Sunday, November 28, 2010

what do you think? Should library budgets be approved by voters? should there be an independent library district for town/villages? TZ BRIDGE future..

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT....SHOULD THE VOTERS DECIDE ON THE LIBRARY BUDGET?
SHOULD THE SIX VILLAGES AND UNINCORPORATED GREENBURGH CREATE ONE INDEPENDENT LIBRARY DISTRICT -SHARE STAFF, COORDINATE HOURS AND PURCHASING?
Many communities in NYS have independent library districts. The voters elect the members of the Library Board and approve the library budget. The library is independent of town government and town politics.
Should the Greenburgh Library become an independent district? TO REDUCE COSTS AND INCREASE EFFICIENCIES - should the five village libraries within Greenburgh and the Greenburgh Library join forces and create one independent library district for unincorporated Greenburgh and the villages (the voters would elect the Trustees and approve proposed budgets)? The town cannot unilaterally create a town-wide library district. This would require village/town support.
If a Greenburgh library district is established and if the district would include the villages and unincorporated sections of town there could be better coordination of library hours (different libraries could be open on different weekends or evenings and a schedule could be posted when each of the libraries are open). We could maintain high quality services, even if there are future budget cuts (NYS is considering a law that would limit future town/village/school/fire district tax increases). Staff could also be moved around to the satellite libraries -- depending on needs. The five village libraries and library in the unincorporated section of town would also coordinate book/video purchases and budgets--possibly saving some money.
I would appreciate your feedback on this suggestion. Please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. Last week I wrote to the library boards in each of the villages asking for their feedback. I will be meeting with the Greenburgh Library Board this week to discuss.


Please read the following article in today's Tarrytown Patch about the future of the TZ bridge. The article speculates that there could be tolls on the Bronx River Parkway and Sprain Parkway --down the line. The town will continue to monitor the future of the TZ Bridge and will keep you informed if new tolls are ever seriously discussed by other levels of government.
PAUL FEINER
News
Ravitch: No Money to Bridge Funding Gap for Tappan Zee Replacement
Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch says the state can't afford a proposed $16 billion replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. In a new report he recommends new tolls, taxes and fees to raise the money.

By Dan Wiessner | Email the author | 5:
Replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge should be a top priority for the state, but the volatile economy has left New York unable to afford the massive project, according to a new report.

Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch, a former MTA chairman and an outspoken member of Gov. David Paterson's administration, said that the state must look to new sources of funding, including tolls and taxes.

"New York State currently lacks the revenues necessary to maintain its transportation system in a state of good repair, and the state has no credible strategy for meeting future needs," Ravitch said in the 14-page report.
"The development and phase-in of a coordinated regional tolling strategy that includes all key bridges and statewide roads, especially the parkway system, could provide funds for projects like the Tappan Zee Bridge."

That could mean new tolls on the currently free-for-all Sprain Brook, Bronx River and Taconic Parkways, as well as an increase to the $5 toll on the southbound side of the Tappan Zee.

State officials began discussing a replacement for the span, which was built to last for 50 years and is now 55 years old, in 1998. But it was only in 2008 that officials released a vision for the new bridge, a $16 billion project that would include lanes reserved for an express bus line from Suffern to Port Chester and high-speed commuter trains that would run from the upper Hudson Valley to Grand Central.

Last month, the group appointed to oversee the design of the new bridge announced it had narrowed down a number of proposals to two distinct plans. One would see the construction of a double-decker bridge, with the lower deck carrying trains. The second plan is to build a wider bridge with train tracks running down the middle.

Both designs allow for the construction of a new span that would include space for high-speed rail to be built in the future, instead of forcing the state to pay for the entire project at once.

But the recent forward momentum of the development process has been blunted by a complete lack of funding for the bridge and little consensus on sources for the billions of dollars. After closing most of a $9 billion deficit this year, state officials are facing up to $45 billion in budget gaps over the next three years.

The fiscal woes have created uncertainty for the state Department of Transportation, the agency leading the Tappan Zee project. The department's five-year, $26 billion capital budget was slashed this year to a two-year, $7 billion plan. A spokeswoman for the DOT did not return calls seeking comment.

Harriet Cornell, the chair of the Rockland County Board of Legislators, has been heavily involved with the ongoing plans for most of this decade. She said the taboo subject of financing has never been properly discussed.

"So much time has gone into planning for commuter rail that may never come to pass because of its enormous expense," Cornell said. "There really needed to be a better recognition of the realities, not only in this current economic climate, but of the limited resources even five or eight years ago."

Cornell added, "We have had hints about where the funding might come from, but none of it," including tolls, taxes and higher registration fees, "is very palatable and no real plan has been put forth."

On the same day as Ravitch released his report, Gov. Paterson told a radio news host that the state was looking across the Hudson to New Jersey for help in replacing the "decaying" bridge.

"Because it's going to cost $10 to $14 billion to [replace] it, if we designated the Port Authority lines north, that might be a deal that New Jersey is interested in," Paterson said, referring to the jurisdiction of the Port Authority, a bi-state agency that oversees a number of bridges and tunnels.

"If both states shared on the resources, it could get done. Time is running out [and] before there's a major catastrophe, I would think we would want to do this."

The office of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did not return calls seeking comment. The cost-cutting Republican freshman recently rejected $3 billion in federal funding for a high-speed rail project while voicing support for a proposed extension of the New York City subway to Seacaucus.

State officials also are hoping to secure federal funding for the project, but no specific grants have been announced. President Obama is pushing for a $50 billion investment in infrastructure projects, though it's still not clear how Republican control of the House of Representatives will affect the proposal.

Phil Ferguson, the finance manager for the Tappan Zee project, recently acknowledged that the state will have to cobble together funds from a number of sources.

"There will need to be multiple funding resources," Ferguson said at an October forum hosted by Cornell, the Rockland Board of Legislators chair. "There's no single source that can pay for the whole thing. It's unrealistic to think we can get 100 percent federal funding for project. We have a lot of challenges ahead of us."

While the state scrambles to find funding for the Tappan Zee replacement, it's pouring millions into ongoing repairs on the existing span. A project that began in 2007 will see 28 percent of the metal plates, or decks, that make up the bridge be replaced by the winter of 2012. The state has already spent nearly $250 million on the repairs, according to the Thruway Authority.

Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo, who toured the bridge earlier this month, said that the repairs are necessary for the existing bridge, which will likely be carrying cars for another decade and possibly longer.

"Even if you decided tomorrow that you were going to build a replacement bridge, you would still need to keep this bridge safe for a number of years," Cuomo said. "So it's really not 'either/or' [replace or repair] at this point. You're going to have to repair and that's what they're in the midst of doing now."

The Tappan Zee was designed to carry fewer than 100,000 cars per day, but routinely handles more than 150,000 now. The bridge was built in the early 1950s during the Korean War, and a shortage in building materials meant that a sturdier bridge couldn't be built. The George Washington Bridge, for example, opened in 1931 and was designed to last 150 years.

According to state inspections of the Tappan Zee Bridge, one of the biggest structural issues is the deterioration of the wooden pilings, which are beams submerged in the Hudson River that hold up the bridge. The pilings have been eroded by the water, expanded and contracted by extreme weather and chewed into by waterborne worms.

Cornell said she'd like to see continued input by citizens and municipal officials to ensure that the mega-project is on the right track.

"Some individuals have played a very active role in preventing adverse impact on their communities and the environment," she said.

"There has to be a better way of working together on these important regional projects. It's very disappointing to see that the metro region does not have a better and more useful transportation system."

Officials working on the replacement project are expected to announce the final design sometime in the spring of 2011.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

celebrate art website...home composting of leaves update

Celebrate Art Website: http://www.celebrateartproject.com/

If you're an artist and want your art work displayed on a banner in E Hartsdale Ave this spring (lots of great visibility) please take a look at the celebrateartproject.com website. It's going to be an amazing art initiative that will help promote E Hartsdale Ave.. Tracy Allan is organizing the effort.
Celebrate Art - Greenburgh
www.celebrateartproject.com

update COMPOSTING OF LEAVES



From: Raymond L. Rigoglioso

Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 11:33 AM
To: Paul Feiner


Hi Paul. I’ve asked my landscaper to begin composting leaves, and it’s a no-brainer. He mulches them by running the lawnmower over the leaves a couple of times, and they disappear into the lawn. We have no pile of leaves at the curb, and our lawn looks great. It will pay off next year too as our soil will become richer.



That would be my vote.



--Ray Rigoglioso

White Plains, 10607



Earlier this week I sent out an e mail requesting feedback on a proposal to mandate home composting of leaves. Could save the town a few hundred thousand dollars a year--maybe more! The response I received from most people ---they did not like the idea of mandating home composting. As a result of the feedback I have received I think the next step should be to educate and encourage people to voluntarily compost. If you would like to learn more about home composting and help us prove the benefits of home composting, please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. The following was prepared by Mark Gilliland.
There are two basic methods to talk about based upon this email. One deals with the practice of composting, the other deals with the practice of mulching.


Composting is a slow process in that it can take months for leaves to decompose. The larger the pile, typically, the faster the center decomposes (although there may be leaves which simply take forever to decompose...) Slow decomposition could be an indication of anaerobic conditions (not enough oxygen). To solve this, the pile needs to be periodically turned and aerated. Another factor which slows down decomposition is an imbalanced mix of green (grass clippings, plant cuttings) and brown (fall leaves, newspaper, straw) - the green adds nitrogen (food, nutrients) for use by the microorganisms in the pile. Piles should be a least 4'x4'x4' to achieve enough heat in the center to really get active. Also, compost piles often need a "starter culture" (microbial inoculation) to get really active.


This and more composting "trouble shooting" info is available through Cornell Cooperative Extension.


However, composting really can only be done at a certain limited scale in a homeowner's back yard. Imagine a yard with a 3 bin composter. This would hold around 192 cubic feet of leaves (say 200). Even if compressed a bit, this is still a limited volume. Its equivalent to 768 square feet of leaves 3" deep - or an area 20'x40' at 3" deep. Needless to say, many yards have more sq footage and more leaves annually than this.


This is where mulching comes in handy - a mulching mower or a leaf shredder can reduce leaf volume up to 10:1 (typically around 8:1). That is done mainly by making much smaller pieces which compact together closer and thus take less volume but provide more surface area and capillary space (for oxygen and water). This is why mulched (shredded) leaves will compost MUCH MUCH faster if paced into a compost pile. Also why shredded leaves make such a useful and healthy garden bed mulch.


