By JEFF MORRIS // Supporters and opponents of the town’s membership in the Westchester Power program remained at loggerheads at the July 22 Lewisboro Town Board meeting. By evening’s end, it was clear that the board was on track to allow the town’s contract with Westchester Power to expire. With the “drop-dead date” for a decision on whether to approve a contract renewal with the community choice aggregation power program looming on Sept. 7, the board again blocked a presentation by Sustainable Westchester that was intended to answer questions about the program. The existing contract expires on Nov. 30. The board had voted on July 8 in favor of a resolution put forth by council member Rich Sklarin to place a 90-day moratorium on any presentation about Westchester Power. With that moratorium not ending until October, it essentially precluded any possibility of discussion or a decision prior to the deadline.  Council member Mary Shah had proposed making it a 60-day moratorium, but that resolution was never seconded or voted on. In any event, even that shorter time period would have brought the moratorium past the deadline date. The board next meets on Aug. 12, and then not again until Sept. 9. Shah has already indicated she will be away and miss the August meeting. With council member Dan Welsh, the director of Westchester Power, having to recuse himself, that would leave Supervisor Tony Gonçalves as the only vote in favor of signing a memorandum of agreement for a new contract, making it unlikely a vote will even be placed on the meeting agenda. Council member Andrea Rendo has already stated her opposition, and, in fact, proposed a resolution against any Westchester Power contract. Sklarin also made clear he is opposed.  The Westchester Power presentation can be viewed online  on the town website.At the July 22 meeting, Gonçalves made the point that board members had earlier complained the information was not available with sufficient time ahead of any discussion. He said the document had now been online for two weeks, and that additional information had been added about the approval timeline and a comparison of price per kilowatt hour between the NYSEG supply and Westchester Power.  However, Shah repeated her comment that what she needed was a neutral explanation of the contract’s pros and cons, not a presentation by either side. Rendo said she had already heard the arguments for the program many times and was not going to change her mind.  Even with the PowerPoint available, many of its slides were clearly in need of narration and further explanation. Gonçalves told The Recorder he originally scheduled the presentation for a board work session so that there could be an opportunity for discussion, questions and answers. Sklarin’s resolution, and the board’s rejection of giving Sustainable Westchester director Noam Bramson an opportunity to speak, removed that possibility. It was clear at the July 22 meeting that many of those who spoke both for and against the program during public forum were talking past one another without addressing the specifics of each other’s positions. Supporters of the contract, as well as much of the presentation document, talked about the effects of climate change and the need to be proactive in finding cleaner sources of energy, with the program touted as having prevented 310,860 metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere in 2023. But there was little in the way of a detailed explanation of how the program achieved those results. That was done by having large numbers of customers automatically enrolled for renewable energy sources each time the program’s 44 member municipalities signed a new contract. The result was more customers were enrolled, and there were higher levels of carbon removal, than if customers had chosen to sign up individually.  Indeed, the program’s environmental benefits had become lessened somewhat under the last contract when no acceptable bids were made that met contract guidelines for 100% renewable energy, resulting in a 50-50 renewable/non-renewable supply. The program’s other main advantages — the ability to stabilize costs with a set price over the length of the contract, and to use the clout of buying for multiple municipalities to negotiate a lower price — had also been mitigated somewhat over the past year as NYSEG supply costs dropped for much of that time. The contract price currently about 4 cents more per kW than NYSEG. That price differential has been a key component of ongoing criticism, though NYSEG prices spiked far above the contract price for much of 2022-23.  Critics took several different approaches. The chief criticism has been that Westchester Power contract rates per kW have either not been appreciably lower than, or were higher than the default NYSEG supply over much of the last six years, causing Lewisboro residents in the program to pay more than they otherwise would. Another argument was that the program’s opt-out basis left most residents unaware they were even participating, or knowing that they could opt out at any time and revert to the NYSEG supply or find another alternative on their own. A third line of criticism alleged that, as Westchester Power’s director, Welsh had a conflict of interest and was enriching himself at residents’ expense—a charge that critics also leveled at Bramson and members of Sustainable Westchester’s board of directors. It should be noted that the opt-out formula for Westchester Power was written into the original state Public Service Commission authorization of community choice aggregation programs in 2016. The provision stated, “Opt-in aggregation has proved valuable to certain larger customer groups, but opt-out aggregation appears necessary for CCA programs to achieve the scale that will enable ESCOs (energy supply companies) to create meaningful benefits for mass market customers.” The PSC went on to say, “In order to leverage the negotiating power to draw offers from ESCOs that will benefit residents, municipalities must have a reasonable level of certainty that a critical mass of customers will be available for their programs, which is best provided through a well-designed opt-out CCA program.” As it now stands, with no prospect of a contract renewal being approved, the 1,601 Lewisboro households who are currently enrolled in the Westchester Power program, out of 4,383 total households, will revert to the standard NYSEG supply after Nov. 30. At that point they can stay with NYSEG or choose another supplier on their own, just as they are free to do right now.

