Northern Westchester

Here is a press release  from the district:

Agreement Approved Between KL BoE and Support Staff

Resolves Nearly 6 Years Without New Contract for 280 Employees

The Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education and the Katonah-Lewisboro Support Staff Association (KLSSA) have agreed on a new contract, resolving nearly six years of discussions. The members of the KLSSA have been working since that time under the terms and conditions of the contract that expired on June 30, 2006.

The average KLSSA member earns a salary of approximately $40,000 per year.

In strict terms, the agreement calls for a wage increase that would have averaged 2.1% per year beginning with the 2006-07 school year; however, the wages are not being paid retroactively. Instead, a one-time payment is being made for the current calendar year. But in the new agreement, increases for employee contributions to healthcare premiums will drive down the net impact to the district of this increase in salary. The net increase of the new agreement represents a 1.35% yearly increase over the term of the agreement. The agreement does not carry a financial impact to the current year’s budget, nor will it impact next year’s budget, since a hard freeze is in place for the 2012-13 school year. More →

The Somers Library has announced that due to budget constraints it will no longer be open on Sundays.  Instead it will stay open slightly longer for commuters, open earlier some mornings and add Saturday hours.

Read the announcement from the library:

Despite a flat Contractual Expenditures budget for 2011, the Somers Library still established new records in attendance, services and events. Unfortunately, due to significantly increased operating costs, the Library Board decided, with regret, to close on Sundays and use the freed up funds to enable the Library staff to maintain the high level of service its patrons have grown to expect. To help make it easier for commuters to visit the Library, some morning, evening and Saturday hours were added.

This story appeared in the Jan. 25 edition of the Yorktown & Cortlandt Express. Watch the video from the event here. 

Lessons outside the classroom

Engineering students design and test catapults outdoors students: Engineering class heads to football field students

YORKTOWN Usually the classrooms nearby are where the learning takes place, and the football field is the place for brute force and big yardage.

Students in Lakeland High teacher Joe Felipe’s engineering class combined the two, though, for a lesson that could launch some technical careers. Or at least a few pumpkins.

“Really, it was having the kids learn through discovery,” Felipe said of his catapult assignment.

His students spent a month researching, designing and building catapults that ranged in size from knee-high to taller than a doorway. And their range in field tests on a recent morning, when loaded with snowballs and field hockey balls, was between a few feet and just shy of the opposite end zone.

“What makes this a success is if we can hit 50 yards, but I don’t know if that will happen,” Stephen Ieppariello said. “We’re shooting for 50.”

He and partner Kevin Sawler were the first to go. They hit 40 yards, which wouldn’t be topped until a later session when another team hit 90.

Snowballs sailing through the frigid morning air was a sight to see.

“It took a lot of work, definitely a lot of modifications,” Sawler said. “A lot of stuff we figured out did not work. It took a lot of engineering knowledge to realize what would or would not work. It’s a big work in progress.”

Felipe said his students learned by testing their catapults independently and making their own adjustments rather than waiting on him to point out potential flaws or improvements.

“Some of them broke when they put on too much pressure,” he said. “Some of them were shooting a little bit longer, and they tried to shoot it further today and I think that backfired for some of them. Then some of them cleared personal bests.”

Michael Pirone attached layers of metal plates to construct a spring system that proved more durable than the wood that buckled the catapult next to his.

The metal made for a durable but smaller catapult.

“It was just more expensive in the end, and it didn’t hold the high energy densities,” Pirone said. “Because what happens with metal is once you get to a certain amount of tension it just starts to bend. With wood, it will keep that amount of tension. And if there’s too much tension it’ll just break apart.”

He and partner Quinn McClernan exceeded the 10-yard minimum for the assignment and called it a success.

Chris Agugliaro said figuring out how to build the frame and how many elastic bands to use took trial and error.

His catapult misfired when the trigger piece held the energy too long, he said.

“We’ve got to get a quicker release on it. It should go a lot farther. We’re hoping for 50 yards at least,” Agugliaro’s partner, Nick Belger, said.

Schools Superintendent George Stone had to see the medieval demonstration for himself.

“It’s a great way to combine learning with some fun as well,” Stone said. “It’s a great project for team building and for learning the basic principles of engineering.”

Hudson River Eaglefest

A celebration of the bald eagles’ return to the Hudson Valley

Saturday, February 4th 9 AM to 4 PM

Croton Point Park, Croton on Hudson, NY

http://www.teatown.org/eaglefest/

With additional viewing locations throughout Northern Westchester, including for the first time at the Riverfront Green in Peekskill.

The Riverfront Green EagleFest location will feature a variety of FREE amenities and activities between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, including:

• A large heated tent with tables and chairs.

• A portable bathroom.

• Eagle and bird viewing with spotting scopes.

• Storyteller Jonathan Kruk between 12:30 – 1:30 PM.

• Live birds of prey flying demonstrations with Brian Bradley between 1:30 – 3:00 PM.

• Free shuttles to and from Croton Point Park throughout the day.

• Local vendors selling hot food and beverages.

For more information go to: http://www.cityofpeekskill.com/planningdevelopment/2012-eaglefest-riverfront-green

The following press release was issued by the office of Assemblyman Steve Katz, R-Yorktown, following a press conference Friday morning.

With a major voter fraud case currently unfolding in the state, Assemblyman Steve Katz, R-Yorktown, was joined today by Putnam County Executive Mary Ellen Odell and board of elections commissioners from throughout the 99th Assembly District at a press conference on the steps of the Historical Putnam County Courthouse to announce new statewide legislation that targets the high incidences of voter fraud in our state.

“This legislation is a simple, commonsense measure that will go a long way toward ensuring elections in New York State are more secure, and represent the actual residents of a community,” said Assemblyman Katz. “Government-issued photo identification is already required in every other facet of life; there is no reason why our democratic-process should be excluded from this basic safeguard.”

