Since the pandemic began, the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry has seen a fourfold increase in numbers of hungry people coming for food. One silver lining is that the Village of Dobbs Ferry, both its residents and its administration, has come forward and placed itself squarely behind the pantry.

On Monday, July 13, my husband and I visited the Yonkers office of State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins. We came away with a donation of 1,000 Hanes cotton masks for the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry clients and volunteers. The masks came in packets of five, and we gave them out liberally this past W…

Most people I know are experiencing Covid-19 pandemic fatigue. We feel locked in, there is not enough variety in our lives, and we don't know when the pandemic will be over. And we miss going to the movies, theater, live jazz concerts. Praying at a Zoom service is not the same as going to a …

I commend the individuals who created the Black@Dobbs Instagram account, and the courage of the current and former students who posted on it. The parents and residents who are demanding changes within the school district are on the right track.

On Dec. 4, 2019 — what seems like another era altogether — Hastings passed its own anti-idling law. With some exceptions for sub-freezing conditions and commercial and municipal vehicles, the law states “No person shall allow or permit the engine of a motor vehicle to idle for more than 1 mi…

Although saddened to read the obituary of longtime resident Thomas Low in the Enterprise recently, I was sorry to note one major omission in that beautiful tribute: the significant contribution he had made to the “rebirth” of the Irvington Historical Society (IHS) in the 1990s after a 20-yea…

Scotty Shevlin, a great guy, patriot, devoted Dobbs Ferry citizen, and carrier of the American flag for the American Legion, has been called from us. He was a kind, friendly person to all and will be surely missed. I know I miss him already. I hope there are younger Dobbs Ferry residents amo…

The phrase “George Washington Slept Here” has been used by homeowners to bolster their property values. An enjoyable example is the comedic 1942 film "George Washington Slept Here." Because of our heightened awareness of Washington's ownership of slaves, said claim may be consigned to histor…

Regarding designing a memorial recognizing the tragedy of slavery in Irvington, it might be reasonable for all stakeholders in this project to consider and incorporate the strong beliefs of the man the Village of Irvington is named for: Washington Irving, 1783-1859.

About two weeks ago a constituent who resides in a co-op in Greenburgh reached out to me. Her husband, in his mid-80s, is disabled and confined to a hospital bed at home. She has an aide in the other bedroom. The air conditioner was not working, and she could not afford to purchase a new one…

National Resources, a private developer that specializes in waterfront housing development, has acquired the northernmost 28-acre parcel of the Hastings waterfront, previously owned by BP. The two 7-acre southern parcels that also make up the waterfront are currently owned by two other devel…

We, the Irvington Juneteenth organizers, applaud the Committee for the Commemoration of Enslaved Africans in Irvington and the Village of Irvington for their efforts to create a work of public art that commemorates the lives of each enslaved black person in our village’s past, and the loss o…

I've now taken several walks on the new path of the Mario Cuomo Bridge. It's glorious — well-designed, clean, even whimsical. But there's a major conceptual flaw in allowing both pedestrians and bikers on such a narrow path, all the more during a pandemic. Those on bikes simply overwhelm tho…

Your June 26 editorial, “Too Much Uncertainty,” was a good start toward overhauling New York’s opaque elections. Our voting procedures discourage participation. The illegibility of government and lack of civic awareness in the U.S. are symbiotic twins, which together discourage informed voting.

The instrument of change that the demonstrators in Draper Park overlooked in their comments was the web effect. Americans have been spending more and more of their lives online. They have been stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic, with schools, churches, businesses, malls, and resta…

It was with a heavy heart and a nervous stomach that I drew the words “Black Lives Matter” on my placard, behind the “Thou shalt not kill” sign, and set out for Draper Park on June 14. I expected to confront all the bad feelings reflected by my race onto others. Instead I was presented with …

I would like to give a shout-out to my block — Ogden Place. We did a neighborhood food drive for the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry which yielded 17 bags and two boxes of food, plus two boxes of diapers. The people throughout Dobbs Ferry are generous, but the people on Ogden Place are a special bre…

We wanted to give a shout-out to the Hastings Police Department for making the Hastings High School Class of 2020 Senior Parade possible on Friday, June 19. Chief David Dosin gave the OK for the huge amount of cars to participate. His department mapped the route, handled the coordination of …

I was glad that Dobbs Ferry embarked upon a Saturday evening outdoor restaurant dining event on June 13. As I write this, the New York Times reported that Governor Cuomo’s office received 25,000 complaints from New York State residents specifying violations to the reopening guidelines and sa…

On May 18, the Hastings-on-Hudson Board of Trustees passed a resolution committing the local government to promoting the use of low-embodied carbon concrete products for building and infrastructure projects within the village. This resolution is part of a larger effort to reduce the village’…

Recently, four black bear sightings were reported in Hastings, Scarsdale, Greenburgh (Boulder Ridge), and in White Plains. The sightings occurred within a period of four days. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will not remove bears from our neighborhoods unles…

Covid-19 has radically changed the way our 2020 primaries will be conducted. Those changes include a greatly reduced number of polling locations for voters casting their ballots in person on June 23. On that day, there will be only two polling places in the four villages covered by The River…

I am very excited that Mimi Rocah will be the next district attorney for Westchester County. Ms. Rocah was just endorsed by one of the best elected officials we have, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. Ms. Rocah, a former attorney for the Southern District of New York, knows Westchester County and…

I was surprised to receive Eliot Engel’s most recent mailing, which tries to paint Jamaal Bowman as someone who “refused to be a Democrat” and “doesn’t care about voting.” Engel castigates Bowman for registering as an Independent, then scolds him for not voting in Democratic primaries. “He d…

As a former chairperson of the Hastings Democratic Committee and vice chair of the Greenburgh Democratic Committee, I can tell you that political endorsement letters are generally coordinated with the campaigns to get a message out. This is not that.

