Local Matters Westchester

A quarter century after 9/11, Pleasantville filmmaker Andrea Garbarini discusses the loss of her husband, firefighter Charles Garbarini, and the making of From the Ground Up, her film about five New York firefighters’ widows. Garbarini also explains what led her from nursing to filmmaking and bringing socially conscious films to the area through her organization, Films On Purpose.

Republican Town Board candidate Gail Wind discusses her campaign, senior housing, development, town finances and transparency. She explains why she would support a temporary moratorium, says she believes the town is already taking steps to address flooding, and disagrees with critics who say the town needs to be more transparent, including calls to record Town Board work sessions.

Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson has lived several lives: beauty queen, media executive, entrepreneur, cancer survivor and Westchester community leader. In her new book, More Than a Crown: From Pageants to Purpose, she shares the highs and lows: surviving cancer twice, going through two divorces from the same man, and confronting workplace harassment.In her interview with Jill Grossman and Adam Stone, she also details her experiences with Donald Trump, her friendship with Jeanine Pirro, the changing world of communications, and much more.

Anna Nelson, a Democrat, discusses her campaign for Mount Pleasant Town Board. She shares her thoughts on development, environmental concerns, affordable housing, transparency, and much more. She’s running against Gail Wind, the Republican nominee and recently appointed councilmember, in the November election. Wind will be our guest in an upcoming episode next month.Below are links to further information about some of the issues discussed in this podcast:The Mount Pleasant Town Board's employee vehicle usage policy An Examiner story about Clay Bird Lane and a recent statement from town Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi on the contractor and plans to seek new vendors at that site.

WARNING: This episode contains sensitive subject matter and some sexually explicit language. Listener discretion is advised.Human trafficking isn't just a problem in distant places: it's happening right here in Westchester, and across the country.This week on Local Matters Westchester, we share our interview with human trafficking survivor and advocate Treya Bouzier, who details her harrowing story of being groomed online and trafficked at just 16 years old. Bouzier, who grew up in Westchester, discusses how traffickers exploit vulnerability and how she transformed her experience into a career helping other survivors.Also joining the conversation is Ali Boak, executive director of LifeWay Network, a Tarrytown-based organization. Boak explains the realities of labor and sex trafficking and how parents can help protect their children.

Pleasantville native Michael Bloom and fellow filmmaker Lily Weisberg share what it means to have their short film "Rare Birds" screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. In conversation with hosts Martin Wilbur and Jill Grossman, they discuss the places, people, and childhood experiences that inspire their work, and the films they have in the works for future release.

In this episode, guest host Jill Grossman interviews the pastors of the Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian churches in Pleasantville about their work to create safe spaces and better meet the needs of all community members.  Reverend Kevin O’Hara of the Emanuel Lutheran Church, Reverend Katrina Zezza of the Pleasantville Presbyterian Church, and The Reverend Julia Macy Offinger of St. John’s Episcopal Church share their personal stories and how their backgrounds shape the way they lead their congregations. They explore what it means to lead their churches in this moment and how they are meeting issues from gender and sexual identity to immigration to poverty head on. And they share how they are creating safe, welcoming, pressure-free spaces for community members of all ages across and beyond their houses of worship.

ProClinix Sports Physical Therapy founder Alan Siegel discusses how the practice has grown from one office to a network expected to reach 10 locations across Westchester by September. He talks about ProClinix’s ties to communities in the area, including Pleasantville, Mount Kisco and Armonk, its work with local athletes and schools, new treatments like shockwave therapy, and the challenges independent healthcare providers face in today’s insurance landscape. Siegel also details his own sports background as a college tennis player, and how that shaped his career in physical therapy.

Peekskill Herald founder Regina Clarkin delves into the challenges and tremendous rewards of serving the community with nonprofit local journalism on the eve of the online news outlet's fifth anniversary.

Former Assemblyman David Buchwald joins us to discuss Civic Helpers, the nonprofit he founded to help people and organizations navigate government bureaucracy. Buchwald, who served as a White Plains councilman before becoming a state assemblyman, explains how the organization has helped resolve health insurance problems, recover money in delayed government grants for nonprofits, and identify systemic issues affecting New Yorkers. 

Asif Khan, a former professional squash player from one of the sport's most famous families, joins Local Matters Westchester to discuss coaching, youth development, and building a thriving squash program in Northern Westchester.

