Tuxedo Park FYI

Checks should be made out to Tuxedo Park Communications LLC and sent to:
TPFYI
PO Box 681
Tuxedo Park, Ny 10987

The Tuxedo Park Stewardship Forum Presents: Architectural Etiquette in Tuxedo Park (Posted 7/9/24)

The 2024 School Board election and budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21. This year, six candidates are vying for three open spots on the Board of Education: incumbents and William (Bill) Givens, former BOE member and President Joe Rickard and newcomers Kelly Spranger, Chris Scanlon and Bonny Takeuchi. Current Board member Alyssa Horneff will be retiring after having served one term.
The make-up of the school board is extremely important as it has a direct impact on the future of the School District as well as every one’s taxes. In addition to the annual budget, the Board of education is responisble for developing and adopting the policies that drive the District, providing oversight of any facility-based issues and supporting the Administration as they work to develop and implement strong programs. Therefore, understanding these candidates, their areas of expertise and their levels of experience is crucial in making an informed decision.

In an effort to inform the community, TPFYI presented each candidate with a basic questionnaire, designed to focus on their biographical information as well as their levels of experience and reasons for running. What follows are their responses, unedited and in the order they were recevied.

Education/Degrees:
B.A. in Communication Arts from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC

Years of residency in Tuxedo:
Kelly Spranger has been a resident of Tuxedo for 16 years this June 2024

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:
Kelly Spranger has spent the last 4 years volunteering for the Pollination Meadow in Tuxedo creating a community garden. Kelly was the President of PTO and a PTO member and helped the Town of Tuxedo’s Recreation Dept with many events such as Family Fun Day, Halloween and various town wide events.
Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?
I am running for the BOE to help support a strong vision for our school, be a ‘consensus builder’ to maintain a good balance, and team building for our Board of Education to make decisions for a healthy school system.
What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?
With a small school, it is always important to be a cheerleader for our school district to continually increase enrollment. If elected, I would continue to be that cheerleader and help with community outreach, helping with events to spread the word how terrific our school is and how much we have to offer to students in Tuxedo. Maintaining current students is equally important and I would work with parents, teachers and administrators to promote our school so we keep the students we have through graduation.

Academics are key to that enrollment. Staying on top of the most competitive academic programs and after school clubs would be my top focus so that we can improve and enhance our school district. Keeping our students, increasing enrollment and getting our school to the top 100 are my key goals if elected.

Education/Degrees:
BA, History, Queens College
MA, Education, St John’s University
MBA, Marketing, Hofstra University

Vocation/Employer:
I started my career as a NY State certified teacher, and have taught and coached at the HS level.

My current company is Intellective Solutions, I have extensive educational and management experience.

Before starting Intellective Solutions, I have had senior management experience in two global 500 companies,

Years of residency in Tuxedo:
My wife Maureen and I have lived in Tuxedo for 23 years. We have two grown daughters and five grandchildren.

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:
Current member of the Tuxedo School District finance and audit committee
Social Member of the Tuxedo Ambulance Corps
Former Board President of the Tuxedo School District
Former Member of the Town of Tuxedo Recreation Board
Former COVID-19 Community Liaison for Food Supplies

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?
I am running for the Board because I strongly support the Tuxedo District and our Town. I have actively advocated for the school district. I believe the future of the school requires responsible financial management and a stronger emphasis on academic excellence.

I have the professional and nonprofit experience to add value to the Board and District.

As a grandparent, I have a front-row seat as my daughters navigate the pressures of managing busy lives I also understand the unique challenges and tough road ahead for teachers, parents, and students in a post-COVID 19 world. I want to be part of the solution. I sincerely believe the District could be well-positioned for the future. I will provide the hard work and expertise to make that possible.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

We are a small district with a low enrollment level. This has been the history of the district. In the current environment, parents are more involved and savvier about what constitutes a great school. We continue to lose students to neighboring schools and districts.

We must improve the perception of the district’s academic performance to ensure new parents will buy residences in the Tuxedo Reserve and send their children to our district. This is a district and town imperative. The old ways are not good enough. I will strongly advocate that every program and work process in the district is evaluated and tested.

Additionally, we must do a better job with community outreach to tell our story. We have a great many positives to share while we improve the academic and perception of the district.

The recent history of poor audits and financial management is behind us. The current administration has put us on the right path. We have a high level of accountability and transparency. I have worked hard over the last four years to help with that recovery process while keeping tax rate increases low.

The challenge is to ensure we have a qualified Board of Education who can provide the oversight and strategy to manage new assessments and payments from the Tuxedo Reserve. This is a challenging proposition because we must ensure adequate reserves are in place while we absorb new students into the system. I will make sure this will be done professionally and transparently.

Education/Degrees:
Bachelor of Science (Major: Economics / Dual Minor: Computer Science & Political Science)

Vocation/Employer:
28 Years in Finance / Managing Director at Morgan Stanley

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?
It has been an honor to serve on the Board of Education for the last 3 years. Tuxedo is special for many reasons, but above all are the incredible teachers, staff, and administration that are helping to form the future of our community. I am running for re-election because I care deeply about our school and the need to improve education, while responsibly managing the district’s finances. As a current board member, I have been a strong advocate for academic excellence, improved governance and oversight, and the wise use of taxpayer resources. My wife and I currently have 2 children who are thriving at TUFSD, thanks to its many devoted teachers. Our oldest, a proud Tuxedo graduate, just finished up his first year at Purdue University with a 4.0, where he is an aerospace engineering student, which is a testament to TUFSD’s STEM foundation.

As an independent candidate with current board experience, finance background, and my only allegiances being to taxpayers and students, I am uniquely qualified to tackle the many challenges that face the district. If reelected, I will continue to advocate for our children, hold the school’s administrators and board accountable for academic excellence, and demand that our tax dollars are spent wisely. I have strong analytical, finance, and communication skills and am not afraid to ask the tough questions that should be asked, which I think are essential tools for effective board service.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?
While the below answer is expansive, so are the issues facing the district:

While the issues are plentiful, they are entirely solvable, and I commit to partnering with the board and the superintendent to work through each. I am also proud to endorse Joe Rickard and Kelly Spranger, both of whom are extremely well qualified, independent minded, and will objectively push for improved educational outcomes and accountability for taxpayers.

I have been a part of the District’s past. I am part of its present. And now, I hope to be part of its future. As an active community volunteer, former full-time school employee and alumnus, I have a deep-rooted knowledge of the District. I feel that this long-time and ongoing relationship gives me a unique perspective to bring to the Board.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

I feel that there are three issues that need to be addressed in order for our District to be able to move forward in providing educational excellence.

First and foremost, the educational opportunities and extra-curricular activities for our current students, along with their safety, need to be the focus of the School Board and administration. I would pursue methods for realigning the budget to provide our students with more opportunities and activities without raising taxes.

The safety of our students and buildings must also be a priority for the Board of Education. Sometimes budgetarily, that means hard decisions have to be made. We need to look at our needs and assign priorities based on what is the safest and most feasible. I would support an initiative to study building usage and improvements.

Planning for future growth is of utmost importance for our District. With the development of Tuxedo Reserve, we need to be prepared for the eventual influx of more students. This will be a new challenge for us, and we should strive to find ways to make this change successful. I would like to see focus groups of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members formed to study the many issues that need to be addressed. Their input would be invaluable. By keeping our district vibrant and strong, we will be prepared to meet this challenge. We must focus on the now and prepare for the future.

During high school and college, I had the typical range of jobs, including some interesting ones as an Army & Navy store clerk/tailor, landscape designer, construction worker, Assistant Boy Scout Camp Director, bowling alley pin setter, forklift driver and Deejay.
After college I was a high school history teacher and taught the Gifted & Talented classes. I also enjoyed coaching varsity soccer, basketball, and bowling teams.
For many years I also helped run a family restaurant.

After Law School, I was a career criminal prosecutor for almost three decades. Most of my years were spent as a Bureau Chief and Executive Assistant District Attorney in Orange, Rockland, and the Bronx. For several years, the Governor hired me to lead the investigation into 'waste, fraud and abuse' on the largest design-build transportation project in the country.

I am now partially retired, working part-time as a partner in a small boutique law firm here in Tuxedo. I am also a part-time Rockland County Senior Assistant Public Defender in charge of Grand Jury and a P.B.A. Attorney for over 100 NY police departments focusing on union contracts and discipline.

Tuxedo PTO Member
Tornado Athletic Booster
Baker High School Musical Parent Booster
Tuxedo Memorial Day Parade Float
Eagle Valley Christmas Parade
Eagle Valley Holiday Decorations
Tuxedo Trail Angel
NY-NJ Trail Conference – Head Trail Maintainer of Long Swamp Trail
Sterling Forest Fire Tower Volunteer
Friends of Sterling Forest
Boy Scouts of America - Council Vice-President - 20+ years
Boy Scouts of America - Eagle Board of Review Member - 20+ years
Boy Scouts of America - Order of the Arrow - Lodge Advisor
Eastern NY Youth Soccer Association State Board Member
Tuxedo Police Reform Committee

Nine years ago, we were looking at private middle schools for my son Ted to attend. One day while driving down Rt. 17 together, we passed Baker and saw a large sign touting its STEM program and inviting out of district students to attend.

A little research and a phone call later, Ted spent a ‘Day as a Tornado’. The students, teachers and staff were wonderful! We were hooked. Needless to say, Ted spent the next three years as an out-of-district student. We lived too far away in Pomona to get busing, but the eight or so hours of weekly driving back and forth was worth it.

Eventually, as Ted was more involved in after school activities and needed to be at the school more often, we decided to leave the house my father built with his own hands in the 1950’s and move to the Tuxedo School District.

Due to the local school district boundaries, it was a bit confusing at first, but eventually our realtor knew to ONLY show us houses in the TUXEDO school district. We landed in Maple Brook, and Ted was finally able to take the school bus to Baker (until COVID remote learning was soon thereafter instituted).

My family quickly became even more active in many activities and groups here in Tuxedo. Individuals from those school and community groups, including the PTO and several others, urged me to run for the board.

I had already long been interested in service to local schools, their students, and the local community. In 1981, I was elected to be the student representative to sit as an ex-officio member of my local school board. I have never stopped attending school board meetings since.

Professionally, as a prosecutor, over several decades, I have investigated and prosecuted illegal and improper conduct and actions by dozens of school boards, school districts, administrators, teachers, and staff. I understand how successful Districts are run.

Based upon my love for the district and my experiences, I agreed and won my seat three years ago.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

I am running for re-election because the work is not yet done. Sadly, the current and recent Board leadership and majority have made certain decisions and made many compromises that are not in the best interest of the students, teachers, staff, and taxpayers.

WE can do better to address the issues facing the District by changing priorities.

Everyone wants a lean and mean budget. So why can’t we move more of our tax dollars already in the budget to areas that will DIRECTLY affect our students in a positive way. We can, but a top-heavy administration will need to be downsized by a strong Board majority.

As a member of the Safety Committee, it is woefully clear that we need to improve several aspects of the buildings and campus. Again, this can be accomplished only with a Board majority that makes it a priority, instead of acquiescing to feeble compromises.

Finally, the future of the School MUST be safeguarded with stronger Board members. We have a large imminent influx of students enrolling soon; we are not ready. A strong board majority cannot include those who have called to close our school. A strong board majority cannot include those who have caved in to heinous HR decisions on the eve of Graduation. A strong board majority cannot include those who have trusted the developers to the monetary detriment of our District.

The solution to all the most important issues currently facing the School District begins with stronger, independent Board members who are not afraid to do the right thing.

Education/Degrees:
I attended SUNY Geneseo and earned a Bachelor of Science in Management.

Vocation/Employer:
Early in my career, I worked for Republic National Bank and Strang Hayes Consulting.
For the last 27 years, I have worked for Alliance Bernstein as the Head of Global FIX Connectivity and US Trading Technology.

My strengths include knowledge of financial services, equities and derivatives trading technology, crisis management, disaster recovery planning, vendor contract negotiations, vendor relationship management, cost control, financial planning, and budgeting. I currently manage an annual $25 million equities and derivatives trading technology budget. I believe my skill set would be beneficial on the Board of Education.

Years of residency in Tuxedo:
I have lived in Tuxedo for a total of 14 years and have paid property taxes in Tuxedo on various properties for a total of 30 years.

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:
I created a non-profit volleyball feeder program called the Tuxedo Volleyball Club, which, prior to Covid-19, used the John P. Mottola Gymnasium for games, practices and tournaments. With the money earned from tournament fundraisers, the club was able to donate brand new uniforms for the George F. Baker High School JV and Varsity Volleyball teams, a new referee stand, volleyballs, volleyball carts and other equipment.

When my wife was an officer of the PTO, I assisted with events like the PTO fundraiser for recreation equipment and did IT related tasks.

I have chaperoned a George F. Baker trip to Spain, senior proms, and other high school events since 1993.

I have chaperoned GGM field trips including annual hikes through Harriman State Park

Outside of Tuxedo, I coached soccer and assisted with volleyball as a volunteer. Yearly, through my company, I volunteer at food pantries, animal shelters, cleaning up Central Park and raising money for Ronald McDonald House.

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?
My three daughters received a top-notch education at Tuxedo. Two of my three daughters now have a Master of Arts in Teaching. The foundation of their education and their love of learning started in GGM and continued at GFB. I know and appreciate the value of a Tuxedo education. I am running because I want to give back to the school and community which has given so much to my family. I want to build programs and policies that support our current students and their families while being fiscally responsible to the community.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

We need to ensure that our town has a thriving school and do whatever it takes to guarantee the future of the district. While planning for future development, we need to focus on the needs of the current students and their families. The school should offer enriched educational programs to retain our current student body and attract families to our town and school. As a Board member, I would support programs to increase student performance and add extracurriculars.

I believe the district must focus on making students prepared for a digital world, while making them good citizens and financial stewards. I envision rigorous programs in financial literacy, civic readiness and more in-depth digital literacy classes.
I would also support more robust job readiness and business programs.

Our district must continue to be responsible to its taxpayers. I would propose having a rebalancing of the budget to allocate funds for student programs rather than adding more administrative and consultant costs. This would enrich the school, while being fiscally savvy with taxpayer money.

School safety is a paramount concern. Safety includes security and quality buildings. GFB and GGM need system and structural updates. I would advocate for the use of the reserve funds to improve our buildings for our current students.

The Tuxedo Reserve will bring increased students into our district. We must start now with the planning to increase space and look at budgeting scenarios to prepare for the near future. I would advocate for feedback from stakeholders in the town and community to weigh in at special meetings or via electronic communication.

Town Supervisor Dave McMillen and Council member Deirdre Murphy have worked together to bring Britalians TV to the Town of Tuxedo in an effort to enlighten the world and garner interest in our local community. This partnership aims to showcase the unique aspects of Tuxedo, from its scenic landscapes and historical sites to its emerging vibrant local economy and community events and partnerships.

