Mike Lawler faced another raucous audience at his packed Town Hall meeting in Somers The crowd of about 600 constituents on Sunday evening jeered and heckled Lawler at times as he explained his positions on a broad range of issues — from the future of Ukraine and President Donald Trump’s tariffs to the deportation of undocumented migrants and the impoundment of funds authorized by Congress There was tight security in the auditorium of Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School which included a slew of New York State troopers who patrolled the auditorium to keep the peace Two women were carried out by state troopers to stop their heckling The Town Hall had strict rules: no recordings of the meeting were allowed and questioners were allowed just 30 seconds for their questions Dressed in his signature blue blazer and jeans Lawler touted his bipartisan record in Congress during his first term He noted that the 17th Congressional District which includes Rockland and Putnam Counties was among only 35 of 435 Congressional districts considered competitive for the 2026 election cycle Cortlandt Manor resident David Weinberger questioned Lawler’s bipartisan prowess in Washington but meaningful bipartisanship is in votes taken not in the fig-leaf of co-sponsored bills,” he said “Now is your time to stand up to the authoritarian Trump regime.” Lawler said his bills were passed with support from both sides of the aisle “Bipartisanship is a two-way street,” he said “It’s not just Republicans acquiescing Democrats There has to be a give-and-take on these issues.” Mike Lawler questioned on Trump administration's funding cutsLawler, who represents a swing district that will be hotly contested in 2026, also faced a tough crowd at last week's Town Hall in Rockland County He plans Town Halls in Putnam and Dutchess in June Several constituents asked about the Trump administration’s slashing of funding for programs authorized by Congress and proposed cuts in funding to NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting There were groans throughout the hall when Lawler said that he planned to meet on Monday with the Department of Government Efficiency which has spearheaded many of the reductions Lawler said the budget cuts will have to come before Congress under the federal impoundment law which requires a vote by Congress to defund programs that were previously authorized “That’s the constitutional process,” Lawler said Lawler said that he has supported Trump’s tariff policy as a way to fight back against trade barriers put in place by Japan He noted that Congress and the courts have given deference to the executive branch to enact tariffs Constitution gives the power to impose tariffs to Congress Attendees pressed Lawler on what the Republican-led Congress plans to do to regain control over those levies More: Mike Lawler faces sharp questions at raucous town hall in Rockland. How he answered Lawler said that the administration is in the process of negotiating deals on the tariffs during the 90-day pause imposed by Trump on tariffs they have to be putting out trade agreements,” he said The issue of immigration loomed large on Sunday When asked about his position on due process in deportation cases Lawler said he supports the constitutional rights of all individuals in the United States More: Mike Lawler said he 'secured' $33M for Hudson Valley community projects. What happened? who was deported to a prison in El Salvador Lawler said he supports the Supreme Court’s ruling instructing the government to facilitate Garcia' return But Lawler said Garcia’s return would not free him because he has an outstanding deportation order that needs to be addressed “He’s going to be released to be deported again,” said Lawler Lawler reminded the heavily Democratic audience that President Barack Obama deported 3 million migrants during his time in office “I don’t recall this level of pushback when Obama deported that many,” said Lawler Lawler held the meeting at Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School along Route 138 a narrow country road that kept protestors away from the site About 80 anti-Lawler activists stood in a light rain a mile away by the Goldens Bridge train station brandishing signs criticizing Lawler and Trump Emily Feiner: Nyack woman removed from Lawler Town Hall learned about free speech, activism from her dad Standing with the protestors were two of five Democrats seeking the party’s nomination to face Lawler in 2026 — Mike Sacks and Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson Davidson walked along the line of protestors with a bullhorn “The national Republicans have been calling our protests an attempt to disrupt the democratic process,” she said He opened the meeting by telling his constituents that he was glad they came “I appreciate you taking the time  to be here,” he said Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com part of the State University of New York system saw gains in graduation and enrollment rates thanks to their adoption of the City University of New York’s wraparound support initiative You have /5 articles left.Sign up for a free account or log in SUNY Westchester Community College saw increased academic achievement after adopting the CUNY ASAP model Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock/Getty Images Plus  Providing students with wraparound support is one evidence-based practice that has demonstrated impact on student credit accumulation the City University of New York created a model of student support that has been duplicated at dozens of colleges to improve outcomes; now the State University of New York system hopes to build on this success on its own campuses despite headwinds from remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic The background: CUNY created Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) in 2007 as a comprehensive initiative to address barriers to student retention and completion The core components of ASAP are personalized academic advising specialized enrollment options and financial aid for course material and transportation costs for three years ASAP-inspired programs have been implemented at over a dozen institutions in seven states WCC president Belinda Miles was a part of the ASAP replication initiative in Ohio in 2014 “it wasn’t too long before I ran into ASAP,” she said Arnold Ventures and MDRC, along with an anonymous donor to the WCC Foundation, provided financial support for the launch of Viking ROADS In 2023, SUNY chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the system would implement ASAP at 25 of its 64 campuses starting in 2024 results from a three-year MDRC evaluation of Westchester Community College’s program offer guiding principles to peer institutions scaling their own efforts “We’re delighted to be that pivot campus and a leader amongst our peers,” Miles said The study: MDRC’s study followed WCC staff and students from 2018 to 2021 Viking ROADS requires WCC students to be enrolled full-time in an eligible major meet with a dedicated counselor and use college support services monthly a first-time college student and only enrolled in one developmental education course A majority of students involved in the Viking ROADS study were traditional college students with about one in five identifying as a nontraditional student (defined as someone who is older than 24 has children or does not have a high school diploma) One adaptation of ASAP that Viking ROADS staff implemented was to offer a transportation stipend rather than a prepaid MetroCard; WCC is a commuter campus and students utilize both their own cars and public transport to reach campus so having flexibility in how they addressed transportation barriers was key program participants were more likely to have higher enrollment rates over time and complete more credits 20 percent of program participants had earned degrees compared with 13.3 percent of control group students 35 percent of program participants had completed an associate degree compared to 23 percent of the control group Researchers theorized this gap could be tied to the specialized course enrollment options and academic advising Viking ROADS participants receive which could help students meet their course requirements and reduce their risk of earning excess credits that don’t support degree completion “It’s critical that students begin with a person and a plan here are the steps you take.’ But having a person that’s reliable is something that is critical for students particularly first-generation students,” Miles said because some learners may not have supporters at home who understand the bureaucracy of higher education Program staff also reduce barriers to applying for graduation and making degrees official; among nonparticipants who earned 60 or more credits compared to 83 percent of Viking ROADS students “Despite the challenges that were posed by the COVID-19 pandemic Viking ROADS still had large effects on three-year graduation rates confirming the strength and adaptability of the ASAP model,” according to the report “Viking ROADS not only helped students navigate the immediate disruptions that were caused by the pandemic but also supported their continued academic progress and degree attainment.” What’s next: In the same way Miles brought her work with ASAP to WCC she and her staff plan to contribute to a community of practice for the other SUNY campuses joining these efforts “I’m happy to share with colleagues what our story is and how we keep it going and how we keep expanding Funding and providing resources for wraparound services can be a barrier to scaling initiatives but reallocating and redesigning existing services to better address student needs is one way Miles said she is looking to expand student success efforts at WCC Get more content like this directly to your inbox. Subscribe here. This article has been updated to reflect the correct name of Arnold Ventures The Trump administration has thrown federal research funding into a state of flux Indiana University Indianapolis launched a transfer orientation for new students in fall 2024 A new University of Miami program guides incoming students through how to utilize their Federal Work-Study eligibilit Recent data from the Richmond Federal Reserve finds low-income students are less likely to earn Learn high-impact ways to re-engage students drive enrollment and support your team’s well-being Subscribe for free to Inside Higher Ed’s newsletters opinion and great new careers in higher education — delivered to your inbox View Newsletters Copyright © 2025 Inside Higher Ed All rights reserved. | Website designed by nclud Five Compost Giveaway Events Scheduled Across the County The Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) is continuing its popular compost distribution program with five additional giveaway events scheduled throughout May The compost is produced at the County’s CompostED site in Valhalla an educational facility that processes up to two tons of local food scraps each week This initiative promotes food scrap recycling supports local sustainability efforts and gives residents access to nutrient-rich compost made right here in Westchester DEF previously hosted four successful giveaway events in March and April Due to limited quantities, residents must register in advance to participate ·       Wednesday May 7 – Household Materials Recycling Facility ·       Saturday ·       Thursday May 15 – Household Materials Recycling Facility ·       Tuesday ·       Registration is required for all events ·       Residents must register online for a specific time slot to receive compost ·       Registration can be completed at: https://environment.westchestergov.com/residential-compost-distribution-events ·       Each registered resident will receive two 1-cubic-foot bags of compost ·       DEF staff will be on-site to verify registration and load compost into vehicles ·       Spring is