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FRESH PASTA COMES TO VILLAGE OF HAVERSTRAW
By Keith S. Shikowitz
HAVERSTRAW, NY – A culinary revival is stirring, reminiscent of the nostalgic Prince spaghetti days of Boston’s past. The village now celebrates its own version of pasta day, not just on Wednesdays but every day, thanks to the opening of Flours, a fresh pasta haven that has quickly captivated the locals.
Flours Pasta & Bakeshop is not just a pasta shop; it’s a community hub and a symbol of Todisco’s commitment to quality and inclusivity. The shop offers a diverse range of pastas, from machine-extruded varieties to handmade ravioli and gnocchi, using both traditional and alternative grains. These unique offerings are a testament to Todisco’s dedication to breaking the stigma around pasta and promoting healthier, more digestible options.
But why Haverstraw? For Todisco, the choice was serendipitous. After an extensive search, the village’s vibrant energy and rich history captivated her. Flours now resides in a historic building, once home to the Rockland County Times, adding a layer of historical significance to her endeavor.
Sofia Todisco, the vibrant owner of Flours, shares her journey from PR student to culinary artist. After a stint in the PR world in Boston, Todisco’s passion for the culinary arts led her to reshape her career. Starting from scratch in the restaurant industry, she climbed from dishwashing to managing, and eventually took her passion to a café in Brooklyn. There, her commitment to local eating and farm-fresh ingredients took root.
Todisco’s culinary adventure took a pivotal turn in 2019 when she ventured to Italy to work on organic farms. Immersed in a family-like environment, she honed her skills in traditional Italian cooking and pasta making, an experience that profoundly influenced her culinary perspective.
Returning stateside, Todisco collaborated with acclaimed cookbook author Melissa Clarke, developing recipes and expanding her expertise in food experimentation. The inception of Sofia’s Feast in January 2020 was a significant milestone, though the pandemic reshaped her business model towards meal deliveries, featuring popular fresh pasta kits.
Mayor Mike Kohut, the Village of Haverstraw, and in general the North Rockland Community have welcomed Flours with open arms, aiding in the smooth establishment of the business. Customers, like Jamie and her daughter Lily, are drawn not only by the pasta but also by the shop’s warm, inclusive atmosphere and its strong presence on social media.
Looking ahead, Todisco envisions Flours as more than a pasta shop; she sees it as a community cornerstone, especially with the upcoming changes in the village. Her commitment to inclusivity is evident in her plans to accept SNAP and EBT, ensuring that Flours remains accessible to all.
As for the name ‘Flours’, it emerged from a brainstorming session, encapsulating the diversity of flours used and the shop’s holistic approach to pasta-making. The name symbolizes a blend of innovation, tradition, and community, much like the pasta creations that have made Flours a new staple in the Village of Haverstraw.
In a world constantly evolving, Flours stands as a testament to the power of passion, community, and, of course, the timeless appeal of a good plate of pasta.
Flours Pasta & Bakeshop is located at 11 New Main Street, in the Village of Haverstraw NY.
County Slams Gov. Hochul For Signing Election Bill into Law Without Public Input
NYS Bills S3505B & A4282B bills were signed into law
New City, NY – County Executive Ed Day & County Attorney Thomas Humbach slam Governor Kathy Hochul for signing Election Bill S3505B/A4282B into law without any input from the public. The new law forces local elections to occur only in even years, which will result in local races being overshadowed by State and Federal elections.
“This is bare-faced partisanship and Gov. Hochul and Senator James Skoufis should be ashamed of themselves for pushing this bill through and not allowing voters to weigh in on such a major and abrupt change to their elections,” said County Executive Day. “The Rockland County Charter delineates elections and when they should occur. This law is an attempt to override that charter and local control in a home rule state and the oath I took is to that charter and the people of Rockland County not Governor Hochul. Local governments are the most responsive and responsible to the everyday person and play a vital governance role for drinking water, social services, sewage, zoning, schools, roads, parks, police, courts, jails, trash disposal — and more.”
The County believes this law pits the more or less non-partisan issues important in local elections, against the highly charged and partisan State and Federal elections, with their emphasis on foreign policy, national security, immigration, highly dramatic allegations of scandal, and larger than life candidates with multi-million dollar campaign budgets which will buy up all available regional and local media slots and drown the public discourse on local elections out of existence.
