New York state Sen. Pete Harckham delivered $200,000 in Senate grant funding to the town of Lewisboro for improvement projects at Onatru Farm Park and Fox Valley Town Park, the legislator’s office has announced.  The Senate grant funding consists of two $100,000 grants, one for each park project. The Onatru Farm Park project entails major improvements to the parking lot, including widening the entrance and inside of the parking circle, all complete with new asphalt paving. The park, which hosts numerous arts and athletic events, as well as town festivities, also houses the town’s parks office, the town historian’s office and the facilities maintenance office. The entire project cost is estimated at $124,278. The grant comes from the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability and Technology Program.  “Sen. Harckham has been a true partner to Lewisboro and very supportive of our desire to update our parks and recreational facilities,” – Lewisboro Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves. For Fox Valley Town Park, the town of Lewisboro will be modernizing the bathroom facility by including ADA access via the adjacent parking and pavilion area, plus installation of a new water disinfection system. A new heating unit will be placed in the facility as well, so it can be used year-round. This project will cost $115,400. The grant comes from the State and Municipal Facilities Program.   “Sen. Harckham has been a true partner to Lewisboro and very supportive of our desire to update our parks and recreational facilities,” said Lewisboro Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves. “We are very appreciative of these two grants because our parks receive a great deal of use by residents, and it is vital that the infrastructure of our facilities is safe, ADA compliant and accessible throughout the year.”   “At both Onatru Farm Park and Fox Valley Park, two well-loved destinations for Lewisboro residents, this state funding will go toward necessary improvements and also help lessen the tax burden,” said Harckham, adding, “I will continue to help support our municipalities as they transform their parks and playgrounds so that residents have recreational spaces to create meaningful memories without barriers.” Both the CREST and SAM grants were approved by the Senate and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York to support community and economic development.  Harckham’s office said the legislator has delivered more than $30 million of state grant funding to municipalities and nonprofits in the 40th Senate District since taking office in 2019.

By JEFF MORRIS // Town regulations regarding the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers are being revised once again, two years after the town board voted to adopt a compromise amendment to the noise ordinance to limit the use of such equipment. The law that was passed in April 2022 permitted the operation of internal combustion leaf blowers during cleanup seasons, defined for 2024 and thereafter as April 15 to April 30 and Nov. 7 to Nov. 21. At the June 4 town board meeting, Supervisor Ellen Calves stated that the proposal in draft form was to change the cleanup dates to allow a longer period in the fall, from Oct. 21 to Dec. 15. She said the proposed change was the result of information from the parks department. The department relayed that workers are mulch-mowing town properties and using as much electric equipment as possible, but still have found it necessary to use some gas-powered blowers during fall cleanup. “However, we have learned that if cleanup is done in the fall, when the leaves have fallen, there really does not need to be a window in the spring,” said Calves. Calves explained that when town officials passed the original law, they were very optimistic, thinking that by 2024 two weeks would be enough because of the anticipated advances in electric equipment. The technology has not progressed as much as was hoped, she said, and officials still expect to be able to move entirely to electric power in the future. Even with the proposed change, the regulation would ban gasoline-powered leaf blowers 10 monthsout of the year, which is “better than almost anywhere else,” the supervisor commented. A public hearing on the proposal resulted in multiple speakers. Many had been instrumental in promoting the original regulations and criticized the changes as a step backwards. Some speakers expressed frustration with restricting usage on larger properties and with the environmental impact of the fall dates. Town board members had a variety of opinions. Andrés Castillo said he would be willing to compromise on larger properties; Stephanie McCaine was happy the spring period was being eliminated, but wished there was a fewer number of weeks when use of the equipment was allowed; Tom Catoliato was in agreement with making adjustments in accord with the latest information available; and Bobbi Bittker did not think the proposal was moving the town backward, since she and many others had changed their personal habits as a result of increased education, and expressed support for continued educational efforts. Castillo wished for a futurecommitment to reduce the allowable time for use, and suggested incentives to encourageeducational courses for violators in lieu of fines. Town attorney Eric Gordon said he would have to research whether the town court could mandate taking a course to reduce fines, but suspected the town justices could suggest such solutions. Parks Superintendent Chris Soi opined that this fall’s season would provide an opportunity for further study and will be used to assess whether the allowable use period could be further reduced. Board members reached consensus that they would like the overall cleanup period in the revised ordinance when internal combustion leaf blowers are allowed to be reduced to six weeks instead of seven. At the June 25 town board meeting, Calves announced that the hearing will be reopened July 16 “for a proposed amendment that would authorize use of gas-powered leaf blowers between Oct. 26 and Dec. 7.” On the town attorney’s advice, the board kept open the public hearing until July 16, at whichtime the board will present a new draft of the revised ordinance.