here, and tours of the CompostED facility are now available. Residents interested in scheduling a tour or learning more about food scrap recycling and composting in Westchester can contact DEF at CompostEd@WestchesterCountyNY.gov, visit environment.westchestergov.com or call the Recycling HelpLine at (914) 813-5425 Garden Conservancy Open Days program offers access to hundreds of private sanctuaries across the country – and a chance to share ideas with fellow garden lovers Private gardens – inaccessible to the public –spark curiosity with an aura of magic and mystery The Garden Conservancy Open Days™ program enables America’s finest private gardens to open to the public on specific days and is the only nationwide garden visiting program Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year Open Days has offered 1.5 million people a chance to look behind the hedges with visitors to 4,500 gardens in 40 states For the 2025 growing season from April through November more than 350 private gardens will be open across 22 states—from urban rooftops and organic farms to innovative suburban backyards and historic estates More than 100 gardens will be open for the first time in 2025 The May 10 gardens opening in Westchester are: “Garden visiting is more than just a leisurely stroll; it is an immersive experience that ignites the senses and nourishes the soul,” said James Brayton Hall “It offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature and gain inspiration from the dedication and vision of passionate gardeners The anticipation for Open Days events is palpable with garden enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the chance to discover hidden gems and share in the beauty and tranquility of these private sanctuaries The excitement stems from the rare privilege of stepping into these carefully curated worlds and the joy of connecting with fellow garden lovers who share a deep appreciation for the transformative power of gardens.” RiverJournalOnline is the online publication of River Journal and River Journal North No part of River Journal or River Journal North including photos ads and text may be reproduced without the written consent of the Publisher Published 23 hours ago23h ago • Bookmarks: 13 • Comments: 3 An Elmsford man was charged last week with stealing almost $140,000 from a bank where he worked was arraigned in Elmsford Town Court after being charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree which could result in a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison According to Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace Biswas allegedly was able to breach Emigrant Savings Bank’s core platform and manipulate codes to alter small monetary deposits in his personal account to reflect deposits totaling $259,977 Biswas transferred $139,677 without permission or authority from the bank Our office will continue to pursue those who try to exploit the financial system for personal gain and will hold individuals accountable ensuring that justice is served,” Cacace said “I would like to credit our highly trained investigators for their work in this case I would also like to ensure the public that we will further our commitment to offer training and resources to all of our personnel so that they can successfully investigate and prosecute these types of cases,” she added Biswas was arraigned by Judge Rosalie Tanis and released on his own recognizance and website in this browser for the next time I comment © 2025. The Hudson Indy Westchester's Rivertowns News - By using this site you agree to the use of cookies, more info. Operation Prom has partnered with Westchester County to host a free prom attire giveaway for high school seniors in the county the tradition continued with Operation Prom's Formal Wear Giveaway at the Westchester County Center in White Plains Founded in 2005 by entrepreneur, activist and Yonkers native Noel D'Allacco, the Operation Prom National Network, Inc. is a nonprofit that collects and distributes free formal wear so that every high school senior can attend their prom regardless of their financial circumstances shoes and accessories were available for free to Westchester high school seniors who brought a school ID or report card with them Check out some of the photos from Operation Prom's Formal Giveaway Published 21 hours ago21h ago • Bookmarks: 12 ECTROPY: Fighting the natural disorder of things You might think—as the earth rots with the weight of humans on this precarious ball teasing a self-induced armageddon an American dismantling of democracy—that life’s natural tendency is toward entropy But when I look at the patterns of nature, the spirals of Fibonacci number sequences that form as if by elegant magic in every pinecone and round of petals and from the micro of snail shells to the macro swirl of galaxies if possibly more conceptual and comfortable the older I get the more inclined I am to love organization and prefer each item paired with its own designated container Rather than organically winging it which seems to me like a recipe for disaster nothing pleases me more than a well-arranged spreadsheet and a checklist getting reduced Is there a balance or a preference between assembly and destruction Is there any room for fitted bedsheets in the secret code of all things I remember so distinctly the time in my childhood when they was still the question if the universe was open or closed expanding or collapsing—and yes these were the topics of our dinner conversations fueled by shows like Nova and my dad’s subscription to Scientific American magazine What thrilling possibilities in exploring this barrier to the unknown how will they ever determine its edges or lack of edges and what will it mean for our notions of infinity or importance How small in the scheme of things were my brother and I we were rendered ever tinier: the universe is indeed expanding and not only that but the expansion is accelerating In the same way it feels as if our technological leaps are surpassing us at an ever-quickening pace and will other elements we can’t fathom (dark matter/energy) and the powerful suck of gravity pull the messy universe back into some discernible shape someday I was curious if for every entropy in nature there is an equal opposite ectropy could that be the counterpoint of the ebb and flow of this circle of cycles For a term that can barely be found in science there is at least some “art” on the matter of ectropy Director Jordan Schulz’s short film (20 min), Ectropy: Chaos to Order a member of the Timeless Presence species who struggles to see his potential the Artist faces existential challenges and immense pressures as they paint the fabric of nature and shown here in the trailer This Ectropy film starring the “Artist” is no standalone but just the first of a trilogy that proceeds to creation and ends in entropy, from PRWeb.com which calls it a “cinematic masterpiece” but admittedly is just quoting the movie’s own press release: “Ectropy” is an exploration of the universe’s explosive genesis drawing inspiration from The Big Bang Theory The narrative unfolds as the enigmatic “Artist,” tasked with shaping the cosmos encounters Mother Nature in the mystical days of the universe’s infancy they embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and creativity highlighting the interplay between creation and Creator [Artist Daniel] Winn’s philosophy of “Existential Surrealism” profoundly shapes the thematic essence of the film the approach examines life’s fundamental questions and the nature of existence itself the award-winning short film entitled “Creation,” which serves as the second installment The trilogy is slated to conclude with “Entropy from Order to Chaos,” expected to go into production in 2025 which will depict the inevitable decline back into chaos and complete the cycle of cosmic existence Despite what feels here like purple prose in a woo woo English essay Among praise for “cosmic symphony,” “cinematic brilliance,” and “maestro of visual storytelling…that surpasses conventional storytelling methods,” the writers describe a unique multi-sensory weave of images of the work of Darren Aronofsky in The Fountain and its tree of creamy regenerative life From 37Magazine Winn’s philosophy uses visual language to explore the concept of duality emphasizing that the absence of opposing factors would render our existence meaningless painting and film that delves into the profound questions about the meaning of life and the intricacies of human existence His art is known for its deep philosophical underpinnings that weaves in deep concepts of existentialism All of this artistry seems to exhibit the artist attempting control of controllable No matter the premise of the movie ultimately moving toward chaos the artifice of the enterprise of conveying that theme prevails documenting the chaos in an attempt to fathom it and making pretty treatises about it in images Ectropy is a fairly new concept and there’s very little of it to be found, at least on the Internet. According to a tiny bit of research posted at the Georgia Institute of Technology: The word “ectropy” means a general increase in organization It appears to have been developed by Willard V Quine in response to the Twenty-first Anniversary Symposium of the Council for Unified Research and Education in 1969 The above quotation appears on page 83 of the following source: That book is an expansion of the aforementioned 1969 symposium The term “ectropy” is used in several places in the book and is contrasted not only with “entropy” but also with the coined term “atropy,” which is used to describe circumstances in which the degree of organization remains constant Entropy seems to be the basket that science puts its eggs or in, or more specifically physics. Rather than a mix of ectropy (order), atropy (stasis), and entropy (disorder), they calibrate the spectrum between organization and disorder as just more or less entropy. From FS Blog: This tendency towards disorder is a fundamental law of physics Here’s the kicker: Disorder is not a mistake; it is the default Your house doesn’t clean itself—it takes energy and effort to maintain order In The Great Mental Models The constant battle against entropy is the driving force behind much of what we do The constant struggle between order and disorder is the source of change and progress.” Entropy was conceived much sooner than its counterpart ectropy by Rudolf Clausius Clausius studied the conversion of heat into work He recognized that heat from a body at a high temperature would flow to one at a lower temperature This is how your coffee cools down the longer it’s left out—the heat from the coffee flows into the room But if you want to heat cold water to make the coffee you need to do work—you need a power source to heat the water From this idea comes Clausius’s statement of the second law of thermodynamics: “Heat does not pass from a body at low temperature to one at high temperature without an accompanying change elsewhere.” Clausius summarized the concept of entropy in simple terms: “The energy of the universe is constant The entropy of the universe tends to a maximum.” not according to the positive march of our increasing wisdom and experience but by the dismal accrual of our unraveling: The increase of disorder or entropy is what distinguishes the past from the future That according to our contemporary geniuses like Hawking the tendency naturally is only ever toward increasing disorder to find the meaning of life amidst this mess and meaninglessness to impose order where maybe there isn’t any to use this energy to impose some semblance of good To invent concepts like “good” and “beauty” Disorder is not a mistake; it is our default Imagine a world with no entropy—everything stays the way we leave it that would also be a world without innovation When people talk about eternal life in heaven In The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood and put our rooms in order… We propagate structure (not just we humans but we who are alive) We disturb the tendency toward equilibrium It would be absurd to attempt a thermodynamic accounting for such processes but it is not absurd to say we are reducing entropy Bit by bit … Not only do living things lessen the disorder in their environments; they are in themselves circulatory systems and metabolic pathways—miracles of pattern and structure It sometimes seems as if curbing entropy is our quixotic purpose in the universe Where do you fall on the spectrum between organized and disorganized along with religion’s “heaven” and a romantic comedy’s absurd ability for every bow to be tied ectropy itself might fall in the basket of endearing human inventions designed to simply soothe us on this dizzying ride to oblivion Through the first seven games of their second-ever USL League One season the Spokane Velocity have proven to be one of the league’s best teams and tied eighth in the league in goals conceded (six) with a scoreless draw against Portland on April 5 everyone has quality… no matter who starts no matter who comes off the bench… there’s no drop -off,” Ish Jome said That quality and depth was exhibited on Sunday as the Velocity earned a 3-1 win against expansion club Westchester SC (4-2-1) at ONE Spokane Stadium Pierre Reedy powered the Velocity with one goal and two assists as Spokane (4-1-2) scored three unanswered goals after conceding one early in the first half Westchester’s Stephen Payne scored on the game’s first shot attempt off a cross from Samory Powder in the fifth minute The Velocity outshot Westchester 7-5 in the first 45 minutes but it took until near the end of the half for them to level the game 1-1 Reedy tucked the ball into the back of the net from point-blank range off a corner kick from Luis Gil scoring his first goal of the regular season “I just had a lot of pressure relieved after that goal because I felt like I was trying so hard to finally get one … not the prettiest goal… I got it over the line and I was happy and got us back in the game,” Reedy said Reedy collided with Westchester goalkeeper Dane Jacoman outside of the penalty area as they both pursued the ball “David (Garcia)… picked it up in the back line and one of the emphasis at halftime was those diagonal balls because they played such a high line but I saw the goalie try and take it down … and took a heavy touch … I just kept pressuring and I poked it,” said Reedy “I didn’t even see Anuar … but it was a good goal.” Westchester had a chance at an equalizer with a penalty kick from Juan Obregon Jr. Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman praised Merancio who leads the league in saves (20) alongside Richland’s James Sneddon And when a player that often goes down the middle on penalties it takes a lot for the goalkeeper to hold their nerve and stay central,” he said “Carlos trusted himself… it was a huge moment in the game that he (Obregon Jr.) scores that the game could go a completely different way.” Reedy set up Ish Jome after taking the ball in Westchester’s half Reedy sprinted to the top of the penalty area before connecting with Jome inside the box and Jome fired the ball into the top left corner of the frame Spokane travels to face South Georgia Tormenta (2-3-1) at Tormenta Stadium at 4:30 p.m Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get the day’s top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Westchester County Parks Department issued order for park's 2025 season We reported last week on a legal battle keeping the Playland Park in Rye The historic seaside amusement park was established in 1928 spanning 280 acres and is one of only two amusement parks in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark Westchester's Rye Playland 2025 season opening was in jeopardy, due to a contract dispute with Standard Amusements wanting to cancel the 30-year deal it signed with the county after just three years due to allegations of  "repeatedly neglecting and mismanaging the park." News 12 Hudson Valley reports that an emergency order has been issued to expedite the opening of Playland Amusement Park’s 2025 season and that the Parks Department has selected Zamperla to do the needed emergency work to get it done The Parks Department determined that competitive bidding could not be pursued due to the urgent nature of the situation and decided on Zamperal. Zamperla is a renowned Italian amusement ride manufacturer established in 1966 by Antonio Zamperla The company has grown into a global leader in designing and producing a wide range of attractions from family-friendly rides to thrilling roller coasters.  “The Emergency order will allow the County to hire a company to inspect specific rides secure all necessary supplies and parts to operate the rides Standard's abrupt departure leaves the County with little time to properly carry out all of this work Standard left little or no spare parts in inventory in some cases did not properly winterize rides and a number of rides were left dis-assembled,”  said Kathy O’Connor We reached out to Playland Park via telephone and were told that the park opening is still being determined and no opening date has been announced as of yet We'll update this story when more info on an opening date is available Westchester County Parks Department issued order for park's 2025 season.\nRead More Westchester's Rye Playland 2025 season opening was in jeopardy, due to a contract dispute with Standard Amusements News 12 Hudson Valley reports that an emergency order has been issued to expedite the opening of Playland Amusement Park’s 2025 season and that the Parks Department has selected Zamperla 2021-2022: 20%\r\n- 2022 attendance: 10.8 million Though COVID-19 restrictions in Florida were among the most relaxed in the country Universal Studios Florida still underwent a major dip in visitorship during the pandemic The park welcomed slightly less than 4.1 million attendees in 2020 compared to the 10.9 million visitors who entered Universal in 2019 further bolstered by the 2021 opening of the Jurassic World VelociCoaster elsewhere in the park and a stunt show called the Bourne Stuntacular Annaliese Garcia WESTCHESTER – Three men were rushed to a hospital early Thursday morning after they were stabbed inside a home in Westchester Leer en español The triple stabbing was reported around 4:30 a.m in the area of Southwest 93rd Court and 16th Street Residents in the area told Local 10’s Annaliese Garcia that parties are often held at the home where the stabbings occurred They said they heard screaming early in the morning and called 911 “There were three adult males with apparent stab wounds They transported the males to a local hospital We do believe that the victims know the subject therefore we believe this is an isolated incident,” Detective Samantha A The person who stabbed the victims remains at large and a motive for the attack remains unclear Deputies did not release the identities of the victims Authorities said the suspect is between the ages of 30 and 40 Anyone with further information or who has surveillance video in the neighborhood is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. Katherine Sullivan got what she'd been craving since last November: a chance the Italian composer and contemporary of Mozart I have been out of my skin to get back into this role even if it was for another 60 seconds," said Sullivan who played Salieri in Brewster High School's production of "Amadeus" last November She got that chance at Sunday's second annual Eastern Student Artist Guild awards honoring 15 non-musical plays at 14 theater programs from Westchester For more than two hours in an auditorium on the campus of Iona University from best actors in a drama to best actors in a comedy to best theater for social change From our archive: 'Amadeus' on stage: Jealousy and genius in Brewster Sprinkled among the awards were short speeches by the school directors extolling the work of their students and the power of the non-musical play to pack a punch and speak to its audience who oversees the theater program at host Iona announced that every student honored at Sunday's award ceremony was eligible to receive a $2,000-a-year renewable Iona scholarship There were also performances by those honored as best actors in drama and comedy Bennet fretted over her daughter's marriage prospects (Zoe Greenberg in Scarsdale's "Pride & Prejudice"); Grandpa Vanderhof preached the power of not chasing money (Gabriel McCabe from Westlake's "You Can't Take It With You"); Francis Henshall found himself in a bind with two demanding bosses (Matt Gutierrez from Eastchester's "One Man alone on the stage for nearly three minutes transporting the audience to the Vienna of the 1780s when Salieri first encountered the music of Mozart and was tormented by jealousy and the higher instruments above it wailed and warbled But the squeeze box went on and on and the pain cut deeper into my shaking head until suddenly I was running More than a part she playedThe role was more than a role for Sullivan and missed an entire year and a half of school she talked about how that absence motivated her “I watched everybody do what I wanted to do and I watched everybody get to be a part of what I wanted to be a part of,” she said “As soon as I got the opportunity to do it again has just given me so much motivation to do this in the best way I possibly can.” Sullivan spoke about how playing Salieri was a watershed moment "I don't think that I will ever be able to give a performance that justifies what this show gave me I'll never be able do enough for the show to match what I got out of it," she said "This experience marked such a change in my life and such a beginning in my life I've never felt so purposeful and I've never felt so excited to see what my life is going to turn out like The 2nd Annual ESAG Award winnersHere is the list of students recognized by the Eastern Student Artist Guild Awards Honorable Mention of Best Actors in a Drama: Maya Leone Bornstein Children’s Shakespeare Theatre; PJ Cravinho Best Stage Manager: Amelia Jimenez and Sophia Tellez Two Guvnors,” Eastchester; “Radium Girls,” Port Chester; “Treasure Island,” Fordham Prep Best Student Written productions: Theatrum Justitiate's script for "At the Table," Fordham Prep; Emerson Riter Best Production Team: Carmel for “Trap” — Téa Sedlarcik (director) Alex Cuccia (production designer and costume manager) Danica Day and Ashlyn Pinto Najera (stage managers) Dakota Crosby (assistant technical director Kate Roberts and Casey Crosby (projections) Anabella Marte (prop design and construction) Best Student Director: Annabelle Rosenbluth for “Hollywood Ending” at The Masters School Best Ensembles in a Comedy: “Murder's in the Heir” at New Rochelle (full cast); “One Man Two Guvnors” at Eastchester (Matthew Gutierrez Jaden Advani); “Peter and the Starcatcher” at Valhalla (Leonidas Toth Best Ensembles in a Drama: “Radium Girls,” Port Chester; “Radium Girls,” Harrison; “Trap,” Carmel; “Theatrum Justitiae At the Table,” Fordham Prep; “The Great Gatsby,” Rye Neck; "Romeo and Juliet," Children's Shakespeare Theatre; "Antigone," The Masters School Best Supporting Actors in a Comedy: Mike Arreaga Best Supporting Actors in a Drama: Arianna Arocho Children’s Shakespeare Theatre; Lucette Ow Best Classical Productions: “Pride and Prejudice,” Scarsdale; “Romeo & Juliet,” Children’s Shakespeare Theater Two Guvnors,” Eastchester; “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Valhalla; “You Can’t Take It With You,” Westlake Best Drama Productions: “Amadeus,” Brewster; “The Great Gatsby,” Rye Neck; “Radium Girls,” Harrison; “And Then There Were None,” Pelham Memorial; “Treasure Island,” Fordham Prep Peter D. Kramer is a 37-year staffer who writes long-form narratives on a variety of topics. His story looking back on the Oak Street fire in Yonkers won a national Headliner Award