FARRINGTON ROAD, HUD, HOUSING, CROTON, THE COUNTY & MORE

The following "legislative package" was recently passed by the Board of Legislators.

Click on the link below to read about an IMA (inter-municipal agreement) with assorted municipalities, including Croton, committing those municipalities to affordable/low income housing in exchange for certain funding. This pdf file is 23 pages; the cover letter is dated May 5th.  Among the highlights:

1) Contrary to claims made by local officials, the housing will not be for firemen, teachers, to expand the business community, or so that your children "will get out of the house". The document states that in exchange for the money:
--The Eligible Municipal Recipient will market the housing units in accordance with the fair housing marketing plan approved pursuant to the Spano-brokered settlement (bottom of page 2). In short, NO preference could be given to Croton residents--their words exactly: "A BAN ON LOCAL RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS". See page 5, items a,b,c, for the rest of what the municipality is expected to do, etc. Also extends to top of page 6.

2) The money is for communities with "a high proportion of low to moderate" income population; Croton is listed as such; Croton's money is for the Farrington Road project; see page 9

There is much more; the county has right of first refusal on properties, etc. In short, if you want the money, there will be obligations.

Again, click on the link--you will see a prompt/message to either save or open the file; click on the word open http://bit.ly/1PYujya

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1958-1960, BROKEN ARROW

When we came across this ad for BROKEN ARROW, the television show starring Michael Ansara as Cochise, we just had to share...click on the photo.

This Western series ran on ABC-TV from 1956 through 1958 on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Repeat episodes were shown by ABC on Sunday afternoon during the 1959–60 season. Read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Arrow_%28TV_series%29 And more about Michael Ansara here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ansara

1939, A CROTON ROTARY "RIOT", A BENEFIT FOR VILLAGE RECREATION

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

IT'S A ROTARY CLUB RIOT, 1939, STAGED FOR THE BENEFIT OF CROTON RECREATION--courtesy of the outstanding archives maintained by the volunteers of The Croton Historical Society--looks like it was quite a show; click on the images below.

OVER 600 SEE "RIOT" STAGED FOR BENEFIT OF RECREATION, MARCH 30, 1939

F.A.O. SCHWARTZ CLOSING SIGNATURE FLAGSHIP TOY STORE

Just got word today that FAO Schwartz is closing its iconic New York City location--and is looking for cheaper digs elsewhere in Manahttan.

You can see more about this here http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/16/us/fans-mourn-toy-store-f-a-o-schwarz-closing/

In the meantime, why not enjoy this 1959 F.A.O. Schwartz Christmas catalog, courtesy of Wishbook Jason--it's only missing eight pages...

Click on the link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wishbook/sets/72157628549358991

CONGRATULATIONS ARMAND PAPPAS, 1ST PLACE, LONG JUMP, COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

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

Congratulations to Armand Pappas who came in first in the long jump at the Westchester County championship.  Here he is getting the 1st place medal from CHHS Coach George Castelli.  His winning jump was 21' 4". Click on the photos, all rights reserved.

For a complete list of Track/Field winners, participants, results, see the LoHud article at  http://www.lohud.com/story/sports/high-school/track/2015/05/17/westchester-county-track-field-results/27511539/

SEE VINTAGE CROTON TRACK 1930'S-1970'S HERE http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/03/part-4-look-back-at-croton-harmon-high.html

And 2015 updated stats and more for team http://bit.ly/1REBhLo

SIGNS...SIGNS...EVERYWHERE A VINTAGE SIGN, ARIZONA STYLE

Alright all you model railroad layout builders--and putz village enthusiasts too--a collection of outstanding Arizona signs from our friend Frank---to add just that right touch of realism!

Click on the link https://www.flickr.com/photos/41606952@N07/sets/72157651455225989

We love the 50's flair of the one to the right. Click on the photo.

You may also enjoy: http://familygardentrains.com/resource/index.htm

A LITTLE NORTH RIVERSIDE CROTON HISTORY: A BARBER SHOP, THE SIDECAR & MORE

This post is now at EverythingCroton: BACK ONLINE AFTER A BLOGGING GLITCH----A LITTLE NORTH RIVERSIDE CROTON HISTORY: A BARBER SHOP, THE SIDECAR & MORE-Only the previous comments remain here.

NEW @ EUROPEAN FILM STAR POSTCARDS: JULIE CHRISTIE

What's new and exciting at one of our favorite blogs of all time: EUROPEAN FILM STAR POSTCARDS: vintage postcards, stars and stories...