By JEFF MORRIS // The reorganizational meeting of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District Board of Education, held July 2, lasted about 12 minutes — including the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting came as the district prepared to welcome a new superintendent; embarked ona capital improvement project; and while the board itself experienced more turnover intrustees than it has in a number of years. At the July 2 meeting, District Clerk Kimberly Monzon asked for nominations for boardpresident. Trustee Bill Swertfager nominated the incumbent president, Julia Hadlock; therewere no additional nominations, and the board then voted unanimously in favor ofHadlock. The next order of business was a call for nominations for board vice president. Hadlocknominated trustee Lorraine Gallagher. Again there were no other nominations, and therewas a unanimous vote in favor. While Hadlock had served as board president for the 2023-24 school year, during that year the vice presidency was held by Elana Shneyer, who chose not to run for another term as trustee. In the KLSD Board of Ed elections held May 21, Barbara Williams received the mostvotes out of five candidates, with incumbent trustee Marjorie Schiff — who had served asboard president prior to Hadlock — receiving the second most votes. Williams and Schiff will now serve full three-year terms, through June 30, 2027. Meanwhile, Jon Poffenberger, who received the third most votes, was elected to fill theremaining year of a trustee position that had been vacated when Elizabeth Gereghty resigned from the board last year. That position had been filled temporarily by veteran former trustee William Rifkin. Poffenberger is already serving on the board, having been sworn inon May 22 to fill the existing vacancy; his term runs only through June 30, 2025. Schiff has served on the board since 2012, Hadlock since 2016. Rory Burke, whose tenurebegan in 2019, is in his second term and is now the third-longest serving board member. Gallagher and Swertfager were both elected in 2023. The $124,318,762 2024-25 budget that was also up for a vote on May 21. That budget, which included a 3.4% increase to the tax levy, was passed by a 2-to-1 margin. At the Increase Miller recent ceremonial groundbreaking were Owen Danelewich, Jim Danelewich, a member of the Board of Education’s Facilities Committee, Gavin Danelewich, and Increase Miller’s Head Custodian Rich Wilson, Jr., an IMES grad. They stood at the edge of what would be the school’s new wing, part of the district's capital improvement project. Photo credit: Katonah-Lewisboro Schools After Hadlock was sworn in as president, Monzon turned the meeting over to her. She spoke appreciatively of the groundbreaking ceremony held June 28 at Increase MillerElementary School, marking the start of the district’s Capital Improvement Project. A bondto finance that project had been approved by voters Oct. 18, 2022, and one of the propositions passed by voters May 21 will allow the district to apply for up to $4.5million in grant funding available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act to cover unanticipated increases in the cost of the project. Burke offered a final tribute to superintendent of schools, Andrew Selesnick, who officially retires Sunday, July 14. No other business was conducted at the reorganizational meeting. On July 15, Raymond Blanch will begin his tenure as the new superintendent of schools. The board voted to hire Blanch on May 16 following a months-long search and interview process, and he was officially appointed by the board at its June 20 meeting. He had been serving as superintendent of the neighboring Somers Central School District. On the day Blanch was appointed, Selesnick said, “The board has made an excellent choice. Ray and I have worked closely for nine years at our local Chief School Administratorsmeetings. I know he will take the work we have done here and move it forward.”

Fox Lane and John Jay graduating seniors closed the books on high school to a chorus of resounding cheers and hugs from family members and classmates. Enjoys these scenes from the ceremonies held June 18 at Caramoor (John Jay) and June 20 (Fox Lane Campus).  Photos by Jim MacLean Fox Lane High School Click to expand for larger view. John Jay High School Click to expand for larger view.

