Thursday, June 30, 2011

one of most powerful women at UNITED NATIONS to be my WVOX guest

Judy Cheng-Hopkins, a resident of Hartsdale, will be my guest on my WVOX radio program (1460 AM--www.wvox.com) on Friday, July 1 from 10-11 AM. She was recently named one of the 10 most powerful women at the United Nations by Forbes.
Appointed in August 2009, Cheng-Hopkins is the Assistant-Secretary-General for Peace-Building Support.

Formerly a Director of the World Food Programme, she now helps lead the UN’s Peace-Building Support Office, which coordinates all of the other UN agencies in their peace-building efforts in conflict and post-conflict situations, ranging from Afghanistan to Uganda to Sudan.
She is a member of the UN Sec. General's cabinet and heads an important UN agency and, also, periodically lectures at Columbia University. Also, Judy is a graduate of Scarsdale High Sch. where she was inducted into their "Hall of Fame" three years ago. In 2007 while she was the Asst. High Commissioner of Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland I interviewed her over the telephone on my radio show. PAUL FEINER

Monday, June 27, 2011

report on greenburgh energy use

Seth Segall of our energy task force and Allegra Dengler, Energy Conservation Coordinator, will provide the Town Board with a report on energy consumption at the Tuesday morning Town Board work session --at 10 AM. This is a summary of their findings. The report provides the community with a good baseline to measure future progress and to understand what needs to be done. The discussion will take place at 10 AM. We need to accomplish our energy conservation, cost savings and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
PAUL FEINER

Energy Consumption by Town of Greenburgh Municipal Operations 2008-2010
1) Electricity Consumption
From 2008 to 2010 the total number of kilowatt hours consumed by the Town of
Greenburgh for facilities increased from 7,882,038 KWH to 11,870,332 KWH, an
increase of 51%. This increase is mostly accounted for by the new Library which was
not in full use until 2009, and the Knollwood Road Pump Station, the Townʼs largest
electricity consumer, which was incorrectly billed for 2008 and 20091. If we exclude the
Library and Knollwood Pump Station, Town KWH consumption declined 2% from 2008
to 2010 (from 7,765,275 KWH to 7,645,876 KWH) despite 2010 having 27% more
cooling degree days than 2008 which increased summer air conditioning demand. This
shows the Town is having some small success in holding down electricity consumption
(See Figure 1).
While most Town facilities show only minor fluctuations (3% or less) in KWH
consumption from year to year, several facilities succeeded in making notable
reductions. Most of these were Park and Recreation Department operated facilities:
Anthony F. Veteran Park lowered consumption by 13%, Travis Hill Park by 24%,
Yosemite Park by 20%, Rumbrook Park by 37%, and the Greenburgh Nature Center by
14%. In addition, the new Library decreased consumption by 13% from 2009 to 2010.
On the other hand, two facilities significantly increased their electric consumption from
2008-2010: The Justice Court increased consumption by 7%, and Town Hall by 6%.2
Total Town electrical costs rose by $352,157 (a 24% increase) from $1,468,773 in 2008
to $1,820,930 in 2010, reflecting NYPAʼs increased price per kilowatt hour and the
increased costs of the new library (+$54,596) and the change in cost for the Knollwood
pumps (+$179,965).
2) Natural Gas Consumption
From 2008 to 2010 the Town decreased its therm consumption by 6% from 210,044
Therms to 197,835 therms, while heating degree days declined by 4% over the same
time period. In 2009 when heating degree days increased by 5%, therm consumption
increased by 1%. The small consumption increase during a colder winter, and the
1 See Appendix 1
2 Town Hall increased consumption in the winter, spring and summer of 2010 compared
with 2008 (but decreased comparative consumption in the fall). Peak Town Hall
consumption in 2010 was in July and August. The Justice Court showed increased
usage for 8 of the 12 months of 2010. Justice Court usage peaks were in January-
February and July-September.
larger decrease during a warmer winter suggests the town has had some success in
reducing heating energy costs. (See Figure 2).
The largest decreases in therm consumption from 2008-2010 were by the Theodore D.
Young Community Center (-20%) the DPW Garages (-9%), Anthony F. Veteran Park
(-8%), the Ridge Road Barn (-11%). Itʼs interesting to note that two of the four biggest
reducers were again Parks and Recreation facilities.
Not all Town facilities decreased their therm use, however. Town Hall increased therm
consumption by +10% despite the warmer 2010 winter (and by +13% during the colder
2009 winter.) The Knollwood Road Facilities decreased therms (-24%) during the
colder 2009 winter and increased therms (+8%) during the warmer 2010 winter, the only
facility showing a counter-intuitive consumption swing.
The total cost for natural gas for the Town for 2008-2010 deceased 48% from $287,083
to $150,598. This reflects both the 6% reduction in consumption and the decreased
price of natural gas from 2008-2010. (New York state commercial prices for natural gas
fell from a high of $15.22 dollars per thousand cubic feet in July, 2008 to a low of $8.82
per thousand cubic feet in August, 2010.)
3) Gasoline and Diesel Fuel
The Town has had modest success in reducing vehicle fleet energy consumption by
2.5% over the past two years. The vehicle fleet reduced overall gasoline and diesel fuel
consumption from 302,500 gallons (2008) to 300,981 gallons (2009), to 294,788 (2010).
(See Figure 3) The price of vehicle fuels was $886,126 in 2008, $537,515 in 2009 and
$659,342 in 2010, reflecting both reduced consumption and fluctuating prices per
gallon.
4) Greenhouse Gas Emissions
These energy consumption reductions are equivalent to an estimated reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions of 757 metric tons of CO2e, a 2% reduction in CO2e
compared with 2008.
5) Conclusions
The good news is that in 2010 the unincorporated Town of Greenburgh decreased
electricity consumption by 2% (if one excludes the Library and Knollwood Pumps),
natural gas consumption by 6%, gasoline/diesel fuel consumption by 2.5%, and
greenhouse gas emissions by 2% from 2008 baseline levels. These decreases are
moves in the right direction in terms of energy conservation, reduced taxpayer costs,
and greenhouse gas emissions. The bad news is that these reductions are insufficient
to meet proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets of 15% by 2015 and 20% by 2020.
A comprehensive Climate Action Plan will be needed to accomplish those goals.
Figure 1
Electricity Consumption (Kilowatt Hours)
* Revised Total = Total Consumption - (Library + Knollwood Pump Station)
Total Revised Total*
6000000
7200000
8400000
9600000
10800000
12000000
2008 2009 2010
Figure 2
Natural Gas Consumption (Therms)
Note: 2009 had 5% more heating degree days than 2008. 2010 had 4% fewer heating
degree days than 2008.
Consumption
190000
197500
205000
212500
220000
2008 2009 2010
Figure 3
Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Usage (Gallons)
Consumption
294000
296250
298500
300750
303000
2008 2009 2010
Energy Costs (Dollars)
Appendix 1
Electricity Gasoline Natural Gas Total
0
750000
1500000
2250000
3000000
2008 2009 2010
Knollwood Road Electrical Consumption 2008-2010 (Metered Kilowatt Hours)
The Water Departmentʼs Knollwood Road facility is the Townʼs single largest consumer
of electricity, but itʼs impossible to make annual comparisons of consumption due to
erratic NYPA metering (see below).
2008 2009 2010
January 104,800 2,400 253,600
February 274,400 2,400 1,600
March 292,800 2,400 2,400
April 252,000 2,400 2,400
May 297,600 2,400 1,600
June -1,103,200 264,800 1,202,400
July 3,200 283,200 401,600
August 4,000 271,200 367,200
September 3,200 319,200 368,000
October 3,200 268,200 284,000
November 2,400 240,800 212,000
December 2,400 245,600 259,200
Total 136,800 1,904,800 3,356,000

