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Mahopac/Carmel HitIce forCancerCharities2018 Yearin Reviewpages 4-7FREEDecember 25 - December 31, 2018see SportsServing All of Putnam Countytwitter.com/ExaminerMediaSMALL NEWS IS BIG NEWSVolume 10, Issue 509Threat Sends Brewster Scuccimarra Looks Backon County Leg. TenureSchools into PanicBy David PropperA threat made against Brewster HighSchool led to an uneasy stir throughoutthe school community the week beforeholiday break and landed one studenttemporarily in police custody last Tuesdaynight.At about 10 p.m., the district receivedseveral messages through AnonymousAlerts that a student, who was alreadysuspended, posted threats against thehigh school using a social media account.Law enforcement was contacted rightaway and went to the student’s home toconduct a safety check, the district saidin a letter. That student was placed intopolice custody, Superintendent of SchoolsDr. Valerie Henning said. He was laterreleased.On Wednesday and throughout the restof the week, as a precaution, all schoolswere placed on lockout. A lockout isdifferent from a lockdown because alockout is meant to keep someone orsomething outside of the building. Anadditional deputy was stationed outsidethe high school, as well.Henning said the school would reassessfuture safety measures after speaking withthe sheriff ’s department.“I want to thank the people who usedAnonymous Alerts to notify us,” Henningwrote. “Without this notice, we would nothave been able to act as quickly.”Law enforcement in the county alsoaddressed the situation, though vaguelybecause the student is a minor. Raisecontinued on page 6By David PropperTraveling from Garrison to Carmel,outgoing Putnam County LegislatorBarbara Scuccimarra arguably had thelongest drive compared to her eightcolleagues on the legislature.To pass the time during the more than20 miles and 30 minutes of travel, shewould listen to books on tape.“I went through a lot of novels,”Scuccimarra, who represented District1 for six years, said.Starting Jan.1, Scuccimarra, aRepublican, won’t have to worry aboutas many long drives as she departs fromthe legislature after falling to incomingcounty lawmaker and Democrat NancyMontgomery in last November’selection. While leaving sooner than shewould’ve liked, Scuccimarra, a 46-yearresident, called her two terms on thelegislature “productive” where she wasable to accomplish some of the goals sheset out to achieve when she took office.Most notably, and what led to neverending controversy, is how Scuccimarrahelped usher in a new and improvedsenior center for the west side of thecounty. Despite setbacks and intensecriticism of the project that opponentsslammed as too expensive, a newsenior center was finally opened at theButterfield redevelopment on Dec. 18.She even snipped the ribbon duringcontinued on page 8Carmel School Board PutsForth 3rd Bond PackageBy Anna YoungThis year will end the same way itbegan for the Carmel Board of Educationas members and residents bickered andsquabbled over a bond proposal that hasled to exhausting infighting with much ofthe fury directed at one trustee.As board members and residentsanticipate the district’s third bond proposalvote next year on items that wouldenhance the district, a mixture of angerand desperation filled the auditorium atMatthew Patterson Elementary last weekfrom those who don’t want to see anotherreferendum fail.The school system has already offeredtwo bonds, but both have been voteddown. One was shot down in Dec. 2017and the other was rejected narrowly inOctober. Following the October vote,residents came out in droves urging theboard to place the bond up for anothervote.Residents and board members have alsotaken aim at board member John Curzioover the last year for his opposition to aportion of the proposal.During last week’s meeting, the boardsplit the latest bond into two propositions.One bond proposition, which passed bya 7-0 vote, would fix failing roofs, makeeach school building ADA compliantand enhance the middle school library.The other would move the transportationgarage from George Fischer MiddleSchool to a parcel of a property in thecontinued on page 8DAVID PROPPER PHOTOLegislator Barbara Scuccimarra with her legislative colleagues. She is leaving the legislature at the endof the year.600 Bank RoadJefferson Valley(914) 250-2750584 North State RoadBriarcliff Manor(914) 250-2134OIN FOR 25 & ReceIve 25 IN club cash!*New memberships only. Not to be combined with any other offers. Offer expires 1/31/19.

