Merry Christmas!

Back To Square One For Shenorock Lake

The petition to create a Park District for the community of Lake Shenrock in Somers, NY was rejected by the Town Board at its December 9 meeting. The Town Board said the petition was "flawed". Proponents plan to try again in their effort to revitalize the Lake for swimming.

Read the story at NCNLocal.com: Shenorock petition thrown out.

See our earlier posts here and here.

A valid petition needs signatures by homeowners owning more than 50% of residential assessed value. Supervisor Murphy reported at the December 2 Board meeting that the Assessors determined that at least 48% supported the petition. More important, Town officials concluded that some signatures were in dispute. At that meeting, Councilman Richard Clinchy said the signature collection process was "chaotic" and "unreliable". Proponents strongly disagreed with Mr. Clinchy at the meeting. This post appears at the Facebook page of the United Owners Association:

The petition is scuppered, our Town Board is powerless, and the system has enabled a whining and ill-informed tiny minority to destroy efforts to enhance the neighborhood. Did one board member actually suggest we mail out a list of questions and answers? Unbelievable.

Supervisor Murphy plans to meet with leaders from both sides of the issue in January.

Schettini Engagement

Mary Lynn Schettini to wed Giuseppe DeRuvo

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

LITTLE FERRY LOCAL

Crescenzo and Carmela Schettini of Somers, N.Y., are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Lynn Schettini, to Giuseppe DeRuvo of Little Ferry. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Agata DeRuvo and the late Giovanni DeRuvo.

Dr. Schettini received her Doctor of Optometry in 2007 from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Mass. She is a licensed optometrist in the State of New York. Dr. Schettini is a graduate of Somers High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University.

The complete story at northjersey.com is here.

Riot At Lincoln Hall

State and Somers police broke up a riot involving 30 students at Lincoln Hall School for Boys in Somers, NY on Friday. Two employees were injured and five students arrested. For details see the article at the 390.com.

Lincoln Hall is a school for the treatment and rehabilitation of troubled or delinquent male teens. This incident is the latest in a series of problems at the School. In November, police arrested five teens for vandalism or assault in three separate incidents, and in August, police charged two teens with burglary of homes in Somers.

As reported in LoHud.com, Somers Town officials are concerned.

Town officials are requesting a meeting with Lincoln Hall administrators to discuss the surge in violence, said Town Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy.

“In the last six to nine months, Lincoln Hall students have been in our court more than ever,” Murphy said Sunday. “We’re trying to get a meeting with their board of directors to discuss what has to be done. We want to find out what’s changed in the last year to create the situation where there are repeated incidents that seem to be escalating.”

Read the complete LoHud.com story here.

LINKS

http://the390.com/feature/state-police-respond-to-riot-situation-at-lincoln-hall

http://the390.com/feature/multiple-arrests-at-lincoln-hall-town-of-somers

http://somersspectator.blogspot.com/2010/08/news-round-up.html

http://www.lohud.com/article/20101212/NEWS01/12120395/-1/RSS01/Staff%20injured+,%20five%20boys%20arrested%20in%20large%20riot%20at%20Lincoln%20Hall%20in%20Somers

Library Ends Sunday Hours; Town Board Wonders Why

Because the Library's operating budget is not increasing this year, the Somers, NY Public Library will be closed on Sundays, starting January 1, 2011. The Library will be open two extra hours on Thursday and Saturday. The full text of the announcement is set forth below.

At the December 2 budget hearing held by the Town Board, some Board members questioned why the Library needed to close on its busiest day. An issue was also raised about whether the Library was allocating staff in an optimal manner during the week. The President of the Library Board of Trustees did not specifically respond to these inquiries, saying that a final decision had not been made.

The Library's announcement issued about a week after the December 2 budget hearing.

==================

Somers Library

Library Hours for 2011 Following the release of the Somers Town Board's Adopted Budget for 2011 and its resultant impact on the Somers Library, the Board of Trustees regrets to announce a change in its operating hours for the coming year. Effective January 1, 2011, the library will no longer be open on Sundays. In order to off set this change, and in consideration of those patrons who work late and can only use the library on the weekends, the library's hours of operation on both Thursday evenings and Saturdays mornings will be increased by two hours. The new library hours will be: Monday 1-8 pm Tuesday 11-6 pm Wednesday 10-5 pm Thursday 11-8 pm Friday 10-5 pm Saturday 10-5 pm

Cell Tower Balloon Test And Site Walk On Saturday

The Zoning Board of Somers, NY will conduct a balloon test and site walk for the proposed cell tower at 2580 Route 35, a location within a Residential Zone The test is scheduled for December 11 between 9 AM and noon. In general, a balloon test involves raising a large balloon to the height of the proposed tower so that the public and Board can get a better idea of how the tower will fit in the local area. The full notice appears below.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