By collaborating with Britalians TV, a platform known for highlighting cultural and tourist attractions, they hope to attract more visitors, boost the local economy, and share the rich heritage of Tuxedo with a broader audience. Their efforts include organizing special events, featuring local businesses, and promoting Tuxedo as a desirable destination for both tourists and potential residents.

Britalians TV will be coming to Tuxedo the first week of June to begin filming the first of two 65-minute documentaries about the town, the village, the people and the rich history. This show is called "Humans of the World".

As a result of the Gem of New York designation, Tuxedo NY will receive a targeted 12 month international media and creative marketing plan made of 3 pillars commissioned, managed and delivered by Britalians TV to promote the town of Tuxedo as the Gem of New York and increase tourism as well as individuals looking to invest and do business in the town of Tuxedo. The Gem of NY is an exclusive designation within the State of New York to grow Tourism and Business opportunities Internationally and Nationally.

Britalians TV is on Amazon Prime, ROKU, Vidaa, Google TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Samsung TV Plus.

Britalians TV reaches 275M Households, 206M Monthly users and 177 countries worldwide.

Marco Biagioli and Erica Melargo from London are the Ambassadors for Tuxedo NY worldwide. They are the founders, CEOs, and producers of Britalians TV, the world’s first interview-centric television channel.

They are passionate about connecting with people and believe that diplomacy and positive mental health are essential to creating a better future, and that these are assets for any town that wants to be a force for good in the world.

Stay tuned to https://www.facebook.com/GemOfNewYork to watch the stories unfold!

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Active Shooter Seminar To Take Place April 18 (Posted 4/5/24)

On April 18, the Tuxedo Police Dept. will present an “Active Shooter Seminar” hosted by the Town of Tuxedo.

This is your chance to ask the professionals about best strategies for mitigating these challenges.

Location: Town Hall, 1 Temple Drive

Time: 7:00- 9:00 PM

No Reservations Required

From Chief Trazino:

Prior to being appointed as the Chief of Police in Tuxedo in 2022, I was the Team Leader of the Special Operations Group (the county SWAT Team) in the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

At that time, we had a very robust Active Shooter Program that we provided to the county and a good portion of my time and effort was dedicated in support of that program.

Our focus was to provide training and education to Police, Institutions (schools, hospitals, houses of worship, businesses, etc.) and the Public

Upon coming to Tuxedo, I continued these efforts on both the local and regional levels both through the Tuxedo Police Department when applicable or through my business, Archangel Operations, when providing services for individual entities outside of the purview of public service.

I firmly believe that the best approach to counter the threat of violent criminality (including Active Shooters) is education and preparedness.

We do this through the "3 Partner Rule".

For example, when focusing on Public Safety, the "3 Partners" are:

First Responders

your Municipality

the Public

Due to the fact that in the real world these events are sudden and unannounced, each one of these "Partners" must be educated, informed and prepared within applcable levels to recognize and respond to these crises.

If each "Partner" does their part, the mitigation and response is much more effective and more likely to result in a better outcome.

The good news here is that your [1.] First Responders (Police/ Fire/ EMS) have trained and contiue to train in this topic and your

[2.] Municipality (the Town of Tuxedo Representatives & employees) fully support, engage and cooperate in these efforts.

The last Public Safety "Partner" is [3.] the Public: the more people that attend, then the more informed/prepared members we have in the citizenry should they find themselves involved in an emergency.

All 3 Partners must work together to stop, mitigate and recover from any incident.

Once a baseline of education and preparedness is set, then it is just a matter of maintenance; providing occasional updates and further seminars for new questions or developments.

This is the second Active Shooter Response for Civilians seminar that I am happy to provide to the community since coming to Tuxedo and I truly hope that everyone that can attend chooses to come.

It is the Public's chance to ask direct questions about topics that almost everyone has questions about.

As the winter fades, you should know that we at the Tuxedo Police are busy planning the nest round of training for your First Responders as well.

I also use the "3 Partner Rule" for First Responder training, as we must work together at emergencies:

[1.] Police [2.] Fire [3.] EMS.

The public seminar on April 18th is a part of those ongoing efforts.

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Village of Tuxedo Park Welcomes New Police Chief Alan Faust(Posted 3/27/24)

Newly appointed Village Policy Chief Alan Faust was officially welcomed to the Village with a ceremonial swearing in at the Trustees meeting on March 20. Chief Faust has been a police officer in the Town of Goshen since 1994 and is currently their Deputy Chief. In his role as Deputy Chief in Goshen, Faust has served as the Grant Administrator, the Fleet Manager and the Training Coordinator. He has supervised the evidence rooms and has also served as both the Media Relations Officer and Integrity Officer. He has attended the FBI Academy in addition to completing multiple trainings under the Department of Homeland Security. Faust also attended the Police Academy with former Chief Conklin, who has nothing but positive feedback. The Village looks forward to having him join the force and feels that because of his connection to Chief Conklin, the transition will be a smooth one.

Calling Local Artists: Art Auction to Benefit Tuxedo Pollination Meadow May 4 (Posted 2/26/24)

Dear Artists,

On Saturday, May 4 there will be a local Art Auction in Tuxedo Park NY with proceeds to benefit the Tuxedo Pollination Meadow.

As a reminder, we are revitalizing a space and creating a Pollination Meadow and Children's Garden for the endangered monarch butterfly and blue bird in our area. The Pollination Meadow is located at the corner of Route 17 and 17A in Tuxedo Park and it is the first marked nature trail in America! We are looking to raise funds for a solar-powered watering system to maintain our pollinator plants in case of drought. We have been working on the area for the past several years and notice a huge positive impact on the land. Currently, we have 40-50 volunteers, planted 55 live plants, hundreds of native seeds and have added 16 new species for our butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Our goal is $5k to procure a watering system to maintain our live plants. We have 8 local artists interested so far. This will be a private event at a local historic home in Tuxedo Park. Our volunteers will have cocktails and hors-d'hoevres, plants for sale and seed bombs as give-aways for attending the event.

I will be collecting art over the next several weeks. You can contact me directly at 201-233-2691 or email me for pickup or drop off. Also, I am happy to give you a tour of the site at your convenience. It is truly a beautiful spot and would be happy for you to see our progress in person.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Warmest regards,

Kelly Spranger

Tuxedo Home Sales in 2023 (Posted 2/11/24)

Who sold what to whom and for how much in 2023?? Here is a full list of sales:

SELLER	BUYER	DATE	PRICE
Andrei Stetsenko 18 Patterson Brook Rd.	Kimberly C. Schwartz 3.20 ac	1/17/23	$1,975,000
Marisa Ann Aaron 5 Pine Hill Rd.	Stuart Wilensky 1.10 ac	1/23/23	$1,725,000
John P. King 47 Clubhouse Rd	Elisa Gilbert .07 ac	1/24/23	$200,000
David R. Morton 56 Clubhouse Rd	Alice Baird	1/26/23	$665,000
Renard O. Barone 17 East Pi	Jean E. Berjuste	2/7/23	$445,000
Tuxedo Park Properties, LLC 15 Summit Rd	15 Summit Rd. LLC 3.4 ac	3/13/23	$3,600,000
Adam Famerie 119 Laurel Rd.	119 Laurel Rd., LLC 1.5 ac	3/15/23	$1,100,000
William Sioe 26 Woodlands Dr.	US Bank National	4/14/23	$333,189
Ivan Schulman 210 Woodlands Dr.	David Levine	4/24/23	$618,000
Robert Rino 369 Route 17	Martha P. Alvarez	5/9/23	$400,000
Brookview Holdings, LLC 255 Woodlands Dr.	Narayanan Hernandez	5/17/23	$489,000
Trzop Andrzej 585 Eagle Valley Rd.	Edgar Almeida 1.9 ac	5/24/23	$1,175,000
Stories, LLC 86 Potucket Rd	Stephanie Diaz Ellinghaus 23.4 ac	7/5/23	$1,550,000
Sarah May 151 Fawn Hill Rd.	Michael Forte .94 ac	7/13/23	$74,000
US Bank National ASSO 28 Woodlands Dr.	Wendy Zweig	7/13/23	$501,100
David Kaufer 68 Salierno Rd.	Terrance Wahl 1.70 ac	7/21/23	$727,000
Adam Gordon 457 West Lake Rd.	Paul Kussie 2.3 ac	7/26/23	$2,950,000
Tower Hill LLC 117 Tower Hill Rd	Anthony Nelson 1.6 ac	7/28/23	$715,000
Luis F. Capeda 18 Circle Dr.	16 CDBVC LLC	8/1/23	$265,000
JIMB LLC 14 River Rd.	Yahaira Quinones	8/7/23	$435,000
David Dangoor 29 Serpentine Rd.	YES Holdings New York 2.6 ac	8/11/23	$3,100,000
Diane Sanford 682 Eagle Valley Rd.	Cassandre Mahoney	8/15/23	$500,000
Miguel Peralta 24 Table Rock Rd.	Ernesto Leslie 1.4ac	8/17/23	$875,000
Kenneth Hayward 47 Salierno Rd.	Jose W. Ramirez 1.10 ac	8/21/23	$735,000
Dhruv Pratap Singh 53 Woods Rd.	Megan Vaughn 1.10 ac	8/24/23	$1,397,000
Thom Loubet 372 Bramertown Rd.	Vincent J. Albanese 4.2 ac	8/29/23	$665,000
Paulo Romel Alvarez 1097 Route 17	Raymona Chieus	9/27/23	$343,000
Alpha Three LLC 128 Summit Rd.	Barbara Rivera 8.0 ac	10/2/23	$4,600,000
Wells Fargo Bank, NA 50 Fawn Hill Rd.	Avraham Obermelster	10/16/23	$343,000
Patrick Le Mau de Talance 55 Clubhouse Rd.	James Carter .24 ac	11/3/23	$1,165,000

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Pre-Order Your Copy of “The Wee Wah Beach Club in Tuxedo Park - An American Story of Social Change” Today (Posted 1/9/24)

Stuart J. McGregor Tuxedo Park-available now for pre-order on Amazon or your favorite book store. Publish date 1/15/2024

Americans have always had a fascination with the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Award winning series such as Downton Abbey, created by Julian Fellowes and the follow up of the Gilded Age series recounting lives of those at the top of society in Victorian England, and the United States in the late 1800s and into the 20th century has always been of interest. In America during this time the aristocracy who were the very socially, prominent rich attempted to continue the ways of English society. It was reflected in places such as Newport, Rhode Island, Lenox, Massachusetts, Palm Beach, Florida, Southampton, New York, that are destination points for all who can visit and drive through or even tour some of the great mansions built for this privileged class.
However, there is one place that unless invited, you cannot get through the fortress like entrance gates of this community. This is Tuxedo Park.
Pierre Lorillard IV of the tobacco family created a recreational, sporting, and relaxed community in 1885 as a form of a private club located 38 miles outside of New York City. This exclusive community is where the men’s formal wear that we know today as the “TUXEDO“ got its name .
It is a place built by Italian and Slovak immigrants, serviced by the common folk from outside the gates and staffed by Irish cooks, English butlers, and Scottish gardeners on the estates.
Author Stuart Mcgregor takes us inside the gates on a journey, beginning with the creation of this special place through the present day. Where the social stratification of America can be seen as a microcosm of what’s happening today and the social changes that have taken place over the last 130 years.
It is very much a story of America seen through the eyes of one who grew up inside the gates, whose ancestors grew up inside the gates, and who observed the changes taking place.
While the place divided the have and so-called have nots, the Wee Wah Beach Club was also a “private” place for those who originally serviced, built, and worked inside Tuxedo Park. It was created, so they too
could enjoy the benefits of a Club that would provide welcome, recreation and relaxation for those less fortunate.
The book’s message is although our society has grown and changed, in many ways it continues to remain the same.

Important Message from The Town of Tuxedo Police (Posted 12/28/23)

Ladies & Gentlemen of the Greater Tuxedo area,

The national rise of crime has visited the Town of Tuxedo.

The Tuxedo Police Department is currently following several leads and investigating a burglary that recently took place.

Because this was not an isolated event in the region, we are partnering with several outside departments who were also affected.

Due to the fact that this is an open investigation, we cannot currently divulge any details of the incident.

In the meantime, to answer this crime, we have increased Patrols in the Town and have begun the execution of anti-crime strategies to proactively discover, pursue and eliminate any further opportunities.

It is this simple:

We do not live in NYC or some other “soft on crime” area.

If you break the law in Tuxedo, expect to interact with our Police.

Perpetrators will be apprehended, charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Residents should be aware of this increase in Police activity.

If you observe any suspicious activity or wish to provide anonymous information to the Tuxedo Police Department, please call us at (845)351-5111 or email us at tpdgeneral@tuxedopd.com .

As always, if you need to report an emergency or a dangerous situation, immediately call 911.

Thank you.

Stay safe.

And remember that you are our Eyes & Ears of the community.

Holiday Happenings In and Around Tuxedo 2023 (Posted 11/24/23)

*Letters to Santa can be dropped off at the Tuxedo Train Station until December 12th!

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Leaf Peeping Season Has Arrived! (Posted 10/5/23)

Tuxedo is truly a stunning place to be during leaf peaking season each fall! Send us your pictures and we will add them to our annual community album, to be displayed both here on the website and over on our Facebook page!

Submit photos to tpfyi@optonline.net between now and November 1.

The Board of Education Vs. Dorothy Ziegelbauer (Posted 9/14/2023)

By far the mostly costly and time consuming in the recent rash of investigations & hearings that have plagued the Tuxedo Union Free School District are those that surrounded the removal of twice elected Board of Education (BOE) member and former Board President Dorothy Ziegelbauer.

Mrs. Ziegelbauer was formally removed from the Board of Ed on December 15, 2021. Her removal was announced to the public via the following statement on December 16:

“The Board of Education last night (December 15, 2021) voted to remove Dorothy Ziegelbauer as a School Board member. This action was taken after a thorough investigation and a meticulous administrative hearing process. To view the charges, the School Board resolutions and Findings of Fact, please click the link below: https://5il.co/13aam
For charge one, four out of six Board Members found her guilty. For charge two, five out of six Board members found her guilty. The Board of Education removed Ms. Ziegelbauer by a vote of 4-2. The Tuxedo Union Free School District Board of Education and its Administrative Team will continue to move the district forward.

Thank you. Daniel Castricone School Board President”.

This decision came after more than two months of proceedings, which consisted of several, lengthy (10+ hours) closed-door hearings as well as a number of special meetings and executive sessions with council. Multiple written and verbal requests from Mrs. Ziegelbauer and her attorney to conduct the hearings in public were denied. During the public comment period that proceeded the first closed-door hearing on October 15, 2021, Board President Dan Castricone explained that because the charges involved information ascertained via a “Whistleblower,” it was necessary to conduct the hearings behind closed doors in order to protect the identity of a certain individual or individuals. (A recording of that session can be heard here.) The TUFSD does not have an existing Whistleblower policy, nor were there any formal whistleblower complaints on file at this time.

Charges against Mrs. Ziegelbauer

Only after her removal from the Board were the charges against Mrs. Ziegelbauer shared with the public. They are as follows:

Charge 1: Revealing confidential labor relations information to the Chief Negotiator for the Tuxedo Teacher’ Association

Charge 2: Failure to return a confidential report.

