Saturday, October 31, 2015

CROTON IN 1921 AND 1922

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 and thanks to an industrious everything Croton elve, A LOOK BACK @ CROTON IN 1921 & 1922. Click on the images and enjoy.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/07/1929-croton-catholic-players-present.html

1950's EPHEMERA: HOW TO DECORATE YOUR ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREE!!!

We are delighted to bring you this bit of vintage Christmas kitsch:

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR NEW ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREE. Courtesy of our friend Cubby.

For those who don't know, these trees were popular in the United States from 1958 until about the mid-1960s.

Click on the link to see the booklet in all its kitschy glory http://bit.ly/1M2nFoV

Want to know more about--and see lots of Aluminum Christmas Trees too? Go here http://bit.ly/1NZug5x

Friday, October 30, 2015

THE MAYOR'S HEALTH INSURANCE, RICK TURNER: THE FACTS ARE VERY CLEAR, AND CLEARLY DAMNING

This letter was published in yesterday’s issue of the Gazette. It is from Rick Turner.

To the Editor:

I was unable to attend the candidates debate at the village library, but I read the Gazette’s report on the forum with great interest. As I read the article I was struck by Dr. Schmidt’s condemnation of the Mayor’s decision “to accept” government health insurance benefits and Trustee Slippen’s comment that it is easy for others to judge the Mayor’s decision without having had the same “opportunity” offered them.

I see it a little differently. The Mayor did not “accept” “the opportunity” of receiving health insurance—the Mayor, in concert with our former Village Manager, engineered it! The facts are very clear, and clearly damning. When Obamacare kicked in, the Mayor saw an “opportunity” to obtain a personal benefit for his “volunteer” public service and then claimed to be working 30-32 hours a week; a work schedule that conveniently qualified the Mayor for health coverage, but is (i) inconsistent with our model of local government (employing a full time Manager) and (ii) incredible and preposterous on its face. No Ms. Slippen, obtaining health care benefits at taxpayer expense was not an “opportunity” offered our Mayor—this was a opportunity the Mayor worked and schemed to exploit (with the help of some and silence of others, but that is another letter).

And, although Dr. Schmidt condemns the Mayor’s efforts to exploit his volunteer public service position for personal benefit, for me there a more troubling, sinister aspect to the story: The facts are now clear that the Mayor tried to cover up his scheme to get free health care. It’s sad, but true.

READ THE REST HERE http://www.crotonunited.org/blog-n/2015/10/30/the-facts-are-very-clear-and-clearly-damning

OR HERE  https://www.facebook.com/crotonunited/posts/510460039111032

Thursday, October 29, 2015

TODD FREEBERN FOR CROTON UNITED, AN IMPORTANT LETTER ON VILLAGE DEBT

“OUR VILLAGE DEBT BALANCE HAS INCREASED TOO RAPIDLY” - This letter by Todd Freebern was published in today’s issue of the Gazette.

To the Editor:


As a resident and taxpayer of the village of Croton-on-Hudson, I’ve watched with interest the dialogue among the candidates for mayor and trustee, particularly in the area of fiscal health for our village.

Being part of the financial industry for the last 11 years and a CPA since well before that, I’ve seen what can result from a high debt load. In moderation, debt is OK. Most homeowners wouldn’t wait to save enough to buy their home with cash. But there’s a limit to how much debt is sensible, and so we try to keep our credit card and other debt balances low. For our village, no one is saying it is not prudent to use debt for vital projects with long-term value. No one is saying it is not prudent to take advantage of low interest rates when they exist. The issue is one of discipline, and knowing when enough is enough. READ MORE HERE http://www.crotonunited.org/blog-n/2015/10/29/our-village-debt-balance-has-increased-too-rapidly

DUE TO SEVERAL RECENT EVENTS, HOLY NAME OF MARY CHURCH WILL NOW CLOSE AT 6 PM EACH EVENING

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. 

Sad news: Your editor has confirmed that due to several recent events, Holy Name of Mary is being forced to close the church at 6 pm each evening from now on. Father Brennan explains it all in this week's bulletin; it is re-printed below.  If you see something, say something. 

Last Sunday around 4:00pm the alarm sounded indicating that there was a problem in the men’s bathroom in the gym. I immediately responded even as the police and fire units were on the way, and found that there was a heavy smoke condition in the bathroom and to a lesser extent in the gym. There was a fire in the plastic garbage can fueled by a large wad of burning hand towels. I pulled the can to the sink and doused it with water. As I came out of the building the police and firemen were on the scene. They did a thorough job of airing out the smoke, and a subsequent check of the entire building. Other than some barely visible scorching on the tiles, there was no other damage. The point of entry into the building remains undetermined. A second place of burning was found outside the gym doors behind Father Nelson’s car-port, with several items charred and melted. 