for outstanding news specials/feature column Republican rep. Mike Lawler once again faced a night of boos and jeers at a public town hall after an energetic crowd of about 600 packed the auditorium of Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School in Somers on May 4 New York state troopers were among the tight security detail at the event, the second of four town halls planned by the congressman in the 17th congressional district which includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties as well as parts of Westchester and Dutchess Members of the audience asking questions were allowed 30 seconds each Questions ranged from Lawler's bipartisanship to hot topics such as spending cuts Only members of the media were allowed to record the town hall From May 4: Lawler faces another raucous Town Hall: 'Stand up to the authoritarian Trump regime' Video shows police carrying woman out of Lawler town hall in SomersThe video below shows footage of a woman being carried out from the town hall by police "Whether you agree with me or not or," Lawler addressed the crowd "Whether you actually wanted to listen tonight Read a recap of the May 4 town hall in this story If anyone told West Nyack resident Vinnie Cann five years ago she'd be co-running a business a home-based heirloom baked goods/jam company with her youngest daughter and did so while being seven months pregnant," Cann said but it’s amazing what you learn about your child when spending that much time together." Working side by side with one's offspring is It's also a learning experience as parents often value their son or daughter's fresh energy and creativity while the younger generation appreciates the wisdom and guidance a parent provides we wanted to highlight — and celebrate — those mother-child relationships and the Westchester and Rockland businesses they run together Birdie's Batch, West NyackBirdie’s Batch was born out of COVID after Sara Cann was laid off from the Fireman Hospitality Group in New York City a frequent presence at the Piermont and TASH Farmers Markets officially started in June 2020 selling a range of goodies More: For this autistic 24-year-old Westchester resident, food is all about connections that last year Vinnie won two bronze medals in The Dalemain World Marmalade Awards held in England for her Cara Cara marmalade and Dark and Stormy marmalade she won another two bronze medals for her Meyer Lemon marmalade and Monarch marmalade (a lemon marmalade made with gin "I’ve always known how talented my mom is — a bit of a jack-of-all-trades woman," said Sara "But it’s been really empowering to see her talents shine on a broader platform." Brianna Cunney and her mother Kerri Cunney have been business partners since 2022 though Brianne admits her mom was a force from the beginning in helping her start her company (she officially founded it as Pop-A-Licious in 2021 later rebranding it to Bri Marie's Gourmet Popcorn in 2023) has deepened their relationship in ways they didn’t expect "We’ve seen each other in high-pressure situations it’s brought out more empathy," said Brianna We both bring different strengths to the table and trust each other’s judgment That foundation makes collaboration not just easier They're also considerate of each other's boundaries and make it a point to have honest conversations too — we don’t take ourselves too seriously A shared understanding is what's help Maura and Tyrone Azanedo keep their Peruvian restaurant humming — 13 1/2 years and counting which features everything from stews and roast pork to various styles of rice and beans (along with plenty of homemade hot sauce) is meant to offer a taste of the family's culture and traditions the business has also enriched their mother/son relationship "It's taught us the importance of really listening and making sure we’re both on the same page," said Tyrone "Communication isn’t just talking; it’s making sure your message actually lands and is understood that’s been huge for us — not just as business partners Nothing like 'Nadas': Mother-son duo open Colombian empanada spot in Westchester Carlos and Olga Santos have worked together for the better part of a decade their (since closed) Colombian restaurant in Port Chester as well as at Nadas: the rainbow empanada company they started during the pandemic which recently opened a storefront in Harrison Carlos admits their relationship has shifted over the years I wanted to build something outside of what she had created," he said I realized what a blessing it is to work with her There's no one I trust more and no one that always has my best interests in mind "Working with her is the honor of my life." Zachary Bonder has been working with his mom selling pies on the side of the road in Warwick while she baked a few feet away in their kitchen they have five locations throughout Westchester giving each other space and being aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses There's also peace of mind in knowing they've got each other's backs More: Your definitive guide to waterfront, patio, dog-friendly dining in Westchester, Rockland "My mother and I have a deep soul connection," said Bonder "We're able to channel and understand each other's strengths and bring them out in each other," he said The best part (aside from the fact that pies make people happy) is that working together doesn't always feel like work Said Bonder: "We take care of each other." Reilly's Public House, PiermontIrish hospitality is at the heart of Anne and Kevin Reilly's mission "We want every guest to come here to feel like family," said Kevin who admits he learned that lesson from his mom Just as important: keeping their work and personal life separate we try to leave work at the door," said Anne "It’s important to me to still just enjoy being mom and son and that’s what keeps everything running smoothly." always dreamed of opening a cozy coffee shop where her 21-year-old son she's enjoyed teaching him new skills (POS system etiquette) while he's helped her and the staff maintain a positive "It's been a gift to see what we've created as a family," Humphrey said "Seeing him gain more confidence each day and witnessing the support of the community is truly amazing." Fans of high school musicals know that the season is all but over but Pedro's Open Mic on May 10 at Harrison High School is a chance to relive dozens of productions on one stage Presented by Harrison Central School District and hosted by Journal News/lohud reporter Peter D the open mic — more of an invited cabaret — is a celebration of the musical season holds off Quint's Brew to win the Westchester (G3)Chelsea Durand/NYRA outlasting Quint’s Brew to capture Sunday’s $175,000 Westchester (G3) Trained by Brad Cox, the 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo was twice graded placed as a sophomore, including a head loss to subsequent Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1) winner Arcangelo in the Peter Pan (G3) at Belmont Park Bishops Bay secured the victory with a determined pace-pressing trip engineered by Flavien Prat the two a perfect 3-for-3 together after a pair of wins at Oaklawn Park that included the restricted 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah last out on March 29 said Bishops Bay had impressed the team at Churchill Downs in recent weeks "He's been a really honest horse,” Dugas said “Everyone has been really high on him down in Kentucky He's only been up here for a couple days "I thought it was a good performance,” Dugas added He dug in well and didn't seem to mind being down on the inside there Bishops Bay was sharp from the inside post in the field of seven cruising up to challenge Tumbarumba and Quint’s Brew for the lead exiting the chute Tumbarumba was taken back by Hall of Famer John Velazquez to let the Mychel Sanchez-piloted Quint’s Brew mark the opening quarter-mile in a pressured 23.70 seconds over the muddy and sealed footing with Bishops Bay to his inside "He showed some good speed out of there to get a position,” Prat said “Then I thought that horse on the outside would be a lot faster than me and clear me I was happy to stay there and he was traveling well he was happy and showed a lot of grit." but Quint’s Brew responded and kept to even terms with his foe as they rounded the turn while Bank Frenzy was given his cue swinging wide around the frontrunners Bishops Bay came under a strong hand ride at the top of the lane with Bank Frenzy spinning his wheels and Quint’s Brew refusing to yield through three-quarters in 1:09.90 Bishops Bay was all-out at the eighth pole with Quint’s Brew threatening to sweep by the favorite with every stride but the Cox trainee found enough late to prevail by a half-length over the stubborn Quint’s Brew in a final time of 1:34.19 Yo Daddy rallied late to finish third 6 1/2 lengths back while a head better than Bank Frenzy Howgreatisnate and Tumbarumba completed the order of finish fresh off a three-win Saturday at Churchill Downs that included a victory aboard Zulu Kingdom in the Grade 1 American Turf said Bishops Bay has exciting potential in this division "It seems like he's getting everything together,” Prat said Sanchez said the Ned Allard-trained Quint’s Brew gave another strong performance on the heels of a neck second to Crazy Mason in the Grade 2 Carter presented by NYRA Bets on April 5 here The one [Bishops Bay] had a really good trip “I was hoping the two or three would show more speed and go with him It was just me and him through the whole race basically Once you compete against this level of horses in graded races it is never going to be easy -- hopefully someday we get it done." Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Bishops Bay is campaigned by Spendthrift Farm A $450,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale he is out of the dual graded stakes-placed Pioneerof the Nile mare Catch my Drift and is a half-brother to the Cox-trained Grade 2-winning millionaire Catching Freedom following Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch was a seven-figure auction purchase who went unraced before entering Godolphin's broodmare band storytellers Vienna Carroll and Keith Johnston created theatrical performances based on the lives of fictional characters from The Hills of West Harrison Westchester County’s biggest Black community in the mid-1800s Both are now aghast that Stoney Hill Cemetery the historic burial grounds for the African Americans who lived in The Hills is under threat by Mount Hope AME Zion Church which has put up for sale five of the cemetery site’s six acres is seeking $1.5 million for three building lots with the church preserving one acre for a memorial garden who developed the sketches while artists in residence at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers focused on The Hills’ involvement in the Civil War That’s when 36 of 52 able-bodied African American men from the community enlisted in the Union army after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863 Thirteen of them are buried at Stoney Hill Johnston said it was wrong for the church to liquidate most of the cemetery land which was part of property given to enslaved people freed by Quakers at the Purchase Meeting House in the late 1770s who will perform May 10 at the Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site in Yonkers “The Hills was a safe haven for the formerly enslaved people where our ancestors created beautiful structures and systems We need to hang on to every bit of what we can hang on to.” Carroll and Johnston are among a few African Americans in the region who have criticized Mount Hope AME for putting up for sale almost all of the six-acre cemetery site which is listed on the national and state registers of historic places While many of the graves are clustered along the African American Heritage Trail off Buckout Road historic preservationists say there's a good chance that burials were done throughout the six-acre site The muted response comes in stark contrast to the highly publicized uproar in 1999 and 2000 when the church unsuccessfully fought to gain clear title to the land after the town of Harrison claimed it was the rightful owner of the abandoned cemetery Harrison officials remain mum on the status of town's claim to ownership a quarter-century ago “It’s the indifference that’s alarming,” said Barbara Edwards who chairs Westchester County’s African American Advisory Board “There needs to be a groundswell of voices.”   