Sunday, June 26, 2011

GREENBURGH WELCOMES ACORDA THERAPEUTICS TO TOWN---MOST RECENT BIO TECH COMPANY TO LOCATE HERE

GREENBURGH TO BE NEW HOME FOR ACORDA THERAPEUTICS---ONE OF THE BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN NYS...
TOWN WANTS TO BECOME BIO TECH CAPITAL OF HUDSON VALLEY
Acorda Therapeutics Inc will announce officially on Monday they will lease significant space in the Ardsley Park buildings, located just south of the village of Ardsley. Acorda Therapeutics will join Seimans, Beyer, Epicept, Profectus Biosciences, Progenetics Pharmeceuticles, PsychoGenics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticles, Apex Laboratory,Additives Division, Standards Research Services I International, CCS Research Inc & Biomed Pharmaceuticals and other companies that have chosen to locate in Greenburgh!

Greenburgh wants to become the bio tech capital of the Hudson Valley. We will continue to encourage more bio tech companies to locate in our town.


This company develops and markets drugs that improve neurological functions in persons with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and nervous system disorders. The company has marketed two products --Ampyra extended release tablets to improve walking in MS patients and Zanaflex capsules, a short acting drug to manage spasticity.


ACORDA--ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK FOR IN NEW YORK STATE-check www.acorda.com.



Acorda was a multiple award winner at the 2011 9th Annual American Business Awards (ABA). Acorda CEO Ron Cohen received a Stevie Award as Executive of the Year in the Health Products & Services category, and the Company’s website, www.acorda.com, received the Stevie for best pharmaceutical website/blog. The Stevie Awards were created by the ABA to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and business people worldwide.


Acorda was ranked 3rd among all large employers in the 2011 “Best Places to Work in New York” survey, and was the only biotechnology/pharmaceutical company to be included among the best 50 employers statewide. The rankings were based on feedback from employees about workplace culture, benefits, overall job satisfaction and other criteria. The program is a partnership between the New York State Society for Human Resource Management, the Business Council of New York and Best Companies Group, an independent company that manages Best Places to Work programs on state, regional and national levels.


Acorda was ranked 5th among small life sciences companies, and 5th overall among both large and small companies, in the “Best Places to Work in Industry 2011” survey conducted by The Scientist. The Scientist bases its rankings primarily on an online survey of employees in research, development and other science-related fields. Employees are asked to rate their workplace in categories such as research environment, integrity, training and development, and overall job satisfaction.


Acorda was named to the 2010 Forbes Most Trustworthy Companies list. Forbes and Audit Integrity, an independent financial analytics company, rank firms with the most transparent accounting and prudent management. Fewer than 5% of public companies make the list.


Acorda was included in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, an annual ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. Award winners were selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2005 to 2009.


Acorda’s recently redesigned corporate website, www.acorda.com, was launched in August 2010. The site received the Interactive Media Award (IMA) for Outstanding Achievement. IMA evaluates websites based on five criteria: design, content, feature functionality, usability and standards compliance



We're excited to welcome Acorda to Greenburgh.
PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

Thursday, June 23, 2011

BIOMED NEW OWNERS OF OSI PROPERTY--MORE BIO TECH COMPANIES COMING TO TOWN...

BioMed Realty Trust, which owns the Landmark at Eastview (ALSO IN GREENBURGH) closed on the the OSI vacant property on Old Saw Mill River Road on Thursday. They now own the property. 400,000 square feet of lab's and office space will now be part of BioMed.
About 400,000 square feet of laboratory and office space will now be part of BioMed.

This is fantastic economic development news for the town! More high quality bio tech companies....more jobs...great for property values...and good for the local merchants in Ardsley and surrounding business districts. In these difficult economic times it is encouraging to live in a community that continues to be a sought after community to live in and work at.

It is expected that Acorda Therapeutics Inc will lease significant space in the Ardsley Park buildings. This company develops and markets drugs that improve neurological functions in persons with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and nervous system disorders. The company has marketed two products --Ampyra extended release tablets to improve walking in MS patients and Zanaflex capsules, a short acting drug to manage spasticity.
PAUL FEINER

OUR NEXT CONCERT AT THE HARTSDALE FARMER'S MARKET --THIS SATURDAY AT 10 AM, E HARTSDALE AVE
BILL GALANIN, A GUITARIST WILL PERFORM. If you are a musician, have a band and would like to provide the community with entertainment at our farmer's market on Saturday mornings during the summer months - please contact Town Clerk Judith Beville at 993 1504 or e mail her at jbeville@greenburghny.com. Musicians donate their time/talents to the town but will be acknowledged at a Town Board meeting in the fall.

FUN THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND...VISIT http://www.rivertownsguide.com
- Dobbs Ferry Farmers Market
- Frogs: A Chorus of Colors
- Live Butterfly Exhibit
- Around the World in 80 Days- Westchester County Nights at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
- Rita Rudner
- Hastings Outdoor Farmers Market
- "Nature through the Lens"
- The Picture House presents Family Flicks GHOSTBUSTERS
- Opening Night: H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan
- The Barj Project
- Beacon Flea Market
- Bicycle Sundays
- Cultural Heritage Celebration: African American
- Science Sundays : Tour Our Galaxy
- "Macbeth" - From the Royal Opera House, London, England
- Power Trio! Adam Nusbaum Quartet


Weekly Farmers Markets: 2011
Dobbs Ferry: Fridays
Hastings: Saturday
Tarrytown: Saturdays
Irvington: Wednesdays
Hartsdale: Saturday's


12th Annual Dobbs Ferry Summer Music Series
Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8pm |
Dobbs Ferry Waterfront. Presented by Jazz Forum Arts.
Rain Location: Embassy Community Center, 60 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry.
INFO: 914-631-1000
June 29: Nanny Assis Group feat Danise Reis–Brazilian Music
July 6: Mark Rapp “The Song Project”
July 13: Jason Miles Group
July 20: Freddie Bryant Quartet
July 27: 3D Ritmo de Vida
August 3: Carrie Jackson & Her Trio
August 10: Jo Lawry Group
August 17: John Hart Organ Quartet


Coming…..
American Roots Music Festival
July 2 at Caramoor in Katonah. Music, food and family activities. It's outdoors and all day with music from 12:30pm-8:30pm. Performers cover the range of bluegrass, folk, gospel, country, blues, string band. Local organizations that are partnering with us to support the festival are: Take Me To The RIver Festival/12milesnorth, Common Ground Community Concerts, River Spirit Music, Tribes Hill, Urban H2O/Beczak, Walkabout Clearwater Coffeehouse. Tickets and more info can be found at http://www.caramoor.org/festival/americanroots


Sixth Annual Hastings-on-Hudson Village-Wide Tag Sale
throughout Hastings Saturday, July 9 from 10am - 4pm
The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting applications for the sixth annual village-wide tag sale! Now is the perfect opportunity to reorganize storage space and sell what you may not need; remember your trash could be another’s treasure! If you are interested in hosting a tag sale at your residence, please contact Bryan Healy at bhealy@hastingsgov.org or 478-2380, ext. 600.