By Melissa Whitworth//  Writers and filmmakers forever aim to represent the human experience, but it’s a near impossible task to visually depict the inner workings of the human brain. More so, to do it in an entertaining, box office-busting way, through animation and for an audience of children.  Perhaps the most visceral depiction of what anxiety and panic really feel like can be seen in movie theaters right now. “Inside Out 2,” which has brought in over $1.4 billion worldwide and is set to be Pixar’s most successful film yet, brings panic and the attendant maelstrom of emotions of adolescent life to reality in an astonishing way.  The “Inside Out” films, co-written by Meg LeFauve, cleverly personify human emotions, turning them into animated characters bickering over who should be in charge of Riley, the young girl and protagonist. Not only have the films been critical and commercial successes, but they have been praised as a tool desperately needed by children and teens at a time when adolescent mental health has never been in a worse place.  “I am drawing on this as a girl who was a teenager with anxiety back in the day when nobody talked about mental health at all, and also as a parent,” said LeFauve in an interview with The Recorder before a special screening at The Bedford Playhouse. The script was also written during the pandemic lockdown “when anxiety was very accessible to us,” she noted. The action for both films takes place largely in the command center of Riley’s brain, where Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust battle over a Starship Enterprise-style control panel. The first film ended with a new button appearing on the console, labeled “puberty.” Enter Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment and Envy for the sequel. “We started with the creative idea, which is Pete Docter [chief creative officer at Pixar] wanting to talk about anxiety because when he was a teenager that anxiety came on very strong,” explained LeFauve, who was nominated for an Oscar for the first film in 2015. The research started to focus on anxiety. “But it wasn’t just anxiety in general. It had to be anxiety in teens,” and specifically in teenage girls, she added. Both films carry powerful messages, bravely aimed at children. One message is that sadness should not be avoided and repressed. A second is the role of anxiety in dominating all other emotions. Yet another is how children form a core belief system and sense of self. The animators drew the core beliefs as long, elastic beams of light. LeFauve, who has more than a touch of Joy about her in person, has a new favorite character. “I really like Anger because a lot of girls aren’t allowed to be angry and I find that problematic,” she said. “Anger is just a way to put down a boundary. Yes, there’s ways to do it, but women should be allowed to be angry.” She also has had a soft spot for Sadness from the beginning of the series. LeFauve turned to screenwriting after working as a producer for Jodie Foster for ten years. “I really learned a lot of storytelling from her and the way to approach a story. She’s an actress and a director: she wants to know thematically, what is this about? She used to call it, ‘What’s the big beautiful idea in here?’ And then she would build from there. So, if you wanted to pitch anything, you had to start with that emotional human condition,” she recalled. By the end of “Inside Out 2,” Anxiety, a frazzled hyper-frenetic, orange, muppet-like character voiced by Maya Hawke, has taken over the control panel that operates Riley’s brain and no other emotions can take hold. One of the final scenes is a full-blown panic attack for Riley represented by a whirling hurricane of bright orange streaks. It is here that the film is so accurate in imagining what an attack might actually look like. The filmmakers are not trying to claim deep mental health knowledge, LeFauve is quick to point out, although Pixar is known for conducting deep-dive research for its movie projects. Consulting on the film were two renowned mental health professionals, Dr. Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and Dr. Lisa Damour, a clinical psychologist and author with a specialization in teen mental health. “We’re not mental health experts, we have to be very careful about that,” cautioned LeFauve. “But we’re hoping maybe the movie at least gets you to start talking about it so you can decide your own path. As long as the movie connects to someone or a group, then you feel like as a writer, we did our jobs.” Therapists are saying the film has fast become an invaluable tool for opening up the discussion about mental health. Robbie Len is a licensed social worker with a private practice in Bedford Hills who has worked in family practice with many children and adolescents. He loves the concept of the “Inside Out” series, he said. “Personifying anger, fear, disgust and joy helps kids, especially young kids, understand the sort of emotions that might be driving them to avoid something or to act out or to seek some comfort,” Len said. “That aspect of the movie gives kids something they can grasp onto that’s very theoretical, but when you see it represented on a screen, it’s actually very simple.” LeFauve has been told by one therapist who works with autistic children that the films have a huge impact on their work. “Especially for nonverbal kids,” she said. “They can now have something to talk about with them, but now they can talk in a more complex way with the older artistic teenagers, too. It’s just a quicker way to get to the conversation and that you can have a common language.” At an awards ceremony in Los Angeles, a woman walked up to LeFauve and told her the film had made her job so much easier. “And I said, ‘Oh, what do you do?’” LeFauve recalled. “And she said, ‘I am a psychiatrist that works for the city of Los Angeles. On the night of a trauma, after the police are done, I go in and talk to the children to try to help them. And now I can reach them so fast: your movie.’” “Oh my God!” LeFauve exclaimed. “Who needs an Academy Award after that?”

By NEAL RENTZ // The Pound Ridge Town Board continues to review the initial draft of proposed legislation that would regulate the operation of cannabis businesses. The state legalized adult cannabis use in March 2021 and the town board did not opt out of allowing cannabis dispensaries before the December 2021 state deadline. The only operating cannabis dispensary in Pound Ridge, the Purple Plains Cannabis Dispensary located at 32 Westchester Ave., was opened April 17 by co-owners Sophia Mortell and Mark Buzzetto. The store opened during the initial six-month moratorium on such businesses which the town board implemented in December 2023. The town board extended the restriction on opening new cannabis businesses in June when it passed another six-month moratorium. At the July 16 meeting, the town board heard a presentation by Malcolm Simpson, a planner from the infrastructure engineering firm Hardesty & Hanover. The firm was hired by the town to develop the legislation, which would mandate special use permit regulations for licensed adult cannabis dispensary use and licensed adult cannabis consumption site use. Simpson, who wrote the first draft, noted in a memorandum to the town board that the state has the power to regulate the operation, registration, licensing and permitting of cannabis businesses, while municipalities can only regulate such items as hours of operation, location and the manner in which they can be operated. “Largely, the state is responsible for the licensure,” Simpson stated. Municipalities, on the other hand, “have a very narrow window” to regulate cannabis businesses, he said. Some municipalities have chosen to follow state regulations without adding their own, he also noted, and told officials to expect further changes in coming years to state regulations governing cannabis businesses. The planner referred to his firm’s research on how other New York towns have regulated cannabis businesses. The town has three primary zoning districts and “there is no reason to allow (a cannabis business) in all of them,” he stated. In drafting the local legislation, Simpson said, he did not use the current hours of operation for the existing cannabis dispensary, but rather incorporated a townwide standard for all retail businesses. Town board member Dan Paschkes asked Simpson if the state would allow Pound Ridge to mandate an 8 p.m. closing time for cannabis businesses. While localities can mandate hours of operation, they must allow the businesses to be open 10 hours a day, Simpson said. State regulations prohibit the cannabis businesses from being open overnight, he noted. There are several regulations