The cemetery sale was discussed at the advisory board’s April meeting Edwards said she was disappointed that the church wants to cash in the historic cemetery lands “They seem more focused on greed than reverence,” she said Carroll said many in Westchester’s political and religious leadership have turned their backs to the historic African American burial ground in West Harrison “They aren’t good shepherds of the history of that land,” said Carroll who will perform on May 13 at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village “It needs to be made clear to them how vital it is to preserve that history They just want to speak about it as a real estate deal.” pastor of Mount Hope African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church who had earlier maintained the internments would not be disturbed The pastor who oversees 25 AME Zion churches in the Westchester region of Greater Centennial AME Zion Church in Mount Vernon Though Westchester County never owned the cemetery property in 2022 the county Board of Legislators approved granting a "quit claim" deed to Mount Hope AME Zion which county officials said was intended to clear up the title legislators were told by Smith and an historian who wrote about The Hills that granting the deed would help preserve the six-acre historic cemetery site There was no mention that the church wanted to sell most of it for a high-priced subdivision declined to say whether he knew about the church’s development intentions when he promoted the county’s quit claim deed transfer to the church Quit claim deeds are legal documents used to transfer property ownership from one party to another without any guarantees about who has the title or ownership which had considering buying the land in 1925 for its Silver Lake Preserve park so the deed gave up any interest others might think it had Boykin is among six African Americans on the 17-member Board of Legislators I recently reached out to Boykin and the five others said they were deferring to Boykin because the cemetery lies in his district The others declined comment or did not respond to the inquiry “We are following his lead,” said Woodson-Samuels citing his role as president of the influential New York State Association of Counties Boykin said that Mount Hope AME Zion was the rightful heir to the historic cemetery land He noted its ties to the long-defunct Asbury Colored People’s Church which had a chapel near many of the fieldstones that serve as unmarked gravestones The church’s foundation still stands in ruins It’s the same church with a different name.” the first African American to hold the post Jenkins said he'd take a look at the matter while county spokeswoman Catherine Cioffi said Westchester acknowledged "the deep legacy this land holds and remains committed to supporting efforts that preserve and protect sites of cultural and historic importance.” The Jenkins administration has yet to identify what efforts it supports to preserve and protect the Stoney Hill Cemetery Westchester document said graves could be across the six-acre siteThe county’s application for the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 stated there were at least 200 burials in the cemetery many of which were beyond the quarter-acre set aside for the burial area in the 1800s It stated there could be several hundred graves throughout the six-acre site said he would not object to the church selling part of the land Digging foundations in the rocky landscape and installing septic fields could disturb wide swathes of land “I wouldn’t object to the church’s selling part of the six-plus acres for good money to be used to further its mission of glorifying God by helping those in need,” he said “But I do hope the church is also doing the work that was the thrust of the historic ‘pitch’ to us on the board at time including identifying all the burial sites making sure any development of the property leaves those sites undisturbed and providing new markers from the VA for the deceased Union soldiers.” Carroll called the proposed sale “a travesty.”  She was concerned that the internments were not just in the one-acre area where many of the burials were clustered “I really wish there was more research done to find out how much of this area is sacred ground and where the bones are buried,” said Carroll “I can’t imagine you want to build your pool and your luxury home on top of the bones of people.”   said that the land in West Harrison was given to the enslaved people freed by the Quakers in the late 1770s following the signing of the Declaration of Independence He said the land in the community that would come to be know as the Hills was given as reparations for decades of enslavement He said many of the freed African Americans were given back pay for their years of servitude Close said the marketing of the cemetery lands has stunned many of the Purchase Quakers who supported Mount Hope’s bid to take clear title to the land in the late 1990s “We supported giving the land back to the White Plains church For them to sell that property blows my mind.”   and the poor condition of several rides following Standard Amusement's departure in February Standard terminated its contract just three years into a 30-year contract to both repair Playland's rides and maintain them The emergency declaration for "Playland Park Ride Maintenance" allows Westchester to hire the company without seeking bids for the work “In order to open the iconic Playland Amusement Park for a portion of the 2025 operation season the county will need to hire a company to inspect specific rides repair and thereafter maintain the rides,” said Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor in her emergency declaration “Standard’s abrupt departure leaves the county with little time to properly carry out all of this work.” O’Connor said that Standard left the county in the lurch “Standard left little or no spare parts in inventory in some cases did not properly winterize rides and a number of rides were left dis-assembled.” More: When will Playland open? Westchester's costs rise after private operator's departure County Executive Ken Jenkins last week said that Playland Park would open for 2025 but has yet to say when the amusement park will open or how much of the park Playland patrons will be able to enjoy “It’s very possible that Standard did leave it in a very dire situation,” she said Standard has insisted that it left the amusement park equipment in good condition upon its departure "This mess is what you get when you fail to put contingencies in place," she said "Competent leadership would have done exactly that we're watching a trainwreck in slow motion and the taxpayers are getting hosed for a no bid contract Ken Jenkins has been running the county for the past 8 years The responsibility for this debacle is his alone." A county spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment has installed hundreds of roller coasters around the world and played a key role in reviving Coney Island’s Luna Park in 2010 The county owns 11 rides manufactured by Zamperla as well as several more manufactured by another company that is no longer in business was among the bidders passed over in 2015 when the administration of County Executive Rob Astorino selected Standard Amusements to manage the nation’s only publicly owned amusement park Zamperla’s website notes “We take fun very seriously,” adding that “We understand that amusement is a serious matter and the safety of those enjoying our rides is our top priority We embrace complete responsibility for our work ensuring that every ride we create is not just thrilling but also safe “Zamperla has not only familiarity with the rides but has expertise and ability to provide parts and maintenance,” wrote O’Connor How much Zamperla will charge the county remains to be seen O’Connor said the county won’t know how much work has to be done until Zamperla’s team “has an opportunity to complete and price the work.” The condition of Playland has emerged as a hot issue in the 2025 campaign for county executive Sculti this week criticized Jenkins for his role while serving as deputy county executive under George Latimer in reworking the agreement with Standard Amusements inked during the tenure of County Executive Rob Astorino in 2016 and was elected in February to serve the final year of Latimer’s unexpired term He’s facing Sculti for a full four-year term in November Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A social worker was forcibly removed from a town hall hosted by Rep prompting an outcry from attendees and local progressive groups Social worker Emily Feiner is removed from Rep a resident of New York’s 17th Congressional District and local social worker was reportedly singled out by private security and physically dragged out of the event according to a statement from the New York Working Families Party a Republican who represents New York's 17th Congressional District represents all of Rockland and Putnam counties Chair of the Westchester-Putnam Working Families Party captures the moment Feiner was removed from the venue Attendees can be heard chanting “let her stay” and “shame Cabrera was also asked to leave shortly after filming the video Lawler's Director of Communications Ciro Riccardi Feiner was asked to leave after "repeatedly engaging in abusive and combative behavior with staff "She was escorted from the auditorium when she continually refused to comply with New York State Troopers," Riccardi continued We are now accepting applications for the NYS Trooper Entrance Exam! Please visit joinstatepolice.ny.gov to learn more. Westchester County, NY – On April 29, 2025, at approximately 2:50 p.m., Troopers assigned to Interstate 684 were alerted to a stolen vehicle traveling northbound. Troopers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver failed to comply and continued to flee. The suspect vehicle exited Interstate 684 at Exit 6A, where it sideswiped an uninvolved vehicle. The operator of the uninvolved vehicle was evaluated at the scene and did not require additional medical attention. Shortly after exiting the highway, the suspect vehicle lost control and crashed into a guardrail and embankment. The driver fled the scene on foot but was quickly located and taken into custody following a brief perimeter search. The suspect was charged with the following: There is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active, and no further information is being released at this time, including the identity of the suspect. Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations Westchester County officials don’t know when the storied Playland amusement park will open for the summer season after a messy breakup with the park’s former management company county officials blamed a prior Republican administration for the park’s “heartbreaking” condition accusing former leaders of cutting a “one-sided” deal with Standard that ultimately leaves taxpayers on the hook “This is exactly what happens when someone with a radical ideology and no understanding of how budgets and contracts are built seeks an executive position,” Westchester County Communications Director Catherine Cioffi said Cioffi said the original "sweetheart" deal that she said was struck under former County Executive Rob Astorino and brokered by Christine Sculti ultimately cost taxpayers about $125 million — far more than the $30 million initially promised Sculti — now a candidate for county executive — blamed current County Executive Kenneth Jenkins for Playland’s uncertain future in a social media post “Imagine making taxpayers pay $36 million to NOT open Playland!” she wrote referencing a proposed bond to repay Standard Amusements after the park’s management deal fell apart “What the heck is Ken Jenkins doing to our county?” During his “State of the County” address last week, Jenkins said he intends to open Playland in some form this summer, but offered no specifics on timing or which rides and attractions would be available. “Playland is more than just a park; it is a cherished treasure, the crown jewel of Westchester — a place where memories are made, and community thrives,” Jenkins said. “Despite the legal challenges we face with Standard Amusements, on a bad deal handed to us by a previous administration, a deal that I ultimately voted against because it requires the county to repay all of Standard Amusements’ investments, my intentions remain to open Playland for the 2025 season.” If the park fails to open, it would mark only the second time Playland has missed a full season in its nearly 100-year history. The first was during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Westchester county executive’s office, as well as representatives for Playland, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Trump administration is imposing ideological conditions to federal funding. NYC and 7 other cities say that's illegal. Diabetes-related amputations in the Bronx are 60% higher than the city as a whole. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Gothamist is a website about New York City news The column was updated to reflect new information Kathryn and Walter Burke looked forward with great excitement to Playland’s 2025 season They'd bought season passes from Standard Amusements with plans to spend weekends at the park with their daughters and four grandchildren The Burkes love Playland. Kathryn wrote a history of Playland in 2008 and the Burkes took their children to Playland often in the 1980s with Walter thrilled to see his kids ride the rides he once rode in the 1960s and those thrilling descents on the Dragon Coaster and Log Flume who are expecting a refund on their passes from Standard Amusements have rethought their plans for Mother’s Day weekend Westchester had yet to say when the county-owned amusement park will open following the abrupt departure of the private management firm in February just three years into its 30-year privatization deal and that’s where we were going to be,” said Kathryn Burke “I don’t think that’s happening this year.” Just days after Westchester's parks department held a job fair to hire for Playland summer work County Executive Ken Jenkins declared that the park will open in his April 23 State of the County address did not set a date for the park’s opening nor did he say how much of the amusement park would be open to Playland patrons Related: 'Everybody's going down to Playland Park': As uncertainty looms, Playland remains iconic Westchester County faces big Playland costsThe Burkes’ disappointment comes as Westchester County digs itself out the ruins of the failed privatization agreement The deal was conceived during the administration of then-County Executive Rob Astorino in 2016 and was carried out under a revised pact after former County Executive George Latimer failed in his bid to scuttle the agreement in 2018 Westchester taxpayers are left holding the bag for as much as $186 million in Playland debt incurred during the privatization deal and its aftermath There's $150 million borrowed for Playland upgrades and at least $36 million to be borrowed to pay Standard Amusements in the deal's dissolution The county will be paying it off for up to 20 years The status of property taxation at the park remains in play including the tax status of the Tiki Beach restaurant and a $2.2 million refund the city of Rye says it's owed by the Rye City Schools Playland has emerged as an issue in the race for Westchester County Executive this year who served as deputy county executive during Standard Amusements' tenure as park manager "As someone who grew up across the street from Playland and worked there to help pay for my schooling it is heartbreaking to see what Ken Jenkins has done to our beloved park," said Sculti Westchester taxpayers may be on the hook for $36 million owed to Standard Amusements A combination of a potential $36 million budget hit to Standard plus the lost Playland revenue would be catastrophic to the county's finances." The Jenkins administration placed the blame on Sculti and Westchester Republicans who conceived the deal in 2016 “We all agree — the state Standard Amusements left Playland in is absolutely heartbreaking and it’s the direct result of the sweetheart deal Christine Sculti struck with Standard Amusements when she and then-County Executive Rob Astorino were desperately trying to unload public treasures at the expense of our County’s most cherished residents — our children," said county Director of Communications Catherine Cioffi one-sided deal that sold out taxpayers and left the County holding the bag — having to return 100% of Standard Amusements’ investment That’s why County Executive Ken Jenkins voted against this agreement in 2016 when he was on the Board of Legislators." More taxpayer investments may be necessary Cioffi confirmed that Playland’s repair crew is working on damage to rides over the winter after Standard Amusement failed to adequately winterize their mechanical systems An earlier county ride safety audit found that Standard had insufficient staff to perform standard maintenance county report to Standard detailed repairs that had yet to be made A Standard Amusements spokeswoman denied that the company cut back on maintenance as it contemplated terminating the 30-year agreement Standard Amusements prioritized both the improvement and maintenance of rides to the highest standard including the winterization of rides after the end of the 2024 season consistent with both previous years and industry standards," according to a statement "This is yet another baseless claim from the County to try to distract from its own failures to prioritize Playland.” appears on target to have a full opening for Playland Beach on Long Island Sound Playland regulars and seasonal employees are hoping it opens by Memorial Day weekend Among the prospective seasonal employees for the aquatics venues was Malakai Hulcome who lined up with 40 other jobseekers outside the Westchester County Center on April 19 at the county’s Playland Job Fair “I’m hoping to find out today,” said Hulcome a Mount Vernon High School junior who wanted to work as a cashier at a Playland food concession Also seeking work was pensioner Bob Maliszewski has collected parking fees at the Playland entrance with fellow retiree a former shop steward with Teamsters Local 456 said he was looking forward to another summer greeting motorists at the gate “I’m reliable and show up on time,” said Maliszewski The privatization deal spawned a spate of lawsuits over the taxable status of the county-owned park once Standard Amusement took over management in 2022 A ruling by the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in Brooklyn in April rejected the city of Rye’s contention that the amusement park should pay city school and county taxes on land it valued at more than $200 million The city of Rye will not appeal the ruling The court agreed with Westchester that the management agreement did not transfer ownership of the park to the private company Yet to be decided as of late April was the fate of $2.2 million that the city of Rye paid the Rye City school district in the middle of the Playland legal battle Standard Amusements and Westchester County did not pay their tax bill to the Rye school district during the pendency of the litigation over the tax exemption Now the city of Rye is now seeking a refund from the schools because the property was found to be tax-exempt said it's akin to a private business that pays its property taxes even as it challenges the taxable status of its property “We are in the shoes of a taxpayer who has overpaid by 100%,” she said “The school district doesn't get to keep the improper tax money has yet to decide whether it will return the $2.2 million that the city of Rye paid to cover the shortfall That payment was based on what turned out to be the city’s improper taxation of the Playland amusement park Rye City Superintendent of Schools Eric Byrne said the board has yet to meet with its legal counsel to determine next steps Westchester taxpayers out $36 million — and maybe moreWhile the property tax issue appears near settlement the cost of running the nation’s only publicly-owned amusement park continues to rise Dissolution of the management contract with Standard came with a payment of $36 million to cover Standard's investment during its short tenure An additional $21 million could be possible depending on what an arbitration panel of three retired judges decides in August said Westchester County Attorney John Nonna If Westchester is found liable for defaulting on the contract Standard Amusements and its investors will receive at total of $57 million Westchester had argued that Standard can be terminated from the contract — without the additional $21 million payment – because the company announced in January it was done with running Playland “We are claiming that Standard was in default,” said Nonna Jenkins has urged the Board of Legislators to approve borrowing up to $36 million by May 20 to pay Standard Amusements and avoid interest penalties of 18% “This will prevent interest from accruing on the $36 million which would save the county a substantial sum of money in the long run,” said Jenkins and less than a month before the interest kicks in the Board of Legislators will meet May 5 to decide whether to move forward on the $36 million payment to avoid interest The three committees will discuss the issue on the morning of May 5 with a vote expected before the full board that evening Another tax issue remains at the park: the city of Rye’s assessment that places a taxable value of $1.3 million on the Tiki Beach restaurant which Standard Amusements managed during its three-year stint which is located on Westchester County property Both Standard and Westchester County sued to restore the tax-exemption Kristin Wilson said the tax exemption for the restaurant was revoked in 2011 with three Rye City assessors keeping it on the taxable assessment roll There was a settlement of a tax grievance in 2021 with the city signing off on the reduced assessment She said the county has again filed to moved the restaurant from the tax rolls But Wilson said the restaurant is a private business that operates outside of the amusement park and would not be subject to the recent appeals court decision “The restaurant isn’t dependent on the amusement park,” said Wilson “The restaurant will be operated this summer and the amusement park may or may not open.” The restaurant case remains pending before state Supreme Court Justice Ann Minihan who was the author of the decision that found Playland remained tax-exempt while under Standard’s management Mike Lawler is holding another town hall one week after a large raucous forum in Rockland County where constituents grilled the second-term Republican as police removed some attendees for disrupting the event Lawler's second town hall of the year is in Westchester County Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School in Somers He plans to hold two more in Putnam and Dutchess counties in June; their dates and locations haven't been announced yet His forum at Clarkstown South High School on April 27 lasted 90 minutes and was boisterous from start to finish Lawler faced a barrage of angry questions — and boos — about Trump administration actions and Republican