Mr. Rivers - Interesting Mr. Rivers that you know with certainty Mr. Wasserman's motives behind…Read More contacting an attorney. Well, now the community can feel better that a fake person is making such definitive claims. So, accordingly to your thinking, the letter should NOT have been made public. Why? All potential legal matters are public information, e.g. the notice of claims on the fields. I have read many times your scathing remarks about this board's lack of transparency. It was appropriate for the community to know about its existence. The only "wrong" here is the bullying that went on by Mr. Wasserman , et al. I am happy that my husband did not resort to such disgusting and ugly campaign tactics . This is Mr. Wasserman and his supporters legacy to this election and what he brings to the district as a BOE trustee.

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Mickey Rivers June 18, 2013 at 06:47 pm

ahhh...geeez. The FAKE McKey Rivers has resurfaced. In full attack mode and spewing the usual bile…Read More and venom. And, torturing the facts and the truth.

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Mickey Rivers June 18, 2013 at 07:09 pm

Here’s what we know folks. Paul Wasserman and Company ran a campaign of lies, character…Read More assassinations and mud-slinging. They fraudulently alleged that they could prove that the district was hiding nearly $1.5 million from the voters. Their claim was preposterous. Ask yourselves, why would the district hide $1.5 million and put forth a non-tax-cap-compliant budget that was only about $650K over the cap? They wouldn’t. The claim is preposterous. But the community bought it. They voted for Paul. Now, however, new information has come to light. Information that calls Wasserman & Company’s credibility, character, integrity and motives into serious question. We now know that the $1.5 million plan was a complete fraud. After carefully evaluating the plan (delivered to the district just hours before the 6/3 BOE meeting where a final budget would be adopted), a savings point for savings point analysis uncovered that there was NOT $1.5 million in savings. It was actually less than $30,000. Absolutely shameful. This fraud got Wasserman elected and it got a school budget voted down. We also know that during the campaign, Paul sent an 11 page threatening legal letter to the district. There was a second threatening legal letter as well. Both can be FOILed and make excellent bathroom reading. They provide quite a revealing view into Mr. Wasserman’s head. In addition, Wasserman and Company made dozens of FOIL requests to the district during their campaign (and a FOIL request to the Village to get all of your email addresses instead of buying them from a list vendor like other candidates). The frenzy of bizarre FOIL requests (including several to view every single email sent and received of every single high school student and other district personnel) also provides a very revealing view in Mr. Wasserman’s head. As it turns out, all these threatening legal letters and FOIL requests were tendered in an attempt to stifle the school district from their legal responsibility to provide the community with the FACTS in a situation where they were being asked to consider a tax-cap-busting budget. Wasserman and Company were simply trying to turn down the volume and frequency of all views and opinions (even those from students!) that didn’t line up with their false allegation that there was a hidden $1.5 million in the districts numbers. Mr. Wasserman is suing the district. Should he be a trustee on the school board while simultaneously suing the district? Is he after money? What are his motives? What will this cost us in legal fees and a potential settlement? What are his real motives? Does he care about children or education or does he have a more aggressive hidden agenda. As we all know, Mr. Wasserman failed recently in a bid to challenge Congresswoman Nita Lowey for her seat. He was running as a Republican challenger. If you Google any of his campaign or pre-campaign speeches, you will note that he repeatedly talks about what he is “passionate” about. He ALWAYS talks about taxes, taxes, taxes. He NEVER talks about children or education. Hmmmmm………………..

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Westchester County Disaster Recovery Fund Distributes…

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Announcements June 18, 2013 at 10:35 am

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Announcements June 17, 2013 at 05:00 pm

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VOTE YES!!!!

Vote “YES” on June 18th for the tax cap compliant budget. This budget is $ 640,000 lower than…

Opinion June 16, 2013 at 10:23 pm

2 Comment 7 Recommend Briarcliff PTA Executive Board

Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 02:43 pm

What are folks hearing about tomorrow's vote? Will there be a good turnout at the polls?

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Briarcliff PTA Executive Board June 18, 2013 at 10:02 am

We are hoping for a great turnout today. Briarcliff school district residents, please urge your…Read More neighbors and friends to get out and vote!

