By NEAL RENTZ The owners of the restaurant at 873 Route 35 in Cross River are seeking a change of use for a detached building on the site from indoor recreation to a restaurant selling ice cream and items such as candy and frozen items to go, such as smoothies and cinnamon buns. Skaz Gecaj and John Swertfager own the Boro Café and Market, and want to open the proposed creamery on the same property. The applicants are seeking a waiver of site development plan approval from the Planning Board.  The main building has a café on the first floor, a yoga studio on the second floor and an office on the third. The plan is to convert an existing detached garage, now used for storage, to an ice cream and candy store.  Mark Schulman, the project’s architect, told the Planning Board in January that representatives of the applicant met with the board in November and in December and comments were provided by representatives of the town, including a memorandum from KSCJ Consulting, “which we have already addressed.” The applicant also recently received a memo from the office of Town Planner and Wetland Consultant Jan Johannessen, Schulman said. Some of the comments in the memo included a request for site details regarding signage and curbs. The applicant’s engineering firm is preparing the answers, Schulman said.  Planning Board Chair Janet Andersen said she was concerned about the proposal to extend the parking lot closer on one side to the Baccio restaurant, 12 North Salem Road. “I remember that being a pretty steep exit,” she said. Schulman replied that the proposal does not call for a cross slope of more than 5% for regular parking which are not required to be Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant spaces.  “We’re not even close to 5%,” he said.  Planning Board member Charlene Indelicato said a concern of the board has been traffic.  “This would make a big increase in traffic,” she said.  Gecaj said the creamery would not increase traffic, and his current business has not increased traffic.  “Our numbers show something else,” Gecaj said. “Both businesses are staggered.”  Indelicato said the operating hours of the current businesses in the building do not have staggered hours on weekends. The weekend hours of his businesses are noon to 4 p.m., Gecaj said. If the creamery is approved, he did not know if the noon to 4 p.m. would be year-round hours because he does not know if people would be interested in buying ice cream, Gecaj said. “Traffic has intensified,” Indelicato replied. “It’s a dangerous intersection.” “There’s nothing really I can do about that,” Gecaj said. “It’s off of Route 35 and Route 121.” Routes 35 and 121 are state roads. Gecaj said he would not object to a traffic study in the area. There have been state and county approvals for The Creamery proposal, Gecaj said. “It’s ready to operate,” he said. “They’re waiting on a final inspection.” Andersen said Building Inspector Kevin Kelly had some zoning compliance-related issues related to the application to research.  “I don’t think we have to decide on the waver now. Kevin has work to do,” Indelicato said.  Andersen said the planning office has received many comments, both positive and negative, from residents about the proposal and she asked the board if there should be a public hearing on the plan. Indelicato said she supported holding a public hearing on the project.  “I don’t want this to be ugly between me and a neighbor,” Gecaj replied.  Critics of the plan could organize many people to attend a public hearing, he said. “It is something that will cause a ruckus. That’s all I’m trying to avoid.”  Gecaj said he does not oppose public comment or a public hearing, but if one is held, he will organize 100 people who support the project to attend.  While Andersen and Indelicato favored holding a public hearing, the three other Planning Board members — John Gusmano, Bruce Thompson and Paul Fusco— said a hearing was not necessary and voted against scheduling one, resulting in a 3-2 vote against holding a public hearing. Even though there will not be a public hearing, the board is still accepting written comments on the application from residents, Andersen said.  “It’s not going to be a muti-step site plan approval,” Andersen said. The proposal would not return to the Planning Board’s February meeting agenda, if town staff determines the project first needs Zoning Board of Appeal approval, Planning Board Administrator Ciorsdan Conran said last week.

The Northwell School Mental Health Administrative Team. By JEFF MORRIS  In order to try to answer questions and provide more information to the public, the Bedford Central School District held a forum Jan. 14 about the district joining the Northwell Mental Health Partnership. The forum, held in the same Fox Lane Middle School location as BCSD Board of Education meetings, was streamed live and recorded. Vera Feuer, M.D., Northwell’s medical director of child and adolescent psychiatry and the director of the service, led the discussion along with Michelle Raider, senior director of school mental health. Bedford joined 64 other school districts in the mental health partnership, most of which are on Long Island. Feuer said in mental health care, hospitals are often siloed from the rest of the community. “Really the mission of this initiative was to partner with communities, partner with schools, so that together we can do more for families and collaborate,” she said, starting with prevention and early recognition, coupling with immediate access, and promoting equity and reducing stigma. The model, she said, evolved over six years, and will continue to evolve. It is what is known as a multi-tiered system of support. The first tier supports all students and focuses on promoting health. The second tier supports at-risk students, with interventions that focus on select students and preventing challenges from progressing. The top tier is for high risk students, with interventions that focus on individual students’ immediate treatment needs. The actual site of the Northwell Behavioral Health Center is located at  657 East Main St., Mount Kisco. Feuer noted the center “is not where a family or a child would be coming necessarily for long-term care.” She said there is a big gap in the care continuum, in that those who need therapy can spend weeks or months trying to find a provider — especially one that will take their insurance and has availability — or they can go to the emergency department.  “In between, there’s this big gap of need, which is what this center means to meet,” she said. Feuer said if the crisis is such that same day evaluation is needed, “we are a real alternative to the emergency department.” She said they have already handled several crisis cases from the district, where counselors call, identify risk, have a discussion with the parents, and there is an appointment the same day with the family to be evaluated right away and, if at all possible, avoid the hospital and the ER. Coordinating ongoing care, Feuer said, is an important part of their work, because this is an assessment and stabilization service that will then help families to connect with ongoing care. She said that prior to opening in July, they spent the previous year in Westchester learning the care continuum, meeting with many providers and establishing relationships. Feuer said because the gap she described in the care continuum is so wide, they also do immediate short-term stabilizing care and can start a child on medication — though that is not what most kids need, and is only used with 8% to 10% of patients. She said they also do bridging therapy, when issues are so acute that they don’t want to wait however long it takes to set up regular therapy appointments. The center also offers a virtual hub, which allows parents to access a clinician directly by pressing the star button (asterisk * ) when they call the center. This allows parents to get questions answered if they are unsure if the center is the right choice for their child, or if they need questions answered immediately. Feuer went into detail about the elements of the interview process and follow up from the care manager.  Raider reviewed the center’s community education program, including in-person sessions and YouTube videos, as well as sessions in Spanish and Mandarin. There is also a series of Lunch and Learn Workshops on various topics. Feuer noted the workshops are free and do not require that participants be identified. Another component mentioned is a peer counselor program. Feuer said this year they have 98 students in the program, learning skills to support their peers, and to engage in youth advocacy activities. Bedford did not have any students in the program this year, she said, because it joined the partnership too late, but they are looking forward to its participation in the future. Responding to a question from a Fox Lane resource officer about if a student needs to be restrained, Feuer said in an emergency, the center is available for a student who can be calmed down and agree with their parent to go to the center. However, the parent needs to bring them; if no parent is available and an ambulance is needed, they would have to be taken to the hospital. Feuer said in most cases, that would mean going to Westchester Medical Center, as that is where there is an adolescent psychiatric unit. But, she said, they have partnered with Westchester EMS to divert patients to Northern Westchester Hospital, where the Mount Kisco center can be more directly involved. The resource officer added that local emergency services usually try to bring patients to NWH. Feuer noted that in response to post-engagement surveys that are sent out, they have already received very robust, positive reactions from Bedford parents. A recording of the one-hour session is available on the BCSD website, under BCSD-TV Video On Demand - Town Hall Events.

By JEFF MORRIS  The Board of Education approved soliciting bids for Phase 2A of the district bond project at its Jan. 28 meeting — but not before hearing a detailed explanation from Trustee Steven Matlin about the way elements of the facilities project are being sequenced and prioritized. Matlin reported on what had been discussed in a lengthy conversation at the previous day’s construction committee meeting. He said there are four phases left to build out from the entire $62 million bond project. The first of these, already out to bid, is the maintenance building that is on the middle school campus. According to Matlin, the district’s construction manager, Arris Contracting, recommended that the next to go out to bid be Pound Ridge Elementary School mechanical work. That bid package includes removing and replacing two existing cast iron boilers and removing a third boiler not in use; replacing two electric space heaters and connecting new cabinet heaters to the existing hot water system; removing and replacing the existing gym air handler system; upgrading the exhaust systems in the art room; providing and installing ventilation system to room 47/48; and provide and install a purge fan and ventilation at the garage space on the lower level. Matlin said bidding the PRES mechanical package ahead of interior work and ADA compliance work at the elementary schools was recommended by Arris because every other building but PRES has received mechanical work; the two boilers to be replaced are 40 years old, and this work can be done starting in May, when they are no longer required to have boilers and will most likely not need them. “That makes it more attractive for parties to bid on versus the summer time, when everybody’s busy,” Matlin said. “The feeling was we would get potentially a better bid.” The next package would be elementary school Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and exterior work. That, said Matlin, is a single contractor bid, and to qualify, the total bid package must come in under $1.5 million. Work is to be done at Mount Kisco, Bedford Village, Bedford Hills and Pound Ridge elementary schools, with the most work at BVES and PRES. The last package is elementary school interior work, almost all of which will be done at Bedford Village and West Patent, with one item at PRES.  “It’s not attractive work for the contractors,” said Matlin, “but if we can do it the way they’ve proposed it, and you get smaller contractors who would be interested in their specialty and we can fill the timing when they’re available, then it becomes more attractive to the potential bidder.” Matlin said they are not required to accept the bids, and if they come in considerably higher than expected they will have to have a discussion about what to do. The most important part of the discussion, said Matlin, is that they have $341,000 remaining to cover change orders, anything that’s left, abatement, and some bit of overage. The committee has had multiple requests to make some changes, he said, but Arris “wants us to protect that $341,000, barring something that is critical or a safety issue.”  He said to the extent that the requests involve added cost, the likelihood is the recommendation of the committee will be to say no. Matlin asked if the board had any disagreement with the committee’s recommendation to protect the remaining money. “They don’t want us to be in a position where we spend some of it now, and we then run out of money to complete this list of projects,” he said. Board President Gilian Klein said her focus was to complete the most important work first. She was concerned that the items on the last two lists had some ADA-compliance mixed in with non ADA-compliance, and she wanted to ensure the ADA compliance items were finished before there was any chance of depleting the funds. Trustee Betsy Sharma, who is also on the construction committee, said one of the reasons the items are bundled the way they are is that they involve the same specialties that can be performed by a single contractor. Matlin said according to Arris, Bedford Central is in the same position — and actually in a better position — than most other districts doing projects of this type. “When you get to the end of the project, this is what happens. You have to watch every last penny,” he said, but, “they reassured us that based on their numbers, we should be able to complete this.” The board voted to accept the bid packages in the order presented.