budget-cutting plans countered at times by cheers from his supporters in an audience of several hundred people How many people are being allowed into the Westchester town hall is unclear. The event was marked as "sold out" on the online sign-up page not long after the venue was announced on social media last Friday night Lawler's office set the same rules for the Westchester event as for Rockland's Only residents of New York's 17th Congressional District are allowed to attend and they must show identification at the door to verify their address and police or private security guards may remove anyone who violates rules Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced Friday was convicted at trial this week of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and separately in the third degree for which he could face life in prison due to previous felony offenses The announcement follows the Trump administration’s commitment since inauguration to curb repeat offenders of felony crimes She said this represents Thomas’ third such conviction for a designated felony offense rendering him a “persistent violent felony offender,” and that under the law he is required to be sentenced to an indeterminate sentence for which the maximum term must be life imprisonment Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27 before Westchester County Court Judge Maurice D “The defendant has had ample opportunity during the course of his life to find a better path,” Cacace said he chose to revert to criminality time and time again individuals who repeatedly flout the most serious criminal laws are given carceral penalties that match the severity of their conduct.” “There is no question that gun violence remains among the most persistent problems we face as a society today We must use every tool at our disposal to protect Westchester residents from its attendant harms.” according to Westchester County prosecutors members of the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) New Rochelle Office with assistance from the Yonkers Police Department’s Gang Unit They said Thomas had been on parole for an attempted criminal possession of a weapon conviction from 2018 and said a Taurus 9 mm semi-automatic pistol loaded with nine cartridges was discovered during the search We asked the Westchester DA’s office for details of Thomas’s prior arrests/convictions and will share any additional information we receive a White House proclamation to mark National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from the Office of the President read in part “To aid the righteous mission of the men and women in blue my Administration is committed to enhancing legal protections for law enforcement officers I am also asking the Congress for a new crime bill that will get tough on repeat offenders while enhancing protection for our law enforcement officials so they can do their jobs without fear of their lives being destroyed.” be a country where the blessings of life and peace exist freely in our homes Our citizens will be able to live without the threat of getting robbed as we honor the lives of victims and their families I reaffirm my solemn pledge to build a safer and more secure Nation for citizens of every race the Westchester County Department of Labs and Research and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety for their work on the case which is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Counsel Brian Bendish and Assistant District Attorney Celia Curtis View current print edition Click here to read our disclaimer >> Mike Wasserman There’s no line on a map dividing northern and southern Westchester There are a lot more people on the southern side of the county it’s also easier to find great places to eat New York 10560">.css-56eu0z{width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;line-height:1em;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray100);vertical-align:middle;fill:currentColor;}721 Titicus Rd North Salem La Bastide opened in February 2024, in the same farmhouse location as the much-loved Cenadou It occupies the lower level of the property and offers multi-course tasting menus at luxury price points seafood-focused dishes you’ll likely talk about for days like a charcoal sea bass served on a personal-size ceramic grill with a sake and clam sauce The husband and wife team (who moved from NYC to run both restaurants onsite) have peppered in little touches that make the space feel cozy despite the formal setting like leather wrapped tables and chairs oriented to face the wooded outdoor property French Westchester PlayUnmutePurdy’s Farmer & The FishAmerican We’ll forgive you for assuming this spot is just another charming It’s true they build the menu around what they grow on-site and the way-north farmhouse location dates back to the 1770s Purdy’s Farmer & The Fish has been a local go-to for years and it’s kind of a scene—the crowd looks younger Follow the menu’s lead and focus on the fish dishes (one of the owners also operates a seafood distributor that supplies this spot and a sister location further south in Westchester) You can also take advantage of the farmstead location by dining out on the porch in the warmer months and grabbing a drink by the fire pits that they set up in the winter BBQ Securing great barbecue often comes with a catch like required pre-ordering or the patience to wait in a very long line you won’t have to dedicate hours to your meal But you will have to venture to the second floor of a grocery store—DeCiccos Westchester’s favorite booming chain—and only on Thursday or Friday The reward: a short menu of juicy smoked meats plus a smashburger and some deep fried boneless wings in a buttery sauce that’ll force you to construct a giant napkin graveyard The upstairs space has a large bar full of highlights from DeCiccos’ massive craft beer selection with the BBQ operation tucked in a corner of the bar If you want more menu options (and more hours) Smokehouse has two other full-time locations further south If you’re hungry and fabulous in Northern Westchester This upscale country inn reopened in 2024 after a significant renovation with changes that include new management for the two onsite restaurants and a new chef Your primary option is Bedford Post Tavern which serves dinner in a stylish update of the property’s original farmhouse with a menu that skews more swanky bistro than local saloon We like the Tavern’s mains more than the starters This makes sense given the chef’s background—he owns his own ice cream company—but despite knowing the dessert bona fides we were still blown away by the milk chocolate and peanut butter parfait PlayUnmuteThe Inn at Pound RidgeABC Kitchen’s weekend house and neither do the staff’s expertly pressed plaid shirts and anecdotes about peekytoe crab Virtually every dish features a mix of textures and flavors that feel engineered to release some dopamine so give in and order a perfectly sized pizza to share so you’ll probably end up grabbing a drink at the bar while waiting to be seated either in the grand upstairs dining room with high ceilings and lots of light Reservations are much easier to come by for weekend brunch than dinner and you can still experience most of the menu’s greatest hits alongside a handful of brunch classics The Kitchen TableAproposJewel of Himalaya34 Triangle Ctr Yorktown Heights Nepali Jewel of Himalaya is a strip mall spot that’s always busy with people dining in and taking out They do traditional Tibetan and Nepalese food as well as excellent versions of dishes from China and India Definitely get a soup—we love the dal and the thendup which includes flat noodles cut by hand in a rich broth along with chicken or beef The momos are the only thing on the menu that don’t always land for us but any place where we can assemble a gently priced feast of Himalayan curry and vegetable fried noodles is a place that makes our regular rotation LMNOP BakeryBakery/Cafe Remember those three weeks when you were a sourdough baker That loaf you were workshopping has been perfected at LMNOP a country-chic bakery that sits on the main strip in downtown Katonah The sourdough breads made with freshly milled flour have earned them a lot of attention but feel free to grab a cup of coffee and a croissant or whatever looks good—everything we’ve tried here has made us close our eyes with joy All the baked goods are made onsite on the second floor where some of those breads are also transformed into premade sandwiches Just be prepared: Even though the Katonah locals look friendly their sharp elbows come out when one of the 20 or so coveted seats open up King KoneIce Cream roadside window service joint has been offering epic soft serve since the 1950s The current owners took over more than 20 years ago The full King Kone experience includes navigating the hectic parking lot and remembering to bring cash (or getting bailed out by Venmo) and we can’t think of a better way to enjoy the good weather once they open in April than by pulling up grabbing a generous soft serve with sprinkles and savoring every moment while you battle your melting reward BadageoniGeorgian is the adjaruli khachapuri: the country’s national dish oval-shaped bread vessel filled with cheese and the staff are excited to introduce you to some less obvious menu items and save room for some of the heartier plates a tender lamb slow-cooked in white whine broth with tarragon and sour plums The space has a warm and inviting energy despite straightforward décor which is just the right backdrop to soak in the Georgian pop music playing overhead Mt Kisco DinerBrothers Fish & ChipsSeafood Brothers Fish & Chips sounds like it could be a waterfront shack but it’s actually an out-of-the-way seafood refuge in an Ossining strip mall There’s a full-service restaurant next door to the original Brothers takeout spot beer-battered fish and other fried marine life The relaxed and friendly restaurant has a DIY-meets-deluxe aesthetic and the tasting menu of the day may include dishes served with dehydrated chimichurri or mezcal tomato sauce enhanced by details like edible flowers grown onsite and cocktails made with fresh juices There’s also a short list of a la carte options each day and themed dinners throughout the year that are worth checking out PlayUnmuteCrabtree’s Kittle House Bia American KitchenRocky’s Millwood DeliSandwiches go anywhere upstate on the Taconic Parkway or have ever driven someone home from a house party and rumor has it they haven’t locked the front door or turned off the lights in over 23 years The specialty sandwiches (known as wedges in these parts) are the way to go Select one of the chicken cutlet-based greatest hits to show you’re a Rocky’s pro There’s almost always a crowd of 30-and-under types milling around and a throng of friendly staff behind the counter ready to oblige PlayUnmutePubstreetBlue Hill At Stone BarnsGoosefeatherChinese a Hong Kong-style Cantonese barbeque and noodle place set in a manor house on an estate in Tarrytown There are multiple dining rooms with art deco ceilings and chandeliers It’s the kind of spot that rewards repeat visits and you can attack the menu in a few different ways: load up on vegetables and dim sum focus on noodles and rice dishes to go with the barbecued meats or stop by the bar for strong cocktails and small bites Among the visual Easter eggs is a treat for New York Yankee fans: a framed photo of former pitching legend (and partial namesake) Rich “Goose” Gossage hung in a strategic location and possibly the best farm-to-table restaurant on the planet Our favorite spots in the upper Hudson Valley from Beacon to Kinderhook and lots of towns in between and breweries for an excellent weekend getaway to the mountains Westchester restaurants that took on one of the largest beer distributorships in the U.S have won a $5.75 million class action settlement for small businesses that had paid an obscure 10-cents deposit fee