One other note: the organic materials in leaves do not need to be released as CO2 gas to be effectively decomposed. Rather, much of the material stays in the organic form of humus (a rich textured soil with nutrients, air, water - and in the case of composted humus, full of beneficial bacterial and symbiotic fungus). Thus composting and mulching in place help feed and build soil quality.


In most cases, the yearly "build up" of soil created by adding leaf mulch or compost to landscape beds - or top dressing of lawns with 2" fine compost - will not be significant. This practice has been use by gardeners and landscapers for years and years to help "refresh" the soil nutrients and fix the tilthe (texture, air & water holding qualities).




Have a happy and healthy thanksgiving.

PAUL FEINER

Sunday, November 21, 2010

SHOULD THE TOWN REQUIRE HOME COMPOSTING OF LEAVES?

The Greenburgh Town Board will hold our first public hearing on the 2011 town budget tomorrow evening (Monday). The meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
IF THE TOWN REQUIRED HOME COMPOSTING OF LEAVES/OR SHREDDING OF LEAVES WE COULD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR. WOULD IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE TOWN TO EMBARK ON AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HOME COMPOST/SHRED LEAVES IN 2011--AND AFTER A YEAR OR TWO OF EDUCATION, TO DISCONTINUE PICKING UP LEAVES FROM PEOPLE'S HOMES?
This could save taxpayers money -and help our environment. What do you think? PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM MARK GILLILAND.
PAUL FEINER

November 19, 2010

Dear Supervisor Feiner,

Fall leaves are a valuable natural resource that most homeowners let go to waste by having them blown into piles on the street, or raked into brown bags stacked curb-side, left for Town (DPW) vacuuming and pickup. Leaf collection, hauling, and disposal are a huge annual cost estimated to range between $350K to $400K* for Greenburgh alone. (*Includes equipment, labor, fuel and tipping costs.)

In addition, the nutrients in the leaves are lost instead of being returned to nourish the soil, the grass and the plants that grow on a homeowner’s property. Instead, leaves piles blown into the street often clog storm drains and cause excess phosphorus runoff into our nearby rivers.

The Solution? Love ’Em and Leave ’Em! (LELE)

The best thing a homeowner or property manager can do with leaves is to leave them on your property! You can:

• Shred them with a lawn mower and leave them in place on your lawn.

• Compost them in a pile or container (with or without shredding first).

• Shred them and use them as mulch on your borders and flowerbeds.

The Benefits?

Save money: Help keep taxes down due to reduced pickup requirements. Reduce need for commercial fertilizers, and never buy mulch again.

Save effort: Most homeowners (and landscapers) find that mulching leaves in place is easier and faster than raking or blowing them to the curb.

Help keep your property healthy: Leaf mulch recycles nutrients into your soil and helps retain moisture, reducing the need for watering in dry spells.

Help the planet: Transporting and disposing of leaves from your curb wastes energy and contributes to pollution.

The Plan?

The Town can encourage this LELE practice through education and outreach while slowly reducing its support of leaf pickup processing. Steps include:

1) Set a LELE leaf pick-up reduction goal for the town. (For example, 20% year 1, 40% year 2, 60% year 3, 80% year 4.)

2) Develop a public educational outreach effort to explain LELE practices & benefits. (Include media outreach.)

3) Provide workshop training for Landscape Business owners and their staff in the cost savings, techniques and marketing of LELE.

4) Train town staff (DPW, Parks Department) on LELE program.

5) Monitor effectiveness of program yearly to determine cost savings and implement matching budget reductions related to this.

The costs of educational outreach might best be shared between the villages and the town as many of the same Landscape Business owners and crews serve both constituents. The Greenburgh Nature Center and it’s inter-municipal Greenburgh Environmental Forum (GEF) would be an effective and reasonable conduit for co-ordination concerning any shared LELE educational initiatives. The GNC could help develop, promote and present educational outreach programs including “how to” demos for homeowners, Landscape Business owners and their work crews.

Mulching-in-place and composting leaves on-site are practices that could potentially save both the homeowner and the town a great deal of money, time and effort – helping to keep one’s property healthier, to protect the environment, and to reduce annual budget expenses (thus helping to keep taxes down, as well). It’s a win-win-win situation for all!

For more detailed information about mulching-in-place and composting of leaves, please visit www.irvingtonny.gov/green.

I (and the rest of the Irvington GPTF leaf sub-committee) look forward to discussing this initiative and how it will help save money in the town’s upcoming budget.

Regards,

Mark Gilliland

The Irvington Green Policy Task Force

CC: Greenburgh Town Council

Irvington

Friday, November 19, 2010

an explanation of the health care reform law

Here is something remarkable, a nine minute explanation in clever cartoon form of the whole health care reform law by the independent non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation. Please see it.




http://healthreform.kff.org/the-basics.aspx

holiday reception 12/4...work session agenda...fun events

You are invited…..SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4TH 5 PM TO 7 PM
GREENBURGH TOWN HALL HOLIDAY RECEPTION
MULTICULTURAL HOLIDAY RECEPTION (HEALTHY FOODS FOR THE HOLIDAYS SPONSORED BY SHOPRITE)
Dance performers—central park dance studio and the Theodore Young Community Center
Other musicians to perform…
Contact Town Clerk Judith Beville at 993 1504 for more info…

Town of Greenburgh
Work Session of the Greenburgh Town Board
Agenda: Tuesday – November 23, 2010 – 9:15 AM
(Work Sessions begin at 9:15AM except where schedule changes are made by the Board.)

(
(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,
depending upon the length of the two meetings.)


09:15 AM Budget Meeting – Planning Department
10:00 AM Budget Meeting – Department of Public Works
10:30 AM Motion for Executive Session by_______2nd by______Vote_____
Legal / Personnel
11:30 AM Adjourn

http://www.rivertownsguide.com

Beginning Today, Thursday, through Saturday!
Thursday, Nov 18, Friday, Nov 19 & Saturday, Nov 20 from 11am - 5pm
Sample Sale Fundraising Event | 1 Bridge Street, Irvington Profits from the sale will be donated to Pathways School, a small school in Eastchester, NY for kids with autism and neurological disorders. The event is a sample sale featuring high-end women's sweaters and accessories, all at or below whole sale prices. There will also be a raffle with names such as Bally, Fendi, Bulgari, Wii, as well as Broadway shows tickets, Rangers tickets, and plenty of goodies from local vendors and restaurants.

News & Info
News from Irvington Farmers Market:
Join us for our MONTHLY WINTER FARMERS MARKET at the Irvington Senior Center beginning on Wednesday, December 8th!!! Stay tuned for more details…


Give the Gift of Giving…Family-to-Family’s Annual Holiday Toy Drive
December 1 - December 15
Please join us in our efforts to make the Holidays bright for families struggling this Holiday Season. The Hastings-on-Hudson chapter of F-to-F is collecting new unwrapped toys & books for children 2-18, along with wrapping paper, tape and ribbon for families in struggling financially right here in Hastings-on-Hudson & Dobbs Ferry. Help us enable some of our own neighbors to be “the givers”. When toys, books and wrapping paper are collected our community outreach partners Bill and Jenny will help our sponsored families (and additional families in need, too), find just the right gifts to wrap up, and take home for their kids. Our mission is clear….instead of arriving from an anonymous donor, your gift enables mom and dad to be the “giver” and experience the joy of giving! Please drop your gifts and wrapping supplies off: 6 Circle Drive, Hastings. Leave inside/outside basement door down the driveway, please. When : Anytime…just drop off your gifts!!!
For more information about Family-to-Family, please visit our website: http://www.family-to-family.org.


Weekend Highlights:
Tarrytown Third Friday: Harvest, Holidays & Chili
Friday, November 19 from 5pm – 9pm
We will be holding our first (hopefully annual) "Chili Contest" open to all comers with a $100 gift certificate for the winner. Halloween is over for another year, but we encourage you to keep out your cauldron, throw in that extra eye of newt, and brew up your best chili for all to taste at November's Third Friday. We will provide heating and serving trays along with serving and tasting utensils.

Alternative Gifts Market
HOLIDAY GIFTS FROM NEAR AND FAR @ Grace Episcopal Church, Hastings.
Saturday, November 20 from 12pm – 4pm & Sunday, November 21 from 12pm – 3pm
Give through a donation to local or international charities, or select from a wide selection of jewelry, crafts and fair trade goods that support cottage industries in developing countries. Cash and personal checks accepted. 914-478-1779.

ArtsWestchester’s Annual Gala
Saturday, November 20 at the JPMorgan Chase Hangar at Westchester County Airport
Visit http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?vhost=artswauction to get a jump on the Silent Auction…. Read more Monday morning http://www.rivertownsguide.com/

The Annual Harvest Moon Ball
Saturday, November 20 from 7pm - 10pm
To Benefit the Hastings High School Award Winning Music Program | Hasting High School Cafeteria |

Driftwood, with special guests, Greetings from Anywhere
Saturday, November 20 @ 7:30 pm | Common Ground Coffeehouse [link] @ First Unitarian Society of Westchester, Hastings | Watch a video [link] "Driftwood is a band with a multi-talented blend of musicians who bring traditional American roots music to a whole new level, creating a truly unique sound by blending old time folk with modern and world music". -Kayla MacLachlan-Upstate Live.

Greenburgh Hebrew Center: Book Fair and Boutique | Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Dobbs Ferry
Sunday, November 21 from 9:30am - 1:30pm
The fair features a unique and broad selection of secular and Judaic books for all ages. Main Street Books of White Plains, serving Westchester for 30 years, will provide the book selection. The selection includes hardcover and softcover books.

Chanukah Gift & Book Fair
Sunday, November 21 from 10am - 4pm at Temple Beth Shalom, Hastings
Visit our Fundraising column on the Home Page to download flyer. Everyone welcome, children's entertainment begins at 2pm. Great gifts for teachers!

Fall Carnival Fundraiser
Sunday, November 21 from 11am - 4pm
Lagana Park, 171 Sheldon Avenue, Tarrytown | Parents' Community of Elizabeth Mascia Child Care Center Fall Carnival for the Playground at Lagana Park. Silent Auction, American Girl Doll Raffle, Bake Sale, Musical Performance by Matt Turk (12-1), Jilly Puppets, Lizzie the Clown, Crafts, Games and Fun! $3 admission/12 and older
Friday December 3 from 5:30pm - 9pm
Hastings Friday Night Live: Holiday Celebration [link] | James Harmon Community Center, Hastings | Check the website [link] for details.