that stipulate the distance requirements between cannabis businesses, Simpson said. The state requires that there be at least 2,000 feet between such businesses, he said. “They take that kind of thing very seriously,” he stressed. In addition, the state would not grant a license for a cannabis business seeking to move next door to an existing facility, Simpson said. The state also sets minimum distances from schools and houses of worship, while municipalities also can restrict their proximity to public youth facilities, he said. He said he included distance restrictions from public youth facilities in the legislation’s first draft, but the town board could remove that section if it wished. Also, Simpson said local planning boards can grant waivers for such matters as parking and facades for marijuana dispensaries, he said. “That waver is very useful for the sake of good planning,” he said. On the issue of parking requirements, Simpson said he looked at Pound Ridge’s current policy and compared that to what other municipalities have mandated for cannabis businesses. The town board could simply use Pound Ridge’s current parking requirements for retail businesses and restaurants, Simpson said. Paschkes said the board should create parking requirements specifically for cannabis businesses. During a public comment period, resident John McCown said he had three elements he suggested as amendments to the draft legislation, which he maintained would be consistent with the town code and state regulations. He proposed that cannabis businesses should only be allowed in PB-B and PB-C zones, but not in the PB-A zone because that zone is the most restrictive district and is closest to the town’s historical areas. The town also should require at least 2,000 feet between cannabis stores, which would be consistent with state regulations, he said. In addition, cannabis businesses should only be allowed to operate the minimum of 10 hours a day and stay open no later than 8 p.m., which would also be consistent with state regulations, he said. Mr. McCown said “47 reasonable individuals” supported his proposed amendments. “It’s step two of a multi-step process” to craft the legislation, Supervisor Kevin Hansan said. The first step was to immediately release the first draft of the legislation, he said. A future public hearing or hearings on the legislation will be conducted by the town board, Hansan said. “There’s no decision on this tonight,” he stated. Based on comments during the public hearing, the legislation could be revised further, Paschkes said. “This is only a first look,” he said. Discussion of the legislation is scheduled to resume at the Tuesday, Sept. 17, town board meeting. The owners of Purple Plains sued the town, the town board and the town building inspector, James Perry, on Feb. 20 in state Supreme Court in White Plains, alleging that town officials mishandled the filing of the initial moratorium. The dispensary has continued to operate throughout the months the town moratorium has been in effect. Also at the meeting, the town board scheduled its only public meeting for next month for Tuesday, Aug. 13. Typically, the board conducts its meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Netflix filming permit Also at the meeting, the town board voted unanimously to approve a permit to allow a crew to film scenes for the finale of the fifth and final season of the Netflix scripted series, “You.” The Long Island City-based Warner Horizon Scripted Television asked for permit to film at two locations — 141 Old Church Lane and the backyard at 95 Conant Valley Road. Shooting is scheduled for Monday, July 29, from approximately 10:30 a.m. to midnight; July 30 and 31 from approximately 3 p.m. to 4 a.m.; and Aug. 1 from approximately 6 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. The shooting would include a crew of 80 with two actors and two stunt performers. Neighbors will be notified of the filming, according to film company. The film company needed a waiver from the town requirement that filming end at 10 p.m. “The scenes we wish to film take place at and around a lake house in the woods,” Horizon stated in a memo to the town. “It involves two actors inside the house and then an extended sequence outside in the woods and in the water. It is an important story point that this is all shot during nighttime.” Horizon Assistant Location Manager Corey Patrick told the board, “We’ve chosen a wonderful spot in the town.” The night shoots are “necessary for storytelling purposes,’ he said. Paschkes said, “The town has had some serious issues in the past” with filming. Patrick said he would be present at all times during the filming and would heed any complaints from residents.

By NEAL RENTZ // The Lewisboro Town Board held a public hearing on three proposed revisions to the tree preservation ordinance at its July 22 meeting, while delaying the implementation of other changes. The board also held further discussion and heard heated public comments about whether it should continue to participate in Sustainable Westchester’s energy buying program. (This portion of the meeting will be covered in a separate article.)  The Conservation Advisory Council recently presented the town board with proposed changes to the ordinance: to make it consistent with Westchester County licensing requirements for tree removal; to tighten the language to prevent clear-cutting of trees; and to correct an error in the special character portion of the current town ordinance. A majority of the town board agreed with the suggestion made recently by Supervisor Tony Gonçalves to postpone action on proposals regarding penalties and a tree replacement schedule for violations of the ordinance. CAC Chair John Wolff has agreed that some additional discussion should be held before revising the penalty section of the ordinance, including creating a work group that would consider the issue. During the public hearing on the legislation, resident Simone Petromelis said she could not see how the revised tree ordinance could be enforced by the town. “I know people are cutting down trees as we speak,” she said. “They’re doing it all over the place. I hear it. I see it.”   Resident Dean Travalino said he understood the town board was considering three changes in the tree ordinance, with other changes to be determined in the future. “I hope that you’re serious about moving forward on them,” he said. “The big issue with these changes is we want to improve enforceability.” Travalino said he opposed clear-cutting of trees, but the revised ordinance “might be a little overkill.” For example, the revised ordinance allows the cutting down of only three live trees per year on a property, regardless of the size of the parcel, he said. Even with the limit of three trees, the cutting of a tree 18-inches high or higher needs a separate permit from the town, he said.    If the tree ordinance changes are approved, “the Building Department is given overreaching power now to decide whether you’re building a backyard barn, a deck or anything else” in that  would regulate tree removal in each of those circumstances, Travalino said. Sally Frank, a member of the Conservation Advisory Council, noted that the current tree ordinance allows property owners to cut down diseased or dead trees that could endanger a home if they fell down. In addition, property owners can take down trees under the current ordinance, even healthy ones, that are within 100 feet of a dwelling and pose a threat to a home, she said. The town is having difficulty with property owners cutting down many trees “any which way that they want,” she stressed. The intent of the legislation is to maintain the rural character of the town, among other benefits, she said   Gonçalves said a workgroup spearheaded by the CAC will consider additional tree ordinance changes to recommend to the town board. Resident Jen Cipriano said the town board should call on the CAC to include in its working group residents with expertise in trees who have not been selected for their expertise in the past. As she had previously, Councilwoman Andrea Rendo said at the July 22 meeting that rather than having the town board send its three tree ordinance changes to the state, it should send to Albany one package of proposed tree ordinance changes when all future changes are included. She maintained this approach would be less costly than filing two submissions with the state and would require less time from town officials.    