Democratic Mount Pleasant supervisor candidate Tom Abinanti joins Local Matters Westchester to discuss why he's challenging incumbent Republican Carl Fulgenzi, his response to Councilman Mark Saracino's surprise resignation, and his thoughts on a development moratorium, fiscal oversight, ethics reform, housing and transparency at Town Hall. He also addresses the town's finances, the JCCA Cottage School, filming work sessions, and the politics of the race.

In this episode of Local Matters Westchester, guest host Jill Grossman speaks with Kristin Raniola, founder of Noelle Healing in Mount Kisco, about the art of energy healing, how it works, and why more people are turning to it as a means for navigating the stress and anxiety in their lives. 

Westchester County's network of nearly 600 automated license plate readers is facing a major legal challenge. Nancy Glass, litigation director at NYU School of Law's Policing Project, joins Local Matters Westchester to explain why a class action lawsuit argues the surveillance system lacks proper legal authorization, how long drivers' data is stored, concerns over data sharing, and what the case could mean for privacy, public safety and other communities using similar technology.

Local Matters Westchester speaks with Revolutionary Westchester 250 President Constance Kehoe about plans for the nation's semiquincentennial, the county's Revolutionary War history, and the events planned across Westchester through 2026.

In this episode of Local Matters Westchester, Mount Pleasant Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi talks to hosts Martin Wilbur and Adam Stone to discuss development pressures, fiscal constraints, and ongoing flooding concerns. He addresses questions about developer influence, affordable housing, and Mount Pleasant’s recent Moody’s bond rating downgrade, and explains his approach to maintaining low taxes while funding town services. The conversation also covers transparency critiques, his fall election opponent Tom Abinanti, the JCCA Cottage School situation, the town’s legal challenge to New York State’s Voting Act, plans for workforce housing development, and ethics concerns raised in the local political debate.

Examiner reporter Vera Giraudo was on site at Rockland Community College to cover President Donald J. Trump's rally for Rep. Mike Lawler last week. In her audio story, she took the pulse of the crowd, exploring what the president's support for Lawler could mean for the heated election in Congressional District 17.

In this episode of Local Matters Westchester, guest David Grant shares why he founded the Suzanne Grant Foundation and how, by supporting community service projects in local schools and organizations, he is keeping his wife Suzanne's spirit of service and generosity alive and developing the next generation of community champions. You can also learn more about the foundation's 2026 community service day in The Examiner.

The Pleasantville Farmers Market has grown from a dozen vendors into one of Westchester’s busiest year-round destinations. This week on Local Matters Westchester, The Examiner’s weekly podcast, host Martin Wilbur talks with Peter Rogovin of Foodchester about what makes it work: from strict local sourcing to building a market where vendors can succeed.Rogovin, the founder of Foodchester, Inc., the nonprofit behind the award-winning market, also talks about how it draws thousands to downtown Pleasantville each weekend, and the planning behind what’s designed to feel like a seamless experience.

In this episode of Local Matters Westchester, we speak with Michael Peppard about his campaign for the Westchester County Board of Legislators. A theology professor and former Pleasantville trustee, Peppard shares his background, what led him to run, and the priorities he’s focusing on in District 3 as he challenges incumbent Margaret Cunzio.

For 50 years, local philanthropy has quietly supported Westchester in ways most people never see. From legal help for domestic violence survivors to funding better community data, the impact runs deep. In this episode of Local Matters Westchester, Laura Rossi of The New York Community Trust and Cindy Kanusher of the Pace Women’s Justice Center explain where the support goes, who it helps, and why long-term partnerships matter.

Protest organizer Fred Silverman explains why the weekly rally for democracy demonstrations in Mount Kisco are needed.

A conversation with County Executive Ken Jenkins. He discusses housing, affordability and other pressing issues facing the county.

In our final interview with the Democratic candidates seeking to challenge incumbent Republican Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District race, challenger Mike Sacks joined Local Matters Westchester to talk about his campaign, with the June 23 primary now less than three months away.

Diane Pagan, a local nurse practitioner and the founder of Senior Moments Care, talks with Local Matters Westchester this week about delivering compassionate medical care to elderly patients in their homes, and the new Geriatric Center of Excellence she plans to open in Somers by this fall. She also discusses the problems with corporate-controlled health care, and a host of other related issues.Read our related article here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/geriatric-center-of-excellence-eyes-2026-opening-in-northern-westchester/

Army veteran Cait Conley talks to Local Matters Westchester about her Hudson Valley roots, what motivated her decision to choose West Point, and why she’s challenging Rep. Mike Lawler for the 17th Congressional District seat. She addresses affordability, health care reform, housing, immigration accountability, climate action and foreign policy while defending her advisory work after a recent report. Conley calls the criticism misleading and argues she’s the Democrat best positioned to flip the district in November.

