It can be hard to hear for some, but getting older is just part of life. For many men, hitting a certain age signifies the beginning of a new chapter - where bucket list items are crossed off, and goals are accomplished. For others, however, aging is a scary prospect, filled with nagging injuries, embarrassing weight gain, and inability to perform intimately. Few things feel worse than realizing that you simply can't perform as you used to, whether on the basketball court or in the bedroom.
The reality is, as men get older and approach middle age, their testosterone levels drop. When a male's testosterone levels get lower, it can cause a slew of unwanted symptoms like:
If you have noticed any of the above symptoms and feel like you're just dragging yourself through life, don't lose hope. Many men around the country are experiencing the same feelings as you. Thankfully, you don't have to settle for the side effects of low testosterone. There are proven, easy steps that you can take to reverse the negative signs of aging. If you're ready to reclaim your youth and feel like you did in your 20s and 30s, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be the perfect solution.
TRT bridges the gap between your old life and the happier, more vibrant version of you. That's where Juventee comes in - to facilitate your transition to a more youthful, fulfilling life and a brighter future. After all, aren't YOU supposed to be in charge of your wellness and health? With the Juventee team by your side, you'll have the tools to do so - backed by a personalized plan crafted by experts with more than 20 years of experience.
At Juventee, we propose a preventive and proactive medical approach to preserve optimal body function, with the best hormonal functioning to prolong vitality and youthfulness. Our specialty is Age Management, which is based on the belief that balance is the key to wellness. We employ the most innovative science, offering treatments like TRT in Tappan, NY, and other clinical products with proven efficacy.
Living a younger, healthier, and longer life is a frequent commitment for Juventee's team of specialists. We are experts at designing customized programs that work synergistically with your body and brain. We love incorporating smart nutrition, hormonal balance, exercise, stress management, cognitive health, and lifestyle changes into our treatment programs. We also implement sciences such as testosterone replacement therapy to achieve verifiable, legitimate results.
Our doctors take differing approaches to care but share the single goal of prolonging your youth and vitality. With that goal in mind, Juventee was born from the hands of its partners, who want you to feel full strength, energy, joy, confidence, and wellbeing.
testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much testosterone, it results in a condition called hypogonadism. Also called "Low T," testosterone loss due to hypogonadism must be replenished, or the male suffers from difficult, even debilitating symptoms.
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What pops up in your head when you think about testosterone? Many people associate testosterone with being overly aggressive, macho, and violent. However, the truth is that testosterone is a critical hormone for men and affects the male lifespan from puberty through old age. As a sex hormone, male testosterone is produced through the testicles. It becomes most prevalent during puberty.
Testosterone production is controlled by the pituitary gland at the base of a man's brain. This gland sends signals to the testes, which in turn produce testosterone. A feedback loop helps regulate the amount of testosterone in the blood. When levels are too high, the brain orders the pituitary gland to restrict production.
Cholesterol synthesizes the testosterone in your body. However, having high cholesterol doesn't mean you have high testosterone levels, too. T levels are too carefully controlled by your pituitary gland for cholesterol to raise testosterone levels.
During puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
Testosterone replacement is exactly what its name implies. It's a therapy for men that replaces diminished testosterone levels, which helps balance your hormones and ultimately improves your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates many of the side effects that men suffer from as a result of low testosterone.
Testosterone was originally synthesized in a lab in 1935. Its popularity has grown since, and today, it is among the most promising doctor-prescribed treatments for men in the United States.
So, how does testosterone replacement therapy work? TRT essentially gives you the testosterone needed to be healthy and have a properly functioning body. As the primary androgen for males, testosterone has a role in the natural processes your body needs for overall health. This extra hormonal intake positively affects patients and their general health, preventing diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiac diseases, and more.
Though there is an abundance of testosterone in your system throughout puberty and into your 20s, it gradually depletes with age. Sometimes, serious injuries and long-term conditions like diabetes affect testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much testosterone, it results in a condition called hypogonadism. Also called "Low T," testosterone loss due to hypogonadism must be replenished, or the male suffers from difficult, even debilitating symptoms.
Though some symptoms of low T are abundantly evident, not all men can immediately tell they may need TRT. If you're unsure, ask yourself these questions:
If you answered yes to any of those questions, it could be time to contact Juventee about a personalized TRT plan. Still unsure if you're experiencing symptoms of low T? We have compiled a more extensive list of signs below:
Low energy used to be considered a normal part of aging. Today, most doctors know better. Modern advances in medicine show that lack of energy and low T often go hand-in-hand.
