Faces and Places: Horseman

In a recent Sleepy Hollow board meeting at the Hudson Valley Writers' Center, mayor Ken Wray announced that he welcomed any feedback from citizens on how money should be allocated in the upcoming budget.

We went to the Horseman Restaurant one morning to ask some diner regulars where they'd like to see their tax money go.

"What would you like to see the Village of Sleepy Hollow spend money on this year?"

Laura Smutek, 49, of Elm Street, Sleepy Hollow; manager of the Horseman

• "Give the recreation department more money to start more programs for children."

John Zoumboulis, 40, of Stamford, CT; owner of the Horseman

• "Subsidize the meters for free parking on weekends to have more people patronize the stores."

Dave Logan, 68, of Summit Street, Tarrytown; retired milkman, President of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery board

• "You better save it. Don't spend it. I'm a saver."

Erica Graham, 45, Philipse Manor, Sleepy Hollow; stay-at-home mom

• "My whole major issue is something needs to get worked out for that GM site. Use the waterfront for nice cafes, restaurants, parks, boutique shopping. You've got the demographic for it."

Mike Smutek, 49, of Elm Street, Sleepy Hollow; heavy machine equipment operator for the Village of Sleepy Hollow

• "New lighting on the streets."

Dominick Provino, 81, of Croton-on-Hudson; retiree who "comes through looking for the best coffee"

• "Leave it the way it is. It's perfect the way it is; slow and quiet."