Saturday December 4 from 10am - 5pm (preview sale for Friends Members only Friday December 3 @ 7pm)
Holiday Book Sale and Vintage Jewelry Sale at The Dobbs Ferry Public Library
The Friends of the Dobbs Ferry Library cordially invite everyone to their annual Holiday Book Sale. Find the perfect holiday gift of newly published, gift books, current fiction and non-fiction children’s books, cook books, CD’s and so much more at amazing prices.

Call for Entries!
The Donald Gallery in Dobbs Ferry, NY is seeking 2D works for its upcoming exhibit, “Just Desserts.” This is a juried show of works by River Town artists, smaller than 24’ x 36” in any media. Exhibit will run from December 19th, 2010 through January 23rd, 2011. Submit pieces to the gallery beginning November 27th through December 15th.
The Donald Gallery 343 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 questions/comments: hajjar1@optonline.net

WJCS Working to Grant Wishes Again This Holiday Season
For its annual Have-a-Heart for the Holidays Gift Drive Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is collecting toys, CDs, gift cards and clothing to be distributed to consumers at the agency’s 70-plus programs throughout Westchester. Last year, more than 1,000 wishes were fulfilled. The agency’s goal this year is to reach out to even more of its consumers. Anyone interested in providing a gift or contributing to the Have-a-Heart for the Holidays Gift Drive can contact Meryl Lewis at 761-0600, ext. 222. Donations can also be made on line at www.wjcs.com.

Call for Artists
Ossining Public Library Gallery Wunderlich Art & Collectibles, in conjunction with the Ossining Arts Council, invites all artists to be part of the upcoming exhibit, “A Tribute to the Hudson: Current Expressions” at the Ossining Public Library Gallery. Proceeds from this exhibition are generously being donated by John Wunderlich to the Ossining Arts Council. Opening Reception: A Tribute to the Hudson on Sunday, December 12 from 1pm - 4pm | Exhibit: December 8 - December 28

A Call for Artists/Craftspeople: Holiday Gift Boutique -- Arts, Crafts and more…
Wednesday ~ December 15th ~ 10:00 to 4:00
EILEEN FISHER Café’ on the Hudson ~ Irvington
The Caring Committee will be sponsoring the 4th Annual Holiday Gift Boutique on Wednesday, December 15th between 10:00-4:00p.m. We can accommodate 20 vendors. We are requesting a donation fee of $50 per space or 20% from the proceeds of your merchandise sale(s). This must be decided upon prior to December 15th. As it is a charity event, your donation is tax deductible. Sales tax reporting is the responsibility of the vendor. If you are in a different location other than Irvington and would like to have a table-sitter, members of the Caring Committee have volunteered to table-sit. We have a limited number of volunteers; this service will be a first come, first serve basis. Of course, it is always better to be present selling your own goods. Set-up is between 9:00-10:00 Wednesday morning unless you have made other arrangements with Joanne Lawson. We hope that you will be as festive as possible in displaying your goods. The Caring Committee will sponsor a Salad & Soup Kitchen and beverages for purchase while you enjoy your holiday shopping experience. If you are interested in participating in the Holiday Gift Boutique, kindly respond to this email as to what you will be selling and remember we have only a limited amount of spaces. For further information or if you have questions, please contact Joanne Lawson at JLawson@EileenFisher.com or Johanne Read (JRead@EileenFisher.com). Outside arts and craft vendors will also be participating. The event will be open to employees and residents of Irvington and will be advertised on WHUD. We hope you will join us! Happy Holidays! The Caring Committee

Recycle Furniture to Help Needy Families
Furniture Sharehouse Collection at Woman’s Club on November 21
Our Lady of Sorrows Church and the Woman’s Club of White Plains are teaming up with the Furniture Sharehouse to collect unwanted furniture that is in good condition to help needy Westchester families. The collection will be held on Sunday, November 21 from 9:00 AM. to 1:00 PM at the White Plains Woman’s Club, 305 Ridgeway. Donated furniture is redistributed free-of-charge to those in need. Upholstered items must be free of stains, rips, fraying, pet hair and odors. Wooden case goods must be in good repair without excessive staining, watermarks or other we
News from the Hudson Independent. Com
Saturday 20

Croton Point Migration Walk: Starting at 8:30 a.m. find the last migrants as they leave the area before winter sets in. Call 762-2912, ext. 110 or visit www.teatown.org.
Nature and Architecture Workshop: At 10 a.m. children ages 8 to 11 will be introduced to the amazing world of biomimicry at the Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale. Preregistration required. Call 723-3470 or visit www.greenburghnaturecenterorg.
Excursion for Disabled: Westchester Network for People with Disabilities invites friends to join them at 10 a.m. at the New Rochelle Thanksgiving Day Parade. Call 366-7898, ext. 144 or visit www.jcconthehudson.org.
Movie: At 2 p.m. “Step Up 1”will be shown at the Warner Library in Tarrytown. Call 631-7734 or visit www.warnerlibrary.org.
Using Facebook, Twitter and Word Pad: At 2 p.m. get tips on promoting your business or non-profit at the Irvington Public Library. Call 591-7840 or visit www.irvingtonlibrary.org.
Sunday 21
The 2nd Annual Elizabeth Mascia Childcare Center's FALL CARNIVAL
sponsored by The Parent's Committee. Sunday November 21st
11am to 4pm At E.M.C.C. 171 Sheldon Ave. Tarrytown, NY 10591
Tel. 914-631-2126
Indoor Crafts, Food and Fun! Raffle and Silent Auction!
Musical Performance by Matt Turk @ 12pm
Puppet Show by Jilly Puppets @ 2pm
Balloons and Face Painting by Lizzie the Clown
Entrance fee $3. All proceeds to be benefit the rebuild of the community playground at Lagana Field, Tarrytown! www.masciachildcare.org
Music: David W. Jacobsen performs at noon at the Black Cat Café in Irvington. Call 231-9060 or visit http://davidwj.com.
Peter Oley Turkey Trot: 2.5 mile race for adults and youth starting at 1:30 p.m. from the Dows Lane School in Irvington. Registration required. Call 591-7736 or e-mail mdep...@irvingtonny.gov.
Literary Afternoon: At 4:30 p.m. enjoy readings by Jean Hanff Korelitz and excerpts from the work of the late Beverly Jensen at Hudson Valley Writers’ Center in Sleepy Hollow. Call 332-5953 or visit www.writerscenter.org.
Monday 22

Chamber Music: At 1 p.m. Hudson Valley Music Club will present flutist Carol Wincenc and guitarist Tali Roth at the Dobbs Ferry Woman’s Club, 54 Clinton Ave. Call 591-6851.
Comedy Night: Dinner & show starting at 6:15 p.m.at the Westchester Broadway Theater in Elmsford. Call 592-2222 or visit www.broadwaytheatre.com.
Movie: “Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World” will be screened at 6:30 p.m. at the Warner Library in Tarrytown. Call 631-7734 or visit www.warnerlibrary.org.
Tuesday 23

“Rope”: Hitchcock’s first color film will be shown at 8:30 p.m. at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Call 877-840-0457 or visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org.
Wednesday 24

“Meeting Today’s Challenges”: Maureen Petry, Director of the Warner Library, will speak at 9:45 a.m. at the Men’s Club meeting at JCC on the Hudson in Tarrytown. Call 366-7898 or visit www.jcconthehudson.org.
Songs & Stories: At 11 a.m. Nora Maher will entertain children at the Warner Library in Tarrytown. Call 631-7734 or visit www.warnerlibrary.org.
Friday 26 to Sunday 28

Gateway to the Holiday Season: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. take tours focusing on historic traditions of the winter holidays at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in Tarrytown and Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton. At Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow enjoy colonial-era games and special interactive kid-centric house tours. Call 631-8200 or visit www.hudsonvalley.org.
Saturday 27

Feeding Fun: Visit the live animal museum at 2 p.m. and see what the critters consider a gourmet meal at the Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale. Call 723-3470 or visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org.
Music: At 6 p.m. Cliff Mays will host the SuperTonic Songwriters Circle at the Black Cat Café in Irvington. Call 231-9060 or visit www.blackcatchef.com.
Concert: Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer will perform “Side By Side” at 8 p.m. at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Call 877-840-0457 or visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org.
Monday 29

The Dorsey Brothers: At 10:30 a.m. take a nostalgic trip with recordings, facts and anecdotes at JCC on the Hudson in Tarrytown. Call 366-7898 or e-mail i...@jcconthehudson.org.
ar. For donation guidelines go to http://www.furnituresharehouse.org. Items that do not meet the criteria will not be accepted.
other GREAT WEB SITES
www.thehudsonindependent.com for news and activities.
www.tarrytownpatch . com for more news and activities.
www.scarsdale10583.com news about Edgemont and Hartsdale
www.intervillage.org (non profit adult education programs)
www.volunteer-center.org (the volunteer center can provide you with hundreds of volunteer opportunities.
WANT TO SAVE MONEY? WWW.KnowtoriousPIG.com posts substantial discounts on their website every day. Most of the discounts are 50%+ off the typical costs. Example; $1- for an entree at a restaurant.
Want a free prescription drug card? Some residents have advised me that they have saved 40% or more off their prescriptions from this card. Also have cards for pets.
The cards are available at my office. No gimmicks, no registration. Just take a card. Cards are effective if you do not have insurance or if you are underinsured.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

help a little elmsford girl with leukemia--fundraiser tomorrow

YOUR HELP NEEDED—FOR A LITTLE GIRL LIVING IN ELMSFORD EXPERIENCING LEUKEMIA
A constituent, who resides in N Elmsford (Old Country Road) needs YOUR help. Her daughter and her family live with her. Her granddaughter Mikayla has AML (leukemia). They are facing financial difficulties. It would be enormously appreciated if you would take the time out of your schedule tomorrow to help Mikayla and her family during this difficult time. If you want to drop off a check for the family (make the check payable to Mikalya Vizcaino) at Town Hall, I’ll hand deliver the check to the family tomorrow evening.
PAUL FEINER


Please join us for a Happy Hour to benefit Jennifer Vizcaino’s (teacher at M.L.King) daughter
Mikayla who is suffering from A.M.L. Leukemia


Where: Burke’s
645 Bronx River Road
Yonkers, NY 10704

When: Friday, November 19th
4 – 7 pm

Cost: $40 – includes beer, wine, soda, Apps
20% of any food or other drinks orders will be donated back by Burke’s
Raffles and 50/50 tickets will be sold!