On the surface, charge number one seems pretty straight forward.

For charge number two the Findings of Fact suggest that the Confidential Report in question (referred to as the Muenkel Report) contained “personally identifiable information about Mrs. Ziegelbauer’s child in addition to “information regarding staff members and Board members that was of a nature that, if disclosed, could lead to legal proceedings in the nature of defending their professional and personal reputations.” Why wouldn’t Ziegelbauer be able to hold onto a report that contained personal information about her own child? Further, what information could possibly be contained within that report that might lead to lawsuits and/or force staff members and Board members to publicly defend their professional and personal reputations? The job of the Board of Education is to work with the administration to establish goals, set policy and oversee financials for the District. So, why were any of the board members part of a report that was seemingly focused on an individual student, to the extent that their public reputations could be damaged??

In an attempt to answer these questions and hopefully provide a little more clarity to what transpired, TPFYI submitted a FOIL request on March 9 of 2022 asking for redacted copies of all investigations and complaints which included Dorothy Ziegelbauer that had been conducted or filed between March 2021 and March 2022. The request was immediately acknowledged, but it was not satisfied within the 30-day time period as set forth by the law. Despite persistent written follow-up requests, the FOIL was not filled until August 1, 2023, more than 500 days after it was filed.

The request resulted in the release of almost 50 legal documents. The most informative of these are: Official transcripts from both the October 15 and November 4 closed-door hearings, a copy of an e-mail chain between members of the Board of Education and the TTA union negotiator, and a file entitled Respondent Exhibits. Each of these files can be viewed below, along with audio from Board’s one and only Public Comment session related to the proceedings which was conducted on October 15 just before the first hearing commenced:

Respondent Exhibits ( including E-mail Chain Between members of the Board of Education and the TTA Union Negotiator)
Public Comment Period – Special Board of Education Meeting – October 15, 2021 (audio clip)
Transcript from the October 15 Closed-Door Hearing
Transcript from the November 4 Closed-Door Hearing

We encourage everyone to take the time to review these documents in their entirety, but for those readers who might not have the time to sift through more than 400 pages of information, here is our summary/timeline of events based upon information contained within the files as well as meeting agendas and official meeting minutes as archived on the District website.

June 2021
June of 2021 was a both a busy and unsettled time in the TUFSD. The Board of Education, under the leadership of Mrs. Ziegelbauer, had their hands full following the sudden departure of Superintendent Timothy Bohlke and were working to hire a new Superintendent. The District CSE/CPSE Chairperson & Section 504 Coordinator, Nicole Scariano, was serving as the interim Superintendent. The Board was openly divided on the candidates and there had been a vocal push from the Teachers Union to be heard in an executive session with regard to their views on the candidates after it appeared that the Board might not move ahead with their recommendations. This request was denied, creating more even more tension and discord within the school community.

In a seemingly unconnected turn of events the BOE had also requested an in-house investigation into alleged charges of misconduct by a school official. ( see official 6/8/21 special meeting minutes) The official was not named nor were the alleged charges revealed publicly however, 10 days after the investigation was commissioned, the BOE preferred two charges of official misconduct on the unnamed official and subsequently authorized a hearing. ( see official 6/18/21 special meeting minutes) In reviewing the testimony from the November 4 hearing, it can be ascertained that the official in question was Board of Education member Dan Castricone and that he was charged with having released confidential information pertaining to the superintendent search and subsequent hiring process. ( See transcript from the November 4 Closed-Door Hearing Page 216 – official testimony of Joe Rickard / See Respondent’s Exhibits Page 6, paragraph 1)

Around this the same time, Dorothy and husband Ken Ziegelbauer attended a confidential CSE (Committee on Special Education) meeting for their child. As per standard practice, also in attendance at this meeting was the District CSE/CPSE Chairperson & Section 504 Coordinator Nicole Scariano (who, as previously noted, was simultaneously serving as the Interim Superintendent) as well as additional special education and guidance staff. Like so many students during the time of Covid, the Ziegelbauer child was in academic crisis and various methods of intervention/remediation were discussed at the meeting, including what is known as a 504 safety net. (Click here for more information on this particular accommodation)

July 2021
On July 1, newly appointed Superintendent of Schools Jeff White took office and the BOE turned over, with three newly elected officials taking their seats. An emergency Special Meeting was scheduled for that same day at the request of Board Member Dan Castricone, at which he was subsequently appointed as Temporary Chair of the BOE before they adjourned into an executive session to discuss a personnel item. One week later the Board met again for their annual reorganization meeting. It was during an executive session following that meeting that Mr. Castricone openly confronted Mrs. Zeigelbauer in front of the rest of the Board, revealing confidential information about her child from the CSE meeting the month prior and allegedly accusing her of conspiring with Nicole Scariano to unjustly alter her child’s grades. ( See Respondent’s Exhibits Page 6/ See transcript from the November 4 Closed-Door Hearing Page 358– official testimony of Dan Castricone)

Mrs. Ziegelbauer, distraught and confused as to how Mr. Castricone had been made privy to any information concerning her child’s academic position, let alone what had been discussed during a confidential CSE meeting with school staff, flatly denied Mr. Castricone’s accusation. Not long after this, the Ziegelbauers obtained legal counsel and requested that the District conduct a formal investigation into the unauthorized release of their student’s personal information to Mr. Castricone. Further, they requested a copy of the investigative findings. (See transcript from the November 4 Closed-Door Hearing Pages 254/55– official testimony of Dorothy Ziegelbauer)

Days later during a special meeting of the Board, the charges against brought against a school official back on June 18 were rescinded without a hearing. The official remained publicly unidentified. No public explanation was provided. (See official 7/14 Meeting Minutes)

August & September 2021 – Formal Charges are filed against Dorothy Ziegelbauer

Charge #1: Revealing confidential labor relations information to the Chief Negotiator for the Tuxedo Teacher’ Association

In early August, 2021,the Board was actively engaged in contract negotiations with the Teacher’s Union. On August 9, they received an email providing a brief update as to what had transpired since their last meeting and further attempting to schedule an additional meeting with the Tuxedo Teacher’s Union (Tuxedo Teachers Association – TTA). The email was written, signed and sent by Superintendent Jeff White, but through a somewhat complicated configuration within the email system known as “delegation and federation” it came from an email address other than his. That email address happened to belong to the Chief Negotiator for the TTA, Kerry Broderick. Through testimony provided at both the October 15 and November 4 hearings, it has since become apparent that neither Ms. Broderick nor Mr. White were aware that the email system was configured this way, or why Karrie Broderick was included in an email relating to contract negotiations initiated by Mr. White. At the conclusion of his email, Mr. White requested a response from each of the Board members as to their availability for the upcoming meeting. In responding as requested Mrs. Ziegelbauer accidentally hit “Reply All,” sending her message to everyone on chain that included Ms. Broderick. Not realizing that the Union Negotiator was one of the recipients, she also provided some thoughts and feedback on the district’s current negotiating position. Board President Dan Castricone immediately picked up on the error and sent a response, questioning Mrs. Ziegelbauer’ decision to openly reveal their negotiating position. Mrs. Ziegelbauer quickly responded, apologizing and indicating that it had been an accident. (See Respondents Exhibits pages 6-10)

Charge #2: Failure to return a confidential report.

At their regular August meeting, the Board voted in favor of authorizing the investigation into the release of a students’ personal information as previously requested by Ziegelbauer. An agreement was signed with Margaret Muenkel to investigate and report on the alleged violation of student privacy rights and the facts surrounding this matter at an amount not to exceed $10,000. A month later, that report was presented to the BOE during an executive session. It was circulated by Superintendent White along with a request to return the document following a brief review.
As per the November 4 testimony of Board Members, the report was favorable for Ziegelbauer. (See transcript from the November 4 Closed-Door Hearing Pages 108 official testimony of Joe Rickard)
In order for a report of this nature to become part of the public record, despite the fact that it was commissioned with taxpayer money, the Board must first vote to accept it. If the Board chooses not to formally accept a report, it does not become part of the record and therefore it cannot be FOILed. In addition to information concerning her child, according to the Findings of Fact later released by the district, the Muenkel Report also contained “questionable information pertaining certain staff members at the school as well as members of the Board of Education.” If the Board chose not to accept it, the likelihood of the district sharing the report with the Ziegelbauers and their attorney was slim. Fearing that the BOE would not want to accept the report because It reflected poorly on certain staff and BOE members, Mrs. Ziegelbauer stepped outside of the meeting with her copy and called her attorney. She was informed by her council that there was no NYS Education law or stipulation that required her to return the report as requested. Further, there was no district policy with the TUFSD that required it. Based on this advice, Mrs. Ziegelbauer retained her copy and she left the meeting. ( See transcript from the November 4 Closed-Door Hearing Pages 260/61 official testimony of Dorothy Ziegelbauer) The following day Mr. White followed up, again requesting that Mrs. Ziegelbauer return the report. Via her attorney Mrs. Ziegelbauer declined, but assured him that she would keep the information confidential.

To this day, the Board of Education has not voted to accept the Muenkel Report. Although the report and the content within it was referenced with regularity throughout the hearings, it was viewed in-camera only for reference. Based on consistent testimony as well as the findings of fact it can be concluded that the report was not accepted because it contained information that made certain individuals in the District look bad. This is concerning on a number of levels. If there has been some sort of wrong-doing or accusation of wrong-doing on the part of District staff or Board of Education members that is severe enough that divulging it could risk their professional and personal reputations….don’t the parents and that taxpayers have a right to know what it is? The report was paid for using $10,000 of taxpayer money but unfortunately, unless they have a change of heart and decide to come clean with the community, the public will likely never know what is in it.

October, 2021

On October 1 of 2021 Mrs. Ziegelbauer was formally charged with two counts of misconduct as referenced above. A hearing was set for October 15. A delay in the proceedings was requested in order to give Mrs. Ziegelbauer and her attorney time to adequately prepare but these requests were denied. In an October 12 letter to District Council, Mrs. Zeigelbauer’s requested an open hearing and also asked that Board President Dan Casrticone recuse himself from discussions surrounding Charge #2 as he was directly involved and further that he be disqualified from participating in the determination of that charge. ( See Respondent Exhibits pages 3-5 ). All of these requests were denied and the hearings commenced on October 15.

There followed over the course of the next two months two lengthy hearings. The first lasted for 7 hours and the second for more than 10. These hearings are an expensive business and the longer they go on, the more they cost. Hearing officers make on average $250 per hour and a professional stenographer is also required.

December 2021

On the evening of December 15, 2021, after 3 months and more than $80,000 in taxpayer money spent, Mrs. Ziegelbauer was found guilty of both charges and the Board voted 4-2 in favor of her removal.

Although many of the details surrounding what happened can be found within the documents , there are still many questions concerning the reasons for and details of this investigation. This is an arguably dangerous precedent for the district. Is this the kind of thing that a community board should be focused on? Was it truly worth all of the time and expense to punish Mrs. Ziegelbauer only a few months before she was due to leave the BOE?? Did it have any sort of positive impact on the students or programs? Will the public ever know what reputation altering information about district staff and elected officials was contained within the Muenkel Report?

Regardless, the removal of Dorothy Ziegelbauer from the Board of Education for charges that remained concealed until after closed-door hearings had taken place at a cost exceeding $80,000 was an apparent disservice to students and taxpayers alike. Having reviewed all of the testimony and associated documents at length and in detail TPFYI concludes the following:

The district should eliminate the loophole that allows the BOE to keep the details of formal investigations private. These costly Investigations should be voted on and made public. Confidentiality can be maintained through the normal redactions process, or protected by DASA if applicable.
In order to ensure ethical proceedings, the BOE must create a policy requiring Board members to recuse themselves from any deliberation where there is a conflict of interest.
The district should create and enforce a policy that discourages anonymous accusations against board members or employees of the district that bypass the normal chain of command.
A documented, formal and fully accountable “Whistle-Blower” policy should be established by the district.

Until these changes are made, the District will likely continue to distracted by continuous investigations that encourage political and personal accusations. Currently individuals can make accusations without being named. The best way to for the school district, or any municipal board for that matter, to operate is with full transparency.

* Due to the way the TUFSD Website is configured, readers wishing to view archived meeting minutes and agendas as linked in this article will need to do so by navigating to them within the BoardDocs system. This can be easily done by clicking on the “meetings” tab on the top of the screen and then using the tabs on the lower left hand side to select the year and then date referenced.

**DISCLOSURE: TPFYI reporter and author of this article, Meg Vaught, served on the Board of Education from July of 2015 - June of 2021

From the Times Herald Record 10/21/21: Tuxedo School Board Weighs Misconduct Complaint Against Member

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4th Annual Tuxedo Tunnel to Towers Walk/Run/Ride September 9, 2023 (Posted 9/9/23)

There was a strong turn-out for the 4th annual Tuxedo Tunnel to Towers Walk/Run/Bike Event on Saturday, September 9!

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Tunnel to Towers Organization can do so here: https://t2t.org/

NEVER FORGET

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Town/Village Taxes Go Down While School Taxes Go Up....What's Going On? (Posted 9/2/2023)

If you haven’t already received your school tax bill, you should be receiving it shortly. If you live in the Park, this is one of three tax bills you receive throughout the year, if you live in the Town, it’s one of two. More than likely the school tax bill you have received is more than the other bills. This year the tax bill from the Town and Village have gone down while the school tax bill has increased. It is a little alarming, but maybe you haven’t noticed.

As part of a multi-part series, TPFYI is going to take a closer look into a few things that could be triggering the higher cost of education within our district. Some of the things might not have anything to do with education at all. The first few installments will focus on the up-tick in formal investigations that have either taken place in the last few years or are currently on-going in the Tuxedo Union Free School District.

Since 2020, there have been four major investigations (with one on-going), and two formal hearings in the TUFSD. (Scroll down to read “What’s Going On in the Tuxedo School District” posted on 7/14/2023) These investigations are costly. During the 2021/2022 school year, legal expenses jumped to $87,725 against a budget of $35k. Things were not much better in 2022/23, with legal costs coming in around $82,000 against the same budgeted $35k. Unfortunately, based on the recent activity since June, taxpayers can expect upcoming expenses to surpass the last two years. The District, which operates on a tight budget, has been moving money via internal transfers with some regularity to cover the legal costs, but if things continue in this manner, they will soon reach the point where they will no longer be able to afford the mounting legal expenses without negatively impacting programs.

Why is this happening? What are these investigations and hearings all about? At a time when statistics show that kids across the United States are lagging in reading and math due to the pandemic, the District should be collectively focused on strengthening these and other programs, while also looking to build enrollment and develop a strong vision for the future. Why instead is the district is mired in litigation? Are these pricey investigations for the benefit of the students and the program, or is there something else going on here?

In an attempt to shed some light on these increasing costs, and the investigations that appear to be at the heart of them, TPFYI has FOILED pertinent documentation pertaining to each investigation. We will be sharing these FOILS as well as providing a general overview of each containing details, time-lines, and high-lights. This will give the general public, parents, students, and taxpayers transparency from which they can come to their own conclusions.

