Northern Westchester

Long-time Planning Board Member Gene Matusow, whose term ends today, asked not to be reappointed to the board. Matusow has been a controversial figure because he received lifetime health benefits after serving on the Town Board and because he got in trouble with the town Building Department for finishing an attic without permits. Matusow gave up his medical benefits earlier this year.

Incoming Supervisor William Weaver called on Matusow to resign in 2007 because of the questions over the attic work. But, at the time, the rest of the Town Board backed Matusow, the husband of former Assemblywoman Naomi Matusow.

When he sent a letter to the Town Board late this fall asking not to be reappointed, several members thanked him for his service.

The Briarcliff Public Library is offering  a workshop for all women with a story to tell.

“Express Yourself Through Writing with Other Women! Writing Workshop for Women” will be held Jan. 9 and 23, Feb. 6 and 20. It will be held in the library’s McGroddy Family Conference Room on the 2nd floor. TIme is 10:30-11:30 a.m.
It is free, but enrollment is limited. Register by Jan. 8 by  e-mail to Rachel at: monk992@aol.com.

Lewisboro residents will see their town taxes rise 25.1 percent in 2010.

The $10 million budget for the general and highway funds calls for a number of cuts, including 6 days of furloughs for town employees.

Outgoing Democratic Supervisor Edward Brancati has said Lewisboro faced higher fixed expenses, such as a rise in health insurance costs, and that the economy sapped mortgage and sales tax revenues from a town that had basically kept its property tax rate flat for 17 years. Brancati has also said the town has been undertaking extensive budget cuts in the last couple years.

But Republicans, who took control of the Town Board and won the supervisor’s post in the November elections, have taken aim at Brancati’s financial oversight and blamed him for higher taxes. The Republican Town Board majority, lead by Supervisor Charles Duffy, has said their top priority is finding ways to improve Lewisboro’s gloomy fiscal outlook.

A local art show is being held on Jan. 9 and 10 in order to support area charities.

Organizers of the 37th Art Show: Bedford said the profits from the event will go to support a long list of local groups that help people cope with poverty, drug addiction, domestic violence and bereavement.

Among the organizations receiving a share of the proceeds are the Community Center of Katonah, The Chaplaincy Committee of Northern Westchester Hospital and the Mount Kisco Child Care Center.

The event, which will be held at the St. Matthew’s Fellowship Hall in Bedford, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan 9 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 10. The fellowship hall is located at 382 Cantitoe St.

Attendance to the two-day art show is free.

There will also be a champagne preview party at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 where guests will get to view the artwork and speak with the artists. Tickets to that Jan. 8 event cost $95 in advance and $125 at the door.

For more information about the event, sponsored by the Women of St. Matthew’s Church, call the parish at 914-234-9636.

In papers dated Dec. 24, the receiver who controls former North Salem Supervisor Paul Greenwood’s business and personal assets put in a request for payment for his work between Feb. 25 (the date of Greenwood’s arrest on securities fraud and other charges) and May 31. Robb Evans & Associates, based in Sun Valley, Calif., is billing  $756,940 for those three months and asking for reimbursement of expenses of $46,994.

The two law firms working for the receiver on the case are asking for $93,891 and $161,643 plus expenses.

The Saw Mill Parkway remained closed in both directions Sunday afternoon after yesterday’s heavy rains caused the parkway to flood in Hastings-on-Hudson.

As a result of the flooding, the parkway was closed in both directions for much of Sunday from Lawrence St. in Ardsley to Farragut Parkway in Hastings. Check back at Lohud.com and in tomorrow’s edition of The Journal News for complete coverage.

Croton Falls firefighters contained a fire in the basement of a home on Russell Road in North Salem on Christmas morning. Firefighters from Goldens Bridge and Somers assisted them at the scene.Croton Falls firefighters with help from Goldens Bridge and Somers, work at the scene of a house fire on Russell Road in North Salem Dec. 25, 2009. There were no injuries reported and the firefighters were able to contain the fire to the basement. ( Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News

To see more photos click here.

The John Jay Middle School 7th grade choir entertained the residents of Somers Manor Nursing Home with holiday songs recently.The John Jay Middle School 7th grade choir sing holiday carols for the residents of the Somers Manor Nursing Home in Somers Dec. 22, 2009. The students under the direction of teacher Elena Gambulos-Cody, also passed out song sheets and sang some of the songs with residents, and also made holiday ornaments for them. ( Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News )

To see more photos click here.

It is truly the season for good cheer and good deeds.

Nick Kounios at Pinnacle Taxx Advisors / Royal Alliance Associates in Mount Kisco hosted a Toys for Tots benefit last week and shared this photo.

“It was a huge success!” he wrote in an e-mail message to our newsroom.

In attendance were  five active-duty US Marine sergeants, all serving in Iraq, to collect the over 200 toys donated by my clients of Pinnacle Taxx.  The Marines came from their base in Newburgh to be a part of the evening.
Shown from left to righ:  Three U.S. Marine sergeants, Bill Lewis (Westchester/Putnam Toys For Tots Coordinator), Tom Povinelli (president & CEO of Pinnacle Taxx), Eileen Kounios, Nick Kounios (accountant, Pinnacle Taxx), two U.S. Marine sergeants.