Donations

November 2, 2010
To Whom It May Concern:
Allow me to begin by telling you a story about a little girl who is fighting the biggest battle of her life. Mikayla Vizcaino was born on May 30, 2009. Like many other infants, she was happy and vibrant, but then her parents, Jose and Jennifer Vizcaino, noticed that she stopped eating, had many fevers and severe vomiting. Concerned, and after many weeks of tests they went to Westchester Medical Center seeking answers. Sadly, Mikayla was diagnosed with Leukemia, specifically AML. At four months old, Mikayla was about to tackle the most grueling path towards wellness. All things considered, she has done remarkably well being in the hospital dealing with multiple IV's, MRI's, anesthesia, antibiotics, Heparin, poor sleeping & eating, etc. After eight months, Mikayla underwent a bone marrow transplant in July. The transplant looked to be successful, but in August, it appeared that her Leukemia was back.

This year we are holding our second fundraising event to help support Mikayla and her family. This has been an upsetting year for the Vizcaino family. Mikayla’s siblings Isabella (8), Arianna (6) and Karina (3) were forced to cope and understand why their sister wasn’t home. They also had to deal with their parents going back and forth to the hospital often being left with their grandparents and other supportive family members. Every night Jennifer or Jose slept at the hospital, never leaving Mikayla alone. Jennifer has had to take an unpaid leave of absence from work and rely on the generosity of others to compensate for the loss of income.
I am contacting you on behalf of the Vizcaino family and the Martin Luther King School fund raising team to request your support in the form of a donation. We have worked very hard to provide support this past year and I hope we can count on you for a generous donation. Please note that any donation amount is always welcomed and appreciated.
I thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to whatever support you can provide.
If you require additional information about the fund raising event or Mikayla, please contact me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You may also visit Mikayla’s Facebook page online. If you are sending your donation in the form of a check, please make it payable to Mikalya Vizcaino.


The fundraiser for Mikalya is being held on November 19, 2010 at Burke’s in Yonkers, New York. The event will start at 4pm. If at all possible, please return the donation in the enclosed, stamped and addressed envelope by Monday, November 15, 2010. Thank you for your consideration, we couldn't do it without the generosity of donors like yourself.
Christian Gruetzner, Fundraising Coordinator
Nalu74@aol.com
914-260-8335

column from phil reisman re: fire consolidation report

Taxpayers, municipal workers fight culture war
By Phil Reisman • Journal News columnist • November 18, 2010

On Tuesday I attended a tense press conference at Greenburgh Town Hall where I listened to the findings contained in the final report of the Fire Department Consolidation & Government Efficiency Commission.




That's a dry-sounding mouthful.

But the commission's conclusions and recommendations were as hot as a five-alarm blaze.

The idea was to find ways to save taxpayer money in an era of declining revenue and out-of-control costs. So the commission's main purpose was to study the feasibility of merging three fire districts within the town — an option that was ultimately rejected as too unwieldy and expensive.

Along the way, however, the commission discovered — and highlighted — some inconvenient truths about firefighter pay, overtime and pension benefits in those districts.

For instance, they found that the average pay was $125,712, which is 32 percent higher than the average pay firefighters receive in White Plains, Scarsdale and Eastchester. The three fire chiefs earn $207,358 on average compared to a "peer group" average salary of $156,077.

Two of the districts — Hartsdale and Fairview — added $1.7 million to pension costs by changing over to a more lucrative plan that calculates the retirement benefit on the basis of a one-year final average salary, rather than three years. Voters were not told of the change, but the commission pointed out that voter approval wasn't required.

One result of the pension change was that eight out of the last 18 firefighters who retired over the past five years in the two districts got pensions of more than $100,000, an amount that was aided by overtime accrued in the last year.

In detailing these and other findings, Alan Hochberg, the commission chairman, took pains to say that the firefighters — "the finest, I'm sure, of any fire department in the nation" — were not the issue.

I don't doubt Hochberg's sincerity, but the disclaimer was probably taken as lip service by the rank and file.

Consensus was lacking. Three of the nine commission members did not concur with the commission's report; two of them were fire chiefs and the other was a fire commissioner.



Clearly the commission's work, though impressive, was an unpleasant experience. According to Hochberg and other civilian members on the commission, it was marred by suspicion, anger and foot-dragging on the part of the fire districts — especially the Greenville district — which barely complied with requests for information. Midway through the fact-finding process, Hochberg's credibility was viciously attacked, resulting in a confrontation that almost led to blows between two other men at a meeting. You can find it on YouTube.




Hochberg said change is needed to keep the state from going bankrupt. "But the trouble in dealing with unions, changing contracts ... concepts ... is extremely difficult," he warned. "And I've said many times before if I had to chair this commission again, I wouldn't."

That's a sobering comment to be noted by anyone in Westchester wishing to find fair, common-sense solutions to the problem of runaway taxes.

How did it get this way — this gap in misunderstanding between the municipal workforce and taxpayers at large?

It's just an off-the-cuff theory, but it might be rooted in the social and political history of the post-war suburbs. In the not-so-distant past, the white-collar types who lived in the more affluent towns commuted to New York City.

The homefront was protected by cops and firefighters. And it was maintained by sanitation workers and highway crews —- men who formed the blue-collar backbone of local government.

These guys did the dirty work that the commuters didn't do, or couldn't. Though they were crucial to the quality of life enjoyed by everyone, they were at times treated like glorified servants, or at least were taken for granted. Their pay wasn't all that hot, either.

The two groups evolved separately. With the rise of the two-family income, the commuters became increasingly disconnected from the day-to-day life of the communities they lived in. They stopped paying attention. Many of them didn't know who their mayor was, or which police department to call when they got in a jam.



When their kids graduated from the top-notch high schools and left for college, many of them moved.




Meanwhile, the municipal workers stayed. They got better organized and more professional. Their skills became finely honed. This greatly benefited the towns they served.

Naturally, the workers wanted their fair piece of the pie so they bargained for better pay and benefits. Over time they got what they wanted — and maybe more.

On the other side of the bargaining table were elected officials who knew that the commuters were a fickle, disengaged voting bloc. But the unionized workers, well, they were influential, informed and got the vote out in huge numbers.

So sure, the politicians reasoned, a 4 percent raise and some retirement sweeteners won't break the bank, right?

Everybody got fat, dumb and happy.

Then one day the economy went south. And the two suburban cultures clashed. They had grown so far apart that they didn't even recognize each other anymore.

Stereotypes were thrown around recklessly. The workers were greedy, even crooks in some cases. Those taxpayers who begrudged them were spoiled misers who always got Wall Street-sized bonuses at Christmas.

As Hochberg of the Greenburgh town commission pointed out, this kind of rhetorical spitballing will be hard to overcome.

But he pinned his hopes on the idea that the commission's 65-page report will provide a "wish-list" for public education. If nothing else, the average citizen has to get up to speed on the fundamentals of their tax bill and how their money is being spent.

You can't complain if you're not informed. And you won't get anywhere if you don't know and understand the other side's point of view.

But it doesn't take a genius to recognize the fact that the bill is due and the day of reckoning is around the corner.

Reach Phil Reisman at preisman@lohud.com or call 914-694-5008.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

PAGE 1--Wall Street Journal (NY section)--fire district consolidation commissionr report

The fire consolidation commission report made page 1 of the NY section of the Wall Street Journal… I will be working to follow up on the recommendations of the commission.
Firefighter Pay Questioned

Report: Chiefs in Greenburgh, N.Y., Earn More Than Counterparts in Bigger Cities

Text

By MICHAEL CORKERY

Chiefs in three fire districts in Greenburgh, N.Y., earn an average of $207,358, as much as 30% more than their peers in larger cities such as New Rochelle, according to a report by a citizens' group that wants to combine some administrative functions to save money.

To put their pay in perspective, the chief of the New York City fire department, one of the largest and busiest in the world, earns $192,000 a year.

The pay disparity extends to rank-and-file firefighters in unincorporated Greenburgh. They earned on average $125,712 in 2008, 32% more than firefighters in some larger cities in Westchester County, the report says.



The 66-page report stems from a new state law drafted by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who was recently elected governor, and introduced by multiple lawmakers. The law encourages citizens to look for ways to consolidate the state's 10,500 government entities.

Since the law was enacted this past spring, voters have approved only one of nine consolidation proposals, according to the Secretary of State's office. Also, two fire districts on Long Island consolidated using procedures from the new law.

The efforts comes as cities and towns across the U.S. have been seeking ways to lower tax burdens amid plunging real-estate values, high unemployment and rising unfunded pension obligations to government workers.

A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo said in a statement: "This law is doing exactly what it was intended to do by empowering New York's overburdened taxpayers to, where appropriate, vote to eliminate redundant and costly layers of local government entities."

Property-tax bills for residents to pay for the three Greenburgh fire districts have risen a total of 61% from 2003 to 2010, says the report, which calls the increase "a tremendous burden on the taxpayers."

Driving the pay disparity, the report says, is the districts' reliance on overtime, including to staff one district's dispatch operations. The use of overtime also has driven up pension costs because benefit amounts are based on workers' final year of compensation, including overtime. That has allowed some firefighters to retire with pensions exceeding $100,000 a year, the report says.

The Greenburgh citizens' commission, whose members include a retired auditor, a retired journalist and a fire chief, recommends consolidating three chiefs into one and lobbying state lawmakers to exclude overtime from establishing pension benefits.

Hartsdale Fire Chief Ed Rush, who sat on the commission but voted against the report, said eliminating two of the chiefs positions could require hiring additional firefighters to pick up many of their duties.

"Somebody has to pick up that work,'' Mr. Rush said in an interview. He said the districts' chiefs earn more then chiefs in nearby municipalities because they have more duties, such as handling hiring and repairing fire trucks.

In larger cities, those tasks are handled by the personnel or maintenance departments, Mr. Rush said. "We are chief executive officer, we deal with everything,'' he said.

As for the overtime and pension issue, they must be handled by contract negotiations, said Fairview Fire Chief Robert Mauro, who released a detailed rebuttal of the report.

