Thursday, September 30, 2010

Bless The Pets

Saint Luke’s Church will host the Second Ecumenical Blessing of the Animals on October 3rd, 2010, starting at 2 PM at Firemen's Field on Rte. 202 in Somers. At 2:30 PM, the Parade Of Animals will proceed to Saint Luke's Church with the Blessing led by Rector, Fr. Sanford Key at 3 PM.

For more info, see the web site of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Somers, NY.



Commercial Real Estate In Westchester Is Idle

nyinc.com reports on the Cushman & Wakefield third quarter 2010 report for the Westchester County commercial real estate market.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY— Cushman & Wakefield released its third quarter 2010 report for the Westchester County commercial real estate market, showing a market with minimal leasing activity that reflects an economy trying to regain its footing. There was a slight increase in overall vacancy and absorption, albeit negative, but improvement over the previous quarter throughout the county.


Read the full story here.


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Maggio Named As Head Of Special Eduction

The Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) reports that Anna Maggio is the new Director of Special Services for the Somers Central School District. That position leads the Special Education Office. The former director Shelley Fleischmann recently announced her resignation in order to pursue a professional opportunity elsewhere. Maggio was the School District’s Director of Secondary Education. In a letter home to parents, the Personnel Office of the District said, “With her expertise in the area of special education and her knowledge and experience within the district, we know that Anna will help to ensure a smooth transition to this new role and will continue to move our special education department forward.”


Sunday, September 26, 2010

Somers Is Number 31 Says Westchester Magazine

Let the debate begin! The October issue of Westchester Magazine ranks the “Best Places To Live” in Westchester County. Somers ranked 31 out of 40, although the Town received high grades for Housing Costs and Parks and Recreation. Somers got low marks for Shopping, Diversity, Proximity to NYC, and Proximity to the Hudson River/LI Sound. The subjective categories and weightings are sure to spark conversation about what is important to quality of life. In the City-Data Forum at City-Data.com, one poster remarked: “Fortunately my criteria weighting is pretty much the reciprocal of Westchester Magazine's, so all I have to do is turn their ranking upside down.”


The magazine admits they are “gluttons for punishment [as they] we dared to tackle the unthinkable—we’ve numerically ranked (virtually) every place there is to live in our county, from best to worst.” Ranked number one is Irvington, followed by Ossining, at number two. Ahead of Somers, ranked at number 30 is Rye; Briarcliff Manor is number 32. Where do our neighbors Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem and Yorktown rank? Some lower, one higher.


The article is available at Westchester Magazine’s web site.


Friday, September 24, 2010

Chef Snyder of Somers 202


From the Meet The Chef series by Ryan Johnson in the Yorktown Patch on September 24, 2010

No culinary master comes upon his or her craft easily and without trial and error, and Chef David Snyder of the newly-opened Somers 202 in Yorktown Heights is no exception.

At 40 years old, he has a long list of experiences that have helped develop his own epicurean voice in his food. Each moment, with every taste and smell along the way, shapes the final product in any chef's kitchen. For Chef Snyder, that first taste began at his childhood home in Elmsford, NY. ...

Read more here.

According to the Census Bureau's web site American FactFinder the restaurant is located in Somers, even though it has a Yorktown Heights mailing address.

Somers Memento On Ebay


The Somers Spectator has no relationship to the seller. Ebay item 350396618808

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Catch Of The Day For Sanz, Age 8, In Florida

Naplesnews.com ran this photo with the following caption: Noah Sanz, 8, of Somers, N.Y. proudly displays a Spanish mackerel he caught in Big Carlos Pass in early September. Noah and his family were visiting his grandparents Max and Iris Sanz of Bonita Springs.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Archbishop Calls Kennedy Catholic “Stellar”

On September 10, 2010, Archbishop Timothy Dolan said Mass at Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers to open its school year. The Archbishop then lauded the school in his blog at the web site of the Archdiocese.

