Postings on ECC page by Bob Bernstein about police investigation could be inappropriate

Bob Bernstein has been trying to stir up some controversy over a police investigation taking place in town. He has encouraged the Edgemont Community Council to post some stories on the ECC facebook page suggesting that the Greenburgh police are not working hard enough trying to solve the investigation.
I think that Mr. Bernstein's (who is an attorney) behavior is inappropriate. He is making allegations about the police WITHOUT having facts about the status of the police investigation. The police do not  provide citizens with day to day reports of the status of investigations. Publicizing allegations WITHOUT any facts to substantiate them is wrong. Bob: Rumors are not evidence.  Repeating rumors publicly doesn't solve crimes.
The Greenburgh police department is a professional department, and will always be independent of political interference. Every lead that is presented is investigated carefully by the department.
If Bob has facts - he should feel free to report them to the police.  They will be carefully investigated. And, if we find the bad guys arrests will be made no matter who they are.

you get to vote--on game on proposal

YOU GET TO VOTE! GREENBURGH TOWN BOARD AUTHORIZES VOTER REFERENDUM ON GAME ON SPORTS BUBBLE. REFERENDUM TO BE HELD ON ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER

The Greenburgh Town Board unanimously voted tonight to let the people decide!

We voted to place on the November election day ballot a referendum asking for voter authorization on whether the town should enter into a revenue and property tax generating lease agreement with Game On 365, LLC to construct a temporary recreation/sports bubble at the old Frank's nursery. The lease will be for a 15 year period and will guarantee the town a minimum of $5,000,000 in property taxes and revenue. Game On will pay all taxes. They will also make a one time upfront payment of $125,000 for an environmental study and cleanup of the foreclosed property.

I am very pleased that voters will have the chance to partner with town officials in making an important decision. If you are interested in holding a community meeting to discuss the referendum or want town officials or Game On representatives to stop by your house to explain the proposal in greater detail, please feel free to call on us. Democracy works best when voters are informed.

At the Town Board meeting tonight we also approved a professional service contract with Woodard & Curran Engineering for a phase II environmental site assessment at the old Frank's nursery for an amount not to exceed $43,550. This assessment will determine the extent of contamination on the property and the amount of remediation that has to take place. Game On will absorb the costs of the study - but if the lease is rejected by the voters the town will have to pay the costs

In other business...the Town Board authorized the Greenburgh Nature Center to have wine and beer at the center when authorized by a permit issued by the Commissioner of Parks for events sponsored by the Nature Center. The center can have wine/beer at events up to four times a year. The center believes that this new law will enable them to improve their fundraising abilities.

PAUL FEINER

Sad news- Sprainbrook Nursery going out of business

Very sad news. Sprainbrook Nursery, located at 448 Underhill Road, Scarsdale (Edgemont neighborhood) is going out of business. Al Krautter, owner of the business sent his customers the following e mail. I, like so many Greenburgh residents, feel sick over this announcement. Al and his nursery provided the community with exceptional service over the years. His nursery adds charm and character to our community. The nursery is an oasis of peace and beauty. His staff has always been exceptional and helpful. And--Al Krautter has inspired many residents of the community to enjoy gardening. It's my hope that the community will express our appreciation to Al Krautter and Sprainbrook Nursery by supporting his efforts to save the property as a nursery. Who knows-- maybe if the community responds by giving the nursery substantial business our community can turn this sad news around. Please read the following e mail. PAUL FEINER Greenburgh Town Supervisor