The interior 892 Route 35 undergoing remodeling. THANE GRAUEL PHOTO By NEAL RENTZ The Town Board has added $535,000 to the bond to purchase an office building off Route 35 in Cross River, to fund new furniture, carpeting, renovations, a parking lot expansion and more. The board took the actions at its Jan. 26 meeting. The town is moving some offices from the former Lewisboro Elementary School campus in South Salem to its new building located at 892 Route 35, which it purchased last year. The move was necessitated by the need to relocate several other town departments from the school campus, after the Katonah-Lewisboro School District decided to end the town’s monthly leases .  Meanwhile, the Town Board is pursuing a proposal from KG+D Architects to construct a new police headquarters on the property that now houses the New York State Police outpost and the town Highway Department, 81 Spring St., South Salem.  In 2025, the board purchased the Old Post Road Professional Building and Annex at 892 Route 35 for $2.2 million to house some town offices on the second floor and the town court on the first floor. The town expects to begin moving offices in April. No changes are being considered for the third floor. The court would move to the first floor of the office building if the design is approved by the state, Supervisor Tony Gonçalves said at last week’s Town Board meeting. The additional borrowing includes such items as furniture, carpeting, internal and exterior renovations, a parking lot expansion, and backup power systems.   The list of items was compiled by Facilities Maintenance Manager Joel Smith, Gonçalves said. Typically, the items would have been paid separately by the board, he said. But since the town is changing the length of the bond from five to 15 years, he sought to increase the amount of the bond to pay for expenses related to the building.  “We had to revise the resolution anyway,” rather than creating a second bond, he said, adding later in the meeting that the original length of the bond should have been 15 years. The town’s bond counsel said the $353,000 could be included in the bond since the items are related to the building, Gonçalves said. The site plan allows for the creation of seven additional parking spaces in what is now a 19-spot lot, Gonçalves said.  Sklarin asked who would be using the new furniture. The new furniture would be used by the eight town employees who will be working on the second floor, Gonçalves said. The town court would use its current furniture, he said. The furniture will cost $149,000 and will be purchased through a state contract, “which means we don’t have to go out to bid,”  Gonçalves said.  Sklarin said the bond should include all renovation expenses related to the Route 35 building work on the court, which must be approved by the state. Gonçalves said he wanted to begin work on the building as soon as possible and not wait for what the state will approve for the new court area, which could be paid through a bond anticipation note.  Court renovation costs could be added to another bond which would include capital project needs of town departments, Gonçalves said. Councilwoman Julia Hadlock said once the town moves eight employees from the former school, the month-to-month lease with the school district would be reduced. The revised bond was approved 4-0, with Sklarin abstaining. The revised bond totals borrowing of up to $2,553,000. Also related to the Route 35 building, the board approved a contract for $149,739 with Bell Office Furniture to purchase furniture. In addition, the board approved a contract with TC Merritts Land Surveyors for a land survey of the Route 35 building campus that would be used if the town seeks to add additional parking spaces at a cost not to exceed $4,500. Another resolution regarding the potential new site for the police department, the board approved a geotechnical engineering contract with Carlin-Simpson & Associates for an amount not to exceed $11,785. Soil samples will be taken to find out the condition of the grounds, Gonçalves said. Also related to the potential police department property, the board approved a contract to do survey work with TC Merritts Land Surveyors at a cost not to exceed $5,950. The company will establish the topography, the grade levels and borders of the site, Gonçalves said. The geotechnical and survey work are being paid through a donation to the town, Gonçalves noted.  WWII veterans honored Also, at this week’s meeting the Town Board approved proclamations to honor two World War II veterans who are over 100 years old. Quentin Nicastro was honored on his 102nd birthday. Nicastro served as a gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress during the war, completing 30 missions from England. On D-Day, Nicastro flew bombing missions over the beaches of Normandy, witnessing the vast Allied fleet that launched the liberation of Europe. “His courage, sacrifice and steadfast dedication embody the highest ideals of the United States Armed Forces and the enduring spirit of the Greatest Generation and reaching the milestone of 102 years is a remarkable testament to a life lived with purpose, resilience and honor,” the proclamation read. Another proclamation honored Gene Tedaldi on his 101st birthday. Tedaldi served in the United States Navy, operating in the Pacific aboard a landing ship tank, or LST. “He took part in the historic Battle of Okinawa, contributing with courage to one of the most significant amphibious operations of the war; and Gene has been a devoted longtime resident of Lewisboro, enriching the community through his character, history, and example,” the proclamation stated. “Reaching the milestone of 101 years is a remarkable testament to a life of service, strength, and resilience.”

