Monday, April 30, 2018

2018 CROTON SENIORS NEW OFFICERS INSTALLATION

click on photo
Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

Last week, the CROTON SENIORS held a luncheon at Little Sorrento to install their new officers for 2018--Janet Meyer, President-- Bill Tuttle and Bob Anderson, Co-Vice Presidents--Linda McChain, Secretary--Kevin Dymes, Treasurer--Valerie Nolan Director of Sr. Recreation--Marti Beasley, Asst. Treasurer. CONGRATULATIONS ALL!

YOU MAY ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY, a photo album by Bob Anderson at https://bit.ly/2FoH5YC

AND STAY TUNED....UPDATED--SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE

Sunday, April 29, 2018

HOLY NAME OF MARY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FREE THROW CONTEST 2018, FINAL RESULTS, CONGRATS AVA ANDREWS

click on photo
Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

KofC Free Throw Contest - Final Results - 2018 - Holy Name of Mary KofC Council #4730 is please to announce that Ava Andrews won the New York State Free Throw Championship for Girls Age 11, which took place at West Point on Sunday, April 22nd. She made 23 out of 25 shots. Kayla McCarthy also finished in second place for Girls age 10. Congratulations to these sharp shooters!!! PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

HAPPY 14TH ANNIVERSARY TO CARMEN'S UNISEX SALON

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

HAPPY 14TH ANNIVERSARY TO CARMEN'S UNISEX SALON IN THE HEART OF HARMON!

VOTED BEST OF WESTCHESTER, generous contributor to local charitable endeavors, and yes, those balloons are from THE WESTCHESTER BALLOON COMPANY!


CLICK ON THE PHOTO! FOR MORE ABOUT CARMEN'S 271-2962

4/28, A BANNER DAY IN CROTON, PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOB ANDERSON, EVERYTHING CROTON AND AN INTREPID RESIDENT

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

A BANNER DAY IN CROTON, PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOB ANDERSON, EVERYTHING CROTON AND AN INTREPID RESIDENT: EARTH DAY 2018, DRUG TAKE BACK DAY, AND THE WESTCHESTER BALLOON COMPANY GRAND OPENING

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS BELOW....Many thanks to all the Earth Day volunteers and to the Croton Conservation Advisory Counsel.

SEE FEED THE BIRDS HERE


ANOTHER CROTON EARTH DAY HAS COME & GONE

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

Well another Croton Earth Day has come and gone--and the weather was picture perfect! (Click on the photo to see the FEED THE BIRDS table.)  And stay tuned for more photos.

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE

Saturday, April 28, 2018

ST. AUGUSTINE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOME BITS & PIECES FROM 1947 & 1948

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

And now some bits and pieces from St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in the 1940's. Click on the images below, courtesy of  The Croton Historical Society and an Everything Croton elve. For more about St. Augustine's Episcopal church, visit http://www.stacroton.org/

And it's a perfect spring day to sit at the bench in memory of Kim Westphal too http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2017/12/in-memory-of-kim-westphal.html

Friday, April 27, 2018

FOR COLLECTORS OF VETTORI POSTCARDS, NEW FROM EFSP

New from our friends at European Film Star Potcards--and for collectors of Vettori Postcards--Ed. G. Vettori published thousands of film star postcards during the 1920s. The Italian publisher, based in Bologna, made black and white postcards of both film stills and studio portraits and the subjects were national film actors but also international stars. (Click on the photo see actor Ramon Novarro holding a portrait sketch from Scaramouche). Read and see much more about Vettori postcards here.

and
--FOR COLLECTORS OF J BEAGLES POSTCARDS; go here
--FOR COLLECTORS OF VALENTINE'S CO. POSTCARDS; go here

Thursday, April 26, 2018

CROTON NEEDS TO PREPARE FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Sen. Schumer signing bong
Click ON THE LINK below to read an important letter from Paul Steinberg, published in this week’s issue of the Gazette:

To the Editor:

Last year, many members of our community were upset over the opening of a vape shop in Croton. Marijuana retail stores in Croton are not likely to be as controversial as e-cigarette merchants, but the pending legalization of marijuana in Croton is coming at a rapid pace and some legislation and education outreach needs to be done now.

