Local Matters Westchester

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.