By Joyce Corrigan // “Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world.” Few things sum-up summer escapism — ocean breezes, coconut oil, and nada-on-the-agenda — like a Beach Boys song. A close second, though, is a thrilling, chilling, thoroughly-addictive beach read. Hang on to your sun hat because the groundswell of this summer’s page-turner, probable bestseller-cum-inevitable Hollywood adaptation is off to a tsunamic start.  On Memorial Day, John Grisham dropped “Camino Ghosts,” the third in his series of crime mysteries set on Camino Island. The next week welcomed “Eruption,” a thriller started by the late, great (and Bedford resident) Michael Crichton (“Jurassic Park”) and completed by best-selling author James Patterson. The gist: A volcano on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa erupts, endangering a hidden cache of potentially world-destroying chemical weapons. Together, Crichton and Patterson have sold an estimated 675 million copies. “Godzilla’s head grafted onto King Kong’s body ” is how The Washington Post described the collaboration . Oscar-winning directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi have already signed on to direct “Eruption.”   While Grisham has authored 47 consecutive No. 1 bestsellers, selling over 300 million copies and enjoyed more than a few star-studded movie versions of his crime dramas — “The Firm” with Tom Cruise and “Pelican Brief” with Denzel Washington — with his Camino series he freely admitted he set out to write a “beach read.”  Then there’s the serial beach read bestseller Elin Hilderbrand, whose newest title, “Swan Song,” is the conclusion of her romance series set in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Hilderbrand recently revealed she slips into a bikini whenever she sits down to write. And streaming this summer on Netflix is a sexy series based on her bestselling “Perfect Couple,” also set in Nantucket, starring Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber.  Pound Ridge resident, David Gernert, a literary agent and former editor in chief of Doubleday, represents Grisham and is currently negotiating a deal with a Hollywood studio to make the Camino novels into an ongoing television series, thinks the Hollywood connection has been a godsend for publishing. “Particularly with the streaming services like Netflix, Apple, Hulu, always needing new content, it’s a really good time for new books,” he said. “Hollywood tends to prefer branded IP, so big names and bestsellers will have an advantage.”  How can “Camino Ghosts” miss? A Grisham beach thriller set on a gorgeous island with a cursed past! “It works both ways,” Gernert said. “If a title is a big hit as a TV series, it will sell more at the bookstore.” In Gernert’s seasoned view, in recent years the biggest driver of fiction sales (and summer beach reads are no exception) are Oprah’s Book Club, Reese’s Book Club, Jenna Bush Hager’s Book Club and the Good Morning America Book Club .  And then there’s TikTok. Using viral videos and reviews by influencers, the platform has radically changed book marketing and sales into something 100% reader-driven. Bestselling author Emily Henry (“Beach Read” and “People We Meet on Vacation”) almost always publishes her books in May to capture the summer bibliophile; her followers have repaid the favor by posting more than 21 million video reviews about her books.  Meanwhile, back at the local bookstore, Gretchen Menzies, owner of The Reading Room in Katonah, commented that while some of her clients will by asking for the Grisham and Crichton/Patterson titles, splashy blockbusters are, by design, not her niche. “We tend to sell more interesting off-list books rather than bestsellers that people can buy online,” she said. Her avid customers definitely read lighter fare in summer months, she observed, “but they will ask for a beach read and then make clear they don’t want brainless,” she said. “Just something to give their brain a break, take them away somewhere.”  Menzies says Reading Room’s top-selling vacation book so far is Ruth Reichl’s “The Paris Novel ,” set at the crossroads of the food, art and fashion scene of 1980s Paris. (Excerpt: “Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head, and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean.”) Remarked Menzies, “It really makes you want to sit in a café with a cold glass of wine and a croissant.”  Susan Williamson, owner of Booksy Galore in Pound Ridge, reports that she already has “plenty of requests” for the new Grisham, Crichton/Patterson and Reichl titles. Certainly, big names and fast-moving books always get attention “but when it comes to beach reads, well, let it be light,” she believes. “Summer often means traveling and time spent back and forth from pool and beach time, so for one, a book has to fit in your bag. But most important is that a beach read be something a person can pick up and put down without losing the flow of the story.” Libraries are also bracing for the impact of summer book demands. Silvia Ohler at the Bedford Free Library is happy to report that there are already 150 holds for “Camino Ghosts.” “It’s an excellent summer read,” she acknowledged, “with distinctive characters and a propulsive plot that keeps one turning the page.” But Ohler is quick to contrast this with Irish author Colm Toibin’s new novel, “Long Island.” The latest book is a sequel to his 2009 bestseller “Brooklyn,” which was nominated for the prestigious Booker Award. Perhaps with the precedent of an Oscar-nominated movie having been made out of Toibin’s earlier novel, “Long Island” already has rocketed in popularity among library readers with 420 holds. “The Toibin is gorgeous and moving, and will only become more popular,” predicted Ohler.  By Labor Day, we will all know which proved to be the biggest books of the summer of 2024. Soon, though, you’ll start seeing them at the town pools in Bedford and elsewhere, the beach in Bridgehampton or a seaside bar in St. Tropez. And you’ll hear people comparing notes — so, if you resist them, you might feel like a fish out of water.  We asked local independent booksellers and library staff to share a few titles that they think should be at the top of everyone’s summer reading list: Bedford Free Library  “ Lies and Weddings,” Kevin Kwan.“Swan Song,” Elin Hilderbrand.  “You Are Here,” David Nicholls. “Funny Story,” Emily Henry.“Wives Like Us,” Plum Sykes.“The Paradise Problem,” Christina Lauren. “Storm Child,” Michael Robotham.“Hunted,” Abir Mukherjee. The Reading Room  “The Paris Novel,” Ruth Reichl. 'After Annie,” Anna Quindlen. “Fourth Wing,” Rebecca Yarros. “The Armor of Light,” Ken Follett. “None of This is True,” Lisa Jewell. Booksy Galore “The Vacation Rental,” Katie Sise. “The Paris Novel,” Ruth Reichl. “The Women,” Kristen Hannah. “Table for Two,” Amor Towles.  “Before the Coffee Gets Cold,” Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

The Katonah Fire Department is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Below are some photos from the June 2nd parade and carnival.

