ANGELO NOTARO by Alison Rooney
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[FREE] Serving Philipstown and Beacon Hitmaker Page 9 JANUARY 18, 2019 161 MAIN ST., COLD SPRING, N.Y. | highlandscurrent.org Years Later, Veterans Laid to Rest Military honors in Beacon after ashes go unclaimed Going Green to Get Bronze Ten years in making, Beacon racks up Climate Smart points Kyle Sussmeier Photo by Amy Kubik By Jeff Simms en years after registering for the Haldane Senior state’s Climate Smart Communi- T ties program, Beacon is inching to- Battles Opponents ward certification, a milestone that could open up significant funding opportuni- — and Disease ties for future city projects. The Climate Smart initiative was cre- ated by the state in 2009 to guide mu- Basketball fundraiser to nicipalities as they build resilience to James Metrando offers a final salute. Photo by M. Turton benefit cystic fibrosis research floods and other effects of climate change through infrastructure upgrades, public By Michael Turton Those honored were Walter Wurster By Michael Turton education and planning. Of more than (1895–1982) a veteran of World War I; 1,000 municipalities in New York, only t took as long as 40 years but the Adam Garber (1906–1979), an Army here’s nothing extraordinary about about a fourth (246) have signed on. The unclaimed remains of four Ameri- vet who served in World War II; Henry Kyle Sussmeier playing varsity bas- bulk of them, like Beacon, have stalled I can service members were laid to Garrity (1910-1978), who also served in T ketball for the Haldane Blue Devils, there. (Philipstown added its name to the rest with military honors on Jan. 10 at World War II; and James Melvin (1919- especially at a high school where athletics the Libby Funeral Home in Beacon. have been revered for generations. What (Continued on Page 7) 2003), an Army vet. It is not unusual to find the remains of sets the 6’2”, 165-pound senior apart is that veterans that were never claimed, accord- he plays while battling cystic fibrosis, a di- ing to the nonprofit Missing in America agnosis confirmed when he was an infant. Project (miap.us), which seeks them out On Saturday, Jan. 19, the boys’ and and has interred the ashes of 3,764 service girls’ junior varsity and varsity basketball members since 2007. (The group was not teams are scheduled to take to the court involved with the Beacon ceremony.) in Cold Spring for a four-game marathon After the Jan. 10 service, the remains that doubles as an annual fundraiser. The of the four men were interred in Calver- event in the past has raised money to ton National Cemetery on Long Island. fund research into breast cancer and ju- Matthew Fiorillo, who purchased the venile diabetes and this year will benefit Libby Funeral Home in 2017, said it took the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. six months of research to determine that Cystic fibrosis, which results from a defec- each of the four men, all of whom died tive gene first identified in 1989, causes in- at the Castle Point Veterans Affairs hos- fections and a buildup of mucus in the lungs, pital north of Beacon, was discharged which over time inhibits the ability to breath. honorably, a requirement for burial in Mucus also builds in the pancreas, prevent- any of the 136 national cemeteries. ing it from releasing enzymes that help the Rabbi Brent Spodek of the Beacon body digest food and absorb nutrients. Hebrew Alliance was among the clergy Although the disease was once an early who spoke at the service, which was also death sentence, advances in treatment, FROM BASEBALL TO BURRITOS — The former Stadium Restaurant on Route 9 in attended by about 50 people, including including powerful antibiotics, have Philipstown is expected to re-open as the El Coyote Bar and Restaurant in two to veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force significantly increased life expectancy. three months. Ron Napolitani, a real estate developer in Croton-on-Hudson, told The and Marines. According to the National Institutes of Current he purchased the property and leased it to El Coyote, which also operates “Though they fought overseas, their Health, in 1962 few patients survived into three “authentic, gourmet” Mexican restaurants in Connecticut. Known for its sports lives ended here in Beacon,” he said. their teenage years; today a patient can memorabilia, The Stadium closed in 2017. Photo by M. Turton (Continued on Page 7) (Continued on Page 19) 2 JANUARY 18, 2019 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.org FIVE QUESTIONS: ANGELO NOTARO By Alison Rooney ngelo “Big