JULIE CHRISTIE! 5/17/15 - Smart and sexy Julie Christie (1941) is an icon of the new British cinema. During the Swinging Sixties she became a superstar with such roles as Lara in the worldwide smash hit Doctor Zhivago (1965). Since then she has won the Oscar, the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. READ AND SEE MORE HERE, INCLUDING VIDEO FROM DR. ZHIVAGO, PETULIA, SHAMPOO AND MORE: http://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/2015/05/julie-christie.html

MY LETTER ADDRESSING MR. GRIMM'S RECENT "SOLARIZE" GAZETTE LETTER

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

MY 5/14 GAZETTE LETTER ADDRESSING MR. GRIMM'S RECENT "SOLARIZE" GAZETTE LETTER 

I'd like to address two issues raised in Mr. Grimm's recent letter to the Gazette. 

1) Mr. Grimm states that the current replacement of village utility poles by Con Edison is the "result of efforts by the mayor to reinforce the grid" and prevent future outages. The fact is that Con Edison had long ago outlined plans for pole replacement, new wiring, etc. in their Fortifying the Future initiative, committing well over a billion dollars to storm-harden the grid (http://bit.ly/1nQkqVe). Yet Mr. Grimm asks us to believe that this would not have occurred without the mayor's "efforts", stretching credibility to the limits. It is also important to note that the village's high priced consultants have repeatedly recommended that the power lines be buried. The mayor, however, is on record that such burial would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Instead, both he and the board have chosen to spend approximately a million in taxpayer dollars on the Croton Point Avenue "Improvement" Project and bike lanes.

 2) Mr. Grimm also states that  "The village is exploring group power purchase incentives" and that these  have been used in several midwestern communities with substantial savings for customers. What Mr. Grimm did not tell you, however, is this. Should such a group power purchase incentive occur, such as the one advocated by Sustainable Westchester, every resident who still uses Con Edison as their energy provider would automatically be included in the group-buying effort.  In short, your provider will be automatically chosen for you--with no input from you at all. If you don't want to be in the program, you must affirmatively opt out of it. As to any alleged savings, you are strongly encouraged to read all about this and more in an April 4th article from the Examiner News available at http://bit.ly/1P6N5sf 

Editor's note: An anonymous comment claims that the aforementioned information from the Con Edison website and the Examiner News article, is "nothing but lies". You are encouraged to contact Con Edison and The Examiner News directly.

YOU MAY ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN READING MARK FRANZOSO'S LETTER ADDRESSING MR. GRIMM http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/05/mark-franzoso-gazette-ltr-corrects-mr.html

STRANGE CROTON DOINGS, A LAND DISPUTE, A BARONESS, A BATTLE, A SONG & MORE: 1874

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

While looking for something else entirely--this little gem was unearthed from the Croton-on-Hudson News, March 1939; it tells a strange tale of a land dispute on Brook Street (then known as Gab Street) from 65 years earlier--1874--perhaps you will recognize some of the names--the Baroness de Graffenreid may not be one of them--Gus Outhouse, George Ferris, NB Lent, Pierre Van Cortlandt, etal. Click on the images below:

OUR SAVIOUR'S "EDUCATION" BUILDING 1961 & 1970

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

A LOOK BACK @ OUR SAVIOUR'S "EDUCATION" BUILDING 1961 & 1970 - Click on the images below, courtesy of the outstanding archives maintained by the volunteers of THE CROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY. For more about Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran Church, visit http://www.oursaviourcroton.org/ 

The building is home to The Circle School; for more, visit  http://www.crotoncircleschool.com/

MARK FRANZOSO GAZETTE LTR CORRECTS MR. GRIMM'S RECENT "SOLARIZE" STATEMENTS

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

THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM MARK FRANZOSO APPEARS IN THE 5/14 EDITION OF THE GAZETTE AND ADDRESSES CERTAIN STATEMENTS MADE IN A RECENT LETTER FROM RESIDENT CARL GRIMM: 

TO THE EDITOR:

I would like to thank Carl Grimm for giving Franzoso Energy Solutions the opportunity to address a Solar program for his home here in Croton.

I must say at first that I was a little skeptical knowing his close ties to the mayor and the solarize program that he has been promoting for the last few months. My Sales Team member reported back that Mr. Grimm was a complete gentleman and seemed to want a second opinion since his house is flanked by many trees. Unfortunately, Mr. Grimm’s home is not a good candidate for Solar because of the trees and I understand his unwillingness to have them cut down.

I do agree and support his many letters to the community that installing Solar is the best thing anyone can do right now, for not only reducing ones carbon footprint but being part of a movement to end our dependence on fossil fuels. 

I do however want to correct the statement he made in last week’s letter to the editor that Sunrise Solar and in fact all of the Solar Contractors involved in the program were chosen not by lengthy interviews but by supplying the cheapest price per KW installed. 

There was an RFP sent out that any company can bid on. Sunrise won the bid for Cortlandt/Croton just like The Ross Solar Group won the Briarcliff/ Ossining area, where in fact Sunrise is located. 