Stay tuned for Part 1, the BOE vs. Ziegelbauer

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Tuxedo Home Sales 2023 (Posted 7/26/2023)

Who sold what to whom and for how much so far in 2023?? Here is a full list of sales:

SELLER	BUYER	DATE	PRICE
Andrei Stetsenko 18 Patterson Brook Rd.	Kimberly C. Schwartz 3.20 ac	1/17/23	$1,975,000
Marisa Ann Aaron 5 Pine Hill Rd.	Stuart Wilensky 1.10 ac	1/23/23	$1,725,000
John P. King 47 Clubhouse Rd	Elisa Gilbert .07 ac	1/24/23	$200,000
David R. Morton 56 Clubhouse Rd	Alice Baird	1/26/23	$665,000
Renard O. Barone 17 East Pi	Jean E. Berjuste	2/7/23	$445,000
Tuxedo Park Properties, LLC 15 Summit Rd	15 Summit Rd. LLC 3.4 ac	3/13/23	$3,600,000
Adam Famerie 119 Laurel Rd.	119 Laurel Rd., LLC 1.5 ac	3/15/23	$1,100,000
William Sioe 26 Woodlands Dr.	US Bank National	4/14/23	$333,189
Ivan Schulman 210 Woodlands Dr.	David Levine	4/24/23	$618,000
Robert Rino 369 Route 17	Martha P. Alvarez	5/9/23	$400,000
Brookview Holdings, LLC 255 Woodlands Dr.	Narayanan Hernandez	5/17/23	$489,000
Trzop Andrzej 585 Eagle Valley Rd.	Edgar Almeida 1.9 ac	5/24/23	$1,175,000
Stories, LLC 86 Potucket Rd	Stephanie Diaz Ellinghaus 23.4 ac	7/5/23	$1,550,000

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Hamlet Construction Update (Posted 7/25/2023)

There are currently 4 on-going construction projects taking place on Route 17 in the Tuxedo Hamlet! Although at times it may appear as though work has slowed or even become stagnant on these sites, all of the projects are active. Here is a brief update on each one:

Tuxedo Historical Society – 241 Route 17 (The old Chase Bank)

Approved plans for this site include the installation of a new front entrance where the ATM machine used to be as well as the addition of a patio with outdoor seating, new pedestrian walkways and a refurbished parking area. A pollination meadow will also be planted between the building and Route 17 once the construction has been completed. The THS was the recipient of a matching grant from the Tuxedo LDC this past spring and the renovations, which began in the late spring/early summer, are moving along at a good pace. The THS is hopeful that the work will be completed by the fall.

Karlyn Industries – 212 Route 17 (White Brick Building Across from the Old IGA Building) :

Plans to beautify the building at 212 Route 17 were approved by the Town Planning Board last April and with the help of a matching grant form the Tuxedo LDC, work began at the beginning of the summer. The plans include replacement of shingles on the roof, the opening of bricked-up windows and on the façade and subsequent installation of glass, repainting of the structure and installation of a new front door/entry vestibule.

Tuxedo Gulf Property - 191 Route 17

The approved plans for this site call for a new gas station and convenient market. Although initially approved in December of 2021, issues with supply chain demands delayed the arrival of key equipment and therefore the project did not begin in earnest until this past spring, when the old building was demolished. Much of the underground pump and tank installation has been completed and the foundation has been dug and poured for the new market space. Framing is set to begin in the coming weeks. A new canopy will also be installed. The owner is hopeful that they will be able to open in early 2024.

Augusta Properties – 192 Route 17 (The Old Orange Top):

Plans for renovations to this site were approved back in 2020 and much of the work has taken place. Some notable changes include:

A small addition off the back of the smaller building to the left of the diner in order to make it a more useful space for the community.
Elevation changes to the front of the building to allow for the addition of an entry vestibule.
New front entrance (addition of vestibule)
The color of the roof was changed from orange to black, in order to give the two buildings a more harmonious appearance.
The buildings were painted white
A walk-in cooler was installed off the back of the diner to provide more space
Patios were constructed between the two buildings as well as on the south side of the main structure to allow for outdoor seating during the warmer months

At the time of approval, it was not the intent of the owner to close the Orange Top Diner however circumstances changed. The building was taken off the rental market while the applicant worked to secure grant monies from the Town for continued work. The space will shortly be put back on the market as they continue to work on portions of the building. It is their intent to leave some of the interior in a 'rough format' so that any potential tenant can put their finishing touches on the space according to their restaurant.

TPFYI will continue to follow the progress of these exciting projects as they progress. If you are looking for more detailed information please visit the Town Planning Board page on our website, where you will find an archive of meeting coverage, including site plan presentations and approvals for these projects and more.

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What Is Going On In The Tuxedo School District? ( Posted 7/14/23)

This is a question we have been getting quite a lot here at TPFYI over the past several weeks.
Following the seemingly sudden dismissal of both building principals late last month, the Board of Education announced that they would be launching yet another formal investigation.
This marks at least the 4th major investigation in the TUFSD in the past three years. For clarification purposes, we are defining “major investigation” as one that requires the retention of an independent investigator at a specified hourly rate. If this is not enough, there have also been two formal hearings in the District, both of which require a hearing officer and a stenographer.

FORMAL INVESTIGATIONS:
· On Feb 20, 2020, the Board authorized Sheila Cole to serve as an investigator of Staff Complaints at a rate of $200 per hour

· On August 20, 2020, the Board authorized a consultant agreement with Margaret Muenkel for Title VII investigation services (costs not specified)

· On August 18, 2021, the Board authorized another agreement with Margaret Muenkel to investigate a matter of an alleged violation of student privacy rights and the facts surrounding an “alleged discussed matter” at an amount not to exceed $10,000.

· On July 10, 2023, the Board voted in favor of appointing Carol Hoffman to serve as an independent investigator to formally investigate a DASA and Title 7 Complaint Matter filed in June and to issue a report back to the BOE at a rate of $250 per hour.

FORMAL HEARINGS:
· On September 24, 2021, the Board appointed Carol M. Hoffman, Esq. to conduct a hearing regarding two charges of Official Misconduct against school district officer No. 092421 at a rate of $250 per hour.

· On February 1, 2023, the Board appointed Carol Hoffman, Esq. as the Hearing Officer regarding disciplinary proceedings against Employee No. 2123, to hear evidence, make arrangements for a transcript of the proceedings, and issue a written report of her findings of fact and recommendation at a rate of $2,000 per diem.

By the time all is said and done these investigations and subsequent hearings can be (and have been) a very expensive business for the District and in turn, the taxpayers.

Of the 3 investigations that have been completed to date, only one of the resulting reports has been released to the public. This was the report resulting from formal staff complaints brought against former Superintendent Timothy Bohlke in the form of a Vote-of-No-Confidence in late 2019. Very little, if any, information has been provided to the public about the other two, and resulting reports were never released to the public.
The 2021 hearing, which resulted in the removal of former Board President Dorothy Zeigelbauer, was closed to the public (despite multiple requests for a public hearing from Mrs. Zeigelbauer and numerous members of the public) and lasted for more than 30 hours over several days. On March 10, 2022, TPFYI staff filed a FOIL request for “redacted copies of all investigations and complaints which include Dorothy Zeigelbauer as a subject or otherwise interested party conducted or files from March 2021 – March 22” but, despite consistent follow-up, has not yet received any of the documents requested. Based on the somewhat scant information we have been able to piece together through budget workshops & related meetings, it is estimated that the removal of Mrs. Zeigelbauer from the Board cost the taxpayers more than $80,000 above and beyond what budgeted for legal expenses in 2021/2022.

In addition to being incredibly costly, the investigations and hearings take up a tremendous amount of time for the Board of Education, the Administration, and the District’s legal team. This is time that would likely be better spent focusing on students, the facilities, and the educational programs.

New Year….Same Drill?
The most recent investigation appears to be the result of a DASA complaint filed at the school in June. DASA stands for Dignity for All Students Act, which is a New York State provision that seeks to provide public school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. (You can read more about DASA here (https://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/). No information, general or otherwise, has been provided to the public about the nature of these complaints.
The Board conducted two lengthy (2-hour long) executive sessions in the middle of their meetings on both June 21 and July 10, while the public was kept waiting. These culminated in the appointment of Ms. Hoffman. A timeline for the investigation was not provided.
Could this investigation and the sudden departure of the two principals be connected??

The Public Deserves Some Answers
Whatever the reason for this most recent investigation….one thing is abundantly clear: the taxpaying public deserves some answers. The regularity with which the investigations and hearings have been occurring and the general lack of transparency surrounding them…not to mention their exorbitant price tag, is nothing short of alarming.
Are all of these legal proceedings necessary? How much money in total has been spent on them? Is this money that could have (and should have) been invested in the education of our children rather than the persecution of Board Members and Administration by other Board members and staff? In the interest of transparency, TPFYI has FOILed copies of documents and communications surrounding each of the investigations as well as the dismissal of the principals and the recent DASA complaint. When we receive the information, it will be made public.

We Own This Problem
This is our District . Whether we have children enrolled in them or not, our property values are impacted by their success or failure and we are all invested through our taxes. This fact will only become more and more evident as Tuxedo Farms is built and the Tuxedo community begins to grow significantly.
If we expect our schools to thrive, we must invest our collective time and energy RIGHT NOW into making sure that our elected leadership remains focused on high-quality education for our current children and future children. The District should not be wasting valuable tax dollars on continued investigations and hearings. The people of Tuxedo need less lawyering and more leadership.

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Happy 100th Birthday Freda Sloat! (Posted 6/23/2023)

Freda Sloat of Tuxedo NY was born June 23,1923. She will be turning 100 this June 23rd. Freda came to the States from Canada in 1941 when she was 18. She finished college here got her masters and was a teacher for many years. She married her husband Charles in 1950 and was a devoted wife for 55 years until his passing in 2005. On her 90th birthday Freda did a 5k for wounded warriors with her grandson Rob. Freda has two children Charles and Gayle,two grandsons Robbie and Chris and two great grandchildren Brooke and Luke that she loves dearly. She enjoys knitting, crocheting,sewing and playing games with family. She is also an avid reader. Her secret to longevity she says is good clean living, helping others, and her family. Let’s wish Freda a very Happy 100th Birthday!

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Village Election Results Delayed Due To Court Order ( Posted 6/20/23)

Talying of the votes came to an abrupt stop when the polls closed at 9pm on June 20 due to a court order filed by Village Resident Claudio Guazzoni, which specifically prevented the coutning of roughly 190 absentee ballots.

The order, which can be viewed here, sets a hearing date of July 24.

The results of the machine vote are as follows:

MAYOR

Marc D. Citrin - 142

David McFadden - 109

Write-In - 0

TRUSTEE

Joshua Scherer - 175

Paul Brooke - 139

Write-In - 15 (Undisclosed)

TPFyI Needs Your Help! (Re-Posted 6/1/2023)

Please help TPFYI to continue its vital service to our community.

Since its inception in 2006, TPFYI has been the only consistent and reliable local news source for our community. We wish to continue being your local news source but need your support to do so.

TPFYI has strived to ensure that residents have a balanced and unbiased source of timely and relevant news about current issues that impact our lives, village and town. All Village and Town municipal meetings are covered and reported on by TPFYI staff to help keep you well-informed on the activities of our local governments.

Additionally, the site boasts a fully comprehensive community calendar (updated on a daily basis), a robust directory of local contractors and professional services compiled by residents and a consistent stream of relevant, community-based feature content. With an archive of extensive municipal reporting that dates back to 2006, the site is a tremendous local resource.

Expenses to maintain TPFYI run approximately $15,000 per year, with the majority used to pay our free-lance reporters to attend all municipal meetings, write articles and featured reports as well as our Web Master, who keeps the site and social media accounts updated on a daily basis.

While we came close, last year's fundraising effort did not raise the funds needed to cover TPFYI’s minimal expenses. If you did not give last year, please consider doing so this year and if you did give last year, we sincerely thank you and hope you will consider increasing your contribution.

If you wish to show your appreciation and support for TPFYI with a donation, your gift can be anonymous or choose to be listed on the TPFYI website as a Friend ( up to $500), Supporter ( $501 to $1,000) or Patron ( $1,001 plus).

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE online

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Village Considers Cell Tower! (Posted 5/30/2023)

Following several months of exploration and upon the advice of a consultant, the Village of Tuxedo Park Communications Committee has concluded that the only viable way to improve cell phone service in the Village is to build a cell phone tower within the Village. To this end, a location has been scouted and project proposed, pending Trustee review and approval.

As per the Village website on May 30:

With the approval of the Board of Trustees, we are excited to proceed with installing the tower at the Potuket site.

To obtain the necessary permissions, we will work closely with the Planning Board and Board of Zoning Review, as advised by the village attorney. Additionally, we may need to establish village access easements on specific properties as part of the approval process. To ensure smooth access and functionality, the village DPW will construct an access road, and O&R will power the tower at the Potuket site.

We will diligently evaluate the costs as the project progresses while adhering to village procurement policies. Funding for the project falls within our purview, and we are committed to managing finances and expenses responsibly to remain within our budgetary constraints. The decision to invest in this tower is grounded in its numerous benefits. It will significantly enhance emergency calling capabilities and improve coverage for residents living in the park, individuals working from home, visitors, police and first responders, and organizations like the Tuxedo Park School and The Tuxedo Club, ultimately elevating the overall quality of life within our gated community.

We are eager to keep you informed as the project unfolds, and we highly value the input and expertise of our community members in all village matters. Your active participation is essential, and we encourage you to engage in this process. I want to that the Communications Committee for sacrificing their time over the last two years to improve our village.

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Thursday May 18 Presentaion To Improve The tuxedo Hamlet business Districr - 7PM (Posted 5/17/2023)

Tuxedo Boardmembers Deirdre Murphy and Michele Lindsay are working on a 3 - 5 year, multi-pronged plan to revitalize the Hamlet and the Route 17 Business District. Please join the Town Board at Town Hall on Thursday, May 18 for a presentation of Phase 1 of this plan to:

beautify the Hamlet downtown with lighting and landscaping
provide safe pedestrian pathways
connect the east and west sides of the Route 17 Business District

Click here to view larger

Historic Cemetery in Arden Revived! (Posted 5/9/2023)

Written and submitted by Nancy Bourke

Appreciation and praise to Rob Dollbaum and the Town of Tuxedo Highway Department on a job well done cleaning up the historic St. Mary’s On-the-Hill Catholic Cemetery along Route 17 in Arden. The town workers removed the trees, shrubs, vines, and overgrown vegetation growing among and over the grave markers. Grave markers are now visible from the road. The cemetery is bound on three sides by Palisade Interstate Park Property and Route 17.