By MARTIN WILBUR Fear spread throughout Mount Kisco on Wednesday after the presence of U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seen looking to arrest an individual on a federal judicial warrant. Mayor J. Michael Cindrich confirmed on Thursday that the operation started in the morning on Feb. 4 on Lexington Avenue near the entrance to Oakwood Cemetery. Cindrich said he learned of the activity around 10 a.m. from witnesses and others in the community who relayed what they had seen or heard. It is unclear whether the agents, who were observed stopping cars, apprehended the individual they were looking for or who that person was. ICE was reportedly in the village Wednesday for less than two hours. Even so, the incident caused panic in the community, Cindrich said.  “By the time I got the information, the ICE agents had already left the village, but the hysteria continued all day,” Cindrich said. During the past year since the Trump administration launched a crackdown on people who are in the country illegally, Cindrich said he was aware of only a few previous instances of ICE activity. Each involved attempts by federal agents to execute a criminal judicial warrant, the mayor said. Cindrich stressed that the Westchester County Department of Public Safety did not help ICE in its search this week and abides by Westchester County’s 2018 Immigrant Protection Act. The law, which was approved by the Board of Legislators, details that the county police do not get involved in enforcing federal immigration law, but investigates criminal matters.  “People can understand that the county police were not reacting to ICE and assisting them in any way to enforce immigration laws,” he said. Mount Kisco has a large immigrant population of its nearly 11,000 residents. About 40% of residents were born outside the U.S., many of them from Latin America. Bedford Central School District Superintendent Robert Glass sent an email late Wednesday afternoon to families about the enforcement action. His communication aimed to assure parents that the district has clear protocols addressing potential interactions with ICE agents. “We are actively communicating with our local police departments and the Westchester County Executive’s office,” the superintendent’s message stated. “Our goal is to both confirm and have accurate, timely information regarding any ICE activity in our area so that we can continue to do our best in serving our children and families. Your trust and partnership are invaluable to us.” Cindrich dispelled rumors about ICE agents conducting searches throughout the village. “The rumor was that they were going door to door, and in the business district were forcing their way in, which was absolutely untrue and embellished,” Cindrich said. “I don’t care if you’re 50 years old or 12 years old, you turn on the television and you see what’s going on in Minneapolis and you react to it,” he added. “So, if ICE agents are in the community, the sense of fear is going to prevail. I mean it’s a tragedy.”

By LAURA SCHILLER  Here it is again — Valentine’s Day. That Hallmark-imposed holiday we either love or hate. We love it if we’re in love, especially if the spark is newly ignited; we hate it if we’re single — or worse, newly single and still nursing a broken heart. And then there are those of us in the middle: happily partnered and perfectly content to show affection, but less thrilled by the pressure of roses, obligatory chocolates and the scramble for dinner reservations at an overcrowded restaurant offering an overpriced prix-fixe menu. (Sidenote to my husband: keep the reservation, darling.) This year, for better or worse, the holiday falls on a Saturday, leaving an entire weekend to celebrate together. You can start Friday night and stretch things into Sunday morning — staying out late, sleeping in and savoring the flexibility weekends allow. That might mean a romantic breakfast or brunch instead of dinner, cooking at home or skipping the meal altogether in favor of something unexpected and enjoyable. Here are a few ideas. Mating and dating: winter wolf howl  At the Wolf Conservation Center, located at 7 Buck Run, South Salem, you and your mate can wander at dusk among wolves during the one time of year they pair up — winter, not just Valentine’s Day, as it turns out. The WCC is offering a special adults-only sunset walk Saturday, Feb. 14, at 5 p.m, where visitors can learn about (and even howl with) the endangered wolf breeding pairs in residence. You’ll meet wolves such as Nikai, Silas and Kinari, and learn about the mythology, biology and ecology surrounding these fascinating animals. Wine and light snacks are included. Other Valentine’s events with the wolves are planned for the weekend.  For registration and more information visit  nywolf.org . Howl with laughter at a comedian If you like the idea of howling, you might also enjoy howling with laughter when comedy legend Jon Lovitz takes the stage at the Ridgefield Playhouse, located at East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, Conn. One of the most recognizable comedians of the past three decades, Lovitz earned an Emmy nomination during his time on ”Saturday Night Live” where he created a parade of side-splitting characters — most memorably Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar, whose signature line “Yeah…that’s the ticket!” became instant shorthand for absurd exaggeration. He has appeared in more than 40 films, often stealing scenes with his unmistakable voice and smug-but-lovable delivery. It’s a perfect way to share love and laughter —and chances are, you’ll hear a Valentine’s Day joke or two.  For tickets and more information, visit  ridgefieldplayhouse.org . Groove with the dogs Staying on the canine theme — but trading howls for grooves — some very different dogs are heading to The Capitol Theatre, located at 149 Westchester Ave., Port Chester, for a Valentine’s Day performance. Dogs In A Pile is a fast-rising quintet from Asbury Park, N.J., known for high-energy shows that blend psychedelic-tinged jazz, funk, rock and Americana. The band takes its name from a lyric in the Grateful Dead song “He’s Gone”: “Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile / Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.” While Dogs In A Pile has forged its own sound, the name tips a hat to their jam-band roots, a vibe that pulses through their shows. For an upgraded experience, the theatre’s VIP package offers early entry to Garcia’s Bar, premium stage views and access to a private bar throughout the night, an appealing alternative to a stuffy five-star restaurant.  For tickets and more information, visit thecapitoltheatre.com . Fold stuff together Sometimes lovers can’t quite find the words to express how they truly feel — and that’s where origami comes in. If you’re craving an activity that’s quieter and more hands-on, consider folding paper together at the Mount Kisco Public Library, located at 100 East Main St., Mount Kisco, Saturday, Feb. 14, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. From classic paper hearts to whimsical dog ears, origami offers a surprisingly intimate way to slow down and create something together. Take the spirit home afterward: fold a few more shapes, fold some burritos for dinner, and maybe even fold your arms around each other. All are welcome, and no registration is required. For more information, visit mountkisoclibrary.org . Paint each other flowers Why buy expensive doomed flowers when you can create your own bouquets, ones that will last for centuries. Petite Art Studio, located at 23 Valley Road, No. 2, Katonah, is offering a pre–Valentine’s Day Thursday night (Feb. 12) session focused on painting sumi ink bouquets. Sumi ink is a traditional black ink used in East Asian calligraphy and brush painting, prized for its expressive depth and elegance. Cheese will be provided, but bring your own bottle of wine to share as your love blossoms on the easel. It’s a relaxed way to celebrate your love and connect. And who knows? You might befriend someone who knows the hostess at a fine dining establishment and can score you a quiet, romantic table on Valentine’s Day. For registration and more information, visit petiteartstudio.com .