It is time for us to have a conversation and make some decisions about Village laws and policy. READ MORE AT https://bit.ly/2FklIHy

SOME BITS AND PIECES FROM CROTON IN JULY 1972

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

AND NOW..SOME BITS AND PIECES FROM CROTON IN JULY 1972...click on the images below, courtesy of The Croton Historical Society. There's the Fresh Air Fund, Croton Yacht Club, Baseball (Lions and Swanson's teams), old Croton names--Lipkin, Fortini, Katz--and much more.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY SELECT SCANS FROM THE CLASS OF 1972 CROTON HARMON HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK HERE

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

ANOTHER ROCHELLE GAMBINO TRIBUTE HAS COME & GONE, POST 2018 EVENT INFO & MORE

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

ANOTHER ROCHELLE GAMBINO TRIBUTE HAS COME & GONE--HERE'S SOME POST 2018 EVENT INFO & MORE 

--The Grandstand reports that over 400 people--coming and going--attended the two day event and that they have surpassed last year's collection. Just as important, everyone had a great time.  They will continue to do it every year that musicians are willing to donate their time (click on the event poster to see who played).  No doubt The Grandstand will have more to report in the weeks ahead.  Check their FB page often.

--VIDEO, ROCHELLE'S SON; more here and see more assorted band performance videos from the event here 

--There were some great items raffled off, Yankees tickets, a kayak, autographs---on and on--The Grandstand thanks all who donated.

BY SPECIAL REQUEST, OTTO THE AUTO VISITS C.E.T. 1983

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

THIS ONE'S A VERY OLD REQUEST--and frankly we had so little to go on, it was soon forgotten--until one of the elves happened upon....OTTO THE AUTO! Click on the images below courtesy of THE CROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THE TAPE IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.

Monday, April 23, 2018

2018 GOD SQUAD ONCE AGAIN LENDS A HAND 2 CROTON SENIORS @ ANNUAL SPRING CLEANING + PHOTOS

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

On Saturday, April 21st, Holy Name of Mary’s youth group, “God Squad,” once again volunteered their services in a "Spring Clean-up" for local seniors. It's a wonderful event and just another example of why such ministries are so important. This is a great bunch of young men and women. Click on the photos below, provided by the God Squad.

Want to know more about the God Squad? Visit  http://www.holynameofmary.org/youth-ministry-hnmy-god-squad 

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY  http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-god-squad-at-2017-harry-chapin-run.html

WHO YOU GONNA CALL? THE WESTCHESTER BALLOON COMPANY! OF COURSE!

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

WHO YOU GONNA CALL! WHY THE WESTCHESTER BALLOON COMPANY OF COURSE!  CLICK ON YOUR EDITOR'S PHOTO! GRAND OPENING 4/28 NOW ALL WEEKEND--MORE AT https://www.facebook.com/westchesterballoons/

AND FROM THEIR FB PAGE: Due to an overwhelming response to our Grand Opening, we've decided to extend the celebration through the entire weekend! Stop by anytime Saturday or Sunday to get in on the fun. Free entertainment, concessions and the chance to meet balloon artists from all over the world. Remember, if you get your hands on a flyer before the event, children can color the back to get a free twisted balloon at the event! More coloring pages will be available at the opening so every kid gets their balloon! As always, we are still taking balloon orders and booking consultations and events, so call us today or book on our website to start planning your event today!

