Where'd The Cheese Go?

Someone was caught cutting stealing the cheese at DeCicco's Marketplace on Lee Blvd.

 

Do You Live In Mohegan Lake?

There are seven beach associations around the lake; we are the people that pay taxes that fund lake improvements.  If you like the lake and want to be involved with the communities that help maintain it, you should attend the Mohegan Lake Improvement District (MLID) meeting this Wednesday, 1/26/16 at 7:30pm.  Here's a message from MLID president Ken Belfer:

Our January Mohegan Lake Improvement District meeting is this Wednesday at 7:30 PM at the Calvary Chapel at 99 Baron De Hirsch Road in Crompond.  We begin work on the 2016 season, which we hope will be even better than 2015.  Hope to see you at the meeting.

Last year we applied copper sulfate every Tuesday during the swimming season and--lo and behold--the lake didn't get closed by the Department of Health for algae blooms. They were still present, but much, much clearer than the last 5 years since Save Mohegan Lake has been around, and beyond.  We hope to improve upon that with an aluminum sulfate permit which should not need to be applied nearly as often; I've heard up to 3 years.

Oh, hey, did you see the skating rink and trails I made at the top of the lake?  Please don't stand on the surfaces when it's above 32 degrees.  It has to reset to be skatable and if one walks on it, it's going to not freeze flat.  Let nature Zamboni our baby--naturally:)

And...We're Off

Hi Mohegan Lake,

So the Lake is now sufficiently frozen across about 75% of its 110 acres to skate.  I took depth readings of about 2-7/8" on the edge to nearly  4" in the middle (the ice extends above the water line in the pic below).  New York State DEC used to say 2" of clean clear ice is good for adults; but they changed that to 4".    The extreme edge is dicey.  Oh, and there are a few death traps like the giant hole between SOLE and FBC.  Know what you're doing if you go out there.

Mmm...so thick.

 How Pretty is that?

 Awwww, freshies!

And the obligatory first skate video.  Please come join us, but again, do so at your own risk.

The Big Chill

Not only is it a movie old people like, but it's also a way to describe the weather for the next week.  Think cold, Mohegan Lake.  We don't want this years Mohegan Lake Ice Fishing and Skating Extravaganza to be too abbreviated.  Consulting the ice growth chart, we're estimating new ice at about 3/4" to one inch per day, based on the average temperature forecast by the National Weather Service.  With highs topping out at 34 degrees, we may be skating very soon.  New York State says 2" of clean clear  ice is safe for people to walk on; we start skating at 4".  Hope to see you out there soon. 

 

 

 

Welcome forecast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End Times Are Near In Yorktown

That's a bit dramatic, but my five year legal battle with Yorktown will be ending soon--one way or another.  Motion to dismiss thwarted.  Supplemental Appendix (Volumes I and II, 415 pages) being served tomorrow by the Westchester County Sheriff.  Adversaries' briefs due by February 18.

Since it seems like I'll be heard on the merits of my brief (arguments), I thought I'd share it with the Mohegan Lake community--as if you are not at least vaguely familiar with it; this is the most refined it's been.  I had intended to share every paper and reply and whatnot, but it's exhausting and not a great legal strategy--or so I've concluded, as a pro se petitioner.

That said,  here it is!:

To be argued by: Evan Bray, Pro Se

Time Requested: 15 Minutes

APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET No. 2015-02066

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE DIVISION: SECOND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

45 MONROE PLACE

BROOKLYN, NY 11201

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN THE MATTER OF

EVAN DANIEL BRAY                                            

--PETITIONER/APPELLANT-   

v.

TOWN OF YORKTOWN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN OF YORKTOWN PLANNING BOARD, TOWN OF YORKTOWN TOWN BOARD, FAITH BIBLE CHURCH, AND HUDSON RIVER TEACHERS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

--RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EVAN BRAY

APPELLANT PRO SE

Click on the small "read more" link located below, and to the left, to read more.

WESTCHESTER

INDEX #1049/14

New York Times Review of Savannah's Southern House

This is likely the closest the NYT's will get to reviewing a restaurant in Mohegan Lake.  Have you been?