The Private Stock Jazz Ensemble will play at a Valentine's Dance at St. Mark's in Mount Kisco on Feb. 11. It performed at the church's Holiday Dance in December. DAVID MCKAY WILSON PHOTOS By DAVID MCKAY WILSON  Celebrate Valentine’s Day a few days early by dancing or listening to a broad repertoire of love songs, performed by the Private Stock Jazz Ensemble, featuring vocalist Nicole Pasternak. They’ll take the bandstand at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mount Kisco on Wednesday, Feb. 11, as part of the congregation’s social dance program, which is now in its second year. Bandleader Marc Pekowsky, who debuted his 17-piece big band at St. Mark’s in October, returns for the ensemble’s third performance in the church’s historic parish hall. He said the evening’s musical theme will be love songs, in keeping with the traditional mid-February celebration.  Standard tunes they’ll play will be “All the Things You Are,” composed by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein in 1939, and “S’Wonderful,” composed by George Gershwin a decade earlier. Other tunes will include “My Funny Valentine,” “You Make Me Feel So Young,”” and “What is This Thing called Love?”  “The whole evening will be centered around the theme of love,” said Pekowsky.  The evening will be a reunion for Pasternak and Pekowsky, who performed with the Sonny Carroll Orchestra in the 2000s and 2010s. Angelo Testanero, whose stage name was Sonny Carroll, was the spritely well-dressed bandleader whose ensemble played regularly for dancers and music lovers at Sciortino’s Restaurant in Brewster on Sunday afternoons.  As Testanero approached his 100th birthday in the summer of 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pasternak put together a video of old performances as part of the celebration. Pekowsky organized a caravan of musicians and swing dancers, including this writer, who were to be attired in T-shirts proclaiming his centenary,  with the plan to perform outside his home to wish him well. Much to everyone’s sorrow, Testanero passed away on Aug. 5, the day after his birthday when the drive-by was planned.  Testanero was a prolific arranger of jazz standards, known for the charts he wrote for his 20-piece orchestra. Pasternak recalled when she started playing in his band, he’d handwritten charts for another 300 tunes, creating the sheets of music for each of the big band’s 20 players.   “When all was said and done, he’d written more than 1,200,” Pasternak recalled. “He’d tell he’d get up early in the morning to write, and then get back to his charts at night.”  Over her singing career, Pasternak sang in duos with a pianist or guitarist, as well as with jazz quartets, quintets, and big bands. She also performed with  her husband, Ralph Lalama, a veteran jazz saxophonist and mainstay at the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra for decades.   In 1986, she kicked off what would be a six-year residency at Winslow’s, a Westport restaurant where Nicole & Friends would play every Friday night. She sang jazz standards with the small groups at Winslow’s, and she’ll be singing them on Feb. 11 at St. Mark’s. The lyrics remain embedded deep within her.  “Those lyrics are so memorable,” she said. “They make so much sense — the words to ‘It Could Happen to You’ or ‘This Time’s the Dream’s on Me.’ How could you forget them?”  Pasternak, who began playing with the Sonny Carroll Orchestra in the early 1990s, said she enjoys singing with a big band in a ballroom filled with dancers.   “They are equal partners with the musicians,” she said. “The dancers are interpreting the music in their own way while we are interpreting the songs musically,” she said. “There’s a symbiosis going on there, a special kind of chemistry. The dancers are responding with their whole body instead of just using their ears.”  She likes the feeling of collaboration among the dancers as they interpret the music through movement, just as the musicians are collaborating with each other in the big band.  “Like the musicians, they are listening to one another, and working together,” she said. “The musicians are also partnering on the bandstand to set the tempo and set the mood.”  Pasternak started singing as a child, inspired by recordings of a young Shirley Temple singing jazz standards in the 1960s.   “That’s where I found my first love of singing,” she said. “It became all about pleasing people, touching their hearts and reaching out through lyrics and sound. My husband calls me the Shirley Temple of jazz.”  She studied classical violin in third grade, and played in school bands and garage bands in Ridgefield, Conn., during her teens.  “When I got into my 20s, I started thinking that it was something that I could do,” she says.  In her early 20s, she took singing lessons with Sharon Anthony, the grandniece of suffragist Susan B. Anthony.  “She helped me find my voice,” said Pasternak. “I was good at emulating other singers on the radio — Judy Collins, Janis Joplin or Carole King. She helped me tap into my inner voice, which made all the difference. I was no longer imitating others. There wasn’t a formula to it. I found a way to create my own sound.”  The evening begins with a swing dance lesson with Cameron Kelly at 7 p.m. The band starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at $30, with coffee and desserts. Make table reservations at 914-602-6194. The event is a collaboration with St. Mark’s and Westchester Ballroom. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is located at 85 East Main St., Mount Kisco. David McKay Wilson, a veteran Westchester journalist, has danced swing from Manhattan to Poughkeepsie for 40 years. He heads up the St. Mark’s social dance program.