Fire officials at the third district, Greenville, couldn't be reached.

Robert Bernstein, an Edgemont resident who lives in the Greenville District, says the overtime may boost average compensation per each fire-fighter, but it saves the district money in the long run because it doesn't have to hire additional workers and pay their medical and retirement benefits. "This is very weak analysis,'' says Mr. Bernstein of the commission's report.

The commission doesn't recommend consolidating the districts or closing any fire houses. A potential obstacle to consolidation: One district has about $7 million in debt, which the other districts likely wouldn't be willing to absorb.

Write to Michael Corkery at michael.corkery@wsj.com

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This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

SUMMARY OF FIRE DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION COMMISSION REPORT/RECOMMENDATIONS

THE FIRE DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION COMMISSION REPORT, WHICH WAS JUST RELEASED TODAY, WILL SOON BE POSTED ON THE GREENBURGH TOWN WEBSITE: www.greenburghny.com.

If you would like to be kept informed of the progress re: implementing the recommendations of this report, please advise. A summary of the report follows…

FIRE DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATION & GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMISSION
GREENBURGH FIRE CONSOLIDATION COMMISSION ISSUES FINAL REPORT
Seeks Administrative and Benefits Savings, Recommends Only Partial Consolidation Now
GREENBURGH, NY, November, 16, 2010 – Greenburgh‟s three independent fire districts that on average spend 32 percent more for personnel compensation than comparable peers were urged today to initiate cost-savings measures to lessen the impact of a “Perfect Storm” of financial troubles that appear imminent, even though for the last two years, tax increases have been minimal.
The request and warning was issued in a report by the Fire Department Consolidation & Government Efficiency Commission (FDCGEC), an independent commission comprised of citizens, business leaders and fire officials that was created by the Greenburgh Town Board just over a year ago following adoption of a state law that encourages local communities to explore potential tax savings through the consolidation of municipal services.
Because of what it perceived was a weakness in that new state law that gives citizens the ability to put consolidation referendum on the ballot, and for other reasons, the FDCGEC did not recommend at this time full consolidation of the Fairview, Greenville and Hartsdale fire districts. It did say that savings and efficiencies could be achieved by administrative consolidation whereby one fire chief would substitute for the current three and by improved fiscal and business practices.
Last year the compensation for the Fairview chief was $215,605, the Greenville chief was $206,969, and the Hartsdale chief was $199,500. Under administrative consolidation, commissioners of the three districts (five commissioners each) would continue to exercise local control, levy taxes, and incur indebtedness. State law already authorizes them to consolidate fully, if they chose.
The FDCGEC also urged the town government to hire independent outside experts to study optimal staffing levels of the fire departments. It urged creation of a permanent watchdog committee to keep the community aware of the activities of the three fire districts, and also proposed changes in state law that could lead to reductions in fire suppression costs, including basing pension payments only on base pay and excluding overtime and other benefits.
“The Perfect Storm is upon us,” the report stated, noting that revenue was declining because of reductions in the tax base as property values shrink. Meanwhile, expenses are escalating for salaries, health care costs, pensions, and lack of pension contributions by personnel who were hired prior to this year.
Alan Hochberg of Hartsdale, who chaired the commission, said the mandate given it was to examine whether the money could be saved without jeopardizing public safety. “It is important that we seek to find ways to increase the number of firefighters available for firefighting duty, maintain the existing number of fire houses in the three districts, and encourage greater voter participation in elections for fire district commissioners and district budgets. Fire protection is a significant portion of our local property tax bill, and we deserve to get the maximum bang for our buck.”
Among the findings of the study:
Over a seven-year period (between 2003 and 2010), property taxes levied by the three fire districts increased by 63 percent, or an average annual gain of 7.03 percent, while the corresponding cost of living was up an average of only 2.6 percent per year.
Assuming that salaries continue to increase at 4 percent per year, contributions to the pension fund increase by 18 percent per annum, and medical and dental premiums increase by 15 percent per year, than property tax rates starting in 2011 through 2015 are expected to increase 8.4 percent per year.
The average income for firefighters in three districts was $125,712 in the latest reporting year; total compensation is higher by 32 percent when compared to a peer group of firefighters in the City of White Plains, Village of Scarsdale and Eastchester Fire District that averaged $95,210. The peer group consisted of predominantly paid career firefighters. The disparity stems primarily from higher base salaries and overtime.
The average income for a fire chief in each of the three districts in 2009 was $207,358; this compensation is higher by 34 percent when compared to a peer group consisting of the City of White Plains, City of New Rochelle and Village of Scarsdale that averaged $156,077.


Fairview, Greenville and Hartsdale fire districts have 111 fire suppression personnel and combined salary and overtime costs of $14.6 million; by comparison, the City of White Plains has 167 fire personnel and combined salary and overtime costs of $15.4 million. For an additional $800,000, White Plains has 56 additional firefighters.
Salaries, overtime and benefits comprise about 86 percent of the three districts‟ budgets. Hartsdale and Fairview have a more generous and costly pension program; pensions are based on the final year of service instead of the three-year averaging of Greenville and most other fire departments. The change to a final year averaging increases retirement contributions to the state pension system by Hartsdale and Fairview by 2.5 percent and required them to pay the state $1.7 million for past years. The one-year final average plan resulted in eight of the last 18 retirees receiving pensions that exceeded $100,000 a year.
In 2009, the three districts incurred overtime costs of $2.4 million (16 percent of compensation); a pattern was found of employees who incurred a disproportionate amount of overtime in the years leading up to retirement relative to other overtime eligible individuals which may inflate their retirement pensions.
Fire districts pay for the full medical and dental costs of all fire personnel, their spouses and dependents, and continue to do the same for firefighters and spouses in retirement.
Fire districts pay for the full pension benefits of all fire personnel (except for employees hired after this past January 1, who are required to contribute 3 percent of the pension costs).
The three fire districts employ four civilian employees (secretaries, clerks, treasurers) earning in the aggregate almost $350,000 in 2009, and some receiving comparable medical/dental and pension benefits and paid holidays to those of uniformed firefighters.
Only Greenville has signed up with 60-Control, a popular program run by the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services which provides dispatching of phone calls for fire department assistance at no cost to the participating members; 44 other fire agencies throughout Westchester and 20 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies currently utilize this service. Hartsdale and Fairview use existing personnel as dispatchers at a cost totaling more than $800,000 a year.
Fire district employees receive up to 14 holidays off and get paid for those days on top of base salary; Fairview personnel get their birthdays with pay.


Fire personnel provide inspections of commercial buildings, conduct training exercises, school lectures, train babysitters, pump out basements during floods, and other duties.

The FDCGEC group recommended that a further study explore the feasibility of using paid civilian personnel to handle call dispatching and/or the use of Westchester County 60-Control for centralized dispatching (either solution could free personnel for firefighting duties while reducing overtime expenses); better communication among fire districts and constituents regarding upcoming elections, budgets and other important news; moving elections for fire commissioners and budgets to a more convenient date in the spring or fall instead of the present second Tuesday in December; and schedule regular meetings among fire commissioners of the three districts to share “best practices”; an exploration of the most equitable way to spread past and future bonding obligations in case of a consolidation in addition to the appointment of an independent watchdog group to conduct ongoing oversight of the respective fire districts.
The FDCGEC commended the career firefighters and volunteers for their bravery, dedication and hard work. In addition to use of better fiscal and business practices to put more firefighting personnel on the street, the FDCGEC expressed the desire to maintain all current fire district buildings and equipment – in fact, improving the condition of these buildings and equipment, where necessary, particularly in Fairview where the two fire stations are badly in need of repairs.
Mr. Hochberg stated, “The „Perfect Storm‟ may be fast approaching due to the combination of growing expenses – many of them mandated by state laws and collective bargaining agreements, shrinking sources of revenue, and resistance by taxpayers to further tax increases. The alternative to change may only be more taxes or reduced firefighting capabilities. We don‟t wish to see either occur. I am sure all of the members of the FDCGEC agree that they would not want to reduce firefighting personnel”
Luis Polit, a member of the FDCGEC, added that administrative consolidation is one small step to achieve savings which can be redeployed to augment resources. More meaningful savings would come from the union representing the Greenburgh firefighters working hand in hand with the districts to give concessions on healthcare costs and aligning salaries with those of its peers. He also called on the state‟s lawmakers to reevaluate and amend the current pension laws. While there has been some pension reform requiring employees hired after January 1, 2010 to contribute to the pension plan, the full benefit of this change in the law will not be realized until there is full turnover in the force, which in the districts could take about 20-years. More reform is needed. He also summoned on the state‟s lawmakers to amend the pension law so that overtime is excluded for purposes of determining retiree benefits.
A copy of the FDCGEC report in located on the official Town of Greenburgh website at http://www.greenburghny.com/
About the Greenburgh Fire Department Consolidation & Government Efficiency Commission (FDCGEC)
Appointed by the Greenburgh Town Board in September 2009, the commission is comprised of a current district fire chief, a deputy fire chief, a fire district commissioner, a retired senior editor of The Journal News, a Certified Public Accountant, a retired chief auditor of United States Department of Transportation, a retired executive director of a large religious organization, and three current or former corporate business executives.
About the Fairview, Greenville and Hartsdale Fire Districts
The three fire districts originated about a century ago, initially as all-volunteer bucket brigades, and became taxing districts during the 1920s. They cover about 73% of unincorporated Greenburgh, or about 11.7 square miles (the other 27% are in fire protection districts which are contracted by the Town of Greenburgh). The Town of Greenburgh collects property taxes that have been levied by the three fire districts and transfers the collection to the respective districts.

Monday, November 15, 2010

dog park video...friends of library...work session tomorrow

Board members wanted for the Friends of the Greenburgh Library: Looking for active, committed members to serve on the board of the Friends of the Greenburgh Library, which runs an annual book sale and is starting up a volunteer book store to raise funds for the Greenburgh Library. Board members must be willing to committ at least 6-8 hours a month of their time, plus attend a monthly board meeting. We are particularly seeking individuals with skills in marketing, boosting membership and/or website design, writing, or graphic design. Must have ability to work in teams. Please send resume and/or cover letter to hopeheyman@msn.com.
Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board
(Revised) Tuesday – November 16, 2010 – 9:15 AM
(Work Sessions begin at 9:15AM except where schedule changes are made by the Board.)