If it's a huge struggle to keep up with your kids on the soccer field, or you just don't have the energy to be active, you may have low testosterone. Getting tired is normal, but if it's an ongoing problem affecting you and your family, it's time to consult a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish normal activities, TRT in Tappan, NY could be the solution.
You would think that lowered libido would be easy to pick up on, but when it happens gradually, it can be more difficult to diagnose. With that said, many men use TRT because they've lost that "spark" in the bedroom. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not pleasing their partner because intimacy is an important part of a relationship.
The good news? Having a low libido doesn't have to be permanent. TRT treatments can help revert hormone levels to their normal range, making for a more enjoyable sex life.
If you're like millions of other men, hair loss is an unfortunate reality you don't want to think about. Closely related to hormone imbalances and testosterone decline, hair loss is about as distressing as it gets. This common symptom is often related to DHT - a derivative of testosterone that can cause hair follicles to die.
Thankfully, a carefully monitored TRT regimen can help restore hair, especially when combined with methods like plasma-rich therapy. While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone in your body, so hair loss isn't your only reality.
Weak erections - it's an uncomfortable subject for men to talk about. It's even worse to experience the symptom in the heat of the moment. Despite being very common, men shame themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while there are many reasons for this malady, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, you don't have to live with weak erections forever when you balance your hormones with a personalized TRT treatment plan from Juventee.
You're feeling down about everything and can't figure out why you feel crummy about life. You're successful at work but feel unaccomplished. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed - and it could be stemming from low testosterone.
Studies show that men with depression and high cortisol levels also commonly have low testosterone. Because higher cortisol levels can lead to low T, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option, when used in conjunction with therapy, is TRT. When TRT is used to replenish hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more optimistic mood. That's great news for depressed men who have had little-to-no success with powerful anti-depression meds.
Experts have found that men who lose a week's worth of sleep may experience a drop in testosterone by as much as 15%. These findings are alarming and may suggest that sleep loss lowers T levels and affects wellbeing.
If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, it could be time to have your testosterone levels checked. TRT may restore your testosterone levels which can help you sleep better with proper exercise and diet.
Are you struggling to lift weights in the gym or find that you can't pick up items that used to be easy to lift? Studies show that inactive men can lose .5% of muscle strength each year after the age of 25. When you hit 60, muscle loss doubles every ten years. While muscle loss is common with age, it can also be linked to low T.
Testosterone is a crucial piece needed for building and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors are prescribing TRT for males experiencing sharp declines in strength and muscle mass. Whether your workouts are losing steam or you're having problems lifting items that aren't very heavy, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
Nobody likes to gain weight, even though our society is more accepting of overweight people than ever before. Despite diets and carb cutting, many men aren't able to get rid of excess belly and body fat, increasing the chances of heart disease and cancer.
Sometimes, male weight gain isn't caused by sweets and carbs but by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism. This phase of life is called andropause and occurs when testosterone levels are low. Combining a low metabolism with other symptoms like high cortisol levels can be a recipe for a double-chinned disaster. Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The enlargement of male breast tissue, also called "man boobs," is a fairly common condition that many men have. Though it is closely associated with diet and other life choices, increased fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances.
If you're approaching middle age and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
The human body is amazing in so many ways. Still, we have to optimize it every now and then using science, medicine, and hard work. After 40, you may notice that your body is changing, but symptoms like low libido and lack of motivation don't have to be permanent. Juventee has the team, tools, and experience to help recapture your youth and feel better than ever before.
If you're getting older and you're worried about low testosterone, give our office a call today. It would be our pleasure to care for you using the highest quality products, backed by research and applied by professionals with your best interests in mind.
Whether you need a boost to help you get through your busy work week or a natural solution to an embarrassing problem like ED, we're here for you. Our doctors will explain your treatment options in-depth and take as much time as you need to feel comfortable and confident about TRT. Remember, when you treat your body with love and care, it will reciprocate generously. Let our team teach you the techniques to prolong your sense of youth and provide you with the treatment to solidify your wellbeing as you age with grace. Contact Juventee today. By tomorrow, you'll be one step closer to meeting the best version of yourself.