Kennedy Catholic is an an Archdiocesan high school but is no longer governed the Archdiocese. Instead, Kennedy Catholic is in its first year as a private school, governed by an independent board under the leadership of chair Joseph Costello and the president/principal Father Mark Vaillancourt. Along with its religious aspect, the school is a successful academic high school with competitive sports teams. Its main building was dedicated in the late 60s by Jacqueline Kennedy and Cardinal Francis Spellman.

Costello and Vailancourt told the Archbishop that “the freshman class was the largest in years, and the enrollment for the entire school was up.” Also, “Father Mark Vaillancourt told me of the school’s soaring SAT scores, and that every graduating senior last year went on to college, with the class earning over $12,000,000 in scholarships.” That is an impressive achievement for any high school, public or private.

The entire blog post of September 15, 2010 is located here. The school’s web site is here.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Big Belly In Somers

Big Belly a solar powered trash can/compacter is in Somers for a trial run. The device is at Ries Park until October 1 at no cost to the Town, as a result of the efforts of the Somers Energy Advisory Panel. The compacter takes up as much space as an ordinary trash can but holds five times as much, plus it can notify the trash department when it is full. Increased capacity means fewer trash pick-ups reducing costs and emissions. Philadelphia has 500 of these systems; SUNY-Purchase College expanded their number this semester. This is the first in Northern Westchester County.


More info is at the Town web site. Photo is from Big Belly Solar web site.



Six Receive Somers Police Awards For Muscoot Reservoir Ice Rescue

Back in January, several individuals risked their lives to rescue two adults who had fallen through the ice at Muscoot Reservoir in Somers. Six of those were honored at the annual Somers Police Awards ceremony held during the Town Board meeting on September 2. Among those honored were Troopers Paul Carinci and Timothy Gleason of the New York State Police, Somers Police Officer Peter Gobbo, Somers School District employee Kenny Schirmer as well as Michael Gorian. The sixth awardee was not present. The men formed a human chain and rescued the two persons that fell through the ice and had been in the water for at least 25 minutes.


The video of the presentation by Chief Driscoll is here starting at 19:52 on the tape counter and at about 10:42 in running time.


Accounts of the rescue are in the August 2010 edition of the Hudson Valley Firefighter at page 11 and in the Chappaqua-Mount Kisco Patch in a story by Jonann Brady on January 29, 2010.


Friday, September 10, 2010

9-11 memorial ceremony in Westchester


Westchester County will hold its annual memorial to those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, with a short half hour ceremony Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. The ceremony will take place at The Rising, the
County’s September 11 Memorial at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. It is open to the public to attend.
More info at westchester.gov.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Archbishop To Say Mass At Kennedy Catholic

More than 500 are expected when Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York says the Mass of the Holy Spirit at Kennedy Catholic High School on Friday. Friday is the first full day of classes and that day traditionally begins with Mass, although the Archbishop is not the usual celebrant so this is a special event. The Hall Monitor blog at LoHud.com quotes Rev. Mark Vaillancourt, president/principal of Kennedy Catholic: “While it’s always a special occasion when the Archbishop comes to your school, this is even more so considering all that we’ve been able to accomplish in our first year as a private school."

See the Westchester Herald story here.


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Free Family Concert At Bailey Park On September 12

Parks & Recreation is holding a free family concert featuring Calypso Simon Says-Do the Limbo- Jam w/ Band. The concert is from 6 to 8 pm at Bailey Park on Sunday, September 12. For more information, call Parks & Recreation 914-232-8441


From The 390.com - DWI Arrest

On 09/04/2010 at approximately 10:21 PM, the State Police in Somers arrested Ronald E. Pietruska , 61 years of age from Carmel, NY for driving while intoxicated. Subsequent to a stop at a DWI stationary road check on SR-35 in the Town of Somers, Mr. Pietruska was found to be intoxicated with a BAC of 0.13%. Mr. Pietruska was issued uniform traffic tickets returnable to the Town of Somers court.


http://the390.com/feature/dwi-enforcement-in-somers-results-in-4-arrests


Monday, September 6, 2010

Somers Residents Doing Good

Block Party For Hannah Monte

Clubs and organizations, led by the Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce, are organizing the Somers First Block Party to benefit Hannah Monte in her fight against cancer. The event is scheduled for Sunday October 3rd on Tomahawk Street.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Somers-NY/Somers-Block-Party/155962147749147?v=wall

Books For Troops

The Somers Rotary Club sent over 500 paperbacks to US Troops in Afghanistan. LoHud.com September 5, 2010.