Since the town board has not completed review of an Environmental Assessment Form, the board did not close the public hearing. The next town board meeting is Aug. 12 when the hearing could continue. Comprehensive Plan vote postponed Also at the meeting, the town board postponed a scheduled vote to revise the Comprehensive Plan and adjourn the public hearing on the document until at least its Aug. 12 meeting. The Comprehensive Plan, formerly known as the Master Plan, was last updated in 1985. During the public hearing on the plan, resident Barbara Mangione said she was concerned about the review of the plan by the Westchester County Planning Board, particularly the section that addresses the need for additional affordable housing for Lewisboro. Richard Hyman, who drafted that section, wants the Comprehensive Plan to identify barriers in the town preventing construction of the housing, Mangione said. Hyman stated Goldens Bridge should be the area where additional housing is built, she said. “Goldens Bridge just built 48 affordable housing units,” she said. (42 were built.) “We are the most densely populated hamlet in town and also have the highest amount of multiple family dwellings.” New affordable housing units should be constructed in other sections of town, she said. “Our roads and infrastructure are reaching capacity,” she said, adding that Goldens Bridge abuts sensitive wetlands and watershed areas. Mangione said she agreed with the consultant assisting with the plan revisions, Valerie Monastra, who recommended that town conduct a housing survey before additional affordable housing is planned.  Jennifer Cipriano said she wanted to address comments from the county about housing and pedestrian and bicycle safety. “We need smart growth,” she said. “We need to figure out how we increase housing, which is going to support our businesses and our local agriculture because people who need to work need places to live within commuting distance.” The town should also strengthen public transportation, she said.   Cipriano said she wanted Lewisboro to maintain its rural character, as well as strengthen current businesses and encouraging small agriculture, and the revised Comprehensive Plan should indicate how the town could do so in smart ways. She also recommended Lewisboro hire a town planner who would coordinate the work of the town’s committees, as well as working with representatives of the town’s business and agricultural communities, she said. If changes were to be made by the town board to the latest draft, said Rendo, the public hearing should be kept open. The county Planning Board feedback was provided to the town on July 22, just prior to the meeting, Gonçalves noted. Building Department fines moratorium Also at the meeting, the town board voted unanimously to approve a request from the Building Department to allow building permits that have since expired to be renewed by property owners without requiring the $102 filing/records management fee and the 25% additional fee. The amnesty program will begin on Sept. 1 and run through Nov. 1. “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 for a particular scope of work,” the legislation stated. Program participants will need to submit a building permit application, the supporting documentation and the renewal fee. The application will be processed by the Building Department, which will conduct a brief code review to determine what inspections or other items are required to work toward closing the permit.  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 occupancy will be issued.

By JEFF MORRIS// Meeting at the Bedford Hills Community House, state senators Pete Harckham and Shelley Mayer held a joint town hall on July 16, reporting on the legislative session that ended in June and taking questions from constituents. There were about 40 people in attendance. Harckham represents the 40th Senate District, which includes Bedford and Lewisboro; Mayer represents the 37th Senate District, which includes Pound Ridge. Both are Democrats. Harckham is chair of the Committee on Environmental Conservation, while Mayer is chair of the Committee on Education. In a summation of the budget season that just passed, Harckham said, “We were playing defense on all fronts.” The main challenges he and Mayers faced, as part of the Democratic majority in both houses, were dealing with cuts in the budget proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, he said. The legislature revised the budget to restore many of cuts. Harckham noted that for the past few years under Mayer’s leadership, the state had fully funded Foundation Aid to school districts, with total education aid to Bedford Central up nearly 40% and to Katonah-Lewisboro up 31% since Democrats became the majority. But this year, he said, “the governor cut (aid to) half the school districts.” However, he said that with Mayer leading the effort, legislators were able to restore the funding, with Bedford Central winding up with a slight increase. Mayer explained that the governor had imposed a cut for districts that had already received what they were owed in Foundation Aid over the last three years, which meant a net reduction for half the state’s school districts. She noted many districts had used federal COVID funds to hire social workers to deal with social and emotional needs that had developed during the pandemic, and loss of Foundation Aid would have been in addition to the loss of those federal funds. Harckham went on to list other reductions that had been in the governor’s budget, including half the funding cut from a $500 million per year bipartisan water quality program — one that he said already did not meet the demand because of a $60 billion backlog — and $1.2 billion cut from Medicaid funding, which he said was really a $2.4 billion cut because it meant a loss of federal matching funds. “A lot of what we were doing was really playing catch-up,” said Harckham. “This was not the year for new initiatives.” Other highlights of the legislative session cited by Harckham included restoration of funding for the Environmental Facilities Corp. for clean water, increasing the middle-class tax cut, saving the Department of Transportation capital plan from cuts, restoring money for work on the Interstate 684 corridor, increasing local road paving money and funding road projects to improve Route 35 from Bedford to Cross River, Route 9A and Route 22 from Brewster to Dutchess County. On the environmental front, Harckham said close to 100 bills passed out of his committee dealing with climate change, water quality, environmental enforcement and air quality. Mayer focused on achievements in education. She also highlighted legislation that both she and the governor supported expanding the list of hate crimes, which elevate charges if there is hateful conduct coupled with the crime that was committed. The two legislators fielded questions from constituents throughout their districts, most of which were town-specific, and dealt with issues ranging from library funding to disability services. Many of those in attendance were under the mistaken impression that the forum was to be about a Medical Aid in Dying bill. That bill would allow terminally ill adults capable of making their own health care decisions, with a prognosis of six months or less to live, to request a prescription that they can self-ingest to die peacefully in their sleep. It has been the subject of nine years of legislative debate. Harckham and Mayer noted the bill has not yet been voted on, and the legislature is not in session again until next January. Harckham said he is a co-sponsor of the bill. Mayer said she is not a co-sponsor, but has committed to vote in favor despite having some reservations. She said many of her constituents have expressed religious and other concerns over the bill. Some revisions have been incorporated into the legislation, she noted, and that in the last legislative session the bill had moved much closer to passage. Harckham said he was aware of the many complicating issues, and that the current bill has been significantly changed from earlier versions. One of the constituents on hand was Sharon Ballen, chair of the Town of Bedford Prison Relations Advisory Committee. She spoke about how increased educational opportunities could help reduce the recidivism rate among the prison population, and also discussed the need for heat mitigation in prisons, particularly in the two women’s prisons in Bedford Hills.  Harckham noted that he has a bill that has already passed both houses that would call for heat mitigation plans for both those incarcerated and prison staff. In fact, that very day he had renewed his call for Gov. Hochul to sign the legislation. Pressed by Ballen about the need for a longer-term plan rather than the annual solution proscribed by his bill, Harckham said, “We’ve got to walk before we run,” and noted the cost to retrofit all the state’s facilities would be enormous.