Tracey Bilski of Friends of Buttonhook Forest joins to us discuss the grassroots effort to preserve the 20-acre Chappaqua woodland from development. She talks about the legal fight, fundraising push, environmental stakes and the broader effort to honor local indigenous history.

In this episode of Local Matters Westchester, we examine the Jimmy Collins case with three people who were at the center of the civil fight for accountability: lead plaintiff Greg Ardanowski, fellow plaintiff Scott Roth, and attorney Sarah Klein of Manly, Stewart & Finaldi. Klein was the first known victim of former Olympic women’s gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, and has become a leading advocate.The trio tell us how decades-old abuse came to light, how the Child Victims Act made the case possible, and what accountability (criminal and civil) means for local survivors.To read a more detailed description of the case, and hear perspective from Collins’ attorney, visit:https://www.theexaminernews.com/the-enduring-stain-of-our-communitys-open-secret-and-a-mount-kisco-natives-heroics/

Today, we’re joined by Beth Davidson, a Rockland County legislator and Democratic candidate for New York’s 17th Congressional District. This interview is part of an ongoing series where we’re speaking with all the Democratic primary candidates ahead of the June election.

‘Shaking in Our Boots’: Inside a Crisis with Mount Kisco Child Care Center Director Dawn MeyerskiMount Kisco Child Care Center Executive Director Dawn Meyerski talks staffing shortages, federal funding changes, and the various challenges of running a nonprofit childcare center in today’s climate.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we speak with Nicole Ferrara and David Kaufstein of The Nicholas Center, a nonprofit with locations in Pleasantville and Port Washington. The organization helps people with autism learn, live, and work in their communities. Ferrara shares what inspired her to found the organization, while Kaufstein discusses the programs supporting learning and social development. 

Former FBI analyst John Sullivan, who was one of the bureau’s most senior openly gay officials, joins us to discuss his run for Congress in New York’s 17th District. We ask why he left the FBI over concerns about the Trump administration, his experiences as a cancer survivor, and his views on public safety, health care, LGBTQ rights, and more.Sullivan also shares his campaign priorities in the Democratic primary, how he plans to position himself in a potential general election against incumbent Republican Mike Lawler, and his approach to tackling affordability, foreign policy, and local issues.

Superintendent Mary Fox‑Alter reflects on 40+ years in education, from Pleasantville to East Ramapo to leading Ossining schools. We cover district leadership, a $210M school bond, responsible use of AI in classrooms, and the political pressures facing public school leaders today.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we sit down with Scarsdale-based comedian Ben Rosenfeld—Russian-Jewish immigrant, sharp-witted storyteller, and one half of the comedy duo behind Westchester Comedy Club and Living Room Laughs. Ben talks about building a real comedy scene in the suburbs, teaching stand-up to beginners, and why being the father of a seven-year-old shapes so much of his material.He shares how comics stay calm when a joke bombs, why most people can learn to be funny, and what audiences can expect from his and Michelle Slonim’s upcoming New Year’s Eve shows in White Plains. We also get into married-to-a-comedian life (“We just take turns being sad,” he deadpans), and whether AI can actually write jokes.Smart, dry, and very funny, Rosenfeld pulls back the curtain on the craft, business, and emotional endurance of stand-up.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, the hosts talk with longtime Westchester journalist David McKay Wilson, who wrapped up a remarkable career with The Journal News/LoHud/Gannett in September.Wilson discusses the state of local journalism, the next chapter of his reporting life on Substack, and his community projects, including the Stars of Hope holiday art effort and his church's ballroom dance nights.

Chappaqua’s John Cirillo joins Local Matters Westchester to share stories from life in sports PR — from his Brooklyn roots and Fordham days to his time with the Knicks, Madison Square Garden, and beyond. Hear about Patrick Ewing, Spike Lee, Reggie Miller, and Cirillo’s creative life as a teacher, author, and lyricist. Recorded remotely from Genesis/Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco.

At 92 and 67, Broadway veteran Patricia Conolly and her actor/astrologer husband, Colin McPhillamy, join Local Matters Westchester to share stage stories and tell us what's in the stars, politically and otherwise.