Whether you prefer your cookies chewy, crunchy, or crumbly, you'll find them all — in more than 50 flavors — at Aunt Mia's in Tappan.Owner/Baker Maria Caputo likes to tell customers her cookies are special because they're baked with love. But I think it's more than that. Caputo has a fierce passion and commitment to her community that you can practically taste in every bite.My favorite — and the best thing...
Whether you prefer your cookies chewy, crunchy, or crumbly, you'll find them all — in more than 50 flavors — at Aunt Mia's in Tappan.
Owner/Baker Maria Caputo likes to tell customers her cookies are special because they're baked with love. But I think it's more than that. Caputo has a fierce passion and commitment to her community that you can practically taste in every bite.
My favorite — and the best thing I ate this week? The ever-classic vanilla sprinkle, though I'm also partial to the chocolate dot, the raspberry chocolate chip and Aunt Mia's take on the TikTok cookie, a mixture of S'mores and chocolate chip that, when you pull it apart, is full of marshmallow.
Also popular: Her crumb cake and chocolate-dipped items such as chocolate covered rice crispies, chocolate covered Oreos and pretzels.
Cookies, however, remain the heart and soul of what she does with flavors such as lemon, toffee, dulce de leche, caramel, cotton candy and buttercream stuffed cookies with sprinkles.
As Caputo tells it, everything she and her family did was discussed or done in the kitchen, which is where her love for cooking and baking was born. So when she got older and finally had her own kitchen, she put a TV in it and spent her days "cooking, cooking, cooking" with her favorite shows on in the background.
In 2008 she created a cookie recipe based on a bet with her husband. He said he didn't think she could make a better black and white cookie than what was sold at their neighborhood deli. She said she could.
More:Two Rockland restaurants make Yelp's list of 'Top 100 Taco Spots in U.S.'
It took a lot of batches and hours of trial and error but she "won," getting him to admit hers was better — and putting her on a cookie path she never in a million years thought would turn into a business.
After baking her black and whites for friends and family — and then for friends of friends who asked for them — she found herself baking a lot. And creating new flavors. And, eventually, in 2010, renting a commercial kitchen so she could sell them on a part-time basis.
In 2011, with her cookies steadily selling, she left her office manager job, googling how to start your own business and how to decorate a cake. Soon after, in 2012, she opened a store in Orangeburg that not only sold baked goods but fun gifts like candles, mugs, and kitchen items.
That was more than 11 years ago. She was in Orangeburg for 10 years before relocating a year and a half ago to Tappan. While her new space is larger — and has her "Life's short. Eat Cookies" sign front and center — what hasn't changed is her enthusiasm and love for baking. She also loves interacting with her customers (and giving out free samples). As she writes on her website: "I am surrounded by the most amazing people and for that I am the most grateful."
Address: 78 NY-303, Tappan, 845-680-2440, gourmetcookieshoppe.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; to 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Good to know: Caputo recently introduced peanut butter cookies, including peanut butter and jelly cookie sandwiches.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
GLENS FALLS - Tappan Zee needed a minute.A quick reset following a bumpy start allowed the Dutchmen to get right back to what they do best, exasperating high-scoring opponents. They locked onto New Hartford on Friday, posting a 58-48 win in a NYSPHSAA Class A semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena.The Spartans managed just 30 points in the final three quarters."Insane," Tappan Zee coach George Gaine said. "And we gave up two in the second quarter. ... It’s a special group, not in terms of th...
GLENS FALLS - Tappan Zee needed a minute.
A quick reset following a bumpy start allowed the Dutchmen to get right back to what they do best, exasperating high-scoring opponents. They locked onto New Hartford on Friday, posting a 58-48 win in a NYSPHSAA Class A semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena.
The Spartans managed just 30 points in the final three quarters.
"Insane," Tappan Zee coach George Gaine said. "And we gave up two in the second quarter. ... It’s a special group, not in terms of things you can measure, but you’ve got to beat this group. They are never going to give up."
There's one game left and the Dutchmen will play for the first state title in program history.
Class AA:Gomez-Parra the hero as North Rockland pulls off another surprise, advances to state final
Class C:Haldane moves on to state championship with overtime win
Tappan Zee was not itself defensively at the start and was trailing 18-8 after the first quarter.
All was right, though, after the Dutchmen reset. It only took a couple of stops to steal momentum. Sean Berrigan netted a dozen points during a 16-2 run in the second quarter, building a 24-20 lead at the half. After getting to the rim for quick points in the early going, the Spartans were suddenly having issues hanging onto the ball.