(Please note that, although the Work Session Agenda is shared with the public prior to each Work Session, the Agenda may be revised at any point up to the start of the meeting as well as during the meeting, if necessary.)

(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,
depending upon the length of the two meetings.)


09:15 AM Official Presentation of Fire Consolidation Committee Report to Town Board (scheduling time for discussion)
09:30 AM WESTHELP—possible future uses (revenue generators/ RFPs/plan of action)
09:45 AM Discussion: Chappaqua Crossing
10:00 AM Budget Meetings - Library
10:30 AM Budget Meetings – Building Department
10:45 AM Budget Meetings – Town Assessor
11:00 AM Land Use Issue
11:15 AM Motion for Executive Session Legal / Personnel
Interview with Candidate for Zoning Board
________________________________________
Joshua Eng-Morris, a 10th grader at Ardsley High School, has been interning in my office this summer—producing video’s about the town. His latest video features our Greenburgh dog park (located off of Dobbs Ferry Road at Rumbrook Park). Check it out. If you have suggestions for other you tube Greenburgh video’s please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/TownofGreenburgh?feature=mhum

Sunday, November 14, 2010

let the public and private sectors compete ---could avoid layoffs and save costs

COMPETITION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS ENCOURAGED

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner will speak at the Westchester County Board of Legislators hearing on Wednesday evening in Yonkers on the county budget and will urge the Legislature to consider an out of the box idea that has worked in Indianapolis--that could help avoid layoffs and reduce costs...



In the next few months New York State, Westchester County and local governments will continue to work towards reducing costs and expenditures. Some government entities will be encouraging employees to retire and will offer their workers retirement incentive packages. County Executive Astorino just announced 226 layoffs. Governor Paterson has sent hundreds of state employees layoff notices. Governor-elect Cuomo may order additional layoffs in January.

There's another way to reduce costs: It's called competition. The state, county and municipal governments could give their civil servants the chance to save their jobs by putting up government services up to bid and allowing BOTH the private and public sector unions to compete for such services.

Former Indianapolis Mayor Steven Goldsmith (currently Mayor Bloomberg's Deputy Mayor) came up with an innovative concept in the 1990s called "marketization". It is competition in the marketplace, not privatization per se. Services are moved into the marketplace.
In Indianapolis city employees are encouraged to compete with the private sector for the right to run various municipal services. The city, during Mayor Goldsmith's tenure, motivated employees to think out of the box and gave their workforce the chance to compete with the private sector and to win.

In the early 1990s city employees won at least 25% of the competitions and split responsibility with the private sector in another 20 percent. Government workers have some advantages: the government does not pay taxes. The government does not have to make a profit and governments can borrow money for less than the private sector. On the other hand the private sector knows how to compete.

When Indianapolis started this concept they provided employees with consultants to help them prepare for competition. Another innovation-: employees receive incentive pay when they outperform their contracts. They earn more by doing more. Another nice aspect to this concept: management and non management government workers become a part of the process--the employees enhance their teamwork skills: they work with each other reviewing the purchase of equipment, materials tools and even will make constructive suggestions regarding trash collection routes.

Competition among the private and public sectors encourages creativity. Employees also must be more customer friendly. I first learned about this program in the mid 1990s, after the program was recognized by the Ford Foundation --the winner of the Innovations in American Government Award.

At a recent Greenburgh Town Board meeting (Oct 28) we invited J Dwight Hadley, CPA to speak to the Greenburgh Town Board. He was the former chair of the NY State Board of Accountacy. He is working with another upstate community on an innovative concept: the establishment of a sanitation enterprise fund. This concept, which the Greenburgh Town Board is currently reviewing, would change the way sanitation services are offered to residents and increase transparency. The town would send residents a bill for sanitation services instead of having them pay for it through town taxes. Residents/businesses would have the option of comparing the costs of our services with the private sector. If we offer a better service, individuals/residents/businesses would choose to hire the town to pick up garbage. If residents are not satisfied with our price or level of service they could have the option of contracting with the private sector.

Before we take any action more analysis has to be given to this concept. A negative: currently, residents receive a tax deduction when they pay property taxes. With an enterprise fund there are no tax deductions. I will be asking the NY State Legislature to authorize enterprise fund bills to be considered taxable services so people could receive tax deductions on the services received. I want our employees to also benefit from the concept: profit sharing--if they get more routes for the town.

Let's think out of the box. This option, at the minimum, is worth consideration. The Westchester County Board of Legislators, when considering County Executive Astorino's layoffs and program cuts, should think about developing a plan that would give the county workforce a chance to compete. Donald Trump was reported in the Journal News to be thinking of ways to improve Playland. Maybe, the employees of the county could come up with a better plan!

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor

Saturday, November 13, 2010

our new you tube video of the Greenburgh dog park-at Rumbrook park

Check out our new video of the Greenburgh dog park on Rumbrook Park, off of Dobbs Ferry Road...
http://www.youtube.com/user/TownofGreenburgh?feature=mhum

playground coming soon to Edgemont- Greenburgh Nature Center (good news for parents with pre k children)

Most sections of town have playgrounds that are accessible to children during the entire day. Edgemont parents have expressed concern. The current playgrounds in Edgemont are on school property and are not accessible to pre-k children during school hours. That could change next year. The town is moving forward on a proposal to build a natures discover zone playground at the Greenburgh Nature Center, located in the Edgemont section of town. No taxpayer dollars will be spent. The town will spend $100,000 in developer escrow funds for this playground. On November 3rd the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board approved a resolution recommending $100,000 in developer escrow funds to be used for the natures discovery zone playground. The Planning Board will now review the proposal. If they approve the recommendation, the Town Board will have the final say. It is likely that the playground will be built in 2011. This is good news for the Nature Center (the playground should help them attract new members and visitors). This is good news for children. This is good news for parents who have pre-k children in Edgemont who need a playground during school hours.
The proposed project is to install a playground on the Greenburgh Nature Center’s parkland that integrates play with nature. The goal for the GNC is to capture people’s interest with a dramatic backdrop and provide a bridge of the imagination to the natural environment. The idea is to use expanded natural shapes to give participants the experience from an animal’s perspective and experience the benefits of play at the same time. This will not be your typical playground you find in our parks. The total cost of the project for phase I is $150,000.00 and the GNC has committed $50,000.00.
As required by Town Law, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is to make a recommendation on any escrow fund proposed project or land acquisition, and then pass their recommendation on to the Planning Board for consideration. After the Planning Board makes a recommendation, both recommendations would be passed on to the Town Board for a final decision.

PAUL FEINER

Monday, November 08, 2010

living history veterans stories to air on public access tv thursday

WATCH GREENBURGH’S LIVING HISTORY VETERANS PROJECT INTERVIEWS ON PUBLIC ACESS TV NON STOP THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
ABOUT 50 INTERVIEWS WITH VETERANS TO AIR ON VETERANS DAY…


The Town of Greenburgh will air approximately 50 interviews with veterans of World War II on public access TV continuously during Veterans Day, November 11th on the Greenburgh public access TV station channel 76.
The interviews, conducted by Alan Hochberg, co-chair of the Veterans Advisory Committee with the help of Steve Wittenberg of the VFW post in Ardsley, have been part of an ongoing initiative – that started almost a year ago. Any veteran who is interested in being a part of the living history project should e mail Mr. Hochberg at ahochberg@greenburghny.com. We would like to interview as many veterans as possible in the coming months. Non veterans who would like to assist the committee can also contact Mr. Hochberg.
The town will be sponsoring a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday, November 11th at 1 PM at DeSanti Plaza, E Hartsdale Ave. The Brownie Troop 2670 will read a poem because of you, Unknown Soldier by Courtney Tanabe. They will give the veterans 15 boxes of baked goods.
The goal of the living history project is to never forget the stories of our local heroes.
PAUL FEINER

Friday, November 05, 2010

work session agenda..fun events..future of central ave...candidate signs

CENTRAL AVE’S FUTURE---A MEETING WITH THE TOWN BOARD, PLANNING AND ZONING BOARDS, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, COMMERCIAL REALTORS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. MONDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 pm. What action steps should the town take to address the vacancies on Central Ave. These vacancies cost you, the taxpayers dollars. The vacancies cause certiorari’s—less taxes to the school district, fire district and town governments. Your input at this meeting is welcome and appreciated.



SHOULD THE TOWN REQUIRE ALL CANDIDATES TO POST A BOND WITH THE TOWN IF THEY ARE GOING TO PLACE CAMPAIGN SIGNS AROUND THE TOWN AND SHOULD CANDIDATES BE REQUIRED TO REMOVE SIGNS WITHIN FIVE DAYS AFTER AN ELECTION IS HELD? (BOND WOULDN’T BE RETURNED IF ALL THE SIGNS HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED? I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES! To be discussed Tuesday!



REMEMBER- VETERANS DAYS I THURSDAY. TOWN CEREMONY AT 1 PM—DESANTI PLAZA, E HARTSDALE AVE

PAUL FEINER



Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board

Tuesday – November 9, 2010 – 9:15 AM

(Work Sessions begin at 9:15AM except where schedule changes are made by the Board.)



(

(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,

depending upon the length of the two meetings.)





09:15 AM Agenda Review

09:30 AM Scheduling Budget Review Meetings

09:45 AM Energy Conservation

10:00 AM Removing Campaign Signs & Requiring Deposit

10:15 AM Motion for Executive Session by

12:00 Noon Adjourn

Hastings Friday Night Live: WWW.RIVERTOWNSGUIDE.COM
Film Festival [link]
James Harmon Community Center, Hastings
Tthe First Hastings Friday Night Live Film Festival. Check the website [link] for screening schedule and details. Anthony da Costa and John Elliott will be performing as a part of Common Ground Downtown [link] @ River Roadhouse, Hastings.



Friday, November 5 & Saturday, November 6 @ 7:30
Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
Hastings High School Theater
We hope you will all support the efforts of our talented cast as they bring this innovative interpretation of a classic tragedy to our stage for the first time. Dan has put together an energetic, charismatic cast that explores Shakespeare's eloquent look at young love and parental power. We know you will be thrilled by the extraordinary talent of our students.



