On this week's editorial roundup, host Brett Freeman welcomes back our Halston Media newspaper editors: Brian Marschhauser, editor of Yorktown News and The Katonah Lewisboro Times; Tom Walogorsky, editor of North Salem News and The Somers Record; and Bob Dumas, editor of Mahopac News. 

They begin by discussing the recent flooding around Lake Mahopac, local events being planned to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and a moving military tribute held by the Yorktown Lions Club. They review upcoming plans to reduce rush hour congestion on Route 684, as indicated by the New York State Department of Transportation. Walogorsky shares an exciting development regarding The Schoolhouse Theater in North Salem, and Marschhauser shares an update on the January 2021 arrest of former Yorktown highway superintendent and former Chamber of Commerce president, Eric DiBartolo.

Next, Dumas talks about his personal experience contracting COVID this past week, and moving forward as he finishes up his 14-day quarantine. He also touches on his upcoming story about three Mahopac and Carmel heroes who helped with the Rescue and Recovery on 9/11, and what the 20th anniversary means to them. You’ll hear about local efforts to reduce the stigma around opioid addiction and overdose, and today’s conversation wraps up with a preview of our editors’ fantastic stories to come.

Episode Highlights:

• Three editors from the Halston Media team join the show today to discuss current news and headlines 
• Brian Marschhauser, editor of Yorktown News and The Katonah Lewisboro Times; Tom Walogorsky, editor of North Salem News and The Somers Record; and Bob Dumas, editor of Mahopac News
• Flooding around Lake Mahopac
• Local events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001
• Yorktown Lions Club tribute to the 13 soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan
• Department of Transportation plans to ease rush hour traffic on Route 684
• Enormous cost of road projects and repaving
• The town of North Salem has officially voted to take ownership of The Schoolhouse Theater
• Update on Eric DiBartolo arrest in January 2021
• Dumas has worked through several health issues through the pandemic, most recently COVID
• In addition to the symptoms that come along with COVID, the virus has also exacerbated pre-existing health issues
• Dumas contracted COVID despite being vaccinated, and he is thankful that he only developed a mild case of it
• Many firemen and policemen in Carmel and Mahopac assisted with the Ground Zero Rescue and Recovery on 9/11
• The 20th anniversary is bringing up emotional memories for them
• August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day
• Drug Crisis in Our Backyard aims to remove the stigma around opioid addiction and overdose
• Volunteer Ambulance Corps is finally able to recruit new volunteers as COVID restrictions are gradually lifted
• In getting ready to re-open, the Par 3 Golf Course in Yorktown clear cut an estimated 80 trees without permit or approval from the Conservation Board
• This has slowed down construction significantly
• Residents and gold enthusiasts are excited for the golf course to open

Quotes

“That area floods every time there is a significant rainstorm, of course. The engineers plan on fixing that and repairing that.”

“The New York State Department of Transportation concluded its study which was many, many months in the making. They concluded that the best option to ease rush hour congestion [on Route 684] would be to add a fourth lane for rush hour traffic, but it's not a permanent lane in both directions. This would be kind of a flexible lane.”

“It just shows you how expensive all these projects are. I mean, we are doing stuff nationwide down, though - stuff that needs to be done. But it's mind-blowing how much this stuff costs.”

“This is one of those awesome situations where it's going to be a very big win for everybody. I know that the town board is excited about it.”

“[Former Yorktown highway superintendent and former Chamber of Commerce president, Eric DiBartolo] is accused of stealing about $15,000 worth of merchandise in the Home Depot in Cortland. He allegedly worked in concert with an employee to do this skipping scam where he would bring his items to the cash register. The guy would scan only one or two of the items in the full cart, and he would walk out with the rest.”

“It's been a week since [COVID] hit me. And this is the first day in maybe a week that I felt semi-normal.”

“I did not lose a sense of smell and taste. But I did lose my appetite. I just was not interested in eating.”

“We have three different folks - two of them are from Mahopac, one’s from Carmel. I think our readers are really going to enjoy hearing their stories about what these heroes basically did in the wake of the 9/11 attack.”

“The whole idea was to remove the stigma [of opioid addiction]. People understand that this is a health issue, not a moral issue.”

“People can be very cruel on social media. And I feel like if you can't say something face-to-face with someone and have a real conversation, don't say it on social media either.”

“They don't view it as a sacrifice. They view it as something they get to do, not have to do. And I think that's really important for people to understand.”

“I think a lot of people - they want to go play on this golf course. But if it's covered in water, you can’t.”

Links:

Halston Media Group website