New Jersey women nabbed for using counterfeit bills at DeCicco stores Two women, both from New Jersey, were arrested July 19 at 6:16 p.m. by Bedford police at the North Castle police headquarters in Armonk, charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Police said the women, one 35, from Patterson, NJ, the other 42, from Elizabeth, NJ, made multiple visits to DeCicco grocery stores in the tri-state area where they used counterfeit $100 bills to make minor purchases, receiving legal currency in return. Police said store management put out an alert for the pair, who were first nabbed in Armonk. Multiple law enforcement agencies from around the region were notified of their arrest. Bedford police said the pair employed their scheme at the DeCicco & Sons store on Old Post Road in Bedford on July 12. The women were scheduled to appear in Bedford court July 24.   Monday. July 15 10:45 a.m. — A head-on collision was reported on Old Post Road in the vicinity of the Fox Lane campus area after one driver drifted into an oncoming car’s lane. That driver told police he had just finished a workout and felt disoriented, causing his car to veer. Both drivers reported minor injuries to their arms and were transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Bedford firefighters. Both cars were towed. No citations were issued.   12:21 p.m. — A woman, 38, from Brewster who was in an emotional state was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance from Katonah Avenue in Katonah. 4:06 p.m. — A house was reported struck by lightning in Bedford on Rock Gate Farm Road. Bedford firefighters on the scene determined the incident resulted from a malfunction of an electrical box, not a lightning strike. 7:38 p.m. — A Washington Avenue, Bedford resident reported a possible burglary at their home. Two officers responded. A neighbor came outside to say they thought the caller’s home security system might have been activated by a bear observed wandering in the neighborhood. Police found an unsecured door. The interior of the home was checked, but nothing appeared to have been disturbed.     Tuesday, July 16 2:34 p.m. — A man, 27, from Bedford Hills was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance after his parents came to the police station to report their son, who was in the car parked out front, was having an emotional breakdown. Police spoke to the man, who appeared agitated and said his parents had upset him.  10:35 p.m. — A caller on Harris Road, Bedford Hills, notified police their vehicle had run out of gas. Police located a Jeep on the side of the road. A tow company was contacted and said they would bring gas to the stranded driver.  Wednesday, July 17 8:16 p.m. — A caller in the Jay Street commuter parking lot in Katonah requested assistance with a leaking propane gas tank used for camping. Katonah firefighters arrived and sealed the tank. No further assistance was required.   Thursday, July 18 6:30 a.m. — A Rome Avenue, Bedford Hills caller reported a possibly sick raccoon in their yard. They said it was hiding in the bushes. Police arrived but didn’t see the animal. The caller was told to call back if it returned. They did so at 10:33 a.m. and the police returned. The animal was visible and observed growling and stumbling. The officer used their service pistol to dispatch it with two rounds.   6:57 p.m. — A deer reported possibly injured and on the sidewalk on Cherry Street in Bedford Hills was gone before police arrived.   Friday, July 19 9:46 a.m. — A man, 56, was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance from Depot Plaza in Bedford Hills after a caller reported a heavily intoxicated man in the area. The man was said to be agitated and was briefly restrained by two officers for his and their safety.  Saturday, July 20 9:27 a.m. — Police went to a residence in Katonah on Old Cross River Road after a welfare check was requested by a male caller. At the residence police spoke with a woman who said the former owner of the home—the original caller—had come by the house unannounced, asking if he could still use the address as his legal residence in order to maintain his driver’s license. His request was denied and the current residents were advised to notify police if the person returned.  1:44 p.m. — A caller on Greenwich Road, Bedford, reported two propane tanks were missing from their family member’s unoccupied house, which is for sale. Police advised the caller that the propane company might have removed the tanks from the home. No further action was taken.  4:47 p.m. — A small fire was reported in the woods in Katonah in the vicinity of Mount Holly Road. On police arrival, Katonah firefighters were on scene along with a utility company official and extinguished the blaze. The caller said they had lost power when they saw the smoke. No further police action was needed.   Sunday, July 21 12:52 p.m. — A woman, 36, was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance after she was reported on foot in the vicinity of Huntville Road and Bedford Road, Katonah, appearing to need assistance. Police located her quickly; she appeared intoxicated and initially was uncooperative. They made contact with her husband, who said she was having personal difficulties and went for a walk. He said he tried to get her to return home, but she resisted.   3:59 p.m. — Two female complainants on Millertown Road in Bedford reported receiving unwanted texts and contact on social media from a former friend and co-worker. Police said the texts and comments in question were not threatening. The complainants were unable to provide the police with sufficient information for follow-up. Police are still investigating.   7:30 p.m. — A caller on Cartway Lane West in Bedford reported a suspicious incident in their neighborhood; they said their car alarm went off and, when they went outside to check, they heard a neighbor’s home alarm activated. Police spoke with the neighbor who said their security system regularly emits sounds, but they discovered their front door was wide open. Neither party reported anything missing from their homes or cars.   —Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer. This report was made from official reports provided by the Bedford Police Department.

More than 100 people toured “healthy yards” around Northern Westchester on July 21 to observe landscaping practices that benefit both nature and the climate. The event, organized by Healthy Yards and Bedford 2030, featured approximately 30 gardens, 24 in Bedford and Pound Ridge, showcasing landscaping practices that have a positive impact on the environment.   These practices support biodiversity, sequester carbon and minimize emissions, according to the event organizers. They include reducing lawn areas; planting native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants; use of electric, rather than gas-powered tools; and implementing methods such as composting and mulch-mowing leaves.   “We had many visitors who were completely new to this concept of landscaping and were excited to learn about it,” said Stone Barns horticulturalist Laura Perkins.   “This is the second year we joined the Healthy Yards Westchester Pollinator Garden Tour, and we were not disappointed,” said Jan Linskey, one of the hosts. “The native plant garden plot was full of pollinators. This idea doesn't need acreage; it's something we can do in our small suburban backyard.”   The July 21 program was the fifth Healthy Yards Garden Tour, which is scheduled at different times throughout the year to illustrate how a natural garden changes over the seasons.