"Our thought was we were going to battle back," Berrigan said. "We’ve played tough teams. We’ve faced adversityso we knew what we had to do."
Tappan Zee quickly extended its lead after the break. Jack Maloney stepped into a passing lane and went end to end with the steal for a layup to make it a 30-22 advantage three minutes into the second half.
New Hartford took a timeout just to vent. It didn't help.
The Spartans climbed back within eight in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but Tappan Zee zipped through a weary press for easy Tommy Linehan transition points and was up 51-36 with four minutes to play.
"When they get angry we love it," said Lange, who typically draws the most difficult assignment on defense. "We smile and look at each other. It fires us up. When they get mad, we feed off that and we don’t stop."
Tappan Zee essentially starts five guards and will again be undersized in the final. That's become a badge of honor, too. Despite giving up inches at four positions on Friday, the Dutchmen outrebounded New Hartford 24-20. And they only committed eight turnovers.
If there's one concern, it's the start, but there may be a logical explanation for the first eight minutes.
"It’s the stage," Gaine said. "This is a rare stage for teams from Rockland County and there’s not much out there for us to see this is how you do it."
Berrigan was the offensive catalyst, finishing with 15 points. The defense picked up each time he scored in the second quarter.
New Hartford (16-11): Zach Philipkowski finished with a game-high 27 points. ... Colton Suriano added eight points. ... The Spartans were 4 for 16 from 3-point range and committed 16 turnovers.
Tappan Zee (25-2): Tommy Linehan paced the Dutchmen with 20 points, scoring 16 after the break. ... Jack Maloney added 16 points. ... Tappan Zee went 4 for 16 from behind the arc.
"It’s awesome," Berrigan said of the defensive effort. "We’re building momentum, building energy. We’re doing it for each other. Seeing them get all upset and angry at each other is nice ... but we’ll high-five each other afterward."
"That was probably the calmest I’ve ever been after the first quarter," Gaine said of his response to starting in an 18-8 hole.
"We’re undersized and sometimes we walk in the gym and people laugh at us," Lange said. "We’ve been hanging our hats on that defense all season. To hold teams to 40 or 50, it’s awesome."
Tappan Zee will play Section 5 champion Irondequoit at 8:45 p.m. for the championship.
Mike Dougherty covers basketball for The Journal News and lohud.com. He can be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter @lohudhoopsmbd.
This article is not a scholarly effort, just a casual conversation to remind us of our history from the time of the American Revolution to today.Most Rocklanders know about Tappan's role in our Revolution and the ever presence of General George Washington. Think about the DeWint House and Carriage House Museum, the 76 House, the Tappan Reformed Church.Most Rocklanders know about the German Masonics Home and Park. The Home built for widows and orphans ended a long time ago, but the Park was and is the home of many festivals. The...
This article is not a scholarly effort, just a casual conversation to remind us of our history from the time of the American Revolution to today.
Most Rocklanders know about Tappan's role in our Revolution and the ever presence of General George Washington. Think about the DeWint House and Carriage House Museum, the 76 House, the Tappan Reformed Church.
Most Rocklanders know about the German Masonics Home and Park. The Home built for widows and orphans ended a long time ago, but the Park was and is the home of many festivals. The most recent being the fantastic Sons of Italy Italian festival.
Most Rocklanders know about Camp Shanks, the largest Port of Embarkation for our GIs going to Europe to fight the nazi army in WW II and later America's largest Housing for veterans.
But most do not know about what is happening right now.
As the more than 2,300 acres of Camp Shanks was declared surplus, much of which was in Tappan, the Camp became history with the exception of 15 acres, which were used as the Headquarters for the NIKE Missile Program created in the Cold War, followed by the Special Forces Unit Company B of 845 Engineering Battalion of the 411 Engineering Brigade of the US Army.
Time pasted and the 15 acres were finally declared surplus by the Federal Government for any one of the purposes of housing the homeless, animal shelter and medical purposes.
Since I was an unsalaried volunteer for Loeb House already creating and operating housing for homeless veterans, I and a few partners created the "Rockland Homes For Heroes, Inc." a not-for-profit NYS 501[c]3 charity to specifically build and operate housing for homeless veterans inasmuch as the "Last Stop USA" for our martyred GIs deserved a living tribute. We got the lease for 15 acres and built 8 homes on Western Highway, not far from where George Washington's Troops camped on more than one occasion.
