Five Things You Need to Know Today: November 9

Welcome to "Five Things You Need to Know Today," a new Yorktown Patch column where we give the readers essential information about town at a glance. Let us know what you think of the new feature in the comments below.

Please email plamena@patch.com with any school awards, events, accomplishments, or any other information you'd like us to share.

1. Food Drive

The Yorktown Congress of Teachers, in collaboration with the Yorktown Central School District administration, is holding a on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Everyone in the district is invited to bring non-perishable food items packaged in paper, plastic or cans (no glass) to the lobby of any school. All food will be donated to nearly 100 Yorktown families through Yorktown Community Help.

For fifty years, Yorktown Community Help (YCH) has been run by volunteers to provide food to individuals and families who are referred by social workers. The food pantry is located in the Yorktown Community Center on Commerce Street and is open on the third Wednesday of each month and during three holidays.

2. Support Forum For Cancer Patients

Support Connection and the Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Northern Westchester Hospital are holding a forum that is open to the general public and will specifically address genetic issues to breast and ovarian cancer. The topic is relevant to cancer survivors, their family members and to anyone who may have concerns about their own risk factors.

The discussion will be led by Dr. Anthony Cahan, Chief of Breast Surgical Services at Northern Westchester Hospital, and Peggy Cottrell, MS, CGC, a certified genetic counselor who has specialized in cancer genetics. A Question and Answer will follow. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., 400 E Main St, Mount Kisco. 

3. Town Board Work Session

The town board will hold their work session meeting today starting at 7:45 p.m. following a closed session at 6:30 discussing  collective bargaining negotiations. Closed sessions are not open to the public.

On the agenda are: 

• Girl Scouts, discussion to learn more about the community
• Renewal of Cablevision Franchise Contract, review of public hearing comments
• Granite Knolls Update, continued discussion of the sports field
• Decorum at town board meetings, on dealing with public outbursts

Afterwards there will be another closed session on interviews for a Section 8 Housing director. 

4. PTA Meetings

PTA meeting at Van Cortlandville Elementary School is today at 7 p.m., and at Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School at 7:30 p.m.

5. Special BOE Meeting

The Yorktown Central School District will hold a special Board of Education Meeting at 8 a.m. today to approve the casting of one ballot for either Tina Mackay or Alice Joselow as a trustee in the election to the Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES). The term will run from Nov. 10, 2010 through June 30, 2013.