Eleanor Rita Caucci, 102, of Katonah, died July 13 with her family by her side. She was born in the Bronx on Jan. 22, 1922, to Louis and Fannie Bozzone (Pastore). Family members said she loved dancing and was a talented singer. She was married to Anthony Thomas Caucci, who predeceased her. Survivors include her daughters, Michele Lockwood and Tina Bellino, and three grandchildren. She also was predeceased by a son, Peter Louis Caucci, and a grandson. A graveside service was held July 17 at Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle.

Bedford Garden Club helps restore decades-old garden By JOYCE CORRIGAN // “A bit rough around the edges” is how Taro Ietaka delicately described what the Native Wildflower Garden at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation looked like two years ago before its extensive renovation and re-imagining. The historic plot was first established at the Trailside Museum in 1955 as the Luquer-Marble Memorial Wildflower Garden. As Ietaka, the Ward Pound Ridge supervisor, explained, many original sun-loving species had sadly disappeared; death by natural causes, Ietaka concluded, because overgrown trees had shaded them out. “There were also some aggressive, non-native species we were contending with,” he said, “We’ve managed to remove periwinkle, goutweed, Japanese primrose and lungwort, but the lesser celandine (an invasive poppy) continues to be a challenge.” First to the rescue was the Bedford Garden Club, whose early members established the original garden and named it after two founding members, conservationists and wildflower warriors, Eloise Payne Luquer and Delia West Marble. Luquer (1862-1947) also had a brilliant career painting them. It could be said that she was to wildflowers what Beatrix Potter, her contemporary, was to rabbits. “The Garden Club jumped in wholeheartedly — sometimes right into poison ivy,” recounted Ietaka. “They weeded, designed, planted, watered — and helped fund. Varner Redmon, Elizabeth Sachs, Jayni Chase, Betsy Mitchell, Susan Burke, and so many other members have pitched in.” With two very generous matching gifts — a five-figure grant from the BGC and another bountiful grant from the Garden Club of America — BGC member Burke brought “seed money” to a whole new level. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a biodiversity reserve area with miles of trails, active research projects and award-winning educational programs that hosts close to 100,000 visitors each year. The Trailside Nature Museum was founded in 1937 and is one of the nation’s oldest of its kind. “Native wildflowers are part of our dwindling natural heritage,” said Redmon, chair of the BGC’s Civic Improvement Committee, who has spearheaded the BGC’s initiative. “They provide food and shelter for wildlife, stabilize the climate, and attract and feed pollinators which are essential for our own food supply.” The proliferation of non-native plants has led to the alarming decline of pollinators which in turn is a threat to crop productivity. By contrast, according to the World Wildlife Fund, a single-acre wildflower meadow with 3 million flowers would produce 1kg of nectar sugar, enough to support nearly 96,000 honeybees per day. Environmentally supportive in every way, not only are native wildflowers the basis of the food web, but they also benefit biodiversity by improving soil health, reducing water runoff, improving air quality, and decreasing pollution as they eliminate the need for mowers, fertilizer and pesticides. In fact, wildflowers are all-natural pesticides, attracting the carnivorous insects that prey on common garden pests such as hoverflies, parasitic wasps and ground beetles. Compared with gardens of predominantly cultivated plants, a hearty and self-reproducing native wildflower garden needs less pruning and watering — in other words, very little human intervention. In addition to planting hundreds of new native perennials and eradicating invasives, the Native Wildflower Garden team has doubled the footprint to include a new sunny meadow, installed an invisible deer fence, rebuilt the wooden bridge with Adirondack railings, and installed two free-form rustic benches. Members are designing a new website with plant identification and cultivation in development using QR codes. “There are also two access points to the stream that passes through the garden, so that visitors can see aquatic plants, crayfish, water striders and other stream life,” added Ietaka. “We’ve had two wonderful growing seasons, and the dozens of native perennials and shrubs we planted are thriving,” said Redmon. “Last summer we had volunteers in the park twice a month and this year plan to be there almost every week.” “Our collaboration with the gardening community has been beyond our expectations,” she continued, “from the enthusiastic staff of the Trailside Museum, curator Danniela Ciatto and naturalists Hayley Lewis and Brendan Wallace, to the Friends of the Trailside who paid for tree work to cable our wonderful old maples and to thin trees to lighten the canopy.” Another collaborator Redmon cited was Trees for Tribs, a New York Department of Environmental Conservation program, which donated and helped plant 40 native shrubs along the fence line. Westchester Parks Foundation sent a large group of corporate volunteers to help move hundreds of plants, while Hilltop Hanover Farm’s native plant experts, Emily Rauch and Lindsey Feinberg, donated countless native plants grown from seeds collected in Ward Pound Ridge. Garden Club member, Betsy Mitchell, corralled some environmental studies students from Fox Lane High School to pitch in. “Whether professional or backyard grower, we’re all being encouraged to embrace indigenous plants,” – BGC President Heather Langham National leaders in the American horticultural firmament have been taking notice. “This year the Garden Club of America has been working to establish a Native Plant Month in all 50 states,” noted current BGC President Heather Langham. This followed the game-changing Senate resolution designating April 2024 as National Native Plant Month. “Whether professional or backyard grower, we’re all being encouraged to embrace indigenous plants,” Langham explained. “It’s learning to view your landscape through the lens of ecological well-being. So, what to say to the generations of gardeners who’ve only ever grown cultivated plants, and quite happily? “It’s not an either/or choice,” countered Langham. “Gardening with natives and wildflowers doesn’t sacrifice beauty — it’s an additive. Transitioning an existing garden or landscape to a native plant palette is just that — a process that can happen over time, and one that can include non-native plants when used responsibly.” Redmon rhapsodized over the wildflower garden’s natural allure. “The dappled light, the different shades of green, the only sounds being running water, insects and the wind. Our little oasis will change through the seasons and be alive with insects and more resilient to changes in rainfall and temperatures,” she said. “We are working on lesson plans, activity kits, signage, and other ways to communicate the wonders of the Wildflower Garden,” Ietaka said, adding, “But even without those, just taking a seat on one of the new benches, listening to the stream, and watching hummingbirds and butterflies feeding on the cardinal flower is wondrous!” Perhaps that was what Romantic poet William Blake meant when he described innocence and true bliss as being able to recognize “Heaven in a Wild Flower.” Native Wildflower Garden at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Photo credit: Varner Redmon.