District Court Judge Cathy Seibel approved the settlement against Manhattan Beer Distributors on April 24 this case has been distinguished by its intensely litigated proceedings,” one of the restaurants’ attorneys stated in a declaration that describes the settlement sells beer and beverages throughout New York City The case was filed originally in 2022 by Armonk House a defunct restaurant that claimed small businesses were being charged an extra 10 cents per case of beer while bigger customers The extra dime per case added up to an extra $2.25 million every year for small businesses Village Social Restaurant Group – including Village Social restaurants in Mount Kisco and Rye and Pubstreet in Pleasantville – eventually joined the lawsuit and vice president Michael McCarthy also were named as defendants The restaurants claimed that their invoices improperly included an extra dime per case that was combined with the state-mandated $1.20 per case bottle recycling fee was for cardboard mother cartons: large shipping boxes that protect smaller containers The restaurants calculated that the billing practice had cost small businesses nearly $9.4 million Judge Seibel sustained charges of racketeering She dismissed charges of unjust enrichment public nuisance and violation of the state’s Bottle Bill Manhattan Beer denied that it had done anything wrong but a year ago it voluntarily acknowledged $2.6 million in overcharges and began issuing separate invoices for cardboard deposits The $2.6 million in credits are in addition to the $5.75 million settlement in effect bringing the total settlement to $8,350,000 Judge Seibel also approved a $1,916,666 legal fee for the restaurants’ attorneys at Wittels McInturff Palilovic This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" CNN (CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday while receiving the John F Paul O’Shea repeated as the winner of the $125,000 Old Salem Farm Grand.. Trending Westchester Westchester County has issued an emergency order to expedite the reopening of Playland amusement park after a messy fallout with its former operator The order allows the county to skip competitive bidding and hire Zamperla, Inc., a global amusement ride manufacturer, to inspect, repair and maintain rides ahead of the 2025 season. The company, which also worked on Coney Island's recent renovations County leaders said the move was necessary after Standard abruptly terminated its contract and left the nearly 100-year-old park in disrepair “Standard left little or no spare parts in inventory,” the order reads adding that “a number of rides were left disassembled” or not properly winterized The emergency intervention follows weeks of political finger-pointing County officials have accused a prior Republican administration of striking a lopsided deal that leaves taxpayers responsible for repaying Standard’s investments. A Standard spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Current County Executive Kenneth Jenkins has pledged to open the park in some form this summer. If it doesn’t open, it would mark only the second time Playland has missed a full season — the last being in 2020 due to the pandemic. Playland is located in Rye, about 30 miles north of Manhattan. Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected]. Mayor Adams announced $1.6 million in funding for the "SilentShield" buttons that will be installed in 500 bodegas in the coming months. A new report from the city’s Charter Revision Commission suggests ways the city could streamline development. The proposals could appear on the November ballot. Danny Cycles in Scarsdale is the official Bicycle Sponsor The event attracts more than 60,000 residents and visitors each year Residents and visitors this year can enjoy earlier hours on Sundays in June and July as noted below: Welcome, Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog OutDriver crashes into entrance of bookstore in WestchesterFriday 2025A driver slammed into the front of a bookstore in Westchester overnight leaving behind significant damage.WESTCHESTER LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A driver slammed into the front of a bookstore in Westchester overnight Friday at The Book Jewel on La Tijera Boulevard It's unclear what led up to the crash but it caused the vehicle to burst into flames The driver was apparently not seriously injured New York state had the most reported incidents of antisemitism in the nation in 2024, and Westchester County had a 22% increase in incidents from the previous year, according to data from the Anti-Defamation League New York state's 1,437 antisemitic incidents were the most the ADL has recorded in the state, its annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents said. “Antisemitism is a problem that can only be fought together with our friends and allies in government and in our communities," Michael Mittelman "We are grateful for ADL's continuing efforts to shine a light on this important issue and for everyone in Westchester who joins with us to address it." Westchester: Yom HaShoah commemoration in White Plains features rescued Torah scrolls Westchester’s increase in reported antisemitic incidents was not the trend in other counties neighboring New York City down 31% (Nassau County’s 60 incidents were down 36% and Suffolk County’s 62 incidents were down 26%).Antisemitic violence in New York "has reached levels unprecedented in recent history," the ADL’s report said The state has the country's highest Jewish population and accounts for nearly one-third of all antisemitic assaults nationally The report said targeting of Orthodox Jews has become a particular concern "with Brooklyn alone — home to numerous Orthodox Jewish communities — accounting for 39% of all assaults in the state." The number of antisemitic incidents a year has increased across the nation since 2014, and set records in each year of 2019 through 2023, USA TODAY reported. What's changed in the 2025 ADL antisemitism reportThe ADL noted in its report’s methodology that after Oct it started to include in the statistics "certain expressions of opposition to Zionism as well as support for violent resistance against Israel or Zionists that could be perceived as supporting terrorism or attacks on Jews According to a USA TODAY report the change in methodology following the Hamas attack on Israel means the total number of incidents before that date are not comparable with the number recorded after it we periodically update our methodology.” The spokesperson added “Those changes reflect the current state of antisemitism and the impact that some anti-Zionist activity is having on the American Jewish community.” Rockland: Residents honor the millions of people murdered during Holocaust Remembrance Day The ADL's audit report of 2024 statistics said “anti-Israel animus played an unprecedented role in antisemitic incidents in the U.S.,” and that for the first time in the annual report a majority of antisemitic incidents "included elements related to Israel or Zionism a trend that reflects the impact of geopolitics on domestic antisemitism." The report said the ADL takes care to not conflate general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism support for Palestinian rights or expressions of opposition to Israeli policies are not included in the audit," the report said extreme actors in the anti-Israel space have incorporated antisemitic rhetoric into their activism and it has become commonplace for perpetrators across the political spectrum to voice hatred of Israel or conspiracy theories about the state in a range of antisemitic attacks," the report said and was the first ICE arrest-apprehension in the county in 2025 Garfield is listed on the NY State Sex Offender Registry he was arrested and found guilty of third-degree criminal sexual act with a victim less than 17-years-old and first-degree dissemination of indecent material to minors Garfield lawfully entered the county through JFK Airport in 2011 but never left after his temporary visa expired An ICE Spokesperson confirmed Patrick’s arrest on April 6 for violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act and remains in ICE custody pending deportation Patrick was convicted in White Plains City Court in 2019 He has listed addresses on the Sex Registry most recently in Mt The White House highlighted Patrick’s case among 20 other criminals apprehended by ICE under President Trump “These Sick Criminals Are Who Democrats and the Legacy Media Are Defending,” The White House writes “Brutal killers and rapists— all taken off our streets in just the past week thanks to the tireless work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “If Democrats and the legacy media had their way these sick criminals would still be roaming free Here are just a few of the depraved criminal illegal immigrants ICE has arrested in the past several days:“ Patrick was listed as Patrick Malston Garfield but according to the sex registry his name in Malston Patrick The American Immigration Council estimates that there are more than 600,000 undocumented illegal immigrants living in New York State ICE has arrested more than 41,000 illegal residents over the first 100 days of the Trump administration Note: ICE did not issue a release on Patrick’s arrest on April 6 Only The White House release which included Patrick was when media reports picked up the story James Kaishian is the highest earning K-12 educator in Westchester Should anyone working in one of the 37 school districts in Westchester County be earning more than $300,000 per year who recently released their list of educators across New York State who made more than $200,000 per year the Superintendent of the Briarcliff Manor school district Kaishian is the top earning educator in Westchester according to the Empire Centers SeeThroughNY.net portal Kaishian is one of 12 Westchester educators making more than $300,00 per year the former Superintendent of the Greenburgh-Graham school in Hastings Levy is the former Superintendent because he was charged by Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace is misusing school district funds for personal use Eric Byrne-Superintendent Rye City school district-$329,177 Katonah-Lewisboro school district-$306,217 Note: Rodriguez was named interim Superintendent during the 2023-24 school year The public educator pay data are based on Fiscal Year 2023-24 salary information reported to New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) which covers 239,254 public school teachers and administrators employed outside New York City also includes pay records for 139,121 school district employees who are members of the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS).A total of 75,056 school district employees received six figure compensation – representing nearly one-third (31.3%) of NYSTRS educators The majority (76 percent) of those employees who received six-figure compensation were employed in downstate suburban districts including 33,834 on Long Island and 18,622 in Westchester a now retired Assistant Superintendent at the Jericho Union Free School District received the highest total pay of $599,524 who recently retired as the Deputy Superintendent at South Colonie Central School District topped the list with a total pay of $443,517.The average for full-time employees – defined here as any employee paid more than the annualized lowest statewide minimum wage – during the 2023-2024 school year was $94,732 Full-time employees on Long Island and in the Mid-Hudson region earned the highest average pay at $116,066 and $110,830 respectively the Western New York Region was the highest paying region ($81,891); the lowest paying region was the North Country ($71,127).Full-time NYSTRS members in 202 school districts averaged more than $100,000 in pay – the highest being Scarsdale Union Free School District ($149,705) where nearly 90 percent of its 530 educators received over $100,000.