Tarrytown Trustee Effie Phillips-Staley joins Local Matters Westchester to discuss her Democratic primary campaign for New York’s 17th Congressional District, where she hopes to challenge incumbent Republican Mike Lawler in the general election.She shares how her working-class upbringing shaped her perspective and highlights her priorities: housing affordability, humane treatment of immigrants, health care access, and climate action. Phillips-Staley also weighs in on civic engagement, youth activism, and foreign policy, stressing her focus on giving disenfranchised communities a voice.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we talk with John Cappello, an Air Force veteran and Democratic candidate for New York’s 17th Congressional District. He’s running against incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, whom he calls not genuinely moderate, questioning the congressman’s support for President Trump, what he describes as his recent performative politics, and votes like the “Big Beautiful Bill.”A Rockland resident, Cappello details the moment he decided to become a pilot, his work honoring World War II heroes through the Halyard Mission Foundation, and how and why he decided to join this race. He explains how his views have evolved and clears up questions about his party registration and political identity. Our conversation also leads him to explain how Barack Obama became the first Democrat he supported for president.We ask Cappello about the Gaza hostage deal, the government shutdown, and health care, along with local concerns like affordability, housing, and education. He says his campaign is rooted in leadership and practical problem-solving over partisanship.We’ve invited all the candidates (Democrats and Lawler alike) to join us in this ongoing congressional race series, as local and national attention continues to focus on this key swing district.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we talk with Tibi Guzmán, CEO of The Arc Westchester, the county’s largest organization supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families. She explains her journey into this work, which was shaped by her own experience as the parent of a child with autism, and why that personal connection fuels her passion for the mission.Guzmán shares how The Arc Westchester serves the community through programs that build independence and opportunity, from early intervention to adult housing and employment support. She also weighs in on federal budget decisions in Washington that could significantly impact people with disabilities, explaining what’s at stake for families and why advocacy matters.Guzmán also pushes back against claims linking autism to vaccines, describing how it creates societally damaging stigmas for families already facing significant challenges.Additionally, she spotlights the work being done at the Ann Manzi Center in Mount Kisco, which just marked a milestone with a ribbon-cutting following major renovations.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we spoke with Cheryl Smith Alvarez, director of the Westchester Transcendental Meditation (TM) Center in Katonah.Alvarez explains what Transcendental Meditation is — and isn’t — how she first discovered the practice, and why so many people, from busy parents to frontline health care workers, are finding it life-changing. She also shares details on a partnership at Northwell’s Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, where she has helped train more than 100 doctors, nurses and other health care staff in TM over the past couple of years. So if your local care team seems calmer than expected, Alvarez and TM might just be part of the reason.We also cover common misconceptions about meditation, its relevance in today’s stressful and divided times, and practical tips for anyone looking to bring more calm, clarity and creativity into daily life.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we’re joined by Peter Chatzky — Briarcliff Manor’s deputy mayor, a longtime business executive, and a Democratic candidate in New York’s 17th Congressional District, where a crowded primary field has formed to challenge Republican incumbent Mike Lawler.Chatzky reflects on lessons from decades in local government and shares his views on housing, gun violence, healthcare, bridging divides, Israel, and the influence of NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.He also offers his perspective on Lawler’s claims of being a political moderate and shares his take on his fellow Democrats, as the race for one of the nation’s most closely watched congressional seats takes shape.

Paul Feiner has been town supervisor of Greenburgh since 1992, making him the longest-serving supervisor in Westchester County. In this week’s episode of Local Matters Westchester, we talk with Feiner about how he got his start in politics, why he decided against becoming a rabbi, and the pros and cons of his trademark (and almost comical) accessibility.He shares why he believes the political establishment doesn’t like him — and why constituents do — his disappointments with both Democratic Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (over Edgemont’s incorporation push) and Republican Congressman Mike Lawler (for supporting Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and massive cuts affecting local hospitals), and why he treated Hillary Clinton the same as any other resident when she considered moving to Greenburgh.Feiner also discusses his love of swimming and biking, how he cares for his elderly mother, his plans for new museum projects, and what he hopes to accomplish in a next term — he’s running for reelection this November, with no sign of slowing down his high-energy, sometimes frenetic pace. After more than three decades in office, he reflects on what keeps him motivated — and why he insists on answering every email and helping every constituent, even as some colleagues wish he managed his time differently.

When the Record-Review closed, the Bedford area lost a trusted source of local news. One year ago this month, The Recorder — a nonprofit founded by Ed Baum, Lloyd Trufelman, and Karen Sabath, with longtime editor Thane Grauel helping to lead the newsroom — stepped in to fill that gap.In this episode, Local Matters Westchester co-hosts Adam Stone (publisher of The Examiner) and Martin Wilbur (former Examiner editor-in-chief, now a senior reporter at The Recorder — yes, it’s an incestuous local media world) talk with Editorial Director Ed Baum and Publisher Lloyd Trufelman about how it all began, the reasoning behind its nonprofit structure, the story behind the brand name, how they’re inspired by the legacy of a 19th-century Katonah Recorder, and much more.