According to historic records the cemetery predates the 1867 construction of St. Mary’s Catholic Church (known as Old St. Mary’s on the Hill) and was the burial site of early Catholic settlers who worked for the local mining companies in the area. The church was closed in 1942, was demolished in 1957, and St. Anastasia in Harriman was assigned as caretaker of the property. Above the roadside stone wall are remains of a mausoleum that was used in winter when in-ground burial was not possible. It is interesting to note that ancestors of some of our current Tuxedo residents lie in rest there.

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Two Candidates Vie For One Seat On The Board of Education (Posted 5/5/2023)

The 2023 School Board election and budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 16. This year, two candidates are vying for one open spot on the Board of Education: incumbent and current Board President Joe Rickard and his challenger, Will Clarke.
The make-up of the school board is extremely important as it has a direct impact on the future of the School District as well as every one’s taxes. In addition to the annual budget, the Board of education is responsible for developing and adopting the policies and curriculum that drive the District as well as providing oversight of any facility-based issues. Therefore, understanding these candidates, their areas of expertise and their levels of experience is crucial in making an informed decision.
In an effort to inform the community, TPFYI presented each candidate with a basic questionnaire, designed to focus on their biographical information as well as their levels of experience and reasons for running. What follows are the responses received, unedited and in the order that we received them.

Joe Rickard
Name:
Joe Rickard

Education/Degrees:
BA, History, Queens College
MS, Education, St. John’s University
MBA, Hofstra University

Vocation/Employer:

Founder and President of Intellective Solutions, a services provider serving the graphic communications industry
Before Intellective Solutions, held executive positions at Xerox and was President of Sharp Electronics USA
Former NYS high school teacher and coach

Years of residency in Tuxedo:
23 years

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:

Currently serve on the Tuxedo Board of Education (BOE)
Current President of the Tuxedo Board of Education
Member of the audit and finance committee for the BOE
Social member of the Tuxedo Ambulance Corps
Former member of the Town of Tuxedo Recreation Committee

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?

We have made some great strides over the past couple of years. We are gaining momentum. I want to use the skills and knowledge that I have learned in my professional career and the past three years on the Board to keep improving our programs and operations while maintaining budgets that are steady, stable, and affordable.

We have streamlined our administration and tightly managed non-instructional costs. This has allowed us to invest in instruction and begin again to maintain our infrastructure. We have accomplished this with minimal impact on the taxpayer.

By adding resources in reading, math, science, and Spanish in the elementary school we are building on our small school strengths. We have not only expanded our athletic programs in the upper school, but we have added sports to the elementary school as well.

In the High School, we were recently certified as a national STEM school of excellence, the first in New York State. We have increased the instructional time to a continual 48 minutes per period, eliminated excess study halls, and added creative offerings in their place. Our seniors this year have been accepted to some of the most prestigious Universities in the world, including Princeton, Purdue Georgia Tech, and RPI, just to name a few.

For the future, I look to ensure our new programs are well implemented and assessments are obtained to provide feedback and assist us in our progress.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

In addition to achieving our goal of a Top 100 school district nationally through continuous improvement and assessment of the instructional programs that we have invested in the last few years, the biggest opportunity for the district is the Tuxedo Farms development.

To ensure Tuxedo Farms' development is flawlessly managed, we will need to provide:

Proper planning for growth

Stability – we need to effectively plan and engage all stakeholders including residents, parents, teachers, administration, and students
Make sure we balance new tax assessments and investments. Carefully use the budget process to include resources and personnel needed for the transition and the entrance of new students.
Ensure we are properly staffed. Ensure the development of a personnel, building, curriculum, and program plan. This needs to start now.
We also need to move past some of the. divisive politics that have divided the community in the past. We have to operate as a cohesive team and get the buy-in from all stakeholders.
Finally, we need to have continuity in our administration. We had an excessive turnover in administration. We have a strong Superintendent and he will need to be supported publicly.

Will Clarke
Name:
Will (Bill) Clarke

Education/Degrees:
BA Binghamton University

Vocation/Employer:
Captain FDNY

Years of residency in Tuxedo:
Lifelong resident

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:
Tuxedo Park Fire Dept. 10 years (88-98)
St. Mary’s Church & Outreach
Earth Day Town Clean-ups

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?

To reinvigorate the board with a fresh perspective.
I’m invested in Tuxedo and the backbone of our community, our school.
For people like my parents and the many members of the community that are not attached to the school. I want to ensure their tax dollars are being respected and spending decisions are being made wisely.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

The biggest issue facing the Tuxedo School District is its stagnant pace of innovation.
Tuxedo needs more curriculum that provides the same substance and marketability as our STEM program. I would start immediately by addressing the crisis in adolescent financial illiteracy. By creating a comprehensive business program that touches every grade level we can guarantee skill sets that will rocket our children forward. The curriculum is inexpensive to develop and deploy, and can give us a marketable advantage compared to other districts. By intertwining the program into the core curriculum and making it a mandatory discipline, we can ensure all students are brought in contact with the entrepreneurial mindset it’s meant to foster. Having this firmly in place prior to the Town’s buildout is crucial. Little is more important to our collective future than a curriculum that inspires, empowers, and propels.

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Reggie Bar Celebrates One Year! (Posted 4/27/2023)

April, 2023. Tuxedo, NY. Reggie Bar welcomed fellow revelers to their one-year anniversary celebration.
The event featured music by Fire & Gasoline, a local two-piece band that shared the porch with friends. Beer, wine, and cider were served, and a special wine-based Margarita cocktail was also offered. Casa Birria, a Queens restaurant with a specialty food truck, was on hand for culinary delights.
Reggie Bar, “Voted #1 Bar in Tuxedo”, was founded by Brad Ewing “ Tuxedo needed a place to go, have a casual drink and meet with friends, so we decided to open Reggie”, says Brad. “It has been a wonderful experience and we welcome friends and neighbors to join in the fun.”
Reggie Bar is a recent addition to a growing revitalization in Tuxedo’s historic downtown. Reggie offers beer, wine, and cider and is a gathering place for local community groups, artists and friends. The bar is open, Thursday-Saturday nights and features vinyl night on Thursday.
At the request of the owners of Reggie Bar, the Town Board recently passed a local law allowing for food trucks within the Town with a special permit. An effort that will certainly spurn more downtown events and celebrations.

For more information on Reggie Bar, visit _reggiebar_ on Instagram. Or information on food trucks in Tuxedo, email the Town of Tuxedo at buildingclerk@tuxedogov.org.

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EARTH DAY 2023 IN TUXEDO! (Re-posted 4/13/23)

Saturday, April 22 is Earth Day and this year there are plenty of ways to get involved here in Tuxedo!

Clean up of Route 17 through Town Sponsored by GFB Student Organizations - Aprill 22 @ 9am

Click here for more information

Polination Meadow Earth Day Clean-up - April 22 @ 11am

Click here for more information

Reggie Bar Turns 1 - April 22 @ 2pm

Click here for more information

Town of Tuxedo Earth Day 5K & Fun Run- April 23 @ 8:30am

Click here for more information

Sterling Forest Earth Day Clean-up - April 22 @ 11am

Earth Day Clean-Up Event in Sterling Forest - Click here for more information

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Tuxedo Home Sales in 2022 (Posted 3/26/23)

Who sold what to whom and for how much in 2022?? Here is a full list of sales:

SELLER

BUYER

DATE

PRICE

Anthony Skutnik
54 Tower Hill Rd.

Douglas Nemac

3/9/22

$1,775,000

Zahra Khazaneh
78 Pine Rd.

Frederick Buell

3/9/22

$880,000

Anthony Grippo
88 Juniper Ter

ARCPE LLC

3/10/22

$900,000

Robert Farello
78 Fawn Hill Rd.

James Carse

3/10/22

$697,028

Eric Honor
94 Pine Hill Rd.

Matthew Tinari

3/11/22

$3,450,000

DEWUWEI LLC
16 Deerpath Rd.

Kevin F. Errico

3/15/22

$430,000

David Delgado
14 River Rd.

JIMB LLC

3/15/22

$185,000

Daniel Shenefield
35 Constitution Ct.

John Frustaci

3/17/22

$1,295,000

Michael Brennan
180 East Village Rd.

James Giglio

3/22/22

$371,000

Samuel Wilmit
266 Woodlands Dr.

Joseph Ro McKechnie

3/24/22

$650,000

Tuxedo Park Estates, LLC
Tuxedo Rd.

Huma Bigrami

3/28/22

$450,000

Michael J. Collins
86 Potucket Rd.

MidCountry Bank

3/29/22

$1,130,000

Mark Shefts Revocable Trust
248 Woodlands Dr..

Gerald Starr

4/7/22

$605,000

Venture Family LP
2 Serpentine Rd.

William Andrew Sterling

4/08/22

$750,000

Claude Ginchard, III
66 Club House Rd.

Robin Backe

4/11/22

$605,500

Kenneth J. Torsoe
East Lake Rd.

Sra T. Rahman

4/12/22

$575,000

Maurice Hall
5 Lookout Stable Rd.

David Craig

4/13/22

$1,021,000

Peter F. Marcus
Rd.

John Liatos

4/14/22

$1,210,000

Matthew D. Amore
12 South Side Pl.

One Three Six First LLC

4/14/22

$345,000

As Trustees US Bank Trust
456 West Lake Rd.

Bronwyn Roantree

4/18/22

$639,000

Brian Donahue
180 Woodlands Dr.

Eugenia Carney

4/19/22

$663,500

Jonathan W. Goldson
15 Juniper Ter.

Jason Bramlett

4/28/22

$980,000

Alan M. McHugh
31 Lorillard Rd.

Tania Carnegie

5/2/22

$1,450,000

A Gary W Brown
Eagle Mountain Rd.

Eagle Mountain

5/6/22

$325,000

Howard Yeon
51 Juniper Ter

Feroze Rasheed

5/12/22

$1,400,000

James Von Helms
922 Route 17

Hashem Bezras

5/13/22

$518,000

Nancy Tomasovich
63 Salierno Rd

Sapna Gopal Bhatia

5/16/22

$1,380,000

Imelda Spangler
73 Clubhouse Rd.

David Ramos

5/19/22

$410,000

Ronald Reed
11 Lorillard Rd.

Edward Mullins

5/24/22

$1,500,000

Mario a/k/a Marluaz
21 Ash Ct.

Michael Josephson

6/3/22

$554,500

Pablo Velasco
59 Spice Bush Ln

Curtis Oilveira

6/6/22

$735,000

Juan Vazquez
31 Deerpath Rd.

Yongock Ku

6/22/22

$622,220

Neyland Properties LLC
Benjamin Meadow Rd.

Yongock Ku

6/28/22

$190,000

Christopher Dollbaum
22 Circle Dr.

Jacqueline Allalouf

7/6/22

$410,000

Tuxedo Daughters LLC
36 East Lake Rd.

Tuxedo M&M Holdings

7/22/22

$2,895,000

John Scott Meore
34 Maple Brook Rd.

Vonetta Williams

7/22/22

$619,000

Matthew Tinari
57 Club House Rd.

Revocable Trust of Sar…

8/3/22

$870,000

Joseph Radano
8 Cardinal Ct.

2009 Matthew Dike

8/15/22

$640,000

Kenneth Torsoe
54 Heritage Ct.

Lopez Family Trust

8/17/22

$399,000

Richard A. Hiddad
92 Fawn Hill Rd.

Michael Robert Nelson

8/22/22

$617,000

C Samantha Chen Trust
30 Lorillard Rd.

30 Lorillard Rd. LLC

8/25/22

$965,000

Gerald Starr
248 Woodlands Dr.

James Roberts

9/9/22

$612,500

Robert P. Morris
32 Helmstown Ct,

Michael De Kler

9/14/22

$1,200,000

David Lusk
587 Eagle Valley Rd.

Jason Dellinger

9/16/22

$985,000

Hakanjin Gzim
40 Mulberry Dr.

Aminbata Sidibe

9/19/22

$610,000

Lawrence Hickey
7 Ridge Rd.

Peter Van Overstraeten

10/24/22

$885,000

Robert Werner
12 Holly Ct.

Gordon David Church

11/3/22

$610,000

Daniel J. Benker
364 Bramertown Rd.

Michael Endara

11/4/22

$610,000

Maxwell Benton
11 Schoolhouse Ln

Dennis Egger

11/9/22

$345,000

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Tuxedo Appoints Kathleen Metcalf, DIrector Of Recreation (Posted 3/01/2023)

The Tuxedo Town Board unanimously approved the appointment of Kathleen Metcalf to Director of Recreation for the Town of Tuxedo effective March 6th.

Kathleen, a resident of Monroe, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation from St Thomas Aquinas College and comes to Tuxedo with many years of experience designing, organizing and implementing sports and recreation programs.

Kathleen is currently the Coordinator of the Monroe Woodbury Basketball League which accommodates over 600 children in the Monroe Woodbury School District--a district in which a large portion of Tuxedo children attend.

Kathleen will be responsible for coordinating and managing the Tuxedo Summer Camp Program, a long-time tradition in the Town, and initiating new and exciting programs for the community.

For more information contact: Tuxedo Town Clerk 845-351-4411

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Neuhaus Presents Sue Heywood with February Citizen of The Month Award (Posted 2/1/23)

(Originally posted to orangecountygov.com 1/31/23)

Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus has named Sue Heywood as February’s Citizen of the Month Award recipient.

Heywood was recognized for her continued dedication to residents in Tuxedo. She was nominated for the Citizen of the Month Award by Tuxedo Councilwoman Michele Lindsay.

“Sue is a dedicated volunteer in our community and all of her hard work and efforts are greatly appreciated,” Neuhaus said. “She always goes above and beyond to help others and to support local initiatives as well as global causes. Guided by her faith, Sue has performed this work with great humility and compassion, and I am proud to recognize her as Citizen of the Month.”

Heywood, a retired schoolteacher, has volunteered in Tuxedo since she moved to Orange County from Upper Saddle River, N.J. in 2001. As Chairwoman and an active member of St. Mary’s-in-Tuxedo Outreach, Heywood helps provide emergency assistance for community members and Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas gifts for local families and children. She also helps raise funds for scholarships for children to attend summer camp in Tuxedo. In 2022, 15 children were sponsored.

In addition, Heywood taught classes with the Tuxedo Library’s ESL program for many years and is on the Board of Sloatsburg Food Pantry, which serves Tuxedo and neighboring towns. Heywood has been President of the Tuxedo Park Garden Club, which beautifies Tuxedo and Tuxedo Park. Furthermore, Heywood brought music, drama and dance talent to the community at large as co-founder of Tuxedo Performing Arts Group which ran for eleven years. Heywood also collects donations for Carryou Ministry for AIDS orphans in South Africa, visiting them every year since 2001.

Heywood, a native of England, taught in her native country, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana and Malta before arriving in the U.S. in 1988.

“My parents were leaders when I was growing up during and after the Second World War and always helped people in need,” Heywood said. “That had a tremendous impact on my life and influenced me to assist others; I am glad to be able to do so. Tuxedo, and St Mary’s in particular, has a wonderful group of civic-minded residents who are very caring and compassionate. I am proud of the work that we have accomplished together.”

