The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

County’s 9/11 Ceremony to Take Place 3 p.m. at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla–and Livestreamed

by

News Release from the office of the Westchester County Executive:

“In a solemn ceremony like never before at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, Westchester County will pay tribute to those lost during tragic events of September 11, 2001 and heroes who gave their life helping us all move forward in its aftermath. Standing before “The Rising,” the County’s beautiful 9/11 Memorial, County Executive George Latimer will honor the Westchester residents who passed on that devastating day nineteen years ago, as well as those who have died from 9/11 related illness since the attacks.

Latimer said: “While we face societal challenges like never before in our current day, we must never forget the events that unfolded in front of the world’s eyes that morning nineteen years ago. That day changed all of us, and we will always continue to grieve. From the souls lost, to the heroes who selflessly rushed in that we are still losing to this day, we must – and we will – always honor them here in Westchester County.”

Tony Aiello, CBS 2 New York reporter, will emcee the event, adding: “I moved to Westchester in 1999 and remember well the tragic impact the terror attack had on the County. I was honored to emcee the County’s very first 9/11 commemoration in 2002, and it will be a privilege to once again gather with friends and neighbors to remember those we lost.”

Following pandemic protocols, Rev. Troy DeCohen, Senior Pastor Mount Vernon Heights Congregational Church, will lead the ceremony with a pre-recorded prayer: “We as Americans and citizens of good conscience of this great land humble ourselves in prayer reflecting on the thousands of lives lost and the thousands of families that still grieve their loss.”

The ceremony will include the presentation of colors, led by the Westchester County Police Department’s Ceremonial Unit Color Guard, followed by Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester County. United States Congresswoman Nita Lowey will lead the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by Lindsay Towers from Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, and Concordia College’s Brass Ensemble will play – adding music to the solemn backdrop of the memorial.

Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators Benjamin Boykin, who will speak at the ceremony, said: “Unfortunately, this year, we can’t physically provide a shoulder to lean on to the families and friends of those we lost 19 years ago. We can’t wrap our arms around the loved ones of the first responders or those who worked the pile in the days and months afterward. But we will never forget their sacrifice. Let’s honor them by committing ourselves anew to the spirit of unity and shared purpose their loss inspired in us all.”

A commemorative wreath will then be laid on the “Beam of Remembrance” by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, a steel beam that was pulled from the ashes of the World Trade Center, and dedicated to the County as a lasting reminder of our nation’s sacrifice and strength on that fateful day. 

Adding to the interfaith prayer at the ceremony, Imam Qari Amjad Karim of the Westchester Muslim Center said: “As our country remembers the heartbreaking events of September 11, 2001 – we turn to prayer at a time when our nation is facing unprecedented challenges – now more than ever we need mercy and strength to guide us on the right path.”

The names of those who were lost, as displayed on the “Circle of Remembrance,” will be read allowed by District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, County Clerk Tim Idoni and members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. The names of the Westchester County men and women who died on September 11, 2001 are as follows:

  • William Abrahamson
  • Peter Craig Alderman
  • Kazuhiro Anai
  • Sharon Balkcom
  • Yelena Belilovsky
  • Michael J. Berkeley
  • George Bishop
  • Michael A. Boccardi
  • Michelle Renee Bratton
  • Thomas M. Brennan
  • Jonathan Eric Briley
  • Mark Brisman
  • Lloyd Brown
  • Ronald Bucca
  • Tom Burke
  • Mary T. Caulfield
  • Alex Ciccone
  • Kevin Francis Cleary
  • Robert J. Coll
  • Helen Crossin-Kittle
  • Joan Cullinan
  • Patrick W. Danahy
  • Dwight Darcy
  • Marisa DiNardo
  • Simon Dedvukaj
  • Simon A. Dhanani
  • John J. Doherty
  • Christopher Michael Duffy
  • Paul Fiori
  • Thomas Fitzpatrick
  • Kevin Joseph Frawley
  • Alan W. Friedlander
  • John Patrick Gallagher
  • Charles Garbarini
  • Peter Gelinas
  • Kieran Joseph Gorman
  • Yugi Goya
  • Gary Haag
  • Richard B. Hall
  • Vincent Halloran
  • Ward Haynes
  • Nobuhiro Hayatsu
  • Katsuyuki Hirai
  • Thomas Warren Hohlweck, Jr.
  • Montgomery McCullogh Hord
  • Louis Steven Inghilterra
  • Ariel Louis Jacobs
  • Arthur Joseph Jones
  • Douglas G. Karpiloff
  • Satoshi Kikuchihara
  • Takashi Kinoshita
  • Glenn Kirwin
  • Richard J. Klares
  • Gary Koecheler
  • Vanessa Langer
  • Denis Lavelle
  • Joseph Leavey
  • Michael A. Lepore
  • Richard Lynch, Jr.
  • Michael J. Lyons
  • Katie Marie McCloskey
  • John T. McErlean, Jr.
  • Francis McGuinn
  • Michael McHugh, Jr.
  • Barry J. McKeon
  • Robert C. McLaughlin, Jr.
  • Christopher D. Mello
  • Yamel Merino
  • William Minardi
  • Krishna V. Moorthy
  • George Morell
  • Dennis Moroney
  • Takuya Nakamura
  • Soichi Numata
  • James A. Oakley
  • Diana J. O’Connor
  • Amy O’Doherty
  • Marni Pont O’Doherty
  • Samuel Oitice
  • Sean Gordon Corbett O’Neill
  • Chris Orgielewicz
  • Timothy F. O’Sullivan
  • Michael B. Packer
  • Thomas Palazzo
  • James Nicholas Pappageorge
  • William H. Pohlmann
  • Hemanth Kumar Puttur
  • Vincent A. Princiotta
  • Valsa Raju
  • Robert A. Rasmussen
  • John Reo
  • Joseph R. Riverso
  • Gregory E. Rodriguez
  • Edward Ryan
  • Tatiana Ryjova
  • Sam Salvo
  • Eric Sand
  • Robert Scandole
  • Marian Serva
  • Daniel Shea
  • Joseph Shea
  • Linda Sheehan
  • Thomas J. Shubert
  • Allan Shwartzstein
  • David Silver
  • Michael John Simon
  • Thomas E. Sinton, III
  • Rochelle M. Snell
  • Robert Speisman
  • Joseph P. Spor, Jr.
  • Timothy C. Stout
  • John Swaine
  • Sean Patrick Tallon
  • Michael A. Tamuccio
  • Kenichiro Tanaka
  • Joanna Vidal
  • Jeffrey Walz
  • James Arthur Waring
  • Timothy Matthew Welty
  • William Wik
  • Marc Zeplin
  • Ivelin Ziminski
  • Joseph J. Zuccala

The names of the men and women who lost their battles to 9/11 related illnesses since the attacks are to be read aloud by surviving family members. Their names will be added to the 9/11 Related Illness Memorial, announced by Latimer last year, that will accompany “The Rising” once it is complete. Matthew McCauley and Peter Woods, Co-Chairs of the 9/11 Related Illnesses Memorial Committee, will also give remarks on the committee’s efforts. Those names are as follows:

  • John LoBianco –Yonkers Fire Department
  • Detective Michael Houlahan – New York City Police Department
  • Firefighter Eduardo Rivera – Yonkers Fire Department
  • Police Officer Christopher Barry – New York City Police Department
  • Fire Commissioner Peter Guyett – Yonkers Fire Department
  • Deputy Chief Frank Strollo – New Rochelle Fire Department
  • Police Officer Nicholas Finelli – New York City Police Department
  • Police Officer Joseph Heid – New York City Police Department
  • Battalion Chief Kevin Byrnes – New York City Fire Department
  • Emergency Medical Technician Luis de Pena – New York City Fire Department EMS
  • Detective Joseph Seabrook – New York City Police Department
  • Detective James W. Monahan – New York City Police Department
  • Captain Ronald G. Peifer Sr. – New York City Police Department
  • Detective Charles Wassil Jr. – Peekskill Police Department
  • Lieutenant Roy McLaughlin – Yonkers Police Department
  • Police Officer Anthony Maggiore – Yonkers Police Department
  • Firefighter Robert A. Mentrasti – Fairview Fire Department
  • Police Officer Walter Mallinson – Harrison Police Department
  • Firefighter Michael O’Hanlon – New York City Fire Department
  • Police Officer Kathleen O’Connor-Funigiello – New Rochelle Police Department
  • Lieutenant Clark Douglass – New York City Police Department
  • Sergeant Patrick Boyle – New York City Police Department
  • Sergeant Patrick Coyne – New York City Police Department
  • Detective Mark Gado – New Rochelle Police Department
  • Firefighter Neill Tyndal Jr – Yonkers Fire Department
  • James P. Sullivan – New York City Transit Authority
  • Lieutenant John Thomas Moran – New York City Fire Department
  • Police Officer Kevin Xavier Domenech – New York City Police Department
  • Firefighter John Peteani – Yonkers Fire Department
  • Firefighter Daniel Foley – New York City Fire Department
  • EMS Captain Barry Brown – Mohegan Lake EMS
  • Executive Director Stephan Hittmann – New York City Fire Department