AND FROM 2014 http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/06/amazing-balloon-artistry-asbury-play.html

REMEMBERING WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Who died this date in 1616; more here. And in honor of The Bard of Avon, some fave Croton Shakespeare Festival posts from the Elves at Everything Croton:

--CROTON'S PETER STRAUSS AS WILL SHAKESPEARE 1970 http://bit.ly/2hjD8ck 
--CROTON'S SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 1962, COURTESY OF THE LATE ED RONDTHALER'S SCRAPBOOKS, ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA, AS YOU LIKE IT, ROMEO & JULIET; more here 
--HAMLET, THE 1983 PRODUCTION http://bit.ly/2kAWfnQ 
--1972 FESTIVAL CLOSES ON A HAPPY NOTE; more here
--1966, CYMBELLINE http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/09/1966-cymbeline-croton-shakespeare.html
--1964, THE WINTER'S TALE; more here

MORE FROM EFSP: FINDS AT THE INT'L COLLECTOR'S FAIR PART 2

More from our friends at European Filmstar Postcards: Finds at the International Collector's Fair, Part 2 

Last Sunday, we visited the International Collector's Fair in the city of Utrecht. Twice each year, Ivo and I go hunting in the huge halls of the Fair for new, interesting film star postcards. And once again, we found some rarities and curiosities, which we like to share with you. Last Tuesday, my choice of finds was on show at EFSP, and today follows a post with Ivo's selection of his new treasures. READ AND SEE MORE HERE 


CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE ONE OF IVO'S FINDS--A MARLENE DIETRICH BRITISH POSTCARDS, Art Photo, no. 34. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

SCHOLARSHIP AT TULANE HONORS CHARLES ELLISON

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

As many of you know, Croton resident Charles Ellison (Class of 2014) passed away in March of 2017 after a vigilant fight with cancer. He was also a member of the Croton EMS. Today we learned that a scholarship has been created in his honor.

Scholarship at Tulane honors cancer victim -   April 22, 2018 - 10:52 am--NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- An endowed scholarship fund has been established at Tulane University in New Orleans in memory of a student who died of brain cancer in March of 2017. READ MORE HERE

1902 THE GOVERNMENT DRY DOCK & SHIPYARDS OF CROTON POINT THAT NEVER CAME TO PASS

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

With thanks to an Everything Croton elf for forwarding this interesting 1902 article on Croton Point from the Rockland County Times.  


Click on the photo.

OBITUARY AND SERVICES FOR EDITH EMMI LADD

Obit and service info here https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/croton-on-hudson-ny/edith-ladd-7825515

Saturday, April 21, 2018

REMEMBERING THE RED BARON

A.K.A. Rittmeister Baron Manfred von Richthofen who died this date in 1918. Widely known as the Red Baron, he was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during the First World War. He is considered the "ace of aces"...MORE HERE
 
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY READING ABOUT CANADIAN LT. COL. JOHN McCRAE, author of IN FLANDERS FIELDS...the poppies blow...more here

Friday, April 20, 2018

A SPECIAL VISITOR AT THE DUCK POND, APRIL 2018

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

We continue to marvel at the "life" that has returned to the Duck Pond--despite forms officials way back who proclaimed it a lost cause. How wrong they were proven to be----thanks to the hard work, research and dedication of the Citizens Duck Pond Committee.

Among the turtles, muskrats, and yes, ducks, that have returned--check out a cormorant that has been making a regular morning appearance at the pond for the last three weeks. Click on the photo.

1972 MORE FROM THE CROTON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

BY SPECIAL REQUEST--MORE CROTON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, 1972--courtesy of the outstanding archives maintained by THE CROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY. CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW for Story Hoot, Suppressed Desires, The Long Goodbye and more. You may also enjoy these additional festival posts from 1972 here -- also features Croton's Kathleen Beller; more on Beller here.

4/19/18 GAZETTE LETTER, STEINBERG, FIDELIS, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, CUOMO ETAL.

THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM PAUL STEINBERG APPEARS IN THE 4/19/18 EDITION OF THE GAZETTE. It is re-printed at the request of our Catholic neighbors and with permission.

TO THE EDITOR:

Amid the celebratory flurry of press releases touting the “accomplishment” of Albany managing to pass an annual budget, it is nice to know that New York remains a state of corruption. Some things never change.

