Ridge home on the market. When it didn’t sell, they took it as a sign. “During that time, we just fell in love with this community and thought, ‘We’re not going anywhere,’” Dawn Bowman said recently. A fortuitous outcome for the town, particularly for the Pound Ridge community, where neighbors and visitors wait patiently on line at BreadsNBakes, their Westchester Avenue bakery in Scotts Corners whose success fed directly into the recent reopening of the Bedford Post Barn. “We are amazed at how it’s grown,” Jason Bowman said of the two enterprises. The couple arrived from the United Kingdom in 2012 — Dawn, a teacher, and Jason, with the Armonk-based reinsurance firm Swiss Re. In 2019, he decided to pursue his passion as a baker, which started when he was a student and was later refined during a training course at the renowned King Arthur Baking Company. Dawn was working at Booksy Galore, Susan Williamson’s book and record shop, and in January 2020 Jason began selling baked goods fresh out of the couple’s kitchen from a trolley at the store. It didn’t take long for demand to rise. “We’d sometimes arrive at Booksy with our bags and there’d be a line of people waiting to pick up,” recalled. They launched BreadsNBakes, specializing in European-style breads and pastries, in July 2022, its reputation quickly spreading by word of mouth. The shop began supplying baked goods to The Bedford Post, the historic inn and tavern co-owned by Richard Gere that’s now managed by majority owner Sunday Hospitality. At that time, The Barn had been closed for about 18 months. “We knew we had more than just this one bakery in us,” Dawn Bowman said. “And we started looking around and thinking about what our next steps would be. We’re a faith-based business, so every step on the way we prayed about what we’d do, and we really feel like when the right opportunity comes along, we know about it.” During a sit-down with Sunday Hospitality, she recalled thinking, “Can we just dream for a moment? What would it look like if BreadsNBakes came to The Barn? And we had a little chat and threw some ideas around and three months later they came back and said, ‘Let’s do it.’” The breakfast and lunch menus at the rustic, 60-seat bistro feature BreadsNBakes’ specialties such as croissants, brioche French toast, club sandwiches on farmhouse bread, burgers on brioche,  and pain au chocolat. “I’m obviously learning fast because I’ve never run a restaurant before and I absolutely love it,” Dawn said, adding, “What a wonderful environment. You couldn’t ask for a more peaceful property to do it.” Sunday Hospitality’s Adam Landsman knew the first-time restaurateurs had a recipe for success. “They’d been able to open a bakery without having any experience, and put in the time and work to do it,” Landsman said. “They have such a great relationship with the community and they really care.” The bistro’s been busy, especially on weekends. “We’re only a few weeks in. The food and service are better every day, which is what happens in an opening,” he said. The Barn’s reopening means that along with the tavern, the property has been open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Landsman pointed out. ‘Part of the magic’ At BreadsNBakes, one can sip a coffee while watching croissants and baguettes created right in front of them, seeing freshly baked goods coming straight out of the oven. ”There aren’t many places we know of where you can see it, and I think the theater of the whole thing is part of the magic,” Jason Bowman said. The bakery’s location next to the Pound Ridge Green is a nice fit. “I think we’re building community,” Dawn said. “It’s a place where people can gather and feel completely at home. People can make new friends. The amount of people that have made friends here, it’s just lovely to watch.” Jenn Streicher met the Bowmans in 2021, when they were selling their products at the bookshop. “I was always so impressed with how good their baked goods were,” said Streicher, who owns Scout, a makeup and beauty shop originally located on Westchester Avenue across the street from the bakery. “When they told me they were thinking of opening a space, I was so excited and I really encouraged them to do it because I thought it would be such a great addition to Scotts Corners.” She added, “Everything they do is well done and thought out and meticulous. They just bring a great energy to the neighborhood.” Streicher’s husband, photographer and artist Jonny Cournoyer, had a hand in decorating The Barn, with his paintings of local seasonal images displayed throughout the bistro. Balancing act Lisa Miller, owner of The Cottage, the vintage goods and gifts shop a block from BreadsNBakes, said the Bowmans were well matched. “The two of them are a great balance and they’ve added to our business association and our downtown,” said Miller, president of the Pound Ridge Business Association. Jason Bowman concurred. “We’re both in our sweet spots but they’re complementary and I think that’s part of the reason it’s successful,” he said. “We’re both doing what we love and the two fit together really well.” He added, “I’m very happy at the back and I like to see the customers and give them a little wave, maybe pop out and say hello to the regulars, but I’m much happier on the production side. Dawn’s all about the people. She’s energized being at that counter or being at The Barn and seeing the folks come in and chatting with them.” Tea time What’s next for the Bowmans? “We want to do what we’re doing now well. We don’t want to distract ourselves, but having said that, we’ve got lots of ideas that we can do at The Barn,” Dawn commented. In September, they’re planning to start hosting traditional English afternoon teas at The Barn, complete with finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and jam. These could grow into seasonally-themed events at harvest and Christmas time. The Bowmans met in church and that bond with their faith has remained central in their family, which includes a son, Jack, and daughters Millie and Esther. “We want to reflect that as part of our business in the way we operate, having a giving-back mentality, having a philosophy about our staff, where they all share in the success of the business,” Jason said. “Unless we have a conviction that this is right, we won’t do it.”