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Grant Opportunity for Commercial Property & Buisiness Owners in The Tuxedo Hamlet (Posted 1/24/2023)

The Tuxedo Local Development Corporation is inviting commercial property and business owners in the Hamlet District (Town Center) to apply for grant monies that are available for infrastructure and beautification projects.

More information, including the guidelines and application, can be found on the Town Website or by clicking here.

A workshop meeting took place on January 17:

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Major Watchtower Expansion Project Moves Forward on Sterling Mine Road (Posted 1/10/23)

Watchtower was back before the Town of Tuxedo Planning Board last week, seeking a site plan amendment that will allow them to use a 7acre parcel of land located off of Sterling Mine Road (directly across from Eagle Valley Road) as a temporary construction access for their proposed expansion project in the Town of Ramapo.
The project, which has been in the works since 2019, centers around the construction of a giant new facility where they plan to record Bible-based films, videos and other audio-visual materials used to advance their mission. The 249-acre campus will include movie soundstages, offices and apartment buildings to house up to 1,240 volunteer workers. It will be in an integrated working, living, and worship facility for members of the religious order known as the Worldwide Order of Special Full Time Servants of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
While a majority, if not all, of the campus will be located in the Town of Ramapo, seven acres of the project are in the Town of Tuxedo. Just this past fall the group was busy working on the 7-acre parcel after having received permission from the Tuxedo Planning Board to align their newly combined entrance there with Eagle Valley Road across the street. At that time, Watchtower had begun the mitigation process of improving an old bridge located on their property, but the County deemed the access road they were using as unsafe and it was decommissioned . The newly aligned Tuxedo entrance allowed for them to complete the bridge repair & restoration project and its approved use was limited to that affect.
Since that time the Town of Ramapo has approved the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) for the 1.7 million square foot expansion project and they have also amended their zoning code to allow for the integrated residential and commercial campus, which will ultimately take up roughly 155 of the total 249 acres. The Ramapo Planning Board has issued Watchtower a permit that will allow them to begin clearing trees.…and that is where the Town of Tuxedo comes in. The period of time when Watchtower can clear trees on the property is regulated by the DEC and is restricted to the months of November through March due to the presence of long eared bats on the property. If they are unable to access the property and begin clearing the trees before March, they will have to wait until next November to begin this work. Ultimately, the primary entrance for the new campus will be located further east on Strling Mine Road, directly across from Old Eagle Valley Road and closer to the Town of Sloatsburg. Construction on that entrance, however, is hinged upon site plan approval from the Ramapo Planning Board, which is not expected for several months and even then, it is not slated to begin for quite some time. Therefore, Watchtower is looking to utilize the recently aligned Tuxedo entrance to access the Ramapo property and begin the tree clearing activity asap. Additionally, they are looking to move forward with plans for the seven acres that are located within the Town of Tuxedo, which they hope to continue to use for construction access during the first two phases of the project (18 months) after which time it will become a secondary, gated, residential entrance for inhabitants and employees.
Regardless of which Town the bulk of the development will reside in, the project is going to have an undeniable impact on the surrounding community, particularly the neighborhoods in Eagle Valley, primarily in terms of traffic and the overall aesthetics of the area.

More information can be found below:

Click here to read a report and/or watch a video of the 1/3/23 Town of Tuxedo Planning Board meeting

Click here to visit the informational page set up by the Town of Ramapo, which includes all of the pertinent documentation

Also, check out the following news articles:

Town Board of Ramapo Approves Special Permit

Jehovah’s Witnesses Campus plans In Ramapo will Expand a Growing Hudson Valley Empire

Watchtower Bible World Headquarters Project in Ramapo Moves Ahead

Officials Approve Entrance Realignment Work; Final sire Plan Approval Pending

The Silver Dollars are conducting ad town -wide survey to assess the needs of Tuxedo residents 60+ in our community!

If you do not have a copy and would like to complete one, please click here!

Hard copies can also be found at both the town Hall and the Tuxedo Park Library

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Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day! (Posted 11/1/22)

General Election Information:

Early Voting for the General Election began on Saturday, 10/29. All sites listed are open to voters registered in Orange County. View locations and times here.

The Sample ballot for the 2022 General Election in Tuxedo can be viewed HERE.

The polls are open from 6am to 9pm and the polling locations are as follows:

Dist 1 & 3

Tuxedo Town Hall
1 Temple Drive, Tuxedo

Dist 2

Sterling Forest Fire House
1664 Long Meadow Road, Tuxedo

Dist 4

Eagle Valley Fire House
14 Scott Mine Road, Tuxedo

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Town of Tuxedo Welcomes New Chief of Police (Posted 10/19/22)

During the Town Board meeting on October 12, newly hired John Trazino was sworn in as Chief of Police.

Chief Trazino has sinced released the following statement via the Town of Tuxedo Police Facebook page:

"Hello Tuxedo residents, visitors, workers, businesses and the greater community.

I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

My name is John Trazino.

On October 12, 2022, I was sworn in as the Town of Tuxedo Chief of Police.

I served over 22 years at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office before retiring this past September as Team Leader of the Special Operations Group.

I am a proud lifelong area resident and a graduate of George F. Baker High School.

I look forward to continuing my service to the community by joining the outstanding Police Officers of the Tuxedo PD and I am happy to be your partner in keeping the “Gateway to the Hudson Valley” safe and secure.

Thank you to the many Citizens, the Town Supervisor, the Town Board, the Town Employees, the School Staff members and the TPD Police Officers for the overwhelmingly warm welcome."

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TUFSD Raises Serious Concerns Over Tuxedo Farms Proposal (Posted 9/22/22)

Serious concerns regarding an agreement between Tuxedo Farms and the Tuxedo Union Free School District were raised during the presentation of an impact study at Wednesday night’s Board of Education Meeting. The study, which was also presented to the Town Board on September 6, was compiled by the district with the help of their attorneys, architect and business advisors, focused primarily on issues associated with a 40 acre plot of land that the Related Companies initially agreed to donate to the District in an effort to help mitigate the impacts of the development.

“This is probably the single most important thing that is going to impact the District for many years to come,” began Superintendent Jeff White. “We are big supporters of the development of Tuxedo Farms, which would bring 1600 new homes into the District. We do want the project to move forward. We just want to make sure that the District, the students and the community get what they need to mitigate the impacts of the development. For many years the Developer had promised the District 2.5 million dollars in cash and 40 acres of land. Initially, the land was supposed to be leveled and cleared by the Developer, but over the years that has changed. We have tried to bring it to the attention of the Developer that it would be not feasible financially for the school district and the community to pick up that cost. Either they do that work and clear the land to prepare it for District use or we requested that either they or the Town provide the school with 40 acres of usable land. We are certainly going to need it as the result of the growth in enrollment from the Development.”

The Superintendent went on to clarify his points through a detailed slide presentation, which provided a full background/history of discussions and agreements between and regarding the District and the Development. In summation, the developer has offered the District a 40-acre lot that is contiguous to the current school property but is essentially un-usable in its current state due to the topography, which mainly consists of steep cliffs. It is estimated that clearing and grading the property in order to prepare it for development will cost somewhere between 18 and 23 million dollars, an expense that will fall directly to the taxpayers now that the developer is no longer agreeable to completing the work. Related is projecting that the Farms will yield roughly 365 new school aged children over a 10-year period and a majority of these will likely be at the elementary level. At this rate of growth, the District anticipates running out of classroom space in the current George Grant Mason building in just 4 years.

Although the Development would certainly bring more assessed and taxable value to the community at large, Attorney David Shaw cautioned that State Aid would not be “the calvary coming over the hill” to help offset the potential, enormous, financial burden even with the increase in population. In fact, it is estimated that the District should not expect to see much of an increase in the amount of aid they currently receive and that at best, this number might top off at $750,000 per year.    Additionally, the declines in equalization rates will have a direct impact on assessed home values. The most recent draft of the Developers’ Technical Memo does not accurately reflect current equalization rates. As currently proposed, the District anticipates the need for an annual budget increase of 1.3 million dollars per year over the next 15 years in order to cover the associated costs of developing the land, making the project as a whole tax-negative for the community at large.

“It all comes down to, we need a better piece of land to work with,” Attorney Shaw concluded.

The District has met with the Developer and at their request proposed 6 alternative options. Related in turn has narrowed this list down to 2. A follow-up meeting with the District scheduled for earlier this week was cancelled by the Developer.   Following their presentation to the Town Board, a letter detailing the District’s position has been sent to both the Town and the Developer.

A copy of this letter can be viewed here.

A copy of the District’s Impact Study can be viewed here

The September 21 Board of Education meeting in it’s entirety can be viewed here

“We are hoping that the Town Board and Related will see the position that the School District is facing,” concluded Superintendent White. “The Town is going to be asked to make a decision within the next few weeks. We have told the Town and Related that we stand here as willing partners. We want to support it. We think it is going to be great for the school district but we don’t think that it should be on the backs of the students or the taxpayers.”

“If we look relaxed up here,” added Board of Education President Joe Rickard, “We’re not. This has an incredible amount of urgency. This is the number one issue facing us. We cannot go with what’s been put in place here. 23 million dollars just to get the land to the point where we could actually use It is not viable. This is now in the hands of the Town. They have all the data and all the back-up from our experts. Related has all of this information as well. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks will get some sort of viable solution and if we do, we will deliver to you the best school district that we can possibly deliver.”

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Robust Start For The TUFSD (Posted 9/15/22)

Things are off to a robust start in the TUFSD this year with new floors, new steps and new programs at GFB and a flurry of upcoming events at GGM Elementary.

High School Students were greeted with a brand new floor as they arrived at School on September 6.

After years of various attempts at remediation and repair, the iconic front steps in front of the GFB building are also being fully replaced.

***All Images courtesey of the Tuxedo Union Free School District**

On Monday, September 12, students in grades 7-12 participated in the first PACE event of the year, which culminated in a visit from the ICE MOTHER AND SONS Italian ice truck . This new program is designed to allow students to “keep pace” with their community each week through various Presentations, Activities, Collaorations and Events designed to allow them to interact and stay informed. The program aims to enhance educational and social interactions in the school, the greater community and society in general. PACE events planned for this year include Honor Society events, Drama Productions, STEM Challenges, Guest Speakers, Academic Competitions, Social Activities, Local History Presentations, and Debates.

Over at GGM Students in grades K-5 are preparing for the 'International Day of Peace' celebration on Wednesday, September 21. Since 1982, the United Nations' International Day of Peace has been celebrated by individuals, organizations, and nations as a way to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. George Grant Mason Elementary students will commemorate the day with a ceremony featuring signing, student speakers, and a 'Pinwheels for Peace 'art instillation. It is the school's 14th year marking the date.

The PTO’s annual Back-to-School Carnival has also been scheduled for Friday, September 30! This event is always a hit with with the school community and generally features games, entertainment, prizes, snacks and more! See below for details an contact the PTO directly if you are interested in volunteering your time or getting involved!

Click here to view larger

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Third Annual Tuxedo Park Tunnel to Towers September 10, 2022 (Updated 9/2/2022)

Click here to view larger

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Tuxedo Announces September 2022 Plein air Festival (Posted 7/31/2022)

September 28- October 2, 2022

Tuxedo, July, 2022. Tuxedo Art and Music announced they will again sponsor a Plein Air Festival this Fall. The event is sponsored by the Town of Tuxedo and the Tuxedo Chamber of Commerce and will take place Tuesday, September 27th through Sunday October 2nd, 2022.
Artists will have the opportunity to capture inspiring vistas and landmarks that have long defined this iconic region. The Fall season offers color schemes particularly beautiful in Sterling Forest, Harriman State Park and historic landmarks throughout Tuxedo.
Guided by a virtual map, artists, residents and nature and art lovers are encouraged to explore the many undiscovered sites and landscapes throughout Tuxedo.
Painting will take place starting on Tuesday, September 27-30, culminating in a “Meet the Artist’s Reception” on Friday, September 30 at the Tuxedo Train Station, 6-8 pm. Artist’s work will remain on exhibit and sale through out the weekend and coincide with the popular Tuxedo Famer’s Market.
This year, the exhibit will feature a Silent Auction. Artists contribute a small painting (5x7) for bidding in a Silent Auction. Bidding for each piece starts at $35. This has been added to the program at the suggestion of last year’s attendees who asked for a price point that would allow them to own a beautiful fine art painting!
The event is open to Plein Air artists throughout the Hudson Valley. Limited space is available and participants are on a first come basis.
Applications for artist participation and/or sponsorship please contact:
Tuxedo Art and Music Committee
Plein Air 2022

Artist Contact Information:
Lita, Artist Coordinator: 845-781-3269
TuxedoArtAndMusic@gmail.com

Event Contact Information:
Deirdre Murphy: 845-712-5559

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Grateful Dead Tribute MusIc & Craft Festival @ Harmony Hall in Sloatsburg Sunday July 31! (Posted 7/24/22)

The inaugural Grateful Dead Tribute Music & Craft Festival will take place on the Great Lawn at Harmony Hall in Sloatsburg on Sunday, July 31 from 1-5pm! Sponsored by Valley Rock Inn, Sloatsburg Chamber, Verizon. Partners in Preservation with the Town of Ramapo, the event features three great bands:

Not Phade Away , Uncle Shoehorn & His Funky Dance Party , and One Man Gathers as well as Food & craft vendors including:

FOOD & BEVERAGE
1. Conrad’s Confectionary Ice Cream and Confections
2. Auntie El’s Farm & Bakery - Baked Goods, Garden, Clothing
3. Two Dogs Hot Dogs
4. Defiant Brewery
5. Hard Cider Works

COMMUNITY/NON-PROFITS
1. Friends of Sterling Forest Community group

VENDORS ON THE LAWN
1. Retro Farm House - Hand sewn items
2. Fusion CBD Products
3. Tita’s Totes - Bags
4. Grateful Daze Boutique - Crystals, etc
5. Stone Treasure Jewelry
6. KB Chimes - Wind Chimes
7. Round Lake Pottery
8. Nourish Yourself Psychic
9. Scott Scarpelli Grateful Dead Art
10. Corazy Creations Tie-dye Headbands - Children’s Crafts
11. Spring Hill Ambulance
12. Our Father’s Farm - Knitted items, Jewelry, Dolls
13. Artytime - Paint w/kids & adults
14. Sherri’s Heirloom Soaps & Soy Candles

Tickets can be putchased in advocate here or at the door

Advance sale tickets: $15 for adults (18 years+)

At the Door: $20 adults (18 years+), $5 for ages 6-17, FREE for ages 5 and under

All sales final. No refunds.

Free parking is available at St. Joan of Arc Church, Sloatsburg Library lot, Sloatsburg Senior Center lot, public parking south side of Characters Restaurant, Mill Street Park lot across from Sloatsburg Train Station, commuter lot at 27 Mill Street, and Sloatsburg Municipal Plaza.

Patrons are encourage to bring blankets, chairs, and hand-held umbrellas (no beach umbrellas or tents)

No pets, with the exception of service dogs

Tours of the Harmony Hall mansion will be given each hour - As part of the "Not Just a Front Porch" campaign, please consider assisting in restoring the 1848 Victorian mansion porch with a $5 donation.