DWI arrest for driver released to hospital care A resident of Elmsford, male, 37, was arrested Monday, July 8, at 5:27 p.m., on Fox Lane, Bedford, charged with DWI. Police received a report of someone blocking a driveway with their car. Police responding saw the described vehicle moving and swerving in and out of traffic lanes. A traffic stop was initiated and the operator was observed to have slurred speech and other signs of intoxication. An open bottle of tequila was visible on the car seat. The driver told police he had consumed two drinks. There was a language barrier and a Spanish-speaking officer was requested. The subject was unable to complete field sobriety tests, claiming he had a leg injury, and was transported to headquarters for processing. His car was towed. Due to his suspected level of intoxication, an ambulance was requested and he was transported to Northern Westchester hospital by Mount Kisco Volunteer Ambulance Corps. He was issued three summonses and is scheduled to appear in court July 24. Binghamton man reported missing found at local deli A resident of Binghamton, male, 85, reported missing a day earlier by his wife, was found by an employee at Paulie’s Deli Woods Bridge Road , Katonah, at 11:26 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9. An employee of the deli said an elderly man entered the deli shoeless and disoriented. The employee asked to see his identification and recognized the man had been reported missing a day earlier. Police arrived and contacted the man’s wife; she said she had reported him missing after he failed to return home from a trip to a local store. Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps arrived and transported the man to Northern Westchester Hospital. Police notified the sheriff’s office in Binghamton. The man’s wife was advised of his whereabouts and said she and her daughter were on their way to meet him at the hospital. Monday, July 8 12:38 a.m.— Police went to a residence on Harris Road, Bedford Hills, for a reported disturbance between a father and adult son. The parties had to be separated by police on their arrival. The father explained he occasionally has a friend stay over and the son harasses her, entering her room, messing with her belongings. The son claims the guest is a thief and has stolen his property. Both men agreed to stay apart for the rest of the night and a New York state domestic incident report was completed. 3:02 p.m. — A resident of Tucker Road, Bedford Hills, said a neighbor’s dog that had been reported missing had entered her home and cause damage. She was alerted to the dog’s presence by her house cleaner who recognized the dog from signage in the Penwood complex. The dog’s owner was contacted and retrieved their dog. Later, the house cleaner found urine and excrement on the carpets. The homeowner contacted the dog’s owner to discuss the matter, but the dog owner did not return phone calls or texts. The homeowner’s insurance company became involved regarding the property damage and suggested the homeowner obtain a police report as this could become a civil matter. 4:39 p.m. — A motorcycle and car collided on Old Post Road, Bedford. The operator of the motorcycle said he was traveling south on Route 121 in the vicinity of The Farms when a car making a turn on the road struck them. The driver told police they never saw the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist sustained a minor arm injury but declined hospital transport. Their motorcycle was towed. The operator of the car was uninjured and their car did not require a tow. No citations  were given. 6:10 p.m. — A resident of Jefferson Lane, Bedford, reported their dog was struck by a car a day earlier. The resident did not provide details of the dog’s condition. A report was made for documentation. Tuesday, July 9 3:33 a.m. — A female caller on Byram Lake Road, Bedford Hills, reported a possible intruder inside the house. Police spoke to the woman’s son who said his mother was on medication, which affected her perception. He said there was no intruder in the home and asked police not to come to the residence. 5:06 a.m. — A resident of Meadow Lane, Katonah, reported a possible attempted crime. She said when her daughter left the house early that morning, she saw a man who seemed about to break into her mother’s car which was parked next to the home. The man ran off when spotted, getting into a minivan. The daughter was unable to describe the man or the van. Nothing was missing from the mother’s car. Officers checked the area with negative results. Wednesday, July 10 2:00 a.m. — Police went to a residence on Harris Road, Bedford Hills, for an argument between a son, 46, and his mother, 78, over money. In front of the police, the son said he would repay his mother. A New York state domestic incident report was completed. 7:39 a.m. — A man was reported sleeping on the ground on Cherry Street, Katonah, in the vicinity of Route 35. He told police he was homeless and traveling north from Florida and declined all offers of assistance. He was last seen walking west on Route 35. Thursday, July 10 11:07 a.m. — Police interacted with an unhoused couple often reported as needing assistance in Bedford Hills. The two individuals were located on Bedford Center Road near Stone Bridge Lane. The man said he lost medication on the roadway and would seek a refill at Northern Westchester Hospital. The couple continued on their way and no further action was taken. 12:32 p.m. — At a home on Bulls Head Road, Bedford, a mother and adult daughter argued over her plans to go to New York City. Police advised the mother that her adult daughter was free to go where she wanted. The daughter left the home in an Uber. A New York state domestic incident report was completed. 5:36 p.m. — A caller on Lakeside Drive, Katonah, reported they found a pet pigeon with a yellow tag on its leg. Police arrived and soon after a passerby remarked that a neighbor on an adjacent street keeps pet pigeons. That person was notified and they came to retrieve their bird. Friday, July 11 3:38 a.m. — Two people were reported walking on North Salem Road, Katonah. When police located them, they said they had just moved into the area and were unaware of the lack of taxis at this hour. They told police they were trying to get to Ridgefield, Connecticut. The officer gave them a courtesy ride to the Katonah train station where they waited for other transportation. Saturday, July 12 10:41 a.m. — An intoxicated man was reported on Katonah Avenue, Katonah, asking for money. Police located him near Chase Bank. He said he was originally from New York City and currently homeless. He denied asking anyone for money, declined assistance from the police and set off walking. 11:32 a.m. — A horse was reported stuck in mud at an equine facility on Succabone Road, Bedford Hills. Other departments were contacted for mutual aid, but none had the proper equipment to assist with extricating the horse. Police had to leave the scene for a priority call. The condition of the horse is unknown. Sunday, July 13 5:40 p.m. — Police officers provided security at an outdoor music event held at Bedford Village Memorial Park on Greenwich Road, Bedford. No incidents were reported. — Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer This report was made from official reports provided by the Bedford Police Department.

