Reporter Nick Trujillo of Yorktown News and The Katonah Lewisboro Times joins Tom Walogorsky, editor of North Salem News and The Somers Record, as well as Bob Dumas, editor of Mahopac News, for this week’s editorial roundup with host Brett Freeman. Trujillo begins with the sudden and tragic loss of Emily Rose Storm, who died by suicide on October 10. Trujillo also talks about the “Festival for Our Future,” which was held at the Lewisboro Town Park, and gives an update on the 2022 budget for Yorktown, as well as the appointment of new assistant superintendent in Lakeland, Dr. Tracy Norman.

Next Walogorsky tells the panel about a possible new business development in Somers as well as the mixed responses this proposal is receiving from residents, then touches on a number of fundraising events being held in North Salem. The show concludes as Dumas breaks down preliminary budgets put forth in Carmel, the recent revitalization of the Fairways & Gateway Summit project, and how the pandemic has affected home designs for builders and architects moving forward.

Episode Highlights:

• Reporter Nick Trujillo of Yorktown News and The Katonah Lewisboro Times, as well as Tom Walogorsky, editor of North Salem News and The Somers Record, and Bob Dumas, editor of Mahopac News, join today’s weekly editorial roundup to discuss current news and headlines
• Sudden and tragic death of Emily Rose Storm, a transgender first responder who called the Katonah-Lewisboro area home and was formerly known as Nicholas Arthur Kapla
• A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Emily’s sister, Valerie Kaplan, has raised over $43,000
• You can also support Emily’s family by contributing to the Trevor Project
• “Festival for Our Future” was held in Lewisboro on October 23
• Yorktown 2022 Budget update
• Appointment of new assistant superintendent in Lakeland, Dr. Tracy Norman
• Possible new Tractor Supply Co. in Somers and mixed responses from residents
• Fundraisers in North Salem
• Carmel budget update, tax rates
• Real estate inventory has dried up, revitalizing old housing projects like the Fairways & Gateway Summit
• More people are working from home, which builders and architects are now factoring into their designs and plans
• Supply chain crisis and its impact on pricing, availability

Quotes

“[Valerie Kaplan] wanted to celebrate Emily's life and her legacy. It seemed like they were so loved in the community, and the outpouring of support they got was really, really touching.”

“[The Festival for Our Future] seems like a cool celebration and just a chance for members of the Lewisboro community to come out and show support for these issues.”

“People like the small town rustic aesthetic of Somers. They don't want it to become strip malls.”

“I think that this can be a good thing for the community. And it does seem like there are more people in favor of it than against it.”

“The people in North Salem have been very, very busy with fundraising.”

“Just from speaking with people that have moved, especially to Somers...they always say that they were attracted by the school district.”

“Can't homeowners decide for themselves which contractor they want to use?”

“It's a weird budget. It's a good news/bad news kind of thing.”

 “It looks like this thing is moving forward after sitting there dead for almost two decades.”

Links:

Halston Media Group website