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TPFYI Needs Your Help (Posted 7/17/2022)

TPFYI needs your support to continue its service to our community.

Since its inception in 2006, TPFYI has been the only consistent and reliable local news source for our community. We wish to continue being your local news source but need your support to do so.

TPFYI has strived to ensure that residents have a balanced and unbiased source of timely and relevant news about current issues that impact our lives, village and town. All Village and Town municipal meetings are covered and reported on by TPFYI staff to help keep you well informed on the activities of our local governments.

Additionally, the site boasts a fully comprehensive community calendar (updated on a daily basis), a robust directory of local contractors and professional services compiled by residents and a consistent stream of relevant, community-based feature content. With an archive of extensive municipal reporting that dates back to 2006, the site is a tremendous local resource.

Expenses to maintain TPFYI run approximately $15,000 per year, with the majority used to pay free-lance reporters to attend all municipal meetings, write articles and featured reports and keep the site up-to-date each day. It takes a tremendous amount of work and time, which is basically done by one dedicated person who deserves gratitude as well as support.

We very much want to continue providing Tuxedo with this invaluable service, but we cannot do it without your help. Please consider making a significant donation in 2022.

If you wish to show your appreciation and support for TPFYI with a donation, your gift can be anonymous or choose to be listed on the TPFYI website as a Friend ( up to $500), Supporter ( $501to $1,000) or Patron ( $1,001 plus). Checks should be made to Tuxedo Park Communications LLC and mailed to :

TPFYI

P. O. Box 681

Tuxedo Park, NY 10987

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

You can also make a donation online via our GoFundMe page, which can be found here

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Tuxedo Art and Music Plein Art Festival June 16-20(Posted 6/4/2021)

Guided by a virtual map, artists, residents, art, and nature lovers can create their own adventure throughout the town to discover and explore.

Painting will take place from June 16th-18th, culminating in a “Meet the Artist” Exhibit and Reception at the Tuxedo Train Station on Friday, June 18th. Artists’ work will remain on display and for sale during the Farmer’s Market and throughout the weekend.

Click HERE to view larger

The event is open to all Plein Air artists throughout the Hudson Valley, limited space is available, and participants are on a first-come basis.

Applications for artist participation and or sponsorship please contact:

Lita@ThorneGallery.com

or contact

tuxedoartandmusic@gmail.com

The project is made possible with funds, awarded to the Tuxedo Park Library, from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.

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Meet The Candidates Who are Running for Board of Education (Posted 5/3/2021)

The 2021 School Board election and budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 18. This year, four candidates are vying for three open spots on the Board of Education: incumbent Kimberly Breiland and newcomers Gary Heavner, William Givens and Alyssa Horneff. Current Board members Mike Arone and Meg Vaught will be retiring, each having served two terms.
The make-up of the school board is extremely important as it has a direct impact on the future of the School District as well as every one’s taxes. In addition to the annual budget, the Board of education is responisble for developing and adopting the policies and curriculum that drive the District as well as oversight of any facility-based issues. Therefore, understanding these candidates, their areas of expertise and their levels of experience is crucial in making an informed decision.

In an effort to inform the community, TPFYI presented each candidate with a basic questionnaire, designed to focus on their biographical information as well as their levels of experience and reasons for running. What follows are the resposes received, unedited, in the order we received them.

Kimberly Tee Breiland

Education/Degrees:
BFA from Pratt Insitute
Vocation/Employer:
22 Graphics, Inc. (Marketing/Advertising)
Years of residency in Tuxedo:
Going on 5 years now
Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:
I have helped with many of the “art” needs for the community. I have created a billboard, logo and flyers for the school. I have created a new map of all the trails in Tuxedo Park; I have created flyers for St. Mary’s and the Parks Department; and I created a map for the Chamber of Commerce.
Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education:
Initially, 3 years ago, my sole objective was to keep the high school open.
Today I run because I actually believe we have a diamond in the rough that can and will be the heartbeat of our town. Our school can resemble, if not supercede other New York public schools such as Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical, and LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts. I want to be a part of making that happen.
The District is turning the corner with the introduction of a COVID Response Summer Program, Facility Improvements, Curriculum + Library + Textbook + Software Upgrades, a Transportation Program that reduces costs, and most importantly a more Transparent Accounting System. I have been a part of all this. And I would like to continue to work hard to ensure our District remains on a forward path.
What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?
I think our top two priorities should be working to build and enhance our program and strengthening our communications district-wide. It is imperative we are all working well together and that all our messages are direct, clear, and concise. Communication is the key; not just between Board members, but also Parents, Students, Teachers, the Union, and the Administration. We all need to work together to capture our goal of a brighter future.

Then we need to focus on the level of education we offer our students. What new programs can we introduce? How can we be more supportive? What can we supplement or enhance? Academics are paramount.

I would like to see strong academics, incredible arts, and specialized sports.
When we tackle these two items, we must focus on student retention as well as increasing the student body.

Alyssa Horneff

Education/Degrees:
New York University (NYU)

Business - Stern School of Business
Dance - Tisch School of the Arts

Pascack Hills High School - Montvale, NJ

Vocation/Employer:
Current:

Clearing, Head of Operations

Columbus Preschool NYC - Teacher of Early Education & the Arts
Joffrey Ballet School, Associate Executive Director & Instructor
Flatiron School, VP of Operations & Data/Analytics
ClassPass, Director, Marketing & Growth + Director, Sales & Operations
Break the Floor Productions, Director, Operations & Business Dev
NBC Universal Pictures & Red Bull International, Marketing Associate
Metropolitan Opera, Ballet Dancer among many other companies, jobs, etc!

Years of residency in Tuxedo:
I have been a proud resident of Tuxedo for a little over 4 years now.

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:

NYC Cares volunteer for 5+ years
Serve monthly at my church in Ringwood, NJ

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?

As a mother of two young boys -- my top priority is ensuring the long term well being of my family. In an increasingly competitive world that means providing them with access to the best educational opportunities while also ensuring they can safely experience all the joys of childhood.

My work experience as a pre-school & arts teacher and more recently as the VP for Operations at one of the foremost online education programs in the country affords me with a unique perspective that understands how students can succeed in today’s competitive educational landscape and career market without sacrificing self-identity or worth.

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

Not to discount the trials our district has gone through in the last couple years, (and I may be a contrarian) but I believe that the pandemic has presented the district with a truly once in a decade opportunity to attract new families to our town. One of our impediments in the past is that our approach to attracting these new families is still rooted in 20th century approaches which to date have yielded little results despite significant investment. I would hope to bring modern digital marketing expertise alongside a more strategically targeted outreach to bring in new families who are seeking a community that allows for commutability to the city as well as proximity to natural beauty.

The district continues to have a fleeting opportunity to market itself as an intimate, safe, and high-quality school district. To date, however, we have missed the mark and find ourselves making the same old mistakes -- dealing with limited enrollment while attempting to put out or inadvertently flaming PR fires. The reality is that to attract new families you need to understand new families.

Gary Lee Heavner

Education/Degrees:
Vassar College B.A.
Pace Law School J.D.

Vocation/Employer: Career Prosecutor

Years of residency in Tuxedo: 2

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:
Tuxedo Trail Angels
Tuxedo Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative
NY-NJ Trail Conference Trail Maintainer – Sterling Forest

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?

As a dad, a career prosecutor, a former teacher for a brief time, and a lifelong advocate for kids, I know that education is the greatest tool we can give our children. I fundamentally believe that all students deserve to have access to a high-quality education. COVID-19 has added challenges this past year, and students are falling behind academically and socially. I am running for school board because I believe in the potential of all kids and I believe we can do better at helping them realize it.
What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?
After the selection of a new Superintendent, I think we have got to focus foremost on the massive loss of learning that has happened as a result of this pandemic. We need to start by providing increased tailored supports to catch kids up to where they need to be. We should start by targeting students who are at the highest risk for long-term learning loss. Additionally, we should balance the dual needs of meeting students where they are while continuing to expose them to grade-level content through scaffolded supports that keep high expectations for and a high belief in all kids.

My Name is Gary Lee Heavner and I am a candidate for the Tuxedo School Board.
My wife and I moved to Tuxedo just before COVID hit in 2020, when we moved from Pomona, from the house in which I was born. We selected Tuxedo as the school district we wanted to send our youngest child (now a junior) five years ago when we researched several private and parochial schools and luckily stumbled upon the district’s STEM program. We like the school so much, we paid the ‘out of district’ cost to attend GFB for three- and one-half years before finally purchasing our house in the Maple Brook neighborhood. My oldest children are beginning their own careers having graduated recently from Penn State and Harvard. My wife Ann is a Registered Nurse at West Point. We all love our new community.
Immediately after college I taught secondary school social studies for two years in Sussex County. After attending law school, I was a career prosecutor for over twenty-five years in various offices.
My experience with boards of education began back in the early 80s when, as class president, I represented my school to the East Ramapo Board of Education for four years. I really never stopped attending board meetings and following the board’s activity. Unfortunately, as a prosecutor, I have also investigated Rockland school boards and district officials for misconduct.
I also have experience on several not-for-profit boards that have similar budgets and staffing as the Tuxedo board, including the Hudson Valley Council Boy Scouts of America, The NY State Soccer Association and USA Rugby.
Some local groups I volunteer with include, The Tuxedo Trail Angels, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Trail Maintainer – Sterling Forest and the Tuxedo Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.
I have previously volunteered and ben involved in many civic and youth organizations including: PTO presidents in multiple schools; CCD teacher; youth rec and travel soccer coach; youth, college, semi-professional rugby coach; World Rugby Judicial Officer; Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster, Order of the Arrow Lodge Advisor and Girl Scout Troop Leader.

Why am I qualified to serve as a School Board member?
My interest in school boards began years ago when I was multiple times selected by my high school to represent the student body to our local school board. I have regularly continued to attend school board meetings the rest of my life. Professionally, I have experience investigating school districts and officials. As a dad, I have always been active in my children’s schools and activities, including being president of several PTOs, a Girl Scout troop leader, soccer coach, rugby coach and CCD teacher. I also have board experience on several local, state and national not-for-profit boards that have similar budgets and staffing as Tuxedo. Therefore, as a dad and candidate who has had direct classroom and board experience, I bring a relevant perspective and understanding of the challenges that teachers, parents and board members face because I’ve literally walked in their shoes.
What’s my vision for education in Tuxedo?
My vision is to ensure all Tuxedo students have access to a high-quality education. This includes fairly distributing resources to get students back on track. It also involves growing and retaining a teacher workforce, as research shows teacher quality and representation are important elements of student outcomes. I want to foster nurturing learning environments through expanded social emotional and mental health supports and more fresh air time for kids.
How would I rate the school district’s performance during the pandemic?
I think the district’s response to the pandemic was slow. There was too much time spent deliberating about how to get students back to school as it once existed, versus jumping quickly into action to restructure the approach to education so it served the needs of all kids in a new reality. I would have acted with more urgency to ensure Tuxedo virtual and remote learning options were equitable, accessible, and offered high-quality instructional opportunities for kids no matter which option parents chose. I also would have focused on ensuring teachers and families were trained properly and thoroughly on how to navigate these new systems and ensured that support was ongoing. I would have ensured that our students and teachers felt safe and heard, and started updating in-person learning spaces early on so that they were ready to accommodate students in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols once in-person learning began again.
If I could change one thing in the Tuxedo School District, it would be …
In addition to focusing on my key priorities and all the topics covered here, I’d love to see more physical improvements in the buildings and facilities.
Do I have concern about student achievement in the Tuxedo School District?
I am deeply concerned. COVID-19 disruptions have caused students to fall further behind than they already were. We cannot approach the issue of student achievement in a vacuum. If we focus solely on boosting assessment scores through an age-old approach of teaching kids how to test, we will continue to fail them. We need a comprehensive approach to education that includes social-emotional resilience and project-based learning to increase students’ problem solving and relationship skills, culturally relevant instruction so students can see themselves in the content they’re learning, and that affords our wonderful teachers the capacity, flexibility and resources they need.
What are my thoughts on the current proposed Tuxedo School District budget?
I admire the proposed budget that Tuxedo was able to create amid so many financial challenges during COVID-19. The Board needs to continue to be financially conservative to keep all future tax increases as infrequent and as small as possible.
Are there specific curriculum changes I would advocate?
I’d advocate for more curriculum that expands relevant and 21st century skills. We are living in a digital age where technological proficiency is critical for students to succeed in today’s economy. I’d push for more increased focus on digital literacy as it is not only essential for remote education, but has long been essential to all learning (e.g., to complete homework, access information, learn basic research skills, etc.) I’d also push for financial literacy to become a core component of our students’ education, as we have a responsibility to equip them with the tools to build the futures they want for themselves. Finally, I’d push for more project-based learning in all subjects, as research proves its effectiveness on students’ confidence, engagement, and achievement.
What is another important issue?
The school board makes short- and long-term policy decisions that directly impact families with kids in school now, families that will attend Tuxedo schools in the future and the overall prosperity of our community There are a lot of candidates on the ballot, and that can make the process of sifting through all of them feel daunting. However, given the stakes, I strongly encourage Tuxedo voters to research a little about each candidate, learn more about their priorities and make informed decisions that will serve the best interests of our students.

William (Bill) Givens

Education/Degrees:
Bachelor’s of Science

Major: Economics
Minor: Political Science
Minor: Computer Science

Vocation/Employer:
Managing Director at Morgan Stanley

Years of residency in Tuxedo:
13 Years

Volunteer Work in the Town of Tuxedo:

Coached many years of T-Ball in the Tuxedo Little League
Annual volunteer at the Tuxedo Park Library’s Memorial Day Community Picnic
Chaperoned multiple TUFSD School field trips
Worked volunteer events for the Tuxedo PTO

Briefly, why are you running for The Board of Education?

See Candidate Statement - Below

What are the most important issues currently facing the School District and if elected how would you propose to address them?

See Candidate Statement - Below

Candidate Statement:

My name is William (Bill) Givens, and I am running for the Tuxedo Union Free School District School Board, because I want to serve the community that my family and I have been a part of for the past 13 years. I have a degree in Economics, have 25 years’ experience in finance, and have spent the last 12 years at Morgan Stanley, where I am a Managing Director. All 3 of my children are currently, and have always attended TUFSD. My youngest attends GGM, while my older two have moved on to GFB. Between them, they have collectively attended 24 years of school in this district.

I strongly believe that all children are entitled to a quality public school education. As a taxpayer with children who attend TUFSD, I am acutely aware of the challenges facing the district. In particular, the delicate balance that needs to be struck between ensuring adequate funding for the school, and running it in a fiscally responsible way.

Our school has one job, which is to ensure that our children are getting a first-class educational foundation that will prepare them for whatever the next chapter in their lives may be. However, between the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the mid-year change in the district’s leadership, the past year has been extremely challenging for our children and our teachers. As we turn the corner on the challenges of the past year, I will push for safe open schools, our district to be more competitive, and for TUFSD to become the district of choice for parents, students, and teachers.