Over the next 15 years, if Westchester doesn’t step up efforts to address its housing gap, the county could lose between 8,400 and 12,000 jobs annually, $533 to $742 million in earnings, and $32 to $57 billion in GDP, according to a May report by the Regional Plan Association (RPA), released with the Westchester County Association.“Westchester County is in the midst of a housing crisis, which, if left unaddressed, will impact the long-term health of the regional economy,” the report warns. “Despite recent progress, the supply of new units has not kept pace with the growing need.”On this week’s episode of Local Matters Westchester, we speak with Marcel Negret, RPA’s director of land use, to break down the findings and what they mean for residents and policymakers.

This week on Local Matters Westchester, we’re joined by longtime Fox Lane Varsity baseball coach Matt Hillis, who has led the program for more than 20 years.Fresh off guiding the Foxes to the Section 1 Class AA title and a run to the state championship game, Hillis reflects on his journey—from giving up his own pro playing dreams as a young man to parlaying that passion into a coaching career that’s made him a local legend. He taught hitting at Columbia, and then Army, where he absorbed the West Point culture and brought those expectations of focus and hard work back to Bedford.Following his 400th career win this past spring, Hillis shares what made this year’s team so special and what it takes to build a true program culture at the high school level, not just coach a team.We also talk about local sportsmanship in the social media age—where players sometimes take shots at opponents’ personal lives and coaches too often look the other way—and how he addresses that.Hillis weighs in on the growing local umpire shortage, whether pitch counts are truly supported by data, and reflects on coaching standout players in recent years, including Fox Lane alums Henry Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates; Tyler Renz, drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 2024 draft; and Michael Lombardi, selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round this past July.He also shares how a negative experience with his own high school coach in Rockland County shaped his philosophy of turning player weaknesses into strengths.We touch on his decision to become a biology teacher (but not a chiropractor), and now that he’s retired from teaching, whether he has any plans to hang up his coaching cleats.On the lighter side, you’ll hear why his dream dinner guest list includes Anthony Bourdain, JFK, and Lou Gehrig.

On this episode of Local Matters Westchester, Andrea Della Mura — two-time breast cancer survivor and owner of The DRIPBaR Rye — shares how her health journey inspired her to start the business 15 months ago. She explains what IV drip therapy is all about, shares success stories from local clients, and answers common questions from skeptics. Della Murra also previews Hope Takes Flight, a Support Connection fundraiser at The DRIPBaR Rye on Thursday, Sept. 18, featuring keynote speaker David Pogue of CBS Sunday Morning, who will present “Healthcare: AI Gets Real.”

Republican Assemblyman Matt Slater of District 94 — a rising voice in New York’s GOP politics — joins Local Matters Westchester this week. We open the conversation by asking him about the looming fallout from President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” particularly its massive impact on the state’s Medicaid funding and patient care.We ask where he stands on the new school cell phone ban, how he squares his criticism of social media with his recent viral spat with AOC, and what might be next for his political future — spoiler alert: he says he doesn’t plan ahead.The former Yorktown town supervisor also shares his views on utility rate hikes, the MTA, affordable housing, whether bipartisanship is tougher in the Trump era, and how a moment with his son helped shape his view on school meal funding.

This week on Local Matters Westchester we spoke with Kathleen Reckling, CEO of ArtsWestchester, about the organization’s 60-year journey and what it’s like stepping into a role long held by local legend Janet Langsam.Reckling shares her background—including an early interest in arts journalism—the potential impact of federal cuts, with up to $8 million at risk for Westchester’s arts economy, and why public investment in the arts is more urgent than ever.We also discuss the intersection of art and politics, how the U.S. treatment of the arts compares globally, and how the organization supports local culture through efforts like the ArtsMobile and JazzFest.

At 94, Hartsdale resident Hanne Holsten still remembers her childhood under Nazi rule with stunning clarity. In this special episode, she shares the powerful story of her family’s escape from Germany — and the heartbreaking moment, as an 8-year-old girl, when she realized her life was about to change forever.Holsten talks about survival, loss and how teaching helped her heal.We’re also joined by Millie Jasper from the White Plains-based Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center, who explains how the center keeps history alive and fights hate today — with encouraging stories of students who drew swastikas but, after education, came to understand the error of their ways.This is an important conversation you won’t want to miss.