SPRAINBROOK NURSERY IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS With tears in my eyes and a very heavy heart I am forced to make the gut-wrenching announcement that after 68 years of serving the horticultural community Sprainbrook Nursery is closing its doors. This will be our last fall season. We will be going out of business at the end of the year because of economic reasons. I wish this were not true but unfortunately it is. The handwriting was on the wall for a long time but I’m not a person to give in easily. I ended up pouring all my recourses back into Sprainbrook Nursery. My hope was to be able to weather the storm and turn the tide. I knew I could bring the business back into full potential. I knew I had the knowledge, the talent and the hard work ethic that my parents instilled in me. I am a person who could fight back, for losing is not in my DNA. I also knew that this spring would be a do-or-die season so I set out with a positive attitude to produce a great crop of plants and win the battle. In some ways our hard worked paid off. The quality, the diversity and the beauty were there but the economy just wasn’t. Sprainbrook Nursery customers are the best; they are loyal and passionate about gardening and I love them dearly. Unfortunately there are not enough of them to sustain the business. The old fashioned Garden centers concerned with plant quality, variety and a knowledgeable horticultural staff are no longer supported by the large majority of people. Garden Centers as we knew them are slowly becoming obsolete in an environment where plants are being sold at every retail outlet. Many are convenience or impulse sales outlets. However they make an impact. Homeowners are relying on two people in the family to work. They employ gardeners and when they need a plant or product they choose to have them do the work rather than buying the product or service from the Garden Center. Garden Centers are a sad casualty of the times as the pendulum swings to alternative buying patterns. In the process, a trip to the Garden Center is being bypassed. We worked hard this year, as we knew it was a make-or-break year for us. Production was up but sales were not. We are a spring business and we rely on a good season to carry us through the year. Due to the economic recession our sales have dropped and our costs continue to rise. With health insurance, rising fuel prices, a huge jump in water bills and a very high property tax for the area we are battling huge costs before we ever open the doors. I am sharing this narrative so you understand that I did not give up easily or willingly and would have continued if I possibly could. I always thought if I could hang in there long enough, other Garden Centers would go out of business and the few of us left would be in demand and able to survive. Unfortunately I have become one of the early casualties. The changing times have left me with no other choice but to close the doors and put Sprainbrook Nursery up for sale. I share this with you because I want you to understand this was a forced decision not a personal choice. Sprainbrook has been my life and I had hoped it would be able to take care of me until my death. This is not meant to be. I feel badly for my loyal customers. You have become my friends and my inspiration. I will miss you and I know you will miss Sprainbrook. I feel sad for my loyal staff. Many have been with me for 25-40 years. They are the best in the industry and they are what made Sprainbrook special. Although this last month has been difficult on me, finding myself going through phases of mourning, depression, distress, disbelief and the reality that the nursery will close, I have no personal regrets. I lived a great productive and fulfilling life because of Sprainbrook. I was brought up at the nursery and I had a great childhood here. I entered a business and a profession where each day was a challenge but a pleasure. I enjoyed going to work every day. I spent every moment surrounded by beautiful plants. I was able to graduate from Cornell with a great horticultural education. I got to work in a family business with my parents and enjoyed my mother’s daily company until she died at age 95. I was able to raise my children at the nursery, have them go through the Edgemont School District and was able to pay for their college education. They turned out to be two great kids. I have a lovely and beautiful wife, best friend and business partner. She stuck with me to the end. I enjoy my customers and the relationship I was able to build with them. 12 STEPS TO NATURAL GARDENING I was able to hang in there long enough to write my book “12 Steps To Natural Gardening”. If I had given up earlier this would never have happened. I think the book has a powerful message to convey and I am dedicated to spreading the word for an organic approach to gardening. Our environment and our health are important and I believe if we are going to make a change, we all need to work together. I went through a process of change in my own growing operation and I witnessed the difference. Once I made the change I set out to develop a blueprint that other people could follow so they could also make the change. I have written programs to follow that will make your garden more beautiful. The organic approach will insure a healthy environment for your children to grow up in, your animals to play on and your family to live in. We need to be good to our earth and put back into it the organic supplements that will perpetuate life. We need to stop destroying it with our chemical and pesticide applications. We need to be conscious of the food web and the teeming life that exists there. The book is filled with formulas, calendars and advice. I have tested my formulas in the field and followed my calendar to test and tweak my programs. Even without Sprainbrook Nursery, the book can guide you through a process of how to grow beautiful plants the natural way. My daughter in California gave her colleague a copy of the book. She wrote my daughter an email stating that she fell in love with the book and it has become her bible. She is overjoyed with the results she has achieved. My hope is that everyone who hasn’t purchased my book will, and those who have will pass the information along to others. There will always be a part of me in it and I always want me to be a part of you. In its pages I will still be able to answer most of your gardening questions. The information in this book was written to help you become a better gardener. A customer said it is so easy to have a beautiful garden when you do everything organic. She said, “It is incredible how everything flourishes. It is amazing” she claimed. She said “how few people realize how to make the simple switch”. I learned this the hard way but once I made the choice to follow an organic program I never turned back. My commitment is to spread the word to as many people as I can that we all need to change to a natural approach. At age 77 there is not much more time to get the job done. I need your help, read the book and help me spread the word. I need to get a book review by a national name so it can reach a larger audience. We are all in this together and we all need to work together to solve this problem. “12 Steps To Natural Gardening” is available at the nursery as well as on line at: BARNS AND NOBLE - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/alfred-h.-krautter AMAZON - http://www.amazon.com/12-Steps-Natural-Gardening-ebook/dp/B007CKK7CM GARDENINGTHINGS.COM - http://www.gardeningthings.com WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BRING? I am trying to sell Sprainbrook Nursery as a nursery. I have written a letter to prospective buyers. If interested you can read it or send it on to someone else you may think would be interested. It is viewable at: http://www.sprainbrook.com/sprainbrookforsale.pdf This would be the best ending to a sad situation. If we could sell the Nursery to someone who would carry on the organic approach, we could continue and promote the movement. My sister is a Real Estate broker and will be listing the nursery for sale under multiple listings this month. We welcome anybody in the real estate field to contact us. I am having a difficult time finding lists of potential buyers. Please contact Norma Weisbrich at weisbri9@aol.com or call her at 203-536-2540 with any interest or leads What will happen to my employees? If we sell it as a nursery hopefully many of the employees will stay on, if this does not happen and the property goes for Real Estate, many will go into business on their own. If they do, I will keep you informed of their where-abouts and their business addresses. You will want to contact them and hire them before others do. They are the best and most knowledgeable in the horticultural field. Many people who have worked at Sprainbrook have gone out to some amazing horticultural jobs. Sprainbrook, just by the way it is structured, is a learning center. We grow our own plants and know the trials and tribulations involved in that. Our philosophy has been to provide our customers with lots of information and a wide selection of quality plants. I am proud that everyone at Sprainbrook is a part of this process and thus everyone in order to keep up has received a great Sprainbrook education. I will continue keep you posted in my emails and Facebook posts and I will continue to write Krautter’s Korner Monthly News Letter. I will maintain http://www.sprainbrook.com and will keep http://www.gardeningthings.com open where you can shop on-line for your organic gardening supplies. I am dedicated to keeping you informed. We will not be turning on the heat this year so we will not be growing Poinsettias nor doing a Christmas business. We are placing almost everything on a huge sale including fall landscape jobs. We will list details in September Krautter’s Korner. We have a huge amount of beautiful inventory to sell off. I will set up an extensive fall lecture series. It will be the last at Sprainbrook so I hope you can attend. It gives me one last chance to talk with you about these subjects here at home in the Nursery. The lectures are free and I look forward to passing this information on to you. Take advantage of the fall sales; pay us lots of visits as we try to clear out our inventory. There are lots of beautiful plants that need a home and lots of supply items that can be bought at reduced prices. I am taking it one day at a time as I realize life takes many twists and turns. I am not sure where the next turn will lead but I will follow it moving in as forward a direction as I can. Hopefully I will see you this fall. No matter how it turns out, I would like to thank you for making my life such a pleasant one. I have been blessed for 77 years and you have played an integral part in making it worthwhile, enjoyable and productive. Meanwhile there still is a lot of fall gardening we have to do. Sincerely Al Krautter