From thehudsonindependent.com website
Saturday 25
Writer’s Bootcamp: How to Get a Literary Agent: From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hudson Valley Writers’ Center in Sleepy Hollow. Call 332-5953 or visit www.writerscenter.org.

Butterflies of Teatown: At 10 a.m. explore the fields and forests in search of butterflies at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining. Call 762-2912, ext. 110 or visit www.teatown.org.

Lenape Life: At 1 p.m. experience life of the indigenous people 400 year ago at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining. Meet at Cliffdale Farm. Call 762-2912, ext. 110 or visit www.teatown.org.

Music: Josh Keller’s 1930s Review is at the Black Cat Café in Irvington from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 231-9060 or visit www.blackcatchef.com.

Let’s Hang On!: A tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford. Dinner at 6:15 p.m. & show at 8 p.m. Call 592-2222 or visit www.broadwaytheatre.com.

Sunday 26

Concert: Singer-songwriter Kenny White will perform at 2 p.m. at the Ossining Public Library. Call 941-2416 or visit www.ossininglibrary.org.

Literary Afternoon: At 4:30 p.m. in celebration of Gay Pride Month Elaine Sexton and Erin McHugh will read from their work at Hudson Valley Writers’ Center in Sleepy Hollow. Call 332-5953 or visit www.writerscenter.org.

Monday 27

Sunday, June 19, 2011

911 wall being restored..meeting monday evening to discuss gelsprain

We make housecalls--MONDAY, June 20th (Ardsley Road to discuss Gelsprain project: 6:30 PM

Town officials are always willing to make housecalls when you have concerns. We work for you. ON Monday evening, June 20th members of the Town Board and I will join other town officials meeting with construction contractors and residents to discuss construction related issues for the recently approved development (24 new homes will be built off of Ardsley Road, just east of Sprain Road). Some residents have quality of life concerns. The goal of the meeting is to develop a working relationship with the construction team and neighborhood. We hope that inconveniences to neighbors minimized. We will meet Monday at 6:30 PM in front of 695 Ardsley Road.

9-11 Tile Wall Restoration Project--the work continues this week. Volunteers wanted

The Arts and Culture Committee is coordinating the restoration of the People's 9-11 wall at Presser Park (nee Webb Park) on Central Avenue. The tiles were originally created in workshops sponsored by ArtsWestchester with funding from Project Liberty. Rotary International has provided financial support for the project. Many people are volunteering their time to the restoration. Over 1500 tiles will be placed back on the wall before the 10th anniversary of 911.

Community volunteers are assisting with sorting, cleaning, marking and boxing tiles for return to the original wall at Webb park. The staging area is currently at Anthony Veteran Park, on tennis court #1. (Anthony Veteran Park is off Heatherdell Road which is off Ridge Road in Ardsley.)

Schedule of times that volunteers can show up at Anthony Veteran Park to assist Sarah Bracey White with the project:

Monday (June 20th)

Tuesday (June 21st)
Thursday (June 23rd)
Friday (June 24th)
6 - 8 pm all of the above days.
[In case of rain, work rescheduled until the next day]
Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves, a pair of pliers and water.

Additional volunteer times will continue to be announced on this site.

PAUL FEINER

Friday, June 17, 2011

farmers market saturday...worksession tuesday..please recycle =...

REMINDER- HARTSDALE FARMER'S MARKET ON SATURDAY. CONCERT AT 10 AM AT DESANTI PLAZA, E HARTSDALE AVE

Town of Greenburgh
Work Session of the Greenburgh Town Board

Agenda: Tuesday – June 21, 2011 – 09:15 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 Flooding in Elmsford --follow up to meeting we had with NYS DEC and US Army Corp of Engineers

· 10:30 AM Capital Budget (discussion prior to submitting proposed 2011 budget)

· 10:45 AM Empire Medical Plan

· 11:00 AM Ethics Code – discussion of some possible amendments

· 11:30 AM Hastings Affordable Housing

· 12:00 Noon Habitat for Humanity--possible house town owns near veteran town park

· 12:15 PM Motion for Executive Session by____2nd_____Aye_____

· 01:00 PM Adjourn



REMINDER: NEW RECYCLING LAWS WENT INTO EFFECT JUNE 1st

Talking Trash



There's a lot of municipal talk about the county's expanded recycling program which officially starts on June 1, 2011.

But do you really know what is included in the expansion to numbers 3-7?

Just in case, here's a handy reference list.

Please note that all plastics must be coded (with any number between 1 and 7), rinsed clean and be free of food waste and other products.

BREAKING NEWS: Plastic caps on jars and bottles are now accepted for recycling!

Number 1 Plastics -- PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
* Found in: Soft drinks, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; oven-safe food trays.
* Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers.

Number 2 Plastics -- HDPE (high density polyethylene)
* Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; butter and yogurt tubs.
* Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing.

Number 3 Plastics -- V (Vinyl) or PVC
* Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging.
* Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats.

Number 4 Plastics -- LDPE (low density polyethylene)
* Found In: Squeezable bottles; frozen food containers.
* Recycled Into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile.

Number 5 Plastics -- PP (polypropylene)
* Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, medicine bottles, coded flower pots.
* Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays.

Number 6 Plastics -- PS (polystyrene)
* Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles.
* Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers.

Number 7 Plastics -- Miscellaneous
* Found in: Water bottles, certain food containers.
* Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products.

Regarding Plastic Bags: Be advised that plastic grocery and carryout bags, as well as other plastic bags (including dry cleaning bags), may be dropped off at any of several large grocery and retail stores for recycling. Each year, Americans throw away more than 100 billion plastic bags. Less than 1% is recycled. Recycling these bags reduces waste and litter, resulting in cleaner streets and waterways. In addition, using recycled plastic bags in place of virgin plastics reduces our demand for foreign oil. Recycled plastic bags provide valuable material to manufacturers of plastic lumber, plastic bags and other useful products. For more information on plastic bag recycling and drop off locations, click here.

Read the Curbside Recycling Guide to learn how to separate recyclables for curbside collection. In addition, you can bring other items, including household chemicals, rechargeable batteries, electronics, and plastic bags for recycling and old or expired medications for disposal to Household Material Recovery Days. Check out the schedule of upcoming events to find a Household Material Recovery Day or Mobile Shredder event near you.



