Polls Open for Primaries, Small Biz Workshop for Wednesday

1. Polls Open: Federal Primary Day is today

Tuesday, June 26 is primary day for federal elections. Polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. The town announced Monday that polling district 7, usually at First Presbyterian Church, for election year 2012 will be at Katonah Village Library. For information on the senate primary, click here. On race locals are watching closely is  the primary deciding Nan Hayworth's opponent. For more in that race, For a full list of poll locations, click here.

2. School notes: Local students earn academic honors

Jessica Koziol of Bedford and Marina Salzano of Katonah earned Dean's List honors for the spring 2012 semester at SUNY Oneonta. To qualify for the Dean's List, undergraduate students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher while carrying a course load of 12 semester hours or more. Carly Glenn of Katonah has been named to its Dean's List fat The University of Hartford. Also, area students named to the spring semester Dean's List at Lafayette College include: Alexander Cummings of Bedford; Jamie Federbush of Bedford and ichael Gadigian of Katonah.

3. Small businesses workshop

Do you run a small business in the area? There's a workshop on Thursday you may be interested in. As part of the outreach initiatives sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, the Small Business Outreach Initiative will take place on Thursday, June 28th at the on 123 Main Street in White Plains, at 6:30 p.m..

During the event, local business owners and future entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from:

• Department of Labor
• Department of Taxation and Finance
• State Liquor Authority
• Workers’ Compensation Board
• Empire State Development

to help them navigate through state regulations and discover programs that offer grants and other pro-business incentives. For details,

4. Free HIV testing Wednesday

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) health centers in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties is offering free HIV testing Wednesday at health centers in New Rochelle, White Plains, Yonkers, Spring Valley and Brewster. Check back for details.

5. Town to discuss Leave Leaves Alone

Earlier this year, Patch reported on a where leaves are mowed along with grass with a leaf mulch mowner, and kept on lawns until they decompose. Bedford Hills resident Mark Solomon voiced his opposition to the program at a recent town board meeting, citing concerns about the leaf matter serving as a habitat for ticks. His appearance brought about tonight's planned work session with town board members, Solomon and Fiona Mitchell, a member of the Leaves group. Check back with Patch to find out what the board discussed and whether they'll continue to promote Leaves, which organizers say is a sustainable approach to leaf clean-up.