By THANE GRAUEL  A longtime Pound Ridge resident and lawyer is suing the town and the town board over the handling of the state’s 2021 cannabis dispensary opt-out legislation. John E. Nathan filed his 33-page lawsuit Monday afternoon, Aug. 26, in New York state Supreme Court. It alleges the town board, unlike all surrounding towns, did not hold a public hearing to hear the citizenry’s views on whether cannabis dispensaries should be allowed. ‘In 2021, members of the town board in private and secretly gathered information, deliberated, discussed, and collectively decided not to local opt out before the Dec.  31, 2021 deadline.’  — John E. Nathan  Pound Ridge did not opt out. Instead, Nathan alleges in his complaint, the town board had discussions, sought legal input, and made decisions outside of the public’s view, and then let the clock run down on the state’s opt-out provision, Dec. 31, 2001. That, Nathan says, violated the New York Open Meetings Law and deprived the populace of a chance to express their opinions. And, he alleges, because decisions were made outside of the public eye, there was no way for people to know what happened, or to challenge them in a timely manner. He said that three years later his lawsuit was the only redress that remained. ‘It’s a frivolous lawsuit, 100% false, and it’s wasting the town a lot of money and resources. It’s just wasting time and money.’ — Town Supervisor Kevin Hansan “Because the town board decided not to local opt-out in private, in secret, off-the-books, without notice, without a public hearing, without a public town board meeting, and without any minutes of its decision, there was no way for plaintiff or other town residents to know that the town board had decided not to local opt-out before the Dec. 31, 2021 deadline,” Nathan wrote in his complaint. Nathan cited in his suit numerous documents he obtained through the state’s Freedom of Information Law, including communications from several town board members saying they would not support an opt out. “In 2021, members of the town board in private and secretly gathered information, deliberated, discussed, and collectively decided not to local opt-out before the Dec. 31, 2021 deadline,” he wrote. The cannabis issue has been divisive in Pound Ridge, and in communities near and far. Nathan said in his lawsuit that 40 of 42 speakers at a later Pound Ridge meeting on the issue spoke against allowing local dispensaries. Town Supervisor Kevin Hansan had a different take.  He told The Recorder the lawsuit is frivolous. “He’s claiming something that’s 100% false,” Hansan said. “It’s a frivolous lawsuit, 100% false, and it’s wasting the town a lot of money and resources. It’s just wasting time and money.” Town Attorney William Harrington did not return a request for comment.  Nathan has lived in town 30 years, has never held public office and, he said in an interview, doesn't intend to. He said he heard about the issue in a roundabout way two years after the opt-out window closed, and reviewed the town’s newsletters and listened to 18 hours of meetings. “As I laid out in my papers, only one minute was devoted to this at the beginning, and there was this radio silence the whole time,” Nathan said. “I’m not for or against cannabis,” Nathan said. “I’m only for one thing, which is the fact that this rule of law was violated.” “We never got a hearing,” he said. “We didn’t get a hearing before the board, we didn’t get a hearing before the Office of Cannabis Management, the Legislature wouldn’t help us, the Committee on Open Meetings Law wouldn’t hear my evidence, and then there’s this lawsuit going on between the town and Purple Plains and we’re not party to it, so we are totally frustrated.” “As an experienced litigator, I always resort to litigation as a last resort because it’s so grave a step,” Nathan said. “I just felt we had to answer this conduct, and that’s why I brought the case.” Nathan’s suit requests that the court: —  Void the  t own  b oard’s alleged decision to not opt out of the cannabis legislation. —  Permanently enjoin the  t own and the  t own  b oard from “engaging in or taking part in any private, secret, off-the-books deliberations and actions in the future or otherwise violating the New York Open Meetings Law.” —  Require that the board reconsider its prior decision. —  Require that “members of the  t own  b oard participate in a training session concerning the obligations imposed by New York Open Meetings Law, to be conducted by the staff of the New York State Committee on Open Government.” —  Award the plaintiff costs and attorney’s fees. — A ward  the p laintiff  “ such other and further relief as this court deems just and proper.” Purple Plains is an adult-use retail dispensary located at 32 Westchester Ave. It applied for a state license in 2023 prior to the town board’s  passage of a six-month moratorium on the opening of future such businesses in December of last year.  At its June 4 meeting,  the town board approved a six-month extension of the moratorium, which covers the business district in Scotts Corners. Nathan was among residents urging town officials to approve the extension.  In addition, the town is currently developing legislation that would regulate the operation of local cannabis businesses. The town board is expected to review a new draft of the proposed law in September.