FUN EVENTS THIS WEEKEND FROM WWW.RIVERTOWNSGUIDE.COM


Saturday, June 18 from 8:30am - 1:30pm | Hastings Outdoor Farmers Market, Hastings Library Parking Lot

-- Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19, begins at 11am | "Clearwater Generations", Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson
-- Saturday, June 18 from 11pm through Sunday, June 19 @ 11pm | 24 Hour Movie Marathon, Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville
-- Sunday, June 19 from 8am - 3pm (and every fair weather Sunday) | Beacon Flea Market, Henry St Parking Lot, 6 Henry Street (Parking Lot Only), Beacon


Weekend Quick Takes….
Links and info here http://www.rivertownsguide.com
- Dobbs Ferry Farmers Market
- Opening: A SPIN ON GREEN
- Tarrytown Third Friday: Pet Parade
- Ukrainian Heritage Festival
- 6th Annual Art Walk 2011
- The Comedy of Errors - Westchester County Nights at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival
- Hastings Outdoor Farmers Market
- Live Butterfly Exhibit
- "Clearwater Generations"
- Walk: Old Croton Aqueduct from Gerlach Park (Ossining) to New Croton Dam
- 6th Annual Art Walk 2011
- World Wide Knit in Public Day 2011
- Giant Plastic Bag Kites (Kite Flight and Workshop)
- Yolanda F. Johnson: "A Spirituals Experience"
- Form & Function Art Exhibit
- Steamships on the Hudson
- Los Lonely Boys
- 8th Annual Red Carpet Night Fundaraising Gala: Featuring Peter Frampton
- Jackie Mason: Second Performance!
- 24 Hour Movie Marathon
- Beacon Flea Market
- Bicycle Sundays
- Live Butterfly Exhibit
- Stereoscope and the World of Photography


Weekly Outdoor Farmers Markets: 2011 Opening Day Schedule
Dobbs Ferry: Fridays
Hastings: Saturday
Tarrytown: Saturdays
Irvington: Wednesdays


12th Annual Dobbs Ferry Summer Music Series
Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8pm
Dobbs Ferry Waterfront. Presented by Jazz Forum Arts
Rain Location: Embassy Community Center, 60 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry. INFO: 914-631-1000
June 22: Sheila Jordan & Her Trio; Jay Azzolina, Cameron Brown, Tony Jefferson
June 29: Nanny Assis Group feat Danise Reis–Brazilian Music
July 6: Mark Rapp “The Song Project”
July 13: Jason Miles Group
July 20: Freddie Bryant Quartet
July 27: 3D Ritmo de Vida
August 3: Carrie Jackson & Her Trio
August 10: Jo Lawry Group
August 17: John Hart Organ Quartet



One significant way that everyone can contribute to environmental conservation is through waste reduction. In addition, old products can also be donated to reduce additions to the waste stream. Charities accept old furniture, clothing, toys, and other items for reuse. Through Westchester County's Treasure Hunt program residents can recycle their old items by giving them away for free.

And finally, here's something you can write home about. Westchester County is a leader in recycling. In 2009, 61 percent of all solid waste was recycled, which is well above the EPA national goal of 35 percent. It is also an impressive improvement over the 2008 county recycling rate of 46 percent.


from thehudsonindependent.com



Saturday 18

Old Croton Aqueduct Walk to New Croton Dam. Meet 11 am. Explore scenic Croton Gorge Park at the base of the dam's spectacular spillway. Five miles roundtrip. Bring lunch and water. Meet in Gerlach Park, Ossining. Enter on Old Albany Post Rd. north of Reservoir Rd., turn left, and continue to parking area. Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct. Information: C. Fahn, 914-478-3961, czf...@yahoo.com, or www.aqueduct.org.

Spirituals Concert: At 2:30 p.m. soprano Yolanda F. Johnson will celebrate Black Music Month with a lecture recital at the Warner Library in Tarrytown. Call 631-7734 or visit www.yolandafjohnson.com.

Simply Sinatra: Performance by Steve Lippia at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford. Dinner at 6:15 p.m. & show at 8 p.m. Call 592-2222 or visit www.broadwaytheatre.com.

Rock Concert: Los Lonely Boys will perform at 8 p.m. at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Call 877-840-0457 or visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org.

24 Hour Movie Marathon: Starting at 11 p.m. at Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville. Prize for anyone who stays all 24 hours. Call 747-5555 or visit www.burnsfilmcenter.org.

Sunday 19

Box Turtles in the Wild: At 4 p.m. visit their habitat at the Greenburgh Nature Center.



Have a great weekend.

PAUL FEINER

Thursday, June 16, 2011

FEDERAL LAWSUIT DISMISSED --

Mike Kolesar, the former Town Comptroller, had sued the town in the US District Court--Southern District of NY after he lost his position with the town. I am pleased to report that the plaintiff has stipulated to dismiss the above mentioned lawsuit with prejudice. The stipulation has been executed by our attorney, as well as Mr. Kolesar's, and was filed with the Court on Thursday afternoon. The Town made absolutely no payments to effectuate this dismissal, which the plaintiff voluntarily made shortly after the depositions of non-party witnesses, Herbert Rosenberg and Robert Bernstein. We are pleased, but not at all surprised, by this very favorable result.
PAUL FEINER

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

3rd free outdoor concert at hartsdale farmer's market saturday

The 3rd FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT at the Hartsdale farmer's market for the 2011 summer season will be held this Saturday, June 17th at 10 AM. The concert will feature the Westchester Harp Ensemble. The concerts are held at DeSanti Plaza, across from the Hartsdale train station.


We still have openings for bands, choirs, musicians to perform on other Saturday mornings during the summer months. We don't pay our musicians but will honor them at a Town Board meeting in the fall with a Certificate of Appreciation. We will also help promote the band/choir/musicians. If you would like to perform, please call Judith Beville, Town Clerk at 993-1504 or jbeville@greenburghny.com.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MUSICIANS SET UP EVERY WEEK. Please e mail Ms. Beville if you would like to help.

Last summer and fall 18 concerts were held on E Hartsdale Ave! The goal: to promote community, to encourage people to shop on E Hartsdale Ave and to enjoy our farmer's market. And...to listen to great music!



The Westchester Harp Ensemble, founded by Lois Colin, has been in existence since 2004.

Members of the harp ensemble, students of Lois Colin, include Maggie Varenne of the Bronx, Natasha Raikhovski of Larchmont, Theresa Phoenix of Irvington, Marinna Chung of Yonkers, Eleanor Reich of Purchase, Maggie MacNichol-Skau of Eastchester, Mariana Lee of Larchmont, Remy DeVere of Greenwich, Julia Longo of Rye, Christine, Danielle and Molly Colasacco of Eastchester.

The Harp Ensemble has performed at the following places:

Senior centers throughout Westchester, Westchester Children’s Hospitals,The Northern Westchester Center for the Arts, Sunday Service with Children's Choir of Briarcliff Congregational Church, Eastchester Public Library, Irvington Public Library, Rye Public Library, Larchmont Public Library annual March concerts with Pam’s Piper’s, New Rochelle High School, Hartsdale Outdoor Concert Series, Thomas Paine Cottage, Colonial Fair, LMC-TV program.

www.loiscolin.com

www.westchesterharpensemble.com

PAUL FEINER

Monday, June 13, 2011

BIOMED TO TAKE OVER VACANT BUILDINGS IN GREENBURGH--FOR BIOTECH USE

TOWN BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTION THAT WILL HELP BIOMED TAKE OVER VACANT BUILDINGS IN UNINCORPORATED GREENBURGH FOR BIOTECH USES...

