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Mayor of Mount Kisco Gina Picinich took part in December. Houlihan Lawrence Broker/Managing director Brendon DeSimone sat downwardly with her and Deputy Mayor Jean Farber, a longtime Houlihan Lawrence agent, last week to find out what'due south new in boondocks.

Congratulations on your victory.  You're not a career politico, what is your professional background?

Several years ago, I retired from the corporate world of professional person evolution and communications to spend some time with my children and became very involved in volunteering. The opportunity to serve as Executive Managing director at the Mt. Kisco Chamber of Commerce, a non-turn a profit arrangement, came upward, and it seemed to be a adept fit. A partner and I applied for the job together as a job share—bringing different talents and dissimilar skills. Through this work, I adult a greater agreement of the challenges and opportunities for the business community.

What were you lot and your partner able to accomplish in your joint part?

The bedroom had not been looking at our community with a broad, modern view. They had a waning membership, and in that location were few benefits to membership. There has to be a win/win. In that location has to be a value proffer. So, we took notions from a business and corporate environment, brought them into a non-profit system and increased the impact of the chamber in town. It's the same thing we're seeking to practice hither in government.

What is special about Mt. Kisco?
Mt. Kisco has this tiny footprint –a little bit more than three foursquare miles. It'south this small town feel, yet it'due south big because we accept a dense population, world-class healthcare, family entertainment, an splendid unproblematic school, corporate stores and smaller, independent shops. And we have great restaurants. So, we're a large, picayune village.  We also accept a very high level of service. We have sewers, and Mt. Kisco picks up your garbage. This is non something that happens in neighboring communities. And so, for our tax dollar, which is low compared to our neighbors, we deliver a lot of services.

How did you find your style to MK?

My husband and I were renting an apartment in Larchmont and the options for buying a house there were limited. And then we said, let'south go further north. We looked at what the Toll Brothers were building in Armonk (my husband was expressionless-assail new construction). They told us about what they were edifice in Mt. Kisco, nosotros saw that the railroad train was hither, and information technology was but under an hour to the city. We said, "nosotros tin can do that!" I commuted in for years. It's very civilized. I got my train pass, my parking pass, dropped my car, grabbed a coffee and a copy of The Post. I was on the platform for the 6:32. You lot get on the train and give it upwards to God.

What do you honey about Mt. Kisco?

Walkability

I love to walk from where I live in the park and come to downtown. Nosotros have walking trails in town. The Mt. Kisco Historical Gild is working on developing guides and tours and fifty-fifty a phone app.

Dining

The restaurants in the customs are really, actually skilful with varied menus from Turkish to Ethiopian, and different styles, ranging from the food court at Leave four to fine dining at Winston.

Shopping

We have a great range of shopping, likewise—everything from Target to Elephant'due south Trunk.

Small Town Experience

I dear the pocket-sized town experiences, like the Footling League parade. On opening day, the players and coaches gather at the fountain and march upward Main Street to Leonard Park for a ceremony. The Rotary Guild sells hot dogs. That's the stuff that your memories are made of; your family's made of, your community is fabricated of.

What are your assistants's goals?

10 Twelvemonth Programme

Nosotros are developing a ten-year program that we hope will atomic number 82 us to become a village where everything is continued. Through walkability, through ease of utilize, with more outdoor dining, more places where people can gather.

New Business concern

Nosotros are looking for ways get businesses into vacant locations. Our building inspector and planner see regularly with prospective business organization owners and then nosotros can understand what they're seeking to achieve and and so movement them through the process. We'll be hosting commercial existent manor open houses for potential business organisation owners and real manor professionals, as well. We are working on parking—looking at the user feel and how to make information technology more than accommodating.

Communication

Telling our story meliorate about who we are to the outside world through social media and the press.

Green Living

Continue with our green initiatives. Nosotros have solar initiatives in place to reduce our carbon footprint, and nosotros accept green space. Nosotros want to make sure we are identifying that as an asset and make sure that people are using it, and we're protecting it.

The Arts

I love all the new things happening with the Arts Council. We recently had a cute photo exhibition that was a collaboration with the Arts Council, Historical Society, Advisory Quango, and Tree Preservation Lath. And, in that location are plans underway for much more!

Deputy Mayor Farber, as a founding board fellow member of the Mount Kisco Arts Council, what tin can y'all tell us almost the council'southward plans going forrard?

I am excited to help bring a very ambitious summertime concert serial to the village beginning June thirteen and running through September nineteen. The council will sponsor music at Fountain Park (in forepart of Village Hall) every other Wednesday evening. We have signed up a very eclectic group of musicians—jazz, blues, roots, rock—and admission is free. This will add together another dimension and reason to come downtown to shop, have dinner, and enjoy our village.

Information technology all sounds terrific. We can't await to see all your plans come to fruition!