A racket from raccoons  On Friday, June 28, at 12:43 a.m., a resident of Gordon Avenue, Bedford, reported hearing an odd noise in her backyard and then neighborhood car alarms going off. She suggested a bear might be responsible. Police searched her property and discovered a family of raccoons living in her shed. No activated car alarms were heard, and the animals were left undisturbed. Monday, June 24 5:20 p.m. — Three teenage males were reported as suspicious behind the Hawthorn School on Old Post Road, Bedford. Police spoke with the youths who said they were playing basketball and listening to music. When advised of the complaint, they left the area. 8:45 p.m. — Police responded to a call for a welfare check on a teenage female in Bedford Hills. On their arrival they spoke with the teen who admitted she made self-harming statements to her girlfriend. She was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Her grandmother accompanied her in the ambulance. Tuesday, June 25 1:56 p.m. — A utility pole was reported on fire on Katonah Avenue, Katonah. Police arrived and determined that the fire was already out. The utility company took over the scene. 3:09 p.m. — A two-car collision with injuries was reported on Long Ridge Road, Bedford. A male, 17, from Danbury,  Conn., was transported to Westchester Medical Center by Bedford firefighters. He said he fell asleep while driving. Police said airbags were deployed and his nose was bloody. The second driver, male, 22, from White Plains, saw the car coming towards him and crossing into his lane. He complained of pain but refused medical attention. Both cars were towed from the scene. Wednesday, June 26 5:58 p.m. — An intoxicated male, 41, from Katonah, was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps. His mother told police he had threatened self-harm. 9:13 p.m. — A tree was reported down on Springhurst Road, Bedford Hills. The highway department was notified. 9:13 p.m. —Utility wires were reported down on Mustato Road, Katonah. The highway department responded and the utility was notified. 9:50 p.m. — A tree was reported down on Byram Lake Road, Bedford Hills. The highway department was notified. 11:02 p.m. — A female, 21, was reported intoxicated in Bedford Hills. She was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps after the responding officer observed her crying uncontrollably and unable to speak coherently. Her father told the officer he thought she was self-medicating with a substance that triggered an adverse effect. Thursday, June 27 7:32 a.m. — A skunk reported as injured by a resident of Church Street, Bedford Hills, was placed in a box by an officer at the homeowner’s request. The officer attempted to contact a wildlife agency but was unsuccessful. He offered to safely dispatch the skunk as it appeared severely injured, or he said he could put it into the box she provided and she could continue to try to contact a wildlife agency. She chose the latter and the officer left the scene. 11:56 a.m. — A disoriented man was reported in the vicinity of JV Auto on Bedford Road, Bedford Hills; police observed him on Edna Street. They spoke with an employee at another repair shop who said he had worked on the man’s car earlier in the day and at the time he did not seem disoriented. He returned later with new damage to his car’s tire rim and at this time appeared impaired. Police spoke with the man who said he only wanted access to his car. Police advised he did not seem to be in a condition to drive. An ambulance was summoned but the man declined examination, preferring to walk to his home in Bedford Hills. No further action was taken. 4:38 p.m. — A female, 94, from Bedford Hills was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps after complaining of hip pain after falling in her home. Friday, June 28 11:05 a.m. — Police went to a residence on Orchard Lane, Katonah, for a reported assault. The police spoke with a landlord and his tenant who are engaged in a lawsuit. The landlord said he came over with a town building inspector which angered the tenant; the two physically tangled and a friend of the landlord physically separated them. The landlord said during the struggle, the tenant grabbed his arm aggressively. Neither man wished to pursue the matter. They were advised by police to stay away from each other. 4:49 p.m. — A female, 77, from Bedford Village, was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Bedford firefighters for medical evaluation. On arrival police observed discoloration around her left eye. She said she fell in her home two days earlier and since then was taking medication for headache and nausea. 5:10 p.m. — A bear was reported in the parking lot of the Unitarian Universalist Church on South Bedford Road .  The reporting party said a woman saw the bear while picking up her child. The bear was gone before police arrived. Saturday, June 29 8:15 a.m. — A resident of Kelly Circle, Katonah, reported a neighbor’s dog bit her dog. She took her dog to the pet hospital for treatment. She said this was the second incident with this dog, and she and its owner were previously in court. Police spoke with the other party who said she had no idea her dog was out and that she would pay any medical bills incurred. The dog control officer was notified for follow up. 2:20 p.m. — Multiple fire companies responded to a home on Greenwich Road, Bedford, after smoke was reported inside the house after a tree came down on the property. The responding officer also smelled smoke. Firefighters investigating said there was no fire and that the smoke smell was likely caused from a circuit breaker shutting off. 3:00 p.m. —Road hazards due to trees and wires down from heavy rain and wind were reported in Bedford on Pine Road, Girdle Ridge Road, Black Spring Road and Bisbee Lane. Sunday, June 30 10:59 a.m. — A snapping turtle was reported injured on Sarles Street, Bedford Hills. The police officer observed the turtle to be extremely injured and was safely dispatched. 11:34 a.m. — A male, 2, was transported to Westchester Medical Center by Bedford firefighters after his parents reported he was having difficulty breathing. His mother accompanied him in the ambulance. — Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer This report was made from official reports provided by the Bedford Police Department.