 

Following the reading of the names there will be a performance of taps by Police Officer Peter Blume from the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

The ceremony will conclude with a live prayer from Rabbi Howard J. Goldsmith of Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester: “As time passes, the memory of our loved ones who perished that day stand as a reminder. They remind us to live up to our potential, to live in a way that is compassionate and kind, and that the bond of love is stronger than death.”

About Westchester County  

Westchester County, located in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, covers 500 square miles and has a population of just under a million.  Originally home to Native Americans, who were members of the Lenape tribe, it is today a rich mix of many cultures and landscapes.  The County is a blend of bustling cities, quaint villages and picturesque towns as well as open spaces and a network of beautiful parks. Westchester is made up of 6 cities, 19 towns and 20 villages.  Westchester County is known for top-notch public schools, and a high quality of life.  The County is also an intellectual capital, boasting a highly educated workforce, competitive colleges and universities, Fortune 500 companies, world changing non-profits, and cutting-edge research centers.  Westchester is led by County Executive George Latimer, who took office in January 2018 as the ninth County Executive. Using inclusion and openness as a foreground, Latimer is fighting to make Westchester a destination for all people to live, work and enjoy. Learn more about Westchester County by visiting www.westchestergov.com

 

 

 

Town of New Castle Invitation to a 2020 9/11 Virtual Memorial Ceremony

by

 

 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of New Castle announced it will be holding its 9/11 memorial ceremony virtually this year, “but with no less solemnity, as we gather together to honor and remember the thousands of lives lost on 9/11 and in the aftermath of these tragic events. When we come together, as we did after 9/11, when we stop looking for differences and start treating each other with kindness, generosity, and love we show the world what it really means to be Americans. This year, more than any other since 2001, we are called upon to remember the lessons of 9/11 and to work hard though our words and deeds to honor the memories of those we lost that day.”

You are invited:

Friday, September 11 at 6pm

More from the Town of New Castle Supervisor’s Report:

Current Westchester COVID Data

All data related to the COVID pandemic is publicly available. Here are the sources of information:

Wake Up Call! 

“As vacations wrap up, college drop-offs are complete, and school is back in session, we expected to see a small increase in the number of active COVID cases in the community. As far as we know, these new cases are not connected and there is not a “cluster” in our community. Remember: the virus never left, and overall the numbers, which are in the single digits, still look good.

How we react right now as a community could have huge implications. If we double down on mask-wearing and social distancing we can stop the spread. These simple things have been proven to work. We’ve come so far…let’s keep it up New Castle!”

Congresswoman Nita Lowey to Be Honored at HHREC Virtual Annual Benefit: October 29

by

Guest Speaker Derek Black, Godson of David Duke, to Discuss his Journey Away from a White Nationalist Movement

Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Virtual Annual Benefit:  Moving Generations Forward-

Honoring Human Rights Leaders Past, Present, and Future

Congresswoman Nita Lowey Inside Press Photo

Thursday, October 29, 7 p.m., from the comfort and safety of your home

Honoring U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Speakers Bureau Survivors and Liberators

Our guest speaker will be Derek Black.  Derek Black is the son of Don Black, the founder of the hate site Stormfront and the godson of David Duke, a former grand wizard of the KKK.  While attending a small liberal arts college in Florida, students discovered a white nationalist living in their midst. They showed him practicing extreme acceptance.  Coming from people he respected, their ideas had real merit to him.  Derek is uniquely smart.  That made him discover the flaws in white nationalism ideology.  He walked away from the white nationalist movement.  Join us and listen to his story.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.  For more information, please contact Millie Jasper, 914-696-0738 or mjasper@hhrecny.org

https://hhrecny.z2systems.com/np/clients/hhrecny/event.jsp?event=829

Vaccinations for the Flu Available Soon at Open Door Family Medical Centers

by

Deemed Especially Vital During COVID-19

Since March, many of us have been consumed, rightfully so, by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Months later, the virus continues to dictate our lives.