Rescue Of Woman

Ernie Osborne rescued an 80 year-old Somers woman after she fell in her home and spent 14 hours in pain, stranded on her foyer's floor. LoHud.com September 2, 2010 . Osborne is a founder of Somers At Home, a nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors stay in their homes.


Sunday, September 5, 2010

Somers Library: There’s An App For That


Check out BookMyne an application for the iPhone, iPad and iTouch that lets users access the Library’s online catalog. With this App, you can search, renew and request library materials from these Apple devices as you can do from your computer when you access the Westchester Library System online from the Somers Library web site. BookMyne is free. More information at the iTunes store or here.


Saturday, September 4, 2010

Somers Chamber of Commerce's Photos - Facebook Wall Photos

School Tax Rate Set (Revised 9/10)

LoHud.com reports that the new school tax rate for the portion of Somers in the North Salem School District is $126.86 per $1000 in assessed value, an increase of 6.3 percent. The percent increase in Carmel is 15.9, and the tax rate in North Salem grew by 0.8 percent.

The Somers Spectator thanks Ken Crowley of the Somers Central School District for setting us straight that this rate did not apply to all of the Town of Somers.

Introducing Raymond Blanch, New School Superintendent


A special edition of Trunkline, the School District newsletter, welcomes and introduces Dr. Raymond H. Blanch, the new Superintendent for the Somers Central School District.


Dr. Blanch served for three years as Superintendent of the Lewis-Palmer School District in Colorado, before resigning in June. He was in that District for nine years, starting as a principal of an elementary school. The Colorado school district has 10 schools and 5,500 students. Somers has four schools and about 3500 students. He began his education career teaching first and second grade.


At the time of his resignation, the press release sent out by the Colorado District said, “When Blanch was hired as superintendent, the district faced a myriad of financial issues, and he successfully led the district from a deficit spending budget with minimal reserves to its current positive financial position.” According to one Colorado community newspaper, many thought Blanch’s resignation was “forced by the board of education”, notwithstanding “overwhelming support for Blanch by teachers and parents”.


Blanch is 42 and grew up in Syracuse, NY. He is married with four children, one in college and three that will enroll in Somers schools once the house in Colorado is sold. His contract for Somers is for three years with a first-year salary of $225,000.


See the related story by Art Cusano in NCNLocal.com here. Photo is from NCNLocal

Friday, September 3, 2010

26th Lasdon Labor Day Antiques Fair


Monday, September 6th, is the 26th Labor Day Antiques Fair from 10 AM - 5 PM on the main lawn at Lasdon Park, Arboretum & Veterans Memorial in Somers. As many as 70 booths are expected. The event is run by Cord Shows. Admission is $7 (free for those under 13 years old) to benefit the Glass House Fund at Lasdon Park.

For information, phone Cord Shows at 914-273-4667 or visit cordshows.com


Accident In Heritage Hills


A Heritage Hills security officer/EMT was injured yesterday in a two-vehicle collision while responding to a medical emergency. No serious injuries resulted, although Somers firefighters extricated the guard.


Read the LoHud.com story here. Photo from LoHud.com; see more here.


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Town Board Meeting on September 2nd To Include Police Awards And Neighbors Opposition To Best Plumbing

The Somers Town Board yesterday released its agenda for its regular meeting/work session scheduled for Thursday, September 2, 2010.

The Annual Police Awards are scheduled for that meeting. Also on tap are public hearings related to Comcast and Best Plumbing. Best Plumbing wants Saturday showroom hours. Based on prior hearings, residents of Whitlock Court and nearby Route 138 are likely to oppose this request saying that at the time of the issuance of the original special use permit, neighbors made many concessions in exchange for peace and quiet in the evenings and weekends. The area is zoned residential.

The full agenda for the meeting is here.