By THANE GRAUEL  The Pound Ridge Business Association Artisan & Vintage Flea Market will be held Monday, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 80 artisans are expected to have tents along Westchester Avenue in Scotts Corners. The event stretches from North Star restaurant to The Market at Pound Ridge Square. It is free and will also include food trucks, a family-fun area and musical performances by Christine Chanel and Benny Mikula. Free shuttle service will run continuously between the fair, Pound Ridge Town Park and the Town House.  The event, in its fifth year, “was created to showcase the profound beauty of Pound Ridge and our vibrant business community,” Town Supervisor Kevin Hansan said in his weekly newsletter.  The event needs volunteers for two-hour shifts. If interested, please visit  shoppoundridge.com . Volunteers are asked to check in at the PRBA table 10 minutes prior to when their shift begins. “The Artisan fair is going to be tremendous,” Hanson said Wednesday, adding that the PRBA car show is coming up Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Town Park. “We have just such a vibrant town with a lot of great activities and a lot of great energy,” Hansan said. “I could not be happier with the town.” Lisa Miller, president of the PRBA, said volunteers are indeed still needed, and the event is not to be missed. “It’s the place to be on Labor Day,” she said. “There’s something for everyone.” The booths will have a great variety, she said, adding, “There will be a very unique group of vendors. And they’re the nicest people.” To see the list of vendors, visit  shoppoundridge.com/artisan-flea .

By JEFF MORRIS  Katonah-Lewisboro School District enrollment remains flat, with a slight decrease for the 2024-25 school year, according to a recent presentation by Neill Alleva, assistant superintendent for human resources, at a school board meeting. Total district enrollment for 2024 was projected to be 2,809 students, Alleva told the board Aug. 22. The current number is 2,776, which is, as always, subject to last-minute fluctuation.  In 2023, the total was projected at 2,843, and the actual number in October of last year was 2,792. “Once again, we’re decreasing,” trustee Lorraine Gallagher said upon seeing the numbers. “I was hopeful that we were beyond that and we would start increasing, but it’s not happening.”  “The reality is, we see those birth rates are just historically down in our area, down in New York state, certainly down in this particular part of the region,” Superintendent of Schools Raymond Blanch replied. He said he would not anticipate an increase in numbers any time in the near future, but added, “the scope of our work as educators, continues to increase forever more.” Alleva stressed that there are favorable class sizes throughout the district.  He showed the contractually obligated class size parameters: For kindergarten through second grade, the goal is a class size of 20, with a range up to    25. In grade three, the goal is 25, ranging up to 28.  Grades four to six have a goal of 25, and a range up to 30.  In grades seven to 12, the goal is 25, and the limit is 30, though there may be exceptions in specialized classes.  In individual elementary schools, Increase Miller has class sizes ranging from 16.3 averaged over four kindergarten sections to highs of 22.8 in four third-grade sections and 22.6 in four fifth-grade sections.  Fourth grade at IMES, however, has only three sections, with an average of 20.8 students in each.  Katonah Elementary has an average kindergarten class size of 17.5 over four sections, and its highest number is 24 over three fifth-grade sections.  Meadow Pond averages 17 students over three kindergarten sections, and has an average of 21 in both fourth and fifth grades, which have three sections each. Its lowest class size is 14.3 averaged over three first grade sections. Alleva pointed out that one of the four kindergarten classes at Katonah Elementary was a contingency position that was added in the budget. The total number of kindergarten students at KES was 58 in October 2023; it was projected to be 66.  “Right now we’re hovering at about 70,” he said. “This is a snapshot of where we were a few days ago. These numbers can fluctuate in the last couple of weeks of August, even into the early weeks of September, but this is where we are now.” Alleva also noted that part of the decrease in total students at IMES from 497 in October 2023 to 472 now was due to moving special education classes to Meadow Pond, where there is a correlating increase from 333 in October 2023 to 355 now.  Trustee Marjorie Schiff asked whether the special education class population has increased, since there were 12 students in those classes at IMES in 2023, and the number at MPES is 27. She was told that yes, there was an increase, which is why a section of special classes was added.  The projected total number of elementary students in 2023 was 1,266; the actual in October 2023 was 1,231. This year the projection is for 1,250; the actual number so far in August is 1,229. There were 671 total students at John Jay Middle School in October 2023; the projection for 2024 was 632, and the number now is 628.  The number coming into the middle school in sixth grade is 198; Alleva pointed out that there were 248 eighth graders in October 2023, and a larger class left the school to become freshmen in high school than there are incoming students.  That is reflected at John Jay High School, where there were 209 ninth graders in October 2023, and there are currently 246 coming in. That contributes to a slight increase in the total number of JJHS students, from 890 to 919; the projection was 927. Blanch asked whether it was possible the numbers could increase in the coming days.  Alleva said there are people talking to the district registrar, so it’s possible it could go up a little bit, but the total will be around what was presented. In response to a question from Gallagher, Alleva and Blanch both said it was most unlikely that there could be a last-minute increase in students that might push any class sizes past the contractual maximums.

By NEAL RENTZ The Pound Ridge Library Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to approve the external financial audit for 2023. The audit was presented by Jeffrey Shaver, a partner with the district’s outside auditing firm PFK O’Connor Davies LLP, at the board’s Aug. 22 meeting. Shaver said his firm gave the library an “unmodified opinion” for their 2023 independent audit.  “That’s the most favorable opinion you can receive,” he said. “It means the numbers in the financial statements and the disclosures are complete and accurately stated. It doesn’t mean that your numbers are favorable. It doesn’t mean that they are not favorable. It just means that they’re accurate and they’re fairly stated and that essentially is the point of an independent audit.” Shaver said the general fund statement of revenues, expenditures and changes in fund balance noted that in 2023 the library received $902,432 in revenues, which was about $48,987 greater than anticipated. Most of the additional revenue came from interest income from the library’s investments and cash deposits, as well as the change in rates for its municipal bonds, he said. The library’s initial budget called for expenditures of $804,927, but the library actually spent $1,003,114, Shaver said. The major change came about from capital projects undertaken by the library, including the parking lot project and interior renovations to the facility, he said.   The report stated the library began 2023 with a fund balance of $1,755,075 and ended the year with a fund balance of $1,654,393, Shaver noted.  The library does not need to implement new accounting standards, Shaver said. His firm is seeking one additional piece of information before it could complete its management representation letter, Shaver said.  “It’s a collateral statement from Chase Bank,” he said. “My banker is in Maine and I spent an hour with Chase, going to their various departments and they would eventually say ‘oh yeah, that’s very interesting and hang up,”’ library board treasurer Michael Clark said. “I know that we are collateralized with JP Morgan (Chase) but I don’t have the exact details,” adding he would provide the information to the auditing firm once he obtained it.  A collateral statement indicates that a government entity is following General Municipal Law by maintaining bank deposits in excess of FDIC insurance coverage so it would be safe and secure if their bank failed, Shaver said.  Shaver said he would be willing to present the 2023 audit to the library board earlier in the year, if asked by the board to do so.   Outsourcing information technology Also at the meeting, the board explored outsourcing its information technology services, with the exception of its Google email service.  