Given this event and some other recent events in and around the church, we will be closing the church at 6:00pm each evening. We will be adding additional lighting to the walkway area, posting ‘no loitering’ signs, and cooperate with the Croton PD in whatever way they see fit. If you see anyone loitering in the area, please give the PD a call. 271-5177

SERVICES FOR DAVID A. KARPOFF

Everything Croton has received a number of inquiries about services for DAVID A. KARPOFF who passed away on 10/27.  Service info, according to the Carter website, is unavailable at this time. Sorry but we have no other details at present http://bit.ly/1M3b7Bi

UPDATED: A REMEMBRANCE BY TERRY GROSS http://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/454595032/remembering-fresh-air-creator-david-karpoff

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

We loved everything about this 1920 Christmas ad for Hart Schaffner & Marx clothes--the dog, the facial expressions, the train! It's followed by just a small section of Alice's 2015 Halloween porch--and finally, because it is so worth looking at again: the very rare Marx Fire House Playset, 1954--courtesy of a previous auction at Croton's own SeriousToyz.com--it sold for $1,634.08 Click on the photos and enjoy!

Rob and Monica's latest "sale-ing" adventures: MILL NECK & THE PALACE OF WONG (sounds like a 1930's serial doesn't it!) http://bit.ly/1S7CtH6

Howard Lamey has started a new putz house; see more here 

The vintage men's fashion flickr album has been updated http://bit.ly/1O4N5rH

BY SPECIAL REQUEST: a collection of photos featuring RADKO repros of vintage candoliers and Christmas bubble light trees https://www.flickr.com/photos/markdpodmore/albums/72157629482709650

A set of vintage coconut putz houses has come to EBAY; don't know how long the link will last but if you are looking to expand your collection, check it out at   
http://r.ebay.com/tsO66A

In case you missed it, the October, 2015 update of Trains-N-Towns(tm), the Official Newsletter of BIGIndoorTrains.com IS NOW ONLINE! This newsletter serves families who like O Scale trains and Christmas Trains, including those who are interested in combining On30, O gauge, or vintage toy trains with collectible villages or vintage accessories. Your Editor's note: there are so many interesting things in this edition--so do check it out! http://www.bigindoortrains.com/trains_n_towns/15_10_newsletter_indoor.htm

ESPECIALLY THE 2015 CHRISTMASOPEN RAILROADS POST http://familygardentrains.com/outside_resources/openhouses/christmas_open_houses_2015.htm

WANT MORE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS, TOYS AND MORE? GO HERE  http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/06/more-fabulous-vintage-websites-finds_25.html

AND FROM TOM H: DOGS IN HALLOWEEN COSTUMES; LOVE THE PUG AS DARTH VADAR  http://biggeekdad.com/2013/10/dogs-halloween-costumes/

GOUVEIA PARK COSTS TO DATE: A LETTER FROM CROTON UNITED'S BOB ANDERSON

GOUVEIA PARK COSTS TO DATE - This letter from Croton United candidate for trustee Bob Anderson was published in last week’s Gazette.

To the editor,

Last year I sent a letter saying that accepting the Gouveia property was not a good idea. The reasons being that the Village could not sustain it financially, and that it would become a drain on existing resources. Many other communities that accepted similar bequests have regretted that decision.

Our status today is that we have used the DPW to cut and trim trees, we have added an additional $10,000 to have the grass cut, and we have an unusable building and unacceptable road. We have the $1 million endowment sitting in a savings account earning less than one per cent interest. How you may ask, can we fix these problems? The answer from this board is simple—issue a $200,000 bond. A conservative estimate would be that this decision will cost taxpayers and additional $15,000 to $20,000 in debt service.

The expenses to date are approaching $70,000, which is approximately $40,000 above the board’s original numbers. Here is the best part according to the board...read more here http://on.fb.me/1PSaLz2

Monday, October 26, 2015

CROTON LOCAL, 1952, SCOOP AND JUDY'S, BLACK ROCK, AND 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.

So one of the Everything Croton elves came across this rather curious article from 1952--it's filled with all sorts of tidbits--and just happens to have the answer to that age-old burning question: How did Scoop and Judy's get that name...as well as chit-chat about Asbury, the high school, Black Rock, what was playing at the Starlight and more. Click on the images below and enjoy.

YOU MAY ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-croton-memories-scoop-n-judys.html

1953: CROTON LIONS GIVE FRED NILES 400 POUND LION AT TESTIMONIAL DINNER

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.

COURTESY OF AN ENTHUSIASTIC EVERYTHING CROTON "LION", an article from 1953: FRED NILES GIVEN 400 LB. LION! Click on the images below.

You may also have an interest in:
--1963 A LOOK BACK @ FRED NILES http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/05/1963-look-back-fred-niles.html
--TOP THREE MOST READ 2014 CROTON LIONS ARTICLES @ EVERYTHING CROTON http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/01/top-3-most-read-2014-croton-lions-club.html