I ask for the editors of The Rivertowns Enterprise and for all leaders and people in positions of visibility to acknowledge the ongoing threat of Covid-19. The simplest way to do this is to demonstrate the importance of wearing a mask and maintaining social distance; and if you are not doing…

I am writing to voice my support for New York State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-District 92). His stance on many issues aligns with my own progressive views. Assemblyman Abinanti is a sponsor of Bill A1738, which aims to create a database of denied firearms purchases and warn domestic violen…

Tom Abinanti has ably and diligently represented the 92nd New York State Assembly District, which includes the rivertowns, since 2010. Unlike many politicians who become visible when elections near, Tom has been working hard throughout the 10 years since his election. I know firsthand, as a …

I write to endorse Mimi Rocah for Westchester County District Attorney. I grew up in New Rochelle and returned to the county with my wife in 2010 to raise our children in Hastings-on-Hudson. I care deeply about issues of justice and fairness in Westchester.

As one who has always been deeply concerned about environmental issues and the health of this planet, I urge voters to re-elect Tom Abinanti to the New York State Assembly.

I’ve known Tom Abinanti for over 25 years as a public servant and seen his leadership, accessibility, and commitment. As many struggled with the economic fallout from Covid-19, Tom rolled up his sleeves and helped hundreds of your neighbors access unemployment insurance and other safety-net …

I became a librarian 46 years ago (oy vey!) and while so much has changed, the fundamental mission of libraries remains the same: the lending of materials for recreational, informational, and educational purposes.

The Hastings Democratic Committee has voted to endorse Tom Abinanti for re-election as Assembly member, 92nd District, a position I wholeheartedly support. Why? I’ll get right to the point: Tom has always been available to our committee and has always fought for his constituents. He did so a…

This letter is to urge all registered Democrats to vote in the upcoming June 23 primary for our incumbent, Assemblyman Tom Abinanti. As demonstrated by his legislative record, Tom is a staunch advocate for women’s issues. Tom has sponsored legislation protecting domestic violence victims and…

Now more than ever it is crucial that citizens exercise their right to vote, and I am writing to urge registered Democrats to vote in their party’s primary on June 23, for two outstanding progressive candidates, Mondaire Jones to succeed Nita Lowey in Congress and Tom Abinanti to continue hi…

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti has been a serious and conscientious public servant for many years. In the time I have known Tom I have seen him dedicated to representing the interests of his constituents. His concern for the environment, for affordable health care, for affordable housing, and his …

For my entire adult life, Congresswoman Nita Lowey has represented me in Washington. Although I was a Republican (until 2016 anyway), she always represented me well and as mayor, she always fought hard for Irvington, especially in our darkest days, like in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. …

It’s my hope that Democratic primary voters will cast their ballot for Assemblyman Tom Abinanti on June 23. Tom is an exceptional elected official who has worked hard to fight for Greenburgh over the years. In a few weeks a new Central Avenue will be built on Central Avenue, between Marion A…

Concerned Families of Westchester (CFOW) endorses Jamaal Bowman for Congress in the 16th Congressional District. Formed in the days after 9/11, CFOW has never before endorsed a political candidate, focusing instead on issues of peace and justice. But now the demands for peace and the dangers…

In a recent Indivisible Rivertowns Facebook post, a local Democratic leader lauded Congressman Eliot Engel’s record on Democratic issues, his established governmental relationships, and long service as reasons why we need to re-elect him on June 23 and maintain the status quo. However, if we…

These are difficult times. Our nation is facing a growing number of challenges: diminished standing as a world leader; recovery from a pandemic and its economic upheaval; renewed struggles for social justice in the face of violence against Black Americans and other minorities; the erosion of…

The June 23 primary election will give voters in Congressional District 17 an opportunity to pick the Democratic nominee for the House of Representatives seat being vacated by Nita Lowey. While there is a wealth of experience in the race, as well as just plain old wealth, Mondaire Jones is t…

I am writing concerning the upcoming school budget vote on June 9. I strongly encourage every voting member of the public to vote “yes” to the budget. In these uncertain times, now is not the time to put our children’s education in further jeopardy. As a direct result of the Covid-19 situati…

In 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience band released its stunning debut album, “Are You Experienced?” The answer is “yes” for Ardsley Board of Education incumbent Pamela Epstein who is seeking a merited second term. Epstein demonstrated her command of the issues facing the Ardsley School Distr…