Melissa Whitworth and Ed Baum of The Recorder with second graders at Meadow Pond. Meadow Pond Elementary School second graders and teachers welcomed The Recorder on Jan. 29 for a lesson on persuasive writing, the students’ current writing unit. The Meadow Pond PTO invited The Recorder to design and lead the session as part of its ongoing enrichment program.  The hourlong session began with a brief presentation to the full grade on community newspapers and the differences between news and opinion writing. The speakers were Ed Baum, editorial director of The Recorder, and Melissa Whitworth, a Recorder contributor and freelance journalist.  After the introduction, the students returned to their classrooms for an exercise. Their teachers — Alexis Grosso, Deanna Lyon and Kate Hernandez — divided each class into two teams. Their assignment: to come up with reasons why the school should or should not have more recess. Students from each team presented their work to the full group.  Points presented by the team in favor of more recess included “More time to reset our minds,” “You get to play with friends from other classes” and “You get to learn how to play different sports.” Students arguing against more recess noted “Less class time means less learning,” “Too many things during the day makes us tired” and “Some people don’t like recess now they’ll be there more.” The Recorder designed the workshop to reinforce some of the main points the students are learning in the writing unit such as using clear reasons and relevant evidence to write an opinion about a topic or personal experience. Following the program Hernandez told The Recorder, “Your visit provided our students with a powerful, real-world connection to this work. It allowed them to see that their thoughts and ideas truly matter and that their words have the ability to make an impact.”

Mount Kisco and Westchester County recently approved a new intermunicipal agreement to provide police services to the village, the third agreement between the two parties since coverage began in 2015. MARTIN WILBUR PHOTO By MARTIN WILBUR Westchester County and Mount Kisco officials commemorated the recent ratification of the new intermunicipal agreement touting the advantages in the contract that will provide the village with its police coverage through 2029. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins appeared with Department of Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor and Mayor J. Michael Cindrich on Monday at Village Hall to tout the arrangement, particularly the level of resources available to the community at an affordable cost. “The reality is that policing is expensive and municipalities should not be forced to shoulder those costs alone,” Jenkins said. “By working together, we are saving taxpayer dollars, maximizing existing county resources and ensuring Mount Kisco residents continue to receive professional, reliable police services.” Under the contract, the village will pay up to $8,034,255 for police coverage in 2026 before any adjustments are made that could reduce that figure slightly, Village Manager Ed Brancati confirmed. For that cost, Mount Kisco will receive 17 full-time equivalent officers, three-time equivalent detectives and five sergeants, with one of those sergeants assigned to a patrol car at all times, according to the resolution the Village Board approved last month. It is the same staffing level agreed to in the contract that expired at the end of 2024. The village was charged $7.7 million for police coverage for 2025 in an extension of the old contract for the first quarter of the year and a higher rate for the final nine months. This is the third contract between Westchester County and Mount Kisco for police services, which started June 1, 2015. The village ceased operation of its police department then, with most of its officers taken in as county personnel, and officially disbanded it several years later.  Cindrich said the savings by disbanding its department has been obvious, as the village spent about one-third of its budget on law enforcement at the time and saving about $600,000 during the first year of the initial agreement. But the resources available through the county are far superior, including specialized units, to what Mount Kisco would have been able to afford on its own, he said. “Evidenced by Columbine, Uvalde, Parkland, other school activity, the training was an important component that we, as a small department, could not match to what the county offers in training, and in a small department often what’s cut first is training,” Cindrich said. In 2025, county officers responded to thousands of calls within Mount Kisco for medical aided cases, domestic incidents, people in crisis and other quality-of-life issues, Raynor said. Personnel also issued more than 2,000 summonses for violations of vehicle and traffic law and of local ordinances and handled more than 700 criminal and non-criminal investigations. There were 254 arrests last year, including 60 resulting in felony charges, he said. But being involved in the everyday life of the village has been equally satisfying, Raynor said. “Members of our department were proud to participate in multiple community celebrations and other community events throughout the years, and in the spirit of the holidays, they collected toys and other gifts to distribute to children at Mount Kisco Head Start, Mount Kisco Elementary, Pinecrest, Kisco Gardens and Northern Westchester Hospital,” Raynor said.  County Legislator Erika Pierce, D-2, added that the community policing provided by the county is a key element to preserve quality of life. At the time of its approval by the Village Board, village officials pressed for Department of Public Safety representatives to meet with them on a quarterly basis to discuss police-related matters, something that was often allowed to slide during the previous contract. Mount Kisco is one of two communities in Westchester, along with the town of Cortlandt, that receives police coverage through the county. County Police also provide school resource officers to several districts.

