Editorial: The not-so-subtle school district

Thursday, 19 November 2009 00:00

It may be a sound proposal, but the school district needs to stop using its bully pulpit and taxpayer dollars to shove the fields project down everyone’s throats. Its media blitz is blurring the line between providing information and electioneering — and is bordering on being illegal.

Vantage Point: Turkeys atop the pecking order

Written by Wendy Gerber
Thursday, 19 November 2009 00:00

Why is it that in October, just when Thanksgiving is around the corner, the wild turkeys parade around the wilds of Lewisboro as if flaunting their inherited place on the Thanksgiving dinner table? Each year when they appear, I wonder if they have a subconscious “death wish” or if they are simply dumb. (Their reputation does precede them, leading some people to use the word “turkey” to mean inept or stupid. I have never done this, preferring not to impugn turkeys or people.)

Guest Column: New fields benefit all students

Written by Christian McCarthy
Thursday, 19 November 2009 00:00

The athletic facilities in Katonah-Lewisboro and how we utilize and maintain them impacts the degree to which we can involve all students in healthy physical activity. The upcoming referendum, which would provide more and better fields, is a step in expanding and improving our physical fitness and wellness program. In order to maximize our program, we must also maximize our existing facilities. For this reason, one of my first priorities when I arrived at John Jay was to study the use and maintenance of all athletic space in the district.

Editorial: Meeting the mandate

Thursday, 12 November 2009 00:00

Lower taxes.

The public made it clear that is the mandate for the Republican candidates by electing them to all three open Town Board seats by a large margin after running almost entirely on the tax issue.

But how will the Republicans deliver on their pledge?

Uncommon Sense: At a loss

Written by Jeff Morris
Thursday, 12 November 2009 00:00

The day after the Nov. 3 election, I did the best thing I could possibly have done. I left town.

Though that might seem like a bit of an overreaction, it was in fact a trip to a conference and had been planned well in advance of Election Day. Still, the timing couldn’t have been better, though I can’t say the same for the location: Las Vegas. It was probably not the best place to go after Lewisboro’s Democrats came up snake eyes.

Briefing Book: A tea party’s defining moments

Thursday, 12 November 2009 00:00

In politics, a “defining moment” can be a phrase, a picture, an off-hand comment — any event that creates a lasting image of a political candidate or a political party in the mind of the voter.

Guest Column: Lewisboro should remain in drug council

Written by Patty Warble
Thursday, 05 November 2009 00:00

Recently, I appeared at the town of Lewisboro budget hearings to ask the Town Board members to keep $6,500 of the $13,000 Bedford/Lewisboro/Pound Ridge Drug Abuse Prevention Council (DAPC) overall budget in their $7-million proposed 2010 budget. Lee Roberts, supervisor of Bedford, and Gary Warshauer, supervisor of Pound Ridge, have graciously agreed to this financial arrangement because they want to do everything they can to keep Lewisboro part of the DAPC so that the residents of Lewisboro can continue to benefit from our programs and services. I have made cutbacks so that the DAPC can continue to operate within this budget. I know that Lewisboro has a serious financial situation but during this time of stress and anxiety the prevention role that the DAPC plays in this community is even more critical.

Guest Column: Taking stock of district resources

Written by Michael Jumper
Thursday, 05 November 2009 00:00

As we look to the Dec. 8 referendum on whether to allocate capital reserve funds for playing fields and cultural arts facilities, this seems like a good time to take stock of building conditions, maintenance programs, and the financial resources of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District.

Editorial: Now comes the hard part

Thursday, 05 November 2009 00:00

Congratulations go to the winners of this year’s town elections — they will have a short time to celebrate before they will have to dive in to the numerous issues facing Lewisboro.

This is not an easy time to work as a member of the town government. The deficit is large and not expected to disappear without a hefty tax increase. Revenue is tough to come by, and despite recent signs that an economic recovery on a national scale may be beginning, the housing market is still lagging and will likely remain sluggish for a number of years. This will keep the town’s main revenue source, mortgage taxes, at low levels. And gone are the days of a large fund balance, once the politician’s crutch, to rely on to keep taxes low, spending up, the public happy, and political opponents at bay. Now, these town officials will need to find other, largely unpopular, ways to balance the budget — cutting services to reduce spending or raising taxes, for example — while simultaneously setting money aside to rebuild the depleted fund balance. That’s no easy task.

Ledger Endorsements

Wednesday, 28 October 2009 23:00

When you head to the polls on Tuesday it may be easy to simply look at one number — 29% — and think change is needed.

That is the amount that Town Supervisor Edward Brancati, a Democrat, wants to raise taxes by in his 2010 budget proposal, which would eclipse last year’s tax increase — the previous highest raise in more than a decade — by four fold.