Back into the woods  A bear was reported in a yard on Todd Road, Goldens Bridge, the morning of Friday, June 28. When police arrived, the bear left the yard, crossed the street and returned to the woods. Police said there was no problem and no need for further action. Monday, June 24 2:50 p.m. — A caller reported a street sign for Bayberry Lane, South Salem, was missing. The caller said it was gone for two or three days; the highway department was advised. Later that evening an officer went to Bouton Road to ask if a resident had cameras on her property that might help identify who took the street sign. She said the only camera on her property was her Ring doorbell. The officer checked the area for other residents whose home security cameras might have filmed the thief, with negative results. 9:07 p.m. — Police went to a residence on Conant Valley Road, South Salem, for a landlord- tenant dispute. On arrival, both parties were engaged in a verbal argument. Police separated them and both were interviewed. The tenant claimed the landlord locked the thermostat over a money dispute; the landlord agreed to unlock the device. No further action was required. Tuesday, June 25 8:56 p.m. — A female complaining of chest pain was transported from her home in South Salem to Northern Westchester Hospital by Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps. 10:05 a.m. — A caller reported an unaccompanied toddler near the roadway in Goldens Bridge; the child was already inside her home before police arrived. The dad said he was cooking and his wife accidentally left the front door unlocked and the toddler turned the doorknob and wandered off. The responding officer said the toddler appeared in good health and well cared for. The officer discussed the importance of keeping doors locked to avoid a recurrence. Wednesday, June 26 12:42 p.m. — A caller on Waccabuc Road said while traveling westbound on Route 35 in Goldens Bridge, they collided with a deer. An accident report was filed. No information was provided on the deer’s condition.  4:14 p.m. — A person came to police headquarters to be fingerprinted for their Florida pistol permit. 6:15 p.m. — A South Salem resident reported having difficulty breathing was being evaluated by Westchester EMS personnel on police arrival. They were transported to Northern Westchester Hospital by Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Thursday, June 27 5:58 p.m. — A motorist with an adult learner permit was pulled over near the intersection of North Street and Route 22, Goldens Bridge, after a patrol officer observed nontransparent tinted windows on their vehicle, a violation. It was quickly apparent there was no licensed driver in the car. Citations were issued for the windows and driving on a learner permit unaccompanied by a licensed driver. The car was impounded and towed by East Towing. Friday, June 28 11:34 a.m. — A burglary was reported at a home in South Salem. No further information was provided as the incident is under investigation. 12:01 p.m. — A female in an altered mental state was transported from her home in South Salem to Northern Westchester Hospital by Vista firefighters. 3:30 p.m. — A man with a gun, possibly a BB gun, was reported in the vicinity of the Oak Ridge condos, South Salem. When police found him, he said he had been in the woods near his condo unit shooting his pellet gun. He gave an officer permission to examine his equipment; no issues were found. The officer advised the resident to conduct his shooting in a more remote location. Saturday, June 29 8:16 p.m. — Loud music was reported coming from a graduation party in a backyard in Goldens Bridge. Police responding said the music was at a reasonable level but still advised the host to lower the volume. Two hours later the caller, a neighbor, complained again. Police returned and asked the host to turn off the music altogether, given the evening hour and that the neighbor might want to go to sleep soon. Sunday, June 30 10:47 a.m. — Police went to a home in Cross River after a man fell, injuring himself. The aide said he slipped while walking on his pool wall; he was OK but his right shoulder and arm were scraped. Visa and South Salem firefighters were on scene along with Vista ambulance crew members. The man declined medical attention. 1:45 p.m. — Police went to a home in South Salem after the homeowner found a wallet on Route 35 between Smith Ridge Road and the town state line. She said she went to the police station but no one was there at the time. She next attempted to contact the wallet’s owner by going online but was unsuccessful. At her request, an officer went to her home to pick it up. Lewisboro Police contacted Danbury Police in Connecticut who provided a phone number for the owner but the number was no longer in service. The wallet was placed into a property locker and a report was made. — Eve Marx, The Recorder staff writer This report was made from official reports provided by the Lewisboro Police Department.

