The Mount Kisco Affordable Housing Task Force will meet on Thursday at 8:00 to further its plans for an affordable housing development on village-owned land on Maple Avenue. The current plans call for approximately 20 townhouses to be subsidized by state and county funds. Each townhouse will have a garage and a front door opening on to Maple Avenue. The townhouses will be offered to local residents with plans to give first preference to volunteer first responders, second preference to village employees and third preference to Bedford Central School District employees. As part of this project, the current playground will be moved south on Maple Avenue and be a part of the townhouse project. The committee is chaired by Deputy Mayor Pete DiChiara and Village Manager Jim Palmer and includes Marilyn Hyatt, Richie Hooker and Pat Morrissey.
The Mount Kisco Conservation Advisory Council Global Warming Task Force has completed an important task other informed municipalities across the country are doing. The task force has estimated the Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from energy usage in the Village that are accelerating global warming. This is the first step in a massive grass roots movement across the country to start reducing emissions that are causing climate change and threatening the human race with vast new challenges and potential catastrophes in the decades ahead.
The Village Board accepted the Task Force Report on Monday July 20, and voted to take the first exploratory steps towards implementing a “SmartGrid” in the Village. Application will be made for a share in a Federal Government grant for the purpose of monitoring electrical energy usage. Subsequent steps, with residents’ consent and participation, will be voluntary reductions in electricity usage. In the SmartGrid system envisioned, participating residents and businesses will benefit from both a reduction in their billable electricity, and also from Dollar credits for their share of community electricity reduction
The Village Board believes that residents will benefit from lower electricity costs, and of course, a more sustainable planet. Many thanks to Jim Gmelin, the Conservation Advisory Council’s chairman, Trustee Peter Grunthal for their hard work on this project.
Joan Donohue, wife of Judge John Donohue, submitted a letter to the Westchester Board of Elections challenging the petitions submitted by Peter DiChiara, candidate for Mount Kisco Village Judge. This action is just another step by Joan Donohue to stifle voter choice.
With no other candidates, other than those supported by the Mount Kisco Democratic Committee, running in this election for any of the local offices, it was refreshing that there would be at least one local race. The action by Joan Donohue is not surprising since she was Democratic chairperson in 2005 and was responsible for obtaining the Mount Kisco Justice Democratic nomination for her then-Republican husband.
Peter DiChiara vowed to carry on with his race for the Democratic nomination and give Mount Kisco voters a choice in the election.
The Mount Kisco Public Library and the Friends of the Mount Kisco Library present two exciting children’s programs at the American Legion in Mount Kisco while waiting for the new library to open.
Come see “The Amazing Bubblemania Show” with Casey Carle on Tuesday, July 28th at 4pm. Casey Carle is the bubble consultant for the Cirque du Soleil and his bubbles will amaze you. Then come “Meet the Animals” with Deborah Mumford of The Nature of Things on Wednesday, July 29th at 4:30.
All programs are free and all are welcome to enjoy these wonderful family programs.
To receive email alerts for these and other programs, go to Mount Kisco’s website and sign up for email notification.
On Saturday, July 25, 2009, the Mount Kisco Swim and Dive Team defeated Pound Ridge 273-246 to finish their undefeated season. As a result, they will move up to the first division in 2010. Many thanks to head swim coach Julia Herman, dive coach Anne Holden and pool director Carolyn Johnson.
The Village Board of Trustees and the Library Board of Trustees have announced that the new Mount Kisco Public Library will open to the public on Saturday, August 8, 2009. The hours of operation for that day will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Residents are encouraged to come and tour the new state-of-the-art facility, which is equipped with 78,000 items, 9 computers for public use, meeting rooms, expanded children’s rooms, a “silent” room for quiet reading, and a new teen room. The new Library has also dramatically increased its holdings of media, including DVDs, Books on CD, and computer games for loan.
The Official Grand Opening for the Library is scheduled for Sunday, September 13 at 4:00 p.m. during the Chamber of Commerce’s Sales Days.
The Mutual Engine and Hose Company recently decaled one of its trucks in memory of William P. “Whitey” Malsbury, Jr., an 80 year resident of Mount Kisco who died on April 30, 2009 at the age of 86. Mr. Malsbury served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 during World War II and was employed by U.S. Postal Service, retiring after 30 years.
“Whitey” was a 65 year member of the Mt. Kisco Fire Department and served as the president of the Mutual Engine and Hose Co. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Concetta Maria Malsbury (his high school sweetheart that he married in 1943), two sons, three daughters, six grandkids, four great grandkids and a lot of friends in Mount Kisco, including his brothers in the Mutual Engine and Hose Company. He will be remembered in the firehouse for his years of service and love of the New York Yankees.
The Board of Elections confirmed today that five candidates submitted petitions for local elections.
Michael Cindrich is the only candidate for Mayor and George Griffin, Jr. and Anthony Markus are the only candidates for Village Trustee.
Two candidates submitted petitions for Town Justice. including current Deputy Mayor Peter DiChiara. As a result there will be a primary on Tuesday, September 15 for the Democratic line in the November election. Peter DiChiara will be running against John Donohue in the September 15 primary.
The Mount Kisco Swim and Dive Team defeated two more dual meet opponents. On Saturday July 18, the team beat Briarcliff 276-251 on a beautiful day at Mount Kisco Memorial Pool (see pictures below). Following that meet, the team defeated Katonah by a score of 276-259. The final dual meet of the year will be on Saturday, July 25 against Pound Ridge.
The New York Journal News posted a database of member items distributed by New York State legislators. Mount Kisco’s State Senator Vincent Leibell distributed $250,000 to projects in his 40th Senate District. Westchester voters account for approximately 57% of the 40th Senate District. Of that $250,000, however, only 5% was distributed to Westchester County projects, a $10,000 grant for Northern Westchester BOCES and a $2,500 grant to the Bedford Audobon Society, the smallest grant appropriated by Leibell. Putnam County, on the other hand, received 95% of the member items even though they only account for approximately 30% of the district’s voters.