Alfred H. Krautter's New Book 12 STEPS TO NATURAL GARDENING includes information on: Composting, Lawns, Annuals, Perennials, Vegetables, Roses, Watering, Drought, Shrubs & Trees, Soil Formula, Indoor Gardening, Deer-Resistance, Pruning, Garden Calendar & much more With extraordinary compassion for nature and a growing alarm at the direction and toll chemical gardening was taking on the soil and human health, this book was written to encourage the change from chemical to natural gardening. For over 50 years Al Krautter has worked in horticulture, having grown up in his family business and carried it long into his adult life. A graduate of Cornell University, and well schooled in the post-war approach to horticulture, Al made the switch to natural gardening and found his true relationship in “working with Nature, not against Nature.” Regardless of your level of gardening or the size of your gardening project, here you will find invaluable advice and clear direction “This book is an extension of Al’s heart….he always impressed me with his common sense and breadth of knowledge.” —Jeff Frank (The Nature Lyceum) “Al has perfected an organic approach based on time-honored horticultural principles coupled with new product availability. Adaptable to any growing region, this comprehensive guide combines practical advice with a personal philosophy of respect for nature that will have your garden flourishing—naturally—in no time.” —Aiken Tompkins (Tompkins Organic Gardens) Available now at www.gardeningthings.com