The library has its information technology services provided through a contract with the Westchester Library System, Library Director Jennifer Coulter told the board. A service-level agreement for IT services with WLS is signed by individual libraries annually, she said. The cost to the Pound Ridge Library is about $40,000 a year, she noted. Coulter said WLS provides such IT services as Pound Ridge Library’s connection to the WLS mainframe, which allows the library to share books with other Westchester libraries, device support maintenance and e-maintenance support. “This is an a la carte menu,” she said. “We can choose to keep some, none, or all” services provided by WLS, she said.  Through the current IT agreement with WLS, the library is leasing its computers at an annual cost of $1,000 per unit, Coulter said, adding that cost will rise annually by $100 per computer. “That’s why I’ve chosen to investigate alternatives.” The pros of renewing the contract with WLS include that “they are a known quantity,” dedicated to libraries in the county, Coulter said. Coulter noted that 25% of the libraries in Westchester have no longer agreed to be included in the WLS IT agreement and that there have been two breaches of that library system’s computer security. WLS is “not cutting edge” in its IT services, Coulter said. Coulter said Wednesday that the breaches were two failed ransomware attacks. “The breaches affected all of the 38 libraries in the Westchester Library System,” she told The Recorder. “Our computer system is not tied to the town of Pound Ridge.” The board will continue the discussion when it meets Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7:15 p.m. Roadwork project approved Also at the meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve a project to do work on the dirt road that leads to neighbors’ houses for the library’s overflow parking area. The trustees agreed to a $3,600 contract with the Pound Ridge-based Luppino Landscaping Corp. The Aug. 13 proposal from the company stated they were seeking to do the following work: remove and dispose of a large dead ash tree; bring three tree stumps to 4-feet below grade; remove chips and grade over stumps with gravel; cut back vegetation along the road; fill, grade and tamp pot holes along dirt road; and do a complete site cleanup. Board Vice President Valerie Nelson also noted that the striping of the library’s parking lot was scheduled to take place Aug. 26.

Husband moved out, sold the house  Police went  to a home in Goldens Bridge on Thursday,  Aug. 22, at 12:15 p.m., and spoke with a woman who said her husband moved out a week before. Before he left, he told her he sold the home without her knowledge and she had to be out by Oct. 1. She said she was in her bedroom when she heard a door slam, and she saw a woman walking on her driveway, having just left the residence. She was unsure if the woman was a real estate broker, the new owner, or a random person. Police advised her to speak to her spouse and to call them back if there were further suspicious incidents.  Monday, Aug. 19 11:42 a.m. — Police responded to a caller in South Salem who accidentally locked himself out of his van. The officer was able to unlock the vehicle. No further assistance was required.  6:30 p.m. — A resident of South Salem reported his neighbor shot a pellet gun in his direction while he was getting into his car in his driveway. He stated that he and the neighbor do not get along. He thought he heard multiple shots fired but couldn’t find any pellets. Police say there is about 200 feet between the homes and woods blocking any views. A report was made for documentation only. It’s unclear if police attempted to speak to the neighbor.   8 p.m. — A FedEx driver reported that while making a delivery, his vehicle was stuck in the driveway of a home on Lake Truesdale Drive, South Salem. An Elmsford-based tow truck was called to free the vehicle.  8:50 p.m. — A father reported his daughter was missing from their family home in Goldens Bridge. No further information was provided.  Tuesday, Aug. 20 7:30 a.m. — A burglar alarm was accidentally activated at a home in South Salem. The homeowner told police they couldn’t figure out how that happened. Police say there was no illegal entry or evidence of burglars.  8:20 a.m. — Police and emergency personnel went to a home in Katonah for a reported possible heart condition. On arrival, the aided party, gender and age unknown, was being evaluated by Westchester EMS and Goldens Bridge firefighters. They were taken to Northern Westchester Hospital. 