Monday, July 8 10:38 a.m. — Police and Lewisboro ambulance crew members went to a residence in Katonah after an elderly man lost consciousness. On arrival, he was in the care of Westchester EMS. The man said he fainted and hit his head on the oven door. He was transported to Westchester Medical Center by Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps. 1:14 p.m. — Police went to a home in Katonah in the vicinity of Cheyenne and Comanche Court after a resident reported someone knocked on their door, turned the door knob and then drove away in a white truck. The truck was soon located and the operator said he was at the caller’s home for scheduled pest control maintenance. This information was relayed to the caller who expressed displeasure the company hadn’t notified them of the maintenance visit. Tuesday, July 9 9:45 a.m. — Police went to a home in South Salem for a resident who needed assistance standing up. The code provided to enter the home didn’t work; the door was forced open and police and Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps members assisted her back into her chair. She reported no medical issues and no further action was taken. 11:30 a.m. — An officer patrolling Route 35 in Cross River near Debbie Lane pulled over a 2008 Jeep they suspected was traveling with a fraudulent Texas license plate. The operator was unable to produce a valid Texas license or registration. The Jeep was impounded and the driver was issued a mandatory date to appear in court July 22. Wednesday, July 10 8:30 a.m. — While traveling on Route 35 in the vicinity of Buck Run, police observed a blue Dodge pickup with an illegible license plate. A traffic stop was conducted on Adams Hill Road and the driver provided a Connecticut learner’s permit. He said he purchased the temporary plates from someone in Bridgeport. Police said the license plate looked homemade. The truck was impounded and the operator was transported to headquarters for processing. 11:45 a.m. — A car was impounded on Todd Road, Goldens Bridge, after the operator failed to produce insurance or a valid registration after being pulled over for a traffic violation. The driver left the scene on a scooter he had inside in the vehicle. Thursday, July 11 4:59 p.m. — A resident of South Salem handed over a wallet to the police which they found while walking on Salem Lane. They said they found it on the side of the roadway. 5:30 p.m. — A juvenile resident of a group home in South Salem was transported by Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Northern Westchester Hospital after making threats to self-harm. Friday, July 12 5:00 p.m. — An employee at a liquor store in South Salem was reported in a physical altercation with a customer during an encounter in the store. The customer, who contacted police, said his cellphone was damaged when it flew out of his hand. Store video showed the caller refusing to leave the store when asked. Both parties declined to pursue the matter. 9:16 p.m. — The operator of a speeding motorcycle on Route 35 was observed traveling over the double yellow line. The driver was pulled over and failed to display a license for the class of vehicle he was operating. His motorcycle was impounded and he was issued multiple tickets for disobeying traffic control devices, speeding, and operating with an  improper license. Saturday, July 13 9:15 p.m. — A dispute over ducks was reported by a South Salem caller who spoke with police about a Pound Ridge resident who is the co-owner of the caller’s property. The caller, a female, said the male co-owner moved out a decade ago but stops by every week. The caller identified herself as a wildlife rehabilitator who has cared for 10 wild ducks on the property for eight years. She said the property co-owner wants to relocate the ducks to his Pound Ridge property without her permission. Police told her to call them if the man continues to try to move the ducks. They also directed her to call the state conservation department for guidance. Sunday, July 14 6:30 p.m. — An elderly female was given a courtesy ride to her daughter’s home in South Salem after she was seen walking alone on Route 123 in the vicinity of Elmwood Road. There was a language barrier, but she provided police with her son’s cell number; he was contacted and said his mom had argued with a family member and decided to walk to her home in Yorktown. He said his sister would pick her up and drive her to her destination. 9:42 p.m. — Police assisted a man they found walking on Spring Street near the Horse and Hound Inn. He was reported by a caller who saw him on the property of the state police barracks. The man said he was trying to reach the Buddhist monastery in Carmel and was upset over the news of an assassination attempt the previous day on former President Donald Trump. He said his feet ached from walking a long distance and that he wanted to speak to a state trooper. After a brief conversation with Lewisboro police, he agreed to go to a hospital and was transported there by state police. — Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer This report was made from official reports provided by the Lewisboro Police Department.

Wednesday, July 10 9:15 a.m. — A resident of Upper Shad Road was transported to Stamford Hospital in Connecticut by Pound Ridge Volunteer Ambulance Corps for unknown reasons. 11:15 a.m. — A Trinity Pass Road caller reported a disabled car on the roadway. Police searched for the described car with negative results.. 1:55 p.m. — A resident of White Birch Road was reported by a neighbor for being in violation of the town gas leaf blower noise ordinance. Police spoke with the offending party who said they would alert their landscaper. 10:35 p.m. — A suspicious vehicle was reported on Upper Shad Road. Police spoke with the operator who was legally parked. No further action was taken.  Thursday, July 11 6:25 a.m. — A caller on Long Ridge Road reported a tree down and blocking the roadway. Firefighters cleared the tree from the road and police stayed on scene to direct traffic until the road was cleared. 8:50 a.m. — An officer went to Bender Way after it was reported someone was using a gas leaf blower in violation of the town ordinance. No landscapers were found to be working in the area. Friday, July 12 10:50 a.m. — A London Road caller reported a loose dog wandering in the area. Police found the dog, leashed it and returned it to its owner. 9:35 p.m. — A female reported in need of medical assistance was transported from her home to Northern Westchester Hospital by Pound Ridge Volunteer Ambulance Corps members. Saturday, July 13 12:00 a.m. — A male was transported from his home to Stamford Hospital in Connecticut by Pound Ridge ambulance personnel. A paramedic accompanied him. — Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer This report was made from official reports provided by the Pound Ridge Police Department.