A Site walk with balloon test will be conducted at 2580 Route 35, Town of

Somers, New York in connection with an application for a Special Use Permit and

Area Variances to locate a wireless telecommunications facility in an R-120

Residential Zone. This application has been made to the Somers Zoning Board of

Appeals by HOMELAND TOWERS, LLC and NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS

PCS LLC (“AT&T”)(Application number BZ11A/09 – 37.13-2-3). The site walk

and balloon test is scheduled for Saturday, December 11, 2010 between the hours of

9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. In the event of inclement weather, the test will be

held on Sunday, December 12, 2010. Additionally, the following is a schedule of

alternate weekend dates for the site walk and balloon test pending weather

conditions:

Saturday, December 18, 2010 and Sunday, December 19, 2010;

Saturday, January 8, 2011 and Sunday, January 9, 2011;

Saturday, January 15, 2011 and Sunday, January 16, 2011;

Saturday, January 22, 2011 and Sunday, January 23, 2011;

Saturday, January 29, 2011 and Sunday, January 30, 2011.

The application materials are on file in the office of the Town of Somers

Zoning Board of Appeals and may be viewed there between the hours of 9:00 a.m.

and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Questions regarding the application can

be directed to Teresa Reale, Secretary to the Zoning Board of Appeals, telephone

(914) 277-5582.

The application will appear on the calendar of the Zoning Board of Appeals

at its next regularly scheduled meeting on December 21, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the

Town of Somers located at 335 Route 202.

Cell Towers And Dogs Are Subject Of Public Hearings At Tonight's Regular Meeting Of Town Board

The Town Board of Somers, NY holds public hearings tonight on an ordinance relating to cell towers (a/k/a wireless telecommunication facilities) and amending the local law regarding dogs. The full agenda for the December 9th Regular Meeting is here.

Amanda DaCosta of Somers Named All-America In College Soccer [Revised]

Amanda DaCosta, who graduated from Somers High School in 2007, is named a collegiate All-America in soccer at Florida State. The press release from that University follows.

Two 'Noles Named All-Americans

Amanda DaCosta and Toni Pressley have been named All Americans by the NSCAA.

Dec. 3, 2010

By Zach Mendelson, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State University senior midfielder Amanda DaCosta (Katonah, N.Y./Somers) and junior defender Toni Pressley (Melbourne, Fla./West Shore) have been named to the 2010 NSCAA/Performance Subaru Women's NCAA Division I Women's Soccer All-America Team.

DaCosta, who served as the team captain in 2010, was named to the third team. She was also named First Team All-ACC, the fourth All-ACC honor of her career, marking the most in school history. DaCosta finishes her career tied for first all time in Florida State history in game-winning assists (10), third in career assists (24) and fourth all-time in games started (94).

...

Overall the Seminoles' finished the 2010 campaign by making an 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight for the sixth straight year.

The players will be honored at the annual All-America Luncheon, to be held at the Hilton Baltimore Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 15, as part of the 2011 NSCAA Convention.

LINK

http://www.seminoles.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/120310aab.html

ADDENDUM

See the December 10, 2006 LoHud.com article by Jack Thomases describing DeCosta's high school years: Girls soccer player of the year: Amanda DaCosta, Somers

In Other News in Somers, NY ...

Somers Woman Charged With Forging Checks

Westchester News Online 11/30/2010

Yorktown Police say an 18 year old Somers woman was arrested and charged with forgery after she allegedly stole checks from a woman's home and signed and cashed them.

Senior Hall of Fame Honorees Include Loomis of Somers

Westchester.gov 12/03/2010

Westchester County held its 28th annual Senior Hall of Fame luncheon on Dec. 3 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. Among the 30 seniors from the “Class of 2010” who were inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame was:

Sue Loomis of Somers is a volunteer with Hospice and Palliative Care of Westchester. She has visited many hospice patients at the Somers Manor Nursing Home since 2004 where she talks with them, reads, plays cards or simply listens to their fears and concerns. Before she retired, Loomis had worked 19 years at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital as secretary to the medical director and medical staff coordinator.

‘Race to Nowhere' screening in Somers

NCNLocal.com 12/03/2010

SOMERS - The Somers High School PTSA is screening the documentary, "Race to Nowhere," on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Somers High School Auditorium.

The main message of "Race to Nowhere" is about the high stakes and pressure in the nation's schools and on students. As a result, the film suggests there is an epidemic of unhealthy, disengaged and unprepared young people. The documentary was made to bring communities together to raise awareness, generate dialogue and let people know that they are not alone in this "Race to Nowhere."