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Pets Alive Westchester

Yesterday, I found out more information on PAW's senior foster program. Speakers were…

Announcements June 15, 2013 at 09:21 am

2 Comment 2 Recommend Kathleen Sullivan-Clarino

Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 03:04 pm

Thanks Kathleen - important information about a significant part of the pet population!

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Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 03:05 pm

Thanks Kathleen! Important information about a nice way to connect senior pets with senior humans!

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MUST LOVE DOGS AUTHOR, CLAIRE COOK, LIVE CHAT!

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Flag Retirement Ceremony

Friday June 14,2013 is Flag Day. Boy Scout Troop 18 Briarcliff will hold a Flag Retirement…

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Arrow Signal Needed

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Pajama Shabbat this Friday

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Heartwarming European Country Home

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Announcements June 12, 2013 at 12:30 pm

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CENSORED by the Patch?

It has been brought to our attention that the Pleasantville-Briarcliff Patch actively and…

Opinion June 11, 2013 at 03:44 pm

1 Comment 4 Recommend PatchRat

Harry One June 12, 2013 at 01:27 pm

WATCHED BY NSA

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C-E-N-S-O-R-E-D by The Patch?

It has been brought to our attention that the Pleasantville-Briarcliff Patch actively and…

Opinion June 11, 2013 at 03:42 pm

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I Have A Dream...

I love the idea of having an online forum to discuss school issues. I love the idea of being…

Opinion June 11, 2013 at 10:19 am

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W Obermeyer June 11, 2013 at 02:29 pm

I am afraid we may be experiencing the calm before another storm. Most likely the aftermath of the…Read More BOE budget hearing tonight will be more of a nightmare than a pleasant dream.

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Lisa Jenner June 11, 2013 at 02:36 pm

I am afraid that when people become civilized, they become silent.

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Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 11:42 am

Thanks for putting yourself out there, Lisa! I hope others can contribute meaningfully to any…Read More discussion of community issues brought forth by thoughtful readers like you.

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Opinion June 10, 2013 at 11:18 pm

4 Comment 1 Recommend Monica Mandel

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Brandon June 12, 2013 at 09:36 am

This is brilliant!

1 Recommend

Mae Isaac June 12, 2013 at 09:49 am

This would be wonderful - I dread trying to drive to any of the schools that way. What about a left…Read More turn lane on to Pleasantville Road from 100 for school days? It might help those of us who live so close and yet have to drive in the opposite directions to reach the schools!

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Tim June 14, 2013 at 07:53 am

Great idea in the mean time while we wait another 10 years maybe drivers could keep to the left when…Read More turning left, instead of blocking peeps trying to turn right. Also drivers need to stop blocking the entrance to Dunkin donuts etc.

1 Recommend

On What Basis Should Public School Programs Be Identified…

Please note the following is not intended to comment on the actions of a past, present or…

Opinion June 10, 2013 at 07:09 pm

4 Comment Recommend John O'Reilly

View all 4 comments

Mickey Rivers June 11, 2013 at 09:52 am

Mr. O'Reilly is asking good questions in his post. I respect him for his approach. These are…Read More difficult questions and as school districts continue to be squeezed at both ends (spiraling cost of benefit and pension costs at one end and tax-cap compliance choking the revenue side at other end) they will all continue be faced with these difficult questions. If school districts wait too long to develop reasonable decision trees to solve these issues, then our meddling friends in Albany will feel compelled to swoop in and screw it up royally. It is in our collective best interests to begin work now to develop and apply a thought process and resolution matrix to this issue before Albany does it for us. That requires two things. First, communities must put aside their differences and work together in a "non-partisan" manner toward local solutions that work for their district. Next, districts must collaborate and share ideas in an effort to share their ideas and help each other. At the moment, no one has the answers to Mr. O'Reilly's questions. I respect him for asking these questions and not offering solutions or opinions in his post. I also respect him for not calling out any particular district as we all all know these are issues that all districts faced this year universally. This issue will begin to compound annually if we all don't find a way to pull together and work towards solutions.

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Lisa Jenner June 11, 2013 at 10:26 am

As a retired school teacher who is collecting a pension (to which I contributed for many years) and…Read More is still using benefits (to which I contribute), let's remember that it is not only the teachers' pension and benefits that are squeezing the school budgets, but also, as the Briarcliff BOE pointed out, all those unfunded mandates. All of the BOEs have their hands tied regarding so many of their expenditures, that they will have to cut programs. Excellent questions, Mr. O'Reilly.