When Orangetown, under the leadership of Orangetown's mystical Highway Commissioner Jim Dean decided to resolve the flooding and pollution problems of the iconic Sparkill Creek [and marsh] that ran through the town to the Hudson River, we happily turned over 7 of the acres in support of Jim's vision. He did it ! The flooding and pollution problems are gone !And it was done with an incredibly serene enchanting environment oasis of a pond surrounded with thousands of vegetation to purify the water all surrounded by a foot path open to the public. History has been made ! By the way, we are building another 14 homes on the other 8 acres.
Jim is inviting everyone to join him on Friday October 21 at 11:00 AM on Bogart Place just off Western Highway to officially name this oasis "Rockland Home for Heroes" and much less important name the footpath after me by Resolution of the ORANGETOWN TOWN BOARD
Theresa Kenny, Jerry Bottari, Thomas Diviny, Brian Donohue, Paul Valentine, all of whom made this history come true.
WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps active/reserve for 14 years from 1961 until 1975, and;
WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy served 44 years as a Rockland County Legislator where he was elected 12 times, and;
WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy served on the Boards of Camp Venture (President & Chairman of the Board) — 44 years in one of Rockland County’s most respected and long-serving social services agencies serving our intellectually & developmentally disabled; and Joseph’s Home (Co-Founder & President) — serving the residential needs of our homeless; and the Loeb House (Co-Founder & President) — over 30 years serving the residential needs of our mentally ill; and the NYS Rockland Psychiatric Center (President of the Board of Visitors); and the Orangetown Narcotic Guidance Council; and the Rockland County Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Alcoholism, and;
WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy is one of the Founders of Rockland Homes for Heroes and serves as the President & Chairman of the Board of Directors, and;
WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy was instrumental in the transfer of 7 of 14 acres of Rockland Homes for Heroes land to the Town of Orangetown to build a surface stormwater bio-retention basin to prevent the flooding of the iconic Sparkill Creek, and;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in honor of the John Allen Murphy, the pathway around the Homes for Heroes Green Infrastructure Project is hereby designated as “Captain John Allen Murphy Pathway” with the intention of installing nearby memorial street signs to signify the dedication.
And DESIGNATE / INSTALL MEMORIAL SIGN / PATHWAY / ROCKLAND COUNTY HOMES FOR HEROES / HOMES FOR HOMES
Something spooky may be going on at Tappan's oldest [email protected] - Robert Norden hears things go bump in the night at the 76 House."I’m still trying to be a skeptic," said Norden, the restaurant's owner. "But I’m failing at being a skeptic."In the 30 years since Norden took over ownership, he's seen a preponderance of evidence — from staff, customers a...
TAPPAN - Robert Norden hears things go bump in the night at the 76 House.
"I’m still trying to be a skeptic," said Norden, the restaurant's owner. "But I’m failing at being a skeptic."
In the 30 years since Norden took over ownership, he's seen a preponderance of evidence — from staff, customers and paranormal experts alike — that the hamlet eatery might be housing some guests of the ghostly variety, despite whatever healthy skepticism he harbors.
"This is table two and this is the seat that, if it’s 95 degrees in the dining room, somebody will feel cold there," Norden said, standing over the corner table of the restaurant's front dining room, somewhat dimly lit and still largely composed of Revolutionary War-era lumber, on a gloomy Friday the 13th.
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"We’ll all be doing a staff meeting in the other room and you’ll hear a glass fall off the table," he said. "Nobody even bothers getting up anymore because it’s always that a glass fell off of table two and they never break. So you just pick it up, put it back."
The belief that the 76 House's past patrons might still be hanging around has become so entrenched in local lore that the restaurant will soon be hosting ghost hunting tours, organized by Ghost Hunt USA, with a May 17 kickoff event already having sold out.
Nearly 250 years ago, the section of the restaurant now occupied by table two served as the temporary prison of Major John André, the British officer hanged in 1780 as a spy who conspired with Benedict Arnold to surrender West Point to the British during the Revolutionary War. When his treachery was discovered, André was tried and convicted at the nearby Reformed Church of Tappan before being marched to the gallows on what is now André Hill Road.
It was about 10 years ago, when the restaurant was visited by psychic medium Craig McManus, that Norden realized the table's setting was a hot spot for potentially paranormal activity.
"He (McManus) just asked if he could walk around and see if he felt anything here," Norden said. "And his eyes went wide and he beelined it all the way over here, to this table here right here."