10:57 a.m. — A child who fell off the monkey bars at a park in South Salem struck his head, causing bleeding. Mother and child were taken to Northern Westchester Hospital by Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps.  Wednesday, Aug. 21 8:02 a.m. — A possibly injured raccoon was reported in the vicinity of Route 138, east of the Goldens Bridge Fire Department. On arrival, the officer saw the raccoon was dead, apparently struck by a car. The carcass was moved to the side of the road and the highway department was notified for removal. 9:08 a.m. — During a traffic stop on North Street, Goldens Bridge, police observed a car being operated with a suspended registration. The operator was issued two summonses and the car was impounded.  10:20 a.m.— Police stopped a car on Todd Road North, Goldens Bridge, for suspended registration. It was soon learned the operator’s permit was suspended and they were operating the vehicle without insurance. The driver was issued four summonses and the car was impounded.  7:07 p.m. — While on patrol in South Salem, police saw two parked cars, a Kia Soul and a Nissan Altima, both with Connecticut plates. Two men were standing outside the Soul and a woman was by the Altima. The officer recognized the Soul vehicle from an incident earlier in the day in which the operator failed to stop for a traffic stop. The car is associated with a larceny reported out of the Yorktown police jurisdiction. The operator of that car was not identified during that failed pursuit. The woman got into the Altima and fled westbound on Spring Street when police approached. The Soul was disabled and the men said they were waiting for a tow truck. Yorktown Police were contacted and the Soul was impounded. Yorktown Police said they wanted neither the men or the car at this time and the two men were released on scene.  7:20 p.m. — While performing a traffic enforcement on Mead Street, South Salem, police saw a car traveling 46 mph in a 25-mph zone. Police stopped the car at Post Office Road and determined the operator had a learner’s permit, and no licensed driver was in the vehicle. After the driver said they couldn’t get anyone with a valid license to quickly show up, the car was impounded and the driver was issued three summonses, including one for tinted windows. The car was towed to Adams Street, Bedford Hills, and its owner notified of its location. Thursday, Aug. 22 9:27 a.m. — An arrest warrant was received from the Lewisboro Town Court by a Lewisboro judge for a case that was entered into the eJusticeNY system. No further information was provided.  11:10 a.m. — A female, age unknown, was taken to Norwalk Hospital by Vista EMS for a possible stroke. On police arrival, she was being evaluated by Westchester EMS and Vista firefighters. No further information was provided.  Friday, Aug. 23 2:15 p.m. — A resident of Goldens Bridge was assisted in getting back upstairs to her bedroom by Lewisboro Police as well as Goldens Bridge firefighters and Lewisboro  Volunteer Ambulance Corps personnel. No further attention was required.  Saturday, Aug. 24 10:47 a.m. — Police went to an auto shop in South Salem for a male reported either intoxicated or having a medical emergency. They spoke with the man who brought his car in to be inspected; he said he hadn’t been drinking but refused to take the breath alcohol test. He appeared to have a problem with his legs. An ambulance was summoned. Lewisboro emergency personnel evaluated the man and said they saw no signs of stroke. The man refused medical attention and left the car to be inspected while he went to his mother’s house.  7:07 p.m. — Larceny was reported from a home in South Salem. At the scene, police spoke to a man who said he was hired to maintain the residence, which is in foreclosure and bank owned. He said several brass bowl-style bathroom sinks were removed from a powder room, a room used as an office, and two from a master bedroom. Copper pipe was also removed from basement plumbing. There were no signs of forced entry. The theft was referred to New York State Police for further investigation.  Sunday, Aug. 25 9:40 p.m. — Police went to the vicinity of Route 35 and Mead Street, Cross River, for a reported emotional disturbance after a male exited his parents’ car and was walking on Route 35. His mother said he has mental health issues and wasn’t taking his medication. An officer spoke with the son as did Westchester paramedics, state police, and Lewisboro ambulance personnel. They concluded he was not in an altered state of mind or a danger. He said he argued with his parents about cigarettes and was calling an Uber to take him to a Danbury hotel.   — Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer This report was made from official reports provided by the Lewisboro Police Department.