Last year the town received disappointing news. OSI, which had planned to relocate their biotech company to unincorporated Greenburgh (Ardsley) decided to halt their relocation (even though they had spent significant dollars on the newly acquired buildings). The reason: A Hostile takeover.


GOOD NEWS BioMed Realty Trust, which owns the Landmark at Eastview (ALSO IN GREENBURGH) has decided to buy the vacant property on Old Saw Mill River Road.

About 400,000 square feet of laboratory and office space will now be part of BioMed.

According to a report in the Westchester County Business Journal "BioMed Realty, the prospective new landlord, is expected to lease about 130,000 square feet of space in two Ardsley Park buildings to Acorda Therapeutics Inc. The publicly traded company might lease an additional 120,000 square feet over the next several years, Acorda officials said in their recent application to the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency for project tax breaks.

Based in Hawthorne, Acorda develops and markets drugs that improve neurological function in persons with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and other nervous-system disorders. The company to date has marketed two commercial products, Ampyra extended-release tablets to improve walking in MS patients, and Zanaflex capsules, a short-acting drug to manage spasticity.

Acorda officials in their project proposal to the IDA said the company has outgrown its Hawthorne facility at 15 Skyline Drive in the Mid-Westchester Executive Park. It plans to relocate all of its 159 current employees to Ardsley. Over the next five years, Acorda expects to add 190 biotech jobs there with an average annual salary of $120,000."



The Town Board approved the following resolution last week. Had we not approved this action BioMed would not have purchased the property. A joint meeting was held with the Ardsley School Board and Town Board to discuss the resolution prior to the Town Board approving the action. I think this is good for the town. Vacant buildings will be occupied. Good for property values. Good for local businesses. More job opportunities. Potential additional revenue for the town...

PAUL FEINER



TB-1 – 06/08/11



RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE TOWN BOARD’S AGREEMENT WITH THE DECISION OF THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY “WESTCHESTER COUNTY IDA,” TO TERMINATE THE MARCH 16, 2010 PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES AGREEMENT (“PILOT AGREEMENT”) BY AND BETWEEN THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY IDA, OSI PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., AND OSI ARDSLEY LLC LOCATED AT 410, 420, 430, 440, 444 AND 460 SAW MILL RIVER ROAD, IDENTIFIED ON THE OFFICIAL TAX MAPS AS 8.430-305-7..1, 8.430-305-7..2, 8.430-305-7..3, 8.500-350-3, 8.500-350-4, 8.430-305-7..4



WHEREAS, the Town of Greenburgh is a signatory to certain Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement dated as of March 16, 2010 (the “PILOT Agreement”); and



WHEREAS, OSI Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company and OSI Ardsley, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (together referred to as “The Company”) are obligated under the PILOT Agreement to make payments to the Town in lieu of taxes; and



WHEREAS, pursuant to the PILOT Agreement, the Company granted a mortgage encumbering the property located at 410, 320, 430, 440, 444 and 460 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley, New York (the “facility realty”) as security for the PILOT payments; and



WHEREAS, on June 8, 2010, the Company was acquired by Astellas US Holdings, Inc. (“Astellas US”) and the Company has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Astellas US LLC; and



WHEREAS, by reason of the acquisition, the Company no longer intends to utilize the Facility Realty as its corporate headquarters, general corporate offices and research and development and manufacturing facilities; and



WHEREAS, the Company has entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement providing for the sale of the Facility Realty to Biomed Realty, LP which sale is scheduled to close in June 2011; and



WHEREAS, the Town has provided quality services to review and evaluate the issues to ensure the Town and School are held harmless with regard to the Termination of the Agreement, the Company has agreed to compensate the Town in the sum of $10,000; and



WHEREAS, in order to induce the Town to agree to the termination of the PILOT Agreement and the PILOT Mortgage, the Company has agreed to pay certain portions of the PILOT payments that would have been due had these agreements not been so terminated and agrees to provide $1,500,000 to be held in escrow with the Westchester County IDA as acceptable security for such payments should payment of any shortfall not occur; and



WHEREAS, Town will accept all, if any shortfall payments as normal tax collection procedures apply, and will pay to the School and County within the same time frame allocated for normal tax collection and payments to the taxing jurisdictions; and



WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the Town to execute agreements to terminate the PILOT Agreement and the PILOT Mortgage and an agreement that will require the Company to pay any difference between the tax paid by the new property owner and what would have been the payment under the PILOT Agreement with the Company; and



NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh hereby authorizes the execution of the PILOT Shortfall Payment Agreement, the PILOT Termination Agreement, the Satisfaction of Mortgage, the Escrow Agreement and any other relevant settlement documents consistent with this resolution; and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Town Board hereby authorizes the acceptance of $10,000 from OSI Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company and OSI Ardsley, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (together referred to as “The Company”) to offset the cost to the Town associated with the review, evaluation and modification of the agreements referenced herein.

Friday, June 10, 2011

http://greenburghjobs.blogspot.com/-great summer jobs for students

http://greenburghjobs.blogspot.com/

great summer jobs for students

Thursday, June 09, 2011

FROM THE DAILY GREENBURGH--BATTLE OF BANDS THIS SATURDAY TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHILDREN WITH HEART DEFECTS

Greenburgh Musicians Raise Money for Heart Defects
Greenburgh Musicians Raise Money for Heart Defects by Natalia Baage-Lord05/23/11
. Greenburgh Interns Zach Bergenfeld, Josh Ringel, Jon Rood and David Schuman
Photo Credit: Greenburgh Interns
Josh RingelPhoto Credit: Greenburgh Interns
▲▼ Calling all local musicians. If you and your friends want to play some music at the Greenburgh Battle of the Bands fundraiser in Hartsdale you should sign up now.
On June 11, the Hartsdale Farmer’s Market, adjacent to the train station, will host the event to raise money for the Gift of Life International Foundation. It gives free medical services to children with congenital heart failure.
“It’s a good cause because $6,000 can change a child’s life forever,” said Josh Ringel, co-creator of the event and intern to Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. “The Gift of Life helps people internationally as well as domestically by raising money for kids who need heart transplants or suffer from heart defects.”
All money raised goes to the charity. Ringel and the other interns involved encourage local businesses to donate gift cards that will be raffled off during the event. Schools are asked to participate with bake sales with half of the proceeds going to the Gift of Life.
Music lovers are encouraged to support the local bands by donating spare cash while enjoying the market's weekly offerings of fresh fruits, vegetables and other edible delights.
Feiner’s interns, who created this event, are Ringel, a junior at the University of Albany; David Schuman, a junior at Vanderbilt University; and Zach Bergenfeld and Jon Rood, seniors at Ardsley High School.
The Gift of Life Foundation was created by the Manhasset Rotary Club in 1975 to help children with heart ailments or other similar illnesses.
For more information and to sign up for Battle of the Bands, please contact: greenburghny1@gmail.com.
Have you donated your talents or money for events like this one? Please tell us about them.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

STUDENT NEWS NETWORK GRADUATION..NEW CHOCOLATE STORE COMING

GOOD NEWS FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS A NEW STORE TO OPEN IN GREENBURGH 5 AVENUE CHOCOLATIERE
a new store is going to be opening soon at Scarsdale Park Mall at 450 Central Avenue, in Edgemont!
It is 5th Avenue Chocolatiere..the have a store on Madison Avenue in NYC and one in Valley Stream, LI.