New Solarize campaigns in Westchester will be up for bid this summer. Franzoso Energy Solutions is contemplating entering the bidding process for the next round of Solarize campaigns. The Solarize campaign is a very effective community outreach program raising awareness of Solar and it’s benefits.

However, I am struggling with the fact of having to offer mid to lower range products on the market for the sole purpose of winning the bid to the consumer. My entire career in business (35 years) I have promoted and installed the best, most advanced products available and backed it with a workmanship warranty that is second to none. On top of that we are a Roofing Company installing Solar, so the benefits outweigh the competition. Homeowners like the one on Radnor Ave that we just installed a new Roof and Solar system for reconfirm every day that it’s about product and experience and not about the cheapest price.

I also want to clarify one thing. While the discounts available through the Solarize Westchester program do expire in June,The NYSERDA Grant has been extended into March 2016. That money is still available to homeowners considering Solar PV installations for their homes, and that makes up a significant reduction to the overall cost. 

On another note, Mr. Grimm states that the mayor is responsible for the Pole Replacement project to reinforce our grid. Perhaps, his administration should have waited to replace the sidewalks in the upper village until that project was completed. They are a mess now and I can only hope that the mayor will go after the contractor to replace all the areas that cracked over the winter, largely due to the fact that they did not install frost joints vertically.

MARK FRANZOSO
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You may also have an interest in BRIAN POWERS related letter 4/30/15 http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/05/brian-powers-43015-gazette-letter.html 

CROTON HARMON STUDENT EMMA CHESHIRE WINS 2015 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 12, 2015

Contact: Matt Wojtkun, 202-225-6506

Croton-Harmon Student Emma Cheshire Wins 2015 Congressional Art Competition

 

Croton-on-Hudson student to travel to Washington, DC, meet with Congresswoman Lowey, and have art displayed in U.S. Capitol

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (Westchester/Rockland), the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, announced that Emma Cheshire, a junior at Croton-Harmon High School in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, is the winner of the 2015 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 17^th Congressional District. Emma’s piece, “Hand Shadow,” was judged to be first of 21 entries.

“I congratulate Emma on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” said Lowey. “New York’s 17th Congressional District will be well represented in Washington, DC, by her outstanding artwork on display in the United States Capitol, where millions of visitors will be able to see it.”

“The Croton-Harmon School District and Croton Community couldn’t be more proud and excited for Emma. Her portrait is a wonderful representation of her amazing technical ability, creative spirit and dedication to her art,” said Croton-Harmon Art Teacher Jodi Burger. “We appreciate the efforts of Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s office in recognizing high school artists, and join in celebrating Emma, whose commitment to the field of visual arts has been evident throughout her time in the Croton schools. She is a gem!”

Heeyeon Kim, a Harrison resident and junior at Harrison High School, came in second place for her painting entitled “On the Edge of Opportunity;” Alice Luo, New City resident and sophomore at Clarkstown High School South, came in third for her “Brooklyn Bridge” drawing; and Barbara Letizia, a New City resident and junior at Clarkstown High School South, received an honorable mention for her piece “Building of Boroughs.”

“Our region is fortunate to be home to so many excellent young artists,” said Lowey. “I’m proud of Heeyeon, Alice, Barbara, and all of the participants in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Their artistic talents are excellent contributions to the Lower Hudson Valley’s cultural identity.”

The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Each spring, students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in June in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

The awards ceremony was held at the Nanuet Public Library on Monday, April 27, 2015. The three judges who chose the winners were Daly Flanagan, Art School Director at Rockland Center for the Arts; Carol Perry, Executive Artistic Director at the Edward Hopper House, and Karen Edelmann, Visual Artist & Adjunct Professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College. 

In addition to promoting arts through the annual Congressional Art Competition, Congresswoman Lowey has been stalwart in her defense of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and served on the prestigious National Council for the Arts in recognition of her leadership.

1948 AD FOR WALT DISNEY'S "MELODY TIME"

We were delighted to find this ad for the 1948 Walt Disney production of MELODY TIME in an old magazine. Click on the photos; you can find high quality excerpts on WWW.YOUTUBE.COM - just enter MELODY TIME 1948. It's sort of like a pop Fantasia.

And what a cast. For those who don't know: Melody Time is considered to be the last anthology feature made by the Walt Disney Animation Studios (the next film to be released was The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, which featured two stories). These package features were "little-known short-film compilations that Disney produced and released as feature films during World War II". They were "financially (and artistically) lightweight productions meant to bring in profits [to allow the studio to] return to fairy tale single-narrative feature form", a endeavour which they successfully completed two years later with Cinderella. While the shorts "contrast in length, form, and style", a common thread throughout is that each "is accompanied by song[s] from musicians and vocalists of the '40s" - both popular and folk music. READ MORE HERE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_Time