December 24 - December 31, 20182The Putnam ExaminerCuomo Aims to Legalize Marijuana in New YorkBy David PropperDemocratic New York Gov. AndrewCuomo announced in a speech last weekthat he will advocate for the legalizationof recreational marijuana.“The fact is we have had two criminaljustice systems: one for the wealthyand the well off, and one for everyoneelse,” Cuomo sad during a speech inManhattan, noting the injustice has “fortoo long targeted the African-Americanand minority communities.”Democrats captured the state Senate inNovember, and the Assembly is alreadycontrolled by Democrats, likely setting thestage for the swift approval of legalizationin early 2019. As Cuomo looks ahead tohis third term, the Dec. 17 speech detailedhis goals for his first 100 days of the NewYear.The debate over legalization going intothe new session could be heated withopponents of the bill claiming allowingmarijuana usage could lead to harderdrug use.Outgoing Putnam County LegislatorBarbara Scuccimarra sent a letter tothe state earlier this year outlining thenegative effects of passing the law.According to a study conducted by thestate health department, Scuccimarra saidyouth marijuana smoking would increaseand between 8.9 percent and 30 percentcounty task force, OneArmy in the War onAddiction.Drug Crisis in ourBackyard, a non-profitthat fights addiction,sent out an emailblastencouragingresidents to write toCuomo prior to hisannouncement. Theorganization, whichwas founded by oneMahopac and oneSomers family thateach lost a son to anPROVIDED PHOTOoverdose,providedGovernor Andrew Cuomo wants to legalize marijuana in New York.alettertemplatethat argued againstlegalization.of the population who uses marijuana“Thepathtomarijuanalegalizationwill develop some form of dependence,isaslipperyslope,anditwillhave gravepointing to other states that have uana. Overall, there would be morethecountryisinthegripoftheworstdrug use within the state, Scuccimarradrug epidemic in history, we have tosaid, citing the study.“Please consider the epidemic of drug ask ourselves whether legalization ofoverdose deaths in New York in recent marijuana will serve our communities,”years. Legalizing recreational use of part of the letter stated. “The answer ismarijuana will increase availability for obvious: it won’t.”Cuomo was previously againstadolescents and decrease the perceptionlegalizationbut has changed his view onof risk of harm, which will ultimatelytheissue.Therehas been wide speculationlead to an overall increase in drug use,”thatCuomomightrun for president inScuccimarra wrote on behalf of the2020.Neighboring New Jersey is alsomoving toward legalizing recreationaluse of marijuana; in all, 10 states andWashington, D.C., have legalizedrecreational marijuana.New York State would see a newtax revenue surge of between 248million and 677 million in the firstyear of legalization, according to a stateDepartment of Health commission reportreleased in July. How to use that revenueis up for debate, with some advocatingfor the money to be spent on NewYork City’s subway system while otherspropose investing it in black and Latinocommunities where the criminalizationof marijuana has hit hard.Working Families Party memberAndrew Falk, of Patterson, said there isa racial justice component to legalizingmarijuana because black and Latinopeople are criminalized at a higher ratefor marijuana use than white people,even though each group of people use thedrug roughly the same amount. He saidlegalization would be the moral thing todo in order to provide equity.“We should legalize marijuana andexpunge people’s criminal records sothat we have more room in our jails forcrooked bankers and politicians,” Falksaid.Is Your Biological Clock Ticking?The Trend toward Later Motherhood Ask the DoctorDr. Navid MootabarChief, Obstetrics & GynecologyNorthern Westchester HospitalLearn more aboutDr. Mootabar, visitnwhroboticsurgery.org/DrMootabar400 East Main Street Mount Kisco, NY 10549(914) 666-1200 www.nwhc.netQ: What’s behind the trend toward later parenthood?A: Women in the U.S. are waiting longer than ever tohave children, according to the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention. In fact, the average age of firsttime mothers is now 26, up almost two years since 2014.In the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve seen the average ageof first-time mothers increase greatly, mainly becausewomen are pursuing careers and education first.Q: I’m turning thirty. Should I be worried aboutmy “biological clock” ticking?A: The best time for a woman to get pregnant is betweenthe ages of 20 and 35. In this age range, you are mostfertile and least likely to experience complications.Though there is a slight risk of declining fertility bythe age of 35, it’s only about 5 percent. Egg qualityand quantity decline after age 35, and good ovulationcycles become less frequent. Eggs of poorer quality arereleased, making it more difficult to get pregnant.Q: Will older moms-to-be face risks?A: A mere twenty to thirty years ago, the maternal age of35 was considered advanced for childbearing; it was alsoconsidered the age at which a woman became – virtuallyovernight and automatically – a high-risk pregnancy.Today we know that if you’re a healthy 35-year-old womanwho is pregnant, you may often have the same degree ofrisk in pregnancy as that of a younger mom-to-be.If you’re over 35 and considering pregnancy, you mayhave to visit your physician more frequently to ensurethat the pregnancy is proceeding smoothly. I recommendscheduling an appointment for both preconceptioncounseling and genetic counseling. This will help yourphysician identify and minimize any risk factors so you canimprove your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Women over35 can deliver healthy children and have a safe pregnancy.It’s all about taking care of yourself, knowing your risks andcoming up with a plan that is right for you and your family.Q: I’m worried that when I do decide to havechildren, I won’t be able to. What are my optionsif I can’t get pregnant?A: Advances in technology help many women over 35get pregnant and give birth to healthy babies. In vitrofertilization is a process by which a woman’s eggs areextracted and combined with a sperm sample, creatingan embryo that is transferred to the woman’s uterus.In vitro fertilization now includes a procedure calledpre-implantation genetic diagnosis that helps identifychromosomal and genetic abnormalities, ensuringphysicians are implanting healthy embryos.