They will manufacture their own chocolates and sell them there...and will also host parties for kids 6-11 on the primses where the kids will make their own choclets.

They should be open some time during this summer.



GRADUATION WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STUDENT NEWS NETWORK GRADUATES www.snnews.org---PRESENTATION AT WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOWN BOARD MEETING 8 PM TO 8:30 pm




The Student News Network of the Town of Greenburgh, NY, is a program conceived by Town Supervisor Paul Feiner Judith Beville and guided by digital producer and local parent, Alan Brody with Digital Journalism Professor Mo Krochmal. The idea is to develop and train students to become multimedia digital journalists, persuasive communicators and participants in 21 Century Digital Citizenship.

With over 20 teens attending weekly meetings, Brody & Krochmal guided the group through finding, developing, writing and then producing the stories featured on the SNN News TV show. Each story has been written by the teens, posted on the SNN News website and then each author was trained to present before the camera.
About the Student News Network of the Town of Greenburgh
The Student News Network of the Town of Greenburgh, NY, is a groundbreaking service that is perhaps unique in the nation in creating a platform that allows the young students of the Westchester County to be of service and to learn essential skills of 21st Century digital citizenry while coached by World Class volunteer professionals.
The vision of Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, the guiding force in this project, was to welcome students into the town hall and support them learning how us the cable access broadcast facilities and equipment and to make a newscast. The town welcomed the students every week after school to the seat of the community, the Town Hall, where students could actually sit in the seats at the front and talk in the microphones for questions and answers with Supervisor Feiner and Town Clerk Judith Beville
Alan Brody, a parent and a digital entrepreneur who lives in the community, got involved in early January and then reached out to Mo Krochmal, a former digital journalism professor in New York City. Every week the two would meet with the students, and even some parents, to teach and to coach them on reporting, writing and eventually video production.

The students, ranging from 7th Graders to Seniors getting ready for college, collaborated in a private Facebook group and a private website and, edited by Brody and Krochmal, started publishing their stories, starting with a scoop when a student, Julia Brody, got to sit in on Supervisor Finer’s interview with Dr. Ed Zuckerberg, a Greenburgh resident and the father of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The students work has been published on the SNNews.org website and shows the philosophy of the program – “News by kids, for kids.” The students have done photography and video as well as writing and rewriting for publication on the site, and they have learned how to then tell their stories to the broadcast television cameras. Their half-hour news program will also be posted to the SNNews.org site and will play on the town’s cable access channel.
They have covered issues important to them, such as bullying and what happens when junior varsity sports have their funding cut.
But, more than anything, they have learned skills about how to get people to tell them their stories, interviewing, writing effectively for the Internet and for broadcast, as well as how to tell a story effectively in front of the camera as well as on a mobile telephone.
Their stories have illuminated youth issues and have served their community. Their experience has taught them to be comfortable with technology, to learn the value of credible information and how to find it as well as how to present it using traditional broadcasting technologies as well as the emerging technologies of citizen journalism. The students learned a lot because they wanted to, all came on their own, juggling busy schedules to learn in a real-world situation, without grades.
SNN GRADUATES
Lewis Brown
Amanda Cohen
Brianna Johnson
Sruti Karwa
Michael Karr
Robert Mendelson
Mandi Nyambi
Alexa Pagano


Jeremy Pember
Isabelle Perlman
Nikita Reddy
Montana Samuels
Pamela Segall
Harshal Shet
Katie Sims
Neil Suri
Christopher Williams
Jesse Williams
David Zeiger

Monday, June 06, 2011

summer jobs for students..battle of bands

SUMMER JOB OPENINGS FOR STUDENTS---WWW.GREENBURGHJOBS.BLOGSPOT.COM
The Town of Greenburgh has begun a blog at Greenburghjobs.blogspot.com to advertise local job openings for the summer and beyond. Initially intended for students seeking employment, the effort has expanded to include several management positions as well. Openings are available all over Westchester, including in Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Elmsford, Tarrytown and even the Westchester Mall.
So far, over 50 jobs have been posted with more to come. David Schuman, an intern for the Town of Greenburgh, is a co-creator of the blog along with fellow interns Josh Ringel, Jon Rood and Zach Bergenfeld. There are a surprising amount of local stores looking for employees, and “getting the word out to all the people who probably did not know about these jobs” is the central mission of the blog, according to Schuman. Ringel made sure to add, “We have also put up many helpful tips on how to go about getting employed, including information on job interview skills.”
Last year, the Town of Greenburgh was able to place a confirmed twelve people in new positions, and possibly more. The interview tips are a recent development that the interns hope will attract more viewers. Visit the blog at
Greenburghjobs.blogspot.com. If you are a local business who would like a job listing or somebody the blog has assisted, let us know! Contact the Greenburgh interns at greenburghny1@gmail.com.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS ON E HARTSDALE AVE THIS SATURDAY
On Saturday, June 11, join a cause that will markedly change the lives of children from around the world with congenital heart defects. As the kickoff to the Greenburgh Summer Concert Series,we’re hosting a Battle of the Bands Benefit Concert for the Gift of Life International District 7230, a charity managed by the Westchester Rotary Club. The event will be held on E Hartsdale Ave during the farmer’s market.
Gift of Life International raises money to bring less fortunate children into the country, where surgeons give them another chance at life. An operation that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars is performed for a mere $6,000. Many of the kids have grown up with holes in their hearts that would have been repaired at birth if they had been born in the US.
So far, children from 64 countries have been treated successfully, including Sami, a six year old from Panama who was brought to Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx last year. Sponsored by the Ossining Rotary Club, Sami’s open-heart operation was a success. Sami’s gift of life is a gift that could be given to many more children with your help.
The Benefit Concert will feature four local artists. Performing first at 10 AM are The Blues Mothers, a group from Hastings that plays jazzy blues. Next, at 11 AM, are The Enthusiasts, a band from Ardsley that will rock your world. At noon Mad Handsome goes on, which includes Henry Leone and Derek O’Donnell, two Ardsley High School teachers. Finally, at 1 PM, come hear the sounds of Mamojam, a band of Ardsley High School students that has been around for three years.
With local performers and one of the best organic food markets in the area, June 11 promises to be a fun time that will raise money for an honorable cause. Gift of Life is an organization that produces tangible results and you can be a part of it. All contributions are significant. For more information, please send
BANDS WANTED TO SHOW OFF THEIR TALENTS FOR FARMER’S MARKET OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES
questions to greenburghny1@gmail.com.
We’re looking for more bands (professional, student, amateur) to perform at the E Hartsdale Ave outdoor concerts—during the summer months---Saturday’s in June, July, August. Contact Town Clerk Judith Beville at 993 1504 or jbeville@greenburghny.com. The bands will be asked to donate their services. Each participant will receive certificates from the town in the fall and be honored at our Town Board meetings. Last year 18 concerts were held.
PAUL FEINER