According to Norden, McManus told him the location was the meeting place for numerous spirits, one of whom is always there, counting silver coins.
Today, the restaurant's staff is constantly finding misplaced dimes on and around table two.
"A dime fell from the ceiling onto the book (I was reading) one time I was at that table," said Katerena Kampouroglou, a restaurant employee for the past five years.
And it's not just table two that's had restaurant employees witnessing otherworldly occurrences. Table 11, situated in the opposite corner of the dining room, which is the oldest section of the building, has also seen its fair share of unexplained phenomena.
The 76 House uses fireplaces for heat in the winter and, while closing for the night and shutting off the fireplace's gas valve, Norden noticed a man dressed in a white shirt sitting back in one of table 11's chairs. A bartender saw him, too, and, assuming he was staying for an after-dinner drink, began reaching for a bottle.
By the time either employee looked back up, the man was gone, Norden said.
On another instance, Kampouroglou said she was preparing to open the bar for the day while Norden was in the kitchen when she heard a deep sigh behind her back. Thinking it was Norden, she turned only to realize he was nowhere near.
She came to Norden with her experience, at which point he informed her that that day was the anniversary of André's hanging.
"It was the only time I felt a little scared," Kampouroglou said.
Even patrons will remark that their table settings have moved or mention shadowy or ghostly images appearing in photos taken at the restaurant, according to Norden and Kampouroglou.
Leading up to the ghost hunt tours, Tyler Evans, a founder of Ghost Hunt USA who will lead the night's proceedings, visited the restaurant to get the feel of the place.
A British expat, Evans said the site's supposed ghosts reacted strongly to him on account of the restaurant's rich history with the Revolution.
"When I went in there, just the things I was saying, we were hearing the knocks and the bangs coming from the kitchen and coming from the upstairs," Evans said. "And the staff said 'Oh my God. Every time you talk about this (there's a reaction)."
Evans' team members were stationed outside, he said, and asked for a sign that the spirits wanted him to leave. The streetlight outside reportedly blinked on and off.
"They told me about it and I came outside and said, ‘Flash it twice then if you really want me to go,'" Evans said. "And the streetlight directly outside flashed twice."
Kampouroglou was there that night and corroborated Evans' story.
Norden admits that much of this is hard to believe.
"But it’s hard to dismiss," he said. "Which makes it kind of weird. We’re brought up in a scientific world and this is just outside of it."
He's not alone in displaying a bit of uncertainty about it all.
"Some people believe it's haunted," said Mary Cardenas, Orangetown historian and director of the Orangetown Historical Museum and Archives. "I don't really know and all the times I was there, I can't say that I've seen any apparition or anything or heard any strange noises. But other people may be more sensitive to that kind of thing."
Whether the activity is genuine or a fabricated result of the area's long and bloody history during the Revolution, Norden said customers aren't being scared away.
"We always compete with this reputation of being this quaint, old, historic, haunted restaurant when our customer base doesn’t even care or know about that," he said.
What: Ghost Hunt USA tours
When: 7 p.m.-12 a.m. June 9 and 30.
Where: The Old 76 House, 110 Main St., Tappan. 845-359-5476.
Tickets: $135 at ghosthuntusa.com. The tours will offer a three-course dinner, after which guests will break into small groups and be led by a psychic medium to participate in investigations, tarot card readings and Ouija Board sessions. Seating is extremely limited.
The bridge is up, and tolls could be headed that way, too.The New York State Thruway Authority on Monday will consider two system-wide 5% toll hikes and raising the toll on the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge 50 cents a year for four years — from its current $5.75 to $7.75 in 2027. If approved, the new tolls would take effect Jan. 1, 2024.It would be the first toll hike for NY E-ZPass customers since 2010, since before the twin-span Cuomo Bridge replaced the Tappan Zee Bridge between Westchester and Rockland cou...
The bridge is up, and tolls could be headed that way, too.
The New York State Thruway Authority on Monday will consider two system-wide 5% toll hikes and raising the toll on the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge 50 cents a year for four years — from its current $5.75 to $7.75 in 2027. If approved, the new tolls would take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
It would be the first toll hike for NY E-ZPass customers since 2010, since before the twin-span Cuomo Bridge replaced the Tappan Zee Bridge between Westchester and Rockland counties and introduced Thruway drivers to the world of cashless tolling.