By Joyce Corrigan Too darn hot! Caramoor celebrated its 10th anniversary collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 22 with JALC managing and artistic director, Wynton Marsalis, conducting a program celebrating Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday. Band leader, musical ambassador, trumpeter extraordinaire and longtime Caramoor friend, Marsalis is the only musician to have won a Grammy Award in both jazz and classical categories in the same year. Ellington was one of the most prolific composers of his era (2,000-plus pieces) and was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for music in 1999.  As early as the 1930s, Ellington quietly devoted his services to the NAACP and its racial equality activities. He died in 1974. “I’ve always regarded the Duke Ellington Orchestra as one of the great achievements in the history of art,” remarked Marsalis. “He hired the best musicians playing this enormous body of original music, who stayed on the road, separated from their friends and lovers through wars, Prohibition, the Depression and the Civil Rights Movement. But a love for the music and the people they played for kept them out there, year after year.” “As we broaden the scope of the Caramoor audience,” Lewis said, “our goal is for listeners to be transformed not only by what they hear but who they see on stage.” So, picture “Sir Duke,” as serenaded by Stevie Wonder, and famously dubbed “Harlem’s Aristocrat of Jazz,” in his scene-stealing top hat and tux looking down on Caramoor’s Venetian Theater from that jumping jazz joint in the sky, toasting the health, success and enduring influence of jazz; that infectious, all-American musical genre that bubbled up in New Orleans in the late 19th century. A fiery gumbo of African American, European, Latin and Caribbean musical influences, from the get-go, jazz was far more than just a new multicultural music genre. “Jazz is a good barometer of freedom,” Ellington once said. “In its beginnings, the United States spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, jazz evolved. The music is so free that people say it’s the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country.” Taking liberties is what jazz does — improvising, merging, and mixing it up with every kind of music. Last month, jazz pianist and multi-Grammy winner, Jon Batiste, a Caramoor headliner in 2015, opened for the Rolling Stones at MetLife Stadium. That the irresistible Batiste is on every Best Dressed list (recently at the Grammy Awards and the Met Gala), well, Duke would get it. “I never had much interest in the piano,” the dapper Duke confessed, “until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right.” On the occasion of Duke’s 100th birthday, Marsalis wrote a tribute in The New York Times about how the “uplift of the human spirit and … having a good time” were Duke’s main concerns. “[Ellington] appropriated the moans, hollers, laughs and cries of the blues despite having been raised in a high-minded, churchgoing family.” Call it the contradictory human instinct. “Some people may sit in the first pew of church and be the most demonstrative voices in the ‘Amen chorus,” wrote Marsalis, “but (also) love the most secular and low-down music.” Kathy Schuman, who directs Caramoor’s far-reaching programming, acknowledges that while the performing arts center regularly hosts top performers from the fields of classical, Latin, American roots and other genres, this year’s annual gala has been a particularly big deal. “The 10-year collaboration with JALC has enabled us not only to have access to jazz legends but to rising talents,” she said. “We love when we host someone who’s just appearing on people’s radar and then they go on to be global superstars.”  While it’s the 10th anniversary of the JALC partnership, Caramoor audiences have been swinging to jazz for 30 years. In 1988, the debut program kicked off with performances by Ray Brown, and later hosted the bands of Count Basie and Ellington. In 1945, Caramoor owners Walter and Lucie Rosen bequeathed their 25,000-square-foot 1920s Mediterranean-style summer home to the public as a venue for classical music; since then it’s become the “summer home” of generations of musicians . “No matter what stage they’re in their careers, musicians love the place,” commented Schuman. “They can’t get over the outdoor Venetian Theater, the Spanish Courtyard, the Music Room with its Renaissance and Gothic art and the sprawling performance lawns. The young artists all bring their peers, and it’s just an exhilarating time.” Caramoor CEO and President Edward J. Lewis III, now in his third year at the helm, couldn’t have been more excited to kick off the season with a celebration of the two jazz giants. Trained as a classical violinist, Lewis has also had the “enormous pleasure and fun” of playing with jazz stars including Christian McBride, Kenny G and brothers Wynton and Branford Marsalis. “The beauty of jazz is that it’s a distinctly American form, blending sounds and rhythms from ancestral Africa with Western,” he said, adding, “It’s art music that dips into the realm of the popular.” Caramoor’s highly-anticipated Jazz Festival (another Jazz at Lincoln Center collaboration) takes place July 27, starting at 12:30 p.m. Featuring headliner Matthew Whitaker, it will be filled with performers exploring many facets of the genre. Lewis embraces his role as musical ambassador, a part also played by both Ellington and Marsalis. He was thrilled to announce that Sphinx Virtuosi, a Detroit-based, self-conducted string orchestra of Black and Latino players playing music by composers of color, are making their Caramoor debut July 7. “As we broaden the scope of the Caramoor audience,” Lewis said, “our goal is for listeners to be transformed not only by what they hear but who they see on stage.” This summer season is, in fact, a cauldron of every musical style. Scheduled programs include the classical strings of Abeo Quartet on June 27, American Roots Music Festival on June 29, Pops, Patriots, & Fireworks on July 4, Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano on July 6, and Broadway diva Sutton Foster on July 13 . In August, Caramoor welcomes back dance with the cheeky Mark Morris Dance Group whose unorthodox contemporary choreography and dancers famous for being all shapes and sizes, is often set to iconic classical and baroque music. You couldn’t find a better way to kick off the summer season than with a tribute to Duke Ellington by Wynton Marsalis. They truly are two kindred spirits.  According to Marsalis, Duke had learned an important lesson from the blues: “That the greatest joy is earned in the hardest times,” he wrote. His mantra was “integrate, integrate, integrate,” Marsalis explained. “He blended diverse cultural and musical ideas because he understood not only what the country was, but also what it could become.” Caramoor is located at 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah. For tickets and more information, visit caramoor.org .