Saturday, June 04, 2011

LOIS BRONZ CHILDRENS CENTER WON'T CLOSE

During the past year we scheduled some community meetings at Town Hall and elsewhere because the Lois Bronz Children's Center was in danger of closing. This center, located on Manhattan Ave (near the Theodore Young Community Center) was one of the first affordable child care centers in the county. It would have been very sad to see one of the early child care centers in our county close down. For me- this center symbolized how progressive our community is. Good news. A combination of wonderful supporters, cost cuts, a significant donation from an anonymous donor has wiped out the debts of the Lois Bronz Children's Center. A new management team has achieved significant cost savings while simultaneously improving the quality of child care. In addition, old friends like St. Faiths, Westchester Community Foundation and the Baird Foundation and new donors like Verizon came through for the center. The community has also been helpful. Thanks to the wonderful support of the Ministers’ Fellowship Council of White Plains, a Gospel Concert was held in Greenburgh reminding our community that LBCC has been a fabulous resource for our families for decades.
The other great news is that enrollment is up, and child care advocates feel confident that there will be a full house this fall. A strategic plan was also introduced--DISCOVER THE GENIUS IN EVERY CHILD.
Laura Lewis, Executive Director of the Lois Bronz Children's Center will be moving on to another organization. The Board is currently interviewing strong candidates for the Interim Executive Director position.
Special thanks to Susan Somersille Johnson, President and Nevin E.Greene, Vice President of the day care center for their hard work.

Visit www.lbcc4kids.org. Are you willing to help????



REVOLUTIONARY WAR HISTORIAN COMES TO GREENBURGH

The Town of Greenburgh as sought the services of Dr.Robert Selig, distinguished historian, to investigate a series of historic “hot spots” in the Town of Greenburgh. Dr.Selig’s expertise are being made available to the town by the efforts of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant #2000-W-37, which will fund his research project.

Robert Stackpole, Sons of the American Revolution Chapter President, and Town Historian, Frank Jazzo join Dr.Selig research project along with Ardsley High School senior, Christopher Hofmann and Thomas Madden, Commissioner Of Community Development and Conservation.

Dr.Selig will evaluate and provide a historical overview examining the presence of American and French forces in Philipsburg during the summer of 1781. Selig will conduct research on two wooded properties; one located along “thirty deer ridge” referred to as “Gel Sprain”, another located at the end of Old Sprain Road, along the Sprain River referred to “Parcel Q”. Selig is also investigating the Odell House, located on Ridge Road, which served as the head quarters to Rocheambeau, he is also investigating the Joseph Appleby Farmhouse property (now WFAS), which served as head quarters for George Washington.

When Dr.Selig is done with his research, it will be integrated into current educational and recreational facilities within the town. His research would look to aid to the developments of new recreational trails in the Town of Greenburgh, also it would look to link with current Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. As of this year W3R was turned into a national trail, signed by President Obama which places the trail under the National Park Service. The Town of Greenburgh is eager to wait the results of Dr.Seligs report and also is very grateful of the dedication of Frank Jazzo, Bob Stackpole, Chris Hofmann, and Thomas Madden to preserve Greenburghs revoltionary past. Check out this project of facebook! Search: Summer of 1781

Paul Feiner

Friday, June 03, 2011

SUMMER POLICE CAMP APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED...COMMENTS ON PROPERTY TAX CAP

SUMMER POLICE YOUTH CAMP APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED
Applications are out for the Town of Greenburgh Police Department Summer Youth Camp funded by the Lanza Foundation. Applications can be picked up at police Headquarters, Town Hall, TDYCC, Sacred Heart Church, Union Baptist Church, Greenville Community Reformed Church, Parks and Recreation, and the Housing Authority Office.



Applications must be completed and returned to Greenburgh Police HQ’s no later than Monday, June 13. Any application received after this date will not be considered.



Campers must be between the ages of 13 – 17.



The seven week course will include trips to Ottisville Correctional Facility, Westchester County Court House, Roosevelt Island, Rye Playland, and Washington D.C, with other interesting trips being planned.



Speakers from the US Secret Service, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Office and the ATF will hold classroom sessions to explain each departments mission.



Campers will be certified in First Aid ,C.P.R., and water safety.



The goal of this program is to expose our son or daughter to various law enforcement careers while developing academic ability and self-esteem. Campers will come away from this program with meaningful skills and a better understanding of the criminal justice system and its potential as a career.



Questions regarding the camp should be directed to Sergeant Robert Gramaglia, Commanding Officer of the Community Affairs Unit at (914) 682-5391 or by email at RGramaglia@Greenbughny.com





Respectfully,



Sgt. Robert J. Gramaglia



Reminder: Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 10:00AM to 2:00PM MOBILE SHREDDER TOWN HALL

Hastings Friday Night Live—tonight…

Stay cool in summer and warm in the winter while you save $$! Learn how and pick up 4 free CFL bulbs that'll deliver $64 in annual energy savings on June 6th at 7 p.m. at Greenburgh Town Hall. You’ll save money and get something for free. Register here:
http://www.renewgreenburgh.org/registration-June6-freehomeenergyworkshop.html
MY THOUGHTS ABOUT PROPERTY TAX CAP—IMPACT ON INFRASTRUCTURE

The proposed property tax cap that the Governor and State Legislative leaders have been pushing to caused me to reflect on one unintended consequences to their proposal: our infrastructure.

Local governments, faced with the tax cap, may become penny wise and pound foolish--and put off necessary infrastructure needs. Many of our state, county and local roads currently are in bad shape--with many potholes. The tax cap will result in governments spending less on road repaving. Will some of the necessary repairs on our bridges be delayed? Will governments put off maintenance of municipal owned buildings, swimming pools, playgrounds? Will there be short term savings and long term liability?

Perhaps, the NYS Legislature should exempt infrastructure improvements made by local, school and county governments from the tax cap if the capital improvements were first placed on the ballot for voters to scrutinize and vote on.

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor

914 993 1545 or 438 1343

This is a resolution the Edgemont School district approved expressing concerning about the impact of the tax cap on school districts…

Tax Cap and Local Control Resolution

Edgemont Union Free School District

Adopted 3/16/2011

WHEREAS the Edgemont Board of Education is committed to being responsible to local

taxpayer needs by maintaining fiscal discipline while preserving educational excellence; and

WHEREAS local taxpayers have and should continue to maintain control over approval of

school budgets determining acceptable cost and quality of an Edgemont education; and

WHEREAS the local school budget is the only tax-funded budget on which local voters have a

direct vote; and

WHEREAS New York State is proposing a tax cap that would limit local determination as to cost

and quality of an Edgemont education; and

WHEREAS New York State currently imposes costly mandates on the Edgemont School District

that are unfunded or only partially funded by the state, and which substantially contribute to the

tax burden on Edgemont residents; and

WHEREAS the Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association has passed a resolution in

opposition to the current New York State property tax cap proposal enumerating cost drivers

imposed on school districts by New York State;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Edgemont Board of Education

opposes the imposition by New York State of a school budget tax cap and urges all New York

State legislators to reject such a tax cap proposal.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Edgemont Board of Education supports New York

Stateʼs goal to reduce local taxes for New York State residents and joins Westchester-Putnam

School Board Association in urging the New York State Legislature, Governor and Board of

Regents to reduce and reform cost drivers and eliminate unfunded and underfunded state

mandates in order to relieve the burden on local taxpayers.