The Mount Kiso Village Board can go out to bid for the Preston Way bridge replacement after approving a master permit with the MTA. The snow-covered bridge has been closed for just over two months since the state determined it is structurally unsound.  Martin Wilbur photo By MARTIN WILBUR The Mount Kisco Village Board approved a permit agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that will enable officials to seek bids for the Preston Way bridge replacement project despite unresolved issues between the two entities. By a 4-1 vote, the board moved ahead Monday night to allow Village Manager Ed Brancati to execute a master permit that allows village personnel or other representatives access to MTA property in preparation for construction. It also spells out that a “force labor” account be established outlining that the MTA would pay a still undetermined sum for certain workers needed at the site during construction, such as flaggers and inspectors. Brancati said the New York State Department of Transportation has required Mount Kisco to obtain the permit before it can go out to bid. The bidding process is seen as crucial so it is known how much the bridge replacement project will cost and how much more money the village will need to secure to pay for the work. Mount Kisco has also been waiting for an opinion from the state comptroller’s office on how it should proceed. “We wanted to clarify we are working on two different agreements, this one and the division of maintenance, responsibilities and costs and cost allocation and replacement in the future on the new structure,” Brancati said. “We want to get this clarification because it not only impacts the future, but it also impacts the current one. So that was the desire for the comptroller’s opinion, but not wanting to, while waiting for that, delay the process of trying to get a real number, which is the entire point of the bid.” Mount Kisco officials will tap its engineering consults, the Connecticut-based AI Engineers, to prepare the bid documents. The documents could be sent out later this month followed by an anticipated six-week period to receive the bids, Brancati said. Brancati said the village also reached out to the firm for a new estimate on the project, which is now about $10 million, up from the previous estimate of $8.6 million in January 2024. The village already has $5 million from a state grant and has borrowed $3.6 million. Mayor J. Michael Cindrich and most of the board agreed that the urgency of starting the long process of bidding, finding more money for the project and the construction was imperative despite ongoing negotiations that are expected to detail how the village and MTA will jointly maintain the bridge. Wrangling between the village, MTA and to some extent the DOT has left open to conjecture who owns the bridge and which entity is responsible for maintenance and repairs. “For my money, I’ve heard all of the arguments and all of the discussion since the day I was elected as trustee. It’s my sincere hope we can move this forward sooner rather than later,” Cindrich said. The dissenting vote came from Deputy Mayor Karen Schleimer, who said she was reluctant to approve the permit given the importance of the project, its expense and that she had never previously heard of an MTA master permit. Schleimer argued that board members should have been briefed on the legal implications and next steps and had an opportunity to speak with the engineers before any vote. “I’d love to find out if there are alternatives,” Schleimer said. “I don’t want to go out to bid on I don’t know what. So, are there different alternatives, and I think it’s important for us to have that conversation in great detail before we go out to bid. So, I’m not sure why we’re jumping to do an MTA master permit.” Village Attorney Jonathan Nelson explained that approving the permit does not obligate the village to pursue any action but allows officials to get a fresh estimate and to have access to the area where the work will be done. “What I can say is that the DOT only requires the master permit to be signed for us to go out to bid, and so that’s the first step, and it seems like a prudent first step without taking a second step at this point,” Nelson said.  Cindrich also stressed that alternatives, such as a prefabricated bridge, have been deemed unfeasible by the engineers even if it might reduce the time of construction. Furthermore, the village has already spent about $500,000 on planning and design costs for a bridge replacement, he said, a cost that would escalate if the village sought alternatives. The mayor also questioned the engineers’ estimate of whether $10 million will be enough to complete the work. He said Assemblymember Chris Burdick, state Sen. Pete Harckham and the office of Sen. Chuck Schumer are all searching to help the village find more funds for the work. “The bridge is going to be closed for quite a period of time,” Cindrich said. “It’s designed to be built a certain way. I don’t think we can go back and spend another half a million dollars or do a prefab bridge.” Shortly after the DOT ordered the village to immediately close the Preston Way bridge on Dec. 3, forcing the rerouting of traffic and backups during peak hours, Burdick said the public should brace for the closure to last up to two years. An inspection last summer found the current span is structurally unsound.

By JEFF MORRIS  A first look at the 2026-27 district budget was presented to the Bedford Central Board of Education at its Jan. 28 meeting, the beginning of a months-long process.  It was presented by Jose Formoso, the assistant superintendent for business and operations. It was his first budget discussion led by Formoso, who joined the district in July after serving with the Mount Vernon City School District. In presenting General Fund operating results since 2021, he said there was an average operating surplus of $354,180 over the last five fiscal years, and a cumulative operating surplus for the district over this timeframe was approximately $1.7 million.  Formoso acknowledged there was a decrease in expenditures in 2021 due in large part to COVID-19 and other grant funding that was received. He said if you look just at the last three years, “the story would look very different, it would show that we are operating at a cumulative deficit.” There is a trend of expenditures exceeding revenue, he said, which “is a structural issue which we will be looking to address during this budget season and the coming years; at the end of the day we need to be able to keep our expenditures in line with our revenue.” The total fund balance at the end of last year was $22,428,991, of which $11,884,138 was restricted reserves, meaning it could only be used for specific funds, such as retirement, health insurance and tax certiorari. Assigned fund balance of $404,018 is typically used to ease the budget on taxpayers, bridging any gap in the budget; unassigned fund balance of $6,111,528 can be used to cover one-time expenses. Formoso noted that it should not be used to cover recurring expenses, or the fund balance could be depleted. Source: Bedford Central School District As had been noted at an earlier meeting, switching the district from a self-insured health plan to NYSHIP should reduce expenditures by over $3 million. However, he also pointed out that with costs for both NYSHIP and Medicare Advantage Plan, the projected hospital/medical insurance budget of $26,320,000 is an increase of $2,689,625, or 11.38%, over the 2025-26 budget of $23,630,375. “Once we get into NYSHIP, our next increases we expect to not be at the same levels,” Formoso said. “At that point we’ve already set the budget under NYSHIP, and their increases have typically over these last few years remained in the single digit numbers.”  The district will go from a $160.9 million budget to a preliminary budget of $167.5 million. Key drivers affecting the budget going into next year, said Formoso, are increases in the instructional line and the employee benefits line, which are going up by $3.9 million and $2.7 million respectively. He said that makes sense, because a school district budget is typically 75% to 80% driven by salaries and benefits, and BCSD’s sits at right around 76%. Formoso showed the property tax cap calculations leading to an allowable tax levy percentage increase for 2026-27 of 2.6%. With a preliminary budget of $167,508,295, a tax levy at the 2.6% cap of $149,468,630, and state aid and other revenues expected to total $14,190,802, he is projecting a budget gap of $3,848,863. Formoso emphasized that this is a preliminary budget. “We expect a lot of changes coming in over these next two months,” he said. They plan to close the budget gap in multiple ways, he said: expenditure optimization; savings through strategic attrition; management of reserves; and the final step, operational efficiency and long-term fiscal planning. “We’ve already started that process, we’ve looked internally at ways that we could increase operational efficiency over the years,” he said. They’ve also been working with their fiscal advisor on a long-term fiscal plan which they expect to roll out in June. “A long-term fiscal plan will really help us drive to one number,” said Formoso. “We know our revenue stays pretty steady, so we could project out our revenue with fairly good certainty of where we’re going to be in the next five years, and then it’s how do we live within that revenue, how do we keep our expenditures to that level or slightly below.” He said there will be a big presentation that is planned for June. Formoso was optimistic that they will have worked out how to reduce the budget gap “significantly” by the end of February. Upcoming work sessions are Operations & Maintenance, and Technology, on Feb. 26; Curriculum & Instruction, and Special Education & Pupil Personnel Services on March 11; and the superintendent’s budget presentation and deliberation on March 25. More budget deliberations are scheduled for April 8, with the board adopting the budget on April 22, and a public hearing on May 6.  The budget vote and school board election will be on May 19.