One male teen was killed and another critically injured in an early morning single-car accident Tuesday, June 18, at the intersection of Bedford Road and Edna Street, Bedford Hills. The collision was reported at 2:27 a.m. Both victims were students at Fox Lane High School. According to Bedford Police, the car was traveling northbound on Bedford Road likely at a high speed and wound up in the JV Auto parking lot; several cars parked in the lot were damaged as a result. On police arrival, both young men were found trapped inside the car. Bedford Police Officers Jordan Baschnagel and Ronald Sauber extricated them prior to firefighters’ arrival. Westchester Emergency Medical Services and Katonah Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps were on scene to provide medical attention and evaluation. Both victims were taken to Westchester Medical Center The driver, who was transported by KBHVAC, was found in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries. He was later identified as Joshua Martinez Arana, 18, from Mount Kisco. He died just two days before his planned high school graduation. The passenger was transported by Westchester EMS. He was last reported in critical condition, although initially his injuries were said to be minor. The passenger, identified as Matthew Gutierrez, was also a Fox Lane senior at the time of the crash. Robert Glass, superintendent of the Bedford Central School District, on June 18 sent a letter to parents regarding the incident and identified Martinez Arana as the deceased victim. “Our hearts go out to Josh’s family and this loss is sure to raise many emotions for our entire community, especially our students,” Glass wrote. “Please know that our district crisis team is mobilized with help from clinicians in neighboring districts, and we are providing assistance for any students or staff who need it during this difficult time.”

By Neal Rentz // The Pound Ridge Town Board voted June 4 to extend its moratorium on opening new cannabis dispensaries in the business districts for an additional six months. The vote was 3-1, with Councilwoman Namasha Schelling voting against the extension. Supervisor Kevin Hansan did not attend the meeting. The vote came less than 10 days before the current six-month moratorium was set to expire. “The town board believes that a moratorium is necessary and advisable to maintain the status quo while it assesses the implications of these new state rules and allow the town to collaborate with Office of Cannabis Management to protect the best interests of the town,” the legislation stated. The extension continues the moratorium on approvals of building permits, variances, special use permits, site plans and subdivision applications for properties in the PB-A, PB-B and PB-C zoning districts. In an interview following the meeting, Schelling explained why she voted against the moratorium extension: “I voted against extending the moratorium because I do not see the purpose,” she said. “The first moratorium did not stop the opening of a cannabis dispensary in our business district. This moratorium only stops any business from opening in the business district, if they need approval for building permits, variances, special use permits, site plans, and subdivision applications in the business district.” The state legalized adult cannabis use in March 2021. The initial local moratorium was approved by the Pound Ridge Town Board in December after it was sharply criticized by many residents for failing to “opt out” of the permissible cannabis business provision allowed under state law before the 2021 deadline. During the June 4 public hearing, residents expressed support for extending the moratorium. Resident John Nathan, an attorney, urged the board to approve the moratorium extension, if it favored such an action, before it expired nine days later. “I have never said one word for or against cannabis” in the seven months that he has been involved with the issue, Nathan said. “I was interested in just one thing, the process,” he said. Nathan said he wrote Hansan, stating that “it is essential that you take action tonight.” Town Attorney William Harrington said at the meeting the town was working with a consultant on legislation to regulate cannabis dispensaries. The process of crafting the legislation will include informational sessions for residents during the summer, he said. The town will try “to accommodate everyone,” Harrington said. The plan calls for the town board to approve the proposed legislation in the early fall, he said. The sole operating cannabis dispensary in Pound Ridge — the Purple Plains Cannabis Dispensary, located at 32 Westchester Ave., sued the town, the town board, and Building Inspector James Perry on Feb. 20 in state Supreme Court in White Plains. Purple Plains, which is co-owned by Sophia Mortell and her boyfriend Mark Buzzetto, opened on April 17. “Our lawsuit asserts that they filed the moratorium incorrectly. We did not sue them for damages,” Purple Plains secretary and father of Sophia Mortell, Jack Mortell, said following the vote approve the moratorium extension. Harrington said in response that he did not agree with the contention of the dispensary that the town did not “properly enact” the original moratorium and lacked the authority to enact the moratorium “The moratorium was properly enacted,” he contended. “The town had the authority under the New York cannabis law to enact the law.” Despite the filing of the suit, Mr. Mortell shared positive comments about the town and the positive reception the business has received. “The response from the people in town has been fantastic. We have only had one person come in the store insinuating that we are in violation of town law,” Mr. Mortell said. “We politely explained to her that we are indeed operating legally.” People from out of town seem happy, too,” he continued. “Most who come in are pleased by the look of the store” and variety of products for sale. Mr . Mortell said he understood why some people opposed a local cannabis dispensary, but, he added, “the majority of them do not understand what our dispensary is, how it functions and who shops here,” he said.  “We are very happy with the people of Pound Ridge and are very happy that they opted in and that we opened here,” Mr. Mortell also commented.