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Mickey Rivers June 11, 2013 at 03:30 pm

Unfunded mandates are also a big issue for school districts. However, the teachers pensions and…Read More benefits are a huge issue that must be addressed and recalibrated. It is time for teacher's pensions and benefits to be remodeled to look like those in the private sector. In the private sector, pensions are all but extinct - replaced largely by 401(k) plans (and in the case of teachers 403(b) plans where contributions are made by the employee. In terms of health benefits, in the private sector most companies pay a maximum of 60% of an employee's health care (and other benefits) premiums - not the 80% that is paid by school districts for teachers. This is financially unsustainable and needs to be addressed before it bankrupts school districts.

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Bethel Homes and Services Participate in Ossining Village…

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Announcements June 10, 2013 at 02:52 pm

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NY STONE & MASONRY SUPPLY AND HARDWARE STORE NOW OPEN!

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Announcements June 10, 2013 at 12:32 pm

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Open Budget Discussion?

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Opinion June 10, 2013 at 12:13 pm

8 Comment 1 Recommend Jay Borrel

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robin June 11, 2013 at 10:52 am

Mr. Borrel-Sorry if I came across as confrontational, that was not my intention. You should handle…Read More your concerns as you think is best, however, I don't know what you will accomplish voicing your opinion in the Patch. It should also be noted, according to several high school teachers, that there are students who bring budget discussions into the classrooms.

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Jay Borrel June 11, 2013 at 11:29 am

Thank you for your comments. I am sure that students do discuss, but the educator should address…Read More from a neutral stand point, just like an open discussion about religion or other politics.

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Lisa Jenner June 11, 2013 at 12:25 pm

As a former high school teacher, I was constantly fending off attempts by students to divert me from…Read More teaching, and current events, local or otherwise, were a popular means to this end. Having said that, I, too, have heard of teachers "pontificating" about the budget, which, of course, is totally inappropriate. Let's hope the teachers in Briarcliff do know better and that the administration keeps a watchful eye. On a totally different topic, I have to laugh, Robin, at you looking in the directory for Mr. Borrel. The directory is my first resource for all people Briarcliff, forgetting they might not have children in the schools.

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Announcements June 10, 2013 at 09:58 am

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Sarah Studley (Editor) June 10, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Congratulations!

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'ditch the workout, join the ZUMBA party'

Buy | Sell | Trade June 7, 2013 at 04:41 pm

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Who Wants To Be The First To Be The Bigger Person?

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Opinion June 7, 2013 at 11:17 am

13 Comment Recommend Lisa Jenner

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JanFisher June 8, 2013 at 10:05 pm

This is truly progress. Will both of you be taking down your negative comments now to really and…Read More meaningfully get the ball rolling and to move beyond mere words? It will be good work when it is backed by real actions. I have not posted anything negative this entire time so really nothing has been accomplished yet except promises to behave. But I am truly glad that both of you are now committed to a standard of decency in public exchanges. Have a great weekend!

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Lisa Jenner June 8, 2013 at 11:41 pm

I have read and re-read Mr. O'Reilly's thoughts on the BOE meeting and I will try to be fair about…Read More this. I will admit that Mr. O'Reilly used some choice adjectives (strange, mysterious, nefarious) and asked a couple of somewhat inflammatory rhetorical questions (Will Mr. Wasserman serve his BOE time on the baseball diamond?), but I would suggest that if you disregard the rhetoric, he has presented a fairly factual presentation of what transpired at the meeting. Do you disagree?

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JanFisher June 9, 2013 at 05:54 am

Lisa - my decision to write at all was out of excitement about the opportunity to help infuse…Read More decency into these public exchanges. I have had my say and it has been positive. Quite honestly, I think the community at-large and the Briarcliff community are really tired of all of the public infighting on the Patch. I am committed to our schools and children and I choose to use my very limited free time and energy to volunteer for the schools when I can. Again, I do have many opinions and would love to speak with you in person- maybe we can do some good together. My cell - 439-0203.

1 Recommend

Teen Summer Yoga Camp

Announcements June 6, 2013 at 04:30 pm

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