Friday, November 5 @ 8pm
Anthony da Costa and John Elliott
Common Ground Downtown [link] @ River Roadhouse, Hastings
"Anthony da Costa continues to demonstrate that he is an outstanding writer of unadorned, plain-spoken Americana." - Scott Sheldon, Sing Out! Magazine. NO COVER/SUGGESTED DONATION $15



Friday, November 5 @ 8pm
The Marriage of Voice and Piano
Music Conservatory of Westchester, White Plains [link]
The Music Conservatory of Westchester explores the art of collaboration between voice and piano with a special performance featuring four married faculty artists. Jessica Medoff, soprano, Michael Bunchman, piano, Nils Neubert, tenor, and Yuri Kim, piano. The concert will open with Conservatory vocal students accompanied by student pianists. 7:00pm. $15; $10 students/seniors. Music Conservatory of Westchester, 216 Central Avenue, White Plains. 914-761-3900.





Saturday, November 6 from 8:30am - 2pm
Hastings Farmers Market [link]
Hastings Public Libray Parking Lot
The markets are every Saturday, rain or shine, in the Library Parking Lot. Please park in the Commuter Lot.



Saturday, November 6 @ 10am
18th Century Women's Clothing: A Talk by Barbara DeAngelis
Irvington Library [link]
The Hudson River Patriots Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Irvington Public Library will host a talk and demonstration by Barbara DeAngelis on women's clothing in the 18th Century. Free. Please phone 914.591.7840 to register.



Saturday, November 6 from 2pm - 3pm
Poetry and Prose
Warner Library, Tarrytown [link]
Westchester Review Poetry and Prose/ Contributors of the Westchester Review magazine will read from their work in the Reading Room of the Library. A reception to meet the authors will follow the readings.







November 6 & 7 @ 2pm and November 6 @ 7:30pm
Clocktower Players [link]
Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella"
(Adult Troup)
Irvington Town Hall Theater [link]
Town Hall Theater sparkles as Artistic Director, Cagle McDonald, brings our entire community together for family theatre at its best - with magical matinee surprises! With the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance the tale of the glass-slippered gal is as timeless as ever. Adapted for the stage with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike will soar when the slipper fits. Also November 13 & 14 @ 2pm and November 13 @ 7:30pm.



Saturday, November 6 @ 7:30
Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
Hastings High School Theater
We hope you will all support the efforts of our talented cast as they bring this innovative interpretation of a classic tragedy to our stage for the first time. Dan has put together an energetic, charismatic cast that explores Shakespeare's eloquent look at young love and parental power. We know you will be thrilled by the extraordinary talent of our students.











Sunday, November 7 from 10am - 4pm
Opening Reception:
Brazilian Artist Rene Nescimento [link]
Donald Gallery, South Pres. , Dobbs Ferry [link]
Exhibit November 7 - December 12.







Sunday, November 7 from 2pm - 7pm
Exhibit: Hearth
One year Anniversay Celbration
Human Bodyworks, Hastings [link]
Featuring the work of Arle Sklar-Weinstein, Doug Marouk-Coe, Dawne Clark, Evan Read, Barbara Prisament, Judith Lahn, Jennifer Ladd-Hepburn and Bern Richards.



November 7 @ 2pm
Clocktower Players [link]
Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella"
(Adult Troup)
Irvington Town Hall Theater [link]
Town Hall Theater sparkles as Artistic Director, Cagle McDonald, brings our entire community together for family theatre at its best - with magical matinee surprises! With the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance the tale of the glass-slippered gal is as timeless as ever. Adapted for the stage with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike will soar when the slipper fits. Also November 13 & 14 @ 2pm and November 13 @ 7:30pm.



Sunday, November 7 @ 2pm
Lecture by Acclaimed Historian and Author
Barnet Schecter [link]
Dobbs Ferry Public Library
Presented by the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society. Mr. Schecter [link], will speak about his new book, George Washington’s America; a Biography through His Maps". From his teens until his death, the maps "George Washington purchased and drew were always central to his work ― as surveyor, military leader, private citizen, and statesman. George Washington’s America offers important new insight into Washington’s character and his transformation from private citizen to founding father. Mr. Schecter is also the author of The Devil’s Own Work, which deals with the Civil War draft riots in New York City, and The Battle for New York: the City at the Heart of the American Revolution. All are welcome. Admission is free.



Sunday, November 7 @ 3pm
Author James Kaplan
Hastings Public Library
Talking about his new book “FRANK: THE VOICE”. Did you see the great reviews in the 10/30 Wall Street Journal and the 11/1 New York Times? 478-3307 TO RESERVE A SEAT



Sunday, November 7 from 3pm - 5pm
Lecture & Discussion: Exploring
Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls…
The Arts Exchange, White Plains
First in a two-part series exploring the interior lives of women. Lecture & Discussion of Shange’s original choreopoem and Tyler Perry’s Film Adaptation – led by Thomasenia Myers, Assoc. Prof. Emerita, Purchase College, SUNY. This program promises to be an intellectually and emotionally enriching experience! Part II of Series – Sunday, December 5, 2010. A Woman’ s Worth – Marianne Williamson. $25. (with reservation by Friday, 10/29). $30. (after 10/29). Checks only please. No cash at the door. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. For further information and reservations – email or 751-1984.





From the Hudson independent.com website

Saturday 6

Story Time at the Farm Store: At 11:30 a.m. for children ages 3-6 at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills. Call 366-6200 or visit www.stonebarnscenter.org.
Composting with Worms: At 1 p.m. learn about worm composting and make a bin to take home at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining. Call 762-2912, ext. 110 or visit www.teatown.org.
An Afternoon with Writers from the Westchester Review: A local prose and poetry reading event at 2 p.m. at the Warner Library in Tarrytown. Call 631-7734 or visit www.warnerlibrary.org.
I Dig It!: At 2 p.m. come dig into the prehistoric world at the Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale. Call 723-3470 or visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org.
“Cinderella”: Performed by the Clocktower Players Adult Troupe at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Irvington Town Hall Theater. Call 591-6602 or visit www.IrvingtonTheater.com. Also Nov. 7 & 14 at 2 p.m., Nov. 10 at 10 a.m., and Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Comedy Night: Ralphie May will perform at 8 p.m. at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Call 877-840-0457 or visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org.
Sunday 7

Ecology Tour: At 1 p.m. naturalist/author Steve Brill will lead a Wild Food and Ecology tour of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills. Call 366-6200, ext. 151 or visit www.stonebarnscenter.org.
Cooking for Tweens & Teens: At 1 p.m. young people ages 10-16 can learn to prepare gourmet brunch dishes at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills. Call 366-6200 or visit www.stonebarnscenter.org.
“Rubies in the Sand: Recipes from the Cape Cod Cranberry Bogs”: At 2 p.m. listen to author Bonnie Kavanaugh and taste some of her recipes at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills. Call 366-6200 or visit www.stonebarnscenter.org.
Concert: At 3 p.m. pianist Yen Yu Chen will perform at the Ossining Public Library as part of the Young Artist Series. Call 941-2416 or visit www.ossininglibrary.org.
Westchester Symphonic Winds: At 3 p.m. the group will perform an all American program at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Call 877-840-0457 or visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org.
Ardsley Garden Club German Dinner: Fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Dobbs Ferry Women’s Club, 54 Clinton Ave. Call 693-4328 or 693-0767.
Literary Afternoon: At 4:30 p.m. enjoy readings by poet Julie Sheehan and poet/fiction writer Steven Huff at Hudson Valley Writers’ Center in Sleepy Hollow. Call 332-5953 or visit www.writerscenter.org.
Rarely Seen Cinema: At 5 p.m. Jane Campion’s “Holy Smoke” will be shown at Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, followed by Q&A with Jonathan Demme. Call 747-5555 or visit www.burnsfilmcenter.org.
Poet of Peace: At 6 p.m. the poet and Pax Christi Coordinator in Haiti Daniel Tillias will speak on “Using Non-Violence to Transform the World” at Immaculate Conception Church in Irvington. Call 591-7480 or e-mail imma...@optonline.net.
other GREAT WEB SITES

www.thehudsonindependent.com for news and activities.
www.tarrytownpatch . com for more news and activities.
www.scarsdale10583.com news about Edgemont and Hartsdale

www.intervillage.org (non profit adult education programs)

www.volunteer-center.org (the volunteer center can provide you with hundreds of volunteer opportunities.

WANT TO SAVE MONEY? WWW.KnowtoriousPIG.com posts substantial discounts on their website every day. Most of the discounts are 50%+ off the typical costs. Example; $1- for an entree at a restaurant.

Want a free prescription drug card? Some residents have advised me that they have saved 40% or more off their prescriptions from this card. Also have cards for pets.

The cards are available at my office. No gimmicks, no registration. Just take a card. Cards are effective if you do not have insurance or if you are underinsured.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

911 hero won't get help from the gov--even though she has had life threatening illnesses

Suzanne Lester is a constituent of mine. She resides in the village of Ardsley. On 911 she witnessed the destruction of the 911 tower. She then volunteered to help the survivors. I maintain weekly problem solver hours at area supermarkets and recall having periodic conversations with her months after this terrible tragedy. She told me of her story. Over the years I have talked to her at the supermarket --there have been times she could barely walk or talk. She has had life threatening illnesses, due to 911.
I have been shocked and dismayed at the treatment she is getting. She has been denied financial help others are getting. We've written letters to lawmakers at all levels of government. She was just denied help from the Crime Victims Board. -----Original Message-----
From: josuzanne
To: feiner98
Sent: Wed, Nov 3, 2010 3:49 pm
Subject: Re: The blurb you requested


To the Honorable Paul Feiner,

Paul,

As you know, on September 11, 2001, I was caught in the cloud of debris when the first tower fell at GROUND ZERO. Next thing I knew, I was found on 19th Street, injured and covered in debris while sitting inside my car, not knowing how I got there. Kind New Yorkers stopped traffic and helped me get to a safe location and sat with me for well over an hour until I was somewhat functional. I had a cut on my forehead but had no idea how I had gotten it or how I had gotten to 19th Street. The last thing I remembered were people running up Greenwich Street away from the towers as the cloud engulfed me.

At 4:30 PM, just as I was arriving home in Ardsley, I received a call from the Vice President of the organization I worked for. He asked me to come back down to Ground Zero since I was, in his words, "The best crisis counselor they had". I said I would come back down when I stopped shaking and would try to take a nap first. I did just that. The rest is history. I've been sick with various illnesses from simple to severe and life threatening and not just one. The last one was an Auto-Immune Disease supposedly brought on by toxic exposure.