By now we all have heard about the $100,000 in tax money that is going to promote tourism in the Hamptons, and the $3,000,000 to promote the Dick’s Sporting Goods Golf Tournament. Less well known is the extortion of money from the Catholic Church.

The antipathy of Andrew Cuomo (and most of the Democrat Party) toward the Catholic Church stems from the Church’s 2000 year old stance on reproductive rights. In 2014, Mr. Cuomo stated that “right to life” supporters “have no place in the State of New York.” But words of hatred and division are one thing, theft is another.

The Catholic Church has ventured into politics both here in Croton and at the national level. The Church is a bit fuzzy on the physical existence of hell, but it has spoken with crystal clarity on proposed legislation in Croton and even filed a US Supreme Court amicus brief on the constitutionality of mandatory union dues for public sector employees. Go figure. So some might see the events of the past month as turnabout being fair play, and they would be wrong.

It is wrong for a faith organization to meddle in politics, and it is equally wrong for politicians to meddle in the charitable work of faith organizations.

As part of their fundamental mission to serve the poor, the Diocese of Brooklyn started a tiny health insurance plan in 1993. Although named “The New York State Catholic Health Plan” the non-profit served all in need regardless of faith. Serving people who had been ignored by traditional insurance companies, the company became the 1.6 million-member Fidelis Care. 

The Catholic bishops recently agreed to sell Fidelis and put the proceeds of $3.75 billion into a charitable foundation to provide health care for the poor.

The bishops did a good thing, in keeping with a core mission of the Catholic Church going back two thousand years. But as Mr. Cuomo would tell you, Catholics have no place in the State of New York.

The Governor threatened to block the deal or else to pass legislation seizing the Fidelis reserve funds. Although there was no legal impediment to the sale, it could—and would—be blocked by the Dept. of Health and the Dept. of Financial Services unless Mr. Cuomo got his pieces of silver. And if he didn’t get it from a sale of Fidelis Care, he would seize it right out of Fidelis’ bank account.

Because of the Governor’s extortion, the deal was renegotiated and now the State of New York is getting $1.5 billion from Fidelis Care and $500 million from the purchaser of Fidelis. That is money that is not going to the poor. It is money that the State of New York took by threatening to pass a law specifically targeted at Fidelis Care: it is money taken by extortion.

Where is that $2 billion going? It depends on whether you believe Andrew Cuomo. Mr. Cuomo is the consummate NY politician. If you believe him, I have a bridge to sell you.

According to the Governor, the money is going to a “Health Care Shortfall Fund.” This is to protect us against the evil Trump administration which is going to kick Timmy Cratchit out on the street. 

The combination of bashing both Mr. Trump and the Catholic Church while expanding government made the Governor’s extortion wildly popular in certain progressive quarters of our state. The Democrat legislators applauded and the Republican legislators were too scared of angering the Governor.

But as always, the reality is not the shiny object waved by politicians to distract the voters. Reality is worse, as it always is in New York politics.

When the budget was passed, buried deep on page 153 at Part FFF Subpart A of Assembly Bill A9509, the money became a “Health Care Transformation Fund” which among other things could be used for “debt retirement or restructuring, housing and other social determinants of health, or transitional operating support to health care providers.” The money can be moved out of the HCTF at the discretion of the Director of the Budget.

In other words, if you are a hospital or insurance company and play nice with the Governor, there is $2 billion that he can give away. Real estate developers must be salivating over the “housing” clause, and “other social determinants of health” means whatever the Governor wants it to mean. Hiking and meditating in the park benefit health--- by the logic of Part FFF Subpart A,  Cuomo could give Croton a billion dollars for Gouveia renovations.

 A pot of money disbursed at the whim of the Governor will not end well. As New Yorkers, we are accustomed to our crooked politicians funneling taxpayer money to powerful supporters. Using the power of government to extort money from a Catholic charity to fund a political slush fund is just another day at the office in Albany.

Surely a person must feel a bit ashamed at taking money from the Poor Box at church? Not if you are Andrew Cuomo.

--Paul Steinberg, Croton-on-Hudson