Monday's action by the Thruway's board of directors would trigger what is expected to be a year-long review, of public hearings and comment, and ultimately final consideration by the same Thruway board within the next year. Meanwhile, toll rates would be frozen throughout 2023.
The 570-mile Thruway stretches from the Pennsylvania border on Lake Erie to New York City. Tolls are collected without tollbooths, through cashless-tolling gantries that read transponders such as New York's E-ZPass.
The NY E-ZPass rate to cross the Cuomo Bridge would rise 50 cents per year, beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, landing at $7.75 on Jan. 1, 2027.
There are discounts for regular NY E-ZPass commuters who make 20 or more trips per month and discounts for registered Westchester and Rockland residents who use NY E-ZPass. In 2021, more than 30% of all tolls collected on the Cuomo Bridge were discounted through commuter and resident plans, Thruway spokeswoman Jennifer Givner said Tuesday.
Those vehicles without transponders have their license plates photographed and are billed at a higher rate through Tolls By Mail. And they'll be billed plenty, if this toll hike is approved. The Thruway would raise the Tolls By Mail rate differential — the amount paid above the NY E-ZPass rate — to 75% from 30%.
They will have company. The proposal would collapse into one the current two-tiered system for out-of-state drivers or those without transponders.
Drivers who use other states' E-ZPass accounts currently pay a 15% differential, not the 30% for Tolls By Mail.
If the plan is approved, both would be charged the same 75% differential. For example, a driver from New Jersey who has a NJ E-ZPass account and crosses the Cuomo Bridge occasionally would see their toll more than double. Today, they would pay $6.61. By 2027, they would pay $13.56.
The solution, said Givner: Open a NY E-ZPass account.
"Anyone, regardless of where they live, can get a NY E-ZPass tag and pay that discounted rate," she said.
Here's what a trip could cost you if you are driving from, say, Nyack to Tarrytown in 2027, after the full effect of the tolls kicks in. (Tolls are collected for eastbound trips only.)
Givner was quick to point out that the Thruway NY E-ZPass base rate for the Cuomo Bridge is dwarfed by other nearby crossings. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, for example, charges E-ZPass drivers $11.75 off-peak and $13.75 peak to use the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel. (The Port Authority unveiled steeper toll rates earlier this month that could go into effect as early as January.)
Givner also noted that NY E-ZPass customers are the most frequent users of the Thruway and receive the steepest discounts and that non-NY E-ZPass and Tolls By Mail customers pay the differential and use the system less. The differential, she said, "covers additional processing costs and incentivizes customers to get a NY E-ZPass tag for the easiest and most affordable way to pay their tolls."
New York is not alone in charging an outsized differential for Tolls by Mail, she said, noting the Massachusetts Turnpike has an 87% differential and the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s differential is 98% for Tolls By Mail passenger rates. But if all states adopt the use-our-E-ZPass-or-pay-more philosophy, drivers' glove boxes could soon be filled with different transponders, swapped out on state lines to save big bucks.
The Cuomo Bridge tolls aren't the only ones that would rise. Tolls along the entire Thruway would rise 5% on Jan. 1, 2024 and another 5% on Jan. 1, 2027.
"As a tolling authority, we receive no state, federal or local tax dollars to support our operations, and we have not had a system-wide toll increase for NY E-ZPass customers in 14 years," Givner said. "This is a responsible financial plan to ensure the authority will meet its growing capital and infrastructure needs for a system that is approaching 70 years in age."
The toll hike, she added, will still keep the Thruway's rates among the lowest in the country compared to similar toll roads.
"The Thruway base passenger vehicle toll rate is less than $0.05 per mile, compared to the Ohio Turnpike ($0.06 per mile), the New Jersey Turnpike ($0.11 per mile) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike ($0.14 per mile)," Givner said.
The Cuomo Bridge was the first part of the Thruway to roll out cashless tolling, in 2016, before the bridge was officially opened. Construction on the $4-billion bridge began in 2013, with the north span opening to westbound traffic in August 2017 and the south span opening to eastbound traffic in September 2018. The bridge was completed in 2020, when a shared-use bike-pedestrian path opened on the northern edge of the north span.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo named the bridge for his father, a former governor, drawing the ire of those on both sides of the Hudson River crossing. There have been petition drives, and bills introduced in Albany, to restore the name Tappan Zee Bridge, a nod to the native Tappan tribe and early Dutch settlers, who named the three-mile-wide stretch of the Hudson the Tappan Zee, "zee" being Dutch for "sea."