But, as summer moves into fall, should we also start worrying about the flu?

Dr. Daren Wu, Chief Medical Officer, Open Door Medical Center

According to Dr. Daren Wu, Chief Medical Officer at Open Door Family Medical Center, protection against the flu has never been more important than now.

“We strongly encourage patients to get the flu shot and, once a vaccine is available, a vaccine against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 as well,” said Dr. Wu. “These viruses are two completely different species, so getting vaccinated for one will not protect you against the other. What you definitely do not want is the 1 – 2 punch of getting both viruses, which is entirely possible.  Each virus can be deadly, and in tandem they can be that much worse. When your immune system is down because of the flu, other infections – including coronavirus – can kick in.”

Flu vaccinations will be available across Open Door’s six health centers in Westchester and Putnam Counties and eight School-Based Health Centers in the Ossining and Port Chester School Districts, beginning in September. Most patients, he said, usually need little convincing to get an annual flu shot, and it is available to all patients over six months old. However, he added, there is still a great deal of misinformation about the flu and he encourages “anti-vax” community members to learn more and get the flu shot.

This is particularly important among those most at risk: the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with certain health conditions that make them more vulnerable to serious flu complications.

“Our minds are on Covid-19, but getting the flu will lower your immune system and can make you more susceptible to all sorts of secondary infections, including bacterial infections and other viruses such as Covid-19,” said Dr. Wu. “The flu shot is not perfect, but we keep framing the message that it is overwhelmingly safe and can give you significant protection.”

Flu activity begins to increase in October and November and can last until May. It typically peaks in January or February.

“The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older,” said Dr. Wu.  “Young children up through the age of eight years old, who are getting vaccinated for the first time, require two doses of flu vaccine, spaced at least 28 days apart. Because children under the age of six months are too young to receive the vaccine, it is especially important that their parents and older siblings get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the flu to infants who are particularly vulnerable to serious complications.”

The effectiveness of the annual flu vaccine depends in part on the match between the viruses used to produce a vaccine and the strains of flu that will circulate in the new flu season. While the vaccine is produced to protect against the flu viruses that research and surveillance indicate are most likely to be common this season, there is no way to predict with certainty.

“Flu viruses not only change from season to season, but can even change within the course of a single season,” said Dr. Wu. “Still, antibodies made in response to a vaccination with one flu virus can sometimes provide protection against different flu strains. That’s why, even if the vaccine is a less than a perfect match, it is still far more effective in preventing the flu than getting no shot at all.”

This year, he added, it’s even more important for people to comply.

EIGHT GOOD REASONS TO GET A FLU SHOT

Here, according to Dr. Wu, are eight good reasons to get a flu shot:

Getting the flu can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to secondary infections. This takes on especial importance this year, at least until there is a vaccine for Covid-19, which is a more lethal virus.

The flu can affect anyone. The flu is a serious virus and spreads easily. Vaccination protects you, your family and friends.

The flu shot is safe. Flu vaccines CANNOT cause the flu – they are made with either killed or weakened viruses. One of the biggest myths out there is that flu shots can cause the flu and that simply is not true.  Serious reactions are extremely rare. Mild reactions include soreness, redness or swelling where the vaccine was given.

The flu shot you received last year is no longer effective. The influenza virus changes and mutates fairly rapidly. New flu vaccinations are developed each year to ensure evolving viruses are adequately targeted and protected against.

You want to protect your kids. Young children under the age of five are more susceptible to serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia, secondary infections from bacteria and other viruses, and dehydration. Both children (over six months old) and parents need the shot.

You are pregnant or considering getting pregnant. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing complications from the flu. The flu shot is safe during pregnancy.