FULL LINKS

http://westchesternewsonline.com/node?page=1

http://www3.westchestergov.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2842:senior-hall-of-fame-honorees-announced&catid=74:news&Itemid=300137

http://ncnlocal.com/ncnlocal_living/living_articles/article_7e955c4c-ff03-11df-b3bc-001cc4c03286.html

Library To End Sunday Hours; May Lose Charter

Because of budget constraints, the public library in Somers, NY may end Sunday operating hours. As a result, the State could revoke the library's charter.

In an email to patrons on Friday , the Board of Trustees said:

According to WLS [Westchester Library System] in 2009 we were #38 out of 38 libraries in the WLS system with the largest cut in local public funding in the county, a reduction of 9.25%. As a result we were forced to reduce our service hours and thus, we now no longer meet the New York State minimum standards for libraries. This may result in a loss of the funds we receive from the State and cause the State to revoke your library's charter as we no longer meet the State's requirements for serving a population the size of Somers. The Library wants an increase of $30,860 in its budget from the Town and said "the lack of funding will most likely result in closing on Sunday." The Trustees added: "In addition to the Sunday closing, we will unable to buy some of the books, DVDs and other materials necessary to meet our patrons' needs." Set forth below is the full text of the December 3 email from the Somers Library Director and Staff. The text is also posted on the Library's Facebook page. The Town Board held a public hearing on the budget the night before. Statement from the Somers Library Board of Trustees Presented at the Town Board Work Session on December 2, 2010 The Library Board wishes to advise our Library patrons of the likely consequences of the Preliminary Budget approved by the Town Board at their meeting on November 18. Based on current economic conditions, the Library Board put together a very conservative budget proposal for 2011, asking only for the money to enable us to keep our already reduced schedule and stay open 7 days a week. The additional costs totaled $30,860, a small fraction of the Town's $12.4 million budget. Our modest requests included the following: the sum of $15,900, representing the increase in fees to cover our usage of the Westchester Library System (namely the staff and public computers, the software which enables libraries in the county to share their collections, and the transportation of these materials from one library to another.) Additionally, we requested $14,960 for the cost to pay for substitutes to provide minimum scheduling through the day and evening within current operational hours. We advised our patrons upfront of our financial difficulties and they sent hundreds of emails to our Town Board officials in support of our request for this modest increase of $30,860 for the WLS fees and our necessary substitutes. The preliminary budget approved at the November 18 Town Board meeting did not include the increases just described. The Library Board therefore needs to inform you that we have no alternative but to reduce our Library hours. Because of the holidays and the late approval of the Preliminary budget we have not yet had sufficient time to analyze thoroughly the situation and get Library Board approval of a course of action,however, the lack of funding will most likely result in closing on Sundays. Those patrons who are away at work and cannot get to the library before it closes during the week and rely on weekend service will be most affected. In addition to the Sunday closing, we will be unable to buy some of the books, DVDs and other materials necessary to meet our patrons' needs. According to WLS in 2009 we were #38 out of 38 libraries in the WLS system with the largest cut in local public funding in the county, a reduction of 9.25%. As a result we were forced to reduce our service hours and thus, we now no longer meet the New York State minimum standards for libraries. This may result in a loss of the funds we receive from the State and cause the State to revoke your library's charter as we no longer meet the State's requirements for serving a population the size of Somers. The Library Board of Trustees wishes to ask the Town Board one more time to reconsider their decision to reject the modest increase in funding we requested, which would enable us to maintain our present level of service to the community. The Town board should remember that more than 50% of Somers residents are library patrons. Reducing hours because of inadequate funding would be a disservice to all of them and go against their expressed wishes conveyed recently via the countless emails, postcards and comments provided in the library survey.

Somers man, 77, dies in crash that damages historic elephant statue

From LoHud.com: SOMERS - A 77-year-old town man died Wednesday night after his car struck the pedestal of the historic elephant statue in front of Town Hall, state police said this afternoon.

Steven L. Semons of Heritage Hills died at Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt, where he was taken by ambulance after the 6:30 p.m. accident that damaged the statue's pedestal and cracked the elephant's front right foot. Troopers said they were awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine if Semons died from injuries from the crash or if a medical condition preceded the accident.

The complete news article published at LoHud.com on December 2 is located here.

LINK: http://www.lohud.com/article/20101202/NEWS02/12020427/Somers--historic-elephant-statue-damaged-in-car-crash

Town Budget Hearing Tonight

The Somers, NY Town Board meets tonight for a Special Meeting/Work Session. The meeting is dedicated to a public hearing on the 2011 Town Budget. The meeting agenda is here. The preliminary budget is $12, 352, 201 which is an increase by about 1.2 percent but taxes increase by just over two percent with a proposed combined rate of $11.896. The detailed budget is at the Town web site. A pdf version is here.

On November 18, NCNLocal.com reported on the budget in a story by Art Cusano. That news story is here.