A strong advocate for reforming the democratic process, Assemblyman Katz was prompted to author and introduce this original legislation after the highly-publicized case of widespread voter fraud in Troy, New York went to trial earlier this year. The opening arguments for the case began Monday after more than a year of investigations led to the indictments of a city council member, two county officials and a board of elections commissioner on more than 116 counts of alleged forgery or possession of forged ballots during the 2009 Working Families Party primary. Four others have already pleaded guilty in the case.

The ongoing Troy case is not the only time the Working Families Party has been associated with voter fraud. Following the 2008 Presidential elections, the national media attention was focused on exposing the widespread cases of voter fraud contributed to ACORN, the community-action organization that works in close partnership with the Working Families Party throughout the country. In fact, the media attention led to a series of investigations on ACORN including in Washington State, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Nevada where the Las Vegas registrar of voters publicly commented that he believed as much as 48 percent of ACORN’s voter forms are “clearly fraudulent.”

More →

Assemblyman Robert Castelli, who represents much of northeast Westchester, objects to the proposed new lines for his district as a continuation of partisan gerrymandering from 10 years ago. Here is his statement:

GHOST OF ELBRIDGE GERRY VISITS ALBANY

Recently, an account published by media outlets said that if Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge) was re-elected in 2012, that “the seat would be his for 25 years.”

Notwithstanding the fact that Castelli (the sponsor of term limits legislation) has no plans to remain in Albany beyond his ability to serve effectively, that kind of longevity nevertheless may be guaranteed for many other lawmakers, thanks to decennial redistricting process, and the newly proposed district maps for the State Senate and Assembly.

“Ten years ago, the 89th Assembly District was gerrymandered,” Castelli points out. “And in one of those ironies of politics, it wasn’t gerrymandered to the advantage of one party or another, but more so to give one person in the same party a competitive advantage over another.”

Under the maps shared with lawmakers yesterday, Castelli’s 89th Assembly District is renumbered the 93rd Assembly District, and would add the town of North Salem, along with some adjustments to the district’s boundaries in the City of White Plains.

“In essence, the partisan gerrymandering remains,” Castelli said. “I believe there is still time for us to do better, though, because when politicians are choosing their constituents, instead of the other way around, it’s the people that lose.” More →

Snow may have stopped it from opening last weekend, but that was only temporary.

The new Mount Kisco Farmers’ Market will hold a grand opening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday.

The event will be held at the market’s new site, at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, which is across from Northern Westchester Hospital Center near Route 172 and Route 117.

Here is announcement:

The market showcases more than twenty five regional vendors in addition to special activities and demonstrations.

 

The grand opening of the Farmers Market will feature a number of special events including delicious pulled pork sandwiches and other goodies made by Erica of Erica’s Kitchen in Bedford. There will also be a special performance by local high school students’ band, The Jazzy Jays and the Em Kays.

 

The market will also feature the one-of-a-kind ”$5 SlowFood Local Harvest Meal,” a gourmet meal prepared each week from local and organic ingredients, all available at the market. Dishes are available for breakfast, lunch and to-go.

 

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester is located at 351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco and can be reached at (914) 666-8069.

For the latest news, photos and updates, please “like” the Club on www.facebook.com/BGCNW and follow on www.twitter.com/BGCNW.

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday, author  Alyssa Satin Capucilli, who wrote the popular “Biscuit” books and many more, spoke with kindergarten and first grade students at Todd Elementary School.

Photo by Tania Savayan, The Journal News/LoHud.com

The Biscuit books have grabbed the interests of scores of young first-time readers – and the writer says she likes to focus on writing for new readers.

The children loved the event.

“Do you have more books you have written?” asked Mary Deems, 6.

Capucilli pulled out a copy of your newest Biscuit book and teased that it will be out in the spring.

Capuculli is a  longtime Hasting resident and told the children that she gets her inspiration from her daily life and watching people and places.

Read more about her and the school event in the Feb. 2 Northern Westchester Express.

The American Red Cross Club and the Interact Club at Briarcliff High School are collecting items for care packages to be sent  overseas to U.S. soldiers.

Organizers are asking for donations of items that range from beefy jerky and  chewing gum to music cd’s and disposable cameras. For a list go to the briarcliff school  website

“Please consider donating any items listed on the attached list. The deadline for collections is January 31, 2012. Please help support our troops!,” reads the announcement.

Here’s news from Byram Hills:

Along with millions of people around the world, Wampus Elementary third graders celebrated the Chinese New Year with a parade, enjoyed by the whole school taking a break from class to enjoy the colorful scene.

Some dressed in traditional Chinese costume, and most wearing red clothes (representing luck), the students carried banners featuring the traditional Gung Hay Fat Choi words of New Year wishes to mark the auspicious Year of the Dragon.

Photo Credit: Byram Hills

The Wampus parade took the students throughout the school displaying posters, dragon masks and costumes, and banners that they had created in class. The third grade is in the midst of a six-week interdisciplinary unit on Chinese culture, writing, geography, and history.

Photo Credit: Byram Hills

To prepare for the parade, the students spent time in art class making lanterns that they decorated with Chinese calligraphy, signing each one with their initials in the style of a Chinese seal, or chop. In music class, students learned a Chinese New Year song, which they sang as they paraded around the school.

Students in Donna Scorrano’s class studied Chinese proverbs and the third century reign of Emperor Chin, from whom China gets its name. While scholars are divided about the legacy of Chin, most third graders seem to focus on his less attractive attributes in their short essays on the topic. Whatever their opinion, a milestone was reached. “It’s important that students learn to write a paragraph and support their opinion,” explained Ms. Scorrano.