You or someone you know is over 65 and/or has a long-term illness. As human immune defenses become weaker with age, a vaccination is designed specifically for people 65 years and older. Additionally, a number of long-term, chronic health conditions such as diabetes or cancer, are associated with an increased risk of flu-related complications (as they are with Covid-19).

Getting vaccinated is part of a healthy lifestyle. The flu can blindside you with its intensity and leave you feeling sick for days. When you get a flu shot, you build up your immunity, making you stronger and more resistant to the flu.

If you would like to make an appointment to get a flu shot, please call Open Door at 914-632-2737 or email hello@odfmc.org.

Information courtesy of Open Door Family Medical Center. 

Open Door Family Medical Center

Open Door Family Medical Center provides health care and wellness programs to individuals and families in need throughout Westchester, Putnam and Ulster Counties. A pioneer Federally Qualified Health Center, Open Door provides more than 300,000 patient visits annually and serves nearly 60,000 individual patients who might not otherwise have access. Open Door offers integrated services and a holistic approach to building healthier communities. Primary medical care, dental care, integrated behavioral health care, clinical nutrition, wellness programs, and chronic disease management are the foundation of its clinical programs. Founded as a free clinic in 1972, Open Door’s mission of building healthier communities through accessible, equitable, culturally competent health care has led to site and service expansions. Today, Open Door operates centers in Brewster, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Port Chester, and Sleepy Hollow, in addition to eight School-Based Health Centers in the Port Chester and Ossining School Districts, a mobile dental van in Mount Kisco, and a new dental practice in Saugerties, NY. Open Door is accredited by the Joint Commission and is recognized by the National Committee on Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home.

 

Opportunity to Support ‘Backpacks to School,’ an Annual Initiative of The Sharing Shelf

by

The Sharing Shelf plans to fill at least 1,500 backpacks and seeks to raise $45,000 for this project.

Each summer, The Sharing Shelf organizes its “Backpacks to School” initiative to buy new backpacks and fill them with grade appropriate school supplies for low-income children in Westchester County. The program works with individuals and businesses County-wide to raise the funds needed to purchase everything needed for this initiative, from new backpacks to binders, notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils, pens and paper.

At this moment the last days of being in a school are a distant blur and back to school is filled with uncertainty, whether our children will return to school as we know it, shift into a hybrid system, or continue with home-based schooling.

The Sharing Shelf, in consultation with educators, has decided to proceed with its annual program. These educators have told us that regardless of what form school will be, children still need to learn. They will not only need the usual supplies but also resources to keep them mentally engaged and enriched. It is The Sharing Shelf’s plan to provide not just the basics, but enhanced materials such as age-appropriate educational magazines, puzzles, activity sets and books.

Even before the pandemic and economic downturn, Westchester County was a community with a mix of great wealth yet home to nearly 60,000 low-income children. In some of our communities, 8 in 10 public school students qualify for free or reduced lunch. We believe that number, given the current environment, is probably much higher. In April 2020, unemployment in Westchester county skyrocketed to over 14% from 4% in January 2020.  Meanwhile, the average family spends $122 on school supplies, a sum out of reach for families struggling financially.  

The Sharing Shelf plans to fill at least 1,500 backpacks and seeks to raise $45,000 for this project. Volunteers will help assemble the backpacks, using social distancing in a special area at The Sharing Shelf’s Port Chester warehouse during the month of August. The backpacks and supplies are critical to the academic success of low-income children and will allow them to return to school prepared, confident, and ready to learn.

To find out more about how to help or to donate, please contact The Sharing Shelf Program Director, Deborah Blatt at dblatt@sharingshelf.org or (914) 305-5950. You may also visit www.sharingshelf.org and click on Backpacks to School

About The Sharing Shelf

Founded in 2009, The Sharing Shelf is Westchester’s Clothing Bank for Children. The program collects new and gently used clothing for infants, children and teens. The clothing is distributed to local, low-income children through area social service agencies, schools, hospitals and other non-profits at no cost. The children receive a week’s worth of seasonally appropriate clothing matched to their sizing needs. Since 2011, The Sharing Shelf has been filling new backpacks with fresh supplies for back to school. For more information, visit www.sharingshelf.org

This story is courtesy of The Sharing Shelf.