By CARL JAFFEE The Bedford Town Board is considering the adoption of a new Community Preservation Plan to be funded by a tax on the transfer of real property in an amount up to 2% of the consideration for each transaction. The tax, which would apply initially only to home sales over $778,000, would be paid on a graduated scale by homebuyers. The establishment of such a tax would be subject to voter approval in a referendum to be held Nov. 5. The town board has not yet passed a resolution authorizing the ballot referendum. These actions are part of a process that began in January when the board authorized the appointment of a task force by the Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee to prepare a conservation plan and draft law for the board to consider. That committee recruited a task force of nine persons, representing a cross section of the community, according to its report. The procedures established by the board follow the requirement of the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act, originally enacted by New York state in 2019. The measure permits towns and cities in Westchester, Putnam and Ulster counties to establish funds for a variety of land conservation purposes, primarily to acquire interests in real property “for the preservation of community character.” Under the plan, acquisition of real property by the town for conservation purposes would be based on criteria including water and natural resource protection, parks and recreation, wetland and habitat protection, forest health, scenic vistas, agriculture and historic properties. Any acquisition of property by the fund, with money from the transfer tax, would be based on input from an advisory board appointed by the Bedford Town Board, and would be preceded by a public hearing. Bedford would be the first municipality in Westchester to establish such a fund. Versions of the plan were presented to the town board by the task force in March and May 21. A public hearing was held June 18. The town board is scheduled to discuss the matter at its next monthly meeting Tuesday, July 16. Actions could include adopting the preservation plan proposed by the task force, establishing a fund to carry out the plan, and authorizing the transfer tax to provide the money to do so, including a ballot referendum in November to move forward with the plans. How would the tax work? The proposed tax provides for an exemption for the median sales price of residential real property in the town, as determined by the state. This amount is currently $778,000, according to the countywide formula utilized by state officials. For home sales above the exemption amount, the following rates would apply: 0.5% of the consideration up to and including $1,000,000 resulting in a tax of $1,100; 1% on the amount of consideration in excess of $1,000,000 up to and including $1,250,000 resulting in a tax of $3,610; 1.5% on the amount of consideration in excess of $1,250,000 up to and including $1,500,000 resulting in a tax of $7,360; and 2% on the amount of consideration in excess of $1,500,000 so that on a sale at $2,500,000 the tax would be $27,360 and on a saleat $3,000,000 the tax would be $37,360. The amount of the exemption would be adjusted annually as the state publishes updated sales numbers regarding home sales. Public comments At a public hearing June 18, town residents expressed their views, both pro and con, on the establishment the of the fund and the taxes that would support it. Comments from interested parties were received through June 28. At the June 18 hearing, representatives of several conservation groups spoke out strongly in favor of the plan, stressing the need to conserve and maintain what they called “the special character of Bedford” in the face of the depletion of funds raised by the existing open space levy. Other persons at the hearing, including local real estate sales professionals, expressed concern about the impact the transfer tax would have on the value and sale of residential real property within the town. Several questioned the need for the proposed fund, citing the various other environmental protections such as zoning requirements and wetlands protections that are already in place to preserve the nature of the town. A concern expressed by some speakers and others who submitted written comments after the hearing is that if the town board votes to put this matter to the voters, this entire matter would not be adequately publicized before the November election. The open space levy is imposed on property owners on an annual basis as a part of the town taxes, equal to 2% of the town’s general fund and highway fund. It would remain in place whether or not the newly proposed transfer tax takes effect. The levy was first enacted in 2000. In 2017, the amount of the levy was established by town voters at 1%, increasing to 2% in incremental steps from 2018 to 2022, In recent years, monies from the open space levy have been used by the town to purchase land at Reyburn Road and the Buxton Gorge. However, although the levy is expected to generate approximately $496,000 in the current tax year, the proponents of the transfer tax believe that such monies from the levy are inadequate to meet the town’s conservation and preservation needs and goals. As of June 30, the fund balance raised from the open space levy was $1.1 million.