For the last nine years, exercising extreme patience and being too ill to fight, I have been insulted by our government time and time again. First, Mr. Feinberg denied my appeal until Hillary Clinton intervened on my behalf and I was awarded $25,000.00 for the GERD and ASTHMA that resulted from my helping out at GROUND ZERO. This was the same fund that awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to law firms who lost xerox machines.

Then, supposedly because I continued to work up until 2003, when I finally applied for funding from the NY State Crime Victims Board, I was denied on one technicality after another. During my final appeals hearing, I was told that it would finally be okayed. BUT ALAS, Governor Patterson disbanded the BOARD that was about to approve my award(a pittance of the expenditure of $168,000.00 on alternative health treatments to keep me alive and walking), and when I contacted the State Office and spoke to the Legal Counsel, Mr. Watson, he told me I would not have to reapply. The APPEALS HEARING WOULD STAND. I was glad to hear it since I had supplied The Board through Ms. Frances Atkens, SPECIALIST II to the COMMISSIONER, The Honorable Mr. Davies, with an additional 600 PAGES OF SUBSTANTIATED DOCUMENTATION for the appeals hearing made possible by your intervention, along with the intervention of Senator Gillibrands office, as well as Senator Schumer's office.

Contrary to the word of Mr. Watson, I HAVE JUST BEEN DENIED BY THE newly named NY State Crime Victims Department! Another slap in the face.

And because I had received $25,000 from Mr. Feinberg, I've been told that Judge Hellerstein has excluded me from the benefits of the WORBY GRUNER CLASS ACTION SUIT, which I personally do not believe and will be following up with a letter to Judge Hellerstein myself.

I am tired and still sick. You know that I am still recovering from the Liver Disease, the Asthma, and most recently the paralysis CDIP, chronic demyelinating inflammatory polyneuropathy; a rare combination of both the symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis, simultaneously. You know how hard I work daily to keep myself walking and living and have very little time left for these fruitless pursuits to gain what should not have taken this much effort. After all, when I was asked to volunteer, no one had to ask twice.

I would be happy to speak at the Town Hall Meeting next Wednesday night. I appreciate you including me. Thank you. I am truly honored.

Once again, I appreciate whatever you can do to help. To say that I am becoming increasingly hopeless in this pursuit, is an understatement. Your appreciation of my efforts then and now, is a great motivator for me to continue striving in these pursuits. I will also forward this short anecdotal to both Senator Gillibrand's office and Senator Schumer's office. I hope this will be the last go round in what seems to be an endless task of futility.

Very truly yours,


Suzanne Lester
Your constituent

911 hero can't get help from the government. It's a disgrace!

-----Original Message-----
From: josuzanne
To: feiner98
Sent: Wed, Nov 3, 2010 3:49 pm
Subject: Re: The blurb you requested


To the Honorable Paul Feiner,

Paul,

As you know, on September 11, 2001, I was caught in the cloud of debris when the first tower fell at GROUND ZERO. Next thing I knew, I was found on 19th Street, injured and covered in debris while sitting inside my car, not knowing how I got there. Kind New Yorkers stopped traffic and helped me get to a safe location and sat with me for well over an hour until I was somewhat functional. I had a cut on my forehead but had no idea how I had gotten it or how I had gotten to 19th Street. The last thing I remembered were people running up Greenwich Street away from the towers as the cloud engulfed me.

At 4:30 PM, just as I was arriving home in Ardsley, I received a call from the Vice President of the organization I worked for. He asked me to come back down to Ground Zero since I was, in his words, "The best crisis counselor they had". I said I would come back down when I stopped shaking and would try to take a nap first. I did just that. The rest is history. I've been sick with various illnesses from simple to severe and life threatening and not just one. The last one was an Auto-Immune Disease supposedly brought on by toxic exposure.

For the last nine years, exercising extreme patience and being too ill to fight, I have been insulted by our government time and time again. First, Mr. Feinberg denied my appeal until Hillary Clinton intervened on my behalf and I was awarded $25,000.00 for the GERD and ASTHMA that resulted from my helping out at GROUND ZERO. This was the same fund that awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to law firms who lost xerox machines.

Then, supposedly because I continued to work up until 2003, when I finally applied for funding from the NY State Crime Victims Board, I was denied on one technicality after another. During my final appeals hearing, I was told that it would finally be okayed. BUT ALAS, Governor Patterson disbanded the BOARD that was about to approve my award(a pittance of the expenditure of $168,000.00 on alternative health treatments to keep me alive and walking), and when I contacted the State Office and spoke to the Legal Counsel, Mr. Watson, he told me I would not have to reapply. The APPEALS HEARING WOULD STAND. I was glad to hear it since I had supplied The Board through Ms. Frances Atkens, SPECIALIST II to the COMMISSIONER, The Honorable Mr. Davies, with an additional 600 PAGES OF SUBSTANTIATED DOCUMENTATION for the appeals hearing made possible by your intervention, along with the intervention of Senator Gillibrands office, as well as Senator Schumer's office.

Contrary to the word of Mr. Watson, I HAVE JUST BEEN DENIED BY THE newly named NY State Crime Victims Department! Another slap in the face.

And because I had received $25,000 from Mr. Feinberg, I've been told that Judge Hellerstein has excluded me from the benefits of the WORBY GRUNER CLASS ACTION SUIT, which I personally do not believe and will be following up with a letter to Judge Hellerstein myself.

I am tired and still sick. You know that I am still recovering from the Liver Disease, the Asthma, and most recently the paralysis CDIP, chronic demyelinating inflammatory polyneuropathy; a rare combination of both the symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis, simultaneously. You know how hard I work daily to keep myself walking and living and have very little time left for these fruitless pursuits to gain what should not have taken this much effort. After all, when I was asked to volunteer, no one had to ask twice.

I would be happy to speak at the Town Hall Meeting next Wednesday night. I appreciate you including me. Thank you. I am truly honored.

Once again, I appreciate whatever you can do to help. To say that I am becoming increasingly hopeless in this pursuit, is an understatement. Your appreciation of my efforts then and now, is a great motivator for me to continue striving in these pursuits. I will also forward this short anecdotal to both Senator Gillibrand's office and Senator Schumer's office. I hope this will be the last go round in what seems to be an endless task of futility.

Very truly yours,


Suzanne Lester
Your constituent
914-693-8326
91 Hilltop Road
Ardsley New York 10502


-----Original Message-----
From: feiner98@aol.com
To: townclerk@greenburghny.com; JOSUZANNE@aol.com
Sent: Wed, Nov 3, 2010 12:08 pm
Subject: Fwd: The blurb you requested


I would like to recognize Suzanne Lester at the meeting--can we put her on the agenda first thing.
SUZANNE LESTER--GROUND ZERO HERO -




-----Original Message-----
From: josuzanne
To: feiner98
Sent: Tue, Nov 2, 2010 6:17 pm
Subject: The blurb you requested




To the Honorable Paul Feiner,

Paul,

As you know, on September 11, 2001, I was caught in the cloud of debris from the first of the Falling Towers at GROUND ZERO, where I was injured and found on 19th Street covered in debris while sitting inside my pristine car, not knowing how I got there. Kind New Yorkers stopped traffic and helped me get to a safe location and sat with me for well over an hour until I was somewhat functional. I had what seemed to be a minor cut on my far head but had no idea how I had gotten it or how I had gotten to 19th Street. The last thing I remembered were people running up Greenwich Street away from the towers and the cloud engulfing me.

At 4:30 PM, when I was just arriving back home in Ardsley, I then was requested by the Vice President of the organization I worked for, to come back down to Ground Zero since I was, in his words, "The best crisis counselor they had". I said I would come back down when I stopped shaking and would try to take a nap first. I did just that. The rest is history. I've been sick with various illnesses from simple to severe and life threatening and not just one. The last one was a Auto-Immune Disease supposedly brought on by Toxic Exposure.

Yet, for the last nine years, despite patience and being too ill to fight, I have been insulted by our government time and time again. First, Mr. Feinberg denied my appeal until Hillary Clinton intervened on my behalf and Mr. Feinberg awarded me $25,000.00 for my GERD and ASTHMA that resulted from being at GROUND ZERO when he had awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to lawyers who lost xerox machines.

Then, supposedly because I continued to work up until 2003, when I finally applied for funding from the NY State Crime Victims Board, I was denied on one technicality after another. Until, during my final appeals hearing, I was told that it would finally be okayed. BUT ALAS, Governor Patterson, disbanded the BOARD that was about to approve my award(a pittance of the expendituture of $168,000.00 on alternative health treatments to keep me alive and walking), and when I contacted the State Office and spoke to the Legal Counsel, Mr. Watson, he told me I would not have to reapply. The APPEALS HEARING WOULD STAND. I was glad to hear it since I had supplied The Board through Ms. Frances Atkens, SPECIALIST II to the COMMISSIONER, The Honorable Mr. Davies with an additional 600 PAGES OF SUBSTANTIATED DOCUMENTATION for the appeals hearing made possible for your intervention, along with the intervention of Senator Gillibrands office, as well as Senator Schumer's office.

Contrary to the word of Mr. Watson, I HAVE JUST BEEN DENIED BY THE newly named the NY State Crime Victims Department! Another slap in the face.

And because I had received $25,000 from Mr. Feinberg, I've been told that Judge Hellerstein has excluded me from the benefits of the WORBY GRUNER CLASS ACTION SUIT, which I personally do not believe and will be following up with a letter to Judge Hellerstein myself.

I am tired and still sick. You know that I am still recovering from the Liver Disease, the Asthma, and most recently the paralysis CDIP, chronic demyelinating inflammatory polyneuropathy; a rare combination of both the symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis, simultaneously. You know how hard I work daily to keep myself walking and living and have very little time left for these fruitless pursuits to gain what should not have taken this much effort. After all, when I was asked to volunteer, no one had to ask twice.

I appreciate you honoring me next Thursday in our community as a Veteran and as the Keynote Speaker in Hartsdale. Thank you. I am truly honored.

Once again, I appreciate whatever you can do to help. To say that I am becoming increasingly hopeless in this pursuit, is an understatement. Your appreciation of my efforts then and now, is a great motivator for me to continue striving in these pursuits. I will also forward this short anecdotal to both Senator Gillibrand's office and Senator Schumer's office. I hope this will be the last go round in what seems to be an endless task of futility.

Very truly yours,


Suzanne Lester
Your constituent