Ang” Notaro is the founder of the annual Hudson A Valley Wing Fest, which takes By Michael Turton place in Poughkeepsie on Jan. 26. See bap. ticketleap.com/hv-wingfest-12. What are you Your day job is as a host on K104.7, watching on TV to get which is based in Beacon. How did you get into the food festival business? through the winter? I grew up in the restaurant business, so when I went to a wing event, I thought I could do better. Chicken just has a great taste — if it’s cooked right, it’s a winner. I For me, it’s definitely focused on getting the freshest wings, the old school: Law & most flavors and options. Order reruns. Is the wing fest a competition? It’s a tasting event. We get the best wing restaurants, caterers and food trucks — there are more than 30 this year — and Angelo Notaro with the Wing Fest mascot Photo provided they compete in categories such as dry rub, Buffalo wings, hottest and for King There isn’t much to a wing. which donates food to homeless shelters of the Wings. [In 2018, Whistling Willies Do people get full? and to feed the hungry. of Cold Spring and Fishkill won in the Are you kidding? With general ad- What if wings aren’t your thing? barbecue and most creative categories.] mission, you get about 35 wings [with a They’re all neighborhood places. The only I have a bunch of other festivals: Chow- guarantee of at least one per stall]. With der Fest on March 9, and Bacon Bash, Mac chain is Planet Wing, but they built their VIP, it’s all you can handle plus cider and empire out of Middletown. & Cheese Fest, Taco Fest, Seafood Festi- beer, and you get in 90 minutes early. If val. Pizza and Meatball Fest. I’m a popular How far will people come for wings? you’re hungry and fast, you can enter the guy in the Hudson Valley! At Wing Fest Rhode Island, Vermont, Philadelphia — wing-eating competition. Last year the we have other stuff going on like live mu- ~ Danielle King, Cold Spring it’s unbelievable. Each year a few hundred winner consumed 18 wings in 1:44. The sic and a wing illusion show. The magi- come up on the train from the city. Last prize money is $1,047. We give the left- cian will have something special up his year we had more than 2,800 people, all over wings, and a share of the profits, to sleeves. I can’t reveal what that is. of them ready to eat. a group called Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Football when I can, but my kids hog the TV. ~ Barry Campbell, Beacon I spent the last two weekends cleaning closets. Maybe I should get a TV. ~ Kathleen Maloney, Nelsonville highlandscurrent.org The Highlands Current JANUARY 18, 2019 3 Beacon Schools Project Expected to Begin in April Voters approved $9 million spend in 2017 By Jeff Simms the turf, as well. The remaining $1.5 mil- lion will be used for insurance, testing onstruction on a $9 million capital and other district costs. improvement plan approved by Bea- District voters approved the proposition C con school district voters in 2017 is in December 2017, 480-98. scheduled to begin this spring, with most During its Jan. 14 meeting, the school of the work to be completed before the end board agreed to choose contractors for of the year. The state will cover two-thirds the sports field from firms reviewed by the of the cost, and the remainder will come state that have agreed to do the work for a from district savings. set price. Construction will begin in April The projects include the installation and should take three to four months. of an artificial-turf field at Beacon High The remaining work will begin after the School, air conditioning on the second school year ends in June. floor of Rombout Middle School and a new The school board could have solicited science wing at the middle school. Repairs competitive bids for the field, but project will also be made to the track at Hammond architects recommended using the state Field, along with other safety and accessi- pool. “With a competitive bid, you may bility upgrades throughout the district. or may not get a lower price, but you may Construction is expected to cost $7.5 [also] be tied to the lowest bidder, and million, with $1.4 million of that going then we’ll end up paying for it later,” said toward the new, lighted field, which will Antony Tseng, a board member. sit behind the high school and replace the Bids will be accepted for the other con- boys’ varsity soccer field. The high school struction projects. The board is expected to The turf field will be installed behind Beacon High School. BCSD football and lacrosse teams will move to approve contractors for the work next month. LIMITED EDITIONS REALTY, INC.