Visit Us On-Line At www.sprainbrook.com www.gardeningthings.com www.facebook.com/sprainbrook Links The New York Botanical Garden offers over 850 classes in gardening, landscape design, horticulture and more. Browse the course offerings at www.nybg.org/AdultEd. New students receive 10% off their first class by using the code SS12PC. Please call 800.322.6924 to redeem discount.

police camp graduates 28 students

Greenburgh has a wonderful police summer camp - funded by Patricia Lanza. Mrs. Lanza is one of the most generous donors to numerous town programs. On Saturday the police department graduated 28 students. The following article appears in www.greenburgh.dailyvoice.com.

Greenburgh Police Summer Camp Cadets Graduate

by Natalia Baage-LordPolice & Fire10 min 16 sec ago Comment

ARDSLEY, N.Y. — Over the past seven weeks, the Greenburgh Police Summer Youth Camp worked with the Westchester County Bomb Squad, visited the 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan, folded a flag at Arlington National Cemetery and performed exercises on the Lincoln Memorial’s Great Lawn in Washington.
From July 9 to Aug. 25, 30 local teenagers participated in an intensive program aimed at teaching students about the police department and expanding their perceptions of law enforcement.
“The camp is an abbreviated, condensed, but complete, police academy,” said Officer David Zenon, explaining that the students executed the same drills and completed the same tests that are performed in recruit school.
The camp’s graduation took place at Anthony F. Veteran Park on Saturday, celebrating the discipline, responsibility and accountability shown by the campers.
Sgt. Robert Gramaglia noted that the camp was not easy for several students, mentioning that many had thought about quitting. However, the determination and perseverance they learned from the program guided them to continue. Zenon said the students’ negative thoughts changed from “I can’t” to “I need to find a way to do it.”
Parents filled the multipurpose room, snapping photos of their police camp graduates as Zenon, Gramaglia and Police Chief Joseph DeCarlo congratulated the students.
The Greenburgh Police Department received 70 applications for the summer camp; 30 teenagers were accepted and 28 graduated. Former Police Chief John Kapica began the camp in 1999 to introduce local youths to law enforcement and create a better relationship between teenagers and police officers, said DeCarlo.
Over the past two months, the students learned from the Greenburgh K-9 unit, SWAT team and technical rescue team. They also traveled to Washington, where they visited the Museum of Crime and Punishment, the Police Memorial Museum and the Pentagon.
The police camp — called “one of the most exciting and groundbreaking experiences for our children” by state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins — is funded by the Lanza Foundation. The camp, which costs $65,000 to run, was cut from the Police Department’s budget five years ago. Since then, Westchester resident Patricia Lanza has fully funded the program.
“I can’t thank her enough,” DeCarlo said. “We wouldn't have this” without her help.
Zenon encouraged the campers to continue their education and, perhaps, pursue a career in the police department.
“This is a wonderful program that encourages young people to appreciate the work of our police,” Town Supervisor Paul Feiner wrote in a news release. “Perhaps one of tomorrow’s graduates will become a future police chief.”
For information about next year’s Greenburgh Police Summer Youth Camp, contact Sgt. Gramaglia at 914-682-5391.