If elected, I will advocate for our children, hold the school’s administrators accountable for academic excellence, and demand that our tax dollars are spent wisely. I have strong analytical and communication skills and am not afraid to ask the tough questions that should be asked, which I think are essential tools for effective board service.

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Change in Management for the Wee Wah Beach Club? (Posted 4/11/2021)

Village Mayor David McFadden has publicly proposed a new management structure for the Wee Wah Beach Club, raising flags of concern for many in the Tuxedo community. The beloved swim club has been in operation for 87 years and extends its membership to residents of the Hamlet and East Village neighborhoods in Town as well as local first responders and all Village Residents. Although issues with the Wee Wah Dam and Covid-19 have impacted the timeline for the last few summers, historically the Club has been in operation from Memorial Day through mid-September. During the rest of the year, the Village owned property is accessible to Tuxedo Park residents only. The Club is managed by its Executive Board, which is made up equally of members from both the Village and the Town.

Each year during the months of March and April, the Executive Board negotiates a lease agreement with the Village, allowing the Club to operate on the property. This year, Mayor McFadden is looking to make some major changes, which will likely have long-term impacts on the Club and its membership.

The annual lease agreement was discussed during the Village Board’s March 24 meeting, with the majority of Board members in favor of allowing the Club to operate during the 2021 swim season. There were a number of items to be finalized, such as the lease amount (several options were discussed), definitive dates of operation and Covid-19 protocols. It was agreed that the Mayor would meet privately with representatives of the Executive Board to iron out these details.

On April 9, the Executive Board circulated an email to their membership entitled Wee Wah Beach Club Proposal in which they reported that Mayor McFadden had proposed a “revamping of club operations” and further suggested that his proposal would ultimately eliminate the 87-year old Beach Club. Although they noted that the Mayor had assured them that the Club’s relationship with non-Village Resident members would be retained, they implored their membership to consider reaching out to the Village in support of the Club’s current and long-standing management plan, including email addresses for the individual Board members as well as copies of communications between the Executive Board and Mayor McFadden within their letter. (Click here to view the letter)

24 hours later, Mayor McFadden circulated an email to Village residents in which he addressed, among other things, his plans for the property. Citing his responsibility as Village fiduciary, the Mayor suggested that under the current lease agreement/system of management Village Taxpayers have been forced to shoulder the burden of property and facility maintenance costs and that having the Village take over ownership of the Health Permit, collection of membership fees and other payments, and definitive control of the finances and facilities would be more economically beneficial for the Village. He suggested that one reason that the Club had not been turning a profit in recent years could be because their membership dues were too low and that With the right balance of setting membership fees, improving the grounds, and paring down expenses, the Village could make money running the Club. He further proposed that although he supported having the Village take control of the both the finances and the facility, he would be happy to have the current Beach Club manage the day-to-day operations. In response to concerns about the Club’s membership, he proposed a 5 to a 10-year term of guaranteed hamlet membership as "a show of good faith.” (Click here to view an excerpt from the Mayor’s 4/10 e-mail to residents)

Mayor McFadden has stated that he invites constructive comments on the issue. The Board of Trustees will meet next on Wednesday, April 21 at 7pm. Anyone wishing to comment publicly can attend and do so during one of the public comment sessions. Otherwise, contact information for Mayor McFadden and the other members of the Board is as follows:

Mayor David McFadden: dmcfadden@tuxedopark-ny.gov
Trustee Alan McHugh: amchugh@tuxedopark-ny.gov
Trustee Paul Gluck: pgluck@tuxedopark-ny.gov
Trustee Tinka Shaw: tshaw@tuxedopark-ny.gov
Trustee Chris Kasker: ckasker@tuxedopark-ny.gov

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TUFSD Plans Budget With 0% Tax or Budget Increase Through 2023 (Posted 3/22/2021)

At least week's Board of Education meeting, TUFSD Consultant Dr. Ronald Valenti and Interim Superintendent Nicole Scariano revealed an unprecedented and exciting budget proposal for the District, which includes both a 0% tax levy and a 0% budget increase for the next two years! Yes, you read that correctly, the District is proposing to freeze the current budget of $13,699,535 and keep expenses entirely flat through 2023 and they intend to repair and replace aging infrastructure, upgrade both school buildings and enhance the academic program while doing it.
How are they going to make it happen?? The key component is the Districts’ Undesignated Fund Balance, which as of June 20, 2020 was $2,308,439, 17% above the 4% currently allowed by the State. The Undesignated Fund Balance is comprised of monies in the budget that have not been assigned to specific line items. In conducting a thorough analysis, Dr. Valenti has concluded that in keeping the budget flat by June 30 of 2023, the District will have an estimated $6,558,439 in Undesignated Fund Balance. $1,360,535 of this will be used to keep the tax rate at 0% through 2023. $4,300,000 can be used to fund facilities upgrades, specifically those projects that were put forward as part of the Districts Bond proposition, which was defeated by taxpayers in February of 2020. Some of these include roof, boiler, window and door replacements throughout the buildings, re-pointing of brick exteriors, mitigation of gutter, run-off and drainage issues, construction of entryway vestibules in both buildings, the addition of a handicap accessible ramp at the high school, a new playground for the elementary school and re-facing of the gymnasium. $92,000 will be used to offset the deficit in the school lunch program. The remainder of the money will be used to increase District Reserve Funds.
Several academic improvements including revised curricula in all subject areas, new textbooks, technology upgrades, software investments, library resources and enhanced professional development opportunities were also outlined as part of the presentation.
Dr. Valenti also outlined budget goals for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, including exploration of outsourcing options for the both the school bussing and school lunch programs as well as the development of a multi-year plan to bring 18 out-of-district

“This isn’t just about no tax increase,” said Board member Joe Rickard in response to the presentation, “this is about no budget increase. I don’t remember in the all the years I have been in Tuxedo a time when there has been both. I have tears in my eyes. To get this excess out of the budget and get it in the hands of special education placements back into Tuxedo schools. the students and protect our buildings is a major move forward and it’s also going to allow us to really think through educationally what we want to do for the District.”

The complete presentation can be viewed here or on the district website.

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TUFSD Board Plans for Full Scale Superintendent Search (Posted 2/17/2021)

The TUFSD Board of Education has begun laying out plans to conduct a full service Superintendent search following the January resignation of previous Superintendent, Timothy Bohlke.
As outlined during their February Workshop meeting, the search will be led by the District’s HR Consultant, Dr. Ronald Valenti and will adhere to a well-established timeline, resulting in the presentation of a slate of strong, qualified candidates to the Board of Education and the Community at large.
“The whole purpose of this search is to draw as wide a net as possible and to motivate as many potential candidates as we can find to be part of the process, particularly well qualified and certified individuals.” said Valenti as he laid out his proposed timeline, which calls for the majority of work to be done over 90 days during the months of March, April and May.

The search will be formally announced between March 1 – March 15, utilizing the District Website as well as carefully developed recruitment application materials. Dr. Valenti has also recommended that the District utilize the BOCES Network, OLAS, in addition to several State and National Organizations such as the New York Council of School Superintendents, the New York School Boards Association, the New York State Personnel and Business Associations, the American Association of School Administrators and the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development to announce the search. He is also recommending that the District utilize the media with postings on Linked-In and INDEED as well print advertisements in the New York Times and Education Week in addition to other local news venues. Finally, he recommends a mailing be sent to all Hudson Valley Superintendents as well as to Regional Master’s and Doctoral Degree granting institutions.

Between March 15 and April 30 the District will engage in community outreach via a online survey entitled “Qualities of New Superintendent” as well as the formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee of 10-12, led by Dr. Valenti and consisting of 3 board members along with representatives of the professional associations (TTA & TEU unions) PTO, various community groups and local officials. This committee will ultimately be responsible for narrowing down the list of semi-finalists in order to present the Board with a slate of finalists. Along with the committee, Dr. Valenti has recommended a series of school community meetings for staff, parents and taxpayers/residents.

March 31 will be the final day for applications and nominations. Between April 1 and April 15, Dr. Valenti will conduct preliminary interviews with qualified candidates assembling a semi-finalist slate. These individuals will then be subject to background and reference checks. Between April 15 and April 30, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee will interview the semi-finalists with the hopes of putting together a slate of 4-6 finalists for the Board of Education. From May 3 to May 26 the Board of Education will conduct detailed interviews with the finalists with the intention of selecting a candidate. If all goes according to the proposed timeline, the District hopes to announce the appointment of a new Superintendent, effective July 1, 2021.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about how to get involved with either the Citizen’s Advisory Committee or one of the community meetings, we recommend contacting the Board of Education at boe@tuxedoufsd.org

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Winter in Tuxedo - A Community Album (Posted 1/31/2021)

Tuxedo is a beautiful place when it snows! We've started an album showcasing pictures from snowstorms past. We hope you will enjooy checking out photos of the old toboggan run at the Tuxedo Club, turn of the century ice skating, and the beautiful snowly landscapes! Help us grow and expand our album to include all areas of Town by submitting your winter pictures to us at tpfyi@optonline.net! Then check back here weekly or follow us on Facebook to view the album as it grows!

*Old Time Photographs fould online via The Tuxedo Park Library's digital collection, The Tuxedo Historical Society and Google

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Adios 2020! Some Year End Stats for Tuxedo (Posted 1/1/2021)

There is no easy way to sum up 2020. It has truly been a year like no other. While one the one hand tumultuous, terrifying and tiresome, 2020 has also had its share of resiliency, heroism and hope.
A year ago the idea of lockdowns, mask mandates, social distancing, remote learning and Zoom meetings never crossed the minds of most people but now these concepts are a part of our daily lives and words like “quarantine,” “closed,” “canceled,” “paused,” and “postponed” are in heavy rotation. The Covid-19 Pandemic coupled with heightened concerns over racial justice and climate change has compelled us to rethink the ways in which we work, study, and socialize with varying degrees of success. Although there have been some silver linings in the perpetually cloudy skies, for most of us, it will be good riddance to a year of loss and turbulence. While we hope and pray that 2021 brings a better year, let's take a look back at some of the data from the whirlwind year that was 2020 in Tuxedo:

As of July 1, 2020 the total population in the Town of Tuxedo is 3,593. There are 628 people living in the Village of Tuxedo Park
There are 1,455 households in the the Town of Tuxedo. The average family size is 3. The average household income is $154,139. The average home value is $661, 731
There are 251 households in the Village of Tuxedo Park. The average family size is 2.5. The average household income is $196,194. The average home value is $1,336, 935

18 properties were sold in the Village of Tuxedo Park and 21 properties were sold in the Town of Tuxedo

22 couples applied for marriage licenses in the Town of Tuxedo during 2020 and 13 couple held their ceremonies here
Babies were welcomed, but none were born in Tuxedo. St. Mary’s celebrated 2 baptisms with one postponed until 2021

St. Mary’s hosted 61 Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and 40 on weekdays. There were 142 offices of morning and evening prayer and Saturday compline was offered 31 times. Live-streamed services were viewed over 4,000 times.

The Village of Tuxedo Park Police responded to 3,136 calls for service
There were a total of 42 crimes reported in the Village and 20 arrests (these include 15 non-custodial arrests for suspended license or suspended registration)
Village Police issued 165 traffic tickets and there were two motor vehicle accidents in the Park.
Village Police patrolled a total of 26,800 miles

13 Seniors graduated from George F. Baker High School
26 8th graders and 10 9th graders graduated from TPS

There were a total of 150 positive cases of Covid-19 in Tuxedo
The TUFSD reported 6 cases of Covid - 4 of these were students and 2 were faculty or staff
There were 21 deaths in the Town and 2 in the Village. There were 6 burials at St. Mary’s.

*This article will updated over the coming days as additional data is received. If you have any relevant data to contribute, please reach out to us via email at tpfyi@optonline.net

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Christmas Services in Tuxedo (Posted 12/16/2020)

Capacity is limited in houses of worship due to Covid this year, which has necessitated some changes to annual service schedules.

ST. MARY'S IN TUXEDO:

Christmas Eve:
4PM – Family Service (online only)
6pm – Evening Service at St. John’s in Arden (online only)
9pm – Concert and Eucharist in the Church (online & in-person)

Christmas Day:
10am – Eucharist in the Church (online & in-person)

*All services are online on Facebook. You do not need a Facebook account.

For more information and to sign-up for in-person visit www.stmtux.org/events

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL / ST. JOAN OF ARC:

Please be aware that there will be a change to our usual mass schedule for the Christmas Season. We are limited to 50% capacity and must maintain social distancing. With that in mind we ask that you wait for an usher to seat you. Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask.

Reconciliation Monday
December 21, 2020
St. Joan of Arc – 3 to 4:30pm
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – 4:30-5:30pm

Christmas Mass Schedule
St. Joan of Arc
Christmas Eve – 4pm & 5:30pm
Christmas Day – 8:30am & 10:30AM

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Christmas Eve – 4:30pm & 6pm
Christmas Day – 8am & 10am

ST. ELIZABETH'S CHAPEL:

Due to the CV-19, services at St. Elizabeth’s Memorial Chapel – included the Christmas Eve carol service and Christmas day celebrations – are canceled until further notice. Please check our website for future updates. Thank you and stay safe.

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USPS Operation Santa, Local Holiday Toy Drive and Letters to Santa (Posted December 5, 2020)

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Mail your letter to Santa. He’ll write back to you.

Mail box is located at the Tuxedo Train Station

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Everything You Need to Know About Voting in Orange County

Early voting times and locations listed below

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In person voting information listed below.

*All 3 polling locations (Town Hall, Sterling Forest Fire House and Eagle Valley Fire House) will be open on day of the election, Tuesday 11/3.

*The hours are 6am – 9pm.

*If you would like to confirm your polling site go to https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ or call our office at 845-351-4411 x 4.

*All voters for the Town Hall location will be directed to the back door as an entrance. The exit is through the Assessor’s office upstairs. Signs will be posted to direct traffic.

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The Cheymore Gallery Re-Opens October 24! 11am-3pm! (Posted 10/09/2020)

We are excited to announce the reopening of the gallery with an exhibition of Karen Lederer's paintings and monoprints. Karen Lederer 'Afternoon Sun' opens Saturday, October 24.

Karen Lederer received her BFA in Printmaking and Drawing from Washington University in St. Louis in 2008 and an MFA in Printmaking from Rhode Island School of Design in 2012. She was an artist in residence at Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, Lower East Side Printshop, and the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program. Her work has recently been featured in solo exhibitions at One River School, Guilford College Art Gallery, Tennis Elbow at The Journal Gallery, Grant Wahlquist Gallery, and Field Projects. She has participated in many group exhibitions most recently at Morgan Lehman, Danese/Corey, Gloria's Project Space, The Flinn Gallery, and Ortega Y Gasset Projects. She lives and works in Brooklyn.

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Tuxedo Bears in Action (Posted 9/28/2020)

Fall may be here, but our furry friends are as active as ever! Check out our full Tuxedo Bears 2020 album over on our Facebook Page!