Barley and the Chocolate Factory
Notes from the Tasting Room at Capt. Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford The beauty of the brewery tour, whether it’s Guinness in Dublin or Heineken in Amsterdam, or Captain Lawrence right here in Westchester, is that it’s a day at the brewery--plus an education. You walk out not only having sampled some of the freshest beer you’ll ever taste, but you’ve nourished your intellectual curiosity as well. It is...
Westchester.gov Web Sites Seem to be Working
Several of the Westchester.gov Web sites run by the County seem to be back up--at least sporadically-- after being hacked Friday. The hacker’s message poked fun at the county’s computer security, saying “Security is a joke! Your box owned by Mr.XHat Greets To: All Underground Hackers & Mafia Bands.” The sites were those of Several of Westchester County’s offices, including those for the district...
Polls Open Until 9:00 pm
Voters in 15 villages in Westchester go to the polls today to elect local offices. Contested elections in (alphabetically) Buchanan, Irvington, Pleasantville, Scarsdale, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. Elections are uncontested in Briarcliff Manor, Bronxville, Elmsford, Hastings-on-Hudson, Larchmont, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Rye Brook and Tuckahoe. Find out who’s running: Visit LoHud.com’s Village Elections 20...
Happy Hour at Westchester's Brewery
It's a little early to start drinking. But let's just blame this whole wacky day on the Ides of March... It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, as the adage goes—shorthand for, let’s put this lame workday behind us and go get a drink somewhere. In fact, it’s 5 o’clock right here in central Westchester—all the more reason to move on to the next, and way more fun, stage of the day. Happy Hour. The ...
Notes from the Tasting Room at Westchester's Brewery
Our friend Mike Malone blogging over at the Captain Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford: T.S. Eliot wrote that April is the cruelest month, but let’s be honest—most-miserable-month honors go to March. Football is over, and baseball hasn’t yet begun. March Madness, its snappy moniker notwithstanding, is really more of an April thing. GOP hopefuls dominate the news cycle, but do any of us really find Super Tuesday ...
observer says:
Excellent commentary. The sad fact is most people can't imagine the impact of a large development like this - especially as there is no comparable structure in Mamaroneck or Larchmont. It is convenient to accept the developers glossy brochure and think these condos fit into our community. I have heard it said that the only people impacted will be nearby residents. This monstrosity will impact every resident of Larchmont and Mamaroneck - especially those with school-age children. Perhaps the closing of the Weaver Street bridge will heighten awareness of the terrible traffic conditions already existing in this town and get more people to question the wisdom of shoving 120+ condo units on top of our schools and into the middle of a densely populated residential area. Or maybe the opening of the Wahlgreens at the front door to the Hommocks will create a enough of a nightmare at dropoff and pickup that this community will remember that if you want to raise children in a safe and nice place, you need to protect the community before it is too late!observer says:
This large reduction in assessment reflects the most recent reassessment data. Their assessment was reduced by over 30% (not factoring in the "millions of dollars spent on improvements.) Quite frankly, if this project is going to take years and years to come to fruition, the residents of this community deserve better than this. This property's assessment should reflect current market value - and be taxed at that rate.Kim Larsen says:
As chair of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Safe Routes to School committee, I am concerned about the prospect of a large condominium complex being built on the site of Hampshire Country Club. Were condos to be built, the already significant traffic volumes in and around Central School, Hommocks Middle School, and Mamaroneck High School would increase substantially, jeopardizing the safety of our students. The Boston Post Road from Weaver Street to Rockland Avenue is already a treacherous stretch of road for pedestrians. Yet with three district schools and many apartment buildings nearby, hundreds of students and residents walk this area daily. Not surprisingly, several accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles have occurred in this corridor over the past few years. The potential increase in traffic should a 120+ unit condominium complex be built on Cove Road would make the Post Road even more dangerous for pedestrians. Traffic volumes exiting onto the Post Road at Hommocks Road and at Old Post Road/Richbell Road would increase significantly, precisely where the number of students walking to and from school is heaviest. Additional traffic exiting Orienta Avenue at the Post Road is also worrisome as students walk to Harbor Island for after school sports activities.jjinla says:
If they are anything like the rest of us, their assessments just skyrocketed during the reassessment!observer says:
12.9 million in 2010 and put in 'millions of dollars of improvements" according to owner Dan Pfeffer in a public meeting. The market has rebounded nicely, however, the owners grieved their taxes and are currently assessed at a value of around $9 million. Can anyone explain that?loopeditrix says:
Some history: The Club was sold in 2010 for $12.9 million to New World. The Village of Mamaroneck and Town of Mamaroneck jointly bid on the property and had plans to open the club to the public, but were unsuccessful.Patty says:
As a resident of Pine Brook with older kids, and a husband who owns a business in the Palmer district, I can assure you the ire you are reading isn't over a missed season of T-ball. It is because 1.) the contractor was green lighted, without effectively notifying residents, to park huge machines near children before the majority of the red tape was cut and 2.) it is becoming clear that after having taken residence in the park for a year while no work was being done, the contractor might need to get replaced, with nothing to show for it. Back to square one. I am all for improving the business district, I think it is very, very important for Larchmont and a coup that the mayor and trustees secured such a large grant for the work. However, they need to do a better job communicating to both residents and business owners what this project will entail and what the end result will be so that we can support it. For now, everyone is focused on what is in front of them: big, ugly, dangerous machines in the neighborhood's only park, and no work being done.