METRO NORTH SHOULD NOT MAKE PROFITS FROM HATE ADVERTISEMENTS

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home > news > local

Anti-Islamic Ads Bring More Metro-North Controversy

Many call it hate speech, but the anti-Islamic ads are protected by the First Amendment

By Jonathan Vigliotti

| Thursday, Aug 16, 2012 | Updated 6:52 PM EDT

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Riders on Metro-North's Harlem line are reacting to a new controversial greeting on train platforms throughout Westchester.

'It just seems out of place," said one commuter while while viewing the startling ads. "I think it's hateful."

The billboards, which read “19,250 Deadly Islamic Attacks Since 9/11/01 and counting. Not Islamophobia, It’s Islamorealism,” are the latest shot from the American Freedom Defense Initiative.

The controversial group first made headlines in New York for its fight against the so-called Ground Zero Mosque project.

The Metro North line has become the group’s new battleground because anti-Israel ads were recently posted at stations, ads claiming Israel turned Palestinians into refugees.

The latest ads, according to the woman who bought them, are a blunt response.

"The ad is just stating a fact -- that there have been over 19,000 jihad attacks since 9/11," said Pamela Geller of the American Freedom Defense Initiative. "How is it 'Islamophobic' to point that out?"

While many riders say the poster is hate speech, U.S .courts consider it political speech, which is protected under the first amendment. Now local officials want the MTA to deliver a speech of their own.

"The MTA should denounce the ads. Another option is for them to give the money from these ads to organizations that fight hate crimes, like the anti defamation league," said Greenburg town supervisor Paul Feiner.

He emailed the MTA, but hasn't heard back. The MTA, in a statement to NBC 4 New York, said the agency does not reject ads based on controversy, but went on to say: 'The MTA does not endorse the viewpoint expressed in this ad or any of the ads that MTA accepts for display on its facilities.”

In a statement, the Anti Defamation League said: “We believe these ads are highly offensive and inflammatory. Pro-Israel doesn’t mean anti-Muslim. It is possible to support Israel without engaging in bigoted anti-Muslim and anti-Arab stereotypes.”

lease approved for game on

The Greenburgh Town Board voted 4-0 tonight to approve a 15 year lease (subject to permissive referendum) with Game On to operate an indoor sports facility (soccer/lacrosse playing fields) at the abandoned Frank's nursery off of Dobbs Ferry Road. The lease that was approved is accessible by this link:
http://www.greenburghny.com/FCpdf/TB%202012%200813%20TB-1%20data%20GAME%20ON%20365%20LEASE%20AGREEMENT%20Rev%200811%200205%20hrs%20CLEAN.pdf

Members of the Town Board have agreed to schedule a referendum on  election day Tuesday, November 6th (election day) to provide the voters with the opportunity to approve or reject the lease.  A public discussion on the referendum (and a Town Board vote to schedule the referendum for November 6) will take place on Wednesday, August 29th at 7:30 PM at Town Hall.

Game On officials met with me tonight and expressed a desire to immediately start the phase II environmental site assessment of the property. A phase II is an intrusive investigation which collects original samples of soil to analyze for quantitative values of various contaminants. After the phase II test results are in we will have a better appreciation as to the extent of the remediation of the contaminants that must take place. I support the immediate testing. 

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor

Crane's Pond looks like peak soup...suggestions wanted?

SUGGESTIONS WANTED—CRANE’S POND IN EDGEMONT LOOKS LIKE PEA SOUP…WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO GET RID OF DUCK WEED?


