Reader-Supported News for Philipstown and Beacon Welcome to Mini- Beacon Page 11 APRIL 16, 2021 Celebrating 10 Years! Support us at highlandscurrent.org/join A Boon for Bender Resigns Beacon Schools from Cold Outside funding changes Spring Board outlook for district Says tone and priorities By Jeff Simms counter to values s recently as December, Ann Marie By Michael Turton Quartironi, the deputy superin- A tendent of the Beacon City School eidi Bender, who was elected to District who oversees the budget, was the Cold Spring Village Board in contemplating cuts. HNovember, resigned on Thursday Because of the pandemic shutdown, (April 15), saying in a statement she could the district faced a 20 percent reduction no longer abide the tone and priorities of in state funding, a far more important the board. source of revenue for Beacon than wealth- Mayor Dave Merandy commented ier districts such as Haldane or Garrison. that the resignation “took everyone by Her daunting job was to figure out which Maya Gelber in The Greek Trilogy, which will be performed at Haldane High School next surprise,” but did not read Bender’s letter programs, or staff, to recommend that the week Photo by Jim Mechalakos of resignation into the record. Bender school board cut first. earlier provided a copy to The Current. There were several moving parts at Bender and Trustee Fran Murphy did play. The district knew it would receive not attend the meeting, which was held an infusion of federal pandemic relief The Shows Will Go On! via Zoom. that month, but for every federal dollar spring; Haldane High School has a drama Bender, who co-owns received, the state was deducting the Local high schools plan for around Thanksgiving and a musical in Split Rock Books on same amount from its aid package, calling in-person performances March; and James O’Neill High School in Fort Main Street with her it a “pandemic adjustment” — an immedi- Montgomery, which many Garrison students husband, Michael, ate zero-sum game. By Alison Rooney attend, has the same schedule plus a gala. wrote that she “ran While the state promised it would repay he natural rhythms of the school Not this year. A tangle of hybrid, all- for village government those adjustments in 2021, Gov. Andrew Bender year are in disarray this academic virtual and in-school learning, as well as because I thought I Cuomo’s preliminary 2021-22 budget was year, and the traditional timings of an abundance of snow, wreaked havoc on could have a positive effect, and am now murky. He proposed $31.7 billion in school T convinced that is not possible at this time.” high school drama and musical produc- rehearsals. funding, a 7.1 percent increase over last year, tions are as much a casualty of the But, in the grand tradition of the stage, She added: “While healthy disagree- but it was contingent on Congress approv- pandemic as team sports. and the typical upbeat energy of theater ment is an important part of any democ- ing a second federal stimulus plan, which Usually, like clockwork, Beacon High kids — the shows will be going on. racy, frequently the tone of conversation (Continued on Page 19) School presents a musical in the fall and (Continued on Page 13) (Continued on Page 7) Town Hall Gets a Makeover Major restoration earlier in the month while providing a tour. “In the end, we’ll have a building that is a real completed on 1867 building legacy. The building was in danger of falling By Chip Rowe down because of water damage and decay. It just hadn’t been attended to since the 1870s. major restoration of the 1867 Phil- There had been Band-Aids put on things but ipstown Town Hall was completed the building didn’t function in a way that lent A this week and the clerk, supervisor, itself toward modern government.” assessor and Justice Court moved back in In September 2019, the Town Board from temporary quarters at the Old VFW approved up to $2 million in bond financ- Hall and the American Legion. ing for the renovations. At the time, Shea, The renovations began 16 months ago who is a contractor, said the bonding total on the building, at 238 Main St. in Cold exceeded what the town expected to spend Spring. The rehab work, which was slowed because “we know that when they start tear- by the pandemic shutdown, cost about $1.8 ing into this building, they’re probably going million, Supervisor Richard Shea said on to find some surprises — not the good kind.” Wednesday (April 14). Shea said on Wednesday that there had Philipstown Supervisor Richard Shea inside the renovated Town Hall earlier this month. “We saved for about 16 years to get in a been the expected surprises and additional The town returned to the building this week after 16 months in temporary locations. position where we could do this with no costs, and that “without the work of the Photo by Ross Corsair impact for the tax assessment,” he said (Continued on Page 20) 2 APRIL 16, 2021 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.org FIVE QUESTIONS: HOLLY O’GRADY By Brian PJ Cronin can tackle on their own? Door sweeps, believe it or not. We put one By Michael Turton olly O’Grady is the “energy naviga- in because our house is my guinea pig, and tor” in Beacon for a Cornell Cooper- even though the door fits snugly, I could tell Hative Extension program that helps the difference right away. There is rope caulk How do you break people make their homes more efficient. you can put around window frames, espe- cially if you don’t want to cover your windows the spell if you Why did you volunteer as an energy with plastic. We changed our light bulbs with get really bored? navigator? ones that are much more energy efficient and I recently moved from an overheated, we could see the effect on our bill right away. small apartment in New York City to a house in Beacon. I realized it was a very One training topic was “energy I don’t get bored different ballgame: There are lots of choices justice.” What is that? a homeowner has to make. The program There’s quite a movement in New York to easily, but if I do, was helpful to me personally thinking ensure that all residents have opportunities I walk anywhere about how to make my house greener, little to upgrade their efficiency, not just people that’s green. by little. who can afford it. It’s one of the things I’m advocating, along with the Green Beacon What was the training like? what’s a better way to heat water? Coalition. We list programs at midhud- It was a 10-week program. We started by sonenergychoices.org. Heating is such a big looking at our utility bill. When I lived in What are some changes you’ve made? expense that it’s important for people who an apartment, I felt I had little control over I had heard about signing up to get your live in homes that haven’t been upgraded, my choices. But the utility bill becomes a electricity from community solar farms but or with things that haven’t been addressed very interesting document when you own always thought, “I’ll get to that later.” After over a number of years, to know there are a house. You say, “Wait a minute, where I was in the program, I realized “Why not?” grants to improve their heating efficiency did I spend all that money?” We also went It’s a change that costs nothing. Another so that they don’t have to live in drafty, cold through the choices people can make about thing we’re starting to look at is more insu- houses. We can walk people through what electric usage, heating options. It moves lation in drafty areas. That doesn’t require they need to do to qualify. from the most basic document to a broader a huge investment. ~ Patrycja Warda, Beacon discussion, especially if you’re replacing O’Grady can be reached at h.ogrady.en@ things. If the hot water heater goes, well, Is there low-hanging fruit that people gmail.com. I do tai chi or Superior Fit for Life. 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The merger, he He Has Explosives said, fulfills his “sincere desire for years to take our church to the next level and reach WHERE TO FIND After standoff, sent for mental health our community with the love of the Lord.” evaluation Greco is a board member of FaithChurch. Beacon man was sent for a mental CC, which has a location in New York City A health evaluation after he called 911 and two in Connecticut. at 1 a.m. on Sunday (April 11) and told the Greco and his wife, Beth, who is CEO dispatcher he was sitting in his vehicle on and president of The Hoving Home, which Main Street doused in gasoline with explo- has a campus in Garrison, will remain as sives and a loaded weapon.