Cindy Bernier’s “Heart’s Labyrinth” took home Best Painting. By JOYCE CORRIGAN “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life,” declared Pablo Picasso. Not just the dust, Pablo, the snow, too. The opening weekend of the 53rd annual Art Show: Bedford at St. Matthew’s Church saw brisk business despite the weather. “Everyone in town has clearly been out buying milk, paper towels — and art,” media liaison Meg LeComte said opening night, Friday, Jan. 23. “All the prize winners were sold on the spot.” LeComte, along with co-chairs Tara Deeks and Jenny Convery, has been in art show overdrive since April. But even with the current show a success, resting on their laurels, they don’t dare. “Last year we exceeded our goals,” LeComte noted, “and with one more weekend to go, we’re hopeful. As always, 100% of the proceeds go directly to our local nonprofits who depend on our donations.”  The recipient beneficiaries for 2026 include A-Home, the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, the Community Center of Northern Westchester, Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship, Hope’s Door, Hour Children, Midnight Run, Neighbors Link, New Dawn, Rehabilitation Through the Arts and The Pantry. With northern Westchester deep in winter’s grip, St. Matthew’s unique attributes as a venue are particularly welcoming: the roaring fireplace in the Fellowship Room, for instance, and the pastoral sweep of surrounding woods and 19th century red brick church, evoking an iconic Currier and Ives.  Yet, local or global, art fairs thrive when they feel like reunions and revelations. Art Show: Bedford attracts a large number of return visitors — collectors, curators, advisors and judges — while continually raising expectations. “Everyone — from the organizers to the artists — know they have to keep things fresh,” said Christopher Brescia, the show’s longtime consultant and owner of the virtual CB Art Gallery, who also curates the rotating collection in the Bedford Playhouse.  “New and different work each year signals that an artist — or a fair — is evolving, not coasting,” he said.  Brescia pointed to Bedford-based artist Audrey Zinman, as an example. After winning Best in Show in 2025 for her life-size decoupaged vintage mannequin, she returned this year with “After the Storm,” a large-scale assemblage of the artist’s signature beachcombed, decoupaged treasures which deservedly won Best 3-D dimensional Work.”  Fresh critical eyes matter, too. “This year we had two phenomenal judges,” Brescia added. Ellen Hawley, independent curator whose home space is the Flinn Gallery in Greenwich and Kimberly Henrikson, executive director of the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, proved a dynamic pairing. “They were an excellent team.”  “Art is the only eye candy for me,” Hawley said, “I was truly honored to be invited to jury ASB; it’s a hallmark of the community. Supporting artists both established and emerging, is their passion and my passion.” Hawley was already familiar with several exhibiting artists, including Bedford’s Carol Bouyoucos, whose work she featured in a Flinn Gallery group show last spring, and who this year won ASB's Best Work on Paper. “The artists all move around,” she said. “I’ve been following Carol’s work for a long time and adore it.”  Great art, of course, doesn’t ask politely to be noticed. It asserts itself — through scale, unexpected materials, or charged subject matter. One piece that stopped visitors in their tracks was Emily Neville Fisher’s “Goldie,” winner of Best Photography, which depicts a young girl calmly posed with an enormous yellow bearded dragon resting on her chest. While the reptile almost dwarfs the girl, her expression is cool and confident.  “It was captivating and unexpected,” Hawley said. “The color harmonies: the girl’s golden hair, the golden lizard, her pink shirt against a pink house. Quietly powerful.”  Color was also key to Cindy Bernier’s abstract canvas “Heart’s Labyrinth,” taking home Best Painting. “So much to see in this vivid, abstract painting,” Hawley said. “There are drips of paint, brushstrokes in all directions, you can’t get tired looking at it.” Hawley was glad to have done a close read of the artist’s statement. “I learned Bernier is a dancer,” she said. “That explains not only the large scale of it, but the genius sensation of movement.” Best in Show went to Bobby Hill’s “Contemplation,” a black and white mixed media screenprint featuring figures against a cityscape. “Kimberly and I were both immediately taken by this,” Hawley said. “The energy and movement around the silhouetted figures. It was stylized, authentic and original.”