In recent weeks I have received some complaints from residents about the duck weed at Crane’s Pond. The pond looks like pea soup. It’s located in Edgemont, off of Pipeline Road/Edgemont Road.



We are trying to find a solution to the problem. On July 27th we removed about 75% of the duck weed from Crane’s Pond. Please see the following memo from Mike Nestler of the Parks Department:



On Jul 27, 2012, at 1:46 PM, "Michael R. Nestler" wrote:

Good News!!!



About 75% of the duck weed has been removed today from Cranes Pond. The information provided to me by Jeff Stahlm from the Pond Connection and with the assistance of the Greenville FD working along with my staff, we were able to clear a large amount of growth from the surface of Cranes Pond.



The is only a temporary fix as duck weed multiplies rapidly in warm weather. I am, as you know researching longer lasting solutions.



I will continue to keep all of you in the loop.



Enjoy the weekend!



Obviously, this did not work. A day after we cleaned up the pond the green algae was back. We're searching other options next year, which include hiring a company that specializes in pond maintenance. The cost is $2,700 for one year. I will support the inclusion of this appropriation in the 2013 budget. If you have other suggestions as to action steps the town should take please e-mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. I love Crane’s Pond and don't want it to be an eyesore.



A SUMMARY OF THE REASONS WHY I DON’T BELIEVE THAT THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE TOLLS NEED TO GO UP TO $14 (IN A FEW SENTENCES)…

The NYS Thruway Authority wants to increase tolls on the Tappan Zee bridge to $14 after the new bridge is constructed. Although I support the construction of a new bridge because it is necessary - and because it will create jobs - I am concerned that only downstate residents will pay for the bridge.

Everyone who uses the Thruway system pays to maintain the entire system, except for the construction of the Tappan Zee bridge which is now being separated out for only downstate users to pay, in addition to paying for upstate repairs as well. This does not meet the Thruway practice over the past 55 plus years! Also, does not meet the statewide purpose for which the Thruway Authority were established.

If the Thruway Authority treated the Tappan Zee bridge project just like they treat every other project in the state that they are involved in, the tolls would not have to increase to $14. The cost of the bridge should be assumed by everyone state-wide.



PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

committee recommendations on internal controls

Earlier this year I invited a group of citizens from around the town to help review internal town operations. A report of one of the subcommittees will be presented to the Greenburgh Town Board tomorrow (Aug 7) shortly after 9:30 AM. The presentation and work session is televised live on the public access channels and streamed live on the town website: www.greenburghny.com. A summary of their findings will be posted on the web tomorrow after the presentation is made.

A Fenichel is a 32 year resident of the Edgemont community. Al is a CPA with 45 years of practice in the profession. He recently retired after 35 years AXA Equitable, a large financial services firm, where he had been Senior Vice-President and Chief Accounting Officer. Al has an undergraduate degree and an MBA.

The report for Tuesday August 7th will be presented by Al Fenicel of the Finance sub committee of the Greenburgh Citizens Advisory Commission. He will present a synopsis of the work the sub committee has completed and work they hope to complete in the future.

1- A presentation was made to the Town in March recommending changes to the way scholarships are awarded by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Theodore Young Community Center. The goal is to create a uniform guideline for both Departments using the same standard. In addition it was recommended that there by a defined budget line so both agencies will be clear in how much the Town Budgets for scholarships. This is a follow up with the Board so all rules are in place by next spring when people will be applying for 2013 scholarships.

2- A review of the recommendations the sub committee has made to ensure the Town Court has established safe guards to ensure all revenues are being collected properly and backlogged tickets of last year are being processed efficiently.

3- To assist the Town Supervisor and the Town Comptroller in preparation of the Tentative Town budget. By examining the following.

A- Assess the projected 2013 Town Budget for compliance with the 2% tax levy cap.

B- Analyze budgets submitted by the agency heads for compliance with the guidance provided by Supervisor Feiner for closing and budget gaps.