Big News

Guess who passed the "bat-shit crazy" pro se petitioner test?  This guy! [two thumbs pointed at chest]  Much more to come shortly, but I have some work to do.

What Is Camp Nabby Up To?

Good question.  I'm glad you asked.

Camp Nabby has been an institution in the neighborhood for a long time.  Most of the people in the immediate neighborhood don't utilize it because it's like 4 or 5 thousand dollars (if I'm not mistaken) for an 8 week camp; thankfully Mohegan Lakers can camp out at one of our 7 private beach associations 5 months of the year. 

There is a bit of a traffic issue when dropping off, and picking up, kids during Camp Nabby season.  And by a bit, I mean it gets crazy.  Cars queuing for blocks along the street.  If an expansion of the existing buildings would increase the occupant load, it would be reasonable to request the owner to provide more on-site parking and queuing so the adjacent property owners don't get the shaft.

The signs you see on their property mean they have a pending zoning variance application.  They are pretty substantial--on paper.  A rear yard setback (meaning the houses on Holly Wood Street) of 20 feet where ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FEET are required in an R1-10 zone (our town's smallest residential zone).

In summary, this may not be a big deal and it could be harmless, but this is why we need to pay attention to the tiny black and white Zoning, Planning, and Town Board applications along the side of the road. They are important. [Note: it's hard to stay current with Yorktown's business.  Of the last 57 public meetings going back to October 19, 2015, there are five published meeting minutes online.

I implore the Town Board to move Yorktown Forward and keep minutes of the town business current, but I digress.

So what is Camp Nabby up to? Anyone know? 

Mohegan Lake Puppy Mill

"Only one protester, animal rights activist Karen Conlon, who lives in New York, attended a planned rally outside state Superior Court in Danbury. She said she hoped that drawing attention to Doyle’s case would force the closure of the Danbury shop, as well as his two other stores in Mamaroneck, N.Y., and Mohegan Lake, N.Y."

Apparently this "American Breeders" puppy mill has been next to Subway for years.  Just noticed it after Mr. Doyle started making the news.

Puppies!

  

The Ice Man Cometh (Hopefully)

Mohegan Lakers,

Did the record setting temperatures in December give you the SAD's?  Me too.  Good news though.  Temps seem to be getting back to normal, with normal being colder than a witches tit.  Since I leave when it's dark and come home when it's dark, I can't supply a picture, but the lake is now partially frozen.  Yay.  Oooooh, and look at this forecast from the National Weather Service (don't trust any other):

Hope to see you on the ice soon!

Mohegan Lake Development: Envirogreen

So, the landowner (Envirogreen) of the parcel between the Peachwave/Sprint plaza and Dunkin' Donuts plaza (the green and white building, pictured below) wants to demo it and merge it with the illegal construction equipment lot he stages behind the florist house thing between the two plazas.

That's great that "Envirogreen" is planning to stop neglecting their property creating a blight in the center of our hamlet.  They have some issues with their neighbors.  I actually have some issues with their neighbors too, via a previous building inspector who allowed air conditioning compressors and huge tanks of natural gas within required yards (detailed post on that soon; zoning and code is so hot, right?).  Hopefully we don't get another 10 pounds in a five pound bag.  Faith Bible Church, I'm looking at you.  

Here's one plan of the proposal.

Note the through street behind the development requiring an easement with both Peachwave and DD plazas.  At least one, if not both owners, are not very hip to it. 

Speaking of shitty landowners, I'm about to find out who owns the fine specimen pictured below and located on Heyward street in the Mohegan Highlands (likely a bank).  We should shame them into at least demolishing it as it's a legitimate public health hazard.

MLID Budget Meeting This Thursday

From Ken:

This is the 2016 budget meeting of the Mohegan Lake Improvement District.  It is important, because this is when we recommend what we want to see happen and how much we are willing to  tax ourselves to accomplish it.  Please try to make sure that every beach is represented by at least one person (more is better).  We will be at Calvary Chapel at 99 Baron de Hirsch Road in Crompond at 7:30 Thursday September 3rd.  .

Personally, I'm literally doing back-flips (video from last night) I'm so excited about the lake water quality this year.  Hard to put a price on a full season of swimming whereas we have been closed as early as June because of the blue-green algae blooms.  In summary, tax away.