The Hudson Independent: News for Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, NY

Wanted: Citizen Scientists

Research projects seek the time and efforts of
thousands of passionate, observant nature lovers

Beth Hanson
For The Hudson Independent

This past February, tens of thousands of birdwatchers across America uncapped their binoculars, sharpened their pencils and got out their checklists. Over four days they sighted almost 10 million birds of 634 species, providing a stunningly detailed snapshot of continental bird distribution, according to Great Backyard Bird Count cosponsors Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.

It’s called “citizen science” and researchers at universities, advocacy groups and government agencies are relying more and more on this kind of volunteer effort to collect information from the field.

The Real Greek Deal at Santorini's

Greek food is one of those rare cuisines that provides an eager diner with a vast selection of hearty, comfort food choices as well as light salads, soups or an array of appetizers. You’ll find them all at Santorini, the rivertowns’ newest Greek restaurant at 175 Valley St., in Sleepy Hollow.

Owner Yorghos “George” Samaras (in photo by S. Stowe), a rivertown resident since 1980, opened Santorini with his son, Elias, in September 2007 but the demand for their soul-warming food outstripped the space. Newly expanded, and with valet parking, the restaurant is a destination for anyone eager for homemade Greek cooking.

Housing for the Birds

The Tarrytown Beautification Foundation is sponsoring a villagewide free birdhouse building competition.

Entries will be on display and judged May 16 at Tarrytown’s Third Friday celebration, and ribbons will be awarded for the top efforts in three categories: Builders 13 and under; builders over 13 and builders of extreme birdhouses. The winning houses will be displayed in shops around town and some will be placed on posts in Tarrytown parks to welcome home area birds.

The 100-Year-Old Topic

After 135 years, the possibility of further consolidation of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown remains alive and active.

At last month’s Historical Society Forum on Village Consolidation at Warner Library, Sleepy Hollow Mayor Philip Zegarelli presented the concept of a villages/town arrangement in which the villages would remain separate but join in a town structure, in effect seceding from the towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant. Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell pointed out that the villages were already cooperating in many services and looked forward to viewing even closer ways of working with Sleepy Hollow.

Zegarelli, in the spirit of advancing the idea, playfully suggested “Philipsburg” or “Washington Irving” as possible names for the new town entity.

Independent Editorial: A Problem With the System

Each year, communities are presented with the seemingly inevitable higher school budgets — and the attending annual increases in school taxes. Residents in Irvington, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown will vote on May 20 their approval or disapproval.

School officials and school boards have labored for months over the financial data and daunting educational requirements before presenting their budgets to the public. The budgets are often trimmed to keep school tax increases within the limits of perceived acceptance by residents.

It is not an easy task. Contractual obligations must be absorbed. Utility costs rise. State and federal mandates must be met, often without the financial aid needed to implement them. Infrastructure needs repair or replacement. Debt service has to be taken into consideration. New technology has to be integrated into the system. And on it goes.