“Supporters of this bill falsely claim this change will save money. Money might be saved if there were no elections in these odd years but that is not the case,” explained County Attorney Thomas Humbach. “There are state mandated elections of judges, sheriffs, and district attorneys on these odd years, which will continue to occur under this law. Whether an election is one office or twenty, the cost of the election, to set out the booths and pay poll workers remains the same. There are not fewer polling places because there are less offices elected in a given year nor are there fewer election workers to pay.”
The County of Rockland believes the opposite will occur and the change will result in more costs because voting will be ongoing all year round, with estimates of early voting already costing an estimated $50 per vote in the County.
“Hochul and Skoufis have completely failed their constituents miserably and it is incredibly insulting that they made such a drastic decision, impacting local elections statewide, without any formal input from those they’re elected to serve,” concluded Day.
Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group Seeks Security Funding for Jewish Municipalities
Photo Credit: NY State Senate
Nanuet, NY– Senator Bill Weber and the members of the Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group sent a joint letter to Governor Hochul on December 7, 2023, calling for increased security funding for predominantly Jewish municipalities and communities. “Speaking with mayors and community leaders from our predominantly Jewish municipalities and communities has made it clear the state needs to provide additional resources to assist them with their security budgets,” said Senator Weber.
The letter, which applauds Governor Hochul for her strong support of Israel and her leadership in standing up against antisemitism, reads, in part: “As representatives of several predominantly Jewish municipalities and communities, we have shared information with them about the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grants, but we believe the municipalities need additional support … While the current grants can be used to strengthen security at civic centers, cultural museums, day care centers, and other nonprofit organizations, we believe the grant program should be expanded, or a new grant program should be created, to include security funding for entire municipalities.”
Senator Bill Weber further said, “Our working group was formed long before the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. It was, unfortunately, necessary then. Now that we have seen the explosion of antisemitism in broad daylight since the October 7th attack, our work is more important than ever,” said
Joining Senator Weber in signing the letter were Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Senator Joseph Griffo, Senator Jack Martins, and Senator Peter Oberacker. The five senators, who make up the Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group, have been hosting Antisemitism round tables and discussions with prominent community members, law enforcement, and activists for the past several months.
Author Katherine Magnoli Promotes Inclusive Literature at BRIDGES’
West Nyack, NY– Children’s book author Katherine Magnoli visited BRIDGES’ Independence Café – A Unique Boutique at the Palisades Center Mall on Sunday, December 3, 2023, to highlight her KatGirl series of children’s books.
Magnoli, an inclusion advocate, initiated her advocacy journey by creating “The Adventures of KatGirl,” a series of children’s adventure books featuring a superhero in a wheelchair named KatGirl. The character empowered kids facing bullying due to physical differences. Initially addressing disability issues, the series evolved to promote inclusion for all those who may feel excluded at times.
Born with a birth defect affecting her spine but not her mind, Katherine addressed disability and acceptance in her books. The series also includes “Pete the Private Eye,” a collection of short stories about a legally blind boy named Pete who dedicated his days to solving mysteries. Katherine is the Founder and President of KatGirl and Friends Inc., an organization committed to educating children about inclusion through her book series.
Magnoli’s advocacy extended to her role as Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2017. She developed The Abilities Program, utilized during Disability Awareness Month and Inclusion Week in 2018. She played a key role in creating beach access in Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, and Surfside communities in Florida. Katherine joined the Miami Inclusion Alliance to raise awareness about abuse against People with Disabilities and received the Idelio Valdez Advocacy and Leadership Award from the Florida Developmental Disability Council in 2021.
Expressing excitement about Katherine’s visit, BRIDGES CEO Carlos Martinez stated, “BRIDGES was thrilled to welcome Katherine to The Independence Café – A Unique Boutique to share her experiences and discuss the themes of her whimsical stories. December 3rd is also known as International Day of People with Disabilities; having Katherine join us lent to the celebration.”
BRIDGES’ Independence Café opened on July 1, 2021 and serves as the storefront to BRIDGES headquarters in the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack. The boutique offers unique gift items crafted by and for people with disabilities, Veterans, and individuals formerly involved in the justice system, including scented candles, soaps, artwork, cards, and clothing. Founded in 1987, BRIDGES is a community-based, peer-driven, cross-disability, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocacy and leadership for people with disabilities, Veterans, and those formerly involved in the justice system.
To learn more about the author and her visit to the Café, visit the organization’s YouTube page here.