He usually carried a cigar in his pocket or clenched between his teeth. He usually carried a friendly smile that offered gracious words; other times he was hard-nosed and extraordinarily persistent. That was Jerry Terranova Sr., at least by those who knew him. Continue reading ‘Love ’em, hate ’em, that was him’

PCSD summer school programs try to move students past learning loss, disruptions caused by the pandemic By John Donegan This story originally appeared in the 7/23/21 edition of the Westmore News. For the original article, follow the link. The humidity of a northern July day hung over Park Avenue Elementary School on Tuesday, July 20, as students huddled around their science teacher and the noncontact thermometer … Continue reading The great catch up

A NYC-based job training program uses cemeteries to forge future masons By John Donegan This story originally appeared in the 7/17/21 edition of the Westmore News. For the original article, follow the link. Some call it the swamp. Spanning a small patch of knoll far removed from the rest of Rye’s Greenwood Union Cemetery are handfuls of scattered graves. The area is seldom visited, segregated … Continue reading The cemetery

The dissolution of the Port Chester Justice Court left some staff jobless without notice By John Donegan This story originally appeared in the 6/3/21 edition of the Westmore News. For the original article, follow the link. Chikkia Bennett has been an assistant court clerk for 10 years, half of which she spent with the Village of Port Chester Justice Court. When the court dissolved on May … Continue reading Clerks without a cause

Scout troops and volunteers stake flags in honor of veterans buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery By John Donegan This story originally appeared in the 6/3/21 edition of the Westmore News. For the original article, follow the link. Local Scouts made good on their oaths and law on Saturday, May 29, to brave teeming spring showers and decorate the gravesites of American veterans. Nearly 70 Scouts, from … Continue reading Rain doesn’t stop town from honoring heroes

Port Chester author speaks on her third book, “Battle Green Vietnam,” and the lessons it offers to future revolutions By John Donegan This story originally appeared in the 5/21/21 edition of the Westmore News. For the original article, follow the link. It’s been nearly 50 years since 200 fatigue-clad Vietnam veterans embarked on a three-day trek from Concord to Boston. It’s been 10 years since Port … Continue reading Patriots and protest

Every Monday morning, Michael DiFazio heads to his smoke shop, The Glass Room II, to check inventory and place orders for the week. The store, one of three that he runs, sits tucked along Port Chester’s North Main Street next to several boutiques, salons, and more recently, scaffolds. Continue reading As New York legalizes marijuana, Port Chester bans paraphernalia