C- Identify revenues and costs for specific agency activities and define issues and actionable opportunities.

D- Analyze and prioritize the revenue increases and cost reductions that will be required to bridge any potential budget gaps.

E-Review one-time expenditures that may be included in the 2013 budget, including costs associated with the water system,enhancement of the scope of the Town Court's audit and various capital expenditures.

F- Consider the development of a long-term Capital Plan as part of the 2013 budget process.

G- Will consider any request by the Town Board for assistance in gathering information helpful to the Budget process.

A big thank you to the citizens who are working very hard helping our town! Their assistance is greatly appreciated.

PAUL FEINER

rfp's for tennis bubble at AF Veteran park...an amazing sculpture

Earlier this summer the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly approved state legislation that enables the town to lease out our tennis courts at Anthony Veteran park to a private company. The town expects to receive significant revenue from the lease and tennis enthusiasts will be able to enjoy tennis year round since a tennis bubble will be built (at no expense to the taxpayers). An updated tennis bubble RFP will be posted on the town website: www.greenburghny.com. This morning an applicant meeting and site tour was attended by 5 possible vendors. They all requested that the town extend the tennis bubble RFP submission to September 4th , the day after labor day. I am very pleased that there is so much interest in this proposal. Contact Gerry Byrne or Joe Lucasey for more info: 693-8985 about the RFP process or e mail gbyrne@greenburghny.com.






Pink Flamingos on exhibit in Greenburgh Town Hall—an amazing sculpture in the lobby of Town Hall



Many creative artists find inspiration in dreams. For wood sculptor, Theodore Carrozza of Butler, NJ, dreams have been the primary source of his art. “I just dream these things up,” he says, “in full color! One morning, I woke my wife Liz and said, Honey, I dreamt about a sunflower.” That particular dream inspired “La Tournesol,” a four by four foot wall sculptured sunflower with 240 individual, hand-carved and brightly painted petals. Another dream produced “Flossie and Her Friends,” four, 6-foot-7 inch tall, pink flamingos standing beneath two 13-foot-tall palm trees. Carrozza’s three-dimensional exhibit has turned Greenburgh Town Hall’s lobby into an art installation. Three flamingos stand in varied repose while one seems poised for flight.

Carrozza’s love for wood sculpting comes from his grandfather, an Italian immigrant who set up a wood shop in Manhattan. His grandfather created the proscenium arch that frames the Great Stage of Radio City Music Hall. “As a child, I spent countless hours in my grandfather's wood shop (a converted basement in the Bronx) watching him hand craft unfinished wood into amazing works of art. I was also blessed to have a mother who was a painter. My artistic self blossomed in my early 30's when I began to create unique wood tables. I challenged myself to go farther and set out to perfect one-of-a-kind wood sculptures. While some wood-workers might consider knots and uneven grain as imperfections, I see their beauty and try to accentuate them in my work. I devote a portion of every day to my craft and look forward to fulfilling my dream of carrying on my grandfather's legacy.”

Carrozza started out in theatrical lighting and has worked as a professional photographer with his own studio for 30 years. Yet, he says that he is phasing out of photography. "It used to be a special profession to be in. Today, everyone picks up a digital camera and calls themselves a photographer."

Carrozza regularly participates in the St. Catherine of Bologna’s Photo, Art and Poetry Exhibition where his sculpture “King Cobra” won the People’s Choice Award in 2011. He also has exhibited at the Riverdale Art Center, Ringwood Manor, and at Wyckoff. Last September, Carrozza exhibited “Flossie and Her Friends” at the three-week ArtPrize Festival in Grand Rapids, MI.

“Flossie and Her Friends” and “La Tournesol” will be on exhibit in the front lobby of Greenburgh Town Hall until September 5th, 2012. Stop by and visit, but please don’t feed the birds. Sarah Bracey White, head of our arts council, arranged for this spectacular exhibit. Sarah has turned the Town Hall into a museum! The art is spectacular.

PAUL FEINER