BE IT ALSO FURTHER RESOLVED that the Edgemont Board of Education opposes the

adoption of any other New York State legislation that further erodes the ability of local school

districts to manage their own affairs in providing educational services to their student population



The following is a memo I received from school activists who are concerned about the impact the proposed property tax cap will have on our schools and property values.

URGENT!!

Dear Friends and Neighbors,



As you may know, the NY State Assembly is on the brink of passing a 2% property tax cap (the State Senate has already passed a similar bill).



What you may not know is that this cap will NOT provide meaningful relief to those struggling to pay their taxes and it has the potential to destroy public education in NY and further erode already depressed property values.



There is an alternative - the "Circuit Breaker" legislation

- it provides substantive tax relief based on income, but the Albany leadership is not listening.



(further information attached)



IMMEDIATE ACTION IS REQUIRED!!



Please follow the instructions below to contact your assembly member, state senator and the governor – they need to hear from voters opposed to this bill TODAY as the vote could come as early as next week.

It is not an exaggeration to say the fate of the New York public education system rests in your hands!

It takes a little effort, less than 5 minutes, but the impact could be enormous....



1. Copy and paste this link into your browser to find your elected representatives (enter your zip code and address):



http://www.capwiz.com/npta2/ny/directory/statedir.tt?state=NY&lvl=state&action=myreps_form



2. Then copy and paste the following text, or compose your own message, to send emails to each of your representatives...



I am writing to urge you to "put the brakes" on the tax cap legislation. It will not provide meaningful relief and has the potential to decimate NYS public schools and further erode already depressed property values. There is a better alternative: "Circuit Breaker" legislation would substantively reduce taxes for homeowners overly burdened by property taxes. If a tax cap is inevitable, it MUST include exemptions for costs outside school district control; e.g. rising enrollment, certiorari-related tax refunds, pension contributions and reductions in state aid; also, the override threshold should be reduced to 55% and a contingency budget should be the fallback in the event of defeat, rather than 0% tax levy increase. And, in any scenario, mandate reform is needed to bring down costs across the state. Thank you!

Thursday, June 02, 2011

captain lawrence brewing company to move to greenburgh

Greenburgh is an attractive place to do business in. We’re going to continue to work hard to attract quality new businesses to our town. I am very pleased to report that Captain Lawrence Brewing Company is planning to move to Greenburgh---444 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford from Pleasantville. The following is from their memo to customers…

We will have some exciting additional economic development news to report very soon about other projects!
PAUL FEINER
The new site at 444 Saw Mill River Rd, Elmsford, NY, which will occupy 18,250 sf with an additional 5000 sf available for expansion, has been designed to accommodate our growing needs as a brewery and as a destination for people wanting to taste fresh beer at its source. The new facility will house a 5 vessel, 40 bbl automated brew house which will have 5 times the capacity of the current location and will allow the company to begin packaging beers in 12 ounce bottles, something we have been dreaming of doing from keg one. In addition, we will be adding a 7 bbl experimental brew house which will allow us to create new and exciting beers on a regular basis, adding to the lineup of beers available in our tasting room and beyond. Our new tasting room will be approximately 1500 sf, 4 times the size of our current location and will incorporate a new draft system for serving beer and filling growlers and should provide a much more comfortable tasting experience.

It was always my dream, from the time I brewed my first batch of home brew, to open a brewery and bring fresh and exciting beers to the place I grew up; Westchester County. We have been extremely fortunate to have had the tremendous support of the Village and people of Pleasantville, our local neighbors, Westchester County, as well as beer drinkers throughout the NY Metro area and beyond. We did our best to stay in Pleasantville, looking at a number of potential sites, but unfortunately none of them fit our long term needs. We are looking forward to getting to know our new neighbors in Greenburgh.

We are hopeful we will have the Brewery up and running by late this year, and should be making the transition complete by year’s end. We will be sure to keep you all updated as the build out progresses and will be posting pictures and video on our website.

Cheers,


Scott Vaccaro

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

student interns to help process backlog of tickets in town court

STUDENT INTERNS PAID FOR FROM A FEDERAL EDUCATION GRANT WILL PROCESS BACKLOG OF TICKETS IN TOWN COURT—PROBABLY GENERATING SIX FIGURES OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR TOWN===IDEA PROPOSED BY CITIZENS BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMISSION------THANK YOU BERKELEY COLLEGE



The Citizens Budget Oversight Commission consists of about 32 residents from around the town who are examining ways to improve efficiency in the the way our government operates. The challenge: to maintain services and to keep taxes to a minimum. This can be achieved through new ideas which will increase productivity and bring down the cost of government.

The commission has already come up with a fantastic new idea that could generate significant revenue for the town. A partnership has been formed by a local college (Berkeley), the commission, the town and courts. Berkeley College will provide the Town Court with two college interns who are paid for from a federal education grant. The grant is designed to train students for jobs after graduation. Each of the students will work 20 hours a week in processing the backlog of tickets in the town court. We expect to generate six figures in new revenue as a result of this partnership –the revenue will be used to reduce any tax hike.

This is just one of many new ideas being proposed by the Citizens Bduget Oversight Commission, chaired by Alan Hochberg.



OFFSET TAXES AND GAS PRICE INCREASES WITH ENERGY SAVINGS AND FOUR FREE LIGHT BULBS

Stay cool in summer and warm in the winter while you save $$! Learn how and pick up 4 free CFL bulbs that'll deliver $64 in annual energy savings on June 6th at 7 p.m. at Greenburgh Town Hall. Join Supervisor Paul Feiner and experts who can show you how to save energy in your own home. Register here:

http://www.renewgreenburgh.org/registration-June6-freehomeenergyworkshop.html



THE MOST FUN EVENT YOU CAN ATTEND THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 3RD IS IN HASTINGS—FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

Hastings Friday Night Live

Date: Friday, June 3

with Warburton closed to traffic!



There will be

dancing puppets

fire dancers

carnival for kids

tons of vendors

and Milton will be performing!





AN INCREDIBLE JAZZ CONCERT WITH FUTURE WORLD CLASS MUSICIANS—SEE LOCAL TALENT PERFORM BEFORE THEY BECOME FAMOUS—THIS SATURDAY

What: Jazz Elite Orchestra Concert with trumpeter, Terell Stafford

When: Saturday, June 4, 2011

Where: Theodore D. Young Community Center

32 Manhattan Ave.

White Plains, NY 10607

Time: 7:30 to 9:30pm

Price: Adult~ $20 Seniors/Students ~ $10 Children 12 and under FREE



Paul Feiner